Hello and welcome!

I'm a slow updater, as always, but I hope you guys are still reading.

I've recently caved and found some time to watch Kaicho wa Maid-sama, which kinda threw me back to this story. The dynamics between the main pair in that anime are just so similar to the Kuroo/Haru relationship! I couldn't help myself and ended up typing a bit.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Am I alright?

Kuroo was not stupid. After he'd had a chance to see Haru in action, when she had no idea how to be a volleyball manager, he had realized why Nekomata had wanted her. She was from a sporty family, with some kind of medical background, which was painfully obvious even without asking about her. And, after he had asked about, he'd found out her mother's name. Sakurano Niko, a legend. She had built herself from nothing, rising to fame as a sports reporter after being a figure skater for years. An injury had ended her career, but she'd never strayed far from the sport.

The volleyball captain had actually had to Google Sakurano Niko in order to find out more about Haru's family, though. Apparently, the father of the family was a Cuban man, whose picture wasn't available online. He was the one who had the medical background that Kuroo had noticed in Haru. Being a professional soccer player for years, he'd switched to coaching after years of playing on a world stage. There was information of him going to medical school during his coaching years, so that he could become the on-site medic, as well. Truly, Kuroo was surprised how Haru hadn't gone on a more athletic journey during both her middle and high school years.

Kuroo had shamelessly tried to bribe Naoi into borrowing Haru's student file from the teacher's offices, just for a few hours, so he could get some more insight. But, the assistant coach had simply given him an icy look and walked away. So, without any additional knowledge, Kuroo knew that he had to get Haru. He needed her to be their manager for them to be great. It was his last year to do something meaningful for Nekoma.

He barely slept during the night and rose surprisingly early on Saturday morning. He felt like his limbs were weighted down by some invisible force and Kuroo barely managed to drag himself to the kitchen. He ate little and almost fell asleep while reading through his notes on the team they had the practice match with. It wasn't a well-known Tokyo school, but a small visiting one from the countryside. Kuroo had only seen them play once, two years ago. Surely, their line-up had already changed.

"Practice match today?" Kuroo's head snapped up and he spun around to find his mother, still in her nightgown and a matching robe, leaning against the doorway.

"Yes," he nodded, turning back to his papers. "There's coffee."

"Thank God." His mother walked over, pouring herself a cup and sitting down next to him. She peered over at his notes and frowned at them. "I feel like I'm missing out so much of your youth because I'm so lost with all," she waved at the notes, "this…"

"Not at all, mom," Kuroo smiled at her and packed the notes into his jersey pocket. "You could bear to come see a game or two, though."

"And you could bear to bring a girl home for your mother to see once or twice, you know." The woman countered with a grin, so similar to his own, right back. Kuroo felt heat creep up onto his cheeks and nose instantly.

"No way!" He protested. "You'd scare any girl I could ever bring here." His mother laughed and reached over, messing up his hear even further. Kuroo wriggled away, trying to get away from her outstretched hand. "Oh, God, woman, stop!" He finally gave up and jumped up and away from his seat, grabbing his bag. "It's already messy enough!"

"Win a lot!" His mother waved him out and Kuroo raised his hand back as he was leaving through the front door. He was ready to give his best performance, not so much for his team, but mostly for Haru. It would be a show for her, and her only, because they needed her.

"Shut that damn thing off, would you?!" Haru gasped, jumping up in her bed at her sister's yell. Chihiro was home, for once, apparently. As her phone blared once more, vibrating all over her nightstand, she hurriedly grabbed it before it could ring again. Haru didn't want to get one more scolding from her sister, after all. However, luck wasn't on her side that day, apparently. Her bedroom door slammed open and there was her sister, facemask on and hair still in colorful foam rollers. "Why do you need to wake up with so many alarm clocks one after the other? They've been blaring for hours!"

"I'm sorry, I- hours?!" Haru looked down at her phone, noticing the time on the locked screen and instantly she lost her breath. Ignoring the rest of her sister's nagging she jumped up and out of her bed, rushing for the shower, grabbing things along the way.

"I hope you drown in the shower!" Was her sister's parting shout before the bathroom doors slammed shut and Haru jumped under cold water. She let out a little squeal, quickly turning the heat up. However, the water stayed icy.

