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Every year after the matches of Inter High or Spring High, Ushijima would find his way to Oikawa. Their topic of conversation had never been far from volleyball, but that day Ushijima had asked something totally different. With the same unwavering determination radiated from his eyes, like when he was talking about volleyball, Ushijima looked into Oikawa's and asked that single question.
"Oikawa, will you go on a date with me?"
There was a shift inside Oikawa, his breath halted, eyes widened.
"Nope."
Oikawa didn't spare a single glance at Ushijima's face after that. He didn't want to know what kind of expression that he would find on that face, settling for the benefit of the doubt and assumed that would just be Ushijima's typical stoic one there.
And just like that, Oikawa turned his heels and walked away from Ushijima, never leaving a room for him to say anything more.
°•°•°•°•°
Oikawa had said to Iwaizumi that he wouldn't watch the Spring High final match that day. Yet here he was, at the bleacher of Sendai City Gymnasium, watching Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa final match with Iwaizumi sitting two rows beside him.
It was later after the match had ended, Ushijima's eyes widened a bit at the sight of Oikawa. Even though it didn't show on his face, Oikawa knew Ushijima was a little taken aback to see him in the hallway of the gymnasium. He must've didn't expect him to come and watch the final match.
Like any other times before, they stood in front of each other, the bitterness after losing to Karasuno didn't deter Ushijima from asking him the same question from their last meeting. Oikawa's answer was still the same.
When Oikawa walked back towards where Iwaizumi was waiting for him, he found Iwaizumi looking at him with a concerned look plastered on his face.
"Why did you do that? I know what happened, so why?" Iwaizumi asked.
"Hm, Iwa-chan? What do you mean?" Oikawa flashed his smile at Iwaizumi, pretending to be as oblivious as possible.
"We both know what I meant," Iwaizumi said again. Oikawa scowled at that, he knew it would be pointless to try to lie to Iwaizumi.
Iwaizumi had known him for so long and had always been by his side to notice that Oikawa's gaze lingered a little bit too long to the Shiratorizawa's captain. Iwaizumi knew underneath the layers of resentment that Oikawa had always shown towards Ushijima (and tried to make the whole world believe that it was the only feeling that he harbored towards the other captain), there was something more.
But that's just how Ushijima and Oikawa were. Ushijima was like a wall that Oikawa had always tried with all his might to break through. Ushijima was also the one that had been so demanding. He easily took away Oikawa's everything, his dream, pride, mind, attention.
And if there was just one other thing that Oikawa could hold a little higher, so that Ushijima had to be standing on his tiptoes, putting a bit more effort to be able to reach it, then it would be Oikawa's heart.
Oikawa had been defeated by Ushijima for far too many times, and saying yes to him would be admitting another defeat.
Even though it costed him something that as, if not more, valuable like his own happiness (according to Iwaizumi).
"Just say what you really want to him before it's all too late. Stop sabotaging yourself from your own happiness, Tooru."
When Iwaizumi actually used his given name, Oikawa knew he was being really really serious.
°•°•°•°•°
Oikawa knew Japan was not meant for him. With the perfect amount of guts and determination, he had decided to move half across the globe to Argentina, aiming to train under the guidance of his idol and inspiration.
It was Saturday almost noon, one day before Oikawa's flight to Argentina. Last night Seijoh team had thrown him a farewell party filled with laughter and tears and promises to always continue supporting each other.
He had finished packing and was in the middle of reviewing Spanish lesson in his bedroom when his phone beeped multiple times. He looked at the notification on screen and found the name that he had been tried so hard to push out of his mind these last few days, few months, even few years.
Ushijima Wakatoshi
Hello Oikawa. I hope I don't interfere with your moving preparations.
I met Iwaizumi yesterday. He said that you'll be leaving to learn volleyball in Argentina. The news has surprised me. But I wish for nothing but you to thrive and be successful in Argentina, and wherever you might be in the future.
I've reevaluated all the things that I've said and did to you. I believe you've found some of it unsettling, and I'm deeply sorry for it. I hope you know that I've always admired you and never have any ill intentions towards you.
The time that I've asked you to go on a date with me, it was to show the strong feeling that I've never been able to say it straight to you.
Oikawa, I love you.
Oikawa's heart trembled as he read the last bubble of Ushijima's message. He fought the tears that started to come from the corner of his eyes and typed a reply.
Oikawa Tooru
Where are you?
Ushijima Wakatoshi
I'm still at Shiratorizawa, we just finished packing and cleaning the dorm.
Today will be the last day before we go back to our own home.
Oikawa changed his clothes and rushed out of his house after that. The next thing he knew he was at the front gate of Shiratorizawa Academy. He sprinted towards the station near his house and jumped into the first train heading to the station located nearest to Shiratorizawa, and then running again from the said station to the Shiratorizawa Academy.
He didn't exactly know why he was here. Hell, he didn't even know what to say to Ushijima if he did actually met him here. But the universe might think that their unfinished business was long overdue and need to be resolved right here and right now. Because as he saw Ushijima walking towards the gate with several Shiratorizawa's third year members behind him, all his doubts instantly vanished.
"Oikawa?" Ushijima spotted Oikawa as he arrived at the gate.
"Um, hi."
Ushijima seemed at lose of words at Oikawa's sudden appearance at the front of Shiratorizawa Academy. He opened his mouth like he tried to say something but then closed it again.
"Wakatoshi-kun, it seems like you have business with Oikawa-kun here. We are heading to the ramen shop first then," said Tendou, being the ever-knowing, while patting his hand on Ushijima's shoulder. Ushijima nodded at him.
Ushijima and Oikawa stayed silent for a while. Oikawa stared at Ushijima's eyes intently. Oh, how he hoped he had mustered the courage much much earlier to actually look at those piercing eyes. Because at that time, Oikawa would realize there would be no use to hold his heart away from Ushijima, because Ushijima have always held a reign in it.
Now they stood in front of each other again like many times before. But now with a soft smile, the genuine one, plastered on Oikawa's face, and the intention of wasting no more of their time, Oikawa slowly stepped into Ushijima's space.
"I'm sorry that I've wasted our time, and I hope your friends wouldn't mind if you didn't show up at the ramen shop after this, because Ushijima…. I would love to go on a date with you. Not just today. But any other day in the future. I know I wouldn't be here by tomorrow. But please, ask me again, ask me in the future, ask me always. And I will say yes."
Ushijima's eyes never left Oikawa's as he rambled. He let out a small smile before stepping forward and brought Oikawa to his warm embrace. As Oikawa slowly lifted his hands to return Ushijima's embrace, he buried his face in the taller's shoulder. Oikawa whispered a little 'i love you too', but it's enough for Ushijima to hear.
At the moments Ushijima offered his heart on both of his hands, in the form of requests for an opportunity for a date, Oikawa should've known there would be no loser in this story. Because accepting Ushijima's love for him actually felt like a victory.