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Fandom I Only Need Memories Of You

WinterFever

WinterFever

Somebody's Nobody
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Name: Emi Nanako
Nickname: Em, Em-Chan, Shorty,
Age: 17 (Second year)
Crush: Atsumu Miya
Likes: Sweets, Cooking, Music, Annoying the twins, Cats, Manga, Figure Skating, Movies, Romance Novels, Volleyball, Running
Dislikes: Sour things, Studying, Bugs, Blood, Heights, Her short height
History: Emi is half Japanese and half American. She was born in California and lived there until she was in third grade when her parents decided to move to Japan to be closer to her elderly grandparents on her dad's side. She was nervous about the move, and the difference in culture but her parents were there to help her adjust to the move. As well as get better at learning the language before school starts.
Lucky for Emi, there were some kids down the street from her who were her age and would be attending the same elementary school. At first, Emi had been scared to go up to them, but one day she saw them walking to the park across from her house and ended up following them and watching from the bench for a few before one of them asked her if she wanted to play volleyball with them. It was the first time she played the sport and it was one of the happiest memories that she had. Ever since Emi was thankful for the twins for inviting her to play with them because it gave her a bit more confidence in interacting with others.​



Headcannon / relationship inspo~
- Emi is actually a bit scared of Kita. With his often lack of emotions and when he does show them, they give her chills. So, when she wants to talk to any of the guy's team or Momo-chan, she'll wait til they're alone. Even then, she'll often make sure that Kita isn't around.

- Emi is barely 5'0 in height, so the guys tend to use her as an armrest as a way of teasing her when they all hang out.

- When Emi found out that Momo was joining the guy's volleyball team as a manager, it rubbed Emi the wrong way. Thinking that she was going to use the chance to get close to Atsumu. Although, when that didn't happen Emi basically felt like an idiot and cried silently for a few days before approaching the girl to try and get close to her. Now, she adored Momo-chan.

- Inarizaki High band: Emi loves it, and is often seen bobbing her head to it.

- Accidentally bit Osamu on the hand when they were in fifth grade because she got caught up in a fight the twins were having. (Has a SUPER tiny scar on the side of his pinky~)

- Even though they've been friends for years, Emi is still surprised at how popular the twins are. It's also the reason she hasn't said anything to Atsumu. She doesn't want to seem like one of his many fans, plus she has a weird power trip when she gets to rub it in when she hears how the other girls are jealous that she got to hang out with them and they weren't even spared a second glance.

- Has a pick of Aran, Atsumu, and Osamu with her at the spring festival during their first year in high school as her phone's background.

- Got yelled at by the twin's mom in middle school because she was caught giving them the meat from her plate in exchange for their vegetables.

-Girls Volleyball Team: Emi was mostly on the bench during her first year on the girls volleyball team, acting as a back-up if the at the time third year libero got injured. After gaining her starting position after the third years left. The team saw a spike in more saved balls because of Emi. The new third years are impressed with her hard work. The second years are jealous because they knew who she practices a lot with outside of practice and the first years on the girls team are amazed by her, as well as a bit scared of how good she it. Although, everyone is a bit put off on how clumsy she can be at times....

Girls Volleyball Team Starters and extra~
- Airi Saito- Setter-Captain (3rd year)
- Haruka Akagi-Middle Blocker (3rd year)
- Yaeko Fuse-Middle Blocker(2nd year)
- Rei Harata- Opposite Hitter (2nd year)
- Aoi Kasai-Outside Hitter (3nd year)
- Emi (Libero)
- Natsuki Shio- Coach

ever since they were children, Emperor Kalyx loved the sickly princess Ilya with all his heart. though an arranged marriage since they were children was political at first, his affection for her was genuine. however, Ilya suffered from a strange condition known as "winter fever" that caused her health to severely decline when winter's chill set in. As the years passed and they grew into adulthood, kalyx became increasingly desperate to find a cure for his beloved's affliction.

when rumors spread of a mythical "dragon of hope" whose power could heal any malady, Kalyx saw his chance. he gathered his most trusted warriors and advisors. One of them is the archer named Vilhelm who used magic to infuse his arrows with elemental energy, paired with his scary accuracy and quick thinking, he was the most trusted warrior of the emperor. they set out on an arduous quest across the treacherous land to locate the dragon's resting place. along the way, they faced horrific monsters, cunning foes, and deadly traps and mazes that tested their resolve and commitment to the princess.
princess ilya was conceived with the dragon of Hope's help, as her mother was dying of winter fever when she had her. By some grand design, their lives were intertwined even when she was just a mere baby.

unfortunately, during their long absence, an enemy force seized the opportunity to invade the kingdom. As the bitter winter continued, the people fell into panic and despair, causing Ilya's condition to deteriorate at an alarming rate. upon receiving word, kalyx, and his team were forced to abandon their dragon quest temporarily to race back and defend their homeland.

after a heroic battle, they managed to beat back the invasion. however, Ilya was now near death's door, her life force fading like the last embers of winter. the only choice was to resume their search for the dragon immediately. when at last they found the ancient beast's burial grounds, they discovered a tragic revelation--the only way to revive the dragon of hope was by sacrificing a pure, selfless soul, whose heart contained unwavering hope.
with a peaceful, brave smile, the dying Ilya made the choice for them. She used the last of her waning strength to awaken the mythical dragon, saving the kingdom but seemingly perishing herself in the process. kalyx was utterly heartbroken, holding his love's lifeless body. but then, the newly reborn dragon revealed Ilya's spirit had merged with its own, becoming one with the embodiment of hope itself. each spring she would revive, giving life and renewal to the land, but each winter she would fade as the people's hope waned. though Ilya could never be fully human again, she swore to find and love Kalyx. meaning, she would wait patiently and hope that Kalyx will be reincarnated and fall in love with her once again.
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Second year, she was a second-year student at one of the top powerhouses in Japan! Who would have thought that the half-breed would have gotten to attend such a powerful and popular school? She, Emi, was certainly not one to have expected it. She was not the brightest, nor was she the tallest or the most talented. Yet, she was a starter on the girl's volleyball team at one of the top schools in Japan. It was insane, and even just going about her normal day-to-day activities felt like a dream sometimes. It was like, a dream that had become a reality, a glitch in some sort of matrix that allowed for Emi to do something that not many expected out of her, because let's all be honest. She could barely reach the lowest shelf in a cabinet without having to jump onto the counter to get the cookies she wanted. Or would have to act like a monkey and jump as well as climb to get things off of top shelves in the grocery stores. Yet, here she was becoming a star volleyball player. Crazy, it was just so freaking crazy.

The first day, today was the first day of practice of her second year at this monster of a school. It was exhilarating, to say the least. What could be in store this year for her? For the girl's volleyball team? Would they be able to make it to nationals like the guy's team probably will? She hoped so, who wouldn't? A stadium filled with people cheering you on? It was terrifying, yet had this sort of hold on you that also filled you with energy at the same time. It was something that Emi never dreamed could be real. Which, often made Emi once again question herself being awake at the moment.

Breathing in a deep breath, Emi adjusted her bag on her shoulder as she walked out of the girl's dorm and headed down the hall. Her feet took the stairs one at a time so that she didn't act like a fool and trip like she did last year out of excitement for the first practice of the year. That was a weird one to explain to her classmates, not to mention having to listen to the guys making fun of her for being clumsy like usual. She should have grown out of that habit by now, but for some reason, it was sticking with her for the long run. It was quite annoying, but Emi figured she could just use it to act cute and get guys who weren't jerks like the twins to give her sympathy. At least, that's what Emi always tells herself but she's not confident enough to talk to guys that she hasn't known for a long time. Let alone doesn't think she could act cute in general.

Letting out a defeated sigh, Emi adjusted her bag once more as she got to the bottom of the stairs. Hopping off of the last step out of habit now because the last step always made the most noise at home. Then, Emi started walking towards the other side of the school where the gym was to change into her practice clothes to start the morning practice.
She was halfway there when she heard a voice behind her. Stopping, Emi turned around and noticed two of the first-year boys she met a few days ago because of Momo-chan. She did her best to offer the kid a small smile but she could see he was still nervous for some reason.
"Um uh-" The boy stammered, he seemed to fidget for a few before excusing himself and running off to the guy's gym.

"That was weird," Emi mumbled, not sure what had just happaned.

----

Morning runs, they always seemed to feel more refreshing then a cool shower after a long game or workout. Why was that? Was it because the air wasn't yet polluted by the other students who existed in the planes of existence of the school? Or, was it because of the solitude of being alone and able to listen to one's thoughts more clearly that Shinsuke often enjoyed more than the high energy of groups of people? Either way, running in the morning was more relaxing, his muscles stretching and warming up to start the day on the right path. It was a habit, a ritual that Shinsuke wasn't sure that he was ever going to give up. Even after high school. He was pretty sure he was going to keep up with his morning routine of morning runs. Not many other students were awake yet and those who were were few and far between this morning. Seeing as the school had just started and not many had jumped back into the routine of school life.

As his morning run came to an end, Shinsuke made his way to the guys' gym to start practice. His muscles were warmed up and he could feel his mind clearing itself of the fog from sleep. His thoughts moved smoother, ready to have to deal with the headaches that were the first and second years. Oh, how he could not wait to be a true adult and not have to deal with those younger than him. They were all just so, rambunctious. He wasn't sure how he was going to be able to keep a hold of them all, but he was determined to lead them to victory during his time as their captain. The weight of the school's expectations was weighing on his shoulders and that weight was heavy for someone who hadn't had a jersey or played a game in the past two years.

Arriving back at the gym, Shinsuke could feel himself breathing a bit heavily as he stopped in front of the doors. His hands moved to rest on his hips as he caught his breath. His dark gaze took in everything around him. He didn't have any of his teammates waiting on him, which meant he was still a bit early or his team this year were all slackers. Fingers crossed it was the ladder. After he had caught his breath, Shinsuke reached a hand into his right hand and pulled out the keys to the gym and proceeded to unlock the gym before going inside. The automatic lights turned on a couple of moments after the volleyball captain walked inside. His shoes squeaked slightly as he made his way towards the equipment room and unlocked that door as well so the underclassmen could get things set up for the team once they started to arrive.

As Shinsuke was leaving the equipment room, he glanced toward the door and saw that some of the first years were starting to arrive. One looked flustered and the rest seemed to be laughing at him, but he didn't really care. It wasn't his problem what they did outside of club activities. As they stopped to greet him, Shinsuke offered the first years a small head bow before asking them to start setting up. They listened right away.
He watched the first years head towards the equipment room, followed by hearing their amazement at how big the room was and all of the things they had. They were a powerhouse, so of course they'd have all of the late equipment. Glancing away from the equipment room, Shin saw Matsuda-san entering.

