Chapter 13, Serve

THIRD POV

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Kyoutani–why are you even the one who's helping me out?! If this is even helping at all!" One of the boys complained.

Shirome looks concerned, but is stifling a laugh.

"Tch," Kyoutani rolled his eyes and pushed the suffering male's front more to the ground.

"Yahaba, Kyoutani! Stop it, both of you!" Iwaizumi shouted at them, while his chest is pressed on the ground.

Yahaba flailed on the ground and Kyoutani eventually let go of him.

The gradient head is looking at the team with Seijoh, amused. The girls were focused but you can clearly tell some of them are holding back their laughs, clearly enjoying seeing the boys suffering under their hold.

Shirome was the one with a clipboard, writing down their weak points, and where they can improve their flexibility on.

"Take this seriously," The ½n½ said, loud enough for everyone in the court to hear. She didn't look up, she was scribbling something.

'Don't put Yahaba and Kyoutani near each other when stretching.' She side noted. She was gonna give this to Seijoh's coach later.

She sighed heavily, making the team who heard it, anxious.

So they put more pressure on the back of the boys.

"HOLY SHI–" Iwaizumi threw his towel at Oikawa who was about to swear.

The boys were suffering, and Shirome was thwarting her sadistic side.

"Flexibility is essential in your plays. With it, you can move with more agility and stability. With your muscle fibers being stretched, it will eventually get used to the routine. You can bend in any accurate angle with ease and improve the range of your joints' motions," Shirome explained, trying to reassure them that the pain was worth it.

"Eep!" Haide took a step back, scared after Kyoutani glared at her.

"Oi, Kyoutani. Participate," Iwaizumi growled at him.

"Ugh, how long will this last?" Kunimi boredly said with a tint of pain, his cheek resting on the ground while his arms were sprawled.

"Haide," Shirome called to the taller setter.

Shirome handed her the clipboard, the taller first year nodded at her idea.

The gradient head approached Kyoutani and smiled at him, pointing to the ground.

The blonde hesitantly followed, stretching his legs infront and arms reaching front.

The small captain rested her hands gently on his back, making him wince a little. She slowly puts pressure as he adjusts to the stretch.

He groans softly but she can tell that he is comfortable. Soon she bent and laid her little hands flat on his back, he is totally pressed flat on the ground, his arms on his sides.

Her brows were slightly raised, she didn't realize he was this flexible.

•

The other boys finally retracted from the awful stretch and slightly gasped at Kyoutani.

More importantly, Shirome who was sitting on Kyoutani's back, her legs bent under her.

And Kyoutani looked comfortable.

"W-WHAT-" Yahaba stared in disbelief.

Kunimi's eyes were wide, so was Kindaichi's. Oikawa's eyes were twitching. Iwaizumi just stared shocked with his eyebrows raised. Watari was in awe. Matsukawa and Hanamaki were the only ones calm, along with the three 3rd Years who just stared, amused.

"C-Captain!" Haide squeaked as she stumbled slightly and approached the 2.

The smaller 1st year got off of him as Kyoutani sat up, face blank but a blush was slightly dusting his face.

"Alright! That was a really good final stretch. After your arms, head, hips, and legs stretching, this was by far the hardest stretch you've done. Your spines need improving," The small captain calmly explained and took the clipboard from Haide with a small thanks.

The coach of Seijoh and Fushichou whistled, "Water break! After this, you all will play a final set, rest, and go home."

Both the teams sat on their respective benches to rest and drink their water, whilst the small setter picked a ball, about to practice her serves.

"Hey."

She turned around to see the other team's captain.

"Ah, Senpai," She greeted, spinning the ball on her palm.

The tall brunette's eyes slightly widened.

He laughed slightly and took the ball from her palm, "Tooru's fine."

"Oh, okay.." She said as she looked at the ball on his palm.

"Come on, I'll show you my really amazing serve."

She frowned, "But you're on water break."

He grins, "Showing my skills to a cute girl won't hurt, right?"

