I had promised a fanfic for Oikawa, continuing and connecting with my three other fanfics: Sowlmates, Quiet Voice & Beautiful Disaster. For the ones who don't know me or my fanfics yet, you can read them because all four are connected and characters appear in all four but it's not absolutely necessary to read them to read (and hopefully enjoy) this fanfic! Just know that other characters are already settled with OCs and that some of the situations might be more explicit if you know the other stories. If you have any question, don't hesitate to ask me~
For once, I'll only post the prologue this time because it's a long prologue; I'll post more as soon as I've finished Quiet Voice. :)
In advance, thank you to everyone who might follow, favorite and review! :D
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : ALIENS
CHAPTER I : Prologue
"Few people when meet first time they feel that meeting each other was the purpose of their life."
― Amit Kalantri, One Bucket of Tears
"Some people enter your life in a whirlwind and no matter how hard you try you can't stop thinking about them, even after they leave… especially after they leave."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
"We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken."
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
Koi no yokan — A Japanese untranslatable word, koi no yokan is the instinctual knowledge that you are destined to fall in love with someone you've just met. It is not quite love at first sight, but it is the recognition that a future love is inevitable.
"I've never felt this urge to be near someone until I got to know you. Maybe if there was a way for you to get to know me, you might feel the same pull. But you keep leaving before I get the chance to find out."
— Unknown
"Perhaps, somewhere, some day, at a less miserable time, we may see each other again."
— Vladimir Nabokov
"Have you ever met someone, spent less than thirty minutes with them and thought 'I could easily love you'."
— Donte Collins
"A kiss is a secret which takes the lips for the ear."
― Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac
He met her six times.
The first time he met her, it was at the end of his last year of Middle School. Oikawa Tooru had just lost the match against Shiratorizawa Academy yet again, despite his reward of best setter of Miyagi Prefecture. He needed to take a few minutes for himself.
He went behind the gymnasium and sat on the grass, against the wall. No one ever came by here, no one would find him here except maybe Iwaizumi. And he cried. Tooru cried for his loss, for the bitterness of losing against his greatest rival once again. Despite the years against Shiratorizawa and Ushijima, despite the months of intense training with his team, despite his will to go to the Nationals it just wasn't enough. He was the best setter of Miyagi and yet, he had lost. What was he supposed to BE to win? What was he supposed to DO to win?
Sniffing and crying, Oikawa didn't notice the young girl who must have been around his age, walking by silently, a book against her chest. When she arrived at his level, both seemed to realize the other person being here. Tooru looked away and sniffed, pouting and pretending to not really cry to look tougher than he actually was.
The girl glanced at him, and seeing he was crying, quickly looked away to give him intimacy; obviously he didn't want to be seen crying. She continued walking and Tooru looked down at the grass, focusing on anything but the fact that someone had caught him crying.
Just as Tooru thought she had gone away, he looked back at the prize held against his thighs and under his hands, as if protected by his hold. But then, as surprising as it was, the girl stopped and turned around. She walked back towards Tooru, hesitating and looking around in embarrassment.
He looked up at her in shock, not understanding why she'd come back – if she was a fan of his, he didn't want to deal with it for the moment.
But then, still surprising him, the young girl knelt quietly, timidly, and put a hand on his shoulder. It was so shy he barely felt the hand over his sleeve.
The girl looked down, blushing in embarrassment before glancing back at Tooru, looking right into his eyes reddened by crying.
"Next time… you'll win…" She said with a soft voice, "It's an amazing reward you've received… um…"
She leaned forward just enough to have a look at the name written on the prize against his hands, but he didn't seem to notice her glance at the reward.
"Oi… kawa… Tooru? Is this… is this your name?" She asked hesitantly.
Tooru nodded lightly. He was too shaken up to say anything. The girl smiled lightly.
"It's a beautiful name," she said.
Tooru's heart missed a beat, eyes widened and he looked at her, truly looked at her for the first time. She was rather thin with a delicate face and pale skin. Her hair was dark brown, long, straight with some shorter strands around her face. Her eyes were big and green – the shade of jade.
