a/n: Lol I'm sorry for skipping a lot of the preliminaries!! I'm sorry Ohgi Minami!!! I also suck at writing the matches too TT. Kageyama's disguise was the best :)
After a rather quick first match against Ohgi Minami, Misaki stood with Daichi and Noya in the stands. Karasuno had absolutely dominated! And she was feeling quite proud as she stood with the elder Coach Ukai and some kids he had brought. One of them had looked surprisingly like Tooru somehow.
They watched in amazement (maybe envy) as the 2 meter Kakugawa player pushed the ball over the net. Their match ended soon after and the three headed down for the warm up.
"I... want to combine with that shark." "What?" Kageyama and Misaki turned at Hinata's voice. "If I combined with a fujikujira, I'd be two meters tall." "Hey, what are you talking about?" Misaki looked to Tsukishima who smirked. "It's true." She shook her head; it had sounded like something Tsukki would say.
"Are you really scared?" "Huh?" Interrupted, they never got an answer from Hinata as everyone ran onto the court. After warming up, Kiyoko left her to go to the stands. Standing next to the coaches by herself, Misaki felt the nerves again. Kiyoko-senpai!! She waved slightly from the stands reassuring her. They had decided to alternate between matches and since Kiyoko had done the first match, it was now her turn.
As the teams got into their starting lineups, Misaki's eyes widened comparing the height differences between the 2 meter player and Karasuno. What amazing height! And that height was starting out as huge advantage for Kakugawa as the first point ended with a spike above the block and Hinata's feint was easily blocked by Hyakuzawa. However...
"Shoyo, volleyball isn't just about mid-air battles." "Huh?" She smiled at Yuu's statement. They'd noticed. "I've noticed something." As Daichi discussed strategy, Misaki looked to Kakugawa. If you watched their #9 and listened to them, you would be able to tell he hadn't played volleyball for long. By abandoning straights and being prepared for the cross, Karasuno's defense was going up!
Before long, with the addition of the new quick, Karasuno was had taken the first set. The second set flew by just as quickly as they got used to defending and attacking against the 2 meter giant.
"Match point!" She bounced in her seat with excitement. They'd be going to qualifiers for sure after one more point!
With a final wipe from Hinata, Karasuno won their match at 2-0 grabbing their spot in the qualifiers. We're heading towards nationals!!
"Kakugawa's two meters... is going to be really scary next year." The coaches and Misaki watched as the players lined up.
. * .
In the chaos of packing up, Misaki ended up being the last one checking for anything left behind. Urging Kiyoko to go ahead with an extra bag, Misaki did one last scan to make sure everything was cleaned up. Glancing around, underneath benches and such just in case, she paused as a bright yellow something peeked out from under a chair.
Oh! Isn't this Shoyo's? She thought she had caught a glimpse of the cute cats on the bright yellow cloth when they had been eating lunch. Picking it up, she deemed the area spotless and began making her way back to the bus. Shoyo is so cute.
"Hey, it's the cutie manager from the match we watched," Misaki was taken aback by the two that stopped her. Orange... Did they play today?
Woah! Look at that tongue piercing! She was fascinated by the boy's piercing. Did his school let him do that? However, as they continued prodding her for her number, blocking her way, she began getting a bit nervous. She could be holding up everyone.
Meanwhile...
Hinata screamed after suddenly checking his bag, "I forgot my bento!" and dashed back to retrieve it.
"Come on, just your number!" "Sumimasen..." Shoyo stared confused at the situation before freaking out. Whoah, she's getting hit on! Not to mention, they're scary looking! And, he spotted his bento in her arms! "Um, I have people waiting for me outside..."
"It only takes a second to give me your number." And Tanaka-san and Noya-san already left! "Well I'll just get it from your phone real quick."
Misaki was just about to put her foot down like Hajime always told her to when-
"Woah!!" She jumped as Hinata practically slid between them and blocked her, although he was shaking all over. "Sumimasen! That's my lunch box!" He rushed her away before anyone could process what was happening. "Let's go! Hurry!"
