Chapter 16

                                    

                                          
The training on the second day went like the usual routine as all five schools were trying their best to enhance their volleyball skills. After all, they all have the same goal: To go to Nationals. The day passed by quickly that it was already night time and the members were all back to their assigned room. Kurumi was with her members and they were gathered in circles to share scary stories.
When it was Kenma's turn to tell, he decided to share about the recent dream he had. "Kuroo's body was soaked with blood. It was hard to tell whose blood it was, but it did look like he was enjoying it since he was laughing."
Kuroo then entered the room as he dried his hair. "Oya? You guys are sharing stories without me?"
Everyone ignored him and Kenma continued to talk. "Kuroo then turned his head towards me as his neck began to twist in an ugly form. Before I could even back away from him, he gave me a twisted smile as he pointed at me. Then he said, 'We are the body's blood - flow smoothly and circulate oxygen so the brain functions normally.'"
Everyone screamed in horror at Kenma's story. 
"What the heck?! Even at that state, he recites the chant?!" Yaku yelled in disbelief and horror.
Everyone else nodded in agreement. "How can he say the chant in that state?!"
"Wait what? You guys are horrified about the chant and not by the fact I was covered in blood, laughing?" Kuroo asked in confusion.
Kurumi laughed at his comment and the members' reaction.
• • •
Kurumi was carrying the bottles as she tried to go around the gym to head out and make the drinks. As she was trying to be cautious to not interrupt the matches, she failed to notice a volleyball flying straight to her face.
"WATCH OUT!"
"UME!"
"KITTEN, WATCH OUT!"
When she turned her face to the side at the yells, the volleyball was slammed onto her face, making her fall backwards at the sudden, hard impact. The ball fell on the ground while the bottles she was carrying was scattered on the floor around her. She then heard several footsteps running towards her way as she sat up. Her eyes were teary from pain as she held onto her nose. Kuroo crouched down in front of her. "Let me see."
When she uncovered her nose, she felt something dripping down. The people around her widened their eyes. "Ume, you're bleeding!"
"N-N-N-Nose bleed!!!" Hinata yelled.
"I'm so sorry!" Gora apologized frantically.
Kurumi's hands immediately flew to her nose once again, trying to prevent the blood from flowing out even further. 
"Kurumi, here," Kiyoko handed her some tissues. 
Kurumi thanked her as she began to cover her nose with the tissue and cleaned the blood that dripped on the floor. When she looked at her side, she saw that someone has already gathered the bottles together, which she thanked silently to whoever did it.
"I covered my nose already, it should stop soon. I'll go make the drinks now," she said as she stood up.
Everyone else began to head back to their court while Akaashi and Kuroo remained by her side.
"Kitten, just sit down. I'll go make the drinks," Kuroo said.
"Kuroo-san, it's just a nose bleed. I can manage just fine," she protested.
"Ume, just listen to him and go sit down until your nose bleed stops," Akaashi added.
"It's just nose bleed," she mumbled. "You guys are over-reacting."
"Just listen to us," Akaashi said, not backing down.
Kurumi nodded with a pout. Kuroo ruffled her hair before telling her to go back to the bench while Akaashi headed back to his court. Kuroo then carried the bottle and headed out the gym to make the drinks.
• • •
Kurumi was walking to the room as she dried her hair. She was humming softly until she bumped into someone. Thankfully, it was only a soft bump that none of them fell nor got hurt. Kurumi quickly apologized and looked up to see whom she bumped into. As soon as she saw the face of the person, her eyes widened in fear as she screamed at the top of her lungs. She immediately crouched down, covering her face with the both of her hands as she cried on the spot. Right after, there were several footsteps rushing towards her way.
"KITTEN!"
"UME?!"
"KURUMI!"
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Kurumi looked behind and immediately ran to the first person she saw, which was Kuroo. She hugged him tightly as she buried her face on his chest. Kuroo wrapped his arms around her tightly as he tried to calm her down. As he was doing so, Bokuto screamed as well. "AAAHHHH!!! AKAASHI HELP!!! A GHOST!!!"
"Bokuto-san, don't pull my shirt!" Akaashi yelled.
Kurumi continued to tremble hard as she tightened her hold on Kuroo.
"Wait! I didn't mean to scare any of you!" A teary voice cried out.
"Asahi! Scaring people again!" There was another voice.
"I didn't mean to! I was just walking on my way to the room!" Asahi said dejectedly.
Kurumi's eyes widened as she quickly turned her head to look at the so-called ghost she saw. When she realized that it was Asahi, she blushed from embarrassment. "Oh my gosh, that was so embarrassing..."
Kuroo laughed at her words as he stroked her hair.
"Bokuto-san, now that you know it wasn't a ghost, please let go of my shirt now," Akaashi sighed.
Kurumi leaned away from Kuroo and walked towards Asahi as she stared at the floor guilty. "I'm so sorry about that Asahi-san... This was the second time I misunderstood you..."
Daichi replied for him with a laugh. "It's fine! This happened last time as well!"
Asahi pouted as he got dragged by Daichi to their room.
"We should head back to our rooms as well," Akaashi said.
Rest of them nodded as they head back to their respective rooms.