㍿·ˑ ִֶ ༄ ⊹꒰ 𝘗𝘙𝘌𝘛𝘛𝘠 𝘎𝘐𝘙𝘓!| 𖦹 🐚 ¡! ❞𝘞𝘏𝘠 𝘊𝘈𝘕'𝘛 𝘠𝘖𝘜 𝘎𝘜𝘠𝘚 𝘉𝘌 𝘕𝘖𝘙𝘔𝘈𝘓?ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ- 🎐ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 ( 𝘈𝘗𝘗𝘓𝘠𝘍𝘐𝘊!𝘈𝘜)

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : SOME
↻ ◁ || ▷
0:57 ————|——— -2:10

Baby, I want some of your love
Your love (your love), your love

★── "Didn't I just say cameras are nothing but janky piles of shit?
Well, I'm still right about that—those flashbangs can make you look so awkward and unsymmetrical.

You can look gorgeous in the mirror of people, but the lens says otherwise."

♡︎ ── "PSSTTT HEY, SERMIRA, DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO NUMB—"

Sermira blinked, raising an eyebrow at the voice coming from the boy next to her. "We didn't even have homework in Mrs. Yamamoto's class," she whispered back, her eyes narrowing slightly at the tall, disheveled man-bun sitting beside her. His wild, messy hair didn't help him look any less clueless.

The boy — aka a grown ass man to Sermira eyes immediately recognized his appearance giving him a half smile — as he blinked in confusion. "Wait, we didn't?"

"No," she deadpanned. "We reviewed the quiz answers."

He let out a long sigh, sinking lower into his seat. "Man... I was stressing for nothing. Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Sermira kept the small smile on her face, shaking her head. "Maybe if you paid attention once in a while, you'd know."

As she leaned over to pull out her bright pink binder, a few old papers tumbled out, spilling onto the floor. Before she could reach for them, the "boy" — Asahi, the soft-spoken giant — scrambled to gather them, his fingers brushing against the slightly worn edges.

"Geez, wasn't this from January?" he asked, flipping through the papers. His voice had a hint of admiration as he stacked them back neatly. "You keep everything, huh?"

"Wellll... I forgot to throw them away," she said, taking them back.

"Guess that makes us even now?"

"Guess so..."

Asahi grinned awkwardly, retreating to his side of the desk.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the buzz of side conversations filling the room. There wasn't an adult in sight; the teacher was late again, giving the students free reign to laze around in their chosen groups.

Sermira didn't mind the quiet. In fact, she rarely talked much in this class. The only person she really interacted with was Asahi, and even then, it was just small exchanges like this.

Asahi, on the other hand, had plenty of people to chat with. Yet, here he was, sitting next to her, tapping his fingers lightly on his notebook. She glanced at him, noticing his brow furrowed as if something weighed on his mind.

Out of nowhere, he broke the silence. "Hey... it's crazy, right? How fast this year flew by?"

She paused, her gaze softening up. "Yeah. Four more days left, huh?"

"Feels like we just got started, but now... we're almost done. Then the sports tournament, and after that, graduation." He scratched the back of his head. "I don't know, I thought I'd feel more... ready."

Sermira nodded, understanding the unease. She had only arrived at Karasuno in her third year, but in such a short time, everything had changed so quickly. She wasn't exactly close with anyone — after all, she kept her distance, arms-length friendships, always careful. But somehow, the volleyball team had made these months feel like home, even if it wasn't her plan.

"It's weird," she said, her voice quiet. "I just got here... but I'm already leaving."

Asahi chuckled softly, "You fit in quicker than I did. At least we had some fun, right?"

A small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah. Some good memories... especially after school runs to the lil' stores."

The noise of the classroom faded in the background for a moment. It wasn't the deep, dramatic kind of moment — just two people sitting, reflecting on the time that slipped through their fingers, while the rest of the world kept moving on.

"That's not fair..."