"Matte matte!" Misaki gasped as Hinata was tossed away by the boy with the piercings. "Shoyo!" "We're still talking. Do you have a smartphone? Or an older one?" She frowned, a bit annoyed.
Hinata reappeared suddenly. "Ano!!!!" Even she was shocked by his jump, which nearly reached above their heads, not to mention the other two. "Mi-Misaki-chan is our precious manager, so um...um..." She smiled at his effort to help her.
"Eh? So you guys beat the two-meter guy." "Huh? Well, yeah..." "Aw... And I was looking forward to playing against the two-meter guy." "Play?" The subject had changed rather suddenly, luckily for Misaki. "Matches are super fun, aren't they?"
"Um... Did you get through the prelims?" "Prelims? We didn't play in the prelims." "Huh? So you guys were in the Inter-High quarterfinals?"
"Ah, I think it was the semifinals." "S-Semifinals?" Surprised, Misaki was more curious about which school they were from. After all, they could be playing them in October!
"See ya. If we manage to bump into each other at the qualifiers," He ruffled Shoyo's hair before leaving. "Let's have some fun and play." "Have some fun and play..." Both Shoyo and Misaki turned to watch them go. I don't even know their names.
"Ah. A-apparently he doesn't need your number anymore." Misaki sighed. "Finally. Looks like you took his attention, Shoyo. Thanks."
He shook his head. "It's my duty since Tanaka-san and Noya-san aren't here!" She laughed feeling relieved. "Still, thank you Shoyo."
"Oh! Here, you forgot this." She lifted the bright yellow bento that she'd almost forgotten about. Hinata grabbed it, hiding behind his back in embarrassment. "This bento wrap is really cute."
"This is Natsu's... My little sister's!" Misaki tried to calm him down. "Not mine at all!"
Outside...
Nishinoya and Tanaka stood arms crossed outside the gym. "Isn't Misaki taking a long time?" "Shall we go check?" Was she being held up by someone? Should one of them have stayed back with her? Noya grumbled internally.
As they waited however, a group of five players with orange sweatpants came out first instead. As they passed right through Karasuno, eyeing them, Tanaka and Nishinoya's irk marks appeared. "The hell are you looking-" Daichi's stern cough stopped them in their tracks, his shadow looming over them.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" The two came out just in time to see the players leaving. "You're late, boke!" "Misaki, thank goodness you're safe!" Nishinoya jumped up to give Misaki a bear hug. "Did you find anything left behind?"
"Yes! A cute bento wrap-" "Uahh!! You don't have to tell them!" She laughed as Hinata stopped her from revealing anymore details. It really had been cute though.
. * .
"All right, start your individual practice now." Misaki walked by with a basket of wash as Coach Ukai let everyone go. "We now have less than two months until the qualifier at the end of October. Work on improving individually!" "Yeah!" She smiled as Nishinoya and Hinata bounced away.
Reaching the door, she gasped. "T-Tobio, what are you doing?" He was walking by in a black hoodie and cap, sunglasses hiding his face. "You could tell it was me?!" "Yeah..." "Damn it!" He took everything off quickly. "Are you going somewhere in a disguise?"
A sudden dark aura appeared around Kageyama. "Um." "There's a team we might face during the qualifier for the prefecture, and I wanted to check them out before that." He looked away. Out of the two teams Kageyama would watch out for, Misaki was pretty sure he meant Aoba Johsai.
"Nothing is actually going to happen by me watching, but summer vacation's over and there's less than two months until the prefectural qualifier." She nodded. "I felt like I should definitely check them out."
"Ano... If you don't want to stand out at a school after school hours, I think it would be best just to wear regular training gear." Misaki smiled. "After all, it's not like the Seijoh students wear something completely weird or different than us." He looked up, realizing he had been found out.
"Would you like me to go with you? I can help you find them faster." She lifted up the basket from where she had set it down. "Maybe after I drop this off?"
