"Diving receives!!"

"Osu!!"

"Sorry for waiting!!" Ayame arrived at the gymnasium "Ukai-san!"

"Yo, Ayame, how are you feeling?" Coach Ukai asked her. She gave them a thumbs up and a smile.

"I'm better! I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you" she bowed down her head to apologize.

"No, it's okay. Raise your head, kid" the man told her.

"Ayame-chan, are you sure you can do it? The hangover's effect is still probably lingering..." Shimizu worriedly said.

"S-Should I get some water for you?" Yachi asked, preparing a bottle of water.

"It's okay. I'll be okay, Hitoka-chan, Shimizu-san"

"Ayame-san!!" the half-Russian boy waved his long arms to catch her attention "We just won thanks to me!! I'm Nekoma's ace now!!"

Everyone stared at him until a vein popped inside Yaku's head.

"Lev!! Don't get so arrogant now, you brat!!" he grabbed the taller boy's right ear and twisted it and pulled him back.

"Ow!! Ow!! Yaku-san!! That hurts!!"

Ayame stared at them with a deadpanned expression "Yaku-san seemed more pissed than his usual expressions...is this Lev-kun's effect on him?"

"For a first year beginner player, he sure is pretty proud of his self" Coach Ukai noted "Although he has that ridiculous height, he sure is a sucker at receives and serves"

"Anyway, Ukai-san, how is it going?" the violet eyed girl asked him.

"Well, as you can see, we lost...again" the man sighed "And also...Hinata bumped to Azumane earlier"

Her ears perked up and she focused her attention to him "Shoyo-kun did? When? What happened?"

"It just happened right in the middle of the set of Nekoma earlier. He was acting completely subconsciously back then, but it looked like he was trying to steal the toss from the ace"

"Seriously? I...I can't believe it. I know Shoyo-kun can be pretty reckless but there's no way he'll try to steal a toss from the ace. He's not that kind of player. Did something happen to him?" she asked.

"Sorry, but I'm also confused as well" he said. Both coach and assistant coach pondered deeply until a certain old man broke their thoughts.

"It appears there's been a change in your players' wills" Coach Nekomata chuckled while passing behind Coach Ukai, who only gritted his teeth at him.

"You guys are the weakest team out of all the teams here" Mr. Takeda told the players with a smile, causing each player's face to darken. Ayame and Coach Ukai looked at him in surprise as he spoke the cold-hard truth to them in a nonchalant way.

"We can't argue with that..." Nishinoya, Tanaka, Daichi and Asahi thought.

"Ano...sensei...I think that's a little harsh..." she whispered to the teacher.

"Don't worry. Leave it to me" he waved her worry off and continued "If we were to have an official match with any of these teams, they would be a troublesome opponent, right, strategist Ayame?"

"W-Well, yeah. I mean, in a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of abilities and strength, we're probably around 2 and they are somewhere around 7 to 9"

"You're kidding..." they all thought.

"Now, are we going to view them as mere opponents or teachers that we can absorb techniques from? The fact that you are weak just means that you have room to grow. There's nothing more exciting than that" he said.

The players agreed to his words and smiled "Thank you!"

"What you said out there made you almost seem like a reliable teacher. Thanks!" Coach Ukai smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

"Sensei, nice speech!! That was so cool!!" Ayame exclaimed in sparkly eyes.

"Uh, well... I'm a teacher, so..." Mr. Takeda sounded a little dejected.

The violet eyed girl saw Sugawara go outside with Hinata and Kageyama and she tapped the coach's shoulder. He saw the three and she asked him a question.

"Did something happen between Shoyo-kun and Kageyama-kun?"

He sighed "Earlier, after Hinata bumped to Azumane, he told Kageyama that he'll stop closing his eyes when doing the quick"

"He'll...stop closing them?" she echoed "Well, it's true that he usually kept closing his eyes every time they do the quick... I'll go talk to them"

"H-Hey, Ayame! You can't-"

"I have to know his reasons. As the assistant coach, I need to know why he said that or what is he planning"

She ran outside where Hinata and others went, with Coach Ukai following her. Hinata's next sentence made them stop behind the door.

"Before I knew it, we lost the last set with Seijoh"

Ayame's face darkened as she recalled their painful loss at the Inter High Preliminaries.

"When I realized it, the ball that was hit was behind me, and on the floor" he continued "I want to fight in mid-air until the very last moment"

"Mid-air? Now that you think about it, Shoyo-kun is not fighting in mid-air. He's scoring because of Kageyama-kun's tosses..." she thought.

