Day 4

Mirae could not sleep that night. She tossed and turned, replaying the conversation she had with her sister and father.

Your mother was discharged from the hospital... I've talked to the lawyers... there is a good chance she will lose custody of you... You'll come here and live with us... sisters united... Sisters Ando... volleyball again... you'll be fine... don't worry about mom... we can be a family...

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was three in the morning. She would have to be up for practice in two and a half hours anyway. Mirae pushed the covers off her body and grabbed her gym clothes. She quickly changed and then left the room.

She wandered in the halls, stretching her legs and trying to shift her focus onto anything else. She pulled out her phone and logged into Instagram. She was scrolling through her feed when she noticed a message in her inbox.

Bokuto
Can't sleep?

Mirae
No :( you?

Bokuto
I'm tired but I have to study for an exam.

Mirae
I wish you good luck!
Make sure you get some rest

Bokuto
Thank you! I'm almost done. I want to ace it

Mirae
I'm sure you will

Bokuto
An-chan you really are the cutest thing alive!
Any reason you can't sleep?

Mirae
Just thinking

Bokuto
About...?

Mirae
There are some things happening at home right now

Bokuto
Will you be okay?

Mirae
I think so
Mind if I ask you a question?

Bokuto
Of course not! I'll help you in anyway I can An-Chan!

Mirae
How do you tell someone no?

Bokuto
Well
I usually just say it outright
But I make sure to tell them why
It's good to be honest especially in the long run

Mirae
What if the honesty ruins the relationship?

Bokuto
Depends on the relationship and what it means to you
For me, I would never want to be lied to no matter what. So I expect my friends to always be honest

Mirae
I want to be honest but if I say the truth then I know they'll leave me

Bokuto
An-chan it's okay to lean on other people
You have other friends who care for you
If this relationship is as important to them as it is to you, then they'll respect you for being honest and find a way to fix everything.

Mirae
It's just
I'm really scared

Bokuto
I'm going to ask a question

Mirae
That's fine

Bokuto
Does this honesty thing have to do with Su-chan?

Mirae
No

Bokuto
Then maybe you should talk to Su-chan!
She's your best friend and I know she cares about you
I'm too far to come myself but she lives within walking distance
Talk to her

Mirae
I think I will
But she's in Hyogo right now and I'm in Tokyo

Bokuto
What?!
Since when?
Why?
Are you meeting up with Akaashi?

Mirae
We're taking part in a Manager Convention for powerhouse volleyball teams
I think this overthinking and anxiety is also because I'm in an unfamiliar space

Bokuto
I'm sorry to hear this :( Just remember, it'll get better eventually. You're surrounded by friends and people who love you. You just have to wait

Mirae
You're right. Thanks :)

Bokuto
I'll tell Akaashi to visit you

Mirae
You don't have to bother him hahah
Plus, having my stuffed Owl helps

Bokuto
You took him with you?!

Mirae
I like snuggling him when I sleep

Bokuto
I'm glad he's taking care of you

Mirae
You should get some rest now.
Let me know how your exam goes- though I know you will ace it!

Bokuto
I mean, I am the Ace after all
Hahaha goodnight and sweet dreams!

"How long have you been here?"

Mirae looked up. Sakusa was staring down at her, a frown on his face. "Not long."

"You shouldn't sit here. It's dirty." He unlocked the gym doors and pushed them open. He glanced down and lightly tapped his foot against hers. "Come on."

He held the door open and they walked into the gymnasium. The lights flickered on. Both worked quickly and quietly to set up two volleyball nets, but when Mirae paused in the storage room doorway with a cart of volleyballs and the air pump, Sakusa shuffled closer.

"What does a Manager even do?"

She glanced up from the pressure reading tool. "Anything the team needs, really."

"Like what?"

"Well, setting up the equipment and cleaning afterwards, taking notes from games and practices for the whole team or individual players, scouting out competition, fundraising-"

"That doesn't make sense. The coaches take their own notes. The school has funds set aside for all teams. We take care of our own equipment." He paused and stood straighter. "Oh. Your job is basically to be an assistant."

"Managers are not assistants." She tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice. With her statement, confusion clouded his face again. She clenched her jaw. "We're not assistants to the coach. We do not do errands and not just anyone can be a manager."

"I'm not trying to offend you, but I still don't see the reason why a team would need a manager."

"There are plenty of reasons why a team would need a manager. Don't you think-"

"If I'm being honest, the Japanese Sports' Association should have dedicated that time and money to a more functional program."

"Wow," she scoffed. "I can't believe how self-"

"And if a manager is as important as you say they are," he reached for a volleyball and shrugged, "shouldn't you be back in Miyagi with the Karasuno team?"

"Yes but-"

"Nationals is only a few weeks away. If a manager is so important, shouldn't you be back with them?"

They turned around at the same time. He trudged to the backline, dropping the volleyball to the ground and then beginning his stretches. She walked to the bench on the other side of the gym.