He quickly shook his head. "No, I don't want to take up your time. Besides..." Tobio looked over her shoulder. "It seems Nishinoya-san and Hinata are waiting for you." And so they were. Yuu called for her to hurry up and come back, excitedly waving a volleyball. He'd been ecstatic to hear she had been a libero and Coach Ukai permitted her to receive sometimes as more practice for the boys.
"I guess you're right. Then have a safe trip!" "Thanks!" Misaki smiled as he ran off to change again. Maybe he would learn something at Seijoh. She giggled as she left, just imagining Kageyama with his disguise at Aoba Johsai. Hopefully, he won't stand out as much anymore.
Misaki helped pick up volleyballs that night, gasping as Tanaka was hit on the head. "Are you okay, senpai?" "All good!" He gave a thumbs up.
"You made it back alive, Kageyama. How'd it go?" Hinata and Misaki went to greet him. "I... I may never be able to beat Oikawa-san." "What are you talking about?! Quit messing around!" She froze. Noo! That's not what he was supposed to get out of the visit! "What did you see!" Everyone paused to listen to Tobio describe Seijoh's practice.
"But... After just a few plays, Oikawa-san was a part of the team. Even I could tell how lively the spikers felt." She couldn't help but smile a bit. Well, that was Tooru's strength after all. One even her brother acknowledged. "The ability to draw 100% out of anyone... Most people can't do that, even after spending lots of time with them. But with Oikawa-san, it didn't matter if he disliked the player, or if the player had certain habits. I'm sure... that he could use them freely."
Hinata's frown only grew deeper. "So are you saying that you're freaked out by the Great King again, Kageyama-kun?" "Yeah, I'm really freaked out." As they looked to Tobio again, Misaki saw his absolute resolve. Her momentary worry disappeared. There he is.
"Right now, Seijoh is what it is because it's had Oikawa-san for the last three years, and our only chance to fight them again is at the Spring Tournament. We're going to beat them, as a team!" "Uahhhh, I'm going to defeat you, Great King!!!!" Hinata ran off with his volleyball. "That's my line!!" Before he ran off after Hinata, Misaki spoke.
"Welcome back!" He nodded back, smiling slightly. Now began the hard stretch until the spring prefectural qualifiers!
. * .
"So.. with the prefectural qualifier in October, we'll only be able to come to Kanto two more times, including this trip." The team stood around Takeda and Ukai at Nekoma High School. "Let's make the best of this chance!" "Hai!"
"Hey, Tsukki!" Misaki almost jumped in surprise at Bokuto's loud voice. "Jump blocks for me! Hey, hey, hey!"
"This chapter titles, 'Bokuto gets rejected by a student from another school'." "Harsh, Komi-san." Misaki greeted Akaashi, stopping beside him waiting for Tsukishima's response.
"Hai, thank you for working with me." "What?!!" The four were all shocked at his easy acceptance. "Why are you surprised when you're the one who asked him?" Senpai, you're just as surprised too! Tsukki was practicing with them of his own will?? She didn't know the day would come she mused as they all headed for another court.
During the two times they were able to go back to Tokyo, a pastime of doing homework after practice developed. As such, Misaki found herself sitting at a low table the boys had pulled out, watching over piles of paper.
Bokuto whined as he leaned over and fell into Misaki's lap. "How come you and Kuroo don't have much homework?!" She laughed shyly. "Maybe because we did it before coming?" Brushing his hair back out of his face, she fluffed a piece up.
"Yeah, we finish stuff early unlike you fools." They high-fived each other across the table. "Kenma! You should start too!" Instead of doing homework, he had started playing games although the papers were out in front of him. Maybe Tsukishima would have also been done with them but he had gone off with Yamaguchi saying prolonged exposure to idiocy might lower his IQ as well (looking at Hinata). Meanwhile, Shoyo groaned before falling back on the floor as well. Hinata and Lev had been staring rather blankly at their homework for the past couple minutes. "Do you need help, Shoyo, Lev?" "Help... I need help Misaki!"
Akaashi sighed as he tried to actually concentrate on his work. "You're a third year, Bokuto-san. Misaki is a first-year."
