Ayame stepped off the bus as soon as she arrived at the bus stop in front of Aoba Johsai Private High School. She felt nostalgic as she entered the school grounds, recalling their first practice match with them when the Karasuno team was still awkward and new.

After asking permission from Yamaguchi, she mailed Oikawa and told him she'll be coming over. He replied, instructing her that their meeting place is their gymnasium.

"Excuse me" she decided to ask for directions since she knew that she'll be lost if she finds the gymnasium herself. The male student she asked blushed like crazy as soon as she talked to him.

"Oh, crap!! What a beauty!! Whoa! Her eyes are violet!! And she just freaking talked to me!! Is she new here?!" he thought "Y-Yes?"

"Could you tell me where the gymnasium is?"

"S-Specifically, which one are you looking for?" he kept looking at his sides, clearly flustered that a beautiful girl is talking to him "T-There are three gymnasiums so..."

"Oh, sorry. Please wait" she fished out her phone from her pocket and looked for Oikawa's last mail "Ah, found it. The third gymnasium please"

"A-Ah, I see" he pointed at the building ahead "It's just over there. Just go straight this path and you'll find it" he glanced back at her "Ano...are you new here?"

"Sort of. Though, I've been here once before" she replied.

"C-Could you possibly be going to where the boys' volleyball club is practicing?"

She nodded "Hai. I was invited to watch by Oikawa-san" she bowed and started to leave "Thank you for the help"

He stood there dumbfounded as he watched her leave "I-Is she Oikawa-san's girlfriend?! Considering her looks, she must be... Uwaaa... Oikawa-san's really amazing..."

*Third Gymnasium*

She decided to watch before approaching Oikawa since they're having a time out from another school. However, something doesn't seem right to her.

"Hold on...that team..." her eyes widened in realization "Oikawa-san's playing for the other team...? And that team..."

The time out was over and the players went back to the court. She increased her focus on the opposing team for a few seconds to confirm her thoughts. Oikawa sets the ball to his spiker and they scored a point.

"Excuse me" Ayame asked the girl next to her "The game just started a few minutes ago, right?"

"Eh? Ah, yes" she nodded "Are you new here?"

"Hai. Ano...can I ask one last question?"

"Go ahead"

"The team Oikawa-san's playing is a college team, am I correct?"

"Yep! And guess what? He just met them just now! It's amazing, isn't it?" she then started squealing "Oikawa-san's really amazing to play in a college team!" she then raised her voice to the court, along with a couple of girls "Do your best, Oikawa-san!!"

"Y-Yeah...thank you for the information" Ayame sweat dropped and distanced herself and continued her observation.

"I knew it" She thought and bit her thumb's nail uneasily "In just a few minutes, he managed to bring out his teammate's full strength... The spikers looked so lively when hitting his tosses... That's not something someone could pull off in a matter of minutes when placed in a new team..."

She started to feel uneasy as she watched the practice match.

But she can't afford to doubt herself and the team just by watching Oikawa.

She already knew what Seijoh's captain is capable of. She shouldn't be surprised.

She then shifted her focus to Seijoh's team. Unsurprisingly, she noted their improvements, especially the third years. While observing, she's searching for the new player Oikawa mentioned but she has no idea what he looked like because the setter didn't describe him.

Until her violet eyes caught sight of a blonde guy on the sidelines staring intently on the court. Ayame swore she could see the hunger and intense focus in the guy's eyes as he watched the game.

She leaned on the rail and continued watching.

***

"Thank you for the game!!"

Seijoh's players bowed in gratitude to the college team, who told them that it was fun playing with them. They are now on their break and Ayame went down from the second floor to the court.

Oikawa was fast to notice her.

"Cutie-chan~!! It's been a long time~! I miss you~!!" he was about to hug her when Iwaizume grabbed him by his collar to stop him "Iwa-chan!! Why are you stopping me?!"

"Oh~... so you're the assistant coach of Karasuno, right? Nice to meet you" Hanamaki shook hands with her.

"Nice to meet you, too" she politely returned the gesture.

The third years minus the captain started shaking hands and greeting her politely. The first years and second years were too chicken to approach her because of her beauty.

"Hey!! That's not fair!! I'm supposed to be the one greeting her first!!" Oikawa was struggling and whining as the ace held him "I'm the one who invited her, you know?!"

"You're the worst" Iwaizume sighed exasperatingly before releasing him "You just broke up with your girlfriend weeks ago and now you're after Mizuki"

"She dumped me!!" he countered "I have no idea what I did wrong!!"

"Eh...So Oikawa-san had a girlfriend... it's kinda surprising..." Ayame thought.

"All more the reason why she dumped you" Hanamaki said.

"What a total dunce" Matsukawa added.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" he cried "Don't make me a bad guy in front of Ayame-chan!!"

"Mizuki, I suggest you go back and stop interacting with this shitty guy" Iwaizume told her "Nothing good will happen when you're with him"

"How mean!!"