The burring rings of the bell and clatter filled Sermira's ears and walked out of the first bell of the day, stifling a restless yawn as the hum of the hallway greeted her. Asahai followed beside her, his steps naturally syncing with hers, a quiet but steady presence to keep her company in Kiyoko's absence.

"Sooo uh-"

"Nope!"

"Hey, you didn't even know what I had to say?!" the poor soft-hearted giant turned around to her heartbroken.

"You were gonna ask me if we had any work for Mrs. Lee weren't you?" Sermira eyed him with a sly smirk seeing his distraught face.

"How'd you know-"

"All these nine months in school you would always walk by me and Kiyoko just to ask us what's the homework?" She raised one eyebrow at the still-puzzled man so she elaborated.

"You ask us every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday-"

"Alright, Alright I get it..."

FOCUS ON:
THE KURASUNO 3RD YEARS (aside from Kiyoko ☹️ )

♡︎ ── The chemistry room buzzed with the usual pre-class chatter, sunlight spilling through the tall windows and painting golden streaks across the desks. The faint hum of the Bunsen burners in the background added to the vibrant atmosphere.

Sermira walked in with Asahi trailing behind, both carrying armfuls of books and supplies. The moment they spotted Daichi and Sugawara at their usual table, Sermira smirked.

"Ah, look who decided to show up on time for once," Sugawara teased, spinning a pen between his fingers. His silver hair shone in the sunlight, and the black piercings on his ears glinted faintly, adding a sharp edge to his otherwise soft, mischievous demeanor.

"Funny, Suga," Sermira shot back as she plopped her bag onto the table with a dramatic thud. "Maybe if you actually texted back, we'd be early every now and then."

"Wow, Mira, way to call me out in front of the team," Sugawara said with mock hurt, placing a hand over his heart. "I thought what we had was special."

"It was. Past tense."

Daichi snorted, scribbling something onto the project outline. "Can you two save the drama for after we finish this thing? Mrs. Lee's already on edge today."

Sermira rolled her eyes but grinned, pulling out her chair. The casual banter between her and Sugawara came naturally, a reflection of their long-standing friendship. They'd known each other since middle school when Sugawara stood up for her during a particularly rough moment.

She'd been the quiet new girl, nervous about how her classmates would treat her because she wore a hijab. When a group of boys decided to tease her about it during recess, making cruel comments and pulling faces, Sugawara had stepped in without hesitation.

"If you've got a problem with Mira, you've got a problem with me," he had said, his voice firm and unwavering. The boys had clowned Sugawara immediately , stunned by his sudden seriousness. Although, Sugawara stayed behind to make sure she was okay, his usual playful demeanor softening as he offered her half of his melon bread.

From that day on, they'd been inseparable. While others seemed to admire Sugawara for his calm confidence and sharp wit, Sermira only saw her Suga—the boy who never hesitated to stand up for what was right and always had her back.

Now, as they worked together, their friendship felt effortless, even as life had grown more complicated.

"You two better not distract us with your antics," Daichi said, snapping Sermira out of her thoughts. "We've got work to do."

"Relax, Daichi," Sugawara said, clicking his pen. "Mira's the queen of multitasking. Right, Mira?"

"I prefer the term 'miracle worker,' but that'll work teww," Sermira cooed, flipping through her pretty notes.

Meanwhile, Asahi shuffled awkwardly into his seat, his broad frame making the chair seem comically small. "I'd rather not give Mrs. Lee a reason to yell. I already feel like a giant in this tiny room."

"And yet you're the gentlest person here," Sugawara said, patting Asahi's shoulder. "Which is why we'll never let you out of our sight during this tournament. Right, Mira?"

"Absolutelyy. Big guy here gets stage fright if he's not surrounded by his emotional support friends," Sermira teased.

"I'm sitting right here," Asahi muttered, hiding his reddening face behind his notebook.

