Chapter 7

When the bell chimed signaling for lunch Temari quickly packed her things.

"Hey where are you going so fast?" Kinjo asked as Temari threw her bag over her shoulder.

"I'm just super hungry," Temari answered with a laugh.

"Well you better be careful before you hit someone with that bag of yours." Kinjo said. Temari giggled.

"Want to eat lunch together today?" Kinjo asked.

"Thanks but I need to brain storm ideas for the art project." Temari answered as the two walked out of the classroom to the bustling hallway. Part of her wasn't lying, Mrs. Kaminari had announced there was going to be a project due in the next couple of months. She hadn't given them the full details, however Mrs. Kaminari mentioned it had to be a sort of inspiration not only to the students but to other people. This puzzled Temari. What was something that inspired her that would also inspire others?

"Come on, that's not for a couple of months. Show your face in the cafeteria for once." Kinjo said.

"My face shall stay hidden," Temari remarked then said her good byes and jogged off to her favorite spot underneath the tree in the courtyard just outside of the cafeteria. The weather was nice this time of year, she enjoyed the short days and long nights under the moon. Hearing the birds chirp in the wind put her at ease as she pulled out her sketchbook. Maybe if she just started drawing inspiration would come to her for the project. But what to draw today? She stared at the blank piece of paper. For once in her life she didn't know what to draw.

"Hey Temari," she looked up to see Daichi approaching her. A warm feeling entered her chest. The smile on his face was contagious causing a smile of her own. As soon as she saw him, the anxiety about the project left her body and was replaced with knots in her stomach.

She hadn't seen him since he had dinner at their house last week. Miwa had picked up Temari almost every day after school so she hadn't gone to any practices. Temari was somewhat bothered by this because Tobio's practice was the only time she got to talk to Daichi. However Miwa had doctors appointments all week and had to change her work schedule around which meant Temari had to take care of their grandfather.

"Hey," she replied wondering why he was sitting with her. She never saw him at school, only at practice. Why was he approaching her?

"Mind if I join you?" he asked and she shook her head. "Good," he sat down in the grass next to her, so close that his knee touched her own as he leaned back against the tree.

"I missed you at practice, everything okay?" Daichi asked getting comfortable. Did she just hear him correctly? He missed her? No that's not right he was probably making a joke.

"Oh you missed me?" she asked playfully.

"We missed you... You know Tanaka and Suga..." Daichi smiled, a soft pink color appearing on his cheeks.

"Oh sure, it must've been the two minute conversation I had with them the first day of school that made them miss me." She joked making Daichi laugh and place his hand on his neck in embarrassment.

"Tanaka gets attached really quickly." he joked back making Temari's stomach hurt from giggling so much. "Seriously I was beginning to think I scared you off at dinner."

"No," Temari shook her head. "Miwa has had doctors appointments all week so she had to change her work schedule and needed help taking care of my grandpa."

"Why so many doctors appointments? She's not sick is she?" he asked curiously.

"No," Temari shook her head then paused. They hadn't told anyone about Miwa's pregnancy but she felt like she could trust Daichi with anything.

She turned to him not realizing his eyes had been on her the whole time. She couldn't help the warmth spread from her neck to her cheeks.

"Can I tell you something?" she asked. "But you can't tell anyone, not even Tobio that I told you."

Daichi looked at her questioningly. "You can tell me anything, is everything okay?"

"Yeah everything is good, it's just I'm not really supposed to say anything, but..." she trailed off. "Miwa is pregnant,"

"Really? How far along is she?" he asked.

"A month," Temari said.

"Ah, that's why she's not showing." Daichi said. Temari was surprised he didn't point out the fact that she's not married and didn't have a house of her own which was the social norm. "That's exciting,"

"Yeah," Temari said. "She doesn't want people to know,"

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." he smiled making her smile as well. How was it that with just a simple gesture he could make her feel so giddy? She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this much joy and comfort. It had to have been before her parents died.

