There is no one I hate more than myself. For being the way I am, I've brought shame onto our family. No matter what Naoko insists, I will always be different. And being different isn't always a good thing.
- Tadashi Makoshima
For millions of people, Friday was the best day of the week. In Western culture, there were even slogans and maxims revolving around the sheer brilliance of Friday, such as TGIF, the acronym for Thank God It's Friday.
For Sumire Makoshima, Friday held something different.
As she shuffled down the white halls of the hospital, she fingered her headphones nervously, wondering what she would say when it was realized that Naoko Makoshima did not walk beside her.
"Good afternoon, Sumire-san," one of the nurses, Aiko Nakamura, greeted. Her blonde curls were lovely as usual and the clipboard she tucked in the crook of her elbow gave her a professional air. "Makoshima-san seems to be quite lively today. She'll be very happy to see you."
"That's good," Sumire replied. "And good afternoon to you too, Nakamura-san. It's always nice to see you." She fidgeted nervously in front of room 1408. "Ah... Nakamura-san?"
"Hah? Is something wrong, Sumire-san?"
"My sister couldn't come with me today."
"Oh." Nakamura's facial expression changed to one of concern. "No matter, Makoshima-san will brighten up just by seeing you anyway."
"If you say so."
Deciding that it was time to bite the bullet, Sumire opened the door and entered room 1408. "Obaa-chan?"
"Sumi-kun!"
Her grandmother's bed rested against the wall. The woman herself was hooked up to all sorts of machines and IV drips. Her hair was white with age, but the wrinkles on her face were all from smiling.
"I'm not a boy, Baba," Sumire reminded gently, using the affectionate nickname she gave her grandmother.
"I know that, Sumi-kun. But I prefer 'Sumi-kun' to 'Sumi-chan'. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I guess." Grinning, she hugged her grandmother as carefully as possible. "I've missed you, Baba!"
"I've missed you too, child. Where's Naachan?"
She couldn't make it because she has to pull a late shift again. She couldn't make it because she's busy earning money for all of us and there's nothing I can do to dissuade her from it. Our parents left us lots of money but Naachan likes to plan ahead. I'm sorry Baba. All of these answers circled in her mind but she hated the sound of all of them.
"Sumi-kun?"
"Friends!" Sumire blurted, hating herself even more for lying to her grandmother. "Naoko-nee is hanging out with her friends." Oh god, that was even worse. How selfish can you be to pick friends over family? I've painted nee-chan in an even worse light!
But to her surprise, her grandmother smiled. "That's good. I'm so glad Naachan is finally opening up to people again. Tell her that I love her and miss her."
"Obaa-chan... don't make it sound like you're dying."
"Me? Die? I'm not dying anytime soon, child! I still have my other granddaughter and grandson to see before I pass. When is Tadashi going to visit again anyway? He never visits."
Sumire did not know how to explain. Should I tell them that Tadashi is terrified of hospitals because of childhood trauma? But that would raise even more questions and Baba doesn't know... about what happened to him.
"He's very busy," Sumire said lamely. "He's a third year after all and he has a lot of catching up to do."
"Oh. I see." Her grandmother turned her kind gaze to Sumire. "I only hope that one day I will know the secret that you all try so hard to keep from me. I hope that one day you can trust me enough not to turn a judgmental eye on you all."
"I'm sorry, obaa-chan."
"Stop being sorry for things out of your control. Are you forcing your brother and sister not to see me?"
"N-no..."
"Then there is nothing to be sorry for."
Then why is it that I feel like I need to be sorry for everything that happens to us?
The fact that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday passed by without any major incident was enough to put Naoko on edge. So the first thing she did Saturday morning was check up on Tadashi. The boy was peacefully sleeping in his bed, his flanks rising and falling.
Naoko frowned slightly before returning to her room and freshening up. She should have known Tadashi would be asleep. After the six-day school week was dashed in 2002, Tadashi had always taken advantage of lazy weekends. On the other hand, Naoko was a natural early bird.
After freshening up, she headed downstairs, ready to snatch up a breakfast biscuit that she would eat while she went out for a quick jog around the neighborhood. When she entered the kitchen, Sumire was already awake and eating.
"Instant ramen?" Naoko said by way of greeting, hands on her hips.
"It's good," Sumire replied, taking a huge bite of her breakfast. "You look dressed up today. Are you going somewhere, nee-chan?" Her gaze darkened with worry. "It's not work, is it?" Without even waiting for an answer, she stood up, nearly knocking her bowl of noodles off the table. "Because if you are, I'll come with you to help!"
