Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Once in a blue moon, you would go down to the dining hall to indulge in a late night snack after a long study session. When you arrived, you saw a few other students already doing the same, carrying around cups of instant ramen or snacks from the vending machine to eat after a long study session.

All normal, except there was a ruckus happening at the table smack dab in the middle of the room. You resisted the urge to sigh when you realized it was the volleyball club causing all the commotion. Some kids grumbled past you as they left, complaining about the noise level so late in the night which caused you to sink your shoulders in embarrassment as manager of the club. You were about to turn on your heel and leave, but you were immediately spotted.

“Ah, [Surname]!” You turned your head and saw Goshiki approach, a smile plastered on his face. “What are you doing down here so late?”

“I should be asking you the same…” you mumbled out as you looked at the group. They seemed more animated and riled up than usual. The boys at the table waved at you and you reluctantly waved back. “Shouldn’t you guys be resting after today’s workout? The conditioning Coach Washijou had you guys do at the end of practice was tough.”

Goshiki nodded his head like an excited puppy. “We did rest! But then Tendou showed me a video about these super spicy noodles and he said that Ushijima could probably beat me at eating the noodles faster. So I challenged Ushijima to an eat-off! Luckily, Tendou had a box of the noodles in his room and the rest of the team is joining in as well!”

In an attempt to stop yourself from laughing at his naiveté, you bit your bottom lip. Tendou had Goshiki playing right into the palm of his hand. You held back from telling him this as he dragged you to the table the others were sitting at.

“We need an unbiased judge to proctor this challenge; it’s a good thing you showed up.” Goshiki was absolutely beaming by now. His rivalry with Ushijima knows no bounds. “[Surname] will be proctoring the challenge for us!”

“Don’t go lugging [Surname] around, Goshiki,” Shirabu sighed out and then pulled a chair for you to sit in. Goshiki immediately released your wrist and then began to apologize while also earning a light whack to the back of his head from Shirabu. 

“It’s fine!” You suddenly felt really bad for the first year. His relationship with the setter wasn’t the best off the court. “I had nothing to do in my dorm anyway... so I guess this could kill some time.”

Tendou began to flail his arms excitedly into the air. “Yeah! The more the merrier! Now that Kenjirou isn’t proctoring, he can join in on the noodle festivities!” 

“Yeah,” Shirbu said and then looked at the black noodle cup. Something about it just screamed danger to his intestines. “No thanks, Tendou.”

“Ah, there he is….” Tendou hummed with his eyes closed and then crossed his arms. “The killer of fun.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?” Tendou mused out and then began to pour hot water in the aligned noodle cups.

Shirabu narrowed his eyes for a moment while Tendou smiled as innocently as possible.

“Just make me a cup…” Shirabu said, giving in to his senior's persuasive means. Tendou merely cackled as he grabbed another bowl of noodles from the side. 

Another pawn to play with for Tendou, you thought as Shirabu left the table to grab an extra pair of chopsticks for himself. How scary!

“Hey, just how spicy can these noodles be?” Semi asked as he inspected the red packet by lifting it up into the light. Joining his side, Oohira stared at the liquid sauce packet. He gave a half-crooked smile that showed maybe eating spicy noodles right before bed wasn’t the best idea.

“I heard these noodles are really spicy… like to the point that people have breathing problems from eating them,” you chimed in.

The two shuddered at the thought of potentially being hospitalized from eating a cup of noodles.

“You don’t think we’ll die from eating this stuff...” Semi muttered as he tossed the sauce packet back to the pile sitting on the table. “Right?”

“If it was made to be eaten,” Ushijima began in a nonchalant manner, “then the noodles cannot be too terrifying.”

The other members nodded in agreement with their captain while Goshiki looked fired up and ready to devour the noodles. The dining hall was nearly empty besides you and the rest of the volleyball team by now. It’d probably take only ten minutes to finish this whole challenge if they ate fast enough which meant you could go to sleep on time for the next day.

“Ta-da!” Tendou presented the seven cups of instant noodles and slid them across the table to each member. The sauce packets were in the middle and each person grabbed one for their cup.

“Are there any rules that I should know before you guys start?” you asked, fiddling with the stopwatch that Shirabu had given to you before he decided to join the challenge. "I don't want to accidentally mess this up."

“Yeah, a couple. You're going to be recording the times once someone finishes eating. Whoever finishes last loses, but,” Yamagata pointed his finger to the clustering of milk boxes, “whoever drinks the milk first before everyone is finished eating is the automatic loser.”

For a moment, you kept silent, completely baffled. What went on in their minds? This just seemed like pure torture.

“Wow, you guys are taking this to a new level…”

“It’s all just good, friendly fun! Also,” Tendou squeezed his sauce packet into his cup and gave a devious chuckle, “loser has to pay for yakiniku this weekend.”

Ah, suddenly everything made sense. The reason the other guys joined in was just an attempt at scoring free barbecue on the weekend. You couldn’t help but sympathize with the loser as their wallet would be feeling significantly lighter.

With the rules laid out, the rest of the guys followed Tendou's lead and began to pour the sauce into their noodles.

“Oh God, it looks just like blood…” Semi remarked as he made a disgusted face and stirred his chopsticks into the cup.

“And this smell…” Shirabu added, pinching his nose. Even you could smell how potent the spice was. 

“Any last words, guys?” Oohira chipped in; there was a feeling of dread falling on each member.

“Itadakimasu,” Ushijima answered and placed his hands together.

There was a short exchange in looks between the other guys, but nevertheless, they followed suit. With everyone ready, you cleared your throat.

“Alright… ready in three, two, one.”

You pressed the start button on the stopwatch. Everyone except Shirabu, Tendou, and Ushijima shoved as many noodles into their mouths as humanly possible as soon as the challenge commenced. However, this proved to be inefficient as Semi, Oohira, Yamagata, and Goshiki began to choke on their food due to how spicy it was. Goshiki's eyes teared up in agony while Semi and Yamagata opened their mouths and dropped the noodles back into the cup in order to relieve themselves of the pain. Only Oohira continued to chew his mouthful, albeit in a very slow manner. 

“Eet’s sew hoawt!” Goshiki cried out while trying to slurp more noodles into his mouth. He chewed as fast as he could and opened his mouth in between to mitigate the intense spice. 

“Who the hell eats this stuff!” Semi yelled out in agreement and slammed his fist onto the table in frustration. His face was turning red and small beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

Nodding his head furiously at Semi’s outburst, Yamagata began to shove another (this time smaller than his first attempt) mouthful of noodles while Semi did the exact opposite and ate little by little. Shirabu and Tendou ate small bits of the noodle at first in order to build up their spice tolerance before attempting to eat larger quantities. The only one eating normally was Ushijima; he ate at a regular pace and it didn’t even look like the spice affected him. 

“I’m done,” Ushijima declared and then showed his empty cup to you. For a second you didn’t know if you should be amazed or downright scared of his spice tolerance. 

“Was it not spicy for you, Ushijima?” you asked while writing down his time. The other members stared in shock at how unstirred he was to the whole ordeal. 

“No, it was very spicy. My mouth is on fire.”

You wouldn’t have guessed it because of the blasé air around him. Not noticing your dazed state, Ushijima unzipped his jacket and took it off. He looked to his right and then to his left, soon realizing that no one else was near finishing. He eyed the cartons of milk on the table and sighed in discontent.

Is this guy even human? How can he eat these death noodles without showing an ounce of pain?

Ushijima is too powerful on and off the court…

I expected Wakatoshi to finish first, but even this is a bit much!

“I-I’m finished…” Oohira presented his empty cup to you and coughed in agony. You recorded his time and whispered words of encouragement because it seemed as if he needed them now more than ever. He slumped into his seat and you swore you saw his soul leave his body.

The rest of the competitors began to amp themselves up as they shoved the noodles into their mouths. At this point their taste buds were completely burned off and the only thing on their minds was not losing. 

“Done!” Semi shoved the cup in your face and you noted that his lips were swollen as you recorded his time.

“Alakazam!” Tendou showcased his cup in an extravagant manner. All the noodles were gone. This was a surprise since Tendou was typically a slow eater. 

Following him, Shirabu pushed his cup in front of you without saying a word. His eyes looked dead. There was an orange lining around his lips which contrasted his paling face. 

You recorded each time and looked at the last two competitors: Goshiki and Yamagata. They were both chewing as fervently as possible, their table manners a thing of the past with a yakiniku bill at stake.

Though neck-in-neck, Goshiki finished a second faster than Yamagata and slammed his cup down, yelling out in victory. Small bits of spit landed on the table and you jumped back in revulsion.

“Goshiki! That’s disgusting!” you screeched at the younger boy while also writing down his time. Shirabu gave another light whack to the back of Goshiki’s head in annoyance, but he didn’t care. The pain in his mouth took complete priority. Yamagata groaned in agony and cursed at being last. He pushed his empty cup away from him and then pressed his face into the table.

Wasting no time, Ushijima reached over and grabbed a small milk box for himself. The rest of the guys followed and took a relief sip in silence, a moment of content shared between the competitors now that the challenge was finished. Nearly everyone at the table looked like they experienced a near death situation (Ushijima, the outlier, kept his usual visage).

As they regained their strength, you passed napkins to everyone at the table and motioned around the lip area. Shirabu pulled out his phone and used his camera to inspect his face. His eyes widened and in a flustered moment he quickly wiped the noodle tint off of his lips as fast as he could. Tendou cackled at the embarrassed second year while Semi patted Yamagata on the back. Oohira finally regained his composure and then stretched his arms out, ready to go back to his dorm.

“Our miracle boy Wakatoshi prevails once again!” Tendou jumped out of his seat and then pranced around the ace. He did little jazz hands and you couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous the scene in front of you looked. “Tsutomu, it’s another tally on the loser side for you.”

In a burst of adrenaline, Goshiki pushed himself up out of his seat and then raised a fist into the air. “Just wait! I’ll prepare myself for the next challenge and show Ushijima that I’m capable! I’ll develop the highest spice tolerance on the entire team!”

At his declaration, you couldn’t help but giggle into your hand. He would always get fired up for the most unusual things when it came to Ushijima. There was something very endearing about his dedication towards becoming the best ace in every possible sense.

“You nearly finished last, Goshiki. Maybe you should make more capable goals before you challenge Ushijima.” Shirabu’s gaze was icy cold as he delivered his words to the first year. He sighed out in exasperation and then began to pick up the empty noodle cups to start the clean up process.

With their little challenge done and over with, you checked the time on the screen of your phone. It was already past 11 PM; way over the time you expected this all to end. Picking up some of the trash on the table, you helped the boys clean the mess they made. 

“Go back to your dorms,” you instructed as the last of the trash was picked up. “You all still have practice scheduled for tomorrow and it’s already late.”

“Thanks for helping us, [Surname]!” Goshiki exclaimed and then gave a wave. The other members expressed their thanks (including Yamagata who was still rather depressed about losing the whole ordeal) as well and wished you a good night.

“What do you mean they’re not feeling well? They were perfectly fine last night!” you exclaimed in shock as Ushijima kept a cool appearance.

“They’re having… digestive issues.” 

“That’s half of the starting lineup!” Frustration began to kick in. You should have never helped them with their dumb little noodle challenge. “Coach Washijou is going to be so pissed, what will we even say to him? ‘Oh, Goshiki, Shirabu, Semi, and Yamagata are skipping today because they ate some spicy noodles late last night and turns out they couldn't digest any of it!”

“Yes, that sounds about right.”

You pushed your hair back in frustration. Ushijima was a smart guy (despite being as dense as a pile of bricks), but sometimes he was so hard to work with.

“So they’re all in their dorms right now?”

“Yes, Goshiki has it particularly bad and had to skip some of his classes.” 

“Well, thanks for letting me know before practice,” you grumbled out. “Ushijima, you should have stopped Tendou from messing with Goshiki. You know how riled up he gets when it comes to a challenge.”

He took a second to think and then let out a rare smile. “Perhaps, but it seemed like a fun activity for everyone as a team bonding exercise. Tendou said Goshiki was very excited after watching a few videos online about it.”

Blinking twice, you stared at Ushijima as if he had grown another head. Then, after a short pause in conversation, you laughed into your hand. He furrowed his brows together.

“Is something funny?”

“Yes,” you chirped in response. “You really do well to look after this team, Ushijima.”

“Of course,” he spoke in a diligent manner. “It’s something I must do.”

“Well, I’ll let Coach Washijou know. Thanks again.” You waved a farewell as you made your leave. A part of you dreaded going into Coach’s office because the story just sounded flat out stupid: how could a cup of ramen noodles be so formidable to the point that it knocks out half of a starting lineup? It was a good thing there were no practice matches scheduled today. 

Before you rounded the corner at the end of the hall, Ushijima caught up to you, stopping you for a moment before making it to Washijou's office.

“I can tell Coach Washijou instead, if you would prefer," he said. 

Okay, now this was definitely weird.

“Are you... sure?" you asked in disbelief. It was like he was asking for a death sentence. "I mean, I need to grab some paperwork from him for the next tournament, so this really isn’t putting a damper on things.”

“Yes, I believe Coach is a bit lenient sometimes on me. I think this will be beneficial.”

His reasoning did make sense. After a moment of thought, you continued walking, looking back over your shoulder as an invitation for him to follow.

“Fine, but you need to make sure you get ready for practice on time as well.”

At your words, he nodded in response and you both continued towards Coach Washijou’s office to deliver the unfortunate news.

Things couldn’t have turned out worse.

In a twist of events, Ushijima’s appearance did not make things better. Coach Washijou was already in a sour mood and hearing that half of the starting line up was out sick today because of cup noodles made him blow up. Now, here you both were, sitting on your knees in complete defeat as Coach Washijou drilled his anger into your heads. It must have been at least five minutes of being chewed out before he dismissed you both to get ready for afternoon practice.

“That,” you sighed out in mental exhaustion, “did not go as planned.”

Ushijima nodded his head in silence. Although he kept his same stoic facade, you noticed that his lips were pressed into a thin line; he obviously felt a bit of frustration.

“Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” You waved a hand in the air to dismiss the topic. “Let’s just get ready for practice...”

The practice session turned out harsher than expected. With a few members missing, Coach Washijou opted to do more conditioning for the team in order to strengthen their stamina. Running around the entire campus in pairs, ab work-outs, serving practice, and then playing 3-on-3 match ups back-to-back was brutal to even watch. By the time all drills were finished, everyone was completely exhausted. As you passed out towels and water bottles to the boys, Coach Washijou beckoned you and Ushijima to him before dismissing the team.

The old man cleared his throat before he began, “Sunday. Instead of having a day off, the ones who couldn’t come will be doing the same drills we did today with the rest of the cup noodle nimrods. Starts at 3PM. I’ll drop by and check to see if everyone is there. Clean up and you’re free to go now.”

You swore a part of you died right then and there.  

Instead of the boys eating yakiniku that weekend, they were all stuck doing drills at the gym. Goshiki, Shirabu, Semi, and Yamagata were chewed out as soon as Coach Washijou stepped foot onto the wood paneled floors, berating them for participating in such an idiotic challenge. It was the same scene you shared with Ushijima when you went to his office. You couldn't help but sympathize with the boys, especially Goshiki who just about nearly cried. 

Once Coach Washijou was finished with his lecturing, he monitored their practice alongside with you by his side and yelled out notable flaws in their play. No one was safe from his demon coaching. Practice continued until the sun finally set. The look of pure exhaustion was evident on everyone’s face. 

The spicy noodle incident was one to never be forgotten.

Chapter Text

Some days, the boys of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club were incredibly productive during free practice.

This was not one of those days.

You were coming back from the fountain station with a cart of water bottles when you noticed Goshiki, Tendou, and Kawanishi scattered at the back zone of one side of the court; on the opposite side, Semi, Ushijima, Oohira, Yamagata, and Shirabu were lined up with volleyballs in hand. To your utter horror, Semi began his service ritual and then proceeded to smash the ball onto the other side with a powerful jump serve. The ball narrowly missed Tendou and you saw the red haired boy shudder.

“Damn it!” Semi cursed out and then moved away from the end line. Shirabu instead took his place and began his own service ritual. “I was so close to hitting him!”

“What are you guys doing?!” you yelled out, ditching the cart to stop Shirabu from serving. The three targets standing at the back zone stared at you as if your outburst was weird. “How is this even considered practice? I know I said that you guys should work on your serves a bit more, but this isn’t what I meant!”

“Ah, [Name],” Tendou chided you as he approached; he began to put his arms into the air in a grandiose manner as he spoke. “This… This! Is the beauty of volleyball. The rush you get when you feel a serve nearly skim your head is beyond your wildest dreams! Standing helplessly on the court with your back turned away from the server, it's a feeling like no other!”

You weren’t even trying to hide your shock; your mouth fell open and no words came out. How does a person even respond to that? The words of a masochist should never be shared aloud.

“We played 3-on-3 and the losing team’s punishment was butts up.” Shirabu put a hand over his forehead in embarrassment at Tendou’s explanation. “Libero and ref for the round get free serves.”

There was a moment of silence all around.

“Are you guys...” You were still at a loss for words as you motioned your hand in front of your face to finish your sentence. The jump serves they practiced were like rockets. Getting hit by one in the head could concuss a person. “Complete idiots?!”

The third years laughed while the younger team members looked a bit embarrassed at your outburst. It was rare that you got outwardly mad at them. 

“Don’t worry, [Surname]. We’re not going a hundred percent with our serves for the punishment. We’re really just practicing our aim with this.” Oohira calmed you down and then pointed to the members on the other side of the court. “See? No one’s been hurt.”

You took a glance at the three members on the other side. Tendou was jumping around Kawanishi to hype him up while Goshiki was stretching his calves; they were waiting for the service punishment to continue. It didn't seem like they minded this type of... practice.

“A-Alright… but don’t go too hard with your serves!" You gave a hesitant nod at the boys and then slowly started to walk back to the sidelines. "We have a practice match scheduled in two days and I don’t want to have to take anyone off the roster.”

“That’s doable.”

“Fine with me, someone just hit Tendou!”

“Kenjirou, server up!”

Amidst all the yelling, Ushijima kept silent and spun a volleyball between his hands. He kept focused, paying little attention to Shirabu as he went up to the line to start his service ritual. Similar to Semi, Shirabu narrowly missed his target (Goshiki).

“Shirabu always aims for me!” Goshiki whined out and the other boys chuckled. However, you couldn’t feel yourself relax as you saw Ushijima go up to the line. His service game during practice today was better than usual. Your hands started to feel clammy and you wondered if you should get a first aid kit.

Ushijima performed his service ritual, bouncing the volleyball onto the ground a couple of times in order to clear his mind; you noticed his running start and his form in the air were near perfect. You probably would have admired it if you didn’t have to worry about the three human targets on the other side of the court. As soon as Ushijima’s hand made contact with the ball, a loud booming sound filled the air. Your jaw dropped and—most likely due to the adrenaline rushing through you—the events unfolded before you in slow motion.

It all played like a horror movie. The volleyball made direct contact with Tendou’s backside; he yelped out in pain and fell to the ground, pressing a hand on the affected area as a means to alleviate the soon to be bruise that was bound to form. Due to the spin and sheer force Ushijima put into his serve, the ball ended up ricocheting off of Tendou and hitting Goshiki right on the side of his face. Kawanishi, the only one who was spared from Ushijima's serve, stared bug-eyed at the other two. 

“GOOOAAALLL!” Semi and Yamagata shouted and then proceeded to slap Ushijima on the back to congratulate him. Oohira and Shirabu were the only ones who looked mildly concerned at the injured members. In contrast, you began to freak out.

“What did I just say?!” You ran to Tendou’s side and checked if he was okay. Goshiki had already gotten up and was rubbing the side of his face with his hand. “Ushijima, you didn’t back off on your serve at all! Help me with Tendou!” 

Kawanishi snapped out of his daze and assisted you with supporting Tendou while Shirabu and Oohira grabbed two chairs. With the help of the members, Tendou was securely propped onto the seat. Goshiki sat himself down on the other chair. 

“How many fingers am I holding up, Goshiki?” you questioned him and put your hand in front of his face, holding up three fingers at a reasonable distance.

“Three?”

You added another finger and moved your hand further away. “And what about now?”

“...Four?”

“Okay, now open your eyes and don’t blink. I’m just going to do a quick check.” You moved in closer to his face to look at his pupils. Goshiki almost broke eye contact in embarrassment, but maintained himself. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. “Is your head throbbing? Are you dizzy?”

“N-No, I’m okay, [Surname]!” He averted eye contact this time and a faint pink tint was noticeable on his face; you were a little too close for comfort as you checked for the telltale signs of a concussion. 

You paused and looked at him. Even though the ball took a direct hit at Tendou, you were still worried about the first year. In your eyes, he was as fragile as glass.

“You two sit here and wait while I grab some ice packs. And for the rest of you,” a fire suddenly grew within you. That sinking feeling you had about this was a hundred percent warranted. “Don’t do anything stupid like that again. Just from one serve you nearly took out two members! You turned to the other third years. "Ushijima, you didn’t back off from your serve at all; just what were you thinking? To be honest, I think Coach Washijou’s right. All of you have taken too many balls to the head that you can’t properly use your brains now!”

Letting out all your frustration exhausted you. You waved a dismissive hand and then left the gym in a rush, refusing to spare them another glance. 

“I’ve never seen [Surname] so upset before,” Shirabu commented as the sound of your footsteps disappeared.

The others nodded, making whispers of agreement amongst themselves.

“Do you think [Surname] is still mad about the noodle incident?” Semi asked, taking a guess as to why you were more on edge today. “Because that seems so long ago.”

Yamagata shuddered as he thought about the pain his intestines went through. “Dude, enough with the noodle incident.”

“You still owe us yakiniku, Hayato,” Oohira chimed in. The libero’s face turned to stone as Semi bellowed out a laugh, causing Oohira to pat the poor guy on the back as a means to comfort him.

“Reon, that isn’t the point right now! [Surname]’s mad because Wakatoshi nearly killed Tsutomu and Tendou,” Yamagata countered. He had honestly forgotten about paying for yakiniku and would rather not talk about it right now. "Let's focus on that instead..."

Ushijima was lectured by [Surname], Goshiki laughed inside of his head. Suddenly, the ace of the team turned to him and made direct eye contact, frightening the boy. Crap, can he read minds too?

“Goshiki, Tendou,” Ushijima began. His tone was soft. “I’m sorry.”

“Wakatoshi, it’s fine.” Tendou accepted the apology and then leaned back in his chair, languidly waving a hand in front of his face to shoo away any sort of guilt Ushijima felt. Goshiki nodded his head to his senior's words in agreement, still silently wondering if he had any sort of telepathic abilities. “Once the volleyball’s in your hand there’s no stopping you… but I know a way you can make it up to us.”

Ushijima raised his eyebrow and listened to what his teammate had to say.

Returning back to the gym with two ice packs in hand, you honestly couldn’t believe the sight in front of you when you opened the sliding door. This time, Ushijima was the one standing in the back zone; he was on the side opposite of the servers, his hands covering his neck as he patiently waited for punishment. Goshiki and Tendou were in line waiting to make a serve while Semi was already in midair for his own. The sheer force he put into the ball was prevalent in the cracking sound that echoed in the gym as soon as his hand made contact. Ushijima didn't flinch in the slightest when the ball landed right next to his feet.

“You’re kidding me! I nearly had it!” Semi shouted as he ran his hands through his hair in annoyance. “Server up, Tsutomu!”

You slowly approached the serving group, face blank and hand tightly clutching onto both ice packs. Goshiki, the first one to notice your arrival, smiled at you, his eyes lighting up.

“Oh, [Surname]! You’re ba— ACK!” 

Not allowing him the chance to finish his sentence, you promptly pelted Goshiki with the ice pack in your hand. You had asked them to do one thing. Sit still and wait for you to come back with ice packs! They couldn’t even be bothered to wait around for a second. 

“Tendou, you’re next!” you yelled, reeling your arm back to pitch the other ice pack as hard as possible. Maybe this would finally knock some sense into him. The eccentric boy jumped at the sound of his name and used the bodies of his team members to shield him from your wrath. No one was safe from your rage at the moment. 

“[Surname], calm down!” Oohira once again tried to reason with you this time from a distance as he was fearful of the ice pack in your hand. “Wakatoshi did this voluntarily!”

“It still doesn’t make it right!” you retorted and approached the group of servers. Shoving the ice pack into Tendou’s hands, you continued to scold them. “Two of you already got hurt from doing this, what makes you think you won’t get a bigger injury?" No one responded which only made you more frustrated. You crossed your arms in front of your chest and turned your head the other way, refusing to make eye contact with anyone else in the room. "You know what? I’m done with you all today. Clean and lock up by yourselves tonight, I’m going back to my dorm.”

You promptly turned on your heels and made your exit. Dealing with these boys all the time really pushed you to your limits. Once you were gone, a sense of guilt filled the air, shared between the members of the club.

“[Surname] really cares about our wellbeing…” Goshiki lamented while pressing his ice pack onto his cheek. 

“Yeah… she was really upset about all this,” Semi added. Kawanishi nodded his head at his senior’s words and tossed the volleyball he had in his hands into the rolling basket.

“Perhaps we should apologize for our actions,” Ushijima said, acknowledging the words of his teammates as he joined the rest of the group on the same side of the court.

Tendou gave an exaggerated sigh.

“We should change our ways for [Name].”

Halfway back to the dorms, you realized that you really blew up on the boys today. They were just having a bit of fun amongst themselves without having to worry about Coach Washijou yelling about every flaw they had. You reflected on this and chose to go back to the gym to make amends with them. From a distance, you could hear the sounds of shoes squeaking. You peeked your head through the sliding iron door.

And honestly, you should have expected this.

Instead of standing up straight like they previously were, the targets were now bent over so that their butts were high in the air. This time Semi, Shirabu, and Oohira were the targets lined up at the back zone.

“Ah, [Surname], you’re back,” Ushijima said aloud, the first to notice your existence. This caused the other serving members to look towards your direction. They welcomed you back in and Tendou jumped up in excitement.

“[Name]! Since you were so worried about all of us we decided to take extra precautionary measures! Now no one will get knocked in the head!” Tendou did jazz hands to present the three members who had their butts in the air. “See! The butt has the most fat, so it’ll absorb all the force outta our serves.”

Grimacing at the view, you decided that it would be best to take your leave for the day after all.

Chapter Text

The days without club activities were usually spent cooped up in your dorm room, studying the hours away in preparation for upcoming quizzes and exams. Today was one of the rare occasions when you finished up all your work earlier than expected. With nothing to do, you stretched on your bed and thumbed through a few books you had already read, flipping through the pages rather mindlessly in hopes that something new would pop out.

You were so accustomed to working your tail off that doing nothing felt wrong. Doing nothing felt boring.

So, when an abrupt knock sounded at your door, you jumped to your feet to open it, excited at what it could be.

That was, until you saw Tendou, Ushijima, Goshiki, and Semi on the other side. You had half the mind to just slam the door in their faces and pretend like you never saw them.

“[Name]! We need your help. It’s urgent!” Tendou pleaded. Standing beside him, Goshiki nodded his head in agreement with the senior’s words. The others kept quiet, waiting for Tendou to finish his pitch.

You eyed him for his almost overbearing demeanor, hesitant in what he would ask. “What... is it?”

“You’re bored, right? I can tell you’re bored.” Tendou continued his pestering, trying to sway you to join them. "You can't just stay in your room all day! It's not healthy for you."

“Can you just tell me what you need help with?”

“The konbini store showdown!” Tendou grabbed onto your wrist and pulled you out of your room. “You’re bored and we’ve got a solution! Be our judge for today.”

“Excuse me? Konbini store what now?” You shut the door behind you and Tendou continued to lead you out of the dormitory. The others followed, Goshiki being the only who truly seemed excited for whatever Tendou was proposing as he had a bounce to his steps. 

“We saw a video online,” Goshiki began, causing you to inwardly groan from the last time Tendou showed the others a video challenge. “And people were making different meals with the foods sold in the konbinis! Tendou said there’s a Family Kart nearby that just opened up and he said that we should try to make our own meals.”

You were all now making your way off campus. There were a few other kids walking around and talking amongst themselves, enjoying the day through mundane and languid activities. Sometimes you wished the team would do something normal for once. Tendou, the guilty catalyst, let out a small whistle as he slung an arm around Goshiki's shoulders, pulling him closer and riling him up for this challenge.

“And why do you need someone to judge this?” you asked. "Why isn't Shirabu here? Usually he's the one proctoring these things."

“Kenjirou’s studying with Taichi,” Semi answered, this time relaxing his body.

“And how’d you get sucked into this, Semi?” you questioned. Usually he’d only join in if Oohira and Yamagata were game too. 

Instead of answering right away, Semi turned his head to the side, casting his gaze away as if embarrassed. You raised an eyebrow at his mannerisms and squinted your eyes, trying to analyze every micro-movement.

“...Winner gets Jäagen-dazs for the next three days.” 

There was a moment of silence between you two. He knew how ridiculous he must have sounded and chose to avoid looking at you in fear of you scrutinizing his entire being. Tendou noticed the deadpan look on your face and cackled at Semi's bashfulness. There was always some sort of ridiculous catch when it came to these challenges Tendou proposed.

“Hey, hey, [Name]! No need to get like that. It’s just good fun for us after a hard week of practice!" He paused and then chuckled. "It’s not like we’re eating those cup noodles again, anyway!”

At the mention of the noodle incident, Semi and Goshiki blanched. They were the ones who were hit the hardest by the noodles, the mere memory causing them to shiver. 

“I believe Yamagata still has not treated us to yakiniku,” Ushijima interjected.

“You’re right, Wakatoshi!” Tendou let out a gasp at his realization. He grabbed onto Ushijima and Semi’s shoulders, pulling them closer as he spoke in a lower voice. “Maybe we need to give him a little reminder.”

You eyed the trio, but then brushed it off. They were talking amongst themselves while Goshiki, the youngest of the bunch, was stuck in his own world.

“Got a game plan to beat Ushijima?” You nudged the up-and-coming ace. His eyes twinkled in anticipation.

“Yes, [Surname]! I saw a few reference videos, so I think this time I’ll beat Ushijima.” 

Upon hearing his name, said captain turned back to glance at the younger boy.

“Good luck, Goshiki,” Ushijima said in his usual uniform tone. Semi snickered into his hand while Tendou patted Goshiki on the back as a means to cheer him up. It wasn’t that Ushijima was looking down on the boy; he actually wished him well, but his concise speech was sometimes taken the wrong way.

A fire was building up within Goshiki as his only goal for today was to beat his senior in this challenge.

The Family Kart was bright and clean. Only a few other students were sitting at the ledge table, eating popsicles and chatting about their classes. The store clerk eyed your group of giants and then went back to wiping the counters. 

“[Name], you wait outside for five minutes while we make our meals and then you’ll pick your favorite, m’kay?” Tendou quickly pushed you out the automatic sliding doors. From behind your shoulder you saw Goshiki run around and pick a few items in his hands while Ushijima and Semi walked down the aisles in a composed manner. “No cheating here, nope! We need complete and absolute impartiality from you!”

You groaned at him and then sat yourself down in the outdoor area. Scrolling through your phone, you reasoned with yourself that whatever they were making couldn’t be too terribly disgusting. Peeking a bit through the glass of the doors, you saw Semi yelling at Tendou; they seemed to be fighting over the microwave, Tendou holding a packet of noodles as if it were a weapon. Amidst the commotion between those two, Goshiki was stirring furiously and Ushijima continued walking around the store. 

You pressed the palms of your hands to your forehead and prayed that you wouldn’t get sick.

In front of you were four different concoctions. 

(Your mind really had no nicer word to call the four dishes in front of you.) 

“The fruits of our labor! Can you feel the love, [Name]?” Tendou cheered and presented each meal. They were sitting on the table ledge and numbers written on napkins were next to them. “Pick a meal, any meal to start!”

Your eyes glossed over the table and you reached for entree number two. It looked the most normal in comparison to the other dishes. 

“And entry number two is chosen first! Will it be a winner? A loser? Only time will tell!” Tendou continued to narrate your actions.

Semi shook his head in disapproval of Tendou’s erratic nature from the sidelines. The group was still out in public, and yet Tendou didn't seem to care in the slightest. From behind the counter, the store clerk looked at your group like you were all crazy. You tried your best to brush off the embarrassment, instead focusing more on the dish in hand. Inside the bowl was a rice mixture topped with nori, melted cheese, and crushed chips. You dug your spoon and tried to get a little bit of everything in one bite. 

Not bad, you thought as you chewed. The crispy texture the chips had to offer was a nice contrast with the rice and cheese. You realized that the rice must have been a crushed onigiri because you also tasted tuna.

You nodded your head in approval. “It’s good."

“Contestant number two get a ‘It’s good’ rating! Things are really heating up! Will dish number two be the winner of today’s showdown?” Tendou had picked up a pair of chopsticks from the side and was using it like a microphone. The store clerk was now looking towards your group expectantly and the students sitting at the end of the ledge table were whispering to each other, most likely gossiping about whatever the hell you guys were doing. “Oh, and our lovely manager goes and grabs for the cup belonging to contestant number three! Will the taste of contestant three’s dish be better than the last?”

You looked into the cup. It was instant noodles with a soft boiled egg cut in half, small sausages, and melted cheese. The aroma was familiar and inviting. Upon closer inspection you realized that bonito flakes were added, giving a richer color to the broth.

It smells nice, was your first thought. Your mouth was watering and demanding for a bite. Upon first taste, you realized that the noodles absorbed the broth nicely and the addition of the egg and sausages must have thickened the soup. The melted cheese, however, was not pairing as nicely as it did for the previous dish.

“It tastes good, but the cheese kind of ruins it…”

“Ouch!” Tendou placed a hand on his heart and made a pained face. “Poor contestant number three! Delicious, but mozzarella ruined it. Next!”

The other three were still remaining nonpartisan, but you could have sworn you saw a flash of disappointment on Goshiki’s face. After looking at the two meals left, you picked dish number one to taste. When you looked into the bowl, you felt fear rise within you.

“Uh, what’s this supposed to be?” you asked as you peered at what looked to be an udon based dish. There was nothing traditional about it

“A delicious meal!” Tendou replied in a chipper tone.

At his answer, you bit your bottom lip and mentally prepared yourself to not throw up. The noodles were sitting in a very thick, dark brown sludge-like broth. You really couldn’t distinguish what it was. Using your chopsticks, you picked up a thick noodle; the brown soup (if you could call it that) clung onto it. 

Please don’t kill me, you prayed and then quickly ate the single udon noodle. Instead of a salty taste, the noodle was sweet. 

And cold.

You paled at the realization of what must have been added to thicken the soup.

“Who thought it would be a good idea to use chocolate ice cream as a broth base for udon?” You raised your voice a bit and then faltered at the end, remembering that you were in a public space. It was a good thing you only ate a single noodle. "Is this supposed to be a joke?"

Tendou shrugged his shoulders as an answer while Semi laugh into his hand. Goshiki expressed his sympathies through his gaze and Ushijima let out a small frown at the thought of an over sugared udon noodle.

“So... do you like it?” Tendou pestered and put his mock mic in front of your face. 

“No,” you sternly said as you moved away from the dish. Just the thought of udon and ice cream together repulsed you.

“What an insult to fine cuisine!” The red headed boy expressed shock through widening his eyes and covering his opened mouth with his hand. He pushed the final plate your way. On it was a bread bun sliced in half and filled with miscellaneous items. “And our final contestant’s entry is... a yakisoba sandwich with an interesting twist!”

Nothing could be worse than the chocolate ice cream udon, you reasoned with yourself as you took a closer inspection of what exactly was inside the bread. You noted the yakisoba noodles were a beautiful golden color, fried to perfection, but there was also a sausage link inside and little bits of corn. Small, delicate lines of mayonnaise decorated the top. Closing your eyes, you took a decent bite.

Suddenly, your mouth was full of explosive flavors. The subtle sweetness of the corn mingled with the salty sausage; there was also a slight tang from the pickled ginger and the spice from the yakisoba made your lips tingle. Another sweetness—it tasted like honey—flooded your taste buds as you continued chewing. To top it all off, the soft cushion of the bread acted as a medium to absorb the oils from the stuffing.

“T-This is,” you began, tears starting to form at the corners of your eyes. Semi, Goshiki, and Tendou’s jaws dropped at your passionate reaction while Ushijima stared at you, albeit paying a bit more attention. “Pure gold. I’ve never tasted anything so delicious before in my life...”

“Uh, [Surname],” Semi took a step and shook your shoulders to bring you back to reality. “You’re kidding right? C’mon it can’t be that good.” 

Shaking your head, you handed Semi the yakisoba sandwich creation. He hesitantly took a bite and, after his first chew, his eyes lit up. From where you stood, you could see fireworks go off from behind him. He squeezed his fist until the whites of his knuckles became visible and then covered his eyes with the back of his forearm.

“There’s no way something can taste this good…”

“Let me try it, [Surname]!” Goshiki joined your side and then took a bite. As soon as he tasted the godly entree, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and his entire body froze. A single tear escaped his eye and he continued to chew in a slow manner, trying to savor the flavor while also not wanting to admit defeat.

“Well, I guess that does it,” Tendou silently placed the chopsticks onto the table and then turned to Ushijima. “Congrats to our miracle boy, Wakatoshi!”

Not caring the the slightest for victory, you and the rest of the guys began to fight over who got to eat the last bite of Ushijima's creation while Tendou sulked to his udon dish. The clerk of the convenience store approached Ushijima with a notepad and began to converse with him in an excited manner, fervently writing ever word that came out of Ushijima's mouth.

“Let go, Semi!” You elbowed him in the stomach, but this proved ineffective. 

“I work out all the time, I deserve this more than you!” he argued and then snatched the sandwich from you, lifting it high up in the air. "Lemme have the last bite!"

“Yeah, well, I deal with you all the time, so I deserve it more!”

“If anyone deserves it,” Goshiki interjected while reaching up to grab the yakisoba sandwich creation from Semi. “It’s me! The up-and-coming ace of Shiratorizawa!”

As the three of you fought, Tendou slurped the udon noodles coated with chocolate ice cream. He smacked his lips after eating a mouthful, his eyes lighting up at the taste.

It’s honestly not bad, he thought and then dug his chopsticks in for more. Dessert udon will be the next big thing!

“Just look at what we’ve done,” you muttered out, staring at the big poster plastered on the door of the Family Kart. It was Ushijima standing tall and mighty, holding his yakisoba sandwich creation. The words “Buy now! The Ushijima Special!” were printed in bold letters around him as he stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, taking a power stance.

“All because of the konbini showdown,” Semi acknowledged and stared at the poster alongside you. He let out a sigh and shook his head. 

“That’s our miracle boy, Wakatoshi,” Tendou added and pranced inside the facility. "C'mon, guys! We can't stay out here and admire his poster all day long!"

The door shut behind him and, before going in, you and Semi stood out for a while longer, still feeling dumbfounded that a new menu item was created by Ushijima of all people. Who knew something good would come out of this silly challenge?

“Let’s just go in already,” you said and took the first steps inside to discreetly buy an Ushijima Special.

EXTRA:

Of all places to see his face, Oikawa thought as he kicked a rock on the ground in annoyance. He scowled at the poster of Ushijima plastered on the door of the convenience store. Posing with a yakisoba sandwich? Please, this is cheap even for you, Ushiwaka bastard.

For a second, he imagined his own face on the poster and then almost spat in disgust. He initially wanted to go inside to grab a light snack after practice, but his appetite was now quelled after seeing his eternal rival. As he stood in front of the store, two kids walked right past him and headed towards the door; they giggled to each other and playfully intertwined their arms together.

“Let’s get the Ushijima Special!” one of them said aloud while the other nodded in agreement.

Oikawa slumped his shoulders and shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his tracksuit pants. He cursed under his breath and continued back on his way home, silently wondering to himself what he has to do to make an Oikawa Special.

Chapter Text

“H-How is this even possible?” Shirabu questioned aloud in his seat. He flipped through a small stack of papers with an expression of awe on his face as he carefully skimmed each page. Sitting beside him, Tendou hummed in acknowledgement while taking small bites of his lunch.

“What’s going on here?” you asked while placing your tray down across from where Shirabu sat. His eyes were still glued on the pages in front of him.

“Tendou’s exams,” Shirabu flipped the papers so you could see. On the page he showed you, there were multiple red circles around the question numbers, indicating correct answers all around. “It’s nearly perfect! He almost got every single answer right, and he said that he didn’t even study for it…”

So that’s what he’s all surprised about, you thought as you dug your chopsticks into your bowl of rice.

“Well... that’s Tendou for you.”

“I don’t understand it,” Shirabu sighed out and then handed the test papers back to Tendou. The red haired boy pushed them aside and continued to eat his lunch. “I’d have to do hours of studying in order to get near perfect marks like this.”

“I have a super special technique that helps me get these grades,” Tendou said as he leaned in closer to the second year. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he spoke. You raised an eyebrow, curious as to what he was going to say.

“Technique?” the younger boy asked; he focused all his attention wholly on Tendou.

Watching their exchange from the other side of the table, you took a bite out of your karaage and noted its crispiness. You weren't completely sure what Tendou was up to, so instead you chose to quietly observe.

“Yes,” Tendou continued and then threw an arm around Shirabu to pull him closer. The setter looked mildly uncomfortable, but remained patient in hopes of his senior actually offering useful advice. The scene in front of you played out as if Tendou were a piper trying to lure some helpless animals. “Kenjirou, I’ll teach you something that only the elite know. Only the top dogs can truly grasp this methodology. Bah! Even the top scorers have trouble understanding... but as your senpai I’ll make sure to show my precious kouhai the ropes.”

You swore you saw a sparkle in Shirabu’s eyes.

Better to stop this now.

“Hey, this karaage tastes pretty good. It’s extra crispy today.”

“When are you free, Tendou?” 

Too late.

“Tomorrow after practice! Come to my dorm and I’ll show you how to ace your tests.” You made eye contact with Tendou, his aura screaming “Lemme have my fun” while you shot back a look that said “Don’t run to me when he gets mad.” He chuckled and then shoved a whole piece of karaage into his mouth. “[Name], you’re right. This karaage is delicious! I’ll have to get an extra serving.”

“Tendou getting an extra serving?” You looked over your shoulder to see Semi setting his tray down next to yours. Yamagata was beside him and did the same. “That’s unheard of.”

Yamagata nodded, eyeing Tendou to get a gauge of the situation. “Yeah, the last time Tendou got an extra serving was when his manga delivered earlier than the expected day,” he said before giving thanks. Semi did the same beside him and they both started eating.

“He’s in a good mood,” you replied back while also taking small bites of your food. “He got near perfect marks on his exams.” 

Tendou slid his graded tests to the other third years and they scanned the pages. The indifference on their faces gave more validity to Tendou portraying himself as a silent genius. Without another word, they pushed the papers back and then began talking about the practice schedule for tonight. As the two talked, Shirabu felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he imagined the hours of free time he could get if the study technique Tendou was going to teach him actually ended up working. The look of bliss on his face was so unusual, causing the entire table to stop and stare.

“Kenjirou, you alright?” Yamagata asked, sending a concerned look to the second year. He wasn’t eating and was instead grinning to himself. Honestly, he kind of looked a bit freaky. “You should probably eat while your food is hot.”

“Yes,” Shirabu snapped out of his trance and picked his chopsticks up, “I’m fine. Sorry, I was lost in thought.”

Tendou snickered to himself and then dug his chopsticks into his bowl again, scooping a large amount of rice into his mouth. Semi stared at his friend with an uneasy look on his face. Something didn't feel right.

“What’s up with these two today?” Semi whispered to you. The boy opposite of him was still laughing to himself.

“Just ignore it,”you whispered back and took another bite of karaage. "For your own good."

He shrugged and listened, opting to change the topic to the gossip about someone ripping down the Ushijima poster at the Family Kart. 

With books in tow, Shirabu knocked raptly on the door a few times and then waited for the door to open to begin studying for the night. It didn't take long for Tendou to answer.

“Kenjirou, come on in!” Tendou gave a warm welcome and even took some of the books from Shirabu’s arms. He sauntered to his desk and dropped them next to his (rather large) stack of manga. “So, first sit down and I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Shirabu did as instructed and sat straight up.

Yeesh, this kid sure is obedient, the thought flashed through Tendou’s mind and he shook his head. “Now, lemme see your test papers.”

Again, Shirabu did as told and pulled out all his graded exams from the past week. The papers were laid out and covered the entire free space of the desk. Picking a random test up, Tendou squinted his eyes and reviewed each answer; humming out, he picked another paper and did the same thing. Staring up at his senior, Shirabu wondered what was going on inside his mind.

“Alright,” Tendou began and then pulled his phone out. His thumb tapped on the screen a couple of times and then he oriented its position to landscape. Propping his phone up using the stack of manga books, Tendou presented a video of a girl group performing, bubblegum pop music blaring out in the small dorm. “Study break.”

“We haven’t even done anything!” Shirabu yelled over the music and then shoved a finger on the screen to pause it. Tendou let out a pained expression. 

“Watching THRICE sing and dance is part of the methodology!” Tendou gasped and then resumed the video. “Just trust the process, Kenjirou.” 

Shirabu muttered a curse under his breath and slumped into the chair. He focused on the screen and watched the girls dance in a cute fashion. Tendou was next to him and moved his arms to the music.

“C’mon, Kenjirou, you gotta do the same dance moves as them! It gets your blood pumping!” 

“This is ridiculous, Tendou…” he huffed out, but still listened to his senior and tried to follow along. The movements the girls did were fast paced and he could feel himself building up a sweat. 

“That’s it! Now you gotta imitate their facial expressions too. You see her!” Tendou paused the video; a dolled up girl was smiling widely and sending a wink to the camera. “Follow along. This makes sure every muscle is active when you’re studying—not just your brain. If you’re ever stuck on a problem, then all you gotta do is make the same facial expression you made when studying and you’ll remember it!”

As ridiculous as it sounded, it actually made a tiny bit of sense. Shirabu scowled for a moment and then tried his best to pull the same facial expression.

Oh, this is too good, Tendou thought to himself. “That’s it! Get up from your seat and use your whole body!”

Shirabu followed Tendou's instructions and the two boys started dancing along to the music together. Once the final melody finished, Shirabu sat back down. His breaths were a bit heavier and he shoved the phone back to Tendou.

“Now, help me with my work.”

Tendou complied and then picked up the same paper he was scanning before they broke out in a dance. He hummed to himself again while Shirabu just stared.

“You didn’t put enough answer ‘c’ on this test,” Tendou exclaimed and pointed to the two missed questions. “These two are definitely answer ‘c,’ I can tell just by looking at them.”

Slowly looking up to make eye contact with Tendou, Shirabu felt the need to deck the red head.

“What?”

“Just look at ‘em. These two answers scream ‘c.’ And then this one over here,” his finger pointed to a different question, “is definitely ‘d.’”

“Well, how do you know that?” Shirabu asked through gritted teeth. He really hoped that Tendou wasn’t being serious right now.

Tendou shrugged and then put his hands behind his neck. “Just a hunch. I mean, that’s the best way to do well on these exams. You gotta go with your gut instinct!”

Shirabu felt something inside of him snap. The guess monster that stood before him was innocently smiling, but all Shirabu wanted to do was put a fist to his face. For a moment, he actually imagined doing so. He bit the inside of his cheeks to maintain his composure and instead stacked up all his papers and shoved them back inside his bag. 

“Thank you, Tendou,” Shirabu said bitterly; he promptly stood up and hastily grabbed the rest of his books from Tendou's desk. "I'm going back to my dorm."

Without another word, Shirabu stormed out of the room, leaving Tendou to his own devices. The older boy stared at the door for a mere second before doubling down in laughter because out all the people on the team, he was able to trick Shirabu into doing the most popular girl group dance of the decade. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes and he wondered if he could do the same trick to Goshiki as well.

“What’s wrong with Tendou?” Oohira asked, joining your side when he noticed the slight oddity in the dining hall. You stood far from the table that Tendou had his body sprawled across, observing him as he stared at the ceiling, pure depression evident on his features.

“Apparently he lost one of his favorite manga books the other day...” You shook your head from side to side, touting the boy. His eyes were bloodshot and prominent purple bags could be seen underneath them even from where you were standing. “He stayed up all night looking for it, but it never turned up. And to make matters worse, he was sluggish during practice, so Coach Washijou made him do an extra round of serves as punishment.”

Oohira titled his head, wondering what the problem was with his friend. Sometimes Tendou was a complete enigma to him.

“Can’t he just buy it again online or something?” 

Tendou moaned out in misery and you both grimaced at his broken spirit. 

“He said it was a signed copy he won from a lottery, so it would probably be expensive to replace,” you replied back and then fidgeted with your fingers. Just looking at the boy stressed you out. "Apparently it was a favorite of his too..."

“Hm, is Tendou okay?”

You and Oohira turned around at the voice and saw Shirabu. He wore an indifferent expression as he eyed Tendou’s sprawled body from across the room. 

“No,” you began and explained once more. “He lost one of his favorite manga books the other day and he's really upset about it.”

“That’s too bad,” Shirabu said in a flat tone and then crossed his arms in front of his chest. His finger twitched and he repressed the satisfaction he felt seeing his senior in such a dejected state. “Hope he finds it soon.”

EXTRA:

“Huh! Ushiwaka!” Hinata exclaimed with his mouth hanging open. "Look at him!"

There, plastered right on the door of the Family Kart he and Kageyama were standing in front of, was a poster of Ushijima posing with a new menu item dubbed “The Ushijima Special.” He gawked at it and then pulled the same pose with the same serious facial expression. His mind wondered what it would be like to endorse a Hinata special as he giggled into his hand, diving deeper into his fantasies.

“Shut it, idiot. We need to focus on getting back to campus,” Kageyama grunted out. He side-eyed the poster of Ushijima and noted his powerful stance. “And don’t even bother doing the same pose as him, you just make it look pathetic.” 

“Y-You…!” Hinata flung himself towards Kageyama to tackle him down, however the taller boy sidestepped and Hinata ate dirt. “Dummy-yama! Come back!” 

He tried to tackle him again, and this time he actually got a hold of his t-shirt. The two tussled with each other in front of the convenience store, flailing their arms in all directions to get a single hit. Across the street, an older woman saw the two fighting and shook her head in a disapproving manner. Neither noticed as they were too preoccupied with each other.

“Runt! Idiot!” Kageyama yelled at his teammate and then reached his hand out to grab Hinata by the hair; by some miracle, Hinata ducked fast enough which resulted in Kageyama’s fingers snatching onto paper. The two stopped their wrestling and stared at the fist Kageyama made.

Then they slowly turned to look at the Family Kart door. 

Half of Ushijima was gone.

Both boys paled. 

“Great job, Dummy-ya—!”

Hinata never got to finish his words as Kageyama shoved the latter portion of Ushijima’s poster into his mouth to shut him up.

Chapter Text

There was a harsh and uneven drumming from the nonstop pelting of rain on the industrial roofing of the gymnasium. Practice had ended quite some time ago, and the only people still in the gym were the starters of the team. Within thirty minutes of free practice, the weather took a turn for the worst. Echoes of thunder accompanied the shower to make the perfect storm.

Worried about the weather, you took a glance at the clock on the wall of the gym. Thirty minutes until seven in the evening. Coach Saito had entrusted you with the keys to lock up after you told him that you would monitor the rest of the boys after official practice. On the court, Tendou was fooling around with Ushijima (though, it was quite one-sided) as they both served. Semi, Shirabu, and Goshiki were on the court furthest from where you stood, and, unlike Tendou, these three were actually focusing on practice and helping each other out. Resting on the sidelines, Oohira, Yamagata, and Kawanishi sat and watched their teammates. Approaching them with towels in arm, you wondered if you should cut their free practice short for today.

“It’s raining pretty hard,” you said as you passed a few towels to the boys. They each graciously took one and dried their faces. Outside, the rain continued to pour on the building as the wind howled. “Maybe we should start cleaning up before it gets worse...”

The wind screeched once more, louder than before. It was so sudden that you flinched in surprise and nearly dropped the towels in your hand.

“Aw, don’t tell me you’re scared!” Tendou teased you as he joined the group. Ushijima was still practicing his serves on the court, consistently hitting his shots right in the middle of the back zone. “It’s just a little bit of light rain. Nothin' to be afraid of!”

Right as he finished his sentence, the lights suddenly blacked out and it took all your might to not scream in terror. A flash of lightning struck and a crashing boom quickly followed. You heard Goshiki yelp along with the sound of volleyballs bouncing on the ground. From the other side of the gym, Semi yelled out a curse and the sound of a ball bouncing echoed rhythmically.

“Hey, Wakatoshi!” It was Tendou’s voice. “Stop serving, you can’t even see right now!”

The bouncing stopped and was replaced with the shuffling of footsteps.

It was pitch black in the gymnasium; even when you squinted your eyes, it was difficult to make out the figures around you. The three that were resting beside you quickly stood up; Kawanishi had his hands slightly in front of him to gauge his depth-perception while Yamagata held onto Oohira’s shoulders. As the rest of the guys joined the group, a pair of hands lightly grabbed onto your shoulder and a "Boo!" was whispered into your ear. Frightened, you jumped at the sudden sound. Tendou cackled at your reaction and slapped his knees.

“Quit it, Tendou!” you shrieked while rubbing your arms. The gym suddenly felt like it was getting colder. “Jeez, there’s a flashlight in the storage room. I’ll get it and we can clean up for today.”

The boys agreed and then congregated with each other to wait. With your arms in front of you, you made way towards the storage room. Pulling and pushing the door, you used all your muscle until it finally gave out and opened.

That’s weird, you thought and then instantly shrugged it off. Stranger things have happened. The storage room was relatively clean and organized, so even without the lights you knew where to look. You turned the flashlight on and illuminated the room.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut. Screaming out, you nearly dropped the flashlight.

“This isn’t funny!” You tugged on the handle of the door and tried to pry it open. It didn't budge in the slightest, no matter how much force you exerted onto it. Slamming your fists on the metal, you began to cry out in desperation. “Open the door! Stop messing around!”

A second later, the hard metal of the door was replaced with nothingness. You tumbled forward and felt two arms steady you.

“[S-Surname]!” Goshiki yelped as he held you up. "W-What's—!"

“Why’d you lock me in here! What’s wrong with you guys?” You ran a few more steps away from the storage room and caught your breath when you were out of immediate danger; the air was still chilly and when you turned around, you saw Goshiki sending a puzzled look your way.

“Um...” He was trembling as he stared at you. “No one was there. We were all sitting on the sideline waiting for you and then you started screaming…”

"What?” Now you were the one shaking. The flashlight quivering in your hand was a dead giveaway to how frightened you were about the whole ordeal. “There’s no way… I was pulling and pushing on that handle like my life depended on it…”

“The door was most likely just jammed, [Surname],” Ushijima rationalized as he began picking up some of the fallen volleyballs now that there was a light source present. The others agreed, however, Goshiki, Shirabu, and Kawanishi were looking the most on edge. You took a deep breath and let Ushijima’s words calm you down. He was right, obviously the door was jammed. There was no other plausible explanation.

You turned the flashlight to face the mess of volleyballs and the boys started to clean up; they talked amongst themselves, but, in the middle of the chit-chat, you noticed something strange move in the background. Counting the number of heads in front of you, you realized there was an extra figure in the shadows on the wall. Unable to form words, you shakily pointed your finger in front of you and Semi was the first one to notice. He turned to where you were pointing and saw the extra shadow move about.

“What the hell is that!” Semi screamed out as he ran to hide behind you. "This can't be real!"

The flashlight in your hand fidgeted and the extra shadow stood still with all the attention. The others sent a questioning look towards you two, and then turned to look in the direction where your finger was pointing. Ushijima remained calm and collected while the rest of the team took cover behind you and the flashlight.

“It’s a ghost!” Goshiki screamed out and covered his eyes with his hands. (If he can’t see it then it can’t hurt him, right?)

“A spirit attached to the gymnasium!”

“Or a shadow monster!”

“It’s an evil entity!”

The boys were all yelling into your ears and the heightened stimuli made you almost drop the flashlight. Your tongue was still twisted and there was really nothing to say about the lone shadow on the wall; suddenly, it began to creep towards the group and it grew bigger—more monstrous—with each approaching step. The boys still used you as a human shield and hid behind you.

But, unlike the others, Ushijima was the only level-headed person in the gym; he neither screeched nor hid. Instead, he picked up a volleyball and then conducted a jump serve at the monster. The shadow disappeared and never came back.

With the exception of the rain, the gym was dead silent. Your eyes widened towards Ushijima.

Was this boy afraid of nothing?

“It must have been an intruder,” Ushijima rationalized once again and continued cleaning up.

“Intruder my ass!” Yamagata and Semi shouted in unison.

Ignoring the two, Ushijima walked to the opposite side of the gym to retrieve the ball he just served. Semi and Yamagata grabbed as many volleyballs as possible on the ground and dropped them into the ball cart. The other boys hustled with the clean up process as well, taking down the nets and chairs in record time. Still in shock, you only pointed the flashlight at whoever called for it. Suddenly, a feeling of dread hit you.

I still need to get the jerseys out of the laundry and leave them out to dry, the thought frightened you. If the jerseys weren't dry by the morning, then Coach Washijou would be pissed.

Going up against demons or Coach Washijou?

You picked the demons.

The boys were now shoving the ball carts into the storage room, nearly done with all the chores. Everyone seemed to have mostly recovered from the initial fright of the shadow monster. Perhaps it was a hallucination from practicing volleyball too long? A loud rhythmic booming sound stopped your thoughts. Turning around to the entrance of the gym, you noticed the sliding door opening and closing itself.

“That’s—it’s impossible!” Shirabu screeched as you pointed the light towards the entrance door to showcase the anomaly to everyone. The sound of the banging seemed to get louder and angrier as time passed.

“An angry spirit possessed the door!” Goshiki was hiding behind his teammates in terror as he cried into his hands.

“Wakatoshi, do something!” Tendou yelled behind your figure.

“Quit using me as a human shield!” You elbowed Tendou to get away from you but he gripped onto your shoulders.

“No! Usually in the horror movies the girl is kept alive until the very end! I need your protection!”

The two of you started to fight each other while Ushijima nodded. He went up to the entrance door and, using all his force, promptly shut it. The door wiggled around for a second and then stilled.

“It must have been the wind,” Ushijima noted, his eyes lingering on the iron door.

Wind? That door’s made out of iron!

He’s absolutely fearless.

What kind of wind goes back and forth like that?

A complete volleyball idiot…

“Let’s just get out of here…” Kawanishi spoke up for the first time that night as he shifted from side to side.

With the clean up process done, there was no need to stay any longer in the cursed gymnasium. They all began speed-walking to where Ushijima was in front of the sliding door.

“Wait!” you abruptly called out. The entire group stared at you, waiting rather impatiently for whatever you had to say. Embarrassed, you gripped onto the hem of your t-shirt. “I still need to get the jerseys out of the laundry…”

Semi sent you a look that screamed “Your problem, not mine!” while Oohira, Kawanishi, and Yamagata avoided making eye contact with you. Shirabu made a disgruntled face while Goshiki started to profusely sweat.

“[Name],” Tendou began and placed his hands on his hips. “We love ya, but this place is haunted and I’m going back to my dorm. Good luck!”

You pressed your lips into a straight line in order to keep your composure. Tendou’s face was looking very punchable at the moment.

“I’ll go with you.”

Your heart leapt in joy at hearing Ushijima’s offer. The others let out a sigh of relief, glad that they no longer had to shoulder the burden of you dying at the hands of whatever demon was currently making a home in the gym.

“Thanks for joining me, Ushijima,” you said as you spread the wet jerseys on the rails of the second floor. They would be dry and ready for practice tomorrow. "I really appreciate it."

Ushijima nodded his head as a reply, flapping the jerseys in his basket to get rid of the excess droplets of water as he handed them to you. You both worked in a comfortable silence, trying to finish the last chore to leave the gym for the evening.

“How are you so fearless?” you asked him, genuinely curious about how he would answer. The whole time the strange occurrences were happening, Ushijima didn’t show an ounce of fear.

He took a second to ponder your question.

“There’s nothing scarier than Coach Washijou.”

Well, he’s not wrong, you laughed to yourself and agreed with him.

“You’re right. That’s why I need to finish hanging these jerseys up or else he would have— AH!”

You screamed out in fright when you felt foreign hands grip tightly onto your shoulders; reflexively, you struggled out of the grip and then quickly spun around to throw your fist at whatever was behind you. Hitting as hard as you could, your hand made contact with a bony surface. Ushijima’s eyes widened at the fallen figure.

It was Tendou.

And his nose was bleeding profusely.

“I-I just wanted to scare you… Only a little bit…” he moaned out in pain and rolled to his side as he pressed a hand to his face. Suddenly feeling bad for the boy, you crawled next to him and assessed his injury.

Perhaps I should be afraid of [Surname] as well, Ushijima thought as he pitied his fallen teammate.

EXTRA:

“Whaddya mean you’re not gonna come back?!” Coach Washijou yelled into the phone, upset at what he had just heard. The person on the other line nervously laughed.

“Well, when I was working last night on the maintenance I almost got my head ripped off by a volleyball,” he breathed in and out to maintain his composure and to not back down with his angry client. “I then tried to oil up the rollers on the door, but my hand was nearly crushed when one of your students shut the door as hard as possible when I was working on it...”

Washijou took a second to let the words soak in. He gritted his teeth.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll get those kids under control.”

He promptly hung up the call and gave himself a mental note to find a new maintenance worker for the gym. The clock on the wall read fifteen minutes until scheduled practice time.

Hope they’re ready for hell, Coach Washijou chuckled to himself as he left his office.

Chapter Text

“So the day has finally come...!” Tendou relished the sight in front of him and stretched his arms to show off his wingspan. “Yakiniku!”

At his sudden outburst, a few people walking through the shopping district glanced at the boy’s strange pose, pointing in his direction and laughing amongst themselves. Semi, embarrassed by his friend's erratic nature, slapped Tendou on the back and scolded him to stand up straight. The other boys didn't seem to mind it too much as they chatted in pairs.

“Let’s just go in and eat,” Yamagata huffed out and led the pack inside. He had been dreading this day for a while, worried about the appetites his friends would put up since he was going to be the one paying. "That lunch special isn't gonna last all day..."

Even though it was the weekend, the boys were able to get a table without a long wait. (Yamagata wasn't sure if he should regard this as a pro or a con because the lack of waiting meant the rest of the guys wouldn't get hungrier as time passed, but it also felt like he was personally being escorted into the lion's den so that the beast could shred up his wallet. The thought of spending a month's worth of allowance in a single sitting made him sick to his stomach.) Menus were passed around as soon as they were seated and Yamagata started to calculate the numbers in his head as soon as he opened the first page.

Sitting across from him, Goshiki flipped through and pointed at all the different cuts of meat with a dreamy look in his eyes. He was acting as if he had never eaten meat before in his life. Shirabu was right next to him, acting more composed than his junior as he carefully read through the entrees. There was a slight twitch to his fingers, the only tell of his excitement at being treated to barbeque for the day.

“Oh, set C looks nice,” Semi nudged Yamagata's arm, forcing him to stop over analyzing every bit of this outing. “It can feed up to four people, so if we order this and then add set B, we’ll have enough food for everyone. Maybe even a little extra.”

While he appreciated his friend's proposal, Yamagata shook his head. “It’s fine, order whatever you want,” he replied back. Semi laughed at his response and then slapped him on the back as a means to praise his reliability.

Much like Semi, the rest of the guys were rather impressed with Yamagata's words. Goshiki looked at his senior with a twinkle in his eyes and then went back to properly scanning the menu once more, adding a few more sides he had been debating to his order. The rest of the boys would be lying if they said they didn't notice his excitement, but they chose to keep mum about it. Another waitress was waved down so they could have their orders taken (two sets and a few sides, much to Yamagata's relief), and Yamgata ran the numbers in his head again. He wasn't going to break bank, but he was pretty close to it. Everyone at the table could tell exactly what he was thinking as it was written all over his face.

The mood turned much lighter as Oohira started conversation with the entire table, first turning to Goshiki as he spoke about his classes. They bounced off each other, causing the topics to jump from classes to practice to the upcoming scheduled matches to favorite actresses and prime time television. All in all, everyone was enjoying themselves during this outing.

Yamagata savored this moment with his team. With his friends. He was with them all the time at practice, but being able to enjoy themselves all together like this outside of campus was rare. Especially with the ever looming presence of university entrance exams as the days passed. This pressure only seemed to grow as it was coupled with the thoughts of his final volleyball tournaments for his high school career.

“The practice schedule for this upcoming week looks pretty tough, doesn’t it?” Oohira asked aloud as he drummed his fingers on the table. Yamagata snapped out of his thoughts and then directed his attention to his friends again.

“It's our third year and I’m still not used to it,” Semi slumped down into his seat. Just the thought of all the planned conditioning was making him exhausted.

“Eh, but Eita you’re usually one of the top runners behind Wakatoshi!” Tendou’s finger circled around the rim of his glass as he spoke.

Yeah, keeping up with him is a pain, Semi thought as he took a sip out of his glass. “Doesn’t make the running any less hard.”

“Wakatoshi is one of the top runners, but Tsutomu is doing a good job keeping up,” Oohira nodded his praise with a fond smile. Said boy was busy eyeing the grill in the middle of the table, but looked up once his name was mentioned.

“Of course, Oohira! I need to do all that I can in order to establish myself as the future ace of Shiratorizawa!” he declared, chest filling with determination. Shirabu side-eyed Goshiki and then glanced at Ushijima.

It’ll be a hundred years until he can get on Ushijima’s level, he thought and slightly shifted in his seat.

“Kenjirou’s totally thinking that it’ll be a hundred years until he can get on Wakatoshi’s level. It’s written all over his face.” Tendou laughed and the second year froze at having his thoughts announced.

“Tendou, did you even find your missing manga?” Shirabu cut in, directing the conversation elsewhere. It worked, the question causing Tendou to slouch in grief.

“Nope,” Tendou had a solemn look on his face and then took a swig of his water as if it was alcohol. “It’s lost forever. My precious Bobo’s Ridiculous Journey is gone! A rare signed copy that I always had on my desk to help me through the day, just... disappeared. Like magic." He let out a heavy sigh. "Kenjirou, have you ever experienced heartbreak?”

There was a dejected air filling the whole booth from Tendou’s words. Everyone kept quiet, shifting uncomfortably in their seats (with the exception of Ushijima who stared at his friend with furrowed brows).

“Uh, no. I have not, Tendou,” Shirabu answered, keeping his formalities with the boy.

Tendou put a hand to his chin and closed his eyes to think. “Okay, then have you ever experienced one of your favorite TV series ending abruptly and the ending is just flat out terrible?”

He’s oddly specific. Shirabu nodded at his senior to continue.

“Well, it’s like that feeling! Lost, confused, upset! Without that signed copy of Bobo’s Ridiculous Journey, my life feels incomplete!”

Having heard enough of BoBo's Ridiculous Journey for the past week, Semi slammed his fist on the table. The silverware clattered and some water spilled out of the glass cups from the sheer force he put into it. Tendou's mourning was getting on his nerves and he would rather enjoy at least one lunch without having to hear about the loss of some stupid manga.

“Just buy another one already!” Semi interrupted.

“Another signed copy costs an arm and a leg, Eita!”

Semi scowled. “Does it have to be signed? Stop being so attached to material things!"

“This isn’t a material attachment, but rather a spiritual one.”

The two continued to bicker, going back and forth like a rallying tennis ball. Keeping to himself, Shirabu silently wondered how to discreetly return Tendou’s manga without being caught as the perpetrator. Goshiki tried to stop the two from arguing (as he noticed a few nearby customers staring at them), but they yelled over him. Yamagata and Oohira had to comfort the boy, telling him that it happens from time to time.

This chaotic scene didn't last long. Ushijima was the first to notice their waitress coming back with trays of food. He began to move the dishes to make room on the table for the meat. All the madness ceased as soon as the meat was present. There was pork belly, ribs, and marbled beef spread in front of them. It sparkled and there was a glint of hunger in everyone’s eyes.

“Itadakimasu,” everyone at the table said and clapped their hands together. Ushijima and Oohira were the ones who grilled the meat for everyone and a delectable aroma quickly filled the air around them. Goshiki shifted anxiously in his seat, the searing sound of all the different cuts induced him to lick his lips in anticipation.

“Here,” Ushijima grabbed the first piece of cooked meat and placed it on Goshiki’s plate. Goshiki’s eyes widened, gleaming as he stared at his dependable senior. The older boys chuckled at the joyous look on Goshiki’s face.

“How romantic,” Tendou hugged himself as a shiver traveled along his back. Ushijima sent the red haired boy a bewildered look, but chose to ignore his statement as he focused his attention on the meat.

The oil on the grill cackled to fill in the voids of silence. The look of pure bliss was evident on everyone’s features at the first taste of barbecued meat. Even Ushijima seemed a bit more mellowed out. Conversation was reignited and they all chatted about various things ranging from Tendou’s favorite actresses to the strange vest Semi bought the other week.

The various arrays of meat soon disappeared and the heat of the grill subsided. There was a mess of plates and empty bowls of rice were scattered about on the table. Goshiki and Shirabu looked just about ready to pass out from a food coma. Looking at his two juniors, Yamagata felt a sense of pride well up in him. As their senior, it was only right to indulge in his juniors once in a while. Not only this, but he knew how fleeting these moments with the rest of his team were—especially since this was his last year of high school.

Their waitress came back one last time and slipped the bill on the table along with a small dessert plate of sliced oranges. The bill was passed to Yamagata and each person at the table indulged in the sweetness of the fruit.

Reaching into the pocket of his tracksuit pants, Yamagata’s fingers searched for his wallet. He felt nothing. His breathing halted for a second and he checked his other pocket.

Nothing but his phone.

Yamagata turned both his pant pockets inside-out and saw that the one he originally put his wallet in had loose stitches. There was a hole just big enough for his wallet to slip through.

No, there’s no way. I would have noticed it slipping out when I was walking with the rest of the guys, Yamagata shuddered at the realization that he had lost his wallet somewhere. Just when did I lose my wallet...? And why did it have to happen now? Think about what happened today…

And so, he shut his eyes to think about his every step. He definitely remembered putting the wallet into his pocket. And he remembered the night before he put enough cash for the meal today.

Was it when Tendou jumped on me in front of the dormitory? Yamagata’s face turned to stone. It must have been, there was too much commotion for me to have noticed my wallet falling out and they were all rushing me off campus. Maybe someone grabbed the wallet and took it to the lost and found? My school ID is in there too… Should I tell the guys? What do I do, what do I do?!

“Hey, Hayato,” Semi waved a hand in front of his face to snap him out of his train of thought. “You okay? You look like you’re going to throw up.”

“Maybe he ate too much,” Tendou commented as he gnawed on the last of his orange slice.

It’d probably be best to tell them now, Yamagata concluded and clenched his fist in anticipation.

“Uh, I…”

“Hm? Don’t tell me you lost your wallet, Hayato,” Oohira said. His tone was that of jest, but there was a bead of sweat sliding down the side of his temple.

Yamagata paled instead of answering.

There was silence all around as everyone stopped chewing (Goshiki even stopped breathing for a bit).

“What kind of stupid slice of life scenario is this?!” Semi grabbed onto the collar of Yamagata’s t-shirt and shook him around. He moved lifelessly like a rag doll and fully accepted Semi’s anger.

“Eita, calm down!” Tendou reached across the table and grabbed onto Semi’s arm to stop him. “We’ll just pile our own money together and then Hayato can pay us back!”

“I didn’t bring my wallet with me because Hayato said he was going to be treating us!” Semi finally let go of Yamagata's t-shirt and sat back in his seat with his arms crossed.

“I didn’t bring my wallet too…” Goshiki added in a meek tone. Shirabu slowly nodded to this statement, an obvious frown on his face.

Oohira pressed his hand against his forehead to mitigate his migraine. “Neither did I…”

Everyone turned to Ushijima, their last hope.

“I didn’t think I would need it.”

Nobody said a word.

“We need to call someone,” Ushijima broke the silence, offering a solution.

There was only one person who came to mind.

Sundays were usually spent in leisure for you. It was the day meant to catch up on your studies, read novels, or call your family. A day meant for pure relaxation.

(Unfortunately for you, this Sunday would be anything but.)

Your phone chimed once, but you chose to ignore it, instead trying to take an early nap after finishing through a few workbook sections. Five minutes had passed and then you received another message. Your eyes glanced over at where your phone was sitting on your desk and you waited for another second. Nothing. You shut your eyes and started to clear your mind from—

An onslaught of chimes broke your concentration as your phone started to blow up with notifications. Grumbling to yourself, you pulled the sheets off your body and dragged your feet to your phone. The caller ID on the screen displayed "Ushijima." A sense of worry fully woke up from your exhaustion because of all the people who could be calling you, it was Shiratorizawa'a captain: the most dependable guy you knew.

“Hello?” you answered the phone. Audible sighs of relief could be heard from the other line.

“[Surname],” Ushijima began. “We need your help.”

