Thank yo all for your favorites and follows! I'm sorry I'm not posting much but I don't really feel in a fluffy mood so it's hard to write Kijime... "
alldogsarecute : Thank YOU for your review! If it feels real then that's great! :D
Cooliceprincess : I'm not sure you'll feel very giddy reading this chapter, but the next one will make up for it, I swear! :)
pinkdoughnuts : Iwaizumi is the most underrated boyfriend material of the fandom. Everyone always obssesses over the nice guuys, the hot guys, but Iwaizumi? OK, he's hot. But he must be so awkward but so sweet! We nly know him as a volleyball player and in his friendship with the team, but he is already so protective for all of them - especially Oikawa but it's obvious considering they're childhood friends. And Iwaizumi's eyes ARE beautiful! Green-grey... kyaaaaa! /
rheascarlet : If I manage to make all three stories with different atmospheres then I'm glad, though I'm not sure in this case that people will like all three. But not everyone can love evreything, right? ^^" It IS a coincidence I only write about Aces! XD At first, it was just Asahi, then, I had several ideas for seevral characters and I decided to write Bokuto. And in theory Kuroo or Oikawa should have been next, but for Kuroo - it's going to be a darker story - and for Oikawa - still mostly undecided because I have too many ideas and I can't decide on one plot... or OC - so I really wanted some fluff as relief from the angst of Sowlmate and my others fanfics (publishde here or not) which usually are not as cute and innocent as Kijime. Honestly, THIS fanfic is like an experimentation for me - can I write a story which is 75% fluff contrary to my usual 75% angst? Only time shall tell. As for Akaashi... I HAVE thought about his love life - but I didn't really think about writing an entire story for him... And Kenma... even if he's adorable, I can't really imagine him falling in love. But if I DO write a story about Kenma... it'll be fluffy too. I don't know honestly. Apart from Kuroo and Oikawa, I'm not sure which one I could write about next - maybe Aone or Futakuchi? Another Karasuno boy? Kageyama is an interesting character but I don't know... I'm open to suggestions! But it doesn't mean I WILL write something... ^^"
Ryohei S : I'm glad you like the story! :D
Guest : I hope the chapter won't be disappointing!
Lili : Soon enough, everyone will be like Oikawa because Kijime are adorable.
PaintCat : I might overdo it again this chapter for different reasons! XD It'd be interesting to see in all the setter-Ace duos which is an angel and which is a demon: Iwaizumi is an angel, Oikawa a demon; Kageyama demon, Hinata angel; Bokuto angel and Akaashi demon! Suga angel and Asahi... wait... uuuuh... angel... or is Suga actually a demon hidng behind sweet smiles? Naaah... but what if...? I DONT KNOW! Good job, now I'm confused and I'll spend the next 72h wondering whether Suga is an angel or a demon in hiding!
