when tobio "lashed out" at his teammates at his most recent volleyball tournament, everything seemed to go downhill from there for him. or maybe it was when the one he looked up to most, his upperclassman toru oikawa, nearly smacked him just because he wanted to learn something from him. since the tournament, he's felt disconnected from his teammates.

they weren't communicating during games, hence the reason why he "lashed out" in the first place. his sets, as good as they were, were rarely hit. no matter how hard he tried, whoever was spiking the ball, it just bounced on his team's side of the court instead of the opponent's.

you're his last, and probably only, resort - a player on the girl's volleyball team at kitagawa daiichi. he hasn't heard much of the girl's volleyball team. just that they were happy-go-lucky and that the members were definitely not as intense as he or anyone else on the boy's team was. spotting you outside the gym after one of your classes, he takes quiet steps behind you, almost hesitantly.

what, like he's afraid to talk to a girl? absolutely not! "um, excuse me," tobio speaks up, hands behind his back as he hid a volleyball from you, embarrassed that you'd decline. "it might be much, but could you maybe help me practice?"