"No, no. Saturday mornings are my time to relax and unwind. I know that I'm a workaholic, Sumire-chan, but even I know that it's good to take a break once in a while."
"Oh, okay. That's good nee-chan." Then her phone buzzed and she turned her attention to it, smiling a little when she read the messages she had been sent.
"Oya?" Naoko snatched her phone from the table, making her cry out indignantly. "What's this? Who are you talking to?" Her eyebrows rose when she read the name of the sender. "Ohoho... Kageyama-san?"
"Like you have room to talk. You gave him your number too."
"Yes, but I did it without having any intentions of becoming mushy with him. Speaking of, he still needs to text me back for that favor I owe him."
Sumire stuck out her tongue in disgust, though Naoko could clearly see that it was feigned. "Don't say it like we're dating or something, nee-chan. We're just two people who talk. I don't even know if we're friends."
"Trust me, you're friends." She read the text aloud, "Oh my sweet, lovely flower, won't you join me for a coffee this afternoon? Every night, I dream of your beautiful visage smiling upon me - "
"Hey! That is not what it says!" Huffing, Sumire removed her phone from Naoko's clutches and put it where Naoko could not reach.
"Relax, Sumire-chan. But I'm curious, why did Kageyama invite you to his volleyball practice?" How convenient. Of course he's a volleyball player. This can't be a coincidence. Tadashi wants to get back into volleyball again and then Kageyama shows up. Next, Iwaizumi and Oikawa will suddenly become volleyball players too.
"Oh, that's because I mentioned that I used to play in elementary in one of our earlier texts."
"You did? I-I didn't know that." She looked down in shame, making Sumire smile crookedly. How... How could I not have known? She searched her memory but could not recall anything about Sumire ever playing volleyball.
"That's alright. You were busy with other things. Besides, I have RADWIMPS and violin to keep me occupied." She tapped her headphones, the one she always wore around her neck or over her ears (in this case it sat around her neck), for emphasis.
"Ah. So what position did you play?"
"Libero, but I did a lot of tossing too so I may as well be a setter also."
"Nice." Naoko grabbed one set of the house keys from the kitchen table and placed a breakfast biscuit in her mouth. "I'll be off then. Hopefully I can get back before Tadashi wakes up. Oh! I should write him a note and put it on the fridge saying where I am..." Distracted, the biscuit nearly fell out of her mouth as she hastily scribbled a message for Tadashi and stuck it to the refrigerator with a magnet. "Don't stay out for too long," she said through a mouthful of biscuit. At least it was coherent enough for Sumire to understand as she nodded. "Come back for lunch, okay?"
"Yes, nee-chan."
"And please, for goodness sake, don't get yourself kicked out from anywhere else, with or without Kageyama-san." Okay, maybe that was a little unnecessary but still.
"Yes, nee-chan, I got it."
"Good."
Sumire quickly finished her noodles, cursing herself as she remembered something. I can't believe I forgot to tell nee-chan about obaa-chan wanting to see her! Stupid, stupid, stupid! She made a mental note to do so later and put the empty bowl in the sink.
Then, in great haste, she went over to the living room and picked up a violin case, her eyes on the watch she wore around her wrist. Her sister always did insist on all of them wearing watches. Personally, Sumire thought her own watch was too bulky and manly for her thin frame. But Tadashi thought it was cool and that was what convinced her to keep wearing it.
She had locked the front door behind her when her phone pinged, indicating that another text had arrived from Kageyama. It couldn't be anyone else, really, as she remained friendless in Kitagawa Daiichi. Tadashi was asleep and Naoko was out on a jog, which left Kageyama to be the only possibility.
The girl had to smirk when she read the text, which not so subtly demanded her to come over soon as the volleyball club apparently wanted to see her play. She didn't understand why, honestly. She wasn't anything special when it came to volleyball. If she didn't know anything better, she would figure that Kageyama wanted her there to cheer him on. Boys always do like their egos stroked by a girl fan or two.
As walked the long distance down to Karasuno High, she couldn't help but notice that the violin inside her case rattled more than usual. It was almost as if it had broken into tiny pieces during the night.
How strange.
"You have got to be kidding me." Naoko sent a withering glance toward Oikawa's direction as she slowed down her jog. The boy was standing underneath a cherry blossom tree, chatting up a group of girls with his false charm. The sight wasn't exactly unusual and Naoko had learned to ignore it but what she could not forgive was that it wasn't any old cherry blossom tree that they were standing under.
