If someone would've told Hayami that she'd became the manager of a volleyball team she wouldn't have believed them.
And there she was.
Becoming a manager, a teammate, a friend, a sister.
But mostly, an ice skater.
A strong one.
A National Star.
She...
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Kenma could only sigh at the grade he was staring at.
Nothing surprising but he was still quite disappointed. He was sure he nailed that one, but it turned out not so 'nailed'. He barely passed it and he studied a lot.
His eyes drifted for a moment on Hayami's paper, which was perfectly written. Not a trace of red ink from the teacher's correction.
"My offer is still up," she captured his cat eyes, smiling, "we can study together."
He knew he had to keep his grades high to pursue playing volleyball in the school's team, that was the rule. The first year he stayed afloat thanks to the right dose of luck, but he was afraid that year would be different.
The right help could be a game changer.
"Sure", he mumbled, his eyes back on his shoes and his leg tapping fast on the pavement.
Hayami winked, "Great. We'll be study buddies then!"
Cringe, he thought, half smiling.
"Never used that term again", he whispered, shaking his head.
"Jeez, then I'll use it forever from now on!", typical Hayami's answer.
"Annoying."
She returned to sit straight on her chair, amused by the boy's sarcastic side.
The lunch bell rang, signaling the end of the first classes.
"We'll wait for Kuroo?", Hayami asked Kenma, closing her notebook and taking out her bento and a small paper bag.
He nodded, stuffing his books in his bag and picking up the big sandwich his mother left him that morning. She overdid, as always, but he couldn't complain; she was a great cooker and knew exactly what to prepare to make his stomach flip in a happy dance.
"Oh, that looks delicious!", Hayami pointed at his lunch.
"From my mom."
Hayami giggled, nudging at something attached to the sandwich's envelope, "Figured."
He didn't notice the yellow post-it his mom left him until that moment.
'Have a good day at school! Work hard at practice too! Love you! Mom.'
That was it.
His last straw.
He wanted to hide his head under the surface like an ostrich.
Hayami sensed his discomfort and quickly showed him her lunch boxes, smiling, "Mine does it too!"
Kenma turned his head and saw a blue one and a green one.
'For my cute little exotic penguin! Good day at schooling, managing, and practicing! Love love love you! Mommy.'
'Mom stole many cherries, but I saved some! Don't eat them all, share them with your friends!Dad.'