The group erupted in laughter before settling into their work. After a while, Sugawara spoke up, his tone light but thoughtful. "Can you guys believe we're actually going to Aomori? A whole national championship, right by the beach."

Daichi leaned back, crossing his arms. "It's exciting, sure, but let's not lose focus. Our first match is against—what's their name again? That no-name school we've never heard of?"

"More like the school everyone keeps underestimating until they wipe the floor with us," Sermira said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, we've beaten tougher teams," Sugawara pointed out. "We've grown a lot since last season."

Asahi hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of his notebook. "I just don't want to be the one to mess it up for everyone."

Sermira leaned forward, her voice soft but firm. "Asahi, you've got to stop doubting yourself. Otherwise, I'll start quoting every motivational poster I've ever seen."

Sugawara grinned. "She's not bluffing. Once, she said, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,' unironically."

"And it worked," Sermira added, smirking.

Daichi leaned over with a mischievous glint in his eye. "How about, 'Failure is the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently'?"

"Or," Sugawara added with mock-seriousness, "'Success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.'"

"You guys are the worst," Asahi groaned, burying his face in his hands.

The group dissolved into laughter again, the tension in the room melting away as they teased each other relentlessly.

FOCUS ON: 1ST + 2ND YEARS!!

♡︎ ── The sun blazed relentlessly, casting its fiery glow over everything it touched. A few lazy clouds drifted across the sky, offering fleeting moments of shade that felt like brief, merciful relief to the students below. The track field stretched out in muted browns and greens, the dry grass crunching under the weight of worn-out, school-issued clunky gym shoes. Dressed in their simple white t-shirts and black shorts, the students trudged through the heat, their sweat-soaked clothes clinging uncomfortably as the sun's rays bore down on them without mercy.

But this gym class was very different as the 2nd years turned their attention towards the awkward skimpy 1st years with the same gloomy gym outfits and confused faces.

Morella adjusted her ponytail, thankful she'd slathered on sunscreen beforehand. "What's even happening right now?" she mumbled, squinting as she scanned the chaotic mix of first and second-years standing awkwardly in their gym clothes ahead of her.

"I'M SORRY, BUT WHY IS THE FIRST-YEAR GYM CLASS PAIRED WITH US?!"

A second-year girl's agitated tone pierced the murmuring crowd. Heads turned, some nodding in agreement, others just amused by the outburst.

Before anyone could even get a word out to their gym teacher he was already yelling to get them to get in line.

"Oh my gosh I know they're fuckin' lying" Ami gasped excessively eyes zeroing in on Tsukishima among the first-years.

"What's even going on?" Asher was lost the whole time standing next to Haru seeing their first-year volleyball teammates in their gym class.

"SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT TODAY, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA SHARE A CLASS FOR TODAY!" the instructor barked, pacing in front of the group like an overly caffeinated drill sergeant.

"Wait, really?!"

"Geez, are you serious? We gotta share a class with them??"

"Why the hell he always gotta yell??  We're literally right here," people mutter in their crowd-sidings.

The gym teacher continues to yell at the students telling them get into single file lines and the students immediately bursting into their groups. It was ideally stupid if the teacher thought one line wasn't gonna have the much more people than others, so it was a complicated task for everyone since some kids were anti-social and nervous as others were yelling at others for getting in their groups. In simple terms: It was a hot mess

Morella and Ami stuck together as Haru and Asher slithered into the group which they didn't had any problems with that.

"Do you guys think Hinata in this class?" Asher asked as the others shrugged their shoulders looking around for any familiar faces.

"I did saw Yamaguchi and Tsukishima in the crowd somewhere actually so mayb-" Before Haru could finish his sentence a little orange hair jumped high above the crowd with the brightest smile ever with a boy behind him holding the most agitated expression ever.

"HEYYY YOU GUYS!"

The group smiled and waved their hands back as the short tangerine slid through the crowd of people for a moment it seemed he drowned into the void of people until he popped through gasping for air.

