𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋; haikyuu

「1st set」: bottled water

星野 実
m i n o r u    h o s h i n o
— year 3 class 6 —

We've all done stupid things back then. Some not us bad as others, and others that would haunt you all your life. I was particularly in the later group.

If I were to pinpoint how the past week started out, it was pretty simple actually: of all the misfortunes I had to encounter throughout my life, this had to be the worst.

It was as if the world conspired against me. At this point, I was beginning to think that I must've done something in my past life to receive such divine retribution.

Well, to be honest, I knew that going to Aoba Johsai had a lot of consequences, but having taken the entrance exam way before we broke up, meant that I had to live with it.

Now, more than two years later, here I was, sitting beside the source of my agony, as I continued to regret my actions.

Of course, after having nothing to do with him for our first two years of highschool, something was bound to happen on our last and final year. And here I thought everything was sailing smoothly.

"I'm looking forward to sitting next to you this school year, Noru-chan" He greeted me so casually as if absolutely nothing ever happened between us.

Two could play it that game, my subconscious muttered, despite another part of me sighing in relief.

"It's nice to see you again, Oikawa-san" I returned the greeting, trying to act as mature as I could, for someone whom he dated in the past.

'I mean, what could be as immature as avoiding and holding grudges towards an ex, right?' I reminded myself, only to find myself in the wrong a moment later.

"You're as beautiful as ever" he smiled thereafter, ruining every possible redeeming impression he could gain from me.

I take it back, I thought right then. Screw treating him nicely. He was still the same old goddamned flirt.

"I'm glad to see you haven't changed" I heaved a sigh as I deadpanned.

"Ouch, it's been so long and you're still so cold" he feigned hurt, only to have me ignore him.

And there it was.

"..."

Ellipsis—Nothing could have represented the awkward silence more accurately. The tension was so thick you could probably cut it with a knife.

Figures, after having to act as if someone was a stranger for all these years, it's bound to take a lot to repair what you had. I could only hope that this year won't be as terrible as the last time we became classmates.

There would have been nothing more than all the pent up words I could have bombarded him with, but like before, I chose to stay silent. And god, it was probably the first time I was so glad I did.

▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

In the following week, I was at a lost for words when the same person I wanted nothing to do with tripped by the staircase, trying to make it look casual by topping it off with a weird pose, only to twist his ankle while we were carrying out our class duties.