- Chapter 3 -

With the Golden Week just around the corner, the news of sports camps resonated amongst the students. Hinata, in particular, was obnoxiously enthusiastic, so much that he couldn't contain his body shakes. That brought a laugh to the club members, as well as multiple groans and eye-rolls.

Their lodging was located just across the hill; still within the walking distance from the school but away from the busy neighborhood. It was only a two-story house, enough to accommodate almost twenty people in total. Spacious kitchen and decent onsen room; it was considered homey.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Shut up, Hinata boke!

Shut up all of you! At least the club members were as annoying as they always be, Tsukishima couldn't help but to roll eyes every time.

Following the Spring Holiday, Karasuno Boys' volleyball team began practicing, especially with the news of a future match at the end of the week. They set a schedule for two sessions a day, morning session for technicality and late afternoon session for light comprehensive matches.

"Alright, session one is over. Go for a one-round jog around the town." Their new coach, Ukai-san, barked the order.

Changing into some trainers, The Crows began to march. Jogging around the hillside was a new experience for all of them. Instead of the school dusty circuit track around the field, greenery and farms followed their steps. Nosy children playing by the river, and waved at them when they passed by. It was, after all, a peaceful run.

Until it was ruined by none other than Hinata and Kageyama who suddenly felt it was necessary to race each other. And then he made a turn and disappeared behind corners.

"Hinata… he is something else." Sugawara sighed. "You guys can go ahead. He might have run back to the school already. But I'll go check along our path."

"Or he might have been lured by candies and got kidnapped."

"Tsukishima! You brat." Nishinoya yelled at the nonchalant boy.

Kageyama shrugged. "I don't think the Squirt is that smart enough to know the way home."

"Cut it out, all of you." Daichi shook his head. "Alright, Suga. We'll look for him on the way back."

The final few minutes turned into somewhat of a search and rescue mission. Not that Tsukishima contributed to it. He and Yamaguchi only strolled at the back of the group, minding their own business. Eventually the group got bored and decided to go back to school already, hoping that Sugawara had already found him.

Few minutes later, yes, Sugawara returned with Hinata.

And with them came another group of joggers.

"Suzuki!" Yamaguchi called her amongst the basketball athletes. "Suzuki, good to see you again!"

"Oh Yamaguchi. I didn't know you guys also do training during the holiday." Suzuki said, jogging up to him. "Hi Tsukishima."

Tsukishima nodded casually. He decided to ask. "So, you're having a camp too?"

"Well, not a camp. But we still have practice at school." She told them. "Hinata said you all stay for the full holiday week."

Yamaguchi spoke. "Yes we do. In fact, we're having a practice match against another school later on the last day. Nekoma, from Tokyo."

"Nekoma? Cats? Never heard of them."

"Honestly, me neither. But the coach said there's rivalry between Karasuno and Nekoma a couple of years back." Yamaguchi told her. "It'll be interesting. I can't wait to watch it."

"To watch? You're not playing?"

"Well uh, I don't think I'll be picked for the main team." Yamaguchi scratched the back of his neck. "Tsukki is. He is our lead blocker."

"Tch." He only responded, shaking his head. "You're talking too much, Yamaguchi."

"Ehe. But it's true."

"Hm, yeah? Then I might see the match and we'll see about that." Suzuki locked a stare at the blocker. "Even more so about that great spike."

This caught his attention fully, with him already looking up to meet eye and eye with Suzuki. Her brown eyes glistened with a challenge or interest. He let out a sly smirk. "So you should–"

"Ah Tao-chan~ I've been looking for you."

The smirk instantly turned upside down.

Came a very flirtatious voice of a boy, casually placing an arm around her shoulder. He was almost shorter than Suzuki, but merely an inch. His ego and the glittering grin was huge. For a moment, he reminded him of that Aoba Johsai's setter.

Tao-chan?

From the looks of it, she was comfortable with that.

"Who are these guys, cutie?"

"Shut up." Suzuki laughed and elbowed him on the rib. "These are Yamaguchi and Tsukishima, my classmates from Class 4."

"Err, nice to meet you." Yamaguchi said awkwardly, while Tsukishima just nodded, eyes were sharp. Cutie?

"Guys this is Tomoru." She introduced, placing an arm around his body. He automatically squinted his eyes harder at the intimate action. "My annoying stupid brother, member of the boys' basketball club. He is in the same class as your third-year, Asahi-san."

A surge of relief rushed through Tsukishima's blood and vein. He didn't realize he was holding his breath. Suddenly he felt the need to sit straighter.

