Sky Ball

IV. Of Colour

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Here. At last, he was here.

While I wasn't sure of what I felt, I found it odd that despite all my previous preparations—my elaborate plan to apologize and everything—despite it being my only reason to have been attending volleyball practice everyday, even though I had no interest in any sport, I wasn't overjoyed he was back. But I wasn't disappointed, either. Nor was I mad at him.

I began to overthink it. Would a simple 'I'm sorry' suffice for him? What if he was one of those prideful, stubborn guys who thought they were always right?

I heard them continue their conversation after Sawamura introduced Hinata and Kageyama to Nishinoya. I went on the tips of my toes and jumped slightly to see what was going on inside the gym.

"Hi!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Hey, you guys are the new first-years, huh?" Nishinoya grinned his usual grin, and pointed at Kageyama. "You, the tall guy doing serves. What middle school are you from?"

Even the calm-and-composed Kageyama seemed a bit taken aback by Nishinoya's personality. "Ki-Kitagawa Daiichi."

"Seriously?! That's a powerhouse school! No wonder you serve like that! We played a set against you and lost 2-1! Your serve was amazing back then, too!" Nishinoya exclaimed.

If I were to put his chatter in words, I don't think one exclamation point was ever sufficient. Sawamura and Sugawara both parroted my thoughts, and muttered, "Noisy as ever..."

"What middle school are you from?" Kageyama asked.

Nishinoya thrust a proud fist in the air. "Chidoriyama!"

Kageyama's eyes widened. Leave it to him to know every single volleyball champ. His interest was always piqued when it came to volleyball, despite his usually aloof attitude. "That's a powerhouse in its own right! Maybe... you came to Karasuno because you heard Coach Ukai was coming back, too?"

"Nah," Nishinoya said as solemnly as he could, "I came to Karasuno because... I like the girls' uniform." He clenched his fist, which would normally signify determination. "Immensely."

Nishinoya began making a series of poses. "Of course, all of the girls have lived up to my expectations, too!"

Weirdo. My level for respect for Nishinoya plummeted significantly. I wasn't sure whether to consider him cool or uncool at this point.

"I also like the guys' uniform! It's in black! I wore a blazer back in middle school, so I admire this uniform! And it's not in brown or grey, but black!" Nishinoya exclaimed.

"I know that feeling!" Tanaka agreed.

"The guys have cool uniforms, they have cute girl uniforms, and it was close to home! It was a no-brainer!" He grinned confidently. Did this guy have a horrible reason for everything?

Nishinoya sniffed the air as if he had picked up something. Then, just like a dog spotting a squirrel, his head jerked quickly in the direction of the source—the doorway.

No, wait. Upon closer observation, coming in was... Shimizu. Wait, what the hell?! He smelled her presence? What?!

"Kiyoko-saaaaan! I've come to see you!" He ran towards her, arms raised, and then jumped like he was trying to save a volleyball, except his arms were outstretched.

She didn't react well to this, since she flinched the moment she heard his voice and in return to his lovely affections, slapped him.

"He's like a hurricane, as usual..." Sugawara stated.

I heard Hinata suspiciously mutter something along the lines of, "A guerrilla downpour...". Whatever that meant.

"Quite the noisemaker, isn't he?" Sawamura gave a grin as though this had painfully become a daily occurrence. Which it probably had been, last year. "Yet, when he plays, he's surprisingly... silent."

Would I like to see a silent Nishinoya. I had a lot of trouble believing that.

Nishinoya turned back to the guys, a suspicious hand-shaped red mark on his face while Shimizu walked elsewhere. He gave a smile. "And? Where's Asahi-san? Did he come back?"

Sawamura and Sugawara averted their eyes. Sawamura spoke as though it was a hard to discuss topic, "No."

"Wh-" Nishinoya's smile faded, and turned into that scowl I didn't like seeing. He let out a 'kh!' of air in annoyance. "That wimp!" Hinata immediately raised his arm, something he did when he sensed something dangerous. Even Kageyama leaned back a bit.

