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“Hey, Iwa?” Oikawa called, his voice soft, like a melody. His fingers grasped around a section of grass, thumbing over the vibrant strands. Moving to look over his shoulder at the boy a few feet behind him. Those warm eyes crinkling as that familiar smile inched up his face. Flickering the corners of his mouth up.
Iwaizumi despised that smile
“Do you think we lose in every universe?”
Spring Interhigh Tournament:
Karasuno V.S Aoba Johsai: 25-24
“Bring it to me!” Karasuno’s #10 shouted, his voice filling the gymnasium, piercing through the exhaustion of both teams. This was it and both teams knew it. The sound of Hinata’s shoes thudded against the court, getting a running start. Each step the shrimp took, the sound tickled up Oikawa’s spine. It was like a shock collar, warning him the end of his reign was near.
He wasn’t the king anymore.
Who was he kidding? He hadn’t been the king in years. That crown had gone to Kageyama Tobio, the moment he stepped foot at Karasuno. Maybe even sooner. The successor he never wanted, was surpassing him. Like he always knew Kageyama would. You can’t beat a genius.
With only the sound of his own breathing in his ears, Oikawa focused on nothing other than the ball. One leg stretched forward as he moved his arms into position. This was it, their final chance. Then, the whistle blew. The sounds of the gymnasium rushing back in. Cheers erupting from Karasuno’s side. One net away and yet it felt like they were miles away, untouchable. For every winner, there’s a loser and today, Oikawa Tōru, Aoba Johsai, had lost for the third time, 25-24.
So close
So fucking close
If they had blocked it, if Mad Dog’s hand was even an inch further that way… No, Oikawa couldn’t blame Mad Dog, that’s not fair. He should have been there. He could have been there. If he had been a second quicker, maybe they would have been the ones cheering. Maybe they would be going to the finals. Maybe, maybe, maybe…
Thinking was something Oikawa Tōru did all too much, at least in Iwaizumi’s opinion. Watching the same footage back more times someone could count on their fingers, in hopes he’d find something he missed. Watching the same 30 seconds from different angles. Iwaizumi worried about Oikawa, not that he would admit it. To others, Oikawa was a big shot setter, who brought out the best in others and dishes out devious serves. To Iwaizumi? Oikawa was just that, Oikawa Tōru. He didn’t need to be anything else. Not in Iwaizumi’s eyes. Maybe he knew Oikawa too well. Was it possible to know someone too well?
This was the last match of their high school career. Their last chance to potentially make it to nationals and yet, Iwaizumi felt like he had been here before, seen this story before, felt that fist bump hundreds of times. Maybe in a movie? Maybe in a book? The title was on the tip of his tongue but the words never came falling out.
Sighing, Hajime walked slowly. He was in no rush. Tōru wouldn’t be. His calloused fingers played with the cold house key in his pocket. He might not even go home tonight, that depended on Tōru. Stopping a few feet behind the familiar seated figure of Oikawa, to take in the sight. The night sky, undisturbed by light. Unaffected by their loss. Stars had no feelings for them and yet, humans have many for them. Stupid, really. Glancing back to Tōru, the idiot wasn’t even wearing a sweater. How Oikawa could sit out here in this wind, at this hour, Iwaizumi could never understand. He didn’t bother to announce himself. Tōru always knew when it was him. They’ve known each other long enough for the silence to be comfortable.
“Hey, Hajime,” Oikawa spoke first, he always did. Moving to look over his shoulder at Iwaizumi. His warm eyes searched every part of Iwaizumi, like he could see right through him but chose to look. Iwaizumi’s lip pulled into a scowl, as he watched the familiar smile inch up Oikawa’s face. The grip on his house key became firmer, the divets pressing into his skin.
“What is it, Shittykawa?” He forced the words out, kicking the grass beneath his feet. Brown speckling green. But he was unable to tear his eyes away from the way Tōru’s dimples creased as he smiled, lips slightly upturned. Gentle yet deceiving. Some would call it genuine. Iwaizumi would call it hiding how he really feels. And Oikawa? He would just call it a smile.
He hated that smile
“Do you think we lose in every universe?”
Iwaizumi blinked a few times, suddenly releasing the grip on his key, the strain he had put on his fingers finally setting in. The small piece of metal fell to the bottom of his pocket, forgotten as quickly as it was remembered. Iwaizumi gawked at Oikawa as he searched for a word to tell Tōru. Was Crappykawa seriously bringing up universes right now? Finally closing his mouth, Iwaizumi huffed trying to cover up the laugh that threatened to escape his chest.
“Seems unlikely,”