The Final Year [Iwaizumi X Reader]

Five : Out At Night

CONTENT WARNING : MATURE CONTENT

The game ends and we girls celebrate with a quick 3 on 3 for a pre-cool down. We then walk the gym and stretch while discussing the new plays and Izumi rushing in, declaring the new Volume of "Strike Out!" Is coming to shelves in 1 hour.

Half of the girls rush to get their things and run out the door. I could tell they were into sports manga. I love playing them, just not reading them. I prefer fantasy or dark thematics. Big difference.

Izumi and a small crowd of girls file out and me and our setter, Yoko, stretch our shoulders and arms as she sparks an intriguing conversation.

Yoko and I have been teammates and good friends since grade school. Being a setter, I could tell she was just as much into the game and gaining points and wins as much as I was. Her sets were immaculate, precise and always to a standard no one else matched. She's been around for everything.

Even the whole Iwaizumi thing.

"So...during the game. I saw you and Iwaizumi-san constantly locking eyes...what's that about?!" She asks as she launches her arm onto the wall, and lengthens her body to stretch.

"Jeez...hard to say. It's been lots to deal with. And I've just been wanting to focus on the Interhighs with all that energy instead of that bullshit." I bring my legs into a butterfly seated position and lean forward.

"Do you have the slightest clue to anything?" She digs the question deep into my mind.

"To be honest...I don't know. It seems like he's moved on from before...but that's Iwaizumi. I don't know what he's thinking. For all I know he could be wanting to kiss me or..."

SHIT! Did I just say that? Did I exploit my possible sixth grade feelings back into play? Do I even feel that way?

Yoko looks to me with a serious stank eye, and an open mouth, "We're talking about Hajime right? The chaotic crush...the blowout boy...the arousing ace!?"

"You didn't just say that..."

"Yes I did because that's what you're feeling. And you can't even disagree."

She's right. There's no way I'm finding some escape route out of this.

Ever since grade school...ever since grade six...

...ever since he hated me, I thought my feelings for him suddenly vanished. Disappeared out of my life like he did.

I thought I would've moved on by now, let go of anything that would be remotely the cause.

But the cause is right in front of me.

"We have the inter highs soon...so why am I thinking about him?"

I don't realize I say that out loud.

"So I'm right In my hypothesis?! It's about him. You haven't moved on..."

"NO! I can't figure out how or why or..." tears begin to form in the pits of my ducts, and I do everything to hold them back.

no crying on the court...

"We need to win this year. It's our last year, and I still have so much to prove. To coach, to the team and to him. It's about us and that title." I look to Yoko with determination and fight. My eyes narrow and my fist enlarged.

She smiles and takes my free hand into hers, "that's my girl. And this win is another step forward, don't forget that!"

We clean up the rest of the mess and part our separate ways.