"Look Tsukki!" Yamaguchi was holding up the sign up sheet for the volleyball club and he wrote my name beside his.

"How many times do I have to tell you. I don't wanna join volleyball." I scold Yamaguchi. The freckled boy looked disheartened as he lowered the application paper from my face.

I'm a horrible best friend.

He takes a pen and before he crosses out my name, a voice called out,

"Hey, you should join with Yamaguchi, he is your best friend after all."

It was Mika standing at the podium in front of the class. She was in charge of club sign up because she was class president of your homeroom after all. I roll my eyes at her and she retorts,

"HEY, don't make your best friend sad! C'mon with your height you'd be a great middle blocker."

"I already told you I don't wanna-"

Yamaguchi and Mika both entrapped me by taking hold of both my arms. I try to escape from their grasps but they hang on even tighter.

"Hey! Stop it. I said no already!" I try to shake them off, but they wouldn't budge.

"Pleasepleasepleaseplease." Mika begged. I looked down onto her desperate face.

"Tsukiiii pleaaaase do it for me!" Yamaguchi whined still holding onto my other arm. This reminded me of the time when I used to beg my brother to watch his games. I always wanted to watch, but he told me it would 'ruin his focus or something.' It was something I wanted so badly but I didn't understand why. As these two buffoons held me down like little children, I slowly understand why they wanted this so badly. Begging to watch my brother play for Karasuno. I was getting the same feeling from these two.

It's just a club. Why would these two even want me to join. Well I get Yamaguchi, but not this one.

I look down at Mika and I've never seen the class president so desperate for me to join something. It was really odd because it seems like I couldn't escape her. I'd always find myself sitting near her in class and she was even in my advanced biology class. She was always so loud, but every time she raised her hand in class, she always had a valid point. It made sense to make her class president, but good Lord she was .

What is with this chick? She does look quite familiar. I guess I do kinda recognize her, she must've been the loud one, cheering on 'The King' during volleyball tournaments. Volleyball must be her life too. I've heard she's just as aggressive as that tyrant King, but apparently they're not friends anymore. Could be just a rumour.

I sigh as I try to loosen my grip from them.

"Fine, geez let go of me already."

My brother would've wanted this for me too. If he knew I didn't join he'd be nagging me all day at home. God, he's so annoying.

The two of them looked up at me with big bright eyes. Yamaguchi looked like he was about to cry.

"T-Tsukki, you're the best." He holds up his thumb as a sign of gratitude.

"Give me the list." I say nonchalantly. Taking the list from Yamaguchi's hands, I notice the various sign up sheets on the table. I read, 'Baking club', 'Swim Team', 'Tennis Club'...

I could've joined the Debate Club for all I care. This is just something to write on my resume anyway.

I straighten the paper in my hands and read, 'Karasuno Men's Volleyball Club.' The names listed were just the four from homeroom:

Kageyama Tobio (16)

Hinata Shoyo (16)

Yamaguchi Tadashi (16)

Tsukishima Kei (16)

Kageyama Tobio. The King of the Court. Hmph, seems like he didn't make it to an elite school after all.

I carelessly toss down the paper with the rest of the sign up sheets and hurriedly walk back to my designated seat. Yamaguchi followed right after and he turned around, mouthing the words 'Thank you' to Mika. She gave a bright smile which almost caught you off guard.

This president I swear.

~

"You're going to have to do better than that your " I mock as I fully block the ball back to my opponents. Kageyama's face was filled with rage as he yells at Hinata,

"THAT WAS RIGHT TO HIM YOU IDIOT!" Hinata sticks out his tongue at Kageyama, pissing him off even more.

"Well, well, well. Looks like the King hasn't changed his ways."

The whistle was blown by that annoying president.

Why is she everywhere I go?! What does she want this time.

"Tsukishima. That's enough. Point goes to Kageyama."

"NANI!? But that was right dead centre in their court! It's obviously our point!" I argue at the ref.

"Well it would've been yours if you stop arguing during the game. In a real match I'd better focus on your play if I were you. Less talk, more action." she sassily clapped her hands together.

I hear the opposing side snicker at me. My blood boiled thinking about how this chick is already ruining my life and it's only the first week of school...

It was like being lectured by my mother.

Before I could argue back at her, she blew her whistle once more, cutting me off. The shorter girl I met in biology class flipped the score board nervously, avoiding my gaze. It read, '23 vs. 24'. You scoring 23.

THEY'RE AT SET POINT. This damn president.

It was the opponents turn as Kageyama was up to serve. He throws the ball into the air and jumps with great force. His hits the ball in mid-air and it flies to my side of the court.

A jump serve huh. He seemed to improve his skills from the last time I saw him. Too bad his attitude is still the same.

Daichi saved the ball and it goes soaring back to your opponents.

"Nice receive!" Yamaguchi yells.

Tanaka yells, "I don't think so!" He runs to retrieve the ball and dives for it, yelling,

"KAGEYAMA GO!"

Kageyama readies himself in his setters position.

Not on my watch, you Tyrant! Just because this is a practice game doesn't mean I'm going easy on yo-

Just as fast as my thoughts, the ball slammed at my side of the court. It barely grazed the white line. Mika blew her whistle and raised her hand out to my side.

