Chapter 49, Worry

THIRD POV

"Oh shit- bro look at that team. They got a really pretty captain!! Small one- but she's really gorgeous bro!"

"Bro, can you not, you're weird bro. There's no such thing as small and pretty capta- holy shit!"

"I know right?!"

"Can you both keep quiet?!"

"How?? Literally everyone's making noise for every team-"

"Shut up!!"

Fushichou sweatdropped as they heard cries and cheers from the side. Shirome fiddled with her thumbs as they marched, holding the placard that shows their school name and prefecture.

Kira, the vice captain, approached her closely, "Captain, I can hold it for you if you'd like?"

"Mm," Shirome hummed and shook her head, "It's fine. Thank you, Kira."

The ravenette nodded before slowing down her steps for Haide to catch up.

Kuro sniffled as he wiped his eyes with his pointer finger, lips in a pout as he watched how the girls (just Shirome, really) march with confidence, getting the attention and recognition they deserved.

Guren sighed, "I hope we win them all this year," He said as he noticed former members of the club from the bleachers. They were shocked at the mediocre tall members, and mostly at the smallest captain that lead them.

"They will. All of them are powerful together," Ichiro nodded and eyed their banner.

Arise, Soar with Flames

Kuro combed his hair with his fingers, "That's a fact," He sighed and cracked his pointer finger.

After the march, they stood in a lineup along with all of the teams. Shirome tried so hard not to feel uneasy from the stares of nearby teams.

"So, you're here."

She froze.

"Transitioning from one thing to a completely different thing, you've become quite the girl. I gotta give you that."

Shirome turned to her side and saw the person that she wanted to see the least. If she hadn't done what she did, they might still be close until now.

Her crimson phoenix eyes met her white dragon eyes.

"Kaguya. As expected, you're here," Her lips formed a thin line as she focused in front instead of her smug face.

(a/n: kaguya's poser is kaguya otsutsuki from naruto)

Kaguya sighed dramatically and whispered, "I wonder, can I still make the little phoenix cry?"

"...," Shirome stayed silent and ignored her.

Everyone knows Shirome is leading as top 1 ace in Japan girls division. But everyone also knows Kaguya is just at the tip of her tail, ready to take her spot any moment. If it weren't for Kaguya's tyrant leadership to her everyone and the resignation of her former setter – she would've been top 1.

"The same as ever, I see. Being mute when I compare us both. I take it your silence agrees that I'm better?" Kaguya smirked and leaned side ways to reach her hearing distance. She was no doubt one of the tallest girls here, standing at 6'4".

Shirome crossed her arms and looked in front with a pissed face, "Not now. Let's settle this on the court," She side-eyed her, "If you make it that far."

"Hahaha! Surely, you jest. Where are you getting the confidence from? Thinking you'll be able to fight me at the very top amongst these ants," Kaguya hummed as she looked around the venue, "A team with a feeble captain is incapable of leading her team to victory. You know that, right?"

Ameri had enough, "Can you not flap your fucking chappy lips you pinball-looking ass?"

"Ameri," Shirome warned without looking back.

"You even make a dog bark on your behalf," Kaguya just chuckled and looked in front, ignoring them at last.

Shirome gripped her fists tightly as she tried hard to not explode. Ameri did her very best to contain her anger.

Keeping my manners in check is really important..

It really is.

But I can't help it.

I might just win with blood on my hands.

•

"Right!!"

"Left!!"

The other team was confused because two people charged from either sides, but their jaw dropped when Shirome dunked the ball to the side.

Whistle. Fushichou won their first match in Nationals with 25, 25. The opposing team only got 14, 15.

"What an ace!! What a setter!! Shirome Furumi! Dunking the ball like it's nothing— there you have it, the top 1 of them all!"

"She just started playing 5 months ago, right? What a monster! Haha!"

"Truly remarkable!"

"What a prodigy! Hahaha!"

Shirome regulated her breathing due to getting overwhelmed, but just smiled and joined the team for the handshakes.

After that, the team rested and ate. Some strolled around to shop, but majority of them just ate or slept.

