He stared at his palm suspended in the air, blocking his eyes from the fluorescent light.
It was love at first touch. Long ago, when he was a baby, his older sister and grandfather took their eyes away from him for a moment when his eyes landed on the yellow-blue-and-white ball. And when he first touched it, it was love that stuck to him like glue. He didn't let go nor wanted to let it go. So, he continued until he was old enough to learn and understand the basics of the sport.
He was happy then. He had his sister that would challenge him in warm-up exercises and join him in their personal training in their backyard. He had his grandfather who would willingly teach him and point out his mistakes and shortcomings as an athlete. Even if their parents were out, busy with their jobs, it was okay because he felt complete. He has volleyball and the rest of his family who shared the same love with him for the sport.
But his sister suddenly quit because she didn't want to cut her hair. It was then he realized that his sister didn't love the sport the same way as he did. That left him with just his grandfather. The routine continued with the absence of his sister but it was okay. The noise lessened, the verbal counting in exercises became his, and he would look at his back for when his grandfather started to run at a slow pace and started getting left behind. But it was okay. For Tobio, it was okay as long as he still has Kazuyo-san, his grandfather. It went on like that until he reached middle school.
And then, Kazuyo-san died when he needed him the most in his second year. That year when his teammates started to become expressive of their distaste for his lack of communication and for his demanding attitude on the court – which they only became more vocal on the following year, thus, leading them to give him that spiteful nickname. His third year was darker. That was the year when he felt solitude, isolation, and most of all – being alone. Loneliness became a friend but at the same time, his enemy.
Everything changed when he entered Karasuno. Different hands ranging from calloused tans to calloused pale, soft but heavy to rough and heavy that welcomed him with open arms. Each was welcoming and although some would smack his back with a heavy, playful hand or ruffle his hair with adoration, out of all the hands he worked with one remained special. Her hands that were soft and small, that added weight on the top of his head when she patted him like a child, felt so nice and warm against his sweaty hand.
Holding her hand felt good. It was like volleyball but softer than volleyball and he loves her hands. Tobio didn't want to let go.
His mind wandered back to the weekend of the Tokyo trip. He accompanied, uncalled and uninvited, Harukaze-san through her entrance examinations. He literally barged in on her plans, crashing her day. He has been there and with her as she roamed around Tokyo for her college life. Tobio knew that he walked her to the life that's been waiting for once she finished high school in spring. Even if that was the case, the desire to be assured of her location by the next term pushed him whatever it'll take him.
He clenched a fist, placing it on his forehead.
Harukaze-san. Harukaze-san will graduate in less than two months. She will pass her exams. She will move there for her studies. She will leave the town. And he won't see her again every other night. She won't be there watching their games every season. He won't see her anymore buying a drink in his favorite vending machine. He won't able to see her in baggy clothing with a bag from Ukai-san's shop. And he won't have the chance to know more about her.
An unspeakable feeling flared up in his stomach. The fact that she really has to leave made his heart ached. He… He didn't want to part. He wants to see more of Harukaze-san every day. Without fail. Without missing a day anymore. Despite the lie that he told Miya-san during the Nationals season, he wanted to keep her with him – for himself.
It took him a long time before he moved on from mourning his grandfather's passing. If going somewhere far would keep her away, he wouldn't know now what will happen next.
And he's scared. He only felt scared with Oikawa-san before. But now, he already acknowledged that he's scared of the idea that Harukaze-san would start to look at the others, leaving him to the side – to be forgotten. Perhaps, she already has set her eyes on someone else right now but it was impossible. It was Harukaze-san. She's wonderful and anyone beside him could…
He let out a shaky breath. Tobio doesn't want Harukaze-san to forget him. He didn't know what to do with his feelings once she left and not a word was spoken. He wouldn't know. He wouldn't know. She would never know.
He sighed.
This was like middle school all over again. The feeling of abandonment. She may not be indirectly abandoning him in the town with nothing but memories with her, it still hurt to think to leave it like that. And it was breaking his heart. It was suffocating.
It was February. A few more days, it'll be exactly a year since they first met. How much time has passed? How much change has been there since they started acknowledging each other's presence? How long has it been since he was just searching for her and recently finding out of her identity? He could barely remember how they were before now.
