TIME TO FLY HIGHER

CHAPTER TWO:

JOIN THE CLUB…

"Keira!" A few members from her old middle school volleyball team approached the girl, sitting along the gym floors, stretching her heart out with her legs crossed and her arms pushing them down. One would throw a Mikasa volleyball towards Keke.

"Wanna practice some spikes? I love how you perform your sets!" One teammate asked.

"Totally!" Keira with a big smile on her face, leaped into the air and ran after her teammates, laughing. They all giggled amongst themselves with their setter as they began their practice.

Keira was ready to perform her overhead serve. She was very articulate about her serves and wanted to be as precise as possible. She was attentive, she saw a perfect spot for the ball to land. She wanted to land that ball right behind one of the member's feet.

Once she performed her quick serve, the girls were astonished. "WOAH!" They all shouted.

Keira's attack serves were fast and smooth. No one would have expected the ball to go that quick.

"KEKE IS SO COOLLL!"

Keira smirked before continuing on with their practices…

…

"HINATA, YOU IDIOT! YOUR DUMBASS WAS SUPPOSED TO RUN FROM BEHIND ME!"

As Keira and Yachi stepped in and witnessed the chao, freak duo arguing amongst each other. The same boy from earlier today was a lot more aggressive than his initial debut. He snarled over at a boy with ginger orange, curly hair. He was a lot shorter too compared to the latter.

In fact, a lot of interesting people around Keira as she made her approach. It was getting a little spooky while the boys pulled their attention over her way.

Keke stiffened up, she didn't appreciate everyone looking at her but she managed to stand tall and remained silent until she was ready to be spoken to.

Coach Ukai would stand before the two girls. It seemed that the blonde guy knew that she was going to be attending and made the boys stop their practice for the introduction. "Alright boys, line up!"

"YES SIR!"

All the boys stood in a line, Keira went to hold her breath for a moment. She didn't know what to expect. She is far different from everyone in this room due to her well- appearance but even then, their height is insane. Yachi, who was also a little startled by all this, yelped once she was called to speak up.

"UH right! I bought in a new potential member of our team!" Yachi would move to the side to give everyone a view of their new probable member.

This is where it's Keke's turn to speak. "Oh uh!" She began, "My name is Keira Kazamaki. A pleasure to be here with you all." She would take a bow before the members .

Then they would yell out "WELCOME!" as they bowed as well. Keira flinches. This was far different from a girl volleyball team, that's for sure!

Some of the boys were amused, intrigued and indifferent about this experience. A certain orange haired boy as he was always excited for anything.

"OH! I'm Shoyo Hinata! Welcome!" Now Keira was slowly coming up from behind Yachi as the boy was much more lively and kind hearted than the others. She nodded before going back to her position as she stood behind the volleyball manager.

Then the same raven haired boy from lunch walked up and Keira ended up looking above. His height was something. "I hope that annoying orange kid didn't scare you. My name is Tobio Kageya-"

"Kageyama, you're the one scaring her! Don't be so loud-"

"SHUT UP YOU JACKASS! YOU WERE JUST AS LOUD-"

The boys started verbally sparring at each other and Keira would quickly back away. Then another teammate stood before them.

"Can you both be quiet? The worst first impressions ever would usually come from you both." A blonde boy with glasses would come around as he was crossing his arms and shaking his head.

Keira then examined him. He exceeds the description of what Kimiko meant from earlier: tall/lofty stature, blonde, curly hair… Glasses? Goggles? Close enough!

That gotta be him. To Keira, however, he gives off a vibe that he would definitely ignore or not even give Kimi the time of day. He looks…grumpy looking. Kimiko has an interesting taste in boys.

Once they finished all their introductions, Keira would end up next to Yachi and the boys would start their drills. One of them would be practicing their serves.

An average height, stubby, young man with a green jacket and glasses stands before them as he explains to Keira about what managers are here for.

