You dropped the clipboard to the floor as cold sweat formed on your forehead and back. You were paralyzed by Suga's words that echoed in your head, '(F/N) play for me'. You tried to respond but your lips were sealed tight.

"W-whaat? Isn't there some sort of rule that managers can't play? And the fact that we're girls?" your voice quavered as you frantically wave your arms in denial.

Takeda-senpai pulled out the rule book from his pocket and flipped the pages while licking his thumb per page.

"Hmm... let's see ah!" he pointed upwards with his index finger. "According to paragraph 2 section A, 'all players qualified to compete in a match must be registered as part of the team.'"

He closed the book and smiled at you and Mika. Mika's face lit up with determination while you were fidgeting on the spot with Suga's uniform in hand. Suga interpreted Takeda's words,

"Well both or you are part of the team, and no gender qualifications were written in the rules so..."

"We're going to play?!" you gulped, trying to wrap your head around what they just said.

Seriously?! They should really update that rule book.

Mika suddenly slaps you forcefully in the back, jolting your senses. She flashes you one of her signature smiles and declares,

"We will do this! I will win- I mean- we will win against my brother!"

The boys around were muttering amongst themselves as they didn't know Mika has a brother from Seijoh.

"Well that settles it, I will call them today to set up the match!" Takeda-senpai exclaimed proudly. He exits the gym leaving you and Mika again to tame the boys.

Geez, I thought we were just managers!?

A hand touches your shoulder and you surprisingly see Kageyama. It looked like he was trying to comfort you, which you knew he wasn't the best at. It was nice that he was trying.

"W-we, um, got this okay? It's just like middle school." Kageyama stuttered, patting your shoulder gently.

Is Kageyama trying to console me? I thought he would still be mad from yesterday and this morning.

"Just like middle school." you recite back to him. Knowing that you'll be with Mika and Kageyama seemed to ease your nerves a bit.

"ALRIGHT EVERYONE FORMATION!" Mika yelled again through the megaphone.

Everyone fell back into the court and started practicing receiving and spiking. Even you and Mika had to do the exercises too. If you wanted to beat Seijoh, you'd have to start practicing now. Hours passed and your limbs felt numb. You were all sweaty and tired from all the constant running and jumping.

"Here." Suga said handing you his water bottle.

Huh, a volleyball player giving water to a manager. Ha how strange.

Taking the water bottle you squeeze the sides and water squirted messily into your mouth. You and Suga let out a laugh.

"Good job out there. I'm so pumped to see you play." he threw you two bandaged 'thumbs up'. You wipe the sides of your mouth with your shirt and huffed,

"There's still so much work to do.."

~

You groan as you're holding a box of oranges to stock up. Your back was already so sore from practice earlier. You already felt so tired, but you still had a mountain of inventory to count.

There's still so much work to do.

Taking the oranges one by one, you tag individual stickers onto them and place them in the appropriate bins. With each click, you were getting faster at the task at hand. Every Wednesday you'd have work at the grocery store. Your job consisted of stocking and cleaning up. Pretty self explanatory. The store owner wasn't too happy that you had to reduce your hours but when you told him it was for volleyball, he surprising took the news well.

"(F/N), after you're done with those, stalk up the milk. Remember-"

"First in, first out." you sighed, completing his sentence. He smirks at you and continues to count the money in the register. He then resumes reading his newspaper with his feet resting on top of the counter.

Ugh, he's so lazy

You're still stalking up the countless amount of oranges when you mutter to yourself,

"If per piece was sold by this much then you would make a profit of..."

Another reason why the store owner liked you so much was that he was always impressed by your quick mental math. It really helped flourish his business and sales. Too concentrated on the price tags, you didn't notice the oranges that fell out of the box. Just when you were about to reach for a fallen orange, someone grabs it before you. Looking up from your crouched position, you recognize him.

"Yamaguichi hey! Whatcha doing here?" you greeted him. He crouched down to help you with the fallen oranges.

