TIME TO FLY HIGHER
CHAPTER THREE:
CHIPPED WINGS
"Kazamaki… you know you can always come to us for help. You don't have to be the setter and do everything all by yourself you know?"
One of the teammates said to 12 year old Keira as she was setting up the net for practice. Yet the girl's body language didn't match her tone.
Then the girl would "accidentally" kick over the basket of volleyballs on the ground as she smirked over at her.
"Oops…" The girl crackled. And then she ended up walking away, leaving Keira to pick up the mess her so-called teammate made.
"Seems like you have to pick that up on your own too.." Then the girl walked away.
There's always snakes within a beautiful garden. Sometimes…it's lonely.
Eventually it will be made to make you stronger and the right people will come in and support you…
07:45
"I'm here!" Hinata was running to the front of the schoolyard, very out of breath when he got there. He was about to play paddle ball with Kageyama, and his upperclassmen Nishinoya and Tanaka.
These four have developed this routine for their neurodivergent selves because it is considered their work-life balance. But most of the time, it's to compete. For Kageyama and Hinata especially.
"Took you long enough!" Tanaka teased as he was already playing the game with the two other fellow schoolmates.
"Yeah, class starts in less than an hour, you might as well just stay and watch.." Tobio added on as he looked at his friend with disapproval.
"Hell no! So can you beat me? As if!" Shoyo was given an extra paddle from Nishinoya then hyped them up.
"Well come on then and play!"
Keira was walking past them as she was already heading into the schoolyard about to put up her converse and was about to put on her school shoes once she made it to the school entrance.
The boys would see her, Tanaka and Nishinoya were already running towards her and went in a bit too aggressively and ended up bumping into each other, in front of the new girl.
"OW!" They cried in unison as they collapsed onto the ground. This indeed startled Kazamaki but then she quickly turned around, she didn't want to grab any attention towards her. It was kinda too late now as Hinata and Kageyama were running towards them as well, making sure their senpais were okay.
Why are they always trying to come and bother me? I'm not interested in their club..
Then their captain of the volleyball team, Ennoshita and the rest of the upperclassmen as well as teammates on the volleyball team, Kinoshita and Narita were tagging along.
"Boys really? You two especially…" Ennoshita daggered his stare towards Tanaka and Nishinoya, the biggest troublemakers to him.
"We were just trying to say hi to the new manager.."
"I'm not the new manager." Keira says sternly, taking the boys aback.
"I never agreed to be one…"
Even though Ennoshita was also surprised by this sudden response from her, he wanted everyone to respect Keke's wishes. After a brief moment of silence, she walked away. Nishinoya and Hinata were already well ready to chase after her.
"She's right." He was being a rational person as the captain stood before his peers. "She never agreed to be a manager, she only attended one session…?"
They all knew the truth was right there. But out of all the boys that took it in, Shoyo, who listened to Yachi, wanted to make a good impression on Keira. Just because he wants everyone to like volleyball; to feel included.
And with that, they all finished their paddle game and walked into the building…
As Kazamaki was walking down the hallway, Kimiko was seen from afar. She was…cooing over Tsukishima, who was also from afar, talking to one of his classmates.
Again? She's really in love with him, huh? I don't know what she sees in that guy.
Keira would shake her head before she tapped on her friend's shoulder to snap her out of her daze.
An "Eep!" was heard from Kimi before she pulled her classmate to a corner to hide.
"GIRL!" Kimiko was flustered out of her mind. Keke just stared at her, contrasting her chaotic friend with the calmness she had on her face.
"Yes?" Keira crossed her arms, waiting for a response. "Don't give out the excuse again of 'just observing because I am a class president'!"
"Ugh! Okay, maybe I was observing Kei more than my own liking…"
"Right…" She started walking from the corner before being thrown back to the corner once again by Kimiko.
"Wait-" Still flustered, she pulled Keira towards her, still in hiding.
