Day 3

Emiko had never been so thankful for adult supervision.

Coach Kurosu went on and on about his dog and how it was the most important member of his family. Apparently, it had learned a new command and although he did not confirm or deny it, she knew the single fact that this old man was having family problems.

The other Coach was in his late twenties and apparently, he was not seeing anyone. Coach Oomi was a liar, Emiko deduced, because every two minutes he would check his phone and smile fondly before texting a reply.

They were adults and their personal lives were of no business but if they were going to sit with her during practice and unknowingly protect her from the savages that are Inarizaki's volleyball team, then she had no qualms.

She could listen.

"And he wags his tail." Coach Kurosu continued to swipe through more photos of his little yellow dog. "Every day he waits for me by the door. He's smart and appreciative and I don't know what I'd do without him."

She nodded absent-mindedly. The stories of the yellow dog were entertaining but Coach Oomi's love life was more interesting. Thinking about it now, she decided it was time for her Uncle Keishin to find someone too.

She would have to come up with a plan.

"Alrighty boys, that was a good practice!" Coach Oomi stood up and slipped his phone into his jacket. "Take a fifteen-minute break to stretch 'n rest. We'll have another practice game with our starters versus benchwarmers, and the first years can train diggin' with Suzuki."

Emiko's eyes widened. Adult supervision was leaving her in the gym with the savages. They were going to eat her alive as promised. She had to survive long enough to be the flower girl at her Uncle Keishin's wedding. She refused to die before that.

"Emiko-chan," she felt a tug on her sleeve. Yukio hesitated and then pointed to her neck. "What is a hickey?"

"Where did you hear about that?" she squeaked, clamping a hand over his mouth.

"Well, our Captain said I should stay away from ya because yer a bad influence. Then our vice-Captain said ya got a hickey and it's contagious. So, I was curious."

"Okay, first, hickeys are not contagious," she snapped, dropping her voice even lower. "Second, this is a bruise from being choked by my first year back at Karasuno."

"He choked you?" Yukio gasped, concern bleeding into his eyes.

"It's fine. He was just a little upset that I was leaving for two weeks. My point is that this is neither contagious nor a hickey. You're safe."

His body visibly relaxed.

The boys sprawled on the ground, cracking their backs and making small talk. As dangerous as each of them were though, they practiced hard. No one dared to slack, except maybe Suna but he was a third-year, so no one called him out.

"Emiko-chan, I'll get the drinks to the first and second years. Can ya get the third years'?"

Her face paled. Hesitantly she nodded her head and reached for the water bottles.

Ginjima sat down with his legs stretched outward. He then reached for them, hiding his sweating face in his chest as he hissed at the burning ache of his muscles. Emiko lightly tapped the cold bottle against the back of his neck.

He looked up and his expression softened.

"Thanks, Suzuki."

"Don't mention it," she paused, "actually, do. Mention it on my assessment. That I was the best manager and everyone else is biased."

"Don't worry. The team'll come 'round."

She did not bother correcting him.

Suna was lying on his back, phone held above him. He hummed when she called his name.

"Your drink."

He opened his mouth expectantly.

"Ya lazy piece'a crap," Ginjima kicked him. "Get up, she's not yer maid."

Emiko left the water bottle beside his head and moved on. Finally, there were two left.

Atsumu was called into the Coach's office so she did not need to worry about him. Osamu though was eyeing her from the side of the gym. She held her head up as she approached him. The expression on his face did not change.

She offered him the one marked with the green tape. Four seconds passed. Finally, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the bottle. Emiko realized that she was holding her breath and exhaled slowly as she turned around.

Then, something fell. Drops of water pooled on the floor between them.

"Well," he scoffed, "I ain't drinkin' that."

"Please," she begged, "if you are going to talk to me, move your lips. I seriously can't tell what you're saying."

He raised his leg and Emiko's eyes widened. She scurried backwards.

"Did you just try and kick me?"

"Just gettin' rid of a pest."

"Stop mumbling and speak up."

"Fine." Osamu cleared his throat and then cupped his hands around his mouth. "Suzuki's annoyin'. I hate her. She won't leave me alone. Oi Rin, record her harrassin' me so we can send it with her review."