In your mind, all the instances in which your assistance was needed flashed before you like a horror movie.

“...What is it?”

“We went out to eat yakiniku and we are out of funds,” Ushijima answered. There was a commotion happening in the background, a mix of angry voices arguing in a way that turned to complete gibberish on your side.

“Wakatoshi, give the phone to Hayato!”

That sounded like Oohira. His voice was panicked which definitely wasn't a good sign. There was rustling on the other line as the phone was being passed to Yamagata.

“[Surname]! We all went out for yakiniku and I was going to treat everyone since I lost the noodle bet, but I ended up losing my wallet when getting to the restaurant and I didn’t notice it until I had to pay the bill!” Yamagata cried out from the speaker. You had to distance your phone away from your face in order to not blow your eardrums out. “No one else brought their wallets and we’re all stuck here because we don’t have any money! Please help us!”

The desperation in his voice was evident: you were their last resort (before calling for their parents or Coach Washijou, but doing so was like asking for a death sentence). Truth be told, you had half the mind to tell them to get ready to wash dishes for the rest of the night.

“Just tell me where you are…” you grumbled out and started throwing an ensemble together.

When you arrived at the yakiniku restaurant, the first thing on your mind was wanting to nag at the members. The hostess waiting in the front led you to where the boys were sitting and you crossed your arms in annoyance. They could clearly see that you were seething as today was supposed to be your day off.

“Give me the bill,” was the first thing you said. Yamagata handed you the check and your eyes widened at the total yen amount. It was weeks worth of allowance saved! No longer wanting to even look at them, you turned your back and went to the pay register.

“[Surname] looks mad…” Goshiki stated out and nervously fiddled with the strings of his hoodie.

“Of course she’d be mad,” Shirabu muttered so that only the first year could hear him. “The other day [Surname] had to deal with Tendou’s bloody nose because he tried to scare her, and now she has to deal with our lunch bill. I’m surprised she hasn’t quit the club with everyone stressing her out.”

“Q-Quit?” Goshiki stammered at the thought of no longer having a manager on the team. “There’s no way [Surname] would quit!”

Tendou waved his hand in disapproval at the two younger boys. “Nope, there’s no way that'll happen. She’ll just get peeved for the next few days and might even curse at Hayato, but after that she’ll be fine.”

Ushijima stared at Tendou and recounted when his friend was punched in the face by you. He then glanced at Yamagata.

“Good luck.”

“G-Good luck?” Yamagata repeated Ushijima’s words. Why is he saying that to me? It’s as if he’s saying I’m entering a perilous journey!

The sound of your footsteps could be heard again as you approached the table. There was an obvious scowl on your face and you practically shoved the receipt into Yamagata's hands.

“You owe me.”

The guys shivered at your words. There was venom dripping with each syllable. Silently, everyone got up and left their seats. Nobody dared to say a word in fear of you snapping at them. There was a dark aura that followed behind your every step, making your figure seem all the more menacing as the guys maintained their distance away from you; heck, even Ushijima was taking great consideration to not get too close.

This is just a continuation of the noodle incident, you seethed in annoyance.

The bed in your dorm felt so much more plush than it usually did when you sunk yourself into it; it was probably due to how exhausted you were from having to save the guys from their own stupidity. A chime broke the silence in your room and you groaned out; the sound of your phone was starting to aggravate you. Getting out of the bed, you grabbed your phone and saw a text message from Tendou.

TENDOU:

Come to the gym! We have something special for you!

You stared at the screen for a second and then let out a soft, disapproving click of the tongue.

YOU:

No.

TENDOU:

C’mon don’t be like that! It’s an apology for you.

Feeling that you had no choice (because Tendou would probably bug you all day about it), you made your way to the practice gymnasium.

When you arrived, you saw Tendou standing outside of the sliding entrance door with his phone in hand. He was quick to spot you from afar, waving and jumping in the air for you to quickly join him. The enthusiasm in his actions caused you to slouch (because had he no shame? He was acting as if the events earlier in the day hadn't happened), but you allowed him to lead you inside the gym. A net had been set up on a single court and the members who went out for yakiniku were waiting at the end line.

Minus one person.

Yamagata was on the other side of the court in the back zone with his butt high in the air.

“Since this is all Hayato’s fault,” Tendou jabbed his thumb in the direction of where Yamagata was standing, “his punishment is butts up! And we offer you to be the first server!”

The scene was ridiculous enough to make you stand speechless as you stared at the members.

You should have ignored your phone and stayed in your dorm.

Chapter Text

“[Surname] still isn’t here!” Goshiki whispered to Shirabu, his voice a bit panicked. “What if she really did quit?”

Shirabu took a sip from his water bottle and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Then I wouldn’t blame her. We’ve been giving her so much trouble lately... Besides, [Surname] is in her third year.”

Goshiki recounted a few third years who weren’t on the starting roster that had already quit earlier in the semester. The university entrance exams that the seniors had to take were much more important than club activities as it was the beginning of a new academic path. With this in mind, he knew many third years were coaxed to quit from school extracurriculars to throw themselves into studying.

Shaking his head, Goshiki couldn't accept that you were quitting without a moment's notice. It was nice to have a manager to take care of him and encourage him to continue practicing hard. Being in a gym full of guys—especially Ushijima—for hours upon hours was exhausting, and the one constant female presence gave him the motivation to go an extra step.

“Now that I think about it,” Kawanishi broke through Goshiki’s thoughts and added his own input, “the other day I passed by the faculty office and I overheard [Surname] talking to Coach Washijou. I wasn’t able to catch much of their conversation, but I definitely heard the words ‘leaving tomorrow.’”

Goshiki nearly spat out his water.

“Leaving?!”

“Control yourself, Goshiki,” Shirabu said as he took a step back in the event that Goshiki accidentally made a splash zone with his mouth. “If [Surname] wants to quit, then it’s up to her.”

Eavesdropping on the entire conversation, Tendou grabbed Goshiki's shoulders and squeezed them in a comforting manner. “Relaaaax, Tsutomu! [Name]’s not quitting. She’s probably still mad at Hayato and doesn’t want to see his face because it irritates her.”

“I already paid her back! And there’s nothing irritating about my face!” Yamagata yelled in dismay and then chugged his water in embarrassment. Tendou howled at his reaction and continued to pester him about his wallet.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Goshiki,” Ushijima said and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

“Yeah, Tsutomu, calm down!” Yamagata brushed Tendou off of him. He ruffled the younger boy’s hair. “Even if [Surname] did quit, you’d still have all of us!”

Goshiki took a look at his seniors. They all beamed at him (with the exception of Ushijima), and Tendou pulled off multiple ridiculous poses, grabbing those nearest to him to join in. A bead of sweat ran down his temple.

[Surname], please don’t quit!

“Hey, nimrods!” Coach Washijou yelled from his seat. The boys—excluding Ushijima—stiffened. “Practice isn’t over! Get back on the court and stop wasting time!”

They listened to him and returned back to doing the scheduled drills.

Wonder what’s taking her so long, Coach Washijou thought and looked down at his wrist watch. Practice is nearly over and she’s still not here. Might have to make them do some extra laps to stall.

On special occasions, usually when Coach Washijou was in a very good mood (whether it be from winning a game of mahjong with his colleagues or when the team did especially well in a practice match), you were sent to buy a special after practice treat for the boys of the volleyball club. The day before, Coach Washijou gave you the store address that a friend of his owned and some funds to purchase chilled yogurt drinks. He said it would be perfect as the heat was beginning to kick in and he was also informed there would be a sale.

The kind lady running the mart instantly recognized your tracksuit pants and t-shirt as belonging to Shiratorizawa and began to dote on you; she helped with finding the drinks and bagging. Once you paid, she waved you off in a smiley manner. The plastic grocery bags were completely full and you exited through the automatic sliding doors; however, as soon as you took the first steps, you noticed a pair of boys running at top speed right in your direction.

They weren’t looking at where they were going, rather their legs kept running while they were glaring each other down. Because of this, they didn’t see you in their path and they rammed right into you. Yogurt bottles flew into the air and you were knocked to the ground. A sharp pain erupted on your backside and the afternoon sun blinded you when you opened your eyes. You used your elbows to position yourself back up in order to see the damage. There were a few bottles that busted open, staining the sidewalk.

“Hinata, you dumbass!” the taller boy yelled out and then sent a kick to the orange haired boy. “Look what you did!”

“Me? You’re just as much to blame, Dummy-yama!” The shorter one (Hinata, you guessed) argued back as he dodged a few more punches.

You were left dumbstruck watching the two fight in public, mouth hung open as you stared.

Both boys were completely ignoring the mess they made.

“Hey,” you cut in. You were now standing on your feet with your arms crossed in front of your chest. The two felt a chill run down their spines and turned to you. Your eyes were glaring at them and your words dripped like poison. “Instead of arguing, why don't you both help me clean up this mess?"

They stared at you like deer in headlights. In the next second, they busied themselves by picking up the salvageable yogurt drinks and putting them back into the plastic bags. You watched them from the corner of your eyes and counted the drinks that weren’t damaged. A few of them were wrecked, so they were instead trashed. Luckily, you still had a bit of money leftover to buy replacements for the drinks that were damaged.

“Thanks... I guess,” you grumbled out to the two. Since they helped, you figured they weren't all too bad. Maybe just a bit reckless.

The one named Hinata didn't sense how vexed you were and was smiling brightly. The taller of the duo eyed the tracksuit pants you were wearing and stayed silent.

“No problem!” he replied happily, completely forgetting he and his friend (if you could call him that?) knocked you down full force only a second ago. “By the way, are these all for you?”

“Oh, no,” you began, scratching the back of your head. “I’m a manager of a volleyball club. These are a special treat for the team since they’ve been working really hard during practice.”

At the mention of volleyball, Hinata’s eyes glimmered and his mouth opened to form a small ‘o.’

“Volleyball! We’re on a volleyball team too! I’m a middle blocker and this guy,” The orange haired boy pointed his thumb towards the taller boy. “He’s our setter! We were just doing some cool-down jogs before practice ends!" He took a step closer towards you. "Hey, is your team any good?”

“You could say that we’re pretty good.” His innocence reminded you of someone and you tried not to let your ego swell up too much.

He was now jumping around you at this point, eyes sparkling in fascination.

“I think my team is great too! Our goal this year is to win all our matches and then go to nationals!”

He’s pretty short for a middle blocker, you thought and put a hand to your mouth to stifle a laugh. “You seem very sure of yourself.”

“Of course!” The air suddenly changed. Hinata’s facial expression nearly sent a shiver down your spine. His eyes only held the absolute truth and sheer determination. “All we need to do is win one game at a time to make it there.”

You weren’t sure what welled up inside of you; whether it was admiration, a bit of fear, or even a sense of pride. He looked like someone who wanted to beat all the odds. Relaxing your features, you let out a genuine smile. Something about him was different. “That’s what my team is after too. We want to win nationals this year. And if that's your goal too, then maybe we’ll play each other in the future?”

The orange haired boy gave a big smile and nodded excitedly. “Oh! By the way, my name’s—!”

“HINATA! KAGEYAMA!” a deeper voice interrupted the orange haired boy’s introduction. Instantly, both boys blanched. They were frozen like statues. A trio of boys came running in wearing the same gym uniform as the two in front of you: a boy with dark brown hair, a boy with gray hair, and a boy with a shaved head. “DON’T GO RUNNING OFF BY YOURSELVES AND CAUSING TROUBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE!”

The boy with gray hair was surveying the situation while the brown haired boy was yelling at the two who had bumped into you. It was like seeing dogs finally get put on a leash; Hinata and Kageyama were sitting on their knees in the middle of the street while the brown haired boy continued scolding them. The boy with the shaved head was making scary faces at the two and adding his own comments with a fist raised in the air. You stood awkwardly with your bags in hand as the pair was being disciplined.

“They didn’t cause too much trouble for you, did they?” the gray haired boy asked, he noticed the bags and the spills on the ground from the ruined yogurt drinks.

“No, they didn’t. It was just an accident,” you replied, suddenly feeling bad as the duo was being held in a chokehold by the boy with the shaved head.

Finished with his initial disciplinary action for the two that started the whole mess, the brown haired boy approached you and bowed.

“I’m sorry for what those two boneheads did.” He was incredibly apologetic. When he stood up straight again, his eyes widened slightly upon seeing your track pants. “How many did they destroy? We’ll pay for the damage.”

You shook your head from side to side and lifted a hand up.

“No, it’s fine! They were having a deal on the yogurt drinks, so it’s not too much money out of my pocket. Besides…” You glanced at the pair again. They were still in headlocks and getting their ears yelled off. Hinata’s face was contorted in pain while his friend was limping lifelessly. “I have to get going soon.”

“Sorry again. We’ll make it up to you somehow.” The brown haired boy did another bow along with the gray haired boy.

You waved goodbye as they each pulled on the ears of the perpetrators. The boy with the shaved head was giving noogies at the top of their heads and was yelling “How could you knock a girl onto the ground, bruhs?!”

It was then that you noticed their uniforms.

Karasuno.

The flightless crows.

“Good luck with your training,” you called out to the group before entering the store to repurchase more yogurt drinks. Hinata waved back and smiled, even adding in a “C’ya later!” while the black haired boy held his head down in shame. He honestly looked a little peeved at being chewed out.

Thankfully, the store clerk saw the commotion and offered replacement yogurt drinks free of charge.

Rushing back to the gymnasium, you made your way to the sliding door entrance. You pulled it open and saw that the team was doing cool-down stretches.

Perfect timing, you thought as you stepped inside.

Coach Washijou noticed you first and eyed the dirt on your tracksuit pants. “I was worried you weren’t going to make it on time. What took you so long?”

“I ran into a bit of trouble,” you replied truthfully and plopped the bags onto the ground beside him. He nodded and chose to not pry any further. Fishing into your pocket, you returned the leftover money back to Coach Washijou and he accepted it.

“See Tsutomu,” Tendou whispered to Goshiki as he stretched his calves. “Told ya [Name] wouldn’t quit. Look, she even brought something special for us.”

“Ah, this must be the first time for Tsutomu, huh?” Oohira added as he noted the look of confusion on the first year’s face.

“First time?” Goshiki questioned.

“Sometimes,” Shirabu continued his stretches and leaned his body to the ground so that his palms were flat on the floor, “[Surname] will leave practice in order to get a special treat for us. It can be jelly, cut fruit or whatever, but it’s only when Coach Washijou allows it. Usually, it’s the day after we do well during a practice match or when he’s in a good mood.”

Goshiki couldn't hide his elation. After all the grueling days of practice, all the buckets of sweat he let out, and all the times he felt Ushijima’s spikes nearly rip his arms off—this one treat was going to make it all worth it.

“I’m going to practice even harder now!” Goshiki declared and then put in more effort into his stretches. “In order to become the next ace of Shiratorizawa!”

“Yes,” it was Ushijima. He was on the last of his stretches. “Work hard, Goshiki.”

“What a lackluster response, Wakatoshi,” Tendou pointed out and Semi’s jaw dropped in shock. Ushijima didn't mind it and stood up straight now that he was finished stretching.

Talk about rude! Semi thought, chiding Tendou's bluntness.

Coach Washijou clapped his hands together and stood up from his chair. He eyed the tired boys in front of him.

“Good work today. I was impressed with your performance not only today, but at the last practice match as well. As a thank you, we’ve decided to give you a small treat. Continue to work hard and enjoy it. But remember,” his eyes turned hard for a second, but then settled back. “If you make a mess, then you clean it. Or no more treats, got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good, then enjoy.”

He left the sidelines and then motioned a hand in your direction.

“There’s enough for everyone, so don’t crowd me! Line up and I’ll hand one to you. Once you’re done, toss them in the plastic grocery bags so we can recycle them,” you instructed.

The boys quickly formed a single file line, excited about being rewarded. Each player graciously took a bottle and the cool, sweet drink induced them to lick their lips. They savored the flavor of sugar after a long workout. It didn't take long to hand out the drinks to everyone. Once you were done, you busied yourself on the sidelines, opening the grocery bags so that the trash could be thrown into them.

“Um, [Surname],” Goshiki began and approached you; there was a nervous look on his face as he avoided eye contact with you.

“What is it? Something wrong with your drink?” you asked him, worried that perhaps you accidentally mixed a damaged drink in the bag. "We have a few extras, so if you want I can give you another one."

“No! It’s just...” He paused and his face warped into that of frustration. “Please don’t quit the team!”

You took a second to stare at him, perplexed with such a request. What was with this sudden outburst?

“Um, I wasn’t planning on it...? Do you guys not want a manager anymore or something? I know our team is huge, but—”

“No!” He shook his head and made an “x” with his arms. “Don’t quit! Please!”

Puzzled by him, you sent a look to the third years who were watching. They snickered into their hands as they approached.

“He’s just paranoid about not having someone to dote on him during practice,” Semi explained and then put an arm around Goshiki’s neck. “I mean, he is the baby of the group.”

“I-I am not the baby!”

“Oh yes, you definitely are, Tsutomu,” Tendou said as he cupped Goshiki’s cheeks with a single hand of his. “You know, I used to have a bowl cut just like yours when I was in middle school. I was such a cute kid.”

Goshiki shook Tendou’s hand off his face. “That’s... not the point!”

“Hm, I guess it would be a little bit boring if you weren’t here, [Name].” Tendou took a sip out of his drink. You rolled your eyes at him. Even though he was teasing you, he could so incredibly rude at points.

“On second thought, maybe I will quit.” You turned on your heels to check if the second years were enjoying themselves. "It'd definitely be a lot easier on me."

Tendou placed a hand over his heart and closed his eyes in agony.

“Ouch, [Name]! That one hurt a little.”

“Tendou, please stop!” Goshiki cried. Tendou sniggered at the desperation of the first year while Semi chose to ruffle his bowl cut, letting out a hearty laugh at seeing his junior stressed.

“You’ll still have us, Tsutomu!” Yamagata added in from the court side. The other boys began to slap Goshiki on the back in encouragement. "We'll always be here for you!"

A look of dejection was written all over Goshiki’s face as he slowly dissociated. Tendou saw this as the perfect opportunity to continue messing with him, cupping his cheeks to stop him from frowning. Unfortunately, when Goshiki tried to brush off his senior, he accidentally knocked Tendou’s drink out of his hands.

“No!” Tendou screamed out with his hands in his hair.

The white beverage spilled out all over the court, not a single drop left in the bottle.

“NIMRODS! CLEAN IT UP!” Coach Washijou yelled from the other end of the court. His face quickly turned into a hostile shade of red. “DO IT AGAIN AND THIS’LL BE THE LAST TIME WE TREAT YA!”

Tendou crouched down next to the spill, his hands covering his face as he was silently wept at his loss; Goshiki, apologetic as ever, kept bowing over and over again to show his regret while Oohira and Semi were stuck wiping the mess up with towels to appease their coach.

“That’s what you get for calling my face irritating!” Yamagata bellowed out a laugh and pointed his finger at Tendou’s broken spirit. Ushijima was sitting next to him, enjoying his drink and paying no mind to the commotion.

Sitting next to Kawanishi and Shirabu, you noticed in the corner of your eye that Shirabu was wearing a look on his face that just screamed “What a pain in the ass.”

You chuckled at the disaster in front of you.

There was no way you would quit this team.

EXTRA:

“Seriously, we take our eyes off you guys for one second and you’re off causing trouble!” Daichi continued to scold Hinata and Kageyama as they walked along the side of the street. “What even possessed you two to run out this far?”

The two muttered excuses under their breaths, and Tanaka, having had enough of their bickering, karate chopped them both on their heads. They yelped in pain, cowering for a moment.

“Speak up! Daichi asked you guys a question!”

“He started it!” they yelled in unison and then glared at each other.

Sugawara let out a sigh and shook his head in disappointment. They still had a lot to work on as teammates. Especially off the court. “Hey, but did you see her track pants?”

“Yeah,” Daichi replied. He was engrossed in his thoughts. “Shiratorizawa.”

“Huh?” It was Tanaka. “What’re they doing all the way out here!”

“Who knows,” Sugawara answered. Leave it to Hinata and Kageyama to bump into someone belonging to the strongest school in their prefecture.

“Oh, the school Kageyama was rejected from?” Hinata asked bluntly. Kageyama went in for a swift kick to the back, but his foot never connected as Hinata was able to back up in time. “Hey! I’m just saying the truth!”

“Shut it, dumbass!”

Kageyama was about to go in for another hit, but a dark aura hovered over him. Both of the first years pressed their hands to their sides and stood up as straight as possible. They didn’t utter another word until they regrouped with everyone else.

“Shouyou!” Nishinoya called out and jumped the younger boy. “You and Tobio have some serious guts to be going wild like that!”

“Oi, Nishinoya, stop,” Daichi covered his face using the palm of his hand. He was feeling exhausted, and it wasn’t from all the running. “Once we get back to the gymnasium, we’ll tell Takeda-sensei about what happened.”

“What happened?” Nishinoya questioned, still jumping up and down on Hinata’s shoulders.

“These two knocked down the manager of Shiratorizawa to the ground,” Tanaka answered. “And busted up some of the drinks she bought.”

Letting out a gasp, Nishinoya stopped jumping up and down and instead moved in closer to Hinata’s face. Did he have the moment? The crazy lucky moment that he had been dreaming of his entire life?

“You’d think that a king would have to use his brain in order to rule,” Tsukishima commented. Walking beside him, Yamaguchi laughed at his snide remark. Kageyama glowered at the tall boy and mumbled “stupid beanpole” under his breath.

“Hey, Shouyou,” Nishinoya was whispering now. “Did you have the lucky moment?”

“Huh?”

“You know, the moment when you’re knocked down onto a girl and…” Nishinoya wiggled his eyebrows. Hinata instantly blushed once he realized what his senior was hinting at. He was at a complete loss for words and shook his head violently.

“N-No, Noya! That didn’t happen!” Hinata was a flustered mess, steam coming out of his ears like a train.

Nishinoya laughed as Hinata slapped his cheeks to stop his thoughts from roaming and reverted back to his cheery self as he told the rest of the group about his after practice plans. The boys were all making their way back to campus and they enjoyed light conversation amongst themselves. However, the third years of the group were quieter than usual at the reminder of the all too strong competition that loomed over them.

This year, Daichi thought as he walked in silence, fist clenched in determination. The sun was bright and it shined above them. This year will be different.

Chapter Text

“Hayato, you seriously suck at this game!” Semi howled out as he pointed to the screen of the laptop. The perimeter of the screen was glowing red and the words “You Died!” flashed in the middle. His game avatar was being crushed by a giant four-legged monster and its taunting laugh echoed loud enough so that it mixed in with Semi's.

“Whatever,” Yamagata said as he got up from his seat. He motioned to the empty space, inviting him to take his place. “You try playing if you think you’re so good at it! I bet after the character creation portion of the game you won’t last ten minutes hunting for monsters.”

Semi rolled his neck and then took Yamagata's seat.

“Game on.”

With Semi now playing instead of Yamagata, Oohira and Tendou scooted closer to get a look at the screen, curious as to how their friend would fare in the game. In the common room, there were other kids taking up tables nearby to chat and play games as well. This was how the boys usually relaxed on their day offs from club.

Semi began with the character customization portion of the game after he set up an account, leaning in a bit closer as he started to choose the features for his avatar. His eyes narrowed, fully focusing all of his attention on the screen.

“Eita, you’re making your character a girl?” Tendou asked as he looked over Semi’s shoulder.

“Yeah, what about it?”

“You should give the girl pigtails! It’ll totally make her look cuter. Oh, and make her short!” Tendou pointed to the screen and tapped on Semi’s shoulder in excitement. Pushing his hands away, Semi ignored Tendou’s commands and continued to customize the girl to his liking. “Sometimes I make my avatar a girl too! It gives you a rush.”

“A rush? How so...?” Oohira asked Tendou while also looking at the screen. The avatar Semi was making looked absolutely gorgeous.

"It's a rush 'cause all the guy players will come up to talk to you and try to impress ya! They'll go on and on about their day and try to get to know you better. Sometimes they even give you rare items just for chatting with 'em!" He took a moment to laugh into his hand. "And then they eventually ask you to be their girlfriend on the game and it feels amazing to reject them!"

There was a moment of silence as the other boys just stared at Tendou in disbelief.

“Man, you’re terrible,” Yamagata said, slightly disturbed by Tendou’s reasoning.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Hayato!” The red haired boy laughed and then patted the top of Semi’s head. “Semi-Semi, you’re making her look more and more like a world class model!”

“Don’t call me that... and yeah, this is totally my type of girl,” Semi said while nodding his head. He zoomed in and out of the screen to get a closer look at the character’s face. “Pretty eyes like this, styled hair, and nice proportions…”

Tendou exaggerated a sigh while looking at Semi’s avatar. “I guess what they say is true."

“And what do they usually say?” Semi humored the boy while picking out a skimpy outfit for his character. Oohira averted his eyes away from the screen; even then, there was no hiding the faint hue of red on his face. Yamagata was sitting next to Semi with his eyes glued on his phone, just waiting for him to finish creating his character.

“That people project their ideals onto their online avatars. You’ll never get with a girl like that in real life,” Tendou said in the most blunt manner. Yamagata broke out into laughter while Oohira was chuckling into his hand. Angered, Semi turned his head back to the boy and aimed a punch at him. He missed as Tendou took a step back.

“Tendou, shut up!” Semi barked out.

A few other students in the common area looked their way at the outburst which caused Semi to sulk back into his seat. He was now staring at the screen, brows furrowed as he inwardly cursed at Tendou.

I can totally get with a girl like this in real life, Semi thought as he continued to move his mouse.

“See, now you’re thinking ‘I can totally get with a girl like this in real life.' C’mon, we all know it’ll be impossible!”

Tendou's taunts were enough to rile Semi out of his seat. The two did a game of cat-and-mouse around the table, Tendou narrowly avoiding Semi's punches and then jumping into the empty seat in front of Yamagata's laptop. He began his fine tuning of Semi's avatar, starting off with the face.

“Hey! Quit it, Tendou!” Semi yelled and tried to shove him off the seat, but he didn't budge. Tendou was clicking the mouse very fast, and in a blink of an eye Semi’s avatar transformed.

“I’m just making a character that I think’ll suit you, Eita!” Tendou said and squinted his eyes at the screen, focusing his attention on every little detail of the customization process.

“That thing isn’t even human anymore!” Semi screamed and shook Tendou’s shoulders in order to get him to stop.

And he was right. The character was no longer of human race. Instead, it was a goblin with bumpy mucus green skin. The avatar was customized with long ratty hair and big bug eyes. It was still wearing the same raunchy clothes that Semi picked for his original avatar, however, it didn't have the same sexy appeal.

“It looks gross now!”

“No, you gotta give it bigger feet! And longer fingers!” Yamagata chimed in. He took the mouse from Tendou and started adding his own customizations to make the avatar as hideous as possible.

“Dude! You can’t be serious!” Semi was appalled by the thing on the screen now. The beautiful girl he had made was completely lost, features transformed bit-by-bit into that of the grotesque only imaginable by a Lovecraftian novel.

“Don’t ya think this kind of girl would suit Eita?” Tendou’s shoulders were shaking as he tried to remain calm. Yamagata was tearing up and choking from how hard he was laughing while Oohira felt slightly sorry for Semi as he was being teased. With all his strength, Semi finally pushed Tendou out of the seat.

“Fine then! I’ll make the perfect girl for Tendou!” Semi started clicking away at the screen.

Now, instead of a goblin, there was an amphibian-like creature present on the screen. Its eyes were wide and an unsettling yellow color. Semi gave it girlish pigtails (as per Tendou's previous request) and made the character of giant stature. To finish it off, he gave the avatar a pair of giant, sagging boobs.

“Look, this girl is totally your type!” Semi presented the just as hideous avatar to Tendou.

The red haired boy glanced at the screen and yawned in boredom.

“Nice try, Eita, but we all know I like shorter girls.” Tendou hid his irritation which only caused Semi to boil up with rage. He was about to put him into a chokehold, but was halted upon hearing his name.

“Oh, Tendou, Semi, Yamagata, Oohira!” a voice called out to them. All their heads turned to the side to see Goshiki entering the common lounge. “What are you guys doing?”

“Playing a game,” Yamagata replied and beckoned the boy to join them. Oohira grabbed a chair for Goshiki to sit in. “Eita was making a character to start playing.”

Goshiki stared at the screen and recoiled in his seat from how ugly the avatar was. “Oh, I didn’t know you liked this kind of stuff, Semi…”

“I don’t!” Semi shouted in denial and shamefully covered his face with the palms of his hands. Goshiki flinched in surprise at his senior yelling at him while the other boys chuckled.

“He’s just sensitive because he’s having a hard time with making a character,” Oohira explained, reassuring Goshiki that he didn’t say anything wrong. Semi threw his hands up in defeat while Yamagata patted him on the back in jest.

“I can’t even look at the screen anymore after Tendou ruined my avatar,” Semi sighed out and got out of the seat to cool off. “Someone else play...”

“Hey, Tsutomu, have you played this game before?” Yamagata asked. The first year shook his head. “Here, you can play and make your own character! After you do that it’ll give you a tutorial and you can start fighting monsters.”

Goshiki shifted into the chair in front of the laptop and then began the character customization process. He changed the race of the character back to human and focused on the face first. The other third years watched the screen as Goshiki changed the facial features of the avatar little by little.

Hold on, this person looks really familiar…

Oh, Tsutomu...

Holy crap, it really is true! People’s subconscious ideals are projected onto their online characters!

Does he not even notice who he’s making right now?

“Okay! I think this looks good for the face!” Goshiki said proudly as he rotated the head and marveled at his creation. The other boys exchanged nervous glances with each other, wondering what they should say. Even Tendou kept his mouth shut.

“Um, are you sure you don’t want to add a few things first? Maybe change the eye color?” Semi suggested with an uneasy smile. "It looks a little... incomplete...?"

“Huh? I think it looks perfect right now!” Goshiki gushed out and stared at the screen for a bit longer.

“Perhaps a different haircut…?” Yamagata added. He reached for the mouse but Goshiki moved it away.

“But this is my character!” Goshiki protested, an obvious frown present on his face. “I think I made her look super cute!”

All the boys expressed shocked looks on their faces, but Goshiki was oblivious to it all.

He’s completely unaware!

“Now, time to do the body!” Goshiki cheered out in an excited manner. He zoomed out of the screen so he could work on the torso portion. "Obviously we need to fix—"

“Oh, what kind of game are you guys playing?” a voice from behind cut in.

The third years froze and quickly turned in their seats. Yamagata, the one with the most sense at the moment, swiftly used his hands to cover up the screen of his laptop.

“[Name]!” Tendou said in a rushed manner. He hastily joined your side and began tugging you away from their table. “It’s nothing! Just a boring ‘ole thing that Hayato was showing us! Really, you wouldn't be interested in it!”

You raised a brow at how strange everyone was acting. Looking to the side, you saw Oohira sweating bullets while Semi stared down at the ground, avoiding your gaze while biting on his bottom lip. You broke away from Tendou and then approached the screen, suspicious of their mannerisms.

“What’s wrong with you guys?” you asked, taking slow steps towards them. With the exception of Goshiki, the others were shifting nervously and scooting closer to the laptop as a means to block your vision.

“N-Nothing here to see!” Yamagata yelled out. His hands were now shaking in front of the screen. "Nothing! At! All!"

“We’re just making a character for a game, [Surname]!” Goshiki answered truthfully. This earned a glare from Semi and Tendou, but he didn't notice as he was smiling at you.

“You guys are acting as if you’re looking at risque pictures or something,” you laughed while pushing Yamagata’s hands away.

It would be way easier to explain if that were the case!

The rest of the third years held their breaths and paled since they were at the point of no return now. With a clear view of the screen, your eyes widened in shock.

On the screen of the laptop was a female character with a face that looked exactly like yours. You noted it had the same hairstyle that you usually wore each day; the lips, eye shape, and face shape matched a hundred percent.

Then you noticed the chest.

It had huge, sagging boobs.

You bit the bottom of your lip to avoid screaming out in rage and you balled your fists so hard that you thought the skin around your knuckles would tear.

“You guys are disgusting,” you hissed out while turning on your heels. All you could see was red.

“W-Wait, [Surname], it’s not what you think!” Yamagata yelled out after you.

“It’s a misunderstanding, [Name]!” Tendou added.

“We weren’t finished with it!” Semi tailed after you.

You stopped in your tracks and turned to glare at the group of boys. They all shivered in fear at the look of hatred you sent their way.

“Don’t talk to me,” you growled out. It was impossible to hide your anger at this point, the very emotion turning the air so thick that it could be cut through with a knife like butter. Without so much as another glance back, you stormed out of the common lounge. The boys sat in silence, Goshiki shaking in fear as he wondered what went wrong.

“Let’s not play this game anymore…” Yamagata said as he shut his laptop.

EXTRA:

“Oh, is this your character, Yamamoto?” Kuroo asked and peered into the screen of his junior’s laptop. “Looks cool.”

“Yeah! Kenma showed me how to upgrade my character really fast by doing some quests, so now I look awesome!” Yamamoto then pointed to another avatar on the screen. “I even made a friend today. Look at how adorable she is!”

Kuroo took a closer look. “Oh, pigtails. That’s cute.”

“Yeah, we’ve been talking for like an hour now. She even said that she likes volleyball and plays a little!” There were practically hearts in his eyes as he raved about the girl.

“Really?” Kuroo sported a crooked smile. “What if it’s a dude just pretending to be a girl?”

“No way! Just the way she speaks tells me it’s totally a girl. She’s so cutesy and always asks for me to rescue her,” Yamamoto refuted and continued clicking on his mouse. The girl character jumped up and down while following Yamamoto’s avatar. A small text box popped up that said “save me, yama-kun!” and Yamamoto quickly eliminated the small monsters surrounding them.

“See? Totally a girl.”

Chapter Text

Boys suck.

This was a fundamental law of the world—no, the universe. They seemed to have some sort of gravitation towards acting moronic, as if it was their very nature. Going to the student lounge area and seeing the five doofuses make insulting game characters felt like a violation of your human rights; the image of the avatar they were making was burned in your mind and you could feel your face heating up thinking about the… enhancements.

It’s not like I’m lacking, you assured yourself and then looked down at your chest. The image of the laptop screen flashed in your mind again and you mentally slapped yourself. They're just a bunch of idiots!

When you stormed out of the common area, you did so rather aimlessly without a destination in mind. Originally, you had gone to the student lounge because you were sick of being in your dorm and felt a need for a change in scenery. That was a complete bust. Lunch time was approaching, so you decided to trek to the main dining hall.

During the weekends, the canteen was much more quiet than it usually was as students would go back home instead of staying in the dorms. There were a few people scattered about; some were eating with their friends while the others opted to read a book or even study at the tables. Once you got your tray of food, your eyes scanned the area for a table to eat at. To your surprise, you noticed Ushijima was sitting at a lone table; he looked complacent and ate at his own pace.

“Ushijima?” You approached him with your tray in hand. He looked up from his meal and nodded his head to you. Taking the seat opposite of him, you set your food down. It was a bit weird to see him alone. While you had curry on your plate, Ushijima had hayashi rice. “You’re here by yourself?”

“Yes, I woke up a bit later than usual today. The others already ate,” he replied and then took a bite of his hayashi rice. It was very subtle, but there was the smallest twinge of red dusted on his cheeks.

“And here I thought you were the kind of person who wakes up really early every morning,” you mused out and then gave thanks before eating. Honestly, you were glad he wasn’t with the others after witnessing what those boneheads were doing with their free time.

“Typically, I try to wake up early, but last night I was on the phone with my father." He paused and scooped another spoonful of his lunch. "He lives in the states. When it is the early morning there, it is late at night in Japan.”

“Oh, I understand!” You stirred a bit of the curry sauce with the rice and took a small bite. The flavors melted into your mouth and you went in for another spoonful. “Do you talk to him often?”

He took a second to think about your question. “A few times a week, we call each other on the phone. He had a day off and rang me a bit later than he usually would.”

Hence why you woke up late, you thought. After his explanation, the two of you ate in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. This was just who Ushijima was as a person: stoic, reserved, polite. He was never the type to say more than what was necessary, however, you felt the need to continue the conversation.

“I remember you told us that your dad went to Shiratorizawa as well and played on the volleyball team. It’s cool that you’re following his footsteps! He must have taught you to really love the game, right?”

“Yes, he taught me a lot about volleyball,” Ushijima agreed and took a small sip of his water. “I’m lucky for that.”

There, on his face, was a genuine smile. An absolute rarity. The only time he expressed this type of happiness was during volleyball—and even then it was only when he was really in the zone. You stared at him, maybe for a bit too long, in awe. Feeling the temperature rise, you shoved a spoonful of rice into your mouth to occupy yourself.

“S-So, your left hand!” you blurted out, wanting to switch the topic. He looked up from his plate and was now wearing a neutral expression.

“Yes?”

Oh God, I sound like a rude idiot, you thought, suddenly wanting to sink into the ground. His hand was the first thing you saw in your vision and you wanted to change the subject in fear of becoming a stuttering mess due to his genuine love towards the game. There was something that just tugged on your heartstrings when he spoke about volleyball with extreme reverence. “Not a lot of people here are left handed! Usually kids are trained to use their right hand if they are born left handed.”

“When I was younger, I did learn to use my right hand for a while, but my father asked my mother’s side of the family to keep my left handedness. It’s been useful for volleyball.”

“It’s just like in tennis! Most players are right handed, so when they play they’re used to the right hand spin that’s put on the ball. But when they go up against a southpaw their game is messed up and they have to adjust themselves to the new spin.”

This is so obvious, why are you just spewing whatever comes into your mind, you internally screamed in your mind. You’re acting as if you’ve never had a conversation with him!

“Yes, it’s exactly like that.” Ushijima nodded his head. His plate was now completely empty, but he didn't get up from his seat. Instead, he was relaxed and continued to chat with you. “My father said that my left hand would be a great asset to the game. I didn’t completely understand it at first, but now I know he did it for my benefit.”

He had another serene look plastered on his face and it made your heart beat just a bit faster than usual. He’s such a volleyball idiot that it’s admirable, you thought.

“How well is your English?” you tried to steer the conversation away from volleyball once more. “Surely your father has taught you a bit?”

“Ah,” his eyes shifted to look down at his empty plate. “I know a few words and conversational phrases.”

“Oh! What words?”

“...Butter.”*

Shoving a hand to your mouth, you stifled a laugh. “And what phrases do you know?”

“...Hello, I am fine. Thank you.”*

You were sure there were tears welling in your eyes, but you tried your best not to roar in laughter.

“Excuse me,” Ushijima said as he picked up his tray to place it in the drop off area. You composed yourself once he sat back in his seat. Even though he didn’t show it, you knew he was a bit embarrassed. It would be best not to tease him about it.

“You know, Goshiki has really been stepping up to the plate these past few weeks,” you tried to not grimace his name when you spoke. Seeing him with the other third years earlier that day was truly shocking. “His line shots have been really accurate and I think his vertical jump has increased by a few centimeters too.”

At the mention of his junior, Ushijima’s features softened. “Goshiki has great potential as a player. We already know this since he’s the only first year on the starting roster. He’s young, so there’s still room for improvement.”

You grinned at him. The plate in front of you was now empty, but talking to Ushijima was a nice change of pace.

“And you’re going to guide him, right? As his fated rival and all.”

He chuckled. “Yes, of course.”

It was moments like this—the moments spent outside of the gym just chatting about mundane things with Ushijima—that were incredibly refreshing. He had an imposing and intimidating air around him due to his serious nature on the court, but this was only because he put all of his effort into making sure he was abiding to what it takes to truly become an ace and captain that would properly lead his team to victory. There existed no ulterior motives with him. Ushijima loved playing the game. And you knew that he not only cared for the game, but also for his teammates.

“The university entrance exams are coming,” Ushijima broke the silence this time which caught you off guard.

“Ah, that…” Sheepishly, you casted your eyes to the side. Many students had already dedicated all their time and efforts into studying. Maybe it would be wise to quit your position and instead throw yourself into studying for the entrance exams; but then again, you still have a lifetime to be wise, so why not be a little reckless for this single moment and do something meaningful for yourself? It all felt surreal knowing that in less than a year you would be somewhere completely different in pursuit of a career. “It feels like these past few years have gone by so fast. I kind of…”

You were trailing off, debating whether or not you should actually finish the sentence in fear of sounding too cheesy.

“Hm?”

“I kind of wish it would all slow down a bit more, yeah?”

“That would be nice,” Ushijima agreed and you continued.

“It’s been a lot of fun with you guys. I think I’ll miss this a lot.”

“Really.”

The way he said it made you laugh; he asked it so bluntly and maybe if it was someone else you would have interpreted it to be rude. But you knew he meant for you to continue on with your droning. He was all ears about what you had to say.

Resting your cheek in the palm of your hand, you started your rambling, “Of course. Watching you guys practice so hard every single day and improve little-by-little is just… well, amazing. I still remember when Tendou passed around these terribly designed hand drawn flyers when he was in the search for a team manager.”

Stopping for a second to reminisce at just how ugly Tendou’s drawings were, you felt a sense of nostalgia deluge you. The fact that you were even the manager of the team was purely off of a whim you made. The day Tendou was passing out his flyers in the hallway, you noticed the other girls brush him off and reject the position. When he approached you, instead of doing the same as the others, you told him that you would make no promises. It was that same day that you found yourself walking to the gym once classes ended. Watching the boys of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club play their hardest exhilarated you; hearing the shouts of victory and witnessing everyone stand united for the same goal gave you absolute gratification. It was in that moment you decided you also wanted to be a part of something great.

“Sometimes I wonder if I should thank Tendou for shoving that flyer in my face when we were first years, but I think if I do it’ll get to his head.” You softly laughed into your hand.

“It might,” Ushijima added. He was still listening to every word.

“Tendou’s so annoying,—even a pain in the butt sometimes—but he knows everybody’s limit and he never crosses that line. Sometimes I find it weird that if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have known you guys. I was never a huge volleyball fanatic, so I wouldn’t have gone to the gym on my own to watch. The first time I saw you guys playing, I instantly got hooked; I thought you were all just so cool to be training like crazy every day. It made me want to work just as hard and be able to do everything I can to make sure this team succeeds." You paused and smiled momentarily. "Maybe I sound a little weird right now saying that I'll miss filling up your water bottles and passing out towels and watching your games... I think I’ll even miss hearing Coach Washijou yell about every little mess up. Even though I’m not playing on the court with you guys... I kind of hope you all feel the same way as me.”

Since you were lost in your thoughts, you definitely hadn’t meant to blab out the last part. Smacking your hands in front of your mouth, you mentally cursed at yourself.

“We do.”

Two simple, reassuring words from him got you grinning like an idiot.

EXTRA 1:

“They’re talking to each other!” Yamagata whispered, peeking his head slightly through the entrance door of the main dining hall. Tendou was kneeling down below him, also watching you and Ushijima from a distance.

“Did Wakatoshi just smile?” Tendou squinted his eyes at the pair. You two were eating and chatting with each other in what appeared to be a natural manner. “And are his cheeks red? Wakatoshi, you absolute playboy!”

“Man, I wonder what they’re talking about... This is so exciting!” Yamagata was shaking his fists up, feeling invigorated from watching. Unfortunately, not everyone felt the same.

“Oi, Tsutomu! Quit acting dead and get up!” Semi commanded while dragging Goshiki back onto his feet. The boy was limping lifelessly and his cheeks were hollowed out. Giving up, Semi let the first year fall back to the ground and went back to spying with Tendou and Yamagata.

“Tsutomu, please... pull yourself together,” Oohira pleaded in a gentle manner as he lightly slapped the first year’s cheeks to wake him from his trance. Unfortunately, Goshiki remained unresponsive.

Rounding the corner to get to the main dining hall, Shirabu was met with a scene of pure chaos. Goshiki was completely pale and passed out on the ground while Oohira kept fanning the boy with his hands; the other third years were peeking their heads into the main dining hall and giggling into their hands. Tendou kept jumping up and down in his crouched position which caused his head to hit Yamagata’s chin. The libero yelped and slapped Tendou’s back as hard as possible. Fighting ensued between the two and Oohira was completely overwhelmed as Semi ignored all of it.

What a pain in the ass, Shirabu thought as he turned on his heels back to his dorm room, no longer feeling hungry.

EXTRA 2:

“Hey, wait a second,” Osamu squinted his eyes at the screen while Atsumu clicked on the keys to move his character. “Stop movin’ around.”

“What!” Atsumu continued to tap on the keys of his laptop, commanding his avatar to kill the monsters. “Yanno if I stay still they’ll eat me up!”

“Doesn’t this one kinda look like the Shiratorizawa manager?” Osamu pointed out. Leaning into the screen, Atsumu zoomed the camera to the character his brother was pointing at. The resemblance was uncanny.

“Yer kiddin’ me! It really is her!” Atsumu grinned out and then sent a friend request.

Peering over Atsumu’s shoulder, Suna took a good look at the laptop screen. He raised an eyebrow at what the two boys were doing, but then focused his eyes back onto his smartphone.

“Didn’t you try to talk to her last year during Nationals?” Suna asked, not bothering to look up from the screen in his hand as he spoke.

“Yeah, but she wasn’t really talkative and said that she was in a rush before we could really get to chattin'. Maybe this is fate bringin’ us together!” Atsumu grinned while waiting for the notification that his friend request had been accepted.

“Maybe you should have just taken it as a rejection, ‘Tsumu,” Osamu scoffed out and took over the mouse. He moved the character left and right to avoid the small monster pests. The Shiratorizawa manager look-alike was moving about and slicing down foe after foe in an experienced manner.

“Shaddup, ‘Samu! She was just a bit shy!”

“Or maybe it’s because yer annoyin’,” Osamu teased and skillfully dodged a fist to the face from his brother.

“Yer more annoyin’ than me,” Atsumu huffed out and then took back control of the mouse. A small ding sounded and a notification bubble popped up.

SoonToBeVBAce accepted your friend request!

Taking a second to process the username, Suna frowned at his realization. He shifted his eyes back to the character on screen and took into account the fluidity of its movements. “Huh, that’s a weird username. You don’t think…”

An expression of shock took over Atsumu and Osamu’s faces as they processed what Suna was hinting at.

“No way!” Atsumu screamed out and then quickly sent a private message to the player. “Girls play these typa games too, right? Maybe she just wanted a really different kinda username?”

Suna shook his head at the naïveté of Atsumu while Osamu sported a blank face. In a hasty manner, Atsumu opened the new private message and his breathing stopped.

miyafox:

hey nice user. u play volleyball?

SoonToBeVBAce:

YES! HOW’D YOU KNOW? I’M A WING SPIKER! BEST ON MY TEAM!

“This… definitely isn’t her…” Atsumu logged off and shoved the laptop away from him. Osamu chuckled at his brother’s bitterness and then clicked away at the keyboard, logging onto his own account.

Can’t say he doesn’t deserve it, Suna thought as he stared at Atsumu. Big fat jerk.

“Just who the hell was that person…?” Atsumu groaned at his lost opportunity while pressing his forehead against the table. Not missing a beat, Suna silently snapped a picture of the setter for later use.

“So much for fate, huh?” Osamu sniggered out.

Chapter Text

The air in Tokyo was definitely different than in Miyagi. You were unsure whether it was because of the pollution or the fact that it was a few degrees colder in the capital city, but a tightening sensation in your chest was prevalent. Warm little puffs from your breath escaped your lips as you hauled two large bags over your shoulders; within them were empty water bottles that needed to be filled up as well as some other necessary materials: first aid kit, towels, extra socks, lanyard passes, pain relievers. As the boys of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club shuffled out of the bus, you couldn’t help but stare in awe at the gymnasium in front of you.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium located in Sendagaya was massive; craning your neck upwards to admire the architecture, you felt as if you would never truly get used to the sight before you. It was already your second time here with the team, but that didn’t mean your nerves still didn’t get the best of you at points.

Nationals: the goal every high school volleyball team in Japan strived for each year. The fact that you were even standing here with the team was a big accomplishment. Taking a deep breath to calm yourself, you tailed after the boys. Morning warm-ups had already finished at a local court not too far away from the facility which meant the boys had some down time before their official match of the day. The few hours spent before the game would usually consist of scoping out the competition, resting, doing homework, or just leisurely chatting amongst themselves.

Teams occupied spaces for themselves in the wide hallways and in the audience seating; amidst the rowdiness and chaos of it all, the boys of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club were cool and collected. Competing on the national stage was nothing new for them. The team had already accustomed themselves into a routine.

There was absolutely no doubt that every player here was skilled, but some players just garnered more attention than others. Ushijima, one of the best high school aces in Japan, was one of those players. Wherever you walked, starry-eyed first years would stare at the boy from across the room and nudge at their friends that the Ushijima was breathing the same air as them. All the watchful eyes made it feel like holes were being drilled into the back of your head with every step.

“[Name], relax a little!” Tendou wiggled his entire body and started moving his arms to some sort of imaginary tune. “Yanno, last year you had the same look on your face. I actually thought you’d form a permanent wrinkle between your brows once we got back to Sendai.”

Embarrassed by what he had to say, you massaged the center area of your brow with your index finger. “Ugh, Tendou! I'm not going to get a permanent wrinkle! Jeez, I'm just... a little nervous."

“There’s nothing to be nervous about, [Surname],” Ushijima said as he walked alongside Tendou. His hands were in his pockets and his sports bag was slung across his shoulder.

“I know,” you tried not to sigh. Sure, the stage was a bit different from what you were used to due to the blinding ceiling lights, the orange and turquoise courts, and the huge audience, but that didn't mean the game of volleyball changed. It was still the same rules, same ball, same play. “Things are a bit different here, and I don’t want anything to go wrong when we’re so far away from home.”

From behind, you heard laughter.

“Man, Tendou’s right,” Semi chuckled. Yamagata was beside him and they both took longer strides to catch up to you. “Nothing bad’s going to happen! I still remember when our match last year was televised and the cameraman caught you nearly snapping your clipboard in half because of how anxious you were during the game!”

Arriving at a vacant seating area in the large audience area, the members of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club began to drop their bags and claim their seats for the time being until their match of the day. You placed both of your bags onto the ground and then stretched your arms up to relieve the tension in your shoulders.

“Don’t remind me. Seeing that on TV was the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

“Eh, it’s not as embarrassing as when Eita got six-packed on the first point in yesterday’s match,” Tendou happily hummed out as if he was talking about the weather. From this very statement, Yamagata began to slap his knees as he hollered a laugh while Semi’s face turned completely red (whether it be from anger, embarrassment, or a combination of the two, you couldn't quite pinpoint as you stared at him).

“Tendou! Shut up!” Semi yelled and raised a fist in the air to proclaim his rage. Oohira kept a pleasant face as he sat down next to Ushijima; the ace of the team was hyper-focused on the matches playing on the court.

In an attempt to avoid Semi’s fists, Tendou jumped up a row from the audience seats and quickly ran to hide behind you.

“Don’t use me as a human shield, Tendou!” you scolded while swatting at his hands to make him let go of you. This was ineffective as he didn’t budge and Semi’s intimidating figure approached you.

“Oi! Quit hiding behind [Surname], Tendou!” Semi reached out and tried to grab onto Tendou’s tracksuit jacket, but Tendou quickly dodged his hand.

The two began a game of cat and mouse as Semi chased Tendou; they kept circling around you which effectively made you stuck standing in the middle of the stairs. Yamagata was still laughing at the two, not offering to help as he was having trouble standing up while Oohira watched and counted the number of rounds the two made. Even Ushijima stopped spectating the matches on the court to take a peek at the nonsense.

The clearing of someone’s throat a couple steps up from the stairs you were standing on got Tendou and Semi to stop in their tracks. Looking up, you could see the rage within Coach Washijou’s eyes.

“What are you two nimrods doing?” It was a simple question, but the way he said it gave you chills.

The two troublemakers instantly bowed and began to murmur their apologies in fear of being scolded with an audience. Instead of proceeding with the insults, Coach Washijou rolled his eyes and then beckoned for you to follow him. Once you were an earshot away from the boys, Coach Washijou gave you your task for the day.

“Just like last year, we ordered some bentos for the boys. The boxes have already been paid for beforehand, and all we need to do is pick them up. This year the vendors made it real easy for us and located their truck right in front of the gymnasium entrance. Mind gettin’ the bentos and passin' them out to the boys?”

You nodded your head at his request. “I don’t mind, I’ll be right back!”

He waved you off and then descended down the stairs towards the seating area the boys had claimed. In the back of your mind, you couldn't help but wonder if he was going to lecture the hell out of Tendou and Semi.

Blinking twice and letting out a nervous chuckle, you asked once more to confirm whether or not you heard the kind lady correctly, “The order went missing…?”

“Yes,” she bowed deeply to you with her hands clasped in front of her as she explained the situation, “I assume it must have been when we were loading the boxes onto the truck this morning. Many teams ordered our bentos for today and we must have accidentally miscounted the total number of boxes… I checked and double checked for the Shiratorizawa Academy order, but I unfortunately couldn’t find a box labeled with it." She stood back up straight, but kept her head down. "I’m so terribly sorry... We will refund the money paid for them on the account used, but that's all we can do right now.”

A million thoughts were running through your mind. The match for today was scheduled in the next hour and a half; enough time would need to be allocated to find new bento boxes for the boys. Not only this, but they needed to eat and digest the meal before playing in order to avoid cramps (or, in the worst possible situation, throwing it all up on the court). You didn’t know the area very well since it was Tokyo; the city was perilous and confusing. Custom bentos were out of the question as it would take too long to make for a group.

You wondered if someone actually cursed you at that very moment. What were the odds of this kind of situation happening? It truly felt like a one in a million chance.

“Ah, don't worry about it… Thank you…” You really had nothing else to say.

The entire situation felt surreal. Of course this would happen. If the boys didn't get anything to eat, then they wouldn’t be able to play to their fullest potential which would be detrimental to the match. Tendou was already talking about food earlier in the day, and you saw the other boys gnaw on some protein bars, complaining that it wasn't enough to fill them up. Shaking the thoughts out of your head, you bowed to the woman and then raced back inside the gymnasium to Coach Washijou. A new plan of action needed to be taken. Starving the players was definitely not an option.

When you ascended the stairs and rounded the corner back to where the team was sitting, you tried your best to maintain your composure. Looking freaked out at this time would probably worry everyone. Coach Washijou was sitting a few rows above from where the team was seated and was speaking with Coach Saito.

“Coach Washijou,” you hurriedly said. The tone of urgency in your voice caused Coach Washijou to raise an eyebrow. You were back empty handed and both coaches were wondering why. “There’s a problem with the bentos we ordered.”

“Problem?” he repeated, allowing you to continue. Coach Saito looked at you with a slightly concerned expression.

“I went to pick up our order, but I was told that it went missing in transit. Our order is going to be refunded to us back on the original account, but we don’t have any bentos for the boys now...”

“This is a problem…” Coach Saito sighed out and turned slightly to eye the boys sitting a couple of rows in front of him. They must have started to feel a bit hungry already after the morning warm up.

“Nothin’ we can’t fix,” Coach Washijou said and pulled his phone out. He scrolled for a second and then showed you a map view with an address of a shop close to the facility. Staring at the phone you tried to memorize the name and location from the stadium. “I know a guy who owns a convenience store not too far from here. It’ll be about a ten minute walk, maybe half the time if you run.” He pulled out his wallet and handed you some bills as he talked. “I’ll call him and let him know that you’re coming. We’re countin’ on you.”

Hearing the last words, a sense of pride filled you.

“Of course, leave it to me!”

Both Coach Washijou and Saito smiled at you; the former waved you off and you rushed in the direction leading to the main entrance. You ran down the hall and rounded the corner to leave the gymnasium again, however, since you were going so fast, you ended up bumping directly into someone. Knocked down onto your butt, you rubbed your head due to the impact.

“Hey, watch where yer goin’! Are ya a complete—!” The accent was strong and the sound of a slap to the back of the head stopped him from finishing his sentence. Looking up, you saw a trio of boys staring down at you; the group consisted of a pair of twins and another guy with bored looking eyes. The one you must have bumped into was dusting the front of his tracksuit jacket with his hands.

“Oi, ‘Samu! That hurt!” the twin with dyed blond hair yelled out and reeled his hand back to deal a blow of similar caliber to his brother. The one with bored eyes pulled out his phone and started recording the two.

It didn’t take long for you to realize who was in front of you. Twins. Black and red tracksuits. These guys were from Inarizaki High, and bestowed before your presence were the Miya twins. Eyes widening like dinner plates at what you just did, you bowed and apologized.

“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going!” you quickly said while getting back up on your feet. The two boys stopped their fighting and the other one pocketed his phone. Time was ticking and this was a setback.

The twin with gray hair nodded at you. “It’s alright.”

“Y-Yeah, nobody’s hurt,” the blond boy said, voice sounding more sheepish. A look of realization took over his features and he moved his face closer to yours. “Hey, wait a sec! Yer Shiratorizawa’s manager!”

“Ah, yes…” you replied, casting your eyes to the side while wondering how to escape the situation.

“Yanno, if ya just wanted to talk to us, ya coulda just approached instead of knockin’ yerself down,” he gave you a lazy smile; he was still leaning in towards you with his hands resting on his hips. “How’s Ushiwaka? Looks like that left arm of his is stronger than ever!”

“Oh, um… Ushijima's been working very hard,” you reluctantly answered and fiddled with your fingers. Being cornered by the players of one of the biggest volleyball powerhouses was never a good feeling. It was as if you were stuck.

‘Tsumu yer such a jerk.

Something about this just feels off…

“Yer next match isn’t until later, right? How about—”

“Excuse me!” you abruptly bowed once more to the group. This interruption earned you a look of confusion from the boys, mainly from the blond. “I’m sorry, but I’m in a rush right now and I really can’t talk!”

Running away at top speed from them, you heard the blond Miya yelling towards your direction along with laughter from the other two. You didn't have time to stop, so you had to ignore him.

Descending the stairs, you weaved yourself through multiple groups of people with extra care to avoid anymore accidental confrontations. It didn't take very long to make it outside, the fresh air invigorating your senses. The shop was a straight shot down the road from the stadium, so you continued down as fast as you possibly could. Even though it was a bit chilly, you didn’t mind the weather. In fact, you welcomed the cold breeze that brushed your body, making you forget about how weary your muscles felt from continuous running.

Don’t slow down, you encouraged yourself while keeping your breaths steady. I don’t have any time to waste!

As manager of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club, running errands like this to the best of your ability was something you pride yourself on. While the boys practiced for hours on end in the gym, you felt the very least you could do was try your best in all the small things that could help them. Staying up to do the laundry, washing the water bottles, filming different angles as they made their midair approaches, learning the rules of the game, consoling the members if they had an off day, helping assemble practice schedules, attending every game, keeping tabs on each members and rival schools, providing meals during training camps: these were the duties you took seriously as the team manager. Overlooking these tasks while the volleyball club members gave a hundred percent at every practice would just be insulting. Working just as hard as the boys, even for the minuscule things, was well worth it if it gave them the chance to continue playing their best.

And so, you continued running as fast as you could. The taste of iron was at the tip of your tongue, but you ignored it. A minute of pain was nothing if it meant that this one action could help the boys. Finally, the storefront was within your view. Pacing yourself, you slowed down and pushed open the door. A chime echoed as you entered and you stood at the welcome mat.

“Welcome in!” a voice called out from behind the register counter. An older man pushed open the linen curtains that hid the entrance of the kitchen and smiled at you. A woman of smaller stature followed behind him while carrying a large cardboard box. The man took one glance at the tracksuit you were wearing and then bellowed out a laugh.

“Look at cha! Must’ve ran all the way over ‘ere, eh? Tanji’s got a real capable kid running his errands!” He beckoned you over to the register with his hand and lifted up the large cardboard box onto the desk from the lady. His wife, you assumed, chuckled at how boisterous her husband was being and lightly slapped him on the back of his shoulder for being so loud. “We’ve got it all sorted out for ya. Enough for yer team of hungry boys!”

A feeling of relief washed over you. Digging into your pocket, you pulled out the money that Coach Washijou gave you for this expense. The man grinned at you as you placed the money on the tray next to the register.

“Just make sure you guys win this match,” the man chimed as he calculated the difference. “Nothin’ that makes me happier than seein’ the Shiratorizawa boys playin’ on TV.” He nodded his head in the direction behind you. You turned and saw a humble looking television screen broadcasting the Spring National Volleyball tournament. Once he was done with the register, he counted back the change and placed the money in your hands.

“We won’t let you down,” you said as you pocketed the money. The box of bentos was a bit heavy, but nothing you couldn’t manage. “This is what we’ve been practicing for.”

They both smiled at you, the older man crossing his arms in front of his chest in pride.

“Atta girl."

The next challenge stood before you. Outside of the arena in front of the large row of doors, you stood wondering how to open the door by yourself as you gripped onto the sides of the cardboard box. Since the ground was practically freezing cold due to the winter season, putting the bentos down and opening the door might end up chilling the food. Standing in front of the door and thinking to yourself, you didn’t realize you were blocking the way.

“Excuse me, do you need help?” a voice from behind asked. It took you by surprise since you were lost in thought and you whipped your head around to see who was offering.

Oh, this was just great. Someone totally had to have cursed you today.

There, looking like a pair of intimidating highlighters in their bright tracksuits, stood Komori Motoya and Sakusa Kiyoomi from Itachiyama. You had seen their faces in Volleyball Monthly as some of the most promising rookies for high school volleyball and even watched a few of their past matches. They looked so much taller than you anticipated; while Komori had a kind expression as he stared at the large box in your arms, Sakusa wore bored, indifferent eyes and had his hands shoved in his tracksuit jacket pockets.

Figuring you’d just bite the bullet because you really had no other option, you asked for some assistance.

“Yes, do you mind opening the door for me? Sorry, my hands are kind of full.”

“Don’t worry about it! Here, let me help you with that.” Komori took the box from your hands and heaved it up. “Wow, this is pretty heavy!”

“Oh, no! It’s okay, you don’t have to do that!” you admonished him, feeling guilty as he carried the cardboard box filled with bentos while his friend opened the door. Komori ignored your protests and continued inside. You followed behind the two and the warm air of the heated facility gave you back the sensation at the tips of your fingers.

“Well, to be honest,” Komori began and then took a couple of steps forward. He looked to his left and to his right, and then signaled for you to lead the way. Hesitantly, you did so and they followed alongside you. “We don’t have much to do until our next match, so we were walking outside for a bit and saw you standing in front of the door for a couple of minutes… You looked like you needed some help and this isn’t too much trouble for us. Plus, you’re from Shiratorizawa, right? Sakusa was wanting to talk to Ushijima, so I guess this kills two birds with one stone.”

How long was I in front of that door? you wondered, slightly embarrassed at the thought of people staring at your helplessness.

“Well, thanks. I appreciate it. Oh, we’re going up the stairs, so be careful.” Taking a couple of steps to the side in order to lead Komori, you held a hand in front of the box to balance it as he looked down at his feet to avoid taking a misstep.

“How’s Wakatoshi?” Sakusa asked in a curt manner. He was lingering a bit behind Komori and didn’t touch the rails of the stairs as he walked up.

“Ushijima’s well. Working as hard as always. You know, you’re the second person today that asked me that.” You laughed and then grimaced for a second at the previous encounter.

I hope I don’t run into those guys again, you thought while looking over your shoulder, slightly panicked at just the mere thought of ever seeing them again. You were well aware your exit was extremely abrupt and a bit on the ruder side, but you were frazzled and in a rush. It couldn't have been helped

“Hm, as always. Everyone is keeping an eye on Wakatoshi,” he said, and the conversation abruptly ended.

You were unsure what to say next, but Komori broke the silence.

“Sorry about this guy, he’s not very good at talking with girls,” he teased which earned him a glare from Sakusa.

“Whatever,” Sakusa huffed out.

“See?”

This made you stifle a laugh into your hand as the banter seemed very one-sided. Unfortunately, since you were giggling into your hand, you didn’t pay attention to the next step. Instead of the hard surface you were expecting under your foot, your foot gave into the air and you felt yourself slip. For a second, your body tumbled down a couple of steps, but then your momentum stopped in midair. When you opened your eyes, you were staring directly at the ground. It took a moment to understand just what position you were in, but you realized that a person had actually caught the frontside of your body with their two arms.

“H-Hey! Are you alright?!” Komori worriedly called out. You could hear him and Sakusa walking back down the steps. Turning your head to see who caught you, your jaw dropped.

“U-Ushijima?” You actually felt like throwing up right then and there. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be with the others!”

“I went to the bathroom,” he answered and then looked up to see the two helping you. He nodded in their direction and acknowledged their presence. “Sakusa, Komori.”

“Wakatoshi,” Sakusa did the same and approached him. You were still effectively being held up in his arms which just made the entire situation feel awkward. Getting back onto your feet, you took a few steps to distance yourself from him.

“Um, I’m going to be passing out bentos soon, so if you’re hungry then come back to where we’re sitting," you informed him, unable to look him in the eyes due to embarrassment. He didn't seem to notice as he merely nodded at you and then joined Sakusa's side.

“I’ll be right back.”

The two were making their way to the court area and you dismissed it. On one hand, you were glad it was Ushijima who had seen your blunder; had it been anyone else on the team they would have blabbed about it all the way back; on the other hand, it just made it all the more weirder that it was Ushijima who caught you (literally) in that moment.

“We’re getting pretty close to where the team is,” you said to Komori as you two reached the top of the stairs and began to walk down the hallway leading towards the spectator seating. “Sakusa and Ushijima... I didn’t know they were friends.”

He chuckled. The two really didn't seem like they would hit it off upon first glance. “They’ve played a lot of tournaments against each other in middle school and even attended a few training camps together. Somewhere along the way, between all the volleyball matches, they became friends.” Komori explained. He then lifted the box a little bit higher. “You know, it looks hard being a manager of a team.”

“Really? What makes you say that?” you questioned him, curious as to why he thought this.

He took a second to think. “Well, while we practice, you guys do all the other stuff behind the scenes... It’s kind of like you guys are always working overtime?”

You laughed into your hand at this. Overtime made it sound like you were an office worker.

“Ah, was that wrong of me to say?” he nervously asked, his voice faltering a bit.

“No, no,” you waved your hand to the side to show him that there was nothing wrong. “You’re actually right. I feel like at the end of the day, once everyone is done with practice, I am working overtime. But I don’t hate it. I really like to help this team because when they’re hard at work on the court, I feel as if this is the least I can do for them.”

“Oh, wow! That’s cool!” he praised. Sheepishly, you rubbed the back of your neck and casted your gaze to the side. Never did you really think your role as manager was “cool,” but more of a necessary component that could alleviate stress for the team.

“I’ve never heard of the manager role being ‘cool’ before, so hearing you say that makes me feel good,” you laughed once more.

Suddenly sounding more bashful, Komori stuttered out a response, “W-Well! It is! It seems really nice to have a manager on the team."

Now at the top of the audience seating, you quickly scanned the area for where the boys were. They were being as rowdy as ever, Tendou messing with Semi, Yamagata somewhat instigating, and Oohira resting his eyes, ignoring the commotion. You didn't want Komori to witness the chaos, so you decided to take the initiative with this last stretch.

“Since we're here, I can take the box from you.” You extended your arms. He gently handed it over to you. “It was nice talking to you. Thanks for your help!”

“No problem!” He eyed the stairs in front of him and then remembered the events that happened mere minutes ago. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help carry it down for you?”

“I’m fine! You’ve done more than enough for me.” You paused for a second. “Um, good luck on your matches!”

“Thanks! You too...”

“[Surname]. You can call me [Surname],” you finished and then sent a smile his way as a farewell while he waved goodbye.

Turning on your heels and walking with the bento filled box in your hands, you descended down the stairs (and attentively watched each step you made downwards in fear of slipping again). Plopping the large box in the vacant seat next to where Coach Washijou was sitting, you grinned in satisfaction.

“Perfect timing,” Coach Washijou said as he looked down at his wrist watch. There was still enough time to eat before official warm ups. You dug into your pocket and handed him back the leftover money he gave you. After this, he clapped his hands together and the boys sitting in the rows in front of him turned around. “Bentos are here! Eat up and then walk around for a bit before the match. We don’t need anyone throwin’ up on the court... unless you want to embarrass yourself on TV.”

And at the end of his words, the boys started to line up for their bentos. It was a fast process as they grabbed a bento, thanked you, and went back to their seats to eat and continue their conversations.

“[Name], you sure do look sweaty,” Tendou commented as he accepted the bento box from you. "What'd you do? Run a marathon?"

Annoyed at his words, you gave a quick slap at his hands.

“Yeouch!"

“Next time I’ll make sure to forget your bento,” you coldly said and rolled your eyes. In an exaggerated manner, Tendou sulked away with the back of his hand resting on his forehead.

“I’m so heartbroken, [Name]! The fact that you would say something so mean just hurts me!”

“Yeah, yeah,” you dismissed and continued to pass out the bentos. Yamagata was next in line. He took his lunch and thanked you, moving out of the way so Semi could get his box. “Just eat up.”

“Semi-Semi,” Tendou purred out as he walked down the steps back to his seat. The setter raised an eyebrow at Tendou’s tone.

“What?” Semi asked, annoyed.

“Did you hear what Coach Washijou said?”

“Yeah? What about it?”

“Well, since you like embarrassing yourself…” Tendou chuckled out and then pranced back to his seat. Semi looked ready to swing his fists, but this time Yamagata held him back. Handing Oohira a bento from the box, you could tell he was a little exasperated at how rowdy everyone was getting. However, seeing everyone act as they usually would during practice calmed your nerves.

Even though the air might have been a bit different in Tokyo than in Miyagi, the boys of the Shiratorizawa volleyball club were still the same as ever.

EXTRA 1:

She was really nice. Maybe I should ask for her number, Komori thought as he rounded the corner back to the hallway leading to away from the arena seats. Stopping for a second to debate whether or not to go back and ask, Komori turned right back around and decided to bite the bullet and just do it. Talking to you was nice and relaxing, a change in pace from the hectic nature of tournament days.

As he made his way back to the audience seating, he saw you passing out bento boxes to the team members with a smile on your face.

Oh, she has a kind smile, he thought as he stared for a bit and then took a couple steps down towards your direction.

Suddenly, he felt a chill travel down his spine.

Standing in the line with their arms crossed, Semi, Yamagata, and Tendou were leering at Komori. Those three were wearing the most intimidating faces they could possibly scrounge up while Oohira, the most rational and benevolent of the group, was trying to maintain a neutral expression, not allowing the childish nature of his teammates affect his demeanor.

Oh, you wanna talk to her? Go ahead and try it!

We’re all ears about what you want to say to her! C’mon, I dare you!

Go ahead and talk to [Name], Tokyo boy! See what happens!

Komori shivered as he turned back around, afraid of what would happen if he did try to talk to you at that moment.

M-Maybe I should ask at a different time...

EXTRA 2:

“Ah, Iwaizumi... what is Oikawa doing?” Yahaba asked while eyeing the setter. Sitting on the sidelines whilst the other members started cleaning up for the night, Oikawa was engrossed in a small, black book and was mumbling to himself as he read the pages. There was a frightening glint in his eyes as he thoroughly examined each word.

“Oikawa!” Iwaizumi snatched the book out of his friend’s hands and then quickly scanned through the pages. “The hell are you doing that’s so important instead of cleaning up?”

“Iwa-chan! I was in the middle of reading something...!”

“The hell’s so important about…” As he read through each line, Iwaizumi realized an ominous evil was oozing out of the pages. Shutting the book, he inspected the cover and felt his face pale for a second. “Where’d you even find a book of curses?! And what’re you doing with this!”

“...Nothing.”

“The page you were on was about misfortune, failure, and bad luck! You trying to send a curse to your opponents? Trashy-kawa!” Iwaizumi began to beat the book onto Oikawa’s head.

Using his hands to protect himself, Oikawa crouched down to minimize the damage from Iwaizumi’s fists. “I was just reading, Iwa-chan!”

“Don’t act like you weren’t just mumbling out this shit a second ago, Shitty-kawa!” Iwaizumi yelled at his friend and then got a towel to whip him with. Now, Oikawa was on his feet and running around the court to avoid Iwaizumi’s anger.

“Should we do something…?” Yahaba asked, feeling mildly worried for Oikawa as Iwaizumi was now holding him in a chokehold.

“Nah,” Matsukawa said as he rolled the cart of volleyballs back into the storage room.

“Happens all the time,” added Hanamaki as he stretched his arms out, completely ignoring the chaotic duo.

Chapter Text

At the end of official practice, the boys of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club disbanded for the evening and went to do their own affairs; some of the boys headed back to their dorms for a shower and to rest while others stayed back in the gym for additional drills. Just for today, you decided to take off early and study extra. The university entrance exams were definitely looming over your thoughts and you needed to put additional work into preparing. All the chores for the day were done and you were prepared to make your leave.

“Don’t forget to clean and lock up properly, alright?” You handed the key to Oohira as he was the third year you trusted the most to remain rational regarding practice. “And don’t practice too late! You guys need to rest your bodies or you’ll burn out.”

