Here is the new chapter! I hope you'll like it! :D
Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited and reviewed! :D
starrat : I'm glad you liked, and I hope you will keep loving it! :)
xxXsilverXxx : Of course Hajime means no harm but right now, you'll see at the end of this chapter that they're at a turning point in their relationship. Hajime will express how he really feels next chapter and then, he'll have to deal with it. YAY! I'm glad you're slowly catching up to Sowlmates, and glad you enjoyed this story as well, despite the tears! XD And as for Quiet Voice, I have many more chapters to write than for SOwlmates but I do want to finish it not long after Sowlmates so that Oikawa and Kuroo's stories can be written and publsihed in parallel, especially considering they're in the same timeline. :)
LadyAmazon : Lol, it's funny because in Sowlmates, Ayakou ended up banging with the sunset as background. I'll try to make something as romantic and cute for Kijime~! :)
Aquafin : Ahah, I hope you'll enjoy it despite the bits of drama filling the chapter~!
xxjaelee : Hanamaki always has great ideas - he shouldn't be underestimated, ahah! x)
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : QUIET VOICE
CHAPTER XLVII : The 'Let's Get Iwa-chan with Kiku-chan' Plan 2.0
"The feel of her head against his shoulder, of her familiar body, sent a shock of emotion over him. His arms holding her had a tendency to tighten around her."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Sensible Thing
"I think the most common cause of insomnia is simple; it's loneliness."
— Heath Ledger
"It was not the feeling of completeness I so needed, but the feeling of not being empty."
— Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything Is Illuminated
"She wanted to say 'Don't leave me,' but she couldn't do it, not again. She was so tired of begging people to love her."
— Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale
"Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely."
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
"When we're incomplete, we're always searching for somebody to complete us. When, after a few years or a few months of a relationship, we find that we're still unfulfilled, we blame our partners."
― Tom Robbins
"When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said."
― Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Dairy Queen
"I want to be in a relationship where you telling me you love me is just a ceremonious validation of what you already show me."
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Kiku sighed in happiness, laying down on her bed. She wasn't sure what Oikawa, Matsukawa and Hanamaki had done exactly but Hajime seemed more forward with her. Or rather, the few moments when they got kissy and touchy-feely, he was more relaxed about it. She couldn't wait to go to the Summer training camp – it'd mean an entire week spent with Hajime, morning, day and night! And the rest of the team too, but Hajime was her main focus…
She sat up with a smile when Hajime arrived in her bedroom, carrying a tray of food and drinks he had gathered for the two of them. After their date at the aquarium, because they still had some time, she had invited him to watch a movie at her house. Once everything was ready, they settled together, cuddling and enjoying every minute spent together. Nanami passed by the room and upon seeing Hajime, she invited him of dinner and even if he tried to deny, she insisted and he ended up staying even longer, to the couple's great happiness…
"Do you have to go home right away?" Kiku asked while they were cleaning the dishes.
Hajime's heart sped up and he flushed but smiled anyway, impatient to spend more time with her, excited to spend more time with her:
"No, but I don't want to bother your parents," he answered.
"They're going to sleep soon, as long as we're quiet, they won't be bothered by us," she answered.
They both froze, flushing upon realizing the innuendo. Kiku glanced quickly, in panic at Hajime who bit down on his lower lip quickly before answering:
"T-then… thank you for letting me stay a little longer…" He said in a low voice.
Kiku's stomach fluttered happily, not quite knowing whether or not if he had understood her innuendo and would act upon on it or not. In case he didn't and just wanted to spend more time with her for the sake of it, she spoke up:
"T-then, we could watch the second movie? I really want to know what happens after the events of the first." She proposed.
"It sounds great," he answered with a grin.
Just like earlier, they settled down for another movie but it felt a little more tense, there was a little something sparkling in the air between them. To try and smother their nerves, Hajime put his arm around Kiku's shoulder, keeping her closer. She glanced at him and smiled as he kissed the top of her head. Hesitantly, she let her hand rest on top of his thigh and he didn't seem to mind. They turned to keep watching the movie, reacting everytime they heard noise from her parents in the hall.
Hajime glanced down when Kiku suddenly put her head on his shoulder and he realized she had fallen asleep. The movie was not exciting enough to keep her awake after a day filled with so many emotions… He sighed, realizing he had had too many hopes for how the evening would go. Relaxing suddenly, he ended up falling asleep as well.
Both were woken up when Nanami went to check on them and found them, cuddled and asleep.
"Wake up," she told them, turning off the movie, "It's too late for you to walk home, Hajime. Perhaps you should stay here for the night."
Hajime and Kiku, who had been slowly waking up from their slumber, startled and flushed but thankfully, Nanami didn't seem to notice their reaction. They were much more awake now.
