Hi guys! So, I noticed a lot of people liked the first two chapters of the story so I'm posting chapter 3 early. I hope y'all like it. Like always I don't own Haikyuu.
Speaking in unison
Thoughts
Knock knock knock
No- go way-
Knock knock knock
NOOO! Sleep!
"Yuko? Are you up?" a voice asked me from the other side of my door. My eyes snap open in annoyance. Getting out of bed, I stomp my way across the room and to my door, ripping it open.
On the other side is my twin dressed in his sweats with a look of utter shock. His hand, which is still up in the air ready to knock again, slowly lowers to his side. A sheepish smile appears on his face, but I don't return it as I continue to scowl.
"No, I was sleeping, like any normal human being on a Saturday morning," I replied slowly to my dimwit brother.
"Did you forget?"
"Forget what?"
"Ah, so you did. It's a good thing I came to wake you up. I don't want to be late, after all, so hurry and get dressed."
Having been woken up not even five minutes ago, I use every ounce of energy I stored throughout the night to make an eloquent response. "Huh?"
"Yuko, the game is today."
Game... what game? The tournament doesn't start for another two months. Why would he have a game on a Saturday morning?
"Wait a minute," I screeched at the moron. "You mean the one against the captain of the volleyball team?"
"Yes!"
"Drop dead Tobio," I muttered before slamming the door in his face. However, before I can lock my door, the idiot begins to push it back open. Knowing I can't win since Tobio has more upper body strength, I release the door and hide under my covers.
In no time whatsoever, my brother comes bounding into my room. In my defense, I'm too sleepy to think of a better place to hide. Soon enough, Tobio is grabbing my ankles, trying to drag me out of bed, but I latch on to my bedpost. At first, it seems as if neither one of us would win, but my fingers begin to slip. The next thing I know, I'm on top of Tobio, having given up on life. I don't even bother to check if he's okay, since this is basically his fault, to begin with.
"Tobio, this isn't even an official game, so why are you dragging me along?" I asked him, still laying on top of him. He shuffles around a bit until he's finally out from under me, but he remains on the floor next to me. "Tobio..."
"I'm nervous- I need you there," he mutters softly. "I'll feel better if you're there cheering me on. Can you please come?"
"Ugh!" I groan into hands, finally standing up. "FINE! I'll go, but I won't be happy about it! Why didn't you ask me in the first place?"
"I figured that you would come regardless... in the end, I'm right."
He got slapped on the back of the head for that comment. Ten minutes later, we left the house with cereal bars in hand. I'm still not happy about being here, so Tobio promised to buy me some food once the match is over. However, the only thing I can think of is going back to sleep. Oh, how I want to go back to sleep!
When we arrive, Tobio tries to run ahead in order to beat Hinata, but I trip him right when he's about to start running, allowing Hinata to win. I get called a traitor; then someone gets smacked- it was a mess. Honestly, if my presence isn't going to be appreciated, then why bother waking me up.
Ten minutes later the boys are setting up the net, while a few others begin to stretch. I keep to myself in the corner of the gym, far from everyone else. Later when a beautiful 3rd-year girl arrives (I wonder if she's the manager or someone's girlfriend), the boys begin to pick their teams. I ignore the teasing a certain blond makes towards my brother as I continue to watch the scene unfold. It won't do if either one of us rises to the bait. However, it's at this moment I notice someone looking at me. It's the girl from earlier and she's waving me over now that she has my attention. Seeing no harm in speaking to her, I walk over to where she's standing.
"Hello, my name is Shimizu Kiyoko," she said, her delicate voice barely above a whisper. "I'm the manager of the boy's volleyball team."
"Hi, I'm Kageyama Yuko, the twin sister of the moron who challenged your captain."
"I figured as much," she said with a soft giggle. "Are you here to support your brother?"
"Yeah, sadly... If you don't mind, can I stand next to you? It's better than sitting in the corner of the gym all by myself."
"I don't mind," the shorter girl agrees with a smile on her face. "By the way, you can call me by my first name."
"Likewise," I replied with an easy-going smile. Just as the conversation ends, the game begins.
So far, my brother's team is doing well. Tanaka-san has a lot of power in his spikes, which is going to come in handy during future games. Things only turn sour when Hinata goes to spike the ball. Tsukishima sees him coming a mile away and blocks him from scoring. Hinata tries not to take it to heart as he continues to play but it seems as though Tsukishima has locked onto him. Every time Hinata tries to spike the blond is there waiting to shoot him down.
That's why it's essential to be tall when playing volleyball. If you lack power, that's fine; you can make up for it with skill. Without skill, you'll require more practice to catch up, but if you're short... there's nothing you can do to overcome a wall like that. Like I said before, a jump like Hinata's is wasted on a shrimp-like him.
Things only get worse from there considering Daichi's receives and Tsukishima's big mouth. Slowly this begins to rattle the team since it looks like there's no way to get around the problem. Even Tobio looks close to snapping under the pressure, so Tanaka-san tries to help by defending him, but I won't allow it.
"Tanaka-san, I'd appreciate it if you don't defend my brother," I said from the sidelines. The entire room looks to me in shock, wondering how his own twin sister could betray him. Let me tell you it isn't easy.
Tobio and I have always been protective of one another. I mean, we are family, so of course, we'll stick up for one another. Still, that doesn't mean I'll allow my brothers' growth as a person to be stunted. He needs to learn from his mistakes and prove to everyone he's changed. If he can't do that, then how can anyone expect him to be a team player. He'll only get in the way in the future if he doesn't learn now.
"See, not even your twin is defending you," Tsukishima chuckled. "She must be tired of you as well."
"You're right," Tobio said, not bothering to look up at the other boy from where he stood. "She is tired of how I act while I'm on the court. She even warned me if I didn't change, my team would one day give up on me. I didn't listen, and it turns out she was right like always. I ruined so many things for us because I was selfish, and now nobody is willing to spike my tosses. Nothing is scarier than standing alone."
My heart aches for my brother because, in all honesty, I want nothing more than to hug him at that moment. I know he feels guilty about what happened in middle school, but I need to be strict with him. It wouldn't have gotten this far if I had tried this approach early on. Still, I don't care much for the guilt eating away at Tobio, either.
"But that was Junior High, right?" Hinata said, jumping into the conversation when I least expect him to. "I'm standing beside you, so don't worry," he declared as he proceeds to point a finger at Tsukishima. "Our mission now is to beat him! You're going to beat Tsukishima, join the club, and become a setter. So toss me the ball, or do you have a better idea?"
"Pfft!" I couldn't help it; I start laughing at the scene in front of me. Here's Hinata-kun, a shortie, sticking up for Tobio… but my brother looks so irritated with him. "Tobio, Hinata is sticking up for you, don't look at him with murder in your eyes."
"I WASN'T!"
"You were too!"
"WAS NOT!"
"Were too!"
"Okay, let's get back-"
"WAS NOT!"
"WERE TOO!"
"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!" Dachi yelled at us. I freeze when I hear our sempai scream at us, but I'm also a little excited. What can I say; I like strong leaders, but one look from Tobio warns me not to start. What a shame too, Daichi sempai has nice thighs.
After that, the game commences once again, although a bit shaky this time. It seems that no matter how hard they try, my brother and Hinata can't sync up with each other. Suga tries to help, but his advice didn't do much good. I mean Suga is right, but Tobio is a bit too dense to understand what he's trying to tell him. I love my brother, but I don't call him a moron for no reason. Plus, my brother is not on that level yet when it comes to bringing out the best in players. He still has a long way to go before he reaches Oikawa's level of playing.
