"What would you think about having a couple of your players help manage the girls' team?" Yui had asked, and Daichi had seriously considered her question. They had practically an entire team of players that weren't starters, and he figured at least a couple of them would help.
It was a simple request. Yui and Daichi were talking casually after lunch, and she mentioned that the girls' team didn't have a manager. She'd asked if Daichi knew anyone who'd be interested in both managing and playing with the team, and Daichi had brought her request to his teammates in the clubroom that afternoon.
"They don't have any girls who'd be interested?" Noya asked.
"Yui didn't mention any. And I know both she and Mao have asked around," Daichi said as he removed his club jacket.
"How would this work if we have practice here?" Ennoshita asked.
"I'm not sure yet, but it probably would involve joining the girls for morning practice and keeping track of their stats. You'd still be with us for afternoon practice. It'd probably be one or two days a week." Daichi replied.
Ennoshita considered this. He wanted more playing time, but with the third-years here, it was mostly going to be in practice games, not actual games. And it sounded like the girls' team needed player/managers, who would assist with practice drills and pre-game warm-ups.
"It could be an opportunity for fun and improvement in skills," Daichi went on.
"Emphasis on fun," Tanaka said, earning a glare from Sugawara and a grin from Nishinoya.
It didn't take long for him to shrug and agree to help; he felt somewhat relieved that he wouldn't be the only boy there, as Daichi volunteered Kinoshita to help as well.
"Thank you so much! We really appreciate this!" Yui's soprano voice echoed in the gym as the girls gathered around their new managers, Ennoshita and Kinoshita.
The boys smiled shyly as the girls gathered around them in a semicircle, bowing slightly. He was surprised at how small the girls' team was: barely six players in total. Today, however, it was Yui, a taller girl with blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail, and two other girls with short espresso-colored hair. Yui apologetically said a couple of the players were skipping practice.
"Sound familiar?" Kinoshita whispered and Ennoshita nodded.
He had played volleyball since he was in the sixth grade, but this was his first experience with girls' volleyball. The guys were more athletic, and taller, but the girls were very good at what they did, which was primarily defense. The girls were impressive in their play styles; Yui was good at defense and reminded Ennoshita of Daichi. The two brunette girls were pretty good at blocking, considering they weren't any taller than him, and the taller girl with the ponytail (Yui had called her "Mao") was evidently the ace, judging by how often she went for a spike. He expertly received her last spike, a neat line shot, much to his surprise.
"Hey, nice receive," she'd said afterwards, while wiping sweat from her brow.
"Thanks," he'd replied, feeling a flush creeping up his neck.
"Hey, and thanks for helping us out here. I know Yui appreciates it because our team's kinda small, and we love having more people to practice with." She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm Aihara Mao."
"Chikara Ennoshita." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I appreciate getting the chance to play more, too."
"It's nice to have somebody on the other side who's trying to hit their shots hard," Mao continued as they watched Kinoshita practice jump float serves while the girls did spiking drills. "I know this helps our defense."
"Okay, everyone! Great practice this morning, now let's clean up!" Yui's voice cuts through the squeaking of shoes and the ball rebounds.
Mao nodded her head towards Ennoshita. "I have to talk to Yui before class. Nice meeting you. See you Thursday."
"Yeah, see you." he smiled. This might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Or something else entirely.
As days and weeks went by, Ennoshita felt grateful for the additional playing time and experience he was gaining. The girls used double blocks, while the boys switched from single to triple, and he looked at the court before spiking in order to find an opening. His reflexes were improving, and Coach Ukai had even mentioned it after practice the following day.
Thursday morning found him combing his hair before volleyball practice, a habit he had to admit was irrational, but then he remembered Mao and her long legs and snarky sense of humor. They played a scrimmage that morning, with Mao executing a decent back attack and Ennoshita landing a few spikes of his own.
"Your spikes are getting better, Ennoshita," Daichi had said after practice.
"Thanks. I think playing with the girls' team has helped with that. Their net's lower and their sets are faster, so the ball's constantly going from one spot to another really fast. It forced me to be quicker."
"But more importantly, have you gotten a girlfriend?' Tanaka asked, putting his arm around the wing spiker's shoulder.
"No. We're there to help them with practice and compile stats, not get a date for Saturday night."
"Why not do both?"
"Tanaka, just because your libido is moving at light speed, doesn't mean that the rest of us feel the same way." That had gotten a chuckle out of Daichi, who'd then told the first years to clean up.
