"This is just ridiculous..."

"C'mon you look... er, cute?" Suga remarked as he held onto the strap of his duffle bag.

You were wearing the classic black and orange uniform, embroidered with the number '7' on the front and back. The uniform was quite big and you were tying it up in a variety of ways to adjust your tiny frame. Though you were already flat as a board, Mika tightly wrapped your boobs in bandages to suppress them. Fumbling with the uniform you grumble,

"It's so obvious! What if Iwaizumi-kun or Oikawa-kun notices"

Your eyes nervously darted back and forth as other teams started to gather in the common area. You were poorly attempting to rid of any suspicion, but you were fidgeting just as much as Hinata; who was in dire need of a bathroom break. You could hear the other teams whisper, 'is he new on the team? Must be game time jitters or something'

"That's why you're a pinch server! You'll be super far away and no one will see you. And don't worry you'll do just fine." he reassured as he smiled kindly to you. He gave your hand a quick squeeze before anyone else notices.

Leaning in, he whispered dangerously close to you ear,

"Ya know if I was a girl, I'd totally date you."

You ears suddenly became a blistering red as you divert your gaze out of embarrassment,

"I can't believe I agreed to this..."

Yachi-chan was taping the net in sections of eight. She tiptoed on the step stool and simultaneously ripped pieces of duct tape as Yams patiently waited for her to finish. He gripped tightly to a blue and yellow volleyball, bouncing it up and down on the gyms floor.

"What's goin' on? I thought we finished practice" you ask as you gather the volleyballs in the basket.

"I know, it's just I want to perfect my float jump serve. Yachi is helping me hit those areas so the ball tips over to the opponent's side. I'd like to see Seijoh dive for these!" Yams grinned widely as Yachi gave him a thumbs up.

"Why so determined Yams?" you question as you pick up another volleyball.

"Because Kinoshita is a pinch server too and I'm not gonna lose to him." he smiled at the ceiling as sweat trickled down his face.

Watching Yams hit the net over and over again, and failing over and over again, you were revved up as ever. Though Yams kept hitting the volleyball straight to the net, his hunger for perfection never wavered. Yachi kept shouting words of encouragement as she tossed more volleyballs to him. Deciding to leave the cart with Yachi, you remember what Keishin said to you over spilt milk once, 'a manager is just as important as the rest of the team'

All of a sudden, a distant ringing of a cell phone caught your attention. Suga stopped sweeping the floor and reached into his jacket pocket. Holding up the phone in one ear, he continued sweeping until her heard something that peaked his interest,

"Hello? Oh hey Kinoshita, what's up? You're sick? Woah wait, but the competition starts tomorrow!" you approach him as Suga sounded distressed by the phone call

"Ask my girlfriend?" Suga raised an eyebrow and looked towards you with a questionable face.

Ask me what...

"Um he wants to talk to you." Suga awkwardly hands you the phone.

Receiving the phone, you bring it to your ear and unexpectedly hear Keishin's voice. It was a merged call and throughout the whole convoluted conversation, you were in great disbelief.

"No, absolutely no." you answered while they both begged you. Shaking your head you look towards Suga who shrugs his shoulders in response.

"What's the matter with you? I'm a girl! I-I have boobs for crying out loud! Keishin is this even LEGAL?!" you shouted into the phone, earning confusing glares from Yams and Yachi in the distance.

"Suga convince your girlfriend..." Keishin muffled over the phone. Rolling your eyes you hold out his phone but before he takes it, Mika snatches it out of your hand.

"ALRIGHT SHE SAYS YES." Mika exclaimed and hung up the phone immediately. Gawking at your friend, it was surprising that you were still surprised by her impulsivity.

"OKAY WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL! How long were you standing there?" you argued as Mika snickered to herself.

"Well it looks like it's time to get a haircut! I heard there's this guy named Terushima who does free-lancing on boy's haircuts." Mika ignored your question as she devilishly grinned to herself. She tosses back the cellphone to Suga, who awkwardly caught it mid-air.

What Keishin is asking of me is just impossible! H-How can I play as a boy! I'M A GIRL! And now you want me to sacrifice my hair?!

