Hello everyone.
The birthday chapter is here and happy birthday to me.
24 years old...oh god xD
I want to thank all of my readers for reading and reviewing and maybe even recommending the story.
I love you guys, thank you for your love and support.
Girlbook: Hahaha indeed. Learning from experience is what you do when it comes to relationships. We've all been there xD
starrat: And here you go :D
AliceMitch09: Yes, the long awaited kiss :D Trust is the main thing that holds people together :) Yeah, my wording is a bit sloppy but I'm still learning! BUT ADVICE WOULD BE APPRICIATED! OR MAYBE A BETA-READER!
LilweenGalatrass: The Empress is back :D I'm glad that I didn't disappoint :3 I am the fluff queen. And no, you never mentioned that.
KirikaAndo: So she would move to Tokyo? Big step wow :O You can always message me :)
curlystruggle: hahahaha okay glad you liked it!
ENJOY THE FILLER CHAPTER!
Chapter 43 - A Blast from the Past
"Let's go, Tobio," Tamiko urged. "We still need to buy groceries for dinner."
Tobio quickly came out of the gym, dropping to the ground to change his shoes. She hated to pick him up from volleyball practice. Not because she hated the gesture but because of a certain person she could cross paths with there. And sure enough, that certain person spotted her.
"Tami-chan," Oikawa called and waved.
Tamiko's face scrunched up when she heard his voice. Oh, how she hated it. It was far too melodic for a male voice. But she also hated his whole self. She nudged Tobio, urging him to hurry up before the captain of the volleyball team reached her. But it was too late. Oikawa already stood beside her.
"What's the hurry, Tami-chan?" he asked cheerfully.
"Go away," she muttered and kept her eyes on her brother.
"You are so mean, Tami-chan," he mumbled with a pout.
But Tamiko didn't give him the glory to enjoy her attention. Instead she helped Tobio to his feet and headed out of the door. With every step her short curls bounced and Oikawa gazed after her, her brother tagging close behind. She had only recently caught his attention ever since Tobio started to attend the volleyball club. She had picked him up for the first time, Oikawa had tried his charms but was brushed off. The more he tried the more she ignored him. And after a while it became an obsession to get to see her relaxed face, her smile, her attention. But he failed every time. On the other hand, it was a great entertainment for his peers.
"Tami-chan, Tami-chan," Matsukawa and Hanamaki mockingly repeated. "Please give me your attention Tami-chan."
Iwaizumi couldn't hold back his laughter and joined them. Although Oikawa didn't like being mocked, this was one he ignored. For him it was the strangest thing, to have interest in a girl for more that 10 minutes even when she ignored him. His friends thought the same. Iwaizumi had asked him many times if he was sick or something. But Oikawa had insisted everything was fine.
"That idiot is in so deep," Matsukawa joked. "I feel sorry for the girl."
The two boys agreed and got changed. Iwaizumi was even more sorry for the girl. They both went to the same class, so he knew her a little. They had done group work together and he had gotten the impression that she was anything but stupid. Kageyama Tamiko. She wasn't a popular beauty girl either. She just sat there and paid attention. It was a good thing that Oikawa was in that class. That would have made it very difficult. The next day Iwaizumi approaches her.
"Sorry about yesterday," he said. "That idiot doesn't know boundaries."
"He needs to worry, not you," she corrected him.
"Then I hope it looks spectacular," he grinned but then added. "I did talk to him about it but his skull is too thick to let anything through."
Tamiko smiled. Iwaizumi was the kind of guy who would be a true gentleman when he was an adult. He was also one of the guys whom she got along well with. They exchanged a few more words when their home room teacher walked in.
"Alright, kids." their teacher started. "Since the school year is almost over it is time to prepare. You each receive a list of high schools in the area. By the end of next week I want you all to decide which high school you want to go to."
When the lesson was over he handed out the papers. It was the start of lunch when the students began to discuss their dream high school.
"With my grades I really want to try to get into Shiratorizawa Academy." Izumi declared. "I bet there are a lot of rich boys there."
Tamiko sighed as her friend began to swoon over her perfect boyfriend again. It was an everyday thing which she had learned to ignore. Instead she focused on the piece of paper in her hand. There was a big list of high schools, from closest to farthest. There were rated as well, with Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa Academy with the highest rating. Aoba Johsai was a private school, so it was no surprise that it had received a high rating. Tamiko frowned. She hated to make such decisions.
"I will go to Shiratorizawa," Izumi announced to her. "It isn't easy to get into but I really want to try it."
A grin grew on her face and even Tamiko had to smile. She had heard of Shiratorizawa Junior High but not of the academy. The junior high school was an everlasting obstacle for the volleyball boys. She knew this from her brother and the countless reactions and discussions from her peers. Behind her, Oikawa suddenly called.
"Iwa-chan, you're going to Seijou with me, right?" he asked when he reached his seat.
"Of course I am." the latter answered.
Tamiko pulled the chair further away from that conversation. Because Iwaizumi sat before her, it was far too easy for Oikawa to cross paths with her. So she turned even more to Izumi.