"My mom said she needed ingredients from the store. She's making ramen!" he said all cheerfully. What you loved about Yamaguchi was the he was the most kind hearted person you'd ever meet. It was so strange how he was best friends with Tsukishima, they were polar opposites.

"Hey Yams. Can I call you yams? You ask and he nods. "How are you best friends with Tsukishima? You're both so-"

"Different? Yeah we get that a lot. Well, let's just say he's always been there for me." He smiles widely holding an orange.

Well I guess he does have a heart. Wonder if Mika sees that side of him. Maybe thats why she can stand being around him. Most guys Mika would beat up or scare away. Strangely, Tsukishima isn't scared of her. How peculiar.

Lost in thought, you look towards Yams and let out a small giggle,

"Well, um, we have noodles on sale in that aisle for your ramen." you point at the opposite side. You knew the store like the back of your hand. It's been two years since your mom got the job for you. That, and this was also her second job.

"Wow, thanks (F/N)! Good job by the way making it to the starting line-up." the freckled faced boy said in awe. You, Mika, Tanaka, Kageyama, Hinata and Tsukishima were the six to play first again Seijoh. You felt bad for taking a spot that wasn't even yours to begin with.

"Aw, Yams. I wouldn't be playing if it wasn't for Suga being injured." you say shyly.

"But still! With your spikes, we'll win for sure!" he chirped. He twirled his bag of groceries and stood up. You thanked him for helping you and he waved goodbye, approaching the counter to pay for his items.

Yamaguchi is so adorable.

Just as he left the store, your store manager walks towards you with a serious face. Your eyebrow lifts in curiosity.

Am I in trouble?

You try to avoid his gaze by stocking up the milk faster. He taps you on the shoulder, making you jump a bit.

"That boy is in volleyball club too huh?" he asked with a smirk. He seemed to always tease you about something, but his words were unexpected. Volleyball? Seriously? He had a cigarette on his lips that bounced up and down when he spoke.

"Yeah, I'm just a manager though." you say timidly, trying to wave the cigarette smell away. You were about to put another carton of milk on the shelf but he grabs your hand, making you drop it to the ground. Milk spills all over the floor and your shoes. You're surprised by his sudden movement as he intensely stares down at your palms.

"Keishin!" You yell at him. You always called him by his first name. He's more like a big brother to you than your boss. He feels the roughness of your palm and looks up at you,

"You're a spiker." He said in a solemn tone. He was still massaging your hand.

How can he tell just by looking at my hands?

"Don't say you're just a manager. They're just as important as the coach and the whole team." He scolded. You retract your hand from his while making a disgusted face.

"W-we don't have a coach Keishin..." you mention. His eyes widened and a devilish grin formed on his lips.

What is he thinking...

"Just so you know... I happen to know someone who can be your coach." he said tapping his fingers on the chilled glass. Your eyes lit up with excitement as you finally found the opportunity to fill the position. It was getting harder for Mika and you to maintain the rowdy boys. This would take a whole workload off your shoulders.

"Who? Who?!" you plead, stepping into the milk on the floor. He grins and says,

"You know how I said my grandfather used to coach volleyball?"

"Yeah? And?"

"He used to coach for Karasuno. Say you're in that school right?"

"It's my first year there, why?" you were getting impatient with his broad questions. You picked up another milk carton and continued your work. The more he made you stand around, the more you wanted to just finish and go home. He leans against the cold glass door and crosses his arms. It's like he was containing a secret too good to share.

"Just spit it out you loser!" you say angrily, pushing the milk into their shelves with force.

"My grandfather is coach Ukai."

You drop the carton of milk in your hand and it spills all over the floor. It was now on Keishin's shoes and your apron.

"You can take that out of my paycheque" you say quickly point at the fallen carton. He began to burst out laughing as you try to swat away the milk splatter on your clothes

"Y-you're related to coach Ukai???" you stuttered.

