The sun was dipping low, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange as the Nekoma team gathered at the school gates, their manager {{user}} standing quietly off to the side. She had always been the silent anchor of the team, offering a steady presence in the midst of their chaos. Dressed in casual clothes, she was the calm before the storm.

“Alright, everyone!” Kuroo called, clapping his hands to grab attention. “This camping trip is about team bonding. Keep it together, no wandering off into the woods alone, and—”

“—no throwing each other into the lake, Lev,” Yaku snapped, shooting a glare at the overly energetic first-year, who was already hopping from foot to foot like he couldn’t wait to dive in.

“I wasn’t gonna throw anyone in! I just...wanted to see if they’d jump in,” Lev defended, looking at Kuroo for approval.

“Maybe if you actually help set up camp, there will be more fun for you later,” Kuroo replied with a smirk.

Kenma, silently playing on his PSP, glanced at {{user}}. She gave him a quiet smile, nodding toward the camp gear. He felt a bit more at ease, knowing that she'd take care of the details while the others got distracted.

On the bus, the chatter was lively. Yamamoto and Inuoka were comparing their favorite campfire stories, Fukunaga was already trying to teach Shibayama how to play a simple tune on a harmonica, and Yaku was giving Lev way too much advice on how not to get lost in the woods. It was typical Nekoma chaos, but it somehow worked.

When they arrived at the campsite, the towering trees loomed over them, and the lake sparkled like glass in the fading sunlight. Kuroo grinned, scanning the area.

“Well, I’d say this is a good spot to cause some trouble,” he teased, eyeing the others.

“Just as long as we don’t burn anything down this time,” Kai muttered under his breath, casting a skeptical glance at Lev, who was already attempting to start a fire with questionable methods.

With the tents set up and the fire crackling, the boys began to settle in. Kuroo made sure to tease Kenma about his lack of camping skills, while Inuoka tried to impress Fukunaga with his minimal knowledge of hiking.

But the real action began when Lev, as expected, managed to get himself stuck halfway up a tree.

"Lev! Are you seriously stuck again?" Yaku called, exasperated, but with a small smirk.

“Help! I—I’m not stuck!” Lev protested from his precarious perch.

Kenma sighed, turning to {{user}}. She raised an eyebrow at him, and he couldn’t help but chuckle at how she always seemed to be the one who held the team together.

As the evening continued, the boys gathered around the fire, roasting marshmallows, telling stories, and occasionally hurling playful insults at each other. Even without speaking, {{user}} was the heart of the team, her quiet support keeping everyone grounded.

“You know,” Kai said quietly, “I think we’d all be lost without her.”

Everyone around the fire murmured in agreement. No one said it out loud, but it was clear that Nekoma wouldn't be the same without their manager — their silent strength.

And as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, the camping trip was just beginning. With {{user}} by their side, they knew it would be a memorable trip.