Oikawa sighed as he walked out of the locker room after the long day. He frowned a little when he passed a few players who were surrounding his former teammate and new starter of the national team, Ushijima Wakatoshi.

"Hey, you heading home?" Kuroo asked from where he was waiting near the entrance of the gym. He followed Oikawa's glare to see it was directed at their team's former ace and sighed. "Or are you going to glare at him all day. I figured you'd warm up to him after a few years. Didn't you guys get along before he left the team last year?"

"That's not funny, Tetsu-chan." He said, rolling his eyes at the teasing smirk coming from the raven. "And no, I have to study for a bit. I need to work ahead so I don't fall behind in my classes." Oikawa answered.

It wasn't like he was the best student out there, far from it, but Oikawa knew if he didn't do it, no one would be there to remind him to stay on top of his school work. Plus, if he didn't keep his grades up he wouldn't be able to keep his sports scholarship.

"I think I'm going to head to the general library before it closes." He said. "I should be able to get a few hours of studying in."

Kuroo nodded, muttering "I don't know how you do it." Before he exited the building and walked to his parked car. The two volleyball players said their goodbyes before heading their separate ways.

It was a little past two o'clock and Oikawa slightly wondered if there would be any seats left on the main floor of the library. He rarely stayed at school after classes or practice, as he preferred to study in the comfort of his apartment, but whenever he did he knew there would be a sizable number of students that liked to cram at the library. He just hoped he'd be able to find a quiet spot to get a few solid hours of work in.

Eventually, Oikawa arrived at his destination and made his way into the large general library. The main floor was for group study where students could openly discuss with one another and if a student wanted a quieter study area they would have to head to the higher floors, the higher they went the quieter it got. The brunette wasted no time to walk over to the elevator and make his way up to the second floor. He exited to see students scattered around tables and cubicles quietly talking to one another. The noise level was significantly lower up here and Oikawa preferred it this way.

He begun to scan the large study area to see if there were any spots open, knowing it would be hard to find one considering midterms were right around the corner. Most people opted to get work done when deadlines were fast approaching and what better place to do it than the library? From his experience, it was always better to have people to study with, especially if they actually knew the material.

After a few minutes of looking around he noticed an open spot next to small petite girl who seemed to be typing away on her laptop, focused on whatever she was working on. Smiling, Oikawa approached the girl, leaning down to tap her on her shoulder to her attention.

"Is this seat taken?" He whispered and the raven shook her head.

Nodding, he took the spot and pulled out his laptop from his backpack. The cubicles were large enough for him to spread out his belongings, however they were close enough together that Oikawa could see what the girl was working on. From what he could tell it was a lab report for a science course and he almost pitied her as he recalled the endless number of labs he'd have to go through in his earlier years.

Turning his head back to his laptop screen, he leaned back in the chair as he waited for the computer to boot up. He took the time to check his phone, replying to both Kuroo and Bokuto to tell them he didn't want to go out tonight. He also texted Sugawara asking him if he was on campus. Much like his relationship with Akaashi, he had become relatively good friends with the silver-haired man after a few years of university together. Despite his soft-spoken demeanor and kind smile, Oikawa had learned throughout the years that the boy had quite a sly personality, which was probably why they got along so well despite what others might think.

"Hey, I didn't know you studied here." Oikawa heard someone say from behind him and turned his head to see a guy from one of his classes towering over him.

He recognized him as Kitamoto Takashi, a kid that he had met at the beginning of the semester when they coincidently sat together in his physiology class. They weren't particularly close, but did talk before and after lectures and had even exchanged numbers in case one of them ended up a missing class and needed notes. For the most part they were friendly, however Tooru would call them acquaintances more than anything.

"Yeah, I just got here." He said as he politely smiled at the boy. He placed his phone on the table as he turned his body to speak with his classmate.

"Really? I actually have a question about last lecture, if you don't mind me asking…" Kitamoto asked, "But if you're busy it's fine I could text you about it later."

Oikawa shook his head in response, gesturing to the extra spot next to him as he spoke again. "It's fine, our midterm's coming up soon and it'd probably help me if I reviewed for a bit."

"Thanks man." Kitamoto said as he sat down in the spot to Tooru's left.

It didn't take too long before they were quietly going over past midterms on his computer and discussing the answers. It wasn't until they had finished the first of many practice midterms did the pair take a break.

"Damn, I'm so screwed for this." His classmate said and Oikawa looked over to see the man slump back onto his chair.

If he was being completely honest his new friend was quite good looking, with his dark brown hair and handsome face that would surely turn a few heads. The volleyball player figured he was popular with the opposite sex.

"Did you find the source?" He heard a voice ask and Oikawa was suddenly pulled from his thoughts as he supressed the urge to turn his head in the direction of the question. He paused for a moment as he processed the words, clearly understanding they weren't directed towards him.

