Hey, hye! :D
20 chapters already, it's incredible and it's all thanks to you! Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited and reviewed this fanfic but also to all the ones who supported me for Sowlmate! :)
AnimeViolinist001: They're taking baby steps but at least, they're not rushing things - unlike a couple of owls I know of... He'll be fine! I'm trying to keep as much of the canon as possible, even if there little changes bound to happen! ;)
bookdragonslayer : Ahah~ I'm happy you liked the scene in the room~
AmericanNidiot: If you type "watch haikyuu stage play" there are apparently dailymotion video but I had downloaded the stage play from tumblr, there is a post xplaining where and how to download it! :) Honestly... reading your review, I had very dirty thoughts when it comes to "Hajime spanking Kiku" but they're too pure (for now) for me to say antyhing that might eb detailed here! XD
pinkdoughtnuts: He's not really scared of the dark tho, he just said that to hold her hand, ahah! XD If you read Sowlmate's last chapters, you know about Kiku's possible manager role! ;) Oikawaisn't a bad guy, not at all, he's probably kinder than he even thinks himself because he's helped out Tobio and Ushijima by given them advices even though he hates them.
LuxKlara : Grazie, sono felice di sapere che ti piaciono i miei capitoli! :D Seguo il canon quanto piu possibile, prometto! Capitolo 21, e il 22... arrivano, arrivano!;) Prossimo capitolo è Sowlmate ma dopo, erà il 21! ;)
. : Yes, yes, exactly! Making people feel better makes ME feel better as well! I've read somewhere than one of the best way to handle depression is by helping out in charity and stuff. Seeing other people's joy is good and also, it gives you a feeling of doing somethign that matters and it's very good! Kiku is TRYING very hard to believe in herself but it's almost imposisble for her - which is why the fact that Hajime will believe so much in her, will support her for everything is VERY important because that's going to determine how much MORE Kiku can become. Love can do so much, and in the best way~
LilyDaph: Tu es sans doute endormie à l'heure qu'il est également... désolée... (j'ai pas vu le temps passé en écrivant et voilà qu'il est presque 2h alors que je devais aller me coucher à minuit max XD) La "bien aimée" d'Oikawa apparait dans Sowlmate (seul moment où elle apparait autre que la fanfic d'Oikawa) mais sinon, il la mentionnera dans Quiet Voice! ;) J'ai préparé un personnage assez particulier, j'ai eu beacoup de mal à me décider pour la fille d'Oikawa et j'espère qu'elle ne décevra personne. En tout cas, elle sera différent des OC géénralement créées pour Oikawa. J'espère, j'essaie; tout en essayant de la garder intéressante et 'correspondante" à Tooru... Ne t'en fais pas! Kiku aura d'autres occasions de s'occuper d'Hajime! ;)
Houshikun001 : Fluffiness in the dark, in the light, by day or by night, it's all the time with Kijime~ There willd efinitely be some nursing back to health moments! ;)
Reader fan : Well... I also squealed loudly when Iwa-chan appeared in the season 3 WHILE KNOWING HE WOULD APPEAR AND WITH MY MOTHER WATCHING WITH ME (I forced her, she loves Hinata) and it was veryveryembarrassing... Kiku would be an amazing manager because hse loves taking care of people as well as cheering for them... There is a particular ~something~ she will do during the Inter-High to encourage Hajime and I cannot wait to write it~~ :3
King Cook : Mmmm... Karasuno will come later, and I'd rather keep their presence as a minimum partly because unlike in my toher fanfics, the only role Karausno has for Aoba Jousai is that of "opponents" there is no friendly rivalry like with Nekoma, Fukurodani, etc. so I have to keep the relationship between the Seijou boys and Karasuno as close to canon as posisble. But there will be more time between Kiku and the rest of the team, and I hope that despite Karasuno's presence kept low, you'll still enjoy the rest of the story! :)
sxs1000 : Your review made me cry in joy, it's so sweet, thankk you so much! :D I'm so happy you like the story and that everything, especially the characters, are to your tastes! :D I get what yo'ure saying about the differences of atmosphere between manga and fanfic and if you find mine refreshing and enjoy it...~ It makes me very happy~
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : QUIET VOICE
CHAPTER XX : Rejection, and Acceptance
"There are no safe choices. Only other choices."