"I sort of realized in the Seijoh match that it's the setter that brings out 100% of the spiker's strength" Kageyama told him "That quick is your ultimate weapon. Any slippage in that quick becomes a fatal mistake. Your will is not needed for that quick"

Ayame was about to interject but the man stopped her from interrupting. The setter turned around and walked back to the gymnasium, passing the coach and their assistant coach behind the door. He suddenly stopped.

"Ayame" he said without looking.

Both coach and assistant coach flinched "H-Hai?"

"You guys were listening earlier, right?"

"He knew all along!!" the two thought.

"W-We're sorry we eavesdropped!" she bowed her head.

"No, I actually want you to listen to all of it" he said before walking away.

"Eh?" she blinked. They once again, listened to what Sugawara said to Hinata.

"Sorry, Hinata" the third year apologized "This time, I've got to agree with Kageyama after hearing him say that. That quick is amazing in itself. I think it might be best that you use that as an axis and polish up other attacks"

Coach Ukai sighed and walked out from their hiding place "Yeah...I agree with Sugawara"

"Ukai-san" Sugawara said and Ayame also revealed herself "And Ayame-chan, too?"

"Sorry we heard everything" she said.

"You say that you want to fight on your own, but that weirdo quick is a battle that lasts a split second" the man said.

"Honestly, Shoyo-kun, I think it's impossible trying to figure out what to do in mid-air..." she nodded "That's what I thought, but... I can't help but feel that it's not completely true..."

Hinata lowered his head "But when I'm doing well, I can see it in slow motion, just like Tanaka-san said"

"Slow motion?" she echoed.

"Well, there are times that blocks are more visible" Coach Ukai said with Sugawara agreeing with him.

But the shorter teen was not done "In the practice match against Seijoh... The last point... The Great King... I could see Oikawa-san's face... I could see his eyes"

"Shoyo...-kun? What do you mean by that?"

"Oh... you mean you felt like you saw them, right?" the man asked.

"Even when I first did that quick during our 3-on-3 match, I could see the other side. I could see the scenery from the very top" he insisted.

"But you mean you just felt like you saw..." Coach Ukai was about to continue but the seriousness in Hinata's eyes stopped him.

"This seriousness... it kinda reminds me of Ayame when she's serious"

"Oh, there you are" Daichi appeared behind the door, startling both coach and his assistant "We're starting"

"O-Oh, we'll be right there" Hinata and Sugawara went inside first. Once they're inside, Ayame asked the man.

"What do you think, Ukai-san?"

"He isn't making any sense to me"

"Is...that so?"

He sighed "Come on. Let's get inside"

The next set was about to start, Fukurodani vs Karasuno. Coach Ukai and Ayame had a small talk before the man approached Narita.

"Narita" he said.

"Yes?"

"Switch out with Hinata next"

"Huh? Uh, yes, sir!"

Hinata and the others looked at him in surprise. Coach Ukai approached the shorter boy.

"Despite what you think you want to accomplish, you need to chill out today" he told him "I don't think it's gonna work to try things out today, and I'm not gonna have you in a contact play like that again and get hurt"

"...Hai..."

Hinata sat on the bench in a different mood. Ayame felt guilty and casted him an apologetic and concerned look. She sat next to him and patted his back.

"Don't be sad, Shoyo-kun" she said "I'm sorry if we had to switch you out. But, you need to relax for today. It's not like your position as a regular is in jeopardy. So don't feel bad, okay?"

"Hai, I understand, Ayame" he went to the other bench players once the whistle started. As what she expected, their offense dropped when they switched out the shorter teen. She already knew that they had no chance winning against Fukurodani but she had to try another pattern so they could close the score gap between them.

While the practice game is still going on, she felt the unfamiliar feeling settling in her stomach again.

"Ugh...what's this feeling...it's like before our match against Seijoh...ugh...it's giving me chills...I don't like this..."

***

Their last day in their Tokyo Training Camp is finally over and everyone packed their things and loaded them in the bus. Ayame, Coach Ukai, and Mr. Takeda expressed their thanks to the old director of Nekoma.

"Nekomata-sensei, thank you for inviting us" Ayame bowed. He laughed and ruffled her hair.

"Tell that to your mother. She's the one who told me to invite you guys" he chuckled "Don't worry, we'll see you the week after next, at the summer vacation training camp"

"Hai. It'll be a pleasure working with you!" the three said.

"This is where it's going to get real" he seriously added.

The trio stiffened at his tone and at the meaning of his words.

"It's the last long-term training camp before the spring tournament prelims" Nekomata-sensei said and Mr. Takeda nodded.

