"Alright, tomorrow we've got Ushiwaka's team. It'll be a five set match, too. First to three takes it," Keishin started an explanation at the day's end of day meeting. The team was handed thick pamphlets, apparently filled with information Kiyoko and Yachi gathered on the team and its members. There was some discussion on strategy for the next day, but Kitsuna was fading out again. Tanaka nudged her when she started to fall asleep and fall over.

"Make sure you study through all that tonight! Now go home," Keishin dismissed them all. He felt a little bit uneasy when the boys had to guide Kitsuna out and toward the school gates, knowing full well she wasn't going to read that before she passed out.

…

Kitsuna woke up at five sharp the next morning. She showered and headed out, opting for her glasses today to save some time. She was headed to work, to prep the store for the next few days. She yawned as she unlocked the back door and sat her bag down on a chair.

"Gotta heat up the ovens, get out the buns. Then…?"

Kitsuna tried to repeat her tasks out loud, but wasn't awake enough yet to remember them all. She started the ovens up and set a timer on her phone, then headed out behind the store for a quick smoke before Keishin woke up. She had just lit up and taken a drag when the door opened up with a squeal on its hinges.

"You really shouldn't do that," Keishin chided her but didn't push it. He yawned and joined her instead. She moved to put hers out but he waved his hand lazily at her.

"Um?"

She decided to go with it, having little time for these sorts of breaks when they had to travel for games. And today was going to be a long one, she could already feel it. The two store employees sat outside, leaning against the wall, until the sun started to creep up. Kitsuna finished her cigarette and went back in to throw stuff in the oven, leaving Keishin to sit outside for a while longer. When he finally came back in, one batch of stuffed buns was already done and she was leaning over the counter flipping through the pamphlet from last night.

"You really think you'll get that down reading it at the last minute?," he asked. She didn't even look up, turning the page again and scanning through the information on it.

"Can't read it on the bus, I'll barf. Oh, there's some extra pork buns. Have one now or later, I'm gonna have a couple before I head out," she pointed to a bag on the rack behind her. Keishin opted for now and grabbed one out of the paper sack.

"So," he started with a mouthful of food. Kitsuna gave him a look from the side so he swallowed it down before talking more.

"What's your plan, if we don't make it? Gonna stick with the team? The third years will definitely have a hard time stickin' around if we lose here."

"Hm? You got that little faith in the team, as the coach?," Kitsuna shot back. She was clearly not super enthralled by his choice of conversation, but he was curious. Probably should try to give a push in the right direction from time to time, too. Since he agreed to take her in when her family was gone.

"Well, you gotta admit the matchup isn't great. But nah, I think we can pull something outta our ass there," he admitted begrudgingly. Kitsuna looked up finally from the documents, frowning.

"Wait. Why're you worried I'll dip out with the third years?," she asked with a sinking suspicion in her stomach. Keishin was sure she knew exactly what he meant, and she very clearly did not want to touch that subject.

"You seem closer to them than the others. Even been going to a certain setter's house in the mornings and evenings for grub," he dropped another hint instead of diving right in. The girl's hand tightened suddenly, crushing a page completely. She smoothed it out, and he could see her jaw working overtime.

"Just wonderin' where your commitment is," Keishin sighed and decided to let her deal with that later. She needed to focus on the match today, and bring her best game. All of them did, so no added distractions.

"I'm not as into it as some of the others, but I still have fun playing volleyball. I've been helping them out since last year, and it's pretty nice to see them finally being rewarded for their dedication. The first years seem promising, so I don't wanna just ditch 'em and make them go through all that the third years did either. Anything else," she glared at him again from behind her glasses frames. A challenge, one that he normally wouldn't back down from. But he did, saving the subject for later. Her answer was more than enough as it was.

"Oh, next batch is done. I'mma head out a few minutes early, can you handle the final batch?," she switched gears as the alarm buzzed on her phone. She slipped back and slid the buns onto a tray with practiced ease. Then she scooped up her bag and the paper sack and left through the front doors, already digging into her food. She headed for the club room to get the bag she left there and get changed out of her casual clothes. She could hear people inside so waited outside and finished her food while reading the rest of the papers. A few people came and went, but not everyone. Finally, fed up, she grabbed the doorknob and yanked it open hard.

"Would you nerds hurry it up! I'm tired o' standin' out here waiting on your slow asses," Kitsuna shouted at the remaining boys, who were in various states of undress. A few panicked cries rang out but she ignored them.

"Hey! Close the door!," Suga shouted at her.

"Kitsuna! Have some decency!," Daichi yelled out. Yamaguchi was tucked in behind him, face burning hot. All of them were embarrassed to an extent.

"Y'all will literally strip on the court to get your uniforms on," she responded with a pretty fair statement, even if she always turned around when they did that. Suga worked up some strength to move his legs and marched over to shut the door. The sudden movement caught her eye, and then her vision was filled with something pale and tough. Her face went brighter red than anyone else's and she froze, realizing that Sugawara was currently shirtless and standing painfully close.

"You've slammed the door in Tanaka's face for doin' this, so quit," Suga reached for the door but it slammed shut in an instant.

"Pffft!," Tsukishima caught that reaction and had a good laugh about it. The boys finished up and headed out, with a couple of looks or snide remarks as they passed by the girl huddled into her knees just outside. Daichi left last, and was torn between a laugh and a sigh at her red ears peeking out from her bedhead.

"It's free," he said softly and headed downstairs. She retreated into the room in a flash, leaving her stuff outside. He tucked the paper into her bag for her, and considered helping himself to the remaining pork bun. She stepped out after just a few minutes with her gym bag in tow, scooping up her other bag and snatching the food up. They headed for the bus, where she finished up her food and tucked the brown paper bag into her school one.