𝐎𝐍𝐄. 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃
Something Special

THERE WAS A TIME IN WHICH Maiko Saito was special and glory surrounded her name like fireflies to open light. She was supposed to make her mark on this world, to make something out of herself to stand out among the others. There wasn't a time when people didn't look at her and just stare, it was almost as if she radiated energy that could only draw people in. Minako was almost considered the pinnacle of perfection: a pretty girl with an unbelievable talent that could take her to places she could only dream of. When she was 10 she was considered a prodigy after she landed her first axel within two months of practicing. Now at 16, she may be called a genius and for good reason, after all, she was thought to be one of the few hopeful youths to represent France in future winter Olympics. She gave up what normal sixteen-year girls would cherish for a dream she thought she could fulfill. Minako had the skills, the resources that would make her untouchable, and a partner who could take her there. But in a few years, she'll just be considered ordinary, and it'll only be a matter of months until she becomes just that.

      And what was supposed to be only a two-month break to heal from her injuries ended up lasting more than half a year. Now she's here to stay in the small town of Karasuno where the only ice rink was in the next town over and her skates now in the back of her closet where it has remained for the last three months. But Minako told herself that she only had to wait one more year until her brother graduates and then she'll go back to France and practice her ass off to make up for the time she's missed.

      Everything she's worked so hard for, all gone in the matter of a few minutes. Stupid minutes she'll never be able to take back. Minako remembers the fiery burn in her veins and the adrenaline kicking in in a way she's never experienced before. She thought it was simply the need to finish her jump, to not pop them for once and to see it through. But it was her body telling her that she wasn't ready, not when she wasn't thinking properly. It was as if Minako's mind forced her to block out the exact details, perhaps the trauma of it was too much for her to handle. All she could recall was the feeling of her body colliding against the ice, but it wasn't a familiar feeling. No, this time, it was different . . . it was painful and ugly and imperfect.

      Ever since then, all she's ever wanted since then is a second chance to redeem herself, to prove to everyone that she is far from broken and doesn't need any fixing. Because Minako is a genius, not someone who is capable of making mistakes, at least, not when it comes to skating. But days turned to weeks turned to months with no hope, whether it was because of her recovery body or her rehabilitation process or her own fear.

      Maybe everyone's wrong, maybe she isn't much of a genius anymore. There weren't any more tights or pretty bedazzled dresses in her life right now. She traded those in for a school uniform with the same basic prints and design as all the other girls in her school. Somewhere along the lines, she faded into the hallways of others. No one around to envy her, no one around to recognize the talent she possesses.

      A part of her can't seem to let go, a bitterness taking hold of her that made her rust rather than gleam. The only remainder of the ice was what encased her heart, this anger, and sadness that has nowhere else to go. Perhaps it was the realization that she was no longer special.

      Minako Saito is just . . . average.

      "Minako-chan, over here!" Kiyoko. The now second-year student tears her gaze away from the sidewalk to the entrance of the school where the other manager waited. Shimizu Kiyoko looked almost the same as she did a month ago, perhaps even better if that was even remotely possible. Still, the older girl smiled as a greeting before she waved.

      The younger girl gives a small smile before she waves in return. "Goodmorning. How was morning practice? Sorry I wasn't able to show up."

      Kiyoko shakes her head. "Not at all. I showed up in the last thirty minutes to help with clean up before I came up. It was just a practice for the third years' anyways. But it wasn't too bad. Your brother said you wanted to sleep in anyways."

      A lie, of course. But Minako doesn't tell her that, instead she nods along as she follows Kiyoko into the school. She didn't want to actually tell her that she had spent the entire morning stretching and practicing old jumps and ballet moves to familiarize her body. Kyoga didn't protest either when he entered her room to see Minako already up in her workout gear stretching her legs on the ballet barre. He didn't bother to ask her if he wanted to go to the morning practice with him, just simply closed her door and left her to stretch and practice for the next hour and a half.

      It was the first day of school meaning there was the entrance ceremony and all that follows such as meeting the homeroom teachers and going to class, and afterward were the shit show that follows: club recruitment. This school year was going to be the first time she participated in recruiting first-years to join the team, she was lucky enough that she didn't have to go through all the upperclassmen hounding her to join their clubs. Then again, she didn't expect to join the volleyball club either, much less as a manager rather than a player. Still, at least she had an excuse to decline all the other offers.

