The Complex

by YunaBrown

Where some of them are confused, some are simply out of sync. Secrets abound every corner of their home, and just when the housemates are getting through some thick plots, someone is coming back home. Will he be of any help? Or will he stir the chaos just barely starting? "Can you step on it please? I'm in a bit of a hurry." PoT/OC. M rated just to be safe.

37. Chapter 37

A/N: Hey y'all! :D

I know, I know—I suck. BIG TIME! I hope this looong chapter will make up for my super-duper late update. One month. Holy Sh*t. But yeah—can't really blame me people.

Okay. Enough babble. Go. Read.

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Thanks to each and every one of these awesome people for the reviews/favorites/follows!

AnImEbLuEpRiNcEsS13 , RockPrincess410 , sweet-Lia , le me fan, Espeon14, Guest (please do include your name next time so I can thank you personally!), XxBloodandButterfliesxX , Devil'sBlade, A.K. Heredia , Tinavb, Ree , Guest (as stated above..:D), Nogizaka Ayumi

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Disclaimer: I do not own PoT- at all.

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Chapter 37: And There You Go, Blocking My Way

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Letting everything he heard from the sidelines in and out of his ears, Sanada refocuses at the game—which he really should be giving his utmost attention to, given the fact that he is playing against Tezuka Kunimitsu.

(Not that he isn't doing that of course, but some things you can't just let pass—idiots, for example. Blonde, green-eyed idiots—to be more specific.)

(His hand curled around the small, green ball even tighter, almost distorting its form.)

He is not jealous, of course—Sanada snorted to himself upon hearing Sugimoto's exaggeratedly loud (and stupid) question. What a preposterous idea that girl has!

Bouncing the ball once, twice, Sanada served—bullet fast—towards the left side of Tezuka's court.

Returning it was a piece of cake for the lemon-haired male, and a rally once again started.

Why would he be jealous anyway? Hitting a forehand, Sanada dared a glance at his female housemates currently engaged in a heated discussion over whether he is indeed jealous or not. (He supposes some of them were trying to be discreet about it, but Sugimoto-san certainly isn't.)

Unintentionally hitting a guy with a tennis ball just because he is being too close to a girl you don't even like is not jealousy—Sanada believes so. It's not his fault that the ball he used to serve swerved mysteriously towards the outstretched left hand of the captain, hitting said limb just two centimeters shy from the wrist. It was a hundred percent (un)intentional. And even if he did injure Asakura's hand, Sanada couldn't have been bothered. Asakura doesn't need his left hand to play tennis anyway.

And besides, why would Sanada even care if another guy is just a few centimeters away from Risa Shiraishi? He shouldn't care even if their faces are just a breath away from each other that they are almost kissing from Sanada's vantage point.

(His backhand sent the shot almost too wide, and at the other side—Tezuka doesn't know whether to be annoyed or amused that his opponent is obviously too distracted by the scene at the court sidelines.)

Eyes narrowing, Sanada grips his racket a little too tighter, before hitting the incoming ball with just a little too force. Realizing his mistake, Sanada can only watch with disconnect as the ball sails over the net, swerving to the right.

Grunting, Sanada runs to his left, hitting a particularly fast curving ball back to the left side of Tezuka's court.

The sound it made brought a cringe out of the watching crowd, but even more so from his housemates who is amusingly watching Sanada's…interesting reaction to Asakura Kyo's flirting with Risa Shiraishi.

(At the other side of the court, the male Shiraishi is getting more and more annoyed by the minute, and so he decided to approach his esteemed captain, and drags him away from the slightly flustered Risa.)

A bit relieved upon seeing the blonde yelping while leaving the courtside (with Shiraishi dragging him, of course), Sanada returns to the game along with his calm.

He shouldn't really care about those things anyway (but he couldn't help but do care)—because it is stupid, everything else considered.

Right now, what Sanada needed to focus on is how to break the famed Tezuka Zone, not how to break the face of a certain blonde, green-eyed male captain.

"Out! 15-30!"

…

"Sanada-kun isn't...losing focus, is he?" Amused, Oshitari asks the smiling Yukimura on his right.

The smile turning benign, Yukimura lets his eyes rest on Sanada, before turning them to a flaming Risa Shiraishi. "Ah...I think he might be, Oshitari-kun."

Yukimura thought it quaint (in his peculiar, slightly sadistic way of seeing things) how Sanada is trying to show he isn't the least affected by what the captain has done, and failing miserably so. A very uncharacteristic sight indeed. Sanada has always been discreet if not more than overly prudent, and so to see him like this-

Shifting on his left foot, he lets his eyes scan his surroundings- taking notice of every minute detail changes that are apparent and hidden, the subtle shift in the air, the atmosphere, the light and glint in the eyes of the people he knows and care about. There is something...different. Not unwelcome, but nevertheless, different.

And he suddenly realizes that a lot of things have already changed, and that they are going to affect a lot of people, especially those around him. Not that he is worried. It is rather...exciting.

"Shiraishi-kun can sure be over-protective eh?" Amused, Oshitari commented as they saw said male make his way towards the other side of the court, face showing displeasure at the way the captain is way too close to his dear cousin- who remains almost frozen on her own two feet.

The two exchange a chuckle, assuming a nonchalant disposition just as a stern-faced Shiraishi returns, dragging the screeching Kyo Asakura with him.

The captain is screaming bloody murder at The Bible, but the sandy-haired male merely eyed him with contempt and a tight-lipped countenance.

Yukimura couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him at the scene.

Oh yes, he is angry and livid and downright suicidal is the person who has the guts to approach Shiraishi Kuranosuke right now.

Yukimura isn't taking his chances.

Ignoring the glare that the blonde captain sent him, Yukimura asks the pouting Asakura- a beautiful smile still lingering on his lips. "So...how's your wrist, captain?"

He was answered by a barrage of expletives, though it wasn't enough to drown the chuckles and snickers from the other members of the club that erupted at the question.

...

In the meantime, a certain Risa Shiraishi is nearing her boiling point.

She feels like every single pair of eyes is looking at her, just because Asuna Sugimoto is delirious enough to make such a stupid, stupid assumption and shouting it out for the whole world (or campus or tennis courts or whatever) to hear.

Even awkward is not enough to describe what Risa's situation is.

Well—she frowns, fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt and evilly contemplating on what best way to kill a certain ash-blonde female housemate of hers—maybe embarrassed and annoyed and irritated and downright livid would help.

A snickering Asuna is just making things peachier by the second. (Can someone hear sarcasm dripping in heaps from that statement?)

"Shut the hell up Sugimoto," she growls deep in her throat, shooting daggers at the ash-blonde girl, "or else I'll make you. I swear I will." It is not a threat, Risa swears to herself. There are so many ways she can do that, and Risa hopes Asuna knows and realizes that.

Sadly, Asuna does not.

Completely ignoring the threat, Asuna only stares at her with a smug, satisfied lilt of her lips.

It is no question that the ash-blonde female just loves riling Risa every chance she get, and this here is a golden opportunity to do so. After all, who would've thought Sanada 'The Rock' Genichiro would act like that? Asuna believes they should make the most of the situation, because who knows if this will ever happen again, right?

"Come on, Risa-chan..!" she drawls, making Risa seethe even more, "Don't you just love what happened back there?" she asks, batting her eyes lashes at the rapidly reddening Risa. "Don't you feel absolutely happy to have Sanada-kun vent all his anger and jealousy into that shot that, sadly, did not break that blonde's arm? I'm sure your heart—if you do have one—is pumping like crazy because of happiness right? Ohhh.., I never thought I'd see the day Sanada-kun would get jealous like that—!"

"He is not jealous goddammit!" Risa shouted, stomping a foot to emphasize her childish point, cutting the rest of Asuna's idiotic words. Her face is flushed pink—with anger, she'd like to insist—and her eyes are darkened green enough with glints of fury and incredulity to make braver men to scurry in fear.

Asuna was braver than they give her credit for though, as she only blew a strand of her hair out of her face with a bored expression perfectly worn. Seething, Risa stubbornly tilted her chin up, crossing her arms in front of her in a show of disbelief.

In front of her, Chisaki is smiling in her usual annoying way, and even Akutagawa is grinning like an idiot—having been 'updated' of the incident, by Hikari no less.

Risa wanted to smack the brown-haired girl for being such a tattletale.

Glaring one last time at the still-smugly smirking Asuna, Risa lifted her chin and said, "He is not jealous", daring the others to refute her statement.

Misaki thought it was a rather too defensive of Risa, but the strawberry-haired girl smartly kept her silence lest the enraged (and flustered) Risa decided to turn her anger on her.

Kaede is sighing in reverence—quietly hoping this day to end; Hikari is smiling in a way that further irritates the green-eyed girl.

Risa very much wanted to wipe that smile off Hikari's face but— there is someone else's smirk she very much would like to erase. Like, right now—and in a very ugly, deliberate way she can muster—

She knew she shouldn't have made friends with the ash-blonde witch.

Flicking her hair over one slender shoulder, Asuna regarded Risa with a look of superiority. "Of course he's not," she lazily agrees, russet eyes sparkling with devious glints that disprove her earlier words, "that's why he very nearly injured the guy who was dumbly trying to put the moves on you!"

Not to say Sanada looks absolutely livid—Asuna cackles internally. Surely that would count for something, right? If not—well, there are other ways to make it count.