Kimiko being the leader that she is, still struggles with her own feelings. The only times she is confident in herself is when she is doing what she loves, which is being in the spotlight in some way.
Ironic, isn't it?
This is where Kimiko needed help…again. She turned to Keira, a bit frazzled.
"Look look look! I know this is my second time asking you this. It's just…you know the volleyball boys very well and-"
"I told you yesterday Kimi…I'm not going back…" Keke was stern this time around. She stood her ground against her desperate, love-sick bestie.
Kimiko couldn't do much after it and sighed. She knew her friend was going to be as stubborn as a bull.
She hated that her friend was still not open to trying new things due to past issues, but she wished that she was as open and as fond of hobbies as she was.
Then walking past them were Tobio and Shoyo who were bickering about whatever the hell, amongst each other.
Kimiko was looking from the corner, curious as to what's happening which eventually made Keira to peep as well.
Kei rolled his eyes as the two boys were coming towards them. He simply was about to head to his homeroom before these two loud-mouths were ready to annoy him yet again.
"Oh great…it's the two stooges…" Tsukishima poked towards them. Kageyama looked at Tsukishima with agitation by his words while Hinata went in and expressed his emotions towards the blonde.
"Whatever Tsukishima! You know you like being around us!"
"Yeah…sure…"
"I need to ask you something anyways! Tobio already agreed to the idea!" Hinata says but Tobio's expression from that response, disapproving of his accusation and delusions.
"Dude, I never even agreed to anything…"
"Ugh Kageyama! It's about the new manager."
"She's a manager now?" Kei was taken aback by Shoyo a bit. But this also made Keira raise an eyebrow during their conversation. They are still trying to get her to join.
Really? Again with this..?
"Well-uh no she isn't.."
Exactly.
"Well if she isn't going to be a manager, she is not going to be a manager… besides… you're taking Hitoka's comment too seriously. She was saying it in general-"
"Shhh!" Hinata's and Tsukishima's back and forth was heard from afar. Kimiko was in awe and enamored by her crush from afar; not focused on the bickering, Kazamaki was just uncomfortable.
Why does he care so much? What's this boy's deal?
But then, Keira perked up a bit. She wasn't prepared for what Hinata was about to say.
"Even then, who wouldn't want to join such a wonderful sport..? Besides…she could be one of us you know? She seems nice." Shoyo was flushed a bit, he was surely determined to have her in this club.
Kei scoffs at this ginger boy's optimistic attitude that almost always pisses him off. Kageyama, on the contrary, wasn't going to admit that he agrees with him now, but even if he denies any decisions made by Hinata; he only agrees that volleyball is indeed a wonderful sport.
Even Kimiko was out of her daze with her crush and was focused on Hinata. She blinked at his comment and then looked back over at her. Keira's demeanor changed. She looked…bushed about everything.
She's not the only one to push her dear dismissive friend!
Then, the first school bell rang to inform all students to head to homeroom. Once the boys ended their convo, they dispersed and most of the student body was gone, Kimiko would walk quickly with her melanin friend to class. Keira would slow down a bit; losing track of her steps. She was overthinking about everything that happened.
But momentarily, she ended up getting bumped into by another student; slightly taller than average woman with curly messy strawberry blonde hair.
"Excuse me… sorry-" Keira ended up running past, interrupting that student's flow as she didn't even face the girl's direction.
"Agh..."
A slight snarl from the tall girl at her without acknowledgement. She simply glared over for a moment then exiting the scene, with a distasteful look in her eyes. Keke was slightly unnerved by her facial expression.
But the way she looked, it seemed familiar…?
This was all a misunderstanding, or maybe she is just having a bad day..
"Move it!" She growled. Kimiko was about to say something but the angry girl was already stomping her way to class.
Nothing was said from Keira. She simply…watched and had no choice but to go the other way! She ran to her homeroom to continue off the day.
Hopefully Keira won't encounter another situation like that again.
LUNCHTIME…
And so school began and once it was lunchtime, Keke forgot her bento box yet again and was already on her way towards the vending machines, outside.
