This is, unfortunately, going to be the last update for a while… I'm going to have to study a bit for exams now… I'll be looking forward to your thoughts!

Chapter: Shyness and pride

Haru woke up and rose in her familiar bed. She groggily grasped for her phone on the nightstand and looked at the time. It was early, still. Just a tad past four in the morning. With a sigh, Haru dropped back to her pillows, her back aching. She was sore all over, despite not having done any of the drills the boys had. It took her a few minutes to finally decide to leave the warm, soft confines of her bed.

The girl walked downstairs, the silence stifling, as always. She missed the boys from the volleyball club. They were loud, rowdy and somehow always around. She even missed Kuroo's bothersome presence. But, she couldn't have that at home. She knew her house well enough. Large, empty and quiet. Her house was always quiet.

Haru hated the quiet. She despised the loneliness it brought and the feeling of smallness somehow. She always felt tiny in the silence. Quickly, the girl plugged her phone into the speakers, playing some of the popular kpop music Kuroo had had her listen to. It was upbeat and reminded her of the past few days. Yet, as she settled in her usual breakfast and homework routine, not even the catchy tunes could make the uneasiness and numbness go away. With another sigh, Haru stopped fighting the feeling. She embraced it, letting the numb grayness fill her. In the end, there was no escaping reality, she figured. The past few days had been simply a dream.

It was on autopilot that the girl went through her morning routine. Shower, uniform, books, then taming her hair. In the end, she settled for her usual tight bun. The walk to the train station was somehow boring. She felt like she should be doing more than just listening to her music and revising the topic for her first class, Japanese History. She didn't see Kuroo or Kenma on the train, even though her head kept going up, looking for the two friends. It was Akari, as usual, who broke her mood. That was one of the main reasons Haru loved her best friend so much.

"Harucchi," Akari bounded next to her, catching her arm and Haru interlocked their elbows, creating a weird intertwined set of limbs in between them. "How was your time alone with Kuroo-sempai?"

"We weren't exactly alone…" Haru grumbled, her mood still testy. "There were ten other people on the camp." Akari huffed, then reached over to mess with the other girl's stray curls, arranging them around her face.

"But, you were still able to see Kuroo-sempai more than usual." Her friend wasn't giving up. "Did anything interesting happen?" Haru looked down at her short friend, noting the overly eager expression on her face.

"I thought you didn't like Kuroo?" The two girls reached their classroom, going for their seats at the front. Akari shrugged, sitting down and tossing her bag onto the hook on the side.

"I changed my mind," Akari giggled. "I ship you two now." Haru groaned, her head dropping to her hands. "What, is he not into you or something? I thought that he was?"

"I don't know, Akari." Haru shook her head, laying down on her arms and looking at her friend from that position. "He's so… I can't figure him out…" Akari huffed again.

"Is it so unbelievable that a boy might like you?" She scolded, her hands pointing at Haru up and down. "You're gorgeous!"

"No, I'm not," the girl denied, rising from her desk. "I'm weird. I'm a half. That isn't conventional here." Akari giggled, her hand going up to cover her mouth in a ladylike motion.

"Not everyone likes conventional, Harucchi." She explained. "Sure, there are plenty of guys who will only date the ideal Japanese beauty, but you should give everyone the benefit of a doubt."

"I don't think I have the strength to do that…" Haru murmured, looking down at her tan arms. "You remember Ishikara, right? From first year?" Akari huffed at the name. How could either of them forget about that person… He had been quite the event for them both, after all.

"Ishikara is an idiot," Akari reasoned. "Not everyone is like him." But, Haru wasn't convinced. She could still recall the feeling as the boy laughed at her face, asking her if she really thought that he'd been interested in her and her weird culture. The mortification of walking back to class, a hickey on her neck and a sense of disappointment in her chest.

"But, I don't think I could handle something like that again," Haru sighed, her fingers twisting together. "I like Kuroo well enough, but I'm scared… I'm scared of the possibility of what happened repeating… And, what if whatever happens ruins my relationship with the team?"

"You're… too much, Harucchi." Akari looked at her with pure sympathy in her eyes. "But, I won't pressure you." The girl grinned at her then, a sly smile Haru knew all too well. "I still ship you two, though!"

