Chapter 21- Nekoma Pt.1

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Himari Kimura.

The girl I would least expect made my life a living hell.

It all started when I let my guard down and became her 'best friend.'

Year 2- Ren's POV

April

"Alright girls this is our new student, Ren Nakamura. Please treat her with respect."

I nervously bow at the group of girls who were all staring at me. "Please take care of me!"

"Wait Nakamura? Is your dad the great ace who plays on Team Japan?" A voice speaks up and I look up to see a girl with beautiful grey eyes.

"Uh yeah he is," I scratch the back of my neck nervously giving a small smile.

"What school did you play for last year?" She takes a step towards me.

"I was actually home schooled last year due to moving around quite a lot with my dad's busy schedule."

She only nods her head in response stretching her arm out in front of me. "Himari Kimura, second year and ace of the team. I think we'll be great friends," The girl smiles.

I look down at her hand my eyes gleaming with excitement as I took it in mine shaking it happily.

May

"Nice kill Ren!" One of my teammates exclaim as I hit a left handed cross shot perfectly on the other side of the net getting through Kimura's block.

Coming to the ground I look at my best friend to see her glare at the ball as she mutters something to herself.

Turning my way she gives one of her signature bright smiles. "That was great Ren! How'd you learn to hit with both hands so powerfully?"

"I learned it from my dad," I happily tell her.

"Ooo maybe I can come over sometime and learn from him too!" Her eyes widen. "Only if it's alright with you of course."

A part of me did not want to say yes because of how hard my father can be on me sometimes and might be the same to Kimura. He has been of lately as well but with the pleading smile she was giving me and not wanting to lose a friend I decide to oblige.

"Of course! You can come tomorrow after school!"

Kimura's grey yes widen even bigger as she pulls me into a tight hug. "Ahh thank you so much! You're the bestest friend ever!"

I couldn't help but smile even more as this was the first time someone had ever said that to me. My first best friend...

June

"Hey Naka-Chan, do you want to come over to Kenma's house, we'll be playing video games?" Kuroo asks as we wait for our teacher to come to class.

"I would but I promised Himari that I would practice volleyball with her and my dad at my house," I sigh tiredly as I run a hand through my brown locks.

"Again?"

"Yup. She was very persistent on it, but makes sense because we have Interhigh's coming up."

He only nods in response as he leans back in his chair.

"Ren?" Kuroo speaks up quietly his eyes closed.

"Oh the first name. This must be serious," I tease him waiting for a smile to come to his face, but no avail.

"Is Kimura-San using you for your dad ?" He blurts out.

"No no she's not like that!" I instantly reject his idea. "She just loves practicing my dad and I because he gives great tips."

"Are you sure Ren? You don't seem too hapβ€”"

"Kuroo, she's one of my best friends. She would never use me like that," I speak louder than intended as those in our class were looking at the two of us.

"I understand that you care for me, but I know my best friend," I quietly say as I lean back in my own chair.

_

"Alright girls, this is the starting line up for the first game," Coach turns her whiteboard to us as we just finshed our warmup .

My eyes widen as I see my name but not Kimura's. It was bound to happen, we did play the same position.

Glacing at the grey eyed girl and ace her face shows obvious signs of anger as she stares at the board.

"Alright girls it's time, starters get on court!" Coach tells us as we all cheer in response following her orders.

My feet stayed planted in the same position as I stared at Kimura who's expression did not change.

Walking up to her she notices me, glancing in my direction. "Himari I'm really sorry. You are the ace anyways. If you want I can talk to coa-"

"Naka it's alright. You earned the spot so go onto the court, don't keep them waiting," She teases me a small yet fake smile comes to her lips.

"Butβ€”"

"Oi Naka, come on the game is staring!" Captain shouts at me.

"Go Naka, I'll be fine," Kimura pushes me onto court giving me a small thumbs up.

Walking onto court I can feel all eyes on me but glance up at those familiar brown eyes. My father gives me a small nod to which I smile in response.

"Is that Haruto Nakamura's daughter?" I can hear one of the opposing teams players ask.

"Yeah it is. I heard that she's really good."

"Would make sense though because I heard she practices with her dad non stop."

"Well let's see how she is."