"Ne, ne, Shiro-chan. Are you sure you don't need any knee pads?" Ameri asked her as they strolled around.

Shirome shrugged jacket hung on both her shoulders, a form Kita influenced her with, "Not yet. It'll just hinder my movements at the moment. I want to feel the court with my bare legs."

"16...5 cm!"

Both the girls stopped when they saw a familiar tangerine, a blueberry, a soft guy, and a shuttlecock.

"Ah— Shoyo, Tobio, Kourai, Tadashi-san. Hello," Shirome greeted and went to eye the shirts.

"Furumi-san! Hello! You look nice!" The two other crows looked at Hoshiumi, shocked that he knew her.

Shirome giggled, "You look nice too, Kourai. How are your matches?"

"Winning, of course. And you?" He asked, ignoring Hinata who was transferring his eyes from Shirome to Kourai and vice versa.

The small captain gave him a smirk, "The same."

"Ohu, Ameri-san! Hello!" Hinata shook his head and grinned at her with a wave. She just waved back and tightened her ponytail.

"Shirome, are you done?" Ameri asked her.

She turned around carrying a lot of plastic bags, "Oh, yeah. I wanted to buy everything but they wouldn't let me."

They all sweatdropped.

"Kourai-kun."

A teammate of Hoshiumi called him and said it was time to go. He had one last stare off with Hinata before going away with his purchased shirt.

"Um, Furumi-san. How's your previous match?" Tobio blushed when she craned her neck to look up at him.

She smiled, he stopped breathing, "We won. How about you?" She turned to the other two. Ameri went to buy in a nearby shop to buy scrunchies.

"We won too," Hinata puffed out his chest and tried to look mighty with sparkles radiating. Yamaguchi just sweatdropped and smiled.

"Ah, that's nice! Keep up the good work.. I'm really proud of you all," She smiled as the three crows felt their heart pang with joy.

"We will! You better be there to see it!" Hinata saluted.

Shirome smirked at him with a teasing stare, "Go ahead, I'll watch from above. Fly high, little crow. I'll be with you in the skies."

With that, she left. Hinata was fired up as usual and grinned at Kageyama who gave him a smirk. Tadashi sighed and smiled.

"Alright, now. C'mon, move along," Tadashi hummed as he pushed them both forward.

•

"Shiro-chan~"

She hummed and smiled as she turned around.

Ameri frowned and turned to Atsumu, "Hey, uh, sorry but we have to keep going."

"Uh, who are you....?" Atsumu raised a brow and turned to Shirome with a bright smile, melting nearby girls that were watching.

"Shiro-chan, Kita-san wants to see you. And Suna too," He wiggled his brows and playfully poked her cheek.

She laughed as she gently grabbed his finger, "I'd love to, Atsu. But my time is limited. I'm okay with after Nationals, though."

He pouted but then smiled after, "Oki! I'll tell them that. Good luck with your matches."

"You too, top scorer," Shirome said as she gave him a quick hug, one he didn't expect but returned it. He grinned at her.

Ameri came back with a frown as Shirome placed the plastic bags filled with shirts for the team. The members thanked her and she smiled back, the cherry head can't help but fidget while panicking. The coach, super visor, and Kuro noticed this.

"What happened? Did something happen?" Kuro worriedly asked Ameri.

"It's nothing. I'm just worried for Shiro," Ameri bit her bottom lip and worriedly looked at Shirome who did nothing but smile at her members.

Kuro rubbed his face with both hands and stopped, "Shit. What do you mean? You're scaring me."

"She kept telling me she's fine the whole day but it's not just settling in... I can feel that she's getting a little shaken up. Through her composure I can see that she's bound to tire herself out."

"Let me guess, workload even during Nationals?" Kuro sighed.

Ameri nodded as they both looked at Shirome who seemed to subtly regulating her breath more often.

—

a/n
i changed the former storyline. (2021)

the former (2020/2021) suggested that shirome had narcissism and triggered her bad. it js didn't seem appropriate and aligned with the story anymore

now (2024) i will change it to shirome overcoming her trauma through fighting against (blank) mentioned later in the chapters (: