"#4!!"

Bokuto spiked through Hinata and Kageyama's block.

"All right!!"

"Eeek..." Yachi was slightly shaking from the impact of the ace's spike "That #4 is really intense again today..."

"As expected from Bokuto-san" Ayame grinned "Even if it's just a practice match, he's always giving his 120% in the game. Ah, Takeda-sensei"

She nodded at the teacher and he understood her signal for a time out.

Score: Fukurodani-11, Karasuno-6

"Even if you're not able to stop #4's spikes, at least try to touch it" Coach Ukai told the players.

"Right!!"

"I see...so even if they aren't able to stop it, if they're able to touch the ball, it reduces the momentum?" the blonde manager asked the two girls.

"Right" the third year nodded "There are usually two goals in blocking. Ayame-chan, if you must"

"Hai. It's the soft block and kill block. Soft block is used in order to make the ball easier to receive. That's what Ukai-san meant earlier. Another is the kill block, which is used to shut down the ball" she explained.

"Kill...as in, killing something?" she asked.

"Yes" Shimizu and Ayame both smirked, much to the surprise of the girl.

"Eeek!!"

"We don't have to stop it?"

The members looked at Tsukishima in shock after saying it. His face was serious and there's no trace of humor on it. Ayame smiled at his expression.

"Well, if you can do it, then why not? There's nothing much better than shutting out a ball" she said and patted his back "Go for it. Isn't that right, Ukai-san?"

He smirked and nodded "You took the words from my mouth, Ayame"

*TWEET*

The other members of Karasuno watched from the sidelines as the game continued.

"Nice receive!"

"Give it to me!!"

"Left!! #4!! #4!!"

Daichi and Tsukishima were on front and preparing their block. Ayame glanced at the blonde manager as she wrote the words "soft block" and "kill block" on her memo pad. She smiled at her efforts to learn more about volleyball.

"Ano...is this correct, Ayame-chan?" she showed him her notes.

"Yes. If you want to learn more about volleyball, you can ask me" she smiled.

"Hai!" she nodded.

"Let's see...looks like Tsukishima-kun is really having the intent to shut down Bokuto-san" she thought as she saw the ace jump. Their blockers jumped and Bokuto changed his spike to a feint.

This alarmed Ayame and she couldn't resist the urge to grin.

"Wow, I totally thought they were going to come with a full-on attack there. To think it was actually a feint...I guess that's what you get with an ace that went to nationals" Mr. Takeda noted "Though I don't really get it why Ayame is still grinning despite our loss..."

"Sensei, it's not like that" Coach Ukai almost grinned "There's a different reason for that grin"

"Bokuto-san just ran away" Akaashi said and Ayame nodded on the sidelines in agreement.

Fukurodani's ace flinched and defended his self "I did not!! I just got around it!! And really well!! I got around their block!!"

"You let your guard down" Washio added.

"Ugh!! Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry!!"

Ayame caught the megane's attention and she gave him a thumbs up.

"Good job"

He nodded. She was seriously pumped up now. She could already tell that the blonde is no longer slacking off and is now working hard like them, albeit not showing it. Also, she's no longer confused and unfocused like yesterday. She glanced at the freckled teen and he saw her too. Their cheeks had a tiny blush on it but they didn't look away...they only smiled.

(flashback)

"I like you, too"

Yamaguchi blinked, not believing what he just heard.

"A-Ayame...?"

Her cheeks were now red as she felt some sense of clarity in her as she said her feelings.

"Tadashi-kun...I...I like you..." she whispered "I like you..."

She looked up at him and saw his face turn crimson red, his brown eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape. He blinked and then covered his mouth.

"Are you..." he gulped, his eyes slightly sad "Are you sure...you're not being considerate to me?"

"Eh?" she blinked "What do you mean?"

"I mean...you told me that you like me but...I think you're just being considerate...After all, I just confessed to you last night...a-and... I-I know that no girl would like me back-"

She hugged him tightly "Don't say something like that... do you think I'm being considerate? Can you feel my heartbeat? Can't you tell?"

He could feel her heartbeat beating loudly and in a fast pace. Just like his heartbeat.

"Well...?"

"It's...the same...as mine..."

She smiled a bit "Then, I guess that answers it"

"But...I still can't believe it..." she heard him sigh and she looked up and saw his red and embarrassed face "I still can't believe that you like me..."

"I...I didn't reject you, right? If you told me that you like me and I rejected you, it means, I don't feel the same. But...I didn't. I wasn't able to answer you before...because I was scared...so scared..."

He placed a hand on the back of her head and embraced her.

"It's all right. I told you, right? My feelings won't change. I don't know what happened in your past but you can tell me if you want to..."

"If...If I-I'm ready for it..."

"It's okay. You don't have to force yourself..." he told her "I like you, Ayame..."

