Chapter Text
***
A life abroad is something to be proud of whether it’s only for a short time or for a long amount of time which means your whole life. Oikawa Tooru is one fortunate soul to be living overseas rather than staying in his own country called Japan. It’s not that he hates his mother country, it’s just he didn’t get a chance to decide whether he stays there or go with his family in France. They didn’t give him a choice, of course who would have when he was only 10 years old to begin with.
He already had a life before going to the states, he went to Tohoku Elementary School where he met two of his closest friends Matsukawa Issei and Hanamaki Takahiro. It’s also where his childhood bestfriend Iwaizumi Hajime confessed to him when they were only nine years old. Some says it’s only puppy love but for Tooru, it’s a life changing confession.
They made it official since then, holding hands while walking, a kiss on the cheek when no one is looking, both loved every bit of their wholesome relationship until one day.
Iwaizumi was waiting outside for Oikawa; they were supposed to catch bugs like they used to but this time as boyfriends. It’s apparently Iwaizumi’s ideal date, to catch bugs while waiting for the sun to set in the horizon and watch Oikawa eat his favorite milk bread. Everyone can tell he really likes him. Their parents are very supportive of their children’s sexual preferences, it didn’t bother them a bit. Both families agreed to have dinner together once a month to catch up on the boys’ studies, their hobbies such as volleyball and their childish adventures.
Oikawa greeted him with a kiss on the cheek making the other boy’s ears turn red, only for Tooru to tease him. They arrived at the familiar place, Iwaizumi took his net and began searching for bugs whereas Oikawa only stood there watching his childhood bestfriend now boyfriend enjoy his hobby and it made him smile, he’s content and he’ll never get tired of this view. “Oikawa!” the boy from the distance shouted. “What are you still doing there? Come and help me catch this dragonfly!” he waved his net and went back from catching the insect. Oikawa grabbed his net and joined Iwaizumi.
The sky is now filled with the blaze of pinks and reds, the sun going down each second passes. Tooru is looking up, thoughts filling his head “Iwa-chan” he starts “What would you do if I leave?”.
Iwaizumi confused at the random question “Why? Are you leaving me idiot?” Oikawa now staring at him “What if yes?”.
He felt his heart clench, still befuddled he asks “What do you mean yes. Are you really leaving? Don’t you want to be with me anymore? Do I annoy you that much-”
“Iwa-chan no, I like being with you. Ever since your mom introduced me to his son who adores Godzilla so much which I find really cute.”
“Oh you shut up, don’t talk to me when you like E.T yourself.”
Tooru pouted like he always does when Hajime teases him “E.T is cuter than Godzilla.”
“Fine but to me you’re cuter Tooru.”
Iwaizumi could see the blush on his boyfriend’s cheeks, and he couldn’t stop grinning about it.
“I wanted to talk to you about this after my mom told me three days ago…” his face now full of sadness
Hajime could only nod his head telling the boy to keep talking.
“Well… we’re moving to France in 3 months… I tried begging them to let me stay but it’s too late. They’ve already planned everything without even asking me.” He frowned in dismay.
“Cheer up boobookawa don’t cry. We will see each other again, I promise.” Iwaizumi held up his pinky finger initiating a pinky promise.
“Promise?” Tooru held up his.
“I promise.” And they intertwined their little pinky fingers.
Three months went by in a blink of an eye, it’s already the day of Oikawa’s departure. He said his goodbyes to his friends before coming to the airport. Tooru couldn’t help but tear up, he wanted to hide it, but Iwaizumi just cupped his face and told him to let it all out and don’t be embarrassed by it. “Boobookawa you look ugly when you cry, look at the snots you gave me.” He showed the sleeve of his shirt
“Iwa-chan~ you meanie! How can I stop when I’m leaving you here?” He pouts
“We can still video call you know, now don’t be a crybaby please” it’s Hajime’s turn to pout
“Okaaay but don’t you dare miss me” he hugged the other boy and they stayed like that
“Tooru, when you come back… will you set for me again?” the boy released him from their hug
“Of course, Iwa-chan~ I’ll set for you as long as you want” they both showed their genuine smile.
