Chapter 63: The Captains of Fukurōdani

"I swear, I'm in love with your family," Bokuto chuckles as head to the gym.

"In love? Wow, I knew you were just using them to get to me," I laugh away the flick of my heart that comes whenever he uses the L word. It's only been about three months since we've been dating. It's impractical to use now, but I don't know. It's like his tongue is practicing the word, like one of his moves. Trying to get it right before he tries to show off.

We're alone in the boys gym. With only twenty minutes left of school, we decided to skip on going back to class. We've already taken our finals anyways, that was part of the deal for letting us skip practically two weeks of school. That and make the school look good. Whether we held up that end of the deal is… subjective but, it seems to be okay now.

"Could never use you," he said, moving closer, as I leaned back against the wall. His bright eyes seem focused, but excited as he looked at me.

And I waited, waited for him to make his move, to bring his lips to mine. But if I'm being honest, I didn't wait long. I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling that cocky grin to me until our lips met. I felt my shoulders drop and ease fill me. Like a pressure that has been released. I've been dodging this closeness, trying not to be too alone with him since we got back. Too afraid of ears and eyes. Forgetting that, this closeness. This natural togetherness, is what's grounded me since I've been here.

I've missed this. And so has Bokuto. His hands tighten at my waist, his body pushes to mine, trying to fill the space that's been growing between us. He leaves no space between us now, grabbing at my waist, lifting me until my legs are around his hips and my back is pressed into the wall. He doesn't stop kissing me. And I don't make him stop. But the school bell does.

He pulls away and looks up towards the sound, then towards the clock. "The team will be here soon. Probably the managers first." He looks down at himself, at the bulge that started to poke me as we kissed. But then at his uniform, "Should probably change," he said, backing away towards the locker room. "Me right back."

"Okay," I reply but before he turns away, I grab his hand keeping him still for one more moment, one more kiss.

He pulls back smiling, "You are not making this easier Baby Bird."

With a cheeky shrug I say, "That's fine," and let him go.

He's coming out of the locker room just as the managers arrive, "Hey ladies, double check that all the water bottles and balls that we're taking are labeled. Don't want Nekuma stealing our good stuff."

"Got it Captain," One smile.

The other hardly ever smiles, but she gives a thumbs up saying, "Nice to have you back Captain."

"So you did miss me?" He smiled confidently.

But that confidence is shut down into a slouch when they both call back, "As if."

"Whatever," he shouts back as they disappear into the storage closet.

Guys started to show up in the gym, smiling and waving hi to me before heading over to Bokuto for some high fives. No stopping and talking, everyone shuffles past to the locker room to change.

Well, all but Akaashi who stopped to me first saying, "You're staying to watch the fun?"

"Fun?" I question.

Akaashi smiles, "Bokuto's been keeping close watch on the team and their responses to that picture you know."

With that he jogged off to the locker room and just as he went in, most of the team came out.

Bokuto pulled out his phone and called out a name on the screen, first year, middle blocker. "Staring at Z's chest at the dance, commenting four mouth water emojis on that post, and sharing it. 6 suicides, go."

"You gotta be kidding me," he protested.

But Bokuto only said, "Run," in a stern voice and called out the next name, "Commenting, you lucky son-of-a-bitch, and tagging me in the post. 3 suicides."

Heads drop. They know they're coming. The next name is called, "Staring a Z's butt at the dance, liking the post, sharing the post and commenting, #junglefever, then making me research what jungle fever meant. 12 suicides. Run."

This is those rare moments where all play leaves Bokuto. His face is hard as stone as he reads through his list.

Only a few members of the team remain not running. Akaashi and a few others. As the rest ran, Bokuto backed away from the court still watching them as he says to me, still in Captain mode, "I want you to be careful on your way home tonight. It's dark and not really the safest at night for a girl alone." He showed his hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys and handed them to me shouting, "Keep it pushing jungle fever!" Before going back to his business tone, "You don't have to worry about the rest of this week. I already talked to your uncle and your coach. Your family will be there everyday of the tournaments so they will take you home. No need to ride the bus back and Jay is staying in a hotel nearby to drive you to school."

