𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐶𝑂𝑁𝐶𝐸𝑃𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝐵𝐸𝐺𝑈𝐼𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐺 ┊ 𝐻𝐴𝐽𝐼𝑀𝐸 𝐼𝑊𝐴𝐼𝑍𝑈𝑀𝐼

𝟭𝟮 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀

┅ ┅ ┅

It was very clear to Naomi how on edge everybody was. Everyone packed onto the bus to start heading to the Interhigh prelims.
Oikawa had almost cried when Iwaizumi told him he wasn't going to sit with him.
This eased the nerves, especially on the first years, but it was clear that something was bothering everybody.

"Oikawa-Kun has been acting rather moody today," Naomi whispered to Iwaizumi. He nodded with a sigh.
"Two people he doesn't want to see are going to be there today. He's always stressed about seeing Shiratorizawa though."
"It's been you and them in the finals every year, right?"
"Mostly, Yeah."
Naomi let her head rest against the window. It was cold against her skin.

"I'm excited to finally watch a real game up close," she smiled.
"I hope it goes well. Wouldn't want to give you a bad show."
She let out a breathy chuckle and decided to close her eyes. Iwaizumi watched her slowly fall asleep before speaking to Oikawa.
"Hey, Oikawa, you can't pull a disappearing act when we get there Okay?"
Oikawa blew a raspberry and held his hands out dramatically.

"Of course! Who do you take me for?"
"Someone who pulls disappearing acts."
"I would never!"
"So when we get there, you won't let girls stop and talk to you."
"Absolutely."
"And when we get there, you won't try and find Ushiwaka and pick a fight."
"Absolutely."
"And when we get there-"

"Where the hell did Oikawa go?"
Naomi shrugged will adjusting the straps on her backpack.
"I was walking beside him on our way in. I don't know where he went."
"Give me a volleyball."
Naomi wanted to grin a little as his lowered tone. He took a volleyball from her and stumbled outside. She assumed he'd know where to find the popular boy.

Naomi yawned as she took their empty water bottles over towards the fountain near the gym.
Their coach had insisted a first-year join her, but she preferred the alone time.
The corner of the hallway she had settled in felt rather dark and she then decided she probably should've accepted company.

The bathrooms were close by, so she hoped someone would eventually walk through the corridor to ease the feeling of loneliness.
She heard tiny feet making mismatched steps on the ground and she lifted her head to see a little boy clenching his stomach as he tried to reach the bathroom.

"Are you okay?"
The ginger lifted his head and screamed at the sight of a girl. She was taller than him by about two inches, and that didn't go unnoticed, at least by him.
"Y-Yes! I'm fine!"
"You didn't seem fine."
"I-I'm-Im doing great!"
Naomi closed off the last water bottle and kept an eye on the boy as he tried to settle his breathing.

"What school are you from?" She asked, not recognizing the black and orange on his body.
"Karasuno. High school! Karasuno high school!"
"Oh, cool."
Naomi set all the bottles down into their carriers and picked them up to rejoin her team.
"Good luck, I guess."
"Thanks! Thank you!"

Naomi found her team by one of the gym entrances and Iwaizumi walked up to her quickly.
"I could've gone with you."
"It's okay."
"This place is running with teen boys. I was worried."
"The only person I ran into was this small kid. He insisted he was in Highschool, though."
"Let me help you with those."
He took the water bottles from her hands and helped set them down near the rest of their stuff.

"Ugh! Itsu-Chan! I'm so tired!" Oikawa slumped his head onto hers. "I couldn't sleep on the stupid bus!"
"But you could wander off and flirt with girls?" Iwaizumi asked, unzipping his jacket.
"They approached me! I can't just say no!"
"Yes, you can."

Naomi chuckled as Oikawa rested upon her. She stepped away and turned back to him.
"It's okay, Oikawa-Kun, I'm sure you'll be more energized once the games start," she told him, grabbing his arms. Her thumbs rubbed back and forth on his skin.
"We're gonna win this year, I know it."
"Yeah! You're right! We're totally gonna win!"
Oikawa returned her motion by also grabbing her wrists. They two cheered together and Oikawa couldn't help but smile at the encouragement of his manager.

"Oi, let's go. Our first game is up."
Iwaizumi pulled Naomi back and handed her her bag.
"We've got this! I believe in you guys!" Oikawa cheered. He patted his first years on the back and made his way to the front so he could be first inside the gym.

The games Seijoh played went rather well. Most of them were taken in straight sets. Naomi was glad the tournament only lasted a couple of days because she didn't want to miss out on too much outside of her club.
Naomi couldn't help herself but watched Oikawa during the games.

His form was always beautiful and his serves always sent shivers down her spine. She concluded that watching up close was much more satisfying than watching far away.
She could see every expression he made while he played. Seeing his eyes switch back and forth while he watched his surroundings made her smile.
He was always so concentrated. Oikawa on the court seemed like a different Oikawa. She could get used to either one.

She made sure to keep her eye on Iwaizumi, just in case he tried to look back at her. He just wasn't her priority, so she didn't watch him too much.
Watching Oikawa set to him made her heart beat faster every time. She loved to see how Oikawa brought out the best in him. She knew joining this club was the right idea.

In the third round, Naomi thought the recognized one of the players on the other team. He was talking to the small ginger she met in the hallway. She couldn't quite decide exactly who he was until Oikawa brought it up.
"Tobio-Chan really has changed hasn't he?" Oikawa sighed as he sat beside Naomi.
"Tobio?"
"Yep. You remember that small setter from our third year at Kitigawa, don't you?"
"I never called him Tobio, but yes."
"That's him. He's Karasuno's official setter I guess."

Naomi watched Tobio from across the court. He seemed rather upset, angry, not very calm. It seemed that just Oikawa's presence was messing with the boy.
"It's fine though," Oikawa sighed. He leaned his face in close to Naomi's ear.
"We'll beat him this time around, won't we, Naomi-Chan?"
Naomi smiled and pink rose to her face at the newer version of the nickname she loved.
"Don't let Iwaizumi hear you say that. He'll throw another ball at your head," she said softly.
"I'm not allowed to give my friends nicknames?"
"You should stick with my surname."
"Iwa-Chan isn't my mom. I'll call you whatever I want."

His sly grin made her heartthrob as he stood up and made his way back to his position.
Iwaizumi watched Naomi's stiffened position after his friend's departure. He assumed he was overthinking things and decided to worry about it later.

Seijoh won the third round, and Karasuno wasn't taking it very well.
After they exited the gym, Naomi started to run towards the exit of the building.
She wanted to catch up with him. She had to see how he was.

"Hey, excuse me!"
Tobio wasn't at the door, but three third years were, and they stopped at her voice. She saw the jacket they were wearing and knew they were from Karasuno.
"You guys, you know Kageyama Tobio, right? He's on your team?"
"Yes," The one with dark hair and a smaller figure spoke. "You're the manager on Aoba Johsai."
"Yes, I wanted to ask if you could pass a message to Tobio for me?"
The boys looked at each other and nodded.

"Tell him it's from Naomi. I want to tell him that he's an amazing setter and I'm sorry for what I did."
"Is there anything else?" The one with the lightest hair asked.
"No. He'll understand. Just let him know that I miss him."
"Okay, no problem."
"Thank you."

Naomi watched the boys head outside.
I'm sorry Tobio. I shouldn't have done that to you. I should've kept my distance. You're a genius, and I wanted to make him feel like one too.