28

Although it had been the same the last time she was able to visit Shiratorizawa, it took another year and a half for them to meet up again. However, she met with no one upon arriving at the academy.

"Eh? Are they still out jogging?" The short girl pouted, taking out her phone. She was currently standing outside the gym where the boys normally practice, but there were college students practicing. "Geez, I told them that I can't stay long. I still have a practice match tomorrow…"

She sighs and starts walking around. "I should check out the horses. They just newly installed that last year, right?"

"Uooh, Kageyama, horses!" Yoshikami blinked hearing astonished and unbelievably loud voices at where she was going. She blinked, seeing a short orange head and a tall raven-haired boy. They looked ridiculously familiar. One of her guy friends definitely told her about a duo, but she can't put her finger about it.

"They've got horses here!" The raven-haired boy exclaimed in astonishment. The short girl felt like laughing at them jumping around. They looked like a flock of excited crows.

"I'm sorry- uh, are you tourists or visitors?" She called out to the two boys. Their heads snapped towards her and she kept up a smile.

"Wah, Shiratorizawa also has middle schoolers here?!" The orange-haired boy shouted, pointing directly at her.

If she wasn't understanding and a kind senpai, she would have smacked them both for being disrespectful. But she was, so calm down. Her eye twitched as she responded, "They do have middle schoolers here. And you didn't answer my question…er…" Her eyes narrowed at the orange-haired boy's shirt. "Karasuno? Ah, no wonder…" …they look like crows. She didn't finish her words and smiled at them again.

"So, what are students from another school doing here in the late afternoon?"

The raven-haired boy responded almost immediately, "We were following Ushiwaka, scouting the Shiratorizawa volleyball club."

Well, how brave. Yoshikami snickered. "I don't recall the volleyball club having an Ushiwaka though. Are you sure you're talking about the boys' volleyball club?"

The orange haired boy immediately popped his head into the conversation. "Mhmm, definitely! He has this hair and this face. And super tall…and confident expression." And the short boy didn't fail to give her a proper example.

Her eyes widened. "Toshi is here already?" The boys tilted their head at her and she quickly waved it off. "I'm sorry. I'll show you to the volleyball club." She waved with her hand to follow her.

"Uhm, are you a student here?" Came the energetic voice of the orange-haired boy.

There was no harm in actually telling. It's not like they know the school. "I'm from Nekoma actually. I just came to visit."

"Wah!" The boys suddenly jumped into her vision and she jumped back in surprise. "You're from Nekoma?! Do you know Kenma or Kuroo-san?!"

Yoshikami blinked and also shouted, "Eh?! You know Kozume and Kuroo?! Wait, you're the freak duo they were talking about?! Kageyama and Hinata?!" She realized that they were all jumping around excitedly now.

"Holy crap, the volleyball club got an exclusive bus?!" Hinata shouted excitedly.

"Mhmm, amazing right?!" Yoshikami pitched in, sharing the enthusiasm.

"I've lost track of Ushijima-san!" Kageyama suddenly shouted and both boys started jumping around the parking lot in panic.

Yoshikami found herself laughing at the two idiots. "Stop it, guys, we're almost at the volleyball club." But before she could start walking off towards the right direction, the boys sprinted in the other direction where they were supposed to go.

"Race ya there, Kageyama!"

"Hinata boke!"

"You idiots…get back here! You're going the wrong way!" She gave chase and for some reason, ended up at the volleyball club anyway. She panted, hands on her legs, wondering what she did to deserve this.

"This looks like the volleyball club's gymnasium." Hinata starts running towards the building followed by Kageyama.

"You…wait for me…" Yoshikami panted. She was just too exhausted to go through two Tendous.

They were looking through the lower window of the gym and for some reason, she felt a sudden chill down her spine. A sense of déjà vu. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Can you see him? Is Ushiwaka there?" Hinata and Kageyama were pushing each other to look through the small window.

"Shut up and quit pushing!"