With a knitted blue scarf covering his neck, he tried to remember what happened last year, back to the time when snow fell solemnly in the month of hearts. It appeared vague in his mind but the more he tried to think of relishing that moment, it slowly became more vivid until he could reminisce about the expression she made when she watched the snow fell. He could remember the way how her face started to carve its way on his mind, only to haunt him to hunt her down as soon as he remembered. He could recall how their eyes met and he felt a pull inside him.
He began to remember everything on that day and Tobio closed his eyes as more rush of memories of what happened last year started to fill this moment of his.
Harukaze-san.
Snow fell on his nose and Tobio instantly wiped it off. Looking up, he watched the snow started to dance slowly and closer until it met the snow-piled grounds. February appears to have made itself a memorable month for him. And he was sure that he would still think the same, would remember the same even in the year from now.
He set his foot inside the school grounds, hands in his pants pockets. He reached the main door, instantly seeing the shoe lockers. There was always something similar to a magnet that would divert his attention to where she was. There's this pull of attraction that made him act on instinct – to look for her in the same vicinity. It's like there's a part of him that knows that she was where he was. And his blue eyes laid on the figure of the third year that has been making him feel mixed feelings and love.
Harukaze-san.
It fell on her long hair that she always kept loose, her eyes of bluish-green that enchanted him from the beginning, her nose that was painted red because of the cold, to her thick eyebrows that looked really cute and fit her beautifully. His eyes traveled down to her neck that was bare of a knitted scarf. That long neck that was exposed for his eyes to see last New Years'. It was attracting him because of the feminine aura it emitted and he felt like gently trailing his fingers along the skin. His eyes traveled down to her hands that felt really warm and soft against his hand, and gentle on his head.
His hand twitched. Even now, he can still feel her warmth on his palm when days have already passed.
"Oh? See ya' later, Sawa." The pink-haired senpai quickly looked at him before darting back to Harukaze-san's face. He was alarmed when he caught her attention, even more so when she excused herself to leave the person he fancies.
"Huh? Okay. See ya'."
Tobio ignored their exchange as he took his uwabaki inside, swapping his sneakers in his shoe locker. When he raised his head after making sure that he wore the footwear properly with ease, his eyes fluttered in a second.
"Good morning." Harukaze-san greeted. Shyly.
"Morning."
He approached her. In that instant, she moved from her spot and they began to walk. It wasn't long but it felt like one. He noticed that despite having long legs, Harukaze-san took her strides short and slow. Whether she's doing it on purpose or not to make this certain moment longer was beyond him. But he was grateful to be given such an opportunity to waste with her. Despite that, he will never get used to walking beside Harukaze-san without people looking in their way. And he really couldn't get enough at the sight of her bare neck and red nose.
Harukaze-san is really pretty.
His cheeks turned crimson at the thought. They continued to walk, going to the stairs. He walked behind her, starting to take steps on the right side as what the school handbook told them to do. When they reached the first-year floor, Harukaze-san turned to him.
"See ya', Kageyama-kun."
He nodded. "Ah." And he watched her leave for another set of stairs after a small wave. Tobio entered the class, unaware of the lingering questioning eyes behind his back.
Immediately after class and having been one of those not assigned to clean the room, Tobio went to the clubroom to exchange his uniform for practice attire. He placed his bag on a table alongside the others and opened the locker that they've given him for the duration of his stay. During change, the room was getting crowded and noisy courtesy to his senpai and Hinata. He didn't want to listen nor engage in their topic of conversation but it was the month of hearts; it's the month of free chocolates. And Harukaze-san's name was mentioned.
"Eh?! Really?" Hinata's voice rang inside the room. Tanaka-san nodded and Nishinoya-san's face was clouded in pink. "Lucky!"
The libero chuckled. "You'll get yours, too, Shouyo. Haru-senpai's very generous."
"From Harukaze-senpai?!"
Sugawara-san joined the conversation. "That's right. Everyone in the club gets one." Then his brown eyes switched to him. Tobio blinked. "Perhaps, this year, one is an exemption."
Hinata chuckled and playfully looked at him. "Bet you won't get any."
He scowled, not liking the idea of being left out. He clicked his tongue. "Too bad, I'm not expecting anything."
