"….so far you have this much points so I think you're doing well against Fukurodani."
Yachi was explaining to Kenma on Nekoma's recent scores against Fukurodani. Since she was rotated to Nekoma for the day, she had a full day of pin pointing the data she gathered from the previous game she watched.
It seems like all of her data she gathered with Shibayama also helped the team analyze their team-play against each other. She also learned a lot from Shibayama who had started to explain to her some analysis points that she can make when she gathered all the scored points from the team.
Thus, she practices new advices and lessons from everyone diligently. From the managers, the coaches and directors, even the players who are very open to share with her anything about the sport.
" – but you'll have to keep up scoring above the average or else the rate will drop easily. That's all I gathered from today's play, Kozume-san."
Kenma hummed as he gave Yachi a brief smile, "It certainly is helpful. Thank you again, Yachi-san. I believe we're really going to match with Fukurodani's average soon."
"Hn! With the way everyone keeps improving, I'm sure Nekoma will win future matches." Yachi determined. She could tell that based on Nekoma's experiences and team-play, they are going to be incredibly powerful in official matches.
Seeing the way Yachi brightened up towards Kenma, the edges of his lips unconsciously tugged into a small smile. Kenma has been enjoying his time with the little manager from Karasuno lately. Ever since they started talking with each other, their conversation is always filled with so many fun topics.
Besides bonding their time over commissions and sketches, Yachi and Kenma liked talking about their close friends as well. Especially anything surrounding Hinata as the boy shares a common area in bringing volleyball in both Yachi's and Kenma's life with joy.
Their momentary soft atmosphere halted when Lev and Inuoka joins their bubble. "Yacchan! Have you been to any summer festivals in Tokyo?" Lev asked enthusiastically towards Yachi.
Yachi blinked at the sudden newcomers who were looking at her with sparkling curios eyes. "Um…I don't think I have."
"Oh! Then you should totally come with us! Chigaya-san said that there is a local festival near the school grounds and they are going to hold a firework show in the evening as well. Let's go together with everyone!" Lev said with giddiness.
Inuoka added, "The show is tomorrow. Since tomorrow is also the last day of training, we should all celebrate by seeing a firework show together. It'll be super fun!"
"Is everyone going?" This time Kenma was the one who asked.
"Of course, Kenma-san! I've spoken with everyone, even the captains." Lev added.
Yachi never thought of going to any summer festivals even during the long training camp but she is interested in going because the sound of watching the firework show seems absolutely fascinating. Speaking of summer festivals, she doesn't have any Yukata to wear but it's probably fine going with her casual clothes, right?
"Firework show…it sounds interesting." Yachi replies softly with a dreamy sigh. What would the fireworks from Tokyo look like? Will they be as amazing as the ones she saw from Miyagi?
"The firework show here is always beautiful so I don't think you'll regret coming with us. So what do you say, Yachi-san? Will you come with us tomorrow?" Inuoka asked.
It won't hurt to go – besides, when else can she experience this sort of events later on in the future. Yachi nodded, "Okay. I'll go."
Both Lev and Inuoka cheered at Yachi accepting their invitation. Afterwards, Coach Naoi called for all Nekoma members to gather around for closing and stretching before they finish the official training for the day.
As Yachi was about to start with cleaning up while the rest of the members gathered to coach, Kenma stops his tracks and turned towards her before calling. "Yachi-san."
She looked up at him, "Yes?"
The words seemed to be stuck in Kenma's throat before he was able to speak to her. So he only shook his head, "Sorry. It's nothing." And he runs to the rest of his team members.
Yachi was a little bit confused but decided not to pay her mind to it that much and continued with her work again.
Meanwhile, Kenma's neck and ears felt warm the entire time he turned his back.
'I'll tell her next time.' Kenma's words echoes in his mind.
Yachi was back in helping Kageyama again in Free Practice hours but this time, Ukai Coach was also helping them out. Just like yesterday, Kageyama was still having difficulties in setting the balls in accurate positions.
"Kageyama, don't think of the bottle as a target. Visualize it. As much as you can, visualize a spiker." Coach Ukai commented once they were already into half an hour of the practice.
Yachi perked up at his words. 'As expected of the coach, he is very sharp about this.'
"Visualize a spiker…" Kageyama echoed his words as he concentrated back to the bottles.
At this time, suddenly Takeda-sensei appeared by the door. "Ukai-kun! Nekomata-sensei is looking for you."
"Geh. Right now?" Coach turned around and frowns.
Takeda-sensei nodded, "He's expecting all of us to be there for tonight. Sorry for the interruption, Kageyama-kun."
"It's okay, sensei." Kageyama replied curtly as coach grumbles as he walked his way out of the gym.
Before he leaves the room, coach turned back again. "Visualize. Keep doing that for tonight."
Kageyama nodded in return.
Takeda-sensei gave a small wave to Yachi. "I'll leave Kageyama-kun to you, Yachi-san. Don't practice out too late."
"Yes, sensei." Both Kageyama and Yachi chorused in reply.