Shy guest : Your review made me so happy~ I absolutely love the nickname creampuff for Hanamaki and I might use it in the story becaus eit's perfect! XD
FanFictionAddiction4EVER : I usually WRITE stories with tons of dramas - here the angst is only in the past for the most part! ;) I'll try my heardest to make character development not out of angst, but out of pure love and fluff~
HaPPy2901 : Waaaah! Thanks for all of your reviews! XD I udnerstand multitasking - you read lots of fanfics, I write lots of them. I don't know how I keep up hoenstly... I wonder how far you got on Sowlmate cnosidering the aamount of chapters but I won't be too impatient despite how much development the last chapters had. Personally the main reason why I love Aoba Jousai it's for their absolute trust and dorkiness for each other - same for Fukurodani in a way but we didnt really see Fukurodani competing or being serious - which is the case for AJ. We saw AJ in rpactice, practice match, official match, revenge match... it's all making them sooooo much more complete than other teams (other tha Karasuno but that's the main team so it's obvious) Oikawa is such an incredible and interesting characters and it's bringing out the best out of the other characters as well (I just realized that Oikawa, whether as a setter, or simply as a character, was just the sort of characters to bring out the best of other characters no matter what! whether it's for the plot/story/character development or simpl for the characters being themselves around him) Kiku and Hajime will have lots of tiny moments that will seem insignificant for outsiders (Oikaawa, Hanamki, etc.) but it will SO important for them as a couple. Oikawa DOES know a few secrets about Kiku but it was thanks to his investigation AFTER deciding to push Iwaizumi and Kiku together so... I am not shipping IwaOi because I think they act like best friends/siblings (like most of the characters that people ship together, honestly) but because Oikawa is so important for Iwaizumi (and the other way around because BEST FRIENDS CHILDHOOD FRIENDS) their friendship definitely has consequences on the other relationships they have with others (friends, families, lovers, etc.) And as for Iwaizumi - he has a crush on Kiku, she reminds him in certain points (and up to this point, it's only the demon look) about Oikawa, but that's it. Iwaizumi wasn't attracted to her BECAUSE she reminded him of Oikawa - on the contrary, if she had reminded him of Oikawa from the beginning, he would have run off because he wouldn't be able to deal with a second version of Oikawa. As for Kiku being carried by Iwaizumi - Oikawa and the team know about it but they know the 'official' version "Kiku didn't feel well and collapsed" (even if Oikawa probably has a good idea on what really happened but he wouldn't bring it up to further embarass his friend, he knows his boundaries)
: I'm so happy you read both Sowlmate and this story and love them both! I'm really impatient to reach the moemnt when I'll bring Ayaka into THIS one! ;) (accompanied with a certain someone :D)
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : QUIET WORDS
CHAPTER IX : Comfort
"Sometimes, all you had to do was exist in order to be someone's saviour."
— Keigo Higashino
"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered."
― Michael J. Fox
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
― Edith Sitwell
Hajime was thinking about Kiku when the sounds in the classroom became too loud to his taste. He glanced around and realized that if a few students had exited the classroom, most were discussing and chuckling. He looked at them a little curiously when they started pulling some stuff from their school bags – mostly bags of… was that flour?
"Hurry up before she comes back!" Someone exclaimed with a laugh.
Most of Hajime's classmates seemed just as confused as him about whatever was going on but at least half a dozen of students were working for some sort of prank.
Standing on a chair, a boy put a complicated system above the sliding door with a bag of flour. It was opened and on some sort of dangerous balance – as soon as someone would open or close the door, it'd fall on the poor victim.
Iwaizumi decided to ignore it all – he had no part in it – but he had a bad feeling he couldn't quite let go of.
"Oi, what are you doing?" He asked loudly, frowning lightly.
The group of students who had organized everything stopped chuckling to themselves and turned, a little sheepishly, towards the volleyball Vice-Captain.
"I-Iwaizumi-san…" Minami, a boy who respected Iwaizumi, murmured a little worriedly.
"We're just going to play a prank!" Fujioka Masami exclaimed, sitting on a desk.
"Against who?"
Fujioka snorted with a cold smile, shrugging nonchalantly.
"The black sheep of the class, who else? Akiyama Kiku!"
Iwaizumi's blood ran cold and he stood up suddenly, hands tightening in fists.
"What?" He breathed angrily.
But Fujioka didn't seem to realize that the Ace was now furiously staring at the back of her head. A few boys who were helping her out in her prank glanced worriedly at their hero.
"She always bribes teachers by offering them cakes from her parents – it's time to teach her a lesson. Everyone licks her feet just because she's weird and insane, I'm tired of seeing her receiving a different treatment than us!" Fujioka exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest, "Also, she's just plain annoying! She's such a pain!" She huffed disdainfully.
Several students seemed to agree with her – until they met Hajime's furious eyes. He glared at the bitch who thought she was the queen of the third-years and opened his lips to yell at her to take off the flour from the door. But before he could say a thing, the door slid open and the bag of flour fell down.
Everyone turned towards the shocked squeal of Akiyama Kiku when she had walked through the door. She was now frozen, her hair and clothes covered in white powder, the almost empty bag now at her feet.
