Thank you to all who followed and favorited! :D

Lili : A scared wide-eyed doe is a perfect description of Kiku! :3

pinkdoughnuts : Not all love is angst, some love is just denial and cuteness~ ^^

Riomi-senpai : Cute is what I'm aiming for so I'm glad! :D

VioletRyu : I still don't know how I'm going to make Ayaka appear in this fanfic, if she does it'll be very quick. Or perhaps Kiku will appear in Sowlmate - not sure yet? ^^" Oikawa has reasons to want Iwaizumi with Kiku, but it'll remain a secret for the moment - which means that absolutely no one understands for the moment what the hell Oikawa is thinking.

PaintCat : In Orange, Suwa is my fvorite chracter... I was so sad for him but so happy for Kakeru!

FANFICTION

HAIKYUU! : QUIET WORDS

CHAPTER IV : Witchcraft?

"Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think."

― Emma Goldman

"There's a big difference on being wise and being crafty. The former is the attribute of God, and the latter is that of Satan."

― Michael Bassey Johnson

"Cats are cute. Cats are adorable." Iwaizumi suddenly said out of nowhere.

The three other third-years glanced at him with wide eyes. The only sound that was heard was the slurping sound from Matsukawa as he swallowed the noodles through his lips all the while staring, a little dumbfounded, at the Ace.

"Yes?" Oikawa answered hesitantly, not quite understanding where this was going.

"But there's nothing wrong in thinking that? Like… it doesn't mean that because you think a cat is cute you're emotionally attached to it or anything?"

"No?"

"What the hell? Do you want to adopt a cat or something?" Hanamaki asked.

"But you don't want to be seen as a cute little guy who loves cats, you still want to keep your tough looks, that's it?" Matsukawa continued.

"Uuh… I don't want to adopt a cat."

"But you want a pet."

"No?"

"What the hell?" Hanamaki said once again with a confused look – it gave a good summary of the conversation.

"Iwa-chan, are you all right? You've been off during all day and practice…" Oikawa said, staring worriedly at his friend.

"Do you have a fever?" Matsukawa asked.

"You were missing your usual setter, is that it?" Hanamaki added.

"No I don't have a fever, and no I didn't miss Oikawa!" He growled annoyingly, scooping some noodles with his chopsticks, "And yes I'm all right. I was just thinking about stuff."

"Don't think too much without a brain or you'll get an actual fever, Iwa-chan. ATCHA! It HURT Iwa-chan!" Oikawa exclaimed after being elbowed harshly.

"That's for insulting me, Assikawa!" He hissed back.

Once they had finished their ramen, they all went their separate ways to go home.

"Do you feel ready for the practice match against Karasuno?" Oikawa asked.

"Of course I do. Kageyama or not, we'll win." Iwaizumi answered grumpily.

"By the way, the doctor said that by next Tuesday, I might be able to use my leg! So maybe I'll get to play after all – sorry, Iwa-chan, you might not get to be the Captain!"

"I don't care about that. But don't push on your leg if you do play, got it?"

"Aye, aye~"

"Did you tell Kanemoto about what happened?" Iwaizumi continued, referring to the almost sponsor of Oikawa.

At this question, Oikawa's smile faded and his shoulders dropped. He glanced away, a distressed and slightly pitiful expression on his face…

"Yes… She scolded me… Even over the phone, thousands of miles away, she can be scary…" Oikawa murmured.

"Of course she scolded you. At least, you have one person able to whip you in shape."

"I always get scolded! By you, by Aya-chan! You're all just cruel!"

"Perhaps you just deserve it?"

"Mean!"

Iwaizumi smiled lightly to himself, amused by his friend's reactions no matter how many years went by. Oikawa never seemed to understand that he was being teased.

"By the way, Iwa-chan, your weird question from earlier, about cats…"

Iwaizumi stiffened lightly, hoping that keeping his hands hidden in his pockets would help him go unnoticed.

Tooru watched him very carefully and even if he noticed the way his shoulders stiffened lightly, he didn't comment on it. He just smiled knowingly before continuing:

"Is this because I remind you of a cute kitty~?" Oikawa asked.

"UH." Was Hajime's only answer with a massive rolling of eyes.

"Oi! What is that supposed to mean?!"

"You're far from being as cute as a cat!"

They've arrived in the building where they both lived and after saying goodbye, they both went their separate ways. Being neighbor with Oikawa meant spending much more time with him but also being closer than anyone else. Thinking back on Hanamaki and Akiyama being neighbors, Hajime wondered how they could be neighbors without knowing each other more than just acquaintances.

