Chapter Text
"Why do I even have to come with you in your morning practices?" You groaned, still half asleep as you walk to the train station with your childhood best friend, Oikawa Tooru.
"We'll have a practice match later and the team needs your presence to hype them up." He offers a sandwich and you begrudgingly took a big bite but did not take it from him. "Damn, aggressive." He chuckles, eating the rest of the sandwich.
It was the usual morning route and girls from your school would 'accidentally' bump into you and Oikawa would always just smile and humor them. You quietly take a detour and grab a quick breakfast from the convenience store since it was too early to be dealing with squealing and giggling airheads. As you decide whether to take an egg sandwich or a club sandwich, the entrance bell rings and you can hear your best friend calling out your name.
"Keep it down." You answered, unbothered as you decided on the egg sandwich.
"Why'd you escape alone? Why didn't you take me with you?" He whines as he shakes your shoulders but you just chuckle as you head to the cashier to pay for it while he clings to you like a child. You ate your sandwich on the way to the station while he talks about how he's having a problem dealing with this second year he named Mad Dog.
"You're the great king remember?" You smiled as you remember the two freshman from Karasuno who gave him such a nickname.
"The only one he listens to is Iwa-chan!" He complained, making me laugh.
"That's Iwa-chan for you." I say, patting his back as I finish my sandwich before the train arrives. "By the way who are you playing with later for the practice match?" You ask as you board the train. Most seats were taken so both of you were standing up but Oikawa kept looking around until he suddenly led you to an open seat. He made you sit down while he stands in front of you.
"Hey, you didn't answer. Who's your opponent for today's practice match?" You asked again.
"Nekoma." Your face brightens up as he scowls.
"KUROO!" You scream excitedly as you reminisce.
*****
It's always been just you and Oikawa since kindergarten, with your parents being the best of friends. You've played together and went to kindergarten together and basically did every single thing together. In the middle of your elementary years, you've gotten interested in playing volleyball and had Oikawa join you in the neighborhood's children's volleyball team. It was also where you met Iwaizumi Hajime for the first time. Once a package of 2, now you were 3 and you enjoyed the new company.
In the second year of middle school as you stand in front of the class list posting, you pouted seeing Iwaizumi in another class but secretly relieved when you see you were still in the same class as Oikawa.
"It's fine, I'll see you guys at lunch." Iwaizumi ruffles your hair in an attempt to cheer you up.
"Besides, you'll be with me!" Oikawa winks and you fake puked, giving yourselves a good laugh before the three of you walked to your classrooms.
Lunch came and as you find your place in the cafeteria, Oikawa rushed back to the classroom because he forgot his packed lunch. Your stomach grumbled, asking for food since you skipped your breakfast that morning. You obliged and ate ahead when Iwaizumi approached you with another guy beside him.
"Where's Oikawa?" He asks wondering why you were alone.
"The idiot forgot his bento in the classroom. Too hungry to wait" You shrugged but as you noticed the guy beside Iwaizumi looking at you, you stared back as if to challenge him. Why was he staring in the first place anyway?
"Ah, sorry. This is Kuroo Tetsurou, a classmate of mine. He came from Tokyo and also plays volleyball." Iwaizumi introduces and you smiled at the mention of your favorite sport.
"Hi. I'm Y/N. What position do you play?" You ask motioning for them to sit down, but before you could say that Oikawa was sitting beside you, Kuroo has taken the seat while Iwaizumi took the one in front of him, hiding a small smirk.
"Middle blocker. You?" He asks.
"Libero. So you're from--"
"Who are you and why are you sitting on my seat?" Oikawa asks in between his breath.
"The seat was empty so I thought it was free," Kuroo explains but was not standing up.
"Oikawa, this is Kuroo. Kuroo, Oikawa." Iwaizumi introduces them as he drags Oikawa to the chair in front. "It is that bad to sit beside me?" He sulked and Oikawa panics for a second, trying to deny it. You laughed at the scene unfolding in front of you when you saw for a split second how Iwaizumi subtly winked at Kuroo. You didn't understand what that was for so you let it go and soon enough, your group of 3 became a group of 4 who all feel the same about volleyball.