Ugh, I am going to be so unhealthy by the end of this school year, I swear.
Then a tall figure approaches her. He would aggressively tap onto the buttons within the machine beside her. Keira recognized him as well.
"It seems you brought your money." Kageyama would stand before her as his appearance was a lot less enthusiastic as the latter of Shoyo.
She took a huge step back away from the guy, she wasn't as talkative prior to her contact with his peer earlier. She nodded slowly before grabbing her things from the vending machine and speeding off.
With Kageyama instantly irritated, he proceeded to grab his milk. He didn't know what the hell was her problem with him, well-he had an idea but he didn't want to ponder over it. Not even a thank you from yesterday…
"Tsk.." Is all he left muttering out of his lips with the straw engaged between it, before walking back to his homeroom.
Once it was almost time for class, Yachi would be walking alongside a classmate before she headed over to her when they saw each other from afar.
Standoffish, Keira slowly loosened up when Hitoka spoke about her lunch. Keira sighs.
"Uhm, lunch was good. I forgot my bento though.."
"OH! You could've come to my homeroom! I-If you wanted to! I would've given you some of my lunch."
This was one of the first times someone offered her anything. Surely, Keira is comfortable to take food from Kimiko's lunch without her having issues with it; at least that is what the situation came across from her as.
But she wasn't expecting an acquainted classmate to offer her something like that…well…besides being offered a volleyball management position; which is not on Keke's menu.
"But uh…" Hitoka goes hesitant as she did not want to give the girl any more trouble. She is catching on that Keira simply doesn't want to be a part of her club and she shouldn't force her to.
"Uhm, I'm sorry for yesterday…I simply thought we needed another addition to the team as our club has changed recently and needed the help. It was on me for being so forceful towards you…"
Keira felt a sense of shame and rightfully so. Things were clicking into her brain about everything, Hinata's advocating for her to join, Yachi's kind nature and simple offering…
But the only thing that was holding her back was her mother's strict demand of no association to that sport and-
…
Everytime time Kazamaki thinks of volleyball or a club that intertwines with that sport, she clams up.
She almost says yes, but..she takes a step back from Yachi.
"I…appreciate the offer but…" she was about to say no but Hitoka's hazel golden eyes were softened, slowly evolving Keira's heart.
"...but I need to go to one more practice before I make a decision."
Her expressions became hopeful then held Keira's hand with a cheerful grin!
"O-okay! We can go together, if you want to!"
"I'll…meet you by the gym entrance, we'll go in..together..."
And with that, Yachi nods with that same smile and walks away, a bit of a hop in her step. Kazamaki looked back, she was glad to make someone happy, the first time in a while. She was still scared to move forward with this, despite everything coming ahead...
And how will her mother think if she finds out that she is moving forward with this?
DISMISSAL
It was almost the end of the day, Keira's homeroom was cleaning up the floors and desks before dismissal. The only thing that's been on her mind throughout the rest of the school day, was Kimiko. She has been helping her out in regards to getting me to attend this club and be out of her hair since the beginning with her initial favor.
She feels like she hasn't been a good friend to her at all. Just…in the way…so instead of Kazamaki talking about how she feels or at least…apologizing, she simply avoids Kimiko until she is ready.
What a great way to be a better friend!
Keira would zone out, sweeping the floors. The world around would simply fade away. Then eventually a finger poked her out of her dissociation and a small yelp came out Keke's mouth!
It was Kimiko. A straight standoff was held one sided as she stood straight up and was stiffed by her friend's abrupt appearance.
"Uh hi girl!" Kimiko says with a reassuring smile. She didn't look upset at her at all, but Keira simply took a step back, her mind starting to race.
"Uh..I have to go!" With that, she ran from the scene once dismissal came around, she scurried away from her dirty blonde friend, leaving her confused and slightly jaded.
16:50PM…
It was time for volleyball practice! Yet again, another day with the loudest jocks on the court! Mostly the fellow second years and the senpais at least.