"Azumane Asahi?" Tomoru nodded. "Yeah I know Asahi."

"Hai, nice to meet you." Yamaguchi bowed. "Uh, so the boys' and girls' team practice together, Tomoru-san?

"Yeah. Since there were not as many members as last year, we decided to share a schedule. Y'know, to bond the team." Tomoru said. "Maybe you guys are still interested in switching clubs. You guys got the height."

"Uh, Tomoru-san…"

"Don't try to steal members, ani."

"Yeah right right." Tomoru grinned and patted her shoulder. "Alright… Anyway, we're having lunch at a nearby shop just down the road. All of us, basketball and volleyball." He said to all of them. "Takeda-sensei's idea."

"Oh really? That's cool." She exclaimed. "Come guys let's eat!"

Following the arrival of the basketball teams, Takeda and Hiruzen, both teacher advisors for each team, came up with an idea to share a meal together in order to bond the athletes. It was a retreat anyway and additional company would not hurt. Their destination; Sakanoshita Restaurant just next to the store.

Can we get discount, Ukai-kun?

No, the coach sighed, sorry. Mother is very strict about price.

The restaurant looked small from the outside, but there was a full room for a big party reservation, enough to house all team members. Tsukishima found himself cramming between Yamaguchi and Sugawara, and in front of him; Suzuki cramming herself between Aoki and Tomoru.

Between the clumsiness of food grabbing and loudness of munching some katsu, Tsukishima discreetly ate; eyes sometimes darted to the girl as she prayed for the meal before digging in. He then caught Suzuki pinching some mushrooms and placed it into Tomoru's plate and in return she took some broccoli. Now that she had mentioned it, he started to see the resemblance between them. Shaggy brownish hair, deep set of brows; they had similar nose and mouth shapes. The distinct difference was her eyes were brown while his was a slightly dark blue.

For a moment there was a sense of shame, speaking of sibling life. He couldn't recall when Akiteru last came home. Had they ever shared food? Perhaps long ago.

"Ne, Tomo." Tsukishima heard his Captain call out the older boy. "Me, Suga and Asahi are going out tonight. Can you come?"

"Sure, what time?"

"Our practice usually ended around five. So I guess at seven, or maybe eight?"

Tomoru paused, to glance at his dear sister. A blink later, she nodded. "Yeah, I guess you can go."

He smirked, taking a bite out of the meat. "There you go. Can Kintaro and Jin come too?"

While the third-years went on talking about stuff, the rest of the first year just ate quietly. Tsukishima decided to glance at Suzuki. Their eyes met.

What's up, hm?

Hm, what's up?

Tsukishima was a very observant person. And he could've sworn he caught a blush spread across her chewing cheeks.

- Chapter 3 -

With the Golden Week just around the corner, the news of sports camps resonated amongst the students. Mirai was excited about that. That was until she learned that the basketball team did not get the budget for a week worth of stay at the hill and therefore the Spring Holiday was just another day of practicing at the school; minus the actual classes.

Other news also related to basketball, the boys' team finally came around. From what Suzuki learned from her brother, lack of interest slowly faded the club. There were days where the members were complete. And when the talents graduated, so did the number of people leaving. At one time there were only five members, the minimum of a team. And now their presence mostly relied on the activity of teaching the town's kids.

It was sad, knowing that Tomoru was a very skilled player and quite passionate as well. He was the one teaching her how to rebound, lay-ups, even three-pointers. He pulled her out of the misery of being called out as the tall girl, giraffe, cable pole, and so on - and actually put the good use of her unbelievable advantage.

Anyway, yes the boys' team joined their training. And another club too.

Ever since Hiruzen-sensei discovered that his 'rival' Takeda's volleyball team shared the same training hours, he became agitated to prove that the basketball team was indeed better, to which Takeda-sensei said: to win you choose your attitude, to lose you also choose your attitude - which brought to the attention of all the athletes.

So twelve members of the volleyball team against twelve members of the basketball team playing a game… of dodgeball.

What Suzuki didn't consider was that since the number of female players were more than the male, the team was mixed. She was one of them. "Are you sure about this, Sensei?" She heard Aoki complain. "This looks like a waste of time."

"Nonsense, Aoki-chan! Consider this a training for skill sets. A game of dodgeball required speed, reflexes, and quick-thinking."

"But this is not basketball." Mirai quipped, glancing at the more colorful squishy ball at hand. Playground ball. "Not at all."

"Another instance: adapt to an unsuspected situation."

Relax, Hia-chan," Tomoru reassured. "Treat it like the usual game."

