"best friends!"

"it is a two or more player game." HAI

- tooru tries to relax with some late night volleyball... then an unexpected player joined the match. 874 words.

warnings: some swearing, kinda ooc tooru oikawa

headcanons mentioned: iwaoi mentions, insomniac!oikawa
reader info: primary/middle schooler, he/him pronouns
player position: winged spiker

"it is a two or more player game."

Tooru tossed a white volleyball over the net in his backyard, trying to hit the waterbottle he had set out, but missed by about four inches (not like he was measuring though). He placed his hands on his face, groaning loudly and pushing back his hair, before jogging to get his ball back and trying again.

He had been doing this for hours on end at night. Occasionally, he'd wake up his mother and she'd yell at him to go to bed, but she went out tonight with some friends; So, he was free to bitch and moan outside of their home to his heart's content. He even had the energy to change out of his pajamas and into his Aoba Johsai jersey... at 12am.

Another set to the water bottle, very clearly missing, and another, much more annoyed groan slipped out. The annoyance had bulit up to him, enough for him to launch the ball into the concrete, only to bounce up and hit someone in the face.

"The hell, Tooru?!" The boy quietly screeched, holding his nose in pain. The player winced and jogged over, picking up the ball and tucking it under his arm.

"Sorry, _____. Didn't see you there..." For once, the younger Oikawa thought he was genuine. But, that thought quickly went away when his older brother continued to set over the net, getting closer to the bottle than before but still missing.

"What are you doing up?" _____ sighed, pulling the strings of his (f/c) pants out of its knot.

"I could ask the same about you."

"Shut up, I asked first." Tooru sighed, folding his hands around the back of his neck.

"You're funny, I don't like it." _____ smiled sarcastically and sat down on their porch. "I'm just practicing. I have a game against that Karosuno team." The younger's (e/c) colored eyes shut as he let out a baffled laugh.

"Bullshit, big brother. You only practice when you're on edge. What? You scared of the crows?"

The brunette softly but angrily growled before setting towards the bottle, missing once again. This went on while _____ sat to the side, questioning what was going on with Tooru.

He couldn't actually be afraid of Karasuno, right? He was Aoba Johsai's ace setter! That'd be dumb... but is that why he wouldn't say it? Was he actually nervous or something? Oh boy. Nervous Tooru, also known as Sloppy Tooru. His head is never straight, which isn't out of the ordinary, but in a distracted way. If he was genuinely nervous like this, he'd lose the game. That would just put more pressure on the younger's shoulders with his whining and longer late-night practicing. But, of course, he was a good brother. He wasn't doing this purely for himself... however, that was a small part of this.

Tooru's volleyball hit the side of the net pole, making him quietly growl again and grip his hair. _____ picked up the ball, tossing it up and down to the older's unamused looks.

"The hell are you doing?"

"I'm gonna help you relax!" Tooru looked at him, agitated yet somewhat intrigued. "How about I... spike for you? It is a two or more player game."

"And you know how to spike?"

"I am the brother of an ace after all." He smiled, spinning the ball in his callused hands like he's seen the other do countless times before. Tooru scoffs, getting into position.

"Volleyball skills aren't passed through DNA, little brother, but I'll give you a shot."

A toss in the air and.. first serve from _____. One hit, a close call, another close call, and a point to _____. Tooru laughs in suprise before setting up gain. Second serve, loud calls to teammates that aren't there, more close calls, and a point to Tooru.

Third serve. Fourth serve. Fifth, sixth, seventh.

After the eighth serve of the night, in the cold, fast winds of Japan's night, both boys were sweating through their clothes. At this point, the teenage Oikawa's sat on their porch, staring up at the clouds, very small stars shining through. _____ turned to look at the clock inside. It read "3:47am". Tooru placed his forearm over his eyes, taking a deep breath in and out. A faint tune of a nearby party floated notes through the air, the (h/c) haired boy humming slowly, audibly out of breath. The older turned to the younger, his brown eyes peaking from underneath his shadowed, pale arm.

"Thank you." The younger hummed in a confused response. "For helping me relax, even though we're just gross and sweaty now." They laughed.

"Don't be scared of some dumpy crows, Tooru. You can take them down, no problem." A smile reached his (e/c) eyes. "You're their ace. Lead them to victory."

"Huh? Oh no, I wasn't worried about them. They're just Karosuno. Nothing special."

"Why the hell did you tell me that then, idiot?! I could be sleeping!"

"You hate it when me and Iwa-chan fight! You call me annoying!"

"'Cause you cry about it for hours on end!"

And that's how a sweet bonding moment turns into a sibling squabble. Nothing out of the ordinary for the Oikawa's.

- it's testing review month at my school~ i'm about to be so so so busy.