The eyes of everyone widened and the group of bullies suddenly exploded in laugh. Some of the non-involved students couldn't help but chuckle as well, trying to hide their smiles without success. The only ones who weren't smiling or laughing were Iwaizumi and Akiyama.
Hajime was staring with wide, shocked eyes at the trembling girl. If only he had reacted faster, if only he had taken the bag of flour off before she'd enter the classroom again…
Kiku, who had been frozen in shock, upon hearing their laughs, felt the weight of the realization that the students had made it all happen on purpose… the sounds were like knives biting her heart and flesh. Her eyes stung and she lowered her head, trying to hold back the tears but it only made her body tremble.
"Is she going to cry?! I can't believe it! She's such a baby! A crybaby!"
"Wah! So lame!"
"How old is she even?!"
Kiku's hands covered her face. She wanted to run away but her legs didn't move, the only sound she could hear was the others' laughs.
Iwaizumi glanced between the group of horrid teenagers and the fragile girl crying, he wanted to go to Kiku for comfort but he also wanted to shout at these idiots and throw them out the windows for being so cruel.
"Kiku-chan~!" Fujioka exclaimed, standing on her feet and taking a box of eggs that had been hidden behind her, "Tell me~ With flour, what else do you add to bake cake? Gross, sickening cakes!"
"Oi! Stop it!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, taking a step forward.
But they either didn't hear him from their loud laughs or completely ignored him.
Several continued laughing but some looked just plain uncomfortable seeing the bullying now. Still, Fujioka and her group of assholes just took a few eggs in their hands and aimed at Kiku who wasn't moving.
The girl jumped when she received an egg against her arm, and another on her leg.
Fujioka aimed another egg at the girl but it wasn't Kiku it hit. Masami squealed in sudden fear and panic.
Kiku heard the egg breaking but didn't feel it hit her body. That was when she looked up hesitantly with wide eyes but she couldn't see any of the bullies. She was protected by Iwaizumi who was standing in front of her, keeping her safe from any more projectile. He had received an egg straight in the chest but didn't care, he just glared at his infuriating classmates, his blood boiling.
"Oi… what do you think you're doing, you bastards…?!" He hissed.
The students who had not been involved in this bullying looked at the scene with wide, slightly frightened eyes, in fear that it'd turn into a fight. The half-dozen of bullies now looked pale and about to collapse just looking in the direction of the vicious-looking Vice-Captain. Iwaizumi Hajime was known, not just as a role model for pretty much every boy in the high-school, but also as the strongest in the entire school. No one wanted a beating from him.
"I-it's just a little joke, a prank…! Iwaizumi-san…" A boy said sheepishly, feeling sweat dripping at the back of his neck.
"It's not like anyone is hurt or anything…"
"Y-yeah, i-it was just for fun… to laugh a little bit, all together…"
Iwaizumi stared at them, looking like he was surrounded by flames directly from hell. His eyes were blazing from rage to see the low level of his classmates who would go as far as bullying an innocent girl 'for fun'…
"For fun…? To laugh…?" He repeated coldly.
He took a few steps forward, two boys stepping back and hitting the desks until Hajime arrived at the level of Fujioka who tried to step away – but she was stuck by the desk. She looked down anxiously, afraid of what the man would do to her.
Hajime reached for the box of eggs then took a few in his hands.
"If it's for fun, you won't mind it if I have fun as well then?" He continued darkly.
No one breathed a word, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Hajime pushed an egg down on the top of Fujioka's head, the mix of white and yellow sticky liquid rolling down on her beautiful hair. She lowered her head, lips opening in shock but not daring to say a thing even if she felt furious.
Iwaizumi then turned towards the rest of the group of bullies and aimed at them, hitting their chests and heads with the eggs, not caring if he was hurting any of them. They all felt anger and shame but the fear of facing the strong man was knotting their tongues and stomachs.
He huffed in a mix of annoyance and satisfaction, looking down at his classmates who didn't dare moving an inch, all looking down and covered in sticky egg.
