Chapter 60: Going Home

"Mac, Bokuto," The male head coach calls, both head coaches stand before us as we sit in an office just hours away from our take off.

"You two have proven to us that you are dedicated, can produce quick growth, you're both highly coachable and due to unexpected circumstances, we found out that you two are pretty good at dealing with conflict. I'd prefer if conflict didn't arise, but it's nice to keep players around that can handle themselves."

"With that being said," The female head coach started, "This school will gladly accept both of you into this university and its volleyball programs."

"Do great when you get back to Japan. We're still watching."

"And no more scandals, we try to keep our Athletics reputation clean."

"Yes coach," we both say. My fingers gripping the bottom of the seat, in excitement while I know Bokuto is holding in a shout.

The male coach pointed us towards the door saying, "Already, get going you two, Monty and Ashely are taking you to the airport."

"Yes coach," we both say before standing, give a slight bow out of habit and walking out the office door. Right when we turned the corner, Bokuto turns to me with two high fives, I jump up to meet him and he called out, "HEY HEY HEY!"

"We're in," I say as he pulls me into a hug. Before Monty pokes his head into the hall, "Come on love birds, ya'll got a flight to catch."

Bokuto grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door with him. When we step outside Monty says, "Come on, your captain said Hurry the fuck up."

We all climb inside the car and Ashley squealed, "Congrates!"

Of course they already knew. We both made it, "Now don't go getting pregnant, we need her on our team." She says as she pulls off, heading towards the airport.

When Ashley and Monty stop teasing Bikuto pulled out his phone to call his Mom and I pulled out my phone to call Aunty Bri.

She picks up right away, "Aunty, guess what?" I say excitedly.

I hear a huff leave her. "Please tell me it's good news."

"It is! I made it in the team, Bokuto too! We're going to UNC!"

"Yes! That's wonderful Love! Oh my goodness, I am so proud of you! And..."

"And?"

"I have a surprise waiting for you at the airport."

"A surprise?" I question.

"Yes, I'm sure you'll love it, it's waiting at your gate. Oh and Zara?"

"Yes aunty?"

She sighs now, "You're school called. You and Bokuto are under strict instruction to not to wear your school uniform in the airport. News moves and dies fast in America, here... you'll start seeing flashes the moment you get off the plane sadly. Just keep your head up and don't give them anything. Okay my love?"

"Okay Aunty, I'll do my best. See you soon, love you."

"Love you too," She says and hangs up.

I look down at myself, then over at Bokuto. Both of us are in our school uniforms. Like what our original instructions were to do. I guess this was before we became a disgrace to the school. It's pretty easy to fix this just take off our blazers and put on something else. Black pants and black skirts isn't a dead give away.

"Hey Ashley, you think we can pull over somewhere? We have to change."

"What? Why?"

I shrug a little, "We dishonored our school because of that post. We are not to publicly represent them until further notice."

Monty rolled his head back into his seat, "Dang, they be on ya'll like that?"

Bokuto let out a sigh, "Sadly," he looked yo me, "We can probably just put on those hoodies your aunt gave us."

"Or," Ashely says with a wide smile, "Wear the hoodies from your next school. We have no shame in claiming two sexy asses like you guys. People might actually come to our games just to see you guys."

"That's true, no bad publicity," Monty high fives Ashley before she pulled over to the side of the road and popped the trunk.

We went to the back, yanked off our blazers and tugged on our NCU hoodies. We stuffed the blazers back into the bags and hopped back into the car.

We say our goodbyes. Well, our, see you laters. We'll be back soon. We'll be a team soon.

We move through the Airport quickly, rich people privilege. But also, I'm in a bit of a hurry to see what this gift is that's waiting for me the gates.

Bokuto and I get to our gate and my eyes search everywhere until he grabs my hand and says, "how about we sit down."

Still I look around when I agree, "Okay," and follow him to the seats. I not even sure what type of, gift, could be waiting for me, here of all places. When I get home, sure. But the airport?

Then, right before I sat beside Bokuto, I heard a voice, "Dang Zara!" I know the over dramatic voice, the false pain in it, "Walk straight past me why not," She said.

I spun around, throwing my arms around her, "Sister!"

She hugs me tight, and I hug her maybe a bit too tight. "Whoa, easy," she says. I'm stronger than when she remembers.

"Sorry," I say pulling back, "What are you doing here?"

"Aunty invited me to stay for winter break, again. But this time I took her up on it. Figured I'd come watch your game and meet your not so little boyfriend," She looked over my shoulder at Bokuto who I almost forgot was standing there.

"Oh, Bokuto, this is my big sister Mira. Mira Mac, this is Kōtarō Bokuto my boyfriend."

"This is your sister?" He asks, pointing at her.

And she said the same things she always said when people asked that question. She looped an arm around my shoulders and said, "Yes, brown comes in many different shades."

My sister is much lighter than me. Everything else is almost the same except that. She's almost the same completion as my cousins and they're just half black while my sister is full black. Same parents just... like she said, brown comes in all different shades. No one but my grandpa has skin as dark as mine.

Bokuto puts both his hands up saying, "I was just gonna ask if your whole family was almost as pretty as Baby Bird."

Big sister claws retract, "Awe, I like him. And to answer your question, yes. If you ever decide to procreate them I'm sure the offspring will be lovely."

"Ew," I say, nudging my sister away from me.

But she shakes her head laughing, "Oh no no no, you don't get to ew nothing. I saw that picture. I know you ain't little miss innocent no more."

Bokuto turns a shade of pink and sits down with his hand at the back of his neck and nervous eyes to the floor.

Mira goes on to say, "Umm hmm, that's right I know you haven't been keeping those hands to yourself."

"It's not that bad," I say nervously, knowing there's no use in lying to my sister.

"Never said it was bad, you'll be 18 in a few days Z. As long as you're being smart and dodging Mom. Then there's nothing bad at all," our flight is called to board, us first for first class and Mira says, "Oh that's us," grabs her bags and starts for the door, "Come on. Don't worry, I'll let you and your little boyfriend have your own pod, I got some reading to get ahead on. These criminal justice classes are no joke."

Bokuto gets up and we grab our bags following behind my sister. He leans in speaking quietly, "Your birthday is coming up... and I'll be at training camp," he brings a palm to his forehead, "I won't even be able to call you."

"It's fine. My family will have a private dinner at the house over the weekend so, you can just join us for that."

He leans closer and talks quieter to say, "And what if I wanted to do something alone with you?"

A shaky laugh leaves me, "I'm sure you'll find the time."

...

...

The flight was long but fine. But once we got into the airport, cameras began to flash and questions started to fly.

"Keep your head up," Mira reminds us, "Don't give them anything." Protective big sister. Claws are out, but she wears them with a striking class and a cutting eye anyone who gets too close, making them back off.

Bokuto is strong. But now my big sister is here, that means I can't be touched. Which mean, I'm going to have to keep her away from Hina.

Mira was never one to tolerate a bully.