"This is all unnecessary you know," I say.

"Yeah, but it would make me feel a lot better knowing you're safe," he says. Just as his coach walks in.

"What do we got going on here?"

Bokuto pulls up his list on his phone and hands it to his coach. He eyes the list then simply says, "Seems appropriate. I would have doubled it."

"Still gotta games to play today coach," Bokuto says, cracking a smile.

"Ya got that right. Congrats you two on making the team by the way."

"Thank you coach," we both say.

He waves us off saying, "Yeah yeah, now say goodbye to your girlfriend, she has her own team to be with."

"Yes coach," Bokuto says. He shoves his phone back into his pocket and takes my hand. He looks away from the running fools now saying, "Baby Bird, please be careful this week. And, good luck on the court. I'll need you at nationals. Double victory, remember?"

"Double victory," I nod.

He leans in leaving a kiss on my cheek and the room filled with hooting and whistles.

Bokuto stood shouting, "One more for everyone."

"Including you," Coach called out.

"Far enough," Bokuto shrugged, quickly he said, "See you this weekend Baby Bird." He came in, places a quick kiss on my lips and backed away.

"Two more for you Captain," his coach shouted and others laugh.

But Bokuto smiles, "Worth it, " before turning and joining others on the line to run.

Run, which is what I probably should do. I run from the doors shouting, "Good luck guys."

Many shouted back, "Good luck Z!" As I dash out of the gym and across to my own gym.

I don't stop when I hear someone shout, "Finally the porn star is here!"

"Was probably making anything video for her onlyfans." Another comments.

Yeah.

This is gonna be a fun week.

I run down into the locker room and changed as quickly as I could. I ran out and joined the circle in stretching.

"Wow, that was fast," one says.

"Well, she is good at taking her clothes off," Hina says, "I mean, we all saw that."

Nothing. They get nothing from me. They all snicker when coach comes is shouting, "Mac!"

Quickly a jumped up, sighing, "Run?"

"No," She says, before pulling a smile to her face, "Congrats on making it into NCU. Now show us what you learned." She calls out to the team, "Set up for hitting drills. Mac, get your blocks and go."

I nod, "Yes coach." Almost smiling. I get power, I get control, I get respect. At least from the coach.

So I point out my girls for blocking and we start. No balls go untouched.

I know I've been playing at a higher level, but it feels like these girls have been slacking off since I've been gone. "Come on, at least one of you should be able to get past me."

"Don't get cocky pornstar," Hina rolls her eyes.

"Not cocky, just practical. I was the fourth best block in the nation. There are three more who are better than me. If you can't get past me, you won't get past them. Put some power in that swing."

"We're not monsters like you," Said Hina's younger sister, "We're not trying to hurt anyone."

"Yeah, sure." I roll my eyes and focus on the court, "balls up."

"Center," I call out, my left blocker comes in for a double. It's shut down.

"Z is right," Coach calls out, "You gotta be able to get past Z. You can't rely on her for everything."

"We don't need her for anything," Hina mutters, standing right beside Aimi. Her head is down as always now, but her sets have been great. She's practiced.

"Coach, can we run a practice game?" I ask.

"Who do you think you are," spat one of the third years, "You're not the captain."

"Good idea Mac, break off."

I send an eye across the net, glazing at the girl before backing away to my starting spot. I spent all that time away working on aiming my serves and locking in my blocks. Should have put more effort into my spikes. I'll need them if we actually make it to nationals.

No. When we actually make it to nationals. I could almost hear Bokuto's voice pushing away my doubt. We'll make it. We have to.

The rotations move and I'm up to serve. Great. Time to show off what I learn. The ball is rolled under the net but rolled far from me by a giggle Hina, "Sorry pornstar."

If I could punch her in her smug face, I would. But I'll settle for this.

If I was back in the states, I would smile, playfully tell my teammates to take a break, or even with the boys team. But with them, it doesn't matter what side of the net I'm on. They are not on my side. So I grab the ball in silence, go beyond the line and find my target. Left back.

