【ＬＥＳＳＯＮ ＬＥＡＲＮＥＤ】- 𝐵𝑜𝓀𝓊𝓉𝑜 𝓍 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ４】

I saunter into the the volleyball gymnasium for the fourth time this week. To think that this is my fourth day of managing a high school sports team is insane, considering that I've never even played this version of volleyball in my life. I'll admit, it's gotten easier as the days have worn on, but that still doesn't mean this job is a piece of cake. 

I wheel out some of the ball baskets and begin to set up the poles and nets. As I heave the second pole into place and start to lock it into the floor, I'm startled by a wild Yamamoto screeching in the doorway. 

"TK-SENPAI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING SETTING UP ALL BY YOURSELF YOU COULD GET HURT!!" He rushes over to try and help me with the pole. Familiar with his antics by now, I lightly swat his hands away,

"Yamamoto, thanks for the offer of help, but I'm quite adept on my own. Now, if you don't mind grabbing some practice jerseys from the store room, I'd really appreciate it." I say, as I walk over to hang up the net. Yamamoto pouts but does so anyway, he knows by now not to second-guess my instructions. The last (And first) time that he implied I was weak as a woman, he got a good old-fashioned ass-whooping. 

Slowly, but surely, the rest of the boys filter in through the entrance over the next 10 minutes. Unsurprisingly, the last of which being Lev. I've began to notice a trend in his tardiness over the last few days. I make a mental note to bring it up with him. 

The practice goes smoothly for the most part, that is until the last 20 minutes of the session. Coach Nekomata has been running them extra tough today, much to my amusement. Although, he never mentioned why. While the boys are taking a break, I sidle over to the old coach. 

"Hey, coach?" I ask.

"Mm?" He says, acknowledging me.

"So uh, I've noticed that you've been training the team extra harshly today. If you don't mind me asking, why is that?" I say, hoping not to seem to impolite. The old man chuckles and turns to me,

"Right, I should have told you of this earlier. In about two weeks, we will be hosting a volleyball summer camp for about a week. We need to make sure our spot as the undefeatable cats stays in place, and practice is the only way to ensure that." I nod in understanding, then it hits me,

"Uh coach? Since I'm Nekoma's manager, do I have to organize it? I'm not sure I'm up to that task quite yet..." I say reluctantly. Without hesitation, the coach looks at my eyes with a feline-like intensity,

"You may not believe it yet, but I know you have great skills when it comes to organization and rounding up unruly teenage boys. Your talents would be greatly appreciated were you to help us organize this event. Of course, it's your choice." He says. Despite my shock at his wisdom, I really shouldn't be. I mean, he has been coaching teams for decades and has seen Nekoma at it's very prime. 

"I-I'm not sure. I mean, it would be a great honor, but at this point in time, I'm not quite sure. I mean, I've got a lot on my plate ri-" The coach cuts me off.

"No need to stress about it, young lady. How about you get back to me about it on Monday? Sleep on it over the weekend, yeah?" He smiles sweetly, before walking off to talk to one of the vice-coaches, leaving me standing there like an idiot. A tap on my shoulder brings me back to reality.

"TK-senpai? We've run into a bit of a dilemma..." I turn to see the owner of the voice, a first year on the shorter side, with a black middle part. A libero, I think.

"Hmm? Shibayama, right?" He nods at the mention of his name, "What's got you so worried, nothing I can't fix." I smile softly, patting the small boy on the head. Shibayama turns and points behind him where Yaku appears to be yelling at what looks like a corpse that I can only guess to be Lev. Nodding to Shibayama in thanks, I make my way over to the kerfuffle. 

"YOU CAN'T HIT ANY MORE SPIKES UNTIL YOU RECEIVE AT LEAST TEN BALLS! IT'S NOT THAT HARD!" Yaku jostles Lev's shoulders, who groans in response,

"Yakuuu-senpai. I'm deaaad. Please, just one spikeeeee." This does not go down well with Yaku, who facepalms angrily with frustration. 