It was their tree; hers and Tadashi's. The one they took their lazy summer afternoon naps under. The one where they would joke to their heart's content and eat watermelon under. And now, they were there. To Naoko, their presence might as well be sacrilege.
It's a public place, she reasoned with herself. Just keep jogging and come back later to see if they did anything to the tree. She nodded at her own logic and was starting to move again when Oikawa noticed her.
"Mako-chan! Hi, Mako-chan!"
Naoko groaned and halted, glaring at him. "What?" Everything about the guy just annoyed her.
"Is it wrong of me to say hi to a good friend of mine, Mako-chan?"
"I am not your friend," Naoko hissed, trying to move away from him. The action was in vain, however, when Oikawa blocked her way. "Can you let me through, please?"
"Now, now, Mako-chan~"
"Oikawa-san," one of the girls he was talking to interrupted, glaring at Naoko as if she were something that just crawled out from a drain. "Who is this?"
Naoko glanced at her impassively before returning her attention to Oikawa. Christ, these girls really weren't worth her time. Neither was Oikawa but she preferred him to these... hags. "Are we done here, Oikawa-san?" she asked. "I'd like to continue with my morning jog if you don't mind."
"Good idea, Mako-chan... we can jog together."
She shot him a look. "That really wasn't what I meant." But then her gaze shifted to the jealous harpies lingering around him. Considering how unpleasant she found them to be, perhaps Oikawa felt the same way despite his ever charming smile. "But I don't see why not. You can come if you can keep up, Oikawa."
"Hah? No honorific?" one of the girls whispered loudly to the other. "Who does she think she is?"
But Oikawa only smiled. "Bring it on, Mako-chan~"
And they left the girls in the dust.
"Thank you for that," Oikawa said as they ran past the bakery and past the florist. "I saw what you were doing."
"Always watching," Naoko noted. "It's a good quality to have, Oikawa-san."
"Did Mako-chan just compliment me? I guess you must be falling for me after all." He gave her a teasing wink and she rolled her eyes despite how much charm he had put into that gesture.
"Don't flatter yourself," she deadpanned. "The enemy of my enemies is my friend."
"Ouch. You really a are a tsun-tsun."
Naoko stopped abruptly, Oikawa nearly tripping over himself as he came to a halt as well.
"What did you call me?" she inquired, incredulous. A what now? "If you're going to insult me at least do it in Japanese."
He stared her a bit, wondering if she was really that dense when it came to colloquial language or just being deliberately obtuse. "Tsundere," he clarified, watching her reaction.
Tsundere...? Oh. OH. "Tsundere? I would hardly call myself a tsundere, Oikawa-san. For one, I don't have violent tendencies." Only if they hurt Tadashi or Sumire would I ever lash out.
"And what if they hurt your family?"
Curses, so he remembered. The sound of a third year's pained grunt as she punched him in the solar plexus rang in her ears. "That's different. If they hurt my family, then I guarantee you that I will hurt them back."
"So you believe in revenge?"
"If the circumstances call for it, then yes, I do."
He smiled again, but this time Naoko couldn't tell if it was fake or not. "I'm glad we agree on something, Mako-chan."
"Nice serve!"
"Mine!"
"Good receive, Noya!"
"Argh, it went over!"
"Free ball!"
"Don't mind, Nishinoya-senpai!"
Well, they're certainly an excitable bunch, Sumire thought as she opened the door quietly, entering the gym with equal silence. She watched awkwardly as a bald guy took off his shirt and started whipping it around after scoring a point. On the sidelines, a blonde girl was blushing furiously at the display.
"P-please p-put your shirt back on, T-Tanaka-senpai," the girl spluttered, trying to hide her face behind her clipboard. "I'll never get used to this..."
"Hello," Sumire said loudly, deciding to announce her presence. "That was a nice rally you played."
At once, every single pair of eyes turned to her. It made her sweat, as she was used to blending in with the crowd, but she didn't regret her decision. Might as well get this over and done with.
"Hey, hey, hey!" The bald guy strutted up to her and pulled a face that made her shudder. "Who do you think you are, busting in on our practice, kid?" He eyed her up and down. "And what's with that outfit? Are you a shitty boy spy or something?"
Sumire stared at him in disbelief. "Shitty boy spy? Excuse me?"
Among the throng of boys, a beanpole with glasses snickered. "Pfft, shitty boy..."
A boy with silver hair sighed in exasperation and pulled the baldy back by the ear. "Stop it with the city boy thing, Tanaka. It's embarrassing."