"Uh so Kazamaki! It is a pleasure for you to join us. The name's Ittetsu Takeda, the volleyball club assistant coach and coordinator. Also the English teacher as well for the first years. We have been working on finding more players and managers since our previous alumnus have all graduated. So far, we are doing very well. I am happy that you can be one of them!" He would give Keira a handshake and proceed to continue his introduction.

She would bow to her sensei before she starts looking back at the boys, slowly zoning Takeda out. She understood every technique they were doing. Though this is the boys' volleyball club and they have different routines here compared to the girls, still it was certainly a flash from the past.

One of the members, it would indeed be Kageyama, would do a very powerful overheard serve that had so much impact and drive. This astonished Keira! She used to do something like that when she was in middle school.

It wasn't as powerful as her fellow peer but even then, it was that goddamn good. Nearly perfect! That almost made Keira go inward and think about the last time she did a powerful serve like that…

The junior high spring tournament…

Keira's face gets mortified by the thought of that day, triggering her face to shrivel but the timing was terrible as it seemed like she was disgusted by Kageyama's serve and the unfortunate guy saw that expression and was bothered by Keke's appearance.

"I-uh..are you okay?" Tobio expressed his concern but Keira was already turned around, quickly.

Keke covered her face, feeling humiliated. It was not her intention to make that face at him. Tobio felt a bit jaded before walking away, back to the net with the rest of his team. Takeda would look back at Kageyama and then back at Kazamaki before continuing on.

Moments after the assistant coach finished talking with the two girls, they were back on the sidelines. Yachi saw that Keira was acting a little distant and wasn't looking like she was having a good time at all. She wanted her to feel welcomed.

"So uhm- how are you liking our volleyball club so far?" Yachi aired towards Keke, faintly smiling as she gave a sense of reassurance to her schoolmate.

Keira would look over at Hitoka before she mentioned briefly, "Oh, it's okay. I guess."

"You know, us volleyball managers are like the helpers/providers for the players and coaches so everything goes smoothly for practices, practice matches and upcoming tournaments. They need more of us than we need them."

"Mm.."

Wished that the new girl was a lot more cheerful to the volleyball manager herself but it was close enough, for now.

Then practice will soon subside as the boys surround the volleyball managers and coaches to do their debrief as they begin their new season of their school year. Once that was done, the club started packing up and finishing up for the day.

As soon as practice ended, the boys had started cleaning the gym. Yachi and Keira were assigned to throw some of the volleyballs back in the bins. Keira was too far to just walk over to the bins, her legs were starting to ache. So she did what she thought was just simple underhand serves into the basket. They landed swiftly and started to give notice to the volleyball boys.

Hinata instantly walked over to Keira who indeed shrieked at Shoyo's quick appearance.

"Your serves! It looks like you are well aware of volleyball, huh!" He gasped, his hand going in the air with excitement from just a few simple hand throws to Keke.

Then another one of their members would come up and join in on Hinata's antics. A short boy with raven black hair and a blonde strand highlighted in the front, the libero Nishinoya would walk up and smile!

"Your serves remind me of my rolling thunder!"

"Imbeciles…" Tsukishima would be right behind them, distasteful by their behaviors. He can tell the new girl was freaked out.

"Tsukki… do you think the new manager is going to like us?" Another one of their members, Yamaguchi ended up looking worried as he saw the new girl was not that open to the extraverted individuals from afar.

"Don't know. Don't care. Are we finished here? I'm ready to go…"

This was Keke's opportunity to talk to Kei but she ended up staying back to try to explain to the two that she never played volleyball in her life. Ever! It indeed worked but then it led to more attraction.

"Even if she did, as if the new girl is going to give you guys lessons…" Kageyama would approach the two short boys as they glared over at their setter.

"Well as if KAZAMAKI is going to give you any attention either!"

"WHAT?!" And now Hinata and Kageyama are having yet another yelling match. Some of the upperclassmen had to try to calm the boys down, but failed miserably.

Keira was feeling her body tense up from the overstimulation surrounding her. She felt a weird heating sensation coming from her stomach and she wasn't not liking it. She's just trying to get home! She showed up, cleaned up and did what she could. What more do they want?

