🔹🏐The Courts Calling🏐🔹- A Haikyuu Fanfiction

Dragon's Reign (Part 3)- Awakening of the Wolf

Akiraa's POV

My legs burned like fire with every passing step. My body quivered and shook uncontrollably, feeling as if it was going to collapse on the gym floor at any second. I could feel the sweat dripping down the back of my neck, soaking the sidebangs that stuck firmly to my forehead. I would reach up to remove them from my gaze, but the torturous aching in my shoulders kept me from making any extra movements.

I felt my heart almost give out as I reached the right side of the gym, where an empty pole stood, suppose to be holding a volleyball net but was now just a marking of our endless punishment. I didn't even bother reaching out and tapping it like we had been instructed to do in the beginning, mostly because of the fact that I had completely lost count of what lap I was on.

Right now we were racing around our gym like some Olympic track team with an angry dragon perched right in the center so as to not miss a single move we made. I can't even remember when we started this exercise, but he made it very clear that if we were to stop running at any moment, we would wish we hadn't.

It was already taking a strong toll on the team. Us third years seemed to be holding up ok, except maybe Etsuka, who was now desperately grasping her still sore shoulder while maintaining a steady pace next to Isozaki. The dark toned brunette was trying her best to assist her friend, but with Jiro watching, there wasn't much she could do that wouldn't end in a strike.

The first years were the most pitiful. I could see actual tears streaming down Yoshi's face, and even Kaiya looked as if every last ounce of light that had glowed within her body had faded. That wasn't any different from the rest of the team, nobody seemed to have hope anymore. I even questioned myself. All this time, I had been holding up my walls, but had they finally fallen down?

I guess its time to face the horrible truth. This wolf... has lost its ability to howl...

"Alpha... senpai..." I hear the faint whimpering from my side and look to see Miyu, her eyes rolled almost to the back of her head. "I... can't do this anymore!"

I expected those words to come out in a loud wail, but I barely understood them from her deep, gulping breaths. It was still enough to catch the dragon's attention, but before he could see Miyu struggling, I reach out and put her back up straight again. "You have to keep running Pup." I urged firmly. "If you don't, who knows what he'll try and do to you."

I suddenly had to catch her before she almost stumbled straight to the floor, already tripping over her own feet in exhaustion. "When will it be over?" She cries again, this time so quiet, it may not have even been to me.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I did the most painful thing I had ever done. I looked away. "I'm..." My throat burned so harshly I was barely able to get the words out. "I'm sorry, kid..."

As I focused my eyes on the gym floor again, I sensed a sharp toothed sneer from the side, one that made me feel smaller than prey. It was as if I could feel Jiro's harsh gaze piercing my flesh, and it took every bit of strength not to look in his direction. I knew what he was thinking though, everybody did. Checkmate.

To distract myself, I looked toward the back of the gym where a row of windows laid as I rounded the corner again. Behind this building was an endless forest of trees, a soft leafy ground and fresh air that didn't smell like sweat and despair. I wanted to be out of here, I wanted to run and never come back. Deep down, though, there was one thing keeping me chained here. If everybody wasn't allowed to leave, then I wasn't going to either. I may not be their alpha, but that didn't change that fact that we are all still a team, bound together since the beginning. I wasn't going anywhere.

Just as my gaze began drifting again, I caught the slightest reflection of something from outside. It looked almost like glasses...

No. Kiyomi and Mika both were banned from the gym. Coming around here again could get them both in trouble. It was hard enough watching Jiro practically chase them off with his harsh words. Even I wouldn't have the courage to come back after it all. He said horrible things, and yet, I just stood and watched my two childhood friends run away in tears. I deserved to die right here, right now.