CHAPTER NINE

      Who was the final boss?

      That one non-passable stage in the video game; the one you had to struggle to push through. The one you always failed, till finally, you saw the way to defeat the level. The gaming metaphors surprisingly fit Misaki's situation (well...it was actually Oikawa's.) though she rarely used them, having picked them up from her video game loving cousin, who coincidentally, also played volleyball.

      Year after year, starting from middle school, he had lost to Shiratorizawa, with the final boss being Ushiwaka. It was the unbeatable level; the one obstacle Oikawa just couldn't get past. He put in hard work, he pushed himself beyond his limits and yet never won, always missing his chance to go to the Nationals.

      It hurt. It hurt Misaki's soul to see him so crushed about him; it hurt to see him push himself so much and then getting an injury; most of all, it hurt every time they lost in the finals, against the same damn person.

      But this time, they had that special power. The Seijoh team was good; all the players were amazing and were doing so well. Especially the third years, for whom this was the last chance to go to the Nationals. That included Misaki too.

      Maybe that was why she was awake, thinking of video game metaphors in the middle of night as she lay on her bed. She couldn't sleep at all; even though she knew it was midnight already and tomorrow's match was of utmost importance. Even though she was never going to step on the court, she still felt the same nerves all the players usually felt. Nerves, coupled with a fierce determination to beat Ushiwaka that is.

      "Right," Misaki said out loud. "I bet that idiot is up right now, over thinking things." (Let her say her usual words of motivation; but only this time, she would use them to reassure herself too)

      Misaki searched beneath the blankets for her phone. Looking for it in a completely dark room was hard, but after barely thirty seconds of searching, she found it. She tapped on the screen, the bright light making her flinch. Going to her contacts, she pressed on Oikawa's name and then dialed his number.

      Groggily raising the phone to her ear, Misaki waited as it continued ringing. But after four rings, Oikawa picked up.

      "Misa-chan," He sounded sleepy, but she was sure he hadn't gone to sleep yet, forcing himself to stay awake and then overthink. "I didn't think you'd be the one to call me so late.

      Misaki yawned as she spoke into the phone. "I only called to see if you had gone to sleep, which I know you haven't."

      "That's not true!" Oikawa protested quietly. It was night and there was no need for him to speak loudly. "I was going to sleep when you called."

      "Going to-? That means you were awake. You stupid...we have a very very important match tomorrow. Why haven't you slept yet? Actually, scratch that. I know why you haven't slept yet. Were you watching the video of Shiratorizawa's match for the hundredth time?"

      His silence was enough of an answer. Misaki sighed as she raised her arm to pinch the bridge of her nose. "The coach said to rest, right? And we already watched the highlights with the team. You do this every year, Oikawa. You worry me, you know?"

      "You don't have to worry about me, Misa-chan," Oikawa said, a smile clear in his voice. Somehow, he had a way of speaking that let you know if he was smiling or not, though Misaki felt that was reserved for just his close friends. "I only saw the match three times since I came home."

      "Just three? That's surprising."

      "Well, I always surprise you so..."

      "That you do; that you do."

      The conversation faded and for a moment, the only sounds either could hear, were the sounds of the other's breathing. Just a moment after, Oikawa spoke first. "Misa-chan...do you still believe we can defeat..."

      He trailed off, not saying the name they both knew very well. Misaki almost winced. (This question reminded her of the first time she had seen him cry; he'd asked a similar thing. 'Do you still believe in me?')

      (She always will believe in him. No matter what.)

      "I believe in you," Misaki finally said. "I believe in you and the team, and I know you all are going to do incredible in the match. Trust me, I know you guys are currently at your best. If you weren't, then I would be forcing you to practice more, but none of you need it. Don't think about the match right now; just relax and go to sleep."

      "Right," Oikawa answered. After a short pause, he added, "Thanks for being here, Misa-chan."

      Her face grew warm at his words. Weird. "You don't have to thank me. As your best friend and team manager, I have to be there to make sure you don't do something stupid."

      "I never do anything stupid!" He protested with a slight laugh.

      "I beg to differ, Shittykawa," Misaki said, grinning herself. This was good. This was a distraction, to temporarily stop him from thinking about tomorrow. "I have a whole list of situations. Like the time you walked into a door and almost broke your nose, remember?"

      "That's...I was not..." Oikawa immediately sounds embarrassed. Misaki laughed softly. "How was I supposed to know that the bakery had a transparent glass door?"

      "Don't deny it," Misaki said with a teasing tone. "You and your milk bread obsession. Anyways, that's not important. Good night. And don't even think about staying awake because I will beat you up."