By saving grace, eventually, Kimiko popped her head from inside the gym door and this was her exit route. Keira ran past the boys and removed her indoor shoes and she was outta there, leaving Nishinoya, Hinata and Kageyama bewildered.

The girls were walking home as they usually do once school was over. Keira would sometimes stay back at school to study and just watch for Kimiko with her club and once it was finished, they walk home together.

"SO! How was practice~?" Kimi would be leaning towards Keira, her eyes filled with amusement, waiting for her friend to exclaim how fun it was.

"I… never felt so much overstimulation in my life." Keira vocalized as her face was still looking discomforted from earlier.

Kimiko was surely let down by this response but she still had something else to ask her but she wanted Keira to express her concerns first.

"Besides me, how was your student council club?"

Or…not.

Kimi rolled her eyes before speeding up and turning to Keira which had her stop in her tracks.

"It. was. AMAZING! I do have a fun announcement!" Keira would lean in, she was now locked into what she had to say.

"There's going to be an election soon for this years' School's Festival Committee…and…"

Keke leans in even closer.

"I'm running for president!"

"Amazing day indeed!" Keira clapped at her dear friend and was surely proud. She had a very small smile started forming. "I really hope you become prez. If you need my help in any way… let me know, seriously!"

"Sure thing!" A quick pause.

"...Speaking of help…" Kimiko began to snicker. "Did you do it?"

Keira blinked at her, confuzzled by that response. She was truly lost from that moment. Kimi looked at Keira with an arched eyebrow. "The task I told you to do earlier?!"

Keira had to process what she just said and her eyes grew large.

"GODDAMIT!"

Astonished by Keira's random yet vigorously loud outburst, Kimi shakes her head with a small giggle. Keira thought it was over, she thought her friend was no longer as she didn't keep her promise. She felt the similar feeling of burdenness and despair form within her and she started shutting down.

Kimiko saw Keke looking sickly and wanted to reassure her everything was fine. "Girl, don't worry about it!" She says, "Besides, it's not the end of the world. There's clubs again tomorrow."

"Wait, I have to go again tomorrow?!" Not another nightmare of the hyperactive, possibly neurodivergent volleyball boys the next day.

"I mean… I'll be single forever if I never know if Kei really-"

"Girl.. no. Don't try to guilt trip me. I'm not dealing with those boys again."

"Eughgh! Keke, you need to open up!"

"I was! And I don't want to join that volleyball club, and that's it!" And with that, Keira would stomp away, leaving Kimiko behind. "See you at school tomorrow!" She shouts, steadily walking off towards her street.

Her friend looked stunned by this behavior before slowly walking away.

"Well okay then.." Kimi would murmured as she walked down her own street as well. Keira did feel a sense of dread for lashing out at Kimi but she just couldn't. But if she doesn't want to, why does she still feel the disappointment casing over her still?

LATER THAT NIGHT

Akio Miyauchi was walking upstairs towards Keira's bedroom, he first knocked on the door to give notice before entering.

"Hey pap." Keira looked up towards the brunette haired and bearded gentleman. Akio had a very genuine and soft grin as he was witnessing a very hardworking young lady like his daughter-in-law.

"It looks like you are taking school very seriously. You got home later than usual!" He mentioned making Keke pause her routine.

After a brief moment of calmness. Keira jolted it up and looked over at her father. "You know dad, I've been looking into clubs and found out about my school's volleyball team."

Akio appeared intrigued. He sat down on the ledge of Keira's bed and listened to her talk.

"And they need a manager so I-"

"Akio!"

A taller, dark skinned, older woman would stand before the doorway of the bedroom. Keira's mother Regina Miyauchi was waiting for her husband to greet after her long day of work in the city of Sendai.

"Ah darling, you're home!" Akio greeted, getting up to embrace his wife. And on that note, Keke remained silent as she continued on doing her Japanese history homework.

