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"It seems like Oikawa's less unbeatable, and just really... smart!" F/N pumped her fists up and down, tapping her nails together as she observed the game. It seemed like this game could really pull Karasuno around; they were only a point behind, instead of several, and their moods were great.

"Instead of Karasuno, Aoba Johsai's mood seems to be off," you let out a small sigh, holding your cheek in your hands. "That's good, but it's not like it's going to throw them off their game. It's pretty frustrating. If our morale is off, our whole game is off, but if their morale is off, they can still function decently."

"Mhm!" She nodded in agreement, pouting out her lip and she squished her cheeks together. "This game is taking forever... I wonder how long they can last before getting tired?"

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Sugawara was subbed out for Kageyama once again.

"That's too bad for him," F/N frowned, rolling her head back and huffing. "He was doing great! I don't know why they had to take him out..."

"I think Kageyama's doing better now," you tapped a finger against your cheek absentmindedly. "So because he's okay to go back in, Koshi's time is up. But..."

You saw his smile widen as he ran back, eyes crinkling with joy. You let out a heavy breath in confusion, "he doesn't seem all that sad. In fact, he looks happy."

"Yeah, that is weird..." F/N rocked back and forth in her seat, a grin forming on her lips. "But I'm happy we get the duo back! Shoyo and Kageyama... I hope they do some cool attacks! I'm counting on them to make this paper super awesome!"

F/N looked down at Kageyama, who was doing... an extremely chilling smile, which made her burst out into laughter. "AHAHAH...! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! HE LOOKS LIKE THE TEACHER IN THAT ONE ANIME, EXTERMINATION HOMEROOM-!"

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" He yelled up at her, pointing his finger at her cackling figure, which made her double over and clutch her stomach. 

"I-I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST TIME HE'S [gasp] EVER SMILED- AHHAHA!"

"BE QUIET!"

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"It's the last point for Karasuno!" F/N cheered, waving her arms around with a bright, cheerful grin. "GO, GUYS! YOU CAN DO THIS! WOOOOHOOOO!!"

You looked away from her brightness, staring down intently as if you were trying to decode something about them. "They're feeling good because they have more points... They have to keep up this kind of energy, and they'll definitely win."

"Right!" She nodded profusely, swinging her feet back and forth.

Oikawa's serve was effectively received, then passed back over. He got into position, about to pass to Kindaichi, until Kageyama saw that it was going past him and to Iwaizumi. He tugged on the back of Tsukishima's shirt, and just in time, ran over and blocked the hit.

Which gained them the match.

F/N jumped out of her seat, face flushed and glasses nearly tumbling off her face, "WOOOHOOO!!! YAY!! YOU DID IT!" She yelled loudly, an excited grin stretching across her lips as she jumped up and down in excitement.

Usually, you would reprimand your friend when she would do something like this, but now, you felt proud. You felt such an overwhelming, unusual feeling that you also stood up and waved your hand around, though it was far noticeably tamer than hers'... it stood out just as much.

"Wooooah!!! Y/N-chan's waving for us!" Noya exclaimed loudly, face flushing as he jumped up and down and waved back, grinning. 

"AAAh!! She looks happy! I think this is the first time I've seen her happy!!" Hinata swooned, smiling giddily.

"We made them proud!" Daichi grinned, slapping the back of Kageyama, wiping his face with a towel. "Now, let's go and do it again!"

You and F/N watched as they waved back just as excited, grinning just as brightly as her. You looked to Aoba Johsai, to see they looked even more annoyed, which made F/N significantly happier.

"MWAHAHA! TAKE THAT!!" She placed her hands on her hip and cackled, standing proudly. "That's what you get for having your dirty paws all over MY Y/N-sama! MWAHAHAHAAH!"

She laughed evilly at the poor souls who, for the most part, had no idea what they had done.

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Oikawa pulled a setter dump over the net, which gained some momentum back to their team. It wasn't too long before his serve was back; getting a solid two points.

"Aah!!! His serve is so killer!" F/N whined, ruffling at her hair as she glared down at him. "It's totally unfair... like how does he do it?!"

"I don't know... probably a lot of practice. I mean, I'm not really a volleyball geek, so I wouldn't know." You shrugged your shoulders, glancing downwards. You shuffled your shoes, now releasing your hand on your sheer tights once you realised how hard you were gripping them. "It's almost intimidating. But then I remember, it's really just a sport."

"Y/N-sama! Whatever you believe, is my true belief... but I don't think it's just a sport to them. I mean, look at how hard they're pushing! It's kind of like... they're constipated, but they really need to shit, just like how they really need this point!"

"That's disgusting." You deadpan, which makes her cheeks flush up in embarrassment, but you sigh and look down. "But... Maybe I do get what you mean. They are pushing themselves, even when they don't have to. If it was just a sport, then maybe they wouldn't be acting like it's life or death."

"Mhm! It's like it gives them life or something!" F/N snickered, hiding her mouth behind her hand as she smirked. "That sounds so stupid when I say it aloud, aha!"

The whistle blows just as Hinata is about to serve. A boy holds up his number, hands shaking. Your eyes widen, and you lean forward instinctively, gripping the ends of your skirt. "No..."

"Y/N-sama, what-" F/N opened her eyes, only to gasp in horror as she stared down. "They're... PUTTING IN YAMAGUCHI?!"

"Why... ah-" You bite down on the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from talking, digging your lengthened nails into your palm. "They're really going crazy... look how scared he looks."

