"My, my. What's this? Don't tell me you're actually nervous, Sawamura-san?" Kuroo started to chitchat.
Daichi could feel his heart beating so fast that it almost burst out. "Me? Your chattiness makes me think you're nervous, Kuroo-san."
"Yeah, yeah."
Kuroo nervously glanced around and saw Hinata staring at every single person in the room. "Anyways! Check out your #10. He looks like a middle schooler who accidentally wound up in the wrong place. You sure he'll be okay?"
Kuroo watched as Hinata bumped into a person, accidentally pushing Nishinoya forward. As he squinted with Daichi of what was happening, Nishinoya was accepting his fate to fall into some girl's chest. They quickly look away before anything horrible happens.
"Akahana~!"
The managers turned around and found the managers of Fukurodani approaching them with bright smiles.
"Suzumade-senpai!" Akahana grinned.
Himura blushed when she saw, "Yu-Yukie-san...!"
The four managers started to catch-up with each other about their lives, their teams and most of all, teasing each other about people they find cute (mostly Yukie and Akahana). It was such a breather that she could finally talk to someone her understanding in the position of a manager.
"Hm~?" Yukie stared at her for a few moments, making her cheeks redder. "What's wrong your face, Sara~?" Her lazy voice was too cute for her!
"Oh, nothing." Akahana excused her. "She's just really excited to see Fukunaga-senpai up there~" She ended up teasing her. Himura wasn't taking it well and almost attack her.
"Speaking of which, is Bokuto-senpai doing alright?"
"Hey, hey, heeeey! Hinata! Hey!" Bokuto made his grand entrance only to greet his favorite (or at least met) first years from Karasuno. "Wahahaha!! Oh, hey! Tsukki!!"
"Owlhead sure is hooting up a storm." Kuroo retorted.
"I envy how he can act like anywhere is his own house." Kenma confessed as Fukunaga only stared at him with a bit of oddity.
"And then--" Before Kaori could finish her words the announcement was made to the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. The opening ceremonies of The Japanet Cup National Spring High School Volleyball Tournament will now begin."
The older duo of managers bid farewell to the younger ones, returning to their coach where they could watch their team.
The orchestra began to play the music as the teams walked in with the mascots of Vabo-chan jumping around. They began telling the representatives for the prefectures.
"Hold my hand." Akahana blushed when she heard that coming out of Himura's mouth. Since the crowd was moving pretty quickly, she slammed their hands together and tried to walk their way out of the crowded halls. It felt so weird to hold her hand, Akahana noted how hers were soft whereas Himura's were rougher. 'Omigosh, why am I blushing again?!'
"Hey, coach." Akahana called to Naoi. "I have to answer this." She showed her phone, Naoi let her and advised her not to take so long.
"Hey, mama." She greeted through the phone. "I'm fine. We're doing warm-ups right now, though. Can we talk later, after the match is done?"
Himura was supposed to do research on the team they were up against, when she learned for the name of the school, she wrote it down on her clipboard.
Kiyokawa.
~~~~~~
"Oi yoi yoi, if it ain't the country bumpkin crows." Kuroo greeted Karasuno withal smug look on his face as the other ran to their friends or rivals with bright smiles. "Good to hear you didn't come all the way down here just to turn back around and go home."
"Hey! It isn't that far." Sugawara glared at him with a goofy look whereas Daichi just accepted the reality, Kuroo would never stop teasing him.
Running to the certain duo they have been waiting to meet since the ceremony, Akahana lunged at the blonde in front of her and latched herself tightly. "Hitoka-chaaan~!" She squealed, only to make Yachi even more shocked than she was. "A-Akahana-chan...!!"
"Oh, nice seeing you two here." Kiyoko greeted them with a friendly smile that made Himura's heart pumping faster.
Himura turned to the first years and saw Akahana still latching onto Yachi like a baby sloth. Sighing she pulled her own first year away from the poor blonde and scolded her for it, Akahana just blew a raspberry and started catching up with Yachi.