Oh yes, there are so many other ways…(insert manic laughter here).

Risa—on the other hand—is adamant that what happened does not carry anything significant, at all. After all, why would Sanada be jealous? He does not like her like that—heck, Risa isn't even sure if he likes her at all. Surely she'd know if Sanada does like her, right? Not that she is curious or anything, just for the sake of argument really.

Really—she added mentally, for emphasis.

It doesn't even matter to her whether he likes her or not. It's not as if she likes him either—not that she doesn't like him, just—not like that.

She can feel her face warming even more.

Risa mentally groans at the thoughts running through her head. Thinking about whether she likes Sanada or if Sanada likes her is giving her a giant headache. This is all that blonde idiot's fault!

And Asuna.

And Sanada—but mostly, Asuna.

Seriously, just because Asuna has warped ideas in her head doesn't mean she can include everybody around her in her rabid delusions.

Glaring heatedly at her still smirking housemate, Risa decided to end the useless argument with a stern statement of —"Sanada did not injure the blonde-idiot because of jealousy because he's not jealous okay?!", along with a glare that told the others to not make the situation any worse by responding.

The other girls did not respond to that in words, yes—instead—

Misaki shot her the smile she reserves for answering stupid questions (because she is too kind to be saying anything nasty or stupid in return); Hikari threw her a small smile filled with hidden meanings (that Risa doesn't really want to discover or know); Kaede eyed her in a way that never fails to make Risa feel like she is being incredibly stupid and unreasonable (which she kind of feels like right now); and Asuna—

Sighing deeply, Asuna gave Risa an unfathomable look—before tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, russet eyes never leaving Risa—(it has always occurred to her that those eyes can be either that of an angel or the devil).

"Please, Risa." She started, sighing in a way that is weary and bored. "We're not idiots, and I do think you aren't too. A male only ever act like that when he is jealous or being stupid and attention-seeking—and we both know Sanada-kun isn't the latter. Just who are you convincing anyway?" She asks, stopping to stare deeply into Risa's—russet meeting emerald—"Us… or yourself?"

Risa was left gaping at her with open mouth and wide, blinking eyes.

…

"Game and Set, Tezuka! Seven games to six!"

One hour, fifteen minutes and ten seconds.

Letting out a deep, tired breath, Sanada made his way towards the net to shake Tezuka's hand. Their game finally ended after nearly one and a half hour, with Tezuka overpowering him yet again.

1-2; that is their win-lose record in the course of their, well—rivalry.

"That was a good game." Tezuka said as they both turn on their sides to step out of the courts.

"Ah." Agreeing, Sanada nodded his head, lifting his hand in a familiar gesture—before realizing that he is not wearing a cap. This might be the first time he's ever played without one, and could very well be the reason why he felt a bit bare earlier.

Well, nothing he could do about it now. The game is done, and he has lost. Though losing to Tezuka is not that disappointing—the fact that he might not make it to the team is.

He has hoped to once again play with Yukimura and the others, but as they say, maybe one can't really have it all.

A burst of cheers from the other side of the court broke through his thoughts, and Sanada found himself beside Tezuka watching the still on-going game between Fuji and Atobe.

To think that the two are still playing even after Sanada and Tezuka are done with theirs…

It made Sanada to think that this game may not be just a simple tennis elimination game.

"Who do you think will win?" Sanada asked the male beside him. Amongst all of them present at the courts today, only Tezuka has enough experience playing both Fuji and Atobe, and so he has the most insight as to who is better.

The Tensai—with his god-like tennis moves and unthinkable potential soaring leaps and bounds higher than expectations—or The King—whose Insight can see through any and all techniques in a matter of seconds, exploiting weaknesses and using it to destroy his opponent in a ruthless yet elegant fashion.

Two players who could have very well be playing at the professional circuit—players whom even foreign scouts have clamored and fought for, only to be refused with an angelic smile and a haughty upturn of a nose.

Sanada couldn't even start to think who is better between the two.

"Hn."

But of course, Tezuka won't voice out whoever he thinks is better. No, it is better for them to witness it for themselves.

Sparing the game with one last look, Sanada followed Tezuka out of the court and into the bench where the rest of their team awaits.

…

"Out! Game and Set, Fuji Shusuke, seven games to six!"

Finally!—was the thought that came to each of the spectator's mind as the umpire calls out the last point of the game.

Atobe stood there with the tip of his racket at the ground, his grip at the handle tight as it can be—knuckles pale and white, and his fingers digging into the calloused skin of his palm.

He…lost. Atobe Keigo lost, to Fuji Shusuke—the Tensai. It is almost unbelievable—unthinkable—but there it is—the result of the game that is not only of tennis.

They both know it is not only a game of tennis.

It is something more—something more meaningful and valuable. Something that Atobe knows he wanted more than anything else. And now that he lost, Atobe couldn't help but feel annoyingly amused at the way their first battle had gone.

He shot Fuji ice and tried to lure him to his game—but Atobe didn't know that Fuji is ice himself. That small miscalculation had cost him this battle. Now, he was beaten, convincingly so that it is irking him immensely.

He has lost. Beaten...Defeated.

Eyes on the ground—unblinking—Atobe replayed the words over and over in his head—all the while leaving a bitter aftertaste in his lips and gut.

"Ready to lose, Fuji-kun?"

"As ready as you are, Atobe-kun."

They exchanged those words before stepping into the courts, and Atobe was confident he will win—after all, he is Atobe Keigo.

Yes, he did suffer defeat before. But he must admit Tezuka Kunimitsu and Echizen Ryoma were rival opponents that are—if not lower or slightly higher—in his level of excellence in tennis. His defeat in their hands was disappointing but not unwelcome.

But this particular one—

With narrowed eyes, Atobe raises his face to stare at the lithe form that was standing proudly (though not boastful) at the other side of the court. Atobe has seen Fuji play a couple of times—against Oshitari, Akutagawa—even against his own younger brother—Akaya Kirihara, and so on…but never has Atobe seen the Tensai in such a form.

He is—in lack of other proper words—godly. From the very first shot to the last one, Fuji's calm facade did not falter—his eyes never showed surprise or frustration or anything…It was as if he already knows what is going to happen, and is merely letting it happen.

Grating on his skin, something that even Atobe's Insight couldn't do—predicting the outcome of a game. Is this part of being a Tensai?—Atobe wanted to ask, to know. He is certain Oshitari hasn't shown this very trait in all the years the two of them have known each other.

If that is the case then— is this maybe something only Fuji Shusuke can do?

Atobe would very much want to know the answer to that question.

But no matter— Tensai or not— Atobe will not back down. Fuji may have won this battle, but their war has just begun. They still have a very long way to go, and Atobe will make sure Fuji will never take a single point from him ever again.

…

Fuji, on the other hand, is eyeing his opponent—fallen and unbelievably so—with cold and open sapphire-blue eyes. Their game went on longer than he has expected, than what he would have wanted. But since it is Atobe Keigo, Fuji doesn't mind too much.

It only means that he can expect an interesting game from a worthy enough opponent— from here on, until one of them wins.

Of course, Fuji would be the victor, no matter what. That much he has decided.

Making his way to the net to meet his opponent, Fuji took notice of how Atobe's stance never even changes after their game. Strong, confident and just a bit haughty—every bit his self-proclaimed royal self.

They met in the middle of the court, with the net between them—swaying, as if the wind is trying its hardest to lull it so.

The tension between them is surely felt and seen by those who know them—but Fuji and Atobe will not be deterred. They are—after all—first and foremost, warriors. More than warriors.

Somehow—

The King and the Knight, with their Queen watching them both with wide, violet eyes, trembling hands and pale lips— an utter of a name slipping past them in a whisper.

Stretching his hand, Fuji lets a smile slip past his lips.

Atobe answering him with a smirk.

They grasped each other's hand in a firm handshake, before turning their backs on each other and walking out of the courts.

This is just the beginning of an end.

And they both know it.

…

The door to the tennis locker room banged open as Kyo Asakura enters through it with a look of fury in his green eyes. The people inside immediately straightened up as the captain made his presence and anger known.

(Though Shiraishi is currently glaring at him darkly from where he is standing at the back of the room.)

Placing himself in front of his (messy) desk, he started shuffling the papers that bear the names of the players who have tried out, as well as the results of their games.

"Great. Brilliant. Absolutely awesome—"

"Please stop with the sarcasm, captain."

Huffing, Kyo glared at his annoyingly calm vice-captain with his angry green eyes. "Shut up and let me finish, Kitamura."

When provoked, Asakura can be very, very dangerous—Kitamura knows that better than anyone. But even the quiet vice-captain isn't very happy with how his captain is visibly trying to kill certain people (mostly two, but yeah) inside the room.

They needed players who have all their limbs intact—and so his captain has just to suck it up.

Sighing, Kitamura runs a hand through his black hair, lips tugging downwards to show his displeasure at being glared at without any reason. "Just tell them about when we are going to post the results, captain, so we can get out of here and eat. I am sure you are hungry."

"I am not!" Kyo answers in a raised voice, eyes twitching as he hears a couple of snickers and chuckles from the brats who have tried-out, as well as his club members and regulars. "And stop laughing at me if you brats want to be in the team!"

