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"Let's get married!"

"Yes, Noya-san!"

"Let's pinky-promise to that!"

Your pinkies intertwined gently and then the tip of your thumbs rested on each other as Nishinoya rested his forehead on yours. This special pinky-promise only you and Nishinoya had sealed every promise you made together.

Memories of that day when you were 5 came flooding back in your brain as you stared at the boy who proposed to you 11 years ago, after you lost him for 3 years. 3 years may seem like nothing to some people, but it meant everything to you. The time that had been lost, the time you could have been spending with Nishinoy- no. He wasn't Nishinoya to you, he was Yuu.

You flinched at the sight of him. His features still as striking as you remembered, in fact, nothing much had changed, other than the way you saw him now. He was a man.

"Y-Yuu-kun?" you stuttered.

"Eh? Haru-chan? Ah so it really is you! I saw you when I came in just now but I didn't know if it actually was you or not." he exclaimed wide-eyed with glee and walked over to you. You were both the same height and your eyes met.

"I missed you." he whispered and smiled. His million dollar smile.

"I missed you too..." you blushed. How did he become so handsome? He was already perfect before but now? Damn it.

"Oh, you guys are wearing matching tees!" Hinata noticed from the court and pointed at your shirts. "A Match For A Thousand" boldly written at the back of your shirts. You glanced at Noya and giggled. Noya watched you as your eyes creased with your small laugh, his heart melting inside.

"Okay lovebirds enough chit-chat. Misaki, you are still gonna be the libero for the N.A team. You're good. Nishinoya, get on the court." Coach Ukai instructed firmly.

"Let's catch up after the match." you suggested.

As you and Noya turned to walked back onto the court, you heard Noya shout, "Hey, just because we have history doesn't mean I'm going easy on you!" You smirked and took your position on the court, right opposite Noya, and looked him in his striking eyes.

"Please, do your worst."

"BEEEEEEEEP!" With the blow of the whistle, the second set commenced. Both you and Noya shout out:

"SAKOI!"

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The second set started way more intense than the first. Everyone brought their A game and Karasuno's team was even more determined to win the second set after losing the first one. Having Noya on the opposing team made Karasuno's defence a 100 times stronger, maybe more than that. Both you and him constantly saving the ball and keeping the ball in play, barely missing any. This made the rallies excruciatingly long and the desire to score only burned stronger.

Mid-game, the N.A team had successfully returned the ball to Kageyama who received the ball first, disabling him of setting the ball.

"I got it!" Noya shouted as he jumped up just before the attack line and tossed the ball. Everyone behind Noya started running up, determined to be the one to spike the ball. The toss went to Tanaka who did his favourite straight spike. The ball hit the blockers' hands on the N.A team and went out of the court, Karasuno scoring a point.

You looked at Noya in awe and the team in shock. You were surprised that they could execute such high-leveled and dangerous plays perfectly, but you yourself had tricks up your sleeve and you were determined to show Karasuno you were not one to be messed with.

After a few rallies, Hinata faked to go in for a quick when Kageyama went for a dump, but it was read by Suga who hit the ball upwards. The receive was a off and team watched as the ball went up and to the back of the court, near where you were standing. "Sorry-"

"I'll toss it!" you cut Suga off, signalling to the spikers on the team to run up and you nodded to Asahi. You jumped as high as you could and tossed the ball to Asahi, a little higher just like he wanted. With amazing power, Asahi's spike once again broke through the wall on Karasuno's side.

The people on Karasuno's side looked at the ball on the floor and then turned to look at you. Even Asahi and Suga were delightfully surprised by your good toss.

"Hehe, I learnt these plays in Junior High and trained as a setter before." you said proudly and close-eye smiled. "I can do cool things too!"

Everyone in the gym looked at you with admiration and suggested teaching them some more good plays to use in competitions after the match was over. Of course you agreed.

