"Ayame, wake up" Yamaguchi said, nudging her. Ayame opened her eyes and yawned. She rubbed her eyes and looked at him with those sleepy violet eyes that he finds adorable "Are we here at Sendai City Gymnasium?"

"Yeah, you fell asleep on the whole trip" he explained "Crap...she's so cute~!"

"Sorry, Tadashi-kun, for using you as a pillow" she sheepishly apologized. Yamaguchi's face burned bright red. Actually, while they were travelling, Ayame fell asleep in the bus. Tsukishima pushed her head to the freckled teen's shoulder and listened to his earphones, smiling like he did nothing. Yamaguchi didn't actually mind it because he liked stroking her hair while sleeping on his shoulder but Ayame mentioning it made him feel embarrassed at his actions.

"It's all right. Today's the second day, isn't it? Let's do our best!" he said. She nodded and smiled "Yeah!"

Today is the second day and their next opponent is Aoba Johsai. She could almost feel her stomach turning into knots. Thanks to Coach Ukai's old friend, she and the coach got a copy of Aoba Johsai's previous match. She barely received any sleep because she watched the video again and again to observe how they play the game. Add the fact that she planned different strategies and possible outcomes last night after watching to try counter them.

"Neh, Tadashi-kun, Tsukishima-kun...pinch me when I'm about to sleep" she told them, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Tsukishima made an evil smile and his glasses had an evil glint in it.

"Will do..." he pushed his glasses evilly, making the two shudder in fear. The group walked inside and they saw Oikawa Tooru leaning against the doorframe.

"Why is he acting like yesterday's event didn't happen?" they all thought.

"Oh, it's the Great King" Tsukishima said blankly. Kageyama and Hinata tensed at his presence. Oikawa waved and greeted them.

"Hello, Ayam-"

BAM!!

"Oi! Shittykawa, what the hell are you still doing here? Come on! Coach is waiting!" Iwaizume said after landing a fist on the setter's head.

"W-wait, Iwa-chan! I need to talk to Ayame-chan about something!" Oikawa pleaded "Give me a few more minutes!"

Iwaizume sighed "Fine, make it quick. Don't take any more detours. And, Mizuki" he said, facing the girl "Good job in punching him" and he left while whistling a merry tune.

Oikawa shuddered while Karasuno's players burst out laughing.

"Anyway!" Oikawa said, clearing his throat "I would like to make a deal with you"

"What deal?" she asked. Tsukishima and Yamaguchi all shook their heads, mouthing the word trap.

"If Karasuno wins in our match, I will teach you guys the secret of my jump serve and other things you wanted to know in volleyball and...information about Shiratorizawa" he said. Ayame's ears perked up while the others face palmed "Damn it...she fell for it..."

"But..." Oikawa said "If we win..." his face darkened for a bit and grinned widely "You, Ayame-chan, will go on a date with me~!" he said, making a silly pose.

...

...

...

...

"WHAT THE HEEEEEELL?!"

Nishinoya and Tanaka once again tried to attack the setter but the second years pulled them back. Daichi was giving off a tremendous aura so everyone moved farther from him in fear. Yamaguchi felt like he was punched in the gut.

"...Eh?" she said, blinking "Eh? EEEEEEEEEEEH?!?!" she finally realized it.

"So! Do you agree on our deal?" Oikawa said, enjoying her expression. Hell, he finds it cute for some reason.

Ayame bit her lip nervously, thinking about the deal. "Shall I pull back from the deal? But if I pull back, they might think that I don't fully trust their skills in winning! But if I accept it...it's a little risky. But he will be teaching us the secrets of his jump serve! It's an opportunity! Agh! I don't know what to do!!"

She looked obviously confused now. Everyone is looking at her, anticipating her answer. If they win, Oikawa will teach them the secrets of his jump serve and other things. But if they lose, Ayame must go on a date with Oikawa. She never had a date before and it will be her first date if they lose.

"It's just a date, right? W-what's the harm?" she thought. She looked at Seijoh's setter straight in the eye "Okay, I accept it"

"Good decision, Ayame-chan! Aw~! I prefer your outfit yesterday. You're much cuter back then~!" Oikawa embraced her and rubbed his cheek against her cheek like she's a teddy bear.

However, Karasuno's players were shocked at her answer. Nishinoya and Tanaka were utterly speechless. Daichi felt like he was slapped in the face. Yamaguchi couldn't move or say anything and was clenching his hand in shock. No way, she just agreed on Oikawa's terms?! Was it for the sake of learning the secrets of his serves?!

"Well, see you later. In the court" he cheekily said, turning his back on them. The players were boring holes in Oikawa's back with a fiery background. They were more motivated than ever after the deal was struck. Anything to win Karasuno and to stop the date from happening.

"All right!! Here we go!! Get ready, Great King!!" Hinata yelled.

"OSU!!"

They entered the gymnasium and to the court. The players were doing their warm ups when Ayame felt the unfamiliar feeling settling in her stomach. It happened once, when the second year, Haruiko, tried to kiss her. She felt that before and she's pretty sure it is some sort of premonition, like something's going to happen. She shook her head and tried to focus.

"Ayame, are you all right? You look a little pale" Mr. Takeda worriedly told her.

"Did you eat breakfast earlier?" Shimizu asked her.

"Are you nervous? It's okay to tell us if you're nervous or if you're not feeling well. You don't have to push yourself" Coach Ukai said "The game starts in fifteen minutes so you can rest for a while"

She clutched her stomach and weakly nodded "Sorry, I-I..." her knees were visibly shaking and the manager supported her and the coach called out the captain.

