Being back in Miyagi would be so weird, everything's gotta be all changed and messed up now. I probably won't even be able to walk to my favourite restaurant and back without getting lost. Tokyo was different because I got around using usual cars, taxis, and buses. But Miyagi was the country.
And all the childhood friends that I made probably won't even remember who I am, well except for one. I hope he didn't forget that I was coming back.
I yawned and quickly got changed into Karasuno's school uniform which was a little more uncomfortable to the uniform I was used to in Tokyo. Eating my breakfast in a rush and getting my shoes on at the same time, I yelled a goodbye to my mum who was getting ready to go to work.
"Have a good day!" my mother said. I nodded and rushed out of my house, which was the same house as the one I had years ago. My grandmother had lived in it alone whilst me and my mum was in Tokyo for three years because of my mum's business.
Suddenly, a short figure emerged from the house next door. His spiky black and brown hair bobbing up and down as he walked to school like he usually did. I nearly toppled over at the sight of him. I hadn't seen him in so long!
"Noya!" I shouted charging towards him, hoping that if I did fall, he would break it.
He turned towards me and immediately, his face went from happy to overjoyed. His brown/golden eyes light up, "NO WAY! You're back, Chiko!" He rushed up to meet me and gave me a tight squeeze.
I was immediately squished and running out of breath. It always surprised me how much strength Noya's little body had. Even though I was at least a neck taller than him, he definitely had more energy than me.
"Yup! It's...me! Could you possibly let go? I'm not getting enough air," I wheezed, and he let go laughing with his hand scratching his head.
"Heh! Sorry, I haven't seen you in so long. I mean, person to person!" Noya said as he whacked me on the back. "It's good to have you back!" Noya and I had been video calling each other and texting each other but it was nice to finally have a physical figure of him in front of me. Even if he does whack.
I smiled. "So, it's surprising to see you walking to school. Given the amount of time you get suspended," I teased slyly as we walked towards Karasuno High which was only ten minutes away.
"Hey!" he shouted jumping with annoyance, "Yesterday was my last day of suspension so IN YOUR FACE! And what's that even supposed to mean?!"
I laughed, "It's good to have you back too, Noya!"
+X+
"Aw man! I forgot, you're super smart! Come on!" Noya groaned as he walked me to my class which was, sadly, different to his because I was smarter. I had no idea where anything was, so I was relying on Noya for the week. I also didn't have good memory, so it'd have to take at least two weeks for me to get used to the new school.
"Yeah, I know. I shouldn't have done so well in my entrance exam," I sighed. I'd really wanted to be in the same class as Noya, but I had made a huge mistake in my exam, by not making lots of mistakes at all.
"Well, are you going to try out for the girls' volleyball team?" Noya asked out of the blue.
"I don't actually know. Some people told me that the girls' volleyball team here isn't that good, so I don't know," I said thoughtfully. In Tokyo, I had joined the girls' team to find out that they were horrible. I was carrying the whole team. I continued playing only because I just couldn't bring myself to stop. But I ended up hanging out with my best friend's team more. They were really good too.
"Yeah, I gotta give it to you. They are so much worse than us," he said puffing out his chest, "Cause we're the best!"
I rolled my eyes, "Huh, really?"
"Yeah," Noya exclaimed, "And I just had a brilliant idea - because I am the best! You should totally come to watch practice today!"
I smiled at the thought, "Yeah, okay. It'd be nice to watch some good old volleyball practice again. I've missed volleyball practice." Even if it was just a few months.
We stopped in front of my classroom and my heart nearly stopped. "Nice! Well, I'll see you at lunch!" Noya shouted as he bounced off to his classroom. Why did he have to leave me in front of my classroom looking like a dork?!
+X+
The teacher stood up and shook my hand, "Morning Miss -"
"Chikoyo," I said, "You can call me by my first name."
The teacher shook off any confusion he had and smiled, "Alright. Morning Miss Chikoyo. Would you please take a seat?" He gestured at the window seat in the middle row and I shuffled over with my bag. The students seem to stare at me as I'd corrected the teacher just now. Like they'd never seen a student do it before. Well, I'd decided to be called by my first name ever since I was at school because my last name - which was one I had inherited from my mother's side due to my parents' divorce - was just too long.