"Matsuda-san." Shinsuke greeted, as he moved to the side to watch the first year's setup. His gaze watching his new teammates as he wondered what the coach would want to do for this years starting line up.
 
"Oi, Tsumu! Hurry up!" Osamu yelled at his older twin who was still putting on his shoes. The silver-haired man had his hands in his pockets, his navy school bag hanging in his shoulder. Today was their first day as second years, and they didn't want to upset their new captain by being late.

The blond man just rolled his eyes as he stood up with his black school bag, his hands behind his head. "C'mon, Samu. There's no way Kita-senpai would be there already," he said nonchalantly as they walked to the train station. He then received a text from their group SMS, seeing that Emi already made her way to school while Aran might catch up later. Atsumu just snickered, shoving his phone to his brother's face.

"See? Even Aran isn't still there!" he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"But since you're such a slowpoke, we let Em go to school alone," Osamu retorted, putting away his twin's phone away. "And we knew how she fell down majestically during their first practice."

"Shorty is a handful all right~" the older Miya said, smilig fondly at the memory as he even offered to carry her to the clinic that day. He was used in carrying her piggyback style, after all she grew up as a clumsy kid. She hated him for how he poked fun of her clumsiness and never let it down for weeks, but he genuinely thought that the klutzy blonde was endearing. Their travel to Inarizaki was filled with fun conversations, sharing their excitement for the upcoming games, knowing that their school has a reputation of reaching the finals. And today was their first day...

Once they reached Inarizaki, Atsumu's eyes were fixated on the short blonde libero who was on her way to morning practice. Osamu was turning off the music playing from his phone, removing his earphones and looked at his older brother. The blond seemed happy as he looked at the distance, about to run towards her.

"Shorty...!" Atsumu yelled with his hands waving, but he faltered as he saw a group of first year students approach her. His jaw ticked in annoyance, looked at Osamu briefly, then headed towards the men's practice gym.

Osamu saw the whole exchange but didn't hear anything significant, and how the group scurried away. When they left, instead of following his older twin, he headed towards Emi with a smile. "Good morning Em! I think Tsumu woke in the wrong side of the bed today..." he said, trying to start a conversation with her before he headed to the gym. "How about you? It seemed like our new members took a liking at you already."

"Yeah, I think they already do like you," Aran, who just arrived, said with a goofy smile. They still had fifteen minutes to spare before the practice starts, so the two decided to chat with their childhood friend. "Good morning, Osamu-kun and Emi-chan! ...Eh? Where's Atsumu-kun?"

Osamu pointed at the men's volleyball gym, "He already went inside..."

"Oh," was all Aran could say, looking at Emi with a puzzled look as if asking her what happened.

---

Riding her bike to school, Momoka felt the cool morning breeze hit her cheeks. Inarizaki High was actually just two blocks from her home, but she figured that biking would do her cardiovascular health more good. She bought this bike during their vacation, thinking that she needed more physical activity aside from practicing volleyball at home. The fields were a relaxing scenery as she travelled to school, inhaling the fresh air as she sped up. She reached the school fifteen minutes before the first practice of the academic year starts.

She parked her bike, walking past a group of freshmen who applied for the men's volleyball team during the vacation. She smiled politely as they greeted her with a bow. They reached the gym faster than the pink-haired manager who was just walking in a relaxed pace with her navy school bag on her shoulders and a black clipboard in her hands. When she entered, she saw the volleyball captain together with some of the freshmen who excitedly went to the equipment room. Atsumu entered the room with his eyes shooting daggers at the rowdy first years as he went to get changed.

However, seeing Kita already made her day. She smiled timidly at the captain and helped him in setting up the net that the first years brought out, "Good morning, Kita-san! I hope for a good game today."

Atsumu entered the gym once again in his practice uniform, lacking his usually cocky attitude. Instead, it was replaced with a chilly look that he often gave when he's absorbed in a game. "Good morning, Kita-senpai. Matsuda-senpai," he greeted them before he proceeded to warm up.

"What's up with him?" Momoka asked Shinsuke, her head tilting to the side with curiosity to get a better view of the setter's annoyed expression. "It's just the first day."
 
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Raising her right hand, Emi grabbed onto her bag's strap. Her gaze followed the small group of first years. People usually didn't approach her out of the blue, much less people she didn't know personally. She was just a normal average looking girl in her mind. Her grades were passing, but that was only thanks to Momo-chan when they studied together. So, why were the first years approaching her? Pursing her lips together, Emi moved to cross her arms over her stomach as she thought.

Blinking in confusion, Emi frowned a bit as she watched Atsumu storming to the gym. Looking like something was bothering him. Usually, he spoke to her in the morning when they saw each other. Was he mad that she didn't wait for him and the others this morning? It wasn't like there were going to be other days that they'd get to walk to school together though. At least, that's what Emi thought.
Taking a slight step to back as she turned, Emi smiled at the younger twin as he approached her. At least hearing Osamu's approach. "Oh, good morning!" Emi greeted her long-time friend. Her spirits lifted at seeing at least one of her friends this morning.

A look of confusion slowly appeared on Emi's face as she listened to Osamu. Her gaze slowly flickered to the guys' gym before looking back at her friend. "Are you sure it wasn't because you were rushing him?" Emi asked, in a teasing tone and poked her friend in the stomach. Then, her smile slowly fell as she looked at Aran as he approached before looking at the two in complete confusion. "I haven't met any of your first years besides when they were doing introductions last week. How could they like me already?" Emi asked, complete confusion on her face as she crossed her arms over her stomach once more and wrinkled her nose in thought as she looked back towards the gym.

"First years are weird," Emi mumbled, going silent for a moment before she realized that she hadn't answered Osamu's question. "I slept amazing last night, plus I didn't trip leaving this morning so that means that today is going to be a good day!" Emi said with confidence as she placed her hands on her hips. Standing proudly she looked at her childhood friends.

Then, glancing towards Aran Emi spoke to her friend. "According to Samu, Sumu woke up on the wrong side of the bed." She explained. Then, Emi released a small sigh as she slowly shook her head. "I swear, sometimes it's like I'm the only mature one in this group," Emi said, knowing full well that she was the youngest of the group and the one to in fact not act her age the most. "What would you guys do without me?"

----

Things were getting set up quickly because of the first years and now that Matsuda-san had arrived, it meant that things were going to go a lot smoother. She was good at analyzing things and writing down important information that would be great to use once the season's matches were going to start. "Of course, we're going to have a good game today. We have strong teammates." Shinsuke said as he glanced at Matsuda-san with his usual calm expression. His head tilted slightly as he glanced at the girl before finishing with the net.

Standing up straight, the Captain stood silently as he glanced towards the door and watched as Atsumu came storming in. Looking like he was holding in his temper for some reason. He returned the greeting before he looked back towards Matsuda-san as he heard her speaking once more. "He probably got into a fight with his brother again," Shinsuke said and shrugged his shoulder. He was the captain and the twin's senpai. He wasn't their brother or family in any sort of way, so it wasn't his business that was bothering him. Unless his temper got in the way of practice or any game they played. Then it would be Shinsuke's problem to smooth out. So, for now, he was going to let things go.

"Oh, do you have the full list of the first years?" Shinsuke asked, remembering that they had heard that they had a couple of last-minute sign-ups. So he wanted to look over who the applicants were so he wasn't thrown off when they suddenly had more people enter the gym than was expected. Walking to the edge of the gym so that they were out of the way of the first years setting up and so that he could see who was already there. Taking a mental note of who was early and who he was still waiting on to start practice.

Glancing towards Matsuda-san as she handed him the papers, the Captain took the papers and glanced over the sheet. "We've got a good number this year," Shinsuke murmured as he glanced up and looked at all of the thinner and smaller members running around as they started to warm up. Inarizaki was a powerhouse school. They had some of the best sports teams and were known to be hard to get into if you didn't get a sports scholarship to attend. So, seeing the number on the sheet it showed the captain that once he graduated things were going to become tougher because there would be a lot more people vying for a spot on the starting line-up.

Hearing a whistle, Shinsuke glanced up as he handed the papers back to the manager before heading towards the coach. Practice was about to get started and it would seem bad on him if he was the one to be last when he was the Captain. So, walking over Shinsuke stood with the rest of the team and waited patiently for the instructions on what they were going to be starting with today. Then, after they warm up he was looking forward to the practice matches between the new members and some of the existing members. Seeing the new talent and those who have trained over break, was going to be interesting. Not to mention he was curious as to how the team's new manager was going to be handling things.
 
"Are you sure it wasn't because you were rushing him?" Emi chided while poking Osamu. Osamu laughed lightheartedly at Emi's teasing jab about him rushing Atsumu. Lately, his older twin had a nightly habit of watching jump float serves from the Internet so he was staying up late.

"Maybe a little," he admitted with a grin. "You know that our new captain gets antsy if we're not perfectly on time. Tsumu has been obsessing with jump float serves."

Aran's eyes sparkled brightly. "So cool! I wonder if we can see it in the practice later?"

"Only if he gets in a better mood, I guess," Osamu said with a shrug.

When Emi expressed confusion over the first years' interest, Osamu grinned widely and raised his eyebrow suggestively. "Who knows with those kids? You're pretty memorable though, so I'm not surprised they've taken a likin' to ya."

Aran chuckled, placing a huge hand on Emi's shoulder. "Don't let it go to your head, Emi-chan. We all know you can be just as weird as any of those first years." His tone is warm and familiar, a friendly teasing that only his closest friends see. In the court, he's seen as a threatening ace but he's happy that he has friends whom he considered his younger siblings.

"I slept amazing last night, plus I didn't trip leaving this morning so that means that today is going to be a good day!" Emi said with a smile, she seemed unstoppable today. Aran and Osamu both wondered if that's gonna be a case. But it's Aran who first tried to jinx it with a mischievous grin.

"That's the spirit! Though I have a feeling you'll be eating those words by lunchtime."

"I swear, sometimes it's like I'm the only mature one in this group," the blonde girl declared, even if she was the youngest one in their unlikely group of childhood friends which made the duo snicker. "What would you guys do without me?"

Osamu mocked her, ruffling Emi's blonde hair. "Only mature one? You?! You're just as tall as a twelve-year-old!!"