"Ahhh! He looks like he's going to throw up! Poor guy!"

He stepped into the court, and it was obvious to everyone how nervous the poor dude was. His hands were shaky as he held onto the ball—you couldn't help but pity him.

"You can do it Tadashi!"

You heard the people on the bench cheer, and it made F/N smile widely. "THEY'RE TOTALLY RIGHT, YOU CAN DO IT-!"

The rest of her speech was silenced by your hand as his face flushed up at her embarrassing cheering. He turned to where you two were, looking right at you. You were surprised, but still sent him your best almost-smile, waving with your hand not covered in F/N's spit, nodding at him. 

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He failed the serve, it hitting the net. F/N watched in sadness as he walked off the court shamefully, head hanging low. You also nearly frowned, your lips twitching from their normal resting position. 

"That's so sad!" F/N cried out, hands clasped on the lower half of her face, eyes glistening. "He looks so sad... I feel so bad for him!"

"I do too... but..." You held your face in your hands, staring down at him intensely. "I think... this may have given him a new sense of motivation. How powerless he must feel... he will want to change that."

"And doesn't it seem like the mood has completely changed?!" F/N pointed down to the men on the court, figuratively radiating fire. "They look so much more serious! It's kind of scary... that look on their faces... like those of a predator..."

Points racked up as time went on, going closer and closer...

Seijoh was at match point. 

A foreign feeling of anxiety crept up your chest, pupils dilating as you stared dead at the court. F/N looked at you and shivered, scraping her nails against her palms. "Your expression... is really intense. More than when you write papers, Y/N-sama."

"I..." You blinked a few times, your face going back to its normal, resting state. "I just... am... focused. ...Because this will be an interesting paper."

F/N stifled a chuckle, looking away from you and to the match. "You know I love you, Y/N-sama, but you're a terrible liar."

You turned to her in surprise for a second, then shook your head and looked back. "Oikawa.. messed up his serve." You whispered lowly, eyes widening.

"W...woah!! The tension got to him," a laugh escaped her lips proudly, "even someone like him can crumble under pressure!"

"Of course." You nod. "Even the most stone-faced individual can crack underneath the right situations."

'I've seen it myself.' You think, but choose not to say.

"That doesn't sound like a quote from you... did you steal it from somebody?!" F/N pointed a finger at you with a doubtful expression. You pushed her hand away and looked to the side. 

"That doesn't matter..."

"I knew it!" She tapped her foot against the hardwood of the floor, groaning under her breath. "Seijoh has the deciding point again... Kageyama looks really spooked. I wonder what happened to him?"

"I'm not sure... but he looks more motivated than ever." You sigh into your hands, pressing your lips into a fine line together. "I don't know how they keep up. How do they have so much energy after this long? It's been an hour at least."

"I think I would've just become a puddle on the floor at that point!" 

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The ball hits the floor. You stare in shock. F/N gasps in horror.

They collapse to the floor, defeated, as Seijoh cheers and hugs each other. F/N groaned loudly, standing up to the railing and gripping it. "AAAaah!!! We lost!" She sulked, lips trembling as she slowly moved away and folded her arms.

You were silent as you stood up, grabbed your bag, and started to walk away. F/N looked over at you, curious. "...Y/N-sama? Where are you going?"

You turn back for a second, face completely blank. "Back. I don't wish to miss the bus." F/N's eyes enlarged, but she didn't comment on your tone and only grabbed her bag, walking away with you.

"... Are we going to go to Aoba Johsai?" She asked quietly, breaking the tense silence of the halls.

"Why would we? I think we're fine." Your eyes were unwavering while you walked outside, glued in front of you like you were scared to look anywhere else. F/N stood next to you, fidgeting with her hands while she stayed uncharacteristically silent.

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"Thank you for the offer, but no." You lowered your head a little, then turned away, quickly walking as far and fast as you could.

Ukai shrugged, nodding before also walking away, back to the team and F/N, who had decided to stay back with them and get something to eat. You weren't hungry. You just wanted to leave.

You sat in silence at the bus stop, staring down at your hands. Their faces were unlike anything you had ever seen before. Such misery from such a simple game.

'It's just a silly game. Why are they so upset?' 

It's not like it would define the rest of their future—the important thing. You never understood the reason why people got so upset over minuscule things like a spelling bee, sports, or talent competitions. It's not like it really mattered. Why would you even care?

It bothered you how tragic they looked. How raw emotion took over their faces as if everything had just come crashing down. Why were they so upset? You couldn't understand, and maybe that was why it bothered you so much. You didn't understand; it was like an itch in the back of your throat that bothered you so much but couldn't quite reach.

The bus came to a stop in front of you, opening its door. You stepped inside, pulling out a few notes from your pocket and dropping it in the compartment, taking a seat near the back. You stared out the window, seeing the orange sky reach up from beneath the clouds. 

Your stomach twisted into itself, a guttural and realistic emotion that scared you. Because they were feeling so upset... it affected you? It didn't make sense. You had seen many people be upset in their lives, but it had never affected you like this. You never cared.

Until now. 

"Haha, looks like you're making more friends other than me, Y/N-sama!"

What you had originally thought as silly words, soon became a lingering, recurring thought in your daily life. Is that why you were feeling so horrible? Because they were your friends? Because you cared about them?

You gripped the hem of your skirt, eyes glared down and narrowed. 

If this was what having friends was like, then you weren't too sure why people valued them so much.

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