"Hey, Noya! Don't talk like that about your senpai!" Tanaka yelled back.

"Shut up! A wimp is a wimp. If Asahi-san isn't coming back, then neither am I!" Nishinoya shouted at him, and stormed off.

It was a step from before. He was still yelling, but not as loud and he didn't hit anyone. Maybe he... actually took heed of my words? Did this mean... maybe, he didn't blame me...?

After he left, I took it as safe to go in.

"Hey, Aozora. You missed Nishinoya." I was shocked that Sugawara noticed me coming in. How did he know about me and Nishinoya—oh, right. Tanaka.

"Yeah, I think I did."

Whenever I went to the volleyball club, I felt like I was committing a crime of espionage, even though I wasn't doing anything illegal or not allowed. The reason being that Nishinoya, despite previously announcing he 'wasn't coming back', came ordinarily. Thus, everyday, I had to sneak past him and everyone I know who would point out my presence and walk into the stands.

I could usually accomplish this by walking in behind Shimizu, as they would immediately flock to her and she would always go in the direction opposite from the stands. Other days, when I knew there was no way I could sneak in, I just didn't go.

Regardless, there was one topic I learned was a hard one.

'Asahi.'

'Asahi-san.'

'Asahi-senpai.'

'KARASUNO NO ESSU!'

Usually, when you heard the morning sun* being discussed, you would think it was a happy one. But in the volleyball club, it would only choke the atmosphere of the gymnasium. Especially to Nishinoya.

Even though I always just watched in the stands and didn't have an 'important role to the team' or anything, I thought it would be inconsiderate of me to ignore this.

And that's how I winded up in front of classroom 3-3, to find yet another third year to talk to for volleyball-related issues.

This is a bad idea. This is so a bad a idea. Remember the last time you tried to resolve something that didn't involve you? Yeah. Look how that turned out. And now you're trying to get yourself roped into the exact same thing. Genius. With the same person involved, too. It's official, I am an idiot.

I kept a conversation in my head telling me how stupid I was. I heard that the others tried to convince him to come back. For Pete's sake, Nishinoya got suspended for trying to convince him, and Azumane remained undeterred. What made me any different?

But no. If I could say such rude things to Nishinoya, my energy and time would be better spent trying to resolve the issue rather than create another. Even if just once, it would be best if I at least attempted to help.

During lunch time, I saw Azumane come out of the classroom to try to get his lunch when I interrupted him. (Was that a bad idea? Maybe I should've waited 'till he was done his lunch?)

I walked up to him, but he didn't notice I was there and almost hit me while walking. Not because he was being rude, but because of the incredible difference in height.

"Excuse me. Azumane Asahi?" I called out. He looked a bit startled to suddenly see someone there.

"A-Ah, sorry... what is it?" He apologized for almost knocking me down, and then continued. The manner he spoke in was very polite. Not at all like the rumors I'd heard. Maybe, then, he could be in my situation?!

Oh my god. This was kind of scary. How was I supposed to start off? I didn't plan this at all. "Well... um... Azumane-senpai, you're on the volleyball team, right?"

He was probably getting tired of that. "Well... it's kind of a difficult situation right now. I'd say I'm not really on it right now though, so sorry, but..."

"No—I'm sorry, I shouldn't have started off with that. To be truthful, I know all about your situation." I replied. That sounded kind of creepy. This would have been so much easier if I had a script to read from, but social situations were much more unpredictable. "I know... it might not be any of my business! But, um, I think that you should return to the volleyball team."

He gave a look that I could see myself giving if I were in his situation. "Volleyball just isn't my sport anymore. Sorry to have betrayed your expectations, or anything..."

He was similar to me. I didn't know him well, but if I were in his position, then...

"You're lying." I delivered that line with a serious stare. It seemed to make him uncomfortable, but my thoughts were focused more on the truth rather than my surroundings. "What do you really think?"

I doubted he would tell someone he'd just met. He didn't even know my name. "... Even if I go back, I'd just be a burden to the team."

Wow. Actually, I was kind of disappointed that I didn't get told off right there. This guy was pretty sensitive.

