"Ahhh! It's scorching hot!" A second-year volleyball team manager screams as she stretched her arms above.

"Yeah, I feel like I'm melting y/n-chan" The brown-haired setter agrees while swaying his jersey to fan the air inside his chest.

"Iwa-chan I'm not in the mood to do anything today." Oikawa cries to the boy standing just behind them.

"Me too" The girl beside him agrees and she fell onto the floor of the gym and lay on her back. "I want to sleep to forget the weather." and she started to close her eyes.

"Oi! Stand up l/n. You too Lazykawa! We need to practice. The coach will be here in few minutes." Iwaizumi pulled the two to stand up.

"Hey, we're friends for a year now and you still call me by my family name. That's why you always confuse my brother." y/n says still her eyes closed.

Her brother is a previous member of Kitagawa Daiichi's volleyball team. He's the last year's team captain and ace before he graduates. It's that time when y/n entered the same school as first year and became the team manager.

"Learn from me Iwa-chan. I call her y/n-chan from day one." Oikawa proudly said. Iwaizumi bets that even her brother is not on the same team, Oikawa would probably still call her y/n.

Since young, y/n always play volleyball with her brother. She loves volleyball but paranoid enough to join an official team and play in an official match.

Her brother is a good player. He even got featured in a magazine twice before. She's afraid that if she pursues the same exact path her brother walks, people will have high expectations from her too. Just imagining it makes the young y/n shivers.

So when her brother asks her if she wants to join the girl's volleyball team in middle school, she refused. She excused that she just want to watch from the bench and support the players.

y/n, Oikawa, and Iwaizumi became close with each other. They look like siblings with Iwaizumi as the eldest brother who always gets stressed with all the crazy things y/n and Oikawa would think and do.

Another year has passed and they're on their last year in middle school now.

"Hey, y/n chan. You'll go to Aoba Johsai too right. Please say yes. We need a pretty manager" Oikawa said with a wide smile of hope and puppy eyes.

Y/n stop tossing the ball she's casually playing. Usually, she'll laugh with Oikawa's antics about being their pretty manager but a sad expression appears instead. She shakes her head and shows a sad smile.

"Don't tell me you'll go to Shiratorizawa like your brother?!" The brown-haired boy exclaimed. Gaining attention from other members in the gym.

Y/n giggles as it's so obvious how disappointed he is if the answer is right. But it's not Shiratorizawa either.

She shakes her head again. "Tokyo" she finally said. Her grips tighten on the ball she's tossing a while ago.

"That's far." Iwaizumi comments.

"Our father's work required him to transfer to Tokyo. Also, ni-san will follow after his last year in high school, He's planning to go to a university in Tokyo after a year. As for me, I'll start my first year high at Nekoma." the girl explained.

Silenced filled up for a while until Oikawa breaks it. "I'll miss you y/n chan!!!!!" Oikawa cried and hug the girl.

After a while he finally released her. They just lay their back on the walls without saying a word. Suddenly, a freshman with black hair and a fringe that hangs just above his dark blue eyes approached the three sempais.

"Oikawa-sempai! Please show me how to do a jump serve." His eyes are motivated and he looks so eager to learn.

Oikawa straightens his back and faces the young Kageyama with his hand resting on his hip."Yada yo!" He exclaimed. "Why do I'll help someone who'll be a threat in the future? You're an idiot! Baka! baka!" He said mocking the kid while sticking out his tongue.

The boy's facial expression saddened.

Iwaizumi hits Oikawa at the back just instantly. "Hoi! Don't pick a fight with freshman!" He said with an irk in his head.

"Stop it Tooru-kun!" y/n hold Oikawa's arm to calm him down. She then diverts her attention to the boy. "Let's go there, I'll try to help you the best I could." She said with a wide smile and brings the kouhai away from Oikawa.

"Hey don't steal y/n-chan!!!" Oikawa shouts only to earn another hit from his friend.

"Shut up. Shittykawa!"

• • • • • • • • •

Graduation came just as instant. The three sats on the stair going up to the club room of the volleyball team.

The ceremonies ended a long while ago. Some students already left school and the sun starts to set. Orange and purple hue painted the sky reflecting on their faces.

"Y/n-chan" Oikawa said breaking his voice at the process. He could no longer say anything as a lump starts to block his throat.

Y/n reached for his hand warming them. "We could still meet someday. I promise." She assured with a smile. This time she also reached her other hand to Iwaizumi. He's quite the whole time but y/n could see that he's saddened too.

"I'll miss you guys." She said before caging her friends in a tight warm embrace. It causes the boys to blushed but it faded just soon.

"We'll miss you too." They say in unison.

• • • • • • • • •

The truck carrying their things arrived at their new home in Tokyo. Y/n rushed upstairs to find her new room. She found empty rooms obviously but not sure which one is hers.