His phone vibrated suddenly and he checked it, an avalanche of pictures sent to him by Oikawa. Pictures of cats and kittens. Hajime rolled his eyes, waiting for all the pictures to be sent but his friend was apparently having a lot of fun – especially when he added some selfies in the middle (but that wasn't surprising).

Am I not as cute as these kittens~ Here, have some more cute cats! Oikawa sent, more cats' pictures arriving.

"What the hell am I even supposed to do with all that, dumbass? I don't want a cat…" Hajime muttered to himself, still mildly amused by the pictures of cats and his friend's antics.

Suddenly, a picture that was not of a cat or Oikawa arrived. Iwaizumi almost screamed and jumped, his phone almost dropping until he caught it at the last moment. He almost had a heart attack when he had received a picture of Akiyama Kiku – how the hell Oikawa even had a picture of this girl on his phone?!

What the hell, Trashykawa?! Iwaizumi typed quickly.

Ah~ Iwa-chan, you finally react! I knew you'd like this picture in particular~

No I don't! How did you get it anyway?! Have you never heard of the word privacy?!

I just asked a friend of mine to take a picture of Kiku-chan for me a few days ago~ You know I have lots of pictures from lots of people~

That's just down right creepy!

But aren't you glad you have this picture now?

No I'm not!

Deciding to ignore his friend to give him a lesson, Hajime threw his phone on his bed and ignored it vibrating for long minutes afterward. Then, it stopped – Tooru must have gotten bored by this game. For some reason, Oikawa had taken a liking in Kiku – or rather, he had taken a liking in teasing Iwaizumi about her.

For a short moment, he wondered what Tooru had in his mind before shaking his head, not wanting to think about Trashykawa or his classmate. Even if Hajime had thought that Kiku was adorable for a short moment, that was it. It was true that he had been observing her ever since he had noticed her – by hitting her with his bag – but noting a few things about people wasn't a bad thing. It just meant he was observant. He could note lots of things about his friends and his other classmates, it didn't matter. It wasn't like he was particularly curious about Akiyama Kiku or anything. She was a mystery in several ways – she was always alone and no one seemed to be willing to put up with her, he didn't know a thing about her and no one else seemed to know but Hajime could tell there was more to her than just the shy and socially awkward girl everyone avoided. She had some passion – for her club or wherever she was going after class – and if she had looked at him with the demon-eyes it meant she had more strength than what people gave her credit for.

"Oi… idiot, stop thinking about her…" He muttered, trying to think about something else.

He kept repeating to himself 'stop thinking about her' until he felt comfortable again – but his thoughts were then invaded by Trashykawa's injury. Hajime couldn't tell which was worse.

On Thursday, lunch time…

Hanamaki and Oikawa were arguing about where they'd go have lunch with Matsukawa and Iwaizumi, the last two just watching them in slight annoyance.

"But it's so sunny outside! I want to eat under a tree today!" Oikawa exclaimed.

"Why not eat on the roof as we usually do? There's wind up there!" Hanamaki replied, crossing his arms.

"Iwa-chan! Mattsun! Where do you want to eat today?!" Oikawa continued, whipping towards them.

"Don't care…" Matsukawa answered with a shrug, "I'm hungry…"

"Uuh… don't care either… but outside would be a nice change – plus it'll be faster to get there than the roof…" Iwaizumi shrugged.

"Then I choose outside." Matsukawa remarked at the simple fact that he'd eat faster this way.

At once, an overly smiling and happy Oikawa turned towards Hanamaki, giving him the sparkly eyes.

"Tch… Thanks for the betrayal guys…" Hanamaki mumbled before grabbing his bento, "Let's go outside then…" He sighed.

"Yoohoo!" Oikawa exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"Easy on your knee, dumbass!" Iwaizumi cried out at once.

They went outside with their bentos, chatting about everything and anything when Oikawa suddenly stopped.

"Ah, isn't it Kiku-chan over there?" He asked, pointing at a wooden table.

No one was surprised to see her eating alone, headphones in her ears.

"She's all alone…" Oikawa added, sounding almost mournful.

"So? It's not surprising?" Makki said with a shrug.

"That's the girl you were talking about the other day?" Matsukawa asked curiously, "Your childhood friend?"

"We're not friends, just acquaintances. I'm sure Iwaizumi knows her more than me."

"Uh? I don't know her at all…" He muttered, raising an eyebrow.

"Then! Why not get to know her?" Oikawa exclaimed cheerfully, clapping his hands together.

The three other young men glanced at him sparkling happily.

"Where did that come from, Oikawa?" Iwaizumi asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at his friends.

