The rustle of the crisp, autumn leaves had sounded clearly below their feet, as they ascended into their destination.

"Ah, you're here," came a smug voice, "and just where is your so-called-champion?"

"Looking for me?"

A (h/c) girl emerged from behind the Karasuno boys, fierce-looking and intimidating.

"Ah, so it's a girl."

"What did you think, kitty? Just another boy whooped these peoples' a—"

"You're getting ahead of yourself, (l/n)," Asahi sighed, sweat-dropping along with the rest of the team, "don't look so scary please,"

"Pfft, scary? It was intimidating to say the least," answered the boy, "Kuroo Tetsurou, nice to meet you,"

"(l/n) (f/n), my pleasure," she introduced, taking the bedhead's hand and shaking it politely.

"Shall we go then? You know the rules of Capture the Flag paintball, right?" asked Kuroo, adjusting his belt.

"Could we review them for clarification?" Yamaguchi mumbled, scratching his head.

"Two teams, on different sides of the area, will each have a base. The base contains a flag, which the opposing team will have to capture. Each of us will have five lives, but if you've been shot, you have to go back to base and restart. You've got a minute grace-period to return to base, but once you get there, time's up. We each have a smaller flag to hold to signal we're on grace," Kuroo explained, "whoever captures the flag first, wins. There will be referees who are watching, so don't try to cheat,"

"Eh? That's all we'll be doing? How boring," she yawned, still keeping up her smug face.

"Mm? You're team's got a boastful one, Daichi,"

"She likes challenges, is all," the captain sighed.

"Challenges, ey? Fine. If I win, you have to go on a date with me. If you lose, you have a choice whether or not to take the offer,"

"Psh. Like I'll be losing though," she huffed.

"Kenma-san! I'm gonna beat you today!" cheered Hinata, who was all smiles and excitement.

"Okay... but we're pretty good," the pudding-head mumbled, not shifting his gaze to the jumpy teenager in front of him.

"See you later, kitty," smirked (f/n), who sassily flipped her hair.

"Bye bye, crow," mocked Kuroo as he waved at the girl, who had her game on.

The two teams parted ways, both fired up at the sudden meeting, excited to get their game on; the 'interesting' boy (f/n) had just met never left her mind.

--

"(f/n)-chan," Sugawara called, "would you like to be partners for the game?"

"The two best in Karasuno?" she laughed, tying her shoelaces, "of course,"

"I-Isn't that a little overpowered?" Asahi asked.

"Not at all," (f/n) shook her head, "if anything, bedhead-boy is teaming up with one of the best players in their team. Paintball logic,"

The tall brunette nodded, embarrassed for not knowing something that seemed like common sense, then eyeing Daichi, who was helping Hinata put on his gear.

"Game starts in about five minutes," Sugawara sighed, "the signal hasn't been sounded,"

"Hey Koushi," she called.

"Yeah?"

"What plan should we stick with?"

"Since we're using the 4-2-2-2 formation, we'd be the second to the first line. I think Hinata and Kageyama are first as decoys, followed by me and you, then Nishinoya and Tanaka for back up, then the rest of the team as defense for the base." He tapped his chin in thought. "We should immediately find a hiding spot near the opponents' base, so that we could easily run to their base once Hinata and Kageyama take the defense out. Who's gonna hold the flag and who's gonna cover?"

"The faster one of us should run. I'll have your back," (f/n) proposed, and he agreed.

BEEP! BEEP!

"We have a minute! Everyone ready? Run to position once the final signal sounds!" Daichi yelled, gun in hand.

"Osu!" the team cheered, excited.

The gunshot had been fired, and everyone dashed out at full speed, hurrying to their assigned positions, executing the plan smoothly so far, careful and aware of the opponent.

--

"Tsukki, please be mindful of your glasses. And please stay low. They'll see you because you're tall," Yamaguchi reminded his friend, staying close to his group.

Asahi, him, Tsukishima, and Daichi had been on guard for defense.

"It's not my fault I was gifted with height,"

"At this point, I don't think height is much of a gift," Asahi mumbled, scanning the area in front of them.

"I almost envy Hinata," Daichi laughed a bit, voice still quiet.

"Noya-senpai is the shortest, so I doubt anyone'll see him," Yamaguchi stated.

"That sounds too much like an insult," Asahi chuckled.