Kazamaki would be with Yachi about to go to the dressing rooms near the club areas to put on their gym uniforms, it will be awhile or at all for her to wear the club uniform.
Hmmph, their club uniforms look like bird wings…or they are attending a funeral…or a murder case?
Then the silence subsided quickly when Hitoka ended up starting a conversation with her; just to keep the hype up. In her own erratic, socially anxious way.
"So uhm- if you want to learn more about uh routines for us managers, just uh let me know! Or if you just wanna observe everything in silence, that too!"
Keira would nod once she had her gym uniform on and put her school shoes away. She looked over at everything that the team has in this room stored, some from the past, artifacts, new things, old things. All just stored…here!
Lowkey was intrigued by everything, from their supplies, artifacts like their older used volleyballs from prior to this team transitions, even the designs of their uniform. It also read in kanji their high school name and a small banner inside their room that had the said quote: "To Fly" on it as well. Keira examined the wording before getting another flashback.
"You're incapable of flying…you're broken. YOU cost us our win! Because of your reckless, impulsive behavior!"-
"HINATAAA! MOVE YOUR ASS!"
She snapped back to reality a bit at the loud noises, from the schoolyard as she was removing her outdoor shoes with the white gym shoes since she is still not part of the club.
They would see Hinata and Kageyama competing yet again down towards the gym entrance. Yachi sighed before walking down the steps alongside Yamaguchi and Kimiko's "beloved".
Eventually the third years, Tanaka and Nishinoya-senpai were already instigating the Kagehina brotherly bickering before seeing that Keira was heading into the gym with them.
"Hinata are you going to take Kageyama's backhanded insults, be a man and fight back-uh-GUYS STOP FIGHTING WE HAVE A GUEST!" Iconic Tanaka switching it up because a girl is around…or Ennoshita being presented.
Keira blinked at the boys before Shoyo who quickly got himself together and removed his arm from Tobio's neck; damn near choking the guy.
Kageyama just stood there, still jaded by her; having a very intense poker face. Then Hitoka would 'try' to protect her by guiding her towards the door and finally into the gym.
Then the boys were put into gear once the captain, Ennoshita, entered the scene.
It was then time for practice, first the boys had to do their warm-ups for today. She would observe them intently.
They started off with high-knee hugs, then gradual hugs, then the sumo squats, quad stretch, and finally hands toe touch. Each of them had to do it on 10 counts.
While Keira was watching, a gesture from Hitoka with her hand, flopping it slightly to get her attention. She was kneeling towards the 12 counts of assigned yellow water bottles on the ground.
"Uh…" Kazamaki was confused. Is this what managers had to do during practice, EVERYDAY? Just being servants to the jocks at hand? She can remember back in junior high, she had no manager, just them doing girlboss things and serving the water themselves during practice everyday or when she did ballet, they were offered by their assistants, instructors or teachers.
"Oh!..." Keira says after having that realization.
"We simply help with behind the scenes… this isn't all that we do though." Keira would nod as she was still new to this compared to the boys. She proceeded to listen, despite 24 hours before, she would have not been willing to do this with the oversensory.
Yachi then gave her a small bag to carry half of the pack of bottles.
"Oh yeah uh we also need to grab clean towels as well!" Keke nods again, more attentive. She simply ran out with Yachi, being guided to the water fountain near the west wing of the gymnasium outside, to fill up all the waters.
Once that was done, Keke was quickly heading back to the gym with her peer and setting the bottles down. Just in time too! The boys were done with warmups.
Keira was already about to give one of the volleyball players a bottle but Hitoka stops her.
"Oh we give it to them whenever they need it!" she blinked before chuckling awkwardly. Kinoshita-senpai, the one that almost got the bottle, simply nodded before chiming in.
"Also that's not mine. That is Kageyama's…"
Oh great, the scary guy again…Tobio would perk up when his name was heard and her quickly put the bottle back down with the rest.
