☆★☆★☆★

"Shibazeki-san."

Reina looked up from the novel she was reading underneath her desk drawer. One of her female classmates, Minamori Kotoha, was standing in front of her desk. Minamori was one of her many acquaintances who had yet to cross into the friend area, but Reina still managed an amicable smile. Hopefully it did not come out as a cringe.

"Yes? Is there anything I can help you with? If you want the solution manual for our math textbook, you can pay up to like ten thousand yen."

Minamori scrunched her eyebrows and her face broke into a grimace. "Do you honestly think that I need your help with homework?"

Reina did not know what to say, but she did honestly think that Minamori needed to buy her solution manual for the math textbook. Figuring she had no idea how to deliver the words without having a fight brewing between them, Reina just shrugged. After all, she was...not exactly known for her smooth way with words. Sharp tongued, yes, but smooth, most definitely not.

"I don't know whether to feel bad for you or not, but anyways," Minamori continued as she shrugged. "Someone from the volleyball club is somehow looking for you."

Reina raised her eyebrows, honestly not expecting anyone from the sports club to look for her. She was an outlier in a school like Inarizaki which had a strong club culture and school spirit, by choosing not to align herself into one club. Not since her exit from the brass band club. "Wait what? Are you sure that it is not a mistake, Minamori-san? The school athletes don't usually...associate themselves with the likes of me."

It was a matter of fact that most of the school sports club members lived in their own bubble. And they did not usually seek a practically invisible student who was more known as one of the top students who did not belong in any club (read: an oddball).

Reina had nothing against the sports club members or anything, but keeping her distance from anything school spirit related made things easier for her to run her business. Honestly, she would rather jump off the school's rooftop than letting the jocks get their hands on this side business she was running. Sports were such a huge part of Inarizaki High's signature and a guarantee magnet to the spotlight (which meant disaster for Reina). Spotlight meant teachers finding out that she was basically capitalizing half of the student body's dumbassery and scouting her for the peer tutor program, just like Yuri was scouted at the beginning of the school year.

Yuri was smart enough to figure out a side hustle on how to keep her dying lit club by monetizing that took advantage of the strong jock worship culture in Inarizaki. And being a peer tutor was the perfect cover that would help Yuri to evade the teacher's suspicion.

Reina could never be bothered to indulge herself for practical reasons like that, unless it had anything to do with her academic performance or her own gain.

"Positive. I think it is Ojiro Aran-san."

"Ojiro Aran..." Reina closed her eyes as she gathered whatever data she had collected about the student body in her head to figure out who this Ojiro-san was. "He is a third year, why would he know that I existed or want my services?" she asked herself, not realizing that she was thinking out loud.

"Ha, like you ever give your services to jocks," Minamori quipped back. "Okay that sounded wrong I'm sorry. But just informing you that I am super positive that it is Ojiro Aran, the ace of the volleyball club who is currently outside of our class looking for you."

Reina closed her eyes, once again thinking of the data she had on the ace that got him possibly trying to approach her. He was in class 3-5 and most definitely did not need to buy her answer keys or homework answers, after all he was a year older. She could not find the answer.

Sighing, Reina closed her novel and stood up from her seat as she walked away. "Sure as hell he is not here to buy homework answers from me," she muttered to herself.

"Hey, at least give me a discount for Honda-sensei's notes," Minamori suddenly called, causing Reina to stop at her steps and turned. "Pretty please?"

A small smile appeared on Reina's face. "Well, I thought you said you don't need my notes."

To be fair, her fellow classmates were not part of her clientele. Their notes were probably much more immaculate and complete compared to hers, which to her own opinion was already Studyblr worthy.

Minamori only let out a cheeky laugh to which Reina responded with a mirthful smile and a shake of head.

With that she went outside her classroom and saw the said volleyball club ace, who was leaning against the wall.

"Ano..." Reina cautiously said, "are you sure that you're looking for me?"

Hearing her voice, Ojiro raised his head and his eyes glinted in the way that reminded Reina of an excited dog. "You're Shibazeki Reina, right?"

"Uh..." Reina did not really like to interact with the school jocks and most definitely not one from the most popular sports club in her school. It was not anything personal, just to keep the spotlight off her. "Yes and is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Gomen, Shibazeki-san, if I'm interrupting your daily routine."

Since when jocks were thoughtful, Reina thought to herself, but she realized how unfair she was by not giving Ojiro the benefit of the doubt. Her perception of jocks were shaped by her experiences as a student in the USA back in elementary school, during the several years her family moved there. And her impression was not positive at all.

