Everyone on the side of our net is our ally

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Third p.o.v
"Good job everyone,"
"Good job!"
Zayd quickly passes water bottles to everyone after the practice. Hinata and Kageyama are taking huge swigs, trying to lessen their thirst, making the assistant-manager a bit worried they're going to choke any second now. Hinata pulls away first, a sigh escaping his lips.
"I wonder if things would go smoother for Sugawara-san and Nishinoya-san if Asahi-san came back." He comments, a thoughtful glance in his eyes. Zayd blinks, a curious thought forms in the back of his head. At his voice, Kageyama also stops drinking, and shrugs halfheartedly, "Who knows?"
"I heard Asahi-san takes all the blame upon himself," Hinata arches his brow a little as if it's a crazy idea of taking all the blame upon yourself, "but don't you think Sugawara-san is like that, too?" Kageyama screws his bottle shut before replying.
"I guess they both have a sense of responsibility," he opens his eyes, a serious expression on his face, "even though you don't win a game by yourself."
Hinata whips around, pointing a finger at Kageyama. "Y-You should talk!" His exclamation startles the hell out of both Kageyama and Zayd as Hinata brings his arm back before pointing at him once again. "I clearly remember your words...!" He flattens his hair, narrowing his eyes and speaks up, deepening his voice on purpose, "I wish I could receive, toss, and spike, all by myself."
The said male's cheeks are a rosy color and he tries to stop Hinata from saying anything else, feeling like he's embarrassing him in front of the manager on purpose. He grabs Hinata by the hem, shaking him a little. "Shut up!"
Ignoring him, Hinata turns away, "I wish I could-"
Screaming in embarrassment as his face flames up completely as Hinata once again does an impression of Kageyama, the latter throws Hinata into the air, who looks surprised for a second before he neatly lands on his feet. A chuckle slips past Zayd's lips, making the freak blush at his laugh before Hinata focuses on the conversation again.
"Everyone on our side of the net should be an ally." The sudden change of conversation, catches Kageyama off guard, and he asks dumbly,
"Huh?"
"I don't like it when we don't get along." Is all he says. Zayd stares at him silently before he is called away by Yumi, who's screaming they should hurry up.

Later

Third p.o.v
Asahi looks taken aback as two first-years are once again standing in front of his classroom. A sweat drop slides down his cheek and he awkwardly scratches the back of his head as the duo continues to stare, not saying anything.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but.... Why are you even interested in me? We haven't even practiced together." He is startled when the shortest (was his name Hinata?) shouts.
"Because if you don't come back, the second- and third-years will stay disheartened!" The tallest immediately jabs the orange-haired boy between the ribs, ignoring the yelp of pain from the boy, the former scolds him.
"You're being way too loud." An involuntary chuckle escapes Asahi.
"You guys are interesting. But, I'm sorry to say...." He smiles melancholic, "I can no longer visualize spiking past high blocks in front of me." Hands looming over him, getting higher and higher....closing in on him.
"I can't get the thoughts of getting shut out, of seeing myself intimidated, and self-destructing, out of my head." Hinata glances down, a quick shadow crosses his face.
"You might think what I'm about to say is cocky for a first-year." Kageyama eyes him as Asahi looks surprised for a moment at the different topic, but shakes his head.
"I won't think that. What is it?"
"I understand how you feel." He declares, "I'm short and have no skills, so I constantly get blocked. But now..." he grabs Kageyama's arm and points at him. "I have this guy tossing to me, so I can get past any blocker." Kageyama stares at him silently as he lets go of his arm and spreads his arms far and wide. "All the blockers vanish from sight... And the view of the other side of the net opens up."
Ah.... I sort of know what that view is like. That thought crosses Asahi's mind as he remembers when he was able to spike freely, the other side of the net opening up to him. "Then, at the highest point, the ball hits my hand," he imitates a quick spike, "I feel the heft of the ball snug in my palm. I love that."
Asahi stays silent as he gazes sadly into the air. I know that feeling as well. Noting he isn't going to reply, Hinata continues.
"I envy you, Asahi-san. I don't have the height or power to spike through blockers on my own, but you do, Asahi-san. Maybe they've blocked lots of your spikes, but you've spiked lots of points, too, haven't you?" He looks up in surprise to Hinata.
"That's why everyone calls you the ace, Asahi-san."
Hinata looks at Asahi with a determined expression. The next moment the school bell starts to ring shrill through the whole school. Kageyama rolls his eyes as Hinata is still standing there, and starts walking.
"It's time. Let's go." Receiving no answer from Hinata, he stops. "Moron, we'll be late for class." He punches him on the back of his head, and Hinata's head snaps to the side before he walks off, groaning softly as he rubs his head.
Kageyama looks like he wants to follow Hinata before a thought comes to his mind, and he turns back to Asahi, who stands there deep in thought. "Um.... You don't win alone. That's just how it is. That's why there are six players on the court. I didn't realize that til just recently, so I'm not one to talk." He gives Asahi a quick bow with his head. "Excuse me."