"I-I didn't mean it in a bad way! I-I meant he's short, so he should get a good shot on others while not getting shot," the freckled teen exclaimed.

"We know, we know. Now, we should be quiet. People might hear us," Daichi instructed.

--

"Yaku-san! Do you see anything yet?!" the tall, cat-like boy whisper-yelled, excitedly.

"Shut up, you tall brat!" the shorter boy murmured, rolling his eyes, "be patient!"

"You sound like that guy from that anime," Lev noticed, "scary..."

"Which guy, and which anime?" Yaku asked, already exasperated.

"Y'know, that uh.. guy. He's serious, never smiles, and he's strong?" he answered, scratching his chin, "from Shingles no Kyoto!"

"You idiot, you can't even pronounce the name right, and you're Japanese! Stupid! Know your facts! I'm nothing like Le-"

"Oh, and he's short! You guys are so alike! Too ali-"

That minute, Lev earned yet another kick in the stomach.

--

"Noya-san. Does thou see foe approachest?" Tanaka whispered, pointing his gun at a tree.

"Nay, friend. Thou art watchful, is thou not?" Nishinoya replied, still keeping guard.

"Indeed. I give my thanks," the bald answered back, proud of his 'fancy' language.

The area was dead silent; not a crumble of leaves, or even a small cricket's chirp could be heard.

Tension arose in their area, as an enemy could approach anytime.

Though the Karasuno team was still rough around the edges (and as Takeda-sensei would say, not all the gears have turned), they were still pretty competitive.

They were confident in their teammates.

--

"Yamamoto-san. Please calm do-" Kai had started, but was only cut off by the yells of his teammate.

"NGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! I WILL SHOW KARASUNO MY FULL PAINTBALL POWER! AND BY THEN, I CAN IMPRESS KIYOKO-SAN! NGGGGAAAHHHHH!" Yamamoto yelled, chasing after some foes that had decided to attack their base.

"Whatever," Kai answered, sweat sliding down his forehead while he kept shooting at the two targets.

"EAAAAATTTT THIIIIIIIISSSSSSSS YOOOOOOUUU WEEEAKKKKLIIINNGGSS!!!" he yelled once more, his rapidfire not calming down anytime for the targets kept dodging his shots.

"They're getting away! After them!" Kai instructed, running.

"WE WON'T LOSE SO EASILY TO YOU GUYS! WE'RE NOT COMING DOWN WITHOUT A FIIIIIIIIIGGG-"

Splat!

"Shoot! You're on your own now, Kai! I'm so sorry! Get 'em!" Yamamoto apologized, crawling towards the base dramatically.

"Yamamoto!" Kai gasped, turning to aid his teammate.

"It's over now. I must go. I- BEHIND YOU!"

Kai turned around and dodged the shot just before it hit, causing the paint to splash over his friend instead. (Although it didn't count.)

"Gotta go!" Kai chuckled, fleeing from sight.

--

"That was close!" Hinata huffed, breathing heavily and catching his breath.

"We almost didn't make it, Hinata-boke!" Kageyama complained, folding his arms.

"It's a good thing there was perfect hiding spot here," the carrot-head sighed.

"Beginner's luck," the ravenette had muttered.

"You're the one who didn't even know how to shoot when we started, you turd!" Hinata fought back, annoyed.

"Excuse me, who made it into the final match when we last played?"

"If I didn't teach you," he started, a serious look on his face, "you'd be dead where you stand,"

"Whatever, let's just go."

"It's a beautiful day outside. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming. On days like these, kids like you..."

"Shut up you idiot, we're paintballing, not having some kind of bad time,"

"Eh, yeah. Iku yo,"

--

"Kuroo, we've been camping near their base for at least fifteen minutes now," the pudding-head mumbled, bored out of his mind.

"This was the plan, Kenma, you know what to do," the captain laughed softly.

"Fine..."

The two waited.

And waited.

And about 5 more minutes passed.

"Kuroo-"

"Gotta stay on guard."

Kenma stayed silent, pulling out his phone, figuring that no one would appear for the next 10 or so minutes.

"You brought that?" the bed-head asked, bewildered.

The gamer just nodded, setting aside his gun while propping himself up on some rocks while tapping quietly on the screen.

"You are not kidding me."

Fully absorbed by the phone, Kenma no longer felt the need to talk, and readied his gun just case something would actually happen.