Hina's one of the best receivers we have. But she's lazy and a wimp. If something has too much heat, she backs off at least the first few times.

So I toss, I go in, I jump high, I slam the ball with all I got and it heads right where I want it to. Right to Hina, to right of her.

Confidential she called, "Out," but coach shook her head. "In."

Again. And again. And again. And again. Hina ducks, she runs, she gives half attempts and loses control.

The coach has it enough of it, "Hina, got to the corner of the court.  Libero, this one is all you."

Right goes more to center. Everyone is focused on left now. This is a great chance to go right or hit that sweet open spot in center court. But I see Hina, standing in the back corner tucked away. She's pissed. And to get her one more time, would be so great.

So I got for it. The left back corner. I get high, cut the angle sharp, aim straight for the corner as if Hina weren't even standing there. It's above the libero, but it's still in. Hina drops to her knees to get it but it darts off her platform and into the net. The setter tried to save it, but it got up with little enthusiasm. Nothing anyone could do anything with. Unless there's a soccer player on the team.

"Hina," Coach barked.

Hina snapped back, "She's targeting me! Tell her to stop!"

Coach stood up straighter, as if she noticed for the first time that Mayne this is no coincidence. "Mac, are you targeting Hina?"

"Yes coach," I don't lie.

She still looks at me, saying, "Everyone off the court but Hina. Hina, right front. Mac, serve."

"Yes coach," I nod.

But Hina stomps her foot and cries, "Coach!"

I don't wait for her. I serve. It goes straight for her. She puts her arms up to block it from hitting her face before growling, "You bitch! I wasn't ready!"

"Then get ready," I say simply. I walk over to the ball cart and wheel it over to me.

Coach says, "Hina, you get one good to the setter spot and you're off the court. But you can't run from these, so get that serve up."

Practice runs long. They hate every moment of it. Every member of the team have to get one of my serves up before we could leave. It's a good thing we don't play tomorrow. We have two days, then we play. For now, we just watch. Study the other teams to see who we have to crush to get to nationals.

Once the girls start heading out, I run up to the coach saying, "Hey, um… don't say this was my idea, but I think we should do an early morning practice tomorrow. We'll still have a day to rest, and we can get some more time to get some aggression into these girls." I winced a little saying, "Preferably towards the other team."

"Nice idea Mac, and good job today and well… everyday. When I invited you to this school I didn't think you'd have to put up with all of this… the girls were always so close with each other. I thought-"

"Don't worry about it." I wave off, "You invited me here to win nationals. So let's do it." 

I threw my coach on and hurried outside. It's already dark and cold. I am alone. I rush over to Bokuto's bike, fumbling to get his keys from my pocket. The lock is ice in my hands but I unlock it, slide my gloves off and start pedaling towards home.

I move fast, fight the cold and don't worry about anything else. I'm safe enough. But, it would feel better to have Bokuto here.

I lock the bike up and rush into the house, greeting the Itos. Before I got to my room to get ready for a much needed shower. I slide my phone from my pocket and go to text Ros that I made it home safe. When I see a text from Bokuto.

It's from soon after my practice began. He must have sent it from the bus before his phone got taken away.

Bokuto 🦉: Miss you already Baby Bird. Please be safe and win! I can't wait to see you again. Try not to miss me too much

A smile, wider than I can control, comes to my face. I'll miss every inch of him. I know. I told myself a while ago that I shouldn't be so attached to someone so new, but I am. How can I not be? How can I deny it anymore?

When I came to Japan I was just trying to be myself. I didn't want to be just like Aunt Bri as my Mom thought. Thought I wanted to be so much like her, move to Japan like her, get a Japanese boy like her, travel like her, be big and boogie like her.

But here I am, live in Japan, on the cover of magazine, on first class flights and my very own Japanese boyfriend. Following in Aunty's footsteps. But, these are nice footsteps to be in, to be honest.

Even with all these monsters around, I feel untouchable. I feel loved. Just like she did. She built a life of love here, a life I was welcomed into with open arms. And only now I realized, when I got into NCU, the first person I called wasn't my Mom. It was my aunt.

I got to do better. I can't let my mom slip away like my dad.