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FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : QUIET WORDS
CHAPTER VI : Just a Crush
"She blushed and so did he. She greeted him in a faltering voice, and he spoke to her without knowing what he was saying."
― Voltaire, Candide
"In an extroverted society, the difference between an introvert and an extrovert is that an introvert is often unconsciously deemed guilty until proven innocent."
― Criss Jami, Venus in Arms
When Iwaizumi Hajime arrived for morning practice, he was surprised to see Matsukawa and Hanamaki already there, waiting for him with arms crossed over their chests.
"Oooss," Iwaizumi said as he took out the key for the changing-room and opened the door, "I'm surprised to see you here so early you two."
he entered the room and let down his bag but when the two third-years didn't answer, he looked over his shoulder.
"Is this true?" Hanamaki asked.
"What is?" Iwaizumi asked in return.
"What Oikawa told us. About you, liking Akiyama Kiku."
Iwaizumi instantly blushed fifty shades of red and hit his head against the locker, cursing his friend and thinking of new ways to murder him.
"T-the bastard! He had promised not to say anything!" He hissed to himself.
Hanamaki's eyes widened and he ran to his friend, turning around the Ace and shaking him.
"It's true?! It's fucking true?! Why?! How?!" He screamed.
"What the hell?! Fuck off!" Iwaizumi shouted, pushing away Hanamaki before huffing annoyingly and embarrassingly, "I-it's not like I can decide of this sort of things, ok?! J-just don't mention it!" He exclaimed.
He tried to act busy by taking off his clothes. It was hard enough dealing with the realization he had a crush on a girl, he didn't want to talk about it anymore – he had barely slept last night and he just wanted to focus on the practice match later this day.
Takahiro opened his mouth to continue but Issei grabbed his shoulder and shook his head. The wing-spiker hesitated just as the second-years arrived in the changing-room. Takahiro leaned against the locker next to Hajime, talking in a low voice so the third-years would be the only ones to hear.
"You know what is said about her? Oikawa called me yesterday asking me about it so you know – she's crazy, like, messed up, insane! You can't be serious about her!" He hissed in a low voice.
Annoyed by these words and the fact that his friend was deciding for him, Iwaizumi – now changed in his gym clothes – closed the locker door sharply. It resonated in the entire changing-room, making everyone startle and look at him in a mix of awe and fear.
"And it's none of your business!" Iwaizumi hissed, glaring at Hanamaki who felt a little guilty when he saw the annoyance and pain in his friend's eyes, "Just let it go. I'll… get over it, I'll forget it soon. I'm sure. It's just a passing crush…"
Before Hanamaki could answer he turned around and left to go to the gymnasium.
"Hurry up everyone!" He exclaimed while leaving, "Ah, and because I'm now pissed off, special training regiment today!" He announced.
Everyone – and especially the second and first years whined because 'special training regiment' from Iwaizumi meant that they'd feel their muscles aching for the next three days – at least… Hanamaki sighed, starting to change before glancing up at Matsukawa who was staring at him with the same gaze he reserved for blocking particularly annoying opponents.
"W-what?" Hanamaki hesitated.
"You pissed him off. Also, he's right, it's none of your business who he ends up crushing on – or dating. Even if this girl isn't to your tastes, perhaps she is for Iwaizumi. We don't know him as much as Oikawa – if he thinks it can work between these two, it probably will."
He paused before adding with a nonchalant, lazy shrug.
"Up to this point, he's been right at least."
Hanamaki didn't answer, feeling guilty for his behavior towards his friend. It was none of his business so he should just let it go – even if it didn't make bloody sense to him why Iwaizumi, who could easily have as many girls as Oikawa, would go and crush on the strangest, shyest, possible insane girl to be.
They went to practice – with the special training regiment that left the entire team (except a few of the third-years who were used to it by now) in an exhausted shape.
"Don't kill them before the practice match tonight," Coach Irihata told Iwaizumi before the end of practice.
"In the long-term, it'll serve them right – they'll have more stamina and strength," Iwaizumi answered with a determined nod.
Irihata chuckled, nodding before tapping his Ace's shoulder.
"Well, I think you can call it off for one day – let's not have any injury. Oikawa is enough."
