The three bullies stopped without much resistance - after seeing Mayumi constantly around Suna and the twins, they were quick to give up their schemes of becoming the volleyball club's manager and replace the Little Fox.
It was the explanations Mayumi had to give the team that she was dreading.
They didn't know anything about the situation - she wanted to keep it that way. Yet, it was better for the truth to come from her mouth than Suna's.
Maybe it would have helped her nerves if Osamu wasn't busy yelling and assaulting his brother.
Atsumu had to open his big mouth and claim he never makes mistakes during practice. Whether it was in reference to Mayumi and Suna showing up late - or backhandedly insulting Osamu's serves during practice - he was stirring the pot for trouble.
It started with the usual, "Screw you, you foul mouthed shit pig." accompanied with a swift kick that sent the setter to the ground. He should've known by now that the last person who wants to hear his egotistical trirands is his own twin.
"I'm just calling it how I see it - what exactly did I say that was WRONG?!" Atsumu yelled back, which only added fuel to the fire that raged on.
"I don't wanna hear that from someone with the personality of SEWAGE WATER!"
It was beginning to draw in unwanted attention from the students passing by outside, their 'precious twins' sure knew how to put on a show.
"Where the heck is Kita at?" it was some passerby that grabbed the attention of Mayumi - and she didn't know where the captain had gone. He was usually next to her for most of the practice when not doing drills, but he was absent from this practice once Suna and her got changed.
"He's still in the staff room" Ojiro replied to the student, blocking their view from the spectacle that was underway. It was difficult to force students out of the gym - especially with such a large number crowding around and wanting to see the action.
"Hey hey hey, they do this every other day - this is practice, not a zoo - there's nothing to see." She started her reasoning off kind and lighthearted, but ended it cold and with a steady glare to those still wanting to see the fight. With the manager's cold words and death stare, accompanied by Ojiro's sheer brute force - they were able to send outsiders away and close off the gym doors.
"Those idiots seem to only attract idiots." Mayumi pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on.
"If that's true, then why do you stick around them?"
"Don't make me send you outside too, Ojiro-san."
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With a few hits from Mayumi, the twins settled down. She had to be the barrier between them so that they wouldn't be at each other's necks again.
The two of them always reminded her of the bickering between her upperclassmen back in Miyagi. Only it was more one-sided there, Oikawa-senpai never really could retaliate against the strong and mighty Iwa-chan.
Shinsuke returned from the staff room, not surprised to see the disheveled appearance of the three of them. Their antics were always worse whenever he had to step away from practice.
Only this wasn't a usual staff meeting about the club.
It was about their manager.
-------------
Suna gave her a pointed look as the team took down the equipment for the day, saying either-you-tell-or-I-do through his stare.
Mayumi sighed at the realization, her time to talk to them about the girls had come sooner than she expected, and she didn't know how to start that conversation.
'Hey guys, what kind of ice cream should I get from the convenience store? Also I was bullied this week but everything is fine now!'
Yeah, as if that would go over well.
It was daunting, she never tells them what's going on outside of what they already know. Hell, half of the team is unaware that she lives with just her grandmother, her parents are off doing whatever for their careers.
It seemed better that way, the less she lets others in - the less chance that they'll hurt her.
She's already been hurt before, so who is to say it won't happen again.
But they were different.
She has grown in her abilities as a manager, so maybe it's time to grow and be more of a friend to her teammates - trust them like they trust her already.
Now or never.
"Everyone, before you leave - I have something to say."
-------------
Everyone wasn't too shocked over their manager getting harassed by other female students - they were more surprised it has not occurred sooner. The twins' popularity drew in a lot of fan-girls, and it was only a matter of time.
They made it to the convenience store, Mayumi had asked her ice cream question but she didn't take their suggestions whatsoever - it was chocolate or nothing. The weather was cooling down - before they know it, it'll be time for the holidays and winter break.
Shinsuke, for once in his life, didn't want to be alone on the remainder of the walk home with Mayumi. The store is typically the split-up point for all of the volleyball players, so Mayumi and him were always together going home unless the twins dragged her away.
She seemed to notice his hesitation in leaving the store, but did not want to pressure him as they slowly made their way to their houses. Apparently she failed to notice that Shinsuke stopped walking, until he softly stopped her by grabbing the back of her hooded jacket.
"Mayumi," It was better to hear from him, rather than someone else, he decided.
"You're falling behind in Japanese Literature again. Your homeroom teacher talked to me about it."
Oh.
At least she was doing well in math.
-------------
Her homeroom teacher was the previous homeroom teacher for Shinsuke during his second-year, hence why he sought out the captain of the team. It was half to find a suitable tutor for Mayumi, and also for someone else to tell her that she needs to get her act together - or else her rank would continue to fall in the subject.
The first tutor the homeroom teacher suggested was actually Osamu, who excelled in their current unit that they were studying.
That was shut down from the captain immediately.
Shinsuke was the next clear choice - he understood all the material that Mayumi would face now and for the rest of the school year, if needed. He has always maintained his his marks in all his classes, it wouldn't be much for him to help out their manager. They are around each other for than enough - additionally for training and matches that would be held outside of school hours they could study then too. Plus they lived right next door to each other, it was a perfect solution - once he was able to convince her teacher of it.
Only thing that he didn't account for was the twins wanting to study with them as well.
The two sneaky devils.
Truth is, the two of them would need more than a dropkick or a swift punch from Mayumi if they wanted to actually study with them. Shinsuke wasn't going to let them distract their manager over whatever antics they could come up with, Mayumi was going to learn properly - with or without the twins.
Preferably without the twins, as far as Shinsuke was concerned.