Ayame stretched out her arms and yawned alongside Yachi.

"I'm sure you two must be pretty tired, Hitoka-chan, Ayame-chan" Shimizu smiled in amusement "Are you okay?"

"Hai! I'm sorry!" the blonde manager replied.

"What about you, Shimizu-san?" the violet eyed girl folded her futon and carried it on her arms.

"I'm fine" she replied "Today's the last day, so let's do our best"

"Right!"

***

"Last day, huh?" Ayame rubbed her eyes as she walked inside the hallway "I hope we can at least win a single set today..."

She passed on a room with an open room and Sugawara saw her.

"Oh! Ayame-chan!" he called from inside the room. She looked at his direction and saw Tsukishima, Tanaka, Sugawara and Asahi inside "Can you come over here?"

"Eh? Ah, sure, Suga-san" she entered the room and saw almost all of their futons folded and fixed, except for a single one.

"Sorry for calling you here" the grey haired setter clasped his hands apologetically "But, can you wake Yamaguchi up?"

"Eh? Why me?" she tilted her head in confusion "Did you try to shake him awake?"

"It didn't work" he replied. Tanaka and Asahi were pretty sure they didn't do that and they didn't even do a single thing to wake the boy.

"Eh, Suga, we-" Asahi was about to speak up when the setter jabbed his side quickly to shut him up. The baldy just clamped his mouth shut when he saw his angelic smile (which has actually the opposite meaning).

For some reason, the girl didn't notice anything out of the ordinary from their actions.

"He didn't even stir?" she asked.

Tsukishima shook his head "I told Sugawara-san that you can wake him up without using brutal force. Tanaka-san was about to hit him but we stopped him"

"Hey, Tsukishima-" Tanaka was about to retort when the first year megane and third year setter gave him a look that says shut-up-and-play-along-or-else-we'll-fucking-kill-you to which he quickly shut up "What the hell... Why are these two lying to Ayame-chan...?"

"Ugh...Suga, that really hurts..." Asahi mentally winced in pain.

"Is that so...?" she then looked at the second year "Ryu-senpai, that wasn't nice"

"What the...They made me the bad guy to Ayame-chan..." he mentally sobbed "S-Sorry, Ayame-chan..."

"It's okay, senpai. As long as you apologize, it'll be okay"

"Ayame-chan's so nice..." he sighed blissfully.

Ayame knelt next to the sleeping Yamaguchi, who is softly snoring while hugging his pillow. Looking at him like that sent a blush on the violet eyed girl's face and made her want to play with his slightly messed up hair.

"Uwuuu...Tadashi-kun's so cute~!" she mentally squealed and smiled "Ah, he's sleeping so peacefully...I want to cuddle next to him-ah!! No, no, no! What am I thinking?!"

She quickly erased her thoughts in embarrassment and proceeded to poke his freckled cheek "Ne, Tadashi-kun... wake up...it's morning and everyone's leaving for breakfast. Please wake up"

The sleeping teen groaned sleepily when he heard a soft feminine voice and someone poking his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes and found his self staring at a pair of violet eyes.

It took him five seconds to react and he quickly scooted back in surprise while hugging his pillow in shock.

"A-A-A-Ayame?! W-What are you doing here?" his face was flushed in embarrassment and he totally forgot his sleepiness after that.

"Nice, just what we expected" Tsukishima and Sugawara both smirked, which scared the hell out of Tanaka and Asahi.

"Sorry. Suga-san asked me to wake you up since you wouldn't budge" she apologized, though she finds his reaction amusing and cute "Kyaaa!! His bed hair's so cute!!"

The freckled teen looked at the setter, who was pretending to cover his smile alongside the megane.

"They're setting us up... For some reason, I feel like we have to be extra careful around these two ..." he wondered.

"T-Thanks for waking me up..." he mumbled and proceeded to fold his futon "Sorry for troubling you, Ayame"

"Ah, no, it's fine, Tadashi-kun"

Daichi suddenly peeked by the doorway "Oi, you guys. Hurry up or breakfast will be over soon"

"Osu!" Tanaka ran past the captain after hearing the word "breakfast".

