I forgot to mention on the prologue: this story is in the same universe/story line as my other fanfic. So, at some point, Kuroo and Kohaku will appear in here! ;)
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : SOWLMATES
CHAPTER II : The Power (and Childishness) of the Ace
"Even in the familiar there can be surprise and wonder."
― Tierney Gearon
"The only thing money really buys?...Space. A bigger house, a bigger car, a larger hotel room. First-class plane tickets. But it doesn't even buy comfort. No one complains more than the rich and entitled. Comfort, security, ease. None of them come with money."
― Louise Penny, A Rule Against Murder
Kanemoto Ayaka was drawing absentmindedly when the seat next to her was taken. She didn't think twice about it until she heard a vaguely familiar voice.
"…Good morning."
She glanced up at the boy sitting next to her and blinked in disbelief. It was the stoic first-year from the volleyball team.
"Oh, good morning," she answered, "I-I'm sorry but… I don't remember your name quite well."
"My name is Akaashi Keiji," he said without looking annoyed by her lack of memory, "And you are Kanemoto Ayaka… right?"
"Yes," she nodded before closing her drawing book.
They fell into silence, waiting for their first class to start. She was surprised that of all people, she'd be in the same class as one of the other members of the volleyball team.
The day went by uneventful, people slowly getting to know each other in the new high-school.
"Ayaka-san!"
The dark-haired girl turned around and smiled when her Junior High-School's friend came closer:
"Ami-san! I haven't seen you this morning!"
"I saw you when the teacher called your name, I'm sitting at the far-back."
Furuda Ami had short, curly, light brown hair and big brown eyes. She was always joyful and positive and got along well with Ayaka because they were sharing the same love for art.
"Are you joining the art club this year too?" Ami asked curiously as they took their bento to go eat it somewhere else than the classroom.
"No, I'm joining the boys' volleyball team as a manager. And you?"
"Art! Always art!" Ami laughed before staring curiously at her friend, "But I'm surprised you joined the boys' volleyball team as a manager. You never liked sports much, what changed?"
"My parents, they wanted me to join a team as a manager. I chose volleyball because it's the sport I know best."
"Oh, I see… Are there any interesting members?"
Ayaka shrugged as the two girls sat on a bench, under a tree.
"I have no idea, I haven't seen any practice yet. They are incredibly loud, though…" She added with an annoyed expression.
"Boys are boys!" Ami answered with a chuckle.
At the end of the day, Ayaka stood up just before Akaashi Keiji. She glanced at him, wondering if she should propose to walk to the gymnasium together. She was starting to think it was best they'd go their own ways but… she would get lost another time. Fukurodani Academy was just too big…
"Akaashi-san," she called, making the boy look up, "I-I'm not sure I'll find the gymnasium on my own… do you mind if we walk there together?"
"All right," he agreed, standing up and taking his bag with him.
They excited the classroom after Ayaka had waved goodbye to Ami, then they walked in silence.
They crossed the courtyard then reached the changing-rooms. Akaashi went to the boys' room while Ayaka went into the girls' one. There was already the other manager of the team changing into her gym clothes.
"Ah, Ayaka-san, is it?" She asked with a somewhat lazy-looking smile.
"Y-yes," she answered hesitantly, "And you are?"
"Shirofuku Yukie, but you can call me Yukie."
"A-all right, Yukie-san…"
Ayaka changed clothes then headed out with Yukie, answering her questions and listening to her instructions.
"Have you ever been a manager?"
"No, never. But I do know a bit about volleyball."
"Good, don't hesitate to ask any question if you have any doubt. Your job will mostly consist of taking care of the boys. We'll help them during practice, sending balls, giving them water or towels. We will also write down what they're practicing in particular and their results."
"Sounds easy enough…"
"Yeah… Wait until you have to actually deal with them… they can be quite the pain." Yukie said with a tired look.