"You'll win next time," the girl repeated, squeezing lightly his shoulder.
And just as quietly as she had appeared at his side, she was gone. Tooru shook himself up long minutes after she had gone away, feeling guilty for not thanking her for her comfort. She didn't know him and yet, she had gone and comforted him because he had lost. The least he could do was thank her.
But he never found the jade-eyed girl.
The second time he met her, it was in the exact same circumstances. Tooru was crying once again, this time, a year older and in high-school, without a reward as comfort. He had lost another time against Shiratorizawa's Ushijima!
He was wiping away the crocodile tears that didn't seem to stop until a handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of him. Sniffing, Tooru caught it and blew, loudly and for a long time, in the handkerchief.
"T-thanks, Iwa-chan…" He mumbled, looking up through teary eyes.
He froze and turned a hundred shades of red, despite his already blushed cheeks from crying, when he realized that the person who had just given him a handkerchief was not Iwa-chan. He didn't recognize right away who it was, but the simple fact that someone other than Iwaizumi or his family had seen him crying (he had always been an ugly crier) was just too much shame to bear.
"AGH!" Oikawa screamed, trying to move away from the young girl.
He hit his head against the wall as a result and immediately screamed once again, this time out of pain, holding the back of his head tightly.
"Be careful!" The girl exclaimed, suddenly worried.
Tooru muttered something that she didn't understand – he wasn't sure what he said exactly before he looked back up at the girl to apologize – for acting like an idiot, for not thanking her earlier, for blowing his nose so loudly (and not in a very charming way). His chocolate eyes met bright green ones, dark hair surrounding a delicate face, the length of the hair tied in the back. He stared at the vaguely familiar girl, wondering if she was one of his fan or if…
Tooru gasped when he recognized the same girl as last year – the one who had comforted him and disappeared right away.
"Y-you!" He exclaimed, moving towards her so suddenly that he clumsily fell forward, his forehead bumping into hers.
They both cried out in pain before moving away from each other and putting two hands on their foreheads.
"I-I! I'm so sorry!" Oikawa exclaimed, glancing hesitantly at the girl.
"I-it's all right…" She murmured.
Silence fell on them, a little awkwardly until the girl moved so she'd be sitting next to him, against the wall, just like him. Oikawa didn't dare move, awkwardly glancing at her every once in a while. He wasn't usually awkward with girls (he never was truth be told~), but after crying twice in front of her, both times after a loss, forgetting to thank her or ask her name, and now, he'll have to add 'bumping my forehead into hers out of clumsiness' to the list… he didn't feel exactly smooth.
"…You lost again…" She remarked, sounding a little saddened by it.
Tooru startled before turning towards the girl:
"S-sorry! After I had promised to win last year when we first met!" He exclaimed.
The girl's green eyes widened slightly and Tooru started panicking.
"U-umm… Y-you are the girl from last year, right…?" He hesitated with a gawky smile.
The girl seemed surprised by his way of thinking and chuckling quietly, hiding her smile behind her hand.
"Yes, it's me, Oikawa Tooru-san." She said with a smile.
It made the boy strangely giddy to know he had been right. But before he could say a thing, she tilted her head on a side, her ponytail falling over. He noticed that her hair was held tied up by her own knotted hair. Girls were impressive to manage such challenges with their hair…
"But you didn't promise to win last year," she remarked.
Tooru understood it had been the reason why she had seemed thunderstruck. Flushing and cursing himself for being so weak in front of her, Tooru spoke up once again:
"T-then, I promise, next year! For sure! I'll beat Ushijima and I'll go to Nationals!" He exclaimed with determination.
The girl didn't say much, looking a little surprised – by his promise? By his determination? His confidence he'll someday win against Ushijima?
"I look forward to it then…" She answered with a soft smile.
Oikawa felt more determined than ever to prove to himself, his team, his friends and family, and surprisingly, this girl, that he could win against Ushijima.