"Tanaka, no running!!"

"Let's get going now, shall we?" she looked at the remaining players in the room.

"Sure"

Tsukishima and Sugawara made a small thumbs up to each other. Asahi sweat dropped at the odd atmosphere the two are giving off.

***

"Hmm? Shibayama-kun, are you doing that too?" Ayame asked when she saw the first year libero tabulate the scores.

"Hai, Ayame-san" he smiled bashfully "I'm not usually placed on the court since we have Yaku-san but I want to do something for the team and help them. Ah, that's right! Ayame-san, can I borrow your list of tabulated scores? I just want to confirm it since I heard that your notes are pretty reliable"

"Go ahead" she smiled and handed him her sketchpad "You're so kind and helpful, Shibayama-kun"

He rubbed his neck sheepishly and grinned "T-Thank you, Ayame-san!! You're the kind one here!"

He rechecked his own list and compared it to hers. Satisfied, he returned her sketchpad and bowed before leaving "Thank you for the list, Ayame-san!!"

"Sure, Shibayama-kun" she waved at him and focused her attention to her team "Now that we're talking about it...just how many losses our team suffered since the first away games?"

She looked at her list and her shoulders slightly sagged after she saw the result "Geh...3 wins and...61 losses...that's a pretty huge gap..."

*TWEET*

"Diving receives!!"

"OSU!!"

"Make that 62 losses..." she thought as she watched the game end between Ubagawa and Karasuno "The point gap is not that huge, huh?"

Ubugawa: 25

Karasuno: 23

"Yeah" Coach Ukai nodded.

"Uwaaa...nii-chan and the others look super creepy when they're doing their penalty..." she shuddered slightly when she saw the strange dignity they have.

"Oh! Shoyo-kun's gotten better at diving receives!!" she clapped her hands and noted it on her sketchpad "He's getting used at them after the repeated penalties. It will be a big help to him since he's body is flexible"

"Whoa!! Karasuno's chibi-chan's gotten really good at diving receiving!!" she heard Yaku say it out loud.

""Chibi-chan"? Yaku-san, you're not much taller than Hinata" Lev told him carelessly, which popped a vein inside the libero's head as he roundhouse kicked the taller teen on the back.

"Lev, stand over there!!"

She didn't dare look back and watch what will happen next.

"Lev-kun's so careless...he forgot that mentioning Yaku-san's height is a taboo topic..."

She approached Yamaguchi and the others with a worried look on her face. She didn't ask if they're all right, since she already knew that they're nearly at their limit and she can't do anything about it.

"We're...hah...fine...hah...Ayame..." the freckled teen answered before she could even ask. He bent over to catch his breath as the sweats were pouring down his face. Tsukishima was also breathing heavily as he wiped his sweat and his glasses "Your face says it all..."

"And I didn't even ask yet...as expected from Tadashi-kun..."

"I...I don't think so..." she whispered "Since you two have the lowest stamina compared to the team...I can't help but be worried about you all..."

"I could say the same to you..." he said "Are you sure you're not stressing yourself out lately? You're a little pale..."

"I...I'm a little hungry..." she mumbled in embarrassment "Lately, I've been eating a lot for me to think and observe everything...and earlier, my breakfast wasn't enough..."

"Ah...good thing she's not lying about her health anymore..." he thought as he observed her eyes and watched out for her usual habits to show when lying.

"Damn it! We basically kept losing all the way to the end" Tanaka cursed as he rose from his position.

Even the usual four idiots of Karasuno, who are the most energetic and stamina freaks, were starting to lose their breaths.

"You guys need to keep doing your best and survive" Daichi told them.

"Daichi-san?"

"Nii-chan?"

His face looked grim and serious "I just happened to hear this, and I was going to keep it quiet..."

This alarmed Ayame and Tanaka "Wh-What is it?"

"Daichi-nii's so serious...I wonder what it is..."