Iwaizumi grunted as answer, deciding to let the others go earlier than planned – they were more than relieved about it. It was then that Oikawa decided to show up, in his school uniform.
"Aww, you're leaving already? But it's not the end of practice yet?" He asked as his team exited the gymnasium.
The growls and whines he received as answers were enough to let him guess that Iwaizumi had had a bit of a hand in their morning practice – that and also the furious glare the Ace was currently sending him as he advanced angrily.
"Iwa-cha–"
"You! Why did you tell them?! You had promised not to say anything to anyone!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, grabbing his friend to shake him.
"AH! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Iwa-chan! I said I wouldn't tell Kiku-chan! Not the team! And I didn't tell everyone – I only told our best friends on the team! Also, Makki knows Kiku-chan personally, if anything it's–"
"If you're about to say that it's a good thing I'm going to punch you! It's not a good thing! What if they spread it and everyone learns about it?!" Iwaizumi exclaimed.
"Iwa-chan! Do you really think Makki and Mattsun would do such a thing to you and Kiku-chan?" Oikawa asked, a little shaken from the rough treatment he had received so early in the morning.
Iwaizumi glared at him, huffed angrily then let him go, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You'd better stay out of this from now on. I don't plan on doing anything – she's good on her own and I'm good on my own, ok?! Don't try to force us together or anything!" He hissed.
"I promise! I promise I won't do anything to force the two of you together!" Oikawa exclaimed, crossing his fingers discreetly in his back.
Thankfully, Iwaizumi didn't notice. He stared at his friend, trying to figure out if he was being honest before shaking his head.
"I'm gonna take a shower…" He grumbled.
The first teammates started to come out in their school uniforms, they saluted Oikawa on their way out and when Hanamaki and Matsukawa arrived, they joined their Captain.
"Makki, are you the one who angered Iwa-chan?" Oikawa asked at once, with an overly sweet smile.
Guilty, the light-haired man startled.
"He's the one," Mattsun answered in a bored voice.
"That's what I thought… ah lala, Makki – didn't I say to not give your opinion on the matter? Love isn't something you can control!" He continued with a sigh.
"I got it, I got it… I won't say anything else…" Makki grumbled, "Iwaizumi said it was just a crush anyway… It doesn't mean anything will happen…"
"Exactly, it doesn't mean anything will happen," a voice grumbled from behind.
They turned around to look at Iwaizumi.
"Also, Iwa-chan gets so flustered and clumsy around his crushes that he becomes useless~ No way anything would happen unless he is given a little push~" Oikawa intervened.
Matsukawa and Hanamaki snorted at the image of their tough Ace being flustered to the point of clumsiness while Iwaizumi rolled his eyes and started to head for the school buildings.
"It's just a crush…" He mumbled to himself.
The group of four third-years reached the main buildings while more students were arriving. Most girls were in awe at Oikawa who waved at them with a kind smile – the boys were mostly glancing in a different type of awe at Iwaizumi who didn't seem to notice a single thing.
"Oh~ Isn't it Kiku-chan coming our way~?" Oikawa exclaimed suddenly.
Iwaizumi – who had not noticed the girl walking towards them while staying as close as possible to the walls – suddenly froze. Matsukawa bumped into him then threw him a look that said 'are you serious?' before Iwaizumi continued walking, trying to appear nonchalant and not at all glancing at the girl.
Oikawa, Hanamaki and Matsukawa remained a few steps behind to admire the scene.
As he walked by Kiku who didn't seem to notice him at all, Hajime turned his head as far away as possible.
It's just a crush, it's just a crush, it's just a crush… he repeated to himself.
He focused so much on his steps that he felt as if he had forgotten how to walk. Just then, Kiku glanced up and their eyes met. Hajime startled and flushed while the girl smiled to him.
"G-good morning… I-Iwaizumi-san…" She said hesitantly but with far less hesitation than she used to.
"AH! UH! G-g-good m-maarn, I-I mean, uuuh…"
Kiku blinked in disbelief to see him stammering while he tried to appear calm – he failed. Hajime took a deep breath but almost choked in the same time he tapped his feet together. He stumbled forward and tried to find his balance but failed miserably as gravity took over and he fell face first on the floor.