― Libba Bray, A Great and Terrible Beauty
"People often ask me questions that I cannot very well answer in words, and it makes me sad to think they are unable to hear the voice of my silence."
— Hazrat Inayat Khan
"Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone."
― Shannon L. Alder
"I am good at walking away. Rejection teaches you how to reject."
― Jeanette Winterson, Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles
"Placing my head on my knees, I let the irrational tears fall unrestrained. I am crying over the loss of something I never had. How ridiculous. Mourning something that never was - my dashed hopes, my dashed dreams, and my soured expectations."
― E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey
"She smiled at me
and slowly, I realized
my frown had disappeared.
I was smiling.
How was I smiling?"
— Babbar Sher
"Nothing brings down walls as surely as acceptance."
― Deepak Chopra, The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
The entire volleyball team turned around as Mizoguchi and Iwaizumi came back from the hospital.
"So?" Irihata asked, looking up at them from his bench while the regulars all surrounded their Ace worriedly and everyone stayed close-by.
"I'm fine," Iwaizumi said with a tight smile.
"So?" Irihata repeated, turning towards Mizoguchi to get the truth.
"A light sprained wrist. One week of complete immobilization and two weeks going easy but then, he should be fine."
"Good, better than expected," Irihata sighed in relief, everyone echoing him.
"Glad to know that you'll be in top shape for the Inter-High, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa exclaimed, tapping his friend's shoulder.
"Just because I won't be practicing, don't think I'll go easy on any of you," Iwaizumi answered, throwing a dangerous look towards the team, and especially the three third-years who had involuntarily caused his sprain.
All the regulars shivered and Oikawa was shock frozen for a moment, before he carefully stepped away from his friend.
Iwaizumi – who was now supposed to stay sit and at least, not move his hand much – glanced around but didn't see the person he was looking for. As the others were taking a break to drink some water, he approached his friends and put a hand on Oikawa, making him jump:
"Oi, did you see Kiku today?" He asked, still looking around.
"Mm? Not yet, I didn't go to the cheerleaders' gymnasium either. I had to stay here for some papers to fill." He answered.
"Mm."
"You could go check yourself, considering you have more than enough time on your hands!" Hanamaki exclaimed with a grin.
"No, the priority is the team." He mumbled with a sigh, "I can't leave you – I'm sure you all slacked off all morning."
"What would make you think so, Iwa-chan?" Oikawa asked, putting on an innocent face.
"Because you were the one leading them and we all know that if I'm not here to push your butt forward, you just slack off!" Iwaizumi hissed, scowling, even if he knew that the one who was always overpracticing also was Oikawa – it just felt good bickering with him.
"How mean, Iwa-chan!"
Somehow, seeing them arguing managed to get rid of the last bits of tension around the team. Despite their Ace's little injury, if their Captain and Vice-Captain were acting normally, then everything was all right.
In another gymnasium, shared by the basketball club and the cheerleading club, just like for the volleyball club, everything was as usual.
Kiku was staring at her feet, leaning against a wall and looking at the rest of the cheerleading team. Except the moment she had worried for Iwaizumi after learning he had slipped in the showers and hurt himself, she had spent the entirety of her time thinking over Oikawa and Iwaizumi's words. Both had explicitly said that the cheerleading club hadn't accepted Kiku, that she wasn't, and had never been, part of the team. At first, Kiku didn't want to believe it, but the truth was that she had always known that. It wasn't a surprise to know she wasn't accepted, she had always been rejected so it was the same as usual.
She was used to it.
She wasn't used to people reaching out to her and saying out loud what she's always known.
