𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋. hq

「5th set」: bubble tea

藤田 愛子
a i k o f u j i t a
— year 3 class 6 —

Oikawa Tooru was a heartthrob. He was good looking, smooth with words and talented at volleyball. I found it hard for anyone to resist that.

I would have been one of those girls who would gush over him, if only I hadn't heard about what happened between them from Noru.

"I told you to do something for her, not to ask her a favor, dumbass" I overheard the raven haired male reprimand the so-called volleyball captain, as I stood from just around the corner near the staircase.

Iwaizumi from Class 5, was it?, I attempted to recall who he was.

"I just asked out of impulse!" Oikawa defended himself, telling his friend about what happened the other day and complaining about how a particular girl flat out rejected his offer.

"Though, it would actually help if Hoshino joined as a manager. After all, all those we had so far would disrupt practice because of you—" Iwaizumi sighed as he agreed, only to get cut off by a stupid remark from his friend.

"You shouldn't be jealous, Iwa-chan. It's embarrassing" The brunette teased, earning a smack in the head.

"This is exactly why your ex-girlfriend hates your guts, Trashykawa" he retorted earning a whine from the male.

"That's a low blow!".

"Now, try to convince that girl again, and make sure you think of a way to make it up to her" Iwaizumi instructed before Oikawa ran off to the opposite direction as I quietly slurped on the strawberry milk I bought from the vending machine.

"I'll see you in club, Iwa-chan" the captain waved at his friend.

Once out of sight, Iwaizumi coughed before looking at my direction and calling me out. "It's not a good habit," he said. "Eavesdropping on other people".

"I didn't mean to" I muttered, before countering, "But it's not good too you know".

"What is?" He raised an eyebrow, oblivious to what I meant until I filled him in.

"Bringing Minoru and that turd together" I answered.

Oikawa had a ton of fans, and yet unlike all those girls who fell for his looks or flirtatiousness, Minoru admired how he worked hard for the sport he loved. In my opinion, she was too good for him. He doesn't deserve her.

He looked at me as if I said something wrong, "What do you mean?"

"I know you two went to Noru's house yesterday! And—And Oikawa's been asking her to be your manager" I crossed my arms, "Tell that guy to leave her alone! Minoru is practically a saint, and he definitely does not deserve her".

"That isn't for you to decide, isn't it? It's up to Hoshino" he pointed out, successfully pissing me off as I scowled at him. "And it wasn't like it was her we came for the other day. Oikawa and I were there for her little sister".

"You guys don't have any idea how much Minoru got hurt because of what he said during middleschool. Leave her alone" I insisted and stuck to our original topic, crushing the empty tetra pack in my right hand.

"That's why he's trying to make it up to her" the male retorted and I scowled at him.

"Then stop meddling! It's not like that Oikawa has another chance"

"Aren't you meddling as well? What's wrong with being friends?"

"Everything!" I shouted, earning the attention of the same person we were talking about.

What if he still likes her? , my thoughts continued raining down on me.

What if he's just playing around?

Or worse—What if she regains her feelings for him?

"Aiko?" A familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and as I turned to look at it's owner, and there stood the actual Hoshino Minoru in real life.

"Iwaizumi" she greeted him before averting her attention to me, "You know each other?".

"No" I told her a half-assed lie, "I just ran into him".

"Hmmm" she hummed, seeming unconvinced despite letting it pass.

"Well, I need her for awhile" Minoru told him before filling me in. "It's your turn for career counseling".

"Oh, by the way Hoshino, Oikawa's been looking for you" He mentioned, and I sent him a glare behind my best friend's back.

"Ah, I know. I was running away from him" she nodded, and so, smiling smugly, I stuck my tongue out at the male without her knowing.

"See you around, Iwaizumi" Minoru faced him one last time before dragging me to the guidance counselor.

▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

A week later, I've been dragging them away from her, in hopes that they have nothing to do with each other. "I don't like him, Noru. You should stay away from them" I told her, ranting as soon as our class ended.

"The feeling's mutual" a particular male butt into our conversation midway, causing me to growl at him.

"Iwa-chan, you shouldn't pick on girls. This is why you're unpopular" the brunette had the guts to speak, causing me to throw in a remark.

"Speak for yourself, Turd" I scoffed earning a nudge from Noru, and a whine from the person himself.

"How cruel! You're influencing her, Noru-chan".

She sighed, turning to the male as she asked, "What do you want Trashykawa?".

"This is my classroom too, you know" he reminded us both about how he just sat right beside Noru.

"I didn't mean that" she waved him off before, telling them, "you two have club activities. It's not the best example for both the captain and vice captain to be late isn't it?".

"Well," the brunette trailed on, placing three aesthetic glass bottles of bubble tea on the girl's table. "I thought it would be best to give it now. The entire club pitched in as thanks for the onigiri's you made last week".

"Trashykawa paid for half though" Iwaizumi added the unnecessary comment, causing me to glare intently at the brunette.

"Thanks" she smiled at him. "You actually remembered I love bubble tea".

"No problem" he chuckled, saying their goodbyes before leaving the classroom.

It was then that I realized after seeing my best friend smile like that. At this rate, maybe it's impossible for me to prevent whatever may happen.

"Aiko" she called out to me and pointed at my duffle bag. "You're no exception you know. The vice captain of the girl's soccer club shouldn't be late either. Why are you still here anyways?".

"I was supposed to keep unwanted pests away but it seemed like they got ahead of me" I clicked my tongue, looking at the door they left open.