Picking at your split ends you peep up at Suga who's smile never grew old to you.

"Suga do you mind if I cut my hair shorter?"

He places his hands gently on your shoulders and spoke softly,

"I couldn't care less. You'll always be beautiful to me" he smiled as he gently kisses your forehead. Before you could even get flustered Mika interrupts,

"OKAY ENOUGH LOVEY DOVEY STUFF! ONE HAIRCUT COMING UP!" Mika dragged you away before you could say bye to Suga. He smiles back at you and before you lose sight of him he calls out,

"I think short hair would look cute on you!"

I sure hope so.

~

*One awkward, flirtatious, and quite spicy conversation later... and BAM... we have one boy's haircut*

"Bye girlsssss, call me sometime okay?" Terushima leaned casually from his front door and you awkwardly waved goodbye. Mika flips her hair and waves back in a seductive manner, earning a wink from Terushima.

"I thought you hated guys like that" you questioned as you blew your bangs out of your eyes. You realized how much lighter it felt without all that hair weighing you down. He gave you a haircut that grazed your shoulders. A haircut that resembled your father's.

I surprisingly don't hate it?

"Usually I would but he's honestly so cute. Maybe I should ask him out on a date." Mika sighed as you both scuffled your feet on the pavement.

Date? Mika? She hasn't been herself since training camp. In fact, she's been avoiding Tsukishima lately. I don't think I see them playing video games together during lunch anymore. Not to mention she hasn't called or texted Toma back. I thought they were close friends during camp? Do they still hate each other?

A billion thoughts relay in your head as you subconsciously stare directly at Mika.

"Hey don't look at me like that. I know what you're thinking" Mika states solemnly as she takes hold of your arm, preventing you from walking any further.

"Mika, I've just been concerned, that's all. You haven't been hanging out lately at the usual homeroom with Yams and Tsukish-"

"Yeah yeah I get it. You want me to talk to him?" she towered over you and a back away slowly from your friend. You started to break in a nervous sweat but your persistence fought for dominance.

"It's just you know, you've been a bit distant towards him. He's your best friend after all, right?" you stated calmly and you notice her fists start to unfurl.

She narrows her eyes at you and leans over a brick wall. Slumping over her shoulders, she sticks her hands in her pockets and faces the moon.

"I thought I could make him jealous, by posting selfies with Terushima. I thought he would even care to notice me but, no. He hasn't talked to me since. Everywhere I go, everything reminds me of him and I can't bear it. It hurts so much..." she murmured as her eyes matched the pain of her words. She leans her head back as she focuses solely on the moon.

Mika was the one who always gave you advice, but this time it was your turn, yet you were at a loss for words on what to say. Who would've thought the day would come, where you weren't single and your best friend was. You knew that Mika hated talking about feelings but you had to know,

"Tsukishima is the person you want to be with? You love him, don't you?"

Mika was silent but you notice her hands were trembling. She turns to you enraged,

"You don't get it. You'll never get it. You have a boyfriend who loves you, loving dad, a perfect family, amazing volleyball skills and what do I get! The shorter end of everything!"

"Mika." you take hold of her shoulder but she aggressively brushes you off.

"You won't understand... you'll never understand" she grumbles as she continues to march forward. Trying to catch up to her, you were both silent the whole way home.

With that, you were terrified to ask more but instead you wait for what tomorrow would bring.

~

"You want to act more like a boy? Just ask Mika. I'm sure she has plenty of experience." Kageyama teased, earning a sucker punch in the gut.

"Shut it you blueberry" she rolled her eyes and Kageyama let out a pained hiss.

Tsukishima smirked at her remark but as soon as they made eye contact, Mika looked away in disgust.

Though you were trying your best for Mika to talk to him, it was no use. She refused to even sit in proximity on the bus ride. Noticing the posted list of competitors to relieve the tension, you started listing them aloud,

"Johzenji High, Wakutani South High, Aoba Johsai High and Shiratorizawa High."

"MIKA HEY!" a voice called out and you immediately hid behind Tsukishima. He looked down on you as you gave him the hushed signal over your lips

Terushima gleefully strutted over to Mika who waved back to him excitedly. You notice Tsukishima getting tensed up as you hold onto the back of his jacket.

