Katharine looked outside the airplane's window, trying not to fall asleep as she knew she would be landing in the Land of the Rising Sun soon. She had grabbed the headphones out of her bag she had placed under her seat and pulled out her phone. She inserted the earphones in her ears and turned on her smartphone device. Unlocking the screen, she immediately reached for the translation app she had downloaded a month prior, setting the preference translated language to Japanese.
Quickly, she added a few pre-set phrases to the software and it diligently translated what she typed in this foreign language she enjoyed to learn. She felt the head of the young woman sitting next to her fall on her shoulder and saw a horrible spot of drool on her black and white sports vest, soaking the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team sewn-on woven patch. She quickly pushed her off of her shoulder, grunting with displeasure.
'Really, Maria, get a grip. We're almost there. And stop drooling on me.' she said, abruptly waking up the smaller framed Mexican young woman. The Mexico City native groggily rubbed her eyes and groaned.
'Why'd you wake me up, gatita? Are we there yet?' asked the Mexican libero, slowly realizing that they were about to land soon.
'Not yet. You really should brush up on your Japanese, Maria. I doubt people there speak Spanish fluently. Or English for that matter. I'm not going to be your Rosetta Stone like last time. Remember the tournament in Russia? The only words that came out of your mouth were spasiba and vodka. Then again, it's not surprising coming from you.' said the pale-skinned young woman with a small grin on her lips, her dark hair sliding over her shoulder as she continued to study. The caramel-skinned libero chuckled, straightening her curly dark waves.
'Duh, they're the only words one needs to know when going to Russia, smart pants. And you know damn well I can't manage a word of Japanese even if my life depended on it. I'm not a linguistics genius like you. And I just love to depend on you, mami.' she said, sloppily kissing the cheek of her fellow teammate, earning herself an angry groan from her now annoyed Canadian teammate Katharine and a chuckle from the row behind them. Maria turned around and looked over her seat, her eyes meeting with a pair of icy blue ones. The tall young woman sitting behind her had ridiculously long legs and a lean and toned body, quite opposite to her small framed and curvaceous figure. Maria frowned at the blond-haired young woman raised her chin in defiance.
'You think this is funny, Zofia?' Think you wanna laugh to my face this time?' she asked loudly, her fist in the air. The Polish-American spiker moved her head backward on her seat and sighed, removing her earplugs. She was not going to catch another wink of sleep anyway.
'What's funny to me is that a 5'2 little girl thinks she can intimidate me. Better luck next time, midget. That's kobito in Japanese by the way.' taunted Zofia with an arrogant smirk. Maria, like the majority of professional libero players, was of smaller stature than the rest of the members of her volleyball team. She couldn't possibly compare in height to the six-foot-tall, blond-haired and blue-eyed woman sitting in the seat behind her. But what she lacked in height, Maria had in spunk, intuition, and pure talent, something her teammates deeply admired and respected. The other tall young woman sleeping next to Zofia opened her green eyes and groaned, pushing her earplugs deeper inside her ears to block her Mexican teammate's loud voice.
'Honestly Maria, can you be any louder? Even the crying baby at the front isn't as loud as you. We're on a plane. There are people around you. Be considerate.' snapped their other tall American player and the team's official setter, her brown hair lazily sliding on her shoulders as she zipped her sports vest over her face to block out the light that kept her awake. Maria knew all too well that her Texan teammate Elizabeth was always in a very foul mood whenever she was tired from traveling (especially on planes- long legs have their own disadvantages). And Elizabeth didn't like traveling. It made her anxious, especially long trips. They had flown from New York after all and after two layovers, Dubai and Hong Kong, it was safe to assume that the women's volleyball crew was exhausted. Maria sighed loudly and sat back in her seat, her arms crossed and her eyes rolling, irritated. A signature pout decorated her lips.
