Chapter Text
It was their third year of high school. Holiday break had been relaxing as usual, but that never stopped Oikawa and Iwaizumi from maintaining their volleyball practices. They were even able to pull in several other third years and second years into the practices as well. This was their year. This year, they were going to win. Oikawa could feel it. The two childhood friends walked to school and exchanged their class schedules along the way.
"We will be in the same homeroom~!" Oikawa smiled brightly.
Iwaizumi nodded. "Seems like it."
"Hey." Oikawa backhanded his friend's shoulder. "Don't sound so disappointed. You should be thrilled to share a class with me."
"I can't decide."
"On what?" Oikawa tilted his head. "Whether to be sad not all our classes or together or be happy we have a few together?"
Iwaizumi shook his head. "Neither. I can't decide if I want to eat ramen tonight after practice or something else."
"Iwa-chan~!" Oikawa frowned. "Why are you like this?"
---
Oikawa sat in his usual spot, exactly the center of the class. Iwaizumi sat one seat and to the right from Oikawa, much to his great dismay. He usually preferred sitting near a window, but those seats had already been taken. In Iwaizumi's opinion, this was the best option of what was left.
Oikawa smiled, eyes closing a little as he replied back to the girl sitting next to him. Iwaizumi rolled his eyes and leaned forward on his elbow as Oikawa tried to pull his friend into the conversation - unsuccessfully.
“Everyone, take your seats.” The teacher stepped into the classroom and stood at the front as everyone finished shuffling around the room to sit down. Oikawa ignored the man for the moment as he tried to entertain his fan a little longer. “There is a new student this year-” Oikawa drowned the professor’s voice out. It had been a long summer, and while he wasn’t upset about how he spent his summer, he missed the attention he received throughout the school year. Oikawa felt Iwaizumi’s glare to pay attention, but he also ignored that. A skill he has mastered over the years.
Oikawa laughed quietly at the girl sitting next to him as she smiled. The girl quietly opened up her notebook to prepare for class, glancing towards the front of the room. Oikawa hummed softly to himself as he pulled out his own notebook. He planned to work on a few other things while sitting in the class period, like volleyball practice routines or analyze how he would like to help improve his team. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say his world revolved around the sport.
The room around him froze. The sound of his inhaled and exhaled breathe were the only sounds audible. A gust of wind. His smile fell slowly as black feathers flew around him in a spiraling whirlwind. A soft ringing that faded to silence - or was that the selective hearing again? Oikawa glanced at Iwaizumi, feeling his heart pound inside his chest. Whatever had happened in class, that he wasn't really paying attention to, drew his attention in. Did he hear correctly? Or was he imagining things? Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow at him. He had heard correctly.
Oikawa’s gaze finally reached the front of the classroom. ‘Karasuno.’ She stared right at him, gaze unwavering. She had long, strawberry brown hair with bangs. Her hazel eyes didn’t have that ecstatic look Oikawa's fangirls often showed, or the general glance that thought he looked good. Her gaze was harsh and challenging. Not filled with disdain, but definitely displeasure - a slight frown was worn upon her lips. Glancing at the professor as he told her to find a seat, she bowed politely and walked down the row of students.
When she passed Oikawa’s desk, they made eye contact once more. Her eyes narrowed at him and she lifted her chin, taking a seat two rows and to the right behind him. She opened her own notebook, giving her undivided attention to the professor.
“Psst.” Oikawa tried to get his friend’s attention. Iwaizumi just shook his head, silently telling him that he would have to wait until after class.
---
“Did you hear her name?” Oikawa ran to catch up to Iwaizumi in the hall.
“You should’ve been paying more attention.”
“Iwa-chan! Come on! I’m not delusional, am I?!” Oikawa jumped in front of him. “She said Karasuno? She transferred from-” He stopped talking and looked over Iwaizumi’s shoulder. Black feathers floated past him. His breath stopped. Sharp stabbing pains hit his chest and went away just as quickly. Strawberry brown hair flicked in the corner of his eye. Snapping his head around, he only saw the back of her walking down the hall. “Please tell me her name.” It wasn't odd for Oikawa to want to know who people were, but Iwaizumi found it mildly concerning how - was it desperation? Pleading? - his friend sounded.
Iwaizumi continued to walk down the hall. “No.”
“Iwa-chan~!” Oikawa whined as he followed. “Do you not realize how valuable she could be?! We could,” He lowered his tone as he talked to his closest friend, “get inside information. This could be one of the boosts we need.”
