Childhood friends

21. Ace Wannabe

Kawanishi sighed. Today, the new first years would be joining the team. The brunette noticed a relatively tall first year, this boy had black hair in a bowl cut. Kawanishi noticed the serious look on the younger boy's face, and also admitted to himself that this kid could potentially be the ace of the team (after Ushijima left, that is).

Shirabu huffed. "That one first year acts as if he's gonna not only be put on as a starter, but he seems to think he'll also be the ace. Damn bowl cut brat."

Semi frowned at his words. "Don't start being mean to the first years, Shirabu. The one you're both looking at... it's Goshiki, right? The one with the bowl cut, ya know the serious boy with black hair?"

Kawanishi nods. "He looks really focused and serious. He has some serious talent."

Ushijima walked over. "I think he could be the ace once us third years leave. He just needs guidance and more experience."

Tendou smirked. "Ah, so Tsutomu-kun has ace potential, huh? He seems exactly like what coach wants out of the new players. Quite the interesting little first year, indeed."

Yamagata tipped his head to one side. "You think he'll be a regular? I think he's got talent, but he's still a first year."

Reon nods. "There's no guarantee that coach will put him in. I mean, we have a whole bunch of players. There's no way we're actually gonna have even one first year put on the team. Especially right off the bat? That doesn't seem likely."

Kawanishi shrugs, finally adding his input to this conversation. "That decision is still up to coach. Regardless, he'll definitely be on the team once the third years leave. He has potential, yes, but we still don't know how he'd work with the regulars. If he can't make way for the ace, while only being a decoy himself, then there's no chance he'll be useful to us. He has to not only understand his position, but respect the senpai that are still far more skilled than him."

Tendou smirked, glancing over at his fellow middle blocker. "This coming from you, Taichi-kun? That's interesting. I never thought I'd hear you speak this way about a newbie."

The brunette frowns. "Y/n has been talking about possibilities for first years on both our teams. She seems confident that if the right ones come to our teams, that they'll be guaranteed a spot as a regular. I wonder if she has any interesting first years on her team."

Tendou decided to light a fire under the poor boy. "I wonder if any of the first years on her team has talked to her yet. Maybe they find her pretty and like her personality already. Who knows, maybe one or two of them will end up confessing their love for your girlfriend. Oh my, Taichi-kun, you might have some competition."

Your boyfriend grit his teeth, a glare beginning to form on his face. "No way is that happening. Y/n's my girlfriend. I make her happy. No fucking first year is gonna steal her from me."

Shirabu shook his head, sighing. "Don't let Tendou get under your skin, Kawanishi. I doubt you have anything to worry about."

Semi nodded, lightly patting the second year middle blocker's back. "No one will steal that girl from you. I've seen how happy you make her. There's no chance anyone can steal her heart. You'll always be her favorite person in the whole world."

Goshiki looks over, seeing his senpai talking and having fun. He heard something about a girlfriend, at least that's what he thinks he heard. He walks over to the group of second and third years. "Did one of you say something about having a girlfriend?"

"Mind your own damn business."

Semi scolded the second year. "Play nice, Shirabu."

Kawanishi nodded. "We were just talking about my girlfriend, she's the manager for the volleyball club at her school."

Goshiki tips his head to one side. "Your girlfriend doesn't go to Shiratorizawa?"

The brunette shakes his head. "She goes to Aoba Johsai, her parents wouldn't let her come here. You might meet her, though. She usually comes to help out on Mondays, since her team doesn't have practice then."

Goshiki's eyes light up. "Is she nice?"

"The nicest." Kawanishi stops himself before he starts bragging about the girl he's in love with. "And she gets along with us, even though her team is our rival."

Tendou grinned. "As long as you don't fall in love with Y/n-chan, then you'll have nothing to worry about, Tsutomu-kun!"

Kawanishi glared at the redhead. "Shut the fuck up. I know Y/n is amazing, but stop assuming that everyone will fall in love with her."

Goshiki blinked a few times. "Is there a way I can meet her today?"

"I don't think-" He gets cut off, his phone ringing. The moment your name pops up, he answers the call. "Y/n, what's going on?" He quickly put you on speaker, since his teammates gestured for him to do so.

"Ah, Taichi! Practice ended earlier, and I couldn't convince our first years to come with me. I was trying so hard to befriend them, but they wanted nothing to do with me! Well, I guess I'm exaggerating a little. They thanked me for being around and talked to me a little as we were wrapping up, but they didn't wanna hang with me outside of school or club activities! I'm bored, is your practice still going on? I'm already making my way to you, so you can't tell me to go home."

Kawanishi sighs. "Practice is still going on. We're still getting the first years introduced to the club."

You gasp. "Am I gonna meet your new team babies?! I'm sprinting there!"

"Y/n, you really don't have to. Just go home for the night. You need to sleep."

You huff out a breath, still sprinting at full speed. "I told you I wasn't gonna listen to that. I'm meeting your precious kouhai. I must become a role model."

Tendou grinned, speaking up. "Aw, Y/n-chan, we miss you too. Where were you yesterday? We needed our favorite manager around."

You stopped running, having reached the gate to the school. "I was busy. I didn't wanna see you, cuz you're a bitch, Tendou. And I never gave you permission to speak. I was talking to Taichi, not your weird ass."

Semi sighed. "Y/n, please watch your language."

Shirabu snorted. "You sound like you and Oikawa had a long talk."

"I do? Shit. I shouldn't have spent yesterday with the team. They begged me and I couldn't say no. Hey, Shirabu, are you guys still in the gym?"

"Yeah, why?" The setter raised a brow.

"Reasons. Thank you." You hung up the call.

Kawanishi held a confused look on his face. "Why did she do that?" Realization dawned on him. "Don't tell me-"

The door to the gym slammed open, revealing your figure. You walk in confidently, a smile on your face. "Hey!"

Goshiki looks at you, a blush forming on his face. "Is that the girl that was on the phone?"

Your boyfriend nods. "Yeah."

"She's pretty." The first year looked at you with stars in his eyes.

You walk right up to the group, hearing the statement and smiling at the boy. "Thank you. You must be one of the first years. I'm L/n Y/n-"

"My girlfriend." Kawanishi cut you off, hurrying to pull you into a hug.

You raise a brow, turning to the other members. "Am I missing something here?"

Tendou smirked. "Taichi-kun is jealous."

Goshiki bowed. "I'm Goshiki Tsutomu! I'm a first year wing spiker, and I aspire to be the ace of the team!"

The group fell silent.

Tendou laughed. "He really said it!"

You blinked, looking at the tall first year. "Good luck. Ushijima-san, looks like you have competition."

Ushijima didn't react. "I won't be replaced."