𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 彡 𝐭.𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐚 (𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿.)

⤷ 09,, i want to escape volleyball

"Don't tell me you're leaving us, again!"

Atsumu holds onto your hand when you're about to leave the hallway in the dorms to meet up with Inuoka for your last meet-up for the film project.

Today is your deadline, and the two of you need to look over the film that you made, and check if you've got everything ready to hand it in. You've got to hand in all the things that you made for the video, including the end project. So all the storyboards, scripts and the mind-maps that you guys made have to be digitalised as well.

"Yes, I am leaving again," you say as you yank your hand away from him. "Because I have to finish this project for my first grade, Tsumu. I'll hopefully be free this weekend."

Atsumu pouts. "Oh, okay."

He sighs sadly, his eyes on the ground. His expression reminds you of the one Bokuto has when he's sad. His hair is low whenever that's the case and it seems like his ears are hanging low then, and this is exactly what Atsumu has as well right now, but then in a different way. Just similar vibes.

You sigh frustrated. "Please Atsumu, don't act like this. We knew that we wouldn't see each other as much as we would during our high school days. You know I don't so this on purpose and you know I want to spend time with you and the others, but I'm busy," you explain.

He shrugs. "I know, but you're literally never with us anymore. You live with Haruko, Kaiya and Rin, but you barely see us! Not to mention you barely see Kenma and Kuroo anymore. When is the last time you saw those two?"

You think back. It surely wasn't that long, right? Nahh. You probably saw them last when... Your eyes widen.

The last time you saw them was when you arrived in Japan and when you all went for coffee.

It's even longer since you have played video games with Kenma and Kuroo, or joined a stream from Kenma. He has been asking you to join his streams a couple of times, but everytime you turned it down because you had "homework", or something like that.

You cringe at yourself. You really don't see your friends much, it is a bit of a problem. But then again, you're busy. And you don't even see Akaashi, Bokuto and Oikawa ever, since they live in Kyoto and go to university there.

You sigh. "You're right about one thing, I don't spend enough time with you guys. I haven't seen Kuroo or Kenma for days, and it's bad. Once I'm less busy I can hang out more but it's not in my power to see you guys more often. But once I have less work to do, it's hang out time."

Atsumu nods at your words. He knows that you're doing your best and he also knows that you want to spend time with your friends, but you're busy and he misses you. All your friends miss you...

"That doesn't mean that I can stay now, because I really need to finish this project today and hand it in on time. I promise that I'll spend time with all of you this weekend and later today, okay?"

He sighs. "Okay, okay. Why don't you join our volleyball practice tonight?" he asks you. "The try-outs haven't happened yet, but the current team is still training. It would be cool if you would be there. You can bring my sister, Kaiya and Haruko with you if you want to, we don't mind."

You nod. "Sure, sounds fun! I'll be there, I promise. I gotta run now, so bye Atsumu!"

You smile at your friend and quickly run away from him, ready to meet up with Inuoka in the café again. It's time to ace this damn deadline and get your first project over with.

✰

Luckily for you, you and Inuoka submidded the film right on time but it didn't come without complications.

When you got in the café and ordered your drink, Yaku was there again. It seems like he works there every time when you're there. For some odd reason he's not in classes even though you know that he still studies here. He says it's because he's magical, but you're assuming he does loads of his uni work at work when there aren't customers and that he's less busy than you.

After all... This is still a student café on campus where a lot of people are just working on their homework, and where only students can come. There are many more cafés around campus, this one is just close to your dorm and side of campus.

You sigh as you plop down next to Inuoka on one of the benches outside of the school building, happy that you're finally done.

"I'm glad we got that sorted," you say, leaning your head back. The evening sun hits your face, the feeling of warmth taking over your boy. It feels good to be outside for a change.

"Me too," Inuoka says with a sigh. "I don't know how I'm going to combine school with sports, it's going to take some energy but I hope it'll work out."

"You play sports?"

Inuoka nods. "Yeah! I'm going to try out for the volleyball team next week!" he says with a smile. "I heard the team is pretty good. This is the school where a lot of people get scouted for the national team. I've always loved volleyball and want to make it big one day, but I also like creating videos so I thought going to university here made the most sense."

"Why is everyone that I'm friends with into volleyball? It seems like I can't escape the sport," you say with a laugh. "My friends are on the team."

The guy chuckles. "That's kinda funny. So do all your friends from all over the world play volleyball then?"

"Only the ones from Japan do. When I was on my exchange I wasn't around volleyball players, nor anywhere near the sport. I was surrounded with film students and nerds for a whole year, it was a nice change."

"Mhm, maybe volleyball is your destiny then since it's all coming back again."

"I hope not, but maybe it is," you say.

Then you look at your phone, your eyes widening when you see the time. "Crap, I told my friends that I would watch their volleyball practice!" you say as you jump up.

"Huh, but don't volleyball tryouts start next week?"

"Yeah, my friends said that the new players will join from next week on, but that the ones that were already in the team last year are still doing practices every other day. It isn't until the first years will join too that the practices will become more frequent, but they obviously will keep training since they can't sit still."

"Makes sense. Well, you have to go now. I'll see you later, Riley!"

You thank the guy and run into the direction of the gyms to watch your friends their practice, trying to be on time still.

ੈ ✰ ‧₊˚ﾟ

author's note~

soooo i wrote this authors note when i first wrote this chapter, which was around summer of 2022~~
"my friends are getting me into stray kids, so now i'm a baby stay. i'm listening to their songs now too bc first i only watched funny vids and liked them bc of that lol. but yeah they're great. i'm still learning much tho🥹🥹"

and this is so wholesome to me because now there is no going back anymore and i'm a full on stay. i love them and there's books about them that do so well?? crazy. so check those out of you're into skz :p thanks alaska and mya for making me a stay, although i hate what you guys did to my wallet😔