"We'd be lost without you bringing us back down to earth, oh great Emi-hime~" Aran joked as if praising the small blonde girl like a deity.

Osamu just laughed fondly, but then paused because of chills as he remembered Kita's ice-cold stare. "Anyway, see you at lunch! Kita-san might scold us if we arrived late in the first day of practice."

"See you later and don't forget to save us a seat, Emi-chan!" Aran said as he waved good bye, the both of them heading to their morning practice.

---

Momoka felt her heart flutter as Kita approached to discuss the upcoming practice. She tried to remain composed and professional despite her nerves. "Yes, I have the full list of new first years right here," she stammered, handing him the clipboard she was holding earlier. Some of the first years in the file looked like the same ones who were rushing earlier to the gym.

She smiled at the compliment that they had a good number of new recruits this year, she knew that everyone who went to the tryouts were promising, but they handpicked everyone who would join the roster for the year. Inarizaki High prided itself as being a powerhouse, so of course a lot of aspiring volleyball players who wish to play at the Nationals would come to their school. "I'm looking forward to seeing how they do in the practice matches later," she said, adjusting her glasses. "I'm sure with your leadership, we'll mold them into a strong team in no time."

Momoka cursed herself silently for sounding so foolishly optimistic, it was so unlike her! She was never very smooth or eloquent around Shinsuke, and maybe she would prefer it if she was just a stammering hot mess... at least, she can blame it on being shy. But all of her thoughts dissipated when they heard the whistle. When he handed back the papers, their hands briefly brushed against each other, causing Momoka to nearly drop them as her face turned bright red.

She watched Kita head over to the coach, admiration in her gaze. She wished she could be calm and confident like him instead of a bumbling, anxious mess in his presence. Someday, she hoped to tell him how she really felt since this is their last year in high school. For now, she would channel her energy into supporting him and the team as best she could in her role as manager. Taking a deep breath to collect herself, Momoka turned her focus to observing the members warm up. Atsumu looked troubled as he looked at the freshmen while stretching. Meanwhile, Osamu and Aran quietly snuck in, albeit a few minutes late. She sighed with a smile, she knew that their captain's gonna scold them.

---

Lunchtime​

Osamu was worried, his brother was uncharacteristically quiet as they proceeded to the cafeteria to buy lunch. The twins were in separate sections to avoid confusion from the teachers, but most likely because they pranked everyone when April Fool's Day came and they tried to pretend like the other twin for a day. Of course, their close friends like Aran and Emi knew immediately but it was still a funny prank. These twin brothers were a menace, and the teachers wanted to separate them to hopefully avoid that situation again.

"Tsumu?" Osamu called out to his brother who was staring blankly at his yakisoba bun. They were now seated at the table which was weird.

Why was that? Since Atsumu and Emi were classmates, it would be more natural if it was the two of them to be in the cafeteria first. But seeing that the older Miya was together with his younger twin meant that he ignored her for the rest of the morning period. Which was unusual of him, since he loves poking fun of Emi.

"Huh?" Atsumu looked at Osamu as if startled, he looked so downtrodden.

"What's wrong?" the silver-haired twin asked, but Atsumu just shrugged and ate his yakisoba bun in silence.
 
It was nice that Samu and Aran were able to bring up her spirits and talk with her this morning. Now it was lunchtime and Sumu was still being weird. Emi sat back in her seat and had watched the blond practically treat her like she hadn't existed when he left. Heck, he didn't even greet her when he walked into the room either. Something more was going on, and Emi wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Standing up, Emi slowly followed behind the seemingly angry volleyball setter. Keeping a safe distance from him just to be sure, even going as far as to hide behind people or the walls if he turned his head or something to make sure he didn't spot her. From all of her observations though, it didn't seem like he was anxious to meet up to anyone. Let alone he got his food and had gone to the table alone. Narrowing her eyes, Emi hummed quietly from her hiding spot by the wall. Then, after watching her friend for a few more moments before going to get her own lunch.

Emi's thought process had been confirmed by other girls in line as they waited for their food. She wasn't sure why the idea bothered her so much, but she was certain of it. There was nothing else that could have been bothering one of her best friends. With her tray in hand, Emi went to the table and was surprised to see that the others had made it before her. Making her confrontation with Sumu a group affair now.
Breathing in a deep breath, Emi slowly exhaled. Getting rid of her nerves just as if she was going to go into a tough match and made her way to the table. She dropped her tray across from Sumu and stood behind the chair. Her hands moved one more to rest on her hips. "I figured out what's wrong with Sumu!" She announced to the table, but also quiet enough to not disturb the others.

Then, she raised her right hand and pointed at her sulking friend. "Sumu had his heart broken by a long-distance girlfriend!" Emi wasn't sure how to feel when she said that out loud, her heart squeezed a bit, and she felt a need to run away from her friends but she had no idea why. The twins were popular, they've got millions of fans so it was only natural that they'd start dating and getting their hearts crushed, and vice versa. So, why did it feel like her heart was the one that was shattering?

----

Why was he doing this? This wasn't like him. Matsuda-san was just a girl in his class until she randomly decided to join the guy's team as a manager. Sure, that fact didn't bother Shinsuke. Anyone who could help the team was welcome, but. What was bothering him was the fact that he was standing in the convenience store and looking at the vitamin drinks. Wondering what a girl would like. He had bought himself and his siblings vitamin water often when they were all sick, but Matsuda-san wasn't family. So, why was he doing this? It kinda irked the Captain, it was not in his habit to do things like this. It was unusual and threw him off his kilter.

Turning, Shinsuke took a couple of steps away from the shelf before turning back and looking at the selection once more. His arms crossed in annoyance as he couldn't get himself to just walk away from trying to help the team's manager. Then, it was like luck was finally on his side because as he was standing there, a worker came by to add to the selection of the shelf "Um." Shinsuke murmured to get the employee's attention. The person seemed a bit intimidated when they saw his tall height and intimidating build, but nonetheless helped him pick out a drink that they'd seen most girls buy.

"Thank you," Shinsuke said calmly before leaving with the drink in hand. He headed back to school with his usually calm expression. His footsteps did even, not even show how he was anxious to see the manager and offer her the drink. Just so that she could keep herself healthy, the volleyball team could use the morals of a manager and the underclassmen seemed to have taken a liking to her. There was no other reason to be doing something like this for a girl that Shinsuke didn't know. No other reason at all.
Heading back to the classroom, it was kinda a relief to Shinsuke that Matsuda-san seemed to be the loner type like him. Preferring to eat in the silence of the classroom instead of the loud and often rowdy cafeteria.
Walking towards where the girl was sitting, Shinsuke placed the drink silently on her desk as he looked down at her. "You looked like you had a fever earlier. If you're going to be a manager of a top-level team, it's best if you take care of yourself first." Shinsuke said, his usual tone making him sound like he was annoyed with the girl, but it was quite the opposite. He was far from annoyed with her, he just didn't see the point in sugarcoating his words. If she got sick, it would put her behind and she'd probably blame herself for not being able to keep up. This was their last year and she didn't need that sort of stress.
 
Osamu was the first to react, his eyes widening comically before he threw his head back and guffawed loudly, nearly choking on his tempura. "A long-distance girlfriend? Tsumu?" He wheezed out between laughs. "That's a good one, Emi-chan!"

"Wha—I do not have a long-distance girlfriend! So there's no way I'm breaking up with one!" Atsumu sputtered indignantly, his face flushing.

Osamu slapped the table, still cackling. "Can ya imagine? Mr. 'I Only Have Eyes For Volleyball' with a secret lover?"

"Who has a secret lover?" Aran casually asked, sitting beside Atsumu with a tray of a full-course meal. Osamu pointed at his older twin, still laughing.

"No one!" Atsumu snapped, embarrassed. He looked at Emi almost pleadingly. "Ya can't actually believe that, right Emi-chan?"

Osamu collected himself with a few lingering chuckles while Aran just watched the exchange like he was watching a rom-com. "Maybe she's right though? Could explain why you've been so grumpy lately, bro," the younger twin said and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"I ain't grumpy or heartbroken, jerks!" Atsumu insisted hotly. He looked at Emi intently. "C'mon, Shorty! Ya know there's no girl, I'd tell ya if there was."

Despite his protests, there was a slight flush on Atsumu's cheeks, and a glimmer of something like hopefulness in his eyes as he sought Emi's trust and validation over his brother's teasing. It was hard enough that he couldn't figure out why he was upset earlier, and his brother kept adding fuel to the fire.

Osamu just kept grinning cheekily. "If you say so, lover boy. But maybe you should stop ignoring our beloved Emi-chan even if you woke up in the wrong side of bed today~"

"Shut up!" Atsumu looked mortified as the whole table burst out laughing at Osamu's joke, leaving the setter flustered.

Aran swallowed his food before finally speaking his thoughts aloud. "Well, Osamu-kun is right. It's pretty weird how you didn't even greet Emi-chan earlier this morning..."

"I just..." Atsumu tried to explain his side, but he couldn't find a suitable excuse. "I..."

His confident and cocky exterior faded away as he looked at the petite girl in front of him. Feeling his heart flutter as he stared into her baby blue eyes, he couldn't help but feel upset in himself for treating his childhood friend like invisible this morning. He opened his mouth, trying to find words but he couldn't think of anything so he just closed his mouth again. He sighed, then looked at her once again.

"I'm sorry for ignoring you, Emi," the setter said, still not breaking eye contact.

---

Momoka preferred staying in their classroom for lunch, it was quiet and it gave her more time since she didn't have to wait in line. Plus, she always cooked her own bento lunches. Today's menu is seared salmon, egg rolls, some cherry tomatoes for color, and cute cat-shaped onigiri. She was eating one of the egg rolls when Kita entered the room. He was out for quite some time, but Momoka's eyes widened as the stoic approached with a drink, her face turning bright red.

"F-For me?" She squeaked in surprise, fidgeting with her hands. "You didn't have to go to the trouble, Kita-san."

"You looked like you had a fever earlier. If you're going to be a manager of a top-level team, it's best if you take care of yourself first," he said in almost a matter-of-fact manner.

She gently took the drink, avoiding eye contact in embarrassment. She felt good earlier, energized even since she really liked being Inarizaki's volleyball manager. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm not sick..."

Momoka's heart raced at Kita's thoughtfulness. She hoped her blushing wasn't too obvious. His caring gesture only made her crush intensify, though she was too timid to openly show it.
 
