XIX

I was rereading the first few chapters of this fanfiction and wow, I feel like they were terrible. This just starts off with them playing a practice match against each other after school. And I'm sorry it's been so long. But winter break is over and now I have math homework every night again. It sucks a lot. And honestly, I'm like Bokuto. If it's not exciting then I don't really want to do it. And in my opinion, this chapter is still leading up to the main point and it's not really exciting in the beginning. But what I want to do for the next chapter is 🤩

"Be here on time tomorrow and get enough sleep tonight. Understood?" Coach asked. Everyone exclaimed, "Yes, sir!" 

Their coach walked out of the gym, pausing once. "And don't stay here too late!! Isuma, make sure they leave soon."

"I will." Isuma nodded. Aran pulled on his jacket. "See you tomorrow; I need to get home fast."

"You're good." Kita nodded, glancing at Atsumu and Osamu, distracted. They were arguing with one another yet again; Isuma sighed and shook her head, stepping forward to break it up. "I got it, Isuma-chan." Kita stopped her from approaching Atsumu and Osamu, walking towards them himself. He had barely said anything before the two of them hastily stopped talking. Isuma started picking up all the balls scattered across the floor and tossed them into the cart. "Aren't you all nervous?"

Akagi and Suna glanced at her. "No, not really. We've been through this a lot."

Isuma didn't say anything else, but truthfully she felt terrified. What if she was wrong? What if they lost because of her reading the team wrong? She couldn't always be right, but what if they listened to her and she turned out to be wrong and-

"Suma-chan?"

Isuma looked up, breaking off her train of thought; Osamu was looking at her. "The volleyballs?"

"Oh, right. Sorry." She started to pull the volleyball cart into the closet. Atsumu and Ginjima began cleaning the gym floor with a flat mop, running back and forth. When Isuma came back, Suna looked at the others. "I'm getting back to the dorms. Isuma, make sure Atsumu and Osamu get here on time."

"I will, Rin-chan." Isuma glanced at her brothers, who seemed to have completely forgotten about their argument and were talking as they picked up their bags. Kita waited until everyone was out of the gym before flicking off the lights and locking the door. He tucked the keys into his pockets, turning towards the others. "Like Coach said, get some rest. If I hear that one of you stayed up late, you're not playing tomorrow."

Everyone hastily nodded. "We will!!"

Kita looked at Isuma. "Make sure your brothers sleep tonight."

"What is it with everyone thinking we need Suma to watch us?" Atsumu demanded. Ginjima answered, "Because she's much more trustworthy than either of you. And she can keep you in line."

"That's enough. Come on." Isuma motioned to her brothers. "See you tomorrow, Gin, Akagi-san... Kita Senpai."

She lowered her eyes when they reached him, but before Kita could say anything to her, Atsumu destroyed the moment perfectly by saying, "Samu, Suma, Gin, let's go."

Ginjima managed to hold back a long sigh at Atsumu's obliviousness. "We're going. Come on. See you, Senpai."

"See you." He and the other second-years waved before going in the other direction. Akagi turned towards Kita. "What do you think about tomorrow, Shinsuke?"

"I think we'll be okay." Kita looked over at Akagi as they walked. "They always do well. And this Inter-high... we have Isuma."

"...do you really have that much faith in her?" Akagi asked. Kita raised his eyebrows slightly. "You know her. Don't you?"

"Well... it's not that. I believe her too but... what if she's wrong? We can definitely manage, but what about Isuma? She'll beat herself up about it."

"What's your point, Akagi?" Kita asked although he was pretty sure of where he was going with it. "Shinsuke, is that what you really want? For her to face that? You of all people has to understand that pressure she might face..."

"I don't think she'll go through that," Kita replied. "She's right about this. I was watching Ameba High. I could see what she was pointing out, and they all made sense. And... maybe it'll help Isuma stop second-guessing herself."

Akagi shouldn't have been surprised that Kita had thought so far ahead, but he was. "Shinsuke... do you like Isuma-chan?" Akagi looked over at him. "What do you mean?"

"We all like her and everything- she's a really nice person and I'm friends with her- but you... you do more than even Suna and Ginjima, and they're her best friends. Why? Is it because..."Akagi trailed off. Kita pressed, "What?"

"Never mind." Akagi shook his head and then silently berated himself: for the second time he'd stopped himself- why didn't he just tell Kita already? Especially since he was sure Kita already knew.

The next morning, everyone was quiet, even Atsumu and Osamu. They barely talked as they sat on the gym floor, waiting. When the last person had arrived, their coach said, "Let's get to the bus. Come on."

