Hello my little balls of sunshine,
I hope you're all doing well.
My holiday is now over and it was so refreshing to stay in nature for 3 weeks.
The manga is now officially over but I'm sure you'll all agree that the characters will live on in our hearts and fanfictions.
And my birthday is coming up soon. I'll turn 27 - helps!
Anyway let's get this started.
starrat: Thank you as always :)
Stefnato: Freut mich das ich dich mit einfachen Kapiteln so glücklichen machen konnte. Ich nehme an, dass ich jetzt so viel Erfahrung im schreiben habe, dass es sehr authentisch wirkt.
Padgent: Oh someones is getting anxious. Thank you :)
losermuch: Thank you so much :)
whiteanddark: It's like in real life. You don't have to be suspicous of everyone new ;) My family is doing well, thank you :) I wish you the same.
herxy: Please don't sacrifice your precious sleep for this story. Sleep is important to keep you healthy. But thank you for your blessings :) The way the manga ended really made me happy, especially because Tamiko can still fit in there.
Ryane: Oh wow, thank you so much and welcome to the fandom. I'm glad that the things I tried to convey in the story are being picked up. In Germany some people are getting annoyed because of the restrictions. Otherwise its managable here. Since you're in America I wish you all the best for the days to come. Honestly, things seem to be spiralling out of control. Stay safe.
"Alright, boys," the coach shouted. "See you all tomorrow."
A few calls of acknowledgement echoed through the gym. Ushijima let out a puff of air and dried the sweat from his forehead and neck. This has been another day off intense training, just the way he liked it but he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to train more and more. The things he was trying out didn't seem to work. Maybe he could ask the coach for advice. Before he could approach the man the coach was already looking in his direction.
"Ushijima," came a call from the coach. "Could you come and see me once you're done?"
Ushijima nodded and followed the rest of the team to the changing rooms. He began to wonder what the coach wanted from him. Had he done something he shouldn't have done? Wasn't he performing to the coaches expectations? His imagination was running wild until he concluded that he had done nothing wrong and that he would just go to him and see. After a well-deserved shower he returned to the courts where the coach beaconed to follow him. At the coaches' office they took their seats.
Coach Suzaku Banjo was new to the team like Ushijima but had joined the team a month before him. He had taken over the team after the previous coach retired. Despite his similarities to coach Washijo, coach Suzuka was much younger. This made the training easier for Ushijima, since it was something familiar. Now both were sitting opposite each other in the office.
"How are things going in the team for you?" he asked.
"Very good, sir," Ushijima answered.
"Have you made any goals for the end of the season? Things you want to try? New training regime, new diet?"
"I do want to improve my spike," he revealed. "A new technique to smash through the blocks more effectively."
"I see and I guess you have been experimenting already?"
"You noticed, sir?"
"Yes but I've also noticed something else. I can see that there is a lot of frustration in your spikes recently," the coach noted. "What is bothering you?"
"Nothing, I'm in peque condition," Ushijima said.
"Physically maybe but not mentally. Is it a relationship or the city?"
"It's none of that, sir," he insisted.
"Then what is bothering you?" the coach asked.
"I'm not sure I understand."
"I've noticed a change in your spikes a month ago," he said. "It has become more and more unstable which I'm sure you have noticed too."
"I just have to train more," Ushijima said.
"Listen, kiddo," the coach said. "I've lived through something similar when I was your age. I moved to a big city, away from my hometown. Away from all my friends and family to live on my own. You may not notice it now but it takes its toll on your mental health. It's okay to feel alone and the team is ready to support you but if you need the support you have to tell me first."
Ushijima looked at the desk. He replayed the coaches words in his mind and noticed the similarity to his own situation.
"You're right," Ushijima said. "I miss my girlfriend the most."
"Then I want you to take next Friday off and visit her," coach Suzaku said.
"But the training," he began but the coach lifted his finger.
"Listen, mental health is just as important as physical health. The brain is an essential organ like the heart and the guts. If you suffer mentally it is the same as being ill. It doesn't do you or our team any good. If a day off to visit her is enough to get you back on track then I don't have any problem with it."
