LET ME DOWN SLOWLY ⸻ sakusa kiyoomi.

𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 | what blockers despise

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WHAT BLOCKERS DESPISE !!

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- september fall break, itachiyama institute, 10 am !

THE GROUNDS OF ITACHIYAMA INSTITUTE was beautiful - the main entrance of the building, in both ways traditional and mordernised - the rolling-stone, circular driveway centred by a beautiful fountain with a sculpture of a weasel standing in the middle.

The doors to the administration office, off to the side of the creamy-pillared entrance led to a sprawling path, brick sidewalks framed by cross Japanese-Western style buildings each around three storeys high and surrounded by beautiful trees of warm colours.

The Ōkamikumo Volleyball Team got off of the school bus with their club name printed on the side of the vehicle in bronze. The school's name printed in white across their shoulder blades shone bright against the bright sunlight.

Duffel bag with daily necessities enough to last for five days of intensive activities was slung across a grudgingly impressed Kina's shoulders. As she had been invited to the All-Japan Youth Training Camp last December when it was Itachiyama's turn to host the school again, she had never been to the school at all.

Though she had seen the school from web searches, the majestic, yet modern vibe was rather Kina's style - refined and elegant, simple yet eyecatching.

Fallen autumn leaves of beautiful colours of a warm sunset dusted the white stone quadrangle of the school grounds, cool breeze overpowering the rising sun. Niiyama Girls' High had just recently come too, their players looking tired after the long, two-or-more-hour ride to Tokyo.

Soraya High would still be on their way in either the bus or bullet train, coming later than the others due to the distance. Spotting a tall, pretty girl with a well-sized bust and slim waist, dark grey eyes brightening at their eye contact, Kina smiled and held her hand up to her ear, giving Kanoka Amanai, Niiyama's rising ace, a friendly wave.

Kanoka waved too, her smile wider and wave more excited yet a little shy. Kina had met the wing spiker at a Monthly Volleyball photoshooting, Kanoka recognizing the setter and bravely striking up a conversation.

Ōkamikumo and Niiyama mingled around during the walk to the gymnasium. An outsider would have thought that these two powerhouses would be talking nothing but volleyball, but the powerhouses were girls - which meant that even they would talk about the most trivial of things, like the newest jpop or kpop band album, or romance in general.

Kina wouldn't call herself a crappy socialist, but not exactly a good one too - her neutral face was one of a disdainful curve of her lips, and was rather unapproachable appearance-wise. Miho was the extroverted one out of the duo, attracting more than half of the fanboys and the one to keep conversation flowing steadily.

Kanoka herself wasn't a very good person at conversation, too, being a shy and quiet person who lacked in people-person skills. Kina was forced to take on seemingly shallow topics to not let an awkward silence envelope them.

"... So the Niiyama tracksuit design has changed, then?" Kina asked Kanoka, gesturing at the trench-coat like red-and-white Niiyama jacket Kanoka had on. It covered most of her tracksuit pants, and Kanoka's hands were tucked in the pockets.

The Niiyama ace nodded, taking her hands out of her pockets to finger at the hem of her jacket sleeve. "This one is designed more for cold weather," she explained, soft voice soothing Kina. "It's comfortable and warm."