"I never really got you."

"Is that so?" A younger female clicked her tongue in disgust. "You're a really great player, yet you had chosen to leave instead?" The female raised a brow, in disappointment. The younger girl, who hadn't cared the least, walked away, ignoring what her captain had to lecture her about. "Don't ignore me," she grabbed her shoulder, "Ren!"

"I'm sorry." Ren averted her gaze away, pulling herself away from her teammate's grip. "Is sorry all that you can mouth? Don't give me that damn petty excuse." Ren clenched her fists, furrowing her eyebrows downwards. "I haven't given up on it-"

"Is that why you didn't come to the semi-finals?"

"That's not the reason, Maria-"

"I can't deal with you anymore, Ren. We all can't deal with you." The girl labelled 'Maria' forced a smile, "that's why I'm kicking you off the team."

"I didn't come because I didn't want to-"

"What? What was more important than helping us out? We needed you Ren, and you didn't show up. Now this is the outcome." She emphasized the needed, and she sighed, "bye Ren. Now you can get back to your more important things." Ren's eyes widened and she didn't dare to look back until the gym doors were shut. "Maria...-" she stopped, as tears filled her eyes. "I wanted to come," Ren cried in a soft tone.

--

"Over here, Kageyama!" The female of the team called, as the setter tossed it to her. She jumped up, to see Tanaka as well, in the way. "Here, here!" He yelled, throwing his arms up as she was about to hit the ball.

The toss was too fast for her though, and she had jumped too late, making her hand lightly touch the ball, curving over the blockers hand and falling onto the court. Hinata's eyes widened, as he clenched his fists. "Whoa, that was so cool, Yoshida-kun! Teach me how to do that!"

It was really just an accident though.

She thought to herself, stretching out her arms. "I wanna spike the ball too! Let's hurry up and rotate!" He jumped, fired up. "DAMN IT! YOU JUST WAIT, YOSHIDA!" Tanaka yelled, frightening her as Ren started walking to the back lines.

"Mm, maybe next rotation, Tanaka-senpai." She waved teasingly, as she high-fived Hinata. "Let's do this!" He grinned; as she watched Tsukishima and Yamaguchi get into position.

I'm up to serve, aren't I?

The 14 year old held the volleyball, and bit the inside of her lip. "You can do it, Yoshida-san!"

"Yeah, you go, Yoshida-kun!" The freckled and ginger first years encouraged, causing Ren to give an on edge smile.

It seems like all the players on the other side are great receivers.

She raised an arm around waist height.

I don't want to hit it to the back line, since their libero is there. Not to mention the captain, who is really good.

She held the ball out with one hand, pointing it at Kageyama's head, which confused the team players.

Asahi-san and Tanaka-senpai seem great at receiving as well.

Ren took a deep breath.

But,

As she hit the volleyball, under handing it with her right fist, she served it lightly, and aimed it in the middle of the court.

I don't think anyone else can set.

It arched downwards towards Sugawara, who hadn't seen it coming. He quickly pulled his arms out, receiving Ren's serve with his left forearm, hitting into the net. It certainly shocked Daichi's team, along with the coach and adviser. "A-amazing," Takeda said eyes wide, before Ukai had a chance to say it himself. "She's like that guy from the neighboring association!"

Coach Ukai grinned, she looked so calm...

"Yes!" She pulled her arm in and out, grinning widely. "That was awesome Yoshida-kun! Teach me that as well!" The ginger turned around, complimenting her. She smiled, as Yamaguchi and Kageyama both mumbled "awesome" under their breaths.

"Ah, I'm so glad that worked." She sighed, in a relieved tone.

I didn't think it would.

"Sorry guys..." Sugawara posted himself in position, "I should've seen it coming."

"Don't mind, Suga!" The team captain hit him on the back, "no one saw it coming."

"I'll receive it next time!" Nishinoya announced, full of confidence, as Ren's team rotated. She hit it, this time, right above the net, almost looking like it wasn't high enough. It floated right above Sugawara, who prepared to hit it this time and saw it coming. Although, Sugawara had seen it, he still hit the ball wrong, causing to hit the left wall this time.

Out.

The female smiled to herself, as Hinata walked to the right side of the court. "Damn it." The platinum blonde setter clenched his teeth, as Daichi patted his right shoulder with his hand. "Don't mind, Suga." Sugawara furrowed his eyebrows, "but-"

"We'll get it next time, you're not alone." Tanaka jumped in, grinning as he curled his hands into fists. "I wanna spike the ball!" Hinata pouted, as he jumped around Kageyama. Ren smirked, as she bounced the ball, once or twice more.

That won't happen, Hinata-san. At least; not while I'm serving.

She thought closely, since Sugawara had almost had it the last time. "I don't necessarily like doing this." The thirteenth of the team sighed, as she tried to recall her memories on the old volleyball team.

