The gym was eerily quiet, the only sound being the rhythmic thwack of volleyballs hitting the floor and the squeak of Kageyama's sneakers. Yana remained perched in the corner, her gaze absolutely drilling into the back of Kageyama's head. If looks could be physical, he'd have a hole through his skull by now.
Kageyama froze mid-drill. A violent shiver raced down his spine—that primal "I'm being hunted" instinct flared up again. He snapped his head around, his eyes clashing directly with hers.
"Why are you looking at me like that?!" he barked, his voice dropping into that sharp, intimidating 'King' persona that usually sent people running.
Crap, I've been made, Yana thought, though she didn't look the least bit guilty. She let out a soft, dreamy chuckle, leaning her chin on her hand. "Oh, nothing. I was just admiring your center of gravity. You're so stable and precise... honestly, you're like a ballerina."
Kageyama blinked, his brain seemingly rebooting. He was used to being called a tyrant, a monster, or a "scary-faced jerk," but ballerina? That was a new one.
"Thanks...?" he muttered, turning his back to her. He tried to look unfazed, but the tips of his ears were turning a very noticeable shade of pink.
The awkward silence was broken by the heavy creak of the gym doors. It wasn't just Hinata who came scurrying back. Following behind him was a tall, sturdy figure with a warm face and an aura that practically screamed LEADERSHIP.
O.M.G. It's Sawamura Daichi!! Yana screamed internally, snapping into a standing position as her heart did a frantic drumroll.
And right beside him was the silver-haired angel himself—Sugawara Koushi—wearing a refreshing smile that could probably heal world hunger. He was nodding along as Hinata babbled at 100mph.
"She's really nice, Daichi-san! She just transferred and she's super curious about the team!" Hinata chirped, pointing directly at Yana as she began to approach them.
Oh my god! It's the Mom and Dad of the team! In the literal flesh!
"I am so incredibly sorry for the intrusion!" Yana exclaimed, bowing perfectly to hide her internal fangirl meltdown. "I'm Hikarari Yanase! It's an honor to meet you! I'm a huge fan—I mean, a huge admirer of... sports! And teamwork! And Karasuno!"
Daichi laughed, a deep, soothing sound. "It's alright, Hikarari-san. Hinata mentioned you're new. Just make sure to stay clear of the court; we wouldn't want a stray ball hitting you."
Sugawara chirped, "Actually, Daichi-san," his eyes narrowing playfully as he glanced first at Yana and then at Kageyama, who continued to angrily ignore everyone. "She seems to have survived Kageyama's 'hospitality' for a few minutes. That's an achievement in itself."
With a bright smile, Hinata ran back to Yana as the upperclassmen started setting up the net. "See? I told you it'd be fine! You can watch us practice!"
Yana responded, "Thank you, Shoyo-kun," but her gaze was already straying.
She examined Daichi's sturdy body. She examined Suga's mole. Her attention then returned to Kageyama, who was now rehearsing sets into a basket. He appeared so intense and concentrated. and his hair was looking absolutely... smooth.
Her fingers twitched wildly as she thought, Kageyama's hair must be like cool, expensive satin if Hinata's hair is a fluffy cloud. I require a comparison. For the sake of science.
"Hey, Kageyama!" Hinata yelled, completely oblivious to the fact that Yana was currently having a spiritual awakening three feet away. "Don't hog all the balls, you stingy King! Give me a toss! I want to spike!"
Kageyama's face contorted into a scowl, clutching the volleyball to his chest like it was a sacred relic. "Shut up, Hinata-boke! You haven't even warmed up! You'll pull a muscle and die!"
"I'm warm! I'm boiling! and I'm ready to fly!" Hinata chirped, practically vibrating with kinetic energy.
As the two rivals launched into their daily scheduled bickering, Yana took a tentative, shaky step forward. Every logical bone in her body told her to stay back and act like a normal human being. She was a "civilian" in a world of giants and high-stakes sports drama. But the urge—no, the need—to witness the legendary "Freak Quick" from a front-row seat was overpowering her sense of danger.
"Um, Kageyama-kun?" she called out, her voice a mix of nerves and pure desperation.
Kageyama paused mid-insult, glancing over his shoulder. "What now?"
Yana took a deep breath, her inner fangirl finally snapping the leash and sprinting for freedom. "If you... if you make a toss... can I see how you maintain your grip? Up close?"
Translation: I need to see your hands. Those beautiful, long, callous-hardened setter fingers that carry the hopes, dreams, and entire plot armor of Miyagi.
Kageyama, bless his volleyball-obsessed heart, didn't suspect a thing. He assumed she was actually interested in the technical mechanics of the sport. A rare, almost dangerous surge of pride flickered in his eyes. "Fine. Watch closely, Transfer Student. This is how a real setter handles the ball."
He tossed the ball up—a high, perfect arc. Hinata took off like a rocket, his sneakers screaming against the waxed floor.
Yana's eyes didn't follow the ball. They didn't even follow the orange blur that was Hinata. Instead, they were laser-focused on Kageyama's hands as they met the leather with a crisp, echoing thwack. The precision, the flick of the wrists, the sheer power in those fingers—it was art.
Oh no, Yana thought, her heart rate hitting a dangerous 180 BPM. I'm not just going to survive this school year. I'm going to end up in the infirmary again, from a terminal nosebleed.
The echoing boom of the volleyball meeting the floorboards hadn't just vibrated through the gym; it felt like it had rattled Yanase's very teeth. As the sharp crack faded into a persistent hum in her ears, she didn't even blink.
