Author's Note:

I am so sorry that I'm behind in writing these birthday chapters!! I'm finding that they're more difficult to write than the regular episode chapters...

But, please know that I am writing and working on this story every day! I have so many other ideas, in chapters all over the place, that it's just a slow process...

I'll start updating regularly again soon, hopefully!

I have some things that I thought of to write for these birthdays, and I want to finish them before moving on to season 3! (The more I rewatch scenes from the Shiratorizawa match, the more I fall in love with it... The only thing is that I don't want those chapters to be too short, since it'll just be ten episodes of that single match. Ideas are welcome! :) ) (Not to add more to my to-do list, but I want to edit the past chapters again, too... haha)

Thank you so much for your patience!!!

Date Technical High School (Date Tech):

Coach & Faculty Advisor - Oiwake Takurō

Manager - Nametsu Mai - 2

[Interhigh]

#1 Kamasaki Yasushi (Vice Captain) - 3 - MB

#2 Moniwa Kaname (Captain) - 3 - S

#3 Sasaya Takehito - 3 - WS / Opposite Hitter

#6 Futakuchi Kenji - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter

#7 Aone Takanobu - 2 - MB

#12 Obara Yutaka - 2 - WS

#13 Sakunami Kōsuke - 1 - Li

[Spring Nationals]

#1 Aone Takanobu - 2 - MB

#2 Futakuchi Kenji (Captain & Ace) - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter

#3 Obara Yutaka - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter

#7 Koganegawa Kanji - 1 - S

#8 Onagawa Tarō - 2 - WS / Opposite Hitter

#11 Fukiage Jingo - 1 - MB

#13 Sakunami Kōsuke - 1 - Li

Thursday, August 30

At Date Tech High School

(Miyagi)

Summer vacation was finally coming to an end in schools all around Japan, including Date Tech. They had three days until Monday, but the prefecture's top team for blocking had a special day to celebrate before that.

The student club members cheered for their reliable, precious libero's birthday. They sang happy birthday together and gave him little presents, before starting stretches. Even the third-years, who had retired at the beginning of summer, popped by the gymnasium to wish him well.

Sakunami had been on the starting lineup since Interhigh — with Aone, Futakuchi, Obara, and the third-years — but had been the only first-year on the team then. And now, he was one of the three first-years on the team, with four second-years.

In short, Sakunami was their only and amazing first-year libero.

"Happy birthday, Saku-kun." The brunette manager smiled. The club members were having a short break to drink water and rest. However, they were still in the middle of practice.

"Thank you, senpai," Sakunami smiled back.

"How's it going with Koganegawa-kun?" Nametsu asked.

The first-year glanced at the court. "Uh, I guess it's going well. We're still working on it." It was only natural that it took time to coordinate their plays. However, after the coach had advised them on what to keep in mind during games, Sakunami and the new setter were slowly getting the hang of it.

"Yeah, it takes getting used to. But you two seem like you're becoming good friends, too." She smiled. "Are you doing anything special for your birthday? Besides club practice with us?"

"I might. I'm not sure yet." He smiled at the second-year, who was a little shorter than him. "But my friend who's in Johzenji's basketball club called me yesterday to wish me a happy early birthday, and they told me that there was a really important game for basketball a couple of days ago. ...I think they said it was in Tokyo. Apparently, a volleyball manager from Miyagi was on the winning team that was comprised of all really talented geniuses."

"Wow, that sounds awesome. You mean a high school club manager?"

"Yes, I think so. Do you know who it might be?"

The brunette manager shook her head. "No. That's really cool, though. The only people I know who go to different high schools are my friends from middle school, and I don't think any of them are volleyball managers."

"Oh. That's ok! Maybe we'll see whoever it is at the next tournament," Sakunami pondered.

Nametsu smiled and nodded. "It'd be cool to meet other team managers."

Also in the big gymnasium, the middle blocker of the Iron Walls got a text message. He normally didn't bring his phone to practice, but he had been in charge of playing the birthday song on his phone earlier, before practice had started.

