Shimazaki Minami plays soccer ever since she was in grade school. She loved the sport dearly and always played with a smile on her face. When she went to middle school, she joined the girls’ soccer team and immediately got in the regulars. She eventually became the ace of the team because of hard work and her determination in becoming better. But during her second year, something happened that pushed her in changing schools and ended up being classmates with Hinata in Yukigaoka.

“Minami-chan!!!” Hinata greeted the short-haired girl as soon as she finished changing her outdoor shoes into her indoor ones.

“G-Good morning, Hinata-kun” she said back with a sweat dropped, wondering what got the ginger energetic early in the morning.

“I told you, you can call me Shoyo~!” sang the middle blocker and noticed her carrying her gym bag. “Oh, let me carry that for you! You’re in class 2 right? That’s just beside mine so we can walk there together!” Hinata grabbed the duffel in Shimazaki’s hands before she could even protest.

“Hi-Hinata-kun matte—” Poor Minami was dragged by the gleeful Shoyo who tugged her wrist and drag her up to their classroom. Sugimoto was just nearby since she and Shimazaki both have ‘S’ on the start of the surname. She saw the whole scene and sweat dropped, marking in her mind that she’ll never talk to a highly spirited Hinata.

“I should really lose some weight” Kajiwara sighed, a bit downcast as she headed towards her classroom gloomily. She went to her spot and lied down with her arms covering her face. Her short rest was interrupted when a lively ginger approached her and asked what do girls like.

“Kajiwara-san! What do you think is best to give to a girl once you two are on a date?”

“U-Um I don’t know – perhaps a teddy bear?” Shinobu suggested without knowing the reason for this question.

“Really? Thanks!”

With that, she was left alone again, slumping on her desk once more. ‘Boys are weird…’

Later that day when Shimazaki was training, she can’t help but feel Hinata’s stare from afar. The boy and his partner, Kageyama, started to train just beside the field ever since first day of school. Of course she sees them every day since she was now one of the varsities of the soccer sport.

“Shimazaki, it’s your ball!” shouted by one of Minami’s teammates as she dash up to get the ball that was passed to her.

She dribbles the ball expertly with her feet, successfully passing her teammates who attempted to steal the ball from her. She forced a kick that the goal keeper wasn’t able to catch which means another point for her team. “Yeah!” she cheered, raising her fist. She was happy that all her hard work always pays off.

Shimazaki stole a glance at the two who were still practicing their receives with Hinata repeatedly crashing on the ground. She gasped and shut her eyes when she saw him get his by a ball at the face. ‘Is he okay…?’ she wondered.

When they went to take a break, she noticed Hinata also resting beneath the tree, his body collapsed on the soft grass. She grabs an ice bag and excused herself to the captain and went over to where Hinata was. “Hinata-kun” she called his attention.

“Mi-Minami-chan?!” the ginger abruptly sat up, surprised to see the girl approach him for the first time.

“Here” Shimazaki handed her an ice bag. “Place it on your bruises. It’ll help soothe them” she says, sitting down beside him.

“You have a practice game on Saturday right?” Hinata suddenly mentioned, looking at the girl who had her eyes focused at the field.

“Yeah. Against Komagata” she nodded her head.

“That’s a shame” the orange-head hummed, making the girl glance at him. “I can’t watch you that day. I have a game against Tsukishima”

“Oh right. If you win that game that means you get to be accepted in your club, right?” Minami remembered Hinata mentioning it to her once, when he caught up with her in walking home. That’s when Hinata forced her into a deal that if he wins the game; she gets to go out on a date with him.

“And you get to be my girlfriend too!” added the shortie who grinned at her cutely.

“The agreement was I only get to go out with you” The soccer varsity clarified sternly.

“Isn’t that the same thing?” “It isn’t”

“Bummer”

It stayed quiet between them for a while as they stared peacefully at the scene of students playing their extracurricular activities. On the other hand, Kageyama buying yogurt milk.

The two shared smiles before Shimazaki decided to go back to her team and continue training. “Well, good luck on your match on Saturday, Hinata-kun. I’ll see you later” she waves a hand at him and he did the same.

Hinata stared at her distancing figure and smiled to himself, feeling more determined to win the game against Tsukishima. ‘Yosh! I’ve got to win for me and Minami-chan!’

And that weekend, it happened. He and his team won a match against their fellow club mate Tsukishima which means the approval of their club application forms. That also meant Kageyama has a chance to play setter for his team.

As for Hinata, the first thing he called after that win is Shimazaki who, at the time, was still in bed. “MINAMI-CHAN! Guess what?! WE WON THE GAME!” he informed the great news.

“That’s great, Hinata-kun…” the girl grumbled, half-awake. She ended up the call for she still wanted some sleep because of the deathly training she received the day before.

Hinata jumped gleefully and twirled around the gym while chanting ‘Minami-chan’ over and over. Kageyama, together with his senpais and fellow freshmen, gave the newly recruited ginger a weird look as his kira kira smile atmosphere expanded.

Tanaka laughed. “My, my! The #1 shortie has a crush eh? No worries! Tanaka-senpai is here to play cupid for you my boy!” offered the shaved-head second year, draping his arm around Hinata’s shoulders.

“Tanaka-san!” the boy’s innocent eyes sparkled in admiration. “Will you help me prepare my date for Minami-chan?”

“Of course! What good of a senpai am I if I don’t help a kohai on his love life?” Tanaka brushed his thumb on his nose. From there, they started to plan out the date; what Hinata will wear, bring, and how will he fetch the girl from their house. Tanaka also gave him the boy some tips on how he could make some moves on the girl.

The next day, Hinata went off to school excitedly. He ran pass his own classroom and headed directly to class 2 where Shimazaki was sitting on her seat, just listening to music. Hinata didn’t even care if that wasn’t his classroom. He approached Minami and trapped her in a hug. “Minami-chan!!” “Hi-Hinata-kun?!” clearly the girl was astonished on his actions; the blush on her cheeks say so. “Wh-What are you doing?!”

“We won the game on Saturday!”

“Th-That’s great, Hinata-kun… you can now officially participate in your club…”

“Eh? Don’t tell me you forgot?! You and I have a deal to settle!”

“D-Deal? Oh—” Minami stiffened remembering what she and Hinata compromised during the time they walked home together.

“Why won’t you go out with me?” Hinata pouted, after several failed attempts in asking Minami out. “It’s just like hanging out. I promise I won’t put any meaning to it” the orange head boy clasped his hands together as if the girl was some deity and he was praying to her.

Shimazaki sweat dropped and concluded in her head that the boy won’t stop until she says yes. “I already told you. My schedule’s too busy. I have training every day and I have to help my parents over at the bakery” she reasoned out. That didn’t do the trick; Hinata was so tenacious.

“Then whenever you’re free! Please please please! Just give me a chance!” he practically begged. “I’ll wait when you’re free! I’ll do anything! Please, Minami-chaaan!”

‘This won’t do’ Minami sighed. “Sorry but-” “I know! I have a practice match with Tsukishima next week! If I win that match, will you go out with me then?” ‘Eeehhh?’ “I’ll consider it as a good omen! Please Minami-chan!”

Shimazaki saw how badly Hinata wanted to take her out. She felt bad for making him plead to her like that. She never wanted people to ask from her yet here Hinata is.

“Fine. If you win the practice match, then I guess I could take a break from sports…” she finally agreed that led Hinata’s arms encircling around her.

“Alright!!!” he cheered happily. “Thank you so much!!”

“R-Right…”

And that was the deal Hinata and Shimazaki agreed upon. ‘I can’t believe I forgot about that…’ Minami face palmed.