(F/N)'s POV
"Hitoka-chan, I may not be able to attend the club today. I have to attend a student council meeting," I said, fixing my things.
Hitoka nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
"Thanks, I'll be going now!" I waved my hands at her before leaving the classroom.
Earlier this morning our homeroom adviser told me as the class representative to attend a committee meeting after class. I wonder what is it for? I made my way to the student council conference room. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces but unfortunately, I knew the person sitting beside my respective seat.
"Oh, hello, (L/N)-chan," Sakamoto Nanami smiled at me as if nothing happened between us. I smiled back at her, not to be rude or anything. I just don't get this girl, she acts nice in front of other people but when she's alone with me. She can really turn into, I don't even want to say that word.
"Alright, we will start the meeting now," The secretary of the student council said. A man took over, he does emit a president vibe.
"As you all know Christmas Eve is our school's foundation day. Yes, that's right. We're holding Karasuno's Annual Christmas Ball,"
Chatters erupted after the announcement. So, this kind of even happen in school? It's like a homecoming ball. The president cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"As I was saying, this year's theme will be White Christmas. The ball will be held here in school, as of now, the grand ballroom is being renovated for the event. Once the invitation is finished, I want the class representatives to distribute them to their classmates. The theme for our outfit will be any shades of blue. Women will be wearing ball gowns and tailored suits for the men."
"There will be a cotillion featuring the top students of each year. For the freshmen, we have Tsukishima Kei for top 1 and Sakamoto Nanami for top 2, they will be representing their year." The Vice President said.
I turned to Sakamoto, she had this triumphant smile as she looked at me. Does she really think I'm competing with her? Hell, I could beat her ass from the top if I want to. Just she wait for the third semester, I will reclaim my position.
"Congrats," I said to her with one of my sweetest smiles. I can't let her see me affected by these kinds of stuff. It's annoying that she's competing with everything against me.
"There will be practice for the cotillion dance this coming weekend. I expect the top students to be there and also the committee members that are here today. You'll need to find a dance partner before the practice day." The President said.
Eh? We're participating too? Well, ain't that a drag? I'll be spending the weekend seeing Sakamoto cling with Kei like an obsessive and possessive girlfriend. I internally rolled my eyes at the thought.
"Now that's settled, let's proceed to our next objective. The school festival next year in January, it will be held in the second week of the month. Since it's the 50th year of the school, we're going to do a special concert for the seniors. We encourage the first-year member of all the clubs here in school to dedicate an intermission for their seniors that will be graduating next year."
I leaned back on my chair as I listened but to be honest I was thinking about the intermission. I would love to participate in a surprise concert. I should gather all of the first year in our club later. I could still catch up on club activities.
The meeting wasn't that long and we were dismissed an hour after. I took all of my belonging and rushed out of the room towards the changing room. After that, I went inside the gym to see the regular members lying on the floor exhausted.
"Are they alright?" I asked, making my way beside Shimizu-senpai.
"They're taking a break after a practice match," Shimizu-senpai replied, smiling at me.
"Ah! (F/N)-chan! How's the meeting?" Hitoka approached me.
"Can you gather the first-year members later? I need to talk to you guys about something." I smiled at her.
She nodded, "I'll refill this squeeze bottle with tea and ice. Wanna help?"
"Sure!" We made it out of the gym to wash the bottles before refilling it again, "Hey, do you know about this Annual Christmas Ball this coming Christmas Eve?"
"Ah! They're holding it again?" Hitoka seems to know about it, "It's school's foundation day after all. Is that what the meeting was all about?"
I sighed, "Yup, and sadly the committee members are to participate for the cotillion with featuring the top students. Guess what? Kei's partner up with Sakamoto. Good luck with that, she's pretty annoying you know!"
Hitoka laughs sheepishly, "I guess your antagonistic feeling towards Sakamoto-san is still there. You may not remember it but you had a confrontation once in the rooftop because she asked your help to get her and Tsukishima-kun together but you said no. You didn't want to be stuck between their issues."
"Really? Damn, I should have known!" I clenched my fist, "Oh yeah! I need to find a partner for the dance. Who should I ask?" I thought for a moment, "Maybe I should ask Tobio. How about you, Hitoka-chan? I know even the ones who won't be participating in the cotillion will need a partner for the ball."
