"Natsu!"
The orange-haired team captain swivelled her head in response. "Mina, you're so slow!" She laughed, sticking her tongue out playfully.
"You know my stamina isn't as good as yours…" She panted, stopping to take in some air.
Morisuke Mina. Younger sister of Morisuke Yaku, former Nekoma libero and current starting libero for Cheegle Ekaterinburg Volleyball Club and number 17 on the roster of the Official Japanese Olympics Team.
She was currently attending Karasuno High, along with her best friend, Hinata Natsu, kid sister of Hinata Shoyo, aka Ninja Shoyo, MSBY Black Jackals' number 21, and current number 10 in the Japanese Olympics Team.
After her brother had gained notable fame from his volleyball activities, he chose to move the family to a different prefecture for a quieter lifestyle where they could live in peace, away from his volleyball activities. After suggestions from both Shoyo and Kenma, he bought a house next to the Hinatas' place in the mountainous area and enrolled his younger siblings in Karasuno High School.
"You're pretty low on spirit to be a vice-captain!" Natsu nudged her best friend teasingly.
"Ah, shut up, the 1st years are gonna be there anytime now." Mina picked up her steps and ran faster towards the gym.
Morisuke and Hinata. They were the duo most feared by the females' volleyball scene in the prefecture. Natsu was an elite setter, with an eye for her surroundings, just like her personal coach Kageyama Tobio, being able to set perfectly in any circumstance, so much so it made the match easy for her team mates. Mina, a libero-turned-wing spiker, had been trained in defence by her brother since young, but had started focusing on ferocious attacks, turning into a golden all-rounder.
"Have you kept in contact with him?" Mina asked, turning her head to Natsu.
"You mean, Tobio-nii? He said he was really busy nowadays, but would pay a visit some time soon. Ahhh…" She huffed in frustration. "Sometimes I wish he'd just focus on training for the Olympics for a week without worrying about my own training. Every year we've been here, we've already gotten at least a podium spot in Nationals!"
"Don't get too cocky, who knows when Shiratorizawa might step up again." Mina smacked her over the head, lecturing her for the careless thoughts.
"Ack! I know, I know! Give me a break!" Natsu feigned complaints as they jogged up to the front of the gym, opening the doors simultaneously.
Screams of terror erupted from the first years as the dark, looming silhouettes of the girls stomped towards them. "Eh? What's all the commotion about—HIKARI ARE YOU SPREADING BAD RUMOURS AGAIN?" Natsu started to lecture the 2nd year setter, dragging her to a corner by the ear lobes, ignoring Hikari's cries of protest and beggings for mercy. "Every year, I swear to god…"
Mina shook her head and just sighed in disappointment. "Welcome to the Volleyball club." She nodded towards the 1st years who were starting to understand that they had been fed humorous lies and deceit by the mischievous 2nd year player. "We're going to be engaging in a trial game for us to gauge your skill levels and techniques. Any first-time players here?"
Several hands went up from the crowd of 1st years. "Alright, just head over there to where the 2nd years are waiting, they'll teach you some basics and see if you've got what it takes."
"Anyone play for a long period of time, say 6 years or more?"
6 to 7 hands went up. "You will be playing with 5 other trial members; the other team will consist of two 2nd year players. We'll draw lots to see who's going first." She nodded to Natsu, who had just finished scolding the soul out of Hikari's body.
"Hikari and Kaede, you'll play with Group 1. Maki and Shimizu will play with Group 2, and Reiko and Sayuri are with Group 3. Sumiko, Yumi and Natsumi will be with the first-timers. Do I make myself clear?" Mina looked the 2nd years dead in the eyes with an 'if you lose to any of the 1st years, no more meat buns for the rest of the year' expression.
"Yes m'am…." The 2nd years had a depressed aura hanging around them as they left to talk to their new team members.
"What's with them?" Natsu laughed as she watched their terrified and depressed vibe swirl anxiously around them. "Hey, whichever team wins will get meat buns tonight!" She called out, hoping to motivate them, which inevitably worked.
"Captain's the best!" The second years cheered, tears of sweet joy dripping down their faces.
Just then, a loud ringing was heard throughout the gymnasium. "Ah!" Mina exclaimed as she hurried to pick up her phone. "Onii-san!" She whisper-shouted. "I'm in the middle of conducting trials!"
"Yaku-senpai! Mina, say hi for me!" Natsu had clung onto her friend's back, shouting into the phone.
Mina put the phone on speaker, sighing as her brother's voice rung loud and clear for everyone to hear. "Don't sigh so much, sis! Everyone will think you're grumpy all the time!"
In retaliation, she sighed even louder.
"Yaku-senpai!"
"Hi, Natsu! Are you doing okay with my bad-tempered little sis?"
"Yes, yes, we're great! Is my brother or Tobio-nii there?" Natsu replied, ignoring the death stare she was receiving on Mina's end.
"Eh, they're off training again, you know how they are."
"If you're free, Yaku-senpai, you wanna watch the trials with us?" She offered, causing all the 2nd and 1st years to freeze up in horror. WHY WOULD YOU OFFER THAT?