"OUT!"

How did he do that?! That was a close one. Was that one of his royal sets that everyone talks about? No, it's not just the King himself. I glance towards the shrimp that was receiving a beating from Kageyama. No. It's the short one, he almost let it slip past me. How?

"WAUW HINATA THAT WAS AMAZING!" Nishinoya exclaimed by the side lines, shaking Asahi in the process. Asahi looked like he was about to throw up.

No, this pip-squeak couldn't of jumped that high to get past me? I'm practically a head taller than him.

"HINATA CAN YOU AIM PROPERLY?!" the dark haired boy violently shook the red-head's tiny shoulders.

"SET IT AGAIN, I'LL GET IT THIS TIME I SWEAR!" Hinata screamed.

The whistle was blown again and the game commenced. Seemed like everyone in the gymnasium was just as shocked as me. I started processing what just happened as I remember Hinata jumping over the net like it was nothing.

His arm. His jump. If he could do that again with enough control, he would've definitely scored another point. Since when did he learn how to do quick attacks? Damn it.

Yamaguchi places his hand on your shoulder saying,

"It's okay Tsukki, we'll stop the next one." I nod in response. Yamaguchi always knew what to say to you. He could tell that I was stressed, even when I didn't show it. I crouched down in a ready position, sweat was dripping down my forehead, but I wasn't going to back down now.

We're both at set point. First one who reaches 25 wins. I'll make this count.

You plant your feet firmly to the ground and make a nasty face at Kageyama.

I hate his guts.

The whistle blows once more and Daichi is up to serve. He hits it with great power and the ball rotates fast in the air.

Yes that's perfect.

Just when you think the ball would slam past their opponents, Tanaka dove forward. His body slid against the gym floor making a 'screech' sound but his arms just barely saved the ball before it touched the floor.

"NICE TANAKA-KUN!" Hinata yelled with admiration. Hinata ran to his right side of the court with full speed. Hinata screamed,

"KAGEYAMA I'M HERE! SET IT TO ME!!!"

In a flash Kageyama set it to Hinata with pin-point precision.

Another Quick Attack! I don't think so!

I run up to the boys' right side and just when I think I got the shrimp cornered, he sprints to the left side and 'BAM'. The ball shoots past Yamaguchi's ear in a flash. I couldn't even react on time as I was in shock by the acceleration of the ball. The whole gym fell silent. Then Hinata screamed like a madman,

"I HIT IT?! I HIT IT!! DID YOU SEE THAT KAGEYAMA I HIT IT!"

Hinata jumps up and down and waves his red palm in Kageyama's face. The King was clearly in shock too with the rest of the team. The whistle blows loudly in your ear, signalling the game is over. Sugawara flips the number over and it read: '24' vs. '25'.

Shit.

"NANI!? Hinata wasn't even looking? He had his eye's closed!" Daichi exclaimed still in shock. He points at the little shrimp who was still dancing around Kageyama.

In defeat I clench my fists tightly and mumble, "This isn't over your majesty". I turn around in anger and Yamaguchi follows me off the court.

I lost, damn it.

I slam my fist at a nearby gym locker. Yamaguchi pats me on the back and says,

"Thank you."

I turn around and face him, "What?"

"Thank you for caring so much. I really missed seeing you get worked up about volleyball. Shows that you care, you know?"

He sounded just like my brother. Always telling me to push for more or achieve greater. He'd say, 'you have so much potential Kei, don't waste it. Other people would wish to be as talented as you.' I look towards Yamaguchi and this time tears actually formed on his face.

"Don't cry Tadashi." I reach down in my pocket to look for my handkerchief.

Oh it's with Mika, I forgot.

Yamaguchi already wiped away his tears and said, "It's okay Tsukki, they're happy tears you see."

Just as he cleaned his face up with his sleeve, Mika comes running out with an exaggerated expression. It looked like she was running after me.

"My goodness, do you run away fast! We still have to do our research paper dummy" She said out of breath. She was holding my bag in one hand and hers in the other.

"Great job back there!" She holds out your bag and you grab it without question. She gives me a thumbs up as she still breathes heavily.

What is with her?

"Thanks for joining the team." she said smiling at me. Her smile was different this time. It wasn't goofy or flashy like in homeroom, it was a genuine smile. A smile that made me smile back but, only slightly.

"I better be headed home soon! My mom is going to be mad if I'm late for dinner. I'll see you tomorrow Mika! Bye Tsukki!" Yamaguchi waved bye while going back to the gym to retrieve his stuff. Leaving just us alone together.

"Well, what are you waiting for, let's go! I'll make you something at home to celebrate."

I let out a huff, "Celebrate what? We lost?"

"Celebrate joining an awesome team. What do you say? You like strawberry shortcake?" She turns around and smiles. Her long black hair was shining in the sunset and you couldn't help but stare.

Strawberry shortcake, my favourite.

"Yeah, strawberry shortcake sounds good." I mumble trying to avoid her eyes.

"Alrighty! Let's meet up with Suga and (F/N)!"

She runs back towards the gym, making me run along her side. Adjusting my glasses, I still kept my eyes on Mika. Her long black hair swinging back and forth.

What am I going to do about her.

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