Chapter 11: Part of the team

Another kiss followed their first one, this time, initiated by Daichi. But then, a loud growling interrupted the pair. Laughing, Daichi broke the kiss. "Sounds like someone is hungry?"

Yona shrugged. "You could say that. Ever since I started working out again, my body wants food all the time."

He took her hand. "Then let's feed you. Is Ramen okay? I know a nice little restaurant not too far away. Hopefully, not another volleyball player will interrupt us."

With a smile she gave consent and followed him, as he led the way. After a walk of not quite ten minutes, they arrived at a restaurant in a little side road and Daichi led her inside. Soon they were seated at a table for two in a little corner and chose their dishes.

Daichi was quick in choosing his meal, but it took Yona quite a bit longer – as she had to ask him about several ingredients. An elderly woman took their orders and left them on their own with a knowing and gentle smile.

Daichi watched her, while her eyes took in their surroundings.

"It's nice. Cosy. How do you know of this restaurant?", she asked.

He smiled. "My parents. They have a habit of spending one evening of the month on a date – and when I was a child, they tagged me along when no one could watch me. When I made plans to show you the fair, I thought of this place. It isn't that popular – but the food is delicious."

"Sounds like your parents love each other very much."

Daichi grinned. "Yeah. Looking at society today and counting the divorced parents in school, I'm really lucky. But sorry for the topic – I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

She cocked her head. "Because of my father? Don't worry. It's been over ten years, and my parents were madly in love, too. Now Mom is only thinking about her career, but if it makes her happy…" The girl shrugged.

"So you're not close to your mother?", he asked curiously. Then he joked: "We could play twenty questions – I don't want to interrogate you."

"Kay", she answered. "For every question you ask, I get one as well. Mom and I are not close, no. I was really close to my father, and when he was gone, Grandpa stepped in. And I had Tomoya. Mom isn't indifferent about me – she calls, she came to the hospital immediately after it happened, she sends gifts regularly, she sent me of to Japan in person and wants to visit during her holidays – but we don't have this deep mother-daughter connection Yachi has, for example. She's my mother, she knows I'm well, she is happy, I am happy, everything is… happy." Rising one eyebrow, she added: "Now it's my turn… Why policework? Don't get me wrong, it fits you to the core – but why are you interested in it? I could see you as a teacher as well, for example."

"Hmmm. Good question.", he told her. And after that, he started telling her about his thoughts about responsibility and his future – and how he wanted to bestow honour not on himself, but on his family as well. Yona listened with rapt attention, smiling at his enthusiasm. Their game of twenty questions got interrupted shortly by the arrival of their meal but continued immediately after it.

Soon they knew that their taste in music was alike, as well as their preferences in movies and tv shows. Yona told him some more about her childhood abroad, he told her about growing up in Sendai. She asked him about his friendship with Sugawara and Asahi - only to find herself at a loss of words when he asked her about her plans for the future.

She swallowed hard. "Well. I had plans. But now… I think it's time to tell you what happened." Yona looked down on her hand, that was still in its Velcro cast.

Daichi put his hand on top if it a few seconds later, when he noticed her hesitation. "You don't have to. No pressure."

She shook her head no. "No. I have to tell you. It's only fair… after all, you let me barge into your team without knowing me, or my history, of if I'd be able to play again – ever again."

She took a swig of her drink and took a deep breath.

"You know that my dad played Volleyball as well, right? Well, he was a professional player. Started in Japan, moved to UK to join a team. When he realized he loved helping others, he started to teach sports classes and train teams. Children as well. As soon as I could walk and hold a ball, Daddy taught me about Volleyball. I grew up with it. It was the one thing we always did together, so Volleyball is a part of my life from early on. And because sports were the only thing that I excelled in, I worked like crazy to become better and better, especially after his death. You already know that I was playing as a wing spiker – I was team captain as well… I got invited to the nation youth training camp – twice. But then… My team and I had a match. A hard one as well, the other team was so good! Their team captain wanted to win, of course, we all wanted to win. When our opponent team lost, she got angry." Yona took a breath again.

Daichi raised his eyebrows in the meantime- his hands were still encasing her hands. "So it was her fault that you broke your hand? She got that angry?"

The girl shook her head fast. "No. You know the really old Basketball-hoops in movies? The big ones, where the metal hoop is fastened against a thick piece of wood and screwed into the wall?"

He nodded, not seeing where this was going.

"Well… She got angry and spiked a ball – but the ball flew off against a hoop. It's none of her fault, I never blamed her. But I was standing under the hoop, and the screws were rusty. Thanks to the force of the ball, the hoop came down. I raised my hand to protect my face, so it took the force of the hoop- they told me that the metal probably crushed my hand. But thanks to that, my back and my head only took minor injuries."

"That's terrible!" Daichi almost shouted. "The gym should have…"

Yona, giving a grown-up response, nodded and replied calmly. "They should have controlled the interior of the gym. Yes. But they didn't. They paid quite a sum of money as a compensation – I used part of the money to move countries. Before I was in the accident, I wanted to become a professional player, maybe study physical education after school. I think working with kids or young teens would be great. Now I have to wait and see."

