Chapter 5: Game Time

~ No one's POV ~

After the boys arrived practice went on normally, at least for the most part.

Hanamaki and Matsukawa were both trying to avoid each other because of what happened which resulted to the whole team being off balance. It was all subtle at first, not talking to each other. Then it became worse, they were being out on teams and the boys protested when they were placed in the same one.

The team started getting suspicious and made up their own little stories as to why they were acting that way.

When practice ended coach called everyone together to tell them something important,

"Okay everyone, practice today was a bit... Weird but that better not affect your playing over all. I know this is very sudden but in three days we have a match with Date Tech and we need to win!" the whole room was silent. Everyone was too shocked to say anything so they all nodded and went to change.

~ Oikawa's POV ~

I couldn't believe my ears, have I really just been told that. Coach had so much time to tell us this but decided to tell us now!

This is unfair to all of us!

When I made it to the changing room everyone was still quiet and they all looked uneasy. As the captain of this team I have to do something about this. I got up on the bench in the middle of the room and shouted,

"Can I please have everyone's attention?! We all heard what coach just told us and I know we're all in shock since it was so sudden but we have to prove to him that we can do this!"

The whole team looked at me with confusion since I'm never this serious, but then my precious Iwa-chan spoke,

"I hate having to say this but Oikawa is right, we're all really good players and sudden news shouldn't affect us. So let's lighten up cause this is becoming annoying!"

I jumped off the bench onto my precious Iwa-chan and kissed him on the cheek. He growled but didn't push me off, instead he grabbed my chin and made me face him. Then he kissed me.

The team went silent again and I could hear whispers and gasps all around the room but I ignored them, this was like a once in a lifetime moment. Suddenly he pulled back and let go of me leaving me to stumble back. I smiled brightly and went to change.

~Hanamaki's POV ~

What the hell just happened?!

Oikawa and Iwaizumi just kissed in front of the whole team! And not just that, Iwaizumi started it!

This whole day has been full of surprises.

Anyway, Oikawa and Iwaizumi are right. Just because this sudden piece of news has just been revealed to us that doesn't mean we can't still play our best out there. Although with the way me and Mattsun have been acting today I doubt we'll get that much father.

I heard the bell ring signalling that classes have started and that no one in the team has fully changed. Everyone began panicking and rushing to get out as soon as possible, as for me I just ran out with my tie and blazer in my hand along with a half-buttoned up shirt.

I was a mess.

"Oi wait for me!" I heard a voice call out behind me, but even though I knew who it was I didn't pay it any mind and continued to sprint down the corridors toward my class.

When I fi ally got there I burst through the door, I took a second to catch my breath since I felt like I just ran a marathon, the teacher didn't say anything about me being late so I walked to my seat at the back of the class. Suddenly the door burst open again and standing there, looking like he was about to faint, was Matsukawa. I knew he was going to be pissed since I didn't stop when he called me but I couldn't care less. He walked to his seat which was conveniently placed in front of me, but I didn't say anything.

I felt bad because he seemed upset, I grabbed a piece of paper from my bag along with a pen and quickly wrote down something, I tapped his back and when he turned around with a confused look I gave him the paper.

I felt nervous because it would be so embarrassing If the teacher caught us. I heard him giggle then grab a pen and scribble something down. He turned around and threw the folded paper on my desk, I grabbed it and read it. A smile and it's way on my face along with a pink tint on my cheeks.

The teacher started talking to us, meaning the lesson started. Even though today has been full of surprises it managed to turn out fine after all.

~ No one's POV ~

- Three days until the match-

It was a Tuesday and the whole team agreed on making training more difficult than usual since they had a match against Date Tech - who are know for their high level-blocking. Before they began coach told them one thing,

'If you don't win this match I'm going to take all you guys camping and work the life out of you!'

Upon hearing that the team became even more scared, not only because of the humiliation that came along with losing but also what coach just told them, making them want to win even more.

