Chapter one
Ame quickly ties her hair into a ponytail and starts running down the street. Today is the first day of her spring holiday. In a few weeks she will be going to high school as a first year. She arrives at the local gymnasium, feeling warm but not in the least worn. The poster she saw days ago is still hung on the wall. With an impatient smile she walks in.
In the sports hall a dozen of boys her age are gathered around the trainer, coach Amano. Two of them seem to be discussing loudly and they stop when they all turn and see her.
"Hello" she starts, uncertain. There is no other girl in the room. Then she regain her composure and declares "I am here for the volleyball summer training".
Some of them look at her with disbelief, clearly underestimating her. She understands, as they are all taller than her, despite the fact that she is rather tall for a girl. She's 168 cm after all.
Amano claps his hands.
"Looks like the problem is solved" he says to the pair who were having a little quarrel. "Now there are enough players for a match".
They do their warm up and stretching as the coach says. Then they have to form two teams. The big guy who was fighting earlier rudely tells her to go home, as this isn't "a place for little girls to stroll around". She protests, ready to throw her foot in his shin when another guy catches her arm.
"That's fine, we'll take her in our team" he says, as the coach sighs. He didn't think it would be so hard to manage a bunch of hyperactive teenagers when he decided to organize the sessions.
Ame sticks her tongue at the big guy, not feeling childish at all.
"Don't mind him, he doesn't have any delicacy" the one who saved her advices nicely.
They place themselves on the field. Ame stands as the left wing-spiker, as she always did when she played in school.
"By the way my name is Oikawa Toru, try not to obstruct" the savior adds with a grin, not so nice anymore.
Ame grits her teeth. Her friends were all gone to spend the holidays outside the city, so she is left alone with no one to play with. She's already bored to death and it is unthinkable for her to spend a day without practicing volleyball, so that's why she is here now. Playing with boys doesn't matter as long as she can touch the ball.
Well, if someone lets her touch it. Oikawa, who plays as the setter, exclusively passes to the other wing-spiker. Ame understands they are friends. But it isn't a reason to not let other people play!
Although her team is winning all she did was blocking a few times. She's growing more and more impatient, waiting for the perfect occasion.
And after ten minutes it comes.
The big guy hits the ball and the libero pains to cushion it. He doesn't control the direction the ball is going. Oikawa's friend plunges. The ball doesn't fall. Oikawa has it. In the front there are only the middle and Ame. But Ame is the only one unmarked. She yells at him like a fury, demanding the pass. Having no other choice, Oikawa gives it to her. She runs and jumps the highest she can and slams the ball with all her strength. It flies and hits the floor with a sound like thunder. Oikawa's eyes widen. He sure as hell didn't expect such violence from this cute girl.
For two seconds everyone stays silent. Then everyone cheers. Ame is beaming. Coach Amano smirks.
They play several more sets and at the end of the afternoon they're all chatting and laughing together.
After stowing the equipment they say goodbye to the coach. Ame is sitting on the ground lacing up her shoes.
"Nice play" she hears someone say beside her.
She turns her head, it's Oikawa.
"Thanks" she smiles. "You're a good setter" she notes. "Your passes were always precise."
"Oikawa!" His friend calls him from afar.
"I'm coming Iwa-chan!"
Although he's not moving an inch.
"You shouldn't keep him waiting."
He laughs playfully, rubbing the back of his head.
"I just wanted to know your name, dollface."
"Oh." She forgot she didn't even introduce herself, as she was too salty in the beginning. She doesn't blink at the embarrassing nickname.
"Kozuki Ame, first year of high school."
"We're the same age then." His voice is weird. It is way too soft and… wait is he flirting with her? She snorts, amused.
"Oi, crappy guy!"
"Sorry I have to go, mom is calling." He sneers at his own joke. "See you tomorrow Ame-chan!"
She waves at him and watches him run as his friend smacks his shoulder.
That was the first time she met him. She remembered the impression he left on her. Instantly she had known he was the kind of person who was ready to do anything to win. In order to beat his rivals, he was willing to put everything on the line. Because his pride was as wide as his talent. He strived triumph. And she couldn't judge him because she was just the same.