Chapter Text
“Ren, c’mon! We’re gonna miss the train if you don’t hurry your lazy ass up!” You yelled to your best friend of 10 years.
“Yeah Yeah I’m comin’ I’m comin’,” She slipped on an oversized sweater that fell almost to her knees. You tilted your head in worry and confusion.
“Isn't that Tatsuki’s sweater, or am I seeing things?” You questioned. Ren looked down towards the tacky volleyball hoodie she wore. She was almost foaming at the mouth with anger as she ripped it over her head and chucked it in the trash.
Your best friend is a very quiet person, she only really shows her true self around you--and her ex but that didn't end well for her. You always knew she had bad taste in men, but her last relationship was a carnival of toxicity. It left her broken and you knew it, even though she would never admit it, she was hurting. Bad.
“Blue-chan?” you giggled at the nickname your best friend had given you on the day you met. It was the first day of elementary school and you were shaking in fear, but so was she. You were put together for a “get to know your classmates game”. When it comes to the usual “what's your favourite colour question.” you answered with blue. Your future best friend had tilted her head in confusion, wondering why on earth would you like a colour as basic as that. “Why blue? It's so basic, you see it everywhere.” You shrugged and then a bright smile bloomed on the girl's face. “I'm gonna call you Blue-chan! You know why?” you tilted your head. “Because even though blue is a basic colour it is still very pretty, just like you!”
Ren waved a hand in your face, “Blue-chan? Hello? Are you still with me?” you shook your head, relieving yourself of the fond memory.
“Mhm.” you answered with a smile.
“I'm scared, I haven't seen Oniichan in a whole year!” she exclaimed, worry lines covering her face.
“It'll be fine. I promise.” You patted Ren's shoulder but you winced when a sharp pain burst up your left leg. “Blue-chan, you need to be more careful. You're still not fully recovered.” Ren grabbed your hand, leading you both out of your shared dorm.
The air was warm on your exposed arms, the slight wind blowing your h/l hair back. “Why the fuck do you always look like your in a 2000s movie when you walk outside.” Ren retorted. You shot a glare towards your best friend.
Her short blonde hair glittered in the afternoon sun, you sometimes got jealous because of how soft her hair was compared to yours.
You stepped onto the train with your best friend trailing behind. You sat in the only two empty seats at the front of the train. It was crowded with people and you were both squeezed between teens around your age--which made your social anxiety even worse.
You fiddled with your fingers as you tried to control your breathing. You always hated public transit. Actually, you hate the public all together. It always made you anxious and there was always the possibility of a panic attack.
“How long.” Ren asked, an evident shake covering her voice.
“20 minutes. We’ll be okay. We can see them soon enough.” You gripped your best friend's hand to try and ground her and yourself.
---
You and Ren crept around the outside of the gym, trying to be as quiet as possible. The door was only a crack open, but that was just enough for the both of you to slip inside.
“Ow dammit.” you whispered as another gut wrenching pain shot up your leg. “Blue-chan are you alright?” Ren whispered as she hoisted you up by your underarms.
You nodded and steadied yourself back on the grass as you neared the entrance to the second gym. Both you and Ren pulled back the door, slamming it open.
“Oniichan!!” you both shouted as the screeching of sneakers on the vinyl floor came to an abrupt stop. “Y/N?! IS THAT YOU?!” your brother shouted, running towards you.
“Ren!! YOU'RE BACK!!” Screamed a certain--almost--bald headed 2nd year.
You were embraced with the arms of a short, two-tone haired idiot. He almost knocked you over because of how much speed he built up. “Y/n i missed you so much!” Nishinoya said into the crook of your neck.
“Oniisan, are you crying?” you teased.
“No! But you would cry too if you hadn't seen your baby sister in almost a year because she was at some-” you cut him off with a snort. “OK, I get. I missed you too.”
There was silence throughout the whole gym. The Karasuno boys stood stunned and confused. A loud “Ahem” resonated from a tall brown haired male. You assumed that was their captain; Daichi.
You've heard about him before on the many phone calls with your brother and Tanaka. They also would not shut up about two new 1st years they got. They’ve apparently got this amazing quick attack, but you won't believe till you see it.
“Hey, your Daichi right?” you asked, walking towards the group of crowded boys. He nodded, surprise all over his face.
You turned your attention to a scary looking man, he looked almost twenty. He must be Asahi. He doesn't look like a coward, even though Nishinoya has been non-stop talking about how corward-like their ace Asahi is.
“Yuu, he doesn't look like a coward. He’s actually quite intimidating to be honest.” You bowed to the boys in front of you.
“My name is Y/n Nishinoya. I’m Yuu-san's younger sister.” You said, fiddling with your fingers.
“Wow you and Noya-san are so different. You would never guess you were siblings!” a jumpy ginger said. You scratched the back of your head. Another nervous habit of yours. Nishinoya swung an arm around you, you jumped a little.
“Y/n has social anxiety.” You smacked your brother upside the head. “You don't just go around telling people that?!”
The boys all stared at you and Nishinoya. It made your skin crawl with anxiety, you felt a hand grasp your shoulder. You turned to face Ren, she sent a slight nod and you let out a long breath.
