Childhood friends

12. Meeting His New Team

Kawanishi walked into the room, you following behind. "Hey, Shirabu. I'm back, and I brought my best friend." He pushed you in front of him. "This is her."

You bow slightly. "L/n Y/n, nice to meet you. Taichi spoke about you a little bit." You give the setter a small smile.

Shirabu waves at you. "Shirabu Kenjirou. I'm a first year, and a setter on the boys' volleyball club."

Kawanishi sits in the chair by one of the desks in the room. "So, what's the rest of the team up to, Shirabu?"

The setter turns his attention to his teammate. "They said they'd wait for us in the gym. Tendou is especially looking forward to meeting her. Said something about wanting to see how 'Oikawa corrupted Taichi-kun's precious best friend' or something like that."

You narrow your eyes at that comment. "Oikawa-senpai hasn't corrupted me."

"Interesting." Shirabu stands up, heading to the door. "Bring the girl, I'm heading to the gym now."

Kawanishi grabs your hand and follows Shirabu out of the room. "Thanks for behaving like your usual self, Shirabu. I don't think I'd be able to get used to you acting differently just because you're meeting a girl."

Shirabu snorts. "Yeah right. I'm not gonna act abnormally nice just for your friend. I don't care that she's a girl. That's not a good enough reason for me to be nicer than usual."

You frowned. "I thought you said he was a good guy, Taichi."

"He is. You're not looking deep enough. You need to get to know my teammates better in order too see how great they are."

"If you say so." 'I'm definitely telling Oikawa-senpai about all of this. I bet he was right, same with my parents. People at Shiratorizawa aren't the best people. Does Taichi really enjoy it here? Does he feel like he belongs? Do I no longer know my best friend?'

You get snapped out of your thoughts by the two boys stopping in front of a door to a huge looking building. "What - where are we?"

Kawanishi smiled at you. "This is our gym. Inside, there are only a few of the second years waiting to meet you. Shirabu, go ahead and open the door for us."

Shirabu nods, opening the door and walking in with you two behind him. "We're here." He calls out to Semi, Ushijima, Tendou, Yamagata, and Reon.

The five boys look in your direction, waving. They each introduce themselves, Ushijima being the only one to not smile. The ace kept his usual stoic expression on his face.

'Oikawa was right, Ushiwaka isn't exactly the friendly type. I got real lucky with my time.'

You force a smile onto your face and bow to the older boys. "I'm L/n Y/n." You stand up straight, closing your eyes while smiling. "I'm the manager for the Aoba Johsai boys' volleyball club. I've heard a bit about you from Oikawa-senpai and Iwaizumi-senpai. Nice to meet you all."

Tendou grinned. "She doesn't seem very genuine. Was Kenjirou-kun already rude to her and gave her a bad impression of us?"

You opened your eyes, widening them. "Wha-"

"So that did happen. Kenjirou-kun, you should put more effort while meeting Taichi-kun's best friend. We need her to have a good impression of us so that Oikawa doesn't get the pleasure of thinking he's right about whatever he says about us." Tendou studied you, taking note of your changing facial expressions, along with your subtle body language. "Do I make you uncomfortable, Y/n-chan?"

"Please call me L/n." You held a blank expression on your face, not giving the redhead the pleasure of reading you like a book.

Semi glared at the middle blocker. "Knock it off before you end up giving her a bad impression of us. Please, don't judge us based on Tendou and Shirabu. We're not bad guys, just - we're just an interesting bunch. I think you should be used to interesting since you're around Oikawa and his teammates."

You nod slowly. 'This might be the only one I'll be able to tolerate without pretending for Taichi.' "My team does contain some interesting guys. But I feel comfortable around them and have become good friends with all of them, that's the important thing."

Semi chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you're right about that. What matters most is how you get along with people. Though, it is important to know what kind of people you're gonna be around. But I think you can probably get a good read on people."

"I can, for the most part. I'm confident that the boys on my team are some of the best people I could ever surround myself with."

Ushijima walks closer to you. "Oikawa is a great setter. You're lucky to be able to be around him."

Tendou chimed in. "Though he has a shitty personality and a bad reputation."

You took in a deep breath. "Oikawa-senpai is a great person. He refuses to act bad around me."

"So he hasn't corrupted you? Not once has he tried to take away your innocence?" Tendou crept closer to you, purposely pushing your buttons to get a reaction out of you.

You looked at your childhood best friend. "Is he always like this? I'm not gonna lie, he's actually starting to get on my nerves."

Kawanishi felt panic inside. He was trying so desperately to get you on good terms with his team. "Sorry about Tendou-san. Please, senpai, get along with her." He pleaded with him.

The redhead smirked. "Why? Cuz you want the girl you're in love with to be friends with your current teammates?"

You tensed. You struggled to think of something to say. "I don't know what you've all talked about, but this is becoming a bit much for a first impression."

Tendou had a gleam in his eye. "You're probably thinking that you're team was right to talk shit about us, huh? That you don't want your best friend to be here, surrounded by all of us. It just hurts you to think that Taichi-kun is genuinely happy here, and not with you, doesn't it."

"Tendou-san, please!" Kawanishi was desperate to get the guess monster to shut up. He needed you to leave with good thoughts of his team.

Yamagata and Reon scolded Tendou. Yamagata pulled him away. "Dude, Kawanishi purposely said to be on our best behavior so he won't make L/n worry about him."

You slowly turn to your friend, your hair covering your face. "Taichi. Do you actually enjoy being around these guys?"

Kawanishi gulped. "Well, yeah. Please, don't get the wrong idea. Tendou doesn't know how to shut up, he's just trying to get on your nerves. I beg you, Y/n, don't judge everything based on his actions."

"I could've been ok if he just pushed my buttons about my team. I wouldn't have taken it personally. What bothers me is him throwing your feelings out into the open as if it were the same as talking about the weather." You move your hair out of your face showing the glare of your e/c orbs. "How can you put up with someone that will tease you about something as important as your feelings?"

"Y/n-"

"Have you really changed that much since we went our separate ways?" You searched his eyes for something, literally anything to comfort you about this situation.

Kawanishi held a pleading stare. "Y/n, I let it slip to them about my feelings for you. Don't blame Tendou for bringing it up. He's just trying to push your buttons. Don't take it personally." 'Shit! Tendou is blowing this! I need her to get comfortable again. What do I do?!'

You let out a long exhale, throwing your head back and staring at the ceiling. "Taichi. I was hoping for something better than this. I was actually hoping I could get along with your teammates. I have no clue what to think now."

He slowly moved closer to you, gently grabbing your face in his hands and making you look him in the eye. "I'm sorry. I tried telling them to watch what they say and do, but Tendou does whatever he wants. I promise you that I haven't changed on bit since you last saw me. I'm still your Taichi, your best friend."

You give a sad smile. "My best friend that's in love with me."

He freezes, slowly removing his hands. "And what about you? You never told me how you felt about me."