Chapter Text
Inter Junior school tournament - finals
"Cho! One more!" The setter shouts, catching the attention of a brunette with a wild ponytail who looked to be in a focus zone so deep there may be no pulling her out. The ball is passed to her, ready for her shot and she receives it without even looking, having an instinct for this. They are in the finals for the tournament against Chieidoriyama junior girls team and if they succeed they will hit nationals. This is set point, if she can get the ball into their court with enough speed and power they will win. 'The key to success it hitting hard enough that you break through any block and destroy any counter.' Her father's words echo in her mind as she zeros in on the other side of the net, jumps to shoot and puts as much power behind the ball as she can.
Time slows as she watches the ball fly, steady and solid as it clears the net. She's ready to watch it drop when the libero for the other team tries to intercept but the ball it is moving too fast, unwavering as it connects with the girls cheek and all in sickening slow motion there is a crunch as her neck is snapped...the ball hitting too hard.
The crowd goes silent as the girl drops dead weight...her body thunking as she hits the court. Cho stares...unblinking at the girl as she truly comes to terms with the horrible ability she possesses.
She had become a monster
Most of the noise turned to static in her ears as court officials, medical and the other team all rush to try and save the girl, a fruitless endeavour because just ten minutes later the match is called off, Cho's team disqualified and the authorities calling it an accident and no official arrest made.
'Cho Udai banned from competing in the female side of Volleyball! Udai Family curse strikes again?'
Her father's anger is unmatched as he locks her in her room, she heard the whispers...felt the stares and internalised the guilt. What had she done...
1 Year Later
Cho was in Karasuno's smaller gymnasium after hours, having watched the new boy's team from afar and admiring the new first years Kageyama and Hinata play. She took a breath, steadied the ball and took her shot, clearing the other side of the gym as it bounced off the wall. Cho panted heavily, she'd been at this hours but she couldn't falter...years of her father's training drilled into her very core. She grabbed another ball from the basket and repeated a few more times until a clap could be heard from the doorway. Cho stopped, scared she may be told off for practicing without a team. "I must admit that is some shot you are making." Cho looked at the new coach for the boys team Ukai and raised her eyebrow "I'm sorry sensei, I can leave if you need the gymnasium." Ukai raised his hand "Are you on the female team here?" Cho shook her head "No sensei...I'm not allowed to compete in the female side of volleyball." And with that she put the balls back and bowed to Coach Ukai. "What is your name?" Ukai asked before she could run off. Cho sighed "Cho Udai sensei...you have probably heard of my brother Tenma...the Little Giant." And with that she sprinted away, putting her speed training to use .
Ukai looked at the now empty gymnasium dumbfounded, Tenma had a sister? Since when? He glanced at the wall where the girl...no Cho's serves were hitting and whistled, that was a brilliant distance. He turned to leave, removing his phone from his pocket as he decided to call his friend on the sports board for more information. The phone answered a moment later "Kei, why the call so late?" Ukai sighed, the nickname never leaving his "Tenya I need information on a female player...her name is Cho Udai." Tanya hummed as the keyboard could be heard "Udai...Udai...ah here we go! Cho Udai, attended Chieidoriyama Junior and had made it to nationals twice...was about to make it in her third and final year when...oh gods Kei." Ukai huffed "Spit it out Tenya." There was a nervous noise down the phone as he continued "She killed a played by accident, it was match point as she served far too hard and this caused the libero to suffer a broken neck. The girl was dead instantly. There was no official arrest as it was deemed an accident but she's banned from the female side of the sport." Ukai hummed, a power player...with some training and refinement she could be useful. "But she can still participate in the male side?" Tenya laughed "Are you serious? No girl has ever entered the male side of the sport...they'd be severely outmatched." Ukai huffed "Humour me." Tenya typed more and made a nervous noise "There is a note that says may be suitable for male side but unlikely due to bias." Ukai smiled, they had a chance. "Thanks Tenya, I owe you." And with that he ended the call and rushed back into the gymnasium to begin planning. He had to convince Cho to join.
