XXXVII.

Kinomi.

Tsukki:

We won against your favorite person.

That was his text to me the night after my team had also won the first qualifiers. Wow, they really finally beat Seijoh this time. So Karasuno has progressed to the finals, huh? If they manage to win this one, then they're bound to proceed to Nationals.

I cocked a brow at his text. Favorite person? He's still salty about Oikawa-senpai.

I closed my notebook containing the analyses then lifted my feet up my swivel chair, leaning my back against it as I type a reply to Kei.

Me:

Can I call?

Tsukki:

Okay.

I shook my head, a smile slowly tugging its way to my lips. Dry as the Sahara Desert. I pressed the call button and hovered the device against my left ear, listening to the continuous beeps of my phone. After three rings, he finally picked up.

"How's my favorite person?" I greeted. I bit my lower lip to prevent the little giggle from escaping my throat when I heard him let out a snort in annoyance.

"Bye." He drawled, causing me to burst out laughing.

"Wait, wait!" I said in between laughter. "Hey! Please don't hang up!"

He sighed. "So? What is it that you want to say?" I can feel the irritation radiating on his voice and he didn't even bother to hide it.

"I just want to hear your voice... and to congratulate you." I said, a smile evident in my voice.

The other line was silent for a few moments before he replied. "Thanks. You've heard my voice now. I'm hanging up."

"Why are you so salty tonight?"

"...I'm not."

"Then why do you sound salty?" I smiled.

"I'm not salty. You're just annoying." He deadpanned.

"Can I come watch your match tomorrow?"

If I'm not mistaken, the finals is against Shiratorizawa Academy. It's the strongest team in the prefecture that competed in the Nationals for consecutive years now. The team that Seijoh never beat even once. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the crows to face off against the strongest school in the prefecture.

"No." He straight up rejected me without hesitation.

"Why not?" I frowned.

"Don't you have your own team to manage?"

"The top four schools has already been decided. So the representative play-offs will be held in November."

"Wow, how very convenient for you." He said with a hint of sarcasm. "You don't need to travel all the way from Tokyo. You can just watch on your TV." He said nonchalantly.

"I want to see you." I confessed. The other line went quiet for a while before he sighed.

"Do... whatever you want, Berry..." His voice came out as a mumble. I looked at his name on my phone before turning it back on my ear again.

He probably thinks that they're going to lose. I can't blame him because it's Shiratorizawa we're talking about. But maybe that's the case with intelligent people. They always rely on realistic expectations and information rather than... what do we call this, faith? Ambition? They always see themselves as inferior because they are aware of their weaknesses and the things that they don't know. They're hard to please and are too hard on themselves. But as they say, if their ambitions don't scare them, they're not big enough.

Nobody can foresee the end results of this match but if I analyze Shiratorizawa's statistics based on the data I've received on their previous matches, I'd say that they have the upper hand. And besides, I'm not coming over to see them win or lose. I wanted to see if Kei's hardwork had paid off.

The travel back to Miyagi was smooth, although a little crowded because a few people came here to watch the most awaited finals between the former powerhouse and the current powerhouse. The Sendai City Gymnasium is packed with the mixture of athletes and spectators. The people's excitement are obvious by the way they were talking amiably. I took in the contents of the bulletin board in front of us and my eyes caught the match that will be the highlight of everyone's day: Shiratorizawa vs. Karasuno. I can't help but get excited as well.

"Oi! Please get off me!" I heard a female voice complain behind me. I craned my neck to the side to see a smirking guy with her, his arms around her shoulders. He's clearly harassing her, and I looked around to see no one even attempting to help the girl.

With a sigh, I went over to them and put my arm around the guy, making his attention snap to me, surprise evident on his features. I didn't have the difficulty in putting my arm around him, and I looked down upon him, seeing as he's only around 160 cm.

"Uncomfortable, right?" I asked, a mocking smile pasted on my face.

In response, the guy swatted my arm from him. "Who the hell are you? She's my girlfriend."

"Excuse you?! I don't even know you!" The girl exclaimed, giving him an unbelievable look.

"Will you please get lost already?" I drawled.

"What did you—"

"Berry." Kei's voice called out. I turned around to see him and his team behind us.

"Oh, hello guys." I greeted him and his team. "Good luck on your match later."

"Thanks!" His team said in unison.

"Oi, don't ignore me—"

Kei went in front of me and held the guy's wrist that was supposed to grab me. He cocked a brow at the guy, and the latter's expression morphed into slight fear because Kei literally towered over him.

"Tsukki!" Yamaguchi said with a worried tone.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Kei asked.