"We know" she agreed.

The old man walked away while saying "Just know that you're gonna be joining me for drinks every night for a week"

Coach Ukai sighed while Mr. Takeda grinned "Yes, sir!"

"Ayame is also welcome to join us" he added.

"Not happening!!" the man retorted.

Ayame sulked "I'm not drinking ever again..."

***

"See ya later, Hinata" Lev said "I'll stop you next time, too"

"I'm not going to lose" he answered back "I may be 163 cm but I'll beat your 194 cm butt"

Once he saw Ayame behind Hinata, he brightened up and approached her excitedly.

"Ayame-san!"

The violet eyed girl was startled and looked at him "What is it, Lev-kun?"

"Did you see me earlier? Wasn't I great?" he asked in a hopeful and excited tone.

Ayame, being a kind person she is, smiled and nodded "Yes, you were great earlier, Lev-kun. Keep it up"

"Ah...she's too kind to him..." Kenma sighed "It's not good for Lev..."

"You can't blame her. That's what she is..." Kai told him.

His green eyes sparkled "Thank you very much! I'll be Nekoma's ace in no time!"

"Not happening" Kenma said.

"Impossible" Kuroo nodded.

"Not a chance" Yamamoto added.

"A waste of time" Yaku crossed his arms.

"So mean!" Lev cried.

"Is there anything left?" Yamaguchi stepped out of the bus, asking her.

"Hmm...none I think" she replied.

"I'll carry your bag inside, Ayame"

"Oh, t-thank you" she held it out to him "And, Tadashi-kun... Thank you for the cake"

He nearly dropped the bag if it weren't for his reflexes. Instantly, all eyes are fixated on them. Sugawara and Tsukishima were looking curiously and with interest. He sweat dropped and he saw Yaku give a thumbs up and a grin.

"D-Don't think about it..." Yamaguchi stammered.

"Now, I'm curious..." he overheard the tall blonde and the grey haired setter say, making the hairs on his back stand in fear. Another interrogation will happen, he's pretty sure about that.

"Ne, ne, Ayame-san, can I ask you one thing?" Lev suddenly said.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Can I ask for your number?"

A hand hit Lev's side before she could answer and he doubled over in pain, shocking Ayame and the others. Yaku glared down at the half Russian and crossed his arms.

"Not happening!" he said, giving off that scary vibe.

"Y-Yaku-san...there's no need for violence..." she nervously said "It's okay. He can have my number-"

"Sorry, Ayame, but this kid is a real pain. Don't give your number to him"

"...Okay..." she sighed as Inouka and Shibayama dragged the poor boy "See you soon, Yaku-san"

"Sure" he ruffled her hair and smiled.

"See you at the next training camp, Ayame" Kenma patted her head.

"Good luck, strategist" Kuroo also patted her head.

"Yes, thank you very much! I'll do my best!" she bowed.

"Yamaguchi!" Yaku pointed a finger to the freckled teen, who flinched in surprise "Keep up the good work!!"

"Ah...y-yeah...t-thank you..." he stammered as he bowed and scuttled to his seat.

"What was that?" Kuroo asked the libero.

He only grinned in response "Nothing~"

"Yamaguchi and Nekoma's libero know each other? Since when?" Daichi asked, surprised.

"Hehehehe...dunno~" Sugawara grinned.

"Ayame-san!! See you!!" Inouka and Shibayama waved their hand.

Ayame boarded on the bus and sat next to Yamaguchi. She waved back to the Nekoma team as the bus left the area. While traveling, she gave a yawn and stretched her arms. However, she felt the unfamiliar feeling again in her stomach as they traveled closer to Miyagi.

"For some reason...I'm feeling scared...it's like...something is going to happen when we get back...something bad... I don't like it..." she thought, biting her lower lip worriedly.

Yamaguchi noticed her habit and was worried "What's wrong, Ayame?"

"N-Nothing..." she mumbled. Even without looking up, she could feel his dark brown eyes pierce through her little lie. He gave out a sigh and looked away.

"I understand if you won't tell me. I won't pry" he said "But, you can tell me if something's wrong"

"Yeah, I understand. Thank you" she smiled and leaned on his shoulder and sighed softly "Can I stay like this for a little longer?"

"S-Sure..." he stuttered out, his heartbeat racing with a matching crazy blush on his cheeks. Her heart is also beating in a crazy pace but she felt comfortable leaning next to him and felt something fluttering inside her stomach. It's weird but she loved this...feeling. She slowly forgot the dread growing inside her and closed her eyes.