STONE HEARTS ❨ ushijima wakatoshi ❩

「 TWO 」

CHAPTER TWO

"Watahara, nice serve!"

Just as Ushijima thought, the Shiratorizawa girls' volleyball club was having a practice match with Seijoh's the following day. Hara furrowed her brows as she was reminded of the encounter the night before, irritation slightly penetrating her focus.

The captain cursed under her breath as the libero of Seijoh received the ball, scolding herself for losing focus. Why was she even thinking about Ushijima in the middle of the game? She can think about the events from last night after the match!

Luckily, the point was theirs, when Sai suddenly made a dump shot. Once again, it was Hara's turn to serve. Breathing in and out as she dribbled the ball, she took her time to concentrate.

Hearing the referee whistling, she tossed the ball upwards, running for it and then jumping for the serve.

Every pair of eyes watching the game focused on her, their eyes widening at the speed of the ball and how her serve got in, in a blink of an eye as opposed to her sloppy one earlier.

"Woah!"

"That's their ace, their captain,"

"No wonder Shiratorizawa has a powerful team,"

Shaking her head and ignoring the cheers, Hara went to her assigned position on court. Although she often heard people praising her skills, she had a love-hate relationship with the attention that she received.

To be acknowledged by her skills was a good thing for her, since it was proof that her hard work paid off. However, on the other hand, she disliked it because behind the glory of being a known volleyball player was the feeling of others being disinterested in her as a person- if she did not have her skills, she was nothing. Just another speck of dust in this vast galaxy. Off court, after all, she was simply a reserved girl who didn't know how to fit in.

Sure, she was a great volleyball player, but if she wasn't, would there be someone who will bother to pay attention to her? Would someone want to talk to her, if she wasn't who she is right now? She doubted it. The way her classmates treated her proved her statement.

As the rally became more intense, Hara shook her head to rid her of her thoughts. She didn't usually think about these things, but it suddenly popped out. It wasn't the time to contemplate her situation on and off court.

"Get the last one, Watahara!" said Sai, and then before everyone knew it, she hit a straight and sent their team cheering.

As everyone was celebrating the point, the girl found herself separating from the others quietly. Sai was the only one who noticed, since after all, she was the closest to the female captain.

That was how it usually went after games. They would be really in sync while on the court, but when the game comes to an end, she was nothing but a mere cold stone that the members are somewhat afraid of approaching. That, however, didn't mean that they didn't want to get closer to her. In fact, they all wanted to.

Looking from the outside, the girl was as perfect as someone can be. But that was only if you didn't know who she really was. Watanabe Hara might be the best female volleyball player of the Miyagi prefecture, but she was no good in friendships, relationships and anything along that line.

She hasn't felt being someone's favourite friend, being someone's friend, by any chance. At least, according to her. If you count Oikawa's constant bugging, then maybe they were friends, after all.

Hara wanted it, too. A part of her wanted to have friends like any normal high school girl would, but she knew she was incapable of approaching first. Her pride was hitting her like crazy. Also, it seemed more like people were avoiding her in the first place.

"Go on a date with me, Hara," said someone beside her, making her sigh and then face that person. She didn't think he'd appear so quickly.

And here I thought this person's busy, Hara sighed, shaking her head before replying to the person.

"Shut up, Oikawa," she replied, making the guy chuckle and then sit down beside her on the bench.

Rolling her eyes, the raven haired female sighed which only brought a chuckle to the male Seijoh captain's lips. She was well aware that people were starting to stare at them because they were in Seijoh, and especially since their very own Oikawa Tooru was hitting on the indifferent captain of Shiratorizawa girls' volleyball club. Everyone wondered whether they knew each other or not.

"Please?" said Oikawa, teasing her, but Hara stared at him blankly. As he already expected.

"I said, no. You idiot," her rather blunt reply made Oikawa pout. "Stop using me for your jokes, you'll never get a real girlfriend that way, pretty face."

"Why not? I mean-"

"She said no, Oikawa. Leave her alone," said another voice behind the two friends, making both flinch as they heard that familiar voice.

Not now.

"Oh. Ushiwaka. Fancy seeing you here," said Oikawa, making Hara scoff. She didn't like how Oikawa candied his words first, but that was his personality.

"No, really," muttered Hara, making Ushijima place his eyes on her and then at Oikawa who was beside her.

"You should have gone to Shiratorizawa," said Ushijima to Oikawa, making the girl chuckle dryly. There he goes again.

"Lame." muttered Hara, but Ushijima heard it anyways. "He belongs to Seijoh, you can't force him to join your team. He has a good career on his own, whether he's in Shiratorizawa or not."

"Why are you two fighting anyway?" suddenly, Oikawa asked, making both stare at him sharply.

He smirked evilly, before standing up and then placing his hands in his pockets. That was what he wanted, pissing both of them off! It was fun for him to tease Hara, especially when it involved a certain captain from Shiratorizawa.

"None of your business," said Ushijima, and the raven haired girl simply rolled her eyes.

She couldn't count how many times she had rolled her eyes in the presence of Ushijima Wakatoshi, but that wasn't what's important. Why was he butting in on her conversation with Oikawa? One second she was having a conversation with the setter, and now a certain wing spiker decided to butt in.

"Oikawa, let's go. Let's leave him alone," said Hara, taking Oikawa with her but she was surprised when she felt a huge hand on her wrist.

Furrowing her brows, she saw Ushijima staring at her with a determined look across his face. He seemed like he wasn't going to let go, not going to let her run off with Oikawa no matter what happened.

"You cannot be seen with Oikawa right now. Coach Washijo is watching. Let's go," said Ushijima, making Hara look at his hand on her wrist and then to his eyes.

Smirking, Hara shook his hand off of her wrist.

"Let me go, I can go there by myself. I don't need your assistance."

Smiling mischieviously, Oikawa knew that it was a good moment to piss both of them off.

"So this is how the stone hearts of Shiratorizawa are? How cute. You must be secretly dating."

Glaring at him, both of them walked away with a certain aura caused by Oikawa provoking them.

He knew how to piss her off, but he wasn't sure if he was alright with it.