She bowed to her as an apology and pulled the manager away from the quivering one. "Don't do that, you idiot!" She growled at her, causing Akahana to cower in fear. It made Kiyoko giggle.
"You two haven't change." The beautiful ravenette mentioned and remembered back when they were spending time with each other at the training camp. "Personality wise."
The two gave looks to each other before looking back at the other two managers. "Neither do you." Akahana said.
They continued to talk for a while before hearing their captains parting with each other, that meant they have to separate for now.
Kiyoko turned to them and promised them something. "Do you know any good restaurants here?" She first asked. Akahana knows plenty and made sure they know it as well. "Well, if that's the case, maybe you two can introduce us to some. We are from the countryside. Right, Hitoka-chan?" Yachi nodded and laughed.
The two of them looked back at each other and nod with such energy that their eyes sparkled. "It's a date then!"
~~~~~~
"Our first trip to nationals, huh?"
Yaku chuckled and relaxed himself on the couch in the lobby of the hotel. "I kinda wish it wasn't here, though. I wanted to travel. Take the shinkansen and go somewhere cool."
"Next year's--er, well, this year now..." Kuroo leaned forward and glanced at the libero smirking at him, "The upcoming Interhigh anyway. Where are they holding again? If it's someplace far I wanna go cheer you all on."
"You're assuming they'll make it."
"Have some faith in our kouhai, wouldja?"
Kai turned around to see, Kenma walking down the stairs with his purse. He stopped behind some boys and started peek at the vending machine before being spotted and flinching.
"Ah. Speaking of them..."
Let out her breath out the window and watch the cold air disappear from the her view, she repeated it a few times until, "Himura-san." It was Shibayama.
He stood next to her while resting his arms on the windowsill. Himura noticed his face seemed to be worried about something. Remembering how Kuroo advising her last night, she went closer to him and nudged his arm. Shibayama turned and saw her staring at him without blinking, it really creeps him.
"I'm worrying about something?" He asked and she nodded. "What? Pfft- no way. I'm always like this."
He giggled it off but saw Himura's deadpan expression, "Shiba-kun."
Knowing he could never win against her, he sighed and told her his worries. "It's my mom." He said. Shibayama was worried sick about her. He couldn't imagine his mom waiting for him to win but ended up hearing the news if they lose. "Also, my brother..." Shibayama trailed off. "Brother?" Himura asked. He nodded, "Yep. I have one." It was giving him a lot of anxiety thinking about it.
"What do you think, Himura-san? Stupid, am I right?" He laughed it off with a sad smile.
Himura shook her head and pats his shoulder gently. "It's normal." She told him and smiled. "Just...don't let it distract you."
Shibayama smiled back sweetly and chuckled.
"How about you? Are you worried about your mom?"
"Shiba-kun..." Shibayama turned hesitantly and heard she said, "My mom's dead."
~~~~~~
Date: 1/6 18:23
From: Kita Shinsuke
Subject: It's pretty interesting.
The twins are the most excited being here. I'll meet you at the gym some time, okay? I need to go.
A smile formed on her face as she sent her last email to Kita for the day. Finally, after many years of visiting him, he visited her even though it was for his school. Remembering how close they were in their childhood made her heart feeling fuzzy and warm. But, she only sees him as an older brother so when it comes to romance with Kita, she doesn't really feel comfortable.
"Who's that?" She flinched and saw Akahana peeking behind her shoulder. "Is that a friend of yours?" Himura hesitantly nods and let Akahana sit next to her.
"What school is your friend from? Are they that Hyogo friend?" She nodded. Himura glanced at her phone and was a bit unsure of telling Akahana about Kita, the look in her eyes made her surrender. "He's...from Inarizaki."
Akahana was speechless.
Himura thought she did something wrong and quickly scurried away.
'Another time...'