The whole clubroom fell silent, though the looks on the faces of the regulars are that of amusement—and just a little bit of bemusement on the others'. Kitamura can't blame them though, as their captain is a little bit on the unconventional—even by his standards. And for the new bloods—who were standing a little to the left, creating a sort of gap between them and the members and regulars—that is something that leaves a not so very good impression of the club.

Not that it matters—the trophy standing proudly at the center of the room is enough proof of what this team is made of- what they represent. No blonde, green-eyed (sometimes) idiot of a captain will change that.

Clearing his throat, Kyo aimed a pointed look at certain people standing at the back, green eyes assessing them one by one. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by our dear vice-captain—"he spats, glaring at the male standing beside him, "the games were great—more so than the others I've watched the whole time I am the captain. That means for three years, just to remind all of you."

The blunt reminder was met with nervous glances to the side, shuffling feet and clearing of throats. They all know that in ToDai, being a captain for a year is something of an achievement.

Being the captain of the famed tennis club is even bigger.

To do that for three consecutive years is an unthinkable feat. Asakura Kyo was the only one to have done that. And for most of them, that is something to be reckoned and recognized with utmost respect.

For others though—

"Intimidation huh?" Yukimura murmured, lips lifting at the corners. "Interesting."

Sanada sighed beside him. "Yukimura."

The bluenette merely smiled at him, before facing the front once more.

"And so," Kyo was saying, "it will be a bit difficult to decide on who amongst you will be lined up for the regular spots remaining. We only need two—and that is mostly for a doubles pair. We all know most of you here are not doubles material." At this, his eyes found Tezuka, Sanada and Yukimura-who all but returned his gaze with hard, blank and amused ones, respectively. "The singles slots were full, and we cannot vacate them for any of you."

They all know whom he is referring to—

"So that means most of you will be chosen as members—reserves, mostly—while those who have shown aptitude for doubles will be considered for the regular—yes, Fuji-kun?"

'Tch! Can't even wait for me to finish talking!' Kyo grumbles mentally.

Fuji—head tilted to the left side, eyes closed, soft smile in his lips—hummed, nodding his head gently, his brown hair falling to his face and over his brows, his raised hand falling slowly to his side. The others are looking at him—waiting for whatever it is he wanted to say.

"I just want to ask…" he started, soft voice floating around the room (Tezuka sighing beside him), "does that mean that as long as the regulars are here in ToDai, the other members won't have a chance to be regulars? Wouldn't it be unfair?"

"I…didn't say that." Kyo visibly shuffled at that.

"Oh?" Still smiling, Fuji nodded once more. "Then do enlighten us, please."

"Well," shrugging a shoulder, Kyo threw his vice-captain an uncomfortable look, "the members can take over a regular's spot…if said regular loses a game to a non-regular member. Your position in the line-up speaks for your skills. Singles 1 is the best player, followed by Singles 2 and so on. We have intra-club ranking matches every month to determine the line-up. So far, there weren't any changes."

"When is the intra-club matches then?" Oshitari asks, and shoved in his pockets as he nonchalantly stands beside Atobe.

"End of the month." Kitamura answers. "But before we talk about that, let us decide on who is going to be accepted into the club first." He doesn't like the way that the discussion is going, and he knows the captain is nearing the end of his (very short) patience. "The results will be posted tomorrow. Training starts Monday. Any questions?"

Receiving a collective shake of head from the people in front of him, Kitamura then dismisses them, with a reminder to return to look at the results tomorrow.

Bowing, the twelve players and the other regulars went out, leaving the two inside.

Gathering the strewn papers containing results of the matches as well as some lists, Kitamura gestures to Asakura with his head, eyes following a group of recognizable players.

The captain merely grunted, though his eyes are still glued at the retreating figures, watching as the group approach the green-eyed girl (whom he didn't the name of) and her friends.

Kitamura chuckled, amusement rolling off of him.

"We have a couple of interesting players this year, captain." Smiling, Kitamura nodded at the silent Asakura, his blue eyes catching the slight movement of Kyo's facial muscles.

"Yes," slowly, Kyo answers, green eyes holding glints of unmistakable challenge, "we have a couple of very interesting monsters this year."

Monsters—mulling over the word, Kitamura made his way out of the club room, papers neatly folded and tucked in his arms.

Monsters—he thought it was the best term to describe the eight players he saw today.

…

At a bench just a few meters away from the courts, Kiyoko thumbs on the folder that has the list of the club try-out she and Yagyuu have to visit today. So far, they are almost half-way done. With the tennis try-outs out of the way, they only have volleyball and badminton, both will be this afternoon at the gymnasium.

Setting the folders aside after re-checking the try-outs schedule, she then picked up her camera and started to view all photos she has taken.

All the games were spectacular—as she has expected—but still, she couldn't help but feel thrilled while watching. It was not just a tennis game—there was art, power and something else she couldn't put her fingers on.

It was like time is frozen all around her, and the only things that are in motion were the players and the game. All sounds were muted except the bounce and hit of the ball, the loud crack when it met the strings of a racket, the 'swish' of then net when a shot passes it.

The footfalls on the hard court, the pants, grunts and trickle of sweat from each player.

How many times had she been in those situations in the past? Too many times she lost count. And each time—every time—she wished that time will just freeze, so she can get her fill of the moment.

But, that was not to be. She can freeze not the time, only the moment, in her frames.

Wasn't that one of the reasons she took up photography? To capture moments...special moments, freeze them so she can see it happen over and over again.

Today- today she's glad she was here to capture such moments, in real time and in her frames. She was especially happy to have witnessed some of the players she's admired from when she was in junior and high school play.

She has always admired them— some more than the other. But, she wishes...

"They are impressive, aren't they?"

Startled out of her thoughts, she turned her head to face Yagyuu, and Kiyoko's smile widens just a tiny bit. "Hai, they are. I heard you are housemates?"

"Ah, that is indeed true."

Humming, she sets her camera back on its place hanging from her neck. "This is why sensei puts you in-charge of the sports section huh." She chuckled at the thought of the cunning sensei wanting to escape the torture of always having to ask for club permissions.

"I would like to think she did that because she believes I can, rather than because of my somewhat close relation to some of the players." Wryly, Yagyuu said. Looking around him, he didn't notice Kiyoko smiling at him in an amused way, her polite façade slipping for just a fraction of a second.

Laughing softly, she patted Yagyuu's shoulder gently. "I'm sure it's the former, Yagyuu-san."

He stiffens just a tad bit on the contact, and Kiyoko's hand fell immediately to her side, her fingers fiddling with the strap of her bag.

It was awkward, but it lasted for only a few seconds.

Clearing his throat, Yagyuu said, "I sure hope so." Glancing at his wristwatch, Yagyuu nodded his head at the girl beside her, "We've taken enough pictures, yes?" he asks. She nodded, and he continues, "How about we have lunch then? Try-outs will resume at one o'clock." They still need to cover a couple of try-outs, volleyball being the last.

Yagyuu is looking forward to that. But first, he needs to feed his already complaining stomach. It will be terribly embarrassing if said part of his body started complaining in a loud manner.

Nodding, Kiyoko reaches for her bag lying at the bench she is sitting at. "That would be great Yagyuu-san, but, shouldn't you be with your friends instead?" she motioned to the group of people standing a couple of meters away from where the two of them are. One of the guys—the one with rusty-orange hair – waved at them quite enthusiastically.

Returning the wave, Yagyuu shrugs a shoulder. "I should. Would you join us then? I'm sure they won't mind."

That was…unexpected—to both of them.

Hoping to dispel the awkwardness that has settled because of his abrupt invitation, Yagyuu clears his throat along with a shrug of his shoulder. "My female housemates will be trying out for the volleyball team." If anything, Yagyuu is hoping Kiyoko to be the one to ask the girls questions about the try-outs, as they needed some bits of information from the athletes themselves. He did his part by interviewing some of the tennis players (his friends included) and some athletes from other clubs during the intervals of the games.

He can ask the girls himself, but considering there's Asuna and Risa…he'd rather have another female do the asking. Some of his female housemates are—after all—a bit unconventional when talking to any of him and his friends.

Kiyoko smiled. "I should have expected that." Her eyes went back to look at the cluster of familiar females, and thought she shouldn't let the chance pass by, but-

"Gomen, but I already have plans for lunch, Yagyuu-san." Apologetic, she smiles at him.

Yagyuu thought that should have been expected. "Ah, I see." Nodding at her, he motions at the folders. "You're taking them with you then?"

"I would, but if you want to look at them..." shrugging, Kiyoko handed the folder containing club schedules to Yagyuu. Gingerly, he took it from her.

"Ah. I'll see you later?" He asks, hand shoved in his jean's pocket, a curious yet polite look thrown at the female in front of him.

Bowing gently, Kiyoko acquiesces. "At the courts?"

"At the courts."

He watched as she turns around and wave one more time to him, her smile just a gentle stretch of her lips, the sunlight hitting her hair and splitting it into thousand shades of blue and black.

He decided they were beautiful colors.

…

Lunch, in the meantime, is…being such a bother.

The cafeteria they've frequented the last term is almost full, with only a few tables vacant—at ten before eleven in the morning.

Students are loudly chattering about—chairs scraping the floor, chopsticks and spoon and fork banging at the sides of saucers and plates and table. Bits of conversation flying around the place, some people are shouting, laughing, whispering loudly and whining and complaining—

It was like a place straight out of your worst nightmare—especially if you are sitting next to someone you'd rather not be with at the moment.

That is especially true for some of the housemates.

