Once they entered the safety of her chambers, the Seijoh captain lowered his gym bag onto the ground then encompassed his arms around her, drawing her closer to him. She nuzzled her face against his neck as his fingers gently trailed down the back of her head. Everything she suppressed had commanded to be addressed. The pain from Victor, the pain from the divorce – both had intertwined, as they were connected temporally. It was the trauma and ache from the past that brought the girl into an uncontrollable sob.

"Hey, it's okay. You're okay." Noticing that the girl was shaking, he dipped his dominant arm under her knees, gently lifting her off the floor. Mina attempted to stabilize her breathing by listening to his soft breaths. Once he had settled onto the bed with her still on his lap, she tried to support her own weight until he stopped her.

"Where do you think you're going?" His arms were secure around her waist, indicating to her that he had no plans on changing their position. "We can stay like this until you're calmer, deal?"

The brunette nodded weakly then leaned the side of her head against his chest. She was in the perfect placement to hear his heartbeat, something she would rather focus on than the sound of the door clicking to a close downstairs.

Oikawa rested his chin against the top of her head, his gaze landing on the ceiling above. From what he gathered; her relationship with her mother was strained. Further, her mother had recruited an ex of hers, someone who had did more than break her heart. The fact this person was in the country – let alone the prefecture, it seriously bothered him. Subconsciously the male's muscles had tensed with his thoughts narrowing on the one person in the scenario he would be able to have a stern word with. Despite being a questionable mother, Oikawa would have to remain respectful towards her.

But him? That was fair game.

After sensing the male tense up, Mina pushed back slightly to attain a visual of his face. By now she had regained most of her composure, although she was conflicted about having demonstrated complete vulnerability to him. Yet, his tranquil and heartening response had silenced most of her anxieties on the subject.

Lowering his chin, the Seijoh captain presented a guilty smile.

"I'm sorry, did I startle you?"

"No. Don't sulk when I'm sulking." There was a small pout on her lips as she squinted at him. Oikawa found himself laughing at her adorable reaction.

"Oh, should I be celebrating when you sulk then?"

"I don't want you to be upset because of me." She squirmed in his grasp, once again attempting to remove herself from on top of him, though the attempt was brought to a halt swiftly.

"Too bad." He whispered before planting a kiss to her temple. "But if you don't want to talk about it, I won't push."

Defeatedly, the girl inhaled an unnaturally large breath then exhaled, leaving her lips puckered.

"I want to talk about it. I don't want my mother or Victor to have power me any longer." Her voice was filled with uncertainties, yet she knew it was something she had to do. Oikawa Toru was her future, and in order to focus on him solely, she had to first battle the past.

She began by explaining what event prompted the divorce – her mothers infidelity for the purposes of advancing another goal. Oikawa involuntarily twitched upon hearing the explanation Ms. Beauvais had given her husband and the promise to 'do better next time'. It was a sloppy apology with no real accountability. Then came the information on Victor Deniaud, someone she had foolishly loved to hide from the pain she was experiencing. The Seijoh captain had clenched his jaw as Mina explained what occurred on what became her last day of school. The fact that he chose to use her when she was at her lowest was despicable and unforgivable. He didn't give a damn if this guy was the messiah of volleyball, her mother was wrong for signing him.

"The fact this guy is here, it really pisses me off." A hand roughly was combed through his hair. At some point of the conversation, the two had laid down on the mattress, with their fingers entangling and attention on the ceiling.

"I can't believe it either, and she really suggested I see him play! The only thing I'd like to see is a cake smashed in his face." Rolling onto her side, she released a small huff. Oikawa raised an eyebrow at her after mimicking the movement.

"That was the best punishment you could think of? Oh, Mina-chan. You are too pure for this world."

Mina rolled her eyes at his declaration, there were other things she could think of but chose not to voice.

