Reference:

Date Technical High School (Date Tech):

(Color: Teal)

Coach & Faculty Advisor - Oiwake Takurō

Manager - Nametsu Mai - 2

[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 Shingo - 1 - MB

#13 Sakunami Kōsuke - 1 - Li

Aoba Johsai Private High School (Seijoh):

(Color: Turquoise)

Head Coach - Irihata Nobuteru

Coach - Mizoguchi Sadayuki

#1 Oikawa Tōru (Captain) - 3 - S

#2 Matsukawa Issei - 3 - MB

#3 Hanamaki Takahiro - 3 - WS / Outside Hitter

#4 Iwaizumi Hajime (Vice Captain & Ace) - 3 - WS / Outside Hitter

#7 Watari Shinji - 2 - Li

#12 Kindaichi Yūtarō - 1 - MB

#13 Kunimi Akira - 1 - WS / Opposite Hitter

Ai blankly stared at her phone, simply holding it in her hands. Every time she clicked it on, the screen showed the time in the upper center and a picture of the six second-years fooling around in a classroom at lunch.

Nishinoya had taken the photo, grinning as he hugged Ai to his side and pressed the button with his other hand. Ennoshita and Narita were beside her, Tanaka made a face at the camera, and Kinoshita was smiling behind Nishinoya. The libero had set it as her lock screen wallpaper last month, and it had been there ever since.

Her home screen was a simple red backdrop behind the apps installed. She had a folder of note-taking apps in particular, using it whenever she didn't have a notebook within reach.

Her fingertips found the silver heart pendant around her neck again.

Karasuno still had time before their next match. It was past noon and an opportunity for the athletes to get a quick lunch.

Today was supposed to be a normal school day. The volleyball club got an excused absence, but other people didn't.

He'd be in class right now.

She shut her phone off again.

Was this the price she had to pay for being open to emotions? These tangled feelings filling her lungs?

She closed her eyes. How different this was from her two years at Teikō. The basketball tournaments were never this stressful.

She remembered the bored look on the guys' faces, only twitching to life a little when Kise suggested a new challenge of seeing who could score the most points or something else that would make the game more entertaining. Because winning was a given, and they'd all gotten used to it. Even Ai.

She sighed and rubbed her temples with the pads of her fingertips. She had to get out of this mindset. It was only a downward spiral of regret and negative thoughts. Thinking back to it was fine, but she couldn't let it bring her down.

Swearing to herself that she would embrace her emotions, she opened her eyes and looked ahead.

To her short-lived surprise, Ai soon spotted Yamaguchi walking past the seating space. "Tadashi."

He looked up out of his thoughts at his name and saw her. "Ai-senpai."

She motioned him over and moved sofas to one in the back corner.

They sat side by side. He seemed conflicted.

"What's on your mind, Tadashi?" She covered his fist on his thigh with a gentle hand. "You don't have to hold anything back. Tell me."

Yamaguchi pursed his lips and told her that he had just gotten back from speaking to Coach Ukai and Shimada. He grimaced. "That last serve..." he ground out between gritted teeth.

"I know." She intended to keep mostly quiet and listen.

"I blew it. I ran away, and it was the only thing I had."

"That may be for now, but it's not the only thing you have. Nor was it your last chance."

He bit back his frustration in the public setting.

After a while, she spoke again. "Someone once told me that you need oxygen to keep the brain functioning. That's my advice to you now. Breathe. Just breathe."

Yamaguchi nodded slowly.

"Try to loosen your body by jumping up and down, as Shōyō does. And, don't be afraid of the whistle."

He chuckled slightly. "Shimada-san also said that."

She nodded. "He knows what he's talking about. He was a former player. At the end of the day, I'm only your manager."

His head snapped toward her. "That's not true! You're so much more-..." He gasped at his sudden outburst and looked down, embarrassed that he had raised his voice.

Ai smiled. "As are you." She allowed for a moment to pass. "You don't have to think too much. The coach knows what he's doing and puts you in the game for a reason."

The first-year nodded slowly.

"Remember this moment. How you feel. Promise yourself that no matter what doubts you may have in the future, you won't do the same thing. If I'd brought a pen and paper, I'd ask if you'd want to write it down, but maybe when we go back to the stands."

She reached around his torso and hugged his side. "Don't blame yourself too much, Tadashi. Let's practice more for next time."

His cheeks tinged red, and he nodded again. "Yes."

