GREATEST UPSET!!

STAR SETTER WILL NOT HAVE A FUTURE IN PROFESSIONAL VOLLEYBALL

Written by Aito Takahashi

January 17th 2011

Sisters Ando are a sight for sore eyes, but every opponent knows just how deadly they are on the court. The twin sisters have been playing volleyball since the age of five. In 2008 both represented the city of Yokohama in the All-Japan Tournament for Under 10! Winning gold and scoring first place in the entire country.

Family problems caused the sisters to separate and play on different school teams. Rather than becoming weak from this loss of support, the sisters have grown stronger as they challenge each other on opposite sides of the net.

Rina Ando, a powerful and cunning wing spiker, is a force to be reckoned with in mid-air combat.

Mirae Ando, an ingenious and hyper-aware setter whose very presence on the court is detrimental to her opponent's morale.

This year, Komoi Junior High played its first game without the Star Setter at the city finals. They lost in straight sets 18:25, 14:25, and 21:25. Her teammates refused to comment.

"Mirae fractured her knee setting the ball in the semi-finals. She led our team to the finals but was unable to play," her coach explained to reporters. "It's a shame, really. She practiced the hardest and was always willing to help her teammates."

Spectators, fans, Coaches, and recruitment officials were all shocked to hear Mirae Ando's decision to abandon volleyball forever.

"We would have loved to have Mirae Ando at Hisamitsu High School," Coach Adachi stated. "We're the strongest team here in Tokyo City and have the greatest opportunities for students who wish to play on international teams. Ando has already gained national attention, so it's a shame given her decision."

Coach Kikata from Osaka region also gave her two cents. "Athletes get hurt and fracture their bones all the time. To leave the sport altogether because of a small injury seems a bit dramatic."

Mirae Ando revealed her decision after her team lost at the city finals, choosing instead to experience a normal high school career. She listed her interests in health sciences, food and nutrition.

We reached out to Rina Ando for her comments. The Ace spiker seems optimistic.

"My sister's strong, ya' know? She's just takin' some time off, tryin' out new things. She'll come back, and when she does, the world had better be ready!"

Mirae Ando's injury may have played a big part in her decision to quit volleyball, but sources reveal that her mother has been experiencing health problems and was recently admitted to the hospital for intensive care.

It's too soon to know for sure, but one thing is for certain: Japan awaits the return of Mirae Ando.

What do you think? Vote on the poll below! Will or will not she have a professional career in volleyball?"

8.4k vote yes

6.6k vote no

Emiko turned to Tsukishima and declared, "I vote yes."

"Did you read this article," he rolled his eyes, "realistically no."

She narrowed her eyes at him and voted yes.

"You know what I don't get though?" He pointed to the black and white picture of Komoi Junior team celebrating their victory. "Mirae's face doesn't show that she's in any pain. And nowhere does it mention that she limped off the court or how she hurt herself. That type of injury doesn't just happen."

"You've got a point, but she's wearing a brace and has crutches in the next picture. Wait, don't tell me you think the injury happened after the game."

"It's the only logical answer. After the semi-finals but before the finals."

"Interesting." Emiko turned off her phone as the bell rang, signalling that their lunch period had ended. "Still, it's kind of crazy to think she was the best setter in all of Japan at the age of 8. Should I get her autograph?"

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "I still vote no."

"You are such a supportive friend."

He flicked her forehead. "Get to class."

Emiko decided not to do that.

She sat in her seat long enough for the Sensei to take attendance and before her lovely (annoying) seatmate had a chance to open her mouth, Emiko declared she was going to use the bathroom and ran out with all her belongings. She made a beeline for the library.

"I am here, you're welcome." She dropped her books on the table and sat down. "How's it going?"

"You don't have a free period," Mirae frowned, "Aren't you supposed to be in math right now?"

"I needed a break from my flamboyant desk mate and since Sensei won't move me next to Hinata, I took the courtesy of leaving."

"Is Hinata your only friend?"

Emiko began to count on her fingers. "I count you and Yachi as my friends. Tobio is currently rejecting my friendship. Tsukishima is my friend for about two hours every day. Tadashi doesn't talk to me but I think that's because of Tsukishima."

"We're all in the volleyball club. Don't you have friends outside of the team?"

"Sure-"

"Kunimi and Kindaichi don't count."

Emiko sat back and pouted. "No."