Cho was again in the gymnasium after hours, focusing on her jump float serves...her ace in the hole as it was known. Her stance never faltered, but it also didn't change from her normal serves, throwing off the opponents. She sported a bruise on her upper arm, her father's grip tight as he punished her last night. She'd forgotten to serve tea to him first and caused his temper to blow. "Miss Udai, late training once more?" Cho sighed and looked at Coach Ukai "Evening sensei, I cannot miss a day of training...its how you loose abilities." Ukai sat on the side lines and brought out a clipboard "You can continue, I just need five minutes of silence to set up this whiteboard for the next training session." Cho shook her head and continued her jump floats, not really caring who was watching. She hit a couple more before Ukai spoke again "No...that won't work..." Cho looked over "What is the issue sensei?" Ukai looked up "Oh nothing really, just having a few issues trying to get our ace and setter in the right swing." Cho hummed and nodded "Try trust falls, in practice they make it so the ones not setting have to have faith in them and the setters learn to help others." Ukai hummed and made a note, it may work. "You seem to know how to help..." Cho took a break, leaning against the wall as she took a drink "My father made sure I could do any part in a sports team...be that manager, player, coach. I just can't play at the moment." Ukai hummed "I was on a team with your brother, how is he these days?" Cho huffed and smiled "He plays for the Olympic team, he is their ace. He's barely home anymore." Ukai huffed and chuckled "Of course he got the position." Cho nodded and looked down at her red arms.
Ukai put the clipboard down "Cho I want you to join the boy's team. I can give a trail session and see how the team works but...I can see the passion for volleyball still in your eyes." Cho slumped as she looked down at her shoes "Sensei with all due respect you wouldn't want me if you knew what I had done." Ukai sighed "I know, I rung a friend after I spoke to you and I learned what happened. We can help with the control and to be fair men are more robust..." Cho flicked the hair tie on her wrist against her skin, a coping method for her nervousness and hummed "My father hated I couldn't join any female teams...it may make him happy I join but I'm scared. What if I hurt another again? What if I let the monster out and hurt them?" Ukai watched her, wondering what had been drilled into her head for this kind of behaviour. He felt some level of sympathy, parents who had failed in their own sports careers and pushed that onto their children were the worst. "Cho...you will be fine, I will help as will the team and I promise you won't hurt another." Cho looked up, not sure of she could trust it but wanting so badly for a team to play with. "...okay, I will come to the trial." Ukai smiled and nodded "Tomorrow after lessons end. Come in gym uniform and if you feel comfortable enough I will see how I can shuffle the team." Cho got flustered "No please...I don't want to push anyone out..." Ukai chuckled "I will see how we best do this and will speak to the boys." Cho nodded and stood as Ukai did "Do you want me to toss a couple for you?" Cho beamed, not having anyone toss a ball to her for so long so she nodded and Ukai simply unzipped his jacket and grabbed a ball from the basket and took the setters position. It took a few tosses before they reached a rhythm and soon they were doing lots of different types of spikes as Cho enjoyed being able to do normal spikes again.
"Hey Cho...oh hey Kei." A voice called from the door and as both stopped Cho smiled "Hey big brother, didn't know you were picking me up tonight." Tenma stepped in the gym and smiled "Yup, I am home for a couple of days." Ukai chuckled "Hey Ten, how is the Olympic team treating you?" Tenma chuckled and clapped him on the back "It's brilliant! I heard you took over for your old man...raising the next crows." Ukai sighed "They have a persistent manager...I am happy to help them." Tenma smiled a she ruffled Cho's hair "You ready?" Cho nodded "Yeah I'm ready." Ukai threw the last ball into the basket "Dont forget the trial tomorrow." Cho nodded and she left with her brother who helped her into the car. "You are joining the boy's team?" Cho shrugged as Tenma started the car "I don't know...I am considering it." Tenma smiled "Good for you Cho, you will do amazing." Cho nodded and the drive home was quiet, each in their own worlds as Cho thought about tomorrow. This was her chance to be in an actual team again, her final year of Junior high not ending well, it may have only been six months but she missed it, the call of players and the rush of the game. She watched the dark night pass by the car window and bit her lip, she needed complete control...she wouldn't be the monster she once was.