"When all of these practices matches are over..."

The rest of them nervously anticipated his answer. Ayame clutched her chest as she listened carefully.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Apparently, the coaches are going to treat us to a barbecue!!"

"Bar...!!" Tanaka's jaw dropped.

"..be...!!" Nishinoya's eyes widened.

"...cue?!" Hinata eyes were like saucers from shock.

"...Seriously? They'll react like that?" Tsukishima raised an eyebrow "Good thing's Ayame not as childish like them-"

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi flinched in surprise when they saw the violet eyed girl drooling next to a drooling Kageyama as the two geniuses envisioned the meat being barbecued.

"Meat...I want to eat one..." she clasped her hands together as she looked up "Heaven's blessing...my favorite..."

"Eh?! You're that hungry?!" the freckled teen asked in shock "I-I thought your favorite food is chocolates!!"

"And extra spicy pork curry" the megane added.

She didn't hear them and was busy mumbling different meat parts as she imagined it being barbecued.

"Actually, meat is also Ayame-chan's favorite, especially barbecued meat" Daichi told them "She has a huge appetite when it comes to that"

The two teens sweat dropped as they watched the girl drool next to the black haired setter, though Yamaguchi silently thought it's very cute of Ayame to be childishly hungry.

Meanwhile on Fukurodani...

"Hey, Akaashi, who do we play next?" Bokuto asked.

"Mizuki-san's team, Karasuno"

Konoha, Sarukui, and Komi gave out a long sigh "Karasuno, huh~?"

"What's up?" the ace asked.

"Well, they're sort of the hardest team to play against..." Konoha complained.

"Who knows what they're gonna do?" Komi added.

"Well, it does like they're getting pretty tired-" Komi was about to say when he was cut off after hearing some strange chants from Karasuno.

"Meaty meat, meat, meaty meat!!"

"Put 'em together, you get meat and meat!!"

"Meaty meat, meat!!"

"Hooray for meat!! Energy times a hundred!!

WHOOHOO!!

Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!

Meat is god!! Meat is god!!"

"Oniku, niku, niku, oniku, niku!!"

"Awasete niku niku!!"

"Oniku niku!!"

"Oniku banzai!! Genki hyakubai!!

WHOOHOO!!

Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!

Oniku kami-sama!! Oniku kami-sama!!"

Fukurodani sweat dropped upon seeing them "What the-? They're scary..."

Tanaka, Nishinoya and Hinata were dancing as they sang and praised the meat. Kageyama tried to fit in but he still looked out of place. Ayame, on the other hand, totally fitted in with the trio, her eyes sparkling and her mouth drooling as she raised her hands along with them.

"Should I pull her out or just leave her alone...?" Yamaguchi sweat dropped as he watched his girlfriend dancing along with Karasuno's four idiots.

"Leave it be. It's refreshing to see her dancing like an idiot among the idiots" Tsukishima said "This is a rare chance to see Ayame act like this"

"You're so harsh, Tsukki..." he said "Oh well, it's fun to see her like this once in a while...and she seems to enjoy it"

"What are those guys doing?" Sugawara asked while watching the chanting idiots.

"Doing some kind of ritual, maybe...?" Kinoshita raised an eyebrow.

"It's surprising to see Ayame joining them. I honestly didn't expect that" Ennoshita said "I thought she's levelheaded compared to those four"

"She's a meat lover, that's for sure" Narita nodded.

"Sensei, didn't you tell them about the barbecue?" Coach Ukai asked the teacher.

"It just says "meal" on the schedule..." he sweat dropped as he watched his students react at the mention of barbecue.

"Well, I guess it all worked out in the end" he smiled in amusement "Ayame's so much like Kazumi-san"

"Eh? Why is that so?"

The man sweat dropped as he recalled his younger years "Every time Kazumi-san's team has a match with other teams, they usually hold a barbecue party to celebrate after the game. She's a total meat nutter that she was sometimes called "meat idiot" by other people"

"I-I see..."

***

"Achoo!!"

