CH 6 - Competition

2nd POV

"Achuu!"

You worriedly looked over at Atsumu behind you. He was a little flushed as his head slowly drops.

You and the team are in the school bus on the way to where Itachiyama High is. Kita, beside you, looked over at Atsumu and back to you.

A small concerned smile, "He must have been so excited he forgot he was showering with cold water."

Kita sighed. You turned to Suna who was in between with Osamu sleeping by his side, head resting on the window.

"Rintaro, switch seats with me for a bit," You whispered.

His eyes widened as he slowly shook his head.

"You'll be fine," You assured him. He hesistated but then sat up carefully to not wake Osamu and Atsumu. He gulped as he felt Kita's presence beside him.

"Suna. You alright?" Kita asked in a low voice, staring at the boy.

Suna nodded almost immediately, "Yeah, I'm good."

You carefully sat down between the twins and quietly opened your bag to get some emergency medicine, a cold sticker, and some warm water from your thermoflask.

"Hey," You whispered at Atsumu and patted his arm to wake him up.

"Mmhuh?" He slurred and rubbed his eye with a hand as he saw you.

You sighed quietly, "We need you in good condition or Shinsuke won't let you play in court. Take this, it'll help. Do you want to eat something as well?"

He pouted and drank the pill you gave along with the warm water that helped push it down. Atsumu sighed as you placed a cold sticker on his forehead after pushing his bangs away.

"Do you have a riceball, please?" He asked in a quiet voice. You nodded as you got a piece from a separate bag and gave it to him.

He was eating quietly and drank warm water again after. Immediately after eating, he fell asleep with a calmer face.

You sighed as you rested your back on your seat. You felt a pair of eyes staring at you from your right side and saw Osamu staring.

"Just woke up?" You smiled.

He smiled and nodded, not breaking eye contact.

"Want some?" You asked him, holding a rice ball.

Osamu immediately nodded and ate quietly after taking it from your hands. Your brows raised when you felt that his hands were cold.

You waited after he was done drinking from his own bottle of water. He tensed up when you took both of his hands and rested them on top of the bag that rests on your lap. The tension went away when you started massaging them, transferring some heat and regulating his temperature better.

"You twins need to take care of yourselves more," You chuckled quietly and just continued running your fingers on his hands. A feeling of satisfying pleasure engulfed his senses with the hand massage you were giving him.

"We will, sorry," He said in a low and slightly rough voice. You shook your head.

"Don't apologize. If you want to sleep more, you can. We have an hour until we reach the school," You whispered.

A few minutes passed, you felt Osamu drop his head forward. He fell asleep. You gently held the side of his head and let it rest on your right shoulder. Not long after, you also held Atsumu by the side of his head and let it rest om your left shoulder.

•

Click.

Your eyes fluttered open as your vision clears up. Suna was propped on the seat with his knees, leaning over the head of his seat, holding his phone in front of you and the twins.

"Rintaro..? Are we here?" You mumbled as you took your hand from Osamu's and rubbed it lightly.

He snickered and put his phone back to his pocket. Suna sighed and rested his chin on top of the seat's head as he stared at you.

"All of them just exited the bus. Kita-san told me to wake you three up."

Your eyes shot open in slight panic but you composed yourself so the twins are not shaken awake.

"Okay, thank you," You smiled at him and lightly shook Atsumu awake.

"Hey, we're here," You whispered. He mumbled something before going back to sleep on your shoulder.

Suna laughed when you frowned. He got off his seat and went to Atsumu's side before pinching him in the arm tightly.

"OW!" Atsumu yelped and glared at Suna who ran out of the bus. He sighed heavily and stood up wobbly, he eyed you and Osamu before smirking.

"Had a good nap, didn't ya?" He said.

You gave him a teasing smirk, "Says the one who slept like a rock on my shoulder?"

He rolled his eyes with a smile, "Thanks. Do you want me to wake him up?"

Atsumu asked, referring to Osamu who hands are clasped together with your right hand and still sleeping peacefully.

You shook your head, "It's alright. How are you? Can you walk?"

"Of course I can, Sukii. I think my fever went down," He said as he stretched, then grabbed his bags and Osamu's.

"You're lucky I asked Suna to switch seats with me. Shinsuke would've not allowed you to come along," You said and shifted in your seat.

Atsumu chuckled, "Lucky me, then. Come on, wake him up before I smack him awake."

