1foxgiven | Seen you 'round before

It's a practice game, one of many they'll have during this relatively new training camp. It's a good excuse as any for any of the players from the Miyagi powerhouse school to take it easy and just loosen up and have some fun.

Ushijima doesn't and perhaps never will see it that way.

Thanks to the efforts of their southpaw ace, Shiratorizawa has taken the lead in this set, as they have in many here at the camp, and they're not showing any signs of letting their guard down. If anything, from the way things look over on Ushijima's side of the net -- how the other, more experienced players are bracing themselves and positioning their bodies so that the blockers can divert his spikes to safer zones on the court -- things will only get tougher from here on out.

Their libero hits a volley that had gone too high and their setter, Semi calls out to their ace to prepare him for his next set. And like clockwork, Ushijima takes a running start and leaps up, left arm drawn back to draw in the necessary power, and spikes it hard over the net.

Aimed directly towards Kita.

Fun is, of course, relative. Ushijima aiming at you? Probably not fun for most people.

Kita's not most people. He is here to do his job. Learn to be better, so Inarizaki can be better. Which means facing the strongest. Study. Prepare. It's his first time against Ushijima. With all the power and speed and the left-handed strikes. But none of that is surprising.

It's no different then practice. Then any other receive.

Just backwards -

And like blocking an earthquake -

And this time Kita hops back just that little bit faster, the angle just so -

"It's up!"

Atsumu dives in. Sets to the blur of Osamu, already at the net. Above any blockers. The gym shakes again, first from the point and then from twin whoops. Kita allows a small smile. Lets the satisfaction bloom.

"Okay, let's get the next," their Captain calls. Before the celebrating gets out of hand.

Atsumu steps up to serve for Inarizaki.

Edited 2021-02-18 01:13 (UTC)

It's a bit of a surprise that the ball goes up, instead of redirected at break-neck speed somewhere off the court for the poor ball boys to go fetch. A few of them even let out oh's of surprise when the Inarizaki pale-haired second-year manages to properly receive it; they let out more when the Miya twins score with a freak quick attack that even Wakatoshi can't help but be impressed by.

While not unheard of, even the most talented liberos and defensive players had difficulty receiving his spikes due to its power and spin.

His teammates encourage each other with don't mind and we'll get the next one, don't worry. Easier said than done, Wakatoshi realizes this now.

Good.

There's the ghost of a grin on Wakatoshi's lips at the prospect of that and even though the Shiratorizawa team played in a way that kept him from having to receive too often, he bends his knees and hunches his back slightly in preparation for the would-be setter's serve.

There were talks floating around the camp that despite being a first-year, the Miya is among the finest setters in the country and his serves were something to behold.

Well that got some attention!

Kita shakes the sting out of his arms. Settles in for the serve. Atsumu launches the ball, then himself after. Almost impossibly high.

You could watch it forever.

In a way, the Miya brothers are an answer to Shiratorizawa's Canon. The power spread across two people, instead of one. Osamu showed it with the spike - And Atsumu adds a Service Ace on top of it. Landing it between Ushijima and a lanky red-head.

"Hell yeah!"

Kita nods. Good. First one today, that should go a long way to keeping things going.

And, just as rumored, the service ace is wicked and, yes, on the same level's as Oikawa's. Perhaps not as polished, but given time...

Ushijima doesn't let his imagination wander any further than that, and readies himself for the next ball that will come over their way. The more experienced and, apparently, informed third-years murmur something amongst the team about how serves tend to switch up when that Miya's up. Ushijima's not their primary defense so he offers no input but he does keep it in mind in case he gets the cheeky idea to send it his way. His spikes are his main weapon but he's good at receiving too.

He licks the sweat off his lip and watches. He's supposed to be watching the server -- they all are -- but he can't help let his vision drift over to the one who received his spike earlier. He's not sure why. Perhaps he's looking for some kind of sign?

Except there really isn't a need for there to be one. But who can truly say? Some servers take cues from their upperclassmen...

And some servers decide they're just going to do whatever looks coolest.

Kita grits his teeth, when he registers Atsumu's approach.

Float serve.

Even though that's got maybe a 50% success rate.

Ushijima notices the tightness in Kita's jaw. It's a subtle, barely-noticeable shift in his otherwise passive expression, but it's a shift nonetheless. He doesn't know what it means, or if it means anything at all, but he's convinced there's significance behind it -- otherwise, why would someone so quiet and unexpressive react in such a way?

"It might be higher," he murmurs to the closest teammate listening.