“If you want to know her name so badly, go ask her.” Iwaizumi sounded irritated, not falling into Oikawa's typical charismatic trap. “She probably doesn’t even know anything about volleyball. Besides," He stopped to scowl at his friend. "You seriously think we need a spy?"
“That would be even better.” Oikawa nodded, completely ignoring the fact Iwaizumi was suggesting he would go so low as to spy on his opponents. They watched as the girl rounded a corner and disappeared out of sight. “We need her on the team.”
“On our-” Iwaizumi hesitated with Oikawa's audacity. "She is a third year. And we don't need a manager. We don't need her on our team. We don't need her."
Oikawa shook his head slowly and looked at his friend. “If she doesn’t like volleyball, she is about to. Besides, who wouldn’t love volleyball with me in it?” He placed a hand on his hip and beamed proudly. A few girls around giggled or made small squealing noises. "So. Her name."
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, irritated, and walked faster to his next class. “I’m not telling you. Deal with it yourself.”
“Hmph!” Oikawa pouted and pushed his hands into his pockets. “Rude and mean! I will! And she will have joined by the end of the week! Just you watch.”
---
“It’s the end of the week.” Iwaizumi smug voice stated to the dismayed Oikawa.
He sat at his desk, face half-buried in his arms as the muffled voice emerged. “Don’t rub it in.” Oikawa frowned and glanced away from his friend, feeling like he had failed his week's mission.
Iwaizumi sat his bag down near his desk and glanced back at the new transfer. “You get her name at least?”
“I’ve been skillfully avoided all week.” Oikawa lifted his head to show his miserable expression before glaring over his shoulder at her.
“It’s Friday.”
Oikawa whined and faceplanted his desk. “I know. Don’t remind me.”
“Just go ask her and stop whining to me about it. I’m done listening.” Iwaizumi sat down at his desk and pulled out his notebook for class.
That was right. Oikawa sat up in his seat as he watched his friend prepare for the day. He did have - a quick glance at the clock - five minutes before class would officially start. Oikawa got up from his desk and walked down to stand next to hers. “Goodmorning~.” He gave that classic, charismatic smile that all his fans died over.
The look of pure exasperation crossed her face as she laid the book she was reading down. Flicking her head to the side to fling some of her bangs out of her view, she peered up at Oikawa with annoyance. “Goodmorning.” Her voice was sharp and obviously perturbed.
Oikawa let his head tilt a little, his smile unwavering in the presence of her hostility. “I don’t think we’ve officially met. I’m Oi-”
“Oikawa Tooru.” Now, his smile wavered. He looked at her surprised as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
“Ah-Yes!” He added, assuming she must’ve heard from other classmates and his fan club. Not to mention he had been trying to talk to her all week. She probably had made friends and asked them who he was. Though, he couldn't recall her ever being with anyone else. “I’m-”
“The setter and captain of the volleyball team of Aoba Johsai. I know who you are.” She nodded, confidence in her voice. “What do you want?”
Oikawa beamed. “So, you have heard of me? A part of my fan club, are you~? I don’t mind handing out autographs to a new member-”
“Ew. No.” Her nose crinkled in a look of disgust. “Look. Stop following me around. I just want to get in and get out of high school, okay?” She glanced to the front of the room as the professor stepped inside.
“Everyone, take your seat.”
Oikawa didn’t move. He stood there, staring down at her. “What’s your name?”
She looked up at him with a smirk. “Guess you should’ve been paying more attention, hm?”
Oikawa twitched at her response. He could hear the faint sounds of Iwaizumi snickering. The black feathers appeared around Oikawa again, but this time, they flew around her as well. She raised an eyebrow at him as she turned her attention away, ignoring his presence once again. The professor raised his voice to tell him to sit down.
Returning to his desk, Oikawa made eye contact with his friend, ensuring he had a full pouting expression on. Iwaizumi nodded with a subtle smile and turned back to the class. Determination set inside of Oikawa. His eyes showed it, much like how he would stare down a volleyball before a serve.
If she was going to be like that, two could play this game. She may be stubborn and snarky, but so was his best friend. He had years, since childhood, of practice. He would convince her to join the team, or at least help out in some way. After all, this was his last year in high school. His last chance to go to the finals. He was going to take every opportunity to increase those chances as he could.