"Mizuki-san, are you all right?" Kazumi's officemate asked her worriedly as she wiped her nose with a tissue.

"I'm fine, Tanji-san" she smiled and waved it off "It just passed"

"Sigh...I miss my Aya-chan..."

***

"Yosh~!!" Ayame made a fist pump "Let's win a set and eat some meat!!"

"OSU!!"

"Eh, wait. If we don't win, does that mean that we won't get to eat any?!" Hinata asked.

They were silent for few second after what Hinata said hit them like a rock. They turned around with their eyes burning with resolve, with hell's fire raging behind them.

"We have to win for the sake of meat!!"

"YEAH!!"

Fire burned even harsher, which scared the wits out of Fukurodani after seeing their steely resolve.

"They got it wrong..." the players of Karasuno face palmed.

***

The players started warming up since their match is almost starting. Yachi approached the orange haired teen and gave him a bottle of water.

"Hinata, do your best in the match"

"Thanks!" he grinned and accepted it.

"I'll be looking forward to that super awesome thing" Tsukishima said in a mocking voice as he passed by, which earned an irritated reaction from the shorty.

"Just watch, you jerk!!"

Ayame's ears twitched in their direction and she slid to the taller teen's side "Tsukishima-kun, what do you mean about that "super awesome thing" you mentioned to Shoyo-kun? What's that?"

He only smirked and pushed her towards the freckled teen "Nothing. Just watch the match later and talk to Yamaguchi, okay?"

"E-Eh?" she blinked as the megane pushed her easily since she's short and light "Why?"

"He needs some moral support. You know how he's usually nervous before the match, right?"

Always. Always be careful around Tsukki, Ayame!! He has no idea about us yet so we have to stay careful around him!! Especially when he's with Sugawara-san!!

"Tadashi-kun told me that earlier. I have no idea why he looked so scared when he told me to be careful around them but something tells me he's right..."

Mizuki Ayame: has no idea that Yamaguchi's always being teased and bullied by Tsukishima and Sugawara about his feelings to her.

"Eh? Tsukishima-kun, the others are also feeling the same way as he, you know?" she looked up at the blonde "So, I should also do the same to everyone"

"He's your classmate and friend and he gets special privilege"

"But that's unfair compared to the team"

"Just get along with it, you slow-minded genius" Tsukishima was getting pissed by her slowness.

"Tsukishima, nice" Sugawara smirked approvingly at the first year's actions "Yaku-kun's also doing a good job keeping that half-Russian in check. Good, good"

Daichi and Asahi slightly backed away from the grey haired setter as he gave off a dark aura while smirking.

"Damn, Suga's scary..." they thought as they felt a shiver down their spine.

The tall blonde kept pushing her until they stopped in front the freckled teen, who nearly choked his drink after he saw the two.

"I'll leave it to you, Ayame" the taller teen patted her shoulder and smirked at them before leaving, which send chills down Yamaguchi's spine since he knew what he's up to.

"Ne, Tadashi-kun..." Ayame started "Sorry. Tsukishima-kun told me to talk to you..."

"Y-Yeah. Figures..." he rubbed his nape sheepishly "B-But I don't mind"

"Anyway" she cleared her throat and held his hand. Good thing no one saw her do it (other than a certain three people who are keeping eye at them) because her tiny body managed to cover it "Good luck, Tadashi-kun"

It was enough to send a small blush and warmth to the teen "Thanks, Ayame. You too. Good luck"

He gave her hand a squeeze and she smiled "Thank you"

They can't talk much longer and closer but they always cherish the small moments they have together whenever they can.

The whistle was blown, signaling that the game of Karasuno and Fukurodani will soon start. Karasuno's players gathered around their coach and assistant for final instructions.

"Anyway, try to work the new things you've all practicing into this match" he told them.

"RIGHT!!"

"We say this every time but, put pressure on Bokuto-san when he hits" she added.

"RIGHT!!"

"In the end, this training camp was filled with penalties, but you guys should definitely feel different now than you did in the first away games" he said.