September

"Hey mum, where's dad?" I ask walking down the stairs my schoolbag in hand.

She looks up from her cooking a tear falling down her cheek to which she wipes away quickly. "Oh uh he went to practice. Had to go early, some captain duty."

I watch as she glanced back to the stove flipping a pancake shakily.

"Mum, are you and dad okay?" I take a few steps towards her grasping her shaky hand in mine as the spatula falls to the ground. "I-is it because of how dad is treating me with volleyball practice, because I'm fine. See!"

She looks at my face sadly studying my features. "You look tired Ren."

"Mum I'm fine, I promise you," I squeeze her hand reassuringly the lie making my chest hurt.

She smiles at my own smile as she suddenly pulls me into a hug. "Don't work yourself too hard Ren, alright? You're amazing the way you are."

I return the hug wrapping my arms around her a whimper escaping my lips, "I know."

We both stay in the hug for a few seconds before she suddenly pushes me towards the door.

"Now get to school. Don't want to keep Kimura waiting and be late for your first day back," She waves at me as I approach door.

"Alright. Bye mum I love you!" I sing as I close the door, walking towards the sidewalk.

"Where is she?" I mumbles looking around the sidewalk to not see Kimura anywhere in sight.

Grabbing my phone I click her contact and wait as it rings a few times before she picks up.

"Hey bestie! Where are you?"

"Oh sorry Naka I forgot to tell you, I went early to practice my serves," She replies nonchalantly, bluntness in her tone.

Naka? She never calls me that.

"Oh okay, you could've told me, I would've loved to join you!"

"I just wanted to practice by myself. I have to go Naka, I'll see you at school," And with that the call ends before I could reply.

I stare at my contact photo of her and I astonished.

She never likes to practice alone, so why now?

"Oi Naka-Chan!" A voice suddenly shouts and I turn in the direction to see Kuroo and Kenma.

I jog up to the two Kuroo waving at me a smirk on his face, Kenma focused on his gaming console.

"Where's Kimura? Don't you always walk to school together?" Kenma looks up from his game glancing around the street.

"Yeah uh she forgot to tell me that she was going to pratcie her serves in the gym," I laugh smiling at both boys. "Well let's start walking, we don't want to be late on our first day back!" I exclaim skipping in the direction of school.

Both boys catch up to me as we make small talk on our way to school.

"You look tired Naka-Chan," Kenma suddenly blurts out as Kuroo and I were having a conversation about the best anime.

"Wow way to make a girl feel special Ken Ken," I laugh at the pudding head who was studying my tired and more pale then usual face.

"Did you go overboard again when practicing with your dad?" Kuroo speaks up also staring at my face.

"Uh not really, just the usual," I lie not wanting to make eye contact with the two.

"Nakaβ€”"

"Guys I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

The first and second year make eye contact with each other as if they were speaking with their eyes.

No one spoke a single word as we continued our walk to school.

"Congrats Naka!"

"You we're amazing on court!"

"You're the best ace!"

"You're just as good as your dad!"

"Wow looks like you're getting quite the praise," Kuroo snickers as many were giving me pats on the back and thumbs up.

"Yeah, not sure a to why though. Our win at the Interhigh's was a team effort," I admit.

"Naka, did you see yourself play? You dominated the court."

"Wow is that a compliment from the all mighty Kuroo I hear?" I tease nudging his shoulder playfully.

"Pfft. It's just a one time thing Naka, you'll never be as good as me," He retorts sending a smirk my way.

"Alright say that when your team makes it to Nationals."

"Is that a bet I hear?" Kuroo grins.

"Oh no not again," Kenma mutters rolling his eyes as us.

"Yes I guess it is. If the girls team qualifies for Nationals then you must do my chemistry work  and buy me unlimited chocolate milk for a month."

"Alright and if our team qualifies for Nationals then you have to do my math work and buy unlimited grilled salted mackerel for a month." [A/N: Apparently this is his favourite food, said by wiki how :/]

"Deal," I extend my hand in front of him grinning happily.

"Okay, it's a deal then," He shakes my hand returning to grin.

Glancing away from Kuroo I spot Kimura walking out of the gym with some other girls from the team. As if the captain knew he follows my gaze his eyes widening at what he saw.

