ため野矢の: Because of Noya

何？ What?

"Trust me, Kiyoko-san! It's okay, I would have forgotten too, but please stand back up! You don't need to show so much respect for me, honestly......"

"WOAH! IS KIYOKO-SAN BOWING FOR OUR SECOND MANAGER?!"

A fiery voice broke the polite silence the high school girl and I made. We both turned our heads toward the sound and saw a fuming red athlete, pointing a finger at us while standing in the most awkward and queer position I think I've ever seen. I soon knew this had to be Tanaka-san, the fiery bald spiker whom I saw in Karasuno's previous scrimmage.

"OOOOI! LET'S JUST SEE HOW WORTHY SHE IS OF KIYOKO-SAN'S RESPECT!"

He ran up to me more quickly than I could react. Before I knew it, he was uncomfortably close, examining me while standing in front of a supposedly annoyed Kiyoko-san.

"HEY! IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT, BUT YOU AREN'T THAT BAD CLOSE UP! YOU'RE PRETTY CUTE, NAKEM-"

Before the volleyball player could finish his bold (and embarrassingly loud) statement, Kiyoko-San saved me by hitting him sharply in the head with a light pink clipboard.

Upon the violent gesture, he gave out a sharp and short yelp as he backed away from both me and Kiyoko-san.

"I'm sorry for his action. Please don't feel uncomfortable, it's a fairly safe environment. They usually keep their distance."

I looked down to the ground and nodded with a bright red face. Never have I ever been called cute by anyone, nevertheless my parents when I was younger. This was just too much to take in for me.

I glanced over Kiyoko-san's small shoulder and saw a surprisingly goofy and love-struck look on Tanaka-san's face. He was mumbling something very incoherent, but I other than that, I did see a rather short and curious looking boy also peeking at the commotion from behind Tanaka-san's back. Upon closer inspection, I realized I've locked eyes with Nishinoya-san. He was staring at me quite intently, which made me jittery and flustered. This was too much for one day!

"HEY! YOU'RE RIGHT, RYU! SHE'S NOT BAD!"

Nishinoya-san exclaimed as he emerged from behind his friend's back (assuming so, after all, he did call Tanaka-san by his first name, with no formality at the end).

I could feel my face getting hotter as I quickly hid behind Kiyoko-san and covered my crimson red face. Even by Nishinoya-san, the boy who I couldn't really stand? This must be a horrible dream! My conscience is too mean!

"You guys! Be considerate to our new manager! This attitude is too rude to a person you just met! You'll scare her away!"

Sugawara-san said as he got up from the circle of volleyball players now staring curiously at me. He dragged the now solemn and stone-faced teenagers back to the circle as Kiyoko-san angrily huffed at them.

"Don't worry. I'll stick around you for the most part so things like this won't happen."

"Thank you, Kiyoko-san. I'll try my best..."

I shyly stepped out of Kiyoko-san's protective shadow and stood to face the team and the two coaches among them.

I nervously peered at Kiyoko-san for encouragement. When she returned my gaze, she smiled and nodded for me to continue.

"P-....Please take care of me... I'll try my best to be the m-most efficient supporting manager for the team....."

Silence filled the air as I had pairs of eyes now staring straight at me. With the attention, I felt way beyond uncomfortable, and fidgeted with my thumbs while looking down at the shiny wooden floors beneath me. I wasn't used to saying something like this to a group of people alone, basically because I never threw myself into doing so. But now, I was kind of obligated to.

"PLEASE TAKE CARE OF US!"

The booming voices of many black-coated volleyball players forcefully ripped my attention from the ground and towards them.

They....

They were all bowing?

To me?

I looked over to the two coaches behind them. One with curly black hair and thick, rectangular glasses mouthed a polite "Congratulations.", while Ukai-kun winked and gave a thumbs-up.

I was unbelievably red by now. In fact, because of the multiple times blood rushed to my head and face, I felt dizzy. This could have had the same effect as being in a hot spring for too long.

It wasn't long before I was crumpling to the ground because of all the embarrassment and shock. My vision became fuzzy and disoriented, so I couldn't make out the expression Kiyoko-san made when she noticed I fell to the floor in utter sheepishness.

Afterwards, I heard the distant sounds of worried and dreadfully loud Karasuno high schoolers rushing over to their second manager's aid.

I couldn't remember what happened after that, but one thing for sure I vaguely recall.

I'm fairly certain an extremely goofy smile was plastered on my face.