Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters.


The final day of the training weekend at Ubugawa High flew by faster than most would have liked. Kagome had a great time getting to know all the other managers, especially Suzumeda Kaori and Shirofuku Yukie from Fukurodani Academy. She and Eri were both grateful to learn a few pointers from the other three. It was also amazing to see just how much Yukie loved food—and how much she could eat without getting sick. 'Pretty sure she could out eat some of the guys… She's got to have a blackhole for a stomach or something.'

Sadly, there wouldn't be time for another training weekend before the Inter-High Prelims, but the girls all promised to keep in touch. Especially if Eri and Kagome needed tips on how they should prepare for the tournament. Kagome knew that her team was looking forward to the Prelims, especially the retirement of the third years.

She also knew that Coach Naoi was more than a little irked that the upperclassmen's attitudes—well mostly Watanabe's attitude. The other third years weren't as bad when the current captain was elsewhere, but the fact that they were followers of his edict didn't help them in that regards. Therefore, none of them will be missed when they finally retire from the club.

Naoi had briefly considered pulling some of the third years out of the starting lineup, but he knew that would cause more trouble. At this point, it was less of a headache to simply allow them to finish their time in the club at the tournament. That way they'll hopefully retire peacefully, he couldn't imagine what would happen if they tried to stay and the underclassmen then had to give them the boot. Pretty sure their resident Tiny Tyrant would be more than happy to make their stay absolutely miserable until they ran away screaming.

Smirking to himself, Naoi had to laugh at the title that was given to the team's manager. As far as he could tell, none of the boys had alerted her to her new nickname. And to be honest, he's not sure how she would react to it once she did learn of its existence. She chucks a ball at Kuroo's head every time he calls her pocket sized. So, she might have a similar reaction to being called 'tiny.' The 'tyrant' part she might actually approve of—and then punish them for.

In fact, if memory serves, he overheard Kagome muttering to herself on the last day of their training weekend. Something about another conditioning routine that she was thinking about adding? She was also chuckling to herself as she watched the team play and scribbled in her notebook. 'I think the boys were right to call that the 'Notebook of Doom,' because I'm certain she's dreaming up something to make them cry for mercy.'

Well whatever exercise she dreams up, it will only benefit the team in the end. Even he could see that the rookies had improved since she took over their conditioning. 'I'll have to talk with Coach Nekomata about her when he comes back. I'm sure he'll enjoy hearing all about it.'


The week following the trip to Ubugawa High flew by for Kuroo. He turned in his report on Wednesday, and felt confident that he wasn't going to have to redo it—some of his classmates on the other hand… well judging by the pale sickly looks on their faces it wasn't going to go well for them.

Not his problem really, they should have taken the assignment seriously like the majority of the class did. He's not sure what Kai and Yaku did for their reports, but he didn't worry about it much. They're both smart enough to get a head start and finish the assignment like he did.

The chimes of the school bell rang throughout the grounds, signaling the end of the day. Kuroo gathered up his books and headed out for practice. Given that it was Friday and the Prelims started next weekend, they were going to try to get in as much training as they could—even on Saturday. They still had a lot of growing to do. Kagome mentioned that she sees a lot of potential in the underclassmen, and that was simply because we all wanted to grow and be stronger.

"Desire for growth and the will to put in the work is half the battle. It's when you become complacent and settled—that's when you lose. At least, that's what my sensei sort of said."

"What do you mean sort of?"

Looking up at him, she smiled sheepishly as she scratched her cheek. "Eh? Well…Maru-sensei had the ability to say it like that. He just generally didn't. Actually, he said something along the lines of, 'Hn, I refuse to waste my time with fools. If you wish to learn then do not disappoint me.'"

Kuroo gave her an incredulous look, "How did you get all that from t-t-that?!"

"Well you know, two full sentences were a lot for him. You just had to learn to read between the lines."

"Uh huh…"

Kuroo shook his head as he laughed at the memory and entered the club room.


Kagome couldn't contain her sigh of exasperation. The practice session for Saturday finished without a hitch, but the third years were not showing much growth or improvement in their plays. Once again, they were just going through the motions and putting in just enough effort to be decent. At first, she couldn't figure out why on earth Coach Naoi didn't remove them from the starting lineup. Now that she sits back and thinks about it, she can see the logic.

There's simply not enough time before the Prelims to make such a move. After that sort of shake up, it would take time for the team to settle and that was time that they didn't have. Also, one would have to worry if the upperclassmen would try to stay after the tournament just to spite the rest of the team.

Granted the team could demand their retirement, but that could cause other issues. And Watanabe seems spiteful enough to cause as much grief as possible if his retirement was demanded instead of his decision. As much as she hates to admit it, sometimes keeping your head down and feigning the status quo was the better path to follow. 'There's only one week left. Then the work will truly begin.'

Blinking in surprise when the chime of her phone interrupted her thoughts, she pulled out the device to see that she received a text. As she read the message from Kuroo asking about if they were still on for their date tomorrow, she smiled before sending her response.

Kuroo looked at his phone and grinned as he read, 'Yes. What do you say to having a picnic behind the shrine?' He gave her a reply approving of the plan, and wandered off to the bathroom to clean up for the evening.


She was running out of time and feeling almost frantic. Kagome was desperately trying to finish cooking and get it all packed up before Kuroo arrived, but nothing seemed to be going her way. It was like no matter what she did, she was running just a bit behind. Something that she was finding to be incredibly frustrating to say the least.

Glancing at the clock once more as she finished packing the picnic basket, she scrambled to grab the blanket for them to sit on as a knock from the front door rang out. Kagome quickly dropped the blanket down by the basket on the kitchen table and sprinted to open the door to see a familiar towering grinning form.

