Chapitre 7: Chapter 7: 3-on-3
(TW: Very subtle mentions of physical/mental abuse)
LI WEI WAS ADMITTEDLY NERVOUS FOR HINATA BEYOND BELIEF- oh he trusted his friend very much, but Hinata's issues with the other member of his team made it difficult to believe they would succeed at all. The two continuously fought as they couldn't see eye to eye on anything and frankly, it was a bit annoying. Especially whenever Hinata would rant to him about Kageyama. Maybe someday they'd be friends..if he got rid of his violent tendencies, but he'd remain vigilant otherwise.
Sitting on the lowest level of the bleachers, Li Wei watched in fascination as every member got into position, with Hinata, Kageyama, and Tanaka on one side, and Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Sawamura on the other. There was definitely a height advantage for the opposing team.
Hinata had some words to say about the captain being on the other first year's team, but Sawamura reassured him that Tanaka was by far the better attacker. Li Wei watched on as Tsukishima took it upon himself to rile up Hinata's team, who were admittedly falling for the bait. It was kind of enjoyable to watch the way the team connected with one another and how quick those bonds formed, something the emerald-eyed male cannot relate to.
Yes, his bond with Hinata and Kiyoko were both formed fairly quickly, but he has trouble connecting to the rest of the volleyball club. Especially Kageyama.
When the game began, the new manager was gobsmacked by the power within Tanaka's serve and it made his heart thump a bit, just from the sheer excitement the beginning of the game was. However, that thump turned to ice when he watched as Tanaka took off his shirt. Covering his eyes, Li Wei swiftly walked over towards where the other team members and Kiyoko were, as he felt somewhat alone on the bleachers.
Hinata was set up for a spike and that made Li Wei want to cheer him on. "Go Hinata-" He stopped himself as Hinata's spike was completely blocked by the wall known as Tsukishima. The male covered his mouth in mortification, as Kiyoko chuckled a bit at his momentary excitement. "Cute." She muttered under her breath, however Li Wei heard it and promptly became flustered.
The game continued on, with Yamaguchi accidentally serving the ball into the net. It made Tsukishima tch at him in contempt and Li Wei felt bad for the guy, having felt that sort of contempt from some of his previous figure skating partners. Despite his status as a world-class figure skate, he has made plenty of mistakes during practices and only really comes through under pressure. Therefore, his partners will spread rumors of his incompetence to others and it results in him being sneered at if he makes any mistake. Those times had always been rough, serving as a cruel reminder of his mother who found everything he did to be a mistake.
Back to the game, the next point that occurred featured Kageyama serving, but instead of a service ace, Sawamura hit the ball towards Tsukishima. In the end, Yamaguchi hit a lovely spike that made up for his last point. The other team's amazing ability to cooperate together made Li Wei's heart thump again in excitement, loving the amount of trust the player's had in their teammates. He wants that.
During the game, Li Wei is also surprised by Sawamura who states he doesn't have outstanding talent but has more experience. It makes perfect sense however, as someone can be a prodigy in something but sometimes those with more experience can one up them. When he first began figure skating, he was considered a prodigy but became humbled after being defeated by someone who had practiced for far longer than he did.
Sawamura's "Don't think you can get past me that easily" makes Li Wei a bit flustered, especially by the serious expression. He looks good- just in a friendly way. Never in another way. While a bit trapped in his thoughts, Li Wei almost misses the explaintion about why Kageyama is called the "King of the Court."
"He's the egocentric King. The oppressive dictator. I heard rumors, but I was convinced when I saw that match. He got too oppressive and had to sit out on the bench." Tsukishima smugly states, enjoying the fact that he can easily rile up Kageyama. "To make tosses just to have no one jump-" The blonde is cut off by Kageyama himself.