He was now sure that Oikawa had something planned – otherwise he wouldn't be obsessing with Akiyama so much.

"But, Iwa-chan! She's your classmate, shouldn't you worry a little bit more about her if she's all alone? I won't let an innocent young girl be–"

"This tree is a nice spot to eat, right?" Matsukawa interrupted him, pointing at another tree.

"Let's go then," Makki agreed, already walking there.

"Wait! Mattsun! Makki! Let's invite Kiku-chan to eat with us!" Oikawa exclaimed, jumping in front of his two teammates to stop them from taking another step.

"Why?" Makki asked.

"Who cares about this girl?" Mattsun added, raising an eyebrow.

"This is why you don't have any girlfriend…" Oikawa said very seriously.

The two suddenly felt a vein of annoyance popping but Oikawa ignored them – they wouldn't hit him the way Iwa-chan always did. Realizing that said Iwaizumi wasn't saying a thing, he glanced over at his childhood friend. As surprising as it was for the three young men, he was staring at Kiku from afar. Of course, Tooru was overjoyed by it.

Sensing glances on him, Hajime looked back at them, confused when he noticed them staring.

"What?"

"Ah, she's leaving," Makki said, "Let's sit on that table then," he decided.

"Ah! We're too late…" Oikawa muttered but everyone ignored him, walking past him, "Nee! Iwa-chan!" He called, grabbing his arm.

"What is it?"

"Do you really not feel guilty to see her eating all alone?" He asked while the girl went back into the building and disappeared from view.

"…It's not like I can change anything about it anyway… If you want so badly for that girl to not be alone anymore, go talk to her or something…" Iwaizumi said with a half-hearted shrug, not understanding why Oikawa kept rambling on and on about Akiyama.

"But I'm not the one in her class."

Iwaizumi stared at him, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly before joining their teammates to avoid answering any further. Annoyed by his reaction, Oikawa clicked his tongue then followed him, the event forgotten as they continued their initial conversation.

It was only when they went back into their classrooms that Oikawa's strange behavior once again left his teammates confused.

"We're at your class, Iwa-chan!" He exclaimed cheerfully, "Then, we'll see tonight at practice!"

"Uh? But there's still time left before the end of lunchtime…"

"Ah? Yes, but I wanted to discuss something with Mattsun for a while – about blocking!"

"Uh?" Matsukawa said.

"I'll stay with you then," Hanamaki told Iwaizumi.

"AH!" Oikawa screamed, grabbing Makki's arm, "And I need you for a new theory! A new form of attack we'll need to try when I'm back!"

Silence fell on them, all staring at the setter.

"…Oikawa," Iwaizumi started with a dark voice, "Are you trying to avoid me or something?"

"Avoid you, Iwa-chan? But I would nev–"

"You know what? Whatever, I don't care. Do whatever you want." Iwaizumi said angrily, entering his classroom.

Oikawa swallowed hard before glancing hesitantly into his friend's classroom. Iwaizumi sat angrily, arms crossed and right at his side was Akiyama Kiku who startled when he sat so suddenly.

Smiling, Tooru turned around, starting to push his two friends away from class 5.

"Oikawa, what are you planning?" Hanamaki asked.

"It's not like you to push Iwaizumi away. You usually cling to him like a child to his mother." Matsukawa added, both of them staring at the setter in confusion.

"I am ensuring Iwaizumi's happiness, that's what I'm doing," Oikawa answered.

"Even though he must be relieved when you're not around to annoy the hell out of him, I'm pretty sure you didn't make him very happy by telling him to fuck off on his own…" Makki remarked, "What are you planning exactly?"

Feeling a little guilty after hearing these words from Hanamaki, Oikawa realized that he had been acting a little weird – and that Iwa-chan probably didn't like the way he was kept away from the three others.

"Well… I am planning for Iwa-chan and Kiku-chan to start dating soon." Oikawa answered.

Hanamaki and Matsukawa took a double-take, not understanding at first what he meant. Then, their Captain's words echoed in their heads and they almost choked.

"What the fuck?!" Mattsun started.

"WHY?!" Hanamaki screamed, eyes wide in shock.

"The hell you're thinking?!"

"No way he'd fall for her!"

"Calm down, please!" Oikawa exclaimed when people started glancing at the three of them in the hall, "Keep it a secret from Iwa-chan!" He pleaded, clapping his hands together.

"NO WAY!" Makki immediately shouted.

"You can't just go and try to decide of his love life for him!"

"That's just wrong!"

"Shhhh!" Oikawa exclaimed, shushing them.

They finally stopped screaming while Oikawa glanced around and sighed in relief when people ignored them.

