Lue had to be up earlier than normal these past few weeks. She wasn't used to being ready so she'd always end up at the gym with crazy hair and her gym shoes untied. Today was no exception. "G-Goodmorning!" She breathed out after running there from the girls locker room. "Goodmorning Loo! Beat you here again!" Inouka waved as he stretched. "Ah Morning Kitten," Kuroo propped his arm on top her head. Her cheeks heated up from the nickname, "Kuroo I'm the same age as you, why call me kitten?" She looked up at him from under his arm. Kuroo just smirked at her, Kenma brushing his arm off Lue's head in the process.
"Kenma!" She chirped seeing the boy. "Morning," He gave her a soft smile. "Did you ever beat that boss level?" She leaned forward trying to get a peak at the little game console. "Yeah actually, I did that button combo you found online." Kenma shared the screen with her and the two focused solely on the game. A few seconds later there was a loud clap, Lue looked up and saw Coach Nekomata and Coach Naoi signaling everyone over. Lue jumped suddenly fearing she forgot her notebook and made a quick turn to go back to the locker room.
But due to her sleepiness, and her shoes being untied, she tripped over her long shoe laces and slammed her knees to the floor. "Ow," Lue winced turning on her bottom and held her knee close to her chest. "Tsk how many times have I reminded you to tie your shoes?" The voice of her now best friend approached her. She looked up with pouty eyes, "I'm still not used to being up so early Yaku!" He just sighed at her whiny voice, completely unable to be mad or upset at her in anyway. He knelt in front of her and patted his thighs, she placed her foot on his muscular limb. Lue watched with pure bliss as the libero took the time to tie her shoes.
"Now let me see your knee," He said softly inching closer to her. She felt herself tuck into her shoulders feeling embarrassed by his warm touch. She heard him sigh yet again, "I'm thinking it was a good idea to keep these in my pocket," He chuckled pulling out a bandaid. Lue felt more relaxed seeing Yaku's smile and started to chuckle with him. He put the bandaid on her knee, stood up, and held out his hand for help which she happily took. "Alright if you two are done," Nekomata smirked at the two, causing them both to look away from one another and blush. "After school practice today will be turned into a practice match with Kunihira Senior High," Coach Naoi nodded. Lue glanced around and saw the team liven up from the news, she herself felt nervous. What does a manager do during a practice game with another school?
"Alright continue," Coach Nekomata nodded and the boys dispersed. "Loo! Toss me some balls?" Lev towered over the girl with a bright smile. "Love too!" She smiled happily pushing away her nervousness. They were about to walk off when she remembered her notebook, "Ah sorry Lev, I have to run and grab my notebook first!" She frowned. "When you get back then!" He gave her a large thumbs up and jogged toward Kenma. Lue swiftly spun in her shoes ready to make a sprint for the locker room but stopped when she heard her last name. "Hinako, come here." Naoi stood with his clipboard. "Yes coach?" She smiled bobbing over to him.
"I need you to get in contact with Karasuno's manager or advisor," He handed her a paper with contact information. "Karasuno sir?" She asked still staring at the sheet, noticing their teams manager is a girl. "Yeah, Nekomata thought it'd be a good idea to invite to our summer training camp." He gave her a gentle smile. Lue looked over the paper again, making note that the manager was named Kiyoko Shimizu and the advisor was Ittetsu Takeda. "You can skip morning practice and go ahead to call them and set it all up. The information is on the sheet." He patted her head twice and walked off. Lue smiled at her task, feeling very manager like. "I'll change first," She spoke aloud and began to walk toward the gyms doors.
"Leaving?" She looked up and saw Yaku with a ball tucked under his arm. She smiled while nodding, "Got to do managerial things," She waved the paper in the air. Yaku reached out and looked it over for a brief second before Lue took the paper back. Yaku shot her a wide eyed look as she giggled playfully and ran off. "See you later Yaku!" Her warm smile was the last thing he saw before she was out the doors. He couldn't deny that he felt a little deflated seeing Lue leave, he wanted to show her that he's improved on his lower receive. "You'll see her in class lover boy," Yaku jumped hearing Kuroo shout throughout the gym. The libero spun around and threw the ball right toward him, only for him to catch it.
