Sorry for not posting this chapter earlier but I was really busy and tired, and chapter 56 took me forever to write! I'll try to post more often, btu it depends on how much work I've got in real life.
Thank youu to eevryone who followed, favorited and reviewed! :D
Aquafin : When I watch the match I always get excited because KARASUNO WON! But then I see Seijou and my heart breaks and I don't know if I should be ha^ppy or sad. Thank you very much, i hope you'll keep liking this chapter~! ;)
FANFICTION
HAIKYUU! : QUIET VOICE
CHAPTER LV : Turning Point
"If you fall, I'll pick you up, if not, I will lay down with you."
— Julio Cortázar
"I'm so busy being strong I forgot I could be fragile."
— Unknown
"People say I love you all the time - when they say, 'take an umbrella, it's raining,' or 'hurry back,' or even 'watch out, you'll break your neck.' There are hundreds of ways of wording it - you just have to listen for it, my dear."
— John Patrick, The Curious Savage
"Compassion was the most important, perhaps the sole law of human existence."
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Idiot
"Somehow you just know the exact perfect thing to say and do to make everything alright. You are my guiding light, my pillar of strength, my protector from the enemy that is myself."
— Ranata Suzuki
"Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you, the thing you think you can't survive…it's the thing that makes you better than you used to be."
— Jennifer Weiner, Fly Away Home
"I am struck by how sharing our weakness and difficulties is more nourishing to others than sharing our qualities and successes."
— Jean Vanier
"We hold our dreams and ideals close to our hearts, where the promises are made to the future generations."
― John Rachel, A Long Night's Journey Into Daylight
"A great teacher plants the seeds of greatness in the minds of future generations."
― Debasish Mridha
"Every turning point in a person's life isn't reached by luck, they choose to be successful, they know what it takes to be there, they can do what is expected of them to do, they do not show trepidation about the requirements needed to be on top"
― Michael Bassey Johnson, Classic Quotations From The Otherworlds
Kiku knocked at the Iwaizumi apartment. Hajime had told her that he probably wouldn't go to the finals because Oikawa didn't want to go. She had given the two boys some time the previous night, then this morning, but now her worry was too much and she needed to be here for her boyfriend. If he didn't want of her, then he'll tell her so and she'll come back later.
The door opened on Umeko who blinked in surprise to see Kiku there.
"Kiku-chan! What a surprise, I would have expected you to go with Hajime at the match."
Kiku blinked in confusion before opening her mouth:
"But… he told me he wouldn't go… I-I see… t-then…"
Umeko hesitated, seeing the conflicted emotion on the girl's face. Kiku was wondering whether or not she should go at the gymnasium right now, would she make it in time, would she–
"The match should end soon, why don't you come in and wait for Hajime to be back?" Umeko said with a kind smile.
Relieved, Kiku nodded before entering the apartment.
"Umeko obaa-san!"
Hearing a child's voice, Kiku approached curiously and saw two children, who must have been around three and five. They looked so much alike it was obvious they were siblings.
"Who is that?" The older one asked, staring at Kiku.
"It's Kiku, she's waiting for Hajime so be nice to her, okay?" She told the children who immediately turned curious eyes towards the high-schooler, "I'm going to make some tea."
"A-ah, t-thank you…"
Umeko disappeared and Kiku turned towards the two children. At once, they got up and ran to her, hugging her legs then tugging at her hands.
"Ne, ne! Are you Hajime onii-chan's girlfriend?" The older one asked excitedly, obviously he had learned this word not long ago and didn't seem to totally understand everything it implied.
Kiku couldn't help but blush before answering with a smile:
"Y-yes, I-I am… w-who are you… um…"
Her voice trailed off and he spoke up once again:
"I'm Ren! And it's my brother, Shun!" He introduced himself, jumping up and down.
"Sorry, they have a tendency of invading private space, but they're adorable, aren't they?" Umeko said when she came back with a tray of tea and biscuits.
"A-ah, y-yes!" Kiku answered, flushing in embarrassment.
The two kids chuckled and Shun wrapped his little arms around her leg. Kiku knew that Umeko was working as a professional nanny in an agency that took care of young children. Hajime had explained to her that sometimes, she took care of children at home.
"Hajime onii-chan told us about you!" Ren continued happily, making Umeko chuckle while Kiku blushed even more, "He said you were his girlfriend because you're beautiful and kind! He also said he wants to have babies with you!"
Kiku startled, turning even redder if it was possible while Umeko shook her head in amusement:
"He never said that, you cornered him into admitting he wanted children someday. He never mentioned you specifically Kiku-chan, and you're still young, so don't worry." She cleared up.
"A-ah… I see…"
"Do you want babies too, Kiku onee-chan?" Ren continued, eyes sparkling.
