(First Person)

Tp tp tp

Whoosh

Bablam!

The ball hit the floor of the opposite side of the net. It was quiet...and then the crowd started to cheer loudly. The team that scored cheered as well and congratulated the spiker and setter. Despite them being first years, they looked like they have been practicing for years and developed a trust that others would developed for years. "They did it again. Hard to believe that this team started this year from not being a powerhouse like Seijou to being what they are today," someone next to me said. I clutched onto the volleyball I was holding. I looked at the scoreboard and smiled. Karasuno won...they won. "So decided which high school you guys are going to play with?" Our coach asked. Some of my teammates blurted their answers out. Some wanted to go to Seijou, others wanted to go to Tokyo and go to Nekoma or any of the other schools there. I toned them out and watched the team pack up the balls as the court was getting prepared for the next team who was about to play. "What about you...Shai?" One of my teammates asked. I jumped and turned my head around to face them. "Umm...I'm not sure yet," I said, shyly. "Well you need to decide since this is your last year of middle school," our coach said. I nodded before turning back to the court to watch the next match. "Heh I already know which team I'm going to play," a voice said. "Oh where are you going Akio?" One of the first years asked. Yori Akio pushed his glasses up and smiled. "Karasuno of course," he replied, proudly. "Are you planning to be a setter there?" My best friend, Kei Yuma asked and Akio nodded. "A-are you sure? I heard th-that their starting setter is quite prideful of his position," I said softly. "Better me than you Shai," Akio said and I flinched. "Now what did I say about your attitude Akio?" Our coach asked, sharply. "Right gomen," Akio said, though he didn't sound sorry. "Don't let his words get through your head Shin," Yuma whispered to me. I smiled weakly. "Thanks Kei," I said.

Our team was walking away from the building to the bus. Some were chatting amongst each other about the matches. "I just hope we do good at our tournament," I said softly. "Don't worry Shin, we'll crush the competition. They won't stand a chance against us," Yuma explained, proudly. "Watch it "Captain," Akio muttered under his breath, while glaring at us. "I hope wherever I'm going that he wouldn't be there," Yuma grumbled. "Heh same," I said. I was just about to enter the bus when my eyes met with another pair of eyes from across where we were. I couldn't quite tell who they were but I could only see that they had orange hair. "Oi! You're holding up the line," Akio said. "R-right Gomen," I apologized and looked away from the orange haired person to enter the bus. I sat in the back next to the window and a little while after, Yuma sat next to me. "Alright now get some rest because tomorrow's practice will be tougher now that our own tournament starts in about a week," Our coach said. "Hai!" Our team shouted. I stared outside  the window while Yuma put his earphones on, listening to his music. The bus drive was long that nearly everyone was asleep. Everyone except me. I was fiddling my thumbs around nervously, thinking about the tournament. Even though I have been to many before, I always felt nervous and shy. I guess it suits my surname, Shai. Just call down Shin. The tournament isn't until next week. No need to worry about it now, I thought but I still felt like my chest was being busted open by my beating heart. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths in hopes that maybe sleep can calm me down. Sleep did eventually came and I felt a lot more calmer.