It felt like things were spiraling out of control for a couple of moments there, but after watching Sumu's reaction to everything. It seemed like everything was slowly going back to normal. They were all laughing and teasing each other. So, maybe she had been wrong? Maybe her mind had conjured something up to cause her panic. Panic over what though, she didn't know.

Pursing her lips after making eye contact with Tsumu for a couple of moments, Emi slowly nodded her head. "Kay." Was all Emi could find herself able to say as she watched the setter for a couple of moments. Trying to read between the lines to see if he was lying or not. Then, she slowly moved to sit in her seat across from the grumpy boy. Her arms rested on the table for a moment as she kept her eye contact. "I think I'd accept your apology better though if you didn't have a noodle stuck to your cheek," Emi said casually, her right hand raising and pointing to the right side of her cheek. Her lips pulled back into a soft smile as a way to show she had forgiven him.

"Alright, alright. I guess I was wrong," Emi admitted and looked to the group. Grinning to show that she was happy that things were going back to normal and molding into the group. She loved hanging out with these weirdos. They've been together for years, so if something were to ever happen to the group? Emi feels like she'd be shattered. Her heart still ached from the thought of Sumu hurting, but, knowing that he wasn't upset over something like a relationship made the ache in her chest a little bit more bearable.

Looking down at her lunch, a bowl of curry and rice with a side salad to eat, and a carton of orange juice and milk. She grabbed the milk carton and placed it on the table for whoever wanted it. She hated normal milk, she' usually only drank chocolate or fruit milk but it was all they had. "What upset you though?" Emi casually asked, glancing down to scoop up some of her rice and curry together before taking a small bite.

----

Looking down at the glasses-wearing girl, Kita couldn't help but tilt his head slightly in confusion. "Who else would it be for?" He asked, arching a brow at the girl. Not able to help the slight sarcasm. He had placed the drink on her desk, did she really think he would have done that for her to hand to someone else? Was it not obvious enough? Should he have written on the drink? "I'm the captain of the volleyball team. It's my job to take care of its members."

Shrugging his shoulders, Shinsuke casually leaned back against the best behind him as he looked at the glasses-wearing girl. "Your face looks red again." He commented, not reading how things were playing out. "Taking care of one's self during stressful times is important Matsuda-san." Shinsuke lectured like she was one of the first years who had just joined and didn't know the way to properly receive the ball.

Taking in a deep breath, Shinsuke closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to collect his thoughts. He didn't know what he was doing. Why was he talking to this girl? They've been classmates for two years and he decides to take notice of her now? Why? Was it because she was helping his team out now? Or, was it something else? Opening his eyes, Shinsuke looked down at Matsuda-san once more. "Anyway, I wasn't sure what you'd like. So I hope you like that flavor." He said, trying to sound casual, his right hand moving to the back of his neck as he looked to the side in embarrassment.

After a couple more seconds that felt like long hours, Shinsuke slowly cleared his throat. "I should uh, get some fresh air before lunch is over." He murmured, not understanding what he was doing or saying at the moment. "Sorry for interrupting your lunch, Matsuda-san," Shinsuke said quietly as he stood up straight and turned to leave the classroom.
 
Atsumu felt relief wash over him as Emi seemed to accept his denial about having a long-distance girlfriend. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was interested in someone else. But when she pointed out the noodle on his cheek with that soft smile, he couldn't help but return it, the lingering grumpiness melting away. Sheepishly, he rubbed at his cheek, dislodging the wayward noodle.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," he grumbled good-naturedly, but his eyes were bright with affection as he looked at Emi.

As she admitted she was wrong and grinned at the group, Atsumu felt that familiar tug in his chest—the one that made him want to bask in her attention, to be the sole focus of that warm smile. He watched as she ate her lunch, oddly mesmerized by the casual domesticity of the moment before her question snapped him back to reality.

Atsumu shrugged, trying for nonchalance. "Eh, you know how it is sometimes," he said vaguely, rubbing the back of his neck. "Was just in a funk this morning for some reason. No big deal."

He didn't want to admit that his sour mood stemmed from disappointment that Emi hadn't waited for him before school like she usually did. It felt silly to be that affected by her absence. Not to mention that he was upset because of a bunch of first years talked to her. That would be weird and he didn't want to explain that.

Reaching over, he stole a piece of salad from her tray, flashing her a cheeky grin. "But I'm all better now that you're here, Shorty~"

The words held a hint of sincerity beneath the teasing tone. Atsumu felt most at ease when Emi was around—her presence calming the turbulence he sometimes felt swirling inside.

---

"Th-thank you, Kita-san," Momoka stuttered, feeling a rush of embarrassment at her own inability to maintain composure. She averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes directly. His concern for her flushed face only made her feel more self-conscious. She adjusted her glasses, averting his gaze.

As Kita continued to speak, offering advice as though she were a new player, Momoka couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and admiration. She knew he meant well, but she wished he could see her as more than just another member of the team, as someone who admired him from afar. And when he mentioned needing fresh air, the pink-haired girl's heart sank. She didn't want him to leave, but she couldn't find the courage to ask him to stay. "No, it's... it's okay, Kita-san," she murmured softly, feeling a pang of disappointment as he turned to leave.

As Kita walked away, Momoka couldn't shake the feeling of missed opportunity. She wanted so desperately to tell him how much she admired him, how much his presence meant to her, but her words failed her once again. It's their last year together, and it might be over before they knew it. With a heavy sigh, she returned her attention to her desk, feeling the weight of her own insecurities pressing down on her once more.

Momoka knew she had to find a way to overcome her shyness if she ever wanted to truly connect with Kita. But the thought of putting herself out there, of risking rejection, was terrifying. She couldn't bear the idea of him seeing her as anything less than perfect, as anything less than the confident, capable manager she strived to be.

Lost in her thoughts, Momoka barely noticed when her classmates began to gather inside the classroom, leaving her alone with her turmoil. She knew she should be focusing on her duties as manager, on supporting the team she cared so deeply about. But all she could think about was Kita, and the missed opportunity to truly connect with him. With a resigned sigh, the spectacled girl finished her meal, her mind still consumed by thoughts of the captain of the volleyball team. After a short while, she decided to go to the rooftop to get some fresh air too, after all it might help her gather her thoughts and cool off her warm cheeks.
 
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As she watched Atsumu across from her, his words floating in the air between them as he spoke. It was like it was only them in the room. His sole attention was on her. Not Aran or Osamu, but her. The one who often felt like a third wheel because she was the only girl in the group, the one who was the least talented and the weakest. It felt great to have all of Atsumu's attention, it made Emi feel warmth flood her body for some reason. The feeling was foreign and weird, but not unwelcomed.

Clearing her throat, Emi used her napkin to wipe her mouth so that she didn't look like Atsumu. Then, she grinned at Atsumu before looking at the others as she flicked some hair over her shoulder. "It seems that the great Emi-hime has saved the day once again," Emi said, remembering what Aran had teased her with this morning and thought it would be a good time to joke about it once more. "I accept offerings of ice cream and candy for keeping the great vibes rolling in Inarizaki High." She stuck her tongue out teasingly as she looked around the table at the guys.

A teacher walked by then and gave Emi a look for being loud. "Sorry," Emi murmured as she sat back a bit and took another bite of her food. Relaxing and joining into whatever conversation that the guys had started. Not really paying too much attention to it because now it felt like her heart was finally going back to beating normally and her body temp was slowly cooling off as well. Things were slowly moving back to normal. To show they belonged, the four amigos. The troublesome twins and her, and Aran as their handlers.

Halfway through her meal, Emi glanced up and noticed some of the girls who were in her lunch line eyeing her table. Most likely the Miya twins. Closing her eyes, Emi couldn't help but sigh quietly. What did those girls see in them? They were annoying and too obsessed with the sport that they were playing to pay them any attention. They were just going to be ignored, idiots. "I don't understand," Emi murmured quietly, not meaning to voice her confusion as she opened her orange juice and sipped the sour juice.

----

What had he expected? Of course, Matsuda-san wouldn't be interested in talking with him. She was so smart and pretty, meanwhile, he was just. Well, average at everything. It was why he wasn't able to get a team jersey until his third year after all. He was probably just another annoying guy who she was forced to work with while she worked on getting something to write on her college experience papers. He was such an idiot.

Well, at least she accepted the drink he had given her. Didn't say how she hated the flavor or anything, so that must be a win of some sort. Right? Going with that, Shinsuke decided to call today's attempt at getting closer to the manager a success. He didn't talk to many people, in the club or outside of it so this was a big step for the Captain. He was usually reserved and kept talking to a minimum most of the time. He didn't see the point in a lot of pointless conversations, but for some reason, he wanted them with Matsuda-san. She seemed like someone who wouldn't hold it against him if he didn't talk a lot.

Somehow, the Captain managed to make his way to the roof during his wondering. The cool spring breeze blew through his hair and messed with it a little bit. The door made a slight clink sound as he let the door close behind him. His feet carried him to the railing where he placed his hands as he looked down at the other students wandering around. They all looked so small and insignificant from this height. If anything were to fall from this height, it could cause someone quite a bit of harm. Which was why, it was usually left locked from what Shinsuke remembered.

Upon hearing the door opening pulled the Captain from his thoughts. Turning his head slightly, Shinsuke couldn't help but frown a bit. "What are you doing here? Matsuda-san?" Shinsuke asked as he glanced back towards the open sky in front of him. "It's cool out, if you're feeling ill you should stay inside." He felt like he sounded like a broken record, but he couldn't help it. It was his way of showing he cared.
 
When she playfully referred to herself as "the great Emi-hime" and demanded offerings, Atsumu's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Oho, the great Emi-hime demands tribute?" He chuckled. "Well, you drive a hard bargain, but I suppose I can arrange some ice cream...if you share with me." Atsumu smirked as he played into the "Emi-hime" joke, his eyes crinkling with amusement at her playful demand for offerings. Well, she certainly looked like a princess but she couldn't have the ladylike grace that they have. He opened his mouth, no doubt to fire back some cheeky retort.

"No fair, I called her Emi-hime first!" Aran protested.

Osamu just smiled, while Atsumu took this opportunity to joke around. "How about the greatest-most-wonderful-and-gracious Emi-himesama"

"Shhh!"

"Sorry."

When the teacher shushed them, Atsumu bit his tongue to prevent laughter escaping his lips. He loved riling people up, so he stuck his tongue out at her in return before allowing the conversation to move on. His younger twin snickered because his older twin got away from being scolded with Emi taking the blame. Only Aran had the decency to feel bad for the blond girl and gave her some friendly shoulder pats.

