Teddy Meets Karasuno

I sighed in relief as I heard the bell ring, signalling lunch break. I closed my History book and stood up, planning to go to the toilet before going to the roof to eat lunch.

"Teddy!" I turned around to see Hinata, his smile wild as he clutched his lunch box to his chest. He waved me over. "Lunch break!"

"I'm coming, you impatient brat," I murmured as I fished out my lunch box from my bag.

"Oi, I heard that!" he shouted. "I may be shorter, but I'm older!"

Kageyama appeared behind him and smacked his head from behind. "Dumbass, he's two months older than you."

"Kageyama! You JERK!"

I ignored my two new friends. I may be in a different classroom from them. Still, I took a liking to their weird dynamic and unusual arguments. It doesn't matter if it's about volleyball or their unique competitions. Their arguments are always entertaining.

So, yeah, I'm now officially a first-year high school student at Karasuno. Yū made sense, and Harry agreed. A week after I met Yū, Harry escorted me to the school, and I was assigned to Class 3. When we moved to Japan, I had to 'dye' my hair red. I'd love to keep my blue hair, but our guide said Japanese schools are rigorous about dyed hair. The guide knew I'm a metamorphmangus, so he suggested that I stick to natural hair colours—or better yet, stick to black hair. But I'm stubborn and chose red, though lighter than a Weasley red. I got several once-overs from my classmates, and the teachers tried to get me in trouble because of my red hair. I told Harry I had no problem dropping my trousers and pants down to show I'm a natural ginger, but Harry stopped me and assured everyone (while he tried to hold his laughter) that my hair wasn't dyed.

The Vice-Principal was appalled about my red hair at first but looked the other way when he tripped (on air) after he closed his office door to interview us. Harry and I tried to contain our laughter when the Vice Principal's wig went flying.

Yū, or Nishinoya Yū, fetched me from my classroom after my first day of classes and practically dragged me towards the volleyball club. I didn't bring any change of clothes that first day, and I was too polite to accept a spare shirt and shorts from a blond guy named Tsukishima. I stayed by the side-lines and watched the team practice spikes, receives and diving. While I watch them, I mentally made a list of things I needed to buy, from a water bottle to volleyball trainers.

Harry surprised me when I got home that day with full volleyball gear. He got me sportswear, trainers, socks, and towels. He even completed it with arm and knee pads, ankle braces, a sports bottle, three volleyball balls, and a sports bag to house everything in. Lastly, Harry escorted me towards the empty guest house and surprised me with my very own gym. He even called a wizard to transform part of the backyard garden into a decent-sized pool. Dobby cleaned and packed everything for me— he even sneaked in a first aid kit into my sports bag –along with a humongous lunch box courtesy of Winky the next day.

Tanaka-sempai got a kick out of my embarrassment when I showed Hinata the contents of my bag. However, Kageyama was fanboying the brands of each of the items. I couldn't care less. I'm happy I have Harry's support to officially join a sports club. He was concerned about my metamorphmangus abilities and inhuman strength going out of control during a game. Meditation and a glamour bracelet sealed the deal. I will stay on my current appearance (unkempt red hair, green eyes like Harry's and freckles I unconsciously imitated from the Weasleys) until I remove the bracelet.

I was anxious when I showed my volleyball skills during practice, especially the coach, who was the grandson of the retired volleyball coach who taught me to play volleyball. I didn't participate in an official game because I could not hold my strength—especially days before and during the full moon. Harry said I was like a kid who drank several cups of coffee on a sugar high. I can't sit still, adrenaline pumping through my veins and... er, would sometimes bite off everyone's head for no reason. I'm not a hothead and do not have a temper, but everything goes up to the surface as the full moon comes closer.

I even finished The Heartbreak Hill half the time when the third-year students brought the whole team there. I stopped at the top of the hill without breaking a sweat, while the second years arrived a minute later, panting their hearts out. Then, during the practice match with Nekoma, I jumped too high and couldn't properly receive the ball with my hands. I punched it instead. I hit the ball with my knuckles too hard. I did a somersault mid-air, landed on my feet, and looked over the Nekoma side, but every player was just standing still like mannequins. Mannequins with wide eyes and shock expressions on their faces. I didn’t know what happened until Hinata pointed at my hands. I looked down and saw the deflated ball wrapped around my fist. Sugawara-sempai told me after the match that the coach was crackling madly. I even saw him looking at Kageyama, Hinata and I with bright eyes while we trained. It gave me the creeps until Sawamura-taichou said it’s a look Coach Ukai has whenever a talented player comes along. Though, he did say it promises more pain than anything else.