Perhaps not used to their ace saying anything in the middle of one of these pick-up games, the teammate starts but eventually whispers a similar strategy to the libero next to them.

And rather than wait with his knees bent and his body low to the ground, he raises himself up a bit, puts less pressure on his feet in case he has to run or dive.

Come on...

Kita catches the shift in Shiratorizawa. As if they've read something.

Nothing to do about it now.

The ball drifts from Atsumu's palm. Wanders lazily, as though there is all the time in the world.

At least it passes over the net.

Better than usual...

"Up front!" hollers Reon, having quickly recalled their ace's earlier warning. Looks like Ushijima's instincts proved true.

Their trusty libero makes a mad dash towards the net to stop the ball's trajectory with his palms, launching it toward the setter, now positioned on the right side of the court. Just the perfect spot for him to set the ball up for their trusty southpaw ace.

Eagle-like eyes keen on the ball, Ushijima steps into the approach, once, twice, three times before he jumps up, arm drawn back, and slams the ball down onto the other side of the net.

There's a loud groan from Atsumu.

Osamu slaps him on the back. Glowering across the court. "Is that guy for real?!"

"Yes," Kita breaks in. "And we will deal with it. Get ready."

He's smiling, though. Because the score doesn't matter. Not to him, not right now. The Miya Brothers could easily have pointed fingers. Started another shouting match. Instead? There was comfort.

They've been reminded who the opponent is.

In the next rotation, Ushijima doesn't get to serve. That honor goes to one of the third years whose serves are just fairly average for Shiratorizawa -- strong and quick, but nothing to write home about. A powerhouse school would have no problems receiving it.

The real test will come if Inarizaki are able to get the ball back over to Shiratorizawa's side of the net and ready themselves for a set-up for their cannon.

Ushijima's licking his lips in anticipation for it.

The idea isn't to stop Ushijima.

That would take some kind of monumental force. Not impossible, but not Inarizaki's build.

Divert it.

Touch it.

Do anything to keep it going.

The battle starts.

Kita shifts. Adrenaline surging bitter-bright, but he holds his place.

Waiting...

The volleyball couldn't have been set better in these conditions. It's not perfect but it'll do, Wakatoshi thinks, as he takes measured, precise steps toward the sailing ball and launches himself up into the air after it, body arched and arm drawn back. Once the ball descends to the perfect distance above the net, he swings his arm, his strong palm smacking hard against the ball in an attempt to slam it down on the floor on the Inarizaki side.

It comes in flashes.

- Ball screaming - Squeal of sneakers - Impact of leather against skin, blur of colors suddenly too close -

- Kita tastes copper -

- Something's bleeding, but for right now -

"It's up!"

Somehow, Ushijima expected Inarizaki would at least get the ball up on their end. Their tenacity has proven high-level at this point, and he would have disappointed if his expectations of them were faulted.

The ball goes up and there's a brief scramble of players readying to set it up, until a shrill whistle from an official puts an abrupt end to the frenzy.

Shiratorizawa, on their end, stops and looks to the official for clarification but there's no given explanation, now that the official left his post by the net and hurried over to the Inarizaki side of the court. They're left to huddle in an impromptu break, looking at each other with the same silent question.

What happened?

Ushijima himself remains quiet, shaking his head a bit when Reon sidles up beside him with one of a water bottle and asks if he saw what happened. No, he didn't see it, but he kind of has an idea. He glances over toward the opponents' side.

Someone's possibly injured.

He touched it.

Unfortunately, more with his face than anything else.

Kita keeps a towel clamped to his nose, as he's led off the floor. Which of course is what has to happen. There is a medical procedure to follow. He's hardly going to resist. It hurts, and will set a bad example for the younger players.

But leaving the job undone - So frustrating...

The commotion and confusion clear up -- at least on Shiratorizawa's end -- when the injured player is led off the court and the gym toward the nurse's office, a red-splotched towel held over his face. That what happened? from before is now abundantly clear.

Injuries are common in sports, especially in high impact ones like volleyball. Even so, Ushijima can't help the wave of guilt that washes over him as he stares off at Kita's departing figure. As his teammates wince in sympathy and make remarks about how they're lucky it wasn't them that received their ace's hit to the face, a few, like the careful and empathetic Reon, offer him a consoling pat on the back and an occasional don't mind, or, it's okay, it happens.

"Alright, everyone, let's get back in the game!"

Over on the Inarizaki side, things appear more glum. Like a vital piece of what made them so tenacious to begin with had been forcibly removed. Figuratively and perhaps literally.

