Disclaimer: I do not own Haikyuu.

The coward's way out

Suzumi Pov

I've never kissed anyone before, so I can't say for sure, but Oikawa Tooru is a terrific kisser. My eyes couldn't help but flutter shut as soon as his lips started moving against mine. It had been so sudden, I didn't know how to react. One moment we were having a good time making jokes and the next we were kissing. Was this his way of finding out if he liked someone? He'd said this was his foolproof strategy. Was this one of his stupid pickup lines?

I felt myself getting mad and put a hand up against his chest. It was meant to be sign for him to stop, but Oikawa didn't take it that way. The warm hand resting on my cheek travelled down to my waist and pulled me even closer while the hand resting on the bed moved to cradle the back of my head.

It made me confused. Kissing him felt so good, it made my heart race. His quiet sighs as he kissed me did weird things to my stomach. I just didn't know why he was doing this. Because he liked me? Because I was new and interesting? I wanted to talk about it, but while his strong arms were very comforting, they were also holding me captive.

A few frustrated tears leaked out my eyes and I gently pushed against his chest, hoping he'd get the hint. He did, and after two more pecks, he leaned back. Oikawa looked pretty happy with himself, a blissful smile gracing his lips. As soon as he saw my watery eyes though, the smile vanished and he yanked his hand off my cheek.

I opened my mouth to speak, to talk to him about what just happened, but Oikawa beat me to it.

'God, I'm so sorry.'

The second he spoke those words, he jumped up and dashed out the room. I just sat there, trying to process what had just happened. My mind could vaguely register the thuds of Oikawa rushing down the stairs and the opening and closing of the front door.

I don't know how long I sat on the floor, debating whether I should be okay with this, confused or really mad. How dare he run from me? Whenever I felt like getting angry, my brain helpfully supplied me with a reenactment our kiss. That guy was stupidly good at kissing. In the end, it was the cheerful ding of my phone that shook me out of my thoughts.

I closed my laptop and reached over it to grab my phone. I turned it on and saw a text from Chi-chan. I don't know what I expected, maybe a report of her date, but it wasn't. Instead I saw a message that was even more terrifying than the conflicting emotions within me.

You have a lot of explaining to do.

Chi-chan can be very quick to get things done when she wants too. Not even two hours after she send that text, I was seated on one of the floor pillows in her room. Iwaizumi-san was here too, sitting beside his girlfriend.

'So, uh, what do I need to explain exactly?' I asked, nervously twirling the straw in my glass of juice between my fingers.

'You're dating someone. And didn't tell me. How about you start explaining that?'

I frowned, 'I'm dating? That's news to me.'

The tiny manager mirrored my expression, while the ace just nodded, 'Told you.' He said, 'Never trust the rumors.'

'But still!' Chi-chan insisted, 'He said it himself!'

'A rumor?' I asked, 'From school?'

Iwaizumi-san nodded once more.

'Who am I dating according to school?'

The brunette sighed, 'Hiyo-chan… Do you really need to ask?'

I suppose I didn't. Even without the answer, I could make a very good guess on who my mystery partner was supposed to be.

I let out an exasperated sigh, 'Why do people think I'm in a relationship with Oikawa?'

The looks we got this afternoon made sense now. His fangirls would come for my head tomorrow.

'Apparently it came from the man himself.' Chi-chan said, 'I didn't think he would lie, so I assumed you were keeping it a secret from me. I got a little mad, sorry about that.' She said apologetically.

'Don't worry about it.' I said with a smile. Then I registered what she'd said, 'Wait… Oikawa told everyone we're dating? Why?'

'I've got no clue.'

'Yeah, I don't know either.' Iwaizumi-san said, 'Usually he doesn't shut up about his crushes. It also doesn't take him very long to make a move. I had no idea he likes you.'

Chi-chan looked at me excitedly, 'But isn't this great for you? You've got a crush on him anyway, why not go with the flow? It saves a lot of embarrassment, I can tell you that much.'

This was not a good spot to be in. If I did go with the flow, I'd be in a relationship with Oikawa. As cruel as it sounds though, I didn't really want that right now. Just a few hours ago, he'd kissed me without my permission and then run from me. I was upset about that.

