effervescent (nishinoya yū)

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO / the new moon

"Hey, Tsukishima. Eat up! Or you're not gonna last!"

You looked up from behind the countertop in the cafeteria to see Nishinoya harassing Tsukishima. Next to you, Eri gave Hinata his food, laughing a little as the first-year flushed and stammered out something incomprehensible.

"Nishinoya, at least your stomach is big," Tsukishima goaded with a hand over his mouth and a mischievous glint in his eye. You rolled your eyes as Nishinoya began wrestling with Tsukishima. Seriously, even though he's older, he acts like a child sometimes. You let out an exasperated sigh and smiled to yourself. It's not like I'm much better, I suppose.

"Here!"

Yachi came over with a few more plates of food, looking absolutely adorable with her hair up in a high ponytail, a pale pink handkerchief holding her stray hairs back, and an apron tied securely around her waist. She handed the food to you with a big grin and you returned the gesture as you took the food and leaned over the countertop.

"Hey, guys!" Everyone looked up from their food as you waved at them. "We've got seconds for anyone that wants them!"

It didn't take long before an all-out war began for second helpings. You didn't bother to stifle your laughter as you helped Kiyoko, Yukie, and Kaori prepare and serve up the rest of the food. You made sure to set some off to the side for you and the other managers, seeing as how none of you had the chance to eat a proper meal yet.

As everyone finished breakfast and began to head out, Tsukishima's words from last night echoed in your head and you frowned. Before Tsukishima had the chance to leave, you ambushed him. "Are you okay?" you asked. "I know it's still early in the morning but you look out of it. Did you sleep alright?"

He fixated you with a withering glare that didn't hold any true venom in it. That was when you realized something was definitely wrong with him. "Why do you want to know?" he asked. "It's not like we're actually friends."

"Okay, ouch." You rolled your eyes and prodded his chest with your index finger. "I'd like to think we're at least acquaintances. I'd also like to think you can give me a straight yes or no answer without that damned sass, Saltyshima."

At the nickname, his eye twitched and he cocked his head to the side. "Why do you care?"

"Uhh, because I'm obviously the nicest person here?"

"No, not about me and that mess from last night." He batted your finger away and crossed his arms. "Why do you care so much about volleyball? Sure, it's a nice club and all, but say you and your team go to Nationals. Then what? Isn't it just a constant cycle of wanting to get better but never being the best?"

You sighed and shook your head. "Wow, you really don't get it, do you?" You mimicked his pose and quirked an eyebrow at him. "Sure, it's a cycle. Maybe it's painful and rough to lose, and maybe someone will always one-up you. But let me ask you a question instead...Do you need a reason to not want to lose? And isn't shameless pride the best answer for it?"

His eyes widened a little and he stared at you. You looked up at one of the clocks on the wall and let out a little noise. "Dammit, we're going to be late! Come on, Tsukki!"

That seemed to snap him out of it. "Don't call me that," he snapped as he followed after you at a jog.

The practice matches started up once again. You watched from the sidelines with a notebook clutched in your hand. Kiyoko had asked you to take note of Karasuno's players and the improvements they needed, which you were more than happy to do. You noticed that everything was slowly starting to come together, but not nearly as fast as you figured the team wanted it to.