"I doubt your seatmate is as terrible as you make her out to be."

"Mirae," she deadpanned. "Anyway, loser seatmate aside, where are Tadashi and Tsukishima? Don't they have a free period with you?"

"Tadashi had to stay back with our Sensei to go over his Quiz."

"And where's Tsukishima?"

"Oh... We're not talking. It's- um, it's weird."

Emiko blinked. "No, Tobio is weird. Tsukishima is bi-polar. Plus, it's only the second week of school, and you're really easy to get along with. How'd it become weird?"

"I snapped at him on the first day of school," she winced. "I think I might have misread the situation."

"Ooh what happened?"

"He said he wanted to get to know me... and I watch a lot of T.V. drama shows so I thought he was trying to flirt with me..."

"He's not your type?"

"No, it's not that," Mirae interrupted. "I'm not oblivious to the attention I get, especially attention from boys. Last year a certain boy hurt me, and I've been on edge ever since. I wish I hadn't snapped at him though. Tsukishima doesn't seem all that bad, I think it's part of his personality."

Emiko leaned backwards and balanced the chair on two legs. "Maybe it's for the best. He's really mean and sarcastic."

"I yelled at the two first years yesterday about fighting among clubmates. It'd be hypocritical if I continued on like this with him."

"Yeah that was pretty shocking."

Just then, Benjiro the soccer boy from Emiko's class made his way to their table. He grabbed the back of her seat with one hand and gripped the table with the other. He leaned down and snapped, "Sensei says you have to come back to class."

Emiko blew air into his eye and he lurched backward. "Go away Benjiro, no one likes you."

"You need to come back to class. There's a lineup for the washroom and you're taking too long." He rubbed his eyes. "It's been half an hour."

"What are you, my babysitter? Go away."

Benjiro glared at her. He then turned to Mirae and shot her a smile. "You look beautiful, see you later."

When he was gone, Mirae turned to Emiko. "That boy is always complimenting me in the halls and I don't even know his name. Who is he?"

"Benjiro the stupid soccer boy. He is the reason why I can't sit beside Hinata anymore." Emiko frowned and got up to head to class. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Akira was mid-speech when the bell rang signalling the end of the school day. Emiko didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. She grabbed her books and ran.

Opening her locker, she yanked her bags out and when she turned around, Akira was standing behind her.

"You got away before I could ask you my question."

"Really?" Emiko gasped, "Sorry, I didn't notice you wanted to talk."

"Silly you. I told you there was something I needed to ask you before class started."

"I must have forgotten."

Akira giggled. "I heard you joined the boys' volleyball club as a manager. I've also seen you hang around Tobio-kun."

"Kageyama."

"Huh?"

Emiko's brows cinched together. She was still trying to get used to the whole honorifics of the Japanese language. There was San and Chan and Kun and another one she couldn't remember. It was only polite to refer to people you did not know by their last names.

She knew him since middle school. Akira did not.

"His name's Kageyama," she repeated much slower.

Akira blushed. "Right, I was wondering if he was talking to anyone."

"He doesn't talk much."

"Well, he talks to you."

"What are you trying to get at?" Emiko dropped her bag to the ground and crossed her arms over her chest. "I've known Tobio since middle school. Just because a girl and a guy talk doesn't mean anything is going on."

"Oh, I didn't mean for it to sound like that," she held her hands in surrender. "He talks to you so he must trust you. You're probably like a sister to him."

Emiko frowned. "You might want to shut-up now."

Akira ignored her. "Do you think you could introduce me to him? I could come with you now to his practice and maybe after, we can all walk home."

"No. The Coach doesn't let other students come to practice."

"Oh. Well, that's okay. Hey! I saw posters about a practice game with Seijoh in a couple of days, maybe you can introduce us then?"

"What do you like about him anyway?" she frowned. "You haven't met him, so what? Is it his looks?"

She blushed at her choice of words. "Yeah, I think he's really handsome. He's so quiet and mysterious like he's got a tragic back story that I want to sink my teeth into."

"Okay, I'm concerned."

"And he's so passionate too. And strong."

Emiko couldn't really explain why, but she felt irritated. The small monster sitting in the pit of her stomach that only reared its head when she was talking to her parents seemed to awaken. She curled her hand into a fist.

A nudge against her shoulder put a stop to her actions.