Hinata spun around, a blinding, toothy grin plastered on his face as he pointed a thumb at his chest. "Did you see that, Kageyama?! I've definitely gotten faster, right? Tell me I'm faster!"
Kageyama let out a sharp, mocking huff that was halfway to a laugh. "Keep dreaming, dumbass. Still not fast enough."
"What did you say?!"
As the two devolved into their usual brand of chaotic bickering, foreheads pressed together and sparks practically flying, Yanase remained frozen. Her gaze was fixed on the ball still bouncing lazily at the far end of the court. Holy crap, she thought, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. That was incredible.
The dam finally broke. Her inner fangirl didn't just wake up; it took the wheel and slammed on the gas.
"That was amazing, Shoyo-kun! Kageyama-san!" she wailed, stumbling forward with stars practically erupting in her eyes. She flailed her arms around, trying to physically manifest the speed she'd just witnessed. "Kageyama-san was all like swoosh, and then Shoyo-kun just went zoom and then BAM!"
The argument stopped instantly. Hinata's eyes widened, shimmering with a reflected intensity as he began to vibrate in place. "Right?! Exactly! We went bang and then kaboom!"
"Yes! Total kaboom!" Yanase echoed, her voice reaching a pitch only dogs and middle-blockers could hear.
Kageyama watched them, like two orange-tinted blurs of pure, unfiltered energy babbling nonsense at each other, and felt a genuine chill. Is she Hinata's long-lost twin? he wondered, a bead of sweat rolling down his neck. There's two of them.
Over by the bench, the seniors watched the spectacle with a mix of affection and mild exhaustion.
"Looks like Hinata finally found his kindred spirit," Sugawara noted, leaning back with a fond, slightly pained chuckle.
Daichi just sighed, watching the chaos unfold. "There are two of them now." he chuckled.
The frantic chatter was cut short as the heavy gym doors groaned open once more. Stepping into the light was a tall, shaved-headed figure who looked like a delinquent straight out of a movie, but carried a vibe that was pure heart of gold.
It was Tanaka Ryunosuke.
Yanase froze, her breath hitching in her throat. Can this day actually get any better?! she screamed internally, her heart doing backflips.
"Hey! You guys are bickering already? Give it a rest!" Tanaka shouted with a wide, confident grin. His gaze eventually shifted, landing squarely on Yanase. "Oho? And who do we have here?"
He leaned in, dropping his shoulders and twisting his features into his trademark "intimidation face"—a terrifying scowl meant to ward off rivals. But as soon as he realized Yanase was a girl, the tough-guy facade shattered instantly. His face flushed a deep, violent red.
"A new... female... person?" he stammered, the words barely escaping his throat.
Yanase didn't shrink away. Instead, she beamed at him with a smile so bright it felt like a physical force. Tanaka recoiled as if blinded, frantically covering his mouth to hide his flustered expression. She's actually cute! he thought, his brain short-circuiting.
Hinata bounced over, proudly gesturing toward her. "This is my new classmate, Hikarari-san! She just transferred here."
Yanase stepped forward and gave a polite, graceful bow. "It's an honor to meet you."
"And this is Tanaka-san!" Hinata continued, beaming. "He's the one who helped us get onto the team!"
Tanaka immediately puffed out his chest, his pride returning in a massive wave. "That's right! I'm the pillar of this team!" he boasted, striking a heroic pose.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Tanaka-senpai," Yanase greeted, her voice respectful even as she fought a losing battle to keep her inner fangirl from screaming. "I sincerely apologize for intruding on your practice so suddenly."
Tanaka's hand flew to his chest, clutching his shirt as if he'd been struck by a bolt of lightning. His eyes went wide and glassy.
"She... she called me senpai..." he whispered, his soul practically ascending to heaven.
The gym's atmosphere—already a chaotic soup of Tanaka's dramatic sobbing and Hinata's hyperactive bouncing—was suddenly pierced by the rhythmic thump, thump, thump of footsteps echoing from the hallway.
The heavy doors creaked open further to reveal the sharp, salt-and-pepper hair of Coach Ukai, followed closely by the soft-spoken Takeda-sensei. Both men stopped dead in their tracks, blinking at the sheer absurdity of the scene. Tanaka was currently on his knees, hands clasped toward the ceiling as if basking in a divine light, while Hinata and Yanase were locked in a heated competition to see who could produce the most realistic "whoosh" sound effect.
"Is... everything alright in here?" Takeda-sensei asked, his hand instinctively reaching up to steady his glasses.
"Senpai!" Tanaka roared, his voice cracking with emotion as he pointed a trembling finger at the rafters. "We have been blessed, Takeda-sensei! A polite, respectful underclassman has entered our midst!"
The realization of who had just walked in hit Yanase like a physical weight. She snapped into a ramrod-straight position, her face erupting in a violent shade of crimson. It's Coach Ukai! she screamed internally, her brain short-circuiting. The actual, real-life Coach Ukai! And Takeda-sensei Oh my god, oh my god...
"I-I'm so sorry!" she stammered, bowing so deeply she nearly toppled over. "I'm Yanase, a classmate of Shoyo-kun's! I didn't mean to cause a scene or interrupt your practice!"
Ukai grunted, crossing his arms over his chest as he gave her a skeptical look-over before shifting his gaze to Hinata.
"Another one, huh?" Ukai muttered, a half-amused, half-terrified smirk tugging at his mouth. "If she's got even half the energy of Hinata, we're going to need a bigger gym just to contain the noise levels. My ears are ringing already."