If I didn't go with the flow, I had to explain why. There was no way I was getting out of this house without having to come clean about my fake-crush. Unlike someone, I don't run from confrontation like a coward.

My best friend must have seen the distress on my face because she switched from excited to worried in a flash, 'Hey, what's wrong? You don't seem too happy about this.'

I took in a deep breath to steel my nerves, 'You're right, I'm not that happy. The truth is… I never had a crush on Oikawa.'

I would have found the puzzled look on her face cute, had I not been terrified of her reaction. I tried to explain my reasoning as best as I could.

'So Oikawa and I came up with a few ideas to get the two of you together. One of those ideas was to act like we had a crush on each other, but to make it like, really obvious. We had hoped that the way we acted would make you both realize you were acting the same way.' I knew I was rambling, but as soon as I started, the words wouldn't stop flowing out of me, 'Afterward you would confess, get together and that would be the end of it. But then you,' I looked at Chi-chan, 'confronted me with my crush. You still weren't together with Iwaizumi-san, so I couldn't just deny it. I wanted to be your ally the best I could, but it meant I was lying to you. I feel really bad about it. I'm so sorry for lying to you.'

After a short silence, Chi-chan let out a bewildered chuckle, 'Well, your plan worked I guess.'

'You're… not mad?' I asked incredulously.

The brunette looked at me thoughtfully, 'Don't get me wrong, I don't like the idea of you lying to me. However, I know you meant well. Besides,' Chi-chan glanced at her boyfriend, who smiled, 'your plans did help a little.'

'Actually,' She said, 'while we're on the subject confessing our sins. Iwaizumi-san and I also formed a pact to get you and Oikawa-san together. So we're even now.'

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding, 'Thank you.'

After a firm hug, we turned back to the issue at hand.

'We need to talk to Oikawa. I want to know why he said what he said.' Iwaizumi-san said.

'Yeah, we need to get this problem fixed.' Chi-chan agreed.

I thought back to today's events. The looks at school, Oikawa being distracted, the kiss. If I knew anything about the pretty setter, it was that he always looks for solutions. Maybe he really did like me, but given the better, much more beautiful girls at school, that was improbable. Besides, like Iwaizumi-san said, if he liked me, he would've made a move already. I felt a painful pang in my chest, but pushed the feeling away. I was still mad at him.

It was possible that he spread the rumor by mistake. I don't know how you tell someone you're in a relationship by mistake, but I was giving him the benefit of the doubt here.

The rumor blew up, which was probably the reason he was distracted on our way to Starbooks, he needed a way to resolve the rumor. Realization hit me like a slap in the face and my heart sank. What better way to resolve a rumor than to make it a reality?

'That must be why Oikawa kissed me.' I mumbled.

It was after I muttered those words, that I became aware of the complete silence in the room.

'Run that by me again.' Chi-chan said, 'He kissed you?'

I nodded and recounted everything that had happened today. Though left a certain navy notebook out of the story. After I was done talking, I just wanted to go home and lay on my bed. Today had been a rollercoaster of emotions. I'd been kissed by a guy for the first time, after which said guy had fled the scene, only to find out that he had possibly only kissed me to fix a lie he'd told. I felt tricked, tired and upset.

'So Oikawa kissed you, without your permission and then ran away without giving you any type of explanation. Did I get that right?'

'That about sums it up.' I said tiredly.

Chi-chan looked like she was suppressing the urge to run to Oikawa's house and give him a piece of her mind. Meanwhile, Iwaizumi-san looked like was going to straight up deck the guy.

'How do you feel about all this?' she asked.

That one question was all it took for the waterworks to fall.

I buried my head in my hands with a pathetic whimper, 'I just don't know.'

That'll be all for today folks. Told you I wanted drama? We love a lack of communication that causes misunderstandings!

Next week will probably be from Oikawa's perspective, so look forward to that.

As always, virtual hugs to my gorgeous reviewer. Reading your comments are the highlight of my day!

See you again next week~