"What should I do?"

Ayame still can't get over about Oikawa's message. She didn't want to go to a date with him because:

a.) Pretty sure that Daichi and the team won't allow that.

b.) She's kinda busy for the club.

c.) She already has a boyfriend.

The last reason seems reasonable enough for her. However, the reason she hasn't turned him down was:

a.) The Great King gave her a chance to watch their practice.

b.) He mentioned that they have a new player and she got (insanely) curious.

c.) Oikawa told her to take her time thinking about it.

Despite of his baiting, Oikawa was kind enough to give her time to think it over.

"Morning practice is about to start, Ayame-chan" Daichi told her "Will Auntie come?"

She shook her head "She'll come in the afternoon practice. For the meantime, let's focus on individual training"

While the players were doing serves, she pulled the managers aside after noticing that they are not busy.

"What's wrong, Ayame-chan?" Shimizu asked.

"Ano..." she fiddled with her hair "I...I'm kinda conflicted right now..."

She told them about Oikawa's message and how she hasn't declined him yet.

"Right now... I don't know if it's right to tell Tadashi-kun about this..." Ayame said as she glanced at the freckled teen "I...I really don't know what to do"

Shimizu and Yachi looked at each other before facing her.

"Ayame-chan" the third year started "Do you really want to watch Aoba Johsai?"

She guiltily looked away "I-I know it's wrong and selfish of me...but I want to observe them a bit...especially he mentioned a new player..."

"This is so like you, huh?" she smiled and patted her head "Baited by volleyball like before"

"I think it's better if you and Yamaguchi-kun talk about it since he's your boyfriend, Ayame-chan" Yachi suggested "I know it will be hard but it's better if you ask him if he will let you"

"That's right" Shimizu nodded "If he doesn't, then, it's understandable if he doesn't let you"

"Is that so...?" she clutched her chest "Every time I think about telling him, my chest hurts... what should I do...He's a kind person and...I could somehow tell that he'll be okay with it but..."

The two girls rubbed her back "Just give it time to think it over, okay?"

"Hai..."

***

"The bell! First period's about to start!" Hinata panicked after hearing the school bell.

"Crap! It's Chemistry!!" Tanaka cursed as he quickly ran to the school building "I haven't finished my report!!"

"Tanaka!! Wear some pants before you leave!!" Daichi quickly called as soon as he saw the second year running wearing his boxers only.

"Ah!! Crap!!"

While the guys were making a commotion, Ayame approached their coach.

"Ukai-san, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Eh? Ah, sure. But make it quick since your class is about to start" he opened his water bottle and started drinking.

"Ano... Oikawa-san sent me a mail if I want to go to Aoba Johsai to watch their practice and...they have a new player" she said "Do you think I should go?"

He spewed his drink in surprise and looked around before lowering his voice "Do the guys know this?"

"No, only Hitoka-chan and Shimizu-san"

He sighed in relief "Well, actually for me, it's okay if you want to go. It's a chance to watch Seijoh's movements. Although it does sounds like a date..." he paused and saw Daichi "As long as you don't mention it to the guys, especially Sawamura, because they'll definitely go bonkers if they knew..."

"Ah, like last time"

"Yeah. But, that decision depends on you, Ayame. I'm not really against it since you don't have a boyfriend yet"

She flinched "W-Why is that?"

"Well, if you have a boyfriend and you're going out with another guy, isn't it like you're cheating on him, right?"

What he said made total sense.

Why didn't she realize it sooner it was that? The guilty feeling and the pain in her chest...it was the feeling of cheating someone.

"I-Is that so?" she said "So...it's like that...cheating... I'll be cheating on Tadashi-kun if I go and meet Oikawa-san..."

"It's not like you have to worry about that" Coach Ukai said, not noticing her discomfort and guilt "The only thing that you have to worry about is the guys' reaction if they knew"

"I guess..."

*Lunch*

"Sorry for dragging you up here for lunch" Ayame apologized after dragging Yamaguchi to the rooftop.

"It's okay. I'm a little worried Tsukki will notice about that"

"Don't worry. Sensei asked him to do an errand and he'll be pretty much asked by another teacher to do another one. Also, girls from other class will confess to him again so that will take time" she replied casually "He won't find out"

"Uwaaaa....what incredible calculation..." he sweat dropped.

She sat on the ledge and bit her lower lip "Actually... there is something I want to talk to you about"

He noticed her habit and sat next to her "What is it?"

She felt guilty hearing his kind voice. She has second thoughts on telling him but... it's better if she tells him and asks for his permission, like what the managers told her.

"Ano... the truth is, Oikawa-san... messaged me..." she started.

