"Again, Sir, I am so sorry for my sister's behaviour. Thank you so much for your understanding."

Mimori bowed repeatedly, low and all but grovelling as we existed the principal's office. I was tempted to turn tail and run, but I knew better than that. Once the door was closed, she turned to me, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"(Y/N), seriously? Smoking behind the locker rooms? And a dress code? You haven't even been here for a day..."

Yeah, in hindsight, I should've left the grounds...

"Hey, I'm as surprised as you are. I thought I'd at least last two, maybe three if there was a half day." I shrugged, already starting to walk down the hall away from her. Quickly catching up with me, my sister pulled me to slow down by my shoulder, looking more disappointed than mad.

"You moved in with me because of this behaviour, (Y/N). Mom can't handle you on her own, especially after-"
"Look, Mim, I don't know what you want from me. I didn't even want to show up today, but I did. For you. If you're expecting me to become your son's bobbsey twin, then you should just send me right on back."

I wasn't mad, nor did I raise my voice. I just spoke my mind, and it just seemed to make her deflate even more.
"You should want to do well in school. If you keep this rebellious phase up, then you'll end up in a lot of trouble down the line, and I can't guarantee I'll be around to get you out of it."

Never asked you to.

Pinching some of my hair at the ends, making sure to include the streak of blue, I pulled it over one of my eyes, scrunching up my nose.
"It's not a phase, mommmmm." I lowered my voice and threw on a stupid twang before snorting, shoving my hands into the waistband of my skirt since I didn't have the pleasure of having pockets. "Just because I'm enrolled in a shiny new school in a shiny new city doesn't mean I'll change. You're free to hope I will, but don't get all sad about it when it doesn't work. I like how I am."

Mimori stopped me before we exited the administration building, pivoting me to face her. She looked stressed, but I couldn't blame her. I'd stress me out too.
"I'm putting my foot down, (Y/N). I'm signing you up to work with Yaku's volleyball team. At least then I'll know where you are, and that you're safe. It might teach you some responsibility."

I blinked once, then twice, letting her words sink in before I finally narrowed my eyes, taking a short step back and out of her reach.
"I beg your everloving pardon? No the hell you're not-" I grit my teeth as her fingers came up close, yipping when she flicked me right between the eyes.

"I've tried being nice, but I'm your sister, not your mother, so I'm not above playing dirty when it comes to you. If you don't do this, then I'll not only cancel your phone service, but I'll also start home schooling you." Mimori was actually starting to react now, and boy, did I regret running my mouth. "Just think, all day, every day, sitting at home with me feeding you work sheets. Twenty. Four. Seven."

I can live without a phone, but I'd rather choke on a knitting needle than deal with that!

Raising my hands in defence, I backed up again until I hit the wall, shaking my head back and forth.
"Volleyball it is. Jeez..." Sometimes I forgot my sweet older sister could be feisty, and every time it showed I got taken down a peg. Well, most of the time. This was one of those occasions.

The next day, my own personal hell began. Whoever invented early morning training sessions for sporting groups should have been dragged out into the street and shot, if I had anything to say about it. Early mornings weren't my thing, and it showed by how I dragged my feet following Yaku into the gym, clutching a steaming cup of coffee like it was my precious.

"Oh, cool! Little Aunty Yaku is back!" The silver haired tree from the day before skipped over to me with a wave, and I hardly had the energy to crane my neck to look up at him.
"You...are entirely too awake for me right now, my dude. Rain check." I mumbled, shuffling right on over to the benches to sit down and hopefully evaporate with the steam of my coffee.

It wasn't long before I was joined by the sneaky little blond ninja, who plonked down at the other end of the bench. At least he looked equally as pained by being alive at such an hour.
"Wake me when we start." He hummed, shutting his eyes and leaning back against the wall.

This kid has the right idea.

I was just about to follow suit when another figure sat down between us, and I turned to find the bed head I had flirted into an error code. What was his name again? Kuroo?
"Yaku says you're condemned to be our new manager? You already look like you're suffering."