"Seijou?" she asked.
"That's just the nickname of Aoba Johsai. It's a private school, so probably not for you." Izumi explained.
Tamiko glanced at the paper again. Her eyes kept falling onto Shiratorizawa. It would be great to join her friend at the same school and her own grades weren't bad either. She could get into that school if she studied a little for the entrance exam. The possibility was there. And if Oikawa was going to Aoba Johsai then she had no choice but to avoided that school. Simple as that. She managed to escape Oikawa when the bell rang for home. There was no volleyball practice either so she didn't have to pick her brother up. He was already waiting for her at the gate. At home, their mother was on the phone, only giving her children a brief nod when she opened the door for them. Not to disturb her Tamiko placed the paper with the high schools onto the kitchen table and went upstairs to her room. There she stayed until they were called down for dinner. Usually Tamiko would cook something but today their mother had been faster.
"Tamiko, my dear, I want you to go to Shiratorizawa Academy." she declared as they ate.
Tamiko just nodded and took another bite.
"It is an elite school with a great reputation for pushing their students to their limits. When you graduate you will have great chances. I heard that their music teacher is a very talented man. He will give you great lessons." she informed her.
Her daughter did listen but said nothing. It was her mother's dream to have a musically talented child in a famous orchestra. Piano lessons have littered her life for many years now. Back in her room she looked at the paper her mother had handed back to her. Shiratorizawa was boldly circled, indicating that this was the one and only choice. Tamiko sighed and placed it into her bag. Out of her sight and out of her mind. Instead she tried to get some sleep. The next day she handed in the paper and by the end of the week, all of the students had made their decision.
Now it was time to prepare for the entrance exams. Izumi and Tamiko weren't the only ones who had applied at Shiratorizawa, so they were put into one study group. Those weeks flew by quickly with the other three boys constantly being distracted and soon enough, those five students stood at the entrance gate of the academy. The exam itself was difficult but Tamiko left with a feeling of satisfaction. Now they just had to wait and that was the most agonising part.
When all the students received their letters, the home room teachers had a lot to do. While they wrote down all the high schools for the school board, the students enjoyed a free lesson. The classes mixed as other visited. Oikawa was in their classroom as well talking to Iwaizumi when he turned to her.
"Which school are you going to, Tami-chan?"
He looked at her with hopeful eyes but Tamiko avoided his gaze and moved away from him. He asked her again when Izumi had enough.
"Tamiko is coming with me to Shiratorizawa Academy!" Izumi defended her by pulling her into a defensive hug.
Dozens of speechless faces gaffed at them. Tamiko's jaw tightened. The volleyball club was this schools pride and joy and two of its students were going to the rivaling high school. She saw a few disgusted faces in the crowd. Good thing that the graduation wasn't that far away. In fact, only two weeks were left and they flew by so quickly. On that fateful day, many people had gathered at the school, parents, family and distant relatives. Only the Kageyama family wasn't complete. When Tamiko received certificate she only saw her little brother in the crowd. Their mother wasn't there. When the crowd mixed for the celebrations Tamiko just wanted to go home. But an escape was impossible for her when she was grabbed and pulled behind a corner.
"What do you want from me," she grumbled.
If looks could kill she would have murdered Oikawa many times already. But he didn't fall to the ground or incinerated into a pile of ashes. He stayed in existence to annoy her once again. With crossed arms she protected herself from what was to come. Big brown eyes gazed at her, filled with sadness and determination.
"Tami-chan," he started. "I really like you. Do you want to go out with me?"
Izumi and Iwaizumi, who had witnessed Oikawa's doing and had followed them, groaned in their hiding spot. Was Oikawa really trying to ask out a girl on the last day of school? This wasn't going to go well. And so they watched as Tamiko turned around and walked away without a word. Oikawa was silent, just standing there like an empty shell. Izumi Ran after Tamiko while Iwaizumi gave Oikawa a nudge.
"I could have told you as well that she would say no," he mumbled.
Oikawa raised his head, his eyes closed. Quietly he took a few breaths before looking up at the sky.
"What did I do wrong, Iwa-chan," he asked.
"You're just not her type." he shrugged.
"We will never see her again." he added.
"Probably," Iwaizumi nodded.
A heavy sigh escaped him and he took the first step back to the festivities. Iwaizumi followed. Many girls walked up to him, asking for his contact details or wanting to have a button from his uniform. He smiled at them weakly while Iwaizumi frowned at the charade. They never saw Tamiko again that day and Izumi was also nowhere to be seen. Both had gone home early.
"She will probably end up with some guy from Shiratorizawa," Oikawa grumbled.
"Most likely," Iwaizumi nodded.
Oikawa clicked his tongue and pouted.
"I swear, if it will be someone from the volleyball club she is dead to me," he declared.
"Whatever you say," Iwaizumi sighed.
And yet deep down they both hoped that she would have success and anything else good in the world. And for the next week, she hoped it for them as well.
