!IMPORTANT UPDATE!
I hope you can forgive me for taking so long. School has been tough with exams, projects to finish and internships to apply to.
I have also hit a wall and need to make a critical decision.
Since I have caught up with the manga updates will be very rare but that isn't what is bothering me.
The thing is, I have many scenes already written in advance but if I should continue to follow the manga, I can't use them.
I have no idea why you guys love my story but I assume it's because of the Lovestory in general.
So I have made the decision to avert from the manga (as much as it pains me) and continue the plot my way.
But please let me know your thoughts.
PandaHee: I guess I really did trick you all, muahaha! Reactions are always good.
bookdragonslayer: Bad boy, but let's see who he is calling.
Yunrii: Oya oya?
LilweenGalatrass: Glad that I didn't disappoint! And you are welcome. They will pop up more often. I am planning a big thing for the story anyway :P At least its big for me since it takes a lot of thought.
Guest: Oh, who could it be. Good question. And thank you :)
Reader fan: I am glad that the chapter was enjoyed :) And I will when I have time!
xXAPennyForYourThoughtXx: Some interesting thoughts :O And I am glad you enjoyed it :) Makes me a happy author.
one more thing
OMG 200+ FAVOURITES!
THANK YOU GUYS
I wish I could do something to show you all how much it means to me but I guess this chapter will have to do for now.
Chapter 34 - An advice
Karasuno was doing very well in their first match of the spring tournament. It was clear that they were taking it very seriously and that they had come to challenge, despite the little strange plays from Hinata and Tanaka. They already started to gain a few fans in the crowd. Still, it was a close race for winning the second set which both teams didn't want to lose. Tamiko's jaw tightened as she watched the match continue, yet her mind lingering elsewhere. The pen in her hand was twirling and pendeling as her thoughts were lost with Oikawa's words. Why hadn't Ushijima told her about his future? Was it because she didn't ask, because that did seem to be the most plausible explanation. But being a woman, her heart influenced her thoughts and fears far more than she wanted. A sudden cheer pulled her back to reality. Karasuno had scored another point after a great receive from Nishinoya.
"Nice," Iwaizumi whistled. "That libero of theirs is amazing."
"It's kinda disgusting how easily he makes it look." Oikawa pouted.
"It's disgusting how easily you make serving look." Tamiko added.
Oikawa smirked a pushed up his glasses.
"Since we have a matched look, you should be a little happier."
"We don't have a matched look." Tamiko sighed.
"Yeah we do," he interjected. "You have your glasses on. They are the same colour as well."
He wasn't wrong. They did both wear the same-looking glasses, similar frame, same colour. Both wore them on rare occasions as well, so both of them owned contact lenses. But there was one big difference.
"They're not even the same type, so be quiet." she grumbled.
Oikawa leaned back and begrudgingly continued to watch the match. He knew what she meant but in his mind he was still happy about the fact that they both had similar glasses, even if only by appearance.
"I've never asked," Iwaizumi spoke. "Do those glasses really work?"
"I wouldn't be so calm if they didn't." she explained.
"True," he nodded. "It's just hard to imagine that glasses like that exist."
Tamiko stayed silent as she continued to watch the match, but her mind drifted towards her worry again. She had to ask him. He didn't have a great understanding of relationships so who knew where the future would take them if they head into different directions. But she didn't want to be a hindrance for him either. He had a good chance for a big career and she wanted to support him in that no matter what. But it still bothered her that she didn't know anything about his future plans. She knew what the others had planned to do but her own boyfriend had been silent about it. He surely must have a good reason for keeping it to himself. A short glance over the shoulder confirmed that he still wasn't back. Whatever he was doing, he was taking his time.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the lonely corridors of the stadium, Ushijima stood by himself, his phone by his ear. His expression was stoic as ever as the girl at the other end replied.
"Ushijima Wakatoshi," he heard the receiver say. "Why do I get the honour of your call?"
"I apologize for calling so suddenly Izumi," Ushijima started.
"No problem," she told him. "I always get weird phone calls. So what can I do for you?"
"I need some advice." he said.
There were a few noises which sounded like her placing a cup down on a table.
"Advice?" she repeated with confusion. "Advice on what?"
"Tamiko," was all he said.
There was a brief pause before Izumi spoke again.
"Doesn't Tendou usually give you advice with that?" she asked.
"I don't think Tendou would be able to advise me on her psychology." Ushijima stated.