Later

Third p.o.v
The sound of people chattering around Asahi fade into the background as he makes his way downstairs, seemingly lost in thought. Apparently so lost in thought, that he doesn't notice he accidentally made his way to the gym till he lifts his head up. He turns his head slightly to look inside.
The sound of shoes squeaking and two voices shouting at each other is what in the end draws him to it, curiosity getting the better of him. When he arrives, a pair of shoes appear in sight, the voice sounds very competitive as it shouts,
"One more! Bring another!" The other voice that snaps back sounds irritated.
"Urusai! I know that. Here goes!"
Asahi stares and sees Hinata running towards the net, him and Kageyama are both in sync as the former jumps ever so high while the latter tosses quickly. He watches in astonishment as Hinata climbs higher and higher, and when he reaches the highest point, spikes the ball onto the opposite of the field. His mouth is slack as he stands there, just staring at the play that happened in front of his own eyes.
"And then at the highest point, the ball hits my hand." His eyes were full of adoration. "I feel the heft of the ball, snug in palm,"
His gaze is almost wistful as he gazes down at his hand, the voice of Hinata is full of love for volleyball as he declares, "I love that." The image of the feeling of a ball hitting his hand is so real, he can almost feel like he really has a ball in hand. I know.... His eyes are swirling with a mix of regret, doubt and sadness. I know it well.
"All right!" Hinata cheers, pumping his fists as his next words shake Asahi out of his thoughts, "We'll use our quick attack against Neko!" He gapes at Hinata as the words get through his head, not being able to believe it. Neko? A match against Nekoma?
"It'll be a practice match on the last day of Golden Week." A voice pipes up on his left, sounding awfully too cheery. Asahi stiffens up and turns to look at Sawamura, and all he manages to squeak out is a, "yikes!", before turning around, and starts running away from someone scarier than the devil himself when he's mad.
"What do you mean 'yikes'? Hey, don't run away!" Shouts Sawamura, a vein pops up in his forehead. Asahi looks back at Sawamura while trying to climb over the fence, his expression is filled with something akin close to terror as he screams,
"But you're scary when you're mad!"
"I'm not mad right now!"
As Asahi slowly lowers his leg he had swung over the fence, Sawamura makes his way over to the other as he continues, this time sounding a lot calmer.
"Well, Nekoma sounds like ancient history to us. Our generation doesn't have the same Karasuno-Nekoma rivalry." He pauses, seemingly considering something as a slight smile appears on his lips. "Although.... 'Cat vs Crow: Battle at the Garbage Dump'." He turns serious again as he turns back to eye Asahi.
"We've heard the stories about Neko. It'll be our first match in years. It does pique your interest, doesn't it?" Asahi doesn't answer the question as he instead clenches his fists, his eyebrows furrowed.
"But I've lost face with Suga and Nishinoya."
Sawamura's eyes widen, looking momentarily stunned at what he hears before he let's out a soft snicker under his breath as he closes his eyes for a moment. "You're too much." He chastises Asahi before he pats his shoulder harder than necessary as Sawamura gives him a too huge smile.
"You're still a wimp in such a big body, as usual. What a contrast to Nishinoya." Asahi sweat drops at bright aura surrounding Sawamura.
"Can't you sugarcoat your words a little?" Turning away from Asahi, he closes his eyes, lifting his chin a bit.
"Don't worry. Both Suga and Nishinoya are fine. Unlike you, they have big hearts." Asahi looks close to pouting as he responds,
"Weren't you supposed to be a kind person?" Sawamura turns around, his eyes still closed as he starts walking back to the gym.
"I'm kind to everyone, except you. Because you're a wimp." This time pouting for real, Asahi watches him, not going against what he is saying, but also not outright agreeing.
"You ditched us for a whole month, you complain about your anxiety.... but those things don't matter to me. If you still like volleyball," He halts in his steps, his expression serious as his eyes show nothing but an eerie calmness, "that's reason enough to come back." Asahi stares at him, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh, yeah." Sawamura adds as an afterthought, "We've got a guy who hopes to become the Ace." Asahi's mind flashes back to when he saw Hinata jumping for the first time. He casts his eyes down to gaze at his hand, a melancholic glance are in them. Until all of the sudden he is hit on his arm by Sawamura himself, a loud yelp escapes his mouth.
"Ouch!"

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