Kuroo could tell. And, he wasn't the only one. Yaku had given him one of those asking looks during practice that afternoon, as if wondering if he'd done something to the girl. Kuroo had shook his head and then shrugged. He honestly didn't know what had happened. But, Haru had gone back into her shell. She'd sat the whole practice on the bench, only asking Nekomata and Naoi some questions about the strategies which the boys had used in their mock match against each other. She hadn't talked, hadn't scolded them, hadn't given them drills to do.

"Are you gonna?" Yaku asked Kuroo at the end of the practice, the two third-years picking up stray balls. The captain looked up, finding the manager on the bench as she made sure that all the bottles had sports drinks in them.

"I suppose I should." Kuroo agreed. "But, I don't know if it will help or just make her pull away more…" Yaku looked at the girl in question, too.

"Should I then?" He suggested.

"Ah, looks like we won't have to." Kuroo smirked, nodding at the girl with his head. Inuoka and Lev were already standing on either side of the girl, chattering at her. The two seniors stood on the side, watching the interaction. Their manager seemed to perk up a bit at being pestered by the two loudest members of the team, smiling as she talked with them. "I'll catch her tomorrow if she keeps going like this." Kuroo promised the short libero, a frown on his face.

In the end, he did have to seek out the second-year girl. She had been at their morning practice, but still sat on the bench silently, not really involved in their banter. So, the captain nodded to Yaku and ran after the girl after taking a quick shower when the practice was done.

"Oi, Haru!" He called out, making the girl stop and turn to him. She wasn't smiling and that put him on edge somehow. "Here," he handed her a packet from his hands which she accepted reluctantly. "Coach Nekomata ordered it before camp and it just arrived with our own jerseys. It was in the boys' locker room."

"Oh, thanks." Haru nodded, not looking at the inside of the package, but stuffing it next to her gym uniform in a separate bag from where she kept her books. "I need to get to class." She hesitated for a second, before turning away to walk towards the school building. Kuroo fell into step with her easily with his long strides, smirking.

"I'll walk you." He answered her questioning look.

"There's no need, sempai."

"Are we back to that?" Kuroo groaned, his hand going to his hair to push it back. It immediately resumed its previous position of a bedhead. "What's wrong, Haru? Something happen?" The girl shook her head.

"Nothing?" Did she really think that he would buy that? Kuroo frowned, inspecting her blank poker face.

"Are you down because of something at school?" He pushed. "Something about the team? Family?" He was over the line and they both knew it. Haru looked up at him with a bit of fire in his eyes and he hoped that he would get yelled at. A reaction like that would've been good. Any reaction would've been good.

"I'm fine?" No reaction. That was bad. Kuroo decided to switch up his tactics instead. He swung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close.

"Alright," the boy grinned. "Say, I got a call to help out a friend from another school after practice today. Do you want to stay behind too and help us with the stray balls?" Haru hummed, thinking.

"If we don't have too much homework, I could." Her hand rose to grasp his and pull it off her shoulders. She moved to the side, putting distance between them.

"Oya, not a fan of team spirit?" If there was one thing Kuroo was good at, it was annoying people. And, he had decided already that he had to go for the 'annoy or go home' strategy with the girl. There was nothing else he could do. Except maybe unleash Bokuto on her. Which, she had unknowingly agreed to already.

"There's no team spirit in harassment, sempai." The girl replied in an even tone.

"Eh?" Kuroo looked shocked. "Yamamoto will be devastated, then." At that, he managed to get a giggle out of her, which he was satisfied with. He continued doing his best to jump between bugging her and goofing off all the way to her classroom.

Haru decided that Bokuro Kotaro was like the sun. Like a bright, summer sun. Being exposed to his presence for too long gave her a mild headache and she just wanted to run and hide. What had surprised her the most was Kuroo, though. His attitude, usually calm and just a tad annoying, had gone completely insane in the Fukurodani ace's presence. It was like they were in a world of their own, some insane dimension, which left her with the rather polite Akaashi, the setter of the other school. She liked him, she'd found out. He was able to calm the two idiots down when they got to be too much. But, while Bokuto surely was a tad ridiculous, he was also insane in another sense.

