Image [IwaOi]

Chapter 5: Shiratorizawa

        Tooru feels like shit.  It's as simple as that.  His panic attacks usually happen close to nighttime, so the drowsiness hits him like a truck.  Tooru walks into the gymnasium silently.  He sees his team warming up, most likely waiting for Shiratorizawa to get to their school.  It shouldn't be too long since they only live about 20 minutes from Aoba Johsai.  As if on cue, the door behind the setter opens. 

        "Oh, Oikawa." 

        "Not in the mood, Ushiwaka.  Just leave me alone for now, yeah?" 

        This leaves the player silent.  It's not like Tooru to be so stoic in his words, even to Wakatoshi.  He watches as the setter walks to his team, back hunched over out of what Wakatoshi thinks is laziness. 

        "What do you think is up with him, Wakatoshi-kun?" Tendou Satori asks his captain.

        "I," there's a pause in his words, "have no idea." 

        "Hey, Crappykawa, you okay?" Hajime asks when Tooru gets to where he and the rest of the team are.

        "Yeah!  I'm fine, Iwa-chan!  No need to worry!" 

        Tooru immediately gets into his position for warmups, not waiting for Hajime to respond.  Shiratorizawa also begins to warm up on the other side of the gym, but Tooru pays no mind.  He focuses on setting the ball to spike after spike.  Set, spike, slam.  Set, spike, slam.  The only thing Tooru really registers is door opens once again when Yahaba comes back in. 

        "Sorry, that took so long.  I had to...  go to the bathroom!" 

        "It's fine.  Now hurry and warm up.  We should be starting soon," their coach says.

        "Yes, sir." 

        Tooru feels eyes on him throughout warming up.  The people-watching from the bleachers, who are just there to enjoy the game.  Yahaba, because he's wondering what the panic attack was about.  Hajime, because he can tell that something is wrong with his best friend.  Wakatoshi and Satori, because of the way he acted earlier, and worst of all, his girlfriend.  She sits up in the bleachers with a few of her friends, all fawning over him.  All these combined make Tooru feel anxious and worry-filled. 

        "Okay, I think that's enough warming up!  I say we get into the game," Shiratorizawa's coach, Tanji Washijou, suggests. 

        Nobuteru agrees and everyone gets into position. 

        The game goes like every other time they have gone against Shiratorizawa.  Aoba Johsai losing in straight sets.  Tooru saw this coming.  He knew they would lose before it had even started.  Though, that does not mean he didn't try.  Tooru tried his damndest to win.  He set at his best, he served at his best, he blocked, he even spiked at his best, yet he still failed to win against Ushiwaka.  Again.  Just like every other time.  Tooru should give a speech about how they can win next time or something, but instead, he shrugs it off.  He is tired and does not want to deal with his captain duties or anything of the sort at the moment.  He can wallow in self-pity later. 

        Tooru walks over to a bench and grabs his water.  He walks away from the rest of the team, who are attempting to find imaginary weak spots in their enemies' tactics.

        "Why do you think we always lose?" Matsuaka then asks Tooru. 

        "Because they're better," Tooru says subconsciously. 

        His eyes widen.  Did he, Oikawa Tooru, just admit that Shiratorizawa is superior?  It's not that he didn't know the facts already, but he never actually vocalized the statement till now.  Tooru feels a wave of guilt wash over him but he can't bring himself to care at the moment.  He'll deal with the consequences later.

        "W-well I mean... yeah.  But I never thought you would say that Mr. 'I am way better than Shiratorizawa'," Matsuaka responds, recovering from his state of shock.

        "Yeah, whatever.  I'm going to get some fresh air." 

        "O-okay." 

        Once Tooru gets outside, he throws his water on the ground, a thump resonating from the impact.  'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!  Of course, they won.  Not like I'm good enough to beet them.  They're way out of our league, literally,'  Tooru univocally reprimands himself.   He yells and kicks a wall with all his might.  Tears threaten to spill through the image he uses each and every day.  Tooru leans against the wall he once kicked, thinking of the promise he made to his sister.  'Why am I so fucking weak?' he wonders.  'I'm sorry I can't be the best, Hana.  I'm sorry I broke my promise.' 

        Suddenly, Tooru feels a hesitant hand grasp his shoulder.  His eyes widen, looking up at the culprit, who turns out to be Tendou Satori, a middle blocker for Shiratorizawa, viewing Tooru with downcast eyes. 

        "I knew something was up earlier, but I didn't realize it was this bad," Satori frowns.  "You don't have to tell me what's wrong, but at least tell someone.  Bottling it all up isn't going to help in the long run." 

        "I-I...  I'm fucking in love with my best friend," Tooru states instantly. 

        "Well, that much is obvious, but what's actually wrong?" 

        Tooru hesitantly takes a breath before telling Satori everything, "My parents are homophobic, and they don't know I'm gay, so I have to fucking hide it, but they don't believe me unless I have a girlfriend, but they always break up with me.  They'll stop me from seeing Iwa-chan if they find out I like- no, I fucking love him at this point, and I can't risk losing him!"  Tooru sucks in a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down.  "I don't know what to do anymore." 

        Satori quickly brings the brunette into his chest and softly whispers into his ear, "I accept you, and I will try and find a way to help you through this." 

        Tooru breaks into sobs at this statement.  He has never told anyone besides his sister that he is gay.  Tooru always thought people would disapprove, like his parents, so to hear that someone accepts him...  He feels a weight lifted off his chest for the first time in years. 

        "I- thank you, Tendou," Tooru brings an arm up to his face to wipe his own tears off his face. 

        "You can call me Satori...  Now," the redhead takes a piece of paper out of his shorts.  "here's my number.  Call me when anything-and I mean anything-happens.  I'm here for you, and I want to help." 

        Tooru takes the paper out of Satori's hand, "Thank you, Te- Satori." 

        "Any time, now what do you say we go back in?  I think our teams are waiting for us." 

        Tooru nods before heading into the gym with Tendou close behind.  None of the players seem to have noticed their extended absence, for they walk into the gym with little stares.  That is, except Iwaizumi Hajime.  Of course he knows something is up. 

        "What was that about?" the ace asks.

        "Oh nothing, Iwa-chan!  Just catching up with an old friend!" 

        Hajime knows this is a lie, but he leaves it at that.  'What actually happened out there, though?'

~~~~~~

        "Friends can be found in places you least expect it" -Anonymous

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Anyone else feel bad for the water bottle? It's just sitting outside in the cold... I- Rest in peace water bottle. I'll probably have to have Oikawa get a new one when he goes on his date in the next chapter ;)
Oop- Sorry I shouldn't have said that :P

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