This is my first Haikyuu fanfiction and it would mean a lot if you would review it even if it's just a short review. Thank you.
The beginning of the new school year was always full of gossiping about the events of the summer and happiness from being reunited with your friends after what seemed like forever. However, for Aiko, it was the total opposite.
Aiko stepped into the school terrified her legs might give way. She was a transfer student and this school was very different to her previous one. For one, she had not expected to be bombarded with clubs requesting her.
"Would you like to join art club?" a girl asked smiling brightly. Aiko stepped back becoming self conscious about how she looked in her brand new sailor uniform. Once she had tried to draw Dwayne Johnson and he had ended up looking like Patrick from Spongebob squarepants.
"No, thank you," Aiko declined politely.
To be honest, she was unsure of what club she was going to attend. In her old school, people were not as committed as they seemed to be here and only a minority attended school clubs. Aiko shook her head trying to shrug of that school after what had happened…
Despite being repeatedly asked if she wanted to join any clubs, she just shook her head and proceeded to her classroom firmly watching her map of the school. She could admit she was excited - she had opportunity to start over to not be like how she was at her previous school. As she walked in, she realised the teacher had already set out a seating plan which Aiko was relieved for since it did not mean standing around awkwardly searching for a free seat.
Just as she took her seat, the bell rang and a teacher strode in. She was attractive with brown, straight shoulder length hair and a vibrant smile.
"Konnichiwa, class five," she exclaimed - her tone enthusiastic. Aiko was happy that she had teacher who seemed more outgoing.
"Konnichiwa Hina Sensei," the class echoed loudly.
"I am Hina Sensei and I will be your form tutor," she announced. She turned to Aiko.
"I gather your the new student," she said. Aiko nodded confidently - she was no longer going to be the shy girl.
The teacher gestured to Aiko to greet herself. Aiko stood up and turned to the class. She thought about all the youtube videos she had watched to fix her Japanese accent and pronunciations.
'Remember eye contact,' she mentally told herself. Grinning, she looked at the class.
"Hey, I'm Aiko Minako," she announced looking around the class. Aiko desperately tried to think about what they did back in Hamley when a new student came. "And the three things I like are … photography, sports and …. memes,"
The class automatically smiled when she said the word 'meme' and suddenly Aiko did not feel so out of place.
"What school did you go to?" one girl whose makeup looked garish asked.
"Oldstead Girls School," Aiko replied. Some of the class was confused. Aiko could understand - how would they know about a school from England? When nobody else put their hands up, Aiko was not sure whether to bow like they did in animes so simply resumed to her seat.
Aiko could feel eyes on her. She did not look very Japanese and the class had guessed she was not.
Aiko glanced at her timetable: maths. On the outside Aiko looked annoyed and tired at this but inside, she was excited. Maths was her best subject and she could try and get on the good side with her teachers.
Aiko had heard that Japan had the ninth best education system and so had worked on her subjects for the last three months she had not gone to school in England. In the end, impressing the maths teacher wasn't that hard.
"I finished," she announced. The students stared at her in shock.
"Well done, you can do the next page now-"
"I already did that," Aiko replied.
The teacher took in Aiko's paper and seemed impressed when she had realised that Aiko had got it all correct. The teacher presented her with his top grade a level questions but Aiko had practised the techniques and had done them automatically.
"Are you thinking of studying mathematics at university level?" the teacher asked.
"No," Aiko shook her head.
"What a shame, you really could have got into a top university,"
Aiko knew she had probably busted her chances of attending any of the top universities after that final incident.
After break, they had P.E. The old Aiko would not have tried much yet the new Aiko was different. They had been playing football and the teacher had called Aiko to speak to him.
"Have you played football professionally before such as at prefecture level?" the teacher asked.
"No," Aiko said.
"You are a really good player especially your speed and interceptions," The teacher said. Aiko remembered the mornings and evenings before and after her independent studies when she would sprint and play sports to keep her mind of everything.
"I'd recommend you to come to sports club," the teacher said. Aiko's problems had been answered about which club she would attend.
"When do I come?" he asked.
"Today after school,"
The feeling of excitement that had filled her body until the very last second of school was replaced by dread and nervousness as she imagined how her teammates to be. AT Olstead girls, the sporty girls did not look very intimidating but in animes, the boys looked muscular. Aiko was muscular but not too much and she was worried she would come of as slight to her teammates.
However, when she opened the door, she was met with a couple of delicate girls who were not muscular at all. When they saw her, they glared at her. Aiko smiled a lopsided smile.
"Hi!" she exclaimed, "I'm Aiko Minamo and I will be joining sports club,"
Was it Aiko or did the gymnasium look run down and were there only four other people in the club? Were some people late?
"Coach said he'd be running late," a girl with brown hair said, "He told us to set up. We're doing volleyball."
The girls look at her before continuing to chatter. The girl walked to the store cupboard all by herself. Aiko wanted to shout at them to start setting up but she decided against it. She ran to the girl. She was petite and looked delicate.
"Hey," Aiko greeted.
"Hi," she said, "I'm Miko,"
"Who's the captain of the sports team?" Aiko asked.