"Geez I almost died in there-"

"We thought you almost got lost for a second" Haru laughed high-fiving him while Asher hold a confused look squinting his eyes outward at the crowd again.

"Wasn't Kageyama behind you Hinata?"

"Wait you're right..." Hinata turned around behind him now looking for the grumpy owl looking boy.

Meanwhile, Kageyama found himself in an increasingly awkward situation. A trio of second-year girls stood nearby, giggling and tossing compliments his way.

"You're really tall, huh? Do you play basketball?"

"Your skin is so clear—what's your secret?"

"Um..." Kageyama stared at them, his face blank as his brain scrambled for a response. "Milk?"

From afar, Nishinoya and Tanaka were in their usual element—loud and entirely unfiltered.
Tanaka squinted through the crowd and spotted Kageyama awkwardly frozen amidst the trio of giggling girls. His eyes lit up with a mix of amusement and opportunity.

"Yo, Noyaaa!" he nudged his partner-in-crime with his elbow. "Check out Kageyama—ladies' man of the year over there."

Nishinoya cackled, seeing a chance bother Kageyama to smacking his hands together deviously. "We can't let him embarrass us like this!"

The two darted toward the scene with absolutely no plan in mind, but brimming with their bullshit.

"Ladies, ladies, please!" Tanaka declared, throwing an arm around a bewildered Kageyama. "You're crowding him—this guy's in high demand, y'know!"

"What??" Kageyama deadpanned, his brow furrowing as he tried to shake off Tanaka's arm.

"That's right!" Nishinoya slid smoothly into view, striking a mock hero pose. "But unfortunately for you, he's already taken!"

"Taken?" one of the girls raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"By volleyball!" Nishinoya shouted triumphantly.

The trio of girls exchanged glances, then burst into laughter. Kageyama's face turned beet red as he shoved both of his teammates away.

"You idiots!" he barked, his voice cracking slightly from frustration.

OKAY, YOU ROWDY KIDS BETTER FIND YOUR GROUPS ALREADY!"

The gym teacher's voice boomed across the field, his tone teetering between exhaustion and fury. He squinted into the crowd of students, noting with increasing frustration that many were still aimlessly wandering around or outright ignoring his instructions. His face turned redder with each passing second, and finally, he snapped.

"THAT'S IT! I'M MAKING THE GROUPS MYSELF!" he roared, stomping forward and gesturing wildly as he began to shuffle students into random clusters.

The Teacher yelled out towards the students still seeing a far amount of students still finding their groups as others wasn't even following what he said which pissed him off the most as he began too yell at everyone and started putting people into random lines of groups

Asher, Haru, Ami, Morella, and Hinata

then

Tanaka, Nishinoya, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Kageyama.

And a bunch of random people who contributed absolutely nothing to this story.

The groups stared at one another for a moment, glancing at their new teammates, their places, and the lineups. It was painfully obvious to anyone with eyes that the organization made no sense.

"Great. I have to race her." Tsukishima's voice broke the silence, dripping with disdain as he adjusted his glasses and lazily glanced toward Ami.

Ami's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse you?? I got a name, you phony-ass jirafa!" she snapped, her sharp words cutting through the air like daggers.

Tsukishima's face twitched as he straightened his glasses, his usual deadpan mask slipping into a subtle smirk. "Oh, really? That's funny. I don't remember asking you a damn thing."

"WOAH, Suki, that's a bit far!" Yamaguchi interjected nervously, his hands raised as if trying to mediate a brewing storm.

But Ami was faster. "Yeah, go listen to your little boyfriend!" she shot back with a wicked grin.

Yamaguchi's face instantly hits a confused look as he stammered, "W-what?! That's not—"

"Wowww, Ami-girl, that's a bit much, don't you think?" Tanaka piped up, glancing between her and Tsukishima with an amused grin.

Nishinoya looked back at Ami with a confused almost annoyed expression,"Yeah Ami you're doing entirely too much, Cool it."