Emiko spun around. "What, no. I'm not harassing him. I'm just doing my job and handing out water bottles. Please don't record anything!"

"Osamu, take yer drink and stop fussin'."

She mentally thanked Ginjima.

Facing the Miya once again, she offered him a plastic water bottle. She was determined to walk away before he could start anything else but two steps later, she heard something hit the floor with a soft bump.

Osamu had a blank expression on his face. "Yer doin' it on purpose."

"Lies," she whispered, but again, remembered her promise to Ennoshita. She held out the last bottle to him.

His fingers wrapped around the bottle and he tugged.

"Suzuki," his voice held a warning, "let go."

"No, you're going to drop it on purpose."

His brows furrowed as he reached with both hands and tugged harder. Emiko nearly fell on top of him, but she used her entire weight to yank back.

"Let go."

"No- You're going to drop it again."

"What are ya talkin' about?" he growled. "You dropped it."

"No, you did. And you're going to do it again."

"Am I?"

"Yes!"

His lips curled showing his teeth. This was a look of a devil in action. Emiko felt her heart stop.

"Wait, Osamu, what are you- no- stop, please-"

In the act of tug of war, he had managed to turn the bottle top to face her. He squeezed, spraying water at her face.

"Ha-ha! Yer wet."

"No thanks to you."

She shuddered, feeling it drip down her neck into her shirt. Did Atsumu already drink from it? Emiko flinched at the idea of water-mixed with Miya saliva on her skin. She needed a shower with boiling water but that was not possible for another two hours when she could get back to Suna's house. She cursed under her breath when she remembered making fun of Mirae for carrying sanitizer wipes. Now, she desperately needed one.

As Emiko used paper towels and sanitizer from the medical kit to clean her face and neck, Coach Kurosu came back and blew the whistle. He separated the team into two groups of seven so they could play a practice game; the starters versus the benchwarmers.

The four first years were her responsibility.

"Receiving practice," she clapped her hands. They were given the space on the other side of the gym, a few feet away from where the others were playing. "First off, what positions do you four play?"

Yukio raised his hand timidly. "I haven't trained yet so I'm not sure where Coach'll put me."

The others were quiet at first, glancing between each other and shuffling from one foot onto the other.

Finally, one of them stepped forward. "I'm a wing spiker," he stated.

"Middle blocker."

"Libero."

Emiko could work with this.

So, she set them to work. She had them paired off so one could spike and the other could receive and send it back high in the air. After twelve, they switched. After another twelve, she asked them to receive with one arm and so on.

For some reason or another, while the first years were busy, Emiko glanced over to where the others were playing. She caught Atsumu's eye.

He tilted his chin back, exposing his neck. Then, he made a cut-throat gesture with his thumb. She felt the colour drain from her face.

"Suzuki-chan," a voice stuttered from behind her.

She whipped her head around and squeaked. "You guys saw that, right? You saw him threaten me, right?"

In unison, the four of them cocked their heads to the side. If she weren't so terrified for her life, Emiko would have swooned.

"Um, we're done the receivin' practice."

"Right, receiving practice." She turned around a couple of times and then grabbed the volleyball from the ground. "Try bumping it lower so your partner has to receive with their foot or leg. You've still got to receive it high enough to keep a rally going to 12 points."

The look on their faces suggested that they thought it was an odd request for training, but they complied, nonetheless. Within a few seconds, they were smiling and laughing.

Emiko thought back to her own first years.

Shoji and Takita played as though they hated each other but everyone knew it was an act. If one of them had to skip practice, the other was less motivated. If one of them was taking a break, the other would join them.

They fought, but each time that they were berated and forced to apologize, they turned away from each other with smirks and a fond look in their eyes.

Even Yaotome was beginning to join in on their teasing pranks.

"Emiko-chan," Yukio called, "I heard from Suna senpai that ya needed to make two friends. So I thought I could introduce ya ta some of my friends! They don't play volleyball though."

"Oh?"

"Ya, they're in the drama club. I think you'll really get along with 'em!"

She shuddered at the idea. "I think I'll be okay."

