MY MUSE, tooru oikawa

chapter thirty four

(chapter xxxiv)

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Yuna's frustration grew as she found yet another instance of Tooru slipping away. Throughout the week, he seemed to dodge her with increasing frequency, and she couldn't help but notice the conspicuous pattern. His elusive behavior wasn't exactly discreet, and it only further fueled her irritation.

She clutched the strap of her bag tighter, a mix of anger and disappointment swirling within her. She had thought they had shared a moment during their date, but now it seemed as if Tooru was deliberately avoiding her. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she couldn't shake the mounting agitation.

Yuna's frustration mounted further as a new pattern became evident. In the mornings, she habitually met up with Hajime and Tooru in the hallway, but lately, she noticed a consistent change in their routine. Tooru would be nowhere to be found, having already rushed off down the hall before she could even arrive.

Hajime, who stayed behind with her, mirrored her confusion at Tooru's sudden disappearance.

At lunchtime, another disappointment unfolded. Tooru was nowhere to be seen, leaving her and Hajime to sit together and eat. Surprisingly, Hajime casually took the untouched lunch Tooru had left behind, adding it to his own meal.

During volleyball practice, yet another opportunity to confront Tooru seemed to slip away. He didn't give her a chance to approach, dashing off without explanation. She couldn't believe that he was avoiding her so blatantly.

Yuna found it difficult to ignore the growing sense of irritation as the pattern continued. Initially, she had attempted to brush it off, but as the days passed, it became increasingly clear that Tooru was intentionally avoiding her. Even Hajime had tried to talk to him, only to be met with the same evasive behavior.

Unfortunately, academics proved to be an obstacle, as the upcoming exams demanded their attention. Although both Yuna and Hajime yearned for answers to their friend's peculiar behavior, they had no choice but to concentrate on their studies. He took advantage of the situation, skillfully dodging their attempts to corner him. However, they knew that the temporary distraction wouldn't last forever.

Yuna made a firm decision during the three exam days—she would give Tooru the space he seemed to want, forgoing any questions about his odd behavior. But once exams were behind them, her determination grew. She vowed that if necessary, she would turn the school upside down just to find him and demand answers.

The day ended up being a Friday, the day before one of their games, meaning Tooru wouldn't be able to escape her grasp even if he tried. Despite her eagerness to corner him, Yuna knew better than to act prematurely. Patience, she told herself, would give her a better chance to address his behavior.

Yuna devised a strategy. She decided to leave the gym earlier than the guys, ensuring Tooru wouldn't have an opportunity to slip away. Her plan was to wait for him outside, where he wouldn't be able to avoid her.

As the guys were engrossed in strategizing for their upcoming game, Yuna seized the moment. She quietly snuck out of the gymnasium and hid discreetly just outside the door, waiting patiently for Tooru to emerge.

Time ticked by as she waited, her fingers tapping restlessly against her folded arms. As the minutes passed, Yuna couldn't help but mull over what she would say to Tooru once she finally had the opportunity to confront him.

"Maybe I should just ask him if I did something wrong," she muttered to herself, trying to disregard the nagging feeling that the reason behind his behavior might indeed be connected to her.

Her mind went back to a conversation she had with Hajime before. He had tried to coax answers out of Tooru, but Tooru stubbornly responded with "nothing is wrong." Frustrated, they had ended up arguing.

The thought only made Yuna feel even more guilty. The lingering tension between Tooru and Hajime was undeniable, and it had clearly affected their dynamic during practice. They had been separated into different groups, and the tension had continued throughout the session.

Her eyes snapped up as the team exited the gymnasium. Yuna quickly scanned the group, but her heart dropped when she noticed Tooru's absence. Frustration and disappointment mingled in her chest.

Yuna was momentarily taken aback, but before she could respond, Hajime appeared in front of her, a serious look in his eyes. "Now's your best chance," he advised, tilting his head towards the gymnasium.

Reentering the gymnasium, Yuna's gaze quickly zeroed in on Tooru who stood motionless in the center of the court, absently holding a ball. The sight of him reignited the maelstrom of emotions within her.

Intrigued by his aloof behavior, Yuna paused and found herself watching him. There was something captivating about his solitary stance in the middle of the court. The silence in the room seemed to envelope them, her presence forgotten for the moment.

Tooru stood with his back towards Yuna, completely unaware of her watchful presence. He was lost in his thoughts, contemplating the words the captain had spoken to him. The words replayed in his mind, "I don't know what's wrong. Your head is in the game, but your heart isn't. If you show up with the same attitude tomorrow at the game, I'll make you sit out the entire game."

Tooru was internally frustrated, wanting to offer a snarky retort, but deep down, he recognized that the captain's words rang true. His thoughts were consumed with guilt, and he realized that his behavior of avoiding Yuna was childish and unfair to her. Yet, he was terrified of the feelings that raged within him.

His mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. He didn't want to perceive Yuna as a "bad thing," but the thought of their friendship altering due to his feelings sent a wave of anxiety through him. It was a new experience for him—he had never liked someone as intensely as he did her, having dated multiple girls in the past.

With Yuna, it was different. She wasn't someone he could simply "pass time" with, and the thought of losing her friendship terrified him. He stood there, contemplating whether he was willing to take the risk and reveal his feelings to her, knowing it could change everything.

Tooru let out a heavy sigh and muttered to himself, "I wish I had never gone to the music room and met her." The regret was evident in his voice as he thought back to the moment he first met Yuna.

Tooru's words echoed through the empty gymnasium, reaching Yuna's ears. Her heart skipped a beat as she unintentionally took a step back, the squeak of her shoes reverberating in the room. The sting of his regretful words cut deep, hitting her where it hurt the most.

Tooru spun around, his face turning pale as he laid eyes on Yuna. His heart dropped upon seeing her deeply frowning face.

"Yuna!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of shock and guilt.

As Yuna turned and sprinted away, Tooru, in his rushed pursuit, tripped over the ball he had carelessly dropped. He groaned in pain but looked up just in time to see her disappearing figure.

Tooru grunted and cursed, his frustration and anger overcoming him. He pounded his fist against the floor, the impact leaving a slight vibration throughout the gymnasium.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, the regret and guilt consuming him even more now that he had accidentally spilled his thoughts.