Chapter 24-Prelims Mini Arc

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"Mum where is he?" A voice rings in my ears as I slowly begin to open my eyes.

A jolt of pain suddenly courses through my body and I look to see a shard of glass in my hand blood dripping on the floor.

"H-he's gone hunny."

Averting my gaze away from the broken glass two figures come into view one slightly taller than the other. She had pieces of glass in her hand as she continued to pick them up not caring for the small pieces cutting her.

"W-what do you mean by gone?" A all to familiar voice stutters to which my eyes wander to stare at the other figure who was completely still.

"Mum?" The girl moves a step towards the other her eyes glowing with sadness.

"He's not coming back Ren!"

"RENNNN!!!!" I jolt up immediately to come in contact with a cold surface.

I groan as my head aches from hitting the hardwood floor rubbing it to ease the pain.

"Whattt?!" I groan annoyingly glancing in the direction of the voice to which I come face to face with a furiated Hina.

Thinking back to last nights events I get up from my position immediately moving a step back cautiously.

"H-hi Hin-I mean captain!" I stumble on my words giving her a curt bow.

The third year opens her mouth about to say something till two other figures barge into the room.

"Hey Rennβ€”eekkk!" Akari shrieks at the sight of Hina that she trips on my gym bag falling into Sakura who falls to the ground.

"Oww Miyazaki-Chann!" The second year groans as she rubs her head in pain.

Akari doesn't even move a muscle as she stares right into Hina's glaring eyes.

"H-hi captain," She giggles nervously.

"I jusβ€”"

"Before you get mad at me for letting Ren stay out late, it really helped with her anxiety after what happened with the Niiyama girl last night."

"Alright buβ€”"

"Yeah Akari is right!" I speak up, "Iwaizumi-Chan actually made me feel a lot better," I couldn't help but let my cheeks heat up at his name, "But I'm really sorry for staying out late when we had a game the next morning."

"Alsoβ€”"

"Can you both just let me talk first!" Hina cuts off Akari to which we both sweatdrop at her change in tone giving her a small nod.

"Thank you," She mumbles letting out a sigh. "What I was going to say is that although I was angry before I'm just glad that you're feeling better Ren," The captain gives me a small smile.

"But you must explain why you left like that yesterday because it scared the crap out of me!"   Hina emphasizes suddenly pulling my stiff self into a hug.

"I-I will," I accept the embrace wrapping my arms around Hina. "Oww!" Hina smacks the back of my head.

"That's for being stupid and running off at 1 am,"

"Ehh you did deserve it," Akari stifles a laugh. "Owiee Hinaa!"

"Baka," Hina mutters at Akari.

"Hey guys I'm still here!" A voice behind us exclaims and we all look down to see Sakura on the ground still rubbing the back of her head. "Also you all know that we have to be at the gym in 15 minutes right? We're all ready but Ren."

"Oh also Naka, you got a message from Iwaizumi-Kun wishing you luck on your games today," Sakura shows me my phone a smirk on her lips.

"Ooo Ren your boyfriend is the best!" Akari wiggles her eyebrows.

"He's not my boyfβ€”"

"Oh my lord of course!" Hina suddenly exclaims her eyes widening as she fully took in the second years words.

"Owwβ€”again!" I whine rubbing the back of my once again as Hina hit me.

"That's the reason I came into your room! Go get ready now!" She pushes me forcefully towards the bathroom closing the door for me.

Quickly I brush my teeth and change into my jersey putting my tracksuit on top of it. With 5 minutes to spare I begin braid my hair.

As I stared at myself in the mirror I couldn't help but think back to the dreβ€”nightmare I just had.

I never have dreams like that other than if I don't take my sleeping pills so why was this happening?

My phone suddenly rings breaking me out of my thoughts and I quickly pick it up squeezing my shoulder to my ear as I continued to braid the other side.

"Hi, how was your sleep?" A voice rings on the other end bringing a smile to my face.

"Hi to you to Iwa-Chan," I teasingly say his nickname the grin never leaving my face.

"You have got to stop with that nickname Naka," Iwaizumi sighs on the other end.