"I must go," she said, standing up.
Too lost in his thoughts, Oikawa didn't realize what it meant and that the girl was leaving until she was turning the corner at the other side of the gymnasium.
"AH! W-wait!" He exclaimed, standing up quickly and running where he had seen her.
He arrived at the entrance of the gymnasium, a little out of breath after running so frenetically… but she was nowhere in sight. Tooru turned around, seeing several officials, a few players from Shiratorizawa he childishly looked away from …
"Oikawa!"
Tooru turned around and saw Iwaizumi and Hanamaki walking towards him. Both had reddened eyes from crying after their loss.
"Where were you?" The Ace asked.
"We were looking for you," Makki added.
"Did you see a girl?" Oikawa asked at once, sounding a little crazy.
Disturbed that the first thing the setter would ask was about a girl, the two wing-spikers glanced at each other. Even if Oikawa was a bit of a flirt, it wasn't his kind to go after girls on his own, and especially not after losing a match.
"What are you talking about, Oikawa?" Iwaizumi asked, frowning and shaking lightly his head.
Realizing that it sounded unusual for him, and mostly that there was no way they'd know about this girl, Oikawa quickly turned their attention to something else. He had forgotten to thank her and ask her name once again.
The third time Oikawa saw the mysterious green-eyed girl, it was in his second-year of high-school. It wasn't behind the gymnasium that he saw her but before the match against Shiratorizawa. Actually, he hadn't even seen her, as focused as he was about the match, until she was standing in front of him.
"Good luck for the match, Oikawa Tooru-san," she said.
He looked up suddenly, shocked, and watched the girl, with slightly shorter hair, walking away once her message was given to him. Oikawa's teammates watched with big eyes their setter watching the girl walking away.
"Oikawa… you know someone from Shiratorizawa?" Matsukawa asked, dumbfounded.
"Since when?" Iwaizumi asked.
It was only then that Oikawa noticed the purple and white jersey of Shiratorizawa on the girl who was now disappearing. It wasn't the school uniform, was she the team's manager? No, it was a way too big jacket – one of the player had given it to her? Why? Was she someone's family? Someone's… friend? Or more?
Shock struck Oikawa, but more importantly, he stood up suddenly.
"Wait!" He called, ignoring his teammates.
He went to run after the girl but Iwaizumi caught his shoulder before he could.
"Oi, Oikawa! We've got a game in a few minutes! Don't run off after a girl now!" He scolded.
Oikawa wanted to go after the girl – who was from Shiratorizawa, how did he not notice her uniform before these last two years?! But Iwaizumi's words reminded him that there was a game to play. A game to win against Shiratorizawa. He had promised to himself. And to the green-eyed girl.
"Let's go win this match," Oikawa said suddenly, in a state of a frighteningly focus once again.
Everyone dropped the topic, except Iwaizumi who glanced curiously at his friend – before deciding to think about it later.
No matter how much Aoba Jousai tried, they couldn't win against the stunning strength of Shiratorizawa's Ace. It was another loss for Oikawa's team. More tears, more frustration leading to more determination to win next time.
After the match, Oikawa had seen the girl walking in between random people but he had looked away, his vision still too blurry by his angry tears. He didn't go after her this time, and in the following months, he regretted it bitterly. He could have gone after her – no one had been paying Oikawa any attention. He could have asked her name. He could have asked her if she was in Shiratorizawa. He could have asked her why she always comforted and encouraged him… He could have asked her why she was so often on his mind.
The fourth time they met, it had nothing to do with volleyball. Oikawa and Iwaizumi were in town for some shopping, chatting about their new year that would start soon in Aoba Jousai. Kageyama Tobio would be a first-year in high-school starting next spring and they knew he had received a proposition from Aoba Jousai to be recruited. Iwaizumi didn't mind the boy coming and being part of the team once again – for Oikawa, it was another matter. Kageyama was a genius, and just like years ago when Oikawa had been too disturbed and had been benched… he feared that Kageyama on the team, a genius-setter meant that he would be swiped away from the team. Iwaizumi kept repeating that he was the official setter and Captain, but it didn't erase completely Oikawa's worry.