The entire hall turned silent and glanced, stunned, at the young man on the floor.
"Oh my god. He is so embarrassing…" Hanamaki mumbled while Oikawa was trying hard to hold back his laugh behind his hand, his entire body shaking from his laugh.
"Is that Iwaizumi-san?" A girl murmured as Hajime slowly sat up, bright red in embarrassment.
"What happened…?"
Iwaizumi ignored the whispers while Matsukawa and Hanamaki couldn't help but snort when they saw his chin red from the fall.
"I-Iwaizumi-san, a-are you all right?" Kiku asked, leaning down to help him.
But it didn't help Iwaizumi to have the young girl so close to him so suddenly. He startled and jumped away from her, raising his hands in front of him.
"A-ah, I-I UH…"
"He's got it worse than I thought…" Matsukawa said – it was too much for Oikawa who exploded in laughter, kneeling on the floor and holding his stomach while it was Hanamaki's turn to hide his laugh behind his hand.
"Eeeh? Is that Akiyama Kiku?" Someone murmured when they noticed the girl kneeling next to Iwaizumi.
"Is she the one who made him fall?"
"Uuh, the bitch…"
"She's crazy anyway…"
Some girls chuckled, throwing mean looks at the girl who glanced around hesitantly. Kiku was suddenly aware that the entire hall had stopped to look at her and Iwaizumi and she felt her heart in her throat.
She lowered her head to hide her hurt expression and turned her hands into tiny fists to hide her trembling, holding tightly her bag.
Iwaizumi heard the whispers and his eyes widened in shock – even if no one had seen what had really happened (except the three idiots laughing their asses off behind him) – why would they immediately conclude that it was Kiku's fault when she was trying to help him?!
Oikawa heard the whispers as well and immediately stopped laughing, glancing at the awkward couple – Kiku was crouched down, avoiding looking at anyone while Iwaizumi seemed at a loss at what to do. But he looked definitely hurt and angry to hear such murmurs echoing around. The setter stood up from the floor.
"Makki, it's enough," he said so that only his two friends would hear.
"Uh? Why?" he asked between two fits of laugh.
"Stop laughing. There's nothing to laugh about. Didn't you hear what the others said?" Oikawa said, frowning lightly.
"Uh? What did they say?" Hanamaki asked, glancing around.
Just then, Iwaizumi decided to speak up, leaning forward towards Kiku.
"I-it's not your fault! I-I mean, I-I tripped… uuh…" He hesitated awkwardly.
Kiku glanced up at him with an expression he couldn't quite understand – a mix of fear, panic, astonishment and maybe hope?
"Ahah, Iwa-chan~!" Oikawa suddenly exclaimed loudly, approaching his friend and a stunned Kiku, "You're always so clumsy when you're tired after an exhausting practice~!" He exclaimed so that everyone would hear him.
Iwaizumi and Akiyama both stared up at him in shock while more whispers echoed around.
"Eh? He really tripped then?"
"Iwaizumi-san did?"
"It's kinda cute!"
"Poor Iwaizumi-san! He must be really tired to trip…!"
Oikawa smiled at Iwaizumi, showing him his hand to help him back up. Still hesitant and awkward, Iwaizumi took his friend's hand and once he was back up, everyone went back to normal, whispering about how cute it was for the tough Ace to be a little clumsy once in a while. Kiku stood up as well, glancing around nervously before looking back at Iwaizumi and Oikawa.
"Thanks…" Hajime told his friend who smiled.
Tooru nodded while Hanamaki and Matsukawa joined them. They all turned towards Kiku but she was gone.
"Eh? Where did Kiku-chan go…?" Oikawa asked, turning around but he couldn't find the petite girl in the crowd.
"She said thanks then left," Iwaizumi said.
"Eh? I didn't see her? I didn't hear her?" Oikawa hesitated, tilting his head on a side.
"No one ever does, anyway…" Hajime replied with a frown.
Now that the astonishment of Oikawa's help had faded, he was back to feeling annoyed by everyone's behavior towards Kiku. Not only they had immediately thought that she had caused his fall (which was already ridiculous in itself) but they had also immediately turned around completely the moment Oikawa had stepped in. Not an apology or a glance to Kiku. They ignored or accused her because she didn't fit their expectations and bowed and listened to Oikawa's every word because he was pretty and popular.
