[English] ~𝒟𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓉ℴ 𝒟𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓂~ Kenma x OC

Chapter 32: One's way to victory

The stadium was brightly lit and completely overcrowded. Dozens of young people were pushing through the narrow aisles to get a good seat. Thank God Atsumu had arranged for us to sit in the VIP section. This was where the players' relatives and friends sat. Kenma pushed Rose and me through the crowd. 

We were stopped by an employee in front of a wide door. "Tickets please." 

Kenma handed him our tickets. 

"Okay, have fun." He opened the door and let us into the stands. 

Someone in the front row raised their hand. "Kozume-san, Ito-san, over here." I recognized Akaashi-san, who had saved seats for us with my cousin. 

Osamu and I had decided to go to the game separately because he had to deliver an order. He had therefore left about an hour earlier.

We plopped down next to the two former volleyball players. I quickly introduced Akaashi-san to Rose, then I concentrated on the MSBY Black Jackals' warm-up routine. 

Someone tapped me on the shoulder. "Izumi-chan!" I turned around and a smile crept onto my face. 

"Lev! Yuki! And you four are here too!" The four third-graders from Karasuno High School grinned at me. 

Hinata-san high-fived Kenma. I introduced them to Rose and Tsukishima immediately got her involved in some kind of conversation about typical American culture. A shrill sound sounded and signaled that the game was about to start. I grabbed Kenma's hand. Excitement spread through me. I had never seen a professional volleyball game before. 

He smiled. "Well? Nervous, kitten?" 

I leaned forward a little. "A little. I've never seen a professional volleyball game before!" 

Kenma nodded knowingly and then leaned forward as well. "They're playing against the top team in their league table today. It's going to be an exciting game. Let's see if Atsumu, Bokuto and Sakusa want to talk afterwards."

That was a clear sign that he wanted to remind me of our conversation in the shop. Curious, I looked at Rose, who was still talking. She hadn't told us about her plan yet and I was almost dying of anxiety. But no matter how much I begged, she just wouldn't tell me. 

I sulkily fell back again. I hated being left out and not knowing everything. Uncertainty was a difficult subject for me since I found out what I had been kept from me my whole life. The shrill sound rang out again and the stands became loud. Girls were shouting the names of their favorite players and other spectators who thought they knew everything better were already giving instructions. It was really loud. 

Overwhelmed, I looked around. I was right in the middle of it all. Even though everyone was here for a different reason, we had one thing in common: the love of this sport. The love of volleyball (except for the fan girls, who only loved the volleyball players, but still). And suddenly I knew that I was in the right place. I was surrounded by friends, by people who liked me. It gave me this strange feeling of security that only my father could give me until now. A smile spread across my face. I had finally arrived. I had found what I had been looking for so much in the last few months.

------

The MSBY Black Jackals won the first set by six points. They also won the second set, so it was clear that they would win. When the final set ended, all hell broke loose. The stadium was filled with loud cheers and hoarse screams of joy. An employee opened the doors and the VIP guests were able to disappear unnoticed by the other fans right into the VIP area, where snacks and drinks were offered. 

Our small group was led by an employee into the wing where the changing rooms were. We had agreed with Atsumu that we would wait for them there. It took a while until they were ready. They ran towards us with happy faces. 

"We showed them, ya!" Atsumu raised his fist in the air and I giggled. 

Bokuto-san jumped up and down excitedly. "If this keeps up, we'll soon be champions!" 

Sakusa-san trotted slowly behind them. He still didn't really like large groups. We congratulated the three of them and then toasted their victory in the VIP area, with the Karasuno students, Rose, Lev, Yuki and I only having something non-alcoholic to drink as I was still not of age. Kenma gently clinked his glass against mine and stole a glance at me. Warmth spread in my stomach. If he knew what feelings he was triggering in me with his looks... He shouldn't know, at least not yet. He would surely tease me about it.

-----

Shortly afterwards we drove to the Miya family restaurant to celebrate the victory and hear Rose's plan. She had mentioned it briefly on the way back and since then there had been a barely noticeable tension. No one knew exactly what it was about and you could see how it was dampening the party mood. 

Osamu had already started preparing the food before the game and I helped him to spread the food on the table. Kageyama-san and Hinata-san immediately put heaps of rice and fried meat on their plates, whereupon Akaashi-san asked the two to leave some for the others. After everything was taken care of, I plopped down between Kenma and Rose. Rose was just disinfecting her hands. My best friend couldn't stand germs and bacteria just like Kenma's best friend, Sakusa-san. Did I see potential for a cheesy love story? Definitely. Did I have time to set the two up? Unfortunately not. That's a shame.

"I'm sorry for putting you through so much trouble." Rose finally spoke up. Her voice sounded nervous. 

"Unfortunately, I don't speak Japanese yet, so Izumi will help me with the translation." 

Oh really? I straightened my shoulders. Next to me, Kenma let out a silent laugh. Mean. 

"What is it all about?" Sakusa-san looked at my best friend. There was a hint of boredom in his eyes. Rose looked at me. I sighed quietly. It was probably my turn then. After I had assured with Kenma that it was okay to talk about it, I began to tell him everything that had happened within my family so far. From the plan to take my father's inheritance to the fact that my family members had been keeping secrets from me to the events of the previous night and the suspicion that my sister was abusing her boyfriend.

With every sentence I spoke, their faces darkened. When I was finished, we were silent for a while. Rose looked at me helplessly, after all she hadn't understood anything I had just said, but she raised her voice again. 

"We need your help. We need evidence to crush them in court." 

Tsukishima-san tilted his head and Yamaguchi-san said what everyone was thinking. "And how can we help with that?"