~13~

I really want to update as often as possible, as it has been being read more and more. So it's my new year's resolution to update constantly and catch up to wherever the anime is at, at this point. And without a further ado, let's get this started!

Disclaimer: I don't own Haikyuu, nor any of its characters. I simply own my OC. And the plot line isn't fully mine either, because it follows Haikyuu season 2's episodes.

Mei POV:

Our time spent here at camp is starting to come to an end. But let's be honest, these past days of intense training and effortful battles, we've become better and stronger as a team and individually. I can proudly say that I'm the co-coach of Karasuno and that we are no longer just the fallen crows. We're actually spreading our wings for flight.

An infuriated grunt interrupts my train of thoughts. I look over my shoulder to see my brother still practicing into the late of the night, a slick sheet of sweat covering his pale skin.

"You doing okay, Tobio?" I call from the bleachers.

At first, he doesn't respond; he simply returns to setting. When the ball falls too short of the bottle he was aiming for, he groans, completely wound up. "I'm…okay," he mutters between heavy breaths.

"Don't look too good, if you ask me," I remark, getting up to retrieve the volleyball he hasn't bothered to pick up. "What's bugging your little mind, hmm?"

Tobio grabs a half-full water bottle from his bag and chugs till it's drained of any liquid. "I can't seem to do the set that Ukai told me about. The falling one."

I nod, remembering Ukai telling me of something along the lines of that set. I hand him the volleyball I hold. I think I actually taught one of our bench setters to do it, quite a while ago. "Toss for me," I instruct and for once, he actually listens.

He tosses it to me and my reflexes naturally move my legs into position for me to perfectly set. I visualize Mari, our lean, artificially blonde wing spiker, sprinting swiftly towards the net. The tips of my fingers tap the ball and it goes sailing, landing right on the furthest empty bottle.

Tobio's eyes go wide, evidently in awe. Guess he hasn't seen many setters that are better than him as of the late, besides maybe Kenma and Akaashi. "How'd you to that?"

I giggle, a smile spread across my face as I turn to face him. "Visualize. That's key when it comes to practicing setting by yourself." I grab him by the shoulders and lead him to the setter's position. "Imagine Shoyo over there, getting ready for his approach to spike. Then imagine you're setting to him in a game."

I toss him the ball and Tobio sets it. His expression radiates deep concentration as his body moves. The ball sails through the air in an elegant arch and suddenly drops to the ground, knocking over a bottle with a loud clack.

"Nice!" I grin, giving him a teasing peace sign which he rolls at his eyes. But he clearly is pleased with himself.

My stomach rumbles and Tobio chuckles slightly before catching himself. "I think I'll grab something from the vending machine," I say, grabbing my bag from a bench. "I'll be back."

I head out into the dimly lit hallways of the school, trying to remember where those vending machines are. Right before I fully turn right, I hear voices that make me come to a halting stop.

"…Karasuno…that shortie…but their third-years…"

I frown and lean against the wall to listen in. It sounds a lot like Ubugawa's captain and possibly a few other people. What are they saying about us…?

"I'm saying that they're a huge threat," someone says, urgency in his tone. "They have Kageyama Tobio from Kitagawa Daichi, the King of the Court! They all say he's the next Oikawa Tooru!"

"Yeah, right," another retorts, his sarcasm aggravating me quite a bit, but I hold back from coming out of my hiding spot. "Kageyama Tobio is just a dictator who no one follows."

There's a short pause. "But didn't you see their game with Nekoma the other day? He and that orange-haired shortie of theirs are trying out something new. And if it works…," a new voice adds worriedly.

"Shut your mouth, Kengo," spits the previous voice spitefully. "They're still new at this. They all have their individual things, but as a whole, they're not even close to anyone else here."

"What are you doing?"

Chills running down my spine, I flinch at the voice that whispers in my ear. I whip around to see Kuro standing there, a cheeky smirk on his face. I simply put my finger to my lips to silence him. He rolls his eyes but remains by my side as we continue to listen.

"I think you're the one who should shut your mouth," the first person exclaims. "Don't think you're all high and mighty. They may have lost all their first few games, but they're getting better, no doubt."

Their footsteps sound against the concrete floor. "Whatever. I still think they're just average." Then, much to my horror, I realize they're heading in our direction. I panic, wondering what I should do so it didn't look like I was eavesdropping.

"Please play along," I murmur to Kuro as I grip at his shirt and pull him towards me, his soft lips finding mine. We passionately kiss for what feels like forever until the echoing noise of their footsteps stop and I know they're behind us.

I pull away and give them a pointed look. "Uh, excuse you?"

They all appear really uncomfortable at the sight of us, even the normally straight-faced captain of theirs.

Of course, he is the first to recover and try to clear the air. "Aren't you Karasuno's coach?" he asks.

"Yeah! You're Karasuno's coach, right?" chimes in a shorter blonde.

Where is this even going? "Uh, yes, I am," I reply, keeping my fingers entwined with Kuro's for my personal reassurance. And he clearly doesn't mind.