Daichi shook his head, enraged. "That's it? They paid money and everything is okay?"

"Nothing is okay. But no one can change what happened." With a tiny grin, she added: "And without it happening and them paying, I wouldn't be here."

He squeezed her hands carefully. "As thankful I am to have met you… You shouldn't have suffered through all of that. Are you still in pain?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes. But it's more muscle pain and cramps than the breaks. When they put the metal pins in to hold the piece of bone they took out of my hip in place, after the last surgery, I was in pain. But that's over now. I think they'll take the cast off during my next appointment and I'll get green light to start training again. Light receives and stuff. Right now, I'm sure I'll stand in front of a net by Christmas. And concerning the plans for my future: I still have time, being a first-year. But it's my turn again: You trained under the old Ukai, right? How was it?"

Daichi paused for a moment before he answered. "Arduous. Gruesome. Enlightening. He taught us many things, especially the basic techniques. But it wasn't easy. Several players… paused their trainings. Do you know the old Ukai?"

Yona shook her head yes. "Mhm. He helped me when my brother was away and I needed a hand in the flat, because I couldn't use my right hand. He was very polite. Reminded me of my old man. He… Well, he told me to come and see him if I need help getting started again in sports."

"Sounds like him", Daichi told her and waved to the waitress, "he probably saw potential in you and is curious what you can do. As am I, to be honest." He paid for their meal and picked the conversation up where he left it when they were outside. "I am curious as well. You told me earlier about watching our games on tape – are there any videos of you on court as well?"

He took her hand again when they neared the crowded area of the fair again. She gave it a light squeeze.

"Yes. There are. But… will you wait watching them until I can play again? I don't… I haven't watched any of my matches since the accident. Not sure if I can take it."

He stopped and turned toward her. "Of course. I will wait, as long as you want me to." Leaning forwards, he kissed her again. Gently, still blushing. After the kiss, he cleared his throat. "Now come – the offer of Ice Cream still stands, and then we'll have to head back home. Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate?"

She grinned. "Chocolate. I'm the chocolate kind of girl."

He laughed lightly and tugged her into his side. "That you are, sweet girl."


Their date ended on time at her home – and was not followed by the argument Tomoya was waiting for considering her behaviour when she got picked up. Surprisingly, she told him hello, took a glass of water with her into her room and locked herself inside – leaving him standing stupidly in the hallway.

He was concerned for a short moment. Did the two youngsters have an argument? Was she unhappy? Then, he heard her voice inside her room: "Elle? It's me. Yona. I kind of… have a boyfriend now?"

She was calling her best friend Elena – and that gave him enough piece of mind to leave her to it. A boyfriend - his little sister was growing up too fast.

Yona was elated. She spend the Sunday on cloud nine and was smiling brightly during the whole Monday during classes. When she and Yachi walked towards the Gym for training, Kageyama and Hinata passed them – running.

"Are they racing already? Those two, I swear…" Yona laughed, shaking her head. But her friend next to her only smiled. She knew that the first year-duo had a reason for running.

When the girls arrived at the gym during the next days, everyone was in track suits already, but no one was stretching, warming up or doing something else. Instead, they seemed to wait for something. Or rather, someone. Then when she entered the gym and threw them an uncomprehending glance, they turned around and showed her their backs. "What the…?" Yona started, but a loud shout from the boys interrupted her: "WELCOME TO THE TEAM!"

Dumbfounded, she turned towards Yachi next to her, who was now joined by Shimizu. In the hands of the older Manager was a brand new tracksuit: Black, with white letters on the back, and on the front, oriented right above the heart, was another logo, saying: "Advisor"

Yona was speechless. Her heart and mind were racing. What was she supposed to say? Did they expect a speech? How… Why…

Helplessly she looked for her boyfriend who was standing in the midst of the crows, grinning broadly.

"We thought that it is about time for an official welcome, advisor-San.", he told her. Shimizu pushed the tracksuit into her hands gently.

"Th… thank you!", Yona stammered. "I don't know what to say. So: Thank you. I'm happy. And proud to be part of your team!" She bowed slightly.

"Yona-chan! Now everyone will see that you're a part of the team, an important part of the team! Even during nationals!", Hinata told her.

She looked at the clothes in her hand, then she squeezed them. "Yes. I… thank you, again." This time, her eyes locked with Daichi's. It was Suga who interrupted them after a while.

"Okay. Let's stop playing lovebirds and start warming up. Coach will be here soon, right, Daichi?" He slapped his best friends on the back to interrupt him.

"What? Huh? Yes.", Daichi sputtered, making the rest of the team laugh and Yona turn red. Looking down on the clothes again, the girl grinned happily. Part of the team. And what a team it was!


Sorry for the delay in updating. Life got in the way, and will be for several months. I'll try my best to update soon again.
Thank you for all the new Favs! 3

Love
Katily