Oikawa stared at the Olympic Stadium. Today, Argentina was playing against Japan. And he wasn't on the last one's team. He knew all eyes would be on him. Chibi-chan had certainly let slip the fact that he was on the other side of the world now. He couldn't have hidden it longer, anyway.

"- You're gonna see that friend of yours soon ! one of his teammate stopped his train of thoughts. The small one we saw in Brazil, the ginger one ! What was his name again ?

- Hinata. Hinata Shouyou.

- You must be pretty excited !"

It was true. He was really happy to see the former crow again. But, on the other hand, he was terrified to see all of the others. Sure, he liked Hinata, but the ninja was nothing compared to his… friends ? Teammates ? Rivals ? The ones he had left without saying a word to, many years ago. Today, he could only call them past acquaintances, parts of his life he gave up in order to get where he was now.

Iwa-chan was probably the one he regretted the more to have hurt. He could only imagine if instead of himself, it had been Hajime that left suddenly without an explanation, his parents being forbidden to say anything on where he was and what he was doing. It must have been an indescribable pain he had felt. And judging by the pure rage written all over his face, it really had been.

"- Oikawa." the man growled after having come back to his senses.

The door of the men's toilets shut behind his back in a loud thump. Tooru didn't mean to flinch, but, well, he did.

"- Iwa-chan ! he tried to sound relaxed and to smile but he failed miserably.

- Don't call me that. You lost that privilege when you left nine years ago. the athletic trainer snarled, taking a step forward when the other recoiled.

- Fair enough… this latter mumbled, avoiding eye contact pointedly.

- So that was where you went. Hidden in Argentina huh ? the black-haired man scoffed, voice full of scorn.

- I wasn't hiding. the Argentinian player said, eyebrows frowned.

- Oh please. You knew all of your rivals would become pro and you realized there wasn't any place for you. So you ran away. That's pathetic but understandable.

- I didn't-

- You ran away ! That's what you did, don't even try to deny it ! You left nothing ! Not even a text, a letter or- or- !"

Hajime fell silent, clenching his fists and jaw. He was staring at his ex-best friend with all the hatred he had, and it was a lot. His eyes were dark, full of scorn. He exhaled shakily, eyelids fluttering shut for a second.

"- You know what ? That's fine. You didn't matter. None of us needed you in their life. For me, for Mattsun, for Makki, for all of our former teammates, even for Kageyama and Ushijima, you were and still are a loser. Today's match will just be another proof of your mediocrity and of how untalented you are."

He didn't even blink when the tears started to flow down the other man's cheeks. Iwaizumi simply turned his back on him and walked out. Oikawa slumped to the floor, curling on himself. What a fool he had been to even thought he had hurt them by leaving. They were just relieved. He didn't mean anything for them.

As Tooru was standing on the Argentinian team's side of the court, several hours later, he observed every single one of his opponents. Some of them were still surprised, even though he had the confirmation that Hinata had told them. Hajime was on the bench, staring at him with equal determination. He had seen Hanamaki and Matsukawa in the bleachers just before the first whistle, along some others. He would give his best, for his actual teammates that appreciated and loved him for what he truly was, and above all, for his own pride and dignity. He was going to show them.

The feeling of winning an Olympics' match was so worth waiting years, never going to Nationals in High School, leaving all of the things he had loved behind. As the ball fell on the other side of the court, just between Yaku and Hinata, Oikawa felt the tears coming up again. The final whistle resonated in the stadium, outdid by the supporters' screams of joy or sadness. The Great King watched as all of his rivals fell to the floor, screaming in frustration, crying, defeated.

Some of his own teammates ran to him, eager to celebrate with him but he just said "back in a minute" and walked to the bench.

He bypassed all the Japan's players, not even bothering to look down on them. He smiled weakly at Hinata, the only one he still estimated. His face went neutral again when he faced the team's athletic trainer. Hajime stood up, returning his glance for the last time.

"- This, this is why I left all of you for. None of you could have brought me the victory, let alone you. I don't need you. I never did. You were just a burden for me, Iwaizumi."

I-w-a-i-z-u-m-i.

Damn.

That hurt.