Prologue

"You're so smart, Yoshikami-san! You'll definitely get first place on the midterm exam!" "Why don't any of you follow Yoshikami-kun's example? She hasn't failed in a single subject." "I'm so proud to have you as my daughter, Hoshi!" "You're the best, Hoshi!"

She smiled at the hundreds to thousands of compliments concerning her genius mind. Everyone was so nice to her. Always flocking around her when again she stands at the top of academics. They were envious of her mind, the words she uttered, as well as her social standing in the society.

Her eyes darkened once she turned her backs on them.

"Pfft, I bet she cheated." "I heard that Sensei gave her the answers to the test as long as she did…you know haha." "She paid the school, I tell ya!" "Don't worry, Hoshi. We already took care of your forms for High School." "Goodness, dear! Hoshi got accepted at the prestigious Shiratorizawa! I can't wait to tell my friends."

Fucking liars.

She made friends- she thought they were true friends. She told them her feelings; she went so deep with them. And she hoped they'd know- they'd understand or at least support her for this tiny wish that was deeply rooted in her chest.

"Huh? You want to play volleyball?" "Impossible, you're too short!" "I guess you can be the libero...wait, you want to be a spiker? Haha, you are really funny, Yoshikami-san!" "That's just a pipe dream, stop running after false hope, Yoshikami."

Hearing those words uttered from her so-called friends- all hope just vanished for her. So, what if she was short? Couldn't they at least think that she was just playing for fun and not as a future career? She was, but she hoped that her friends could have at least said that.

Just to add salt to wound, they kept talking bringing it up after she revealed her wish. Saying it was a waste of her talent to become a volleyball player when her genius mind can be of use somewhere else. And all it was because she was born short and had freaky features. Even though she was already sixteen, she was still 5'2 and only had grown a centimeter tall the past year.

What? Did you really think she'd be like that energetic, bundle of positive energy that goes by the name of Hinata Shouyo? No, she was the opposite of him.

Yoshikami Hoshi hates the fact that she was born short. And it was for that same reason why she can't even play volleyball. If only she wasn't introduced to the sport, her outlook in life wouldn't be so pessimistic.

And to add to all the shit that's been happening in her life, her shitty parents sent her to Shiratorizawa High known for their famous volleyball team. All because that same school was also known for raising genius minds.

Couldn't it have been other prestigious schools in the area? (There were none, but she hoped.)

She hated it.

To top it off, Ushijima Wakatoshi, the volleyball player who was born with it all, went to the same school. Always composed and smart.

It was unfair. It was freaking unfair.

"I hate volleyball."