Foreign Interference

Chapter 5

It's been a week since the foreigner started attending the volleyball practices. Although some of the boys were very, very nervous when talking to her, she tried her best to learn as much as she could about the boys. She was asked a few times about how she was so good at analyzing sports and peoples' characteristics and personalities without meeting them, but she would only chuckle and say something along the lines of 'ah, I'm not that good!' or 'I don't know, intuition?' But really, how else could the girl answer? The boys would just laugh at her if she told them that the real reason was actually due to her experience in (Favorite Sport), sports animes and mangas, and the occasional otome game. That would just be embarrassing.

She realized quickly, that this team of oddballs was also a team full of talent. Not only were the senpais reliable and experienced, the new first years were talented and hardworking. She learned everyone's names quickly and tried her hardest to catch their mistakes. She wanted to prove that she was worth having around, that she was useful. Even spending hours upon hours looking up volleyball information on her laptop was becoming a regular occurrence for her. She would stay up late into the night to look at new tactics and learn about the different positions, some nights she even stayed up past 1 in the morning. Everyone wants to say they try their hardest, and the girl was no exception. This life style was wearing her down, though, and the boys started to take notice.

"Hey, doesn't (L/N)-san look a little different today?" Tanaka whispered to Nishinoya. The both of them were on the opposite side of the gym, admiring the new girl and Shimizu, while drinking from water bottles.

"Yeah, I've noticed it, too. She looks a bit...worn out? Tired?" He replied, both of them tilting their heads. Sugawara overheard both of them and decided to add what information he knew.

"She said she's been researching volleyball recently." He told the two boys, "I think it's amazing that she can put in so much effort for a bunch of guys she's only just met, and towards a sport she wasn't really interested in." He touches his chin in concentration. "I think she need to relax a little bit." He looks up, worriedly, towards the girl. He, too, has noticed that she now has bags under her eyes, and she slouches a bit when she stands still. He then starts to walk towards her.

Noticing the approaching third year, the girl pauses what she was doing and turns to look at Suga.

"(F/N)-san," He starts, "Can I talk to you a sec?" He asks with a friendly smile.

'OMG NO,' the girl thinks, 'What did I do? Did I say something? Are they going to kick me from the gym? I know I'm not very helpful yet, but I want to learn!'

Trying not to let her anxiety be seen, she nods at the boy. She follows him out of the gym.

"Wha-what would y-you like to t-talk to me about?" She asks quickly when the two were safely outside of the gym. Suga noticed that she was fidgeting a lot and it bugged him a bit.

"Are you...okay?" Suga asked slowly, his face full of concern. "You seem stressed out. No one's giving you a hard time, right? I know you only just met all of us, and we can be a little... intimidating..." He says looking over his shoulder towards Kageyama, who was yelling his signature phrase at a terrified Hinata. Looking back at the girl he sighed, "How do I say this...I uh hope that if something was um bothering you, you would tell someone!" He finished, albeit a little flustered by the end.

The look on the girl's face was blank. Then it was red. This boy, whom she had only recently met, was worried about her. The girl was so embarrassed that she looked down at her feet while she replied.

"I'm sorry if I worried you...I didn't mean to do that." She said, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "When I get into something, I go a little overboard on it." She explained.

'Ahh that explained the bags under her eyes!' Suga thought, relaxing. 'Here I thought she was getting bullied!'

Recovering from her embarrassment, the girl looks up at Suga with a smile. His eyebrows rising in surprise at her sudden recovery.

"Meeting you guys has really gotten me hooked on volleyball! I've kinda been staying up a bit too late research terms and tips!" She says quickly catching Suga off guard. "I'm hoping that I can help you guys as much as I can!" She finishes.

After a few seconds, Suga laughs.

"I'm glad that you're as addicted as we are!" He says with a smile. He sticks out his fist for a bump. "Welcome to the world of volleyball, let's work hard!"

"Yeah!!" The girl's face lights up. Then she returns the fist-bump with fervor.

'Ahh' she sighs, relieved of her anxiety, 'I was worried for nothing! I'm already here to stay.' She smiles. The two walk back into the gym and go their separate ways. Approaching the two restless boys, Suga explains what was 'wrong' with the new girl, to which both second years breathed a sigh of relief.

The rest of the day's practice went well, or rather, the girl would have noticed it was going well, IF she was paying attention. Her brain was a little fried after the one-on-one chat with the upperclassman. Prolonged solo contact was not something she was used to.

'Sugawara-san is so kind!' She though with a smile a d a slight blush, 'And he isn't just kind to a few people, either. I saw him in the library earlier helping someone get a book. What do they call these types? Motherly? Wait...Is that insulting to a boy?' Her eyes were closed in concentration.

"Good practice everyone! Make sure to rest well tomorrow. Get a lot of sleep!" Daichi called wjile clapping, alerting the girl of their 'finished' status. "And that includes our managers and analyst." He looks at the girl with a smile, one which she returns. Somehow she gets the feeling that those words were kind, but also a warning.

'I better get to sleep on time tonight.' She thinks her smile faltering a bit. 'If Sugawara-san in the team mom, then Daichi would probably be the team dad.' She thinks closing her eyes, not realizing she released a bit of a giggle at her own jokes. She also didn't realize the rest of the gym heard her faint laughter.

Nishinoya and Tanaka looked as if they were struck by lightning.

'So...cute...' The three third-years thought blushing lightly. Hinata and Kageyama both stopped mid-fight and looked at the girl. Of course, Tsukishima smirked at the reactions of the frozen first-years, while Yamaguchi looked away trying not to blush.

After all the equipment was put away, the team sat down to have the end-of-the-week meeting. Ukai stood up in front of everyone, the new analyst included.

"Alright everyone, remember, recovery is also a big part of training, so make sure to relax a bit. I wanted to remind you all that we will be going to a training camp that is going to include practice matches against Nekoma and other high schools in the Tokyo area. Please be prepared for this!" He announced, then looked at the foreigner. "I also want to extend the invitation to you, (F/N), so please consider going with us." The girl didn't even need to think about it.

"OF COURSE I'LL GO!" She exclaims, a little too eagerly, causing everyone to look at the poor girl. "AH, I-I mean, this is a good opportunity for me to see how everyone works under pressure, a-and I'll also get to see another school in action." She explains, blushing at her outburst.

Ukai smiles wickedly. "I was hoping for that answer! Hopefully you'll be able to catch a weakness, or two, of Nekoma's."

"I'll try my best!"

{A/N: This chapter is following the anime a bit more than the manga! I am currently starting the manga and at this point, I am VERY far behind! I'm only on Volume 9 chapter 99, so I'm only just now getting past the first chapters! I am completely caught up in the anime, though! (The excitement for the next season is so real!) So, to help with the time-line of things, this is to take place after the first practice match with Aoba Johsai, a little after Yachi joined! So, I'm sorry to those who wanted to see Oikawa and Iwaizumi, but you'll have to wait until later, sorry. (Please also remember that the time-line may be a little wonky because *breathes in* THIS IS A FANFICTION AND I DO WHAT I WANT! *Wheezes, voice cracking at the end* There I said it! Anyway, enjoy the next few chapters!}