"Tsumi-chan! Did you miss me?" Kuroo was dressed up in his work suit. His suit coat was open and his badge was tucked into the pocket of his white shirt. They hadn't talked to each other in person since graduation. But, they texted almost all the time. Although, it was mostly Kuroo being annoying like usual. Having a full-time career really sucked all of the hours out of his day to let loose. Let alone see some of his friends that worked in the same building as him. 

Mitsumi rolled her eyes as she sat in the meeting room. "We text every day, Mr. Con Man." She sighed at the effect his work attire had on him. "Where is Matsuki?" She sipped on her morning can of Dr. Pepper without a care in the world. It was still early and the day and she still wasn't fully awake.

The door opened with Matsuki holding a small plastic bag. "Sorry for being late. I grabbed some snacks for everyone." She pulled out a chair and joined everyone at the table. She tossed a package of melon pan at Chie and a breakfast sandwich at Kuroo. Matsuki had purchased a can of coffee for herself. "Anyways! Did you say anything, Kuroo?"

Kuroo shook his head. "Nope."

"I just got here." Mitsumi chirped, "So, don't feel bad." She immediately opened the sweet bread and took a bite out of it. "What is this idea you guys have?"

"Well, it's kind of a multi-year project." Kuroo didn't really know how to start. He clicked away on his laptop and looked for a particular file.

Matsuki nodded, "You've heard about the Monster Generation, right?" She glanced over at the libero. "That's what everyone is calling this new generation of Japanese volleyball players. Mr. Chairman is interested in making a documentary about the players in the Monster Generation."

Mitsumi's eyebrows lifted up. "A documentary? That's interesting."

"Check this," Kuroo turned his laptop around so everyone could see the screen. "Everyone else has already given us the stamp of approval. And, the amazing graphic design team has already given us some ideas for posters." He clicked through some of the ideas the other department had.

And to be honest, this was pretty insane. Mitsumi inspected the photos carefully. "When you say multi-year, how long are we talking about?"

"Until after the Tokyo Olympics." Matsuki really wanted to see this project through. Mitsumi's silence was really putting everyone on edge. The other players involved were beyond gungho about the proposal.

But then again, this was Mitsumi Chie. One of the most methodical thinkers in the world. Kuroo closed his laptop and rested his elbows on the table with his hands clasped together. His eyes scanned over one of his best friends to try and get a grip on what she was thinking. "Mitsumi, this is all up to you. Nothing is official yet, so everything is just talk. I'm not here to force you into anything."

"Yeah, he knows that's my job." Matsuki joked casually. Everyone chuckled which broke the odd tension.

"I'm totally down for this. I was just trying to figure out who is included in this Monster Generation." Mitsumi beamed with a grin. She saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity. The two business people sighed in relief, which made her tilt her head. "What? You thought I was seriously going to say no? Geez, I'm not that idiotic." She cracked another laugh.

"When you get really quiet, I don't know how to read you sometimes." Matsuki smoothed the bunches out of her pencil skirt. She was admittedly more nervous than Kuroo at that moment.

The male stood up with his classic cheshire cat grin. "You know just about everyone in the Monster Generation, 'Tsumi. I'll tell you that much." He ran his fingers through his hair. "This is going to be one heck of a ride. So, buckle up."

His coworker winked with a smile. "Oh yeah, it is. I'll forward you details as they are released." Matsuki grinned as she and Kuroo tossed their arm around their friend as they walked out. They had time to kill, so they thought they'd walk her down to the gyms. "Now go kick some butt in there."

Mitsumi grinned and laughed with the two of them. "Alright, alright. I'll see you guys later." She waved and jogged off to the locker rooms to change.

...

"What was that?" Mitsumi let the water on her face drip into the bathroom sink. "A documentary? That's insanity." She already had a lot on her plate with all the wedding planning going on. Now that her mind had the chance to process everything, she was internally cursing herself out.

She dried her face off with the towel around her neck. The bathroom door opened with Nagisa looking at her. "Hey, are you all good?"

Mitsumi smiled with a nod, "Yep, I'm coming. Don't worry about it." Today, the stadium staff were going to be giving a tour of the stadium to a high school group. These happened on occasion. The most they were involved was when the group would observe practice at the end of the tour.

She walked back out on the court and handed her towel to Yukirin. It was a bad day to be mentally not there, but it was just a normal practice. If anything, it showed the kids that even pros have their off days. The high schoolers were all up in the stands already.

Coach Momo called Mitsumi over. "Are you good? You look out of it." She was more concerned that something had happened.

The libero shook her head, "I'm good. I promise. I just have quite a bit on my mind." She smiled gently.

"Good because we have our work cut out for us today." She blew her whistle to call everyone back from the water break. Coach Momo was there to put on a show for their guests. "Let's break out for some evens versus odds on the line."

Everyone cheered. This was a team favorite. Everyone with an even jersey number was on one team, and everyone with an odd number was on the other team. They lined up and would have to back set a ball to each other down the line. The last person would have to spike the ball over the net and run to the front of the line to continue the process. The first team to get through everyone won.

It was a simple drill that was highly competitive in the JNT. Coach Momo had multiple versions of the drill for different skills. She instructed them to do a round of sets and spikes, and then alternating overhand and underhand passes. After each person spiked, they had to run to the net, jump as if they were blocking, and then dive the length back.

It wasn't long until the girls were yelling at each other to move fast. Right now, the even number team held the crown. And the odd team was going to claim it back again.

Usui had a smirk on her face as she looked up at the stands. Their guests were really enjoying the show. "Yukirin, how about you go up there and explain what's going on to the group?"

"On it!" Yukirin jogged out the doors and we went to the stand entrance.