"Otousan? Which one is my room?" She peaked on the balcony.

"It's on the far end." Her father replied. Just as instant she runs to it and opens the door to the last room. A vacant room welcomes her. It's bigger than her old one and she's delighted to discover that her room will have a window now.

A glowing smile appeared on her face. She excitedly runs across the room to open it almost tripping on the process. The air blows her face just as instant making her squint her eyes.As she opened her e/c-colored eyes again, it meets with the boy standing in the room just across hers.

They're both frozen for feels like a whole minute as y/n unconsciously analyzed his features.

He's tall and lean. He has narrow eyes which she's can't tell the color from their distance. He has black hair that looks messy and spikes upwards. He also has a fringe on his right side that partially covers his eye.

His facial expression is surprised as her. He looks like a cat caught stealing something.

"Hey!" He broke the silence. He tried to fix his hair one last time but it still sticks up. He looked at her with his signature killer smirk. "The new girl next door!" using the term used in pertaining to a character who is often used in romantic stories.

y/n's eyes widened from that awkward encounter. She doesn't know how to respond. Seems like it's out of the script.

"Hello," she simply said. "I have to go" she followed and closed the window even before he could speak again

It's a warm afternoon in a middle school in Tokyo.

Test results are released. The students gathered in front of the bulletin board to check out their rankings.

Some students have seen jumping in joy, but some are looking devastated.

In the middle of the crowd, stood a boy towering over other students of the same age as him.

He has his usual messy hair that stands up without the help of any hair products. His hazel-colored eyes scan the list of names until he found it sitting above the list beside the number 2.

#2 Kuroo Tetsuro

His face lit up. "There it is!" he smiled.

"What number?" A shorter boy with long black hair and slouched posture asked him. You can't tell if he's really interested or not. His name is Kenma Kozume, 1st year.

"It's number t—"

"Wow! Yoko-chan! You're amazing!"

Kuroo was interrupted by the group of girls screaming just a meter away. At the same time, Kenma's skin crawls like a surprised cat because of the sudden noise.

"Hssh! We're in the hall!" A girl in the group hissed with a gentle smile on her face. Her long index finger is resting on her lips.

She's taller than the rest of the other girls. Her hair is long and black with tiny curls on ends.

The young Kuroo looks at her with his mouth slightly open. He could hear their conversation loud enough because of the few distances between them.

"You're on the top the ranked again!" A shorter girl beside her said. Kuroo looked at the board in front once again. He checks for the name that's written just above his.

"Yoko Tamami..." He unconsciously utters the name. He looks back beside him, and his eyes met with the girl's blue eyes that are looking directly at him.

Her eyes are as blue as the sky. Her lashes are long, and her face is innocent with a wondering expression sitting on it. She just heard a stranger said her name out of nowhere.

"Kuroo!" Kenma called for his friend for the nth time.

Kuroo jump in surprise. He blinked his eyes twice and met Kenma's worrying look.

"You're spacing," Kenma said.

"Kuroo, right?" the female voice echoes and goes straight into Kuroo's ear like music. He looks in the direction of the voice. Once again, their eyes met. "Kuroo Tetsuro?" She continued with a sweet smile.

Kuroo nodded. He then recovered himself. He stands straight and pats his uniform twice and with his signature killer smile, he introduced himself.

"I'm Kuroo Tetsuro, and you're Yoko Tamami isn't it?"

The girl smiled and nodded. "Yes, nice to meet you." She said and offered her hand for a shake which he accepts.

Just after that, they both realized that the crowd is unusually silent. Kuroo looks around only to meet their gaze. Everyone is circling them. Some even held a phone to capture the moment.

Since that day, the Kuroo x Yoko ship started to sail. Almost everyone in their grade is talking about that encounter.

Kuroo is known to be the smart kid in their grade. He excels both in academics and sport. Since his first year, he became the starting member of their school's volleyball team in official matches. Not to mention, he's also good-looking and friendly.

On the other hand, there is Yoko Tamami. She's known for being a prodigy in gymnastics. She even competes in professional competitions for her age group since young. She's also attractive and smart.

For everyone's eyes, they are both perfect. It'll be like a fairy tale if both of them end up together.

From that encounter, Kuroo and Yoko became friends and officially date before the winter starts. Everyone is delighted with that news. It easily spread like a wildfire. Well, everyone is on watch about their relationship like they are campus celebrities.

At first, Kuroo and Yoko are not bothered by too much attention, but it weighs more as time progress.

During their last year in middle school, they started to have little conflicts. Thankfully, it usually doesn't last long. They continue hanging out together. Every day, Kuroo will walk her to the class. Eat lunch together, waiting for each other after club activities to go home together. During weekends they will also go out together for a date. But without them realizing it, everything started to feel more like an obligation to both of them.