"They're the perfect match for each other – they just don't realize it yet!" Oikawa said, hands on his hips.

"No, no, no. Akiyama is a perfect match for no one. She's not– she's just… she's so not… she's not a dating possibility for anyone in their sane mind…" Hanamaki said with wide eyes, not even wanting to imagine his friend with this girl.

"That's just awful to say, Makki…" Tooru murmured, eyes wide in astonishment.

"I don't know that girl but I agree that she's not… if you want Iwaizumi to date someone, pick a girl more… less… Uuuh… whatever she is…"

"You can't even find out what you think is wrong with her! Why do you reject this idea so vehemently?" Oikawa exclaimed with a scolding tone.

"What's wrong with her?" Hanamaki started, crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows, "Other than her personality and complete inability to speak up with anyone, ever, she's not pretty. She's… even shorter than average, she's not thin at all and she's so…"

He made his cheeks puff out and his arms spread out to show that Kiku didn't have a body he considered attractive in the slightest.

"Just say it – you find her fat." Matsukawa said bluntly.

"Exactly!" Hanamaki exclaimed, nodding.

"Just because she's rounder than average doesn't mean she's fat. Plus, Iwa-chan isn't the type of men to judge a girl by her appearance!"

"But even someone who doesn't judge by appearance wouldn't want of this girl! Even a blind man! She never says a thing, she's awkward and just… crazy! Ask anyone who tried befriending – and I know what I'm talking about because I live five meters away from her – she's messed up!" Hanamaki exclaimed, shaking his head.

Oikawa seemed thoughtful for a moment before speaking up again:

"With all due respect, Makki, did you talk to her – really talked – since you were children for anything other than casualties? Did you try to get to know her? Did you ever see anyone going to her home and befriend her? Did you ever see anyone with her?"

"…No but that just proves she's not normal…"

"No, it just proves that you're only prejudiced – just like everyone else." Oikawa concluded.

Sighing, Hanamki and Matsukawa glanced at each other, not knowing how they could convince Oikawa that he was making a mistake.

"Iwaizumi doesn't seem interested anyway. There's no way he'll be from now on." Hanamaki finally said.

"Ah AH! And that's where I – Iwa-chan's childhood and best friend – get to disagree!" Oikawa piped up happily, putting his hands on his hips proudly, "Iwa-chan's type is… short and cute girls!"

The wing-spiker and middle-blocker glanced at each other before looking back, unimpressed, at the setter.

"And you base that knowledge on what exactly? He never had any girlfriend before and he never had a crush he told us about either." Matsukawa said.

"Iwa-chan always turns around and stares at short, cute girls when they walk by him. Also, when we talk about girls, he only ever mentions short, cute ones – and his favorite actresses usually are short, cute o–"

"Ok, ok, we get it. His type is short, cute girls. Akiyama may be short, but she's not cute." Hanamaki cut Oikawa, shaking his hand disdainfully.

"Here you go again, being a meanie!" He scolded, frowning lightly at his friend.

"Nope, just being honest."

"The pitiful choice of a girl aside – why do you suddenly want Iwaizumi to get a girlfriend?" Matsukawa asked.

Shocked, Oikawa took a step back, putting a hand on his heart, faking a hurt look on his face.

"Is my best friend's happiness not reason enough…?" He asked with a trembling voice.

"…You're Oikawa Tooru. You must have another reason in mind." Hanamaki said, Mattsun nodding in agreement.

"I'm hurt…" He replied, a deadpanned expression on his face before sighing, "But if you really want to know… I have personal reasons to wish for Iwaizumi to get busy with a girl."

"Personal reasons? What sort of reasons?" Matsukawa asked suspiciously.

Oikawa put one hand on his hip and the other up, shaking his finger 'no' while ticking his tongue.

"Ta, ta, ta. I won't tell you for the moment. Just promise not to say anything to Iwa-chan, ok~?" He said with a wink – which, unlike his fangirls, didn't work at all on his two teammates.

Hanamaki and Matsukawa stared at him before sighing deeply.

"It's going to slap you back hard, Oikawa…"

"But well, if you really want to keep it a secret – it'll be a great show to watch…" Matsukawa said with a shrug.

"You're the bests~" Oikawa hummed happily.

On Friday, 3rd year class 5…

"Everyone, quiet!" The History teacher exclaimed when he entered the classroom.

The conversations quieted down and the few students that had been standing took their seats. Everyone turned their attention to the teacher who spoke up:

"Before starting today's lesson, there is something I want to talk to you about. You will have some papers to do that you will present in front of the class."