"I like you too, Tadashi-kun"

(end of flashback)

After that, the two decided to keep their relationship a secret to the team as much as possible. Of course, they have no intention of telling them yet. She didn't know why but her gut feeling is telling her to keep it down for the time being and the freckled teen is the same.

Though it's most likely he didn't want a certain third year setter and blonde megane to assault them with endless teasing.

That's why, they are acting as if nothing happened, even though their heartbeats are racing when they are near each other. Yes, they are nervous and amateur to the whole thing but the happiness they are feeling overpowers it.

She suddenly turned her attention to their coach.

"Ukai-san, after the next point, when it's Shoyo-kun's turn to serve, switch him to Tadashi-kun"

"Sure"

She glanced back at Yamaguchi and beckoned him to them. Shimizu gave him the number sign "10" and he quickly understood his role as soon as he arrived.

"I'm switching Hinata out?" he asked the coach.

"Yeah. It was Ayame's idea" the man said "As much as possible, you bench warmers need to play too"

"It will be a good practice for your jump float serves and for your nerves to get used to the sudden switching in the game" Ayame smiled "You can do it, Tadashi-kun"

"Thanks, Ayame" he smiled back sheepishly. He sat next to her as he waited for Hinata's turn to serve. Little by little, the violet eyed girl learned to trust him about her past. It still scared her at the possibility of him finding out but she clung on to his patience and his kindness. It's hard but she wanted to change, too, by telling him about the truth.

"It's his turn now" Coach Ukai said as Hinata is preparing on the server line. Yamaguchi breathed deeply as he tried to suppress his fears and nervousness. He felt a hand grip on his left hand and he looked at the girl on his side.

"It's all right" she gave it a light squeeze "Stay calm. You can do this. It's only a practice match but give it your all in that serve"

Amazingly, it helped him calm down and focus "Thank you..."

"If you can, try to aim your serve to Bokuto-san to put him in check"

"Got it"

He stood up from his seat as soon as he heard the whistle. He switched out with Hinata and the shorter teen patted his back.

"Nice serve, Yamaguchi!"

"Yeah!"

"Yamaguchi-kun is surprisingly calm now, isn't he?" Mr. Takeda noted.

"Yes, he'll be fine" she nodded "He can do it"

"Supportive now, aren't we?" Coach Ukai grinned.

"Is it wrong?" she tilted her head in confusion.

"She's slow as always..." He heave out a sigh and scratched his head "Never mind..."

Yamaguchi did his jump float serve and it was received by Konoha, which made him cringe from the result. Akaashi sets it to Bokuto and he spikes it, which was then received by Daichi and Kageyama sets it to Asahi. However, Komi was still able to receive it and their setter did a quick set to Onaga.

"All right!!"

The freckled teen was then switched out by Hinata after his serve. He bowed in front of their coach and his assistant.

"I'm sorry, I messed up" he looked at the violet eyed girl sadly "Sorry, it didn't go straight to their ace"

"It's okay, Tadashi-kun. I know it's hard for you right now. Just keep practicing" she assured him.

"Yeah" the man nodded "Though I must say, good job on keeping your nerves in check"

"Hai! Thank you very much!" he bowed again "I'll do better next time!!"

"Yeah!" she nodded with a grin.

"Something is definitely going on with these two..." Coach Ukai thought "Ah well... I don't have the right to butt in"

***

"Go!!"

"Penalty again..." Ayame sighed. She approached the managers and helped them prepare the water bottles. They rested under the shade of the tree as soon as they were done running.

"Here, Suga-san, Daichi-nii" she gave two water bottles to the third years.

"Thanks a lot, Ayame-chan" Sugwara took the container and drank its contents.

"Thanks, Ayame-chan" Daichi ruffled her hair in gratitude.

"Are you guys all right?" she worriedly asked as she noticed the sweat pouring down their face and their heavy breathings. She made a mental note to ask Nekomata-sensei and the other coaches to try ask for a penalty change.

"Yeah..." the captain wiped his sweat before taking big gulps "We'll be fine"

She nodded, unsure about their conditions leaving as it is, before walking away. She distributed the next ones to Tsukishima and Yamaguchi.

"Thanks" the megane accepted the drink.

"Thank you" the freckled teen gratefully accepted it.

"Great job for pressuring Bokuto-san, Tsukishima-kun" she told him "Keep it up and..." she slightly gave him a glare "Don't say that this is just a club again, understand?"

He was slightly unnerved by her glare and he only looked away and nodded "Fine"

She changed her expression when she faced the other teen "Your serves are getting better, Tadashi-kun. Keep at it"

"T-Thanks, Ayame" he rubbed his neck sheepishly.

"Why am I getting a different treatment...?" the blonde thought "By the way, Ayame, did Yamaguchi tell you something?"

