As Akaashi expected, [y/n] were also a volleyball genius like her brother. In just a few days of being on the volleyball girls club, she already has been making a name around the school.
Since becoming part of the girl's volleyball team, Akaashi rarely sees her. That gave him a relief but at the same time worry. Who knows what craziness she was doing now without him watching or to set her straight.
"Hey, Akaashi. I heard [y/n]-chan is a regular at the team now. Along with a first year setter." Sakai said one afternoon practice.
"That's Kawaguchi-san. Sakai-senpai." Mori Mikio, a first year libero said.
"Oh. You know him, Mori?" Sakai turned to the small libero.
Smiling, he nodded. "We both came from the same middle school. She was a very timid person but it was totally different when she was on the court." Mori said.
"Eh?! Is she gonna be okay? [y/n]-chan were quite handful and being the setter it means that she'll be working with her more than anyone."
Akaashi listened to the talk. Nope. Not good. He needed to do something with [y/n] and her new setter or else he won't be able to stop worrying.
"Anyway, Akaashi. I'm surprised you didn't know anything about [y/n]-chan before. I mean, you're pretty close with Bokuto-san, right? Didn't he mentioned anything about her to you, before?" Sakai asked. "And, Mori here said that [y/n] was quite popular as a volleyball player back at middle school."
"Bokuto-san mentioned her before. He also did asked me and the other third years to accompany him at one of his sister's inter high match. But coach Yamiji told us later on about the training camp. It happens that, the day we'll be leaving for the training was on the same day of [y/n]-san's tournament."
"Oh. I see. I think I remember that training camp now. Bokuto-san were so heartbroken and were being uncooperative that day." Sakai laughed as he remembered how angry the coach were.
"[y/n]-san's team lost at that time too." Mori said. " I heard she were lifelessly playing on the court, their coach were forced to put her on the bench. Maybe she was sad that her brother weren't there to watch."
Akaashi shook his head at how similar the siblings were. He has yet to meet the Bokuto's parents and now, he was wondering just how did their parents raised them to the point of becoming like those.
"I'll never understand the way their mind works."
Kawaguchi Chiemi sighed as she enter to the gym. All classes were done. As she looked up, she saw that she was the first one to arrive.
When she joined, she thought she will be on the bench considering that she was as first year. But apparently, the team's setter already graduates so the position were vacant. As it happens, she was the only setter among the first years who joined.
She was nervous of the upcoming interhigh. Sure she played at tournaments back at her middle school days but it was different this time. Her middle school team were average. Not too strong, not too weak. But now, she was on Fukurodani's team and what's more with Bokuto [y/n].
To her senpai's [y/n] was Bokuto Koutarou's younger sister. They believed she was strong because they were siblings. But Kawaguchi knows her strength. Back at the middle school, they faced [y/n]'s team and they lost badly. No one could stop [y/n]'s attack, it was one of their most embarrassing match.
But now, she was on the same side as [y/n]. She will be setting for her. That makes her nervous.
"Morning." a voice greeted as two girls entered the gym.
"Good morning, Eguchi-san, Bokuto-san." Kawaguchi greeted and raised an eyebrow seeing a dejected [y/n] being led by the first year libero, Eguchi Madoka. "Uhmmm... Is there anything wrong with Bokuto-san?" Kawaguchi asked.
The libero chuckled. "Well, you see at lunch break, this girl suddenly declared at the classroom loudly that she was in the mood to eat korokke bread. But as she get at the cafeteria, she found out that they were sold out so here's the dejected [y/n] again."
Everyone on the team were already warned by the coach about [y/n]'s strange behavior. The third year (who were already used seeing such a scene thanks to the previous Bokuto) seems to accept it without a question and promised to cater whatever ridiculous idea she has. For a few weeks, Kawaguchi have seen her a sudden change of moods. But she has never seen the wing spiker so heartbroken like this. As her setter, she wanted to do something for her but she has no idea how to deal with the other girl's mood right now.
"[y/n]-san?" a male's voice called out from the gym's entrance.
The three girl's turned and found a stern looking black haired guy they recognized as the men's volleyball captain.
"Keiji-tan." [y/n] muttered still on her 'mood'.
Eguchi tiptoed to Kawaguchi. "Hey. That's Akaashi-senpai, right?" the libero whispered.
"Yeah." Kawaguchi nodded.
"He's kinda cute." the libero giggled.
"Here." Keiji raised his hand to [y/n].
Seeing what on the male's hand, [y/n] perked up. "Korokke!"
