We lost against Nekoma. The score wasn't that bad and it was a surprise that the point gap is a bit small, considering we're up against a city school. I expected that we can't beat them but still it made me feel proud to our players for their efforts.

"Please! Let us play one more set!!" Shoyo-kun suddenly said, begging to Nekomata-sensei. Both teams from Nekoma and Karasuno stared at him in surprise. I suddenly smiled and looked at Nekomata-sensei.

"Yes! One more set! Please!" I asked him.

"Yeah, I'd like that! This is a practice match so let's make it last till the day ends!" Nekomata-sensei smiled. I smiled too, because it will be a good chance to improve our new weapons and to train against a city school.

"All right!! One more set!!"

*after a couple of sets*

Oh wow...we played about six more sets...and we didn't get a single one. Even though I'm not a player, I feel physically and mentally exhausted from thinking of plenty of strategies but we still didn't get a single set. The players had it worst. All of them were sprawled on the floor, panting and full of sweat. It's a miracle that Kenma-san's still breathing even though he had a little stamina.

"One more!!" Shoyo-kun screamed again. What?! Is he crazy?! If they play one more set, I'm pretty sure all of us will faint from exhaustion!

"Hey! You've been moving around like crazy. Is your stamina limitless?" Nekomata-sensei panicked. Coach Ukai and I dragged him out of the court before he could ask again.

"Hey now, we can't" Ukai-san told him "We have to catch the bullet train"

***

"That was a great game" I told Nekoma's players "We kept attacking and fighting but you thoroughly beat us, fair and square"

"I agree. Compared to your team, our team is full of holes and are fragmented and awkward. True, we may have those ridiculous first year duo, but we're still starting" Ukai-san said.

"So, thank you for the game and experience" I said, bowing in gratitude.

"Thank you" Takeda-sensei said, bowing also.

"It's fine. That game was really fun and challenging" Kuroo-san said, looking at Kenma-san "Right, Kenma?"

"Yeah. It was kinda fun" he answered in his usual monotonous tone. However, there's a slight hint of excitement in it and I mentally smiled.

"I'm sure this may sound somewhat unimportant but...Nekoma doesn't seem to have a manager, do they?" Mr. Takeda asked. A depressing aura hit them and Yamamoto-san had tears springing like fountains from his eyes.

"True...we don't have a manager..." Kuroo-san said, almost depressed. Is it me or is he sending out an aura of envy?

"Actually...if Ayame didn't transfer to Miyagi and started her first year at Nekoma instead...we could've asked her to become our manager..." Yaku-san added, nodding glumly. Eh?! They were expecting me to join Nekoma? Poor guys...I must've hurt their souls.

"Ohohoho~! Looks like the city boys are envious that we have our very own manager~" Ryu-senpai said, purposely making sure that Nekoma heard it. A vein popped inside Yamamoto-san's head and he glared to our baldy.

"Shut up!"

"He said "shitty boys"..." Tsukishima-kun snickered. Daichi-nii grabbed their heads forced them to look away. Yikes, Nekoma must be really sensitive for not having a manager in their team.

"Well, let's see each other in the Nationals" Coach Ukai told them.

"Do your best!" I said "The Battle at the Garbage Dump will happen in the Nationals!"

"OSU!!"

"All right! Let's start cleaning up!"

"OSU!!"

"Hey, you!! #12!!" Yaku yelled, making Yamaguchi flinch in response. He looked at his left, then his right and faced Nekoma's libero, pointing to his self.

"M-me?" he asked. He nodded and approached him and Yamaguchi was wondering the reason why did Nekoma's libero call him.

"Yeah, you! My name's Yaku Morisuke, yours?"

"Erm...Yamaguchi Tadashi..." he awkwardly answered. Damn, he wished that Ayame's with them since she knew the libero. It felt awkward and strange talking to someone he just met now.

"You're a first year, right?"

"Um...yes, same class as Ayame and Tsukki's..."