As Emi relaxed into the familiar banter, Atsumu watched her silently from the corner of his eye. The slight flush that had colored her cheeks earlier only made the apples of them more pronounced in a way he found unfairly pretty. Wait, when did he start noticing such small things? He had to resist the urge to reach across and tuck away the strand of hair she flicked over her shoulder, his fingers practically itching to make that small gesture of intimacy. Why does he feel this way?

He noticed her looking at the girls who seemed like crazy fans. His lips curved into a smirk, regaining some of his typical bluster. "Though can ya blame 'em for starin'? With this handsome face around, it's hard not to look."

"What? They're clearly looking at me!" Osamu chided in, pushing Atsumu playfully.

"Idiots, you just look the same," Aran said with a laugh.

The blond just winked exaggeratedly, hoping to make Emi roll her eyes and dispel any lingering weird feelings that he had.

---

Momoka froze when she saw Kita on the roof, startled that he had caught her sneaking away for some fresh air. She clasped her hands nervously, avoiding his gaze.

"What are you doing here? Matsuda-san?"

"O-Oh, Kita-san! I'm sorry, I know I should be inside resting. I just needed some air..." she trailed off, cheeks flushed. Momoka was touched that he continued showing concern for her health as the volleyball manager, but also embarrassed to be called out. It was quite weird for the pink-haired girl too, since Kita isn't an avid fan of small talk. The only times that they talked before were because of academics, as the two of them are top students. And it didn't help that his responses were always straight to the point, and she didn't want to talk about volleyball because it reminded her of how she miserably failed the tryouts when she was in second year. She's just regaining her confidence about the sport when she applied for the managerial position, and holding this position did a lot of wonders to her self-esteem.

"It's cool out, if you're feeling ill you should stay inside."

"You're right, it's quite cool today. I'll head back in shortly so as not to worry you further." She glanced up at him briefly. "Thank you again for the drink earlier. That was very kind of you to think of me."

Momoka hesitated, wanting to say more but too self-conscious. She swallowed her words since she might say something stupid, trying to push it down. "I appreciate you looking out for me and the team. You're a wonderful captain..."

She gave a small, timid bow of gratitude before turning to leave, heart racing. Momoka hoped she hadn't offended Kita by being up here. She never wanted to seem unappreciative of his thoughtfulness and leadership. His attention, even in gentle scolding, left her flustered. But then, Momoka paused before opening the door to go back inside. She took a deep breath to gather her courage and turned back to Kita, walking towards him and leaned at the railways beside him to observe the students from her position.

"Um actually...if you don't mind, I'd love to stay up here a bit longer. The view is so nice and peaceful," she said, tucking her hair as the wind continued to gently blow her pink hair.

"How was practice today? I hope the new first years are working hard and not causing you any trouble," she asked, hoping to start some light conversation.

Momoka tilted her head thoughtfully, coming up with more possible topics. "I know it's just he first day, but have you given any more thought to who you might recommend as the next captain after we graduate? A-After all, time would just fly and next thing we know, we'll be on our different paths..."

She had a bittersweet smile while looking at him, her purple eyes shining through her lenses and no longer avoiding his gaze. Her heart raced at being alone with her crush, but she fought through her shyness to connect with him. Even if she couldn't gather the courage yet to confess how she felt, Momoka wanted to understand Kita better during their last year together at Inarizaki.
 
Her lips pursed into a tight thin line as she narrowed her eyes warily at Atsumu. The last time he offered to share something with her, she got one taste of it while she only got one bite. An that was just a few weeks ago at a neighborhood festival that the group attended. It was risky to share with him. Except, she knew how to win this. "Fine!" Emi agreed, offering a mischievous grin. "but we're getting matcha ice cream and chocolate." She told him, knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to eat both scoops at the same time. Thus, allowing for her to have the chance to enjoy some of both while he acted like an animal when he ate.

Feeling satisfied with her declaration, Emi nodded like it was the perfect idea. Of course, the guys had to knock her off of her high horse almost right away. Teasing her and just being losers, which honestly made Emi grin. Followed by a shake of her head as they tried to take the hime thing farther. "You guys are too much sometimes," Emi murmured and laughed, loving the atmosphere.

Then looked at Aran as he patted her shoulder and gave him a nod of thanks. Then, looked back at the twins as she couldn't help but snort. Doing as Atsumu wanted and rolled her eyes at him as she slowly shook her head. "If they knew how annoying your personalities were, then they wouldn't be so obsessed with you," Emi said, rolling her eyes and then stuck her tongue out at both of the twins. Her sassiness showing through.

Raising her left hand and making a fist, Emi felt Aran give her a fist bump before laughing at her retort. "Oh, Samu. I heard one of the girls. I think her name was Ito..." Emi paused as she tried to think. She heard the twins talk about her a few times last year, but couldn't fully remember her name. "Ito... Yuka-san. She was talking about making you finally accept her confession this year." Emi said, finally remembering the girl's name. She had annoyed the guys to no end last year. Acting like a love-sick puppy and following them around. "Said she couldn't wait for your first practice game so she could show you support."

----

She was shy and quiet, a lot like him. Except, she seemed to be able to attract people to her. Kinda like a moth to a flame. She was a light in the darkness that you don't see unless you're in the countryside and watching the night sky or are in a dark field that becomes filled with fireflies. She was not like him in the least bit. People seemed to always have a high respect for her even when she didn't talk much. Meanwhile, he was kinda the odd one out. Above average in height for the average Japanese male. Always wore a stoic expression and only answered with straightforward answers because he saw no reason in beating around the bush. If someone asked a question, they deserved an answer to the question. Not be yanked in different directions.

When Matsuda-san bowed, Shinsuke shifted his gaze away from the girl and went back to looking at the people below. He wasn't anything to her, so it wasn't really like he should be asking her to stay, right? Even though he didn't mind her company, nor the sound of her voice when she spoke to him. It was kinda comforting to have someone else who didn't like to talk a lot near him, it wasn't annoying like the other starters on the volleyball team.

It was only a couple of moments, but it felt like Shinsuke could feel his heart restarting as he noticed Matsuda-san come to stand next to him. His eyes widened for a quick moment before returning to normal as he looked towards the girl as she leaned against the rail as well. She was nervous it seemed as she spoke. Her words came out a little fast, but the Captain was able to hear them and understood what she meant. His eyes watched her hair for a few moments as it blew in the wind before looking back to her brightly colored eyes once more. Giving the girl his full attention.

"I don't own the roof, you can be up here if you want." Was the first thing that Shinsuke said as he watched the pink-haired girl silently for a couple more moments as he took in her words. Trying to understand what she was getting at. "The first years are, first years." He couldn't really explain it. They were good, but also kinda unrefined. "Gems that need to be polished before we can determine their worth," Shinsuke murmured, standing up straight he took his jacket off of his shoulders and laid it across Matsuda-san's shoulders without thinking about it. The jacket practically swallowed the girl up, which was funny to see but it also prevented anything embarrassing from happening.

A light tint coated Shinsuke's cheeks as he went back to leaning against the rail. "I haven't really thought about who would be a good choice," Shinsuke said as he looked out at the people. "They all need to mature a bit before I make a decision." Then he glanced towards the girl. "Do you have a suggestion?"
 
Atsumu watched Emi with unabashed fondness. He loved her easy laughter and how seamlessly she blended into their rowdy dynamic. Oh, he knew would do absolutely everything to always see her smile, hear her laugh, and make her happy. As she rolled her bright blue eyes, the blond twin smiled fondly while he finished his yakisoba bun. He unconsciously wiped his mouth with the back of his hand to remove any crumbs or noodles that may have stuck, probably because he didn't want Emi to point out such an embarrassing thing again.

When she sassed back about his charming personality, Atsumu gasped in mock offense and held his chest while grasping his uniform as if stabbed painfully. "Shorty, why would you hurt me so much?"

The younger twin just laughed at his older brother's antics, biting his lips as he looked at Emi expectantly. "Birds of a feather flock together, Emi-chan~"

"Are you calling me annoying now?" Aran said, feigning offense like Atsumu did by raising an eyebrow. The theatrics of the two friends earned a laugh from the silver-haired boy while he finished his lunch as well.

"Admit it, you find my sparklin' personality charmin' as hell." Atsumu said. "It's a big part of why all those girls fawn over me so much."

However, Emi's mention of a persistent fangirl made Osamu pause, grimacing slightly at the reminder. "Don't even get me started on that stalker chick," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "She's been tryin' to get with me, not to mention that her twin Ito Ayaka-san has been leaving silly notes for Tsumu for like a year. It's gettin' real old."

"They even had that weird fan with your names on it," Aran said, with mischief in his eyes.

"Don't remind me!" the twins said at the same time.

"C'mon Samu, take one for the team and go on a date with them so they'll stop bothering us. I give you permission to be the more handsome twin," Atsumu said, his eyebrows furrowing at his twin with a smirk on his lips.

Osamu shuddered. "Hell nah! Why don't you take one for the team since you suggested it?!"

(OOC: Yes let's give these annoying girls a role XD)
1709554270237.png

---

"Um actually...if you don't mind, I'd love to stay up here a bit longer. The view is so nice and peaceful."

"I don't own the roof, you can be up here if you want," the stoic captain said, earning a slight chuckle from the pink-haired girl. She looked at him with a small smile gracing her lips. She and Kita were classmates since they were first years, but she never gained the courage to start small talk with him as he shut down any attempts made by their other classmates. But she knew that deep down, he hid a caring nature under his no-nonsense attitude.

She nodded as she listened to the captain verbalize his thoughts about the first years. She knew that being the captain entailed a lot of responsibility, and one of them is to ensure that the Inarizaki volleyball team continued its legacy. She was caught off-guard that Kita draped his jacket over her shoulders. She gripped the fabric gently, enveloped in its scent, and she could smell the floral and minty notes from his jacket. His thoughtfulness made her heart swell, even as she blushed at their close proximity.

"Thank you, Kita-san. That's very kind of you," she stammered out softly. Gathering her courage, she met his gaze.

"I think you're right... the first years have such potential, but need more time to develop. But as their senpai, I'm hoping that we do a good job guiding them too."

She paused thoughtfully when he reflected her question. "For the next captain...I believe Atsumu-kun's competitive spirit both have merits and disadvantages, not to mention that he can be a bit hot-headed at times."

Momoka smiled shyly. "But I'm sure that the right person would be chosen no doubt, after all they chose you as this year's captain."

