This it. Today's the day of our practice match against Nekoma High! I reviewed everything from night till dawn. Our strategies, attack patterns, and defence strategy. It will be hard to defeat Nekoma with Karasuno's new team but I have faith we can do it.

"What's wrong, kid?" Ukai-san asked me.

"Nothing, Ukai-san...I'm...just a little nervous...." I said. Actually, I'm totally nervous but I don't want to show it.

"In our match?"

"Partly...it's been months since I last saw them...it will be a bit strange seeing them again" I said.

"You'll be okay, kid...anyway, we're here..." he told me, patting my shoulder.

Everyone quickly went off the bus and Tadashi-kun was kind enough to help me and Shimizu-san carry some bags when we heard someone screaming.

"Uwaaaah!! They've got a female manager!! And there are two of them!!! It's a pretty one and a cute one!!" I looked and I saw Ryu-senpai's look alike with a blonde Mohawk, screaming and pointing to our direction. I sighed. Do I look like a manager type of person?

"Score!" the player from Nekoma said.

"Female managers" the other grinned, high fiving each other "We win yakisoba bread!"

"I'll make you regret it~!" he wailed dramatically. What the-? Weirdo... he kinda reminds me of Ryu-senpai...

"Taketora-san, you can't escape the deal!" they said.

Oh!! I nearly forgot! That was actually Yamamoto-san! But why didn't he recognize me?

Ryu-senpai glared at him "You've got a problem with that, city boy?"

"Hell yeah, baldy" Yamamoto-san glared back. The two are emitting the same fiery background and I couldn't help but sigh at their pointless fight. Somebody needs to break these two apart.

"Oi! Tora! Stop that! It's embarrassing!" I heard a voice yell. I looked for its source and I saw Nekoma's libero, Yaku Morisuke. He pulled Yamamoto-san by the collar and Sugawara-san did the same to Ryu-senpai. Suga-san dragged him away from the two after apologizing. Shimizu-san went first, leaving me and Tadashi-kun.

"Idiot, that was embarrassing. You better apologize to their managers for being rude" he told him and looked in my direction. I flinched when he looked at me closely and his jaw dropped.

"A-Ayame?! Is that really you?!" he said, rubbing his eyes.

"Y-Yaku-san?" I nervously looked at him. Crap, this is nerve-racking and awkward! During our time in Tokyo, some of Nekoma's players were friendly with me, namely Yaku-san. I remembered that he would always have a conversation with me. I wasn't exactly the socialite type because of...that, but Yaku-san would usually tell me stories about their practices. I could tell he was trying hard to make me happy and it kinda worked sometimes. I really appreciate his efforts.

"It is!! I almost didn't recognize you with your hair!!" Yaku-san said.

"W-wait, Yaku-san! Is that really Kazumi-san's daughter?! The...the violet eyed girl?!" Yamamoto-san said, rubbing his eyes. I barely knew Yamamoto-san because he would sometimes distance his self from me or he would hide behind Kuroo-san but I know he's a powerful spiker.

"Yaku, what are you yelling about?" Kuroo-san suddenly appeared with Kenma-san. He looked at me and his eyes widened "Wha?! Ayame, is that you?!" Kuroo-san yelled again.

Aside from Yaku-san, Kuroo-san would also have a conversation with me along with Kenma-san. I almost didn't recognize Kenma-san with his hair dyed blonde. It's weird on him and he looked like a purin (flan like Japanese cold custard dessert).

"She looked different..." Kenma-san said, making a small smile "She looked a bit mature now..."

"It is her...I can't almost recognize her with her hair" Yaku-san sighed "Why did you let your hair grow long?"

"N-nothing...I just...didn't mind it..." I said, absentmindedly touching my hair "Is it a problem?"

"No, but either way, long hair suits you, Ayame" Yaku-san told me and my cheeks turned pink "But your short hair looks cuter on you"

"Nah, long hair is the best" Kuroo-san told him "Long haired girls are cute"

"Shut up, Kuroo! Short hair is cuter!" Yaku-san growled at him and the two of them glared at each other.

Here we go again... (-_-)

"Uh...sorry to interrupt but...Ayame-chan had a short hair before?" Sugawara-san interrupted us.