In any case, I guessed that he probably didn't want to tell anyone, but at the same time, did. So it must have been easier to tell me, who—presumably, to him—only had a slight connection with the club. Which wasn't that far off.

"I don't think that's right." I claimed, completely overlooking the formalities. "Aren't you just imposing your own opinion on the group? Actually, you're being even more of a burden than you would be if you were on the team, when you think of the positives and negatives."

"I don't really think you get it..."

"No. I understand it well. Think about it yourself: if you stayed on the team, you could improve yourself and not let them down again. It would provide them reassurance. It adds to the options the team can take. You're being a burden because they want you back, and you're not going, which causes anxiety and stress to the team. It can lead to differences in performance play. So, why wouldn't you want to return to the team?"

"I can only figure out one answer: you're worried. You might let down your team again. But—to me, at least—it seems as though you've already figured that out, haven't you, Azumane-senpai?"

He bit his bottom lip and averted his eyes.

It then dawned on me how uncomfortable he looked. Why wouldn't he be uncomfortable? Wrong or right, it would cause him to misjudge me a lot, especially considering I wasn't like that at all, usually.

"Ahh! It's none of my business, though, of course! I'm sorry for misjudging you! I'm sorry for acting like a know-it-all! I'm sorry for calling you out! I will commit seppuku* one thousand times over to show how sorry I am!" I bowed in apology.

Azumane had an expression of nervousness, guilt and truth before, but now it just displayed a flabbergasted face. One that clearly read is-this-even-the-same-person. He must have thought I was inflicted with some kind of personality disorder, like Bipolar Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder or something. Considering my actions lately, I couldn't exactly blame him. Maybe I was going to get my period soon.

"I-I don't really think that's necessary..." Azumane looked taken aback by the sudden contrast in tone I had just shown.

"No, I definitely overstepped my boundaries! I'm sorry...!" This is what happens when you don't go in with a plan. Yup. Nope. I'm done. I made a plan to crawl into my bed forever and die. I should probably fake being sick today. And tomorrow. And forever.

"Well, your heart was probably in the right place..." Azumane looked guilty. He was probably trying to cheer me up, but he looked like he was being very honest. "But... I don't know."

Wow, I think he might be more wishy-washy than me. And that's saying something. I thought.

"Um, I'm very sorry for acting so confrontational or coming off as arrogant or cocky or anything in any sort of way. But... please consider it. As long as you do that, I'll have no complaints." I said casually as possible and bowed. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

He looked a bit concerned about me, but also seemed to be taking heed of what I had said. "Yeah, no, it's fine..."

With that, I bowed my head once more and left toward my classroom.

I vowed to never doing that again.

I wasn't able to attend their practice match, since on the day of, Nishinoya was standing by the door. Wanting to continue my flawless streak of avoiding him, I left. I'd imagined he thought I transferred by then.

However, the day following, I was able to enter the club before Nishinoya and securely place myself in the stands, where I could easily duck to avoid being seen by him.

From the stands, I saw them gather around the new coach, Coach Ukai, who spoke to them.

"We're just going to have a quick scrimmage, just so I can get a bit better grasp on your individual skills, as well as to cooperate as a whole." Ukai announced. "Any objections?"

Nobody said a word, and Coach Ukai divvied up the teams, using all the members for a perfect six-on-six match.

"Hey, you're Karasuno's Manager, right? Mind playing lines?" Ukai asked Shimizu, who nodded in return, going over to a corner of the court.

"Just one more..." Ukai muttered under his breath, "Oi, do you have someone who can play lines on that side?"

Sawamura looked up and to the right in thought. Then his eyes settled on the stands. "Well, I don't know if she wants to do it, since she's not part of them team, but I could ask."

"Is 'she' here right now? Because if not, forget about it."

Sawamura looked up at the stands. "Do you want to try playing lines, Aozora?"

I immediately noticed Nishinoya's line of sight dart up towards the stands. At first, he looked shocked, but then he made a face. A face I couldn't read properly. His eyebrows were knitted and he bit the bottom of his lip. Was that frustration? It looked like he wanted to say something but didn't.