Taking the key and swinging it around on his index finger, Oohira chuckled at your nagging. “We won’t stay back too long. Don’t worry about us and go do what you have to do.”

At his words, you smiled and nodded. You gave one last wave to the members who were still in the gym and then made your exit out of the sliding doors. Even though they were definitely responsible people (well, most of them at least), you couldn’t help but sometimes worry about their wellbeing. There was always an intense drive to continue working as hard as ever, but now that Interhigh was approaching, the members of the starting line up were really going all out. Maybe it was because this was the last year for the third years to play together before taking separate paths.

This is going to be the last year we’re together on the court, you solemnly thought as you walked across campus to get to the student lounge. It was your favorite place to study at.

Tilting your head upwards, you tried to soak in the scene above you. The sky was a deep azure and the sun was at its last stages; splotches of its golden rays seemed to disappear as the seconds passed. Taking a deep breath, you took this time alone to silently reminisce about the last couple of years. Although the boys of the volleyball team were a bunch of knuckleheads, you knew that their presence in your life would solely be missed after graduating.

Hopefully they feel the same way about me as well.

“Hum, since [Name] isn’t here, we should play a game,” said Tendou as he tossed the stray volleyballs on the ground back into the ball cart.

With the exception of Kawanishi who was helping his senior put back the balls into the cart, the other members were resting along the sideline to catch their breath and drank from their water bottles. The t-shirts they wore were drenched in their sweat. Even with the sliding door left open, the humidity level inside the gymnasium was higher than usual.

“So when [Surname] isn’t here, we should just slack off?” Shirabu countered, not really wanting to give into Tendou’s mischievous ways. Next to him, Semi silently agreed with his junior as he nodded his head slightly. He chugged down his water and then ran his hand through his hair; there was a look of exhaustion on his face. For the past hour after you had left, the boys were diligently practicing drills in preparation for the tournament season.

“We’re not slacking off! We’re just having a bit of fun while we practice.” Tendou joined the other members and then sat cross legged in front of them; he looked like he was ready to bargain.

“What kind of game?” Yamagata asked, thinking it might be a nice change of pace from the drills they were doing.

“Butts up?” Goshiki questioned.

Shirabu grimaced at the thought of the last time they played said game. The humiliation associated with it was too much to bear. “No, let’s not play that.”

“We should just practice our service aim with some empty water bottles,” Oohira said while getting up to retrieve said item from the storage room. The only person to follow and help him was Ushijima.

With their leave, Tendou decided that now would be the best time to pester the other members.

“Oh, do you know that game they play with the Pawcky sticks?” Tendou’s attitude turned chipper and he stood up excitedly. Everyone left on the sideline looked up at him with a blank face, urging him to continue on with his explanation as they had no idea where this was going. “The game where you put a Pawcky stick between two people’s lips and they bite off of it until someone backs away! If we’re practicing our serves, then that should be the punishment for the last two who couldn’t knock down a bottle.”

“That’s the punishment? Why would we want to do that?” Semi finally spoke up with a disgusted look on his face. He honestly couldn’t believe what he was hearing from Tendou. The prospect of nearly locking lips with anyone on the team made him gag.

“Sounds boring,” Kawanishi vocalized his objection and took another sip from his water bottle.

Tendou didn’t care and ignored the two.

“There’ll be two losers… and the ultimate loser of the Pawcky game has an ever worse punishment!” Tendou was making his selling point and threw his hands up into the air. There was a deadpan look on Shirabu and Semi’s faces while the others looked slightly uncomfortable. No one was biting the bait.

Goshiki was the only one nice enough to ask.

“...Like what?”

“They have to pay for… sushi!” Tendou yelled and then jumped in excitement. No one else shared his eagerness to participate in the game as Tendou pranced in front of them.

“Is this going to be another version of the noodle incident?” Yamagata groaned out with a reluctant look in his eyes. The previous disaster flashed through his mind and he shivered at the prospect of it happening again. Not only was he broke for a while, but he was also subjected to the cold shoulder by you for a good week.

“No, Hayato, we’re not eating noodles this time,” Tendou dismissed him instantly and then pushed the ball cart to the opposite side of the court where Ushijima and Oohira were setting up the targets. “C’mon it’ll be fun! Or are you afraid of losing?”

Semi’s ears perked up at this. A competitive note was struck.

“Well,” Oohira started and then scratched the back of his head. “It could be fun. And we’re getting some practice in.”

At his words, the ones who were reluctant stood up and joined Tendou on the back line. Ushijima was already bouncing the volleyball on the ground to focus while the others lined up behind him. Scattered along the end line at the other side of the court were empty water bottles neatly spaced out. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ushijima threw the volleyball into the air and slammed it onto the other side.

Unfortunately for him, it landed right between two of the bottles. They wiggled a bit from the sheer force put into the serve, but the bottles still managed to stay upright.

“Wakatoshi missed!” Tendou gasped aloud. In a dramatic manner, he put his hand in front of his mouth as if he were a school girl in a drama.

At this childish display, Semi rolled his eyes and shoved Tendou to go serve next. Time was ticking, and if they wanted to finish this punishment by tonight then they’d have to do this quickly. Tendou was unbothered and went on with his serve ritual.

By some absolute miracle, Tendou’s first serve slammed a water bottle down.

“Oh, look at me! It’s like I’m the main character or something!” He laughed out and then jumped to the back of the line. Tendou nudged at Ushijima for his attention and whispered, “Oi, Wakatoshi, I’m going to have to take your spot as the main character for tonight.”

Confused by his friend’s words, Ushijima merely nodded his head in agreement. Whatever Tendou meant, he didn’t mind it.

After Tendou, the other boys went up and completed their serves. In a strange turn of events, everyone following Tendou ended up knocking down a water bottle on their first try except for Goshiki. A look of absolute dismay was sketched out on the first year’s face when it finally dawned on him that he had lost.

And he was going to have to go through the punishment with Ushijima.

The Pawcky punishment.

It felt like the world was collapsing on him.

“Let’s clean up fast and then head to the student lounge to finish this up before the teachers start patrolling!” Tendou exclaimed and then began running around, picking up all the water bottles and volleyballs. He seemed to be the only one really excited for the punishment. In contrast, Goshiki was laying sideways on the ground with a dead look in his eyes. Tendou threw a volleyball right at his face to wake him up. “Tsutomu, get up! C’mon, quit slacking off!”

“Don’t we have to go to the store to buy a box of Pawcky? Maybe we should finish this up on a different day.” Oohira was already feeling a bit tired as it was getting late.

“Wakatoshi has plenty of boxes in his shoe locker! We’ll just grab one from there.”

Confused by this, Semi spoke up, “Wakatoshi, you like Pawcky?”

“Not really, but sometimes I’ll get boxes of Pawcky or other sweets put into my shoe locker with kind letters from anonymous individuals,” he answered while helping with the clean up process. The volleyball net was being lowered down as he pulled on the crack in a monotonous manner. In complete disbelief, Semi just stared at Ushijima and said nothing more.

He has to be the densest guy in the universe, the other boys collectively thought as they worked in silence.

When the boys arrived at the student lounge, it was completely empty. The tables were wiped down and clean, disregarding a single pouch on a table hidden away at a corner that was most likely left by a student earlier in the day. It was almost eerie to be there alone at this time. The members quickly stationed themselves at a random table and gathered around as Ushijima and Goshiki sat opposite of each other. Between the two, Goshiki was the one who looked the most uncomfortable. His hands were starting to get sweaty and he couldn’t even look his senior in the eye. A part of him wanted to just call it quits and give up, but he also knew a sushi bill with the team would definitely leave his wallet empty for quite a while.

Why does Tendou always have to make up these types of punishments? Goshiki whined to himself and shifted anxiously in his seat. He was more upset at himself for going along with whatever string of ridiculous activities his senior proposed. The temperature was definitely getting hotter as he wiped his clammy hands onto his shorts. Of course this had to happen between him and his fated rival.

Noticing Goshiki’s distressed state, Yamagata decided to take matters into his own hands.

“Just imagine it’s someone you like on the other end of the stick,” the older boy nudged Goshiki lightly and grinned. Taking his words into consideration, Goshiki’s eyes widened at this revelation and he pried his eyes away from his lap.

“Wakatoshi must be imagining a volleyball right now,” Tendou snickered and actually got a small chuckle out of Kawanishi. Although Semi kept his face neutral, the corner of his lip twitched upwards for a fraction of a second.

“No, I'm not imagining that, Tendou,” Ushijima replied nonchalantly and was unbothered as he sat in a casual manner. His arms were crossed on his chest and he was wearing a neutral expression which starkly contrasted Goshiki’s bashfulness.

Someone I like…? Goshiki’s mind traveled to some fairytale land and he absentmindedly giggled to himself. His imagination was getting him excited as he looked dead on at Ushijima’s face; his senior’s head was slowly fading and instead a certain manager’s face was beginning to take shape.

“Uh, Tsutomu,” Oohira waved a hand in front of the boy’s face, but he didn't snap out of his trance. There was a shimmer in his eyes and pink was dusted on the apples of his cheeks. He had the face of pure joy etched on his features. “Please come back down to Earth...”

“Might as well get this over with while he’s acting like this,” Shirabu commented as he checked the time on his phone.

It was getting late and the teachers would start to patrol the campus soon. Kawanishi nodded his head in agreement to Shirabu’s words and grabbed a stick of Pawcky for himself to snack on. The prospect of his senior—the star of the Shiratorizawa volleyball team—being subjected to such a childish punishment slightly amused him.

Wasting no time, Tendou took a stick of Pawcky and handed it to Ushijima.

“Let’s get this over with, Miracle Boy!”

As weird as this is, Yamagata thought as he watched Ushijima gently place the confection between his lips. He was unfazed as Goshiki’s lips met at the other end. They were less than a hand’s width away from each other. For some reason it’s kind of exciting!

“Now let’s get this punishment started!” Tendou yelled out and slapped his two hands down as if it were a director’s cut board. The others watched as little bits of the stick were being nibbled off and the two were slowly getting closer. Slowly but surely, the noise level from the group of boys began to rise as the two in the middle were approaching each other, the Pawcky stick getting smaller and smaller.

Shoot, I think I forgot my pencil case in the student lounge, you realized as you stood right in front of the door to your dorm room. You slung your bag across your shoulder and quickly searched the interior to check. Sure enough, your pencil case wasn’t there. Quietly groaning to yourself, you turned back around to retrieve the case. Since it was past dinnertime, there were barely any students roaming around the hallways. Everyone was either in their dorm or at the library studying.

The walk back to the student common area was short. Once you arrived, you gently pushed the door leading inside and noticed the boys of the volleyball team congregated at a single table. Wondering what they were all doing together at such a late hour, you slowly approached them. No one seemed to notice you enter the student lounge as they whooped and hollered at the two in the middle: Goshiki and Ushijima. They were sitting in the seats opposite to each other. Goshiki’s back was facing your direction and you noticed that Ushijima had his head tilted slightly. It was then that you noticed their faces were coming in closer to each other as they learned forward.

It looked like they were going in for a kiss.

Oh my gosh, you thought and then gasped aloud. I didn’t know they liked each other like that!

You didn’t mean to, but due to your shock you had accidentally slapped your hands over your mouth. This audible noise attracted the attention of Yamagata as he froze in the middle of his cheering and turned to stone as he realized you walked in on them at the worst possible time.

“[S-Surname]!” he stuttered out in a nervous manner. Beside him, the other members shushed and put their hands down straight to their sides. Tendou’s eyes flickered between Goshiki and you; he was shaking his hands in front of him, but no words were coming out of his mouth. The second year boys stared onward and kept still like statues. At the sound of your name, Goshiki whipped his head around at lightning speed. His eyes were panicked and his face was red.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude!” you shouted, not really caring about your noise level at this point. "I-I'll get going now!"

A rush of thoughts went through your mind. Maybe this was why Goshiki challenged Ushijima all the time: it was an attempt to get his attention since he liked him so much. At this realization, you ducked your head down to avoid eye contact with the members and then made a run for it back to your dorm. You were completely flustered and didn’t even want to face them. The pencil case you left was long forgotten.

“W-Wait! [Surname]! It’s not what it looks like!” Goshiki stood up from his seat and knocked his chair over. With a shaky hand pointed at the door, he debated whether or not he should run after you and clear up the misunderstanding. However, due to this moment of hesitation, you were already long gone. The entire scene played out like a horror movie. Not a single word was spoken for a good minute as Goshiki stood completely still, his eyes glued to the door.

The ceiling light flickered for a second and the air conditioning blasted from above. Still, everyone kept tight-lipped.

That was, until Ushijima spoke up.

“Goshiki,” he said with the leftover Pawcky stick hanging on his lips like a cigarette. His eyes were indifferent as he stared at the panicked first year. It looked as if your sudden entrance didn’t affect him at all. “I won.”

There was another silence that followed. Everyone was watching the first year as he continued to stand, unmoving. The color from his face was draining.

“That doesn’t even matter now, Ushijima!” Goshiki cried out and nearly collapsed onto the ground. Tears threatened to spill out at the corners of his eyes. Feeling incredibly sorry for the boy, the other third years (excluding Tendou) hoisted him up back onto a chair. He was slumped and pale, completely unresponsive at the stimuli around him. Even Shirabu sympathized with his younger teammate and awkwardly patted his shoulder in an attempt to cheer him up.

“Oi, Tsutomu…” Semi said as he nudged the boy on the shoulder. He received no response. Worriedly, Oohira lightly slapped his cheeks with the back of his hand. Any and all attempts to revive the boy were useless.

Goshiki was completely broken.

Tendou kept silent as he watched his poor junior. No one could get him back on his feet. He fiddled with his thumbs, feeling rather regretful for bringing up the game during practice.

I don’t think now would be a good time to tell him that he owes us sushi...

EXTRA:

After last night, you pondered skipping morning practice in fear of not being able to face Ushijima and Goshiki without becoming a flustered mess. The very thought of them being so close to each other…

You slapped your hands on each cheek to stop thinking about it. Who cares if they were that close! As long as it didn't get in the way of practice then it shouldn’t matter! Shaking your head, you continued on the path towards the gymnasium. It was still very early, and many students would still be sleeping in during this time. Barely anyone was walking around campus with the exception of the occasional faculty member or sport club participant.

As you approached the gymnasium entrance, you noticed someone was pacing back and forth outside. Their gaze was fixated on the ground. Once you got closer, you realized who it was and felt your face get warm.

“Goshiki?” you called out; he instantly stiffened at the sound of your voice and then turned to face you.

“[Surname]!” He bowed at a perfect ninety degree angle and then shoved a small pouch in your direction.

It was the pencil case you had forgotten in the student lounge.

“Please forget everything you saw last night!” Goshiki yelled out. His body was still bent down in perfect form. “It was a dumb punishment Tendou made up! Idon’tlikeUshijimathatwaypleasejusteraselastnightfromyourmemory!ThepersonIreallylike—!”

As he spewed out his words, you grasped onto the pencil pouch and lightly squeezed on his shoulder which got him to stop his incoherent rambling. It was an attempt to show him that everything was alright; although you didn’t really catch the last part, the fact that he was in front of you right now trying to explain himself was rather endearing. Goshiki abruptly shot his head up and made direct eye contact with you. In genuine happiness, you sent a smile his way.

“Don’t worry about it.” He stood back up straight and balled his fists in front of his body as he had trouble containing his joy at your understanding. Trying not to laugh at how fast his mood changed, you walked alongside him and clutched the pencil case to your chest. “Really, thank you, Goshiki.”

Chapter Text

As each day passed, it seemed as if the boys of the Shiratorizawa volleyball team stayed back on the court later and later in order to perfect their craft. The Miyagi Prefectural Qualifiers for Interhigh was present within everyone’s thoughts; the weather slowly got hotter as the year progressed to the summer months, and each member exhausted themselves during practice. It was a bit worrisome seeing their faces drip buckets of sweat and their breaths turn shallow as they worked.

There was always this internal battle within you—everyone was so eager to practice, so ready to expend all their time and energy into volleyball, that you didn’t know when to cut them off. Some days it was easy to convince them to stop their practice and rest; other days, they would stay until it was completely dark outside with only the chirps of the crickets underneath the dim street lights to greet them as they made their way back to the dorms. As you stood on the sidelines and documented their progress, you monitored their condition.

Looking at the boys in their overworked state, you came to the conclusion that continuing practice would only hinder them. You snapped your notebook shut and started to grab a few of the towels on the sideline. They would need to be dropped off in the laundry hamper for wash tomorrow morning.

“That’s enough for tonight,” you called out for their attention. It was nearly seven in the evening and you were sure they still had classwork to finish as well. “It won’t do you guys any good to completely wear yourselves out!”

At your words, the starting members gave a fatigued acknowledgement as they slowly dispersed off the court and then plopped down on the sideline. Their breaths were ragged and they chugged down their water. Feeling slightly sorry for them, you decided to start part of the clean up process and began to crank down the net.

The ones who had it worse were definitely the younger players. Shirabu, Kawanishi, and Goshiki were laying on the ground with their eyes closed and their forearms blocking the overhead lights from their vision. Ushijima was the one who seemed the least affected; although, there were still beads of sweat traveling down from his forehead. He was the first one to help with the clean up process, aiding you with the net. The others joined to hurriedly clean up and prepare to leave for the evening. With all of them on the court busying themselves, you took this time to drop off the towels in the laundry room for wash tomorrow morning and to grab your backpack from the club room.

Once you entered the court area of the gymnasium, the boys were already at the sliding doors waiting for you. The courts were cleaned off and their sports bags were slung across their bodies.

“We’re turning the lights off now, [Name]!” Tendou called out, his finger hovering dangerously close to the switches. You sent a look telling him to wait as you did a light jog across the court to join them. With one swift flick, the entire gym was completely dark.

Everyone was walking in a leisurely manner, feeling that slowing down their bodies was well deserved after training hard for the past few hours. There was banter as Tendou teased the younger boys about their sloppy form during practice and how when the third years were gone they would need to continue to carry on the Shiratorizawa name with greatness.

“Are you listening, Taichi?” Tendou shook Kawanishi’s shoulder, however, he didn't seem fazed as his eyes were glued onto his small flash cards. He was flipping through them and mumbling definitions to himself. “Yanno, you’re supposed to be my successor! That’s a real honor!”

“Yes, Tendou, I’ll try my best,” he said half-heartedly and continued through the stack.

Semi and Yamagata snickered at Kawanishi’s uncaring attitude—the boy was just trying to get his senior off his back. Not getting the reaction he wanted from his victim, Tendou instead popped up behind Shirabu and tried once more to get a rise. A very similar scenario happened before you, this time with Shirabu responding with even less emotion than Kawanishi. This didn't stop Tendou. He was full of energy as he jumped up in excitement, forgetting about the physical strain he just subjected his body to.

“Let’s go get something sweet from the convenience store! Like pudding! Or ice cream!”

The others stared at him for a second and then ignored him to talk about their plans for the night. They were used to his erratic nature and continued towards the dorms.

“Isn’t curry being served for dinner tonight at the dining hall?”

“We should hurry back and eat.”

“Can someone help me with my English homework?”

Not in the least bit frustrated at being brushed off, Tendou grabbed onto your shoulder with one hand and tugged on Ushijima’s sports bag with his other.

“C’mon, [Name], Wakatoshi! It’ll be fun to go together, like we’re the main characters in a school drama!”

“Okay,” Ushijima agreed to his friend’s offer, not really minding a short trip to the convenience store.

“Tendou,” Semi called out, his head cocked to the side as he eyed his teammate. His words were drawn-out due to how tired he was. “Let [Surname] study. We’ve already kept her back long enough.”

The others nodded their heads at what Semi had to say; Shirabu even gave a disapproving look at his senior, not really enjoying how you were all stopped in the middle of campus due to something so trivial. You paused for a second and gripped the straps of your backpack a bit tighter, thinking about the offer Tendou proposed.

“I don’t mind.”

It was a shock nonetheless. Besides Ushijima, the others stared at you as if you were crazy. Even Tendou wasn’t expecting you to join in.

Semi squinted his eyes in disbelief. He then leaned down to get a good look at your face. “Are you alright? Do you have a fever or anything? The flu has been going around lately.”

“I’ve been hearing about that too.” Oohira.

“Yeah, a couple people in my class had to skip because they were sick.” Yamagata.

“[Surname], didn’t you say you were staying up late to study?” Shirabu.

“Maybe delirious from all the studying?” Kawanishi.

“[Surname], you need to take care of yourself too!” Goshiki.

“Have you been feeling any chills?” Annnnnnd back to Semi.

“I’m fine,” you rolled your eyes at them and swatted Semi’s approaching hand away from your forehead, “I can’t go to the store now or something?”

“No! I mean,” Semi was looking a bit distraught as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. His eyes were shifted downwards as he thought of his response. “It's just that... you don’t join in on this kind of stuff.”

You shrugged at this; he was right, you were usually quick to decline Tendou’s shenanigans, but tonight was the exception. “It won’t be for too long, so it’s fine. The Family Kart is only a short walk from here.”

“Suit yourself. We’re going back. Try not to stay out too late.” He still had a wary look on his face as he eyed Tendou and Ushijima. While he trusted the latter to not idle around, Tendou was one to not really care for the rules.

“W-Wait! I want to go too!” Goshiki called out, but Shirabu grabbed onto the collar of his tracksuit jacket to stop him.

“You can barely keep your eyes open, Goshiki. With the state you’re in, you’ll only slow them down.” Shirabu used logic to bring him back down to Earth. He was right; Goshiki was about to protest, but he accidentally let a yawn out.

“Save us some food in the dining hall!” Tendou called out and skipped in the opposite direction of the group, towards the main entrance of campus. The street lights illuminated the paved roads and Ushijima followed after Tendou in silence. Giving one last wave to the group, you turned to catch up to the two.

Their strides were much longer than yours, so you found yourself running a bit before you finally managed to reach them. Tendou was boisterous and pointed at the little crickets that jumped along the street in order to find refuge in the grassy area. His conversation with Ushijima was rather one sided as the captain of the team was more inclined to just listen. As you walked, the keychain on your backpack jangled lightly with each step.

“Wakatoshi, yanno you’re really like the main character,” Tendou gushed out with his hands animatedly moving in front of him.

Ushijima looked at his friend, a bit confused as to what he meant and pondered for a second.

“The main character! Like the ones you see in Shonen Bounce!”

“Really.”

“Really. Your spikes are your killer move.”

You turned to glance at Ushijima. In your mind, you imagined him blasting a laser beam from his hand as he spiked the ball.

“I’ll be the supporting best friend sidekick who kicks butt and blocks all enemies,” Tendou rounded an arm on your shoulder and brought you closer to him as he laughed at the sky, “and [Name] will be the damsel in distress!”

“You can’t be serious,” you said and lightly shoved yourself away from him as he laughed.

“But I am! It totally fits you, isn’t that right, Wakatoshi?”

Ushijima didn’t seem to follow what Tendou was saying.

“Right.”

“Ushijima,” you tried not to groan your disappointment. “Really? I don’t think I would be the damsel in distress.”

“Then what kind of character would you be?” Tendou kept the conversation going.

You paused for a second. “I think I’d want to be someone stronger than the damsel in distress. Not superhero strong, but I wouldn’t want to wait for someone to save me.”

“Your own reliability.” It was Ushijima.

“Yeah, I’ll rely on myself.”

“Aw, that sounds boring,” Tendou said. “The damsel in distress is more fun and cute! Like a princess waiting for the main character in a maze-like dungeon or…”

He continued on excitedly, talking about his favorite plot lines.

“...And you know the main character always gets the damsel in distress, but…” Tendou did a quick glance at you and then Ushijima; he nearly bawled his eyes out as he laughed at the very prospect, slapping his knees with his hands. “Of course, not in this reality! I’d probably go bald before something like that happens!”

Instead of responding, you opted to ignore him.

Does he just say the first thing that comes into his mind? This is why he always gets into fights with Semi...

“Bald? Why? Do you want a new hairstyle?” Ushijima asked, not really understanding Tendou’s stream of thought.

“Ah, it’s nothin’, Wakatoshi!”

The sidewalk was littered with fallen blossoms from the trees overhead; some of them were quite flattened as they must have been stepped on all throughout the day. Feeling sorry for the flowers, you focused on tip-toeing around the newly fallen buds. For a moment it felt like time was slowing down as you walked beside the two boys with Tendou continuing to ask somewhat trivial questions and Ushijima answering each one to the best of his ability.

“Say, [Name],” Tendou stopped his rambling with Ushijima and turned his attention to you. “What are you gonna buy from the convenience store?”

It didn't take you long to answer.

“Pucchin purin.”

“Haaaaah? I thought you would have wanted to get one of those limited edition sakura desserts! Don’t girls like those kinds of things?”

“Well, it’s been a really long time since I last ate pucchin purin,” you mused out and kicked a small rock on the ground. “I ate it a lot when I was a kid, but lately I’ve been a bit busy with practice and studying for the university entrance exams. I feel like I completely forgot the taste of it until you mentioned it.”

“So you miss it? I totally get that, it’s like a good manga that you read when you were a kid and then when you grow up you want to reread it all over again!” Tendou elaborated and kicked the same rock you did a bit further. The two boys slowed down their pace so that you were all walking beside each other, taking steps in a steady rhythm.

“Right, I think if I taste it now it’ll just remind me of staying at home when I was younger.”

“[Name], what’s your home life like?” Tendou was as nosy as ever, but for some reason you didn't mind it. You tilted your head upwards just a bit to look up at the sky as you thought of what to say. It wasn’t completely dark, but the sun was already at its last stages.

“I think if I were to describe it then it would be quiet. My parents work a lot now and I live a bit far from school which is why I dorm here. But when I was younger my mom would spend a lot of time at home with me and I remember the best days were when I would share pucchin purin with her.”

“Did your mom let you eat it on a plate?”

“Yes?” you answered, a bit confused at the question and not really understanding the importance of it.

In complete despair, Tendou leaned back and pressed the palms of his hands against his forehead.

“You’re soooooooo lucky!”

You and Ushijima were stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as you watched him have his meltdown. Unsure of what to say, the two of you just stared at him until he collected himself. It seemed to be a very big deal to Tendou as to how this pudding was eaten.

“You don’t even understand how lucky you are, [Name]!” he groaned out again and then waved his hands in the air, distressed. “My mom never let me press the tab and eat it on a plate! She always said that it’d be an extra plate to wash up, but it’s only one plate! I always had to eat it in the cup! Uggggghhhh!”

Recovering from his temper tantrum, Tendou turned to Ushijima and nudged him. “Hey, Wakatoshi, did’ja ever get to eat pucchin purin on the plate?”

The look on Ushijima’s face showed that he had no clue what Tendou was talking about. In his small victory, Tendou raised a fist in the air and laughed at his friend. The convenience store was coming into view, its bright and flashy lights standing out in comparison to the dulled yellow of the overhead street illumination.

At this late hour, it was probably odd to see a couple of high school students enter the store with bags in tow, but you didn’t want to exert energy worrying about how you looked. Upon entrance, you made a beeline to the refrigerated section. A variety of sweets greeted you and your eyes skimmed through the selection. With the modern day advances of Japanese cuisine, there seemed to be a limitless variety of pudding flavors: matcha, strawberry, a special edition cherry blossom, chocolate, coffee, and earl gray just to name a few. They were all tempting, however, your hands automatically reached for the original crème caramel flavor: the flavor that reminded you of early childhood and simpler times when you weren’t swamped with a million things to do and take care of. Beside you, you noticed Ushijima was staring at the variety bestowed before you, his brows furrowed in deep concentration as his eyes scanned each flavor.

“Need help finding one?” you asked with your choice in hand. He was still eyeing the flavors and turned his head in your direction.

“I don’t recall there being this many choices when I was younger,” he honestly said and then returned his gaze back to the selection.

You turned around to see where Tendou was in the store; even though he was the one who suggested going to the convenience store for dessert, he was thumbing through the manga and magazine section near the front entrance.

“Well, I just went with my favorite,” you held up the cup in your hands to show him and he stared at it. Without another word, he picked out the same flavor.

In complete surprise, you felt a hand squeeze on your shoulder and you held in the urge to yelp. Contrasting your shock, Ushijima looked unfazed.

“What flavors did’ja guys pick!” It was Tendou. He inserted himself between you and Ushijima while eyeing the entire refrigerated section. The variety of sweets seemed to excite him. “Crème caramel? Boring." He leaned down to take a good look at the selection. "Wah, chocolate! How can I resist?” In one swift motion, he reached over and picked the cup of choice, humming happily to himself as he sauntered off to the register.

Too tired to even scold the boy, you just sighed out and followed along to pay. Once it was all settled, the three of you sat down at an empty table and situated yourselves.

“Okay, now watch, Wakatoshi!” Tendou announced in a theatrical manner and used a hand to circle around the top of the pucchin purin lid. He tore it off and then turned it upside down, the pudding still sticking to the cup. Using the small paper bowl originally meant for fishcakes, Tendou hovered the flipped pudding cup over it and then pressed on the tab at the bottom of the plastic container. The pudding slowly began to slide downwards and Tendou gave it a small shake until it plopped into the bowl. It jiggled and looked exactly like the pudding you would see in a commercial. Tendou carried the bowl up in his hands and wiggled it side to side, playing with it as if it were a science project.

“Ah,” Ushijima acknowledged the dramatic display and then peeled off the lid for his own pucchin purin cup. He understood what Tendou meant now. Instead of doing a similar action as Tendou, Ushijima opted to eat his pudding out of the cup and dug his spoon through.

“Wakatoshi, can’t you be a bit more enthusiastic with your reactions?” Tendou tutted him and continued to wiggle the dessert, hoping to coax a better response out of his friend.

“Can I try a bite of yours?” Ushijima eyed the chocolate pudding as it wiggled.

Tendou’s eyes lit up a bit and he scooted the pudding towards Ushijima. “Sure!”

After seeing Tendou punch the tab of his pudding cup, a sense of nostalgia filled you. Wordlessly, you got up and grabbed a small paper bowl like Tendou and then flipped the pudding into it. The dessert just looked more appetizing this way.

“Do you like pudding, [Surname]?” Ushijima asked while he spooned another bite of pudding into his mouth. It caught you off guard that he was the one to initiate conversation, but you recovered fast and nodded.

“I like sweets. But I guess today I was just craving pudding after I heard Tendou mention it.”

The now empty cup in his hands looked smaller since he was the one holding it. Ushijima sat patiently and watched as Tendou lightly smacked the top of his pudding with his spoon. It wiggled around and finally Tendou viciously chopped up the side of it and ate it.

“Nothing tastes better than pudding after a long day of practice!” Tendou raved about the taste and went in for another bite. “The others are missing out! Say, Wakatoshi, you never answered me earlier when I asked about your favorite TV shows.”

Ushijima was still looking at the pudding and Tendou pushed it towards him. The dessert was halfway done, but Tendou was already full.

“I usually watch volleyball matches.”

“Figures, you stayed up late the other night to watch those international college matches. You know, even though the sound was off I can still tell when you’re on your laptop!”

“Ah, sorry.”

“It’s fine, Wakatoshi.” Tendou wiggled his own body in his seat as he spoke. “What team were you watching?”

“UC Irvine.”

“Oh! Do you want to play there one day? You better study harder if you wanna go to the states!”

“No, I don’t plan to play there.”

“Haaaah? Then why stay up so late to watch?”

Ushijima dug his spoon into Tendou’s leftover pudding. Before he got the chance to answer, Tendou instead whipped his head your way and started a barrage of questions once again.

“[Name], what about you? You’ve been studying like crazy after practice!”

“I guess I have been,” you took a second to think about the last couple of days. After practice you would stay up until the late, late hours to go over exams and read through the class material. “Well, I want to go to Tohoku University…”

Tendou’s eyes bulged out of his head.

“No kidding! [Name] you got a lot of studying to do!” He laughed and slapped his hands on the table. The store associate looked at the three of you and then went back to re-shelving items. “You got your work cut out for you! And you decide now would be a good time to eat pudding?”

You resisted the urge to chuck your spoon at his face, instead digging into your dessert and shoving the pudding into your mouth.

“Ugh, Tendou! If I can get into Shiratorizawa without a sports scholarship then I can totally get into Tohoku too!”

“You’re funny, you know that, [Name]?” he teased once more, trying to get you caught in a never ending loop of misery as he baited you. Knowing him all too well, you decided to keep your mouth shut and instead scowled at him.

“Be careful about that wrinkle between your brows!”

You raised your spoon up threateningly and Tendou got ready to duck below the table, however, Ushijima’s voice stopped you two.

“I think [Surname] can get into Tohoku University,” he said rather plainly. The bowl Tendou had given him was empty and he picked it up as he got out of his seat. “Perhaps we should go back to campus. Before the dining hall closes.”

“Ah, you’re totally right, Wakatoshi!” Tendou exclaimed and jumped up, following behind closely. In a rush, you stuffed the last bits of pudding into your mouth and threw away the trash.

It was much darker outside once you three left the convenience store and the air seemed to have cooled down now. As you continued on the sidewalk back to campus, Tendou kept at it with his lighthearted conversation, making sure to keep you and Ushijima on your toes as he bounced from topic to topic; as you gripped onto the straps of your backpack, you couldn’t help but cherish this languorous moment—this time when studying or practice didn’t take over your thoughts and instead you could focus on enjoying this moment with your friends on a cool summer night.

Chapter Text

It was Golden Week. 

And, just like the previous years, you were spending the first day of the national week off in a gym with a bunch of sweaty boys.

“SATORI! KEEP GUESSIN’ WRONG AND YOU’LL BE RUNNING LAPS OUTSIDE!”

Oh, and Coach Washijou as well. 

On the court, Tendou, along with the other players, grimaced and tried to straighten themselves up. They raised their arms a few centimeters higher and kept themselves hyper focused on the ball. While the rest of the student population had packed up and gone home to enjoy a well deserved break, you and the rest of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club were sticking it out for the annual Golden Week training camp.

“QUIT HALF ASSIN’ IT! FOLLOW UP ON THE BLOCK, NIMRODS!”

You cringed at the volume from Coach Washijou. For such an old man, he had some serious pipes. A couple of the first years in the club were already starting to tear up at the ferocity of the coach. It was usually this time when you had to put in a bit more effort than usual to console the boys who weren’t used to the harsh barrage of words.

“Don’t worry, he’s just saying those things because he’s looking forward to your improvement.”

“He’s paying extra attention to you, he sees your potential as a player!”

“Coach is giving good pointers, he just doesn’t know how to phrase it nicely…”

On average, it took about a year for the boys to gain a sense of immunity from Coach’s shouting tactics, but this didn’t make it any less scary. From the sidelines, you noticed Goshiki’s trembling figure as he was getting chewed out for keeping his feet completely planted on the ground instead of staying on his toes. His hands were plastered on the side of his body and he looked like he was in pain as every word Coach Washijou threw at him was stabbed right into his ego.

“Ouch, poor Tsutomu,” said Semi as he and the other boys sat down on the sidelines. They had just finished a couple of practice drills and were now resting. “Looks like Coach Washijou is really grilling him today.”

“Yeah, talk about a beat down with words…” Yamagata added and rubbed his towel into his hair to dry it. Everyone watched as Goshiki was dismissed, his head slumped down to avoid looking anyone in the eyes.

Now would definitely be a good time to encourage him, you thought while making your approach towards the younger boy with a water bottle in tow. His performance today wasn’t the best, but he definitely didn’t deserve to feel like crap for the rest of practice because he was having an off day.

“Hey, Goshiki,” you handed him the water bottle and tried to look him in the eyes, however, he kept his head down. “Don’t be so hard on yourself! Sure, Coach is a bit rough around the edges, but he’s only saying it for your benefit.”

Goshiki perked up just a bit, raising his head up slightly as he paid attention to your words.

Almost there!

“Seriously,” you leaned in closer to him, whispering your words just centimeters away from his face, “don’t tell anyone this, but when I passed by the faculty office the other day I heard him talking to Coach Saito about you. He said that he looked forward to your improvements the most.”

It was like lighting a match on fire.

Instantly, Goshiki straightened himself up and raised a fist into the air, pink dusted on his cheeks. “I won’t let anyone on this team down! As the next ace of Shiratorizawa!”

Standing on the sidelines, Shirabu grimaced while the others offered their own words of encouragement.

“Right, work hard, future ace.”

“Good luck.”

“You’re as awesome as your bowl cut, Tsutomu!”

You gave him a pat on the back and he joined the others, speaking animatedly about his goals for the day. Taking a glance at the clock on the wall, you realized that it was almost time for the next practice match. Coach Washijou had good relations with many other coaches around the area and today’s schedule consisted of playing against a university team based in Sendai. Motivating Goshiki would not only help himself but also the rest of the team for the rest of practice.

As if on cue, the door slid open and a group of guys entered the gym whilst also calling out a greeting to let their presence be known. After all the formalities were exchanged between coaches, the players were assigned court positions and playing commenced. Standing at the sidelines, you monitored the practice alongside Coach Washijou, creating small notes regarding gameplay and statistical feats. Practice matches were the best form of training as it gave more in-game experience and you noticed the boys were definitely going all out.

After the first rounds of play, you made sure to pass out towels, refill water bottles, and offer any other type of assistance to the players as needed. The coaches stepped outside for a breather and the other players were scattered along the sidelines. With their absence, the players took this time to relax with each other, chatting away about what could be improved on for the next game. As you helped out here and there, you were stopped in your tracks by one of the players from the university team during one of the mandated breaks. 

“Excuse me, do you know where I can refill this?” He had an easygoing expression as he shook his empty water bottle playfully. There were a couple beads of sweat gracing the side of his face, but he didn’t really seem to mind them as he had a towel draped around his neck.

Oh, wow, you thought as you stared back at his smiling face and handed him a different water bottle in exchange for the one he was holding. He’s really good looking.

“Ah, thanks!” He accepted the bottle and then took a swig. “Man, I wish we had a manager like you to take care of our team. What’s your name?”

“Um, it’s [Surname] [Name]," you answered, feeling a bit hypnotized in his presence. His tousled bangs gave him a bit of a boyish appeal and his honey gaze showed that he was listening to every word you said. He was talking to you in a relaxed tone, as if you two were close friends.

“Cute name! Call me Hikaru. Anyway [Name], you’re in your third year, right?”

“Yes, I’m a third year.”

“Plan on going to university?”

“Ah,” feeling a bit embarrassed, you shifted your weight between your feet. You were aware your college of choice was rather ambitious. “My goal is to go to Tohoku.”

With a grin plastered on his face, he leaned his arm onto the wall and kept the conversation going. The empty bottle in your hands was slowly being forgotten as you focused your attention on him. “I knew you were a smart girl! Tohoku’s pretty hard to get into. You must be studying a lot.”

“Right, I’ve been studying a bit harder this year,” you nodded your head, feeling that you needed to answer his questions since he was older than you.

He then leaned in a bit closer to you, the space between you two suddenly feeling nonexistent. You felt your body stiffen for a second as you took a good look at his face; the sheen of sweat from his hard work at practice gave him an ethereal glow and the angular features of his jawline contrasted the softness of his eyes. Honestly, your mind was spinning at the lack of distance and you held your breath in a panicked state.

“The entrance exams are no joke! You should let me know if you need any help. I mean, once practice is over we can exchange numbers and you can give me a call—”

Before he got the chance to finish his sentence, a ball hit him straight on the side of his face and he yelped out. In shock, you recoiled back and pressed your hands against your mouth. Hikaru shut his eyes in pain and took a couple of steps backwards to regain his balance.

“Oh, my bad!” Yamagata yelled out and came running your way with Semi by his side. The corner of his lips were ticked up and the tone in his voice lacked empathy. “Received it wrong, you alright?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine…” he muttered out with his hand pressed against his cheek.

“Oh my gosh, hold on just a second! I’ll go grab an ice pack for you!” you said and then rushed out of the gym in a panic.

Once you were out of sight, Hikaru turned to the duo and glared down at them. The temperature between them suddenly felt frigid.

“Oi, the hell’s your problem?” He was seething and placed his hands on his hips. He stared down at the two as if they were roaches. “Trying to start something, brats?”

Both boys blinked in unison at the shift in Hikaru's demeanor.

Holy shit, this dude has a nasty personality! 

Still in shock, Semi merely shook his head as Yamagata did the talking.

“Sorry, it was an accident on my side. It won’t happen again…” Yamagata mumbled out and picked the volleyball up from the ground. It most definitely wasn’t an accident, but he wasn’t expecting this type of reaction from the older boy. Not believing a single word, Hikaru scoffed and then took a threatening step forward. Semi’s eyes widened at the older boy, but he still maintained his ground.

“I thought you guys knew how to play volleyball? If you can’t even keep the ball from flying to the sidelines, then why are you guys playing on this team? Shiratorizawa isn’t a team full of scrubs now, is it?”

Silence followed his harsh words. Semi and Yamagata’s mouths hung open in complete shock at what they just heard.

This guy can’t be serious!

What an ass!  

“Hey, there’s no need to—”

The sound of the sliding entrance door interrupted Semi and they turned to see you running their way with an ice pack in hand.

“Hikaru! Sorry to make you wait!” you called out and then handed the ice pack to him. He loosened up in your presence and then smiled back at you as if he didn’t spend the last couple of minutes insulting Semi and Yamagata.

“It’s fine, [Name]! Wow, you came back really fast... I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.” His words were sweet and fluttered out in a gentlemanly manner. At his praise, you smiled and waved it off as him being friendly. Semi and Yamagata shuddered at how fast Hikaru was able to switch personalities; the former nearly choked from how shocked he was.

Bowing together in order to take their leave, Semi and Yamagata ran back to the others on the opposite sideline, their lips curled into an obvious frown. The other members had seen the whole ordeal and sat still, waiting for them to give an in depth report.

“God, that guy is the worst!” Semi clenched his fist in anger as he expressed his frustrations. He was gritting his teeth and his entire body shook with rage. “He’s the biggest asshole I’ve ever met! The king of assholes!”

Yamagata fervently shook his head up and down in agreement. He was squishing the volleyball between his hands with all his strength. It looked like it might actually burst. “He’s got a nasty personality! Jeez, it’s a good thing we slammed the ball to his face before he tried to make a move on [Surname].”

“Ugh! I hate people like him! Two-faced and all!” The two turned around and scowled at the scene before them. Hikaru was still chatting away with you, this time allowing you to inspect his face up close underneath the ice pack. There was a look of worry etched on your features as you were speaking to him. 

“Wakatoshi, here!” Yamagata shoved the volleyball into Ushijima’s hands and then pointed his finger at Hikaru. His voice was shaking with anger. “Just do one jump serve his way! That’ll get him to stop talking! And hopefully if you hit it hard enough then it’ll also get him to quit volleyball for good too!”

Ushijima looked at the volleyball in his hands and then at Hikaru, silently considering his options.

“...I don’t think my service aim is accurate enough for that,” Ushijima said with a blank look on his face as he stared at Hikaru. The two boys groaned in unison and then plopped themselves down with the rest of the members.

“We gotta do something! He called us a bunch of scrubs and now he’s trying to be fake to [Surname]. Just look at that asshole in all his assholey-ness!” Semi raised his fist in indignation. Yamagata agreed once more and also started swinging his fists up into the air, fighting some imaginary foe in front of him.

“Your vocabulary is nothing short of amazing,” Shirabu commented sarcastically while looking at Hikaru. He would be lying if he said that the guy didn’t slightly piss him off. Something about his flippant attitude during practice didn’t sit right with him. “But maybe we can come up with something.”

“Well, we’d have to come up with a plan before Coach Washijou comes back… which could be any minute now,” Oohira said. All the boys were watching Hikaru like hawks and analyzing his every move.

“You don’t think [Surname] is into guys like him…?” Goshiki pondered and hugged his knees as he watched you interact with Hikaru. There was a frown on his face when you started laughing at a joke the older boy made.

Tendou waved a hand to dismiss this notion and made an audible “bleh!” as he stuck his tongue out. “Tsutomu, there’s no way [Name] would be into a guy like that! Just look at him. He’s got an attitude like Oikawa, but waaaaay worse! He’s an evolved form or something.”

“Hey, your attitude is pretty nasty too, Tendou,” Semi commented, his eyes still glued on the older boy. He was waiting for a chance to throw another ball his way.

As soon as you turned your body away from Hikaru to drop off the pile of towels to the laundry room, Hikaru focused his gaze over to the boys sitting on the opposite side of the court. The look on his face said it all.

Don’t butt in, you brats.

Except for Ushijima, everyone stiffened in response.

A fire started burning.

“How long until they have to leave?” Kawanishi growled out as he stood up, suddenly ready to play. The others jumped to their feet as well and started stretching their muscles.

“Yeah, let’s go play another set against them. Wakatoshi you better not hold back!”

“I don’t plan to.”

“Let me serve one straight to his face!”

Each member was focused on making sure their bodies were completely warmed up. On the other side, the college players were staring and wondering what caused them to become so hyped. Even the members who complained about their exhaustion started to amp themselves up. Shirabu, the brain of the group, kept his eyes on Hikaru and watched as he sauntered off to join the rest of his teammates, laughing along with them and jutting a thumb in the direction you had gone.

“I have an idea,” Shirabu announced and squinted his eyes at the older boy. Everyone huddled together to listen to what Shirabu had to say. They whispered amongst themselves while stealing a couple of hateful glances towards Hikaru. 

Looking over your shoulder, you noticed the boys were circled together and strategizing. They seemed to be extremely focused.

Wow, it’s so nice to see their teamwork improve! You smiled at them as they did a small cheer and dispersed. They seem so pumped for practice... Maybe we should have these guys come again.

“Is it just me, or are they targeting that one kid? Black hair, rolled up sleeves.” Coach Washijou squinted his eyes at the court. The ball Ushijima just hit went straight towards Hikaru and was returned upwards back to the setter. It seemed that he was accustomed to the spin now.

“I noticed that too,” you replied and then changed the score, adding a point for the university team. “Usually it works for a couple of points, but it really looks like they’ve been hitting it exclusively to him this entire set… It also seems like their technique has definitely improved.”

Coach Washijou had a cross look on his face, but instead of blowing up like he usually would, he instead chose to silently watch. There had to be some sort of game plan they had in mind. It wasn’t that Hikaru was a bad player; often in matches, it was pretty typical to deliberately aim at the players who weren't good at receiving, but Hikaru was able to get a pretty solid arch on the ball so the tactic didn't seem very beneficial. Once again, the ball was served right where Hikaru was standing on the court. There was sweat dripping off from his chin—an obvious sign that he was working harder than his teammates as the ball kept coming his way.

Once the set was finished, a mandatory break commenced. The same as before, the coaches left the gym to talk outside where the humidity levels were much lower. As soon as the whistle was blown, Hikaru approached you once again.

“Miss. Manager, do you mind—”

“[Name]!” Tendou rushed to your side and began to pull you away from Hikaru. The way he said your name was almost hysterical and his eyes were shaking in panic. “Tsutomu’s feeling sick!”

Worried, you allowed Tendou to lead the way. “What’s wrong? He seemed fine when he was playing…”

“Just look at him!” He pointed down at Goshiki who was sitting on the ground, his back leaned on the wall. True to his words, he looked a bit paler than normal. You crouched down and then lightly placed the back of your hand onto his forehead to check his temperature.

He was burning up.

“I’m taking him to the infirmary, he might have a fever,” you said and brought him up on his feet. “Tell Coach Washijou when he comes back, okay?”

The others nodded at your instruction and you took your leave with Goshiki by your side. 

Shirabu glanced at his teammates.

Phase One complete.

Hikaru looked a bit disgruntled at the sudden emergency, even eyeing the group warily; however, he brushed it off and left the gym out of the sliding door to refill his empty water bottle alone. 

Phase Two complete.

Each member picked up a volleyball and approached the entrance. 

“Okay, now’s the time,” Shirabu instructed the others and motioned towards the sliding door. Everyone had a volleyball in their hands, ready to ambush Hikaru. The coaches weren’t in the gym and Hikaru was the only one who went out to refill his water bottle. The other college guys were talking amongst themselves on the court, not really paying attention to what the regular players at Shiratorizawa were up to. 

The sliding door was the target and everyone took aim. Semi and Yamagata reeled their arms back as far as possible in order to add in more force. Even Kawanishi was hyper focused on the door as he tightly held onto the volleyball in his hands.

Shirabu held up his hand, ready to start the countdown.

“Well, he doesn’t have a fever,” the health instructor said and showed you the thermometer. True to her words, the temperature was at a normal level.

“His face was burning hot when I touched it though…” you mumbled and then looked at Goshiki, wondering just what to do with him.

“He can rest here for the meantime, I’ll keep an eye on him.” She smiled at you, letting you know that everything was going to be alright. It would probably be best for him to stay here for awhile; you didn’t want him to exhaust himself on the court and then actually develop a true fever.

You nodded and then turned to Goshiki. “I’ll let Coach Washijou know about your condition and then come right back, alright?”

“W-Wait,” he began but you shushed him.

“Hey, just rest! I won’t be gone for too long. It’d be bad if you actually got sick during this week's training camp.”

With this, you took your leave and jogged back to the gymnasium. It was a good thing the infirmary was located pretty close by. You did feel a little bad for leaving Goshiki alone, but it’d only be for maybe ten minutes max. There was still an hour left of practice, so you needed to let Coach Washijou know the situation regarding Goshiki in full. Since it was the first day of the training camp, it would probably be best for him to go back to his dorm and rest for the remainder of the day.

As you pulled on the sliding door entrance, you were expecting the boys to be playing another set. 

How wrong you were to think this.

Once the door was opened and you took the first step into the gym, a barrage of volleyballs attacked you. The ambush caught you off guard and you tripped over your feet, falling right on your butt. Completely stunned, you sat on the ground and surveyed the chaos: there were volleyballs rolling in all directions. 

“Oh crap, it’s [Name]!” Tendou half laughed as he looked down at you. 

“What do you mean it’s [Surname]? She shouldn’t even be here right now!” It was Semi’s voice that yelled out. Slowly, each members’ head popped out from the frame of the sliding door to look at your pathetic figure. You were still on the ground, unable to form any words.

“W-We thought you were in the infirmary with Tsutomu!” Yamagata sputtered out and then joined your side to help you back up onto your feet. Oohira did the same and started apologizing, but this meant nothing to you. The skin around your knuckles tightened as you clenched your hands in anger while staring at the mess of volleyballs in front of you. 

“What’s wrong with you guys?” Your voice was even and low as you tired to remain somewhat calm. “Clean it up. Now.”

No time was wasted as they each grabbed a volleyball in silence. Even Tendou didn’t make any jokes. You dusted the dirt off your track pants and resisted the urge to let out a scowl; it was embarrassing enough that they did this to you, but it was even worse that they chose the day when a bunch of university guys were in the gym and most likely witnessed you getting pelted by a bunch of volleyballs. 

You could already feel the heat rise to your face as you walked across the court to let Coach Washijou know about Goshiki’s condition. After relaying the information and discussing with him, it was decided that he would have to rest for the remainder of practice today. You made an effort to ignore the presence of the boys as you once again left the gym.

“[Name], you alright?”

Turning your head to the voice, you noticed Hikaru was waiting outside. His brows were furrowed together and his lips pouted in worry.

“Ugh, don’t tell me you saw that,” you sighed out and rubbed your arm in an anxious manner. Instead of laughing, he offered an apologetic smile.

“Unfortunately,” he shook his head and paused. Then he sneered the rest of his words. “Talk about annoying. I mean, do those brats act like that every day? You should quit wasting your time here if they’re going to treat you like that.”

Huh?

You stared at him as he continued, your lips parted in confusion as he spoke faster and more maliciously.

“There’s nothing I hate more than a bunch of self-entitled kids who don’t know how to act. They should learn how to grow up, right?”

His hand grabbed onto your shoulder and squeezed it tightly; you were unsure whether or not this was meant to be in a comforting manner, but his words irritated you. Sure, what they did was stupid and they were grade A doofuses at points, but he didn’t know them at all. He spoke as if they were trash; he didn’t know all the work and effort they put into the sport and how they appreciated you taking care of club duties; he didn’t know your relationship with them; he didn’t know anything. The fact that he was standing here assuming the worst upset you beyond belief.

“Honestly, you should quit this club and start studying more for the entrance exams. I’ll help out as much as I can every weekend and we can meet—”

“Sorry, Hikaru,” you rudely interrupted him with your sharp words and pushed his hand off of your shoulder. He was pissing you off now. “I have somewhere to go. I think practice is starting again, so you should go back inside... Coach Washijou hates slackers.”

You shook your head in annoyance as he stood stunned and you made your way back to the infirmary.

What an asshole, you thought and stuck your tongue out in disgust.

Chapter Text

The lunch period was typically a time when you could wind down and relax from your studies and managerial duties. It was supposed to be a peaceful time spent having light and easygoing conversations with your friends—chats that would stray away from classwork and more towards the conversation of the newest movies in the cinema or the cutest up-and-coming idols. Unfortunately, Tendou had it in mind to bug you until you accepted his offer to hang out during the weekend. He had been going at it for the past week, not only bothering you, but also the other members of the volleyball club. Only Ushijima had accepted his request and he wanted another buddy to join along.

“C’mon, I heard this new chain place is really good!” Tendou continued to beg you to join him and Ushijima for dinner. The other members had already rejected his invitation earlier in the week, stating that they were busy. “Okonomiyaki! Osaka style!”

“I have to study, Tendou,” you said, feeling quite tired of repeating the same excuse over and over again. Sunday was sanctuary day. However, Tendou wouldn’t budge though and kept at it.

“But you study all the time, [Name]! That can’t be good for you. Besides it’ll only be maybe thirty minutes to an hour of eating!”

Your face twisted to that of exhaustion. Maybe if you were a guess monster then you’d have all the time in the world to hang out, but you weren’t and every minute that could be spent hitting the books was precious to you.

“No.”

“Please!”

“Tendou.”

“C’mon!”

“I really—”

“O-sa-ka!” His fists banged the table for each syllable.

“You’re making a ruckus.”

“Okonomiyaki!” He shook your shoulder and you felt yourself deflate.

“Fine,” you begrudgingly agreed while playing with your food; it didn’t seem as appetizing as it did five minutes ago. “But we can only eat for at most an hour... Any longer than that then I’ll just walk out.”

He saluted you and deepened his voice, “Roger that, commander [Name]!”

Sighing out, you dug your chopsticks into your bowl of rice and picked up a small mound. Within the next couple of minutes, Shirabu and Kawanishi sat down across from you and Tendou with their lunch in tow.

“Kenjiro, Taichi, guess who I got to join me and Wakatoshi on Sunday for dinner?” Tendou asked playfully. The boys looked like they couldn’t have cared less.

“I don’t know. Who joined you, Tendou?” Kawanishi asked, almost sounding robotic. The two boys gave thanks and started to eat their lunch. Tendou kept a smile on his face as he maintained conversation.

“C’mon, I said guess!”

“Who?”

“What’re you, an owl?”

Shirabu took in a deep breath; the conversation was already mentally exhausting him.

“No, just tell us.”

In the most grandiose manner, Tendou threw his arms in your direction and wiggled his fingers to present his answer. “[Name]!”

You grimaced as you ate small bits of your food.

The two boys stared at him, questioning whether or not he was serious.

“Really?” Shirabu tried his best to not sound agitated. As another student who got into Shiratorizawa through passing the entrance exams, he knew every second towards studying was valuable. “Shouldn’t you leave [Surname] alone? I doubt she has as much free time as you.”

“Really! It won’t be for too long.” Tendou took a bite of his rice and chewed excitedly. “Besides! It’ll be a break for her as she hangs out with her two favorite people!”

The two boys looked at you and then at Tendou. A bead of sweat ran down both of their temples.

Hanging out with Tendou doesn’t really seem like a well spent mental break.

Seems more like babysitting than hanging out...

“Hey! Your faces are totally saying ‘that doesn’t seem like study break to me!’ It’s going to be super fun and you two will be jealous and never reject hanging out with me ever again!” Tendou pouted his lips at the two.

“Oh, right. Have fun.” Kawanishi gave up on the conversation and picked up some vegetables with his chopsticks.

Shirabu kept silent, knowing that his words would just be going in one ear and out the other. As Tendou continued his one sided chatter, Shirabu’s mind wandered back to the last time he was stuck alone with Tendou and an obvious scowl became apparent on his face. He sat straight in his seat, eyes narrowing at the side dish of vegetables with an almost murderous intent.

“Shirabu, are you okay?” you asked, worried. His dark aura was starting to seep through and even Kawanishi was eyeing him, a bit concerned for his well being.

“Yes, perfectly fine,” he didn’t mean for his words to be so cold as he bit down on a steamed broccoli. “Tendou, did you ever buy a new copy of the manga you lost?”

Tendou let out the longest sigh possible and then changed the topic from okonomiyaki to heartbreak and loss. His dejected state was actually painful to be around and you felt your shoulders sink as you realized the lunch period was not going to be as serene as it usually was. In contrast, Shirabu fought the urge to smirk at his senior’s agony.

Sunday rolled around and once the clock hit six in the evening, Tendou messaged you to get ready as he and Ushijima would be waiting near the gated entrance of campus. A part of you wanted to blow him off right then and there, saying something along the lines of “I’m sick,” but you knew if you did he would bug you ten fold more during practice on Monday. So, with great reluctance, you changed into a more fashionable outfit, grabbed your bag, and made your way to the rendezvous spot.

“Jeez, what took ya so long, [Name]! We’ve been waiting here for a century!” Tendou said, tutting at the end. You rolled your eyes at him.

“I can always go back to my dorm,” you said as you crossed your arms over your chest and tilted your head to the side, challenging him to continue on. He got the hint and began to lead the way.

“Wakatoshi, [Name]! This’ll be the best Osaka style okonomiyaki ever! Let’s eat ‘til our clothes pop off!”

“What?” You were honestly confused at what he just said. Even Ushijima sent a questioning look.

“You know, like in that one cooking manga with…” Tendou excitedly yammered on and on the entire way to the bus stop. He talked about anything and everything, but since Ushijima was around, his conversations ended up going back to volleyball.

The three of you were now walking along a cluttered street, hoards of people mingled with each other and you huddled closer to the guys so you could hear them better.

“I made a new move called ‘shooting star,’ I just know it’ll be a hit on the court!” Tendou gave a thumbs up to you and Ushijima.

“What do you mean by ‘shooting star?’” you asked, a bit curious as to what he was going to say.

“‘Shooting star’ means I’ll be a star on the court! You’ll see it at the next practice and I’ll be the one with all the attention.” Tendou squeezed Ushijima’s shoulder to get a reaction out of him. “Sorry Wakatoshi, but tomorrow morning, I’ll be the one everyone’s looking at!”

“That’s fine,” Ushijima replied, truly not minding it one bit. All that mattered to him when he was on the court was playing the game. He stopped walking and looked up at the neon, fluorescent lights that flashed on the sign overhead. “Is this the place?”

“Good eye!” Tendou patted Ushijima on the back and then held the door open for you two. “C’mon! Let’s have a good meal now.”

The restaurant was pretty packed. From what you could see at the front of the waiting area, many of the tables had groups of businessmen and college students drinking and chatting the night away. The atmosphere was definitely busy as it seemed people talked over each other in order to be heard. Yakisoba and okonomiyaki seared on the flat iron grills and the smell made you realize how starved you were. Even Ushijima seemed a bit impatient from his hunger. You noticed his jaw clench as he stared at the table closest to where you three were standing. Unfortunately, the hostess told you three the wait time for a table would be around twenty minutes to an hour. She had an apologetic expression on her face, but then her eyes widened in sudden realization.

“I think I might have a solution!” the hostess exclaimed as she started to walk back to the main dining floor. “Wait here for one second!”

You three stood and watched as she rounded a corner, now out of sight. She soon came back with a big smile gracing her face.

“Follow me!” She beckoned you three and grabbed a single menu with her as she led the way. The area seemed to be more private as it was closer to the back of the restaurant.

Once you three rounded the corner, you instantly regretted ever joining in on Tendou’s offer.

There, sitting in the same booth and reading through a menu, sat Oikawa Tooru and Iwaizumi Hajime from Aoba Johsai. Iwaizumi was the first one to notice you three and a complete look of abhorrence graced his features. Tendou mimicked the same look on his face and you felt yourself turn to stone as Iwaizumi’s eyes scanned the three of you.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Iwaizumi grumbled, his eye twitching. At his tone, Oikawa looked up and the same process of shock occurred on his face as well.

“My appetite’s ruined now.” Oikawa was tightly gripping on the menu he was holding. His knuckles were turning white as he stared hard at Ushijima.

Your eyes flickered between the two captains; the other members had told you there was a bit of history between the two, with Ushijima always one upping Oikawa on the court which led to a bitter—and rather one sided—rivalry.

As the seconds passed, a sense of fear filled you as Oikawa glared down at Ushijima; it honestly looked like he was ready to fight right then and there. The hostess quickly ushered you three into the other side of the table and left you all to your own devices before you could object to the seating arrangement. You were sitting inside next to Ushijima who was in the middle while Tendou sat in the outer portion of the booth.

“What’s with this timing?” Oikawa mumbled out as his eyes narrowed at Ushijima. There was a peculiarity to the situation.

“Hell should I know,” Iwaizumi answered, his brows now furrowed in resentment. “What’re you guys doing here?”

“We’re here to eat,” Ushijima stated the obvious as he nonchalantly flipped through the menu given to him by the waitress.

Iwaizumi’s knuckles cracked in response while Oikawa scowled at Ushijima. The tension at the table was so thick it became hard to breathe. You felt yourself shrink in their presence.

I hate him. Ushiwaka bastard.

Can’t this guy read the damn room?

“Well, what’re you guys doing here? You two on a date or something? Sorry to interrupt!” Tendou said, knowing that he would hit a nerve. Their faces twisted at the very notion and Iwaizumi looked like he was going to hurl. They both opened their mouths at the same time to refute his question.

“The hell are you talking about? All we did was make a reservation ‘cause we heard this place was popular!”

“I would never date someone as brute as Iwa-chan!”

“Shut it, Shitty-kawa!” Iwaizumi barked and then whacked him in the back of the head.

“Ack!”

The two continued their banter, forgetting about you three.

“Um, maybe we should eat somewhere else…” you mumbled out as you watched the two fight in front of you. Oikawa was scooting into the corner of the booth to avoid Iwaizumi’s fists while Tendou kept egging them on. Silently observing, Ushijima broke his concentration away from the menu and watched as Oikawa was put into a chokehold. Now that okonomiyaki was pretty much a bust, you started to search up restaurants in the area from your phone. “I think I saw a WcDonalds nearby when we were walking here.”

“No, [Name]! We are not backing down! We’re going to eat Osaka style okonomiyaki!” Tendou reached out to grab your phone to stop you, but you quickly pulled away. You continued scrolling as you ignored his protests.

“We’re not backing down either!” Iwaizumi declared as he stopped yelling at Oikawa and then proceeded to slam his fist on the table. The condiments and plates clattered from the sheer force he put into hitting the table, causing the party sitting at the table across the walkway to take a peek at the commotion.

“Yeah! We got here first!” Oikawa backed up Iwaizumi, he crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head upwards to look more intimidating.

“Then we’ll stay here last!” Tendou tried to copy Iwaizumi’s intimidation tactics by slamming his fist on the table as well, but he didn’t have the same effect.

“Tendou, I said we’d be here for at most an hour,” you reminded him in a deadpan tone.

“We’ll stay here for an hour!” he revised his statement and it took all your strength to not slam your head on the table in anguish.

This outing was not turning out to be a very fun break from your studies; the entire situation was more mentally draining than opening a textbook. While you were internally freaking out, Ushijima remained silent throughout the heated argument. The banter occurring before him didn’t seem to bother him in the least as his eyes went back to scanning the pages of the menu.

“Perhaps we should get combo number five for all of us,” Ushijima spoke up and looked at Iwaizumi and Oikawa from across the table. His stoic expression and matter-of-factly tone seemed to piss them off.

“No! We’ll choose what we want!” Oikawa raised his tone and then grabbed his own menu. As he quickly did a run through the pages, he scowled.

Damn it! Combo number five would have been perfect if it didn’t come out of his mouth first!

Regaining your composure, you peeked at the menu in Ushijima’s hands and then nodded your head. “Combo number five definitely looks like enough food for all of us. And it would probably be cheaper too.”

“F-Fine! I guess that’s okay!” Oikawa begrudgingly agreed and added a little “hmph!” as he pouted his lips like a little kid.

As if on cue, a waitress came by and quickly wrote down the table order. Glasses of water were passed around and general civility seemed to come back to the boys. Tendou opted to narrow his eyes every now and then at Oikawa who gladly did the same back (until Iwaizumi jabbed him in the gut to quit it).

“So, Miss. Manager,” Oikawa began, starting conversation with you (as he probably resented you the least). He slid his body down the booth so that he was now directly across from you. “Why’re you spending your Sunday night with these two guys?”

“Hey! You’re pretty rude, you know that?” Tendou said, but Oikawa ignored him this time.

Feeling that you shouldn’t throw Tendou under the bus (even though you really wanted to), you decided to stretch the truth a bit. “I heard this place has good Osaka style okonomiyaki. It’s my favorite.”

“Oh really? Mine too!” Oikawa said excitedly and sent a charming smile your way. The way he was acting was kind of weird. Usually during tournament days he would glare down the Shiratorizawa team (mainly Ushijima).

“Oi, quit acting like that,” Iwaizumi sighed out and his friend sent him a questioning look.

“Acting like what?”

“That…” Iwaizumi used his finger to circle around the entirety of Oikawa. This caused Oikawa to blanch.

“I’m just being myself!”

“They’ve already seen you on the court, there’s no need to be fake.”

“Iwa-chan!” Oikawa put a hand over his chest in shock.

This betrayal caused Tendou to snicker into his hand and Oikawa sent a mean look his way. He soon brushed it off and went back to conversing with you. “You know Miss. Manager, I’m honestly a bit surprised.”

“What is it?” you responded to remain polite.

“You look like someone who would like Hiroshima style okonomiyaki…”

“Huh?” That was honestly the weirdest thing anyone has ever told you. Which was saying a lot since you were around Tendou for a good chunk of the day, every day of the week. “What does that even mean?”

“Oh, I kind of see it,” Tendou squinted his eyes at you. Ushijima and Iwaizumi did the same. They all nodded their heads in unison.

“Yeah, you make a good point.”

“Hiroshima style does suit you.”

They were all sporting their thinking faces as they examined you like an art project. A bead of sweat ran down your temple.

Aren’t these guys taking this a little bit too seriously?

“[Name], it means you have a lot of layers to you!” Tendou exclaimed.

Ushijima shook his head in disagreement.

“No, no,” Oikawa held his hand out to refute what Tendou said and stared directly at you. “It’s not the layers. Something about the whole okonomiyaki?”

“Oi, that just sounds insulting,” Iwaizumi grunted out. “It’s because there’s a certain way to make Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. Traditional!”

Ding, ding, ding!

“You’re right! That’s it!” Oikawa high-fived Iwaizumi and then looked you in the eyes once more. “You totally seem like the kind of person who prefers Hiroshima style okonomiyaki!”

Everyone nodded in agreement and then talked amongst themselves about the pros and cons of the two okonomiyaki styles. It was weird, but you didn’t mind it too much because at least now they weren’t sneering at each other. The waitress soon arrived back with bowls of the okonomiyaki mixture and she oiled up the grill. Several spatulas were handed out along with the addition of sliced pork. Now, everyone was concentrating on making the okonomiyaki instead of their school rivalries. While Ushijima spooned the batter into three equal piles on the grill, Oikawa added the pork slices to the top. Iwaizumi and Tendou each had a spatula and flipped it accordingly. For the finishing touches, you brushed the okonomiyaki sauce and then drizzled the mayonnaise on top.

The conversation died down as you all ate. Although you wouldn't admit it aloud, Tendou was right: the okonomiyaki at this place was great. Everyone else at the table seemed to think so as well as faint smiles graced their faces. As time passed, the heat of the grill was lowered and there was now just enough batter for one more okonomiyaki. Ushijima spooned out what was left in the bowl onto the grill, the savory pancake was much smaller in size compared to the others.

“Check this out!” Tendou announced as he slid his spatula underneath the okonomiyaki. He flipped it into the air and it somersaulted before landing back onto the grill. “Bam! I’m like a master chef now!”

“Tendou!” you scolded him from where you were sitting. Ushijima flinched a bit at your raised voice. “That’s dangerous! Quit it!”

Tendou shrugged his shoulders and then chuckled a little.

Wait, that honestly looked a little cool, Oikawa thought as he stared at the grill.

With the other spatula in his hand, Oikawa put it underneath the okonomiyaki to try and flip it up into the air like Tendou did. However, he never got the chance to as Iwaizumi used his sixth-sense and quickly grabbed onto Oikawa's hand to stop him.

“Not you too, dumbass!” Iwaizumi tried to pry the spatula out of Oikawa’s hands, but he was met with much resistance. “Quit playing with your food!”

“No, let him do it!” Tendou egged him on which earned another mean look from you.

“Iwa-chan, let go!” Oikawa was struggling under Iwaizumi’s iron grip. His spatula was still underneath the okonomiyaki and since he was putting so much force into it his hand started to shake. “Just once! Let me flip it once!”

“No! I knew my dumbass detector sensed something! Just flip it normally, you idiot!” Iwaizumi was still fighting Oikawa. A sense of dread filled you as they continued to argue at the table. The spatula was still underneath the okonomiyaki and you could see that Oikawa was using all his strength to go against Iwaizumi.

“Stop with the insults! You’re being quite barbaric right now!”

“Huh! Why I ought to!” Iwaizumi’s momentarily saw red and let go of Oikawa’s hand in order to send a punch his way, but since Oikawa was using all his strength to go against Iwaizumi, the okonomiyaki ended up being flung into the air and it hit the ceiling. It stuck for a second and you all looked up at it. You put your hands over your mouth, appalled this even happened.

And then the unthinkable happened.

As if in slow motion, the okonomiyaki peeled itself off the ceiling, gravity taking hold and forcing it to come back down.

Right.

On.

Your.

Shoulder.

The table went dead silent.

You turned your head slightly to look at the damage. The uncooked batter side of the okonomiyaki directly hit you which—by some degree—was lucky as it resulted in no burns. The unlucky part was that the shirt you were wearing was completely ruined and stained. There were bits of batter that also splattered onto your hair and face. The shock subsided, and you quickly grabbed some napkins and ripped the uncooked pancake off of you. Oikawa and Iwaizumi were paling, the former shaking slightly.

“Miss. Manager, I’m—”

“Don’t talk to me,” you spat out and glared at Oikawa. He shuddered at the look of pure hatred you sent his way.

Without another word, you stood up from your seat. Tendou and Ushijima got out of your way so you could go to the bathroom and try to clean yourself up.

As you left, Iwaizumi and Oikawa peered over their shoulders to watch your figure disappear into the bathroom. Once you were gone, Iwaizumi started to beat the living daylights out of Oikawa.

“What the hell did I say, dumbass? I told you to quit it!” For every word he said, Iwaizumi punched Oikawa.

“If you really want to start blaming someone, then blame him!” Oikawa pointed at Tendou. This caused Tendou to nearly spit out the water he was drinking.

“Me?” Tendou pointed himself in disbelief. “Last time I checked, I didn’t throw the okonomiyaki into the ceiling!”

“Yeah, but you flipped it first! I wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t do it at all!”

Tendou’s jaw dropped. “Now you’re just being ridiculous! Wakatoshi, back me up!”

“Anything that needs to be settled can be done so on the court,” Ushijima said, trying to end the pointless argument. Now Tendou really couldn’t believe his ears. He was about to say some choice words at Oikawa, but he shut himself up when he saw you emerge back from the bathroom.

“We’re paying and leaving. Now,” you declared to Tendou and Ushijima. The other two were pretty much nonexistent in your eyes right now. Without a second glance, you made your way to the register to pay for your portion of the meal. Tendou and Ushijima got up and followed.

“C’ya guys. Ya sure got [Name] mad. Good luck.” Tendou gave a wave as he went to the register with Ushijima by his side.

Good luck? Does he mean Interhigh or…? Iwaizumi’s eyes met yours and a static shock of rage made him freeze in his seat. Nope! He meant the manager!

Oikawa slumped in his seat and then pressed his hand onto his forehead.

“I wish the okonomiyaki fell on that bastard instead. Tch! That guy pisses me off,” Oikawa grumbled.

Iwaizumi honestly couldn’t believe what he was hearing and slapped his friend in the back of the head.

“Ack! Quit hitting me!”

“Quit saying dumb things!”

“Can’t you be nice for just a little while…? This is why girls don’t like you...”

“You're kidding me... This is coming from the guy who got dumped yesterday!”

The two continued to argue amongst themselves in the crowded restaurant, earning them stares as patrons and workers in the establishment wondered if they were actually friends.

EXTRA 1:

“I can’t believe that guy!” Tendou was ranting about Oikawa as soon as you all stepped foot out of the restaurant. “He’s got the nastiest personality ever! Man, the fact that he always gets interviewed during tournament season is kind of annoying.”

