The sounds of crickets chirping and the sound of a ball being tossed repeatedly filled Yamaguchi's ears and he felt a little relaxed. Wearing their official club jacket, he remembered that he joined the club because he liked volleyball. Even though he's not one of the regular players, he's happy that he joined the club because of Ayame. He liked to see her happy while concentrating...until the match against Seijoh happened. He clenched his fist and he heard that Shimada stopped tossing.

"So, how was it? Did you have fun, Tadashi?" Shimada asked him. Yamaguchi shook his head and looked down "No...it wasn't..."

The man looked at him sadly as he watched the freckled teen tremble from remembering his service error. "If only I scored us some points back then...If only I didn't mess up..."

"Blaming is pointless, you know" Shimada said, as if reading his mind. This surprised the freckled teen and he looked at him.

"Eh?"

"It's okay if you messed up on your first serve. Jump float serves are tricky serves to master so I understand what you are feeling right now. Like you, I'm not the ace, and I'm not even a starting member before. You know, when I did my first service ace in a match, I was really happy, like I did something awesome and incredible, even though it's just a point" Shimada said "The point is, Tadashi, you mustn't let that guilt haunt you. Use it as your motivation to keep going. Here"

He threw the ball to the freckled teen and he caught it "Keep practicing it, all right?"

Yamaguchi stared at the ball for a few seconds and nodded "Right"

"I'm going to keep practicing. I won't stop till I mastered it. For Ayame.... For Karasuno..."

"Glad to hear it" he smiled "Anyway, I want you to meet Miyagi's best serving specialist. She also uses the same type of serve like you do, the jump float serve. Come on"

Yamaguchi picked his bag and followed the man. Curiosity and excitement filled him. Maybe this serving specialist can help him in his jump float serve. However, he was surprised to find that they arrived in front of a familiar house.

"Ano...Shimada-san? Isn't this Ayame's house? What are we doing here?" he asked the man.

"Ayame didn't tell you?" Shimada asked and Yamaguchi was even more confused.

"Tell me what?"

Shimada grinned "Her mother, Kazumi-san, is a former volleyball player. She is Miyagi's best serving specialist"

...

...

...

"EEEEEEEEH?! Ayame's mother...the best serving specialist?!" Yamaguchi repeated in shock. Shimada looked at him in surprise.

"She's pretty well-known, not only here in Miyagi but in the whole Japan. Actually, she used to be an international volleyball player. Before she was married, her maiden name was "Haruka Kazumi", jersey no. 2, Opposite Hitter/Serving Specialist. You remember know?"

"Y-yes..." Yamaguchi replied, meekly nodding his head "Haruka Kazumi was the best server in her team. They say she can use any serve but her usual serves are jump float serves and she would always keep racking up points. I never realized that she's Ayame's mother..."

"Anyway, she's the best person you can ask for help in your serve. Here goes" Shimada pushed the doorbell and they waited for her mother or Ayame's response. Yamaguchi's excitement and nervousness rose higher. Nervous to see that the lady he met, was an international player and the best serving specialist. Excited, because he wanted to meet her and ask for help. And also, he wanted to see Ayame again after what happened.

The violet eyed girl opened the gate and she was surprised to find Shimada and Yamaguchi outside "Oh, Shimada-san, Tadashi-kun! Hello!"

"Hello, Ayame. Is your mother here?" Shimada asked her.

"Yes?" her mother suddenly poked her head from the door, surprising the three. They couldn't believe that she heard them before the girl got a chance to call her. The lady seemed to have a super hearing ability. The woman approached them "Hello, Makoto, Tadashi. Need any help?"

"Yes, if you don't mind, can you help Tadashi in the jump float serve?" the man asked. Yamaguchi suddenly felt embarrassed. Ayame beamed and her mother smiled.