What a minute that's it! I thought, happy I came up with an idea to help the team.
"Can I call a quick time out?" I asked the captain. If Tobio can't play like Oikawa, maybe Hinata can play like Tobio.
"Um, sure..." Daichi said, but I'm already half-way across the court before he finishes speaking. I grab all three boys and form a huddle on the far side of the gym.
"Listen, what Suga-san said is correct, but sadly it can't be done."
"Why not?" Tanaka asked, confused by what I meant. Hinata also looks confused, but he remains silent, allowing me to explain myself.
"Because my brother may be a genius, however, when it comes to playing the role of setter, he has yet to master the position. I'm assuming what Suga-san said went right over your head, didn't it?" I asked the last sentence being directed to my twin. He nods his head in agreement, so I take that as my cue to continue. "What Suga-san meant is to utilize each player's ability, but you're incapable of doing that. No offense, but you're still shaky when it comes to working with your teammates. For now, I suggest instead of playing up their skills, you lead it."
"HUH?"
"You want him to be King of the court again?" Tanaka asked, his eyes wide open in shock.
"No, you hush," I said, pointing at my senior. Then my gaze travels to Hinata, with a mixture of hope. "Listen, Hinata-kun; I want you to run as fast as you can to a place where no one is blocking. Once you're there, jump with all your might and hit the ball. The one thing you can't do is look at the ball or try to sync up with Tobio, got it?"
"But if I don't look, I'll miss the ball-"
"No, you won't. If you miss, that will be Tobio's fault. Alright?"
"Okay," Hinata nods, puffing out his tiny chest in the process.
"Good," I agreed, smirking at the smaller boy, before turning to my brother. "Do you understand what you need to do?"
"Yes."
"Great, now go out there and beat that stupid, arrogant, four-eye jerk!"
With a roar of confirmation, the boys split up to take their spots on the court. I return to my place beside Kyoko, waiting for the next play. When the ball finally goes up into the air, I feel anxious about the plan I set forth. I know my brother is good, but I'm not sure whether or not the plan will work regardless of his talent. As the ball moves across the court, I watch my brother get ready to set the ball until a flash of orange flies through the air. The volleyball hits the other side of the court with such speed that I almost can't believe it.
"WOOHOO!" I yelled in excitement. "That was amazing!"
As we celebrate Hinata's spike I hear Tsukishima complaining, claiming it's not a big deal. I'm right about to say something about his terrible attitude when Daichi speaks up.
"Hey," Daichi shakingly called out. "Hinata's eyes were closed."
...
"HUH?!" all of us screamed in unison.
As Hinata kept celebrating his extraordinary victory, Daichi explains to us what he saw on his side of the court. Not only am I shocked that something like that worked, but I'm astounded that Hinata would close his eyes during a match. I'm praying he isn't as stupid as Tobio, and if so, that they don't become best friends because I don't think I can handle all of this nonsense.
"OI Hinata!" Tobio called out to his teammate. "Your eyes were closed?!"
"Yup!"
"Don't say it like it's something to be proud of! Why did you close your eyes?"
"Because Yuko said not to look at the ball! If my eyes were open, I'd look at the ball!"
All eyes turn to me, but I can't find my voice as I keep shaking my head and waving my arms around frantically. How is this on me? All I said is to- not look at the ball... Well, I didn't mean that he should close his eyes like a moron! Who does that?
"HOLD ON! I said not to look at it, but that doesn't mean you should close your eyes-"
"But it worked, didn't it? So it doesn't matter in the end!"
"It does matter," Tobio yelled. "Can you actually put your trust in that every time?"
"Trust is the only thing I could do!"
"Wait, you actually trust my brother?" I asked him because no one outside of my family puts so much faith in my brother. Even in my family, many are hesitant to do so.
"Of course, I do!" He confirmed with a proud voice. "I trust both of you!"
…what?!
"You seem surprised…?" Kyoko said to me, sounding perplexed as the boys went back to their game.
"Well, it's not like I know him. I just met him not that long ago, so it's not like I expect him to trust me. Seriously, we've only had one conversation."
"Maybe that was enough for him."
"How can one conversation be enough for anyone?"
"I don't know, but then again, not everyone is the same."
"Eh, I guess so, but I still think he's just a weird tangerine."
"Tangerine?"
"What? You don't think he looks like one. Look at his orange hair, and imagine him wearing nothing but orange."
Kyoko looks back at the boys' volleyball game, and for a second, I thought that was the end of our conversation. I was right about to start watching the game again when Kyoko speaks up.
"Cuties."
"I'm sorry, but what?" I asked because where in the hell did that come from.
"The tangerines from the cuties brand… He could be their mascot…"
We look at each other for a good second before we start laughing at the mere thought of Hinata being the mascot of the brand. We aren't even aware of the boys staring at us as we laugh. Then one of us, I don't know who, suggest we give the boy a green stem hat with a leaf to wear. At this point, tears are running down my face just thinking about it.
"Yuko?" a voice called out to me. Looking up, I see the entire team looking at us, and I gently tap Kyoko to get her attention.
"Yeah, Tobio, what's up?"
"What are you two laughing so hard about?"
Kyoko and I look at each other and bust out laughing once more. I try my best to contain myself, but it would be another three minutes before either one of us stops laughing. What made matters worse is the looks of confusion from the boys, but we did our best to ignore them.
"Forgive us, Kageyama," Kyoko apologized for the both of us. "We did not mean to interrupt the game."
"DON'T APOLOGIZE, KYOKO-SAN," Tanaka-san screamed. "YOU NEVER HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL LAUGH!"
...
"He has a crush on you, doesn't he?" I whispered to the girl next to me.
"...Yes," she groaned quietly.
"Good luck with that," I laughed under my breath.
The game begins again after that without any further interruptions. My brothers' team is pretty good; all things considered. Sure they make a lot of mistakes, but they offer plenty of points in exchange. In the end, they barely manage a win, but that's all they need. Running to my brother, I give him a big hug.
"Good job, Tobio! You too, Hinata-kun! You both did a great job."
"Thanks, Yuko," Tobio breathes out. Both he and Hinata are currently out of breath due to all the running they've been doing. I almost laugh at them considering how small of an area they were running in. I wonder how they would manage in a soccer game. They probably wouldn't last very long.
"Come on, let's get you two something to drink," I told them as I drag both boys forward to the water bottles. As the two boys drank their waters, I left them to join Kyoko.
As the two of us talk, I found that unlike most females I know, Kyoko is quite enjoyable to speak with. The majority of females I converse with can usually be categorized into two groups. Girls who care about popularity and those who don't give a crap about it. I hate speaking to the popular obsessed group. Popularity is overrated when you think about it since it's only temporary. Looks, popularity, status, and trivial things such as that should not be meaningful to anyone. Still, some consider that to be the most significant thing in life. Then when they're faced with real-life situations, they don't know what to do with themselves. Kyoko seems like one of those girls who doesn't care about that sort of thing.
"Hey, Kyoko, how come there isn't another manager here?"
"I-"
"Shimizu," Daichi calls out before I can hear her response. "Are they here?
"Yes," She answers. "I'll be right back."
