A/N

Aha. I like disappeared and died for a while. I don't think writing a book suits me. After this book or in-between to stay motivated I might start one-shots. I might just only do one-shots now haha... :'D Well, here is another chapter! Sorry for the long wait unu
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"(L/n)-san, could you put these forms in the principal's box in the office, and have this one signed?" The assistant coach held up a package of papers in his hands. 

"Y-yes!" You walked over to the man and took the pile from his hands. You stole a glance at the piece of paper on top, curious but not wanting to openly pry into the contents. 

"... These forms are for InterHigh. We need to make sure our players are eligible to go." The assistant coach answered upon her curiosity. 

"O-oh, I see! I-I'll be back shortly then!" You nodded your head and walked towards the gym doors. You bowed your heads to the upperclassmen volleyball players and greeted the rest with a small nod before leaving the gym. 

"I'm glad (L/n)-san is more comfortable around us!" Watari exclaimed as he pulled his gaze away from the door when you left. 

"Mm." Matsukawa hummed and nodded his head in agreement before walking off on his own. 

"I wonder if she'll do alright at the InterHigh competition though." Kindaichi sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. 

"There will be a lot of people and confrontation with other schools." Yahaba's mouth frowned off to the side, remembering her shocked and anxious filled face upon hearing that InterHigh is right around the corner.

Iwaizumi who was listening to their conversation after setting up the net approached the two and bonked the top of Yahaba's head. 

"What are you doing letting everyone else set up the gym?" Iwaizumi sighed and placed his hand onto his hip.

"Sorry, sorry! We'll be on our way Iwaizumi senpai~!" Watari hurriedly jogged away with Yahaba and Kindaichi trailing after him.

"Iwaizumi, where is Oikawa?" The assistant coach asked from across the gym. 

"Tch, that shitty bastard is still in the locker room." Iwaizumi let out an irritated sigh.

"Go ahead and start the warm ups. I have a phone call to make. Feel free to make Oikawa run a couple more laps when he arrives." With that being said, he left the gym with Iwaizumi in charge. 

"Yoish! Let's begin with stretches!" Iwaizumi gathered the team together and began their warm up exercises. 

'(L/n)-san... She'll be fine since we'll be there.' Iwaizumi reassured himself and let out a grin as he breathed out. 'With how she is now, she'll be able to handle herself.'

"I'm here~!" Oikawa walked into the gym and hurriedly changed into his indoor shoes. "Sorry for arriving late! I was accompanying-"

"Your punishment is three laps after your warm ups." Iwaizumi bluntly interrupted with intimidating eyes.

"Geh?! Seriously? Who's the captain right now?" Oikawa scoffed and curled his fingers. 

As the two squabbled, the rest of the team took this as an opportunity to take a break and watch their captain and vice captain argue like old men.

"Eh? Oikawa senpai, you brought over a girl?" Watari blinked his eyes after noticing a short haired girl enter the gym from behind Oikawa.

"You're playing around now?" Iwaizumi glared into Oikawa's eyes, his face shadowed in a menacing way.

"I-it's not like that! Can't you give me a second to defend myself?!" Oikawa threw out his hands, flabbergasted.

"Umm, I'm Yuri Sato, a 2nd year from Matsuyama Nishi Shogyo High. I asked your captain for directions to the gym eheh." Yuri awkwardly bowed her head, defending Oikawa from the intimidating vice captain. 

"She's kind of cute." Yahaba whispered to the closest person next to him. 

"..." Kunimi ignored Yahaba's statement. 'What a long title for a school...' He tiredly thought. 

"Matsuyama Nishi Shogyo High? What brings you all the way here?" Iwaizumi raised his brows. After all, it doesn't seem like anyone on the team knows of her seeing that the reaction was quite dull. 

"Oh..." Iwaizumi quietly muttered in realization. 

'Is she here for (L/n)-san? She has more people looking for her again?' 

"Now, now Iwa-chan! Your expression is too scary!" Oikawa sang and pointed towards his friend's face. Iwaizumi's brows were crossed and his sharp eyes were deep in thought. 

"Ah, sorry." Iwaizumi let out a sigh and adjusted his expression. 

"I-I heard (Y/n) (L/N) senpai goes to this school? I was hoping to meet with her! We went to the same junior high, but I lost contact with her after she stopped playing!" Yuri exclaimed, her eyes hopeful that they wouldn't kick her out.