"Sorry about that," a black-haired male said. "He can get a little... overzealous sometimes."
"I noticed." Suddenly feeling a little self conscious at all the attention she was receiving, she cleared her throat awkwardly. "Sorry for busting in on your practice like that. Kageyama-san invited me to watch. I'll just be sitting on the bleachers. You won't even know I'm there." She turned her gaze on Tanaka, who was looking indignantly at her. "And for the record, I'm a girl. Not a 'shitty boy' as you so eloquently put it."
She didn't know how but Tanaka was suddenly all the way on the other side of the gym, pulling a somewhat monk-like expression, complete with his hands out in prayer position. "I knew that."
"You did not!"
"Again with the Bodhisattva faces, Tanaka-senpai?" a boy with seaweed-green hair said.
"Tanaka, stop that!"
"Uwaah!" Sumire flinched as an orange energiser bunny bounded up to her. "You're shorter than me!"
"Hinata dumbass!" Kageyama, who had not been present when she arrived, was at the door holding his drink bottle, having ducked out to refill it earlier. "You don't just say that to someone!"
"That was rather insensitive," the silver-haired boy said, rubbing his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that."
Sumire sweatdropped at the sight of the smaller Hinata taking on Kageyama. "It's fine... I'm bound to be shorter. I'm still a middle schooler."
Everyone got back to practice but Kageyama followed her to the bleachers and sat down. "Sorry about that. Hinata can be a dumbass at times. Actually, all the time."
"Like I said, it's fine." She opened up her bag and pulled out two strawberry milks - one for her and one for him. "Here."
He blinked in surprise but took it without complaint. "Thanks." Before long, the whole carton was emptied.
"You really love your strawberry milk," she remarked, calmly sipping her own carton. "Make sure you don't overwork yourself out there or you'll find yourself with a stomachache."
"Are you my mom, Makoshima-san?"
"Wha?! Shut up, dumbass!"
"Don't call me a dumbass, mom!" he mocked, earning a whack upside the head.
Down on the courts, the blonde beanpole yawned. "Is the King done flirting with his Queen? Or is too good for us commoners?"
Immediately, Kageyama stormed down, a vein on his temple throbbing. "Tsukishima, you bastard!"
Shaking her head, Sumire sat back and relaxed, sipping her strawberry milk as the boys did their thing.
Naoko grimaced as Oikawa made her sit down on the outside cafe table. This was definitely a bad idea. First of all, he insisted on going to the maid cafe where she worked at. She would definitely be recognised if Umeko served them. And knowing Oikawa, he would probably insist on having her as their maid.
And second... there were too many seconds for Naoko to bother comprehending right now as she was currently being forced into an impromptu date by none other than Oikawa Tooru, who, apparently, wanted to earn 'friendship points' with her.
It was strange and immature, but Naoko found herself amused by his childish antics. I can't believe this is the so-called Prince of Aobajosai. Even Sumire is more mature than him. If only the ladies could see him now...
"Why the long face, Mako-chan?"
"Why do you think?"
"Any other girl in your place would be enjoying themselves."
"I don't think my sister would, actually."
He leaned forward until their faces almost touched but Naoko refused to be affected by their sudden closeness. It would just mean letting Oikawa win friendship points or whatever bullshit he was trying to pull off.
"Oh?" he purred. "Enlighten me. I want to know more about your family, Mako-chan."
"If this is your weird way of coming on to my sister, let me just say that she's twelve, pervert."
At that, he recoiled, scrunching up his nose. "I can't believe you led me on like that, Mako-chan..."
"Not my fault you walked into it so easily."
Before Oikawa could retort, a bright and bubbly waitress approached them. "Good morning, master, mistress." Umeko smirked at them. "What may I do for you?"
"Umeko-san," Naoko started, narrowing her eyes at her boss. "Please don't say anything."
"You got it, Naachan! I won't mention to the entire staff that you're on a date with the most handsome devil I've ever seen! My lips are sealed!"
Oikawa shot Naoko a smug look as the ravenette's eye twitched. Thanks a lot, Umeko. Like he needs his ego stroked even more.
When Umeko left with their orders and a smirk, Oikawa turned back to Naoko. "Are you enjoying our date so far?"
"I would hardly call this a date Oikawa-san. We're just two people eating together."
"You know, I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to know more about your family, Mako-san," Oikawa said, leaning back in his chair. "If I don't get on with your family, how am I going to earn friendship points with you?"
