"G'day fellas…" Bodhi says to those already here. Although the responses he gets back are fairly lacklustre.
"Good morning…"
"Sup…"
"Mmm…"
Bodhi could gather that most of them weren't really morning people, he too was once upon a time. That is until he started to avidly do his morning workouts, all in the name of getting better at volleyball of course.
"Hopefully you guys will be awake for the games today," Bodhi prayed.
"They will be, I'll make sure of it," Iwaizumi said from behind Bodhi, having just arrived himself. "If they don't, they're in a world of hurt!"
It was nice having a dependable and fairly capable upperclassman in Iwaizumi. Not that the others weren't but let's just say if Bodhi had to call on some guys to a fight, he knew who to call first.
Iwaizumi was just a beauty like that.
"Iwa…" Oikawa whined out, collapsing onto the ground. "Carry me onto the bus!"
"Shittykawa you're on your own!" Iwa said to him.
"You're so mean Iwa-chan!"
Bodhi could only snicker at the two's antics. They had always been like this according to Maki and Matsukawa. Iwa always had a quick and often brutal comeback when it came to all of the times Oikawa annoyed him or pissed him off. But in the end, Iwa would always help him out in some for or another, they were partners after all.
A setter and the Ace.
Captain and Vice-Captain.
A well-oiled machine.
"Alright, gentlemen! It's time to board!" Coach Irihata said, signalling for all the boys to board. "Coach Mizoguchi and I will be alternating driving so neither one of us will be too tired once we arrive and Fukurodani."
"Yessir!" all the boys rang out. Getting onto the bus and finding a seat.
Bodhi opted to sit near the back and against the window. He had never seen the countryside going into Japan, so he was looking forward to it.
"Can I sit next to you Hamada?" Hana asked.
" 'Course mate, help yourself," Bodhi replied easily.
Hana smiling, sat down in the chair beside Bodhi and pulled out a travel itinerary.
"What's that?" Bodhi asked, gesturing to the booklet she pulled out.
"Mmm? This? It's the travel itinerary for the trip. It gives all the details on what we will be doing this training camp. Coach Irihata asked me to familiarize myself with it so I can help with the schedules and whatnot."
"Taking this manager role seriously, eh? Fair dinkum mate," Bodhi said, turning his head outside the window as the bus started to move.
"We should make it there in just about 5 hours gentlemen, to those of you still sleep deprived feel free to have a nap," Coach Irihata told them.
And just like that all of the boys drifted off into Neverland. All except for Bodhi who was normally awake near this time and could function properly.
~Break~
As Aoba Johsai was making their way to Tokyo, another team from Miyagi was as well, albeit two members less.
"Man, I can't believe they still failed after all that! And in such a crappy way too," Sugawara said aloud.
"Yeah, you should have seen Yachi's face when she found out they were all right on Hinata's sheet, just one-off. Poor thing fainted," Asahi said.
"These first few games will be all the tougher because they won't be there. And to face Aoba Johsai again this soon? It's gonna be rough," Daichi told his fellow third years.
"Good news on that front, my sister will be able to give them a ride. Don't know if they'll survive but it's a chance!" Tanaka said.
"Big sis is taking them! Awesome!" Nishinoya yelled.
"QUIET!" Coach Ukai yelled, silencing the rambunctious libero. "It's still early in the morning. If you guys make too much noise it'll wake the neighbours and then they'll get on my case."
"Yessir!" the players all responded without yelling.
"Good, now get on the bus, specs and I will alternate driving. Otherwise, you are free to do whatever you want on the bus, just don't be too loud. That means you Tanaka and Nishinoya!" Ukai told his players, signalling out the loudest two.
Being called out didn't dampen the two knuckleheads' spirits much but did shut them up. With how ruthless the coach had been in punishing Hinata and Kageyama for doing nothing, they started to smarten up a little bit around their coach.
"Okay, that's it. We've loaded all of your supplies Takeda-sensei." Kiyoko told their advisor. It was a part of the manager's job to make sure all the stuff was loaded up, having an extra hand also didn't hurt. Although Yachi wasn't all that strong, so she had to still do most of the heavy lifting, her cheers and apologies were helpful though.
