Fly (Keishin Ukai) - COMPLETED

3 - Karasuno Boys Volleyball Team

Yuki Nishinoya sat in her bedroom, her sketchbook open on her desk and a pencil between her lips. She had been in the same position for most of the night and well into the morning. That night, she could not get to sleep, no matter how hard she tried. Nothing helped to relax her mind, not a cup of warm milk, not counting sheep or changing the position of her pillows, and eventually, she gave up, her mind was on fast forward, and whatever was aching inside needed to come out.

Five am was the time that she finally caved into letting her mind control her actions. She was half asleep as she dragged herself to her desk, a new plain piece of paper was pulled from her drawers, and her hand began to draw. Yuki was not conscious of what was being drawn; she just allowed it to happen.

By nine am, her drawing was complete, and Yuki was fast asleep at her desk. Head rested on the wood surface, and her left arm hung off the edge of the side, a pencil balanced between her fingertips on the verge of falling to the floor. She lightly snored as the sound of children's and parents' voices bouncing off of her window - she was in a deep sleep and would not be awoken so easily.

One pm was the time that Yuki's mother - Saza Nishinoya - finally decided to check on her daughter. She had not seen her all morning and was wondering why the younger girl had not gone to get some food yet. With two light knocks on her daughter's door, she waited. Nothing. She knocked again. But nothing. So instead she slowly opened the door.

"Honey, are you okay?" She asked, her voice laced with concern. The door creaked open, and when she popped her head into the room, her frown turned into a smile. There was her daughter, sleeping soundly on her desk, it was not the first time this had happened, but it was in a long time. Yuki used to do it many times as a child, she would often tell her daughter off for staying up so late especially with school in the morning, but Yuki would always answer, "I can't mummy, my brain won't stop moving until I draw it!"

Saza walked over to her sleeping daughter and placed a delicate kiss on top of her head before humming a quiet tune and stroking her hair. Saza stroked her hand over her daughter's fringe, pulling it back and revealing her sleeping face. Saza missed seeing it, ever since the accident Yuki would wear her hair down with a long fringe which covered her face all the time. She wished her daughter would one day wear her hair back as she used to because she was beautiful and it was sad that she would hide it from the world.

Saza's humming stopped when she spotted the drawing that laid under Yuki's arm. Careful, she lifted her child's arm and slipped the piece of A4 paper from her grasp. The picture was simple; it was a birdcage with a crow sat on the inside; its head poking out of the open cage door. Saza could not help but smile. She only thought about the negatives that came with being the volleyball coach, not once did she think there would be any positives - but that drawing was proving otherwise. She had to let her little girl find her wings again. Saza placed the paper back onto the desk before walking back downstairs.

Beep Beep. Beep Beep. Yuki's head shot up from the desk, her hair a mess and a drool halfway out of her mouth. She stared into space, still half asleep as she blinked quickly to try and wake herself up. Slowly, she started to remember what had happened - though she had no memory of falling asleep. She groaned as a sudden ray of sunshine entered her eyes. She blocked it with her right hand as her left wiped her mouth. Beep Beep. Beep Beep. Her phone sat on the desk beside her; she picked it up as she stretched her legs.

See you soon, sis! I can't wait to show you what I've been working on!

It was from Yū, she smiled for a moment, but it quickly fell. "See you soon?" She mumbled. Her eyes flicked to the time. 15:10. Yuki nearly fell off her chair from the shock. She was going to be late for practice. She rummaged through her closest, looking for something suitable to wear before rushing to the bathroom. She had not even showered yet; she looked back to the time. 15:13. She had no time; practice started at 15:20. Yuki looked at herself in the mirror - she was a mess - she could not go to Coach looking like that, but she also could not be late. She would have to improvise.