***
The high pitched squeaks of the shoes on the court and the loud sound when the ball hits the spiker's hand makes you feel nothing but excitement. Your adrenaline was able to pull you through another exhausting day, winning 4 of the 5 practice sets you've played in today. Being a third year, you were now being asked which high school you'd want to go to by your coach, and you just smiled and answered Aoba Johsai. Although being a powerhouse, the real reason why you wanted to join was so silly that the boys laughed at you when they heard about it, but you didn't care. You really just liked their white and turquoise uniform! As your team finishes up with the cleaning, you've excused yourself and headed straight to the second gym where your best friends are waiting for you.
"I'm here!" You exclaimed to an almost empty gym with only a few individuals left for self-practice.
"Look who finally decided to show up." Oikawa smiles before giving a perfect set to Iwaizumi. It never fails to amaze you at how swift and perfect Oikawa's sets are, especially with Iwaizumi but out of nowhere, a tall wall blocked the ball and shutting it down from it's path.
"How can you be shut down by single blocker?" Kuroo teases.
"I was just distacted"
"Excuses, excuses"
"Shut up, rooster"
"Whatever, bokekawa"
You chuckle at their usual bickering before your usual 2 on 2 matches. It's a great practice for you as you get used to defending such a large part of the court along with the powerful attacks from Iwaizumi and Oikawa. Although, the power of the boy's volleyball team is distinctly different from the girls' play, you've soon gotten used to it and can even stand in when the boys's team would lack a player during practice.
***
After changing, you locked the door to your club room was ambushed by Kuroo and Oikawa who bombarded you with the question "Which flavor is better, chocolate or vanilla?". Iwaizumi shrugged, not interested in sweets, and you laughed because you liked strawberry over those two flavors they've mentioned.
As you head home with all of them, Oikawa and Iwaizumi was oblivious to Kuroo holding your wrist and stopping you from your tracks.
"Hey, Y/N, are you free this weekend?" He asks, hands in his pockets as he gives you the purest of smile.
"No plans of the moment, what's up?" You ask, tilting your head as you look up to his 5'6 figure. He's too tall for a 3rd year middle school student, but then again, Oikawa and Iwaizumi wasn't far behind either. Guess you were surrounded by giants every day with your height being a mere 4'11.
"Just needed to buy some clothes. Thought I could use your opinion." He says and you noticed his ears turning red.
"Sure." You smile up to him, taking a silent note to buy him a comb and some earmuffs. He must be cold with his ears turning red like that and besides it's the time to buy some Christmas gifts for everyone.
"Great. On Saturday then, 10AM?" He says with a big smile when you felt a weight on your back and a familiar arm dangling over your shoulder.
"Where are WE going on Saturday at 10AM?" Oikawa asks as he rests his chin on the other side of your shoulder. They probably went back as soon as they realized you weren't behind them.
"You're damn heavy" You grunted and you felt the weight being lifted only to see Iwaizumi lifting Oikawa away from you.
"Just to shop for some clothes and hang out before I leave for Tokyo on Sunday." Kuroo says with a resigned sigh, catching all of you off-guard. Your surprised faces made Kuroo softly smile, eyes already showing loneliness for his departure. "My father's work in Miyagi was completed and so we're moving back. These past five semesters were fun, thanks to you guys."
"That's not fair. It's too sudden." You muttered softly when Kuroo ruffled your hair and gave you a smile.
"That's alright. I'll still drop by and visit," He pinches your nose with his freezing hands before shifting his gaze on the two guys behind you "or we can face each other in the court someday."
"You better make it to your prefecture preliminaries then," Oikawa says with a smile and a hint of loneliness. He got attached too, despite their constant bickering.
"Yeah. You should too." A small smirk made its way to Kuroo's lips as he clasped his hands with Oikawa and Iwaizumi before giving you a one armed hug as he locks you in and messes with your hair.
