"Osamu, can you please tell Atsumu that he hasn't gave me my ball back? He keeps saying that he has but he's lying!" A little girl with light brown hair stomped her foot with a pout as she confronted the more level headed twin. The boy cocked his head to the side.

"Hah? You should know that he won't give it back, Hotaru," he pointed out matter-of-factly, ignoring the way her face lit up in anger. Hotaru growled and clutched her head in exasperation. "I'll take his volleyball then! See how he likes it!"

"...That's not a good idea, Hotaru," Osamu stated, but Hotaru ignored him and stomped away, her cleats digging into the grass.

Takahashi Hotaru has known the Miya twins since she could remember. She couldn't recall a time that the three of them didn't see each other whether it be a sleepover, a simple playdate, or a brief interaction between their families. They were a constant in her life, and if she didn't like them so much, she would've dropped them as soon as Atsumu laughed when she tripped over her own feet.

Osamu followed the little brunette into his home, sighing in exasperation at the upcoming fight that would happen between his twin and his childhood friend.

"Atsumu!" she roared, slamming open a door and scaring the other twin. Hotaru yanked the volleyball off of the bed and pointed at him with a frown on her face. "Until you stop being an idiot and give me my soccer ball, I'm taking your volleyball!"

"Ehh?" the boy jumped from his seat pointing back at her. "'Taru, I gave it back, you stupid idiot! Idiot! Stupid!"

"What did you say, you liar?!"

Osamu could only watch as the two people closest to him tackled each other to the floor, yelling angrily at each other, and waited for either Hotaru's parents or his grandmother to break it up.

"You should've just given it back," Hotaru mumbled with her arms crossed as a bandaid was placed on her knee. "I'm going to a soccer camp, and that's my favorite ball, stupid Atsumu."

"You should just play volleyball instead, 'Taru," Atsumu complained again, his own bandaid on his cheek. "Osamu and I are going to that volleyball workshop and you should come, too!"

"I like soccer better, and I suck at volleyball!"

"Then you can get better at this thing!"

"You should come to my soccer camp then!"

"Boooo!"

"Did you just 'boo' me?!"

A knock on both of their heads quieted them down. Takahashi Takeru pinched his nose in exasperation then ruffled the two troublemakers' heads. "Do you two have to fight all of the time?"

"Yes," Osamu cut in before the other two could answer, and they both let out a whine at his betrayal. Takeru gave the three children a fond smile and gathered Hotaru's ball and held his hand out.

"As fun as this always is," Hotaru gripped his hand and stuck her tongue out at the annoying Miya twin. "Hotaru does have her camp tomorrow afternoon, and we're driving in tonight to stay. Have fun at your volleyball workshop, Atsumu-kun, Osamu-kun!"

"Thank you, Takeru-san!" the two boys waved at the retreating Takahashi family, and Hotaru glanced up at her father.

"What about Okaa-san? Is she coming with us?" She glanced around her father's body in hopes of seeing her mother. A small grimace allowed itself to show on his face, and Takeru gave his daughter's hand a small squeeze.

"Not this time, Hotaru," he said apologetically, not missing the dejected look on her young face. "She's having to go on some business overseas and said she'd be back at the end of the week."

Hotaru was silent for a moment, and her father watched her carefully for her reaction. There was a purse of the lips and a furrow of her brow before she let out a breath and squeezed her father's hand. "Can we call her later?" she asked instead, and Takeru let a small smile show and gave her a nod.

"Of course."

Takahashi Hotaru and the Miya twins were a spectacle in school. The three were mostly known for the spats that Hotaru and Atsumu got into constantly and for their athletic prowess that was obvious at even their young age. Middle school didn't change any of that.

"Yo, 'Taru, you're going to be our manager, right?" Atsumu asked - a demand, really - as the three walked into Yako Junior High. Hotaru scrunched her face and gave the twin a glare. "Hah? I'll have my own club!"

"Just drop it already!"

"You drop yours!"

"... We haven't even started classes yet, and you two are going at it."

Hotaru and Atsumu jerked their attention to the other twin, who was staring at them with a bored expression, not bothering with the stares they were receiving. Osamu waved his hand flippantly. "Hotaru, why don't you just ask if you could help around the volleyball team when you're free? It'd make 'Tsumu shut up."

"What was that, 'Samu?!"

With a petulant huff, Hotaru couldn't help but think about his advice. Atsumu would be more annoying than he usually is if she didn't figure out a way to be around them for volleyball (sometimes, she liked to think it was because he was a wimp and needed her company) but she also would be having her own commitment to the soccer club. Not to mention, she would have to be around Atsumu even more than she usually was.

Crossing her arms, Hotaru sighed. "I'll ask if it'll make him shut up."

A knock on her head made her growl and prepare to lash out at her offender if Osamu hadn't already seen it coming, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her away. "Let's do this later."

"Osamu, you're too nice to him!" she accused, cheeks red with irritation for the much more annoying twin, yet she allowed herself to be dragged to the opening ceremony. Atsumu watched her with a triumphant look as she was the one being manhandled, and it took all of her willpower not to lash out again.