"U-um, y-yes, s-someday…" She answered.
"Hajime onii-chan will be happy!"
"Wait– I-I didn't mean…"
But Ren didn't listen to her. Kiku glanced in panic at Umeko, realizing that she had just admitted wanting to have children in front of her boyfriend's mother. She didn't seem to misunderstand it though but saw the panic in the girl's eyes:
"Why don't you go play with your new toy while I have some tea with Kiku-chan?" Umeko proposed to Ren.
His attention immediately riveted back to his superhero toy, he ran to it but Shun decided to keep clinging to Kiku. She hesitated before leaning down and taking him in her arms. He seemed even happier and she sat in front of Umeko, putting down the little child on her laps. Umeko poured some tea while Kiku gave Shun a cookie he started munching on.
"So, how do you feel?" Umeko asked Kiku with a smile.
She stared at her, not understanding why she seemed so sad.
"After yesterday's match… Hajime was really shaken up. I didn't push him to talk but I had hoped… I hope that he'll confine in you." Umeko continued.
Kiku distracted herself from her disappointment by taking her cup of tea and breathing on it to cool it.
"It… was unexpected… but they put their all into it. They didn't give up and kept fighting until the end. I'm proud of them for going so far and doing so much but… they're obviously all disappointed because they didn't go as far as they usually did and mostly…"
"Ushijima, mm?"
Kiku nodded, putting down the cup. Shun looked up at her, probably sensing her sadness. He listened closely, even if he might not understand everything that was being said.
"Oikawa-san and Hajime wanted so badly to win against Ushijima… They wanted their revenge but it was taken from them because Karasuno won. I can't even imagine how they must feel deep down…"
Umeko remained silent just as the door opened.
"I'm home…" Hajime said from afar.
His ladies waited as he entered the living-room, blinking upon seeing Kiku there.
"Kiku…" He said, eyes slightly widened.
"She came because she worried for you – what were you thinking, not warning her you were going to the match?" Umeko scolded, even if her voice was light.
"U-um, s-sorry…" He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hajime onii-chan!"
He just had time to brace himself when he heard hurried footsteps and Ren jumped into his arms. Hajime immediately wrapped his arms around him, smiling despite himself.
"Hey, little one. I didn't know you were coming today."
Shun wiggled and Kiku helped him down as he ran to Hajime who shook his hair.
"It's nice seeing you guys," he said with a smile.
Kiku observed him from afar, seeing how tired he seemed. He mustn't have slept much, or well. But he was still smiling with the children. She found herself smiling as well, unaware of Umeko's stare on her and her knowing smile, while Ren and Shun happily talked with Hajime.
"Ren, Shun, we said we'd go to the park, remember?" Umeko finally said, standing up and gathering the empty tea cups.
"Aaaww, but I wanna stay with Hajime onii-chan and Kiku onee-chan!" Ren whined, holding onto Hajime's hand tightly.
"Hajime still hasn't eaten lunch, and they need to talk. You'll see them when we'll be back." Umeko continued while Kiku helped her out bringing everything to the kitchen.
Ren whined a little more but Shun tugged at Hajime's hand to attract his attention:
"Hajime onii-chan, do the thing! Do the thing!" He asked with a huge smile.
Kiku stared from afar while Hajime bent down with a smirk:
"Again? don't you ever get tired of it? You little monsters," he said jokingly, making them laugh.
He grabbed both children, lifting them up over his shoulders until they could hold onto his biceps, hanging from there, obviously having the fun of their lives. He chuckled as well, walking around so they'd scream and laugh.
"He's good with children, mm?" Umeko said, startling Kiku.
"A-ah, u-um! Y-yes!" She exclaimed, flushing.
"He's always had younger children to take care of thanks to my job. I didn't realize that being an older brother to all of them had forced Hajime to mature so much so young." She continued, looking a little melancholic.
"I think… it's in his nature to take care of others… he wouldn't have taken care of Oikawa for so long otherwise." Kiku answered with a smile.
Umeko smiled, silently agreeing to it. She readied the two children for their walk to the park before turning towards the teenagers:
"We should be back around four. Hajime I don't suppose you ate lunch but eat something, will you?" His mother said.
He nodded and after ruffling the children's hair, Umeko and the two little monsters went off. Kiku looked up at her boyfriend:
"You haven't eaten since the ramen yesterday?" She asked worriedly, wriggling her hands together.
"I… came home late and after my bath, I was too tired…" He explained sheepishly, "I wasn't hungry this morning either."
"I'll cook you something very quickly!" She exclaimed, hurrying to the kitchen.