"What are you working on?" he asked looking down at her paper snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I'm not sure yet," she smiled.

"Really? You're telling me that crazy imaginative brain inside that pretty head ran out of ideas?" he asked.

"No," she said. "I didn't run out of ideas, I just... Don't know what to draw right now."

Daichi chuckled. "Out of inspiration?"

"I wouldn't say that," she smiled. "I think my life is crazy enough, I have all the inspiration I need."

"I guess that's one way to see it." he said. A silence passed between the two. Then Daichi opened his mouth again. "I hope you don't mind, I've kind of watched you sit out here by yourself for the past couple of days."

"Oh you were watching me?" she asked in a joking tone. "I guess my senses are getting a little rusty I didn't notice I had a stalker."

"No, it wasn't like that I swear!" Daichi exclaimed, a blush appearing on his cheeks as he put his hand on the back of his neck. Temari couldn't help but giggle. He looked so cute when he scrambled for words. "I just saw you out here by yourself a couple of times."

"How many is a couple?" she asked giving him a stern look that made him blush even more. Temari covered her mouth trying to hold in her laughter. "I'm just kidding, Daichi."

He looked at her with a smile that made her insides melt.

"Can I finish what I was saying now?" he asked.

"Oh you mean the part about you stalking me?" she asked.

"I call it admiring from a distance." he said making her smile. He admired her. He admitted it! "Anyway, I noticed you're always scribbling in that book and you never actually eat lunch on lunch break." He wasn't wrong. Miwa was always too busy to pack them lunches and most of the time they left the house too early for Temari to make her own. She had just gotten used to not bringing lunches. Especially this past week. "So I brought you something." She looked at him in confusion. He dug around in his bag then pulled out a lunch box. He opened the lid and revealed the container was full of dumplings. He handed it over to her.

"What is this?" she asked.

"I made these for dinner last night but turns out I made extra. So I figured I'd bring you some since I've never actually seen you eat lunch." he said.

She didn't know what to say. Daichi brought her lunch. Wait was this some kind of date? But he didn't even ask her out.

"Thanks," she smiled accepting the box. He handed her a pair of chopsticks and she gladly accepted them. She used the chopsticks to bite into the sweet dumpling and a delicious sensation filled her mouth. "I thought you said you couldn't cook!" she exclaimed. "Daichi these are delicious!"

Daichi chuckled. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Temari smiled at him then continued to scarf the rest of the dumplings down.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asked watching her.

"Dinner last night," she answered.

"So you mean to tell me you didn't eat breakfast and you weren't going to eat lunch either?" he asked.

"No...?" she said curiously.

Daichi gave her a disapproved look.

"I was up late doing homework since I had to take care of my grandpa and overslept so I didn't have time to eat, or grab something for lunch." she answered.

"Well I guess it's a good thing I brought you food then." he said and she nodded. "Are you going with us to the practice game after school?" he asked and she nodded.

"Miwa doesn't have any more doctors appointments so my life will be somewhat back to normal for the time being." she answered.

"Good," Daichi chuckled.

The two sat under the tree eating sweet dumplings until the bell chimed.

~

"Who the hell is that?" Mitsui asked Yamabe as the two sat alone in the cafeteria looking out the window at Daichi.

"I've never seen her before." Yamabe answered. "Maybe she's a first year?"

"Please, like my Daichi would waste his time on some first year." Mitsui laughed.

"I don't know it looks like they're getting pretty friendly." Yamabe raised her eyebrows and pointed as they watched Daichi take a napkin and wipe her face.

Mitsui grumbled feeling anger burning up inside her. Everyone at the school knew Daichi was hers. So who the hell was this girl!

"You've got to admit they're kind of cute," Yamabe said and Mitsui turned shooting her a look that could kill.

"She's the ugliest girl I've ever seen." She spat then let out a sigh crossing her hands over her chest. "I can't believe Daichi hasn't even commented on my boob job I got this summer!" She threw her hands up in frustration.

