Third person POV

"Ah, coach Nobuteru." The younger coach turned his head to the door and greeted his superior.

The head coach greeted him back and shared a small conversation about the team before his attention was brought back to (Y/n) who was still immersed in watching the practice.

"Hm? How many days has it been?" The head coach looked around and took notice of (Y/n).

"(L/n)? For a couple of days now."

"Really now." He crossed his arms and raised his brows. "We can't have her stay in the gym as a freebie forever."

"Yeah... Coach, why did you ask her to become the manager?"

"She's a better player than any of us would have expected."

"Player?" The coach turned his head in the direction of (Y/n). The same girl who was panicked to speak and to do anything. "She played volleyball?"

"Yeah. Though I don't know what happened in junior high when she stopped playing."

"Game point!"

"Have them cool down." The head coach instructed.

"Alright." The coach nodded his head and walked towards the point board.

"Hwah!" Iwaizumi spiked the volleyball and landed a powerful hit.

"Uh...!" Kindachi shook his arm, and let out a sigh. "You really don't hold back senpai..."

"Iwaizumi senpai is the strongest out of all of us." Hanamaki stated and rested his hand onto his hip.

"Good job everyone. We will end today's practice with a cool down lap outside the gym." The coach walked forward and crossed his arms.

"Yes, coach!" The team chanted and shuffled over towards the door to put on their outdoor shoes.

"Hm?" Iwaizumi looked up after slipping on his shoes, catching the head coach and (Y/n) in a conversation.

'She looks nervous. Is he asking her about becoming the manager again?'

"Hurry and finish that lap so you guys can go home." The coach raised his voice towards the team.

The boys quickly exited the gym, some of them shouting and calling for a competition. Their youthful shouts and screams echoed back towards the gym.

"(L/n)-san, I don't want it sound like I'm throwing you out, but the gym is closed off towards outsiders. You can't stay here after the week is up." The head coach frowned with a disappointed face.

"I-I understand... I apologize." (Y/n) fondled around with her hands. "I... I will t-tell you my final answer tomorrow, F-Friday..."

"Mm. It is a shame, but I'm glad you understand."

"... Coach Nobuteru, d-did you already know w-who I was?" (Y/n) worriedly looked up.

"I did. It took me a short while, but I figured it out."

"I-I see..." (Y/n)'s eyes drooped down and her hands lowered. Cold drops of sweat formed on her forehead and the pit of her stomach felt queasy.

"I want you to join the team not only because you were an excellent player but because you could use this opportunity."

"Eh? P-pardon?" (Y/n) creased her brows and tilted her head.

"Hah! I made it first!" Watari exclaimed as he ran up to the steps of the gym doors. He breathlessly panted and placed his hands onto his knees.

"O-oi! Y-you had a head start!"

"Fair and square!"

"Stop yelling!"

"So energetic~..."

"Reconsider the offer." The head coach concluded and walked over towards the other coach.

"Uh, alright..." (Y/n) frowned with a troubled expression and placed a hand over her chest. She could feel her heart beating rapidly in anxiousness, and her stomach turned.

'I... I really want to take the offer, but I—'

"(L/n)-san, are you feeling alright? You're pale and sweating." Iwaizumi walked up to, his eyes filled with concern that paired his firm face.

"A-ah, I'm fine." (Y/n) nodded her head and dropped her hand. "Y-you, you made an e-excellent spike at game point."

"Thank you." Iwaizumi grinned and looked over towards the rambunctious team that flocked around each other quite loudly. "We all assist each other. Having a team of reliable teammates makes us stronger than one powerful opponent."

"... Yeah. It does." (Y/n) folded her hands behind her and gazed over towards the team too.

Iwaizumi turned his attention back towards (Y/n) and looked into her conflicting expression that contrasted with her agreement. Her face was still like a painting, filled with an indescribable feeling but knowingness that it was something complex.

"You guys are all so bright and sparkling..." (Y/n) softly grinned with bitterness.

'S-sparkling...?' Iwaizumi blinked dumbfoundingly and rubbed his arms.

"I, I think your coach is calling for everyone." (Y/n) pointed to the group and lowered her hand shortly after.

"Oh, alright. Thank you." Iwaizumi blinked his eyes and nodded his head. He hesitantly retreated and regrouped into the huddle of the flock.

"I got off the phone with Karasuno's volleyball team. We arranged for a practice match next week on Tuesday." The head coach announced.

"Karasuno? I don't think I've heard much about them." Watari frowned and racked his brain for any memory of the name.

"They've been named flightless crows." Kunimi quietly commented.

"Tobia-chan is at Karasuno~." Oikawa hummed with a laugh and crossed his arms.

"Oi. Wipe off that smug." Iwaizumi slapped the back of Oikawa's shoulder.

(Y/n) let out a sigh and glanced over at the huddled team. She played with the (f/c) jeweled trinket on her necklace.