Immediately, Ayaka thought back to the over-excited, white and black-haired boy from the previous day. If he was always like that and was dragging the rest of the team in his craziness… she shivered just at the thought of it.
"Fukurodani has had pretty good results these last few years. We made it to nationals quite often." Yukie added as they entered the gymnasium.
"Last year too?" Ayaka asked curiously.
"Yes, mostly thanks to our Ace. He's particular, and pretty useless at times, but he can be good at what he does, most of the time…" Yukie sighed.
Ayaka had the bad feeling that the Ace was the over-excited one. But before she could ask his name, the (loud) team entered. They were wearing navy blue t-shirts and white shorts. They spotted the girls and saluted them excitedly before they started warming-up. Just as the day before, the white and black-haired one was talking loudly. He was the one most noticed with his unusual hair and kneepads – Ayaka had never seen thigh-high kneepads and it only increased the feeling that he looked familiar. Why it gave her the impression of a biology lesson, she couldn't tell, though…
The coach approached the girls and gave them directives:
"Yukie, you will guide Ayaka today. The two of you will mostly look at the new first-years and write down what they're capable of doing, their results, how they fit in with the rest of the teams."
"Yeees…" Yukie said with a lazy voice.
"Yes," Ayaka said with a firmer expression.
Once the boys were warmed up, they divided into several teams. The four new-years went into two different teams that would face each other later.
"Receive practice!" The coach announced.
Ayaka stood at a side of the court as the boys started throwing balls and receiving them, more or less well. She was watching Akaashi and Kaba. They didn't have much trouble for receiving, but Kaba did lose the ball once and didn't throw the ball towards the setter's location as well as Akaashi would.
"Spiking practice!"
Ayaka slowly became used once again to the sounds of volleyball: the shoes screeching against the floor, the balls hitting forearms, the shouts of encouragement and the alluring sound of the ball hitting the ball on the other side of the net.
"I'm pumped up! Akaashi! Send me a good toss!" The white and black-haired one exclaimed.
Ayaka watched Akaashi being a setter, not far away from her.
"Yes," he answered calmly to the excited boy.
The ball was received perfectly then flew high towards the setter. Suddenly, an arrow of blue and white ran past Ayaka, making her hair fly. She followed with her gaze as Akaashi tossed to this strange specimen of human being. He jumped high and flew his arm down with a shout. Before she knew it, the ball was hitting the ground on the other side of the net, it had been a perfect spike.
He landed on the ground then grinned upon seeing where his ball had landed. Many had stopped to watch him and even Akaashi looked impressed by the second-year's power.
"W-wow…" Ayaka whispered to herself.
"Hey, hey HEY! How was it?! This perfect spike!" He exclaimed, throwing his fists in the air.
"Good job!" Another second-year exclaimed from somewhere in the gymnasium.
"Akaashi! Did you see?! How was it?!" He asked, throwing an arm around his kouhai who blinked, startled.
"Yes, it was very impressive, Bokuto-san…" He answered, nodding lightly.
"Hey, hey! I'm not Fukurodani's Ace for nothing!" Bokuto exclaimed with a loud, proud laugh.
Still impressed by his power, Ayaka realized without much surprise that the over-excited boy was the Ace. He had the aura of confidence coming off Aces… and he definitely had the power, this last spike she had witnessed was proof of that.
"Ah, but your toss was great too! It was so easy to spike!" Bokuto exclaimed, tapping strongly Akaashi's back.
"T-thanks…" He answered, trying not to cough after the quite violent tap in his back.
Ayaka looked down at her paper, writing down the Ace's result.
So, his name is 'Bokuto'… She thought to herself, her pencil slowing down. Wait… Bokuto… Bo-ku-to…
She glanced back at the boy then her eyes widened and her pencil stopped. His spiky, strange, white and black hair, his eyebrows going up despite the law of gravity, his big, round eyes and the high kneepads…
"Oh."
