Getting to know You (Oikawa Tooru )

22.

A few days had passed since the last game. We had one more game on Saturday afternoon, another shut out.

The girls had asked to be moved back to their own positions but every single one of them was ignored. Over twenty girls were ignored. And each game I hadn't been allowed to play.

After every game I had been asked by more and more people why I hadn't been out on the field, if I had gotten hurt, if I had given up my playing time for someone else, or if there was another reason.

An article had come out in a magazine asking why I hadn't gotten playing time. I hadn't talked to my parents about it but I bet they already knew or at least had a feeling that something was wrong.

We were heading out to another game today. Another home game. Another disappointment.

We'd lost both games so far and she still wouldn't let me play. What happened to being strict and playing to win?

I wanted to grind my teeth together as I made my way back to the bench as she announced who would be playing. Once again I was not playing.

I looked up towards the once again silent crowd and I saw my parents a few rows back waving at me. My eyes widened and a real smile that I hadn't shown in the past few days spread across my face. I waved back before I turned around and sat down.

Mom was home and dad was actually awake. I was so happy that they were here I wanted to cry tears of joy.

But that happiness didn't last long.

The other team was violent and one by one a girl would get knocked down. A few girls were taken off and we had to send in a sub for them, and once again I was kept side lined. Finally after the third girl was removed from the game with an injury I had enough.

I was left not allowed to do something once again and she was going to get an earful.

I stood up and stomped my way towards Sensei.

"Alright, enough. You've proved your point. Put me in the game."

"No, you're too valuable. We'll need you."

"Then why haven't I been allowed to play!" I scream. "All you've done is keep me out of the game and I haven't done a damn thing to you!"

She turned to look at me, eyes narrowed. "You're lucky you're on this team!"

"The girls know I should be here! You're the only one who doesn't give a shit and puts the girls on our team in positions they don't even play even when they ask you to be moved back you tell them 'It's what's best for the team'! Well news flash it's not!"

"Well if you don't like it then you're off the team!"

My eyes widened for a moment. Everyone on the field and the sidelines had gone silent. I narrowed my eyes. "Fine, enjoy your terrible team, I hope your ego gets hit hard after you realize how stupid you've been." I growled as I stomped down the sideline.

I reached under the bench and picked up my bag. I pulled the straps over my shoulders and made my way as quickly as I could to the door that led to the locker room. Tears were already streaming down my face but I kept quiet as I made my get away.

I went into the building, immediately going into the locker room and slamming the door shut. I took quick and long strides to my locker. I ripped the door open before I dropped my bag in front of it.

I started shoving things into my bag that I wouldn't need in my locker anymore and began to strip from my uniform. I ripped my hair elastic from around my ponytail, my hair messy and slightly tangled fell over my shoulders.

I threw my shirt and shorts of my uniform across the aisle and slid my skirt back on. I was in the midst of buttoning my shirt back up when I realized I did the buttons wrong.

That's when I lost it.

I fell to my knees and began to sob. I put my hand over my mouth to try to block out the noise but I couldn't.

The thing I truly loved in my life was taken from me because a women didn't like me. She was too pig headed to see that what she was doing was hurting the team, not helping it.

I heard the door to the locker room open and I held my breath as tears continued to run like a waterfall down my face.

"Miyumi!" I heard feet hit the floor fast as Junko ran over to me. She found me in my messed up state and immediately collapsed on the floor next to me. She wrapped her arms around me.

"Don't worry, your mom will be here soon." I nodded as I continued to cry into her shoulder. My sobs nowhere near stopping.

She didn't say anything, only rocked us back and forth slightly to try and calm me down. The only sound in the room was the echoing sound of my sobs which made me feel even more upset.

I heard the door open again. "Miyumi!" My moms voice echoed through the room as she ran towards me. She switched with Junko and began to rub my back as I held onto her tightly.

"It'll be okay. Don't you worry. I'll put that woman in her place." My mom told me as she rubbed tried to calm me.

The words after awhile did calm me, but I knew I had to do this on my own.

When I finally calmed down I sent them off. I told my mom that her and dad could go home and I'd meet them there.

Unwillingly she let me be. She left with her final words "your father and I will love you no matter what" and "I'll see you later, stay safe."

And Junko left, telling me to text her when I got home. I nodded and she knew I was telling that I obviously would.

When they were both gone I finished packing my things and left my uniform on the desk in the office to the locker room.

I took my school tie and tucked it into my bag, knowing that I couldn't even bother putting the tie on. I fixed the buttons on my shirt and closed my eyes. I allowed myself to take a deep breath.

I slung the straps of my bag over my shoulders and headed out of the building. I made sure to keep myself from looking at my reflection in windows or mirrors. I didn't want to see how puffy and red my eyes were.

I kept walking, keeping my head down and letting my hair fall slightly into my face until I got to a park a few miles from the school. I let out a calm sigh as I walked across the grass and onto the sand of the playground.

Finally, I can be alone.