"No... you're not." Her train of thoughts was almost crashing together because of flashbacks, but she pushed it off. "I'm sorry, but is there an urgent reason why you're here?"

"I actually came here to ask you would you like to be the volleyball club manager? Or are you already committed to another club?"

Club. Volleyball. Manager.

Her mind whirled and the only thing that prevented her from losing her balance was the fact she was already frozen.

Reina could not believe what she was hearing. This must be a joke from the universe. Her, someone who was barely living and only drifting throughout her high school days, was asked to be the basically one of the pillars of a high school sports club. She had every reason to reject his offer, but she could barely process the request. Her head was spinning and she could feel the bile rising up on her throat.

Volleyball, one of the plethora reasons why her family fell apart. She opened her mouth, trying to give him a reply, but there were no words coming out of her mouth.

"Shibazeki-san, are you alright?" Aran's worried voice was what caused Reina to snap back into reality. She blinked and stared into Ojiro's eyes. It was a habit of hers to stare into someone's eyes as they were talking, a habit which she acquired from several years living in America. Not even going back to Japan since middle school could uproot that ingrained habit.

"I..." Reina gulped, and her eyes darted around the hallway. The other students who were trudging past the hallway started to eye her with suspicion and mild surprise. "Ojiro-san, do you mind if I think about it first? I am...not sure that I am in the right state of mind to give you a definite answer right now."

It was the truth, just not the entire truth.

Ojiro nodded, there was still a trace of worry on his eyes. Reina could not help but to remember someone from her old hometown in Nagano, who also had the same kindness in his eyes.

"Thank you for your consideration, Shibazeki-san," Ojiro sincerely answered as he bowed at her. "Whenever you're ready, remember you can reach out to me in the volleyball club's gym."

Reina nodded, albeit a little bit dumbstruck as she watched Ojiro-san turn his back and walk away.

As she went back into her classroom, Reina could literally feel her classmates' gazes bore holes into her backside as she slid back into her seat.

"Reina, what's wrong?"

Looking up, Reina saw Yuri, who apparently had returned from the lit club room. Yuri's eyebrows were scrunched together, a gesture she unknowingly did if she was worried.

Yuri, one of the only people in this school, who was willing to hang out with her out of pure sincerity and honest friendship.

Reina was not ready to tell what had just transpired between her and Ojiro Aran because in all honesty, she was not sure about the outcome. Meanwhile, all her free time as a clubless student was spent as a freelancing member for Yuri's club just after she left (or in other words, kicked out) from the band club at the beginning of the year.

"Nothing, just a guy from the volleyball club looking for me." Reina shrugged it off, just like she always did. "Nothing to worry about."

Pretending that her problems weren't real by never talking about it was practically her ninja way, but it was the only way she knew how to survive without losing her mind. And she did not want Yuri to worry that she would stop freelancing for the lit club. Her friend already had too much on her plate to worry again for Reina.

"You're saying that makes me worry even more," Yuri exclaimed as she took her seat beside Reina. She was and always been the therapist friend who always made sure to ask if anyone is having a good day and truly meaning it. "Anyways, do you mind giving me a helping hand for the club? The requests to write love letters for the sports club members, especially volleyball club members, got really high these days."

"Oh god, did you watch the Inter High prelims last week? Our school won second place! The Miya twins basically wipe the floor with their opponents' face!" From her earshot, Reina could hear one of the squeals.

As a fellow fangirl, she truly understood their sentiments. But jock worship had never been a good thing in the long run and Reina knew that, better than anyone.

"Well there's your answer why the requests for your club services are getting higher," Reina whispered as she threw a look to the other pair of girls sitting in the back of their class. "Don't worry, I'll drop by your club room after I've finished some business."

Yep, Reina really should settle this business regarding how she could show up on Ojiro's radar. A figure of a girl with long black hair popped up in her mind, but Reina brushed it off. There was no way that she, of all people, would associate herself with one of the sports club boys willingly. Well, if Mai did it out of spite and petty revenge, Reina would not blame her. Not after what had happened all those years ago.

If that was settled, maybe she would consider being a manager, just to kill her time. Consider being the key word. She was way ahead of her classmates in academics and had no problem finishing her tons of homework in a short amount of time. The spotlight would be a hassle though, since the club was one of the most popular ones in the school. It probably would be an easy job and Reina could be a caretaker if it meant holding up on her own in uncharted waters.

Hopefully, nobody heard his request (even though his voice was rather loud to snap Reina out of her trance) about asking her to be the volleyball club manager. That is if he did not share it to people who got a whole ass big mouth.