"Sawamura!"

Daichi heard his name being called and he approached them with a worried look.

"What's wrong?" he approached the girl and placed a hand on her head "Ayame-chan, what's wrong? Did you feel like throwing up? I'll take you to the bathroom, okay?"

"Thanks, nii..."

"I'll be taking her to the bathroom. You guys should prepare, all right?" the captain told his teammates.

"OSU!"

"Will she be all right?" Yamaguchi asked the coach after the two left. The man shook his head.

"I don't know. Let's hope that she'll be okay after what happened"

***

Daichi took her to the bathroom and luckily, she didn't throw up or faint. She splashed her face with cold water, hoping that all what she's feeling is nothing.

"Better?" the captain asked her.

"Ne, nii-chan, do you think...everyone will be okay?" she timidly asked, biting her lower lip nervously.

"Of course, why are you asking that?"

"...I know this sounds weird but after we stepped on the court, I had this unsettling feeling...like something bad is going to happen...weird, right?" she gave out a hollow laugh "Sorry for bothering you with this, nii-chan-"

He wrapped his arms around her tightly and ruffled her hair. She couldn't move in the captain's bear hug and she could do nothing but stand there.

"Nii...I can't breathe..." she choked. He released her and ruffled her hair.

"Don't think unnecessary stuffs, Ayame-chan" he told her "We're going to win this, with your help, as the strategist of Karasuno"

"Yes!"

They returned back to the court and the game was about to start. She took a deep breath and sat next to their coach and teacher. Shimizu sat next to her and gave her a bottled water.

"Ne, Ayame-chan, are you feeling better now?" she worriedly asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine" she smiled. She faced the court and her smile faded. She bit her lower lip as she watched the game continue, with Seijoh in the lead.

Can I actually do this?

*Third set*

"What to do...what to do...I don't know what to do..." Ayame nervously said, trying to make another strategy to counter them. But the pressure and the stress is eating her, causing her to think irrationally and become panicky. Her hands shaking as she nervously bit her lip and mess her hair in frustration.

Score: 19 (Aoba Johsai) - 17 (Karasuno)

"The point gap is not that huge but...it's making me panicky! The flow of the game during the first set was not really well and it's affecting the final set!" she thought.

She looked into the scoreboard again but that only made her feel more stressed. Coach Ukai placed a hand on her shoulder after noticing her state.

"Ayame, should I place Yamaguchi in?" he asked her. Her eyes widened and she shakily tried to write but her pencil dropped. The coach saw her stressed stated and was worried "Ayame, listen, let's give him a shot to turn the tables. He might change this game's momentum if we put him in"

"I-I don't know...I-I'm n-not s-sure anymore..." she stuttered "I-I guess...maybe...w-we should..."

Coach Ukai called Yamaguchi and he subbed Hinata when he was about to serve. However, the pressure and nervousness took over him and he couldn't think clearly. He nervously looked at Ayame and saw her messing her head in frustration and nervousness. She glanced at him and her eyes were pleading, pleading to change the momentum of the game.

"Hey, Yamaguchi!" the bench players yelled, making a silly pose "Hit a nice serve!"

"T-Tadashi-kun!" Ayame said "Nice serve!"

He stared at them in surprise and nodded nervously. He took a deep breath, setting himself up and took the serve. He threw the ball and did the jump float serve. It hit the top part of the net and fell on their side, much to his horror.

Score: 20-17 (Service error)

"I-I'm sorry..." he apologized, shaking in disappointment. Ayame was disappointed but she understood him because she felt the same.

"Don't mind!" Tanaka told him.

"Don't think about it!" Daichi said.

Hinata subbed him and told him to don't mind it. Yamaguchi didn't look at Ayame in the eye and he was looking at his feet because he felt that he disappointed her.

"I'm sorry..." he said.

"Don't think about it. Just keep practicing" Coach Ukai told him and he nodded. Ayame wondered why he's not looking at her and she felt upset "Tadashi-kun, don't give up, okay? You can do it next time"

"Next time..." he thought, looking a little determined "Right!"

He nodded and returned to the other bench players. Ayame's nervousness rose after Seijoh reached the twenties first. However, she noticed Karasuno's players change in mood. They were calmer and at ease after the service error. She sighed in relief, thinking that they might win it if they played it calmly.

The game kept going until they reached the score 32-31, with Aoba Johsai in the lead. She kept making errors in her calculations and she couldn't think rationally and it upsets her. Cutting the match point is the only option. Hinata is on the front line and they could cut the lead with the quick. Kageyama and Hinata did they're weirdo quick but...Seijoh's blockers blocked it, resulting a win for Seijoh. The first year duo was horrified the most and they couldn't believe that their quick was blocked. Ayame was upset that Seijoh managed to block it with ease, like...they were waiting for it.

"Hinata, Kageyama, let's line up" Daichi told them.

"Daichi-san, we're sorry-" Hinata tried to apologize but the captain stopped him.

"That wasn't a mistake. It wasn't a mistake, so don't apologize" he said "Come on...Line up!"

Ayame was utterly speechless. Her face darkened as she slowly followed them. Everything, everything went wrong in her calculations ever since Seijoh placed a pressure on them in the first set. She felt that she disappointed them and failed to do her part. They lined up and bowed in front the spectators.

"THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!!"

The spectators, who used to underestimate them, clapped their hands as a sign of a job well done. Ayame and the others were surprised and they bowed once again. The banner was removed from its place and they packed it in Mr. Takeda's care, and left the gymnasium. Ayame looked back at the gymnasium sadly and clenched her fist, blaming herself from the loss.