Here we are at the second last chapter. Going to release the final chapter tomorrow so stay tuned!
I am no romance writer but its been a blast writing this fanfic.
I don't own the characters except for Rin.
Finally, the day has come for us to get our revenge on the court.
We blew past every opponent, even the formidable Dateko that had the iron wall but when it came to a certain murder of crows, we were stopped dead in our tracks.
Even as they pulled every trick in the book, every killer serve Oikawa had to offer, I could feel that the game was slipping from our fingers. As I prayed for our success, I also prayed for Tobio to be safe.
"You did what?!" I blurted as he sighed.
"I asked her to be my girlfriend and… we ki-ka-su-si-kisu- arghh! I don't want to say it, it's so embarrassing!" he groaned as I could imagine him being all red face right about now.
"About time! you know how much the disease hurts right?"
"Of course I know! That's why I told her! I couldn't have an aching throat throughout Interhigh!"
Ah, I needed to get my throat sorted out as well.
"Have you told him you loved him yet?"
"Don't remind me. You know how he can be like."
"You know Oikawa-san hates me right."
Don't. Don't tell me that because of you, Oikawa might hate me as well.
"Oikawa-san isn't like that. I believe that he cares for you much more than you think. I don't know much about love, but I believe that what he's feeling for you might be love."
My heart skipped a few beats when he decided to ruin the mood by adding, "I still can't believe that Iwaizumi-san put up with your love spats."
"Shut it Tobio!"
"Blast you, little devil," I growled before shouting, "Kick his ass, Aoba Johsai!"
The referee scowled at me as Iwaizumi and Oikawa looked at me, a look of surprise on their faces before it turned into grins.
"Of course, who do you think we are?" Oikawa grinned but the score was bad. I guessed Hinata and Kageyama's love had been increased on the court after their confession the previous day.
Deuce. Shit. When will this end?
Then the final strike came and I watched as the ball soared to our side of the court, barely getting past the blockers as Oikawa dashed to meet it. Just at that moment, I saw him lose focus for just a split second when I let out a cough, a stray petal falling out as I snapped to myself, "Shit, hold it!"
The ball connected with his arms to shoot way out of the court, the ball spinning out of control to hit the wall behind him as I stared.
Did I just end our journey in Interhigh?
We had lost. We had just lost.
"We… we won!" Hinata yelled as Kageyama held her tight, bouncing her up and down as baldie and their vice captain jumped onto them, their manager on the verge of tears as well as they hugged one another.
Our team was in shambles, some of the guys on their knees. Watari was sobbing onto the ground, Kindaichi trying his best to haul him to his feet while Iwaizumi stared at Oikawa, who's eyes were glued to Kageyama's smiling face.
For the first time though, Oikawa didn't look like he wanted to kill him.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered as I felt the first tear come to my eyes, my eyes watering to the point I couldn't see what was in front of me anymore. I knew we should go line up but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
If I hadn't coughed, if I hadn't had this blasted Hanahaki disease…
If I hadn't fallen for Oikawa in the first place, we might have won.
I felt someone wrapping their arms around me as I looked up to see Oikawa, his face dry of tears as he patted me on the back, the guys staring as he whispered, "Don't, it was all my fault."
He slowly led me to line up in front of the net and as I shook Karasuno's manager's hand when I felt something constrain in my throat. No.. not now. Not in front of everyone.
I felt myself gag as I clawed at my throat, flowers spilling out as I slammed onto the floor, shouts and screams filling the air as Iwaizumi screamed my name, Tobio and Hinata's voices in the background as coach shouted, "Get a medic quick!"
"Oh damn, I must look like I mess now…" I thought as I was pulled under.
…
Iwaizumi paced in front of the door as he waited for the news. Most of the others had been herded home by the coach but he refused to go home, not when his ex was risking her life in the ward.
Oikawa had the nerve to stay on and not say a word on how she had been vomiting flowers onto the court.
"Oi Shittykawa, you know what the hell is this right?"
"Hanahaki. I never thought this actually existed," he whispered as Iwaizumi balled his fist.
"I told you that she liked you and you didn't even bother to try and ask her about it and now, look at what happened! She might have to go for surgery to remove it or worse…"
"She will lose her memories of her loving me?"
Iwaizumi's heart got caught in his throat as he growled, "You want her to forget her love for you?"
"I don't deserve her and she doesn't deserve to be with me."
"How can you say that?! She loves you so much! Even when I tried to be everything she wanted you to be for her, you still want to toss her aside like trash, you piece of trash?!"
"You think she will ever forgive me for hurting Tobio-chan?! You think I don't know that they are cousins and that she saw me almost hitting Tobio on that day when we were in middle school?! How could I face and tell a girl I love her when I almost hurt her cousin? Heck, I might even be the reason that he turned out to be so cold on the court."
Oikawa sniffled as Iwaizumi unclenched his fists, his heart slowly unraveling as he saw his best friend cry for the first time in years.
"We may have lost the game today. This is the end of the line for our high school volleyball careers. But…" Iwaizumi snapped as he slammed his hands on Oikawa and shoved him against the wall, bunching his shirt as he yelled, "that doesn't mean you should end high school without telling her you loved her!"
Some of the nurses and patients turned to stare at them, some wondering what two boys were doing quarreling over love in the corridor so late into the night when the doctor opened the door where Rin was in.
"How is she?" Iwaizumi asked as the doctor sighed, "We managed to remove the infection from her throat. Good grief, I had heard of this in folklore but I never thought I would come across it in my entire medical career. That girl must have fallen hard for someone…"
Oikawa couldn't breath as he stepped back, his heart racing as he braced himself on the wall when Iwaizumi whispered, "What did you do?"
Rin would have forgotten she ever loved him by now.
Without listening to what else the doctor had to say, Oikawa turned his heel and ran, ran and ran until he reached Aoba Johsai and he continued to spike balls until his knee gave way, leaving him spent on the floor as he cried out.
"What else do you want to take from me, Kamisama?!" he yelled as he howled, his voice bouncing off the walls as he sobbed.
He had lost everything he loved with volleyball.
Now, he had lost the love of his life.
…
Iwaizumi didn't chase after Oikawa, watching as his silhouette disappeared into the shadows. He knew that he would find Oikawa in the gym eventually, spiking until his body gave way but right now, he didn't feel like he had the energy to yell at him to stop and take care of himself.
Rin has forgotten about loving Oikawa.
How long he had dreamed that he could have heard that news but instead, he felt a sinking feeling in his gut about it all. How could he be happy when his best friend was now in pain.
He put a hand on the door, sliding it open to see Rin lying on the bed, her eyes closed as she slept. He reached to take her hand when he drew it back, holding it as though he had touched something hot.
No, he wouldn't take advantage of her when she had gone through so much.
As he turned to close the door, he didn't see the single stray tear falling from the corner of Rin's eye as she slumbered, dreaming of a person she had loved once but could no longer remember.
Stay tuned for the last chapter!