"Whatever," Hiamura, the girls' team captain, rolled her eyes. "Let's just get this over with."

The basketball team had the first ball but unlike the volleyball team who was obviously excited (most of them), especially the Orange hair, it was obvious that Hiamura and her girls were not interested to the bone. The male members kinda helped maintain their control of the ball, but eventually some slip-ups and they were on the defense.

Suzuki tried to follow the ball when it passed down from person to person, but she couldn't keep up. She gave up the same moment a ball was aimed at her. A thud on her leg and a bark from the sensei.

"Suzuki you're out!" Suzuki shrugged and moved out of the court. "No, Suzuki, not the bench. You're still playing! To the outside line."

Rolling her eyes, she pivoted and lazily walked to the opposite side of the court and sat down on their bench. It was dreadful watching the match. Watching the girls running around hiding behind taller teammates. This game was beyond what they had anticipated for today's training; which should have ended at one. And now it was already almost three.

Alternatively, after all the whining female basketball members all had been outed, things started to get a little intense. There were only four players left from the basketball team. But then the fewer the people, the more space they could run and dodge around. The more people around the outside line to coop the opponents' movement. The game suddenly became serious.

"Tsukishima you're out." She heard their coach/the referee/cashier called out.

She watched the boy give a look of annoyance before walking forward. When he traced passed the bench, their eyes met, sharing a thought.

You won't do much back there, y'know.

Hm, good point.

Tsukishima instead sat down on the bench next to her. "This is pointless." He blurted.

"Agree to agree. I could've been at home by this late hour." She mused, eyes tracking the play ball. "We used to charge the opponent with the ball. Spike, Dribble, whatever. This game demands us to, well, dodge it. Weird isn't it?"

"You could say that. But it's still taxing either way." He briefly nodded. "Though, at least I lasted longer than you."

Suzuki rolled her eyes. "You are the quiet type yet you brag about stuff a lot, don't you?"

She saw his shoulder shrugged. "Cause I know I'm better than you."

"Ma, whatever, Tsukishima." She shook her head, laughing.

"I didn't know you had a sibling. Better yet, a brother in the same school."

"Uh huh. I'm a middle child of three actually. Tomoru the oldest and Takari, the youngest. He just entered Junior High." She told him. "And guess what, he is already almost 180cm tall."

"Oh?"

"Hai. I bet in high school he's taller than both of us."

"You all must have the genes of giants—" Now that he tohught about what he just said, he curtly lowered his speech. "Sorry."

Suzuki turned to him and quickly noted the sudden nervousness on him. She was aware his reason, but she shrugged nonchalantly, smirking. "Honestly my parents were not that tall. Mom was around 170. My Dad, during his prime-time was almost 180. I'm not sure where the giant's blood comes from. Maybe my grandfather. Maybe someone older." She told him.

He nodded along. "I have a brother too, already graduated from Karasuno a couple years ago. He is about the same height as you, I think."

"Maybe giant blood runs in your veins too. Was he on the volleyball team too?"

"Yeah, sort of." He replied quickly.

By the time the match was over, the Basketball team miraculously won with two second-years standing only in the middle of the court, after outed Kinoshita, their final opponent.

"That's a wrap." Suzuki said standing up, stretching her body as she did. "I hope."

"Tch, yeah."

Unfortunately for both of them, their coaches agreed for a few laps around the school track and after that, cleaning up on the court.

"Well that just sucks." Suzuki said to no one in particular.

"I really wish for a time where the coaches stop doing these pointless things." Tsukishima replied just as annoyed. "Hey, you must have your pack of gum with you, right?"

Hearing that she couldn't help but snort and reach out to the pocket of her shorts. "You shouldn't bother asking. Here."

"Thanks, Gum Girl."

Suzuki stopped the stretch on her arm and glared at Tsukishima who was already standing along, already snatching the candy pack. She couldn't maintain a straight face. A smile across her lips. "You're very welcome. Shoelace."

Tsukishima blinked at her, brows furrowed. It was until he looked down to see his shoelace was indeed loose. The corner of the mouth twitched. "Nice one." He sat back down to tie it. "Ja ne, Suzuki."

"Ne."

Suzuki watched as Shoelace walked to the volleyball team, catching up to Yamaguchi and the rest of the members to get ready for a jog. She made a turn of her own to get to the resting basketball team. She returned to Tomoru who was staring at her.

"What?"

He casually placed an arm around her shoulder. "So, what's up with the blonde boy?"

"What do you mean?"

"I dunno. What do you think? Look, he is staring at you again."