"U-um, I-I shouldn't…" He answered, weakly trying to find a good reason to go home.
"I'm not letting you walk in the dark when it's so late. We have a futon, you can stay here as long as you need." She said, exiting the bedroom to go to sleep.
Kiku and Hajime glanced at each other, remaining silent for a moment.
"S-she's right, it'd be dangerous for you to walk home now…" She murmured, flushing at the perspective of spending a night with Hajime.
"I-I suppose," he answered even though they both knew he was only fifteen minutes away if he hurried and that he most likely wouldn't be assaulted by some creep.
But it was the perfect excuse to spend more time together. It wasn't the first time they'd sleep in the same room, they had even slept in the same bed together, but this time, no alcohol was involved. It was the best and worst perspective: the best because they were conscious of everything going on between them, and the worst because they were conscious of everything going on between them.
"I-I'll take out the futon… do you, um, need clothes?" She asked, standing up to get everything.
"I, uh, I have an undershirt… but um, I don't have anything else other than my… underwear."
"…It's fine, you can sleep in your underwear, I don't mind. Unless you're cold at night?" She asked.
"I don't think I'll get cold," he replied breathlessly, staring straight at her.
Kiku looked back at him, swallowing hard, but he quickly spoke up again:
"I-I mean! We're… in summer, so… it's pretty hot, even at night…"
"Right, of course, yes! It's the summer… So… just the futon… You should go in the bathroom to get changed while I prepare everything. Do you want to take a bath or–" She murmured to herself.
"Nah, it's late, I'll just… take a bath tomorrow when I'll get home. I'll just clean myself up to not… y'know… stink." He answered awkwardly.
She nodded and he escaped in the bathroom. She took a deep breath, blushing and hurrying to put down the futon next to her bed, hoping it wouldn't be used, and then gathering her own stuff, spending long minutes choosing her underwear and pajamas. In the bathroom, Hajime took a deep breath as well, passing his hands over his face, trying to calm down his heart. Suddenly needing to talk to someone who would know what to do in this situation, he reached for his phone, patting his pockets but realizing he had forgotten it in Kiku's bedroom. He cursed himself, trying to find a solution on his own.
A few minutes later, he came out, wearing just his undershirt and boxers and joining Kiku. She stood up, tried hard not to stare too long at him when his muscular arms and legs were showing – and he was wearing only his boxers which was enormously distracting! Hajime avoided glancing her way, feeling a little awkward as she hurried into the bathroom, he immediately reached for his phone, calling his emergency contact but swearing when Oikawa didn't answer.
"Damn you, Oikawa! Why do you never answer when I need you?" He muttered against his phone.
He glanced at the window, seeing the light still on in Hanamaki's room… but he also knew what 'advice' Makki would give him and it was a big no.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, the moment Kiku had entered it, she had taken out her phone she had taken with her and called Oikawa who answered quickly.
"Yes?"
"Oikawa-kun! I need your help!" She exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down to not be heard by anyone, "Hajime is staying the night with me, I'm not sure what to do!"
It took a moment for Oikawa to understand the situation, and why she was panicking but he immediately rejoiced:
"It's great, Kiku-chan! It's a golden opportunity!"
He gasped over the phone:
"Oh my goodness, it's a GOLDEN opportunity, you can't let it go away! All right, so, where are you and what will you do?"
"I'm in the bathroom, I'm about to take a shower and get in pajamas – he's only wearing his underwear and an undershirt…! Have you seen his arms, he's so–"
"Kiku-chan, focus! You can't get distracted yet! All right, are you shaved?"
"Of course!"
"Make sure you smell good but no perfume or anything or it'd be obvious – your pajamas and underwear, what are they?"
"U-um, casual lacy underwear and short shorts but not too short either," she answered.
"Pretty but not desperate, it's perfect~! Now, hurry up to join him before his excitement dies down!"
"Y-yes!"
Oikawa ended the call with a proud smile for his friends but noticed a missed call and message from Iwaizumi:
Why do you never answer when I need you?! Damn you, Trashykawa!
"You'll thank me later, like always, Iwa-chan~!" He hummed, ignoring the text.
Kiku hurried, making sure to look good but still casual enough to not seem too desperate, then, once satisfied, she hurried back in her bedroom, finding Hajime laying on his stomach, on the futon… and asleep. She opened her lips to call him but just sighed, letting herself lean against the door. She closed her eyes tightly, crunching up her nose to not voice out her frustration. Finally, she let out another, heavy sigh and turned off the lights, going to her bed and laying down on top of it. She glanced down at Hajime several times but when his even breathing continued on, she realized that there was no way he'd wake up. And she didn't have the heart to wake him when he looked so peaceful…
"Goodnight, Hajime…" She whispered, sitting up to take off her pretty bra and throwing it at the edge of her bed before rolling on the side.
