Chapter 6, Joining

THIRD POV

/FLASHBACK\

4 months ago

She cried, her hands furiously wiping the opened faucet in her eyes, heart aching and lips trembling. Her paradise turned to misery as it vexed her and crumbled her pride.

Her sobs and hiccups echoed through the hallway, her mind stinging at how hard she bawls. Their precious match still clenched on her heart as she quivered on the cold floor.

It was a Saturday, and she immediately left their team meeting at the school gym. She broke down. Her back on the wall, legs bent for her elbows to rest on, and hands that covered the sides of her forehead.

"To be the winners, losers have to exist." She let out a harder cry at what the opponent's captain had told her.

'It wasn't fair', she repeatedly told herself. 'We gave it our all, we practiced the hell out of our moves. We tortured our bodies and pushed ourselves to our limits. We were aggressive on our stamina. Why the hell did we lose?' Her thoughts were clouded and drowned in incredulity.

Her shaky breaths turned to coughs, and eventually she hyperventilated.

Tears still streamed down on her face, as panic kicked. She was having a panic attack.

Trying to maintain her posture and stability, she forced herself not to cry and breathe in a pattern that helps her.

But since she is still in pain and unable to collect her thoughts, the pattern broke and she was back to the hard part.

She felt that she was about to pass out, until a figure appeared infront of her and gave her a warm smile.

"Haru, Natsu, Aki, Fuyu."

The shaking girl made an effort to inhale slowly with difficulty, and repeated, "Haru, Natsu, Aki, Fuyu."

This goes on for atleast 11 sentences, and the crying girl's panic attack had gone away. Her tears stopped too, and she was engulfed in a warm hug. The 4 seasons pattern was made for her to focus and imagine all seasons. It helps her calm down.

"Join," She blurted out.

The small girl pulled back from the hug and gave her a slightly confused look, "What?"

She cleared her throat and looked at her straight into her blood orbs, "Join the team."

The girl infront of her gave her an apologetic smile, "I don't play indoors, you know? And even if it has similarities with beach volleyball, I stopped playing a few years ago."

She got teary eyed again, "Shirome, please join. I need someone to be there with me, please help us get better," She paused, and bowed to her, "Please help us," she slightly shakes as her head rested on the floor. The formal bow took Shirome slightly aback. The girl desperately needed her.

"Please raise your head, Ameri."

Ameri did what she said and looked at her with a pleading look, Shirome gave her signature 'Cheer Up!' smile.

"I'll join you. Only if you stop crying."

Ameri's eyes shone brightly and she eagerly nodded.

"By the way, what are you doing here? And on a Saturday? At a different school?" The cherry head asked the ½n½ as they walked through the quiet halls. They were going to hang around at some café that Ameri thinks Shirome will like.

Shirome changed to her outdoor shoes after they reached the locker area, "I got an invite as the school council president. I really don't have any choice since mom is friends with the principal here. They just probably want to connect their businesses through me, though I don't see how," Shirome paused, "But it's okay, I guess. Since I'll just be some kind of nail that connects two pieces of wood together to make something new. Plus, they'll give me a specific vice president that does most of my work, and they can excuse me for some classes so I'll just chill around the council office, maybe sleep and mess around with the TV. But I still have to attend meetings and decide things for the school."

Ameri laughed, "Shi-chan, I'll say this to you over and over again. No matter what you do, you'll do fine. You're basically the symbol of perfection," She said as if it was the simplest thing, and closed her locker as she made her way out of the school entrance.

Shirome frowned slightly, "I'm not perfect, I have flaws. I'm not comfortable with the ocean so I can't swim when I encounter it. And I also laze around in my spare time, so that counts as being unproductive," She admitted as they reach her car.

The cherry brushed it off, "That's normal and common. Not that I think you're common or anything-I think you're very unique and special," She rambled.

The gradient snickered, "It's okay to downgrade me, you know? It makes me feel more comfortable."

They got in the car, Ameri relaxing at the soft seat and fresh air conditioning. She heaved a sigh and lowered the seat so she can lay easily on her back.

The ½n½ lightly tapped on the driver's shoulder, "Please drop me off at [Cafe Name], it's just a few blocks away from here."

"But Furumi-sama, your mother booked a spa with you-" The driver got cut off.

She waved him off, "Tell her she can enjoy herself for now."

The driver took out his phone, ready to text her mom, "What if she asked why?"

Shirome gave him a small grin, "Okaa-chan knows Ameri, just text her I'm chilling with her for a while and that I'll go home by dinner time."

The driver nodded and did what she asked.

-

Shirome and Ameri had fun in the café, almost ordering all types of food it offered. The gradient enjoys treating the cherry, almost spoiling her. Ameri had no option to refuse her, since she always gave her the thing she wanted before she could even buy it for herself.

