(fan work of haikyuu) As Third-Year Students

Usuri Michiru knew he wasn’t as talented as Kiryuu Wakatsu when it came to volleyball, nor was he as enthusiastic about it as the former captain of Mujinazaka. Usuri promised to do his best and try to lead the team to victory when chosen by Kiryuu to succeed him as captain. However, when they talked about their future plans after Kiryuu’s graduation ceremony, Usuri said that he actually had been dwelling on this since he started his first year in Mujinazaka High and that he could draw the conclusion that he preferred science to volleyball.

While Kiryuu was engaged in training and matches, Usuri was busy with his studies. Usuri was intelligent, which was admitted by everyone familiar with him, in terms of not only volleyball but also studies especially science and math. Hondo and Bishin were also third-year students, and Hondo became the Ace of the team. The three were often seen spending time together at school, practicing volleyball in the gym, having lunch on the rooftop or doing homework in the library. They cherished the days with each other, trying to seize the flow of time adorned by every little pleasure in Mujinazaka High.

As the Spring Tournament was approaching, their former teammates, who graduated months ago and were currently first-year undergraduate students, sent their heartly encouragement and conveyed their best wishes, and said they would came to watch their matches. In a casual teasing tone, Hondo said to Usuri, “Wakatsu-san is coming. Are you going to take the opportunity?”

It was night and they had just finished their practice. Usuri checked his phone to find the messages from the upperclassmen after he closed the gym door, and then he asked Hondo and Bishin to read them together. Hearing Hondo’s words, Usuri gave him a seemingly unimpressed look, but the smile played on his lips betrayed him. Bishin chimed in, “you are likely to be the first of us to be taken and we believe in you.”

“Don’t make fun of me.” Usuri retaliated, but the other two could tell that he wasn’t really irritated. The dim illumination from lights interspersed nearby lit up the road, and Usuri noticed the small puffs of mist floating out of their mouths when they talked. He felt warm while playing volleyball in the gym, which almost made him forget the chill outside his coat was protecting himself from at present. He pulled up his schoolbag resting beside him to his shoulders, and walked to the school gate with his friends.

“I have been observing Wakatsu-san since I started to be conscious of my affection towards him, and I am pretty sure that he doesn’t have feeling for me. He was a good captain who was very responsible and cared much for his teammates, and he devotes himself to volleyball. He is so busy playing volleyball that he won’t bother to get into a romantic relationship. I get all that. The reason for all I did for him was that I wanted to. I happened to be privileged to be the setter on the same team with him for about two years, and I think I should be content enough without asking for more than I deserve.”

What Usuri said reminded Hondo and Bishin of the last Spring Tournament. After Mujinazaka lost in the quarter finals, Usuri said he put that ball up for Kiryuu because he wanted to, tears spilling out of his eyes and running down his cheeks. He was still a big fan of Kiryuu just as he had been. Hondo chuckled softly, “there is no need to take it so seriously, but it’s quite a good answer.” Bishin nodded in agreement.

Usuri’s friends didn’t notice the light red creeping to the rims of his eyes and then slowly fading away while he was uttering those words. Usuri was trying to become mature from the day he succeeded Kiryuu as captain, and he was growing into the reliable and responsible captain the team needed. He had learned to quell the fluctuation inside himself because he was a third-year high school student and there were no longer upperclassmen to take care of his emotion.

Usuri hoped that Kiryuu would be proud of him when coming to watch their matches. With this thought, Usuri beamed wide. Suddenly, he felt granules falling on him, and he looked up. The other two also held up their heads to look into the sky. All the three said, synchronized with each other, “oh, it starts to snow.”