The Heart of the Ace (Iwaizumi x Reader)

Chapter 9

A day before the performance, the energy at school was palpable. Between the excitement for the upcoming event and the usual hustle and bustle, Y/N found herself feeling more on edge than usual. The music club had been practicing hard, and with only a few days left, everything needed to be perfect.

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In the Music Room,

Y/N wiped the sweat from her forehead after final run-through for the day. Her three bandmates—Haru, Mei, and Kenji—were packing up their instruments, but not without their usual teasing.

Haru, adjusting his guitar case, glanced over at Y/N with a grin. "So, Y/N-senpai, do we need to save a front-row seat for Iwaizumi-senpai?"

Y/N groaned, her face flushing red. "Guys, can you please stop bringing him up? He's just a friend."

Kenji chuckled, as he placed his drumsticks. "Just a friend, huh? Pretty sure I saw him waiting for you after the practice the other day."

Mei, always quick with a joke, added, "If he's just a friend, maybe I should ask him to come to our performance as my guest instead."

Y/N laughed and roller her eyes, but her mind wandered to Iwaizumi. She couldn't deny that he had been a constant source of support lately, whether it was showing up to practices, hanging out during lunch, or simply being there when she needed to relax. Their friendship had deepened in a way she hadn't expected.

Could I be...?

"Alright, enough with the teasing. Let's focus on the performance!" Y/N said, trying to steer the conversation back to the task at hand.

Kenji grinned. "You got it, senpai. But just do you know, if we end up dedicating a song to Iwaizumi, don't blame us."

Y/N's blush deepened as her bandmates laughed, but she couldn't stop the warmth that spread through her chest at the thought of Iwaizumi being there to support her.

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In the Gym: Iwaizumi's side,

Meanwhile, in the gym, Iwaizumi, Aiko, and Oikawa sat down after an exhausting volleyball practice. They had been working hard as well, but the upcoming performance seemed to be a hot topic even for the volleyball team.

"So, Iwa-chan," Oikawa said with a mischievous grin, "you're coming to Y/N's performance, right? I mean, you've been spending plenty of time with her lately. Wouldn't want to miss it."

Iwaizumi glared at him but couldn't help the faint smile tugging at his lips. "Of course I'm going. It's an important day for her."

Aiko smiled knowingly. "That's sweet of you, Iwaizumi. You really care about her, don't you?"

Iwaizumi hesitated for a moment. He did care about Y/N—a lot, actually. But what exactly those feelings were, he wasn't sure. He wasn't the type to rush into emotions, and everything with Y/N felt... delicate.

"Yeah, I do," he said finally, his voice softer than usual. "But it's not something I want to rush."

Oikawa smirked, leaning back on his hands. "You're so responsible, Iwa-chan. But come on, man, if you keep overthinking, someone else might swoop in."

Iwaizumi shot him a look. "I'm not overthinking. I'm just making sure I understand how I feel first."

Aiko, sensing the sincerity in his words, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Take your time, Iwaizumi. You'll know when the time is right. Maybe after the performance, when things have calmed down a bit, you can have a talk with her."

Iwaizumi nodded, appreciating her support. "Yeah, maybe."

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Later That Day,

As the sun set, Y/N found herself walking home alone, her mind filled with thoughts of the upcoming performance. She felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness, but also... something else. A lingering thought about Iwaizumi. She hadn't realized how much she had grown to rely on him until now, and the idea of him being in the audience during her performance made her heart race.

She shook her head, trying to focus. "You've got a performance to worry about, not these silly feelings," she muttered to herself, though she couldn't help but smile a little.

As she approached her house, her phone buzzed with a message from Iwaizumi.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. Maybe those feelings weren't so silly after all.

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Iwaizumi's POV:

As Iwaizumi lay in bed that night, he couldn't stop thinking about Y/N. Their conversations, the way she laughed, her determination to succeed—it all made him feel...something. But what exactly? He wasn't sure if it was love or something else, or was it? He knew, however, that she was special to him.

"Ahh...I guess they're right after all....I like Y/N."