Sachirou's eyes widened when his name was called. Maybe he would've seen this coming if he was still like he was in middle school. Back then, he was sure that no one worked as hard and no one needed it as badly as him. Now, it didn't matter to him whether he was captain or not. +

He no longer treated volleyball as if it were life-or-death, and he definitely didn't play for a title or merit.

Who was he to argue, though? He figured that Coach knew best, and if it didn't suit him, he would just give the position to someone else; +

Sachirou refused to let something as trivial as this stress him out again.

However, for the rest of the day, Kourai didn't talk to him. Practice continued as usual, but Sachirou didn't even hear him say "nice serve" or "good dig." He knew something was wrong. +

It was his first official day as captain and he had already run into a problem that he didn't know how to fix.

Kourai was always a presence during practices, so his silence was also noticed by their other teammates. Sachirou heard them murmuring and saw them looking +

between him and Kourai. Even Coach seemed concerned.

"What do you think I should do?" Sachirou whispered to Gao as they cleaned up after practice ended.
"He's probably just being dramatic," he replied. "He'll get over it. Whatever it is." +

Sachirou hurried to change, hoping that Kourai wouldn't leave before he had a chance to confront him, but when he swung open the door to leave the club room, Kourai was standing in the doorway.

"Ignore me," he mumbled. "I just came back because I forgot a book." +

"Hey," Sachirou grabbed his shoulder as he walked past. "What's your problem? Are you mad that I got captain and you didn't? Because I didn't ask for this, you can have it."

Kourai’s eyebrows furrowed in frustration and he whirled around to face Sachirou. +

“You think that I’m mad because I wanted to be captain? Do you think I’m that petty? I’m mad /because/ you didn't ask for it. /Because/ you seemed so surprised to have gotten it!”

Sachirou took a step back. “Huh?” was all he could say. +

“You dummy, I'm saying I'm glad that you got it! You're smart but you can be so stupid sometimes, jeez. I wish you would be happy about it, too. Seeing that confused look on your face when Coach said your name pissed me off because that means you don't think you deserve it, +

but it has to be you. No one else.”

“What? But I’m not that serious about volleyball. Not like my brother. Not like you.”

“That doesn't matter! You don't have to be ready to go pro or anything. You're practical and grounded and you don't show it much but I know +

that you care about this team. No one else can lead us like you can.”

“Do you really think that?” Sachirou said, almost in a whisper.

“Of course, I’m not gonna tell you something that I don't mean just to make you feel better,” Kourai scoffed. “Now if you'll excuse me +

I actually do need to get my book.”

Sachirou felt relieved. There was something about a declaration from Kourai that always managed to calm his nerves and reassure him. Sure his friend was dramatic, but it was effective. +

Once Kourai retrieved his book, Sachirou locked the club room door, they began walking home together, and Kourai started talking Sachirou’s ear off energetically, making up for his silent treatment. Sachirou cut him off in the middle of a story he was telling about his brother. +

“Hey, Kourai-kun?” Sachirou began, smiling.

“What?” Kourai asked, wide eyes staring into Sachirou's.

“Will you be my vice captain?”

Kourai grinned. “Finally. I thought you'd never ask.” [END]