Haikyuu!!: Raising Crows

As the days went by, everything fell into a steady rhythm. Monday mornings meant school, afternoons volleyball training. Practices focused heavily on the basics: serving, receiving, and positioning. The drills were monotonous but necessary, and we always ended with a random team 3v3 match. It was exhausting, but the progress was undeniable—even Shigeo was starting to find his groove, albeit begrudgingly.

Tuesdays were different. There was no volleyball training after school, but for me, it was time for physical conditioning. After one session, when we were changing clothes before practice, Hinata and Riku noticed my physique. Their reactions were almost comical—Hinata's eyes widened in admiration, and Riku muttered something about how unfair life was. They asked if they could join me, though their motivations couldn't have been more different.

Hinata wanted to get stronger and play better. His competitive spirit shone through in every word. Riku, on the other hand, was blunt: "With a body like yours, getting a girlfriend must be so easy."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You'd think so, right? But nope. All I get are compliments from other guys who want to know my workout routine. You're more likely to attract people like yourself, Riku."

That shut him up, at least for a moment. Hinata, unsurprisingly, kept up with the training effortlessly. His stamina seemed bottomless, no matter how many reps or sprints I threw at him. Riku, on the other hand, struggled—at first. But to his credit, he stuck with it, and by the third week, he was starting to keep up. Halfway, at least.

Wednesdays followed the Monday pattern: school, then volleyball training. The drills got tougher as everyone grew more confident, and the matches became more competitive.

Thursdays mirrored Tuesdays, with personal training sessions. It felt good to see Hinata and Riku improve physically, their progress evident in practice. Their energy and determination made the sessions more lively, even if Riku occasionally groaned about the 'lack of immediate results.'

Fridays brought their own routine. School went by as usual, and during lunch break, I typically hung out with Shigeo. But this Friday was different. I stood from our usual spot, offering a vague excuse.

"You ditching me?" Shigeo asked, raising an eyebrow as he bit into his bread.

"Something like that," I replied, smirking.

"Better not be anything shady, captain," he said, rolling his eyes but clearly amused.

I waved him off and left the cafeteria. What followed wasn't anything particularly scandalous, but it certainly set the rumor mill spinning.

Before practice that evening, as we were changing in the locker room, Hinata leaned toward Riku and whispered, not as quietly as he thought, "Did you see Keiji earlier? He was talking to that beautiful third-year. He even laughed. Do you think that's his girlfriend?"

Riku's eyes widened. "What?! No way. He said he doesn't get girls. He's a liar!" His tone was mock-angry, but the jealousy was real.

Shigeo, who had been lacing his shoes, looked up, clearly curious. "A girlfriend, huh? Didn't peg him for the type."

I sighed audibly, not even bothering to turn around. "I can hear you guys, you know."

They ignored me, continuing their not-so-subtle gossip. Hinata grinned, Riku nodded enthusiastically, and even Shigeo's usual aloof expression had a hint of intrigue.

Finally, I spun around, glaring at them. "It's not what you think. I was just..."

Shigeo interrupted, his tone dripping with mock curiosity. "...Discussing club activities? Alone? With a beautiful third-year? Sure, Keiji, sounds totally innocent."

They all went silent for a moment, and I dared to hope the matter was settled. But then Shigeo, ever the instigator, smirked. "Sure, conductor. If that's what you want us to believe."

The others burst into laughter, ignoring my protests. Annoyed but resigned, I stormed toward the gym. "Fine. If you all have that much energy, let's start with four laps around the court before practice."

The groans were immediate. Shigeo muttered under his breath, loud enough for me to hear, "This is just because we made fun of him earlier." I turned sharply, fixing him with a mock glare. "You're welcome to make it six laps, Shigeo," I quipped. The others snickered, though they all kept moving to avoid testing my patience further.

"Four laps? Seriously?" Riku whined.

"Too much?" I asked innocently. "Okay, make it five."

Their complaints grew louder, but I stood firm. By the time practice started, the grumbling had mostly subsided, though everyone's energy was notably lower. Except for Hinata, of course, who seemed to run on an infinite power source.

During practice, Hinata was a little off. His usual focus wavered, and his movements lacked their usual precision. I watched him closely during the drills, noting how he hesitated more often than usual, as if his mind was elsewhere. Even his trademark energy seemed dimmer, like a shadow of its usual self. Even during the usual random team 3v3 match, he didn't perform as well as he had in previous sessions, his timing and execution just slightly off. I kept an eye on him but decided not to address it right away. After practice ended, as the others headed to the locker room, he lingered behind.

"Hey, Keiji," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "Can we talk? Alone?"

I nodded, curious but concerned. "Sure. What's up?"

The rest of the team shot curious glances our way as they left, but no one said anything. As the gym door closed behind them, Hinata shifted nervously, his usual energy replaced by something more subdued. Whatever this was, it seemed important.