You couldn’t find it in yourself to concentrate on what Tendou was saying. The shirt you were wearing was still stained with the okonomiyaki batter, and walking in public like this was embarrassing. It looked like a baby threw up on your shoulder. People on the street stared at you and you could feel your face heat up. Tendou didn't seem to notice your discomfort as he was walking a few paces ahead of you and Ushijima, now going on a tangent about what he would say if he was interviewed for the local news.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, you started to look down at your feet as you weaved your way through the masses; you were stuck in your thoughts until you saw a hand offer you a zip up hoodie.

“Here,” Ushijima said as he continued to walk beside you. “So you can cover up.”

For a moment, all your thoughts were jumbled up and you just stared at his jacket in shock. Then, you took it and draped it over your shoulders in a fluid motion.

“Thanks, Ushijima.” You smiled at him, grateful he even offered.

It was faint, but he returned the smile back.

EXTRA 2:

After a long session of studying, Kawanishi stretched his arms upwards towards the ceiling; he heard his joints pop and relief took over his tired body. From the corner of his eye, Kawanishi peeked at Shirabu. He was still hunched over his textbook, writing down information into his notebook. Then, he noticed an oddity sitting on Shirabu’s desk.

“Isn’t that Tendou’s?” Kawanishi pointed at the manga that was pushed aside. It was isolated from his other school books. At these words, Shirabu looked up from his textbook and followed where Kawanishi was pointing at.

“Yeah, it is,” he said, eyes going back to the pages of his book.

“Hasn’t he been missing that for some time?”

“...Yeah, he has.”

Kawanishi and Shirabu made eye contact. The guilty party sighed and then leaned back into his chair as he contemplated his words.

“I’m going to return it soon. I was thinking about putting it in his sports bag sometime this week when the third years leave the club room after practice."

“But why’d you even take it?” Kawanishi asked, still rather confused.

Shirabu’s face flushed as he tried to think of how to explain the situation without making himself out to be an idiot. After all, he should have known Tendou's little scheme to embarrass him from the very start. The pained look on Shirabu's face told Kawanishi everything he needed to know.

“Oh, did he try to teach you that ‘methodology’ of his for studying too?”

Nodding slowly, Shirabu reluctantly answered with a mumble under his breath. There was silence between the two of them, their eyes doing all the talking. Kawanishi reached over and grabbed Tendou's manga, flipping through the pages and then, with a heavy hand, he closed it shut and leaned forward with a proposition.

“Let’s keep it for a little longer.”

Chapter Text

Blue skies, white sands, and clear ocean water mingled together to create the perfect summer oasis. Beachgoers flocked to the shore, keen on beating the heat through splashing in the waves with friends and family. The sun was high in the sky, temperature rising as it was a little past noon, but this didn’t discourage the boys of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club from taking a little beach escapade during their summer vacation. Shobutahama Beach; it was the perfect place for a little excursion during the dog days of summer as it was only an hour away from Sendai with plenty of other facilities nearby like food stands and a popular shopping district.

“The beach!” Tendou cried out as he fully soaked in the view, a wide smile on his face. He took in a deep breath and exhaled as a means to release all the tension from his body. Standing beside him were the other boys of the club. “We’re finally here!”

“Talk about the perfect day to go swimming,” Semi added his own input, fully enjoying the salty ocean air. “C’mon, let’s go find a spot to set our stuff down!”

The sand sifted with each step, tickling their toes and making them all the more excited to jump into the glistening waters. It didn’t take long for the boys to settle. Beach towels were laid, sandals tossed to the side, and shirts thrown into the air—they were all ready to enjoy the day.

Well, almost everyone.

“Is [Surname] not going to join us?” Goshiki asked rather meekly as he looked at his teammates. They were rubbing sunblock onto their bodies and chatting amongst themselves.

“[Name] said she’ll be a little bit late, but she’s coming! Just enjoy some time with your upperclassmen, Tsutomu!” Tendou pinched Goshiki’s cheeks and then laughed when the younger boy pushed his hands away. “Why’re asking about [Name], huh? You wanna see her in a swimsuit or something?”

Goshiki instantly flushed and then violently shook his head from side to side; it looked like he might’ve gotten whiplash.

“N-No, Tendou!”

“So you’re not excited to see her in a swimsuit?”

“Yes! Wait, no! Argh!” Goshiki’s face resembled a tomato now as he crouched down in embarrassment at the very thought that was planted into his mind. Not sympathizing with him in the least, Tendou laughed aloud and then lightly tapped the top of Goshiki’s head like a bongo. The other guys felt a bit sorry at how easily Goshiki fell for Tendou’s mind games.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Yamagata hoisted Goshiki back up to his feet and gave him a light pat on the back. It was just enough to get Goshiki to compose himself again. “Let’s just enjoy this time together!”

There was a collection of cheers as the boys made their way to the water. Out of everyone, Tendou was the most excited to be spending the day in the sun; he started to swim out to the deeper end and raised an arm for the other guys to hurry up. Instead of doing so, the members waded in the more shallow portion, leisurely swimming to relax their bodies and get used to cooler temperatures of the ocean. Kawanishi was floating on his back, taking in the time to appreciate the clouds in the sky; a bit further in the distance, Semi and Yamagata got into a splashing match with each other. At one point, the duo called a truce and decided to instead chase after Shirabu and completely dunk him into the water. Feeling that Shirabu wasn’t enough of a victim, the two boys also targeted Goshiki and Kawanishi. As a pair, they worked pretty efficiently as one would do the distracting while the other would sneak up from behind to finish the deed.

Closer to the shore, Oohira stood with Ushijima; the two talked about this and that, the conversation revolving around volleyball and plans for the future after high school; in the midst of talking, Ushijima leaned his weight back and forth from one foot to the other—getting a feel for the difficulties of the sand if he were to ever play beach volleyball.

Pretty soon, all the boys were together in the water, swimming along and trying to propose some sort of game they could play. The only one who wasn’t present with the group was Tendou who was still out at the deep end. Kawanishi squinted his eyes in the direction of where he last saw his senior, however, he couldn’t find the tuff of red hair anywhere in his vision.

“Wait, is Tendou okay?” Kawanishi was the one to first point out the oddity. Far out in the distance, Tendou’s body was floating, but he was faced down, head submerged into the ocean. A couple of gasps from the group were heard and they all began to swim towards the deep end.

“Holy crap!” Yamagata treaded the water with Oohira by his side. “Tendou? Hey, help me get him up! Why’d he go out this far alone?”

As soon as Oohira and Yamagata touched Tendou’s arms, he shot up out of the water with a big smile on his face. Yamagata screamed and flew back in fear.

“Wow! You guys really do care!” Tendou cheered out and slapped his hands at the water around him.

Everyone was dumbstruck as they stared at Tendou, unsure what he meant. It looked like he had drowned.

“What? Man, we literally thought you were dead or something!” Semi yelled out. He was in disbelief with the entire situation.

“Nope, not dead. Just wanted to see if you guys cared if I went under.”

“What the hell? Of course we’d care!” Fuming, Semi approached him with a scary look donned on his face. “C’mere, Tendou!”

“Whoa, calm down, Eita!” Tendou started swimming away, further and further from shore as Semi followed closely behind. The other boys just watched as the two scaled the entire ocean.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t actually drown this time,” Shirabu muttered, watching the two swim like Olympians. They were completely shredding the water, Tendou maneuvering himself like a pro. “By Semi’s hands...”

“He’ll be fine,” Ushijima replied, his simple words bringing a sense of comfort to the others. With this, he started to backstroke away and swim at his own pace.

It didn’t take long for Tendou to take refuge behind Ushijima’s imposing stature, using him as a shield from Semi’s wrath. A short exchange of words resolved the conflict and the boys once again congregated together to decide on a group activity. A few rounds of chicken fight commenced, the ultimate winners of the game being Ushijima and Tendou with Oohira and Goshiki being a close second. After this, they also did Marco Polo and found that Ushijima was an awful seeker (Shirabu had to stop him from going past the buoy while Tendou laughed as he escaped to hide on the sand).

All the swimming and ocean activities got the boys exhausted. They made their way back to where they set their stuff down to rest. Drinks were passed around and they started to converse once more. The older of the boys spoke about the university entrance exams and career counseling for a bit.

“[Surname]’s still coming today, right?” Yamagata asked as he twisted the cap of his Potari Sweat and gulped it down.

“Yeah, I bet she’s on the way right now. Didn’t she sign up for juku during summer vacation?” Semi immediately replied and then went looking for his phone. Quite some had passed since they first arrived.

Oohira nodded. “That’s right. Her parents signed her up for some supplementary classes to prepare for the exams. I think the classes are only in the morning, though.”

As the conversation progressed, Goshiki remained quiet, thinking to himself about the long hours of study you dedicated not only to the volleyball club, but also to your own aspirations. But then he started to think about the beach and clear waters in front of him. Then it transformed into swimsuits. A blissful smile was now present on his face. This didn’t escape Tendou as he thought up of another way to tease the boy.

“Tsutomu’s totally thinking ‘I wonder what kind of swimsuit [Name] will wear today.’ It’s really written all over his face.” Tendou downed his Potari Sweat and settled himself down next to Goshiki.

“N-No, I wasn’t!” Goshiki lied and quickly took a sip of his drink to occupy himself. How can Tendou read minds?

“Hey, quit it, Tendou,” Semi was the first to come to Goshiki’s rescue. He didn’t want to admit it, but in the back of his mind he was silently wondering the same thing. “You’ve been making fun of him a lot today. Give him a break.”

“Now that I think about it,” Oohira pondered and leaned back on his hands in a relaxed state. The sun was beating down on their bodies, but the breeze offered by the ocean made it bearable. “It seems that Tsutomu is Tendou’s victim today.”

In agreement, the other boys nodded their heads and then diverted the conversation to a different topic in order to spare Goshiki. However, Tendou really couldn’t drop the subject. He scooched himself a couple inches closer to Goshiki and then leaned in to whisper into his ear. Voice even, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, Tendou knew how to rile up his junior.

“Between you and me…” He knew if he tried to continue his teasing antics the other boys would step in once again, so he flickered his eyes to the other guys to make sure they wouldn’t interfere. It was better if he kept it between the two of them. His voice was hushed and his hot breath brushed his earlobe. “I’m betting she’ll wear a two piece set.”

Steam started coming out of Goshiki’s ears and his face was now a vibrant red. He sat still, not breathing, as Tendou’s words echoed in his mind over and over again like a mantra. The entire world seemed to slow.

Two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece set, two piece—

“Goshiki.”

It was Ushijima who broke through Goshiki’s train of thought. The younger boy flinched and then turned to his senior. He wore a bored expression as he pointed at Goshiki’s hands.

“You’re wasting your drink.”

True to his words, Goshiki was crushing his bottle of Potari Sweat with a tight grip. The beverage was spilling all over his hands and onto the towel. Embarrassed, Goshiki shook the excess off and opted to take a sip of what was left of the drink. Tendou started howling out in laughter as he knew exactly what he was thinking while Shirabu sent an irritated look. The other boys chuckled, opting to ignore what just happened instead of prying. Probably another Tendou antic.

“I’m actually kind of surprised Wakatoshi joined us today,” Oohira started, casting a glance at Ushijima. He was sitting with perfect posture as he looked at the ocean view. There were children playing amongst themselves and couples walking along the shore, it all seemed so picturesque.

“Why is that?” Ushijima asked, curious to know.

“I really thought you wouldn’t want to come.” Oohira was always truthful with his words. When talking with Ushijima, embellishments weren’t needed. It was hard to offend him, but he didn’t like it when people beat around the bush. Being upfront was just Ushijima’s preferred style of conversation.

“The sand offers good practice.”

“Practice?”

“Yes, regarding footwork purposes.”

Of course. How could he miss out on such an opportunity?

He’s still thinking about volleyball right now?

As expected of Ushijima…

This guy is like a volleyball machine or something!

“Finally! I found you guys!”

A voice broke through their thoughts and they all turned around. With a backpack in tow and hands holding plastic bags from the convenience store, you made your way to the boys. The outfit you were wearing today consisted of a pair of light wash denim shorts, a tank top, and sandals. It was perfect summer attire—modest and trendy.

“I tried to text and call, but no one picked up. I’m not too late, am I?”

They all greeted you, calling your name to join them as they moved to make a spot for you.

“[Name]!” Tendou jumped up to join your side. He propped his arm on one of your shoulders and you used your elbow to get him to back off. “What took ya so long?”

“Sorry, I was held back by my classes this morning,” you mumbled as he led you to where everyone was sitting. Oohira was the one to first help you and take the plastic bags out of your hands as you dropped your backpack to the ground. “I got some stuff from the convenience store too, like cut fruit and onigiri.”

Semi and Yamagata started to hoot and holler in excitement, the others offering their gratitude in a more refined manner. Even though it was just the store bought and packaged food, the fact they were so riled up about it all made you swell with satisfaction.

“Enjoy it! I’m going to dip my toes into the water now,” you said as you got up, feeling a bit bashful being around them.

“Huh? But aren’t you going to get changed into your swimsuit?” Tendou gave you a puzzled look and tilted his head to the side.

“Oh, well…” You were a bit embarrassed to say the reason as their eyes were on you now. “I kind of… forgot to bring my swimsuit with me since I was in a rush. It’s fine though! Since I’m wearing shorts, I can still walk in the water! And it’s not super hot, so it doesn’t really bother me!”

Disappointment filled the air.

“Ah…”

“Right…”

“Okay…”

Clenching his fists, Goshiki cursed in his mind.

Juku…! The destroyer of dreams! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!

“Goshiki, please control yourself… You’re about to rip the towel...” Shirabu grimaced and lightly whacked the boy in the back of the head to stop him from tearing the cotton in his hands.

Thankfully, you didn’t notice the disheartened aura surrounding some of them as you started treading and kicking at the salty water like a child. You only went up to the point where the water reached mid-shin. The water was clear and reflected the rays of light, making the ocean glisten and sparkle as it kept at its constant motion. Taking a closer look, you noticed pretty treasures buried within the sand.

Seashells.

Hands sifted and dug through the ocean floor to grab at a pink, flat scallop shell. Part of it was chipped off, most likely due to all its time tumbling through the waters, but it was pretty enough for you to admire. You held it up in front of your face and then used it to block out the sun from your sight. With one eye closed, you examined every aspect of the shell: the way little holes allowed sunlight to escape, the transitional gradient of white to baby pink, the ridge marks that symmetrically lined the outer portion.

Still sitting at the toweled spot, the boys took note of the shells you were starting to collect in your hands. For each one—whether it be sea glass or the smallest of shells—you took the time to appreciate it; it didn’t matter if you were going to keep it or throw it back into the ocean where it belonged—nature was meant to be enjoyed and respected.

“Let’s go hunt for shells!” Tendou jumped up and ran to accompany your side. He didn’t wait for the others to approve of the activity and left them behind.

“Isn’t that something kids do?” Kawanishi muttered out, but Goshiki shushed him and jumped to his feet. Since he was rushing, he actually tripped down onto the sand and kicked a bit of it at Kawanishi’s face which reduced him to a coughing mess.

“I’ll go with you, Tendou!” He was eager to show off all the shells he was going to find. As soon as he touched water, Goshiki bent down and scoured the ocean floor, picking up shells here and there to pile up into his arms.

“Well, I guess it could be fun...” Semi shrugged his shoulders and was the first of the bunch to hop on back into the water. “Besides, someone’s gotta watch and make sure Tsutomu doesn’t pick up a poisonous snail or something…”

They all took another look at Goshiki. He had enough shells to start up a small shop.

“Agreed.”

“Quickly, let’s go.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to go back into the water.”

And with that, the boys started to, more or less, look for seashells on the beach. Every now and then they would show you what they found and give it to you. Only the ones in the best condition were kept, along with a couple sea glass pebbles.

As the hunt continued, Tendou started to pull you out a bit further to the deep end.

“C’mon, [Name]! The best and biggest shells are further out!” he said, his hand wrapped around your wrist as he tried to drag you. Your feet dug into the wet sand to keep yourself grounded. “Tsutomu’s out there too!”

“I’m already at knee level now, and I didn’t bring any spare clothes with me! You guys can go ahead, but I’m staying over here!” You were shaking your head to object the idea. It would be kind of embarrassing to go back on the bus with your clothes a soggy mess.

“No! Join us!”

“Tendou!”

“Join!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“I said—!”

Because the world works in the most mysterious ways, your hopes to maintain dry were shattered by the roaring call of mother nature. An insanely large—almost monstrous—wave engulfed you and Tendou, submerging both your bodies underwater. All the sea glass and shells fell out of your hands and were pulled back into the ocean. The worst of all? Your clothes were completely drenched. While Tendou laughed at the entire ordeal, shaking his wet hair side to side like a dog, you felt utterly defeated.

“I’m… going back…” you mumbled out, shivering a bit. Unable to even process what just happened, you robotically made your way to where Shirabu and Kawanishi were sitting underneath the shade. They had seen the whole scene unfold and felt rather sorry for you. Your interest in shell collecting lost with the tides.

When you got back, Kawanishi and Shirabu handed you an extra towel to dry yourself off. The other boys were still hunting, the third years now grouped together as they tried to show off what they found to each other. Goshiki swam out pretty far and took deep breaths of air before going down to search the ocean floor. Another large wave came and this time took Goshiki as its victim. The clothes you were wearing now felt heavy and your hair was completely wet.

“I guess you don’t want to go out to the water again,” Kawanishi said as he took the towel from your hands when you were done with it. The idea of going back out made you grimace. “Well, we were going to go and get kakigōri. Do you want to come with us?”

“…Sure.” At this point, it would probably be best to walk around and dry off. Why not go and buy some shaved ice? A summer day in Japan wouldn’t be complete without kakigōri. You grabbed your backpack and swung it around your shoulder. “Lead the way!”

They quickly put on their t-shirts and then you three started off back to the paved area. There were plenty of families and kids your age hanging around outside. It wasn’t necessarily bustling with people, but it was enough to have you walk closer to Shirabu and Kawanishi. Ushers stood outside and tried to hand out flyers to whoever was within their radius, and the smell of grilled meat from nearby restaurants attacked your senses. The three of you kept at a leisurely pace, Shirabu starting the conversation about what you missed when the boys were making their way to the beach.

“…And Goshiki ended up grabbing the wrong bag in the overhead compartment of the bus,” Shirabu sighed out, feeling the secondhand embarrassment rise up again.

“But you guys got it back right?” you asked, laughing a bit.

“Yeah, we had to run to the next stop and exchange it… Thankfully, the other passenger didn’t mind it too much.” He actually looked pretty pissed as he recollected what happened prior in the day. “Sometimes I really can’t believe him.”

“Aw, don’t you think you’re being too harsh?” You then nudged at Kawanishi, urging him to agree with you. “Shirabu’s definitely being too harsh on him, right?”

Kawanishi thought about it for a second. “A little, but sometimes he gets babied a bit too much. Especially by Yamagata and Tendou. You do it too.”

“Huh?” This surprised you. Did you really baby him? The thought never came to mind. “What makes you say that? I don’t think I baby him!”

They both didn’t hesitate to list off all the times you babied Goshiki. In unison, Shirabu and Kawanishi backed their claim.

“Last week when you helped him with his English homework, filming multiple angles for his cross shot, telling him his bowl cut suited him, the fact that you pack extra tissues for—"

“The time you went to take him to the infirmary for diving wrong, when you taped his fingers, when you gave him half of your protein bar after official practice ended, just the other day—"

You grabbed at both of their shoulders to stop them from continuing on.

“Okay! I get it! Maybe I do baby him, but that’s not too bad of a thing, right?” You were trying to defend yourself. Sure, you were the manager of the team, but you didn’t want him to grow too dependent on your presence.

Kawanishi shrugged. A part of him wanted to say that it was more than a growing dependency, but he held his tongue. It would be too much trouble to explain and he didn’t want to get caught up in the affairs of others.

“It’ll get to his head,” Shirabu answered in the most blunt manner. To be frank, it already did get to his head, but he would rather you think this was due to being babied by the team and nothing more.

Tapping your index finger to your lips, you thought about all the things you did to dote on him. Shirabu and Kawanishi were definitely more observant than the other guys.

“Maybe I should baby you guys too,” you playfully teased them, nudging your elbows into their sides. They didn’t really seem to mind it as you kept an upbeat tone. It was different compared to how you were during practice—more loose and carefree. “I’ll remember to tape your fingers after our next practice, how about that?”

“That’s fine, but the baby of the team might say something,” Kawanishi chuckled out. They knew you were joking with them and let the banter continue. Since they were talking about the youngest of the team, it made you think about the time when they were still first years. Within a year they were already growing taller, more mature, and little bit more cheeky with their words.

“Oh, there’s a place.”

Shirabu pointed to a kōri banner and you three made your way to the stand. There were a multitude of flavors being advertised and you brooded for a second over which one to get. Strawberry? Green tea? Melon? Cherry? Lemon? What topping should you get? Weren’t there any limited edition flavors being served?

“[Surname], are you going to pick?” Shirabu asked, holding up a small cup. The ice color was green and there were azuki beans added to the top.

“Yeah, you’ve been staring at it for some time,” added Kawanishi as he took the first bite of his dessert. It looked like he got the strawberry flavor; there were little bits of cut fruit topping it as well.

Wait, how long was I thinking about a flavor? In panic, you ended up pointed to the syrup bottle closest to you. Lemon. With haste, you paid and then soon realized you didn’t even request for a topping. Whatever, it honestly doesn’t matter too much.

“It’s kind of funny,” Shirabu began, digging his spoon to grab little bits of the azuki bean with the shaved ice for the perfect spoonful. You three were walking back to the shore now, steps a bit slower now since you had to eat the dessert before it melted.

“What is?” you asked, not completely understanding where the conversation was going.

“You.”

“Me?”

“Oh, I was about to say something like that,” Kawanishi backed up Shirabu and started to chew on one of the small cuts of fruit. “[Surname], the way you act can be pretty funny.”

“What?”

“You’ll be so deep in thought that you just pause, like this,” Shirabu stopped walking and kept his face blank. Then, he slowly started to squint his eyes and furrowed his brows together. With a tilt of the head, he finished his performance. Beside you, Kawanishi started to laugh at Shirabu’s mimicry.

“Yeah! Exactly like that!” Kawanishi did a thumbs up. Even Shirabu had a smile quirked on his lips. “Sometimes I think about waving my hand in front of your face, like how they do in the cartoons.”

You couldn’t even refute it because you had just spaced out earlier in front of the kakigōri stand. Instead, you shoved a large spoonful into your mouth and powered through the brain freeze.

“I think I liked you guys better when you were still first years,” you grumbled, trying to act a bit upset. It was impossible to hold the façade and within the next minute you started to chuckle.

Back to lighthearted chatter, the two kept at it with their teasing, keeping you on your toes as you shot back with the ways you were going to dote on them from now on. It wasn’t often you were alone with the second years of the team, so you allowed them to have their fun with you on the route back to the shore.

“Tendou!” Goshiki called out as loud as he could. His face was red and he refused to swim back to the shallow portion of the beach where the other guys were. Anytime someone swam closer to him, he made sure to distance himself appropriately. “Tendou! I need to tell you something!”

“What’s up, Tsutomu?” Tendou yelled back from where he was. He was also in the deep end of the water and was floating on his back, enjoying the warmth offered by the sun.

“I, um, found a really big shell! It’s huge! Come and check it out!” This got Tendou’s attention and he started to make his way to Goshiki.

“Lemme see it! Lemme see!”

When he arrived, he found Goshiki to be empty handed, not a single shell in sight.

“Boo! Why’d ya trick me? I’m going back then. I think Wakatoshi’s got a nice handful of sea glass that he found, so—”

“Wait! Don’t leave!” His voice was panicked and it actually made Tendou slightly worried. Goshiki looked from side to side, his pupils shaking in trepidation. “D-Did you see…”

“What?”

He closed his eyes as tight as he could to stop his face from getting any redder than it already was.

“Shorts…”

“Huh? What about—oh.”

The previous wave was so huge and ferocious it had actually ended up ripping Goshiki’s shorts off of him, so now he was butt naked in the ocean. Because he had no filter, Tendou started bawling his eyes out as he laughed and laughed and laughed at his poor junior. He hit the water with his hands and actually had to take time to collect himself because he felt a cramp coming. With a couple of deep breaths, Tendou composed himself.

“Alright, I’ll let the other guys know! Stay here, Tsutomu and we’ll figure something out!” With these words, Tendou started to swim back to the shore.

Tendou’s words were comforting and Goshiki felt himself tear up. All his seniors were dependable people who knew how to take care of him. He felt bad for having doubts about asking for Tendou’s assistance and apologized to his senior in his mind. He watched as Tendou started to make his way to the rest of the group.

“Hey, do you guys have any extra shorts?” Tendou asked the others who were clustered together, still trying to find shells to replace the ones you had lost earlier.

“Yeah, I do. Why? Do you need them?” Yamagata replied and then took a glance at Tendou. It looked like he was trying to repress a smile.

“Nah! Just wanted to know. Thanks, Hayato!” Tendou was awfully chipper. In the next moment, he put an arm around Ushijima’s shoulders.

“Wakatoshi,” Tendou began and then lead him back to the sand, far away so the others wouldn’t hear their conversation. “Mind doin’ me a little favor?”

“Hm?” Ushijima had a seashell in his hand and held it up at eye level to examine the small dots that decorated it. Tendou made sure to keep a good distance from the other guys while whispering the rest of the details into his ears. A look of confusion washed Ushijima’s features as Tendou continued to talk. “Are you sure?”

“Positive! C’mon, put the shells away and we’ll get you ready.” Tendou was now pushing him back to where the towels were laid. He noticed the pebbles of polished sea glass and small shells in his hands. “After this, I’ll treat ya to your favorite dish!”

Ushijima set everything down on the towel and contemplated Tendou’s words. The slight shine in his eyes didn't go unnoticed.

“Okay, but only for a little while.”

At his friend's agreement, Tendou laughed boisterously and slapped Ushijima on the back.

“That’s the spirit!”

What’s taking Tendou so long? Goshiki wondered to himself as he kept afloat. He could feel his fingers getting wrinkly. How long have I been in the water?

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Tendou started to swim back to Goshiki.

“Sorry, Tsutomu! They said they didn’t have any extra shorts!” he lied and made a small pout with his lips to fake his disappointment. “I talked to Wakatoshi, and he said he’d go get ya some new shorts from one of the shops nearby. Isn’t that sweet of him?”

Goshiki casted his eyes to the side, avoiding Tendou’s gaze as he felt rather self-conscious regarding the entire situation. It was embarrassing to have the other guys know and go through all this trouble for him. He’d also have to wait in the water for a while longer.

“Ah, yes…”

“Aw, there’s no need to be—!”

Suddenly, Tendou’s eyes widened, a mixture of fright and shock evident in his shaking pupils. His jaw was hung open, but for a moment, words failed him. All the color drained from his face, rendering him to look as pale as an A4 sheet of paper. At the distressed display, Goshiki felt his muscles freeze for a second.

“H-Holy crap! It’s a yōkai!” Tendou screamed, voice sounding shrill as he pointed a finger out to the open water.

At the word “yōkai,” a couple of kids swimming nearby focused their attention on Tendou and followed where he was pointing to. A dark shadow was seen swimming near the surface of the water—large and intimidating, its very presence an enigma as it circled rather aimlessly. The kids were paralyzed, afraid if they made a move it would sense them and attack. Slowly, its head peeked up and frightened them even more. At a distance, the kids could only make out some black tendrils protruding out of its giant stature.

“It’s an Ushi-oni!” Tendou cried out in horror as he witnessed the monster start wading its way towards them. Wasting no time, Tendou swam as fast as a bullet back to the shore and left Goshiki behind to fend for himself. “Swim for your life, Tsutomu!”

“Wait, Tendou! I can’t get out…!”

Goshiki was panicking as he looked over his shoulder. The yōkai was continuing its way towards him. His fight or flight response kicked in and he started to swim away as fast as he could. Due to being butt naked, his only resort was to continue swimming parallel to the shore. The other kids in the water started to retreat to safety, back to the golden sands; they tripped over their feet and started to throw shells they were going to take home back into the ocean, hoping that maybe this would appease the supernatural creature.

“MOM!” one of the kids screamed out, tears streaming down his face as he ran back to his family. A look of concern was present on all their faces as the mother cradled her child in her arms. “There’s a yōkai in the water! An Ushi-oni! We need to leave!”

“There’s no such thing as—” the father began and then took one look towards the water. Goshiki was swimming in circles as the supposed monster continued to follow him. “You know, I think we’ve had enough sun for today. Let’s go back to the hotel. Now.”

Quick as lightning, the family started to pack up their things and dashed back to the paved roads. A few other families nearby did the same, not wanting their children to be subjected to the same fate as Goshiki. There were some people who found the entire situation rather comical and, instead of offering help, they decided to record what was happening with their phones.

“Guys! We gotta help Tsutomu!” Tendou was out of breath as he pointed towards Goshiki who was now swimming laps with a yōkai chasing him.

Semi, Yamagata, and Oohira stopped what they were doing to take a look at the commotion. They all paled.

“Huh? What’s—!” Semi was rendered speechless at the absurdity of the entire scene. “OI, TSUTOMU! GET OUTTA THE WATER!”

“I CAN’T!” Goshiki screamed out, he started to go past the buoy into deeper waters. His priority was no longer on getting a spare set of shorts, but more so on surviving this beach outing. “I LOST MY SHORTS!”

“What! Why didn’t you tell us!” There was a ferocity in his tone as he yelled back, but Goshiki didn’t hear him. He was too far out.

As Semi and Tendou started arguing about who had to go into the water to save Goshiki, Yamagata and Oohira remained silent, trying to think up a solution—and also make sense of what was going on.

Then it hit Yamagata like a pile of bricks.

“Hey, do you guys have any extra shorts?” Tendou asked the others who were clustered together, still trying to find shells to replace the ones you had lost earlier.

“Yeah, I do. Why? Do you need them?” Yamagata replied and then took a glance at Tendou. It looked like he was trying to repress a smile.

“Nah! Just wanted to know. Thanks, Hayato!” Tendou was awfully chipper. In the next moment, he put an arm around Ushijima’s shoulders.

“Dude,” Yamagata shook his head and let out a sigh. It wasn’t hard to figure out the evil mastermind behind all of this. “Is that Wakatoshi out there?”

“Huh?” Semi and Oohira turned to Yamagata who was now making a break to grab an extra pair of shorts. He didn’t stay back to answer any questions.

“Tendou…”

Said boy couldn’t stop his fit of laughter as he fell to his knees and gripped onto his sides. There were tears brimming in his eyes as he shook his head and took short breaths of air.

“No, no,” he waved a hand in the air, taking a pause to laugh again before continuing his words. “You caught us! It’s Wakatoshi out there with Tsutomu!”

Neither Semi nor Oohira could believe what they just heard. Sure, this kind of stuff was normal for Tendou, but the fact he got Ushijima to tag along was just… unheard of.

“You mean…”

“Wakatoshi…”

“Yep," Tendou said as he wiped the tears threatening to spill out from the corner of his eyes. "That’s him.”

This is the end, Goshiki closed his eyes and accepted his fate. He was now out pretty far and his stamina was running low. In his last moments, he prayed for the safety of his family and for the team to win their next tournaments without him. He hoped he would be missed. Thank you mom, dad, everyone who supported me… I hope in my next life I’ll be a huge volleyball star… I also hope I’ll get the chance to start a family and have one son and one daughter… I can’t believe it’s all ending so suddenly when I haven't even—

“Goshiki,” the monster spoke to him, interrupting his (what was thought to be) final thoughts instead of tearing him to shreds. It had a deep, familiar voice. “It’s me.”

Huh?

Howls of laughter could be heard.

“Nice job, Wakatoshi!” Tendou had his hands cupped around his mouth as he yelled out as loud as he could. The rest of the beachgoers gave him a look, but they brushed it off and went back to their day activities.

Goshiki opened his eyes, and before him was Ushijima. There was a big lump of seaweed on his head and even more seaweed draped on his arms. Up close, he looked a bit ridiculous.

“Ushijima!” Goshiki wasn’t sure if he should cry out in anger or in relief. “What’re you doing out here!”

He opened his mouth to respond, but was promptly interrupted.

“Tsutomu! We got you some shorts!” Yamagata yelled out as loud as possible. Oohira was right beside him as they started to run across the sand. “Meet us halfway!”

This time, Goshiki let out a couple tears of joy.

“What’s up with everyone…?” you questioned aloud, staring at the groups of people who were running away from the beach. A couple families rushed past you three with haste, refusing to look back. It was unnerving to witness.

Taking careful steps, you three returned to the spot claimed earlier and stared at the commotion happening in the sea.

“Is that…” Kawanishi began. He was squinting his eyes, trying to get a clearer view of the scene before him.

Shirabu blinked twice.

“Ushijima…?"

It was no hallucination. There was seaweed on Ushijima’s head and a ton more wrapped around his arms. He was swimming next to Goshiki, and Yamagata was making his way towards the pair.

“Meet us halfway!” you heard Yamagata yell out, waving both arms towards Goshiki, beckoning him over. He was holding something in his hand. They finally linked together, but the unexpected ensued.

Similar to what happened to you while shell hunting, a large wave ambushed the group and completely swept them off their feet. You would have thought absolutely nothing of it, maybe even laughed a bit because even Ushijima was completely blown away, but you were left in a state of shock. The kakigōri slipped through your fingers and fell to the ground with a light thud.

You realized Yamagata must have been holding shorts in his hand.

The only reason why you were even able to come to this conclusion was because Goshiki ended up mooning the entire beach as he was flipped over, his butt put on full display for a couple of seconds as the water played with him.

It was certainly a memorable summer day with the team, in more ways than one.

EXTRA:

As the day was finally coming to a close, you started to go through the pile of seashells and sea glass collected. It would be wrong for you to take all of them home, so you decided to keep only a small handful in order to remember the summer outing.

“What! Why aren’t you keeping this one? Yanno, I picked this one for you aaaaaallllllll the way out there!” Tendou shouted while shaking your shoulders. Since coming out of the water, he had been pestering you about your shell choices.

“No, it’s too big. Didn’t your parents tell you to leave nature the way it is? It’s better to keep this one at the beach.”

“[Name],” he sighed out and then laid his back on the towel. “That’s kinda boring.”

You rolled your eyes at him and continued to inspect every shell.

“It’s not boring. Here, take some.” You pushed the reject pile towards him. “When I was younger, I used the shells to make words and pictures into the sand. You can try it.”

He hummed in response and sat up. The pile was now being used for his own artistic purposes.

“Don’t look, I’m making a masterpiece right now.” He let out a short laugh and then moved his body so that it was in the way of his work.

“That’s fine.” You tossed another sea glass pebble his way. “Oh, this one’s pretty.”

“Hm?” He turned around and looked at the shell you were holding. It was small with a thin conical shape about the length of your pinky, brown spots dotting the smooth exterior. “Oh, I think Tsutomu found that one.”

Upon hearing his name, your face began to heat up after recent events.

“…Really.”

“Yup! Went way out to the deep end and picked it out. He looked preeeeetty proud when he found it.” He went back to grabbing into the reject pile and using the shell and pebbles to embellish the sand canvas.

You kept quiet and stared at the shell for a bit longer.

“[Surname].”

You were pulled out of your thoughts. Standing before you was Ushijima. He kneeled down and then added more sea glass to the stack you were looking through. His addition consisted of a multitude of colors. It was honestly a wonder how he was able to find so many in a short amount of time.

“Wow!” You picked up one of the pebbles to admire how it would glisten in the sunlight. “Talk about a nice haul, Ushijima! C’mon, help me go through the pile.”

He obliged and sat across from you, picking through the ones he felt were the most worthy to keep. You three worked in a comfortable silence, the only sound being the way the ocean waves hit the sand and Tendou’s humming.

“Done!” Tendou exclaimed and stretched his arms out to the sky. “C’mere, look at this, guys!”

You leaned back to get a look at Tendou’s creation.

“…You call that art?” you asked, staring at him with a blank face. He really couldn’t be serious.

“Of course! Anyone would be lucky to even get a glance at it!” He turned to Ushijima, a coy smile on his lips. “Wakatoshi, isn’t it beautiful?”

“It’s your name.”

Tendou grinned.

“Yup, sure is! I don’t think Monet or Picasso could ever top this.”

Chapter Text

Day three of the Miyagi prefectural qualifiers for Interhigh. Four teams competing. One spot available as the representative. Tournament days were always a bit more hectic, a bit more nerve inducing since you guys were facing different types of play. Gossip about another school pushing Aoba Johsai into a corner during their third round match traveled fast; something about a freak duo? Or a freak quick? The thought was pushed to the back of your mind. It didn’t matter now since Seijoh won in the end.

If you had to guess, the finals for today would probably be against Seijoh. It was the same as the previous years with Shiratorizawa having a good chance at winning a spot as the Miyagi representatives. Usually, this would be a time when the nostalgia flooded your mind—all the tournaments, matches, and time spent with the members seeming to come to a close with your final year of high school.

But that wasn’t the case right now.

Once you and the rest of the team entered the Sendai City Gymnasium, Coach Washijou and Coach Saito made their way to the registration desk in order to confirm the team’s attendance and chat with a few colleagues. Leading the rest of the boys to a more secluded area in the venue for today’s tournament, you couldn’t hide the cross look on your face.

“Man, look at them… You can tell they’re a powerhouse school just from the way they walk,” a bystander whispered to his friend, pointing at the team following behind you.

“Right? Look at Ushiwaka! He’s like a giant or something.”

“Do you think Seijoh has a chance of winning against them?”

All the comments were filtered out in your mind as you continued onward. There was barely any chatter amongst the members as they followed. The atmosphere surrounding you all was ice cold. Finally, after finding a suitable corner for the team to get ready, you dropped your duffle bag to the ground and turned to face the group. A couple of the guys avoided eye contact with you and instead stared at the tile floor.

“Alright,” you began, the word coming out as sharp as possible. “Who left the banana chunk on the seat?”

Silence. It was a simple question, but no one fessed up. Kawanishi started to nervously play with his fingers while Goshiki looked down at his feet. The third year boys had their lips zipped.

Irritated by their lack of response, you decided to let loose. Hand on hip in the ultimate nagging position, you were ready to scold them. “I already told you guys plenty of times to quit leaving food around and to stop eating on the bus! Couldn’t you wait until you got off for a snack? Now look at Ushijima’s track pants!”

Holding said pants in front of you, there was a huge splotchy stain right on the backside due to Ushijima sitting (and not noticing) the bit of banana on the bus seat. It was disgusting, the gunk left on it was reminiscent of baby vomit. The day barely started, and something was already going awry. Now, all the boys were avoiding your gaze. It was disappointing how you had to use this little bit of free time available to get to the bottom of the banana caper.

“And even worse, that seat is going to smell like rotting bananas in the summer heat! That’s disgusting!” With one last sigh, you started to fold Ushijima’s banana soiled pants. “Until someone comes clean, I’m not bringing anymore bananas for the team.”

A gasp was let out. There was only one person who would be absolutely heartbroken over bananas.

“Nooooo!” Tendou cried, however, you really couldn’t bother to give him the time of day as you held your head up high, firm in your decision. “The bananas are the best part of tournament day!”

“You’re losing your banana privileges starting today.” And with that, you turned on your heels, making your way to the bathroom to see if you could wash the banana out of the pants. “Now get settled, we still have about an hour until our match for the day starts.”

“But [Name]! How are we supposed to play without our bananas!” Tendou quickly caught up to you and shook one of your shoulders as he whined. A few bystanders spectated the entire ordeal, thinking it strange for a high schooler to act so childish. “It’s our energy source! You know, like in Two Piece when they eat the Devil Fruit and they get super powers? That’s what bananas are like to me!”

“Uh, I really have no idea what you’re talking about, Tendou.” There wasn’t an ounce of sympathy in your voice as you kept walking, ignoring his protests.

“Oi, Tendou, quit it!” Semi came to the rescue, trying his best to drag Tendou back to the group. “It’s just a banana!”

“Just a banana?” Tendou was stupefied as he put a hand over his chest, his eyes widening. “Just a banana? It’s not just a banana!” He took a couple of steps back and then grabbed onto Semi’s wrist to get him to linger behind. Once you were an earshot away he whispered into Semi’s ear. “When was the last time a girl gave you a fruit?”

“What?”

“A girl that wasn’t your mom!”

“Tendou!” Semi recoiled back. “It doesn’t matter!”

“Yes it does, Eita! We need to get our bananas back!”

“Buy your own! We were lucky [Surname] even bought us bananas for tournament days!” Done with the conversation, Semi shoved his hands into his pockets and was about to rejoin the rest of the group until he heard Tendou’s taunt.

“Was it you?”

Semi stopped in his tracks, turning around to face Tendou once more.

“Huh?”

“I mean, you did sit next to Wakatoshi on the way here…” Tendou was now sporting his thinking face. As he put the pieces together, he scrunched his nose and furrowed his brows together; after an intense minute, he shot up straight and then pointed an accusatory finger at Semi. “It totally makes sense! This is all your fault!”

“My fault? I didn’t leave a banana chunk on the seat!”

“That’s exactly what the guilty party would say!” Tendou was adamant on his verdict. Fast as lightning, Tendou started sprinting your way. Semi, knowing Tendou all too well, tailed after him.

“[Name]!” Tendou called out as he caught up. He was waving his arms to get your attention.

You stopped walking, wondering just what Tendou was so riled up about. “What is it…?”

“I figured it out! I know who—!”

Not giving him the chance to finish his sentence, Semi slapped a hand over Tendou’s mouth.

“[Surname]!” Semi was panting as he rushed to say his words. “It’s nothing! Don’t worry about it!”

You narrowed your eyes at the two of them. While Tendou was struggling out of his friend's grasp, Semi was sweating bullets, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.

“Are you two okay?”

“We’re fine! It’s nothing.”

A muffled protest came out from Tendou which only resulted in Semi squeezing his hand tighter to shut him up.

“…Alright,” you warily responded back to him. Something was definitely not okay between them, but at the moment you really didn’t want to prod at it. “Well, I’m going to the bathroom to see if I can get the banana out of the pants… I’ll be back in like fifteen minutes.”

Sparing one last look over your shoulder, you took off again. As soon as you rounded the corner and were out of sight, Semi let go of Tendou. In a melodramatic manner, Tendou took in a deep breath for air and squatted down.

“Jeez, I really thought I was gonna suffocate, Eita!” he gasped out.

Semi shook his head, exasperated at everything happening. “Listen, Tendou. I’ll help you find the… banana culprit… but don’t go making false accusations!”

“Hm, alright.” Tendou shrugged his shoulders as he stood up. With his hands behind his neck and elbows jutted out in front of him, he sauntered back to rejoin the team. “We’ll be like a bad cop, good cop duo!”

“Yeah, fine, whatever,” Semi grumbled out. This seemed to be the only way to stop Tendou from pushing the blame on him. And he certainly didn’t want to be subjected to your wrath (the cold shoulder) for a good week.

With a nonchalant attitude, Tendou scanned his teammates and picked out the first suspect to investigate. A couple of the boys had already changed into their jersey uniforms and were now engaged in their pregame rituals.

“Taichi!” He pointed a finger at said boy who was tapping away at his phone. Beside him was Shirabu who stopped talking mid-sentence due to Tendou’s interruption. “You ate your banana on the bus, right?”

“Yes…?”

“And you sat in the seat in front of Wakatoshi? On the bus?”

Kawanishi pocketed his phone and slouched a bit. He didn’t even try to hide his displeasure as he frowned a bit.

“Yes... Tendou, are you trying to put the blame on me for the banana on Ushijima’s seat?”

“So you admit you did it?” Tendou got up closer to Kawanishi’s face, examining every little detail to see if he had a tell.

“I ate the entire banana and threw the peel away.” Kawanishi kept calm and collected when facing his senior. There was nothing to hide as he kept a neutral visage.

“Then where’d you throw the peel?”

“In the trash can,” Kawanishi pointed to one from across the room, "right over there.”

Tendou paused, eyes flickering from Kawanishi’s finger and the trash can. He scanned Kawanishi’s face once more before taking a step to the side so that he was now directly in front of Shirabu.

“Alright. You’re safe this round.”

There’s going to be another round of this? Kawanishi inwardly groaned to himself as he took his phone out again to check for any new messages.

“Kenjirou!” Tendou started again with a new victim. “And you? What about your banana?”

Not missing a beat, Shirabu dug through his sports bag and pulled out a prefect, unbruised banana.

“Here. I was saving it for later.”

Tendou took it and hummed as he inspected it at all angles. He really had no method in his investigative skills. Standing next to him, Semi felt the need to massage his temples.

“Hey, maybe we should just relax and get ready for—"

“Tsutomu!” Tendou yelled out this time, completely ignoring what Semi had to say. So much for bad cop, good cop.

“Y-Yes, Tendou?” Goshiki’s voice was shaking, his anxiousness taking hold of him.

“Why’re you so nervous…?” Tendou took it upon himself to wrap an arm around Goshiki’s shoulders, pulling him closer. There was no hiding the beads of sweat on his forehead. “Got something to say…?”

He gulped. Everyone could tell he was nervous from a single glance, the older members feeling slightly sorry for him.

“N-No!”

“Aren’t you going to miss banana privileges?”

Goshiki pressed his lips into a straight line and shut his eyes.

“Hey, lay off him, Tendou,” Semi shook his head and crossed his arms in disapproval. “He wasn’t even sitting on the same side as Wakatoshi.”

Again, Tendou disregarded what Semi said and, instead of stopping, leaned into Goshiki’s ear, hoping he could crack him under the pressure.

“Aren’t you going to miss [Name]’s bananas?”

There’s no way that’s going to work, Semi cringed at the very sight in front of him. They’re just bananas…

“I remember I saw Yamamgata eating his banana on the bus earlier today…”

Holy crap, it worked! Semi gawked at the confession.

At the mention of his name, Yamagata stopped in the middle of his conversation with Oohira and whipped his head around. All eyes were on Tendou now as they circled around him.

“Huh? What’s going on? You need me?”

“Yeah, we need you, Hayato!” Tendou let go of Goshiki and made his way to Yamagata, tapping his thumb on his chin. “You ate your banana on the bus, hm?”

“Uh, yeah, I did,” Yamagata answered and scratched the back of his head. “Look, I really don’t—”

“It must’ve been you!” Tendou yelled out, not caring at all about his noise level. He was still holding onto Shirabu’s banana and used it to point at his suspect. “You left the chunk on the seat!”

“Me? I didn’t do it!” Yamagata was flabbergasted at this point, his hands gripping onto his head as Tendou kept grilling him.

“Where’s your proof that ya didn’t!”

“I don’t need proof! Just believe me when I say I didn’t do it!”

The banana investigation soon morphed into a full blown argument among the boys. False accusations were being made left and right over who the true offender was. Slowly but surely, other instances besides the banana were made apparent; any and all incriminating details were brought to the table: the time Oohira forgot his sweaty socks in the club room, when Semi left a half-eaten protein bar on the sidelines, last week when Goshiki accidentally grabbed Shirabu’s sport bag to his dorm instead of his own.

In contrast to the chaos, Ushijima started to get changed into his jersey and ignored all the commotion.

It was during these times—the times when you were the most stressed out—that the bathroom became your safe haven. A sanctuary. The oasis in a desert. Whatever you wanted to call this realm of peace. As soon as you stepped foot inside, the door behind you shutting with a click, you let out a sigh to release all the tension in your body. Some days, dealing with the boys of the volleyball team was just impossible.

Taking a couple more steps, you realized the bathroom wasn’t empty. There was another girl inspecting herself with one of the mirrors; she held up some strands of her hair and frowned a few times, softly muttering to herself while shaking her head. The yellow tracksuit she was wearing made her stick out like a sore thumb. Being mindful, you made way to the sink furthest away from her and unfolded Ushijima’s track pants. The ugly stain seemed to taunt you.

How does this even happen? Your mouth twisted in disgust. I mean, wouldn’t he have noticed he sat on part of a banana? I should have brought some tangerines or something. Actually, that might be an even worse idea because, knowing the boys, someone would get juice squirted into their eyes… What’s another fruit—

“Um, is that a banana stain?”

The voice interrupted your train of thought. Turning your head, you noticed the other girl in the bathroom was now standing closer to you, a concerned look on her face. For a second, you froze. It was embarrassing to even answer, but you quickly regained your composure and nodded at her.

“Yeah… it is…”

You could feel your face heat up upon admitting the truth and averted your eyes away from her gaze.

“Here, let me help you.” She grabbed a couple of paper towels and started to wipe the gunk off. “I’m guessing this is from one of the members on your team?”

Another nod. “Yes, I honestly don’t know how it happened. I keep telling them to quit eating on the bus, but sometimes they just don’t listen…”

She stayed quiet, wiping at the exterior of the pants.

“…I understand,” she turned to face you and gave a small smile, completely sympathetic towards your situation. “Okay, now that we got the banana out, we need to run it over cold water.”

She handed the pants back to you and you turned the faucet on. Meanwhile, she threw the paper towels away.

“After you finish rinsing, use hot water. The stain should disappear, but you still need to make sure to wash it with detergent as soon as possible!”

Following her instructions, the stain slowly started to vanish.

“Wow! You really know your stuff, um…” Unsure how to refer to her, you paused for a second.

“Misaki. Misaki Hana,” she finished your sentence, now handing you some more paper towels. “I really do know how you feel though…

“Huh?”

“Sometimes…” Misaki took in a deep breath, the tips of her ear slowly turning red as she focused her gaze to the side. “The guys on my team don’t listen too. I mean, just this morning they were messing around with some onigiri… Acting like it was a volleyball and…” She looked away, too flustered to continue on. It was then you noticed a couple of small grains of rice stuck in her hair.

“Oh, you have some…” You motioned a hand at the top of your head and she turned pink. Understanding her situation completely, you picked out a couple of the grains. “There! All gone.”

She expressed her gratitude with a smile. As you continued to pat dry the track pants, small talk between you two filled the air.

“Sometimes the guys on the team play this game and it gives me so much anxiety. They say it’s to practice their serves, but really I think it’s just an excuse to hit each other…” you started, feeling the need to share with her in order to relieve the embarrassment she just went through.

“My team too… They even go so far as to turn their backs and—”

You let out a gasp.

“Wait. Is this the same game?”

You stared into her eyes; she did the same back to you.

“Butts up?” you both said in unison.

There was a moment of silence, the only sound belonging to the flickering overhead light.

S-Someone who knows how I feel?

Tears welled up in both your eyes. She was awestruck, a hand hovering in front of her mouth as she tried to formulate a proper response. Meanwhile, you tried to blink away the waterworks.

“It’s scary, right? I had to go get ice packs one time, but when I came back they were still playing the game!” She grabbed onto your hands and nodded her head furiously. “And it’s like, you just got hit! Why are you still playing?”

“Oh my God, the exact same thing happened to me too!” you nearly shouted out, excited to finally meet someone who would understand all your struggles. Friends in class would always doubt your stories, saying that Ushijima would never bend over with his butt in the air, but here was someone—another living person—who knew what it was like to manage a team.

“It’s hard to be around a bunch of guys! Sometimes they just do things you’d never expect!”

“Exactly! They don’t bother to use their heads before doing things! It makes me so worried!”

She let out a sigh of relief.

“But… managing a team is also really fun,” you mused out. Even though the boys could be a handful at times, you knew life would be boring without them.

Misaki laughed into her hand. “Yeah, you’re right!”

And with that, you two were sharing experience after experience, laughing together at all the crazy instances only a club manager would go through.

Time flew by as you talked with Misaki in the bathroom. There was an instant connection when chatting with her as you two exchanged stories between giggles. It was sad you had to say your goodbyes so soon, but the boys still needed to warm up for their first match and you couldn’t just leave them hanging.

“Good luck on your match, [Name]! I’ll be cheering for you guys!” Misaki waved at you and started to make her way back to her team.

You grinned back at her. “You too! Thanks for all your help!”

Going your separate ways, you hugged the clean and dried track pants to your chest, practically skipping down the hallway. There was no hiding the smile on your face as your lips tugged upwards, mood completely upbeat in comparison to how you were twenty minutes ago.

Unfortunately, this happy disposition didn’t last long.

With each step leading to where the boys were located, the noise level gradually grew louder and more intense. Very clearly, you could tell there was an argument going on, but the sounds were mixing in and it seemed as if each person was trying to talk over the other. Rounding the corner, the scene before you played like a situational comedy.

Tendou, the center of all the attention, was holding a banana with his two hands, positioning it up as if it were a pistol; he switched off from pointing it at Yamagata and Kawanishi, the latter sitting on the ground with his back to the wall while the former was trying to slap the banana away from his face. Meanwhile, Semi had his hand glued onto Tendou’s shoulder to get him to stop treating the banana like a gun; Tendou wasn’t listening to what he had to say and was making random accusations about his teammates. Off to the side, Ushijima and Oohira watched the frenzy with their arms crossed, a look of amusement on Oohira’s face while Ushijima had his head tilted slightly.

“I said fess up, Hayato!”

“Quit shoving that thing in my face!”

“Oi, we need to get changed…”

Unable to even process words at the moment, you stood in place—feet planted to the ground—and surveyed the madness before you.

Shiratorizawa, the strongest team in the Miyagi prefecture, was most certainly also the biggest handful in the prefecture.

EXTRA 1:

The final match went on for two straight sets: 25-22, 25-23. Shiratorizawa’s win against Aoba Johsai again. To celebrate becoming the Miyagi representatives for the Interhigh tournament, both coaches treated the team to an after match dinner. The small ramen restaurant was completely packed now, the owner letting out a hearty laugh every time someone requested a second serving.

“Tsutomu, don’t you think you should slow down…?” Concerned, Semi eyed the boy sitting across from him. There was a stack of empty bowls in front of him.

Goshiki let out a string of gibberish as a response, too busy slurping up his ramen to give a proper answer. Small bits of broth flew onto the table, causing you and Semi to recoil in disgust.

With a handful of napkins, you shoved them towards Goshiki. “Are you even chewing right now…? You need to slow down or you’re going to choke!”

He shook his head, trying to show you that everything was fine. Sitting beside him was Ushijima, he ate in a refined manner and dabbed his lips every now and then with a napkin. Similar to Goshiki, there was a stack of empty bowls in front of him.

Finishing his last bite, Ushijima added another bowl to the finished pile and then raised a hand up. A waitress noticed this and took his order for another serving.

Quick to follow, Goshiki raised a hand into the air as well.

“Me too! I would like— gak!”

From his fast movements and talking with a mouthful, Goshiki ended up choking on his ramen. He started hacking out, his face paling as the seconds went by. The tables closest to yours watched all the commotion going on with you and Semi yelling at Goshiki in panic s Ushijima followed through with the Heimlich maneuver. Not looking the least bit worried, Tendou slapped his hands onto the wooden tables, cackling at the entire scene playing out before him.

EXTRA 2:

At such an early hour in the morning, there was the faintest sliver of sunlight bleeding through the sky. A couple of yawns were heard, and you could have sworn you saw Kawanishi shut his eyes and sway back and forth while waiting for the bus. Waking up at dawn for tournaments was difficult which was why you brought bananas for the boys on these days: it was meant to be a nice treat to boost morale. As the team filed into a line to get on the bus, you passed each member a banana; they expressed their thanks, some quieter than others.

As the players filled the bus, light chatter blossomed amongst friends as they paired up in the aisle. Tendou already claimed a spot and was chowing down on his banana since his breakfast in the morning was rather light. Sitting beside him was Yamagata who already had his eyes closed as he hugged himself to sleep. The lighting in the bus was low due to it still being dark outside. For most of the boys, as soon as they sat down, they ended up knocking out.

In contrast to his snoozing teammates, Tendou was standing up; his body leaning against the seat in front of him as he chewed with his eyes shut. To him, bananas were the best part of tournament day. Nearly finished eating, Tendou squeezed the bottom of the peel to pop the remainder out.

Unfortunately, doing so resulted in what was left to fall on the seat in front of him. He cursed in his mind, but didn’t think much of it as he knew he could pick it up.

But, before he had the chance to do so, Ushijima took the seat.

And he sat right on the leftover banana chunk.

It seemed as if he didn’t even notice as he shifted a bit and started to lean his body towards the window. In a state of shock, Tendou just stared at the top of Ushijima’s head, unable to say a single word as he knew the consequences would be dire. He turned his body and looked around. Everyone was resting; eyes shut, some even snoring.

No witnesses.

“Uh, Waka—” Tendou shut himself up when he saw you walk into the bus.

“I think that’s everyone,” you said to Coach Saito, eyes scanning the interior. “We should be ready to go now.”

Quietly slumping into his seat, Tendou mentally apologized to Ushijima.

Chapter Text

With the conclusion of the preliminary rounds for Interhigh and securing the Miyagi representative spot once again, there was only one thing left to do before enjoying the sweet, sweet freedom of summer vacation.

Final exams.

For an entire week, club activities were cancelled so students could focus on studying. This was the final stretch, and no one wanted to be subjected to supplementary classes. Pretty much every table at the student common area was taken by groups of friends wanting to collaborate together. This was the same for you and the third years of the volleyball club. At the table you all shared, there was silence all around, the only sound coming from the occasional flip of a page or the click of a pen.

In the midst of rewriting your notes, Tendou’s hand crept over into your space. It was done in a slow, deliberate motion, as if trying to sneak his way into your view like a snake hunting prey. His hand hovered at the corner of the page you were working on and, before you could swat at him, he started to scribble in your notebook, much to your dismay.

I’m bored, the small note read. It was written so sloppily—ink smearing and the characters nearly illegible—that you had to squint to decipher his words. No one else seemed to notice Tendou’s antics besides you, the victim.

You turned to look him dead in the eyes. He blinked twice at your scowl and maintained a playful smile, his demeanor unwavering. There wasn’t an ounce of regret on his face from interrupting your studies and ruining your notes.

Feeling the need to get your revenge, you slid his notebook closer to you and wrote a small note as well. It was only fair to do so. In comparison to Tendou’s handwriting, you made sure your characters were actually neat and evenly spaced.

I don’t care. Study. And stop writing in my notebook.

Before you had the chance to turn both your body and notebook away from him, Tendou once again reached out and dragged the pages closer to him, scribbling even faster and with more vigor.

Noooo!

It was big, ugly and took up the entire page. You didn’t even want to look at him as you knew he would be silently gloating. Instead, you simply (and rather lifelessly) thumbed to the next page to restart your note taking process. This didn’t bother Tendou as he simply shrugged. For a moment, you thought you could resume with your studies in peace.

And as usual, Tendou thought otherwise.

With that lanky arm of his, Tendou effortlessly reached over and shut your textbook close. The sound snapped the others out of their trance and they looked up from their books. A couple of students sitting at the tables nearby did the same. You didn’t even get the chance to scold him as he leaned forward to the others and started to talk.

“Who’s ready for a study break?”

“Tendou,” you groaned. It took all your power to not knock him over in the head with your textbook. “We still have a lot to go over. You know finals are right around the corner, right?”

“But [Name]!” he pleaded, hands clasped together and lips pouted out. “We’ve already been going at it for over an hour! We can only study for so long…”

He was right. Studying for hours on end without breaks would only lead to insanity, but you knew he wasn’t working as hard as the other guys. With narrowed eyes and a twist of the lips, you zeroed in on his notebook. It was shut closed in front of him.

Palm facing upwards, you wiggled your fingers. He gave an owlish blink in response.

“Give me your notebook.”

“Huh?”

He was trying to play coy—lips pouted out and fingers drumming the table to think of a getaway plan. This tactic worked on when you two were first years, but you were accustomed to his ways.

“Give me your notebook,” you said once more. “Let me see how much work you finished and that’ll decide if we get a break.”

Instead of giving it to you, Tendou grabbed his notebook in a swift motion and held it high in the air, right out of your reach.

“I did plenty of work,” he was taunting you now, swaying his notes back and forth. “But if ya really wanna see it, then you’re gonna have to get it!”

By now, the other tables were watching the free entertainment provided by the volleyball club and whispering amongst themselves. Some kids even shut their own books and relaxed in their seats. You certainly weren’t going to give them the show they were wanting.

“Ushijima!” you called out, voice hushed but still containing a ferocious tone. He was your trump card. “Grab it!”

Said boy nodded, got up, and plucked Tendou’s notebook into his own hands with ease. He flipped through the pages and scanned them, visage never cracking. Maybe Tendou actually was studying.

“Well?” you asked, expectantly. Wordlessly, Ushijima flipped the notebook to show the contents of the pages to you and the rest of the team.

Tendou’s notebook went beyond your expectations.

There were no formulas or worked out equations, no vocabulary words and definitions, no summaries of concepts. Nothing of the sort. Scattered throughout the pages were poorly drawn figures and dialogue bubbles. He was storyboarding instead of actually reviewing material. There were multiple stick figures with ridiculous hair, panels filled with action scenes and notes on the side for whatever plot he was planning with regard to his fantasies. His skills were akin to that of a primary school child. Maybe even worse.

“Were you just drawing your own comics this whole time?” you asked, voice shaking. He was unbelievable at points. While you and the rest of the boys were digging deep in the books, Tendou was trying to make his debut in Shonen Bounce.

Caught in the act, Tendou pursed his lips and nonchalantly placed his hands behind his neck, elbows pointed outwards. “I said I did work, that doesn’t necessarily mean studying.”

You rolled up his notebook and bonked him on the head with it. Dramatic as always, he let out an agonizing moan and clutched the roots of his hair. It was all for show as you knew you didn’t put enough power into the swing.

“You don’t deserve a break!” you hissed out and shoved his notebook back into his hands. “How are you going to pass your finals at this rate?”

“I always pass my finals!”

“You almost failed your modern literature midterm.”

“Almost,” Tendou chided, wagging a finger in your face. “That’s the key word: almost.”

Ignoring him, you kept on your rant, “And everyone was in the middle of studying before you interrupted us!”

“Actually,” Oohira was the first to voice his opinion. “I think a break would be nice right now.”

Sitting beside him, Yamagata nodded his head and let out a short sigh.

“Yeah, we’ve been studying for a long time. My brain’s fried,” Yamagata agreed and shut his workbook. He leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms to the ceiling. A couple of pops could be heard as he twisted his torso.

You turned to the other two. Semi was already resting his head on his workbook while Ushijima seemed impartial to whatever executive decision you were going to make. Well, you supposed as you eyed the scatter of colorful pens and loose leaf notebook paper on the table, a break right now wouldn’t be too bad.

“Fine, fifteen minutes.” You sat back down in your seat. Truth be told, your eyes were feeling a bit exhausted, so this moment of rest was much needed. “But we can’t keep messing around,” you stared at Tendou and he avoided eye contact with you, “we need to focus.”

“Most of us were,” Semi replied and then reached out to grab Tendou’s notebook again. “What story were you even making…?”

Tendou swiped his notebook back from Semi before he could read through its contents and cleared his throat. He stood tall, back straight, as he held up his notebook to display his storyboard. With a pen in the other hand, he pointed at the first panel and started to explain his… creation.

“This is the story of a lifetime! You see, this idea came to me right in the middle of studying, so I had to—”

“Tendou, we don’t have all day,” Yamagata interrupted, earning him a glare. It didn’t bother him as he leaned an arm back on his chair.

Tendou smacked his lips. “As I was saying, ” he paused and momentarily stared at Yamagata. No interruptions this time. “This is the story of a lifetime! It’s about a group of friends who are training together in order to defeat an all power demon king! In the world they live in, there exists a life energy called… khathra! It flows through their bodies and they can transform khathra into different elements. The demon king is also the ruler of an elemental kingdom, and the main character must master all the elements in order to defeat him! All these friends go on a journey together to different elemental lands in order to help the main character train. Sounds pretty neat, right?”

Everyone stayed silent, unsure if he was actually serious. There was an exchange of glances between the boys, a crack of a smile on Yamagata’s face as he tried not to holler out.

It was a hodgepodge of plagiarism.

You nervously twiddled with your thumbs as you stared at the pages. The situation was absolutely ludicrous.

“I think I’ve heard of those ideas from somewhere else…” you tried to put it as nicely as possible, but Tendou wasn’t having it. He shoved his notebook in your face and you had half the mind to rip it up into shreds.

“What? Are you jealous of my story? I’ll become a famous mangaka with this!”

“Who’d be jealous of that?” Semi wasn’t holding back and scoffed under his breath. “That’s an awful storyline.”

Uh, it’s not just awful, it’s literally stolen. You held back your tongue as the other boys started to add their own input.

“There’s something missing from it,” Yamagata mused out, his thumb rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Not only was Tendou unbelievable, but so were the other guys. You wondered if there was anyone sane sitting at the table. At Yamagata’s words, everyone else besides yourself started to explore the notion.

“I agree.” Oohira nodded his head. “The main character should have a trait that sticks out from the others.”

“Oh, oh! Like what?” Tendou slapped his palm on the table in excitement. There was a clatter of pens and a couple of students sitting nearby peeked their heads to check out the commotion once more.

“The main character should play volleyball,” Ushijima said. There was a sparkle in his eyes at the very thought.

Feeling dizzy from the conversation, you stood up from your seat, coin purse in hand. It would be best to leave and take an actual break. Refuge from this bubble of irrationality.

“I’m going to the vending machine…” It came out as a mumble as you made your way to the double doors. Much to your surprise, Yamagata also got up from his seat and followed.

“Wait, I want a drink too,” he said. Before you two were out of an earshot, he turned to the rest of the group. “Anybody want something?”

Tendou waved a dismissive hand as he continued chatting with the others about his ideas. He spoke about being the pioneer for the next generation, hoping to inspire others with his work. Words passionate, fist clenched, Tendou put more vigor in this brainstorming session than he did for the past hour studying. The rest of the guys were also indulging in his fantasies, though Semi was being rather sarcastic as he added in ideas from other mangas.

So much for a peaceful break. Sometimes being around Tendou was like doing mental gymnastics. Olympic mental gymnastics. With a broken leg.

The hallways were nearly empty. It was to be expected as most students were focused on studying rather than socializing at this current point in time. Even the kids who typically slacked off were hitting the books. A dim, almost ethereal glow spilled out of the rows of windows, deep orange hues a testament of the day passing before your eyes. With the absence of your peers, you and Yamagata kept your voices to a minimum. He had his hands in his pockets, coins jangling with each step. One look at your exhausted face was enough to reveal what was on your mind to Yamagata.

“You know we were just messing with him right?” Yamagata chuckled as he thought about Tendou’s storyboard. “I think he’s messing with us too. At least I hope.”

“I don’t know about that,” you replied, thinking about all the crazy things Tendou had done since being acquainted to him. The incidents involving him piled up in your mind, growing taller than Tokyo Tower. “Don’t you remember him talking about that newcomer competition Shonen Bounce was having? To send in an original story and it would be considered for future publication?”

He paused and took your words into consideration. “Well, it doesn't hurt to have fun.”

Unsure what to say next, you hummed in response. They could have their fun, but when a cease and desist letter gets addressed to Tendou for his “super original” plot then that’s on them. Yamagata lightly nudged his elbow at your arm.

“You should learn to have fun too,” Yamagata said rather bluntly. There was a slight smile playing on his lips as he slouched to get his head level to yours.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re always hitting the books, always so serious, always saying ‘no’ when we invite you to go eat out with us...” He pointed an accusatory finger at you. “You should learn how to have fun.”

What a rude thing to say, you thought while crossing your arms in front of your chest. “I know how to have fun.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell.”

You rolled your eyes at him. “Just because I don’t always go along with some crazy idea—”

“No, it’s not just that,” he was quick to cut you off. “Ever since this year started I feel like you’ve been on edge more.”

“Well, it is our third year.”

“I know that, but,” he stopped messing with the coins in his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Hard? On yourself? Maybe there were a couple of days when you pushed yourself, but that was to be expected. Everyone was pushing themselves. The guys pushed themselves during practice. You pushed yourself to study harder. That’s high school. You can’t mess around all the time and expect results to come to you.

Were you getting snappier with them? More distant? Was it because of the restless nights of studying? The eye bags becoming more visible? Maybe. But was all of it unwarranted? Memories flashed in your mind like streetcars at midnight—coming, going, and leaving a lingering bright spot caught in your vision. The first term of your last year was nearing its end. Did you have fun? You thought you did, but maybe it didn’t appear so to the rest of the guys.

Taking a quick glance at Yamagata, you decided to have some fun right now.

“Are you just being nice to me because of the yakiniku incident?”

“What?” Bringing up his past blunder caused his face to flush. “No! Of course not! I’m saying this because we’re friends!”

“Mhm, totally not because you forgot your wallet that one time and had to call me in the middle of a Sunday to rescue you and the rest of the team.” You let out a long, tired sigh and cradled the side of your face with your palm. “I remember that day so well. How could I forget? My whole allowance was used up for your meal.”

“Hey! That’s—you know—!” he was fumbling over his words now, a wave of embarrassment rendering him nearly speechless. Hands splayed in front of his face, Yamagata tried his best to hide his flustered form.

Yeah, seeing him squirm was definitely entertaining.

“Kidding.” It was now your turn to grin at him. “I told you: I know how to have fun.”

Face still beet red, Yamagata kept his mouth shut as you snickered at him. He couldn’t even look you in the eyes as you both continued down the hallway, his feet dragging. In contrast, your steps had a playful bounce to them—it was nice to dangle the incident over his head.

Rounding the corner at the end of the hall, you and Yamagata finally made it to the vending machine. There was a colorful array to choose from, its very appearance almost alluring after staring at black and white text for the better part of the day. Mind still a bit unsettled after your comments, Yamagata fumbled with his coins and pushed them into the machine.

You stood behind him and eyed all the options. There were so many drinks to choose from. It was too late for coffee. The caffeine would keep you up at night. Something sweet would be ideal—a treat for all the work you put into your studies. Finger tapping your chin, you started to list the pros and cons of each drink. The perfect drink right now would have to be—

“You gonna pick one, [Surname]?” Yamagata asked. He sipped his milk and then crushed the empty box. In a swift motion, he tossed it to the nearby trash can.

How long have I been staring at this machine? In a nervous haste, you shoved your coins into the slot and, like a fool, accidentally pressed the wrong button. The indicator below the green tea bottle lit up and the machine rumbled for a second before it dispensed the drink.

“Wait, no,” you mumbled out, feeling rather dumb. How could you mess up something as simple as getting a drink from the vending machine? Even toddlers would laugh at your mistake. “This isn’t the one I wanted…”

Yamagata gave an incredulous stare.

“How do you mess up getting a drink from the vending machine?” Yamagata voiced out your thoughts. If only the floor could swallow you whole. And just minutes before this, you were teasing Yamagata about his slip up.

“Just—whatever,” you opened your coin purse back up only to find it nearly empty. I swore I had more money on me!

Your paling form didn’t go unnoticed.

“Are you okay?” Yamagata asked, taking a closer look at your face.

“No.” You shook your head and let out a dejected sigh. “I thought I had—never mind, this is my fault. Forget it.”

“What?”

“I thought I had enough for another drink, but I don’t.”

“Which one did you want before?”

“The Kalpis.” You reached into the machine and grabbed the green tea bottle. “It’s fine, I can still drink this.”

He paused and stared at the drink in your hand.

“Give me one second, I want to get another drink too.”

Yamagata dug into his pocket for a few more coins and went through the motions again. Surprisingly, he picked the Kalpis bottle instead of another milk box. Another rumble sounded from the machine. The bottle went down with a thud. He grabbed it and then, without a lick of hesitation, he switched his drink with yours. “There, now we’re both happy.”

“Hey, wait, the Kalpis is more expensive than—”

“Doesn’t matter.” He unscrewed the bottle cap and then started to chug. “Can’t take it back now anyway. Unless,” he wiggled the bottle in front of your face, a teasing grin donning his features, “you wanna…?”

You shoved his arm away and let out a laugh. “Ew, gross.”

“What do you mean, ‘Ew?’ I think you mean ‘Hell yeah!’” He was laughing so hard he had to hold onto his side. “You’re totally missing out.”

Voices growing animated and conversation turning more silly, the two of you continued teasing the other. Even though the hallway was empty, you and Yamagata were loud enough to keep it as lively as it usually was.

It was a fun break at the vending machine.

“You’re wasting Wakatoshi’s talents,” Semi chastised Tendou and shook his head in disapproval. Standing beside him, Oohira watched Ushijima’s hand make neat, short strokes.

With you and Yamagata gone, Tendou thought now was the perfect time to utilize Ushijima’s left hand for his own desires. Namely, to create the illustrations for his manga. There were already a couple of drawn on pages laid out on the table; the characters had an eerily similar appearance to the members of the volleyball team, however, the clothing designs were much more interesting than their daily uniforms. Ushijima proved to be a skilled artist, all portraits drawn with great precision and his attention to detail considered masterful.

“It’s not a waste!” Tendou patted on Ushijima’s shoulder as he continued drawing. “He’s creating a masterpiece—our masterpiece.”

Semi picked up one of the sheets Ushijima finished drawing. On the page was a depiction of who Tendou deemed to be the “main character” in his storyline. There was a striking resemblance between this character and Tendou, except the illustration looked to be older, more toned with sharp features. No sloppy work from Ushijima’s side—every stroke was made with a purpose.

