The team was in the middle of break after none stop practising of straight five sets match among them. Ayumu was looking through her notebook, scanning over the marks from the previous matches. Then, something reflashed through her mind which brought her head to look at her right and left. Kita and Omimi weren't in the gym with them. If she wasn't mistaken, they went to meet their coaches.

Now, its the time.

Gripping her notebook to her chest, Ayumu hurriedly rushed towards where the most team members gathered. Once they saw her approached them, they instantly focused their attention towards her.

" What is it? " Akagi asked.

" Kita's birthday is around the corner right?" Ayumu responded him with a question.

" Ah! More like this coming Monday." Aran told her.

Ayumu silent for a moment as the members didn't peer away their eyes from her. Their only girl manager was looking at her fingers as she was counting them.

"Today is Friday. So, only left about two days right?" Ayumu asked them. The members joined to count their fingers after her and nodded later.

" Yeah." Kosaku answered.

" So, have ya guys thought about throwing surprise party for him?" Ayumu went straight to the point.

" Surprise party? " Osamu repeated the main occassion.

"Em. " Ayumu nodded. "Surprise party. Ya know, it's no need to be all fancy or a big party. Maybe its enough just between us all."

"What between us all?"

That came the captain's voice. Ayumu's shoulders flinched by his sudden appearence. Omimi and him finally came back to the gym. Kita looked at her and the members with observing eyes like a police questioning a suspect. She just smiled at him awkwardly but internally, Ayumu cussed herself. They not yet getting near to the whole agreement but Kita already here.

" We are talking about just now matches we had." Riseki said, surprising everyone. Ayumu looked at him with widened eyes yet in relieved. " Since the matches were just between us, we did not know precisely how much improvement we made. We might be seem like we are but does it mean we are stronger than other school?"

It put everyone in silence, including Kita. It took a few moment to him reply back.

"Sure then. Let's discuss about it with sensei once we have meeting with them." Kita said. "But right now, focus on improving ourselve first. Now, get back to yer spot. We will continue at where we stop just now."

"Yeah!"

As Kita left to the middle of the court, the other members secretly smiled and heaved out a relieve sigh. Seem like not Ayumu only who held the breath inside when Kita suddenly came towards them. They slightly pat Ayumu's hair and some of them were high-fiving Riseki for managed to cover up their “surprise party” topic from the soon to be birthday boyㅡbefore following Kita to the middle court.

Ayumu looked at Riseki and bumped to his arm."Thanks man. Yer are so brilliant." She said. "Kita almost got us."

"That a prove that I am smarter than ya." He smirked.

"Ya just one rank above me. Don't be so cocky."

Then, Aran jogged towards her, stole her attention. His head kept on looking backwards as if to make sure was someone following him or not and changing to look at the front so he would not run to someone.

"Why?" Ayumu asked him.

"Later, I will make a group chat and we can discuss about it further. Okay?" Aran told her. His voice was slow and that was in purpose. So, no one would hear him except Ayumu, Riseki who stood beside her and Aran himself. That brought a big smile on both Riseki and Ayumu's face.

"Thanks Aran-kun." Ayumu grinned.

"Sure." He pat her head.

Surprising them, Kita's voice risen."Miya! Stand aside. We are going to practise serve now. Aran and Riseki, join the others!"

🎂

During the night,Ayumu was sitting between her brothers inside their room as they were discussing about the plan together with the members through the group chats that Aran created. Phone in their hands, suggesting this and this, here and that on what should they do for the captain's upcoming birthday.

🦊Should we prank him?!

🦊That sound amazing!!

🦊We can play ghost and scared the hell of him!

🦊How are old are ya?

🦊Should I remind ya who got scared instead before when yer guys try to scared Kita?

🦊It's ATSUMU!

🦊Suna, Osamu...ya guys are traumatized too.

🦊Aran-san, spill the tea more!

🦊There's nothing more! Aran-kun! Stay quiet!

🦊Yer guys better pray Shinsuke not going to kick us or ban us from the gym.

🦊Then what should we do? Prank him and caught him off the guard will be new and exciting. Kita-san must have at least a weak spot after all.

🦊His weakest spot is only one, Miya Ayumu.

🦊Should I remind ya guys that am here.

🦊Exactly Miya.

🦊Then, how about throwing cake on his face?

🦊Akagi, yer wish for death bed?

🦊Yer guys are unbelivable.

🦊Kita-san for sure gonna kick us all out.

The whole conversations were hilarious. They took a lot of hours just to discuss about that. One topic discussed then went to other and got back to the main topic but then discussed something else and then went back to the main topic. What typical of people. But not going to deny, it kind of relaxing and entertaining by having talk with them even most of them were losing their brain cells. That made the conversation funnier anyway.

Time passed by in a blink of eyes. And now it was the day of Kita's birthday. Ayumu could see the members were trying hard to play along and that rib-tickling of them. She needed to purse her lips once Kita caught the members all tense because the surprise that they hide from the captain. Kita was totally bewildered but he didn't think much about it. He just asked Ayumu for only one time that moment as they gathered inside the gym.