Playing with the jacket sleeves, she added, "I know this is our last year, but I hope you'll be easy on yourself too, the pressure is no joke since Inarizaki is one of the powerhouses of volleyball...."

Realizing she was rambling, Momoka looked down, face reddening again while flailing the oversized sleeves of Kita's jacket a bit. But talking with Kita gave her a warm, happy feeling she didn't want to end.

(OOC: Yes, I also searched for Kita's scent XD)
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Looking between the twins, Emi couldn't help but grin around her orange juice staw. Loving that she had managed to rile them up. Her gaze looked back to Sumu as she set her juice down on the mostly empty tray. "Hurt you? I was giving you a reality check." Emi said, a bored expression on her face as she didn't fall for his teasing.

Then, Emi's head whipped to the side as she heard Samu. "Eh?!" She gasped, pointing at herself. "I don't have a bad personality! I'm adorable!" Emi said, shocked by what Samu said then slumped in her chair as she pouted. "Aran, we're the only cool people. These losers should be happy to be in our presence." Emi said as she looked at her only caring friend, then looked at the twins as she stuck her tongue out at them once more.

"Your sparkling personality is reminiscent of a dumpster fire." Emi retorted in her most charming voice. Her head tilted slightly in a cute way as she offered him a small smile. Then, her smile fell as she listened to the twins talk about the fans. Her eyes widened as she heard how obsessed they were with the twins. "Eh, they actually have fans with your names on them?" She asked, glancing at Aran to make sure she had heard them right. Then looked at the guys, surprised they didn't tell her that. Since most of her games last year were around the same time she hadn't been able to see the guys play much recently.

"Have you both even actually talked to them?" Emi asked as she sat up in her seat. Her arms resting on the edge of the table. Getting a bit serious since she didn't like the trouble the girls seemed to be causing her friends. "You can always lie to them and just tell them that you're dating someone?" Emi offered as her advice. "I mean, Sumu was able to trick me. So it can't be hard for you both to pull off."

----

A thoughtful hum escaped from Shinsuke as he listened to Matsuda-san speak. She was so calm in the way that she spoke that it actually made him want to listen to her. She actually made him feel calmer when she was speaking. Almost like she wasn't pressuring him to not feel like he had an obligation to reply. She was just happy that he was listening to her. Matsuda-san is too soft-spoken spoken and it made Shinsuke's heart beat at an unfamiliar rhythm that was a bit worrisome for him.

Glancing back down towards the glasses-wearing girl, Shinsuke pursed his lips together as he listened. "When I was a first year, we had extra practice to catch up with the rest of the team. I'm thinking of asking the coach if we could do that again this year." Shinsuke said, glancing out at the school grounds below. "I want to pave the way for the next members to be strong like we are now. The second years this time around are monsters." He finished that last part with a small smile on his lips. Thinking of how he had watched the now second years since they were first years and was impressed and a bit scared of them.

The edges of Shinsuke's lips pulled up into a small smile. "While I see where your mind is with that one. I must decline that, at least for right now. He needs to mature a little bit first before I would pick him." The captain said as he glanced at the pink-haired girl through the corner of his eyes. "I would actually pick his brother right now. He's a bit more level-headed if I had to choose between them."

A small sigh unexpectedly escaped from the volleyball captain as he turned to the side so that he was facing Matsuda-san. "This will be my last year playing volleyball. So I'm going to put my all into it." He said, shooting down her hopes. "Volleyball is a competitive sport, if you don't give your all then you shouldn't be on the team."
 
"Atsumu-kun~" a shrill voice called out, making the blonde twin shudder.

"Osamu-kun~" an equally annoying high-pitched voice followed. The silver-haired twin furrowed his eyebrows. He tried to pretend that he didn't hear the girl who called her name.

"Good luck on your practice later!!" the Ito twins said in unison, ruining Atsumu's mood. He turned to them, then looked at Emi as he recalled her earlier suggestion. He couldn't subject her to the same ill treatment that these twins do to them, so he tried to keep his cool.

"Let's go, Emi," Atsumu said coldly as he picked up his trash to put it in the bin. Osamu ignored the Ito twins, too. Aran took this as a sign to go back to his room as well.

He felt his patience running thin. The two of them didn't know when to give up, and it creeped the hell out of him because they won't stop at nothing just to get the object of their affection. He sighed, trying to regain composure.

---

"When I was a first year, we had extra practice to catch up with the rest of the team. I'm thinking of asking the coach if we could do that again this year," Shinsuke said, his eyes now fixed at the schoolgrounds. Momoka also looked downwards, observing the sakura trees in their full bloom.

"I can arrange the schedule for that, maybe we can go until six or seven o' clock for the practice of the first years," she said, adjusting her glasses as she stood up properly.

"I want to pave the way for the next members to be strong like we are now. The second years this time around are monsters," he added. Momoka saw a small but confident smile that graced Kita's lips, which also made her smile. The pink-haired girl saw the matches from the past year up until regionals, and she knew how devious the Miya twins were. They seemed like goofballs outside the court but their demeanor does a 180° turn once they play.

Momoka just nodded, considering Kita's insights. He did have a point, Osamu seemed calmer and more level-headed compared to his older twin. She thought that Atsumu was more confident and passionate, and being a setter as a first year in the playing team added that aura of dominance that helped boost their morale. Even as a part of audience, she could feel the despair that the opposing team felt when they played in the finals match for the regional games.

"This will be my last year playing volleyball. So I'm going to put my all into it," Shinsuke stated as he faced her fully, making her stand stiffly as she turned to him too. "Volleyball is a competitive sport, if you don't give your all then you shouldn't be on the team."

"I know that... but if you don't give time for rest and overexerted yourself then there's a possibility for you to get sick. And being sick means that you can't give it your all," she countered with a determined look in her face.

"Please don't be too hard on yourself, Kita-san," Momoka said with concern evident in her tone. "The team relies on you as their captain, but you know you can also rely on them too."

Momoka removed the jacket and folded it properly before giving it to Kita. She handed it to him with a slight bow.

"Thank you, Kita-san. We should head back to our room as lunch time is almost over."
 
If there was one thing that Emi could say for certain that she didn't like, it would be seeing her friends annoyed. So, when the Ito twins came by and spoke with their annoying voices Emi could see the moment that the switch flicked for the twins. The mood changed from the light and fun atmosphere that they had created and turned into one of a crushing force that made Emi want to walk away.

Releasing a small sigh, Emi slowly stood from her chair as she listened to Atsumu. "Wee you guys after practice," Emi said as she smiled at Samu and Aran, offering them a soft smile as a sort of apology because it felt like she had cursed them. Then, she grabbed her tray and followed Sumu to put her things away before they headed to class.

"You should try talking to a teacher if they don't stop," Emi murmured quietly as she followed Atsumu, moving next to his side in the hallway. Her arms crossed innocently behind her. Her eyes lowered a bit as she thought about how stressed her friends were.

----

The first-afternoon practice was a blast. Everyone was giving their all, it was great to see how many great players they had this year. Just seeing how focused all of the members were brought a smile to Emi's face. The girl's team wasn't second in the country like the guys' team was, but they were at a decent ranking, so with all of the good players Emi had a feeling that the girls' team would be getting a bit higher. Well, she hoped at least.

Exiting the gym during their break, a water bottle in hand and her other resting on her bloody lip. Doing her best to hide that she lost a fight against a bag of fruit snacks. Emi made her way to the outdoor water faucets, humming quietly to herself as she walked. A slight bounce to her step because of how nice it was outside. The spring afternoon was finally warm and the sky wasn't the gross grey color that it usually was. The first day of school so far was going great! Only one new bruise was a good sign of it to Emi.

"Maybe I should visit a Temple soon and give thanks," Emi murmured quietly to herself, remembering during the new Year she asked to be less clumsy this year. She loved her friends, but it got tiresome sometimes when they teased her about all of her cuts and bruises.

As she got to the water faucets, Emi set her bottle down and used her clean hand to turn the water on. Then, she proceeded to wash her other hand before washing off the slight bit of blood on her lip. Then, Emi proceeded to grab her water bottle and started to fill it up. Her humming continued through the whole thing. Then, when she was done Emi screwed on the top and turned to head back to the gym. Only to pause and practically jump out of her skin as she noticed someone behind her. "Oh um. Hi." Emi murmured quietly. Looking at the girl a bit surprised because she wasn't expecting to see someone behind her.

Emi's eyes trailed over the girl. Trying to decipher if she was in her grade or not, she looked familiar but Emi couldn't quite figure out why. Then, her eyes moved to what the girl was holding. "Are you helping out a club?" She asked, looking at the water bottles. Confusion was evident in her tone and expression. They didn't have anyone helping the girls volleyball team out and she hadn't heard of any other girls sports team practicing on this side of the school. So it was quite confusing to see another girl over here fill water bottles.
 
"I'll fill out your water bottles," Momoka offered as the men's volleyball team were on break. Everyone handed their bottles while eaying thanks... well, everyone except Atsumu who seemed lost in thought when he saw the Ito twins in the corner of his eye. He tried not to pay attention to them, but he can still feel their prying eyes scrutinizing his every move. He gulped nervously at the thought, noticing how parched his throat was. So he excused himself from the practice, Osamu unaware that his older twin went out as he was busy chatting with Suna regarding the new album of their favorite idol group. The third years were talking about the performance of the first years during their practice game with the second years, so they were also not aware that the boisterous Atsumu was gone.

When Atsumu headed to the water fountain, he saw Momoka waiting for her turn while a familiar petite person used it. He was walking towards them in a casual pace, hearing their conversation a bit.

"Oh, um, hi," the blonde girl greeted Momoka, startling the spectacled third-year. "Are you helping out a club?"

Momoka stared at the girl who attempted a conversation. She knew this person, it was Emi Nanako, the libero of the girl's volleyball team. She was in the same try-outs as her last year, but unfortunately Momoka didn't make the cut because of how high Inarizaki's standards were. She did feel a bit insecure being in the presence of this girl, as she witnessed firsthand how great her digging was. She even thought that she can be a guardian angel who saves the team from hellish serves or attacks.

Trying to be polite, she had a small smile and bowed slightly. "Yes, I'm the manager of Inarizaki's volleyball team. I'm Momoka Matsuda."

"Matsuda-senpai!" Atsumu beamed while waving the hand holding his bottle. "Shorty! Hi!"

"Hello, Atsumu-kun," she greeted briefly. "It seems I forgot to take your bottle."