Smiling with almost not visible smile, the captain nodded. "I heard you want this."
"Yeah!" [y/n] smiled brightly.
"Then, go ahead and take it."
"Yay! Thank you!"
The two other girls watched in amazement. It was hard for them and their senpai's to do something about [y/n]'s mood but Akaashi made it look easy.
The following day, Akaashi was summoned to the 1st gym that the girls volleyball club were using.
"Sorry about this, Akaashi, but you see, were in the middle of a practice match against another school when [y/n]-chan's mood suddenly changes and we don't know what to do. The match is over now and we did managed to win but [y/n]-chan was still being uncooperative." Hirano Chiyoko, the girls team captain, looked apologetic as she led Akaashi to where [y/n] was.
"Don't worry about it." Akaashi said, his face shows no emotion.
Akaashi found [y/n], curled up, lying on her side under the bench. Akaashi stared blankly. "Why is she lying down under the bench?"
Hirano sighed. "That's her comfort place when she is sulking."
"Come now. We won, alright?" the first year libero tried to cheer her up but the younger Bokuto remained unmoving.
"Akaashi is here!" Hirano declared ordering everyone to step aside.
"[y/n]-san?" Akaashi reached over her shoulder and shook her.
Rolling to Akaashi's direction, she looked up to him teary eyed. "Keiji-tan..."
"Please, come out of that bench and let's talk alright?" Akaashi said in a softer tone. Unlike her brother, [y/n] were a lot more delicate. His tough treatment to Bokuto won't work on [y/n].
"Okay." [y/n] sniffed and crawled out of the bench.
"Now. Tell me what's the matter?"Akaashi asked.
[y/n] lip trembled as she looked down, teary. "I can't spike through their blocks. I keep getting blocked."
He mentally groaned. It was the same as Bokuto (the older one). Whenever he keeps getting blocked, he'll become dejected and uncooperative.
"Maybe I've gotten weak because I haven't been playing for week." she whimpered.
Akaashi sighed. "No one would get weak just because of that."
"I'm sorry." the setter, Kawaguchi suddenly said. "It's my fault that you keep getting blocked. It's my job as a setter to clear the wall but I..."
"No way! You're a really good, setter, Kawaguchi-chan!" [y/n] looked up to her, the cause of her failing mood, totally forgotten. "I think you're a lot better than my previous setter back at the middle school! Your set ups were easy to hit and you always bring the ball on a good position!"
Kawaguchi stared at [y/n] wide-eyed. "But... We got blocked..."
Akaashi reached at [y/n] and helped her stand up. "Listen you two. Both of you were just beginners and it wasn't that long yet ever since you started to work with each other. So things like getting blocked were bound to happen. Do you really think [y/n]-san's brother, Bokuto-san and I managed to perfect our teamwork on our first try?" Akaashi looked over the two girls. "What I'm saying is being block didn't mean you're bad at it or youre weak. It only means, you still have a lot to learn. So just keep training, you two."
One of the third year middle blocker, Asai Shinju stepped beside their captain. "Akaashi has a captain label on him. You seriously need to learn from him." Asai whispered and chuckled.
Hirano pouted. "You're saying I'm not like a captain?"
Asai grinned. "Yeah."
"So mean..."
"Keiji-tann!" [y/n] glomped him. Akaashi sighed, already used at it. "You're so cool!"
Kawaguchi stared at [y/n] who were now back into good mood and then up to Akaashi who easily changed it. "Someday, I want to be like Akaashi-senpai!"
After the club activities...
"Bye [y/n]-chan! Chiemi-san and I will be going ahead!" Eguchi said. Kawaguchi just smiled.
"Ok!" [y/n] smiled and saluted to them.
The two girls waved as they walked away.
"[y/n]-san? Shall we go?" Akaashi said from behind [y/n].
[y/n] turned to him and tilted her head in confusion. "Where?"
Akaashi turned to look away as if avoiding her gaze. "Bokuto-san... Your brother sent me a message. He told me to always walk you home."
Hearing that, [y/n]'s golden eyes brightened. "Really?! Yay!" she smiled brightly and run towards Akaashi. She grabbed on his arm and clinged on it.
Akaashi sighed. Bokuto didn't really told him to walk her home. He just asked him to watch over her because she was clumsy when not on the court. But Akaashi was worried about letting her go home alone. He was sure that if a strange man ask her to come with him in exchange of food or sweets, she would surely go with him.
"Looks like I have no choice but to be a caretaker again..."
TO BE CONTINUED