To their relief, Yaku laughed and replied, "I'd love to, but Iwaizumi-san is making us train our arses off. I was just on break and wanted to hear how my little sister was doing, though it seems like things are going really well. I'll send you a photo of the team soon, talk to you two later!"
"Bye Yaku-senpai!"
"Talk to you later, Onii-san."
The captain and vice-captain looked up after hanging up on the phone, only to see everyone's mouth agape. "Perks of being born in a volleyball family." Natsu visibly shrugged. "Back to work, all of you!"
- 2 Hours Later -
"Group 3 is up next!" Natsu declared, jotting notes down in her clipboard. "Players' names please!"
"… Sawamura Eimi. Class 1-4 and I've been playing volleyball since I was 5." Natsu narrowed her eyes, taking in every detail of the younger girl.
"Are you Sawamura Daichi's younger sister?" Mina was the one to voice out both their observations, earning an approved nod from Natsu. Eimi's looks betrayed that she was part of the Sawamura lineage, considering her stern looking eyes, her dark hair and slightly tanned skin, she looked recognisable as her brother's sister.
"Ah…! Yes, yes I am!" She hid her face shyly behind her raven-coloured bangs.
"I'll put you in with the experienced players, you can go join that team." Mina pointed to a group of 1st years waiting nervously for the game to start.
"Mina… I don't think I can take it any longer." Natsu tapped her foot impatiently.
"What?"
"I WANNA GO OUT ON THE COURT AND SET SOME BALLS! PLEASEEEEE!"
Ah, she finally caved in.
"Reiko, Sayuri, let's let Natsu play with the team, or we're never going to get any peace." Mina shook her head and gestured for them to return to practice in the other side of the gymnasium, where the rest of the team were practicing for National qualifiers.
"Does that mean—"
"Go and play to your heart's content." Mina rolled her eyes at her enthusiastic best friend, who had already abandoned her sports jacket in favour of her Phys Ed attire, eagerly running up and down the court in anticipation.
They had scouted some potential talent that would need some training in technique, but were a favourable cohort to work with. Unfortunately, there weren't too many that she could count as 'geniuses' like Natsu and her were, or even like Hikari, Shimizu or Reiko, who had assisted in helping them climb to the top of Nationals with their incredible plays, sharp reflexes and a consistent performance of technical know-how in their 1st year. Many other third years were experienced players who loved the game and excelled in it, but there weren't as many good options available this year.
They would just have to make do.
- 1 hour later -
"Ukai-sensei! Good evening!" Mina, Natsu and the second years bowed respectfully to the coach of the team, who had been coaching for 10 years at that point of time. The coach who assisted the resurgence of the fallen crows had assumed responsibility over both the Karasuno teams, with the assistance of two trainee coaches and 5 managers overall.
"Hinata!" He called out to her, beckoning her forward. "Any particular players to watch out for?"
Natsu's sheepish smile was all he needed to look at to deduce the results of the trial.
"Eh? No talented players at all??"
"No... It's just that we have so many genius players already, everyone who signed up this year just seems a little pale in comparison." Mina gently tapped the clipboard onto Natsu's head.
"I see..." He muttered.
"We did have some pretty decent players." She read off the clipboard. "Sawamura Daichi's sister was pretty powerful in terms of attack, but defence just isn't her strong suit."
"The girl from Kitagawa Daiichi's starting lineup wasn't too bad. The Fukurodani Junior High girl was a little stuck up but not too bad overall. A little polishing required but they're all average players." Natsu noted, draping herself over Mina's back like a blanket.
"You won't find many players like your brother nowadays, Natsu." Ukai smiled. "If we can turn these players from average into extraordinary, it would be quite a feat, now wouldn't it?"
"OIIIIIIIII!!!!!!" A tiny figure stood in the doorway, panting in excitement. "I DID IT!!"
"DID YOU FINALLY GET US A MINIBAR FOR DRINKS DURING BREAK?" Hikari exclaimed in excitement, matching the head teacher's tiny bounces.
"... Eh? Uh, no." Takeda laughed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, leaving Hikari looking like a deflated balloon. "I secured permission to host a week-long training camp in school! With Nekoma, Fukurodani and Aoba Johsai!"
Silence filled the court as panicked mutters came from all the members other than Natsu and Mina. "YES! THANK YOU SENSEI!" Natsu gave him a big hug, jumping up and down with him in excitement.
"Senpai, I don't mean to be rude, but... if we have no genius first years, does this mean we don't have much to show off to the other schools that we haven't already?" Reiko asked, ball nestled in her arms.
"Eh?" The issue first crossed Natsu's kind just then.
"Who says we need to have geniuses in our midst to be powerful?" Mina rubbed her junior's hair, smiling confidently. "As long as we learn from the other schools, that would be sufficient, wouldn't it? Make new friends, learn new techniques and have fun. That's what it's all about."
"Well said, Mina!" Natsu smiled proudly and approvingly.
"After all, geniuses are called that because they are few and hard to find. The fact we have so many talented players already makes us lucky." Ukai chimed in. "There are many skilled players who started from the bottom, including your brother, Natsu."
"We'll work together and beat all of them!" Natsu declared, hands resting on her hips self assuredly.
"KARASUNO!"
"FIGHT!"
"Captain, you owe us meat buns tonight!"
"...Shit."
