UNBOUND - h. iwaizumi

chapter twenty-five

"so... y/n-chan, how'd you manage to get an ace like that to be so whipped for ya?" kaori asks loud enough for the rest of the managers to hear. she smirks at her hesitance to answer as she sets the table with y/n.

the match ended with y/n's team winning 25-23, konoha and bokuto celebrating against the two nekoma players. unfortunately, she wasn't able to stay long before she was called by kiyoko, kaori and otaki mako.

"it's not like that, kao-chan, i swear! he just said to come cause of that rooster hair bastard! and to visit tokyo!" she grasps as much as she could but everyone, including kiyoko and yachi, just laugh at her excuse.

yukie sighed exaggeratedly, setting down the chairs while she clasps her hands together, "i wish someone would drop everything like that just to see me."

"even finding someone that would like me back would be great!" eri sighs.

unfortunately for the girl, her words were used against her, "yeah right, masaki gora is a beef of a captain and always goes to you after a match! he's like a huge great dane for you!" kaori shoots back.

"don't think we didn't notice you and konoha getting chummy, kaori-san." kiyoko mentions, surprising a few of the other managers who know the two.

to be honest, kiyoko only knows because y/n mentioned that konoha would walk kaori home after their practice and always goes out of his way to tease her.

y/n laughed, high fiving her best friend and thankful for the attention to be taken away from her. she knows the girls mean well and are only teasing, but she didn't want to be delusional and think that iwaizumi had any other motive other than being a good friend and enjoying his summer break outside of miyagi.

sugawara, daichi and asahi walk over to the other gym after completing their practice and couldn't help overhear the girls' conversation. the three laugh to themselves, finding the drama interesting, before stepping foot into the cool gym— only to be greeted by a similar conversation.

"iwa-san~ driving all the way to see y/n-chan from miyagi, huh?! that's ballsy!" no one knows why that was the phrase bokuto went with. akaashi sighs, gently telling bokuto that he should've used a different phrase. the boy nods in awe and almost understanding before turning his attention back to iwaizumi. "hey, you're an ace, too! being able to adapt to a newbie like lion boy there is insane!"

iwaizumi chuckled, "thank you, it means a lot coming from one of the top five aces. y/n-san seems to really trust you guys."

however, bokuto stopped listening after the first sentence, going on about how if he needs any advice to come to him. konoha and akaashi sigh at the inflated ego, telling the man to not take him too seriously.

kuroo, the ever sly and cunning man he is, wraps an arm around iwaizumi's neck, being a couple inches taller than the ace. "bokuto's a meathead, but he's not wrong~" he sings, smirking at the boy as if to get answers from him.

iwaizumi just blushes as yaku comes up with crossed arms, "what are your intentions with y/n-chan?" he asks boldly. he decided during this match to just straight up ask the boy after getting frustrated at his awe towards his former manager.

kai sighs, putting a hand on yaku's shoulder, giving iwaizumi an apologetic smile. "y/n-chan's like our sister, she made sure that we all felt welcomed and always supported us, so we're just a bit protective."

iwaizumi nods understandingly, noticing that everyone's attention is on him to answer. "well, i greatly admire y/n-san. we have the same profession and even mentor we want to study under. she's helped me and the team a lot this past year, also supporting and spoiling us to the best of her abilities. thank you for taking care of her for the past week!" he bows respectfully.

despite acting touch, he feels extremely anxious as if he had just met her whole bloodline and body guards. though it wouldn't be too farfetched to call nekoma or fukurodani that.

kuroo cackles at his act, his respect for the guy increasing. he's ninety-nine percent sure that everyone in this gym know of his crush on their former manager. "we didn't mean to seem threating like that, iwaizumi."

'liar.' everyone thought but decided not to say anything.

"we have a surprise for you all!" coach nekomata finally calls out, chuckling to himself at the scene. "you boys come outside."

they all nod, following the elder coach. iwaizumi, confused, decided to wait for everyone else to leave before following them. kuroo also decides to stay back.

"i really am glad y/n-chan met you, iwaizumi-san. she seems a lot happier." kuroo pats his back. iwaizumi couldn't help but compare the boy to a father figure for y/n.

'why does he act so much older.. we're third years, right?' he thought to himself.

"iwaizumi-san! can you believe those idiots thought that these steel towers were the skytree?!" kuroo pointed towards nishinoya, tanaka and hinata, snickering.

the three blush in embarrassment, not wanting to look less cool in front of the ace, especially considering their team had lost to his.

iwaizumi sweat drop at the information, "but we're in saitama...?" his comment made the nekoma and karasuno third years burst out into laughter.

although it was a bit awkward to see karasuno so soon after their match, they made a few rivaling comments before putting it behind them and waiting to see how the next tournament will go. all of them excited.

as much as iwaizumi appreciated their efforts to make him feel welcomed, even vouching to the coaches to allow him to stay with them despite not being a student for any of the schools, he couldn't help but look over at y/n with the rest of the managers. they were casually talking about whatever and it was nice to see y/n around her friends.

the boys smirk, also noticing that the girl would often look over to them whenever he wasn't looking.