Momoka called all the first years and second years by their surnames plus -kun. With the third years, she used the honorific -san with their surnames. The only exception to this rule was the Miya twins, and she had made this clear during the times that she had trainings with them during the course of their vacation before the new school year started.

"Yep, that's why I'm here~" the blonde setter said playfully. "Plus I doubt you'd be able to take all of that back to the gym, so please let me help you."

"I appreciate your concern, thank you, Atsumu-kun," Momoka smiled at his offer of helping her.

As Momoka filled the bottles of water together with Atsumu, she can't help but wonder why Atsumu called Emi 'Shorty' since it seemed... kind of offensive. Maybe the two of them had a close relationship that she didn't know of, but that wasn't her business to begin with.
 
Tilting her head to the side, Emi let out a small hum. Letting this Matsuda person's words sink in. She was a manager for a volleyball club. Interesting, but the girl's team didn't have a manager to help them out. So, why was this girl lying to her? Was she another new stalker for the twins? Ugh, another problem for those two troublemakers.

Then, hearing a familiar voice Emi's bright blue eyes shift over the pink-haired girl's shoulder and look at the blond twin. "Sumu," Emi murmured, and then her eyes widened as she looked back at the pink-haired girl. Realization of what the girl said and how Sumu came running out with his water bottle. Her eyes flickered between the two as they spoke, familiarly with each other. Like they were already close.

It took everything in Emi not to narrow her eyes at the older girl to give away her annoyance. Instead, she just looked on with a small smile. Listening to them speak to each other. "Look at you being nice," Emi murmured, not able to hide the teasing tone. Stepping to the side so that she wasn't blocking the water faucet, Emi leaned against the side as she looked at the two. "When did you learn to help someone else? Did Samu twist your arm?" Emi asked, and grinned, accidentally irritating her lip and causing it to bleed once more.

"Eh." Emi murmured and wrinkled her nose as she placed a hand on her lip once more. A slight annoyed huff escaping from her as she held her lip to stop the bleeding. "Stupid lip," Emi murmured, she had wanted to hide it from the guys, but it seemed like her idiocy was ruining that for her. Not to mention that she was starting to feel weird around Sumu and this stranger. She wasn't a fan of how they spoke to each other.

"Sorry, I think I should go. I need to put some ice on my lip." Emi murmured, looking at the two. She offered the pink-haired girl a small bow before looking at Sumu and sticking her tongue out at him in her usual teasing fashion.
 
"Look at you being nice. When did you learn to help someone else?"

"Hey, I am nice to people who are nice to me, isn't that right Matsuda-senpai?" Atsumu retorted, filling his twin's water bottle. He's here, so might as well help the manager do this errand faster, plus Emi's here which makes things more interesting.

"Um... I guess so...?" The eyeglassed girl stammered and caught off guard when he dragged her to their playful banter. She had a stern look at him as if telling him to not drag her into their childish antics. After met with silence, Atsumu focused on filling out the water bottle.

"Did Samu twist your arm?" Emi teased Atsumu, hiding her disdain for the volleyball manager with a grin.

"I came here out of my own freewill!" he protested.

He wanted to pinch her cheeks so bad for her teasing. But then noticed how her pink lips started to bleed when she grinned, and probably ask her to go to the clinic for her cut lip, but he's with Matsuda. It would be rude to just leave her alone after offering his help, and their break was about to end. He held most of the team's bottles and let his senpai carry only two, being the gentleman that he is.

When Emi was about to leave, she excused herself and Momoka noticed that she has a busted lip. She offered her a lavender handkerchief with repeating bunny prints. "Um... Nonoka-san, your lip is bleeding... please use this," she said, holding out both of her hands to give the handkerchief.

Atsumu looked at his senpai with respect, and thanked her internally for taking notice his childhood friend's small injury. "I told you she's nice! By the way, make sure to get ointment from the clinic too~ Let's go home together after practice. See ya later, Shorty!"

When they returned to the gym, Suna and Osamu were surprised by the amount of water bottles that Atsumu carried. He was tired, as the boy's volleyball team was pretty populous, but he's actually thankful that he forgot to give his bottle as he had a chance to see Emi.

"Sorry for the trouble, Matsuda-san," Omimi said, taking his bottle.

"It's all right," Matsuda said timidly. The other third years helped her in distributing the bottles and after the short break, the intense practice resumed.
 
Something that Emi was not expecting, was being offered a handkerchief from someone who was a total stranger. Yet, she knew her name. So, did that make them acquaintances? When did they ever meet? "Um, thank you," Emi murmured as she accepted the handkerchief with two hands as well out of respect and looked down at the most adorable design she had ever seen. "I'll give it back once I wash it," Emi murmured as she looked at the cute cloth for a couple more moments before looking at the other two. Offering them a small smile and a bow to the older girl before looking at Sumu and giving him a small nod in agreement before leaving. Folding the cloth into a small square before putting it on her lip.

The nurse was still in the office thankfully, so she offered Emi some ointment for her lip and had her place some ice on her lip. Last year Emi was in the nurse's office quite often because of random scratches so the lady wasn't surprised that she had seen Emi. The two had a small chat before the nurse sent Emi back to practice. Warning her to be careful and to not eat salty foods for a day or so while her lip healed or it'd burn.

----

The first practice seemed to always be the hardest for everyone, after having a couple of days off they all always acted like they hadn't run or practiced spikes before. It was a common factor for today's youths to be like this though. Shinsuke had considered this as he had seen everyone act the same way ever since he had joined the sport. Most kids these days don't appreciate a good routine.

Standing to the right of the gym, Shinsuke took a couple more sips of his drink as he watched the first and second years finish putting things away and cleaning. He had told the other third years to gather with him after they had finished with their tasks and was just waiting for Matsuda-san to join him as the last person who was needed for the meeting. His dark eyes glanced at where the girl was helping the other members before he glanced toward the other third years. Listening to them talk about something that he wasn't familiar with. He wasn't the best at conversations, so the other third years often had a hard time talking with him, which he found fine about.

As the last of the first and second years left, Shinsuke decided that it'd be best to start the meeting. "This year." Shinsuke started, which gained everyone's attention at the same time. Everyone watching and listening in with their full attention. Acting like Shinsuke was the one in charge of whether they all lived or died. A general in charge of an army of a thousand horses. "Our first years need more refinement than the past few years." He finished, which seemed to surprise the others as they thought that they'd be scolded since this was a third-year-only meeting.

After the initial shock that they weren't in trouble wore off, Red was the first to speak up. "I think I'd have to agree. There were so many blocks that were sloppy." He said, which got a small nod from Shinsuke. "I feel like Heisuke-san has some potential, but he just needs to apply himself more," Aran said, which gained Shinsuke's attention as he made a mental note to focus on that first year since the Ace seemed to have noticed the kid, then that must mean that he had some worth to the team. If they could get him to bring out his worth for the team during practices, as well as in actual games then they'd have a good team this year like usual.

The third years all spoke for a short while. Getting an idea of how the first years they all had interacted with were and deciding on telling the coach who would be worthy for him to focus on for actual players and who should be on the bench or not play at all. By the time things were wrapping up, it looked like it was starting to get a bit dark out so Shinsuke decided that it'd be best to end things here.
Agreeing, the other third years took the chance to head home. Wanting to play video games and have a hot meal with their families.

Glancing to the side, Shinsuke watched the pink-haired girl grab her things from the other end of the gym where she had left it. With his own bag on his shoulder, Shinsuke waited for Matsuda-san. "You were quiet in the meeting," Shinsuke said, in his usual monotone voice. His dark eyes focused on the violet eyes of the girl in front of him. "Did you not notice anything about the first years?" He asked, not meaning to sound accusing or anything. He was just curious. He had seen the girl pay attention to everyone during the training but she hadn't spoken much. It made him wonder if she didn't actually know anything about volleyball, or if the other team members intimidated her.

"You are also a part of this team now, Matsuda-san," Shinsuke told her. "Your opinions on things matter as well as the others and if you don't voice your opinion on things, then we won't know what you're thinking."
 
Momoka clutched her notebook tightly against her chest, the pages filled with meticulous notes rustling softly. Being alone with Kita after the team meeting caused a fluttering nervousness in her stomach. His dark, intense gaze made the petite girl feel small and anxious, but she mustered her courage, determined not to shy away.

"You're right, Kita-san," Momoka said, her voice soft as she averted her purple eyes shyly. "But I still don't have enough data, since it's just the first practice. I think I can provide my insights more confidently after a week."

With slightly trembling fingers, she flipped open her red Gampus notebook, leafing through the pages densely covered in her neat handwriting and hexagon skills graph, dated today.

"But if you wish to have my opinions based on their first day... the first years..." Momoka began, chewing her lip briefly before continuing. "I noticed Heisuke-kun does show a lot of raw potential, but he seems to lack focus at times. His mind appears to wander during drills."

She glanced up at Kita. "Perhaps some extra reps and conditioning regimens could help sharpen his mental game."

She paused, tucking a stray strand of her short, sakura pink hair behind her ear. "And Akiyama-kun has really impressive power behind his spikes, enough to rattle the opposing blockers. But his form could use some refinement to increase accuracy and placement."

Meeting Kita's piercing gaze once more, Momoka felt a surge of determination. Her cheeks flushed lightly as she spoke with growing confidence.

"As the team manager, I want to provide whatever analysis and support I can to help everyone improve their skills. But I guess all of this are still premature data since the only point of reference I have is a brief observation I had during the tryouts..." she explained, offered him a warm smile, her purple eyes shining with determination.

Momoka silently marveled at how perceptive and dedicated Kita was, and she wanted to do everything to support the team the best way she can. Getting her bag, she bowed slightly to bid farewell to the team captain.

"*Thank you for your hardwork. See you tomorrow, Kita-san."

(*Otsukaresama deshita)

---

Atsumu and Osamu both changed to their uniforms after practice. The third years stayed to have a meeting, so they had more time to wait for their childhood friend. Osamu was just vibing while listening to his favorite idol, but Atsumu grew antsy with how long it took Emi to finish their practice. With his school bag on his shoulder, he told his twin brother that he needed to walk for a bit.

"Yeah, sure," Osamu replied nonchalantly, still humming the song he's listening to.

Atsumu went directly to the girl's gym, peeking if Emi was still practicing. He's somehow hoping that she's already done, but another part of him was wishing to see her in game.
 
This was it, it was the last play of the game. The whole team that Emi was on was watching the ball as it soared over the net. Her team was at match point and if they managed to get it, then they'd be able to win and be over with. The current score was thirty to thirty-one. It was a long match but Everyone was smiling and having fun. The other team was already calling out since it was a floater, but Emi didn't see it that way.

