Chance Ball Chapter 5: Support

“Naaaahhh” you thought as you shook your head. “who would honestly ever fall for that guy, he’s hopeless.”

Tuesday’s tutor class came and went and Dabi never showed.

After the lesson you texted him.

“Oi! Where were you today?!” You smashed out in text, whacking the buttons angrily as you headed for the school gates.

A reply came back instantly.

“Volleyball practice.” He wrote. “Why? You missed me?”

“Never, jackass.” You responded, snorting out loud as you replied.

You deviated from your line to the school gates and made your way to the boy’s volleyball court instead, entering through the back door and posting yourself up in the stands but keeping out of sight.

You could hear Dabi talking to his teammates so you waited.

Your phone dinged, loudly.

“Ah Damn it!” You wailed internally, quickly flicking it to silent as you checked the message.

It was Dabi again.

From: Whole-ass 💀

“I know you’re here.”

Then a second later.

“I just heard your phone ding, you doofus.”

Reply: whole-ass 💀

“Lol, how did you know I was here? Apart from phone dinging. 🙄”

From: Whole-ass 💀

“I saw the door at the back of the stands open. I didn’t see you but I figured you were ducking down because you didn’t want me to know that you had come to watch me play because you like me.”

Reply: Whole-ass 💀

“I do NOT like you. You’re a pain.”

From: Whole-ass 💀

“Love you too.”

You popped your head up over the stand chairs and noted, regrettably, that he was staring directly at you.

“Yo libero!” He yelled. “If I get 5 spikes in a row, go out with me.”

“Never in 1000 years.” You hollowed back, head only just visible over the stand wall.

He laughed and turned to join his teammates on his side of the net.

You watched him play. He was a fast mover and good at making split second decisions. When he was focused on the game he looked that little more attractive to you. You could never tire of watching him in motion.

As he successfully nailed the fifth consecutive spike he roared with enthusiasm, turning to face you in the stands.

“Go on a date with me after practice!” He yelled at you, sweat beading on his skin.

“Guess I’d better!” You hollered back at him. “Otherwise you’ll cry like a baby if I don’t.”

His teammates snorted at your response but Dabi didn’t care. He was on a high.

After practice you waited for him at the gates.

He had the stupidest big grin on his face you had ever seen.

“Why are you so happy?” You questioned him, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Because you agreed to date me.” He said with a giant grin.

“Woah… hold up, big boy. I only said I’d go out with you after practice. Don’t get ahead of yourself.” You said, reaching up and flicking him on the forehead.

He looked crestfallen.

“Ah damn, guess I’ll take this small win and just keep wearing you down until you agree to be my girl.”

“Not gonna happen.” You replied curtly as you dabbed.

“Bro… seriously?” He said, depressed that you were still doing that stupid move.

You cackled and ran ahead of him.

“Hey, but, can you help me?” You yelled back at him, turning around and walking backwards.

“With what?” He asked, eyeing you as he sauntered along behind you.

“With volleyball practice.” You said as you continued to walk backwards.

“Yeah ok, what do you need?” He asked.

“I’ve got a game coming up against the girls of Aoba Johsai and I need to get some extra practice in so I’m sharp for the match.” You replied.

“Ok let’s practice tomorrow.” He said with a grin.

……………………….

“Keep your arms lower when you go for the deep receive.” Dabi coached from the other side of the net, the next day at your practice session.

He was serving and you were diving and receiving his hits.

Unsurprisingly he had you running from one side of the court to the other and your sides were heaving.

Once again he threw the ball up and jumped, sending it flying across to you.

You got under it and returned it to the furtherest point away from Dabi, watching as he sprinted for it and dived, only just getting his arm under it before sending it hurling back to you, doing a forward roll at the end and jumping up to get back onto the court.

You received the ball again and sent it in the opposite corner again. He jumped at it but missed.

“YEAAHHHHH!!” You hollered, jumping up and down in victory.

He collapsed onto all fours, defeated.

“Good work.” He panted, flashing you an award winning smile.

“Thanks.” You replied, your hands falling to your knees as you bent over with exhaustion, gasping for air. “Where did you learn to receive like that?” You quizzed him.

“I’ve been practicing in more areas to broaden my skill set.” He replied nonchalantly. “I need more work with setting though.” He added as he got up and wiped sweat from his brow.

“You want to be a tosser?” You asked, a cheeky smile on your face.

“Setter.” He corrected.

“No, tosser. That name suits you better in that position.” You replied with a chuckle, shooting him a devilish smile.

“Why are you so mean to me?” He asked, pretending to be hurt.

“Because you love it, that’s why.” You replied, turning to go and get your towel.

“Oh so you’re thinking of the things I like then? Sounds like you’ve got a crush.” He sneered.

You threw your towel at his face.

…………………………..

[Match day against Aoba Johsai]

It was the third and final set.

Aoba had won the first set and Nekoma girls had won the second. This was the decider and your team was in the lead! It was match point 22-24.

You and your team just needed one more point to win.

Aoba was serving.

The girl serving was a strong hitter but you were ready for her. She threw the ball up and jumped, smacking her palm into it and making it fly across the net to one of your teammates, who you knew was bad at receiving.

“Aoba must have figured out she was our weak point.” You thought as your body started to move.

You threw yourself across the floor to get the ball and rotated your body as you reached out for it, doing your best to avoid colliding with your teammate in the process.

Thankfully she had stepped back slightly to give you room and you connected heavily with the ball and hit it high, screaming for your setter to get it.

As you landed, your wrist hit the hard wooden floorboards and you tucked yourself into a ball to soften the impact but the damage had already been done.

You sprang back up and got back onto the court as quickly as possible just as your team’s wing spiker slammed the ball down on the opposite side of the net, bringing the game to an end.

You cheered triumphantly but then immediately clutched your wrist, it was throbbing. 

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