'Tomorrow...' (Y/n) nervously gulped and turned her head away as the pressure in her head began to build up.

"THANK YOU, COACHES! GOOD WORK EVERYONE!" The team all bowed their heads.

"...!" (Y/n) jumped out of her thoughts and looked over at the dispersing team with wide eyes.

'Ah, they're cleaning up now.' (Y/n) stood up and picked up her bag.

"(L/n)-san, are you heading out now?" Watari jogged over to.

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

'Wh-what was his name?'

"Are you alright walking home by yourself?" Iwaizumi walked up as he gathered a couple of volleyballs into his arms.

"Y-yes. I have no, um, difficulties walking myself." (Y/n) folded her hands.

"Eh? But it's quickly getting dark out." Matsukawa said as he pushed a cart over for Iwaizumi to dump the volleyballs into.

"I-it's fine...!" (Y/n) nervously waved her hands around.

"Don't worry! We can clean up the gym really quickly!" Oikawa snapped his fingers and hurried his steps along with his teammates.

"I-it's really fine..." (Y/n)said but only for her voice to not reach the hurrying boys.

'I guess it would be rude if I just run out now...' (Y/n) sweatdropped and let out a sigh.

"Done!" Watari exclaimed.

"We all live in different directions after a certain point. Do you live nearby here?" Matsukawa questioned.

"Ehh, I-I live near [insert]..."

"Oh, I live down a block from there." Iwaizumi stated.

"Iwa-chan, behave yourself."

"Oi, shittykawa..." Iwaizumi's glinted a sharp light and his lip curled in a broadened line.

"... I-I can walk... myself..." (Y/n)'s voice slowly died down in the midst of the friendly(?) fire.

"Gym is all clean~! Let's go!" Watari shouted and jogged past them.

"Let's go." Matsukawa's easy-going tone and nature nodded his head as he casually passed them.

-----

'It's just us two now...' (Y/n) sweatdropped and nervously gulped. She fumbled with the ends of her sleeves and kept her stare low.

"Oikawa is actually pretty childish, so don't mind that idiot. You'll only boost his annoying ego." Iwaizumi let out a troubled and annoyed sigh as he scratched through his hair.

"I-it's no... problem." (Y/n) choked. "... You guys look close though?"

"Yeah. We went to school together as kids and to now." Iwaizumi exhaled with a hint of amusement, which warped into an angrier expression. "He's a handful."

"Ha...!" (Y/n) covered her mouth to conceal an unexpected laugh.

'How silly...' (Y/n) nervously shook it off and wiped away at the sweat around her forehead.

"Earlier, did the coach say anything to you?" Iwaizumi glanced to his side.

"A-ah, he did..." (Y/n) played with a strand of her (h/c) and turned her head further away. "I-I have until the end of t-tomorrow to make a choice."

"Did he..." Iwaizumi hummed and turned his attention up into the sky.

"O-oh! M-my house is th-there! Th-thank you f-for walking me home, Iwaizumi senpai..." (Y/n) hurriedly said, wanting to escape the conversation before he asked her about it more. She quickly bowed her head and adjusted the strap of her school bag, and she rushed to take a step forward.

"If you want to join, then join." Iwaizumi said loud enough for her to hear before she bolted off, which made her stop instead.

'Ahhhh stupid feet! Stupid brain! You should have pretended to not have heard him...!' (Y/n) mentally balled her eyes out, wanting to pull on her hair. It would be weird if she suddenly started sprinting for the limited seconds she could away from him.

"You have the look of wanting to be around volleyball." Iwaizumi firmly said in thought.

"... D-do I?" (Y/n) kept her back frozen in front of him.

"Yeah. If there is something that worries you, I will help you." Iwaizumi proclaimed with a clear and assuring voice.

"... I-isn't that a burden? I-I'm just a kouhai and p-passing schoolmate, haha..." (Y/n) clenched around the collar of her buttoned blouse and tie. "I-it's kind of you, but I c-can't do that..."

'I should stop now... I'm making a scene of things.' (Y/n) sighed.

"It won't be a burden. I love volleyball, and sharing the sport with others and a team is how volleyball is brought together in the first place."

(Y/n)'s lips trembled for a couple of seconds. The soft-spoken yet unyieldingly firmness of his statements made her feel a weight slip off her shoulders.

"... I, I think so too... I, I will think about it carefully Iwaizumi senpai." (Y/n) hesitantly shifted her body and met his olive-green eyes. There was this certain light to his pair of unique eyes that made (Y/n) feel genuinely comforted.

"Yeah." Iwaizumi grinned and nodded his head. "Good night (L/n)-san."

"G-good night..." (Y/n) shortly waved her and trotted to the gates of her house.

Iwaizumi waited from a distance to make sure she got into her residence safely before leaving. Stuffing his hands into his jogger pockets, he left in the thought of the mystery and timid kitten.

6/14/2020