Chapter Ten
"Are you sure you know where we're going?"
Ame sets on feet on the ground, her eyes scanning the area in hope. She's been there just three months ago, surely she'll recognize something, like a tree or a familiar house, right?
"We're lost, aren't we?" The voice keeps nagging behind her. She looks back and almost snaps her neck.
"I'm not lost, I'm just looking for directions!"
Misaki rolls her eyes.
"Same difference. Let's just ask someone."
They leave the seat of their bikes and walk alongside for a few minutes, before Ame points at a little convenience store with a victorious "aha!".
"I know this store, the gym is just around the corner."
It's the one they bought their snacks at that evening, just after Iwaizumi, Oikawa and her finished practice.
"Let's go then," Misaki sighs.
They stop in front of a little gym with wooden walls. Through the open doors they can hear sneakers' squeak and a few voices.
"What did you say about him again?" Misaki stares at the entrance, her eyes calculating.
"Coach Amano is a great trainer, he knows what he's doing. He's just a bit… scary."
"How much?"
"What?"
"On a scale from one to ten, how much would you rate him?"
Ame snorts. Typical from Misaki to want to plan and number everything.
"I'll say it's an eight. More than Sadako but less than when your parents call you by your first and last name."
"Fantastic."
"Well, at least that's when you keep making the same mistake less than thrice. Past the second, I don't know what happens. No one ever came back from it to tell their tales."
The blond girl takes a deep breath.
"All right. Let's greet him. Introduce me then let me do the talking."
"Are you sure? You don't even know him."
Misaki gives her a look that clearly says "who do you think I am?"
Ame waves it off.
"Fine. Let's get in."
"Both your receives are disasters, you know that?"
Misaki takes a gulp of her water bottle, panting all the while. They've been running and jumping for the past two hours in a vague attempt to impress the coach. Behind them the other kids of the neighbourhood the two girls played with keep doing their routine. Ame rubs her head sheepishly.
"Yeah… we know that."
Coach Amano puts his hands on his hips.
"The test I just put you through was made to identify your strengths and weaknesses. I think I've seen it all."
And now's the moment he kicks us out, Misaki thinks.
"Wait!" Ame protests as if she read her friend's mind. "We'll get better! And even if there's only two of us now, I swear we'll find teammates! Just give us a chance! We'll find enough players so you can train our team."
He lifts an eyebrow.
"I wasn't done talking" he snaps.
Ame gasps like a child being scolded after her heated outburst.
"I don't care if the two of you are the only idiots on the team."
Misaki gets ready to show her way of thinking to this obnoxious old man. He may know a lot about volleyball but that doesn't make it up for his harshness.
"As long as you want to play, I'll train you." He finally declares. "I'll never turn off someone who wants to be on the court that much."
Ame sends her a joyful look of victory and Misaki can't help but smirk at that.
"Thank you."
They bow deeply. Coach Amano snorts.
"Just wait to see before you thank me. Some have regretted later. Come here tomorrow at four. You'll play with the other kids like today. Ah, and about what you were saying earlier Kozuki" he stares at them and Ame almost flinches under his glare. With a tiny, almost invisible smile, he says "you'll definitely get better."
Ame beams and exchanges a bump fist with Misaki. First step, finding a coach: mission accomplished.
Ame hops on top of the playground slide and lets her feet dangle. It's almost seven o'clock and the park is empty, its usual troublemakers known as children already at home for shower and dinner.
She lazily leans her back on the yellow railing. She doesn't know what it is but there's something comforting about parks at night, maybe it's the silent moment of rest after harboring laughters and cries all day long, or maybe it's just the quiet buzzing of the lighting.
She wonders if when she's older she'll be able to come and enjoy simple things like that. Being an adult must be so tiring and boring, like running around to get things done nonstop, without seeing that you're running in circle. Ame wishes she'd never grow up. Of course it's impossible, because time goes on and waits for no one. But still, if only things couldn't change, just for once.
"Wow, you look like you're thinking really hard about life."
She beams at his cheeky tone.
"Yeah, that happens sometimes. Me thinking, I mean."
He snorts and pokes a finger at her bear calves. She shudders at the feathery touch. She's currently sitting on top of the slide's rig but somehow Oikawa and his monstrous height manage to get is head to reach her side.
"Are you going to stay up there all the while?" He lifts his head. "That's not very polite towards me." He chides.
"Just let me look down at you for once. It's not everyday I get to see your face from that angle."
He blinks and smirks. "Do you like the view?"
The light hits his face just right when he tilts his head and his tired but gleaming eyes just make her want to grab his jaw between her fingers. She coughs and the light flush on her cheeks is just what he's been looking for. Beaten at her own game Ame slides down and dusts her skirt.
"Have you been doing well? You look like you haven't slept for a while."
She lets him take her hand and lead her to a bench where they can both sit.
"Are you saying I look like shit, Ame-chan? Because I don't."
"And the drama king is back at it again," she chuckles. "But you didn't answer my question."
"You neither."
"You look handsome." She blurts out. He lifts an amused eyebrow and she realizes some things are better left unsaid, lying safely in her mind. Why am I so awkward, she screams internally. "I-I mean… it's not what I meant! Wait, I'm not saying you're ugly either, everyone can testify you're not, but… urgh can we forget what I've been saying for the last five minutes?"
Oikawa decides to not push her too much and lays his arm at the back of the bench. She seems to relax and leans her head against it.
"I've been trying to get my serve to a whole new level" he explains. "If I put more power in it, it'll become impossible for anyone on the other side of the court to receive it."
"But it'll be impossible for you to control it," she points out. "You're trading precision for power. Chances are no one will receive it but it'll be out anyway."
"I'll control it" he says. "Maybe not for now, but I'll definitely master that serve. You'll see."
She smiles at his confidence.
"I can't wait. But just, don't do anything stupid and take care of your body, okay?"
He brings a hand to his heart in a dramatic gesture of hurt.
"Are my looks all you're interested in? Here I thought you liked me for my brilliant mind."
"You're insufferable," Ame chuckles. "And who said I liked you anyway?"
"That's it, you killed me and my poor heart." He keeps up with his silly pick up lines and drops his head on her shoulder to emphasize his death.
She chuckles and lets him be.
After a short while in their comfortable position she takes his hand in her own and fiddle with his fingers.
"Oikawa?"
"Mmh?" His voice is muffled and she can feel his breath on her collarbone.
"What are we?" The question that's been burning on her tongue finally lashes out.
He sits back more properly.
"What do you mean?" He says stupidly on purpose.
He should have seen in coming. Hell, he could have smell it from miles.
"This thing we have," she gestures her hand in the air "What is it to you?"
He tries to calculate the right answer to give her. Of course everything has been going perfectly smooth between them, it's about time someone begins to ask questions. He thought about it, a lot, and he hasn't come to a conclusion yet. Does he want a relationship with her? He likes her, but he always likes the girls he's seeing in the beginning before it fades. Of course Oikawa is not a heartless bastard, despite what some may say, and he does his best not to hurt the girls who have unfaltering admiration for him, even more for those brave enough to confess. But with Ame, it's more complicated. Well, she's part of the reason why he has turned off so many confessions since the beginning of the school year. He would have accepted some (especially when they come from older girls) if it wasn't for her and her honest voice and her burning passion for the same thing he wakes up for in the morning, namely volleyball. But somehow he's still hesitating. You're just scared to get involved, a voice says at the back of his mind.
"Is it necessary to put a name on everything?" He buys his time.
"Yes" she replies seriously. "Where do we stand?"
This "we" she says so easily is just a chimera for now, something that's visible but not quite real yet. Like a dream about to be narrated. She waits impatiently and has dropped his hand she was playing with a while ago. It still lays forgotten on her lap.
Oikawa licks his lips.
"We…"
A/N
Okay, so I know my update pace is quite random, but I hope you haven't forgotten about this story ahah. The next few chapters should be coming very soon, and starting from chapter twelve they'll be longer as well. Thank you for reading, I hope you still find the story interesting. Next to come up: chapter eleven, in which Oikawa is an indecisive trash can, Ame is a persistent brat and I get to introduce two new characters. It's time the girls meet new teammates. Until then, have a nice day! (or evening)
Ah and also, to those who review, thank you so much, I read everything and it means a lot. You're the best, keep it up! I jump every time I get an email from that lol