"So, is that fun?!" He shouted angrily.
No one answered but several jumped at his harsh tone.
The innocent classmates watched with wide eyes as Iwaizumi turned around without glancing back at the group of bullies.
"I'll let you clean that mess, assholes." He ordered.
He grabbed Kiku's hand and pulled her behind him. The girl looked at him with wide eyes, not quite believing that Iwaizumi Hajime had protected her and stood up for her. Despite the tears in her eyes and feeling terrible because she had just been bullied, she couldn't help but feel grateful Hajiem had been here. Grateful that he was now dragging her away rapidly, holding her hand. She felt so warm despite the hurt in her heart from her classmates.
Her hand tightened around Hajime's sticky one, covered in egg. But she didn't mind squeezing his hand when he had gotten it dirty for her sake.
They finally arrived in a changing-room that was inside the main building – the changing-room for the boys and girls who were in clubs that didn't have their own clubrooms for changing. Hajime quickly washed his hands, muttering to himself, still furious at his classmates before sending a message to Oikawa, asking him to go get his and Kiku's bags in the classroom.
Even if he was surprised and curious, Oikawa didn't ask any question and quickly left his classroom and went to his friend's one. He froze in shock when he saw some students crying angrily and out of fear – among them Fujioka Masami who was playing the victim. Several had what looked like drying egg on their hair and uniform and two were cleaning the floor covered in white powder – flour?
"What happened here…?" Oikawa asked hesitantly, looking around and blinking.
"Oikawa-san!" Fujioka exclaimed, running to him as soon as she saw him.
She grabbed his uniform, overly dramatic sobs shaking her.
"This is awful! Iwaizumi-san…! Iwaizumi-san…! He attacked me!" She exclaimed.
"What?" Oikawa asked, blinking in disbelief.
"He is dangerous! You have to warn your coach and get him out of the volleyball team! He needs to be punished!" She brawled.
Oikawa didn't answer as Fujioka leaned against him for comfort – it wasn't new that the girl had a huge crush on him (like most girls if he dared say so), but Iwa-chan attacking a girl (even a bitch) just sounded so unrealistic…?
Hearing some people whispering in the classroom, Tooru glanced around but as soon as the groups of students whispering saw his gaze, they shut up and turned away, as if worried of what would happened to them if they were telling the truth.
"Fujioka-san," Tooru called with a kind smile, hands going on her shoulders, "Would you mind telling me the whole story?" He asked.
Fujioka looked up at him, as if surprised to see him doubt her and not already comforting her in his strong arms.
"I-I just told you! I-Iwaizumi-san decided to attack me!"
"I don't think Iwa-chan would attack someone without a legitimate reason." Oikawa answered.
He kept his nice smile but his voice was so dark that Fujioka froze and shivered. Several people glanced nervously at the volleyball Captain, sensing a dangerous aura coming off of him. He pushed away Fujioka lightly before turning around to look at the others:
"Now, won't anyone tell me a thing?" He asked once again.
Several glanced at each other, wondering if they could talk to Oikawa Tooru even if it meant bringing Fujioka's wrath on them…
"…Iwaizumi-san protected Akiyama-san from bullies." Someone finally said hesitantly.
"He still attacked me!" Fujioka exclaimed furiously, "Oikawa-san! You have to believe me!"
"I believe you, Fujioka-san." Oikawa simply said, turning to her with a smile.
His fingers caressed her cheek and she blushed as he tilted up her head.
"I believe you when you say Iwa-chan attacked you…" He murmured with his sweet smile.
"T-then…" She continued sweetly, blinking her eyelashes at him.
Oikawa huffed and let go of her but she had leaned forward so hopefully that she almost fell over.
"But I'm glad he did, otherwise I would have been the one attacking you all." Oikawa added with a cold voice and harsh gaze, staring straight at the group of bullies he could recognize by the egg in their hair and uniform.