“Yeah, you’re definitely wasting Wakatoshi’s talents,” Semi said once more. Staring at the papers solidified his notion. “Why is this guy the main character anyway? Shouldn’t the main character be the coolest looking one?”

Tendou’s jaw dropped and he let out a sound of disbelief. “That is the coolest character! Just look at his flaming hot hair!”

“I think this character,” Semi pointed to the page with a character that looked like him, “is the coolest.”

“That’s the villain, he can’t be cooler than the hero!”

“What!” Semi snatched the page and squinted his eyes at it. “You’re so wrong, this guy is definitely the main character!”

The two continued to argue about the characters, pointing out minuscule flaws about the design. Taking no part in their heated discussion, Oohira and Ushijima exchanged a few words here and there, mainly with Oohira asking a question and Ushijima giving an exact reply. Oohira was rather impressed with Ushijima’s skills as an artist and mindfully watched. His hand carefully worked on creating the main heroine of the story. Tendou’s notebook with the original (and crappy) drawings was being used as a reference. Shadows and contours were added—the longer Oohira stared, the more familiar the character began to look. He started to get a bit more nervous as Ushijima continued making short strokes, following along with the notes Tendou wrote regarding the character design.

“Maybe we should get ready to study again once [Surname] and Yamagata—”

His rationality was cut short.

Sauntering in through the double doors, Goshiki made his way to the table and waved at the members. In his hands was a workbook and a pen.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you guys!” he called out, holding his workbook in front of him. “I was trying to text, but no one answered. I need some help with my English.”

There was a sense of déjà vu. Oohira felt his fingers twitch, but he kept a pleasant smile for his underclassman. Nothing was spiraling out of control yet, so he kept calm. Tendou and Semi stopped bickering and pulled out a seat for the boy.

“We’ll help you Tsutomu,” Semi said and patted the vacant seat. Goshiki plopped down beside Ushijima and was about to spread his workbook on the table, but, before doing so, his gaze locked on the piece Ushijima was finishing. He let out a gasp and held a hand over his heart.

“Wow, this character is totally pretty!” Goshiki gushed out and pointed at the paper. There was a violent hue of red spreading across his cheeks. “What’s with all these pictures?”

Semi took a glance over Ushijima’s shoulders to take a look at the illustration. He paled and let out a cough before answering.

“Um… they’re for Tendou’s manga… Look it’s really not—”

“Tendou, you need to get this serialized! This character is definitely my type!” His eyes were practically gleaming now as he leaned in closer to get a better look at the page. The outfit for the character was more on the revealing side, Lara Croft-esque type of style suiting the high paced action of Tendou’s storyline.

“Oh …” Tendou scratched the back of his head as he stared at the paper Goshiki was ogling at. “You like that character? Well, what about this one, Tsutomu?”

Tendou pointed to the character resembling Ushijima.

Goshiki grimaced. “Uh, is he the villain?”

The table kept silent. Ushijima was unfazed, instead just asking Goshiki why he thought the character looked like the antagonist of the story. In contrast, Semi and Oohira’s jaws dropped. Tendou tried not to break down laughing and opted to chuckle into his hand while shaking his head.

Talk about rude!

Tsutomu…

Does he even know he just insulted Wakatoshi?

Taking the illustration with his favorite character in his hands, Goshiki held it up in the air in front of him to sing his praises. There was a star-crossed look in his eyes and he let out a dreamy sigh. An exchange of nervous glances were passed around with the more rational members.

“I think you should have a series with just this character! It would totally sell out and hit the top of the charts. Everything from the design, the face, the outfit—it’s totally eye-catching!”

For the first time in a long time, Tendou was completely tongue tied. He had no idea how to respond to Goshiki and instead turned to Ushijima for help. His eyes pleaded, blinking in desperation. A curt nod was sent his way.

(He asked the wrong person to handle the situation.)

“I think this character is interesting as well,” Ushijima agreed and turned to Tendou. “But Tendou owns the rights to the character, so he should have the final say.”

That doesn’t help at all, Wakatoshi! Tendou internally screamed. He was about to snatch the paper out of Goshiki’s hands, but he missed his window of opportunity. His underclassman shifted slightly and Tendou’s hand gripped onto nothingness.

Their backs facing the double doors, none of the boys noticed you and Yamagata’s arrival. Instead, they were focused on trying to retrieve Ushijima’s illustration from Goshiki and shoving it to the very back of Tendou’s notebook, never to see the light of day again.

“Oh, what are you guys looking at?”

Except for Ushijima and Goshiki, the rest of the boys froze in place.

It was definitely a moment of déjà vu.

Standing next to you, Yamagata thanked all the gods above that he went with you to the vending machine as soon as he saw the picture Goshiki was holding up. He took a step back and sipped on his green tea, not wanting to get caught in the danger zone.

Your bright mood instantly dropped as soon as you processed what was going on.

On the page in Goshiki’s hands was a drawing of a person bearing a striking resemblance to yourself. It had the same face shape, same eye shape, same hairstyle—it was a hyper realistic depiction. What fazed you the most was the outfit your look-alike was wearing. It was borderline skimpy, a tight crop top showing your midriff accompanied by a pair of shorts and combat boots. Your eyes were popping out of your head and your jaw slackened upon noticing. No one missed the tight grip you had on the bottle you were holding.

You tried to speak, yell, scream at them, but nothing came out. Instead, you hastily grabbed all your school supplies, shoved them into your bag and stormed out of the lounge.

“Study by yourselves!”

So much for a study break.

EXTRA:

“Oh, there are some people auctioning a signed version of this manga online,” Kawanishi said while turning his laptop screen to show Shirabu. He moved the cursor of his mouse to circle around the current bid. “That’s a lot of money.”

“We’re not going to sell it,” Shirabu simply stated. Though, he will admit, the bids were for a large sum.

“We could buy the same manga, replicate the signature, and sell the real one online.”

The longer the two looked at the numbers, the more appealing the idea seemed. Alas, Shirabu’s consciousness took hold of his desires and he shook his head.

“Knowing Tendou, he would probably be able to spot a fake from miles away,” Shirabu reasoned. He leaned back into his chair and let out a sigh. It was already late at night and, after a few hours of preparing for finals, the two were taking a well needed break.

“You really think he would be able to tell?”

“Positive.” Shirabu nodded his head and absentmindedly reached out to grab his pencil. “Don’t you remember when—"

His hand accidentally knocked down his glass of water on his desk. He let out a curse at his mistake and got out of his seat. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem as he specifically put his textbooks on the high shelf, but hidden in the corner was Tendou’s signed manga.

Tendou's drenched manga.

No longer feeling tired, Shirabu snatched the book off his desk. Kawanishi’s eyes widened in shock and he sat still, not offering any help as he stared at Shirabu’s frantic figure. He was using his shirt to dry off the water from the book, but the damage was already done. The pages were stuck together and shriveled up; when Shirabu opened it to look at the signature on the inside of the cover, he found the ink to be melting and bleeding all over.

The two exchanged a glance and Kawanishi opened his laptop back up. He stared at the price and grimaced at the idea of taking cash out of his own pocket for a stupid manga. The ruined book was instantly trashed.

(Goodbye, BoBo’s Ridiculous Journey.)

Chapter Text

Very rarely would an emergency meeting between the third years boys of the volleyball club be called in session. Meetings like such were reserved for the most extreme occasions (like the time when Tendou’s manga went missing). Everyone was gathered in Semi’s dorm, Tendou on the top bunk while Oohira and Yamagata sat at the bottom one. On the opposite side of the room, Ushijima was reading through one of the magazines on Semi’s desk.

The emergency in question?

“So,” Semi began and gestured to the rest of his body, “does this one look audition ready?”

The guys stared in silence. He was clad in a peasant shirt with billowy bell sleeves and dark wash skinny jeans that were a bit too tight for him. Only Oohira was kind enough to offer a half smile as he did a top-down glance. He didn’t bother to look twice in order to spare his eyes.

Put in the nicest way, his outfit was horrifying.

“Eita,”—Tendou took a deep breath through his teeth and slowly shook his head—“your sense in fashion kinda sucks…”

Semi rolled his eyes and then looked at the other guys in his room. “Whatever. C’mon guys, what do we think about this one?”

Instead of answering like he thought they would, everyone else in the room averted eye contact. The white of the ceiling and the wood paneled floor suddenly became very interesting to look at. Even Ushijima went back to reading the ads in the magazine he was holding.

The silence was deafening.

Holy shit, is it really that bad…?

“Maybe try another outfit?” Oohira suggested. Everyone in the room nodded.

Semi grumbled under his breath, but then proceeded to his closet to pick out another ensemble. He pushed the hangers back and forth, trying to find a shirt he had in mind. Not wanting to be subjected to another spine-chilling combination, Yamagata hopped off the bunk and joined Semi to search his closet.

It was unfortunate to say, but every single piece owned by Semi was outrageous. No sane person would ever wear any of the stuff in his closet out in the day of light. Even wearing his heinous clothing at night was pushing it.

“Why do you have leather pants?” Yamagata said as he pulled the pants in question up into the air, a look of disbelief etched on his face. They were hideous and deserved to be burned.

“Oh, I got ‘em ‘cause I thought they looked cool,” Semi said, much to Yamagata’s dismay. He grabbed the pants out of Yamgata’s hands and started to inspect them. “Should I wear them to the audition?”

“No! Absolutely not!” Yamagata snatched the pants back and threw them to the ground. “You should never wear this out! Ever!”

There was a look of confusion on Semi’s face as he picked up the pants from the ground and stared at them a little while longer. They couldn’t have been that bad, right? While he was stuck in his thoughts, the other guys joined Yamagata’s side.

Semi was in dire need of help regarding his choice of clothes. Finding an acceptable piece that would be considered passable was as difficult as finding the lost city of El Dorado. As the boys searched and examined, they realized that humans were made to be equal: every person on this Earth had a fatal flaw.

Semi’s flaw was his disturbing sense in fashion.

“Is this a pair of neon overalls?”

“…Leather jorts?”

“Semi-Semi! This bedazzled belt looks fun!”

At the end of it all, the only acceptable outfits were his school uniform, his tracksuit and his volleyball uniforms. All his other clothes were scattered on the ground. There were so many colors and patterns and textiles that it made his room look like a Pollock painting.

To be frank, his entire wardrobe was a big mess.

“Argh!” Semi groaned out and held his head in his two hands. He really didn’t have time to be messing around. Getting street casted by the biggest entertainment industry in Japan was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Especially since it would give him the chance to pursue a musical career after he graduated. “I don’t have all day for this!”

“Hey, calm down. This audition’s tomorrow, right?” Yamgata asked. Semi nodded, head still lowered. He stared at the leather jorts that were thrown in the corner of the room. “Then all we gotta do is go out and find an outfit today. No big deal.”

“Hayato’s right,” Oohira agreed and stood up. He grabbed Semi by the collar to stand him back up on his feet. “The buses are still running today to go downtown, and since it’s summer there’ll be plenty of sales.”

A wave of determination washed over Semi.

It was time to hit the shops.

(Before they left, the other boys made Semi change into his volleyball tracksuit. No friend of theirs was going to be looking like a 17th century peasant out in public.)

Sometimes you just wanted to be by yourself.

There wasn’t anything wrong with being around friends and the other guys of the club. No, they were fine and even fun to hang out with at points. It was just that you could barely count the number of times you actually got to enjoy a weekend by yourself. You were always running around, tailing after the guys when something went wrong, studying, running errands. To be honest, it was tiring.

Since there was only morning practice today (as it was the start of summer break), you were free for the entire afternoon. Once you finished tidying up everything and preparing for the next morning practice, you went back home and got ready for a shopping trip. Summer meant more sales and more freedom—it was practically the perfect time to explore downtown Sendai.

Living in a big city meant there were a ton of options to roam around. Stores on the main street were advertising their clothes on flyers and billboards; mannequins were dressed to show off the latest trends; ushers at the front of shops invited you in with samples and kind smiles.

With a cute outfit on, hair styled in a different manner than usual, and multiple bags in hand, you were having the time of your life. There was nothing that could ruin your day.

“[Name]?”

You knew that voice, but you refused to believe you had heard it. Not here. Not now. It must have been a hallucination from the heat. Yeah, it was pretty hot today and the concrete below your feet seemed to only increase the temperature. That probably meant it was time to go inside and grab a drink or something. There were plenty of vendors around selling—

“[Name], I know you heard me!”

Okay, you were definitely hearing things. The boys had practice earlier today, and Interhigh was right around the corner. No way were they out shopping right now. They should be resting in their dorms. Didn’t Ushijima have a set schedule he followed religiously regarding how he trained his body? You were sure some of the other guys said they were going to start their summer homework today as well. Time to go inside and—

“[Name]!”

You felt a hand grab onto your shoulder and you froze. In the most rigid manner possible, you turned to look over your shoulder.

It was no hallucination or mirage.

Tendou stood right behind you and continued to shake your shoulder as he whined about how mean you were being to him and the rest of the team. A couple steps away, the other members of the volleyball club, sans Goshiki and the second years, watched your body wiggle lifelessly as Tendou kept at it with his dramatics.

(So much for a peaceful shopping trip by yourself.)

“What are you guys doing here?” you asked, the words floating out of your lips along with your will to live. “I thought you all would be resting after practice?”

Tendou wrapped an arm around your shoulders and flippantly waved his hand in front of your face. “Blame it on Semi-Semi. He’s got a problem and we had to come here!”

“Don’t call me that.”

You turned to Semi, brows furrowing. “Problem? What’s wrong?”

“It’s super important!” Tendou whispered into your ear. You shoved his face away from yours, eyes still locked on Semi in confusion. Boy in question rubbed the back of his neck and stared in the distance.

“We’re just looking for an outfit,” Semi sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed. It was more trivial than Tendou let on. “For myself.”

“You needed the whole volleyball team to go shopping?”

Oohira and Yamagata nodded while Ushijima kept a neutral visage. What was the big deal? Couldn’t Semi have gone shopping by himself?

(Little did you know that Semi’s closet was as nauseating as a murder scene.)

“Trust me, he really does,” Tendou whispered again, a shiver running down his back as he thought about the peasant top. You shoved his face away once more. He was indifferent towards this and instead grabbed onto your wrist to drag you along with the rest of the team. “C’mon, we gotta go now, his audition’s tomorrow!”

“Audition?” You dug your heels to the ground to stop Tendou from pulling you. Things were just getting more and more confusing as Tendou opened his mouth.

“Yeah,” Yamagata stood beside Semi and patted him on the shoulder a few times, “Eita got street cast the other day for Lohnny’s & Associates!”

Your jaw dropped. Lohnny’s? As in the number one talent agency in Japan? The bags in your hand almost fell to the ground as you processed this. Becoming a trainee with them was like winning the lottery.

“[Name], close your mouth or you’re gonna catch flies,” Tendou said and promptly pushed your chin up using two fingers. You shook your head and snapped out of your daze.

“Alright, c’mon!” you said and balled a fist in front of your face, feeling invigorated. This was serious business. “The closest department store is the other way!”

Flabbergasted that you were now leading this shopping expedition, the third years stood in place. Ushijima was the only one who wasn’t stunned. He followed behind and accepted a few flyers being handed to him. A couple seconds later, Tendou pounced to your side once the initial shock subsided and linked arms with you, chatting endlessly about other entertainment agencies and his favorite actresses from each one.

Semi and Yamagata gawked as you now reciprocated a radiant energy.

The heat really must have gotten to you.

Japan was known for innovation. The department store complex you and the rest of the boys were now wandering was thirty one floors high and housed numerous retail stops, restaurants, and even a few government offices. Students flocked to take advantage of the sales being promoted, ready to spend their measly allowance money. It was loud; pop songs dominating the charts replayed an endless number of times and an echo from a nearby food court sounded from where you stood.

Taking the opportunity to split up in the biggest anchor store (to cover more ground), you were left with Semi as the other guys didn’t want to be paired up with him for some reason. Not that you minded, he wasn’t overbearing or anything. Though, the way he was acting today was a bit different. There was a permanent scowl on his face.

“Everything alright?”

He flinched and stopped looking at the racks of clothing. While you had already picked out a few items here and there, he was totally empty handed. He paused for a moment, thinking about what to say.

“Do you think I… dress bad?”

This caught you off guard. “What?”

“Tendou said my sense in fashion sucks.” He was totally dejected. Maybe if you squinted you would have seen a rain cloud hovering over his head.

“I think you of all people should know that Tendou likes to mess around and ninety-nine percent of the time he’s not serious,” you said, chuckling a bit. Tendou wasn’t mean. He definitely knew how to rile people up, but he was never malicious. “Don’t take it to heart. Besides, if you got street cast by Lohnny’s then that just means you’ve got a good face for television!” The last part was definitely a slip up and you snapped your mouth shut.

It was too late though, Semi’s ego shot up through the roof as he straightened his back and started to pick out clothes here and there. There was a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. No doubt was he going to hold this over your head for a good week or so. Well, at least he was feeling better.

“Face meant for television?” he said in a sing-song manner. He even had the gall to run a hand through his hair, acting like a magazine model. “I like the sound of that.”

“Don’t get so full of yourself,” you said, trying not to groan out in annoyance.

He ignored your words and continued to tease you about your slip up as you two searched through the variety of clothes offered. The more ordinary styles caught your eye. Simple is best after all. Since Semi was already tall, he didn’t have to do anything extravagant to bring more attention to himself.

“Hey, what about this one?” Semi turned to you with his first choice of the day in his hand.

He held up a zebra print button up shirt in front of your face. There was an expectant shimmer in his eyes as he watched for your reaction. You blinked twice, hoping the zebra print would miraculously disappear.

Then a lightning bolt of realization struck you.

Oh my Gosh, Tendou was right! Semi’s taste in clothes is awful!

“I don’t… know about that one,” you gave a nervous laugh. “Here, stand still for a second.”

He did as told and you grabbed a white dress shirt. You pressed the hanger against his collarbone to get a visual of what he would look like with the shirt on. He kept quiet and stared at you while you pondered.

“This definitely suits you more,” you concluded and handed him the shirt. He took it, still silent. “When’s the audition anyway?”

“Tomorrow. Any time after noon.”

“Are you going right after practice?” you asked. He nodded. “Do you want us to come with you?”

“Nah, you guys are already helping me today. And I know you’re busy.”

“Usually you have to prepare something for an audition, right?”

“Yeah, you know for music class I play the guitar?” You nodded your head, the two of you still wandering around the department store and picking a few shirts and pants. “I’m going to play a song and sing a bit.”

“No kidding,” you said and stared at him. He really did look like he could be on television. Maybe it was the hair?

“[Surname], if you keep looking at me like that I’m gonna think you have a huge crush on me,” he teased and plucked out another ugly shirt for the pile sitting in his arms. “You gonna be my first fan?”

“Ugh, in your dreams!” You shoved him away and he guffawed. Whatever, he could live in his delusions. “You need to pass the audition before you start thinking like that.”

“If I join a band will you be my fan?” He was still acting cheeky.

You rolled your eyes and started to go towards the changing rooms. “Sure, sure. Whenever that happens, just let me know.”

The other guys were already waiting at the rendezvous point (right in front of the fitting rooms). You and Semi were the last to arrive. Tendou had his arms crossed in front of his chest and was tapping his toes on the ground impatiently.

“What took ya so long?” Tendou huffed out. He took a look at the pile Semi had in his arms and then let out a sigh. “Actually, never mind. I figured it out.”

Semi started to roll up one of his sleeves in annoyance, but you and the other guys ignored this, opting to stack up numerous pants and shirts to create a mountain of clothes in his arms.

This was going to take some time.

Somehow, someway, Semi still looked rather ridiculous in every outfit picked out for him. Sure, the clothes were infinitely better than what he had in his dorm closet, but for some reason it just… didn’t look right. All attempts to dress him seemed futile.

For the nth time today, Semi opened his fitting room door and gestured to the ensemble he was trying on. He was wearing a purple colored dress shirt, gray dress pants, and a fedora. It took all your power to not grimace in front of his face.

“You look like you’d lead me to a bottakuri bar in Kabukicho,” Tendou said, hand over mouth to stop himself from laughing.

Semi’s mouth twisted to a frown and his nose scrunched in disagreement. He actually thought he looked pretty good, but Tendou’s snarky comment made him recluse back into the changing room to try on another outfit.

“Hey, isn’t that a little too mean?” you whispered to Tendou, but he shrugged his shoulders.

“He needs the truth! Or else they won’t sign him!”

“You could have said something else.”

“Trust me, [Name], they’ll eat him alive the moment he steps foot in the audition room.”

A minute later, Semi came out of the dressing room again. He was wearing what Yamagata picked out for him. Donned on his face was a pair of circular sunglasses to compliment an ill-fitting blazer and a button up shirt with the top two buttons popped open.

It was just flat out awful.

“Now you look like a member of the yakuza…” Tendou coughed out.

“Maybe it’s just Eita,” Yamagata accidentally said and yawned afterwards. This shopping trip was really sucking all the energy out of him.

“Hey…!” Semi was absolutely seething now as he again rolled up a sleeve, ready to beat up Yamagata.

“Eita, you really look like a yakuza member with that look on your face right now!” Tendou quickly hid behind Ushijima, using him as a shield from Semi’s wrath.

“Quit saying that!”

“Is everything alright here?” One of the retail assistants popped out from the corner. As soon as she saw Semi she flinched and gave an apologetic bow. “I-I’ll leave! I’m sorry!”

Semi deflated. He crouched to the ground and held his head down in shame.

“I don’t understand why you won’t go for something like a white t-shirt and blue jeans?” you questioned aloud, still holding onto the outfit you picked after scouring the department store. “It’s safe and this style looks good on everyone. You can even add a flannel to it if you get cold!”

Tendou started to click his tongue on the roof of his mouth as he took the hangers out of your lap. “It’s boring, [Name]! That’s why!”

“What?” You snatched back the clothes and held them up in the air to inspect them. “It’s not boring! I think it’ll really suit him.” Well, a lot more than what Yamagata picked out.

“Lohnny’s only scouts people with pizzazz!” Tendou hopped up and grabbed the clothes he picked out for Semi. “Like this! This’ll definitely catch their eye.”

“Tendou,” you began, shaking your head at the clothes he was holding up. It was an all yellow outfit. “He’s going to look like a banana in that!”

Tendou turned to Ushijima. “Wakatoshi, what do you think Eita should do?”

“Why not just wear his tracksuit uniform?”

Everyone stayed silent at Ushijima's answer.

“We’ve just been fooling around this whole time!” Semi yelled out. Oohira took the initiative to comfort his friend, still pointing out that the day wasn’t over.

“Hey! I’ve been serious this entire day!” Tendou said, snatching his banana outfit and holding it up in front of him

“Yeah, we can totally tell,” you said sarcastically.

“It’s better than what you picked,” Tendou taunted.

“Excuse me?”

A full blown argument unfolded in the department store changing room as you and Tendou started to insult each other’s sense of style. While you leaned on more simplistic pieces, Tendou was all for making a statement whether it be with the text on a hoodie or a pop of color. Semi was getting more and more frustrated as the day was coming to a close and zero progress was made. As the commotion escalated, Ushijima and Oohira sat in the designated waiting area, exchanging a few words here and there. Yamagata was knocked out, his body leaning on Oohira’s back.

Due to the loud volume of you and Tendou arguing (and partially because of Semi looking like he belonged in the yakuza) the same store associate who was spooked from before politely asked you all to leave.

Shopping was a big bust.

EXTRA 1:

“Eita!” Tendou was especially excited when he saw Semi walk into the club room. He was clutching onto his track jacket in anticipation. “How was the audition?”

Semi’s face fell and the mood in the room darkened. Instead of going with any of the clothing suggestions from the other members, he decided to pick something out from his own wardrobe. No one had ever insulted his fashion sense until Tendou came along, so he figured it was just a Tendou thing. As soon as he stepped foot in the audition room, the paneling judges dismissed him.

“Awful…” Semi begrudgingly answered, suddenly wanting to sink into the ground.

The other boys offered up an apologetic look as they remembered what Semi wore out that day. It was too horrendous to even recount.

In all honesty, they expected this to happen.

Perhaps Semi should just stick to volleyball for the time being.

EXTRA 2:

“What are you guys looking at?” you asked, peering over Goshiki’s shoulder as he scrolled through his tablet with Tendou and Shirabu by his side. On the screen were professional pictures of guys who looked to be models.

“Lohnny’s & Associates updated their page of trainees and Tendou wanted to take a look at them!” Goshiki answered and looked up at you. He moved his body so you could take a closer look. “They look really cool! I think it's amazing that Semi got the chance to audition for them; I mean, he could have been on this page.”

One of the newest trainees caught your eyes. He had a brilliant pearlescent smile and deep dimples, but you weren't focused on his physical features. Rather than that, you stared at his outfit. He was wearing the exact same ensemble you recommended to Semi prior in the week: blue jeans, white t-shirt, and a flannel.

“Did you show Semi this?”

“He saw it and went straight to his dorm,” Shirabu answered, hand cradling his chin.

There was a smile on your face, but it wasn’t one full of kindness. Your lips were pressed to a tight line as you continued to stare at the screen while Goshiki babbled on. He pointed to the outfit the trainee was wearing and commented about how nice it looked.

Only a single thought crossed your mind as you sat in silence.

I told you so.

Chapter Text

The Japanese countryside was beautiful.

Vast spreads of lush rice paddies flourished in your view, going for miles and miles beyond your scope; scattered about in the pools of water were farmers tending to the stalks. Clear blue skies from above only seemed to get more vibrant as the bus continued down the empty stretch of road.

This year, Interhigh was hosted by the Niigata prefecture. It was close enough to Miyagi to warrant an early morning bus ride to save some funds instead of taking the bullet train. Not that you minded this; the scenery was gorgeous. In comparison to the bustling city life of Sendai, the coastal air and natural beauty of the landscape was something you welcomed with open arms.

There was little chatter on the bus. Most of the boys knocked out as soon as they sat in their seats. And if there was conversation, it was done in whispers—a courteous act for those who were napping. There were few moments with this team spent in silence. You enjoyed these rare, peaceful moments with them. In the beginning of the ride, you stared out of the window and soaked in the view during the calm.

Though, it was unfortunate that you couldn’t relax in your seat.

The reason?

Sitting beside you, Goshiki twitched in his sleep and mumbled a few incoherent words (though, you swore you heard him say Ushijima’s name a few times) as he dreamed away. The first few hours of the trip, he was as stiff as a board and forced himself to stay awake for some reason; now, with only about an hour left until you all made it to the hotel in Niigata, he had his eyes shut and snoozed away. Every now and then he would shift his body to get into a more comfortable position, and, after many trials, he finally found one.

The position you ask?

His head resting right on your shoulder.

At first, you didn’t mind it too much. You knew how difficult it was for a person to sleep while sitting up, so you allowed him to nap; in all honesty, you thought he would move after a few minutes or so like he had been doing. However, over an hour had passed and Goshiki still had his cheek pressed against your shoulder like a pillow. The entire time, you didn’t move a muscle in fear of waking him up. He had even grabbed onto your arm and hugged it.

Goshiki started to talk in his sleep again and you let a soft sigh escape your lips. It didn’t seem like you would be able to rest anytime soon. You took another peek out the window and noticed the verdant plains were now speckled golden with harvestable rice.

Well, at least you had the Niigata countryside to keep you company.

When Goshiki finally came to, he found the light almost unbearable. He shut his eyes again and took in a deep breath, hoping to fall asleep instantly again. The position he was sleeping in was comfortable. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept so well on the bus.

“Goshiki?”

What a nice voice, he thought. He wouldn’t mind hearing it every time he woke up.

“Goshiki, we’re here,” the voice spoke again. He felt a light nudge at his shoulder, but he chose to ignore it. “It’s time to wake up.”

He mumbled for five more minutes under his breath and then hugged the pillow he was holding tighter in his arms. It was warm. Cozy. He didn’t want to leave his spot. Dare he say, this seat on the bus rivaled his bed at home.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

“Goshiki, get up,” a different voice commanded. Hearing his name from this person made him shiver and he instantly sat up, gripping tighter onto whatever he was holding in his sleep.

When he turned to the sound, he saw Shirabu staring down at him in disdain. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest and even shook his head.

“You’re bothering [Surname],” Shirabu pointed out, eyes flickering to Goshiki’s hands.

Goshiki looked down at where Shirabu’s eyes darted and saw that he was holding onto another hand. His eyes followed the limb and soon he was met with an almost pitying smile—a pitying smile on your face. He let go of your hand, acting as if it were a hot coal and scooted to the very edge of his seat until he nearly fell out into the walkway.

“I-I’m so sorry, [Surname]!” Goshiki yelled out, red faced as he tripped over his words. He was shaking and continued to spew out a string of apologies.

The entire time he rambled, he was unable to look you in the eyes. You tried your best to console him, telling him that you knew he didn’t mean to sleep on your shoulder and invade your space, but he was much too embarrassed to actually take time and understand the words that were coming out of your mouth.

While the third years (sans Ushijima and Tendou) stared at Goshiki with a look of sympathy, Shirabu let out a heavy sigh and grabbed the collar of Goshiki’s jacket to stand him up. He started to drag him out of the bus with a scowl on his face.

What a pain in the ass, Shirabu thought as he lugged his junior.

Maybe it was due to your exhaustion, but everything—from check in to the team meeting with the coaches to lunch—happened in a blur. You couldn’t even remember what you ate. Just that it tasted pretty good.

What you do remember was that as soon as you got to your hotel room and locked the door, you knocked out cold. The bed wasn’t even super plush or comfy—you were just tired beyond belief. It was a good thing today only consisted of free time to relax before the first day of the tournament tomorrow.

Your free time was spent napping the rest of the day away.

When you finally got out of bed and looked out the window of your room, the sun had already set—the last bits of day were receding along the horizon. Dinnertime had already passed, so you quickly grabbed your wallet and threw on a cardigan over your t-shirt to go down to the vending machines for a snack. The fact that none of the guys woke you up to eat kind of peeved you off, but you decided to brush it aside. They were probably just thinking more with their stomach than their brains. Nothing new.

The door let out an audible click when you pulled it open. Had you been mindlessly walking, you would have ruined your shoes.

On the ground in front of your hotel room was a small plastic bag from a nearby convenience store. It was filled with onigiri, cup ramen, prepackaged bread, and a couple bags of chips. A small note was taped to the top reading “[Name], you sleep too much! Thank God you have such reliable friends!”

There was no signature, but you didn’t need one to know who sent it.

You trashed your previous thought and went back inside your room with a smile on your face.

The only thing the guys forgot to get from the convenience store was a drink. Not that you minded. They already did more than enough for you today, so after snacking a bit you went to the lobby of the hotel and purchased two milk boxes: one for your meal tonight, the other for a later time.

Halfway across the main floor and only a handful of steps away from the elevator, you turned on your heels and went out the sliding doors of the main entrance. It was a spontaneous decision on your part, but there was something alluring about enjoying the night air in a different city.

Even though it was summer, Niigata was a bit chilly. The temperature was a few degrees colder than what Sendai would be at this time and you wrapped the knit of your cardigan around your waist to insulate the heat. You remembered there was a bench nearby the raised flower beds in front of the hotel when you and the rest of the team first arrived. It was the perfect spot to enjoy the evening lights of the city.

When you got closer to the bench, you noticed it was occupied.

“What’re you doing alone out here?” you asked as you approached with soft steps.

Sitting by himself, Semi turned to face you at the sound of your voice and showed a small smile.

“Nothing, really,” he replied. His hands were in the pockets of his sweatpants and he went back to looking at the city lights from across the nearby river. “Just enjoying the night air, I guess.”

“No one wanted to hang out with you?” you teased, now standing in front of the bench. Semi let out a huff of air.

“They were busy.”

“Ushijima?”

“Went out for a run. Reon tagged along too.”

“I’m guessing Tendou’s watching that new movie he was talking about yesterday at practice.”

He clicked his tongue twice. “Bingo.”

“And what about Yamagata?”

“Didn’t want to miss the beginning part of the movie.”

“Shirabu? Kawanishi?”

“Said they wanted to start their summer homework together.”

“That’s responsible of them,” you let out a laugh, “they’ll be pretty busy all night then.” There was only one person left now. “And what about Goshiki?”

“He didn’t want to leave his room.” Semi decided not to say the reason why. He felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment wash over him just thinking about what his junior did earlier in the day.

You let out a hum, putting on an act of contemplation. He watched your theatrics with a raised brow.

“…I guess I’ll hang out with you for a bit,” you said and sat yourself next to him on the bench. “So you’re not lonely.”

He playfully rolled his eyes and sighed out as if you were causing trouble for him. “Gee, thanks.”

“Don’t you think it’s kind of weird for you to be sitting outside by yourself?” you asked. Semi instantly turned to you, slightly taken aback.

“What? It’s not weird!” he replied in a defensive manner. His brows were furrowed now and he let out a slight scowl. “If anything, I think you’re the one acting a bit weird today.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.” You took no offense in this. Not only did you nap for the entire day, but you were also messing with him more than usual. “Doesn’t it feel like it’s all going by really fast?”

Semi relaxed his face. “Hm?”

“This year,” you took a moment to pause and collect your thoughts, “I mean, it’s already summer. I feel like if I blink the leaves will start falling and if I blink again the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom.”

“If you think too much about stuff like that then you won’t enjoy the time you have now.”

You chuckled at this. “When did you start getting all philosophical?”

“I’ve always been a smart guy,” Semi said and let out another huff. “Can’t you tell?”

“Oh, sure,” you nudged your elbow into his ribs, “you’re so smart. That’s why you started last year’s summer homework three days before it was due and you had to ask me for help the day before the new term began. Super smart. How could I forget? You’re a genius.”

He flushed. Even the tips of his ears were burning red.

“Hey! That was one time!”

“Yeah, and it better be the only time,” you teased him and allowed the last few words to leave as a laugh. He recovered and slumped his body back into the bench.

Everything was moving quite fast. Practice, exams, after class pudding runs, studying with your friends, joking about the dumbest things that you wouldn’t remember in a week—soon, high school will only be a memory and you would all have to go your separate ways. Three years with the team was a long time; you would never say it straight up to their faces (especially to Tendou), but those three years with the boys were well spent.

“Only a couple of months before…” you trailed off, wondering if you should even talk about something so grim.

“Before?” he questioned, sitting up straight up.

“Before we—”

Suddenly, the sound of popping interrupted you. Crackles could be heard in the distance and you tilted your head upwards to look at the sky.

Bursts of colors—reds, blues, violets, yellows—decorated the space above you. Vibrant jets shot upward and exploded into a dazzling display. The sparkles floated back down until it finally dissipated into nothing more than a single twinkle. Streams continued to paint the night sky and you watched in awe.

Fireworks.

Right, there were probably a few summer festivals happening in the city. For a moment, you and Semi kept silent, gazes fixated on the show.

“It’s pretty,” you whispered, just loud enough for him to hear you as well.

“Yeah, it is.”

Another pause. The milk boxes in your hand felt a bit heavier than before. Wordlessly, you pushed one of them towards Semi. You would rather enjoy the drink now with him. He took it without question. The straw wrappers crinkled in a way similar to the cracking from the fireworks. There was an occasional sip between you two along with another string of taunts and jokes.

For this summer night in a different city, you enjoyed the fireworks alongside your friend and momentarily pushed aside your worries.

Neither you nor Semi really meant to stay outside for so long; you both ended up chatting until the finale of the impromptu show—by the time it was all over both milk cartons were empty and crushed. At the end, you stretched your arms upwards and took the first steps back to the hotel entrance.

The first thing you noticed when you walked inside was that it was quiet. There was the occasional tapping of a keyboard from the front desk, but other than that, nothing else was heard. Only you and Semi were quietly making conversation across the lobby. Perhaps it was the nerves finally setting in due to the tournament tomorrow, but instead of taking the elevator, you both decided to use the stairs. Taking the long way allowed you to continue the back and forth banter that you started with him outside.

In the final stretch before making it to your separate rooms, Semi stopped and sniffed the air. He scrunched his nose in disgust.

“Does it smell like something’s burning?” he asked.

Now that he mentioned it, the hallway did have a faint burning odor. Smokey. Before you got the chance to reply, a tuft of blond rushed out of one of the rooms. He was saying something completely incoherent, a frenzied look present on his face as he scrambled and tripped over his feet.

Your eyes widened in realization when the figure started running towards you and Semi.

It was Miya Atsumu. And he looked like he stared down death in the face.

Maybe you would have laughed at how ridiculous the whole predicament was if he didn’t look so frightened. Talk about a strange turn of events. The last time you saw him you were the one running away; now, here he was bolting towards you for dear life.

And it didn’t take long for you to find out just what—or in this case, who—he was running from.

“You foul!”

A sports bag was thrown out into the hallway with intense force.

“Shitty!”

More items flew out. Notebooks and shoes slammed against the wall. You froze in place. Semi’s mouth hung open as he watched.

“Bastard!”

Emerging from inside the hotel room was Miya Osamu; he was huffing and clenching his fists so tightly that you were afraid his skin would break. He took slow steps and glared down at his brother with a look of hatred. It was at that moment Atsumu knew he needed to make another break for it. He ran past you and Semi towards the end of the hallway to make it to the stairs. Osamu’s mind was hazed with red as he grabbed a pair of shoes and chucked them towards Atsumu’s direction.

Unfortunately, Osamu’s aim was a bit off and the pair of shoes ended up clocking you right on the forehead.

“Oi! What the hell is wrong with you guys!” Semi yelled as you fell backwards onto the ground. That shoe had some serious force behind it. Had you not known it was thrown by Osamu you probably would have thought you had been hit by a brick.

The twins stopped what they were doing and froze at the sight of your nearly passed out figure. There were definitely stars in your vision as you had a rather dumb look to your face. Your head was throbbing and you felt the urge to lay down more than ever before. Quickly, both twins scrambled towards you to check on your condition.

“Look what you did, ‘Samu!”

“Me? This is all yer fault, you no good piss baby!”

“Scrub!”

“Who ya callin’ scrub? This is coming from the guy who can’t even—!”

“Enough already!” Semi screamed at the two to stop their childish argument. Your headache was definitely getting worse just from listening to them and your eyelids suddenly felt heavier. “Just help me stand her up! Jesus…”

Soon after Semi scolding the two, you closed your eyes. You could feel your body being hoisted up as you become weightless.

And then the world faded to black.

When your consciousness returned, you found the noise level of whatever room you were in to be incredibly loud.

“Look what you lil punks did to [Name]!” It took a second, but you realized the voice belonged to Tendou. “You can’t just throw stuff all around, ya know!”

“She’ll survive! ‘Sides, Kita is treatin’ her! He knows his stuff!” Another voice rang through your mind and this caused you to groan out in annoyance.

“Oh, look! She’s comin’ to!”

When you opened your eyes, you were met with honey brown irises. They flickered in surprise as you stared. You blinked twice to see if you were in some sort of daydream.

“Everything okay? Do ya feel any pain?” the boy asked. He had his head slightly tilted, a worried expression donned on his face.

“Uh, my head hurts,” you truthfully told. “Like it’s throbbing.”

“Figures.”

“What happened to me?”

The boy let out a sigh and started to shake his head. “Ya got knocked out. By Atsumu and Osamu.”

“Hey, it was all ‘Samu’s fault!”

“If ya weren’t such a bumblin’ idiot then—!”

One look from the boy who was helping you shut them up real quick. They were on their knees and stared at the floor. You swore you saw a slight tremble at their shoulders.

“How long was I out for?”

“About ten minutes,” the one you assumed to be Kita replied. “Though, the bump is already formin’. You got hit pretty hard by these two.”

“Bump?” you repeated and quickly sat up straight. You realized that you weren’t in your own hotel room. “Is it… bad?”

“N-No! It’s uh… not awful,” Semi stumbled over his words, trying his best to console you.

You turned to him. “Really?”

Instead of looking you in the eyes, he stared at your forehead.

“Y-Yeah, really,” he lied.

Tendou forced a smile. “It’s not… that bad. You’re still our [Name]!”

You turned to Kita. He let out a slight frown and then grabbed a small handheld mirror from the bathroom.

“You can have a look for yourself,” Kita said.

He handed the mirror to you and you got a good look at your reflection.

Your lips parted in shock.

“This is...” you choked out, tears forming in the corner of your eyes as you stared at yourself. There was a big angry bump forming right smack in the middle of your forehead; the matches tomorrow were going to be broadcasted on television and everyone in the volleyball world was going to see you with a golf ball sized swelling. “This is just…”

You sniffled and then handed the mirror back to Kita, unable to finish your sentence. He took it wordlessly and watched in pity.

“Look whatcha did, ‘Samu!” Atsumu pointed a finger at his brother who balked at the accusation. “Made her cry and all! Ya big fat jerk!”

“Me? Yer the one who started this whole thing!”

“Shaddup!”

And just like that, the two began to tussle once more, this time with a larger audience as you fought the urge to sob and hide your face into the palms of your hands. Tendou started to yell at the twins, but they ignored him and kept fighting each other while Semi just watched the whole thing in silence, unable to even process everything unfolding before him.

Kita, the only rational one in the room, moved about and quickly dug through a duffle bag. After finding what he needed, he approached you once more.

“If you rub this on the bump it’ll stop swellin’,” he said. A small glass jar was placed into your palm and he pointed at it. “It works like a charm. Just use a pea sized amount and that’ll be good enough for tonight.”

Hearing his voice calmed you. At his instruction, you nodded your head. “A-Alright, thanks…”

He gave you a warm smile as a response and then made his way to the twins fighting. Once he put a hand on Atsumu’s shoulder, the twins stopped pulling at each other’s hair and stood still.

“I reckon it’s time we all head off to bed. It’s pretty late now and we have an early start tomorrow,” Kita said, his grip tightening slightly on Atsumu. “If we wanna play in our best condition then we should get a good night’s rest.”

At his words, you instantly stood up and then grabbed Tendou and Semi along with you. He was right. The first round for Interhigh was tomorrow. The guys would have to be up early for warm up and the opening ceremony.

“Don’t think we’re on even terms!” Tendou called out and raised a fist in the air. “We’ll get ya when we play!”

“Quit it!” you continued to pull them along. Semi was still in a daze while Tendou sent a couple of dirty looks to the twins. Not that they even noticed since they were more worried about Kita.

Before you shut the door behind you, you peeked your head in one last time.

“Um, thanks for your help,” you darted your eyes from the twins and then back at Kita, “and have a good night.”

And with that, you shut the door. Once a click sounded, the twins let go of the breath they were holding.

“Ah, Kita…” Atsumu rubbed the back of his neck nervously and avoided eye contact. “’Samu and I really ought a go back to our room and rest… Yanno, for—”

“No, you two stay here for a while,” Kita instantly shut down Atsumu’s attempt at fleeing. Osamu kept quiet. “We got some talkin’ to do.”

The twins shivered. Just a couple words out of their captain sure did make the room a couple degrees cooler. Both boys mentally prepared themselves for a beatdown with words.

Even though Tendou didn’t get to lay one on the twins, Kita sure wasn’t going to let them off easy.

EXTRA 1:

When Kita opened the door to his hotel room, he certainly wasn’t expecting to see Atsumu and Osamu lugging around an unconscious person with a stranger. Though, with such a ruckus, he probably should have expected the twins to be in the center of trouble.

“What are y’all doin’?” Kita asked as he observed the group with a raised brow.

Atsumu and Osamu paled.

“N-Nothin’! Yer dreamin’ right now, Kita! This ain't real!” Atsumu started spewing out a bunch of bull in order to avoid Kita’s intervention. Standing beside him, Osamu nodded his head. They both knew that they would be ultimately screwed if Kita found out what they did. “Time to go back to sleep!”

“What the hell is wrong with you two?” Semi asked. He immediately noticed Kita’s tracksuit jacket belonged to Inarizaki. “Hey, these two need to be put on a leash or something… they—”

Atsumu reached out to cover Semi’s mouth. He missed as Semi dodged his hand.

“Oi! What’s—!”

“Ya don’t gotta say—!”

The door opposite to Kita’s flung open. Agitated, Tendou narrowed his eyes as he took a few steps outside. There was too much commotion going on at such a late hour.

“Some of us are trying to get some—is that [Name]?” He gasped when he saw you all limp and passed out. “What happened?”

“It was these two!” Semi pointed a finger at the twins, alternating the focus. “Threw a shoe and knocked her out!”

Kita let out a sigh. Of course the twins were the catalyst of the trouble. He widened his door and then stared at the problem duo. They stiffened.

“I got some first aid in my bag,” Kita began. “Plus, it might be better if ya let her lay down for a while. If she doesn’t wake up soon then we can call the coaches.”

Finally, Semi thought as they maneuvered your body into Kita’s room, someone with a brain…

EXTRA 2:

You couldn’t believe your eyes. The longer you stared at yourself in the mirror, the more you thought your mind was playing some sort of trick on you. It was early in the morning, so perhaps you weren’t a hundred percent awake. You poked a finger at your forehead and found that it wasn’t a figment of your imagination.

The bump was gone. There was zero sign of swelling or redness. It was as if the shoe incident never happened last night. The ointment Kita gave you worked like a charm.

You stared at your reflection for a little while longer in amazement before letting out a soft laugh.

Kita was a godsend.

EXTRA 3:

“‘Tsumu, ya mind watchin' the microwave for a while? I’m gonna go down and grab a couple drinks and snacks from the vending machines.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Atsumu was paying more attention to his phone as he waved his brother off.

“Atsumu,” Osamu said in a stern voice, opting to set aside the nickname to show how serious he was. “I mean it, that’s the last bag of popcorn I have and I don’t want it to go to waste.”

Atsumu rolled his eyes. “I said I got it! Yeesh, relax a little.”

Osamu narrowed his eyes at his brother. The faint sound of kernels popping filled the silence between them and Atsumu let out a laugh at whatever video he was watching. Deciding not to waste any more time, Osamu left their shared hotel room and descended to the main lobby where the vending machines were. He made it a mission to grab enough snacks not only for tonight, but tomorrow as well.

It was a mundane process: put in some coins, make a selection, wait a while, grab what he bought, do it all over again. By the time he was done, his arms were completely full. There was a bounce to his steps as he went back to the elevator. He even let out a light hum. Nothing could ruin his mood.

The elevator let out a ding when it arrived at his floor. As he walked further down the hallway, Osamu could smell smoke. His eye twitched when he noticed the door to his room wide open, smoke fanning out of it

“Stupid scrub! Why’d he put so much time for popcorn!” It was Atsumu yelling out and coughing as he used a notebook to direct the muddled air into the hallway. It was a miracle the sprinklers didn’t go off.

In a calm daze, Osamu silently passed Atsumu and walked into the room. He set his snacks on his bed and squinted his eyes; his vision was a bit hazy due to the smoke, but he could still maneuver himself around the room. With slow and deliberate steps, Osamu walked to the microwave and saw a completely black, puffy bag of charcoal. He stood still for a second, his brother continuing to cough out as he tried to get rid of the smoke in their room. As silently as ever, Osamu went to his bedside and grabbed whatever he deemed as throwable (that wasn’t food).

“Atsumu,” Osamu’s tone was deadly and Atsumu stopped in his tracks to look back. There was a look of hatred twisted on Osamu’s face. For a second, Atsumu felt his heart fall to his stomach. He started inching his way towards the door, eyes refusing to leave Osamu’s figure in fear of what might happen to him if he turned around.

“I’m gonna kick yer ass.”

Atsumu started running and he didn’t look back.

Chapter Text

Like all tournament days, you and the rest of the team were up and ready at an almost ungodly hour. Hints of orange and pink scattered along the horizon, a twilight testimonial of just how early it was. Even the sparrows perched on the power-lines kept stationary in their sleep. They were used to the presence of people and paid no mind to the commotion happening below them.

Gosen City’s General Assembly Hall, the main venue for Interhigh this year, was packed. Students from all over the nation ambled on inside with the rest of their team, cheering squads followed in tow to hype up their school, and broadcasting vans were parked outside, ready to report expectations for this year’s tournament. Controlled chaos. It was a little too much stimulation in the morning.

Outside of the venue, you stood and waited as the rest of the team grabbed their bags from the open compartment of the charter bus. As time progressed, the sun continued to peek out from the horizon. The warmth of summer was energizing. It felt as if nothing would go wrong today.

(Well, you hoped at least.)

One of the first members to grab his bag, Yamagata dawdled to your side with a slight sway to his steps. He yawned and covered his mouth with his hand, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. You raised a brow at him.

“Don’t tell me you stayed up late last night,” you said to him, tone stern. He slapped his cheek to maintain consciousness and then nodded his head as an answer. A bit peeved, you kept at your nagging, “You knew we had to wake up early for the opening ceremony. Why would you stay up late? And weren’t you rooming with Goshiki? What if you kept him up too?”

“I couldn’t leave the movie unfinished,” he started. “Tendou said the best part happened at the end and it was getting really good… And don’t worry about Tsutomu. He ended up sleeping like a log,” Yamagata jutted his thumb over his shoulder to where Goshiki was standing. He was absolutely beaming with excitement about his first national tournament. “See? Besides, I heard you had a crazy night.”

The shudder of your shoulders was completely unintentional. Last night was… a disaster. “I don’t want to talk about it,” you said, waving a hand in front of your face. “Let’s just focus on today and hope that nothing goes wrong.”

“Like Spring High.”

You slapped his shoulder and he let out a laugh, completely unfazed by your annoyance. “You and Tendou need to stop bringing that up every chance you get! That day was awful.”

Seemingly popping out of nowhere, Tendou jumped right next to you and raised a hand in the air.

“You rang?”

“It’s nothing,” you said, wanting to drop the subject. The other boys were starting to straighten themselves up after grabbing their things and made their way to join the group. “Nothing important anyway.”

Tendou squinted his eyes and then leaned in to inspect your face. Before you could tell him to quit it, he pointed right at your forehead.

“Say, [Name], where’d that bump from last night— yeouch!”

Not giving him the chance to utter another word, you jabbed your fingers into his side to shut him up. He grabbed the affected area and nearly doubled over in pain, bending his body and moaning in agony. Your patience was running dry at this point. Last night was plagued by the Miya twins and you really didn’t want to think about anything that would put a damper on your mood for the rest of the tournament day.

“Did something happen last night, [Surname]?” Ushijima asked. He was the only one brave enough to do so. Although curious, the other guys decided to perhaps interrogate Tendou or Semi about it later. When you weren’t around.

“J-Just forget it!” you said, a bit too rushed. Heat rushed to your face and you gripped onto the strap of your duffel bag tighter than you usually would. Boys were so stupid. Why couldn’t they just drop the subject? “Let’s go inside already. Coach Washijou and Coach Saito said they were going to park the bus and told us to wait inside for them.”

With a turn of the heel, you started your approach to the main entrance. The rest of the team noticed your irritation and kept themselves a few steps back. They watched and wondered what they should do to bring your mood up.

“Um, [Surname]!” Goshiki called out, deciding to take a risk. He took longer strides to catch up to you before you started going up the concrete stairs. “Let me help you carry your bag! It must be heavy, right? And going up the stairs with such a heavy bag would be bad for your back… My own bag is pretty light, so it wouldn’t be any trouble!”

You stared at him, thinking about your options. There was a bead of sweat that trickled down the side of his temple as he waited for your answer. The rest of the team eyed the two of you, anticipating your next words.

“Well, if you insist,” you said, unable to stop your lips from curling into a smile as you grabbed onto the strap of your bag and handed it off to him. “It actually isn’t too heavy, but I appreciate it, Goshiki. Thanks.”

He shoots, he scores!

Fireworks were going off in Goshiki’s mind. The sparklers spun and sparkled and glittered and he found his vision turning to a rose color. He couldn’t hide the slight tremble in his fingers when your hand brushed against his as he swung the duffel over his shoulder. This was the best day of his life.

“Are you okay, Goshiki?” you asked. His face was turning into a bright shade of crimson and he had a rather dopey smile. “Do you have a fever or something?”

“I’m fine!” he yelled out. A few players nearby turned to stare at him. They disregarded the scene when they saw nothing particularly interesting happen. “L-Let’s go!”

He must still feel a little bad about sleeping on my shoulder during the ride here, you thought. Goshiki was practically running up the stairs now, leaving you and the rest of the team behind.

You didn’t mind him helping, though. One simple act really brightened your mood.

“Wow, look at our Tsutomu,” Tendou said, joining your side and staring fondly at his junior. He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. “He’s growing up so fast.”

“You should try to be more like him,” you curtly said. Yeah, you were still mad that he brought up the bump from last night. Tendou blanched, but quickly recovered.

“Alright, then gimme your backpack! I’ll carry it!” Tendou tried to snatch said item off of you but you dodged all attempts.

“Quit it! You’re causing a scene!”

“Your!” He reached out and grabbed nothingness. “Backpack!” He did it again and you slapped his hand away from you. “C’mon!”

“No!”

The two of you kept it up for a minute before Semi and Oohira stepped in to stop you two. At the end of it all, Ushijima ended up helping you carry your backpack inside while Tendou sulked.

This was his punishment for bringing up the dreaded forehead bump.

Busy was the perfect word to describe the inside of the assembly hall.

Upon entrance, you found players mingling together with their friends from other prefectures; one person tried to talk over another which incited a stream of voices to reverberate along the walls. Teams congregated together, marking their own territory by tossing their bags to the ground and crouching down. It might’ve been because it was the first day of the tournament, but a few kids were already looking wound up.

The boys of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club made their way through the crowd and found an empty spot to set their bags aside. Like other tournament days, kids pointed at Ushijima in reverence—as if he were a god walking amongst mere mortals. As one of the top aces in the nation, he was used to all the eyes. Either that or he just didn’t care.

Attention to Ushijima meant attention to the rest of the team, but everyone knew how to conduct themselves. They kept their posture right and made sure their voices weren’t too loud. Even Tendou was maintaining the Shiratorizawa prestige as he kept a few of his teases as whispers and poked fun for a handful of times.

Setting their bags to the ground, the team allowed themselves a chance to relax. Shirabu and Kawanishi instantly crouched down to find an outlet to charge their phones. The second years spoke about schoolwork, the summer homework they started last night fresh in their minds. In contrast, Tendou was with Yamagata, Ushijima, and Oohira; he was running his mouth about the movie he brought with him and how his favorite actress was stellar in the film. Ushijima nodded every now and then and agreed to Tendou showing him a couple cuts of the actress on his phone.

Goshiki stood by himself and, in a gentle manner, placed your duffel bag on the ground beside his own sports bag. Today’s going to be a good—no, great day, he grinned to himself. It was as if the universe was in perfect alignment.

The droning of his seniors about celebrity crushes dulled to nothingness as he thought about what the day had—and did—offer. This was his first national tournament with the team and he wanted to make sure to show his value on the court. His reliability as a player who deserved his spot on the starting roster. Chances like these didn’t come very often for first years. Especially first years from a powerhouse school.

He felt a twitch at the tips of his fingers. All those days of practicing with his seniors—from the afternoon right after classes to late at night when the moon came out—all his efforts were going to shine through today and for the rest of the tournament.

Staring at his hands in anticipation, Goshiki curled his fingers to a fist and nodded to himself. He felt a sting. It was the same sting he felt when he hit the volleyball perfectly. He could already imagine the ball slamming down on the opponent’s side of the net, a bam! sounding out from a clean hit on the court. Today was the perfect chance to show off what he had been working so hard for.

And speaking of chances, you gave him a chance to show his reliability. Goshiki happily turned his head to where your duffel bag was.

His heart dropped.

He blinked in disbelief. There was no way this was happening. This couldn’t be happening to him, not now, not when the universe was supposed to be in perfect alignment for him. He felt tears threatening to spill.

Your duffel bag, the bag you entrusted Goshiki with, was gone.

There was an empty space where your bag once was, an empty space right next to Goshiki’s own sports bag. He had taken his eyes off of it for one second to look at his own hands, and somehow it disappeared.

It completely vanished from thin air.

Okay, calm down, Goshiki took in a deep breath so as to not faint, what could have happened when I looked away?

The palms of his hands felt clammy as he considered his options. Maybe it was a ghost…? No, he shook his head, ghosts don’t exist. All the noises—from his teammates to the PA system—dulled out as he zeroed in on the space where your bag once was. He could clearly see its outline as he stood still.

How could he have lost your bag upon entering the venue? It didn’t make any sense.

“[Surname], do you have any extra athletic tape?” Goshiki heard Semi ask you while examining his fingers. “I accidentally left mine back at home.”

“Oh, I put it in my other bag. Lemme go grab it real quick.”

Goshiki stiffened. His stomach was doing somersaults. Your bag. The bag he lost. The bag that you entrusted him with and suddenly disappeared within a single second. The missing bag.

Each step you made towards him sounded out like a death toll.

“Goshiki, where’d you put my bag?” you asked, scanning the ground. It wasn’t anywhere in sight.

When he didn’t answer immediately, you raised an eyebrow at him and then looked down at the ground once more. Anxious, you took a deep breath to calm yourself.

“Okay, really, where’s my bag…?” you asked again.

Too ashamed to look at you, Goshiki shut his eyes when answering. He nervously shifted from one foot to the other.

“I don’t know… I took my eyes off of it for a second and it… disappeared… I’m so sorry [Surname]…!”

Your face was unreadable as you stared at him. It was so quiet in your corner of the venue that a pin could have been heard if it was dropped—heck, a cotton ball would have sounded like an atomic bomb with the silence between you and Goshiki.

“…What?”

In a flash, the older boys came to Goshiki’s rescue.

“Hey, [Name]! You know he didn’t mean to lose your bag!”

“Don’t be too hard on him!”

“Yeah, I bet someone mistook your bag for theirs.”

Frustration kicked in. Was every national tournament bound to have some sort of unlucky incident? Your forehead started to throb at the incoming headache and you pressed your palm on it to alleviate the pain.

“All my stuff’s in there…” you started, thinking about everything in your duffel. Athletic tape, snacks, notebooks… You jolted up in realization. “The lanyards.”

“What?” Oohira asked. “Lanyards?”

“The lanyards for court access! Coach Saito gave them to me last night and said to pass them out to everyone before the opening ceremony.” Your headache now transformed into a migraine. The water bottles, first aid kit, extra socks, and all could be replaced—the lanyards, on the other hand, couldn’t. “You won’t be allowed inside the court area without them.”

“We can figure something—”

Before you let Oohira finish his sentence, you grabbed both of his arms and looked into his eyes, a fire of determination blazing behind them. He stood, stunned by your sudden actions.

“I’m finding my bag,” you said in a low and determined tone. “You guys stay here and wait for the coaches! I’ll be back!”

And then you started sprinting down, going further and further inside the venue. All the boys stood still, dumbfounded at your resolute spirit.

“Shouldn’t we go after [Surname]?" Shirabu asked, getting up from his crouching position. He was honestly a little worried and felt a bit sorry for you. It seemed as if these incidents happened exclusively to you. “It might be better if we join in and search together.”

“No,” Ushijima said. He was able to capture the attention of his team with a single word. “She’ll be fine. Put your trust in her.”

The rest of the team relaxed. Ushijima was right. You knew how to handle things and would be back in no time.

Fifteen minutes of straight running.

That was how long it took for you to get to the other side of the venue before exhausting yourself. And during those fifteen minutes you had no luck whatsoever with finding your bag. There had been a few other people with black duffels, but none had the little pink charm you attached to the strap of yours.

The large clock overhead read 8:20 a.m. Forty more minutes until the opening ceremony commenced. A little over half an hour for you to find your bag and make it back to the guys. You took a deep breath. Panicking over the lanyards would do you no good.

Standing back up straight, you prepared yourself to make another round. A few players stared at you, wondering why you were scaling the venue up and down, but you ignored it. Right now, the most important thing was finding your bag and getting those lanyards.

In the midst of stretching your legs, your foot pressed against your backside, you saw a semblance of familiarity. You thought it was a mirage at first. A hallucination.

Walking down the main hall, away from the audience seating, a tall boy with unorthodox tufts of white and black hair was carrying a black duffel bag with a small, pink omamori tied to it. He chatted in a boisterous manner with his friends, hands moving animatedly in circles.

Your jaw dropped.

That’s… my bag!

It was right there. A running start was all you needed and you’d have your bag within a minute. All your searching wasn’t for naught.

Too focused on your duffel bag and running without reservations, you actually ended up knocking into someone. You landed on your backside and felt a sharp pain shoot up. Completely stunned, you sat there for a few seconds before whipping your head up at an irritated voice.

“Hey, watch it! Walk much?”

Heat rose up to your face. How embarrassing. Wasn’t this the second time you ran into someone during a national tournament? “I’m so sorry,” you sputtered out. “Look, I didn’t see you and I’m in a bit of a rush, so—”

He narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t see me? Is that some sort of joke?”

“N-No, I meant that—”

He ran his fingers through his white hair as an attempt to calm himself. “Listen, I know I’m not as tall as the other guys here, but seriously? Saying stuff like that is just plain rude. I mean, I’m just as good—if not better—than the other players here,” he frowned and looked you in the eyes. Intense would be an understatement if you were to describe the glare he was sending your way. “Don’t look down on me because of my height.”

“I didn’t mean for it to sound like I was making a joke…” you wanted to cry right then and there. Jeez, what was up with these people? At the end of the hallway, you noticed the person who took your bag was walking further and further away. “I’m so sorry…”

“Kourai,” the taller boy with shaggy brown hair sighed out at his friend. He had silently watched the whole ordeal take place before him and knew you meant no harm. “You were tying your shoe and she wasn’t paying attention. It was a mistake,” he grabbed his friend by the collar and held him up like a puppy, “apologize to the nice girl.”

He blanched upon realization of his harshness. “Sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t mind him,” the taller boy said. “You said you were in a rush, right? Don’t let us hold you back,” he held a hand up and waved a farewell, “we’ll see you around, I guess.”

A bit stunned by the chance encounter, you weakly raised your own hand up and waved back. Hopefully it would be the first and last run-in with them. You most certainly did not want to see them around. With a quick bow, you excused yourself and then started sprinting in the direction where you last saw your bag.

Gone. No sight of the tall boy who had your duffel slung on his shoulder. Even when you made it all the way to the other end, there was no one wearing the same uniform as his or sporting the same odd hair color he did.

Defeated, you turned to one of the more secluded areas, a nearly empty corridor away from the other players, and then crouched down on your feet.

There was a sinking feeling of hopelessness that shackled your ankles. Your limbs felt heavy. At this point, searching just felt… impossible. More and more players were filling the venue as time went on and the opening ceremony was due to start soon.

Finding your bag was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

You hung your head down in shame and stared at the bland beige tiles. Fighting off the tears was difficult. Sniffles came out and you pressed your palms against your eyes. You were entrusted with the lanyards and, in all honesty, it felt like you were letting the team down.

“Hey, are you alright?”

You looked up, knees still pressed against your chest. Eyes glassy from nearly sobbing, you shook your head.

Then, you cursed your luck.

Before you stood Bokuto Koutarou and Akaashi Keiji. You knew them from watching their matches in previous tournaments and videos. It might have been because you were crouched down, but they seemed like giants. While Bokuto looked at you concerned, Akaashi referred to you with pity playing on his features.

“Oh! I know you!” Bokuto snapped his fingers upon realization. “You’re from Shiratorizawa. I can tell from your uniform.” He then crouched to make eye contact with you, trying to keep friendly. “Are you… lost or something? We can help you find your team. I bet it’ll be a breeze to spot Ushiwaka in this crowd!”

Right now, you didn’t even want to see the rest of the team with tears in your eyes. “No, I’m not lost I—”

Then, you noticed the bag he was holding.

It had a pink charm.

Your pink charm.

“T-That’s my bag!” you nearly screamed out as you jumped to your feet. They both flinched in surprised at your sudden shift in mood. Bokuto stood up and tilted his head in confusion.

“Huh? No it isn’t! This,” he patted the duffel, “is Yukippe’s bag!”

“I don’t know who that is but,” you pointed at the messily made charm attached to the strap of your duffle, “that’s mine. My friend made that for me.”

Bokuto stared at the charm, completely perplexed at the situation. He stood still and processed everything. The bag, you standing in front of him, the frantic look in your eyes.

(Oh, no.)

“Bokuto,” Akaashi sighed out. “You took the wrong bag.”

When it all finally clicked, Bokuto dropped your bag to the ground and started sprinting to the other side of the venue.

EXTRA 1:

“Hey, [Name], wait up!” Tendou called out from the other side of the hall. Lunch had just ended and students were walking back to their classes to get ready for the next lesson. You turned your head around at hearing your name and stepped to the side so as to not block other students going back in.

“What is it, Tendou?” you asked, a bit confused. He now stood before you, a bit out of breath since he was rushing. “We have class in a few minutes, you know.”

“Close your eyes!”

“What?” You furrowed your brows. “Can’t you just tell me what it is?”

“C’mon, just do it.”

You let out an exaggerated sigh and did as told.

“Okay, they’re closed.”

“Now hold out your hands. Like you’re filling 'em up with water.”

Again, you followed his request. “Tendou, this better not be anything weird.”

“It isn’t! Jeez, have a little faith in me, will ya?”

After all his teasing and taunts and jokes, you still kept wary. But at the same time, what was the worst thing he could put in your hand? In the midst of wondering, you felt something light land into your cupped hands.

“Okay, don’t open your eyes yet!” His voice was sounding more distant. “Keep ‘em closed… keep ‘em closed…” Further. “Okay… open!”

You opened your eyes and looked into your hands. A small, handmade omamori lay flat in your palms. Its stitching was uneven, there was a bit of fraying from the fabric, and its shape was rather peculiar.

“Tie it on your bag for the next tournament!” Tendou called out from the other end of the hallway, standing right at the door of his classroom. Before you got the chance to say anything back, he retreated inside. “So ya don’t have a repeat of Spring High!”

You looked down at the charm once more. Sure, it was nowhere near as pretty as the ones sold at the shrines or the grocery stores, and maybe it was borderline gaudy with the brightness of the fabric he picked, but it was made especially for you.

As soon as you got home, the first thing you did was tie the charm on your duffel bag.

EXTRA 2:

“Hey, isn’t that [Surname]?” Komori asked, squinting his eyes. From across the hallway, you were sprinting as fast as you could. “Wow, she really knows how to run.”

Sakusa looked up from his bag, head turned in the same direction as his cousin’s. “Huh.”

“Think she needs help with something?”

“Maybe.”

“Should we help?”

Wordlessly, Sakusa turned to face Komori with a blank look on his face. This caused Komori to laugh.

“Alright, alright, we’ll stay put,” he really didn’t mind. You knew how to handle yourself. He could ask about it at a different time. “We can meet up with the Shiratorizawa team later so you can talk with Ushijima after our match.”

Sakusa tried not to look too pleased.

EXTRA 3:

Unfortunately, Tendou never got to dish out his payback to the twins as Inarizaki ended up victorious against Shiratorizawa in the Interhigh quarterfinals. Their play style was aggressive, Atsumu acting as the perfect and daring tactician on the court. Not only this, but the rest of the team was made of monsters who knew how to play their opponents into their hands. Inarizaki definitely put Shiratorizawa at a disadvantage.

“That contortionist middle blocker!” Tendou cursed under his breath and leered at the other side of the court. “He’s freaky, don’t ya think?”

“Oi, you’re one to talk, Tendou,” Semi said, wiping his face with a towel. “Gotta hand it to the Miyas,” he looked over to the Inarizaki team. They were circled around their coach, listening to what he had to say. “They’re damn good at playing. Atsumu’s got great game sense.”

“They’re cool on the court, but off it they’re a bit…” you trailed off, trying to think of a nicer way to phrase your words. Instead, you shook your head, going to a different topic. “You guys played well today. Inarizaki was just a step ahead of us this time. And at least we know what to do if we get the chance to play against them again.”

“Got any dirt on them?” Tendou asked, peering over your shoulder as he looked at your notes.

“Just a couple of notes we can go over,” you flicked your fingers at his forehead. He was quick to dodge.

“Need any help carrying your things?”

You grimaced, nightmares of the first day of Interhigh plaguing your mind.

“Definitely not.”

EXTRA 4:

“Kita!” you called out. By complete chance, you spotted him walking by himself when you were on your way to the vending machines. He stopped when he heard his name and turned around to face you.

“Oh, how’re ya doin’? Was it… [Name]...?” he asked and then focused his attention on your forehead. “Looks like the ointment worked, huh?”

“It did!” you said and dug into the bottom of your backpack to find the small glass jar. Once found, you gave it back to him. “Listen, I never got the chance to properly thank you for helping. I really appreciate it… you saved me from a lot of embarrassment.”

“You’re fine, 'sides, the whole thing started ‘cause of the twins.”

You laughed. “Right, I never would have thought they would be a handful.”

“You get used to it,” there was a fond smile on his face as he thought of his teammates. “Are ya headed somewhere?”

“Vending machines. Just grabbing some snacks.”

“There’s actually some machines where my team’s restin’. Here, I was headin’ back over there right now. I’ll show ya,” he said and led the way.

Small talk ensued between you two. Weather and matches and all. It started with Niigata’s countryside and his appreciation towards the landscape. Being around him was calming. Peaceful, even. You never once felt like you were walking on eggshells near him.

Kita was the first to round the corner out of the main hall. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the sight before him. Standing beside him, you did the same.

In front of you, the twins were doing some strange comedy routine with Osamu laying flat on the ground and Atsumu settled on top of him, his torso slightly raised up. They giggled at their antics and Atsumu even let out a few ghostly sounds. The rest of the team just sat and stared at the two, one even holding his phone up to record the whole stunt.

“What are y’all doin’?” Kita asked. It made no sense for the twins to be lying on the ground.

“K-Kita! We were just—”

Atsumu stopped talking when he saw the blank look on both your and Kita’s faces. Both boys turned beet red. All they wanted to do was make their stone cold senior laugh. Instead, they were left embarrassed.

Kita sighed out.

Sometimes he just couldn’t understand the twins.

EXTRA 5:

In the midst of going over your summer homework, a chime from your phone rang out. You grabbed it and checked your messages.

KOMORI:

Hey!

Are we still meeting up next week?

YOU:

Yep!

You said you’d be in Sendai from Friday to Sunday, right?

Do you mind meeting up on Saturday?

Also, congrats on winning Interhigh!

Tendou said he was cheering for you guys to beat Inarizaki in the finals

KOMORI:

Haha, thanks! Tell him I appreciate it

Saturday during the day works

I’ll see you then!

YOU:

See you then!

(＾▽＾)

Chapter Text

With Interhigh over and done with, you and the rest of the team were granted a week off from practice to fully enjoy the summer break before classes started again. Having no club activities also meant having no real obligations for the week—a true vacation from all the madness you were typically subjected to between your classwork and managing a group of rowdy boys.

The days seemed to pass much slower without having to worry about the rest of the team, but it wasn’t like you weren’t enjoying the week. You made plans with old friends, visited a couple shops and cafés you had been eyeing, and even set up a day to give a tour of Sendai.

It had been a long time since you last got the chance to explore the entirety of the city, so when given the opportunity, you jumped on it. The weekend soon rolled around, and you were ready to show off the city you lived in.

Summers in Sendai were practically overflowing with tourists; due to the diverse topography of the area, the weather never reached sweltering temperatures during peak seasons, serving as the perfect getaway for those wanting to escape the heat. It was during this time that the city was packed, all shopping districts busy as the department stores promoted their best sales to draw in customers from all over.

Having extra time in the morning, you dressed in attire cuter than what you usually wore: a trendy skirt and blouse set. Since most of your days were spent chasing after a bunch of volleyball-brained boys and getting them out of trouble, you preferred comfort over style; this change in routine made you feel ready to take on whatever the day had to offer.

It took a while to spot him in the crowd. Even with his height, the volume of people the weekend usually brought in wasn’t doing you any favors. You had to stand on your tiptoes and scan the area twice before you finally found him. Lighting up, you approached him with a smile on your face.

“Komori!”

At the sound of his name, Komori glanced up from his phone, turning his head in your direction. His eyes roamed for a second and, as soon as he spotted you, his face split into a beaming grin as you weaved through the crowd to reach him.

“I didn’t make you wait long, did I?” you asked as you checked the time on your phone. Five minutes before the scheduled time. Usually, you were the one who arrived first, so when he texted you that he was already at the meet-up spot, you made a break for it as soon as you got off the subway.

He shook his head and pocketed his phone. “No, you’re fine!" he said, chuckling at the end. “I was just checking over my messages to see if I got the right place. I mean, it’s been two years since I last came to Sendai, so it took me a bit of time to get here.”

Relief washed over you. You were the one who was always early to meet-ups and practices and hang-outs that not having to wait around actually jolted some type of anxiety-induced knee-jerk response. He noticed your shoulders dropping and held in a laugh. Instead of teasing you, he pointed over to the shopping center from across the street.

“You said you wanted to visit a couple stores before going out for lunch, right?” he asked, taking the first steps over. You followed beside him, nodding your head.

