Unreadable. Unreachable. Unrequited. | TsukiYama ✓

20

! Contains major spoilers for season 3 !

[Tsukishima]

Volleyball is... an interesting sport. In and of itself, it had always been rather boring and I never saw the appeal (though I know certain people would disagree heavily). In the end, it's just another club and another way to pass the time. I had no reason to play it other than the fact I had nothing better to do with my time.

However.

Someone special in my life wants me to play. Someone special in my life wants me to be my best and that someone special is Yamaguchi Tadashi, the boy who's smile lights up a room. He's the embodiment of determination and perseverance and is the sole reason I continued playing after my brother lied to me. He pushes me to be my best in every aspect of life and I hope I do the same to him.

That's why I felt myself getting into the game. That's why I was reading every ball and jumping to block like my life depended on it. Of course the team noticed my change in attitude, but the sudden rush of adrenaline to succeed... to win made me completely ignore any worries they had.
When me and Yamaguchi had shown up early the next day for the bus, he entire team had freaked out at seeing both of our faces messed up, but I was quick to assure them that it was nothing serious. That might be why they were focusing on me a lot more and picking up on the fact I was actually trying, but oh well.

None of that mattered.

All that mattered was showing Yamaguchi how pumped I was to win. I knew he was watching me, he said so himself. He was watching my every move, making sure I was grateful for the opportunity to even be a regular on the team. And I was, in a way, even if the sport wasn't the most appealing thing yet- Actually..

Now that I really think about it, volleyball can be fun. Seeing the expression on Shiratorizawa's number five, Satori Tendou I believe, when I blocked the ball he was so confident about did put a grin on my face. I noticed whenever the other team glared at me, trying to figure me out and it amused me greatly. Even with a black eye, I was playing just at my normal standard and I could tell from the way I caught Yamaguchi smiling that that made him happy.

Of course I was playing for him. I was playing for him. I was playing for him... Then why was I feeling so exhilarated? This is just some club, right? It isn't going to go anywhere, since I've certainly not felt that rush of excitement Bokuto had mentioned back at the training camp.

'What will happen in the future and whether or not you can win the next match... for once, none of that matters. Crushing the guys in front of you, and the amazing feeling of having shown 120% of your strength, are everything.' He'd said.

It was surprising to realise that Bokuto's words had stuck with me. Honestly, when I said he had his moments of genius, I meant specifically when he'd said that to me.
I spent so many hours of my time playing this sport that I wanted a reason to be hooked on it. I wanted to like this stupid game.

And so maybe that's why I was reading the ball so precisely. I had a selfless and selfish reason, but in the end it didn't matter.

-

I needed the ball to be exactly where I wanted it to be if I was going to pull this off. Back at the training camp I'd told Yamaguchi I was planning to stop at least a few of the famous Ushiwaka's spikes and by God was I going to stick to it. That's why when their setter, Kenjiro Shirabu, was growing desperate enough to toss a low set, I was ready.

I was waiting for this fraying caused by slight desperation and panic.

I ran to where Asahi was waiting on the left wing, motioning for him to jump when I did. I left a notiacble gap between our blocks which Ushiwaka picked up on. He aimed his powerful spike towards the gap when I moved my hand to block it just in the nick of time, mimicking what Kuroo had done against Bokuto back at the training camp. It felt as if the ball spun against my hand for a split second before slamming against the court on the other side.