"Yeah, he told me about what happened to your brother" she patted his back "I know it's hard but don't be hindered by it. Keep pushing forward and give your all. That's all I can say"

"...Thanks" he made a small smile and walked away. Ayame faced the freckled teen as soon as they were alone, though their teammates are a little far from where they are standing.

"How are you feeling?" she asked almost quietly.

"I'm all right...just the heat, I guess..." he answered before making a sheepish smile "No one noticed us, huh?"

"Y-Yeah..." she blushed slightly when she remembered their relationship "I-I'm still getting the hang of this whole ordeal..."

"M-Me too..." his face is the same shade as hers as his heartbeat pounded loudly in his chest.

They enjoyed their short awkward and comfortable silence before leaving to the gym. They smiled to each other before parting ways.

They are extremely good in hiding it. And the members didn't suspect a thing, not even Nekoma's libero.

"Ukai-san, is it okay if I ask Nekomata-sensei to change the penalty?" Ayame asked the man.

"Yeah, he might listen to you"

She bowed and walked towards the coaches with him.

"Ano...Coaches, can I ask you something? It concerns about the penalty given to the losing team" she started.

"Oh! Just in time, Ayame, Keishin" the old director of Nekoma grinned and patted her back "We were just talking about it"

Even if she's the only high school student and a female assistant coach, the coaches still respected her and didn't underestimate her (Well, they used to during the first away games). It's because of her skill in strategy making and sharp observations and because she's the daughter of the "Demon Vixen", Haruka Kazumi, now known as Mizuki Kazumi.

"Well, it seems that it's getting hotter doing a penalty outside so we decided to change it to indoor ones" Shinzen's coach said.

"True, it's too harsh for them to go running outside" Ubugawa's coach nodded.

"Ayame, what's your suggestion?" Naoi asked her.

"Well, it's pretty common but I say let's change it to diving penalties again, like the last away games" she replied.

"Yosh, we're going along with that" Ubugawa's coach said "Any other thoughts?"

No one objected.

"Great. We'll inform the captains of the team about the penalty change"

She bowed gratefully and with respect and returned back to her team. She told the captain about it and he relayed it to the team. They all sighed in relief after knowing that they are not running outside again.

"The next team we're up against is Nekoma" she started "The match will start after 15 minutes. Make sure you guys are warmed up"

"Osu!"

"Excuse me~" they all turned to see the owner of the voice "Do you guys have a minute?"

"Kuroo-san, hello" she nodded politely to Nekoma's captain "What is it?"

"Ah...well..." he rubbed his neck before continuing "I just thought of something fun with you guys"

This alarmed the male members and the Ayame protection squad quickly stood in front of her to protect her (Nishinoya, Tanaka and Daichi).

One thought ran in their mind.

"This guy is a pervert..."

Tsukishima and Sugawara deadpanned. Yamaguchi didn't know how to react without making the two bullies tease him (Tsukishima and Sugawara). But he wants to protect her, too.

"Uh...you guys don't have to give me that look...you have it wrong" Kuroo sweat dropped after he saw the doubting and cautious looks the Karasuno boys were giving him "We decided to make a deal with you"

"Deal?"

"Yeah, well, to make this game interesting, the losing team will have to buy groceries from the convenience store nearby. Don't worry about the expenses since this camp covers it all. The team managers will have to buy them, including Ayame as well"

Insert the murderous aura from the crows.

"What about your team, Kuroo?" Daichi was smiling like usual, though he is emitting a dangerous aura "You guys have , am I right? What are you going to do? I don't see a at all"

"Savage..." the males thought.

"Oya oya?" Kuroo smirked, though the tick marks on his face are so obvious "We already know , Sawamura-kun. No need to say it just to piss me off. The first years and Yaku will do it....that is, if you guys win against us"

***

"I'm feeling kinda pissed today...I wonder why..." Yaku wondered "Where's Kuroo?"

"He went to Karasuno for a minute" Kenma replied.

"That guy..."

***

A vein popped in the captain's head, though he is still smiling "You never know~"

"Oh? With the current losing streak you guys have, I doubt you have a chance against us~"

"We'll show you. Fine, we accept the challenge" he shook hands with the captain of Nekoma firmly to seal the deal.

"Let's have fun as we play~"

"Uwooo...nii-chan's scary..." Ayame shuddered.

"Let's crush them" Daichi told them in a dark tone after Kuroo left.

"OSU!!"

"WE'LL PROTECT AYAME-CHAN, YACCHAN, AND KIYOKO-SAN!!" the second year duo vowed loudly "OOOORAAAAAAAAAGH!!"

"What happened here?" Coach Ukai asked after noticing the fiery background emitted by the males.

"Hell broke loose" Sugawara said.