"Are you aware that the cheerleading club doesn't consider you one of their teammates? Would they care if you'd be gone from the team? Are you sure you're having fun when they treat you like that? You do know that they're treating you badly?"
In her first-year, the other first-years from the cheerleading club had spent most of their time making fun of her and despising her. Simply because she wasn't fit and "shouldn't" practice sports such as gymnastics and dance where only thin, fit bodies were considered "good". Kiku didn't mind, she was used to being treated this way. She was used to being told what to do and that she was "wrong". And she knew that at some point, they'd be a team and that it would matter more. Right?
She was trying so hard to be good enough to her teammates, she was trying to have the same interests as them, to participate in conversation. This way, they'd realize that she wasn't wrong. Just different. But then, came the Golden Week and unlike the rest of the time where Kiku would have the time to take care of herself, to relax, she spent all the time desperately reaching out to others. They looked down at her, probably not even realizing the way they were treating her, and then…
"That's why she's always taking showers on her own?!"
"Look at that! It's hideous!"
"She's that desperate for attention?!"
"How lame!"
"She's so stupid and ugly!"
"She's a monster!"
Kiku couldn't hold on any longer and a few minutes after this accident, her parents came to get her. Kiku hadn't even warned her coach and Captain, she had been just too desperate to get away. To breathe, to stop crying.
Her uncle had warned the other coach who punished the group of girls who had insulted Kiku, but it only worsened it all. Kiku hadn't known that the coach had known the details, she didn't know the girls had been punished because of her.
But it didn't matter because after that, they rejected her. Instead of despising and looking at her mockingly, they just shut her out. They wanted her gone. They didn't want of Kiku on their team, they didn't want of a monster unfit for cheerleading. She was ruining everything, like always. She couldn't fit in with people, like always. She was just being rejected, like always…
"Why have you remained on the cheerleading club all these years when they don't even treat you like a teammate?" Hajime had asked her the previous day.
"Because I like it. I like… cheerleading." She had answered so easily.
And it was so true.
Ever since she had assisted to a little show of cheerleaders in front of the hospital she had been in, the way these pretty ladies seemed to fly and make impossible stunts. The way they were smiling, cheeks rosy and grins wide. The way they kept shouting encouraging words. Encouraging words coming out of their hearts and souls, and not out of pity or because it was their job… the encouraging words Kiku had needed back then. She couldn't stop thinking about this joy these ladies had felt, the joy she wanted to feel as well.
She started taking dance and gymnastics classes and once she was able to do some stunts, she joined the neighborhood cheerleading club with her friend from dance. She was too closed-off and shy to suddenly join any club, and even less the cheerleading club, from her Middle-school, especially considering she was already in her third year. But when she joined high-school, she took her courage in her hands and decided to join the cheerleading club and get on a real team, to really cheer for other teams from her school. She wanted to integrate, to be with people. She wanted her shyness and trauma to stop controlling her life… but it didn't work out.
No matter how much she tried, she would always be awkward, shy, fat, ugly, messed-up Kiku. She'd always be the monster people rejected.
But she couldn't give up the cheerleading club, no matter how hard it was to keep herself from crying whenever she'd hear an insult, or felt rejected, or kept away. She had tried too hard to get there to let these selfish girls have their way. That was when Kiku realized that she was actually a very stubborn person, not that it did much for her on the team. She had never been part of the team and never would, but she had nowhere else to go, so she stayed…
Without quite realizing it, Kiku stopped enjoying cheering. Going to cheering competitions, going to encourage the various teams of her school to competitions… it became a chore. Going to practice… a torture. She would go with her feet feeling as if they were glued on the floor, something chaining her down – loneliness. Shoulders slumping, head kept down, sighing more often than not… she had never wanted of that. It wasn't what cheerleading was supposed to be. It was supposed to be full of joy and cheerfulness! Not… that.