"You don't." A tick mark appeared on the side of her head. "But since you insist... I suppose it can't hurt to tell you a little. Just promise me something, Oikawa-san. That's what I want in return."
"Oho?"
"Promise me that you won't laugh at me when I'm done. Or look at me with any kind of sadness or pity." She scowled. "Got that?" He nodded affirmatively and she exhaled through her nose, wondering where to begin. "I live with my brother and my sister. You already know Tadashi. My sister is called Sumire. Our parents are dead."
She crossed her arm, finished.
Oikawa blinked once. Twice. "That's it?"
"Were you expecting more?"
"Frankly, yes, Mako-chan. It won't hurt to open up to me a little more."
Naoko scoffed and shifted her gaze to the opposite street where a lady was walking her Japanese Shih Tzu. "You're so irritating... Did you really think I was going to tell you about my entire life?"
"Not really." He smirked. "But how many friendship points do I need to get to that?"
"More than you'll ever get in your lifetime."
"Mean, Mako-chan... you won't even give me a chance. I just want to be your friend. Is that too much to ask?"
She didn't answer. Frankly, she didn't know how to. ... Friend? This guy wants to be my friend? How... weird. Why would anyone even want to be her friend, let alone the Prince of Aobajosai? Naoko hadn't read much shoujo manga in her lifetime, but she was sure that guys like him didn't befriend girls like her.
Then again, this was real life, not shoujo. She wasn't shallow enough to classify people into archetypes.
"Hello? Mako-chan?" Oikawa waved a hand in front of her face. "You've got that look in your eyes again. That oyster shell look."
"Oyster shell look?" she parroted, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You go all like this." Moaning, he slumped over his chair and rolled his eyes backward until she could only see the whites.
What the fuck?! "Argh! You idiot!" She kicked his leg under the table, causing him to cry out and glare at her, a tear in the corner of his eye. "I do not look like that."
"You do!" he whined, rubbing his shin. "You're so violent, Mako-chan! You really are a tsundere."
"In my defense, you are extremely annoying," she grumbled, crossing her arms. "I'd like you better if you just shut your mouth."
"Come on, Mako-chan, you don't really mean that." The look he gave her sent shivers down her spine. "I can do a lot of things with my mouth, Mako-chan... all you have to do is ask."
What. The. Fuck. What. The. Actual. Fuck. "Negative friendship points for you," she said coolly, trying to downplay her embarrassment with that perfected icy mask of hers. Just for extra measure, she bopped him on the head with her empty drink bottle.
"Ouch! Mako-chan!" Oikawa scowled and stuck his tongue out at her. "Have you been talking with Iwa-chan or something?"
And there it was. The immature little kid side of him. Honestly, it's like he has two personalities. How can he be so childish one moment and so... She grimaced as she finished the thought. ... Sensual the next?
"Oh, our food's here." Oikawa tilted his head to one side to let Umeko put milk bread and soda on their table.
"Here you go!" Umeko chirped, clapping her hands in delight. "Now I'll leave you two alone~ You can tell me all about it later, Naachan," she added with a playful wink.
"Just leave," Naoko said gruffly.
"Oho! Someone's eager to spend time with their booyyyfriend!"
"I swear, if you weren't my boss, I'd hit you."
Trying to ignore Oikawa, Naoko grabbed a slice of milk bread, tearing off a chunk and chewing it slowly. On the other hand, Oikawa was eating whole slices at a time, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
"So this is your favorite food?" Naoko asked when Oikawa finally swallowed.
"How observant of you, Mako-chan. And since you know what my favorite food is, you have to tell me yours."
Naoko hummed in contemplation, furrowing her brows in concentration. As she thought, Oikawa leaned forward in anticipation, as if she was revealing some big secret. Then her features relaxed and their gazes met.
The corners of Naoko's mouth curved upward in a small smile as she announced, "I don't have a favorite food."
"Hah?! All that build up for nothing? Surely you have to have a food that you wouldn't trade for any other food? Right? Mako-chan?" He looked imploringly up at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Not everyone has to have a favorite food... Bakawa."
"That's it. I hereby decree that Mako-chan is no longer allowed to see Iwa-chan."
Naoko didn't even realize she was laughing until her cheeks started hurting from smiling too much. Reddening in embarrassment, she quickly found her composure again. "That wasn't funny at all," she denied lamely. Geez... when was the last time I did that?
Oikawa was blinking curiously at her. He poked her cheek and she tried her best not to bite off his finger. Instead, she settled for a heart stopping glare. But he ignored it and poked her even harder.
