𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ll 𝐡. 𝐲𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 9 𝚕 𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗

One Year Prior, Spring Finals. Nekoma vs Itachiyama 

"Yul, nice receive!" Sakura called. Their libero nodded, the ball flying over the net.

"Kashiyomi! Pass it here!" The opposing team's Wing Spiker yelled, waving her hand wildly. Their setter glanced around, their hands skimming the ball as they tossed it towards the Ace. The girl grinned, jumping into the air and spiking it down. Kazu--their middle blocker--dove forward, ball smacking against her arm.

"Chance ball!" Gold clashed with brown as Okaru--their setter--and Sakura shared a quick glance. She had this. She could get their flow going and take the second set! Her feet pounded against the ground, jumping into the air.

"A triple block!" Someone voiced from the crowd. A sly grin spread over Sakura's face, unnerving the other team. The ball slowed in front of her and she maneuvered her forearm to the right, the ball flying past the blockers. A perfectly executed cut-shot. But not all could go well. Not for Sakura, who's mind had been somewhere else as she stretched earlier. The ball smacked the ground, almost completely masking the sound as Sakura landed off-balance, crashing to the ground. The team only noticed when they went to high-five their Captain, their Ace and only stopped to notice Sakura curled up on the ground, her hands wrapped around her right knee, tears streaming down her face and small whimpers of pain coming from her lips.

"Sakura?" Yul inquired, looking at the Wing Spiker with wide eyes.

"We need medical assistance!" Their coach shouted. A whistle blew through the gym, but Sakura could not hear it over her pain. Even as she was lifted to her feet by their manager, sobbing uncontrollably.

"They lost their Captain. And Ace! How's Nekoma going to come back from this one?"

"Nekoma's lost their backbone. No way Itachiyama's going to lose now."

"Guess Nekoma can kiss goodbye to Nationals..."

~

"Nekoma lost that year. And the girl's team never really made a big comeback." Sakura mumbled, rubbing her knee absentmindedly before sighing. "How'd you know about it, anyway Sho-Chan?" Hinata, who had been listening intently, sniffled.

He hadn't been crying, at all. Nope!

"After I got obsessed with volleyball, I started watching matches. I happened to be home after practice and figured that if I had played with girls for practice, watching them couldn't hurt. I saw your match. And those perfect cut-shots. You were amazing, Kuroo-Senpai." Sakura huffed out a breath.

"Yeah, I suppose so. But I also suppose I could get you started with a cut-shot." She motioned him forward. "Go get Akashi, and he'll set for us." Hinata nodded before bounding off. She let out a sigh, heading towards the second gym.

~

"Yeah, just like that!" Sakura called as Hinata managed to get it inside the court. He landed with sparkles in his eyes, grinning ear-to-ear.

"So why are you teaching this kid again?" Kuroo--who had come over after finishing practice-asked. Sakura shrugged.

"If I can't play then why not teach?" She retorted. "But next training camp, I'll have Bokuto help. He's a lot better at them than I ever was." Kuroo clapped her on the back.

"No way! Nekoma's team was recognized because you could execute them so flawlessly." She elbowed him back. "No, seriously. Especially when it looked like you set them up for one and ended up just feinting it. I friggin' love it when you do that!" She blushed a little.

"Uh huh. Maybe I'll have to start coaching Lev. Make him my pupil." She rubbed her hands together evilly. "Great idea me!"