"HOW DID IT TAKE YOU 7 MINUTES JUST TO HIT ONE RECEIVE?! ONCE YOU DO THE REMAINING NINE, HIT ALL THE SPIKES YOU WANT! AND IF YOU WERE DEAD, YOU WOULDN'T BE TALKING, YOU NUMB-NUT." He shoves the tall boy's legs, urging him to get up. Cautiously, I intervene, standing between the two,

"Hey, hey, hey," I say calmly, fanning my palms up and down, "Let's bring this down a few notches. What's got your panties in a bunch, boys?". This earns a confused look from both parties. Yaku collects himself first,

"Lev and I were practicing receives and I had told him to get to the goal of 10 receives. After one correct receive and 10 minutes of trying, this pathetic mess slumped down on the floor, begging to hit a spike." 

"Alright," I say, "No need for the name-calling. Lev? What's your perspective?" The silver-haired boy sulks for a moment or two, before mumbling out his response,

"Yaku-senpai was shouting at me to receive forever, and all I want is to hit a spike. But he just kept forcing me to reeceeeiiive. Then when I died here on the floor, he kept shouting at meeee." This does not sit well with Yaku, who starts up his counter,

"if yOU WEREN'T SO WEA-" I shut down the libero with a hard, cold stare and he stops as fast as he started.

"I signed up to manage a group of mature volleyball players, not a group of children. If you're going to act like a child, I'm going to treat you like one. Got it?" I say sternly, the two boys nodded,

 "Now go. Leave. Outside. Take a walk. Have a drink. Get some fresh air. Calm down. Once you think you've calmed down, come back and I'll see if you're fit to act like a god damn person." Yaku looks around before pointing to himself in disbelief and saying, 

"Me?" I sigh,

"Yes, you. Now if you're not out the doors in the next 10 seconds, I'm happy to kick you out for remainder of the day." Yaku obliges immediately, almost running to the doors. With one child dealt with, I turn to the other. I squat down to Lev's level. I decide to approach him more softly, knowing that the aggressive technique used on Yaku won't get me anywhere with Lev.

"Hey, Lev, look at me." I say kindly, "Come one, I don't bite. Now sit up and look at me." The gangly boy slowly rises from the floor and eases into a cross-legged sit. He looks at me with what I can only describe as eyes of a puppy who just got scolded for chewing up the carpet. I sigh and match his position.

"Okay. I know, it can be hard not to just cry and give up. But you want to be respected like a man, yes?" Lev nods, agreeing, "So, here's some advice from your senpai, Lev. Despite how harsh it can be sometimes, the most respectable and honorable option no matter what is to keep on trying until you physically cannot stand on your own two legs. To keep on at it through the harshest of battles, because in the end, the feeling you get when you achieve your goal or win your game, is absolutely amazing. Giving up is the worst feeling you can feel, so don't let yourself get down in the dumps like that again. And if you ever feel unsure or weak, know that your team is there for you. We've got your back and we'll help you no matter what, okay?" The entire gymnasium is silent for a solid minute before Lev nods, 

"Okay." He says, his voice groggy from crying earlier. I stand up and offer him my hand which he takes and stands up. I pat his back and smile comfortingly. 

"Holy shit. I was not expecting a whole-ass speech." Says Kuroo, "But damn, that deserves an award." I grab him under my arm and ruffle his already messy hair,

"Thanks, but as much as speeches are my forte, you are the team captain, so that should be your job, not mine." I say, releasing my grip on him. Kuroo smiles sheepishly, 

"I figured you had it under control." I shake my head, like a disappointed mother.  Kuroo has always been lazy. 

"Enough with the emotions now guys, practice is over. Head on home and I'll clean up, okay? You deserve it, it's been a hectic week." I holler to the team. After many thank yous and declined offers to help, the gym is finally empty and I get on to putting all the equipment away. What a day. Now all that's left to do is relax.

Hi readers! Sorry for such a long chapter, I really got caught up in it and I felt like it was a bit hard to split into two chapters. I have to go now, so sorry if there's any grammar mistakes, as I didn't double check it. Have a lovely day <3