I can just see these play out in my head as I write lol.

I hope I write well enough for you to imagine the scenes, too!

Enjoy the long chapter!

Reference:

Failing marks in Japan are anything under 40/100 points.

But, for Karasuno's supplementary lessons system, they have to one, take the lesson and two, retake the supplementary exam until they get at least 80/100 points.

"Please come to the staff room if you have any questions or if there are mistakes regarding the exams." Just as the teacher finished saying this, the school bell chimed. "And, that's it. Class dismissed."

The students in 2-4 sighed and groaned. The teacher left the classroom, and the short homeroom ended.

They had gotten all eight of their tests back, each with a daunting red number on the corner of the paper.

Ai didn't do too bad, and her English was a perfect score as always. The test questions were easy compared to living abroad for four years.

"Ai-chan! Here's your test back. Thanks for showing it to me!" One of her sadō clubmates, who also happened to be in her class, came to her desk to return it.

"Sure, Karen-chan." Ai nodded and slid the paper into her folder. "I hope it helped."

"It did!" She smiled sweetly. "Want to go to club together?"

"I would...," the volleyball manager started to say. She was interrupted, as expected, by a familiar voice from the hallway.

"Ai!!!" Nishinoya ran to her classroom door and waved a paper in her direction. "It worked! I got a forty-five!"

She smiled at him from her seat. "I'm glad you made it, Yū."

"Come on, Nishinoya." Ennoshita grabbed his bag and stood with Narita. "Let's go get changed."

"Could I borrow the test later, too?" the middle blocker asked.

"Here, Kazuhito. Take it with you now." Ai pulled the sheet out again and gave it to him. "I'll see you in the gymnasium."

"Thanks." Narita smiled and went with the wing spiker to drag the libero away.

As Ai quietly wondered how Tanaka did, she packed her things and joined her sadō clubmate to go to the tatami room downstairs.

"Your tests are always so popular," the girl said as they descended the stairs together. "You know you're the only one who gets a hundred for English in the entire school? It's amazing!"

Ai giggled. "How do you know?"

"I overheard the teachers talking about it, and our senpais said it's true."

They rounded the corner on the first floor.

"You should see my score for Historical Japanese. It's just as bad as everyone else's," Ai said honestly, and she opened the sliding door when they arrived.

"That one's always hard. The grammar is seriously an unsolvable mystery… like a different language altogether."

Ai smiled, happy to have made marvelous new friends outside of sports and expanded her network of people. The girls chatted and got ready for another tranquil Friday of extracurricular tea ceremony lessons.

.

Roughly three hours later, Ai said her goodbyes to her female clubmates and headed for the gymnasium. She was anxious to ask how the first-years did, after their efforts in studying.

Walking along the outside corridor that led to the metal double doors, Ai glanced to her right to admire the sunset sky.

She gazed at a spot in the barren courtyard and remembered where she had fallen to her knees when Akashi had visited her last winter.

With a quiet smile, she sighed softly. Perhaps calling him would alleviate some of the ache she felt in her heart from missing her boyfriend.

Ai took off her indoor shoes at the steps of the door, cracked open just enough to let the breeze in but too narrow for a volleyball to bounce outside.

She switched to gymnasium sneakers, and slipping a hand between the doorframe, she slid it open. "Excuse me," she said to no one in particular as she stepped inside.

"Ai!" Tanaka yelled.

"Hey! Don't get distracted!" the coach scolded as he spiked another ball toward Hinata. It was the first-year's turn to receive five shots from Ukai, who was standing on top of the table again.

Kiyoko was out of sight, and Yachi handed him air-filled balls from the cart.

The wing spiker who had called her name ran toward her, since he still had a few people to go before him. "I got forty-two on the English test!"

The second-year manager smiled. "That's great news. Congratulations."

"Yeah! That one you taught me during lunch came up, and I aced it!"

She gave Tanaka a high five and shooed him away to continue practicing.

.

"Come on, Kageyama! We have to tell her," Hinata whisper-yelled as they were cleaning up an hour later.

The setter grunted, not wanting to do as the middle blocker said.

