Disclaimer: I do not own Haikyuu! or any of its characters. I only own my OCs.
Chapter 9: Family Matters
"So, tell me again why you didn't submit your story for the competition?"
Minako made an irritated noise, lightly punching her brother in the arm. "Why does this matter anymore?! It's done. Gone. The Ship has sailed and I decided to stay on shore—decided. No other force of nature compelled me to do so, except my own, conscience, of-sound-body-and-mind decision to not submit it. Please let it go."
Koichi widened his eyes, "Wow, okay, well…sorry, I guess. I was just curious."
Minako's eye twitched. 'Curious'. How amusing. It seemed that nasty trait ran in the family.
The streets of Sendai's suburbs were busier than normal as families and friends went about their usual summer business activities that didn't include work or school. The two siblings dodged various groups of people as they trekked over to the local recreation center, one more enthusiastic than the other. Minako, after a harrowing morning wake-up call from her far too peppy brother pushing her to get ready for a morning workout, found herself trudging alongside her him wearing athletic clothes she didn't even know she owned, unwittingly signed on for a displeasing morning.
"But why did you decide not to?" He pushed again after a moment.
The girl sighed, "Have you ever written something that you just felt was a steaming pile of trash and you could not in good conscience submit?"
"Yes, actually, I have," the older boy nodded.
"College essays don't count."
"Oh. Well, then no," Koichi turned to her, pointing a finger at her expressly. "But I still submitted them."
"That doesn't count either," she muttered, throwing her brother an agitated look.
Koichi smiled at her, leaning down to nudge her gently on the shoulder with his own, "You're normally so confident about your writing, Minako. What happened this time?"
The writer shrugged, "Don't know. I guess with all the craziness of covering Interhigh qualifiers, then exams, I never gave myself time to properly write out something that I could be…proud of."
"So?" Koichi looked ahead. "Doesn't hurt to just submit it anyway. Who knows, it might have gotten a better reception than you thought."
"It doesn't work that way, nii-san. I wish I could help you understand, but I really can't. I just…didn't want to submit it."
"You sure you just weren't scared?"
"Of what?"
"Rejection? The possibility of negative response?"
Minako frowned, remembering the exact words spoken by her best friend just a few days ago. Why did every person in her life seem to dole out the same advice? Were they all secretly conspiring with one another behind her back, or was she just that readable? Were they all secretly conspiring because she was that readable?
"I'm not afraid of rejection, nii-san," she started. "Or failing, or making a fool of myself, or whatever."
"Sure you are; everyone is to some degree," he stated plainly.
"Oh yeah?" she turned to him, raising a brow dramatically. "Then why is it that I agreed to play basketball with you, hm?" She lifted the strap of her gym bag off her shoulder and waved it in front of him.
"Because underneath that frigid exterior of yours is a kind younger sister that wants to spend time with her dear older brother!" Koichi glared playfully at the girl before stopping at the entrance of the local recreation center, pulling the doors open dramatically and waltzing in with a huff.
Minako shook her head incredulously, grumbling in irritation as she followed her brother in.
The rec center was usually bumping on most days, but summers were a certain type of chaos. With an increase in free time and the lack of formal education dictated by the span of summer vacation, the center was filled with kids and teens alike participating in summer programs and leisure time with friends and family. It was never something Minako paid mind to—she was never there. But the last few months had acclimated the writer to the sensations of loud, booming voices, sweaty bodies and the smell of physical exertion, and the squeaks and thuds of shoes and equipment on hardwood floors that the minute Minako stepped inside, she felt at home as ever.
She frowned.
"Get changed and meet me on the court, okay? I promise I'll go easy on you," Koichi grinned, jogging to the change rooms.
"Yeah, right," she mumbled, shuffling away.
The rec center was large for one that wasn't located in the main city district, which made it a popular and convenient spot for younger students. The basketball court Minako made her way to was fairly packed as it was, which gave her the hope that there wouldn't be an empty net to use thus allowing them to leave. But Koichi stood at one at the far end, grinning and dribbling the ball excitedly. She rolled her head back and groaned loudly.
