Winner [Haikyu!! x OC] (Completed)

Hurt (Oikawa's POV)

I turn off the lights in the gym and lock the door.

My muscles are shaking.

I should have brought some food or sports drinks to help them start recovering. Though I honestly wasn't thinking very much at all when I decided to sneak back to the gym after team practice ended so that I could practice on my own.

There isn't enough time left before the tournament to waste doing nothing. Starting Tuesday, I'll be playing matches and analyzing tapes of other matches. That means that I need to use all of this weekend and Monday to get in my physical practice. If I want to beat Ushiwaka, I need to take advantage of every moment I have. Even if I have to do it underhandedly. Because I already know Iwa-chan would disagree. Lil-chan too.

Something nags my subconscious, whispering that they're probably right. I shouldn't push myself so hard. It's not safe. They're just looking out for me. My aching knee agrees with them.

But there's something about it all that my brain won't register. I want to beat Ushiwaka and go to nationals. Therefore, this is time I can use to make that a reality. And as far as I'm concerned, that's the only thing that matters.

I put my hands in my pockets, breathing in the cool air as I walk up the dark streets. I can barely make out two people walking hand in hand a ways ahead of me. There aren't usually people outside around here this late at night, but the weather is nice, so it's not too strange. Even if I wasn't out practicing late, I'd want to be outside tonight. Especially if I was walking this route with Lil-chan like I usually do.

The thought of her makes me smile. She's been working overtime these past couple weeks. Ever since that first day she went to the city gym seeking out Mad Dog-chan, she's gone there with him every day after team practice. Her effort is paying off. I can feel a difference in their relationship. She calls him by his given name, and he answers her with complete sentences. Even if he's as insensitive and rude as he always is. But it goes deeper than that. Beneath spoken words, they have a bond they didn't before. He's starting to trust her. And that small bit of trust is making it much easier for the rest of the team to work with him.

That doesn't change the fact that I wish she was spending that time with me instead of Mad Dog-chan. I still haven't been able to confess my feelings to her. The only extra time she spares for me is through our text messages when I say anything I can think of about the team, just as an excuse to talk to her.

But I can't help but be proud of her. She embodies a type of dedication that the team desperately needs. I don't know anyone else who would go to such lengths to connect with each individual player. There's a deep trust between us third-years, but Lily just might be this team's saving grace next year.

I turn onto Lily's street. It's not technically the fastest route to my house, but by now, it's simply a habit. I'm surprised to see that the couple I noticed earlier is still in front of me. Have we really been walking the same direction this whole time? Hopefully they don't think I'm following them.

The couple stops in front of Lily's house, facing each other.

My heart stalls in my chest. Under the lights from her house, I recognize Lil-chan's blonde hair reaching her waist.

The boy she's holding hands with is tall with dark hair, and he's holding a volleyball under one arm.

...

What?

He's obviously not from our team. He's not from Aoba Johsai at all. I would recognize him. But I've never seen this guy before. Is he one of those city league volleyball players?