Just because I'm a girl

Meeting the club

Day two at Karasuno High School.

5:10 a.m

I ran up to the gym, and froze. The light's are on. Someone's in there. Slowly, I creep up to the door. Damn it, that kid from the club stand is here. I quietly walk in and sit down. Nobody heard me. The King is practicing here, and a little redhead I'm sure I've seen before. And then it hits me. Hinata Shoyo. Saw his game last year, and he lost against The King. Are they... trying to work together?!
Shoyo's my height. An inch taller. I hate being the shortest.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a ball comes flying towards me after hitting Shoyo in the face. As the second year moves out of the way, I realize i have no time to run.
I quickly stand up and toss it back, the way Asahi-senpai showed me yesterday. Everyone just stares at me.
"Who said you could come in here, huh?!" The second year shouts.
"Tanaka!"
"Yes?" We reply at the same time.
The person who called looked about Tobio's height. Gray hair, soft expression. I like him. I can tell he's alright.
"Not you," he says, gesturing to me.
"Wait," says the other Tanaka, pointing a finger at me. "I know you!! You're that girl that took a registration form from the stand yesterday!" What is his face doing?!
I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. "
I hold out my hand. "Tanaka Aki. Pleasure to meet you, Other Tanaka." The guy with gray hair stifles a laugh. Other Tanaka looks stricken. A ball from the practicing duo meets with his face, snapping him out of his trance.
Gray hair makes the introductions. "Tanaka Aki, this is Tanaka Ryunosuke. I'm  Sugawara Koushi."
I nodded. "Also, you're ten-and-a-half hours early, you were only meant to meet us after school, with two other first years."

I nod again. The captain, a third-year by the name of Daichi texted me that.
"I know," i admit with my head down. I look Sugawara straight in the eye.
"I've just never so much as practiced in a real gym. Sport does run in my family, but I only decided to try volleyball regularly yesterday. And I've already improved. " I know it's probably not gonna do much, but I have to try. I want to be on this team. Suga is thoughtful for a moment.
"Ryu," he turns to the second-year.
"You're coaching Aki during lunch."
Both our jaws fall. While he's having a spazz attack, I quickly send Asahi a text saying that we can't practice during lunch. So we're going to practice tomorrow seeing as today i have to meet the rest of the team.
A ball lands at my feet and I pick it up.
I look up at Other Tanaka, who is still trying to convince Suga he can't help me, as he's already helping Shoyo and Tobio. Suga isn't buying it.

"Ryu-san!"
He turns around. "That's Tanaka-senpai, to you!" I shrug.
I hand him the ball and head back so that i have good clearance. "Send me a float serve." Now even the duo are watching. Tanaka scratches the back of his head nervously. "Are you sure you want a float serve? Not even many pros can receive that," he tries to talk me out of it. I take my stance. "I said, send me a freaking float serve!" I shout at him, growling. He shrugs.

The ball is tossed. It connects with his hand, and he sends it out. But it's not a float. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
I watch the arc. I feel a brush of wind past me, but I ignore it.
The ball starts falling and i make my move. It was hit with power, so i run back, not taking my eyes off of it. Get it to the net, and toss to Shoyo. I receive the ball perfectly, and race forward to toss it to Shoyo. I miscalculate, and the ball goes straight up. I'll toss it right this time!
"Shoyo!! Spike the ball!!"
He is there in a flash, his jump is nearly twice my height and his spike is perfect. Almost.
I turn to my senpaiis, and they are both bug-eyed and slack jawed.
"By the way," I address Tanaka. "That was just a regular overhand serve, not a float."
Upon hearing this, he freaks out. "How the hell do you know what a float serve is like, huh? Who taught you?" His face is doing the thing again.
"My dad used to play volleyball. He stopped when he got an injury in college. He was a volleyball player, my mother used to do soccer, my honorary Aunt does dance and my cousin is a figure skater. Sport comes naturally to me."
He looks dead. Suga approached me. "We're having a game between the new members of the club at 7 on Saturday. It'll be a 3-on-3 game: Ryu and these boys," he pointed to Tobio and Shoyo, who are back at practice. "And two other first years named Tsukishima Kei and Yamaguchi Tadashi. We haven't found a third person for their team. Would you please play?"
I bow deeply. "Hai, Senpaii!"