The Storyteller (Oikawa Tooru x reader)

8. clearing up the mess

For about 10 minutes, you sat with Takeru, half sleeping in the summer sun, as the young boy fiddled with your phone (you'd given it to him so he could play a game on it). Time seemed to drag on for longer than expected, the vague background noise of other kids playing making it very easy to doze off.

However, you were awakened, when you heard a familiar voice cry out Takeru's name. The kid looked up, and scowled in annoyance, when he saw Oikawa, running up the steps. You also creased your eyebrows in concern, noticing how he was wearing his sports kit, with his jacket hanging off his right arm.

Didn't the volleyball team have Mondays off? That was what Rin had told you.

"Takeru! I'm so sorry! I thought I could squeeze in some extra practice, and then lost track of the time!" Oikawa screeched; you couldn't help but snort at how he was flailing around.

He looked very different from the suave, cool, collected Oikawa that had a lot of people kissing his toes. You wondered how his admirers would react if they saw him like this.

"You're stupid, Uncle Tooru!" Takeru yelled in reply, waving your phone at him angrily. "You're lucky that I didn't get kidnapped!"

Through laughter, you couldn't help but add on mockingly, "Yeah, Uncle Tooru. He could've died."

At that comment, Oikawa finally noticed you, and his eyes widened in surprise, before he ducked his head with a small chuckle. "We keep running into each other, don't we?" he sighed, reaching where you and Takeru were sitting.

"It seems so," you muttered, your momentary confidence evaporating, as you instantly avoided his gaze.

"Look! (Y/n) gave me chocolate!" Takeru held up the wrapper as evidence, "You could've brought me something you know!"

From the smirk that crept across Oikawa's face, you knew you'd be in for it, when he turned to you, with a sly look. "(Y/n), huh?" he murmured softly, "So that's your first name?"

"... yes," you admitted, picking at your fingers out of anxiety.

"It suits you," Oikawa remarked, eyes still locked on you, knowing how flustered he was making you.

"T-Thank you," you muttered, before standing up quickly. "Uh, well, since you're here, I'd better go. See you, Takeru," you began walking away hastily, legs shaking with every step.

"What's the rush?" Oikawa exclaimed, and you stiffened then froze, as the sound of his footsteps came from behind you, catching up leisurely. "I have to repay you somehow. Since you gave Takeru your chocolate, how about I buy you some in return?"

You took in a shaky breath, not really sure what to do, but then an audible rumble came from your stomach, which made you cringe and shrink in on yourself.

Seems like your gut was telling you to just go with it.

Takeru burst into laughter at the sound, and you could hear the smile in Oikawa's voice as he spoke next; "Well, I suppose it's settled then."

-

Somehow, you were now seated on a park bench, next to Oikawa, as Takeru was playing around on the swings, after denying his uncle's offer to push him. A bar of chocolate was in your hands, and you were eating it slowly, gaze locked onto a slight bit of grass peeking up through the concrete.

"You don't think it's fate that we keep meeting like this?" Oikawa spoke, whilst in the middle of taking a photo of Takeru playing.

"I don't believe in fate," you replied dryly, tearing away a bit of the wrapper, "this is just a string of coincidences. W-Well, in my opinion at least."

"How unpoetic," a pout crossed Oikawa's face. "And here I was thinking you were a hopeless romantic."

"I… I wouldn't say that I'm not," you decided on saying, picking your words carefully. "I just prefer to keep fiction and reality separate."

"Right," Oikawa snorted lightly, leaning over, breaking off a piece of chocolate, and eating it before you could say anything. "You know, I thought about taking you out on a date as an apology—"

"No!" you interrupted abruptly, thoughts of Rin filling your mind. "No thank you," you uttered, and then started to speak fast. "But you see, my friend on the other hand--"

"Hey," Oikawa cut in, unusually serious. "I said that I thought about taking you out on a date. But I decided not to."

You laughed shakily, before continuing, "Uh, well that's good, because my friend is much more your type. She's, uh, very cutesy and… how do I say this? Lively? Yes, that's it, lively! I think you'd really like her!" your voice was strained, as you struggled to make your words persuasive, but in the moment, they sounded pathetically desperate.

Oikawa was silent, and out of nerves, you quietly glanced over to him, to find him with a pained smile on his face. "I don't think I want to take anyone out on a date for a while," he laughed, though it sounded pained and hollow. "You see, my girlfriend ended things with me a week ago."

Your heart nearly stopped.

Oh god. You'd just tried to set him up with someone without realizing he'd been going through a breakup.

How fucking ignorant. 

To say you were mortified was an understatement. All you could do there was sit there, mouth half open, staring at the chocolate bar clenched in your fist, looking like an absolute fool (which you were).

"She said I was too obsessed with volleyball," Oikawa drawled, pocketing his phone. "I went to that party the night we broke up, thinking I could hook up with someone, but I really wasn't in the mood. So I hid in the bathroom. And then you came along," he chuckled, "and to be honest you were quite a charming presence. That's why I tried to get with you. Of course, you weren't having it, though. But maybe it was for the best."

"Fuck," you whispered to yourself, then stood up, and bowed to him in remorse. "I'm extremely sorry, Oikawa-san. Please don't take what I said seriously. I'm very sorry I pushed that agenda upon you."

"That's fine," Oikawa murmured, looking at you from beneath his eyelashes, as you straightened up. "So, can we call ourselves friends?" he questioned, his smile reappearing.

"I wouldn't be opposed to it," you answered stiffly, swallowing what was left of your pride, and handing him a piece of chocolate. 

"I look forward to spending time with you, (Y/n)-chan," Oikawa sighed, now more relaxed than he was previously.

"Yeah, whatever floats your boat," you chuckled, pushing your glasses up the bridge of your nose.