The time on her phone read 5:57am. The Karasuno boys would be getting ready for practice too. She opened the good morning message from Shoji and replied with a smiling emoji.

Yachi was keeping her updated but she still felt like she was missing a lot. With nationals only a month away, she wanted to be there for the team. This opportunity though came once in a lifetime.

So let me get this straight, you stuck as a manager instead of joining the girls' team, and now you're going to Tokyo to manage Itachiyama? Mirae, no offence, do you have brain damage?

Her sister's voice was beginning to give her a headache. She swallowed her guilt and instead messaged a thanks to Yachi for the update.

"Good morning," Komori greeted as he entered the gym. "Oh, Mirae are you okay?"

"Hi. Yeah, I'm fine."

She wiped a tear off her cheek.

Today was a repetition of the days before. Glaring eyes, one-word answers, and seven-foot tall giants bodies walking into her. For the first time ever, Emiko was thankful for Mirae's mini care package that contained a skin cream for bruising.

She dropped on the bench beside Suna and grabbed his phone from his hands.

"Why?" he frowned. "I literally didn't do anything to you, Suzuki, why are you annoying me?"

"No, Rintaro, no. The real question is why does the team hate me?"

"The team doesn't hate you," Suna looked down at his fingers as he began to count. "Riseki doesn't hate you, Yukio likes you, the three first years smile at you, just down tell the Miyas that, and Ginjima is your friend."

"Wow," she blinked. "So out of a team of 20 guys, only 6 like me, and you didn't even include yourself in there."

"Yeah, but isn't that like 70%?"

"Oh God, you really are academically challenged. It's 30%."

"Shut up or I'll tell Osamu that you put your feet up on his chair the other day when he came into class late."

A look of horror crossed her face. "No."

"I have pictures."

"No!" Emiko reached for his phone, but Suna hit it against her forehead.

She rubbed it and glared. "If the team doesn't hate me then why is this happening to me?"

His brows furrowed. "What exactly is happening to you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Have you miraculously become blind and deaf these past few days? Or do you have selective hearing that numbs you of your senses when the Miyas come within spitting distance?"

"You're not making sense."

"Why did the team choose me to come here if they hate me?"

He stuffed his phone in the pocket of his pants. "Oh no, you got the wrong idea. We didn't ask for you. It was Atsumu's choice."

Emiko blinked. "I beg your pardon- what?"

"He wanted the smaller one which was you, apparently."

"Oi," Osamu drawled. He peered down and frowned. "There was a tiny blonde on yer team last year. We saw her at Nationals. Where's she?"

"Yachi?" Emiko's eyes widened. "You guys were going to do this to Yachi? No, hell no. You stay away from Yachi, she is pure and innocent and so naïve!" For effect, she stood up on the bench to match Osamu's height.

"Yeah, why isn't she here? She is the smaller one."

The Miya brothers glared and suddenly Emiko wondered if it were smart to stand on the bench where they could easily shove her and give her a concussion.

"You wanted to put Yachi through this torture? How- No! Yachi is a nervous wreck, she is a tiny ball of anxiety that is waiting to burst! She would not last a minute here; she'd wither away and die. She'd combust!"

"That's what we want," Atsumu grinned, "s'fun."

"Fun? You are a psychopath," she spat back.

Osamu grabbed Emiko by the collar of her shirt and leaned in.

"Osamu," Suna warned, watching with a bored expression on his face, "don't push her off. If she gets a bruise my mom'll ask questions."

"That's what you're worried about?" she squeaked, "You're a terrible, terrible person!"

"Ya haven't answered my question," Osamu cut in. "Why isn't the tiny one here?"

"She wasn't invited by the program!" Emiko nearly screamed when he kicked her leg to unbalance her.

Atsumu snorted. Suna cracked a grin.

"Why not? Our coach said we had a choice between the two of ya and the blonde thing is definitely smaller than ya."

"It was either me or Mirae and sorry to ruin your plans, you freaking demon psychopaths, but Mirae is not smaller than I am."

"Who the hell is Mirae?"

She grabbed Osamu's shoulders to steady herself. "Mirae is my best friend and I can promise you that when she finds out what you are doing to me, she will come down here and murder you all. She is crazy fast, superhumanly strong and insanely smart. She's Mirae Ando, ex-star setter and her fanbase alone will swallow you alive."

A pair of hands reached out and the next instant, Atsumu took his brother's place. He yanked her by the front of her shirt, so they were nose to nose.

"Do my threats mean nothing to you?!"

"Mirae Ando?"

"Hey, Rintaro?" Emiko glanced over, "is everyone going deaf? Is it contagious?"

"I'm not playin' Suzuki." He shook her again. "How the hell do ya know Mirae Ando and what is she doin' with the Crows?"