"Chihiro, the shower's broken!" Haru yelled out, pulling the curtain to hop out.

"No, I just took a long one." Her sister was standing right outside the bathroom door, sounding muffled. However, even through the barrier Haru could tell that Chihiro had that telltale smirk on her face.

"Damn it." The girl took a deep breath and jumped back into the shower, submitting to the icy water.

"Enjoy your day, sis." Chihiro finally walked off as Haru's toes started losing feeling in the cold water. Needless to say, it was one of the fastest showers she'd taken in a while. She rushed washing her hair and quickly hopped out. As she toweled off, her limbs slowly regained some feelings in them.

"Damn it." Haru glanced into the mirror, seeing that her curls were already drying, rising wildly around her head. She didn't have the time to attempt to tame them, though. So, she toweled her hair and quickly tied it up in a tight bun. Then, her clothes were on her and she was out the door, rushing to get her things and run to the train station. Otherwise, she would be late for the practice match she had promised to attend.

"Kuroo, fifteen minutes," Kai nodded to his Captain as he was leaving the changing room. "Don't be late."

"Have I ever been late?" Kuroo smirked back, but the door was already closed. He shook his head with a laugh. He began sliding his jersey pants off when he heard it. There was a faint sound of buzzing in the empty changing room. Kuroo stepped out of the pants, leaving him in the red Nekoma volleyball shorts, and began sifting through haphazardly thrown clothing. Finally, he managed to locate and dig out his own buzzing cellphone. He almost dropped it right back down into the pile of shirts, though, when he saw the name on the screen.

"Oya? This is quite the unexpected-"

"Where the heck is the damn gym?" Haru's breathless voice literally short-circuited his brain.

"What?"

"No, not what," Haru sounded like she was walking quite quickly, steps and cars in the background, along with her short and quick breaths straight into the microphone. "Where is the darn thing?" Kuroo forced his brain to process the words.

"Didn't they send you the map and directions? I asked Ya-"

"Morisuke did, but it's wrong." Kuroo sighed, taking the phone away from his ear as Haru rambled to glance at the time. "-and then I got off the train and I went back a street, like he said I should, and then I-" she was rambling again, and as endearingly cute as he found it, he couldn't afford it, time-wise, at that moment.

"Oi, Haru," but she kept going, making Kuroo sigh. "Haru! Oi!" Finally, there was just silence and quick breaths on the other end of the line. "Good, listening, a step up." He heard her scoff and instantly interrupted because she seemed to be in a tirade mood. "Link me your location on the map via Line, I'll come pick you up."

"Ok, hang on." The breaths faded out, the sound of her phone buzzing with each key the loudest thing Kuroo could hear. Then, his own phone vibrated. He quickly looked down opening Line and taking a look at where she was. In the middle of nowhere, he realized. She was in the middle of darn nowhere. "Am I close?" Haru's muted voice came from the phone in his hands.

"Oh geez," Kuroo sighed, putting the speaker back to his ear. "Look, you're not that far," he tried to deliver that fact that she was lost as heck with a soft blow. "I need you to go back to the train station and go one more stop, though."

"Wait, what?" Her steps halted and her voice went a bit higher in pitch. "You're joking, right?" Kuroo glanced quickly at the clock on his phone before putting it back to his ear.

"Better run, too." He grabbed his jersey jacket and his match sneakers from the pile of clothes and ran out of the changing room. "I'll meet you at the train station, go go go!"

"Alright!" And the line cut off.

Haru wasn't a very athletic girl. She could run for her life if it came down to it, but it certainly wasn't a thing she would do just for anyone. She was, in fact, the kind of person who wouldn't bother running from the train station to the school if there was only five minutes left on the clock before class. No, she would rather be late, apologize and enter without being short of breath. So, this was definitely a first for her.

Later, when she thought back to that first Nekoma game she ever saw, she figured that she had, even back then, began to care about the team. She'd wanted to give them a chance to impress her, to lure her in, because, in the end, she'd wanted to belong. It had been worth the sweat and the stitch in her side which just wouldn't go away.