*
Oikawa Tooru, now 20 years old pursuing his career as an official volleyball player. The moment they landed in France; he already told his mom that he is joining a volleyball club regardless of the language barrier. Every day for the past 6 years, he would call Iwaizumi to talk about his day, about how French is an interesting but complicated language, about his teammates who are surprisingly nice, they would talk for hours until the other boy falls asleep. For six years, he’s still not used to the distance between them, the different time zones, the anxiety of one of them cheating. It’s not that they don’t trust each other hence why they chose to try long distance relationship, it’s the fact that one is always busy and the other couldn’t focus on his studies because he’s homesick or he just misses the other boy, and he would cry about it for hours, even weeks. Eventually, both decided it would be best if they just stopped it all together, they agreed to be best friends once again, like they used to be.
They kept in touch but not like in the past, when they were still in a relationship; there are ‘hi’ and ‘hello’, ‘how are you?’ from time to time but it didn’t go farther than that. The Oikawa’s live in the South of France, as luck would have it, Tooru loves it there. He can go to the beach every time he wants therefore his favorite season is summer. Every hot season, he invites his friends with him to play beach volleyball and they would play until the sun isn’t in the horizon anymore, for him it’s the highlight of every year. But this time, it will be different.
*
“Tooru! Here!” a boy with a light brown short-cropped hair shouted while waving his arm in the air.
“Makki!” Oikawa hugged him “Oh my god you grew taller! Where’s your boyfriend huh?” he smirked
“I’m not telling you.” He rolled his eyes in annoyance
“What if I give you your favorite profiteroles” he cooed “I even bought them at Ladurée, thank god they sell them in Tokyo too”
“Fine, fine give them to me I’m hungry” he opened his palm waiting for Tooru to give the pastry
“I knew you would say yes.” He did his trademark expression by sticking his tongue out while smiling and closing one eye.
“They’re at Issei’s house.”
“They? I thought there’s only Mattsun, you and me.” His face contorted in confusion until he realized something
“Oh my god.”
They arrived together safely at Mattsun’s house; the newcomer was feeling uneasy ever since he stepped out of the car but it’s ten times worse now while waiting for the supposedly guest to come back from the store. Tooru is sitting on the couch, drinking his glass of water, the couple noticed him being all nervous when there’s no reason to be in the first place.
“Oikawa, are you alright?”
“I’m okay Makki. Don’t worry about it” he tried to smile
“Then we’ll give you the honor to tell us about France. I feel refreshed just by looking at your Instagram feed.” He gently taps Tooru’s shoulder
“I will! But first you guys need to fill me in with how and when you became a couple. I mean… Makki you kind of already told me that you had a crush on sir Mattsun the day of my departure.” He smirked
“You didn’t change a bit huh?”
“Didn’t I?” Tooru raised his eyebrow, suddenly he hears the door creak open.
The old memories came back flashing in an instant, from the day he met his best friend to the day of his departure and the day they finally broke up. It was the worst day of his life, and it could never be worse than that. He spent his whole day moping about how he can’t live without Iwaizumi, he even told his mother that he wishes to go back to Japan but his mom could only refuse and comfort him.
“Tooru…” the man approaches him
“Oh uhm hi Iwa-chan~…” he felt like puking but he resisted it
“Welcome back… I bought you milk bread…” feeling awkward at the moment, he rubbed the back of his neck
Oikawa could no longer handle the tension between them, he took the milk bread and thanked him, as he began telling the story of his life in France, on how he also met Tendou Satori when he went to Paris for a competition with his volleyball team “I didn’t know Tendou-kun would actually pursue a career as a chocolatier, I thought he would continue playing volleyball since he blocks so well”.
The four of them caught up with each other’s lives and it’s time to go home “Shittykawa, do you want me to drop you off?”
“Oh my! Iwa-chan~ you still a meanie” he turned to look at Iwaizumi who’s staring at him and he pouts like a child
“Shut up. Are you coming or not?”