Deep inside, he was. If Harukaze-san's giving chocolates for the team, there's a high chance of possibility that he'll get one, too. It made him wonder what kind of chocolates she usually gives and what would it look or taste like. Is she like those on TV or like his classmates that create fuwaa fuwaa chocolates? Or she's the kind of person that breaks the tradition of chocolates and went for cupcakes instead? Still, what does Sugawara-san mean by the exemption? He didn't understand and chose to shrug off the idea.
It was just Valentine's. It'll pass like any other regular day.
But that night, he received a mail from Harukaze-san. It has been a long time since she sent him a message and he would send his response to her. But perhaps it was the month that made things different and she bothered to mail him again.
Date: 2/12 20:11
From: Harukaze Sawako
Subject: Random question
Which do you prefer?
Dark, Milk, or White?
He raised a brow but typed his answer.
Date: 2/12 20:13
To: Harukaze Sawako
Subject: Re: Random question
Milk.
Why?
Date: 2/12 20:13
From: Harukaze Sawako
Subject: Re: Random question
Okay. Thank you, Kageyama-kun. It's nothing.
Good night!
He was unable to catch on to the reason behind the random question that he let it be.
And so, the long-awaited day finally came and Tobio wasn't sure of what to feel. Long ago, he didn't bother celebrating Valentine's. Much less give it a thought. Even then, he wasn't robbed of what the event is for. He was given chocolates by his sister before but never from someone outside his family. Just thinking of the fact that Harukaze-san was freely giving those sweets for obligation makes his heart clench in excitement for some odd reason.
It's February 14, Valentines' Day. The day wherein girls would give anything – mostly sweets – to guys they preferred to give. It is usually an accompaniment for their confession to the guys they like. He was unlike the guys in the class nor the team that expects someone giving them chocolate from the person they liked nor like those who created chocolates with a confession only to get rejected with the subject of their infatuation.
Regular, regular. Nothing much happened except for the early commotion made by his classmate to the lone male Harukaze. Tobio glanced at the scene unfolding before his very eyes with a bored expression.
"Harukaze-kun!" The girl called.
Tobio didn't bother to pause on his tracks. The scene slowly folded into something familiar.
"I made this f-for you!"
He nodded when his eyes met. Harukaze's bluish-green eyes, receiving a nod from the blonde before proceeding to his walk to his class. It was then for the first time that the male Harukaze accepted whatever he was given by his admirers and the girl leaving with a smile and a tinge on her face. Tobio gazed at the face of the girl, his classmate, and wondered. Is that how Harukaze-san looked after giving chocolates?
But he wanted to shrug it off. He wanted not to expect anymore – as Sugawara-san told them that someone, probably and obviously him, was an exemption. Yet he couldn't stop himself from hoping. She messaged him last night. That counted into something.
The girls in the class squealed when the girl entered and he couldn't stop himself from narrowing his eyes with distaste when they almost block the door. The group made a short shrill cry and made a way for him to pass. Tobio blinked and nodded before grunting on his way to his seat.
Soon, it was lunch break. The moment that the teacher announced what will be due tomorrow and left the class with no promise that there won't be a quiz the next day, Tobio immediately grabbed his wallet in his bag. With a hand in his pocket, he stood up to leave the room. But long before he could actually leave, he didn't expect it to happen. He may have considered a possibility but never did he expect Harukaze-san to wait for him outside his class with a box in hand.
"Ha-Harukaze-san…" He stuttered in surprise. She came.
"Hi, Kageyama-kun." She said in her meek way. She tucked a strand behind her ear. She approached him and smiled. "I hope I didn't bother you at this time."
He shook his head, relaxing as he slowly composed himself. "I was just about to head to the cafeteria."
Harukaze-san blinked, suddenly surrounded by a calming pink glow in his eyes. "Oh, don't bother. I came to give you this."
Looking down, he saw a neatly wrapped box, looking a little like a bento held by slender feminine fingers. For a box of chocolates, it's quite big. Tobio, hesitant, took it from her hands.
"Thank… you." He murmured, unable to guess what was inside. But it was somehow heavy, weighing something else entirely. Is it chocolate? But lunch is important… He wouldn't get his stomach full from sweets. "Can I?" He gestured the box in hand, unaware of questioning glances from the people inside his class.
