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The day after, Nanami made notes on the serves they were doing while casually again, indirectly helping with the balls on the floor.
"Whoa, this is much more helpful than bending to pick them up. And quite fun too." sensei said catching the balls and throwing them into the basket, "did you play football once?"
"Nop." I popped the p.
"Sensei"
We turned to see Kiyoko having brought the uniforms.
"Oh, all set?"
"Yes. Washed, folded, and all set. It's the uniforms."
She didn't let Nanami help her and made her stay there and keep progress on everyone for the data. Nanami's foot recovered from the earlier hiccup and was fine again now so she could kick up the volleyballs for sensei to catch.
Keishin warned the team about Nekoma and Karsuno's consistent losses against them and told everyone to get to practice. Nanami'd warned him not to tell these guys she met Kuroo or they might lose their cool again.
Again, of course, Shimizu knows. She's the only one who knows everything about Nanami, but it was nice to have a friend like that. One less person to worry about hiding from, one more person to trust.
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At Nekoma's training camp dorm.
"About our destined opponent, Karasuno... do they have a female manager or not? I bet a yakisoba bread that they don't" -Yamamoto, Nekoma's ace.
"What? I'd prefer that they did, so my bet is that they do."
"Me too"
Inuoka and Shibayama spoke.
"Bakayaro! (Jackasses) we don't, so won't it make you mad if they do?"
"uh..."
"What if they had a beauty for a manager? I won't ever forgive them!" Yamamoto cried.
Kuroo who sat a little further away looking at his phone on his towel smirked, thinking, 'you're gonna have to take that back later'
But he was also in a bad mood.
Nanami has been ignoring him with excuses after excuses for two days straight. Was she doing it on purpose? Then what was the point of getting her number?
'Yes I'm sleeping try another time'? In the middle of the night and yet she doesn't respond to any of his questions, it was driving him crazy.
Not to mention, all he did was find out was her schedule, 'I'm working, try a better time'
'I'm washing the towels, my hands are busy'
'Picking up volleyballs after practice.' That one was not a foolery but he doesn't know that.
'Water would fall on my phone while filling the bottles'
'Preparing food for the team, so not now'
That was the worst. Their team was getting food prepared by their manager? He was jealous.
Yamamoto opened the window just then, adding to his bad mood and shouted into the night air with a foot on the windowsill, "and if that's the case, you better watch out, Karasuno!"
Kuroo turned around finally with a nerve popping, "shut up, Yamamoto!"
"Oi, Kenma, what do you think?" Yamamoto asked the boy who was wiggling his toes.
"I don't care either way."
"Keh! I knew you'd say that."
"But... I'm kind of looking forward to it. Our match against Karasuno."
Everyone looked shocked, "Kenma, who had no will to play is looking forward to a match!" Yamamoto leaned away creeped out.
"Ohh. Well I'm looking forward to it too" Kuroo said with a smirk this time surprising Kenma.
'More potential, huh? but for now...' he leaned back, "Yamamoto, you seem full of energy. You can practice double the amount if you'd like."
"S-sorry."
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"Is he still texting you?" Kiyoko asked leaning forward, because Nanami had the amused expression she usually makes when texting Kuroo. She had initially wanted to keep this up for only one day or max two, but it was really too fun to play around with him so the girl couldn't resist.
Kiyoko sweatdropped at her replies to Kuroo, "they don't make sense"
"That's why I sent them." she said with a smirk.
"Don't you think you'll be in trouble at the practice match."
"That's why..."
🐈Cap'
From
You've been really so busy but let's see if you will be at the practice match (💢◠‿◠)
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"That message says you'll be in trouble" she pointed out with a smirk.
"I know" Nanami said and proceeded to mend the situation as much as she can, hoping it will be a bearable level and that it wasn't too late.
◂◊◎◊▸
To
I'll be watching the match
On my way🚌
So see you there✌🏻🕊️
Maybe I won't be as busy XP
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"We'll have to see if it will work or not. If not then there's Tanaka-san and Noya-san to protect me, and you too senpai right?" Nanami asked with a smile.
She smiled helplessly and nodded, 'She's kind of like a troublemaking naughty little nymph...'
"Huh? Nami-chan did you call me?!" both of them suddenly appeared behind the two girls, hands on their back rests. The girls leaned away to look at them just when Sawamura yelled, causing everyone to flinch, "Get back to your seats you two!!"
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The team went ahead first and Nanami and Kiyoko followed later after checking if they forgot anything. Just as they passed by, they turned to see a Nekoma looking at them shock. Nanami simply stared puzzled at his reaction and Kiyoko nodded in greeting.