I was sitting next to a boy who stared at me as if I were an angel, he'd never set eyes on before. He looked at me in awe and I sighed inwardly. I wasn't that pretty or beautiful. My hair was black and straight with no such sparkle to it. My eyes were long and almond shaped - more horizontal than vertical - and had the not-so-usual dark blue colour. I was taller than most girls but that didn't explain his sudden interest in me.
Class continued on and I did everything with ease. It seemed like I did harder things back in Tokyo.
When classes ended, the boy who was staring at me apparently worked up the courage to talk to me. I could hear his friends whispering things like, "Man, should I go talk to her too?!" "Nah, I can't. She's too amazing." "I can't believe he's going to do it." "I am dying!" I felt a little embarrassed, I mean, that's never happened to me before.
"Uh, hi. I'm Josaye," the boy said tapping me on the shoulder. I flinched and turned around to see the blue-haired boy who sitting beside me in class and his group of friends behind, whispering.
"Hi, Josaye. Can I help you?" I asked reluctantly, trying to put some cheer in my voice. I just really wanted to go to lunch and see Noya.
"Well, no. I-I was just wondering if you needed any help with the work?" he said smiling timidly.
I blinked, "I'm fine, thanks." I turned to go.
"Well, I'm here if you need me!"
Sigh, okay. I didn't really understand why he asked such a dumb question. Did I look like I was falling behind? If so, I must be doing a good job looking unbothered. Huh. Or was that just an excuse to talk to me? I didn't understand. My mind quickly forgot about the recent incident as I almost tripped over a shorter figure.
"Hey! Watch where you're going would ya?!" a familiar voice said. I quickly stood back up and walked a few steps backwards, feeling embarrassed.
"I'm so sorry! Can I- Oh wait, it's just you," I said rolling my eyes. "No need to scare me like that," I grumbled.
"Eh. It was fun. Come on, I'll show you to the cafeteria," Noya beamed as he grabbed me by the wrist and rushed down the corridors. "So, who was that blue onion head talking to you just now?" Noya raised an eyebrow. "Old friend or something?"
"Nah, he just asked me if I needed any help in work," I said casually, "But I don't."
As quickly as Noya had pulled me through the hallways, I was suddenly in the school cafeteria. There were quite a lot of students and I quickly made my way to a table in the corner where Noya was heading. There was a guy with a buzz cut sitting there busy eating his noodles with so much passion it made me - who loved food as much as anyone - look bad.
"Hi Tanaka! This is the girl I was telling you about! Chiko, meet Tanaka," Noya exclaimed as we both sat down opposite to the buzz cut guy. Noya was talking about me?
He looked up and his eyes started shining. "Oh my!" he said while eating, "You're even more beautiful in person!"
"Oi! Don't you start! She's my best friend!" Noya said playfully punching him in the shoulder.
"It's fine. Nice to meet you too, Tanaka," I laughed, "Plus, what does it have to do with you if Tanaka likes me?" I wiggled my eyebrows at Noya, who rolled his eyes.
"Anyways," Noya turned to Tanaka, "Guess what? Chiko's coming to practice!"
Tanaka cried out, "Man! I've got to do my best moves! Just you wait and see, Chiko, I tell you, you will never see a better spiker than me!"
"Yeah, okay, sure. But I'm the best Libero!" Noya exclaimed.
"Okay, okay. I think I'll make my decision after school when I actually see you guys play in action," I said casually, "Although I'm sure I can easily beat both of you combined."
Tanaka wiggled his eyebrows at me, "Really? You play volleyball?"
Noya shouted in anger, "Damn it, Chiko! She totally can, Tanaka! She plays both Libero and wing spiker!"
"Yeah, that's true." I started picking through my bento as I sat down, wondering what my grandmother had prepared for me today.
"No way! I just had a sick idea! We should have a match with you after practice! Us two, versus you," Tanaka said.
"Nah, she won't be able to beat us," Noya said scrunching up his nose as he started using his brain that was usually filled with volleyball.
"It's on!' I said smiling, "I can't wait!"