Chapter Text
Summer, 2012
Cold. Suffocating.
Tears blurred her vision, but the girl kept running.
Painful.
Lonely.
'I want to forget everything.'
Bearing grief alone is suffocating.
It was summer today in Miyagi, and the temperature reached 40° Celsius.
Cicadas cried.
Leaves rustled.
Without realizing it, the girl took herself to a green, quiet hill. No, not quiet. Her cries had filled the surroundings ever since her feet landed on the dry, grassy ground.
Loud. Ugly.
The girl cried like a child. Indeed, she was just a child. She was just a third-year junior high student, confused by the sadness that had suddenly descended upon her. Her brother had just died two weeks ago. To make matters worse, her closest friend had become distant and disappeared without a reason, adding to the burden of confusion in her mind, as it was still processing the grief.
"Shōji-kun..." She whispered her friend's name in a trembling voice.
Then, once again, louder,
"SHŌJI-KUN, WHERE ARE YOU!? YOU IDIOT!"
Her frustration was loud enough to startle small animals. The birds, which had previously been peacefully enjoying their lives, flew away in fear due to the loud noise. Meanwhile, the source of the noise just rubbed her tear-stained face roughly, oblivious to her surroundings.
And when she could finally see clearly, her eyes caught the presence of another figure besides herself on the tree-covered hill.
A boy she didn't recognize, who seemed much older than her. He was tall, had well-groomed brown hair, and had a beautiful face.
He was crying, just like her.
But when their eyes met, his previously shocked face turned into an expression of annoyance.
"What...What's with that loud-ass scream!? What are you!? A puma!?" He sneered while wiping his snot with a handkerchief.
The boy seemed to be distressed himself, not wanting to be patient or considerate. Everything annoyed him, to the point he avoided everyone and came to that hill.
But so does the girl.
"I'm feeling sad and want to be alone! Why are you here?!" She replied stubbornly.
The boy, of course, didn't want to lose at that moment and became even more irritated. Hands rested on his hips, he stared at the girl through teary eyes.
"I should be the one asking that! I've been here all this time, and then you come in and scream in my poor ears!"
"I-I... It wasn't that loud!"
That boy pointed at the ground and continued, "It was! Look at the feathers over there! Your scream is so loud, it caused baldness in birds!"
Embarrassment mixed with annoyance began to appear on the girl's face.
"No way!"
The boy grinned as he heard the girl's voice crack.
"Yes!" He answered again enthusiastically.
The girl gritted her teeth in annoyance before looking away in defeat.
"Ugh! So rude!"
Suddenly, the boy laughed. He laughed, even though tears still streamed down on his handsome face. The girl in front of him, who was still upset, of course, just stared in confusion.
"You are weird..." The girl muttered.
"Ugh, I don't want to hear that from you," the boy responded, although now his expression was softer.
Then, silence returned. The rustle of the wind filled the dry air. Unnoticed, the tears that had been on their faces—now there were only traces left.
The boy sighed, and it broke the silence.
"Hey, Puma-chan," he called.
'Puma-chan...?' The girl repeated his voice in her mind. Is that nickname for her?
"Since you're probably aware of nothing about volleyball, and as compensation for disturbing my peace, I'll tell you..."
The boy pointed at the girl.
"This time I will definitely defeat those geniuses! Especially Ushijima Wakatoshi!"
Then, he grinned while folding his arms. His back straightened.
"The previous results weren't in my favor," he snorted. "But the upcoming Spring Tournament is my chance!"
He exhaled. Relieved. His face was relaxed, yet there was determination in his eyes.
Even though he's still annoyed...
Even though he's still anxious...
But he has to stand straight and look up to answer his goals.
With an easygoing manner, he stretched out his body.
"Ah... It's relieving to vent to someone who is outside your world."
He couldn't afford to be careless about this last opportunity.
"Ummm... Sorry, but... I am a manager of my school's volleyball club."
And here it is: the girl broke his main character moment.
"And... I know who Ushiwaka is."
Even called that genius by his popular name.
"I also know that you're Oikawa Tōru. My friend in the volleyball club always told me about you."
And that's the last imaginary arrow stuck on the chest of the emo setter Oikawa Tōru.
But, quickly, he recovered from that. Stood straight, once again. Although, it was clear he looked a little embarrassed and awkward at that moment.
"Hmpph! D-doesn't matter. I will still defeat them!"
He pointed at the girl again.
"If you are familiar with volleyball, then you'll probably watch the match, right?"
The girl just stared back at him in confusion. Her sadness, her anger, has long gone from her hectic mind.
Hesitantly, she nodded.
"Then, I can prove it to you too. To everyone. You'll see. You'll see my team going to nationals!" Oikawa declared.
Without waiting for the girl to respond, Oikawa turned around. He had no time to waste. This would be his last match in high school.
Just like that, Oikawa walked away.
Meanwhile, the girl stared wide-eyed at Oikawa's retreating back. She knew how Oikawa had never even made it to nationals, even though her friend claimed that he was the best setter in their prefecture.
Oikawa, who won't give up.
Oikawa, who put in all his might.
Are people who love volleyball like that?
She remembered his brother, who died in the middle of summer.
'Reiji... You also never give up even though the path is difficult.'
She could see the same passion in Oikawa's eyes. The same hunger for victory. High ambition for the game.
'Shōji-kun... Do you also have the same determination as that?'
Unknowingly, she was left alone in that tree-filled place. Alone with her thoughts, as her sadness evaporated in the late summer heat.