When the older girl returns, she's carrying a large brown box. Once she opens it, Kyoko passes out a bunch of jackets to the boys. Immediately Tobio and Hinata put the jackets on, and I have to admit they look nice. As the entire group of first-years line up in front of us, I make sure to snap a few pictures of my brother and his team. The look on Tobio's face is precious! He looks so proud and excited I almost can't believe anyone would find him intimidating. Just look at my adorably awkward brother. If only he could get himself a girlfriend.
Tanka-san pulls all of us first-years to the side to show the boys how they should show off their jackets. I took a few pictures of that as well. I can't help it, considering this is the first time my brother is getting along with anyone. It just makes me so happy seeing him enjoy himself for once.
"Hey, your Kageyama's sister, right?" a quiet voice speaks up from behind me. Turning around, I find a boy with cute freckles and brown hair.
"Yes, but you guys can call me Yuko," I respond, smiling gently at the blushing boy. "It's nice to meet you... sorry, what's your name?"
"Yamaguchi, Tadashi."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Yamaguchi."
"Um, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Are you going to be a manager for the team?"
"Oh, gosh no," I laughed to myself. "I'm not fit to be a manager. Plus, I'm on the girl's soccer team."
"I bet with an elite brother like yours, you must be a genius as well," Tsukishima snarked at me.
"Eh, I'm pretty average, I guess."
"Average?" Hinata popped up beside me. "She's better than that! She's like a cannon when she's on the field. She's like whoosh and bam! Then she zips by and SCORES! It's like her feet never touch the ground, and she's just flying through the field."
"I think you might be exaggerating a bit," I said, a bit embarrassed by Hinata's praise. "I'm not that good."
"Liar," Tobio said, nudging my side. "You're a great striker."
"Striker?" Tanaka asked no one in general. "What's that?"
"A striker is considered a key player because their sole purpose is to score goals," Tobio explains to his teammates. "They have the ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the blind side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position. Strikers can be compared to lightning since they have to be quick in their attacks."
"But how did you two become so good if you play different sports?"
"We practice together, of course," we said at the same time. "We help each other when we have the time."
...
"Never do that again..." Tsukishima muttered, an annoyed look spreading across his face.
"Do what?"
"That," he points out, frustrated with us. "It's not normal!"
"Eh," we shrug at the taller boy. "We're used to it, so it doesn't bother us."
"Hey, Yuko, what do you mean when you say that you help each other?" Kyoko asked, walking up beside me.
"Hmm, well, my brother usually uses that time to practice his tossing skills while I practice kicking goal shots."
"You can kick his tosses?" Daichi sempai asked us as the rest of the team surrounds us. "Is that possible?"
"Of course," my brother chips in beside me. "That's how we got so good. The only exception is that Yuko doesn't kick the ball over the net. If she does, Yuko might get used to it and accidentally do it during a game."
"Can you show us?"
"Well-"
"We've got a match!" a man yells as he slides the door open to the gym. Standing there is an older man in his late twenties wearing a green jacket. He takes a moment to catch his breath before he continues. "A practice match! It's with one of the prefecture's top four, Aoba Johsai High!"
Johsai? I thought to myself. Out of all of the schools, it has to be that one. Hopefully, Tobio doesn't have a tough time when he goes over there. The good thing is he won't be playing since he's a first-year, so the pressure will be off of him. I just hope no one tries to pick a fight with him.
"So you're the troublemakers, Hinata-kun and Kageyama-kun," The man said as he straightens out his jacket and tie from it's ruffled up appearance. "Oh, and it seems you brought your sister as well, Kageyama-kun."
"Who is he?" Hinata whispers to us.
"Probably a teacher here at the school," I whisper back to him. Thankfully, we didn't have to query for long since the man went on to introduce himself a moment later.
"I'm this year's club advisor, Takeda Ittetsu. I don't have any volleyball experience, so I can't give any technical advice, but I'll do my best to help with anything else. Just ask."
"Yes, sir!"
Daichi and Suga walk up to Takeda sensei to ask about the upcoming match. Apparently, Takeda sensei has a habit of getting on his knees and begging for practice games. However, this time he did no such thing since Aboa Johsai immediately agreed to the match. The only catch is my brother being the setter for the entire game. This did not go well with the team considering they already have Suga as their official setter. Also, having Tobio as the setter for the game makes it seem like the only thing they're interested in is Tobio and not Karasuno as a whole. Overall, the announcement bothers most of the volleyball players.
I, on the other hand, worry about something else. Most of Tobio's old teammates go to Aoba Johsai, including a certain someone. Hopefully, Tobio won't lose his composure and fight with him. Thankfully, Oikawa won't be playing during the practice match which will give us a chance to win no matter how small the opportunity is. The last time we spoke, he told me how he messed up his knee. That moron doesn't know how to take care of himself.
In the end, Suga agrees to temporarily give up his position as the official setter to Tobio. Now the game is set for next Tuesday. Only three days to form a team and appoint everyone to a position on the court. A team that has no idea what they're doing and players who have no technical skills when it comes to volleyball. Aoba Johsai is going to have a field day with them.
When we get home, Tobio follows me into my room. At first, I think nothing of it since he has a habit of coming into my room to chill with me, so I pull out my journal and sit at my desk as Tobio goes to my bed. Whenever I'm free, I spend my time bullet journaling. I've been doing this since I was a little girl. My sister, Miwa, was the one who got me into it. I guess one day, I was sad, and she decided to do an arts and craft project with me to cheer me up. I've kept every journal I've ever made except for my first one. Miwa has it at her place as a keepsake. Since she doesn't visit us a lot due to the relationship she has with my parents, she has at least one thing from both of us. As I said, she has my first bullet journal, but for Tobio, she has one of his old stuffed animals.
As I try to figure out what to do with this specific page, I notice Tobio staring at me from where he's sitting on my bed. I try to ignore him, but now that I'm aware he's looking at me, I can't help but get distracted. Finally, I stop what I'm doing to give him my attention.
"What's up?"
"I want to ask you for a favor," Tobio muttered, but it was so quiet I almost didn't hear him.
"Sure, what is it?"
This time when he speaks I really can't hear him. Now, I'm getting irritated because he knows how much I hate it when people mumble. It's a pet peeve of mine.
"Tobio, speak up, you know how much I hate it when people mumble."
"Can you come to the practice match this Tuesday...?"
I let out a sigh at the question. I should've known Tobio would ask me to go to the game. Normally I would do anything to support my brother, but this time I can't.
"Sorry, Tobio, but I can't go. You know I have practice after school. If it was on the weekend and the soccer team didn't have any matches, I would go, but it's not."
"Well, it was worth a shot," he sighs as he flops onto his back. "I'm excited to play, but I don't want to see them."
"More like you don't want to be alone with them, do you?"
"...no, I don't."
"Well, guess what."
"What?"
"You aren't alone because you have a team to stand beside you," I smile at him, but he doesn't return it. Instead, he rolls his eyes as he sits back up. "Don't be like that, Tobio. You know they have your back, especially Hinata-kun."
"I know, but it's not the same. They don't know how to deal with Oikawa as you do."
"Ugh, you two need to stop this pointless fighting-"
"I'm not fighting with him! He's the one fighting with me!"
"Good point," I laugh at my brothers' misery. "Listen, it's going to be okay because Oikawa won't be playing that day."
"Why not?"
"He messed up his knee and has to lay off it for a while. He has a doctor's appointment next week, so you're in luck. He can't play without signed approval from the doc, so you can play to your heart's content."
"Hmmm, I guess you're right."
