Imagination

24. A Love Like This

Oikawa + Miya

Kaori watched in anticipation as the final ball of the round was served over the net by Toru, his face covered in a thin layer of sweat. The team he faced wasn't the most challenging at all, but he still had to work to make sure they claimed the victory no matter what. That's why he gave it his all as the ball was rebounded back onto their court, and easily got under it.

Pressing the object with the tips of his fingers in Iwa's field of vision, they secured the win. The timing was too perfect for the middle blockers to even jump relatively high enough, and a smirk was present on Toru's face as Iwa spiked down his immaculate set with a force that made every other spike he ever hit seem incomparable in power and strength.

The sound of the ball slamming down in the enemy's center court made everyone go silent for just a moment, and then burst out into elated cheers and high-fives.

The woman who watched from the sidelines of the court had the widest grin on her face as the match concluded itself, and she stood up from the bench she was seated upon.

Her body dashed forward into the court where he stood, arms stretched out and face practically glowing.

He grinned as he noticed her running towards him, and opened his arms to welcome her embrace.

However, she leapt off the floor unexpectedly, crashing right into his weight. He was a bit surprised at first as she tightly wrapped around him, but enjoyed it moments later, affectionately embracing her back.

She nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck for a second, and then brought her palms to his shoulders.

Her legs were around his torso, his hands supporting her thighs as she stared into his chocolate eyes with such sweetness that she couldn't help but smile.

"You won," she whispered quietly as she moved her palms from his shoulders to his face. "I'm happy for you."

Her hands rested on his cheeks as she pulled his face in gently, and pressed her lips against his with affection of the utmost sentiment. He eased into her winning gift to him, and carefully spun her around in his arms, closing his eyes in infatuation. The feeling they gave each other was something only they felt as they kissed, happily forgetting that all lingering eyes around them watched with countless different expressions.

"Damn," he pulled away gently, letting her legs unravel from his torso. "I really should kiss you more."

Kaori laughed at his comment, pinching the side of his cheek cutely. "We've been together for only a month and you already say that? You really haven't changed one bit, Toru," she laughed, and pecked his lips again.

"What? I'm allowed to say whatever I want to my girlfriend, am I not?" He teased cheekily.

With a gentle eye roll, she gave him a quick and warmhearted squeeze around the chest, and gently retracted herself from him. "Loverboy," she stuck out her tongue with her eyes shut, and spun away from him with a pouting expression.

"Wait for me to change, I'll need a second," he called back after her, and he just raised her hand as a sign that she would abide by his words. He smiled to himself as she walked away, touching his lips gently with his index finger.

"So what's it like?"

He looked over to his right. "What do you mean?"

"Being in love, dumbass."

He chuckled at Iwa's words, and sighed blissfully. "Something I can't even describe. I feel like I'm on cloud nine every time I'm around her, merely not being in her presence hurts, and a life without her seems unimaginable."