It all worked out fine for the most part, no one was complaining about the raise in difficulty or the fact that they only had three days to practice.

As a reward for their hard work coach took them to get some ramen at the store down the street. The team had a good time chatting and laughing and telling stories, they haven't bee this carefree in a long time.

It felt refreshing.

- Two days until the match -

It was a cold Wednesday morning and the team decided to take practice outside, not taking into consideration the icy breeze around them. It only took five seconds for them to start complaining about the weather and how much they wanted to go back inside but Iwaizumi shut them up and told them to 'man up'.

After morning practice was over no one was ae to feel their bodies but right before they thought things couldn't get any worse coach reminded them they also had afternoon practice.

Everyone groaned in annoyance but complied.

- One day until the match -

This Thursday practice was different, instead of playing volleyball the team went over strategies and moves they could use to benefit them in the game.

For certain people, aka Kyotani, it was hard knowing the couldn't steal the spotlight at any given time and that they had to work with other people in order to win. It took a bit of convincing but finally he came around and agreed.

They began by practicing hand movements they would use to say what they were going to do. The whole team was already used to this but for Hanamaki it was hard remembering all of this in only day but the team made sure he wasn't left out as much as possible - after some time he got the hang of it.

To celebrate their progress they made everyone went to the same ramen store they went at on Tuesday and had a nice dinner.

- Day of the match -

Friday was the day everyone was dreading.

The day of the match.

The team didn't meet up for morning practice and instead decided to go to the park to clear their heads.

They were there for about three hours until they went back so they could get ready and then leave. The match was taking place at the Date Tech gym, which was about thirty minutes away from their school meaning they had to take the bus provided by the school.

While on the bus everyone was minding their own business.

Oikawa was sitting next to Iwaizumi.

Yahaba was sitting next to Kyotani.

Kunimi was sitting next Kindaichi.

Matsukawa was sitting next to Hanamaki.

Watari was sitting next to Sawauchi.

Shido was sitting next to Yuda.

After thirty minutes they got there and headed straight inside the gym taking in how massive and clean it was, the opposite team was already there and was stretching. The boys went to get ready as well, stretching, receiving, serving and all that good stuff.

While doing that they noticed that there were supporters for both teams which took them by surprise.

A whistle blew indicating that the match was about to start, it was a three-set match and whoever got two would win - obviously.

The first line up consisted of Iwaizumi, Oikawa, Watari, Kindaichi, Matsukawa and Sawauchi. And when they got to the last set they would swap out for their more powerful one which consisted of Iwaizumi, Oikawa, Watari, Matsukawa, Kyotani and Hanamaki.

(keep in mind I'm really bad at writing this kind of stuff and i don't really know how volleyball works but i tried my best so bare with me)

\\ First Set //

Date Tech was serving first so Aone went to the back line to get ready. The whistle blew and Aone ran up, threw the ball in the air and hit it with all his force.

The ball hit the floor and Date Tech was the first to score a point, but that didn't bring Seijoh's spirits down. Aone went to serve again but this time Watari managed to pick it up in time. The ball was in the air and Oikawa caught it and set it Iwaizumi, but he was quickly got blocked by their famous 'Iron Wall'. Let's just say he was pissed.

15 - 12

The match has only been going on for thirty minutes but Date Tech has managed to be in the lead with three points. Seijoh was obviously not playing their best, for some reason, and everyone could see that - yet coach chose to not waste their time-out for something like that. and he just hoped they would get better by the time the second set came around.

Their spikes were stopped many times due to the strong blocking from the opposite team. Their hopes of winning the first set were slowly fading away along with their enthusiasm.

24 - 21

Date Tech was at match point. They truly deserved it, they've gotten way more stronger than last they went against each other.

Halfway through the match Aone was swapped out for Futakuchi and he was now serving, he was never known for the best serves but at this time it really didn't matter. Futakuchi threw the ball in the air and smacked it forward with a minimum amount of force. It hit the net but luckily Sawauchi was close enough and hit it upwards, Oikawa tried to set it but it was too short so when Kindaichi hit it Date Tech easily blocked it. They scored a point meaning they won the first set.