Azumane, who had recently rejoined the team (or so I assumed), stared at me. His emotions were considerably easier to read.

I turned away from the entire teams' expressions. "Yeah, I can do the lines, if you're willing to have me." I called out.

"Great!" Sawamura beamed before returning to his position.

In contrast to Sawamura's polite tone, Ukai cawed, "hurry up!"

As to not take up too much of their time, I went down from the stands and grabbed a flag Shimizu handed to me, and we both took our respective positions on opposite corners.

I was so used to seeing an emotive, hot-blooded Nishinoya, but he kept taking glances at me. Whenever I looked back, he would dart his eyes back to the game. It wasn't bashful or anything, but he continued to give me the feeling of something unexpressed.

None the less, he wasn't the kind of guy to let someone completely distract him from the game, since he was still calling outs easy. Furthermore, he was on the line every time. It was impressive.

It was Enoshita's serve, on our side. He hit it over the net, and Sawamura received it, bumping it to the setter on their side, Sugawara.

With a flick of his hands, Sawamura volleyed the ball up into the air—a toss quite high, and further from the net, where Azumane then jumped and, with strength comparable to a bears', hit the ball with his open palm, creating a loud, resonating slapping sound that reverberated through every corner and crevice of the gym.

It was hit with an incredible amount of power—one unlike I had seen in the other members (aside from possibly Kageyama's serve, but this had to be at least on par with that, if not greater). Sure enough, Nishinoya knew it was out, and didn't dive after it.

Nice call. But then I noticed it was heading straight for my nose. Time slowed down for a second.

Dodging it was impossible. Move head upwards. No. Broken teeth, jawline fracture. Move head to the side, regardless of which side. No. Cheekbone injury. Will likely lose a few teeth. Best option: hit with hardest part of the head.

I tilted my head downwards, and the ball collided with my forehead. Instantly, every single cell in the area began to flare up. I covered it and curled up into a ball, one hand still placed over my forehead, the other one lifting up the flag to signify it was out. Everyone looked at me with mixed expressions, the most evident being a rattled Azumane.

Wow. Karma struck back like a bitch. I tried to get Azumane back on the team by being a cocky know-it-all, and then he hits a ball that hits me straight in the face. I would have laughed at the irony if it didn't hurt like hell.

I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder after jogging over to me. "Hey, you okay? Need some ice?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I lied. My voice sounded more like a whimper. I was not okay. Azumane's spike fucking hurt. Excuse the language, but it was the easiest way to put it. "Ice would be good right now though, so I'm just gonna... go."

"Okay... well, we can live without lines for a practice game like this, I guess. Shimizu, wanna go with her to go get some ice?" Ukai asked. Shimizu gave yet another non-verbal gesture of her approval. I stood up and walked with her.

Once my headache became bearable, I found myself sitting in a chair, my legs crossed. The armrest propped up my elbow, which in turn, propped up my head. More appropriately, an ice pack propped up my head, since it occupied the space between my hand and forehead.

I looked at the room around me, and tried to trick myself into thinking that I liked the way the room spun, so really, I wasn't that hurt because I was hit in the face with a volleyball. At all.

That plan failed quickly.

Shimizu had gone back to practice, leaving me alone in a spinning room. I wasn't even completely sure where I was—for all I knew, Shimizu Kiyoko could have been a kidnapper and just committed a crime and I wouldn't know. Why? Because of an aching head pain.

"A-Are you okay...?!" I heard a deep voice ask suddenly. I recognized it as Azumane's.

"Yep. Fine. You really don't need to worry about me. You should get back to practice." I told him. Even speaking hurt.

"No, it's okay... practice is over..." Azumane said. "Are you sure you're okay? I'm so sorry!"

I was struck with a very strong sense of déjà vu. I remember a very similar situation, except with a role reversal.

"It's really okay, don't worry about it!" Technically, it was my fault for not having fast enough reflexes to dodge it, and deciding to play lines.