Tobio gave Keira an intense look which freaked her out a bit and quickly sprinted back towards Yachi, learning the lesson…again about not doing something without instructions first.
"Sorry!" Keira bowed at Hitoka, flustered by her actions already. She wasn't doing good, she was messing stuff up already…she was in her head…
"Uhm it's okay!" Yachi said reassuringly, which made her a bit more relaxed and continued on with the practice.
"Oh yeah! We need the towels!" Hitoka would run off and Keira would hesitate to follow. But before she could, Nishinoya and Tanaka were behind her, they were smiling cheekily before shouting: "Hey! New Manager!"
"Oh!" she hopped a bit, she quickly turned around with her eyes widened. "Uh hiii-" She quickly bowed.
"M-my name is Keira Kazamaki! I'm n-not a new manager though!"
"We know!" Nishinoya said, smiling still. "But you're here with us though!"
"Yeah!" Tanaka added. "You look like you are someone that could be one!" The way they were hyping her up, it still took Keira aback that boys were talking to her…She simply didn't know what to say.
"Uh…thanks!"
"You know if you need any more help, don't be afraid to talk to us senpais!"
"Yup! We are like the big brothers of this team…"
"Oh uh okay! Well thanks for the…the heads up?"
This was their way of trying to talk to a girl, it definitely wasn't as bad as their second year chronicles of talking to women or even being blessed by one.
However, Ennoshita pulled them to the side quickly, "Stop! You two are scaring the poor girl…have you not learned your lesson from last year?"
What happened last year?
"WAIT-I am-"
Before Tanaka could defend himself, Ennoshita already pushed them to the side. He mouthed a 'sorry' before scurried them back to the center of the gym.
It seemed like the boys were conversing, practicing still or just in idle, waiting for their coaches to arrive. Eventually Yachi returns with the ironed out, clean towels.
Eventually Takeda was the first person to enter the scene. Ukai was on his way, but until then Takeda looked over at Keira once again and smiled genuinely.
"Oh hello you two! Glad you have returned to us again." she would quickly straighten herself and bow to her sensei.
This may be the day where she has to make a decision on staying on this team. So far, the practice was a lot calmer than yesterday.
"Hi Takeda-sensei!" Hinata was the first to bow to him. He was also super close to Kazamaki too as he ran up to the two.
"Oh yeah Hinata! Remember what I told you about your grades…?" Shoyo was already uncomfortable. His eyes were big and his sweats were coming down from his forehead.
Grades? Is he failing? Already?
"Oh uh…well-uh I uh-"
"Hinata, in order to continue practice, you and Kageyama need to focus on your academics too. You can't just slack off like you did last year.." Sensei's response made the ginger and Keira shudder a bit. Takeda's precarious demeanor is a rarity.
Shoyo looks defeated as from afar, Tobio was severely anxious, actually showing a bit of emotion. Tsukishima would make fun of the guy before Tanaka had to break up their bickering.
So both of them struggle academically…?
She felt the sense of empathy, whenever she gets too focused on something, her quality of work goes down the drain too. Despite her prejudice towards those two, she can understand when work/life balance takes a toll…
For Shoyo, barely a C…Tobio…even less than that…
Then finally Ukai entered the space, slightly out of breath. Takeda concluded his conversation with Hinata with this: "Well, in order to stay in the club yet again…you need to work on your grades. Especially if you want to keep attending Karasuno..right?"
Hinata nodded with a "yes sir!" before vigorous running back to greet the head coach.
"WELCOME SIR!" The club announced, the boys bowing to Ukai.
Ukai bowed as well before looking over at Keira. He was surprised to see her return. He saw how uncomfortable she was yesterday from the boys' behavior prior.
It seems she is a lot more at ease now…
"Alright boys! Are warmups done?"
"Yes sir!"
"Well then, we can quickly go over announcements before we officially start practice!"
Then the coach gestures to the players to sit in a circle alongside their coaches. Keira and Hitoka would sit further out, adjacent from the circle, against the gym wall.