"Of course I am, dum dum. I'm not dumb like you," I joke, but apparently, Tobio doesn't appreciate it since he wacks me on the head. "Jeez, you barge into my room to bother me, and now you're hitting me. How rude can one boy be?"
"Say's the moron who tripped me earlier today."
"Tobio, you need to learn how to let the past go. It's not healthy to hold on to grudges."
Another smack from him tells me to shut up, but the smile on his face tells me he wants to laugh at how ridiculous I sound. We lapse into a comfortable silence for a while before my brother disrupts it again.
"What do you want me to do if I see him?"
I don't ask my brother to explain who he's speaking about. I know who he's talking about and why. Kunimi Akira, my ex from middle school who used to be on the same team as Tobio until they kicked my brother off. Honestly, the whole situation with him and our break up is embarrassing to think of. It turned into an entire ordeal that still mortifies me to this day. Mostly, the part when he fought with my brother… more like when Tobio beat him up for talking crap about me.
"Focus on your game and leave him alone. The last thing I want is another fight between the two of you."
"Alright, but if I hear him talking about you again, I can't promise anything."
"I doubt Iwazumi and Oikawa will allow that. They love me just as much as you do and they're super protective of me. Plus, Kunimi probably moved on by now. He's not going to waste his time thinking about me and picking fights with you. He doesn't like to waste his time or energy on unimportant topics."
"I guess so," he murmured, but it doesn't sound like Tobio agrees. I'll have to warn Iwazumi to keep an eye on him to avoid any unfortunate incidents. My brother can be overprotective at times, and I don't want him to get into trouble for it. He's been working so hard to become a better person it would be a shame if all that hard work went down the drain because of something that happened in the past.
"You worry too much," I point out to him as I flick him on the forehead. "Come on, let's go practice some more."
When Monday comes around, I can't contain my excitement as I thought about which position I would play. Fuji-san said during morning practice we would proceed as usual, but in the afternoon, we'll find out what spot we have. The only thing Coach Noguchi informed us about is who made the official team. I didn't care about that too much since Fuji-san already told me I made the team, but I am glad my friend Minako made the team with me. We're both hoping for a particular position on the field, but to be honest, so long as I'm not a defender or goalie, I'll be fine with anything they give me. I understand they have an essential job, but it isn't meant for me. Being kept at the back of the field, missing all of the action, the thought alone irritates me.
As Minako and I walk to the club room, I can hear someone screaming in the distance. Looking up ahead, I see Tanaka yell at Hinata because the younger boy took his sweat pants by accident. Hinata, on the other hand, barely has any time to realize his mistake before the pants he's wearing fall to his ankles. At this point, both Minako and I can't help but burst into a fit of laughter.
"Hinata-kun, your pants," I giggled as I continue walking. Hinata's face turns a bright scarlet from the embarrassment, but I continue to laugh at the small boy.
Walking up the stairs to the club room, I see my brother coming my way. I nudge Minako, so she continues walking to the club room without me. When she's gone, I turn to Tobio to see what the problem is.
"Hey, I need some advice."
"About how to get a girlfriend? Sure, it's called smiling, brother dear. Do that, and you'll stop scaring them away."
"Ha ha ha, very funny, Yuko, but that isn't what I meant."
"Then what is it?"
"It's Hinata; he's nervous about tomorrow's practice match. You're a people person; do you have any advice on how to deal with this?"
"Just talk to him about it," I tell him as if I'm speaking to a five-year-old. "The worst thing you can do is freak him out even more. Reassure him that everything will be fine."
"BUT HOW?"
"Tobio, it's not that hard. Just talk to him about what's bothering him, and encourage him to do his best. Like what I do with you."
"Alright, but-"
"No, buts! I have to go now, so you're on your own. Plus, you said not to get into your team's affairs. Bye!"
I run into my respective club room and close the door behind me. After I get changed, I head to the field with the rest of my teammates to start practice. All of us go through the proper set of warm-ups and stretches until the coach tells us to bring it in.
"Alright, ladies, before we get started, let's talk about our starters," Coach Noguchi begins to explain. "As you already know from the group of girls who tried out, only three first years made the official team. The rest consists of five second-years and eight third-years. Now, as you all realized, not all of you can be on the field at the same time. So, here's our line up for the up-coming practice match this Friday. Sensei, if you will."
"Of course, let's begin with the third-years. Fujioka will be our official goalie with first-year Sato as her sub. Our defenders are Higurashi (CB), Ito (LWB), Yoshida (RWB), and Arata (LB). Midfield will have Endo (AM), Mazaki (CM), Okuda (LM), and Suo (RM). Lastly, our offensive line will consist of Naka (SS), Jojima (CF), and Kageyama as Striker. The rest of the girls will play as back up in case a player is injured. Any questions?"
When no one asked any questions, Coach Noguchi went ahead and sent us to start our drills. The rest of our practice time went by too fast for my liking. It seems as though there is never enough time in the day for soccer. I bet this is how my brother feels about volleyball.
"Alright, before we dismiss, don't forget to receive your new sweats from Mori," Hara Sensei said before snapping her fingers at us. "Before I forget, tomorrow afternoon, we might cancel practice. Unlike most sports, soccer players don't care about a little rain, but the weatherman warned about lightning. As you know, we can't hold practice if there's lightning. It's a hazard. So we'll play it by ear. If it only rains, we will practice. If lightning strikes even once, practice will be canceled. Understood? Alright, ladies, go home."
Everyone begins packing up their belongings when Fuji-san called us together. Fuji-san, Higurashi-sempai, and Mori-sempai agreed if practice gets canceled tomorrow, then the whole team would go and grab some pork buns. The thought alone makes my mouth water, but I know I can't attend if that happens. So, when the team finally went there separate ways, I call out to my captain.
"Hey, Fuji-san, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yeah," she signals to her friends to go on without her before approaching me. "What's up?"
"Well, if practice gets canceled tomorrow, I don't think I'll be able to eat pork buns with you guys."
"Why not? Has something happened?"
"Not exactly; it's just that my brother has a practice match, and he wants me to be there to cheer him on."
"Well, can't your brother understand you're a soccer player, not his personal cheerleader?"
"No- I mean yes, he does understand, but the school he's going against has his old teammates."
"I don't understand what the problem is. Did something happen between them?"
"Yeah, a lot, actually. His entire team last year kicked him off as their official setter in the middle of the tournament. They did all of this behind our backs, and the worst part is a couple of weeks later a fistfight happened between a few of the players."
"Woah, why did all of that happen?"
I hesitate for a second about telling her the truth, but I decide to tell her everything in the end so long as she doesn't tell anyone. Once she gives me her word, I tell her the entire story. It's a bit embarrassing since I have so much respect for my sempai, but I want her to understand where I'm coming from.
"Huh, now it all makes sense as to why you came to Karasuno. It is your brother's fault. I can't say I blame his old teammates, though, but I also understand that family comes first," Fuji-san states as she thinks the whole thing over. "Fine, go support your brother, but don't forget that we want to get to know you as well. We're teammates, Kageyama-chan."
"I understand, and I promise I won't make a habit of skipping out on team bonding. To be honest, volleyball is kind of boring to me."
"No kidding," she jokes, patting me on the back. "Your brother is lucky. I wouldn't be able to watch the game without getting bored."
"Eh, it's not so bad once you get used to it."
