Trouble...?

The coming days, the boys practised hard. Jin was fairing great with Suga’s tosses and his accuracy was wonderful, his movements on the court were very well established, he moved so easily, there were absolutely no unwanted drifts from his side, his receives were also of the top-notch but it was evident that he was an attacker instead of a defender.

Jin seemed to favour Suga’s tosses, he always practised with Suga. Kageyama badly wanted the new boy to spike for him. 

“Kazama-kun” Kageyama approached Jin, who was sat on the floor, leaning against the wall tired. Jin looked up patting the seat next to him. Kageyama took the invitation and made himself comfortable next to the teammate. “Um...” Kageyama could not find the right words.

“You wanted to know why I have been avoiding you… more or less haven’t asked for your tosses particularly?” Jin stated. Kageyama froze, not being able to meet the new guy’s eyes. He was scared, would Kazama-kun think of him has the tyrannical king too? Jin sighed “Ka-chan told me this would happen”

“Kazama-kun i…..”

“Jin” the boy affirmed, he continued more softly “Call me Jin, there are two Kazamas in the club” Jin smiled at Kageyama encouraging him to continue.

Kageyama took a deep breath “Jin-kun, I have seen you play and I have also played against you too. I have changed. Why is that-”

“I am going to stop you right there Kageyama-kun” Jin cut the boy off “It’s not that your tosses are bad, its the opposite” Jin finished the softly.

“Huh?”

“What he means is that he is too much of a chicken to hit your tosses” Asuka came out of nowhere and commented. The pair of them looked up at the girl standing over their resting figure. “Ka-chan... You didn’t have to frame the sentence as that” Jin complained “and I am not afraid of hitting his tosses”

“You told me last night that you are scared to Kageyama’s tosses because if you miss them you’d look bad” Asuka deadpanned.

“Ka-chan! Stop making me look bad”

“Bold of you to assume that you looked good at any point”

“Ka-chan… stop bullying me”

Asuka ignored her brother looking down at Kageyama “look, Kageyama-kun, this guy here” she pointed at her twin “is a complete wimp, you’ve gotta push him around to get things done” Asuka sighed “I know your history, so dont worry… I also know people change over time and that thing changed you” and she met his eyes, smiling softly  “its not exactly a bad thing to be demanding ya know”

Kageyama stared down, it was the first time somebody had ever told him that it was fine to be demanding. He didn’t know why he felt moved but he was.

Daichi watched as the first years interacted. He had been pondering over it for the last couple of days, ever since the new kid had joined. Daichi held no spite over Jin. the boy was very good, really good and Daichi was the team captain and has team captain he had to act selflessly and do what is best for Karasuno as a whole… he had to make decisions that would only push the team forward.

But there was this annoying voice in his head, a small part of him wanted to play. Just one more time.

Is this how Suga felt? Daichi imagined the unimaginable talent climbing unto his back trying to strangle him. He knew he would be the one to be ousted, Tanaka was too strong of an attacker to be left out of the starting line up, and the second-year’s reflexes were needed, not to mention Tanaka was someone with a strong mental toughness that was demanded of players.

Daichi had made his decision, he had a certain inspiration to do so. He would let Jin take it, he would nevertheless force it. He smiled, teams undervaluing them had the thing coming for them, Karasuno was going to fly, Karasuno was going to fly high.

Daichi beamed at his team. “You seem to be dreaming about something Daichi-san?” Suga teased looking at his captain, the look amusing Suga to some extend. Daichi shrugged “look how far we have come. Plus we have an anther monster in the team, that makes a total of four” Daichi grinned “maybe its time for me to step out of the court”

“Daichi!” Suga exclaimed “you can’t just decide that you are the captain and a third-year plus you gave everything you had for this team” 

“And you didn’t Suga?” Daichi argued back “how is this any different from you”

“Daichi...”

“Either way, we both are co-captains and we want what’s best for our team”

Suga knew Daichi’s argument was valid. But still….Suga sighed “you are right but” Suga looked at Asahi apologizing to Nishinoya “do you really think that goatee could pass for a court captain”

Daichi looked at Asahi, so did Suga. The pair of them sighed, why couldn’t he be an ace heart too?

“Say, Daichi,” Suga asked “you seem to be awfully positive that a team can play well even without the captain”

“Have you heard about Inarizaki?”

“Nation’s number 2 school?”

Daichi nodded “Their captain does not play, he only plays when they are in a loop or something” Daichi met Suga’s eyes “he gives them the support they need and the team is number 2, isn’t that cool?”

“Are you aiming to be cooler now?”

“Suga… do you wanna run extra laps now?”

Suga nodded his head “no, no.. just ...” Suga beamed at Daichi “are you sure that’s what you want captain?”

“Let’s fly high”

Asuka pondered whether she should talk to the coach or not. She wanted to because she just has to fulfil her position as the club's manager but… she still was new here and she did not want to impose. She sighed.