They didn't talk much either, since the crimson knew that Shirome gets lazy and maybe even tired from talking too much. So they just played uno cards and chess the whole time they were there. (Shirome likes bringing game materials, influenced by a childhood friend.)

After they finished their food, they strolled around the mall. Shirome bought hoodies, shoes, new games, a slightly big butterfly backpack, and keychains from animes she love.

Ameri (succesfully straying from Shirome and her limitless money) bought body pillows, plushies, sneakers, and 50 scrunchies that varies in color and design.

People gawked at the two, carrying a lot of bags from different stores. The two were oblivious, of course, and so they carried on deciding which restaurant to eat at.

They stumbled across an electronics store and saw a volleyball match at the TV.

"You know, it's exciting to be in a match. All you feel is adrenaline. For me, anyway," Ameri said, chewing on her churros.

"Ooh, I see. By the way, I can't eat with you for dinner. Mom's gonna cry if I get home unable to eat dinner," Shirome threw the empty container at a nearby trash can, Ameri doing the same with hers.

"Nah, it's fine. The same goes for me anyways. I'll bring them takeouts or something," Ameri said, as she walked on a KFC store.

"Do you want me to text your driver?" Shirome asked, already typing on her phone.

"Yes please. Tell Iruma-san to go here, I can't hold all of these," Ameri said after ordering and paying the whole menu.

The gradient snickered at her, "Well, obviously. Anyway, I gotta head home now. Takumi-san is already at the parking lot and Iruma-san is on the way," She said, putting her phone in her pocket and balancing the bags she was holding.

Ameri gave her a thumbs up.

Shirome returned the thumbs up and already left the store.

•

(this is how shirome joins the team)

3 days later

"Oi!"

Shirome lifted her head slightly at the smell of cinnamon and coffee.

Ameri placed the cinnamon bun and coffee at a table somewhere in Shirome's room as she walked towards her with a big smile.

The gradient head rubbed her eyes, "What do you need? Are these starbucks? I'm not really a big fan...," She asked quietly.

Ameri's smile got bigger, "Your practice starts now! And yes."

Shirome frowned, "But it's summer break-" The crimson cut her off.

"Exactly! You have, like, only 2 months before school so we need to prep you."

The ½n½ whined but prepared herself nonetheless. She showered and changed into her black t-shirt and white shorts, and wore her (favorite shoes for sports).

"By the way, wear the knee and elbow pads I put on your bed," Ameri said as she aggressively tilted her whole body to pull of a sharp turn in a racing game she's playing at Shirome's game area.

The gradient obliged and wore the black knee pads along with elbow pads resting on her (choose: white, black, red, grey) bed.

Once she dried her hair and put face moisturizer, she grabbed the things necessary for her first practice. Face towels, water bottles from her mini fridge, wipes, tissues, alcohol, hand sanitizers, face refreshing spray, and a change of clothes (hoodie, shorts, socks.)

She ate the food Ameri brought and brushed her teeth after it. Once she was done she called Ameri.

They left the residence and hopped on the car to go to the school. Their residence has a court and field which consists of variety of sports since her brother was a college athlete and begged their parents to approve of it. But since Ameri said the 2nd generation team was practicing, she wanted to bring Shirome along.

-

"Yo! Ameri, you missed jogging!" The coach scolded her.

"Sorry! I brought a new member," All heads turned to the two, "Her name is Shirome Furumi, she's a beginner," She continued and introduced her to the team since the gradient head doesn't like introducing herself.

"Hi," Shirome bowed, "I played beach volleyball before, so I'm confident enough to say that I won't be a messy beginner," She offered them a bright smile. So bright, the team had to cover their eyes.

The coach was determined and asked her a desperate request, "Can you be the captain?"

The whole team widened their eyes, shocked at what the coach said.

"Coach?! We can't let a beginner be the captain! And she looks like a 1st year!"

The coach scoffed, "None of you are sane enough to be the captain," He bluntly said as she turned to Shirome with a smile but a desperate look on his eyes. Almost begging. The coach looked like he's been through hell with the team.

The team whined and a boy snickered.

Shirome frowned slightly, "Um are you sure? I'm not really experienced-"

"You'll learn along the way!" The coach beamed.

"But-" She tried to comply.

"Please! I'm beggin you!" He bowed and Shirome's eyes widened, along with the team and Ameri.

"Okay! Please raise your head!" Shirome said nervously, worried at the desperation the coach is showing.

"Thank you!" The coach said only to bow again, "I'm Guren Koichi, coach of the team. I also teach PE for 1st years."

"H-Hmp! You better be a good captain if you want to keep the position!" A prideful girl said. She's trying to be mean, but to Shirome's eyes-it was motivation.

"Of course! I won't let you all down," Shirome smiled warmly, melting the hearts of the teams', coach, the boy, and the supervisor that just appeared, melt.

Ameri giggled, "Let's train then!"

—