The Newbie ~ Tsukishima Kei

Chapter 3 ~ Training Camp

"NO, THAT'S JUST A NORMAL TRANSMITION TOWER."

Ignoring Kuroo's maniac of a laugh, Akiko ran over to So Inuoka, her boyfriend trailing behind her. "So!"

"Aki!" So exclaimed, running to her.

The two hugged each other tight, laughing.

"I missed you so much!" Akiko practically shouted and spun So around.

"So," Akiko placed her hands on both of So's shoulders.
"Do you have a new boyfriend yet?" So turned bright red and furiously shook his head.

"Aww, you're so cute. I wonder why nobody's fallen for you yet.
Ok, let me rephrase that. I wonder why nobody's confessed to you yet."

Akiko and So continue to chat 'bout So's love life until Kei caught up to them and wrapped his arm around Akiko's shoulder.

So gave Akiko and him a look, as if saying "You and him?"

Akiko smiled and nodded.

"Kei? You're not usually like this." Kei blushed and pulled Akiko closer to him. "Shut up, you idiot."

Akiko laughed and placed a peck on Kei's cheek.

"You look so cute together, I'm so jealous!" Kei turned and even brighter red at the compliment. "Well, So, we gotta go back to our team. See you later!"

Akiko grabbed Kei's arm and dragged him to their team.

The team chatted as they headed into the gym.

"Were you jealous there, Kei?" Kei huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Who am I kidding, of course you were."

Akiko lowered her voice to a mere whisper and told Kei,
"Don't worry, you're the only one I'll ever love."

"Oh. AH! They're two girls now.."

"Now they've got a pretty one and a cute one!"

Akiko heard somebody fall on his knees in defeat.

"If only he knew."

Kei nudged her with his shoulder. "Oh come on, you're not going to tell you're secret just cause you want praise. Come on, you already get praise from both genders."

"I mean, yeah I know, but I kind of miss having some kind of femeninity."
Akiko rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand.

"You know why you don't tell them."

"Yeah, yeah, I know but... I'm slowly getting over it!"

Kei squeezed Akiko's hand in reassurance. "Good."

"Oh? Is that a smile I see, Tsukishima Kei?"

"Shut up."

Akiko brought Tsukishima's hand to her lips and kissed it. "Rude to say that to your lover."

Kei simply rolled his eyes, somewhat used to her antics by now.

"Left! Left!"

Asahi spiked right into Nekoma's blockers. The ball flew past him and straight towards Akiko, and although she received, the the hit was strong and they needed a cover.

Unfortunately, nobody was there for a follow up.

And the match was won by Nekoma...

"One lap of diving drills!"

"Right!"

"Damn.."

"Are you alright, Kei?"

"I'm fine.."

"Aww, no need to be such a Tsundere!" Akiko grabbed Kei's hand and inspected it.

"They really are a couple..." Sugawara said as he stood with the other two third years. "You thought they were lying?"

"No, it's just... So unbelievable."

Daichi chuckled and took a sip of his water.
"The annoying + the easily annoyed."

Asahi laughed, "That's one way to say it."

"Kakkoii.. He's so tall!"

"Oh come on," Kei ruffled Akiko's hair, leaving it all messy.
"it's not like you're much shorter."

"I know, but... Yeah, I've got no excuse. I just hate people who're taller than me. Like: How can you do that?! I'm already so tall!"

"You act like Hinata somtimes."

"Hinata's not tall."

Tsukishima laughed, though not loud enough for everyone to be blessed by his pure and actually genuine laugh.

"Well, that was the last one."

The team started to head to the bathrooms to shower and then go promptly to sleep.

Akiko did the same, however, of course, using the showers with bath curtains.

I mean, why wouldn't she?

As she showered, Akiko started thinking about telling the guys her secret.

Why shouldn't I tell them?

Somebody could hear it and tell somebody and then girls would start bullying you again.

But how am I so sure they will?

They will. It's the reason you started dressing as a guy. Remember the hell they put you through every single day.

No! If they do, I'll shrug it off. I'm stronger now and I will get even stronger! Does girls mean nothing to me, they're just the ones that have kick-started my way to the top.

It doesn't matter if they will judge me.

They won't kick me out of the club.

I am a valuable asset to the team.

I am strong.

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." —Arnold Schwarzenegger