"Not to mention it was out! Oh, but it wouldn't be okay if it was in, either! I... I really didn't mean to..." He was unexpectedly nervous, going back to his 'Gentle Giant' demeanor. "Can... I get anything for you?"

"Uh, yeah. Practice is over, so could you, maybe, get me my bag? It's in the stands. If it's—ow—not too much trouble for you."

"Yeah, o-okay..." Azumane passed the doorway when I heard him say, from just outside the door, "Nishinoya? Practice is over, what're you still doing here?"

"A-Ahh, nothing really, just... yeah... you know, that kinda thing." I heard him reply.

"Oh, you're probably checking if Aozora's okay, right? She's inside." Azumane said, and I heard his thundering footsteps become softer, indicating that he had left.

As that happened, Nishinoya entered with a similar expression as earlier—the main difference was that I could read one of his emotions: worry.

"Aozora, you... okay?" Nishinoya asked, his concern plastered on his face.

"Yeah! Fine!" I replied, putting as much effort for normalcy in my voice as possible.

There was an awkward silence. This couldn't go on forever. He was here right now. When else was I going to tell him, if not now?

"Hey, I'm—" we said in unison, though mine was phrased a bit more formally. Either way, whatever he or I was going to say was cut off with my wince of pain, since I had moved my head from its pedestal of ice.

"Are you okay?" Nishinoya asked, a bit louder that time and with a different tone that I took as tacit worry. He half-lifted up his hand as if he wanted to do something, but knew that he couldn't.

"I'm fine. What where you going to say? Sorry for cutting you off." See? Just then, I was able to say sorry. Why couldn't I say sorry for a serious incident?

"Hey, Aozora, you know that day I yelled at you and you got mad? Well... sorry. I know you're still kind of mad at me, but I just... wanted to say sorry." Nishinoya's eyes kept darting from my face to the wall around me.

"No." I stated, very bluntly.

"What?"

"You're the one who's supposed to be mad at me, so why are you apologizing...? It's my fault."

Nishinoya looked at me for a few seconds. It seemed he was actually taking this seriously. When it came to his friends, he was unexpectedly... considerate.

"How is it your fault? You were just—"

I cut him off. "I didn't need to state it so rudely..."

In return, he cut me off. "So what? Jeez, why're you acting like this? Why do you have to take the blame for everything all the time?!" Nishinoya addressed me almost as loudly as he did the day with Azumane. Noticing he was going too far with his tone, he bit his lip and turned his head roughly to the side.

Initially, I thought that he was mad at me, but I could tell that he wasn't, despite his actions and tone. He was actually kind of sorry. Nishinoya wasn't just giving his usual carefree attitude, and was shoving all jokes aside. So concerned that he was willing to get mad over it, in deep contrast to his usual effervescent attitude that made my head tilt and wonder, 'how can you be so relaxed?'

But he wasn't. He took things seriously, too. Maybe that was the meaning when Sawamura said, 'unexpectedly quiet'.

How would this situation end? What could he do to appease me and all would be forgiven?

Nothing. Not because it was his fault, but because my insecurities would get in the way. I was overthinking it so much that, once I actually thought about it, nothing would sate me, since there was no perfect way to do it. Most people would just say 'sorry', and the receiver would say, 'nah, dude, it's okay!' and that would be over. But for me, nothing sounded right.

So I was going to take responsibility and resolve the conflict.

"You're right. I always take the blame. But the both of us are at fault. So I'm sorry I got mad, and I forgive you for getting mad as well." I tried to sound determined, but it came out as hesitant.

He gave me a surprised look. Was it because I took the initiative to reconcile?

"Sorry for shouting and getting on your nerves. It's okay you got mad?" Nishinoya followed my forgiving format, and seemed to ask at the end if he did it right. To give him an answer, though unarticulated, I took the ice pack off my head and smiled.

Nishinoya looked at me for a second longer than usual, then turned his head away like he did before. Had I done something wrong? I couldn't identify his expression properly, but then glanced back at me and gave a smirk, as though he were trying to suppress a smile.

