Third person POV

"M-m-me?!" (Y/n) shakily raised her finger towards her face, and her lips quivered.

"C-coach..." Kindaichi gave a troubled expression.

No one can blame his open expression despite its rudeness. After all, (Y/n) could barely talk to them because of her anxiety. Plus, (Y/n) could very easily be seen as a very feeble and docile girl.

"Your captain would attract applicants with no quality and you all scare everyone with your intimidating looks!!" The head coach sighed and shook his head.

"We can't help that...?" The team sweat dropped. After all, they couldn't change their physical features.

"Eh? Am I at fault then?" Oikawa pointed at himself. "I know I'm good looking but—"

"Just shut up!" Iwaizumi slapped his back and let out a rough sigh.

"I-I'm sorry... But I believe I would drag down the team instead..." (Y/n) looked down to the ground and tightly gripped the strap of her bag.

The boys looked at her with silence, unsure of how to respond to such words. They couldn't deny or comfort her in words they themselves are unsure of being deemed appropriate.

"You can take your time thinking whether or not you want to accept it." The head coach waved his hand and let out a lighthearted laugh.

"Ah... Okay." (Y/n) nodded her head. "Th-thank you for allowing me to stay here. I, I shall take my leave then." She bowed and stepped out of the gym with hurried steps.

"Coach! What are you thinking?" Oikawa hummed, and the rest of the team nodded their curious heads.

"Exactly like what I said. She knows the rules of the game and acknowledges the team dynamics. She has sharp eyes. Try being more approachable with her if you see her!" The head coach glared at the boys.

"Yes coach..."

"You are all dismissed!"

—————

"Aaahhh I did it!" (Y/n) cried out loud and planted her head onto her desk.

'Why why why does my first day have to end up like this?!' (Y/n) pulled onto her (h/c) locks and let out a huge sigh.

"... I can't..." (Y/n) mumbled and loosen her grip on her hair.

—————

'I don't want to be here...' (Y/n)'s legs were trembling behind the classroom door.

She figured out last night that her necklace charm had gone missing. She spent the entire night cramming homework and notes while trying to search inside her apartment and the lobby. Not to mention the elevator. It was difficult to avoid the awkward tension when a working office middle aged women entered the elevator when (Y/n) was crouched on the ground.

"I'm doomed..." (Y/n) let out a deep sigh.

'What if I bump into the volleyball club at school?! It is bound to happen right?!' (Y/n) left out a sound of fear and shook her head.

'I'll just hide in the restroom during break and lunch!' (Y/n) reassured herself and entered the class as quietly as she could.

'S-see! No one is talking to me!' (Y/n)'s tense shoulders relaxed, and she made it to her seat.

"*Sigh*..." She calmly took out and placed her book down onto her desk.

"Oh! Good morning!"

"...!" (Y/n)'s (e/c) eyes widened in surprise and she jaggedly turned her head over. Her cheeks sulked down into her skull and her mouth agape.

'V-VOLLEYBALL CLUB?!' (Y/n)'s soul floated out of her body.

"Aha. I'm Shigeru Yahaba. Do you remember me?" The light haired boy with swishy bangs pointed to himself.

"Ah... Y-yeah." (Y/n) gulped and nodded her head.

"........" It grew awkwardly silent between them. Luckily for them, the teacher entered the room to start the class.

'Wh-what the heck?! I never took notice he was my classmate!' (Y/n)'s hand shook as she tried taking notes. She was slow in writing and the shakiness only contributed to her poor penmanship.

—————

"Um, (L/n)-san. If you want to hide during lunch you can come with me to the gym." Yahaba offered and bent down to pick up his sports bag.

"....." (Y/n) gave him a nervous look of disbelief and held her bento box closer towards her.

"N-not because of the manager situation..." He sweat dropped and scratched his cheek with a small laugh.

"O-okay..." (Y/n) nodded her head and followed him from behind.

"Yahaba-kun~! Teacher is calling for you!" A classmate entered the room before they could leave.

"Seriously?" Yahaba sighed and raised a brow and turned to (Y/n). "Think you can head there by yourself?"

"Y-yeah..." (Y/n) timidly nodded her head and turned away.

'Darn. I wanted to walk with her~.' Yahaba sighed and shrugged his arms.

'I... I don't remember the way...' (Y/n) face palmed herself and pursed her lips.

(Y/n) turned left and right and exited the building after a few minutes. She let out a sigh and tiptoed around the corner before walking out.

"Ah! The gym!" She blinked with a short sigh of relief.

"KYAA~~! OIKAWA-SENPAI~!" Loud shrieks began to pile towards her way.

"Ack!" (Y/n) paled and almost dropped her bento when a massive crowd pushed past her and was now hoarding towards the gym.

"Hello everyone~! You all look beautiful today!" Oikawa waved at the crowd he was engulfed in and gave a killer smile.

"P-play boy...!" Lightning struck (Y/n), and her lips became dry.

"Oi Trashykawa! We have practice!" Iwaizumi growled and grabbed the taller boy's jacket collar from behind. He began dragging him towards the gym but stopped when he noticed someone out of place from the crowd.

As the crowd of girls died down and walked away, Iwaizumi was able to drop Oikawa through the gym doors. Oikawa slumped onto the ground with a whine and stood up. He was about to rebuttal with his friend but was cut off by the closed door.

He walked over to (Y/n) who was still taking the scene all in.

"HOW RUDE IWA-CHAN!" Oikawa's shouts could be heard from through the metal door.

'W-wouldn't it be more dangerous to go by the gym if it crowds with people often like that?! Ahhh this is bad—'

"Uhh (L/n), right? Sorry about that." Iwaizumi approached and tilt his head. He brushed the back of his neck.

"I-it's alright Iwaizumi senpai..." (Y/n) laughed nervously with shaking (e/c) eyes.

'She's not fine...' Iwaizumi sweat dropped with a hitch in his breath.

"Do you want to want to eat your lunch in the gym?"

"Eh? Ah?" (Y/n) looked down at her hands and then to Iwaizumi.

"... If I do, will I be forced to be the manager?" (Y/n) pressed her brows and her eyes filled of worry and distrust.

"N-no." He sweat dropped at her large and hostile eyes. "No one is forcing you, and our head coach will not be here today." Iwaizumi reassured her.

"Sorry... Even when you guys are so generous to let someone in during practice and help me.!I can't bring myself to take a role." (Y/n) sighed.

"I don't think you have anything to apologize for. It is true that we need a manager, but I wouldn't want to force you to accept the request." Iwaizumi said and let out a sound of realization.

"Here." He zipped open a pocket of his sports bag and held it out for her.

"Hm?" (Y/n) blinked for a second and held out her palm for him to drop it onto her hand.

"It got stuck onto my uniform when we collided yesterday— Eh?!" Iwaizumi tried to explain but was taken aback with panic when he saw her teary face. "S-sorry! I wanted to give it back yesterday, but I didn't have it on me and-"

"N-no...! It's fine!" (Y/n) laughed and wiped away at her loose tears with the sleeves of her blazer.

"Hah..." Iwaizumi let out a sigh of relief and scratched his cheek in embarrassment of not knowing what to do or say.

"It's all there. Thank you senpai!" (Y/n) smiled and held onto the charm in her tight fist.

"I-It's no problem. We should head in now." His cheeks were lightly dusted in pink by the genuine gratitude and led the way into the gym.

They entered the gym and were greeted by Oikawa who drowned Iwaizumi with his complaints and whines. Iwaizumi greeted him back with a solid kick.

5/11/2020