      Walking with Kiyoko was almost as if she was walking around naked. All eyes were on her, or rather the pretty third-year manager who captured the attention of all their peers. Minako couldn't blame them, after all, when a natural beauty like Kiyoko is around people can't help but stare in awe. There was a time when Minako used to be looked at like that, having people fawn and gaze at her as if she was some sort of goddess. But even then, she couldn't compare to Kiyoko, not without makeup and some skimpy ice skating costume to follow.

      "I heard that a lot of clubs want to recruit you, especially since you weren't here for the start of the last school year," Kiyoko tells her matter-of-factly as they reached the shoe locker. Minako snorted in response, not bothering to humor Shimizu's idea any further. "Are you planning on joining?"

      "Of course not. Being a manager is so much easier, I don't actually have to participate in anything," Minako mutters under her breath, slightly annoyed with the fact that people don't seem to take 'no' for an answer. She lacked school spirit — in her defense she was homeschooled and the only club she was in was some kind of online poetry club — and she hated half-assing in anything so there was no point in joining anything that required her full effort. "Plus, the principal barely allowed me to join the volleyball club, especially since it was last minute."

      "I don't think I would've been able to handle them without you," Kiyoko giggles before she glances back at Minako. "They started listening to you rather quickly."

      "Yeah, but that's also because Ryu knows if he even tries anything I'll hit him upside the head," Minako cooly replies before she slung her bag back over her shoulder. She sighs as she thinks about her 'friend' and the reminder that they are in the same homeroom. "If I have to sit with him one more time, I honestly think I'm going to kill him."

      "That bad?"

      "You're not the one who has to deal with his snoring in class. And do you know how annoying it is for him to always ask me, 'Hey, Minako, what were you and Kiyoko-san talking about yesterday? Was it about me?'" Kiyoko bit back her smile at the irritated expression on Minako's face as the two walked through the school to make their way to the staircase. Despite the number of times Minako has complained about Tanaka, everyone could tell that they were close friends. After all, Minako wouldn't bother spending her lunchtime with the other second-years if it wasn't true.

      In the beginning, Minako almost seemed closed off, impossible to approach. Even though it was clear from when she first transferred that she wasn't going to be a manager or anything else to the team, Kiyoko wanted to at least make her feel comfortable. After all, she was the only other girl that was around the guys — mainly because Kyoga didn't want her to walk home alone and insisted that she waited until his practice ended — and had just recently moved back to their town. But for the first two months, she refused their invitations for hangouts or lunch. It wasn't even just them, but anybody else. It was as if Minako was hellbent on not making any friends like Kyoga was the only one she needed around. For the other third-years, it was hard to see Kyoga, especially since his younger sister didn't seem comfortable around them just yet. However, they understood that Kyoga needed to be there for Minako, even if they couldn't see it, they knew something was off with Minako.

      Surprisingly, it was Tanaka and Nishinoya that helped her open up to them. While their intentions were well-intended, it seemed as if Minako wasn't all that pleased with the idea of them forcing both her and Kyoga to go with them to eat dinner after one of their practices. It was even a worse idea when the two chattered nonstop to her, almost excluding Kyoga — may have honestly been a part of their plan if they're being honest — and trying to get her to join their conversations.

      It wasn't a surprise to anyone when Minako's first response was to snap at them. Anyone in their right mind would've backed off or stopped trying. But it only fired Noya and Tanaka up, the two took to harmless teasing after realizing that their little shots and brotherly-like insults forced Minako to actually respond back. Sooner or later, it was as if Noya and Tanaka and the rest of the second-years became brothers to Minako with bickering as their past time. Perhaps a nontraditional way to get someone to open up, but it worked, and it wasn't long until Minako was able to talk with the rest of them.

      "I'll see you during lunch," Kiyoko told Minako once they reached the second floor. She took out the stack of flyers and signup sheets from her bag before handing them to Minako. "We'll meet on the first floor, you can take the left corridor and I'll take the right."

      Minako snorted at the drawings for their flyers. While Kiyoko is both beauty and brains, art is not one of her fortes. Still, it was partly her fault for not helping the older girl out. While she feels bad for lying to Kiyoko about not being able to help plan their recruitment process, she spent almost all of her spring break practicing her flexibility and jumps in their background. Even though she hasn't been on the ice in months, she couldn't sit around and do nothing.

      "I'll see you then," Minako promised as she started walking backward in the direction of her new classroom. She returned Kiyoko's wave and watched as the older manager walked up the next flight of stairs, but it wasn't long until her back met a hard surface. "Fuck!"

