Alone in my Dreams

Forehead kisses

Waking up early to the early rays of light, I still found myself running down to the kitchen to help the other managers make breakfast. While cooking they all went on about how they were waiting around last night for me to join the managers' room, asking for me to sleep in there tonight. They only dropped the subject after I agreed to the slumber party for the rest of the trip.

Once I agreed, all the other girls went back to their kitchen duties while Kiyoko joined me in portioning the rice out into bowls. "Hey Hero, are you ready for the matches today?"

"Good morning Kiyoko, I believe I am, I'm just a little worried about the boys since they are kinda on a losing streak." My comments cause us both to giggle for a moment.

"Yeah, I'm a little worried too but they've been through worse, they have it in them but they are playing while learning and that's all that matters. Anyways I wanted to remind you that you're gonna be helping Kaori and Yukii today with food prep."

"Got it, tell me if Yachi gets flustered, I heard she got the front row seat to an argument between Kags and Hinata last night."

"She got it handled but," Kiyoko turns to the window into the cafeteria as if double-checking that none of the boys were there, "I heard Tsukishima played in the third gym last night, how did that happen?"

The question was a bit strange but I caught Kiyoko up to speed about how Bokuto and Kuroo wanted to practice last night and kinda used me to trick Tsukishima into playing. She found the situation funny for some reason that she wouldn't explain, and moved on to remind me that it could have been worse.

After breakfast ended, I ended up helping Kaori and Yukki in cleaning up dishes and prepping for lunch when some of the Shenzin parents dropped off watermelon for the boys. While cutting the fruit, I felt as if I and the Fukurōdani managers became good friends. They asked me how I had the energy to play volleyball and manage the team.

I often found myself asking myself the same question, but I guess that I was lucky that with Yachi managing with me, the boys always had a manager, even when I had games or practice, but what about for next year.

I love my boys, I love my team, but I also love the feeling of sweating on the court, having my legs ache from jumping left and right. The sting on my arms or the pop of my ankles when I jump. I miss the feeling of spiking and walking out of practice with my hands red, tingling with a reminder of my achievement in blocking spikes.

***

Handing out watermelon to the boys, I found myself getting called over by Kuroo. Walking up to the grassy hill, Kuroo apologized to me as well as Daichi, Asahi, and Tanaka. "Hey I wanted to apologize for angering your middle blocker, I pushed him a little too far last night, and I'm sorry for using you to do that Hero."

"It's okay really, I think he needed the little push," I reassured the cat.

Tanaka jumps in with a question, "Hey Hero, you and Tsukishima are close, by any chance does he have a brother? My sister remembered the name and thought of someone who played on the team when she was in high school."

"Oh yeah, Aki-san, that's him. He was on the team but barely got to play. Just don't mention his name around Tsukishima, he really likes to avoid his brother at all costs unless Yams and I are around."

Daichi took in my words for a moment, staring at the watermelon in his hands, and I would have asked him what he was thinking but the boys were called back to their games and I needed to return to my assignments for the day.

***

Once free time came around, I decided that I would help the Nekoma boys. While setting some balls for Fukunaga to spike, Yams ran into the gym with a worried face, calling me over to the entrance.