She knew what he reminded her of.
Somehow, everyone on this side of the court heard her and turned to the girl.
"An owl," she said, clacking her fingers, staring right at Bokuto.
"Uh?" He hesitated, not understanding what she was talking about.
"You look like an owl, I couldn't tell what you reminded me off. It's an owl." She explained.
Akaashi and the other first-year glanced at Bokuto, then if Akaashi remained unimpressed, Kaba laughed, trying to hide it with his hand. Immediately, Bokuto reacted, pointing his finger at the first-year with an insulted expression:
"OI! Don't laugh! This is the look I want! I'm glad someone thought I looked like an owl!" He exclaimed, hands on his hips as he lifted up his chin proudly.
"Why would he go for such a stupid look?" Ayaka asked out-loud, a deadpanned expression on her face.
Bokuto gasped dramatically as everyone chuckled this time. The owl-like boy turned towards the girl with a betrayed expression, taking a step back.
"S-stupid…?!" He hissed, paling.
"Oh dear. Did I say that out-loud?" Ayaka continued, looking slightly embarrassed.
Bokuto made a screeching sound while the rest of the players around couldn't hold back their laugh anymore, hitting their knees and holding their stomachs.
"That's so great! Someone finally said it!" A second-year exclaimed, tears of laugh in his eyes.
"And she didn't even mean to!" Another added.
"W-wait…!" Bokuto tried, blushing in embarrassment that his team would laugh about him, "Eh! I'd let you know! My name is BOKUTO! Bo-ku-to! And I'm FUKURODANI's Ace! The Ace! Owls flow in my veins, it was my destiny to become the Ace!"
"I wouldn't call it destiny," Akaashi commented calmly despite the few chuckles he had previously hid behind his hand.
"It IS destiny!" Bokuto exclaimed dramatically, pouting and clenching his fists childishly, "My look is really cool!" He added grumpily.
"It's lame!" Someone replied with a laugh.
"Raaah! It's enough! I won't play anymore!" Bokuto exclaimed, turning around and crossing his arms over his chest like a child.
The rest of the team, after having had its good laugh, calmed down and watched their Ace pouting. Most sighed but as the seconds ticked by and he didn't flinch, the first-years realized with dread that he was serious…
How old is he…?! Ayaka thought to herself, feeling a little guilty considering it was her comment that had driven him to pout in a corner.
"Aaaah… Only the second day and Emo Bokuto is already there…" Monkey-face sighed, a hand on his hip.
"Excuse-me… but is he always like that?" Akaashi asked hesitantly, making sure that the main subject of the conversation wouldn't hear him.
The second and third-years all sighed in perfect harmony.
"Unfortunately… The slightest thing can change his mood radically and he usually ends up in what we call the 'Emo Bokuto' state. He pouts like a child and behaves like a difficult toddler. The only thing that can make him feel better are compliments…"
"Like a pet, then?" Ayaka said.
Once again the boys chuckled at her truthful statement. She flushed, realizing she had talked out-loud once again without wanting to. She covered her mouth in embarrassment and glanced at Bokuto.
"Watch and learn, our new little manager," the undercut guy from the previous day said, "Waaah, what a look, though! Only the ACE could rock it!" He exclaimed half-heartedly, loud enough for Bokuto to hear.
Bokuto kept his back turned from the group but his head tilted slightly on a side, his ear having caught the word 'Ace' and 'rock'.
"Are they serious…?" Akaashi muttered to himself, standing next to Ayaka, as astonished by the scene as the girl.
"Come on, you triggered it, compliment him too!" The monkey-boy whispered to the young girl, elbowing her lightly.
"A-ah… Uuuh… W-what a spike it was… So powerful a-and only on the second day of practice… w-waah… And with a setter he didn't know… waaah…" She said with a weak voice.
Still, Bokuto heard and turned slightly his head, glancing at his teammates from over his shoulder, still pouting.