"Tsukishima! That's enough." Sawamura-san scolded. He went forward to apologize to the guy. Kei just shrugged before releasing his hold on the guy. He put his hands on his jacket's pockets.

"This girl just meddled with my business! Nobody dared to do that!"

"Well, I just did." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"I won't forget this! With every inch of my being!" He told me, which made Kei and I let out a little snort.

"Oh, please don't say that." Kei said in a mocking tone, smiling innocently. He looked at the guy from head to toe. "There's not even a lot of inches to begin with."

"Oh, snap!" Tanaka-san burst out laughing. "We need to call a firefighter for the burn!"

"I don't know if I should be offended, too." Hinata commented with a frown. But when the guy glared at him, he flinched in fear then hid behind Kageyama.

Kei and I smirked at him before he just glared at us, particularly at me. "You better thank me that I don't punch girls, Miss."

"Funny," I said, smiling sweetly at him. "That's also my reason for not punching you."

"Shiiiit! What is with these two?!" Tanaka-san's laughter echoed through the whole lobby.

"Darling, you shouldn't say things like that." Kei said with a taunting tone. "Look at what you did. He looks like he's about to explode in anger. I'm afraid that he'll really punch you with every inch of his being."

"Arara, I'm sorry." I said with fake shock, putting a hand over my mouth. "I just can't control my mouth sometimes."

"I'm going to die!" Tanaka-san hollered, holding his stomach for dear life. Sawamura-san shut him up.

"Nice one, Mikazuki-san!" Nishinoya-san cheered.

"They're too salty for their own good, it's kinda scary." Azumane-san sweatdropped with a nervous smile.

"Nothing less from the salted couple." Ennoshita-san muttered with a shrug.

"Hey! Don't rile him up!" Sugawara-san scolded us.

"You two! That's enough!" Sawamura-san yelled at us, then he forcibly pushed the back of our head to bow at the man. "We're very sorry!"

The guy just stomped away from the scene. The woman thanked me for helping her. Now that the issue has been resolved, I can finally talk to Kei properly. His team already proceeded forward.

"You just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"I just miss making fun of people." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Yeah, I can see that you haven't lost your touch." He said sarcastically. "We're probably going to lose anyway."

"Kei?"

"What?"

"If you think that you're going to lose, then what's the purpose of all your hardwork?" I asked.

"Well, it's Shiratorizawa. They have Ushiwaka, you know." He pointed out.

"Hmm, true. But there's no such thing as a team with guaranteed victory, you know." I mimicked his voice, causing him to scoff in amusement or irritation. "And honestly, I don't think you need any words of encouragement from me because your team already covered that but do know this, Kei," I trailed off, a smirk slowly creeping its way to my lips. "I also know that you hate losing, so I'm sure you'll surprise us somehow. I'm going to cheer for you guys up there so don't ever hold back."

~*~

"Oh! Oikawa-senpai!"

He flinched when I called him from behind. He craned his neck to give me a sheepish smile. "Mika-chan..."

"Why do you look like you're embarrassed to be here?" I said with a light chuckle as I take a seat beside him. We are already inside the gymnasium, watching the teams with their warm-up practices.

"Well, thanks to Karasuno, I have nothing left to do with my life for now." He leaned on his seat, running his fingers through his hair. He didn't technically answer my question but I just let it pass. "So I'm just going to watch them suffer from up here."

"Iwa-senpai?"

"Don't know~"

"You probably told him that you're not going to watch the game."

"As I've said, I'm going to watch them lose from up here."

"You know that's not how it works, right?"

We just shook our head then decided to watch the game together.

As expected, Shiratorizawa took the first set. Oikawa-senpai explained the difficulties and the changes of the course and trajectories of the ball because the ace is left-handed. Karasuno might have been still getting used to it.

I spotted the supporters of Karasuno not too far away, and Akiteru-niisan is also there. I excused myself for a moment to go over to greet them. The second set just started when I tapped on Akiteru-niisan's shoulder because they were too preoccupied on the game to notice my presence.

"Oh! Kinomi-chan! You're here!" Nii-san greeted with a bright smile.

"Hello." I bowed my head to them as a greeting.

"Ah, guys, this is Mikazuki Kinomi..." Nii-san introduced me to his companions and they also introduced themselves. They all smiled at me, but their smile quickly shifted to a bewildered expression at Nii-san's next statement. "Kei's darling."

"Darling, you say?!" Saeko-san reacted with wide eyes. She looked at me like I was an exotic specimen. "Wow!"

"Tsukki has a girlfriend?!" Shimada-san exclaimed, mouth agape.

"Why are you guys acting so surprised? It's normal!" Takinoue-san just laughed as if amused.