She nodded and he saw heads peaking from the door behind Harukaze-san.
Tobio pulled the end of the cloth with a face of a koala. Definitely hers. With one hand, he opened the lid and his mouth watered – it was a box of full-packed lunch. His eyes widened at the sight of rice with black sesame seeds, a nice row of egg rolls with seaweed, a handful of lettuce, shredded cabbage, tomato wedges, karaage, a slice of mandarin, a strawberry sliced in half, five slices of banana, a hard-boiled egg cut in half and four slices of tonkatsu.
He closed the bento. His lunch today will be a delicious and satisfying one. But…
Tobio instantly couldn't help feel disappointed. He thought it would be chocolates just now. Not that he's expecting her to give him one but if the team's going to have theirs from her, wouldn't it be unfair if he won't receive any? But who was he to Harukaze-san anyway? Still. Yet she saved him the time to go to the cafeteria for his lunch. Tobio's already grateful that he can eat something like this. And it was her cooking, too.
He looked up with red slightly coating his cheeks. Damn. "Thank you, Harukaze-san."
Her face lit up and soon, it coated red. She started looking down, fidgety, looking from left to right, behind her, and behind his back. What is she doing? Tobio blinked. His eyes immediately widened when she took a step forward, closer to him. Harukaze-san took something from her skirt's pocket and mumbled.
"Here."
His breath hitched. Is this it? He shakily accepted the small box and placed it on top of the box of the full-packed lunch. He tried to look at her eyes, but it was looking at her fingers that played with the loose strand of her long hair. That seemed to be a habit, he picked up.
"I hope it lives up to your preferred sweetness Just so you know, it's not a giri choko." He blinked and looked at her eyes. Her face only turned to a deeper shade of red, Harukaze-san almost resembled a tomato. But she coughed with an attempt to regain her composure. She took a step back and bowed before leaving.
Tobio released a breath with a mirror of blush plastered on his face. His heart was beating faster than normal. Abnormal and not regular at all. It's not giri choko. Whatever was the difference between normal chocolate to a giri choko, that is something he has yet to learn but he was happy.
He swiftly went inside the class, the plan to go to the cafeteria was canceled as he settled on his seat with the lunch box on his table. With a very satisfied smile, he opened the lid and plastic of disposable chopsticks attached to the box. He didn't saw it earlier but a carton of milk was attached to the side as well.
She truly prepared this.
For him…
"Kageyama received chocolates from Harukaze-senpai! I repeat, Kageyama received chocolates from Harukaze-senpai!"
He ate all and left no rice. Lunch was special – very special. Who would give someone a special bento in Valentine's? No one came into mind aside from Harukaze-san. Is he special now? Was that a special treatment? He was full of the food that she prepared and he was sure his heart was full as well from what she prepared for him. The small box of chocolate was left untouched in his bag. Not giri choko. There was a giddy smile on his face, Tobio tapped the area of the compartment where he placed it thrice. This time, unlike her handkerchief, he's aware of its important existence. He carefully hid it in his bag, saving it for later once he's in the safety of his bedroom.
After class, Tobio entered the clubroom to see sparkles floating around the bright light. It came from his two upperclassmen that seemed deprived of female interaction. It's just Tanaka-san and Nishinoya-san looking too happy at the box of chocolates in their hands.
"Oh, Kageyama, you're here."
"Osu." He took off the sling from his shoulder.
"Have you received chocolates from someone today?"
He paused from grabbing his training top. Tobio looked at the expectant grinning faces of his senpais. He nodded, "Yeah. From Harukaze-san."
A gasp.
"He's not exempted? But Sugawara-san said…"
"Good for you, Kageyama!"
"I heard that the first-year hallway went surprisingly quiet during lunch."
"Hold on, he said exempted. All this time, Haru-senpai's giving us what kind of chocolates?"
"I was sure it was honmei."
Tobio tuned out the rest of their conversation as he proceeded to change his attire clothes. When he took a set of towels from his bag, his eyes caught sight of the box that Harukaze-san gave him. He hid a smile, unable to contain the excitement to eat the homemade chocolates from her hard-working hands.
But…
"AH! Is that it, Kageyama?!" He jumped in surprise at the irritating loud volume of his partner in the court.