The opening ceremony was as lame as she expected. She didn't care too much about how great of a year they would all have - she cared more about getting to be a part of her new club.

"Make sure you wait for me if you get out of your club before me," Hotaru demanded as she shouldered her backpack and glared at the two boys in front of her who looked as antsy as she was. "Otou-san will tell your grandmother if you guys leave me again!"

A shudder went through their spines as they all recalled that day.

"Don't worry! We will totally not forget you!" Atsumu tried to assure with a confident grin on his face, and Hotaru stared blankly at him. She directed her attention to Osamu and he just nodded with his eyes closed. "I'll make sure he doesn't leave without you, Hotaru, no worries."

She gave them both one more stare before sighing in defeat and spinning on her heel. "Okay, I'll see you two after club! Good luck!"

The two repeated the sentiment and Hotaru ran to the field where she knew the girls' soccer team would be at. Her cleats were hanging in her hand, and she grinned in anticipation to feel the ball on her feet and the grass digging into her cleats. With her ponytail whipping her in the face, she stood in front of all of the upperclassmen with her chest puffed out and before anyone could say something, she blurted, "My name is Takahashi Hotaru and I'm your new goalkeeper!"

...

"Hah?!"

An older girl stomped towards her, gloves on her hands already. She bent down to meet Hotaru's eyes. "What makes you think that, huh? I'm not just going to give you my spot!"

"No one has scored on me before and from what I've seen before coming here was that you're much more suited for sweeper, Hana-senpai!"

Hana Chiharu drew back from Hotaru's bold words, glancing behind her for some help. Hotaru continued to stare at the group with expectant eyes as her senior seemed to grow more uncomfortable - annoyed - with her words.

"Hey, hey, why don't we all just calm down, yeah?" Another girl that Hotaru recognized as the captain, Ito Tomoe, placated, placing a hand on the fuming upperclassman. "Takahashi-chan, why don't you get warmed up? The other first years are doing some ball handling skills already. We're going to do an inter-squad scrimmage to check you guys out."

Hotaru didn't need to be told twice as she nodded and ran her warmup laps.

Takahashi Hotaru was an athlete. She had known from an early age that she was blessed with a skillset that girls her age did not have. Much like her childhood friends, she only had eyes for the sport she loved. She wasn't an idiot - she was a fine player but she was not the best. She was lucky that she didn't go to a school that had a tradition for producing exceptional soccer players because she knew that despite all of her talents, she was not the best.

And she wanted to be the best.

So yes, she was realistic. But she was also incredibly ambitious.

Hotaru finished her stretches quickly and efficiently ("Eh? But stretching is so boring!" "You'll pull a muscle, stupid!"), joining the rest of the newcomers, a smile on her face. There were four others that decided to join the team along with her, and with a gleam in her eye, Hotaru introduced herself, "Hello, my name is Takahashi Hotaru. I'm excited to meet you all!"

The four in front of her gave her a once over and returned the sentiment.

Watanabe Akiyo gave Hotaru little hope that the team would do well if she was anything to go off of. A timid girl that would easily fall if bumped by another player - a girl that is much better suited for the sidelines.

Mori Maho wasn't much better. However, she gave the impression that she could run if her lean figure and long legs were anything to go by. Hotaru predicted that Mori would be a substitute if she were lucky.

Nakano Reika was a formidable teammate. A girl that held the aura of an athlete and a competitor. One that would have no problem with keeping up with Hotaru's own selfish desires of winning.

And finally, Shibata Yuri.

Hotaru couldn't wait to see Shibata on the field.

"Oi, Shibata," the brunette addressed, pointing a finger at the other girl. "What position do you play?"

"Huh?" the blonde blinked owlishly. "Oh, I usually play goal-"

"Wrong!" Hotaru shouted, crossing her arms to form an X. The four in front of her startled at her outburst, and Hotaru grinned wolfishly, eyes narrowing. "You're a striker. There's no way you're a goalkeeper. You're mediocre at best."

"What-"

"Takahashi! Cut it out!" Hana shouted, a vein popping on her forehead. Hotaru drew back and pulled her hands behind her back, taking a step away from the fuming blonde. Ito looked put out by the excitement of the first day and clapped her hands for attention.

The captain gave the group of fifteen a once over. "We're going to scrimmage to get a feel where we think you guys can contribute. Think of it as an actual match but still be mindful of preventing any injuries. We've split you up already in positions."

Hotaru happily took her (rightful) place in the goal, her gloves on and bouncing on the balls of her feet.

She knew she was harsh on her teammates (she was childhood friends with the Miya twins so what could she expect?) and she knew that she couldn't get her hopes up of having a well-rounded soccer team that could compete with well to do schools as Yako Junior High was not known for its girls' soccer club. It really was unfair of her. It wasn't their fault she grew up with a winner takes all mentality.

But she wouldn't go easy on them, either.

Hotaru watched as the ball sailed towards her goal, a twitch in her brow at the absolute wimp of a shot it was and easily grabbed it from its trajectory. She rolled it out to an awaiting Mori and felt almost distasteful towards the lack of input her teammates gave her. Soccer was a hobby, a job, and a passion wrapped in one for her. Volleyball was her childhood friends' thing while soccer was hers, and of course she wanted to go to the same middle school as the twins, but she almost wished that she would've left to find somewhere else - a place that would give her some type of competition.