When the adults left, Kageyama cools himself to concentrate and turned to Yachi. "Please toss a ball to me, Yachi-san."
"Okay. Here I go." Yachi stealthily passes a ball up in the air towards Kageyama as he sharply looked at the ball and tossed it towards a certain direction of the furthest water bottle and –
The ball surprisingly took a stop and fell down flat on the bottle.
Yachi gaped at the sight as if she had seen magic. Did Kageyama actually do that without casting a spell or anything? How skillful is he to be able to control the bottle like that?
'Amazing. Kageyama is scary and amazing at the same time.'
Kageyama didn't spare time to move on to another one. "One more time."
Yachi admired the way Kageyama was able to push his focus until Free Practice hours ended. Reminding him that they should be finishing up and eat dinner, Yachi watched as Kageyama finally let out a big sigh and dropped himself to the ground and lay down.
Knowing that he did his all in this practice, Yachi couldn't help but smile in pride as she walks towards. While Kageyama was taking his time to cool down his adrenaline, Yachi finally stops before Kageyama's head and looked over him – blocking his sight from the ceiling.
"You did very well, Kageyama-kun!" She cheered him brightly.
Kageyama's heart felt like it was stopping for a moment. When he looked at Yachi who was right above him, the light shining behind her head makes it seem like Yachi had a halo around her.
He blinks his eyes a few times before he felt his cheeks warming up. "Y-yeah…thank you."
Yachi chuckles lightly before she stood back up. She started picking up the balls and putting them back into the cart, meanwhile Kageyama's limbs were still stuck on the ground. But he had to help so he pushed himself from the floor and started cleaning up the bottles. It took ten minutes to clean up, they both head out of the gym room.
Yachi picked up a basket of vests, "I'll see you later, Kageyama-kun. Make sure to eat your fill tonight. Oh – if you feel unwell, don't hesitate to contact Shimizu-senpai or me."
Inspecting that she might have more chores to do, Kageyama held himself back on asking her to eat with him for dinner. It was unfortunate but he knew she was very busy yet she still helps him with his practice –
He really needs to make it up to her. He can imagine his older sister's nagging if she found out he treats Yachi this way.
"Right…thank you for helping me out, Yachi-san."
"Don't worry about it. I'll see you later, Kageyama-kun."
After eating dinner, she was walking back when she passes by the third gym. She can't help but frown when she comes to see who were still practicing at this late hour. The cafeteria already closed down and the rest of the people were already preparing for bed time.
'I just hope that they ate dinner already.' Yachi thought to herself before she comes to the third gym and went inside.
"Hello everyone! You should head back soon because it's already passed 9PM." Yachi announced as she entered the gym.
She saw the familiar faces of Bokuto, Akaashi, Kuroo, Lev, Tsukishima and Hinata who turned their heads at her when she came.
"Eh – already? Wow, time flies so fast, haha!" Bokuto exclaimed in wonder as he looked back to the clock on the wall.
Akaashi huffs, "This is what happens when we get carried away."
"Yacchan! Are you here to see me again? How sweet of you!" Kuroo calls lovingly towards the blonde manager as Yachi only shook her head with a tired smile.
"Sorry, Yachi-san but we're almost done soon so can you wait for us a little bit?" Hinata looked at her with round puppy eyes.
'Ack! Not the puppy-eyes attack!' Yachi grimaced at Hinata's powerful weapon against her. She always had difficult times when he made that expression towards her.
"We have some points left, Yachi-san. We'll finish up after this." Tsukishima says as he pointed to the scoring board and sees that the 'cat team' was going to win with few points left.
Yachi sighed, "Fine. No more additional games after this and make sure everyone cleans up as well. We'd get into more trouble if we stay out here longer."
The members cheered again as they continue with their game. Yachi watched with a tired smile as she stands by the scoreboard and inspected their game play. Everyone was still pumped up and focused in their game, having fun with every blocks, spikes and tosses they made.
'The things I do for my friends.' Yachi thought as she admired the way practice turned out. She hoped that she won't be scolded by other managers or coaches for accommodating the members out this late at night with practice.
Author's Notes:
hello hello :3
finally! i'm able to update three chapters! i'm sorry for the poor writing this time, i don't think the chapters were interesting like the previous ones but i don't want to put them off in the drafts so i decided to just post them anyway. i know it's a poor excuse but i'm not a professional writer so haha whatevssss
i'm unsure of how kageyama and yachi interactions turn out, i just hope that it's not too stiff of awkward because i want to paint kageyama's blues hehe. also yachi is still active in the training camp so she needs to loosen up in the later events. SUMMER FESTIVAL AND FIREWORKS YAY.
not so much crazy stuff happening which is what i didn't except lol but i hope i can at least make some memorable scenes for the summer arc. sorry for the disappointment.
i hope the next chapters can be a lot better. haha.
thank you for reading this chapter! as usual, i can't promise fast updates - i'm going to a very busy week starting june aghh scary. i just hope everything is going to be fine.
anyways - THANK YOU FOR READING THIS CHAPTER! SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ONE! :3
