Chapter Text
Yamaguchi could hear his alarm. The sound was slicing through the early morning silence without mercy, but he couldn’t find the energy to turn it off. Mondays sucked for everyone and this one would especially, not that Yamaguchi knew that yet.
He let the noise fill the room for another minute before he heard his mom knocking on his door and then opening it.
“Tadashi, wake up sweetheart or you’ll be late for school.”
Yamaguchi only groaned in response. He heard his mother sigh in the doorframe and then she added, “I’ll make you some coffee” before he heard her footsteps recede down the hallway in the direction of the kitchen.
Coffee, coffee was good. Yamaguchi stretched and yawned before attempting to move out from under his comforter. The cold was harsh out from under his blanket and he begrudgingly made his way to the bathroom. It took a small glance in the mirror to convince him a shower was more than necessary. Volleyball practice had been brutal last night, and he had barely made it to his bed before passing out. As a result, he had forgotten to shower and his hair was now sticking up in every direction. Normally, he would have skipped the shower before practice and waited until after, but there was no way Yamaguchi was going anywhere with his hair looking like that. He looked like Nishinoya and doubted he could pull the look off as well as the libero.
He turned the shower on and slowly undressed. With each minor movement, he felt his muscles scream. It was going to be a rough couple of weeks now that Karasuno’s volleyball team was going to nationals. They had practiced through the weekend, and Yamaguchi didn’t see Coah Ukai taking it easy on them anytime soon.
He waited until the steam was billowing out from behind the curtain before daring to enter. The hot water soothed his overworked body, and he let out a satisfied sigh. After a few moments of bliss, he remembered he was running late. He finished his shower quickly and dried off. As soon as he opened the door, the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted into his nostrils. A small smile tugged on his lips, and he returned to his room to throw on some clothes
Yamaguchi grabbed his school bag and volleyball bag next to his desk and met his mom in the kitchen where a cup of black coffee sat waiting for him. He drank it probably a little too fast, as it burned off some of his taste buds but he had no choice considering the time. He pecked his mom on the cheek before rushing out the door.
He could see the first rays of the sunrise starting to make themselves known to the quiet streets of Miyagi. Mondays sucked, but nothing could take away the serenity Yamaguchi felt watching the sun begin to rise on a new day that brought new possibilities…and problems.
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“Alright! Let’s wrap up for the morning! Great job everyone,” Daichi broadcasted to the gym. The team sighed in relief and began gathering the equipment. He knew they were all exhausted, but their hard work would be so worth it in the end.
Daichi felt a familiar weight on his shoulders and looked to his side to look at the owner of the arm on his shoulders. Suga met his eyes with a smirk and said, “They’re all working so hard. I can feel everyone’s confidence growing by the day.”
Daichi nodded in agreement. “I’m proud of them,” he said in a quiet voice only he and Suga could hear. It was their last year on the team, and they often found themselves standing together at the end of practice to watch their team and take it all in. Daichi hadn’t really accepted it yet, that this was the end. It was probably due to the excitement over nationals but also partially because he hadn’t allowed himself to think about it. It was hard to think that this wouldn’t be a daily part of his life anymore in a few months and that he wouldn’t see Suga every day. He remembered when he asked Suga to be his vice-captain as if there was any doubt he wouldn’t. Suga had the biggest smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes, and Daichi remembered a funny feeling sprouting in his chest. He wanted to remember the look on Suga’s face and did everything he could to see it replicated again. Daichi didn’t want to think about days without hazel eyes, so he didn’t.
“What the captain and vice-captain are too good to help out?” Asahi said with two armfuls of volleyballs.
Daichi heard Suga chuckle beside him and say, “Sorry Asahi, we were merely admiring your hard work. Such a big a strong man!” Asahi blushed and Daichi let out a loud laugh at Suga’s teasing.
“Yeah, Asahi-san! You could probably snap Nishinoya in half!” Tanaka chimed in followed by a laugh which only got louder when Nishinoya elbowed him in the side. Asahi’s only response was his face getting a few shades redder before scurrying away.
Daichi and Suga exchanged a knowing look before helping to finish the clean-up.
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“Yamaaaaaaa!”
Yamaguchi heard his name called from down the hall accompanied by loud, quick footsteps. He turned around to see Hinata running down the hall.
When Hinata finally caught up to him, Yamaguchi, with an amused expression, asked, “What is it Hinata?”
“Did you see it?”
“See what?”
“The list!”
