The warmth of her hand in mine gave me an overwhelming sensation. Her hands are so soft and tiny in mine. She's dragging me down the street at a fast pace and my feet have a hard time keeping up.

"Hey (F/N), you just fainted an hour ago! You're still recovering! Take it easy!"

My free arm is flailing in the cold air, trying to grab her attention.

Her grip is so strong!

"We're almost there!" she chirped, ignoring my request.

I smile at her persistency as her hair blows in the cold wind. You could smell the lavender scent.

I wonder where she's taking me?

A brisk walk later, I look up at a long flight of stairs and stop at the first set. I try to see the end of the staircase but it was shrouded with fog. It seemed to be endless.

"Um, you said this would be quick? This is a mountain?!" I said pointing upwards to the never ending staircase.

"Haha, don't worry I got used to it! Now c'mon, we should get there before the sun sets."

It was autumn and the leaves were scattered on the pavement. I let out a shiver as it felt colder by the second. She notices this and puts her hand in your jacket pocket along with yours. Still holding onto my hand, she tugs gently, motioning me to move my feet up the flights of stairs. I was exhausted, but not a single drop of sweat trickled down on (F/N)'s forehead.

Wow, she really bounces back fast.

"C'mon Suga!" she chuckled. She was laughing at how I was slowing her down.

"You know for a third-year setter, I thought you could keep up with me." she teased

Her smile. Her laugh. If I could take a picture of this moment, I would.

She continues to tug on my hand, motivating me to conquer the stairs. After what seemed to be 100 flights later, we reach the top. I let go of her hand as my palms starts to get sweaty. I let out a huge exhale as I try to catch my breath. My hands were on my knees, breathing heavily.

She literally takes my breath away.

"You okay Suga?" she crouches down, meeting me at eye level. Our faces are just inches apart. Reacting to her closeness, I move away from her face in surprise. I blushed, feeling my face getting warmer. I stand up abruptly and say,

"Yup I'm good!"

Scratching the back of my neck, now covered with sweat, I let out a small sigh and mist forms in the air.

I hope she thinks I'm red from running up the stairs and the cold air.

Adjusting to my bearings, I feel an eerie presence and an uncomfortable silence.

I feel like we are being watched. Where are we?

My eyes drift towards the sign on the stone pillar. It read,

"Miyagi Graveyard"

A GRAVEYARD?!

She looks at my shocked face and laughs lightly.

"Not scared of ghosts are you?"

"Ah, um, no... of course not" I said with false confidence.

This is my biggest fear. Has she never watched Paranormal? That movie kept me up for days...

"Well then, lets go!"

Why is she excited to go to a graveyard!?

She grabs my hand again and walks me through the graveyard. The wet grass was tickling my ankles as I pass by multiple tombstones. I was scared to death, but I didn't want (F/N) to see. Several tombstones later, she stops abruptly making me stumble a bit. She crouches down and places her hand on top of a tombstone. She traces her fingers down at the engraved lettering.

Shimizu Taiyo. A loving father, a husband, a friend and a volleyball enthusiast. May he rest in Peace.

Further down the tombstone she brushes her fingers on the date written: '1984-2019'. Placing her forehead on the head of the tombstone she whispers,

"Hello dad, did you miss me?"

Dad?! This is her father?

Your forehead was on the tombstone of your beloved father. You missed him so much. It's been a while since you last visited.

"Hey dad, this is my friend Suga. I met him on my first day of high school."

You brush your hand against the head of the tombstone, clearing out the leaves that have fallen.

"Hello Shimizu-san" he said bowing his head in respect. He crouches down beside you, meeting you at your level.

So proper.

You turn back to your dad and debrief him about your day,

"Well I had an eventful day. I fainted at school again, but Suga took care of me."

You start picking at the grass near the tombstone out of nervousness. It's like dad's eyes are here judging me and Suga. You continue,

"Suga wants to know what happened that day and how you're gone now but..."

You turn around and smile at Suga saying,

"I think I'll be okay."

You place your hand one last time near your fathers name and get up from your crouched position. Walking towards a bench placed near the walkway, you notice that Suga was still staring at your dad's tombstone, deep in thought. It looked like he was having a conversation within him.

Heh, so this is what it feel like to introduce a boy to my dad.

Usually dad would be grilling him with questions by now like 'what are your intentions with my daughter?' or 'where do you see yourself in the future?' You giggle at the thought. Not that Suga's my boyfriend or anything! I just met him for crying out loud...