Ayame shook her head "I'm sorry, but I already gave my word. I agreed to come over. Though..." she slightly looked down "I want this to be over quickly. I have people waiting for me"

Oikawa noticed the look in her eyes "Oh~? Could it be...?"

He cleared his throat and faced his juniors "Hey, first years and second years! Don't just stand there frozen stiff! Say your greetings to our visitor!"

They snapped to their senses and bowed "N-NICE TO MEET YOU!!"

"Nice to meet you, too"

They were kinda intimidated to see Karsuno's sharpest observer and assistant coach in their school. Ah, add that she's a beauty as well.

"So, Ayame-chan" he turned his attention back to her "Did you saw our game earlier?"

She shifted uneasily and admitted it "Yeah. It was...brilliant..."

His smile widened "Do you think you could win against us?"

His tone was no longer playful. It sounded like he's challenging her.

She couldn't just back down, of course.

"Oikawa-san, you're sounding like we don't have any chance at all" she met his gaze, fiery passion burning in her violet eyes "Of course, I know you are strong after watching your match. But, we are strong as well. Did you just think I'll feel intimidated after you made me watch that play earlier? You're wrong. We will prove it to you. In the qualifiers. Karasuno will fly again and breakthrough Seijoh's castle walls. Please prepare your team for that"

The aura she emitted showed that she's up to the challenge and she won't back down.

"She changed" Oikawa noted with a mental smirk "She's grown stronger and feistier. You never fail to amaze me, Ayame-chan. You and your team"

Matsukawa and Hanamaki whistled and clapped their hands "I like her personality"

"Such burning passion in her eyes" Iwaizume thought with a grin when he felt shivers in his spine "She's dead serious and feisty, coming from a petite girl like her"

The setter smiled and poked her forehead playfully "I'll be looking forward to it"

*Meanwhile*

Yamaguchi suddenly flinched, and he stared outside.

"Ayame..." he hoped nothing happened to her, being a worried boyfriend he is.

Yachi stopped next to him after noticing him glancing outside "You must be worried for her, Yamaguchi-kun"

He nodded "I guess...I mean, I trust her but...I guess I just can't help being a worrywart"

"Ah, he's really worried..." she thought "Ayame-chan will be fine...right?"

He's now really, really worried for her after hearing her trail off "Yachi-san...I guess you never met the Great King so you don't know... You see, he has a thing for Ayame so...I'm worried"

"Eh?!"

***

Ayame touched her forehead and nodded "Hai"

"Ayame-chan, we'll be doing a quick practice and after that..." he grinned "We'll proceed with our date~"

"No, it's okay. You don't have to rush your practice" she said, her eyes shining excitedly.

Hanamaki snickered "She's more looking forward to our practice rather than their date"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that!" he said.

She just remembered he hasn't filled her in about their new player.

"Ano, Oikawa-san, about-" she felt a shiver run down her spine when the blonde player she saw pass by beside her "What...was that?"

She looked at him as he picked up his bag on the floor. She focused her concentration on him. Although she hasn't seen him play, she could tell that he's more of a spiker rather than an all-arounder.

"He seems to have good arm and leg muscle" she thought "His height is almost the same as Ryu-senpai. A power spiker, most likely. And his eyes... I could see the hunger in it... but..." she gulped "What was that wild and uneasy feeling from him when he passed by?"

"Ah, it seems you saw our new guy" Oikawa told her.

"That's him?"

"Yep. He's Mad Dog-chan"

"Mad Dog...-chan?"

Iwaizume explained it to her "That's just what Oikawa likes to call him. His real name is Kyotani Kentaro, a second year"

"An open hitter, am I correct?"

"You guessed right!" the setter said.

"It's easy to tell but..." she clutched her arm "What was that heavy feeling from him?"

"So you could sense it, huh?" he smirked "That's good"

"I have a feeling...he's their secret weapon..."

Kyotani didn't join them for practice since Iwaizume explained that he usually practices alone, and it kinda disappointed her that she didn't see him play. She sat next to their coach, though it was really awkward to her since they were opponents in the court. Oikawa provided the explanation that she can watch in exchange of going out with him, which is not making them happy for his actions.

But they don't hate her.

"Good work for today!" Oikawa told them "Sorry, Ayame-chan, I'll be changing first since I'm a bit sweaty"

She shook her head "It's okay. You don't have to, Oikawa-san. We don't have much time left"

"Ah, that's right..." he sighed "Our agreement is only until 2 in the afternoon"

"Thank you for letting me watch" she bowed to the third years.

"Oh, it's fine" Iwaizume said "Just give us a call if that guy did something perverted"

"I'm nothing like that!!" he whined and pushed the girl outside "We're off!!"

"Make sure you return her back, okay~?" Hanamaki reminded him.

"No detours!" Matsukawa added.

