𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋. hq

「11th set」: milk shake

星野 実
m i n o r u    h o s h i n o
— year 3 class 6 —

               "Noru-nee" my sister greeted me as soon as warmups started, our designated teams opposing each other.

"You've really grown attached to Karasuno, I'm envious" I teased her, earning the attention of a particular person as we continued to converse in the sidelines while the rest are off preparing for the game.

The petite boy greets me, running towards my sister and I as we faced each other at the opposite sides of the court, "Hello, Nao-chan's sister!".

"Nishinoya-kun, hey there. I see you're taking good care of Nao. Thanks" I smile at him earning a grin from the male.

He replies with a strong resolution, exclaiming, "Osu!". And with that he runs off alongside their other members practicing their spikes and receives.

               "We won't lose" I take the chance to tell her, putting my bet with Oikawa aside, and solely thinking of the team I chose to stay with.

"It's only natural for you to say that" she says, with unyielding determination in her eyes, a look I'll never forget seeing, "but we definitely won't back down either".

This was the team she had chosen after all, the team that spiked her curiosity, the team, she claimed, would fly the highest with their own imaginary wings.

We were about to see just how much they'll soar the sky.

               With that she ran off to her position, a floor above us, alongside the audience and their other manager. Once the whistle blew, I ran towards the team, standing right beside the coach.

There he said, "This will be the third time our current team has fought with Karasuno. Each time, Karasuno has surprised us. I'm not sure things will go smoothly this time, either, but if we keep our cool and play, I'm sure we'll see victory. Do your best and fight".

"Osu!" The entire team answers in chorus.

"I hate to say it, but Karasuno's a formidable enemy" Oikawa steps in and tells the team.

Hanamaki retorts, "I'm surprised you're being honest".

"I definitely learned from last time" the other male says spitefully. "If we let our guard down, we'll get swallowed up. So we need to go all-out from the start".

"Yeah!"

               "Alright, so..." he flexes his hands and faces the team with utmost seriousness, only to be cut off as he says, "I believe—".

"We believe in you, Captain!" Iwaizumi and the other two third years tell him, surprising the rest of the team as well as our coaches.

"Aw shucks!" He attempts to laugh it off like an idiot, only for Iwaizumi to tell him, "We believe in your serves. If you miss, you owe us ramen."

"I want chashu pork in mine" Hanamaki walks forward, tapping the males shoulder like Iwaizumi did.

"I'd like a side of gyoza with mine. No serves that just happen to get over" Matsukawa tells him with utmost seriousness.

"Kitsune Udon it is for me then" I push his back as he complains, "Even you, Noru-chan?"

"Come on, first-years, second-years, you guys can request too" Hanamaki calls out as the rest of us third years snicker.

"Seriously?!"

▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

               As soon as the ball hit our side of the court, my heart stopped. I could've sworn I had goose bumps right then because nothing felt as frustrating and infuriating as ever. It was sad to admit it, but it was nothing less from my sister and her eye for people.

"Alright!" I heard the other team shout in joy alongside the many other people on Karasuno's side.

When the whiste blew, and Kageyama and Oikawa faced each other, I came to realize how much his junior has grown. It was so close, I thought. Oikawa had received it, it just didn't connect.

"Say what you will, but the results are what you see," our coach told the team "There's no way your disappointment will subside. I'm sure there are even some plays your regret. With that in mind, let me just say something: You fought well".

Kindaichi balled, and the other men tried to hold their tears in, some ultimately failing. I have never seen people as frustrated my entire life.

"Let's go greet the people in the stands" Oikawa invited, and with that the boys were off to the stands. The third years patting a crying Iwaizumi along the way.

"Thank you very much!" the captain shouted to be chorused by the team.

And with that we were off to the bus.

               "Noru-chan~" Oikawa greeted me, smiling as if they hadn't lost their game, as if he hadn't lost our bet. He put on that stupid smile I used to swoon over, he put on that infuriating smile as if they hadn't even lost the thing he was looking forward to the most.

And before I knew it, the tears were streaming down my face.

"Hey—Wait, Why are you the one who's crying?!" he asked in a flustered manner, unable to know what he could do to comfort me. He was panicking checking to see if any other team mate could help him, even earning a shout from Hanamaki who teased, "Oooohh, captain made our manager cry!".

"I did not!" He shouts in return as he placed a hand on my back, patting me comfortingly.

"Are you okay?" He asks after a few moments only to have me brush away his hand.

"Shut up" I mumbled, wiping my tear-stained eyes as hastily as I could before hitting his back hard enough to make him yelp.

"Ouch! What was that for?!" He cries in pain, rubbing his back as he looks at me accusingly.

"Don't you dare cry!" I warned him, despite having done so myself. "Don't you dare take this on yourself again because I swear I will—"

"Relax" he assures me, cutting me off as he says, "This team was worth playing with, I'd be lying if I said I don't regret the result of the match, but this game was worth playing".

I sniffed, before mumbling, "Good".

"Now c'mon, Ms. Manager, accompany me in treating the entire club"