"Oi." Someone leaned and rested their arm on her shoulder. "What'cha goin' off about?"

Atsumu shifted his focus to the first years and eyed them. By the looks of it, he was either going to press his elbow into her neck in one swift movement or he was ready to attack the others.

"Leave them alone," Emiko gasped. "They are innocent. They have done nothing. If you're going to blame anyone, it's me."

"Oh, course I blame ya," he grinned. His eyes focused on the volleyball in his left hand. "I've been thinkin' how to get rid of ya. Can't make it too obvious, else Coach'll trace the evidence back to me. So, don't worry yer pretty little head, Suzuki. We're not all bark and no bite. Nah, we're planning, then-"

She felt her throat tighten.

Atsumu had popped the volleyball with one hand. It was shrinking, the air escaping through the hole. He shoved it in Emiko's chest and stepped away.

"Suzuki did it." He cocked his head to the side daring the bystanders to say otherwise. The first years watched the entire exchange with pale faces. The deflated volleyball was not just a symbol for Emiko's head. It was also a warning to them.

"But Captain, everyone just saw ya do it. Why're ya blamin' Emiko-chan?"

He grit his teeth, a glare making its way onto his face. "I said- Suzuki did it."

Yukio's eyes widened and he obediently nodded his head.

Atsumu cupped his hands around his mouth and called. "We're short a volleyball!"

Emiko was holding the evidence and for once she did not know how to get out of the situation.

The first years pointed their fingers and nodded. "Suzuki did it," they repeated.

By some miracle, Coach Kurosu laughed it off and blamed the precipitation in the room. Apparently, it was normal for volleyballs to pop on their own. Emiko spent the rest of practice clinging to the Coach's side.

By seven p.m. practice was over but she was done with the day. The sweat-stained jerseys that smelled of sour milk would have to wait to be washed tomorrow morning. The one item on her list of chores though, was pumping the volleyballs with air. She hid in the back corner of the storage room and hurried to beat her record of most volleyballs pumped in under ten minutes.

After all, she had made a promise to her captain and she intended on keeping it.

"Oi," a voice called. The doors slammed open and she froze.

A pair of footsteps shuffled in. Emiko pressed her back against the wall and instinctively raised her fists.

Atsumu snickered. The look in Osamu's eyes did not change.

"Yer a foot shorter than the both of us, Suzuki."

"I won't go down without a fight."

"Relax, relax." Atsumu placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We ain't in a hurry. 'Member, she's here for another ten days. Plenty'a time to make our point."

"But you've made your point," Emiko begged, "I know you want to eat me alive, you freaking cannibals. I know you want to tear Karasuno's wings off like creepy children. I know you're going to accuse me on my assessment, and I know my Captain is going to be disappointed. I know, okay, I know- So I'm sorry for existing."

Osamu blinked. Then, he turned to his twin. "Hey, 'Tsumu?"

"Yeah, 'Samu?"

"What's that thing Kita-san said about the messenger sendin' the message?"

"Oh. Somethin' like killing the messenger sends the most effective message."

Her throat tightened. She felt lightheaded. Just as she prepared to run at them head-on, the doors opened and Ginjima stepped in.

"Twins," he snapped, "leave her alone."

Osamu did not bother turning around. "We ain't doin' nothin."

"That's a double negative!" Emiko shrieked.

Ginjima scowled as he yanked on the back of their shirts. "I'll text Kita-san and make him yell at ya both. I will."

"Kita-san?"

This time, Emiko ran. She dodged their bodies and ducked under their arms. She ran outside the storage room and out of the gymnasium. Kita-san told the twins about killing the messenger so she deduced that he was the boss, the big brains of this whole make-Emiko's-life-miserable operation.

She did not know where she was running to, but the bathroom seemed like a safe option. No boy in their right mind would venture in. She skidded to a stop and pushed open the door.

A group of girls were standing there. Their eyes locked onto her. Emiko groaned.

"I just can't catch a break, can I?"

"Karasuno's manager," Vanji said. She plastered a smile on her face and tugged on the other girls' sleeves. "She's the one staying with Rintaro. They even walk to and from school together."