Yoshikami sweat dropped at the two idiots and sighed, pulling out her phone. There were loud enough for her to hear so it should be fine. Jeez, where was he?

"Hoshi?" She gasped happily hearing his voice. Her head quickly snapped up and she grinned.

"Toshi!" She ran towards him for a hug, but he quickly dodged.

"Took you long enough." Ushijima said to the two who followed him.

Yoshikami landed face first on the ground and quickly yelled at his retreating figure, "Stop acting cool and give me a hug, you volleyball lug!"

She got ignored anyway. And this is what happens during long distance relationships. Ushijima gets shy around competitors.

"I'm Kageyama Tobio from Karasuno High School. May I observe you in action?" Kageyama asked, walking after Ushijima. Yoshikami trailed behind the Karasuno students, listening in on the conversation.

"Kageyama from Kitagawa Daiichi, huh." Ushijima was actually feeling disinterested in the conversation, but out of respect for catching up to him, he will oblige.

"I failed to get into this school."

Ushijima sighed. "I'll bet. I remember seeing how you played during middle school." He then turned and glowered at the setter. "This school has no need of a setter who can't devote himself to me, the Ace."

Yoshikami covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Right, this was definitely Ushijima- Ace volleyball maniac. She didn't want to embarrass her fiancé so she kept quiet.

However, someone had to do it.

"Pfft!" Yoshikami choked on her laugh at the sound of Hinata's voice. "Yep, you definitely don't give off a feeling of 'devotion' at all!"

Then she started laughing. "Oh, when have you become so overconfident, Toshi?!" She appeared by his side and poked his side while holding his arm.

"Oi, Hoshi, let me talk with these two and we'll talk later." Ushijima pushed her head aside but she didn't budge from his side.

"Eh?! I came a long way to visit before a practice match and this is how you treat me?!" Yoshikami exclaimed.

"Oikawa's got nothing to do with this!" Kageyama's sudden shout gave Ushijima enough strength to push Yoshikami completely away before the boys could see her holding onto his arm.

"Oi!" She yelled, but was completely ignored.

"Oikawa…that guy is an excellent player. He should've come here." Ushijima stated, staring down at the two boys like they were beneath him.

Yoshikami scoffed. "You've been stalking him for well over three years. He's got your attention more than me…"

Ushijima sighed, pinching his nose. "Hoshi, I'll give you all the treats you want. Just leave us alone for the moment."

"Yoshikami-san, how do you and Ushiwaka know each other?" Hinata asked.

The short girl responded with a sigh. "We…have a relationship. A half-half." She stuck her tongue at Ushijima and stomped off to lean against the pillar while watching them talk.

"Anyway, you mean Oikawa-san would devote himself to the Ace?" Kageyama asked. Yoshikami struggled to just shout that that guy would devote himself completely to Kageyama rather than Ushijima.

Ushijima nodded. "Oikawa is a setter who draws out the maximum potential of whatever team he's on. If a team's maximum potential is low, that won't amount to anything. If it's high, he will only bring it higher."

Yoshikami felt a chill at the sudden glare in Hinata's eyes. She narrowed her eyes, just realizing that the orange haired boy is actually a volleyball player.

Then they were similar. She could see the hunger in his eyes. Her eyes flickered to Ushijima. From the time they spent apart, Ushijima seemed to return back to how he was, but that didn't change how he felt about her. She sighed, not wanting to interfere. He will learn.

"That is his talent. An excellent seedling needs suitable excellent soil. It can't yield first rate fruit on barren land." He was blunt, never sugarcoating his words as usual. In his eyes was a look of unyielding confidence.

Yoshikami watched as Hinata stepped towards Ushijima, eyes brimming with a curious hunger. "Barren land? What's that mean?"

Ushijima looked down at him, but his head was still held high. "It means that, aside from Oikawa, Aoba Jhosai is weak." He didn't move a single step from where he was, staring down at the short figure.

"If Seijou is barren land, that would make us something like concrete, wouldn't it?" Ushijima felt a sudden chill run down his spine at the dangerous aura emitted by the orange-haired boy. His head instinctively lowered down.

