The Devil Who Can Stop Time: Haikyuu x Reader

Ch 24: Iwa-Chan to the Rescue

*TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of abuse. I tried not to be too graphic, but please be aware and read at your own risk*

You could vaguely feel someone pulling you to your feet -- Asahi, if you remembered right -- and all at once, everything came rushing back.  You could hear everything now.  That slight tremble in Daichi's voice, the sympathetic clapping from the people in the stands, none of it escaped your ears.

You ended up shaking Mattsukawa's hand, and you felt yourself tensing at the pity you saw flash through his eyes.  No, this wasn't right.  This wasn't a moment that deserved any pity.  Your team was way too good for that.

"Hey, Flattykawa," though soft, your voice cut through the gym easily, causing the captain to turn to you in curiosity.  You raised your head, your eyes shining in defiance.  "You're an incredible player.  And today, we weren't good enough to stand against you."

"(L/N)-"

"But next time, we will be.  You're an amazing setter.  And alone, I don't think I could ever beat you.  But I don't have to.  Because my team is good.  And someday soon, after just a little more practice, we'll be taking this win back.  So get ready."  Oikawa took a step back in shock, completely at a loss for words.  Wait, why was he at a loss for words again?  He'd heard stuff like this plenty of times before, so what was the big deal?

The setter almost laughed at himself.  He knew exactly why this time was different.  "I won't be holding back," he responded, a smile that was for once genuine gracing his features.  Never before in his life had he seen such honesty and conviction in a single pair of eyes.  Of course this time was different.  Because it was you.

You sent him a small nod, a smile of your own appearing, before turning away to join your team. As you caught sight of the black jerseys hunched over while their owners listened to the soft claps of encouragement from each of the spectators in the stands, that soft smile of yours grew just a fraction.

Your team. That's what you'd told Oikawa, and that's what they were. These boys were yours. And you couldn't be happier about it.

---

Your steps felt heavy as you made your way down the hallway back from the bathroom.  Splashing cold water over your face had done almost nothing to calm the ache you felt in your chest right now.  Honestly, it was a foreign feeling to you. You'd been surprised when it wasn't just your fear which had enveloped you when the final whistle blew; it was more than that.  It sounded oversimplified and, for lack of a better word, obvious, but today you actually felt sad.  How long had it been since you were sad after losing a game?  Back in Tokyo, though you didn't lose often, when you did, you could never seem to bring yourself to care all that much.  Your teammates and you were never very close, so facing them after a loss was never all that big of a deal.  But just now, when you came face to face with the rest of the Karasuno boys' volleyball club and the pure despair only just barely being held back through every last ounce of self control they had in them, you almost couldn't bear it.

"(Y/N) (Middle/N) (L/N)."

You froze.  That voice.  You knew that voice.

"I think you have a few things to explain to me."

---

Iwaizumi frowned at the echoing of a middle aged man's voice through the hallways of the large building.  He was on his way back to the Aoba Johsai bus after making a quick stop to buy a protein bar from one of the vending machines stationed around the place when he heard the familiar name.  Could that have been your sister or something?  Maybe you were with her.  If that was the case, he should go say hi.  Then again, he wasn't sure if you would want to see him right about now, considering what had just happened.