"Why don't you leave this club? Why don't you join us as a manager? Go tell your teammates you hurt your ankle, and see how they'll react. Even though, I'm pretty sure you already know how they'll react…"
Kiku couldn't figure out what Oikawa wanted out of it. There might be something he was doing for his own good, for the team, rather than her… but even if she was a tool for some unknown goal from the volleyball Captain, Kiku wanted to believe that a part of him was doing it for her sake. That someone had actually reached out and taken her hand to guide her. That someone cared enough to break her chains of loneliness.
Kiku couldn't help but think about Hajime and how, despite everything, he still valued her choice above all.
"If you come… I want it to be your choice… only if you can be sure that you're a hundred percent sure you'll be happy… cheering only for us from the bench rather than… in a fucked up club that doesn't know what a team is supposed to be… Your choice."
As if her choice, her heart, her happiness mattered more than anything else. Perhaps he was that kind to think of her before anyone else. More than anyone else, Hajime had reached out to her, had been kind to her. It was the reason why she had fallen in love with the grumpy Ace, after all…
When Miyano-san called for the end of break, everyone went forward, not realizing that Kiku stared at them from afar without moving right away. She pushed herself off the wall and advanced as well.
"Captain…" She called hesitantly.
But Miyano didn't hear her, or didn't care, and continued talking with her Vice-Captain about what they would practice next.
"Captain," Kiku called once again, swallowing hard when a few people glanced at her curiously.
Their coach glanced up from her notes as well. Kiku hesitated, lips opening and closing until she forced her mouth to open once again:
"Miyano-san!" She screamed.
Everyone startled at her sudden raise of voice and Kiku blushed terribly in embarrassment, hating to attract attention to herself. Slowly, Miyano turned around with wide eyes, looking down at Kiku in complete bewilderment:
"Yes?" She asked, blinking.
"I… I…" Kiku stammered, glancing around hesitantly.
"Well, what is it?" Miyano continued, impatiently.
"Go tell your teammates you hurt your ankle, and see how they'll react."
"I… m-my ankle… h-hurts a little… I-I'm not sure I'll uh… I'll be able to perform… my part…" Kiku said awkwardly, not used to lie.
Not like that, at least.
To add more truth to the words, she lifted up a little her right ankle, as if in pain to stand on it. Before her coach could say a thing, Miyano reacted. She turned with a bright smile towards a second-year:
"That's great! Acchan! You wanted to participate, didn't you? You could take Akiyama's part!" She exclaimed excitedly.
Kiku's blood ran cold as she stared, without quite seeing, Miyano, and the rest of her teammates… Only coach didn't seem quite as enthusiastic and frowned at Miyano's words.
So easily.
It was so natural for all of them to forget about Kiku. To get rid of the monster, to erase her as if she had never existed. No. She had never existed for them, she had never been part of the team.
Kiku lowered her head, the only one unmoving and silent in the flow of enthusiast cheerleaders…
"Miyano-san…" She called with a broken voice.
But the Captain didn't hear her. Kiku swallowed hard and clenched her fists before looking up, ignoring the way her cheeks had heated up from the tears she was bravely holding back:
"MIYANO-SAN!" She shouted loudly.
Once again, everyone startled but this time, Miyano turned around faster. And froze when she saw the expression on Kiku's face – not the tears but… the determination and anger shining in her eyes. Never before, Kiku had let her mask of shyness and kindness slip to let out her true emotions and at the moment, it was frightening.
"I'm quitting the cheerleading club!" Kiku exclaimed.
"Eh? B-but! Akiyama!" The coach exclaimed.
"Thank you for these three years," Kiku added with a bow towards the team and coach.
Too stunned to say anything, everyone just stared at her. They were too surprised to even think that it was about time she quit the team. Kiku had been so stubborn in remaining on the team for three years that, even if she wasn't one of them, she was still always here in the background. Why did she change so suddenly in her last year? What had happened?
Then, without another glance towards them or another word uttered, Kiku spun around and walked out of the gymnasium, standing tall and proud, firm determination ablaze in her eyes.