      She turned around only to meet the excited eyes of Tanaka who looked as though he was going to jump off the walls. "Was that Kiyoko-san? How is she? Does she look as beautiful as she did this morning? Did you talk about me? How is — "

      "Ryu, you're being annoying again," Minako mumbled before she tapped the side of his head with the papers. Tanaka didn't even mind as he was already used to Minako's 'cold' behavior.

      Tanaka mocked and imitated her voice in a ridiculously high pitch as he followed Minako into their new classroom. He rested his head against his hands before he took his seat next to Minako's desk. "Heads up, I heard someone from the soccer team's planning on talking to you during lunch. I'd stop him, as usual, but I don't want to get in trouble on the first day of school. Plus, I have to meet with Daichi and Suga."

      Minako gathered the papers together before she tapped them against her desk to get them in one neat pile. "Doesn't matter, you know I'm going to say no anyways. I'm sure he already knows that too so I don't even know why he bothers trying. Besides, do I look like someone who wants a boyfriend?"

      "I don't know," answered Tanaka before he placed his head down onto the table, almost as if he was getting ready to fall asleep, even if homeroom was about to start in a few minutes. "Besides, you're way too picky to actually want to choose someone. He'll just be like all the other guys you reject. At this point, Kyoga doesn't even need Noya and me to scare them off for you, you already do that on your own."

      She doesn't bother to reply back, after all, he was right. She's pretty and she knows it, and no, it's not out of conceitedness but it was a simple truth. Her father was born out of attention and spotlight, it was only natural for her to be the same as him. All that glory passed down to her, it was almost as if Minako was forged to be the image of beauty and the personification of elegance. They didn't want her because of her personality, they wanted her because they wanted something to show off, something to prove to others that they were top class as well.

      But they're not. They'll never be like her: perfect and elegant. It was impossible. There was only one other person who Minako thought matched her perfectly and that one person had shattered this glass wall of beauty she had put up just for the sake of his own. She had spent so long staring at herself in the mirror, she never realized that he was slowly dropping it in front of her.

      Somehow, he was right. She wasn't special. Maybe she never was.

MINAKO LIKED THE ATTENTION that was given to her. In a way, it was almost as if they were praising her because she was special enough to garner their eyes even for just a second longer than allowed to. When she was skating it was all she could think about, ways she could capture the audience and have them focus solely on her. It was complimenting to her, to think that she was enough to have them look at her. Whether it was because of the fancy jumps or the elegantly made dresses or even if it's something as simple as her face, it was all she wanted. Minako felt like a princess in those books her mother used to read to her as a kid or the ones from the movies she used to force Kyoga to watch with her. All Minako could think about when all the attention is on her is that she felt beautiful and that she deserved it all.

      But this wasn't the same. The eyes that follow her and Kiyoko as they walk through the hallways of the first-years weren't the same as the ones from the audience. They disgusted her, made her feel filthy rather than pretty because they saw her as their equal when in reality, she was far beyond them. She wasn't meant to be here, so easily observed, so freely available when she was always meant to be untouched.

      "I don't think we'll be able to get anymore, Minako-chan," Kiyoko says as they neared the corner. Minako didn't blame her for giving up so early if people wanted to join the volleyball club they would've sought them out.

      According to her brother, their team has gotten a decline in members and it was obvious as to why. It was a well-known fact that they weren't as good as they used to be. Hell, Minako wanted to punch the faces of teams from other schools who practically reminds them of that by throwing it to their faces. But there was no denying the truth.

      Her brother was oddly optimistic about their school along with the other third-years. As much as Minako tries to understand her brother's decisions, not all of them made sense to her. From what her mother told her, Kyoga is one of the best middle blockers in their prefecture, perhaps not as well known but his skills were beyond everyone's expectations. For him to choose a school like Karasuno was almost puzzling. For as long as she could remember, they were told to strive for the very best, to do whatever it takes for them to get to the top and that meant choosing the right schools, the right players, and the right coaches.

      Kyoga wasn't like her and maybe that was a good thing. Could explain why he was considered the nicer sibling — second to him was Yua of course who others saw as a complete angel.

      In the corner of her eye, Minako spotted her brother's teammates who were in the middle of the hallway trying to convince some poor first-year to join the volleyball team. It wasn't long until the kid scampered away, fearful of the look on Tanaka's face. She couldn't blame him, Tanaka wasn't exactly known for being subtle nor was he making it easier by insisting that the guy would be lucky to have them as their upperclassmen. His intentions were well-intended, just not executed properly.

      Though Minako couldn't blame him for at least trying. Out of all the current members on the team, the ones who'd probably have the most success in recruiting new players were Suga, Ennoshita, and Kyoga — the last one was iffy because if it was only Kyoga doing the job they'd have more female managers than players.