"You do."
"Uh?"
Hajime blinked, staring at his friend who was watching him with a little, honest smile. It was such a rare sight that it managed to erase Hajime's annoyance, replaced by stupefaction and… what was it he was feeling right now? He had the urge to touch his chest where his heart was, it was suddenly beating so much more strongly… what was it he felt? Peace…?
"You see her, and you hear her. Right, Iwa-chan?" Oikawa continued.
Unable to answer to that, Iwaizumi remained silent. Then, the beginning of class resonated and the four volleyball players went in their own classes. Iwaizumi's steps slowed down when he watched from afar Akiyama Kiku.
She was all alone but for once, she wasn't listening to music. When Hajime entered the classroom, she glanced at him and for this short moment, everything was quiet. No discussion was heard, no chair racking against the floor was heard either, no annoying ringing resonating. There was no one but Hajime and Kiku, both saying "thank you for what you did" in complete silence. But somehow, they heard it.
Hajime sat at his chair while Kiku looked at her desk. He felt much better than before – he was often angry or annoyed at a thing or another, he could be described as 'irritated' most of the time. But when he was near Kiku, it was quiet and he didn't feel irritated at all. He felt good.
The rest of the day went as usual, a little too slow for Iwaizumi who was impatient to have a practice match, even if it was just Karasuno. But with Kageyama as setter, they were sure to have a good level. At the end of class, he stood up excitedly – even if he hid it well – and quickly went to the changing-room and the gymnasium.
Kiku had watched Hajime standing up excitedly, a little curious about his excitement. Then, she remembered that he had a practice match. To be sure, she looked into her bag for her organizer but she couldn't find it… Thinking she had probably forgotten it in her bedroom, she let it go and decided to go at the gymnasium. Perhaps she'd watch for a little while the match. Plus, she had a bento to give.
She went calmly to Aoba Jousai's gymnasium where the volleyball club was practicing. Kiku let her head glance inside, noticing that Karasuno High-school was already here and that both teams were warming-up. They were tossing back and forth, practicing spikes and serves. Kiku noticed Iwaizumi from afar and smiled to herself just as someone walked past her – a boy taller than her, but short compared to the giants that were the volleyball players. He was wearing Karasuno's jersey so she concluded he was one of the player who would play today. He had bright orange hair and was holding his stomach, he looked a little sick…
Worrying for him when he walked a little aimlessly, Kiku wondered if he needed help. But before she could speak up, a player from Karasuno ran to him and after a little discussion that Kiku overheard, she quickly concluded that the reason of this boy's sickness was stress.
I know the struggle… good luck to you… Kiku thought to herself while the boy was being talked to by Karasuno's manager.
For some reason, he made a squeak and went red, but he looked a little more alive – probably?
Kiku was still staring at the strange scene like a curious bird just as Coach Mizoguchi arrived.
"We're going to start the match soon – are all of your players warm up?" He asked the number one.
"A-ah, almost! Hinata – come, you need to warm-up!" The Karasuno guy told the orange haired boy.
Mizoguchi made a little disapproving sound and was about to turn back towards the court when he noticed Kiku, hidden behind the door.
"Kiku-chan!" He called, going to her, "What are you doing, hidden there?" He asked with a smile.
She startled and bowed in salutation to the coach before reaching for her bag where a bento was.
"C-could you g-give this…?" She asked hesitantly.
"As usual, yes, don't worry!" He answered, taking the bento in his hands, "There will be a practice match soon – will you watch it?"
Instead of answering, Kiku tried to glance on the court to catch a glimpse of Aoba Jousai's players, and one in particular. Mizoguchi glanced over his shoulder, in the direction of the players that Kiku was staring at.
"Are you… looking for someone?" Mizoguchi asked hesitantly.
Kiku startled guiltily before shaking her head shyly, flushing in embarrassment.
"A-all right… I'll bring this to Coach Irihata, then," Mizoguchi added, showing the bento before turning his heels around and leaving.
Kiku didn't answer, going back behind her hiding place. Her eyes caught sight of Iwaizumi, saying something to a tall and weirdly haired boy – his head looked like a turnip… Iwaizumi was wearing the jersey number one – it was usually the one worn by the Captain but without Oikawa, he was the one leading the team. It made Kiku strangely proud.
