MY MUSE, tooru oikawa

chapter twenty two

(chapter xxii)

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During a typical evening dinner with the Sugawara family, as was tradition in the household, one parent asked, "How was your day?" This predictably led to a series of questions encouraging the children to comfortably share everything that had happened.

Yuna had finally decided that it was time to confess to her parents and brother that she had become the manager of the male volleyball team, a secret she had been keeping thus far.

Koshi's dumbfounded expression was the only reaction from the family members as he responded, "Can you repeat that again?"

With a casual glance in his direction, Yuna repeated, "Manager—"

Koshi immediately interrupted her, waving his hand, "I heard what you said."

She let out a huff and rolled her eyes, asking, "Then why did you ask me to repeat myself?"

The parents sat at the dinner table, still chuckling lightly at the twins' banter. They watched as the conversation shifted into an argument, eventually leading to Yuna stomping off to her room in a huff.

The argument between the twins primarily stemmed from her brother's non-acceptance of her decision. He persisted in doubting her ability to be the manager and even went as far as saying she was not personally suited for the role. While his comments weren't entirely malicious, they still managed to irritate Yuna.

Throughout the years, her brother had been deeply invested in volleyball, but it was only after one of Yuna's first friends encouraged her to step outside her comfort zone—which was anything outside of music—that she decided to take the leap. This decision bothered him, even though he wouldn't openly admit that it was fueled by jealousy.

He was witnessing the profound transformation in his sister and it was admittedly frightening for him. His well-known sister complex rarely came to the surface, but it was evident. He had grown accustomed to her constant clinginess, finding comfort in it, but now that she was forging her own path, the reality of the situation was slowly unfolding before his eyes.

His denial could only hold up for so long.

The twins rarely engaged in arguments, and when they did, it would usually leave them both feeling stressed. Their close bond meant that whenever a disagreement occurred, one or both of them would be eager to quickly mend things.

Their argument had reached a point where their stubbornness and refusal to forgive each other had become more pronounced than ever before.

The situation had deteriorated to a point of miscommunication and rejection. They would rather relinquish the things they cherished than acknowledge the need to engage in a simple conversation together.

The prolonged cold war between the twins showed no signs of letting up, as both parties remained adamant and inflexible. However, their parents observed the situation with weariness, recognizing that this petty argument was an isolated instance in the siblings' usual close relationship. The parents hoped that time would allow them to reassess their stubbornness and ultimately reconcile their differences.

The next day unfolded, and the twins effectively avoided each other, heading to school without exchanging a single word. They both left the comfort of their home without saying a proper goodbye, as was their customary routine.

As Yuna entered the school grounds, it became immediately apparent to Hajime and Tooru that something was troubling her. She uncharacteristically allowed her guard to drop, revealing an emotional expression that contrasted her usual composed demeanor.

Tooru and Hajime, upon noticing Yuna's uncharacteristic emotional state, instinctively exchanged glances of concern. It was distinctly unusual for her to exhibit such vulnerability so openly. They were both aware that something was amiss, and they couldn't help but wonder what could have occurred to cause such a stark change in their friend's behavior.

Hajime kept a watchful eye on her during class and was nearly knocked off his seat when Yuna snapped at one of their teachers, leading to her being assigned extra cleaning duties after class.

Her distracted thoughts had caused her emotions to reach a peak that affected her expressions, leading to Tooru choosing not to attend practice. Considering that this particular practice session was primarily focused on checking up on each member's academic progress, no one seemed particularly bothered by his absence.

As was customary, Tooru and Hajime were the least of their concern due to their consistently high grades, which was the primary reason why the current captains had effortlessly picked them to take their place in the upcoming school year.

...

Yuna halted her cleaning duties, pausing as she lifted her gaze towards the door. In an annoyed tone, she inquired of the unexpected presence, "Why are you here?"

There was a brief pause before Tooru entered the room, casually strolling in with his hands comfortably tucked away in his pockets. He spoke with a laid-back tone, acknowledging her rough day. "You've had a hard day. It's only natural for me to be concerned."

"And... what if it's something I need to handle alone?" she responded bluntly, resuming her chore of cleaning the desk.

Tooru shrugged nonchalantly. "You can give it a try, but you know just as well as anyone else that I have a tendency to be inquisitive and meddle in things," he stated matter-of-factly.

Yuna let out an exasperated sigh, not bothering to mask her annoyance. "One of your greatest flaws," she muttered under her breath, her eyes flickering with frustration.

Tooru chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with a hint of playful sarcasm. "Well, I can definitely say I'm proud to keep it up, even if it irritates you sometimes. After all, you're my friend, Yu-chan," he replied, emphasizing the nickname he had for her.

"Right, yes, curiosity is your nourishment," she muttered, finally turning to face him. "So, what can you do to make me feel better?"

"I won't do anything," Tooru answered bluntly, shaking his head and raising his hands in surrender. "I'm not asking you to do anything extreme. First of all, it's rude if I expected you to magically feel better with me making empty suggestions."

Tooru paused for a moment before locking eyes with her, maintaining a serious expression. "If you're comfortable with it, I'd rather listen to your concerns and give my opinion if you want it," he offered, his voice sincere.

"You just unknowingly made it impossible for me to just brush this off," Yuna muttered, stepping towards the nearest desk and taking a seat on the chair. "I don't know what to do with you sometimes, To-kun," she added in a quiet voice before Tooru took a seat at the desk next to hers.

Sitting beside her, Tooru leaned back on the chair, his gaze fixed on her. "Well, the point is for you to talk. I'm not leaving until you do" He stated simply.

As the two of them began their conversation, Hajime stood outside, smiling to himself. He decided to head off to practice, knowing that they would eventually fill him in on how things went.

He had a keen understanding of Yuna and Tooru's dynamic when it came to dealing with problems. They had each other to talk to, and that was their way of resolving matters. If they needed him, they knew they could ask, but for now, he knew it wasn't his moment to intervene.