"Thank you very much~!"

Nekoma was cleaning up after practicing.

"Ah, Hinata-san," Kenma called her.

"Hai? What is it, Kenma?"

"Are you going?"

"Yeah."

"Have a safe trip."

"Bye~." Mizuki left the school grounds and made her way to the bus stop.

'Hmm....I wonder if they're doing okay...' she thought.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fast Forward>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Around nighttime, at Karasuno, most of the team were in the clubroom upstairs. Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were looking over Hinata and Kageyama's work, while Sugawara was helping Nishinoya and Tanaka.

"Hinata, what's the first answer to question 6?" Tsukishima asked. Hinata handed him his paper.

[This idiom expresses that even ruthless people can show compassion or even cry at times. Even ogres can be moved to...]

"....an iron club?"

"Ow, my eyes!" Yamaguchi whined.

"How can you do that to the ogre?" Kageyama looked at Hinata funny.

"You're thinking of another idiom," Tsukishima informed, "did you not read the explanation?"

"Shut up." Hinata gave a frustrated look.

"You probably saw the world "ogre" and didn't read the rest of the question, and just wrote the first thing that popped into your mind. You really are a simpleton."

"You need to calm down," Kageyama implied.

"Why do you guys have to keep going!?"

"You're one to talk, Kageyama," Tuskishima retorted, "you're probably worse off than Hinata. You need to memorize English vocab' words on your own."

"Japanese people don't understand English!"

"Then you can forget about Tokyo."

"Kageyama..." The four turned to see Sawamura. He started doing hand signals.

"B.quick." The three turned to see Kageyama.

"A...C...Timed attack in front of setter....Left-back attack...D...side-by-side...semi...timed attack behind setter..."

"So fast..." Yamaguchi sweat dropped.

"How long did I take you to memorize those?"

"....Less than a day?"

"Then you got no right to say you can't memorize those vocabulary words." Sawamura said in a dark tone. Kageyama flinched.

'O-oh no...' That's when Hinata stood up.

"I-I'm not gonna lose to Kageyama!"

"Yosha! Let's go over to my place after club on Saturday," Tanaka told Nishinoya.

"Got it." Hint overheard them and grit his teeth.

"I ain't going to lose to them, either~~!!"

"And I told you to calm down," Tsukishima deadpan.

"And don't forget what Shotarou-san said." Both Hinata and Kageyama looked at him.

"Unless you want to make your sister worry...." Hinata was well aware of the conversation from that time.

"....I'm aware of that," Hinata said seriously. Tsukishima sighed a little.

"Then you better work your ass off." Hinata irked at him.

"I said I will and I will!! Drop it already!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fast Forward>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Saturday Afternoon

Mizuki got off the bus. She was back home, and was going to visit some of the guys.

'But first...breakfast.' It would be brunch for her. Mizuki remembered a ramen noodle shop nearby, and started walking down the road. She was making her way to the stoplight. Suddenly, she noticed at small van driving by that same stoplight. She saw the words, one being "Karasuno" written on the car door. She jogged over to the van. She got the driver's attention. Mizuki was looking at a woman, short blonde hair, eyes slightly slanted, wearing a black leather jacket over a red shirt that showed her belly and cleavage, jeans, and two earrings on both her ears.

"Sorry to interrupt," Mizuki apologized, "but I couldn't help but see the Karasuno name on your van."

"Oh, that? I work there as the cafeteria. Are you one of the students?"

"Ah, no ma'am. I'm Hinata Mizuki, one of the volleyball member's sibling." She stared at Mizuki for a few seconds, before she gave a wide smile.

"Oh~! You must be that girl Ryu and Yu talk about!"

"Rye?...Yu? Ah~you mean Tanaka and Nishinoya."

"I'm Ryu's big sis, Tanaka Saeko. But call me Saeko-neesan. Are you on your way somewhere?"

"Hai. To a ramen noodle shop that's over the next street."

"Hey--I'm going there too! C'mon, you can hop in and we'll go together!"

"Really?"

"Hai, hai! I've been wanting to meet this mysterious assistant coach. Now, come on."

"Thank you so much."

