Boom! For once I'm on time with my upload! Usually I'll procrastinate 'till 9 P.M. to finish up my draft, but not today!

Also, allow me to wish you a very happy and, lord knows we need it, healthy new year! I hope you had a good time and still have all your limbs and other essential body parts. Here in The Netherlands we weren't allowed to light any fireworks, so I didn't need to worry about my precious eyes and fingers this time, though it was a bit boring.

Without further ado, the next installment!

Disclaimer: I do not own Haikyuu! It belongs to the wonderful Haruichi Furudate.

A confrontation

Hiyori Pov

Yeah, this was bound to happen one of these days, I thought. The girl slammed her hand against the wall, her arm now effectively blocking my way. I looked to my left, where the owner of the hand stood along with two other girls. Let's just hope they were just backup dancers or something. Maybe they'd just bust out some killer breakdancing moves and then move on with life. I'd like that a lot better than getting the ever living snot beaten out of me, though that scenario seemed more likely at the moment.

We were in an deserted hallway in the chemistry building. I'd like to say that I got here on purpose, but I didn't. I'd just kind of wandered in here, deciding that, since I was lost anyway, might as well explore. The guy that teaches geography had called in sick, leaving me with sixty minutes of free time to spend as I pleased. I don't know why the trio next to me were here, but if I were to guess, I'd say they followed me. They, or at least the girl in front, obviously had a problem with me, the intense glares being a dead giveaway. I'd just rounded the corner of the hallway, when she had aggressively kabe-donned me.

The girl that just blocked my way looked to be a third year, simply because the look on her face clearly expressed superiority. I assumed that the ladies in the background were in the same grade as the former. She was beautiful, with chestnut brown hair that reached a little past her elbow and striking eyes that were a deep shade of steel gray. It wasn't just that though, the slender, elegant nose and high cheekbones also just fitted her face so well, it made me jealous. She was taller than me, though I suppose that would be a given since we were a year apart.

I was about to make an observation of the girls in the back when the girl in front spoke.

'Alright sweetie, we've got a problem.' She said menacingly, a small smile plastered on her pretty face. Her eyes weren't laughing though.

'I'm sorry to hear that, hope you solve it soon.' I replied coolly, hoping to catch her off guard and wiggle my way out of this precarious situation.

She laughed humorlessly and the girls at the back snickered along with her. 'Quick with the comebacks, I suppose that's why Tooru likes you so much.'

I narrowed my eyes 'Tooru?'

'Oh? He didn't tell you? We used to date two years back. After a little persuasion he let me call him that. I set the record with four whole months.' She said smugly. 'Though I suppose he wouldn't be proud to talk about his love life,' Her smug smile turned into a dangerous one, 'I made sure of that.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' I asked, feelings of anger bubbling up in my chest.

'Your anger is cute, but unfounded. He called this upon himself after all.' She said with a false sweetness and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.

She then removed her hand from the wall and straightened up. She looked at the hand that had touched me and wiped it off on her skirt.

'As for what 'that' is supposed to mean, I just made sure no girlfriend ever outlasted my record.' The brunette said nonchalantly.

'So you sabotaged him.' It wasn't really a question, more like a statement. An image of Oikawa happily smiling flashed through my mind and the anger in my chest intensified.

'Only a little. The resolve of his girlfriends crumbled surprisingly quickly after a few well-articulated arguments on why they're not good enough. Though I must complement you, you're the first girl that didn't run after I went all out.'

'Thank you,' I bit out, 'I've experienced the wrath of girls before. You've done nothing I haven't seen before.'

She narrowed her eyes at me, 'My bad, I'll be sure to be more… original in the future.'

This was getting nowhere, so I changed the subject. 'So you're the mastermind behind all the bullying?'

'Mastermind, huh? I guess you could call me that.' She said flicking her hair over her shoulder. 'It would shock you how many of his fangirls willingly jeopardize their idol's happiness for the sake of their own. After all, you can't become his girl when he already has one.'

'So how does this whole story tie in with me? We're not dating.'

Her mood suddenly shifted. Her seemingly played boredom now made way for an intense resentment. 'You really don't know? You ignorant bitch.' She spat out. 'You don't know how privileged you are.'

'How come he can't he give his girlfriend, the girl he's supposed to like, the time of day, but suddenly find the time to fool around all day with someone like you. I've seen you two walking home together, looking all chummy. He's only gotten busier over the years, so what gives? Do you know how patient I was? I put up with him ditching me for his friends, I resigned to walking home alone, I cheered for him at his games! And what do I get to show for it? Nothing! The bastard couldn't even manage to call me at night because he was supposedly too busy! What makes you different from me? How come I didn't get any of this special treatment?' She had started her speech at a normal volume, but by the time she finished, she was all but yelling at me.

Her anger somehow dissipated mine and allowed me to keep a level head. 'So what's the end goal? Try to get back together with him?'

She scoffed harshly and shook her head. 'No, he wasted his chance with me. All I want now is for him to feel as lonely as I did those years ago. What's the saying again? An eye for an eye?'

'You'll gain nothing from that. Why not try and move on instead?'

'Oh, I've moved on alright, if I were stuck in the past, I wouldn't be able to ruin that guys' present.' The sentence was laced with venom.

