STONE HEARTS ❨ ushijima wakatoshi ❩

「 THREE 」

CHAPTER THREE

"I said, I can go there by myself," snapped Hara, when Ushijima started walking beside her. She didn't feel pleased that Ushijima was acting all chummy with her when their current situation wasn't anywhere near that.

Ignoring her, Ushijima kept walking and walking, until they reached their coach. Everyone's eyes were settled on them, some were of hostility and some of admiration. But to Hara, she would rather walk a few more kilometers than be seen walking alone with Ushijima Wakatoshi.

When she finally locked eyes with the coach, Coach Washijo gestured for her to come out of the gym with him so she did. He stood up from his seat, and then the captain followed him. Clenching her fists, Hara followed obediently until the coach halted his steps. She furrowed her brows, wondering why, until Coach Washijo turned around to face Ushijima.

"You, why did you come here?" Coach Washijo asked, and Ushijima raised his brows slightly before regaining his composure. "What happened to your team's training?"

"I checked out the practice game, coach. Maybe I can learn from it," answered the male ace, so the coach just went on his way with the female ace trailing behind him. "The other third years and coach are supervising the practice as of now."

When they finally got outside the gym, the coach looked up at the tall female.

The wind passed them, slightly swaying their hair from side to side. Hara started wondering what the coach wanted to talk about. If it was about the team, he can just talk to her about it with the team or even alone but inside the gym. Is it something serious? Did she perhaps commit a mistake during the practice match that she needed to fix immediately? Where was she lacking? Sighing, Hara couldn't wait anymore and started speaking first.

"What is it that you wanted to talk about with me, coach?" The lady asked, and the coach replied quickly.

"How come you can chat with an enemy team's captain but not with the boys' volleyball club? Why do you even have that rivalry with the ace of our boys' team?" Coach asked, making Hara look away before answering.

"It's because of something that happened between us in the past, coach. I honestly don't want to talk about it," said Hara, making Coach Washijo furrow his brows.

"If there is an ongoing feud from years ago, throw it away. You are both my aces, and need each other to grow even more," said coach, and then he went back in the court. "That might be your anchor from growing more. Ushijima can help your team, and you can help his."

The coach had a point. If both teams could strategize with each other, they could grow and improve. As much as she wanted to have that, something was holding her back. Hara sighed after bowing and then ran back inside just to get her belongings. Once finally able to, she marched out of the gym to have time for herself.

She didn't care if her teammates were staring at her. They always did. She didn't care if other people did the same, they always did. But this time, she felt like she needed to be away from other people's eyes. It felt more pressuring at that very moment, as if those were needles.

She needed time to think.

She didn't want to remember what it was that happened with her and Ushiwaka before, as it had a huge impact on who she was at the moment. The reason behind her detachment from the rest, the reason behind her hesitance to interact with others. She didn't want to talk and think about it.

Clenching her fists, Hara looked up at the skies. They were clear blue, making her wish that her mind was as clear as those blue skies. When will she start to feel at peace when around Ushijima?

She just wanted a peaceful life. What was the problem with that? She hated how she suddenly remembered.

"You'll never be as great as me, Hara,"

"Quit volleyball,"

"You don't have to push yourself too hard, it will only do you harm,"

Little Ushijima let those words slip out of his tongue, stinging the girl in front of him. They were schoolmates, and all Hara wanted was to learn how to play volleyball.

But as competitive as it sounded, when Hara wasn't able to keep up due to her frail body, Ushijima decided that he was better than her and never will it change.

And so, the year after, she transferred to Tokyo and then started taking volleyball classes to prove him wrong. She spent years and years honing her skills, improving herself in general, until she became one of the best in the nation.

She spent most of her time playing volleyball, the fire in her heart burning every time she reminded herself that she will surpass Ushiwaka. Her young and innocent heart broke when she heard him say those words, so until even years after, she kept the rivalry in her heart going on. She told herself she will surpass him once she comes back. She'll prove to him that he was wrong, that she was also strong enough to play volleyball like he did.

Every available time she had, she played and trained. Even in the classroom, she would hold the ball and cherish it, loving the sport itself.

Who would look kindly at a girl who didn't know how to play volleyball, when her parents were aces in their younger years?

She clenched her fists. She improved. So much, even. It was more than enough to slap to Ushijima's face, and more than enough for her parents to finally be proud of her. When she went back to Miyagi in the last year of middle school, she was as polished as a diamond. So why does she still feel uneasy around him? Why did she, deep in her heart, still want acknowledgment from that young Ushijima from their childhood?

All those years she spent training paid off, and she was proud of it. But in the process, she wasn't able to cherish what should be called friendship. She wasn't able to experience what friendships are for she was too busy being by herself to please people around her, especially her parents who demanded so much more, whenever outside the court.

"Why aren't you with the team?" A voice said from behind, making Hara flinch slightly.

It's the voice of someone she didn't wanna hear at the moment. Of all people to approach her at that moment, why did it have to be him?

"Leave me alone, Ushijima."