I could hear the voices of his other teammates in the back, Oikawa's of course standing out to the others.

"Iwa-Chann! Who are you talking to?" The setter calls as footsteps become louder.

"None of your business Shittykawa," The ace grumbles causing me to let out a small laugh at the nickname.

"Ooo that beautiful laugh! I could spot that from anywhere. Hi Naka-Chann!"

"Hi Oikawa-Chan,"

"Why are you talking to Iwa-Chan when you can talk to me?" He continues, "I'm so much cooβ€”ahh!"

The sound of Oikawa screeching in pain fills my ear as I could hear a few of the boys snicker at the setters girly screams.

"Oi Oikawa, stop acting stupid," I could hear Matsukawa's voice on the other end.

"Yeah, let Iwaizumi talk to his girlfriβ€”oww Iwaizumi!" Watari's voice is suddenly audible as a smack is heard.

"Uhh what's happeβ€”"

"Oh nothing at all Naka! Just smacking some sense into these idiots!" A voice yells, Hanamaki.

"You guys are so stupid," The ace mutters as the voices in the background begin to disappear.

"You guys alright?"

"Yeah we're fine. But don't think that you're going to get away with not answering my question,"

"What questβ€”"

"How was your sleep?" Iwaizumi sternly asks his voice fully clear.

"Such a mom Iwa-Chβ€”"

"Naka,"

"It was fine," I lie.

"Now tell me the truth,"

"Hmm?"

"Tell me the truth,"

I let out a sigh as I studied at my somewhat tired self in the mirror.

"I had a nightmare,"

"About?"

"A-about the time my father left," I continue setting my hairbrush down, "It was like I was watching my younger self go through the pain of seeing my mum at home crying on the floor. It was weird."

"Do you want me to come over?" Iwaizumi suddenly asks.

I widen my eyes at his question letting a small giggle in the process. "Iwa-Chan you know you have games today, which may I add are really important."

"Yeah I know, but I just want to make sure you're okay," He reply's ever so calmly.

I watch as my cheeks begin to turn red not knowing on how to reply.

Ugh this boy is just too sweet!

"Ren?"

Iwaizumi calls as he was still waiting for me to reply on the other end.

"It's alright Iwaizumi, really. Just focuse on your matches and I'll do so with mine. Then when finals come hopefully we can both come out with a win."

"Alright I will," I could hear him slightly chuckle. "Whenever you need to talk though, I'm one call or text away."

"I knβ€”"

"Oi Ren come out now! We have to leave. Stop talking to your boyfriend!" Akari suddenly bangs on the door.

"Coming!" I shout back hoping that Iwaizumi didn't hear Akari.

"I'll talk to you later, good luck on your games,"

"Good luck to you too Naka,"

β€”
"Alright girls our game actually got pushed back a bit so we have an hour rather than 30 minutes to spare before warming up," Coach tells us as we walk towards the facility doors.

Walking back into the gym for the second day I couldn't help but glance behind me every second scared that Kimura would be right behind me.

After turning my head back for what seemed like the tenth time in the past minute my eyes met up with those familiar blue ones.

Ito was staring at me with her usual stoic face but at the look of my worried one her face slightly softens a new sort of glint in her eyes.

Guilt?

"Naka-Chan you alright?" A voice suddenly asks causing me to jump slightly as I turn to see Sakura giving me a worried expression.

"Uh yeah yeah I'm alright, just nervous for today that's all," I laugh off waving my hands back and forth.

Her eyebrow furrow in confusion not trusting my words one bit.

"Oh by the way how's Watari?"

The second years eyes immediately widen at my words as her cheeks flare up a bright shade of red.

"O-oh uh he's good! To be honest with you I'm thankful for the game of truth or dare because then I would've never been able to have the confidence to admit my feelings towards him."

Pfft wish that was me.

"Ooo guys let's go watch the other games in the stands! I want to see our competition!" Akari runs up to Sakura and I pulling us towards the stands.

"Hmm lets see what matches there are to
watchβ€”"

"Wow who's that?! Her hits are so powerful!" Akari stops as all three of us listen to two girls talk in the stands.