"And, we have one more match today. All's not lost just yet."

Yamaguchi tried to smile. "Thank you, Ai-senpai."

"You're welcome."

Just then, the door to the men's bathroom opened, and Ennoshita stepped out.

She patted the freckled boy's head before rushing to meet her classmate.

"Chikara."

"Ai." His eyes widened, and he looked caught off guard. "What are you doing here?"

"You thought I would leave you alone?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. "You did great. It takes practice, and this was only the first step. You were amazing."

Ennoshita hugged her back, grabbing onto her dark navy jersey, the managers' uniform for tournaments. "It wasn't..."

"No," she cut him off. "Don't set your expectations so high. It's only natural things that didn't go as you wanted them to, especially on your first try."

He grimaced. "I messed up half of the spikes I hit, and I only made some real receives in the second half of the match. You were counting, weren't you?" He paused.

"But for the first time, I felt like I fought until the end."

Ai nodded a little against his shoulder.

"I should be getting ready to take on whoever we end up playing next," he ground out.

"Practice, Chikara. It takes practice and getting used to." She hugged him closer. "Time is on your side, so use it. Appreciate how Daichi-san is here for us and learn from him. You'll grow stronger. I know it." Ai didn't mention the position of captain, not wanting to remind him of the pressuring responsibilities that came with the job.

However, seeing how frustrated he was with himself for feeling relieved, Ai couldn't help the small, tentative smile on her lips. She pulled back to look into his brown eyes and gently held the sides of his face.

"I'm glad to see how much you care about volleyball."

She held him in her arms as he did her. Passersby started staring at the surmised couple and commented in low voices.

She ignored them with little irritation and only stepped to the side to move out of the walkway. "Chikara," she whispered. "You did well. Reflect and let go. It's okay."

He loosened his embrace on her. "Thanks, Ai." He didn't meet her eyes.

"No need for thanks. I'm happy to support you. Anything you need." She held his shoulders since he had bent down for her. "Would you like to sit down for a bit?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm good. Let's go." Ennoshita raised his head and gave a soft smile.

Ai returned the gesture and went to retrieve Yamaguchi from the cushion seats. "Would you like some more time, Tadashi?"

"N-no, I'm fine." He took her offered hand and followed her to Ennoshita. He thanked his upperclassman for standing between him and an angry Coach Ukai from before, and they left the scene.

Ennoshita provided an arm for her to hold, and she walked in between the two tall guys.

When they reached the stands, she touched a palm against Yamaguchi's back, and Ennoshita escorted her the rest of the way to their seats.

Karasuno sat on the front three rows of the bleacher seats. From the aisle of the upper row, there were Yachi, Kiyoko, Takeda-sensei, Coach Ukai, Kinoshita, and Narita. Tsukishima and Yamaguchi sat in the middle row in front of the adults. Their bags occupied the three seats beside the pinch server, and Sugawara, Asahi, and Daichi sat together. In the frontmost row were Nishinoya, Tanaka, Kageyama, and Hinata.

They were beside Date Tech's group a few yards over, and playing below them was the turquoise team of Aoba Johsai, who had their backs to them. It was a chance for the guys to see Seijoh up close and from above.

Since Date Tech wore their usual style of uniform, Aoba Johsai wore white shorts and bright turquoise shirts. The second uniform suited most of the players, but it was different from what they were used to seeing.

"Ai! There you are!" Sugawara smiled.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, Kōshi-senpai." She nodded to him while descending the steps, glad she could lean on Ennoshita's arm for support not to trip.

"That's alright! Thanks for getting the... Huh?" Sugawara realized her sudden change in addressing him and became shy.

Daichi, sitting on the other side of Asahi, chuckled at his friend's reaction.

Sugawara swiveled his head in the captain's direction. "What are you laughing at, Daichi?"

"Payback for using my stomach as a punching bag earlier," he said between laughs.

"I'm sorry, you punched your captain, Kōshi-senpai?" Ai teased.

Sugawara turned back to her and stammered. "Huh? Err... It's not what you think..." The third-year setter blushed red at her using his first name.

Ai stopped next to Yachi's row, who handed her a bag and Ai's notebook and pencil case. The younger manager was sitting on the aisle seat and offered to open her spot next to Kiyoko, but Ai put her at ease by dropping a hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place where she was. She continued down to the first row, patting Tsukishima's left shoulder on her way past.

Ennoshita went around to sit on the other end of Yachi's row, next to Narita.