"Maybe I should go to their practice game. I never really spoke to him after hearing him that day. Maybe it'd be therapeutic." Propping herself up on her elbows, she captured her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing on it lightly.

"Naturally, I will be joining you." Hoisting himself into a seating position, he completed a small flip of his hair. He would be having a few words himself with the opportunist. "Now, come here. I was promised something."

Practically pouncing on her, the male sealed the distance between them, crashing his lips against hers. Mina smiled against his lips, her fingers twirling a strand of his hair absent-mindedly. Right now there was no emptiness – her heart was full of him.

The following day Oikawa had to inform the coaches that he would be leaving practice early. The two Seijoh coaches exchanged a surprised expression, this was coming from the same person they had to drag out of the gym most nights? Bearing his usual smile, he explained it was for personal reasons and so they accepted his request. Practice proceeded as usual until two unknown figures had entered the court. At first glance the captain assumed it was his girlfriend, the two shared an uncanny resemblance. But when his caramel irises scanned the face of the individual, he realized a storm was brewing. It was Ms. Beauvais.

The older woman was engaged in a conversation with Coach Irihata. Flirtatious laughter echoed throughout the gym, drawing the players attention to her. The Seijoh Ace jogged closer to Oikawa, with his eyes remaining on the two strangers.

"What's with that?"

"That is Mina's mother. The current thorn in my side. She must have read the school name on my bag yesterday." The icy tone used to explain the woman had alerted Iwaizumi that there was more to the story than stated.

"So, who's the guy beside her?"

That was what Oikawa was struggling to figure out as well. Could it be… Victor?

His fingers curled into a fist with his nails digging into the palm. His question would soon be answered, since Coach Irihata was beckoning the pair over.

"Stay cool." Iwaizumi directed his best friend as they proceeded closer.

The male beside Ms. Beauvais had jet-black hair and a slender build. He was an inch or so taller than Oikawa, a detail that infuriated him. A careless lopsided smile was painted over his lips, earning him a few coos from those passing by.

"Let me introduce you to Oikawa Toru and Iwaizumi Hajime, our captain and ace." Irihata beamed proudly. It seemed that Ms. Beauvais did not inform him that they had met the night before. An interesting revelation.

The pair bowed in unison, expressing their honour to meet the two strangers.

"As I was just telling Nobuteru, please call me Sylvie. And this here is one of my boys, Victor Deniaud."

This bastard!

The Seijoh Captain's first instinct was to have his fist collide with the foreign male's face, an instinct he was forbidden from acting upon. Instead, he wore an artificial smile and spoke eerily calmly.

"Victor, I've heard much about you. How lucky are we to be visited by someone of your calibre?"

"Oh, so you are familiar with his work, Oikawa?" Irihata was not surprised, as Oikawa had taken a keen interest in learning about volleyball players around the world. Little did he know the underlying meaning behind the captain's words.

Ms. Beauvais had picked up on the passive aggressiveness radiating from him, resultingly the smile fell from her lips.

"I wish I could say the same, but I have never heard of you." The accent had made the statement come across as lighthearted, and Oikawa had to bite his tongue to control himself.

"Well, I've never heard of you." Iwaizumi plainly added, in secret defence of the captain. It was enough to remove the grin off Victor's face.

"Now now boys. This is why Ms. Beauvais has come, she is here to invite us tonight to the game she is hosting. I believe it would be a good opportunity for us." Coach Irihata was beginning to notice the hostility increase and thought it was best to intervene. "I know you are busy tonight, Oikawa. I am sure we can have someone record it for you."

"Oh no. That won't be necessary, I will be there. And I'll be bringing Mina-chan. I am sure she would love to join us." The Seijoh captain purposefully locked eyes with Victor when he mentioned his girlfriend. Victor's reaction was priceless.

Mina was no longer the fragile girl he thought she was, and he would learn that soon enough.

A/N: who else thinks we should just get Seijoh to beat the crap out of Victor? just me? dammit.