'Bunch of snazzy payasas - ouch!' swore the Mexican libero under her breath before she felt a juice box crash against the back of her head from the rear of the plane. She growled angrily and turned around again, her eyes darting down the aisle at the second to last row where two other members of her team were sitting.
She saw the American Nigerian twins crack a laugh at her expense, giving her the middle finger from the back of the plane while laughing hysterically, annoying the other passengers around them. Arissa and Elia Nagwame were the best middle blockers in their category and some of the best defensive players in the youth's division on the North American continent. Not even the tallest of male players in the North American youth's division could rival the intuitive and deadly efficient blocking strategy that earned the twins the nickname of 'African Fortress'.
Standing at 6'3 and being the tallest members of their sports club, Arissa and Elia Nagwame were truly all-star players and tailored-made to play volleyball. They were also sought after as models by worldwide known magazines and agencies. No one could deny their beauty or their abilities as the absolute defensive wall of the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team. When they were placed side by side on the vanguard rotation as middle blockers, hardly any serves or spikes could pass over the net. All their opponents could see were tall arms and strong hands that blocked everything thrown on their side of the net.
But the twins' seriousness ended when they stepped outside of a volleyball court. Arissa and Elia made for a sassy, quirky duo, and Maria always found herself the target of their humorous antics. Arissa wiped tears of laughter away from her high cheekbones, Elia nudging her shoulder approvingly.
'Damn girl, that aim! You got her!' she snickered, Arissa clutching to her stomach from the laughter cramps.
'You'll regret that Arissa! Give me a ladder and my fist will pay a visit to your pretty face!' bellowed Maria, flipping the twins off and mumbling insults in Spanish that only she could understand. Maria Hernandez was always the butt of the joke of the club members but when it came to being a volleyball defensive specialist, she was deemed one of the best under-nineteen liberos on the continent. Her nimble and agile body moved quicker than lightning when it came to digging a falling ball and her technique was bested by no other. Out of all the players of their elite club, she had been playing volleyball the longest.
Her abuelo, considered a volleyball legend in his own time, had been teaching her the basics of the sport ever since she could walk. She had always wanted to become a libero from the time she set foot on a volleyball court, saying that the person keeping the ball in the air and off the ground was the most important player of all. Her height, for most, had been considered a weakness in the sport by many coaches and scouting agencies but Maria Hernandez had used it as her ultimate weapon. She used her small frame to her advantage, honing her pickup skills and agility until no other libero in her category could rival her. She truly was gifted. She would also officially be representing Mexico during the next summer Olympics and not being yet eighteen years old, she was already the pride of her country when it came to the sport.
Maria looked sideways and snickered when she saw Katharine scribbling down notes on a white napkin, trying desperately to learn some last-minute Japanese grammar.
'You know Katharine, for someone who whined about coming on this little trip from the start, you sure seem serious when it comes to the gritty details.'
'The only reason why I'm leaving home for two weeks and spending all of my time with you girls is that we'll get to train with Fuki Habarida, one of the Olympic coaches for Japan. He's the one overseeing this training camp. The man's a legend. That's all there is to it.' she said, eyes riveted on her smartphone's screen.
'You didn't have much of a choice to come, Katharine. You're our captain. We wouldn't work as well as a team if it wasn't for your infinite wisdom and for those godforsaken fireballs you call spikes. And I know how you get when you're excited about seeing players from other countries play.' she said, nudging the Canadian spiker's arm. 'I've known you for a while now. Nothing gets your blood pumping like studying others' techniques. And since we'll be training with the All-Japan Girls team, you'll be able to stalk their play to your heart's content, you creepo.' she giggled. 'Just make sure you don't wear them out on the first day. Leave some for us, ok?'
Katharine smiled at the caramel-skinned libero. Ever since they met one another five years ago in a pan-American training camp, she and Maria had been best friends and their friendship transpired in the way they played volleyball together. Their respective sports agents had noticed the powerful connection they made during those middle school training camps and had been instructing their coaches to train them together whenever they could. Maria was intrepid and nimble and Katharine was strong and dedicated. Their positions on the court were complimentary. Maria kept the ball in the air and Katharine made sure to send it on the other side of the net with utmost precision and force.