*****
"Its our stop." Oikawa says before turning his back on you. You noticed the shift of mood even in the slightest change of tone. After all, you've known him for most of your life.
"What's wrong with you?" You caught up to him but he refused to look at you.
"Nothing." He continues to walk in silence when you both bump into Iwaizumi by the gate of your school.
"Morning." Iwaizumi nods,
"Iwa chan, morning!" Oikawa hugs Iwaizumi from behind which had him looking at you.
"So, you guys fought?" He asks and when Oikawa didn't respond, he shifted his gaze to you.
"I have no idea." You responded, shaking your head as you walked ahead, not having Oikawa's mood swings with just a sandwich as your breakfast.
As you entered the gym, the team has already warmed up and greeted you in unison. You've always been visiting and the team has always welcomed you warmly. At first they just saw you as just the girl who's always with Oikawa and Iwaizumi but after playing in on one of their practice match, it felt as though you've gained their respect and have been acknowledged. They suddenly shout their greetings once again and you know they were greeting their captain and vice captain behind you. You greeted the coach and sat beside him as the boys continued on with their practice. They finished their service drills, with Oikawa's jump serves being as close to perfect as they can be before they went into position and split the team for a practice match.
"The blonde guy must be Mad Dog?" You asked yourself when coach Mizoguchi answered beside you.
"Yes, that's Kentaro Kyotani. It's been quite hard to have him play for the team but Oikawa knows how to use his abilities for offense--" Your reflexes had you springing up from your seat to block the ball from hitting his face. You looked back at the court to see the blonde guy frustrated and Oikawa scolding. "-- most of the time." Coach Mizoguchi corrected himself as he breathes out a sigh of relief from the disaster you have helped avoided.
"I expected nothing less from Seijo's former libero of the girl's team." Head coach Irihata smiles up at you and you bowed before sitting down again. "It's a pity how that accident robbed you of your potential."
"It's nothing, really. Accidents happen and I don't regret saving that kid." You forced a smile but the memories weren't exactly a happy one. You started to feel your chest tightening with hands feeling tingly. The tears were starting to pool in your eyes as you tremble so you excused yourself before you have a full blown attack in front of the team after remembering the words of the doctor after your surgery
"It's a pity, but you cannot play volleyball for long periods of time anymore, even after the therapy."
With your sudden exit, Oikawa was alarmed. With no words said, he knew you were having an attack and was gonna bear it alone again. He wanted to leave then and there but as the captain of the team, it would be irresponsible to leave mid-game. He stayed and played but his focus isn't 100% in the game. He was constantly making misses and finally, the coach had him switched out with another member. He promised himself that he wouldn't let his team down in the practice match after their class, but right now he just had to be by your side.
After changing to his outdoor shoes, he runs to the back of the gym and finds you in the equipment shed, shaking as you try to breathe and will the tears to stop.
"You just love hiding here, huh." He mutters to himself, walking towards you and pulling you to his embrace as he squats down. He rocks you softly, as he gently stroke your back. With his soft voice, he tries to guide your breathing as you try to match the rise and fall of his chest. After what felt like forever, you've finally calmed down.
"I'm tired" you softly whimpered as you rest your head on his chest. The attack has passed and has sucked out all the energy from you. You felt Oikawa's arms tighten around you.
"It's okay, you can rest." His voice felt like home and soon enough, you caved into the abyss that has swallowed you whole.
***
"Coach is gonna kill you." Iwaizumi laughed as Oikawa fretted on the way to the gym for their practice match.
"You even missed homeroom. Where were you and Y/N?" Matsukawa asked when Yahaba and Watari met them en route, overhearing their conversation.
"You ditched us for Y/N senpai?!" Yahaba asked.
"Why are you even surprised" Watari laughed.
"Well it's not fair how senpai gets to have a love life while being so good at volleyball." Yahaba retorted, and Watari patting his back to console him. "By the way, where is Y/N senpai?"
"She's got cleaning duties but she'll come for the practice match. Also, it's not like that between Y/N and me. We're just childhood friends thats all. She was just going through something so I couldn't leave her side that moment." Oikawa rebutted, making Iwaizumi and Matsukawa exchange glances.
