It was the fourth night of the training camp and everyone had fallen into the rhythm of individual training.

"I don't know why you bother with cardio," Emiko said as she threw a towel at Takita. He had just finished his burpees, as recommended by Mirae in Karasuno's Bible, and was sitting against the wall. Emiko dropped down beside him.

"Shoji's started running with Kageyama and Hinata during early mornings. I can't lose to him."

"What type of contest is that?" Emiko asked in horror. "What happened to good old fashioned eating contests?"

"I like those contests and I'd definitely win them," he sighed, "but I won't get stronger by eating junk food."

"Oh no, you're starting to become health-aware. Mirae's gotten to you, hasn't she? You can't spend anymore time with her."

Takita frowned. "But I like Mirae."

"Not more than you like me!" Emiko clenched her fists. "You have to like me more."

"Okay. But I still need to get stronger so I can play."

"I thought you said chasing a ball was useless?"

"Emiko have you seen the disgusting smirks other players give when they score a point against your block? Or when they block a spike you try? I hate it so much it makes me want to throw my shoe at them."

"That's gross," she scrunched her nose. "Do that and Mirae will never let you go near her again."

"I'm a volleyball player," he ignored her, "I need to build up my stamina."

"Or you can just conserve your energy and use it when they need it the most. Loophole!"

He leaned his head onto her shoulder and closed his eyes. "Stop being so loud, I'm tired."

Just a few feet away, Nekoma was doing receiving drills. Haru watched with a scowl. "How inappropriate."

"I don't think so." Lev used the collar of his shirt to wipe his face. "I think it's cool to have a manager you can be close with." His eyes grew wide as he realized what he said.

"I don't care." She waved her hand dismissing his apology. "I think she's one of those girls."

"Those girls?"

"The girls who are friendly with guys."

"Haru, what are you trying to say?"

"A girl is never just friends with a guy. Makes me wonder what her intentions are. Honestly, Mirae's the same. Do you really think she's oblivious to all the attention she gets?"

"I don't want to answer that. I'm going to practice my spikes now." Lev walked away from his manager who was glaring at the two students from Karasuno. As he was about to leave the gym, Emiko called his name.

"Wait!" she ran towards him. "What's your Instagram?"

Takita frowned at the loss of his human pillow. He stood up and dragged his feet towards them, whining her name.

Emiko stared at the two middle blockers with wide eyes and had an idea. She had seen Lev play on the court and he was really good. Takita said that he wanted to get better, but a rivalry could really speed up the process.

Takita was lazy, but it also seemed that he was territorial and prideful. With that in mind, Emiko thought up of an ingenious plan.

"You guys are the exact same person." She grinned, seeing the look of confusion on their faces. "Well, excluding your hair colour, blocking style, hair style, volleyball technique, volleyball experience, and-"

"You just listed a bunch of differences between us, how does that make us the same person?"

"You both are the same height, but I guess I could be wrong about you two being the same person. Lev," she patted his arm, "you are such a good middle blocker, I'm impressed. I want to cheer my cheer of a thousand women for you."

Takita scowled. She hadn't cheered like that for him yet.

Content with the small fire she ignited in her middle blocker, Emiko turned around.

"Akaashi!" A deep voice sang. "Oh Akaashi!"

Fukurodani's setter caught the volleyball and turned around. His face seemed to relax at the sight of Kotarou Bokuto.

"Bokuto-san," he greeted, "it's good to see you again."

"Shut up and give me a hug, Akaashi. I haven't seen you in four months!"

With a small roll of his eyes, Akaashi crossed the court and went to hug his friend. Bokuto wrapped his arms around him, lifting him off his feet.

"Hey, hey, hey! These must be the baby owls." Bokuto dropped his friend and ran onto the court. He began to high five the first year players. "How's your captain been treating you? You're all practicing diligently, right? Are you ready to win and make it to nationals?"

"Bokuto-san," Akaashi called, "maybe ask them one question at a time. Most of them are still shy."

"Shy baby owls," he grinned, "that's alright. Just make sure you go crazy on the court. I'll be there to watch your first game, okay?"