Despite that, he knew who was speaking, could probably pick out the voice easily from a crowd, however somehow it felt unfamiliar to him. Maybe it was because he hadn't heard it awhile, but nonetheless it sounded almost foreign to him.

"No, I've been searching for awhile now." The girl next to Oikawa said with a sigh.

"It's fine, we're almost done, we'll finish it." The voice said.

"Hey, you free tonight?" Kitamoto suddenly asked and Oikawa's attention was drawn back to the man next to him, he let out a small chuckle as he answered.

"Yeah, I am." Oikawa said as he subconsciously felt a pair of eyes on him, although he wasn't sure if that was just in his head. "What is it?"

"Wanna come over and cram for our midterm together? I seriously don't understand the difference between smooth and cardiac muscle contractions?"

He paused for a moment, giving the offer some thought before he decided it wouldn't be the worst thing to do on a Saturday night.

"Sure, I've got nothing better to do." Oikawa said with a sigh. Quickly adding, "Not that I don't enjoy your company."

"No, its fine. I'd rather be getting wasted tonight instead of studying, but this midterm is worth thirty-five percent of our grade and considering I know a third off what he's taught us it's safe to say that I'm gonna fail if I don't at least cram." Kitamoto said before he leaned forward and flipped through his notes again. Oikawa silently watched the boy shuffle through the papers, before he landed on the page he wanted, pointing to a diagram he spoke again.

"In smooth muscles, does the majority of the calcium come from the extracellular space? Or is it already in the cell?" Leaning forward, the volleyball player examined the diagram before he begun to explain it, trying to clarify things for his hopeless new friend.

He tried his best to ignore the man a few seats away, knowing that Iwaizumi must've at least noticed him by now. They hadn't spoken to each other, much less see one another in over six months and Oikawa felt uneasy as he continued to help Kitamoto. He'd heard a few things about his ex-boyfriend throughout the months, mostly through Makki and Matsun, but hadn't kept in touch with Iwaizumi after the break up.

It was to be expected really, considering the way they broke things off, but it still felt odd hearing about Iwaizumi's life as if he was some stranger. Nonetheless, Oikawa was glad to hear his former lover was doing well, with his new apartment and his plans to graduate this semester, it brought a bitter sweet smile to his face.

He'd also heard quiet murmurs about Iwaizumi having a lover, but Oikawa didn't bother to ask his friends about the matter. He already knew the answer.

As for himself, he had avoided relationships since the break up and wasn't planning on starting one anytime soon. Sure, he liked to occasionally go out and get wasted at a club, but he'd never been stupid enough to sleep with a complete stranger, especially when he was drunk. The brunette knew the longer he hesitated to start a new relationship, the longer he would still be hung up on his ex, but he wondered if he really wanted to get over Iwaizumi.

Would he ever find someone that knew him the way Hajime did?

Probably not. But thinking back, Oikawa wondered if Iwaizumi knew how heartbroken he had been when his boyfriend had suggested a break. He never expected that agreeing to it would lead to them avoiding one another to the point where their only contact was through text messages and small sticky notes left on the fridge as a reminder to take out the trash. Sure, they had had their fights in the past but never had Hajime suggested a break.

"And once the contraction is over, the calcium exits the cell through antiporters on it's membrane or is restored into the SR." Oikawa said as he finished his explanation. There was more to their break up than what Tooru had seen that day, but when Hajime had arrived home late that night it had crushed him.

"Okay, that makes sense." Kitamoto nodded. "Maybe we should go over another midterm to see if there are any questions that cover this stuff."

Oikawa turned his body back towards his laptop and pulled up one of the previous midterms, taking the time to quickly glance over to his right to catch a glimpse of the person that had him on edge. The girl next to him blocked some of his view, but Oikawa could see Iwaizumi's eyes concentrating on something inside his cubicle.

He looked good. However, Tooru didn't dwell on thought as he turned his attention back to his computer ignoring the painful tug he felt in his chest. Things would never go back to the way they were, not even if he wanted them to.

Iwaizumi sighed as he made his way back to his seat. He had been able to finish most of his lab report, with the help of his lab partner, and now all they needed to do was to find a few primary sources.

"Did you find the source?" He asked as he noticed the hopeless look on her face. His guess was probably not.

"No, I've been searching for awhile now." Hinami-san, his lab partner said as he gently placed her head on the table top. He could tell she was close to giving up but they both knew that they were too close to finishing to throw in the towel now.

"It's fine, we're almost done, we'll finish it." He said reassuringly, but he slightly doubted his words. The worst-case scenario would be that they would have to take the zero for the question they used the source for, but both of them were too stubborn to give up that easily.