Tsukishima smirked. "You two went up to the vice principal no problem, but you're freaking out about talking to a student manager?"

They snarled at the tall blond, but he struck the truth.

"Better hurry and get it over with," Tsukishima said, leaving the gymnasium behind the others.

Yamaguchi shrugged and went ahead with his friend to change back into their school uniforms in the clubroom.

The two first-years braved themselves and went up to the sports manager by the stage. Their heads hung low in shame.

Ai paused in organizing her notes, noticing them coming closer, and faced them. She sighed and inferred from their body language. "Let me guess. You both didn't make it?"

Hinata and Kageyama nodded wordlessly, still staring at the floor.

"Well, I guess now I know what to wish for Tanabata this year," she stated nonchalantly. Ai took her notebook and pencil and walked away to pack them into her bag.

The boys picked their heads up and glanced at each other, confused. Then, they ran over to follow her.

"Sorry, Ai-senpai. But, Tanaka-san said we can still go if we study!" Hinata made fists of determination.

She nodded, sitting on her heels and propping up a bag of towels against the wall. "He's right."

If they had only failed one subject, there was still hope. Their school gave supplementary lessons on the tests they failed, and it repeated over and over until they passed the supplementary exam at the end. That was the system. On the other hand, if they passed the extra exam on the first try, the supplementary classes would end in the morning.

Therefore, they would be able to meet up in Tokyo Saturday evening.

Although, there was still the issue of how to get to Nekoma's campus. The club was using the school's bus, and Hinata and Kageyama shouldn't have to pay for the expenses themselves. However, Tanaka had promised them a "savior".

It was unfortunate Ai didn't have an older sibling or a chauffeur like the Akashi's did.

"Are those our towels?" Kageyama suddenly pointed and asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Ai glanced down. "These? No, they're for sadō." She was on towel duty that week. The girls took turns taking the towels home to wash, but the guys usually used their own towels for volleyball practice.

She stood up straight and stated in a demanding tone, "What subjects?"

"Japanese Language Arts."

"English," they each mumbled.

Ai raised a brow. "English? I thought Hitoka-chan studied with you, Shōyō."

Hinata grimaced, thinking back to his careless mistake. "I wrote the answers in the wrong places."

"Oh," she thought. "But, I suppose you got the questions correct?"

"Yeah," the middle blocker sighed.

"Show me your tests after. As Ryu said, there's still hope, Shōyō, Tobio." She landed a soft fist on both of their chests and left to talk to Kiyoko about the upcoming trip.

.

That same night, the team decided to help the two who failed their exams.

Ai heard the unfortunate story from Tsukishima and Yamaguchi while they walked to Sakanoshita that night. Kiyoko, Tanaka, Narita, and Kinoshita went home, but the rest of them walked together down the slope.

Apparently, the troublesome duo had gone to beg the vice principal to exempt them from the supplementary lessons, or at least delay it and reschedule. However, the incident had ended with Daichi apologizing on behalf of the volleyball idiots for making his wig fly off, again. The boys were also threatened with an increased passing mark of the supplementary exam to be raised from 80 points to 90.

"So, that's what the clamor from the stairwell was at lunch," she said as Sugawara nodded.

Ai sighed. These boys… she thought.

Asahi watched her as she walked beside him. "I heard you got a perfect score on English again, Ai. That's amazing."

She shrugged. "It's expected after living there for so long." She looked up at him to see his features in the night.

He looked kind of rough and so mature; it didn't do his kind heart justice.

Ai smiled quietly and placed herself between him and the captain.

There was something about being surrounded by tall guys that provided a sense of safety. She used to be frustrated with her short height until she learned to be confident in it. Now, it didn't matter how tall she was because she could gain respect and authority regardless, similar to how Akashi told people that their "heads are too high."

Besides, being with Murasakibara for years let her get used to being around titans.

.

"Both of you," Ennoshita sighed with two practice tests in his hands. He and the boys sat at the table in Ukai's mother's shop while the others, except the second-year manager, all crowded around them. The wing spiker tutor had Hinata and Kageyama try the problems again to see what they didn't understand.