Awkward Akiyama Kiku was too stubborn to leave the cheerleading club because she had nowhere else to go. But Akiyama Kiku who allowed herself to make a different choice would find her own path, in her own time. It might just start with a first step towards the volleyball club's gymnasium.
After retrieving her bag, Kiku walked away from the gymnasium. Without much surprise, no one came after her, no one tried to hold her back…
Her steps slowed down until she came to a stop, in the middle of the many gymnasiums of Aoba Jousai. Her bag slipped from her shoulder and fell at her feet but Kiku left it on the ground. It was quiet. All the sports club were in the gymnasium or practicing in the training field and she was all alone here. There was a little wind that shook her hair, her fingers trembled and she let herself curl up into a ball, covering her face with her hands, tears streaming down. Her shoulders shook as she held back sobs and cried as silently as she could to not attract anyone's attention but despite all fo her efforts, whining sounds escaped her throat as she cried for the three years she had spent being treated like a monster. For the three years of illusion of happiness she had lived.
It hurt so much, being rejected for not being good enough…
Kiku cried for a long time, tears never stopping. She remained in the toilets of the first gymnasium she had entered and waited for her tears to cease, for her heart to not break anymore whenever she thought of having quit the cheerleading club, for feeling indecisive about whether or not she had made the right choice…
Once she didn't have any more tears to shed, and her heart didn't hurt quite as much, she made sure her eyes showed no sign of tears then she quietly made her way towards the volleyball club's gymnasium, feeling a little groggy, drunken by her sadness. She remained at the door, watching the boys from afar for a long moment, just listening to the squeaks of the shoes, the balls hitting the court, and the encouraging shouts from everyone.
Kiku wanted to stay on the side and watch them for a while, until the end of their practice, but Iwaizumi turned around in between two advices given to his juniors and noticed her. He froze in his steps, eyes widening lightly before a goofy smile appeared on his face. He ran to the other side of the gymnasium, to her, everyone turning around to glance at their Ace and noticing Kiku as well.
"Akiyama-san!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, a few more boys coming closer while Irihata and Mizoguchi called for a break – the team wouldn't focus for a while now, "How are you?" He asked.
Kiku blinked and quickly hid her emotions by glancing down at his hand surrounded by a splint:
"How is your hand? You went to the hospital this morning?" She asked, avoiding answering him.
Iwaizumi pouted just as the others arrived and surrounded Kiku:
"He's off practice for a week, then has to train lightly until the Inter-High," Mattsun answered.
"Thank goodness it's not as bad as it might have been…" She sighed, a hand over her heart.
Hajime blushed at her attention but then, Oikawa leaned towards Kiku with a smile:
"What are you doing here at such an early hour, Kiku-chan?" He asked, tilting his head on a side.
Flushing in embarrassment, she looked away but answered quickly – too quickly but no one except a few seemed to notice her trouble:
"Ah! Uh! I-um, I-I was t-taking… a break… a-and wanted to come see… you…" She murmured, glancing quickly at Hajime who blushed at her gaze before she quickly turned to the others, "A-all of you, o-of course…"
"Of course," Makki snorted, arms crossed his chest while Mattsun leaned against him and snickered as well.
"Taking a break with your bag?" Oikawa continued, glancing at the bag at her feet.
Kiku glanced at him quickly, something close to panic flashing in her eyes. But when he smiled good-heartedly and no one said anything else – they were too busy teasing Iwaizumi who ended up shouting at them, making them go away – Kiku sighed in relief and her shoulders dropped. She watched from the entrance as Iwaizumi screamed at his teammates as they all went away from his wrath, but they seemed to enjoy themselves. They drank water, used towels, glad to just have a break now that they had saluted their favorite alien-mermaid.
Only Oikawa remained at Kiku's side, watching over the rest of the team, like the proud Captain he was. He had so much faith in them, it was incredible.
