Running towards the net, Sungyeol knew he had one last chance to jump and spike the ball. The act would ultimately give his team a chance to continue the set and possibly win the regional tournament, just like they had done so in previous years… Just like Sungyeol had done last year. So if Sungyeol didn’t get this ball, then the only conclusion that they had was that the team was done for…

He was done for and Sungyeol couldn’t have that; there were no room for mistakes.

Heart racing at the pressure, Sungyeol found that he felt light in a way that he hadn’t felt in ages. He even felt elated, despite having zero contact with the ball since the other team’s serve moments ago. He knew he had to do the impossible, but with his shoulders relaxed, Sungyeol felt like he could actually do what he needed to do. He could show everyone that he was one of the best middle school aces in the region, if not the country if his team could win this game and move on.

Continuing his run, only to jump at the last minute, body going so high that he couldn’t help but feel as if he was floating in midair, Sungyeol yelled for his teammate to give him the ball. Arm reaching out and getting ready to spike, his eyes were completely focused on the ball, the players in front of him, and the space between the blockers that would guarantee his success. He patiently waited for his teammate to pass him the ball, the set was just right to give him the chance that he needed.

Ball now in front of him, Sungyeol took one last breath before he was hitting the ball with all his might.

There was no doubt in his mind that he had done the impossible and that he and his team were going to take set point from the other team. Thus, allowing them one more chance to take the game.

Body freezing, shoulders tensing up at the sight, Sungyeol could only watch as someone—no, Kim Myungsoo darted from the shadows of his blockers with his arms ready to receive Sungyeol’s spike. Sungyeol could only watch Myungsoo in horror as the other player beautifully received the ball, popping it back up so that their team’s second setter could easily set his team up for another offensive move. From there, it didn’t take long for Myungsoo’s team to spike it back to his side with just as much force and speed.

Sighing in relief when his libero got under the ball to give it back to their team’s setter, Sungyeol had to force himself to disregard the feelings of inadequacy that had shot through him like a bullet. Managing to call out for the ball once again, Sungyeol knowing that he had another chance to make things right, Sungyeol was swift to make contact with the ball. However, just like the last spike, Myungsoo’s team managed to get under the ball once again.

This time though, Sungyeol could only watch as the other team’s libero gave the ball to Myungsoo for another set. A set that would be much better than the last, because Myungsoo was a damn good setter that even Sungyeol was a tad jealous and put out that he couldn’t set the other’s beautiful sets like his team members could. Myungsoo’s sets were awe inducing and in that moment, Sungyeol just hoped that they were able to get under the ball from whatever spike that was sure to follow.

Only for Sungyeol to kick himself a second later when his eyes widened in realization of where he and the rest of the team were and Myungsoo’s deceivingly soft tough. Myungsoo tipping the ball just over the net with Sungyeol and the rest of his team half way from the net, Sungyeol could only force his body to dive towards the ball. Hand reaching out as far as he could make it, Sungyeol’s heart hammered against his rib cage so fast that he felt a bit faint.

Watching the ball fall to the floor, almost as if it was going in slow motion, Sungyeol knew he wasn’t going to get lucky. Because once the rest of the team noticed what the ball was doing and what Myungsoo had done, the other setter reading them as if they were open books, it didn’t take much for everyone to realize that they were way too late.

Ball hitting the ground with a loud bounce, Sungyeol’s hand a couple of inches short from where the ball had just landed, the referee was quick to blow the game-ending whistle. The crowd around them erupting into cheers so loud that it felt as if Sungyeol’s ears were ringing, Sungyeol tried to focus on the sound of Myungsoo’s team. Voices loud with happiness and infectious laughter, Sungyeol couldn’t help but push down the need to scream in frustration.

After a year of playing Myungsoo’s team and seeing nothing of what he had seen today, despite knowing how good of a setter Myungsoo was, Sungyeol hadn’t thought of Myungsoo to be a threat. His team hadn’t known what to do with him a couple of months ago, so there was no reason for Sungyeol to take the other team as seriously as he would have done for a couple of other schools. Volleyball was a team sport and yet, in the beginning of the year, Myungsoo’s team had barely been a team. But after playing them today, they were completely different than what they had been over half a year ago.

Looking at Myungsoo and his team’s smiling faces, every member hugging and rubbing Myungsoo’s hair in gratitude, Sungyeol knew that Myungsoo was the reason for what he and his teammates just witnessed. Because unlike Myungsoo’s last captain that quit a couple of weeks into the season, Myungsoo had started to dawn the number one jersey a week or so after with plans to win regionals.