"I know Mirae Ando because she's my best friend. She's with the Crows because they are the best and they're going to defeat you again! She will not allow you to eat Karasuno alive!"

Atsumu stepped back, a look of horror on his face.

"Hey, Atsumu, what's wrong?"

"Yer telling me," he swallowed visibly, "we coulda had Mirae Ando but instead we got stuck with this?" he gestured to all of Emiko.

She blinked. "Oh no, really, I'm fine, my feelings don't exist. Don't worry about it, keep going and don't sugar coat anything."

"Mirae Ando, huh?" Osamu glanced up at the ceiling. "Star setter who won the Under 10 Japan tournament. Her sister's Rina, right?"

Atsumu made a choking noise and flopped to the ground. "We coulda had Mirae Ando," he said in disbelief.

Emiko stepped down from the bench and put herself at a safer distance away from them. "Oh, you're fanboys. Sorry but the fan club is closed. We are no longer accepting applications, especially not from bullies!"

The boys ignored her completely and instead dropped to the bench. They looked visibly sick.

"Oi, 'Tsumu, maybe we can fix this, yeah?"

Slowly, Atsumu rose, the colour on his face reappearing. "How?"

"It's only been four days. We can return her."

"You mean exchange her," Suna offered, "Suzuki for Mirae Ando."

"Yeah. Isn't there a law about thirty days to exchange items?"

"Do I look-" she screamed and threw her hands in the air, "-like an item to you?"

"Suzuki for Ando." Atsumu ignored her and seriously planned to go through with the idea. "Sakusa is a reasonable fella, I'm sure if we throw in a gift card to a cleaning supplies store, he'd agree."

Emiko glanced between the three boys. She would not be surprised if a red X had formed on her temple from how hard she was stressing her facial muscles.

"Whoever this Sakusa is would never give her up," she snapped back, "especially not when I tell him how you've been treating me."

"Yeah, but we'd never do that to Ando. She's a star setter, insanely talented and I bet we'd get along better with her. The entire team would."

"How would you know?" She demanded, clenching her fists. "You haven't even met her!"

The Miyas shrugged in unison but it was Suna who responded. He glanced up from his phone and said, "It's Mirae Ando, can you blame them?"

She held back a scoff. As much as she wanted to relish in an overly dramatic comment and an epic exit scene, Emiko recalled her promise to Ennoshita. He would be disappointed to find out that she got in a fight while at this convention.

That is a problem for future Emiko, an inner voice reasoned, and she gave that voice a mental high five.

"I can blame them. I can blame them and you and everyone else on this godforsaken team." She shook her head. "You all made up your minds about me without even meeting me. How stupid and unreasonable is that?"

Atsumu opened his mouth to respond. Emiko shot him a glare.

"Do not interrupt me. As I was saying, everyone has decided that they hate me without getting to know me. It's stupid. It unreasonable. It's childish and dumb. You're all dumb. Dumber than Benjiro and believe me, he's dumb."

"Benjiro?"

"He's a soccer boy," she waved her hand dismissively, "my point is that this is unfair. I'm a human being. I have feelings, okay? I know that the great and all-powerful Mirae Ando is an icon but treating me like this, and then confessing that you would treat her differently, is mean. I'm sorry I'm not her, honestly, but this isn't my fault."

"Suzuki, wait," Suna stood up but she stepped backwards.

"I'm only here for another week. We don't have to be friends so all I am asking is that we coexist with each other like civilized people. It's not about you and it's not about me. I have made a couple of promises to some very important people, and I'd like to keep them. So please..."

She felt something drip down to her chin.

"Oops, guess I overdid it," she choked back a sob, forcing a smile onto her face. "I guess that weird antenna wearing girl and the VP saw the potential in me. I would have been an amazing addition to the drama club."

Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Ginjima took one look at her face and snapped an angry glare at the three boys.

"What did they do?" he said through clenched teeth.

She shrugged him off and stepped away. "I'm taking the rest of the day off. Inu needs me. Oh," she paused and looked back, "Rintaro I need the keys to your house. Unless the window is open then I can just climb in."

She held her hand out and once the keys were placed in her open palm, she turned on her heels and walked towards the gym doors. Voices called her name, but Emiko could only focus on swallowing the lump in her throat.

She felt a vibration in her pocket as she exited the gym. Glancing down at her phone screen, she saw a text message.

Kageyama
Oi, happy birthday

|Note|

As promised, here is the KageyamaxEmiko content!!! Just kidding please put down your pitchforks :P

Oh! Isn't it funny how the captains from both schools made their managers cry on the same day? Ennoshita would never.

Does Sakusa have a point though? If schools like his have money for funds and more than enough players to clean and set up, do they really need managers? Or is that something only the smaller (maybe weaker) schools need?

Emiko's been trying to keep the promises she made at Karasuno. Do you think she'll be able to hold on, or is this going to be the end for her?

That's it for this upload, we'll see you guys next week!

|End Note|