      But her brother was nowhere in sight and she knew that he was probably spending time with his girlfriend, Yori, then helping out. Not that it was his fault, knowing his brother's villainess of a girlfriend she's probably guilted him in spending lunch with her instead of helping them out. Still, she doesn't think much of it, after all, she was the prized and beloved baby sister meaning she trumped the girlfriend in almost every sense. It wasn't to say that Minako was possessive of her brother, but that she can't handle demanding and dependent individuals like Yori Ajibana.

      Even now as classes have ended and all the clubs were trying their last hand at recruiting students, she hasn't seen Kyoga at all. Probably not since the morning when he dropped by her room. She didn't mind though, she spent the beginning of her lunch with Kiyoko before spending the rest of it with Tanaka and the other second-years. If it wasn't for Ennoshita and his ability to stop Tanaka from getting into trouble, she probably would've ended up eating in solitude next to the gym.

      Somehow along the lines, Kyoga's friends became hers. In a way, it was as if she had gained more pesky brothers then she had originally asked for.

      "Shimizu, Minako-chan!" Suga called over as he waved at the managers. Minako returned his greeting as they walked over to where Daichi, Suga, and Tanaka stood. The others were probably on their way to the clubroom to get ready for practice. "How's recruiting going?"

      "Well, if you want the truth, I've had more boys ask me out than wanting a signup sheet," Minako mentioned as they stopped in front of the boys.

      "Maybe if we tell them that the perk of joining the club is seeing you around then they'll join. Then again, I'd quit the minute I'd find out that you're such a maneater," Suga teased which earned a huff from Minako. Still, the setter didn't hesitate to flick her forehead, "Careful, you'll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that."

      "These are our current applicants," Shimuzu says to Daichi before she hands over the collected signup sheets she and Minako had received from lunch and the last hour.

      "Thanks," Daichi replied to the two of them with a smile before his eyes scanned the number of applicants. He sighed, "We didn't get that many. I know we used to get more."

      "We'll get more soon, Daichi!" Suga reassured.

      Tanaka suddenly leaned forward with flushed cheeks. "Kiyoko-san, you look so beautiful today!"

      Kiyoko says nothing in response, but turned around and started walking away, possibly to get her bag before she changes for practice. Suga bit back his laughter as Tanaka hugged himself to contain his excitement from seeing her. "I love it when she ignores me!"

      "Subtle. Very subtle," Minako laughed at the shutdown Tanaka had received. She patted his back as if she was sympathetic, but when they both knew it was her mocking him. "But hey, I'm proud of you for not crying over her like you usually do! Good job, Ryu!"

      "Shut up! I wouldn't cry over her!"

      "You smile when she rolls her eyes at you. I'm pretty sure you'd cry over her." Tanaka grumbled under his breath as Minako stuck her tongue out at him. Suga didn't even try to intervene in their petty conversation knowing that the two tended to have small bickers like that. In a way, Minako was like Tanaka's second sister, only younger and brattier. Then again, Minako had also, in some ways, became his sister as well.

      Daichi finally looked up and gave her a small smile like he always did when he saw her. She had changed subtly since the last week or so when he saw her. He couldn't blame her for not being around, after all, she only asked to be a manager so she could stick around and watch Kyoga. Her hair was a few inches shorter than last time, no longer tickling her rib cage, but resting comfortably below her shoulders and curled at the ends. But not much has changed, her smile was still small and hesitant as if the idea of her showing any more emotion would make her less tough than she already is. The smaller things haven't changed as well. Like the fact that she's still the pretty girl-next-door the boys at their school still fawn over.

      Ever since Kyoga wheeled her in on her first day of school, Minako also became his obligation because of the friendship he had with her older brother. That meant checking in on her during their breaks at practice, making sure she wasn't too bored or moody, seeing if she's adjusting well in class — Tanaka wasn't happy at the idea of having to watch over her —, and even going as far as to try to have her play with them every once in a while. Daichi knew what it felt like to feel as if the world was against you, to feel as if the loss was meant to be intertwined in your story. He didn't want that for her.

      He found himself checking up on her. In some regards, perhaps it was because he wanted to lessen the burden on Kyoga who has already suffered a lot since January. Still, it wasn't exactly easy to do any of that. He wasn't Shimizu or Tanaka or Noya or any of the other second-years, those were the people besides Kyoga that she'd actually bring herself to talk to. Suga always teased Daichi on how stiff and awkward he was when it came to trying to start a conversation with Minako.

