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“The biggest topic coming into this game has to be Argentina's starting setter, Oikawa Tohru.”
The woman watching the Olympics on her television with a delicious drink her hand ruined the moment when she suddenly choked on the liquid and sputtered all over herself.
What name did they just say?
She gaped at the television as the familiar face lit up the screen. He looked older of course, but unmistakably that was her ex-boyfriend from high school. It wasn't surprising that he was still playing volleyball, but it did come as a shock that he was playing for Argentina instead of Japan.
The commentator continued. “Born in Japan, he followed his mentor, Coach Blanco, to Argentina after graduation, and eventually became a naturalized Argentinian citizen.”
Her jaw dropped. She hadn't been in contact with Oikawa ever since she dumped him during senior year, so she hadn't been in the know about what he was up to. She guessed that she didn't have a right to even know what to expect from him, but she couldn't help but feel surprised. She even felt a little lightheaded to realize that someone she used to be close with was so very, very far away now. Well, not now now, because the Olympics were currently happening in Tokyo.
Wait, that means...
Heart beating fast, she watched Oikawa returning back to Tokyo perhaps for the first time in a long time. She shook her head quickly to snap out of her thoughts and headed into the kitchen to clean her self up. Something on the screen stopped her, though. She darted back to catch a glimpse of Oikawa hugging someone. This someone had bright orange hair, another person who was unmistakable even though she had only seen him a few times.
“What?!” she exclaimed as she recognized Hinata Shouyou, the player that she had watched Oikawa play against in high school. They were hugging as if they were the best of friends. This can't be right...
Didn't Oikawa hate him? She shook her head again and tore herself away to the kitchen to clean up. Everything was so unexpected that it made her head spin.
Memories that had been long forgotten resurfaced, at first vividly, but then they slowly faded into the background as she got a grip on herself. She was happy with her decision back in senior year and she was happy with her life now, so it wasn't like she was seeing or feeling any regrets. Maybe it was just hard to connect the Oikawa she knew with the Oikawa on the television.
He was charming and an incredible volleyball player, so of course he would be talked about at the Olympics. She had been in that fan position back then, in the audience watching him with adoration. Somehow she had been able to snatch him up as her boyfriend despite how popular he was. At first it was wonderful to have his attention. He was charming and funny, but over time she had realized certain qualities that had started to grate on her nerves. For one thing, he had an annoying habit of denying or complaining about any kind of constructive criticism, whether it was her or his teammate and friend, Iwaizumi Hajime, calling him a jerk for something mean he had said. Even when she had dumped him, he had claimed that he didn't know what he had done wrong while denying any attempt she made to explain. Was he really that clueless or was he pretending? Sometimes it had felt like she couldn't tell what was and wasn't real about him. Well, one thing was definitely always true, even now: his love of volleyball.
She finished wiping up her hands with a towel and returned to the couch where she had been sitting and watching TV. The game had started. Her head spun again as she watched people she had seen play each other in high school play each other again on the world stage. She was overtaken by how
real
Oikawa looked out there, despite the fact that she was just looking at a screen version of him. He looked like he was having fun, which she remembered he used to forget to have. Eventually she stood up in front of the television as the game heated up. She almost reached out her hand to touch him before catching herself. She watched all the way to the end of the game, where Iwaizumi made an appearance. Oikawa ran up to give him not just a hug but a kiss on both cheeks too. Well, all over his face actually. He was so genuine, and despite being away, he looked like he was a real part of the volleyball family here in Japan.
She smiled and whispered something that he obviously couldn't hear.
“I'm glad you found yourself.”
Looking at him now, it was hard to believe that all of those high school memories had actually happened.