Fly High: Etsuko was perfectly fine flying under the radar when she switched schools and began living with her cousin after an accident took away the only thing she cared for, however a flying volleyball to the face leads those plans astray. What's this about becoming a manager? OCx?
Rating: Rated T for the occasional use of adult language.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Haikyuu! I just enjoy playing around with their characters and adding a few of my own.
Author's Note: First, I have the summary so that's gotta change at some point. I couldn't think of anything else at the moment though. Second, I've been thinking about writing a Haikyuu story ever since I finished watching it for the first time (I have since lost track on how many times I've re-watched and read it now). And originally, I wanted to write from the Karasuno perspective with my characters, but the more I thought about it, the more another story entered my mind. I might write the other one, one day (when the manga ends most likely) but for now this one just keeps calling to me. However, it's probably gonna be harder…given I'll be writing most of it off the top of my head with just what I know about the characters themselves. Oh well, please enjoy the first chapter and let me know what you all think~
Update 12/19/20: I have gone through and edited this chapter. Reading over it, I wasn't too happy with this story and have since decided to start fresh. Luckily I hadn't gotten far. There are things that remain the same, but I also changed a few bits here and there. Honestly, not much was changed this chapter as must as the next chapter. The edited version of chapter 2 should be up tomorrow!
Word Count: 1,807
Chapter One
"Etsuko-kun," Honey colored eyed looked away from the okayu they had been focusing on as their owner ate breakfast. A teenage girl sat at a round, kitchen table wearing her school's uniform consisting of a girl's traditional sailor fuku that had a pleated dark, gray skirt, with a white short-sleeve, spring shirt with a collar that matched her skirt and a red ribbon tied into a bow around her neck. Etsuko had long, waist length black hair pulled back into a braid that was rolled into a bun at the base of her neck and a sprinkling of freckles that lay below long eyelashes that framed large, brown eyes that looked like liquid honey.
"Yes, Obasan?" Etsuko asked after taking a moment to finish what she had in her mouth. Her aunt was standing beside her with a large smile on her kind, slightly round and wrinkled face and holding out two bentos for Estuko instead of the usual one she normally had. One was wrapped in a plain blue cloth, hers, and the other was red.
"Yuki forgot to grab his lunch before he left for practice with his team this morning. I know you normally don't see each other at school because of being in different grades and him having practice, but can you be a dear and make sure he gets it? He just won't be able to do his best without having a good lunch." Etsuko's aunt's dark eyes looked down at her niece with a gentle but pleading glow. The only thing the two had common was their hair color and height, which unfortunately her male cousin had inherited as well.
"Sure, Obasan" Etsuko agreed, setting her chopsticks down and grabbing both lunch boxes from her aunt, leaning over to place them in her school bag that was resting at her black, tight covered feet. "I'll go ahead and leave now. Hopefully I'll be in time to catch him at the end of his practice." She stood up, clutching her bag in her hands and made her way to the door where her black loafers were sitting neatly in the entryway. She grabbed her school uniform's gray spring sweater, quickly pulling it over her shirt. "Thank you for breakfast."
"Oh! I didn't mean for you to leave so soon Etsuko-kun!" The middle-aged woman exclaimed, walking after her niece, "You can stay and finish breakfast first."
"It's fine Obasan, I don't mind. I'm full anyway," Etsuko offered a small smile at the slightly taller woman, she herself being only five feet tall, as she pulled on her shoes. "I'll see you after school Obasan. I will be staying after to study in the library, there is an algebra test next week."
"Oh! You haven't found a club to join yet Etsuko-kun?" Her aunt asked, worried about her niece. She had transferred into the school not long after the year had started, which meant clubs were still recruiting, and she knew her niece was highly involved at her previous school. Plus, she was worried about the quiet girl making friends.
Etsuko gave her aunt another smile, this one coming off as more strained than her last one "Just the library committee, but I don't know if it's permanent. See you later Obasan!"
And she left the house before her aunt could say anymore, a small sigh leaving her lips as she closed their gate behind her and started down the street. Etsuko was truly grateful that her aunt and uncle had taken her in, and knew that her aunt meant well, but she wasn't used to having someone try and look after her. She was the one who usually took care of herself and everyone around her, and despite having moved to live with her aunt and uncle almost a month ago, it was still taking some getting used to. She was distracted from further thoughts on the topic by the buzzing of her phone in her bag.
She pulled out a purple flip phone that had a few stickers of cats on the front around the camera as well as a charm of a bright yellow number three hanging from it; She opened it with a flick of the wrist. A larger smile came to her face as the messages displayed on the screen;
Kana: Good Morning Tsu-chan!
Ren: It's too early for this…
Kana: WAKE UP! Ren's such a lazy bone
Machiko: Morning
Kana: Besides, I was TALKING to Tsu-chan! Not Ren-kun!
Ren: This is a GROUP chat, text her on your own then! And stop with the kun!
Machiko: Enough!
Ren: Yes Captain
Kana: Awwwww :'(
Tomoe: Hello Tsu-chan and Kana-chan
Kana: Moe-Chin :D
Etsuko rolled her eyes at her friends' antics so early in the morning, she could imagine her hyper-active blond haired friend pouting at her phone from the reprimand from Machiko, quickly typing out a reply as her school's gates came into view. She passed a few other students heading in the same direction but it was still early enough that there were only a few and they ignored the smaller girl completely. Which worked in her favor, as she didn't want to be noticed nor was she paying any attention to anything but her phone.
