"Not good enough."
The sound of a volleyball can be heard streaking through the air, hitting the gym floor with a definitive thump.
"Not good enough."
-1 YEAR LATER-
As the bustling city of Tokyo slowly transitioned into a more gentle countryside, Akanah Yama continued to gaze out her window. The boredom accumulated over the expanse of a 4 hour drive was slowly but surely affecting her. Even with her music, books, and snacks she was unable to escape the trap that was road trip weariness.
"Although it could be worse" She decided.
Even with her reluctance to move away from her current school, she had to admit that the landscape outside her window was very pretty. The Drive continued for another hour or so before the car finally came to a stop.
Yama stood outside her newly purchased home with a blank expression on her face. She understood that her father had been given a great opportunity in working in this town, but that did not stop her resentment regarding leaving behind her previous life in Tokyo.
She turned her head to take in the unfamiliar sight of farmland and large sections of grassland. Being used to the constant landscape of buildings and skyscrapers, she was ever so slightly perturbed at the lack of them. Her surroundings were, of course, not completely lacking in buildings or structures. She just wasn't used to all this green, or the earthy scent that seemed to permeate the air.
Most of all, she would be missing her childhood friend from back home, Kuroo Tetsurou. She and Kurroo had been joined at the hip ever since their meeting in elementary school. He certainly hadn't been very excited to hear that she was moving away from her hometown. There would be no one else she would rather have by her side during this awkward transition into a new school.
Yama felt a series of vibrations coming from her pocket.
Speak of the devil.
Kuroo: Hey Country Bumpkin, you get there yet?
Yama: I'm out of the city for a couple hours and suddenly I'm some ruffian :(
Kuroo: Why, of course.
Yama: Besides I don't live thaaat far out, it's actually pretty normal here!
Kuroo: mhmmm, sure
Kuroo: So how's the new house lookin?
Yama: It's alright
Yama: Nothin really that different from what I had back home
Kuroo: I still think you should have just lived with us.
Yama: pff, and my family just gets to be kicked to the streets right?
Kuroo: Something like that
Yama: Dream on
Kuroo: Hey, we'll keep in touch right?
Kuroo: Like even tho you moved
What an idiot. Of course we'll be staying in touch.
Yama: Of course we will!
Yama: What did you think I'd abandon you as soon as I moved?
Kuroo: Just makin sure you don't forget about us when you go to your fancy country school
Yama: As if, and you know that our school is 10x better than this fancy country school :)
Yama returned her phone to her pocket with a sigh; She needed to begin to unpack her belongings.
She started by covering the empty mattress on the bed frame with various sheets, blankets, and pillows. She then took to her bookshelves, organizing both them and her new desk. Her parents had splurged on a very nice one as an apology for the move. She began to unpack the random bits and bobs that she had stuffed into these moving boxes. Everything from random clothes to pencils and paper could be found in here. It was then that she found her old volleyball trophies.
She hadn't thought about these old things for quite a while. They were acquired during her time at middle school in which she played as a defensive specialist. She smiled fondly at the trinkets, while none of them were overly mind-blowing they held a certain amount of value to her. They reminded her of the days where volleyball had been the most fun she had in her life. The challenging practices, the bantering with teammates, and the desire to win games.
Of course, that desire to win had eventually overshadowed all fun that was to be had while playing the sport. Even though she was only in middle school, she had acquired a seriously competitive attitude. Obsessive thoughts invaded her mind, corrupting the previously enjoyable practices. Transforming them into a way to secure what she wanted.
This outlook on the game poisoned her attitude toward her teammates, she even began to voice her frustrations openly during games. It was only then that in a fight with a teammate she realized, the game was no longer fun, that she was a weak link in her team.
So no, not all happy memories. She placed the trophies on top of a shelf with a frown, and quickly occupied herself with another task. She had decided to take a break from the sport during her first year of highschool, and it had done wonders for her mentally. She had managed to leave the past in the past, and even managed to reconcile with all of her old teammates.
Finished with her work, she plopped down onto her bed with a sigh, savoring the satisfaction of lying down after a long drive and unpacking.
Soon after that, her mother invited herself in to give Yama her dinner. Her family didn't have anything to cook with, so take out was the next best option.
"Thanks Mom!"
With the finishing of her meal, and the the drowsiness weighing heavily upon her, Yama soon fell asleep awaiting her first day at her new school.