I could hear Kindaichi asking Aiko about the practice match that was scheduled for today from all the way across the room. He's so desperate for her attention, but it was obvious that she had a thing for Kunimi. Standing from my chair, I checked my phone for any new emails about rehearsals tonight. It seems that it's been canceled due to the director being delayed on his flight back to Japan. This school had to have good connections to get this director to come help with our school production. Kindaichi called out from over at Aiko's desk. "Mirai, are you coming? Your tyrant boyfriend will be there."

With a big smile, I nodded my head. "Since rehearsals have been rescheduled, of course I'll be going to support Tobio." It irritates me that he still thinks of Tobio like that. It's because of his passion for his sport that made him act the way he did. Slowly, it seems being at Karasuno has changed him from the way he was in middle school.

"Way to show some school spirit," he threw back at me.

Aiko grabbed his sleeve. "Kindaichi, don't start a fight with Mirai, okay?" Her big yellow eyes pleaded with him. She's very different from Toru. Aiko was a little dense sometimes, but she had a good heart. Her hair was lighter than her sibling's and cut into a bob this year. Both Kora and Toru had darker brown hair. She also ran a vlog channel, having over half a million subscribers. To be honest, I'm not sure what she vlogs about, but it must be something interesting.

Kindaichi's cheeks flushed red and he nodded at her without any words. He's like a loyal little puppy and she doesn't even acknowledge it. I stood from my chair, picking up my school bag. "I didn't come to Aoba Johsai to support the sports team. I only came for the theatre program." It's rated one of the top schools in the country. The teacher is even a retired actor, who was a big deal back in his day.

Before he could throw out another snide remark, I exited the classroom to find a quiet place to study. It would be a little while before the practice match. There's a spot behind the school that overlooks the town and has a tree that gives a lot of shade. Not many students knew about it, so I used it as a place to film videos, study, and rehearse lines. The weather is great today. Perfect sitting out here and to get some work done.

School is boring. All these lessons mean nothing to me. My future lies in musical theater and I have jobs being offered to me a lot. Mostly out of courtesy of who my father is, Casmir Necci. He's a renowned director and author of theatre productions in both Italy, his home nation, and Japan. My mother had also been an acclaimed actress here in Japan, but she moved on to work in America in films. I rarely saw her after the divorce when I was 3 years old, and now, she's remarried with kids of her own with some American actor.

Pulling out the script for the audition I had this weekend, I sighed, highlighting things that I needed to remember to practice. The songs were pretty easy to memorize as well. For whatever reason, this play had captured my heart, and I wanted nothing more than to play the lead. Singing some of the lines out loud, I looked up at the sound of someone approaching. "Hajime."

He was in his volleyball uniform, hands in the pockets of his shorts. "There you are. Aiko said that Kindaichi and you almost had it out in the classroom." He sat next to me under the tree.

"She's exaggerating, as always. Nothing happened," I replied, checking my phone again for any new messages. Aiko has a bad habit of running to her brother and Hajime any time Kindaichi and I argue. She can't handle conflict.

Hajime leaned back against the trunk of the tree. "You're worried about tomorrow, aren't you? Your audition? Has your dad called you?"

I shook my head and stared at my script. "He's just busy." Always busy. Never home. Typically, he stayed out of town because Miyagi didn't have a great theatre space, not like Tokyo, where he had an apartment. Something about his muse worked better in that setting.

Hajime and I had been cousins for six years when my father married his aunt, but like all my dad's relationships, it had ended in a horrible divorce and he'd moved on to some new woman. I loved my father, and he inspired me to work hard to become a professional theatre actress, but his escapades with women had taken a toll. Every few months, he'd introduce me to a new woman, sure that she was the one, and then after some time he'd throw out some half-assed excuse as to why they hadn't worked out. Despite that, the Iwaizumi family had kept their ties with me, choosing to overlook my father's transgressions and allowing me to remain as part of their family, which I will eternally be grateful for.

He smacked the back of my head lightly. "Don't worry about him," he smiled at me as a rubbed the spot he'd hit. "You're going to do great, and when it's over tomorrow, I'll come over and we can eat dinner together." He's always coming over, so I can cook for him, because he's not good at it.

I laughed all the same, grateful that he'd lifted my mood. "Sounds like a great idea. Thanks for coming out here." He's probably supposed to be warming up for the practice game.

"You going to stay here a little longer?" He asked.

With a nod, I replied, "Just to read over some scenes, no more moping, I promise." I felt much better about the audition tomorrow. Getting the lead role in this show would mean the world to me. I have to work hard to do the best I can tomorrow.

Time went by so quickly, I realized the practice match would have already begun. Stuffing all my belongings into my bag, I ran down the hill and into the building until I reached the stairs to the top of the gym. I don't have enough stamina to run up these. Sports have never been my thing. Like I'd thought, the game had already begun. The first set almost over. Stopping beside Aiko, I dropped my bag. "How's everyone doing?"

Aiko had her eyes on Kunimi, and she sighed dreamily. "He's amazing, as always." When I laughed, she snapped her attention to me. "S-sorry, Mirai. I meant they're all doing well. Obviously. I'm not biased toward any one-"

"You don't have to hide your obsession with Kunimi from me, Aiko. I've known for a while." Searching the court, my eyes landed on Tobio, wearing the number 4 jersey. His eyes met mine for a few seconds and I gave a small wave. "He seems angrier than normal."

"That's because their number five has been messing up so much. More so than it seems possible. He even knocked the ref down a few minutes ago. Poor kid is so nervous," Aiko said.

Number five… "Uh!" I blinked. He's that kid from the middle school tournament. His team played Kitagawa Daiichi in the first round and lost by a lot. He's at Karasuno now? How strange. The boy/ went back to serve, shaking like a leaf. He seemed to be more confident back then. The ref blew the whistle and the orange haired boy jumped, simply whacking at the ball. My eyes grew wide as it's course wasn't high to make it over the net. Instead it whacked into the back of Tobio's head.

This is the same kid that told Tobio he'd defeat him?