"You seem much more relaxed, Kiku-chan. As if a burden has been taken off your shoulders…" Oikawa remarked with a smile.
She glanced up at him, knowing that he knew that she had quit the cheerleading club. He was frightening and at the moment, she couldn't figure out if his smile was a mask or not.
Finally, Kiku smiled as well and looked back towards Hajime:
"Mm… I do feel lighter. Thank you, Oikawa-san…" She said and for once, she didn't stammer, she didn't stay quiet, she didn't hide herself.
She kept her head held up high, her smile bright, her gaze determined and her voice unwavering.
Oikawa was surprised to see her becoming more like herself with someone else than Iwa-chan… but he was glad she could smile and feel at ease. He smiled once again and turned towards his team.
A few minutes later, practice started again for the volleyball club. Iwaizumi glanced at the entrance but Kiku was gone already. He thought she had gone back to her own practice, but Kiku was actually in front of the high-school's entrance, her phone on her ear as the phonecall rang regularly.
"Yes?"
"Dad, could you come at school? And bring them all?" Kiku asked at once.
There was a short pause, and she could guess her father's smile.
"I'm coming," he answered, making her smile.
Kiku waited for a long time outside the high-school, but didn't mind waiting. She kept herself busy by listening to music and playing an improvised hopscotch with the pavement and fallen leaves. A little truck arrived with "Akiyama Bakery" written on its side and her tall father exited it.
"Just in time! They're about to finish!" Kiku exclaimed, already running to the back of the truck and opening it.
"Calm down, they won't run away!" Shouta exclaimed with a laugh.
Kiku grabbed two trays piled up on one another, making sure not to ruin the boys' surprise, and was already turning towards the volleyball club's gymnasiums. Shouta grabbed the four last trays without trouble, closed the doors of the truck and followed his daughter, more calmly.
Kiku was practically running, or bouncing excitedly, a mix of the two, to advance towards the gymnasium. As she entered the hall leading to the courts, she heard Oikawa's voice:
"Good job everyone! We did very well for the Golden Week! The first-years, you all survived Iwa-chan's torture–"
To this, Iwaizumi who was standing at his side with crossed arms, coughed loudly, glaring at his friend. Without flinching, Oikawa continued:
"I mean, you all went through Iwa-chan's intense training without dying and–"
"Oikawa…" Iwaizumi grumbled with closed eyes.
"And for that, you can go through anything! You have definitely gone stronger and have polished your skills – all of you!"
"Y'mean, all of us, Captain!" Makki corrected.
"Makki!" Oikawa squealed happily, "And I thought none of you respected me~! You just called me Captain~! I am so happy and–"
While Oikawa rambled and went on and on on the importance of teamwork, and their progress, Iwaizumi turned his head away… and noticed Kiku standing at the entrance, smiling and glancing at them shyly. Her gaze met his and her smile got brighter. Without realizing it, Hajime smiled as well.
It was what made the others react – they were used to their Captain's rambling, but their Ace wasn't usually smiling softly to it! Everyone glanced behind them and noticed Kiku, and understood why Iwaizumi had been so suddenly happy.
"Akiyama!"
"Akiyama-senpai!"
Oikawa blinked when everyone forgot him and started walking towards the gymnasium's entrance to join the girl.
"I-I have something for you!" Kiku exclaimed.
She hopped a little in excitement and despite her cheeks red in embarrassment, a bright smile was on her face as she lifted up the trays. Making sure to hold the trays safely with one hand, she lifted up the baking paper covering them. At once, everyone's eyes filled with stars and many gasps and squeals exploded:
"Cookies!"
"You baked all of that for us?!"
"I'm so happy!"
"I could die of happiness at the moment!"