With a score of 25-20 and a score of 28-26, Sungyeol’s team having lost both games, Sungyeol could only kick himself for letting his guard down. Especially since he knew that Myungsoo wasn’t one to take things lying down, even if Sungyeol hadn’t known his true strength beyond the couple of games he had seen and played throughout the years.

Myungsoo may have been quiet and shy at times, but the other not only skilled, but was kind and patient as well. The latter characteristics were probably what done his team in, because seeing how Myungsoo had been able to connect with his team where the other captain had been unable to do so, Myungsoo had done a great job at being captain. Something of which that Myungsoo had bested him in too, because just like Myungsoo, Sungyeol was the captain on his team as well.

Myungsoo had gone above and beyond what Sungyeol had thought he would have been able to do and that’s why Sungyeol had lost. Myungsoo had never underestimated his team and that’s why the current tournament was featuring it’s biggest upset in years.

Wanting to cry at the injustice, but knowing that would be the lamest thing that he could ever do at that moment, Sungyeol forced his tears away. Unlike the rest of his team that were currently bawling their eyes out, Sungyeol had to be stronger than that. Especially since he hadn’t played his best and that was more upsetting than him just losing the game.

Looking up from the floor, his fists clenched in anger, Sungyeol’s gaze was quick to find Myungsoo. Only for his body to suddenly shiver when he noticed the other boy looking at him with a look that Sungyeol didn’t want to see, especially since the gaze that the other held was filled with understanding and sympathy. Almost as if Myungsoo thought he had played a good game and was trying to show that he had been there and that Sungyeol wasn’t alone in feeling such things, Sungyeol couldn’t help but give the other a sneer.

Eyes dark with the sudden need to tell him off, to tell the other that things weren’t over and that he would see the other again in high school, Sungyeol could only angrily glare at the other boy. However, instead of backing up in fear at the intensity of his frustrated, angry eyes, the other boy could only give a laugh at how he was being challenged.

Seeing the other turn his attention back to his team, Myungsoo giving out praise as if it were candy, Sungyeol finally found the courage to turn his attention back to his own team and the disappointment that wrapped around their shoulders like a dark shadow. Sungyeol forced a grin on his face before he was slapping his teammates’ backs and forcing out words that he had never thought that he would ever have to say. Sungyeol did what he had to do.

His team may have lost, but the war hadn’t been settled just yet. So preparing himself for the inevitable showdown that would take place between him and Myungsoo in high schools, Sungyeol didn’t expect to see Myungsoo sooner than that.

Because approximately three months later, Sungyeol, clad in his new school uniform, didn’t expect to run into the slightly smaller boy at the end of his high school’s opening ceremony. Blanching at what he had thought to be impossible, his mouth opening and closing like a fish at the sight of Myungsoo at his school. The slightly younger boy sitting on the ground with the same dark blue uniform and a set of eyes that Sungyeol could never forget, no matter how hard he tried, Sungyeol could only watch the other boy carefully pick himself back up with a laugh so cute, Sungyeol almost thought about dying right then and there.

But not wanting to identify the stuttering of his heart or the slight feeling of butterflies that started to run around his stomach, Sungyeol was quick to growl instead:

“What the heck are you doing here?”

While Myungsoo, who kindly took Sungyeol’s grouchiness in stride, could only reply, “Same reason that you’re here, I wanted to train with the same coach that you did.”

Clenching his fists at the reason, because Myungsoo had clearly read him like an open book, Sungyeol found himself giving a mumbled “Whatever… It’s not like that is anything special,” in response instead. Shaking off the feeling of Myungsoo possibly caring enough about him to even realize something like that, Sungyeol forced himself to walk away, but not before the other was calling out, “See ya at practice! Don’t forget your club form!”

Sungyeol’s body suddenly tensing in response at how unaffected Myungsoo’s words were, he was quick to turn his attention back to the other boy for one last time, “I won’t! And don’t forget your club form either or I’ll be spiking your sets so many times that it’ll feel like your arms have fallen off!”

Ignoring the other’s giggle, never mind the crowd’s “What is going on here” be something to deter him, Sungyeol stomped his way to what he hoped would be his homeroom class. Sungyeol’s eventually started to wander once he had started to calm down, but when a thought centered in on how cute Myungsoo looked or how Sungyeol kind of wanted to spike Myungsoo’s sets because they were so good, Sungyeol could only hit himself in the forehead.

Damn it, damn it, damn it. How am I going to deal with an adorable guy like that?