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The first time they met was at the 2013 spring tournament.
Karasuno just finished their match with Inarizaki. While checking her belongings before leaving, Yachi realized she had forgotten her bag, so she went back to get it. She accidentally bumped into a certain school fan on the way out. At first, that person looked annoyed, but when he saw her, his expression gradually changed to interest. He started flirting with her. When they found themselves in a desolate place, things only grew worse, and he insisted despite her courteous refusal.
"Dude, when a girl says 'No', you should respect her and not try to push the limit."
She was approached by a tall, somewhat gentle-looking guy with curling light brown hair and matching eyes.
He frowned in discomfort, intending to tell the interrupter to go away, but was frightened by the guy's scary gaze, so he had to leave, mumbling, "Whatever, she hasn't looked that pretty anyway."
While waiting for that rude guy to disappear from sight, his eyes softened. He looked at her and smiled reassuringly.
"Are you okay?"
Returning to her benefactor, she quickly bowed her head in thanks.
"I'm fine. Thank you very much."
"It's okay, but next time, go with your friends to be safe. This place is open to the public, so a lot of people come."
He advised seriously.
"Yes, I just went back to get my things and then left, so I didn't think about it. Thank you for reminding me." She scratched her head.
Suddenly, Yachi remembered that the whole team was waiting for her, so she said goodbye. She was about to leave when she realized this nice guy saved her from being kidnapped, organ-sold, or sold as a wife. Saying thank you is not enough. She immediately took a small bag of cookies from her pocket and gave it to him.
"This is..." The brown hair looked at her questioningly.
"This is a thank-you gift." The blonde explained. "The situation just now was extremely dangerous. Thanks to you, I'm alive. Please accept it."
Hirugami was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. This girl is interesting.
"You don't have to do that, but if you really want to repay me, thank you." He took the cookies's bag and smiled lightly. "Be careful when you get back."
They said goodbye, and Hirugami quickly put the cookie package in his bag. Before leaving, he also looked to see if she had joined her team before returning to his.
Now he noticed the line on her jacket. Karasuno? So, she's the manager of the Crow team. Because Korai and he focused on watching Karasuno and Inarizaki's match, they didn't pay attention to her.
At night, he finished showering first, so he went to the balcony to relax. Only then did he take out the cake package.
Matcha chocolate chip cookies. He looked at the cookie package in his hand. It didn't look much like store-bought cake. Does she make it herself?
It's not the type he likes or dislikes, so it's all fine. He took one and tried it.
"It doesn't taste bad at all." It wasn't exactly his favorite, so he thought it was okay—even quite delicious.
But eating alone like this is a bit guilty.
"Sachiro, what are you doing out there?"
Damn, just what I thought. He thought to himself. Hoshiumi came closer to see what his friend was secretly doing.
"Take this." He said, holding up the bag of cookies.
"I'm sorry, I don't want this." He said so, but his hand still reached in to take the cookie. "Did you buy it?"
"No, it's a thank you." Sachiro cracked the cookie into small pieces and put it in his mouth.
Hoshiumi stared at him. What does that mean?
The brown hair just smiled and continued to enjoy the snack.
The next day, Karasuno won against Nekoma and faced Kamomedai shortly after. Both teams put in 120% of their effort. The match was reaching its climax when the incident occurred.
Hinata Shoyo has a fever and must leave the court. She went with him to the hospital for a check-up. Since that moment, he has never seen her again.
Karasuno lost, and the whole team quickly left afterwards.
...
The second time they met was at the 2014 spring tournament.
Last year's interhigh, Karasuno lost to a team from the same prefecture, so they didn't have a chance to meet, not that he expected it or anything.
She hasn't changed too much. She's still petite but seems to have grown a little taller. Her blonde hair is longer and tied neatly, looking bolder than the shy little crow before.
Inarizaki and Karasuno face off again, but this time the Fox team gets revenge.
The crows still stayed to watch the next matches. Hirugami met her at the vending machine.
"Hello."
She greets, and the corners of her eyes are a little red.
"Hello, we meet again." He smiled. "What did you buy?"
"I'm going to buy some sweets for my team. How about you?"
"Well, I don't know yet. I actually wanted to find a gift to thank you."
"Thank me?" Yachi was confused.
"Because of last year's cookies's bag." He replied, followed by a few seconds of silence and an "ah" from her.
"How do you feel about it?" She asked.
"I think it's delicious; the taste is also unique. Do you like this type of cake?" He asked.
"No, I learned to make some snacks to bring to the club, so I started with matcha cookies." She said shyly. "I also like sweet things, but my favorite is fugashi."
"Is that so? My favorite dish is shumai." He replied as he put money into the machine and clicked to select something she didn't know.
He took out the cake package, took a note, wrote something, and then gave them both to her. "For you."
"This is..." She took it, looked at the note, and then at the cookie bag. White Chocolate Matcha Cookies.