"I understand, sir,"
"Good. Take next week friday off, enjoy your time with her and come back recharged. And I would recommend that you visit her regularly."
"Yes, sir," he said and closed the door behind him.
There he stayed for a moment to take the time, digesting what had just been discussed. Was this real? Could he really go and see Tamiko? This felt too good to be true. What should he do first? He has to organise a place to stay, prepare a packing list, buy a ticket in advance. Even if it was a week away it was going too fast. After scrambling together things he had to do he headed back to the locker and grabbed his phone. He didn't have to wait long before someone picked up.
"Hello, Kageyama household," came the answer.
"This is Ushijima Wakatoshi," he said.
"Oh, Wakatoshi-kun," Tamiko's mother said. "Why are you calling this number?"
"Because I wanted to talk to you specifically, Kageyama-san," he told her. "I wanted to discuss something with you that Tamiko is not allowed to know."
He heard a few steps and a door close until Shiyori talked again.
"So, what secret do you want to share?"
"My coach told me to take the next Friday off so I can go see Tamiko. He said I need to look after my mental health." he explained.
"Oh, you poor thing. But that idea sounds good. Do you want to stay with us then for that weekend?"
"If it is possible, yes," he said.
"That is no problem at all," she confirmed. "And I wouldn't tell anyone."
"Thank you very much,"
"You know, Wakatoshi-kun," she said. "I already consider you part of the family and not because I'm marrying your father."
"Then how?"
"Like a son-in-law," she revealed.
"Oh," he answered.
"That sounded a little disappointed," she noted. "Was I making a too big of an assumption? Or haven't you thought that far ahead yet?"
"I have but I didn't think my behaviour gave it away,"
"Oh, I just naturally assumed that was your plan. Tamiko isn't really thinking about that yet so I don't think she has noticed your intentions."
"She doesn't?"
"Don't let that discourage you. She still lives at home with her mum compared to you living on your own. Depending on where you are you think about different things. Sadly, the same happened to me. Living in America with a job I enjoyed and new people I met I had forgotten about my own children. Be careful about what your surroundings do to you, Wakatoshi-kun."
"Thank you for the advice."
"It's only a little thing I can do to redeem myself."
"You're taking care of them," he said. "That's enough for me."
And he did mean both. Tamiko's little brother was a force to be reckoned with and should he also join the national or international stage he should be cared for. He heard Shiyori let out a heavy sigh.
"Thank you, Wakatoshi-kun," she said. "You don't know how much it means to me to hear that from you."
"You're welcome. What has my father said to your change?" he asked.
"He has been incredibly supportive," she revealed. "He helped me choose the therapist and shares some of his income with us since my paid leave isn't quite enough to support us and get Tamiko through university. I am very thankful for his support and hope to pay him back for it tenfold."
"That's good to hear," he agreed. "And have you spoken with my mother?"
"Not yet," she confessed. "To be honest she seems like a very strong woman and I'm still working up the courage to talk with her."
"I see."
He thought better not to tell her that the longer she waited the worse it could get with his mother. As of now he didn't want to put even more pressure on her. After a few more exchanges they ended the call and Ushijima gathered his things and headed home. On the way he made a brief stop at the neighbouring 7/11 to get some food. He browsed the shelves for a while but eventually picked two things for dinner and a dessert.
"Would you like this heated, sir?" the cashier asked.
"No, thank you."
Ushijima paid and headed home. When he checked his mailbox he found a letter from his mother among the other piles of paper. He sorted them in his hand when he heard the door behind him slam shut. It was Hamada Sumi and she was huffing. Resting at her feet he noticed a large amount of plastic bags filled with groceries. All sorts of vegetables and plastic packaging were peaking out of the white bags. Once Sumi had regained her breath she noticed Ushijima.
"Hey there, neighbour," Sumi greeted.
"Good evening," he greeted. "Do you need any help?"
"That would be great, thank you."