He seemed a little more reserved today. Not quiet, but not showing the kind of bravado he had during our first brief meeting. I'd probably scared it out of him by turning the tables.
"I am. Thanks for noticing." I picked up a fake smile for all but two seconds before it dropped away again. "Kuroo, right? Pretty sure Momo's mentioned you once or twice."

I hadn't been great with keeping up with all the names, but it rang a bell. In past conversations over the phone he'd brought up his team mates, and I was pretty sure there was a Kuroo in the mix.
"Yep, that's me. Your widdle nephew and I have been friends for a while." He quirked a smile when I uttered a short laugh, remembering how I'd embarrassed the poor ginger.

"Heh. Please keep bugging him with that. It may just give me the will to live." Hey, this guy was alright in my books if he'd go along with terrorising Yaku with me, and by his reaction, it seemed like it would be a permanent thing.
"Oh, well, if that's the case, I'd be delighted to."

I like this one. He gets it.

"Alright boys, warm on up!" I didn't even have to rouse the sleepy blond when that new voice rang out. Both he and Kuroo got to their feet, heading out into the middle of the court, and in their place came an elderly man, shuffling along. "You must be our new manager. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Nekomata Yasufumi, the head coach."

He nodded to me with a kindly smile, and I responded with the same. Everything about him screamed sweet old grandpa, and I was actually pretty surprised that someone of his age was still willingly doing something like this.

"(L/N) (F/N). I suppose you know the whole deal with why I'm here?" I shifted over a little so he could sit, and he nodded as he did so.
"Yes, you're quite the little maverick, so I've heard. How are you enjoying Tokyo so far?"

He isn't going to scold me? Wow. Geriatrics for the win, I guess?

Sighing, I rested my back against the wall and looked up at the tall ceiling, my heels tapping against the hardwood floor.
"Same crap, different smell, if I'm honest." The coach just laughed at my response, not a hint of offence or annoyance to him.
"Well, give it time. I'm sure you'll have fun here. I'm happy to have someone with some spunk to help me keep these hooligans in their place, at least."

We chatted back and forth for a bit longer, and it was then that I decided to abandon my initial plan to ditch the second they started up. At least for today. It was the least I could do, since Nekomata hadn't gone all authoritarian on my ass.

Once their training began, I managed to catch a few of their names. Kenma was the blond, Kai was the other third year with the buzz cut, Yamamoto was the loud mohawk guy, the two first year trees were Lev and Inuoka, and the fella with the oddly vacant gaze was Fukunaga.

Like hell I'd remember them later on, though.

I knew a little about volleyball, thanks to Yaku during middle school, but only the bare bones of the game. Spikes and blocks, a few position names like setter and libero, but the rest was lost on me. Smack ball, run, boop ball, run, smack ball. That was what I was seeing, and it was making me even more tired just watching it.

"This one's for our pretty new arrival!" I glanced to where Yamamoto had called from, right before Kenma tossed up a set. Again, it was all toss, run and slap, so I didn't quite get what all the fuss is about, but I still forced myself to clap when it hit the ground on the opposite side of the net.
"Go Mohawk. Yay." There wasn't any energy in my cheer, but it still had one hell of an effect.

"Please don't give him a big head." Yaku approached, motioning to where the second year was all but squealing like an excited schoolgirl.
"Sure, as long as you don't give me lice again." I retorted, grinning when a few of the others in ear shot began to snicker and wheeze.
"THAT WAS NINE YEARS AGO!"

Kuroo sidled up beside the libero, ruffling his hair before making a face, slowly wiping it off on the back of the disgruntled boy's shirt.
"Hey, show your Aunty some respect! She came all this way just to watch her special lil guy train, after all." For a brief moment, the bed head's eyes met mine, and we had a true moment of silent comradery before Yaku launched to attack him.

"Mmhmm, just like I thought. You'll make a fine addition, (L/N)." Nekomata chuckled from beside me as Yaku chased the captain around the gym, barking insults as the rest of the team enjoyed the free entertainment.

Well, if it means I can terrorise Momo, then I guess it won't be so bad...For now...