KY: We are going to have our first game tomorrow.
Gabriella: Really? That fast?
Isabella: What do you mean that fast? It is almost May already!
Gabriella: Shut up, Bella!
Isabella: Make me!
Maria: Girls…
Maria: Still, I am so excited about your first game!
Maria: Don't forget to take a photo, okay?!
Maria: No matter winning or lose, just enjoy the game!
Maria: Good luck!
Yuki shut his eyes, closing his phone after he read the last message from Maria. It was the night before the game, and while the time on his clock showed 22:12 already, he still couldn't fall asleep. Somehow, he felt a bit nervous about the game tomorrow.
Yes, nervous. Something Yuki had never expected he would feel. However, this feeling was understandable. While he had already played for the team when they played against Matsukita, tomorrow would be his first official appearance for Tsunemori. The word official seemed to put a weight on his shoulders, and coupled with how difficult the opponent was tomorrow, everything added up to mess up his nerves.
Shaking his head a little since no sleepiness attacked him yet, Yuki opened his phone once again, operating it for a while before sending a quick text to a group.
KY: Hello?
KY: Is there anyone still alive here?
It was a group created by Riku for the three to communicate with each other. Honestly, Yuki didn't expect anyone to answer his text, considering how late it was. However, he was wrong. Within a few seconds, someone replied to his message.
Ayaka Kato: What's up?
Yuki raised one of his eyebrows slightly before his fingers flew over the keypad.
KY: It is rare for you to still be awake this late, let alone answering any texts. What are you doing?
KY: And I half-expected Agostini to answer this first.
Ayaka Kato: IMG1.jpg *check the comment to see the picture.
Ayaka Kato: Our local Lothario is probably still busy with his 'friends'. Maybe you can tell him to stop.
Yuki couldn't help but blush a little when he saw the image sent by Kato. It was her in a white hoodie in front of the telescope, seemingly busy with some parts of it. While he had never admitted it, it was hard for Yuki to deny that his friend was pretty.
Still, Yuki chuckled a bit when he saw her next message. Lothario was the new nickname Kato gave to Riku since she was fuming at how flirtatious the blonde boy was toward the opposite sex. The most frustrating thing was that his charm worked perfectly for the female students in the class, infuriating Kato more. That was why she called him that.
KY: Where is that?
KY: By the way, I have never seen you taking a photo of yourself. What's up?
KY: And for our local lothario, I don't know where he is right now, honestly.
Ayaka Kato: It is near Mitake-san.
Ayaka Kato: I don't know. Just feel like it.
Ayaka Kato: What about you? It is rare for you too to still be awake this late
Ayaka Kato: Are you…. Nervous?
Yuki sighed at the last message before sending back a reply.
KY: Yeah. Any encouragement?
Ayaka Kato: Well… It is good to be nervous. Means you take everything seriously. Just do your best.
Yuki waited for a moment for her to add more. However, after a while, there was no new message again, which dumbfounded him somehow.
KY: That's it? No encouragement that I have been working hard and will win tomorrow?
Ayaka Kato: That would make you arrogant and it would hurt more when you lose.
Ayaka Kato: Remember, it is not just you who work hard, but the opponent too.
Ayaka Kato: If every hard work deserves a win, it will be unfair for the one who loses the game.
Ayaka Kato: Just do your best, and let the better team win.
Ayaka Kato: That is my advice.
Yuki couldn't help but smile when he read all of that. Maybe, this was the kind of encouragement that he wanted. Not the 'You will win because you work hard' kind of speech, but the realistic one.
KY: Thanks. I appreciate the advice.
At that time, all the nervousness inside him suddenly disappeared. No, not disappear. It was still here, but at least, Yuki was finally able to ignore it, easing the tension that he felt for the last few hours.
For the next hour, he kept chatting with Kato, talking about everything from Riku's behavior to the astronomical objects she wanted to see. Without him noticing, his consciousness suddenly slipped away, as his body finally fell into the bed.
-0-
The next morning, Yuki woke up pretty early. Even though he stayed up late, his biological clock kicked in, not allowing him to stay in bed longer. He prepared for the day quickly, washing his face and brushing his teeth before changing into the green jersey he hung outside. It was his own jersey, with the number 19 written on the back.
To his surprise though, all of the children were already in the kitchen, waiting for him eagerly.
"Yuki-nii! You are finally here! We have been waiting for you!" One of them exclaimed.
"Today is your first game, right? Is your opponent strong?"
"Don't be an idiot! It is Yuki-nii we are talking about! He is that awesome!"
"Yeah! No one would be able to beat him!"
Aiko chuckled richly when she heard the debate erupt among the children before staring fondly at Yuki who was still dumbfounded. "They insist for me to wake them up early, wanting to send you off for today's game."
Yuki couldn't help but feel touched by their support. Looking at the children who were staring at him in admiration while some still had their debate running around, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle too.
"Thank you. I appreciate it." His tone was genuine.
"Don't worry, my boy." Aiko hugged him fondly. "Just give your best and have fun outside! No matter what happens, we will always be here."
Yuki couldn't help but chuckle again, laughing at how perfectly similar Aiko's advice with what Kato and Maria said in the text yesterday. He enjoyed the breakfast with all the children amidst the noisiness that seemed to be a bit too early, laughing together whenever someone said or did silly things.
For a moment, he completely forgot about his nervousness. His heart was warm, knowing that all the advice he received was right. No matter what happened, this was just one game. Everyone would still be here even though they lost today. The most important thing was to have fun and do his best.
With that new motivation, Yuki put on his shoes before nodding to the others, a smile couldn't be hidden from his face. "I will go first. Be obedient to Aiko-obaasan, okay?"
"Yes, Yuki-nii!"
"Good luck!"
-0-
Meanwhile, in Shimoyawata High, all the volleyball team's players were ready for the game too. Excitement could be seen even from afar since everyone couldn't wait for their first game after the one-year ban they have suffered.
"Everyone is ready, right?" Their coach asked. "Let's use this Tsunemori High as our stepping stone to tell everyone that Shimoyawata is back! Are you guys with me?!"
"YES, SIR!"