Everything has changed | t.kuroo & h.yachi

Chapter 9: Volleyball

The sun was already high in the sky as another hot day of the summer camp began. The first light of morning had barely touched the campgrounds when the buzz of activity started. Some of the players were waking up early for a full day of training, their voices and the sound of their sneakers on the court filling the air. The heat was stifling, and the promise of another exhausting day loomed ahead.

At the mess hall, the morning was quiet, but the calm was short-lived as the managers gathered at a long table for breakfast. The scent of miso soup, grilled fish, and rice filled the air, mixing with the warmth of the sun creeping through the windows. Yachi took her plate, sitting down quietly next to the other managers from Karasuno, Fukurōdani, and Ubugawa. The conversations around her were lighthearted, filled with laughter and teasing. The players, still sleepy from the early wake-up call, dug into their food with enthusiasm.

The simple breakfast was a comforting start to the day. The other managers were chatting animatedly, their voices blending together in friendly conversation. Yachi, for her part, was content to listen quietly from the side, occasionally nodding in agreement or offering a soft "Yes, that sounds good" if a question was directed toward her. She didn't have much to contribute to the back-and-forth, but the company was nice. Being in the same room, surrounded by the warmth of both the food and the camaraderie, made her feel a little less out of place. She didn't need to be the center of attention.

Yachi took a slow bite of her rice, her eyes scanning the group.

A few seats away, Yamaguchi and Tsukishima were in a deep discussion about new snacks, both of them leaning in and exchanging ideas, while the others in the group made lighthearted comments. Yachi couldn't help but smile quietly as she listened to them. Their voices, while sometimes teasing, always carried a sense of camaraderie that Yachi admired.

"I heard the coaches are planning a lot of matches for today," Nishinoya said, his voice bright with excitement. "It's going to be tough with the heat, though. But it's good for training, right?"

"Yeah," Daichi agreed, adjusting his glasses. "They're trying to test everyone's endurance. It'll be a good challenge."

On the other side of the table, Lev and Hinata were talking about a recent play they'd seen on the court, both of them animated and laughing. Hinata was waving his arms dramatically as he retold the moment, while Lev listened, his arms crossed, an amused smile on his face.

Yachi couldn't help but observe them, grateful for the normalcy of their interactions. She wasn't particularly talkative, and her presence had a way of blending into the background, but she enjoyed listening. It was a rare thing for her to be so still, to feel so comfortable just observing. The chatter felt familiar, like a calm rhythm she could follow without needing to interrupt.

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By the time breakfast had ended and the players began to filter out toward the courts, the heat had already begun to bear down on the camp. Yachi stood from the table, smoothing out her shirt and tucking her clipboard under her arm. Her job for the day was clear: keep the players hydrated, keep their spirits up, and make sure everything was running smoothly.

At the gym her eyes occasionally wandered toward the volleyball courts, where the teams were beginning their warm-ups. The sight of them stretching, jumping, and preparing for the intense day of training was always motivating for Yachi. It reminded her of why she was here-to support, to help the team grow.

Yachi's eyes drifted to the far side of the court, where Karasuno was warming up with their usual intensity. Captain Daichi was leading the drills with his usual seriousness, his powerful voice cutting through the air as he demonstrated various techniques for his teammates. His strong presence was a comforting sight, as she knew how much dedication he put into every moment on the court.