[English] ~𝒟𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓉ℴ 𝒟𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓂~ Kenma x OC

Chapter 1: Follow your heart and live your dream

I'm so proud of you, Izumi. Who would've know that you will play at the finals one day! I'll be there in roughly 10 minutes so I can watch you play. Good luck, little one.

These were his last words... His last text before he died. I read the message for what felt like the hundredth time. Before he could even reach the stadium, he died. Just like that. And left me behind in the lion's den. It has been one month since I've moved to Tokyo but nothing changed at all. Literally nothing. I sighed as I let my gaze roam through the empty room. I missed New York so badly. My room had been so lively back then... "Izumi, get up. You're going to be late!" The woman who called herself my mother called for me from downstairs. I ignored her.

I hated school. School started one week before I got here, about five weeks ago. I was the new kid and got starred at almost everywhere I went. For them I was the girl from the US. How much I hated it cannot be put into words.

I grabbed my bags. It took them a lot of persuasion the get me into Nekoma High. If I had the choice, I would've preferred to be homeschooled.

Hikaru waited for me at the doorsteps. "I will drive you to school." Hikaru was the only person I felt a connection with. She was two years older than me and already an university student, which doesn't stop me from doing something with her. She looked a lot like dad. "Izumi, hurry up!" My mother dragged me to the front door. I didn't like her much. Hikaru was much better.

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"Ito-san, could you answer my question, please?" My teacher looked me sternly. Not a good sign. What a stupid day. "The main character is desperate, that's why he chose to do so I guess." Her gaze basically told me that she didn't like my answer. She gestured wildly with her arms, but I stopped listening. Something attracted my attention. From my seat, I could watch over the modern gym where the boys volleyball team was training for the upcoming spring tournament. I've watched some of their games. Their tactics were perfect.

As for the girls team... they were lucky that their opponents were not the best. I've only trained with for one week but I already could see that they were missing something important: team spirit. And me? I was an outsider, so they didn't really pay attention to me.

The bell rang. I grabbed my bento and left the classroom. These days I spent my lunch breaks in the old gym. It was peaceful in there. While going there, people were starring again. These looks, the whispers, I've been through it. All humans were the same. In the US, they've talked about me because I was japanese. In Japan, they whispered behind my back because I came from the US. An identity crisis was already pre-programmed. But at the moment I was  able to suppress and swallow it. Not for long tho.

I reached the old gymnasium. Carefully I opened the heavy doors and slipped inside. Nobody liked this place, that was why I was usually alone. I opened my bento and ate some of it before I grabbed my sneakers and a volleyball.

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Bang. The ball hit the wall. Bang. I repeated the process of hitting the ball quite hard. Bang. It perfectly landed in my hands. I hit it again. All the build up frustration diminishes with each blow. I caught the ball and spun it in my hands. A door squeaked and I flinched. Caught off guard, I looked at the unwanted guest.

"Shibayama, there's somebody in here." A big guy with silver hair entered the gym. He looked at me with big eyes. I recognized him as the middle blocker from the boys volleyballteam, Lev Haiba. "Who are you?" Another third year student entered. If I was correct, it was their libero. "My name's Ito Izumi." Lev thought for a while. "Right, you're the newest member of the girls volleyballteam, right? The number 5." I nodded. "Please toss me some balls! I beg you!"  His bubblely personality lifted my mood. "Fine."

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I liked them a lot. They spent the whole lunch break in the gym with me. I tossed the ball for them while they told me stories about the school and the volleyball club. "There were many good players 'til last year. It hasn't been the same since then." Shibayama smiled at me. "Your tosses are really good and accurate. You'll be one of the best players in the team!"

His praises felt good. Yet, the reality was so much different. I couldn't play much when our Coach wasn't there. They made me do the tasks a manager would do. If I didn't, they would shout at me. The bell rang again. "See you, Izumi-chan!" Lev waved at me before he and Shibayama left the gym. I was alone again.

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"Get the ball, Izumi!" Kairi's voice echoed through the gym. I grimaced. Not again. "Go ahead!" Ayumi hissed. I tossed away my ball and walked away to get their volleyball. They really thought I was their maid. I really hoped that I make in the lineup. If I did, they wouldn't have a reason to push me around anymore. But for that, I'd have to be better than Mai-san, the team's vice-captain. And she played damn well. I picked up some of the balls and tossed them into the basket.

"Gather around, girls." Captain Shiori called us together. Our coach eyed each one of us. "We'll start evaluating for the regular lineup today." She smiled. "Do your best."