"After she stopped playing?-" Iwaizumi's nose wrinkled at the meaning behind such simple words. He was curious of what Yuri could have been referring to. 

"Senpai? Aren't you also a 2nd year?" Kindaichi's voice lapped over Iwaizumi's, his brow raised in confusion. He thought that perhaps the girl was mistaken and wasn't as close with their manager. 

"What?! (L/n) senpai is a 3rd year! Do you not know your own manager's grade?!" Yuri frowned and tightened her fists that grasped the hem of her blazer. 

"3rd year?" Almost everyone questioned in unison, baffled and confused because clearly she is a 2nd year, which they could all verify as they have their own respected grade and classes. 

"Well (L/n) should be back soon. She left to turn in some paperwork." Hanamaki spoke up and placed his water bottle down onto the bench.

"I see... Would it be alright to wait here until she arrives?" 

"I don't see why not! It's rude to let a cute girl-" Oikawa began before Iwaizumi whacked him behind the head. 

"You can watch us practice then!" Yahaba intercepted, flashing a charming smile to woo the girl. 

"Sure." She politely smiled and nodded her head, which was a "cold" enough reaction to shut down Yahaba. 

"Then we should continue practice! Everyone, let's separate into teams and-" Oikawa walked toward the court with a grin.

"Not so fast. You have to run 3 laps." Iwaizumi peered over Oikawa's shoulders, dragging him back towards the gym doors.

"Have mercy Iwa-chan!" 

"You can join the practice match after." Iwaizumi opened the gym doors and halted with a small sound of surprise.

"H-hello...?" You jumped up in surprise as your gaze went to Iwaizumi and then to Oikawa. You could already guess what happened for them to end up in this situation. 

"Oh! (L/n)-san!" Oikawa's eyes lit up. "You have a visitor!" Oikawa pointed his finger. 

"A visitor...?" You blinked your eyes and tilted your head. You weren't expecting anyone to visit you, and you wouldn't have had anyone close to you that would meet you in person aside from your father. 

'That girl doesn't seem like those guys who chased after (L/n)-san after school. Still, who knows what relationship she and (L/n)-san had in junior high.' Iwaizumi sighed and let go of Oikawa. 

"A girl from Matsuyama Nishi Shogyo High named Yuri Sato. Do you know her?" Iwaizumi asked.

"Y-Yuri Sato...?" You hummed in thought, digging through your memories. "Ah! Y-Y-Yuri?!" It didn't take you more than a few seconds to connect the dots. Your jaw practically dropped and your soul momentarily left your body.

"Are you okay...?" Both Oikawa and Iwaizumi asked, watching as the girl in front of them sweat bullets. 

"Should we tell her you left due to an emergency?" Iwaizumi narrowed his gaze, feeling protective and concerned over your reaction.

"N-no! I'm just s-surprised..." You intertwined your hands and took a deep breath. You turned your face away off to the side, not wanting your flustered yet solemn expression to be seen. 

"I need to hurry with those three laps if I want to play. Go ahead and start the practice match." Oikawa stared at the two and let out a knowing smile. He patted Iwaizumi's shoulder and jogged away from the two. 

"S-she's waiting inside for me, right?" You awkwardly forced out a laugh. 

"Yeah..." Iwaizumi was unable to say anything. He didn't know much or anything about you the more he thought about it. "Though, I'm not sure why she said you are a 3rd year. Are you two close?" 

"I see..." You bit the inside of your lip and hesitantly spoke up. "W-we're just acquaintances from junior high! I will t-talk with her, and you can continue practice. I-it sounds like they've already started playing..." You quickly walked past Iwaizumi and into the gym doors. 

"She didn't mention about the 3rd year topic..." Iwaizumi sighed and scratched through his hair in confusion and even frustration. 

'I suppose I don't have any rights to pry into her personal relationships. If anything, we're practically strangers. I don't know anything about her.' Iwaizumi groaned and walked back onto the court, joining in on the game. 

As he tried to get his mind focused on the game, his eyes glanced over to you as you approached Yuri. You were putting on a polite smile and welcoming eyes, but your hands were folded and your fingers were fidgeting. On the contrary, Yuri had a joyous and wide smiled expression. 

That interaction between you and Yuri was the last he could witness before you gestured to talk outside the gym and disappeared from his sight. 

'I'm worried...' Iwaizumi frowned and turned his head back onto the court just in time to receive the serve heading towards him. Still, his thoughts couldn't help but circle around you. 

3/22/2021