The moment she had turned her back and her breathing seemed to calm down, Hajime opened his eyes in the mid-darkness. He glanced up at her, making sure she was asleep before rolling on his back, letting out a heavy sigh. He bit on his lower lip, feeling anxious and frustrated, too much to fall asleep now… but he didn't have the heart to wake her up and explain he had faked being asleep.
I'm such an idiot… he realized too late, putting his hands on his face and trying to keep himself from voicing out loud his frustration.
On Monday, beginning of the summer training camp…
"Is everyone here?" Iwaizumi called for the team gathered in front of their changing-room with their many bags for the week of intense training.
"Yes!" Several answered, Kindaichi's voice being loudest of all.
"He's excited," Makki murmured to his friends while Mattsun yawned.
"He's a first-year, he hasn't faced Iwaizumi's summer training regiment yet. So pure and innocent." He answered while Iwaizumi sent them a harsh look from over his shoulder.
"We're going to put our bags in the class we'll stay in before starting training so don't forget anything behind! Before that, a few rules to remind you because I know your brains don't remember the Golden Week." Iwaizumi continued with a stern gaze, "The regulars are in the same room so we can discuss strategies there–"
"It's not an actual rule but we always end up talking more than necessary at night~!" Oikawa remarked, "Especially about volleyball and girls!"
"Not necessarily in this order," Makki added with a grin, making a few young ones flush.
"Hanamaki, Oikawa, do I have to get you to running now or will you listen to what I say considering most of it concerns you two in particular!" Iwaizumi growled, making them look sheepish for a few seconds, "As I was saying, the rules: no running anywhere in the building, if you take snacks or drinks you throw it away in the damn bin – that's why it's here for, if you want to pull all-nighters it's your choice but I won't go easy on you so phones off after midnight! No girlfriends sneaking in at night–"
"Aaaw, that's too bad for you and Kiku-chan~!" Oikawa intervened, making both flush.
"-And lastly, the rule that was created because of last year's accident: no porn, no hentai, no magazine that involves naked people – Hanamaki listen to me, damn it! No porn, you heard?!"
"Once again, last year's accident was not my fault but Oikawa's!" He exclaimed.
"HEY!"
Iwaizumi glared at them while the second-years remembered with flushes on their cheeks what had happened the previous year, making the first-years curious but in the same time, they didn't have the courage to ask.
"Basically, you don't do anything these three idiots would do or that would piss off Mizoguchi, got it?" Iwaizumi exclaimed, pointing behind him at his three friends.
Kiku approached him and after pulling at his sleeve to get his attention, she gave him a message written on a paper. He looked back at Kiku.
"The manager has a word to say," he said, startling her as she had hoped he'd be the one to talk for her.
"U-um… f-firstly, if you want anything in particular to eat, d-don't hesitate to ask me…" She started, many happy whispers erupting at that (what a difference from the impressed and slightly frightened looks on their faces when the Ace was talking, now they all felt reassured), "If you have any question that doesn't involve volleyball, come to me, I'll be the one to manage everything that doesn't directly concern the training. Don't worry, everything will go fine and you'll be even stronger after this week of training!" She finally exclaimed as a conclusion.
They all smiled to their manager, Iwaizumi standing next to her with a proud grin on his face.
"Now, we'll go to the rooms with our bags, don't forget anything behind!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, guiding the rest of the pack.
"Oooosss!"
"I'm staying here to guide the ones who might be late," Kiku said with a smile.
"Good idea, Kiku-chan~!" Oikawa hummed, leaving it to her to hurry behind Matsukawa so he could have a good spot to sleep.
"I'll put your bag in your room," Iwaizumi proposed, showing her his hand.
"Thank you," she said, with a smile.
He nodded and followed the rest of the group.
In the building, the regulars were settling down, Iwaizumi screaming at the ones (obviously, only third-years who should know how it went on the first day after three years) who were already putting up the futons instead of taking their training gear.
"So…" Oikawa spoke up, approaching Iwaizumi while the last ones were finishing to settle down, "Considering you came back late yesterday, I'll assume you spent a good week-end with Kiku-chan~?" He asked teasingly, immediately attracting the attention of Makki and Mattsun.
Hajime glanced at them, wondering what he was getting at… before nodding with a little flush on his cheeks.
"Y-yeah, it was pretty fun." He said.
"You spent the night with her, so, tell me, how was it~?" Oikawa asked as they followed the rest of the team from afar to go to the gymnasium.
