Observant || Oikawa Tooru ff

26. Closer

The weather had turned warmer as spring approached. It was still a bit chilly as an icy draft would cool the air every once in a while. Oikawa shivered from the cold air as he shut the classroom window. He turned around and gave a steady exhale. The classroom was completely empty.

He walked towards the centre dias and plopped down so that the teachers' desk blocked him from the view of anyone who entered the class. He was feeling pretty down and he did not want to be seen in such a desolate state by anybody.

It was nearing spring, the seasons were changing. In fact, he thought, everything was changing. Their class, the people in it...even that person.

She was making an effort, he could tell. Little by little, she had established good relationships with all of their classmates. She was moving forward with her life...like she was evolving. What about him though?

He was stuck in a cycle. Melancholy and hopelessness. With repetition of these feelings, it made him want to give up. Even that man was not here now to tell him to not give up now. So who would care if he actually did?

The door opened slowly and Oikawa pulled into himself, not wanting to be seen. Unfortunately for him the person who had entered had rather sharp eyes. Ume took in his form that embraced itself, trying to be as small as possible and her eyes narrowed.

She walked silently walked towards him but stopped short of a little distance. As if making a flash decision, she jumped up a bit to sit on the teacher's desk instead. 

Silence followed. Oikawa wondered if she was even going to say something. Surely they were all on talking terms the last time he checked? Maybe, she doesn't know how to deal with him. Maybe she doesn't want to deal with him...

"What happened?" Her clear voice called out suddenly. Oikawa smiled to himself.

"You okay?"

She wasn't looking at him. She was looking straight ahead.He too looked at the opposite wall as he hugged his knees. 

What are you doing? A voice called out in his head. Quick! Act like the cocky bastard who can't be hurt. We have an audience, put on an act!

He shook his head. Not in front of her. She would see through it anyway. She was here... concerned about him. He didn't want to return her goodwill with fakeness.

"You know how people make promises?" He asked still looking ahead. She hummed a yes.

"I don't know why we do that. I mean, I myself have broken quite a few...My older sister is a single mother. When she gave birth to my nephew I was just nine years old. When I saw him for the first time I promised that he would mean the world to me. That I would protect him. As a kid, that promise had meant a lot to me. Laughing together.. sharing memories.. teaching him new things, I know I haven't done any of that." He laughed at himself.

He suddenly felt a hand patting his head as if trying to soothe his self depracating manner. He almost flinched but did not move lest the hand be withdrawn.

"They were but a mere child's naive thoughts. How were you to know that as you grow up things that are important to you naturally keep changing?" She asked.

"I know right?" Oikawa looked up at her. The hand was still there. "I thought so too." He looked ahead again.

"I forgave myself and made promises again. I promised to learn volleyball from a man I idolized. I vowed to take him as my mentor. I thought I could keep that promise atleast. But he returned to his homeland last week and I'm over here. This time around too, I broke my promise. What's the point?" He asked bitterly.