The next Monday, after class, Sugawara made sure to pick Hinata and Kageyama up from class, to show them the clubroom. They approached the stairs just in time to witness the door slamming right back into Tanaka's face. He reeled back, holding his nose and on the verge of another fit.
"Tanaka! You good?," Suga called out. The first years were confused, and Hinata ducked behind Kageyama.
"Didn't anyone teach you to knock!," Kitsuna stepped out before the buzzcut could respond. His ego deflated quickly, and he apologized.
"Oh, sorry. Got here first so I wanted to get changed and warm up. Oh," she ran back into the room, returning with a small bag. "All good now."
She sidled past the boys and skipped down the stairs, and Hinata finally snapped. His face burned bright red, and Kageyama started to yell at him.
"Why's a girl in there? Is that normal for clubs?," Hinata stammered out.
"Huh? Nah, man. Just easier than makin' her go somewhere else," Tanaka answered. He was almost boastful, earning a chop from Suga before he opened the door.
"Although," Tanaka followed them in, leading into something dangerous. Daichi stopped him, and they all got ready for practice. They were already warming up, but Kitsuna was taking extra care to wrap her knee and wrist so joined in late.
"Suga, quit zonin' out," Daichi called out. A pair of grayish brown eyes had been fixed on her for a while, but Kiyoko was pretty sure Kitsuna hadn't noticed. Teasing aside, the dark-haired girl was aware that the scars she covered up were pretty noticeable. Kiyoko was certain she recognized the redhead from somewhere, and that Daichi for sure knew something about it. He was always providing cover when people got too curious about certain things regarding her.
"Right, that should be goo-Woah?," Kitsuna jumped to her feet, but stumbled forward. Kiyoko caught her, and looked super worried.
"Sorry. I'm fine, forgot to wrap my ankle," Kitsuna's face flushed, and she quickly dropped to her knees and tended to the final wrapping.
"Kitsuna, you can take it easy today! Take a break if you need it," Daichi called over to her.
"it's -alright!," Kitsuna was weirdly obedient today.
Thankfully for her, Hinata's nerves were getting to him and his mistakes kept most eyes off her. He fumbled one block, though, that sent him straight into her. Her right foot hit the ground first, but her balance was too far off and she slipped back onto her butt.
"Sorry!," Hinata nearly kissed the wood floor beside her.
"Uh! It's probably alright. Just get back to practice little dude."
Suga tried to help her up, but her ankle gave way again and she stumbled a bit. Her face blanked out, and she glanced over at the captain.
"Shit. I guess I overdid it, I'mma sit the rest of this one out. Can you cover it?," she asked Suga, who agreed to take over. She walked over to the side of the gym, sliding down against the wall. Kiyoko brought over an ice compress, and sat with her through the next set. Kitsuna dozed off, sinking into her knees, and Kiyoko took the compress to put it away. The set ended, and Suga draped Kitsuna's jacket over her legs and shoulder.
"Well ain't you a model boyfriend?," Tsukishima commented. Suga flinched, but had a comeback ready.
"Daich said she gets sick easily, and it'd suck if she missed the game tomorrow," Suga answered while standing back up.
"Oh. Hope she'll be okay tomorrow," Daichi placed a hand on Tsukki's shoulder.
"Huh? Does she get nervous like him, too?," Tadashi pointed to where Hinata stood just seconds before.
"Oh, no. Not for the same reason, at least. She also has some pretty nasty motion sickness," Daichi's face went dark, likely recalling an unpleasant memory.
"Hm. So the delinquent girl does have a weakness, other than food," Tsukki muttered, walking away.
"Dude!," Tadashi scolded him and followed.
"Let's finish up, and head home," Daichi went full captain mode again, snapping out of his moody thoughts.
They finished up, and Kitsuna stirred awake toward the end of practice. Kitsuna changed first, then joined for the last huddle. They all left together, Daichi promising to get meat buns again. They all started arguing in front of the store, the discussion dragging on for several minutes. Kitsuna finally tugged on the nearest sleeve, which ended up being Tadashi's. He jumped and started to freak out, fearing the worst. Suga held out a spicy meatbun in front of her face, and she snapped out of her near-comatose state to grab it up.
"Oh," Tadashi laughed. He felt a smug aura beside him, from Tsukishima, and knew there was a round of teasing coming later.
"Hey volleyball nerds! Quit makin' a racket in front of my store!," Keishin shouted suddenly.
"Oh, zhit!," Kitsuna cursed through her mouthful of food, turning toward the man. "Hey, I need tomorrow off!"
"Eh. I already know that idiot! Your damn teacher told me last week! Oh, will you be alright tomorrow?," Keishin realized the same thing Daichi had earlier, and it was starting to grate on her nerves.
"Huh? Take's a good driver, so it's fine," Kitsuna called back. She waved lazily behind her and started down the street, hoping to avoid the same treatment from her childhood friend.
"You won't be able to take a smoke break, probably," Suga whispered in her ear.
"Shit. You're right," Kitsuna realized suddenly. Daichi and the others looked at them suspiciously, and the captain was getting seriously suspicious of the pair's secrets.
"Care to share with the class?," Daichi smiled with his eyes closed. It looked like a normal face, but the pair in question felt beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
"I've got medicine and stuff, just in case. I'll make sure to pack it as soon as I get home so I don't forget," Kitsuna diverted the conversation with that and power walked down the street.
"Suga, we'll talk later," Daichi threatened his friend, then released him to catch up with her.
"It's like she's got dads everywhere," Hinata said before taking off with his bike. It was another tactless comment, but he seemed to have calmed down for now.