Boom

It could be his heart.

Boom

It could be his breath.

Boom

It could be his feet hitting the ground. Or the ball. Or the crowd.

FUKURODANI 33 - KARASUNO 31

That's it.

Planting hands on his hips, Tsukki stares up at the lights. Unable to move, think, hear anything but echoing thunder. Boom. Boom. Boom

It's over. It's over. It's over.

Most paparazzi keep away from Kei. Hitachiin Legal loves a restraining order, and that’s enough for a semi-normal life.

But public games are public, and Kei spots at least three in the stands. Nondescript hair, clothes, faces. So plain they scream among the colorful crowd. One even has the nerve to smile, when he catches Kei’s glare.

Ugh.

Never mind.

Exhaling, he shuts them out. Settling into the tempo of his team. The rhythm and flow of defense, rising to a higher crescendo each time. It feels good. Kei's spent four years building with Todai, and they're contenders for Nationals. Maybe even favorites.

This is what matters.

Not the paparazzi with their gossip and grins.

Karasuno High hums after the ceremony. People meeting up with families, younger students saying goodbye to the graduates.

The loudest ruckus of all comes form the volleyball club. It's been a wild run. Rocketing from nobodies to multiple tournament wins - plus two National titles. No longer Fallen Crows, but Soaring.

This is the last of the group who turned it all around. The first years grown into Seniors, carrying diplomas instead of fears, grudges, worries. Hinata, their own Little Giant, laughs in delight. Hanging off of Kageyama and telling him to smile. Yamaguchi, ever the suffering Captain, tries to break it up. But only half-heartedly. Yachi keeps swiping at her eyes.

Even Kei tolerates hugs, back claps. He helped build this team, after all. Will even freely admit being proud of it. There's a few few more digs on his juniors, of course. Telling them not to mess it up next year. This gets a rueful "Tsukki!" from Yamaguchi. But as the (former) Vice Captain, it's his job.

At last, Kei disengages. Scans the milling crowd.

Maybe Bokuto should have suspected something when Akaashi actually volunteered for an extra Sunday practice. Or when he calls off sick. Insisting Bokuto should go anyway, that he'd send someone else over. That's just what a good assistant captain would do, right?

But at the very least Bokuto should have registered it's March 14th. White Day. When gifts are given in return for Valentine's.

Or, in Tsukishima's case, payback. Same difference. So he gets to be dressed in good clothes, sweater and dark jeans, waiting outside Fukurodani. Smirking at the sweats Bokuto probably arrives in.

"Wow. Is this really how you're going to dress for a date?"

Karasuno's come a long way from the "fallen rivals" no one could be bothered to practice against. Since they've qualified for Nationals, there have been several requests for scrimmages. Then Fukurodani asked for an entire weekend. Coach Ukai jumped on that one. True, they're competition. But after the improvements from Tokyo Summer Camp? Who knows what could come out of this.

So here it is. Crows vs. Owls. They've finished up their first joint practice and everyone's chattering. Excited about tomorrow's scrimmage, trading insults and tips. Tsukki wipes the sweat from his face, satisfied with the practice. Maybe even smiling a little. Definitely about the blocks, though. Nothing to do with any spiky-haired loud-mouths hooting around the court.

Or the fact Bokuto's sleeping at his house.

(Their school isn't set up for overnight guests. Solution? The Fukurodani players are staying with the Karasuno families.)