INTERVIEW 1
V League AllStar Match SPOILERS
Interview:
Kageyama and Ushijima
Romero
Bokuto
NOTE:
Dialogue in <Brackets >” is being spoken in Portuguese.
The interviewer sits in a chair. The players sit behind the table.
The interviewer smiles.
Q: What do you think of the All Star match?
Ushijima and Kageyama sit silently for a while, glancing expectantly at eachother.
"It's very exciting," Ushijima replies flatly. Kags nods. "I think it'll be fun. I get to play with some guys who I've never teamed up with before."
The two stare at the each other, avoiding looking at the interviewer and the camera. The interviewer's smile broadens. It's not everyday you get to interview two volleyball stars without any competition from other reporters. He continues...
Q: What do you hope to get out of the match? Money, experience...?
Kageyama is first to reply, "I wanna promote volleyball. It'll also be good for me to play with other top-tier guys." Ushijima says nothing, rather nodding in agreement.
"And that's all you hope to gain from it?" the interviewer presses.
"That's all there is to gain."
Ushiwaka turns to the interviewer, "At this level of volleyball, money is basically guaranteed. If we want to keep fans coming, we must constantly improve our game."
That seems to shut the interviewer up.
Q: How do you two feel playing on the same team again? You were separated for a few years? Do you still feel confident in each other?
The men glance at each other. They nearly smile.
"Kageyama has improved as a setter. I know he'll be able to match my abilities."
Kags seems a little offended. "Ushijima is at my level. I know how he spikes really well. Nothing's changed."
Q: How do you feel about the team's lineup? The official teams were released on Monday, and the public seems to really like the arrangement. How about you two?
Hinata seems to be on both of their minds. Neither of them say that, though.
"The team arrangements don’t bother me. As long as I get to set, I’m fine.” Ushijima glances over at the camera, contemplating whether or not he should comment. His brow furrows. “My only concern is the opponents serves. I am confident in my own team, of course. However, with Miya and Oikawa in their lineup, it seems slightly unbalanced.” The interviewer nods. “Would you want either of them on your team?” “They’re both very confident in themselves. I’m not sure it would work out with Kageyama and I.” The interviewer didn’t seem to fully understand. It didn’t effect him, though, he just asked another question. The questions would begin swaying off track...
Q. You two both hope to promote volleyball in this upcoming match. It’s possible that people who have never watched the sport will attend. How do you feel about attracting a larger female fan base?
“Besides your girlfriends, of course!” he adds.
“I am not romantically interested in anyone at the moment.”
*interviewer awkwardly reclines in his chair*
Kageyama doesn’t take long to come up with an answer. “As long as I attract more people, it doesn’t matter to me why they showed up. If they’re there to watch good volleyball, that’s great. If they’re there to admire the players, then that’s fine. But volleyball is a magnet sport. People are drawn to it because of how interesting it is.” Kags looks up from his hands, glancing to Ushijima. The older man nods, and the two almost smile again.
Q. How do you like your team’s uniforms?
Kageyama begins to feel an odd amount of pressure. He’s got a feeling he’ll offend someone if he says something negative... “They remind me of our old Adlers uniforms,” Ushijima says, looking over to his team mate. Kags relaxes. “Yeah. They’re really comfortable.”
“The sides also have breathable fabric. It’s some sort of mesh.”
“Yeah. The shorts are pretty flexible, too. The waistbands are really stretchy.” “I do like our colors. I don’t look good in black.” “Black is too close to my hair color, so it doesn’t look good.” “Ah... really?” “Yeah. I’ve tried....”
The interviewer looks exasperated. Suddenly he’s lost control of the interview.
Q. Have you two ever found a reporter attractive? Ever since Bokuto’s iconic “Gosh she’s beautiful” incident, a lot of people have wondered if athletes crush on reporters. Have you two ever?
Their expressions, seemingly devoid of emotion, seem to be too blank to be true. “I mean, I’ve seen reporters who I thought looked nice, I guess,” Kageyama shrugs. He looks oddly uncomfortable. Ushijima, as usual, is there to back him up with his bluntness. “Yes, I have.”
The interviewers eyes gleam. “Can you… elaborate.”
Ushijima doesn’t look overly willing, but he complies. “When I first joined the Japan team as a high schooler, I was interviewed by several attractive women.” Kageyama looks astounded. “Lots of cleavage and all that?” The interviewer smirks. He stares at Ushijima expectantly. The later deadpans. “It was very overwhelming.”
The interviewer seems a little irked at the presence of a Translator. He soon forgets about it though. Romero looks excited enough, teasing his Translator and making jokes with one of the camera men. Q. How are you feeling about the All Star Match?
Nicolas grins, “<Really good! I’m glad I was selected! The Japan players are fun to play with.>”
The interviewer looks expectedly at the Translator. When he receives the Japanese version of the answer, he smiles.
Q. What do you hope to gain from the match?
Romero doesn’t bother speaking in Portuguese. “Er- skills. Better Japanese. Playing time. Oh-! Sets from Tooru and Atsumu. It’ll also be good to…” he pauses, “Good to… be on Ninja Shoyo’s team.” “Have you met Hinata personally?”
“Mhm! We spoke before this,” He gestures vaguely around the studio. “We speak <Portuguese> though.” The interviewer smiles warmly, “I see.”
