Observant || Oikawa Tooru ff

2. Unexpected meeting

3rd Person POV

Ume woke up sharp at six o'clock the next morning. She liked wearing her uniform neatly. That always took time in her opinion. She headed downstairs for breakfast and found her mother humming over the kitchen counter.

"Good morning." She greeted keenly.

"Good morning sweetie! Oh- breakfast's almost ready, just a moment." She unconsciously let out a breath of relief. Her mother seemed to be in a good mood today.

Both of them sat for breakfast and made light conversation. The scene would have appeared too scripted for many. But Ume preferred it like this. It was always better than when her mother flew into hysterics. She made sure that her mother's mood stayed upbeat till she left the house.

The morning air was very chilly. She bundled herself in her scarf and walked briskly to the bus stop. Thankfully the bus arrived soon and she hopped on. She sat on the window seat whilst watching the barely awake city pass her by. Her father liked this time of the day the most. He always wanted to start the day earlier than rest of the world. He tended to wake up her brother, Noya and herself at dawnbreak. That'd explain why so many of their memories of hiking, fishing and playing together were at this time of the day, she thought belatedly.

It had been 8 years since her parents' divorce. Her father took custody of her brother while her mother got her. Her father still made it a point that they met regularly though. She would make time to meet her father some time later this week she mentally noted. She got up to get off at the next stop since she changed buses there, only to see the tall figure of a olive haired boy awaiting her below.

'Seriously? The new school year hasn't even started yet.' She thought to herself. 

She got down the bus nevertheless. The stoic figure of Wakatoshi Ushijima gave a stiff nod as a greeting as per his norm. Ume returned her greetings with a slight bow. Both of them silently made their way to their usual destination. It was a restaurant that followed the 24-7 retro diner style. It's interior was also designed just like those American diners Ume had seen in sitcoms. 

It was an accident that she had met this huge guy from another school at this very diner. He had turned about after taking his order of a vanilla milkshake and promptly bumped into a tiny figure of 5'3". The whole milkshake had fallen atop her head. In his defence, Ushiwaka had argued that she really was too short to be seen from his vantage point and it didn't really help that she walked with a slight slouch.

It had gotten Ume riled up enough that she demanded a lifetime supply of Vanilla milkshakes as compensation. Ushiwaka had chivalrously agreed. Though initially Ume had wanted to get as many free treats as she wanted, these days it was Ushiwaka who insisted that they meet.

Just like this morning, they were walking in silence to the diner on Ushiwaka's insistence. Ume slid into the booth they usually occupied while Ushiwaka  placed their orders. He always sat dead center of the long booth, Ume had noticed. She always imitated that for the sake of it. So they sat, a boy with his stoic face and almost noble bearing with a straight back and hands on his knees. Opposite him sat a slightly slouched girl with half closed eyes looking bored and uninterested.

Ushiwaka sat keen, he was also trying to observe the girl before him. Her stance may seem very casual but he knew that she was a very sharp person. Hardly anything escaped those sleepy eyes if they decide to open. He had found this nature of hers when they had gotten talking after many weeks of agreed silence. It was him who needed help and she had graciously provided with advice. So whenever he ran into problems he could not make head or tail of he saught this girl out.

"You were right." He began his voice a low rumble. "I kept feeling like my chest was empty when we went to training camp this summer." She chuckled at being proven right and jerked her head up, asking him continue.

"I asked my friend what kind of expression I was making if he caught me zoning out. He said it was like I was physically there but my mind was floating to far off places." 

"He is very perceptive, this friend of yours."

"Tendou."

"Right, Tendou. Keep asking him to give you updates since he seems to have the ability read rather stoic faces." She quipped.

"But then why did I feel empty?" Asked Ushiwaka puzzled.

"You missed her. Go to school today and see her once. You'll feel like some longing had been fulfilled. You must have not seen her over holidays am I correct?"

Ushiwaka nodded. 

"For a person who comes off as stone faced you sure have some strong feelings bubbling underneath." She stood up saying.

"I have to go now or I'll receive a tardy for the first day of the term. Thanks for the treat." She raised her empty container as a gesture and left for the remainder of her journey to school.