It had been a week since Tooru's brother transferred to Seijoh.

And in that timeframe, the setter couldn't count how many times the sight of his brother irked him. The fact that he always ends up being partnered with his Iwa-chan just served to further annoy the captain. But Tooru couldn't believe his ears when he had been in the middle of complaining to his ace.

"He's not that bad, you know?"

Tooru made sure during dinner at home that he disliked being in his twin's presence. He just couldn't understand Yuuma at all. The setter tried to before, when his twin began to act strange and distance himself, but Yuuma tried even harder so that Tooru wouldn't be able to read him as easily as before. That had been the last straw. Tooru remembered that day with such clarity that it sickened him.

He just wanted to forget the day Yuuma threw him aside like he was nothing.

Currently, Oikawa Tooru was in his room, holing himself again inside as he sat in front of his laptop. His headphones covered his ears entirely, eyes focused on the game playing on the screen. He didn't want to think more about Yuuma; it just exhausted him emotionally and he didn't need that at the moment. After all, he should really be focusing on Inter High and beating Shiratorizawa once and for all.

The way Ushiwaka just looks at him every single time Seijoh loses frustrated Tooru more than anything. The setter clicked his tongue when he realized that his attention wasn't on the screen anymore so he reached out for the mousepad to play the video back when the door to his room slammed open. "Tooru!" The sound of Takeru's voice made the setter furrow his eyebrows.

Taking the headphones off, he turned to look at his nephew. "Takeru, I thought I told you not to bother me after dinner." But the little rascal stomped his foot and puffed out his cheeks. If Tooru wasn't annoyed right now, he would have gushed over Takeru's cuteness. "Uncle Yuuma still hasn't come back from the convenience store."

Just hearing that name was enough to ruin Tooru's night. Even when his twin wasn't there, he still manages to bother the setter. What's more... "Why don't you call me uncle, Takeru?!"

His nephew gave him a blank look. "Cause you don't act like it, Tooru."

The brunet let out crocodile tears, silently hoping that his nephew forgot what he came here for. "Mom wants you to pick up uncle though." Tooru clicked his tongue. If he could have it his way, he would have left Yuuma alone. In fact, he would be overjoyed if Yuuma just disappeared from his life.

After all, his brother made it clear that he didn't want him in his, right? So Tooru would like the same. However, just the thought of disobeying his sister sent shivers down his spine. Her wrath alone was enough to let fear course through his veins. "Fine, fine. Tell Aneki I'll be going out then."

"Buy me some popsicle!"

"Geh— then call me uncle!"

"No way."

Takeru's rejection came in an instant and it disheartened the setter how his nephew didn't even hesitate over his answer. Tooru made sure to wear a thick enough sweater as he went out into the cold night. No stars littered the night sky which was kind of odd. The weather forecast never said it would get this cloudy. The setter had been looking forward to stargazing before picking up his brother.

"Honestly, he makes trouble even at his age." The pockets of his sweater served to warm up his hands, the tips of his fingers already feeling the cold night air. As he arrived at the closest convenience store, he stayed outside and looked through the glass; searching for someone who shared the same handsome face as his.

No matter how much he looked, however, he couldn't see anyone...

... and that irked him more than he realized. Where in the world was Yuuma? If Tooru goes home without his brother by his side, their sister would probably give him an earful for letting his twin be alone at this hour. "Dammit, Yuuma, where'd you—" his mumblings were cut short when he saw his twin across the road.

He was just... standing there. And... talking to himself?

Tooru decided to approach him, making sure the road was safe as he crossed it. When he got closer and Yuuma still hadn't noticed him, the setter stopped before he could tap his brother on the shoulder. The conversation he couldn't hear earlier from across the road was now loud and clear.

"It'll be fine." Yuuma pauses, as if he was listening to someone talking to him. Someone that Tooru failed to see.

"I know he does. And I know it won't be the same." Just what on earth is his brother talking about..?

"Those things... they all happened. Just shut up. You're wrong. They did happen. Everything I felt was real. They were all real; it all happened. I know they did..."

Hesitation flickered in Tooru's eyes. The way Yuuma speaks was so different than the nonchalant way he did as a child before moving away to Tokyo. Tooru was the kind of person who could pick up what someone feels just by observing them. Their body language. The tone of their voice. The way their eye flickers. He could read them all

And his brother practically radiated grief.

And Tooru failed to understand why that was.

"Oi." Tooru finally decided to make his presence known; his sudden appearance caused Yuuma to flinch in shock as he faced the setter with a timid demeanor. "T-Tooru."

"Aneki was worried. Said you were gone too long."

"I... I'm sorry..."

The plastic bags in his hold rustled when the timid teen played with the hem of his shirt. That habit cause Tooru to click his tongue. This was probably just an act to get their sister's attention. Yuuma was a bully. Yuuma was unkind. Yuuma was someone that should be hated.

And Oikawa Tooru cursed himself for not hating his brother deep down inside at all.

"Let's go home."

It was minute but it was there. Tooru recognized that glint of happiness in Yuuma's eyes, that slight tremble of his lips as he bit back his sobs, that pinkish blush on his cheeks.

"O... Okay..."

Because Tooru was conflicted. Half of him wanted to push this person away and the other half wanted to embrace him like he had done in the past.

Something was up with Yuuma and as much as Tooru wanted nothing to do with him, maybe Iwa-chan was right. Maybe Yuuma wasn't all that bad. Maybe something happened when they were children that Yuuma didn't tell him about.

A lot of maybes ran through his kind but Tooru was sure of one thing, their relationship would never return back to the way it was back in the past.

how is it—