She was confused but nodded slowly, following him on the serving zone of the court.

Eyes sparkling, she watched how Tooru tossed the ball high. He took small steps, then a big one. With a high jump, he slammed the ball to the other side, landing inside.

"That's really amazing," Shirome smiled at him with her eyes disappearing.

He slightly blushed but then smirked, "Want me to teach you?"

"Sure, why not," She said with a thanks as she walked to the serving zone.

The taller captain took another ball as he gave the other one to the smaller captain.

"Okay, hold it like this," He said, the female copying his posture.

"Toss. Don't spike yet."

She tossed, the ball going high as Tooru's.

"Good! That was great, that matched my pace and height of toss. Now take 2 small steps, and a big one, then jump," He explained with ease.

She nodded as she looked at the ball, determined.

The pair was oblivious to everyone's stare.

"Alright, stay focused don't overdo it. Now do it with me."

They both stood, their postures mirrored. The pair stood a distance from each other, so they can serve at the same time.

"1, 2, 3, toss."

High toss, 2 small steps and a big one, and a jump.

They both slammed their volleyballs, both landing in.

Shirome was in awe as she hit Tooru's hands in high fives. Tooru laughed and patted the smaller setter's head. She smiled happily.

"Oi! Kusoikawa, water break is done. The match is starting," Iwaizumi shouted at the tall brunette.

"Coming!" He said as he jogged back to the anazed team after a wave to Shirome.

The gradient head went to their bench and sat. Drinking lightly, she turned to see her team's sparkling gazes.

"C-Captain! Please teach us that serve later!" Leki said, her fists balled infront. The other members nodded, agreeing with the ravenette.

Shirome chuckled, "Soon."

They cheered and went to the court for the last set.

"Shibi, you're not playing?" Tooru pouted at Shirome.

"Ah, no. Haide will play setter for now," She grinned at him.

He sighed dramatically and faced the court, "Okay."

"Shibi-chan?" Both teams thought.

(a/n: ik it's chibi-chan, tooru just put shi from shirome and chibi together so it's shibi.)

The team both played fair, scoring 25-23. Seijoh won 2 sets.

After cleaning for some time, the day finally ends. A few mutual goodbyes later, both the team prepared to leave.

"Ah, Guren-san? Which 1st year should I give my number to? Incase there's another session in the future," She asked the ravenette coach.

"Hm, give it to Kunimi. The one with parted bangs," He said as he pulled Haide who tripped on her own feet.

"I'll come with–"

"It's fine," She waved Kuro off.

He frowned but followed. His gaze never leaving her as she approached the other team.

"Akira!" She called.

The said boy turned immediately at the jogging girl, almost breaking his neck in the process, "..Yeah?"

She grinned, "We might meet each other soon in another session, it might not be this same year but maybe next year or our 3rd. I always get a 1st year's number so I'm in contact with them until graduation."

He nodded as he took the phone from her small hands and typed in his number, then he typed 'Akira :P' as his contact name.

"Ah, me too Furumi-san–"

"No, we need to get going," Kunimi cut him off as he shoved Kindaichi lightly and walked away, waving goodbye at Shirome who waved back. Kindaichi frowned but followed him instead.

Shirome went back to the team, and got back to their school to practice more.

•

"Hey Kunimi–"

"No."

"But–"

"No."

"Oi–"

"Don't want to."

Yahaba, Oikawa, and Kindaichi sighed and frowned, failing to get Shirome's number from him.

"But–I'm the captain! I should get her number too, don't you think?" Oikawa pouted slightly.

Iwaizumi chopped the tall brunette's head with his hand, "Stop it, Kusoikawa. She obviously needs a 1st year so she can contact them for future sessions up to their 3rd year."

"Hey, I'm a first yea–"

"No, she went to me. Specifically me. Not you," Kunimi coldly said as Kindaichi frowned again.

The other members just sighed at them and went inside their bus to head to their hotel, resting for a night and taking off to Miyagi the next day.

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