"Awh, darn!" The ace yelled out as Kuroo blocked yet another one of his straights. The ball, however, hit the ground with immense force, bouncing off to the bleachers. Haru followed the path with her mouth open. The force he had was insane.

"Why aren't you doing any crosses, stupid owl?" The Nekoma captain asked, grinning at his victory. Bokuto's hands rose to mess up his hair, the third-year groaning in frustration.

"I did so many straights I forgot how to do a cross!" Yes, Bokuto Kotaro was absolutely ridiculous. Haru watched as Kuroo rounded up the three players for another shot, Akaashi setting to the ace and the middle blocker shutting out yet another straight. Bokuto fell to his knees, shouting and crying out in despair.

"I'm so sorry about them." Akaashi told her with a small bow then they finally called a break, going for some water. Haru waved her hands in front of her, shaking her head.

"No, no, it's alright," she told the setter. "I'm happy to observe." She got a nod in response as Kuroo and Bokuto squabbled like children while drinking water. "Is he always like this?" Akaashi nodded. "How do you survive?"

"Barely." The setter replied and Haru felt for him instantly.

"Haru, are you free this weekend?" Satoshi asked from the other room as Haru was quickly packing their equipment. Her mood had considerably lightened once Wednesday had rolled around, along with her part-time work.

"Mmmm maybe," the girl counted all the screws that they needed to set up the stationary cameras, as they'd forgotten some the last time they'd done a photoshoot. "I need to check with Nekomata-sensei or Kuroo is we have any games this weekend."

"Oooohoho, Kuroo?" Satoshi instantly appeared in the doorway, smirking at her. "Just Kuroo? No sempai? No honorifics?" Haru pursed her lips at her careless slip-up. Satoshi was well-known at the shop for being an extreme busybody regarding romance. He had set up one too many people together, not always for a good outcome, either.

"It's too long to say in-game when I yell at him." Haru defended weakly, grabbing the equipment and swinging bags over both of her shoulders. Satoshi nodded with a sly smirk, going back into the little room in the back to grab his gear. Haru walked out of the small business, easily finding Satoshi's expensive car parked rather illegally. He was always such a daredevil when it came to the police and his vehicle. She grinned, walking to the blue machine. It was a sleek model, rather fashionable in her own, not so knowledgeable, opinion. The car unlocked, Satoshi walking up behind her.

"Let's pack up." He opened the door for her and Haru started stacking the equipment in a familiar routine they had developed. They were already a well-practiced team, knowing what went where in order for Satoshi's sharp turns not to jostle the sensitive pieces. "All set?" He asked when she pulled back finally, huffing from the effort.

"Yes," The girl nodded, walking around the car and sliding into the passenger seat. "Who are we photographing that we need this much equipment?" Haru asked once Satoshi slid into the driver's seat, closing the door.

"Oh, we got a nice gig this time," he told her, starting the car and pulling out of parking easily. "We're gonna go take some pictures of models for a magazine." Haru grinned wide. Finally, they had a really nice assignment.

Haru was, rather unlike herself, late. She jumped off the train and sprinted for the other station where she would meet the team in order to head to Miyagi. After the photoshoot she and Satoshi had done the previous day, she was in high spirits and couldn't stop grinning to herself. Their boss had been asked to send some photographers to do a series of photos for a calendar of an infamous dance group. The models had been great, posing and listening to their advice at all times. All in all, the duo had gotten numerous great shots. In the end, they had even instructed the group to dance for them, getting motion pictures for the calendar front. Unfortunately, Haru had had to leave the shoot at that. With her new duties as a manager, she couldn't afford to work overtime the next day and see the final product. Satoshi had promised to send her the pictures, though.

One of the girls from the group had become fast friends with Haru, interested in her time in school and hobby as a photographer. They had exchanged numbers and promised to hang out as soon as possible. The young woman had also been eager to give Haru a makeover, which had made the second-year laugh, but accept. She didn't have many female friends, so she wouldn't object to that.

Haru made it to the station just as the train stopped, opening its doors. She spotted Kuroo's relieved expression as she sprinted across the platform and threw herself onto the train.