"So you're saying it's okay if Y/N dated some other guy?" Matsukawa asked.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" Oikawa quickly answered although something in the pit of his stomach didn't sit right with the words that came out of his mouth.
As they entered the gym, Oikawa got the scolding they were expecting while the rest prepared for their guest. Nekoma was arriving soon and so they had to set up quickly to have enough time for a warm up.
It wasn't long until Nekoma arrived and lined up to greet Seijo. After formalities were done, Kuroo, Oikawa,and Iwaizumi hugged and shared some small talk when they heard a female voice scream at the top of her lungs.
"Finally! We're complete again!!" You jump to them and the three stumbles to catch you but you all fall anyway. You gave a hearty laugh that made Kuroo tuck some hair behind your ear.
"I'm back" He smiles.
"Welcome back!!" You beamed.
"Uhm, excuse me but Kuroo, coach wants to say something before the match." A guy who's just few inches taller than you came up with his silky hair bleached. You heard Kuroo address him as Kenma before you quickly stood along with the boys. As you were about to leave, Kuroo held your wrist and stopped you.
"After the match, listen to what I have to say, Y/N. I missed my chance 2 years ago so I'm not letting today slip." He says before turning around and not giving you any chance to answer. He jogs quickly to where his team was and huddled for whatever the meeting was about. You looked at Oikawa and Iwaizumi for clues but they both shrugged as they didn't know what it was about either.
You went to the second floor of the gym where a number of audience had gathered to watch the match. Oikawa's fangirls were as noisy as ever but you were too happy to disregard them. It's been quite sometime and you've missed Kuroo and the 4 of you hanging out together. It sure brings nostalgia to have Oikawa and Iwaizumi on one side of the net while you and Kuroo stand on the other. Oh how you wished time would go back and you weren't third year high school students. Just some 2nd year middle school students who spends more time on volleyball than actual studying.
***
It was a tightly knit match with scores 25:23, 24:26, 28:26, and 26:28. As the teams were cooling down, you went Seijo's team first to cheer them up. You know your school's volleyball team were considered a powerhouse but Kuroo's team was too. Both teams gave it their all despite it being an unofficial one and the adrenaline of just watching had you all excited inside.
"Damn, I miss playing." You softly say but as soon as you see the team looking at you with eyes such sad eyes, you perked up and shrugged it off. "Whats the puppy eyes for, I can still play a set! Who wants to be on my team?"
"I want to be on senpai's team!' Watari exlaimed and Yahaba joins in. You laughed as the team fights for their spot on your side, leaving Oikawa with just Kyotani.
"Y/N?" Kuroo's voice made you turn your back on the team.
"What are you all shy for, it doesn't suit you." You walked up to him and playfully poked his sides before you turned back to Oikawa and Iwaizumi. "Don't leave before me or I'll pull out your hairs you got that? Oh and for the next game, I'll be with Watari, Yahaba, Matsukawa, Kindaichi and Kunimi" You smiled before leaving with Kuroo to have the talk that he had postponed for 2 years.
"It feels like Nekoma's captain is going to confess to Y/N senpai" Kindaichi talked without thinking and Kunimi elbowed his classmate, subtly looking at their captain's reaction. Iwaizumi caught on and chuckled, also curious as to how Oikawa would react.
"What do you mean? Kuroo's just our childhood friend. Why would he be confessing to Y/N?" Oikawa laughs in denial.
"Because he liked Y/N since middle school?" Iwaizumi says nonchalantly but the shock on Oikawa's face was too evident to make him laugh. "What's with that face? I thought you said you don't mind Y/N dating?" The team was trying to hold in their laugh at how pathetic their captain was looking now, considering the fact that he always has a group of girls screaming and squealing at the mention of his name.
"But. But. Aren't you worried? I mean, isn't Y/N like a sister to you too?" Oikawa asked Iwaizumi as he shook his shoulders.
"She is, but if it's Kuroo, then I don't mind. Kuroo's a nice guy." Iwaizumi shrugs as he finishes up his cool down exercise.
