One quarterly left to go~ (but it's algebra 2, fml) Can I get a WHOOOOOOO!
Also sorry there's so much dialogue in this chapter oml
"Nice serve, Oikawa!" a chorus of voices called. Letting out a slow breath, Oikawa focused all his concentration on the volleyball in his hand. Toss it up. Step, step, step, jump. Where's my hand? There. Where's my target? His eyes flicked around. There. Now…bam! His hand connected with the volleyball, and it felt right again. His gaze followed the ball in its path as it slammed into the gym floor on the other side of the court, right where he'd aimed it.
"Nice!" the voices called out, and the impact from the landing crept up Oikawa's legs. Luckily his knee had stopped hurting after the night's rest he'd given it, and for the first time since the accident he was actually playing at his best. Of course, it was only a practice match against Karasuno, but it still made him feel more confident in the way he was able to help the team.
"One more!" someone yelled out, and Oikawa caught the volleyball that was rolled back under the net. He spun it in his hands a few times, preparing for other serve.
Things had turned out ok since the last time he'd come back to school. Hanamaki and Matsukawa had apologized over and over again, and he'd received a locker full of milk bread from the two of them. Iwaizumi had been talking to Oikawa in school again—though he was extremely awkward about it and therefore adorable as hell. Despite the fact that they were still keeping their relationship to themselves, the volleyball team seemed to know. Not much of a surprise, considering Makki and Mattsun, though, Oikawa mused now, as his serve hit home once more and earned Seijou the winning point.
Of course, the team had been very subtle about it. Not nearly as annoying as the other third-years had been. Which Oikawa found oddly refreshing, and it almost made him want to disclose his and Iwaizumi's relationship even more. But the fear of undesirable reactions they might get kept him from opening his mouth.
"Hey, Oikawa," Oikawa heard, and he glanced around to see that he was being addressed. On the other side of the net, Kageyama stood.
"Tobio-chan," Oikawa replied teasingly, holding out his hand to shake. Kageyama took it slowly, as if as an afterthought, with a slightly confused look on his face. Oikawa couldn't help but laugh at the expression. "What is it? Are you so surprised that you lost?"
"No," Kageyama replied quickly, "I mean, no, we'll beat you next time"—his words sounded puzzled almost, and uncertain—"but, uh…I wanted to ask you something. I mean, I just wanted to…" he trailed off, then finished vaguely, "ask you something."
Oikawa pulled his hand from Kageyama's, who'd been continuously shaking it robotically as he spoke. "Um, ok," Oikawa said hesitantly, not sure what to expect. "So, ask." He couldn't help feeling a small burst of superiority over the younger boy. But he's acting weird…
"Uh," Kageyama started almost reluctantly, before glancing around the gym. "Actually, could we maybe go…somewhere else?"
"Eh?" Oikawa let the sound drag lazily through his throat. "Is it that important?" His peripheral vision caught sight of Iwaizumi sending him a questioning glance from the other side of the gym, and Oikawa sent a little wave of dismissal in his direction. Iwaizumi stuck out his tongue at Oikawa before turning to help the other teammates clean up the gym.
"Yeah," Kageyama's voice brought Oikawa's attention back to the younger boy, "It's just…it is. Really important, that is. I, um…I didn't know who else to talk to, so I figured…um…"
"Ok," Oikawa interrupted exasperatedly, "Let's go outside—and then you better stop stalling. It's annoying."
"Ok," Kageyama echoed, obediently following Oikawa as he made his way across the gym and out the gym door, where the late sun cast an orange glow over the scenery.
Oikawa leaned up against the wall next to the door they'd just exited. "So?" He raised his eyebrows questioningly. Kageyama's eyes flicked from side to side, before reluctantly raising to meet Oikawa's.
"I just…I need some advice. And I thought…you'd be the best person to ask, since…well…"
Oikawa dramatically leaned his head back and feigned snoring.
"Ok, ok, I'm getting to it!" Kageyama scowled, and Oikawa half-opened one eye to watch the almost comical way the genius setter was acting. "So, basically, there's…" he reddened and glanced away for a moment, before taking a breath and speeding through his next sentence: "There's someone I like and I'm not sure if they like me back and I don't know what to do around them and I thought I'd ask you because you've probably been through the same thing and no one else would—"
"Slow down!" Oikawa interrupted, holding his hands up as if to protect himself from the onslaught of words. "Ok, so you like someone. Great, good for you. What do I have to do with it?"