She herself still carried four bags while Ushijima took two heavy ones with him. Noticing the weight he was rather surprised that she even carried all of that weight on her own. He followed her up the steps and when they reached her door, he dropped the bags. She thanked him for his help and he headed for his own door. While he was still looking for his key, Sumi came back to get the last bag. She paused for a moment.
"So," she began. "Wanna go out for coffee some time? As a thank you for helping me."
Ushijima glanced at her and thought for a moment.
"No, I don't have time."
"I see," she mumbled. "Well, have a nice evening."
Ushijima nodded and closed the door behind him. After he took off his shoes and slipped into his slippers he ate his dinner. The evening was very warm so Ushijima sat on his balcony with a cold drink and his phone by his ear. Sendai wasn't that blessed with warm weather. Tamiko was inside, sheltered from the rain outside. He could hear the rustling sound of her blankets every now and again. Her mother must have kept her promise of not telling her daughter about Ushijima's pending visit. Not even once anything was mentioned by her. She did however reveal something else.
"Oh, you will never guess who showed up at the club today," she began.
"Who was it?"
"Hinata Shoyo and his coach," she told him. "It was a little crazy. Hinata wants to switch to beach volleyball for training. He wants to push himself to defend a big court with only one other player."
"That's a clever idea," Ushijima noted. "He will train his muscles even more since the sand isn't solid."
"Definitely," she agreed.
"So why did they come to coach Washijo?"
"They were looking for connections since they didn't know anyone in that field. Of course coach Washijo knows a former student who switched to beach. The only downside is, that this guy is in Rio de Janeiro."
"Brasil," he concluded.
"Yeah, I wonder what Hinata will do with that information."
"He'll go," he said with confidence.
"To Brasil?"
"Yeah."
"You really think so?"
"He has enough determination to take that step."
"That's true," she laughed. "Coach Washijo told me he would give Hinata the chance if he wants to go but the limited time for his training would be two years."
Ushijima hummed. He had never been interested in beach volleyball but only playing in pairs, on sand, on a big court would be excellent training for Karasuno's No. 10. In the future, who knows, maybe they would clash and the small middle blocker would be armed with a whole new arsenal. Ushijima had to smirk.
"You're excited," Tamiko said. "I can tell."
Ushijima chuckled. Of course he was. Hinata and Kageyama had given their team such an edge, that he had to visit the nationals as a spectator for the first time. Despite their loss at the nationals, Ushijima was burning with excitement to know that Hinata's or even Kageyama's ambitions were not broken. Instead, they both seem to have shifted into a higher gear. How long until he would play with or against them on the national or even international stage?
"I'm sorry, Toshi-kun," she said after a while. "I'm really tired from today. I'm gonna go to bed now."
"Okay. Good night," he said before adding. "I love you."
"Love you too," she answered and ended the call.
And so Ushijima sat on his balcony, gazing at the sky. The sun was just about to set and coloured the city sky in a brilliant light. But she had already passed the horizon of roofs. Sunsets in Sendai were somehow more pleasant than here. Maybe it was because Ushijima preferred a horizon of trees and tiled roofs, instead of concrete blocks.
To his right he suddenly heard a laundry rack being placed down. The suddenness of the noise made him flinch but he didn't give it any attention and relaxed again. His mind returned to the thought of playing against the freak duo with his own team. How much would they grow until then? He couldn't even imagine.
"Was that your girlfriend?" came a voice from his right.
He turned towards the voice to see Sumi peeking from behind the screen that separated the balconies. How did she hear the call through the door? Did she listen through an open window? Wait, had her balcony door even been closed? He didn't hear it open a moment ago.
"Yes," he answered.
"Oh." Sumi said and briefly glanced at the horizon before looking back at him. "Where is she?"
"In Sendai," he told her.
"That's quite a distance away," she noted.
"Yes."
"You must miss her a lot," she noted. "You sounded very happy talking to her."
Ushijima glanced over to her, squinting a little. She was being a little nosy for his liking. Now he wished he could talk to Tamiko again.
"What's she like?" she asked.
"Why do you want to know?"
"So that if I see her, I can greet her properly," she told him. "She is going to visit you one day, is she not?"
