They were all little children.
It was a cold day, and snow hasn't even begun falling. But their bodies were kept warm by the excitement exerting from watching a volleyball match from a TV in an electronics shop. The awe glistening in their eyes, their hands balled up into a fist, their mouths left hanging as the winning team spiked, blocked and tossed their way through the receiving team's points, eventually leading.
Three children, a girl and two boys, on a cold winter evening, in front of an electronics store, watching a match that'll leave a mark in their lives.
six years after
A ten year old redhead had tears falling down her cheeks, clenching her fist behind her two friends.
"Akane-chan?! Why're you crying?" The olive-skinned twelve year old asked, rushing to her after hearing a soft sob coming from behind. The other boy, a fair-skinned brunette who was also twelve, dropped the volleyball he was holding, doing the same as his friend did, scurrying to her. "Is something wrong, Akane-chan?"
She sobbed silently, shooking her head, refusing to tell them. Both of them sighed, one patting her head and the other wiping her tears away. Always had she refuse to tell them of her problems, but eventually she'll just give in, telling them everything on her mind.
"You don't want to be alone without us, huh, Akane-chan?" Said the fair-skinned boy, wiping her tears.
She nodded, immediately hugging both of them with her small arms while saying in a small voice," I don't want Tooru and Iwa-kun to go."
The fair-skinned, who was called Tooru, smiled softly, hugging them back. Iwaizumi, or known to them as Iwa-kun, frowned a little at her thoughts, murmured, " Don't worry, we'll still visit you from time to time. Oikawa here is your neighbour, right?" He pulled away from the hug, smiling widely. "Since we're both going to the same school next spring, I'll be coming over for homework. That way, when finish our homework, we can play with Akane-chan!"
Akane smiled immediately from hearing that, nodding excitingly. "You promise!" Tooru smiled, nodding. He then looked at Iwaizumi, and snickered," Iwa-chan seems to be finally thinking before he speaks." Those words made him earn a volleyball smacked into his face, faltering a little behind. "Iwa-chan!"
But even though it hurt, they all laughed.
In the coming spring, the two had started their junior high school days at Kitagawa Daiichi, a school that has one of the few best boys volleyball teams in the Miyagi Prefecture. In his first year there, Oikawa Tooru took over the setter's position within just a few months, and Iwaizumi Hajime was given a place in the court as their wing spiker. They won a lot for their team, and never forget to visit their dear Mochizuki Akane after school.
She thought that if this were to continue, they'll be able to stay together forever. But she knew there'll be a time where everything will soon meet an end. And so will theirs.