"Why are your scores worse off than during your tests?"

The setter answered first with his gaze cast downwards, a gloomy air surrounding the both of them. "Somehow, when the test ended, what I memorized flew off somewhere, too."

"I forcefully memorized it for the exam, so it leaves my head every minute and second…" Hinata additionally mumbled.

Ai then returned to the table from wandering the store aisles and idly straightening out products on shelves.

Standing back next to Tsukishima, she could almost see the kanji idioms and English vocabulary spilling from their ears and evaporating into thin air.

Hinata's score had gone from 21 to 20, and Kageyama's dropped from 38 to 15.

This was going to be a lot harder than they'd originally thought.

When Yachi volunteered to drill the two so they could get 80 points, the tall male beside her made inciting comments. Yamaguchi also offered to help, and Nishinoya stepped in because he couldn't let the juniors snatch all the glory.

Ennoshita told the third-years to leave it to the first and second-years and to not worry about them, since they had to study for college entrance exams.

"Then, we'll leave it to you." Daichi smiled and approved proudly with his arms crossed.

"Although it seems like it'll be a hard time," Sugawara half laughed.

"I-I don't think I'll be taking entrance exams…, but I don't think I have the confidence to teach either…" Asahi shrugged his shoulders with a timid smile.

It wasn't a problem. They had enough people to help without bothering the busy seniors.

Ai giggled, joining Tsukishima in lightly razzing the failing duo. "You're both lucky the cut-off is at forty," she said as she placed a hand on Hinata and Kageyama's shoulders, standing half a step behind them. "You would have failed in an instant had you gotten below sixty in America."

"S-s-sixty!?" The orange-haired stammered in shock.

Kageyama looked as if he were struck in the face, shocked and pale.

She nodded and gave the libero a look. "The same goes for you and Ryu, but I'll save that for another time."

Nishinoya gulped. "Yes, ma'am."

Tsukishima walked around the group to the shop door and slid it open. "Then, I'll be going first."

The two who failed glared at him, but the blond refused.

"I won't be helping you. The promise was only until the test." He smiled a blindingly fake smile. "Well, just do your best. Excuse me."

"Good night, Kei," Ai said to him as he left. The others remained speechless at his unchanged, taunting manner.

The failing duo continued glaring even after he left.

"Stingy-shima…" Hinata spat.

"Kei's free to do as he chooses." She patted the top of his orange-haired head.

"I'm glad that you passed your English exam, Tobio," Ai said to Kageyama as Ennoshita asked about Tanaka's whereabouts. Nishinoya answered that he had some things to do, as Ai stepped up to the table.

"But, it's a shame I won't be able to teach you this time." She placed her hands over the white tablecloth and leaned forward, smirking at the middle blocker. "Isn't it, Shōyō?"

He became as red as a tomato and sputtered. "U-um y-yes!"

She chuckled a little and stood normally, done with her teasing for the day. "I may be in a different grade, but don't be afraid to ask. Right, Hitoka-chan?" Ai winked at the girl.

"Y-yes!" Yachi replied in English.

Ai nodded. "Well then, I suppose I'll take my leave as well. Ryu's not the only one with things to do." She gave everyone a caring touch, either a pat on the shoulder or on their back where she could reach. She hugged Ennoshita from behind, who was still sitting in the chair.

"What are you gonna do, Ai?" Nishinoya questioned, but compliantly wrapped his arms around her for a hug.

"Oh, you know. Watch some sports games, send a birthday gift, make a couple of tanzakus for my wishes…" she listed off in a sweet voice.

Passing behind the third-years, Ai collected her belongings and walked to the door. "Good night, Yū, Chikara, Tadashi," she said, facing them in turn. "See you tomorrow, Hitoka-chan, Tobio, Shōyō," she switched between languages.

"Excuse me for leaving first, Sawamura-senpai, Sugawara-senpai, Asahi-san." Finally, she bowed gracefully to her upperclassmen and left the store as Tsukishima did.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded again.

"They are…" Daichi started.

"... just something else," Sugawara finished with a dropped jaw.

———

The next day, Hinata, Kageyama, and Yamaguchi had gathered in Yachi's classroom to study at lunch.