I saw how Hitoka's cheeks blushed. Ah~ does she like someone? I grinned, poking her side to tease her. She didn't say anything as we made back inside the gym. The boys are sitting on the floor near the side of the court. I took the opportunity to approach Tobio. I squat in front of him, he was startled a little. He blinked, his cheeks turning pink as I continue to look at him. Tobio really is a good looking guy if you ask me.
"Ne, Tobio," I spoke.
"H—Hai, (L/N)-san?" He stuttered a little.
"Would you like to be my partner for the ball?" I guess I said it out loud since everyone's attention was on us at the moment. Tobio had his mouth hanging open as he looked at me with wide eyes.
"Oh? What's this? (L/N) asking Kageyama out?" Suga-senpai teased, "What's with this ball?"
"Ah, (L/N)-san, are you perhaps talking about the Karasuno Annual Christmas Ball for the school's 50th Foundation Day?" Takeda-sensei joined in.
I nodded, "Yup, it will be held on Christmas Eve here in the campus. They're currently renovating the grand ballroom where the batch reunion is being held. The president said that the committee members are to join the cotillion with the top students."
"Top students?" Kei asked.
"This year they want to feature the top students of each year. Your partner will be Sakamoto Nanami since she got the second rank and you're rank one."
I saw Kei's eyebrows creased, unsatisfied by the partner up. I didn't say anything and turned to Tobio again.
"We will have a practice on Saturday and I need to find a partner ASAP. So, how about it Tobio? I know you're not particularly fond of these kinds of events. But I can't think of anyone else."
Tobio thought for a moment, he sighed, "Alright, I'll help you, (L/N)-san."
I jumped, "Yes! Thank you!"
"Dammit, Kageyama! You lucky bastard! You get to have (F/N)-san as your partner for the dance!" Tanaka-senpai punches Tobio by the shoulder playfully.
"Hey, Tsukishima's pretty lucky too, ya know! I heard Sakamoto's popular in their year." Nishinoya-senpai elbow Kei's side teasingly.
"More like unlucky, she's really annoying if you ask me," Kei grumbled.
"I pray that you survive the day of the cotillion practice," I stuck my tongue out at him.
Once the practice was done, Hitoka was able to gather up all the first-year member when the upperclassmen were gone.
"So, besides the ball, we also discussed the school festival in January. It will on the second week of the month and they are holding a surprise concert for the seniors who will be graduating. They are encouraging us, freshmen, to dedicate an intermission number. I wanted to give our senpais the best school festival. So, what do you say guys?"
"It's easier said than done. First, what are we going to present? Second, we need time to prepare and third, the senpais must not know about it." Kei said.
"I already thought about it. How about performing an original song? Make a band?"
Kei looked at me as if I was going crazy, "Look, I know it's impossible but I do remember writing a song once and I'm pretty much good in using an electric guitar. Ever since I regain so much of my memories, I was able to think about this."
"I don't know how to use any musical instruments but I can help with the composition." Hitoka raised her hand.
"I do remember Tobio once performed during middle school, it's the school festival too. You're the bassist," I said, "Do you still remember?"
"Pretty much know the basics," Tobio answered.
"Oh!" Shōyō raised his hand in excitement, "I played an electric keyboard once,"
Kei sighed, "I've attended a drumming class before with Yamaguchi."
Tadashi scratch his cheeks lightly, "I'll be the rhythm guitarist then,"
I clapped my hands together, "Alright! I work on the composition and arranging of chords. Hitoka-chan will help me write the lyrics."
I spent the rest of the week arranging the chords for the song. Every day I would listen to different genres of music for inspiration. As days passed by, the chords are coming together perfectly. Hitoka would help me from time to time. While watching and working at the same time during club activities, I would write lyrics that would pop inside my head.
It was the last day of class that week, and Shimizu-senpai went to our classroom to hand us over a thick set of developed photos and a scrapbook. Hitoka was really excited about receiving them. I was curious and borrowed the book from her.
It was a memory book, when I open the pages, I saw a different set of pictures paste on the brown pages. I scanned every page and saw my face on some of the pictures. There's this photo where I was arguing with Kei while he looked like he was enjoying pissing me off. There's another one where I was taking down notes. Random photos with the members.