And, since they were still on a break, Aone decided that he would check the notification really quickly.

Akatsuki-san: Hello, Takanobu-kun. I hope you're having a great day. Would you wish Kōsuke a happy birthday for me?

Aone was very happy and flattered to receive the message. He didn't think that she would text him, but the fact that the other school's team manager had thought of reaching out was jubilating. It was so nice to have friends.

So, he walked over and showed his phone to the libero before he forgot.

Sakunami looked bewildered at first, but not because of his senpai's stoic nature; he had become used to that a long while ago.

"Oh..." the first-year uttered, becoming speechless. She knew my birthday? he thought. "That's so nice of her. Thanks, Aone-san. Please give her my gratitude, too."

The middle blocker nodded and promptly began to type a reply.

"You've been texting your new girl friend, Aone?" Futakuchi sauntered over to tease.

The giant shot him a look, making the new captain raise his hands.

"Hey, I said girl friend. Not girlfriend," the ace defended. He peered into Aone's phone and whistled when he read the past few messages. "Wonder if she knows all of our birthdays," Futakuchi smirked expectantly. "Pantalons, what do you think?"

"I think you're just jealous that she hasn't texted you yet." Onagawa smirked. "And you can't wait for your own birthday."

"Wha- Shut up!" Futakuchi bit out. He did his best not to blush and played it cool.

"That would mean Moniwa-senpai's is next," Sakunami recalled.

"It makes sense that she didn't know Koganegawa," Obara thought aloud, talking about their new addition to the Iron Wall and the Giant Setter taking Moniwa's place after the third-year's retirement.

"Who is it?" Nametsu asked.

"Karasuno's manager. The one who sent Aone a birthday card," Obara explained. "I guess you wouldn't know, since you didn't go to the Interhigh tournament."

Aone sent a reply as the others chatted beside him.

Takanobu: Thanks. We have practice today, but we're having a good day. Hope your day's going well, too. Sakunami said thank you.

.

At the end of the day, Aone grabbed his phone as the guys were leaving for the club locker rooms.

Futakuchi sighed from the workout and wiped his neck with a towel. Then, he noticed his friend looking at his cell again. "Did she reply yet? What'd she say?"

Aone silently tilted the small screen toward him.

Akatsuki-san: I'm glad to hear it. I hope your other teammates are doing well, too. Best of luck.

"We are doing well!" the captain exclaimed with a smirk.

"I wonder if she still would've contacted us if we'd won at Interhigh. You know, like last year." Futakuchi grinned, remembering their outstanding victory against Karasuno's goateed ace, when he and Aone were still first-years. "Not that we're petty about losing or anything."

"I think that sentence right there shows exactly how spiteful you are," Obara quipped.

"That's not true! Tell him, Aone. You're happy to get her messages, right?"

Aone nodded, his face seeming less scary than usual. It was probably because of the slight smile he had. He found Sakunami and Fukiage coming out of the gymnasium's storage room after putting the net away, and the brow-less, light-haired male started walking toward the first-years.

The other second-year wing spiker clapped a hand on Futakuchi's shoulder. "You can take out any grudge you have against them at the Spring High Qualifiers."

"Why does it sound like I'm the bad guy? I like getting her texts, too," the ace grumbled. "Hey, Aone, give me her number. I'm not annoyed at all that we lost to Karasuno at Interhigh!"

"Yeah, right. If you keep leering at other managers, Nametsu's gonna be pissed." Onagawa called after him, smirking, and Obara laughed with him.

"I think their manager is the only aspect he likes about that team." The two of them watched the captain try to convince the middle blocker, who kept shaking his head.

The libero read the new message and smiled brightly. But the ruckus caught the attention of a certain Giant Setter, and Sakunami's birthday turned out to be yet another day of rowdiness at Date Tech's volleyball club.

Date Tech is such a great team, I want to write more about them :)

Total Word Count: 1554