"I see...listen, Yamaguchi, I know this may seem weird since we barely know each other but I came here because...well, I wanted to thank you" he said. Yamaguchi blinked in surprise "Eh? For...what?"

"Well, for sticking up to Ayame" he answered "...and for making her happy"

"Eh?" Yamaguchi said, confused.

"Ah...you didn't know..." Yaku sighed, helping him pick up the balls on the floor "You see, back then, Ayame rarely smiled or get excited and such, unless you mention volleyball, that's where she get all excited. She's always shy. She never had a friend in her old school and she was extremely shy to us. But now, it was surprising to see her smile and laugh like that without mentioning volleyball, because she finally had a friend sticking up to her"

"Um...honestly, Yaku-san, I don't know if I'm actually the person you're supposed to thank for. It's supposed to be Daichi-san, our captain"

"I know but I think the main reason she's like that is because of you, Yamaguchi"

"Eh? Why?"

Yaku chuckled "Nothing. I just had a feeling. Your captain seems to be close to her, in sibling like way but, there's a different closeness between the two of you that is making her happy and comfortable. Something...different"

"C-closeness?" he stuttered.

"Yup! I thought it was the glasses guy she's at ease with but I could tell that it's you the most" Yaku told him, looking at Ayame, who is talking to Nekoma's first year players "When she's talking to you, there's a light in her eyes that shone like when she's talking about volleyball. It's something that I never saw when she's talking to your captain or to glasses guy...but only to you..."

"I-is that so..." he sheepishly said, rubbing his neck "Honestly, at first, she was a bit shy when we first met her but I get to know her more when she started hanging out with us"

"She changed a lot, right? The whole Karasuno team also influenced her. She's not the shy girl that we saw before"

"Yeah..."

"However" the libero's face darkened "I didn't know much about her past but...promise you won't tell anyone, Yamaguchi?" he nodded "I heard from her mom that she's suffering from her past and I also heard she's having troubles in her former school but the sad thing is, I don't know what it is..."

"That explains that sadness and fear in her eyes..." Yamaguchi thought.

"Yamaguchi, I have to tell you something about Ayame. When she's troubled or nervous, she had this habit of..."

"Biting her lower lip?" he interrupted. The longer she hangs out with them, he was a bit familiar with her habits and he could easily tell if something's wrong to her. Yaku looked surprised and nodded.

"Yeah, you're right...she will say that she's okay but her habits are still showing" he explained "And Yamaguchi, please try not to ask her about her past...even though it kills me of not knowing it..." he told him and he nodded.

"I won't. I promise...Yaku-san..."

Yaku grinned at him "You know, Yamaguchi, you're a lot better than your libero and glasses guy. You know her habits and you get along with her nicely. I'm totally supporting you with her"

"Totally supporting..." Yamaguchi echoed before realizing what it meant and his face turned crimson red "W-what's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh come on. Don't be like that. You like her, right?" Yaku grinned, making his face even redder. Does he like Ayame? He can't be sure yet! He's still confused, for goodness sake!

"I-I...I don't know..." he sighed "Ayame won't probably like a guy like me. She's better off with Tsukki or someone cooler..."

"What are you saying? Are you sure she's the type of girl who likes guys based on their physical appearance?" Yaku said "She's the type who judge people based on its personality and attitude. You're nice guy, Yamaguchi and she won't judge you by your appearance"

"That's what I like about her..." he silently thought "She's not befriending because of Tsukki but because she wanted to have friends...I think"

"I guess, Yaku-san..." he said.

"I'd love to see how your friendship with her grow, Yamaguchi but sadly, we'll be leaving to Tokyo but..." he shook hands with him "We'll see each other in the Nationals"

"Yeah, it's nice to know you, Yaku-san..."

"By the time we meet again, she's your girlfriend already" he grinned "Ah, I can picture you two, holding hands, having a walk in the park~"

By the time he's done imagining, the freckled teen's face was scarlet red and it was steaming from embarrassment.