After a few days, I understood what he meant when the coach gave a training routine for Hinata and me to follow. I was black and blue every time I got home. I'm more than grateful that Harry has a potions cupboard that is always fully stocked.

I followed Kageyama and Hinata to the rooftop with my huge lunch box. I tried telling Winky I couldn't finish everything she packed for me, but the little elf was stubborn and told me to share it with my classmates. My packed lunch is good for four. That is if each asks for a second helping. This is another reason I took a liking to Hinata and Kageyama. Or it's the other way around. I hate coming home to show Winky that I brought back leftovers. At least with these two, they can polish off my lunch box.

"What did Wanda pack for you?" Hinata eagerly let go of his bento as he excitedly waited for me to unpack my lunch. "The egg sandwich from yesterday was delicious!" He moaned in longing.

Even in the muggle world, calling someone Winky is a bit weird. Fortunately, Winky isn't offended when I told her I call her Wanda in school. She liked the name and almost cried when I told her Hinata appreciated her cooking. I think that's also why my packed lunch is always full to the brim.

I opened my lunch bag, and without looking, I presented it to Hinata, who ooh'ed and aww'ed at what was inside. Kageyama, however, choked on his milk yoghurt when he saw the contents.

"Is that Ruby Roman!" His eyes were the size of golf balls as he pointed at the box incredulously.

"Waah~" Hinata gawked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

I peeked into the bag as I snatched Hinata's club sandwich. "Harry was sent a bunch of them last night from the office," I explained as I ignored Kageyama's outraged remark ("A bunch of them?!"). "I tried one last night, but I didn't like it. The small seedless ones are the best." I shrugged. "Reuben sandwich, potato salad, cucumber, and carrot sticks for the side." I said as I snatched half of the vegetables, two portions of the sandwich from the box and Hinata’s club sandwich before shoving the rest towards the two, "These are mine. Help yourselves."

It didn't take long before Hinata and Kageyama started arguing between themselves. Winky packed two whole French baguettes, cut into four each, and stuffed with, by the looks of it, a quarter pound of meat each with oozy cheese and gherkins.

I do need to eat meat. Compared to a regular guy, I can pack triple the amount. I crave blood on my meat when it’s closer to the full moon. It's usually before and on a full moon when Harry and I would eat steak. He can enjoy his medium-rare New York steak with a glass of red while I enjoy my three servings of blue Tomahawk and an ice-cold butterbeer.

I rescued a piece of gherkin from the box before Hinata and Kageyama's grabby hands. I watched them argue who had the better piece and debate who gets to finish the grapes.

After forty-five minutes, I packed away the empty lunch bag and secured it with the cloth. Before we left the rooftop, though, I heard my phone beep from my pocket. I followed Hinata and Kageyama down the stairs with one eye as I read Harry's text.

Fleur and Victoire came to visit. I told them you're attending school at Karasuno, and Victoire is interested. I'll bring them to the school today.

Huh. That's unusual. Victoire and I may not have grown up together, but we are technically classmates during Aunt Hermione's short classes. We would meet during the holidays and the occasional birthdays, most often at the Burrow. She is a loner, bookworm, and Aunt Hermione's favourite among the other kids. No wonder the same minds think alike.

I wouldn't call her a genius. The better word would be mature. Harry thinks it’s because of what happened to Aunt Fleur. She was pregnant with twins, but they died a few days after their birth. Uncle Bill wasn't around the time of her brothers' death, which left her to tend to her mother before help arrived.

By the way, Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur didn't follow us to Miyagi because Harry had asked Aunt Fleur to manage the office for him. Harry owns a sporting goods store in Tokyo. Then Uncle Bill resigned as a Curse Breaker to work in the muggle world instead. What type of muggle job would someone have in the muggle world after being a Curse Breaker? I honestly do not know. However, Harry said Bill was enjoying his job and left Bill and Fleur to their own devices.

If Victoire is going to attend high school, she’s either bored or the Tokyo scenery is also suffocating her.

I jogged to keep up with Hinata and Kageyama while I typed my reply with one hand. I'll meet you guys at the gate at 3:15 pm. I'll tell the team I'll be late.

