My name is Vanji. I am a 2nd year high school student. I am a girls single tennis prodigy. I have been training and competing since I was young. I live, eat, and sleep my talent. My dream is to earn my place in nationals in the youth division. However, last year, those dreams came to a screeching halt. My father's a businessman and his company usually relocates our family a lot. Unfortunately, this year would be another transfer.. to a school with NO TENNIS CLUB. Mom said I can sign up for an extra curricular off campus club in the spring. But, that did little to settle my frustrations.

Miyagi Prefecture- Karasuno High— good luck with getting my sympathies.

Entering campus after break thankfully gives me enough time to battle out my frustrations. Mom says I can go with my older cousin to tour during on of his club practices. Tobio Kageyama. I haven't seen one another since early grade school. But we did remain in touch thanks to our cellphones. Mainly, updating each other on our awards and accomplishments. He has always been more of an impassive type but I think he secretly enjoys besting me in rankings.

I decided to text him to give him warning of our mom's suggestions:

"Hey, mom said you get to take me to tour campus. Lucky you!! ;)"

"No.."

"Come on.. you know Auntie will kill you if you don't "

"Why can't you go yourself Miss Prodigy?"

"Because, if I go alone, I can just begin my first day in class telling everyone about the time when we were kids a toad jumped into your swim trunks at the lake and—"

"FINE. Meet me @ the Quick-Shop tomorrow at 4:30. DON'T BE LATE"

"Yes your majesty;)"

" ..."

~Next day-

I met with Kageyama at the local convenience shop with 15 minutes to spare. No highness in sight.

"Odd, he's never one to miss a chance to be punctual."

I decided to browse the selection of snacks before he arrived. As I was contemplating between an energy bar or salty trail mix, I heard a ruckus of bickering between what sounded like two screeching banshees.

"I will beat you!! See !! I'm already five steps ahead!!"

"Not until you trip over your own laces idiot.."

"My wha—"

A huge crash sounded outside the shop. I rushed outside to see what was going on. An orange topped pancake of what appeared to be a third-year lay flattened against the curb. Kagayama sighed and stepped over the sniveling mass and placed himself between me and the shop entrance.

"I am victorious," he sneered.

The orange haired teen instantly leapt up and revealed the skid marks across his face and began pointing angrily, "Only by sheer luck!! I would've beaten you by a landslide if my damn laces hadn't sabotaged me."

Kageyama rolled his eyes, "Ignore him. He's only a child attempting to be a man."

"What did you say?!!" he bellowed.

I could only stare in awe that someone could address the King himself without faltering.

"Oh, Hinata, this is my cousin Vanji." Kageyama spoke over this guy's continual nagging, "She's transferring to Kuroseno.. now, let's go."

Just as fast as he began, Hinata instantly stopped and instantly became just as chatty with me-

"Oh! Kageyama has a cousin?? Strange.. he never mentioned any relatives transferring. what year are you? Are you joining any clubs? How was Kageyama as a child? Was he just as much of an a-?"

Kageyama had already yanked Hinata by the collar and was dragging him behind, "Let's go.."

As the two ran ahead, I shook my head and trailed behind. The stoic Kageyama I once knew seemed to have changed since entering Kuroseno.

As Kageyama and Hinata headed into the gymnasium for their club practice, I decided to explore the grounds. I found most of my classrooms easily, and was able to map most of my way within an hour. Still, the lack of courts really made the atmosphere overly bleak. As I looked up, I realized the sun had gotten lower in the sky. I pulled out my cell.

~6:45 pm~

Kageyama had told me practices end at 7 pm. So, I decided to head back to the gymnasium to wait.

Volleyball. Always an odd sport in my opinion. Similar in some ways to tennis, yet so different. Biggest factor being teamwork. Singles tennis your weapon is yourself. The only one you could depend on is yourself. Kageyama always had the same instinct growing up and I had always admired his confidence in his own skill. Yet, he selected volleyball as his muse and chose to be a setter. The center of the volleyball team. It's base and foundation. I chuckled at the thought of his need to control.

I could hear the sound of screeching sneakers and contact shots. I was close. I sat at the steps of the gym door and decided to listen to some music to unwind.

~ ~ ~

8:00 pm

Damn that Kageyama.. I had seen all the other players exit for the evening. Some had even noticed my presence and offered to walk me home. I awkwardly declined. I barely knew most of these guys so I felt it would probably be better I wait for someone more familiar.

But, still, I waited. The sun had set and due to the season, the temperature had suddenly gotten much colder. I hadn't brought a jacket with me due to my lack of planning.

I curled my arms around myself and got ready to step into the gym when I was suddenly face to face with a familiar orange topped grin.

"Kageyama!! Your cousin is out here freezing! Some gentleman you are!" Hinata scolded.

He yanked off his coat without warning and placed it around me.

"Here." He grinned, "Sorry we took so long! We sometimes get a little too into our exercises and lose track of ourselves."

Kageyama appeared and observing the new attire around my arms scowled:

"You're not trying to weasel your way out of the fact your spikes were only 75% subpar today with chivalry are you?"

That got Hinata going. He instantly turned and began their bickering once more. I gripped the jacket around me tighter and chased behind.

~~~

The winter break had passed and I hadn't seen much of Kageyama or Hinata since that day. Mostly due to their practices and my introverted habits.

I gathered my things and headed out for the first day of class.

As I neared the gates of campus, I could hear shouting from behind me!

"Vanji!!"

I cringed. I could recognize the squawking. Hinata. Well, I still needed to return his coat I guess.

"Oh- good morning," I shyly replied.

He lit up and waved and raced up to me. Kageyama followed behind, "Yo."

I smiled and waved.

"Do you need any help finding your classes?" Hinata asked as he somehow fished my class schedule out of my hands without my noticing.

"N-no thanks. I found my route when I came with you two last week."

"WHOA!! A SECOND YEAR?? Geez, and I'm only a few centimeters taller than you. That really bites!!"

"Your being generous with that measurement Shoyo." Kageyama jeered, "Vanji, have you selected your extra curricular? Mom said you were avoiding the subject pretty adamantly."

Before answering to Kageyama's comment, Hinata seemed to focus on my lack of extracurricular.

"No way! Our volleyball club is looking to train a new manager since it will be Hitoka-chan's last year!! You should totally join!"

Team manager, really?? I'm a prodigy. Not some sideline benchwarmer. Kageyama could tell that stuck a nerve and turned to say something but by that point I'd already tossed the coat back into Hinata's unsuspecting face and raced off to my upcoming class.

I could feel the anger and frustration burning in my cheeks as I sat in my home room. I wanted to despise that guy and his overbearing behavior. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, I felt terrible for the way I'd reacted.