Bokuto got up in indignation. "So? Misaki seems smart! She probably knows how to do this!" "Tetsuro would probably be better to ask than me to be honest, Bokuto." "Hmph!" He pouted, staring laser beams into the table but not really concentrating on anything.
"Say, Misaki." She nearly jumped as his sudden movement. "Why can't you call me by my first name?" "Huh?" She tilted her head. "You call Hinata and Kuroo by their names." "Ehh? What about me??" Lev protested as he had been completely overlooked. Meanwhile, she was still reeling from the change in topic.
"Do you want me to call you by your first name?" "Yeah! Why not?!" He watched with anticipation as Misaki tilted her head. "Then... Koutaro-san?" Bokuto only pouted again. "What's with the -san?"
She smiled and tried again. "Um... Koutaro-kun?" He shook his head. "Kou-kun?" Misaki was getting more worried as Bokuto continued refusing. "Kou?" "That's better!"
Misaki laughed, glad it had been resolved quickly. "Then Kou, shouldn't you get started on your homework?" He deflated, wanting to give up again. Looking around the rather defeated table, Misaki decided it was time for some pick me ups.
"Would anyone like more water? I think there is some apples and persimmons left over from dinner, too." "Me!" "I'll take a persimmon." "Yes, please." At the loud approval around the table, Misaki nodded and got up. "I'll go with you." She paused as Akaashi stood up as well. "I'm almost done." "Thanks, Akaashi-senpai!"
As the two left the room, Misaki got to enjoy a moment of quiet. With Akaashi, there was always a peaceful calm, a kind of fresh air from the very noisy and hyperactive teams they were around all the time. They reached the kitchen and found the fruit, deciding to cut and peel them before leaving. Busy peeling some apples, she broke the silence.
"How has your day been, senpai?" Instead of answering, he continued cutting.
"Keiji." "Huh?" "You can call me by my first name too." Misaki stopped, looking up to him. "It's weird if I'm the only one you call senpai." At her silence, he backpedalled and looked away, embarrassed. "If you feel uncomfortable, it's fine."
"No!" They both jumped at her voice. Misaki had been shocked that he was allowing her to call him by name. Although she felt that they were good friends, it had been hard for her to tell if she could cross that line, especially with Akaashi whose stoic face was difficult to read at times. Hmm. If I had to compare Bokuto and Akaashi, it would be like the sun and the moon. She blinked. Kind of like their Hinata and Tsukishima, she guessed.
"I'm sorry, I was surprised." Akaashi's rather surprising disappointment disappeared, his heart feeling lighter. It hadn't exactly been a good feeling as he watched Bokuto move ahead. Smiling slightly, he looked back to his persimmons. "Thanks."
"Then... How was your day, Keiji-kun?"
"It was pretty good. We were playing pretty well today." "
When they returned with plates of fruit, Misaki was dismayed. Kenma was continuing to game and the rest of the table had fallen into chaos! Not a single page was touched. "Why'd you guys take so long!" "Thank you!" "Misaki, will I ever be able to memorize this kanji?!"
They'd get it done sooner or later... right?
. * .
Misaki made her way onto the Seijoh campus on a Monday evening. Since the preliminaries were coming up, she was sure those two were busy practicing still. Although she would usually head over to the volleyball gym first, today her mission was in the small weightlifting gym. While Tooru's way of relieving stress was serving for hours on end, Hajime's was working out. Usually, he went after late practice when it was empty.
Peeking through the door, she opened the door to see Iwaizumi lifting by himself. "Hajime, do you want to take a break for a second?" "Misaki?"
She opened the door a bit more, showing what she had brought on the way here. "Snacks?"
"You know by eating that I'm canceling out my exercise." Misaki pouted. "Hey, I tried to get healthy ones. Plus, you have to eat to grow more." He walked out to look in the bag. "Oh, don't touch the milk bread. I got some for Tooru." "As if, I'm not addicted to it like someone." Despite complaining about her snack selection choice, he opened a box of Pocky anyways, offering her some first.