“Yes yes I’m coming” he sighed jokingly
Iwaizumi dropped Oikawa off to his new apartment near the train station, the car ride wasn’t that long but it felt like hours, the silence was deafening. Tooru didn’t know how to act so he just took his phone out and scrolled through twitter, nothing really interesting in particular, only Sugawara Koushi procrastinating about his college life, Hinata Shoyou and Kageyama Tobio bickering on his timeline like always. He put his phone back in his pocket and stared outside the window “Tooru?”
“Mmh?” still looking at the city lights
“I missed you…”
“Aw did Iwa-chan~ miss me that much?” he let out his annoying smirk
“I did.”
He wasn’t prepared by the man’s answer, he thought he moved on. Some days he would still think about his best friend; when he eats out in Japanese restaurants, Agedashi tofu will always be served on the table, it’s those small things which reminds him that he’ll never move on.
After taking a shower he put on his face mask, prepared a cup of tea and browse through Netflix. He found this new documentary about the extraterrestrial life, and he pressed play, 5 minutes into the movie his phone chimed ‘Are you asleep?’ it was from Iwaizumi, he hesitated at first, but his fingers had the mind of their own
Boobookawa: no Iwa-chan im currently watching a documentary about aliens xP
Iwa-chan: ok is it good?
Boobookawa: well, it’s better than your beloved Godzilla hehe
Iwa-chan: …
Boobookawa: what? So, you’re agreeing that aliens are better than Godzilla?
Iwa-chan: absolutely not idiot
Boobookawa: pffft you texted me just for this?
Iwa-chan: no. I wanted to ask you if you’re free tomorrow
Boobookawa: ooohhhh Iwa-chan~ wants to take me out on a date o(>ω<)o
Iwa-chan: do you want me to?
Boobookawa: .
Iwa-chan: I’ll pick you up at 10 don’t be late ;)
Oikawa felt his whole body heat up, warm blood rushing through his veins, he locked his phone and let out a high-pitched scream, the ones teenagers do when their crushes text them back.
Tooru woke up earlier than he intended to, he drank his morning coffee and got ready for the date with his Iwa-chan.
Iwaizumi was waiting inside the car when Tooru got out from his apartment, stressed as he is, he tripped while waving in front of him making his best friend combust with laughter. Hajime’s eyes turned into a crescent shape disabling him to see the man in front of him, his teeth bright as the sun as soon as he opened his mouth and parted his lips making Oikawa all mushy inside, he missed this, he missed his best friend.
As soon as he got in the car, Iwaizumi scratched his throat “Trashykawa are you ready? This is going to be the best date ever.” He smirked
“Not again with your lame nicknames ugh. They’re so bad Iwa-chan and I’m not even a trashy nor a shitty person.” He rolled his eyes and huffed
“Are you even hearing yourself?” Hajime chuckled
“Hmmph mean Iwa-chan~ mean”
“By the way, we’re going back to our hometown and stay there for one night. I already packed everything… you just need to come with me.” He looked at the boy beside him and tilted his head
It took at least a minute before Tooru could process everything and when he does “IWA-CHAN! WHAT DO YOU MEAN FOR ONE NIGHT?”
“Geez. Will you calm down for a sec?”
“HOW?”
Iwaizumi grabbed Tooru’s face and aligned it with his, both of them now staring at each other.
“Uhhh…I’m calm now…”
“Good. Now let’s go, you can choose the music.” He immediately released Tooru’s face and gave his phone for the other boy to choose a song.
“This is my favorite song Iwa-chan~ and this means you should learn how to sing it too” he winked at the man on the wheel.
La vie en rose by Edith Piaf was playing, Iwaizumi could hear Tooru sing the whole song perfectly like French was his first language, he likes the sound of it, no, he loves the sound of it. The way Oikawa pronounces every word with emotion, he’s almost certain that Tooru was the one who sang the original track, he kept glancing at the boy admiring the look on his face every time he opens his mouth… and it hits him.
He’s fucked, once again.