Chapter 12, Sync

THIRD POV

"Kira." Shirome called as she tossed the bump of Ameri.

Kira jumped and hit hard, the ball going between Kindaichi's arms and hitting the other side. They earned a point.

Whistle

Seijoh took a time out.

It was a 15-11 with Fushichou in lead. They took their timeout to strategize.

Oikawa sighed after he drank water, "That little number 1 is an expert setter. Can you see how the spikers just take a glance at the ball and jump? They clearly trust her tosses."

"Yeah, not to mention their spikers are hard hitters. Middle blockers are sharp too. The libero is keen on giving her perfect passes," Kunimi said, glancing at his bottle.

Iwaizumi wiped his forehead, "If the libero is the one giving their setter a perfect pass, we just have to make sure whatever hit we do, she won't receive well."

"So we stress her out? Or piss her off?" Kindaichi furrowed his eyebrows.

"Both," Kyoutani growled, taking the team by surprise.

Yahaba scoffed, "That's awful. They're girls," He said, not looking at Kyoutani.

"But then again, it's a nice idea," Oikawa grinned, "Their small captain never received once this match, right? Maybe because she's not good at it. Make sure to target her."

The team just glanced at each other, having no choice but to agree.

•

"Eek! Do you see how their number 16 spike? It's like he's angry or something. Does he have some kind of peeve for us?" Ameri shuddered.

Shirome lightly chuckled, "He's a great spiker. But he clearly lacks communication with the team, he's hungry for every toss. Their team captain is doing a great job fuelling it."

"Just stay sharp. Our blocks can counter their spikes, if you can't then just block a specific way and let Ameri receive it," The small setter continued.

"They're really tall too," Hito said, fondling with her towel.

The team consists of 5'2" to 6'0" ft. The captain is the shortest and Hito is the tallest with 6'0". Aoi is 5'10", Kira is 5'9", Leki is 5'11", Ameri is 5'4", Haide was 5'6".

But they're still decent jumpers, since the captain insists they work on strengthening their calves.

Shirome gave them a smile, "Height is barely a problem in volleyball if you're filled with passion and determination to fight."

Easy for you to say, Shiro. You're a prodigy. Ameri giggled to herself.

The team smiled as well and took their last drink as the whistle blew, signalling the end of their timeout.

"Also, watch out for their number 4," She told the team.

Oikawa slightly smirked, "Let's end this."

The teams continued rallying, both sides occasionally scoring. Although it was intense, it was fun for other players. Shirome remained sharp and sure to toss every ball.

"Cover!" Ameri exclaimed as she uncomfortably received number 4's spike.

It was going out, but the small captain can't allow it.

Swiftly going to the ball, she lightly kicked it in a set form. Kira slammed it down, earning them a point.

"Nice cover!" The girls on the bench said in sync.

Shirome glanced at Oikawa who was analyzing her, looking if she has any weak points.

The tall brunette turned away, the tip of his ears slightly pink.

It's now 22-19, Seijoh in lead. But it was also time for Shirome's serve.

"Nice serve!" The girls hollered.

Shirome bounced the ball with a blank face, waiting for the whistle.

As soon as it signalled, she immediately made a fast float.

Their libero, Watari, failed to receive it.

It was silent, but Shirome didn't mind.

She served again as soon as the whistle blew, earning another point.

This goes on until they hit 22-24, the whistle blew.

This is stupid. Why can't we receive a single serve of hers? Iwaizumi frowned.

Shirome looked at the scoreboard and sighed, confusing the opposing team.

Ameri sighed, "Damn it."

Shirome made a normal spike serve, a light one.

The other team was a little annoyed that she held back on them, but took the chance ball.

"Alright!" Their libero said, passing it to Oikawa.

The brunette got into a setting position as he did a dump.

But Shirome was there to toss the ball to Leki as soon as Oikawa did a dump.

They were taken aback, but still reacted to the spike.

Number 4 spiked it, but Aoi received it and passed it to Ameri.

Ameri did a libero toss, surprising everyone as she did decent setting position.

"Last!" Ameri tossed the ball to the back, confusing Seijoh.

Before they can even react, Shirome already jumped and hit the ball. They won the match.

"Nice toss," She calmly said as she offered the cherry libero a high five.

"What the hell?" Kyoutani muttered under his breath.

The other team was still recovering from what happened. She reminded them of a certain shrimp from Karasuno.

The whistle blew indicating that the match ended.

Shirome turned to them with a smile, "Thank you for playing with us! You all are really great players. Can we move to the official training?" She beamed at them.