"I'm pretty sure she's the ace! One of the best I've seen in this tournament!"

"Makes sense because she plays for the best team in the prefecture,"

"Yeah with her on the team they seem like an even harder team to beat,"

"Nice kill Kimu!" A voice exclaims to which my eyes to dart the court watching as Kimura set her feet down on the ground a satisfied grin on her lips.

The ref blows the whistle signaling the end of the match and I look at the scoreboard my eyes widening.

2-0 Niiyama Girls
1st set: 25-12
2nd set: 25-9

As if I could feel a pair of eyes boring into mine I slowly turn to see Kimura herself looking straight at me.

I watch as her lips slowly curve up into a smile that terrified the living shit out of me sending shivers down my body.

What made it even worse is she didn't even move her gaze away from me one bit as if she was trying to break into my soul.

"I-I uh am going to go to the wasβ€”washroom," I take a step back jogging towards the doors.

"Ren wait!" I could hear Akari call but ignored her as I did not want to run into her.

Looking down at the ground I continue to run to the bathroom only glancing up once in a while to know where I was going.

Suddenly I run into a hard object and look up slowly to see a Niiyama Girls tracksuit causing me to shriek in response taking a step back.

"I-uh gomen! I wasn't looking as to where I was going!" I stutter looking at the girl in front of me.

"Oh it's alright," She smiles at me warmly till she glances down at my tracksuit.

"Aoba Johsai huh, are you guys any good?" She looks back into my eyes the faint smile still on her lips.

"Oh uh yeah, top three in the prefecture," I reply a bit more confidently smiling at my words.

"Who's your ace?"

"Me,"

"Position?"

"Opposite hitter,"

"Huh just like Kimu," I could barely hear her mumble glancing up at the ceiling

"Oi Ichika, coach is calling us!" A voice suddenly shouts from behind who was wearing the same tracksuit as her.

"Well it was nice meeting you. Hope to face you in the finals," Ichika pats me on the shoulder a grin now on her face.

She then turns around walking a few steps towards her teammate but stops in place saying words that stunned me.

"You really are like your father Ren Nakamura."

Does everyone really know? I thought to myself

Do my teammates know about my game at Nekoma last year? This is not gooβ€”

"Ren there you are!" A voice yells from behind me and I turn around to see Akari, Sakura and Hina running up to me.

"You have got to stop running away without any context like that!" Sakura breaths out wiping the drops of sweat off her forehead.

"Hehe gomen," I smile nervously scratching the back of my neck trying to hide the fear that was coarsing through my body.

"What were you doing with Niiyama's captain by the way?" Hina speaks up as we walk back towards the stands

"Ehh that was Niiyama's captain?! A top 3 middle blocker in the entire country!" Sakura emphasizes her eyes going wide.

"Top 3 huh..." I mumble to myself thinking back to our conversation.

"Oi Ren,"

"Huh?" I look away from the ground to come eye to eye with Hina.

"What did she say to you?"

"Oh uhβ€”" Lie Ren, lie. "She just asked if our team was any good."

"Pfft well of course we are. We're not a top 3 team for nothing," Akari retorts earning a slap from Hina.

-
After our conversation we continued to watch some of the other games before starting our own.

Iwaizumi texted me right before my game saying that they won their game and that they would be facing Karasuno next but not for some time to qualify for the finals.

Alright you got this Ren.

Midway through the second set of the game with us wining the first set we were in the lead 24-20 as Hina pulled out a successful setters dump.

As Ito prepares to serve I could almost feel eyes on me and glance up at the stands to see mum waving at me a wide smile on her lips, Haru beside her giving me a small thumbs up.

I smile back at them till locking eyes with obachan. She only stares at me not sorts of emotion on her face.

"Chance ball!" Sakura shouts causing me to avert my eyes to the ball as she sends it in Hina's direction.

"Over here!" Both Ito and I call and prepare my run towards the net.

Reaching my max height my eyes meet those familiar grey ones boring into mine as she watches me intently.

Just the smug smile on her lips gets me even more angry causing me to hit the ball with much more than needed force.

The ball hits one of the Johzenji players finger to which she lets out a small cry in pain as it goes straight to the ground.

