chapter 85: His Battle

After breakfast, we had a team meeting, filled with motivational words ending with a, "Go get 'em."

We start to separate to warm up on different courts, but as the teams began to pull apart, I heard the boys coach call out, "Mac!"

I freeze for a moment before jogging to his side. His voice was sturn, he knew something.

"Yes coach?" I say, stepping to his side as the guys line up to begin their warm up.

He stares out towards his boys. No, to Bokuto as he stands eagerly in line to spike. "It's come to my understanding that my captain did not make it back to his room last night."

"Yes coach," I nod, taking a deep breath. Of course he was going to find out. The guys have been chuckling about it all morning. Their the ones that seen Bokuto walking back into their room in the morning after not returning from the bath last night. And nothing of them bothered to come looking for him last night. They knew he was with me, and of course they can guess what we were doing, and this time, their guesses wouldn't be wrong.

I go on to explain, trying to sound as calm and reasonable as possible, "He was in a bad mood coach. After the fight with his Dad. I wanted to talk to him, get him back I'm a good mood before today. Took longer than expected sir, but he's better." I pray he ask for no details, "I mean, we all know how Bokuto plays when he's in a bad mood. Rather not risk it, you know?"

Coach is quiet for a while. Hands shove in pockets as he watches his ace. He really is in a good mood. Confident, so sure of everything move he makes.

"He does seem better," his coach concluded, "Z be careful. I know your team is not kind to you."

"I know," I sigh, "Thanks coach."

I stand awkwardly. Knowing that this guy probably knows what happened last night. I mean, what else can flip a guys' mood so quick.

"You may go," he says.

I nod, "Thanks," I turn and run towards my team, joining them in line to do hitting drills.

"Oh, there she is. Thought she spent enough time surrounded by boys."

"Guess not," Someone else giggles.

I ignore them, of course they picked up on things, but they won't go too far. Not before nationals. And I won't do anything either, not before this win. But after, they better watch their backs.

We stretch and warm up and I feel good. Now we head back to watch the boys at the start of their game.

Cameras everywhere, clearly a big deal and we get to see it all. Well almost all. They will be an overlap, in the last set, we have to go to get ready for our own game.

I don't sit with my team. Coach says nothing about it either, probably knows it's best. I move down and sit with my family and Bokuto's mom.

Moving between KJ and Ros, which was a mistake. Because word gets around fast, Hana leans over her twin smiling in a whisper, "So Akasshi told me Bokuto didn't make it to his room last night."

KJ grins, "I'm mean, what better way to thank a man for beating his dad's ass than letting him beat that a-"

"Keep it classy, brother," Ros says calmly, eyes glancing to me. "Besides, our cousin is a good girl."

She's studying me, any waver. A flick of an eye and she has me, I just watch the court as the guys huddle and my eyes land on Bokuto, right when he looks up at me. Even if I stay strong, it's all over his face. His smile, the way his bottom lip folds between his teeth as he looks down to his shoes before looking back to the coach. And of course Ros sees. She gives a small gasp the teasing now becoming a real possibility for my cousins.

"Zara you didn't," she says.

And I shrug, "I didn't." I lie. And they know it.

Ros sits back with a shrug, "Can't say I blame you, I mean. Did you see him last night? The way he just stepped in, then was all, 'She's mine.' And I mean-"

"What better way to blow off that steam," Hana teased.

KJ observed Bokuto, "And it sure looks like he blew off some steam."

"Screw you, okay," is all I can say as I glance towards the adults hoping they don't over hear.

And of course Ros has to chime in, "Like you screwed your boyfriend last night?"

"Shut up, it's starting," I try to redirect as they chuckle around me. And from the start, any ounce of regret that may have passed my mind is gone. Because the first ball played, Bokuto came through with an incredible power that made everyone in the room flinch. The ball flying to the ground, then up to us in the stands flying into Uncle Tamaki's hands. He held it out shocked, "What, was he going easy before?" He questions with a nervous laugh as he drops the ball back down to a ref.

"Think he got a power up last night uncle," Hana says, trying to sound cute.

But KJ turns on her helping out his favorite cousin instead, "You know, fighting his father and all. He has something to prove, he's strong. And want anyone who messes with his Baby Bird to know it," he went to pinch my cheek but I snapped at his hand making him back off.

We watch the power struggle before us. The points going back and forth, no one keeping the lead for long. A display of pure skill, these are the best of the best, and they are working to prove themselves better.

Best three out of five and they are taking this battle all the way to the end. Our team taking two sets, their team taking two sets.

And when the whistle blows for the fifth set, and players stand with hands on hips and chest puffing in and out from exhaustion, this is when we have to leave. When we reach the peak of the match, the girls must gather and go to start our own match.

My eyes stay locked on Bokuto til the very last moment. The determination in him. He's stepped up to every play and been reliable to his team. Leadership, power, strength, all of this fuming from him. It's hard not to watch.

The whistle blows starting the last set right when I have to step away. Watching Bokuto and his team, you'd think there's no way they could lose.

But then you see the other team, a calm flame that knows every move they make. I can't call this match, all I can do is hope for the best and prepare for my own battle.