She got lucky with the train. It arrived just as she was entering the platform, making her dash madly towards the doors before they could close in front of her. That one single stop was the longest one she'd experienced, sans perhaps the first time she'd gone to her workplace. Her leg couldn't stop tapping nervously and she kept checking her watch, on the underside of her wrist, like the time would stop flowing if she just willed it to.

Finally, the doors opened and she managed to spot the telltale messy bedhead waiting for her. Kuroo had his volleyball jacket on over his match clothes and he was holding his sneakers in one hand. His eyes found hers and he waved her over with hurried motions.

"C'mon, c'mon!"

"I'm going!" Haru argued back as she pushed through the crowd to him. As soon as she was close enough, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to his body.

"We have-" Kuroo glanced at the station clock, "-five minutes to make an epic entrance into warm-ups. Can you run all the way?" Haru's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked up at him, ready to protest. "Good, you have the energy to argue, means you've got the energy to run. Lightspeed!" And his hand didn't leave hers, instead pulling her behind him through the crowd.

They exited in a completely unfamiliar area to the girl, but obviously not to Kuroo. Haru could barely keep her thoughts straight, as she fought to focus on breathing, and not suffocating, as the third year set an insane pace. They went through buildings, around corners and finally cut across a small park. The whole running trip of anguish seemed much longer than five minutes to her. Yet, when Kuroo finally stopped, she was still somehow standing on her own two feet.

"You alright?" He asked, sparing her a quick glance as he opened the gate and led her through.

"No." Haru gasped, her legs protesting each and every step.

"Maybe you ought to join our morning training from time to time?" Cheeky. He was beyond cheeky.

"Maybe you ought to send me a solid map to this godforsaken place?" He had the gall to laugh at her, which made her scoff.

"You'll have to take that one up with Yaku." They were at the gym door at that point, she could hear balls bouncing off the floor and boys calling out for spikes. "If you'd asked me for a map, I would've taken you here instead. We live close enough." Haru looked at the boy as he let go of her hand to change his sneakers. She had thought about asking him to take her. Yet, somehow, she'd felt awkward about it. Kuroo, while he seemed nice enough, put her on edge in a way. It was like he could see through her front whenever their eyes met. It was like he knew everything that she was thinking, even though that sounded ridiculous. Nobody was that perceptive.

"It's fine, I'm here on time, aren't I?" She shot back defensively. The look he gave her told her he was semi-hurt by that statement. But, then, his expression changed and he gave her a small smirk.

"True, you look awfully cute so disheveled and red-faced." Her hands immediately flew to her head, realizing that half of her hair had spilled from the messy bun she'd put it in. "Let's go." Haru was certain that the redness of her face, at that very moment, had nothing to do with the small marathon she'd just run. No, it was that big, warm hand, with the slender fingers and a tight grip which made her feel self-conscious about every single thing she'd chosen to do and wear that day. Kuroo would be the death of her, she realized.

"Haru-chan, the score." Lev reminded her again, making her snap out of her daze and move the sheet of paper up, so that the number switched. She could swear that she had been holding her breath between each call for a point during the match. In fact, by the tightness in her chest, she most definitely was. Even the pain in her legs, which were still trembling from her run, didn't bother her any longer.

The boys were simply amazing. There was no other word for it. Every jump was perfect. Every dig was on time. Every step was calculated. By far, Kenma, Kuroo and Yaku were the most impressive. The setter knew exactly where and when to look to confuse his opponents as he directed the ball in an unassuming direction. Kuroo was always where he needed to be, whether to spike, block or fly across the floor to catch the ball before it dropped by the tips of his long fingers. Yaku was the soft presence in the back, seemingly unimportant, but actually the person who always kept the ball in the air. In the end, Nekoma won an overwhelming victory. It was as if the other team couldn't score at all. And, Haru felt like her Saturday wasn't wasted at all. Even the run to the gym had been worth seeing the boys doing their absolute best in a match. It was nothing like the practice, where they all fumbled to do their parts, trying out new things.

