Karasuno's Mangers: Little Ukai and The Runaway

49: The Monster Bulldozer 3000

After running around trying to control nine teenagers, Mirae had come to the inevitable conclusion that she was never going to have children.

"Snack," Takita poked her side.

Shoji rested his chin on her shoulder and started whining in her ear. What did he want? He never said.

She whipped her head from side to side. On one end of the gym, Yaotome had made friends with their opponents' libero and was neglecting his warm-up stretches. On the other end of the gym, Tanaka and Nishinoya were boasting about how they were going to try a new move in the middle of the game.

Hinata was in the process of running towards the net and trying to jump over it as Tsukishima and Tadashi egged him on.

Worst of all was Kageyama who was glaring at everyone around him. He wasn't feeling his best today. Apparently, he was tricked into drinking an energy drink which made his fingers twitch and now his setting was off.

"You guys are going to eat them alive!" Emiko cackled from the seats above the gym. She was leaning over the railing, waving her hands frantically and ignoring Ukai's threats.

"There's one more," Mirae whispered in horror.

Karasuno had qualified for the spring tournament and today was the beginning of their journey to reach nationals. Their first game was against Kakugawa High.

"You don't look so good," Ennoshita said as he peeled Shoji off of her. "I'm sure Yachi wouldn't mind staying on the court."

"I'm fine," she hesitated, "did you stretch your neck, Captain? You could pull a muscle when spiking and that-"

Ennoshita laughed as he assured her he did. "Don't worry, Mirae, we're all going to be fine. We practiced for this, remember?"

"Right."

"We have a few minutes before our games starts," he looked to the side, "do you mind practicing receives with Hinata? Kageyama is already agitated as it is and I don't want them fighting."

Mirae nodded and stopped Hinata before he had a chance to run at the net again.

"Receives?"

He grinned and squatted. They practiced back and forth, a small rally. Then, Kakugawa's number 8 stepped onto the court.

"Is that him?"

Hinata held the volleyball and turned to see who she was looking at. His eyes widened and he screamed the boy's name before waving his hands. "Hyakuzawa, yeah, that's him."

"He doesn't seem like much of a threat."

Tsukishima snorted. "Says the girl a full foot shorter than him."

"Are you saying I don't seem like much of a threat?"

He narrowed his eyes and chose to walk away.

It had been two weeks since Tsukishima had stopped spending free period with her at the library. The first few days it had been awkward because they sat beside each other in class. He had admitted his feelings for her just as she admitted her feelings about Kindaichi.

The uneasiness did not last.

Mirae often made sarcastic comments under her breath when a classmate was acting particularly stupid. Tsukishima could not help but snort and try not to laugh. 

He would lightly nudge her and show her a picture someone sent to their group chat of someone (it was almost always Emiko) being stupid and both would roll their eyes and scoff.