"Yes, because we go to volleyball practice together," Emiko said like it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Look we're going to say this to ya once so ya better listen."

One of the girls walked up and grabbed Emiko by the collar of her shirt. She yanked her forward and into the claws of another. The second girl pushed her back by her shoulders as someone kicked her behind her knees.

Emiko landed on the floors with a hard thud.

They had circled around her like vultures. Their beady eyes watched the expression on her face.

Vanji grabbed her hair in a fist and pushed her head back. Emiko hissed.

"Listen here ya attention seekin' tool," she spat, "yer here fer two weeks at best. Keep yer head down, speak only when spoken to, and don't even think about makin' a move on our boys."

"Why are you taking your anger out on my hair? Seriously, what do you have? Claws for nails? Let me go- slowly, I don't want to be bald."

"She's a funny one," one of the girls snickered and kicked at her. "Lose the humour, brat. We're bein' serious here."

Vanji pushed Emiko's head back as she released her grip. She told one of the others to retrieve something.

Kadira yanked at the collar of her shirt and pulled her up.

"Perfect," Vanji nodded. A book was passed to her and she flipped it open, shoving it in Emiko's face as she turned the pages. "See this? It's the work of those of us most dedicated. Our hard work fer over a year now."

Emiko bit her lip and repeated like a mantra do not laugh, do not laugh, do not laugh.

It was a scrapbook of sorts plastered with pictures of the unsuspecting volleyball team.

In one photo, Ginjima had lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face so the photographer zoomed in on his sweaty chest. In another, Osamu had lunged for a receive and the camera angled to take a picture of his bottom. There were plenty of close-ups of Atsumu's concentrated face where his tongue poked through his lips.

The girls had added their own commentary to these pictures with red and pink gel pens. The comments were so cringey that she felt second-hand embarrassment. Apparently, Suna's back muscles were something to drool over. Whoever wrote that had also circled the bottom of the page where there was a drool stain as proof.

"We've called dibs," Vanji explained as she shut the book. Kadiri held it like it was sacred as she went into a toilet stall, climbed on the toilet seat and put the notebook back into the ceiling tile.

Emiko blinked. "I don't want any of them."

"Yer a liar," Vanji snapped back. "Suna walks ya everywhere. Osamu saves ya a seat in class. Ginjima's always talkin' to ya in the cafeteria, and even Atsumu looks at ya. Whether yer doin' it on purpose or not makes no difference. They're ours so ya gotta back off or else."

"Stop threatening me." Emiko clenched her hands into fists. She could feel blood rushing to her head.

"Stop being such a tramp."

"Skank."

"Freakin' tool."

As a final slap to the face, Vanji spat at Emiko's feet. It would have been an epic scene if the wad of spit actually landed on the ground. Instead, it dripped down her chin and hung there. The girl wiped it with the back of her hand, scoffed, and led her group out of the bathroom.

Emiko stood there for a while.

She clenched and unclenched her fists. Her knees were shaking but she propped her body up against the sink. A voice in her head was urging her to chase after those girls and tackle the blonde. She could take her on and punch her at least four times before the rest of them pulled her off. It would be enough to satiate her blood lust.

You made a promise, another voice reasoned.

She dug into her pocket and grabbed her phone. She scrolled through her contacts and tapped on Mirae's face. The line rang. After the fourth ring, she was sent to voicemail. Emiko tried again but this time, the automated teleprompter said that this caller is not taking calls.

She screamed into her hands. In a frenzy, she decided to call everyone on Karasuno's team. Either their phones were turned off or her call was sent to voicemail. Even Takita was ignoring her and she knew that he always had his phone in a secret pocket in his shorts during practice.

This was no coincidence. The universe was being manipulated by the Demon Queen known as her mother in a ploy to ruin her life.

Desperately, she clicked on Kunimi's contact name.

The call ended with one ring. Emiko's brows furrowed as she tried again. He picked up this time and before she could put in a word, he ended the call.

Kunimi decided to spam her phone with a series of ridiculous text messages compromised of emojis and nothing else.

A skull, the moon face, the laughing emoji, the golf club, and a lightning bolt.

