'Clothes… rip to pieces?!'
Yachi Hitoka's mind instantly filled with every terrifying drama scene she'd ever seen on late-night TV. Her imagination spun wild, kidnappings, bullies, stalkers. She shook her head frantically, then nodded just as quickly.
"What do you mean by shaking your head and nodding at the same time?!" Jin's voice was low and sharp. "Answer me, do you dare to scream again?"
Hitoka shook her head hard, eyes wide and pitiful, not daring to meet his gaze.
Jin loosened his hand a little. Sure enough, though her lips trembled, she didn't make a sound.
To anyone watching, it looked exactly like some twisted villain cornering a poor girl in a back alley.
"Good. Now, I'll ask you something. You'd better answer honestly." Jin braced one hand against the wall, blocking her way out.
"Y-Yes!" Hitoka squeaked immediately. Life was in this scary person hands, what else could she do but obey?
"Have you joined any clubs at school?" His tone was still chilling, but the question itself sounded bizarre.
Hitoka blinked. That's what he was asking? She thought he'd demand something shameful, but instead…
"…No." She shook her head carefully.
Jin's mouth curled slightly. "Perfect. Then, if you were asked to be the volleyball club's manager, would you do it?"
"Manager…?" Hitoka froze. In her mind, a manager was someone cool and capable, someone confident, reliable, not a timid girl like her.
"I… I don't think I'm capable enough…" she mumbled timidly.
"What was that?" Jin's voice cracked like a whip.
"Eek!! Y-Yes! I can! I'll do it!" Hitoka panicked, blurting out the opposite.
"That's better." Jin smirked. He reached into his pocket dramatically, fumbling around at his waistband.
Hitoka couldn't see clearly, and that only made her imagination worse. *W-What's he pulling out? Something dangerous?!*
"Relax. I'll show you," Jin muttered darkly.
Hitoka trembled, bracing for the worst. "No… please no…"
"Hold this." Jin suddenly grabbed her hand and pressed something into it.
Terrified, Hitoka squeezed her eyes shut. "I can't! I've never."
But when she peeked down, she saw a slip of paper.
"K-Karasuno Volleyball Club… Manager Appointment Letter?" She stared, stunned.
Jin crossed his arms smugly. "That's right. It's yours. Want to back out?"
"I-I won't! I won't back out!" Hitoka shouted, shaking her head again and again.
"Good. Tomorrow after class, report to the gym. If you don't show up…" He let the threat hang in the air with a sinister laugh.
"I-I'll go! I'll definitely go!"
Looking at her flustered, cautious expression, Jin found her oddly adorable. Since she hadn't recognized him, he decided to go one step further.
"Close your eyes." His tone was sharp again.
Without hesitation, Hitoka obeyed.
In that moment, Jin leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on her lips. The warm, soft touch and faint girlish scent made his heart race.
"Ehh?!" Hitoka's eyes flew open, stunned speechless.
By the time she recovered, Jin had already sprinted away, laughing proudly.
Hitoka stood frozen in place, clutching the paper in her hand. "M-My first kiss… stolen by… that bad guy…" Her eyes welled up with tears, caught between anger and confusion.
As she walked home in a daze, something glinting on the ground caught her attention.
It was a student ID card. On it was a photo and the words. 'Karasuno High School – First Year, Class 7.
Shirogane Jin.'