“Right!” you agreed, falling in step beside him. “I made an entire itinerary just for today.” You pulled out your phone to show him, looking rather pleased with yourself. There was an organized list with timestamps, locations, and small descriptions for each place you wanted to show Komori. “Since you told me that you usually visit the temples here with your family, I wanted to show you a few of my favorite places in the city.”

Komori blinked in fascination. The scroll bar on the side of your phone was smaller than a grain of rice.

“Wow, you’re really thorough!” he praised.

Well, with the guys I’m usually around, I have to be or else nothing will ever get done, you wanted to say. Instead, you laughed and then started towards the entrance of the shopping district.

“Alright, first on the agenda… Kinokuniya,” you said while putting your phone back into your bag. Komori was right next to you, considerate enough to slow his pace to match yours. “I need to pick something up, but right after that is when the real tour starts!”

“Oh, what’re you picking up?”

Your breath caught in your throat, the simple question catching you off guard. For a moment, you wondered if you should lie to him. The short pause caused Komori to eye you, and you decided to tell him the truth.

“...A signed copy of BoBo’s Ridiculous Journey,” you said, reluctantly. Komori turned to face you, somewhat surprised.

“You’re into manga?” he asked. You didn’t seem like the type in his eyes. “I never would have imagined you liking that series.”

“No, it’s not for me. It’s..." You repressed the urge to grimace. "It's for Tendou.”

“Tendou?” he repeated.

“It’s kind of a long story,” you started, trying your best not to sigh as memories from earlier in the year resurfaced in your mind. Komori tilted his head at this, wondering just what you meant.  “Well, I don’t know if I already mentioned this to you, but Tendou is a bit of a… manga enthusiast. Any series serialized by Bounce, he’ll immediately get into.”

Komori nodded his head in understanding. He could definitely imagine Tendou waltzing into a convenience store, buying the latest Weekly Bounce, and getting all giddy over new chapters for his favorite stories. 

“BoBo’s Ridiculous Journey is a series he really likes. He collects all the volumes and he even had a signed copy of the first volume… That thing was his most prized possession, but one day... it just disappeared.” This time, you let out a visible sigh as you thought about Tendou sprawled on the table, groaning in agony at the loss of his most beloved treasure. “No one knew where it went and we searched every single corner of his dorm for it. For an entire week, he bugged the whole team about it, bringing it up in every conversation we had during practice, lunch, free time... just whenever. And if we told him to let it go, he would sulk for the rest of the day! It was awful to witness.” 

Komori’s face softened. “Poor Tendou, I feel so bad for him," he murmured, just loud enough for you to hear. At his kind words, you let out a laugh.

“Don’t!” You wagged a finger at him, indicating the story wasn’t done yet. “I saw that the Kinokuniya in this district was having a lottery with the author of the series and I secretly entered it along with Tendou. He didn’t win… but..." You jammed your thumb into your chest. "I did! He’s getting a new signed copy before the next term!”

He took a second to glance at you, silently chuckling as you gloated about winning the lottery among all the other people who entered. Even though you didn't have to do this for Tendou, you still went through the trouble for your team. He remembered the last year when he first met you, him saying that being a manager was like working overtime constantly and you instantly agreeing with him. This gift for Tendou was an act of kindness he couldn’t help but admire.

“Wait," Komori cut in, brows furrowed. You two were nearing the bookstore, the blue and white signage easy to spot. "Shouldn’t you have brought Tendou with you for this?"

“You would think, but he would have been overly excited and pushy about it that it’s best to surprise him.” You cringed while remembering the events from the previous week. The night before the lottery results came out, Tendou ended up blowing up your phone in anticipation. The messages got even worse when he received a rejection email, flooding your screen with paragraphs about how he would never shop at that specific store ever again. “Besides, he already made plans with the rest of the team today, so he’ll be busy.”

Komori nodded his head at your words. You seemed to know Tendou like the back of your hand which he thought was rather amazing because, from the few times he interacted with him, he seemed to be the ultimate wild card. The wild card among wild cards. He brushed the thought aside and then pulled the door of the bookstore open, letting you go in first. The cold air blew at your face, a refreshing breeze to contrast the heat from outside.

Shelves and shelves of books were neatly displayed all throughout the store, a soft acoustic melody luring you in to take a peek and open a novel for your pleasure. Going to the closest display, you gazed about the selection, fingers skimming at the titles. Komori, maintaining a polite distance, watched you from the corner of his eyes. Whenever you found an interesting read, your eyes flickered like the wick of a candle: curious and excited. He cleared his throat, catching your attention.

“I think what you’re doing for Tendou is really kind.”

It was such a sudden interjection that you stared at him for a moment and shut the book in your hand. He had a soft smile on his face—a genuine smile to accompany his sincere words.

He gestured to the books on the display in front of you and then pushed his hands into his pockets. “He’ll appreciate this.”

You turned to face him, a kind smile on your face upon the praise. Komori, caught off guard, flushed in response and rubbed the back of his neck to relieve the tension. The skin on his body was burning, and it wasn't because of the sun.

Taking a step closer so as to answer him in the sudden quietness of the bookstore, you whispered your thanks and then headed off to the registers. The tips of his ears turned scarlet and, away from your line of sight, he walked circles at one of the nearby aisles to cool off.

This was going to be a long day for him.

“Ah-choo!”

“Hey, that’s, like, the fifth time you’ve sneezed today,” Semi said, taking a step away from his friend as they walked along the city sidewalks. “Are you sure you’re alright, Tendou?”

“I’m fine!” he replied while sniffling. “I think I’m just so darn excited to go out today, that’s all!”

Semi eyed him for a few seconds before shrugging it off. For all he knew, Tendou probably stayed up late last night playing a new game on his phone or re-read his favorite manga and got himself sick from exhaustion. (A common occurrence that would cause him to doze off in class and complain about how tired he was during practice. Not that he ever learned from these mistakes. Once next week rolled around, he would repeat the cycle all over again.)

“Alright…” was all Semi could say. He checked the time on his phone. It was nearly one in the afternoon. “Why’d you plan for lunch so late in the day, anyway? Shouldn’t we have met up earlier?”

Tendou clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth and wagged a finger at his friend. “Eita, sometimes ya gotta switch your schedule up. Make things exciting and new!”

His answer was less than satisfactory, rendering him to keep silent as he had no idea as to how to reply. He brushed it off and let Tendou run his mouth while he continued to walk beside him. The other guys of the volleyball team were a couple steps behind, stuck in their own conversations and messing around.

Since everyone was free from the lack of classes and practice taking up their schedules, Tendou proposed the weekend to be the perfect time for Goshiki to pay up on the free sushi he owed the team. Even after the fiasco with the Pawcky incident, Goshiki still held up to his side of the bet as the loser and agreed to pay for everyone’s meal today with the destination being in the heart of Sendai as that was where the trendiest restaurants were located.

(Though, even after saving up his allowance for a few months, Goshiki could only afford conveyor belt sushi for everyone. The rest of the team privately agreed to eat less than they normally would without him knowing so as to not completely dry out the future ace’s wallet.) 

“Hey, why’s [Surname] not joining us?” Semi asked, interrupting Tendou’s random spiel about a movie he had seen earlier in the week. To him, it was strange to be hanging out with the entire team without your presence included. “Did you forget to text her about this?”

Tendou put a hand over his heart and let out an over dramatic gasp, shocked that his friend could even accuse him of such a crime. “I didn’t forget! I texted a ton... but each time it was always a ‘I’m busy’ as a response and then she completely stopped replying back after”—he pulled his phone out of his pocket and reviewed his messages—“about ten texts.”

“Busy with what?”

“I dunno,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “Something more important than us, I guess!”

“Hey, don’t phrase it like that,” Semi grumbled. “Probably studying or something. I mean, she did say that she wants to apply for—”

“Wait, stop!” Tendou shushed Semi and then held his arms out to the side as a means to barricade the rest of the team behind him. They blocked off a good portion of the sidewalk, earning them a few glares for messing with the flow of traffic.

“Hey, what’re we doing?” Yamagata asked. Standing beside him, Shirabu looked flat out pissed.

Tendou pointed to two figures from across the street. 

“Look!”

The entire team turned to where he was pointing. For a moment they didn't understand just what the big deal was until they spotted an anomaly.

Goshiki gasped. “Is that...?”

In the direction Tendou was pointing at, you were walking alongside Komori with a few bags in your hand, evidence that you had been with him for some time. There was a smile on both of your faces, laughing and joking to each other. Instantly, all the boys hid behind one of the parked taxis on the street as they watched your exchange.

“ ‘Probably studying or something’, ” Tendou mocked Semi’s voice, his hand acting as a puppet. He nearly got decked on the side, but he managed to escape by a hair’s breadth. “That doesn’t look like studying to me! Those two are on a date!”

The youngest of the group began to feel weak at the very mention of the word, his face paling and knees going shaky. "A... date?" he mumbled out, just loud enough for the group to hear. His vision turned spotty and he lost his footing. Luckily, Oohira was right next to him and caught him before he fell.

“What else could it be?” Tendou continued running his mouth as they kept hidden. “He’s a Tokyo boy visiting Sendai just for a buddy-buddy hang out? No! What kind of guy does that?”

They took Tendou’s words into consideration. The weather was perfect for a date: scattered clouds, sunshine, a high of 80 degrees. And the outfit you were wearing was definitely on the cuter side than what you would wear when hanging out with them... and maybe, just maybe , their eyes were playing tricks, but it looked as though you were sticking pretty close to Komori. 

A bolt of realization struck in the background as it finally hit them.

Maybe you were on a date with Komori.

“Even if they’re... on a date, we shouldn’t disturb them...” Shirabu, the most rational of the bunch, said. “Besides, I think we should—”

“We’re gonna lose them! C’mon guys!” Tendou started running down the sidewalk to keep an eye on you and Komori from across the street, completely ignoring what Shirabu had to say. As a means to keep the entire group together, the rest of the guys followed after him.

When you and Komori stopped at one of the street vendors, Tendou made base behind another parked car. He motioned a hand for the others to come closer, to which they reluctantly did.

“This is so wrong…” Yamagata said, but his actions were contradictory to his words as he was taking the occasional glance across the street to see what was going on between you and Komori. "We should just leave them alone."

Kawanishi nodded his head, looking rather uncomfortable. He had heard about the yakiniku incident and wondered if this was going to be another spin-off of it. After witnessing your rage towards the other members, he truly didn’t want to be on the receiving end.

But, as always, Tendou didn't care about what any of the other members had to say. He had already come to his own decision on how he wanted to spend the day as soon as he saw you on the other side of the street.

"We're going to follow them!" he declared, tip-toeing to another parked car. "C'mon, guys! We need to make sure [Name]'s alright!"

Goshiki snapped out of his near-death trance, coming back to life with vigor in his eyes as he stood up straight.

“I agree with Tendou!” he yelled, raising a hand in the air. "I want to make sure she's okay!"

Semi slapped a hand against his forehead, his jaw dropping to the ground. “Tsutomu!”

“Then it’s settled! We’re following them… to make sure nothing bad happens!”

The more rational members exchanged glances and then watched Tendou and Goshiki try to act stealthy on the streets of Sendai. They considered just leaving the two and buying their own meals, but when Ushijima casually followed behind them, they knew they couldn't ignore the issue. With three of the most prominent club members participating in Tendou's proposal, the rest felt inclined to join in order to make sure nothing went wrong for the rest of the day.

Semi ran a hand through his hair and groaned before catching up to Ushijima.

Looks like they weren’t getting sushi anytime soon.

Two hours.

Two entire hours of following you and Komori to department stores, tourist sites, and other general city attractions.

That's how long it took for the final straw to break the camel's back when Semi decided to put a stop to Tendou's impromptu espionage.

"Enough, Tendou!" Semi yelled out as he grabbed his friend by the collar of his shirt. He was furious that he even went along with his antics and wasted a summer's day participating in such a useless endeavor. "It's nearly three in the afternoon and none of us have eaten! This is such a waste of time and the moment [Name] finds out about this—!"

Eyes still focused on the other side of the street, Tendou pressed an index finger to his lips. "Shush! This is important business!"

Angry and starved, Semi began to roll up his sleeves in a threatening manner. Oohira, the one who was always the first to sense when things were going to take a turn for the worse, hooked Semi's arms to hold him back. A few pedestrians stared at the group in turmoil, wondering just what they were doing. These kinds of situations always seemed to happen whenever the team was together. There really never was a boring moment amongst the boys.  

"Why you...!"

Before Semi could spit out a string of curses, Goshiki held his head between his hands and let out a pained sound. The other boys shifted their attention to him instead of Semi's outburst.

"They went into that restaurant together!" he cried out, devastated. It was as if his entire world was crumbling to bits. "This is like... the perfect date! They went all around Sendai taking pictures, shopping, everything! And now...!"

Goshiki couldn't even finish his sentence as his mind drifted to the idea of you dating Komori and the relationship further transpiring into more serious means. For the second time that day, Goshiki turned into a ghostly pale, his will to live leaving him like a leaf being gusted away on an autumn's day. No one knew how to console the youngest of the group with his one-sided love affair; the most the boys did was pat him on the back and offer words of encouragement for him. Uncharacteristic of him, Tendou kept quiet, the gears in his head spinning as he thought up an idea.

"What if... we make it so that it's not the perfect date?" he proposed. The rest of the boys stopped babying Goshiki and turned to look at him.

"Excuse me?" Shirabu asked, wondering if he heard Tendou correctly. "What did you say?"

"I said, let's make it so that they don't have the perfect date!" Tendou repeated. "Anyone can tell that those two aren't a good match for the long run, so this is really for [Name]'s sake! I bet she'll thank us for this in fifteen years."

Fiddling with his hands, Kawanishi spoke up, "Maybe we shouldn't—"

Returning back to life once more, Goshiki held a hand up to the sky, his eyes twinkling at the proposition. "Tendou, you're a genius!"

"C'mon, we're going in!" Tendou stated, leading the pack towards the restaurant. Goshiki obediently followed at his heels with determination in his eyes.

The rest of the boys had their feet planted as they watched Tendou and Goshiki go on ahead, completely oblivious to the consequences of their actions. With the exception of Kawanishi, they had all suffered from your wrath due to the noodle incident and their gut instincts were screaming that this was a rendition of the fiasco (Shirabu figured that this might actually be worse).

But then, Ushijima began walking towards the restaurant, following after Tendou and Goshiki. He had already made up his mind.

With a collective sigh, the rest of the boys dragged their feet as they made their way to the restaurant.

After a few hours of exploring Sendai with Komori, you were exhausted and ready to take a break. You were sure you walked through the entire city and showcased all it had to offer in the past two hours with him. 

The sun was still high in the sky and the lunch hour had long passed with many restaurants taking a break before it was time for the dinner rush. Well prepared, you already had this in mind when you were planning the itinerary. Typically during the summer, most of the restaurants in the city were filled to the brim with both locals and tourists alike, the wait to be seated being much longer than usual and a waste of time during such a nice day. To combat this, you scheduled to eat at an odd hour.

Navigating through the crowd of people, you quickly made way to one of the food alleys known mostly by those living in the area. There was a distinct aroma in the street as you passed by the many restaurants, the warm smell of minced garlic being fried and seared meat mingling together with foreign herbs to remind you of your hunger. Following behind you, Komori seemed just as hungry as he stared at the many signs, his eyes darting over all the options.

"This is the place!" you pointed out, finally stopping in front of a small and quaint hole in the wall. "This is one of the best restaurants that I like to go to with my friends whenever we have some free time. It's pretty popular during the summer, so the only time you can get in without having to wait is in the afternoon!"

As soon as you two walked inside, a hostess quickly sat you and Komori down at one of the many tables available. Even though there was a lack of traffic, the place wasn't completely empty; a few other families and couples were scattered about, enjoying their meals.

From across the table, Komori stole a glance at you over his menu. You were pointing at the variety of dishes they offered, suggesting to him what you typically enjoyed along with other local delicacies he might be interested in. He noted the excitement in your voice, a sparkle in your eyes at your genuine joy to share what you loved with him. Feeling flustered once again, he could only nod his head in conversation, enjoying your company on this hot summer's day.

The chime at the entrance of the restaurant rang out, but you paid it little mind as you got ready to order.

That was, until you heard an all too familiar voice.

“Well, well, well! What do we have here?”

The world stopped. You knew that voice. It was the last voice you expected to hear on this fine summer day. Stunned, you refused to look over your shoulder and instead kept your eyes on the menu.

But, you couldn't deny it any longer once the seat right next to yours was pulled out, forcing you to meet face-to-face with... him.

“Oh! Hi, Tendou,” Komori said with a smile as he waved at him. “Wow, this is a coincidence! What... what're you guys all doing here?”

The other guys sat themselves down and replied with hushed greetings. With the exception of Tendou, Goshiki, and Ushijima, the boys awkwardly shifted in their seats and avoided eye contact with you. 

“Are we interrupting something between you two?” Tendou spat as he raised a brow. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, head tilted in an almost accusatory manner. It didn’t take long for you to piece out what he was trying to insinuate. Komori felt the heat rise to his face once again.

“You have to be kidding me…” You set the menu down on the table and pressed your hands against your forehead. “Tendou, it’s not what you think…”

“Oh, really? So you wouldn’t mind if we all ate together, right?” He leaned closer into your personal bubble and it was then that you remembered your shopping bags sitting on the ground—one of which was holding the special copy of BoBo's Ridiculous Journey. You quickly snatched it into your lap which earned you a raised brow.

"Hiding something?" he prodded.

"N-Nothing!" you said with an unfortunate and incriminating stutter that could only show itself if you were hiding something. Tendou merely narrowed his eyes and darted his gaze from the bag to your face.

"Nothing?" he repeated, not believing a single word coming out of your mouth. "Really? Are you sure about that?"

You gave him a strained smile, your grip on the book tightening. Quick to change the topic, you directed his focus away from the bag in your lap.

"Why are you guys even here?" you quickly asked, taking a glance at the rest of the team seated at the table. They were taking peeks in your direction from above their menus, failing to be discreet. "You told me that your plans were for sushi. Last time I checked, this place doesn't have sushi on the menu."

"Plans change!" Tendou answered, getting himself comfortable in his seat. He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, towards Goshiki who was sitting beside him. "'Sides, Tsutomu was the one who said we should go here. Who am I to deny our up-and-coming ace?"

You turned to Ushijima who sat right across from Tendou. "Is this true?"

"No," he replied without a moment's hesitation, still reading through the menu. "It's not."

Tendou paled.

"Wakatoshi!"

He looked up from the menu, unfazed. "Yes?"

Too frustrated, Tendou buried his face into his hands. You weren't sure whether to feel sorry for him or not, so instead you chose to ignore his small outburst, grabbing the menu to look at again. Sitting opposite of you, Komori looked rather uncomfortable with the entire situation.

"Sorry for all"—you gestured towards the entirety of the team—"this..."

He let out a nervous chuckle and waved his hand, dismissing your apology. "No worries! Um, do you guys often hang out as a team after club activities and during vacations?"

You opened your mouth and were about to answer him with a hard denial, but before you got the chance to do so, Tendou answered for you.

"Yup! We're all best buddies and none of us have time to be dating around since we still have nationals to get ready for and— ack!"

A quick slap on the back of his shoulder got him to shut up as he writhed in pain. The other boys noticed your sudden surge in strength and kept their lips zipped as they watched. 

"Tendou, enough!" you said, raising a fist in front of him to show him that the next time he opened his mouth to say something absurd, worse consequences than a simple slap on the back were sure to come. "This isn't a date, Komori and I are just hanging out as friends!"

The word rang loud for Komori in a manner similar to a death toll.

Friends, friends, friends.

His throat suddenly felt dry and your argument with Tendou turned into white noise as he tried to process everything. It was funny how a single word could cause such catastrophic turmoil within him. His shoulders deflated as he wobbled from side to side.

"Uh, Motoya?" Tendou hesitantly asked as he leaned in to inspect the boy. He was dissociating in his seat and it seemed as if a gust of wind would cause him to topple. "You okay?"

"Ah, yes," he replied weakly. Feeling sick, he got up from his seat. "I... I need to use the bathroom."

Making his escape, Komori left you and the rest of the team to be alone. When he was out by an earshot, you turned to the guys, fists clenched as you stared each member down. With the exception of Ushijima, the rest of the boys shrank in their seats.

"Look what you guys did!" you hissed out. "Your presence made Komori sick!"

Taken aback by your words, Tendou placed a hand over his chest. "Our presence? It's just the Sendai air getting to him! He's a Tokyo boy, so maybe the fresh air without all the smog is making him feel woozy."

"Tendou," Shirabu sighed out, "That makes no sense."

"Shush, Kenjirou! You've never experienced the Tokyo smog like him," Tendou countered, earning him a scowl from his junior. "Anyway, I don't see what the problem is! We're all just friends trying to enjoy a nice lunch together!"

You glared them down, irritated that the guys would even let Tendou of all people be the spokesperson for the group. Semi seemed to notice your irritation only growing as the seconds passed and decided to speak up.

"Listen, this whole thing is just a... coincidence," he said, struggling with the last word. You raised a brow, but waited for him to continue nonetheless. "We had a change in plans and didn't know you were going to be here. We're sorry."

Your scrutinizing gaze caused some of the boys to flinch, but thankfully no one cracked under the pressure. Even Goshiki kept his mouth shut when you stared down at him for a few seconds longer (though, he did have a few beads of sweat trailing down from his temples). Feeling that you were being too harsh on them, you shut your eyes and took in a deep breath.

"It's fine... I shouldn't have blown up on you guys," you said while playing with the handles of the bag you were holding. "At this point, I should just expect you guys to pop out of nowhere whenever I have a day off."

While you let out a genuine chuckle, the others gave a more strained laugh, wholly knowing that this run-in was anything but a coincidence. It was too late to ever bring up the truth, however, a secret they would have to take to their graves. Even Ushijima knew that they were in too deep at this point.

With things finally calmed down, Tendou decided to pester once again. "Say," he started as he pointed at the bag in your lap, "ya wanna tell us what's in the bag? What's so secret about it?"

Peeking over their menus again, the other boys paid more attention to what you had to say. Just what were you hiding from them? The only one who wasn't so invested was Ushijima who waved at a waiter to ask for another jug of water for the table.

"I already said it's nothing!" you repeated. However, Tendou couldn't accept this and continued on.

"A gift from your boyfriend?" Tendou taunted as he wiggled his brows. Your grip tightened on the bag, and instinctively, you whacked him on the back of his head with it. He yelped in pain, causing the other guys to chuckle (they all knew you didn't put enough force into it to actually cause harm).

"Yeouch! That really hurt!"

"Mind your own business, Tendou," you chided. "And for the last time: Komori didn't get this for me!"

"Oh, it's my business now!" He playfully grabbed onto the shopping bag that you tried so hard to conceal from him. "C'mon, lemme see what your little Tokyo boy got for ya!"

Struggling against his grip, you tried to pry his hands off, but it was no use. He was much stronger than you and the bag easily slipped out of your hands. 

However, when Tendou pulled the bag and held it up in victory, the unexpected happened.

Too focused on you, Tendou hadn't even noticed the waiter who came right behind him holding the water jug Ushijima asked for the table. Before he got the chance to gloat upon seizing the bag, Tendou had accidentally hit the waiter, knocking the jug out of his hands which resulted in the water spilling all over you two.

Everyone watched in silence, not even breathing as they stared. Your clothes were completely soaked and the heat of embarrassment made its way to your face. However, you couldn't even focus on yourself as you remembered one of the main reasons for your outing today.

With haste, you snatched the bag out of Tendou's hands and quickly opened it. Your hands shook in a mixture of rage and horror as you slowly pulled out the damaged manga. Speechless, you could only stare as you flipped through its wet pages, a result of the water running inside of the bag. 

The worst part?

The autograph was completely ruined, the ink running through to create a terrible, botchy mess on the page. 

And then, at the exact moment when your face fell while looking at the ruined manga, Tendou pieced together why you were so hellbent on hiding what was inside the bag.

He knew the first volume cover of BoBo's Ridiculous Journey by heart, and he knew that the inky mess had to have been an autograph from his favorite creator. What you were holding was the source of his anguish for the past few months, a treasure he hadn't gotten over with and tried so hard to get back whether it be through online auctions and lotteries. And there was no way you wanted that volume for yourself. You couldn't care less about the manga.

No, he knew it had to have been a gift. A gift for him.

There was nothing but silence in the air as everyone stood still and processed everything that had happened in the past handful of minutes.

"I'm so sorry!" the waiter said, bowing his head even though he wasn't in the wrong. He quickly pulled out a rag and began to wipe up the excess water. "I'll be right back with some napkins for the entire table along with another refill..."

He scampered away, still meek as the others mumbled their thanks, eyes still focused on you rather than the mess. Tendou, the true perpetrator of this series of unfortunate events, slowly began to back away from you.

"Um... I need to... uh, go to the bathroom," he muttered out, avoiding eye contact with you. "Be right back!"

Before he had the chance to escape, you grabbed onto the collar of his shirt, holding him back. 

He slowly turned his head to face you and met the eyes of the devil, the air around him thicker than ever as he could barely breathe.

"No," you forced the word out and kept your grip on his shirt tight. Your clothes were completely drenched and he didn't miss you eyes containing a rage he had never seen before. "You're not going anywhere until you fix this."

It was at that moment, Tendou knew he should have just left you alone when he saw you earlier in the day.

When Komori came back to the table, finally refreshed after washing his face in the bathroom, he saw the most unpredictable scene.

He could only describe what he saw as chaos. Struggling out of Semi and Yamagata's arms, you looked as if you were ready to maul Tendou who was hiding behind Goshiki in hopes that a human shield would help him out. Oohira stood in the space between you two, acting as a mediator to calm you down so that you wouldn't end up on the evening news. The only third year who wasn't up from his seat was Ushijima. He was at the table with the second years, ordering for the entire group and ignoring the commotion his teammates were causing. Shirabu and Kawanishi kept in their seats, merely keeping an eye on their seniors should things escalate further.

Stunned, Komori kept his feet planted on the ground as he stared. He couldn't believe what was happening. 

"Komori," Ushijima was the first to acknowledge him, "you're back."

He snapped out of his stunned state and nodded at Ushijima, taking his seat beside him. Before he got the chance to ask what transpired when he left the table, Ushijima pulled out the menu and listed everything he ordered. His entire demeanor was that of how he usually carried himself which further confused Komori.

He wondered if this was an everyday occurrence for the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club.

EXTRA 1:

Lunch came and went without any more troubles as the boys made sure to separate you from Tendou, having you sit between Ushijima and Komori on one end and Tendou between Semi and Oohira on the other. You could feel his gaze fall on you at points, but whenever your eyes met, you made sure to glare back, still upset about the way he conducted himself in the restaurant. The rest of the guys (and even the staff at the restaurant) knew you were in a foul mood and tried their best to avert your attention towards the food and what the rest of summer break had to offer.

Tired from such a long and exhausting day, you decided that it would be best to say your goodbyes to everyone after lunch. The other guys waved at you, wishing you well along with Komori who decided to stick around with the other guys to check out the city for a bit longer.

But, not even five minutes later, you were met with the boy who was the cause of all your troubles.

"Wait!" Tendou called out. "Hold up!"

You had half a mind to ignore him and instead disappear into the crowd. But, as kind as ever, you turned and waited for him to catch up.

"What is it?" you asked when he got close enough. "You wanna cause more trouble or something?"

He laughed at your harsh words and instead lightly nudged you. "Aw, c'mon! Don't be like that!" he said as you two started walking beside each other on the sidewalk. "I said I was sorry about that already!"

"Sorry doesn't cut it, Tendou."

"Well, what am I gonna have to do to get you to forgive me?"

You ignored him, merely answering his pleas with a long sigh. He seemed to get the hint that you didn't want him to continue bugging you after all that had happened today and instead kept quiet as he walked with you to the subway, his hands behind his neck and his elbows poking outwards as he tried to think up of a way to formally apologize. 

The streets were much busier than before; it seemed as if everyone was out to enjoy the sun before the evening chill came. The further you walked, the more street stalls popped up, attracting large groups to come and eat whatever they had to offer. Even though you just had lunch, the aroma of fresh food was near irresistible. Quick to notice your glances at the vendors nearby, Tendou came up with an idea.

"Gimme a second!" he announced, dashing off ahead of you. Before you could question him, he was out of sight. Left alone, you once again sighed and headed to one of the nearby benches to wait for him. 

Tendou could be so unpredictable at points. Even though you had spent so much time with him and the rest of the team, sometimes you felt as if you would never get used to his mischief. You leaned back into the bench, silently musing the past few years with him. Some days he could be the biggest pain to deal with... but on others, when the days were long and lonely and boring, you would be lying if you said you didn't miss his presence.

(Because, at the end of the day, Tendou always knew the importance of friendship. He knew how to fix his mistakes. He always did.

And he always would for those he cherished the most.)

"Whew! That took longer than expected!" Tendou said as he plopped himself right next to you on the bench. He grabbed your hands and handed you a small, warm paper bag. "Here, since you gave me something, it's only polite that I do the same back."

It took a moment for you to recover from his sudden niceties. Slowly, you opened the bag. Steam escaped in curls, carrying a sweet scent to attack your senses. A quick peek into the bag, you were met with the head of a fish.

"Taiyaki?" you asked. He nodded and pointed into the bag.

"Chocolate filled! It's the best flavor."

A small gesture of gratitude, a subtle apology, a simple act of kindness. You didn't expect it from him, but that's what made the gift special.

"Thank you," the words came out soft and you pulled the pastry out. It was still hot to the touch, so you waited for it to cool down. "I appreciate it, Tendou." You paused, turning your body to face him. "You know, you didn't have to do this. I would have let it go after a week or so."

He waved you off. "Nah, lemme do something nice once in a while," he said as he patted the bag that contained the ruined volume of BoBo's Ridiculous Journey. "Besides, you got me this!"

You stared at him, unknowing what to say. The manga was ruined beyond repair.

"You should throw that out," you said. "It's of no use."

"Nah, I'll keep it," Tendou said, holding the bag up in front of him, proud as ever. "Since it's a gift and all. Yanno, I'm not the kind of guy who would throw out a gift from someone important to me!"

You allowed yourself a small smile. He wasn't completely irredeemable. Pulling half of the taiyaki, you handed the tail end to Tendou.

"Here," you said. It was a peace offering. "Let's share it."

He took the end half and helped himself. 

The day wasn't an entire bust, you thought as you took the first bite. It was sweet and soft and warm, the perfect treat to make amends.

You stole a glance at Tendou. He was gushing about the taste of the taiyaki, completely absorbed in the flavor while pointing at another stall you two should try afterwards.

Sweet, you smiled, finishing your half, just like him.

Chapter Text

With summer vacation coming to a close, you were set out to make the final day one dedicated for relaxation. You didn’t have much planned: an early morning rise, a trip to your local supermarket, dinner by yourself. Nothing of significance in your eyes.

Walking down the city sidewalk, you made your way back to your family apartment with grocery bags in tow. Since it was the weekend, there were many other people roaming the streets. Not that this would affect your day at all. Really, all you needed to do was go home, turn the TV on, slack off, and cook dinner.

Well, that’s what the plan originally was. The universe, as usual, decided to kindly leave a package of mischief outside the main entrance of your apartment complex.

From where you stood, you could see a group of boys huddled together, pointing at the building you lived in while talking amongst themselves and texting hastily on their phones. They each had backpacks with them and some even held bags of groceries much like the ones you had on hand. 

And, before you had the chance to run off and take a bus to the next city over, you were spotted.

“There you are! We’ve been waiting out here for you foreeeeeeeeeeeever!”

You resisted the urge to groan. Honestly, you should have known the boys of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club would trample all over your plans of relaxation the moment it even popped up into your mind. With heavy feet, you approached the group of third years. At least your juniors had enough sense to leave you alone on the last day of summer.

“What are you guys doing here?” you asked, not even trying to hide your annoyance. After all, none of them had even messaged in advance that they would be visiting. “Shouldn’t you all be at home resting before the new term starts?”

“Aw, c’mon!” Tendou jumped to your side and hooked his arm with yours. “Don’t be like that! Yanno, the best way to spend summer vacation is with your friends! I feel like we barely got to hang out!”

You shook your arm until he let go and approached the rest of the guys. While Tendou was his usual upbeat self, Semi and Yamagata shifted on their feet and avoided eye contact with you as soon as you stood within their bubble. Raising a brow at the two, you focused your attention on them.

“Is something wrong?” you questioned the two. Before opening their mouths, they gulped in response.

In the few seconds it took for them to come up with an answer, a list of horrible tragedies materialized within your mind. The funding for the volleyball team had been cut; Coach Washijou was sent to the hospital for damaging his windpipes due to constant yelling and you would have to serve as interpreter for his insults; Goshiki cut and styled his hair like Tendou’s because he was coerced into doing so. The heat became overbearing. All the pedestrians around you were moving too fast, becoming nothing more than a Gaussian blur as you struggled on your feet.

We still have a few months until it’s time for tournament season and yet—!

A touch to the shoulder brought you back to reality.

“Are you okay?” Ushijima asked, his voice snapping you out of your worm hole of possibilities. He, like the other boys, immediately noticed when you started to spiral. You cleared your throat and straightened your posture. Being around Tendou sometimes made you think the worst of all possible scenarios.

“E-Everything’s fine,” you replied, focusing once more on Semi and Yamagata. “Just tell me the real reason why you guys are here today.”

Again, the two struggled to answer, only producing inaudible mumbles.

You took a step forward, leaning towards them. “What?”

“...Summer… homework…”

You could only give a blank stare. So that’s why they came by unannounced. They wanted to copy your homework. Slowly but surely, your gaze hardened like ice. Even though the weather was warm, the boys felt a chill run down their backs.

“You’re kidding me,” you finally said, eyes still narrowed at the group. The boys showed signs that they were absolutely not kidding and in dire need of help. “Please... tell me you’re joking.”

No one said anything for a good minute, fearful of your reaction to the truth. As always, Tendou spoke up first for he feared nothing. Not even the idea of losing his life in front of your apartment.

“Okay, we’re joking,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Satisfied, you started towards the doors to the main lobby of your apartment complex. “Good, then I’ll just go inside and—”

“Aw, c’mon!” Tendou interrupted as he grabbed onto your arm to stop you from going inside without them. “You know better than anyone else that I’m lying!”

You scowled and snatched your arm away. “Tendou, I already told you guys last year to start your summer homework at least a week in advance and to not do it at the last minute!”

“It’s different this time!” he pleaded. “We’re coming not only to copy your homework, but to hang out too!”

Semi slapped a hand over his forehead. “You said it in the most awful way!”

“Well what did you want me to do?” Tendou countered. “Lie?”

Speechless, Semi could stare at him with an open mouth. He was unbelievable.

“Tendou!” Yamagata held onto the sleeve of his shirt and shook him. “Stop! I still have physics and English to work on! I need all the help I can get!”

The three dunces continued to argue amongst themselves in the middle of the sidewalk, garnering the attention of the few tenants walking in and out of your building. Poor Oohira, the most rational of the bunch, stepped in between his teammates to mediate the entire situation. Heat rose to your face, the mere idea of being associated with them an embarrassment that would last you a lifetime.

Before you had the chance to make a sneaky escape, Ushijima took a step towards you.

“We brought food,” he said simply. He held up one of the plastic grocery bags in front of him, maintaining a neutral expression. At this, you merely sighed, allowing your shoulders to slouch. Your day of relaxation would have to come at a different time.

“Fine... Okay,” you started. “I’ll help you guys out…”

At your surrender, Tendou jumped into the air. “I knew you would!” he cheered while clapping his hands in circles around your face. “Now let’s go! I have a lotta work that I need help on!”

He tried to drag you to the front door of the complex you lived in, but you stood your ground and kept your feet planted. You wanted to make yourself clear, completely transparent , that you weren’t going to let them bum off of you like they did last year.

“You’re not copying my homework,” you said, narrowing your eyes at Tendou. He was the only one who would dare to do so. “I’ll help out as best as I can and we’ll go through the sections you need help on, but that’s it! You guys need to do your own work instead of depending on me all the time!”

As a final display of authority, you crossed your arms in front of your chest, the bags from your own grocery trip earlier in the morning swinging in front of you and acting as a decorative means of weaponry should anyone challenge your words. They got the hint, Tendou even standing up with his back completely straight as he took the stance of a soldier.

“Roger that, commander!” he said in a deep voice. The other guys nodded in silence, not as enthusiastic as Tendou. 

You sighed and then made your way to the lobby. The groceries in your hands felt heavier than they did earlier as the baggage of responsibility followed closely behind.

“Wow, it’s been an entire year since we last came into your apartment!” Tendou said as you pulled the door open. They each slowly piled into the front, taking off their shoes at the genkan before walking down the hallway to your living room.

“Yeah… an entire year and you guys still didn’t learn your lesson from the last time you didn’t do your summer homework,” you muttered under your breath while neatly lining up their shoes. Oohira, the one who stayed behind to help you, raised his head.

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing,” you lied. Your sandals slid off easily and you placed them on the side opposite to where all the boys’ shoes were. He seemed to sense your simmering anger, and took it upon himself to grab the grocery bags you set down.

“I’ll help you with these. It’s the least I can do.”

Before you got the chance to reply, Tendou called out from your kitchen.

“C’mon, guys! We don’t have all day to dilly-dally!”

Resisting the urge to dig into your bag and throw whatever was heaviest at him, you opted to let out a light groan. Oohira could only chuckle as he followed after you into your apartment. He would be lying if he thought your reactions to Tendou weren’t funny.

The rest of the boys were getting set up at the kotatsu in your living room, pulling out their workbooks from the school bags along with pencil cases, scratch paper, snacks—really, anything and everything related to studying. The bags of groceries they had brought with them were placed on the once empty counter of your kitchen where Oohira was currently at as he placed your own bags next to theirs.

“You guys are always popping out at the most unexpected times,” you pointed out as you took a seat next to Ushijima at the kotatsu. He seemed ready to study as he clicked his mechanical pencil and flipped out his workbook. English, you noticed from the corner of your eyes. 

“Aw, don’t act like you aren’t happy when we show up!” Tendou said as he poked you with the eraser end of his mechanical pencil. You turned to him and glared at him, remembering the boys’ most recent impromptu rendezvous in the city. How could that day even be worth reminiscing?

“Hardly,” was all you could say as you swatted his pencil away. “Anyway, what sections do you guys have left to finish?”

“Just English,” Ushijima said. You nodded and turned to Semi who sat next to him on the other side of the kotatsu.

“Math,” he said as he thumbed through the pages, “but I have the entire section to do since I left it last.”

“And when did you start working on it?”

“...A few days ago.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. He did everything in his power to avoid them. “Didn’t you do this last year?”

The air was thick like cement, the rest of the boys keeping quiet as he struggled to answer. He tapped the eraser head of his pencil against the paper of his workbook, trying to run through his options with the few seconds you offered him.

A. Lie? Nope. Absolutely not. I’ll definitely get screwed over since there’s proof of me asking for help on last year’s summer homework. Scratch this idea.

B. Tell the truth? Better than lying, I guess. It still puts me in a position that I end up looking like a piece of crap, but I suppose it’s better to look like a truthful piece of crap than a lying piece of crap.

C. Change the subject? Bingo!

“Uh, are your parents home?”

You knitted your brows together. “No? They’re not. Why?”

It worked! I’m home free!

“I was just wondering since we brought some things to make dinner with. To repay you for your help,” he smoothly explained. The palms of his hands were wet as he waited for your answer.

Your shoulders relaxed at the thought of your parents. Semi could once again breathe as soon as he saw you hold your chin in the palm of your hand as you spoke, no longer enraged by his procrastinating ways. 

“Well… my dad is on a business trip and won’t be back until tomorrow and my mom has to work overtime for one of her projects she’s leading,” you said while drumming your fingers on the table. “It’s set to be finished tonight, so once everything has been finalized, she’s going out for dinner and drinks with her team.”

Tendou clapped his hands in front of your face to force your attention away from your thoughts. “Then I guess it’s a good thing we came over! We’re gonna be here all night to keep you company!”

“You guys are leaving before ten,” you corrected with a heavy sigh.

“We’re gonna be here until ten to keep you company!” Tendou revised his earlier statement and pounded his hand on the table. The pencils clattered and you pressed your hand against your forehead, trying to relieve yourself of the stress that was to come with helping the boys with their summer homework.

“Anyway, Yamagata, you told me that you had English and physics to work on…” You turned your body back to the kitchen where Oohira was already starting to unpack the groceries, organizing them on the small space of the counter. “Oohira, what do you have to work on?”

He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “I actually finished all my summer homework a week ago. Tendou told me about everyone meeting today, so that’s why I’m here.”

Of course, Oohira has more sense than the other guys and wouldn’t wait until the very last minute to do his homework. He’s actually responsible.

“Tendou forced you to come?” you asked, somewhat peeved that he was roped into his friend’s mischievous ways. Knowing Tendou, he probably convinced Oohira to tag along by describing the most drastic of situations.

“Hey! I didn’t force Reon to come!” He placed a hand over his chest, offended you would even insinuate such an idea. “He asked if we were doing anything today and said he wanted to tag along!”

You turned to Oohira, trying to get the truth out of him. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders as he continued to help organize. “I figured it would be a lot of work for you to help everyone out.” He paused. “And it would be fun to eat dinner with everyone before classes start again.”

He’s… You stared at him, touched by his words. He’s so much more than just responsible… He’s a genuinely great guy!

Uplifted by Oohira’s kindness, a fire burnt within you. It was still midday which meant that the guys had a handful of hours to get through their homework. They each only had one or two sections to finish which was definitely doable in the timeframe given—

A sudden shock ran through your system as you forgot a crucial detail.

“Um, Tendou…” Your nerves were at an all time high as you turned to look him in the eyes. He tilted his head at your sudden meek demeanor.

“Uh-huh?” 

“How many sections do you need help on?”

He smiled. You hoped that was a good sign.

(It was anything but.)

In one swift motion, he opened his workbook in front of your face. It was completely blank.

“I haven’t even started!”

The only sound that could be heard in your apartment was the whirring of the fan in the corner of your living room. You could only stare at him as you suppressed your eye from twitching. 

The taste of bile was stuck on the tip of your tongue as you once again pressed a hand over your forehead. It didn’t matter if it was through academics or sports, Tendou continued to surprise you in ways you wished he hadn’t.

This was going to be a long day. 

After hours of intense studying, a break was much needed. Besides Tendou, the other boys miraculously managed to finish their summer homework without too much trouble. The afternoon was already coming to a close which meant dinner needed to be prepared.

“Let’s rest for a bit,” you said while getting up. “I’ll start preparing dinner so that we can eat it and after that we’ll help Tendou finish what he has left of his work.”

Semi and Yamagata were already knocked out, their heads pressed against the table top of the kotatsu after using their brains for a better part of the day. Meanwhile, Ushijima nodded as a reply and Tendou cheered at the prospect of food.

Oohira, the one who had assisted you with tutoring the boys, stood up as well.

“I’ll help you out,” he said, following you into the kitchen. “I put some of the things we brought into your fridge, so I can take them out for you.”

An extra set of hands in the kitchen was much appreciated. You smiled at him and waited for him to join you. As he took the ingredients out onto the empty counter, you searched for the aprons and washed your hands.

“Thanks for your help,” you said as you surveyed the counter. There were various vegetables from napa cabbage to shiitake mushrooms along with a package of tofu. It looked like they had a specific dish in mind. “Sukiyaki?”

“That’s what Tendou suggested,” he replied back.

“In the summer?”

He chuckled. “I know, but he said sukiyaki tastes best with friends.”

You paused and took a quick glance at Tendou. He was hunched over as he skimmed through his workbook while the other boys were on break, circling answers and pouting his lips as he wondered if his intuition was right. 

Sukiyaki tastes best with friends? You couldn’t help but laugh in your hand. What a Tendou thing to say.

(But you wouldn’t disagree with him. Maybe sukiyaki was better suited for the winter, but you supposed that it would taste great during a summer’s evening, the iron pot surrounded by those closest to you.)

“I guess it does,” you mused. Oohira pulled out the last item in the fridge: a wooden box about the size of a large bento with a white string tying it together. 

“That’s everything,” he said as he went over to your sink to wash his hands. You stared at the busy counter.

Napa cabbage, tofu, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, konjac noodles, scallions, udon noodles, enoki mushrooms...

Your eyes widen. The only thing left for sukiyaki was sliced beef.

There’s no way… It can’t be…

You focused your attention back on the small wooden box. A small sticker at the corner of the lid read A-5 Premium Wagyu! Sliced and Ready!

“Who brought the beef…?”

Oohira turned around, curious as to why you were asking. “Wakatoshi did. Is there something wrong with it?”

“It’s…” Words failed you as you took a step away from the box, afraid something might jump out of it. “The beef quality is…” You could only point at the sticker to Oohira. His eyes widened for a fraction of a moment before waving a hand in your direction.

“Well... that’s Wakatoshi for you.”

“This is too much!” you hissed as a reply. Even the box felt much too luxurious in your hands. You wouldn’t have been surprised if it was made from some sort of enchanted wood in the Nordic region with cooling properties specific for the beef. “I can’t accept this just for helping you guys with your homework!”

Once again, Oohira laughed. “Don’t worry. He probably thought it through when buying it for today.” He took the box of wagyu from you and set it aside so that you wouldn’t focus on the cost of it. “You know how he is. Wakatoshi thinks of everyone. He knew Tendou was craving sukiyaki and wanted to contribute to making sure the sukiyaki tasted good. For Tendou, and you, and everyone else.” 

Everything Oohira said made sense. Ushijima was always the type to let his actions speak louder than words, but even then…

You stared at the box of wagyu once more.

What kind of high school allowance can afford this?!

Like his friend, Ushijima was a complete and utter wildcard.

Preparing sukiyaki during the summertime felt inherently wrong for the season. The weather outside was sweltering, the temperature reaching new highs as the days passed. A steaming pot heating up the dining table made you sweat just thinking about it.

And yet…

Preparing sukiyaki during the summertime to be shared with friends felt inherently right . Even if the weather outside was sweltering. Even if the temperature reached a new high than the days before. None of it mattered.

As the sun slowly made its descent, the day’s glow turning into a deep rustic orange, you got to work on preparing dinner. Sukiyaki wasn’t terribly difficult to make, but Oohira offered his assistance in the kitchen. The boys had all finished their summer homework (yes, even Tendou somehow finished all assigned sections without completely copying your workbook), and opted to destress in your living room as they watched a rewind of a popular reality show. From where you stood, you could hear Tendou explaining all the details to the rest of the guys, running his mouth as he was met with grunts of acknowledgement.

While Oohira stationed himself at the stove and boiled the udon noodles to eat later, you got to work on the vegetables. It wasn’t necessarily difficult, but you appreciated having a helping hand in the kitchen.

(Well, a helping hand that wasn’t Tendou. He had suggested the idea of dinner and a show by juggling the kitchen knives you had on hand. You politely declined and made a mental note for him to never enter your kitchen unsupervised.)

“Oohira, how are your knife skills?” you asked, chopping up the napa cabbage with practiced ease. The snaps of the stem were pleasing to the ear. “Do you mind cutting the carrot after you’ve strained the noodles? I’ve already got everything else prepared and I wanted to get started on the sauce.”

He hummed, still stirring the pot. “I’d say my skills are fair,” he said. “Better than the rest of the guys at least.”

“We don’t need anything fancy,” you reassured him, joining his side next to the stove with another pot. The gas stove clicked when you turned the dial, the spark of a flame growing underneath the iron burner. You turned to him, giving a thumbs up. “I’m sure you’ll do great.”

He took the pot of cooked udon with him, laughing at your encouragement. From where you stood, you could hear the boiling water rush into the sink.

“I’ll do my best,” he responded with just as much enthusiasm. And at his reply, you chuckled. Light chops filled the air between you along with the white noise of the television playing in the living room, Tendous upbeat voice chattering away just loud enough to be heard from the kitchen.

In the small pot, you poured all the necessities in: sake, mirin, sugar, soy sauce. All the ingredients melted together to create a rich broth the color of thick syrup, one sweet in scent and taste. Now, all you had to do was plate everything and prepare the table.

“Oohira? Are you done with the carrots?”

He turned at the sound of his name. Shuffling to the side, he showed you his work. Set in a neat little pile, the carrots given to him were meticulously cut into thin slices, each resembling small sakura flowers. 

“How is it?” he asked. 

Silence. You could only stare at the cutting board.

Fair? He thinks his knife skills are only “fair?” He’s better than me!

“It’s… it’s perfect,” you said, still in awe. “Who taught you how to do this?”

“Oh, well, I have an older sister who cooks a lot and I learned from watching her.” He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “And I have a younger brother too. Whenever we have a holiday, I try to make lunch to maintain my skills, and my brother likes it when the food is cut like this… so I try to make it fun.”

Figures. He would be a good older brother. Especially with how he conducted himself in front of all the guys.

“Is there anything else I can help with?” he asked, breaking the silence. You snapped out of your train of thought and quickly made your way to the cupboards.

“Just one more thing! I know I’m asking for a lot,” you dug through all the bowls and picked a few stacks up, piling them, “but can you set these out on the kotatsu? I’ll arrange the vegetables and meat on a plate and then bring the gas stove and pot out!”

He graciously took all the dishware from your hands and then shook his head. “You’re not asking for too much. I’ll do everything I can to help as much as possible.”

Before waiting for your reply, he left the kitchen area and made his way to the living room. The other guys jumped up from the couch and helped him arrange all the bowls. You stared at him, holding a hand over your heart.

You’re not like the rest of them! you wanted to cry out. You’re a good man, Oohira!

With a shake of the head, you went back to work, neatly arranging the vegetables and meat on separate plates. Oohira once again arrived in the kitchen and took the plates along with the miniature gas stove and pot out of your way. All that was left was to bring the broth to the table.

“Careful, it’s hot!” you warned, making your way to the kotatsu. The guys sitting marveled at the rich color of the broth once you placed it on the empty space of the table for later use. The spread on the table was one you were accustomed to seeing in a magazine or a network show: picturesque and made with care.

“It’s time to eat like kings!” Tendou said, clapping his hands like a seal. The others followed suit and gave thanks.

Together, everyone grilled the beef slices inside the pan, allowing for the fat and oil to accumulate. The sizzle and sear of the thin cuts came with the color change of the meat, transforming from pink to a rich brown with a glaze of oil. Sounds of approval were heard all around the table as everyone ate, Semi and Yamagata in a blissful state as they chewed.

Once enough of the meat was cooked, you poured the sukiyaki broth in. With practiced hands, the broth rushed into the pot, mixing in with the oils of the beef grilled beforehand. Vegetables were quickly added to be cooked within the boil, the mushrooms and tofu and konjac noodles dyed brown by the sauce.

Chopsticks moved in and out of the pot with fluid ease, a give and take with everything inside. When one person ate the beef, another replaced it with two more slices. Each bite was juicy, the flavor of the simmered quality meat and vegetables getting better as time progressed.

And like all great meals, good conversation accompanied it. Lighthearted chatter about the upcoming semester and Spring High ensued between bites. You followed along to what everyone was saying, adding in your own input every now and then.

It was fun. Sukiyaki, the whirr of an electric fan in the corner of your living room, and friends surrounding your kotatsu the night before your final high school semester. Everyone seemed to think so too.

The pot simmered, inviting you to grab another bite from it. You do so and add more vegetables into the broth.

“I told ya you’d enjoy our company,” Tendou said as he nudged you with his elbow. “You always do!”

You tried not to show it, but you silently agreed with what he said. With a nudge of your own elbow, you shooed him away. Still, a smile found its way to your face as you stared at the pot in front of you, its contents constantly being refilled as the guys dug in.

Tendou was right.

Sukiyaki tastes best with friends.

EXTRA:

“Whew!” Tendou let out a sigh of relief as he stretched his arms to the ceiling. “Talk about a brain teaser! That English section is no joke!”

Yamagata plopped down on the ground, letting out a groan as he expressed his distaste for physics. Sitting beside him, Semi did the same, instead cursing about the complexities of math. The only one who neither moved nor said anything was Ushijima.

Only an hour had passed since the boys first began finishing their summer homework. While you worked in the kitchen to make refreshments of cut apples and glasses of juice, the boys were hard at work. Oohira offered to take over tutoring as you prepared everything before the break.

Walking back with the tray of snacks, you took your seat in the space next to Ushijima. He didn’t even react when you began to pass around the glasses and plates, keeping his back straight like a wooden plank as he kept his head down. When he didn’t acknowledge the fruit in front of him, you leaned in to get a closer look at his face.

His eyes were shut. His breathing was done in even intervals. His snore was soft.

While the other boys were studying… Ushijima took a nap. While sitting straight up like a Bodhisattva statue.

How? was the only question echoing in your mind as you stared at him. His posture was like that of a ruler’s. How does he do it?

You turned to the others at the table. They were all lying on the ground, tired after using their brains for once and completely oblivious to Ushijima’s sudden slumber. Grabbing the nearest pen on the table, you slowly brought the push end of it to Ushijima’s face.

Maybe you could have woken him up in a different manner, but the chance presented itself to you and your hand moved on its own. With a light poke, you pushed the pen into the center of his cheek. In an instant, his eyes fluttered open and he blinked.

Slowly, still in the daze of a sweet dream, Ushijima turned to face you, the pen in your hand still prodding his face. His brows knitted together as he slightly moved his head to the side to avoid the pen.

“I’m sorry, did I…?”

“Yeah,” you laughed into your hand at him still being in his drowsy state, “you did.”

He stared down at his English workbook. There was still a good chunk of questions left for him to answer. He let out a sigh.

“I stayed up late,” he said as he put his pencil down. “I’m almost done with this.”

You reached over for his workbook, leaning in to see how far he was. More than halfway done. He could finish within the next hour.

“I’ll check over the answers you have right now,” you said, keeping your voice rather hushed.

Still rather tired, he only nodded his head in response. You tried your best not to laugh at his sleepy demeanor. Very rarely would he show himself in this light, so you didn’t want it to end just like that. 

But, as you flipped through the pages, your feet turned cold.

Somehow, Ushijima had managed to do the impossible. Your eyes shook as you scanned through each question he completed. It was absolutely ludicrous.

They’re… They’re all wrong!

You shakily turned to Ushijima. He didn’t seem to notice your worried state as he had his eyes closed once more. With this short opportunity, you quickly erased his answers and bubbled in the right ones.

It seemed that Ushijima’s one and only weakness was English.

If only Goshiki knew.

Chapter Text

With the end of summer, practice commenced back to usual schedules. You and the rest of the boys spent countless hours in the gymnasium, preparing for the national stage through long training sessions that spanned well into the evenings. The days went by faster than you would have liked, the warm weather slowly transforming into an autumnal cool that made the hairs on the back of your neck raise as the leaves fell.

Scattered clouds, sunshine peeking out, and a slight chill—today was one of those days that you would have liked to have been inside the gym.

Key word: would.

Outside the warmth provided by the gym, you kept to yourself, rubbing your arms to keep warm as you sat in the large athletic field with all your peers. Even with the cooler than average weather, there was a buzz of excitement within Shiratorizawa’s student body. And for good reason.

Today was Sports Day. One of the most important days scheduled for the school year. The event took precedence over usual daily activities, and being a school known for its athletic programs, Shiratorizawa Academy went all out with funding for the event. Large tents dotted the field with refreshments stored in state of the art coolers as resting areas for the students while they waited to participate in activities; students were given new athletic uniforms specifically designed for the differentiation of class years; large banners with faces of the most prominent athletes in the student body were hung up, proud on display.

It was practically the mini-Olympics. Hell, the school even set up special high-rise seating for parents and outsiders who weren’t affiliated with the school to spectate the whole ordeal.

After all the initial festivities (an entire opening ceremony with streamers, a performance by the school band, and promises of prizes), students who weren’t participating in the first event of the day congregated together and relaxed in the grass. Everyone around you was bubbly—including the girls who were sitting right next to you. You weren’t one to eavesdrop, but they were so loud that you couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

“Wow, Ushijima is so handsome!” one of the girls gushed as she marveled his tall and built physique. He was standing at the other end of the field, preparing for the four man relay each sports club was participating in.

Another girl let out a dreamy sigh. “Totally. He’s the strong and silent type!” She hugged her shoulders, a blossom of red blooming on her cheeks as she thought of Ushijima being the one to hold her. “Don’t you think it’s kind of weird he’s never had a girlfriend?”

Probably because he’d marry volleyball if he could, you countered in your mind as you hugged your knees tighter against your chest. It felt rather strange to witness Ushijima being ogled at. He really only has time for volleyball… and that’s it!

“Maybe he’s too busy for a girlfriend right now! I mean, he’s on the National Youth team too,” another girl added. She then pointed a finger at Oohira who was standing beside Ushijima. “Hey, but don’t you think Oohira is pretty cool? I remember the local news station interviewing him a lot when the volleyball team went to Niigata to play for the national tournament and the way he spoke was so polite. Like, ugh, what a gentleman.”

“Oh, yeah! I agree! He’s really friendly and helps out with homework all the time. He’d kind of be like a doting boyfriend.”

Your mind slowly wandered to the time all the guys played butts up. Doting boyfriend...? It was hard to maintain a neutral expression as they kept talking.

“What about Semi? He’s the team’s… uh… extra server? I forgot, but, um, I think he’s really good looking! He looked so cool when he came up to serve against Aoba Johsai during Interhigh!”

“You know what I saw him do the other day? Sleep in the middle of class.”

Giggles were heard from the group.

“That’s pretty cute! He must be so tired from practicing all the time that he can’t concentrate on his studies.”

You held your tongue and then narrowed your eyes at Semi from across the field. No wonder he always begged for help on homework. He was too busy sleeping in the middle of class instead of paying attention.

(Across the field, Semi felt a chill run down his spine. He ignored it. Must have been jitters from the upcoming race.)

“Hey, [Name]! What’s with that face?”

You whipped your head at the voice and saw Tendou approaching along with some of the other guys on the volleyball team. Like everyone else, they wore the new sports ensemble along with different colored headbands tied to their foreheads.

“It’s nothing,” you replied and relaxed yourself. Today was a day for fun, not mentally reprimanding Semi for ignoring his academic priorities.

“You scared we’re gonna lose this?” Tendou asked. He rubbed his hand into the top of your head and laughed when you swatted at him. “Those four are gonna wipe the floor with everyone today! They’re the dream team and we’re winning that pack of protein bars for the club!”

“Hey, you know Sports Day is about cooperative spirit, right? It’s not all about winning,” you said. Tendou now sat beside you along with Yamagata, Shirabu, and Kawanishi.

He let out an exaggerated sigh and flapped the air in front of him as if the air stank. “Boo, you’re no fun.”

“Tendou, you don’t even like protein bars,” Yamagata said, his body leaning forward so he could get a better look at the runners from across the field.

“Ah, ah, Hayato. That’s not the point. What I’m saying is that the winners take all and the losers are just that— losers! We win this and take from the losers! That’s the best part of Sports Day!”

Everyone stared at Tendou, completely dumbfounded by what he said. No one got the chance to even question what he meant as the first whistle was blown, indicating the relay was soon to begin. Students who sat on the grass immediately stood up and started cheering for their friends. Tendou was no exception as he pulled you up and started yelling Oohira’s name.

“C’mon, cheer a little louder guys!” Tendou commanded the second years, grabbing onto their wrists and hoisting their arms in the air. While Kawanishi looked a bit uncomfortable, Shirabu snatched his arm away and instead chose to cup his hands around his mouth to amplify his cheers. Tendou gave up pretty quickly on the two and focused his attention back on the track.

A second whistle broke through the air to indicate the start of the race. The sound of cheers and claps and empty water bottles being used as noise makers was deafening. A rush of adrenaline shot through each runner at the high energy of the audience surrounding them, causing them to run faster than they usually would. One lap went by in a flash and Oohira passed the baton to Semi.

“Semi-Semi! Give us that lead!” Tendou hollered out, jumping into the air while waving his arm to grab his teammate’s attention.

“Quit calling me that!” Semi barked back at Tendou. His voice was a bit shaky as he continued to run at top speed.

“Semi-Semi, you got this!” you cheered out alongside Tendou. Instead of yelling back, Semi grumbled under his breath at the use of the nickname and focused his attention on the asphalt. He exerted a bit more energy than usual and found himself among the top three runners for the relay. “Hey, we might win this whole thing!”

“Let’s go, Semi-Semi!” Yamagata said aloud, half-encouraging, half-teasing. Semi yelled another “shut up!” at this before passing the baton to Ushijima.

“Miracle boy, Waaakaaatooooooooooooshiiiiiiiiii! ” Tendou allowed his voice to carry each vowel, dragging out Ushijima's name for maximum support.

Completely focused on the race, Ushijima kept his eyes on the prize as he ran on the track. He passed the runner of the soccer club, the runner from the swim team, and he was right behind the runner from the basketball club. At the last hundred meters before sending Goshiki off, Ushijima ended up tied for the lead.

With the race at its last leg, students and faculty spectating were jumping up and down in excitement. It was a tossup between the basketball and the volleyball clubs. Goshiki, being the anchor, fed off this energy and forced his legs to go a bit harder in order to not fall behind. After all, his seniors worked hard to maintain this lead. Aces were supposed to make miracles happen and right now he was being tested. Neck and neck against the runner from the basketball club, Goshiki ran with all his might to gain even a single millimeter advantage.

“Hey!” Tendou shook your shoulder in an urgent manner. “You need to cheer for Tsutomu! Now!”

“A-Alright!” You waved his hand away. “C’mon Goshiki! You got this!” you yelled out. Though, it didn’t seem like he could hear you in the sea of other voices.

“Louder!”

You took a deep breath. Fine, if he wanted you to be loud, then you were going to be as loud as possible. Cupping your hands around your lips, you collected air at the top of your lungs.

“GOSHIKI! I BELIEVE IN YOU! YOU CAN DO IT!”

Your scream was akin to that of a banshee’s. It was decibels higher than what the average person was capable of. In fact, it was so loud that a few students close by stopped cheering and stared at you in awe.

However, your encouragement did not have the effect Tendou was hoping for. Instead of getting more hyped up like Tendou thought, Goshiki whipped his head at the sound of your voice and ended up tripping over his feet. In the most unfortunate turn of events, Goshiki ended up rolling on the track a few times as if he were a cheese wheel. The runners who were once behind him ended up passing Goshiki with little to no trouble.

Much to Tendou’s dismay, the volleyball team came in last place for the relay.

After extensive consoling and a series of other activities to keep your mind off the devastating loss of the opening relay, it was now your turn to run on the track. It was decided that since the guys of the team ran a relay, the managers of the team should also race each other for fun. Only 400 meters. One lap around the track. You were going to take this nice and slow.

The other girls stretched their bodies and chatted amongst themselves, waiting for the first whistle to sound before lining up at the starting position. Everyone was amicable, offering their well wishes.

“Good luck!” you said to the girl standing closest to you. It took you a second, but you finally remembered that she was the basketball club’s manager.

She eyed you from head to toe before giving a smug smile. “Of course! Good luck to you as well! Let’s... do our best,” she said, her voice sickly sweet like an overripe peach.

Though, her eyes said something completely different.

Try to keep up with me… If that’s even possible for you.

Sparks began to fly between the two of you as she pulled her leg back to stretch. Try to keep up? Oh, you would be doing much more than just keeping up. You were going to wipe the floor with her. Throwing aside all ideas of this being a friendly race, you started to stretch all your muscles, getting rid of all the tenseness from before.

You’re eating my dust, you spat the insult in your head as you bent down to touch the tips of your toes. A raging fire had been fueled within you. Losing was definitely not an option now since the basketball club already won the first relay. The basketball manager noticed you getting more serious and she too paid closer attention to her stretches. You both threw in single snide remarks every now and then, completely forgetting about the cooperative spirit of Sports Day.

I’m totally going to kick her ass.

I’ll be damned if I lose to her!

From across the field, Kawanishi squinted his eyes at you and the basketball manager. He noticed a … hostile aura between you two.

“[Surname] looks really serious,” he muttered out, holding a hand over his eyes to act as a visor. You weren’t one to engage in petty arguments and the likes, so seeing you exchange glares with the basketball manager was alien to him.

Standing beside him, Shirabu stared in the direction Kawanishi was looking. “I think she’s more pissed off than serious,” he said. All the other girls at the track were giggling and gossiping amongst themselves, completely friendly as they twirled the end strands of their hair with their fingers. He swore he saw flowers dotting the atmosphere around them when he squinted his eyes. You and the basketball manager though? Completely different realm of competition. There was a fire burning in the background as you both jogged in place. “It’s kind of scary.”

“Bah! Who cares, Kenjirou? As long as she wins then it’s all good!” Tendou completely brushed off what his underclassmen said and proceeded to holler out, “C’mon, [Name]! Restore the volleyball club’s honor!”

A few of the other boys started to cheer your name as well in a hopeful attempt that doing so would hype you up. Rather than stopping at just shouting, Tendou gathered those closest to him to conduct a simple dance routine. He raised his arms in the air and pointed in your direction three times before clapping twice and saying your name. Normally, such a stunt would have left you embarrassed (and possibly yelled at them to stop), but you were too preoccupied in talking smack to the basketball manager.

“Did you know the volleyball team played on the national stage recently?” You twisted your torso and turned to face her. She looked you in the eyes and struggled to return a smile. “Well, we’re planning to do it again for Spring High. Just like last year.”

“Oh, did they? Sorry, I don’t recall. My boys are practicing at all hours, so I don’t have time to focus on such trivial things,” she countered in a snide manner. This made your blood boil, but you refused to show that she was getting under your skin. You took in a deep breath and stretched your arms.

“Well, you’ve probably never even heard of nationals since the basketball team hasn’t been in the last five years. Sorry, I should have taken that into consideration!”

The basketball manager kept quiet and turned her head the other way, not allowing you the satisfaction of seeing her façade of kindness crack. At this point, niceties were out the window and all was fair game. Now, you were determined to win this race in order to get the last laugh in after all the trash talk.

The silence between you two didn’t last long as the first whistle broke through the air. Like Olympians, you and the baseball manager crouched down at the starting line. All the noise blurred out as you concentrated on the track.

“Good luck,” you said once again, tone more sharp.

She scoffed under her breath. “Yeah, good luck.”

The anticipation was practically killing you as you waited for the second whistle. Nothing else mattered in the moment. The only thought that took precedence in your mind was getting the lead.

Fwwweet!

Your legs moved on their own at the sound and soon you found yourself running right beside the basketball manager. The other girls were left behind and a bit shell-shocked at how seriously you two were taking this.

“Whoa, look at [Surname] go!” Semi said, getting excited at the possibility of winning the pack of sport drinks for the event. “C’mon, you can do it!”

“Keep cheering!” Tendou raised his arms in the air and the other guys followed. “This goes for you too, Wakatoshi!” He grabbed a hold of Ushijima’s wrist and held his arm up. “Cheer like you mean it!”

Ushijima clapped his hands as Tendou directed and said your name aloud.

“C’mon, more spirit!”

He said your name again, a bit louder than before. He was trying his best. Instead of prodding Ushijima any further, Tendou instructed his friend to continue clapping as his hands were capable of causing a sonic boom. The rest of the team shouted your name aloud and jumped into the air to show their support.

By now, you and the basketball manager were nearing the end of the track. The air definitely felt thinner and the taste of iron was present at the tip of your tongue; your legs weren’t feeling as light as before, but you ignored it all. The only thing that mattered right now was winning.

White tape was held up at the end of the track. This was it. The end. Each step you made now was crucial and you couldn’t allow yourself to fall even a centimeter behind.

“Let’s go!”

Gravity shackled your ankles, but you kept your pace.

“Cross the line!”

Your breaths were turning more shallow with each breath as you closed the distance. Only a few more steps.

“Win!”

The tape touched your body first and stuck onto your t-shirt. Exhilarated, you threw your arms up into the air, the victory causing you to momentarily forget how exhausted your legs were. Before the rest of the team rushed at you, you peeked over your shoulder and offered a rather smug smile.

“Good race!” you said in a cheery voice, trying your best to stop yourself from gloating about your victory. Perhaps you would have helped her up to her feet, but you chose to keep your distance. It was impossible to hide the pleasure you got when you noticed her vexed features.

“Good… race…” It seemed as if it physically pained her to say those two words.

Perhaps Tendou was right about the true meaning of Sports Day.

It was all about the winners and the losers.

You should have expected this from the very beginning.

The rivalry between the basketball and the volleyball clubs lasted for the entirety of the day; from the three legged race to the synchronous dance routine, it was always the volleyball club against the basketball club. At this point, it was fated to be.

And, for the final event of the day, the two clubs were destined to face off against each other one last time.

“PUT YOUR BACKS INTO IT!” you screamed at the boys behind you. Shocked at your outburst, the underclassmen froze for a second but then recovered and started pulling harder on the rope. Looking straight into the eyes of the basketball manager pissed you off—even worse, having the rope be tugged into her direction was killing you. “KAWANISHI, I KNOW YOU’RE SLACKING OFF RIGHT NOW! PUT MORE EFFORT INTO PULLING THE ROPE!”

Feeling a shiver run down his back (because how did you know?), Kawanishi exerted more energy into pulling. The rope yanked in your direction with a continuous rhythm.

Tug of war. It was the perfect game to let out all your pent up frustration from the very beginning of the day. The basketball manager seemed to think the same as well.

“DON’T LET UP! WE’RE NOT LOSING AGAINST THEM!” the basketball manager yelled out. You sneered in her direction and then dug your heels into the grass as you pulled as hard as you could.

Aren’t they a little too intense right now? Semi thought as he continued pulling as hard as he could in fear of you calling him out. It was like you had a sixth sense for slackers. While the other members of the sports club were starting to get tired, you and the basketball manager were still pumped up and tugging with all the strength you two could muster. There was sweat dripping down your face, but your appearance was the last thing on your mind as you let out a few muffled curses directed to the girl on the other side of the rope.

Neither side was letting up in fear of just what their manager would do to them.

She’s not giving up, you thought in desperation as your muscles felt a bit pained. It’s time to use the last resort!

This “last resort” being your absolute trump card. The king of the deck. The one to end all wars.

“USHIJIMA!” you barked out, commanding the ace who was at the very end of the rope. “USE THAT RIDICULOUS LEFT ARM OF YOURS! NOW!”

It was as if you called some sort of insane power-up because as soon as you finished your sentence, the rope was suddenly pulled in your direction and the entire basketball team tumbled over each other.

A wave of relief washed over you from winning. Finally. After an entire day of competing, you were able to get that last winning tally on your side of the board. Adrenaline ran rampant through your system and you grabbed onto the hand of whoever was closest to you, waving the limb around whilst you sprung into the air. Goshiki, the one you grabbed onto, turned beet red and stuttered out a few incoherent words.

“We did it!” you cheered while high fiving the other members as hard as you could. Your energy was infectious—never had they seen you so pumped for a game. The boys were more animated as they gathered around and celebrated at winning the final event.

You took one last glance at the basketball manager who was dusting off her shorts. She scowled in your direction and you couldn’t help but feel pleased with yourself.

Sports Day was about cooperative spirit between classmates… but a little bit of competitive zeal never hurt anybody, right?

EXTRA 1:

With half of the events finished for the day, it was time to enjoy lunch with your friends. A few clouds were scattered from above and offered a decent amount of shade. Instead of sitting underneath one of the tents set up, Tendou suggested sitting out in the grass, away from most of the student population. His reasoning being that doing so was something the main characters in a manga would do. Whatever that meant.

“Slow down, Goshiki,” you said, a bit concerned for his well being. He was wolfing down the rice from his bento. If you hadn’t known, you would have assumed he hadn’t eaten a proper meal for the past week. “You’re going to choke at this rate…”

Because his mouth was full of food, his response was completely incomprehensible. A grain of rice flew out which caused you to flinch back. The other guys just laughed it off and kept eating.

“I’m pretty sure he said something about wanting to eat a lot so he can get stronger,” Oohira said. Goshiki nodded, happy his senior understood him. “He’s been working pretty hard, so he needs to make sure he’s getting enough fuel.”

“And he also wants to impress someone. Right, Tsutomu?” Tendou nudged Goshiki. This resulted in the younger boy actually choking on his food.

Like clockwork, you passed a bottle of water his way. He graciously took and chugged it down.

“Impress someone?” you asked. Did Goshiki have a crush? This was the first you were hearing of this.

“Yep! Tsutomu’s got the hots for—!” Tendou wasn’t able to finish his sentence as Goshiki slapped a hand over his mouth to stop him from spewing out all the details.

“It’s no one! Please stop, Tendou!”

“Who is it?” you prodded a bit more. It was rather hilarious to see Goshiki all flustered. “Is it a first year?”

“Nope,” Tendou answered for him. “Older.”

“Second year?”

“Third.”

You gasped. Goshiki’s face was completely red now. Who could it be?

“You’re into older girls? I would have imagined you liking someone in your year,” you stated, leaning in to take a closer look at him. He didn't seem like the type to want to be the younger one in a relationship.

“No! I mean, I just...!” Goshiki shook his head and made his arms into an “x.” This was practically killing him. “I just like one person!”

“Well, who is it?”

“Uh… you haven’t figured it out yet?” Semi asked. He looked mildly concerned.