Almost all of them felt a burn in their hearts, almost melting in the process.

And so the girls rested as the libero and captain take lead.

"Alright, spiking drills," Shirome said as Ameri nodded and got in the opposite position from her.

The boys at Seijoh lined up, preparing to spike a ball from Shirome's set. She was trying to see how they spiked and analyzed their weak points.

She can tell from the move of their muscles.

Ameri bumped the ball to her and the small setter jumped to toss at the running number 1.

Oikawa touched the ball, feeling satisfied as he slammed the ball down perfectly.

"Woah, that was a really nice toss," Oikawa gave him his heart warming smile, testing her.

"Thanks. That was also a really nice spike. Next please," She gave him a quick smile and looked at the next spiker.

Oikawa was surprised and his mouth was agape, his team snickered as he retreated to the back.

"2, you can hit harder than that."

"3, you can go faster."

"Iwaizumi," Iwaizumi said quickly before she calls him by his number.

"Iwaizumi, you slightly hesitated my toss. Was it too slow and low?" She asked politely.

Iwaizumi blinked, "Uh-no."

The gradient head smiled at him, making his stomach flutter, "Again, please. I'll give the toss you want, please don't hesitate."

He nodded and gulped.

He ran and slammed the toss of the small setter, Shirome smiling satisfied.

"That's a really amazing spike, Senpai," She said, making Iwaizumi blush slightly so he looked away.

"Y-Yeah, thanks. That was an amazing toss too," He said as he retreated, making some members laugh at his flushed face.

Shirome was of course, oblivious.

Next was their pinch server, Yahaba.

"Yahaba," He said with a rather 'manly' voice.

Shirome blinked, "Senpai, you focused too much on power. Your spike was out," She said as she pointed to the ball that rolled far.

His teammates laughed, making him blush, embarassed.

Shirome approached him and held his hand, stroking it and looking at him.

"One more time," She smiled at him.

She then got back to her setting position.

Yahaba was blushing a deep red, so when he slightly stumbled on his step to walk a distance for a run up, his teammates laughed even harder at how he looks like a tomato.

She tossed and he spiked it, the ball felt perfect on the boy's hand.

"T-That was a beautiful toss," Yahaba stuttered as he got even redder.

Shirome smiled at him eyes closed, "Thanks."

And so number 12 was next.

He looks like a strong hitter. Shirome thought, and gave him a high toss.

He connected and slammed it down, sparkles in his eyes.

"T-That's really cool! I'm Kindaichi! I'm a first year!" He excitedly said to her.

She giggled slightly, sending a rush of blood to the turnip's face, "Thank you, Kindaichi. I'm Shirome."

He gave her a happy thumbs up that she returned, and moved so that the next spiker can hit.

The next one is number 13 who looks rather bored and won't make eye contact with the small setter.

Shirome hummed as she checked him out, from head to toe.

Number 13, noticing this, blushed and looked away, "Give me my toss now," He tried so hard not to stutter.

"Alright. Ameri," She called out to the cherry libero.

She jumped and tossed it once he jumped, the ball colliding with his hand perfectly.

"Kunimi," The boy muttered quietly for the girl to only hear.

"Nice kill, Senpai!" She beamed, not knowing that they're both first years.

"I'm a first year too," He slightly frowned but chuckled lightly at her after.

Shirome blinked and blushed slightly, shocking the first year, "Oh, sorry," She said slightly bowing her head.

Most of the people in the gym noticed this as raised their brows.

"I-It's fine," Kunimi said and walking away, only to be met by teasing noises from his teammates.

Next was the last one, number 16. He was giving off a dark aura and seemed to be glaring at the small girl.

"Tch," He huffed as he readied himself for a run up.

Not bothered by his personality Shirome decided to toss him a fast and high one. Regarding his spikes earlier, she concluded he was a rather aggressive spiker and is hungry to hit every ball.

Once she tossed this ball, everyone was shocked. They thought number 16 couldn't hit it but they were wrong. He hit it perfectly.

It almost looked like a minus tempo, but Shirome tossed it with ease, as did number 16.

Kyoutani turned to her with an eager face with respect as his eyes slightly sparkled, "Kyoutani."

"Nice hit, Kyoutani," She beamed, afraid to use honorifics after the incident earlier.

"I'm a 2nd year.." He quietly muttered.

Shirome chuckled slightly, "Nice one, Senpai."

With the spiking drills finished, they ushered the boys to do stretching.

It was chaos.

—

whew