Hajime glanced at him with wide eyes, quickly wondering how he had learned before remembering he hadn't come back home until Sunday… Hanamaki and Matsukawa grinned at him teasingly but he flushed and quickly spoke up:
"I-it was normal! Perfectly normal!"
"Come on, don't pretend you didn't do anything, I won't believe you! It was too good to be true! Oh, what I would do to my girlfriend in this situation, it'd be–" Hanamaki said before being interrupted by Iwaizumi.
"Don't start!"
"You did do something, though? Didn't you?" Mattsun asked.
Hajime blushed, looking away, all four stopping at the entrance of the gymnasium to not be heard by their kouhais. They waited impatiently, wanting to know how well their plan had gone so far–
"We didn't," he finally answered, avoiding looking their way.
"…I'm sorry what? What did I just hear?" Hanamaki asked, leaning forward in disbelief.
"We didn't do anything! We fell asleep during the movie and–"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing would keep you from getting naughty after the freaking movie!" Makki hissed.
"And the mood was pretty good for it too! B-but… I got too… enthusiastic and I freaked out again and when Kiku came out of the bathroom I… pretended to be sleeping…" He explained sheepishly.
"You did WHAT?!" All three exclaimed with wide eyes.
"I know, I'm an idiot…" He grumbled before they could say it.
"You damn are! Only an idiot wouldn't bang his girlfriend when they spend the night together after two days of teasing and innuendos!" Hanamaki exclaimed loudly.
"What did you want me to do?! It was only one day before the training camp! It would have been too awkward when we're going to spend the entire week sleeping in the same building! I couldn't just jump on her bed and fuck her like that!" Iwaizumi exclaimed suddenly, getting annoyed by his own awkwardness.
Hanamaki opened his lips to answer but suddenly looked behind Iwaizumi, straightening up. The three others glanced behind them and gasped, Iwaizumi paling then blushing then paling again. None of the four had noticed Irihata and Mizoguchi arriving just then, hearing Iwaizumi's outburst. Obviously, the two coaches immediately stared hard at Iwaizumi with unsurprised but slightly harsh gazes. The Ace swallowed hard and blushed while his friends remained silent at the awkward timing.
"It… it's not what you think…" Iwaizumi said in a low, ashamed voice.
"Don't bother," Irihata said, walking away with a sigh.
Mizoguchi glanced at the coach then back at the teenagers, shaking slightly his head:
"You guys think you're all clever but… we've been teenagers too."
"You have?" Hanamaki asked with disbelieving eyes, pretending to learn about it, immediately annoying Mizoguchi who glared at him.
"I don't suppose I have to remind you all, and especially you Iwaizumi considering your girlfriend will remain in the same building as you, that anyone up and outside of their sleeping quarters after the lights out is going to be severely punished. Do I?" Mizoguchi said in a hard voice.
"N-no, sir…" Iwaizumi replied, blushing.
"Young ones these days, seriously…!" Mizoguchi mumbled, walking away.
"That's too bad, now Mizoguchi and Irihata both think you want to fuck Kiku. They're going to watch you as hawks." Matsukawa said, making the Ace drop his shoulders.
"Why do you look so disappointed, Iwa-chan~? It's not like you had planned to do anything with Kiku-chan, right~?" Oikawa teased.
He immediately straightened up, putting on a determined face – determination to not fall for their teasing and shenanigans. Kiku being here didn't change how the training camp would go. He'd keep an eye on the shenanigans of the others and make sure everyone behaved – including himself and Kiku.
Everyone turned to Makki when he gasped suddenly:
"If they keep a close eye on Iwaizumi, does this mean we'll be more free to do anything we want?" He realized in awe.
"Try anything, and I'll be the one to personally suggest your punishment to the coaches," Iwaizumi hissed.
All three paled, not wanting to get any more on Iwaizumi's bad side.
"All right, hurry up! Time to get started!" He exclaimed, advancing to join the others on court.
The summer training camp started, the mornings being focused on strength and stamina reinforcements and the afternoon with practice matches whether the team separating in different groups, or against other schools or alumni of Aoba Jousai. At the end of the day when the official practice ended, most remained behind to practice a little more – strategies, or their serves, or anything they needed to work on.
Hajime watched Kiku leave to prepare their dinner with Mizoguchi.
"Iwaizumi! Focus!" Irihata exclaimed, he was staying behind as well to keep an eye on what his players were working on, giving advices every once in a while.
The Ace startled and blushed but turned towards the court to serve, trying to ignore the snickers of his friends nearby. But he was so frustrated and annoyed that his serve, powerful as it was, ended up being a superb homerun.
"Geh!" He exclaimed when he landed back on court, more laugh erupting from his friends.
