~Y/N POV~

"I feel like a toddler," I whined, slamming my head into Nishi's back as we stood in the lobby.

"This is where the tiny giant played!" Hinata cheered, going starry eyed as he looked around the room.

"Uhm, the tiny giant played in Yoyogi," Kageyama said calmly.

"I'm talking about the atmosphere! That's what matters!" Hinata exclaimed, scolding the setter as a tall player bumped into him.

He stumbled forwards, knocking Nishinoya and I over as we fell too the ground right in front of a girl from Niiyama high.

"Woah, are you three alright?" she asked, extending a hand and helping me up.

"Yea but... HINATA WHAT WAS THAT? DONT YOU KNOW HOW TOO WALK? BAKA!" I exclaimed, punching him in the arm.

"Heyyy! I got knocked over!" he pouted, rubbing his arm.

"Oh, Kanoka! It's been a long time!" Tanaka exclaimed, running over and waving at the girl in front of us.

"Tanaka, you know her?" Nishi gasped, looking between the two as they exchanged pleasantries.

"Yup! She plays for Niiyama girls high school," he explained.

"So, have you been well?" Kanoka asked, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. She was quiet pretty, and I wondered why Tanaka wasn't doing his usual 'freak out and flirt' act.

"Good! It's been so long, since fourth grade right?" he asked as Hinata, Noya and I watched her nod.

"Yea! I see your as...huge...as ever..." he mumbled, trailing off as his eyes darted too her chest.

"Oh my god," I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose as he proceeded to check her out. There's the 'freak out and flirt'.

"Uhm well, let's do our best Ryu!" she exclaimed, quickly darting off into the crowd as Tanaka stared at her with big eyes.

"Hah! Whose the simp now?" Noya snickered, knocking him in the shoulder.

"Sh-shut up! The only girl I love is Kiyoko!" he exclaimed in defence.

"Pssh, say what you want but you were totally checking her out just now!" I teased as his cheeks flushed a deep red.

"I was not!" he scowled.

"Mhm, okay, whatever you sayyy," I sang, flicking him in the forehead when a loud voice caught my attention.

"HEY HEY HEY! Y/N! HINATA!" I looked too the side too see Bokuto standing in the crowd, waving his arms around with Akaashi by his side.

"BOKUTOOOO!" I cheered, running forwards and jumping on him.

"There they are! My lil sis and number one student have finally made it!" he exclaimed, putting me on the ground as I gave Akaashi a tight hug.

"You guys can tell him to stop whenever," Akaashi sighed, shaking his head as Hinata and I looked up at the pair.

"Hey! Listen up! Once the net's between us, I'm not going easy," he declared, glaring down at us with a stupid smirk on his face.

"Oh yea? Hinata here will get passed all of your blocks and I guarantee Tsukki will block you! And even if he doesn't, Nishi will pick up the ball no problem!" I exclaimed, pointing around the room at the various members.

"Oh yea, where is that boyfriend of yours anyway?" he asked, looking around the room as my cheeks heated up.

"W-what? How'd you know?" I asked, stunned.

"Well for one, Tanaka's been keeping all of us updated. And if you want something too stay a secret, maybe you shouldn't tell Yukie. She can't keep a secret too save her life," Bokuto snickered as I crossed my arms.

"Hmph, baldy and Yukie are soooo gonna get it," I huffed, glaring at the ground as something else caught Bokuto's attention.

"Hey! Tsukki! Tsukki! Tsukki?" he called, waving his arms at the dinosaur which tramped through the lobby.

"Tsukkishima Kei, stop ignoring Bokuto!" I demanded, glaring at him.

"I thought we went over this. I don't like any of you," he teased.

"What was that?" Bokuto and I yelled in unison, charging forwards when we were suddenly stopped by someone.

"Now children, play nice," Kuroos deep voice snickered.

"KUROO!" I cheered, whirling around and hugging the giant as he released Bokuto.

"Hey Y/N, how you been?" he asked, releasing me as well.

"I'd be better if the blonde dinosaur admitted he loves us," I pouted, pointing too Tsukki who was currently being harassed by Bokuto.

