I got back that afternoon, and there I discussed lots of things with their coach. I told him a lot about things I figured out while studying those teams and what tactics would work best against them. I was looking forward to work with this team for a while. After training was over I was going to hop home again. ''You're not thinking about walking your way home right?'' Kageyama asked me, I thought I saw some concern in his eyes again.

''No, I'm not. I'm thinking about hopping home, I can't exactly walk right now. And I don't have another choice, my parents aren't at home so they can't pick me up. And even so, I do live nearby.'' I answered as I started to move. ''I won't allow that, sorry. Hinata! Can I borrow your bike for a while? I need to take Makino-san back home.'' He yelled to Hinata.

''Yeah, sure. If you return it in one piece.'' He answered. ''I'm not that clumsy, you dumbass.'' ''Of course you're not. Here are the keys.'' ''Wait a minute, I can get home by myself. Why can't you let me?'' I protested. ''Since it's late and dark, and you can't walk properly. That's why.'' Kageyama said. ''Now come with me so I can take you home. Don't try to oppose me on this. I will bring you home, you don't have a choice.'' ''You sound like a dictator. But fine, I will allow you to help me again.''

Then we both walked towards Hinata's bike. He unlocked it and took it out of the stand. ''Get on.'' He said. I obeyed. ''Hold on tight, I don't want to lose you on the way.'' ''Yes sir.'' He didn't reacted to my kinda sarcastic comment and rode away. Like the previous night we didn't say anything. We arrived pretty fast. ''Are you sure you can take care of yourself from here? Since there isn't anyone at your home to help you right now.'' He said after I got off. ''I keep telling you I'm fine. Stop worrying about me. You don't even know me that well.'' ''Sorry, I just can't stop worrying. I don't really know why myself. I just hope your ankle will get better soon so I don't have any need to worry.'' ''Yeah…'' I dozed off for a moment. ''What's wrong?'' ''Nothing, thank you for taking me home again. Goodnight.'' Then I quickly hopped towards the door and left him behind. He was probably a bit confused, but that wasn't my problem at that moment. My biggest problem was how to get upstairs to my room.

It took me a week to be able to walk without my crutches. I went to their afternoon practices 3 times that week. To observe their playstyle as a team, and from everyone individual. I had a good image of usable tactics by then. The only thing that bothered me was Kageyama. He insisted on taking me home every time. Not that it was a problem to not have to hop my way back. But I didn't want him to become any sort of close to me. Especially since the second time he brought me home. He didn't question my weird behaviour from that night, but I could tell he was still thinking about it. And that made me somewhat uncomfortable. What if he figured out? I didn't want anyone to know such things about me. I guessed I just needed to move on and hope they weren't that smart.

''You can walk properly again now, right? That's some good news, you might get to play volleyball again soon.'' Hinata said to me, as cheerful as ever. ''Yeah, I might. Let's think about that when the time has come. Focus on your training for now.'' I said. ''Okay. Could you perhaps throw us some balls? So I can train my spikes. Kageyama! Can you toss me some balls?'' Hinata yelled to the other end of the gym. ''No Hinata, I'm busy now. Ask someone else!'' Kageyama answered. ''But Sugawara is also busy! And I want to hit some spikes!'' Hinata yelled again. ''Well, that's your problem right? Good luck with that.'' And then he continued his training.

''It seems I don't need your help anymore, since I don't have a setter to accompany me with my training. Sorry.'' He started to walk away. ''Hinata, wait. I can toss some balls for you if you want. I might not be as good as Kageyama, but I will try my best.'' ''Are you sure? Great! Yamaguchi, please throw us some balls!'' Hinata became cheerful again. That's what I like about him, he's such a child.

''Whoa, Maki-chan, you're a great setter. Where have you learned to toss like that? I thought you were a wing spiker.'' Hinata asked surprised, after hitting my first toss. ''Hinata, you dumbass. She's from one of the best schools in Japan. It's only normal to be capable of succeeding in every aspect.'' Kageyama yelled from the other side again. ''She isn't just capable of doing this, she's great. And weren't you busy?'' Hinata yelled back. ''Shut up.''

Then Kageyama went on with his training thing, which seemed to be nothing much. ''Thank you Hinata, but he's right. I did learn to fulfil every position in volleyball. That's what everyone does the first month. Then they decide their exact positions.'' I said to him. ''This wasn't just something you could've leaned in one month. It was way better, like you have been a setter for your whole life.'' ''But since that's not the case, let's stop thinking about something like that and continue. You wanted to hit some spikes, right?'' ''Yeah, sorry. Let's go.'' He said. We continued like this for a long time, until Hinata was finally satisfied with the amount of spikes he had hit. Which were a lot.

''Makino-san, can I speak to you for a moment.'' Kageyama asked after I was done with Hinata. ''Yeah, sure. What's the matter?'' I answered. ''Could you come with me for a moment first?'' ''I don't see a reason why, but if you want to I won't question it straight away.''

I followed him, he walked outside to sit in the exact same place we were a while ago. ''So, what is it you want to talk to me about? In private.'' I asked him. ''Well, I was wondering, could it perhaps be possible that you were originally a setter?'' ''Why are you asking me that? Weren't you the one who said it was normal for me to know how to toss a ball?'' ''Yes, that's true. But I watched you toss for a while, and I believe Hinata was right. You toss like you've done it for years, with some serious talent as well.''

''Like I said before, I wasn't a setter, I was the first year ace of a powerhouse school at the top of Japan. I didn't have the time to be a setter as well.'' ''That might be true, but it could be you were a setter before you went to that school.'' ''You won't give up fast, that's for sure. But that isn't the case. So as long as you don't have anything to prove it with, it's nothing more than a useless theory. Are we done yet?''

''No, there certainly is some evidence. The fact that you are this great is one, and you have also told me another. You said that you managed to set the ball just right in a match at nationals, right? From an almost impossible place. That's only possible if you have lots of experience as a setter.'' ''That still doesn't prove anything, I could've been lucky.'' ''That's true, but you wouldn't have jumped at the ball if you weren't a setter before. I think your instincts got the best of you during that moment. Even though you were the one who everyone was protecting, since you were the star, you still jumped at it. It's a setters instinct to do such a thing. Not a wing spikers.''

''Stop assuming things. If this is all you're going to talk about I will get back. I am not interested in your theories about me.'' ''They aren't just theories, stop hiding things! You are part of a team now, remember. And soon you will be part of the girls team as well! And you can't be a part of a team if you hide everything for them!''

''I will never be part of the girls team, that's for sure. And I am no part from your team! I am an extra, not an actual member. So leave me alone when it comes to my personal stuff! It isn't any of your business!'' Then I stood up and ran away. Towards my home. When I got up I saw Hinata, who was watching us. He didn't look happy at all.