XXVII.

I was sitting on the bench just beside Nekomata-san, holding a notebook and a pen. My gaze was focused on the team having their practice match, my pen grazing against the paper as I took note of their data of skills, capacities and such, and calculated their growth and improvement. It was only then we were informed by our coach a few days ago that we are going in a series of away games with various powerhouse schools, so that's why they are training extra right now.

"Tetsurou, you show-off." I sneered as I tossed him a water bottle and he successfully caught it.

"What? There's no one I could even show-off to." He said with a chuckle as he chugged on his water. I rolled my eyes then tapped my pen on the paper, thinking of what I should assess more on Tetsurou's statistics.

"Yaku-san! Can I--"

"No." Yaku-san cut Lev's statement off.

"But I didn't even finish my sentence." Lev pouted.

"I know what you are about to say, and my answer is no. You are going to have extra practices of receiving with me." Yaku-san stated firmly with a look that says 'complain and I'll kill you'.

One thing has been emphasized on the new gained information, it's the fact that Karasuno High School was included in the schools that will participate in the away games... which means that... he will be there. Tsukishima will also be there. For a moment, I have thought that Tetsurou signing me up as the team's manager had its benefits and drawbacks.

I'd finally get to see you again, however, it hadn't been that long since we had last seen each other anyway. I'm still the Kinomi you know, I haven't progressed at all. I'm still not the person you deserve. I promised you once we see each other again, you will see a girl that's worthy of your love. But... I'm still not the person you deserve, Tsukki... what am I going to do now?

"Mikazuki," Kozume-san called out, snapping me out of my trance. "you have to refill the water bottles."

"Oh right, will do."

He nodded, then went straight back to practice. I sighed heavily then gathered all of the almost empty water bottles in their baskets and refilled them on the water dispenser a few feet away from the gymnasium.

The series of away games will commence next month but then we will have to go through exams first. Not that I cared though, but I just heard that the Mathematics terror teacher resigned from teaching our section and requested a transfer to class 1-4, much to the latter's dismay. My class rejoiced and thanked me for my courage and bravery.

I let out a deep sigh, then tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind my ear because it's blocking my face. I guess I'd have to trim my hair, it's becoming a hindrance. Considering that in mind, I marched straight back to the gymnasium, ignoring the fact that someone was secretly watching me from a safe distance.

As days passed my anxiety and anticipation started to become worse each passing day, not because of the impending series of away games but because of the thought of seeing Tsukishima again. I cannot deny the mere fact that I have been dying to see him again but at the same time I don't.

As for the exams, well, I passed them all. And I didn't expect that Tetsurou was good at it, too. Studying, I mean. He was an idiot in my eyes and it was a surprise that he was good at studying. But that wasn't the only surprise I got from him, though...

I was assigned for cleaning duty, which was so tedious by the way, and good thing that there wasn't volleyball training that day. To make my day even more good, the bastard didn't even wait for me to finish and went home ahead of me.

When I got home, I figured that my parents aren't home judging by their absence of shoes. But there was one pair of shoes that were unfamiliar just beside Tetsurou's. Maybe he went home with a friend? I don't know, and I don't even care.

I shrugged and slipped off my shoes, making an inaudible noise. I rummaged through my bag to fish for the key to my room but to no avail. I must have left it in my room, then. But when I attempted to turn the doorknob to my room, it only rattled, informing me that it was locked.

Fucking hell.

Suddenly, I remembered Tetsurou having a spare key to my room. I'll just borrow it because I'm sure that I have left mine inside my room, which was a very smart move, Kinomi. I marched my way to my brother's room, and was thankful for a second that the door's unlocked.

"Tetsurou, can I--HOLY FUCK!" My mouth gaped open I'm afraid that my jaw would fall to the floor. I could feel all of my blood rushing up to my cheeks at the sight in front of me.

"KINOMI-CHAN?" The fucker was even more surprised than I was!

"Oh, I-uh, um... sorry." I couldn't stand the sight in front of me that I slammed the door shut then I automatically ran downstairs, just me basically running away from the live porn inside my brother's room! For the first time in my life, I was left speechless... that was the most awkward moment of my life so far!

"What the fucking fuck, Tetsurou?" I whispered to myself, pacing back and forth into the living room, the horrendous images of him towering over a familiar girl. Oh my God, I'm scarred for life. I'm going to need therapy for this!

I gave them time to compose themselves as I went to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water because I still haven't accepted the fact that my eyes were tainted. But more than that, who the fuck was that girl? Girlfriend? Fuck buddy? But Tetsurou didn't even mention anything about dating a girl... however, I had my suspicions based on his story when I first met him and his teammates. But who would have known that the captain of the boys' volleyball club was a sneaky little bastard?