That mohawk guy looked like he had a heart attack while blushing, "T-Two lady... manager... beauties..." he stepped back with tears in his eyes.
Two other nekoma guys cheered at getting yakisoba bread, and two each at that since there were two managers.
When they entered the court Nanami saw Keishin and Take-sensei speaking to Nekomata-sensei.
"You barraged me with calls until I had no choice." Neko-sensei said.
"I-I'm sorry!" Take-sensei bowed.
"I'm just kidding, just kidding. We've had good practice matches these last three days. We're looking forward to today's match."
"Yes we are as well"
"Even though my opponent isn't that geezer Ukai, I'll show no mercy" Neko-sensei said opening his eyes with a smile.
Both Keishin and Take-sensei stiffened up.
"How about two Ukais? Nekomata-sensei?" Nanami asked walking up with a grin.
He turned to see her with surprise, "Oh! Nanami, you're here too? What happened to-?" he asked surprised.
She smiled slightly, "I retired a year back, had an injury"
He was shocked and paused not knowing what to say to that, his usual smile was gone but his eyes were closed as always.
"But...! I've become the team's manager. We look forward to the matches" she bowed.
"Too bad, it's really too bad. Well-! I'll look forward to going against two Ukais and not just one. It should be interesting." He said with a jovial smile again.
"Play...? Retire?" Take-sensei mumbled.
Nanami laughed and waved her hand, "I was kidding, Keishin takes care of the team, I'm only one of the managers. I'll leave the battle to you coaches."
When she walked away to get to setting up the bags near the bench, "Heyy! Found you babe! So you're finally here after ignoring me for a whole week? Oh and you know sensei?"
An arm draped around her shoulders.
She had a deadpan. "Tetsuro-san, why're you acting so close?"
"Why not after you told me your whole weekly schedule and we're on first name basis. Also, you can drop the formality."
"You should know the reason I ignored you by now."
"So you admit you were ignoring me." He had a strained smile
However just a distance away the whole Karasuno team looked at the two in shock.
"B-Babe...?!!"
"H-His arm is over her shoulder..."
"Nami-chan since when did you know the Nekoma team captain?!"
"Huh?! First Oikawa and now him?"
"Don't ask me." Nanami slapped her face, "and now you've really done it"
"Done what? Is knowing your hot manager a crime?" Kuroo smirked knowingly.
"First, get that arm off of me" she pushed it away for the sake of the team's hearts and minds, "Second," she directed at the team among whom some were a contact's close to jumping at Kuroo, "I met him a week ago. We're only friends so just calm your asses and if you want, settle it on the court. I don't think we have the leeway to be getting-! Into fist fights right now!" she pulled the hissing Tanaka and Noya's collars from jumping past her at Kuroo, "I didn't tell you guys till now because of this."
Kuroo was smirking provokingly at the team, "Thank you for the wonderful save Nana-bae."
Thankfully Sawamura's decisions as a captain outweighed the rest but he was still flaming too, "Oh yeah, we'll settle it on court."
Cleaning after messes she unwantedly attracted was tiresome, "Thank you." she turned around at Kuroo who raised a brow, "Stop provoking our team like that and cut it with the babe."
"Kuroo-san! Y-You already know the Karasuno's manager?" the mohawk guy from earlier pointed at Nanami, "and you're really close!"
Kuroo smirked turning around and pulling mohawk away by the shoulders, "Yes I do, her number too as a matter of fact" he looked back, on purpose still provoking the team, and then told Mohawk, "You know you owe me that yakisoba bread too, right?"
She went to the team, "I suppose now I can tell you guys, Keishin already knew it, but their main is their defense. They're still sticking to their connecting specialty. There's something else peculiar about them that their last few opponents talked about. But none of them could tell what it was." She looked at their team and Kuroo looked back and waved with a grin, she smiled helplessly. As annoying as his flirty comments were, she knew it was all for fun.
"Oh, that's why we've been focusing a lot more on offense than we should have along with the receives and serves." Suga said seriously.
He, Tanaka, Noya, Sawamura, Hinata and the most of them suddenly had their faces buried in their sleeves crying, "You've been suffering so much for us to get information."
"I'm so sorry for doubting you Nami-chan!"
They got fired up with the tears, "We're definitely going to win this for you!"
"Yeah! For your sacrifice."
Nanami smiled awkwardly, 'well that kind of worked in my favour... I guess.' Though she wasn't sacrificing anything. These people are too dramatic.
