The Newbie ~ Tsukishima Kei

Chapter 8 ~ Aoki Manami

btw, Akiko does morning practice with the boys and after school with the girls, for now.

"You doin' alright?"

AOKI ROLLED HER EYES AT HER AND LOOKED AWAY. It was time for their one on one practice, wish luckily could be squeezed into the practice, thanks to Kikuchi's fast learning.

Akiko sighed, putting a hand on Aoki's shoulder. "Don't be like that."

Aoki tsked, with a deep sigh and closing her eyes for a few seconds she remained calm. You could clearly tell she was trying to hold back from lashing out. "I'm sorry, it's just... I'm too hot-headed for my own good."

I can see that, but it's not just that.

"Aoki, it's not being hot-headed that makes you, uh.. lash out at people." Anybody could tell that the conversation was awkward, either that or going to turn into an argument. "The girls are trying to help you improve, and that's what makes you lash out. What's wrong with that?"

"Personal business, y'know?" Aoki looked at Akiko with a deadpan expression.

Using my own words against me, damn.

"Alright, alright. I won't dig any further, if you stop getting angry at us. We can help you improve. Don't build a wall between yourself and others. We're a team, that's why there's 5 people on the court that aren't you." Fuck, I'm acting like Tanaka or Kuroo.

"I won't, I swear." Aoki tried to smile, though you could tell it was fake.

"Pinky promise?" Akiko arched an eyebrow at her and held out her pinky with a cheeky smile.

Aoki giggled a bit, took their pinkies and interwined them. "Pinky promise."

"You treat me as if I were a kid, yet we're the same age and you act much more childish than I do." Aoki pulled back, going back to her deadpan expression.

Akiko laughed, turning towards the net.

"Let's practice now."

"Aoki Manami?" Kageyama asked.

Akiko nodded, walking towards the boys changing room with Kageyama and Hinata. It was early in the day, before morning practice, on day 3 of Akiko's practice week with the girls.

"Yeah." Akiko replied. She was talking about the girls from the volleyball team with the only two volleyball teammates she could find right now, seeing as they were early risers only because they loved volleyball. The only reason she was early this morning was because woke up in a good mood.

The main reason she was talking about them was to get some tips on how to help them get better.

And if you ask why they aren't racing each other on this fine morning, it's because Akiko stopped them from doing so. Something about not stretching before running, but she was lying. She just wanted to talk.

"Ah, Aoki! Some of my friends are friends with her. Kageyama Kun, you're in her classroom, right?" Hinata asked.

Kageyama nodded. "Our classmates often compare us together but I don't see the similarities."