After school, the youngest manager confronted Ai with a question out of the blue.

"Ai-senpai, how do you say 'delayed spike attack' (jikansa kougeki 時間差攻撃) in English?" Yachi asked with a serious expression.

Wondering why she was acting so solemn, Ai matched her mood anyway. "Why do you want to know?"

"Um… Hinata asked... at lunch," Yachi responded, still upholding the tension.

Ai smiled at the blonde who put together a proper sentence in a foreign language. "I can tell you like learning. I feel the same way." She motioned for her to follow and walked around the gym in search of empty water bottles. "If only you'd met Tatsuya. He'd be thrilled."

She tilted her head to the side, but they went back to their tasks. Ai answered her question and gave her tips on being a sports club manager.

———

The following day, they had a break when it was a few minutes past five o'clock.

Nishinoya and Ennoshita were stretching on the floor and talking about scheduling a plan to meet Ai at Sakanoshita while she had a volunteer shift there.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were standing to the side on a reprise, and Hinata sat cross-legged against the wall. He had a blue and yellow volleyball in his lap and was furrowing his brows at his English flashcards.

"Imagine," Ai read the previous one as she sat next to him, folding her legs in a slanted position under her skirt.

He looked at her, surprised that Ai was talking to him instead of taking care of the team's needs. "Huh?"

She smiled. "And, 'kankaku' (感覚) means 'feeling or sense'." She reached out a hand and tapped her fingertips on his forearm. "Like your sense of touch." She stopped and retracted her hand.

Hinata nodded slowly with his lips in a wriggly, pursed line of embarrassment.

She smirked. "You'll get there," she said, knowing that he may or may not have understood what she'd said. So, Ai stood up and went to find Tanaka; she wanted to tell him to give his sister her regards.

———

After practice the next day, Ennoshita, Nishinoya, Yamaguchi, and Yachi went down to the Sakanoshita Shop to help the two study. They borrowed the store table again while Ai checked the inventory and restocked the shelves.

Ukai also gave the seven Karasuno students ice cream bars on the house. They thanked the storekeeper happily.

———

Finally, Yachi and Ennoshita tested them again at Ukai's store.

Ai's junior checked Hinata's work diligently while her second-year classmate looked unamused. Kinoshita and Nishinoya, as well as Yamaguchi and Tsukishima, had come to see the fruits of their efforts.

Ukai watched them from behind his counter with an open newspaper, and Ai reviewed her recent notes on the data Momoi had sent her. The former basketball manager had already finished her shift of volunteering that night.

After waiting for ages, the correctors placed their red pens down and gave the tests back.

The two first-years received it ceremoniously like a diploma.

Kageyama, 52.

Hinata, 48.

Shocked, the papers slipped from their hands.

"It's impossible," Hinata uttered.

"Just a bit more! Another mere 30 points," Yachi encouraged.

"30 points isn't 'just a bit'," Ennoshita corrected kindly.

Kageyama looked as if his soul had left his body, and Hinata's motivation was broken. He apologized to the blonde girl, who tried to repair his determination.

"I think I'll go back to trying my best cycling to Tokyo," the usually positive boy muttered.

"We'll be preparing to leave by the time you arrive, then," Ai calculated without glancing up from her basketball notes. "Though, I have no doubt you'll find a way to ride your bicycle for 11 hours, Shōyō."

Yamaguchi and Kinoshita both looked at her with dry laughs.

"There're three more days! You can do it!" Nishinoya shouted.

"That's right! Let's do it!" Yachi supported.

Ennoshita observed the two who slumped listlessly. "It's useless. They're totally heartbroken."

Then, the tallest middle blocker huffed. "I came to see how much you improved, but it's only this much." Tsukishima picked up the practice tests that had fluttered to the floor.

"To be stumped by such textbook-level questions, you're beyond saving. The answers are all in the passage for Modern Literature. It should be just nice for a single-celled king like you," he incited Kageyama.

"And, isn't English just a language? Oh, but I guess it's impossible for a monkey."