“Kazama-chan, are you alright?” a voice broke her out of her inner monologue. Asuka looked up to see a concerned Yamaguchi observing her. “I am fine Yamaguchi-kun, just thinking about stuff I suppose?”. Asuka watched as Yamaguchi’s face fell, he probably wanted to help her, he plausibly did not even know that he was making such a face and they say she wore her expression on her sleeve. Asuka had always been good at reading people...it was what made her so dangerous.

She sighed, debating fora second whether she should continue but she could always use a friend. She continued “I don't know whether I should give my input or wait for until everyone is comfortable with me….. I kinda don't know what to do”

Yamaguchi glanced down at the smaller girl “Maybe you should try asking one of the club members before showing to the coach, so you know that they would appreciate it or not”. Yamaguchi froze, had he crossed the line? “I mean… Kazama-chan, you are free to do whatever you want, I just said it because you seemed distressed, I think that you should- I mean I dont think...like I’m not forcing you or anything, you definitely have the freedom to do that….-”

Asuka laughed. Yamaguchi froze again. Why was she laughing? Did he really insult her? Has he messed up? Why could Tsukishima be here when he needed it.

“Calm down Yamaguchi-kun,” Asuka stated “Also call me Asuka, I dont want to be acknowledged has that wimp over there” she pointed at her twin chatting with Hinata. “And I think that a wonderful idea” Asuka smiled at Yamaguchi “so why don’t you hear me out?” 

“Huh?!”

“Yamaguchi-kun, please hear my input”

“Are you sure Kaz-” he met Asuka’s glare “I mean… are you sure Asuka-chan, you could ask any of the senpais, I am pretty sure they could help you out much better than I can-”

“Yamaguchi-kun you are rambling again”

“Sorry”

 Asuka smiled softly at the boy “I want you to listen”

“Coach, can we talk?” Daichi requested Ukai who was watching Kageyame and Jin talking, supposedly about what sort of tosses the former favoured. Ukai Keishin was in a dilemma himself on the fact where Jin stood in the team. Jin was in a way like Kageyama, his skills too strong to be benched, on the other hand, Daichi was the team captain, the pillar of support but… argh...Ukai wanted to rip his hair out.

“Yes, Sawamura”

“I want you to give Jin the starting position”

“Huh?”

Ukai looked at the third-year captain, did he hear right? Or did the teenager… Daichi seemed to have felt Ukai’s shock, he continued “Jin is the final piece we needed and us third years want nothing more than to win and if having him on the court gives us the advantage I will willingly step down from my starting position” Daichi beamed “I dont need to be on the court to give the support a captain gives and I will replace him if something happens to him”

Ukai listened, half in shock and the other half in shock. Kids these days had their priorities sorted out and he couldn’t be any more proud to coach this team

“Coach Ukai” Asuka approached the coach has the boys were busy playing a match. She had talked to Yamaguchi, also in a moment of confidence to both Kiyoko and Yachi, all of the three told her to go ahead and share her discoveries with the coach.

“Ne, Asuka”

Asuka took a deep breath “I used to do this for the old team back in Shiratorizawa”, she then handed the coach her notebook full of notes. Each page dedicated to each one of the members, even their volleyball experience was noted on the page. Ukai felt surprised at the amount of information the girl had collected in the past few days, honestly, he was kinda scared, he could see why someone like her would be dangerous on court. He wanted to know more

“So what are your opinions kid?”

“What?”

“What do you mean what?”

“You dont think I’m imposing?”

Ukai was taken aback for a second. So this is why she was all jittery was the last two days “Look Asuka” Ukai began “I only started coaching a couple of months ago and I will take any help I get” he smiled at her “after all I want is for Karasuno to fly again”

Asuka nodded, taking a deep breath.

“First we have to fix that so-called freak quick”

“Go on”

“Kageyama- kun goes for that freak quick every time the receive is off”

Ukai blinked. Now that the girl had mentioned it. It was true, Kageyama often went for the freak quick every time the receive was off.

“We need to give him more option on-court plus there needs to be a backup setter on the court at all times, just in case Kageyam ends up getting one touch… the ideal position for this goes to the libero’s toss..this would be much useful and would also make us more confident about our plays”

Ukai took in the information. She made a point with all of them.

“We are going to Tokyo for camp soon right?”

Ukai nodded “Takeda-sensei is printing the forms right now”

“Good, this way we can be the crows we are meant to be”

“Crows, we are meant to be?”

“Yeah, like how crows are omnivorous creatures we should learn from the Tokyo teams, we should use their strengths against them. Crows pick the skin of their prey, we should do that with teams”

Ukai grinned, she made a hell of a good point.

Takeda sensei was in an even greater dilemma. The kids had to pass their exams and without that, they would not be able to go to Tokyo. He hoped that would be motivation enough.

They can do it if they try.