      "How was your spring break, Minako-san?" Suga stifled his snort as he and Tanaka both turned around to avoid watching the awkward conversation. The two already knew of their captain's intentions of trying to make their friend's younger sister more comfortable around them, but it was only Daichi who hadn't realized how painfully awkward he is when it came to talking to a girl like Minako.

      The second-year manager only arched her eyebrows in amusement as she tilted her head. "It was hot and I was taking care of Yua."

      "That sounds . . . fun." He's not even trying at this point, Suga thought to himself as he bit down on his lower lip to prevent himself from laughing.

      Minako herself couldn't fight back the smile on her face at Daichi's awkwardness. She was used to it and simply saw it as her big brother's best friend's attempt at being natural around her, to make her feel welcomed. But in a way, it was almost daunting to know that she hasn't done that well of a job at pretending, that Daichi was able to see through the fact that she still wasn't fully okay. Perhaps he doesn't even realize it himself, but his consistent checkups on her made her feel as though he did.

      "If you think changing diapers is fun then sure." Minako's smile fell as she soon spotted Yori on the other side of the hallway. Kyoga was nowhere in sight and Minako could only think that her brother finally got himself free from her and was on his way to the gym for practice.

      She was anything but a clingy sister, after all, she and Kyoga had an amicable brother-sister tag team type of relationship even with the two of them living in different countries. Her brother was what other girls called a 'charmer,' a pretty boy with manners and respect that resembled the ones they used to see in old French soap operas. She's seen many girlfriends come and go, some leaving Kyoga because he wasn't much of the "bad boy jock" fantasy they created in his head and many not being able to handle Kyoga's obligations and love for volleyball.

      But none of them pissed Minako off as Yori Ajibana did with her sugar-coated lies and flirtatious nature.

      Suga's eyes followed hers and realized what had made Minako so tense. It was obvious that Minako didn't like Kyoga's new girlfriend and he couldn't exactly blame her. Still, he not in either position to take sides, especially when Kyoga himself is oblivious to Minako's distaste towards Yori.

      "Minako-chan, why don't you go get ready for practice?" Suga suggested, hoping that she'll take his suggestion and leave before Yori or her causes a scene.

      To his surprise, Minako nodded slowly, but her eyes never left Yori. But for a brief moment, she returned her focus back on to Daichi. "I'll be in the gym in an hour or so. I need to pick up some things for class and then I'll head on over."

      "Alright, sounds good. But if you need anything I can send over Ennoshita or Narita to help you," Daichi offered, sounding more like an older brother than a worried friend.

      "I've lived here for almost a year now, Daichi," Minako stated with a smirk. She waved goodbye as she began to walk backward, "Besides, it's not like I'm dying to head over to practice or anything."

      Daichi tsked at her words, but said nothing and can only watch as Minako heads back up to the second floor to get her stuff. He didn't ignore the other boys around who stared and watched as she did so. It wasn't a secret that Minako had gotten attention, especially with the fact that she was half-Japanese in a small town like Karasuno, it only made the other boys so much more attracted to her. In a way, a lot of the people in this town treated her and her family as if they were exotic creatures when really, Kyoga was more Japanese than European.

      Minako wasn't oblivious to all the attention she was getting. But unlike most girls, she didn't bat an eye over it much like Kiyoko. Kyoga didn't have to worry about her getting hurt if anything she was doing most of the heartbreak anyways. But the more she rejected them, the more others come to see for themselves, their curiosity getting the best of them as they try to study Minako and all that she is, only to grow infatuated and become like the others who had warned them before.

      She was special and bitterly painful way.

      Suga placed his hand onto Daichi's shoulder. "What are you, her keeper? C'mon, we should head on to the gym and get ready for practice."

      Daichi said nothing in response as they head down to the gym. Minako didn't exactly need a boyfriend, she was far more capable of taking care of herself than anyone else. Perhaps the ones who profess to her realized it themselves as they look her in the eyes: the distrust and emotionless void that was left behind.

      Only people who have been betrayed could be so independent.

A/N;

Ah, this took me forever to finish, but it's finally done! I was in between taking notes and studying for two different exams, but I'm finally done with this!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and the relationship Minako has with some of the team! Especially Tanaka and Shimizu, aka her besties 😔✊

I'm sorry if this chapter seemed very word and detail-heavy, I tried not to make it like that and make it more interesting, but the first chapters are always difficult to write for me!

Much Love Guys.

( written: april 11, 2020 )
( published: april 11, 2020 )