𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋. hq

〔4th set〕: dango

影山 飛雄
m i k i    k o i z u m i
— year 2 class 3 —

Kuroo was definitely the type of person who always gets what he wants. He was the crafty type; the type of person to give you that shit-eating grin whenever things were going his way.

And as much as I hated it, things were apparently going his way.

"Have you decided?" He asked, more than ecstatic to witness me dreading my fate.

"Have you tell Kenma I like him or act as a temporary assistant coach while the old man is in the hospital? If it were easy I would already have decided" I narrowed my eyes at him as he gave me the same look he had whenever he teased Kenma.

"It's rare for you to be so indecisive" he smirked, attempting to infuriate me even more than he has.

"Why would you even tell Kenma? Are you out of your mind?" I say, dreading the possible scenario I'd have to face if Kuroo does as he said.

"Why not? You either tell him yourself, have me tell him or act as our temporary assistant coach" he tells me and I couldn't help but cry in defeat.

"This is blackmail! You should be charged guilty!" I accused him as he gave me a hearty laugh.

"I'll give you three seconds to decide" he tells me before counting down.

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Assistant coach it is" I gave in as he gave me the same shit-eating grin I loathed more than anything in this world.

And thus, here we were now, me, acting as Naoi-san's right hand while my grandfather, their coach, was at the hospital for his monthly visit.

"Why the change of heart, Miki-chan?" Kai-san asked me as soon as they were on water break.

"I know right" Kenma agreed quoting me, "You said you'll never follow your grandfather's footsteps even if you drop dead".

"You're exaggerating. I just didn't want to turn into a volleyball maniac like he is" I brush him off, only to have my attention earned by two certain third years as soon as Kenma runs off to run away from Lev.

"Kuroo blackmailed you, didn't he?" Yaku-san hit the mark and right then I wanted to cry for his help.

"What did he say this time?" Kai-san queried, attempting to side with me on the said matter.

"He'll tell Kenma I like him if I don't act as your temporary assistant coach" I tell them, earning a sigh from Yaku-san.

"What is he? A grade schooler?" the petite boy says as he assures me. "Though it's about time you tell him. It's been how many years after all—"

"Easier said than done" I cut him off before catching the eye of a particular freshman and shouting, "Oi Lev! Hurry up and get back to practice damn it".

▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

I always looked forward to weekends. It was my weekly visit to my grandparents' place. I was an only child, and seeing as my father is always too busy tending to his patients and my mother was too busy answering to her clients, I couldn't help but admit that earning some company was very comforting. It was the reason why I hung around a lot at Kuroo's or Kenma's place, because my parents were elsewhere and I couldn't bear the thought of staying alone.

Regardless of that, Nekomata Yasufumi, my mother's father, always gave me his full attention, whether or not we were talking about volleyball or life itself. It was the reason I appreciated my grandfather so much that I would so willingly visit him during volleyball practice. But then again, I wasn't that into volleyball to act as an assistant coach.

"I heard from Kuroo that your acting as Naoi's right hand" he tells me letting out a laugh as he says it.

"You know how much I hate it, gramps" I say to him as he attempts to convince me.

"This is a chance for you to get along with Kenma, why not enjoy it. After all, I'll be out the entire week because the doctor asked of me to" he reminds and I couldn't help but whine.

"One week?"

"Yep" my grandfather nods, "one week of having to bear with sweaty men playing volleyball after school".

I wanted to cry at the thought.

"Why not be our manager instead?" He asks me, "It's better than telling them around and thinking of techniques".

"Tempting, but somehow cleaning after them and doing manager stuff seems more of a burden than acting as assistant coach" I say, to which my grandfather chuckles.

"That's my granddaughter! Following my footsteps it is" he laughs happily, and I couldn't help but feel bad about crushing his happiness when I tell him about Kuroo being the reason I took the job.

"What made you change your mind?" he queried, causing me to answer simply, "It's Kuroo".

"He told he'd tell Kenma I like him if I don't join the club" I say, causing my grandfather to hold in his laughter.

"What's with that look?" I accuse him as he looks at me knowingly.

"Miki, what's the harm in telling Kenma you like him?".

"It would make things awkward between us, and it would destroy everything we've built throughout the years" I say almost automatically as if it was a question I was so used to answering.

"That's silly" he huffs, "If you really are friends, nothing should be able to throw you both in disarray. If you really are friends, he would accept you whether or not your feelings are mutual or one-sided".

He had a point. No matter how stupid or crazy I tend to become, Kenma never told me off. If we really are friends, Kenma wouldn't hate me even if I get rejected. Even if things wouldn't stay the same, we'd still be friends nonetheless.

How could I have been so blind to not think of our friendship as such?

"Thanks, gramps" I give him a tight hug as he smiles at me assuringly. "You're the best".