"How was your weekend? You haven't been getting enough sleep these days again, haven't you?" "Noo..." He stared at her, unimpressed. Misaki pouted, holding any incriminating information back. The pressure of his eyes cracked her.
"Fine, I've been having busy weekends and I still have schoolwork so I haven't been able to sleep as much as usual, happy?" Iwaizumi only looked a little satisfied. "Well, at least you admit it. Take better care of yourself."
"Well, how about you?" "Of course I'm taking care of myself. I gotta beat that bastard, Oikawa." She laughed. Hajime had been hoping to grow taller than Tooru for a while now. She was starting to wonder if it would ever happen.
"Hey, we should go out and eat some time this week. I feel like I don't see you often enough anymore." "Yeah, just let me know when."
He cupped her cheeks with a grin, squeezing a little. "We don't want you to lose too much weight, do we?" She grabbed onto his arms, trying to pry his hands off to no avail. "I won't! Hajimeee!" Iwaizumi looked down on her for just a little longer before releasing her at the sound of footsteps.
They looked up at the approaching student. "Sorry for interrupting, Iwaizumi-san. I was sent by the teachers to start locking up." He nodded to Misaki who waved. "Sorry-" "No, it's fine Asato. We were just cleaning up. I'll help you." Hajime turned to Misaki as Asato headed in to start.
"That's our cue." "I guess I have to make my stop at Tooru then." Misaki gathered some of the trash to throw away before handing the bag to Iwaizumi. "Oh, say hi to your parents for me." "Yup, remember dinner. I'll text you." She waved one last time before leaving, not wanting Hajime to keep Asato waiting. Unknown to her, Iwaizumi watched her back until she disappeared around a corner. It really would have been easier if Misaki had just come to Aoba Johsai. "Iwaizumi-san!" "Coming!"
Hajime doesn't seem overly stressed. Well, there is still some time until the tournament though. One bag lighter, Misaki started off towards the gym. Already hearing the usual sound of a lone serve hitting the floor, she sped up a bit as she got closer.
"Tooru, do you have a minute?" He slammed one more serve down before stopping and jogging over. "Saki."
He looked in the bag for a second before setting it down and embracing her. "I missed you." "Eh? I was only gone for the weekend, you big baby." She let him go though, although she nudged him off after a few moments. As much as she loved him, he was really sweaty. "I got your favorite. You didn't even look at it!" "Thanks."
"Are you doing anything next weekend?" Misaki shook her head. "I made plans with friends already and the weekend after we're going to Tokyo one last time before the qualifiers so I won't be here. I'm sorry Tooru." She searched his face. "How about next Monday? You have the day off." Sighing, Oikawa opened the bag of bread and ripped off a chunk. "Fine." He was sulking.
Sighing herself, she turned to settle down on a chair. "I can stay with you while you finish practice today though." "Alright, I'll walk you home too." Smiling, she watched Oikawa go back to the cart of balls and start serving again. "Don't make me wait too long."
. * .
"Yes!" "Oi, wrap it up already! You're really going to feel this tomorrow." Daichi called to Hinata and Kageyama who were the last ones practicing. October 24th, the day before Miyagi prefecture's qualifiers.
"What? Already? But I don't feel like I've hit enough." "For crying out loud..."
"That feeling, that you haven't hit enough... why don't you save that for tomorrow?" Misaki hoped this would be enough to stop them for the day. If they left them alone, she was sure they could practice through the night.
"I see." After a moment of silence... "Right!" "Kageyama, let's race to see who can pick up the most balls!" "Bring it on!"
"Misaki, nice!" Sugawara gave her a thumbs up. It was always hard getting those two to stop. Looking back to the posted calendar on the board, she filled with excitement. Time flew. But tomorrow, they would begin! The journey to nationals!
"All right, let's take down the net!" "Right!"
a/n2: Can I just say I can totally see Iwaizumi being into working out a bunch and weightlifting. I mean, he does become an athletic trainer??? Also, I'm posting a little survey for the next or maybe next next chapter!
Poll Here!!
p.s. Please let me know if the link doesn't work! Or just go to my profile, I think you can find it there. Thanks!!