Mizuki went in the passenger seat, and they both drove to that noodle shop. An hour later, they were eating some ramen and making lively conversations.

"That's what I think..." Mizuki smiled.

"I totally agree," Saeko sighed, "Ryu's always shooting his mouth off. So then...how's it going with those boys? They're pretty pumped up for the Tokyo getaway games."

"Hai. Everyone's working really hard...but I'm more concerned with their final exams."

"You don't have to say that twice. Honestly, my bro is good at things, but not his studies." Mizuki awkwardly laughed.

"Oh, that's one reason why I came back home. Since I'm not allowed to help them study, I thought I could make some food to refill themselves."

"Aw~aren't you adorable," Saeko cooed, "you're such a good girl, taking care of your team like that." She ruffled Mizuki's hair.

"Hey, since you have time...you can come with me to my practice session."

"Practice?"

"I do taiko drums. I always participate in the summer festival."

"No way! I play the taiko drums, too!" Mizuki beamed.

"Really? What a coincidence! Then why don't you join me? We can play together."

"Yeah. That'd be awesome."

"Alright then, let's go. Hey, ojiisan! We're ready for the bill~!" Saeko hollered.

Mizuki spent most of the day with Saeko. They played taiko drums, which Saeko praised Mizuki for her skills. Mizuki even offered to help her find members, since she was in a taiko drum club back in America. Afterwards, they went grocery shopping and headed to Saeko's house. Meanwhile upstairs, Saeko's brother was studying with Nishinoya, while Ennoshita, Kinoshita, and Narita were helping them. However, Ennoshita was more shocked to read the results from Nishinoya's quiz from yesterday.

[Question 3: In the passage, identify the sentence that best reflects Norio's contradictory feelings.]

The answer he put...?

[Live more like a man, Norio!!]

"It tells you right here to find it in the passage!" Ennoshita shouted.

"You're awesome, Noya-san," Tanaka thought.

"Ah...you're good at memorization, aren't you, Nishinoya?"

"Yeah! Leave the memes to me!"

"That won't be on the test!!"

"Ugh, are you guys really studying?" Suddenly, they heard a feminine voice from the door. They saw Saeko standing there while leaning her hand on the door.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"What'd you mean by that?!" Tanaka frowned.

"Saeko-neesan! Hey~!" Nishinoya stood and bowed.

"Hey Yu~you're looking cool as always."

"Thanks!"

"P-pardon the intrusion," Narita said.

"You're totally fine," she then grabbed Tanaka's head, "let's see....you want big sis to teach you a thing or two?"

"Shut up," he groaned, "you're just as dumb as me."

"Hey, don't you dare underestimate a college girl," Saeko retorted while throwing his head to the table.

"You only go to your job and practice!"

"S-shut up! I'm working hard when no one's looking!"

"Tanaka's sister is so cool."

"Oh, by the way....I met up with a friend of yours."

"Who?" Ryūnosuke asked. That's when Mizuki's head sprung from behind the door.

"Yo-ho~" She waved.

"Senpai?" Ennoshita questioned.

"Mizuki-san~!" Nishinoya's smile widened.

"M-Mizuki---w-what are you doing here?!" Ryūnosuke exclaimed.

"I met your sister on the way here. Saeko-neesan even treated me to food--she's really cool."

"Aw~thanks Mizuki," Saeko side hugged her, "she's offered to help make food for you guys."

"Really!? Thank you, Mizuki-senpai~!" Nishinoya was all teary-eyed.

"No problem. Oh, we should leave you alone."

"That's right! And don't come crying to me later~! Bleh~!" Sake stuck her tongue out as the shut the door.

"That was unexpected," Ennoshita thought. Narita nodded.

"Um...what does your sister practice?" Kinoshita asked Tanaka.

"Oh...its taiko drums. She's getting a team together. When its festival time, she goes all out"

"Wow~so cool."

"Viva la chest wrap!" Nishinoya shouted.

"Alright, let's get bak to it! You want to go to Tokyo, right?"

"Hai, Ennoshita-sensei!" The two unison.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fast Forward>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As of now, the orange-hair girl was setting up to cook some food. She put the apron on, tied her hair into a bun and put the ingredients on the kitchen counter. Saeko looked at her from the stairs.