"Don't defend him!" Ami barked, pointing at the two goofballs accusingly.

"Can we please not make this more dramatic than it needs to be?" Morella sighed, crossing her arms as she watched the exchange with thinly veiled exasperation.

Meanwhile, Haru turned to Asher, a bemused expression on his face. "Why does it feel like a soap opera out here?"

Asher snorted. "Because it is one. And we're all the unwilling extras."

FOCUS ON:
THE KURASUNO TEAM!

♡︎ ──"THE HELL WAS THAT HINATA??! WHAT ARE YOU A WINDMILL?? MOVE AROUND TWEETY BRID!" Coach Ukai yelled out to him.

"Y-Yes sir give me another shot!" the short tangerine boy yelled positioning himself for another one.

The girls sat on the sidelines, watching the spectacle unfold. Sermira leaned forward, her cheek resting on her hand as she exchanged a look with Morella, who was halfway through her bag of chips.

"Seems like some of them are on edge today," Morella muttered between crunches, nodding toward Tanaka, who was doing an over-the-top victory dance for no apparent reason.

"Yeah, well, we did kinda get invited randomly for this tournament," Yachi said, dumping a pile of sweaty towels onto the bench and flopping down beside them. Her cheeks flushed red as she added, "And...we're gonna be on TV."

The last word barely left her lips when Sermira shot up, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes. "TV?! Are you serious?" Her voice carried across the gym, silencing the boys for a moment.

The ball hit the ground with an awkward thunk, and the entire court froze. For a split second, only the faint tapping of the ball as it rolled echoed in the gym. Then, as if on cue, Hinata's eyes widened.

"TV?! WE'RE GONNA BE ON TV?!" he shouted, his voice cracking.

Chaos erupted. Nishinoya and Tanaka started yelling incoherently about becoming "national stars," while Sugawara and Daichi exchanged exasperated glances. Even Kageyama, usually composed in his irritation, looked visibly distressed.

On the sidelines, Morella sighed. "Yeah, they're not surviving this tournament."

"I give it until the second set," Sermira replied dryly, though a smirk tugged at her lips.

Amid the commotion, Haru stood off to the side, arms crossed, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. His usual stoic demeanor didn't exactly blend with the chaos, but his eyes flicked to Hinata and then to Asher, who had just joined Nishinoya in an impromptu "hype men" chant.

"Don't you ever get tired of screaming like that?" Haru asked, his voice calm but edged with amusement.

"Nope!" Asher shot back, throwing an arm over Nishinoya's shoulder. "It's called team spirit, my dude. Try it sometime!"

"Pass."

"C'mon, Haru!" Hinata bounced over, practically glowing with excitement. "You'd look cool doing it! Like, super mysterious and broody. Girls love that!"

Haru raised a brow but didn't reply, letting a faint smirk betray his indifference.

Coach Ukai finally regained control of the team—or so he thought. "Alright, that's it. Wrap it up, guys!"

"No wait Coach!" Hinata cried, already crouching into a receiving position. "One more set! Please!"

Even Daichi hesitated, torn between his responsibility as captain and the gleaming eyes of his teammates. He glanced at Sugawara, who gave him an innocent shrug.

Coach Ukai sighed, rubbing his temples. "Daichi. Call it."

Daichi stood there for a moment, caught in the collective gaze of the team. Then, slowly, a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"One more set Coach."

A triumphant cheer erupted, and the players scrambled to reset. Even Haru begrudgingly stepped into position, though he muttered something under his breath about how "this better not last all night."

Meanwhile, the girls resumed their conversation on the sidelines.

"Soooo," Morella began, twirling a lock of her hair, "who do you think is gonna find a hot guy at the beach first?"

Ami teased. "Definitely not you."

"Excuse me?" Morella gasped, feigning offense.

