Ren's P.O.V:

I felt my heart beat from the inside of my chest. "Thank you for playing with us!" My team choired, as we took a quick bow. I walked over to Kiyoko-senpai, who had gestured me to come over there to where coach Ukai-kun and Takeda-sensei were. I smiled widely, as I excitedly trotted over.

"Congratulations, Yoshida!" Tanaka-senpai slapped my back, laughing. My eyes widened, as I nervously twiddled my fingers together. "That's our kohai for you!" Nishinoya-senpai added, patting my head.

But we lost-

"The coach saw something in you." Daichi-san walked over, as Nishinoya-senpai and Tanaka-senpai returned their hands. "Um- thank you. Daichi-san, Tanaka-senpai, Nishinoya-senpai."

"Call me Noya-senpai!" He announced, pointing a thumb at himself. "Th-thank you, N-Noya-senpai." I awkwardly looked away. "Now that that is done," the coach started, causing everyone in the gym to avert their gazes to him. "Yoshida?"

"Y-yeah?" He had Takeda-sensei take out a notebook, and open it to the designated page. "I'd like you to be an assist to Takeda-sensei, along with occasionally helping Kiyoko and me out." I felt my heart drop to my stomach. My gaze suddenly shifted the gym floors, "but we lost..."

The gym was covered with unnecessary silence, before Noya-senpai quickly patted my shoulders. "Of course you did." I felt my cheeks grow hot. "How bad would it look if your senpai's lost against their kouhai's?" Tanaka-senpai added, crossing his arms as Hinata-san fisted his hands and nodded.

"B-But-"

"Yoshida, we all know you're not that great." The coach sighed, as Takeda-sensei was about to elbow him, due to the comment. I looked down, and felt discouraged..? I knew I hadn't been the best and I hated that. Before I opened my mouth to agree, a voice spoke out. "But," Ukai-kun grinned, taking a good look at the notes the adviser had jotted down. "It doesn't mean you're completely bad."

I made eye contact with the speaker, and acquired the notebook he had handed to me. I quickly took a look over the pages, skimming through them. Everything was in here. The way I spiked the ball, the motion of how I received, hell, the step-by-step momentum of how I served-

It made me grin on the inside, and I had felt way more confident now that I knew that the coach had written down so many things that I was good at. "This is-"

"Everything that stood out about you," Adviser Takeda-sensei smiled, exchanging looks with Ukai-kun and Kiyoko-senpai. My eyes lit up, and I took a deep breath, "o-osu-!"

"But," I settled down as soon as the coach cut me off. "Are you up for it?"

The atmosphere around me changed, to a very serious one instead. I nodded, and took a bow. "I look forward to helping you!" It shocked the advisor and coach, and it was probably since it was so sudden. I had no intention to saying no, since I had already made up my mind a while ago.

Sugawara-san then ruffled my hair, making my cheeks heat up. "Good, good. We look forward to having you help us." I smiled, as I straightened myself back up. "Uwaah, now Yoshida-kun can teach us how to serve and spike and stuff!" The ginger over actively stated, looking up at me with admiration. "Y-Yeah..."

"Anyways, Yoshida." I viewed the coach, who had grinned mischievously, causing me to step back. "In a few days, we will be taking the team to a training camp, for a match in Tokyo."

"T-Tokyo?" I asked, shocked. "We'll be having the match with one of Karasuno's greatest rivals, Nekoma."

Nekoma?

I thought, placing my hand on my chin. "On the other hand, I'd like you to come with us, Yoshida." Ukai-kun spoke out, breaking it down for me. "Is it... alright for me to come?"

"Obviously, why would he be asking you then?" Tsukishima-kun threw mockingly, having Yamaguchi-san agree as well. "It'll only be a few days." Takeda-sensei added, as I gave a hesitant smile. "U-Um-"

"Yoshida you have to come!" Tanaka-senpai shouted, making me jump back a bit. "What would we do without our precious kohai?" The libero of the team, dramatically cried, falling back, only to have his best friend catch him. "O-Okay, okay, I'll come!" I quickly agreed, not thinking over the decision. Their faces lit up, as they both celebrated. I sighed, shuffling towards Hinata-san. "How are you handling this?" I whispered as he nodded, "I don't even know."

I nodded as we all went back to resting and cooling off. After a while of us wiping our selves off, Kiyoko-senpai decided to hand out water bottles. So I had made the decision of helping her. "Here." I handed the first years, starting off with Kageyama. Without changing expression, he took it, mumbling the words, "thank you."

Giving one to Yamaguchi-san and Tsukishima-kun, I took one for myself, for Kiyoko-senpai had given the rest of the team. "Welcome to the team, Yoshida-san." The freckled first year stated, as his tall friend gave an evil grin. "Yeah, why wouldn't she make in on?"

I huffed in frustration, as I continued to drink from my bottle. "Was that a compliment?" I sighed, rubbing the back of my head. I had known it wasn't, and that he had meant it in the kind of 'she's a guy, why wouldn't she make it on' type of way. "Whatever floats your boat, Yoshida-kun."

I took a deep breath, and started packing up my things, before I got stopped by Hinata-san. "You got to teach me how to serve like that! It was like Gwahh!" He hopped, making me nervously smile.

