𝐂𝐇. 𝟏𝟑

⋅. ˚₊ ‧  𐙚  ‧ ₊ ˚  ⋅

The gym is buzzing.

Final pre-scrimmage practice is in full swing, the team laser-focused, everything tightened and sharp. You can feel it—the anticipation, the nervous energy, the unspoken rivalry about to walk through the doors.

Even Oikawa hasn't said anything in—wait, let me check—seven minutes.

New record.

⸻

I hand him a clipboard with rotation notes. "Your tosses in Drill C are .3 seconds off. Clean it up."

He glances at the paper, then at me. "Wow. You really know what you're doing."

I pause, suspicious. "Is that a real compliment?"

He shrugs. "Maybe."

I raise an eyebrow. "Are you feeling okay?"

He smirks. "Just because I flirt doesn't mean I don't notice you're good at this."

...Oh no.

Was that—

An actual moment?

"Nope. Don't do that," I say immediately, shaking it off.

"Do what?"

"Be normal."

He grins. "You like it when I'm annoying, huh?"

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop the little laugh that slips out.

Mistake.

Big mistake.

Because now he's smiling like he just won something.

The double doors slam open.

"YO! KARASUNO'S HERE!" Hanamaki yells from across the gym.

Everyone halts.

Oikawa cracks his neck. "Time to destroy some crows."

Coach Nobuteru tells everyone to line up to greet them. I hang back by the water station, restocking bottles.

Then I hear it.

"IS THAT A GIRL MANAGER FOR AOBA JOHSAI?!"

I blink. Slowly turn around.

Two boys are SPRINTING toward me like I'm some kind of shiny collectible.

"YOURE A BABE!""YOU'RE SO HOT OH MY GOD."

They skid to a stop in front of me, grinning like absolute idiots.

I stare.

Then chuckle. "Why, thank you."

Behind me, I hear an explosion of dramatic betrayal.

"WHAT?! HOW ARE YOU SAYING THANK YOU TO THEM BUT YELL AT ME, MANAGER-CHAN?!"

I don't even turn around.

"BECAUSE YOU'RE ANNOYING, OIKAWA!"

Matsukawa chokes on his water. Hanamaki howls. Iwaizumi facepalms.

Tanaka and Nishinoya fist bump.

"I love her," Noya whispers.

"Same," Tanaka nods.

Daichi walks up with his team trailing behind him. "Sorry about those two," he says, jerking a thumb at the chaos twins. "They do that."

"It's fine. I'm used to worse," I say, glancing at Oikawa, who's still seething dramatically behind Iwaizumi.

He glares at me like I just cheated on him.

Daichi introduces everyone: Sugawara, Asahi, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, Kiyoko, Yachi, Hinata, and—

"Kageyama," Daichi finishes, gesturing.

My brain pings.

Right. Him.

⸻

After everyone stretches out, I see my chance.

Kageyama and Hinata are warming up, just a little separated from the crowd.

I slide into their space casually.

"Target acquired, boss," I mutter to no one.

They look up.

"Uh... hi?" Kageyama says warily.

Hinata beams. "OH, YOU'RE AOBA JOHSAI'S MANAGER, RIGHT? You're really pretty!!"

I smile. "Hi, Kageyama. And yes I am. Also—thank you, Hinata."

Hinata grins.

Kageyama just blinks at me, confused. "Why are you talking to us?"

I lean in a little, lowering my voice. "Kageyama, you and Oikawa are... not on great terms, right?"

His brow furrows. "Uh. Yeah? I guess? Why?"

I smirk.

"Wanna make him mad?"

Kageyama actually blinks in intrigue.

"Go on."

I grin. "We bond. We chat. We team up. He flirts with me all the time, but I usually yell or ignore him. Drives him nuts. So let's double it."

Kageyama crosses his arms, considering. "You wanna fake-bond with me... to mess with Oikawa?"

"Exactly."

A long pause.

Then he smirks. Smirks. "Okay. I'm in."

He holds out his hand. I shake it.

"Pleasure doing business," I say.

I walk off to talk to Kiyoko and Yachi. They're sweet, gorgeous, polite.

I immediately think: They're so pretty. Definitely would kiss.(Honestly, who wouldn't?)

We start chatting about team coordination stuff when I feel the stare.

I glance back.

Oikawa's watching me like I just kicked his childhood dog and made a blood pact with Satan.

I smile sweetly.

He looks personally attacked.

Perfect.

Karasuno's here.Kageyama's on my side.Oikawa is spiraling.And practice hasn't even started yet.

I smirk to myself.

"This will be fun."