Violet Eyes || Haikyuu!! Fanfiction ||

Chapter 25: Finally it's starting...

*Flashback during Ayame's time in Tokyo, a year ago*

"This is Mizuki Kazumi, a close friend of mine and a former volleyball player" Nekomata-sensei told Nekoma's players, pointing at the woman beside him "and this is her daughter, Mizuki Ayame, from Hanabi Aiko Jr. High. They are here to watch our practice so be nice to them"

"PLEASED TO MEET YOU!!" they said, bowing. Ayame flinched and shyly hid behind her mother. Her mother gently smiled at her and made her stand in front of her "Aya-chan, be nice to them and greet them. Don't be like that" she whispered.

Ayame nervously nodded and slightly bowed at them "I'm pleased to be acquainted with you all!"

"Eh?" they tilted their heads in confusion. Ayame blushed and hid behind her mother again.

"Nice to meet you all. Sorry if Aya-chan's a bit verbose. She's a bit shy but she actually likes watching volleyball" her mother told them "Well, we'll be right here so please continue doing your usual routine"

"It's great to have you here, Kazumi-san" Naoi bowed to the woman. She grinned and karate chopped his head as a greeting, much to his pain and surprise.

"Naoi, no need to be so formal to me" she told him "Of course, I'm glad to see you guys here!"

"Hahahaha!" the old director of Nekoma laughed "Same attitude as always, Kazumi! I'm amazed that your daughter doesn't resemble you a bit at all! Quite a contrary, if I say so myself"

"That hurts..." Naoi winced as he rubbed his head "But, really, Kazumi-san, you should stop hitting people every time you greet them. People may think you're a sadist. It may ruin your reputation"

"Meh, don't care" she replied, waving it off "Anyway, I brought Aya-chan with me to watch your game to...distract her for a bit..." she softly added.

"Oh?" he looked at the young girl behind her. She's shying from them yet she looked so interested when watching the team practice. He turned his attention to the woman and she gestured him to follow her.

"Naoi, follow me. I'll tell you about it"

While the two adults left for a grown up conversation, Ayame was left with Nekomata-sensei on the bench. Her violet eyes were sparkling with amazement and she was grinning slightly but she's also observing closely, running mental calculations and theories inside her head.

A ball rolled to her direction and she gingerly picked it up, her eyes sparkling in eagerness. A player approached her and she shyly gave it to him.

"Thanks! Uh...erm, can I call you Ayame?" he asked and she nodded "Well, thanks, Ayame! My name is Yaku Morisuke, Nekoma's libero! You know what a libero is, right?"

Motor mouth mode: ON

"Of course! A libero is in charge of keeping the team's floor defence, right? They are the ones who are chasing ball to save it from falling! But when I think about it, a libero's position is a bit torturous since he's doing all the things to save the ball from falling. But aside from saving the ball, the libero can also set the ball to the spiker as long as he doesn't set it from the front because liberos can't spike, set and block on the front line" she excitingly said, making Nekoma's libero stare at her in amazement. Ayame covered her mouth and felt embarrassed because she got a little carried away.

"A-amazing..." he said.

"What her mother told you was no joke. She likes volleyball to the point she memorized everything about it" Nekomata-sensei laughed "Not to mention, she's got a sharp eye on things"