𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙸𝙾'𝚂 𝙱𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁

Chapter 28*

A shadow came over Oikawa's eyes. His hands were clenched into fists.

How...? How is this possible...?

Matsubara had taken the first set by a landslide, Aoba Johsai managing to only place a measly fifteen points on the scoreboard. They were currently in the second set, but even so...

Matsubara  |  Aoba Johsai

        24                        17

They weren't even close to tying. Aoba Johsai watched, with frustration glazed over their eyes, as Matsubara stood their guard. It seemed that they were going all out until the end. Iwaizumi held the ball in his hands. The numbers on the scoreboard caused him to have an unsettling feeling.

There really is no team like them. I guess... We really do belong to two different leagues. But still...

He tossed the ball into the air, watching it go up. He swung his arms back, then back forward as he jumped up into the air, his hand drawn back. His hand soon made contact with the ball, sending it over the net. At once, Matsubara's players sprang into action. Hattori cupped his hands, the ball bouncing off his forearms. "Cover!"

"Got it!"

F/N placed his hands over his head, looking at his teammates from the corner of his eye.

Arima? No... Chiba? Too predictable... M/n? But... they suspect it'll be him too.

"Listen, F/N, when it comes to giving me tosses, change your tactics."

"Tactics?"

"If it's the same every time, it becomes predictable. The mind can memorize what it has seen again and again."

Then... Y/N, it is.

Y/N didn't bother to look back. He knew when he felt the setter's burning gaze behind him. Kaito and Y/N jumped up at the same time, ready to spike once the ball came into sight. Oikawa was at the front, put up to block along with two other teammates of his. 

The ball came rushing down and into F/N's hands. He pushed his hands up once he deemed that the angle was perfect. It followed its set trajectory and came diving down near the (h/c)-ette. Y/N's hand reached up high.

A toss set to the spiker's maximum height...

Oikawa and the two others jumped up, hands up and ready to block. A smirk tugged at Y/N's lips as his intense gaze met Oikawa's. He mouthed a few words before a loud sound echoed inside the gym. Everyone watched as the ball forced its way past the blockers and hit the floor with a loud smack, Watari diving down just a second too late. A whistle sounded, signaling the end.

Matsubara   |   Aoba Johsai

        25                        17

Y/N was immediately tackled by his teammates. "Captain!"

Coach Goro let out a hearty laugh, pride swelling in his chest. "Didn't expect any less. Those boys played their hearts out today."

He was right. The ones who had been on the court headed back to the bench, where the rest handed them small towels and water bottles. Sweat trailed down their foreheads. They were exhausted but their bodies still had some adrenaline rushing through them. 

Aoba Johsai stepped off the court and headed to their designated side. They were exhausted on top of feeling utterly humiliated. Oikawa was still in slight shock.

"Hey. Dumbass."

"Huh?"

The rest of the team sighed, wiping their sweat away with their towels. Iwaizumi smacked Oikawa on the back of the head. "Why are you so shocked?"