The next day it did drizzle, but at first, it seems as if we were clear to play. Yet, the moment we step foot on the field, lightning strikes the sky. The practice is immediately canceled, and now I have the unfortunate pleasure of finding a way to Aoba Johsai High. The worst part is that it stopped raining once I got onto the bus. Lightning still lights up the sky, but other than that, everything is fine. What a waste of a good practice day.
As I sit on the bus watching the scenery go by, I try to distract myself. However, I feel a pair of eyes on me, and I notice two old ladies looking at me, judging me for some reason. It's only at this moment I realize I'm still wearing my cleats that are probably tracking dirt everywhere. I quickly change my cleats to my black running shoes.
Currently, I'm wearing my teams' sweats over my exercise clothes. The tracksuit has white for the base with black sleeves and hem. On the back, in kanji, are the words Karasuno Girl's Soccer team. I leave it unzipped since it's kind of warm today, revealing my grey short-sleeved shirt underneath. My pants are white with black lines going down the side. I already took my shin-guards off, but I keep my soccer socks on as I slip my shoes on.
Once the bus stops, I run to Johsai. Lucky for me, Iwazumi and Oikawa brought me here before, so I already know where the school is. They were hoping I would go to school with them, but they understood I want to stay with Tobio. Well, Iwazumi understood. Oikawa threw some petty comments at me and whined a bit about favoritism.
As soon as I get to school, I ask the first person I find where the gym is. They point me in the direction of the volleyball gym, and I race forward. When I get to the gym, the game has already started. Instead of interrupting by entering the room, I stay outside and watch through the window on the side door of the gym. At this angle, I can see both teams clearly.
As the game goes on, I note how much Karasuno sucks. Well, it's not exactly that they suck, but one person on the team is making multiple mistakes dragging the whole team down. I guess Hinata is more nervous than my brother led me to believe. I kind of want to help the poor kid, but it isn't my place to do so. Tobio said not to get involved with his team, so I won't. Plus, I did give him advice on how to help the tangerine.
As the score near's the game point with Johsai in the lead, Hinata's turn to serve finally comes up. When the whistle blows, Hinata hits the ball incorrectly and sends it to the back of Tobio's head. I snort a laugh as my brother's head slams forward into the net. The whistle blows again, signaling the end of the first set. I silently enter the gym when I hear my brother approach the orange-haired baby.
"Hinata," Tobio begins with an eerie tone. "What's making you so scared? The tall players? The fact it's your first match? What's scarier than hitting the back of my head-"
I sprint forward, jumping into the air, and kick my brother on his side as I scream, "SHUT UP, YOU MORON!"
Tobio fall's to the ground as I jump on top of him to slap the ever-living heck out of him. All the while, Tobio is trying to get me off; I hit him harder.
"Idiot, I told you to encourage him, not scare the crap out of him. You moron, now you look like a lunatic," I scream at him, finally standing up. I kick him two more times, not even realizing people are laughing in the distance. "Go line up with the others! Now!"
Tobio runs to stand by one of the second-years on his team. I turn to face Hinata, who is trembling where he stands. Poor shrimp, Tobio must have scared him.
"Don't mind my brother, Hinata-kun," I tell the boy, putting my hand on his shoulder. "You okay?"
Hinata slowly stops shaking, and instead, he lowers his head in shame. In a quiet voice, I hear him say, "I messed up, Yuko-chan. I got in everyone's way, and I lost the set."
"Hinata-kun, can I ask you a question?" I inquire. Clearly, he isn't expecting this so it takes him a moment to respond.
"Uh, ok?"
"Isn't this your first game since middle school with an official team?"
"...Yes?"
"The team you had last time was just a mix of friends and first-years, right?"
"Yeah?"
"You've never had a coach to instruct you, did you?"
"Nope."
"Then how can you expect yourself to be perfect if you're still learning. Hinata-kun, no one is blaming you. You made some mistakes, but you can always come back from it. Just learn from your mistakes so you won't repeat them in the future."
"Do you think they'll sub me out?"
"I doubt it. Daichi knew what he was doing when he put you on the starting line. Just score as many points as you lost during the first set to make up for it."
"How?"
"One, you need to calm down. Two, allow your teammates to help you. You aren't alone, Hinata-kun, so don't act like it. If you need help, then call for it, and they'll be there to back you up. Lastly, just spike."
"What if I mess up the chance to spike?"
"Listen, we have a saying in soccer that I always tell myself when I'm in the middle of a game. When you see a chance, strike. You can do the same thing. When you have the opportunity to spike the ball, do it. Don't hold back, or else you'll miss what could have been."
"Alright, thanks for helping me, Yuko-chan," Hinata replied with a smile. "And for coming out to support us."
"No problem, now get in line and win the next two sets."
Nodding his head, Hinata ran in the direction of his teammates. I know it still must be bothering him that he lost his first set, but if he reminds himself that his teammates are here to support him, I'm sure he will make up for it. In any case, considering Johsai's new line up, we should be able to score some points.
As I make my way over to Kyoko-chan and Takeda Sensei I feel someone watching me. I don't bother looking over as I keep my face blank of any emotions. The last thing I want is to see him right now and cause any problems. So long as the game goes smoothly, that's the only thing that matters to me.
"Kageyama-chan, it's nice to see you," Sensei smiled at me. I'm grateful he doesn't yell at me for the scene I just pulled. "Did practice get canceled for the soccer team?"
"Yeah, there was lightning, so we can't play in those conditions. I hope you don't mind if I stick around and get a ride back to school?"
"Of course not, and don't worry, I won't tell your coach about what I just saw."
I deflated a bit at his comment but thanked him nonetheless. I go to stand beside Kyoko as the game starts up again. The pair of eyes that stared at me before finally looked away, but a new set take their place. Looking to my side, I notice my friend arch one of her delicate eyebrows at me. I mirror her expression since I'm not too sure why she's giving me that look.
Standing on her tiptoes, she whispers, "Are you aware that someone is watching you?"
"Yes, but I'm trying to ignore it," I reply, bending down a bit to compensate for the gap between us. "Did you happen to see what jersey number they're wearing?"
"Number 7?"
Slowly I bring my eyes to the game taking place in front of me and quickly scan the players on the opposing side. Once I find the number 7 jersey, I take note of which player is wearing it and I turn my attention back to my friend.
"Yeah, I used to talk to him back in middle school."
"It doesn't sound like you're too fond that he's here. Is it because of what happened with Kageyama?"
"Kind of, he's sort of my ex..."
"Sort of?"
"Okay, he's my ex," I groan as my friends' eyes widen. "We dated during our third-year of middle school, but after they kicked Tobio off the team, we broke up. He and my brother even got into a fist-fight."
"Let's hope that event doesn't repeat itself today," She added, patting my back gently. Kyoko even did me a favor by standing slightly in front of me a moment later. Now, by all means, I'm taller than the older female, but it's the thought that counts.
As the game continues, we're able to keep up with our opponents. With only a two-point difference, I have hope it's enough for us to take the set. My thoughts are confirmed not too long afterward when Hinata spikes the ball down on the other side. Johsai's players are so shocked by the quick attack that none of them move. The game only continues to improve as Hinata becomes a valuable decoy. In no time, we take the second set with a three-point lead, boosting the morale of the team.
As the boys get together, Kyoko-chan and I pass out the drinks. Right when I give the last bottle out, I hear one of the second-years talking to Daichi about the opposing team.
"We're lucky they don't have someone who serves like Kageyama."
"Yeah," Daichi sempai agreed. "It's not as if our receives are so great, either."