"It's great to use fugashi as a gift, but you gave me a bag of matcha cookies, so it's only right to return the favor." He laughed. "There's a place that sells fugashi nearby; you can go there with everyone. I have to return to the team so I can only give you the address."
Hitoka looked at him, her eyes bright and extremely touched, smiling brightly.
"Thank you so much!"
He was stunned. Is she always this radiant?
Sachiro shook his head slightly. He has to return to the team now. He said goodbye to her and left, his mind a bit confused by what had just happened.
He suddenly realized that neither of them knew the other's name.
...
The third time they met was at Kageyama's birthday party in 2018.
Kageyama said that they could invite their teammates' acquaintances, so he was invited by both his brother and Korai, and he arranged his work to go with them. Kageyama's high school friends were also there, including him, of course.
At certain moments in the past few years, he forgot about her. Now that they have the opportunity to reunite, old feelings come rushing back.
They sat next to each other. During the whole chat with everyone, his eyes were always looking towards her. She now looks more free, confident, and beautiful than ever, like a goddess.
After everyone dispersed throughout the restaurant, she held out her hand and spoke up.
"I'm Yachi Hitoka. Long time no see. How have you been?"
"I'm fine; I hope you are too. I'm Hirugami Sachiro."
The two shook hands.
"You still remember my name; I'm very impressed." Yachi smiled.
"I'm sorry that I didn't know your name until now." Hirugami smiled lightly.
"Now you know." She replied playfully.
Everyone changes, but you still look as radiant as ever. He thought to himself.
They talked about their lives over the past few years, about high school, about his decision to stop playing volleyball to pursue another passion, about her hobby of drawing and designing, and about continuing to study in university while her friend became pro volleyball players.
"You know, I haven't told anyone about the cookies's bag between us except Kiyoko." The blonde propped her chin. "Karasuno's manager when I was in my first year," she added as the brunette tilted his head in confusion.
"Kiyoko also helped me with the cookie, so when she saw that I didn't have any after sharing the snacks with everyone, she offered to split it with me."
"I was afraid she would misunderstand that I was clumsy and dropped the cake, so I explained; she apologized for letting me go alone." Her cheeks were a little red. "But she teased me a little at the part where I gave you the cookie to lighten the mood."
"Do you want to know what Kiyoko said when I told you you gave me the cookie?"
Hitoka looked straight into his eyes.
Sachiro still listened to her without complaining that someone else knew about the secret between them; after all, that was the right thing to do.
Or so he thought.
"What did your senior say?"
Her eyes lit up, her cheeks turned red, and she looked so lovely.
"She said we're like two people who like each other, reciprocating each other's feelings."
He didn't expect that to be what the senior would say.
"I gave you cookies with brown chocolate, and a year later you gave me cookies with white chocolate. She said it was like, I gave you chocolate on Valentine's Day, and you reciprocated with white chocolate on White Valentine."
Sachiro has officially forgotten how to communicate.
Do we really look like that to her? I mean, I don't mind or anything. She's the kindest and sweetest person I've ever met. Wait, what am I thinking?
"She was quite surprised when we didn't have anything after that." She giggled.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was just staring at the girl in front of him.
Seeing the handsome guy looking at her endlessly, Hitoka suddenly realized something.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I accidentally drank too much and talked nonsense!" She patted her forehead a few times.
The words left his lips before he could think.
"I don't really mind that."
After that, there was a short silence.
"Yachi! Hirugami! Everyone is ready to go. Just karaoke, so will you two come with us?"
Hinata, with a red face from the alcohol, approached and interrupted the awkward atmosphere between them.
"Yes!"
Yachi laughed.
"I guess I can't go. I have to go back to work tomorrow; please forgive me."
Hirugami rubbed his neck and smiled.
"Don't worry, it's okay."
Hinata nodded. The difference in lives will be like that.
Her face flashed with disappointment, but she quickly hid it.
He told Korai and his brother that, and Korai's face looked clearly bored, but he still sympathized with his best friend.
"If you don't ask for that girl's contact address, you'll regret it later."
Sachiro opened his mouth.
"You know?!"
He was surprised.
"Of course, you've been looking at her for most of the time without realizing it. Actually, I could have asked Hinata, but I guess you want to take the initiative yourself."
"And I saw you giving snacks to someone in our last year, so there's no need to hide it. I can only say keep it up; we're rooting for you, and remember to be careful when you go back home."
Hoshiumi added, patting his shoulder before returning to his team.
Before leaving, Sachiro stuffed a business card into her hand.
"Let's contact when we have time, maybe chatting or going out for coffee sometime."
Hitoka looked at the business card in her hand, giggled, and took out her business card and gave it to him.
"Of course, but hot chocolate is great too; it's almost Christmas."
Is she asking me out for Christmas?
"That's a good idea."
"See you later; be careful when you return."
Hitoka waved to him.
On the way home, Sachiro kept thinking about her business card and her goodbye, the corner of his mouth forming a happy curve.
"I look forward to the next time."