Sermira grinned, leaning back against the bench. "I'm putting my money on Morella. She's got that whole 'cool and mysterious' thing going on."

"And who's most likely to cause trouble at the tournament?" Yachi asked, her tone curious but wary.

The group paused, then simultaneously turned their heads toward Tanaka and Nishinoya, who was currently flexing in front of an unimpressed Tsukishima.

"Yeah, that solves," Sermira said, laughing.

By the time practice finally ended, the gym was bathed in the warm hues of sunset. The players collapsed onto the floor in a heap, their energy spent but their spirits high.

"You're all insane," Coach Ukai muttered, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips as he grabbed his clipboard. "Get outta here before I regret letting you have another set."

As the team shuffled out into their groups, while Hinata ran up to Sermira, who was helping Yachi clean up. "Hey, Sermira! You coming to the convenience store with us?"

She glanced at Yachi, who nodded eagerly. "Yes I could definitely do a cold strawberry lemonade right nowww!"

FOCUS ON:
HINATA, KAGEYAMA, SERMIRA, YACHI! + A NEW CHARACTER?!

♡︎ ── The night air was cool and crisp, the faint scent of pine and street food wafting through the streets as Sermira, Hinata, Kageyama, and Yachi made their way to the nearest convenience store. The small group chattered as their footsteps echoed softly on the pavement, the warmth of post-practice exhaustion settling over them.

"I still don't get it," Hinata began, bouncing slightly with each step, as if his energy tank could never fully drain. "Why can't you have a boyfriend, Sermira? Is it, like, a strict family rule or something?"

Kageyama immediately turned, glaring at him. "Hinata, shut up. You're making her uncomfortable."

Sermira waved him off with a laugh. "It's fine. I'm used to his questions by now."

"So, why not?" Hinata pressed, his wide-eyed curiosity glowing in the dim streetlights.

"Well," Sermira started, adjusting her hijab slightly, "it's not just a family thing—it's part of my religion. We're not really supposed to date, especially casually. It's more about focusing on other things, like education, self-improvement, and faith."

Hinata tilted his head, his brows furrowed in thought. "Huh. But what about, like, Sugawara? You guys are super close! I thought for sure—"

"HINATA!" Kageyama barked, smacking the back of his head.

"Ow! What? I'm just saying!"

Sermira stifled a laugh. "Sugawara's just a friend. I'm here because I needed the credits to graduate. All the other sports were full, and this was my only option."

"Wait, so no dating at all?" Yachi asked, her voice soft but curious.

"Not unless it's serious. Like, marriage serious," Sermira explained, smiling warmly. "But honestly, I'm not in any rush. There's so much else to focus on right now for me to be honest."

Hinata's eyes sparkled with understanding—or as much understanding as he could muster. "Ohhhh, so it's like you're saving up your energy for the ultimate match!"

"Uh... sure?" Sermira laughed, shaking her head as Kageyama groaned.

The convenience store doors slid open with a cheerful ding, and Sermira strode inside, her sights set on one thing. "Finally!" she exclaimed, spotting her favorite drink A strawberry lemonade glistening like treasure under the fluorescent lights.

She darted toward the back shelf, weaving through the narrow aisles with the determination of a sprinter in the last stretch of a race. Her fingers closed around the bottom of the bottle, a triumphant grin spreading across her face—until another hand clamped down firmly on the top.

Sermira blinked. Her grip tightened instinctively.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze, trailing past long fingers and up the arm of a tall boy with messy short blond hair. His tired, irritated expression was framed by a black eye and a split lip, both glaringly obvious under the harsh store lights.

He stared down at her, unblinking, his face giving away nothing.

"Uh..." she started, her fingers still clutching the bottle. "You wanna let go, maybe?"

"No," he replied flatly, his voice low and unamused.

Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"I got here first," he said without breaking eye contact.

"You did not," she shot back, her grip tightening further.