"Bokuto really needs too shut up," Kuroo sighed, standing next too Tsukki as Akaashi attempted too calm the owl.

"They look like they're enchanting him," Hinata snickered as Tsukki realized he couldn't escape the madness and sat down on the floor.

"You're not wrong there," I laughed, taking a picture of the chaos.

welcome too nationals Tsukki🥰

TSUKKI DUDE LOVES US

said no one ever.

Why does it look like Bokuto is protecting him from evil

Bokuto is the evil.

TSUKKI!!

I left you alone for 5 minutes...

that sounds like a you problem🌚

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"Attention, we will now begin the opening ceremony for the Spring National Tournament," a voice spoke over the intercom as the team grouped together.

Kiyoko, Yachi and I weren't allowed to enter the gym with the team, so we stood at the side lines with Takeda and coach Ukai.

"Here they come," I squealed, pointing across the massive stadium as Daichi led the team onto the orange court.

"I-I can't believe w-we're really here," Yachi stammered, looking up at the ceiling which must be hundreds of stories high.

"All that work paid off, and now, the crows have flown home," Kiyoko sighed confidently, bowing her head slightly as the boys passed us.

I eagerly waved at Noya, earning a bright smile from him in return.

"They look like such bad asses," I cooed, basically fan girling over our own team.

"Everyone h-here is so i-intimidating," Yachi trembled, looking up as a team wearing entirely black uniforms passed by us.

"Those guys look pretty scary," I admitted as Ukai took a close look at the team.

"Coach, arent those..." Takeda trailed off.

"Yup. The ultimate challengers," Ukai sighed.

"The ultimate challengers?" I asked, watching as the team lined up.

"Inarizaki high school. They're called the ultimate challengers because they're the second favourite for taking this entire tournament, after Itacheyama of course," Ukai explained, narrowing his eyes.

"Wow, that's pretty intense," I shuddered, taking a good look at every team which passed us and receiving the odd smile from some of the players I knew.

"Yea, if we're lucky, we'll avoid having too play them."

(oooo foreshadowing *does draco malfoy finger wave*)

It had been a few hours since the opening ceremony, and the team had just arrived back at the Metropolitan gym after a warm up.

"Huh?" Hinata gasped, digging through his small, yellow bag.

"What's wrong?" Tanaka asked, peering into the bag.

"This bag... it looks like mine, but it isn't mine! I don't have my shoes!" he exclaimed, taking a second glance as Tadashi's eyes widened.

"Hinata! How'd you lose your shoes?" I scolded, slapping his back.

"I don't know! My bag must've gotten mixed up!" he exclaimed as I grabbed the collar of his sweater and dragged him over too where Yachi, Kiyoko and the coaches stood.

Hinata explained the situation too them, holding out his bag too prove his point.

"It's the orange one from that kids store right? I bet it's pretty popular," Yachi sighed, looking at the bag.

"Yea! It's Natsu's, but it's sturdy and the right size!" Hinata exclaimed.

"When you went too the washroom! I looked away for a sec, and it must've been grabbed!" Tadashi exclaimed, nearly pulling his own hair out from frustration.

"It's not your fault Yamaguchi!" Hinata wailed as Takeda sighed and pulled out his phone.

"Calm down, I'll call the gym where we warmed up and see if it's there," he sighed, waving the boys off.

"They're hopeless," I sighed, shaking my head.

"Let's just hope his shoes turn up, or we'll have too buy another pair," Kiyoko nodded.

-

"So, no ones turned in a bag," Takeda explained too Kiyoko, Yachi, Ukai and I as Tadashi came running up.

"Hey! A little kid grabbed it by mistake! Him and his mom said they'd wait there and give it back though," he panted.

"Perfect! The gym we warmed up at isnt too far either!" Takeda cheered.

"Yea but Shimada took the bus too pick up the crew, and other spectators," Ukai pointed out.

"I'll go," Kiyoko declared suddenly,

"Then we should go too!" Yachi exclaimed, raising her arms.

"Yea! It's our job!" I added as Kiyoko held a hand up too stop us.

"No. You're both needed here. Besides, I've got it covered when it comes too speed and athleticism," she smiled, reminding us of what she'd spoken of the night before.