"... Stop that." She smacked his hand away. "What were you trying to do?"
"I've never seen you laugh before." He knitted his brows together, his expression solemn. "All girls are supposed to be cute when they laugh."
"What are you getting at - "
"You're scary when you laugh, Mako-chan. Even scarier than my kohai when he smiles."
Naoko stared blankly at him. Then, a sickly sweet smile found its way onto her face. Without warning, she picked up the plate of milk bread and held it threateningly above the ground.
"Ack! Mako-chan! Don't drop it!" He stood up and reached over the table to try and save his poor milk bread from getting dirtied.
"Shittykawa!"
"Don't shorten the insults!"
"Shitty Oikawa!"
"No need to rephrase it either!"
The table nearly tipped and Naoko wobbled on her chair, the milk bread sliding all over the plate. "Hey! Be careful, idiot!"
"Put the bread down!"
Naoko tried to regain her balance but she was already falling backward. Panicking, she grabbed the first thing she could: Oikawa's shirt collar. Yelling, they both went down together, the plate of milk bread flying over the air in a high arc.
The pair landed with Oikawa squashing Naoko underneath his torso, but both were focused on the milk bread, which had now separated from the plate. Their eyes helplessly followed the parabola the plate traveled in, milk bread scattering all over the place.
The plate shattered like with all of Oikawa's hopes and dreams after their last defeat against Shiratorizawa. Fluffy milk bread landed on the concrete. Umeko's disembodied head popped out of the cafe door.
"You're going to have to pay for that, Naachan."
Groaning, Naoko placed her forehead against the ground. "Thanks a lot, Shittykawa." ... We got too carried away.
"It wasn't just my fault. Maybe if someone hadn't decided to endanger the milk bread everything would be fine and dandy." He rolled off her and helped her up (she grudgingly took his hand). "... I'm sorry though. I shouldn't have said that you looked like a deranged hyena when you laugh."
"... You didn't say that until just then." She shrugged off the grime that had collected on her clothes. "I guess that was partly my fault also. Looks like I'm going have to pull another shift to earn the money back."
"No need," Oikawa reassured, pulling out his wallet. "I'll pay for it."
I definitely didn't see that one coming. "Oikawa-san..."
But, to her dismay, he shushed her. "Don't say anything, Mako-chan. I've got it." With a wink, he gave the appropriate amount of cash to Umeko, who was still standing at the door, arms akimbo.
Naoko's heart sank as she watched Umeko pocket the money. "O-oh..." She cleared her throat as she rejoined Oikawa. "You didn't have to do that, Oikawa-san."
"Yes I did," he stated. "But if you're really going to be like this..." He poked her cheek again, earning a frosty glare ("Stop touching me, weirdo.") "Then I guess that means you owe me one."
"Deal. And stop touching my face, you shitty guy!"
"I can't help it, Mako-chan! You look like an angry cat~"
Naoko nailed Oikawa on the head with her water bottle, making him stumble forward and cry out indignantly. "How annoying..."
The vocals of her favorite band was her only world until someone lifted her headphones off. Sumire glanced upward at Kageyama, who was sweating from practice. Silently, she tugged them back from Kageyama's hands and planted them on her ears again.
But he took them off again. "Oi. We're getting pork buns after one more match."
"Eh? Pork buns...?" She took her feet off the row of seats in front of her and stood up, violin case in hand (she always brought it with her). "Am I coming too...?"
"Of course." He dragged her from the seat and down onto the courts. "But first, you're going to play with us."
"Hah?!"
"Makoshima-san is playing!" Kageyama announced before she could protest further. "Please don't hesitate to spike in her face."
"What the?! Are you trying to get me killed, dumbass?!"
"Alright!" Hinata cheered. "She can play on our team!"
"But we're going to have to sub one of our players out," another pointed out. Sumire remembered him being Ennoshita or something.
"I'll go," another boy with shaved head (not Tanaka) volunteered. "I have to go help my grandmother out at her store anyway. See you later, guys."
A few of them waved to Not-Tanaka as he took his leave. Sumire was about to turn back when Kageyama grabbed her wrist. "Hey."
Sumire scowled at him. "Let me go, Kageyama-san, I don't particularly feel like dying today."
"I'll pay for your pork bun if you play."
She bit her lip. Is he serious? Free food... that means I won't have to get lunch later. Which means I don't have to spend any more of Naoko-nee's money. But if I end up hospitalized... yeah, that's not going to happen. "Fine. But please don't hospitalize me."