"Currently, we don't have one," she said before looking down at the floor, "And we're not that good,"
Ten minutes later, the coach had arrived. He saw Aiko and nodded.
"Kanamako Sensei told me you were coming," he said, "I'm Coach Kettai.
Aiko nodded. The door opened and immediately the chatter stopped. A hazel eyed student walked in. Aiko could tell by his uniform he was older than them.
"Haruto-kun, we were just waiting for you," Kettei said.
"Sorry, Kettei-sensei" Haruto apologised. Aiko could hear some sighs. Haruto noticed Aiko was also there and nodded. Aiko smiled.
"We have been invited to a volleyball training camp during the half term for boys and girls," he announced, "It's pretty big since schools such as Shiratorizawa and Fukorodani are attending,"
Aiko was pretty excited. She had read volleyball magazines but then she remembered Miko's words: 'We're not that good,"
"Who wants to lead the warm up!" Kettei announced. Nobody responded. Aiko felt sympathetic towards the coach.
"I will," she said and Kettei looked at her walked to where Kettei had been surrounding. Aiko was no longer the quiet, timid girl.
"Everybody!" she said. Everybody stopped.
"Do a lap around the gym," she ordered leading the run. When the girls started walking, she would tell them to continue running.
"Okay, forward lunged left…. Right …. Now side lunches, left …. Right …. Shoulder posterior stretch …. Oh it's like this … left … right … quadriceps standing stretch … left … right and finally shoulder overhead stretch left … right - like this, Now jog lightly on the spot to keep you warmed up,"
The girls did this.
"Haruto-kun, can you lead the drills," Kettei said. The girls seemed to get excited.
"Okay, everybody line up," Haruto said as he fed the ball to each player who had to do a rolling receive - which Aiko had practised a lot of.
After this, all the girl gathered.
"We will be playing a three on ...two," Ketei announced looking around. … Kyota, Kesha and Fumishi on one team and Miko and Minamo on another,"
"But-" Miho began but the coach was stubborn. Aiko had saw Miko during the drills - she was a weak player but had determination - which was all Aiko needed.
"I can't set well - none of us can," Miko whispered to Aiko. Aiko nodded and smiled encouragingly, "Just do a toss like you're receiving and spike amazingly" Miko looked terrified at the prospect of the game. "I can't hit well," Aiko looked her firmly in the eyes and said, "We will win,"
Aiko looked at the other side, Kyota was starting off. As Kyota bounced the ball, Aiko looked at Miho who shuddered at every bounce and nodded. Kyota served and it was a powerful serve. Miho just stood there looking hopeless but Aiko ran to receive it. Miko did as she was told and tossed the ball. Aiko set the ball imaging the trajectory of Miko's jump and hit the ball and it went to the other court unreceived. The other side looked at them shocked. It was Miko's turn to serve and she smiled at the other team. Serving was the easiest way of getting points. She bounced the ball once before tossing it in the air and smacked it. The other team could not even move. Miko's mood had got considerably better.
"It seems we have a chance,"
Just before the end of practise, Kettei called the volleyball team together.
"After much discussion, me and Haruto-kun have decided that Aiko would be made captain," he looked at her, "If that's okay with you,"
"Yes,"Aiko grinned, "Thank you!"
As the team walked back, everybody was bombarding her with questions.
"What's your number?" Fumishi asked. Aiko read it out.
"I added you to the Sports club group chat," Fumishi exclaimed. Aiko remembered her old classes WhatsApp group chat.
"Have you played volleyball professionally," Fumishi asked.
"No," she said.
"How are you at other sports," she asked.
"I'm okay,"
"Do you think we can win against those powerhouse schools," Miko asked.
"We can but we need more practices," Aiko paused, "Coach said it was next half term - we still have two weeks, we can meet up on weekends,"
Kesha adjusted her straight blonde hair. "I can try," she muttered.
"We were bad but now we have a setter and an ace," Fumishi glanced at Aiko, "We have a chance,"
Kyota - a broad shouldered and the most muscular person in the team looked up. "Did you exactly set to where Miko would hit the ball,
"No," Aiko lied.
"That's what the coach and Haruto-san was saying,"
"That's so cool!" Miko exclaimed but Kyota simply watched Aiko. Aiko stopped herself from shrinking under her stare.
"So which school did you go to?" she asked.
"Oldstead girl's school," she answered.
"That's not in this prefecture is it?" she asked.
"No," Aiko replied.
"Why did you transfer?" Kyota asked.
Aiko went stiff.
"My dad was changed to another branch," Aiko lied. Could she possibly tell them that she had struck a teacher? Kyota said nothing.
"Hey, guys, we should meet up on Saturday!" Fumishi exclaimed, "As a greeting party for Minamo-san,"
"You've probably went to a lot of parties," Kesha said sarcastically.
"Well, I prefer parties where teenagers don't get drunk and end up doing drugs and … stuff," Aiko said, "You're probably familiar with those aren't you?" she asked with a smile. Aiko could see the colour rising to Keshas's face and Fumishi was stifling a laugh.
Aiko had never felt so excited. She had not been exceptionally popular at Oldstead and kept to herself but she was already invited to a party. Her life had changed and she was feeling she was making the best of this opportunity.