Damn, she can do everything huh. She's improved so much since junior high, her skills are of national level. Although, she hasn't matured much...as a woman... (this is for my flat girls out there IM WITH YOU)

"Noya-senpai? Noya-senpaiii!" Hinata waved his hands in front of my eyes. "You were spacing out, we're about to start."

"Ah, gomen."

"Oh yeah Noya senpai, is Haru-chan your girlfriend?" Hinata teased.

"A-AH? NO SHE ISN'T, WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?" I shoved Hinata playfully as he laughed on impact.

"It's because I've only heard Haru-chan call you by your first name! Even Tanaka senpai calls you Noya-san."

"Yeah... She's the only one who can make my name sound nice..." I sighed as I looked at her talking excitedly with the members of the N.A team. She was jumping around with excitement, like a child.

"Oooo so I have a chance then!"

"OI!" I growled at Hinata who was laughing away, but looked back at her and smiled.

How much have I missed her smile?

The points were once again at 23:24, with the N.A team in the lead. Thanks to Makato, a trained pinch server and his infamous jump float serves, the team could win back the points lost from Kageyama and Hinata's quick attacks. Noya hasn't learnt how to properly receive jump floats so his underhand receives were mostly off.

Despite Daichi receving the last jump-float serve at match point, Kageyama and Hinata's quick was stopped by the N.A team's block. You high-fived Asahi strongly and Suga came up to you.

"You were amazing." He said as he pat your shoulder lightly. Your cheeks turned pink. You took a good look at Suga and noticed how soft his hair looked. Unknowingly, your hand had made its way to his silver locks.

"Thanks, but you were more amazing than I could ever be. Hehehe" you giggled, and then noticing your hand in his hair, you immediately withdrew it and whispered a quick "ah gomen!!" and bowed. Suga laughed, thinking your actions were extremely cute.

With that, the second set ended.

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After the second set ended, the doors of the gym swung open, revealing a panting Yachi.

"I'M SO SORRY! I HAD SUPPLEMENTARY CLASSES AND-"

What is Haru-chan doing here? Huh, she's wearing the vest too...? Yachi thought to herself, confused by the scene.

"Ah, Hitoka-chan!" Shimizu smiled as she walked over to Yachi . "Haru-chan wants to be the second manager of the team, you both are in the same class right? I'm sure you'll get along well."

At first, Yachi beams with excitement. The fact that she would not be the only manager left after Shimizu graduates and she would have you by her side made her feel relieved. You notice her and frantically wave at her to get her attention but Hinata called out to you.

"Haru-chan! Come here, we're discussing the game right now!" he gestured for you to go over to him and where the rest of the team was at. You jog your way to them and stood between Hinata and Tanaka. Coach Ukai explained the areas of improvement and what they needed to work on and then dismissed the team to do their own individual practices. Right as you were about to walk away, Tanaka taps you on the shoulder.

"Hey, Misaki-chan-"

"Haru is just fine!" you cheerfully corrected him. He blushes a little.

"O-Oh, okay then. Haru-chan, were my spikes easy to receive? You seemed to be able to receive almost all of them..." Tanaka trails off.

"Of course not! Your spikes were actually extremely difficult for me to receive although I had many practices. Hmmm, you weren't using your full force were you? I know you're stronger than that! You're like, the next ace, Tanaka-senpai!" you complimented him sincerely, making his confidence burst. The senpai in your comment made his heart melt.

"WAHAHAHA OF COURSE. That was just a warm-up game. The next time you play against me, you won't receive a single spike of mine. Let's go to the convenience store later, I'll buy you an ice-cream because I AM YOUR SENPAI!" he winked and spread his arms wide open.

"Okay, Tanaka-senpai!" you jumped up and hugged him as you thanked him for the offer. He gave you a noogie and continued laughing.

You didn't notice Shimizu at the side, glaring at you during the whole conversation.

"Tanaka-senpai, can I talk to Haru-chan for a bit?" the short orange-haired cutie came up to you and Tanaka. Tanaka nodded and went to find Noya.

