Welcome to Aoba Johsai || Iwaizumi Hajime

Chapter 11

Although Haneul still found herself unstable, she still forced herself to go to school. Not because of her studies, but because of the club. She wanted to do her task as their manager, hoping they can focus more on their training for the upcoming tournament.

That may be one reason, but her other reason is that she wanted to thank the other third-years. They welcomed her even before she was familiar with Japanese and their culture. She wanted to help them in any way she can and this was the only way she could think of.

The others, including her father, did not like the idea of her going to school. They did not know the reason why she will be stubborn to go to school. However, they could not stop her as she stood on her ground.

• • •

Haneul had her real smile for the first time since the hatred she received. She was delighted as she looked at their scores. Seijoh was slowly climbing their way up to finals. During the semi-finals, Seijoh went against Karasuno. Although they struggled a bit, they managed to win against them, allowing them to go up to the finals. There, they were going against Shiratorizawa. From what Haneul has heard, Shiratorizawa is the school Seijoh never won against. Oikawa, especially, seemed to have hatred for Ushijima among the members of Shiratorizawa. 

On the night before the finals, Oikawa, Iwaizumi, and Haneul decided to have a sleepover at Oikawa's house. They wanted to make sure that Oikawa did not overwork himself by spending the whole night analyzing the game. When Haneul asked permission from her father, he was more than happy to let her. He was willing to do anything to help his daughter feel better and hopefully forget the stress and pain she is experiencing even for a second.

• • •

Iwaizumi ended up falling asleep while Oikawa was still watching the game. Haneul looked at him with worry that she turned the television off. "Lee-chan?!"

"Oikawa, it's already past twelve," Haneul said. "You need to sleep to conserve your energy. You are going against Shiratorizawa and that will be five sets in maximum."

"But Lee-chan," Oikawa protested. "I need to watch the game to win against Ushiwaka!"

Haneul hugged him tightly. "Oikawa, please rest... I don't want you to be in a bad condition tomorrow... You said you wanted to win them... How will you win them if you end up having a bad condition?"

Oikawa nodded in defeat and finally went to sleep. Haneul smiled in relief before going to sleep as well.

• • •

Haneul looked at the score in disbelief. She felt devastated at their defeat. She knew how much they wanted to go to Nationals, how much Oikawa wanted to defeat Ushijima. Haneul carefully glanced at Oikawa to see how frustrated he was. She looked down in sadness and stayed silent as she handed the members their drinks and towel.

When they arrived back at their school, everyone left, aside from the third-years. No one said a single word until Oikawa mumbled something. Everyone turned to look at him and Oikawa looked at Haneul with full of hatred in his eyes. Haneul flinched as she never saw him look at her with so much hatred. At the same time, his eyes, his hatred, reminded her of Ota. 

"You shouldn't have stopped me from watching their game and analyzing them!"

Haneul looked down as she mumbled, "I was just worried about your condition..."

"You should have left me alone and let me do what I want!" Oikawa yelled. "You knew how much I wanted to beat him!"

"Oi, Oikawa!" Iwaizumi yelled at him. "Haneul didn't do anything! She just did her job as our manager!"

"Exactly! She is just a manager! She doesn't know how we feel! How I feel! She doesn't play in the court!" Oikawa yelled in frustration.

"Oikawa, calm down," Matsukawa said as he placed his hand on Oikawa's shoulder.

Oikawa did not listen to Matsukawa as he continued to glare at Haneul. "Even if you weren't here, we would have managed as we always did! Your job is not even important!"

Haneul's eyes widened in shock as she felt pierced by his words. She bit her lips as she looked down with teary eyes. His words made her think if she was just a bother. She wanted to help them, but she ended up being a nuisance.

"That's going too far, Oikawa," Hanamaki said with a frown.

Iwaizumi glared at his friend and slapped the back of his head. "I know how you feel towards Ushijima, but that doesn't give you the right to take it out on Haneul! We were the ones who played the game and dropped the ball!"

Haneul looked up slowly with a sad, painful smile. "I'm sorry, Oikawa. I just wanted to help and be useful, but I ended up being a bother. I'm sorry that I could not even do an unimportant job properly."

"Haneul, don't-" Iwaizumi was about to say something, but Haneul interrupted him.

"If me not being part of the club will help you go to Nationals, then I will quit. So please don't worry anymore. Thank you for everything and for keeping up with me," Haneul said before running out of the gym. She heard the others yelling her name, but she ignored them and ran all the way home.

When she reached home, she went straight to her room and crashed onto her bed. As she let her tears out, she heard her door slowly opening. "Haneul...?"

Haneul tried to hide her face from her father, but it was too late. "Haneul?! Did something happened again?!"

Haneul sat up as she wiped her tears. "Dad..."

"What is it?! You can tell me anything!" Her father said immediately as he crouched in front of her bed.

"I want to go back..." Haneul said with a pained expression. "I don't want to stay here anymore..."

When her father heard her words, his heart broke. He closed his eyes as he hugged her tightly. "If that's what you want, let's go back. I'll find the tickets whenever you are ready."

Haneul nodded as she cried into his embrace.