Iwaizumi heard a pen drop and when he glanced at his left, he noticed Kiku looking pale before taking her pen back in her trembling fingers.

"You will be in group of two or three that I will choose–"

Almost everyone started whining at once at this, they were bound to be paired with people they didn't get along with. But when the teacher continued, most people shut up to listen to what he'd say:

"On the other hand, you are free to choose any topic that we will be studying this year. It will be only a ten minutes presentation but I want you to work seriously on it – it will be a fourth of your final mark."

"Waaah!"

"No fair!"

"No way!"

"Stop complaining!" The teacher scolded, hitting lightly the blackboard to bring back attention, "I want your topic by Monday – decide it this weekend and it won't hurt to start working on it as well. I will now give you the pairs and the date you will present your paper. Listen carefully because I won't be repeating."

He started calling the students' names from a sheet he was reading on. A few minutes went by, some chatting about their temporary paired classmate.

"Akiyama Kiku." The teacher called, making the girl startle nervously.

At once, all the students who weren't paired with anyone yet glanced worriedly at the girl – of course, no one wanted to be paired with the awkward girl in the back who never talked and even less to have a fourth of their final mark depending on Akiyama when she couldn't speak up in front of anyone. She moved her fingers anxiously while the teacher stared at her before opening his lips to speak up the other name of the person she'd have to work with.

"Iwaizumi Hajime."

Iwaizumi was yawning in boredom when he heard his name and choked. Everyone else sighed in relief while he stood up abruptly, almost making his chair fall over.

"W-what?" He asked, eyes wide.

"Stop sleeping in class, Iwaizumi-kun – you're paired with Akiyama-san for the paper. You'll present it on Thursday in two weeks. Then…"

The teacher continued while Iwaizumi felt his heart beating a little too strongly as he glanced down at Akiyama. She glanced up at him at the exact time, looking a little relieved to be paired with him but baffled by his earlier reaction.

And I didn't want to think about her anymore…! Oikawa will have the time of his life teasing me now! He thought to himself, flushing in embarrassment and glancing away.

He sat back awkwardly, not daring to glance in Akiyama's direction.

What the hell? Was the only thing he could think of for the rest of the History class.

Once the idea that Akiyama and him would have to work on a History paper together settled in, Iwaizumi didn't really mind. He just hoped she'd be able to speak on her own without too much trouble. And also that she'd choose an interesting subject of paper.

At the end of class, almost all pairs gathered around tables to discuss their papers.

Iwaizumi glanced at Akiyama who was fumbling awkwardly with something around her neck – was it a necklace?

She glanced at him and when she noticed he was staring, she quickly pulled her necklace back behind her uniform ribbon.

"So… uh… you have an idea of paper?" He asked, head resting on his palm.

Akiyama seemed hesitant before opening her History book. She looked for something for a moment until finding a page she had been looking for and finally, turning it towards Iwaizumi.

"W-would i-it… be… a-all right…?" She asked in a low voice, pointing at some samurai from a History lesson about the Edo era.

Overjoyed about working on samurais, Iwaizumi instantly lit up, a huge grin spreading over his face.

"Yeah! I like it! Let's do that!" He exclaimed.

Kiku grinned brightly when he liked the subject, making Hajime take a double take at her face brightened by her smile. He blinked but almost instantly, as fast as it had appeared, the smile had disappeared from her face and she quickly turned away from him.

Some time later, while changing clothes for practice, Iwaizumi mentioned the paper he'd have to work on with Akiyama, making Hanamaki and Matsukawa blink at him in disbelief – Oikawa was sparkling excitedly at another side.

"Uh…? Repeat that?" Hanamaki hesitated, blinking.

"The teacher paired Akiyama and I for a History paper – I'm glad she chose to work on samurais! Never thought she'd like this sort of things though…" Iwaizumi said with a little smile, "I'm going ahead, hurry everyone!" He said with a little wave.

Hanamaki and Matsukawa followed him, staring at his back as he walked off.

"I can't freaking believe it…" Matsukawa muttered, eyes wide.

"Do you think Oikawa paid the teacher to pair them together?" Hanamaki asked in disbelief.

"Nah, it's more like witchcraft…" He answered just as Oikawa waltzed by them proudly.

"It's called fate~" He answered with a wave, "Iwa-chan~! Wait for me~!" He shouted, following his best friend.

Hanamaki and Matsukawa glanced at each other before going to the same conclusion:

"Witchcraft," they said in one voice with a nod.

I repeat it again - Oikawa doesn't like Kiku and giving up for Iwa's sake, he's got his own reasons to want them together.

Thanks for reading! :D

Yours Truly,

May