The first years nodded, a light blush colouring their faces.

Bokuto looked across the court and froze, his eyes widening. "Who are they?" he asked, staring at the only female in the gym.

Mirae and Shoji ducked under the net and approached him.

"Bokuto-san, this is Shoji a wing spiker from Karasuno. And this is Mirae Ando, his team manager."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bokuto-san," she smiled, bowing slightly. "Akaashi-san speaks very fondly of you."

He tilted his head. "Ando, huh? Mirae Ando." He was mesmerized by the stormy grey colour in her eyes. "Say, would you happen to be related to Rina Ando?"

"She's my sister."

"I knew it!" Bokuto grinned. "I saw her playing at Nationals last year. Hey, Akaashi, you remember, right? That Wing Spiker from Yokohama."

"I remember, Bokuto-san. You tried to copy her backwards delayed spike and hurt your shoulder. You couldn't play for two weeks."

Bokuto's face paled. "Akaashi you promised we wouldn't talk about that anymore."

Mire giggled at the two. "Well, we can cut the game short if you'd like to catch up with your friend, Akaashi-san."

"No, no, no" Bokuto intervened, "I want to watch you guys play. I'll just sit here."

Though that was the plan, it didn't last very long.

"No, no, no," Bokuto called out as he walked onto the court. "You're doing it all wrong, little guy. Karasuno's always been a pack of wild crows but this will not do. I'll play and show you guys how to do it."

"Alright, Izo would you mind sitting out?'

"Actually, I'll play on An-chan's team. This little guy can sit down."

Shoji growled.

"He's an Ace in the making so maybe he can learn a thing or two from one of Japan's bestest Aces."

"Top five," Akaashi coughed.

"Shut it!"

Mirae shrugged and turned to Shoji. "You played really good today. I think you will learn a lot from watching Bokuto-san play."

He tried not to frown as he walked off the court. He grabbed his water bottle and sat down.

Bokuto took his place at the front.

"I want a nice and high set, An-chan!"

Their team received the spike and sent it to Mirae. She positioned herself under the ball and tossed it high, one and a half balls width from the net. Bokuto ran forward and jumped, slamming it straight down between the blockers.

"Hey, great set!" he praised. "No wonder your sister's a top three Ace if you were her setter."

She blushed. "That's very kind of you, Bokuto/san, but I wasn't her setter."

"You practiced with her though, right?"

"A little when we were younger. Okay, who is next to serve?"

Bokuto was a force to be reckoned with, Akaashi didn't realize just how bad their opponents had it back when the Ace was on his team. He dodged the blockers effortlessly and his spiking strength seemed to have increased.

"Great game, baby owls, great game!" Bokuto clapped. He graciously accepted the towel Mirae offered and then turned to Shoji. "You watched my spikes, right? I saw you hit your straights but when the blockers are tight, try to hit at an angel. That way it hits their blocks and goes out of bounds."

"That's cheating," Shoji frowned. "I spike for the win."

"It's not cheating, it's called being flexible and adaptable."

Shoji looked up at Mirae. She shrugged. "He's not wrong. Being able to hit at certain angels to foil the other team when they think they've set up formation for a stuff or a receive is what puts one spiker above the rest."

"It comes from the shoulder and the wrist. Be careful not to hurt yourself, though, okay? Always stretch." Bokuto turned around and waved at Akaashi. "Kuroo is here too! Let's go!" Bokuto ran out of the gym and headed to where Nekoma was practicing.

"Kuroo!"

He turned around, flinching as Bokuto screamed his name and came barrelling towards him. He was grinning with his arms raised over his head.

"For one hour," Kuroo sighed, "I asked you to leave me alone for one hour while we came here."

"You remember the Shinzen ghost?" he exclaimed, grabbing onto Kuroo's shoulders and shaking him. "You remember, right?"

"You're not thinking of pranking the first years, are you?" he grinned. "Thought that was a one-time thing only."

"Forget the first years. Let's prank the managers."

"Why?"

"The managers are running around taking care of everyone. Let's give them a little scare and make them smile!"

Kenma tilted his head. "You two literally just got here. Bokuto, how have you already met the managers?"