She opened her eyes. There's something else, but she wanted to be sure before telling them about it.
Right before the match, Sawamura delivered a speech, that they don't know much about the Nekoma's team other than what Nanami had told them about their defence. But when they find the walls, that's their chance to jump over it.
Nanami silently agreed with it. If they can jump anytime over those walls without worrying about consequences, it's now.
"That seemed to have worked out well in the end" Kiyoko said while writing something in her notebook. She will keep a tally on their scores and the individual ones on both sides, while Nanami'll be recording their progress in serves, spikes, tosses and receives and their rating in stars as well, which is something she can do. And it's not completely as necessary but that'll just be her job as an assistant manager.
Since it's just a practice match, she can stand near the bench.
"We now begin the practice match of Nekoma high school vs Karasuno high school."
"Yoroshikonegaishimasu! (let's play!)"
The team started with coal ginger spike.
Nanami smirked looking at their expressions.
Kiyoko had a helpless smile.
"What the heck was that? He wasn't watching the toss." Neko-sensei asked.
Keishin and Take-sensei formed matching smirks too.
The three were enjoying this too much.
Nanami focused on their setter, Kenma, the look in his eyes... he was observing wasn't he? He averted his vision in her direction as if noticing someone looking at him but wouldn't find anyone.
Sharp and keen senses, just like a cat. But they can't beat her experienced ass at it. He's still a kitten after all.
The decoy plan was used with Asahi's spike but was contacted by the libero. Noya stepped out with Tsukishima going in, "Noya-san, Good job" Nanami handed a water bottle. She can note even after watching and remembering a few plays.
"Thanks!" Noya said brightly and got serious, "You were right Nami-chan, about their defense, their libero is trouble"
He noticed too, she nodded as he explained, "He's never seen Asahi-san's spike, yet the ball hit his hand."
Hinata served just then and messed up and Noya attempted to hand the bottle to Nanami about to ask her to take it when she took it from him without asking and told him to go.
He ran away with an extra bounce in his step, taking her words as encouragement while shouting to Hinata, "Don't mind don't mind!"
Take-sensei stated Noya switches fast and Nanami explained about the pattern the libero switches in.
She then went behind Keishin and told him lightly, "Their setter,... he's been observing us intently. Their previous opponents mentioned something was different about them. Even though they played ordinarily, they still won. I thought it was defense before but..."
"Yeah, I feel the creeps too. Like we're being watched and analyzed."
Nekomata called a time out.
She looked at the other team discussing something and Neko-sensei looking at Kageyama and Hinata.
They're trying to separate them huh?
She expected this to happen, it's not like Hinata was absolute the way he is now, there's still tons of room for him to grow. So let's see how this plays out.
She still stood by her bet with Kuroo, these guys have potential, now their main aim is to improve rapidly before the inter high.
As expected Hinata was being chased by a Nekoma. He was expected to get depressed but it was just the opposite.
Keishin talked about how the little giant grew by his second year when he failed repeatedly in his first. The stories senior Ukai told his grandchildren. And also, things Nanami personally saw.
"I'm just repeating the story my jii-san told me."
"Former coach Ukai?" Take-sensei asked.
"He told us all the interesting stories about his coaching days. But of course I only heard them when I visited Miyagi on holidays." She'd also seen a few practice matches, it's why she knew Neko-sensei personally along with meeting him at nationals when he saw one of her matches once.
Of course, not all of them, only normal club practices and school and cat and crow practice matches that Ukai thought he could take her to (he mostly did that to proudly boast about his granddaughter but whatever.)
"Yeah. I remember everything jii-san told me really well. But you probably listened with the most interest." Keishin teased with a close eyed grin.
She puffed, "I didn't, with that much interest at least." she smiled, "but,... because people don't have wings..."
"we look for ways to fly" Keishin finished as Hinata finally managed to pull a quick past monkey no. 2's block.
Though it was out...
And then later it was again out of sync.
They need to practice.
Tanaka and Noya were having fun provoking the opposing team's ace.
Kuroo came in front after a while, marking Hinata and monkey no. 2 went back to serve.
'the lanky guy rotates to rear guard, and the comb guy who called Nami-chan babe becomes van-guard. It's fun playing against Lanky, but... this guy's scary.' Hinata thought.
"this'll be interesting."
"Hm?" Keishin looked back, "Oh right you know that guy right?... he put an arm around you earlier, didn't know you two were that close already." he was held up with something else and couldn't walk over at that time. Nanami didn't know what would've happened if he also heard Kuroo's words.