Tsukishima glanced condescendingly down at her. "Are you sure you want to let the Queen play, King? She's not exactly built for the sport."
"... I don't like you," she said flatly before Kageyama could heatedly snap at the middle blocker. "The only positive outlook I have for you is that you probably treat everyone else just as poorly."
"Trust me, he does!" Nishinoya called from the back.
"Actually, Tsukki - "
"Shut up, Yamaguchi."
They all got into their positions in another six against six game, Sumire starting out on the middle back. Sumire noted with glee that Tsukishima didn't seem as smug as he did before as Ennoshita served, sending the ball flying at the black-haired captain, who received it solidly right to where Kageyama was at. The setter tossed the ball and Tanaka sprang up to meet it, breaking through Tsukishima and Yamaguchi's block by spiking it down to the other side.
"Yes!" But the celebration was cut short when Nishinoya dove and saved the ball. The silver-haired setter tossed it to Tsukishima, who tipped the ball over the blockers' fingers.
The game was mostly a blur to Sumire until one pivotal moment: set point for both teams.
"Ah!" Hinata hissed in pain as he deflected the brown-haired ace's powerful spike (Asahi, was it? Sumire wondered). The ball continued on its trajectory, only slightly skewed by the deflection. Straight to setter position... where Sumire happened to be.
"Sumire!" Kageyama called from the back left.
But Sumire didn't answer him, even if he did call her by her first name. Instead, she lifted her arms up in a familiar position. ... There we go. I could try a setter dump but the men's official height is too high for me to do it effectively. Her mind continued to spit out alternatives until the ball finally touched her fingers. She still hadn't made up her mind but she had to do something. With a small grunt, she tossed it to where Hinata was waiting. The boy jumped, the ball smacking against his palm in a perfect spike, landing in the back corner of the court. Nishinoya dashed over to save it, skidding against the floor, but he was too late. Cursing, the boy hit the floor with his fist.
"Uwaah!" Sumire nearly shrieked as Hinata picked her up and swung her around. "That was such a good set!"
"Oi, get off her!" An irritated Kageyama pried Hinata from her. "Dumbass, you don't just do that to a girl."
"Ah! Sorry, Makoshima-san!"
"... It's fine."
As they packed up, Kageyama picked up a stray volleyball and served it against the wall, seeing as everyone else had the rest of the equipment covered. On the last serve, he hit the ball with the wrong part of his hand, and he cursed as it rebounded to a different direction. His eyes widened. "Makoshima-san, watch out!"
Sumire turned. And ducked. The ball flew over her head, nearly hit the blonde manager (who shrieked with alarm, backpedaling into an annoyed Tsukishima) and smacked against her violin case, sending it splaying across the gym floor.
Her world stopped. Stopped and started again. "Fuck." She rarely cursed (Naoko would kill her if she said anything dirtier than 'dumbass'), but this definitely called for it. Voices echoed around her as she ran to her fallen violin case and pried it open.
"Kageyama, you idiot!" Tanaka scolded.
Sumire could vaguely hear Kageyama apologizing furiously but all she could focus on were the bits and pieces of a violin lying inside the case.
"Shit," Kageyama swore as he saw the damage, "Shit, I'm so sorry - " He knelt beside her, watching her shocked expression with guilty eyes. "Sumire - " He cut himself off, not knowing how to console her. "I'm sorry. Fuck, that was so idiotic."
The silver-haired setter cuffed him on the head. "Language," he scolded quietly, nudging his head toward her. A middle schooler didn't need to hear such obscenities (he must have missed it when Sumire herself said the same thing).
Sumire stiffened when Kageyama silently wrapped his arms around her shoulder, muttering a mixture of apologies and curse words. Her small frame shook and she clasped her hand over her mouth.
"Uh oh."
"How do we deal with crying girls, Noya?" Tanaka whispered to the libero.
"Why are you asking me? I don't know!" Nishinoya whisper-shouted back.
Sumire lifted her head. There were no tears in her eyes. Only a haze of confusion. "Kageyama, you are a grade A dumbass. Did you hit my violin with a magical ball or something?"
It was everyone's turn to be confused now.
"Eh?"
"Magical ball?"
"Where did the ball go? Maybe it'll grant me a wish."
"Don't be stupid, shrimp."
"What kind of ball is magical?"