"What do you think?" He narrowed his eyes at Hinata.
The shorter lad blinked and held his own box of chocolates he deduced as something that Harukaze-san gave. The orange-haired lad began to chuckle, hiding his weird laugh behind his fingers. "Fufufu~ I see you haven't had a taste of that chocolate. Too bad."
He narrowed his eyes when Hinata's glinted.
"If you aren't going to eat that… I might as well eat i–!"
He pushed Hinata's face away just in time for his attack on his chocolates. He zipped his bag close, making sure it was hidden beneath the empty box that held onigiri a long time ago.
"Che, Stingyama."
He clicked his tongue and glared at him. He won't share with anyone the first chocolate he received from someone other than his sister. With a warning glare, and Hinata holding up a defensive stance, Tobio hid the chocolates in the secret compartment in his bag. He just hoped that it won't melt that much.
Now that he thought about it, he couldn't remember the exact day in February he took the entrance exams. He absentmindedly, habitually placed yens on the coin slot, pushing a button for his drink. As he bent down, he began to think. The chocolate he received earlier became a reminder of change. He never thought that a year ago, at the present time, he would receive honor from someone else. He has never done anything but to simply exists for volleyball.
Yet, Harukaze-san came into his life. A year ago, in the same place, he's standing in the front right now.
He peeled the plastic that wrapped around the straw, sticking it on the foiled hole on the carton.
A year from now, Harukaze-san won't be around to give them – him – chocolates. The grip on the carton tightened. His feet began to move away from the gym and the vending machine.
He likes her. And he didn't want to be apart from her.
Feet on the ground and head on the clouds, Tobio began to wonder. How does Harukaze-san feel for the next Valentine's?
February 15, 2013
If Valentine's are for women, then White Day is for men. So, he heard. Tobio has no problem with the date before. Because, well, he didn't have to do it for he has no one to return the gesture. But yesterday, and for the 14th day of March, he felt like he has to. He could never turn his back on her no matter what he thinks. He will not see it as an obligation to give back what he received from Harukaze-san but rather, take it in the manner where he can reciprocate it genuinely.
He looked for it as well. She mentioned that it's not giri choko. Does that mean that she likes me? As it was not obligatory chocolate. But she didn't clarify whether it's honmei choko or tomo choko – as what Google gave him the results of his search. It left him wondering if his feelings are mutual or not.
Harukaze-san went to the trouble of making him that full-packed lunch and chocolates. Aside from that and counting the times that she did to give him something, he has no idea what to give her. She gave so much and he does not know how and what to give back. And so, the dilemma of what to do in White Day.
"Huh? What Sawa likes?" Sugawara-san blinked. There was an uncertain smile that curved his lips.
He nodded.
It was lunch break at the moment. He was able to finish his food (cafeteria food) earlier, as he has a plan in mind. He decided to ask advice and conduct a question-and-answer to a specific upperclassman. Tobio went to the third-year hallway, to the room of Class 3-4 where they resided. He was fully aware that Harukaze-san shared the same class with his retired seniors but fortunately, she was not inside when he peeked to check. Out of all the five third-years, four now as he didn't include the pink-haired lady, he chose Sugawara-san.
His senior tilted his head. "Sawa likes a lot of things."
He caught; eyes sparkled as he can see the end of his current problem. "Such as?"
"Books."
That seemed to be obvious. "What else?"
"Strawberry."
That, too. "And?"
"Bread?"
Why is it a question? "And?"
"Koala."
Obvious. "How about other stuff that is not… obvious?"
Sugawara-san sighed. "You know, Kageyama…" He began. It startled him. "If you really want to give something to Sawa, wouldn't it be better if you ask her instead?"
He blinked.
Sugawara-san waved his hand. "Ah! I didn't mean it in the wrong way." He scratched his cheek. "I'm grateful that you came up to me but this is Sawa that we're talking about. If it's for Sawa, it's better if it came from Sawa herself, don't you think?"
Huh?
"Well, if you ask me what I should do if I was in your position…" He listened. "…a confession would be nice."
He gasped. "C-Confession?" That early? But what's with early or late confession?
Sugawara-san nodded. "Yeah. Tell her your feelings." His senpai winked.