"Hey, you free tonight?" Iwaizumi heard, and shifted his attention away from Hinami-san towards a pair that had taken the seats beside them. He didn't think too much about it until his eyes landed on the man next to his lab partner. He couldn't see his face, hadn't even heard his voice, yet he knew who it was just from looking at his back. The broad shoulders and annoyingly styled hair brought back old memories and Iwaizumi frowned as he involuntarily listened to Oikawa's conversation.

"Yeah, I am." He heard Tooru say. "What is it?"

His voice sounded the same, yet Iwaizumi knew there was something different about Oikawa. He had changed, they both had, but that was to be expected. He and Tooru had grown up together which was why when everything ended it had taken Iwaizumi some time to get used to not having the others presence around all the time.

"Wanna come over and cram for our midterm together? I seriously don't understand the difference between smooth and cardiac muscle contractions?" He heard and Iwaizumi knew Oikawa's friend was probably desperate if he was asking Tooru for help. Nonetheless, the offer brought up unwanted thoughts that Hajime could only label as irrational. Why would it matter if Oikawa spent his night studying at some guy's place?

"Sure, I've got nothing better to do. Not that I don't enjoy your company." Hajime resisted the urge to scoff at the comment as he wondered if the two were sleeping together. He wouldn't put it past Tooru.

Eventually, he pushed his thoughts aside to finish the lab report. He knew the faster he completed it, the faster he could go home. Hajime didn't need, much less want, Oikawa back in his life now, not after everything that had happened. Besides, he was in a steady relationship and although he couldn't say he was completely in love with Misaki, he did have strong feelings for him.

As if on que, his phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out to see a message from his boyfriend.

[Misaki] : Hey babe, I know you're busy with school right now but I was wondering if you're up for going out tonight?

[Iwaizumi] : What do you have in mind?

[Misaki] : A friend of mine is throwing a party just off campus, he invited us if you're interested?

[Misaki] : I know you don't like big parties, but it'd be a good stress reliever. What do you think?

Hajime looked down at his phone, reading over the text before he turned to his left to see Oikawa explaining something to the guy next to him.

[Iwaizumi] : Sure, I'll be back at my place soon. You still there? We can work out the details once I'm home.

[Misaki] : No, I'm back at my place, I can meet you at your place in a bit. I'll bring dinner and we can go together.

[Iwaizumi] : Sounds good. I'll try to finish up here soon.

He put away his phone seconds later as he glanced over to his lab partner who was scrolling through her twitter feed on her computer. They had both given up on trying to find the primary source at this point and Iwaizumi decided it would be better to take a break and revisit the report later. They had done a lot of work for one day and Iwaizumi was feeling a weight lift off his shoulders as he knew he could hand in the report now and still get a relatively good mark.

"Hey, maybe we should call it a day." He suggested and the girl next to him let out a loud sigh and nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I don't think we're getting anywhere with this question. I'll message a few of my friends tonight and ask them if they have any of their old lab reports." She said as she closed her laptop and began neatly putting away her belongings.

"Sounds good."

Iwaizumi watched as Hinami eventually pulled out her car keys and swung her backpack over her shoulder to leave. "See you later, Iwaizumi-san."

"Bye."

The raven watched the girl walk towards the exit before turning his attention back to his laptop. He hadn't been sure if Oikawa had noticed him yet, but with her farewell he was certain the man had heard his name. There was no longer anyone separating the two of them, and Hajime could now see the side profile of his ex-boyfriend.

He subtly let his eye wonder down Oikawa's figure and he had to admit, he was still annoyingly good looking. Tooru had the type of beauty anyone could notice by just looking at him and his body was just as impressive, with his lean muscles and smooth skin. When they had been dating, he had to admit he loved to see him unravel underneath him. To see his face flushed, his eyes wide with pleasure and his skin covered in marks.

He frowned at the unwelcomed memories. He was over him. Oikawa meant nothing to him now.

His attention drifted back to his laptop a moment later, saving and closing his lap report before he shifted his focus to an essay he had been working on. Sighing, he opened his web browser and begun looking through peer reviewed journals in hopes of getting some information that supported his thesis. It wasn't until almost an hour later did he get interrupted by someone calling him.

"Hey, what's up?" He asked as he answered his phone, his voice a little louder than a whisper. "Why're you calling?"

"What kind of pizza do you want?" He heard Misaki ask and smiled a bit at the question.

"You decide."

"Okay, but if you don't like what I order then don't complain."

"Just don't put any olives." He advised. "I'm heading home now anyway. See you soon."

"Alright, sounds good. Love you."

"Love you too." He responded out of habit and wasted no time in packing up his things and getting up. He ended the call and turned to walk towards the staircase, not bothering to spare another glance at Oikawa.

If he had, he probably would've seen the heartbroken expression Tooru was trying so desperately to hide.