𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋. hq

「2nd set」: iced tea

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

The first time I saw him was during club on our first year in middle school. It was then that I entered the girl's basketball club and managed to fight for a spot in the team, he, on the other hand, made it easily as a regular in the boy's volleyball club.

Back in the day, only a net separated us, two different people who would have never met otherwise. Our clubs had to share one of the gymnasiums in the campus and so I couldn't help but let my eyes wander during break, and coincidentally it was always that particular person who caught my eye.

It was probably because even if Oikawa Tooru wasn't a genius, he might as well deserve a title that is as good as the other.

Back then, he wasn't popular yet, but he was definitely a boy with promising abilities. He advanced earlier that the normal, he was brimming with passion, talent and athleticism, and the effort he put into the said sport was definitely something you could praise him about.

The first time I talked to him was during our second year in middle school. It was during one of our water breaks, I approached the boy from one side of the net as he drank water, holding my own water bottle as I greeted him, complementing him for his good work.

"You're really cool, you know" was probably the first words I uttered, which in return caused him to choke on the beverage he had been chugging down.

"W-What?", he wiped his mouth and looked at me as if I was insane to have suddenly blurted those words out to a stranger. If it weren't for the next sentence I said, and if I had stayed just a little bit longer, the boy would probably swear that I attempted to pick him up casually back then.

But rather than that, I smiled saying, "Your passion is really admirable. It's just something I thought you ought to know".

And with that I ran off, not bothering to give him a chance to reply, but thinking twice on whether or not it was actually a good thing to have said that to a complete stranger.

The first time we had been classmates was during our third year in middle school. It was then that the number of firsts I had encountered alongside him started pilling up endlessly. It was the first time I went out with a guy, first date, first kiss, first heartbreak.

But who would have thought that the first time I'd actually watch his game was a month or two into our final year in high school, our 12th grade.

After having, my little sister convince me to come with her to watch the final game in the Inter-High Tournament, there was definitely no other choice than to actually go. After all, her attempt to convince me included an entire hour of having her give excuses on why I should come and that it was my school anyways and that I already missed yesterday's game which was Karasuno against Seijoh. Who would have thought I'd actually ended up giving in and so here I was, seated on Aoba Johsai's side as their fight against Shiratorizawa started.

It was the first time I actually saw him in the court during an official match after those three years of having to support my own team in their own match during inter-highs or preliminaries.  With barely a chance to see him on those game filled weeks, there was no way in hell I could've watched a match until now.

Coincidentally, it was also the same match he was looking forward to in months after their last defeat against Shiratorizawa. It was an ongoing rivalry, something that I was a tad bit concerned of during the past, seeing his reckless attitude. But hearing about their game against Karasuno yesterday made me think otherwise.

Maybe Oikawa Tooru actually learned his lesson. That Rome wasn't built in a day, and that there are five more players alongside him in the said sport. I just hope he keeps that in his mind.

▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

               Defeat was simply overwhelming at times, especially when you're really into something. Though, what I believe as especially overwhelming is the number of attempts of beating your rival together with the number of losses they accumulated throughout the years.

It was one thing having a junior reach a level you can't attain, but it was also another having to beat a rival you constantly loss to for years.

I could've sworn he was frustrated, even from how far I was, I knew just from the look on his face. And right then, I thought nothing else mattered.

"Nao," I immediately turned to my sister as soon as I heard of Seijoh's loss. "Go home without me. I'll catch up in a bit".

She nodded obediently. And just like that, she walked home right before the administrators proceeded with the end of the program.

I, on the other hand, ran towards the nearest exit towards the lobby, in search of our school's volleyball team.

               Oikawa sat alone outside after begging for some alone time which Iwaizumi hesitated to give. But then here he was, seated on a bench right outside the stadium as I contemplated whether or not I should approach moreover greet him.

I did anyways.

"Hey" I sat right beside him, ignoring whatever he had to say to make me leave.

"Noru-chan" he muttered my name softly before telling me, "You really should leave me alone".

"I came all the way here and that's what you have to say?" I asked, acting as if he offended me with whatever he has to say for himself.

"You came all the way here and watched us lose—C'mon, I don't want to talk right now. I don't want to repeat whatever hurtful shit I told you nearly three years ago" he snapped as if I had been so fragile ever since we broke up.

"Don't fuck with me, Tooru" it was the first time I called him like I used to in years. "It's not like you can dump me, we're just friends, and besides, stop acting like I haven't changed in the past few years. It was a mutual fault. I shouldn't have accepted it so easily and ran away after whatever you told me".

"Anyways, I'm not here for that" I continued, "I'm here because I want to tell you about how great you were back there. Here to tell you about how you worked hard enough to reach that level of skill. I just want you to know that".

He looked at me with the same look he gave me the first time I approached him, only to smile sadly, "It wasn't enough. All our practices, experience and strategies were broken by force. Everything we built up in the past months were practically wasted—".

"Was it really a waste?" I cut him off almost immediately. "Playing isn't always about winning its about working with your team and the moment you gave your best. So accept how hard you worked and try better next time. Stop acting like some drama's heroine. Pick yourself up, Captain".

"Right" he chuckled, as if he was an entirely different person from before, as if he managed to get over it even just a tiny bit. "Well said, Minoru".