So, he tricked me then...? I guessed. I had no clue about his expression.

But, at the time, I didn't really care and settled for a contradictory reason, despite it opposing my usual preference for everything to make sense.

I didn't care, because everything was okay for now.

The next day, I was ecstatic. I even felt like walking with an extra bounce in my step (but ultimately decided against it, because that would attract too much attention).

The reason being was because everything was okay. Concerning me and Nishinoya, everything was perfect the way it was.

I was slightly embarrassed at how happy I had been in contrast to any attitude I had shown the days immediately prior, all because of a boy (which was even more embarrassing when put in that sense) but at the same time, I didn't care. Because, like aforementioned, everything was okay.

I was doing a casual walk-and-talk with him after my class ended, as we were heading to the gym for his volleyball practice.

"Actually, Shouyo got spiked by Asahi-san too, earlier this week..." Nishinoya laughed.

Ouch.

"What's your basis for calling people by their first names? You call them 'Tsukishima' and 'Kageyama', but then you say 'Shouyo'." I was slightly curious.

Nishinoya shrugged. "I guess I just have to know them well enough and make sure they're not uncomfortable with it.

"So why don't you call me Kotori?" I asked the question out of genuine curiosity, but then realized the flirtatious implications. I couldn't deny it or take it back either, in fear of even more of a misunderstanding. I didn't know if my face was heating up or not.

He, on the other hand, didn't seem to detect it. "I always thought you didn't like it," he admitted. "But huh... what about you calling people by their first names?"

"Huh? Oh... I don't know... it just feels uncomfortable, I guess..." I answered sheepishly.

"You don't like to look people in the eye when they're talking to you, either. You're actually... shy, aren't you!" He smiled, almost in a teasing manner.

"I'm allowed to look wherever I want when I talk to others." I objected. I didn't want that conversation to continue, so I changed the topic. "You, um, have a game soon, right? The training camp, I think... Nekoma?"

"Oh, yeah, right!" He grinned.

"Are you excited?" The side of my mouth curled up into a smile.

"Definitely!" He exclaimed with starry vehemence in his tone.

I figured. For someone who hadn't gotten to play since last year, that must've been really important to him. That was only a natural reaction.

I frowned, recalling something. "Oh, but... then you won't be here for a few days..."

"Ahh, right! Thank god!" The libero (riberouda? I don't even know) exclaimed. At first I was confused as to what he was so grateful about, but then my eyes narrowed.

"You just want an excuse not to do your homework, don't you?" I frowned.

He sighed. "Figured out, huh..."

"Obviously!" I scolded in jest.

We got to the gym, and as soon as he walked in, he raised his hand straight up in an odd way. A gesture of greeting (most likely), as it was accompanied with his "Yo!"

"Eh...? Who's tha-aah! The girl that Asahi-senpai pegged yesterday!" Hinata exclaimed in his epiphany. I saw Azumane twitch from the side. No doubt Hinata saw it as a stroke of genius, being able to remember such little information. Not realizing the fact that he had asked who I was before and such was explained. "What're you doing here?!"

I had been coming every day, but since Nishinoya had come, I'd made an active effort to conceal myself. Had this been a mystery or horror flick, I would have made quite the daring stalker. Now that we had become friends again, I had apparently gotten careless in my espionage, as a majority of the volleyball team had halted practice to look at who was accompanying Nishinoya.

Was it really that unusual for them to have a visitor?

"Yeah, me and Aozora were in a class together last year!" Nishinoya grinned.

Aozora and I, I mentally complained.

For some reason, everyone seemed suspicious.

"What, does she like him, or something?" Tsukishima asked, with a smirk that plainly read I'm-a-little-shit.

Obviously, I could detect the snide remark, and what he really meant. And, above anything else, I knew how to get myself out of these types of situations—and people like him.

It was difficult shoving my emotions down my throat, but I managed to come out with a straight, "Yes, of course."