"Shut you're damn mouth Kuroo!" The short third year was beet red. "You're very red Yaku, hitting a nerve?" Kuroo tossed the ball in the air. "Does that mean Yaku likes Loo?" Lev asked Inouka who was giddy. He was genuinely excited to see Loo getting along so well with his team, he wished he would've made her do this when he first joined. Yaku was kicking Lev, ready to jump up and strangle the boy all the while with a bright red face. "Okay that's enough, let's get in some drills." Nekomata chuckled as he rounded the team up.
"Um excuse me," Lue poked her head into the teacher lounge. "I need to make a call to Karasuno's volleyball team." Another teacher nodded and let her in, then showed her to the phone. Lue bowed and picked up the phone when she returned to her seat. The phone rang a few times before it was answered, the girls nerves shot through the roof as she just blurted before the person could speak. "May I speak to Mr. Takeda or Kiyoko Shimizu!" It almost sounded like word vomit but thankfully the person on the other line understood. She let out a sigh of relief as the call was placed on hold.
"Hello? Takeda speaking." That was quick.
"O-OH! Hello! I'm Hinako Lue! M-Manager for the Nekoma volleyball team!" Her words rushed.
"They have a manager, that's wonderful!" He sounded very pleasant, "Is there something I can help with?" He asked.
"Coach Nekomata has invited you and your team to attended the summer training camp!" His kind voice made Lue more relaxed.
"Are you sure!!" He gasped.
"Yes, it'll be in two weeks time and it says to come around—"
"Yes! Yes we'll be there!! THANK YOU!!"
She blinked at the corded phone in her hand, he hung up after shouting a thank you. A small smile crept on Lue lips as she thought about meeting another volleyball team. "Thank you," Lue bowed as she exited the room. Class wouldn't be in session for another hour, so Lue took the time to study the game. She found a tree secluded with a large rock in front of it. Thankfully the weather was better today and it was only a small breeze. She moved on top of the rock and let her legs curl beside her so the wind wouldn't fly up her skirt. Lue placed her notebook in her lap and had her phone pulled up to volley ball sites. She wrote down some notes, thinking of possible things that could help out each player.
After a few more minutes she looked up and saw the gym doors. She giggled to herself, her eyelids feeling heavy, she liked being close to the gym even if she wasn't apart of practice. And with a smile on her lips she fell asleep leaning against the rock.
"Want to run to the store for meat buns before classes start?" Kai smiled as he asked the team. Everyone agreed and started to rush out the gym doors after cleaning up. Yaku was the last to exit the gym, he was distracted by Lev's unintentional teasing. The over grown first year honest to god did not mean to make Yaku so flustered, he just wanted to know if the libero and the manager were dating secretly because they were so close. Tsk damn giant! Lue doesn't even know that I- he better not say anything like that around her! The boy grunted to himself with a shaking fist. "Uh?" He froze seeing the team was huddled around a tree.
"What's everyone looking at?" He asked from behind them. Two first years turned to look at him, shared a look, and pushed him into the circle. "She looks so cute!" Shibayama grinned with his hands on Yaku's shoulder. "Who?" Yaku cluelessly asked. "I need more pictures!!" Yamamoto squealed like a girl. "Move over I need to get a full shot without your head in the way!" Inouka glared trying to get his shot, but for blackmailing purposes unlike Yamamoto wanting to make it his lock screen. Yaku only grew more confused but once he was in the middle his eyes locked into a sleeping Lue.
So cute!!
He felt all types of choked up. She looked adorable, kind of like a chibi version of herself. Her brown locks were covering her face slightly and her uniform looked a little disheveled. Yaku snapped out of his own head, a small smile growing on his thin lips. "Ah Yaku don't get in the way!" Yamamoto whined. "You're acting like a perv." Kenma stared at him. "Am not!!" Yamamoto denied. Yaku turned out the others, not taking note of the look Kuroo gave his team. In a flash they were left alone. Yaku brushed her hair out of her face lightly, "Lue," He spoke.
No response.
"Lue, you gotta wait up." He waited but she was still sound asleep. He let out a sigh and sat next to her on the rock. He rested his head on the tree trunk, his body fully relaxed. "Mmm, cold." He heard Lue hum when a breeze hit the two. He looked down and saw her curling into his side to keep the wind away. Yaku smiled adoring at the sleepy girl. In a quick move he took off his jacket and draped it over her front. His eye caught sight of her notes for the team, another happy sigh left his lips. She's the best manager, and the best girl.
"I'll wake you up before class starts, promise." He chuckled to himself, soaking up this moment with Lue.