𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ll 𝐡. 𝐲𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟸 𝚕 𝚂𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛

She was pretty.

Oh so very pretty. 

Hitoka had always been terrified of people over five foot, and Nekoma's Manager was no exception. If she was being honest, she would admit she was more intimidated, especially considering Sakura was gorgeous. 

"Call me Sakura~"  The simple statement set her ablaze, and she couldn't seem to settle down after that. 

Kiyoko had sent her a knowing look when she caught Hitoka staring intently at the manager, and she had sputtered, embarrassed. Setting that aside, she had caught the other manager giving and shifted nervously. Hitoka could definitely see the resemblance between her and the scheming Captain too. 

They both had unruly black hair, unsettling smiles and knowing golden eyes. Piercings glittered on her face, and Hitoka was pretty sure she saw a tongue piercing. 

In conclusion, Hitoka was sure she had never seen someone both so intimidating and pretty. 

Currently, she was completely rigid, passing Suga a water bottle as they switched teams. But to her dismay (and excitement), they were against Nekoma, which meant she would be placed next to the beautiful manager on the bench. 

"Hey Kenma!" A familiar voice called. "Yeah, that's right, I see your sneaky ass. Hydrate or dydrate!" Nekoma's setter hunched away from the attention, slipping over to Sakura, who grinned. Yachi couldn't help but giggle at the statement. I'll have to use that sometime, she thought, settling onto the bench next to Kiyoko, trying to distract herself with the game and not on the manager a few feet away. 

"Yachi, watch out!" Someone warned. Looking up, Hitoka let out a yelp,  a stray ball coming straight for her face. 

"FU--!" Before she could meet her untimely end, a black blur jumped out in front of her and the ball went flying into the air. Yachi realized belatedly that it was Sakura, who gave them a two fingered salute. 

"Careful, boys~!" She called.

"Thanks Kura!" Kuroo called before she around, her smile turning down some. Yachi almost fainted. Oh god, here it comes, she's must hate me now, having to save me because of my stupidity. 

"...ou okay?" The manager inquired, concerned. 

"Huh?" Yachi asked dumbly. The girl snorted, her nose wrinkling up adorably. 

"I'd take that as a yes, Yacchan~" She teased. "I cannot get over how cute you are." 

Incoherent noises and sputters spilled out of the first-years mouth at the sudden complement and nickname. This only made the Sakura snicker. Yachi frowned, looking away, and the giggles seized. 

"Hey, I didn't mean to offend you." The girl said. Yachi looked back up and was surprised to see Sakura looking apologetic. "I wasn't laughing at you to be rude. You're just, like--" She motioned her hands. "--so adorable." She bowed a little. "My apologies." Yachi waved her hands wildly. 

"N-No! Don't be sorry! I just overreacted, it happens a lot!" She said quickly. Sakura huffed out an amused breath. 

"Don't worry about it. I live with the Tetsurō Kuroo, he's about as dramatic as it gets." She said with a carefree hand wave. Yachi smiled nervously before the girl plopped down next to her. "So, Ms. Yacchan, what brings you to the line of managing a team?" She inquired, crossing her legs. 

"Um, well, since Kiyoko's a third year, the team will need a new  manager next year when they graduate." Sakura nodded. 

"Ah, I see. Tetsurō just asked me too since I left my volleyball club." She replied. Yachi cocked her head to the side. 

"You moved so smoothly and received the ball with ease! why did you leave?" She asked. "If you don't mind me asking." She added quickly. Sakura's carefree demeanor shifted into a more reserved one and Hitoka immediately felt bad about asking. 

"Last year, during the Inter-High Preliminaries, I messed up a landing after spiking the ball, and tore my knee to shit." She answered after a moment. "Part of it wasn't even the landing, more of me not warming up properly." She motioned her hand. "The nurse just said I had landed wrong, and needed rest and to elevate my knee. So I did what she said, but it didn't get any better. About one or two weeks later, my knee gave out completely when I was going down the stairs." She shuddered. "Tets wasn't home, and my phone was somewhere upstairs so Tets ended up finding me on the floor in front of the stairs, bruised up and bleeding. He rushed me to the hospital. The doctors said my knee wasn't going to be the same afterwards, and I wasn't supposed to go into sports unless I got surgery" She glanced over, and was surprised to see Yachi's eyes shining with tears. 

"I'm so sorry!" The first-year cried. "I've never experienced anything like that, but if I messed up my wrists, and couldn't design again, I don't know what I'd do!" Sakura pat her shoulder. 

"No need to apologize. After volleyball, I got into photography, so I found my new passion." She pulled up her pant leg. "I wear a brace now, so my knee is supported." She explained. "Plus, Tets and I have been saving up for the surgery, so I might just be able to play again." Yachi nodded, sniffling. She felt terrible for asking, but she also had this nice feeling, too. The feeling of knowing something that might have been hard to share for Sakura. 

Taking a quick peek at Sakura, who had smoothed her face back over, she hoped the manager would want to be friends.