***

"Two girls rejected your request to be our manager in the span of like several days?"

Aran clucked his tongue as he rolled his eyes and spinned the ball on his hands. "Why did you say that as if it is so hard to believe, Atsumu? And no, only of them actually reject it. The other said to think about it."

"Maybe that's because I'm not the one who approached them," the fake blonde had the audacity to look thoughtful before he burst into laughter. "But nah, I still don't see why we need a manager. We're doing fine so far and last week we're the runner ups for Inter High. Ugh I still want to get the first place, but who needs memories, hm?"

Aran only gave him a side look that was purely judging and Atsumu heaved a sigh. "Fine, I know that the third years may not decide to retire after Inter High, that's why I think we still got enough time with you all."

"You must want something, that's why you're starting to be a sap," Osamu, Atsumu's twin brother, said in a deadpan tone. "Just admit it."

"If you're the one who approached them, you're just going to show your true nature which is trash," Suna piped in as he did the butterfly pose to cool down his muscles after today's gruelling practice. "Honestly, Aran-san is the right choice."

"Why do we need a manager? If you pick one of the girls from my fan club, they would disturb my practice with their squealing."

Nobody was saying it aloud, but after the third years graduated, the one who would be chosen to be captain next year was highly likely Atsumu. As skilled as a player he may be, Atsumu would need someone to reign in his behavior. Or the way he literally brought out the worst of anyone. Only Kita was exempt from that, but then again Aran had never considered Kita to be in the same league as normal people. Everyone knew that Aran got his worries about the fate of the volleyball club if he did not find a manager who could handle Atsumu's shit and the sheer chaotic energy of his juniors before he graduated.

Suna rolled his eyes. "Only you who would let the noise distract you. As a matter of fact, I need to see at least one girl to refresh my eyes after spending almost every free time I have with you people."

"By the way, Samu," Aran asked the gray haired brother, who was stretching his arms behind his neck while pointedly ignoring Atsumu's antics. "Are you close with the girl who dropped by the club several days ago to observe our practice? She's Suna's and your classmate right?"

"Did you mean Ichijou Mai?" Suna's ears always perk up whenever his radar senses a good gossip. Quiet and lazy as he may seem, but the way Suna was almost always up to date with the recent and hottest teas to spill was unnerving like his skills as a middle blocker. "Aran-san, please tell me you also ask her to be the manager for our club."

"I did and she flatly refused. Too busy with her job as a model."

"That's too bad," Suna exclaimed with a shrug. "But a pretty face won't be enough to maintain control over this club. Not even if she doesn't care much about..." Suna trailed off, his eyes went to Atsumu, who was ticked off from the stare and glared back acting like he was the edgiest guy in the room.

"How did you know someone as pretty as she is, Samu, I still have no idea."

"Guys you better finish your cooling down exercises and go home rather than gossiping. We still need to rest."

Kita's calm and collected voice got everyone stopped talking and immediately focused on cooling down. Of course their captain was done with his cooling down and was good to go home.

"Who is the second girl you talk to, Aran-san?" Ginjima asked. "If she's anywhere near as cold like Ichijou, who manages to remain unfazed even dealing with Tweedledee and Tweedledumb, I'd say she has a chance to survive."

The thing was, it was damn hard to find female students who weren't affected by the Miya Twins effect. Aran inwardly hoped that he could still somehow talk Shibazeki into becoming the manager. From what he had gathered of Shibazeki she did not seem like someone who would be easily intimidated, but she did seem somehow a little bit shaken when he offered for her to be the manager.

Mai may have offhandedly said about wanting to keep her anonymity, but Aran had to respect her unsaid wish. Something told him that the two girls had history with each other, what and how, his understanding did not go beyond that.

"It wouldn't be wise to lose focus during cool downs due to gossiping," Kita's voice once again pierced through Aran's train of thought. "By the way Aran, we should talk about the prospect of having a new manager."

Oh God, it was time to talk about it with Kita. Aran gulped but nodded. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Gin started to take the cool downs much more seriously. If Kita was going to talk about this with him, then having a manager would truly stop being a prospect and start to manifest into reality.

At times like these, he regretted being way too focused on volleyball, costing him the networking skills he needed beyond his club. He sincerely hoped that if Reina would agree to be a manager, she would do a hell good job at it. Since they got Spring High to focus on, Aran did not really worry if Reina needed more time to think.

The problem would start if after Spring High Tournaments, he still had yet to secure a manager. 

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