The second-year middle blocker whispered something to his classmate, and they both glanced over at Ai. Narita and Ennoshita couldn't help but look after their manager, especially when she let them see her vulnerable side.

Nishinoya beamed and invited her over to sit next to him. "Ai! Look! It's Seijoh versus Date Tech!"

"I see." She took her seat in front of Yamaguchi and felt an arm going around her back. She giggled. "Give me a second, Yū."

She opened the bag and excavated some food and refreshments for them.

"Yeah!" Nishinoya grabbed a protein bar from her hand and passed down the rest.

"Woah, nice, Ai!" Tanaka happily received a banana and ate it.

"Thank you!" Kageyama called from his seat.

Hinata did the same. The four of them chowed down, earning a warning of eating too much from the vice-captain. She passed back a few snacks back to Tsukishima and Yamaguchi as well. Ai gave the former with a small appetite a look, telling him to replenish his energy.

"Atsu-kun isn't wrong about needing snacks to sustain your body," she told the athletes. She placed the bag on the ground between her and Nishinoya for easy access while she started taking notes.

.

The second set was 6-8, Aoba Johsai's small but significant lead.

The third-years of Date Tech had already retired, like Johzenji, but the three had come to watch their underclassmen play.

"Well? Are they winning?!" the former vice-captain and middle blocker, Kamasaki yelled.

"Don't push!" the retired captain and setter, Moniwa said.

"They're on the second set right now. Who got the first set?" Sasaya wondered.

Daichi spoke up upon overhearing the opposite hitter. "Um, apparently Seijoh got the first set, according to our manager."

"Ah, Karasuno!"

"H-hello, there…" the two captains greeted.

The technical high school had a tall new setter; a first-year, presumably. His tosses were unconventionally high, because of his tall height to begin with. Ai noticed that Futakuchi didn't seem to be good at high tosses, as the outside hitter got a touch-net from the referee.

He was their new weapon: the giant setter and new Iron Wall, Koganegawa. Unfortunately, he was still a beginner as a setter, and again, he tossed too high even for Aone. The coach sitting on the side bench caught the ball with his hands.

"N-nice catch!" Date Tech's manager, Mai said.

The opposing setter, Oikawa, was talented as always, but Date Tech's Iron Walls weren't backing down. When the Great King got the first touch, he bumped it over to Hanamaki, who tossed it back to him. Futakuchi and Aone were quick to react, watching the ball carefully to read-block, and narrowed Oikawa's course. At the last second, Koganegawa also rushed in to complete the three plates of the Iron Wall and shut the setter's powerful spike out completely.

The first-year had too much momentum running in and bumped into Aone, who hit Futakuchi in turn. The new captain wearing No. 2 fell to the side with a groan. It was the third law of motion, like Newton's cradle in physics.

"Don't mind," Hanamaki told an astonished Oikawa.

Coach Oiwake and the manager in teal both made a fist of accomplishment.

"Learn to hold back, you idiot!" Futakuchi yelled from the floor.

"Right! Sorry! Are you okay, Futakuchi-senpai?!" Koganegawa yelled.

"No, I'm not! That's why I'm telling you to learn to hold back!"

"It's my fault for not being able to brace it better. That was fine." Aone nodded, but Futakuchi still seemed bitter about it.

.

The two powerhouse schools maintained a small point difference.

The four energetic guys in the front row finished eating, and Ai collected their trash.

Nishinoya looked back and forth from her writing to the live game. "It's been a while since I've watched you take notes, Ai! Amazing as always!"

"Yeah, it's insane," Tanaka concurred.

"Thank you, Yū, Ryu," she mumbled, noting a counterattack from Kindaichi. Her hand never stopped, and her eyes didn't leave the court.

"Really?"

"You've never seen it before, Kageyama?" Hinata fomented. "Even Nekoma's coach and captain were amazed! And Bokuto-san, and Akaashi-san!" He shrugged. "Well, I haven't read it much either anyway."

Ai laughed. "I know studying isn't your strongest suit, is it?"

All four of them swallowed back excuses while she heard Tsukishima snickering from behind.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but why do you bother?" Kinoshita asked, raising his voice a little to be heard.

"I have the ability to help you. So, why wouldn't I?" A small smile appeared on her lips. "It's my two cents on 'noblesse oblige'. I thought of a way I can help you, so I will. It's not like it'll do me harm in return." She had confidence in kindness this way. "You have your job, and I have mine."