Moving ever so slightly to the right, her bright blue eyes focused on the ball. Emi got into position and easily caught the curving ball before it could impact the gym's floor. The tosses and spikes she's been intercepting were nothing compared to what she was able to make contact with from the guys. They were so much more skilled than any of the girls, but Emi wasn't going to tell any of them that. It'd been down morale and they needed all that they could get if they were going to go to nationals this year.

With a gentle toss from Emi, she saved the ball from going out of bounds and tossed it to the setter with ease. "Airi-san!" Emi called out to the Captain and setter. The girl was already there and waiting at the net. Everyone was waiting on the other set for the girl to toss it to one of the spikers, but to everyone's amusement, she did a dump. Thus winning Emi's side the practice match. A squeal of excitement escaped from Emi's side as they cheered and laughed. Emi fell to the floor in exhaustion from the intense game. Her head barely turned to the side of the gym when she saw some movement and a goofy grin appeared upon Emi's lips as she spotted Sumu and offered him a small wave before her fellow team members piled onto her. A laugh escaping from Emi at their excitement over winning.

----

What Matsuda-san was saying was not something that Shinsuke was expecting. He had no idea why she was so observant. He had, against his better judgment thought that she had just joined out of the need to have something on her college resume. Made up answers on the application for the position so that she'd be noticed by the coach and brought in. Yet, it seemed that the girl knew exactly what she was talking about. That, brought a small smile onto the man's lips as he slowly nodded in agreement with her.

"I thought it was early as well, but the coach asked for me to collect opinions of the first years," Shinsuke explained as he slowly crossed his arms and he thought about what he had just heard. Some extra training regimens for them to gain better focus and basics down wouldn't be bad for them seeing as she spotted the same ones as the others to focus on. "Can you draw up a training plan?" Shinsuke asked as he grabbed his own bag that was a few feet away.

Moving towards the doors, Shinsuke turned towards the pink-haired girl and offered her a small bow. "Thank you for the hard work, Matsuda-san." He repeated, waiting for her to exit the gym before closing the door and locking it. Making the area seem darker since the gym's light was no longer shining through the doorway. Putting the key away inside his pocket, Shinsuke glanced toward the pink-haired girl once more and spoke out before she could leave. No idea why he was going to say what he was about to say. "It's dark out, let me walk you home." The words left his lips before he could stop them, almost like his mouth had a mind of its own.

The night sky was clear, so you should be able to see a couple of stars if you try hard enough. The city lights were kinda making it hard to do so though. Otherwise, it would have been a beautiful sight to see. Glancing towards the pink-haired girl, Shinsuke waited quietly for her answer.
 
Atsumu watched with a smirk as Emi made an impressive save during the final rally of the practice match. "Not bad, Shorty!!" he called out teasingly while waving his hand to get her attention.

"Nice seeing you here again, Atsumu-san," Airi said, acknowledging her fellow setter with a nod. "Thank you for your hardwork today, Emi-san."

He just nodded at his senior with a smile, then Airi looked around to see that none of her teammates were getting changed.

"Everyone, please get changed already! I'll be closing at seven o' clock! Thank you for your hardwork!" the female captain announced, clapping to get their attention.

As Emi's team celebrated their hard-fought victory, Atsumu sauntered over, unable to hide his impressed grin. Emi was breathless on the floor when he extended his hand. "Need a hand up?"

He pulled the small libero up with ease. "That was one helluva game. I also thought that jump float serve would go out, but you just have to receive it, don't ya?" Atsumu remarked, ruffling Emi's hair affectionately. Their close yet teasing interaction wasn't really new to the girl's volleyball team, as the Miya twins sometimes visited them if their practice ended early. Of course they were curious about their relationship with them, especially with Atsumu, but they didn't want to pry as the blonde setter was someone they didn't want to upset.

"You really saw it through, you cheeky monster! But you gotta work on receiving my crazy serves, too~" he teased, then rested his arm playfully above her head, enjoying getting a rise out of the feisty girl.

"But for now, whaddya say we go grab dinner? My treat for the entertainment value," Atsumu grinned, knowing Emi could never resist a free treat. He loved teasing her, but he was also genuinely impressed by her tenacious spirit on the court. "I'll wait for ya outside~"

---

Momoka was caught off guard by Kita's unexpected reaction. She had been prepared for him to dismiss her observations as those of an overly studious manager, not a true player's perspective. But his slight smile and nod of agreement made her heart flutter with relief and pride. As he explained the coach had requested opinions on the first years, Momoka felt validated in voicing her assessments so boldly. When Kita then asked if she could devise training plans to hone the new players' skills, her purple eyes widened with surprised delight.

"I'd be honored to put together a training plan! Maybe we can customize it individually to their strengths and weaknesses," she replied eagerly with a small nod.

Momoka followed Kita towards the gym doors, clutching her bag with both of her hands. As he thanked her with a respectful bow, she bowed deeply in return, flustered yet beaming with pride at his acknowledgment of her hard work. Good thing that the sun had already set, so he won't see her reddened cheeks when he suggested walking her home due to the late hour. She glanced up at the clear night sky, Drawing a shaky breath, she nodded.

"Thank you, Kita-san. That's very kind of you," Momoka replied softly, adjusting the strap of her bag before falling into step beside Kita. They went to the bicycle parking lot, getting her bike and walked with it instead of riding it back home. But she was all right with that, she was also walking with Kita.

She couldn't believe her luck at having this unexpected alone time with her longtime crush. It took her two years before she had this moment with him. So she just stared at his face with disbelief, illuminated by the stars and moonlight, his hair was swaying lightly with the breeze. She wanted to capture this moment forever, so she just stared in awe until she could memorize every detail in his face. She couldn't hear anything but the loud thumping of her heart ringing in her ears. She was afraid that everything was too good to be true, that this was just a dream and everything would end when she wakes up.

She sighed, shaking her head with resolution. Then she looked up at the moon smiling, then to Kita. "I'm happy I became your manager, and I just... thank you for your trust."
 
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A goofy grin was still displayed on Emi's lips as the arm that she used to wave at Atsumu fell across her eyes as she lay on the ground. Catching her breath. She could feel her breathing slowing finally, the last few moments of the game were intense and she loved it. She was on top of her game! Everyone seemed to know it too as they all seemed to have put in their top effort.

Feeling the girls get off of her, Emi slowly removed her arm and looked up at Sumu as he approached her. "Yes, please," Emi said as she accepted the other blond's hand and stood up. Her legs were a little wobbling she had to reach out and rest her hands on Sumu's chest for a couple of moments to get her balance. Her eyes narrowed as she felt him make her messy hair even messier. "Really Sumu?" Emi asked as she brought her hand back and fought with him to remove his arm from her head. Which made more of her ponytail get messed up. A fake annoyed sigh escaped from the smaller girl. "I can receive your serves!" Emi paused. "Sometimes, like. sixty percent of the time." She ended on a mumble.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Emi pouted at her friend being mean and teasing but, at the mere mention of food it chanced. Her eyes lit up and she couldn't help but grin. The guy knew what made her happy. "Kay~," Emi said as she left the setter and headed to the changing room to get cleaned up and changed. A bright smile appeared once more upon her light pink lips.

In the changing room, Emi walked past her teammates and quickly cleaned up. Changing into her school uniform before going to the bathroom to fix her hair. She could hear some of the other girls talking about Sumu and how cute he was. That brought a small smile to her face, but it quickly vanished when she heard them talking about confessing to him and mentioning how it wasn't fair that she was close to both twins. Talking like it was a crime that she was friends with guys or something.

Rolling her eyes, Emi pretended to not hear the obviously jealous girls and walked out of the changing room. Her bag over her shoulder, a small smile on her lips. "So, where are we going?" Emi asked Sumu as she walked out of the gym, hopping down the steps one at a time before landing on the sidewalk. Then, she crossed her arms behind her back and turned so that she was walking backward. Her skit swayed a bit in the light breeze.

----

There was a light in Matsuda-san's eyes that he had never seen before when he told her that he appreciated her response. It was like, she wasn't expecting him to be appreciative. Like, she was used to being turned down or ignored. Like she wasn't used to being understood. That, caused Shinsuke to feel a slight squeeze in his chest. Thinking that someone was overlooked so often, that they become used to being overlooked. It didn't sit right with him, he didn't like that feeling in the least bit.

"I think if we come up with a good enough training regimen for them, and get the coach to approve of it. We can do that." Shinsuke said as he slowly nodded his head as his head focused ahead. Not want to look down at Matsuda-san as he could feel her staring at him. He wasn't quite sure what he had done to get her to stare at him, but he for sure didn't want to do something he would become unsure of. His dark eyes surveyed the area to make sure that they weren't going to walk into something or that they'd be yelled at by a teacher for staying on school property too long.

As they got to the bike racks, Shinsuke took in the sight of the pink-haired girl's bike. Wanting to mentally memorize it so that he could know when she was at school. Wait, that was not something that Shinsuke had wanted to do before. He never cared about something like that before. Let alone if someone he had just met would be at school that day or not. Shinsuke did his best to blink away that weird thought as he started to walk once more with the pretty girl. His hands rested casually by his side as they walked in the silence.
Once once Matsuda-san started to speak once more he glanced at the girl. His usual blank expression on his face as she thanked him, which confused the man a bit. "Why are you thanking me?" Shinsuke asked, his eyes narrowing a little bit to show that he wasn't sure why she was saying something that he found odd. "Having someone's trust isn't something you should thank them for." He told her, his tone certain. "It's something that you've earned." His tone didn't waver as he spoke to the girl. Stopping under a light post, the white-haired male turned to face Matsuda-san. "If someone should be saying thank you, it should be me. So, thank you Matsuda-san. For making running the team easier on me."

With that said, Shinsuke turned to start walking once more. Not sure why he had spoken to her like that. Or what she would think of him now, but either way he hoped that she didn't think weirdly of him. As this was the first time he had spoken so much to someone and cared so much about what they thought. It was so foreign to him, that Shinsuke couldn't help but to wonder to himself if he was sick or not.

The odd duo must have been walking for a couple of minutes in a strange sort of silence. While normally Shinsuke wasn't a stranger to quiet walks, he wasn't sure if he liked it when Matsuda-san was involved. So, when a convenience store came into sight a sort of strange thought came to mind. "Do you mind if we stop in there for a few moments?" Shinsuke asked, glancing at the pretty girl.
 
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