"Nii-san, why?! I hate playing any type of sport! Gym class is the worst!"
"If you don't work out in some capacity, you're body is going to wither away! Come on, basketball is fun! You used to love coming and watching me play," he laughed jovially, passing the ball to her.
Minako held onto it awkwardly then let it slip from her fingers and bounce a few times before catching it again. "Watching and playing are two completely different things." The writer began dribbling the ball clumsily as her brother came up to defend.
"What was it about?"
"Huh?" Minako turned her torso, avoiding a swipe at the ball by her brother.
"Your story—what was it about?"
"You can just read it," she remarked, dribbling away from him.
"I thought it was a 'steaming pile of trash'?"
"It is; family gets a free pass for judgment."
"Oh really?" Koichi raised his brow bemusedly, jogging forward and snatching the ball away expertly. He jumped, shooting the ball, and grinned as it swished into the bucket before returning his amusement to the girl. "I'll remember that for next time."
Minako rolled her eyes, walking up unenthusiastically to grab the ball again. She dribbled it, trying to add some level of energy to her steps as she went up closer to the net, avoiding her brother who was so obviously allowing her a free shot. She jumped up awkwardly and took a shot, watching as it unceremoniously bounced off the rim and back in front of her. If that wasn't a metaphor for something…
Koichi laughed, picking up the ball and starting to show off his ball-handling skills. He jogged forward, spinning into layup and the ball sank in without a sound. "Maybe you need a muse," he mentioned, tossing her the ball as the writer stood there with her hands on her hips.
"Maybe," she mused. She dribbled slowly, watching as the ball bounced off the ground and back into her hand.
"So…get one."
"You say that as if it's that easy."
"Isn't it?"
"No," Minako frowned. She didn't even move this time, with the ball in her hands, standing on the spot and simple throwing it to the basket and watching as it, surprisingly, went in.
Koichi laughed, jogging over to the ball and preparing for another drive. "You're such an over-thinker. I think the more you give into instinct and do and write what feels natural, then you'll feel fine. Great, even."
Instinct. Minako mulled over the word. It was instinct—instinct as a writer—that drove more than half her actions over these past few months. Too bad it seemed to take her nowhere aside from the emergence of a very odd relationship between her and a certain superstar athlete.
"You make it sound like it's so easy," Minako muttered, as she became more aggressive with her defense.
"And you make it seem like it's so much harder when it really isn't," Koichi chuckled, evading her easily.
"You just don't understand, nii-san!" The writer groaned, feebly swiping at the ball as her brother agilely shifted from foot to foot keeping her at bay. She huffed exasperatedly as he made another successfully shot. The ball bounced towards her and she picked it up hesitantly. "Writing isn't sports—it isn't basketball. It's not something where you can just learn the basics, practice practice practice, and then it'll come easier. Writing requires you to push and pull at your brain, play a kind of tug-of-war with your creative muscles till you can formulate words into sentences that make some sense. It requires refinement that cannot rely on formulaic or methodical means in order for perfection to be achieved. Everything is so subject to…everything—environment, state of mind, mood, sheesh even luck. It's…just not that easy." She made another shot and watched as the ball swished in.
"Wow," Koichi nodded appreciatively. "Eloquently said. It's like you're a writer, or something."
Minako shoved him as he ran past.
"Hey, foul!"
For the next 45 minutes the two siblings continued their amicable banter—considerate sibling advice, as Koichi would so affectionately correct—whilst continuing their rather unremarkable, and rather pathetic on Minako's end, 1v1 basketball game.
Koichi jogged over to the girl who was bent over, hands on her knees, and panting heavily. He grinned, patting her jubilantly on the back. "What do you say, one more game?"
The writer scoffed, "Yeah, right. You go find some randoms to play with, I'm going to buy juice." She grimaced at her brother before heading off the court, ignoring his obnoxious chortle that echoed loudly in the large gymnasium.
The air between the gym and the outside area of the rec center was a noticeable change, and Minako found herself taking deep gulps of cool, dry air as she walked over to the vending machines. Her clothes stuck uncomfortably to her frame, and as she grabbed her purchased juice box she found herself continuing to wander away from the gym, if anything as an effort to cool off her overheating body.