"That's the Ace for you…!" The libero exclaimed.
"And what an Ace!" Another said.
They stared at Bokuto as slowly, he let his arms fall down at his sides then very dramatically, turned around, his joyful expression back on his face.
"Hey hey HEY! I ain't the Ace for nothing! I'm the best!" He exclaimed, laughing.
"Yaaay, the Ace!" The second-years said together with a sigh.
I cannot believe it… He really is an idiot! Ayaka thought, her hand grasping tightly her pen.
Now that the Ace was functional again, the practice match happened without more trouble, the first-years showing their skills. The most impressive one was Akaashi who, as setter, had a perfect form and could even toss difficult balls. Bokuto and the other wing-spikers all complimented him on his skills – or rather, they complimented him and Bokuto shouted how much he loved Akaashi's easy tosses.
"They feel very good in the hand! Spiking with you as a setter is great! Good job today, Akeshi!" Bokuto exclaimed, tapping his back.
"My name is Akaashi."
"Yes, yes! That's what I said! Akagshi!"
Akaashi narrowed his eyes at the Ace but didn't reply.
"When excited, Bokuto has a tendency of messing up with names and words," Yukie whispered to Ayaka at the end of practice while the boys were stretching.
"…You were right when you said that the Ace was a pain…" She murmured with an annoyed look on his face.
Yukie seemed surprised by the shy-looking girl's words who immediately felt guilty for saying such a thing about a senpai and Fukurodani's Ace – for better or worse… Before she could apologize, though, Yukie laughed and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I like your honesty, Ayaka-chan!" She exclaimed.
The coach came and took the girls' notes of the day. He nodded with a smile, reading mostly the youngest girl's ones.
"Good notes, I see you don't seem to have much trouble with the manager job. It had to be expected from you, after all…" He said, making the girl flush.
"Uh? Why? Did you play volleyball, Aya-chan?" Bokuto asked from behind her, scaring her.
"When did you arrive here?!" She exclaimed, jumping away from him before frowning, "…What did you just call me…?"
"Aya-chan."
"My name is Kanemoto."
"I know."
"Then call me Kanemoto! Not my first-name!" She exclaimed, starting to lose patience.
He seemed surprised then shrugged.
"You still didn't answer my question. How come you know so much about volleyball? You don't look like you practice any sports," he added, looking her up and down.
Aware of her lack of a fit form, the girl looked away. It was the coach who answered for Bokuto:
"Her name is Kanemoto," he said.
"Yes, yes, I got it, her name is Kanemoto. What does that have to do with volleyball?"
Several players who were around and the coach all looked at their Ace with a tired expression. Kanemoto sighed, somehow glad that the Ace was so dense…
"The Kanemoto family owns the Mikasa and Ics' companies," Coach Yamiji said.
Bokuto blinked, the information slowly going into his brain, then realization hit him. He jumped away from Ayaka, pointing a finger at her and screaming.
"Wait wait WAIT! Mikasa and Ics?! As in volleyball's Mikasa and… and…?!"
He pulled at his t-shirt where the Ics' logo was standing, then looked up at the black-haired girl who sighed.
"Yes, Mikasa, Ics. All the sports' companies of Japan." She answered with a shrug, "For every sports, not just volleyball."
"Then why did you choose volleyball of all sports?" Yukie asked curiously.
"Mhm… It's the sport I know best. One of my elder brother… he was Fukurodani's Ace two years ago."
"The Ace?!" Bokuto shouted but everyone ignored him.
"I remember Kanemoto-kun very well," the coach said with a nod, "A brilliant player, one of the best Ace we had. We went to nationals for the three years he was there. What happened then is very sad for him…" He added to Ayaka who looked away with a hesitant expression.
If Bokuto was about to shout that he would be a better Ace than her brother, but stopped when he noticed the dim expression on her face. What had Coach Yamiji meant by 'what happened is very sad'?