Iwaizume didn't say anything but his fist shows what he meant:

Don't do any funny business on her or you're fucking dead.

"You guys are so mean!!"

They went to the park and sat on one of the benches. Oikawa noticed the way she shifted uneasily next to him. Unlike the date before, her clothes consists of shorts, leggings and a hoody shirt, a more casual look it seems. But, the one thing he noticed the most is the look in her violet eyes.

Uneasiness. Distraction. And also, guilt. A different of guilt.

"If you're still feeling comfortable about that moment when I touched your lips, I apologize for it" he said.

She blinked "Eh? What do you mean?"

He chuckled in amusement "Remember our date before? There was the cake's icing on your mouth and I removed it with my thumb and licked it, remember?"

He even showed her the pictures where she's happily eating the cake. She finally recalled it.

"Ah..." she slowly nodded in understanding "Y-You don't have to apologize, Oikawa-san. It's okay... I guess..."

"But I feel kinda bad. It must be creeping you out"

"No...not really"

"Not really...so she was a bit creep out. My bad..." he thought "By the way, Ayame-chan..."

"Hai?"

"Right now... you're in love, right?"

She quickly denied it in a flustered manner "E-EH?! N-No!! I'm not!! I-I...!"

"It hurts me to say this but..." cue his pretending hurt face "I'm not saying that it's me you're in love with" he sighed and smiled "What I mean is, that you're in love with someone right now"

"Eh?" it took her ten seconds to realize what he meant "H-How did you know?"

"The look in your eyes" he explained "Your movements and your personality, as well. I could tell that they are of someone in love"

She's actually planning to tell him first but, he's sharper than she thought "Etto... Hai... Right now, I have a boyfriend. I'm sorry for telling you this only now"

He smiled "I already knew when you arrived earlier. Well, I won't ask who it is since I have an idea who but, I'm glad you found someone special to you. Really, I never thought you like the freckled face type"

"He knows as well" she thought "Why are you telling me this?"

He threw up his hands in the air in exasperation "Like what those guys said, I'm an idiot. I don't even know why my girlfriend dumped me all of a sudden. What I'm saying is, you're better off with a guy who will treat you well and understands you. Not like me who only have a handsome face and can't understand a girl really well"

"Tadashi-kun told me that he feels jealous that Oikawa-san is handsome but..." she thought "It seems that Oikawa-san's jealous of Tadashi-kun as well..."

"That's not true" she said "Oikawa-san is a good person. You treat girls really well and I know you're not just a handsome face. Maybe, there might be someone who will see something special in you and I know you will come to understand that person" she then smiled awkwardly "It sounds weird coming from someone who is completely new to this kind of thing, right?"

"Nope" he looked at her and patted her head "Thank you for making me feel better, Ayame-chan. Now that I know you have a boyfriend, I guess that I should stop chasing you, right?"

"Eh? You were chasing me? Why?" she tilted her head in confusion.

"Why, you ask...oh" he realized that her cluelessness needs some work "I liked you. You haven't realized it?"

"Eh? Eh?" she blinked and suddenly felt bad "O-Oh, s-sorry... I-I have no idea... I'm sorry..."

He laughed and ruffled her hair "It's fine. I kinda figured it out that you don't have the slightest clue about it. It was fun talking to you, though"

"And for teasing your teammates for that..." he mentally added in amusement, recalling Karasuno's pissed moments every time he talks (note: flirts) to her.

It was disappointing that she already has a boyfriend but nevertheless, he's happy for her. He already knew and it was completely obvious she doesn't feel the same way to him. She only respected him as a formidable player and a senpai.

He stood up "It's time for you to go, right?"

She checked her phone "Oh, you're right. it's nearly 2"

"I'll take you to the bus stop. Sorry if I can't escort you all the way to your school since I know your libero and that bald guy will try to kill me if they see me"

*Meanwhile*

"HELL YEAH WE DO!!"

Tanaka and Nishinoya roared suddenly with fire backgrounds, though they didn't know why they are acting pissed right now.

"What's gotten in to those guys?" Sugawara asked.

"Dunno" Daichi sighed "Ignore them"

***

"Oh, thank you" she bowed.

He took her to the bus stop but he made a stop to a chocolate shop and bought a box of chocolate truffles.

"Consider it as a gift from me" he told her "I don't know much about some good chocolates but the girls told me that this chocolate from that shop is really good"

"Thank you very much!" he could practically see her shining from excitement and happiness.

"Good luck, Ayame-chan. I'll be looking forward to our match"

She nodded and waved back "Me too. Good luck and thank you for inviting me"

The bus left and it dropped her off to the next bus stop. As she neared Karasuno's gym, she started to eat the chocolate. She tasted something familiar in the chocolate, but she can't place her finger what.

"That's strange..." she said in between chews "This tastes familiar...oh well, it's really tasty..."

And she proceeded to have another bite.