Iwaizumi wasn't sure how this had happened. One minute, he had been enjoying an after party in the Olympic Village and the next minute Kuroo was drawing up a bracket and ranking contestants.
"I think that Ushijima should have the number one ranking," Karoo said, leaning over the napkin he was writing on.
"No, Kageyama has the hardest serve amongst the contestants so he should have the number one ranking," Sakusa muttered quietly from the corner of the couch. He had reluctantly joined the fray, even if just to watch Miya make a fool of himself.
"Can we agree that Miya is seeded last?"
"Agreed."
"Omi-omi, don't be a little bitch. The Argentina giants should be ranked below me," Miya whined.
Kuroo turned back to Iwaizumi asking, "Do you have a preference on who should be the number one ranking?"
Iwaizumi shrugged and took another sip of beer, "I don't care as long as Shittykawa is ranked last."
"What the hell, Iwa-chan! Are you trying to set me up to fail?" Oikawa screeched from across the room where he was stretching with Hinata.
"Okay, the bracket has been completed. There will be a 5 minute break between matches. Classic rules. No cheating. Winner gets to marry Iwaizumi."
"Wrong!" Oikawa wailed, "winner gets a kiss and a date with Iwa-chan! Not his hand in marriage."
"Shut up, Argentine. You're lucky we are letting your traitorous ass join us," Miya Atsumu smirked.
Seed Order:
Ushijima
Kageyama
Bokuto
Hinata
Bruno
Sebastián
Miya
Oikawa
30 minutes ago
"Argentina, haven't you rubbed your win in our faces enough?" Miya asked as three members of the Argentina National Team strolled through the door of the Athletes lounge where Team Japan was currently sulking in their silver medal finish.
"Why do you care, benchwarmer? You got a silver medal for not doing anything except cheering loudly for Kageyama," Oikawa shot back as he adjusted the gold medal around his neck.
"Benchwarmer? BENCHWARMER? I'll show you benchwarmer, ya traitor donkey suckin-"
"Miya, shut the hell up," Kuroo called out, motioning for the Argentines to come in and join the party. "Second place at the Olympics is nothing to scoff at. We should all be proud. I'm Kuroo Tetsurou," he said in perfect English, introducing himself to the strangers.
"I'm Bruno and this is Sebastián. We just wanted to make sure Oikawa behaves himself tonight. Our captain doesn't trust Toto's judgement when it comes to Team Japan and not behaving like a fool," the 6'7" player said, holding a hand out to shake Kuroo's outstretched palm.
A snort erupted from the person standing next to Kuroo.
"Iwa-chan, I am perfectly capable of behaving," Oikawa stated, rolling his eyes at Iwaizumi's scoff.
Bruno and Sebastián looked at the man and then back to Oikawa with raised eyebrows.
"You are Iwa-chan? Toto never shuts up about you. It is a pleasure to finally meet the famous Iwa-chan," Sebastian smiled, holding out his hand.
"My name isn't Iwa-chan. It's Hajime Iwaizumi," Iwaizumi said using the western way of introducing himself. "Shittykawa's just never been able to remember that."
Miya had reengaged in the conversation and strolled up behind Iwaizumi, dropping an arm around his shoulder, "Hajime here is our amazing athletic trainer. He keeps us all limber and relaxed. I keep waiting for him to take me up on my offer to keep *him* limber and relaxed."
Oikawa squawked. Literally squawked as Iwaizumi plucked Miya's arm from around his shoulder.
"Today is not the day I take you up on your offer. Maybe later. Ask me again next week," Iwaizumi said, rolling his eyes at the irritated sound that came from Oikawa again.
"Do you have something to say, Shittykawa?"
Bruno and Sebastián looked at each, mouthing 'Shittykawa'. No one had ever called Tōru such a name in Argentina. They grinned at the new tradition that would start upon their return home.
Oikawa had seemingly had enough and through gritted teeth said, "How can you lead him on like that? Why do you let him continuously ask you out?"
Iwaizumi shrugged, "My personal life is my personal life. If my partner actually lived on the same continent and wanted to actually be in a relationship then they might get a say in what I do when men ask me out."
Oikawa gapped at him then turned to Miya.
"Benchwarmer, I challenge you."
"Ya challenge me? To what, asshole?"
Oikawa searched his brain for a challenge that wouldn't get him in trouble with his coach or trainer, and would impress Iwaizumi, and that he could win at.
After a moment, Oikawa turned and said, "I challenge you to an arm wrestling match. Winner gets a date with Iwaizumi!"
Iwaizumi choked on his beer, "What the hell, Oikawa? You can't just bet-"
"Deal! But I wanna add something to the bet: Winner gets to kiss Iwaizumi right here and now and then gets to take him on a date," Miya said, holding out his hand to shake on it.
Iwaizumi feels his neck getting flushed and not from the alcohol he had consumed, "Miya, you idiot, I'm not-"
"Hey! I want to kiss Iwaizumi!" Hinata shouted from his spot on the couch.
"I, too, would like to take part in this challenge to officially court Iwaizumi," Ushijima stated quietly from his spot on the couch.
"Iwaizumi-senpai, I would like to take part in this challenge too," Kageyama said.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm down for a challenge!" Bokuto yelled.
"We would like to participate in this challenge as well," Bruno said, Sebastián nodding along.
Oikawa turned a scandalous look at his teammates. How dare they betray him like that.
Seb saw the look and shrugged, "From all the stories you've told, it seems like Hajime here is a fun guy. I'd like a shot at an even better ending to the Olympics."
Bruno just smiled, saying, "I'm just doing this to fuck with you."
Kuroo smirked at the group, "Sounds like our challenge has turned into a tournament. Gentleman, prepare your arms for the fight to conquer Iwaizumi. Sakusa, help me create the bracket!"
Kuroo, Bokuto and Hinata worked together to move the couchs to form a semi-circle around a cafe table with two chairs on opposite sides. Money could be seen changing hands as the non-participating members of the entourage placed bets on who would win. Current odds favored Bruno and Ushijima.
Kuroo walked to the front of the semicircle and held up his hands for quiet.
"Gentlemen, I would like to officially welcome you to fight night where eight illustrious volleyball players will battle to the death, or broken arm, whichever comes first, for the heart of Iwaizumi Hajime. Iwaizumi, would you like to come say a few words of encouragement to the contestants?"
Rolling his eyes, Iwaizumi slowly stood from his "chair of honor" in the middle of the circle. He glared at everyone of the competitors as he said, "This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever had the displeasure of being part of. You are all over the age of 25 and should be acting like grown ass men. Bokuto, why the fuck are you participating? You're married to Akaashi."
To which Bokuto just shrugged, "I'm doing it for your honor. I can't let an Argentine woo you away from us."
Shaking his head at the insanity of it all, Iwaizumi finished with,"I think this is dumb but I will follow through with the bet, kiss the winner and go on a date. But whoever wins has to pay because you all are professional athletes and we will be going out to the most expensive place I can think of."
With a scowl, he sat back down and motioned for Kuroo to continue.
"Thank you, Hajime, for those inspiring words. Well, gentlemen, the time has come. The first match of round 1 is Ushijima versus Oikawa."
Ushijima shuffled to the table and sat down. Oikawa sauntered up, blowing Iwaizumi a kiss and glaring at Miya.
"Oikawa, if only you had come to Shiratorizawa. Then you might have stayed in Japan and already been in a healthy relationship with Iwaizumi. I look forward to delivering you a crushing defeat."
"I'm going to rip your fucking arm off," Oikawa snarled, throwing his arm onto the table, hand up in the air.
Round 1:
Ushijima v Oikawa
Kageyama v Miya
Bokuto v Seb
Hinata v Bruno
AN: Who do you think will make it through the first round? Post your predictions in the comments.