The last stares at me. "Oh my god, you're Kageyama Mei, aren't you?!" he cries, jumping a little. "You were the captain of-"

"Japan's girls volleyball team," I cut him off quickly. "Yeah, that's me."

The other two look completely thrown off. "Seriously? I'm really sorry; I didn't mean to be rude about your brother," one apologizes.

Suddenly, I feel really embarrassed. They are pretty nice guys in general. "No, no. It's okay. We are still a new team, but I really appreciate you guys acknowledging our improvement." I start to walk away, dragging Kuro along with me. I stop for a moment to turn and say, "Let's keep what you guys just saw a secret, hmm?" I wink and leave.

When we're well away from them, Kuro pulls at my arm to stop. His mouth quirks into a small grin. "So, I guess that means you like me too?" he says hopefully.

I sigh. "I suppose we can try." I return his smile. "And you're a good kisser anyways."

"Much appreciated."

The next night:

"You guys are so boring," I groan, lying down on the bench tiredly. "Back and forth, back and forth. Someone needs to get a lead or something."

I can hear Tsukki tutting, evidently annoyed. "Why don't you play then?"

"I'm not the one who has a tournament coming up," I answer. I turn on my side to watch the game.

Bokuto leaps into the air gracefully and slams the ball to the ground, to which Kuro snappishly cusses under his breath. "Yahoo!" Bokuto cries in delight, high-fiving Shoyo.

Kuro looks over to Tsukki and Lev. Lucky them; they get an earful of Kuro's no-nonsense talks. "Don't try to block by centering yourself to their body. Center yourself with their dominant arm instead," he instructs. (direct quote from episode) He then carries on with a speech that lasts for an eternity.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Tsukki interjects. "I mean, I'm your opponent technically."

I widen my eyes, remembering when I told…Toru to teach Tobio despite them eventually becoming opponents. Three years ago…and look what's changed. Or should I say, who…

"I'm just nice."

I nearly choke on my water at this, scoffing, "And Tsukki's the kindest person on the planet."

The said blonde glares daggers in my direction but I shake it off indifferently.

"Okay, fine. I just want to bring back the Battle at the Garbage Dump for Coach, y'know? He's done a lot for us and it's my last year," confesses Kuro.

I smile to myself. "Alright, alright. Carry on with your game."

Later:

"Typical Bokuto. Taking the easy way out. I'm surprised it worked."

Bokuto sticks his tongue out at me but Shoyo beats me to saying something to him.

"What was that? Why'd you hit the blocker's hand?" he asks excitedly.

Being himself, Bokuto suddenly fills up with pride in himself. "Well, if you know that your spike isn't going to work, you can hit the blocker's hand and try again."

"Though it usually doesn't work. It's just a fluke because God's being nice to Bokuto today," comments Kuro, to whom Bokuto glares at.

"Come on, give me a game I can get excited about!" I tell them as they hurry back onto the court after a short water break.

Akaashi sets the ball to Shoyo but what with the three extremely tall blockers, even he won't be able to make it. Well, well, well, what will you do now, little crow, after you've received a new bit of information?

Still, Shoyo slams down the ball but I'm surprised. The ball hits the tip of Lev's finger and in his surprise as well, it falls to the ground on the opponent's side.

A grin forms on both Shoyo's and my face. Well, this is new…and could just be something special for him…

The last day of training (Mei POV):

I give a hard stare at Ukai who looks completely unfazed. "Are you kidding me?"

"Not at all."

"You're joking."

"Nope."

"I'm ending this damn training camp with a win if it's the last thing I do. And you bloody let us play Fukurodani?!" I yell at him angrily.

Ukai calmly nods. "All the more better if we win. Now hurry up and get inside. The game's starting," he instructs, as if he were my father.

I follow him inside and the pre-game mode unfolds before my eyes. Of course, the respectful second and third years are about, warming each other. While Tobio and Shoyo on the other hand…

"I want to do the falling toss! That's all I ask for!" cries Shoyo, his pale hands in fists by his sides.

"And I'm telling you that we shouldn't rush it," Tobio answers coolly. He folds his arms across his chest defiantly. "If you keep missing it, there's no point."

"We haven't even tried it yet! I've been practicing too, you know!?"

Tobio sighs, annoyed. "I know that! But I don't want to rush it! It's not just for me, okay?"

A crease forms between Shoyo's thin brows. "You're acting really weird. Why are you worried about me, today of all days?" he asks, suspicious. "You know, I believe in you, right? I think we can do this. I trust you, even though you doubted me before. So, fine. If we don't do it, fine." And with that, he walks over to Noya-senpai to warm up, leaving Tobio utterly stunned.

I want to talk to him personally but I don't get the chance. Ukai already has the team in a huddle and is talking to them in a low voice. Well, I guess we'll have to find out what happens next.

I kind of wrote this on a limb but I hope you really liked it. 25 follows omg that's crazy! Thank you all and please share, comment, all that good stuff! Love you xx