It's turning to be like a responsibility to please the people around them, including their parents. They also think that it'll be best if they end up together. Well, they even start acting like in-laws. Unknown to them, they're just adding weight for their children with all their expectations for the future that is still too early to conclude.

Graduation came. Yoko decided that she'll continue her studies in her grandparent's hometown, Miyagi. Part of her just wanted to escape their relationship that is starting to confuse her.

Her parents object to her decision, but she insists. Kuroo also tried to convince her, but it's not enough for her to change her mind.

Later on, they end up with a resolve that they will continue their relationship. Kuroo promised to visit her as often as possible if he got a chance. She's an important part of his life and it hurts him that she'll be far from him. But he agreed as it may help Yoko and himself to grow.

"I'll promise I'll wait for you. I'm sorry if I make you feel confused," he said while holding her small face between his hands. His eyes show pain, and they're shaking as his tears are starting to building up.

That'll be his last moment with her before she leaves.

Yoko smiled and tried to hold her tears. "It's not your fault. I just need some space and rest. Maybe also time far away from the busy streets of Tokyo. We're still young." She paused and held both of his hands and gently pull them away from her face.

"I promise. I'll be back." She smiled before letting go of his hands.

• • • • • • • • •

The new school year is just in a week.

Kuroo asked Kenma to meet in the park to play volleyball. He's in his room gathering the stuff he needs and preparing. They can no longer play as often as they like after the new school year starts. They'll be in a different school now.

"Only for a year." He whispered to himself. He thought that once Kenma graduated he will go to Nekoma too.

Kuroo's train of thought interrupts when he realized that he's spending almost a million years already, only trying to fix his hair down but it still sticks up.

"Come on." He tried once again. Even knowing he never succeed even once in his lifetime.

His phone beeps showing Kenma's message.

Kenma: I'm here. Where are you?

He starts to panic. But someone from the window across his room caught his attention.

Her h/c hair is tossed by the air and her round eyes are looking straight at him. For a second the time seems to slow down a little.

"Hey!" He fixes his hair and looked at her with his signature killer smirk. "The new girl next door."

It's the last weekend before the new school year starts.

Y/n never opened her window since that day. She's afraid that she'll see the boy on the other window once again.

"Why do I'm avoiding him?" A thought popped into her mind. She doesn't know either. But her weird reflex on their last encounter makes her embarrassed and she's now afraid to face him.

"Did I sound rude?" She wonders.

She peak into the window hiding behind the curtains. But he is not there. She relaxed and slide the curtain open and swing the glass to let the air comes inside.

She feels bored right now. Missed playing volleyball. She doesn't even have her brother with her or her friends to play with.

y/n lay on her bed flat on her back before reaching the volleyball that sits beside her bed.

She starts tossing it into the air while looking blankly into the ceiling.

Bored.

• • • • • • • • •

"Awww, I injured my hand just before the class starts? Perfect. I'm so lucky!" Kuroo sarcastically expressed while holding his right hand with the wounded index finger.

"It's just a wound. It'll heal soon" Kenma said as they enter the taller's home to find the first aid kit.

After his wound was treated they go upstairs and decide to play some video games.

Kenma settled on the floor with his back on the bed's side. While Kuroo proceeds to the window to open the curtains and let the natural light comes in, but something caught his eyes.

"Kuroo?" Kenma calls when he realized that he's taking long.

"Volleyball..." Kuroo simply mutters that puzzled the younger.

"What do you mean?" Kenma asked. Now with all his attention to Kuroo.

"Hsss! Quiet. She might get scared again if she realized where here." Kenma frown because it's pretty obvious that Kuroo's voice is always louder than him. "Does she play volleyball too?" He asked no one specifically.

Kenma walks to his side and looks at the window as well. "Is she the one you're telling me last week?" Kenma asked still his eye watching the ball being tossed.

Kuroo nods.

"Don't tell me you like her." Kenma starts leaving his side and grabs his console once again

"No! I don't!" he defends forgetting that he just ask Kenma to tone down his voice a minute ago.

"AKK! HELL!" the girl expressed.

y/n accidentally tossed the ball stronger. It bounced on the ceiling and her hand slipped causing it to hit her directly on her face.

Oh yeah, I forgot to put a tape on it. She says while rubbing her injured finger. She got it on her last week in Miyagi while playing with her brother in the park.

She immediately gets up from her bed but meets Kuroo's eyes once again.

Kuroo was found off-guard. This time he's guilty of purposely looking into her room. His stomach rolls, and he can't think clearly what to say so she wouldn't accuse him of being a creepy stalker.

y/n snapped to reality. She stands up and walks towards the window ignoring the throbbing pain on her hand and mouth. She takes a deep breath before saying:

"I'm sorry for the last time. I think I'm a bit rude." She bowed with a hint of red tint on her face.