It's no surprise, then, when Shiratorizawa ends up winning the set by a comfortable margin.

It takes ten minutes to stop the bleeding. Just in time to watch the Match Point slam down. At least Atsumu and Osamu fought to the end. Egg each other on through the Sidestep penalty lap, yelling to Kita they'll get the next one! Just for him!

Kita tries to smile.

A little difficult. What with the throbbing headache and the ice pack pressed to his face.

Shiratorizawa gives their ace the usual congrats he tends to get after games: verbal appreciation and thanks for a good game, always respectfully distant. Wakatoshi remains quiet for the most part, acknowledging the teammates that approached him with a soft nod.

With a towel draped over his neck, he takes hearty sips of his water and listens to Reon and Semi talk about this and that, namely how nasty those twins were over at Inarizaki and how Tendou was going to have quite the rivalry with the lazy-eyed first-year middle blocker.

His attention as well as his curious gaze, however, kept drifting over to the sidelined player he had inadvertently injured. Was he alright? Did he have lasting damage?

Was he resentful towards Ushijima?

Their gazes lock. It's only for a second, at the most, yet Ushijima pauses in mid-sip to acknowledge it, to bow his head.

An apology.

Ushijima's a top player. Must have more pressing worries than a nosebleed. Especially for an opposing team's second-stringer. Injuries are unfortunate, but inevitable. It would surprise Kita, to find himself on the Ace's mind.

So at first? There's only a surprised blink.

Then Kita's manners kick back in. He tries to return the gesture, winces.

Gingerly presses the ice closer.

Ow.

Ah, good. He's fine. And --

Well, it's not enough to make Ushijima laugh -- nothing is, apparently -- but it does make him crack a small smile. Thankfully, no one seems to catch onto this silent exchange. Or, if they did, no one makes any mention of it. Not even Tendou.

With another nod, he then moves along with the rest of the team toward the gymnasium's exit. As part of their victory, Shiratorizawa has the option of doing some roadwork followed by self-practice until the barbecue later on.

Ushijima, of course, is going to take advantage of the roadwork. He slips his running shoes on and shoots a look over his shoulder toward Kita on the bench before he takes off.

Deliberate Eye Contact?

...Hm.

Kita is ordered to rest until tomorrow. No practice, no cleaning.

Which seems excessive.

Aran catches Kita sidling towards a mop. Scolding and (gently) shoving away, he tells Kita to take a break. For once. Inarizaki can manage forty minutes on their own. Maybe. Anyway, if he tries to come back the twins will carry him out.

Aran does not make idle threats.

So, Kita's settled under a tree with a fresh bag of ice. The pain has centered a bit, throbbing around his nose and eye. He suspects the latter will be interesting colors soon. If it isn't already.

As always, Ushijima runs at his own pace, for his own benefit, and on his own path. The others in Shiratorizawa have apparently not bothered trying to keep up with their ace and instead try a less insane route of their own, leaving him to his own devices.

Ushijima returns to find the gymnasium rather quiet, with the other athletes gone off on their runs or lazing about inside with half-assed practice serves.

That he finds Kita under a tree by himself is a coincidence and completely unplanned. In fact, he considers leaving him alone entirely...until he notices Kita is without a water bottle of his own.

Without prompt, Ushijima goes to the first year water boy still gathering up things and retrieves one freshly filled bottle. He sets it down beside Kita on the grass.

"Drink it slow, otherwise you run the risk of choking and coughing it up."

Kita looks up. Giving a good view of the black eye.

"Oh!"

Normally, this sort of thing is his job. Handing out water and instructions. It's - strange. Being on the other side of it, the one getting attention. From Ushijima, of all people.

Bemused, Kita sips.

Gives the water time to settle. Takes another.

"Thank you. You really didn't have to go to the trouble."

This close, the injury looks far worse than it perhaps truly is. Even so, Ushijma hadn't expected things to have gone this far and he can't help but frown at himself. Of course, from the outside, it may look like he's frowning at Kita.

His gaze averts, unwittingly focusing on some of the staff setting things up for their upcoming small barbecue.

"I'm the reason you're in this position to begin with." Expression glum -- or as glum as it can get, anyway -- Ushijima sips at his own water, waits a moment, then considers his next words.

"Are you feeling better?"

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DW eating comments again, smh

Baaaaaaaaah - BTW don't care who wins, flip a coin?

went to a flip coin site, shiratorizawa it is

Got it!

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