"Then consider yourselves lucky," I interrupt the two upperclassmen. The entire team hears what I said and turns to look at me. "The team you're facing doesn't have their captain today who is their official setter."
Just as I finish speaking, I hear a group of girls call out a familiar name. I turn to look, and I find a tall brunet speaking with the head coach of the opposing team. Not only that, but I hear him confirming he can play once more. Any chance we have at winning the third set just went flying out the window.
"Twins," Tanaka-san calls out to my brother and I in a menacing voice. "Who is that guy? I don't like him."
"The captain of the team, Oikawa-"
"He's an aggressive setter and probably their best player. He has a terrible personality-"
"He does not!"
"He's worse than Tskishima."
"Don't be rude, Tobio. You're only saying that because he doesn't like you."
"So, you two know him pretty well," Tanaka-san points out. "Did he go to Kitagawa-Dai-Ichi?"
"Yup, he's our senior by two years."
Looking at the older boy, I can't help but get upset. Of all days to get the all-clear from the doctor, why did it have to be today? We're so close to winning!
"Yoohoo," the brunette calls out. "Long time no see you two. Yuko-chan, I'm glad you're here; I want to invite you somewhere this weekend with Iwa-chan. Don't worry, Tobio-chan, we'll have her home before dark. We don't want to upset the king now, do we? You're still the king, right?"
"I'll talk to you guys when the match is over, promise," I answer, turning back to my team. "You guys need to be wary of him."
"My sister is right. I learned serving and blocking from him. He's a formidable opponent. We need to stay focus and win this last set."
"Sensei, if I may," I ask the team's temporary coach. Sensing what I'm about to do he quickly takes a step back.
"Of course, go right ahead."
"Listen up, boys. I don't mean to scare you, but if you have your hearts set on winning the upcoming tournament, then this is the team you need to keep an eye on. Oikawa is a brilliant player, and in terms of setters, he is by far better than my brother. Oikawa has the ability to bring out the best in any player that's on his team. You have to win before he steps foot on the court. If you don't, he'll use any weakness you have against you-"
"But, he just got here," Suga interrupted. "He can't know all of our weak spots."
"That's the thing about my precious sempai. Oikawa knows your weakness before you do. Also, considering the layout of your team, it's not hard to guess your weak points. That's why it's crucial to end it here and now. Tobio, hold back on sets to Hinata-kun for the time being. If he sees the quick now, it won't work later. Daichi sempai, widen your area to receive, and all of you contribute as much as you can in attacking. Their team is new, just like yours, so you have a chance to steal this win. Don't get frustrated out there and rush your attacks, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Great, now get back out there!"
The boys jog back onto the court as they ready themselves for the final set. When the game starts, I make a mental note of what they need to work on in the future. As a team, they aren't bad but compared to others they have a lot of room to improve. Their defense is pitiful, and attack skills are mediocre at best. If only they had a coach who could assist them with technical skills.
Finally, we reach game point once again with Aoba Johsai four points behind. We can take the set! The next ball goes up in the air, and Kindaichi spikes it towards Tsukishima, who fumbles the receive. It doesn't matter because we still have game point-
Suddenly the whistle sounds, and players get swapped. Oikawa joins the game, and what's worse is that he's serving. He wastes no time targeting Tsukishima. After two serves, they catch up to us. One more point and they can turn it into a duce. If that happens, they'll win the match for sure.
"Sensei, call a timeout," I tell the older man quickly. He does as I tell him, and the boys rush to us. "Boys, we have game point. We can't afford to let them win. Daichi sempai, widen the area you're defending once again. Tsukishima-san and Tanaka-san go near the lines of the court and widen your stance."
Tanaka-san smiles as he asks, "You want Dai-san to save the ball 'cause he's good at receiving, right,"
Shaking my head I reply, "No, Oikawa will still go after Tsukki-"
"Don't call me that."
"Shut up, Tsukki. His target most likely won't change, but the way he serves will. If Tsukki is by the line, then Oikawa can't send the ball to him at full force without risking the chance of hitting outside the court. If he does change targets, then your fabulous captain can receive the ball now that nobody is in his way."
"Are you sure this will work?"
"Trust me; I've been friends with Oikawa for almost four years now. The way we plan our attacks is similar, so I have a good feeling about what he'll do next. It's either go big or lose, and I rather you win. Tobio, set to Hinata-kun, okay."
"Right!"
"Hinata-kun," I said, turning to face the munchkin. Walking up to him, I put my hands on his shoulders, look him dead in the eyes and softly say, "Don't miss your chance. Spike!"
The whistle sounds and the boys rush back onto the court. I have a good feeling about the plan, but I keep in mind who we're up against.
"Will it work?" Suga asked me. I shrug my shoulders because that's the only answer I can give my sempai.
Oikawa serves the ball, and as I suspected, it goes to Tsukki once again. Tsukki receives the ball sending it to the other side of the court. Kindaichi goes to spike, but Hinata-kun is ready for him, slowing the momentum of the hit. Hinata-kun races to the other side of the court where the ball is waiting for him. All of a sudden, it's like I get tunnel vision as I watch Hinata fly through the air with his eyes wide open, spiking the ball past Oikawa. The ball slams down on the other side of the net signaling we won the match.
"It worked," I breathed out with a smile. Still, the more I think about it, the more I notice how many flaws the team has. Oh well, only practice can fix that.
"Good plan," Kyoko complimented me. "How did you know what to do."
"Because Oikawa is the one who taught me how to think. I never thought I would use it against him, though," I remarked. Looking at the opposing team talking to their coach, I smile. "But, I think he's glad there's an opponent that will keep him on his toes."
Our team finally comes up to Takeda sensei to hear what he has to say. Sensei gives a beautiful speech that goes over almost everyone's head. They thank him for his speech, nonetheless. Next, however, is Aoba Johsai's team. I forgot the teams usually switch to speak to the other team's coach. Kyoko-chan informs Takeda sensei about this as the team nears us.
"Um, I'm new at coaching, so I can't give you many pointers, but from what I can tell, your team is wonderful. I'm sure you will make it very far in the upcoming tournaments. I also know this won't be the last time we face each other on the court."
Oikawa and his team bow but remain where they're standing. Oikawa turns to me, and in a charming voice, he says, "Thank you for your kind words. If you don't mind, I would like to hear what Yuko-chan has to say as well."
"Yes, um Yuko-chan?"
Darn you, Oikawa, I thought to myself as the team waits for what I have to say. Oikawa and Iwazumi are smirking at me as the rest of the team either stares at me or scowls.
"So, um... advice," I pause, not knowing what to say or do, but the smirk that appears on some of the players infuriates me. I'm out of my element, but I refuse to look like a fool. Gathering myself, I straighten my back and speak. "Your team is new with three first years on the starting line. You're still learning how to sync with one another, but once you do, I'm sure you'll go far. While the third-years, of course, take precedence, don't forget to give adequate training time to your kohai's."
The team bows again, and Oikawa motions to them to move on. I have to remember to punch my sempai the next time I see him. Stupid, cocky jerk!
"Yuko, do you mind helping me with the water?"
"Huh," I said, startled out of my train of thought. "No, of course not."
Together Kyoko and I gather the water bottles and leave the gym. After washing the bottles, we begin drying them and putting everything away. All the while talking about our respective teams. Now that I think about it, Kyoko kind of reminds me of Miwa when she speaks. It's nice.
"You know it's nice having someone to speak to about all of this," the older girl mentions quietly. "I don't talk to many others in my year, let alone outside of the team."