“Hi, my name is Ren Tanaka. I assume you already know who my brother is.” She said, griping your shoulder a little tighter.
You felt a striking pain creep its way up your leg but you held your outburst in. You could see a smile release itself onto your brother's face. “What now?” you said. Nishinoya raised a brow.
“You have a weird grin on your face, what is it.” He turned to face the team. “Can they play a game with us?!” you felt your heart drop.
You hadn't told your brother about the injury you sustained a while back, and you still weren't completely healed. But you couldn't disappoint your brother, you just got back after a year of being away. The least you could do was play one game.
“If it's ok with the girls. We could play a six on six.” Daichi said. Ren smiled and you nodded.
Luckily you and Ren were already dressed well enough for a game of volleyball, but you weren't sure how long you could last in a game. The boys split up into two teams of five: Daichi, Nishinoya, Sugawara, Asahi and Ennoshita, on one team. And; Hinata, Kageyama, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi and Tanaka, on the other team.
You head over to the second team since Nishinoya’s team already has a libero. Ren gave you a you hurt yourself again and you are dead look and you nodded. But she knew better not to believe you would be careful. Because once you started playing, it was hard to get you to stop.
Your leg was throbbing, but you weren't giving up. Sugawara was setting up for a serve to Asahi. The ball was hurdling towards the floor but you were there just in time to save it. You jumped to your feet and another gut wrenching pain shot up your leg.
A weird gleam set itself in the jumpy ginger’s eyes. They were going to do that weird quick attack and you knew full well that either your brother’s going to catch it in time, or your team was going to win the game.
The loud clang of the ball to the gym floor was music to your ears. You could feel the room brighten as the jumpy ginger and the grumpy dark haired one celebrated the win we received.
Ren came running towards you and you knew exactly why. Your leg was numb and you could barely stand. Ren hooked her arm under yours but you pushed her away. “I can do it Ren, I'm fine.” You grumbled.
All the boys were praising each other when you walked over. “I don't think we really introduced ourselves. I’m Sugawara.” He held out his hand and you took it.
“I already know who everyone is. I used to call Yuu-san and Tanaka-san all the time.” The boys stared at you and you smiled, trying to hide the bellowing pain in your leg. You went to take another step but your leg gave, but before you could hit the floor Ren scooped you up back on your feet.
“I knew this would happen! Why didn't you just tell Noya-san so you didn't hurt your leg more than it already is!” Ren scolded. Your brother was immediately in your face, worry in his voice as he said; “What is she talking about?”
You turned your head as tears pricked your eyes, "I fractured my leg awhile back and it’s still not fully healed so I might have made it worse by playing.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” he asked.
“I didn't want to worry you, I didn't even tell dad. The only people who knew were Ren and Mom." You said, looking at your feet.
Nishinoya pulled you into a hug, “You should have told me so then i wouldn’t have made you play and then you wouldn't have hurt yourself again.”
“Ok.” you pulled away and looked up to see the entire team staring at you, including the coach--who had somehow turned up somewhere in the last few minutes.
“Hey I have a great idea! Since you can't play anymore and you were the captain of the 3rd best girls volleyball team…” Nishinoya began.
“What if you became the assistant coach!” Tanaka finished. You swear those two share a brain cell.
“Um. If it's ok with the coach I guess. But what about Ren-chan, she quit at the same time I did.” Tanaka raised a brow.
Oh shit. She didn't tell him did she. Oh you and your stupid big mouth, what the hell is wrong with you?!
“Then she can become assistant manager with Kiyoko and Yachi!” both yours and Ren's head shot up at the sound of the jumpy ginger--Hinata’s--voice.
“Yea!” Tanaka and Nishinoya shouted. You turned to your best friend, she smiled and then nodded.
“Hey girls, I’m coach Ukai.” The tall coach said, holding out his hand. You shook it and said; "I know who you are, Nishinoya told me all about your team. Your grandfather is the other coach Ukai.” You smiled and so did he.
“Why don't you girls go see Takeda after school and we can sort out your duties then. Now i need to get these boys ready for a short practice tournament this weekend.”
“Thank you.” you said and walked to your bag. “I’ll see you at home, Yuu-san.” You winked to the rest of the team and rushed out the door, Ren on your tail.
You listened to the tall blonde named Tsukishima, degrade and pester the other two 1st years; Kageyama and Hinata. They had to get at least over a 40 on the mid-term exam to be able to go to the practice tournament soon.
“Tsukki, I think you're being a little too hard on them don't you think?” Yamaguchi said as he continued to pack their brains with knowledge that not even your brain could hold.
You continued to write some new strategies for the team that you could use during the practice matches. But you were more focused on how many people were going to be there.
“Daichi-san?” you asked, he hummed a response. “Do you know how many people are going to be at the tournament?” he had a thinking face on as he calculated the amount in his head.
“I would say about 60-70 people if you count the coaches and managers.” Your eyes widened and Ren's ears perked and then slumped towards you. She laid her head on your lap, “We’re gonna die.” She mumbled
You giggled. “We’ll be fine.”