Moments later, Akio and Regina would be downstairs, inside the kitchen. Ms. Miyauchi appeared exhausted, sluggish and very much astonished. Akio is usually the one to provide support to Reggie but she is also hyper-independent and somewhat standoffish with his huge amount of affection.

Akio tried to embrace Regina one more time but she ended up shoo-ing him off as she grabbed her briefcase. The husband didn't show that much phased by the action but he was surely hurt. Without making this situation anymore awkward, Akio would try to spark conversation.

"So uh how was work?"

"Tough but another day, another dollar. Recently, the previous vice-president of the marketing department, stepped down. I am planning on getting to run for that position soon!" Akio was enlightened by the news!

"That's amazing honey!"

"Not yet! This is only the beginning so I need utter focus for the next few weeks."

Akio was very happy about his wife, focusing on her work but a feeling of melancholy would consume him. He wants to spend quality family time with everyone but it seems like Regina is too busy. Speaking of being busy. He wanted to advocate for Keira, as she found a new spark of interest in volleyball again. This may backfire in his face but he really wants her mother to see that Keira is healing!

"Speaking up, focusing and working. You know, our daughter is starting to spend a lot more time in school."

"Hmm…" Regina's expression was quite indifferent while she grabbed her work laptop but proceeded to listen.

"And she got back into a club that involved volleybal-"

"Absolutely not." Regina's appearance changed and it wasn't a very positive one.

Akio tried to reassure her about it not being a big deal but he was far too late. Regina would be marching up the stairs to go confront Keira. She was still studying, in her room. Her mother's arms were crossed and her face squinted at her daughter, she was not having it.

"So you care to explain what your father just told me?" Regina retorted. Keira was silent, frozen in place. She didn't consent to Akio speaking about this but she wasn't surprised about it either.

"Momma, listen. It wasn't for me, I was helping a friend out- I thought it was okay and I'm not going to attend another one."

"Good! Remember the last time you did that boyish, monstrous sport? You are not allowed to attend any club until I see you have good grades and a goddamn job!"

"MOM-"

"Excuse me? I hope you are NOT raising that voice at me, missy.." Regina initiated a glare Keira's way as she would shut down emotionally. Regina gave a nod before storming out the room, passing Akio and back downstairs.

A brief moment of silence in the house before 7 year old Camilla, Keke's little sister, runs out from the bathroom, her face, arms and legs covered in colorful paint. Mortified Regina and Reluctant Akio as he didn't even know what happened to Camilla for the past hour… just watched the little one with her goofy little grin.

"Momma, Dadda! I tried to make a bathbomb but the tub is filled with rainbow colors!"

"CAMILLA!" The two would shout in unison before running off to the bathroom and did the basic parenting stuff.

Meanwhile upstairs, Keira would've thrown her history book across the room, smacked against the wall, that heated sensation in her stomach has twirled around again and Keke tries to calm down. The pit of anger started to formulate once again and she did not want to have a meltdown in front of her family. She started pacing back and forth throughout her bedroom.

Calm down! Just relax! It's no big deal! It's fine! You don't even wanna attend volleyball practice anyways… you're not needed there. No one wants you… Just breathe.

Eventually Keira was at peace once again, her stomach was back to normal and her heartbeat was steady. She now had her window opened, the view overseeing the mountain's terrain, tinted by the dark blue sky and the stars glittering above it all.

She would just look out, she sat down, gazing out. The view was beautiful, it even inspired her. For once, she looked over at her easel which was covered by her old Osaka Sendai Junior High school volleyball jacket, hanging right off it. She threw that to the side and pulled out her watercolor paints.

It's been a while since she had ever painted or did any sort of artwork. As long as her time when she was inside her art club even before volleyball in junior high. Her mother complained about how that club was distracting her from her schoolwork, even though she was very much getting decent grades around that time.

Keira's art style is mediocre as hell. Just like her other skills. Being mundane and living the average life was okay with her, right? It would be something her mother would've wanted.

Right…?

