XVII

So someone commented about this, and I wanna ask... what do you think about them all after the time-skip? I'm definitely going to write a time-skip, but what do you think is going to happen? (It's a ship someone may or may not have mentioned in the comments.) Also Happy Birthday to Daichi-san!!!

"Our first opponent is Ameba High. It's a public school down south."

For the afternoon, everyone was in a classroom in the main building to be briefed on their first match. They were randomly sitting in chairs and listening to Kurosu Sensei attentively, even Isuma. He was motioning to a screen behind him, occasionally walking up to his computer to change the slide. Kita, Suna, Omini, and Isuma were close to the front, rapt at attention. The others were scattered in the middle and back of the room. Atsumu and Osamu sat directly behind their sister, who was in between Kita and Suna. "Have we ever played them before? I've never heard of the school."

"They're a team that specializes in offense. Their spikers are amazing and powerful, and their serves are nothing less. They usually finish in the top eight every year." Kurosu Sensei paused. "As for the individual players, we don't know much. Inarizaki hasn't played them in years. Atsumu?"

Everyone looked at him as he lowered his hand. "Suma-chan, can't you just watch a video of one of their matches and tell us everything about them?"

This time they all looked at her. "I don't know. Maybe a little. I don't think it'll work as well if it's just a video though."

Kurosu Sensei switched to another slide. "I was going to show you all this anyway. Ready?"Kita and Akagi looked over at Isuma. "Yes."

He pressed play, and the video started. Everybody watched it with interest, but Kita could see right away that it wasn't working. Isuma's eyes didn't have the same sparkle she usually had while watching someone play volleyball. "Isuma-chan."

"I can't- I can't see anything." Isuma shook her head. Kursosu Sensei looked over but didn't say anything. Isuma's gaze fell to the table. "I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't be; it's not your fault," Kita answered, his eyes locked on the screen. "We'll just have to think of another way."

Suna glanced at him as Isuma asked, "...how?"

"If you want to, we could go see them play. It shouldn't be too hard to find them someplace." Kita replied. Isuma laced her fingers together. "...if you really think I can help you, then sure. I'll go."

Suna murmured, "But will they just let us watch them play? They definitely know we're playing against them. We can't just all go to their school and watch them play."

"No, we can't. It's not against the rules or anything but... I'll think of something." Kita returned his attention to the video. Isuma and Suna exchanged glances. Suna's eyes sent her a silent message: he'll probably explain later. Let's leave him alone for now.

Isuma nodded once before turning back to the screen.

Atsumu and Osamu had witnessed Kita and Isuma's exchange. Atsumu leaned over to his brother. "What'd I tell you?"

"Tsumu!" Osamu's voice dropped. "Them talking doesn't mean anything! And, well..."

He trailed off. Atsumu prompted, "'And, well' what?"

Osamu looked down at his hands. "He's... he's really one of the only people I trust around Suma-chan. Don't you agree?"

Atsumu blinked, then hit his brother on the back of his head. "Oi, stop thinking so far ahead."

"Hey! I'm just being realistic! And we don't know anything for sure. Stop thinking so hard." Osamu seemed to realize what he'd been considering and put his head in his hands. "Forget I said anything, okay?"

"I'm trying to," Atsumu assured. Osamu lifted his head a little. "And don't ask Isuma about it! She doesn't need to be bothered with this kind of thing."

"Fine."

<<The Next Morning>>

"I don't see why you two wake up so early for volleyball." Isuma rubbed her eyes. "I'm so tired."

"Well, we tell you to stay behind and come later, but you never listen." Atsumu protested. Isuma replied, "I might as well come if you're going. I don't like walking alone."

Osamu pushed open the gym door: Kita and Suna were already inside, and the net had been set up. Suna looked over when they entered. "Ameba High is having a practice match this afternoon."

"A practice match? This late?" Atsumu was surprised. Kita answered, "It's with a school near theirs. The two schools are good friends and practice together at least three times a month."

"Did you get permission? We can't just show up, can we?" Osamu asked. Kita replied, "Sensei asked their coach, and he agreed."

"So, are we going?" Atsumu asked. "I want to check them out too!"

Someone put their hands on the brothers' shoulders from behind. "You and Osamu can't go, or else Kita Senpai and Isuma-chan won't get any work done."

Ginjima pulled back his hands; he and Akagi had entered the gym just in time to hear Atsumu. "Hey!" Osamu protested. "It's Atsumu's fangirls that-"

"Oi, you have annoying fans too!!" Atsumu snapped. "And it's not my fault!"

Isuma pushed the two of them away from each other. "Stop it! Why are you two always at each other's throats?"

"It's his fault!" They exclaimed in unison, pointing at each other. Isuma raised her eyebrows doubtfully before turning to Kita and Suna. "Who's going, then?"

Suna, Akagi, and Ginjima had been stunned by her scolding of her brothers and couldn't speak for a few seconds. Kita replied, "Just me. Atsumu and Osamu are too well-known, so that cancels them out. Neither can Suna; everyone knows him pretty well. Aran stands out too much- and he's our ace- and Ginjima and Akagi are both busy this afternoon."

Atsumu blinked. "You? But you're our captain; don't you think they'll recognize you?"

"I'm not a starter and I've almost never played on the court. I doubt they'll recognize me." Kita's tone didn't give anything away at all, but they all knew what he was thinking about. Osamu finally broke the silence. "Suma-chan, are you good with it?"

"...yeah." She looked the slightest bit anxious but managed a small smile. "I'll go."

"Bring back a ton of pictures! I want to see how they play up close! Especially their setter." Atsumu exclaimed. Osamu nodded. "Me too. And their wing spikers."

Akagi added, "And their libero and middle blockers."