Your brows furrowed in confusion. “Figured what out? Do you all know about Goshiki’s crush?”

The boys exchanged uneasy glances with each other.

“Even Ushijima?”

He nodded.

You grabbed onto Goshiki’s hands, pleading with him. “Goshiki, c’mon! I’m dying to know. I won’t tell anybody!”

The poor boy was practically dying now. And it wasn’t because of the heat from the sun. He averted eye contact with you.

“I… I can’t…”

“Hey, I think we should stop,” Yamagata said and put a hand on Goshiki’s forehead. He was burning up. “He’s overheating.”

“Alright, fine,” you laughed while waving it off. “You can tell me a different day.”

At this, Tendou hollered out in laughter and patted Goshiki on the back. The other guys offered apologetic smiles. Slowly but surely, the conversation turned from Goshiki’s crush to the basketball manager who was eating lunch an earshot away.

EXTRA 2:

“Can you set the boxes over in that corner?” you asked. Semi and Oohira nodded, gently putting the last of the winnings from Sports Day in the storage room. Since you and the team were competing seriously for the entire day, the spoils of the day were rather extensive. You needed a helping hand with transferring all the boxes. Thankfully, Oohira and Semi were willing to offer their assistance.

“This is the last of the boxes, right?” Semi asked. He worked up a sweat by running back and forth for the boxes.

“Yup! That’s the last of them,” you said with a thumbs up. With all the boxes stacked up, you opened the one closest to you to get a look of what was inside. There was a variety of protein bars. “You know, it’s a good thing we got these before the preliminaries. Now we won’t have to budget out extra snacks or anything for the tournament days.”

“Can you believe it’s nearly here?” Semi pointed out. He picked one of the protein bars for himself and Oohira, handing one off to his friend.

Oohira let out a short chuckle as Semi started to eat his protein bar. “Our final Spring High,” he said. “This has been a long year, hasn’t it?”

“Maybe it feels like it’s been long because of all the trouble you guys have been finding yourselves in…”

At this, both of the boys laughed.

“C’mon, we’re not that hard to manage!” Semi said, patting you on the back. You dramatically rolled your eyes at the two.

“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.” You made your way to the doors, swinging the keys with a single finger. “C’mon, let’s leave and join the others.”

They followed after you and as a trio you all rejoined the rest of the team. With Sports Day finished, it was time to wholly focus on Spring High. And this year—this final year—was going to be the one in which Shiratorizawa would win Nationals.

You were sure of it.

Chapter Text

Spring High was right around the corner.

With only a week left until the qualifiers, the guys on the team squeezed in as much time to practice as humanly possible. They reviewed all holes in gameplay, analyzing how to better utilize everyone’s strength to conquer the teams in the prefecture. Teams like Aoba Johsai and Date Tech were players you were familiar with in previous matches, but hearing about the near victory Karasuno had during Interhigh piqued your interest. 

Would they be a threat to your final Spring High?

You focused on the numerous courts being used for practice. Players had been separated out in groups of three to play short sets as a rotational sprint: winners moving to the top courts and losers moving to the bottom. At the court closest to you, Ushijima readied himself for a serve. He threw the ball into the air, his body following as he slammed it to the opposing side. The force and southpaw spin was near unreceivable as Kawanishi was knocked down to the ground, the ball flying to the other side of the gym.

No, Shiratorizawa is the strongest. We always have been… No one else in the prefecture can stop us.

On the sidelines, you continued to watch. Everyone was giving their all in these final moments of practice. You knew with great effort came great rewards.

Fwweeet!

The sound of the whistle signaled the end of tonight’s training. Realizing their exhaustion, a handful of boys crouched to the ground to catch their breaths before helping with cleaning up.

Tendou, completely beat from an intense practice session, moaned about his soreness. “Jeez, Wakatoshi, you sure did a number on us today!” He took a look down and noticed his arms were twitching. “Ahh! Look at them!”

Ushijima looked down at Tendou’s arms. They were shaky and worn.

“Sorry,” was all he said as he took another sip from his water bottle. 

Taking a moment to ponder, Tendou let out a small sigh. “Alright, since you’re being so sincere… I forgive you!”

Kawanishi and Shirabu, both having heard the entire conversation an earshot away, stared in disbelief.

What part of only “Sorry” sounded sincere?

In typical Tendou fashion, he turned to face the second years. They jolted at the sudden eye contact.

Can he… read minds?

“Taichi! Kenjirou!” Tendou called out. “What’re you two doing so far away? Come join the fun!”

“No thanks,” Shirabu quickly shut down his senior. “We were getting ready to finish our stretches.”

Kawanishi nodded his head. He was both physically and mentally exhausted after having to return Ushijima’s monster serves and being part of Tendou’s team for the final round robin. A moment of peace was what he needed.

Tendou, however, had no plans to allow him repose. He slowly inched closer to the two like a cartoon villain, but he was unaware that you had witnessed it all. Before Tendou could continue to bug his juniors, you quickly intervened, taking the water bottles out of their hands and placing them on the cart to be washed.

“H-Hey, [Name], I wasn’t finished yet!”

You picked up the bottle he had used for practice and shook it. No sound could be heard. It was completely empty.

“Were you going to drink air?” you asked him with an expectant look.

“Yes,” was his quick response. You rolled your eyes. Of course he would say that.

Since he wanted to act smart with you, you grabbed a full bottle from the bottom row of the cart and gave it to him. 

“Here, I expect you to have it finished after stretches,” you said, trying not to chuckle as Tendou blanched. You looked over at the clock on the wall of the gymnasium. “So… in about five minutes! Don’t forget!”

And with that, you left him so you could finish collecting the rest of the bottles from the other side of the gym. Tendou quickly turned to where Shirabu and Kawanishi were once standing, but they had gone, following you to where the rest of the starting line up players were at once you had given them an opportunity to escape.

He truly only had one last resort.

“Wakatoshi! Help me!” 

Coach Washijou clapped his hands together, gathering the attention of all the players. 

“Alright boys, since the weekend is coming up, we decided to move our usual rest day to tomorrow instead of Sunday,” he started. This piqued everyone’s interest as the boys leaned in to hear what he had to say. “With the qualifiers in a week, we wanted to line up our practice days together. We,” he motioned to you and Coach Saito, “figured it would be best to follow this schedule with a more intense practice starting Sunday and then lessening it as we continued through the week.”

“Yes, Coach!”  

He cleared his throat and nodded in your direction. You nodded back and grabbed the stack of DVDs from the sidelines to pass out.

“But don’t worry about being bored tomorrow since we don’t have practice! This will be your homework over the break,” you said in a chipper voice. There were whispers of gratitude as you gave each member a disk. “Since nationals are coming up, we want everyone to be familiar with key areas of focus regarding gameplay. Coach Washijou, Coach Saito, and I have gone through a few professional matches and compiled clips that we believe would be useful for the team to keep in mind.”

“And please make sure you don’t watch it at the last minute!” Coach Saito added as he stared at Tendou who pretended not to notice. “We’re already the strongest team in the prefecture, but we need to be smart about our strength as well.”

“Yes, Coach!”

“Practice dismissed. Go on back to the dorms and rest.”

Without wasting time, all the boys got up from the ground and congregated to their usual groups. This was no exception to the boys in the starting roster.

“Did anyone check the menu for today’s dinner?” Yamagata asked. He yawned while stretching his arms up. “I’m starved.”

“I think it was mapo tofu?” Oohira pondered for a moment, however, Semi waved his hand in dismissal.

“Nah, that’s tomorrow’s dinner. It’s fried rice with egg omelet tonight.”

“Great, then should we all–”

Oohira was rudely interrupted as Tendou grabbed onto his shoulders and jumped beside him.

“Satori Sneak Attack!”

The boys flinched. Perhaps they would have given a better reaction had it been earlier in the day, but they were exhausted and used to their friend’s antics.

“Oi, quit it,” Semi groaned. Tendou retaliated by sticking his tongue out, however, Semi couldn’t muster the energy to argue with him. He simply rolled his eyes and informed him of the team’s evening plans. “We’re all going to wash up first and then meet up at my dorm to watch a bit of the DVD [Surname] gave to us. After that, we'll go grab dinner, Tendou. Feel free to join us.” 

An opening!

“Oh, oh! ” Tendou raised his hand up which caused the boys (sans Ushijima) to raise a brow at him. “How ‘bout we do all that, but in my and Ushijima’s dorm? There’s something I wanna show you guys!”

Typically, Semi would have argued, but he was much too tired. He was in dire need of a bath. The others seemed to think the same and also chose not to refute.

“Yeah, sure, whatever.”

Everything’s going according to plan! Tendou thought. It was difficult to hold his excitement. He knew if he showed too much emotion, the rest of the team would be suspicious.

“Oh, [Naaaaaame]!” Tendou called from across the gym, choosing to focus everyone’s attention on you instead. You were still hauling carts of volleyballs back to the storage room. “How long are ya staying back?”

“I still have some things to finish up here, but I’ll meet you guys at the cafeteria later!” you yelled back. Equipment needed to be put back in storage along with a handful of smaller chores. “I’ll message when I’m finished with everything!”

Goshiki, not wanting to leave so soon, took a few steps in your direction to help out. However, the collar of his coat choked him, preventing him from walking any further.

“Don’t bother [Surname], Goshiki,” Shirabu warned. He was still holding onto the collar of his track jacket. “You’ll only slow her down.”

The youngest of the bunch glanced back in your direction. You were quickly running back and forth from the storage room to the laundry units. Goshiki hated to admit it, but Shirabu was right. You were already in your usual nightly rhythm.

Feeling that he had won, Shirabu let go of Goshiki. 

“Besides, we still need to watch this video [Surname] gave to us,” he said. Logic had always been Shirabu’s strong suit. “It’d be best if you finished watching before tomorrow’s practice.”

Tendou, having heard the entire conversation, decided it would be best to butt in.

I really gotta make sure he joins us tonight!

“Yup, yup, Tsutomu! Make sure you come down to my dorm with the rest of the guys so we can watch it together!”

“Ah, is that so…?” Goshiki was hesitant about this invitation. Did they really all have to sit in the same room to watch the DVD?

“Really! C’mon, I’ll make it your while!” He wrapped an arm around Goshiki. He was effectively trapped, unable to refuse.

“Should we help him?” Kawanishi asked, watching the scene unfold before him. He did feel a bit sorry for his junior. “Maybe we should let him join us before we all grab dinner?”

“It’s fine,” Shirabu replied with haste. “Goshiki can handle himself. Besides…”

He sighed. Sure, it was a bit selfish of him, but with the sun having already set, Shirabu’s patience was thinning. He had already made up his mind.

“If we help Goshiki, who’s to say Tendou won’t target us? I think I’d much rather watch it in our own dorm.”

Kawanishi hummed. He was right.

Sorry, Goshiki, Kawanishi mentally apologized. You’re more equipped to handle them than us right now.

This whole dorm “meeting” started feeling more like a set-up. 

Semi should have been wary from the moment Tendou suggested for everyone to come to his dorm for “something special he wanted to show,” but he never in a million years expected this.

“Tendou,” Semi grumbled. “You cannot be serious.”

“I’m so serious!” Tendou was quick to defend himself. “C’mon, it’ll be great team bonding!”

The “team bonding” Tendou proposed was held up in the air for everyone to see. Uki-Doki Memorial: Love’s First Kiss! was proudly displayed like a trophy. No one knew Tendou had an interest in the popular dating sim franchise… let alone an interest that prompted him to buy the latest release.

“Team bonding my ass!” He didn’t even want to entertain his friend’s antics. Afterall, this was the start of his precious weekend before the qualifiers for nationals. “There’s no way we’re playing that game. What even made you buy it?”

Tendou knew something the other boys didn’t. “Eita, you need to trust me! It’s almost Spring High which means we won’t have as many moments like this together anymore!”

On one hand, he couldn’t argue with that. Their final volleyball season was soon coming to a close. On the other hand? This entire situation was ridiculous. He had just bathed and was expecting a relaxing half hour spent on volleyball clips followed by dinner. Not an evening of virtual dating. 

“One time!” Tendou begged. He knew as soon as Semi walked out the door, any chance of playing would be over. “Just one time! I promise I won’t ask ever again after we do one playthrough!”

Before he got the chance to shut him down, Oohira cut in, “Well, one time wouldn’t hurt.”

“Reon!” Semi objected, but was quickly waved off.

“It’s like Tendou said, we’re in our final year, so let’s have a bit of fun.”

“I agree,” Ushijima added. It wasn’t that he was interested in the game, but he had seen the effort Tendou put in to get everyone together so they could experience it together. “And afterwards we will watch the DVD.”

(Volleyball head, Tendou thought.)

Yamagata laughed in agreement. “Alright, I won’t play, but I’ll watch.”

Fun? Semi gave up and sat back down on Ushijima’s bunk with his arms crossed. Ugh, I should have done what the second years did and stayed in my own dorm…

“See, that’s the spirit!” Tendou jumped in excitement and then put the disk into his game console. The rest of the boys sat comfortably on either Ushijima’s bunk or the ground to watch the screen. “Now… Who wants to play first?”

No one raised their hand. With no volunteers, Tendou locked eyes with his victim: the only one who hasn't spoken a word yet.

“Tsutomu!” He handed him the controller. “I choose you!”

Reluctantly, Goshiki took the controller from Tendou. Sure, he had his fair share in gaming, but never of this… genre.

“Tendou, I don’t think I’m the best person to watch,” he stated his hesitation as the loading screen of the game appeared. It was what he expected with a spring visual of a school courtyard accompanied by the game’s title. The graphics, the visual novel focus, the all too personal voice acting… It truly wasn’t something he would choose to play on his own accord.

“Just trust me,” Tendou chuckled. “I think you’re gonna really like this game!”

Suppressing the urge to sulk in front of his seniors, he clicked on the [START] option. He figured he would appease Tendou since he was so adamant about him playing.

⌜WELCOME TO UKI-DOKI HIGH!

PLEASE ENTER YOUR NAME AND

CHOOSE YOUR BASE STATS.⌟

There was no turning back now. As Goshiki put in the necessary information to start playing, he noticed Tendou was at the edge of his seat. While Ushijima had his usual good posture, the rest of the boys were relaxed: Yamagata on his phone waiting for the real gameplay, Oohira leaning back in Ushijima’s bed, and Semi resting his eyes for a moment.

Well, at least they won’t judge me for being bad at the game…

He followed the given instructions on screen, utilizing the map to explore other areas and partake in the scheduled opening events to familiarize him with the overall gameplay. A few of the romanceable characters introduced themselves; however, he wasn’t particularly interested.

Making his character walk in circles, Goshiki sighed. The game wasn’t giving him any quests or additional instruction.

“Uh… what should I do now?”

“Have you seriously never played a dating sim?” Tendou asked. He seemed like the type.

“No…”

“Really?” Tendou looked him up and down. “Hm, I didn’t expect that!”

The boys sans Ushijima chuckled. Goshiki felt the blood rise to his face.

“What’s that mean, Tendou!”

“Oh, nothing~” he snickered. “Lover boy~”

“Tendou!” Goshiki couldn’t help but react in the exact way his senior wanted. “Can you please stop! I’m not a ‘Lover boy’ or whatever!”

Unable to mask his glee, Tendou chortled at the way Goshiki easily walked into his teasing traps. The other boys, feeling a bit bad for their junior, stepped in.

“Don’t mind, Tsutomu,” Yamagata tried to act more mature, but secretly he thought “Lover boy” was the perfect nickname for him. “Maybe you should walk around the school grounds some more? There are usually events associated with each character at the start of the game.” 

Focusing back on the screen, Goshiki nodded and did as told. It would be best to ignore Tendou’s poking remarks. He could feel his face heat up as he continued to think about his new nickname.

Lover boy…? Seriously, how does he come up with these things!

His embarrassed state caused him to skip through the dialogue at a faster pace. At this point, he just wanted this whole ordeal to finish so they could go grab dinner.

Then, the unexpected happened.

Due to Goshiki running around aimlessly in the hallways, his character ended up knocking over another NPC. The screen shook at the random event and was followed by a whole show of books and pens flying into the air from the impact.

⌜BUMPED DIRECTLY INTO ???⌟

The character groaned while getting up. She brushed the dust off her clothes and was visible to everyone in the room.

Jaws dropped.

There’s no way…!

She looks exactly like…!

You have to be kidding me… So this is why Tendou wanted Tsutomu to play!

Goshiki’s eyes widened. He was very interested in the game now.

⌜I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings! Are you hurt?⌟

Everyone in the room stared at the pixel avatar of the newest introduced bachelorette from the random event, unable to make heads or tails of the situation. From the hair to the eyes to the face shape… everything matched your resemblance to a T. To be frank, it was uncanny. Seeing your likeness in a game like Uki-Doki Memorial seemed almost… invasive.

Well, that was what most of the boys thought.

“Her!” Goshiki cried out, jumping up to his feet as he pointed at the screen. “I want to try her route in the game!”

Tendou nearly doubled over in laughter at Goshiki’s shift in extreme enthusiasm. Lover boy truly was the perfect nickname for him.

The more rational of the group had beads of sweat on their forehead. All too well, they knew the idea of you and video games did not mash up well together.

“Uh… are you sure, Tsutomu?” Oohira wanted to at least reason with Goshiki. “Perhaps you should try the childhood friend route? I heard those routes are usually the easiest.”

Goshiki shook his head in a feverish protest. It didn't seem like there was any way to convince him otherwise, so the boys kept their opinions to themselves (and triple checked if the dorm door was locked in paranoia you would randomly decide to waltz in). Wasting no time, he clicked to continue the conversation with the newest revealed bachelorette.

⌜Where are my manners? My name is Keiko. Nice to meet you!

I apologize, I’m in a bit of a rush, so I’ll see you later!⌟

As swift as her entrance, Keiko left the player to their own devices. Unlike before, Goshiki had a fire lit within him–a fire ignited by a pixelated girl named Keiko. He began to button mash, skipping any and all dialogue as he traversed the school grounds.

The frame changes were quick, coming in from one girl to the next with simple text boxes. Programmed smiles, blushes, and giggles were directed at the player; however, Goshiki didn’t care in the slightest. With a fever, the aspiring ace skipped the conversations with the other girls, eyes trained on the screen for Keiko.

“Hey, slow down! Maybe the other characters have important information about…” Semi grimaced. Something about the situation felt wrong to him. “About… Keiko…”

Realizing his fault, Goshiki straightened up and stopped his button mashing. He said his apologies to his seniors for the less than riveting gameplay.

Then, as if fated, Keiko appeared at the next press of a button. Her hair was done up in a different style than her previous portrait, locks put into a simple braid with colorful, eye-catching pins securing it into place.

Goshiki nearly jumped off the bed. “Finally!”

Keiko’s portrait turned so that her face was fully visible on screen and she sent over a gentle smile as she pushed back the loose wisps of hair behind her ear.

⌜Oh, it’s you again! Huh? My hair…?

Well, Shiori decided to braid my hair, but I’m not sure how I feel about it…⌟

Sitting beside Goshiki, Yamagata could easily see his underclassman turn red in the face. Oh man, he thought while letting out a sigh. Tsutomu, you need to get a grip on reality!

The textbox changed into a choice selection. Now was the real game play.

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

A. “I think your hair looks pretty! Any style suits you!”

B. “Do you feel comfortable with it?”

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

“I’ll go with… option A!” Goshiki declared as he pressed on the controller. It was an easy choice in his eyes. “And it’s true, she would look pretty in any style!”

Immediately, a broken heart appeared on the screen. Goshiki blanched. He was only ten minutes into gameplay and already making mistakes. 

⌜Are you sure? I feel like you’re lying to me…⌟

Goshiki dropped the controller into his lap and balled his hands into fists as he yelled, “No! I’d never lie to you!”

Two new choices appeared. This was life or death now.

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

A. “I truly mean it! You’d look good even with your head shaved!”

B. “Sorry, I apologize.”

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Again, Goshiki picked the first option, his hands starting to tremble at the prospect of being wrong twice. There was a pause and, for a moment, Goshiki thought he was safe.

(He was wrong. So, so wrong.)

Keiko’s face twisted into that of disgust in the next second and she turned her head to the side, no longer wanting to make eye contact through the screen. It felt somewhat offensive to everyone in the room, as if they were all a sorry sight. A huge heart shattering filled the screen and a new text box appeared.

⌜If there’s one thing I don’t appreciate, it’s when people lie to me…

I know I wouldn’t look good with a monk’s haircut.

Ugh, I don’t think we should see each other again.⌟

Keiko immediately turned her back and began walking away with the accompaniment of the depressing vibrato of a cello. She disappeared and, much to everyone’s surprise, the screen turned black with red text filling the empty space.

⌜BAD END! 

KEIKO HATES YOU!⌟

The room was dead quiet as everyone stared at the screen. Were these games always this brutal? And was the bolded red text really necessary? Feeling bad, Yamagata gave a gentle pat on Goshiki’s back.

“Don’t mind, Tsutomu…”

Oohira cleared his throat. He also felt sorry for his underclassman. “Uh, maybe we should instead–”

“Again.”

“Huh?”

“I want to play it again,” Goshiki said, a fire in his eyes. “I underestimated this game, but I’ll get it right the next time!”

“Attaboy, Tsutomu!” Tendou cheered. He sat on the other side of his underclassman and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Yanno, a real macho man never gives up on the girl of his dreams!”

And so, Tendou shut the console off and then restarted it. The game replayed the scenic view of a generic high school courtyard shown in the distance with the Uki-Doki Memorial title covering the majority of the screen and this time Goshiki made it his mission to win over Keiko's heart.

Two hours.

Two entire hours of Goshiki playing Keiko’s route, and virtually no progress was made.

⌜BAD END! 

KEIKO REALLY HATES YOU!⌟

None of the Shiratorizawa boys knew what to do in this situation. Goshiki’s face was sunken, both in desperation and in hunger since he had stayed in the room while the other boys had gone to grab a bite before the cafeteria closed for the evening.

(They tried to pry the controller out of Goshiki’s hands, but no dice. The boy was adamant on playing until he got his first date with Keiko. He didn’t even touch the protein bars they handed him to snack on.)

“Uh, Tsutomu, maybe you should take a break and let someone else try…” Yamagata was truly starting to pity the boy. The game was too cruel.

“No!”

Oohira noted that his underclassman seemed territorial over the controller, as if he were a starved dog resource guarding a bowl of kibble.

“Maybe you’ll gain a new perspective if you watch someone else play,” he continued trying to reason as best he could. 

“Yeah, Tsutomu, let’s have Wakatoshi play a bit!” Tendou internally laughed at the thought of Ushijima playing. He leaned in closer to Semi and whispered, “Semi-Semi, aren’t you interested in seeing who he’ll pick?”

Ignoring the nickname, Semi cleared his throat. He supposed it would be fun to see who best fit Ushijima’s type.

“C’mon Goshiki,” Semi urged. He turned to face the underclassman. “Let Ushijima have a chance. I think you need a break anyway.”

The peer pressure from everyone in the room made Goshiki reluctantly hand over the game controller to Ushijima. Even though he knew his seniors were right, he wasn't all too pleased and tried his best not to pout.

“Alright, Wakatoshi, just pick the girl you’re most interested in!” Tendou grabbed his friend’s shoulders and gave a squeeze. “And don’tcha worry about your audience. Just do what your heart tells you!”

“Okay.”

By now, the boys were all familiar with the initial loading screen of the game. They quickly went through the player customization options and skipped through the opening ceremony.

Truth be told, everyone was curious as to which girl Ushijima would pick. Would it be the outspoken and sporty one? Or maybe the quiet and reserved bachelorette who could only be found in the library? Perhaps the delicate and pretty girl who already had a fan club of boys fawning over her?

Whatever choice he made, this was sure to make for an entertaining night.

(Yamagata nudged the top of Semi’s head. Annoyed, Semi turned back at glare.

What gives?

Who do you think he’s gonna pick? Yamagata mouthed.

Semi shrugged. The thing about Ushijima was that he looked predictable, but the guy was full of surprises. More so than Tendou at points.

Do you think…? Yamagata mouthed again and pointed his thumb in Goshiki’s direction. 

He shook his head.

No way. Totally not his type. )

Ushijima understood the game enough after watching Goshiki play for the past few hours. He explored the school grounds, waiting for the first bachelorette to approach him. When he entered the hallway, the screen flashed black and a familiar face appeared.

Gah! The rest of the boys thought in unison. Keiko first!

⌜Hello again! Are you lost? I’m about to head over to the courtyard. Would you like to join me?⌟

Her programmed kindness was nothing but a farce. The two response options appeared in the textbox.

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

A. Apologies, but I have to tend to other matters.

B. I can join you.

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

The boys had already seen this scene happen so many times before from Goshiki’s numerous attempts. Should Ushijima accept, then he would be forced to follow Keiko's romance path. Semi stretched his arms and got himself comfortable for when Ushijima skipped over Keiko.

Alright, so once Ushijima rejects–

⌜Option B selected.⌟

⌜I can join you.⌟

Semi almost fell over on his side. Ushijima picking Keiko out of all the available girls was certainly dumbfounding.

Not being the only one surprised, Oohira spoke up, “Are you sure we should do Keiko’s route again…? It seems rather difficult compared to the other girls.”

“She is the most interesting character in the game,” he replied in his usual tone. “Perhaps a different outcome will happen when I play.”

A different outcome would be a miracle! Yamagata thought. The other boys seemed to think the same. This character has to be the final boss or something of this game!

⌜Great! Follow me and we’ll explore the courtyard.⌟

And so, the hell route began once again, this time with a new player thrown into the flames.

An hour in and, much to everyone’s surprise, Ushijima was still playing.

Not only was he still in the game, but he was conquering Keiko’s route with ease. All his player stats were maxed out, he was on friendly terms with the other girls, and the mini games were cleared without much effort in comparison to his junior’s playthrough.

Ushijima’s saved game was doing so well that he was scheduling numerous hangouts and dates with Keiko… Something Goshiki never got the chance to do.

⌜Ok, I’ll meet you tomorrow at noon for our date!⌟

“How’re you getting everything right, Wakatoshi?” Tendou questioned. He squinted his eyes at his friend. Ushijima didn't seem like the gaming type. “You cheatin’?”

“I am only doing what feels the most natural,” Ushijima plainly responded. 

Of course. They should have expected nothing less of their ace.

As much as he hated that his rival was excelling at the game, Goshiki couldn’t take his eyes off the screen. There were so many different scenarios that he hadn’t seen since his entire time spent playing was riddled with bad ends. 

He squeezed his fists in his lap as he frowned.

I’m so jealous!

It was already well past midnight and the boys were still sitting in the cramped dorm watching Ushijima finish Keiko’s route. Ushijima had yet to make a mistake with the newest bachelorette in the series. Every single date, random event, and conversation flowed so naturally, so easily, that they all wondered if this truly was Ushijima’s first time playing.

(And, none of the other third years would admit it, but they were rather invested in the storyline with Keiko. After all the hours of watching Goshiki play, it was refreshing to see the game progress positively.)

On the screen, cherry blossoms were falling all around Keiko. She held her diploma in her hands while sporting a conflicting smile. It was the final scene after the graduation ceremony.

⌜Aren’t the blossoms beautiful? It really makes you stop and think, right?⌟

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

A. Yes, truly.

B. They’re beautiful, but I can only focus on you.

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Quick to choose, Ushijima selected the first option. Keiko chuckled and approached the player. She tilted her head and sent a genuine smile this time.

⌜I find it funny you know the exact things to say to make me happy. I truly don’t think I’ve ever met someone like you in my life… it is the luckiest thing to have happened to me.⌟

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

A. You call it luck, I call it fate.

B. Me? I am nothing special.

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Again without hesitation, Ushijima picked “B” as his choice. She frowned at his response. While Ushijima was calm and collected, the other boys were at the edge of their seats as they stared at the screen. Was this Ushijima’s first slip up in the game?

⌜Don’t count yourself short! You’re special to me. Doesn’t that mean something to you?⌟

⌜…

…

…⌟

Tendou knew what the multiple ellipses meant. This was the final selection that would make or break the route. He held in the urge to yell it out, wanting to see Ushijima’s natural choice without any pressure.

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

A. Can I be something more than special for you?

B. Well, since you say so, I’ll treat myself better.

C. It means everything to me.

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

It was a no-brainer for Ushijima.

⌜It means everything to me.⌟

Hearts and roses filled the empty space on the screen as Keiko began to tear up from Ushijima’s choice. The background music picked up to an upbeat tempo as the endgame was near. Unable to control her emotions, Keiko ran to the player model and hugged him.

⌜Your words mean so much to me… No, you mean so much to me.

Thank you for making this final year at Uki-Doki so memorable!⌟

As the final scene came to a close, the game stats flashed by.

⌜CONGRATULATIONS!

SSS+ ENDING ACHIEVED! 

KEIKO’S ROUTE 100% FINISHED!⌟

Mouths were hung open, but no words were spoken. Not only had Ushijima done the seemingly impossible, he had also gotten the best possible ending in the entire game.

Holding the game controller up, he turned to his friends.

“Who else would like to play?”

They all stared at him. Ushijima, the team’s unyielding no-nonsense ace and captain, was the true wildcard of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Club.

(And once again, Ushijima has won over Goshiki.)

EXTRA 1:

“Annnnnd here are my notebooks from first year,” you said while zipping your bag up. Earlier in the week, Goshiki had requested if you had any extra study materials he could borrow and you graciously gave him all that you had on hand. “Feel free to keep them if you want!”

He bowed in gratitude. Having a reliable senior was something he truly cherished.

“Thank you, Keiko!”

You tilted your head at him. What did he say?

“Keiko?”

Immediately, Goshiki slapped a hand over his mouth. He couldn’t believe the sudden slip happening right in front of you.

“I-I mean,” he stuttered. In the heat of the moment, he couldn’t come up with a white lie to hide the fact he had spent the entire weekend playing Uki-Doki Memorial. “I’m so sorry! Please forget that happened!”

You raised your brow at how brash he was acting this morning. Was it nerves for the upcoming tournament? Or perhaps…

A light flicked on in your head as Goshiki kept rambling.

Keiko must be the girl he likes!

You grabbed onto his shoulders. The sudden act shocked him into shutting up.

“Goshiki, I completely understand,” you said while making direct eye contact with him. “You don’t have to explain yourself.”

The sense of déjà vu washed over him. This scenario between you and him, the colder season seen outside the windows, the way he could hear his heart tremble…

This is exactly like Keiko’s SSS+ confession event!

A shockwave passed through every nerve in his body and he held his breath as he waited for you to continue what you were saying. He wondered if Uki-Doki Memorial was some type of prophecy for his life.

Your lips began to part. He wondered if he should lean in closer.

“Keiko is the name of the girl you like! The one we talked about during Sports Day!”

Goshiki blinked. You gave him a hard pat on the shoulder and smiled.

“Don’t worry, Goshiki!” you started, completely oblivious to the fact that he was about to cry. “I think I know exactly who you’re talking about. She’s in the literature club, right? Well, I’ll keep your secret safe!”

With a wink as a parting, you went on your way to homeroom before classes started. Goshiki, too shell shocked to say anything back, stood still in the middle of the hallway. Students who wanted to make it to class on time rushed pass him, wondering what in the world happened for the color to be completely lost from his face.

⌜BAD END! 

A HORRIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING HAS OCCURRED!⌟

EXTRA 2:

“Alright, Wakatoshi, it’s time to gimme this week’s Bounce!” Tendou wasted no time as he plopped himself beside his friend. “Jeez, you haven’t even gotten to the newest chapter of Two Piece yet…”

“There were a few other articles that interested me.”

Tendou raised his brow. “Liiiiiiiike?”

“New Uki-Doki Memorial installment with bachelorette line-up surprise ,” he read aloud, eyes never leaving the page. Tendou, who had expected him to say something boring about an eraser ad like last time, leaned closer to get a clear look at the page. “Be amazed at the newest addition to the Uki-Doki series as she’s sure to draw in fans from all over– ”

Tendou nearly choked when he got a good look at the page Ushijima was reading off of. Forgetting his manners, Tendou grabbed his issue of Shonen Bounce back and pointed at the page. The newest romanceable character they were advertising looked eerily familiar.

“That’s…! She looks…!”

“Hm?” Ushijima leaned in to look at the page again. “Ah, yes. She looks like–”

“[Name]!” Tendou finished his sentence. He jumped up to his feet and beelined to the closet. “C’mon, Wakatoshi! We gotta get to the store and buy a copy before it sells out!”

“But you don’t play Uki-Doki Memorial.”

“Doesn’t matter!” He zipped his coat and grabbed his wallet. “Because I know someone who will! So are ya comin’ or not?”

Ushijima pondered for a short moment as Tendou stared expectedly. Wordlessly, he got up and dressed himself for the impromptu outing.

“Attaboy, Wakatoshi! I’ll make it worth your while!”

(Truth be told, he too was rather curious about the game’s newest bachelorette.)

EXTRA 3: 

Tendou clicked through the available guides that had already been published. Even though the game was relatively new, there was an active community consistently updating information for each bachelorette. 

And much to his glee, the players had a lot to say about Keiko.

DO NOT PLAY KEIKO’S ROUTE FIRST!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!! UKIDOKI IS GOING BACK TO ITS ROOTS AND MAKING GAMEPLAY IMPOSSIBLE WITH HER. ↑ 267 || ↓ 14

I am quitting Uki-Doki and it’s all Keiko’s fault. ↑ 203 || ↓ 9

I’VE PLAYED EVERY GAME SINCE INITIAL RELEASE AND KEIKO IS NO JOKE. DO NOT ATTEMPT FIRST TRY. THIS IS NOT ME EXAGGERATING. PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK. ↑ 342 || ↓ 25

Tendou clicked on the top liked post. The screen took a moment to load, but when it did, a wall of text nearly blinded him.

I never thought I would make a post like this, but I guess there’s a first for everything.

As the title says, I’m quite the avid Uki-Doki fan. Plenty of hours dedicated to the games, always reading and even making my own guides, contacting a group of other friends who play quite often… and I have never been as frustrated with the game as I have been with the newest installment. I 100% all my Uki-Doki games. It’s a satisfaction thing for me. 

Unfortunately, this will be the first Uki-Doki game I am unable to 100% on my own simply due to Keiko. Her design is nice and new, but god. Her route is crazy. 

You go on a date and you think it’s good and suddenly the next day she tells you that she never wants to see you again! 

You compliment her hair and suddenly she gives you the cold shoulder for saying that she looks nice!

You give her a gift and she tells you that you are destroying the environment and to be more considerate of the earth!

THERE IS NO WAY TO WIN WITH HER!

I don’t think there is anyone out there in the world who can complete her route. All the hidden, secret, RNG, and dedicated dates/events are so nonsensical compared to other routes… Even the mini games have no sense to them. You could win and she would still hate you… Something makes me think that the developers created Keiko as an April Fool’s joke and accidentally left her in.

Right now, there’s no way I can muster the courage to try again on Keiko’s route. Not until Ronami releases an official guide for all her routes. This is meant as a warning for players. Don’t even try to do her route because you’ll most likely end up spending your nights in misery…

Tendou pressed his lips together and held in the urge to cackle.

Tomorrow was going to be a blast.

Chapter Text

A murder of crows.

That was what players on the opposing side had to say about Karasuno now as they had beaten Aoba Johsai and earned their spot for the Miyagi Spring High Qualifier finals. Truthfully, you wouldn’t have believed it had you not stayed back to watch the final set between Seijoh and Karasuno.

Two sets to one and only a two point gap for each set, Karasuno had won by a hair’s breadth and showed Miyagi they deserved to play against Shiratorizawa.

Your soon-to-be opponents were a wildcard. With new players on the roster, a dedicated coach, and tricky strategies up their sleeves, the once flightless crows that no one paid any mind to were perched for battle. Sure, it was a grand twist, but you and the rest of the boys on the Shiratorizawa team weren’t afraid. Maybe it was pride, but you had confidence that an eagle could soar to much greater heights than a flock of crows.

Shiratorizawa would remain victorious and, once again, be Miyagi’s representative for Spring High. Nothing would change that.

Entering Sendai City Gym, you and the boys headed directly to the area Coach Washijou had mentioned the night prior while reviewing the day’s activities. As it was the final match of the tournament to see who would qualify to be Miyagi’s representative for Spring High, there was a bustle of chaos from all the classmates, family, and friends who wanted to spectate the game. You and the rest of the team were well acquainted with the scene, already dropping your bags off in a private area away from the crowd.

The boys were on their best behavior today, some silently starting their stretches or eating the bananas you had given to them earlier in the day while others were making small talk on gameplay. Even Tendou knew better than to act up.

(“Tendou, can you come with me for a second?”

Even though you asked, you didn’t give him the chance to answer. Instead, you pulled Shiratorizawa’s main instigator away from the others before he finished his serve. He lightly protested at the way you were dragging him by the sleeve but allowed you to lead him to the sidelines of the court.

“Hey, what gives? [Name], I still gotta finish, like, a million serves before I can leave tonight!”

You let out a sigh. “It’s important,” was all you needed to say to have his ears perked. He leaned forward so he could hear you better.

“Oh, yeah? More important than perfecting my Super-Awesome-One-of-a-Kind-Satori-Strike?”

Unable to come up with a verbal response, you only nodded. Tendou threw his hands up, accepting defeat. The serves could wait, he guessed.

“Alrighty, I can give you a minute,” he said. “But only because it’s you and you said it’s super important!”

“Bananas,” you finally mustered the courage to say. It was your bargaining chip. After the Interhigh Qualifiers, you refused to spend a single cent on fruit for the boys (much to Tendou’s dismay). “I will bring bananas tomorrow for the team.”

Tendou’s eyes turned into dinner plates. Did his ears deceive him? He wondered if he should pinch himself to see if he was dreaming as this sudden change of heart was so unlike you.

“Bananas!” he repeated aloud. The boys on the court looked over in your direction to which you waved them off to keep focused on their serves. “You’re not joking, are you? Seriously, if you’re joking then that’s so–”

“On one condition,” you cut him off immediately. The air around you two suddenly got a bit chillier, causing Tendou to flinch.

“Which is…?”

“No funny business like last time. No ridiculous bad-cop-good-cop investigation, no making a mess, no using the bananas as props,” you listed out their prior offenses to which he hummed in acknowledgement. “I’ll bring bananas starting tomorrow as long as you and the rest of the boys behave .”

He mused for a moment, looking up into nothingness with one of his eyes closed. It was rather unbelievable he had to even think about this.

“Alright!” He held out his hand in front of you to shake on it. “Deal! I’ll be on my best behavior during Qualifiers!”

You took his hand into your own and shook it with a tight grip. This was serious business. With the agreement set in stone, Tendou sauntered back to the court to resume his service practice.

Then, before he threw the ball up into the air, he realized he was the only one singled out.

“Hey, wait a second… Why’re you only talking to me about this!”

You sent an icy glance over your shoulder.

I know it was you. Don’t even try to deny it. You were sitting right behind Ushijima on the bus and had already eaten your banana before we even made it to the venue for the Interhigh Qualifiers. Logically speaking, no one else could have done it. Don’t even try to argue with me about this unless you want to put your tournament bananas in jeopardy again.

Tendou kept his mouth shut for the rest of practice.)

You checked the time on your watch. Less than an hour before the boys could start warming up on center court. With the match so close, you knew you had to start preparing the bench with their energy drinks, towels, and other necessities.

“Ushijima, Oohira,” you called to the group. The two named boys were conversing with one another while starting their stretches and turned to face you at the sound of their names. “Coach Washijou and Coach Saito should be coming around soon, but I need to start doing bench prep. Can you two…?”

You motioned to the rest of the team. Even though Tendou wasn’t causing a massive commotion, he still kept himself animated as he made his rounds with the younger members of the starting line-up to hype them up for the game.

“We got it from here,” Oohira said. “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen while you’re gone.”

Ushijima nodded in agreement as he stretched out his bicep by holding his elbow up next to his head. “Yes,” he added. “We will finish our warm-up stretches while you are gone.”

You sent a smile and a short wave to signal your departure. Out of all the third years on the team, Ushijima and Oohira were the most responsible. You could trust them.

(Well, most of the time at least. When Tendou wasn’t whispering in their ear to do this, that, and such, they were reliable.)

Putting your thoughts aside, you hauled it to the other end of the building to start prepping for the match. Should anything happen while you were away…

You took a quick glance back over your shoulder. From where you stood, you could see Tendou flattening his hair to match Goshiki and Shirabu’s current style; the latter seemed agitated, but kept his mouth shut to maintain formalities.

Ushijima, Oohira! Please make sure they behave themselves!

A chill ran down your spine.

Right at the corner where the door leading out to the fountain refill station was, you abruptly stopped, pausing in the middle of the hallway while narrowing your eyes. Something seemed… off. You looked in all directions: right, left, behind. Nothing, but the feeling persisted.

With haste, you tightened your grip on the strap of your sports bag and hoisted it up, hugging it to your chest. From all the years you had been with the Shiratorizawa boys, you developed a sixth sense for buffoonery. For good measure, you lifted your forearm to eye level.

The hairs were raised. Misfortune was nearby.

There’s trouble… I can feel it!

Before you had the chance to snap out of your superstitions, a familiar figure jumped out from the corner and shrieked like an animal about to be pounced on.

“Oi, Hinata, get back here!”

Standing right before you with his arms out in a defensive position, said boy nearly knocked into you again; however, this time you were ready. With ease, you were able to distance yourself before he entered your space. Your sixth sense was right once again.

“K-Kageyama, calm down!” Hinata was more focused on the bigger threat of getting pummeled by his teammate than the fact that he almost caused another accident like the one many months ago. “I promise I won’t–”

He was cut off by Kageyama grabbing the collar of his jacket.

“If I catch you making that face during–!”

“Ahem.”

They both froze in place, Kageyama still clutching onto Hinata’s collar. Their faces morphed into a rather blank look as they must have realized how ridiculous they were being in a public setting. Even after all this time, these two were still fighting like children in a sandbox.

“Shouldn’t you guys be putting your stuff away before the game?” you questioned. There was less than an hour until the match began.

Now, they both turned to face you, Kageyama letting go of Hinata and putting his hands down to his sides. Hinata, whose shoulders dropped at the prospect of being freed, was the first to regain composure as he recognized you.

“Ah, I remember…!” Hinata realized he never got your name the first time he (literally) ran into you. “...Shiratorizawa’s manager!”

You resisted the urge to chuckle at his amiable nature. Beside him, Kageyama kept quiet.

“[Surname],” you responded. They both looked rather meek now. Perhaps they were thinking about when their captain chewed them out the first time they knocked you down? Seeing them act so reserved was odd. “What happened to all that energy you two had just a second ago?”

Hinata’s face turned red and Kageyama choked on air. Maybe it was Tendou’s influence, but you felt a mischievous voice whisper in your ear to tease them just a little bit. After all, they did cause you a handful of trouble from the first meeting.

“You two aren’t going to try to knock me down again, are you?” you questioned with a playful tone. Both boys stiffened, Hinata stumbling over his apologies while Kageyama found it hard to look you in the eye as he muttered the same as his friend. “Should I keep some space between us while we talk? I can always have my arms out to protect myself,” you tapped on your chin, feigning deep thought, “or perhaps…”

The pause you took only lasted a second, but Hinata’s imagination had gone haywire. “Perhaps” could mean anything, and, with you being Shiratorizawa’s manager, you had access to one of Japan’s– no , the world’s–most lethal weapons.

Ushijima’s left hand.

He blinked once and immediately pictured Ushijima by your side, standing tall as he stared the pair down for their past transgressions. Shivering, Hinata rubbed his arms. His prior run in with the ace at the bathroom was anything but friendly, so he was sure if you asked Ushijima for a favor to “take care of” someone…

It wasn’t difficult for him to imagine a giant laser beam blasting out of Ushijima’s palm and incinerating him to nothingness.

“W-We won’t knock you down again!” Hinata declared, unable to hide his stutter. A cramping pain stung at his stomach and he gripped tightly to his sides. “We promise!”

“I’m just kidding,” you laughed out at Hinata’s sudden outburst. His reactions were even better than Goshiki’s. “Loosen up! You don’t want to be too stiff before the game.”

“So… you’re not going to bring out Ushijima?” Hinata asked. Kageyama sent him a questioning look for even mentioning one of Japan’s top high school aces.

You couldn’t help but tilt your head to the side. “Ushijima? He’s getting his stretches in right now with the rest of the team. Do you need to talk to him? I can bring him over here if–”

Hinata made an “x” with his arms and shook his head so fast that his face blurred.

“N-No! We’re okay!”

Immediately, he slapped a hand over his mouth for yelling. The poor boy looked anything but fine. You stared wide eyed at him as he began to pale and mumble absurdities under his breath about Japan’s Volleyball Youth team getting a hit out for him.

This was not the outcome you wanted when teasing the duo.

Oh my God! He looks like he’s going to hurl!

Kageyama, not having the same empathy levels as you, shot a disgusted look at his teammate.

“Oi! Pull yourself together!”

You wasted no time unzipping your bag to grab a bottle of antacids for him. With swift movements, you opened it and then poured out the rainbow tablets into his free hand. He was turning more ghastly as the seconds passed.

“H-Hinata, take these and calm down!”

He did as instructed and stuffed the antacids into his mouth. The very act of chewing seemed to soothe his nerves. A minute later, the color slowly came back to his face and you let out a sigh of relief.

“T-Thank you…”

He barely had energy to speak as he dragged his feet to go into the bathroom. Unsure as to what even happened, you could only stare at his back and wonder just what it was that triggered such a severe reaction.

“Will he be okay…?” you asked once the door to the bathroom closed. It was only you and Kageyama in the hallway now.

He nodded. “Yeah. Don’t worry about him.”

Don’t worry? you repeated his words in your mind. How can I not when he looked like he was seconds away from crossing to the afterlife!

A minute had passed and Hinata was still hiding out in the bathroom. Karasuno’s star setter groaned and rolled up his sleeves. He had enough of his teammate’s nonsense.

“I’ll knock some sense into him…” he said aloud, but it seemed like he was really only talking to himself. “Hinata, come here…”

He entered the boy’s bathroom and, from where you stood, you could hear a mix of wailing and the echoing Bang! Bang! Bang! of the stall door being hit multiple times. Unsure what to even make of the events that just transpired, you pressed a hand on your forehead to alleviate your oncoming headache.

Perhaps you were too harsh on the Shiratorizawa boys. They weren’t that difficult to manage.

“Psst. I saw that.”

You jumped at the sudden whisper in your ear.

“Ack!”

When you turned back, you were met with Tendou and Semi. They were both staring at the boy’s bathroom door. Heat rose to your face. Did they see your interaction with the Karasuno boys?

“E-Excuse me?” you stuttered out while trying to straighten your back. “What’re you talking about?”

“[Name], don’t play coy!” Tendou started as he let out a laugh. “I saw you instigating those first years! I really can’t believe it… You’ve finally embraced the greatest joy in volleyball!”

Your jaw dropped. Was that how it looked from an outsider’s perspective?

“Instigating!” you repeated what he said. “I wasn’t ‘instigating’ anything!”

Semi clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he shook his head. It certainly did look like you were stirring up trouble. “I don’t know about that…”

Tendou, sensing you were on the verge of spiraling, put an arm around your shoulders to bring you back to reality. “You should be proud of yourself! C’mon, not everyone can make another player on the opposing side so sick they end up hiding out in the bathroom!”

You peeled his arm off your shoulder. Perhaps if you had more time on the clock, you would have argued back, however, Hinata and Kageyama’s sudden appearance already threatened your current schedule.

“What are you two even doing here?” you asked, changing the subject. “Shouldn’t you guys be on the court already?”

“Ah, well…” Semi took another glance at the boy’s bathroom. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to go in since the Karasuno first years were still fighting in there. “I wanted to go before the match started…”

Tendou gleefully pointed at himself.

“And I’m his bathroom buddy! I can’t let Semi-Semi go alone!”

Semi grimaced. “Oi, don’t say it like that! You said you had to go too!”

Tendou shrugged his shoulders, not really caring. “Yeah, but yeesh! I’m not going now! I’ll go to the stalls on the other side.”

You looked down to check your digital watch. Time was passing too fast for your liking. And you still had to prep the bench.

“Alright, then you two head on over to the other–”

Before you could finish your sentence, Tendou swiftly grabbed your duffle bag and hoisted it over his own shoulder. He led the way with Semi following behind, both heading to the outside fountain station.

“H-Hey!” you called out. You tried to take your bag back from Tendou, but no dice. He was adamant about holding onto it. “You guys don’t have to help me with this stuff! Go find a different bathroom and I’ll finish up here!”

They didn’t listen, Semi instead choosing to open the door leading outside for you and Tendou.

“Guys…”

“C’mon, [Name]! It’ll be waaaaay faster if we help you!” Tendou exclaimed.

“Yeah, don’t feel bad,” Semi agreed, continuing to walk beside you two. “Besides, I bet once we’re done with this, then the Karasuno first years will be finished with…” He let out a chuckle. “Well, you know what I mean.”

You stifled a laugh into your hand.

“Okay,” you gave in. They were both right and you did appreciate the helping hand. “Thank you.”

The two chatted, Tendou still joking about the “bathroom buddy” prospect while Semi shut him down. You were a few steps behind them, choosing to keep to your thoughts instead of joining in the conversation.

Even though the boys found themselves in trouble more times than you could count, they weren’t all too bad. No, at the end of the day, they were just boys. Any group of boys would be a ruckus to handle.

In front of you, Tendou and Semi’s chat had morphed into bickering as Tendou held up the duffle as a shield to protect himself. He knew all too well that Semi wouldn’t dare to take a hit at your bag. A mix of “Oi!” and “Quit it!” could be heard from where you stood.

You silently laughed into the back of your hand. Times like this reminded you that the Shiratorizawa boys really weren’t all that difficult to manage.

(You were sure you would miss these moments.)

(This moment was not one you would miss.)

The ball hit the ground, the sound almost deafening as you watched from the bench on the sidelines, grip on your clipboard loosening as the whistle blew. For a second, the entire stadium paused. You could only stare at the scorekeeper who flipped the final point.

Shiratorizawa vs. Karasuno, five whole sets played.

2:3 / 25-16, 29-31, 25-18, 27-29, 19-21.

Shiratorizawa’s loss.

A burst of applause, a howl of cheers, an echo of what should have been yours. It seemed as if no one on the court expected the last point to go to Karasuno. Not you, the coaches, or any of the players–hell, the look of shock on your opponents was wholly evident that this moment was only a spoken dream until the ref announced the final score.

Legs heavy with the weight of defeat, the Shiratorizawa team trudged back to the bench for the final huddle before the awards ceremony. The shock of it all left some of the boys red in the eyes, tears still spilling out and staining their faces. You could only keep your head up high with eyes trained to remain as neutral as possible as you waited for Coach Washijou to speak. There was no need for any hint of sorrow at this moment.

Because, after a great match, nobody needed the insult of pity.

“Post game meeting will be after we get back,” he started. His words were lighter as he spoke, a delicateness no one on the team was acquainted with. “Once the awards ceremony is done, get your stuff and get on the bus”

Tendou let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that Coach Washijou had forgotten about his earlier threat of having the team run back to campus.

But, before the huddle was dismissed, Coach Washijou turned back and glanced over his shoulder to take a good look at the boys. They were all worn down from five continuous sets.

“After the meeting, serve drills. One hundred each.”

A few of the boys cracked a hint of a smile. Of course. Coach Washijou’s punishments wouldn’t cease even after a shocking upset.

“Yes, Coach!”

With the ceremony finished, you followed through with your own final duties before heading to the bus. You hauled it back to the outdoor tap station so you could dump out whatever was left from the sports drinks, but found another familiar individual already there.

Karasuno’s manager.

This was the first time you had seen her up close, but the rumors were true. She was truly beautiful. As you approached, you tried not to gawk.

“Excuse me,” you started, trying to not startle her as you closed the gap. She looked up and made eye contact with you. “Could I…?

She immediately understood what you meant and moved to the side, making sure you had enough room to utilize the outdoor fountain.

“Yes, of course,” she said. Her voice was gentle. Melodic in the way that it reminded you of a spring creek: cool and refreshing.

You expressed your thanks and started to work. There was a heaviness in your actions as you proceeded with dumping out the contents in each bottle while also rinsing out any residue. Only the sound of water running could be heard between you two.

“Earlier…” she started, breaking the silence. You stopped the tap from running so you could hear her.

“Hm?”

“Earlier, I heard Hinata and Kageyama had caused some trouble,” she said, somewhat shy. “I’m sorry if they inconvenienced you, sometimes they can be a bit…”

“Don’t worry,” you laughed out in response. “You know how boys can be. They have…”

You made eye contact with her. No words needn't be spoken from sheer experience. She knew exactly what you were thinking.

Volleyball for brains!

The two of you exchanged laughter and then continued with the small talk. Even though you both didn’t play on the court, the after match cool-down was much needed.

As you chatted, you fought sullen thoughts from plaguing your words. Was it envy? Regret? Perhaps grief? You weren’t too sure, but every time you glanced at her, you couldn’t help but feel a wincing pain in your heart.

Because I wanted to see through this to the very end. I wanted to see them win Nationals during our final year together. The Shiratorizawa of today had everything it needed for us to win it all.

You finished cleaning the last bottle and took a moment of pause, staring at the small drip of water trying to escape the faucet. Gravity took hold and the droplet fell to the concrete ground.

But, despite it all…

“It was a good game,” you finished your thoughts aloud. The sudden change in topic made her freeze, but she remained still and listened.

“We’ll be cheering for you guys at Spring High, so…” you paused and gave a genuine smile, “make sure to win it all.”

She returned the smile back.

“Thank you.”

Standing alongside the rest of the third years, you glanced at Ushijima as he continued down the line of underclassmen to acknowledge their efforts and prepare them for the next year without them. You and the rest of your friends couldn’t help but grin at his keen observations. When it came to volleyball, Ushijima was always attentive.

“Goshiki.”

The entire gym went silent and shifted their eyes from Ushijima to the soon-to-be ace of the team. Goshiki straightened his back and swallowed down his nervousness. Whatever Ushijima was going to say to him, insult or not, was well warranted… especially after his performance in today’s match. He took a deep breath as he prepared himself.

Receiving. Blocking. Mental strength. There’s no end to the deficiencies he could point out in me. I kept saying I was going to be the future ace, but–

“I’m counting on you.”

For a moment, Goshiki kept silent. Ushijima’s features had softened when he spoke, expectant in his junior taking his place on the court. Tears spilled from Shiratorizawa’s newly appointed ace and puddled to the floor.

“Yes!”

And so, the torch was passed down.

“Thank you very much!”

All your underclassmen bowed in unison and you couldn’t help but swell in pride. Even though Shiratorizawa didn’t win nationals this year, you knew the future was bright. Whether it be next year or the one following, you knew this team was strong enough to make it back to Tokyo.

“Now then,” Ushijima began taking his sports jacket off, “we have a hundred serves to do.”

Tendou choked. “Aw, don’t tell me we gotta do ‘em too!”

Oohira, already following Ushijima’s lead, began to take his jacket off as well. This caused a domino effect as Semi and Yamagata didn’t want to get left behind.

“I doubt anyone would say anything either way,” Oohira said. He was right behind Ushijima at the end of the backcourt and bounced the ball on the ground. “But we’ll finish up here before it’s time for dinner at the canteen.”

Tendou slumped. He didn’t want to be the only third year who didn’t follow through with serve drills. That would make him look super lame, he thought. With a sigh, he slowly peeled off his jacket.

“Well… at least I don’t do jump serves…”

Watching from the sidelines, you couldn’t help but chuckle at Tendou’s unwillingness to finish his final service drill on the team.

“So now it’s time for you to focus on your entrance exams, huh?” Coach Washijou said aloud. He was sitting on the folding chair next to you watching over the boys to make sure no one was slacking off. “Well, don’t worry too much about your managerial duties. We’ve got plenty of first years on the team to take over.”

Even though Coach Washijou was fast to blow a fuse, he did reserve a more gentle side when he spoke one-on-one with you. After all, he knew that most of the time you were running around trying to keep things in order when it came to the boys and their shenanigans.

“Thank you, Coach,” you earnestly expressed your gratitude. “I’ll try to visit when I have free time in the future and help out whenever I can, because…”

You both watched as Ushijima threw a ball up into the air and followed through with perfect form as he slammed a serve to the other side of the court. Three years had gone by too fast and to have your time cut short from losing the Spring High Qualifiers was an unforeseeable surprise no one thought possible.

“I think I’ll miss all of this,” you finally finished, eyes still trained on Ushijima as he fished another ball out of the basket.

Coach Washijou hummed in agreement. The beauty of volleyball didn’t always come from playing on the court. No, being able to see miracles, experiencing the adrenaline up close, and having a hand in nurturing the next generation of players was what drove him to continue coaching.

And, you were part of that next generation to him. For the past three years, you had stood on the court beside him: watching, learning, and connecting with the rest of the team.

“After today, the entrance exams, and even when you graduate,” he said, his eyes still trained on the court. There was a crack in his usual demeanor, a ghost of a somber smile visible when you turned to look at him. “There will always be a place here for you in this gym.”

You clenched your fists and bit the inside of your cheeks to stop yourself from tearing up.

The autumn sky had already started changing colors, its hue transforming to a deep orange as the sun began to set. You opened the main gymnasium door to allow cool air in as the third years sat on the sidelines, resting after playing a few additional games. Shiratorizawa’s underclassmen had already gone back to their dorms, allowing their seniors personal time on the courts.

“Finally!” Tendou exclaimed as he threw his arms up in the air. His body was exhausted from playing earlier in the day and the additional after-match punishment. “Man, today was suuuuuper rough! Those service drills always kill me!”

“Well, at least you don’t have to do them anymore, Tendou,” Yamagata said.

“Yeah, you said you’re not playing after we graduate, right?” Semi asked as he adjusted the strap of his sports bag to sit more comfortably on his shoulder. He was standing up, ready to leave. “This’ll probably be the last time you ever have to do drills in your life.”

Tendou hummed. “Well, when you put it that way, it kind of sounds sad.”

Oohira motioned a hand to the court, inviting Tendou to continue playing if he wanted. For a moment, Tendou contemplated another round, but promptly declined. He already had another activity in mind that he preferred much more.

“[Naaaaaaaame]! Wakatoshiiiiii!” Tendou called out. “C’mon, let’s goooooo ! The Family Kart’ll sell out of all their pudding if you don’t hurry!”

You resisted the urge to shoot an ugly look at Tendou. Unlike him, Ushijima was lending a helping hand as he assisted with picking up the last of the volleyballs on the court to put them in storage.

“Tendou, can’t you see we’re cleaning up?” you responded back. He shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn’t. Much too tired to argue, you opted to remain civil. “You guys head on outside and I’ll meet you at the main entrance!”

“Okie-dokie, we’ll be waiting outside for you, [Name]!”

The boys on the sideline did as told, putting on their track jackets and taking their sports bags with them. After all the events of the day, you didn’t want them to worry too much about cleaning.

“Ushijima, don’t mind me,” you reassured him, feeling a bit bad for holding him back. “I’ll put this basket away and lock up for the night. Besides, Tendou might throw a fit if you don’t hurry outside.”

He tossed the ball in his hand into the basket and paused for a moment. Then, he nodded his head.

“Okay, I’ll see you outside.”

You waved at him and then followed through with what you said. As fast as you could, you pushed the ball baskets into the storage room and did some last minute organization. After today, first years would be frequenting the storage room much more as your managerial duties would be filtered down. You checked each shelf, making sure everything that was needed for practice was easy to spot.

Right as you turned to leave, a splash of purple caught your attention. It was lazily folded and placed on top of the stack of floor mats. With delicate hands, you picked up Shiratorizawa’s volleyball club banner and held up as much as you could to read the print.

Be strong.

You blinked. Head feeling heavy, you decided to crouch down, the banner still held in a way so you could see the words while the rest of the fabric pooled to the ground.

Be strong.

Slowly, your vision blurred. You blinked and blinked and blinked, trying your best to remain calm, but tears spilled and stained the purple in your hands.

Be strong. Be strong. Be strong.

The air was thin and your breaths turned shaky. A hiccup escaped your lips as tears turned into a stream.

Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong.

“[Name]?”

You snapped your head up at the sudden sound. With haste, you used the back of your sleeve to wipe away the tears.

How embarrassing , you couldn’t help but think while trying to regain composure. Well, it’s better that he found me instead of the others…

Legs heavy, you forced yourself up as you gripped tightly onto the school banner. You were sure you looked like a mess, but you thought it would be best to stand so you could make proper eye contact with him.

“Did you forget something, Ushijima?” Although you didn’t stutter, your voice turned small, nearly inaudible as you fought tears that threatened to spill once more. “I’ll help you find whatever it is you need.”

Ushijima took a step towards you, a glint of concern evident in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

You wanted to nod your head, defy your true feelings, but your body refused. Instead you chose to stare at the ground again in order to focus on stopping your tears.

“I’m sorry, Ushijima. I’ll be okay in a minute, I just need to–”

“You don’t have to be sorry,” he interrupted. It wasn’t like him to do so. You looked up from the ground and he approached. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to you. “Here, take this.”

For a moment, you could only stare at it. The handkerchief was folded neatly, donning a traditional navy and purple pattern that suited Ushijima’s style. With a gentle hand, you took it from him. You truly had no grounds to refuse with the way your face looked at the moment.

“Thank you, Ushijima.” You resisted the urge to apologize again as you dabbed your face with the cloth he had given you. “I promise I’m fine… It’s just that all the emotions from earlier today are hitting me now.”

He nodded at your explanation. To some, his silence may be intimidating, but, to you, it was a comfort.

Ushijima was there to listen.

“I… I’m just upset because I wanted to see you guys go further.” You paused and took in a deep breath to avoid crying anymore. “I know acting like this is really immature–I mean, we can’t go back in time and change the outcome of a match… but this just doesn’t feel right to me.”

He remained silent, waiting for you to finish. You chuckled at his courtesy and dabbed your eyes.

“It’s rather childish, isn’t it?”

Ushijima shook his head. “It isn’t. You think that way because you care about us–about this team.”

He took one corner of the club banner, the catalyst for your tears, from your other hand and also held it up so you could both see its entirety. The vibrant purple was something you had always admired during tournament season; it was a bold declaration that commanded attention.

“ Be strong ,” he read aloud, benign but with clear purpose. “I think this goes for everyone on the team. Not only myself, Tendou, or Oohira… but you as well.” He took a pause, reminiscing on the past three years together. “You have done much more for us than you know. Even with other priorities, you still made time for this team before, during, and after practice. The desire to win after years of dedication is not childish.”

You bit your bottom lip and nodded. Ushijima’s reassurance was more than you could ever ask for in this moment of weakness.

“Nothing is in vain from this loss. For you and me, there is still much to look forward to, so…”

He tore his gaze away from the banner, instead choosing to look at you. His features softened when he noticed you had done the same.

“Have the courage to be strong despite it all.”

His words echoed in your mind. Your grip on the school banner tightened with hope.

Have the courage to be strong . Although your career as Shiratorizawa’s volleyball manager might have ended a tad earlier than expected, you still had other passions to follow and your friends would be by your side regardless.

You finally nodded in confidence, wholly agreeing with what he said.

“Thank you, Ushijima,” you said, the words still rather airy. At this point, your tears had already dried up and you could breathe normally again. I’m glad it was you who found me like this , you wanted to say, but held your tongue.

Ushijima hummed in response to your gratitude. You couldn’t help but smile at the sudden aloof nature that consumed him even after all his heartfelt words. One last time, you brought your handkerchief to your face to pat away any remaining wetness.

Then, you froze. This handkerchief belonged to Ushijima . You poked your thumb at it. It was damp to the touch. You couldn’t possibly give it back to him in its current state.

“I-I’ll wash this and give it back to you,” you declared before sliding it into your pocket. “I promise, no later than tomorrow evening!”

Ushijima shook his head. He took the other corner of the club banner from you and began to fold it up.

“It’s fine. Keep it as a reminder,” he said. His face relaxed once more as he shelved the banner in an easy to reach location. “Remember this moment.”

Even though he had cheered you up immensely, tears threatened to spill once more.

Through Ushijima, you found strength.

EXTRA 1:

Sky already painted navy, Ushijima reconvened with the rest of the third years as they waited outside near the main entrance. Tendou, rather antsy about the delay, could be heard whining an earshot away about how his favorite puddings would be out of stock by the time they made it to the convenience store. The other boys paid little mind to his complaints as they waved at Ushijima.

“Everything alright with [Name]?” Semi asked. It had taken some time for Ushijima to come back after he initially volunteered to check up on you.

“Yes, Coach Washijou needed her to run a quick errand,” he lied. “She will be joining us soon.”

“Man, he’s still got her running around?” Yamagata asked, feeling somewhat sorry. “Well, knowing her, she probably wanted to help out some more on her last day.”

Ushijima nodded in response.

“It was an important task,” was the only elaboration he provided.

Tendou, still more worried about his necessary sweet treat for the day, crossed his arms in front of his chest much like a spoiled child would. “Man! We’re gonna be here all night waiting!”

“If Wakatoshi says she’s almost done, then she should be joining any minute,” Oohira said, chuckling at his friend’s impatience. The Family Kart wasn’t all too far, so waiting for another minute or so was fine by him.

The street lights flickered and crickets chirped their evening song as they all stood in front of the main entrance. An October chill swept in the wind, further feeding Tendou’s restlessness as he began to pace around.

Where were you? Just what did Coach Washijou assign to you that was soooooo much more important than hanging out with your friends? Tendou tapped on his cheek, thinking of all the ways he was going to rile you up should his favorite pudding sell out.

So deep in thought, Tendou failed to notice you running from the distance. The other boys waved and beckoned you to join the group.

“S-Sorry! I lost track of time!” you huffed out, trying to catch your breath.

Tendou opened his mouth, but then immediately shut it when he noticed wet stains all over the sleeves of your track jacket. His eyes traveled up, scanning your face. Even with the lack of lighting, he could tell there was a mix of pink in the whites of your eyes and a puffiness that could only be achieved from crying.

A sting of remorse ached in his heart.

“It’s okay,” he said, tone soft and much more calm than before. The other boys sent a questioning glance at him, wondering where his earlier spunk had gone. “We don’t mind waiting for you!”

You too were also taken aback by his change in usual demeanor, but chose not to question it. Perhaps he was tired from all the hours spent playing volleyball.

“Thank you,” you said while taking the first steps off campus. “Ready to go?”

Tendou jumped up in the air in excitement while the rest of the boys responded in a more normal manner. You laughed at his enthusiasm and walked alongside your friends as they began to chat about homework and a new variety show that aired earlier in the week.

The cool autumn air, a trip to the convenience store, and a tie of friendship that would never loosen.

It was the perfect way to end the day.

EXTRA 2:

“Wow, Wakatoshi! Did you do another promo for this place?” Tendou exclaimed while pointing at the large poster plastered on the door of the convenience store. It was another ad for the Ushijima Special that was first introduced earlier in the year. “Shiratorizawa’s Miracle Boy is looking cooler than ever!”

“Yeah, it really looks like they put some money into this!” Semi let out a whistle as he leaned in for a closer look. It was a new look that he wasn’t used to for his friend.

Compared to the first poster where he was wearing his volleyball uniform, Ushijima was instead dressed in streetwear that you would see straight out of the pages of a fashion magazine. He was posed on a bench, sitting casually while holding the Ushijima Special in front of him for display. Overall, the production for the shot looked higher quality and all the boys complimented him for his stylish appearance.

“Thank you,” Ushijima said, nodding his head in response to the praise for his newest ad. “When I last visited, they told me they wanted to update the signage as the previous poster had been tampered with. Apparently the advertisement had brought in many returning patrons, so they thought it would be best to get the new ad up as soon as possible.”

“Well, that’s nice of you to do,” you commended him. Posing for ads didn’t really seem like something Ushijima would enjoy doing, so it was surprising to see him try out new things. “And it must be convenient to earn some extra money on the side from doing stuff like this!”

“Hm?”

At his response, you and the rest of the boys exchanged glances. Surely he must have made a few extra bucks from the Ushijima Special, right?

“Uh, Ushijima…” you started. It was up to you to ask the question everyone else had on their mind.

“Yes?”

You bit the inside of your cheeks, apprehensive at the worst possible outcome being a reality.

“Have they not been paying you this entire time?”

Ushijima turned and made eye contact with you. He maintained his usual neutral visage as he spoke.

“No, I have not personally received any form of monetary compensation since the first iteration of my likeness was used to promote the Ushijima Special.”

Silence. Neither you nor the other boys knew what to say as you all stared at Ushijima in disbelief.

You have to be kidding me…!

Is this even legal?

Wakatoshi got scammed big time!

This has to be some kind of joke…

“I’m gonna give these guys a piece of my mind!” Tendou said as he rolled up his sleeves. “They can’t take advantage of Wakatoshi like this!”

“Tendou, we are not going to fist fight the clerk,” you calmly said. Although you appreciated his concern for Ushijima, you knew he was being rather over the top. “There has to be a better way to go about this.”

Unable to hide his displeasure, Tendou pulled his sleeves back down and grumbled under his breath.

“Wakatoshi, did they ever bring up any type of payment when you first started advertising for them?” Oohira, the more rational of the bunch, continued the conversation.

“Yes, they did, however, I didn’t accept it.”

What! Yamagata thought, obviously perturbed. You could have made so much money, Wakatoshi!

Semi, seemingly thinking the same as Yamagata, crossed his arms over his chest and let out a huff as he tried to make sense of the whole situation. Was he coerced into not accepting any payment? It seemed rather hard to believe considering Ushijima’s intimidating stature.

As the other boys thought it over, Tendou gave the clerk the stink eye through the glass door. Embarrassed, you pinched his arm to stop him from further antagonizing the poor employee. He let out a small yelp and tried to pinch you back, but you dodged him. All the while, Ushijima took a step forward, allowing the automatic door to sense him and slide open.

“I don’t mind,” he said. “Although…”

He walked in and the rest of the team followed, wary. Upon noticing Ushijima, the clerk lit up.

“Ah, Ushijima!” the clerk gave a warm welcome, leaving the register to personally greet him. “It’s been a while! Are things going well for you?”

“Yes, it has been some time,” Ushijima replied.

“I see you brought some friends with you!”

Ushijima nodded. “We finished practice today and decided to come by for a snack.”

The clerk clapped his hands together. “That’s wonderful! You and your friends get whatever you want tonight, it’s on the house!”

“ Hah? ” Tendou blurted, suddenly feeling a wave of regret for his earlier actions. “On the house?”

“Yes, on the house!” The clerk smiled fondly as he looked at Ushijima. “You see, Ushijima helped out our sales exponentially! Ever since the 8-Eleven opened up a few blocks down, we’ve been having trouble with our finances… The Ushijima Special and all the promotional material gave us a boon in customers coming back to spend their money!”

The clerk continued to talk about Ushijima’s impact on his life; he was on the verge of tears as he reflected on the past few months, eyes glassy and voice shaky while speaking. As you and the rest of the team listened, you silently apologized for initially thinking the worst of the situation. It seemed that Ushijima didn’t want to take money from a struggling store and instead offered a helping hand.

“We truly can’t thank him enough for all he’s done for us!” the clerk finished, giving Ushijima a pat on the shoulder. “You all can stop by anytime and the snacks you guys get will be free of charge!”

Ushijima, unfazed, gave his thanks and began to walk over to the cold case where the puddings were stored. He picked up a pucchin purin in the original flavor and then turned his head back to face the team.

“I will get this for myself. Let me know when you are all ready to check out.”

Still in a daze about the situation, you and the other boys could only stare at him. Tendou, the first to recover, walked up next to Ushijima and gave a light squeeze on the shoulder, saying aloud what everyone had been thinking.

“Wakatoshi, you’re a real stand-up guy, you know that?”

Chapter Text

This is… quite the drawing.

That was the nicest thought you could muster up when presented with the homemade flyer. You could make out the image of a volleyball, a couple of overly muscular boys donning Shiratorizawa’s sports uniform, and a grandiose trophy taking up most of the page, but these small details distracted you from its main purpose.

“Being a manager would be super fun!” the boy said, cheery as he tried to sell the position. “If you don’t have anything else to do, then why not join the volleyball club?”

His eyes were wide, blinking at you with great expectation. Unsure what to initially say, you took one of his flyers with delicate hands.

“I…I can check out the gym?” you decided, trying to be kind after seeing him get rejected mere minutes ago. Afterall, it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick peek, right? “But I can’t make any promises right now… I don’t really know much about volleyball.”

That was more than enough for him. His eyes twinkled as he straightened up and let out a cheer.

“Great! Come by the main gymnasium at 5:30PM! I’ll tell Coach Washijou you’re stopping by!”

Before you could utter another word, he was gone, his red hair disappearing as he rounded the corner. He was quick on his feet after getting you to say what he wanted.

Taking another look at the poorly drawn flyer, you sighed. 

One practice session, you thought while folding up the paper to put into your school bag. I’ll sit through one practice session and that’s it!

“Nice kill!”