Everyone surrounded Kiku, everyone taking turns grabbing a cookie. When a sudden shadow hovered protectively behind Kiku, several looked up, gasped and jumped in fright upon seeing her father but he was smiling cheerfully, proudly, and more importantly: he had even more cookies. So instead of running away, the high-schoolers only took a few steps away and glanced up at the man warily, still munching on the cookies made for them. Some were very simple, others represented a volley ball and had tastes of vanilla, or chocolate, or a mix of the two…
At some point, Irihata and Mizoguchi managed to make their way through the crowd of hungry teenagers to salute Shouta and thank Kiku. The only ones who had remained behind to watch over their team fussing over Kiku's cookies were the four third-years regulars.
"She baked cookies for us." Matsukawa remarked, as if the others weren't aware of it yet.
"I ain't eating that thing, it might be poisoned," Makki added with a suspicious frown.
"Don't be ridiculous, Makki~! Everyone is eating her cookies and no one is getting poisoned!" Oikawa laughed, patting his shoulder.
"It's Kiku's! I'm not suicidal!"
"Someone probably wants to go all the way here and eat it all – cookies and Kiku included, absolutely everything~! Uh?" Mattsun teased, glancing at Iwaizumi.
But he was smiling as he watched Kiku from afar. He either didn't understand Mattsun's teasing or he ignored it totally. Surprised by his lack of reaction, the others glanced at him curiously.
"She seems happy, right?" Iwaizumi said, not tearing his gaze away from Kiku.
The others glanced back at Kiku and after noticing the girl laughing at something Kindaichi had said – which made the first-year flush awkwardly – they all smiled and nodded.
"She'd be happier if you were with her at the moment, though," Matsukawa added smugly.
"Eh? EH?! B-but!" Iwaizumi stammered, glancing back and forth between Kiku (with her father hovering dangerously close to her and glaring at any boy who would approach her too closely) and his friends who were smirking teasingly.
"Just go and pretend you want a cookie!" Makki exclaimed, rolling his eyes and pushing Iwaizumi forward.
Still, the Ace, glanced back at them, flushing in embarrassment because even if he was dying to stay with Kiku and get one of her cookie, he also knew that everyone would see him go there and talk with Kiku and that embarrassment and teasing would ensue…
"Just go conquer the girl, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa exclaimed, pushing him once again.
Iwaizumi grumbled about how it wasn't fair he was going on his own when everyone else had gone in groups… Kiku and Shouta had put down the six trays of cookies on benches brought for the boys to get access to the cookies freely so he didn't really have an excuse to go talk to Kiku at the moment. But he was the Vice-Captain and the least he could do was go thank her for all of her efforts for the team. Right? It wouldn't seem strange this way, right?
Knowing damn well that his three betraying friends were snickering in his back, and that basically the whole team was glancing at him in a mix of awe and encouragement, he walked towards Kiku who didn't seem to notice his approach. Irihata noticed him as well and raised an eyebrow – which seemed to be enough for Shouta to notice the boy approaching. The baker narrowed his eyes at the Ace who startled and shivered, suddenly fearing for his life.
Finally standing just a meter behind Kiku, Hajime felt his cheeks heat up as he opened his lips:
"Akiya–" He started awkwardly.
"I'll go get some drinks!" Mizoguchi exclaimed, covering his voice.
"I'll help you, Mizoguchi-san!" Kiku exclaimed, happily bouncing after him as they went away and to the cafeteria.
Hajime's shoulders dropped and he heard his friends' loud laughs from afar. Even Shouta chuckled – a low sound from the back of his throat, similar to the rumble of thunder.
"Better luck next time, boy!" He exclaimed, patting him on the shoulder – Iwaizumi almost flew off.
"U-uh… y-yeah…" He hesitated, glancing curiously at the man.
Shouta raised an eyebrow at his inquisitive gaze:
"You're not… telling me to back off?" Hajime hesitated.
Shouta stared at him, understanding very well where this was going. Making sure no one could hear their conversation, the baker put a large hand on Iwaizumi's shoulder and lean forward slightly, just enough so it could be private:
"Since the beginning of this school-year, Kiku has been going to school happy, and going back happy as well. This Golden Week, she was always smiling when I picked her up and I believe all of these smiles are thanks to you. If you're making her happy, then I have no reason to tell you to 'back off'." He said, patting the boy's shoulder softly.
