Karasuno's Managers: Little Ukai and The Vulnerable

16: So Is It Like Like, Or Like

Day 6

The cold air nipped at the exposed skin on her face; the tip of her nose and cheekbones were numb and coloured rose. It was Saturday afternoon and while most of the students at Itachiyama stayed in the safety of their dorm rooms, Mirae decided to venture to the downtown shopping district.

Coach Iwasaki gave her a list of first aid supplies she could get for the team and the errand aside, she wanted to buy a few gifts for her friends.

Komori and Ishida caught her just as she was locking her door. When they saw that she was dressed up for a day out, they ran and got their own coats, boots, and scarves. The three of them fell into step as they walked out the school campus.

"It's not every day we get to go exploring," Ishida expressed, "this'll be fun!"

"What time will we be back by?" Komori asked as his fingers moved across his phone screen.

"Two or three hours."

"I've got to let the team know that practice is cancelled today, courtesy of our beloved and temporary manager," he grinned slyly.

Mirae gasped and stopped mid-step. Ishida snickered as he tugged on her arm and dragged her along.

"It's fine. Besides, it's not like they'll show up anyway."

"I cannot even begin to understand how your team is strong if no one shows up for practice."

"It's not our fault," Ishida shrugged. "It's the benchwarmers who are slacking. Our coach scouted them from middle school because they're talented players. They act all privileged because they were chosen to join our team. Plus, they know they won't be playing in their first year, so they don't care."

"Reminds me of one of my friends," Mirae murmured. They waited in line to purchase their train tickets. "He's the captain at Fukurodani and back at the training camp we were at, he couldn't get some of his first years to join in on group practice. Instead they wanted to practice flashy moves and complicated sets alone. It makes me think that there has to be a way to motivate your first years."

Komori grabbed the three tickets from the stand and led the way to the train platform. As they waited for the doors to open, he turned to Mirae. "That's only thirty-percent of the problem. The rest is our grouchy team captain Kiyoomi Sakusa."

"I have no idea what possessed Coach to make him captain. Mirae, you haven't seen half of the type of person he is."

"Exactly! At every second of the day he's angry, he's grumbling, he's glaring at everything within arm's distance, he's constantly threatening people for standing too close to him on the court, and he can't communicate for the life of him!" Komori listed as he counted on his fingers, not knowing that the target of their conversation was standing directly behind them.

"Uh-huh," Sakusa drawled, sharpening his glare onto his cousin. "Go on, tell me, what other attributes do I possess that has you concerned?"

Komori's throat ran dry. Ishida grabbed Mirae and pushed her in front of them.

"Hello," she squeaked, "fancy seeing you here."

Begrudgingly, he tore his eyes away from the two sweating. His eyes landed on Mirae who was hiding in her scarf, hands shoved in tiny purple mittens that fiddled in front of her.

"What are you doing out?"

"Shopping."

"Exploring."

"Nothing."

The train doors groaned as they opened. Komori yanked Mirae and Ishida inside, nearly tripping on his own feet.