He began counting on his fingers. "I met Su-chan when I went into the kitchen for snacks, oh, you have to try her cupcakes! Then I met Akari when I was running here. She was star gazing. And Karasuno's other manager was with Akaashi. Guess what, Kuroo? She's Rina Ando's sister."

His eyes widened. "Top three spiker in Japan?" he whistled.

"Yup and she's even more beautifuler! We have to tell her about the Shinzen ghost!"

"He wants to be around her more," Kenma said. "I think he has a crush."

"I do not! But it'd be such a waste not to tell the managers about the ghost!"

"Do you see what I deal with?" Kuroo whispered. "Bokuto, look, this training camp is filled with good looking guys. What makes you think she'd go out with you?"

"Kuroo has a point. She's been here for three days now but besides her own team and the other managers, she doesn't talk to anyone. Oh and Akaashi."

"But she did talk to me," he pressed. "And later, she's going on a walk with me. Perfect time to tell her about the ghost"

Kuroo frowned. "How did you manage that?" he asked.

"Kuroo, why do you always underestimate me? Oh, where's Akaashi? I thought he followed me here. I'll go find him." He ran out the gym, screaming his friend's name.

"Speaking of managers though, I heard you also got one?"

Yamamoto who was standing nearby groaned loudly and threw himself at Kenma. "Kuroo-san you don't understand how I was wronged here!" he shrieked. "I asked Kenma for a female manager and do you know what he did? He got us a Haru, the worst of the worst possible managers!"

Kuroo stifled his laugh and watched the exchange between them.

"Get off me Tora, and I told you that if you didn't like her you could go and find someone yourself."

"I asked you because no girl talks to me!"

"Haru is a good manager, she does her job well."

"Have you seen Karasuno's managers though?"

"Yachi and Ando, right?" Kuroo asked.

"They have one more, her name is Suzuki and she's so funny and cool to be around. Karasuno's managers cheer and praise their team, they spoon feed their first years, and they laugh and talk to them. Haru abuses me!"

"Tora you're not looking for a manager, you're looking for a girlfriend." Kenma rolled his eyes. "I don't provide those services."

"Haru is so terrible though!" At that moment, Nekoma's manager was walking by when she heard Tora wailing again. She walked up to them and smacked her clipboard against his head.

"Good evening Kenma-san," she greeted, ignoring Tora's cries.

"Hey Haru. This is Kuroo, he was our team captain last year."

"Nice to meet you, Kuroo-san. Kenma, I was going to tell you that the first years have finished their training and are going to bed now."

"Oh, thanks. We'll be up soon too."

She bid them a goodnight, glaring at Tora before walking away.

"I hate her, I really hate her!"

Kuroo scratched the back of his head and shrugged. "I don't know what you mean, she seems nice."

Tora threw himself at the ground and slammed his fists. "Karasuno has reached the peak of management perfection. They had a sexy one last year, a cute one, and they added a devoted goddess and a comedic queen into their collection! Damn you Karasuno!"

In the opposite gym, 'Tome frowned hearing someone curse his school. He was waiting for Noya to finish talking to a friend of his named Yaku from Nekoma when Takita walked up to him.

"I need your help. Come with me." 'Tome followed after him to the opposite end of the court. "We're playing a game and I need you to be on my team."

This was the first time Takita had really talked to him. 'Tome nodded. "Okay."

"Look, you're a really good libero. I've seen you practicing these past few days. I want you on my team so that I can spike against Nekoma's middle blocker and put him in his place. Emiko's been praising him a little too much lately and it's getting to his head. Well? Say something?"

'Tome tilted his head. "You're acting like Shoji does. It's scary."

"Shoji?" Takita frowned. "I need him on my team too. Whatever, he doesn't have to worry about his favourite manager giving other teams attention. Emiko keeps comparing me to that noodle and saying he's the better middle blocker. It has to stop."

A chance for the three of them to bond? 'Tome smiled and began to stretch.

|Note|

Kuroo and Bokuto have finally made it! Get ready for a crazy scene with these two and our favourite managers :P

|End Note|