A/N: I loved your responses to the question. Hahaha. I really did debate having a love triangle, and somehow that's where the story led us.
On the morning of the sixth day, Mina was running a high fever. Kiyoko had taken her friend's temperature after noticing the brunette's pained expression and battle with sleep. Yachi almost threw up upon reading the number on the thermostat while Kiyoko rushed to inform Professor Takeda. It was an hour later when the doctor arrived, and gathered outside of the room were Sugawara, Daichi and Kiyoko. Despite wanting to see their friend, the other Karasuno members were told to continue the practice matches.
"Did anyone inform Mr. Saito?" The Captain was leaning against the wall for support, forcing himself to stay optimistic.
"Yeah. I called him, but he was at work. I told him I'd let him know if anything changes." Sugawara was pacing throughout the hall to combat the adrenaline coursing throughout his veins.
"She said she was tired last night, but I didn't realize she was ill." The team manager was battling guilt, she knew that her friend was overworking herself – she should have said something.
"It'll be fine, guys. Let's just wait and see what the doctor says." That may have been what Daichi said out loud, but his inner monologue contained many internal screams.
It was another nerve-wracking fifteen minutes before the doctor exited the room with Takeda. He informed them that she had an allergic reaction to a rare beetle and that after two days with the right medication, she would be healed. It was nothing to fuss over, as long as her fever remained steady, with no sudden spikes. Once the doctor left, Takeda had created a plan to have someone monitor Mina's fever each hour. It wasn't long until everyone had been informed about Mina's condition. At lunch the Nekoma captain poked at his food, scolding himself for not noticing sooner that something was amiss. His ears perked up when he heard the Karasuno captain exclaimed that he would be checking on the girl.
"Oi, Daichi. You haven't finished eating, I'll go." He strived to come across as generous, but it was evident that he was scheming.
"Uh… You sure?" They were friends, after all they were practically glued at the hip during personal practice. There should be no harm in letting him go, right?
"Yeaaah. Don't you worry." The taller of the two flashed a slanted smirk, almost resembling a predator.
"All of a sudden I'm regretting saying yes." Karasuno's captain dipped his head, exhaling loudly.
The poor brunette was barely conscious for the entire day, between the trembling and aches – she was utterly drained. When Kuroo had entered the room, he was unable to see her face, as she was asleep on her side and stray strands of hair were sticking against her cheek. He proceeded closer to catch the number on the small device connected to her wrist, then brushed away the hair from her face. Even when ill, she was beautiful.
"You really don't know how to ask for help, huh." Kuroo inhaled a long breath, then exhaled, bringing his forehead against his palm. "Stop hiding behind walls, little bunny. If you keep this up, no one will ever be able to save you from yourself."
The Nekoma captain was about to exit the room when he heard an unfamiliar ringer go off, he first assumed that it was Mina's mother or father, worried about their daughter's health. But instead, it was from someone named 'pretty boy'. It was not perhaps the smartest decision to answer the call, but Kuroo found himself doing so anyway.
At first, all he said was "Yo."
The last thing Oikawa thought was that he would be greeted by someone other than his girlfriend. No one had informed him about Mina's condition, so he was extremely displeased to hear someone he did not know, pick up her cell.
"Who is this, and why are you answering my girlfriend's phone?" There was no concealing his irritation, even if this was one of her friends being cheeky like before, he found it highly inappropriate.
Kuroo had learned that Mina was dating Seijoh's Oikawa from Bokuto a few days ago, he had not decided how he felt about it until now. It was seriously annoying.
"Ah yes, a valid question. Well, your girlfriend is sick. So. You may want to lose the attitude, prince charming." His tone was laced with sarcasm to disguise his true emotions.
The mocha haired captain froze upon hearing the explanation. On one hand, he wanted to inquire the name of the person he was speaking to. On the other, he needed to know if Mina was okay.
"…How is she doing? Is it serious?" Love had overpowered his jealousy, and it took all the constraint in the world to not run out of the gym and make his way to Tokyo.
Was it wrong that Kuroo did not want to tell him? It was a childish impulse, one that he refused to be a victim to.