"Thank you, Kiyoko, gentlemen please board the bus now. Next stop Tokyo!" Takeda said proudly.
Both teams from Miyagi were now on their respective ways to Fukurodani Academy where the first of two training camps are going to be held.
~Break~
"Alright everyone we're here! Time to unload all of our belongings and find our guide," Coach Irihata told his players.
Aoba Johsai had just arrived at Fukurodani High School, being the fifth team to arrive. They got there earlier than planned, arriving a whole 20 minutes before they were supposed to, so they were unsure if their guide would be there to show them where to go.
"Crazy how Coach Mizoguchi hit all those green lights in a row eh? Must of used up all of his luck," Yahaba said to Watari who he was standing beside.
"Yeah, I know right? He even started to tear up a bit at the thought of using it all up. Must be superstitious," Watari responded.
As all of the players unloaded themselves and their belongings, the coaches started to talk to one another.
"Do you think we'll have to wait for the person to show up? Being early and all?" Mizoguchi asked.
"It would appear to be that way, nobody is here. We don't even know who it'll be," Coach Irihata replied.
Bodhi who had overheard his coach's conversation, put in his two cents. After all, he knew who was supposed to show them around. "Nah, he'll be here early. The bloke's just like that,"
"What'd you mean, Hamada?" Mizoguchi asked. "How do you know-"
He was cut off however as a deep voice made their presence known. Standing at the top of the stairway leading to the school, a tall boy- nay man stood. His posture brimming with confidence and power.
"Bodhi," Tatsuki Washio announced. Grabbing the Maverick's attention. "This time I will win."
"Oh yeah mate? I'd like to see you try," Bodhi challenged back, walking to the base of the steps and looking up.
Despite not seeing each other in person for over a year. The heated rivalry that had blossomed last summer still held true. Neither one's desire to beat the other waned, one of them would fall, and in Bodhi's eyes it sure as hell wouldn't be him.
Tatsuki thought the same. With his team behind him, he knew he stood a far greater chance of beating the Maverick than before.
Aoba Johsai who had been watching the encounter between their first year and what they assumed to be another player from one of the teams present. Suddenly got the chills, as both players' gazes started to heat up.
Only for it to abruptly cut off as the person standing above them all was smacked over the head with a giant paper fan.
"Tatsuki! Stop intimidating the new team! And you were supposed to wait for me!" a girl spoke from behind the much taller boy. "Sorry for him. I'm Kaori Suzumeda a manager for Fukurodani, I'm supposed to show you where you'll be sleeping tonight and to show you where the gym is, Tatsuki for whatever reason decided to tag along," she said, huffing out the last part.
"Thank you miss," Coach Irihata said, his team thanking her and following her to where they'll be staying.
As Seijo climbed the stairs, following Fukurodani's manager, Bodhi lagged behind as he came face to face with Tatsuki. "I'm looking forward to beating your ass again Tattoo,"
"It'll be different this time Bodhi," Tatsuki replied, irked at the nickname Bodhi called him.
Their gazes started to heat up again, only for Iwaizumi to grab Bodhi by the collar and drag him along. "Stop chatting and hurry up!"
"Hai hai! Stop pulling so hard Iwa!" Bodhi whined out.
Iwaizumi was having none of it though and just continued to pull his troublesome junior along.
Tatsuki watching them leave turned around and went back to the gym. The game would be starting soon, and he was looking forward to when he got to play Bodhi again.
Just a little longer, then I'll finally crush you Bodhi!
Tatsuki who had been thinking to himself, hadn't noticed people calling out to him until he was once again smacked in the head with a big paper fan, this time by Fukurodani's other manager, Yukie Shirofuku.
"Tatsuki! Listen when I talk to you!" She began, getting his full attention on her. Something that made her stumble for a second as his dark gray eyes peered into hers. "A-a-anyway, did Aoba Johsai show up?"
"Yes, he's here as well," Tatsuki responded. A smile gracing his face
Yukie could only smile at that; she couldn't wait to see the person who caused such a change in her stoic crush. He had started to become more emotive when he came back, something that made Yukie fall even harder for the stoic middle blocker.