Gwahh?

"Let's let her rest for a bit, Hinata." Sugawara said, as I sighed out of relief.

Thank you, Sugawara-san.

"Come on guys, go change so we can leave." Coach Ukai-kun barked, as everyone grabbed their clothes. "Yoshida? I'm going back to the shop, so can you lock up with Kiyoko?" I nodded, as he threw me the keys. I caught them with both hands, and looked up at him, as he turned away to leave. My eyes gleamed with delight, as I held the keys tightly in my hands.

My first job as an assistant.

"I'll also be taking my leave." Takeda-sensei bowed, as he rushed out the door after the coach. I stood there dumbfounded for a while, because the team had already made their way out. "Follow me." Manager Kiyoko-senpai stated blandly, with the same expression as usual. "S-sure thing."

She then took me up a pair of stairs outside, to what I believed was a club room. "I'll lock the gym." Kiyoko-senpai then walked back, leaving me in front of the door.

What is this? I'm locking up the club room right?

"I'm coming in." I warned out loud, twisting the knob and entering.

"Oh, how impolite to be peeking, Yoshida-kun." I took a glace upwards, to see the males of the team... changing?! My face turned a bright red, as I apologized and closed the door. "how embarrassing!" I said to myself, as I sat down.

They'd obviously be changing Ren! It's a club room for God's sake!

Tsukishima-kun was the first one I took a glimpse of, but thankfully, he hadn't started changing yet. I sighed, as I waited for the rest of the team to come out, one by one.

I got up, face still red from embarrassment. "Who knew Yoshida-kun had such a dirty mind?" The blonde teased as I struggled to lock the door, ultimately ignoring him. "Tsukishima, you really do have some character issues." The captain breathed, as they walked off.

--

I sighed as I picked up my bag, today's the day, huh?

I took a quick view of my clock, which read the numbers 7:46 AM. I gave myself a reassuring pat, because I'd be early for the first time. Yawning, I grabbed my toast, and stuffed it in my mouth. I trotted out the door, and zipped up my coat on the way. As soon as I reached, I entered class, proudly.

"Whoa, you're early today." Yamaguchi-san commented, as I took my seat beside him. I grabbed out my English, and placed it on the side of my desk. "Same with you." I didn't necessarily need to be in this class, since I had the highest grade, and finished the entire curriculum.

What can I say? I did live in America. Besides, the English classes here are pretty easy.

The teacher walked in moments later, beginning the class.

--

After changing our shoes, Tsukishima-kun, Yamaguchi-san and I all entered the gym at once, only to be greeted by the captain. "All here?" The coach called, once everyone gathered around him and Takeda-sensei. "Osu!" We all chanted, replying to Ukai-kun.

"The practice match against Nekoma is in four days." We all listened carefully, "and the Inter-High preliminaries will be soon thereafter."

"We got no time, but you guys are full of holes." He then looked towards Kiyoko-senpai and I. "Since that's the case, there's only one way for you to win." Coach continued, looking at each of the members, "practice, practice, and practice. Save the ball, even if you have to barf."

Hinata-san then yelled "osu!" As the rest of the team gave a hesitant smile, "He barfed already." After a while of block-receives, and spiking practice, we finally started to get going. Sure, I was a tad bit on-edge, since I hadn't done anything to help them but clean up afterwards.

It was pretty dark out, and we had finally made it to the place where we would be staying. Everyone was pretty worn out, except for the ginger first year, which had opened every room in the dorm, fired up. "I have to hang all day with this slovenly bunch." Tsukishima-kun said in a disappointed tone, "what's so fun about that?"

"Tsukishima, you bastard!" Tanaka-senpai clenched his fist, "Kiyoko-san's within a 500 meter radius of us, how can that be slovenly?!" Noya-senpai added, also very annoyed. I chuckled, as I stood with Sugawara-san, who had crushed their hopes, saying that she wasn't staying here, since here house was nearby.

I got nervous at the fact that I'd be staying at a training camp full of guys, but what's the worst that could happen? All of us then went to the kitchen, where all of us first years sat on a separate table than the second and third. "Thank you for the food..." I said, as I ate the food from my plate. I smirked, as my eyes glittered.

As expected from Kiyoko-senpai!

"What are you getting so excited for?" A certain male asked, finishing up his meal. "Ah, nothing Tsukishima-kun; just the food's really good."

"I know right?!" Tanaka-senpai yelled from the other side of the room, making Daichi-san quiet him down. "Tch, how irritating."

"What's wrong, Tsukki?" His friend asked, concerned. "Nothing, Yamaguchi."

--

After a while of Kageyama and Hinata-san racing to finish their food, I got up and walked over to the kitchen. "Sugawara-san, I'll wash the dishes." I offered as he declined, "no, that's alright."

"I'm sorry for being persistent, Sugawara-san, but I have nothing else to do. You, on the other hand, need to rest." I pouted, making him sigh. "Fine, fine... You can help." He gave in, as I grinned widely.

I do not own any of the Haikyuu!! Characters (with the exception of Ren Yoshida, of course) All rights reserved to Haruichi Furudate