My eyes dart from Kimura to the girl who's holding her index finger in pain her eyes slightly watering.

I hear a snicker from the back as Kimura raises her shoulders in approval before walking towards the gym doers with their captain I met earlier.

"You alright?" I ask worriedly to which she shoots her eyes up looking at me her eyes still glossy.

"Oi Ren we have to get off the court for the other teams to play!" Coach shouts from behind me.

I send the girl a reassuring smile mumbling a 'sorry' before running off court.

"Good job girls. Our next match is against Nohebi in an hour so you get 30 minutes to rest."

We all nod at Coaches words before dispersing in different directions.

"Ren!" A voice exclaims and I turn away from my bag to see Haru waving at me to come.

I set my water bottle down a small smile on my lips as I jog towards the three.

"I never say this, but I'll admit that you were pretty good out there," Haru mutters looking at me.

"Aww wow Haru you're too sweet!" I ruffle his hair to which he rolls his eyes swatting my hand away.

"That last shot though was a bit extreme you think Ren," The voice of a devil speaks up from beside Haru.

"Didn't think you had that in you. I hope the girls finger is alright though. She did seem in pain."

"Iβ€”"

"I agree with you ma'am,". Another voice speaks up from behind sending shivers through my body as I see Kimura walk up to use four.

She links her arm around my shoulder playfully squeezing it slightly. "Ren sure is a powerhouse."

My entire body stiffens as her skin makes contact with mine. She was so close to me that I didn't even know what to do.

"Ren who is this?" Mum asks up looking at my emotion changing from happy to scared in the matter of seconds.

"Aww Ms.Naka I'm sad that you don't remember me. It's me Himari Kimura miss, one of Ren's friends and teammates back at Nekoma," She smiles at my mum who smiles back at her words her eyes widening.

"Oh Himari! Sorry for not remembering you, it's been a while," She laughs lightly.

"Oh no worries!"

"Himari Kimura huh. You're the ace for Niiyama. How come you moved schools?" Haru tilts his head slightly.

"Oh! Uh I just needed a change. The volleyball team didn't really get much better once Ren left so I wanted to go somewhere where their was a better team."

Bull shit.

"I like you Himari," Obachan turns her gaze to the girl whose arm was still wrapped around my shoulder.

"Oi Ren!" A voice calls and I turn to see Akari joggin up to me clearly seeing the situation I was in.

"Coach is calling us," Her eyes dart to Kimura giving her a slight glare before looking at me.

"I should be going to, don't want to keep my team waiting," Kimura drops her from my shoulder. "It was nice seeing you all,"

She turns to me a small smile on her lips. "I hope to face you in the finals Ren. It'll be some fun competition," She pats my back slipping something into my track pants pocket before jogging away from us.

"We'll see you later Ren, I'm going to go get Haru some food," Mum kisses my cheek patting my head before walking away the other two following her steps.

I let out a big sigh rubbing my eyes with my hands us I tried to let in what just happened.

"You alright Ren?" I could feel Akari's hand on my shoulder. "I saw that bitch acting all happy which was so fake and noticed how stiff you got so I had to help you out."

"Thanks Akari," I glance up from the ground giving her a small smile.

"Ahh no problem Ren Ren! We're always here for you!" She ruffles my head playfully. "Now let's go to the others."

I nod at Akari as she walks back towards our teammates, me following slightly behind.

Pulling the piece of paper Kimura slipped in my pocket I open it slowly my eyes widening at the message.

You're getting too comfortable Ren. Not a good idea.

β€”
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'm so so sorry for taking long to update, it's just that I've been having writers block and didn't know how to format this chapter so sorry if it's crappy.

I have lots of ideas in mind but just have to push through this one first for it to come soo stay tuned :)

Also I just bought these yesterday and don't regret it.... hehe

I know I know I haven't watched many anime's considering I take my time with them and such, buttt it's very cute so I wanted to show it to whoever's reading this. I will be adding to it in the future though.

Also I know atla isn't an anime but I loved the pics on Pinterest so I had to add it ☺️

Alrighty that's all!

Next chapter should be posted in the next 4 days.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net