When she woke up with nearly fifty notifications, Ai wasn't the least bit happy. Kuroo had added her to a group chat with him and Bokuto, and she couldn't escape the constant dinging of her phone. She dreaded checking her phone and seeing all of those notifications. Between the memes, the constant 'bros' and 'dudes', there were candid photos of teammates and random pictures of cats, Ai found no form of coherent conversation whatsoever.

She sighed and got up to wash her face and get ready for the day. She didn't hate school, but she didn't like it either. Some subjects were easy while others proved to be rather bothersome, but manageable nonetheless. She had never really struggled much during any of her classes, but she had never put effort into being the top of her class. Ai was the type of person blessed with brains and looks but usually just coasted by with little to no effort.

Her mother had left early, but there was rice, miso soup, and a fish left out at her place at the table. It made Ai smile a bit as she sat down to eat. The fish was still somewhat warm. She enjoyed being up early and taking her time getting ready. Sometimes if her mother hadn't already left, they would put on makeup together and eat and have time for conversations that they usually couldn't have as often. It was almost as if she lived alone sometimes. If there wasn't another bedroom, if her mother's slippers weren't by the door, if the air didn't smell like Daisy by Marc Jacobs in the morning, how would she know her mother was really there? Ai lost herself in these thoughts as she washed her dishes after breakfast. When that annoying knocking came from the other side of her front door.

"Ai-chan, you're gonna be late for school."

She rolled her eyes and dried her hands on a dishtowel. She thudded over to the door and shoved her shoes on her feet and grumbling as she gathered her bag and lunch. "Why do you care if I'm late anyways, Kuroo?" Ai glared at him, the usual greeting these days.

"I don't want to see you late to school," his smile annoyed her, as always, "besides, Kenma likes walking to school with you, don't you Kenma?" He called out to his friend, who was already walking to school. Kenma didn't bother looking up from his PSP.

"You have morning practice, why do you insist I walk with you?" Ai locked the door to her apartment. "I'm anything but late."

"Because it's fun." He said. "Your pleasant demeanor in the morning really gets me ready for the day."

"Oh cut the shit!" She cried. "It's too early, I end up having nothing to do at school!" She complained, putting her lunchbox in her school bag and heading down the steps. "We aren't even close to being late!"

"Well," Kuroo began, looking like he was actually giving it some thought for once, "you should watch us practice then!" He looked pleased at the prospect, that annoyed Ai. She pulled her hair up into a bun as she tried to catch up and meet Kenma's stride before he collided with a streetlamp. It was still hot and a little muggy feeling. The clouds overhead were grey and pregnant, threatening to let loose.

Ai rolled her eyes and regretted not grabbing an umbrella on her way out.Kuroo followed nonchalantly, whistling as he walked.

****

Ai ended up at the gym with them anyways. By the time the boys had gotten dressed, a painfully thick drizzle had begun. All eyes turned when she entered, spots of water seeping in through her summer uniform. She could hear the members of the volleyball club muttering. There was one bald man with a mohawk just... staring. "Who's that?" A boy with brown spiky hair inquired.

"This is Ai Ohno." Kuroo introduced proudly, patting her back a bit too hard. She shot a glare at him, if looks could kill, Kuroo would be vine.

"Ooh is she your girlfriend?" A tall boy with grey hair asked.

Kuroo smirked and Ai could hear that stupid tone in his voice, so she cut him off before he even finish what he was saying "She is-..."

"Kenma's friend," Ai announced, glaring coldly at Kuroo. Leaving Kuroo standing there dejected, she moved to a seat at the side. "Don't mind me, I'm just going to read a book." Ai settled down and pulled a copy of Shounen Jump that she had pilfered from Kuroo out of her school bag. She was honestly surprised he didn't notice her slinking her arm into his bag when he was walking, but that just proved Kuroo was, in fact, an idiot.

"Haha! Kuroo got rejected!"

"Shut up, Lev!"

****

Ai checked her makeup in the bathroom again. She thought it looked too cakey under her eyes. But that's because it was. Every night before she fell asleep, so close to that blissful realm between death and reality, that's when the notifications would start. She couldn't risk turning off her phone because of her alarm, but she didn't know how to mute the group chat. She could ask Kuroo, but she didn't trust him. Kenma would surely help her, but she could never find a good time. It was almost time for the lunch break. She had purposely asked to go to the bathroom in time to stand outside of Kenma's classroom. This way, she could get to him before he left for lunch. When the bell rang, she was already outside of the classroom door. She didn't wait for students to start funneling out of the classroom before she made a beeline to Kenma's desk. The pudding-haired second-year seemed mildly surprised at her visit.

"Kenma, please help me!" She clapped her hands together in prayer before explaining her situation.

Kenma nodded his head and she peered over his shoulder to watch how to mute a group text on her phone. She was just about to thank him when she got that annoying feeling run along the back of her neck again.

"Oi, Ai-chan, what are you doing with Kenma?" Kuroo asked. Even when standing he somehow made it look like he was leaning on something.

She rolled her eyes, maybe if she kept rolling them they'd get stuck and she would never have to see that stupid shit-eating grin again. "Nothing." She said sharply before turning on her heel to leave.

"Thank you, Kenma." She called out, "I'll buy you ice cream later."

She disappeared into the hallway and returned to her own classroom to eat lunch.

****

Kuroo: Dude that's not the point

Bokuto: karasuno's manager has big titties that's the point

Ai: could you please have this conversation on your own -.-

Bokuto: Hey Ai-chan!!!!!! AKAASHI IS HERE TOO!!! (one image attachment)

Ai scoffed at the blurry-looking picture of the mild-mannered boy. She wondered exactly why Akaashi put up with Bokuto in the first place.

Bokuto: Ai-chan what size titty is too big

Ai: I hardly think that is appropriate...

Kuroo: Bro you cant ask a girl that question

Bokuto: why not everyone loves a good titty

Ai: please stop saying titty.

Bokuto: mammaries, boobs, breasts, jugs, take your pick

Ai: breasts. And to answer your question Bokuto-san, breasts aren't all that important to me, other than the fact that i have them

Bokuto: good point

Kuroo: It's pointless explaining to you, isn't it?

Kuroo: anyway

Kuroo: Ai-chan! Why do you never answer my texts, is there another man i should be worried about!???

Bokuto: WHAT'S THIS? wHAT'S THIS?

Ai: Shut up, Kuroo. My love life or lack thereof is none of your business

Kuroo: Ai, my Ai, come back~ to me.

Ai: Disgusting -.-

Bokuto: dude you must have zero game

Kuroo: judging from the court i have more game than you

Bokuto: Oya what's this a challenge??!!!

Kuroo: youre on

Bokuto: ill wipe your face with the floor

Ai: ...

Ai: Don't you mean floor with his face?

Bokuto: that too! Good idea!

"Idiots," she muttered to herself before locking her phone and turning under the covers, "they're both fucking idiots."