Chapter Two

"Ame-chan!" Oikawa calls.

She throws her arm in the air and spikes. For the upteenth time that day, the ball goes out. Ame winces as she feels coach Amano's stern gaze on her. He calls her.

"You'll do better next time" Oikawa says to comfort her before cowardly withdrawing to avoid the trainer's wrath.

With apprehension, Ame walks towards him. Amano is a good coach but he is very strict and always has a dry comment to share.

"What the hell did that ball do to you?"

"What? I… nothing… sorry!"

She gulps under his dark gaze. He sighs.

"Stop hitting the ball like a gorilla. You're playing volleyball, not boxing. Try to control your strength and the direction the ball goes. It doesn't matter that your spikes are fierce if the ball is always out."

"Yes sir!" She nods before joining the others.

Amano watches the three first-year players. Oikawa the brilliant setter, who can do any pass, even though he still has to work on his jump serve. Then there's Iwaizumi. He's a dangerous hitter, he has the potential to become an ace. As for the last one… well Kozuki has the strength and good attitude, despite the fact that her spikes look like they're meant to tear off her opponents' arms. They could become a dangerous weapon if only she figures out a way to control it. And if the girl acquires more technique. In conclusion, after a week training them, Amano can say that the three of them are promising in their own way.

They finish training when the sun is set and neon lights shine bright in the early evening. Iwaizumi suggests to go eat something and after a quick gaze at her watch, Ame accepts to go with them. She's already late anyway, so she'll get scolded weather or not her stomach is empty. Moreover, she is way too hungry to go home now.

They buy some anpan at the local store and settle at the park to enjoy their haul. Ame laughs a lot, she finds Iwaizumi and Oikawa's banters really amusing. As the latter gets smacked on the back of his head for saying something particularly cheeky, she can't help but wish one day she could have the kind friendship these two have. One where two people trust each other so much they share all their grief, joy and hope.

"Where will you be studying Kozuki?" Iwaizumi asks her.

"Ishihara high school" she answers, finishing her bread. "What about you two? Are you going to the same school?"

"Yep! We're at Seijo" Oikawa grins. "Well at first I thought Iwa-chan would go elsewhere, but then I found out he wanted to follow me as he loves me so much, so I helped him study to get good grades. I am such an adorable person, am I not?"

Iwaizumi protests as Ame laughs at the setter's foolishness. His tongue is as sharp as a blade, always leashing a mischievous hint. He can talk about anything, anywhere. Ame is practically sure he can chat to himself if there's no one around. Such a bright personality.

They accompany her to her home as it gets really dark, like two perfect gentlemen. After waiting for them to disappear at the corner of the street, she steps into her house, ready to face her parents' reproach for coming home so late and wasting her time practicing sports. But she doesn't care, because she loves volleyball and the sound it makes when her hand slams the ball, which twirls towards the ground when she can feel the heat on her redden palm. And with her two new friends, training is even more entertaining.

He calls her as she is ready to go home. She stops in front of the gymnasium entrance. He is running towards her while putting on a clean tshirt, as the other is completely wet. Her eyes wander on the revealed skin of his muscled torso. Embarrassed, she turns her head.

"Today was the last day huh?" She says when Oikawa joins her.

"Yeah. Those three weeks were very short."

They step aside as another boy goes out of the sports hall. He waves at them so she smiles back.

"I can't wait to play with the volleyball club." He stretches his arms. "You're going to enroll in your school club right?"

"Of course."

"Right. Because you have a lot of potential." He smirks at her.

She snickers.

"It was fun playing with you and Iwaizumi. I am sure you two are going to beat this Ushiwaka guy you told me." She pauses and adjusts her bag on her shoulder. "I intend to use everything I've learn during these three weeks. Even if I'm still kind of lame at the moment, I'll become strong enough to win" she promises.

Oikawa notices the sparkle of excitement and determination in her eyes. It's so unfair she's not going to the same school as he does! They won't be able to see each other often once classes start.

She seems to be a straightforward kind of girl, so he figures he better ask her directly.

"Will you give me your number, Ame-chan?"

She blinks.

"Of course."

She takes the phone he gives her and quickly saves her number in it. She's a little bit surprised when he tells her he wants to take a picture but she smiles to the camera anyway. After some chatting she leaves him.

"Why are you smiling like an idiot?" Iwaizumi asks as he joins his friend, ten minutes later.

Oikawa giggles like a school girl.

"I just got Ame-chan's number!" He announces proudly.

"Oh."

"What is that reaction Iwa-chan? Did you think I wouldn't be able to get it? Do you want me to give it to you? Because I won't!" He sticks his tongue childishly.

Iwaizumi waves his hand in dismissal.

"Don't give yourself the trouble, I already have it."

Then he starts walking.

"What?!" Oikawa screams with horror. "How? When?"

Satisfied, Iwaizumi smirks at his best friend's desperation.

Author's note

That was chapter two! As always, thanks for reading, I hope you liked it. Double thanks to everyone who has fav/followed/reviewed this story. I'm so excited for you to read the next chapters. As you may have guessed, this story will cover Oikawa's three years of high school. I want to show how the relationship between the characters evolves, so for now I'm thinking of slowly paced chapters, but tell me if you would really prefer getting quickly to the third-year! I have lots of ideas and the next two chapters are partly written. I can safely say that for this month I'll be able to update at least once a week. That's all, see you soon!