Hitoka would already have a clipboard ready, it must be for recording any information regarding their team's official/unofficial matches and practice/training sessions.
"Okay, well this is our second practice of the year which means we are going to be getting new recruits! You, second years are now considered vets. Same goes for you, third years!"
Most boys appeared to be confident after being declared as veterans. Some were just indifferent about the whole thing and one person out of all of them was deemed excited. Kazamaki observed the huddle, she was actually invested.
Yachi noticed too. It would seem as if she was…part of that circle too.
Ukai would continue on. "We will be starting tryouts tomorrow and Friday. Also we are already getting some news about practice matches with our rival schools across the prefecture…that includes Date Tech."
The boys pumped up, they were ready for them! Both the new recruits and their practice match.
"We will be having a practice match with them next Friday. We are going to be testing all the new players during that match with them. We will be getting ourselves ready for the interhighs this summer once we are picked." Ukai finalizes his commentary by grabbing booklets out for the group and passing them around. It was brochures for the 2013 interhighs qualifiers for this prefecture.
"There have been some changes done for this year's interhigh matches. We haven't gotten news in regards to being picked just yet but there's more teams being added to the roster and it's only a matter of time before they bring in the more teams on the list."
A small hint of "oohs" and "woes" were heard from the club members. Then the hand from Shoyo quickly rose and Ukai nodded at him.
"Are we going to compete against these teams!?"
"Yup, there are different teams that are part of the roster now. Eventually, they are going to have 56 teams for the interhighs to compete to get seeded."
"And that includes us." Tobio would say aloud with his voice being serious yet confident.
Ukai nodded and then, Takeda intervened with this.
"So we have to do our best this season. Better than before! We have until June before the qualifiers start and we are going to give it our all!"
"YEAHHH!"
And with that, their huddle was concluded and the boys were ready to practice. Keira and Hitoka watched from afar. She internalized everything.
It took her back to her golden days…but then hurled back to reality when Hitoka got up finally.
"Now we get to do more of our job again.. Now that practice started, we give the boys their assigned bottles!"
Keira nods before quickly getting up and grabbing whatever bottles she could and give it to their assigned players.
"Nishinoya…Tanaka…Yamaguchi…"
"Thank you very much!"
"Thanks!"
"T-thanks!"
Once that was done, she launched back to the last remaining three bottles.
"Hinata…Tsukishima…Kageyama…"
Kazamaki sighed at these three. They intimidate her…lowkey…surely they are the ones that take this sport the most seriously.
So she held in her breath before swiftly, saying absolutely nothing gives the boys their bottles. Before she could even go anywhere else. Tsukishima stopped her vocally in her tracks.
"Hold on…"
Keira stiffened.
Even the way they talk freaks me out!
"Manager…you didn't give us the right bottle."
She froze for a bit before realizing the names on the bottles were indeed mixed up.
All Keke would say was… "Oh."
Hinata tried to defend her and tell Kei that it was fine, don't worry her too much.
"Relax man! She's new! L-let us just switch our bottles out ourselves."
"No, no…" He paused, shooing Hinata off, noticing how standoffish she already looked. If Yachi truly wants her to stay, Keke's gonna have to get used to their antics. That includes the catty, provocative side of him.
Where did this come from all the sudden?
"I just want her to do it right...Running away as a manager is not an option either." He teased, his demeanor changed completely. He was coy and sly. Like Garfield the cat, trying to make Keira fall back, making her feel like she wants to quit already. She thought she was doing everything right?!
Tobio's domineering resting face, Hinata's piercing, curdling, big ass eyes, Tsukishima's antagonizing smirk and vexing comments. And they all are indeed above her height level…
Kimiko…seriously…what do you see in this guy?
This is going to be yet another long practice…Why else can go wrong?
"Sometimes I see a bird fly by, I feel jealous. But other times, I see a bird flying into a closed window and I feel like laughing."
- Demetri Martin
TO BE CONTINUED…