"Stay focused! You're using your phone on the paintball field, for goodness' sake! Kenma!"

--

The two had successfully stolen the Nekoma flag without effort.

"We haven't seen that kitty and his friend for the whole game. Where do you think they are?" (f/n) yawned, leisurely strolling down a safe and hidden path.

"Camping near base. Which is why we should be alert as we near it," Sugawara answered, also looking bored.

"Ugh, they're no fun. Literally no one has ambushed us," she stated, with her partner nodding in agreement.

"Perhaps we'll get a better game once we approach base. But I think we should prioritise putting this flag where it belongs," he suggested.

"Yeah, I guess. Shall we run?"

"Let's."

The two ran ahead, increasing their defense, for they were nearing their own base already.

Once the base was in sight, they had stopped running, but switched to slowly approaching it with caution.

Bam! Bam!

"There it is!" (f/n) laughed joyously, running once again. "Don't stop. I have your back!"

"You sure has hell better have my back!" he grinned, dashing for his life.

A few more shots had fired, as well as some yelling.

"WEEEEE FOOOOUUUNNNDD YOOOOUUUU!!"

"(l/n)-san, Sugawara-senpai!! Run!! We'll cover for you!"

"Not today!"

"THOU SHAN'T FAIL AT THY MISSION!"

"What the hell is up with their team and strange words?"

Paint was being shot everywhere, as the real fight finally began here.

Running for his life, Sugawara trusted (f/n) to defend him and the flag, as anything could happen between here and there.

"NO!" she yelled, having been shot in the leg, "RUN, KOUSHI, RUN! Don't worry about me! I'll meet you at base- ack!"

"(f/n)!" he grieved for a moment, but knew he had to accomplish and finish the task.

For him, and the whole team.

The life and death battle finally began, as he raced towards the base, which was so close, but so far.

"The burden rests on my shoulders! I will be honored to deliver the final stretch of this long battle!" he shouted.

But just then, he was shot in the torso, and he fell, along with the flag.

"NEKOMA'S FLAG HAS DROPPED! IF NEKOMA PICKS IT UP AND DELIVERS IT BACK TO BASE, THEY'LL BE SAFE!" a voice blared over the speakers, which were planted all over the field.

"Suga!" yelled Daichi, who suddenly emerged from the bushes hurried over to his friend.

"Pick it up, and hurry! I'll be at base to get it!" Sugawara instructed, standing up and running back to base. "I still have four more lives!"

The brunette nodded, snatching the flag from the floor.

With all his remaining strength, Daichi ran to base, heart bursting and legs feeling like they were on fire.

Rushing to the place to put the enemy flag, he quickly looked around and spotted it, relieved.

Victory was about to be won.

Splat!

"My, my. If it isn't Captain Crow!" Kuroo chuckled, the smuggest of smug looks present on his face.

"K-Kuroo," Daichi growled, "I will not let you prevail,"

"Sorry, Captain~ Kenma's already on his way to our base, with your flag," the bed-head smirked, approaching the fallen boy.

"It's over now, Sawamura."

"Y-You..."

"I've won."

"Y-You're horrible."

"You've lost."

--

"What the hell are they doing here?" Kuroo asked, looking at the rest of Karasuno's Paintbal Team members surround his supposed date.

"You didn't say they couldn't," (f/n) laughed, folding her arms and shaking her head.

"I demand a rematch. A rematch in which where when I win again, you'll go on a date with me without some UNINVITED GUESTS," he denounced.

"Sure, whatever. But trust me, we're not going to lose," she declared, "Now, let's start the date, shall we?"

a/n: man that was long. 2018 words strong lolll

aaanyways, i know that was super disappointing, but i kinda wanna make a sequel yet again.

THE PAINTBALL TRILOGY. //epic music plays in distance

but i'll probably publish is no where soon because guess who the heck is super lazy after writing all that?

RIP.

speaking of rip, as i write this, i still havent finished the latest chapter of rip tide, wHICH I SHOULD, LATER. when this oneshot is published, i think i'll be super worn out since it's already christmas eve as i type. aheh... pROCRASTINATION HAS CONSEQUENCES PLEASE IM SUCH A BAD EXAMPLE

:')

anyways, i dont have a lot to say because im going to go watch one punch man w my brother. i have the whole afternoon to write rip tide and im hella lazy rn so

aha.

jaa ne~

nyx