He is related to the man who tormented my sister?! Why has he never mentioned this before?

"The old bastard. Not proud of being related to him, but damn he was a good coach." he grunted.

"Wait how come you never mentioned this before? And why is the store not named 'Ukai'?" you questioned. You worked there for so long, it was strange he never brought it up.

"Sakanoshita is my mom's last name aaaand, I don't like taking about the old geezer" he sighed. "Anyway, I volunteer to be your coach. Why didn't you ask before?"

"Because you never mentioned it!" you yelled and rolled your eyes at him. It was nice though, that he offered to help you.

"I tell you what." he takes the cigarette out of his mouth and twirls it between his fingers. "I will come to your practice tomorrow and help you guys out."

"You're serious?" you let out a small laugh. "What's in it for you?"

When he heard about your accident, he always made time to visit you in the hospital. He hated doing favours for people, but he was such a softie when it came to you. He never admits it though.

"Nothing. I just want to help. Besides, my old man would probably want me to do something 'useful' in my life." He stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged. He avoided your gaze by looking around the grocery store. Your apron was covered in milk and you playful splash some on Keishin. He shielded himself with his arms and yelled,

"HEY!"

You stomp on the ground, creating more of a milk mess. Both of you were spraying milk at each other and laughing. Work didn't feel like work with Keishin. When you were around him, it was like being with Kiyoko. When you missed her, he'd act like a sibling towards you. He was actually one of the first people you told about Kiyoko's coma.

"You can go home now (F/N)." he demanded, trying to hold a serious face. But you could see he was trying his best to conceal his smile.

"What about the mess?" you ask pointing at the spilled milk.

"You've done enough for today. I'll clean it up"

"You? Clean up? That's two surprising things today." you teased.

"Shut up and go home already." he commanded ruffling your hair. He grabbed a mop and started cleaning the milk. You sigh taking off the apron. Looking back at Keishin mopping sloppily, you smile.

It's like a brother I never had.

~

"TELL ME EVERYTHING!" Mika screeched from the phone. You were using your mom's old phone, well because Kiyoko destroyed yours.

"C'mon you're not going to explain what happened last night?! There was two boys at your house that weren't your brother?" you say making fun of her. You were under the light of your desk lamp as you try to concentrate on your school work. Calling Mika made this impossible.

"C'mon you first!" Mika screamed excitedly. It was funny that you were only meters apart from each other. Your rooms were situated so close together, but you'd guess the neighbours might yell at you two.

"Fine. What do you want to know?" you say bashfully tucking your hair behind your ear. You didn't notice you were blushing.

"What happened between you and Suga?" she smiled like a child.

"Let's just say he came to the hospital with me and I showed him Kiyoko. Kiyoko woke up, then a series of events happened, then we had to work on the paper... etcetera, etcetera... then my mom offered him to sleep over. Seriously, that's it." you stated quickly.

"Girl! Don't filter it out!" she squealed with curiosity.

"Um. Okay I may have, um" you felt your face getting hotter. "I may have seen him shirtless." you say a little too quickly. Your head automatically slumps down onto your notebook.

"HAHAHA THAT'S GOLD." Mika laughed too loudly. You could practically hear her from the other side of your room.

"Shh Mika! My mom is sleeping!" you whispered, getting closer to the camera. Mika was still laughing uncontrollably and tears were forming in her eyes. You hear banging on Mika's bedroom wall.

"Hey! Not too loud Mika" a muffled voice said. The sound was coming from her brother's bedroom.

"Hajime is home?" You ask

"Yeah... kinda strange. I haven't seen him in a while. I think him and Iwaizumi-sepai had a fight. I'm too comfortable asking him"

"You know who I've also haven't seen in a while?" you whistle. "Oikawa-kun."

Mika avoided your gaze as she retorts,

"Psh that idiot? What about him?"

"Why did he sleepover then?"

"Ugh, such a mess to be honest."

"Oh really?" you smirked. It was the first time seeing Mika all flustered, it was riveting.