"Unlike monkey no. 2, Kuroo's more of an intimidating presence and heard is really excellent at blocking. I've seen a bit of it, and I can tell he was holding back then too. So I wonder how Hinata will handle this. I don't think he has encountered something like that till now."
'monkey no.2?'
Tsukishima looked at Nanami glaringly, clearly saying with his expression if Hinata really didn't encounter a formidable wall, that is, him.
"You'll get it when you see it."
This time they pulled the normal quick surprising them.
"Kageyama has great intuition, really animal instincts." Nanami
(a/n. look who's talking)
Keishin nodded, "I think that was a good decision too."
"What?" -Take-sensei
"I think the freak quick set is more effective against that Kuroo guy. It's because the normal quick set would be an easy target for that skilled middle blocker."
Kuroo directly spiked back a chance ball that came to them after bouncing off of Hinata's face, scoring a point. The next point was a normal spike after messing with the block's timing.
Keishin explained it to Take-sensei, "You don't see it used much these days. But he took the initiative immediately after that perfect A quick. That was impressive"
"It can be said now that they all play with their minds, cunning like cats covering up their weaknesses. Switching up and reading their opponents moves and abilities immediately. Such players really make a formidable opponent" Nanami said with a sweatdropped smirk.
"We're in trouble, and I've already used up the two timeouts." Keishin said.
Neko-sensei who heard everything was snickering at them and the siblings turned to glare at him.
"They're a fully mature cat and we're a newborn raven." Take-sensei said.
"Yeah, something like that."
"In terms of defence and offense, we're no match for them. At least for now."
"Well, we can't counter that with experience can we? We gotta be the baby chicks we are, annoying ones, really, annoying ones." Nanami said with a smirk.
Take-sensei flinched at that.
"You take the words right out of my mouth, I can't fall back as the coach. In which case..." Keishin stood up and shouted with his hands on his hips, "We have no choice but to fight. Pound them with your power and speed!"
Tanaka eerily loved the idea, "In other words, force them to surrender?"
The coach and manager were grinning.
"That's kind of villainous." -Hinata
Keishin laughed, "Villainous, huh? That's fine." He formed a devilish smirk of his own, "Ravens are sort of villainous aren't they? Baby ones especially."
"Ukai-kun! Nanami-chan! You two look really scary!" Take-sensei exclaimed.
"We'll make up for our lousy quicks and receives with sheer brute force. You guys are rough around the edges and awkward, so use that as your weapon! Wield your weapons with all your might! Be annoying! Attack, attack, and keep on attacking!"
There was one more point left to be even but that was widened with Kenma's dump and they got a match point.
Keishin and Nanami were super annoyed, especially looking at Neko-sensei's calm composure.
But Take-sensei insisted it was alright, because everyone was still fired up.
Sawamura scored another, and Karasuno needed one more point for a deuce.
Nekoma's defense really was intense in the end. They had won.
"Once more. Once more. Let's do it!" Hinata called out to the other team.
"Yeah, I'd like that. That's what a practice match is for, so we can do it 'once more.' "
The matches went on till evening.
Nanami got tons of data, but they didn't even win one game.
Everyone was exhausted.
Hinata called for another match finally making even Neko-sensei get flabbergasted and exclaim at his limitless stamina.
'That's really an achievement unlocked Hinata.' Nanami thought with a laugh.
"Hey no, we can't" Keishin pulled Hinata up by the collar.
The teams switched to talk to the opposite coaches and then started cleaning up.
Nanami went and helped Shimizu fill the bottles outside.
She sneezed all of a sudden, "bless you"
"Thank you"
Then Nanami sneezed.
"Bless you" she said chuckling.
Nanami laughed lightly, "guess someone's talking about us."
◂◊◎◊▸
Tsukishima stared at the two monkeys of each team jumping in the air complimenting each other like they were of some different species, "What the heck are they talking about?"
"They don't sound like they're in high school. But you on the other hand, maybe you should loosen up more, like a real high schooler. I saw you earlier, even though the entire team glared at me for putting an arm around Nanami you looked away." Kuroo said with a smirk.
"What do you mean by that?" Tsukishima lowered his head with a glare.
"Oh nothing too interesting, but maybe she is, interesting that is."
"I don't know why you brought her into this and anyways, I'm not good at that sort of thing." Tsukishima walked away.
"Ah youth." Kuroo said and spun around on his heel speaking loud enough for the leaving Tsukishima to hear, "Oh well! I think I saw her go outside with that other manager with the water bottles."
Tsukishima might or might not have heard it but he kept walking away as if he didn't.
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