The tension between them grew heavy, the awkwardness seeping into the air like a cloud. For a moment, neither of them moved. The sound of the store's faint background music and the hum of the refrigeration units buzzed in their ears.

They stood like that—frozen in an unspoken battle of stubbornness. Sermira's eyes darted to his hand, which showed no signs of retreat, then back to his face. His expression was stoic, save for a faint twitch in his jaw that betrayed his growing irritation.

The silence dragged on, stretching thinner with every second.

One of us has to let go, right? she thought, glancing at his hand again. Right?

But he didn't budge. Neither did she.

The store felt hotter now, or maybe that was just her frustration bubbling over. Her fingers were starting to cramp, but there was no way she'd give up first.

"Listen," he finally muttered, his voice clipped and low. "Just take another one."

"There isn't another one," she snapped, pointing at the now-empty shelf.

"Not my problem."

Her jaw dropped. "The audacity!"

He sighed, rubbing his temple with his free hand. "Why is this such a big deal for you?"

"Because it's mine," she said through gritted teeth, refusing to let go.

A beat of silence passed before Sermira's gaze flicked to his bruised face. "Okay, but seriously," she said suddenly, her tone shifting, "what happened to you?"

He blinked, thrown off by the abrupt question. "What?"

She tilted her head, gesturing at his injuries. "You look like you went five rounds with a cement mixer. Are you okay?"

His brows furrowed, and his grip on the bottle tightened slightly. "What the fuck is your problem?"

"My problem?" She scoffed. "You're the one walking around looking like a poster child for Fight Club, and I'm just supposed to ignore it?"

"Yes," he deadpanned, his tone sharp with frustration.

"Well, I'm sorry for being a decent human being!"

"You're not being decent! You're being nosy!"

"Uh, it's called concern, thank you very much!"

"CONCERN FOR WHAT?"

Their voices had escalated, drawing the curious glances of a few customers nearby. Before things could get any louder, Hinata came bounding into view, his orange hair practically glowing under the fluorescent lights.

"Hey, Sermira! You okay?" His gaze shifted to the tall boy, and recognition lit up his face. "Wait! It's you!"

The boy's expression didn't change. "What."

"You're the college guy from the sports shop!" Hinata declared, pointing at him as if that explained everything.

The boy's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching just beneath the surface. "I'm not—"

"He's not in college," Kageyama interrupted as he and Yachi joined the group. His sharp gaze zeroed in on the Aoba Johsai logo on the boy's jacket. "That's a high school uniform."

"It's my old team," the boy snapped, though his defensive tone did little to convince anyone.

Sermira crossed her arms, raising an unimpressed brow. "Right. And I'm the president of NASA."

Yachi gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "Oh my gosh, he looks so scary!"

"I'm not scary," the boy muttered, though his busted face wasn't doing him any favors.

"You're kinda scary," Hinata admitted, despite himself being in a squated position.

The boy groaned, his head tilting back slightly as if pleading with the universe for patience. "Why are you all like this?"

Sermira huffed, finally releasing the bottle and stepping back. "Fine. Take it. It's not worth the headache."

He hesitated, as if the sudden surrender confused him. Then, after a moment, he muttered, "Thanks."

She blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected softness in his tone. "You're welcome," she said, then turned away, muttering under her breath, "Drama queen."

"What'd you say?" he called after her, his voice sharp again.

"Nothing!"

Amina notes — 🐚
RAHHHHHHHHHHH (This is how I felt making this chapter ngl)
I literally was crashing out tew much for chapter two omg 😞
And let's imagine That this didn't took me August all the way to the New Year to post this chapter?
But Happy New Years for you lovelies Grandma Amina served yall a 19 - minute chapter (that's what grammarly said 🤷🏾‍♀️)
But please lemme know your thoughts abt this chapter Im feeling real iffy abt it ngl MIGHT redo it
(I aint redoing nun yall get what yall got 🌚‼️)

Love you grandchildren and have a lovely year of 2025!