"Cutting it close?" The third-year asked, watching her with a smug expression as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Just a tad." Haru grinned, fingers coming up to show a small amount. The train moved, making the girl stumble and almost fall over. Kuroo reached out and caught her, long fingers wrapping around her forearms.

"You alright?" He asked, eyebrow rising. Haru straightened out, nodding. Then, she gave him a bright smile and let go of his arms, leaving his grasp. Soon enough, she was sitting next to Yaku and across from Kenma, chattering on about some new set-up she wanted them to try. Kuroo sighed, realizing that he'd been utterly rejected, but wandered over to a free seat next to Fukunaga and plopped down. As long as Haru was talking and smiling, he didn't care that he had been friend-zoned.

"Where's Kenma?" Haru asked, looking around the small group gathered in front of the Tsukinokizawa High School. At her words, the other team members also started looking around, trying to find the setter.

"He's gone…" Yaku groaned, his palm hitting his forehead in frustration.

"He couldn't have gotten too far." Kuroo calmed the situation down, taking out his cellphone. "I'll call him." He moved from the group, calling a familiar number. Haru walked up to him, catching the end of the conversation. She was looking up at him, worried, when he turned to her. "He realized he got lost somewhere after that intersection with the flower shop on the left."

"I'll go pick him up." Haru nodded, turning to Yaku. "Can you take care of my stuff?" She handed him her bag when he nodded and began walking the way they'd come from.

"I'll come with." Kuroo fell into step with her easily, smiling. "It's not safe for a young girl to wander around an unfamiliar neighborhood alone."

"Who are you, my dad?" Haru laughed at that, the giggles intensifying once Kuroo shrugged soundlessly. They walked in companionable silence for a while. Soon, the flower shop came into view. Kuroo noticed how Haru glanced at the flowers with almost desire on her face as she passed them, taking a moment to smell the sweet aroma coming from the plants.

"Oh, what a handsome couple you two make!" An old woman's voice, crackling almost, came from the flower shop door. Kuroo glanced up from the flowers to see an elderly lady standing there in a yukata, red roses in her hands. She was looking at the duo, smiling happily.

"Ah-no-we're-no-ah-" Haru was blushing madly, waving her hands, words not able to form in her mouth as she tried to tell the lady that they weren't a couple.

"Don't mind her, she's shy," Kuroo grinned, pulling the girl in a hug to his body with one arm. "We look pretty cute together, don't we?" He could swear that he saw Haru's head explode on his shoulder, the heat from her face warm on his skin, even through the jersey.

"Yes, yes, so nice to see young people so happy together." The shopkeeper nodded while she talked, still grinning despite the crazy expression Haru had on her face. "Would you like to get some flowers for your girlfriend, young man?"

"Of course!" Kuroo was smiling that same smile right back at the woman, pulling Haru along into the flower shop after the lady entered it. The girl was doing some weird king of a noddle dance against his body, trying to protest, mentioning Kenma in whispers, but Kuroo just turned to her with his usual grin. "What kind of flowers do you like, Haru?"

"Any is fine…" she trailed off, her eyes rising to meet Kuroo's grinning face. "But, you really don't need to do this, Kuroo-semp-"

"It's fine, it's fine." He turned to the side, looking at the fresh flowers in numerous vases.

"She sure seems like a lady who would love a rose or a sakura blossom bouquet." The old lady was on board and Kuroo loved every second of it.

"Perhaps a red rose?" Kuroo asked, turning to the blushing Haru who had seemed to have completely blown her fuse, not even protesting anymore. She mumbled something and he leaned down to hear it, but didn't manage to catch it. "What was that?"

"I said, I like the amaryllis." The look she gave him, from beneath her eyelashes, should've been illegal. Kuroo managed to keep his grin on and his brain working.

"How appropriate," he laughed.

"Shyness and pride." The shopkeeper nodded, going to the vase which held the amaryllis flowers. She picked out a single red one and went to the small counter at the back, arranging the stem to be leafless and then wrapping it in crinkly, shimmering white paper for easier handling. "Here you go." She handed the flower to Haru as Kuroo paid for it, thanking the lady. Then, he led the still speechless and blushing girl out of the shop with a bright smile.

