Who are your favorite characters?

I'll try to add more scenes with them!

(Can be Haikyuu or KnB.)

She worked hard to make up for the other day when she was absent. They practiced the regimen Ai had come up with, and Nishinoya gave special lessons to the two first-years. Tanaka noticed his friend's bruises, as Ai did.

Although they were the same age, Nishinoya was like a kind big brother to her. He himself was delighted with the concept of someone looking up to him instead of people always looking down on him, literally, with or without bad intention. Her runs to the drug store would get more and more often as she thought of new ways to support the team.

When Coach Ukai came in with Takeda-sensei, he spotted Ai and flinched. He announced a practice game with the Community Volleyball Team at six thirty that evening. They had little time before their game the first week of May, and he wanted to see just how much they can do. When she went up to greet the new coach, he jumped back and pointed a finger.

"You! You knew this was going to happen! Those red eyes of yours..." he grumbled.

"You mustn't point fingers, Coach Ukai. It's impolite."

She held out her hand at an angle that showed off the back of her hand, as if she were asking a gentleman to kiss it.

Oblivious, he took her extended hand normally and shook it. "Humph. Doesn't matter now. You're the manager, right? I'm expecting as much from you."

"Of course. I look forward to working with you."

She nodded to Takeda-sensei, and excused herself.

When Hinata saw and called Asahi over from the window, she couldn't help but smile. He was coming back. As Asahi hesitated to step through the door, Ai ran over to him. She held her hands out in invitation. Holding both of his big hands, she led him inside, stepping backwards. She squeezed his palms with friendly affection and support.

The Team Neighborhood Association arrived, and the game was soon under way. While Kiyoko and Yamaguchi kept the scoreboard, she ran around to fill water bottles for everyone and prepare towels. She had to grab extra, too, for the guests.

———

Last Summer

As Seirin prepared for their special summer training, a disaster loomed ahead: Coach Riko's cooking. For a practice run, they borrowed a home economics classroom and watched Riko try to cook. However, the finished product was a plate of soft, porridge-like rice with whole ingredients and uncooked vegetables in a puddle of curry.

After Kagami taught her how to cook it properly, she improved but still kept adding supplements, pills, and protein powder that made the dish disgusting. When they finally realized the problem and ate the curry that tasted normal, Kuroko cleaned his lips with a napkin and stood.

"Okay, Coach. I'll make the call."

"What are you talking about, Kuroko?" Kagami asked. "Call who?"

Kuroko ignored him and pressed a button on his phone, dialing. The line clicked and he heard the other end of the call.

"Hello?"

"Akatsuki-san, this is Kuroko. Are you busy right now?"

He heard voices in the background and the sound of presumably volleyballs hitting the floor. "I'm sorry, I'm in the middle of a game. Is it important?"

"No. Please take your time."

"I'll call you back," she promised.

The call ended, and he turned around to answer the questioning faces.

"Who was that?" Hyūga, his captain interrogated.

"My former manager," he answered coolly, keeping his usual straight face.

"Former manager? You mean, from Teikō?"

"Yes."

"Wow, some friends you have."

The rest of them looked baffled and intimidated as well.

"Where does she go? What team?" Kagami pressed.

"She lives in Miyagi now, and I hear she's joined the volleyball club."

Many pairs of eyes blinked at him. "Volleyball? You mean she quit basketball?"

"She didn't quit, Kagami-kun. She just started a different sport."

"What the hell is the difference."

He scratched the back of his head.

"She doesn't dislike basketball."

"But, why would you call her?" Koganei pondered.

"Because..."

He was cut off by the phone ringing in his hand. He answered. "Hello?"

"I apologize, Kuroko-kun. What can I do for you?"

"My new coach at Seirin insists that we take various supplements and protein powders. Will you give her some advice?"

"Certainly, on the condition of not telling any of the others. Especially Ryota-kun. You know how easily he gets jealous."

"Okay," he agreed, smiling.

He stuck his phone out to Riko.

"M-me?"

She took it reluctantly. "H-hello?"

"Good afternoon. My name is Akatsuki Ai. Is this Seirin's coach?"

"Yes, this is she..."

She made sounds of agreement into the phone and thanked her before hanging up.

"What did she say?"

Kuroko retrieved his cell.

"She said she'll send me recipes using protein powder," Riko confessed, dumbfounded.

"And?"

"And, she told me that I should know better, that no matter how much supplements you guys took, all of the extra nutrients would go to waste."

"What does that mean?" Kagami asked.

"It means that nutritionally speaking, no matter how much vitamins and minerals you take, the body can't store them in abundance. Once you reach your limit, your body releases them through fluids."

She glared at him. "Who in the world is she?"

"As I said, Teikō's former manager."

"Yeah, but how does she know all this stuff?"

Kuroko shrugged. "She was an exceptional manager."

Riko sighed and let the subject go.

2 Weeks Later

Kuroko wiped his face with a towel. The others did the same, sweating through practice and the humid summer heat. Then, Kuroko's phone rang.

"Hey, Kuroko. Your phone," Kagami pointed, standing beside him.

He picked it up and put it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Kuroko-kun? It's Ai."

"Akatsuki-san. Is something the matter?"

"Nothing in particular. Just wondering how the recipes went."

Kuroko smiled in the Riko's direction from afar. "Yes, it went well, thank you. Coach even calculated the maximum amount of supplements we should each take. And," he glanced at Kagami. "Kagami-kun said that the protein shakes were just as good as the ones in America."

"I'm glad. Please give Taiga my regards."

Kuroko's eyes went wide for a second and his mouth formed an o. "Yes. I'll tell him."

"Thank you. Good luck to you and your team."

"Thank you, Akatsuki-san. You too."

He ended the call and fulfilled his promise. "Akatsuki-san sends her regards."

"Huh? To me?"

His shadow partner nodded.

"Why? I don't even know her."

Kuroko thought to himself. "Perhaps she knows you somehow. She addressed you by your first name, although I never gave it."

Kagami looked even more confused. "What the hell?"

Kuroko sighed. "Like I said, she's exceptional."

Thanks for reading, commenting, and voting!!

10/25/2020

Total Word Count: 1159