égoïste [Akaashi Keiji]

raison #5

"Okay," Shiori exhaled a deep breath. She had served so many times that she was running out of breath. But, she wasn't done yet. She dribbled the ball and held it in her hands, looking up at the group that was on the other side.

They had changed from 3 receivers to 6 people on the court, emulating a real game situation. It was almost funny how they all shuffled onto the court, doing their best to receive her serve. Sometimes they would forget it's just training and spike it over the net.

They didn't do too badly. As expected of Fukurodani boys' volleyball team, in the top two of Tokyo, Shiori complimented in her mind. She made a mental note to compliment them on their receives. They were far above what she thought they'd be.

"Well, now..." She took a few deep breaths, taking a slow walk to where she would start. She hit the ball against the ground a few times, then looked up at the team.

When she saw how weary they were of her serve, she wondered if it took that much mentality to see through where her serves would go. After all, she couldn't serve to herself.

They've started to be able to get most of my serves, though sometimes they would screw up. Haruki's good. Though, he looks like he's in pain when he receives. Is it because I hit it in a tough spot or does he just make that face whenever he receives a ball? Shiori found her thoughts wandering for a brief second when her eyes glazed over the libero.

In response, he tensed, "BRING IT!"

"Oh?" The female volleyball player held the ball in her hands, spinning it several times in different ways.

I see. They're ready. She could almost see the competitive spirit coming from each player, emitting off them like steam.

Well, if it's like that, then...I won't hold back.

Is she smirking? Akaashi noticed the ever so slight lift of the corner of her lips, amusement dancing in her eyes. That was the most emotion that he had seen out of her the whole time she was serving. It wasn't like when she smiled after getting a service ace in middle school; it was a complete 180 where something was coming.

Shiori pointed to the team with the volleyball, "I'm going to change things up."

Some team members questioned why she would be saying this now since she's been changing things up since the start.

The girl took a deep breath and threw the ball high into the air with her right hand, then did a run up and jump, smashing the ball straight to the libero on the other side of the court.

"I got it!" Komi shouted out. It had made a perfect line to him. As he got it, the ball hit his forearms at a weird angle, hitting the ground the next moment.

The team stared at the ball, eyes wide.

I should have been able to get that! Haruki's lips parted when he stared at the ball rolling away.

"Sorry! My bad!"

"Don't mind!"

Bokuto turned to Shiori, "You didn't do anything this time?" He questioned. Normally when she served it would serve in weird directions at the last moment, or she would hit it in really hard to reach places, or paint the line.

Shiori let out a low hum, "Did I?" Her voice held a teasing tone to it. "I did tell you that I was changing things up. It's up to you to figure out what I changed." She grabbed another volleyball and tried to regulate her breathing.

If I continue at this pace with so many jump serves, I won't last too long. She bounced the ball as she walked. But it's training so I might as well try and do what I can.