Everyone who had heard my statement immediately looked at us (other than Shimizu-senpai, who had a deadpanned face. If I did, it might have meant less hounding from the kid, so it was to her advantage). The tension in the room was still there, but different. Even Tsukishima looked surprised (no doubt initially taking me for the tsundere* type of girl).

They were acting suspicious because they thought I was Nishinoya's girlfriend, huh.

"H-Hah?! Aozora, what are you saying all of a sudden?!" Nishinoya's face burned red. He didn't strike me as the type to get flustered, but he wasn't as dense as I originally took him for. His actions were definitely contradictory to my theory.

It was kind of fun to tease him, but clearing up the misunderstanding was first. "What? Nishinoya-san is very dedicated to volleyball, and he does quite good at it. I'm not very good at sports to be frank. So I admire him very much." I stated plainly, and with the word 'admire', the tension and shock seemed to fly away.

"O-Oh... that's what you meant... haha, I'm flattered..." He was legitimately tricked, and his words were contradictory to his tone—purely for the sake to cover up how embarrassed he was, as his face was still tinted pink and he was rubbing the back of his neck and looking away.

"Yeah, I see what you mean!" Hinata exclaimed with a smile that befit his last name*. "I mean, Nishinoya-senpai is our libero, so naturally, he's really good at receiving! On the other hand, I can't receive that well, even though it's the most important thing in volleyball..."

It would have been insensitive for me to ask how he made it on the team if he wasn't able to receive well, so instead I switched to, "I've been looking at practice for a while now. Even if you're good at receiving, there's definitely something they're keeping you for."

Urgh... if such saccharine words were spoken to me, I would definitely have marked it off as superficial—just to make me feel better after niggling myself. However, Hinata beamed. I could have sworn his eyes twinkled. "Really?!"

I nodded. "Really."

"Didja hear that, Kageyama?! She even said so!" Hinata turned towards the tall first-year.

"Don't let it go to your head!" Kageyama scolded.

"I don't wanna hear that from you of all people!" Hinata retorted.

They glared at each other for a moment, then whipped their heads away from each other simultaneously with a pout and "tch!"

I actually found it very awkward to be there. I knew nothing about the sport. Maybe I should have studied it before accompanying Nishinoya to the gym. It was ridiculous while Nishinoya was gone, where I went nearly a month without knowing anything about the sport. I mean, I had just figured out it was 'Libero' and not 'Ribra' a few days ago.

I decided my plan of action to get out of the situation I had created for myself. "Anyway, good luck at practice, all of you guys. Nishinoya-kun, I'll, um, be at the library."

I waved and turned around, hearing the slamming of balls behind me as I closed the door so they could practice without interruption, this time. "Huh? Oh, okay! See you after—" Nishinoya was about to say something, but changed his mind to something else. I would have been fine with that, but it was about what he changed it to that surprised me.

"Kotori-san!"

*the morning sun - Azumane Asahi, in Japanese, translates to 'East Peak, Morning Sun'.

*seppuku - Not for the weak of heart. It's a way the samurai punished themselves. Ritual suicide by cutting open your stomach and letting your insides pour out (disembowelment).

*tsundere - Wikipedia: Tsundere is a Japanese character development process that describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm side over time.

*befitting his last name - "Hinata", his family name, translates to 'Sunny place'

i'm a horrible person. it's been a month. a month. i'm so sorry I should be the one committing seppuku one thousand times over oh god. i did fall out of haikyuu for like, a week since i wasn't on tumblr for about that time but now i'm back.

but yeah, i have so many projects right now and what are friends and so much unnecessary drama thank god i only have one class with them and

ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

kudos to whoever gets some of the name puns.

Peri - fanfiction is like tumblr. it will make you love the internet and never want to leave it but to never set foot in it at the same time. i hope you like it.

Bergliot - woooow. what a smart name. mine's really simple. anyway, i love symbolism. so i really admire your kind of writing! also, you might be onto something with your philosophy... thanks for reviewing, again! sorry for the wait!

well, i hope you liked the update. it'll come out faster! it's like, a new years resolution!

happy holidays and new years! (albeit a bit late...)

#ssb