Cheering for a practice match between Aoba Johsai and Dateko, your muscles ached and your throat was sore. Ignoring your pain, you straightened your arms and yelled even louder.
Out on the court, you watched Oikawa and Iwaizumi perform a perfect attack, scoring them another point against Dateko. Seijoh was winning, the score 19-14.
Though you hated to admit it, Oikawa was very clearly the most skilled player on the court. He was quick and powerful, and his sets were incredibly graceful.
It only angered you more that Oikawa was so good at what he did. You waved to Azumi, signaling to get in the formation for a stunt. Four girls grouped around you.
Kumi, who was a side spotter, said, "What stunt?"
"Basket toss," you replied. "It needs to be flashy."
Azumi rolled her eyes, taking her position as the back spot. "You and your dumb need to be better than Oikawa."
"It's not dumb," you argued. "He started it."
"Whatever," Azumi said. "Do your little tricks and make the crowd cheer."
You stepped into the palms of the spotters. Okimi Yamashita was the front spot and Suki Mori was the other side spotter, standing opposite of Kumi.
On the count of three, the girls tossed you up. In this perfect moment, you felt like you were flying. You were on top of the world for a split second, as you twisted and flipped gracefully in the air before falling back into the arms of your entrusted spotters.
Catching Oikawa's gaze, you smirked. He smirked back, then tossed the ball in the air and served it with so much force it sounded like a clap of thunder.
"Damn," Kumi whispered. "He's incredible."
You rolled your eyes, turning back to your squad. "Keep cheering."
The girls complied, and you stood before them, leading them through cheers like always. The motions were muscle memory, to the point where you could do them in your sleep. The words fell from your lips so naturally, like the tune of your favorite song.
Throughout the practice game, you and Oikawa met eyes a few times. Each time, you would glance over to find him already looking your way. After that, you'd hurriedly avert your eyes with a flip of your hair.
It pissed you off that he was so good. But it was making you even angrier hearing the shouts from the small crowd that had gathered to watch the match.
"Tooru! I love you!"
"Oh my God, look at Oikawa go! He's so cute!"
No matter how hard you tried to tune out the screams, they burrowed under your skin and infiltrated your ears like maggots to a dead corpse. Oikawa was eating up the cheers with a grin on his face, occasionally lifting his hand in a wave to the doting girls.
"They disgust me," you hissed to Azumi. "Imagine being so obsessed with that idiot that you're coming to cheer for him at a practice match."
"We're cheering for him at a practice match," Azumi pointed out.
"We're cheerleaders. They're crazy fangirls."
"Maybe you're jealous that they're after your one and only."
"If I ever say or do anything romantic in regards to Tooru Oikawa, please smack me across the face."
Azumi waved a hand. "You don't mean that. You'll come around."
"Doubt it."
"Yeah, well, he's coming this way, so."
You swung around and spotted Oikawa heading towards you. He smiled and waved.
