Zayd p.o.v
I didn't get much sleep last night. I blink, feeling very drowsily. Mostly because I have been thinking about what Rayden has said, but also because I have been researching a little. I bring my hand up, trying to hide the yawn that's threatening to escape. Tomorrow is the day Karasuno will have their first practice match with Aoba Johsai since a long time, so Sawamura-senpai wanted to discuss the positions for tomorrow before we have to join our classes.
"Now, concerning the positions for the practice match," He pauses a second to turn the board to show us, "these will be our positions for tomorrow." We all bend a bit forward, curious to see the positions.
Wing spiker, left side; Tanaka
Setter; Kageyama
Middle blocker; Hinata
Middle blocker; Tsukishima
Wing spiker, right side; Sawamura
Wing spiker; Ennoshita
I hum under my breath. Interesting, especially the choice about Hinata being middle blocker. I hope he knows what he's doing.
"I want to use Kageyama and Hinata as a set," Sawamura explains as the said duo glare at each other from the corner of their eyes, an annoyed glance in their eyes, making me sweat drop a little. "Tsukishima is one of our few tall players. I want to see how you'll fight against Seijo." Tsukishima-san answers in a monotone 'yes'.
My eyebrows knit together as I notice something. Yamaguchi-san is the only first-year who doesn't play. I glance at him, seeing him frowning and glancing down, looking disappointed. I feel sorry for him, as he's the only first-hear who is benched while the others can play. Without thinking, I step closer to him and lay my hand on his arm since it's quite awkward to put my hand on his shoulder considering our height difference. He flinches before realizing that it's me.
"Don't worry about it, Yamaguchi-san." I comfort him, patting his arm for good measure, "You can still support your team and in the meantime train to get better." His lips lift up in a smile, looking a little bit better.
"Thanks, Andou-kun." I return his smile and then step back again, letting go off of his arm.
"You're using Hinata in a position where height matters?" Tanaka-senpai exclaims all of the sudden, gaining the attention of the rest. Actually... If you think about it from a different perspective, it's actually quite smart. Since they don't expect someone whose height isn't usually reserved for middle blocker, we can use Hinata as a decoy.
"Middle blocker? I'm in the same position as the lanky jerk Tsukishima?" Hinata follows with a rather...'insulting' comment on his part, sounding surprised and confused.
"It may need some work, but it could be a good thing, don't you think?" I acknowledge as everyone turns to me in confusion. Feeling the need to explain it some more, I continue, "A middle blocker is also known as the middle hitter, is usually the tallest person on the team. Their main role is being the first line of defense against the opposing team's hits. The middle blocker should be able to read their opponents to block their spikes, however, it isn't a defense-only position. They can be offensive, too, using quick attacks and furthermore, play as a decoy in order to draw their opponents' blockers away." I recite out of my head, having learned it since I was ten years old. As I am complete caught up in my explanation, I miss the amazed gazes send my way by the team.
"What about the setter and wing spiker?" Asks Hinata curiously.
"The setter is the main contributor to the offense of the volleyball team. It's the control tower that sets the balls for one of the attacking players. A setter also organizes the defense, so communication is extremely important for the setter, because they need to get the other players on the same page as them. Without a setter, there wouldn't probably any hard spikes or technical ball movements." I take a breath in between my explanation, "Wing spikers can also be called an 'outside hitter' or an 'opposite hitter'. The outside hitter is also known as the left-side hitter, and is the lead attacker in offensive strategy. The opposite hitter, also known as the right-side hitter, need to have a perfect balance of offensive and defensive. They get also opportunities to spike the ball, however, the main difference that sets them apart is that the opposite hitter has also a defensive responsibility."
"Wow..." Mumbles Hinata, looking amazed and distraught at the same time from the onslaught of information. I blush slightly, realizing I probably was rambling.
"Amazing, how do you know all that?" Asks Sugawara-senpai, smiling warmly.
"I wanted to know the in-and-outs of volleyball when I first got into it." I shyly explain, feeling uncomfortable under the receiving stares I'm getting. Wait... Hut what about...?
"Like Andou-kun said,m there are other exclusively defensive positions, too, but for now, those are all." Sawamura adds, seeing as Andou has a look of realization on his face that promises he's onto something. Andou is quite perspective.
"Listen, Hinata.... You're the ultimate decoy!" He exclaims, pointing at Hinata with a determined face. Hinata jumps up, excited.
