Date Technical High School (Date Tech):
Coach & Faculty Advisor - Oiwake Takurō
Manager - Nametsu Mai - 2
[Interhigh]
#1 Kamasaki Yasushi (Vice Captain) - 3 - MB
#2 Moniwa Kaname (Captain) - 3 - S
#3 Sasaya Takehito - 3 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#6 Futakuchi Kenji - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#7 Aone Takanobu - 2 - MB
#12 Obara Yutaka - 2 - WS
#13 Sakunami Kōsuke - 1 - Li
[Spring Nationals]
#1 Aone Takanobu - 2 - MB
#2 Futakuchi Kenji (Captain & Ace) - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#3 Obara Yutaka - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#7 Koganegawa Kanji - 1 - S
#8 Onagawa Tarō - 2 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#11 Fukiage Jingo - 1 - MB
#13 Sakunami Kōsuke - 1 - Li
***
Author's Note:
Again, I'll tell you later why her conversation with her mom is in bold!
I also made up a little of Nametsu's character. (I'll rewrite it if there's something canon that proves otherwise!)
***
Saturday, August 11
"I'm home," Ai said, dropping her club bag on the floor by the couch.
"Welcome home," her mother called from the kitchen.
"How was the tournament?" her father, who was sitting at the table, asked when she walked over.
"It went well. We were with Ohgi Minami and Kakugawa Academy today."
"Two games in one day? That must've been tiring," said her mother.
"We were exempt from the first round, thanks to ranking in the top sixteen at Interhigh. Today was only the preliminaries of Spring High," she explained to her parents.
Her father hummed. "So, you're going forward in the tournament this time?"
"Mhmm. We won both of them. The qualifiers are in two months."
"I'm glad your club activities are going well." Her mother smiled and stirred the pot. "Will you set the table? We're having hayashi rice tonight."
Ai smiled to herself. It was two days too early for that, but...
"Sure."
.
After eating and clearing the table, Ai poured herself a cup of tea and grabbed her phone.
The past was in the past.
Even if Aone was one of the Iron Walls that had shut out Asahi last year, he and the rest of Date Tech seemed like good people. Their short interaction before their game at Interhigh this year — when Moniwa, the captain, prevented bad blood between the two teams — was proof of that. Not to mention that the tall middle blocker formed an admirable friendship with Hinata.
She had no reason not to make something for the fellow second-year.
"Mom, I'm going downstairs to the shop. I want to make a couple of birthday cards."
"Sure. You know where the supplies are. I'll be down in a bit, too." Her mother waved her off, while her father sat down with coffee and a good book.
———
Monday, August 13
At Date Technical High School
(Miyagi)
"Aone, you've got a letter." Coach Oiwake came back to the gymnasium from the faculty room with an envelope.
The school was technically closed for the summer, but the volleyball club and many other clubs — like baseball, soccer, track and field, and jūdō — still came to use the campus. The teachers unlocked and had access to the main building as well.
The timer rang just as Aone glanced over to the coach with a nod.
"Okay, that's ten minutes!" Nametsu, Date Tech's manager, called, pressing the button on the stopwatch.
The guys groaned and sighed as they took a break.
The female second-year checked off the warmup drills the guys had already done that morning and passed the clipboard to the stern-looking coach. After, she went to the storage room for rags to wipe the floor.
Nametsu was an experienced volleyball manager. She used to play volleyball, too, but she stopped when doing both classes and sports became too much for her. Although she didn't go to the Interhigh tournament, Nametsu watched the team closely and helped the coach evaluate what the athletes needed to work on.
Aone walked to Coach Oiwake to receive the mail and nodded gruffly in thanks. Despite his huge stature and a scowl to complete his intimidating exterior, the middle blocker was polite and very respectful.
Aone's was the first birthday of Date Tech's team members. Although, to be specific, the first-year setter had his birthday in July, but he was still very new to volleyball and the team. The giant setter hadn't been in an official tournament yet.
Therefore, it was safe to say that none of them were expecting a celebration from anyone from another school.
"..." Aone stared at the coach silently, asking permission to open it now during practice.
Coach Oiwake understood what he was trying to say and allowed it. "That's fine. You can open it now during break time."
The coach trusted that Aone would focus on training once the break was over, so a small treat wouldn't hurt.
Futakuchi whistled and teased, "Wow, someone's popular." He was the new, second-year captain after the third-years had retired. Futakuchi was also one of Date Tech's proud Iron Walls and the ace wing spiker for the current team; an overall remarkable status.
Aone let his friend watch as he opened the letter. The handcrafted envelope and matching card inside had teal, white, and black color themes.
Obara came over to look too, and Onagawa stood by while drinking from a water bottle.
"What is it, Aone-san?" the tall first-year setter came to ask excitedly.
"Hey, don't push," Futakuchi grumbled.
The other first-year ran to the manager who'd gotten the rags. "I can help, Nametsu-senpai. I know the spots to clean up," Sakunami offered.
"Thanks, Saku-kun." She gave him one of the old cloths.
The two wiped the floor free of the small puddles of sweat, so it wouldn't become safety hazards during practice. It'd be dangerous if the players slipped during practice.
Aone stared at the front of the card for a solid minute, observing the details of the design.
"Well? Aren't you gonna read what's inside?" Futakuchi pressed.
The middle blocker shot his friend a look, telling him that he's taking his time to appreciate the present.
"Come on, break's going to end soon if you don't hurry," the captain grinned.
"..." He turned back to the paper card in his large hands and finally opened it.
Dear Takanobu-kun,
I know we haven't spoken before. I'm one of the managers for the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club.
Happy birthday.
I hope you have a good day.
—Akatsuki Ai
Underneath the name at the bottom was a phone number.
"From Karasuno's manager, huh?" Futakuchi wondered. "I think I remember someone sitting on the bench with the coaches."
"..."
Somehow, Aone didn't think that she was the manager who had been on the bench. This letter was their first communication with each other. Wouldn't she have said something at the tournament in person if she'd been there on the court?
"Alright, guys! Let get back to it!" Coach Oiwake shouted.
"Yes, sir," the boys dragged.
As Aone turned away from the others, the corners of his lips turned up into a small smile. He was a man of few words, but he had a heart for genuine friendships. The second-year gently placed the envelope on top of his towel for safekeeping and went back to practice.
.
At Karasuno High School
(Miyagi)
Later that day, at the end of practice and when they were all leaving school, Ai got a text from someone expressing his gratitude.
Unknown Number: It's Takanobu. Thanks.
Ai: You're welcome, Takanobu-kun. See you at the Qualifiers, if not sooner.
***
Author's Note:
Happy 2022!!
I hope you had a great start to the new year, and I wish you the best this year!!
Also, happy birthday to Seirin's club advisor, Takeda Kenji! (1/2/2022)
***
Author's Note:
Okay, so Nametsu did go to the Interhigh tournament when Moniwa was still captain, in the manga. But, the anime didn't show it, so I made the mistake 😅
I think I might keep it this way so it's faithful to the anime. (Save time and effort for myself lol.)
***
Why does Aone "lock on" to the opponent teams' ace?
Total Word Count: 1311