"Ah... I almost forgot about him..." he thought and told her "And he asked you out, am I right?"

She looked at him surprise "You could tell?"

"If it's the Great King we're talking about so...yeah, I could pretty much guess it"

She looked down guiltily.

"Crap... I don't like this... the atmosphere is suffocating..." he thought "She's holding back on something... I could tell"

"I knew it... I couldn't bring myself to ask him..." she bit her lower lip again...and he noticed it.

"Isn't there something you want to tell me?" he asked her "What are you holding back so much?"

She gulped "Actually... like what you said, Oikawa-san did ask me if I want to come over to Aoba Johsai and watch their practice. I-I couldn't say no yet since he gave me time to think it over...and he mentioned...they have a new player"

"So basically, you got insanely curious" the freckled teen thought and sighed internally "I'm not surprised she was conflicted since this happened before...when Oikawa-san baited her using volleyball..."

"You're asking permission from me, then?" he concluded.

"Y-Yeah..." and she quickly added "I-If you say no, then it's okay!! I'll turn down his invitation!!"

"But, your face says "I really want to see that player and watch their practice"" he told her in amusement and she flinched.

She slumped down in defeat "I'm so selfish... I have a boyfriend and yet...to think I badly want to watch a volleyball practice and go out with another guy... I'll be cheating..."

He knelt in front of her "Not exactly"

"Eh?"

"You told me about it. You asked for my permission. You're not cheating, Ayame" he assured her "It's okay. You can go and watch"

She was surprised by his words "Are you sure? Aren't you...feeling angry and jealous... that he asked me out?"

"I'll be lying if I said I'm not" he sighed "Just a little... I'm a little mad that he asked you out since you're my girlfriend...jealous because... he's such a handsome guy compared to me..."

She clasped his cheeks loudly that he flinched in pain and surprise.

"I told you before, Tadashi-kun. I like you a lot because you are you" she huffed "Don't compare yourself to him because he's a different person, okay? He may ask me out but you're the only person I love...and you're my boyfriend. That wouldn't change"

He hugged her suddenly to hide his embarrassed face "I-I know that..."

She ran her fingers on his hair "It's just... I feel guilty telling and asking you about this..."

"But you wanted to watch, right?"

She nodded "Yeah..."

"I'll allow it since you wanted it" he pulled back and smiled at her.

"Thank you" she whispered "I...I'll tell Oikawa-san that I have you now so he'll stop"

"M-Maybe you don't have to" he told her after thinking that the third year might blabber his mouth about it.

She shook her head, indicating that she'll tell him. She stood up and held out her hand "Shall we go back to our room?"

He stood and grabbed her hand "Yeah"

*Club Activities*

"So you decided to go?" Shimizu whispered.

"Y-Yeah...since Tadashi-kun said that it's okay" Ayame said as she tapped her sketchpad with her pencil "But...I promised that I will make it up to him next time"

"Yamaguchi-kun's really understanding, right?" Yachi said "Most guys wouldn't allow it or get angry if they knew that"

"Ayame-chan's lucky to have him" the third year grinned and nudged her playfully "He knows you quite well"

She blushed and covered her red face with her sketchpad "Y-Yeah..."

Tanaka and Nishinoya stared at them with awe as the girls were emitting a flowery aura as they conversed like regular girls.

"I-I think we just saw the most blessed image in history, Noya-san..." the baldy sighed dreamily while clutching his heart "Our goddess surrounded by angels...we must be in heaven"

"Ryu, say no more..." the libero said seriously.

"Why?"

"Words aren't enough to describe our beloved goddess and angels" he said "Remember, happiness would escape the moment someone speaks of it"

"Noya-san~!"

"Stop goofing off, damn it!!" Coach Ukai yelled at them before throwing a volleyball "Get back to work before the demon comes in!!"

"Demon~?"

The man flinched and sweated bullets when he heard a familiar voice behind him. The others sweat dropped when they saw Kazumi smile at him sweetly with a demonic aura around her.

"Oh my, Keishin~" she said in a sweet voice, which made the hairs on his back stand in fear "Were you referring to me, perhaps~?"

"Uh..." he gulped and he nearly shrieked when she grabbed fistful of his hair "O-Of course not, Kazumi-san! I-It was just an expression to scare these guys!"

"Scary...she's scary..." the players sweat dropped.

"Ah, I see" she let his hair go "I forgive you, Keishin. I'm not allowed to show violence in front of my daughter, after all. Besides, I know that you're not referring to me, right~?"

He vigorously shook his head "T-That's right"

"Uwaaaa... mom's amazing..." Ayame noted "Ukai-san's really scared of her"