"Hey Shin wake up. We're back at school," Yuma said softly. I opened my eyes to see the team already moving about to get out of the bus. I rubbed the sleepiness out of my eyes and got up. "Already Kei?" I asked and he laughed a little. "Yep, shocking I know," he said. We got out of the bus and went to the gym. Our coach did a prep talk and it was off to go home. I grabbed my jacket and put it on while waiting for Yuma. "Hey Shin, isn't your sister going to pick you up like usual?" He asked as he walked up to me. "Yeah but you know I like waiting for you after practice...or in this case, field trip," I said, shyly. Yuma let out a chuckle and ruffled my hair. "Kei!" I complained. "Sorry, just a light tease," he said, winking. "We're the same age. Just because you're taller than me," I folded my arms and pouted a little. We looked at each other and laughed. We have been friends since forever, since we were in our diapers because our families were friends back in high school and thought it would be a good idea for us to meet up. We both jumped at the sound of a car honk. "Oi, Otōto. You coming?" My sister rolled her window down and called out to me. "C-coming Onēsan!" I called back at her. I turned to Yuma. "Well cya tomorrow," I said, waving shyly. "Cya Shin," he said and I ran off to my sister's car. Sora Shai, my older sister, was tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. "Had fun today?" She asked and I nodded. "Tournament day is coming up soon. You excited?" Sora asked. I shrugged and she groaned. "We need to get your nerves under control before you do something you regret. Hey, I'll help you prepare for the tournament," she said. "Onēsan, you don't need to do that..." I said. "Nonsense! I was a pretty good volleyball player back in high school," Sora explained as she drove out of the parking lot. See, my sister played for the Seijou girl volleyball team back when she was in high school. It was pretty impressive how she managed to get in an elite school...that wasn't Shiratorazawa. Now that's a hard school to get in. I already made my mind up to not go to any school that is too far from my smart level. I'm pretty smart but I'm not that smart so unless I'm getting recommended in, I'll have to find one where its entrance exam isn't way too hard, just enough to be a challenge.

"We're here! Think about my offer Otōto," Sora said as we arrived at the house. It felt like a short ride but in reality I was deep in my thoughts that I didn't notice how long the trip was. I got out of the car, grabbing my bag and shutting the door. I walked to the door of my house and opened the door to get attacked by my younger brother. "Ack Haruto!" I yelped. "Sorry Nīsan," Haruto Shai apologized and smiled. Being a nine year old kid, I had to smile at his cuteness. I ruffled his hair and walked to my room...well the room I shared with Haruto. I dropped off my bag on my bed. "Nīsan how was your trip?" Haruto asked. "It was fun. I got to see a lot of high school volleyball players," I explained. "Are you going to play volleyball in high school too?" Haruto asked, tilting his head. "...maybe," I replied. "But you love volleyball! Come on, I'm sure you'll be great at it!" Haruto cheered, looking at me with his big brown eyes, sparkling. "Hmm, maybe," I repeated.

Haruto sat on the side of my bed, legs crossed. "Niisan, do you know what high school are you planning to go to yet?" He asked. I just shrugged. "Oh you should go to the same school that Onēsan used to go to!" Haruto suggested. "Eh, it's pretty far away from home and I don't wanna just rely on Onēsan on driving to school," I said, rubbing the back of my head. "Hmmm, maybe Shiratorazawa." "Nah, their entrance exam is infamous to be extremely difficult and I doubt that I'll get a recommendation in," I explained. Haruto put on a thinking face. "Maybe Karasuno. It's not that far from here. Sure Onēsan would still have to drive you there but that's not problem. Besides the entrance exam seems to be up your level, you'll pass it just fine," he suggested. "Heh, when did you become so smart?" I asked. "Must have rubbed off from you since you are smart Nīsan," Haruto explained. "I'm still deciding besides I got the tournament to f-focus on before I decide w-which school to go," I said, stuttering on some of my words. "Don't be nervous. You got this!" Haruto gave me a thumbs up. Why do I feel like I'm the only one who lives up to our surname? And that's not a good thing, I thought, sweat dropping.