His cheeks flared up into a bright shade of red. His feelings for her had been acknowledged a long time ago and Tobio couldn't turn a blind eye on it anymore. But a confession… Tobio has slapped again with the reality that should he choose not to confess; he won't be able to have an opportunity to do it. For she would be somewhere far and he won't be able to reach her if he'll just let it be.
He didn't want to let her go.
In response, he nodded. He took note of his senpai's suggestion to heart. "How do you confess, Sugawara-san?"
"Eh?"
He blinked.
"You're… You're really going to do it?!"
Tobio, while blushing, nodded. He's going to do it.
Sugawara-san told him that he should wait for a timing. Or that, he should tell Harukaze-san forwardly. Be himself, the other setter told him. That, he should emotionally and mentally be prepared before he confessed. For what is worth, it still didn't sink to him the idea of HOW he's going to do it. He's telling her after all. He should know.
Again, how?
Once, he tried. He was getting impatient with the number of days, pressure at the same time. It was three days later, exactly on Monday that he approached Harukaze-san when he caught sight of her by the vending machine. Now, he knew preparation and forwardness. He was always prepared and he was always straightforward with his words. He knew the words to say as they came from his heart.
Truly, he had always found her attractive. Her hair of color black shone under the ray of the sun. Her pale complexion contrasted the darkness of her hair and brought out the vibrancy of the eyes that got him in this situation. She's hardworking, busy, passionate, friendly, bright, wise, and he really likes her smile. Harukaze-san was a beauty in and out. Tobio acknowledged her and he won't deny it anymore. It has long been overdue – his feelings.
And so, he decided that he would at least place a dot on it. Perhaps, time may leave it to continue on its own. So, he would do what was suggested to him. Confess. He'll do it.
"Harukaze-san." He called as soon as he approached her.
"Ah, Kageyama-kun." She looked at his way and his heart raced when he's not doing any cardio-related. She smiled. "Hello."
Yet with that smile alone, he was left speechless. For one, it's pretty and it made her pretty. Second, it was directed to him. And third, it's like it's just them that exists. He liked it.
Harukaze-san tilted her head to the side. "Yes?"
Ah. His face reddened. "Um… um…"
He mentally cursed his self from stuttering. Just how hard it could be to blatantly say that he likes her? Moreover, what should he say again? I like you? Just like what he heard from one of Harukaze's admirers. I love you? Just like from the drama on the television that he saw his sister was watching. Or is he going to add the phrase, Please, go out with me? Perhaps, explain to her why he likes her and tell her with such conviction that he will take good care of her?
Shit.
"Ah…" He looked at the side, unintentionally glaring at the stone. "I like…" Then his eyes flickered to her face.
It was red.
Tobio swallowed. "I like…" He coughed. "I…IlikeHarryrice."
Silence.
He bit his tongue. He mentally grumbled and unable to stop himself from widening his eyes in shock. Fuck. Shit. Shit. Damn. Fuck.
"Oh. Spicy?" She blinked, a few moments later.
Tobio shook his head, "No. Pork curry with an egg on top."
"Oh! Soft-boiled or hard-boiled?"
"Hard-boiled."
"Noted." Harukaze-san smiled.
NO! He opened his mouth, planning to correct his mistake that he realized too late but that pink-haired upperclassman knew how to intervene and emerged in a very wrong timing.
"Hey, Sawa, it's about to start."
"Ah, Satsu." The Harukaze before him smiled apologetically. "I apologize, Kageyama-kun. I'll go ahead."
He gaped. She left him speechless again, wallowing on his mistake. He was planning to confess, wasn't he? His feelings, isn't it? Yet why did he confessed that he liked curry rice, Harry rice – spicy curry rice, instead. He clicked his tongue, frustrated at himself. Tobio eyed the machine and sighed. He placed a hand on his pants to reach for coins. When he got the number of yens that he wanted, he dropped them on the slot, and angrily pushing two buttons.
Tobio bit his lip. Confessing was hard. How did those people do it? And when she left… She looked sad. His eyes narrowed, almost meeting at the image of that sad face she just made. Damn it.
For all the things that recently transpired, at least, he tried. And ultimately failing on that part. He made her sad. That's something he can't forgive himself with. But perhaps, it just wasn't the day nor the right time to do it. He was truly being impatient. Again, this sense of hurrying to make things right always caused him to make mistakes. It's like him not too long ago before he was being confronted by Hinata about being a king.
