Image [IwaOi]

Chapter 3: Sakura

        Tooru really did not want to text her. He had promised his new girlfriend, Sakura, he would contact her after practice, but he found nothing about her interesting. She has a boring name, boring personality, average grades, average looks. Sakura is the epitome of boring. She has brown shoulder-length hair with big milk chocolate-brown eyes. She has okay grades, frequently in the Bs and C', and she is in no honors classes. She takes part in the choir and hates science. It is everything Tooru does not want in a person. He can not go on rants about things he likes because she dislikes those topics. He can't even hold an actual educated discussion with her because of her low intelligence. Do not get him started with the fact that he is gay. 'Ugh, why is Iwa-chan so perfect!'

        Tooru finally stops procrastinating and grabs his phone. He has no notifications except for those of his Calculous group chat that he never checks.

Oikawa-

Hey, sorry I never texted sooner!

Sakura-

It's fine! I know your busy.

        Did she just use the wrong "your"? "Ew," Tooru internally disgusts. Either way, this is not good, Sakura already realizing his lack of effort. He needs to do something quickly.

Oikawa-

Anyway, are you free this Saturday at around noon?

I was thinking we could go get something to eat.

Sakura-

Yeah, I would love to!!

Oh, I gtg!

My parents are calling me down for dinner...

Oikawa-

Oh, okay! Bye!!

        Tooru does not wait for any lingering goodbyes, quickly closing his phone. He cringes at how fake he was throughout that whole conversation. Tooru knows that what he is doing is wrong, and he should not be doing this, but he does not know what else to do. If his parents find out he is gay, they will make his life a living hell! If only his sister were still here. She always supported him, no matter what. She did not care that he liked boys or if he threw on a dress or skirt sometimes as a kid. She would just smile and tell him that this life was his and he can do whatever he wants with it. His sister was his safe haven.

        That is until she died. When Tooru was little and just starting volleyball, his parents could not make it to his first ever match because of work. His sister decided to skip out on her date with her boyfriend to come to watch Tooru play. She never ended up at the game, though. Nobody was cheering his name, and his beloved sister had let down on her promise. He was heartbroken, yet Hajime still continued to spike and serve the ball as if everything was fine.

        About halfway through the second set, sirens and police cars sped down the street and never went away. Distractions aside, Hajime and Tooru's team brought home the trophy. Cheers and roars were spread throughout the crowd but did not last long.

        "Tooru? Tooru!" A voice boomed with urgency was calling for him.

        His parents came dashing through the crowd with a panicked expression over them.