After All These Years (Iwaoi)

It's Been Forever

Now approaching Tokyo Central Station.

10 minutes. 10 minutes until Hajime Iwaizumi needed to be at work. 10 minutes until he was going to be late and his boss would get angry. 10 years since he had seen or heard from Tooru Oikawa.

Arrived at Tokyo Central Station.

Iwaizumi pushed past the rush of people, apologizing profusely and cursing under his breath. He sprinted to his office building and into the main lobby where the receptionist greeted him with a smile. No time for smiling. He hurried up the stairs and into his office dropping his bag and quickly changing his shirt.

Hajime Iwaizumi Athletic Trainer.

6 minutes until he had a patient. 6 minutes until another day of work began. 6 years that Iwaizumi and Oikawa had loved eachother.

"Excuse me? Mr. Iwaizumi?" He looked up to see a young woman with light brown hair that fell at her shoulders and big brown eyes that stared right into his. She could be considered beautiful, but there wasn't time for that. Appearance wasn't worth doting over. Time wasn't just something you could let slip away.

"Ah, yes. Are you my 9:30?" He reached out to shake her hand which she politely reciprocated.

"Yes, I'm Mai Suzuki. I play volleyball for my college and I tore my ACL about 6 months ago." She chuckled nervously. Volleyball. There had been a time where all Oikawa would talk about was nationals. But that was forever ago.

"Volleyball?" He asked. "What position do you play?" She looked at him curiously. She seemed surprised that he was interested.

"I'm the setter." She fiddled with her bracelet. Iwaizumi looked down at his desk. Setter. Tooru was setter. Tooru had light brown hair and big brown eyes. But Tooru was gone.

"That's nice. I played volleyball through high school and some of college." He paused. "I was wing spiker." She smiled revealing her beautiful white teeth.

"Anyway, my doctor told me I could continue playing on the condition I take physical therapy. So... here I am." She giggled sweetly.

"Alright well let's get started." Can I feel your knee and see if you still have any pressure discomfort?" Mai lifted one side of her leggings up above her knee to reveal a dark bruise and light swelling. Iwaizumi sucked in a breath and winced.

"It's bad isn't it." Mai sighed.

"No..." Iwaizumi rubbed his eyes. "Well, yes. It is a little swollen which isn't exactly good. But with some rest and a good amount of physical therapy and you should be able to play again." He grit his teeth. That was what he had told Oikawa. The exact words. Although at the time it had been more loving and sweet. I'll take care of you. You're the strongest there is. You'll be ready to kick ass at nationals this year. I love you.

"Are you alright Mr. Iwaizumi?" She was staring at him with concern lacing her features.

"Yes. Sorry." Haijime grabbed his clipboard. 23 years old. ACL torn through overuse. Assigned rest for 2 continuous months and 6 months of physical therapy. "Let's start with an elastic band around both your ankles. I want you to hold onto this bar here and use your left leg to raise away from your right."

....

"Thank you so much Mr. Iwaizumi! It was a pleasure to meet you. I'll see you next Thursday." Mai daintily collected her bag and waved over her shoulder.

"Wait!" He called out before he could stop himself. "J...just Iwaizumi. No need for the formality. I'm only 33." She smiled and nodded.

"Well then thank you Iwaizumi." She closed the door slowly and gently. Iwaizumi sighed and sat down to begin typing a report of her session. 23 years old. Light brown hair. Brown eyes. Injured knee. Setter. Setter. The resemblance was almost uncanny. But Hajime knew in his right mind that Oikawa didn't magically turn into a 23 year old girl who played for Tokyo's International College. For all he knew Oikawa was married with kids. 

10 years since they had made any contact. 10 years since Iwaizumi had grabbed his bags and stormed out of the apartment, shouting that he never wanted to see Oikawa's face ever again.