Man, this girl was scaring me.

'And since you're now friends with him, I need to ruin your life as well. You know, for the sake of consistency.'

'Right, naturally.' I countered sarcastically.

'Or,' The brunette paused, 'you could save yourself the hardships and be friends with me instead.'

'Excuse me?'

'It'll be easy, just a few words from me and no one will ever bother you again. You must be tired of having rice dumped into your bag, of girls trying to trip you in the hallways. Tooru has done some groveling to make your life better, but he'll never be able to get rid of us all.'

'Thanks for the offer, but I politely decline.' I said resolutely, 'I won't abandon my friend over this. It's obvious Oikawa has hurt you and if he didn't apologize, he's not done you justice. But I don't know the Oikawa of the past, only the one of the present. That Oikawa has made time for me, walked home with me and properly thanked me every time I come to watch his games. He's kind, funny and,' I laughed a little, 'can be a bit of a drama queen at times, but he's not the person you say he is, he's changed.'

'That doesn't matter to me, you don't know much I've suffered.' She replied hotly.

'No, and I'm not saying your feelings of hurt aren't valid, I just think the way you're going about this is not right.'

'I don't need your opinion, what I want is that bastard groveling at my feet.'

'Then I'll give you what you want.'

We both whipped our heads in the direction of the familiar voice.

'Tooru.'

There was a short, confused silence. But before any of us had time to say anything else, Oikawa bowed deeply.

'I'm sorry, Aki-chan.' He said. 'It's as Suzumi said, I haven't done you justice. When we broke up, I knew that I had to apologize, but it took some time to work up the nerve. When I had finally done that, you looked like you had already moved on. I didn't want to bring up bad memories, so in the end I did nothing.'

'Excuses! You're only saying this now for your own benefit.' The girl to the left of Aki-chan exclaimed, I'd completely forgotten about them.

'You have no idea how hurt Aki-chan was, she was waiting for you to say you're sorry.' The other added.

The look on Aki-chan's face shifted from hostile to sad. This girl was dealing with some serious mood swings.

'I was, you know.' She said softly, 'I was waiting for you. I wanted to yell at you. I wanted you to make some pathetic excuse, I wanted to vent my frustrations. But instead, you didn't give me anything, I didn't get any consolation. Meanwhile you just went on with life as if nothing happened, that hurt me Tooru, it really did.'

'I've realized that, I was just too much of a coward to approach you. Please know that I really am sorry. You can continue to hate me if it gives you the consolation you need, but please, leave Suzumi alone from now on.'

'Raise your head,' She said, her voice calm and clear. Oikawa straightened up and looked her in the eye, 'I don't forgive you, nor will I ever forget. But,' She sighed, 'I'll retreat.'

'You will?' He sounded surprised.

'Don't sound too happy or I'll change my mind.' Aki-chan said drily.

Oikawa bowed once more, 'Thank you!'

She turned to me again, 'You.'

'Y- yeah?' I stuttered, I hate to admit it, but I felt intimidated.

'I retract my offer of friendship. I'll tell everyone in the fanbase to calm down, the bullying should stop soon.'

'I- thank you.' I said, giving her a short bow.

'I have one more question.' She said, turning to face Oikawa once more.

'Yes?'

'Did you- When we were dating, did you love me?'

Oikawa's smile turned sad and he nodded, 'I did.'

'Good,' Aki-chan said firmly, 'it's the least you could've done. Goodbye… Oikawa-kun.'

She turned away from us and started walking off. Her friends looked at the both of us, disdain still on their faces. Then they both nodded at us and moved to catch up with their friend.

Aki-chan Pov

'Are you sure about this, Aki-chan?' Higa-chan asked as we made our way out of the chemistry building.

'Yes, I'm done, not even I'm cruel enough to continue after that heartfelt apology.' I said and then paused to look out the window. I felt a bit empty, I didn't know what to do with myself. I never thought about what I would do when it was all over.

'You know, I've thought about this moment so many times. I'd worked out what I would say, what I would do, but when it came down to it, I couldn't do any of it. He looked so sad, it made me question what I have been doing all these years.'

'He doesn't deserve your pity.'

'No, he doesn't.' I agreed 'Nor do I think he'll ever accept my pity.'

I turned around to face my two friends with a sad smile.

'I just-,' My voice cracked and a few tears spilled from my eyes, 'I just wish it had been different, I wish he had made time for me, the way he makes time for her. I wish he would come and saved me from my bullies the way he saved her just now.'

Arata-chan walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. Soon the few tears turned into more and a shaky sob wrecked my body. My legs gave out and we both sank to the floor.

'I loved him, I loved him so much.'

'I know you did.' Arata-chan said, kneeling down to rub my back.

I continued to cry as the heartbreak I had repressed for so long finally hit me at full force. At least I could comfort myself with the thought that, at some point, he had loved me too.

Alrighty, all done! I wanted to try and write a villain that you couldn't really hate. I hope I've succeeded. This was a long chapter, four whole pages worth of text! Next chapter will be about Oikawa and Suzumi after Aki-chan leaves. It'll be a bit sad a bit longer, but then I'll return to the usual shenanigans. Thank you, as always for reading, you guys and gals are the best! Hope to see you again next week~