Image [IwaOi]

Chapter 2: Distractions

        "O-Oikawa-san? Uhm, I-I was wondering i-if you would be my b-b-boyf-boyfriend?" the short-haired girl asks in the back of the school building.

        As much as Tooru desperately wants to decline the offer, he puts on a fake smile, like always, and replies, "Well, you are quite brave! I like that, so sure!" Well, that solves that problem.

        "R-really?" the girl shouts in excitement.

        "Now, why would I lie to such a pretty face like yours? Though unfortunately, I have to go. Volleyball practice starts soon. I will text you later, kay?"

        "O-okay! Later, Oikawa," the girl chirps before taking her leave.

        Tooru sighs, walking back to the gym. He did not want to lie to such a nice girl, but he has an image to maintain with his parents. He cannot just decline the offer for no reason, or else they will become more suspicious than they already are.

        "You don't like her," Hajime states with crossed arms.

        Tooru snaps around in surprise and gives out his usual rebuttal. "Says who? You have no right to tell me who I do and don't like, Iwa-chan," Tooru says with a matter-of-fact tone.

        "You can not just play with peoples' feelings as you do with a volleyball! Every time you get a girlfriend, you break their hearts by ignoring them!"

        Tooru lowers his head. Hajime has always been mad about him tampering with girls' hearts. "If only he knew what is really going on," Tooru thinks, looking away from his friend.

        "I don't feel like talking about this." Tooru pushes past Hajime with a saddened expression.

        Hajime sighs before following his friend into the gym with a shake of his head.

        Afternoon practice goes by slowly from there. Everybody on the team can sense the tension between their captain and co-captain. They try to defuse it a bit by making small jokes here and there and attempting not to get on their nerves, but the only thing Tooru could focus on is the ball. He harshly serves it to the other side. The impact between the ground and the ball is deafening, but it lands outside the line. "Dammit," why can he not focus today? Was it Sakura? Tooru will admit that something seemed off about her, but it was not anything too out of place. She was just like any other fangirl that made the mistake of confessing to him. It will just end the same...

        A whistle is blown from the benches between two courts. "Okay, how about we take five," Nobuteru Irihata suggests, sensing that Tooru is not focusing at the moment. "And Oikawa, come here for a second."

        Tooru sighs. It was inevitable, but he hadn't expected the coach to call him up so soon. Usually, Tooru was simply told to stay after practice. He heads over to the bench.

        "Yes, coach?"

        The man looks Tooru up and down suspiciously before saying, "What's up? You seem to be distracted."

        "I didn't get enough sleep last night. I am fine, though, really!" Tooru reassures with a small smile.

        It was not a complete lie. Tooru didn't get a lot of sleep the night prior, but that is not why he is distracted at the moment.

        "Well, make sure you get some sleep tonight. A captain has to be in tip-top shape, especially when a game is coming up."

        "Sorry, sir. I'll try my best," He replies before walking away.

        Tooru looks over at Hajime for the first time since they got in the gym. He had avoided making any sort of contact with the black-haired boy for most of the practice, but he was too curious to stop. Hajime was talking to Matsuaka and Hanamaki, two other third years on their team. They looked happy; talking, and joking with each other. Hajime then looks over at Tooru. Both their hearts seem to skip a beat before turning away. "Shit, he probably saw me," Tooru silently cries. He really hopes that Hajime is not truly mad at him. The brunette does not know what he would do without his best friend.

        The captain decides to take a sip of his water. He had not realized how thirsty he was until the sensation of the cool water hit his dry throat. He eagerly takes another big gulp before taking the bottle away to breathe. If only he were that excited to keep a girlfriend.

        Hajime decides that he has had enough of the tension between him and Tooru. Sure, he was mad that Tooru plays with girls' feelings, but he is still his best friend. Hajime will also miss the stupid way that Tooru clings to him and calls him "Iwa-chan". Not that he would ever admit it. Tooru is important to Hajime; he has practically been in his life since diapers. Hajime sighs before approaching the brunette.

        Tooru does not notice the slightly elder creeping up behind him until it is too late. Hajime has already smacked his head, making Tooru yelp in distress.

        "Ah! What was that for, Iwa-chan?"

        "For being stupid, you Crappykawa. Stop being all depressed and get out of the clouds. We're in practice right now," Hajime demands.

        This sends a smile onto Tooru's face.

        "Sorry, Iwa-chan! It won't happen again!"

"Sacrifice is a part of life" -Mitch Albom

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