"I'll go left here and call you if I find Kenma, alright?" The captain didn't let the girl recover, or else she might've gone back to the shop in order to return the flower. Or, even, she could've done something more drastic. He wasn't willing to take that chance and made a quick escape after waving to the blushing girl. Kuroo saw that she shakily turned, going down the opposite street from the one he'd chosen. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. She truly was adorable.

It didn't take long for Kuroo to find Kenma, sitting on a small cement wall next to the road, talking to another boy. He called out to the setter, making him pack the game he'd been playing and walk over. Kuroo was a tad surprised when Kenma took the time to turn around and say goodbye to the short boy he'd been chatting with.

"Making friends?" Kuroo asked once they were out of hearing range of the stranger.

"He's from Karasuno." The setter spoke quietly. "Shōyō is a middle blocker."

"With that height?" Kuroo asked, shocked. The boy was too short to block properly, in his opinion. He had to have some other function. Kenma just hummed and walked. Kuroo let him stay quiet, recognizing that there was something churning in that always working overtime brain. The third-year took out his cellphone, sending Haru a text to meet at the crossroads, as he'd found the lost kitten. She didn't reply, but was waiting for them when they reached the intersection. Kuroo couldn't help the small sense of achievement when he saw that she was still clutching the flower in her hands. It looked nice in contrast with her tan skin, the red color standing out.

"Are you alright, Kenma?" Haru asked as soon as the two boys joined her. "Please be careful when walking in an unfamiliar city, who knows what could happen." Kuroo guffawed into his hand.

"That's what I said to him, too!" The captain told her, finding her blushing yet again and avoiding his eyes.

"I'll be careful next time." Kenma piped up in his usual low tone, ending the squabble before it could begin. The trio began walking up the road, towards Tsukinokizawa High. It was after a few minutes that Kenma finally spoke again, breaking the silence. "Nice flower, Haru." The girl blushed again, looking down at her feet.

"Thanks." Kuroo couldn't help but laugh, making Haru burst into giggles at his odd chuckle. Kenma huffed, not too happy to be trapped between the two of them. The Nekoma boys were still waiting in front of the building when they reached it, talking amongst themselves. Inuoka saw them first, waving.

"You found him!" The first year called out. "Nice, Kuroo-san, Haru!"

"The power of youth was with us." Kuroo shrugged, grinning. Yaku looked over, frowning.

"Shut up, Kuroo." The libero said in a flat tone, making the team chuckle.

"Haru, what's with the flower?" Lev asked, looking at the girl's hands.

"It-it's nothing!" The girl yelled out, speed-walking to grab her bag from Yaku. "Are we going to play or what?" The team followed her, laughing at her red face shamelessly.

The match against Tsukinokizawa High was a relatively easy one. Kenma had taken point on giving instructions, having had the chance to figure out the opponent team during the first half of the set. He'd told Kuroo how, where and when to block and Fukunaga where to move in order for Yaku to pick up the balls with ease. The setter had, himself, scored a number of points with ball dumps which were so clean so that the other team couldn't anticipate them and pick them up. In the end, the match was over in two sets in an overwhelming victory for Nekoma. Tsukinokizawa didn't request another play, so the boys got ready to leave for their hotel.

"Any thoughts about Karasuno?" Kuroo asked Kenma as they got their key, rooming together as always. The setter looked up from his game, his eyes pensive.

"They seem interesting."

This took surprisingly a short time to write. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did!

Reviews:

Kimikokimono:
I was just about to upload this when your review arrived, I just had to stop myself and answer first!
I'm going to go for the gold soon, I promise! Like, I have so many fluffy ideas for these two… Smut… I won't even mention xD I'm hopeless. I'm sorry xD
Nooo let me see the excitement pleaseee xD show me the caps haahahaha
Hope you enjoyed, even though this chapter wasn't as Tetsu/Haru filled as the others :P I was watching a clip about Oikawa and got depressed xD I always feel sympathetic for him somehow…
Cheers!