Cho watched nervously from the door as her father emptied another cup of beer, this was his nightly routine from his office job. Masaru Udai had once been a semi pro volleyball player until an injury on court cost him his dream and career, now he worked for barely minimum wage and nothing but empty posters and a rotting trophy cabinet. His children had more success, Tenma having made it to the Olympics team...and his daughter a powerhouse with no team. Cho slipped in silently to the kitchen, beginning to prepare food when her father slurred "How was your useless day?" Cho bit her lip, she knew she would need to tell her father of her trial tomorrow but...what if she didnt get it? "It was okay, I practiced more after the teams had left, they seem good this year." Cho practically whispered as she prepared the simple dishes her grandmother had taught her before she passed.
Her father merely grunted and huffed "Useless wench, why did you have to go get yourself banned?! Couldn't even play Volleyball right." Cho felt her heart tighten, the image that haunted her dreams moving to the forefront of her mind as she cooked. She had remembered the looks her team gave her, the fear in their eyes as they saw her come back to herself. The sickly and cold girl lay on the court, blood dribbling from her mouth plagued her still. The rush of medics and the soft hand of the coach guiding her away from the scene. Cho shook her head, she had tortured herself nightly, no point in doing it whilst she was awake. She set the food down and knelt beside the table, waiting for her father to serve himself first before she touched anything. Her father had this rule since her mother died, she not being around to tell him otherwise.
SMASH!
A bottle collided with the side of her head as her father threw it, shocking her from her thoughts "Get me another bottle, useless child." Cho stood and moved to the fridge, paling as there was no more in there. "W-W-We dont have anymore...sir." Masaru glared at her, his anger reaching a boiling point as he moved with a swiftness he shouldn't have with injury and pinned her against the counter, her back arching as he almost forced her on top "Are you telling me we are out?" Cho whimpered, his quiet tone and almost calm facade was the worst, it meant he was truly annoyed. "Y-y-yes sir." Masaru took a deep breath and slammed his fist into her stomach, a couple of notes fluttered down the the floor from his grip "Then go get some more!" Cho wheezed as she doubled over, pain erupting throughout her body as her father lumbered back to his spot beside the TV, rewatching the recordings of his old matches.
Cho bent carefully, picking up the notes and moving to the door to grab her shoes. The shopkeepers in the area knew the booze wasn't for her so allowed her to buy it for her father. They had originally tried to refuse but when Cho returned two days later with bruises on her face and begging to be allowed word spread and soon she was given the alcohol without question. Some also placed medical supplies in with the booze too, to try and help with bruises or possible cuts. Cho was always grateful for the times they did this, always being able to have something was better than the infections and broken bones. Cho barely remembers a time when her father wasn't like this, having always lived with a monster. Her brother tells tales of a better time when their mother was alive, her voice and the care she would show for them both. She has only one memory of her mother and its a lullaby she used to sing to help her and her brother get to sleep.
Cho lays in bed later that night, her father still watching his re-runs but no longer needing her to do anything. She glances at the poster on the wall, her brother in his Olympic gear and stood smiling whilst posing. He has always been her idol, ever since they were young and playing Volleyball together. It's where she learnt to hit so hard, how to perfect her jump floats and she was his biggest supporter...just as he was hers. They had been to all of the games played by the other, shouted the loudest during chants and bought countless merch for the other. Volleyball was in their blood and the siblings always supported the other. Cho winced as she turned a little, her stomach hurting still from the punch she recieved and her body protesting her movement. Whilst not an unusual occurance it meant she would need to wear a skin fitting undershirt tomorrow whilst at the trial so no one would see.
A text popped on her phone screen moments later from Tenma:
'Knock it out of the park tomorrow little sis, I have faith in you.'
Cho chuckled and smiled, her brother always knew when she needed the last bit of courage. She would get on the team tomorrow and then tell her father. Hopefully then he would ease up. But that wasn't what excited her the most...she couldn't wait to play again.