Monochromatic: Haikyuu Fanfic

Chapter 19: Mom

        This time, it is the three of them that are walking home. As usual, it is an afterschool feel - the lightheadedness of exhaustion, sleepiness, and the typical shennanigans they get involved in. Well, it's actually more of Fukui's doing. Days are getting colder, but not cold enough to wear thick jackets. Just the right amount of chill and breeze to wrap a scarf around your neck. Nothing more, nothing less. 

        "Iwaizumi, can you believe it?! Oikawa is in love with the Ayame-chan!" Fukui points at Oikawa rudely, but Oikawa swats her hand away. "To think you're into first years... from another school! And nothing less from the Ayame Yamamoto!"

        The vice-captain spares Oikawa a questioning look. "What the hell happened to your goal to make Ayame fall in love with you by the end of the date though?" 

        Oikawa opens is about to open his mouth, but Fukui beats him to it. She says as lightheartedly as ever, "ah! He failed miserably and managed to fall in love with her instead! Hard."

        "The way you worded it hurts a little..." Oikawa says dejectedly. 

        Now it is Fukui's turn to recieve a confused look from Hajime. He raised an eyebrow. "... And you knew this - why?"

       She huffs her chest proudly. "Because I'm his advisor! I'll help him to win the heart of Ayame Yamamoto!"

        At this, Hajime scoffs in amusement. "Assikawa, have you really come to be so desperate that you ask for her help? You and I both know she doesn't have experience on this kind of thing." 

        "Hey-!" Fukui says indignantly, but Oikawa simply answers Hajime in one fell swoop.

        "Because Ume-chan in the least listens to me about Aya-chan!! You've been hitting me with volleyballs left and right everytime I try to call her during practice!" 

        "That's because," Hajime deadpans, "she doesn't want to be bothered. Plus, it'd be troublesome to hear you constantly gushing about Ayame when you're already annoying as is."

       "Gah! So mean!" He sputters, but then the mention of 'advisor' reminded him of something else. To Fukui's amusement (and quite impressed at how quick it was), he quickly regains himself.

"Speaking of which," Oikawa raises his pointer finger, and Fukui looks at him expectantly, "are you free this weekend? You said you can help me plan the next date, remember?" 

        However, Fukui's reaction is not the usual eager 'sure!' reply, but her features came in a nervousness, with an uneasy smile. She apologizes, rubbing a hand at the back of her neck sheepishly. 

        "Sorry. I actually can't this weekend." 

         Now this caught even Hajime's attention. Both boys expect an explanation, so she continues, "I have to visit mom at Tokyo, and I plan on sleeping over at a relatives there as well." 

        She digs in her bag, shuffling of papers filled the silence until Fukui finds what she's looking for - a small sheet of plain white paper. It is crinkled, but she flattens it out and hands it to Hajime. 

       Oikawa peers over Iwaizumi's shoulder and reads aloud:

        "Dear Umeko, a vacation to Miyagi sounds like what I just need for the holidays. I'll go and we can celebrate Christmas together, alright? I'm sorry my replies have been slow lately. There's been other things happening here other than just more mass office-work. It's a bit hard to explain on paper, so maybe at another time, at least when I think you're ready -"

        "No not that," Umeko says,  and she points on the bottom of the sheet of paper, " read that."

        The paper reads:

        PS, the letter set you sent me is really nice. I'm glad you're putting some use on things you like too. I miss you a lot too. I attached some money for your monthly expenses, and some more so you can visit me here. You can stay for the weekend at your cousins. How does that sound?

                                                                                                                     With love, Mom.

         Fukui grins excitedly, "nice right? I get to see mom this weekend and she's gonna spend the holiday here!"

        Oikawa gapes, "that sounds fun! I'm very happy for you, Ume-chan!" 

        There is a different sense of eagerness in her tone this time - it's unlike when she talks about manga or drawing. Perhaps it's how just her eyes shine like tiny little stars, or perhaps how her whole expression lights up like a bright christmas tree. Her happiness is contagious and quite endearing, so much that it gets both Iwaizumi and Oikawa smiling in amusement as well - perhaps not as absolute in Iwaizumi's part, but it's still present. They continued listening to Fukui's babbling.

        "Oh man! That means I can start planning what we would do while she's here! Maybe go downtown, watch some movies...or maybe even watch the fireworks on christmas eve! I should decorate the house! I'm gonna need a christmas tree and hang some decorations! Christmas lights! And I really need to dust the house again... "

        "Hey. Hey. Calm down, kid." Iwaizumi says, "you're looking too far ahead. Don't you think you should plan for this weekend first?" 

        "Oh yeah! I need to pack my toothbrush, toothpaste, some pyjamas... or maybe I can just borrow my cousin's... His sizes are a bit too large though but it's really cozy..." 

        "Hey, Iwa-chan," Oikawa says, "how come you don't get annoyed when Fukui gushes about her mom, but when I do it about Aya-chan, you get annoyed?"

        "Because the Fukui's mom actually reciprocates the feeling back," Iwaizumi says bluntly, and a Oikawa feels like he's been shot an arrow through his heart.

        "...and everything you do pretty much gets on my nerves." 

        Oikawa presses a palm dramatically to his chest, "so mean, Iwa-chan!"