They were walking on a crowded street when Oikawa absentmindedly bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry," he apologized, looking down at the girl he had just bumped into.
He froze completely when bright green eyes met his chocolate ones. Iwaizumi didn't notice his friend remaining behind and disappeared quickly in the crowd. Everyone was walking past Oikawa and his mysterious girl, both ignoring the masses walking by. It was as if there were only the two of them and nothing else mattered in this world.
"You are…" Oikawa started with a more hesitant voice than he ever had with a girl.
"Oikawa-san…" She murmured, blinking.
Her bright green eyes looked like emerald and her hair was tied in her back in a loose braid. She had a bag slung over her shoulder – it was a tote bag with constellations on it. It made Oikawa awfully happy about it but he didn't dare speak again and risk ruining the mood of incredible quiet between them.
The girl startled when she realized they were staring at each other. She glanced over her shoulder, as if looking for someone in the crowd, breaking the magic of the moment between Oikawa and her.
"I… I must go…" She whispered, turning around.
She took a hurried step away from Oikawa but his hand suddenly reached and grabbed her hand – not her arm, not her wrist, but her hand. Surprised, the girl turned around, her hair flipping by the sudden move. She glanced down at the hand holding hers before looking back at Oikawa, both still as stunned as before…
Knowing that, as always, whenever they met, whenever they crossed paths, time was ticking and every second mattered, Oikawa remained silent. He wanted to talk, he wanted his voice to work – but it just didn't. He remained silent and unable to say anything, only staring at the beautiful girl in front of him.
Starstruck.
For the first time in his life, Oikawa Tooru was starstruck. And he was ready to steal all the stars in the sky if it made her smile.
Blushing, feeling awkward for feeling this way, for feeling so intensely, he opened and closed his lips.
What's your name? Where are you from? Why are you so beautiful? Why do you always come to my matches against Shiratorizawa? Why do you comfort me? Why do you make me feel so unlike me? Why do you encourage me? Were so many of the questions he wanted to ask.
"W-will we ever see each other again?!" He asked quickly, feeling as if she was slipping from his fingers.
It was such a stupid question – he didn't even know her name. But it felt like it was all that mattered.
The girl glanced over her shoulder once again, some voices raised in indistinct voices but it was impossible to distinguish words in the constant chattering of the crowd walking by. Or perhaps, Tooru was just too enchanted by his beautiful, unearthly companion to hear what was being said.
Then, suddenly, the girl pulled at something hanging from her tote bag's strap. She tore the little accessory and put it in between Tooru's hands, both of hers making sure his fingers were tightly clasped around whatever she had given him.
And she smiled.
She smiled and Tooru felt as if gravity didn't have any hold on him anymore.
"I wish!" She exclaimed.
She let go of his hand, stepped away and before Oikawa could reach for her again, the crowd had taken her away and she had disappeared from his view. He only saw a sea of dark figures, the beautiful star gone as if clouded away by darkness.
Tooru glanced down at his hand and slowly opened his fingers. There was a little silvery plaque that had been hanging from the tote bag with a little thread. Four little words were graved on the plaque.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star~
"I wish!" She had said while giving him a little plaque saying Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star~…
Tooru couldn't help but smile like an idiot, still the only one not moving in the crowd. He looked up but couldn't see the sky – because of clouds, of pollution? It didn't matter. He only knew that right now, he couldn't see the stars. He wished he did. So he could make a wish to a twinkling star.
"Oikawa!"
The setter turned around as Iwaizumi cut through the crowd with annoyed grunts, frowning. He had realized at some point that his friend was missing and had gone back on his steps to find him standing there like an idiot.
"What are you doing spacing out like that?!" Iwaizumi asked finally reaching him.
Tooru's lips trembled, a laugh almost escaping him.
"Spacing out…" He chuckled, thinking about the irony of his friend's wording.