Ushijima shook off the feeling and narrowed his eyes. "I apologize if I've offended you in some way, but whatever those who lost to Aoba jhosai and couldn't continue on to the prefectural finals might say- I can't think of it another way."

A sudden voice from behind Ushijima shouted, "I'm sorry. Could you get that?!" Ushijima quickly jumped for the ball that was about to fly over his head, but then a figure appeared before him grabbing onto the ball before he could. His eyes widened in surprise.

Yoshikami blew on her fingers at the same time as Hinata landed on the ground with the ball in hand. Ushijima looked bewildered staring down at the boy who had just been behind him but was now at his side.

"I'm Hinata Shouyou, and I sprouted from that concrete." Ushijima glared down at Hinata who gave the ball back to him. "We're going to knock you down and go to Nationals."

Yoshikami sighed, pushing herself off the pillar and grabbing the ball from Ushijima's hand and threw it back into the gym. She knew full well that they were still having a standoff. "Kageyama, Hinata, you guys should leave. Students from other schools aren't supposed to be here." And in cue, a teacher called out.

"Hey now, you're students from another school, aren't you? You can't go waltzing here as you please, you know."

Hinata bowed at Ushijima. "Thank you for showing us inside. Sorry for the intrusion." He quickly walked away, but Kageyama caught the tall Ace's attention.

"Uhm, if Oikawa-san is the strongest setter in the prefecture…" Oikawa's eyes widened at the glare. "…then who am I that surpasses him?" The setter not waiting for answer then bowed. "Excuse us."

Ushijima stood there and stared at the boys' retreating figures. "…stamina, speed, agility, jumping power, and fighting spirit…" Something was reeling in his chest and it didn't stop the menacing grin to appear on his face. "Hinata Shouyou. Kageyama Tobio."

"And Yoshikami Hoshi." Ushijima jumped at the sudden voice and immediately looked at his side. The short girl rolled her eyes. "Yes, I've been waiting here for the past fifteen minutes you were having your rival to rival heartfelt talk. And now, I'm leaving." Before she could even walk away, she felt an arm wrap around her waist.

"I'm sorry, but you know the drill." Ushijima sighed when he received a glare. "Stop that, Hoshi. I told you I'll give you all the treats you want."

"Mou, this is what happened last year too. Iwaizumi-san and Oikawa-san came to visit and you immediately pushed me away… No amount of sweets are going to bail you this…" She stopped her rant feeling a quick kiss on the head. She flushed. "Hey, no fair! I want more!"

Ushijima sighed. "I'll give you more, but I have a practice match to attend to. And you also."

The short girl pouted. "Mou, fine. I'll be heading off now. Tell the guys I miss them too."

Ushijima blinked at her. "You miss me more than them, right?" He looked like an innocent dog wagging his tail at her.

She sniffled. "Why do you look like a fearsome eagle in front of everyone else and look like an adorable dog in front of me…"

"What was that?"

"Of course, I miss you more than them. Now…" She jumped and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek before landing on the ground softly.

Ushijima grinned. "I'll never get used to that.."

The short girl giggled. "I'm heading off. I'll be watching your finals. Win it all, okay?" She showed a fist bump then turned to walk away.

Ushijima sighed, grabbing her again by the waist and twirled her around. "At least say your farewell properly."

Yoshikami blushed and pouted. "Mou, this happened last time too…" She sighed, putting her hand on his cheek. "Come on, Toshi, you know the drill."

He sighed and slowly pulled her away. "I know. Take care, Hoshi." He kissed her again on the forehead.

"You guys should really get a room!" The two jumped hearing an annoying, but familiar voice.

"Satori, shut up!" Came the rest of their friends yelling in unison.

Yoshikami blushed and realized that the group had finally reached the school. She was now too embarrassed to stay in the campus and sprinted away.

"No, Hoshi! I wanted to give her a hug! Wakatoshi, unfair!"