"I'll be taking a bath. Are you sure you don't need help?"

"Don't worry," Mizuki grinned, "I've been doing this forever."

"Okay," Saeko laughed, "I'll leave you to it. Thanks~" She made her way upstairs.

"Hmm~...so what should I make...?" She opened a book of recipes. From behind, Tanaka was walking in when he saw her.

"Senpai..." He walked over.

"Oh, Tanaka-kun."

"I'll help you."

"But..."

"Its fine!"

"...Okay. How would you like chicken katsu?"

"Ooh~that sounds good," Tanka grinned, "so what should I do?"

"Here...so first, you do this..." She instructed Tanaka as carefully as possible. There were a few mix-ups and Tanaka repeatedly apologizing. While cleaning up, they were conversing about the Tokyo getaway games.

"I can't believe the getaway games are almost here," Tanaka thought.

"But you know~...you have finals before that. I hope you studied enough..."

"D-don't worry," he straightened his back, "I'll make sure to pass them all! Just you wait!"

"You're sounding confident," she smirked.

"W-well...i-if I'm a man, then I can't let tests and stuff get me down."

"Really? You're not scared? Cause' the way Daichi explained the looks on your faces, it didn't sound good."

"Geh!" Tanaka flinched. He glanced the other way as Mizuki laughed. Setting the utensils down, she cupped her face with one hand.

"At least your fear of tests is normal than my fear."

"...huh...?" He looked back.

"....I'm actually afraid of thunder."

"Eh~? No way..." He looked at her in disbelief.

"Hai. I've always been scared, ever since I was home alone during a storm. When I was at Asahi's house that one time, I was shaking and my nerves got the best of me. But...Asahi comforted me and I was able to sleep that time. I'm still not used to thunderstorms, though..."

"Heh~....you sound like you're close with Asahi."

"Eh? R-really...?" She awkwardly smiled, having a faint blush. She didn't see Tanaka smile.

"And I agree with you...a man shouldn't be afraid of things nor cry so easily. Even so...man or woman...a person should never be afraid to show their true selves. So who cares if you're nervous, Tanaka? Showing fear and then overcoming it means you're more of a true man than you might think. I think you're really cool that way..." She smiled at his embarrassed state.

"But can you do me a favor?"

"Favor?"

"If anything happens to Shoyo, please...as his senpai--try to make sure he makes it to Tokyo. Can you do that?"

"....Hai! I'll do my best!" He slightly bowed.

From the stairs, Saeko was silently chuckling to herself. She then stormed in with a smile.

"Something smells good! Wow~look at all this food!"

"Your brother helped me."

"Eh!? No way! Him, cook!?"

"S-shut up, o-neechan!" Tanaka glared at his sister while Mizuki laughed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Time Skip>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Really?! Shimizu did that?" Mizuki was talking to her brother on the phone. She was on her way to Nekoma's, a few minutes before school ended.

[Yeah. Her name is Yachi-san. She's a first-year like me.]

"So you think she might be interested in joining the club?"

[I hope so. She's really nice, and she even helped me with my English.]

"That was nice. I can't wait to meet her."

[I think you'll like her, too. I hope she becomes our new manager! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!]

"Well keep your fingers crossed for your finals, okay? I wish I could help, though..."

[No way! Nee-san has done so much for me and my friends. I gotta do this on my own. I promise, I'll go to Tokyo and meet you soon.]

"I look forward to it. Just make sure you write down whatever feels appropriate for the questions, okay? Love you, Shoyo. I'll see you soon."

[Bye neesan!]

Mizuki looked up and saw Nekoma High. She walked in, ignoring some of the students who stared at her. Just before she reached the doors, she saw Lev running out and towards her.

"Senpai~!"

"Lev," she smiled, "how are you?"

"I'm good. Oh, coach wants to see you right away. Its urgent!"

"Urgent? What kind--"

"No time to explain! Let's hurry!"

"W-wait--Lev! Don't pull so hard! Hold on!" It was too late, as Lev was pulling her by the arm as they rushed in. 'What a crazy week I'm having,' Mizuki thought.