"I will, I will," You laughed. Atsumu walked to the middle of the bus, waiting for you and Osamu.

"Wake up," You shook Osamu lightly.

He stirred awake and stretched, his arms going up. Osamu blinked a few times and had a small smile when he saw you.

"Hey," He whispered and rubbed his eyes.

"Come now, the others are waiting," You said as you stood up, holding your two bags (1 duffel and 1 backpack).

He nodded and stood up as well, stumbling in front of you. Your eyes widened as he apologized in a murmur and walked over to Atsumu who just smirked at him with a strong sense of tease in his eyes.

"Give me that," Osamu grunted and aggressively took his bag from Atsumu.

You sighed and walked over to them. Atsumu crouched a little when you took the warm plaster on his forehead, after that, you three exited the bus.

You stretched a bit before throwing the plaster in a nearby trashbin. Osamu walked over to you.

"Let me help you," He asked as he pointed to your bags.

"It's okay. It's light," You reassured them as you both walked again.

Osamu sighed, "Just let me. As thanks for the massage."

You turned to him and noticed he was staring at you with his usual blank face.

For a moment there, something sweet glinted in his eyes that made your stomach churn with butterflies.

You smiled, "I guess it won't hurt this one time."

"Are you kidding? I can carry your bags for as long as you want me to anytime," He huffed and took two of your bags.

You both went to the members who were stationed just by the gymnasium of Itachiyama.

A heavy tension was felt in your throat as you gulped it down, knuckles turning white as you gripped the hem of your tracksuit jacket. You already feel some eyes on you belonging from Itachiyama's students.

"Woah, isn't she..?"

"Yeah, I think she is.."

You ignored them and walked faster. Osamu noticed this and kept up with your pace.

•

The guys were getting ready and some of them were already wearing their practice jersey outfits. The opposing players from Itachiyama was stretching as the coach was talking to six players. They must be the first six in the rotation.

Your eyes caught a glimpse of his slightly curly black hair.

Your eyes tore away from the back of his head when a girl from their team smiled at you.

"Hello! I'm Kawara Shiu, 3rd year, Itachiyama's manager. You must be Inarizaki's manager!" she beamed at you.

You looked into her eyes.

Amazement. Interest. Respect.

... Fear.

You forced a smile, "Good morning. I am Sukii Notabe, a 2nd year, Inarizaki's manager. Thank you for considering to a match practice with our team," You slightly bowed.

She shook her head, "Please be comfortable. There are hardly any girls around here except for the ones watching by the bleachers. So, you know... I'm comfortable with you."

It's not that she was lying, you can make sure of that. It's the different fear from her eyes that hold pressure for herself.

"Are you alright?" You asked as she fidgeted with her fingers when you are both walking to grab some chairs for the coaches and the players.

She nodded, "Yeah.. it's just something that a member told me earlier before you guys came."

"What is it?"

Her eyes held a small tint of sadness, "He said I better do good this day..."

From her words alone - you knew who she was talking about.

"No pressure, Kawara-san. Let's just do normally," You smiled.

"When you say it like that...," She sighed and chuckled in embarrassment.

Her eyes widened when you took a stack of 15 chairs and carried them back to your team with no struggle. She stumbled a bit and carried 4 chairs at a time to their side. You both minded your own business with some small chats in between.

She's so strong! I can hardly carry 4 chairs... she's even a little shorter than me. Kawara mentally cried. She is 5'7".

You went back to getting the last stack of chairs when a voice made you freeze on the spot.

"Need help?"

You gulped and shook your head, grabbing the last stack of 5 chairs and hurried back to your team when he stood in front of you.

His eyes were droopy and as piercing as ever. Hard to read, but you caught a glimpse of... relief?

"... It's been a while," You muttered.

"It certainly has been," You heard his low chuckle.

At this point, you could hardly get it together. You just excused yourself and went past him.

"Dude, that girl's crazy strong as hell. Did she decline your help?" His teammate came up to him, still staring in awe at the girl with the half red hair.

The guy sighed, going back to his team.

"Stop staring at her," He coldly said. His teammate flinched and just followed him back.

"Notabe-san, how did you carry all these chairs?!" Kawara asked in disbelief, holding her own clipboard. You just blinked.

A nervous laugh escaped your lips, "Strong genes, I think..?"

"That's so cool!" She gasped. Your heart fluttered.

So she's not scared of me..

You and Kawara were talking when suddenly, a stray ball zoomed to your way.

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