The weekend had swung around at last, the volleyball team had spent the rest of the week in the small apartment. Sugawara wasn't aware of the sleepovers, he spent most of his time with his new girlfriend.
He attempted to speak with his best friend about his relationship, but she would always be whisked away by one of his teammates. She was still brokenhearted and he was in love.
Who would want to hear stories like that anyway?
"Can I come with you guys?" She asked the captain.
He smiled and nodded, ushering her into the bus. He was worried about leaving her alone while they went to Nekoma for a practice match. She took the sat in front of Hinata and Kageyama and placed her feet up on the seat so that she could speak with them comfortably. Once the team had boarded the bus they took off. Sugawara didn't have the annoying leech hanging off his arm, which she was thankful for.
"Where are we going again, Ryu-kun?" She called across to Tanaka.
"Nekoma, I think!" He grinned at the girl.
Akari's eyes widened. Nekoma!? Kenma and Tetsurou go there!
"Senpai, are you okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry Kageyama!" She smiled, excited she'd get to see her childhood friends.
She gazed out the window with a grin on her face, Daichi looked back and smiled, happy that she was in a good mood. She was hard to cheer up after Sugawara came to her apartment with his girlfriend. The whole team (besides Sugawara) had tried everything to make her smile or laugh. None of them succeeded.
The bus came to a halt, Akari stood up quickly and rushed off the bus and made a beeline for the gym. She ran to the big doors and pushed them as hard as her weak body could. The door wouldn't move under her push. Tanaka had quickly caught up with the speedy girl and pushed the door open for her with a laugh. She sheepishly smiled, embarrassed that she couldn't open it herself. Her eyes darted around the gym looking for her friends. Her eyes stopped on the permanent bedhead and the artificial blonde.
"Tetsu! Kenma!" She yelled excitedly. The gym fell silent as all eyes were now trained on the petite girl who was grinning.
"Who's that cute girl!?" An intense voice yelled.
"Back off, city boy! She's ours!" Tanaka's equally intense voiced yelled back.
She dashed for the two boys, she tackled Kenma too the ground and hugged him tightly. Tetsurou's familiar laugh boomed throughout the gym.
"Please get off now, duckling." Kenma's voice came out muffled against his friends hair. She grinned at the old nickname, a duck had bit her finger when she was trying to pat it and ever since then, the two boys teased her often referring to her as a duck or a duckling.
"I missed you Kenma! It's been ages!"
"Go smother Kuroo." He whined, pushing her off gently.
She stood and jumped into the tall boys open arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist and hugged him tightly, as if she were afraid to let go.
"Still easily excited, little one? We missed you too." He chuckled placing her down carefully.
The smile vanished from her face as she spotted Sugawara. Her happy mood, gone.
"What's wrong, little duck?" Tetsurou frowned at his now subdued friend. She shook her head dismissing his thoughts. Kenma followed her gaze and spotted a grey haired teen. He raised his eyebrows at him, guessing he was the reason behind her sudden change of mood. He notified Tetsurou once Akari had joined Karasuno to apologize for rushing off.
