Splash of Color

2: Nicknames

The next day went by smoothly as you breezed by your classes and waited for the school day to end so you could experiment on this new technique you found last night. Soon the last bell rang for the day and you quickly packed your things and went out into the hallway to get to the art clubroom.

Unfortunately, you realized the nickname decided to stick around.

"Ah look~ It's Rudolph-chan!" The sing-song voice and the dreaded nickname made you quickly turn to your offender which was obviously the same boy you met yesterday.

It made you think twice about sharing any milk bread with him in the future.

"Oikawa-san, can't you be more creative with your naming?" You couldn't help retort back.

Oikawa opens his mouth to respond until a hand smacks firmly on top of his head. "Ack!"

Your eyes trail from the hand currently on top of Oikawa's head and realize that your defender is your classmate. "Ah, hey Iwaizumi-san."

"It's [Surname]-san, Trashykawa." You stifled a laugh before noticing his acknowledging nod towards you. "Hey."

"Iwa-chan~" Oikawa whines. "It's pretty creative! Considering where that big spot of red paint was! Can't you picture it now?"

Iwaizumi turns away from his friend's whining before staring at your face for a moment and letting out a snort.

You felt so betrayed by your classmate. Your face flushed as memories of you just walking around with a big splotch of paint ingrained itself into your memory. "You can't even see it anymore!" You quickly cover your nose with your hands defensively and proceed to turn away from them. "I'm going to my club." You couldn't help slip in, "I hope you play volleyball better than you do at making nicknames."

All you could hear from behind you was lighthearted laughter and an airy reply of, "wouldn't you know~"

~~

You let out a deep sigh you didn't realize you were holding as soon as your materials were settled in front of you.

"I didn't know you knew Oikawa, [Name]!" Your friend nudged your side, sporting a playful grin.

The other students in the clubroom turned to you for a moment before returning to their work. They weren't very inconspicuous about the budding curiosity they seemed to emit on the newly formed friendship between you two.

"Ami..." Letting out an exasperated sigh, you hunch over your blank canvas, trying to ignore the very curious eyes on you right now. "Not personally...until I had a paint malfunction yesterday. He helped me out and that was that."

"Mhm..." She replied, unconvinced. "Calling you out with Rudolph-chan is totally not 'that was that'." Her fingers proceeded to do air quotes. Ami's grin stretches out even further. "That guy is such an icon here! Of course I'm curious about these turn of events." She wraps her arm around your shoulder. "Plus, I hear he broke up with his recent girlfriend not too long ago. Something about him focusing too much on volleyball. So...you know...if you want to..." She trails off suggestively.

You shrug off her shoulder before flicking her forehead.

"Ah!"

"Your imagination goes above and beyond Ami." You add in some acrylic on your paint palette. "Hey, how about that guy you were telling me about yesterday?"

Her eyes narrow at your very obvious change in topic. "I'll bother you about this again but I do have a lot to tell you about him." Her hand clasps onto your shoulder and leans in by your ear. "I think I'm making progress."

For the rest of the time, Ami continues animatedly talking about her current crush as you let out an internal sigh of relief at the attention away from the said popular student icon.

Plus, now more attention could be put into that new technique you've been dying to try out.

~~

"I'll see you later, [Name]!" Ami packs up her things before waving to you. "I wish I could walk home with you but I got to pick up my brother from daycare..." She pouted.

"Don't worry about it. We walk together in the morning anyways." You reassured her.

Ami took off with one last wave and closed the door, leaving you alone again in the room for the next hour. Turning to your unfinished work, you picked up your paintbrush again.

"Well, lets get back to work."

~~

Empty water bottle again.

He drops his water bottle back down and makes his way to the water fountain. As he fills it up, he pouts when he realizes the door of the art clubroom is closed today.

Curiously, he slowly and quietly opens the door to see you in the same position as yesterday. A side profile with your hair messily tied back, eyes narrowed and concentrated on the canvas in front of you. Leaning into the door too much, it began to open up further and unfortunately for him, let out a loud and noticeable creak.

Your trance broke as you turned to your intruder. "...Oikawa-san?"

His hands reflexively went up in defense at being caught in the act. "Ah~ You caught me!" He ended it with a flirtatious wink which you couldn't help but raise your brow at. This guy certainly knew how to breeze by situations.

Putting your brush down, you fully face him in your seat. "Well? What did you need?"

You see him pout by the door. "Nothing...I was just wondering why the door was closed."

You sigh. "Well it's open now." Your eyes shift to the clock before turning back to him. "Done practice for the day?"

"Ah, no." He holds up his water bottle. "Just needed to fill it up! The fountain around here is so nice and cold! The one by the gym is so lukewarm..." He lets out an exaggerated shudder.

You laugh a little at his exaggerated motions. "Well, I won't keep you from your practice. Good luck." With that you turn to your painting again and pick up your brush.

"Good luck to you too, Rudolph-chan!" You hear the door opening all the way and soon after the sound of footsteps echo further and further away.

Leaning back in your seat you groan. "He wouldn't possibly stick with that name, will he?"

Sitting back up in your seat properly, you continue absentmindedly working on your canvas. Your thoughts brainstorm nicknames you could throwback at him.

I mean...there was Trashykawa...but you wanted to be original.

Prove him that you could make a better nickname than his.

...

...

...Well, one day it'll come to you.