Karasuno's Mangers: Little Ukai and The Runaway

20: What Would Mirae Do

"Hi guys!" A high-pitched voice greeted. Emiko looked up, a scowl overtaking her face.

Akira dropped herself in the one seat between her and Mirae. The heavy smell of strawberry perfume-making them gag.

"Akira, hi." Mirae tried to smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to cheer for our team! A lot of students are!"

"Aren't there any other open seats?"

"What she means," Mirae glared, "is if you saw open seats in case other people show up later."

"Oh, there were plenty!"

Emiko threw her head back, a choked groan escaping her mouth.

On the court, the boys had taken their place. Karasuno would be serving first. Kageyama stood at the far back, holding the volleyball. He was smiling and everyone was waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.

"Give us a good serve, Tobio-kun!" Akira had her hands cupped around her mouth. Emiko and Mirae jumped in their seats, surprised.

Kageyama stared up, a passive expression on his face.

"I can't believe I did that!" Akira turned to Mirae, her face blushing.

"Nor can I." She glanced over at Emiko who was running her hands down her face.

I need to do something, Mirae thought to herself. If Emiko and Akira are pining over the same guy, it would be an easy victory in favour of Emiko. It's not that Kageyama would choose one over the other, he doesn't think about anything other than volleyball. It's that Emiko would kill off the competition-

Wait, I really am living in a T.V. drama! I have to text Kindaichi!

Emiko was cursing herself for not videotaping what just happened. That was such precious blackmail material, she mentally groaned. Emiko had left her portable charger at home so she would be less inclined to use her phone. That was now coming to bite her in the back. She sat at the edge of her seat, turning her head so that her annoying seatmate wouldn't be in her line of sight.

The whistle blew and Kageyama served. Date Tech's Libero dove to his left, picking it up and sending it just a ball's worth short to the setter. The setter jumped, barely lifting the ball from its spot. Their wing spiker came in and slammed it down. Ennoshita dove for the receive, but it ricocheted off his arms.

1:0

Emiko jumped from her seat and ran up, leaning over the railing. Her eyes were wide. "Whoa."

"Whoa is right," Mirae agreed. "Did you see the way he set the ball? It was basically floating for the spiker!"

Date Tech's captain served the ball, aiming for the sidelines. Tanaka dove in, falling onto his stomach and bumping the ball to Kageyama but it was too low. Hinata ran and jumped, but his spike was stuffed.

2:0

His second serve was a perfect service ace, just before the end line.

"I can appreciate a good service ace when I see one. That guy has both power and precision."

"Yachi did say that in the first game Date Tech played, their captain racked up ten points. In the second game thirteen. In the third game eleven points."

Akira gasped, "That many points in service aces alone?"

Emiko nodded. "But lucky for us, we have a few guys known for their serves too."

Nishinoya bumped the ball cleanly. Tanaka on the left, Ennoshita on the right, and Hinata in the back row, they all started their approaches at the same time. Kageyama set the ball and Hinata dove in, slapping it against the blocker's fingers and out of bounds.