“What list?” Yamaguchi asked. When Hinata was excited, he often had a hard time explaining things with words. It pissed Tsukki off to no end, but Yamaguchi thought it was funny.
“The list, Yamaguchi! Everyone’s talking about it!”
“I haven’t heard about any list. Do you have it?”
Hinata shook his head and said, “No I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s apparently about us! The volleyball club! You know the “hot or not” list?”
Yamaguchi nodded.
“Well someone made one for just the volleyball team! I haven’t been able to get a copy yet but I’m sure Tanaka-senpai or Nishinoya-senpai did!”
Had Tsukki been there, Yamaguchi would’ve acted uninterested as he’s sure that’s what Tsukki’s reaction would be to all this. However, Yamaguchi would be lying if he said he wasn’t the slightest bit curious to know if he was on it.
As if Hinata had summoned them, Tanaka and Nishinoya appeared at the end of the hall. Yamaguchi had expected them to excitedly run over to Hinata and himself to brag about the attention the volleyball club was getting, but instead they made their way slowly over with unreadable expressions. A piece of paper was somewhat crumbled in Tanaka’s hand.
“Tanaka-senpai! Did you have a copy of the list?” Hinata asked bouncing back and forth on his toes. Yamaguchi wondered if he ever ran out of energy. From what he’s seen so far from his little orange-haired teammate, it seemed to only be the case when he could rest his head on Kageyama’s shoulder on the bus. Kageyama always acted mad about it when Hinata woke up, but he never pushed him off. One time Yamaguchi noticed a little smile on his face when Hinata’s head fell onto his shoulder, which Yamaguchi kept to himself, of course.
Tanaka and Nishinoya exchanged a look that Yamaguchi didn’t understand. Tanaka nodded. “It’s really not worth looking at, though. Complete bullshit if you ask me.”
“I just wanna see! Everyone’s been talking about it and no one would give me a copy!”
Tanaka sighed and handed Hinata the paper. Hinata pulled slightly at the sides to flatten it back out from the results of Tanaka’s aggressive grip. Yamaguchi had a bad feeling when he saw how Hinata’s expression changed.
“How can anyone think Bakageyama is hot? This list is just all kinds of wrong! Tanaka-senpai? How could someone think you’re not?”
Tanaka had a sour look on his face and was looking anywhere but the other three. “It’s gives you the reason. Apparently, my personality and good looks are wasted on these people. I just hope Shimizu doesn’t see. I wouldn’t want her to think differently of me just because people are jealous of me.”
It’s a good try. Yamaguchi almost convinces himself to nod in agreement just to make Tanaka think they believed he was unbothered. In fact, Yamaguchi had never seen Tanaka so upset, which is saying a lot considering he’s…well…Tanaka. Instead, all Yamaguchi manages to produce is a look of pity.
“Nishinoya-senpai you too? None of these even makes sense! Nishinoya-senpai your hair is way cool! You look nothing like a cat!”
Nishinoya offered no words in response. He merely shrugged and ran his fingers self-consciously through his hair. Yamaguchi had to admit he looked a little like a cat, especially his eyes. However, he didn’t think it was a bad thing. Definitely not a reason for him to be a “Not”. Yamaguchi decided the list was stupid and turned to take it out of Hinata’s hands.
“Hinata maybe we sh-“
Hinata snatched the paper back quickly and looked at Yamaguchi with worry in his eyes. Yamaguchi didn’t understand why.
“Oh, Yamaguchi, you don’t need to see. This stuff is all bullshit. Belongs in the trash I think…”
Yamaguchi would’ve agreed and said no more on the matter but the look Hinata was giving him rubbed him the wrong way.
“Let me see it Hinata.”
Hinata sighed before handing it over. Yamaguchi read it once before crumpling the paper in his hands and throwing it in the nearest trashcan. He said nothing more to the others before walking away.
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The Hot or Not List: Volleyball Edition!!!
HOT:
Shimizu Kiyoko : a GODDESS
Sugawara Koushi : soooo dreamy! The eyes! The hair! Can he do anything wrong?!
Azumane Asahi : a WHOLE man
Kageyama Tobio : can be the king of my court any day
Tsukishima Kei : climb that like a tree
NOT:
Yachi Hitoka : a flat chest to match her flat personality!
Tanaka Ryuunosuke : loud, bald, desperate
Nishinoya Yuu : weird hair, looks like a cat
Hinata Shouyou : short, annoying, tangerine-head
Yamaguchi Tadashi : lame, freckles