"I-I'm going to go guys, I'll see you both later," I walk away from the two before they could say anything back.

One of the girls spot me walking towards them and nudges Kimura who glances at her then at me her eyes widening slightly.

"Hey Kimu!" I smile at her waving to the other girls some sending me dirty looks surprising me.

"We'll see you later Himura," The libero says before walking away with the others to leave us to talk.

"Himari? Huh are you all that close now?" I ask a bit of jealousy and sadness in my tone.

"Yeah I guess."

We begin to walk in step with one another towards our lockers.

"So did you see them practicing as well while you were practicing on your own and decided to join?"

Kimura only nods her head in response her stoic expression not changing.

"We haven't hung out in a while too, we should to the mall like old times! Maybe tomorrow after school?" I ask as we walk down the hall together.

" I have to go somewhere."

"Okay that's alright, how about the day after," I suggest glancing at Himura who wasn't even looking my way.

"Not sure... how about we can meet up at your place again and practice with your dad," Her face lights up at her idea as she finally looks at me a bright smile on her face.

"Uh I don't know. He's been pretty busβ€”"

"Aww c'mon please Ren. It's a great way to practice before the Spring Interhigh Qualifiers and we won't be wasting valuable time."

Himura had her go to convincing pout/smile on her face that always made me give in to whatever she wanted to do.

I can't lose one of my only best friends...

"Sure why not! I'll see what I can do!" I smile back as I watch the aces face beam with excitement.

"Yess thank you Ren Ren, you're the best!"

Ren Ren. Haven't heard that nickname in a while...

β€”

"Wow Ren you've gotten a lot better. You were already really good, but your power is insane!" Ino, a first year praises as I come to the ground stumbling a bit as my tiredness took over my body.

"Woah you alright?" Ino is suddenly at my side holding me up.

I let out a tired breath as I look up at her a small smile making its way to my lips. "Yeah I'm good, just a small stumble that's all!"

"You've gotten so much better too Ino! I heard you saw Himari practicing her serves this morning and decided to join her. Pretty jealous," I laugh.

"Oh no Himari was the one who asked to meet up. She was very intent on practicing her spikes."

My eyes widen at Ino's words.

"Oh did she not tell you?! I'm soβ€”"

"Oh no no I just realized that she did! Just forgot that's all," I laugh to ease the tension.

Why did Himari lie?

"Alright I have a few announcements to make, come over here!" Coach calls us to which we all gather up in a semi circle.

"What's up coach?" Captain asks, all of us curious.

"Okay so first off, I would like to congratulate you all for the win at the Interhighs," At this all the girls holler and cheer. "Next off, the Spring Interhigh Qualifier is coming up next month so we must all be on our A game. Due to winning the tournament we automatically get a bye into the second round."

Coaches words were getting quieter and quieter as I tried to keep myself awake.

I feel someone nudge my shoulder and glance slightly to see captain looking at me worriedly.

"You alright Naka?" She whispers.

"Uh yeah I'm fine. Just a bit tired that's all."

I turn my gaze away from captain to the gym floor as my eyes try to close themselves.

"Ren congratulations!"

Hearing my name I snap my head up to see all the girls staring at me only a few smiling widely whereas the rest were glaring.

"Huh sorry coach what did you say?" I rub my eyes.

"You've been nominated as female volleyball player/ ace of the year in all of Japan!" Captain exclaims shaking me back and forth.

"A-ace?" I mumble my eyes searching for my best friend and ace of the team.

Locking my eyes with hers she had the same emotion etched on her face that I've been seeing ever since the Interhigh's but it was even deadlier.

"Are you alright Ren, you look really pale?" A voice asks touching my shoulder.

I'm unable to respond as my knees buckle and I fall on the gym floors my vision going dark...

β€”
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! There will be one more chapter on her Nekoma backstory with Himari then the story will go back to the Prelims.

I'm honestly just nervous that those who are reading this book are not happy with the amount of Iwaizumi and Ren scenes/fluff. I'm really just trying to develop Ren's character and touch on her past. Buttt I promise y'all that there will be some fluff on the way. ☺️

Stay tuned!

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