Days in the Life of a Nekoma High Schooler

The Newcomer

The weekend had flown by, and it's Monday now, on the dot of 4pm. I'm standing outside the gym doors, and judging by the strange quiet of no balls being hit or the squeaking of sneakers, no one was in there yet and so I had to wait until someone would open it for me.
It feels weird that I'm the first one to arrive, but I guess I feel that I'm part of the club more, so I was in more of a hurry to get there.

...

"I understand that you are a sore loser, but please just accept that you lost to me and hand me the dessert already." I've probably never seen Kuroo smirk so much. I can actually see him shaking slightly from trying to suppress his gleeful laughter.

I roll my eyes. "Jeez, are you sure you're from a cat school? You sound like a chicken when you try to stifle your laughter. Is there a school named after birds that you can go to?"

"Oh, right, there's this school in Miyagi, I think it was called ... Uh, um ..." Inuoka struggles to remember the school in question, while Yamamoto's howling laughter can be clearly heard along with an occasional "K-Kuroo-san ... c-c-chicken ..." and a more frequent "Are you ever gonna grow up? Aren't you actually an elementary schooler?!" from Yaku-san.

"Ah!" Inuoka points his index finger upwards as he remembers. "Torino?"

"Hey, guys, this school's our destined rivals! What're you doing forgetting about them?" He chuckles softly. I'm pretty impressed that Kuroo's managed to regain his composure so quickly, but something in his expression tells me that he won't let me off of it. "It's Karasuno. We'll have a practice ma—"

"Karasuno?!" I couldn't stop myself. Everyone turns to face me. I tilt my head downward a little. "O-oh, sorry. It's just that someone I know goes there ... And I'm pretty sure that they go to their volleyball club ..."

When I meekly lifted my head again, Kenma was giving me a confused look. Oh.

"Oh yeah, sorry Kenma. I've actually known him before I've known you, so I couldn't have introduced you to him ..." I'm surprised that he even remembers me introducing my friends to him.

"Oh, anyway! More importantly," I change the subject as I remember what I was actually going to say. I suddenly shoot down to a 90-degree bow. "Starting from Monday, I'm officially going to be your manager! I knew that you guys were desperate, but I had no idea that you were that desperate, and besides, you guys seem really interesting and into volleyball, so I'm just glad that I can take part! I'm aware that I'm an amateur, but I'll try!"

Everyone was a little taken aback by my sudden words. I rub the back of my head sheepishly and begin to apologise, but Kuroo cuts over my words.

"Did you hear that? She's a complete rookie, but she has the guts to say that we're "desperate"," he snickered, propping a heavy elbow on my shoulder. "Well, she's Kenma's cousin, so she naturally has good deduction skills and whatnot, so she'll be useful."

I don't haste to half jokingly slap his arm away. "Hey, that's okay, but don't make it sound like I'm going to be your slave!"

Kuroo, naturally, only grins.

"Okay, okay. Just get to the gym on time."

...

That was that. I suppose everyone thinks that I'm too chummy with Kuroo, but I'll be sure to talk to everyone else too! They seemed pretty happy that they finally found a manager, even if it was a complete beginner. Of course, that bastard Kuroo just had to drag me to that ice cream shop when I had a mountain of homework to do! Don't even get me started on how slowly he ate that sorbet (raspberry) in front of my face, letting the dessert melt in his mouth. It was torture, honestly.

"Oh, hi Inuoka-kun! Do you have the keys?" I spot him jogging towards me, and I call out to him.

"Yeah! You're here early, Yuki-san!" He's already opening the door. "Hey, is it true that you're Shibayama's lab partner and you—"

"Please, no more," I say, half wincing, half sarcastically. "Don't mention it. Shibayama literally thinks that I'm a bomb or something. He must have the worst luck to have me as a lab partner!"

Inuoka laughs. "It's okay, he doesn't hate you," he says cheerfully, and with a slightly mysterious smile, he starts running laps around the gym.

Soon, more members enter the gymnasium (with Shibayama keeping a safe distance of at least 3.463m away from me) until only Kuroo remained missing.

"That idiot captain," Yaku muttered murderously under his breath.

The doors were suddenly flung wide open, and everyone turned to look at the latecomers.

Kuroo, a fake smile on his face, seemed to be coaxing a tall silver-haired boy into the building. His green eyes were curiously surveying his surroundings like a puppy exploring a new territory.

Hm ... he must be a foreigner ... maybe Kuroo's trying to make him a member? If so, he must have a different sort of power as opposed to Japanese players; stronger, most likely. Not to mention, he has height too! 194.3cm! Perfect for a volleyball player! A middle blocker, maybe ..? I did my research on volleyball positions and everything over the weekend.

"Hey guys, sorry for being late," Kuroo said, "I was recruiting a new member." He points his thumb over his shoulder at the tall silver-haired boy.

"This is Haiba."