The halls echoed with the voices of the many patrons gracing the center and its many facilities. There was one small gym area she passed by that harbored a group of young adults, college kids she assumed, that were playing volleyball rather skillfully. It was strange seeing the sport being played outside of her contained bubble of Aoba Johsai. She was so used to watching high school kids play that the difference in form and technique displayed by the older group was rather surprising. Minako took another sip from her juice container and continued walking down the halls.
It wasn't until she spotted another area where there was volleyball that she stopped, but this time it was children. It was a group of what looked like elementary school kids and they were undergoing lessons of some kind, due to the booming voices coming from the adults in the room shouting out various directions and rules. Minako's eyes trailed around the room impassively and turned her body to leave after a moment, until a familiar spot of chocolate-brown hair caused her to halt. Her eye twitched instinctively and she felt her face pull down with a discomforted grimace. Her feet, however, remained planted despite every other thought telling her to leave before her presence was noticed.
He was in the gymnasium. With the kids. Talking to them. Teaching them?
…
Teaching them.
Minako's eyes shifted to the doors leading to the inside, where a sign read 'LIL' TYKES VOLLEYBALL CLUB'.
The writer narrowed her eyes as they shifted back to the Aoba Johsai setter, who tossed a ball to a young boy with alarmingly similar bone-structure. So even his days off were dedicated to volleyball. How grossly admirable, she thought scathingly, taking a loud sip from her carton of juice. She lingered a few moments, silently observing the setter as he practiced with the kids while amiably smiling and talking to them. It seemed so natural, as if the bout of leadership was embedded in his very DNA. She alternated her glances between the teenager and the other children, who all but eagerly bounded to him and looked up at him with such ardent reverence. He really was something. Minako scoffed loudly.
Oikawa's gaze scanned the gym passively, before his eyes landed to the window. Minako froze but her feet remained planted, her eyes widening as they locked with the setter's. Oikawa's mouth hung slightly ajar as his brow raised curiously. He turned to the kids, firing off some instructions with a wide smile and watching as they went around and began their next set of drills, before turning back to the writer, confused, and strode towards the exit.
Minako breathed in heavily as the doors opened and Oikawa emerged.
"What are you doing here?" He asked loudly, as soon as he approached her.
"I…could ask you the same thing," Could she, though? Minako crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him awkwardly.
"Last time I checked," he quirked a brow, "I play sports. And last time I checked, you didn't."
"And how do you know that? You don't know anything about me," she retorted, sticking her nose up slightly.
"No, I don't…" Oikawa gave her a strange look.
Minako, suddenly feeling as stupid as ever for even being in the area, dropped her arms and inhaled slowly. "I didn't know you taught kids."
The setter shrugged, glancing over to the group of children running around tossing the volleyballs among each other. "Yeah, been doing it for a while now."
Minako shook her head, "So dedicated to this sport, it's hard to believe."
Oikawa leaned on the wall, smirking, "But you find it fascinating, don't you? That's why you're so transfixed on me?"
The writer groaned, "You're obsession with yourself is even more fascinating, honestly."
Oikawa smiled to himself before tilting his head towards the girl, appraising her carefully. "So, what are you doing here?"
Minako shrugged, "I came with my brother, he wanted someone to play with."
"Volleyball?"
"Basketball."
Oikawa barked out a long laugh, "You? Basketball? That's a sight to behold, I'm sure."
Minako scowled, "I'm sure you're no better."
"I'll take you up on that bet."
The girl scoffed, "You can't be good at everything."
"Probably better than you," he smirked back loftily.
Minako pouted, turning her head sharply away from him and peering into the gym and watching as the children tossed the ball among each other, laughing, smiling, cheering vivaciously. A few turned to where the two teenagers were standing, shouting at Oikawa to come back and continue with his lesson.
"I didn't know you had a brother."
Minako looked at Oikawa as he asked the unexpected question. She pursed her lips, looking back to the gym and shrugging. "There's a lot you don't know about about me."
"So you've pointed out…So is it just the two of you?"
"Yeah," she replied quickly. "Just me and him." Minako's weight kept shifting from foot to foot.
The girl tried to ignore Oikawa's deliberate assessment of her as he began walking closer to her, trying to catch a few glimpses of her face. She didn't enjoy the personal question, even though it really wasn't all that intrusive. And the more she thought on it, she realized that there was really quite a lot that the setter didn't know about her.
"Well," he started with a playful scoff, "I feel sorry for him, having to deal with a pain-in-the-ass sister like you."
"Ha!" Minako guffawed aggressively, "I could say the same about you, I'm sure. I mean…if you have siblings." Her eyes darted to the sides where she took another quick glance at the young boy inside that shared similar features to Oikawa himself.
"My brother loves me, actually," Oikawa turned his nose snobbishly. "Why else would he trust me to teach his son, hm?"
"Personal and objective acknowledgment can be on two separate sides of the line; one can detest you whilst still recognizing your skills."
Oikawa scrunched his nose, staring derisively at her. "Thank you, sensei, for your enlightening lesson on semantics."
Minako ignored him as her gaze scanned the gym. She pointed her thumb at the boy inside, short and scrawny and sporting a buzz cut, and turned to face Oikawa, shooting him a triumphant grin. "I knew you and that kid looked alike,"
"Right, because nothing escapes your ever-perceptive eye," the setter rolled his eyes.
"So…your nephew, huh?"
Oikawa nodded.
Minako smirked, "I feel sorry for him, having to deal with a pain-in-the-ass uncle like you."
"How original, Sono-chan," Oikawa sneered.
Minako ignored his quip, gently pushing him aside to look at the sign posted on the door of the gymnasium. She pointed at it. "Lil' Tykes Volleyball Club. Is it a summer camp or something?"
"Well, it's a kids' training camp, but it runs throughout the year."
"And you're…a teacher?"
The setter nodded, nonplussed.
Minako alternated her glances between Oikawa, who continually bemused her, to the group of kids running around in the gym, who kept checking over in his direction and giving the girl strange looks.
"Hm…" she mused, "Who would have thought that the great Oikawa-san would have such an inclination towards shaping young minds and bodies?"
"There's a lot you don't know about me," Oikawa smirked pointedly.
Minako rolled her eyes, trying to hide the playful grin that pulled at her mouth. Oikawa returned the expression, turning his gaze back to the gymnasium as he followed the kids with what seemed like a hint of pride.
"So…you enjoy this then?"
"Of course," Oikawa shrugged. "The kids are good, though they can be brats at times. And it keeps my fundamentals strong."
"How long have you been teaching?"
"Since the start of high school, actually."
"Only two summers?"
Oikawa shook his head slowly, "No, Lil' Tykes is a year-round program. Summers are just a bit more frequent."
Minako's eyes widened. So not only did he play throughout the year, competitively and recreational, but he also was a teacher. His life revolved around this sport, and yet he didn't seem to be growing tired of it. Dedication was one thing, but Minako was sure this was more than that—passion. Pure, unadulterated passion, which was extremely rare for people as young as them.
"Wow…you really enjoy this then..." She whispered to herself.
"Uh, of course," he looked at her pointedly. "I just said it."
The writer opened her mouth to retort, but decided against it. The noise in the gymnasium got louder as the kids suddenly ran up close to the glass wall separating them and began yelling at Oikawa to come back. The setter chuckled and turned one last time to the girl.
"Well, my students are summoning me, I should get back."
Minako gestured him away, "Go, go…"
He paused for a moment, head lilting to the side as he gazed at her with a strange twinkle in his eyes. "I'll see you around, Sono-chan."
Minako nodded, flashing him a brief smile, and watched as he jogged back inside. The kids swarmed him, playfully swatting at him and pushing him further inside. He responded in kind, laughing along with them and exchanging words that caused them to burst out into cacophonous laughter. No sooner than the playfulness had appeared, Oikawa's face had turned serious before he started gently barking orders. The kids followed impeccably, jogging to their spots before they began their training drills. Though not as refined or skilled as the high schoolers she had seen, for obvious reasons, they were still remarkably perceptive and seemed to follow direction rather well. Oikawa would shout for changes here and there, walking around the kids as they went through their formations, gently adjusting them where needed and giving out pointers occasionally. It was an interesting sight, to say the least, and though the demeanor shift didn't necessarily come as a surprise to Minako, she was still surprised to see it nonetheless. She continued to observe the setter carefully.
It really struck Minako true when she first thought it, but the point was hammered even more the longer she watched him. He really had a natural sense of leadership. Sure, it was only children, but he still held a commanding yet encouraging presence, never once diminishing them or speaking in a way that looked down on them as kids. Despite that, he still managed to break into a grin once in a while, cracking a joke that either induced fits of giggles or loud, unimpressed groans—he fit right in, probably because he was so childlike himself. It was a perfect balance of firm, fair, and fun. His natural charisma only added to his general likableness, based on the reaction of the kids.
It was the type of leadership, Minako thought, that would make him a perfect candidate for captain of the Aoba Johsai volleyball team. There were already rumors floating around that captain Otsuka-san and the head coach had him in mind for captaincy for the following year. His natural athletic ability and game sense paired with his already natural chemistry with the rest of his teammates made that an almost obvious choice. Oikawa truly was—and Minako cringed as the thought occurred to her—one of the greats. The noise of the fanfare that came with him and his talents could easily drown any person with reasonable sanity, but the truth behind it couldn't be denied.
The dissonance between the two characterizations never seemed more apparent until now, Minako thought. Oikawa had the most annoying personality traits every time the two of them interacted, yet that wasn't always the case. Minako only started realizing how the famed setter seem to pick and choose how other people saw him. He might only be a pompous asshole because that's how he chooses to display himself as. He could be a adored, charming, romanticized teenage boy that girls effortlessly fawned over, or he was the dedicated and reliable athlete his teammates needed. He was the natural leader that those among him followed with a painless sense of ease, or he was the annoying friend that spewed garbage from his mouth if only to be ingratiating and to incite amusement in himself. Ultimately, the power was all in his hands. It distracted everyone else, kept most of them away, leaving him to his devices and allowing him to focus on what he needed to.
And what that was was still a mystery to the riddled writer. Victory for the sake of victory—or fame, glory, recognition, whatever—seemed mundane to someone as complex as Oikawa.
Was he even complex, though, Minako thought? Was she reading too much into this? Could he truly be as simple as it may have seemed? She let out a long, drawn-out sigh, taking a few steps back after realizing how close she was standing to the windowed walls, staring at him like some creep. At that moment, Oikawa turned toward her direction, and noticing she was still lingering about, waved amicably with a teasing smirk. Minako gave him a noncommittal wave back, before swiveling around and heading back, willing away the warmth that suddenly started to take over her face.
Koichi was still inside the gymnasium when she returned, having found a group of guys to join with. Minako entered, awkwardly shifting her weight from foot to foot debating on whether or not to join in or simply throw in the towel and go back to the change room. Deciding on the latter, she shuffled out of the gym before her brother could notice and made her way back to get changed.
Back in her regular clothes, hauling her sorry excuse of a 'gym bag' across her shoulders, Minako found herself wandering the hallways of the gymnasium as she waited for her brother to finish his games. As if on instinct, her feet carried her to the same spot she had found herself on only a short while ago. The gymnasium was starting to clear out as kids began to pack up their things and start on clean-up. Minako's eyes instantly landed on Oikawa's form as he spoke to that same little boy she noticed before—his nephew. As the kid jogged away, Oikawa leaned forward slightly to gently rub his knee before straightening out and stretching out his back. His eyes found her, and before she could dart away, he laughed out loud and began making his way towards her. Minako cursed under her breath as Oikawa opened the doors and leaned against the frame.
"You know," he drawled, "It might be best if you make your affections for me a bit more subtle."
"Try that with your ego, you butt," Minako retorted with a grimace.
Oikawa chuckled, "Seriously. All the kids in there think you're my girlfriend." He wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms over his chest before giving her an almost smug look. The amount of pleasure he took in being so grating was grating in and of itself.
"And what would be so wrong with that?" Minako replied a little too defensively.
He huffed, "As if I'd let them believe my standards have fallen that low."
The writer rolled her eyes. She darted her gaze around her surroundings, forcibly avoiding eye with the setter. The self-satisfied expression that he always seemed to done whenever the two of them bantered was second nature now, and Minako had learned to deal with it as a simple inevitability of life with the infuriating setter. However something about the moment left her feeling unusually warm and unable to look him in the eye, even challengingly. She turned her head away with an irritated pout.
"I'll be heading out th—"
"Want to go for lunch?"
Minako's head whipped to him faster than she was able to process the unexpected question. "Uh, wha—?"
Oikawa blinked, looking every bit as undeterred as she certainly was not. "Lunch? Want to grab some…with me? You came back here, no?"
"Yeah, not to ask you on a date!" Minako sputtered, heart beat increasing at an alarming rate.
Oikawa lifted a suspicious brow, "Who said date? I just said lunch…"
"Uh…I…."
"You want to go on a date? I must say, that is quite a surprising turn of events considering how insistently indignant you always seem to act aroun—"
"No!" Minako threw her hands up in frustration. "I…I can't go for lunch. My brother is here…I can't just ditch him…"
"He can come too," Oikawa offered casually.
Minako's head spun as she struggled to imagine the million and one thoughts and emotions that would run through her brother—and her—if she even dared to suggest such an idea. She would have rather endured an awful date with the setter than have her brother tag along on a 'casual lunch' with the two of them, trying to dissect whatever relationship the two had. Minako was the over-thinker, not Koichi, and the last thing she needed was for him to start becoming one.
"Hard pass," she muttered finally. "Maybe…some other time."
She definitely did not expect herself to say that. The very thought of it was simply weird, and not something she would willingly subject herself to by any means, yet the words still tumbled out of her mouth, as naturally as it would have had it been Matsui on the other side.
Oikawa's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could open his mouth to reply Minako waved her hands dismissively.
"Never mind. Uh, I should go. Uh…see you around. Don't forget to…finish your…summer homework, or something…" Minako would have slapped herself on the forehead had Oikawa not been standing right there. She rolled her eyes at herself, walking past him speedily before he could even get a word in and when she was sure she was out of eye-shot she darted back to the entrance of the rec centre, where she had severely hoped her brother would meet her soon so she escape the vile place. Luckily for her, her brother was already dressed and ready to go as soon as she emerged, and with a breath of relief she jogged over to him and signaled her ready.
"Good, let's go, I'm tired and could really use a nice shower," Minako didn't hesitate for a second as she went straight for the doors.
Koichi deadpanned, "You barely played."
"I leave the athletic pursuits to you. My ball and court is a pen and paper."
"Okay, Shakespeare," Koichi chuckled, following his sister out.
The warm afternoon breeze did nothing to cool off the over-flushed writer, despite finishing her physical activity quite some time ago. Sure, the burst of endorphins did admittedly feel pleasant, but Minako was longing for the cool air of an air conditioned cafe and a sweet iced drink in her hands.
"So anyway," Koichi piped animatedly, "Why do you really think you didn't submit your story?"
Minako swiveled and punched him the arm.
"Ow!"
"Enough about that!" Minako huffed. "What's done is done, I can't go back now."
"Do you regret it?"
Minako laughed incredulously. She sometimes forgot that nerve ran in the family, and it made it harder to get upset at her brother for exhibiting tendencies that she herself had and frequently inundated others with. It was frustrating. What was more frustrating was how Minako started to dwell further on her own feelings and introspect why it was that she really decided not to take the plunge with her story. She shook her head slowly, begging her brain to stop.
"No," she replied slowy. "I'm not dwelling on it, unlike you..! There's no use, so I'm moving on…"
"Yeah, no kidding," he whispered.
Minako shot him a brief glare, "Can we please talk about something else?"
The two entered the subway station, packed with the lunch time rush as well as the usual summer traffic from everyone else. Minako grimaced as the air only seemed to thicken.
"Alright, sure," Koichi said as he plopped down in an empty seat and turning to her curiously. "Who was that guy you were talking to earlier."
All of a sudden, their previous topic of conversation didn't seem all that bad.
"Who?"
Koichi rolled his dramatically, "We can skip the drama, little sister, seriously. Who was he? I saw you talking to him near the other gym? Volleyball?"
Minako sighed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. This was a conversation she was desperately hoping would never come to light with any of her family, but it clearly didn't work out with her father so it was only a matter of time before her brother caught wind and started sniffing around like the little beast he was. They were all family, alright; they all seemed unable to shake the tendencies of their god-forsaken curiosities and stuck their noses a bit too far down the foxhole. The temptation to ignore him was far too great, but Minako knew that he would never stop pestering her until she gave an answer that would satisfy him. What would satisfy him at this point, though, she had no idea…
"Why did you even follow me?" Minako asked, dodging him completely, with full knowledge that he wouldn't let it go that fast.
Koichi shrugged, "How long does one take to get juice?"
"Fair."
"You disappeared again after you got changed—yeah, I noticed. You think things like this escape my peepers?" He leaned toward her exaggeratedly, pointing at his eyes.
She rolled her eyes, shoving him off lightly. "Yeah, I was kinda hoping they would."
"So, who is he?"
"Just someone from the volleyball team."
"Someone like…a friend?"
The surprise in his voice almost offended her. "Sure, I guess."
"Well that's nice," Koichi mused. "I'm glad you're…branching out, at least."
Minako turned her head, confusion plastered on her face. "Why are you so calm? Aren't you upset that I'm talking to a boy, let alone friends with him?"
"Your lack of faith in my obvious maturity is insulting."
The girl snorted. Maturity wasn't the right word she'd use, but her brother's lack of over-protectiveness did strike her as odd. Was she really that sorry of a case?
"Seriously though," he continued. "I'm glad you are making more friends. Even if that guy looks kind of slimy. What's his name?"
Slimy, Minako decided, was a perfectly appropriate word. "Oikawa Tooru."
"Hm…sounds suspicious," Koichi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Yeah, he certainly is something…" she muttered, staring ahead blankly.
It was quiet for a few moments as the two siblings rode the rest of their subway ride, getting off minutes later and continuing their trek home. Their moments together were few and far between lately, with Koichi being overseas, so Minako felt a sense of normalcy at the two finally getting to be around each other again.
"Say," Koichi began suddenly. "What happened to that boy you were friends with in middle school?"
Minako turned to him, surprised at the mention. "Um…not sure. I haven't seen or spoken to him in a while."
"What happened between you two?"
"Nothing," she shrugged. "We just drifted apart. You know, after kaa-chan and all—"
"Sorry," he interrupted, voice hardening. "Didn't mean to bring that up."
"You didn't…" Minako replied softly, sparing a fleeting glance to her brother. "We're allowed to talk about her, you know?"
Koichi turned to her, his face softer than she'd seen all day. He cracked a small smile, nodding to himself before turning back.
Minako fiddled with the strap of her bag, staring at the back of her brother as he waltzed ahead in front on her. A thought suddenly struck her as she stared at his form…tall, athletic-build, broad shoulders…though the personalities were wildly different, she couldn't help drawing similarities between her brother and Oikawa.
She grimaced.
Though as ugly as a thought that was, she found familiarity with Oikawa and his journey and what her older brother went through a few years back…The circumstances were different, as were the results, but the similarities were still there.
Was that why she was so naturally, and annoyingly, drawn to the Seijoh setter? Would Oikawa follow a similar path like Koichi? Was he doomed to a similar fate? Especially at the rate he was going, Minako didn't find it impossible to believe.
She shook her head. Despite those similarities, Koichi and Oikawa occupied inherently different head spaces. And Oikawa's journey was only beginning…Koichi's had long ended. A sad smile tugged at the girl's lips. It all ended up okay, but the price that was unwittingly paid was high. She wondered if the gods were cruel enough to have Oikawa suffer through a similar ordeal. But Koichi's motivations were fueled by many different elements. Oikawa's…she still wasn't sure. Not entirely.