"Well, I may be feeling more protective because I've known Y/N longer than you." Oikawa tries to rationalize this irrational feeling within him and its getting frustrating.
"You seriously are an idiot." Iwaizumi shakes his head. "Let us spell it out for you" he says, raising his finger and on cue, the whole team said in unison.
"You like Y/N senpai, captain"
Oikawa's face felt hot, eyes wide at how his team just blurted out a fact that he been denying his whole life. He didn't think any of it because it's normal for him and you to be together, as if it was already a given. Now that Kuroo's putting that 'normal' in danger, he couldn't sit still. Just as he was about to go out and get you, you've entered the gym with Kuroo following behind. Kuroo smiles as he waves towards him and Iwaizumi before he went to his team and packed up. Before Nekoma left, they bid farewell to Seijo's coaches and the team with Kuroo stopping by Y/N to ruffle her hair.
"I'll visit sometime soon," he says to her.
"Sure, just let us know in advance so we could keep the day free." you smiled up but the blush on your cheek has not calmed down then.
Kuroo smiles and nods before leaving with his team back to Tokyo.
"What happened out there, having to talk in private and all?" Oikawa tried to sound cool and when he notices you spacing out and unaware of his existence beside you, he gently bumps his hips to you to grab your attention. "Earth to Y/N, where you at?" Oikawa asks, waving his hands in front of you.
"Yeah. Huh? Wait what?" You were confused and disoriented. You looked up at Oikawa and for the first time, his face was unreadable. "Go change and I'll buy you some milk bread on the way, okay?" You reached out and squeezed his hand, something the both of you do when one wasn't feeling well. Oikawa silently obliged and left with the team to change, giving you some time alone to process just what happened with your talk with Kuroo.
"I've liked you the moment I've laid my eyes on you but my feelings only grew deeper the more I got to know you. I was supposed to confess before I left for Tokyo, but Oikawa changed up the plans and I couldn't find the right timing to do it. Thought of letting it go since I'd be staying in Tokyo but I never once forgot about you, Y/N." Kuroo didn't stutter, although his eyes had a hard time looking at yours. Despite it, you felt how sincere he was at that moment. The gush of the wind made you realized you were gaping at him, totally unprepared for this scenario to unfold. He chuckled as he gently touched your chin to close your mouth. "Well, you don't have to give me an answer now. I've waited for 2 years already. I can still wait for a little longer. I just didn't want to regret not doing anything, you know?" He smiles, softly pinching your nose.
"So, gonna tell us what happened?" Iwaizumi addressed the silence as the three of you walked home together.
"So, uh. Kuroo just confessed to me." You say, the memory still fresh as blood started running to your cheeks again.
"Well, finally." Iwaizumi mutters and you looked at him, surprised.
"You knew?!" You shouted, your heart pounding within your chest. "Was I really that oblivious?" You try to reflect on those memories you've had together.
"Well, what was your answer?" Oikawa asks nonchalantly as he tries to hide the trembling of his fingers by biting into the milk bread you've bought him.
"I haven't given him any answer yet. It was too sudden, you know?" You answer, your fingers fiddling together as you walked. The feeling of being confessed to was so surreal that you didn't know how to deal with it. You were surprised but touched, felt confident yet shy. It was a whirlwind of emotions that you've felt for the first time.
"Well, you can't make him wait forever right? What answer are you leaning to right now?" Iwaizumi asks as he placed his hands in his pocket. He glanced at you as he waits for your answer but still paying attention to where he's walking at.
"I don't know." You covered your face and for the first time, Iwaizumi felt a small blush on his cheeks. He laughs because this was the first time he ever saw you act cute, and you weren't even trying. "But Kuroo as my boyfriend... it won't be that bad, huh?" You thought about it, playing out random scenarios of what could happen if you were to accept his confession. You were lost in your own world that you fail to notice Oikawa freezing in his place, dropping his milk bread as his chest tightens while his insides feel like it's being stabbed multiple times in multiple directions.