"Hey, Kago-chan. Were you so excited to bask in my presence that you just had to run to greet me?"

"Oh, ha-ha-ha. You are hilarious, Tetsu-kun."

"Part of my charm. You ok though?"

Giving him a smile as she shook her head and waved him into the house. "Yes, I'm fine. Just one of those mornings were no matter what, I feel like I'm just a hair behind."

"Ah. Hate those days, but they could always be worse."

Kagome looked at him in mock horror with her eyes wide, "You did not just say that phrase!"

He blinked in confusion, "What's the—"

Suddenly there was another knock that cut off Kuroo's response causing the two to look at the door. "Well, the jinx has begun." She began to head for the door to greet the unexpected guest.

"Oh, come on Kago-chan. It can't be that—"

Whipping around she pointed at him before he could finish, "Don't you dare finish that sentence!"

Kuroo chuckled as he raised his hands in surrender. Kagome shot him a look before turning back to the door and pulled it open. And beyond the door way revealed that last person she wanted to see, causing her to curse Kuroo mentally for his big mouth.

"Oh… Hi Hojo-san…"

Behind her Kuroo winced slightly as he knew that she would hold this over his head for a while. 'Well better start redeeming myself and go play the knight in shining armor.' He began to walk to stand behind his petite girlfriend in time to hear Hojo inquire about her health and if she wanted to go out to see a movie with him.

It was official, this guy was an idiot. Here he had thought that Bokuto was a simpleton, but this Hojo kid has him beat! "Kago-chan, are you ready to go?" Kuroo pretended that he didn't notice that Hojo was there as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her when she looked up at him. Once he heard the sputtering before him at their display, he turned his eyes from Kagome's blushing face to the indignant male staring at them in horror.

"Oh, it's you again. Hojo-san, was it?"

"W-w-what are you doing here?!"

Frowning down at the teen, Kuroo rolled his eyes. "I'm here to take my girlfriend on a date. Not that it's any of your business." Turning his attention back to the girl in question, he could feel the slight vibrations her body gave off as she tried desperately to contain her giggles. Her eyes totally gave her away, they always did.

With a sly grin Kuroo decided that he was going to go in for the kill, and she will probably strangle him later for this ruse. "Ne, Kago-chan. If we don't hurry up, we won't have time for that massage that you promised me before our reservations."

Pulling the now bright red-faced girl back into the house with a careless goodbye to the teen who was now frozen like a stone, Kuroo shut the door in Hojo's face. Soon after the door closed, he could hear a thud and a cry from the outside. "Hm, I think that went well."

Kagome was of two minds about the whole situation—maybe three. She was miffed that Hojo once again appeared and wanted to take her on a date when she made it clear that she was seeing someone and Kuroo said that they were engaged. Granted that engagement was only between children, but Hojo probably didn't know that. Now she was grateful that Kuroo once again stepped in to make it clear to Hojo that she was not available, especially since he jinxed the situation by saying that phrase when things were already a little off.

Honestly, the boy should really know better than to do that! And he claims that Bokuto is an airhead? Well the two of them are twins in that case! The final issue, while again she was grateful that he chased off Hojo—though that might only be temporary at this rate given the delusional boy's history. Did Kuroo have to imply that they were going to do something p-p-perverted?!

Hearing his voice and seeing that proud-sly-grin as he looked at her just brought all those thoughts to a head. "I don't know if I should laugh, die of embarrassment, strangle you, or all the above!"

Kuroo wasn't a complete idiot. He knew he should be slightly worried for his safety, but he was enjoying himself way too much and just cackled as he guided her back to the kitchen. "Well, while you contemplate that. Let's sneak out the back and go have our picnic. I'm starving and the food smells great."

"Why should you be allowed to eat any of it? I might just strangle you now!"

He smirked down at her as he gathered up the blanket and basket. "You wouldn't kill me without letting me have a last meal, would you? That's just cruel Kago-chan! Besides, who else is going to protect you from that kid?"

Giving her towering boyfriend a mock scowl, she threw her hands up in frustration. "ARG!"


The couple was able to sneak out of the house and into the small woods behind the shrine without the new statue seeing them make their escape. Something that Kuroo could not stop laughing about as they set up the blanket and food in the clearing that Kagome had found as a child. The picnic went off without a hitch, and the food was gleefully consumed.

Kuroo was particularly thrilled at the fish that was prepared. Kagome didn't cook the grilled salted mackerel pike that he adored since she wasn't quite confident in her abilities to pull that off yet. She was however, planning to secretly practice here and there with her mother—her goal was to be able to cook the dish for his birthday this year as a surprise. At least she had several months to iron out the kinks.

Regardless, all the various dishes disappeared into happy bellies, and Kuroo then sprawled across the blanket to nap in the warm afternoon sun. Kagome teased him saying that he looked like a well-fed cat, sleeping off its lunch. He just grinned and gave a dismissive wave before snatching her hand and tugging her down to join him. Falling with a squeak of surprise, she blinked before rolling her eyes and curled into his side. Her head rested on his chest, she smiled as she relaxed and listened to his heartbeat.

Kuroo hummed slightly as he wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her close. "Looks like I'm not the only napping cat, now am I?"

His voice seemed to rumble in his chest and surround her, which caused a shiver to travel up and down her spine. Feeling the movement in his arm Kuroo slit his eyes open with a slow grin. 'Well, that's interesting…'

Kagome, realizing what had just happened, cringed slightly as her faced reddened. She knew that there was no way he didn't notice her reaction to his voice, and her secret was now out. 'Shit!'