STONE HEARTS ❨ ushijima wakatoshi ❩

「 PROLOGUE 」

PROLOGUE

Known for being a great volleyball player, Watanabe Uehara had always stayed on top- she was always in the top 3 players of the nation. Her name was something that most people would recognize immediately, at least by those who were fans of volleyball. They admired her expertise on the said sport, but off court, there was something about her that people weren't very aware of.

Although possessing great leadership skills and having great teamwork with her members, Hara wasn't very friendly with her teammates off court. If someone were to ask them how she was as a person, they would immediately respond with the word "cold." Some would even joke that she was like a past lover who wanted nothing to do with you, but that simply solidified the opinion that she was not so fond of interactions off court.

That being said, students from Shiratorizawa often compare her to her male counterpart- the boys' volleyball team captain, Ushijima Wakatoshi. Both seemed like they were devoid of emotions, or at least they were so controlled with it that their emotions would never be seen spilled out. Some would theorize that the two captains got along well with each other, but the truth was quite the opposite. Others would speculate that since they were very similar, they might be secretly dating, labeling them as the stone-hearted couple. Yet, behind closed doors, none of those were true as well.

It wasn't like Hara enjoyed not talking to anyone. She just felt as if it was something that she needed to do, in order to protect herself from others. The girl thought that feeling emotions as fickle as joy, sadness, and anger with people was nonsense- she thought that in the end, everyone will leave or disappoint her. Perhaps it was due to her environment growing up, but none of her peers knew.

"I need a high toss, Sai," said Hara, her bored eyes glancing at their setter.

Nodding, Sai gave her a high toss as requested. The girls' volleyball team were training, preparing for an upcoming match. Being a perfectionist, mostly towards herself, Hara insisted that she and Sai practice her killer spikes. In such a short period of time since Sai's fingers came in contact with the ball, Hara's right hand slammed against it which caused it to fly back upwards due to the tremendous impact. Everyone watching the practice had their mouth hung open, but Hara shook it off.

It's nothing amazing, I totally did not hit that perfectly. He would probably criticize it again.

"Nice!" Exclaimed their other members, watching their ace practice.

Hara simply let out a sigh, unsatisfied with her performance, walking back as if nothing happened. She reminded herself that there was no use getting swayed by others' compliments, as it could hinder her growth. Additionally, she didn't want to depend on others' approval and acceptance, knowing fully well that doing so would only leave her shattered in the end.

Quite frankly, most part of her detachment towards her team was due to her fear of attachment. She feared that if she were to ever get attached to other people, that very same attachment of hers would lead her to make bad decisions, thus affecting not only her plays but also her life and relationship with her teammates. It was rather extreme to think of it that way, but a past experience taught her that depending on others' opinion about oneself was simply not ideal if one wants to reach the top.

She constantly told herself, she was fine being all by herself. There was no need for attachments, for relationships with her peers. After all, she thought, we were brought into this world alone, so we're all bound to leave alone as well. She knew that thinking that way was negative, but she couldn't help it. She was very bad with communicating with other people.

Perhaps a part of her secretly longed for warmth after almost all her life she was surrounded by the cold, but it was very difficult for someone so used to winter to be exposed to the warmth of the summer. As much as she had tried to be more sociable in the past, she just found the act so draining.

"One more," said Sai, and Hara breathed in and out as she watched the ball being tossed.

After the ball was tossed, she jumped, slamming her palm as hard as she could against the ball. There was a loud boom, the sound of the ball hitting the floor. It was another powerful attack, as expected from the ace. No room for mistakes.

Coach Washijo, coach for both the male and female volleyball clubs, smirked as he watched one of his two diamonds. He was sure that polishing these diamonds he had was the best thing he could ever do as a coach of a powerhouse school. His eagles can really soar high, and even higher if they trained even harder than they usually do.

Following the booming sound of the ball against the floor was the opening of the gym doors. Everyone turned to look, only to be met by an unexpressive Ushijima Wakatoshi.

Everyone fell silent, watching him walk towards the coach. To tell him he was interrupting practice was something that others feared to do. As rude as he was to interrupt, his reputation simply could not allow them to go against him and his actions.

He always does what he wants.

Boredom passing her eyes, Hara watched Ushijima with curiosity in her eyes. What the hell was he doing here, anyway? Aren't they training in their own gym? Why did he have to ruin her team's training?

He really needs to mind his own business.

"What brings you to the girls' gym, Wakatoshi?" Asked the coach, "Are the boys misbehaving?"

He twitched his eyebrows, before shifting his gaze towards Hara with an uncharacteristic passion in his eyes. He raised a finger, pointing at the raven haired girl.

"I want to have a practice match with her." Said Wakatoshi, making Hara smirk at him deviously. "Tsutomu's stamina is still lacking, and I am in need of harder training to improve. He's sloppy, and might have overworked himself so his spikes aren't as strong as it should be. Can we play against them instead, coach?"

"But she is-"

Argh, there he goes again, acting like he owns everything and everyone! Why are they so scared and amazed by him?, Hara thought, pissed off at the tall captain of the boys' volleyball club.

"It's on, then," Hara answered sharply, approaching the two, a deadly aura surrounding the gym. He was rude enough to interrupt, adding on his unnecessary provocation, so why not give in? "If you think you're so great."

As Hara responded to Ushijima's request herself, all eyes were planted on them. Two known volleyball players expressing their desire to face each other was one thing that entertained anyone watching, and that much can be said of everyone inside the gym. There was definitely an air of tension around the two, and something became very clear. Rather than friends or secret lovers, the two were rivals. When one succeeds, the other gets fired up to train harder in order to surpass them. It was a neverending cycle for them.

"Oh dear, these stone hearts," muttered Sai, "Maybe they'd get to each other soon."