"Kinomi-chan, it's not what you think..." I heard Tetsurou's voice echoing in the living room. I took a deep breath and walked outside to meet up with Tetsurou and the nameless girl. One word to describe the situation, awkward. Well, that was an understatement. I can still smell sex in the air.

My mouth formed a firm line, trying to make a coherent sentence and trying my best not to form those images again. "Okay... let's... let's just..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say next. "talk."

And so we did. I settled down on the sofa and they sat across from me.

"Okay, first of all, what have been seen cannot be unseen. Although I wish I could bleach my eyes right about now." I commented, leaning my back against the sofa and crossing my arms across my chest, waiting for them to explain. "Your room needs to be burned."

"It was my fault. I..." Tetsurou tried to explain with a sigh and I cannot blame him for having the difficulty. How can you explain to your sister who caught you having sex in your room?

"I'm sorry you had to see that. But it's not what you think. It was only a one time thing. It won't happen again..." The girl interjected with a meek voice, standing up. "I've got to go."

"Eira..." Tetsurou stopped her, grabbing her by the arm. His voice had a hint of warning.

"Oh, so you're Eira-san... nice to finally meet you." I said, nodding. "I wish we'd met under a different... circumstance. So, is there a logical explanation you can offer me?"

I saw the way Eira-san swallowed as she shifted her gaze at me, she was intimidated by me for some reason. "We, um..."

"You wouldn't understand." Tetsurou cut off, looking at me with a serious glint in his eyes, which left me surprised for a moment. This was the first time I had seen him this serious... over a girl? I don't know.

"I wasn't born yesterday, Tetsurou." I deadpanned, feeling a little irritated. When I felt that our staring contest wouldn't get us anywhere, I rolled my eyes then averted his gaze, locking them back at the girl. Of course our parents are not aware of this, let alone about the girl otherwise they would have told me about her. I sighed, massaging the bridge of my nose. "It's not any of my business but if you and your girlfriend are going to use your room as a motel next time, please be sure to lock the door. Please, I'm begging you." And I'm going to make sure that I'll knock, or better yet attach my key to my body so that I wouldn't lose it.

"I'm not his girlfriend..." Eira-san remarked with a low voice, her head hung low.

My eyebrow arched at this, "So what are you guys then? Fuck buddies?" I drawled. She gave me a look of surprise, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No--"

"Kinomi-chan..." Tetsurou called out, stopping me from going on any further with my savage mode, too bad I had it full charged for today. "Look, I can--"

I rolled my eyes, "How about you get yourself a cup of shut the fuck up and stop interrupting when it's obvious that I'm talking to her."

Tetsurou just looked away. Eira-san fidgeted on her fingers. Silence filled the whole room and I understood that Tetsurou didn't want to talk about it

"Are you going to tell Mom and Dad?" He murmured.

"It's not my story to tell." I shrugged nonchalantly. "But I'm hoping that you used protection, yeah?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay... you two can... settle your issues now. I'll just be at my room..." My gaze shifted to my brother, squinting my eyes at him "But Tetsurou, don't think that I wouldn't need to know what's happening to you..." I trailed off, giving him a deadpanned stare. "The two of us are siblings now."

Honestly? I'm not going to force him to tell me what's the real score between the two of them because they were a thing right before I appeared in their lives. I'm just going to leave Tetsurou as he is right now because I trust him that he'll do the right thing. Besides, Eira-san looked like a smart girl, just not really smart right now. They can only be thankful that it was just me who walked in on them and it wasn't Mom or his Dad, or things will be even more complicated for them than it already was. I can only offer him support for now.

As I obtained Tetsurou's spare key in his room, I marched my way to my room, ignoring the fact that Tetsurou and Eira-san are already arguing in the living room. I'd give them their privacy now and just be at my room until their anger subsides. I slumped my face on my soft bed, listening to the faint ticking sound of my clock on the night stand. It has been a long tiring day for me, and I deserved a moment of peace at least. Or so much for wishful thinking.

I suddenly heard a tune in my skirt's pocket, someone was calling me on the phone. I grunted as I fished for my phone, seeing as though an unfamiliar caller ID displayed on my screen. I don't usually answer strangers' calls but there was an unknown force in me that whispered that I should.

"Hello, who is this?" I asked, and the answer I received were only the steady breaths of the person on the other line. "Hey, who is this?" I repeated, not bothering to hide the irritation laced in my tone.

When I didn't hear any sign that the person will talk to me, I quickly cut the call then threw my phone aside. Could this day get any weirder?