"B-but…" Fujioka stammered with wide, furious eyes, "L-look at my hair! He ruined my hair!" She exclaimed, pointing at her usual beautiful hair.
Oikawa ignored her and moved towards Hajime and Kiku's desks, taking their bags as well as the bags with their change of clothes because they should have PE class later in the day. He didn't need an entire explanation to understand what had happened and why Iwaizumi had suddenly asked him to bring his and Kiku's stuff.
"O-Oikawa-san!" Fujioka screamed when he walked past her calmly, "I-I'll tell the teachers that you threatened to attack me after your best friend did!" She hissed.
"And so? Go ahead~" Oikawa answered, turning around with his overly sweet and very dangerous smile, "But if you do that, you'll have to answer to bullying Kiku-chan. And it's not to a coach or teachers I'll talk – but to the headmaster directly. We'll see which one of us, between your crying act, and my honest words, will win, uh?"
Fujioka clenched her fists and jaw, not finding anything to reply. Oikawa watched her, slightly amused at her sudden silence now that she was the one in a position of weakness. Everyone watched the two stars of Aoba Johsai facing each other, the atmosphere turning cold and heavy.
"That's what I thought. Good girl." He praised mockingly before leaving the classroom.
Tears of shame and anger filled Masami's eyes and she ran off, to escape everyone's gazes.
Oikawa found Iwaizumi in front of the changing-room on the first floor. The young man had taken off his jacket but his tie and shirt were wet from the egg earlier. There was some yellow, sticking to his skin through the fabric. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and a furious look on his face.
"Iwa-chan, where is Kiku-chan?" Oikawa asked when he reached him.
"Taking a shower. She's covered in flour and egg, she's trying to wash it all out." Iwaizumi answered grumpily.
Tooru didn't take it to the heart, he knew that (for once) Hajime wasn't angry at him and that his grumpiness was caused by a legitimate reason.
"I just shut Fujioka up, I think she won't bother Kiku-chan or you anymore. But she looked furious so you should be careful…" Tooru added, handing him his sports bag.
"Thanks… for that, and for bringing us our stuff…" Hajime continued with a nod, relaxing a little.
He glanced at the door behind him, wondering if he should bring Kiku her bags. He flushed, thinking back on the fact that she was taking a shower…
"…How do we give Kiku her stuff?" He asked Oikawa who grinned.
"We can just knock and go in!" He exclaimed cheerfully.
"NO! We can't do that! She's taking a shower! And stop looking so joyful!"
"It's not like we'd look or anything!"
"It's NO, Pervykawa!"
"So mean, Iwa-chan! After I went through all the trouble of bringing you your bags!"
"What does that have to do with anything?!"
"Who is supposed to bring Kiku-chan her bags then, if not us?!"
"I will."
The two young men turned around, blinking to see a girl, one of Kiku and Hajime's classmate, standing behind them awkwardly.
"…You're Yukimura Shinobu… what are you doing here?" Iwaizumi asked his classmate suspiciously.
"I-I followed Oikawa-san here… I-I'm worried about Akiyama-san a-and… um…"
Iwaizumi narrowed his eyes at the girl who startled and looked down, fumbling her fingers nervously.
"I-I'm not one of the bullies! I swear! I… I actually disliked watching Akiyama-san being bullied b-but… I didn't have the strength to stand up for her the way you did, Iwaizumi-san…" Yukimura murmured, looking down.
Iwaizumi stared at her and recalled that she had been one of the non-involved students who had remained away from the entire scene, just watching in disbelief everything that was happening. He sighed and Oikawa took it as the sign to let the girl in. Yukimura took Akiyama's bags then entered the changing-room, talking loud enough for the two boys to hear.
"Akiyama-san, I'm bringing you your bags. I'll leave them on the bench!"
A moment later, she was leaving the room, bowing to the young men then walked off as Oikawa waved at her goodbye.
"I'm going to change, can you keep an eye out here?" Iwaizumi asked his friend.
"Mm mm~!" He answered, leaning casually against the wall, overly happy for some reason that Iwaizumi couldn't understand.