"I know what you mean. It's usually Tobio and I all alone since everyone keeps leaving us."
"Do you have any other siblings?"
"Yeah, my older sister Miwa, but she moved out some time ago. She doesn't get along with my parents, so she left. The only girls I hang out with are those on the soccer team, but if you're up to it, we can hang out."
"That sounds nice."
"Yes, it does," a familiar voice said behind us. We whip around and come face to face with Kunimi. I never thought he would come to talk to me while I'm here. I figured he would steer clear of me until I was gone, but I was wrong. "Can we talk?"
"Okay."
I give Kyoko the remaining water bottle and follow Kunimi. We walk down the corridors until we reach an empty hallway by a stairwell. I'm not sure what he wants to talk about, but I just want to get it over with and leave.
"Don't you have soccer practice today?"
"Yeah, but lightning so..."
"Yeah..."
Neither one of us speaks after that which leaves us in awkward silence. I can't help but fidget under his gaze. A part of me is hoping someone will come and interrupt our so-called conversation so I can leave. Another part of me doesn't want anyone to find us because I don't want to answer any questions later.
"If that's all, then I should get going-"
"Why did you come here?" Kunimi asked, his voice sounded gruff for once instead of it's normally smooth yet tired tone. "Why are you here?"
"Sorry, I came all this way to support my brother," I replied dryly. "But unlike you, I don't hate him."
"Tell me the truth, Yuko," he whispered to me, his voice breaking at the end. "Is he the only reason you came here?"
"Of course, but even if he wasn't, why does it matter to you?"
"Because-... because I-I wanted to see you again."
I'm taken aback by his sudden confession. I always assumed that he no longer cared about me, but I was wrong for a second time today. Does he...? No, it doesn't matter!
"I should go-"
"Wait," he yells, grabbing my hand. "Please, I just want to talk. We never got to after the break-up. You just left me, and I know why but can't you at least give me a chance to speak. I miss you, Yuko. You were the first person I was able to open up to, and you left. Now you're here, but it's not for me."
"Kunimi-san-"
"Stop... it's Akira, please."
"Kunimi-"
"WHY are you here!"
"I TOLD YOU WHY!"
"Did you?! Because I think you're hiding something-" I cut him off by yanking my hand free, walking away from him. However, this doesn't deter him as he follows me down the hall. "Yuko-"
"It's Kageyama-"
"Since when?! We've known each other since the first year of middle school. If you would just listen-"
"No! I don't have to!"
"Why not? Why do I have to sacrifice everything, but you can't hear me out for one minute? Do you hate me that much? Because I don't hate you!"
I come to a halt in the middle of the hallway. If I had walked around the corner, I would have noticed a crowd gathering on the other side.
"I never said I hate you," I mumbled a reply.
"Then, why are you treating me like it's all my fault? Like I'm the bad guy?"
"What do you expect?!" I yelled, turning to face him. "After what you guys did-"
"Oh, give it a rest, Yuko! You know it's his fault! I understand Kageyama is your brother! I know he's all you got when it comes to family, but you can't just defend him blindly! The team couldn't handle the way he was treating us. It's not like we ever punched him! Do you remember that 'cause I do? He punched me for no reason-"
"Bullcrap, he heard you talking crap about me!"
"...Yuko, even when we broke up, I never said anything horrible about you. Kindaichi was the one who claimed I could do better, and before I could reply, Kageyama punched me. I still want you, Yuko."
"I'm sorry, but I can't..." I answer. It hurts to say this because a part of me wants nothing more than to say yes. Because I do care about Kunimi, but I just don't see it working out.
"You like him, don't you?"
...
"What?"
"I was hoping that if you did come here today, it would be for me. We would get back together, but you came here for that shrimp instead."
Shrimp? What shrimp is Kunimi talking about right now? Other than a few people on his team, I don't know anyone here, and none of them would be considered small by any means. Shrimp...? Wait a minute, does he mean-
"Hinata-kun?" I exclaim out of sheer confusion.
"I've never seen you defend anyone except Kageyama until today. You raced into the gym just to kick your brother for him."
"I- no- it's not what you think- I mean, yeah, I defended him, but-"
"But what?"
"I-"
"What's going on over here?" Iwazumi's voice called out, scaring the hell out of me. Rounding the corner, I see a group of people there. All of Karasuno and most of Aoba Johsai.
"Iwazumi-san," I stutter, my voice sounding so small when I call out his name, and I hate it. I can even feel my face heating up due to the embarrassment of being overheard by so many strangers.
"Unless you have business here, get going. That includes the guys from Karasuno," Iwazumi yelled at everyone. In an instant, everyone runs in different directions except for a few. Hinata, Kindaichi, Kyoko, Tobio, and Kunimi.
Iwazumi takes me by the hand and leads me a few steps away from the others as he speaks again. "Are you okay?"
"Not really; I mean, everyone heard that. I've never been so embarrassed," I moaned, covering my face with my hands.
"Do you want me to get rid of them?"
I only nod my head, refusing to speak any longer. I hear some noise, but I refuse to look back up to see what's happening. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I see Kyoko standing there beside me. I only hug the girl in response as I allow her to lead me outside. We don't enter the gym again. Instead, we wait for the boys to come out to inform us it's time to leave.
No one says anything about what happened as we head to the bus. The only time anyone speaks is when Oikawa appears before us at the entrance.
"The Great King," Hinata-kun announces. As Hinata and Tanaka walk up to confront Oikawa, I stay silent near Kyoko. "You want to fight?"
"Wanna fight?"
"Gonna fight?"
Why is Hinata hiding behind Tanaka as he challenges Oikawa?
"Shimp," Oikawa calls out to the small boy. "Your last one touch and broad shot were good. But let's play seriously from the start. I haven't shown you my set yet. And of course, I'll work on my serves." That last sentence is sent to Tsuki before he speaks to the team. "I was impressed by your offense, but you need to work on your receives. I'm not the only setter with a hard serve. I better see you at the Inter-High Preliminaries. Because..." He stops talking as he dramatically points Tobio out like the drama queen he is. "I want to wipe the floor with this young protege of mine."
"We'll work on our receives," the tangerine calls out to the great king as he grabs Tsukki by his sleeve. The taller boy doesn't like this as he tries to pull his arm away, but Hinata refuses to let go.
"That's easier said than done," Oikawa counters, and of course, he's right. It takes time and practice to become proficient at receiving. "But I'm sure your captain knows that. There's not much time 'till the tournament. I'm looking forward to it."
It wasn't until he stands right in front of me that I realize he was walking to me this entire time.
"How's my favorite twin?"
"Oikawa-kun?"
He leans down to whisper in my ear, making sure no one can hear what he says. "Sorry about what happened. Iwa-chan told me when he came back to the gym. I promise it won't happen again, Yuko-chan. Do you want to hang out with us this Sunday to talk about it? We don't have to, but at least let me buy you some Boba and milk bread."
I couldn't help but let a giggle escape my lips at the invite. I don't know why, but Oikawa always had a soft spot for me. He likes to joke about how I should be his sister instead of Tobio's for some odd reason.
"I would love to," I replied as the boy stands back to tower over me. "Where do you want to meet up."
"Iwa-chan and I will pick you up from your house at 1:00. Don't bother bringing your wallet; it's my treat," He promised as he gently pats my head before walking away. "Oh, and send the times for your upcoming tournaments. We don't want to miss them."