Yesitsjennifer:
Welcome back! I'm so happy to see you chatting again :D
I'm glad that you've enjoyed the new chapters so far :)
No worries, take your time with reading :D I know life gets busy… I've been in a bit of a writing slump, then entered college as an English major (switched majors last year) and I'm still working, it's killing me xD I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! (I'm flattered that you thought of my story while re-watching the show!)
Oh gosh, rumors. I hate rumors. I swear I had a bunch of them spread around school about me back in senior year and it was the worst feeling in the world… Like, the control you have over them is 0 and everyone just believes them without thinking. But, they were a good drama point that I just had to add to give some conflict :P I hope that the reason for all the trouble lived up to expectations? Poor Megumi simply likes Kuroo xD
Haru was definitely inspired by Rika a bit! I just love Rika too much, to be honest… I felt like Nekoma needed a bit of a boost in the actual medical knowledge department, so I provided that. I'm glad that you like my choices :D
Gosh, most OCs I've seen made manager for Nekoma are just there for the boys… I needed some change! Switch it up people, please! Outside the box if you go with the cliché! xD
No worries, I'll always answer questions :D My mother is certified in first aid and she grilled me in it when I was younger. However, I don't have a certificate myself. I made sure to look up the details of checking for a concussion to make sure that I was getting that right (research is like my OCD when writing). I hope I got it all right? If not, do let me know and I will go back and do some correcting :)
I hope it's alright, I'm gonna answer both reviews together here :D
I kinda promised myself that the 10th chapter would be named after the whole fic, when Haru finally gets into the right mindset with the team and clicks into place. It feels like it managed to work out well :D
Tora vs Tanaka is coming in the next chapter! I'm gonna do my best! :D Writing Karasuno scares me hahahhaha
All my best!

Bookdragonslayer:
Kuroo isn't as smooth as he thinks he is hahahhaha Haru is definitely on edge about his bs xD As for her being oblivious or embarrassed, I think she's more weary of his motives? I hope this chapter gives you a bit more insight into that :)
Cheers!

AmIValid2:
Thanks for the review! Awwwww I love your comments, too, they make me so happy xD
I feel that so bad. Like, so bad. I want to review, but I always get into this beta-reader mode and want to give good constructive criticism, so I end up leaving it, leaving it, leaving it and then forgetting to do it. Once in a while, though, I leave those reviews with bullet points and all xD
Thanks omg I'm blushing! It's the best praise when you get it from another author xD It makes you so happy, right? I'm glad that you enjoy reading this story! I'm going to do my best to live up to expectations :D
Like, I'm so weird when I'm thinking up scenes, I have to be honest. I talk to myself in different voices. Sometimes, I'll do it in English, sometimes in Japanese. It's really bad xD My friends are all making fun of me for it xD But, I think it helps make the conversation flow and keeps the characters IC. I hope this helps you too, when you write!
Skinny dipping is one of my top 5 scenes with Haru and Kuroo xD I couldn't help myself… I need them to get steamier omg. I'm obsessing over this ship xD
I hope you enjoyed the new chapter!

Omake:

Haru shakily turned to the side, taking a few steps up the street opposite of the one Kuroo had chosen. The flower in her hands was like a hot potato. She looked down at it, taking another step, then stopping. Why had he gotten her the flower? Was this some weird flirting technique of his? She took a few steps again. Or was he making fun of her? Haru stopped, head falling down a bit as she sighed. As usual, she couldn't figure out the weird Nekoma captain. He was too much for her. Completely out of her league. The process continued as she mulled over the facts and possibilities.

"Crap!" Haru yelled out, jumping in her spot. "Kenma!" Then she rushed up the street. She didn't get even a few meters ahead before her phone buzzed in her pocket. Haru took it out, noticing a text from Kuroo. He'd found the setter.

"Urgh." Haru groaned, turning to walk back to the intersection. She hadn't even gone so far as to lose sight of the thrice-cursed flower shop.

Hope you enjoyed!

P.S: Is anyone's fanfiction site acting up? Mine keeps showing me black patches in places where text is supposed to be…

P.S.S: It's almost one am and I need to be up in a few hours to go to my Japanese class… I'm crying and want to write even more… Help… please…