He stared at his friend then entered the boys' changing-room to take off his sticky clothes and change into his volleyball uniform.
Unknown to Iwaizumi, Oikawa's real reason to his happiness was the simply fact that despite how saddening the situation was, Hajime had stood up and protected Kiku-chan~
"I really don't have much work to do, they're doing everything all on their own~" Tooru murmured to himself happily.
His ship was sailing so well, it was fulfilling.
Hajime changed quickly because unlike Kiku, he didn't need to take a shower. He told Oikawa he could go back to his classroom and a short moment later, Kiku came out of the changing-room, hair still a little wet from the shower. Despite the situation, Hajime couldn't help but flush lightly, his hands turning sweaty.
18. Her hair is slightly curly at the tips when it's wet.
But then, he sobered up when he realized that, despite keeping her eyes cast down, they were red and she was still sniffling. She had probably cried in the shower… Rubbing the back of his neck, Hajime hesitated, not good at comforting people.
"Do you… uh, wanna go back to class…?" He hesitated, knowing that the break was over for a while now – he hoped Oikawa wouldn't get in trouble for being very late but in the same time, he wasn't really worried because it was Oikawa Tooru.
Without much surprised, Kiku shook her head no, fingers fumbling nervously.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Iwaizumi asked, flushing lightly at the idea of taking the girl back to her place.
Her eyes widened and she hesitated before biting her lower lip and shaking her head once again.
"M-my parents will worry… if I go home now…"
"Yeah, it's not lunch yet…" He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck.
He glanced down at the girl, wondering what he – they could do at this hour, alone… One thing was sure: he wouldn't bear to let Kiku out of his sight for the moment, especially not when she looked on the verge of tears once again.
"Let's go," Iwaizumi suddenly said, taking her hand and pulling her behind him.
She stumbled behind him, looking up in shock at the young man who focused on his steps to not blush too much.
"B-but…" She hesitated, "Y-you have class, a-and y-you can't miss it because o-of me…"
"Tch, as if I wanna breath the same air as these jerks for now…" He muttered, "You need comfort. When we need comfort because we lost a match," he continued, referring to the volleyball team, "We go to a ramen restaurant from the neighbourhood. I'm taking you there. You'll eat, get warm and better and then… we'll go wherever you want."
Kiku hesitated, but when she opened her lips, Hajime interrupted her, glancing down at the girl, feigning to frown and pout – but he really felt like a marshmallow when he noticed her staring at him with her wide, beautiful dark blue eyes…
"Don't discuss. My treat." He mumbled, cheeks red.
Kiku didn't answer, almost running to keep up with his long legs. Then, she felt her heart beat faster, spreading warmth and comfort in her entire body.
I don't need ramen for comfort, as long as I'm with you… She thought to herself.
She ran to catch up with him, smiling to herself while squeezing his warm hand. He squeezed back and they walked side by side, leaving the high-school's grounds together.
I hope I didn't overdo it for the bullies, but I know that even in high-school, bullies make such "pranks". Also... it won't happen again, I mean, the kinda angsty tone of this chapter - next chapter will have the atmosphere of the fluffy end of this one. Basically, a non official date (clue: popcorn).
Also, the other day I saw something on tumblr which was an IwaOi stuff (I don't ship them but fujoshi's ships always pop up ontumblr) and Oikawa was saying "Iwaizumi Tooru" before adding that it sounds great. And, I was like "oh yes, it DOES sound great. What abotu Kiku? Would it sound good? Iwaizumi Kiku. Yes! It does!" and then I played around and I SWEAR TO THE GODS THAT IWAIZUMI IS A FAMILY NAME THAT SOUNDS GREAT WITH ANY OTHER NAME! GO AHEAD, TRY! I REPLACED ALMOST EVERY CHARACTERS FAMILY NAME WITH IWAIZUMI AND IT SOUNDS GREAT! (It makes finding names for the Kijime future babies so much easier, ahah~)
Yours Truly,
May