Stiff in his seat, Sanada thought that maybe killing someone and going to prison for it won't be as bad as sitting next to a stiff Risa Shiraishi.

(She had been ignoring him ever since he and the other males joined her and the rest. She never even so much as glanced at him, keeping herself plastered on Akutagawa's side—who suddenly became such an eyesore for him. Sanada couldn't figure it out, but decided it's for the best if she just stays away from him. That would mean peace for the rest of the day.)

(But still— her ignoring him is making him quite annoyed. And he doesn't like to be annoyed.)

Kaede, on the other hand, thought that hanging herself by her precious hair is a lot more fun of an experience than sitting beside a smiling Fuji Shusuke, while Atobe Keigo is directly at your opposite.

Cobalt-blue eyes narrowed at her when she congratulated Fuji for his win, pressing a kiss to his cheeks- close to his lips (but only because the Tensai teasingly tilted his face towards her at the last moment).

But then when she nodded at Atobe and simply admired his game, Fuji's hold on her waist tightened, before pulling her even closer to him, his lips pressed on her temple, eyes glittering coldly at the other male.

Kaede almost burned herself from embarrassment when her dear friends has teased her about it. How much is she going to suffer from this situation?!

As for the others, well—

"I can't believe I missed the games!" Wearing a slightly anguished expression, Chisaki grumbles beside Tezuka. She, of course, has wanted to watch her boyfriend play, but her department dean just has to schedule their monthly 'meeting' today, of all days.

Rolling her eyes, Asuna snatches a piece of chocolate pocky from Akutagawa. "Tch. Some kind of girlfriend you are, Chisaki." Said girl tried to glare at her, but couldn't do so effectively with food in her mouth.

"I'm sure Tezuka-kun understands, Chisa-chan. Right, Tezuka-kun?"

"Hn."

"…I guess that means 'yes'?" Unsure, Misaki smiles at the quiet male, chuckling at his stoic response as Tezuka merely stares at her. Sighing, he reaches out to brush back Chisaki's hair from her forehead, his hand lingering on her shoulder, before giving it a gentle squeeze. With a smile, Chisaki leans back in her chair, her shoulders cushioned by Tezuka's arm.

Asuna rolls her eyes at the two.

"Give me that chocolate fudge I ask you, Akutagawa."

"Me too!" Chirping from her seat, Hikari raises her hand, almost hitting Yukimura who was on her left. Chuckling, he held her wrist and pulls it down gently. Hikari threw him a bright grin.

"Hmm…? Why are you not eating anything, Risa-san?" Making sure Hikari has her chocolate fudge safely in her plate; Yukimura turns to the stiff and eternally silent Risa, smiling wider when the girl narrowed her eyes on him. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No." Gruffly, she mumbles, her eyes refusing to meet any of theirs, the flame in her cheeks still unabated. She's trying her best to contain it, but with fourteen other people around her in a table with a capacity of only 12, contact with the nearest person in inevitable.

That wasn't her problem though- the person beside her whose arms and thighs almost brushing with hers and eliciting goose bumps and disrupting her normally calm and steady breathing and heartbeat being Sanada is.

Granted, they've always sat beside each other, but- not like this. Why does Atobe-whatever needs to sit with them at lunch anyway!?

And why did that blonde-idiot have to do something stupid as to approach her and make Sanada do something equally stupid?!

And why did Asuna the Witch need to color the said action with some stupid notions such as Sanada being jealous?

And why the hell is she affected?!

Her head is near to bursting with unanswered questions, and to make matters worse- she's freaking hungry!

As if to remind her even more, her stomach grumbled- and laughter and snickers erupted in their table.

Groaning, Risa lets her face falls forward, her forehead meeting the table with a thump. "Ugh! Shut up!"

She didn't see Sanada's left hand raising, as if to stop her from falling face forward, but then retracting it just as fast as if he was burned.

But it sure didn't escape some very sharp pairs of eyes.

His face remained calm, but Shiraishi swears he saw Sanada's eyes soften at his cousin.

Catching the same, Asuna is now wearing her insufferable smirk once more. "Oi, don't injure the table with your forehead, Shiraishi."

"Shut. Up." Risa growled, not even bothering to lift her head from where it is slumped.

Asuna was more than ready to retaliate, but Misaki held her with a stare, blue eyes hard on her. Huffing, the ash-blonde girl sat back in her chair, crossing her arms.

Turning her attention to the slumping Risa, Misaki smiled. "You should eat something Risa-chan." She gently coaxes, "You can't do the try-outs in empty stomach."

The try-outs are at three o'clock, and they have to be at the courts at one for the warm-ups.

"Eat something Risa." From her seat, Kaede glared softly at Asuna, who snorted once more before mumbling something under her breath; Jirou chuckling beside her. "We don't want you collapsing in a heap before we even start."

"I'm not hungry." Risa answered, still slumping at the table.

Blinking, Jirou reacted. "Eh?! But that was your stomach earlier, right, Risa-chan?"

Chuckling, Shiraishi reaches out to pat Jirou's shoulder, his eyes carrying warning glints. "Ah, Akutagawa-kun, please don't make her mad even more."

"Eh?"

Smiling, Fuji nodded at the confused Jirou. "Let her be, Akutagawa-kun."

Confused, Jirou scratches his head before turning to Asuna and starting a conversation with the girl.

They did finish their lunch with no apparent murder or any forms of incidents (aside from Risa remaining temporarily frozen and silent whenever she's beside an equally stoic Sanada), and now, the girls are making their way to where the volleyball try-outs will be held.

The rest decided to stay under an old oak tree at the western side of the campus, near the Arts and Sciences building.

Jirou immediately fell asleep, leaving Atobe in the mercy of smiling sadists, smirking Tensai and two ice blocks.

He decided it was not his best idea to date, spending time with these people. But since he is Atobe Keigo and he does not do backing out, he sat himself down gracefully (as gracefully as anyone can do sitting down in slightly dried green patch of grass wearing sweat-drenched (and dried) tennis jersey and ruffled glorious hair) beside Tezuka, who is the best choice as far as he is concerned.

Yagyuu left as well, saying something about walking around the campus to gather results of other clubs' try-outs, alone, he added as the smiles from both Shiraishi and Oshitari- the two who saw him with Kiyoko Sato earlier- got wider and smugger.

(Oshitari did smirk about a certain Sato-chan, making Yagyuu think it is not one of his best ideas to tell the blue-haired male anything about his current partner.)

(Yagyuu's steps faltered at the last thought- current working partner- he corrects himself before continuing on his way.)

Being the only female among the group, Hikari decided she needed to visit the library to borrow a book for the meantime.

"Great!" Smiling, Shiraishi raises himself from where he was sitting beside Sanada, startling the male and the others. "I was about to go there myself. Shall we go together then, Hikari-chan?"

Yukimura thought Shiraishi is being too enthusiastic, but apparently, Hikari doesn't share his opinions on the sandy-haired Bible, as she nodded her head and smiles way too brightly at him.

"Okay!"

Yukimura should really stop Akutagawa from giving Hikari too much sugar at times like this. Smiling, he turns towards her, who is already getting up from where she is sitting.

"Do you need to go now, Hikari-chan? Can't it wait?" He just really doesn't want her to go with Shiraishi, alone—especially if they are going to the library.

Shaking her head, Hikari brushes a hand on her jeans, before running her fingers through her hair. "I have to read up for next week's first exams Yuki-chan. I won't have any time other than now to borrow books."

Ah, she will be busy, what with the endeavor she has enlisted herself to.

"Ah. Well, I hope you won't take too long to get your books." He said that to her, but his eyes were on Shiraishi, who is returning his stare with a blank one.

Shiraishi stands there, a distance from him, but Yukimura feels as if The Bible is neither close nor far. With the way he is standing a bit too tall, a bit too strong, a bit too imposing...

"We won't be long, I promise!" Breaking his thoughts, Hikari saunters over Shiraishi with a smile still in her lips, brown eyes laughing—decidedly ignorant of what is in Yukimura's mind at the moment.

"Let's go, Shiraishi-kun?" she asks, waving a cheerful goodbye to the others, before walking ahead of Shiraishi.

Nodding at his friends, Shiraishi followed her, but not before meeting Yukimura's eyes.

And what Yukimura saw so clearly in Shiraishi's eyes scared him..and rare are the things that scare Yukimura Seiichi.

The others watch as he stands there, eyes fixed on the two figures whose backs are at him, walking away...together.

...

Afternoon came too fast, Hikari decided as she is now hastily making her way towards the gym where the volleyball try-outs will be held.

She was with Shiraishi five minutes ago, but then he was called by a professor to discuss about something that he did not disclose, so now Hikari is alone.

She was glad and relieved to be so, for her nerves are still reeling from two hours of being with him.

She thought she will not be as affected by Shiraishi as she was before, but she found out that that wasn't the case.

The warmth of his touch on her elbow and shoulders still linger, his voice is still ringing in her ears, and that fondness in his eyes is still making her stomach tumble and turn, the butterflies fluttering inside her and filling her with a giddiness she hasn't felt for a very long time.

She decided it wasn't the best idea to come with him alone, and yet she couldn't find it in herself to turn her eyes away from him even when his was walking away, leaving her in the middle of the path as he makes his way to where he is meeting one of his instructors. She followed him until he all but turned a corner and disappears from her vision, only then she was able to move her own two feet and start making her way to where she was supposed to be minutes ago.