Kageyama's cheeks were crimson now. "Well…the person I like…is on my team, and I don't know how to—"
"It's Shrimpy, isn't it," Oikawa smirked.
The genius's eyes widened comically. "H-How did you—?"
Oikawa rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Tobio-chan, I'm not as dense as most people. I'm actually surprised Shrimpy doesn't know. You were so obvious during the match."
"W-Was I really?" Kageyama seemed embarrassed now. Not really, but what the hell. It's fun to tease you. Oikawa laughed inwardly at the younger boy's pained expression.
"Anyway," he sighed. "Why am I involved, again? I don't see the connection to me."
"Because," he answered defensively, "You—you've been through the same thing, haven't you?"
"What?" Oikawa felt his own pulse speed up slightly, but he kept his face and voice composed. "What are you talking about?"
Kageyama continued talking, gaining confidence with every word. "Back in middle school—well, it was obvious how much you and Iwaizumi-san were into each other, so it figures that you'd have gotten together at some point, and that you'd know how to separate your personal lives from volleyball, because for me it's not really working and I just—" His voice cut off when he caught sight of Oikawa's dangerous expression. "Well, um, I just…" Where'd all that confidence go, genius setter?
"Don't assume things about other people," Oikawa said, his tone lilting but his voice as cold and hard as steel. I kept listening because it was entertaining to see him so uncomfortable, but I really shouldn't have stayed…now the tables are turned, fuck, I'm going to say something and mess it all up. Shit. Screw you, Kageyama, always ruining everything. "Now, if you don't mind," Oikawa hissed, moving away from the wall to reenter the gym door, "I'm going to help clean up."
"Wait!" Kageyama called out, reaching out a hand to grip Oikawa's wrist. The brunet setter instantly recoiled from the touch, spinning to give Kageyama a glare when he wasn't released. "Oikawa-san," Kageyama said quietly, "I really don't know what to do…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…offend you, or anything, but I just really need…I really need some advice."
Not even the thought of his superiority to the younger boy made Oikawa feel obligated to stay and listen. "Then get your advice from someone else," he growled, trying to twist his wrist from Kageyama's cold and nervous grip.
"P—" Kageyama started hesitantly, then screwed his eyes shut and said, "P-Please!"
Oikawa had to stop at this, and reevaluate the boy in front of him. "You…you're actually serious?" Oikawa let a slightly condescending tone drift into his voice. "You're actually…begging…for me to give you advice?" Kageyama nodded, his eyes still shut and his face still red. Oikawa let out a little laugh, pulling his arm away from the grip of the other boy, who in turn let his hand drop as well. "Ok."
The raven glanced up, eyes wide with disbelief. "Wait…really?" he asked breathlessly.
"Sure, sure," Oikawa grinned, waving a hand in the air. "After all, you're still my kouhai, aren't you? Maybe I'll help you out…if you call me 'Oikawa-senpai' and give me enough money for a month's supply of lunches. I'd make you buy them for me, but you don't go to my school. Obviously." He narrowed his eyes before adding, "And also. If you mention anything about me and Haj—Iwa-chan," he quickly corrected his mistake, his heart beating in his throat, "If you say anything about us again, I will personally reveal to your entire team that you had to come begging to me for relationship advice. Got it?"
The other setter gave a hesitant nod, his eyes still wide. "Y-Yeah," he agreed softly, then asked, "So about the advi—"
"After the payment, Tobio-chan," Oikawa cut in, "And then I need your phone number. I need information about your relationship with Shrimpy thus far. I'm not going to give out half-assed, generic advice. Got it?" he repeated.
Again, Kageyama responded with a nod. "Yeah, makes sense," he muttered, "Your phone's in the locker room, though, isn't it? And how do I pay you—?"
Oikawa sighed. "Calm down, ok? Meet me at the sushi place in the center of town on…" he thought for a bit. Today's Wednesday, so… "Saturday," he decided. "Let's keep it simple—at noon. 'Kay?"