"That's why you should remain focused instead of staring at your girlfriend!" Irihata scolded, shaking his head before turning towards the first-years, "Kindaichi, Kunimi! I told you to practice your aim, forget the power for the moment! And Kunimi it's not an excuse to slack off!"
"Y-yes!"
"Yes…"
Iwaizumi grabbed another ball to serve, but he still wasn't focused enough and it landed in the net. Getting more and more frustrated and annoyed, he grabbed another ball.
"Calm down, Iwa-chan, your serve won't get any better if you glare so terribly at the ball. It's an innocent ball, you know."
"Shut up!" He exclaimed, glaring at him.
He watched as Oikawa, despite his antics, threw the ball in the air and jumped, adding power and a terrifying aim. It hit an empty water bottle at the far corner of the court, almost breaking it in half with the strength he had used.
"You have to treat the ball correctly or it won't behave," Matsukawa remarked from further.
"Yeah, like your girl's boobs!" Hanamaki added with a laugh, putting two volley balls on his chest with a huge, proud grin.
It didn't help Iwaizumi calm down and he glanced back at Oikawa as he grabbed another ball from the cart they were sharing.
"How do you focus so intensely after such a long practice?" Iwaizumi asked him, frowning lightly.
Oikawa looked up at him, surprised he'd ask him an advice. Not that Iwaizumi never did when it came to the serve, but he'd usually ask he coach directly. Not that he could ask the coach, his girlfriend's uncle, about focus when he had been scolded about being too focused on said-girlfriend.
"I imagine that I'm aiming my serve right at Ushiwaka or Tobio's faces." He answered seriously.
Iwaizumi gave him a long, hard look, silently lifting up the arm holding the ball. Knowing he was about to get hit, Oikawa immediately lifted up his hands defensively:
"W-wait, Iwa-chan! It's true! I think of my goals, it helps me focus! I think about what I want most and I can focus!" He exclaimed, explaining the reason why he'd aim his serve at the imaginary faces of his rivals.
Iwaizumi stared at him with narrowed eyes then huffed, turning around to try serving. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes to focus on his goals.
Playing on the National team.
He threw the ball up in the air and jumped, starting to swing his arm just as he saw a flash of Kiku's face, and mostly, how beautiful she had looked laying down under him, naked and–
Blushing, he opened wide eyes in the middle of his jump, his fingers barely brushing the ball as he landed back on the ground, staring in emptiness, Oikawa's words resonating in his mind.
"I think about what I want most."
The ball fell on top of his head, rolling away. Oikawa, Hanamaki and Matsukawa stared at him, stunned he had missed his jump serve so badly. He looked just as shocked, but the blush on his cheeks revealed that for a short moment his focus might not have turned to volleyball – which also explained his moment of panic when he had jumped.
"Did you just–" Hanamaki started.
"Don't! Don't say it! It's just not working!" Iwaizumi growled, grabbing another ball and trying to forget the memory that had started invading his mind.
"Excuse you!" Oikawa exclaimed, putting his hands on his hips stubbornly, "My technique works wonders – it's not my fault that you're so sexually frustrated you can't even focus on volleyball anymore!"
"I'm not–"
Iwaizumi's voice trailed off when Irihata walked behind the group of third-years, they all turned to serve, pretending to be studiously practicing. And Irihata pretended he had not heard the last bits of their conversation. Iwaizumi's next serve made it over the net and within the lines, but it hadn't felt right or powerful enough.
I'm not sexually frustrated… He thought to himself, still feeling irked up for some reason.
He clenched and unclenched his fingers and realized that his shoulders were stiff – his entire body was actually. It wasn't unusual, but usually playing volleyball helped him relax. Especially serves where he could go all out and put his strength into it.
"Damn it…" He mumbled, in a voice so low no one heard.
When dinner time arrived, Hajime remained silent most of the meal and mostly, he avoided looking directly at Kiku. His friends noticed it and Kiku as well, but she thought she might have missed him looking at her.
The players all took turns going to take their baths before the regulars gathered, talking volleyball or playing cards or being on their phones.
"The first-years are done with their baths," Kindaichi announced, appearing with his hair down.
"Then, it's Kiku-chan's turn," Oikawa said, eyes focused on the cards he was holding.
"Go tell her then, you're the Captain," Iwaizumi said, not going to give him the opportunity to have a look at the cards he was holding, or change his while he was gone.
"You're her boyfriend," he replied calmly.
"I'll go, and watch her take off her clothes," Makki said, standing up.
Iwaizumi's hand reached and grabbed his knee so ferociously Hanamaki immediately froze, glancing down at the jealous boyfriend. Iwaizumi glared at him darkly and he sat down without a word.
"I was just joking," he said with a sheepish smile.
"I wasn't." Iwaizumi hissed.
