*Ayame's POV*

Sigh...

I checked the list I made for the things we must do before the Inter high prelims begins. We only have about a few weeks before it starts and thinking about it makes me nervous. I looked at my list and reviewed them again:

Get Asahi-san to learn a back attack: check

Have Shoyo-kun and Ryu-senpai act as decoys when Asahi-san's performing a back attack: check

Practice the hand signals Suga-san made: check

Help Shoyo-kun in memorizing the signals: check

Teach proper communication skills to Kageyama-kun: check

Help Yuu-senpai in perfecting Rolling Thunder Again Version: check

That one is not my idea. It's Yuu-senpai's. I scrolled the whole list until I reached the bottom and I saw the last line left unchecked:

Help Tadashi-kun and cheer him up.

I sighed loudly. It's the only thing left unchecked. I stretched out my arms when I saw Tadashi-kun. Everyone's practicing spikes and I saw him looking at them with a look of envy and disappointment.

I wanted to try to encourage him but my mind was blank. How could I possibly encourage him? It was my fault to begin with. I left him out when we decided that all first years except him are our regular players. He's been really kind to me and I want to help him.

"-yame? A~Ya~Me~?" Coach Ukai tapped my shoulder. I was startled for a moment and asked him what's wrong.

"Nothing, kid. I saw you spacing out a little" he looked at Tadashi-kun's direction "Were you staring at Yamaguchi earlier?"

For some reason, I felt embarrassed and my face heated up. I shook my head and I tried to concentrate on Asahi-san's back row attack. This is supposed to be an achievement because we finally had a new weapon if they face Date Tech again. But my thoughts wandered to Tadashi-kun. Is it wrong for me to stare at Tadashi-kun? Why did I feel embarrass about it? I shook my head and I decided to help Shimizu-san in cleaning the storage room.

"Is it okay for you, Shimizu-san?" I asked her. She nods her head and I helped her carry the boxes. We worked in silence and I decided to have a conversation with her and she happily obliged.

I admit Shimizu-san is really pretty and it's no surprise that every guy would fall on their knees when they saw her. The girls in Hanabi Aiko were also pretty but they're attitude's...well, it's quite the opposite of what they look like. Shimizu-san's pretty but she's really kind and I could almost see her as my big sister.

I stood on the chair and I placed a box on the shelf when I notice a box with a black cloth sticking out. My curiosity rose and it overcome me so I tried pulling the cloth. Dusts entered my nostrils and my nose began to twitch. Ah...hah...hah...

"ACHOO!" I lost my balance and I fell on the floor while dragging the cloth with me. I landed with a thud, toppling the other stacked boxes down. Oh no, the rooms a mess again! Waah~! Shimizu-san's efforts are wasted! I'm so stupid!

"Ayame-chan, are you all right? Are you hurt?" Shimizu-san asked me while helping me up. I nodded weakly and sat up. I realized I'm still holding the black cloth. Shimizu-san and I unfurled it and I saw a word written in faded letters.

FLY.

"Is this...Karasuno's banner?" I asked her. Shimizu-san was silent for a bit and she sat across me.

"Yes...It used to be, it seems..." Both of us sat in silence when Shimizu-san's face suddenly lit up and she grabbed my hands "Ayame-chan, do you think...this banner is a good idea? I...I wanted to do something for the team aside from being the manager...I want to cheer them up with this banner...What can you say?"

I thought about Tadashi-kun. His sad and envious expression earlier pains me to see him that way. Maybe...just maybe, this banner will cheer him up a bit and also the team. It will probably boost their confidence and morale and give them the courage to fly again. If we could just restore the banner's former glory, we could show it to them with pride. The word fly would make a big impact in the prelims because Karasuno was called the flightless crows and now, we will fly again, higher and majestically! It's an awesome idea!

"It's perfect, Shimizu-san! The word fly and its message...oh, it's perfect that I don't know how to describe it anymore!!" I said, my eyes shining in excitement. Shimizu-san's eyes were also sparkling and I bet Yuu-senpai would die if he saw her like this.

"I'm glad you like it, Ayame-chan" she told me "It's a bit dusty and the words are fading a bit but I'll do something about this. I know someone from the art club so maybe I'll ask her about it. And, Ayame-chan, can you keep this as a secret? I want to surprise them"

"Sure! Nice idea, Shimizu-san!" I grinningly told her. Oooh, I already knew Daichi-nii's secret affections to Michimiya-san and Shimizu-san's letting me keep a secret! I'm like secret keeper! Funny that I also have plenty of secrets that no one knows...

We finished cleaning the storage room and folded the banner and placed it in the box to hide it. Me and Shimizu-san went outside so I could help her wash the banner when Tsukishima-kun and Tadashi-kun called us.

"Ayame, are you coming or what?" Tsukishima-kun said. Crap! We're supposed to go home together like always. Tadashi-kun and Tsukishima-kun were expecting my answer but I am thinking about Shimizu-san. I promised that I will help her in cleaning the banner.

"Ah...etto..." I tried to think of an excuse but Shimizu-san beat me to it.

"It's all right, Ayame-chan. You can go home first with Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. I'll be okay" she assured me.

"Are you sure, Shimizu-san? You might need my help in...that" I told her but she shook her head and smiled "I'll be okay. I can manage. Bye, Ayame-chan" and with that she left, carrying the box with her.

"What was that?" Tsukishima-kun asked me.

"N-nothing!"