Suzuki's eyes bulged and her first instinct was to elbow him. "Stop it! What are you doing?!"

"Itai, Tao-chan. Are you blushing Taomi-chan? Do you know he has been trying to find you during training? In fact, since yesterday's practices." Tomoru grinned. "Tsukishima, isn't it? His name?"

She couldn't help but to groan loudly. "Uh huh. Now shut up and get going, Aniki. Or they leave us behind."

"If you say so." Tomoru instead just reached out and ruffled her hair lovingly. "My sister is all grown up. I am so proud."

"Unfortunately my brother is so childish. I'm so disappointed." She mocked, slapping his hands away.

"Ouch, Tao-chan."

The whole conversation, Tomoru watched the expression on her face. Perhaps a twitch of a brow or a slight tremble on the lips, or blared nose; all things considered of any reaction. What he got, however, was a straight face. Sometimes she was very hard to read.

What Tomoru didn't realize, Suzuki was chewing the inside of her cheeks the whole time, trying so hard not to smile.

- Chapter 3 -

The Point Guard dribbled the ball a couple of times, warming up the palm of her hands, standing just outside of the three-point line, looking up to the hoop across. She took a deep breath and shot. The ball bounced off the rim, but it was intentional; because Suzuki had already charged ahead past the blockade and dunk the ball while it was still in the air. That was what they were practicing; rebounding bailed shots and making it into a point.

Panting, Suzuki turned to her coach. "How was it, Sensei?"

"Much better. With this, however, you need to be reminded of where the opponents would move. You need to consider their position." Hiruzen-sensei said. "Let's try one more time. Mirai, shoot to the board instead. Make it harder to predict the ball… also, you guys might try to stop Suzuki instead of watching the ball. Watch out for any foul, though."

"Hai." The female basketball team said in unison and immediately set their position.

They did the same drill with Suzuki swirled past the opponents with addition that she hit the score with a standard underhead lay-up. Her body bumped into Aoki and they both fell and slid on the court.

"Gomen, gomen!"

"It's fine, Suzuki."

The female team had gathered around for a final brief. With the end of their training, so was the whole Holiday Week. Suzuki concluded this week had been very eventful to say the least. Lots of technical briefing and moveset training and a lot of cardio work; not to mention the occasional mini-game against the other team.

"Nice job everyone. Let's do some closing. Five rounds of dribble and shot. Then I'd say we'll wrap this up and with that the whole week. You guys have been amazing." Hiruzen-sensei told them. "Looks like the volleyball team has just come back. Now where's Takeda…"

The girls all lined up and began jogging with the ball around the outer line of the basketball court, reaching to the hoop they performed whatever comfortably to make a score. Taller girls like Suzuki and Aoki had gotten used to charging straight into the ring; therefore their best moveset was either lay-ups, bank shots, putbacks, and so on. For the outer-line players, like Mirai, whose job was to secure the ballplay, their best was a three-point shooter; which she was best at despite the lack of height compared to other teammates.

Going into the final fifth lap of the drill, Mirai and Suzuki spotted a group of volleyball players, appearing to just arrive at the gym ground.

"I kinda wish we had black tracksuits like that. They look cool, all of them." Mirai suddenly said out of the blue. "Did they just return from a match?"

"I think so." Suzuki recalled a past conversation. "Yeah, they did. Against some school from Tokyo. Oh, wait, you're from Tokyo too Mirai?"

"I was born there, but you know, my family kinda moves around. I barely know the city." She shrugged and went on dribbling. "Come on, Suzuki-chan. The team is finishing up."

Walking towards the club room was rather different, mostly because the volleyball team sort of crowded over the railing. With them above, Suzuki felt like a fish in a tank and those volleyball boys were kids ogling on them. "Hey! Catch this!"

Suzuki saw a drink bottle was thrown in her direction from above. Pursing her lips, she just stopped and stood as the bottle bounced off the dirt. "'Catch this'? Do I look like a dog to you, Hinata?"

"Eh! N-no, Suzuki. I mean. That's not what I meant—ouch!"

Yamaguchi and Kageyama snorted a laugh when Mirai threw the bottle back and it hit Hinata right in the forehead. "Nice kill." She heard Yamaguchi blurted out.

"So how was the match against the city boys?" Suzuki asked once she and her teammates had gotten to the second level.

To her surprise, Tsukishima countered her quickly. "Please don't say that. You sound like Tanaka just now."

"Eh?"

"But, we didn't win any set. Nekoma is really good." Yamaguchi told her, slightly frowning. "They are really a team."

"Any set? How many sets did you guys do?"

"Six."

