Chapter 75: One is not a team

"This is your fault," snarled Hina.

"Of course, just remember to say that again when we win nationals," I sigh in conflict. We stand in my comfort, my freedom from their hatred. We stand in the boys gym, with our coach talking to the boys coach and the boys team, looking towards us. Bokuto, looking towards me, with a confused smile.

"This was your idea wasn't it," Another claims.

"All coach's," I sigh. Straight faced. "Maybe if you weren't all running from every ball I touch, she wouldn't be so desperate to toughen you up."

"You broke a girls face!"

"It was just her nose."

"Spoken like a true monster."

I sigh again, "I called her, apologized. She said she's fine, she knew what she was signing up for."

"Yeah well we didn't sign up for playing with a-"

"Girls," coach called out, "Get on the court."

"Well for the record, I think this is a bad idea," I move towards the court first muttering, "If I'm a monster. These guys are death. Or at least, they're captain is."

I leave the girls to walk in my shadow. A place they've gotten too comfortable being in. I go to my spot, as the boys coach calls out, "Practice game. Don't go easy on them."

Bokuto, leaned onto the net, looking down at me as my team pulled themselves together. "Hate to see you so down Baby Bird."

All I can do is shrug, can't even crack a smile with these girls around. "Just don't take it easy on us."

His smile grows now, "Wouldn't dream of it." He stretches a bit, showing off some muscle, "I've been waiting for this for a while. Finally get to avenge my girl."

"My hero," I roll my eyes, he gets a smirk out of me. Before he says, "Ladies first!"

A rainbow. A fucking rainbow, arching high and pretty and light for the other team. This is going to be an instant kill. I track Bokuto, he's the ace. He's getting the first ball, setting the tone for the game.

The ball is passed, goes to Akasshi and just as I said. "Number four," I Shout out, moving towards Bokuto, a double block. Or at least I thought. She's barely clearing the net and when Bokuto's power swing came, she retracted her hands, squealing.

I knew this was bad idea. They might quit after this.

I have to slide my hand out, just to get a petty touch on the ball. "Touch!"

The ball contacts skin, I hear that. It got passed, so I go back shouting, "Here!" Only to see that the ball is spirling back towards them.

Shit. No hesitation. Of course not. Their middle is on it, direct attack. "No!"

I shouted, pushing myself towards the net. A waist of an approach. I was supposed to be smashing this ball, but looks like I'm still on the defence. I go up, just in time to shut him out. His tall and strong, but he's no Bokuto. Not now. Now, I can handle him.

Kill block!

No, it's saved. Bokuto dropped saving the ball with a grin.

"Send it to me," He got up, moving back as Akasshi set the ball, "Here!"

No back up this time. I know no one is coming. I face the great owl on my own. I go up, on his right. Knowing he can go anywhere. Knowing he can just blow right through me if he wants. And he does. His powerful swing, cutting right through my hands. Tighten up Z!

This is a big enemy. And just like all the rest. I'll be facing them, pretty much alone.

I slowed it down. Damn it, I know I slowed it down.

"Someone, please?" I beg, looking towards the ball, moving back to attack.

It's up, heading for the setter, "Me!" I call. I'm anxious, moving too quickly. But Aimi keeps up, sending me a ball. This quick is quick enough. They're slow on the block. I slip past.

It's sloppy, but it up. Akasshi can work with anything. Back to Bokuto. Tighten up. Block him. It comes. Slamming against my arms and bouncing back to their side. But they get it again. A rally straight off the first serve.

"I need help," I call out.

Getting someone else on the block with me, but it doesn't get farther than that. We lose the point. Because the fight was in the back row, and the only fighter on the court is at the net.

Im out of breath already. And i can feel Bokuto staring from the other side.

"Could have let that first block go," I sigh, dropping my head.

"I won't go easy on you. Like you said."

And they don't. The whole set, they are tight and on it. And instead of toughing up. The girls seem to shrink, more and more. Like my pride as I beg for help.