"She gets it." Suna pulled his jacket off as Kita glanced at the others. "Get warmed up and do a dozen serves each. We don't have much time."

"You got it." Atsumu and Osamu balled up their jackets and threw them aside. Suna looked at Isuma. "Can you do that ball-thing again? I want to practice my receives."

"Sure." Isuma pulled her hair back and followed Suna to the other side of the court. Kita started talking to Akagi, but his eyes were locked on Suna and Isuma. She did an underhand serve easily, but Akagi could tell she was distracted and nervous. The ball swerved wildly and landed out of bounds. "Sorry, Suna!"

"It's fine. Try again." He nodded and got ready. This time the serve sailed over the next perfectly, forcing Suna to practically dive to receive it.

"Akagi?"

He turned back: Kita was staring at him. "Sorry, Kita. I just thought Isuma-chan looked a little distracted."

"...what's she distracted about?" Kita asked, following his gaze. Akagi bit back a sharp retort. "About you, Kita. You're going with her someplace. And she-" he stopped himself just in time. Kita glanced at him. "And she what?" 

"Never mind. I better go warm up." Akagi went to join Osamu, Atsumu, and Ginjima.

Kita knew what Akagi was trying to say... he just didn't know how he felt about it.

<<Skip to After School>> 

Isuma didn't seem to be nervous at all throughout the day, but after school, a few minutes before she and Kita were supposed to leave, she asked, "Will there be a lot of people there?"

Suna shrugged. "It's a practice match; not many people show up to those."

"We'll stay away from crowds. Let's go, Isuma-chan." Kita motioned to the gym door. Atsumu whispered something in Kita's ear softly, and Kita smiled slightly. "If I have to. Come on."

On the bus, Isuma was completely silent, but Kita could tell she was anxious. Her eyes darted back and forth, looking at the dozens of people around them. The gazes of the two teenage boys sitting across from them made her uneasy. Kita finally said, "Just a few more minutes."

Isuma looked at him briefly. "Yeah. Thanks."

"I would've thought you'd be used to this. You go to school every day, don't you? How is this any different?" Kita asked. Isuma noticed the boys eyeing her again and her voice dropped. "...I don't know. Maybe because this is a new place. I hope the practice match won't have as many people watching."

The gym was crowded for a practice match. When the sounds of people yelling filtered through the door, Isuma froze in the hallway. Kita stopped next to her. "Isuma-chan."

She didn't say anything: her eyes were locked on the door in front of them, and she took a small step back. Her eyes were wavering and her hands were trembling. "I-"

Kita reached out and took her hand, squeezing it briefly. Isuma looked at him, her cheeks a faint pink. "Isuma, it's fine. I'm here with you. We'll stay away from people, okay?" Kita stared at her until she nodded slightly. "...okay."

"Good. Come on." Kita smiled before letting her hand drop and pushing open the door. Isuma's cheeks still felt warm, and her right hand tingled slightly. She hesitantly stepped inside the gym, Kita half a step behind her. The gym didn't have any bleachers, but there were people on the small path that wrapped around the gym's second floor. Kita put his hands on the rail, leaning forward to watch the game. "Can you see fine, Isuma?"

"Yeah. Who do we start with?" Isuma came to stand beside him. Kita motioned to one of the players on the court. "Him. He's their captain; Dako Lin."

Isuma's eyes focused on him and almost instantly, she started talking. Kita wrote down everything she said without a flicker of doubt. They managed to get through all the players playing before the second set was over. "Should we leave now?" Isuma asked, looking over at Kita.

"Not yet. I want to meet their captain." He handed her back her notebook and smiled. "Great job, Isuma."

She immediately looked down, avoiding his gaze. "...thanks. Do I have to talk to them?"

"Probably not. And Atsumu gave me very specific instructions on what to do if someone tries and talks to you." Kita hid a smile as they climbed down the stairs to the gym floor. Isuma frowned. "Did he ask you to pummel the guy? If he-"

"No, not this time." Kita didn't add anything else; they reached the team in the yellow jerseys before Isuma could ask anything else. Their captain, Dako, looked at them. "Who're you?"

"Your coach invited us here." Kita unzipped his jacket, revealing their school's name, which was written on his shirt. Several of the players murmured in awe while Dako said, "Inarizaki High. Our first opponent. Are you their captain, Kita?"

He was slightly surprised they knew his name. "You... know me?"

"Of course they do," Isuma spoke up for the first time. Everyone looked at her as if just noticing her. "You're the captain of a powerhouse school. How could they not? And don't even try saying-" Kita had started to say something but he quickly fell silent. "-that it's because you're not a starter. That doesn't matter."

She glanced at the Ameba players as if telling them to agree. But almost every single one was frozen, their eyes locked on her. Finally, one of the second-years, Aida, stepped forward. "Stop looking her like that, you idiots. Sorry. Who're you?"

Kita had gotten over the shock of being actually lectured by Isuma and glanced at her. "I'm- their manager, I guess."

Aida repeated, "You guess? Either you are or you aren't."

"I..." Isuma fell silent, not knowing what to say. Kita stepped in for her. "She's my kohais' sister."

Dako glanced at her. "What year? And what's your name?"

Isuma finally looked up. "I'm a second-year. Miya Isuma."

Everyone on Ameba took a step back at the same time. "You're the Miyas' sister?!"

"...yes." Isuma nodded. Kita smiled slightly, remembering what Atsumu had told him: 'If anyone talks to her, just tell them she's a Miya. That's all.'

"It was nice meeting you. Isuma-chan, let's go." He motioned for her to follow him and then looked back at Dako. "We'll see you at the match. Good luck."

I admit, I mostly did this to have more Kita-Isuma interactions. But hey! they were doing something important, right?