"The ultimate...." He pauses, "....decoy?" Not even a second later there's a depressed aura around him as he falls on his knees and hands onto the floor. "There's something uninspiring about that." He sulks.
"We'll let you score lots of points using 'quicks,' and direct the opponent's blockers' attention to you. That's when the other spikers will come into play." Kageyama smirks. "Big guys like Tsukishima will fall like idiots to your movements." I place a hand over my mouth to hide the snicker after seeing Tsukishima-san's irritated expression.
"That'll feel good, won't it?" He finishes, giving Hinata-san a grin. As soon as he has said that, Hinata's face lights up like he's a child that got something for his birthday. It makes me laugh a little at his antics, from sulking to excitement within a moments notice, it's kind of cute.
"I like it. I like it a lot!" He starts jumping up and down, ignoring Yamaguchi-san's defensive voice trying to cut in about his insult about Tsukishima-san.
"Hey. Are you calling Tsukki an idiot?" He points an accusingly finger at them, only to be shut down by Tsukishima himself. "Shut up, Yamaguchi."
"Sorry, Tsukki."
I arch an eyebrow at Tsukishima's words. It seemed a bit unnecessary to shut the freckled teenager who just wanted to defend his best friend down like that, but maybe that has always been how they work. Who knows?
"On the other hand, if you're not effective, know that the other attacks will all fail." I almost want to facepalm at Kageyama-san's dark words. He is staring at Hinata with narrowed eyes. I don't think that was a smart thing to say. A chill goes down my spine at his expression, but am distracted as Hinata tenses up, looking panicked.
"Hey...Don't put so much pressure on him." Kageyama turns to the captain, looking all but confused about what he said wrong. "Why not?"
"All fail....All fail...All fail...." I inch a little backwards at Hinata's creepy chanting about failing. The Captain makes an exaggerated face and points to Hinata, who's still chanting. "You see?"
"What about the blocking, though?" Asks Tanaka-senpai, still confused about the choice of Hinata being middle blocker, "Even if he can jump high, the taller player will reach the highest point of their jump faster." Sawamura-senpai stands straight up again and nods in understanding.
"Yes, the reason we want Hinata to be the focus of blockers isn't to smack down the opponent's spikes, but to touch them. With Hinata's crazy reflexes and speed, he can touch the opponent's spikes, and slow down their momentum." I nod as he continues to explain, taking over smoothly from him.
"So that you can set the pace and put it to your advantage, and make counterattacks." Sawamura looks at me in surprise, "It will probably not go correct right off the bat, but we can at least try and maybe learn something along the way." I finish, jumping up as I suddenly feel someone ruffling my hair. It's Sawamura. He's looking down at me, wearing a proud smile. It warms me up from the inside, and I duck my head, blushing furiously as I shuffle with my feet,
"Fine." Agrees Tanaka-senpai rather begrudgingly. With a small smile I start walking towards him and pat his arm softly. "Don't worry about it, Tanaka-senpai. I'm sure everything is going to be alright." I expected a smile or a grin of gratitude, but what I didn't expect is a huge shark grin send my way.
"Say it again!" W-Wh-What? Did I say something wrong?
"Wh-What?" I stutter out, and again not expecting him to grasp my hands, a shiny glance in his eyes. "Go on! Say it, Tanaka-senpai."
"Uhm...Tanaka-senpai?" He starts laughing like a maniac, planting his hands in his side and successfully letting go of me. The captain sweat drops at his attics and walks him on his head.
"Sorry, just ignore this idiot." He coughs awkwardly in his hand and continues, "Anyway, for in air battles, we've only got Tsukishima and Kageyama who can match Hinata's jumps. So, Hinata, have confidence, and-"
"Yes! I'll do my best! I'll score lots of points. I'll be a decoy. I'll serve. Block. Quick. Everything." He rants. I grab his shoulder as he seems about to work himself into a frenzy.
"Ah, Hinata-san, please calm-!" He just goes tilt before I've even finished my sentence.
"He blew a fuse, Sawamura-senpai! Hinata blew a fuse!"
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Flying! Haikyuu x Oc (Under construction! So it may change sometimes!)
FanfictionAfter moving again for what seems the hundreds time, Zayd decides to make a choice for himself. Chose his own high school even though he was offered a scholarship to a well known school. Hiding it from his parents so he can get quietly enrolled into...