"She's steady. Doc said she'll be healed in a few days." His eyes relocated to the sleeping girl, who he assumed he was disturbing with the phone call. "Anyway, I'm sure you have some friends at Karasuno, so ask them for updates. Just don't blow up her phone when she's sleeping." There were many subtle attacks in his response that did not register well with Oikawa.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember asking for your opinion." He snapped back. He had only called a few times, and it was only because he had some news to share with her. Not because he wanted to appear clingy, as insinuated by the other male.
Kuroo chuckled lightly, further instigating his rival. "You are sure interesting, 'pretty boy'." The nickname was used in a manner that was belittling.
Oikawa almost went for the bait, but recognized what was occurring and stopped himself.
"That's why she's with me, right? Anyway. I'll talk to her tomorrow. Thanks for the update."
Kuroo clenched his jaw, despising the confidence in the other boy's tone. He remained silent, which prompted the mocha haired captain to laugh.
"Nothing to say? I can't say I'm surprised. I'd love to stay and chat, but I have matters to attend to. Bye-bye~" Oikawa purposefully sang out his farewell, something that usually would infuriate Iwaizumi, would definitely aggravate him, right?
Once the call ended, Kuroo turned off the ringer on the phone and placed it beside Mina. What was wrong with him? He really was acting like a kid.
Mina began feeling better by the end of day seven. When the others began personal practice, she sat beside the window of the classroom, admiring the stars. Her heart desired to be with the others, but as per the doctor's instruction, she would not be allowed to join until tomorrow. Propping her elbows on the window frame, she nestled her chin against her palms.
Once again, it's just you and I, she declared to the stars twinkling above. After her second date with Oikawa, stargazing was also an activity she would do to feel closer to him. They spoke briefly on the phone in the afternoon, but he had to leave within a few minutes. He had promised to call her again in the evening, but Mina was beginning to lose faith that he would. It wasn't fair for her to feel this way, she knew he was busy with his own training camp. But was it so wrong that she wanted him to care just a bit more? Just this once?
Her self wallowing was disturbed when Sugawara knocked on the door, inquiring if he could enter.
"Koshiiii." A cheerful smile claimed her lips as she advanced closer to her best friend.
"You look better, I'm relieved." Brushing his fingers against his silver hair, a mix between an exhale and chuckle was released.
"I feel better." Puckering her lips out into a goofy expression, she nodded once to solidify her answer.
"You do look physically better, but you also look sad. It's weird. Kuroo was the one who mentioned that I should check up on you." The silver-haired vice-captain glanced away in thought for a moment. "I feel like a terrible best friend for not noticing myself."
"Oh no, Koshi. Don't worry. You did nothing wrong." She waved a hand in the air dismissively, but her heart was pounding loudly in her ear, demanding to be heard. Kuroo was a mystery to her, he acted so aloof but he was a genuinely kind person. Even now, instead of checking on her himself, he sent Sugawara.
"Can you tell me what's wrong, then?" His question broke Mina's train of thought, and without thinking, she nodded her head.
For the next twenty minutes, she detailed what had occurred with her mother. Sugawara listened mostly, but when he inquired whether that was the reason she was upset tonight, Mina accidentally blurted out the truth.
"I know. I'm so lame. He's busy, I can't expect him to cater to me." She was speaking unnaturally fast, leaving Sugawara no moment to chime in. "I mean just sometimes though I wish he'd be more like Kuroo. I know it's my fault I'm unable to talk about my feelings until I break down, but it'd be nice if I was even given the opportunity to talk!" Mina buried her face in her palm, as her best friend lightly patted her head. "I know. I'm an idiot."
"Mina. You are not an idiot for wanting him to care. But if you're the one hiding your feelings, you can't expect him to know. Kuroo is an exception, I think you tell him how you feel because he gets you so mad you don't realize what you're saying." The Karasuno vice captain wrapped his fingers around her wrist, tugging her palm away from her face. "You don't need to hide. You really care about Oikawa, right? So, don't you owe it to him, to be honest?"
Curling her bottom lip into a pout, the brunette faked a sniffle and nodded.
"Be brave, Mina. Just the way you are when you're playing volleyball."
The foreign girl was overwhelmed by emotions, but she knew her best friend was right. She had a lot she needed to work on.
A/N: We love a best friend who calls out yo' shit.