𝙏𝙊𝙐𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙎 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀𝙎 (𝙄𝙒𝘼𝙄𝙕𝙐𝙈𝙄 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍) 18+

Chapter 35

The gym fell silent as King announced the final score.

"The winner is... Y/N!."

Your team won, and cheers filled the room as everyone erupted into celebration. High-fives and laughter spread around you, but just as quickly, the losing team began protesting.

"No way, that doesn't count as a win!" Hanamaki immediately spoke out.

"Yeah! This just means we need to settle this for real with a rematch—bowling!" Another team member insists, his voice tinged with both defeat and determination.

Before the argument blew up again, Iwaizumi stepped forward, hands on his hips and an amused but stern look on his face. "Alright, enough," he says, raising his voice to cut through the noise. "You guys can argue about rematches all you want later, but right now, everyone needs to start cleaning up. This place is a mess, and I know half of you are fighting off hangovers."

Grumbles fills the room, but everyone began pitching in to clean up. Iwaizumi sent you a small smile as he picked up stray volleyballs and equipment, a silent acknowledgment of your team's win. You smiled back, feeling lighter, the adrenaline from the game still buzzing through you.

As everyone finished and headed out, Iwaizumi locked up the gym for the day. "Do you need a lift home?" He asks and you take him up on the offer. "Is this my prize for my big win?" You taunt and he shook his head. "I went easy on you," he replied and you smiled brightly as you nudged him. "Ugh, you made my win seem like it wasn't well earned," you joke and he smiled as he walked with you to the car. "You can cry about that later," he teases back before you both sat in the car.

It wasn't long before you were on the road again.

It's just the two of you now, and you're suddenly hyper-aware of the silence.

Was the silence always there?

Was it always this bothersome?

You shift in your seat, mentally running through small talk to fill the quiet, but before you can say anything, Iwaizumi speaks up.

"So," he starts off, catching your attention instantly. "About... that pregnancy test," he brings up, his tone careful. "... What really made you think you were... you know? Was it just the egg?"

You feel a slight blush creep up as you remember. "It sounds stupid doesn't it?" You admit awkwardly, still laughing it off regardless. "That cracked egg just got to me; my brain overanalyzed it, you know? Guess I'm still wired from work." You joke, trying to make light of it, but the truth still lingers, heavier than you'd expected.

He hums softly, nodding as he keeps his eyes on the road. "Not silly. I get it." He pauses, glancing at you.

"Do you think... you'd ever want kids?"

The question is unexpected, and you blink, feeling the weight of it. "Whoa, slow down, future pops," you replied. "Honestly, I haven't really thought that far. There's... still so much I want to figure out first. You know, life, career... stability." You shrug, trying to keep things light, but you can feel the seriousness pressing down on the conversation. He nods, understanding in his expression. "Yeah, stability... that's big."

The car went silent again.

"... Do you see yourself having children?" You ask, the question rolling out of your mind.

He seems almost hesitant as you watched the light shade of pink tint his ears and cheeks at the question. "I think... when the time is right, I'd want that. Kids, I mean. But only if everything's... in place, planned, prepared."