"You're right. The fact that I made a toss and no one was there.." Kageyama starts off, while Li Wei ponders about what Tsukishima stated. Though he was never in a sports team, he would despise it if his partner simply decided to let him flounder on his own because he was too oppressive. Admittedly, it'd never really happen as his partner would screw them both up..which would benefit no one. Li Wei can sympathize with Kageyama's plight, despite his feelings for the guy overall.
"It's truly frightening." Kageyama finishes, a dark look on his face as his hair covers most of the clear pain in his eyes. "But that was back in junior high, right? You toss to me just fine. It makes no difference to me." Hinata jumps into the conversation, seemingly not caring about Kageyama's title. If Li Wei had to describe Hinata when it comes to making friends with unlikely people, it'd be that he just has a way of helping someone overcome past issues just by being himself.
The gorgeous male can see the clear surprise on Kageyama's face from Hinata's remark. Hinata himself cares more about getting past the blonde wall, rather than focusing on someone's past. The rest of the team laughs at Hinata's declaration, Kiyoko and Li Wei included. Honestly, Hinata's endless energy and optimism always brings the best out of people.
Li Wei gets a bit closer to Kiyoko and whispers, "Hey, Kiyoko-san?" The black-haired beauty turns towards him with an eyebrow raised, silently awaiting his question. "Would you..like to hang out sometime? N-not as a date..I just enjoy your company." He awkwardly stutters out, a stark contrast from the kingly mask he wears around school.
Kiyoko slaps a hand over her mouth and turns towards the other way, wanting to laugh out loud, but not wanting to disturb the match nor make Li Wei think she's laughing at him. His awkwardness is always such a sight to see, but there's definitely insecurities hidden behind it. Gently smiling after turning back towards Li Wei, she responds, "I would love to. We can plan it sometime next week, if that's alright?"
Li Wei smiles back towards her beautifully and nods his head, glad to know his friend actually wants to be seen with him outside of a school atmosphere. He is still getting used to people liking him for well, him.
Turning back towards the match, Li Wei watches in utter amazement as both Hinata and Kageyama put aside their differences and work together. Well, technically Hinata took the opportunity, but it shows that it is indeed possible. He honestly didn't think it would happen, but is so proud of his friend, especially when he speaks out telling everyone that he'll take any chance he can get.
It spurs Hinata's team to work together better, with Kageyama trying to figure out a way to work well with Hinata specifically. Though, it's not all that easy at first, as Kageyama is a fast setter and Hinata struggles to reach the ball in time. "You can do it, Hinata-kun!" Li Wei calls out, attracting his friend's attention. The male manager wanted to cheer up his friend who seemed down in the dumps. "WAH THANKS LI-KUN!!" Hinata calls back out, before listening to Sugawara's advice.
Suddenly, Kageyama points at Hinata with a determined look in his eyes. "So i'm going to use all of your abilities!" Tanaka utters a 'what' as Kageyama continues on. "Use your highest speed, and your highest jump. I'll bring the ball to you." Poor Hinata is confused, "Bring the ball? What's that mean?"
Kageyama does his best to explain what he's trying to say and honestly, Li Wei is even further impressed. The guy clearly knows what he is doing. "Get to where there's no blocker at your max speed, and jump. Then spike with all your strength. You don't have to watch my toss. You don't have to sync with the ball."
Li Wei listens on in fascination, mentally taking notes as he wants to be able to eventually play all positions and become the team's all rounder player. He may not be there yet..not even close, but he'll take any advice he can get whether it's directed at him or not. That longing deep within his soul to become a part of a family-like team screams loudly at him and he'll do whatever it takes to get there.
Suddenly, he's taken out of his thoughts by an amazing spike, courtesy of Hinata. The entire gym is silent in amazement, until Sawamura makes one specific comment: "Hinata's eyes were closed just then." The captain says as his face breaks out in disbelief, while the other members all yell out 'What?!'.