Hanamaki paled, glancing away and catching Oikawa's gaze.
"Don't bother, I sent her a message to warn her," Mattsun intervened, laying on his side and holding up his phone.
All three turned to him and he glanced up, catching the hard gazes from Oikawa and Hanamaki:
"What? Why move your legs when you have a phone? It's not like Iwaizumi would have time to go put his head between her legs before coming back to finish this game anyway. He's not stupid, he knows we'd catch on what he would have done."
Of course, the entire room heard and everyone, second and first-years included, turned towards their Ace with flushed cheeks, knowing very well whose legs he'd put his head in between. Iwaizumi glared harshly at Matsukawa who just shrugged.
"Ah, she's off to take her bath." Matsukawa said after he received a text, "She's telling Hanamaki to stay away from the bathroom while she's there. She knows the risks, the poor girl."
"You know what? I'm tired of you all! I'm going to take a walk, away from your stupidity!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, throwing down the cards and standing up.
"Are you going to join her~?" Oikawa asked teasingly.
"NO!"
He slammed the door so strongly that the lights flickered, making everyone glance up worriedly at the ceiling. Hanamaki turned towards Oikawa:
"Didn't you say that one of the reasons why you wanted Iwaizumi to get a girlfriend would be so that he'd stop being annoyed at us?"
"I… did…"
"I think something went wrong in your theory because he's even more annoyed by us than usual."
"I noticed…"
"Isn't it because you guys keep teasing him and trying to get him to bang Kiku? If he doesn't want to and prefers to take his time, then let him be. He's always been slow on the topic, after all, considering it took him eighteen years to get himself a girlfriend." Mattsun intervened.
"But he doesn't take in consideration Kiku-chan's wants and needs! It's important in a couple for the two to be happy and not frustrated!"
"They're both frustrated now," Makki shrugged.
"They'll eventually talk about it, but until then, we have to keep trying to prove to Iwa-chan that there's nothing wrong with his desires for his girlfriend!" Oikawa exclaimed.
"Isn't it what we've been trying since the beginning of that stupidly-named plan of yours?" Matsukawa said.
"It's not really working…" Makki remarked.
"It will! Eventually! Someday! I hope!" Oikawa exclamed.
"Talking about plans… I have a trick to set up, see you later!" Hanamaki said, standing up.
"Hey! Who is going to play cards with me now?!" Oikawa exclaimed but his friend only waved as he left the room.
He turned hopefully towards Mattsun but he just rolled around to show his back to the setter. Feeling annoyed by his friends abandoning him when he was winning, he turned sharply towards their kouhais:
"Watacchi! Kindaichi! Come here!" He ordered, making both kouhais startle but they were too kind to say no to their admired Captain.
Iwaizumi went to get himself a drink before realizing he had forgotten his wallet so he settled for walking around the building, even more annoyed than before, hands in his pockets and frowning at nothing in particular.
"I'm not sexually frustrated…" He mumbled to himself, but knowing that even if he kept denying it he was.
He was trying so hard to not hurt or push Kiku to things she didn't want to do that he had been holding back but after so much temptation, such as spending a night with her, he realized that it had been a truly stupid idea to pretend to be asleep. If he hadn't, they might have done something and he might not be so sexually frustrated at the moment. Now he'll have to wait the entire week of training camp with Kiku in the same building all the time. Ironically enough, he had pretended to be asleep to not make things awkward between Kiku and him during the training camp – now, he'd be unable to look her way for the entire week.
Calming down a little, grogginess from the day of practice filling him, Hajime made his way back towards the classroom where they'd spend the night. He blinked in surprise when, at the turn of a corner, Hanamaki went by running faster than he ever did in practice.
"OI! No running!" He shouted, noticing he was carrying stuff in his arms.
"Makki! Come back here!"
Hajime just had time to turn his head that Kiku arrived running just as fast and crushed into him so strongly they both fell on the ground. He grabbed her body to make sure she wouldn't get hurt and they both ended up breathless, on the ground, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.
Hajime groaned and blinked, looking up and freezing completely. Kiku froze as well, eyes opening wide. She had fallen on top of him, with nothing but her towel to cover her body. Both blushed, unable to move or do anything.
Hanamaki turned around when he heard the loud crush but he bit hard on the inside of his cheek when he saw Kiku on top of Hajime.
"Waah! That wasn't the plan but it's your chance, guys!" He exclaimed, turning around and running off with Kiku's clothes.
"W-wait! Makki! My clothes!" Kiku exclaimed.
Hajime closed his eyes tightly, understanding what had happened – this idiot of Hanamaki must have sneak into the bathroom to take Kiku's clothes which was why she was running after him with only a towel to hide her body.