Yet at the memory of that wild tangerine made him scowl as he saw the mop of orange shaking behind the machine. It seems keeping the plan to himself also failed as well. Someone caught on to what he did moments ago. He immediately heard the cackling of someone from the team.
"I saw it, Kageyama-kun."
He gritted his teeth and tried to hide his embarrassed face. "It's none of your business."
"Oh ho? Oh ho? OH HO!"
Irritated, he raised his leg to kick him but Hinata professionally evaded. Tobio cursed his partner's reflexes.
"You're in love!"
"SHUT UP!" Damn.
Hinata laughed. "Young man, you're easy to read."
Tobio glared. "I said shut up, dumbass." His cheeks reddened, as he tried his best to conceal it despite hearing a fact from a teammate.
But Hinata's apparently not done yet. "It's senpai."
He choked on his own saliva. He almost forgot. Hinata met Harukaze-san on one of their matches in the Inter-High season. His single-brain cell comrade took that long to realize that Harukaze-senpai, the spectator, and Harukaze-senpai, the girl he likes, and Sawa-nee, Hitori's older sister, are one person.
"N-n-no…"
Just right after the Seijoh match, he remembered the loud Harukaze, the only Harukaze that irritated him, told Hinata of what was up with him in the romance aspect.
The short middle blocker crossed his arms, pouting. "It's not a question, stupid."
AH!
Alarmed, and surprised at his blunder, he grabbed Hinata by the cheeks, trapping both fats hard, Hinata almost looked like an octopus. "Leave it alone."
He opened the milk and took one sip.
"She went through the trouble of giving you chocolates and I went through the trouble of helping you get close to her family yet you can't express your feelings? Are you sure you're a man?"
He glared. "It's not easy."
"You actually told her you like that kind of curry. Harry rice. Pft." Hinata hollered. "Man, you suck."
He attacked Hinata one more time.
OMAKE
The second time that he tried wasn't because of what Sugawara-san told him. It was because of Hinata's nosiness that landed him in this predicament.
"How about love letters?'
"Love letters?"
"Yeah. They said it never goes out of style."
"How to write love letters?"
"Like I know. Ask google."
"Have you written love letters before?"
"Yeah. I do."
"WAH –! Tell me how!"
After learning that Hinata wrote a love letter for his mother and younger sister, Natsu, Tobio was left with a choice to ask google how to write one.
It took him an unidentifiable number of papers until he gave and just wrote…
Harukaze-san, I like you.
- Kageyama Tobio
He held the paper with care, checking for bystanders left and right. When the coast was clean, he leaned closer to Harukaze-san's locker. Tobio quickly and inserted the folded paper still checking for any signs of human life that may arrive.
When the paper slid inside, he left the area without making anyone appear he did a thing.
However, on the next day, he found out that he failed.
"Hey, Sawa."
"Yes, Satsu."
"Someone made a mistake of dropping their love letter on my locker."
"Huh?"
"Hm… nothing."
note:
* A clarification in the prologue: Tobio and Sawako met in February, not December.
I originally chose December as I based it on the month I took my entrance exams for college. However, I didn't look up on how Japan handles entrance examinations. It was too late for me to change it as I was already updating the fic and I didn't want to erase that poem I made in the prologue.
* I'm sure you are already aware of the Japanese culture every Valentine's from all the j-drama and anime. Women are the gift-givers (majority) rather than men. There are like categories as well on as to what kind of chocolates they prepared:
Honmei Choko - is chocolate given by women to men whom the giver has romantic feelings for. This is often given to husbands, boyfriends, and desired partners.
Giri Choko - is given to male coworkers and other men the woman has no romantic attachment to. In other words, obligatory or a "thank-you" chocolate.
Tomo Choko - is given to friends.
* AND OMG. SANDALEEEEEE~ Superfluous offially surpassed Dulcet now. Thank you so much for the new follows and favorites. This means a lot to me. It made me happy really.
* bbymojo: Thank you very much! Oh, more more more. Soon.
* Kageyama lover: I need a Kageyama in my life, too. ( ._. )
- Until next time (here, wheezing in excitement for the next chapter.)!