Li Wei can't even make heads or tails of what just happened, having never heard of someone just closing their eyes while spiking. It's even more insane because when Kageyama asks Hinata why he had his eyes closed, his friend states that he was told not to watch the ball.
That right there...is exactly what Li Wei strives for with this team. That absolute sense of trust in one another and the fact that everyone works in tandem, with no one picking up someone's slack. He couldn't have that before, not with his monster's always following behind him wherever he went and having his 'friends' report back to them constantly. How was he supposed to place his trust in anyone? Honestly, trust is such a fickle thing, because one second it exists and in the next, it's just gone.
That spike from Hinata pretty much solidifies the new attack pair consisting of both Kageyama and Hinata. The primary of which states, "I don't have any faith in us whatsoever, but i'll keep bringing the ball to you. Just trust me, and jump!" The game continues from there, with both sides racking up points. During one specific point, Hinata gets hit by a volleyball that came from Kageyama, who quickly utters out a 'sorry'. Full of worry for his friend, Li Wei quickly goes over to Hinata, with Kiyoko right by him. "Hinata-kun, are you okay? Should I get ice?" Frantic is one way to currently describe Li Wei, who ends up being the one reassured by Hinata. A bit embarrassed, Li Wei saunters back over to where Sugawara and the others are, taking a look at the score. '15-22 huh.'
Trying not to think about the losing position his friend is currently in, the jewel-eyed male has taken to conversing with Ennoshita, who gives off such a welcoming aura that it makes the male manager feel like less of a bothersome tool. Sugawara is also nearby, commenting here and there on the match itself.
The first set ends up going straight to Hinata's team, but the second becomes the other teams. The game gets more interesting as time goes by, as Li Wei talks with Kiyoko about all kinds of things, all while watching the match progress. The atmosphere within the gym, despite being competitive, is both lively yet gentle.
Overall, Hinata's team lost but the entire match was just..amazing. That's something everyone can agree on and it solidifies Sawamura's decision to keep every first year on the team. While the two talk, Sawamura calls out to both of them. "Shimizu! The stuff is here, right? Take Li with you!" Kiyoko nods and before Li Wei even realizes it, he is being pulled away by his co-manager.
Unfortunately, Li Wei's flinches aren't that subtle so Kiyoko lets go but a questioning look appears on her. With no plans to ask her friend anything yet, she brings him into the clubroom where the team's uniforms are stored. "I will be leaving next year, Li-kun, so please memorize where our items for the club are. These here are our uniforms. Over there are our jackets." She points towards a brown box and picks it up, letting Li Wei trail behind her like a lost puppy. She'd chuckle at him if she weren't so worried over his responses to her simply grabbing his wrist.
When the two arrive back into the gym, both Hinata and Kageyama come up to them, with an especially curious Hinata. Once the box opens up, Li Wei can see sparkles almost coming off of his friend. "The sizes should be okay, but let me know if you need anything." Kiyoko says, showing how reliable of a manager she is. The jackets are handed out to the first-years, who have varying degrees of excitement about the jackets. Eventually, through both Tanaka's and Sugawara's peer pressure, every single first year, excluding Li Wei who is the manager, lines up wearing the jacket. The rest of the team, who are already wearing their jackets, welcome the first years.
Practice is about to continue on, when Takeda-sensei bursts through the gym doors looking as if he'd run a marathon. "The practice match. It's against one of the top four teams in the prefecture. Aoba Johsai High School." Li Wei hadn't known a practice match would occur whatsoever, but his heart thumps in excitement rapidly. 'I'll finally be able to see a real live match in person,' he thinks to himself, a beautiful smile appearing on his face. Those that noticed the smile were suddenly ensnared by the male, who seemed to be in his own little world.
Ah, he can't wait.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Floofybirb
Floofybirb Next chapter will probably have the rest of episode 5 or I might skip it, putting my complete focus on episodes 6-7.
I am very excited about showing how Kageyama's and Li Wei's friendship will progress~
Enjoy!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone