The promise • matsuhana

1

The first time it happens, Issei is fourteen.

He is standing in a line with two other first years, trying to extend his lanky frame so it's clear he's definitely taller than the smarmy looking one with the perfect hair. The gym is warm, spring sunlight reaching through the windows and dancing across the parquet. The second- and third-years of the Aoba Johsai volleyball team are staring them down, analyzing them, and Issei is very conscious of how small his arms look next to those of the other first year, who scowls every time the smarmy one opens his mouth.

The captain, tall and broad and intimidating, is evaluating them sternly. Issei tries to look back, to keep his face impassive, but he can't help flexing his fingers awkwardly, into a fist and out again at his side. All the other first years (all shorter, all looking much more timid in comparison) have shrunk back against the force of his gaze, leaving Issei, pretty-boy, and the boy with the arms out in front. "I thought there was supposed to be one more of them?" the captain asks, glancing sideways at the vice captain.

The vice captain shrugs. "Dunno," he says, and when he tilts his head to the side to look over the first years again, Issei feels a shiver go down his spine. The vice's eyes are sharp, calculating, dark things that pin you in place beneath their weight. Issei swallows. The captain is scary, yes, but the vice captain is, frankly, downright terrifying.

"Alright, go on and introduce yourselves," the captain says after a moment. "Names, where you're coming from, what position you play."

Pretty boy takes a step forward, looking pleased with himself for being the first one up. "Oikawa Tooru from Kitagawa Daiichi. I'm a setter," he says proudly, and... yeah, okay, Issei can see that. The way the boy holds himself, the proud curve of his spine, the way his fingers flutter as he speaks – it all screams setter, and Issei thinks it's a little embarrassing that he didn't figure it out immediately.

"Good, we'll need a new setter next year," the captain says, and Oikawa's face tightens. He opens his mouth to speak – Issei can see the gears whirring in his head, the subtle scrunching of his eyes as he tries to come up with a way to convince their upperclassmen that he deserves to be on the court now – but then apparently thinks better of it. His mouth closes with a snap. There is a muscle twitching at his jaw.

Issei restrains the urge to smirk. Did he really think that he'd be on the court of a powerhouse school as a first year? Some people are too confident. Issei personally expects to be on the bench for the next year, especially when he compares his height against that of his upperclassmen, all gathered behind the captain and vice captain and looking like a small army in teal. They are all broader, all stronger, all with arms and legs that could probably snap Issei in two.

High schoolers are a totally different breed than junior high schoolers, Issei thinks.

The boy with the arms – Issei needs to know his name, he can't keep calling him that in his head – tugs on the back of Oikawa's shirt, pulling him back into place. Oikawa glances back at him, frowning, but the boy with the arms just raises an eyebrow at him and the frown smooths itself out into a pleasant, entirely fake smile.

It's a terrifying smile, in its own way, and Issei glances between Oikawa and the vice captain with a thrill of unease.

Satisfied Oikawa isn't going to say anything else, the boy with the arms takes the opportunity and steps up. "Iwaizumi Hajime, also from Kitagawa Daiichi." Ah, yeah, that explains the relationship between them. Former teammates. "I'm a wing spiker," the boy says. There's a quiet confidence to the set of his (broad, especially for a fifteen year old) shoulders that Issei appreciates. He has comforting eyes, Issei thinks, looking at him appraisingly. 'Take no shit' eyes, but with the kind of expression that suggests he's ready to give back everything and more. It's a good quality to have in a teammate, and Issei finds himself looking forward to introducing himself – especially if the other boy is actually able to handle Oikawa Tooru, like it seems. Issei is not looking forward to working with him.