"Ok," Kageyama replied without hesitation this time. "And, um…thank you, Oikawa-sa—senpai," he corrected himself, his gaze escaping contact for a moment.
"Mm, all for my very special kouhai~!" Oikawa sang, continuing in his mind, whom I hate very much~! "It's worth it for the payment, though," he muttered half to himself, turning to reenter the gym. "Well, see you Saturday. Bye." He could hear Kageyama's sneakers on the gym floor behind him, but the raven didn't speak again. The footsteps changed direction and headed to the locker room, and Oikawa kept walking to where his teammates were just finishing putting everything away.
What the hell did I just get myself into? Oikawa wondered as he walked. Why do I want to help out that idiot genius? Why do I even care? Even as he questioned himself, he already knew the answer. I don't. I don't care at all. I just agreed to it because he mentioned Hajime, and I didn't know how to respond…if I'd said no again, I'm sure he would've brought it up again…and then I would've been really screwed. He started to rethink their conversation. I did slip up on the name…I almost said 'Hajime' at one point…did Tobio-chan catch that? Does he already know anyway? He seemed to be pretty confident when he said it…was it that obvious, back in middle school? My team now even said we were obvious…
As his mind wandered, he finally reached the edge of the gym, where Seijou was closing the doors to the storage closet with a familiar sound that made Oikawa's stomach jolt. "Ok," he heard Iwaizumi's voice say, "Good work…let's head back to the locker rooms, ok?"
"Ok," the team responded in unison, and began filtering out of the gym. Oikawa waited until they passed, then he smiled at Iwaizumi, who was still leaning against the closet door.
"Hajime," Oikawa said softly, loving the way the name danced on his tongue.
"Tooru," Iwaizumi replied, a smile pulling at his lips and a light in his eyes that almost matched the fluttering feeling in Oikawa's chest. At the unspoken invitation, Oikawa closed the space between them and pushed his fingers through Iwaizumi's hair, holding the sides of his head. He felt Iwaizumi's hands gripping his waist, the fingers warm and comforting over the fabric of his shirt.
"I missed you," Oikawa whispered softly against Iwaizumi's cheek.
"I've been right here," Iwaizumi murmured back, though his tone held such a longing that Oikawa knew he felt the same way. Oikawa let his eyelids fall heavy over his gaze, leaning forward to catch Iwaizumi's lips in a chaste yet soft kiss. He felt the spiker's hands twitch against his skin when he pulled away.
"So," Iwaizumi said, his voice quiet and his words soft. "What did Kageyama want?" His exhales against Oikawa's lips made the setter want to kiss him again, but he restrained himself in order to answer the question.
"Relationship advice," Oikawa half-laughed, the sound bubbling up giddily in his chest. "Can you believe it? And with Shrimpy, of all people."
"Eh?" Iwaizumi questioned uninterestedly, "And did you give it to him?"
"I will," Oikawa breathed, leaning forward again.
Iwaizumi tilted his face away before their lips could meet again, a shocked look in his gray eyes. "Wait, really? You, Oikawa Tooru, are actually going to help out your arch nemesis, Kageyama Tobio?"
Oikawa whined as Iwaizumi kept moving his head away. "Yes, yes, and don't say 'arch nemesis,' you make it sound so stupid."
"You're stupid," Iwaizumi replied without hesitation, though his voice was endearing. "And what do you mean, you will?"
"Jeez, Iwa-chan," Oikawa groaned, the old nickname coming back in his plea for attention as Iwaizumi kept avoiding his kiss. "I'm going to meet him this Saturday. However much I hate him, I'm not going to just give out advice without knowing the situation as it is. I'm not an idiot. Besides, he's paying me for it."
Iwaizumi sighed, his breath hot against Oikawa's cheek. "You're such an asshole," he murmured, but Oikawa didn't miss the light of amusement in those gray eyes.
"But you love me," he grinned back, and Iwaizumi finally leaned in to initiate the next kiss. And that was really answer enough.
look ma, i finally wrote a chapter longer than 2k words
(I totally stole that "look ma" thing from catpoop on AO3, who by the way is an amazing author and you should go read all their works and if you're a fan of ONS [Owari no Seraph, not one-night-stands. I know it's easy to confuse them. XD] then catpoop is the lord and ruler of all GureShin fics so go read them all)