"What the hell? You're okay? You got hit on the head or something?" Iwaizumi asked, frowning lightly in confusion.
"Nothing, Iwa-chan~" Oikawa answered, putting the silvery plaque in his jeans pocket.
He didn't take his hand out of his pockets. He kept holding and touching the plaque – partly because he was scared it'd fall out of his pockets, and mostly because he wanted to make sure he hadn't dreamed meeting this mysterious girl.
The fifth time he saw her it was at the Tanabata Festival, while he was wandering on his own. Tooru had always loved the legend behind the Tanabata Festival but since he had met his unearthly beautiful girl on that day – it became another precious memory to cherish.
The legend told the love story between Orihime, daughter of Tentei, the Sky King, and Hikoboshi. Orihime wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa which is known to our days as the Milky Way. Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime could no longer weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime was sad at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter's tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month – Tanabata – if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet. And that's how, every year, we celebrate Orihime and Hikoboshi's return into each other's embrace for just one day and one night.
During the festival, Tooru bumped into Ushiwaka, Tendou and Semi – too annoyed, he had wandered off to a nearby park… and wandered right into a dream. He heard someone humming nearby. He looked around, his sudden anxiety and fears being pushed back in the back of his mind as the sweet voice resonated in the silent park.
Tooru didn't want to interrupt whoever was here, relaxing the same way he did, probably thinking she was alone, but he couldn't hold back his curiosity. It was a sweet, nice voice and this song was…
His steps took him closer to where he could hear the voice, the words as comforting as a song he had heard many years ago, when he was a child. He suddenly remembered that day when he had assisted to a Tanabata Festival and had heard the Tanabata Song for the first time. It still created the same emotions in his heart, it still touched his soul after so many years.
"Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru."
The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the leaves.
As if echoing with the lovely song, a soft breeze shook the branches of nearby trees, making the tanzaku fly around beautifully.
"Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago
Goshiki no tanzaku
watashi ga kaita."
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
Tooru glanced up, realizing that the stars were shining brightly – probably because he and the mysterious singer were away from most of the festival lights. Or maybe it was the magic of the Tanabata Festival. The stars stood out more than usual.
I wish for my dreams to come true. He had written earlier on his tanzaku.
"Ohoshi-sama kirakira
sora kara miteru…"
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.
He suddenly arrived near a bench, surrounded and hidden by trees and he froze when he noticed someone sitting here. A young girl, around his age, she had been the one singing with a soft smile and closed eyes. Just as he arrived, and the song ended, she opened her eyes. She gasped upon seeing someone there and stood up, panicked.
"I-I'm sorry!" Oikawa exclaimed at once, lifting up his hands, "I didn't mean to bother you! Or listen! I shouldn't have, really, but… I…"
His voice trailed off as he observed more closely the young girl… and recognized her. Her lips fell open, apparently recognizing him as well. They stared at each other in stunned, calm silence…
She was rather tall for a girl, wearing a night blue kimono, with a yellow obi and beautiful details he couldn't quite make out – were these flowers? Or stars? Nevermind her yukata, he couldn't look away from her face. Her delicate features, dark brown hair held up with a hairpin, sparkling green eyes, as bright as emeralds, slightly widened as she stared back at him.
She shook herself, suddenly looking down, and swallowed hard, a flush appearing on her cheeks. Tooru's heart missed a beat, recognizing his girl from all these four little encounters. The very one he had tried not to think about, but had dreamt of all day long… The one who had given him a "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star~" charm, wishing to meet him again.
"I-I'm s-sorry…!" She said, turning around to leave.
"W-wait!" He called.
His hand reached for her wrist, stopping her in her track. He felt the smooth, soft skin under his fingers, the sensation shaking his body for a short moment. He was opening his lips, looking for words but when she looked up at him, he was too shaken up by her mesmerizing eyes.