“One more time!”

“It’s in the air!”

The door to the main gymnasium was wide open and, from where you stood outside, you could hear the squeaking of sneakers and the constant yelling from the boys of the volleyball team. For a moment, you felt your feet go cold. 

Volleyball wasn’t really something so important to you. You knew Shiratorizawa prided itself on sports, funneling large sums of money through scholarship programs and state of the art training facilities to attract the best within the prefecture… but this never applied to you. You got in through pure scholastic merit. You studied harder than anyone else to pass the entrance exams with flying colors to secure your spot in Miyagi’s top high school. You should be spending your time hitting the books, not sitting in a gym watching a bunch of sweaty guys bump a ball up in the air.

Why am I here?

You gripped on the straps of your backpack. At this moment, you had a choice. You could turn around, walk back to your dorm, and open up your textbook to finish up reading for tomorrow’s lecture so you could stay ahead of the curve. You could easily make an excuse that something else popped up after classes, preventing you from watching their practice scrimmage.

(But at the same time… maybe you wanted an escape from the solitude of studying. Maybe it would be nice for a change in atmosphere. Maybe, just maybe, it would do you good to follow through with a simple whim outside of your usual routine.)

As you stood, internally debating on what you should do, a ball bounced out of the gym and began to roll in your direction. It stopped right in front of you. While crouching down to pick it up, a tall boy had walked out of the iron doors and stopped on the concrete steps.

“Ah, you can toss it to me,” he said with his hands held up to catch the ball. His stature was intimidating even from where you stood. Wordlessly, you did as told and he easily caught it. 

For a moment, he stared at you, analyzing your presence. “Are you–”

“Oi, Wakatoshi! C’mon, we gotta rotate courts!” a familiar voice yelled out. The same boy from earlier in the day jumped out from the side to grab his friend and, upon noticing you, his eyes lit up. “Hey, you’re finally here! It took ya long enough!”

You froze as he ran up to you and practically dragged you into the gym. There was no backing out now.

“W-Wait a second!” you called out, digging your heels into the ground. “I still need to talk to the coach to see if this is okay!”

“He’s inside, and don’tcha worry! I already let both of them know that you’re joining!”

“Tendou,” the taller boy started as he turned to face his friend. “Is this the new manager?”

“I didn’t agree to anything yet!” you quickly corrected their words. Had he already been telling the team that you would join? “I only came by to watch one practice session!”

The one named Tendou waved you off as he led you inside. Semantics weren’t his number one priority at the moment. Beside you, his friend (Wakatoshi?) didn’t seem the least bit phased at your outburst.

“I see. Well, Tendou seemed rather excited for your arrival.”

There really was no escape route at this point. The smell of sweat and wood polisher mingled together, only growing stronger the longer you stayed. It was difficult to ignore the numerous eyes following your figure as you walked along the sideline.

“A girl…! There’s a girl in the gym! I’m fired up!”

“Huh, so Tendou really did rope someone into being manager…”

“Maybe she felt bad for him after seeing the flyer? Haha, his drawings were something else!”

You kept mum as the comments continued, following closer to the two boys to avoid attention.

“Tanji–I mean, Coach Washijou! Here’s the manager I told you about!”

Coach Washijou turned to face you. He was of shorter stature, his hunch from old age making him smaller, however, he had stern eyes that made you want to shrink in his presence. You were quick to bow and introduce yourself, afraid of being scolded in front of a group of guys for lack of manners if you had chosen to chide Tendou for forgetting what you had said earlier.

“What do you know about volleyball?” he immediately asked, his hands behind his back as he turned his attention to you.

“I… Not much… I only know the basic rules from playing it during the gym periods.”

You could tell he wasn’t satisfied by your answer, and, for some reason, it hurt to know he was disappointed.

“Then why do you want to be here?”

It was another simple question, but it struck you harder than the last.

I… don’t know.

“I want to watch one practice session,” you decided to say. It wasn’t a complete lie as it was your initial reasoning. “Tendou invited me.”

Coach Washijou let your words sink in and then grunted. Acceptance, you thought. He turned his head to the two boys and nodded, signaling them to return to practice before redirecting his attention back to you.

“Take a seat,” he gestured to the folding chair next to him. “Since Tendou brought you here, then we’ll show you some volleyball.” 

Volleyball seemed simple enough.

The game needed two teams of six players each–three in the front, and three in the back–separated by a net in a 9 x 18 meter rectangle. Players had to keep a ball in play with a maximum of three touches on each side; if the ball dropped on your side or if your teammate ended up touching the ball twice in a row, then the other team would get a point.

Simple, the thought repeated in your mind. Volleyball was simple.

(But just because something is simple does not make it boring.)

Sitting at the edge of your seat, you focused your attention on the court closest to you. The boys on each side were thoroughly exhausted, beads of sweat dripping onto the ground as if they had been rained on, but their fatigue didn’t matter. Not when the game was nearing its end.

The ball was tossed into the air, the server (what was his name again? Semi?) gravitating to it until his palm made contact and a loud smack! echoed like thunder. With such a heavy serve, you couldn’t help but let out a small gasp when the opposing side received it, the ball soaring upwards.

“Ushijima! Get the last hit!”

Everyone moved in unison, either positioning to block or moving forward to cover any empty parts of the court. Ushijima jumped, his body following through with his spike as it seamlessly broke through the blockers and made contact with the ground. It was an impressive display of strength.

Fweet!

The sound of a whistle interrupted practice and brought you back down to Earth.

“Start cleaning up!” Coach Washijou called out next to you. Even though he was small, his voice was larger than life. “And don’t forget to wipe the floors or you’ll be runnin’ extra laps tomorrow!”

With haste, the boys jumped on their feet, not even getting the chance to catch their breaths, and started picking up stray volleyballs. You stayed seated and continued watching.

Volleyball was more interesting than you initially thought.

The next day after classes ended, you stopped by the main gymnasium the volleyball club used.

And again the day after.

And again. You continued to watch and learn and help out as Coach Washijou and Saito instructed. Anything and everything relating to volleyball, you took time after practice to learn all the terminology, the different plays, the vital knowledge to keep you on par with the other players on the court. Watching from the sidelines, you were quick to grow accustomed to the quirks of the team.

Semi is more aggressive and likes to focus on his attacks which makes him a bit weaker on receiving.

Ushijima prefers to have a higher toss when he’s spiking to allow him more time with his shoulder rotation.

Oohira has the best timing when it comes to blocks amongst the third years and likes to lead his teammates at the net.

Tendou’s good at faking tells to trick his opponents, but he really needs to lay off the taunting.

Yamagata has great defensive game sense and is good at predicting where spikers will hit for his digs.

Nothing went unnoticed. Not to you or the guys.

“Soooooooooo…?” Tendou started, looking at you with wide eyes. Official practice had already ended a while ago and a few of the rookies on the team were putting in extra time for additional drills. “I think you’re starting to like hanging out with us! I mean, you’re choosing to spend your evenings with us!”

You rolled your eyes. Even though it had only been over a week of being around the boys, you realized Tendou had a knack for getting under anyone’s skin.

“Whatever,” you settled on saying. He took no offense and let out a laugh.

“Well, since you’re here, why don’t you help out Wakatoshi? Yanno, he’s totally itching for somebody to toss to him, but we’re all beat!”

You raised a brow. Surely Ushijima would want someone who had more game experience to help him? “I don’t know about–”

“Wakatoshi! [Name] said she’ll help toss to you!”

Tendou had yelled it out loud enough so that everyone in the gym could hear him. Ushijima, fast to get back on his feet, nodded in response and made his way to one of the nearby ball carts. Feeling proud of himself, Tendou gave you a pat on the shoulder.

“Thanks a ton for helping us out!”

Still in shock, you could only look at him with wide eyes and a slackened jaw.

What the hell!

There was really no backing out now. With weak steps, you made your way to where Ushijima was standing. He didn’t seem to notice your hesitancy as he dug a ball out of the cart to hand to you.

You took a deep breath. What’re you so worried about? Oohira asked earlier in the week to help toss to him, so it’s not like this is difficult.

Ushijima stood in the middle of the court, waiting for you so he could start his running approach. In one swift motion, you threw the ball up, trying your best to make sure it had a nice arch.

Crap, too close to the net!

This didn’t phase him. Like any ball, Ushijima jumped and smashed it down to the other side. He stood and stared at the spot where he had aimed. Was he disappointed? It was difficult to tell.

“Sorry…” you mumbled out. 

He shook his head and held a hand up. “No need to apologize.”

You were about to apologize again, but then held your tongue. He went to the cart and picked up another ball to hand to you.

“Can you toss it a bit higher?” He paused. “And a bit more to the left?”

“Higher?” you repeated.

Ushijima nodded, his features still stoic. “Yes, I like it when the ball is in the air for more time. It gives me options.”

Options. You hadn’t considered that, but it made perfect sense. More time in the air meant more time to plan an attack. You gave him a thumbs up and he returned to the middle of the court to prepare for his approach.

With Ushijima’s request in mind, you tossed the ball up again. It hung in the air a bit longer and, unlike before, he didn’t have to rush to hit it. His body clung to his perfect form after his jump, his movements picturesque as he reeled his arm back to gain momentum to hit the ball.

Bam!

You blinked. Ushijima’s spike had put a spell on you. There truly was a difference from the first toss.

“That was…” You cleared your throat and shyly averted your eyes to stop yourself from staring. “How was that?”

He turned to look at you. Although his face remained strong, his eyes were soft.

“Perfect.”

You had made up your mind after practice from the night before. With the filled out club application in your hands, you walked over to the faculty office in the morning to make it official.

“Coach Washijou,” you took in a deep breath and then bowed as you handed him your application, “I would like to join the volleyball club as manager.”

He took the application from you and scanned it. A second passed and he let out a chuckle.

“Took you long enough.”

Acceptance, you thought once more. You opened your mouth to respond, but, before you could say anything, a loud and (rather annoying) ring chimed out from the ceiling. 

Beep-ep!

Huh. The school bell sounded a bit odd. It sounded like—

Beep-ep! Beep-ep!

The walls slowly started to fade and the ground became unsteady as if an earthquake had hit. A rush of anxiety made it feel like you were drowning.

Beep-ep! Beep-ep! Beep-ep!

You jolted awake, your knees hitting the wood of your desk at the sudden sound. Disoriented, you blinked and looked around. This wasn’t the teacher’s staff room.

It was your own dorm.

Unable to hide your fatigue, you let out a yawn. Right, you were studying and must have dozed off. It was a good thing you were wise enough to set an alarm for each subject so that you wouldn’t accidentally spend the entire night sleeping at your desk.

You rubbed your eyes and thought back to your dream; it was more reminiscent than your prior ones, clear moments of your first year managing the volleyball team reenacted perfectly scene by scene. 

(Perhaps you missed the gym more than you had initially thought? You weren’t so sure.)

Grabbing your phone, you were quick to note the time. Thirty minutes until midnight. You were out for a good hour, and, during that time, an absurd amount of messages from the volleyball club group chat graced your notifications.

SHIRATORIZAWA VB CLUB - 60 NOTIFICATIONS

TENDOU:

[Naaaaaaaaaaame]!!!

Are you studying right now?

It’s been forever since we last got together!

SEMI:

Yeah, Tendou’s right

How’re you holding up?

YAMAGATA:

You should take a break

We’re at the lounge if you want to join

OOHIRA:

Wakatoshi and I will join soon too

Just finished our run

USHIJIMA:

Yes, we’re walking over now

TENDOU:

See! C’mon, [Name], it’s a party over here!

Kenjirou, Taichi! You two join too!

SHIRABU:

We can’t

TENDOU:

Liaaaaaaaar

SHIRABU:

Busy. Studying. Exams.

TENDOU:

Taichi?

KAWANISHI:

I still need to take a bath

Practice was rough today

TENDOU:

[Name], join us and don’t be a party pooper like these two!

I know you’re reading these!

SHIRABU:

Tendou, perhaps you should let [Surname] study in peace

TENDOU:

What if she’s in danger? Huh? Ever thought about that?

SHIRABU:

...Excuse me?

GOSHIKI:

What! Danger?? What happened to [Surname]?!

TENDOU:

Tsutomu! Come to the lounge and I’ll tell ya!

GOSHIKI:

I’m on my way!!

You blanched while reading the messages. The time stamp said these earlier messages were from hours ago… meaning Goshiki was already in Tendou’s clutches. Letting out a sigh, you continued reading.

SHIRABU:

…

TENDOU:

C’mon you guys! It’ll be fun!

Wakatoshi’s here now too!

SHIRABU:

Fine. Kawanishi and I will be over after washing up

Only for a bit

TENDOU:

Woo-hoo!

[Name] now it’s your turn!

Join usssssss!

OOHIRA:

Let’s be mindful of her notifications, Tendou

TENDOU:

I’ll be mindful when she responds!

SEMI:

Oi

Tendou

TENDOU: 

[Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame]!!!

Join!

Us!

At!

The!

Lounge!

SEMI:

Quit it! You’re blowing up our notifications too!

USHIJIMA:

[Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame]!!

C’mon, it’s a party over here!!

You narrowed your eyes at the screen. Tendou must have stolen Ushijima’s phone.

YAMAGATA:

Just so you know, Tendou took Wakatoshi’s phone

Your suspicions were immediately confirmed. Even though this conversation was hours ago, you couldn’t help but roll your eyes.

TENDOU:

No, Wakatoshi definitely wants [Name] to join us!

GOSHIKI:

I’m at the lounge!

From here, there was a break in time from the most recent messages. It seemed that Goshiki’s entrance took Tendou’s attention away from his (and Ushijima’s) phone. No doubt, you were sure Tendou filled his head with false fantasies.

TENDOU:

[Name], you’re missing all the stories from Tsutomu about the training camp!

If you join now it won’t be too lateeeee

KAWANISHI:

I think she’s sleeping

You get tired from studying all day

SHIRABU:

Yes, I think so too

It would be best to let her rest

TENDOU:

Ok fine, I won’t bug her about coming to the lounge anymore

But [Name], you positively definitely 100% need to come with us to help at the training camp tomorrow since you didn’t today!

It’ll be so much fun!!!

When was the last time we were all together?

For a moment, you considered brushing off his invitation. You still had much to do to prepare for the entrance exams that seemed to only get bigger and scarier as each day passed.

And yet…

The omamori that Tendou had given to you caught your attention. After retiring as manager, you had taken it off your duffle bag and placed it atop your desk’s attached shelf. The bright pink color of the charm demanded you to look at it, reminding you of a simple notion.

Your friends cared about you.

The choice was clear.

YOU:

Ok

I’ll let Coach Washijou know that I’ll stop by to help tomorrow

Not even a minute later, your phone chimed to alert you of a new notification.

TENDOU:

Yippeeeeee!

We’ll pick you up at the lounge tomorrow before practice!

It’s gonna be a blast!!

“Come oooooooooon! Hurry up!”

You resisted the urge to sigh as Tendou shook your shoulders. The night prior, you were looking forward to helping out at the first year training camp. You figured it would be a nice change in pace from all the studying you had committed to since retirement from the club.

Now, however? Tendou’s… overly insistent behavior had you thinking otherwise.

“Let’s go! We gotta make our big entrance!” Tendou said as he tried to drag you out of your seat in the common area. The rest of the third years watched as you sat planted in your chair, putting away your pens and pencils in a calm manner.

“Tendou, can you please give me a second to put my things away?”

“We gotta go now! ”

“It’s only a ten minute walk from here.” You stuffed your notebooks into your backpack and got up. “Why are you in such a rush?”

“We gotta look cool,” Tendou explained, pushing your chair back into the table as you and the rest of the team started walking to the exit. Semi looked mildly exasperated as Tendou bounced around. “We’re the upperclassmen! And we’re gonna take names and kick ass!”

Beside you, Oohira and Yamagata chuckled at Tendou’s choice in words. Ushijima also didn’t seem to mind, but you figured he was more excited about being on the court.

“You guys are going to be helping them with practice, not…” You paused and finally let out the sigh you had been holding in since the group initially came to pick you up. Chiding Tendou at this time would do you no good. “Whatever, let’s go.”

The walk over to the main gymnasium wasn’t too long. Now that it was December, everyone wore the full tracksuit ensemble as uniform. The weather was much colder when traversing campus grounds, warranting you to stuff your hands into the pockets of your pants to keep warm.

In a leisurely manner, the boys filled you in on what happened the day prior. They spoke about the crop of talent Coach Washijou had selected along with a bit of trouble that was caused by an “uninvited guest” whom the boys refused to elaborate on. You could only grimace at the chaos on the first day.

“Studying hard yesterday?” Oohira asked, changing the subject. It had been a while since he had last seen you away from your textbooks. 

You nodded. “Yeah, I actually ended up accidentally napping on my desk…” Taking a moment to remember all the details, you tapped a finger against your chin. “It was so weird… I had a dream about when I first joined the team. It started with Tendou coming up to me in the hall—”

“If Tendou’s in it, then it’s a nightmare, not a dream,” Semi interrupted. This caused Yamagata to howl in laughter while Tendou gave him the stink eye.

“Hey! That’s rude!” Tendou cried out. “Besides, I heard that if you dream of someone, you’re thinking of them.”

He placed a hand over his heart and posed flamboyantly. The other guys, sans Ushijima, grimaced.

“I’m flattered that you’re dreaming of me, [Name]! Yanno, if you were just a tad cuter about how you talked—”

You narrowed your eyes at Tendou, daring him to continue running his mouth. A hellish fire burned behind you as a clear warning of what would come should he cross any lines. He got the message and shut his trap.

“Ah… never mind!” 

Pleased at his response, the fires behind you were immediately extinguished and you relaxed. 

Thought so.

Oohira cleared his throat, ready to move on from Tendou’s interruption. “Well, I think if you were dreaming about… the team, then maybe that means you miss the club?”

You thought back to the past month. The days seemed to blur together, most of your time spent at a small desk looking at workbooks, prior tests, and whatever additional study aids you could find.

Truth be told, it was rather lonely. The liveliness of the team was what made the past few years fun.

“Yeah,” you finally said, turning to face Oohira. “I guess I do.”

Tendou was the first to react, the other boys keeping silent with their eyes wide. He jumped in the air and shook your shoulders as he cried out.

“You...! You really care about us!”

You moved like a rag doll as he continued to shake your entire body in the middle of campus. A few students gave a curious glance, wondering if you were in need of help amidst the group of giants.

“Tendou, if you keep this up, then we’ll be late and you won’t be able to make your ‘super cool entrance’ you talked about earlier,” you said, taking hold of his hands to release you.

“Bah! Who cares about that!” Tendou said, rounding an arm around your shoulders. “Anyway, tell us more about that dream of yours. I wanna know all about it!”

And so, you recounted Tendou’s poorly drawn flyer and everything that came after.

It didn’t take long to make it to the gymnasium. Ushijima, the one leading you all, pulled open the sliding door and was the first to walk in. The bright overhead lights blinded your vision for a second before you got acclimated.

“Helloooooooooooooooooooooo!” Tendou called out, throwing his arms up in the air. His sudden greeting caused the underclassmen to freeze in surprise before they bowed in response, pausing their warm-ups to give full attention to the Shiratorizawa alumni.

“G-Good afternoon!” Goshiki was the first to greet you all. There was a sparkle in his eyes when he noticed you were with the guys this time.

Familiar faces followed suit after Goshiki with formalities, one in particular sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the giants currently playing on the court.

Except, he wasn’t playing on the court. He was watching from the sidelines.

Hinata?

You could only tilt your head while looking at him. Hinata, feeling your gaze, immediately turned to the side and ran back to join a few other Shiratorizawa first years who you remembered helping you here and there when it came to managerial duties. For the first time, it seemed as if he wanted his presence to shrink.

“Tendou,” you whispered, tugging the sleeve of his tracksuit. You tried to keep your voice down as Coach Saito was explaining the next set of drills the first years would be participating in against the seniors. “What’s Hinata doing over there?”

“Huh?”

“Uh, Karasuno’s #10,” you elaborated. His eyes sparkled when he realized who you were talking about.

“Oh, Shrimpy! Yanno, I think you should ask him yourself! He’s going to be hanging around you a lot today.”

Before you could question what he meant, Coach Saito clapped his hands together to call for everyone’s attention.

“Alright, now let’s start warming up!”

Sooner rather than later, you fully understood what Tendou had said earlier.

“So let me get this straight,” you slowly started, trying to make sure you got Hinata’s story right. You were standing on the other end of the scoreboard from where he stood, flipping the fabric for the Shiratorizawa seniors whenever they got a point. “You weren’t invited to this camp, but you thought that if you crashed it, Coach Washijou would let you have the opportunity to play with the other guys… And when he didn’t, you ended up being a ball boy?”

There was no hiding the deep shade of scarlet that bloomed all across Hinata’s face.

“Yes…”

You could only blink in response.

“I-I just wanted to practice with some really good guys!” Frantically trying to justify the why to his actions, Hinata skittered as he waved his arms to explain. “These guys are soooo good and I don’t get to play with them that often, so I thought–!”

“Hinata, add a point for the first years,” you reminded, pointing to the junior team who cheered upon scoring.

“Oh, oops, sorry!” He quickly flipped the score to add a point. “Anyway, I really, really wanted to play against them all at first!”

At first. That struck you.

“And now?” you countered. “You wanted to be a ball boy so bad?”

“No! Wait, yes!” His face maintained a red color as he stumbled over his words and made an “x” with his arms. “I-I wanted to play…! But…”

You raised a brow.

But?

He took in a deep breath as his face returned back to its natural shade.

“I’m a ball boy now.”

It wasn’t said with shame or embarrassment or contempt. His posture was a little straighter, his head a little higher as he watched every move the players made on the court. Looking at him and seeing the hunger in his eyes made you realize he had grown since the last time you saw him at the Qualifiers.

“You’re a ball boy now,” you repeated. Again, another point went to the seniors and you flipped the score as you spoke. “And I think you probably already realized that being a ball boy’s a bit harder than you’d think.”

He nodded, thinking about the prior day. Although he was a starter on his team, there was still much to learn and watching his peers up close and personal gave him the opportunity that he was deprived of in middle school.

As the ball on the court was thrown into the air by Semi for a hard-hitting serve, Hinata focused his attention on the senior players. The rally continued and he stared at their feet, the angle of the bend of their legs, how far out their arms reached in front of them, the rotation of their shoulders–everything and everything was noted.

“Ushijima’s movements…” he mumbled aloud.

“Hm?”

“They’re so…” It looked like he was struggling to find the right words to describe Ushijima’s playstyle. “Compact!”

You smiled, deciding to give a bit of guidance. “Right, that’s how he prefers to play. Quick, but never sloppy. He’s doing what’s necessary to keep the ball in play so he can make his attack.”

He nodded, soaking in the information. It looked like there were stars in his eyes which caused you to giggle into the back of your hand.

“Honestly, I’m a bit surprised, Hinata,” you said. “I didn’t expect this from you.”

“S-Surprised?” He blushed and then scratched the back of his head, waiting for you to elaborate. Is she going to praise me? 

You gave him a gentle smile which caused Hinata to stand up straight in expectancy. Finally! His volleyball prowess was going to be acknowledged.

Shiratorizawa isn’t too bad, he thought. At least Dummy-yama isn’t here to insult me!

With kind features, you delivered the cold, hard truth.

“Yes, I didn’t know you completely relied on animal instinct when playing.”

Hinata face-planted to the ground in shame. Was that really the impression he gave off?

“But I think you already know that’s not enough when you go to higher levels of play. That’s why you’re here, right? To improve yourself.” The third years scored a point and you flipped the scoreboard once again while watching Semi start his service ritual. “We all have to start somewhere. And you’re lucky you get to watch the best players in our prefecture.”

Semi threw the ball into the air, his body seemingly hanging to his form for a second longer than normal before he served the ball to the other side. The velocity was greater than the previous one and landed on the other side for a no touch ace. Another point for the Shiratorizawa alumni.

“Nice serve, Eita!” the third years praised and slapped him on the back. 

“You’ll come to find that the sidelines aren’t too bad.” You grinned at him. There was a glint of excitement, hope, and, most of all, the desire to improve within his eyes. “If you need any help, don’t be shy to ask anyone on the team. I’ve been watching these guys for the past three years, so I’ve got some knowledge under my belt too.”

Quick to recover from your prior words, he got up and fixed his posture.

“Right!” he yelled out from the top of his lungs. The players on the court sent him a confused look at his outburst. Most of them brushed it off (with the exception of Tsukishima who grimaced at his all too loud teammate). “Thank you!”

As the practice match ended, the third years taking the win once again against the first years, you reset the scores and nodded at Hinata. There were still chores that needed to be completed, and, with the way Hinata stared at the court, you would rather him stay in the gym for as long as possible.

“Hinata, you stay here and wipe up the sweat with Sagae. I’ll go collect the practice vests and throw them in the wash,” you instructed. Hinata saluted and immediately got to work. He ran over to the storage room to grab the large mop.

I’m glad he’s trying, you thought. Even though he so badly wanted to play, he still kept up with all his ball boy duties and attentively listened to what you had to say. Even though he snuck in, he’s really not a bad kid. He’s just a little crazy about volleyball.

You took one last glance at him as he ran up and down the court to wipe up the sweat. From how fast he was going, he accidentally tripped over his feet and tumbled over the mop. Coach Washijou yelled from the sidelines at his clumsiness and you giggled into your hand as he turned red in the face all over again.

After consecutive rounds of practice matches, the first years were granted a longer cool down period to rest their muscles. Some of the boys stretched the lower halves of their bodies, the wear of fatigue causing an aching pain that needed to be addressed before a cramp occurred while others sat and sipped on their energy drinks.

But, unlike the other first years, Goshiki had a restlessness that annoyed him since the start of practice. Sitting by himself, he took a deep breath and waited until Hinata was by himself to quell his unease.

“Hinata,” Goshiki called the boy to the sideline, waving his hand to beckon him over. 

Upon hearing his name, Hinata pranced over to where Goshiki was standing, wondering what he wanted from him. He had already given him his usual towel and water bottle. Did he miss something?

Goshiki cleared his throat and then looked from side to side. 

Wait, is he going to tell me a secret technique…? Hinata’s eyes widened in excitement at the prospect and he leaned in closer to Goshiki. C’mon! Tell me how to do the super straight line shots! The cool one that even a triple block is no match for!

“Um… so…” Goshiki shut his eyes and then shook his head to get rid of his nervousness. Hinata paid closer attention to Goshiki, squinting to see if he could get a better read of whatever it was that would come out of his lips.

“Yeah…?” Hinata tried to coax the words out of him like a snake charmer as he leaned forward. Tell me! Tell me!

“What… were you talking about with [Surname]…?” His towel was draped over his face in embarrassment as he mumbled his question, but there was no hiding the dust of pink on his cheeks.

Hinata blinked. Silence filled the space between them.

Oh… That’s not…

Goshiki was fidgeting with his fingers as he waited for an answer. Hinata, dejected that Shiratorizawa volleyball secrets weren't going to be shared soon, tried his best not to let out a sigh. There was no hiding the initial disappointment on his face.

“Uh…” Hinata paused, trying to think of a way to stretch your words to sound a bit nicer. “She told me that being on the sidelines isn’t too bad and I can come to her if I need any help with being a ball boy… That’s really it, but why do you want to know this?”

Feeling bashful, Goshiki turned his head to the side. “N-No reason! It’s nothing!”

With a swift look up and down, Hinata decided to be brash.

“You got a crush on her or something?” 

Goshiki spat out his drink and that was when Hinata knew he hit the nail on the head. Hinata was going to run his mouth to tease him, but Goshiki was already on his feet, putting a hand over his mouth to shut him up. Unfortunately, the two were causing quite the commotion and attracted the attention of the other resting members on the sideline.

“Who’s got a crush on who?” Koganegawa asked as he flocked beside Hinata. Gossip was always an interesting topic, especially in a gym full of guys.

“Goshiki. Probably on the manager,” Kunimi bluntly deduced as Kindaichi laughed. Goshiki stared in horror as everyone within a five foot radius started joining in.

“Quit saying it so loudly!” Goshiki pleaded, shaking his hands in front of him. His towel slipped off his head and revealed blushed ears in a fervent red shade.

“Holy crap, is this why you were so fired up today?” Kindaichi started to tease him even harder upon seeing his face glow into an even brighter flushed state. The other three first years lined up to say their piece.

“So that’s why he was trying to show off his ‘super straight shots’ a lot more today than yesterday!”

“Wow, you’re pretty ambitious, Goshiki!”

“I saw you looking at Hinata when he was talking to her. That must be why you messed up on your receive, right? Please focus on the shots you can make.”

Not one to miss out on someone else’s misery, Tsukishima walked on over, ammunition ready. He had already heard enough and was itching to say something. 

“Oh? Looks like he’s got some tough competition,” Tsukishima started and, like a forgotten party balloon, Goshiki slowly began to deflate. Having too much fun provoking Goshiki, Tsukishima took the liberty to direct his gaze to the other side of the court. You were chatting with the other third years, laughing at something Semi had said. “They’re all upperclassmen!”

“Huh? Isn’t she going to be graduating soon too?” Hinata added, stating the obvious. The others smiled deviously at the great material Hinata had unwittingly given to them.

“That’s right, Hinata,” Tsukishima was the first one to start a chain of misery from what his teammate had said. Kindaichi and Kunimi caught on quickly and started to plan out what to say next. “Soon it’ll be April and then she’ll have to say her goodbyes and move on to university…”

Goshiki blanched to a shade lighter than white as the others elaborated.

“Yeah, I heard a lot of girls date within the first month of starting university. Or maybe…” Kindaichi turned to Kunimi to finish his statement.

“Maybe she already has someone in mind.” He jutted a thumb towards where Ushijima was. On the opposite sideline, he was leaning down in order to better hear what you were saying as you spoke to the members.

Koganegawa gasped into his hand. “You don’t think it’ll be like in the dramas? When the girl confesses to the guy once they finally graduate high school after the ceremony?”

Cue the evil smiles all around.

“Just think about it,” Kindaichi said, keeping his voice to a whisper as he explained his point. All the boys huddled together to hear what he had to say. “She’s probably studying for the university entrance exams. Right now, she doesn’t have time to date. But… a lot of girls do this thing where they wait until their results for the entrance exams come out and they promise to themselves”–he cleared his throat and highered his pitch–“ if I get into the university I want, then I’ll confess my feelings for him! ”

“Oh, this is juicy stuff!” Koganegawa exclaimed, waiting for Kindaichi to continue.

“Then they date all throughout university and they realize they’re perfect for each other… A couple years pass and they get married and live as newlyweds in a nice apartment away from their hometown or something.”

Goshiki was pale and unable to retort back. Hell, the boy wasn’t even breathing.

They completely destroyed his spirit. 

“Hinata!” you called out from the other side, waving at said boy. All the guys who were surrounding Goshiki focused their attention on you. “C’mon, we still have some chores to finish up!” 

Hinata quickly got onto his feet and said his goodbyes to the others as he joined your side to finish the laundry. He spoke excitedly, asking about the tasks you had in mind for him. His eagerness was commendable, causing you to laugh at the bounce in his steps.

“Oh, you know what? Maybe Hinata has a better chance with the manager than Goshiki,” Kindaichi pointed out, snickering into his hand. Kunimi nodded in agreement and took a quick glance to the side.

That was the final nail in the coffin. Unable to get back on his feet, Goshiki slumped further down to the ground as he watched Hinata tail after you, conversation between you and him seeming easy as he took some towels off your hands. Tsukishima fought back a devious smile that threatened the corner of his lips.

Payback always felt good.

Practice went on for the entire day until it was finally the dinner hour. Coach Washijou, pleased with how the day’s practice session with alumni had driven the younger boys to train harder, had decided to hold back from conditioning drills, instead letting them cool down with simple laps around the courts. As both current and retired club members jogged, you and Hinata finished putting away the net equipment.

“Hinata,” you beckoned him over to the opposite end of the storage room, “before you leave, I want to show you something.”

He perked up, curious. You grabbed a box stacked against the wall and plopped it onto the ground. When you opened it, an array of protein bars glittered like gold.

“I heard you’ve been biking here and back home every morning and night since Coach Washijou couldn’t provide a dorm for you like the other first years,” you started, eyes softening at the thought of his long commute. “We have a ton of energy drinks and protein bars either donated from alumni or won from our Sports Day festival. You should take a couple with you so you don’t get too hungry before dinner, okay?”

“Huh!” Hinata’s eyes widened. After an entire day of getting yelled at by Coach Washijou, your generosity was an unexpected contrast in treatment.  “N-No, I really can’t–!”

His stomach violently growled before he could refuse, confirming your previous suspicions. He was working just as hard as the other kids. You grabbed a couple of bars and took his hands to properly give them to him.

“Don’t worry about imposing.” You pressed a finger against your lips and gave a wink. “Starving yourself will do you no good when you’re still growing. After all, I think you’re due for at least an inch or two!”

Hinata’s face flushed furiously. He stared at you and then back at the protein bars in his hands.

Goshiki, I completely understand why you’re crushing so hard!

“Wait up!” Goshiki called out from the entrance of the gym. “I’ll join you guys for dinner tonight!”

Upon hearing the youngest of the team, you and the rest of the third years stopped and turned. Goshiki was slapping a hand away from Kindaichi who seemed to be joking around with him, asking him why he was rushing so much when he could eat with the other first years.

“Alright, let’s wait for Tsutomu,” Yamagata said with a grin. It was nice to see Goshiki make friends with other kids in the prefecture.

No one objected to waiting for the youngest. After all, it was becoming more and more rare that you all would be able to sit down and eat together. Once he finally broke away from the other first years, he let out a sigh and jogged over to where you stood.

Finally! Now I can sit down and talk with–!

“Good luck on your one sided love, Goshiki!” Koganegawa called out. The other first year boys snickered into their hands at how daft Koganegawa was and turned to offer their own humble chants of godspeed. Goshiki froze momentarily, his face turning bright red, and then raised a fist in the air in indignation.

“Quit it! Stop saying weird things!”

Koganegawa’s farewell piqued your interest. Was Goshiki so close with the other boys that he would confide in them about school crushes?

“Oh, did you tell them about Keiko?” you asked, wanting to know more about who this mystery person was after his first mention a few weeks ago. 

Goshiki, unable to initially say anything, flushed furiously once more and stuttered which caused Tendou to cackle. Even though he was exhausted from the constant practice matches, his energy spiked back up as soon as he saw his junior freeze up.

“N-No! There… is no Keiko!”

Not one to miss out on teasing his beloved junior, Tendou jumped to add in his own input.

“Oh? But what about all the time you spent the other night–!”

Goshiki quickly grabbed onto Tendou’s arm, stopping him from finishing what he was about to say. He needn’t babbled anything as his eyes did all the pleading for him. Having some compassion (he may be a guess monster, but he wasn’t a real monster), Tendou shrugged his shoulders and decided to drop the subject.

“Alright, alright. I’ll stop it~” Tendou pouted at his fun being cut short. “Anyone know what’s on the menu tonight?”

There was light chatter as the other boys began to lead the conversation elsewhere for Goshiki’s sake. It seemed as if no one else cared about Keiko except for yourself. Unable to hold in your disappointment, you let out a soft sigh.

“Am I the only one out of the loop regarding just who Keiko is…?”

Ushijima, having only heard about half of what you said, turned to Goshiki, his brows furrowed.

“Keiko? Goshiki, are you still playing Uki-Doki Memorial?”

With his killing blow, Goshiki turned white in the face and lost all feeling in his legs. He fell to the ground, his will to live withering like a dead rose. In the end, Oohira and Yamagata had to carry Goshiki back to his dorm as Tendou laughed aloud at Ushijima’s (unintentionally) crass comment.

There was no further mention of Uki-Doki Memorial for the rest of the evening. Instead, you and the boys conversed about more mundane topics: the fact salmon was on the menu twice this week, university exams, Semi’s most recent fashion purchase. By the time everyone finished their food, the canteen was nearly empty.

“Oh, oh! Look!” Tendou called out, waving to you and the rest of the boys to join him at the window. ”Snow! Lots and lots of it!”

Semi, not really understanding what Tendou was so excited about, kept himself seated and yawned into his hand. “Yeah…?”

“C’mon, let’s go outside and check it out!”

“Uh, no? It’s cold out and we still have to wash off all the sweat from practice,” Semi said. His muscles were exhausted and he was craving a hot bath. “We should start heading out–”

“[Name]!” Tendou interrupted, hopping beside you. He figured it would be more difficult to persuade the other guys to join him and chose you as his victim instead. “Wanna check it out? Just for a minute?”

Knowing Tendou, he probably wouldn’t back down until he got someone to join him. You took a moment to ponder and, after a few seconds, finally gave in.

“A minute wouldn’t hurt,” you said, standing up from your seat. It would be best if you went since the other guys were worn out from playing all afternoon. “I can check out the snow with you, Tendou.”

At your willingness, he let out a cheer and began to drag you over to the main doors leading outside. The rest of the third years, though relieved, did have some reservations on Tendou keeping you away from your studies.

“Oi, Tendou,” Semi called out. “Don’t keep [Name] out too long.”

The rest of the boys nodded in unison, but were too tired to add in their own input. They were aware that you were most likely going to be hitting the books as soon as you got back to your dorm.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back in a jiffy!” Tendou reassured with a playful wink. “Semi-Semi, try not to get jealous!”

Said boy turned red in the face at the elementary taunt.

“Jealous of what!” he barked back.

Choosing not to instigate any further, Tendou simply laughed at how easy it was to rile up his friend. As he continued to pull you towards the exit, you could only roll your eyes at his rather childish behavior.

“Was that really necessary?”

“Yup! Sure is!” he replied as he continued to chuckle about Semi’s reaction.

He pushed open the door leading outside and a rush of cold air kissed your cheeks, sending a shiver down your spine at the sudden temperature drop. Tendou let go of your arm and skipped over to the concrete sidewalk to bask in the snowfall. You followed after him with careful steps as you acclimated yourself to the chilly weather.

As the seconds passed, the snow began to pile up on the ground. Tendou, still enjoying himself, had his hands outstretched to the sky and was collecting all of the snow in his palms. When he had a good amount, he tossed it back up and watched the flakes fall like confetti. He was acting as if he had never seen snow in his life.

A feeling of mischief tickled you. Without wasting any time, you decided to silently form a snowball with swift hands. Opportunities like this were too rare to pass up on.

“Tendou,” you called out, keeping your ammunition hidden behind your back. “Look at the snow over here, it’s really piling up!”

He turned his head in your direction and put his arms down. Fast on his feet, he started walking towards you.

“What? What? Did’ja find–”

You didn’t give him the opportunity to finish his question. Once he was close enough to ensure you’d get him, you quickly reeled your arm back and made your shot. Your aim was rather precise and you ended up hitting him dead center in the forehead.

“Yeouch!”

Tendou fell to his knees and pressed the palms of his hands against his forehead. You let out a victorious laugh, but then stopped when you saw he wasn't getting up. His body trembled and he let out an anguished groan. It seemed that the snowball you had thrown packed quite the punch. 

With haste, you rushed to his side and kneeled down next to him to get a better look at his face. His hands were still covering the affected area and, with the lack of lighting from being outside, made it difficult to see the damage.

“H-Hey, are you okay?” you started. With gentle hands, you tried to pry his palms off his forehead. “Can you let me check your forehead? If it’s really bad, we can go to the infirmary and–”

Unexpectedly, he moved his hands to reveal his unscathed face as if he was playing peek-a-boo, causing you to flinch and nearly fall back onto the sidewalk.

“Just kidding!” he declared with hearty laughter following behind. “Wow, I really got ya good!”

You gave him the stink eye as you got back up to your feet. “Tendou! I thought I accidentally hurt you!”

Tendou, still chuckling at his antics, sprang up and shook the snow off his hair like a dog. 

“Gonna have to do a lot more than that to get a scratch on me!” He playfully tapped right where you had hit him with the snowball. “Besides, you didn’t pack that ball too hard! If it was Wakatoshi on the other hand…”

You both kept quiet at the thought of Ushijima in a snowball fight and shivered. It was a lethal combination.

“If you’re fine, then we should go inside,” you proposed, holding a hand out to collect the falling snow. “We’ve been outside for a while and it’s pretty cold. I mean, your nose is as red as your hair now.”

Tendou let out a whine. “Can’t we stay out for a little while more?”

You opened your mouth to object, however, before you got the chance to utter another word, he grabbed you by the sleeve and pulled you over to a nearby bench. He brushed the snow off of it and then sat down, patting the empty space as an invitation. You let out a small sigh and entertained his wishes once more.

Even though he wanted to stay out longer, Tendou kept quiet. The snow continued to fall, slowing down compared to before.

“It’s pretty,” you spoke first.

Tendou let out a hum in agreement. “Sure is.”

No additional tease or joke or regular Tendou remark that would rile you up. It was quite the contrast from how he usually acted. Was he starting to feel the exhaustion from practice? Or perhaps his lips had frozen from being outside for too long? His silence was unnerving and, for a moment, you thought about getting up and dragging him back inside by the ear.

“Hey, can you promise me somethin’?” he said, turning to you. His eyes were sharp and showed no hint of tiredness.

“Hm?”

He took a moment to think of the right words, wondering if he should instead brush off his initial thought and instead say a dumb juvenile joke. When he didn’t speak, you leaned in closer to get a better look at him. His brows were furrowed together and he was fiddling with his thumbs.

“...Tendou?”

“Don’t study too much.”

“What?”

“When you’re in Tohoku,” he explained. “You know, I think you’ll just throw yourself into your books without us around! You’ll stay in the library all day and forget to eat lunch and then you’ll think ‘Crap! Well, I’ll just get a protein bar and some vitamins, and I’ll be okay!’ which is really, really, really bad for ya!”

He brought his hands to his mouth and huffed hot air into them. The tips of his fingers were red and there was a noticeable tremble.

(Was it from the cold? His nerves? You couldn’t tell.)

“Tendou, why are you telling me this?”

He ignored your question and kept at it with his lecturing, “And don’t just ignore our text messages! You know… we won’t be able to see each other every day, so when I send a super funny picture, you should laugh and say ‘Wow, Satori! That’s sooooooo funny!’ and… and we’ll talk and meet up with everyone else during your breaks! Wakatoshi already told me he’ll give me his offseason schedule, so it shouldn’t be too hard to plan something together with everyone!”

He took in a deep breath and brought his hands back to his mouth to warm them up. When you were sure he finished what he had to say, you spoke up.

“I’m not going to disappear as soon as we graduate. We’ll still be friends.”

A pause. The snow continued to fall, slowly piling the white onto your lap.

“...I know.”

“So… stop acting like we’ll never see each other again once we get our diplomas.”

He let out a small sigh.

“Do you promise then?”

You allowed a small laugh to escape your lips. He was worked up over nothing.

“Okay. I promise.”

A smile spread across his face and then he clapped his hands. The verbal confirmation was more than enough to appease him.

“Tendou, I think you should be the last person lecturing me on this Earth,” you mumbled out. “Do you even know what you’re going to do after this?”

He titled his head, confused as to what you were asking. “Hm?”

“After we graduate,” you continued. “You know... Ushijima is going to play in the professional Div.1 league… Oohira and Yamagata have already been scouted to play in the university circuit… And then Semi and I are going to university, but all you’ve told me is that you’re going to stop playing volleyball.”

Tendou tapped on his chin and stared at the sky as if it had all the answers he was looking for. You kept silent, waiting—wondering—what he was going to say next.

(And boy, was his answer surprising.)

“I dunno!”

You nearly face-planted into the snow in disappointment. “What! You know you can’t just keep pushing this off now! In a couple months we’ll be going our separate ways and—”

“Sometimes you don’t need a step-by-step plan for a happy life,” he interrupted. His tone was more quiet, his words taken with great consideration as he started to play with the snow at his feet. “I just… do things that I like. I like playing volleyball here, but I know I won’t like it when I play in a university, so I’m not going to do that.”

“But—”

“Ah, ah,” he clicked his tongue and wagged his finger like a disapproving mother, “you gotta do things that make you happy. Things that make you feel good. Things that make you free. At least that’s how I want to live. You don’t have to go from page one to two to three all the time… Sometimes you can just skip around to the chapters you like the most and then settle down later.”

For a moment, you were speechless. Skipping around and doing whatever… It was such a Tendou thing to say.

“Alright… then what’s something you want to do that makes you happy?”

Again, he stared thoughtfully at the sky before answering. 

“Maybe I’ll go to Paris.”

“Paris?” you repeated. “As in Paris, France?”

“Yep!” he replied with great enthusiasm. “I’ve seen lots of videos of the city online! Tsutomu even sent me some of those vlogs with people walking around as they filmed their trip. Yanno, I think I’d fit in great with the Parisians.”

You laughed into your hand. He could be so outlandish at points. “Do you even know any French?”

“Adieu.”

You frowned. “That’s just goodbye.”

“I know, but I’ll learn more from the natives.”

“Here’s one: ‘merci.’ It means ‘thank you.’ I think that’ll be important to know.”

“Merci,” he said in an exaggerated accent, digging back deep in his throat to pronounce the “r” sound correctly.

“You’re a natural.”

“See? I told you. I’m pretty good with my wits. When we meet each other after my trip in Paris, I’ll totally be fluent. And I’ll teach ya lots of new words and bring tons of souvenirs!”

“Uh huh.”

“I’ll make sure to send lots of pictures of myself in front of the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre and—oh! You know they have Disneyland in Paris?”

“…No, I didn’t.”

“Well, they do!” he continued. He started to speak faster. “I’ll go there and tell you allllllllll about it. It’s probably really different from Disneyland in Japan. I mean, besides the language. I’ll make a video of it for you if ya want! Have you ever been to Disneyland Japan before? Maybe I’ll bring back those light up mouse ears for you. And I’ll get a matching one too. Matching things are cute, right? Think Wakatoshi would want one—”

“Tendou,” you interrupted. He was talking a mile a minute and you knew he needed a voice of reason.

His eyes were glassy and he tried to blink it away. Still, he looked in your direction and you stared back, commanding his attention.

You gave him a smile. “I hope you have a lot of fun in Paris, okay?”

(Nothing’s going to change between us.)

His shoulders stiffened and the bottom of his lip quivered slightly. In an effort to hide his emotions, he coughed into his hand and turned back to face the snowfall in front of you two. These last few years were too short for Tendou, had gone by in the blink of an eye and he wanted so badly to cherish what was left before it finally slipped away. All the tournaments, all the bus rides, all the after-practice shenanigans, all his friends—he was going to miss it. 

Have a lot of fun. Your words replayed in his mind like the toll of a bell at midnight.

(Have fun with us. Have fun without us. Even if we don’t see each other every day, we’ll still be friends.)

Then, he threw his head back and laughed. Loudly. With any reservations. Like he realized how ridiculous his insecurities were. 

(There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll still be here for you. That’s what friends are for, right?)

“You got it. I expect you to be up early in the morning when I send you my pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower!”

At this, you brought your hands to your mouth and huffed hot air to warm your fingers. Tendou hummed and did the same. The snow continued to pile up as you sat comfortably together, a silence shared in solace.

“I will.”

EXTRA:

Your time outside lasted much longer than the minute Tendou promised, but you didn’t complain. It had been a while since you last got the opportunity to stay out late and not stress about the next problem set in your practice workbooks. 

Arriving back to the canteen, you found it empty save for one person. Ushijima sat by himself, his eyes shut and arms crossed in front of his chest. A pang of guilt hit you; how long had he been waiting? When he heard your footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes and stretched his body.

“That… was over a minute,” he said, slowly getting out of his seat.

Tendou raised a brow. “Oh? You’ve never been one to count down the time, Wakatoshi!”

“Yes, well, it’s rather cold outside,” he replied, still nonchalant. “We were worried. I had let the others know that I would stay back to check up on you two.”

“Thank you, Ushijima,” you said, earnest. He nodded in your direction. It seemed that he was more awake now than before, but you didn’t want to have him wait around any longer. “I know it’s late, so let’s split up here and get back to our dorms.” 

“It’s okay,” he said. “We can walk you back to yours.”

“Eh? Wakatoshi, y’know the girls’ dorm is all the way on the other side of campus!” 

Ushijima turned to Tendou and blinked. He didn't understand what the problem was. Not in the mood to fight for the cause, Tendou shrugged his shoulders in acceptance.

“Alright, I guess we can enjoy the snow a bit more on our walk.” The thought of snow reminded him of your recent conversation, causing Tendou to perk up. “Yanno, we were just talking about you!”

At this, Ushijima hummed, seemingly more interested in what he had to say. He pushed open the door leading outside and the winter weather nipped your skin once more.

“About?”

“Curious?” Tendou teased. With the exception of volleyball, Ushijima showing interest in something (someone?) was quite the rarity.

Ushijima nodded his head.

“We were just talking about our plans after we graduate,” you chimed in. “University… Travel… We’re all focusing on different things.”

Small puffs escaped your lips as you spoke. It was cold, but the bitter chill wasn’t enough to cut this evening's walk short. Tendou seemed to think the same. He wasn’t the least bit bothered by the temperature drop and instead rounded an arm over Ushijima’s shoulders as he spoke flamboyantly.

“Yup-yup! So, Wakatoshi, lemme tell you some of the things I wanna do when I land in Paris…”

Amidst the snowfall, Ushijima walked alongside you and listened to Tendou as he spoke excitedly about his plans for the near future.

Chapter Text

There was a nervous murmur mixed with the February chill this morning. You brought your hands to your lips, huffing hot air into them to maintain your temperature. Even with the heat, your fingers trembled.

The day was much colder than you had originally anticipated for the later morning hour, the chill of last night’s freeze still present and sending a shiver down your spine. It felt as if your feet were frozen in place as you stood on unfamiliar grounds.

A full week had already passed since taking the entrance exams for Tohoku University. Standing on your dream campus, you and other hopeful students were gathered at the main announcement boards. The typical posters of clubs, events and tutor requests were replaced by large sheets containing tester ID’s of those who were accepted for the upcoming Spring semester.

You rubbed your hands together and pressed them against your chest. Warmth. That was what you needed in this moment.

There was no stopping the anxiety from tickling your bones. Afterall, your future was right in front of you. The results of the past three years were determined if your applicant ID was printed out for display.

Please… Please be there.

All your time, all your sacrifices, all your effort… you wanted so badly to make sure they weren’t wasted.

You took a step forward and then stopped.

Wasted? Would the past three years have been a waste if you weren’t accepted in Tohoku?

It was a question you never considered until this moment. Perhaps you could have studied more if you had quit managing the club during your third year. You knew that you indulged in the boys’ antics more than you would vocally admit, but maybe you should have focused more on yourself and university prep. Life would have been much more different if you did.

Different. The word echoed once more. Was something different what you wanted?

If things were different, you wouldn’t have followed a simple whim; you wouldn’t have spent countless hours in the gymnasium doing arduous chores; you wouldn’t have experienced the bright lights of the national stage; you… wouldn’t have made so many memories that you now hold close to your heart.

And, most of all, if you had chosen a different path, you wouldn’t have met your best friends.

The fear that had paralyzed you before dissipated.

(Even if you didn’t make it the first time around, these past three years weren’t wasted. There were no regrets to be had. And maybe that was the most important thing to remember: enjoying life and having fun is not a sin.)

Squeezing through the crowd of students, you tried to find a spot suitable to view the board up close. You scanned through the numerous tester ID’s and held your breath.

This row should be it. My ID should be in this section…

A rush of emotions deluged you. You could only stare at the printed letters and numbers with bated breath.

Where is it?

The text seemed to blur together. You blinked in succession in an effort to keep calm, but it was difficult not to panic.

Is…that…?

You shut your eyes for a second and took in a deep breath. A moment of clarity. That was what you needed.

Again, you scanned the row, slower this time, and then focused on a single line.

Ah.

There.

That’s it.

It had taken time, but you found it. Right in the middle of the page, in the most unassuming text that seemed to blend together if you stared too long, was your tester ID.

Acceptance.

Tohoku was no longer just a dream, but your reality in the near future.

The weight of expectation lifted off your shoulders. Every step you took afterwards was as light as air. This moment was too surreal.

When you were finally away from the crowd, back in the open space of the campus courtyard, your phone began to ring. You pulled it out of your pocket and checked the caller ID. It was hard not to chuckle when you saw who it was.

Of course he’s the one calling.

You brought the phone up to your face.

“Hello?”

“Helloooooooooooooooo!”

He was loud and, had you not been in a shell shocked state, you would have reprimanded him. Instead, you shook your head and maintained a smile.

“Tendou? Everything okay? Do you need help with something?”

“Hm, not really!” he replied. He was quite chipper. “Just felt like calling!”

“Really?”

“Really.” He hummed on his side. “By the way, did you check on your exam results? How’d ya do?”

“You remembered? I’m surprised,” you joked. “I thought you’d be more excited about that new chapter for Two Piece.”

“Duh! Of course I remember!” Tendou sounded quite offended that you would think otherwise. “Just because a new arc is starting doesn’t mean I’ll forget everything else! Sure, I didn’t notice Taichi’s haircut the other day, but just because that happened doesn’t mean I’m not sharp. Yanno…”

Tendou chatted up a storm on the other line. Again, you bubbled with laughter.

“I did see my results,” you said, interrupting Tendou’s tangent.

“Oh, oh! And? Are you in…?”

You held back from responding for a moment and smiled to yourself. The anticipation was killing Tendou as he hummed an upbeat melody in waiting.

“I’ll be going to Tohoku starting the spring semester.”

A pause. Then, a loud cheer from the other side nearly blew out your ear. It almost sounded like he was right next to you.

“Wooooooooooo-hoooooooooooooooooooooo! ”

You held your phone away from your face for a few seconds to ensure you wouldn’t need a hearing aid for the upcoming school year. Before you got the chance to speak again into the phone, that same voice could be heard from behind.

“Yoo-hooooooo! Guess who! ”

There was no need for guessing as only one person could be so boisterous in public. You pocketed your phone and turned around.

Much to your surprise, it wasn’t only Tendou, but rather all the boys of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball club stood together, everyone wearing clothes suitable for the winter weather. They waved to you, some sending smiles while others cupped their hands in front of their mouths to yell out their congratulations. Never had you been happier to see your friends than now.

“You guys!” you exclaimed. It was hard to hide the elation in your voice. “What’re you all doing here?”

“To celebrate, duh!” Tendou was quick to answer as he jumped to your side and grabbed onto your shoulders. “C’mon, we all knew you were gonna make it!”

The rest of the guys joined in on the conversation as well, everyone wearing smiles for the occasion. Had they planned to meet you afterwards this entire time?

“Yeah, let’s go out to eat to celebrate!” Yamagata grinned as he spoke. “And besides, we owe you for earlier in the year too when you helped us out with covering for yakiniku!”

Semi grimaced. “Oi, why’re you bringing that up? That was your fault.”

“Hey, it could have been avoided if one of us had brought our wallet!”

“What? Why would someone else have to bring their wallet? You were the one who was supposed to be paying!”

Semi and Yamagata continued to bicker, arguing about whose fault it was for the yakiniku incident. As they kept at it, Oohira maintained his maturity and reminded them they were in public.

Instead of scolding them, you laughed into the back of your hand. You were in too good of a mood to let anything bother you today.

“So I’m not paying today?” you teased. “That’s what I’m hearing from you two, right?”

They turned red in the face, causing you and the rest of the guys to chuckle as they mumbled out in agreement.

“Alright,” you nodded as you spoke. An aura of delight seemed to emit off of you. “Since we have something to celebrate, let’s go out to eat together. Did you guys already decide where?”

“We figured sukiyaki would be good since it’s cold outside,” Shirabu answered. From the corner of your eye, you swore you saw Kawanishi perk up. “Ushijima was able to get a reservation from a place nearby campus.”

The thought of sukiyaki made your mouth water. Now was a much more appropriate season to eat it compared to the most recent summer when your friends had come over unexpectedly.

“Sukiyaki sounds great,” you agreed. “Should we get going now? I’ll let you guys lead the–”

“Hold on a second!” Tendou waved his hands in front of your face to direct your attention to him. “Wait a minute! Our little Tsutomu has something to say!”

It was then that you noticed Goshiki had been much quieter than usual as he stood close to Oohira. His hands were behind his back and he fidgeted from side to side.

“I… um… I really…” His words were spoken so softly you found it hard to hear him.

“Huh?”

Goshiki shook his head and shut his eyes. His face was a blaring red.

“I-I… really… C-Congratulations on your acceptance!” He shoved a bouquet of flowers into your hands, a few petals fluttering down from the sudden movement. “W-We knew you could do it!”

You stared at the flowers he had given to you. It was a beautiful arrangement with pink chrysanthemums as the focal point. He must have gone out of his way to find a specialty boutique to make it.

“Goshiki…” You were at a loss for words. The gesture touched your heart to know he thought so highly of you. “Thank you for going out of your way for me.”

A cool breeze blew through the campus and this pushed Goshiki to have the courage to open his eyes and look at your face. He could feel the heat rising once more when he noticed Tendou raise a brow at him from behind you.

C’mon, is that really all you wanna say? We literally rehearsed this like a thousand times! This is the best chance you’ll ever get to ask!

“I, um… I also…!” All attention was on Goshiki as he stuttered. Everything that came out of his mouth was incoherent.

“Goshiki, are you okay…?” you took a step forward and put a hand on his forehead. “Oh my God! You’re burning up! Did you get sick from waiting out in the cold? How long have you been–”

He flinched at your touch. “N-No, I’m fine! I really… I also wanted to say…”

You continued to focus all your attention on him, expectantly waiting for him to finish. There was obvious concern written on your face as you leaned in closer to see if there was any hint of illness.

Goshiki took a deep breath and, with great resolve, looked you in the eyes once more. His fingers twitched and he felt a tickle in his throat that made it hard for him to speak. He parted his lips in an effort to finally confess, but the heartfelt words he had been harboring for so long stuck on his tongue like cement.

He didn’t know why he was hesitating so much right now. Tendou had already coached him plenty of times on how this moment should have played out, but, with you standing in front of him, he completely blanked out.

Perhaps he looked like a fool right now—no, he was sure he looked like one… but you didn’t treat him as such and continued to give him your full attention. Like always.

From day one, you had always been there for him. Always, always, always. Ever since he joined the team, he had always admired the way you looked after everyone; always appreciated the way you took charge and made sure everyone was included; always loved the way you made him feel special.

Special. The word rang in his thoughts once more. You had always made him feel special.

Goshiki took a quick glance at the other students nearby and then at the flowers in your arms.

This was a special moment for you. Your special moment that you had been working tirelessly for.

He didn’t want to be selfish and take it away.

Goshiki’s shoulders relaxed, wholly committed to what he was about to say. He knew that he probably wouldn’t have another opportunity like this, but he decided that didn’t matter. What truly mattered right now was you and your success–nothing else.

“We knew you could do it,” he finally settled on saying. “You’ve… You’ve done so much for us, and I think giving this to you is the least we can do. So… Thank you.” He paused and tilted his head forward in respect. “We’ll really miss you when you’re in Tohoku.”

Everyone was hushed, even Tendou who had originally given an additional push for his junior to be brave kept his lips zipped.

You could tell Goshiki wanted to say something else, but you chose not to pry. As Goshiki raised his head back up, you couldn’t help but notice that he seemed a bit more… mature. Was it because he grew an inch this year? Or maybe it was the fact he wasn’t wearing his school uniform?

You couldn’t quite put your finger on it. Though, what you could tell at this moment was that he was not the same boy from the beginning of the school year.

“Goshiki, you’re making it sound like this is goodbye,” you joked, but your features remained soft. “I mean, I’ll still stop by when my schedule allows me to… As long as you guys are okay with it!”

Goshiki gave a somber smile and nodded. Although the weather was frigid, he always felt warm whenever he looked at you. And right now, that was more than enough for him.

“Yes, please visit us.”

As the one standing closest to Goshiki, Oohira was the first to comfort him. He gave him a pat on the shoulder and smiled with his eyes.

You did the right thing.

Goshiki said nothing else, instead choosing to cast his gaze to the side and nod. The other older boys were quick to jump in to offer their own gestures of support, feeling sympathetic for the youngest in the group.

Closer to where you stood, Kawanishi, spoke up to lighten the mood, “Well, if you stop by, then be sure to tape his fingers.” He held up a hand and wiggled his fingers. “I guess you can tape ours too if you visit.”

You laughed at this, remembering that one conversation you had with him so many months ago on the beach. The other boys seemed to also think this was humorous and added in their own input.

Well, all except one. An ominous aura could be seen projecting out of Shirabu as he narrowed his eyes at Goshiki.

You’ve had an entire year to talk to her and the best you can manage is that? Are you serious? You can’t even talk to a girl and here you are declaring you’ll be a better ace than Ushijima. Don’t talk so much if your actions can’t back it up, kid. You aren’t even half the man Ushijima is, so don’t make yourself out to be all high and mighty. Seriously, your ego knows no bounds! I ought–!

“Alright, that’s enough,” Semi pat Shirabu’s shoulder to get him to stop glaring at the first year. “Man! If looks could kill then you would have sent poor Tsutomu ten feet under already.”

Shirabu didn’t say anything back to Semi. He instead chose to turn his head to the side so that he was no longer looking at Goshiki.

Rude brat! So you think you’re better than me because you got to set to Ushijima for a couple of matches, huh? Hah! I ought to show you some manners before I leave, kid! I’ll make sure you–!

In a similar fashion from a mere minute ago, Oohira put a hand on Semi’s shoulder to bring him back down to earth.

“Alright, I think you should take your own advice…”

Tensions eased as chatter continued within the group. Tendou, the one who had originally called upon everyone’s attention, cleared his throat.

“Sooooooo, should we get going now?” He jumped beside Ushijima and grabbed onto his shoulder. “Let’s have our Miracle Boy Wakatoshi lead the way for us! ‘Sides, he’s the one who knows the directions to the place.”

“W-Wait!” you called out for Tendou to stop. All the other boys also turned and stared, wondering what you had to say.

“Hm? What is it? Did you already have something else planned?” Tendou asked, blinking rather owlishly.

“No, it’s not that… I was…” It was a difficult question to ask, even after knowing your acceptance. The rest of the group seemed to be more intrigued with what was on your mind as you struggled with phrasing.

“I was wondering…” You tilted your head and tried to make sense of the boys’ appearance. It seemed that they had been waiting here on the campus to surprise you. “What if I didn’t make it to Tohoku? Would you guys have gone back home and left me alone?”

“We knew you would make it,” Ushijima answered first. He said it so confidently, not allowing for even the thought of doubt to slip in. “You studied hard. This is only a byproduct.”

Your breath hitched in your throat as you soaked in what he said. The memory of that one night after practice when Tendou wanted to go to the convenience store together popped back into your mind. He had said something very similar.

You held the bouquet closer to your chest and smiled.

It was nice to know they believed in you.

Spring was a season of new beginnings.

Outside of the school’s auditorium, you played with the flower pinned on the lapel of your blazer. The ceremony for graduation had already concluded and most of the third years in the courtyard were congregated in their own groups, showing off their diplomas and having fun in their last moments as high schoolers.

You stared at them and then at the diploma in your hands. It was light. Something about it didn’t feel real. You gripped the canister and let out a small sigh.

These past three years had gone by too fast for your liking. Soon, everyone would go their separate ways. It was a harsh reality, but you couldn’t help but wonder how different things would be after today.

(You would all still be friends, right? It hurt to think of a reality where you all weren’t.)

“Boo!”

You yelped at the sudden whisper in your ear. There was only one person who would do such a thing to you.

“Tendou!” you yelled out while turning around. There stood the perpetrator along with the rest of your friends. They too were also sporting the pinned flowers on their blazers save for your juniors. “Don’t scare me like that!”

He threw his head back and laughed at your attempt to chide him, not really caring. Beside him, the more mature boys of the team gave an apologetic gaze your way.

“C’mon, loosen up!” Tendou started as he shook your shoulders. Your head swung back and forth as he moved you around. “You’re already out and free. Let’s have some fun!”

You slapped his hands away to get him to stop. When he let go, the world stopped spinning and you crossed your arms in front of your chest, diploma sticking out ready to whack him if he tried anything again.

“Don’t mind him,” Semi spoke up, shooting you a grin. “You know he’s in an extra good mood today since he never has to touch a physics textbook again.”

“Or maybe he’s happy that he never has to do service drills as soon as he steps off campus!” Yamagata added.

“Hey, yanno I’m a little sad too!” Tendou butted in, letting out a small “Hmph!” as he turned his head the other way with dramatic flair. “We’re never going to get to play butts up together again!”

You rolled your eyes at the mention of the idiotic game. Standing beside you, Oohira let out a chuckle.

“Well… truth be told, I’m surprised you didn’t cry, Tendou,” he said. “I really thought that you would cry before Goshiki.”

As if on cue, Goshiki sniffled and rubbed his sleeve against his face at the mention of his name. He had started crying as soon as he saw you and the rest of the retired seniors walking up to the stage to get your diplomas.

Tendou blanched and pointed a finger at himself. “Me? Why would’ja think that!”

“You do seem like the type,” Shirabu added, choosing not to elaborate.

Kawanishi nodded. He figured that Tendou would think crying at his graduation ceremony was something the “main character” does in all the manga he reads.

“What’s that mean, Kenjirou?” Tendou squinted his eyes and, much to their dismay, began to interrogate the second years. “You too, Taichi! Don’t act so sly!”

A short game of cat and mouse ensued between Tendou and the second years. Semi, quick to get annoyed, told Tendou to knock it off, but this only caused a new argument to blossom while Oohira acted as mediator. Still teary eyed, Goshiki was being comforted by Yamagata while Shirabu and Kawanish tried their best to keep out of Tendou’s line of sight.

The boys were a complete mess. You chose to take a step back and stood beside Ushijima as he watched from a comfortable distance.

“They’re such a handful,” you said first. He seemed to think the same as he let out a small chuckle.

“Yes, they are.” He paused. “But I don’t mind.”

Neither do I.

You held back on saying your initial thought and instead nodded along. It was nice to be around Ushijima. Whenever chaos ensued with the rest of the group, he was always the one who maintained his composure.

He was a pillar of stability. For his team, his friends, and especially for yourself.

You had always admired that about him.

“Our time together went by faster than I would have liked,” you instead said, not wanting the conversation to end. “It feels like yesterday when I first walked into the main gymnasium… Do you remember that day?”

Ushijima tilted his head slightly upward, reminiscent. “I remember. Tendou said you were going to be our manager, but you didn’t look very sure about it when I first saw you.”

You laughed into the back of your hand. Sometimes it felt like he knew you better than anyone else.

“You’re right. I wasn’t sure. I mean, volleyball wasn’t something that interested me very much at the time.”

“And now?” he asked. “How do you feel about it now?”

All your memories from the past year flashed in your mind. The good, the bad, and everything in-between—they were irreplaceable.

You grinned at him. “It’s exciting.”

A simple answer. Nevertheless, it was easy to tell that Ushijima was pleased with your response. It was subtle, but his face brightened.

“I’m glad you think that.”

There was another comfortable lull in the conversation as you both stood side-by-side. Fortuitously, your knuckles brushed against his, causing a jolt of electricity to course through your body. It was a voltage of courage that was much needed for you to be brave in this moment.

You took a deep breath. It was now or never.

“Ushijima?”

He tore his gaze away from his friends and underclassmen as he turned to face you.

“Hm?”

Eye contact with him made you falter for a second, but you decided to stand up a bit straighter, holding your ground.

“Can I ask you something?”

He could tell what you had to say was important, so he chose not to question it. “Of course.”

“I…I know you’ve been scouted for a handful of teams already, but…” you trailed off, finding it difficult to say the words that have lingered in your heart for some time. “...I wanted to let you know that it doesn’t matter if you end up far away from Sendai, I’ll make sure to come to your games. All of them.”

You paused, clearing your throat in an attempt to quell the butterflies threatening to spill out of your stomach. Ushijima knew you had more to say, so he remained quiet.

(He didn’t mind being patient. When it came to you, he was fine with waiting. After all, that was what he had been doing for quite some time.)

“So… make sure to invite me to every single one, okay?”

(“This is my confession to you.”)

A breeze mingled with the branches of the nearby blossoming trees, allowing for the petals to make their descent. Even with all the commotion of classmates and friends crying out their farewells, the world seemed to shrink–everything and everyone turning insignificant outside of this conversation with Ushijima.

Time slowed as you waited for him to respond. Your heart felt like it was going to burst out of your ribcage.

(…

…

…)

A genuine smile graced his features. Nothing too overbearing or forced or out of the ordinary–it was a smile that you knew came naturally for him.

“I would like that.”

(“And I gladly accept.”)

Processing his words took only a second. Heat rushed to your face and, as the wind blew once more, you felt as if your body was light enough to be carried away with the rest of the sakura blossoms that littered the pavement.

You were unsure what to even say or do in the moment. Your mind was scrambling to think of something to say–something to do because what was the correct response for this situation?

Unlike you, there was no indication of panic on Ushijima’s side. He was quick to sense your nerves taking over and raised his hand up to you, his pinky pointed out in your direction.

You paused your short-circuiting to stare.

“If I tell you when and where,” he began, his hand still waiting for yours. “I hope you’ll come and watch me.”

His message was simple: there was no need to complicate moments like these. Something as straightforward as a pinky promise still had the weight to mean the world to you.

It was hard to look him in the eyes, but you managed to lightly hook your pinky onto his. The modest touch of skin was enough to make your body heat up like a supernova as you kept your mouth shut, only nodding in response.

(“I promise I will.”)

“Hey, Wakatoshi! [Name]!” Tendou called out, breaking your attention away from Ushijima as you quickly brought your hand back to your side. “What’re you two doing all the way over there? Come join the fun!”

Yamagata waved, beckoning both you and Ushijima to the group. The others were now smiling from the festivities–nobody knew what had just transpired.

You shared a look with Ushijima.

Keep this between us?

He nodded. This silent oath was one you held close to your heart.

“C’mooooooooooon you guys! Quick dilly-dallying!” Tendou yelled out again, this time loud enough so that other students could hear him. “We still got loads of pictures to take together!”

You rolled your eyes at him. He could be quite bossy when he wanted to.

“Just give us a second, Tendou!” you shouted back.

Tendou raised a brow at your attitude. What were you being so prickly about? Did he miss something important between you and Ushijima?

“You two better not be doing something weird!” Again, Tendou was airing out your business so that the rest of the student body could hear. Even though you wouldn’t have to see most of your classmates again after today, that feeling of embarrassment still bubbled with every taunt.

“Tendou!”

He gasped. His guess was (once again) spot on. “Oh~! You two totally were up to something! Don’t leave us hanging!”

You didn’t say anything back and instead chose to menacingly make your way over to him. Even though he loved to provoke you, Tendou wasn’t keen on you beating him up in the courtyard. He swiftly hid behind Oohira as you raised your diploma like a weapon.

“Tendou, quit hiding behind Oohira!”

“Whoa, no need to get so angry! I’m just kidding~!” he cried out. There was a mix of laughter with his words, but he still cowered. “G-Guys, help me!”

Since Oohira was Tendou’s shield, he actively tried to act as a peace envoy. He petitioned that, in the name of friendship, you two make quick amends. Meanwhile, Semi and Yamagata instead chose to ignore their friend’s pleas and brought over Ushijima as they figured Tendou would still want pictures with everyone. Goshiki kept to the side and was of no help as he continued to rub the tears out of his eyes while Shirabu and Kawanishi were stuck trying to console him so that he wouldn’t end up so snotty for the group pictures.

It was complete and utter chaos from the volleyball club.

But, unlike all the other times the boys found themselves in trouble, you were at the very center of it all.

“Alright, alright! Fine! I’ll let you get one good hit in!” Tendou quickly gave up trying to avoid punishment when he saw you weren’t backing down. He crouched just enough so that you had a clear view of the top of his head. “I’ll give you one good shot to do whatever you want…”

You raised your diploma above your head in one smooth motion. All the times Tendou stirred a ruckus in the past three years flashed in your mind like a silent horror movie. He was loud, disruptive, and at points seemingly untamable…

But… at the same time, he was always vibrant. He loved to tease and joke with his friends, and, although he relished toeing on it, he never crossed any lines.

Without Tendou, these past few years wouldn’t have been so fun.

He was the heart of the team.

You chose to restrain yourself, the original anger you held subsided, and instead lightly tapped him. Afterall, you’d never truly hurt him. Friends don’t intentionally hurt each other. Spared from your initial wrath, he instantly stood up straight and grinned.

“Happy now?” he asked.

You smiled back at him. “Very.”

Pleased with your answer, Tendou immediately hopped around Oohira and began to act as boisterous as ever. He sought out a new target (Shirabu) and started riling him up. The rest of the group chuckled and joined in on the merriment.

They were loud and brash and sometimes immature at points–like all teenage boys were–but right now you chose to yield. The teary eyes, the laughter without reservation, the silent observers… you couldn’t help but revel in this instance that could never be imitated.

The wind blew once more and tickled your cheek, pushing you to remember this day. A secret vow, the sweet scent of pollen, and the bonds of friendship that sprouted from a simple whim surrounded you.

You promised to hold them all close for years to come.