She spent nearly ten minutes watching him go, and the reason why she is now huffing and half-running and praying she won't miss her friend's try-outs.

Having to explain to them why would be detrimental to Hikari's health if ever that would happen.

"Kobayashi-chan..?"

The voice, decidedly female, made Hikari stop in her tracks. Looking around her, she found a blinking Ari Mitsuko a good two meters away on her right.

Her lips splitting in a wide smile that brightens her whole face, Ari skipped towards Hikari. "It's you Kobayashi-chan! Are you here to watch the try-outs as well?"

Smiling a little bit unsure, Hikari felt her arm being linked to Ari's. "Ah—Hai! Ari-san. My friends will be trying-out for the team. And you?"

In her red fitted, sleeveless top and denim skirt that reaches the middle of her thigh, it is safe to say Ari Mitsuko will not be trying out, and so the only plausible conclusion is that she will be a spectator just like Hikari.

Nodding her head, Ari confirms Hikari's question. "Hai! Sakura-chan will be trying out, and so I am here to support her!"

They are now approaching the doors to the gym, and somehow, walking side by side like they are now is making Hikari feel like a washed out rug compared to Ari.

In her usual dark jeans and light-blue shirt and flats, Hikari is bland and simple and boring in contrast with the bright and girly and pretty Ari.

No wonder almost everybody they've passed by was staring at the brightly smiling Ari.

With another blinding smile, Ari turns to Hikari. "Let's cheer for both our friends ne, Kobayashi-chan?"

Even her smile is brighter and prettier, Hikari thought as she nodded her head with enthusiasm she doesn't feel she has in herself. "Hai!"

...

Smiling in satisfaction, Yue turns to her captain and coach—who is yawning due to a late night date with one of her many boyfriends—before gesturing towards the hopefuls who are warming up on the courtside. It is twenty minutes to three, and they are about to start the try-outs.

"Am I a genius or what for bringing these girls and this crowd into today's try-outs?"

Admittedly, she only invited some very few players (five, to be exact), but Yue feels positively glowing inside knowing that she is the one who has convinced (cunningly so, Sumire wanted to add) these specific five girls to join the team.

Even their coach needed to blink more than enough for her lifetime (which would be a lot considering she is only a mere thirty-something years old) upon seeing their line-up for today.

Sumire begrudgingly patted Yue's shoulder for a job well done (complete with an eye roll and some muttering).

"The girls I admit were your doing," Sumire murmurs, eyes on the growing crowd, "but why do you feel the need to take the credit for this crowd?"

They never had this crowd in the years before, and so Sumire doesn't know what to feel while watching people fill in the seats. It is not a small venue either.

With a full capacity of a thousand, the gym is in no way can be called 'small'.

Smugly, Yue crosses her arms in front of her. "Well...why do you think we have this kind of crowd today captain?" she answers, gesturing to the crowd with her eyes. Sumire just stares at her. Sighing, she continues.

"We have this crowd because we have those girls, and since I was the reason why they are here, then by default this crowd is also my doing." She smirked at the tight-lipped response she got from her captain. "Oh don't be such a spoilsport captain! Let's just be happy that this year's championship is almost at the tips of our hands!"

"Don't jinx it!" Hissing, Sumire glares at her grinning vice-captain. "We're just in the try-outs Tanaka. Don't make such statements."

Inside, Sumire believes Yue. But still, they cannot be too overconfident or complacent. They still need to gauge these girls' skills and potentials. Boasting will come after that.

"Sumire-chan is right." Straightening from where she is crouched, Coach Rima Sakaki motions at the two girls, her eyes never leaving the girls at the sides of the courts. "It's almost time. Let's do this."

"Hai!" the two girls chorused.

...

Finding a seat at the almost full gymnasium was a bit hard, but Tezuka is thankful they came here earlier than most of the spectators. Their seats are almost at the front, giving them a good view of the whole court at such a close distance.

Though he must admit it is a bit distracting, seeing that his female housemates, especially his girlfriend are wearing such short and fitted attires.

"Saa...Is it just me, or are those shorts really short?" Frowning, Fuji asks beside him, his eyes falling on Kaede who is doing what Oshitari called 'digging drills'.

Indeed, they are short, but the blue-haired Tensai assured them that it is perfectly normal for volleyball players to wear such clothes. When Jirou (who was also frowning) attempted to ask another question, Oshitari raises a hand to stop him.

"Maa...You'll see when they started playing."

Tezuka doesn't want them to start playing. He wanted to take Chisaki out of the courts and cover her with something longer and more appropriate than what she is wearing right now and to bring her home where no one is to see her wearing such...scandalous attire.

But he knows he can't do that.

And so he will stay in his seat and watch and wait until this try-out is over.

Yukimura, who was silent all through the while they were waiting is now smiling once more as Hikari slides into her seat beside him, huffing with her cheeks red. Patting her back and letting his hand stay there, Yukimura eyes the girl that was with her.

Smiling, Ari nodded at Hikari. "My friends are waiting for me, so I'll go there, ne Kobayashi-chan!"

"Are you sure you don't want to sit with us?" Hikari asks, more out of courtesy than anything else. "There's plenty of space here." There are two vacant seats, one of which she has claimed for herself. The other she assumes, is for Shiraishi-kun.

Ari shakes her head, stepping back so as to leave. "Thanks, but I promised my friends I'll sit with them!"

Nodding slowly, Hikari smiles at her. "Okay."

Waving a goodbye, Ari left them with a smile.

"A friend, Kobayashi-chan?" Oshitari asks, eyes following the girl curiously.

Hikari hums. They are friends, aren't they?

"She's pretty." Jirou commented, garnering chuckles from the others.

"Prettier than Sugimoto-chan?" Ignoring Atobe's raised eyebrow, Oshitari teases the narcoleptic, who only smiles innocently at him in return.

"Sugimoto-chan is prettier, of course!"

"Of course." Chuckling, Oshitari shook his head along with the others. Jirou is just too innocent to notice Oshitari meant it in another way.

"Hn. They are starting." For the first time since they entered the gym, Sanada finally speaks.

Turning their attention to where the dark-haired male is looking at, they saw the girls lining up in two neat lines in front of each other, a tall girl with crimson eyes and dark-hair pulled into a tight ponytail at the top of her head walking in between them, giving instructions.

"Sumire Hayate, the captain." Yagyuu murmurs from behind them, Kiyoko already lifting her camera, poised to take shots.

"I have heard her name in the circuits before." Yukimura idly commented, absentmindedly laying his chin on top of Hikari's head. "She's one of the best spikers apparently."

"Open-spiker." Hikari corrected. "She played in her junior and high school as well—one of the best in that position. Sadly, she was dethroned from her title before she graduated." She can still remember the crimson-eyed girl's spiking form. She's deadly, but not enough to bring her team to the championship in her senior year.

"Should we ask by whom?"

Grinning, Hikari turns her face around to Yagyuu, who is smiling at her and Yukimura fondly. "I'm sure you already know, Yagyuu-kun!"

"Ah."

Smiling at the quiet girl beside Yagyuu, Hikari turns to her front, just in time to see the girls bow to each other, dispersing once the whistle was blown.

"I wonder what kind of try-out they'll be having though..." A little new to the sport, Jirou murmurs to the others, his eyes finding Asuna standing next to Chisaki, talking and gesturing with her hands.

Being the only one wholly familiar with the sport, Hikari pipes up from her seat, smiling. "Based on the groupings, they will probably have a point-match. This is going to be fun!"

...

Not.

Glaring at the girl opposite her, Risa reminded herself that killing someone (no matter vile the other person is) will not earn her a spot in the team.

"Fancy seeing you here, Shiraishi."

With her hair twisted into a tight bun at the top of her head, Sakura Temui's eyes glittered like gray-ice stones: cold and deadly.

She is garbed in her familiar gray and purple volleyball jersey, being from Hyotei and proudly bearing said colors. Her knees and elbows all covered, as customary when playing the sport.

"What are you doing here?" Bewildered, Risa almost snickered, if not for the fact that she really is confused as to what the girl is doing here—meaning the try-outs. She couldn't possibly be hoping to join the elite team, right?

"Trying-out." Curtly, Sakura's clipped voice answers. The other girls were already warming up, and she quickly dismisses Risa with an upturn of her nose, her heels thudding on the hard court as she stomps her way to the other team of girls.

"Still as haughty as ever, isn't she?"

Recognizing the voice as that of their vice-captain, Risa immediately turns around, dropping a customary bow towards the other girl, who only grinned at her.

"Sakura Temui." Her brown eyes amused at the girl's back, Yue stretches her hands above her, "I remember her to be a good enough middle hitter." She shrugs, "Good, but not enough. I wonder if she has improved."

Snorting, Risa crinkles her nose. "That girl will never improve unless she has something to prove."

"Or someone to surpass." Yue added, her eyes finding Risa's, an understanding passing between them, making both smirk.

Dropping her hands to her side, Yue rotated her neck, loosening the kinks she has in there. Risa almost cringed at the familiar sound of bones cracking. "No matter, let's get to it. I'm excited to see what you guys can offer."

Waving a hand behind her, Yue proceeded towards the side of the court, in front of where Risa's housemates were sitting. After nodding in acknowledgement, her eyes fell on a silent and stiff Sanada. Grinning, Yue winks at him, before turning back to Risa.