"Mmm! You won't have to wait much longer; the draws will be made once Karasuno gets here. And from what Kuro said they'll be here in 10 minutes," Yukie told him.
"Good."
Tatsuki left it at that as he went back to join the team in the pre-match stretching and warm-up.
Seijo who had just finished unpacking and changing into their practice jerseys, left their room and started to follow Kaori to the gym, when the came across a bunch of crows.
Karasuno, having arrived a couple of minutes ago, and after embarrassingly mistaking a water tower for the Tokyo Sky tree, were following Kenma and Kuro to where they would be staying. They didn't however expect to see the team that knocked them out of the Interhigh so soon.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Oikawa all but yelled at them.
"Wouldn't you like to know pretty boy!" Tanaka yelled back.
"Oikawa enough. Karasuno was invited just as we were. I found out yesterday they were coming and had yet to inform you all," Coach Irihata stated. "Coach Ukai, I hope this training camp will be beneficial to the both of us."
Coach Ukai walked forward and responded. "I'm sure it will be. I just hope-" He cut himself off as he noticed a boy, he hoped he would never see again, walk out of the room wearing a Seijo practice jersey.
"Hey Matsukawa, I left your- dye job?!"
"The Blonde BRAT!"
They both yelled at the same time, causing curious looks to be passed around between all the players and coaches present.
"Coach Ukai, Coach Nekomata wanted you to- Bo!?" somebody said from behind the Karasuno team. Causing Bodhi to look at them. And the second he did, he once again became entranced by her soft grey eyes.
"Kiyo!? What are you doing here?" Bodhi questioned, completely forgetting about the second biggest pain in the ass blonde haired dye job.
Kiyoko who was about to respond got cut off by the two knuckleheads of Karasuno.
""KIYO!?"" Tanaka and Nishinoya yelled at the same time.
"Just who the hell do you think you are gaijin!" Tanaka continued, while Nishinoya stood protectively in front of their goddess.
Bodhi who was brought back to reality, suddenly grew a tick mark on his head as once again he was called a gaijin! "I ain't no gaijin. Ya bloody wanker, get stuffed ya stubby!"
From there it devolved in a yelling match between the four. Peace only came when the most level-headed from both teams made themselves known
"QUIET!" Both Daichi and Iwaizumi yelled at the same time.
"Hamada! Shut it!"
"Tanaka! Nishinoya! Shut it!"
The hallway turned quiet for all but a moment as two sets of laughter rang out, one coming from pain-in-the-ass dye-job number 1 and a certain rooster head, who found the suffering of others funny.
The hallway was once again thrown into chaos.
Safe to say, the games would be starting late.
Author Note:
Now…I could go on to explain the reasons why this chapter was so late and come up with an intricate web of some sob story about how my dog passed away, or how I was whisked away by my missus on a spontaneous getaway to end the summer. But that would all be a lie.
Honestly?
I was just tired. And hungover most of the week. Went out one too many times with friends, it being the end of summer and all. Didn't really feel like writing.
But! I did it and have started the first part of the training camp. Bit chaotic innit?
I'll see how it all unfolds, I have some plans for it, but we shall see how the dice rolls on the front.
One thing to mention though some guy by the name of Fanfiction_Writer brought up an interesting point of maybe having two spots from Miyagi enter into the Spring Nationals. Now I don't know how well that would go over. Miyagi ain't that big after all.
But, I have an idea that might work involving the high school volleyball committee selecting different prefectures every year to allow for another team to represent them. Essentially another spot opens up for lets say Miyagi to have two representatives, or if it was Tokyo they would get 4 instead of 3 kinda deal. It would be the runner-up against the winner between the two semi-final loser's kinda thing.
If that's confusing, I'll explain it again next chapter and hear all your opinions.
Lemme know if that interests you guys, and I might MIGHT do it. It would be interesting anyhow.
This is Daedlaus19 checking out!
(P.S.. Next chapter Tuesday, Sep 3rd. Y'all can lynch me if it ain't up then.)