"She is planning to come in the summer," he admitted.
"Oh cool," she smiled. "I bet you're excited to see her again."
"Yes."
"So what does she do?" she asked.
"She's studying psychology at university," he revealed.
"Wow, she must be very smart."
"Yes but it's not what she wants to do. She is managing my high school volleyball team and studying psychology until a better opportunity arises," he said.
"Is that how you met?" she asked. "Through your high school volleyball club?"
"Yes," he said. "In first year I accidentally hit her in the face with one of my serves. That's how we met."
Sumi laughed. She had a strange and unfamiliar laugh. Ushijima couldn't tell if it was out of humour or taunt. It was clear to him that Tamiko's quiet giggles were much more appealing than Sumi's gaggle. Strange how this woman made him think of his girlfriend even more.
"Now that tops all of the 'first meeting' stories I have ever heard," she admitted when she calmed down.
"It wasn't ideal," he agreed.
"But you found each other despite those circumstances," she added. "Cute."
After that Sumi wished him a good evening and returned back into her privacy. So did Ushijima, getting ready to call it a night. It was the first time in a long time that he had slept so peacefully. The thought that he would see and hold Tamiko in a few days, calmed his soul. He had already marked the day of departure on his calendar with a big red circle. He would purchase his shinkansen ticket the next day, enjoy the weekend, work through the weekdays and then head to Sendai on Thursday afternoon.
A second call with Shiyori after he had purchased his ticket finalised everything. She would pick him up from the station while Tamiko would still be busy with her university chores. Somehow Tamiko's mother seemed just as excited as he was. Maybe it was because of the secrecy of it all. Even Tobio was left in the dark.
At training he was feeling a lot lighter on his feet. It was strange, as if he could suddenly jump even higher than before. This change was noticed by some of his teammates as well. Hirugami Fukuro was the only one to really approach him about this. The 24 year old middle blocker already had a reputation amongst other teams for his formidable blocks. Ushijima had trained with him to get his spikes polished and now his training partner was ready to ask a lot of questions.
"You didn't look so good," Hirugami said. "Did the coaches' pep talk work that well?
"It wasn't a pep talk," Ushijima admitted. "He told me to take a day off."
"Really? If that's all it takes then what was troubling you? You looked like your pet had died."
"I don't have a pet."
"It's a figure of speech." he laughed. "Come on, what was troubling you?"
"It's my girlfriend. She…" he started.
"I knew it. What is she like?" he asked.
Ushijima thought for a moment, trying to find the right words. What was she like? She was quiet to outsiders but could voice her complaints any time. She was headstrong and wasn't afraid to threaten anyone who wronged her. What did that make her?
"Unique." was the word that suited best.
"That's all? What about the beautiful, funny and smart?"
"She is all of those things in her own unique way, that I find it appealing."
Hirugami blinked a few times, digesting those words. He had never heard anyone describe someone like that. It caught him off guard.
"Geez, I wonder what she thinks about that," he mumbled.
"We've never talked about what we find appealing about each other," Ushijima admitted.
"You haven't?" he asked. "How long have you two been together?"
"Half a year," he answered.
"Only that long?" he gasped. "You seem so mature that I thought you'd have a girlfriend for at least a year."
"I never had any interest in relationships," he explained.
"She must be something truly special to make you change your mind."
"Yeah," he confirmed.
He had to smile when this conversation revealed that fact. She had really changed a lot in his life. He remembered thinking that he didn't need a relationship to go on with his life. Now he wasn't so sure anymore. After his conversation with the coach he realised how dependent he was on her for just being by his side.
"So he told you to take a day off, visit her and come back recharged?" Hirugami asked.
"Yes."
"I can't wait to see you in peque condition," he grinned.
After training he was invited to the coaches office again. This time the coach wanted to know Ushijima's exact plans for the weekend. He also wanted to know a little more about that girlfriend of his and Ushijima told him all about the struggle she was facing at the moment. The coach thought for a long moment. Then he began with his own long story.
"I may have a solution for your problem," he offered. "Let me tell you about my wife."