"Good luck Shiraishi-chan!" She hollers, brown eyes twinkling in amusement. "Sanada-kun will be watching you very closely!"

Fuming, Risa can only glare at the smiling girl whilst the whole court snickered and laughed.

Luckily, Sumire Hayate's glare was enough to silence them all.

"All right!" She shouted, eyes scanning around. "Enough messing girls! Teams, gather up! We'll start the game!"

With a collective sigh, the players all went to the middle of the court, grouped in eight.

"We'll have a practice game." Sumire started, a volleyball in her hand. "Earlier, we grouped you into two, with eight members each. We will have a very simple try-out process. You will play to win. The winning team will make it to the team, the losing team— well," here, she shrugged, an apathetic expression in her face, "will lose. Simple as that."

The sixteen girls all looked at each other, and opposite her, Risa stared at Chisaki and Asuna. She was surprised to find herself on the other team with both Misaki and Kaede, but she supposes the teams were drafted based on their relative skills. Having both Chisaki and Misaki in one team will not bode well for the other team. The same applies for her and Kaede. Asuna, being probably the best setter present, doesn't have so much competition right now.

But looking at the determined looks on the faces of the unfamiliar girls, Risa knows they too are good enough to be included in this shortlist.

This is going to be a difficult game.

"Are there any questions?"

Hearing none, Sumire then blew into her whistle, signaling the start of the game.

...

"Misaki in the middle will be a problem." Pulling her ponytail tightly, Asuna murmurs to Chisaki, who nodded her head, a thoughtful frown in her face.

Asuna felt a little bit nervous at that.

"Be sure to distribute your sets, Sugimoto."

"Hai, Buchou."

With a stern nod, Sumire turns to Chisaki. "And be sure to play like you did years ago, Kanai."

Smiling, Chisaki bows to her. "Hai, Buchou." Turning on her heel, Chisaki then walked towards her position at the back.

Teeth grinding, Sumire lets out a breath she doesn't know she's been holding.

"Let's do this."

...

Grinning, Yue faces Sanada—who is glaring at her as if he wanted her to drop dead where she is currently standing. Undeterred, she winked at him.

"Awww, come on Sanada-san..!" she coos, her hand brushing the strands away from her eyes. "I hope to hear you cheer for her! And you guys too!"

Chuckling, Oshitari nodded at her. "You are too energetic, Tanaka-chan."

"Are you going to officiate as well?" Yukimura asks, gesturing where the female captain is making her way towards the first referee's chair.

"Hai!" nodding enthusiastically, Yue grins at him. "I'll be the second referee because our coach is being too lazy at the moment."

If she is talking about the nodding female at the bench, then Tezuka and the others can clearly see Yue isn't joking.

"Ah."

"Well, ja!"

She then saunters off towards the court, placing herself near the post of the net.

Along with her and the captain, the other members of the team are taking the place of the linesmen, making sure the ball will not graze said boundaries.

Twelve girls are now at the court, with the four others sitting at the bench. Each team has designated a team captain, who will be the one to decide who's going to be playing for each team.

Team A (they couldn't decide on a cool name, and so settled for a simple one) is consisted of Kaede Furokawa (acting captain), Misaki Hoshino, Risa Shiraishi, Sakura Temui (3rd year), Kazuko Iguchi (2nd year), Saori Nagauchi (2nd year), Nami Yamada (2nd year) and Haruka Matsuyama (1st year).

Team B, on the other hand, has chosen Chisaki to be their captain. She is joined by Asuna, Natsumi Kirisaoka (third year), Inoue Yasushi (3rd year), Megumi Uehara (3rd year), Kana Moriyama (2nd year), Asuka Iwasaki (2nd year) and Shohko Funaki (1st year).

The teams were decided by the coach herself, at the short moment she was sober enough to make a coherent thought.

Deciding the first service was done via a toss coin, Kaede winning and so her team will be starting the game.

The crowd fell into an excited hush as the twelve girls stood on each side of the net, each placing themselves on their respected positions. The tension and excitement on the floor is faint though noticeable. And the girls' expressions are mirrored by their counterpart at the other side of the net.

Last year's try-outs were not as big as this. There was no sizable crowd, because there were no infamous players aside from Yue Tanaka, a second year with bright brown eyes and even brighter smile. She dazzled the crowd (what little there was) with her magnificent serves and spikes, taking the position of an open spiker against the admirable third years. It was no question why she was chosen, and after just few games, was decided to be the vice-captain of the team.

This year though, is different. Every person who had followed high school volleyball some two or three years ago is sure to know some of the girls currently on the floor. With some (if not all) of the country's most popular high school players all those years ago, this try-out will sure to be one hot mess.

And that is what the crowd is longing for.

The coach gave Sumire a signal, who in turn nodded, putting the blue and white whistle between her lips.

The sound of the whistle echoed across the whole place, and the game was on its way.

Saori Nagauchi, a second year, will be putting the volleyball into play. Dribbling the ball, her eyes surveyed the other side of the net. With Kanai, the tallest of the girls, at the back, the other team's front is not as powerful. They also do not have a player with floor defense as flawless as Kaede Furokawa.

She smirked. This will be easy taking.

Giving the ball one last bounce, she threw it up in the air, running as she did so and jumping just before the tip of her shoes touch the service line, her back in an arch like a bow.

Her wrist met the ball as it was on its descent, the impact like a train colliding with a building.

Fast and sharp, Saori's serve stole gasps and sharp intakes of breath from the crowd. Each person present watching with wide eyes and excitement written in their faces.

The ball sailed past the net in a sharp angle, almost tearing the head off of one Inoue Yasushi, who tried to get the ball but then ducked at the very last second.

'That jump serve may have rivaled Tanaka's!' Eyes following the ball, Sumire almost jumped out of her chair. The ball is still in the air, its trajectory dropping low, swerving to the left, out of the courts.

'My point!' Saori watches with glee, returning to her service position.

With a grin in her face, Yue watches the ball as if in slow motion. She knows how hard it is to receive that kind of serve- she perfected hers for the sole purpose of closing out sets.

But—her sharp brown eyes catching that split second movement on the left side of the court where the ball is landing—it is not impossible for someone to receive it perfectly.

With a burst of speed, Chisaki took three steps to get into position, crouching low to get the ball just before it touches the floor. She felt the power in her arms, but it did not deter her. Pushing her arms upwards, she directed the ball to a waiting Asuna, shouting orders to her team mates. As soon as the ball left her, Chisaki was up in her feet once again, back in her position, waiting.

On the other side of the net, Risa smiled. She knew Chisaki will get the ball. Her reflexes have never failed the dark-haired girl, and her long limbs and flexibility enables Chisaki to run fast to a position and crouch down low to get a ball in that height.

Moving to the net, Risa signed a play to her back, catching Kaede's nod along with the two others. Saori stood frozen in her feet, eyes wide as she watches her perfect serve returned and put into play. Risa lets her be for the moment.

With both teams' defense ready, Asuna sets the ball to her left, letting her spiker do the job. It was dug up well by Kaede, violet eyes squinting as she watches every movement in front of her.

Misaki is at the back with Saori Nagauchi, taking care of their back row defense. With Kaede crouched down low, they don't have to do anything else but to wait for a set from Risa.

The ball was received easily by Asuka Iwasaki, sending it Asuna in a high arc, giving the ash-blonde setter time to decide what to do with it.

'Now, what are you going to do with that, Sugimoto?' her green eyes sharp on the ball, Risa follows each and every movement Asuna is making: the widening of her russet eyes, the raising of her elbow to lift the ball, the arch of her back...

'Reverse set to Yasushi on the left!' urgently, Risa calls out to Sakura, who was on her right. "Block!" she shouted, moving while doing so.

Her body moving automatically to follow the order, Sakura was just in time so her fingertips touch the ball as Inoue Yasushi drills it to their side of the courts with a grunt.

The spike was strong, and Sakura felt it as her hands tremble. Behind her, Kaede moved as if lightning becomes her, diving to save the ball and sending it towards Risa in a perfect volley, getting out of the way as she rolls on the floor to her knees, palms down, eyes up in the ball.

Seeing the other team's defense in disarray, Risa's eyes made contact with Misaki's, and in a quick flick of her wrist, sends the ball to a set just above the net.

Misaki's height did the rest.

Quickly put away, Uehara, who is the acting libero of the other team, wasn't able to save the ball, skidding to the floor a second too late before her hand was able to reach it.

The crowd was torn between applauding and groaning as the first point was won.

Sumire's whistle blew, before she calls out the score. "1-0! Team A leads!"

With a collective sigh and scuffle, the game resumed as if the first rally didn't happen.

...

Releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding in, Oshitari blinks his eyes as Misaki and Risa slaps their fists against the other, a gesture between players after an excellent play.

Beside him, Fuji breathes out as well. "It was just the first point, but it sure feels intense."

The others nodded in agreement, and even Hikari gulps down hard as her eyes widen in excitement.

Serving once again, Saori sends the ball over with a simpler one, deciding not to exhaust her power doing her jump serve, especially if it can be easily returned.

A rally started, with players for both teams giving easy balls.

From his seat, Sanada lets his eyes follow Risa's movements. He doesn't know a lot about the sport of volleyball, but as far as he can tell, a setter's position is that of a game maker- calling out plays and setting them for the other players.