A weirdly irritative feeling stirred inside of her, and for some reason, Ai wanted to tell the blond off for the animal comparison he made to Hinata. She usually didn't care about insults or let it get under her skin, but calling him a monkey was a bit much.

It also wasn't even their zodiac sign; Tsukishima and the rest of the first-years were mice. She shook it off.

"Ah, it seems like it'll be a fulfilling Tokyo training camp. Thanks to the noisy duo not being there. Well then, I'll be going first." He left the store with an annoying smile and walked away.

It seemed that Tsukishima had successfully manipulated Kageyama and Hinata to keep working. The duo scribbled with their pencils with renewed fire.

"Wow, they're resurrected," Ennoshita awed.

"That's Tsukki for you." Yamaguchi smiled.

"He really is a 'Buddha in Hell'," Yachi said, remembering the phrase.

"No, I think it's 'controlling poison with poison'," Ennoshita suggested.

Ukai made a small grin at the schoolboys and sat back comfortably in his twisting chair. He glanced at Ai, who quietly leaned on his counter.

She always had a notebook of some color every time he saw her, as it seemed. This time, it was a navy blue one.

"Aren't you gonna join them?" he asked the female student.

She shook her head. "I have my own studying to do, believe it or not," Ai smirked at the coach while he flapped his newspaper straight.

"Hmph, well, it's not my business." Ukai went back to reading a random article.

"It could be." She pretended to not notice him staring at her, and continued to read the analyses from Momoi and her own annotations.

Kinoshita stood by quietly, knowing better than to interrupt her, especially when she had a notebook open.

What is up with kids these days? Ukai thought. Or, maybe it's just her. He accepted the latter as his conclusion and didn't mind her flipping through the mysterious notebook anymore.

———

Night of Departure

The Day Before Supplementary Lessons

(July 6)

"Oi, oi, oi, don't be so depressed! Clear it in one try, and wait for the savior your senpai has prepared." Tanaka grinned brightly after looking troubled for several days.

"Yeah, if you've done so much, you should be fine." Ennoshita nodded.

"Go and defeat it, you guys!" Nishinoya yelled. They were the only ones left at school on the dark, empty campus.

"D-do your best!" Yachi encouraged.

"Then, we'll be waiting for you in Tokyo." Daichi stayed optimistic.

"We believe in you," Ai added.

"Yes," they mumbled. They still looked unconfident.

Ai placed her overnight bag on the ground and walked over to hug each of them. "Tomorrow is Tanabata," she told the two first-years, "and, I know my wish will come true. But, just in case."

She gave Hinata a folding fan and Kageyama a triangular ruler. "Your lucky items for tomorrow. Hold onto them for me, and you can give them back in Tokyo."

Both of them looked confused but kept their temporary gifts. "Yes, ma'am," they said with uncertainty.

"See you tomorrow." She patted Kageyama's chest and Hinata's shoulder.

They got into the bus, and Takeda-sensei turned over the engine.

Ai sat closer to the front since Yachi and Kiyoko were near the back. The blonde manager, Tanaka, and Nishinoya took window seats and waved outside as they drove out the school gates.

"Lights out, kids. Get some sleep," Coach Ukai said.

"Yes, sir," Daichi answered on behalf of them all.

Ai put her bag at her feet and braided her straight hair so that it was out of the way. Her long strands would be in waves by the time she woke up tomorrow, but it would help prevent knots.

"Are you excited?" Narita asked from beside her. He had given her their window seat.

She smiled at him. "Truthfully, I am."

"It'll be like going home for you, right?" Sugawara peeked back at them from his seat in front of hers.

"In a way," she replied.

"I haven't been out of Miyagi much," Asahi said from across the aisle. "I'm kind of nervous."

"When are you not?" the vice-captain quipped.

Ai covered a yawn with her hand as she heard Daichi chuckle.

Seconds later, the interior lights went out, signaling for the student-athletes to rest.

"Good night, Kazuhito."

"'Night, Ai," he smiled beside her.

The students slept the best they could in the moving vehicle rocking them to sleep.

———

July 7

(First Day of Nekoma Training Camp)

The next day, the failing dup successfully got out of the supplementary lessons; Kageyama with an 84 and Hinata with a score of 89.