"Hey sunshine! Your spikes were so good just now, you gave me such a hard time hmphh." you pouted.

"S-Sunshine?" he ran his hand through his fluffy orange hair as he stammered the nickname you gave him.

"Yeah, sunshine! Your hair is orange like the sun, and your personality is so cheery and bright, like the sun!" you exclaimed while maintaining eye contact with Hinata. The comment made Hinata giggle.

"Oh yeah, I just wanted to tell you your receives were so cool! You went like WHOOSH and then the ball went BAAM and flew up so high!!" Hinata mimicked your actions from the game and you had to admit, he looked adorable.

"Right?!!" you agreed and high-fived each other ecstatically.

Now it wasn't Shimizu glaring, but Yachi was burning holes in your body. The happiness she felt when the news of you becoming the second manager slowly disappeared, and turned into worry and jealousy.

Just then, Daichi, Sugawara and Asahi approached you and Hinata.

"Haru-chan, can you tell us about your volleyball experiences?" Suga asked curiously.

"Sure! I got a volleyball scholarship to train in America when I was in junior high. I trained mainly as a libero but I played other positions as well. I can play winged-spiker and setter, but not middle blocking hehehe. Of course, libero is my best position and my favourite!" you reminisced the hard trainings that started early in the morning and ended late at night. The body aches and soreness you had to endure while trying to put in your best efforts in practice.

"Can we see you set?" Kageyama, who had joined the conversation half-way along with Tsukki and Yamaguchi, requested.

"I'll toss to every spiker you have! I need to know what kind of tosses you prefer though." you mentioned as you walked onto the court, warming up your fingers. You were going to set for Hinata, Tanaka, Asahi, Kageyama, Tsukki and Daichi. They took turns to throw the ball high enough for you to set well and you surprisingly matched well with all of them, although not to Kageyama's perfect standards.

"Woahhhh, I HIT IT! THE SOUND WAS LIKE 'POM' WHEN IT HIT MY HAND!" Hinata raised his reddened hand in the air and swung it like he was going to spike again.

"IT LANDED WITH A 'BAAM' TOO! SO LOUD HINATA!" you hyped him up even more and you both started jumping up and down at different intervals. You turned to look at Kageyama judging the interaction.

"Hey Kageyama, you're an amazing setter and your tosses are always on point! I've always heard of you, the genius setter and I've admired you for so long! My sets are definitely not on par with your skills, but I'll try my best!" you clenched your fists tight and looked up at him.

"U-Uh, sure. Keep trying I guess..." Kageyama rubbed his neck in embarrassment.

"Pffft, are y'all really 16?" Tsukki chuckled.

"Hey Tsukki! Are YOU really 16? Being so serious and all, always frowning. You're gonna get wrinkles soon you old man!" you stuck your tongue out at him and poked your cheek.

"Oh yeah?" he challenged and you both somehow ended up in a staring contest.

"Calm down guys... The game just now was really good! Sorry I couldn't score much as the pinch server." Yamaguchi added, rubbing his head shyly.

"I think your jump-float serves were awesome! Have more confidence, Yamaguchi-kun!" you encouraged him and gave him a light smack on the back.

These interactions caught Coach Ukai's attention. Seeing how well you got along with the boys made him want you as their manager even more. You could play in games and help them with your skills as well as take care of their well-being. It was perfect.

"Okay guys, gather for a while." he instructed.

"GATHER ROUND!" Daichi shouted.

"Guys, I'm going to let Misaki-chan be our second manager. She can fill in for people who are absent in games and help you all with your techniques and strategies too. Misaki-chan, you will get your jacket tomorrow. Give your number to Sugawara, he'll add you to the group chat." he nodded at you.

"We'll do the actual welcoming tomorrow after you get your jacket!" Asahi whispered to you.

Your face lit up and you couldn't contain your excitement.

I am Karasuno's Volleyball Team's official manager!

Your excitement wasn't shared with the other 2 managers, though...

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