It is a position that requires quick decision making, and excellent read on the opponent's defense. She is good, he admitted to himself a little begrudgingly, as she once again gave a perfect set to Sakura Temui, bringing their team's score to 10.

The crowd is getting ecstatic, enjoying the show that the girls are putting, but somehow, Kaede feels something is still missing.

The game went on with Sakura Temui serving 10-3.

Asuna and Risa are both waiting for the right opportunity to use their own spikers, while Kaede is busy covering her own back court. Her eyes caught Chisaki still at the back row, their team only rotated once. How long until Chisaki comes to the net, where she is almost unstoppable? Kaede hopes then she will be able to play her position well.

Her legs are still a little too slow, her reactions not as fast as she wanted them to be, but with the easy balls she's getting, it doesn't really matter. But, Kaede knows the status quo will be broken, and soon.

It came when Asuna decided to use her middle hitter, sending the ball backwards to Kana Moriyama. With a leap, the right-handed spiker sends the ball barreling towards the middle of the left court, Misaki barely was able to avoid the sharp and fast ball.

Kaede dug it well, swiping the ball with her arms towards Risa, who then set it to Sakura.

Inoue Yasushi wasn't able to contain the ball, and so it fell on the floor, giving the other team another point.

Sakura and Risa stared at each other, neither wanted to acknowledge the other for the previous play. Clapping her hands, Risa calls out another play behind her back. With a nod, Saori serves once again.

...

"Looks like this is going to be easy for Risa-san's team, eh?" With a finger to his chin, Oshitari commented as Team A scored another one, bringing the tally to 11-3.

The rallies were long, as both teams seem to have good floor defense, though it is noticeable that Kaede is the superior one when it comes to digging the balls and keeping them in play. Asuna is good at setting, but it seems that she and her spikers are not too successful in their previous tries, with their spikes either too strong without any spin on it, or too wide and going out.

With a nod, Yukimura agrees as yet another point was scored by Risa's team, this time through a block made by Misaki.

Humming, Hikari shakes her head, a frown settling in her forehead. The game is going too easy for Risa and her team. Of course, she knows how good Risa, Kaede and Misaki are. But considering who they are up against with, it is a little bit concerning that Chisaki and Asuna are behind by that much.

Blinking, Jirou shook his head beside Oshitari. "Etou...I don't think that would be that easy, Oshitari-kun."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Jirou didn't respond, instead—his eyes focusing themselves on Asuna, who has both her arms raised above her head, as if to block.

The serve came fast, passing the net and swerving as it drops. Breaking away from the middle, Asuna waited for Uehara to receive the ball and passing it to her. Taking two steps backwards, Asuna sets it to her left spiker, the ball a little too close to the net.

Out of position, Inoue wasn't able to hit it full force, making it easy for Kazuko Iguchi to block it. Recycling the ball, Kaede passes it to Risa, with Misaki already running behind her.

Catching Misaki's movement, Asuna positions herself close to the net, readying herself for a block. With the ball set above the net, Misaki leaps into the air and slams the ball with her right open palm, hard.

12-3.

...

Chisaki has called for time out.

"We need to score, fast, or else they'll leave us behind and we'll lose!"

"We all know that, Iwasaki-san." Coolly, Chisaki smiles at the panting girl. "Take deep breaths- you're losing air."

The girl flushes, but heed her words.

Asuna is pursing her lips."They have good connections even though they don't know each other's games." They are, after all, probably from different teams in high schools.

Meekly, Uehara raises her hand, gray eyes wide. "Ahm...anou..." she fiddled with the hem of her shirt, her face reddening.

Putting a hand on the girl's shoulder, Chisaki tried to calm her down. "It's alright, Uehara-san. You're doing well. Just continue what you've been doing. Iwasaki-san."

"Hai?"

"How's your serve?"

Blinking, the girl mumbles. "Okay...I guess."

Nodding, Chisaki rotated her shoulder. "Good. Let's score in the next play. Asuna-chan, give the ball to me on two."

"Two?" eyebrow raised, Asuna stilled her eyes on Chisaki. "Getting serious, eh?" Smirking, she nodded to the others. "Get that floor defense working girls. We're scoring this time!"

"Hai!"

...

"That was awesome Hoshino-san!" Naguchi gushes as soon as they reaches the bench.

Flustered, Misaki bows her head in embarrassment. Beside her, Sakura raises an eyebrow. She must admit, that running hit was good.

"Okay girls," Risa started, "we're in the lead. But-"

"I know." Agreeing with a nod, Kaede turns her eyes to the other group in a huddle, blinking as she is still adjusting without her glasses. It's been a long time since she last wore contacts. "Let's keep this momentum. Be ready for a counter-attack though."

"Kanai is still at the back row, and she's doing nothing but dig the spikes that made their way pass our blockers." Sakura pointed out, hands pulling on her wrist bands. "Aside from her, those others are not that much. Even with Sugimoto setting, their team doesn't have much power. We just have to win before Kanai is in the front."

Sighing, Risa sends her a look. "If that is what you think, then you don't know shit about that girl." Her eyes traveled to where her friend is talking to some of her own team mates. "She's just studying us. By now, she and Sugimoto already knows where to send the next balls- who to target." Working on the kinks in her neck, Risa redirected her eyes towards the courts. "Naguchi, Iwasaki. Take a time-out. You two, replace them."

There were no rules given about substitutions, and so Risa thought this will be the best time to change some players on the floor. Chisaki has surely had the Naguchi and Iwasaki read, and so for the next five plays or more, the two will not be effective. They have to use different plays and combinations this time.

The two girls who were on the bench earlier beamed at Risa after getting the nod from Kaede. "Hai!" happily, they trudged on towards where the two other girls were standing, hands on their knees and huffing.

Judging from how deep their breaths are, Risa can tell that they cannot continue keeping up with the pace of the game. Another reason to bench them for the next five minutes or so, granting that their team won't be down by too much in those minutes to come.

"Let's do hope we finish this before Chisaki serves." She added, nodding at Sakura, sighing at the stubborn frown set on the other girl's brows.

Oh, right, the girl has a bone to pick with Chisaki—that being about one Tezuka Kunimitsu. Snorting, Risa left the girl to herself. It's not as if Tezuka will look at anybody else than Chisaki right now. She might as well forget it and move on to her next victim.

Frowning, Sakura follows the rest of the girls back on the floor, miffed.

...

The whistle blew once more, and Sakura sends a sharp serve towards the left of the courts, where Chisaki is positioned to receive it.

Grunting as her feet comes in contact with the floor once more, Sakura watches as her team mates scramble to block a spike coming from Kana Moriyama.

Diving on the floor, Kaede was able to get the ball and pass it to Risa. Her eyes quickly surveying the other side of the net, Risa notices that the middle is wide open, as both blockers were waiting on the side where Sakura is. Lifting the ball high, Risa left it for Misaki who was on her left.

With a grunt, Misaki's right arm hit the ball in a straight line to the courts, and with no blockers in front of her, the ball careened to the middle-

Uehara was able to save it, shouting as she rolled on the floor. "Get it Sugimoto-san!"

With the other players clearing the way for her, Asuna sets the ball in a high arch to her left- Inoue was waiting for her to do so.

Faster than they did earlier, Risa and Kazuko block the shot, delaying it and enabling Kaede to easily keep it in play. Setting it once again, Risa chooses Saori this time, a back row hit.

It was a strong hit, but then Uehara got to it once more, grunting as she did.

'She's good,' Kaede thought begrudgingly, but she can see exhaustion from the younger girl's face. Quickly, leaving the girl, she sought out the other players on the other side, the ball still high on air.

'Now, who are you going to choose, Asuna-chan?' With both her spikers on her either side, Asuna can go either way. Inoue Yasushi was on her position two steps outside the court: an open hit.

Kana Moriyama is on the back, also poised for a back-row attack.

Chisaki is behind Yasushi in the back row. Judging by Asuna's position in the middle, and the height of the ball— the set she most probably will do is—

"Back!" Risa shouted, startling Kaede from her observation. "Block!"

Asuna tosses the ball high, backwards—Moriyama already airborne before the ball left Asuna's fingers.

Eyes widening, Kaede watches as Chisaki took two steps forward, the tip of her shoe barely behind the line separating the back row from the front.

Asuna reverses the set for Chisaki to hit from the back row.

Using her left foot to lift her, Chisaki leaps into the air, left hand poised for a spike, dark hair billowing behind her like a dark flag. With a force Kaede is familiar with, she brought down her palm to the descending ball—slashing the air like the sharp edge of a knife.

Grunting, Risa and Sakura tried to contain the ball, but it was just too strong.

'We're behind by a fraction of a second!' Coming down from her jump, Risa eyed Chisaki's calm face from behind the net, eyes glittering like charcoal. 'You're still too fast..!'

"Get the ball!" Sakura hollers, already leaving her post and sprinting towards where the ball is landing. Misaki is already running from her own position to get the second ball.

Quick on her feet, Kaede reaches the spot faster than the gray-eyed girl. Reaching out, she grimaces as the ball made contact with the inside of her arm, bouncing as it did so.

With a loud thump, Kaede skidded to the floor, eyes on the ball lying on the floor outside the courts. She wasn't late—that she knows for sure.

She wasn't late—it's just that she wasn't able to contain the spin of the ball.

Landing perfectly on her two feet, Chisaki eyed her friends on the other side of the net, her face calm and unreadable.