Q. You and Hoshiumi have played on the same team for a few years now. How do you feel being separated from old team mates? Nicolas smiles tersely, sharing a glance with his Translator. “< What did he ask?>”
The translator chuckles, “< You and Hoshiumi aren’t on the same teams. He wants to know how you feel being separated.>”
Romero nods. “Separated? Uh, well,” he glances momentarily at his shoes, “I’m away from Brazil. I have old team mates there, too. In sports your team will never last forever. I’ll be playing against Wakatoshi and Tobio, too. I don’t mind! I’m just happy to see them!” The interviewer sits silently, nodding but not really comprehending. “So you don’t care?”
“I just think: Korai is like a little brother. He’s fine when we’re getting along, or on the same team. He’s pesky when we’re on opposite sides of the court. I’ll do my best in the match. Afterwards we’ll go back to being team mates. It’s like <sibling rivalry.>”
The translator corrects: “Sibling rivalry.”
Q. So, you’re alright with the lineup? Any concerns or comments?
“No, not really! Oh~ we have a great trainer!”
“You consider him to be a teammate?”
“‘Course! Hajime is so cute-“
“Cute?”
“Ah~ Wrong word.”
Q. Based on ticket sales, there’s going to be a large female audience at the match. What do you think of that?
“Oh… kids, < Most of my fans are men or kids. So, the ladies probably won’t be there for me.>”
The translator steps in. Romero runs his hands down his thighs, smoothing out his pants. His lips don’t really resemble the innocent smile they did a minute ago. The interviewer notices. “W-who do you think they’ll be watching.”
Romero’s slate grey eyes form crescent moons. “Tooru, for sure. Probably Tobio and Atsumu, too.”
He gaze falls to his lap. There’s something dark about the way he stares at himself-
“Hah, Bokuto, too. They’ll definitely like him.”
It took a while for the interviewer to recover.
Q. So, the fans are raving about the All Star Match. They’re calling it the battle of the “Monster Generation.” What do you think of that?
Romero nods thoughtfully.
“Yeah, they’re < certainly > monsters, for sure!” He looks confused by the interviewer’s pressing look. “You’re quite the monster yourself!” He says, staring expectantly at Romero.
Nicolas turns to his Translator, a knit in his brow. “You’re part of the Monster Generation too, Nick.”
It’s like they flipped a switch. Romero glances between the Translator and Interviewer, dumbfounded. “I am?” “Of course!”
Romero looks down at his hands sheepishly. “Oh…!”
His smile broadens. “I- didn’t know!”
Bokuto looks energetic as usual, smile broad and eyes enthusiastic. When the interviewer asks if he’s ready, his response is: “Of course I am! Let’s do this thing!”
Q. How do you feel about the All Star Match?
“I’m feeling great!” He doesn’t even hesitate. His owlish features form a sunny expression. “I got uh, separated from most of my old team though!” He takes the time to look a little bummed. The interviewer can’t believe how expressive this guy can be.
Q. Do you like the uniforms?
“Huh, uhm, I guess not really?” He stares at the interviewer intently, his smile just ghosting his lips. “I don’t like yellow too much! It makes my eyes blend in!”
Literally no one ever thought of that.
“They’re really comfy though! The colors are kinda like the Adlers, and the shorts are nice and stretchy! And there’s this breathable mesh-“
The interviewer ALMOST died. History was repeating itself.
Q. What do you hope to gain from the match? Skills, money, maybe a girlfriend...?
Bokuto grins, ignoring the more suggestive side of the question. “Mm, I’d have to say I’m kinda in it for the money! Skills too!” “Money? Why is that?”
Bokuto goes blank for a second. He’s really not sure if he should reveal his tax problems right now...
“Uh, for Birthday presents? Mwaha! Of course! I have to buy my friends presents!”
The interviewer nods, “I see.”
Q. You’ve found interviewers attractive before. Have you ever taken any out?
Bokuto looks a little sheepish.
“C’mon, I thought everyone was over that.” He shifts in his seat, broadening his chest just the slightest. The camera man made some very questionable angling choices then.
“I have asked some out before. They usually say ‘yes’, too! It doesn't usually last long though.” The interviewee is bold enough to press: “Why is that?”
“I’m a little much for most ladies! I’m super busy with volleyball all the time. And then, I guess I’m a little bit of a handful-“
He pauses. “Well, I guess I’m a really big handful!”
“What about men? You ever taken any interest in men?”
“Only the ones that know when to back off...” The interviewer gapes.
“I like this one guy a lot, but he’s always being sarcastic with me! It makes me so mad sometimes...” He starts pouting, and it gives the interviewer the signal to change the subject.
Q. Have you been given any modeling opportunities lately?
“Not as much as some of my team mates, but yeah! Usually for sports brands!”
“No underwear commercials yet?” The interviewer asks. He was smiling for a second, and then Romero’s comment came to mind-
The interviewer pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Underwear? Mmm, nope! Not yet anyway! I don’t really think that’d be good though. It’s kinda embarrassing, y’know.”
Q. Your hairstyle is very unique- has it always been this way?
“Yuuup! I’ve had it like this since middle school-! Maybe a little before... I don’t remember! I think it was flat when I was baby, sometimes. But the color is natural and everything!”
“Really?”
“Mhmm!”
Q. Are you happy with the players on your team?
“Ohh yeah! I haven’t seen some of those guys in a lo-o-o-ng time! Like Yaku! I knew him back in high school!” “Really!”
“Yeah!”
Q. Before we end, I’d just like to ask you: What can we expect from you in this match?
Bokuto smirks, his flamboyance and confidence radiating off of him. “You can expect me to score!”