Brisbane, Australia. Summer 2011
"Tatsuki dear, I know you're disappointed about missing the first few days of your team's training camp, but you'll make it back for the last day. Just enjoy our family vacation, okay honey?" Akemi Washio, Tatsuki Washio's mother told him.
The Washio family had been planning this trip over the past year and it had been a dream of his parents to come to the country and at this point in their lives, they could comfortably afford the trip and opted to bring their children along with them.
"Okay Mother, I'll enjoy myself," Tatsuki told his mother. He hadn't been all that thrilled at missing his team's training camp right before the national spring tournament qualifiers for Tokyo. He always enjoyed playing against the teams there, mainly Nekoma, seeing as how it was always satisfying to block the jackass Rooster-head and punk-ass ace of theirs. But alas, he gave in to his parents' whims and joined them on the family vacation, even his older sister was able to come, taking time off her studies to join, it made Tatsuki feel happy to see his family all together.
Tatsuki himself despite being a stoic and calm individual valued family above all else, well except maybe volleyball, it was one of the only times he outwardly showed emotion of any kind when he was with his family. Well…also whenever they won an important match as well, like he hopes to do this year and qualify for nationals.
Speaking of he really should stop worrying about the training camp, surely Akinori and Yamato can keep Bokuto under control…If not our level-headed first-year can do it. He was just as stoic as myself, if not more so having to deal with Bokuto all the time.
"Hey, Suki! I've got something for ya," his sister Akane told him, waving a poster in his face. "I think you'd enjoy, and besides I'd enjoy the eye candy…hehe."
…Ignoring that point Tatsuki looked at the flyer she gave him.
"BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT!
3 on 3.
WINNING TEAM GETS ETERNAL BRAGGING RIGHTS!
AND FREE DRINKS FROM THE BIG KAHUNA SURF SHOP AND CAFÉ FOR A WEEK!
SIGN UP WITH A TEAM OR COME ALONE AND GET A TEAM!
LOCATION: STREETS BEACH
JULY 3rd 3pm-6pm"
"I know you were bummed about missing most of your training camp. But with this, you can practice some, might not be as good but it's something! Mumma gets some eye candy too!" Akane said.
"…Fine, it's close to the hotel too," Tatsuki said, he could work on his English as well. Although it was pretty good, he would no doubt get better at speaking it by talking to them, Aussies had their own twang to English, so another level of difficulty if you would.
"Awesome! Hey, do you think the red or pink one is more eye-catching?" she asked and Tatsuki chose not to answer that, he wasn't going to help people leer at his sister. So, he just grabbed what he needed to play and exited the hotel room and told her to meet him in the lobby.
"TATSUKI HELP!!"
Tatsuki just closed the door.
~10 minutes later~
"I'd like to sign up," Tatsuki said to the person manning the sign-up table.
"Sure mate, just need ya name. Then we'll place ya with some others, that 'right mate?" he asked. Washio nodded and walked to the side within earshot, to get a look at the court he would be playing on.
It was your standard court nothing too special about it, surrounding the court there were some bleachers placed for spectators to watch. Apparently, there was enough of a draw for them to warrant getting a couple of them.
"Tatuu Washo! You here!" he heard his name? or an attempt at it and made his way over to the caller.
"Here, and it's Tatsuki," he told the organizer.
"Right mate, hard to pronounce that buddy. Anyways, them blokes be your teammates, 'right?" he gestured to the guys standing close by, and with a nod Tatsuki walked over and introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Tatsuki, I was told to pair up with you two," he started, his two improvised teammates were a similar height to him, if not a little shorter, (Washio is 6'2.2").
"Look at the size of ya bloke! Tat-, Taski-, eh fuck it, Tattoo I'll call ya," he said, "Names Paulie and this my mate Link, have ya played volley before?"
"Yes, and I play middle blocker usually. Hope that's fine," Tatsuki said, ignoring the fact he had basically just been called art.
"Fair dinkum, that'll work, Link plays setter, and I played wing," Paulie said, Tatsuki noted how Link never spoke, letting Paulie make conversation. "Anyways, it'll probably be a wash up till the finals, Mav will prolly be there, and we know how that'll end eh Link?" Paulie said, to which Link nodded. Seeming to already accept the little chance of winning.
"Who's this Mav?" Tatsuki asked, he had been intrigued, maybe this wouldn't be a waste of time. If this player was causing these guys to already forfeit the thought of winning it all, maybe Tatsuki would get a workout.
"Eh? Ya never heard of the Maverick? He's one of, if not the strongest bloke in youth volleyball, hell his team last year knocked us out at provides, guys a freak of nature," Paulie replied, Link nodding along. This was going to be a theme Tatsuki figured. But even he could tell these guys were genuinely afraid of the Maverick, Tatsuki wondered if he was similar to Bokuto in any way, he'll have to find out.
~2 Hours later~
The games he had been participating in were not that much of a challenge Tatsuki thought all things considered. There had been the occasional one that had experience in playing volleyball, but nobody that had stood out, well besides the Maverick or Bodhi Hamada Tatsuki had come to know.
The guy was an absolute freak at playing volleyball, he really did remind him of the bird-brained ace of his. Tatsuki could feel his blood start to pump at the thought of playing him in the finals, he just had to wait for Hamada to close it out. He also noticed how his last name was that of Japanese origin, maybe he had lived in his home country once upon a time.
"Hey lil' bro! You're killing it today!" his sister yelled at him, and while Tatsuki was thankful for the support, he just couldn't accept the praise with what she was wearing! Blatantly showing that much skin was bound to bring all sorts of plebians to his sister. He wouldn't have it! So, in a desperate attempt to save face, he forced her to wear his jacket he had brought, but that brought up another concern one his sister voiced.
"There ain't no way one of the Washio siblings ain't getting laid tonight, if it ain't me, it sure as hell ain't gonna be you muscle head!" she roared. Tatsuki however didn't get it. He wasn't that much of a muscle head, was he? Tatsuki had always been immune to peer pressure and social pressure, he didn't see the problem in handing (read forcing) his sister to wear his jacket, but she did. She could see all the lecherous stares her cute little muscle headed brother was getting from all the vixens! She wouldn't have it! None of them were good enough for him! The only who had her seal of approval was Yukie. That dense little boy couldn't see she was head over heels for him, something she was trying in vain to rectify.
"Suki! You will wear this!"
"NO! YOU MUST AKANE!"
""NO YOU""
The argument had not lasted much longer because the match had just finished, and the announcers announced the final match up between, his team and the Mavericks.
"Finally," Tatsuki said, forgetting all about his scuffle with his sister, but it was quickly brought to the forefront again when he heard the next words come out of her mouth.
"Oohoo, Mumma likey," Akane said, without a care in the world and much to Tatsuki's horror, as he noticed where her gaze was or to be more precise, who it was set upon…
The Maverick
"…I'm Gonna crush him," Tatsuki said with vigour. The Maverick would be bested today, of that Tatsuki had no doubt. However, he could not have been more wrong.