21

It was a week before Inter High. The volleyball boys and girls were training harder than ever. They began playing against college players left and right for two weeks now. Yoshikami stayed at the side, staring at the teamplay blankly.

"I'm sorry, Yoshikami, but with your condition, I can't let you play."

Those were her coach's words two weeks ago.

"To take place of Yoshikami's position, we'll leave Akari there permanently."

Of course, she'd get it. She was tall, healthy, and had years of experience. This short girl only played for one year. That year, that cursed year. She hated that year.

Yoshikami snapped out of her dazed thoughts. It was now or never. She placed her folded clothes on the gym floor, sticking a note on top of it. She looked back at the gym and smiled. She had fond memories and was glad to have practiced here. She bowed then walked away.

She looked down at her paper with a sad smile. She had fun, but she didn't want to fight anymore. In a prestigious school like Shiratorizawa, it would be better if she'd just give up.

It's time to say goodbye to Shiratorizawa.

Tendou looked around the cafeteria, searching for a certain somebody in the crowd.

"Isn't Hoshi a bit late?" He asked, turning his face to his friends. They were eating lunch quietly.

Ohira looked up from his food. "She didn't go to class actually. The teachers also missed out her name. Maybe she was excused?"

Tendou's eyes widened, then it closed, coming to a realization. "I see… Anywho…" His tone became one of casualty. "…Wakatoshi, did you hear about the new drama? Maki Horikita is said to lead it! She's pretty much the person who should anyway. It's all about drama and…"

Ushijima cut him off by standing up. "I'll head out first."

Soekawa furrowed his brows. "But you barely touched your food." He pointed out the completely untouched rice and curry.

Ushijima shook his head and simply left without offering a word. The boys watched his leaving form and began chattering.

"Did something happen between Yoshikami and Ushijima?" Ohira asked, thoroughly confused.

Semi sighed, sticking his spoon into the curry. "Well, Yoshikami has been avoiding us lately and Ushijima always leaves first. It's plain obvious something happened."

Yamagata turned to Tendou. "Tendou, what happened? I mean, you were the last one with Yoshikami…"

The red head froze. He didn't know how to react, but their reactions were still and worried. He had to do something. Not only for her sake, but theirs. So, he grinned. "Well, she was sad, but I cheered her up real quickly. She didn't wanna worry you guys cause of her busyness and all…"

"Bussyness isn't a word." Semi rolled his eyes, but chuckled.

Tendou stuck his tongue out. "And so… I don't know. She just told me she'll be really busy." He grinned.

Soekawa facepalmed. "Well, I can't really trust what you say, Tendou, but if she says she��s busy, then she's busy."

Silence came after that. The only sounds were the chewing of their food and the other students going about what they were doing. However, there was something in the silence. The boys didn't know what it was, but it irked them. It bothered all of them, except Tendou who knew what it meant.

Ushijima was sitting on the sidewalks by the school gate. He was looking at the gate, hoping for something. In his right hand was his simple flip phone. In the other was a piece of crumpled paper.

The engagement was a week away- his mother completely fixed the decision he never regretted. It was something he hoped would never happen, but his mother wanted the Ushijima line perfect and sure.

Maybe this was why his father left. He couldn't take it from her anymore. Just like what he was feeling. He wanted his mother to let this one thing to slip by. Just to let him be with Yoshikami.

However, however…she was sickly and short. She had white hair and red eyes. She had a condition that made her incapable of doing anything strenuous. She had to be treated differently from everyone else. She made him feel something for once other than volleyball. She made him feel complete. She made him smile and accept his friends. She made him feel loved.

When he felt something wet hit his cheek, he looked up at the sky but it was just cloudy. He brushed his cheek and realized then.

He was crying. He quickly wiped it away, but more trickled down his cheeks.

Something was wrong with him. He covered his face and closed his eyes. The only time he remembered crying was when his father left.

He left because he had had enough of the life of an Ushijima.

Was he having enough as well? But he felt fine. Nothing was wrong. His heart twisted in pain and it showed clearly on his face. This was a first for him. He knew how to cover up his pain- he had done so for so many times in the past.

Why was now different than before? Why was it harder for him now? Her face appeared in his mind and he shook his head. It wasn't that. It wasn't that at all.

Her tears. Her cries.

He remembered the first time he heard it. But that wasn't the reason he was feeling this way right now.

Her smiles. Their kisses.

It wasn't that either. He searched deeper into his mind for the reason to his pain. Volleyball couldn't be the reason. He never had problems in it.

Not like she had.

His pleads to wait. Her avoiding him.

His eyes widened as the pain lurched up to his throat. The reason of his tears- he understood now. He wiped the remaining tears, at least it stopped- but the pain was still there. The crinkle of the paper rolling away alerted him and he quickly picked it up from the ground where it had fallen.

His tears, the reason for them.

He opened the paper and ran his fingers through his hair.

Hey, Ushijima, forget everything we had. It's for the best.

He closed his eyes, crumpling the paper back into its ball shape. He didn't want to forget it at all. And the fact that she thought its for the best- it hurt him to this point.

It was time for him to stand up for himself. As an Ushijima. And as her son.