Kiku started sitting up, her bare legs against his. Hajime blushed, feeling warmth filling him, an all too familiar warmth he couldn't ignore now. He tried to breathe calmly, focusing on anything other than Kiku being mostly naked and between his legs.
Realizing he wasn't moving, Kiku worried, leaning down towards him and, while still holding her towel with one hand, she touched his side softly, startling him:
"Hajime? Are you okay? You didn't get hurt, did you?" She asked worriedly.
She approached her hand to his face but he hit it away, suddenly sitting up and away from her:
"Don't touch me!" He exclaimed.
Kiku stared at him with wide eyes, lips falling open, not believing he had rejected her so harshly. Then, she felt the hurt and she watched him sadly, disappointed in him and feeling guilty to be disappointing to him.
Realizing what he just said, he gasped and covered his mouth with the back of his hand, already opening his lips to rephrase it but Kiku was already speaking:
"…I know I'm heavy and ugly, but you don't have to say it so harshly…" She murmured, lowering her head until her hair slipping out of her bun fell in front of her face.
She stood up and turned around, running off.
"Wait! No! Kiku! I didn't mean it like that…!" He exclaimed, standing up.
He hesitated, not knowing if he should go after her when he had hurt her or if he should go get her clothes from Hanamaki… He just kept messing up, didn't he? How much more hurt would he inflict her?
Back in the room in which they were sleeping, after forcing Kindaichi and Watari to play with him, Oikawa was now whining because Watacchi was the one winning. Hanamaki suddenly barged into the room, still laughing and dropping clothes.
"You're not going to believe what just happened!" He exclaimed.
Matsukawa stared at the pile of clothes and casually picked up a big-sized bra, immediately understanding where it came from.
"You stole Kiku's clothes. So cliché. You lack originality on this one." He said.
"Well, yes, that was fun, but then! You're not going to believe what happened! She was running after me when she crashed into Iwaizumi!"
Oikawa and Matsukawa, and pretty much everyone else suddenly looked up, curious about what had happened:
"Of course, she was laying on top of him and of course she only had her towel on her so I'm pretty sure that right around now they're getting high on the cloud of love!" He exclaimed, sitting down and grabbing her panties, "You'd think she'd pick something else than lacy panties for a training camp, but no, she–"
Everyone startled when the door opened suddenly and they turned to see Iwaizumi. He was frowning, at them, but also at himself. When he noticed his girlfriend's clothes, and mostly Hanamaki holding her panties and Matsukawa her bra, he frowned even more. Matsukawa threw the bra at Oikawa who didn't know where to hide, Kindaichi and Watari, although innocent, still felt their lifespan shorten as they were just in the middle. Without a word but with a deadly aura surrounding him, Iwaizumi walked towards the group of idiots. He grabbed Kiku's clothes, her bra and panties then turned around and left once again. Slamming the door another time, making everyone jump.
"…It's not the face of someone getting high on the cloud of love…" Matsukawa remarked with a shake of his head.
Hajime walked quickly, knowing Kiku hadn't gone into her room, and he went to the only place where she could hide. He opened the first door of the bathroom, where they usually kept their clothes, and he saw her silhouette sitting down against the other side of the door behind which there were the showers and baths. It was a sliding door, white and see-through but he could only see her silhouette in a blurry black.
"Kiku…" He called, arriving near the sliding door.
He knelt down so he'd be at her level, hesitating before knocking at the door.
"I brought you your clothes. They… um, they didn't have time to see anything…" He said, lying but knowing it'd embarrass Kiku too much to know her underwear had been passed around.
He stared at her silhouette hopefully, but if she had reacted at his voice, she didn't make a move to open the door.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I didn't mean it…" He added.
He waited but still no move from her. He looked down, ashamed of himself and what he had done earlier…
"I'm leaving your clothes here and I'm watching the door to make sure no one will interrupt you again." He said, putting down the clothes carefully.
He was about to stand up when the door slid open a little. He glanced curiously, worried about Kiku but she only let her hand come out, grabbing his wrist.
"…Were you hurt? Is this why you didn't want me to touch you?" She asked, but he still couldn't see her face.
He knelt once again, letting her fingers around his wrist. His shoulders fell…
"No… I… I wasn't hurt but… I didn't want you to touch me because–"
"Oh…"
Kiku let go of his wrist but before she could close the sliding door again, he reached out, grabbing her hand. Biting hard on his lower lip, he leaned his forehead against the door, closing his eyes tightly.
"Don't go… let me talk, please…" He begged.