Kuroo was surprised because he doesn't think of it as being rude in any way. He scratched the back of his head before saying:

"Don't worry it's o— wait!, it's BLOOD!" Kuroo exclaimed pointing at her face.

Y/n was startled and touched her face. She saw blood on her hand after touching her lips. Her eyes widen.

Shoot the ball! I bit my lips! she internally screams.

"Hey catch!" he shouts and y/n caught it. It's a small pack of tissue.

"Thanks, she mutters before getting a sheet to wipe of the blood.

Geez, I'll have a wound on my face just before the class starts. I'm so lucky -_-

• • • • • • • • •

Monday. First day of class.

Y/n look at the mirror one last time. She wore a white blouse with a black vest and dark blue blazers. The color of the blazer matched her pleated skirts.

It's Monday and it'll be her first day in Nekoma high.

She frowns at the sight of the wound on the side of her lips.

"Aww, you look like a delinquent who just got into a fight," she said to her reflection. While waving her right hand that is also covered with tape.

"Ittekimasu!" she said even know her dad has gone to work already an hour earlier. She locked the door and starts walking.

"Tokyo...I thought it'll a lot different than Miyagi. Oh well, it's not like we're isolated. Miyagi is still on the suburb." She monologues to keep her mind busy while walking.

Suddenly, a cat sitting on top of one of the resident's fences caught her eye.

"Woah! he's huge!" y/n run to the cat. She's looking up to see more of the cat's features. "I wonder if he's the alpha male cat," she whispered to herself.

"You're so black and your eyes look smug. On second thought, you're more like scary than cute." She said to the cat which of course doesn't respond. "What's your name? Hmm... I think the name 'Kuro' suits you well because you're black." She smiled as she claps her hand.

"Here! Kuro-chan~ Mish mish mishi mishi kitchi pish pish Kuro-chan come here." She tried all the cat-like sounds she could mutter to call the cat but it ignores her.

"Snub Kuro-chan!" She frowns.

"Oi, are you picking up a fight with a cat?!" A tall figure appeared behind her causing her skin to crawl like a scared cat. She slowly looks behind and found a familiar person.

"Ehh?! you?!" She moves a step back.

"What's wrong with that cat! Isn't he cute?" He pointed at the cat that somehow looks bored. It meows a deep meow before jumping inside the fence.

"It looks mad and unfriendly," y/n answered and starts walking ahead. Kuroo followed behind her.

"Hey get back your harsh words towards that poor little 'kitten'"Somehow, Kuroo feels affected by y/n's negative remarks towards the black cat. And he got a feeling that he wants to defend it.

"It's too big for a kitten." y/n pouted looking back in his direction. "Hmm, on the second glace. I think you have the resemblance. Is that your Kitten?" She laughed.

"Stop making fun of him," he mutters slowly fading the last words. Why do I'm arguing just because of a cat? he realized.

Kuroo looked at the girl who's now walking ahead of him. She wears a uniform with the same palette of colors as him.

"Are you going to Nekoma too?" He asked. Y/n stoped and look at him. That's only the time she noticed that he's wearing the same uniform. Only the male version. She nods.

"What year?"

"First year."

"Ahh, same. Anyway, does it still hurt?" He asked looking at the wound on the side of her lip.

"Not much anymore. But it bothers me. Lucky to start the new school year with this." She laughs.

They continue walking side by side not sure what to talk about. Kuroo walks slowly on the roadside. He knows well how to control his speed because of Kenma.

"Hey! It's that the Tokyo tower!?" Y/n pointed out to a tower. Her face is gleaming from happiness like a child seeing a giraffe or a dolphin for the first time. "Sugoi!!"

Kuroo tried to hold his laughter as he feels bad to disappoint her but he can't help it.

"Pft! WAHAHAHAHA!" He laughs hard as if his guts would come out of his mouth causing y/n to pout.

"Are there no transmission tower from where you from?" He laughs between his words like it's the funniest joke he ever heard in his lifetime.

"So it's not?" She asked. Kuroo nods with his fake sad face telling 'condolence'

"Anyway, where are you from?" Kuroo asked her while wiping off his tears.

"Miyagi. Miyagi prefecture." She answered. 'Miyagi' rings an alarm on the dark-haired boy.

Yoko

The two continued walking until they reached their destination. They separate ways in the locker room only to reunite again in the same classroom.

"We're in the same class?" Kuroo mutters as he settled on the seat behind her.

"It seems like that" She laughs.

Somehow, they easily get comfortable with each other. It's like they already know the other for a long time.

Except with the fact, that they don't even know the name of each other yet at this time.