Etsuko: Good morning everyone. Have fun at practice and behave for Machiko, you know how she gets.
Kana: Tsu-chan's no fun!
Etsuko sighed, still smiling as she slid her phone back into her bag as she crossed onto the property of her school. However, the smile left her face as her hand hit the wrapped bento she was supposed to go and give to her younger cousin; She really didn't want to go to the gym. Maybe I'll just wait for lunch time, Etsuko contemplated. However, she decided against that as she knew she had things to do for the library committee and wouldn't have time to eat her lunch as well as deliver his and do what she needed to do at lunchtime. "There's no helping it…" She muttered to herself, turning towards the school's gyms, once more passing and weaving through her fellow students that didn't seem to notice the girl at all. She passed gym one, where the boys basketball team was having morning practice and went to the doors of gym two, hearing the squeaking of indoor gym shoes and the loud, echoing thunk of balls hitting the ground as well as encouraging yells from members of the club that weren't playing. Estuko pushed aside the net that stopped stray balls from flying out of the open doors and stepped out of her shoes, leaving her in nothing but her tights on her feet as she didn't have her gym shoes with her nor her indoor school slippers.
"Left!" Her school's volleyball team, the boys as they didn't have a girls' team, was holding morning practice and looked to be in the middle of practicing spikes. Etsuko watched a somewhat short but lanky boy with chin length bleached hair that's roots were beginning to show, and large eyes set a volleyball to another boy that had a short mohawk that was also bleached as well. She recognized the setter as Kenma Kozume, a boy in her class, and while she recognized the spiker as well, she didn't know his name as he only came to her classroom to talk to Kozume. She stayed in the doorway, looking around for her cousin, knowing he wouldn't be involved as a spiker or setter as the position he held didn't allow for such things.
"Can I help you?" Etsuko looked over as a person spoke close enough to gain her attention. She had to guess, just by the age alone, that the person talking to her was their coach. It was an old man that was rather short, thought still taller than her, with pure white hair and a wrinkled face with a grin that reminded her oddly of a cat's.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Etsuko started, bowing slightly in respect to the older man, "But I'm looking for my cousin. He forgot his lunch this morning before coming to practice and I'm supposed to give it to him."
"Ah, I see" The older man's smile just widened at the girl, a gentle aura emanating from him, "It's no problem, they are almost done anyway. Who is your cousin-"
Before Etsuko or the coach could continue a voice called out in surprise, "Etsuko-chan!"
Both Etsuko and the coach looked up to see a small teen with black hair parted down the middle with thick eyebrows and dark eyes that was only a few inches taller than Etsuko, running over to the girl, a small smile on his still slightly rounded face. He was wearing the same black shirt and red shorts all the other boys wore, many of whom were now looking at Etsuko with curious eyes. "Yuki," Etsuko greeted as her cousin came to a stop in front of her and his coach.
"What are you doing here Etsuko-chan?" Yuki questioned, wondering why his cousin, who never sought him out at school, though he couldn't blame her as he understood why she wanted nothing to do with his club, was in the gym while he was having morning practice.
"Obasan wanted me to give you your lunch." Etsuko dug the box wrapped in a light blue cloth from her bag, "You forgot it." Yuki grinned at the girl, a small blushing coming to his cheeks from embarrassment. He had been in such a rush to get to school as he and Lev were practicing together with Yaku that he had run off without it.
"Oh! Thanks Etsuko-chan! I'm sorry for causing you trouble," Yuki replied, taking the lunch from the girl. Etsuko just offered a small smile in return, about to reply when there was a loud smack followed by a-
"Look out!" Etsuko looked up to see a volleyball quickly sailing towards her face from where the mohawk guy had spiked it once more and missed his mark rather dismally. Etsuko didn't give it a moment's thought, not having that long as the ball was faster than it would have appeared and brought her hands up quickly just as the ball would have hit her face. She stopped the ball's momentum completely and clutched it between her hands. She brought the ball down, her face remaining neutral, processing the three reactions that stood out the most among the now deadly silent club before her;
One: The coach was just smiling at her, almost appearing to be smirking,
Two: Her cousin Yuki was looking at her with a slightly concerned look, wondering if she was okay.
And Three: And the boy with the mohawk that had hit the ball had gone completely white, a look of absolute horror on his face.
Translations:
Etsuko – Joyful Child
Okayu – rice porridge usually served with pickled plums prepared with vegetables (tsukemono) or shiso leaves (umeboshi). Other additions to the porridge might be dried bonito or skipjack tuna shavings (katsuobushi) and seasoned kelp or seafood (tsukudani). It's a favorite for kids and adults for breakfast in Japan.
Fuku- Sailor Fuku – Sailor Outfit worn by school aged kids in Japan
Obasan – Auntie as opposed to Oba-San which would be just be Aunt (as per my understanding anyway)
Quick note: Nekoma apparently does have a female volleyball team, but that's why fanfiction exists because in my story they don't. Oh, and I have no idea what the colors of Nekoma's female uniform is, just what they look like from the cheer section in the Manga.