Ito broke away from Hotaru's defenders and was quickly making her way towards the goal, a one-on-one situation inevitable. Hotaru's heart raced in anticipation and adrenaline, her eyes focusing between the ball and her opponent. The yells of both teams faded out, and the only thing she let roam in her brain was where the ball would be going.

Ito was dominant with her right foot and had a habit of dribbling it too far in front of her which meant that she wouldn't try to get too close lest allowing Hotaru to easily put a body on it. However, that meant that she most likely practiced shots from further away which would also mean that she aimed for the high corners of the goal.

The sound of the kick, a jump, and an easy catch surrounded the field, and Hotaru landed safely on her feet, the ball secured in her arms and a scowl on her face. What if I didn't catch that and punched it out instead? Nobody would've got the rebound.

"Oooh!" a girl by the name of Ishimoto let out. "That was nice, Takahashi-chan! Good save!" she applauded, and Hotaru grinned at the praise, rolling the ball out again, "Thank you!" At least she could be polite to an extent.

The rest of the scrimmage continued the same way. Hotaru wasn't lying when she told Hana that she hadn't been scored on in a game and despite the new environment, she planned on continuing the streak as much as possible.

Well, until the captain decided they would do penalties since they tied at 0-0.

Pulling her gloves off, Hotaru stopped in front of her team that was trying to decide who would take the penalties.

"I'm not playing as goalkeeper for these."

She bent down to untie her cleats, taking a seat in the grass and ignoring the stares on her back. Without looking up, she answered their unasked question with a cold voice, "I did my job. You didn't so I'm not putting in more work."

"Oi," Hana yelled out, shaking a fist at the younger girl. "You're really going to leave your teammates hanging like that? Takahashi, you must be stupid if you think that's going to fly here," she seethed, and Hotaru shut her eyes petulantly, brows furrowed in anger. Hana continued, "You came here saying you were going to be the goalkeeper so be the goalkeeper."

A click of the tongue and a yank on her shoes, Hotaru stood up and walked towards the sidelines where her things were. She knew that she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up for this team, but she could only assume that the rush of the game made her forget all of that. There was a fire in her chest that burned from the competition and held true each time she saved a goal only to simmer when she realized it was all for naught. And if they thought that she'd put in the extra work they caused, they were sorely mistaken.

"I play to win, Hana-senpai," Hotaru stated, looking up at the coloring sky as it was nearing time to leave. Putting her arms behind her head, she faced the rest of the group with a glare. "I don't play for a tie." She resumed her goal of gathering her things, catching sight of her (least) favorite twins walking towards the field to wait on her. "Ah, I need to leave right now unless I want to walk by myself in the dark," Hotaru announced, giving a wave to her companions. She met the hard look on her captain's face. "Is that okay? I'll get in trouble."

"Of course not, you little -"

"Yes, it's okay. We'll see you tomorrow, Takahashi-chan."

"Tomoe!"

Ignoring the discord behind her, Hotaru jogged to where her friends were waiting, Atsumu narrowing his eyes at her. "How are you already fighting in your first practice, idiot?"

She ignored the insult and instead asked, "How did club go for the two of you? Did you guys get into a fight in front of everybody again?"

"No!"

"Yes."

"'Samu!" Atsumu whined in betrayal, glaring at his twin with a fierceness that Osamu only glanced at. The girl laughed at their antics, handing Osamu her things wordlessly. Putting a hand on Atsumu's shoulder, she hoisted herself onto his back, arms wrapped tightly around his neck and legs locked around him as he flailed to get her off. "What the heck?! Get off! You're sweaty and I don't want to carry you home!"

She tightened her hold again, ignoring his choking and Osamu's defeated sigh. "Stupid, this is what you get for lying! I'm too mad to walk anyway!"

"Why is that a reason?!"

"You did lie, 'Tsumu."

"Whose side are you on?!"

"How was club?"

Hotaru set her bag down as her father peeked his head around the corner with a smile on his face in anticipation of his daughter's recount of her day. The girl frowned in remembrance and trudged into the kitchen where she knew dinner was waiting.

She couldn't think of a word to describe it. Disappointing? Fun? Wasteful? Lame? Each applied, and it must have shown on her face because she heard her father sigh.

He crossed his arms with a stern look. "You know what I'm going to say, Hotaru," he scolded, causing her to turn her face from him with cheeks puffed out. "If you want to play, you have to play. None of this holier-than-thou attitude."

Easy for you to say, she thought bitterly, not wanting to catch the disappointed look in his eye. It was a conversation that she's had with him plenty of times, and it's a conversation that she would not like to have anymore. She didn't understand how her father didn't see it from her point of view (most likely because he was trash at soccer) and why he continued to keep lecturing her.

"Is Okaa-san back today?" Hotaru interrupted his spiel as she poked her food and resting her cheek on a fist. "I haven't seen her yet."

Takeru shook his head, an apologetic smile on his aging face. "Not today. Maybe this weekend."

She said nothing.