Strategize: Haikyuu Fanfic

Chapter 86: French Fry

Breath huffing, Ayame cooled down from the benches along with Tsukishima. The couple gulped a few drops of water, though Tsukishima kept side-eying the smaller figure beside him, his aloof expression slightly wavered. After a while, he lets out an irritated sigh.

"Are you sure you don't need a bandaid for that?" He finally spoke out, pointing at the patches of red skin in her arms. Surprisingly, there were small scratches and a cut hardly visible in the red patch of skin. It camouflaged nicely against the pink inflamed skin of hers during the game - that is until it started bleeding. Failing to notice this, she only saw a small scab and smudged dried blood around it by the end of the match. She merely shrugged.

"It doesn't hurt much, so I don't see the point." She refused flatly once more, greeted by a small scowl of his. Without another word, he went to his backpack and fished out a bandaid. He held it out to her, eyes refusing to meet hers.

"It'll get infected. Just put it on anyways."

For a brief moment, the girl stared at him with those analytical eyes of hers, eyelashes fluttering blankly. She flashed him a goofy grin and took it from him. "Thanks. I'm surprised you keep these in your bag."

He scoffed. "Not that surprising if you get into fights at least once a month. Just getting ahead for back-to-school supplies is all."

"Yo! Aya-tan!" Ryuuji yelled across the court, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the gym doors. His other arm slinging around the volleyball. "Wanna get a drink with me?"

The couple exchanged looks and Tsukishima shrugs, subtly gesturing her to go on with a tilt of his head. Ayame made her way to her brother, with him yelling out one more time to Tsukishima. "Don't worry, I'll give her back to ya!"

...

It was quite a serene place, the where the vending machines stood. The blistering heat of the summer faded away, slowly transitioning to the cool days of fall. Looking at the trees, she noticed that they turned to a less vibrant shade of green, sighing wistfully at the sight. Last time she looked at those trees, they were in a bright shade, in the peak of the summer. Oh how time passes by so quickly.

The noiselessness vanished as a series of loud clanking noises were made by a vending machine. Ayame turned her head in the direction of it to see her brother holding out a box of strawberry milk. "Do you still like this drink? I know it was long ago and you probably changed your tastes..."

Nevertheless she took it with a grateful nod. "It's still my favorite, obviously."

Settling down on one of the benches, she sipped on the drink. Her brother, remained standing beside her, toyed with the ball, spinning it on a finger as if it were a basketball. "I can't believe we lost against them. Your ace is hard to block."

"It was partially your fault, asking to play against him." She accused.

"Huh?! You're the one challenging a genius setter! You haven't held a ball in years!"

She defended herself. "That was to throw him off. Same method used by the Grand King. I guess he learned a lot from that and didn't fall for it this time."

It was quiet again. He spun the ball once more, his eyes raising slightly at the thought. "...By the way, you never told me how you met these Karasuno players, how did you...?"

She gave him a look. "Because I hated your team, that's why."

Ryuuji feigned a pained look. "Ah! So mean!"

"It... It took a bit of courage to give that paper with those old attack patterns I used to sketch back at the estate to Captain. I told them to defeat your team, since you are in the same prefecture and all. And I hoped that maybe you would be able to recognize them - even if I wasn't there at the game myself."

Her brother wiped a tear beading on the corner of his eyes dramatically. "Gosh! Don't talk anymore, you're making me cry!"

"You asked for it."

There was another string of silence - nothing but the sound of light rustling of leaves by the light breeze. The sky looked warm, mixed with orange and pink as the sun slowly sets down the horizon. Admittedly, she missed Miyagi's sunsets after drawn away from it for a long time. She found a small smile on herself absentmindedly at the sight. However, she reminded herself to ask for his intentions.

"Why did you really come here?" She finally asked him skeptically.

Once again, he faked an offended look. "What? I can't just play with my sister for a day without questions?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Just spit it out."

This time he smiled in defeat, hands up defenselessly, dropping the ball. "Okay, you got me. I came to give you this." Bending over, he grabbed the ball and pushed in lightly against her. She grasped it unsurely, still eyeing him suspiciously. He continued, that same small smile he wore - pained.

"I caused enough trouble for you for all those years. The least I could do is give you this."

She stood up from her seat and protested. "You didn't do anything wrong -"

"Keeping quiet about it was something I hated myself for, alright?" He said sincerely, guilt evident in his tone. "Also, I came to tell you something."

He gulped. "You know how Yoshi-kun and I stayed back at the estate when you guys went back here?" She nodded slowly. "Well... we sorta sued Yamamoto-san and charged him for domestic abuse..."

Her eyes widened. "You what?"

"He's detained right now. The trial is not until next month, but mom and I are going to stand in your place, so you don't need to worry about it - Aya-tan?! Ayame?!"

Remember when Tsukishima felt overwhelmed by her when she visited his house with a cake in her hands? How he crouched down on the floor as his mind tried to process his surroundings? Same thing occured. Ayame crouched down on the ground, her frail body quivering - shaking with cries. It was not cries of mourning - it was of joy. This situation- the thought that monster is behind bars once and for all - it only existed in her dreams. This is reality. It came to life. Sniffles were only heard as her brother crouched down also, hugging her tightly.

After a fit of sniffles she finally spoke, muffled by the hands covering her face. "I'm- I'm just so happy..."

"I know. Unbelievable, right?"

She wiped the tears and finally looked up at him. "Who's taking charge then...?"

"Hm? You think Yoshi-kun and I are not capable of paperwork? With a few lessons from him, I can manage the weekly financial balance! Sort of..." He whispered the last two words, laughing weakly.

After a couple for seconds of silence, he finally stood up from the ground, pulling his little sister up afterwards. His attention shifted to a limousine parked from afar, a man waving from the windows. He gives one last playful pat to Ayame's head, ruffling it playfully.

"I gotta go. I'll make sure to warn them about Karasuno - that shrimp and setter, Waka-tan knows them. But that ace and your clever french fry boyfriend are foes that I should tell them about too."

"French fry boyfriend...?" She stifled her laughter.Tears of laughter in her eyes this time.

"Well you know!" He gestured his hand to his height. "First year and almost as tall as I am! Lanky but very tall! He's a french fry!"

"Okay... I'll make sure to tell him that." She said.

"Also, tell him to take good care of you." He said seriously. "Or I'll tell on his brother."

"I'm certain he's aware of that."

And with that, he walked away. Step by step, he made his way across the courtyard. However, on his halfway there, he halted to a stop. Ayame tilted her head in confusion as he turned around. He wore a huge grin, beaming brightly and childishly - full of relief and joy. He faintly resembles the scrawny boy she knew was back then, teeth crooked and skin bruised from beach volleyball. Ah yes... Lots of beautifully merciless events had unraveled before them since then. "And most of all, tell him that..."

"... You don't need to be afraid anymore."