She didn't hand out the water bottles or hang around the coaches' bench at the end. Instead, she headed for the entrance of the gym, waiting there for the players. They came one after the other, all greeting her with huge smiles and sharing a few words about the game with her before leaving for the changing room. The last to exit was Kuroo. He waited a bit until Haru was finished with a loud exchange with Inuoka, who high fived her multiple times.

"So, what did you think?" The Captain finally asked, his game sneakers in his hand as the two left the gym together.

"It was amazing!" Haru couldn't hold in her excitement. She could still feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins, as if she'd played in the match herself. "The jumps- spikes! They were so awesome! And that one ball when Yaku ran all the way to the back wall to get it, he's amazing! You're amazing! Nekoma team is so cool!" Heat spread across her face after she realized that she was gushing, her hand coming to her mouth to stop it from chattering on and on.

"We are, aren't we?" Kuroo agreed with a smirk. "So, now that you know what we're working towards, you can make your decision." He nodded, as if satisfied with himself and began to make his way towards the changing room. But, a small hand gripping the edge of his jersey stopped him. Haru couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes as she spoke. Instead, she focused on his sneakers. They were safe.

"Is it alright, for someone like me?" Her voice came out softer than she had intended it to be.

"Eh?"

"I've already caused enough trouble with rumors." Haru continued, making her voice a bit louder. She was terrified that it would break if she kept talking, though. "I'm troublesome for you guys."

"Do you really think we care?" Kuroo asked, shrugging. This time, Haru's head snapped up, eyes wide. "Of course, we care that the rumors were spread. Because we were all pretty mad about it." Kuroo elaborated when he noticed her look. His eyes softened and one hand came up to ruffle her hair, which was still in a tight bun. "But we want you as our manager. We'll deal with any trouble that brings as a team." His fingers proceeded to tuck in the stay curls which had come loose during their mad dash for the gym behind her ears.

"So, you're alright with me?" Haru asked again, unable to stop her voice from trembling.

"If you're alright with us?" The Captain shot back. Then, a wide grin spread across her lips. Kuroo's face instantly got that telltale smirk on it. "We're a bit of a zoo, though, fair warning." Haru couldn't help herself. She laughed.

"I couldn't've put that better myself." She grinned up at the boy, noticing that his cheeks had flushed. "But, I don't mind the unruliness. I like that you guys are loud."

"Then, I'll see you Monday morning, bright and early?" He asked. The girl eagerly nodded, finally letting go of his jersey and giving him a small wave as she walked towards the train station with a huge grin on her face. For some reason, unknown to him, Kuroo couldn't move from the spot until she vanished behind the gates. That whole weekend, he couldn't keep the image of Sakurano Chiharu walking away with a huge smile out of his head.

"Papa?" Haru called out to the large man sitting in front of the TV, watching a soccer game. Caballero Dalian, also known as Dari-san in the neighborhood, was the definition of standing out. He was a tall Cuban man of tanned skin and imposing stare. He had been the talk of the area when he'd moved in with her mother. But, nowadays, he was the favorite person to ask for if you needed something heavy moved or if you needed to go to the hospital for an injury. Although Dalian had let go of his family medical career, as both his brothers were famous surgeons, he still had connections. Despite the fact that he lived in Japan, the Caballero method was one of the surgical techniques taught at all the colleges. His last name held a certain weight in any hospital.

"My little spitfire," the man looked up at his younger daughter, taking his eyes away from the soccer game which was getting on his nerves. That goalie needed more training. "Everything alright at school? Any boys I should scare off?" Haru laughed, plopping down next to him.

"Everything is great." She snuggled into his side when he extended his arm expecting it. "The boys are nice, too." The large man hummed, the sound carrying through her small frame. It was odd for Dalian to be at home on a Sunday. Typically, he would be away on games, following their National Men's Soccer Team wherever it went. He was the head coach and the on-site medic, after all. "I was wondering if you could help me out with something, though." So, Haru knew that she would need to make use of the opportunity when it had presented itself so nicely.

"Oh? I'm crap at math, let me remind you of that fact." The girl chuckled, and shook her head.

"I was asked to be the manager of the volleyball team at school." Instantly, the man's demeanor changed. He took the remote and turned the TV off, sitting up straight on the couch and turning to his daughter to look at her.