She's a hurdler. She's practically born for this.

"It won't take long but I know you'll be a little lost without me. But...next year, you'll be the ones taking my place," she reassured us, placing a hand on each of our shoulders.

"Kiyoko! Why are you so cool all the time?" I asked, giving her a hug as she let out a slight laugh.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine," she giggled, releasing me and collecting the bag from Hinata.

"I'll be back before the match starts." With that, she took off down the halls.

"Kiyoko! Be safe!" Tanaka wailed, waving as she rounded the corner and disappeared out of sight.

"Woah baldy, what will Kanoka think of you still hitting on Kiyoko?" I teased, nudging him in the ribs.

"Kanoka?" Asahi questioned as Nishi and I nodded excitedly.

"Yea! The girl Tanaka simps for!" I cheered, catching Suga and Daichi's attention aswell.

"I thought Tanaka simps for Kiyoko?" Daichi asked.

"Yea, isn't that why we covered this morning?" Suga continued.

"Yea but that was before Tanaka rekindled his love for Kanoka!" Nishi exclaimed, receiving a hit on the head from the air bender in question.

"I don't love her! Besides, my heart is set on Kiyoko!" he said sternly, crossing his arms.

"Alright, we'll settle this later! For now, let's get down there and warm up!"

-

"U-uhm, Y/N?" Yachi asked, walking towards where I stood.

"Woah, Yachi, you good?" I asked, noticing the nervous expression on her face.

"Y-yes I'm fine, but..." she trailed off, placing the ball she held into the cart and looking at the floor.

"Yachi?" I asked, gathering her attention again.

"W-well since Kiyoko won't get here until r-right before the game starts, I'm just a b-bit nervous about standing alone in the crowd," she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Oh, I meant too talk to you about that. I think you should be on the bench this time around," I said confidently, her eyes growing big at my statement.

"W-what? But you're older! You should be on the bench!" she exclaimed.

"Well yea but, you've been around for longer and you definitely know more then me. It's unfair that I get too be on the bench just cause I'm older," I assured her.

"W-well I guess... but don't get attacked by any giants!" she exclaimed, flailing her arms around.

"Don't worry! I'll be fine," I giggled, gazing out at the team.

"Y-you're so calm. I know I've asked a million times but...how are you so confident about all this?" she asked hesitantly

"I don't know. I mean, we might not be wearing uniforms or standing on the court, but we're still apart of this team! We know everyone's potential, and their abilities, and I have faith that they'll see this through," I said confidently as someone called out names from the balcony.

"Y/N! Yachi!"

We turned our heads too see Kiyoko charging towards the railing, bag in hand as the teams spiking time ended.

She chucked the bag as Yachi rushed forwards, catching it mid air and smiling brightly at our upperclassmen.

"YEA! GO KIYOKO!" I cheered, giving her a thumbs up.

"Hinata, here!" Yachi called, rushing towards him and handing off the bag as his eyes grew wide.

"My shoes!" he cheered, immediately slipping them on and jumping up and down.

"What a dufess," I snickered, being joined by Nishi and Tanaka.

"Well then, are you ready for this?" Noya asked, swinging his arm around my neck.

"Oh yea... I'm not sitting on the bench this time."

"WHAT?"

"Y/N! HOW ELSE WILL I SEE YOUUU!"

"CALM YOURSELVES!" I exclaimed, slapping my hands over their mouths and receiving a glare from Daichi.

"Yachi's sitting on the bench for this game. I'll be there all next year, and it's only fair she gets a turn!" I explained too them as Noya let out a loud whine.

"Awww, how will I hear you cheering?" he pouted.

"Look," I said sternly, putting my hands on his shoulders, "I'll be right there on the sidelines! And if you honestly think you won't be able too hear ME cheering then you need a hearing aid."

"She's right bro, we'll definitely be able too hear her," Tanaka snickered, patting his friend on the back.

"Fineee," he whined, "but I think I should get a kiss for good luck!"

"Bye bye," Tanaka gagged, walking away as I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Pssh, you don't need luck," I giggled, planting a short kiss on his lips anyways before running off and finding Kiyoko underneath the balcony.