The Unfamiliar Player | Kei Tsukishima

22 (二十二): Crows

5/10/2020 (Cont.)

It was the final set. The set that determined the victor and loser. [Name] knew both teams were incredibly tired and she was worried for the spontaneous duo and everyone on the team that had been playing straight through all sets. Her suspicion was correct as she saw Suga start the lineup with Kageyama watching on the bench. The final set only went to 15 points and it's a big time- crunch. Luckily, they were able to get the first point. 

The girl started to get hopeful until it was crushed by Ushijima's 5 service aces. Although each time a spiker would try to spike, Kei was there to stop it or put in a one- touch. His positioning and posture was different to when she watched him before he left. 

She wondered if he stopped thinking about her. Looking back into their days together, they just flirted and the most she would've gotten was just being a close friend. She had a high chance that when she confessed, he would've rejected her. Smiling sadly, she continued to watch the boy. [Name] just wanted to watch and cheer him on, even if she couldn't be by his side.

The [hair color]'s breathe hitched. Kei was clutching his hand as his face was contorted with emotions she never seen on him, before. She saw red slowly prickle down his finger. Keishin- sensei and the others quickly surrounding him. [Name] wanted to get up and rush out to him as he went off the court and to the infirmary. 

As she stood up and grabbed her bag, she froze as she saw Akiteru and a blonde- girl wearing a Karasuno's jacket, walk out, rushing to Kei's side. 'I-Is that the second manager? Does she like him.?'

She was deep in thought as she slowly sat back down. Kyoko was escorting him to the infirmary so they wouldn't have needed the second manager. Akiteru would of course want to go and check up on his little brother, but then why did she go with? Is she a close friend of his? Are they interested in each other?

Taking in some breathes, she gripped her bag, tightly. She bit her lip, swallowing a sob that threatened to escape. The girl knew not to be selfish as she knew Kei would be incredibly stressed and hurt by the fact that he got injured. But yet, she also felt a pang of hurt in her heart. 'What did I expect?'

Going back into her calm composure, she tried her hardest to focus on the game but her feelings and thoughts were toying with her. A beep was heard as [Name] looked to see Tobio going back into the match. A faint smile addressed her face as she cheered her cousin on as she saw her cousin smile whilst looking at the ball in his hands. 'Tch. Good luck Shiratorizawa.'

His serve alone was able to scare them as he hit a powerful serve to Reon. The ball went soaring back as even Keishin- sensei believed to be a chance ball. She smirked upon seeing her cousin immediately going for a toss position, having Hinata slamming the ball down with no block, whatsoever.

___

Just as [Name] was busy watching and calculating each move of Shiratorizawa, she saw that once Karasuno got beat at getting match point first, Keishin- sensei stood up, "Volleyball.. Is a sport where you're always looking up!"

The outburst got the team straightened out as [Name] smirked but fell as she saw from the corner of her eye, a particular blonde girl running back onto the bleachers. Soon enough, she saw the middle blocker run back into the gym with Kyoko following behind him, his hand wrapped up. She felt relieved to see him come back but she couldn't stop looking back at the second manager. 'Did she stay behind and spend the whole time with him..?'

Kei held a number card as he waited by the bench, clearly determined to go back into the game. Never had she thought she'd seen him become so eager. Even in a mere two months, Kei did change. A lot.