"Y-you… you…" He stammered, feeling his cheeks heat up, "I-it's you… isn't it…? The girl I met many times over… you're the one who comforted me after all these defeats… right?" He asked in a low voice, as if afraid to destroy the dream if he spoke any louder.
It felt like an enchanting encounter, with a creature from another world – and she was so breathtakingly beautiful, he could believe it. If his evening had been twisted into a nightmare by meeting Ushiwaka, it was now changing again into a beautiful, unbelievable dream by meeting this girl.
She opened and closed her lips before nodding, too stunned to say any word.
"I-I am… and you are… Oikawa Tooru…" She said, a light smile dancing on her lips.
Gods, the way she said his name was making his heart beat so fast, he couldn't even understand why he reacted in such a way, but this smile? This timid smile sent waves of warmth through his body.
He had never felt this way for anybody before. Being with this girl, meeting her again, thanks to her enchanting voice guiding him to her, his fingers slowly sliding over her hand to brush her own fingers… Tooru was stunned, mesmerized, enchanted, he couldn't even describe how he felt, but it was the closest to warmth and peace he had felt in a long time… so long he couldn't remember the last time he had felt this way. Meeting again had to be fate, especially on such a night.
Whatever Tooru felt at the moment, he knew that she felt it too.
~Tentei arranged for Orihime to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other…~
"What… what is your name…?" Tooru asked softly, cheeks turning red and unable to look away from the girl.
She opened her lips to answer but whatever she tried to say was smothered by the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky. Both startled and looked up, the stars smothered by the bright explosions of fire and colors depicting incredible paintings across the sky.
Both Tooru and his unknown girl watched the beautiful fireworks, the bubble of silence gone but the peace still filling them.
~However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven~
The girl looked up at Tooru's face, illuminated by the colors of the fireworks, his eyes reflecting the sky. Dark blue with sparkles of red, gold and green. She couldn't tell what was more beautiful – the sky itself, or the way it reflected in Oikawa Tooru's eyes.
Her fingers escaped from his and even if the touch had been feather-light, Tooru immediately noticed it. He looked down at her, opening his lips but she spoke up before he could:
"I'm sorry, but I must go…" She said, already turning around.
"W-wait!" He called, going after her.
She accelerated but he didn't give up – not this time. She had disappeared from him too many times. He needed to know more about her, he needed to know her name, who she was – and then, perhaps he'd understand why she was haunting him.
"W-wait! At least tell me your name! Tell me if we can meet again!" He exclaimed, reaching for her once again as they approached the various booths of the festival.
She spun around just before she could disappear in the crowd who was still looking up in awe at the spectacle of fireworks. Tooru didn't care about these fireworks any longer, all he could think of was trying to catch her, to keep her from slipping away from his fingers once again. He had spent the last three years meeting her only once a year, but his thoughts always drifted back to her. He needed to know who she was!
They faced each other, a strange, sad determination shining in her green eyes as she looked up at him. He could see all the sky lights sparkling in her eyes, but all he could see were the conflicting emotions in them.
"We can't," she said with a light shake of her head.
"Because you're from Shiratorizawa?!" He exclaimed, "I… I don't care!" He exclaimed.
His heart skipped a few beats, not realizing he had just said that. He hated Shiratorizawa, for beating his team every year, for having Ushiwaka there…! But just for this girl, just her… he might consider not caring about where she came from. Even if it was Shiratorizawa Academy.
She opened and closed her lips, shaking her head before continuing:
"No, it has nothing to do with our schools but I just can't see you again! I barely know you, you can't just… you…! It's complicated, okay?"
"But–"
"But we'll meet again." She cut him, putting a hand on his chest.
He couldn't talk when she said these words, looking up at him so intensely. Then, a light smile appeared on her face:
"And… next time… I won't have to comfort you… okay?"
Half of the times they had met, it had been behind the gymnasium when Tooru was letting out his frustration and sadness for losing against Shiratorizawa. She had comforted him then. He didn't understand why she'd want him to win against her school's team but… he understood they would meet again. And she had faith he would win. He could not fail, not this time, it was their last chance.