Two years ago, Katharine and Maria were invited to the state of Texas to play as international students to a state volleyball tournament, where they met one of Texas's best setters, Elizabeth Smith. At first, Elizabeth's introverted and socially maladapted demeanor caused issues with the loud-mouthed Maria and the abrasively blunt Katharine as she was invited to join their practice sessions. But soon enough, the Mexican and Canadian players got to know the tall green-eyed setter as a genuinely caring and deeply focused individual that always aimed for perfection. They had learned to better communicate with her and saw Elizabeth's Aspergers as an asset to the team's gameplay. She was focused, deeply analytical, and always paid special attention to details whenever she set for Katharine, knowing the Canadian wing spiker liked a close-to-the-net set on a very fast tempo. Her intense green eyes were always a welcome sight on the court for them.
Then, a year ago, they were recruited in the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team and they were acquainted with Zofia Kowalski, the tall Polish-American spiker and the Nigerian American twins Arissa and Elia Nagwame. The recruiters for the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team were no fools when it came to the construction of this club- they looked for that hunger in their eyes, the passion behind their every move, the growing resilience and need to win with each game they played together. Although their team was not complete just yet, this core of players was fierce and had drawn the path for their future teammates to follow with them to victory. They have been a close-knitted group ever since, their strong bond increasing the trust and communication on the court.
And a month ago, Katharine, along with Maria, Elizabeth, Zofia, Arissa, and Elia received an invitation letter from the All-Japan Youth Girl's team's managers to come to the island nation and train for the upcoming youth World Tournament with their team. In a matter of days, the girls had packed their homework, their volleyball gear, and their cellphone chargers (the one fear in a teenage girl's heart is a low cell phone battery) and had said their goodbyes to their families and coaches who had to stay behind and all flew to New York to embark on a journey leading them east.
The turbulence that shook the plane woke Elizabeth from her frail slumber and she unzipped her sports vest covering her face, revealing her groggy complexion.
'I can't wait to get out of this flying lunch box. I hate planes.' she grumbled. Zofia chuckled.
'You're lucky you've been sleeping all this time. You didn't have to put up with your grumpy ass as I did for the past seven hours. I should be the one wanting off.' she said to Elizabeth, who shrugged off Zofia's sass with a groan.
'I can practically taste my crotch on this garden chair of a seat, Zofia. The only way for me to feel comfortable is to sleep and I can't seem to do that because your giraffe legs keep touching mine.' she said, letting her brown curls fall on her brow lazily as she looked outside the window to see nothing but blue skies and white clouds. Zofia let out a chuckle. Even when she was annoyed with the Texan setter, she always found her awkward and blunt sense of humor delightful and so very well placed.
Katharine felt a pull downwards from the plane. Soon, a voice could be heard throughout the cabin. 'Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on luggage is stowed underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Thank you.'
Maria smiled and squealed in excitement. 'This is it, Katharine! We're almost there. I can't wait to stretch my legs and show these Japanese chikitas what real volleyball players can do.' Katharine smiled at Maria's enthusiasm. Katharine raised herself from her seat and turned her head towards the back, spotting Arissa and Elia at the rear of the plane. She waved at them, trying to catch their attention. Arissa raised her head when she heard her captain's voice and winked at her warmly.
'We'll land soon. Make sure you don't leave anything behind.' she signaled to them. Arissa and Elia responded with positive thumbs-ups. Before the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team knew, the plane descended towards the Land of the Rising Sun. Soon, the rumble of the landing could be felt in the cabin and when the plane wheels hit the ground, Katharine sighed in relief. She really had enough plane rides for a while. 'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Haneda Airport. On behalf of Japan Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you onboard again in the near future. Have a nice trip.'