"Yeah a stupid mess."

Oikawa was standing in my living room, shirtless. I felt a nose bleed coming along.

"Jesus Crappykawa. Not in front of my sister." Hajime slaps Oikawa bare back and he whines at my brother.

WHY IS HE SHIRTLESS?

"I sleep without a shirt okay???" he explains to Hajime. Hajime growls at him as he reaches for a carton of milk . He drinks it angrily and places it back in the fridge.

IS HE SLEEPING HERE?!

"Put on a shirt" he grumbles.

"What a loser." Tsukishima mumbled to me. We were still working on the paper, editing the last details. It was getting late but Tsukishima said that he wasn't finished yet. I didn't think he'd care that much about his grades. Hajime heads upstairs again to get ready for bed and Oikawa follows. But before he leaves, he sends me a 'flying kiss' and whispers

"Goodnight Mika-chan. Hope you get a goodnights sleep."

I didn't know how to react as Oikawa turns around, showing his ripped back. I tried looking away but he was just too much.

This is not happening Mika. This is not happening...

"Hey. Focus." Tsukishima slaps my hand as I stopped typing. He scans my face and asks,

"Are you in love with that idiot?"

"WHAT, PSH NO ME? HELL NO." I defend myself. I type faster in my laptop in fluster. "Just finish your part already so you can go home. What's taking you so long anyway?"

"Fine. Whatever." he says in a flat tone.

After all the fine tuning of the essay, I've finished my part but Tsukishima wasn't done yet. He said he was still making 'fine adjustments'

"Ugh whatever. I'll just wait for you, just tell me when you're done." I move over near the TV and insert my favourite video game: Dead by Daylight. I just got the newest edition. Apparently the graphics are super realistic and I couldn't wait to play it. Sadly (F/N) gets scared easily but I've been occupying myself with other players online. Putting on my wireless headphones, I start the game and Tsukishima says,

"Hey. I have that game too."

To my surprise, I take off the headphones and grin. Oh he has interests; he finally said something not irritating or stupid for once.

"Yeah. It's my favourite. You play?"

"Mostly online. Whats your score" he asks. I click a few buttons and show him. He smirks and says,

"Are you MitsukiM_01?" he asks curiously.

"Hah, yeah why?"

"So you're the one who keeps killing me off." he scoffs. For once, I laughed at him and said,

"Well nows your chance." throwing him a controller he catches it midair and challenges me,

"Oh you're going down."

"Watch me."

We ended up playing until 4am that I didn't realize how late it was. He was a tough opponent but we almost tied every round. I wasn't backing down without a fight.

"Holy crap Tsukishima, it's so late! Er- well early? Is it too late to go home?" I frantically check my watch and look back at his face. He seemed to be enjoying himself and secretly I was too.

I finally found someone who'd play this game with me. His company is also nice... kinda don't want him to leave just yet.

"Eh, it's fine. My brother is home anyway. I don't really want to see him."

Oh, he doesn't like his brother?

Before, I can ask anything Oikawa comes downstairs and notices us awake. He was still in a sleepy state, he almost looked drunk.

"Oi, what are you still doing here? Keeping a lady awake, how rude. Mika-chaaan you should be sleeping beside me." he sleepishly points in the direction of the bedroom. My face was flushed crimson, but I was relieved that the dark living room concealed it.

"I don't know, what are you still doing here?" Tsukishima stated. He quickly put his arm around me and I froze. Oikawa stops and laughs evilly at Tsukishima. It looked like he wanted to say something insulting but instead he aimlessly walks back upstairs.

Was he sleep walking?

"I don't want to go home just yet." he says still playing the video game with one hand. His arm was still around my shoulder, even when Oikawa left. I realized his face was inches away from mine.

I'm so glad the lights are off...

"Why not?" I ask and he looks down at me with daunting golden eyes,

"Im not leaving you alone with that ."

-------------------------- end p. 27--------------------