She turned around with a smile to take the stairs to watch the practice match, her step lighter, hopping as she always did when she felt happy. Kiku froze completely when she saw Oikawa Tooru watching her from afar closely, an amused and slightly thunderstruck expression on his face to see the girl being so… herself and not closed up…
"Kiku-chan~" He called when he realized she had noticed him, "I'm sorry I didn't hear you leave this morning!"
Kiku quickly shook her head to let him understand that she didn't mind, but she was unable to voice her thoughts, nervousness invading her.
"Do you know Coach Mizoguchi? I just saw you give him a bento!" Oikawa continued, approaching her.
He didn't want to get too close and scare her off but he was still closer than the girl was used to if the way her body stiffened was any indication. Kiku hesitated before nodding as answer to his question.
"Mmm…~" Oikawa hummed thoughtfully, trying to find out what sort of relationship tied Kiku and Mizoguchi.
They didn't look alike, so they weren't family. Mizoguchi didn't seem interested in high-schoolers – and he was too old for that anyway…
Kiku quietly walked past him before stopping and turning around hesitantly, Oikawa not realizing that the girl had walked past him and was about to leave. Kiku hesitated, opening and closing her lips before finding the courage to speak up – and her heart almost leapt out of her chest because of that:
"U-uhm…! O-Oikawa-san…" She called, making the volleyball Captain turn towards her with a kind smile.
Oh? She's speaking to me? He thought, a little surprised.
"W-will you… play…?" Kiku asked in a low voice, fumbling with her hair and ribbon, cheeks red.
"I have the doctor's authorization, so yes…" He answered, a little worried she might be one of his fan – that wouldn't go well with Iwa-chan…
But when he answered that, instead of a joyful reaction, the girl frowned lightly to herself.
"I-if y-you'll play… you'll be the… um… the Captain, r-right? Y-you'll wear the number one…?" She hesitated.
Oikawa blinked, not understanding why she was saying that. Then, he glanced over his shoulder at the warm-up. His mouth formed a 'o' in understanding when he saw that Iwaizumi, being the temporary Captain, was wearing the number one jersey. Overjoyed, he turned, a little sparkly, towards the girl:
"Oooh~ Do you like seeing Iwa-chan with the number one? You don't want me to go and take the number one from him? Is that it?" He asked, a little excitedly because his ship was sailing on its own and he barely had to work on it.
Kiku blushed terribly when he figured her out and she looked down, trying to ignore the way he was staring at her, like an excited, happy puppy. It made her even more nervous because she couldn't understand why he was acting like that. She was usually pretty good at figuring out people, but not understanding their reactions made her even more anxious than usual…
"I-I… think that… the number four suits him… better…" Kiku answered in an embarrassed whisper.
"Oh!" Oikawa said, almost hopping up and down in excitement to see the girl so obviously crushing on Iwa-chan.
If the two are already crushing on each other, they only need a little push to get together! He thought to himself, ecstatic.
But before he could add anything, Kiku bowed to him and ran away. Oikawa wondered what to do before glancing at the warm-up once again. The two teams were aligned in front of one another, about to start the practice match. Going in now would be more bothersome than anything. No one would be entering by this hall and he was away from Mizoguchi's eyes which meant that for now, no one would notice him.
"Well~ I might as well enjoy the show and watch how Tobio-chan does from here~" He told himself, leaning against the entrance and remaining out of view, "And Kiku-chan will see her Iwa-chan being the temporary Captain, muhuhu~"
I've always thought that it was weird that Oikawa would appear in the middle of a practice match instead of being there from the beginning - I suppose he had just gone back from the doctor or whatever, but it'd be a weird organization. Who would go to the doctor to ensure his leg would be all right before entering in the middle of a practice match? Considering he had free time on Monday, the day before, Oikawa should have gone then. Once again, no one was surprised to see him late so...? Anyway, I tried finding some sort of tiny explanation for that. (but we all know that the reason why he appeared so late was for cliffhanger purpose in both the manga and anime)
NEXT CHAPTER : FEELING BOLD
Yours Truly,
May