"You're gonna do it?" He asked.

"I think so." She nodded. "I had my reservations, but the team seems nice. And the Captain is pretty set on having me and me only as their manager." Dalian leaned into the couch then, taking a good look at his daughter's face. While she seemed anxious about her statement, she also looked determined. Like that time she had told him she didn't want to do any sports, dropping basketball in favor of photography. He had bought her the best camera money could buy after her statement and did his everything he could to support her in all her picture-taking endeavors.

"I see." Dalian smiled at her, nodding. "I'm glad that you're finally joining a club, spitfire." His smile was always infectious to her. Haru found her mouth stretching as wide as it could as she grinned.

"That's why I wanted to ask you," she continued. "I've noticed that the boys move a bit slowly when I was at their practice. Is there any way to improve on their grip on the floor? Make them get to where they need to be in time?" Dalian laughed, pulling the girl in for a hug, ruffling her hair and making it an untableable mess.

"Already thinking like a coach, I've taught you well." He told her when he let her go. "Let me see." The man took his phone, opening the weather app. "Looks like it's going to be warm and sunny for a while still. Why don't you take them to the beach?" Haru tilted her head to the side, digesting the clue she'd just been given.

"The beach?"

"Yeah, here." Dalian typed something on his phone, her own buzzing from her pocket. "I've sent you Kurosaki's contact. If you manage to clear it all with the school, call him and let him know I told you to do so. He should be able to hook you up with some nice training facilities in Okinawa."

"That's… a bit far isn't it?" Haru took out her phone, flipping it open and looking up the time they would need to travel to Okinawa. "Six hours by train or a little bit over two by plane." She mused, opening her father's text and saving the number he'd sent her under 'Kurosaki Okinawa'.

"See if you can get the money from the school for club activities to travel there." Her father supplied. "They should be able to give you enough for the train tickets. If you can get an early one, the team can catch up on their sleep during the ride and you can begin training on the first day already." Haru looked up from her screen, inspecting her father's face. He had a loving look in his eyes. Like he was proud of her. He was finally in his element, talking the same language as his daughter.

"Thank you, papa." Haru's arms wrapped around Dalian's strong neck, the man giving her a bear hug in return.

"You are very welcome, my little spitfire." As she stood from the couch and walked towards her room upstairs, typing away on her phone for the specifics of the potential trip, Dalian let out a small, content sigh. "And welcome to the battlefield, Chiharu."

Oh gosh, I can't wait to write more romance between Kuroo and Haru, they're so urghhhh I'm sorry that I'm taking my sweet time with it!

Side note: I don't know why, but when I heard Tempt my trouble by Bishop Briggs, I just thought of Haru and Tetsuro… Do you guys agree?

Reviews:

Emocean:
Thanks so much for the review! Glad you enjoyed :D

deadlywhisper21:
Thanks so much for the review :D
There will be more about the rumors and Megumi soon, but for now, we just have some more developments on the other fronts :P

moonlightshadowxiii:
No worries, take your time in reviewing :D When it gets there it gets there, I'll always wait for it patiently :D
It's alright :D The other day I actually read a story I hadn't visited in a while and found out that it had like three new chapters that just blew my mind :P I'm glad I could do something similar for you :D
Haru's manager is gonna be a topic for sure he he he he he Kuroo I'm sorry in advance xD

Oh gosh, I'm so glad that you find Haru represents your view! I've always been into sports when I was younger, but I never quite found that joy and dedication that the characters in sports anime have… So, I wanted to make an OC that's a bit closer to reality, if that's possible. Hence, Haru. She's got a bit of a sports background, I'm afraid, but she had other goals in life. And, don't worry, she won't change into a volleyball-idiot like those guys. Though, there will be some character development on that front. If you want to experience what I'm talking about in this chapter with Haru, her fascination with the moves these people have, check out some videos on Youtube of best saves in volleyball. It's that kind of a thing :P
Character development and representation is my little baby, I'm happy hearing it as many times as possible, don't worry if you've said it already! It makes me giddy every time I read something concerning that xD
Kuroo's scheme will yet develop, promise :P I just needed to write about the two of them for a while I'm sorry it's my own selfish thing xD
Yamamoto knows all the guys. Canon. I'm not letting that go. Ever xD He can't talk to girls though, but he knows all the boys.