"Maybe he hasn't noticed yet?" Yamabe suggested, her air headedness starting to piss Mitsui off.

"Of course he noticed! They're three sizes bigger than last semester!" she exclaimed then looked back out at the tree. What kind of weirdo sat on the ground while eating? "We have to do something,"

"What do you mean?" Yamabe said.

"Maybe we need to teach this first year who Daichi really belongs too." Mitsui answered then looked at Yamabe.

"Oh you're clever," Yamabe smiled picking up on what Mitsui was thinking. The two girls laughed then stood up as the bell chimed walking back to class.

~

At the end of the day, Temari quickly packed everything into her bag and made her way to the club room. As she did, Tanaka and Suga were also approaching the steps.

"Hey Temari!" Suga said waving at her and she waved back.

"Temari!" Tanaka exclaimed. "Long time no see!"

Temari giggled and joined the two.

"Are you guys ready for the practice match?" she asked them.

"Hell yeah!" Tanaka exclaimed. "They better be ready, we're going to kick some serious ass!"

"Calm down Tanaka," Suga chuckled as they got to the steps. Temari stopped, she knew they had to go up there to change.

"You're not coming?" Tanaka asked her as they continued up the steps.

"Don't you guys have to change?" she asked. "Plus I'm not on the team I don't think I'm allowed up there."

"Oh, right," Tanaka said continuing up the steps. Temari laughed to herself as they did.

"You don't have to wait over here," Tobio said appearing next to her.

"Where else would I go?" she asked.

"The bus is in the parking lot, we're just going to change then head over there." he answered and she nodded. She turned and walked to the parking lot as Tobio walked up the steps.

She found the white bus easily, Mr. Takeda was standing outside of it next to a taller blond haired man that wore a headband. Was this the new coach? She remembered Tobio had come home from practice one day talking about a new coach.

"Afternoon Temari," Mr. Takeda said.

"Hello," she said approaching the bus.

"Sorry kid only players on the bus." the tall blond said catching her off guard.

"No, it's okay," Mr. Takeda said. "Coach Ukai, This is Kageyama's twin sister she rides with us."

"What do you mean?" the tall man said.

"Special circumstances," Mr. Takeda said. "I'll explain later,"

"She's not just a family member, she's team manager in training." she heard Kiyoko approach them. She looked at Kiyoko surprised. Her? Team Manager? No way!

"What?" she mouthed at Kiyoko who just winked at her.

"All right on the bus you two," Coach Ukai said.

"Thank you," Kiyoko said then walked onto the bus and Temari followed.

"I was thinking about it earlier and you know, someone is going to have to replace me next year," Kiyoko said as the two sat down. "You're at all the practices anyway and I'm sure you know enough about volleyball... so... What do you say?" she asked Temari.

"I don't think I'd be a good fit, I'm not really good at talking to people." Temari answered.

"You don't have to talk to people, just help the team. Most of them already see you as a little sister anyway." Kiyoko said.

A little sister? Did Daichi see her like that as well?

She didn't give Kiyoko an answer just yet, instead sat next to her in silence thinking about it. Team Manager? It'd give her an excuse to be at practice instead of at home. But could she do it? Sure she knew about volleyball and knew how to play but would she even be a good team manager? It was all she could think about as they made their way to Aoba Johsai. In fact the dread of facing her old tormentors didn't hit her until she walked off the bus and saw familiar cars in the parking lot.

"People from Kitagawa first came here didn't they?" She quietly asked her brother after exiting the bus.

"Yeah, why?" he asked.

"Nothing," she shook her head pulling her bag closer to her chest.

"You'll be fine," he said as reassuringly as possible for Tobio. Though it wasn't much, when she looked up to see him he wasn't even looking at her, but she knew there was some compassion behind those words. "I won't let them treat you like they did back then," she looked at her brother and smiled. Something in him was changing.