"Hey Otōto! Ready to practice?" Sora asked. "H-hey but I didn't agree to this!" I said, surprised. "No time! Next week is going to be here in a flash and you'll flunk if you don't practice. Come on let's go!" She grabbed the back of my shirt and dragged me to the backyard with Haruto following. I stand corrected, I thought. None of my siblings seem to fit the name Shai, only I do and that's not a good thing. "Alright so receives. Time to practice that even though you are good at that!" Sora shouted and served. I received it of course and my sister gave me a thumbs up. "Alright spike it!" She said. I jumped up to spike it. I had to get a running start since I was small for my age so I would jump higher. I spiked it, even though it was off. We did this routine for a while before Sora handed the volleyball to Haruto. "Kay' Har be sure to serve it well," she instructed. "Ok Onēsan!" He saluted. "Ok Shin, we need to work on the one thing you have been struggling since you began to play volleyball. Your sets," she explained. Oh right, although I am a substitute setter for my school, I have never been that great on my sets. Usually the good sets that I do are just flukes. Akio is our official setter (for now) and his sets are just so amazing that it makes me even more determined to try harder on my sets. Too bad that doesn't seem to be doing well. Even with my sister's tutoring. Then again, she was a wing spiker and not a setter so maybe that's why. I don't know any setters to help me with my sets and I was too scared to ask Akio or any of our past setters. "Alright if the ball seems to be too high for you to set, remember your strategy to jump," Sora explained. I nodded. "Ok Har, serve," Sora said. "Ok," Haruto did a basic serve and Sora received it. "It's up now. Quick set for me!" Sora instructed. I ran to where I believe the ball would land and jump to set for my sister so she could set it. I felt my fingers touch the volleyball and tossed it to the direction of my sister. I...I did it! I silently cheered before seeing my sister's face hit the net as she spiked at nothing. "Ah! O-onēsan! Are you ok?" I cried and she laughed. "It's alright. It's not my first injury attempting to spike a ball and I doubt it would be the last," Sora said. "I failed again. Argh! I'll never be able to set a ball correctly!" I punched the ground and immediately regretted it. "Hey, never say never. You'll get there. You just need practice," she said. We heard the door opened and heard a voice. "Sora, Shin, Haruto, I'm home." "Oh Mom's here. Welp that's that for today. Tomorrow I want you to jog around the neighborhood to get your leg strength stronger!" Sora said. "Heh...will do," I sweat dropped. Aww why can't I have her confidence, I thought. "You'll do great Nīsan!" Complimented Haruto. I just nodded and got up from the ground. The three of us went back indoors and took off our shoes to meet up with our mother. "Oh were you practicing just now?" Mom asked. "Yep, gotta get him ready for his tournament next week," Sora playfully punched my arm and I shoved her away playfully. "Oh right your middle school volleyball tournament. I'll make sure to get off a couple of hours to go see it. You have my support," Mom said, happily. "You sure? It's alright i-i-i-if you can't," I said. "Oh I didn't missed Sora's tournaments and I wouldn't miss yours for the world," Mom explained. "Thanks M-Mom," I awkwardly chuckled. "Now let me go make dinner so we can eat," she said and went to the kitchen.

(After making dinner)

"Thank you for the food!" The three of us said and began to dig in. "Hey pass me the orange juice Onēsan," Haruto said. "What's the magic word~?" Sora sang. "Please," my little brother said, plainly. "Fine," she handed him the orange juice. "So how was your trip? Did you see any high school volleyball team that you'd like to play when you entered high school?" Mom asked. I swallowed my food and shrugged. "Don't know yet," was all I said. "You're in your last year of middle school, you have to pick a high school by now," Mom said, worried. "I'm sure I'll pick one before I graduate," I assured her. "Why don't you go to Aoba Johsai? It's a good school and it has a pretty cool volleyball team," Sora suggested. "No way, he'd totally chose Karasuno," Haruto said. "Like no Aoba Johsai!" "Karasuno!" They kept arguing back and forth until Mom put a stop to it. She can be very scary. I sometimes question how a shy, quiet boy like myself be related to loud and scary people like them, not that it's a bad thing, it's just that I wish I were more like them. I brushed my brown hair off my eyes and took another bite of my food.

That night I went to bed early, thinking of what I saw. The volleyball players all seem to work together like they have developed an unbreakable bond. I wonder if I would have a bond like that with my team.

Maybe...

I closed my eyes and waiting for sleep to claim me. Just one day...one day I'll break out of my shy chains.

O N E D A Y . . .

A/N: I had this idea floating around for a while now and I have finally decided to make this.

Yes this will take place where the first years are now second years, the second years are now third years and there will be new first years.

A lot of things probably won't happen around this book so watch out for that. As of the moment, I have still only watched Seasons 1-2 so I may get some things wrong.

Also about the name Shai, it means Shy in Japanese or at least that's what Google tells me. It may or may not be correct.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this book.

Cya in the next one -Flare