"Yeah, but Tsukki? The Tsukki?!"

"Yachi-san," I called out.

"Yes!" She tensed up. She's afraid of me since the first time she first saw me. I don't know why.

I just smiled at her, which made her give me a weird look in return. She tried her best to smile back at me, but it came out as lopsided. "Never mind~" I chuckled.

I stayed there and watched with them because the view from here is clearer. I can say that they have a chance because they're all so unpredictable, not afraid to take risks and their tenacity is unwavering.

But then it went silent when Kei solidly managed to block the powerful left-handed ace! The ball crashed on the opposing team's floor, creating a satisfying loud thud. The silence shattered when Kei let out a scream—a scream that filled even our hearts with a sense of brimming pride and joy.

Everyone also screamed, including me. I screamed all the pent-up emotions.

"Akiteru-niisan..." I mumbled, and he was tearing up in joy as he looked at me. "Can I also scream that I love him?"

They all cracked up at my question, Nii-san ruffling my brown hair. "I would love to see you do, but Kei might not like that."

I just laughed then watched the third and fourth set pass. Then in the middle of the fifth set, Kei injured his hand when he went to block the ace's powerful spike. Did he cut his finger? Did he dislocate it? I looked intently at his restless expression, seeing as though he didn't want to leave the game at a critical state.

"I'm going to see if Kei's alright." Akiteru-niisan said, which snapped my attention back at him. "Would you like to come, Kinomi-chan?"

"Of course."

"Ah, me too!" Yachi-san followed.

We rushed to the entrance of the gym, and Kei was being accompanied by their beautiful raven-haired manager. I watched the brothers converse, with Kei still denying that there's no much difference it will make even if he was subbed out of the game.

I just remained quiet as I scrutinize his pained expression, which he is trying so hard to hide. It also reminded me of how many times I'd tried to hide mine. We followed him to the infirmary, and there a nurse tended to his injured hand.

"So then, do you finally see the result, Analyst-san?" Kei started.

I closed my eyes, letting out an amused huff. "Now's not the time to be in a saltyfest with me, Saltyshima. You need to concentrate."

He just rolled his eyes. "I am, Berry."

"Then good. I also believe that injuries are a result of hardwork."

"Well, you don't say. I've been jumping and blocking Ushiwaka most of the time." He countered sarcastically, which made me let out a short laugh.

"No, stupid. Didn't you hear what I said? It's the result of all your hardwork. And don't you dare deny that ear-piercing scream at the end of the second set. You finally found your calling, dumbass."

Kei just gawked at me when I reminded him that, then he turned his attention back at his bandaged hand, a shade of pink dusting his cheeks.

"Kei, I'll let you in on a secret." I suddenly said, catching his attention once again.

I accompanied Akiteru-niisan after that. Kei and his beautiful manager rushed back to the late game, Karasuno at the edge of a cliff. We watched by the ingress of the gym as he ran back to his team who managed to hang on to wait for his return.

"I'm glad that you're always there when he needs you, Kinomi-chan." Akiteru-niisan said. He let out a grin, his eyes turning into little slits.

"You give me too much credit, Nii-san..." I gave a dismissive wave of my hand, chuckling lowly. I looked at Kei who was sitting on the bench beside Hinata. "This is all nothing... compared to what he has done for me."

And so we watched the remnants of the late game. And their remnants of despair. Karasuno has been pushing forward, giving their sweat and blood into every attack. Their overwhelming resolve, strength and faith their weapons against the supposedly unbeatable champions.

I can't adequately describe what I'm feeling right now, a mixture of anticipation, fear, pride and joy whirling altogether. It's making my chest hurt in a good way, especially when Kei has finally poured his heart into the sport.

Of course, they won.

They all spilled tears of joy because they've finally already fulfilled their dream—no, they're only a step closer.

"That's my little brother! The one with the glasses!" Akiteru-niisan told a bystander.

"That's also my darling! The one with the glasses!" I also told the same bystander. He gave us both a weird look.

Amidst of all these crowd, Kei's honey brown eyes searched for mine. And I found him. There were no words needed, but a gentle smile from him is all it took for me to also tear up because I was so happy for them. For him.

Kei, I'll let you in on a secret. Whatever happens, win or lose, you'll always be my favorite person.

Yes, Kei. Not for now, but for always. Even if I break my promise to you someday.

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I HAVE TO FIX MY PROBLEMS WITH UPLOADING PICTURES, ITʼS SO FRUSTRATING LMAO. When i upload pictures in here, theyʼre fine. I even preview it and itʼs okay. But when I publish the chapter, the pictures freaking disappear???? I dont know how to fix this tbh.

But thank you for reading //cries in filipino