"Why everyone feels like hiding something from me?" He asked her.

"What should they hide from ya? Yer heart?" She poked Kita's chest as the guy flicked her forehead.

"What an absurd." He huffed.

Kita wasn't expecting much on his birthday though. To him, it felt like other days. Nothing different except the day of him delivered to this creepy yet amusing world. Hence, when none of his team mate wish him birthday, he wasn't bother much about it. Since he also didn't mind about his birthday and he almost forgot about what the day was, Kita did not expect much from his team mate after all. Guess, his team mate had no idea what happened on 5th July either.

After practising, just like usual days, they would return to their changing room to change. Kita went a litte later from other members as he left for the toilet first. Once he arrived to the room, his brows were rising. There was no one inside. Are the other team members already left?ㅡhis heart whispered. Shruging the thoughts, he went to his locker and started to take off his black shirt and folded it. Yet before he could wear the new one shirt, the room's lights got cut off. Of course, it startled the captain.

Kita looked at the right and the left of his. Then, he heaved a sigh. He about to take step fowards from his locker, the lights flicked on again. Surprising him, the members were there a few feet from him and Ayumu was at the front and at the middle of the members, holding a birthday cake. Her eyes were shining in joy to see Kita's expression on the surprise they made for him, yet they were the one got surprise at the end. Ayumu instantly looked away when she realised Kita was topless and he was only in his practise shorts. Her face felt hot and slowly crept up in red.

"Shinsuke, ya really ruin yer own surprise yeah? Wear some shirt can? We have a girl here." Akagi said.

" Ya guys are the one who come in, in the middle I'm changing." Kita replied.

"Yeah. Sure. Now wear yer shirt or Ayumu gonna get her nose bleed again." Aran said and only gained Ayumu's big eyes and the members' laughter.

That just reminded them about the camp they had with Kamomedai and Itachiyama at Tokyo. Atsumu and Osamu were obviously laughed the loudest, making Ayumu all embarrassed at her spot. Hope to run away but they had an occassion to keep on going.

"Now, its awkward to start." Kosaku voiced out. Ayumu silently nodded, agreed with her upperclassmen. They all determined and sure unshaken, thinking their simple plan would go smoothly and now, they stuck because Kita was shirtless. In meantime, Kita finally done slipped into his new shirt.

"So, Happy Birthday we guess?" Gin said and that made Ayumu to look at the front again. She stood with head rose up now so did her shoulder, as she silently gained back the courage to face the captain after the awkward encountered.

"Yeah. Happy Birthday, Kita." She said, held out the cake towards Kita who stepped forwards towards them. "Damn, Kita...this is so awkward! We had plan everything these passed few days and all scattered because yer were shirtless!"

Ayumu grunted. Her face flushed when she mentioned “shirtless” as Kita's lean body would in instance displayed inside her mind.

"And who at fault for coming at the wrong time?" He questioned, tilting the head.

"Ya know what, good thing today is yer birthday so I will let ya slide." Ayumu sneered.

"Yeah?" Kita provoked her.

Then, Omimi came in between them. "There-there ya two. Aren't we going to continue the celebration?"

"Should we start with singing now?" Riseki suggested and there, they started singing “happy birthday” to him. Soon they ended, Atsumu, Osamu, Gin, Kosaku and Suna pop off the birthday confetti. Kita could not contain his smile, watching his team mate gleeful behavior. Guess, they sure working for this even it wasn't a big surprise party and not as smooth as they planned.

"Now, blow the candle and make a wish." Ayumu said.

"Should I?" He teased and Ayumu rolled her eyes. Kita still did as he been told. Closing his eyes, he silently made a wish.

Grant all of them happiness and never leave anyone behind.

And he blowed out the candle. Cheering and clapping were echoed in the room.

"Thanks. Never expect this coming." Kita said.

"It's Miya's idea to pull all of this." Omimi said and Kita instantly darted his eyes on Ayumu whilst she shrugged.

"Am not the only one. The others help a lot even at the end none of it went as we planned because someone choose to shirtless when we came in." Ayumu quipped.

"Why ya need to be all bitter for? Yer not enjoy seeing my body? " Kita bluntly said and that made everyone in the room choked to the air.

"Shin!" Ayumu gasped and Kita laughed at that. His laughter left the team in awed. Aran once said, Kita always smiled when he with Ayumu and he really did. He even laughed. Especially, now they were officially dating too.

"Ya know, its not only ya two in this room. So how about stop flirting and let move on with gift?" Akagi plainly said, getting enough with Kita and Ayumu's drama.

"Exactly." The members agreed.

Osamu helped Ayumu by held the cake and put it on the bench nearby. Then, the members gave the gifts towards the captain. One by one gave him till his hands, both were full. Ayumu was the last one gave her gift towards him.

"Here." She handed out the medium box with birthday wrapper wrapped towards him. As Kita had put down all the gifts he got aside, he took hers.