***

After the whole court was cleaned up, Ayame, Mr. Takeda, and Coach Ukai talked to Nekoma's coaches to say goodbye.

"Tell your mother that if she needs anything, she can call me or Naoi here, Ayame. Also, tell her that we miss her in Tokyo. Everyone wished that you guys can visit them if you can" Nekomata-sensei told the violet eyed girl, giving her their number.

"Yes!"

"Do your best as the assistant coach. Make sure you surpass Keishin, eh?" he chuckled, patting her head. He finally looked at Karasuno's temporary coach "Keishin. Do your best, too. We played three matches and you didn't win a single one"

Coach Ukai's eyebrow twitched in irritation as a he glared at the old coach with a dark aura "I'll win them all next time. Just you wait and see" he threatened the old coach.

"Yikes!" she thought.

"Ohohoho~? Let's hope you're not all talk" Nekomata-sensei glared back at him with the same dark aura, making Naoi nervous "Sensei, you're too confrontational"

"It's his fault. He looks too much like that geezer" he reasons out, shocking Karasuno's coach.

"That's an immature remark!"

Coach Ukai stormed out angrily with the teacher and the girl following him "Ukai-kun!" their teacher said "What you were saying about coaching only until the match against Nekoma..."

He stopped and turned to face them with a pissed look "Did he hear what he said to me?! I can't bow out now!"

"EH?!"

"I'll have my revenge for sure, and on a huge stage..." he evilly grinned, with a fiery background. Ayame and Mr. Takeda secretly high fived each other when he decided to stay and help.

***

"You're leaving now, huh?" Ayame said, playing with the hem of her jacket "I guess it can't be avoided since...you guys are in Tokyo..."

Yaku sadly smiled and hugged her "Yeah, I will miss you, Ayame" Ayame fought the tears that are threatening to fall while she hugged him back. She missed them. They're the people who tried to make her feel happy, even though she didn't used to return the favour "I will miss you too, Yaku-san"

"Don't worry, we'll call you once in a while now that we have your number" Kuroo told her, patting his phone "We'll keep in touch"

"Good luck on your new team, Ayame" Kenma said, patting her head. Kuroo also patted her head.

"Well, Yamaguchi, see you soon" Yaku nodded at the freckled teen, who nodded back "Yeah, you too, Yaku-san"

"Take care of her, then" he winked at him, making Yamaguchi's face turn light red. The other players looked at them with curiosity, wondering how the heck that he and Nekoma's libero turned close.

"F-forget it!" he said, looking away. Tsukishima and Sugawara were snickering, realizing what the libero meant.

"Till we meet again, my friend~!" Yamamoto and Tanaka comically cried while shaking each other's hands. Ayame was thinking that those two definitely seemed like twins, especially with the attitude.

"We won't lose next time" Daichi said, shaking hands with Nekoma's captain firmly. Kuroo was also fighting back and the two were emitting a black aura as they smiled "We won't lose next time, either"

"Terrifying! They're terrifying!" Sugawara and Yaku said at the same time. Ayame face palmed "Really...they might be captains but they are the most immature of them all..."

"The next time around, things won't go your way like they did today" Coach Ukai warned, firmly shaking hands with Naoi with a pissed look and dark aura.

"Fine. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good practice" he replied, fighting back.

"And them, too!" Sugawara said.

"They're so immature!" Yaku added. Ayame sighed as she looked at the two coaches "Seriously...did they have a rivalry before? They're also immature, considering that they are adults"

After their rival team left, Ayame wondered what could've happen if it were an official match. For sure, with their team's current state and with opponents like them, it was no doubt that they would lose.

"The Inter-High prelims are right around the corner" Coach Ukai said "When we get back, we'll think about and analyze today's practice match. Ayame, did you remember everything in the match?"

"Yes! You could count on me! I listed their pipe attack and remembered how they tried to counter us. Also, I found areas the team needs to improve, such as communication and receives" she said, her eyes twinkling excitedly "After all that, we'll train and kick butts in the Inter High!"

"OSU!"