Daichi offered to treat everyone to an after-practice snack, and Ennoshita considered Tanaka's words on the walk to Sakanoshita. In between drills, he and the tall wing spiker Mao had clicked. They talked about volleyball, movies, which teachers were the strictest and which ones weren't, and other topics.
By the time he'd arrived home, he'd decided that he'd ask Mao to dinner. He liked her, and she seemed to like him pretty well, even offering to help with practicing line shots the other day. Yui had jokingly stated that when they were together, the snark level in the gym increased by 40 percent. He and Mao would make a good couple.
Kinoshita was helping two of the girls with jump-float serves, and Ennoshita was practicing with Yui, who had asked him to help with her serves. Mao was collecting balls and Ennoshita cast a few shy glances at her legs, waiting for his chance.
A half hour later, Yui had signaled the end of practice, and Ennoshita was putting on his track jacket over his t-shirt and shorts. He looked around for Mao, and noticed her heading in his direction, near the gym's entrance. He smoothed his hair down and waved to her. She smiled back.
"Mao, I wanted to ask you something." he said, heart pounding.
"Sure, what is it?" Was it his imagination or was she looking past him?
"Would you like to have dinner with me?"
"Uh, well," Mao hesitated before a deep voice asked, "Hey, ready to go?" A tall boy with sandy blond hair stood in the doorway. He probably was a third-year. He was smiling at Mao, and she was smiling back at him. Ennoshita felt his stomach drop.
"Yeah, just a minute."
"I'll wait outside."
Mao turned her attention to Ennoshita, whose smile had disappeared. A deep flush crept up his neck and cheeks. He felt ridiculous. A pretty, athletic girl like Mao had to have a boyfriend. Why hadn't he considered that?
"Ennoshita, I'm really flattered, but um, I have someone already."
"Sorry to bother you." He turned and nearly ran out of the gym. He was silent when meeting up with Kinoshita later, and they walked to Sakanoshita together. He wandered inside without really focusing on what he wanted or where he was. He heard voices behind him and, as he grabbed a juice box, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned and saw Mao standing there. He hoped that his mouth wasn't hanging open, but he couldn't help the blush that started up his neck.
"Hey, Ennoshita-" she began, but he turned away, wishing he could melt into the floor.
"Please, I feel stupid. Pretend I said nothing."
"You're not stupid, you know," Mao said softly, crossing her arms. "You probably want to disappear, right? Just melt into the floor or something?"
His eyes met hers, but he didn't say a word.
"That's exactly how I felt when I confessed to a guy. He told me I wasn't his type." Mao half-smiled at the memory.
"I still feel like an idiot. I'm sorry."
"Don't. You had the courage to speak your mind—and heart, and that's worth something, Ennoshita." Mao's hands dropped to her sides. Her boyfriend was paying for some groceries, and she turned when she heard him call her name.
"I really hope that someday you meet a girl who values you and who makes you into the best you that you can be. But you're already pretty cool."
"Th-thanks."
Mao turned and went to her boyfriend, linking her arm into his. Ennoshita watched them leave, his heart somewhat lighter. He paid for his juice box and sat outside for a few minutes as the sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky with ribbons of orange and pink. His head and heart had finally aligned, but accepting Mao's rejection was still painful. He supposed Tanaka would tell him to "grow a pair" and simply find another girl, but Ennoshita didn't fall easily.
Hearing laughter, he turned to see two girls from his literature class walking together, Miko and Danika. The latter was half-American and had brown hair and brown eyes. She threw her head back and laughed at something on Miko's phone screen. Ennoshita had never really noticed her before, other than knowing that her grades were superb. She looked over and their eyes met briefly before she waved shyly at him.
He waved back.
Daichi approached him. "So how'd you guys like being managers?"
"I have new respect for Kiyoko," Ennoshita replied, and both he and Daichi smiled. "And I–uh, I asked one player out."
"Who?"
"Mao." Ennoshita sipped his drink. "She has a boyfriend though."
"Ah, young love, confusing and exciting." Daichi joked. "Sorry about that, man."
"Young love is mind-bogglingly complicated and absolute in its simplicity." Ennoshita continued. "I guess I shouldn't take it too seriously."
"Inter High's coming up. We may need you."
Ennoshita raised an eyebrow.
"You know the teams coach said to watch out for. Wakutan is a tough opponent, even if they're not at Seijoh's level."
"Don't worry. I'm ready to play." Ennoshita had a genuine smile on his face. He knew that the past kills you with guilt and the future buries you under the pressure of unfulfilled dreams. It's the present that you control, and he was going to live in the moment.