"Touch ball!"

With a grin, Yue calls out the point, eyes on Sumire whose hands are tight at the edge of the umpire's seat., knuckles white and face in a manic smile.

'That's the way to do it, Chisa-chan!'

Chisaki returns to her post as if nothing happened; Asuna smirking triumphantly.

Clapping her hands, she calls out to her frozen team mates, "Okay girls! Let's get back those points from earlier!" she then calls out a play behind her, Iwasaki nodding as she bounces the ball in her hands, readying to serve.

Uehara, Moriyama and Yasushi smiled as they nodded. "Hai!"

'Tch.' Risa snorted to herself, 'It's troublesome having those two in the same team after all!'

Time to change tactics.

Pointing down her index finger behind her, Risa made contact with Misaki and Sakura—both of whom are now at the back court.

Frowning, Sakura nodded. Misaki merely brushes the hair from her eyes. Bending on her waist, they all waited for the serve to come.

And come it did.

...

"Ahn~ your girlfriend is good, Tezuka-kun."

Sparing Atobe a glance, Tezuka nodded a small one. "Ah." This wasn't the first time he saw her play, but he must admit that back row hit (as he heard Kobayashi and Oshitari calls it) was impressive. He didn't know Chisaki can jump that high.

"And that girl," Atobe's eyes were on Asuna, who is now once again setting the ball for a quick hit to Moriyama, "she is a good play maker."

"Sugimoto-chan sure is!" Jirou exclaims, eyes wide as he excitedly watches the game in front of him.

His response had Atobe raising an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Oshitari, who only smirks at him.

"Ahn~?"

Leaving him at that, Oshitari returns his attention to the game—just in time to see Misaki leaping into action.

"Oh?"

"If you have played on our third year, I have no doubt in mind you'd be the first to give our dear Chisaki Kanai a run for her precious money and title."

Those were the words from the brown-eyed girl manipulator, Oshitari remembered. And after seeing Chisaki's impressive hit, and the way that the dark-haired girl is playing defensively and offensively right now—it made him wonder…Does that mean the strawberry-haired girl is just as good as her?

Watching three blockers go up against her is just enough to punctuate that impression, but then Chisaki once again decided she doesn't want the play to end just like that, perfectly blocking Misaki's attempt of a spike.

With Uehara and Kaede doing their best to keep all balls alive and in-play, the score remains at 17-12, with Kaede's team leading.

Risa knows they have to end this here, since one more rotation will bring Chisaki to the service line, whilst Misaki will be sent at the back once again. They can't afford to have that happen, for Chisaki is the most dangerous when serving.

Kaede knows that too, and so she strives to save the ball in that particular rally, which is now lasting almost four minutes.

The crowd is now watching with bated breath, eyes following the ball as it was tossed and passed around the courts, with the players skidding and running after every spike.

The rally seems never ending, and even the coach is now on her feet, watching with interest at the twelve girls playing as if their very lives depended on the game.

This is what she has wanted to see, Sumire decided, a faint glimmer of hope in her crimson eyes. This is volleyball at its unpolished finest. Her eyes meeting Yue's for a fraction of a second, Sumire conceded to her vice-captain, silently thanking the brown-eyed girl for bringing certain people here today.

"Hyaaahh!"

With a loud shout that was uncharacteristic of her, Misaki brought her hand down to the ball, leaping close to the net as the ball leaves Risa's hands.

'Too close!' Oshitari's eyes widened. Squealing, Hikari stands from her seat. "Go Misaki-chan!"

Grunting, Asuna slides towards the net, eyes widening as the ball leaves Misaki's hands, fast. 'I always knew her height will be a problem!'

With a thud from behind her, Asuna watches as dark-hair swayed in front of her. 'Chisaki!'

'How in the world-!' Quickly, Kaede went behind Misaki, where she knew the blocked ball will fall.

"Tch. Show-off." Smirking, Risa moves herself to receive the blocked ball from Kaede.

With both arms raised, Chisaki's jump is a little bit late, but with her height and leap, she was able to barely block the ball. Swiping it to the left, she watches as it goes down to the floor, rolling to the other side.

Misaki, breathing hard, meets Chisaki's eyes behind the net.

Her lips twitching, she nodded, before turning on her heel and walking back to her post.

Her head inclining to the side, Chisaki smiled before turning around, walking back to the service line.

It's her turn to serve, and she can feel that familiar tingle down her arms.

Risa curses, with Kaede calling for time.

They can't let the game end here...not with Chisaki at the service line.

...

"Kaede, can you still receive her serves?"

"I'll try to, but-" eyes on her friend, Kaede shook her head a little, "we all know how her serve is."

"I heard about it," Sakura grouches, "but she hasn't played for two years, right?" Her voice is laced with something akin to uncertainty, and she decided she doesn't like it.

Risa snorted once more. "She's been playing with her high school's club every summer. We can't dismiss that."

"What's the plan then?" Misaki asks, blue eyes on Risa and Kaede.

The two exchange a glance, before Kaede nodded to Risa, letting the auburn-haired girl to decide.

"Let Kaede-chan receive all her serves." She started, hand tightening her ponytail. "Sooner or later, it'll be contained. Don't interfere with her. Tighten the floor defense. Misaki, Sakura." The two straightened out, "Take care of the net. Naguchi-san, Iguchi-san, since the two of you are well-rested, we'll leave the plays to the both of you. Let's try to do combination plays from now on. Well, as long as we have good receive, that is."

"I'll take care of it." Kaede announces.

Risa nodded once."Okay then. Let's do this."

"Hai!"

...

Her fingers clicking away on her camera in abandon, Kiyoko lets an impressed sigh to escape her lips. Beside her, Yagyuu is just as transfixed as she is, eyes never leaving the action on the courts.

Stealing a glance to her left, Kiyoko sees the way Yagyuu's eyes follow each girl's movement, before stopping at one particular girl.

Following his line of vision, she lets a tiny smile to leave her. 'She is beautiful...'

She has never seen him like that before—not at all. For all the years that she's known and seen him in Rikkai, there has never been a girl whom he stares at with eyes like that.

It is making Kiyoko wonder just who the girl is to him.

Deciding that it doesn't really concern her, she turns her attention back to her task, not noticing Yagyuu looking at her from the corner of his eyes, a smile forming in his lips.

...

"The tension suddenly soared ten-fold, and those girls look ready to end this." Yukimura murmured; eyes on Risa's team.

"They'll have hard time though." Hikari said, eyes on Chisaki, who is now standing at the service line, a ball dribbling in her hand. "They should have ended the game earlier."

"Why is that?" Sanada asks quietly, leaving the court monetarily to look at the smiling Hikari.

Pointing her finger at the dark-haired girl, she said. "Remember when you asked her about those high school girls who hurt Kaede-chan and Risa-chan? How they were hurt during the game?"

Sanada and the others nodded. He remembered being confused at the girl's answer back then.

'By playing volleyball, of course.'

"You'll see how, today." Cryptically, Hikari left it at that.

Sanada wanted to ask more, but then the whistle once again blew, signaling the service.

In her position almost at the very end of the court, Chisaki raises her left hand above her head, in her left is the ball. Before throwing it up into the air though, her eyes surveyed the floor at the other side of the net.

Kaede is crouched on her waist, left knee bent and palm down on the floor, violet eyes intent on Chisaki. Risa is on the left side, a little behind Misaki. Sakura is up close at the net, while the two are on the either side of her.

They are leaving the reception up to Kaede then.

Parting her feet a little, Chisaki threw the ball up in the air, eyes never leaving it as it goes down. Pulling her left arm back, she swung the ball just as it was a hand above her head, the force leaving her in steady flow from her shoulders to her very fingers. The sound of her open palm on the ball echoes through the gym loudly, as if thunder has found its way inside.

Like a streak of white and blue, the ball made its way towards the other side of the net in a fast and straight line towards the left side, where Iguchi is standing.

Shouting for the girl to move, Kaede runs towards the ball, a hand reaching out in front of her, eyes on the ball.

Wide-eyed, Iguchi moved to her left, making way for Kaede who was on her right. Taking two steps, she was able to let Kaede through, her arm just a breath away from the wildly spinning ball.

But then the ball swerves to the right- changing its trajectory at the very last second, losing its wild spin, along with the power.

With wide eyes, Iguchi and Kaede watch as the ball made its way between the two of them, and because both of them have quick reflexes, they also tried to reach for the ball- at the same time.

The resulting collision had Kaede's feet lodged under Iguchi, who fell down as she was taking hurried steps and eventually colliding with Kaede's outstretched arm, her elbow gutting Kaede's stomach, resulting to violet-eyed girl's fall.

Risa can only watch in stunned disbelief as Kaede misjudged the path of the ball. Kaede never misjudge any balls. No matter how fast, strong, wicked it may be—

The whistle blew, shattering the stunned silence of the teams on the floor, and Sumire shouted from her chair, "Ace!"

The crowd erupted in a loud shout of ecstatic excitement as Chisaki picks up another ball, ready to serve once more.

---

Well. It is long...and so I am ending it here. Gomen.

I promise to post the second part of the try-outs earlier (Not after a month- definitely!)

So. Yeah. What you guys think? Bad? Worse? Confusing? Probably ALL OF THE ABOVE. Haha.

Anyways, please do let me know! Meaning- Read and Review! XXD

Always, YUNA. :)