~Then, in anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet.~
She turned around, disappearing in the crowd while the fireworks quieted down. Tooru advanced in the crowd as well, trying to catch sight of her, to keep following her but she was gone and the crowd was too thick…
What did she mean? It was complicated? Why? Because they were from different schools or other reasons…? He knew she had felt the same way he did a few moments ago, so why run away?
"But we'll meet again." She had said.
He clenched his fists tightly, not understanding what the hell was wrong with him. He barely knew her, he didn't even know her name and yet, he was overwhelmed with thoughts of her. He didn't understand it at all but– but!
~Tentei was moved by Orihime's tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month…~
They'll meet again.
The sixth and last time he saw her. It was after his last loss as Aoba Jousai's setter and Captain, his last match as a high-schooler, his last match with his team… The worst part? The worst was that he didn't even feel the poor satisfaction that at least, the winners would go to Nationals and were the absolute best of Miyagi – the ones who had beat him weren't Shiratorizawa. It was Karasuno High-school, a tiny team of outsiders who was called the "flightless crows" just a few months ago. The match had been hard, both teams had put more than a hundred percent of themselves in this match, both could have won many times… but in the end, Karasuno won. Aoba Jousai lost.
Oikawa had gone to his usual spot behind the gymnasium to cry. He had shed more tears than he had thought he would, and now he was dead tired. The weight of his sadness, bitterness, disappointment – the weight of losing – had hit him and he was too exhausted to think. He probably half-heartedly hoped he'd see his mystery girl. She had always appeared when he was crying behind the gymnasium. But he also knew that she had only appeared when there was a match against Shiratorizawa – he had lost too early to see her. And also… it was his last year, his last tournament… which meant that starting next year, he'd move out to Tokyo to pursue his volleyball career. He had hoped he'd see her one last time, but… in the end, he wouldn't. He'd go away and she'd probably stay in Miyagi, or go somewhere else than him…
Tooru reached for his pocket and took out the little silvery plaque she had given him so many months ago… He had wished to see her again, but it didn't happen, despite her words at the Tanabata Festival that they would meet again.
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star…" He started with a croaked voice from crying, "…I wish–"
"You still have it?"
Shocked, Oikawa looked up and saw the girl smiling down at him. She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear and she looked at the way he was holding in his fingers her little reminder from months ago.
Too shocked to react, Oikawa stared at the girl as she slowly approached and sat next to him. He swallowed hard and glanced around and towards the sky, making the girl blink in confusion:
"Everything all right?" She asked hesitantly.
"…I'm looking for something…" He mumbled, eyes still staring all around him vividly.
"What are you looking for?" She asked curiously, willing to help if he needed to find something in the grass.
"Where is it?!" Oikawa asked loudly suddenly, turning towards her and startling the girl, "How do you hide it?! Do you use some sort of camouflage? No, no, I'm sure it must be some invisible barrier – high-technology surely! There is no other explanation!" He exclaimed, getting somewhat a little excited about something she couldn't understand.
"U-um… I-I'm sorry but… w-what are you… talking about, Oikawa-san…?" She continued, watching him in incredulity.
"Your spaceship!" He exclaimed, turning to her with sparkly eyes.
"…My what?"
"Your spaceship! You're an alien, right?!"
He was now kneeling next to her in complete excitement, eyes sparkling like a child's.
"I-I am?" She hesitated, brows furrowed.
"There is no other explanation! You appear whenever I least expect it! You knew my name without me introducing myself! And this!" He continued, holding up the plaque, "Star's reference! It means you live up there, right?! And you're so unearthly beautiful a-and… aaand…"
His voice trailed off when he realized what he had just said… Both Tooru and the girl flushed at the compliment he had given her.
The girl smiled, amused by his crazy reasoning. He thought she was an alien? Just because they kept meeting out of the blue and she had given him a "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" charm? And as for his name… he probably thought her a mind-reader of some sort – she had just read his name on his reward all these years ago. Slowly, her lips trembled and she quickly covered her mouth when a chuckle followed by an enchanting laugh erupted. She leaned her head against the wall, laughing under Oikawa's bright eyes.