"Oi," Kageyama grumbled, "go get changed. You're going to be late to practice."

"Who are you? My babysitter?" she smiled and picked up her bag. "You don't have to walk me, Tobio."

"If I don't, you'll show up late."

Emiko brushed past Akira. She and Kageyama began to bicker as they walked towards the gym.

As Mirae walked home from a long day of practice, she felt sympathy for the boys. They trained long hours every day and on top of that they had to do their school work. She made a mental note to bring them snacks tomorrow morning, a small treat to brighten their days.

She froze as she neared her Grandmother's house. "What are you doing here?"

Rina bumped the volleyball towards her sister and grinned nonchalantly. "Ya weren't answerin' your phone."

Mirae dropped her bag and received the volleyball. She bumped it back cleanly. The twin sisters began to send the ball to each other as they sparked conversation.

"I was busy."

"I was askin' for one sentence reply, not an hour-long video-chat."

"Sorry."

"It is what it is." Rina smirked as she drew her arm back to spike the ball. Seeing the change in her form, Mirae dropped her hips lower. "For someone whose been out of practice this long, ya still know your stuff."

"As if I'd let you score over me," Mirae shook her head and grinned.

"Gran'ma said ya joined the boys' team. But a manager? Really?" Rina scoffed as she did an overhand receive, "You should join the girls' team, play again."

"I'd rather not."

Rina rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. So, how do ya like it?"

"It's good. The team is fun to be around."

"Least your havin' fun."

Mirae killed the moment of the spike on her wrists and then caught it. She walked up to her sister, staring at the stitches on the ball. "Did you... Did you visit her?"

"Ya mean mom?" Rina scoffed, "Yeah, she's super depressed. Feels guilty about what happened too. Oh, don't look like that." Rina held her sister's face in her hands and pushed her back with a laugh. "Remember, she's the adult. You're the kid. This was her fault."

Rina laid down on the grass and closed her eyes. "Wanna hear a li'l secret?" she glanced up with one eye open, "Dad's filin' for sole custody."

"What?"

"It's toxic for ya to continue livin' with mom. Gran'ma's nice and whatever but still, she's not exactly family."

Mirae bit her tongue.

"So, he's filin' for sole custody." Rina sat up and flicked her sister's head. "Do ya know what this means? You're goin' to live with us!"

This news did not excite her as much. "Mom wouldn't have agreed to that."

"Yeah well Mom isn't mom anymore. She's an alcoholic who almost killed herself."

A shiver ran up Mirae's spine. Rina noticed the change and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I've been avoiding you."

"Don't blame ya. You've had a rough year, with your old teammates and what happened to mom. Just wish we were closer, ya know? I wanted to be there for ya."

Mirae leaned into her sister. "Thanks."

"Hey, I've got an idea! How about ya come and visit next month? My team's playin' a practice game against the Kasai Girls' team, our old rivals. Ya can cheer me on, it'll be like old times."

"I don't think I can," she bit her lip.

"Why not? Wait, this isn't about..." One look confirmed her suspicions. Rina sighed. "Don't worry about 'em, our friends don't blame ya for what happened. If anythin', they planned to corner your old teammates in an alley and do a little damage control. Emphasis on the damage."

"I'll think about it."

"Well, ya are goin' to be busier now that you're a manager," she mocked. "Sure ya always were the mother hen of our group, but I never thought you'd be serious about managin' a team."

"Just because I gave up the position of team captain to you in fifth grade, doesn't mean I was never serious about it. I like helping strong players stay strong. It relieves my anxiety."

"So does bein' a setter." Rina stretched her feet out and looked up at the sky. "I'm glad you're not completely droppin' volleyball. Still, think about it okay?"

"I thought you hated playing with me?" Mirae smirked. "I remember you trying to spike at my face so I would be benched for the game"

"I never hated playin' with ya. I hated playin' against ya on opposite teams. You're one of the best setters I know."

"Wow, coming from one of the best spikers in the nation?" she rolled her eyes. "I'm flattered."

"I mean it." Rina stood up. "If we played on the same team, ya wouldn't have to worry about your spikers half-assin' it again."

"Right," Mirae tossed the volleyball at Rina and picked up her school bag. She ran up the porch steps and smiled at her sister. "Let's go inside. My favourite show's almost on."

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So, how do you like Rina Ando? And what's up with Benjiro and Akira :P

Don't forget to vote!

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