Image [IwaOi]

Chapter 4: Plans

        Tooru really fucked up this time. He went ahead of himself and made plans with different people at the same time, on the same day.

Sakura:

Where did you want to go tomorrow?

I was thinking we could go to a cafe and hang out!!

Oikawa:

Yeah, that sounds good!

Meet up around noon?

Sakura:

Sure! Can't wait to see you!

        Tooru does not respond. He does not want to pick between people, but he has to. If his parents get word that he ditched his girlfriend for his volleyball friends, they would get pissed. Maybe he is just worried about nothing, though. Perhaps they would understand who Tooru is and- oh, what is he thinking? Tooru knows for a fact, his parents would cause a storm if they found out. He sighs. At the moment, Tooru is sitting on his bed, staring at his phone. Oh, how he does not want to cancel his plans with his team, his Iwa-chan. But he sucks it up and opens his messages to 'Iwa-chan <3'.

Shittykawa:

Hey, I am gonna have to skip lunch.

Iwa-chan <3:

Okay, but why?

Shittykawa:

I forgot I made plans with Sakura...

Sorry, Iwa-chan!

        Hajime feels a pang of hurt in his chest. He did not know why nor understand, but it was there. He is aware of the fact that Tooru always makes plans with people without thinking. This does not stop Hajime from resenting Sakura for taking Tooru away like that. He shakes his head and sucks up his selfish thoughts. He is just being petty.

Iwa-chan:

It's fine, I guess.

It isn't like you arere required to come.

        Tooru feels bad, really bad. He wants to go hang out with his friends like usual. Sadly, he can not take that chance. Tooru also notices that Hajime seemed a bit salty in his words. This makes him feel worse. He knows that Hajime most likely either does not care or is pretty mad about it. Tooru hopes it is neither. Tooru hopes that Hajime genuinely wants to hang out with him but does not want to get in the way. He doubts this, though. Hajime is the type of person that just stays neutral. Most of the time. He only cares when it is something urgent or needs his attention. Like when Kentaro Kyotani starts acting up in school. Tooru tries to get his attention, but it never works unless he does by accident. Hajime cares when he breaks peoples' hearts or when Tooru gets hurt physically. The brunette sighs and decides that he is going to stop making himself sad. He turns his light off and gets snuggled into his covers. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

        The next day at school was dreadful, to say the least. He had an English test, his worst subject, and the volleyball team has a practice match with Shiratorizawa. This means he has to hear Ushijima Wakatoshi tell him to "come to Shiratorizawa" a million times over. Tooru walks into the locker room, for once not excited for practice. Everyone glances over to him, but he ignores it, walking to his locker. Most of the team leaves the room, knowing Hajime wants to speak with Tooru.

        "Oikawa, don't get too mad. It will only make Ushiwaka annoy you more," Hajime advises, pulling on his shirt.

        "Yeah, yeah. I know. I really just do not want to deal with him today."

        "I know, but you have to... Well, come out when you are ready. I am going to go ahead."

        "Kay, see you in there, Iwa!" Tooru finishes with a fake smile.

        Hajime gives him a worried glance but leaves anyway. He has always noticed when Tooru is fake. Hajime also knows not to push too deep. If he does, Tooru may get mad, or even worse, cry. Hajime does not want this. Whenever Tooru cries, it feels as if Hajime's heart shatters into a million pieces. It makes Hajime want to hug him and cuddle him till he knows that his best friend is okay. In a friendly way, that is, at least, that is what he tells himself. Hajime has always seen Tooru that way. He cares deeply for his childhood friend. The other players always joke about Tooru and Hajime dating. They are friends, nothing more. Not that he would mind dating the brunette. Hajime shakes his head slightly, getting those thoughts out of his head as he walks into the gym.

        Tooru, on the other hand, is in the locker room. His breathing took a turn for the worse when his best friend left the room. It is quick and shallow. This must be a panic attack. Tooru's heart is racing as he slides down to a sitting position. The grip on his shirt is tight. "Fuck, I can't do this right now! I am letting my team down just by not being in there!" He has no idea what caused this. He was just getting ready, like usual, when he starts hyperventilating. Tooru's breaths are quick puffs of shallow air. He tries to calm himself down by taking big, deep breaths and counting to ten. It does not work.

        "Oh, I left my water bottle in the locker room! I will be right back," Shigeru Yahaba tells his team.

        Yahaba feels something off while walking to the changing room. He ignores it as he trudges up the steps to the clubroom. Opening the door, Yahaba scans the room for his water bottle till he sees Oikawa breathing heavily, clutching his shirt. Yahaba quickly runs to the captain puts a hesitant hand on his shoulder. The second-year does not really know what to do in this position. Does he get close? Does he keep some distance? Yahaba does not know what triggers the setter. The blond decides to bring Tooru's head to his chest and running his hands through his soft hair. This seems to calm Tooru down almost instantly. He starts to breathe at a more natural pace. Tooru hugs his kohai and whispers a small "thank you" before pushing away.

        "O-oikawa, are you okay?"

        "Yeah, I'm fine," Tooru quickly responds, full of forged joy. "Sorry about that Ya-chan, I don't know what came over me!"

        "Are you sure? That looked pretty serio-"

        "I said I'm fine."

        Yahaba stays silent, watching Tooru leave the room. What the hell just happened?  

"You never know what a person is going though, regardless of how much money they make or however great of a life you think they're living" -Terrell Owens

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Words: 1053