     "As you say, Misa-chan. Good night."

     "Yeah. Good night, Oikawa."

      For the past three years, the two powerhouse schools of Miyagi, Seijoh and Shiratorizawa had faced each other in the prefecture's qualifying tournament finals. The match was a true spectacle to watch; both sides put in their best efforts. But in the end, the brute force exerted by Ushijima and his annoyingly powerful team defeated Seijoh every year.

      Was this year supposed to be an exception? Yes.

      Was Seijoh capable of beating Shiratorizawa this year? Yes.

      But did that happen? No. It did not.

      Misaki didn't even feel sad or emotional or teary-eyed. She felt disappointed and angry; not at her team. Disappointment at herself and anger at Shiratorizawa. 'What was I thinking? Making all those bold claims? But this team could have done it. We could have won the damn tournament. But stupid Ushiwaka and stupid Shiratorizawa...every. goddamn. time.'

      The ramen in the restaurant was absolutely delicious. Like really fucking delicious. But Misaki couldn't really fathom eating such a nice dish after their terrible loss. Yet she sat in the restaurant, right next to a teary-eyed Yuki, with her team watching as they finished up their food, some with tears in their eyes, some with the same looks Misaki had. And then some had already gone home.

      The atmosphere in the room was stifling; she was starting to feel overwhelmed by the team's emotions. 'I should have done something. I could have done something, right? I feel so guilty that this happened; I should be blamed too.'

      (Sometimes, Misaki wondered if she had started playing volleyball, then what would have happened. But then she pushed that thought away. She was happy where she was.)

      Slowly, the team started to depart for their homes.

      Firstly, it was the coaches, followed by some of the players from the bench; the first years and then the second years. Yuki left with Kindaichi and Kunimi, rubbing at her nose with her handkerchief. And, then finally, it was just the third years. Outside, it was almost about to be sunset. The sky was a swirling mixture of orange and red and yellow; a swirling mix to represent the multitudes of emotions going through the minds of the third years', including Misaki.

      The third years walked together till their paths split. Hanamaki and Matsukawa went one way, the other third years another and Misaki, Oikawa and Iwaizumi went their usual way home.

      Misaki, once again, walked in the middle. But the middle trapped her between two players who seemed to be the worse affected by the loss. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the thoughts that were going in their heads. Maybe, she could understand Iwaizumi a little, but understanding Oikawa's thought process was nearly impossible, even though right now the expression on both their faces were pretty similar. 

      Frustration, anger and behind all that, sadness that they had lost on another chance to defeat Ushiwaka and his stupid school.

      'What do I do? What do I even say to them?' Misaki thought as she clenched her fists. 'What can I say that won't hurt? Goddamnit, think!'

      Losing a match was always painful. But losing against a long time rival over and over again was even more so.

      God, this sucked.

      Misaki bit her lip as she struggled to think of what to say. She pulled up the strap of her bag. The way all of them were quiet was...wrong. Someone should say something.

      (That someone had to be her, though she didn't want to be the person to break this silence.)

      'What do I say? What do I even say?' (Words wouldn't be enough, would they?)

      "Hey, you guys," Misaki said, in what she hoped was a relatively calm voice. Oikawa and Iwaizumi stopped walking, snapping their heads towards her in a very fast motion. The quick movement almost made her flinch. 'Don't flake out. Not now.'

      With some difficulty (given that both Iwa and Oikawa were taller than her; she came up to just their shoulders), she managed to maneuver the two of them in a hug. By the lack of response from the other two, she knew they were shocked. But soon enough, they relented. Fingers seemed to grip the back of her jacket harder and if she felt drops of water on her neck, she didn't say a thing. She didn't have to.

      "Spring High; the Spring High Prelims will be our chance," was all Misaki said. Not comforting words, but the only words that made sense in this moment.

      "Yeah," Iwaizumi replied gruffly. Oikawa didn't say anything, only choosing to nod his head.

       What happened was undeniably painful. But eventually it would be okay; the team would be okay. Iwaizumi would be okay. Oikawa would be okay.

      (He would be okay...right?)

AND the angst train begins now; sorry to tell you all, but the next chapters will all be pretty angsty, though there will be moments of fluff in it; that much I can promise. Couple of things about this chapter; the title is a reference to the fact that they lost to Shiratorizawa this time, but they have another chance at the Spring High to beat them (even though we all know what happens). Second thing, I referred to Misaki's cousin in the previous chapter as well, but this chapter basically gave away who he was. Yes, Kenma is Misaki's cousin hehe. He won't be making an appearance as such, but eventually you will see him. And that's it for now.

Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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