"Stop looking so moody."
The writer looked to her brother as they reached the front of their house. His hands rested on his hips and he arched a telling brow at her.
"I'm a teenager," she replied simply, opening the gate and heading inside. "I'm supposed to be moody."
"No, it's annoying. I can't read your thoughts."
"I think that's the point of them…"
"No…! What's on your mind, imouto? Tell your big brother!" Koichi pleaded behind her, hanging onto her shoulders dramatically.
The house smelled of fresh food as they entered and she could hear her father humming to himself cheerily. Minako smiled.
"Is it about this Oikawa guy?!" Koichi gasped. "Is he more than a friend?!"
Ignoring him, Minako bounded up the stairs and entered her room. She flopped onto her bed, letting out a long sigh and ignoring how her sweaty body would soon start to melt into her bedsheets. The ceiling was bright from the rays of the afternoon sunlight that streamed through her window, and as the air stilled around her she couldn't help but let her mind wander back to her previous thoughts.
She had no idea why she was so fixated on the Seijoh setter, aside from some similarities to her brother. Like she had determined before, the two possessed different mindsets, different perspectives. Yet Oikawa's tendencies and insane work ethic could very well parallel that of Koichi's—or what it used to be when he played basketball seriously. If Oikawa ended up in Koichi's position, the heartbreak would be unreal. Minako didn't want to think about it, because she was sure it would devastate her too, to some extent.
So the age old question resurfaced once again, as it had from the second she met the infuriating athlete. Why? What had possessed his mind, body, and soul to the point that at only 16 years old he had began working himself beyond that of a seasoned professional?
Minako groaned, sitting up abruptly and burying her fingers in her hair. She stood up and opened her desk drawer, affirming herself that those CD's she borrowed a while back were still there, "Kitagawa Daiichi' penned onto the front staring back at her in deviant temptation. She sighed, finally closing the drawer after a moment.
She doubted the videos would tell her anything, but a glimpse was all she needed.
A small glimpse to explain who Oikawa Tooru really was. And all her problems would be solved.
…
Well, not entirely. But if it sated her ravenous curiosity, she would take it.
A/N: Well. Here it is. After...what, another million years? I'm awful.
The writers block is SO REAL. I get all these great ideas at work...then I come home and nothing wants to cooperate. It's the age-old conundrum. Anyway, hope this chapter was okay! I struggled with a lot of the middle bits, and I'm still not entirely satisfied. I also came to a somewhat painful realization on how dialogue-heavy my writing is. I don't know, it feels natural for me to write people speaking more than anything. Hopefully it's not too overbearing. Banter is also very fun to write.
Also...re-reading and editing this made me think that maybe I'm making Oikawa a bit OOC? Maybe? I don't know, man. Writing is hard.
So we see Minako starting to piece together her view of who she thinks Oikawa is. I think he's such a fascinating character, and I can't wait to get a little more into it. We also get some sibling bonding in! I love writing Koichi-he's modeled after my own brother in many ways. And I bring up some family past but no details quite yet...those will come in time! As much as I love dissecting Oikawa, Minako is also another interesting character to study, and her family has a biiiig part in that!
This is where things get tough, because I was staying several chapters ahead with posting, but I've caught up now. With little time amidst work, extra-curriculars and outside obligations, and the painful struggle of just writing something that isn't trash, who knows when I'll be able to get the next chapter out. But I'm determined! Let's move forward in celebration of the new Haikyu! season! Is everyone enjoying it so far? I haven't watched any-waiting to binge it, but I've read the manga and ohhh boy oh boy it gets fun!
Alright, this note has been long enough. But...I seriously need to thank ALL OF YOU. You guys...so many favorites and follows, I can't even process it. Thank you so much. Honestly, this struggle is so worth it if you're all finding enjoyment in reading it. Thank you for the support, and for the patience! And thanks to LucidClockwork, Lady Syndra, SippyCup, SumCheeze, AmIValid2, curlystruggle, and tsumotobioikawakaashi for your lovely reviews!
See you soon, hopefully!
-Anzu