⋆˚࿔ 🍙 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

The next day dawned bright and clear, and I woke up feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement.

It was my first official morning practice with both the boys' and girls' volleyball teams, and I wanted to make a strong impression as their new captain.

After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my favorite workout gear—black leggings and a fitted tank top—tied my hair into a high ponytail, and grabbed my water bottle. I was just about to head out when a series of loud knocks echoed through the hallway.

"Yuki! You in there?" Atsumu's voice called out from the other side of the door.

I laughed to myself, already knowing who it was. "Just a second!" I replied, rushing to the door. Swinging it open, I found the Miya twins grinning at me, ready for action.

"Morning, Yuki" Osamu said, flashing a bright smile. "Ready for practice?"

"Absolutely!" I replied, stepping aside to let them in. "You guys need a ride to school?"

"Only if you're offering," Atsumu said with a wink, leaning against the doorframe.

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my amusement. "Of course I'm offering. But first, let's exchange numbers."

The twins nodded, and we quickly exchanged numbers. I saved theirs in my contacts as Miya Atsumu and Miya Osamu and grinned, thinking how strange it felt to have them as neighbors and teammates now.

"Now that that's settled, let's go!" I said, grabbing my keys from the table.

The three of us walked outside, and I led them to my sleek black BMW parked by the curb. As I unlocked the car, Atsumu slid into the back seat while Osamu claimed the front.

As we drove through the quiet neighborhood, the energy in the car was infectious. The twins chatted back and forth, their playful banter making me feel more at ease. Before I knew it, we were pulling up to the school.

We parked and hopped out, joining the crowd of students heading toward the field. As we approached the meeting spot, I could see a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces, both boys and girls stretching and warming up.

As the team gathered in a semi-circle on the grass, I took a moment to observe my new teammates. The girls were chatting and stretching, their laughter blending with the morning air. I joined them, kneeling down to reach for my toes, feeling the muscles in my legs wake up.

"Yuki! You're the new captain, right?" one of the girls, a lively brunette named Mika, said as she stretched beside me.

"Yeah, that's me," I replied, smiling at her enthusiasm. "I'm excited to be here and work with all of you."

Another girl, Rina, with bright pink hair tied in two ponytails, chimed in, "We're excited to have you! Hanako told us you're a setter. That's awesome!"

"Thanks! I've been playing for a while," I said, feeling a mix of pride and nerves. "I just hope I can help the team improve."

Mika nudged Rina playfully. "Don't worry; we're all here to support each other! Plus, we've heard good things about you from the boys' team."

Just then, our secondary coach, Kaori, stepped forward, her presence commanding the group's attention. "Alright, everyone! I hope you're ready to get moving. We're starting with a jog around the school to warm up. Let's go!"

With that, the team formed a line, and we began jogging at a steady pace. I led the group with Kita, keeping the rhythm and glancing back occasionally to make sure everyone was keeping up. The morning sun was shining, and the air was crisp, invigorating us as we ran.

As we rounded a corner, I overheard snippets of conversation behind me. "I heard she was recruited from Karasuno," one girl said to another.

"Yeah, they say she's a natural leader," came the response.

I felt a rush of warmth at their words. It was nice to hear that my reputation preceded me, even if it added a bit of pressure.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

After a solid warm-up and a few rounds of drills, the practice came to a close, and the team headed toward the locker rooms to change into our school uniforms.

As we entered the locker room, the air was filled with laughter and chatter. The atmosphere felt relaxed as the girls began changing out of their practice clothes . I found a spot at one of the lockers and started to pull off my sweaty tank top.

"Are you all set for class after this?" Hanako asked as she changed beside me, her short hair still damp from practice.

"Yeah, just a few subjects today," I replied while tugging on my crisp white blouse. "But I'm really looking forward to volleyball practice this afternoon again."

"Same! I can't wait to get into the routine," Hanako said, her enthusiasm contagious.

As we continued to chat, I noticed some of the other girls glancing over at me, whispering to one another. I wasn't sure if they were talking about me or something else, but I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was here to build friendships and lead this team.

Once we were all changed into our school uniforms—black skirts and blazers paired with white blouses—I gathered my things and headed toward the exit. The three of us walked out together, laughing and discussing our plans for lunch.

"I heard there's a new café nearby that everyone's talking about," Mika said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We should totally check it out after school!"

"That sounds perfect! I'd love to go," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me at the thought of spending more time with them outside of practice.

As we walked through the hallways, the school buzzed with students hurrying to their classes. I spotted a few familiar faces from practice and waved at them, feeling a sense of belonging start to take root.

"Yuki!" a voice called from behind. I turned to see Atsumu jogging toward us, a bright grin on his face. "You're in Osamu's class for homeroom, right?"

"Yeah, I am," I said, trying to keep my excitement in check.

He gestured back toward Osamu, who was talking with a group of boys nearby. "We've got some fun plans for lunchtime too. You should join us!"

"Definitely! I'd love to meet more of the team," I said, glancing at Hanako and Mika, who both nodded in agreement.

"Sounds like a plan! We'll see you there," Atsumu replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. He turned to walk back toward Osamu, who waved us over.

As we continued down the hallway, Hanako leaned closer to me and whispered, "Looks like you're already making friends with the boys' team!"

I blushed slightly, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yeah, I guess so. They're really friendly."

"Just wait until you see them during Matches. They're intense!" Mika added, her eyes wide with anticipation. "But it's fun! You'll fit right in."

"I hope so," I said, smiling at my new friends.

✩ ᵕ̈ ིྀ ! 04 •˙ ⌗ ⊱