Everyone picked up their bags and followed him outside. Their bus was right outside the gym and ready to go. They all sat down and, finally, Kita spoke. "We'll have half an hour before the official warm-ups when we get there, right?"

"Right. I suggest you all get some more rest right now." The bus rumbled to life; everyone seemed to be too hyped up to rest- with the exception of Isuma. Despite her anxiousness, she fell asleep within minutes of being on the road. Atsumu leaned over the aisle to Kita. "Hey, Senpai, are going to tell Isuma that all the members of the team are introduced before a game? "Suna looked over. "Even managers? They didn't do that back home."

"We haven't had a manager in a long time but I've seen other teams' managers be introduced here in Hyogo," Aran answered. Osamu frowned. "She's going to-"

"-be fine." Kita finished. "All he needs to do is bow when they say her name. Do you really not trust her to do that?"

"We do!!" Atsumu and Osamu exclaimed. Kita leaned back in his seat. "Good. We have more important things to think about than that- but, if it makes you feel better," he added, seeing their expressions. "I'll make sure she's close by during the introductions."

"Thanks." Atsumu visibly relaxed. "Although it'll already be too late. Half the guys in the gym are going to already have noticed her."

"Probably." Ginjima nodded.

Thirty minutes later, their bus stopped in front of the Kame City Gym. It's entrance was crowded, and people were pouring in from every direction. Osamu shook his sister awake as everyone grabbed their bags. "Suma-chan, we're here."

Her eyes fluttered open and it dawned on her what he'd said. "Oh..."

She swung her bag over her shoulder and stood up, pushing her hair back. The coach stepped out first, followed by Kita and the other third-years. Suna was holding two long, tall red flags emblazoned with their school name. Kurosu Sensei looked back at them. "Let's get going. "The crowd seemed to split for the team. "Inarizaki High!!" "Aren't they a powerhouse?" "I pity whoever has to play them first."

Isuma asked, "Do you have to deal with this every time?"

"Pretty much," Atsumu replied, looking around. Osamu cringed when he heard a girl's voice squeal, "Atsumu Senpai!! Osamu Senpai!!"

"I was wondering how long it'd be before that happened." Ginjima stifled a laugh. Both of them snapped, "Shut up, Hitoshi!"

They reached the doorway of the Gym and walked through: if possible, there were even more people inside. And this time they noticed the girl walking alongside them. Two people wearing Mailo jackets- a school Inarizaki had played before- saw her right away and didn't recognize her. "Who is she?"

Atsumu, Osamu, and Isuma looked back at the same time, and people scrambled back. It was enough. "She's a Miya."

Aran hit Osamu and Atsumu's shoulders. "Stop that. Save the intimidating for later."

They walked into the gym where they would have their game. It was slightly less crowded, and it was a familiar atmosphere. Isuma visibly relaxed when she heard the volleyballs and the squeaking shoes. "Well, let's get to it."

Two men came over to talk to Kurosu Sensei, and he stepped away. Kita turned towards the others. "Let's get started. Ours is the first game here so we can start a little early, but we need to set up too."

"Yes, sir!" They all headed towards the bench and started setting up. Finally, when they finished securing the net, Kita looked at the others. "Go change and then warm-up. Gin, stay behind. We'll go after them."

"Thanks." Everyone except Kita, Ginjima, and Isuma grabbed their bags and walked out of the gym. The bleachers were slowly filling up with people, but Ameba High hadn't arrived. Isuma was on the bench, looking through her notebook in silence, but Kita could tell she was just trying to distract herself. Her hand was trembling slightly, and she kept on giving herself paper-cuts from turning the pages too fast. Ginjima sat down next to her. "Why are you nervous, Isuma-chan?"

"I... don't know. I'm just thinking..." She trailed off. Kita finished, "'What if you're wrong?'"

Her eyes flicked up to him slightly. "Yeah. I know you and Coach and everybody thinks I'm right but the thing is... I don't know how I see all that. I just can. So what if I'm wrong? You don't know I'm right... you're just saying that to reassure me."

Kita's hand moved forward, but then he caught himself and let his hand drop. Ginjima said, "Isuma-chan, you need more faith in yourself. There's no point in worrying so much."

She didn't say anything; finally, Kita looked around the gym and bleachers. With the exception of Ginjima, he could talk to Isuma here without anyone listening. "Gin, go change. I need to talk to Isuma."

So I was just thinking about this but what do you all think about the fact that Yachi is actually neglected by her mother? I think that's so sad and it's ironic how Yachi's so cheerful and sweet when she's actually never experienced that herself? Also, we're almost at 18K. I'm trying not to jump up and down in my chair out of excitement; thank y'all🥰

Oh, and sorry for leaving you hanging there💖