As Mika was deep in conversation with the flirty team captain, you glanced at Suga who was gesturing you to come over. Sneaking over you approach him in a closed off corner.

"Pssst, I know you're feeling nervous right now but I found something that might help you."

He reached into his pocket and grabbed a piece of candy. A wave of nostalgia came over you as a smile was etched on your face. This is the scent that smells vaguely of Suga.

"This is the candy my dad would always give me before and after games." you murmured as you took it out of his palm.

"Kiyoko told me about it. Thought it would help." he smiled and just as impulsive, you hug him tightly. Holding onto his torso, you take in his comforting scent.

He smells like home

"Ah (F/N). People are staring..." Suga whispered

"OH SORRY" you awkwardly adjust yourself and Suga gently pats your head.

"We can do this."

~

Holding the ball up to your face you take in a big gulp as sweat accumulates down your back. Your eyes scan the turquoise and white uniforms crouched down, eager to receive the ball. You've done this before in the earlier matches, but this one came with a different type of pressure. It was crushing you. Heart pounding so loudly out it's chest, you glance quickly at the scoreboard: 25 (Karasuno) 25 (Seijoh)

This is too much pressure on me. If I lose this match then we'd lose to Seijoh three times...

Breaking your train of thought, you notice Suga yelling on the side accompanied with the other teammates,

"Serve them a good one!"

Grinning to yourself you grip the ball tighter in your palms. The ref blows the whistle and you take a deep breath. Tossing the ball high enough you jump and spike the ball as hard as you can. It makes a loud 'boom' as it hits Kindaichi's arm. He couldn't retrieve it and the ball went flying out of bounds. You earned one point for Karasuno.

"YASSS GO GET EM (F/N)! ERM I MEAN, KINOSHITA!!!" Mika yelled as she tightly gripped her clipboard

The rest of the team was ready to doggy pile you but you stuck your hand out to silence them.

"Game's not over yet." You murmured as you stepped back out of the court to serve another one.

Takeda-senpai and Keishin were on the edge of their seats. The rest of the team silenced themselves for you to concentrate.

A break. Now time to win this.

Giving your 110% on this serve you jump as high as you can before hitting the volleyball over the net. For a moment there you felt like you were flying. Oikawa receives the ball first, meaning he can't set the ball for his team. Even though he got it successfully up in the air, you broke their formation.

Perfect.

As both teams scrambled all over the court in one long and gruesome battle, Hinata still remained at his tip top shape. He ran confidently up to the net with no hesitation in his jump. He soars through the air and yells,

"OVER HERE KAGEYAMA!"

In a fraction of a second, Kageyama sets it over and Hinata spikes it. The ball zooms past Oikawa's ear and hits exactly on the in line.

The whistle blows and everyone in Karasuno bursts out in tears of joy as they collapse on one another. Suga runs to you and lifts you up while swinging you around.

"I knew you could do it!" he cheered

You hold onto his neck and smile,

"I couldn't have done it without you"

As Suga almost leans in for a kiss you dodge it, "woah woah, I'm a boy remember"

"Oh crap sorry. It was just so tempting..." he chuckled as he laid you back down on the ground.

"Mommy Mommy! Look over there!" a little boy tugged on his mom's shirt

"Honey, that's just how love is." she stroked the boy's head as he looked up to his mom astounded.

Just as you were about to approach Mika she stands there, silent. Her silence disturbed you as you follow her fixated gaze,

"Mika what's wron-"

"Oh screw it!" Hajime yelled

Glancing to the other side of the court you see Hajime holding onto Oikawa's shirt collar as he passionately kisses Oikawa. The rest of Seijoh's band from below stopped playing and even the trumpet girl made a weird sound. Seijoh's team was silent, except for Kindaichi who claimed,

"See I told you!"

As Hajime pulled back from the kiss, Oikawa was speechless.

"Oikawa, ai shiteru (I love you)" Hajime stated boldly still holding onto Oikawa's jersey

"Someone explain to me what the hell is going on!?" Mika demanded from the other side of the court. The whole Seijoh's cheer squad shifts their attention to Mika who was wide eyed and confused.