\\ First Set - End | Winner - Date Tech //

-----------

\\ Second Set//

While swapping out some of their players both Date Tech and Seijoh came up with some strategies as to how they can win this set. Now we'll just see who's one worked the best.

It was Seijoh's turn to serve so Yuda went to the back line and started preparing. He did the usual thing but with a twist, instead of taking five steps he took three and made sure the ball hit the net. It did. Sakunami realised his plan and tried to save it but failed. This brought Seijoh's spirits high and were now way more confident than they needed to be.

16 - 15

Eventually the other team found a loophole around Yuda's serve and even scored some points for themselves. Now it was Kunimi's turn to serve which was another advantage for Seijoh, since Kunimi doesn't play that much and usually he's on the outside Date Tech haven't seen his true potential. He's actually better than everyone thought because he has his own way of serving that can score a lot of points, It's basically a mix between a jump-float and a normal one. The reason he's not a pinch server is because the team need his mental abilities during any game - even if he's on the bench.

(KUNIMI SUPREMACY!!!!!)

They were able to score around five points with Kunimi's serve which finally put them in the lead. Looks like this second set was going a lot better than they expected, but of course they still put all their efforts into it. Date Tech was getting a little scared since they thought they could win the first two sets and the match all together but their plans were ruined with the new line up Seijoh had for this set.

24 - 23

Date Tech somehow caught up with Seijoh but that didn't exactly mean they were going to win. Oikawa was up to serve and Date Tech suddenly became more aware of the space around them, this was just an effect that Oikawa's serves had on most teams. He threw the ball and flawlessly hit it forward right over the net, Sasaya dug it up and the ball was now in the air. Koganegawa quickly caught it and set it to Obara who then spiked it down but right before it could even pass the net Shido blocked it. The ball fell on the floor and the room was silent. Then Seijoh's side of the room started clapping and cheering.

\\ Second Set - End | Winner - Aoba Johsai //

-----------

\\ Third Set //

(because i'm really bad at writing this i'm going to skip to when both the teams are tied on a match point)

24 - 24

Both teams were tired and felt like dying. Whoever scored next was going to win this match and right now it could be anyone.

The ball has been passed around from team to team for a while now since both were trying to steal the last point. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The only thing you could hear was the smacking of the ball on each of the players' palms along with the scraping of shoes on glossy floor.

Date Tech was in the possession of the ball and were nearly about to score but Watari picked their spike up like the good libero he was. Now that the ball was in Seijoh's territory they were in full control of it so they decided to use their secret weapon since it was in fact the only thing that could, maybe, score the last point they needed to win.

Their secret weapon consisted of Iwaizumi, Kyotani, Matsukawa and Hanamaki doing a synchronized attack where the one truly scoring was Hanamaki - this is because no one really knew his abilities so they also wouldn't know how to stop him.

Before the ball could fall in Oikawa's hands the four boys ran up. Iwaizumi jumped and pretended to spike and got the other teams attention who tried blocking him. Then Kyotani suddeny jumped and 'spiked' but, of course, there was nothing. The other team got confused but figured out that Matsukawa was the one to actually spike and went to block him, like the other two he did the same thing but before he hit the ground Hanamaki jumped and spiked the ball Oikawa set for him. Date Tech was too late to block his attack and the ball fell to the floor with a loud THUD.

The room erupted in cheers and shouting and clapping for Seijoh. They ran in the middle of the court and hugged each other crying, they were all a sweating mess.

\\ Third Set - End | Winner - Aoba Johsai //

-----------

After the match coach congratulated them and took the team to that same ramen store they went at before. The whole team celebrating their win, it felt way better since the small amount of time they had to get ready and the fact the synchronized attack worked. Hanamaki was praised and complimented on his spike and was so happy to finally be part of this team.

At the end of the night everyone went home and slept, it was the weekend after all.