A drop of tear fell on the pages, I didn't realize my tears are falling down as I looked at the photos. I felt a twinge on my chest.
"(F/N)-chan..." I looked up to see Hitoka looking at me with her eyebrows furrowed.
I wiped my tears away, "I'm sorry. Please, excuse me." I stood from my seat and went to the girl's comfort room. I looked at myself in the mirror, my tears wouldn't stop falling.
It's like my heart was crying for me, while my mind is blank. I couldn't feel anything but my tears tell me that I was longing for my memories to come back. I've been adjusting to everything. Little by little I can remember my memories.
I took a deep breath before washing my face with running water. After using the bathroom, I went back to my class. But on my way back, I saw Kei with Sakamoto standing outside their classroom. They both looked at me, I forced a smile and waved at them. Once I was inside my classroom, I felt a shiver down my spine. I can't get used to faking a smile on that girl.
Saturday, our cotillion practice had been going on for almost half the day now. We're almost done with the choreography, and surprisingly to say that Tobio was able to catch up with all the steps without missing a single bit. As if he was used to these kinds of practices, I knew he could dance but not as flawless as this.
"Here you go," I handed him a bottle of iced tea from the vending machine. I sat beside him, we were given a ten-minute break, "You're pretty good with this, Tobio. I didn't know you have the talent."
"Miwa-nēsan, my older sister, would use to ask me to practice waltz with her. I never thought all those practices would pay for this day."
I smiled, "I'm happy that I choose you to be my partner."
"I'm glad I joined the practice. I get to see Tsukishima get annoyed the whole day." Tobio grinned, his eyes on Kei and Sakamoto who was sitting on the other side of the hall.
"They've been at it for a while now. They'll keep messing up if this keeps up," I sighed, I propped my chin in the palm of my hand, "That's it, I'm going in," I stood up and went up to the Kei and Sakamoto. My hands both on my hips as I stared down on them.
"(F/N)?" Kei looked at me.
"What do you want?" Sakamoto said, annoyed.
"You two better stop this instant or I swear I'll punch the both of you,"
Kei stared shock at me, "You sound like the old (F/N)," He said.
"You? Punch me? As if you can do that," Sakamoto said, she crossed her arms.
I shrugged, "You asked for it," I attempted to punch her, my fist was a few inches away from her face, "Do you believe me now?"
I can see how she was surprised that I was really about to punch her. She gulped, nodding slowly at me. I turned to Kei and whispered something in his ear.
"Hang in there a little," I tapped his shoulder, smiling apologetically.
He sighed, "Like I have any other choice,"
The practice continued from where we stopped and looks like my threat was effective since Kei and his partner seemed to be getting along and not messing up their steps. We were able to finish the whole dance choreography by the end of the day. We will have our last practice the day before the ball.
"Thank you for today, Tobio." I smiled at him.
"It was fun, I was able to forget about the pressure of the Nationals." Tobio smiling back at me.
"Glad I could help," I tapped his shoulder.
"(F/N)," I turned to see Kei, "Let's go?"
I nodded, "Come on, Tobio."
We left the school grounds together, Tobio went separate way from us once we got to the foot of the hill. Kei decided to stop by the convenience store to buy food. He bought a few large strawberry milk boxes, two sets of gelatin, a huge cup of yogurt, and a bar of chocolate.
"Uwa~ that's a lot, Kei," I commented.
"This isn't for me, it's for us." He replied back. Once he paid the items, he took out the bar of chocolate and gave it to me, "Thank you for the help earlier,"
I took the chocolate, "Help?"
"Sakamoto won't stop annoying me earlier. So, when you came up and said that you'll punch us really helped. She was really scared when you tried to punch her,"
"I wouldn't mind punching her for real," I said, taking a huge bite on the chocolate.
"You're slowly regaining your violent side," Kei stated.
"Oh~ was I violent before?"
"All the time," He replied instantly.
"You're making that up!" I pushed him to the side lightly.
"You can ask, Ellie-nēsan. I am telling the truth," Kei defended.
"Speaking of which, I do need her help with the ball."