That seemed to have answered the guys' question, for now, at least, and they returned their attention to the game. The third-years continued to sneak glances at her occasionally. How was it that their team got such a unique and devoted manager?

.

It seemed that the new setter kept wanting to do two-attack dumps, but the feints were quite easy to predict with his hand placement.

"Seriously! You're totally obvious!" the second-year captain in teal scolded.

"Sorry! But a dump is so cool that I wanted to try it!"

And a very obvious reason, too, Obara thought.

Futakuchi sighed. "Look, you don't need to feint when you do a dump attack."

"Huh?" Koganegawa tilted his head sideways.

.

16-18, Aoba Johsai in the lead, and Oikawa's serve.

"Great, great, Tōru! Push it, push it, Tōru! One more time!" Seijoh's squad cheered when they got the point.

"So, I guess Seijoh has the upper hand?" Ennoshita observed, leaning forward on the backrest in front of him. Narita watched quietly on his left.

Sugawara smiled bitterly. "Date Tech is still flailing around, understandably. Once their giant setter settles, I'm sure he'll be an amazing weapon though."

.

22-24.

One more point.

Ai wasn't partial to either side when she started watching the game. But, Date Tech and Aoba Johsai… They were both good teams that made her want to root for both.

Koganegawa was basically a baby as a setter. If there was anything he had right now that was equal to his senpais, it was his height.

The three plates of Date Tech's Iron Wall jumped with perfect timing, completing a very tall and intimidating block.

"Your resolve is weak, you little first-year!" Iwaizumi spiked and broke through Koganegawa's Iron Wall, in between his arms.

Lev made that same mistake, Ai thought to herself, and she remembered Kuroo yelling at the half-Russian.

The ball slammed to the floor. The freak quick duo of Karasuno was astonished.

"It went through the middle of his arms!" Hinata screamed.

"Alright!" Iwaizumi pumped a fist.

"That was awesome, Iwaizumi!"

"You awesome guy!"

Hanamaki and Matsukawa both ruffled the ace's head.

"You're amazing, Iwaizumi-san!" Watari exclaimed.

"Nice kill," Kunimi said with a laidback tone.

Koganegawa looked as if he was going to cry, but Aone tapped him on the shoulder when going to line up.

Second set, 22-25, Aoba Johsai.

The whistle blew and the players bowed to each other.

"Thank you very much!"

Claps resonated around the gymnasium. Ai put her pencil down to applaud them, too.

"I guess we know who we'll face next," Daichi stated.

.

Shiratorizawa vs Hakusuikan, 25-17 and 25-19.

Karasuno vs Wakunan, 25-20, 20-25, and 25-23.

Date Tech vs Aoba Johsai, 25-19 and 25-22.

.

The team moved to the small gym, and Ai helped with their stretches. She also checked Daichi's cheek and for any other injuries on him and Tanaka. Afterward, she mostly stuck with the three quiet second-years.

The team was quiet, thinking back to their last match with Seijoh.

"I-is everyone on edge for some reason?" Yachi asked.

"Last time, they gave their all against Aoba Johsai, and still lost," Kiyoko explained.

"Oh."

As Ai stood with Narita and Ennoshita — the two hadn't left her side since they'd watched Aoba Johsai win —, her hands suddenly felt empty. She glanced around. "Have any of you seen my notebook?"

"Huh? What color?" Kinoshita asked, knowing she had many color-coordinated notebooks.

"Teal."

"I haven't," he said, and Narita shook his head, too.

She shrugged. "I must have left it on the bleachers. I'll go back to get it later."

Ennoshita blew out a breath of anxiety and turned to her. "Any last words of advice, Ai?"

She sent him a playful look. "Are you killing me off, Chikara?"

"Not at all! That's not what I meant," he flustered.

Narita and Kinoshita laughed beside her.

"You two find this amusing?" she quipped.

They shut up and shook their heads.

"I-it's too bad you can't come with us," Narita offered.

Her gaze turned melancholy. "It is. But, I'll be right behind you. As for my last words," she turned to the personable wing spiker. "Simply be present in the game. You have nothing else to worry about."

A smile from her was very reassuring.

"Chikara, Hisashi, Kazuhito, you'll do great."

Daichi called them all over, and together, they headed out to the sparkling court with blinding lights.

I'll probably add more to this chapter when I edit it. Only a little bit though; no major changes to the plot. :)

Total Word Count: 3352