𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋. hq

「10th set」: cream soda

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

               I could vaguely recall what happened right after we met in the cafe.

As soon as dusk passed, the people in the store slowly dispersed as the stars in the sky scattered, and as terrible as it was to have a pair of exam students out talking in the night, it turns out that spending time with the guy wasn't so bad.

"Hey" he turned to me, averting his eyes for a moment right as the atmosphere changed into one that was more soothing than before.

I was just about to get comfortable when I turned to him and asked, "Yeah?"

"Why don't we have a honesty time? All I need is five minutes" he says, as we continued to act like drunk teenagers despite having consumed only a cup of hot cocoa each. At that moment we were two people who decided to put their differences past each other for once, two people who put away their worries and baggage for just a few hours into the night.

If anything I never knew Oikawa was the type of guy you could just lean back and talk to. I never knew it was relieving to open up to him and admit everything to someone for once. This was a side of him I've never encountered back then. And honestly, right now, I could really use something that was new for a change.

After all it was just five minutes. Five minutes of absolute truth, five minutes without facades and made up lies. What could possibly go wrong?

"Okay" I agreed.

"You go first" he offered.

"Give me a topic" I asked, only to find my self at loss, the next minute.

"Then say something about our third year in middle school" he shrugged, sipping on the remnants of his drink.

"Okay then" I laughed jokingly as I let a fragment of truth slip past my lips, "I never regretted it. Going out with you, I mean. What I did regret was loosing what we once had".

It took a moment of silence before the boy decided to speak up again, "My turn".

"Ask something" he offers, to which I oblige to.

"Say something about how you think of me, now that we're friends" I say, curiosity at its peak, not looking back at the consequences of whatever he may answer.

"Would you rather I bullshit may way out of this, or tell you the truth—" he hesitates at first, to which I roll my eyes playfully.

"It's honesty time, what do you think?"

It takes another moment for him to answer but when he did everything else managed to take a huge turn. "You probably won't like what I'll say, but anyways..." he trails on, "I like you. I fucking like you a lot".

"A-are you serious?" I ask, staring at those brown orbs as it gazed back to me.

"It's honesty time, what do you think?" He retorts, using the same phrase I used against him, catching me at a loss for words.

Fuck.
I was definitely fucked.

               "That's what I was supposed to tell you in the first place. Go out with me. For real this time" I looked at him as if he was crazy, as if he hadn't granted me relief awhile back, as if nothing ever changed between us.

"It doesn't have to be a long time. It can be a trial period. In fact, only if we win the match, go out with me" he adds, as persistent as ever.

"And if you don't?" I pointed out the possibility.

"Then I'll do whatever you ask. You can tell me to stay away from you forever, —Anything, just please give me a chance".

"What's gotten into you? I thought you wanted to be friends"

"I fucking like you okay?" He declares as if I've known it all along this time, "And its so hard to pretend I don't, when its in plain sight. I just want to treasure you, I want to make up for everything that's happened and honestly, do you think I won't have a thing for you after everything that's happened between us? You were the best thing that's ever happened to me other than winning that best setter award back in middle school"

I was at even more than a loss for words at this point.

"C'mon, Minoru. What do you say?" He asks once again awaiting my reply. It took a minute or two for me to think of my answer. I looked at my watch, and at that moment I said the only thing I could muster.

"Time's up"

▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬

               The following day, passed so quickly I almost forgot the awkwardness we carried around each other. I almost forgot how big of a role he had in my life. In fact, I was beginning to think twice about everything I said the other night.

God, this is because of your own stupid question, my subconscience scolds me, only to have another male interrupt my thoughts.

"You're not talking" Iwaizumi pointed out as soon as club started, giving his own suggestion, "If you had a fight I can punch him for you if you'd like".

"I'm thankful for the offer but from what you said, I'm implying you haven't heard?" I asked him, earning a puzzled expression from the raven hair.

"Heard what?" he asks, as I heaved a sigh.

"Trashykawa confessed to me yesterday" I filled him in. "We made a bet. If you guys win the spring preliminaries he wants me to give him a chance"

"So he finally had the guts, huh?" Iwaizumi muttered to which I queried.

"You saw it coming?"

"'Course I did. I'm not stupid" he coughs, "that guy always has a big smile on his face whenever he's around you. It's not that much of a secret".

"Besides," Iwaizumi trailed on, "he wouldn't bet a game just like that if he isn't serious".

"Right," my gaze lands on the brunette practicing his serves with an aura of focus and seriousness around him. "You have a point".

If there was one thing I was sure of, it would always be his passion for the said sport. He wouldn't make stupid bets like that out of no where. He wouldn't make stupid suggestions, in fact, what the hell came over me the other night?

Dumbass, I scold myself again, this time trying to learn from my mistakes, you should've seen this coming, the moment you even agreed to be friends.