"Sure," I call out to him. Turning around, I finally have a small smile on my face again. Those two dorks always put me in a good mood no matter how upset I am. The boys surrounding me right now, on the other hand, are annoying me with their scowls.
Walking forward, I make sure to punch every boy in the stomach as I pass them. I spare no one except, Kyoko-chan.
"What was that for?" Tobio asked, rubbing his stomach. "This is the second time you've hit me today? I usually deserve it but I haven't done anything today."
"Exactly, you didn't do anything! You morons don't know how to mind your business! Next time I catch you guys listening in on one of my conversations, I'll beat you up. Are we clear?"
"Say, ma'am!"
"Good, now get on the bus!"
"Yes, ma'am!
When we get back to school, I'm the first one off the bus. I let my brother know that I would be waiting for him at the shop near the bottom of the hill. The only reason I didn't wait for him outside the gym is due to the fact that I'm starving. I'm pretty sure the soccer team ate all of the pork buns, so hopefully, I can find something else to munch on while we walk home. Plus, I need the fresh air to take my mind off of what happened today.
I enter the shop, hoping to find something delicious, but my search is interrupted by the shopkeep. The man waves me over to the cash register, where a little white bag is sitting.
"You're Kageyama Yuko, correct?" he asked me with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, sir," I replied uncertainly.
"Great, this is for you," He said, handing me the bag. "Your team was here earlier and bought the rest, but they saved one for you."
Looking inside, I see a single pork bun waiting for me. Closing the bag, I finally notice there's handwriting on it. It was a note to me.
Hey Yuko,
The team and I miss our favorite striker. Next time you better come hang out with us, or we might have to kidnap you. If your brother gets in the way, we'll threaten his captain. For some reason, Daichi is scared of Rio and I. Anyways we hope to hang out with you soon!
Love,
Your entire team
A quiet laugh escapes me before I can stop myself. Those girls are too sweet. When I first came to Karasuno, I was nervous about the soccer team because I thought they wouldn't accept me. But this proves how wonderful they truly are. I should have been with them today, instead of watching some stupid match.
"Thanks; how much do I owe?"
"Your manager already paid for you."
"Oh, okay then, thanks for holding onto it."
"No problem, now go home."
Leaving the shop, I sit on the sidewalk, eating my bun until my brother arrives. When he finally gets here, I'm quick to tell him the pork buns are all sold out. He, Hinata, and Tanaka make a huge fuss about it, but they quickly get over it when the storekeep comes outside and throws protein bars at them before telling all of us to go home. We do once Suga and Daichi catch up to us.
On the walk home, everyone starts talking about the match against Oikawa. Honestly, we're lucky he didn't arrive at the beginning of the game.
"Yeah, Oikawa is the best setter in the prefecture," I added. "His ability to improve each player and manipulate the playing field to his advantage makes him one of the most sought after setters in the region."
"That's high praise coming from you," Tanaka declared. "I thought you would have said Kageyama- I mean your brother, instead."
"Hey, I'm a blunt person, what can I say," I shrugged at my sempai. "Plus, I'm not going to lie about something Tobio already knows. Although, I still believe my brother will be the best setter in Japan one day. He just needs a coach to help him get there."
"That reminds me," Tanaka-san remarked as he stops walking. "Why are you two here at Karasuno? Shiratorizawa is the strongest team in the prefecture. They're unbeatable in volleyball. They always get to the National Quarter Finals."
Looking up at my brother, I ask, "Do you want to tell them, or should I?"
"I'll do it," he replied, finishing his protein bar in one bite. "They didn't take me."
"They didn't," Tanaka-san screeched.
"They didn't make any offers, so I tried to get in, but the exam was incomprehensible."
"I heard Shiratorizawa was tough to get into," Daichi remarked, coming to stand beside Tanaka.
"So, the king's not good with studies," Tsukki snarked as he walks by with Yamaguchi.
"Well, he's not wrong," I mumble, but it's still loud enough for everyone to hear me.
"YUKO," Tobio yelled, his face burning a bright shade of red.
"What? It's true! I'm surprised you even made it this far in school."
"I suppose you're the opposite, Yuko-chan?" Suga asked me from where he stood beside Daichi.
"I guess. I've always gotten good grades, and I received offers from the top schools in the region."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, our parents are hard on us when it comes to grades, so I try my best to do well. Plus, I'm pretty good at soccer, so a lot of schools like me. I got offers from Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa."
"Then why did you two come here," Hinata-kun asked us. "Is it because of the little giant?"
"Well, I came here because my idiotic brother chose this school. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here."
"I came here because it's one of the few schools that accepted me, and I heard Coach Ukai would come back from retirement."
"Ukai?"
"He's famous for getting Karasuno to the High School Championship," Tanaka-san exclaimed with one finger in the air. "Everyone knew Karasuno's Ukai. They said that Coach had a pet crow."
"The second and third-years worked with him last year," Suga added, and although he's sporting a smile, his face almost seems pained. "Man, he was strict."
The last part he said went over Tobio and Hinata's head. If anything, it seems they want him to come back and coach them. Even I'm curious about this man.
"It doesn't matter where I train," Tobio suddenly claimed, getting serious about the situation. "My enemies are High Schoolers. There's no reason I can't win."
"Sounds like sour grapes and false bravado," Tanaka jokes, as he, Hinata, and I laugh at my twin. I swear Tobio is such a drama queen. I guess Tobio doesn't like that as he takes it out on Hinata by holding the poor munchkin at the collar up in the air.
"There's nothing false about it! Did we not just beat one of the top four teams?"
"Eh, I wouldn't call that a win," I shrug as I slap his arm, helping Hinata down. "You only won 'cause their team is new, and they didn't have Oikawa around. Don't get a big head over anything. It's called a practice match for a reason."
"Do you always have to be a pessimist?"
"I like to think of myself as a realist," I smile at the boy. Turning my attention to Hinata, I ask, "By the way, what did you think about your first match?"
Hinata doesn't reply as he stares at his hand making a small fist. I guess he's still getting used to the feeling of having a team and playing as a starter. Tanaka and Tobio refuse to give him a second to enjoy the moment.
"You really messed up during the first set, though."
"Don't feel too satisfied. You lost as many points as you won."
"Shut up," I yelled. smacking both boys on the head. "It was his first game. He doesn't need you two reminding him he messed up."
"I thought you were a realist?"
"I am, but don't be mean to the munchkin."
"Munchkin?"
"Hinata-kun, why are you surprised I said that? You're short, but that isn't what matters right now," I point out to him as I put both hands on his shoulders. "I think you did great, considering it was your first game with a real team."
"Thanks," he replied with a shy smile. "I promise I'll do better next time, Yuko-chan."
So, a lot went down this chapter. I didn't want to focus solely on Hinata because I want Yuko to develop her relationship with the entire team. I feel like many writers forget the rest of the team when they create their stories and that sucks because all of these characters are amazing.
Important*
Yuko's description (yeah, I know she's Kagryama's twin, but I feel like some people would appreciate it nonetheless.)
- Eye's: Dark blue
- Hair: Long straight black hair with bangs. She pulls her bangs back and wears a braid when she's playing soccer.
- Defining features: Mole on her upper left cheek
- Figure: Pear shape= Most creators (myself included) write characters with hourglass figures, but not everyone is like that.
- Sizes: Bust- 36 inches Waist- 28 inches Hips- 43 inches
- Height: 170 cm (she won't get taller than this)
- Birthday: 12/22
- Favorite Flower: Sunflowers
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