Suga then bows down once more to your dad and you motion him to take a seat beside you.

You pat down the space beside you and say,

"So Koushi, what would you like to know? You might want to sit, it'll take a while."

You pat the empty spot beside you and he takes a seat. Your knees were touching as the bench was quite small. Looking out over the horizon, you watch the sun still touching the sky as it slowly dips into hills.

"Tell me about your father." he said rubbing his hands together to keep himself warm.

You take off the jacket and wrap the other half around his shoulders. Both of you huddled closer together to keep yourselves warm.

"Well, for starters, he wouldn't be happy about how close you are to me."

He suddenly moved a bit further away, embarrassed. You laughed and adjusted the jacket on his side, keeping him warm. You giggled,

"I'm joking! I think he'd like you."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, he likes volleyball players. He used to be Karasuno's Ace back in the day."

"Hey, that's pretty cool. Is that why you know how to play volleyball too? That spike earlier was amazing by the way."

"Thanks" you say fidgeting your fingers.

I'm so awkward with complements.

"It makes perfect sense now." Suga said looking towards your dad's tombstone.

"What do you mean?"

"You're just like him. He's your roll model isn't he?"

"Yeah, he was. I miss him."

"What happened?" he said quietly with a small voice. He sounded scared to ask because he didn't want to pry at a sensitive topic.

"August 31st. We were in a car accident."

The score read: Karasuno- 12, Aobajohsai- 25

The whistle was blown, signalling the game was over. You look up at your dad as he shakes his head in defeat. You look down from the bleachers for your sister. She's at the bench with her face in her hands.

They lost again? This is the third game in a row this season.

You hold your favourite volleyball in one hand and your dad's in the other. You walk down to where the Karasuno team was. They were being lectured by their coach Ukai. Ukai was infuriated as he yelled at the team,

"Are you people even TRYING?!"

You wanted to comfort Kiyoko as you see tears running down her face. You hide behind your dad as you're scared of the coach as well. You knew coach Ukai was strict but not this strict. Ukai kicked a nearby bench and it toppled over along with the team's water bottles. Water spilled on the floor and Kiyoko grabbed a towel to clean up the mess. The whole team was silent and coach Ukai's lasts words before he walked off were,

"I'm disappointed in all of you."

After all the commotion you meet up with your sister in the parking lot. After what just happened everyone was silent when you all got into the car. Your dad was in the drivers seat while you were in the backseat. Kiyoko sat in the passenger's side, silent as a mouse. After the longest period of silence, Kiyoko says,

"Dad, I can't do this anymore."

Dad gripped his steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. He replied, "No, you can't say that."

"Dad, please. This is pointless. You heard coach Ukai."

"I'm not going to let you stop just because you feel like giving up."

"It's not that simple! They've been practicing everyday after school until their knuckles bled. I've been staying up late all night, making game plans that don't even work! Why can't you just let me do what I want to do for once!"

"Why can't you be more like your sister!" dad raised his voice

I'm not liking where this is going.

"You always do that! Stop comparing us! We're not the same person!"

"Yes, but if you tried harder you could be more like her."

"Stop it dad!" You see Kiyoko's face on the side mirror, tears were running down into her lap.

I knew that coach Ukai was giving her a hard time at every practice, but she seemed to have reached her limit. Ukai knew that Kiyoko was dad's daughter and put such high expectations on her. Even if she wasn't playing herself, being a manager was just as challenging.

"Please Kioyo, don't give up just yet." you pleaded reaching over her seat to lay a hand on her shoulder.

"This is all your fault!" she swats your hand away. "I wouldn't be in this stupid club if you and dad didn't always gang up on me. You always take his side! You're just like him!"

You stare at the back of her headrest and take hold of your yellow and blue volleyball. You toss it slowly back and forth from each hand.

Do I only love this sport because of dad? Kiyoko would never say such things to me.

"I hate you." you say to Kiyoko.

Before you know it, everyone in the car breaks out in a huge argument. It got so loud that and you grip the edge of the car seat and tears started to form in your eyes. The volleyball fell to the car floor and you lost sight of where it was. Just as your dad was about to turn the corner, your world was flipped upside down as smoke filled your lungs. Darkness surrounded you.

Family. Volleyball. Love. All gone within a matter of seconds.

--- end p. 11----