"Six?" She gawked. "Six. That's like, three consecutive games won. You guys must be exhausted."

"Close to dying." Tsukishima grunted. "Blame Hinata for that."

Suzuki commented. "Wow, no wonder you all look like zombies or something."

"Yeah. I was somehow thankful I didn't get to play that long." Yamaguchi laughed. "You guys finished the practice too? Where's the boys' team?"

"They ended early. So only us girls this afternoon."

"Oh alright." Yamaguchi nodded. "Hey Suzuki, do you want to grab some snacks at the store?"

"Oh, sure—"

"Count me in!" Mirai suddenly exclaimed. "I'm starving and freshly made red-bean anpan sounds delicious!"

"Yeah, anpan sounds really nice. I hope it's not sold out yet." Hinata went along.

What initially was a group of three sharing the same street home, suddenly turned into a combination of two sports clubs, with the third-years, second-years, and first-years grouping up for their own conversations. Now that Suzuki had thought about it, the composition of their team was somewhat similar; with most of the second-years dominated the team; though their own main rosters still consisted of thirds and firsts in general.

"So the Inter-High season is coming." Aoki started. "You guys are competing right? When is it?"

"Of course!" Hinata exclaimed. "Of course we will."

"The prelims start at the beginning of June." Kageyama answered her instead.

"Still a month to go." Mirai mused. "Who are you facing first?"

The setter replied. "I am not sure. Takeda-sensei is in a meeting about that. Maybe next week we'll have the news. Do… Do you guys have such a match?"

"Of course!" the girl with the glasses bursted. "The Inter-high basketball tournament! And guess what? It's starting in two weeks."

"Two weeks? Already?" Yamaguchi was just as baffled as anyone else.

"Yep. They start the season early. Because, I think less school is participating this year. There are only less than twenty schools. So we're doing this weekly. Even the match schedule for all schools was already issued. And we will face Hakusuikan again." Aoki told them.

"Are you going to lose again?"

"Tsukishima! Don't say that! We're not going to lose again." Mirai huffed at the mock. "In fact, we will beat them this time."

Suzuki found the banter actually relaxing.

One by one they bid goodbye; Mirai stopped at her bus station, Kageyama and Aoki had crossed the street to different directions, and Hinata had already taken off with his bike.

"Do you know where Hinata lives?" Suzuki asked out of the blue.

"Oh he lives a bit far, on the hilly side of the town." Yamaguchi said. "He said it takes him about half an hour to ride up and down."

"Phew, such tiresome. No wonder he is so unusually energetic, like a ball of fire." She chuckled. "That's something I would never see myself doing."

He snorted in agreement. "Yeah. Looking at him is tiring already."

"You know, one month has passed since we started the school term." Suzuki suddenly said out loud. "Sometimes I wonder why time flies so fast. And with a blink, Inter-High has started."

Yamaguchi nodded. "Yeah, just soon enough you'll be competing against other schools. As in like an actual competition instead of practice matches. You are going to play, right? As the starting line up. Are you nervous, Suzuki?"

"I couldn't tell. I won't know until later, I guess. I mean, it's been some time since I participated in big events like this."

"In junior high school?"

"Yep. The last time I participated in a tournament was during the Junior Basketball Cup last December." She told them. "Did you know, my team went third in the preliminary round?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. We represented Miyagi Pref. But we got beat by a school from Toyama in the second round. Ma, what a fun day." Suzuki said, ending it with a soft smile. "Wait, what about you guys? How are you holding up to the matches? Anything interesting?"

"Well, I don't think I will play." Yamaguchi told them honestly. "Tsukki?"

Suzuki and Yamaguchi turned around to the blonde boy behind them, casually eating a curry bun. Tsukishima shrugged between the munching.

"I don't understand that." Suzuki blurted out. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Tsukishima pursed his lips. "I guess. I don't think much about the tournament really. We'll just have to see."

"Oh, okay."

"What Tsukki is saying… he is actually really looking forward to playing. After all, he has been practicing a lot of high blocks, spikes and receiving techniques." Yamaguchi laughed. "You sound just like Nekoma's setter. The same, less enthusiastic. But you're more of the pessimistic kind."

"Whatever Yamaguchi."

"Usually people who are less likely to want to fight often fight the hardest." Suzuki smirked. "I think he'll come around, Yamaguchi."

Suzuki heard a laugh from Yamaguchi and a subtle "tch" from Tsukishima. Smiling, she glanced back and their eyes met.

Right, Tsukishima?

Yeah, whatever - though he didn't smile, there was a different shine in his golden eyes.