Peppermint [Asahi Azumane]

~ notebook ~

I woke up way earlier than my alarm. Most likely because of how excited I was after hanging out with Asahi and confiding in Yachi.

'Its way too soon to have a crush, right?' I thought to myself while slowly getting ready for school. This time I just wore baggy jeans with a studded belt and a zip up hoodie, similar to what I wore to yesterdays study session. After quickly applying some makeup, I pack up my bag and start heading to the Karasuno gym.

I walk down the street at a relatively quick pace, not wanting to show up to practice late, until I notice a similar tall figure walking at the same pace just a few metres ahead.

"Hey Asahi!" I exclaim as I slowly jog up beside him.

"Oh, hey Y/N" he nervously replies back.

The two of us walk to the gym in an awkward silence after I try sparking up conversation, quickly being shut down by his one worded replies. Although its only been a day, I assumed the both of us felt that same fuzzy feeling inside whenever we spoke to each other. Even if those feelings were unrequited, there's no reason for him to not at least try being friendly to me. Once I sit on the bench with the other two managers, I have nothing to do but watch the boys practice.

Something I enjoyed doing was writing, whether its short stories, poems or mediocre songs that would never see the light of day.

After asking Kiyoko if there was anything I could do to help out and receiving a quiet no in response, I pull out a sticker covered notebook along with a pencil, and start writing on a clean page.

Whenever I couldn't think of a well thought out story, which was quite often, I'd write a simple short poem about what I'm feeling, almost like a diary entry of some sort. Todays entry was some sort of poem about how exciting it was having a new love interest. I tried pointing out the butterflies you get when they say your name, the first time briefly smelling their distinct scent, a metaphor to Alice In Wonderland, falling down the rabbit hole in hopes that he is following after her and lands at the bottom shortly after. It may be corny, but the only way to get any of my feelings out into the open is through this very notebook. Once I finish writing, I caress the pages tear stained from the nights I had to spend alone, writing countless poems in order to treat my loneliness.

No one has ever held this notebook, read it, or even spoke about its contents with me before.

And I intend on keeping it that way.

I look up after daydreaming and reading over the old entries written during the countless times your parents were fighting, your eyes getting a bit glassy before a single tear dribblers over my warm face.

After a quick sniffle and tapping off the salty tear from my skin, I look up to the whole team looking at me with confusion in their eyes. All I could notice after the lack of commotion was Asahis gorgeous eyes meeting mine, his filled with concern.

"Im alright guys, something just got in my eyes" I sniffle, trying to hold back the obvious embarrassment I was feeling, while quickly shoving the notebook of sorrow into my backpack.

"Are you sure?" asked Suga in a soft tone once he walked up to stand closer beside me.

"Yeah, 100%" I try flashing a little smile, which fails as more tears slowly collect in my eyes. I speed walk to the bathroom with my blurred vision in hopes that no one follows.

Slamming the stall door behind me, I stare up at the ceiling to avoid any tears from falling further down as I try stabilizing my shaky breaths. The door slowly creaks open.

"Y/N? Are you okay?" asks a familiar soft voice.

"Im alright Yachi. How much time until practice is over?"

"Um, like 10 minutes."

"Okay, well don't worry about me Ill be back in a minute."

"Ill leave then. Just know Im here for you, okay?"

"Yes I know. Thank you." I mutter out.

After hearing the bathroom door close, I hesitantly step out to look at myself in the mirror. I had always been more introverted growing up, which was mostly due to no one being around to listen to my endless rants; parents working, and my friends never lasting over a year because of the constant moving.

"Thank god I wear waterproof mascara" I mumble to myself, gently tapping my damp face dry.

I hate being vulnerable around people, especially people I've just met, which I feel is the case for most. To make sure no one attempts trying to ask me about why I started crying for seemingly no reason, I take a deep breath after stepping out of the bathroom, putting on my resting face and acting like nothing happened.

I bump into a hard chest, with that similar warm minty laundry scent mixed with the faint smell of sweat. "Oh Y/N, are you alright? Because you were crying looking at that notebook-"

"Im fine, thanks." I cut him off, still annoyed at his mixed messages and push past him, leaving a stunned Asahi stuck in place, wondering what he did wrong.

He of course never meant to be so dry and standoffish that morning to me, but maybe that was the reason I got so upset with his concern just then?

And the only logical outcome to this was for the both of us to try giving the other space.