The next day when you get to school you wait near the front for Asuka, but she doesn't show up.

Maybe she got to school early? I also wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come in today...

When you get to your classroom, you look around for your best friend but she's nowhere to be seen. Throughout the day you can't concentrate: I wonder if she's doing alright.

I better text her to make sure she's okay.

Y/N: Hey bb, how are you feeling? I just want to make sure ur ok.

You wait awhile in class, staring down at your phone for a response, but nothing comes up.

Once your teacher dismisses you for lunch you put away your phone and walk to where you usually sit with Asuka. On your way there you tune out everything, only thinking about how upset your friend is right now.

You sit down outside on your regular bench and start to eat your lunch. Again, you pull out your phone and check to see if Asuka has responded to you.

Nothing.

Trying to get your mind off of worrying for your friend, you go back to eating your lunch alone. A little while later, you hear someone running towards you.

"Hey Y/N," your cousin calls out.

As Yutaro approaches, he sits down next to you.

"Hey," you say excitedly "how's Asuka?"

"Well, I'm not really sure. I've only talked to her a little bit ever since I left her house yesterday."

"She talked to you? She hasn't replied to me all day," you utter sadly.

"Don't worry about it," he tells you, "she's not upset with you. I think she feels bad because of what Matsukawa-"

"Got it," you reply, "I just don't want her to be alone for too long."

Yutaro nods.

"So what happened when you brought her home?"

"O-oh," Yutaro becomes flustered, "I tried to cheer her up for a little bit, but after a while, I could tell she wanted to be alone." He looks down and you can tell he's worried. "I didn't want to bother her, so I left before long."

"Yutaro, don't look so worried. You were so sweet to her and I really appreciate that. Knowing her, she just wanted to take the day off to calm down, so please cheer up, okay?"

Again your cousin nods at you, but this time he avoids eye contact. Knowing he's still upset, you hug him.

"Thank you," you whisper "you're such a good person."

After you let him go from the hug, you change the subject.

"So who else isn't here today?" you ask.

"Iwa, Oikawa, and Matsukawa. They're all suspended for the day so they won't be at practice this afternoon either."

"Damn. What happened in the gym yesterday?"

"So basically, once you left..."

--

FLASHBACK

"Tell them all what you did, scum," Oikawa speaks angrily.

A smirk forms on Matsukawa's face. "No idea what you're talking about, captain."

Oikawa grabs onto Matsukawa's shirt and gets up in his face.

"Shut up and admit it."

Matsukawa laughs. "Y/N-chan and I had a little fun the other night. She let me do what I wanted, that's all."

After Asuka and Y/N leave the room, Iwa's ability to hold himself back fails him.

"You piece of shit! I swear to God I'll-"

Iwa's yelling is interrupted by Matsukawa's laughter.

"You'll what?" Matsukawa taunts, "don't be a dick just because I got her first."

Iwa walks up closer to Matsukawa.

"Don't you think you could act at least a little bit sorry for what you did to Y/N?"

Matsukawa shrugs. "Why should I pretend? You're all going to villanize me either way. You're too obsessed with her to see anything from my point of view and her cousin is the exact same way."

"Watch your mouth," Yutaro interrupts angrily.

Iwa walks up to Matsukawa and pushes Oikawa away from Matsukawa as he grabs his shirt. All within a brief moment, the team watches as Iwa swings his arm directly into Matsukawa's face- but is stopped by Yutaro.

"Don't," Yutaro cuts him off.

Iwa manages to shake Yutaro off with all of the anger built up inside him. This time he succeeds in hitting Matsukawa square in the face.

"Fuck you," Matsukawa responds "you're such an asshole."

"Your opinion means nothing to me, piece of shit."

The coaches rush over to the group and pull Oikawa, Iwa, and Matsukawa apart.

"Oikawa, go home, you're suspended for initiating this."

"And you two boys are suspended for the following day as well for fighting."

--

END OF FLASHBACK

"That's when I left them and ran up to find you and Asuka," your cousin finishes telling you "I wanted to make sure you both were okay."

After Yutaro finishes talking, you sit at the bench completely stunned by what you just heard.

"I must be the worst manager Seijoh ever had," you murmur.

"Shut up," Yutaro says sternly "you're a great manager. You work hard every day to keep all of us happy. We all love you and it could have been any of us to punch that fucker in the face."

"Really?" you ask as you look back up at him.

"Of course, Y/N. We're all here for you."

"Yutaro," you ask "what's going to happen to Matsukawa?"

Yutaro suddenly looks upset as he sighs.

"I'm really sorry, Y/N, but there's no proof that anything he admitted to really happened so he can't get kicked off the team."

"Man, that sucks," you reply, trying to be brave.

"You know, I still want to murder that kid, Y/N."

You laugh. "I'll provide an alibi for you when you do."

"Ah, perfect."

--

After lunch, you go back to class feeling better about the day. Now that you know your friend was taken care of by Yutaro, you feel relieved. A little while later when you're sitting in class, you feel your phone vibrate and immediately pick it up. You don't recognize the number.

UNKNOWN: Yo, Y/N, what's up?

Y/N: Yo? Who is this?

UNKNOWN: Oikawa.

Y/N: Oh hey, Trashykawa!

OIKAWA: Trashy? </3 That hurts, Y/N.

Y/N: Sorry senpai. Did you want to ask me something?

OIKAWA: Yeah, can you come over after school.

Y/N: Uh- I don't know.

OIKAWA: Pleaseeee. Iwa-chan's here, too.

I probably should go anyway to thank Oikawa and Iwa for standing up for me.

Y/N: Fine, I'll come right after practice is over.

OIKAWA: YES!!! I knew you would come once I said Iwa is here. See you soon. :*

Jerk.

END OF CHAPTER 23