"All the gifts, Kita-san can open them at home. But, Miya's for sure needs to be open here." Gin said.

"Excuse me?!" Ayumu yelped.

"Have been wondered too. What was it." Aran played along.

"Aran-kun, not ya too!" She was flustered.

"It's a handmade thing. She stayed all night long to finish that." Atsumu butt in and Osamu quickly agreed. Whilst Ayumu was glaring on her brothers' way. The brothers just innocently smiled at her.

To say, Kita chose to open the gift Ayumu gave him at that moment. Everyone gathered around him as he opened the gift. It kind of sweat breaking during the moment. All of them were anticipating to know what would Ayumu give to the captain or more like, her boyfriend. A thunderous laughter instantly broke the silence when the gift inside finally displayed infront of their eyes. It was a bookㅡ

" A 1001 way not to be to strict and be a soft person instead." Kita read the title and looked up at her. "For real Miya?"

"Kita, there was an idiom sounds, don't judge a book by its cover. Now open it first." She said, pointed towards the book.

Kita looked at her with narrowed eyes and done as she instructed. He flipped to the first page and a drawing of Kita's smiling face displayed. It stopped Kita's heart from beating. Under the drawing, there was a sketch of a name ; miya's sister, which obviously it was drawn by Ayumu. Everyone of them could not help but to amaze. Atsumu and Osamu had a proud smile on their face.

Kita flipped more towards other pages. Throught out that, the book or more like a photo album contained Inarizaki's team photos inside. Since it was for Kita, Ayumu put as much photos that have Kita in it. Between them, there was a photo where they took with sunset behind them, their practise match in the gym, Kita was standing with a ball, a picture of him having his eyes screamed I am so done with you as he watched the twins bicker. And not forgetting to, the first ever picture of Ayumu and Kita inside the bus where Kita rested Ayumu's head on his shoulder.

"Miya. . ." Kita finally crocked out his voice.

"We know that our motto is, we no need memories butㅡ" her words got intrupted as Suna joined her said the next line.

". . .I do need memories."

Ayumu grinned at Suna before she focused on Kita.

"Suna-san helped me to gather as much as picture to put inside. And as ya can see, there still alot of empty spaces...so, ya can fill up by yer own later yeah?" Ayumu said, smiling. "Yer are the captain of the team. As much as all of us cheerish the members, but as a captain, ya perhaps have something alot more yer hold yerself than us. This photo album would be more meaningful for ya. That's the reason why I give it as a gift to ya. To a person name Kita Shinsuke and a captain of Inarizaki volleyball team. Thank you for yer hard work and mostly to put my brothers on their place. Heh~"

Ayumu grinned but at the corner of her eyes there already bead of tears appeared. And she could not contain them any longer as the bead of tears cascaded on her face.

"Happy birthday Mr. Captain."

How soft hearted yer are, Miya Ayumu? ㅡ his heart spoke. Kita closed the album and hugged her instantly which Ayumu gripped to his shirt.

"Aren't today is a happy day? Why everyone is tearing up?" Atsumu said, wiping his corner eyes.

"Am not." Osamu uttered.

"Yer heart is a freaking stone, Samu." Atsumu replied.

"Shut yer trap!"

And thanks to the twin, there was no more tears shed.

🎂

Kita sat on the floor, at the table in the middle of his room as he flipped through the pages of photo album Ayumu made for him. He could not stop looking at her handmade thing. It was neat, creative and beautiful. Kita could tell Ayumu made it with full of care and effort. He could not believe Ayumu really got him by the title of the album. 1001 waysㅡpfft. Kita was about to close the album but something caught his eyes at the empty last page. There was a short message. How could he didn't notice it earlier?

Falling in love? CRINGE!

But, if its you. . . I don't mind to jog a little😛

Happy Birthday Shinsuke❤

Yer love,

Miya Ayumu .

A soft stifle laughter left his lips by Ayumu's cheeky yet cringy message. Good thing, he didn't realise it sooner or the girl gonna be all red infront of the members.

Miya, Miya. . .

🎂🎂🎂

📌One question for Akagi-san.

: Akagi, can I be his gf?

🦊Akagi : *blush* *blush* Should we meet? I heard there a new bubble drink shop just opened recently. Was I being too straight foward?

📌Two questions for Kita-san

: What did Kita felt when he saw Ayumu at first time?

🦊Kita Shinsuke : Someone who occur alot of trouble. A troublesome kid indeed. And I was right. Should we recall about she involved into a fight?

: How did ya feel like when yer heard that Ayumu was in the hospital?

🦊Kita Shinsuke : Surprise of course. My went mind blank. I never thought she would passed out or ran to hospital since she already promise her Miyagi's brothers that she will not play volleyball again due to her condition. But, Miya being Miya she could not say no to her brother especially. That's why when Aran called me, it took me so long to realise before I rush to hospital. Thankfully, she is getting better. I thought I gonna lost her.

Autor-san: Thank you for joining my humble QnA segment previously. Hope you enjoy❤

🏐

Thank you♥

Show a lot of love yeah :>