Ramble as much as you wish anytime you wish! I'm always eager to read your thoughts :D Changing majors has been challenging, but it's also nice. School is hard right now, but I like it, so I'm trying my best to do well :) Exam season is soon, so we will see how depressed I get over it xD
And thanks so much, you are the bestest too! (seriously the support I get on this website keeps me going most days xD)

Curlystruggle:
Hahaha your review made me laugh so much xD Kuroo's always getting cozy though :P

Bookdragonslayer:
To be honest, I hadn't thought about it like that… But now that you mention it…. Maybe it was a subconscious choice? xD
Thanks so much for the support! Hope you enjoyed the new chapter :D

Potato-Faye:
Hello! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment :D I'm glad that you're enjoying the omakes, I'll keep them coming :)

Kimikokimono:
I'm so slow with updates, I'm sorry :(
I'm a horrible fandom-jumper and I can't stick to one xD I'm pushing the development, I swear! I need to write something flirtier between those two… xD

The Spade Queen:
Hiii! So happy to see you in reviews again :D
Kuroo has a keen mind, and Kenma has gained some skills from being friends with him for so long xD I had a bit of a writers' block while I was thinking about how I should go about the rumor thing and this seemed like the best way to deal with it in the end xD
I know that a lot of people are ashamed of their culture when they are exposed to an environment which is homogenic, I wanted to make Chiharu a bit of an inspiration and encouragement :D
Glad you caught that part!

AmericanNidiot:
Hello and welcome back :D So nice to hear from you again :)
The cats are nuts. I love em xD
Mambo No. 5 is the besssst xD I love listening to it in the morning :D

Valen Goncalvez:
I'm sorry I'm so slow with updates! Hope you enjoyed this one, too :)

Yami Kozue-chii:
Thanks for understanding! I always feel like I'm gonna get trampled my readers when I see how long I haven't updated for xD It's my fault for being all over the place with fandoms and getting caught up in various other things along the way xD
Haru is in! Finally, I can write RoManCe for real omg they were so slow in getting there xD
Hope you enjoyed the chapter :D

Omake:

Kuroo's cellphone rang and he absent-mindedly reached for it, not looking at the caller ID.

"Hello." He picked up.

"Kuroo-sempai, can we go to the beach?" The familiar voice instantly made his brain short-circuit. He looked down at his homework, a line going from the last letter he'd written across the page to the ballpoint of his pen. Darn it, he would have to redo it. Wait, the beach?

"Errr- what?" His brain couldn't seem to catch up with his mouth, or make any sense of the statement. Sure enough, Haru was asking him out. Wasn't she? "Didn't you already say you weren't interested in me?" Kuroo managed to ask, his heart settling in an uncomfortable rhythm it typically only had during the set points of a match.

"I don't know if the school will give us the funds for all the train tickets, but I would be able to pitch in a bit, also." She hadn't caught his question apparently. Why would the school give them money for the tickets to the beach? "And if the team would also give some money, I think we can just make it. It's not that expensive and I have a financing plan."

"Wait, wait, wait." Kuroo sat up in his chair, refocusing his brain forcefully. The image of Haru in a tiny bikini wouldn't leave his mind. It would have to be white. She was a white bikini kind of girl. Or maybe yellow? He vanquished the thought through sheer willpower. "Start from the beginning, I can't make any sense of what you're saying." There was a deep breath on the other side of the line.

"Sorry, I got too excited." She sounded timid, making him smile. "So, I was reading up on the typical schedule of the volleyball team, and I saw that there is a training camp coming up soon."

"Ah, the Golden Week?" Kuroo was finally on track, his heart slowing down a bit. Yet, there was a telltale sense of disappointment in his stomach. She hadn't been asking for a date with him, but with the whole team. "We usually go to the countryside and practice."

"Can we switch locations?" Haru's voice rose, excitement making her giddy.

"Oya?" Kuroo smirked. He liked this Haru. This, dedicated manager Haru. "What did you have in mind?"

"Okinawa."

And with this, I'm done!