We scored 4 points. Just tiny points.

We join our teams for a huddle and of course, as I drink my much needed water, of course Hina has to say something.

"What is with you skyscraper. You play with the. Like every day, can't you-"

"I can't do shit by myself. I can't beat a team like that, without a team. Stop being scared and just play the damn ball. It's not gonna kill you." I flop down in a chair and sink my head.

And still they blame me, "Well if we had Bokuto instead of you then I'm sure we could take a set." A third year spat.

I glare up from the floor, all of them nodding in agreement.

"Fine," I groan getting up, "Coaches! The team wants a trade. They're so sure they can steal a set if they switched me for Bokuto so, let's do it."

"What! No way," Bokuto shouts but his coach says, "Do it."

I get up moving towards the other side of the net. Bokuto does the same with a sigh and slumped shoulders. In passing he whispers, "You'll pay for this later."

"Sure I will," He gets a fraction of a smile from me as I imagine what his form of payback will be. At least for me.

The teams reorganize. It's not an even switch trading a middle blocker for a wing spiker.

They lost the best blocker on the team. The other middle is pretty weak. Could be stronger if she would just listen to me. But the underclassmen are under strict order to not speak with me.

Bokuto is the only threat on the team and with me gone, the defence has gaps. They can receive good, but attack power is weak and blocks are not up to par.

"We got this," I say the moment we step on the court. This is a team behind me. And a team is a lot better than a dive and her followers.

Bokuto is exhausted. Watching him is exhausting. So much running around its making me dizzy. Well not me, but him. His spikes are weaker, I can actually kill his blocks with no one there to back him up.

I don't even have to attack often, the team has enough force to make the girls shrivel.

Bokuto inspires a bit of bravery in them. Of course. He's the one with the contagious ego. It's almost a crime to let this guy down.

But that ego is shrinking with his energy level. The game is a little closer now but we are still ahead. And, after the third block in a row. I can see it. Emo owl is coming on. He'll be useless. And these girls suck at praise.

Already they attack him with, "What's wrong with you? Why are you getting blocked?"

"You're supposed to be helping us!"

"What kind of captain are you?"

His hair is deflating. His mood is dropping with his eyelids. "I'm trying," he pouted, "No one else has hit the ball since I got here and the sets are all over the place."

Bokuto is a great spiker. He is a great leader of a team. Bokuto himself, is not a team. He gets to be great, because his team is great. Take away the greatness of the team and he's withered down to nothing.

"Ready to switch back ladies?" I question.

Their sharp glances tell me no. Bokuto is gone. But still they set him, not even taking note that their player is out of it. Neglectful moves, until they lose the set.

The boys coach speaks up, "Ladies! Listen up. Whatever it is you have against Z, forget that now. We have nationals to win, and you will not go onto that court and play like pathetic wimps in front of the entire nation! You will not humillante this schoot got it!?"

"Yes coach," they all say with their heads down.

"Now a diving lap around the gym then back onto the court. We play until every member of this team contributes in scoring against my boys."

"Yes coach," they groan and head for the outer line.

I join them. Even when Coach says, "Z, you don't have to-"

"They're my team coach." Is all I say and join them for the laps.

Practice goes way over time. Until the girls were more afraid of staying all night, than they were afraid of the ball.

When we finally make it home, I hope off of Bokuto's bike and he sighs, "I don't know how you play with them Baby Bird. It's like, they rely on you for everything."

"Yep," I nod, "But I want to play. And this is the only way I can do it so, I do it."

He pulls me into his chest, sighing, "You are one brave Baby Bird." Before kissing me on the head and saying, "But I'm still getting my payback for you making me play with them. And losing. And going emo owl for the first time in over a month."

I lean back looking up at him, "And what are you planning to do to me?"

He grins, he kisses me, he lets go. He doesn't answer only says, "Get in the house. I'll be over for dinner in a little bit."