The dancer, the angry red face, a dragon, the middle finger, a man in a kayak.

With a frustrated scream, she shook her phone in hopes it would shift the emojis into actual words.

No such luck.

Just as she decided to harass him in all caps, another text came in.

Mirae
Can't talk, in a meeting with the Coach

Emiko
I kinda need you right now

Mirae
Sorry
Text me instead

Emiko
Fine
I found awesome blackmail material
But if I take it, the guilty ones will know
They'll try to hide it
What should I do?

Mirae
Is it drugs?

Emiko
I'm not telling you that
If you wanted to know, you should have picked up my calls

Mirae
If its drugs I'm calling your Uncle
And Mr. Watanabe

Emiko
CHILL
It's not drugs

Mirae
Alright I believe you
Hey, you remember when we caught Akira talking to Kageyama
So we videotaped them to clear your name
Even though it was all a misunderstanding?

Emiko
Yeah your point?

Mirae
Take video evidence
Narrate everything like we did
Leave the proof behind so they don't trace it back to you

Emiko
You are a genius!

Mirae
You're welcome
I've gotta go now

She locked the bathroom door. Then, she walked into the stall she had seen the other girl go into and stepped onto the toilet seat. The ceiling was low enough that even she could move the tile. She reached up and felt the cover of the book.

Emiko jumped down. She grabbed a wad of toilet paper and ran to the sink. She turned on her phone, aimed the camera lens at the book and pressed record.

"This is a scrapbook that is kept in the girl's bathroom on the second floor. It's up there," she angled her phone to the ceiling, "behind the tiles."

Using a piece of toilet paper, Emiko began to flip through the book while recording the contents of each page.

"I was shown this by a girl in my class and her friends. Apparently, it's a group project where they take pictures and write about their undying love for the boys on the volleyball team. They've been working on it for a year now. They've written cringey comments that make me want to die of second-hand embarrassment. I apologize in advance for what you're about to see."

Emiko zoomed in on one of the comments, making sure to pause long enough where a girl had signed off with her name.

"Oh, I'm using toilet paper to flip through the pages because apparently they also drool on this. Yep, it's disgusting, but truth and justice shall prevail." To make her point, she paused on the area where the girl had drooled and circled with the pen.

"Well then, I'll just put this back before anyone thinks it's missing. This is Emiko Ukai signing off."

Content with the video proof, she slipped her phone into her pocket and shut the book. She left it where she found it and moved the tile into place.

"And they say I'm the desperate one," she scoffed and shook her head. Then, her foot slipped.

Emiko grabbed the walls but the damage was done. She groaned as the toilet water seeped into her shoe, soaked her sock, and wet her toes.

"I need to get back to Rintaro's house. Maybe I can chop off my foot before his mom comes back." She hopped awkwardly as she left the bathroom. As she rounded the corner, Suna called her name from behind.

"What's wrong with you?" he gestured to her leg with a nod. "Get hurt?"

"Not exactly. This has just been a terrible day. See, I was cornered by these gremlin looking creatures. Now, I'm ready to self-mutilate myself."

He blinked in slow motion. "Right. Well, my parents aren't coming home till much later. Want to order out?"

She pursed her lips at the numb feeling creeping up her leg.

"Can we get dumplings?"

"Sure."

Just like before, he slouched as he walked at a steady pace. He was scrolling on his phone, ignoring her awkward shuffle as they began to walk out of the school. Suna had his bag slung over his shoulder and he was holding Emiko's bag too.

She appreciated the gesture, but the action made her wonder how Mirae was faring at Itachiyama.

"They probably crowned her Queen and gave her a golden throne."

"Did you say something, Suzuki?"

"Nope," she answered. "Just hoping we can get spring rolls too."

|Note|

We apologize for the cringey volleyball fangirls, however, they would like you all to know that they are a serious club and are accepting applications. Just sign your name and claim the boy you want! 😉😂

Poor Emiko, the things we put her through. But it's still just the beginning for her😔

In the next chapter, we're going to see how things are at Itachiyama for Mirae. Well, what do you guys think; has the boys' volleyball club crowned her queen?

Please don't forget to vote! We'll see you all next week😊

|End Note|