"All right, practice is over! Good job today, the team is promising with our new additions!" Yamiji said, making everyone go.
Some glanced at the first-years players but their gazes lingered on Ayaka who was painfully aware of the attention they were now giving her. Most already knew about the Kanemoto family, and her brother, but still… They had the daughter of the most powerful sports companies' director among them. It was promising, indeed…
They all went away to change clothes, Bokuto staying close to Akaashi who just couldn't understand why the second-year was staying glued to him.
"Nee, nee, Akaashi! Did you know about Kanemoto-chan?" He asked, walking around the setter.
"I knew about her family, yes."
"Then what happened to her brother the Ace?" Bokuto continued.
Akaashi looked up at the spiker, the rest of the boys turning around as well while changing to listen to their conversation.
"I'm surprised you never heard about the Kanemoto family or even the Kanemoto Ace…" Akaashi remarked.
"Why? Was he that great this Ace?"
"Some say he was the best Ace Fukurodani ever had," Washio answered, putting on his t-shirt.
"The best?!" Bokuto exclaimed with a strangled, impressed voice.
"He was already known in his high-school years, but it's after that the name spread. 'The fallen Ace' he was called, if I remember well…" Sarukui continued.
"Did he get hurt?"
Several looked at each other before Sarukui looked back at his friend, shrugging.
"No one knows what happened. He fell into drugs and alcohol in his first-year of college to the point that he couldn't play anymore. His level fell and it made the Kanemoto family known for more than just owning so many companies."
"'The Kanemoto ruin', he is called now… Well, it might just be the whole family, when you see their daughter…" The current Captain of the team, Suda Kenji, said putting on his t-shirt.
"What's wrong with Kanemoto-chan?" Bokuto asked, clueless.
Several boys chuckled and shrugged.
"Have you looked at her? It's obvious she doesn't practice any sports. You'd expect a girl born in such a family to know how lucky she is!"
"She's plain-looking as well. And I thought it would be great to have another manager…" Another complained.
Bokuto tilted his head on a side before shrugging and changing from his gym clothes.
In the girls' changing room, they were chatting quietly before heading out of the changing-room, done much faster than the boys and advancing towards the high-school entrance.
"What's with Bokuto-san's owl wanted-look?" Ayaka finally asked Yukie.
"Aaah, that…" She sighed before explaining, "Last year, someone told him he looked like an owl. It was a joke but it somehow triggered something in him when he realized that his name and the Academy's name were owl-themed. He dyed his hair, started spiking it up the way he does now and the owl became his spirit animal."
Ayaka tried to imagine him with only black hair but it was impossible. Somehow, after only one day, his face and huge smile were already burnt into her memory. And his voice… he was screaming so loudly, constantly, that even now she still felt like hearing him…
"Hey! Girls!"
Yukie and Ayaka turned around just before arriving at the entrance and saw the boys in their uniforms waving at them.
"Suda is buying us taiyaki! You're coming?" Komi exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Only one?" Yukie screamed back.
"One per person!" Suda shouted, shaking slightly his head.
Yukie moaned in disappointment. Ayaka looked at the entrance and saw a car waiting for her. A long, black limousine. So discreet…
"Sorry, I can't today," She said to the rest of the team.
"All right, get home safely," Suda answered.
She bowed lightly to say goodbye before turning around.
"I doubt she'll have any trouble getting home safely…" A third-year snickered in her back.
Ayaka ignored him and entered the car. The driver didn't say a thing, only acknowledged her presence before starting driving.
Bokuto and Akaashi looked at the expensive-looking car going off while another third-year was sighing, hands behind his neck.
"Look at that rich Kanemoto girl…" He said, making the others smile and chuckle.
Bokuto isn't easy to write, it's hard to describe his constant state of excitement, so I hope I did an okay job...
Thank you for reading! Don't hesitate to tell me what you think!
Yours Truly,
May
