A Different Kind Of Harem

3

"You really went through all that trouble for us?" One of the first years piped up. Hinata giggled.

"It really wasn't all that much." She said pleasantly.

"Are you kidding? You went all the way to their campus to request a practice match for us. That sounds like a lot of trouble to me." Kimbayami insisted. Before Hinata could deny it again, one of the middle blockers chimed in.

"If she says it wasn't any trouble, then it wasn't any trouble, right Hina-chan?" I put a hand on Ayano's arm, because I could feel her bristling at his use of our nickname for Hinata. I don't have to look at her to know she's glaring at him. I could almost swear his eyes were glinting mischievously at us. He's in my history class. I know he's in my history class.

"When's the match?" A redhead asks. I think he's a third year. At his question, Hinata's face drops.

"What's wrong, Hina-chan?" Danielle asks.

"It's just, the other piece of news I have to tell you guys." Hinata said quietly. Everyone waited for her to finish. "My mom, uh, she got the new job." My eyes widened, but Ayano beat me to congratulating her.

"Tsui, that's great!" Ayano cheered, using her first name for once. "I know she's been after that position for a while."

"Why do you look upset?" I blurt before Ayano can continue, since Hinata wasn't as happy as we would have expected her to be.

"Because she can't be our manager anymore," one of them concludes. He had dark hair and a sad look on his face, an expression he shared with all of his teammates. Ayano's mood quickly dampens and she gave an apologetic look, but none of them were watching her anymore.

I sigh and turn my attention to Hinata, who's eyes are watering. I scoot closer to her, but before I can try to console her, someone else speaks up.

"When does she start?" I know it was Aoi because he spoke so softly that if hadn't been silent, we might not have heard him.

"Monday." Hinata informed, not looking up.

"That's not a lot of time..." Takeru trailed off.

"It's Tuesday, isn't it?" One of the first years asked, but no one answered him.

We all just sat there quietly for a while with no one speaking. I was conflicted on whether I should comfort Hinata or just give her a moment to herself, when out if nowhere she wipes her eyes and perks up.

"But it's alright!" She exclaims, startling everyone. "It's not like I'm moving! We'll still get to hang out! Plus, Koizumi is a more than capable replacement! She'll be ready before your match next week." What.

"Hina-chan..." I stare at her with wide eyes and a blank mind.

"Our match...is next week?"" Kimbayami asks.

"Yeah. Sorry it's such short notice, but I agreed because I was the one asking them." Hinata apologized, but Takeru shook his head.

"It's fine. But, uh, are you sure Koizumi-san will be alright?" He glances at me, but I focus on Hinata, not wanting to get flustered at the fact that we had the same worries.

"Yeah, Hina-chan, we've only got until the end of the week." I fretted, wondering why she decided to pick me of all people.

"You already know most of what you have to do. You helped me out all the time back in middle school, remember?" Ah, that's right. I think back to a time I normally try to forget. Hinata was the manager for the girls volleyball team at our middle school. We had already been aquaitances before that, but when we had both joined the same club was when we had really connected. "Besides, it would take too much time to train a first year, and you don't have a club anyway, so it was the best choice." Breathing deeply, I stand up, pulling out my phone in the process.