Love Me Harder // MatsuHana.

one

It was a bright and sunny Thursday morning, the kind of day that felt routine for most high school students. The streets were busy with the usual crowd, and Hanamaki was on his way to school, enjoying the peacefulness of the walk. He slid his earpods into his ears, humming softly to the tune playing in his head, lost in his thoughts. Everything seemed normal, until a sudden tap on his shoulder jolted him out of his quiet moment.

Startled, Hanamaki flinched and turned quickly, only to be met with the smug grin of Matsukawa, who clearly found the reaction amusing.

"Yo, you should’ve seen your face," Matsukawa teased, his signature deadpan expression barely masking the humor in his voice.

"Asshole," Hanamaki muttered, giving his friend a light punch on the shoulder. But there was no real irritation behind it. They both broke into laughter, the kind that came easily between best friends who had known each other for years.

As they continued their walk to school side by side, they fell into their usual rhythm of conversation. They jumped from one topic to another effortlessly—complaining about their upcoming tests, joking about how obvious it was that Iwaizumi and Oikawa had feelings for each other, and, of course, discussing volleyball. Matsukawa couldn’t help but throw in his usual teases, playfully picking on Hanamaki every chance he got.

"You know, if you focused as much on volleyball as you do on flirting, maybe we'd have a shot at nationals," Matsukawa quipped with a grin, nudging him.

"Oh, shut up," Hanamaki laughed, rolling his eyes. "Like you’re any better."

They both knew it was all in good fun. The banter between them, laced with playful jabs and flirtatious remarks, was just part of their dynamic. It was comfortable, familiar, and neither of them read too much into it. This was just how their friendship worked—always walking that fine line between teasing and affection, never caring about where it led because, at the end of the day, they were both just enjoying the moment.

As they neared the school gates, the morning buzz of students filled the air, but Hanamaki and Matsukawa seemed unfazed by the noise. They fell into an easy stride, blending into the crowd while still in their own world. The teasing never stopped.

"You seriously going to keep that bird’s nest of yours?" Matsukawa said, eyeing Hanamaki’s hair, which was still a bit messy from the wind.

"Bold of you to talk when your bedhead's no better," Hanamaki shot back, running a hand through his hair, trying to smooth it out. "At least I don’t look like I just woke up five minutes ago."

"Touché." Matsukawa smirked, unfazed as always.

Their footsteps echoed through the school’s courtyard, and they passed by familiar faces—classmates, volleyball teammates, and a few juniors who were already setting up for practice. The sight of the volleyball court in the distance caught both of their attention, and for a brief moment, the usual playfulness in their expressions shifted to something more serious. The tournament was coming up soon, and though they joked around a lot, they both knew how important it was.

"You nervous?" Matsukawa asked, his tone a little more serious now as they slowed their pace.

Hanamaki shrugged, though his gaze stayed fixed on the volleyball court. "I guess a little. Iwaizumi’s been on our asses about training, and you know Oikawa’s gonna freak out if we don’t perform well."

"Yeah, classic Oikawa," Matsukawa chuckled, but there was a weight to his words. "But you know we’ve got this, right? We’ve been through worse."

Hanamaki nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I know. I’m just... trying not to overthink it."

They fell into a comfortable silence after that, both lost in their own thoughts about the upcoming matches. Even when they weren’t saying much, there was an unspoken understanding between them. That was the thing about their friendship—it didn’t always need words. They had been through enough practices, matches, and even losses to know they could rely on each other without question.

As they reached the entrance to the main building, Matsukawa broke the silence with another teasing remark. "So, are you gonna ask Iwaizumi out for Oikawa or what? Someone’s gotta make the first move."

Hanamaki laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, please. If anything, they’ll take each other down before either of them admits their feelings."

"True, but it’d be fun to watch," Matsukawa grinned, nudging him.

"Yeah, I guess." Hanamaki smirked. "But you first—how about you stop flirting with me and start asking people who aren’t me?"

Matsukawa's grin widened. "Maybe I like flirting with you. Who else can handle me like you do?"

Hanamaki rolled his eyes again, but the warmth in his smile betrayed him. "Whatever, dude."

The bell rang just as they entered the building, signaling the start of another typical school day. But typical or not, Hanamaki knew these moments—these easy mornings with Matsukawa, the teasing, the volleyball, even the stress of the upcoming tournament—were what made everything worth it. It was all part of the chaos, the fun, and the comfort of high school life.

With one last smirk exchanged between them, they headed to their respective classrooms, ready to tackle whatever the day threw their way—together, as always.