11

Ushijima stared blankly at the net. He had come to terms with it. It was a month left before his meeting with his bride. He had told no one. For there was no need. Absolutely no need.

He pursed his lips, getting deeper lost into his thoughts. The feeling of the ball in his hands felt empty now. He shook his head. He was in the middle of practice. What was wrong with him? He threw the ball in the air and served with full force. It landed on the inside of the other court.

He had no time to think about unimportant stuff.

Coach stared at Ushijima critically. It didn't go unnoticed the captain. He immediately approached the old man.

"Yo, Coach, am I thinking what you're thinking correctly?" He snarked, staring at Ushijima did his serve with brute force.

The coach glared at Nishida. "He's better than the Ace right now, don't you think?"

Nishida nodded. "That's true. So, one of the 2nd years are going to be pulled out, huh? To put more strong spikers in." His eyes wandered to Fukatsu and another second year who went by the name Yanagida Masahiro. Compared to Ushijima, the 2nd year was two centimeters shorter.

The coach looked down at his clip board. "You know what to do."

Nishida sighed. "You always put me on a tough spot, Coach. But I'm not that harsh than you." He whispered that last sentence. He walked away from the coach to deliver the news to the 2nd year regular.

The coach returned his sights on Ushijima. It was another 2 months before Inter High, few days after the final exams.

"Saito." He called.

A man wearing glasses immediately responded. "Yes, Sir?" He jogged over to the old man.

"Prepare practice matches for every week." Saito nodded, scribbling the order onto his notepad. "Also, have you talked with Coach Haruto about the Golden Week 2 weeks from now?"

Saito gulped, scratching the back of his neck. "Actually, about that… there were problems in regards with the renovations." The older coach glared at him; his brow raised. "We already invited Itachiyama Academy, Mujinazaka High, Aobajohsai High, and Inarazaki High. All have agreed for the Golden Week training at Higashimatsushima. The problem is that we have to share renovations with the girls." He coughed. "Of course, in separate rooms."

The older coach held his chin as he thought. "Is Coach Haruto okay with it?"

The younger coach nodded. "Yes, Sir. She already agreed to it."

Coach Washijo nodded his head. "Alright. Tell the players to prepare."

"Eh, Coach, we'll be at the same building as the boys?!" The girls shouted.

Coach Haruto pinched her nose. "Yes, separate rooms. It seems the other building was already rented by another school." She looked at her clipboard. "Now, there is an open spot for regular after Kabayashi-san left us. I've already thought about it and there will be a switch on switch." She eyed the 2nd years and 1st years. "Yoshikami and Araki will be switching with the libero." Her eyes stared at the shortest and tallest 1st years. "Can I trust you guys for this Golden Week?"

"Yes, Coach!" The two shouted.

Yoshikami grinned happily after the coach left.

Araki nudged her head. "Good job, Yoshikami! We get to play!" She nudged the tall girl back. The rest of her team congratulated the two.

Two days after her withdrawal, Coach Haruto came to her door step and begged her parents to let Yoshikami play. You could say a lot more tears were shed. Not of sadness, but of happiness.

She couldn't wait to tell her friends. She looked at the time and noticed it was well after six.

"Yo, guys! I'm heading out first." She shouted and was about to sprint out of the gym when a hand grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt.

"Nope, you have cleaning duty!" The 2nd year libero laughed.

Yoshikami flailed. "Aw, but I'm tired! How come they can leave?!" She pointed at the tip-toeing first years.

"Yoshi, you should have kept quiet!"

"I was going to give you milk the next day!"

"How is milk going to help?!"

"Don't you want to grow?!"

"Come here and say that, Reserve!"

Kagami sighed. "How the heck did this place even become noisy."

Hatsume giggled. "Come on, Rin-chan, it's better like this." She patted her friend's shoulder. She then shouted, "Captain said she'll clean up for us!" Kagami gaped as her friend ran away.

"Everyone, you heard that!" Yoshikami shouted back and literally everyone left Kagami alone in the gym.

The captain stood there, shocked. After a few seconds, tick marks appeared above her head. "You guys are so dead tomorrow!" She shouted.

Coach Haruto watched in amusement as this happened. She stood up and grabbed a mop to help Kagami clean up.

"The team is very eccentric, is it not?" She started conversing with the third year.

Kagami scoffed. "More like brats."

The coach laughed. "Of course. With stronger bonds, the stronger your team will be." She patted Kagami on the shoulder. "Make this year worth it, Kagami."

The captain sighed. "I know."

Tendou waved at Yoshikami. "Yo, took you a while, Hoshi!" He was the rest of the group.

The short girl grinned. "I managed to escape clean up duty."

Semi rolled his eyes. "We already see each other at lunch. Why do we even need to go home together?"

Tendou gasped. "Have you forgotten what happened a few days ago, Eita-chan-?!"

"How the hell am I a -chan?!"

"-if we leave Hoshi alone. Who knows who else will snatch her up!" Tendou hugged her head.

Yoshikami laughed. "You don't need to do this. I can just go with Ushijima-kun, Tendou-san."

Tendou pouted. "But I don't want to leave my lil cousin alone!"

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

"What did he just say?"

Everyone paused upon hearing this.

Yoshikami gasped. "We're cousins?!"

Semi shouted at her. "How the hell did you not know?!"

"I just thought…wait, how do you know we're cousins?!"

Tendou narrowed his eyes at Yoshikami. "Uh, when I told you I liked you? You forgot that?"

Ohira shouted, "That doesn't even make sense, Tendou!"

Everyone stopped at a convenience store as Tendou explained how he and Yoshikami were related.

Yoshikami clapped. "No wonder I couldn't recognize you! Your hair was like this remember?" She flattened her puffy hair to show it.

Tendou grabbed her cheeks. "Don't mention my dark days, Hoshi!" The boys laughed at the two.

Ushijima opened his flip phone and stood up from the bench. "I'm going home. It's getting late." He walked away.

Yoshikami gasped. "Wet faw meh, Uzishimaw!" She slapped Tendou's hands and ran after Ushijima.

Ohira rubbed his chin deep in thought. He suddenly remembered Ushijima's confession. Well, he was avoiding the guy because he thought Ushijima liked him. But maybe not? He watched the two walk away.

"Hey, Ohira, let's go." Ohira snapped out of his thoughts and grunted.

"Oh, okay!" He flickered his eyes at the short girl and the tall teen then ran to Soekawa. He wasn't sure yet, but he will be keeping an eye out for them now.