"Mika." Hajime says breathlessly as he lets go of Oikawa.

"How long? Did you? When did?" Mika looked like her brain was hurting as she tried to process everything

"He was going to tell you-" you stood in front of her and she yells,

"YOU KNEW?! You knew this whole time and you didn't tell me?"

"Please it wasn't my place!"

"You-you lied to me too? All of you lied to me?" Mika mutters as she stared you down, all serious.

Before you could call out to her, it was already too late. Tsukishima stood there in silence as he watched her disappear into the crowd. He held onto a towel and fiddled with the cap of his water bottle.

"What are you waiting for Tsukki! Go after her!" Yams yelled as he approached his tall friend. Tsukki was indifferent to his comment as he remained stationary

"It's no use. She hates me already. I'll just make it worse." he muttered

Yams grabbed Tsukki by the collar and brought him close to his face. The whole team was shook by all the commotion.

"What more motivation could you ask for!? Until she's with someone else!? Put your damn pride aside and go after her already!"

Yams huffed as he roughly pushed his best friend who was wide eyed by his comment.

"If you still refuse to talk to her... I-I'll tell Yachi if that's what it takes! We made a deal remember?!" he yelled

"T-Tell me what?" Yachi asked nervously as she eyed the two of them.

Yams gulped as he started sweating profusely but he mustered up the courage to say this,

"YACHI GO OUT WITH ME!"

The whole crowd was whistling as Yams waited patiently for her response. His fists were tightly balled up to his sides and his eyes were closed as if waiting for the worst possible outcome. Yachi approaches him and places her hands on his. He slowly opens one eye and Yachi smiles upwards to him.

"I thought you'd never ask."

The crowd goes wild as Sakeo banged the drums with the rest of the crew. You could see Akiteru wipe a tear from his eye. Even Seijoh "AWWWED" from the stands and you could feel your heart glowing for the new couple.

I guess they didn't need me after all.

Snapping back to reality you realize your best friend was off somewhere crying and you needed to find her. Just as you were about to leave the gym, Suga calls out to you,

"(F/N)."

Turning around, you notice his lifeless face accompanied with pale skin. His hands were trembling with a cellphone in his hand. He drops the cellphone and his knees cave in. You run up to him and frantically say,

"Suga what's wrong?"

"I need to get to the hospital now."

~

I was waiting for this fraying caused by slight annoyance and panic to vanish from my mind.

I run down the halls and cut corners in order to find Mika. She was hard to navigate through the crowd but I was eager to find her.

"Mika! Mika!"

I search left and right for her with no success.

Curses.

"I think someone is crying in the bathroom. Poor girl, wonder if she got her heart broken?" a girl murmured as she exited the bathroom with her friend

"I would murder the guy who did that to my friend. Tsk men are the epitome of stupid." the other girl added.

Geez she sounds like Mika

"Oooh let's go buy some onigiri, there's a really cute guy there!" the first girl chirped while the other girl rolled her eyes, yet she agreed to her request

"Did you not hear what I just said?" she grumbled as they both took off into the crowd

Running into the girls bathroom, I hear a few screeches from girls, "PERV THERE'S A PERV IN HERE!"

Ignoring them, I approach a stall that echoed a person hardcore blowing their nose.

"Mika!" I bang on the stall door and her sniffles stopped for a brief moment. She creaks open the stall door and stares at me with bloodshot eyes.

"Mika." I wrap my arms around her but she forcefully pushes me away.

"You stupid! You bastard! I hate you! You disgust me! You cheater! You LIAR!!!" Mika yelled as she started to punch my arms but I refused to budge. I grasp tightly onto her, but she kept swinging her arms at me.

A flashback played in my mind on the day I called my brother a liar. 'Nee-san you're a liar! You're no ACE!' I yelled as I ran up to my room. I never saw my brother the same way again. As much as I despise liars, I never was one. Nor did I ever want to be called one. A wave of guilt came over me as I let out a big exhale.

So this is how my brother felt...

"Liar liar liar lia-" she kept pushing me away but I persistently held on.