"Yup! I got a picture to prove it!" he said and took his phone and looked for my picture. Since when did Yaku-san took a picture of me?! Waah~! This is embarrassing!! Suga-san and the others might see it!! I bet I look like a total fool!

"Ta-da!!" Yaku-san said, showing them my picture. Waah~! I wish the ground will swallow me in embarrassment!

It was stolen shot of Ayame, watching a practice match from the side. Her hair was short, almost touching her shoulders and she's wearing a long sleeved jacket and shorts and her eyes were sparkling a bit.

"Damn, this guy's good at taking pictures..." they all thought.

"Uwah~! Ayame-chan's so cute~!" Nishinoya and Tanaka sighed dreamily, with flower backgrounds.

"Woah, Ayame-chan's almost unrecognizable there" Daichi commented.

"She looked different" Tsukishima stated. "Damn, she's really cute there..." He wanted to tease her about it but his mind turned blank and one word could only describe her in his mind: CUTE.

"Please stop it..." she muttered, her cheeks bright red in embarrassment.

"C-cute" Yamaguchi said and Ayame's face burned bright pink upon hearing him say it.

"Sh-she's so cute there...so unfair...Ayame's cute whatever her hairstyle is..." he thought, looking at the embarrassed-looking Ayame. For some reason, he wanted to stroke her hair again but he stopped his self out of embarrassment.

"Oi, Yaku, since when did you have Ayame's picture?" Kuroo asked the libero, who grinned in response "I have my ways, Kuroo. Ayame's really cute so I can't resist taking her picture"

"Yaku-san! Please don't show them my picture again!! It's embarrassing!" Ayame pleaded, trying to grab Yaku's phone but he quickly evaded her.

"Hey, Yaku, send me some of her pictures, okay?" Kuroo nudged him.

Yaku growled at him and placed his phone back in his pocket "No way! Why do you want her picture anyway? Wait...Kuroo, don't tell me you...you turned into a pervert...do you have some weird intentions?" the libero gave him a suspicious look and inched farther from him.

"Shut up!!" Kuroo snapped. Daichi, Nishinoya and Tanaka were boring holes in the captain's skull with a dark aura "Pervert..."

"Yaku, you already knew that Kuroo had a crush on-" Kenma started but Kuroo quickly covered her mouth "Shut it, Kenma! That was last year and I totally got over it!!"

"Kuroo-san had a crush? That's a surprise..." Ayame said "Who is she?"

"It's just a stupid crush, Ayame. You don't need to know Kuroo's crush" Yaku grumbled "Damn it, Kuroo...damn your stupid crush on Ayame..."

However, the Karasuno's players had the idea who is Kuroo's crush but they decided to keep it silent from her. Hell, she had no idea.

"I didn't know that you're studying at Karasuno, Ayame. We just heard from Nekomata-sensei that you transferred to Miyagi months ago" Kenma told her after he removed Kuroo's hand from his mouth.

"That's right. You didn't give us a call or something" Kuroo said, crossing his arms "We tried calling you but you never answered"

"Sorry, I changed my number when we transferred here..." she sheepishly apologized.

"Not to mention, you are Karasuno's manager now...that's a surprise" Yaku noted. Ayame grinned and shook her head.

"Who says that I'm their manager?" she said. Nekoma's players looked at her confusingly.

"Ah...truth to be told, Ayame's our assistant coach..." Yamaguchi said. Nekoma's players looked at them with a surprised look on their faces.

"WHAAAT?! ASSISTANT COACH?!" they screamed, minus Kenma.

"Yep!" she grinned wider, making a victory sign with her fingers "Assistant coach, Mizuki Ayame, at your service!"

"She's like a kid..." Yamaguchi chuckled.

"It's not that surprising" Kenma said "Ayame's very clever and she's good at analyzing attack patterns and making strategies. I thought you already know that, Kuroo"

"Well, it's not like that..." Kuroo said, rubbing his head "I know she's damn clever but to think that she's the assistant coach of our rival school..." he shook his head "We're in a lot of trouble..."

Ayame poked a tongue at them "Anyway, we'll see you later, guys. I can assure you that Karasuno will give you a good game. Let's go, Tadashi-kun!" she cheekily grinned at them before sprinting inside, her heart pounding in happiness and excitement.