Foreign Interference

Chapter 3

The sound of squeaking rubber on hardwood resounded out of the gym as the two girls made their way over to the door. Yachi could feel the excitement resonating off of the other girl, making her glance towards her partner. She couldn't help but mirror the smile that spread across the others' face. It was a look of anxious glee.

Just before the two girls got to the door a familiar voice called out to them both.

"Yachi-san! (F/N)-chan!" The girls both turn around to see Kiyoko approach them. "Are you coming to watch the practice, (F/N)-chan?" She asks.

"Yes!" The girl responds standing up straight. Kiyoko chuckles at the sudden politeness.

"I think you'll enjoy it. We are a team headed for nationals after all!" Kiyoko adds.

"REALLY?!" The girl asks, eyes widening. "I didn't know that!" She turns to Yachi, who just smiles back. "So cool! I'll have to remember everyone so I can brag about knowing you all when you beat everyone!" The girl finishes even more excited after learning how great the players are that she's about to meet.

'I hope they aren't arrogant.' She thought, but then she remembered the two she had already met. 'Nah, I'm sure they're nice!' She decides, with a small giggle.

The three girls turn towards the doors to the gym. Kiyoko walks in first giving her usual greeting, followed by Yachi and the other first-year. After her eyes adjusted to the light change, the new student's eyes widened. Her senses bombarded by the atmosphere of the gym: the smell of dust on the well-used gym equipment mixed with oil used to shine the floor, the squeak of rubber soles on the hardwood, the quick shouts coming from the players to communicate plays, the heavy feel of the intense concentration that the players were giving their sport. All these factors made the first-year stop dead in her tracks, filling her with a sense of nostalgia. This was the first place that reminded her of her home town.

'I guess it doesn't matter where you are, a gym is still a gym.' The girl thought, coming back to reality. She changed her shoes, and followed Yachi over to where a tall man with blond hair pulled back out of his face stood. Kiyoko made the introductions.

"Ukai-san, this is (L/N)(F/N). She is the exchange student I was telling the team about." She concluded with her hand pointed in the new girl's direction.

"Nice to meet you, Ukai-san!" The girl responded politely giving a small bow. Ukai nodded.

"Same to you. Did you come to watch?" He asked.

"Y-yes! If you don't mind...?" She asked/stated quickly, looking at him expectantly. He just laughed.

"I like the enthusiasm! Yes, you can stay to watch, just try not to distract the boys...too much." He said turning his attention back to the practice. The girl walked away from Ukai, towards Yachi, but decided against bugging her since she seemed busy helping Kiyoko with their managerial duties. She, instead, focused her attention towards the boys.

Today, they seemed to be having a bit of a practice match of sorts.

'Is this all of the members?' The girl questioned. 'Only twelve, huh?' She continued to watch, her gaze intensifying by the second. Her eyes never left the court,  she was analyzing every minute detail, careful not to let anything slip past. After a few minutes of this, Ukai noticed how focused the girl was on the players, how she hadn't moved an inch since she arrived at the spot between himself and the managers. He also noticed that, even in the face of the super quick that Hinata and Kageyama could do, she only reacted a bit by widening her eyes in surprise.

'Is she...no...maybe?' He squinted a little while watching her out of the corner of his eyes, brows furrowing slightly.

At this moment, since the girl was hyper aware of the sport, she noticed how the boys were lined up on the court. She could tell that the team opposite the weird first-year duo were on edge. She figured it was because Hinata was in front. After witnessing all of the amazing sets, spikes, and receives, the girl felt that something bad was going to happen...an instinctual feeling.

'With Hinata in the front like that, of course Kageyama is going to try and rack up some points. The other team knows this, too...that's why blondie is in the front along with the other taller, nervous kid.' She thought while pinning her thumb in between her lips.

'But with that angle, if he sets to Hinata now, then...' Her eyes widened in recognition of the bad feeling she had. She looked over at Yachi who was fiddling with the team's water bottles, unaware of what was to occur. Returning her gaze back to the game, the new girl started moving. Just then, kageyama set to hinata, who in turn spiked the ball into the nervous boys block causing it to ricochet straight towards Yachi. Without missing a beat, the new girl ran towards Yachi, right arm out-stretched as far as it could go. The ball connected to the girl's small wrist and bounced all the way to the other side of the gym to hit the wall lightly, pattering to the floor. Silence enveloped the gym, except for the loud thud caused by the girl as she fell to the floor haphazardly. Yachi turned around at the commotion and found the girl on the floor.

"(F/N) –chan! Oh my god! W-what happened?!" Yachi said, helping the other girl off the floor, oblivious to the injuries she could have sustained if her new friend had missed a single step. The girl dusted herself off and sent Yachi a calming smile.

"Nothing to worry yourself over!" The girl responded, her hair falling out from whatever held it in place to rest beside her face, as she straightened her skirt.

"Are...Are you ok?" A worried, male voice said right behind the girl. She turned to see an older boy, with short dark brown hair. He looked strong.

"Y-yes! I'm completely fine! See?" She said, moving her arms around and jumping slightly to convince them she was really okay. The boy breathed a sigh of relief. Just then the gym erupted into chaos.

"WHOA! That was amazing! Have you played Volleyball before?!" A short boy with spiked brown hair shouted while sliding dramatically into the girl's view.

"I AM SO SORRY!!" Hinata shouted while running up to the poor girl, bowing deeply causing her to blush.

"M-me, too!" The nervous, freckled boy added turning towards you with a bow, though not as low as Hinata's.

"Really, guys, it's fine! I'm just happy no one got hurt! That spike was pretty powerful, though! I'm impressed!" The girl said, smiling at the orange-haired boy, who in returned blushed a bright red color and stuttered out a 'thank you very much!'

"Alright, alright! Back to practice!" Ukai shouts loudly, causing the boys to jump slightly. After the group disbanded, Ukai turned to the girl.

"You sure you're ok?" He questioned. The girl nodded. He continued squinting slightly, "How did you react so quickly to that?"

"Oh...I...I don't know, I just felt like it was coming...I guess..." The girl stated, blushing slightly, looking away from his face.

'Huh? So like intuition...or something?' He thought. He turned to her once more, a question burning to be asked. He takes a deep breath and looks at her.

"What is it that you see when you're watching them play?"