Slowly, Tooru smiled and started chuckling as well, joining in her laugh. Both laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation – Tooru had to admit that she was more likely a very beautiful and slightly strange girl rather than an alien (but he kept the idea in the back of his mind in case more clues showed up she'd be an alien).
As they calmed down, Tooru glanced at the young woman at his side. She was very beautiful and he had no idea who she was. He might have a slight crush on her and all the ideas he had made of her over the years. He liked what his mind thought of her. He wondered if he should say anything?
It was his last year. His last time, his last chance. Probably his last encounter with his alien-lady.
If he did say something, he might regret it. If he didn't say a thing – he'll definitely regret it.
"Do you… um, have a boyfriend?" He asked hesitantly, a little shyly, to the girl.
Her eyes widened and she flushed once again before looking at her hands resting on the top of her knees.
"N-not really…" She answered, sounding just as shy, perhaps a little… hopeful…? Or was it Oikawa wishing to hear what he hoped for?
"W-why would you ask…?" She asked hesitantly.
"Because I'm too scared to say a thing…" He whispered, "At least, I won't feel guilty."
She glanced up at him curiously but before she could react, he had already leaned down and put his lips against hers. Her eyes widened, cheeks blushing as their warm lips remained pressed in a comforting touch. Time seemed to stop, as if all the plants, animals and insects around stopped to watch this moment. As if the Earth had stopped spinning on itself, warning the entire universe to look at this little Earth, at the edge of the universe, on a tiny bit of emerged earth, a tiny island, a tiniest place lost in the mountains, behind a gymnasium… Two tiny humans sharing a first kiss, a shy and quiet kiss. A tiny nothing happening in the universe – but it meant the world to them.
She was about to close her eyes and answer the kiss when Tooru pulled away with blushed cheeks, a silly grin on his lips.
They stared at each other, shocked, shaken, feeling their hearts twinkling happily. Somehow… they knew that even in the middle of the day, the stars were watching.
No more word was exchanged between the two. There was nothing else to add after all – Tooru's point had been made. He left the charm with Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star~ next to his mystery, alien-girl whose identity he still didn't know. For the first time since they had met, he was the one to leave first, leaving her completely starstruck.
Some hours later…
Tooru opened his window and leaned against it, looking up at the night sky. Despite the city glow, he could see some stars shining.
He thought back on the kiss he had stolen earlier to his alien-girl. His heart sped up in excitement – it wasn't the same excitement as an interesting match or a great victory, but it was just as exhilarating. He didn't regret this kiss one bit even if he had never kissed a girl who wasn't his girlfriend before. It wasn't like him but whenever this girl was involved, he did alien things.
He chuckled thinking back on her adorable, shocked expression after the kiss. He had felt so strangely proud of it. He looked back at the stars and despite his defeat, for once, he was smiling, even if it was a little sad.
"Aliens and stars in the sky, please... Let me meet her once again!" He prayed in a whisper.
At another part of the city, the unknown girl was sitting at her windowsill, clutching the Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star~ charm in her fingers, looking at the same stars as Tooru without any of them knowing it. The only difference was that the stars she was looking at were shining more brightly.
Her fingers brushed her lips, her heart accelerating in her chest while a blush crept on her cheeks... She glanced back to the starry sky, an amused, bewildered smile on her face.
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little star…" She hummed, "Let me see him another time…" She wished.
Unbeknownst to Tooru and his alien-girl, they had both made the same wish that night, not really thinking anyone or anything would listen and even less grant their wish.
They had no idea that the stars would soon grant their wish. Who knew? Perhaps there were some faraway aliens granting wishes~
I hope you enjoyed it~!
To have the entire chapter and events of the Tanabata Festival, it's chapter 50 of Quiet Voice.
NEXT CHAPTER : WRITTEN IN THE STARS
Yours Truly,
May
