Winner [Haikyu!! x OC] (Completed)

Undercover

I step onto the public bus, clenching my paper in my hand. I mapped out my route to Shiratorizawa Academy last night, but I'm still nervous to be using the city bus by myself, and I'm definitely using the paper with all my instructions like a lifeline.

The boys would tease me. Even though I'm doing this for them.

I try to imagine Oikawa's voice telling me to be confident. That I'm almost there. It works, until I remember the feeling of his hands on my waist and the way his perfect brown eyes seemed to trap my gaze to his, and then I start sweating, even more nervous than I was before.

I force myself to take several deep breaths and shake the thoughts of Oikawa from my head. I need to stop thinking about him like that. I shouldn't think of a teammate that way, and it will only distract me. There are much more important matters than the way my heart can't control itself around my team captain.

Buildings pass by, creating shadows that grow and fade in the daylight as I stare out the window.

"Okay," I whisper to myself. There aren't many other passengers on the bus, so I'm not worried about being overheard talking to myself. "No more. You do not like Tōru Oikawa. He is a stuck-up, pretty-boy jerk."

My heart rebels and my stomach clenches with the lie.

I sigh.

"Okay, fine. He isn't. Deep down. But you still don't like him. You are the Seijoh boys volleyball club manager. All the boys need you. You need to do what's best for all of them. And that doesn't include crushing on their team captain."

I aim my next statement at my heart. "So that means you can't freak out anymore whenever he's around, no matter what he's doing."

My pulse doesn't seem to argue with that. Good. I'm glad I finally dealt with these feelings and cut them off while my losses are at a minimum. I can't imagine the disaster that might have occurred if I hadn't noticed until it was too late, or worse, if I had noticed and had let them run their course.

I return my gaze out the window, watching the people on the streets.

I can tell there's something different about me— a sense of self-awareness that I didn't have at the beginning of the year. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone to get to know the guys and help them in a field I'm not familiar with has given me more opportunities for growth than I anticipated. I can see my own progression more clearly. A vision of what I want for our team guides my every move, and helping my teammates reach their potential fills my mind in a way that no other goal ever has.

Yes. I'm different. And it's thanks to the Aoba Johsai Boys Volleyball Club.

The bus driver calls out a name that sounds familiar.

Looking at my paper, I recognize it as my stop. I stand and move my way off the bus, stepping onto the unfamiliar street. I have to walk from here.

After several minutes, I round a corner to see Shiratorizawa Academy. It's enormous. It's even more expansive than Aoba Johsai. Moving toward what looks like a map of the school grounds, I have to keep blinking my eyes as the sun glints off the pristine buildings. What is this place, a castle?

I turn my head away as some students pass me. I didn't expect it to be so busy on campus after school hours. I didn't bother with a disguise, though I did ditch my Aoba Johsai uniform and am now wearing a sweatshirt and leggings. Being American already gives away that I don't belong. Being the only student not wearing a Shiratorizawa uniform only makes it more obvious. But I continue my walk with confidence, as if every student needs to take a look at the school map every once in a while. This place is so big, I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I'd have to consult the maps just to get to class.