.
"I'm saying this once and just once; I don't want to see you at our match!"
.
.
Oikawa Tooru had woken up early that morning to prepare for their first official match in Inter High. Of course, he wasn't the only one awake at such ungodly hour. The second he went downstairs, the aroma of freshly baked Milk Bread and a tantalizing scent of brewed coffee bombarded his senses. As much as he hated to admit it, Tooru loved the Milk Breads his brother bake.
It wasn't often that he does, too, so he rushed into the kitchen and snatched up a ready-to-eat milk bread from the tray. A passing smile ghosted over Yuuma's lips before it disappeared. It didn't go unnoticed but Tooru refused to acknowledge it.
Once done with his morning routines, everyone else was already awake and eating breakfast at the dinner table. When he sat down beside Takeru, he saw a paper bag resting on the counter. "Today's your first match, right?" Himari turned to question him with a smile.
Puffing out his chest in pride, Tooru answered with a, "That's right. This time, we'll be beating that damn Ushiwaka once and for all." This was their last chance in highschool to set foot into the national stage. Oikawa Tooru would give everything he got to beat that stupid Ushiwaka.
"Good luck, Tooru." Takeru blankly chirped in.
"Geh— say that a little more enthusiastically, Takeru."
Just as he was about to leave earlier than Yuuma (so that they won't have to walk to school with each other), Himari grabbed that paper bag from the counter and handed it to Tooru. "Here. Yuuma saved these for you."
He felt a little conflicted. The paper bag contained four piece of milk bread that were a tad bit larger than the one he ate earlier morning. Tooru remembered the words he said last night to his brother. Yes, he didn't want Yuuma going to his match because... just because!
However, his eyes flickered to the paper bag in his hand and his nose focused on the scent of milk bread. Reluctantly, he glanced back and was surprised to find Yuuma already staring at him. Obviously caught in the act, his twin avoided his gaze and the setter felt his heart squeeze achingly at that.
"... you can come or whatever. I don't really care."
Heart breaking at the sight of Yuuma's tears, she approached him slowly and knelt down in front of him. Tooru had left already, leaving those words behind that made Yuuma into a mess. She gestured for her son to go upstairs for the meantime.
"Yuuma."
"A... Aneki."
"... come here."
Rarely did she hug the twins when they were younger and Himari never thought she would be babying one of them at her age. It was actually comforting and nice, having one of the twins be needy for once. However, she didn't like the reason behind it. "Yuuma, did you hear that? Tooru doesn't mind if you go watch him. Do you want to go? Takeru and I can take the day off to go with you."
"I... It's fine, aneki. I don't... I don't want to... to keep you from work."
"Are you sure?"
Gradually, her baby brother calmed down. "Y... Yes. I'll be fine."
Still, she worried.
.
.
So loud.
Too many people.
Too many.
I want to go home. Oikawa Yuuma gulped as he arrived at Sendai City Gymnasium. His sister already called his class adviser that he wouldn't be able to make it for today.
For some reason, Yuuma found the courage to go here alone. It was surprising because he usually never goes out anymore without anyone to accompany him. At the moment, he was still outside the gymnasium, already having second thoughts whether or not he should go in.
Did Tooru really say that? He didn't really mind if he went to watch his match? He wouldn't get angry?
"AH!" A voice screamed right behind him and Yuuma practically jumped away in fright, heart pounding against his chest. When he turned around, he saw a group clad in black that reminded him very much of a murder of crows. Two of those from the murder of crows appeared familiar, too.
"It's the Great King's brother!"
"H... Hinata-san, I have... have a name, you know." How could that child be so embarrassing?! "Yuuma. Just call me Yuuma, Hinata-san."
"Yuuma-san, do you play volleyball, too?! What's your position?! Are you a part of Seijoh's team? If you are, Kageyama and I won't go easy on you!" Hinata-san resembled the bright burning star that lights up the day. The more Yuuma looked at him, the more blinded he became by that warm, comforting smile.
It felt nice.
He didn't even realize that his stutter was non-existent the more he talked to the sun-like boy. "No, I don't really play, Hinata-san. I'm just here to... watch my school's team play."
"Oi, Hinata, this guy... isn't that bastard trying to fool us or something?" Yuuma's gaze landed on the sharp-eyed bold individual who gave him a nasty look. A shiver ran down his spine and he took a step back. How come someone like Hinata-san seemed to be surrounded by a bunch of scary guys?!
"Tanaka! You're scaring him!" Sugawara Koushi elbowed the second year. With a perceptive eye such as his, he already knew that the person in front of them wasn't the same guy from the practice match. They might look identical but Suga noted how this one's eyes held a touch of softness and sadness.
"I'm really sorry about him," as always, Suga found himself apologizing on Tanaka's behalf. "Tanaka's a pretty nice guy despite how he acts sometimes. I assure you "
"It's alright." Almost instantly, the small but blinding smile Oikawa Yuuma showed startled the Karasuno Team. "I... can already see that... my brother didn't leave a good impression on you guys." Suga hated to admit it but this kind of Oikawa was... weird. It was almost uncomfortable since the two brothers looked identical. If one didn't look carefully, they would mistake the twins for each other.
"Y... Yeah, he kinda didn't. Oh," the Karasuno setter mirrored back a smile. "I'm Sugawara Koushi."
"Oikawa Yuuma... but you can just... call me Yuuma so you won't... get confused or something."
"Then, call me Koushi! It's only appropriate."
The rest of Karasuno watched as the two talked to each other. Something clicked between the two of them and to strangers, it looked like the both of them knew each other for years.
.
.
Oikawa Tooru thought he wouldn't mind having Yuuma attend his matches but what was this? What was he seeing? His brother was talking to the Karasuno Team of all people and... he appeared close to that stupid-looking refreshing guy.
That smile of his caused Tooru to grit his teeth. So you can be friendly with others? And treat your own brother badly? Just what kind of person are you? Do you think I'm a joke or something?!
His fingers dug into the milk bread he'd been nibbling on. Seeing him be so chummy with others, to see him smiling so happily because of someone else; he hated it. He didn't even care that it was his favorite food that he had been eating. The moment he passed by a trash bin, he threw it away. The half-eaten milk bread laid on top of a pile of trash, slowly losing that scent he loved.
Stop hoping, Tooru. Stop thinking that he loved you even for a second. You know he didn't. He never did. It was all just a game to him. You never mattered to Yuuma and you never will. His thoughts consumed him and he never even noticed that he reached his team.