"Sure, I owe Tadashi for escorting my daughter so, I'll repay the favor by teaching him" she replied "Let's go? Aya-chan, you better come with us. There's a gymnasium nearby and no one's practicing in it"

"Okay!"

***

"WOAH~!" the first years exclaimed after they entered the gymnasium. It was like Aoba Johsai's gymnasium except that this one is much more spacious.

"Ah, it looks like no one's practicing here. Good timing" Kazumi said, stretching her arms "Come on, Tadashi. Warm up"

"Yes!"

The freckled teen warmed up while Shimada and Ayame fixed a net for him to practice. After that, the woman started teaching him.

"Since it's already this dark, I guess we'll hit thirty serves or more then we'll call it a night. I need to go to my work early tomorrow" she said.

"Yes, it's fine, Mrs. Mizuki!" Yamaguchi bowed "As long I could practice some serves! Thirty serves are fine!"

"Please, just call me "Kazumi-san", Tadashi. Let's start with three jump float serves"

"The most important thing in doing a jump float serve is the ball control. Aya-chan told me that you're a bit of a fast learner and your ball control seemed fine. If you want, I could teach you some tricks so you can change the ball's direction or how to make the ball suddenly drop on the line" she said "It's a bit tricky but I think you can manage"

"Yes, please!" he replied.

While watching them practice, Ayame continued her sketch on their match against Seijoh . It was painful but she managed to continue sketching and Shimada complimented her work. After how many serves, they decided to take a short break. The woman had a talk with Shimada. Yamaguchi sat down, gulping his drink and Ayame handed him a towel.

"Thanks, Ayame" he said, wiping his sweat. They had short awkward moment before Yamaguchi decided to ask her something "Uhm...Ayame, when is...uh...your date with the Great King?"

As soon as he said it, he mentally punched his self "Damn it...why the heck did I ask that?" he thought. She sighed and twirled a strand of her hair.

"This weekend...he just called me earlier..." she replied.

"H-how did he get your number?" he asked, surprised.

(Flashback, about an hour ago)

*Ring Ring*

The violet eyed girl picked up her phone and she saw an unknown number calling her. She decided to answer in case it was something important, which turned out to be the opposite of important.

"Hello?" she asked but was answered with a familiar cheerful tone "Hello, Ayame-chan~!"

Oikawa-san... she thought.

"How did you get my number?" she suddenly asked. She clearly remembered that she never gave Seijoh's setter her number.

"Do you remember Ando? I asked him if he had your number and gave it to me! I could finally call you now! He is a really nice guy~" he replied. Ayame was mentally beating the living daylights of the art club president.

"Anyway, did you still remember our deal, Cutie-chan~?" he purred. The hairs on the girl's back stood as she recalled it "Yes, why?"

"Let's meet at the park at 2 in the afternoon, okay? This Saturday, if possible"

"My first...date..." she thought "Okay, then..."

"Great! Wear something pleasant for our date, Ayame-chan! And, save my number, will you? Good night!" he cheerfully said. Ayame still felt awful after their match so she glumly answered.

"Yeah...good night, Oikawa-san...."

"And before I forget..." he said "You did your best in our match, Ayame-chan. Remember that"

The call ended. She felt a little grateful when he said that. Despite that they are opponents in a match, Oikawa was nice enough to tell her she did her best.

(End)

"Damn that art club president..." Yamaguchi thought. Note to self: Make the art club president regret his decision in 100 painful ways "So...you are going then?"

She nodded her head. His heart sank "Does your mother know about it?"

Her eyes widened and she nervously looked at her mother "No, I didn't tell her about the deal part. Please, Tadashi-kun, don't mention this to anyone, especially to mom" she whispered, holding his hand tightly. The sudden contact surprised him and he's face turned light red.

"Okay, I won't tell anyone" he promised her "But how are you going to explain to her that you'll be leaving on Saturday?"

"Mom said she's going to Tokyo on that day. I can leave the house and she won't know about the...date..." she explained, biting her lip.