"UGHHHHHH THIS IS BORING!" Hinata would be laying on his back along the floor with an opened English book covering his face.

Shoyo's countless whining made his surrounding friends: Kageyama and Tsukishima cringe and Yamaguchi and Yachi despondent.

The boys were finalizing their study session inside Tsukishima's bedroom as the dusk hours concluded and night began to fall.

"I guess we're done with studying?" Yamaguchi stated as he closed his book. Kageyama nodded as he was lowkey getting bored as well. Tsukishima pushed up his glasses as he sat down on the floor, crossing his arms, impatiently waiting for Hinata to stop moaning.

"Bruh! We're done, you can stop complaining now-" Tsukishima grunted while watching his orange haired teammate decay. Hinata eventually stopped acting up and sat up from his fetal position.

"FINALLY! I can go back home and go on my 3DS and play Mario Kart with Kenma-senpai!"

"You two still play that childish game?" Kageyama teased, smirking down at him.

"Well I don't see you playing any games… Do you even own a 3DS? Playstation 3? Xbox?"

Tsukishima chimes in. "I doubt he even has any type of console game in his room. Probably documentaries about volleyball and food."

The three start having a trio verbal squall while Yachi would be in her head, looking down at her backpack, packing her things. She was quite reserved, more quiet than usual and Tadashi was the only person so far who had noticed.

"Yacchan.. Is everything okay?" Tadashi tapped her shoulders. A loud yelp from Hitoka that caused all the boys to pause in their interactions and made sure the poor girl was okay.

"OH! Uh sorry! I didn't mean to alarm you guys! Yes, everything is fine.." Yachi was not fine. She was still worried about Keira. The new manager wasn't at all pleased by this practice.

She felt the boys gave a really bad impression on the team and she was having a hard time telling the boys that without them all would feel some type of way. But this is more than just a 'just volleyball club' but I truly wanted Kazamaki to feel accepted.

"Actually…" Yachi spoke, her face tense and bothered. "I was thinking about today's practice and how our possible new manager was feeling throughout the occasion. I don't think she likes us."

"Kazamaki?" Tadashi and Hinata said in unison as they both looked at each other before back at Hitoka. Kageyama was a little peeved as it brought back up Keira's expression towards him from earlier. Tsukishima looked impassive about the whole situation but the same person is also friends with a girl that would go lovey-dovey on him and made him look unnerved as well.

Now everyone looked unhappy. That's when Yachi would look up at everyone and now she is determined to make sure Karasuno Volleyball doesn't fall back to their old ways. She wanted more people to embrace what this club has to offer. Players, managers, and staff alike!

"We gotta do better with our club guys. We want more people to like us more and embrace this club." The seriousness and sincerity in Yachi's voice made the boys shake at first but then Yamaguchi seemed admired and nodded, also glimpsed over at the three as well.

"Yachi is right. We gotta give off the best version of ourselves, on and off the court!"

"So we gotta act all poised for the newcomers or something?" Tsukishima grumbled as he didn't seem all that inspired. Tadashi glared at him and made Kei become a bit foolish.

"Well we gotta give off the best impression for Kazamaki when she returns to us tomorrow!"

"If- she returns to us tomorrow.." Kageyama, somewhat being the reasonable person for once. Hinata snarled at the raven haired boy but then Yachi would respond with assured confidence.

"She is. But we need to do our part too."

Kageyama went hushed as Hinata smirked back to his defeat. Tobio was not going to argue with this orange kid anymore tonight for his own good.

As the crew exited from Tsukishima's humble abode, the gang would plan to do something more formal to help their new potential member to feel more at home and further attract more newcomers to their club if they want to keep their reputation in the sport alive for the next generation to come!

"The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly."

- Friedrich Nietzsche

TO BE CONTINUED

...

**Author's Note: A bit of a longer chapter! Is
Keke going to rebel against her controlling
mother's demands and become a manager?
Will Karasuno VB boys get their ish together?
Stay tuned... I hope you all enjoyed!
More chapters coming soon!