.

"Akaashi!!!" The ace of Fukurōdani called.

"Bokuto-san." The No. 5 setter bumped the ball back with both arms towards the net for him to spike.

Bokuto ran up to it and jumped, hitting the volleyball with force.

Kenma and Lev jumped to block, but the frail setter moved his arms away to not touch the powerful attack.

"ALRIGHT! I'm the strongest! Hey, hey, hey!" he screamed and went on to shout to his tired teammates. "Come on! Be more fired up!"

The second-year setter watched him with an exhausted expression. "How lively you are, Bokuto-san."

Ai summarized her notes as the cat team went for their turn around the gymnasium. There was so much information to write from watching four new teams.

.

When Nekoma finished their penalty lap, it was around 5pm.

"Here, Kenma." Ai walked up to the setter while holding two water bottles and towels.

"Thanks, Ai." He only took a yellow bottle from their borrowed manager.

She turned to the captain. "Would you like something, Kuroo-san?"

"I could use a towel," he said, giving her his full attention.

She handed him one and stood by to talk with Kenma. "When does practice usually end?"

"Around seven. We eat dinner after that." He took a sip of water. "Why?"

"Just wondering." She smiled at him, and then watched Karasuno have a meeting with Takeda-sensei.

Kuroo wiped his nose and neck, sneaking a glance at the two second-years. His introverted friend was being more talkative than usual.

"Oi, oi, Kuroo." A tall third-year with frosted spiky hair from Fukurōdani came up to them.

"Huh?"

"Why're the weird first-years from Karasuno not here?"

"Uh… I heard they're down for supplementary lessons since they failed their final exams." Nekoma's captain looked down at Ai. "Right?"

She nodded. "It wasn't from lack of effort. They tried."

"What?! I was so looking forward to playing them!" He crossed his arms and reasoned, "Just study a bit for exams, and it'll work itself out somehow!"

The setter for his team came over to their small group to contribute a retort. "Bokuto-san, you failed your Mathematics."

The captain froze. "Akaashi! You promised not to say!" He sighed. "I wanted to see their outrageous attack," the No. 4 said disappointedly.

Ai cracked a smile at the player's fun personality, and met eyes with his setter friend. She nodded to him when he didn't break their gaze.

"Are you a manager, miss?" the one with blue-green irises asked.

"I am," she answered.

Kuroo stepped beside her. "This is Akatsuki from Karasuno. The coaches let her work with our team."

Ai nodded. "I'm a second-year. Pleased to meet you, …"

"Akaashi Keiji," he filled in the blank. "And, this is our ace and captain of Fukurōdani, Bokuto-san."

"Hey, hey! Nice to meetcha!" Bokuto grinned. "So, Kuroo's finally got himself a manager too, huh?"

"Yep. The best one around," the middle blocker captain boasted unknowingly, placing a hand on her back. If he only knew.

Akaashi smiled. "I'm also a second-year. Nice to meet you."

Ai held out her hand to shake, and the setter obliged kindly.

Bokuto gripped hers with more excitement. "So you're gonna be with Nekoma?" he asked, noting her white Karasuno t-shirt.

"Yes. Karasuno has two other managers, and I wanted to help where I'm needed."

"We have two managers, too! You should come visit!"

Kuroo was about to make a witty comment in return, but a voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Kenma-san! Kenma-san! Kenma-Kenma-san!"

"Be quiet, Lev." Nekoma's second-year rolled his eyes.

"Will you toss to me more in the next match? I really feel at the top of my game today!" the first-year asked enthusiastically.

"We'll see," the shorter setter mumbled.

Kuroo grinned. "How popular of you, Kenma."

Ai watched their exchange, observing the relationships within the Nekoma team. They seemed to be friendly with each other and close-knit.

"We'd best be going, Bokuto-san. We should be ready for our next match, too." Akaashi nodded to the three of them and walked away with the ace.

"Who're we up against next, Akaashi?" Bokuto asked his vice-captain.

"Probably Shinzen, once they're done and give us the court."