She didn't move so he continued:
"I didn't want you to touch me because having you, against me, mostly naked, was too embarrassing…! I wouldn't know how to face you if… if… I wouldn't have controlled myself… not that I was in control when I slapped your hand away but I'm talking about a different kind of control– I mean, I–"
He stopped talking when Kiku slid open the door, well enough so she could see him. He looked up, his heart squeezing painfully when he noticed her eyes slightly reddened. She stared at him, a little accusingly, still a little hurt…
"Do you realize the way you pushed me away? It was awful…" She started in a low voice.
"I… I know… I won't do it again, I promise…"
She sighed and grabbed her clothes, sitting up a little straighter.
"If you promise…" She muttered to herself.
"Can I… um…" He started hesitantly, blushing and glancing away, "S-see you…? Like that? I mean, wearing just the towel, or not, I mean–"
"Are you asking if you can see me naked?" She asked, lifting up an eyebrow in confusion.
"Y-yeah…" He said, blushing and nodding vividly.
She stared at him, stunned he'd ask such a thing. Especially when they were on school grounds and anyone could technically barge in on them. It made her stomach flutter happily but she decided to ignore the feeling – if everytime he came begging and asking for something like that, she complied, he'll never understand what she wanted.
"You're spending way too much time with Makki!" She exclaimed, closing the door at his face and standing up.
Hajime stood up a well, staring at her silhouette through the door, moving around and getting dressed.
"B-but! I thought! That you liked that, that it was what you wanted! The other night at your place, you–"
"You were awake?! And no, I don't want to make out with you when we just argued! Consider it punishment! Get rid off your sexual frustration on your own, or ask your friends!" She exclaimed with a frown on her face, even though he couldn't see it.
"B-but…"
He supposed that it was a fair punishment for what he had done earlier…
"Besides!"
Hajime looked up again as she opened the door, dressed. She took off the pin holding up her hair and let it fall over her shoulders – the gesture almost made him whine and fall back on his knees to beg her but he was too proud.
"It's no fun if you see me get dressed. I'd rather have you undress me." She said with a wink, walking past him.
His mouth fell open at her words, his cheeks blushing at the suggestion. She smiled, apparently satisfied to have the last word. But before she could walk away, Hajime grabbed her arm and forced her to spin around. Her gasp of surprise was covered by his lips, suddenly kissing her. Kiku closed her eyes and was too happily surprised by his tongue opening her lips and invading all of her senses. Instinctively, she started kissing him back and his hands grabbed her hips tightly, pulling her against his body.
After a long, intense kiss, Kiku pulled away for breathe. Almost immediately, Hajime tried to kiss her again but she stopped him, putting her finger against his warm lips.
"That's it for tonight," she said, already stepping away from him.
"B-but! Y-you'd leave me unsatisfied?" He asked in disbelief, feeling his pants getting tight, but not tight enough to be noticed or uncomfortable.
She seemed thoughtful then she turned to him:
"Well the one time I gave you a blowjob, you walked out on me being unsatisfied so… each our turn for frustration, Hajime."
She walked out of the bathroom and he hurried after her, quickly catching up and turning around, walking backwards, to face her:
"Wait! That's what this is about? Because I didn't want to risk hurting you? I don't know what to do to satisfy you!" He exclaimed.
"And you won't learn unless you practice, like everything else! I thought you would have figured it out considering you're a volleyball player!" She exclaimed, rolling her eyes.
Hajime remained silent for a short moment before he grabbed her shoulders, pushing her against the nearest wall. He looked down at her, looking hesitant and confused:
"I… unlike volleyball, it's not me I'd hurt if I mess up by practicing, it'd be you. I can't afford that." He said, shaking lightly his head.
Kiku stared at him, and the way his green eyes, always so honest, didn't quite stare into her eyes to say that. Even if he was so physically close to her, his arms at each side of her head, trapping her against the wall… even if she could feel his warmth and was tempted to just let him kiss her here without thinking of the consequences, she put her hand against his chest. She didn't push him away, but it was enough to make him understand that there was a barrier, and that he couldn't go past it with his handsome looks and breathtaking kisses.
"No. You can't afford being in a relationship with me." She said, looking straight into his eyes.
His lips fell open in shock as she looked down, a little sadly but mostly, because she has seen that it had hit home. She might have hurt his heart and pride a little bit by saying that, but they both knew she wasn't entirely wrong.
"Stop fooling yourself, Hajime, and figure out whether or not you want to be with me." She added in a low voice.
"I… I–"
"Also," she cut, "You left the lights on."
Confused by the sudden change of topic, he glanced over at the other side of the wall, where the bathroom was still lit up. While he was glancing somewhere else and was disturbed, Kiku passed under his arm and escaped in the closest stairs, too quick for him to catch up in time.
I swear there are good reasons why their relationship is going down at the moment, and not just sexual frustration.
NEXT CHAPTER: UNBALANCED
Yours Truly,
May