It was dark outside when the last of the girls' luggage sets were recovered by the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team and exhaustion could be felt in the team's morale. Not having their coaches around, it was Katharine, the captain of the team, who had been tasked to organize the club, their transport to Tokyo, and their training schedule. While the girls took a much-needed trip to the ladies' room to freshen up, Katharine logged on to the airport's wifi and immediately started translating on her linguistics application everything that she saw. From the post sign near the arrival gate to the inside shops' posters, she tried to acclimate to her surroundings as fast as she could. She suddenly felt very grateful for her parents' desire to push her into Japanese classes right before she left. There was already so much to see to this country, she thought. Everything was brightly lit up with beautiful colored lights inside.
Katharine smiled when she saw Maria, Zofia, Elizabeth, Arissa, and Elia running towards her, their pristine team tracksuit catching the gaze of locals who worked at the airport. Katharine couldn't help but notice the usually timid Elizabeth's face lighting up when she looked up to see the brightly colored lights on the airport's ceilings, her face illuminated with childish bewilderment. When all of them joined Katharine at the terminal gate, they all huddled next to her, awaiting further instructions from their captain. Katharine raised her head and looked for the Mexican libero, who was seemingly missing. 'Where is she, Zofia?' she asked, slightly concerned. Zofia shook her head and sighed deeply.
'She was hungry. Again.' was all she needed to say before Katharine grinned. Oh Maria, she thought.
'Katharine! There you are!' exclaimed the short volleyball player in the distance. Maria ran to her teammates with a cheap grin on her face as she held a stick with sticky dango from the shop she had just passed by. The Mexican libero took a bite and sighed, content.
'Ok, I'm sorry.' she continued with her mouth full. 'I should have listened to you when you talked about learning a little bit of the language. I can't read any of this gibberish.' she said, handing over some maps of the area to her captain. Arissa snickered.
'You can't read at all, Maria. But it's ok, you still have other um, talents.' she said. Maria frowned.
'Bite me.' was all Maria replied before she saw Katharine's horrified face as the captain looked at her smartphone's screen, an expression of shock on her pale complexion.
'What's going on?' asked a worried Elia as she put a hand on Katharine's shoulder. A dissatisfied groan escaped the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team's captain's lips. This is not good, she thought. Not good at all. Her email application was still open when Katharine addressed the group of nervous teenagers in front of her.
'Ladies.' she started. 'Looks like there's a change of plan.' she continued. Already, Elizabeth was rolling her green eyes. 'I just received an email from the All-Japan Girls team's coach. They were asked to fly to Beijing to participate in a last-minute tournament.' she stared blankly at the horizon, the slight anger of uncertainty quickly catching up to her. Groans and whining of disapproval were heard coming from her teammates, the loudest being Maria, who sat down on the ground, pouting and exhausted.
'What do you mean they're not here? We flew here specifically to train with them! Who are we supposed to train with now? Godzilla? Hello Kitty?' she said before Spanish cursing escaped her lips. Katharine sighed again and shook her head.
'No, not really. But they are willing to accommodate us since we traveled such a long way. They apparently have set up another training camp for us this week.' continued Katharine, her calm voice aggravating the suspense as she scrolled down the email, reading carefully.
'I'm alright with other women's youth teams as long as they meet our caliber.' said Zofia as she put her hands on her hips. 'I don't want to deal with little girls again. Not after Brazil. That was bad, man.' she continued. Katharine shook her head once again as her team fell silent.
'Actually, we're not going to deal with girls at all. We're going to the All-Japan Boys' training camp and they're expecting us tomorrow morning at seven.' said Katharine, her voice trailing off, muted by the noises of the airport.
The members of the North American Women's Youth Volleyball team looked at one another, their expression revealing a mix of annoyance and disbelief, along with a lingering sense of fatigue. If Katharine could connect to her teammates' thoughts, they would collectively scream one word.
Fuck.