Sumire chuckled dryly, leaning into Kageyama's embrace unknowingly. "I don't know what happened but that spike-serve definitely wasn't hard enough to break a violin like this. It's absolutely destroyed." She picked up a piece of it and examined it closely. "It's like someone used this as a club or something. This isn't my violin. It must have been broken before Kageyama served into it." She tapped her chin. "I wonder... if Naoko-nee knows anything about it. Also, Kageyama?"
The setter in question flinched away from her and stood up stiffly. "Yes?"
"You owe me two pork buns now."
LINE: FIRST YEAR VOLLEYBALL SQUAD
[Makoshima]: Why do I have a feeling that I'll regret this?
[Tsukishima]: Better question: Who invited you? It has FIRST YEAR and VOLLEYBALL SQUAD in the chat name if you haven't noticed.
[Makoshima]: Kageyama did. And if it's only for first years then why is Nishinoya here too?
[Tsukishima]: Because the administrator is an idiot. Either that or Nishinoya's mentality is equal to that of a first year in class one.
[Makoshima]: Ah.
[Kageyama]: who wants me to kick out the idiot in glasses say I?
[Nishinoya]: IIIIIIII
[Hinata]: I!
[Yamaguchi]: nothing personal but no...?
[Tsukishima]: Go ahead. Make my day, King.
[Makoshima]: ... 🗿
[Hinata]: what's that emoji? i've never seen it befoer!
[Makoshima]: 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
[Kageyama]: found it
[Kageyama]: 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
[Nishinoya]: ME TOO 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
[Makoshima]: 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
[Nishinoya]: 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
[Hinata]: ARGH WHERE IS ITTTTT
[Hinata]: TELL ME
[Makoshima]: dude just look for it it's not that hard
[Kageyama]: it's hard for him cuz he's a dumbass
[Hinata]: OI DO U WANNA FITE
[Tsukishima]: Can you all stop spamming that ugly ass emoji?
[Makoshima]: Why? It's fun. Maybe you're sick of seeing that 'ugly ass emoji' in the mirror every day but not everyone is as unfortunate as you.
[Nishinoya]: holy shit
[Nishinoya]: you're my new favorite person
[Makoshima]: Thank you.
[Tsukishima]: Why? It only proves that she's an arrogant, HYPOCRITICAL brat.
[Yamaguchi]: guys...
[Makoshima]: Just because you're sweet, Yams, I'll give that one a pass. Kageyama, thanks for the pork buns. I brought the second one home for my brother.
[Kageyama]: no problem
[Kageyama]: did you find out about the mystery of the violin?
[Makoshima]: No, not yet. I've been busy with homework.
[Tsukishima]: You make it sound like a bad detective novel, King.
[Kageyama]: still better than anything you could come up with, shitstain
[Tsukishima]: Please. I highly doubt that. You don't have enough DHA in your brain to come up with anything good.
[Makoshima]: oh snap
[Makoshima]: that was actually good im sorry Kags
[Tsukishima]: At least someone gets it. I bet the King and shrimpie don't.
[Makoshima]: Don't be mean.
[Yamaguchi]: To be fair, Tsukki, I don't think their classes have covered that yet...
[Tsukishima]: Yet, they are still outclassed by a middle schooler
[Tsukishima]: Ladies and gentlemen, the freak duo. Let's give them all a round of applause.
[Nishinoya]: don't mind the asshole guys
[Nishinoya]: even i don't know what he means
[Tsukishima]: And how does that make it any better?
[Makoshima]: Dude, you are so damn salty.
[Makoshima]: Like a french fry. Tall, blonde and salty.
[Tsukshima]: ...
[Makoshima]: 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
Tsukishima has left the group chat.
[Yamaguchi]: Tsukki...!
Yamaguchi has left the group chat.
[Hinata]: GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
[Nishinoya]: OMFGG
[Nishinoya]: MAKOSHIMA WE LOVE U
[Hinata]: Noya-senpai! don't make Kags jealous
[Nishinoya]: oops my bad
[Makoshima]: Haven't we already established that we are NOT dating?
[Nishinoya]: For now...
[Kageyama]: hold on a sec
Kageyama has changed the group chat name to FRENCH FRY HATERS.
[Kageyama]: there
[Makoshima]: real mature, Kags
[Kageyama]: says the one who chased Tsukishima away by spamming terrifying looking emojis
[Kageyama]: not that i'm complaining
[Makoshima]: Touché.
[Hinata]: suddenly i feel like I don't belong here
[Nishinoya]: same i feel like i'm third wheeling
[Kageyama]: shut up all of you
A/N: The mystery of the violin will be solved soon. Not that it's much of a mystery to the audience. Ahh, dramatic irony...