We almost went past my classroom when I poked Hinata's shoulder. "Hey, would you mind telling the coach and Sawamura-taichou I'll be late for practice? Just for fifteen to thirty minutes. I need to meet my godfather and cousin at the school gates after school."

"Your cousin?" He tilted his head in wonder, making me think of how dogs tilt their head. "Is he going to Karasuno too?"

"She," I corrected. "My godfather said she is interested. Either she is bored or just wants to see my school. Victoire isn't the type to socialise."

"Vi- Vee- Veectah?"

I chuckled. "Veek-toh-ah," I enunciated. "Her mother is French. It means Victory. Shōri."

His eyes gleam with delight. "Does she know how to play volleyball?" He asked excitedly. Everything is about volleyball to him. "If she's part of the team, it's a sure victory for us!" He gave me a thumbs up, but Kageyama, who walked back to where we were, heard our conversation and whacked Hinata behind the head again.

"Dumbass, his cousin is a girl," he said as a matter of factly. "She will need to join the girls’ team instead."

"No," I chose to answer Hinata's question, "I don't think she would like to join the club." She might complain about the sweat on her hair. "But I can introduce her to you guys when she arrives."

After class, I met them by the gates and accompanied them towards the Vice Principal's office. Along the way, she garnered looks of admiration as we walked but ignored them, favouring my and Harry's company.

"Settling okay, Teddy?" Harry ruffled my hair.

I blushed beet red as I answered, "Er, yes. I have practice today, though. I can give Victoire a tour later."

Harry smiled in approval. "Alright, but I think this would be quick." Harry glanced at the Vice Principal, looking in awe at the blonde girl at the window outside the Vice Principal's office as she took in the view. "I don't think your Vice Principal will say anything about Tori's admittance."

I glanced up, wide-eyed. "So, she's really attending Karasuno?" I asked. "But she's only fourteen!"

Harry chuckled. "She won't have it any other way," he said as a matter of factly. "I don't know if I have told you this, but Tori attended middle school while you were home-schooled. And before you say anything, you know why." He looked at me pointedly.

That shut me up. It was difficult for me to control my metamorphmangus in the first year we moved to Miyagi. Even if I have been training and mediating since before my eleventh birthday. My emotions would run high, and I was always in one of my moods. So, Harry hired teachers to teach me. Teach us, actually, as Harry said, that he's not a good Occlumens and meditation is one of the critical components of mastering such skill. Being in the same "class" as my godfather, let alone another adult, was unnerving. I only got the sealing bracelet a year ago.

"Fleur said that she skipped grades. You know how Tori is Hermione's favourite among the kids, so she taught her more than the others," he sank his hands in his pockets and straightened up. "The muggles labelled her as a genius. If it wasn't for you, she'd be attending uni."

"Me? Wait, uni?" I exclaimed.

"Hmm. We have trainees that are attending university. They would sometimes bring their books to the training centre to study during breaks," he elaborated. "Tori would visit Bill at work and spend the whole day with him and his trainees. She never interacted with kids her age. It's always the adults at the training centre or with the managers. She saw the books they brought, and the next thing they knew, she was teaching them their classes. Fleur agreed for Tori to attend high school to slow down her pace because if given a chance, Fleur suspected that Tori could ace the entrance exam. Fleur looked exuberant at the idea of Tori attending high school that I couldn't say no."

I glanced up at him questioningly.

"Oh, I didn't tell you?" I shook my head. "Sorry," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "When Bill resigned as a Curse Breaker, I hired him as an employee for the company. I only sent him to the building, and HR interviewed him. I didn't tell Bill or HR to place him in a particular department, but I only heard that he's a sports trainer now for one of the teams representing us. He ensures they are in tip-top shape before participating in any tournament."

"Oh," I remarked weakly.

Tori tore her gaze from the view and turned around, seeing the Vice Principal for the first time. She bowed at him, "Honma ookini atte kurete jibun de."

Oh, right. I forgot to mention. At some point, Victoire was home-schooled too, but it’s mostly by someone teaching her Japanese. However, she took a liking to Kansai-ben during our lessons because her Japanese teacher was from Osaka.

The Vice Principal looks about to cry, his wig shaking in place. Then Victoire gave him the killer move and smiled at him. It's my first time seeing a full-grown adult bawl like a baby.

I glance at Harry disbelievingly. He only laughed. "See?"