Seeing that Kuroo was done wiping his face, Ai offered to take the towel for him. "I can hold onto it for you, Kuroo-san. And if you're finished drinking, Kenma?"

"Oh, yeah. Thanks." The captain relinquished the white towel to her while Kenma did the same with his water bottle.

"Lev, would you like to see how you did in the last match? We can decide what you can work on, besides receiving if you'd prefer."

"Ok! Yaku-san already gives me an earful about receiving training."

Ai nodded to the third-year and followed the younger middle blocker to where she'd left her notebook. She was going to see if the others needed anything, too.

"How do I put this..." Kuroo sighed relievedly with hands on his hips. "It's like we don't have anything to do besides actually playing volleyball. No distractions."

Kenma nodded, agreeing. "We don't have anything extra to think about because she already does it before we know it."

"So this is what we've been missing out on without having a manager."

"Do you understand how Tora feels now?"

"I wouldn't go that far..." he said, watching as Taketora cried and become flustered at the same time when Ai tried to talk to him. "But, I get its appeal."

"She's above average for sure." Kenma walked toward the edge of the courts to sit against the wall before the next match started.

As he did so, Kuroo smirked at how the setter was analyzing her like an asset in one of his video games.

.

The whistle blew twice to end a set between Karasuno and Ubugawa, 20-25.

"Alright then! One round of diving receives!" Daichi called.

"Right!"

Daichi started them off, followed by Asahi, Tanaka, and Nishinoya.

Then, the metal door was pulled open. Shinzen's No. 10 turned around as Saeko looked inside.

"Oh, they're still at it! We made it. Not bad!" she grinned at herself.

Bokuto, who was in a match with Nekoma, paused to look over at who it was. The referee from Shinzen allowed it. "Who's that lady?"

"I wonder," Akaashi replied.

Tanaka glanced up from his diving drills. "Glad they're safe."

"So the stars are fashionably late? How annoying," Kuroo remarked.

"Right then! Now that you've survived my sister's reckless driving, you get to play to your heart's content-..." the wing spiker trailed off, having seen Hinata's certain expression before.

Unfortunately, the orange-haired boy had not taken the drive so well and looked sick.

"Hinata. You can't possibly be..." Kageyama detected as well.

When Ai saw the look on the first-year's face, she recognized it from the time they had driven to Seijoh's campus for a practice game.

She quickly turned toward the storage room to find a pail or something, hurrying around the players resting on break. "Yūki! Help me find a bucket."

Oddly enough, Fukunaga nodded to her instead, overhearing her request to the first-year libero.

But alas, it was too late.

Hinata heaved onto the floor and made an odorous mess.

"Vomit? Did he just vomit?" she heard Bokuto say.

"Mop! Quick, bring a mop! Bokuto!" Nekoma's captain yelled. Puzzling how he commanded the guests to get cleaning supplies at the Cat's school.

"How annoying," Kenma sighed.

"Mop!!!" Kuroo panicked.

"Are they really the amazing first-years?" Akaashi doubted as Bokuto flustered.

"Wow, that's the worst," Tsukishima said. He was just about done with those two clubmates.

I have two friends named Karen (pronounced Kah-ren) and they're the sweetest people. I guess you could say that this is for them. :)

I always try to add Narita and Kinoshita that I think I forget about Asahi and Daichi sometimes... :(

As for the zodiac signs, all of the first-years (in Haikyuu, at least) are mice; born in 1996. The second-years are boars or mice, and the third-years are dogs or boars. (The zodiac animals are according to birth-year. The Japanese ones may be slightly different from the Chinese version…? Also, the birthday cutoffs for school grades in Japan are April 1st.)

(Fruits Basket is a great story, if anyone's interested!)

P.S. I haven't watched Attack on Titan, so any references are unintended. (I don't know how y'all watch that… Any horror anime will give me nightmares.)

Reference:

It costs about 11,700~12,100 Japanese yen (or about 110~120 US dollars) to get from Miyagi to Tokyo by train.

Question:

What are the characters' best/worst school subjects?

Who is at risk to fail their exams every time?

Total Word Count: 5445