N.Y.I.Y.T.R. | Ryujin Nippon One Shots

Jersey | I.Y. (pt. 2)

You weren't the type to care about the public's collective opinion too much, especially when they arise in social media. But when your colleagues and your boss asked you about your association with 'that good-looking volleyball player', you knew you had to see what was being said about you online.

It was a Monday night, a few days after the Asian Volleyball Championship that you were lucky enough to attend with Mayu. The men's team qualified for the World Cup and you genuinely enjoyed being at the front seat and seeing Ishikawa Yuki and his team in action.

You took note of how he was on court; not drastically different from how he naturally was judging from the way he reassured and lead his teammates. 

Everything was going great that day; the team placed second, you got the chance to meet some of the players thanks to Mayu, and you were even invited to join their dinner at a nearby Izakaya. It was an eventful day with no plot twists.

Or so you thought.

Unfortunately, it seems wearing the captain's national jersey at a volleyball press conference a few days prior was a very, very, bad idea.

At that time, you didn't think much of it. Mainly because you were so worried about getting the bracelet to Mayu on time, and partly because you didn't anticipate how popular Yuki was in Japan. Thus, before you knew it, stolen pictures of you sporting the ionized number 14 jersey were all over Twitter.

There were fan threads of dating speculations between the two of you; some positive and some comically negative.

As you scrolled through the threads sent to you by your colleagues, you couldn't help but wince at some of the theories.

Some speculated that you were the athlete's long-time girlfriend, some guessed you were merely wearing a custom jersey, but many went as far as to link your connection with Mayu to assume that you were using that friendship to 'steal Ishikawa Yuki'.

It was laughable, so incredibly forced that you swear you wonder how much free time these people had. Though deep down, you couldn't deny feeling a tad bit bothered. Not because you cared much about your non-existent reputation, but because you were worried it would affect Yuki's booming career. He just got to Japan after all, and a dating scandal out of all things wouldn't be too great for an athlete of his degree.

It also didn't help that fans spotted you at the team's dinner after the AVC which added even more fuel to the fire. In hindsight, maybe you shouldn't have sat next to Yuki that night.

You let out a big sigh as you closed the application on your phone. Mayu had texted earlier that day to check in on you but her schedule was too hectic to stop by. Of course, you reassured her that everything was alright but she insisted that she'd visit you once her training was done.

Exhausted from the information you learned today, you slumped down on your sofa, hoping the rumors and absurd theories would die down soon. You should probably check up on Yuki too just to make sure.

Once again grabbing your phone from the coffee table, you were about to search through your contacts when you realized you didn't even have his number. Your sigh was followed by the doorbell echoing throughout your apartment. Mayu was early.

"Coming!" you shouted as you rush to your front door.

Relieved that you finally had someone to talk to about the situation, you swung the door open in full force.

You gasped.

"Ishikawa-san?" your eyes were wide as you gaze upon the man before you. He was wearing black sweats and a black jersey top, broad shoulders slightly wet from the ongoing rain that evening. You don't understand why he looks better and better each time you see him.