A little stunned that he didn't get his skull wrecked, Hajime could only blink and nod sheepishly, half-tempted to pretend that there was nothing going on between Kiku and him.
"She got up at three thirty in the morning to prepare these cookies, she was very enthusiast. She kept saying 'They all deserve a treat for working so hard and being so nice to me! They've welcomed me on the team and it's all thanks to Iwaizumi-san! Iwaizumi-san got hurt and he's probably feeling down! I want to cheer them up!' and she had never baked so happily before." Shouta explained with a soft smile.
He crossed his arms over his broad chest and sighed, almost wistful.
"Thank you for taking care of Kiku and making her smile so much."
Iwaizumi glanced down at his injured hand. Kiku had baked these cookies for everyone, but she had a particular thought for him, she wanted to cheer for him…
"Iwa-chan!"
Brought back on earth by his friend's call, Iwaizumi joined Oikawa and Irihata. The coach was holding something in his right hand and he seemed mildly annoyed, mixed with something close to relief and… joy?
"Kiku asked me to join the volleyball team as a manager. I suppose I don't need to ask you what you think of it, Iwaizumi." Irihata started, a tiny smile appearing on his lips.
The boy flushed and glanced away while Oikawa chuckled.
"Oikawa explained to me that you two saw her practicing and proposed to her to join. I don't mind, as long as you're not using her as a tool or for fun – and not just because she's my niece, okay? You need to consider her a proper teammate." Irihata continued, staring at the Captain and Vice-Captain.
It sobered them both and they nodded seriously, gazes determined to prove to their coach that they would treat Kiku right. They knew they would – just like the entire team.
"Well, then, when she'll be back. Welcome her properly. Will you?" Irihata said, handing whatever he was holding towards Iwaizumi.
He took the package curiously and glanced down at it. It was a jersey. The volleyball club manager's jersey, all new in its plastic paper. Kiku's jersey. She was joining the team.
The excitement that shot through him made him grin happily as Oikawa announced to everyone the good news.
Not long later, Mizoguchi and Kiku, holding plastic cups and fresh bottles of tea, arrived in the gymnasium.
"WELCOME TO THE AOBA JOUSAI'S VOLLEYBALL CLUB!"
Mizoguchi only smiled as Kiku gasped and startled, staring with wide eyes at the volleyball club. Bottles and cups fell down at her feet and rolled away as she lifted her fingers to her mouth, eyes filling with tears. Everyone had made a circle and was grinning at her.
"Welcome to our new manager!" Oikawa exclaimed, opening his arms wide, "We're counting on you, Kiku-chan~!" He added, bowing down to her.
"WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU!" They all echoed, bowing as well.
Shouta chuckled, leaning against a wall as Kiku grinned happily and went forward, everyone surrounding her. Mizoguchi tapped her shoulder with an encouraging smile and Oikawa started a speech that no one listened to about how refreshing it would be to have a manager.
"Hey… welcome to your new team…" Iwaizumi said in a low voice to Kiku after they ended up in front of each other (everyone had made sure it would happen this way).
She grinned to him as he handed her her new jersey. She took it and held it close to her chest, her smile never wavering as she looked up at him. Hajime hesitated a short moment before reaching to her and wiping away the tear of joy that had escaped her eye.
"Thank you for everything…" She whispered to him.
"No, thank you…" He answered, his hand hovering near her cheek before going back to his side.
They stared at each other with red cheeks and silly grins, everyone watching them with teasing smiles but the couple didn't seem to notice anyone. It was as if they were the only ones in the world at this moment.
Not much happening, but Iwa-chan is fine, he'll play the Inter-High and you already knew (most of you) about Kiku becoming the manager~ I still hope you liked this chapter, though~
NEXT CHAPTER : CONNECTION
Thank you for your support~
Yours Truly,
May