He wasn't entirely wrong. If anyone knew Tamiko, then it was Izumi. The black haired girl had known Tamiko long enough to be considered an expert. That's what he had heard from Semi. The setter had commented on how close the two girls were so Ushijima saw it as logical to ask her for help. At the other end of the phone he heard her shift and sigh again.
"Alright then, big boy. Ask away. What's on your heart?"
"How can I get her attention?" he asked, plain and simply.
"Eh, what?" she mumbled. "What's the situation?"
"We are currently watching the match and Oikawa is here with his friend Iwaizumi." he elaborated.
"And she is talking to them instead of you?" Izumi guessed.
"Yeah."
He had to admit himself that it was a strange thing that bothered him, but it did. His hope for a piece of advice rose when she spoke again.
"For starters, I am positive that she isn't ignoring you. It's the first time she is at a big game and she is watching her brother play, so she is obviously focused on him." she told him. "And if I were honest, I think she feels more comfortable talking with Oikawa when you are with her. You know, as a protector."
Ushijima stayed silent, not knowing what to say. His mind tried to make sense of Izumi's words but it failed. Izumi, however, noticed his difficulty from his silence.
"She has a certain dislike towards Oikawa. I bet she is starting to feel a little uncomfortable right now, since you left her alone with him." There was another silence before Izumi started again. "There is one other piece of advice I can give you," she told him. "You need to listen to her body language."
Ushijima slightly raised his brow, his first change in expression.
"How do I listen to something I can only see?" he asked, a little confused.
"It's a figure of speech," she giggled. "I forgot that you don't get those. We rarely talk. We really need to hang out at some point since you are dating my best friend."
"You are drifting from the subject." he informed her.
"Oh sorry," she mumbled. "So, if I understood correctly, you want some confirmation that Tamiko will stay loyal to you."
"Yeah."
He swallowed and waited anxiously for an answer.
"I can definitely tell you that she is very loyal. She hates liars and she likes you, a lot. This is her first relationship she has ever been in so she is treasuring it. There is no way that she will betray you. All you need is to trust her."
Ushijima stayed silent, thinking to himself. Before he could say anything, Izumi continued.
"It's like you jump for a spike and you know that the toss will come to you. You just have to trust her like you trust your setter." she elaborated.
The example made sense to him. He had to trust his teammates and he had to trust her.
"Thank you." he said after a while.
"You are very welcome. Enjoy the games." she said, a smile obvious in her voice.
"Bye."
He ended the call and blankly stared at the screen of his mobile. The uneasy feeling was still present in his heart, the uneasiness of losing Tamiko to another man. It was something that was hardly possible since she has never been in a relationship, but the fear was still there, somehow. It was one thing in which he saw Oikawa Tooru as superior to himself; stealing a woman's heart. Even if Tamiko had a dislike towards Oikawa, he still feared that little spark, that one little gesture or word that could change everything. He slowly made his way back to his seat, his brows still frowning. Cheers came out of the entrance, cheers he remembered from his previous games. But his victory that had been denied didn't bother him as much as seeing his girlfriend sit next to the lady-killer in the high school volleyball world. He did notice though that she wasn't talking to Oikawa. She probably feels uncomfortable when you are not around, he remembered Izumi tell Ushijima returned to the seats, Tamiko was sitting cross-legged and cross-armed, as if she was pouting. When she saw him, her face grew a little softer and she took his hand into hers, lightly squeezing it. He gave her a side glance, unsure of her behaviour when he noticed that she didn't let go. Slowly she leaned against his side.
"We should talk after this," she whispered.
Ushijima didn't make any sign of acknowledgement, wondering what her concern could be. He did, however, give Oikawa a side glance, the lather glancing back at him. Even if eyes could show emotions Ushijima was still unskilled in reading the emotion, but in Oikawa's eyes he could see more hatred than he usually showed. It strangely made him feel some sort of pride that he had Tamiko and she was now focusing on him instead of Oikawa. What was difficult for him in that moment was to show her his affection. He just didn't know how. His salvation came in form of another couple who were cuddling a few rows in front of them. So he simply copied them. Tamiko flinched slightly when she felt the weight of his head leaned against hers but a goofy smile grew on her face. She shifted a little, snuggling closer to him as much as the seats allowed. Next to them Iwaizumi was mockingly grinning at Oikawa who was pouting. In the end of the match Karasuno won the match with two sets, a pleasant victory.
