Sounds of squeaking shoes, deep spikes, and breathy pants are heard from both within the gym and a few feet outside the doors. Coach Ukai occasionally yells out a few instructions at the team to which they follow diligently albeit exhausted and slightly agitated. It's the fourth time in a row they've ran around the gym area due to someone missing their serve.

Tsukishima is spent, he can't remember the last time he gulped down his water and it's looking pretty good as it's sitting in the corner. Nevertheless how drained he feels, Tsukishima keeps going. He can't pinpoint exactly when he started feeling the need to perform better, probably when Ukai threatened to make them run 'til the sun went down, or when he started internally competing with Hinata, and although he refuses to dwell on it, it might be because of a specific manager.

After they've all finished their laps, Tsukishima lines up at the line. It's supposed to be an improvement drill, but he doesn't see himself making it to backrow anytime soon, but anything to avoid sprinting again. The ball comes up and before he calculates where to hit and how hard, he catches a glimpse of the person responsible for keeping him up at night and misses. Miserably.