Karasuno's Managers: Little Ukai and The Vulnerable

27: Emotions are Like Being Elbowed in the Face

Day 13

After the school-wide announcement at Inarizaki High, life was more of the same for Little Ukai. For one, the glaring continued in her direction like pre-calculated lasers. There was menacing intent behind each one and they were often matched with tight-lipped scowls to which she held up a peace sign and shuffled away.

"Rintaro?" she whispered. She was sitting between him and Osamu in class, her chair tilted back and standing on two legs. "Your girlfriend is glaring at me."

Sufficiently provoked, he grabbed his pencil case and swiftly whacked her over the head.

"Pfft," Osamu snorted and hid his face in his arms. "Ya brought that on yerself, Suzuki."

"What?" She picked herself up from the floor and dusted her skirt. "We talked about this, I can't understand you when you're mumbling. Also," she turned to Suna and narrowed her eyes at him. "Rude, Rintaro."

"She is not my girlfriend."

"She could be if you talk to her."

"What part of my face makes it look like I want to talk to her?"

"Could be the vacant look in his eyes," Osamu whispered. "Lotta passion there, ya know?"

Emiko smirked. She reached over and brushed her hand through his hair before patting his face. "As your mom says, you're as handsome as they come, Rintaro. I can't believe a dashing young man like you is single. Oh wait, silly me, according to the official Inarizaki Volleyball Boys Scrapbook thirteen people have called dibs on you and one is already in a relationship with you." Emiko leaned over and whispered in his ear, "She signed her name in green gel pen and everything."

Osamu sighed, sparing a glance to the huddle of girls who were watching with predatory stares.

"Stupid 'Tsumu hasn't given this a second thought but I'm havin' nightmares."

"Stupid Atsumu has never cared for attention from girls."

"No, there was that one girl he couldn't stop thinkin' about last year."

"The one he had no chance with," Suna rolled his eyes, "talk about outta his league."

"That's what I said."

"Who?" Emiko turned her head between them. "Who?"

"Some girl he met at nationals last year. She's a top-three wing spiker last we heard."

"Isn't Atsumu the top setter though? How is she out of his league?"

"I'm pretty sure Kageyama is the top volleyball setter now."

"Tobio?" Emiko's ears perked up. She sat up in her chair, smiling. "Yeah, he's really good. Paired with our spikers he really does shine on the court. Especially compared to the other setters in our prefecture. Oh wait, except for maybe Kogane."

"Kogane?" The boys repeated.

"Yup! He's a good friend of mine who goes to Date Tech. He's really tall, like 6'3 or something so when he sets a ball, it's high up."

"Date Tech was at nationals last time, right?"

"Yeah, we watched their game. They were pretty good, sad we couldn't play them though."

Osamu stared off to the side before nodding. "Yeah. 'Tsumu didn't believe it when we found out yer team didn't win, but we watched yer friend's team play. They had a tight defence."

"If you think this is where I spill our team's secrets, let me tell you that's not happening."

"Oh no," Suna dragged out, "what are we gonna do if we're matched against Karasuno in the tournament?"