Winner [Haikyu!! x OC] (Ongoing)

Partner

I make my way to the courtyard for lunch on Tuesday, already restless to get to practice. The Aoba Johsai volleyball jacket on my back feels like a portable home. Like even though I eat lunch alone, I have my team.

The clinic yesterday couldn't have gone any better. Iwa, Watari, Sawauchi, Kindaichi, Kunimi, and Yahaba showed up, perfect for a three on three game. It was entertaining to see them so competitive with each other, and I had fun learning how to be a referee.

I felt like an idiot when I didn't know anywhere to get food, but the guys just laughed at me and showed me one of the places they like to go, like real teammates. The memory makes my heart swell. Team bonding is the best experience anyone could ever have.

I sit down in my corner and pull out my lunch when a shadow falls over me. I nearly drop my sandwich in surprise, and look up to see Yahaba standing over me. "Oh, Yahaba-kun. What's up?"

"Hey Lily," he greets me, as intense as ever.

I stand up, feeling awkward with him looking down at me sitting on the ground. "Did you, um, need something?" I glance around, thinking he should be worried about the weird looks he's getting for talking to the American girl.

"Do you want to come eat lunch with us?"

I stare at him. "Huh?"

Yahaba rolls his eyes. "Come eat lunch with us." He grabs my arm, snatches my backpack with his other hand, and begins towing me out of my dark corner.

"W-wait," I stutter, completely caught off guard. Eat lunch with them? Eat lunch with who, exactly? The volleyball team? All of them? Can I really eat lunch with them? I barely know them! "I— I don't want to interrupt your lunch, you don't have to worry about me, I really don't mind sitting here... by myself..."

But the light-haired second-year doesn't stop. He doesn't even acknowledge my protests.

"Oh, um, okay." I finally manage to get my legs moving of their own accord. "Thanks."

He nods and slows down to allow me to match his pace. He doesn't let go of my arm, probably to keep me from running back to the courtyard, but he shouldn't have been worried. It would be awkward for me to turn around and walk back now. He turns a corner and sits me at a table like a lost kitten, finally releasing my arm and setting my bag next to me.

"Watacchi should be here soon," he says, sitting on the other side of me.

Watacchi? It takes me a second to realize he means Watari. "Oh, cool." I hesitantly bring my sandwich out once more, somewhat afraid of being yanked away from this table as well.

Watari walks around the corner a minute later and sits across from Yahaba and I, grinning. "Nice, Yahaba-kun, you found her."

"Yep, sitting in a corner of the courtyard like a loner," Yahaba turns his head toward me and rolls his eyes.

"Hey!" I smack his shoulder. "It's not my fault I didn't know where the cool kids sat."

"More like we didn't know the top cool kid was sitting alone in the courtyard," Watari jumps in.

I blink, then laugh. "You know, I have no idea if that was a compliment or an insult."

Watari laughs with me. "I was saying you're cooler than us."