Mitsumi and Tetsuya were now racing each other to the net. The shouting had grown louder with each person's turn, and now it sounded like a full stadium. Tetsuya may have longer legs, but Chie was capable of covering more floor while diving at high speeds. So, it was okay if she fell a tad behind.

"Tetsuya! I am not doing penalty dives today!" Saki screeched. She was still sore from conditioning and diving was hurting extra.

Mitsumi smirked at hearing Saki and increased the speed of her dive approach. "Heck yeah!" She got to her feet and sat down with her teammates on the floor to signal they were done.

"Sorry guys." Tetsuya rubbed the back of her neck. She was just centimetres away from beating the libero. "I was so close!"

...

"Eh? A documentary?" Matsuri tossed Mitsumi a ball from the cart. They stood at a wall and tossed some sets at it as they spoke. "You're worried about that?"

The Red Rockets were warming up for a practice game against the Nagoya Falcons. They hadn't arrived yet, so everyone was doing what they needed to in order to get moving.

Mitsumi nodded and caught the ball in her hands. "Yeah, nothing is official yet, but the idea of it is pretty insane." She sighed.

"You aren't in school anymore, and you are still so high-strung." Saki jabbed her friend in the side. She sighed and before Mitsumi could retort, she flicked her forehead. A double whammy. "You gotta just go with the flow of things."

"Easier said than done," Mitsumi muttered under her breath as she clenched her sides.

The doors to the gym opened, catching everybody's attention. There were two people on the Nagoya Falcons that Mitsumi was particularly worried about. And she knew both of them personally. Which was unfortunate.

"Mitsumi!!! You're still short as ever!" And there was Shimura. The new captain of the number two team in the V. League. "It's been ages since we have seen each other!" She picked Mitsumi up by the waist and hugged her tightly. "Congratulations on the engagement by the way. How the heck have you been doing?"

Mitsumi squirmed out of Shimura's arms and landed on her feet. "I've been good! It's been extra busy trying to plan a wedding, but so it goes!" She placed a hand on her hip and leaned to the side. "And for your information, it's only been since the welcome banquet." She had really lost track of time. That party was three months ago now. And before that, it had been an eternity since Mitsumi had seen Shimura. 

And honestly, life had been better that way. Kind of.

Shimura patted her head, "Yeah, three months ago. That's a long time." She laughed it off. "Ugh, we have to have a team reunion or something."

Nagisa walked over to Shimura and sighed, "Give her a break, Captain." She yawned unexpectedly. "I don't want Mitsumi to rip your head off."

"Oh please, we know each other from our college days. We're just catching up." The spiker smiled in reassurance. "I'm going to go warm up now, don't expect me to go easy on you guys." She walked off with a wink.

...

Yep, Shimura Aki never changed in the slightest. She was still the loud, intense, and overbearing person she was when she was the captain of Tokyo University. But one thing that did change was her physical power.

Kanoka, the hidden ace of the Red Rockets, was a little scared of Shimura. And she had every valid reason to be. They had played against each other countless times over the seasons. But it was the intensity of Shimura's personality that made the shy individual want to scramble off and hide in a hole. If this had been high school, she probably would. But, there was no room for that silliness right now. 

A loud slam echoed from the libero's right side. "Sorry! I'll get the next one." Mitsumi had barely missed the ball again. She stood up and fixed her knee pads.

"It's okay! I should have gotten it!" Kanoka apologized since she was technically the closest one to the ball. 

Matsuri looked over at their setter, Asami. "I got the next one." She leaned over to Saki and whispered something in her ear. Saki nodded, understanding what she needed to do.

Shimura high-fived Nagisa for a solid emergency set. "Aw yeah! That felt good!" She managed to get the breakpoint in their last set.

Matsuki and Kuroo had heard about the match and made a detour on their way out of the office for the day. They stood in the gallery of the second gym where it was happening. A wave of nostalgia hit them like a tsunami. All of the memories they both had playing on a similar court.

"Ha! Shimura looks pissed that she got blocked by Izumi." Matsuki snorted a bit, "Mitsumi's style is the complete opposite of what it is when she's playing for the JNT. Same with Saki." She analyzed both teams out of habit. The former college player still played in a neighborhood club. They had their own small-time league that was made up of former college players and those looking for something to do. But, it was nothing like playing to the intensity of a professional match.

Kuroo nodded in agreement. If Mitsumi knew he was watching her, she would kill him and tell him to go focus on his work so she could focus on hers. He missed playing with the powerhouses of his student days. But, he too had his local athletic league. Never in a million years would he go professional, but he was there to support all of his friends that did.

There was a deathly silence after a massive this reverberated through the gym.

"What was that?" Kuroo remembered Shimura having a killer spike, but that was something else. The whistle blew and the purple-clad players cheered.

Matsuki shivered, "Dang, she's gotten faster. Poor Mitsumi was so close to saving that."

The Nagoya Falcons won their first practice game of the season. Surely, there would be more to come. Mitsumi smiled a bit and gave her teammates high fives for the good game. She noticed Saki and Shimura eyeing each other.

"We've got our work cut out for us this season," Saki smirked a bit.

Mitsumi nodded in agreement, "Heck yeah we do."

Kuroo ran a hand through his black hair as he watched the celebration down on the court. He eyed Matsuki from the side with a smirk. The people he was interested in featuring in this documentary project were each interesting specimens. Matsuki shook her head and crossed her arms. 

"What's that look for?" Matsuki could hardly believe she was his manager. Most days, it felt like her employee was plotting to boss her around. 

"We really are dealing with a bunch of monsters, Matsuki. Are you sure you're still down for this project?" His smirk widened a tad more as he spoke. 

The manager rolled her eyes and smacked his head. "Come on, Kuroo. We have a video conference with Kageyama, Hoshiumi, and Ushijima." She walked off ahead of him with a smile.