Another Manager (Akashi Seijuro x OC)

1.8 He Who Is Called "Ace"

Ai arrived to morning practice right after Kiyoko did, and the first thing she heard was someone yelling, "That coward!"

She knew that voice. "Yū."
They all faced her as she entered the gym, surprised to hear her voice so suddenly. "Tell me, who are you calling a coward?"

Nishinoya grinned. "Ai!!!" he yelled as he ran over to her.

She sighed. "Wrong answer."

He laughed her off and tackled her in a big hug. After she squeezed him back, Nishinoya hooked an arm around her shoulders.
Ai was a few centimeters even shorter than him, making her the smallest. In height, at least.

"Long time no see!" He beamed.

"Liar," she smiled. "We see each other in the hallway. Our classrooms are on the same floor."

"That doesn't count!" He laughed again but was interrupted by Tanaka telling him off about showing some respect towards the upperclassmen. Frustrated, Nishinoya stormed outside.

Ai sighed. Some things weren't meant to resolve so quickly.
She turned to Hinata and Kageyama. "I see you've met Yū."

"Hey, Ai," Sugawara greeted.

After nodding to the vice-captain, Ai addressed the captain. "Sawamura-senpai, I may be late to practice after school. I was planning to have a word with Takeda-sensei."

"Sure. No worries." Part of her job was to communicate with the teacher advisor for their club, so Daichi didn't mind at all.

She looked at Tanaka. "Ryu, don't worry about him. I'll see to it that they're both fine."

"Oh,... yeah, thanks."

The two first-years could only tilt thier heads in confusion.

.

During a talk with Takeda-sensei in the faculty room, she drilled down on him and made him confess that he was trying to recruit Mr. Ukai from the store downhill. All in a single look. The fire in her eyes crackled. "I understand, Takeda-sensei. I'll talk to him as well."

"A-Akatsuki-san, you really don't have to.."

"Yes, I'm aware. However, I'll help in any way that I can." Including encouraging he who is called "ace" to come back to our team, she thought. She bowed and excused herself.

The other teachers who saw her eyes made way for her as she walked out of the staff room.

.

She skipped practice that day to speak to him after school. Nishinoya would be with the team, so that provided some relief in exchange for her absence. "Asahi-san."

He looked up from his feet as he shuffled down the hallway of the third-year floor.

"Oh, hey there, Ai." He smiled the most gentle smile. "It's been a while."

She returned the gesture, her heart softening at his relaxed personality. "Yes, it has." They started descending the remaining flight of stairs. "Would you care to join me this afternoon?"

"Me? Sure, I guess...?" he accepted timidly. "Uh, but don't you have practice?"

"Yes, but I'm not going today," she replied. "Unless you want to, that is."

He laughed nervously, so she took that as a no.

They sat in the courtyard at an encircled tree. She pressed her knees together and folded her right hand on top of her left. With her back straightened, her posture was perfect. "Are you thinking of joining a different club? I know sadō may not be your first choice, but we'd be happy to have you over as a guest."