I haven't done this in a while-

Yamaguchi took a close look at her, as the rest of the bunch focused on the opposing team.

Yoshida-san, is standing in a different pose-

She breathed, and held her breath, as she threw it up in the air.

An overhand?

Yamaguchi thought, looking to the back at her, and she hopped in the air, not too high, as the ball was thrown at least 3 meters ahead of her. Ren served it with the top of her palm, causing the ball to hover in air, stopping in motion. "No way," coach Ukai said in disbelief under his breath. "A float serve?" Yamaguchi recognized, amazed by the hit.

Ren then stood calmly, as she aimed it for the middle, between the captain and libero.

It should fall any time now.

They all frantically got ready, as the centered their attention to the serve.

3, 2, 1...

The ball dropped, in the middle, like she had wanted it to. Daichi and Nishinoya both called for it, but looked at each other, causing the ball to fall between them. Ren celebrated on the inside, since she hadn't been the best, and things didn't work out how she wanted all the time. But when they did, they succeeded almost to her full expectation. "Sorry, that was-"

"My fault; I saw you go for it, but I guess my body moved on its own. Don't mind, Noya." Daichi smiled, feeling responsible for the loss. The libero had also known it was his fault, but knowing the captain, he probably didn't want to argue about it. "I'll get it next time!" Nishinoya announced, persistent.

Hinata and Kageyama stood in awe. "Uwaahhh!! Teach me how to do that too!" The ginger jumped, as he rotated to the back line. The first year setter sighed, as he rubbed his neck.

I'd like to show off my serves as well...

He paused, as he noticed that the coach had been taking notes down the entire time. "Amazing, Yoshida, she can do that?!" Sugawara praised, questioning what just had happened. The female player didn't pay much attention to it though. She just focused on where the next one would be better placed.

Asahi-san seems like he'd hit it too hard...

She studied the opponents carefully.

I but I think he should do it.

She averted her gaze to the figure on the front. Ren stepped forward, throwing the ball ahead of her. She then jumped a few meters in air, and smacked it with the palm of her hand. Only, she didn't hit it right. She clicked her tongue, as the ball spiraled towards Tanaka.

He got his arms out, after grinning widely. "Here!" He shouted, after receiving the volleyball, hitting it towards Sugawara. Ren rushed to her position in the back, next to Hinata.

We caught up a bit...

"Suga!" The setter then tossed it up, to Asahi, as he jumped.

Come on, Yamaguchi-san, Tsukishima-kun.

The two first years jumped, raising their arms above the net. As the ace hit the ball, it slipped through Yamaguchi's left arm, and Tsukishima's right. Speeding, it hit Hinata in the face, making the ginger fall back, as the ball hit the floor. Speechless, Ren ran to him, eyes widened, "H-Hinata-san? Are you okay?!" She spoke, as she crouched down beside him.

"How many times was this?" Nishinoya laughed, smacking the Ace's back. "Not again..." Ukai sighed, rubbing his head, as Takeda started to panic. Kiyoko then blew the whistle, pausing the game.

"I-I-I'm sorry!" Asahi stuttered, as Kageyama picked Hinata up, by his shoulders. The raven haired male then shook Hinata back and forth, "wake up, moron."

"Ah, Kageyama I'm alive!" He then dropped him, startling the thirteenth of the team. "Ow, that hurt!" He yelled at their setter, relieving everyone; especially Asahi. "Hinata-"

"I'll get it next time!" He got up, determined. "Ah, I have no doubt," she smiled, picking herself up as well, "but you're alright?" He nodded, grinning, "I'll receive the Ace's spike, and become better than the Ace!"

Asahi flinched, sighing as he slouched down. "He's alright..."

"Of course he is! That's my kouhai for you!" Nishinoya said, as Tanaka nodded. Tsukishima let out a small laugh, making the first year point at him. "I will!"

"Yeah, yeah. I have no doubt." Kiyoko then blew the whistle, as the score board went from 23-20 to 24-20.

But this is match point.

Ren breathed steadily, trying not to panic. Asahi on the other hand, was up to serve, and had complete determination to get a point to end the set. He tossed it up, a few inches towards his team mates, as he jumped up to serve it over. Ren huffed, as she noticed that he had aimed it at the blonde in the front. It then collided with his right shoulder, hitting it upwards out of bounds. Ren the sprinted towards it, "I got it!"

She stretched her right arm out, as she leaped.

It's not out if I hit it back in.

She glided along the floor, as the ball floated downwards.

I'll hit it.

Kageyama's eyes widened. A loud slam echoed throughout the gym, later followed by the blow of a whistle. The first set was taken.

I do not own any of the Haikyuu!! Characters (with the exception of Ren Yoshida, of course) All rights reserved to Haruichi Furudate