He followed her slowly, watching her check what she could cook before finding some leftovers with a message from his mother telling him to warm it up. Before she could do anything though, Hajime walked to her and hugged her from behind. Kiku froze before relaxing at his touch. He closed his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh as he hid his face into her neck.
"They won…" He said, voice smothered because of his lips against her skin, "Karasuno won."
Kiku's heart missed a beat in shock. It was so shocking to know that Karasuno, who weren't exceptionally known nor had more than a couple of strong players, had managed to win against Aoba Jousai. But winning against Shiratorizawa? That was…
Slowly, she looked up just as Hajime straightened up, but he didn't stop hugging her.
"What is it we did wrong during all these years?" He asked in a low, hard voice, on the edge of breaking.
He frowned to himself, eyes closing as he fought back the bitter tears once again, recalling the years of hard work and practice, spent refining their skills, getting stronger, just with the aim to beat Shiratorizawa and go to Nationals. They were the most complete team of the prefecture. They had the best player of the prefecture on their team. What was it that they had lacked that Karasuno had that gave them the chance to win against the ultimate champions Shiratorizawa?
Kiku's hands went over his, squeezing hard his hands until he'd look at her. There was a moment when he tried to hold it together, silently asking her to answer his question, trying to understand but then… his green eyes just showed how sad, disappointed, and guilty he truly felt after their defeat. It was like reality catching up to hit him in the face hard. The previous day they had had their first frustrated tears, their first busts of bitter anger but after getting up to not go to the finals, going anyway, seeing the match, seeing Karasuno win… it just kept being one slap after another. But what made Hajime crack his mask wasn't just the realization of their defeat and what it meant, it was Kiku's compassionate eyes. They didn't need any word to express and understand each other.
It's okay, you can cry, you can be angry, you can talk or you can stay silent. I'm here for you. She quietly conveyed to him, just with a tender gaze and a touch of her hands on his.
So he remained silent, but hid his face against her neck once again, taking the time to have his senses invaded by Kiku. Her touch, her warmth, her scent, her comfort. The sense of intimacy and reassurance she provided just for being here for him was enough.
Once he felt a little less at a loss, more stable thanks to Kiku's presence, he pulled away and with an encouraging smile, she made him eat something. Then she pulled him to his bedroom and they laid down, Hajime dozing off when she hugged the sadness away. Maybe he cried a little and tried to hide it in his pillows, but she kissed his forehead and repeated it was okay and he didn't have to hide anything from her. So he cried, and he hugged her, and he slept, and he talked about his bitterness, then cried again, then hugged her again… and finally, he felt a little more at peace thanks to Kiku.
On Monday it was almost a regular school-day, if it weren't for the amount of people telling the volleyball club to "not mind" or that "it was sad" – Iwaizumi didn't even want to look in the direction of the fangirls who had surrounded Oikawa with gifts of various sorts for his loss. Monday was normal but Tuesday…
Hajime woke up at the same hour as usual, just out of habit, even if from now on there wouldn't be morning practice anymore for the third-years. He tried doing something else but in the end, he still went for a run, meeting Oikawa there. They started running in silence, going the same way, doing the same stretches, having the exact same timing as they've had these last few years. It almost didn't feel like anything has changed but deep down, they knew that from now on, it would be different. No more practice with the team, unless the first and seconds years needed to practice with their senpai. No more practice in Aoba Jousai, they'd practice in the local gymnasium unless the coaches allowed them to go to more practices. No more brilliant setter and accomplished Ace, no more Captain and Vice-Captain…
Going to school was just as silent, which was getting stranger and stranger for Oikawa until Iwaizumi glanced at him, worriedly. But the setter didn't show any sadness or regret or anything. He was just… silent.
"Yes, Iwa-chan?" Oikawa finally asked without looking away when he felt his friend's intense gaze on him for a long time.
Iwaizumi startled and immediately looked away, trying to find a topic of conversation to avoid the inevitable words but…
"You're okay?" He asked.
"…I'm okay, I suppose. And you?" Oikawa answered after a thoughtful pause.
"…I'm okay. I suppose." He mumbled, looking down.
There was silence again.
"I know what you're thinking but I'm not going to break or anything," Oikawa continued, finally looking at his friend, "I'm sad that our time on Aoba Jousai's team is ending but I'm happy for everything that happened when we were on it. As for the future… we can only look forward to it!"
Iwaizumi stared at him before smiling in agreement. Now that the words had been said, they both felt a little lighter and Oikawa started talking excitedly, to the point Iwaizumi almost regretted the silence from a moment ago:
"We have the training camp for the National team in a few weeks! Then we'll have our finals, and we'll have to choose where to go next year! It's kinda exciting, right? We have lots of things to do but it's also stressing to try and figure out our lives! Aaaah, I'm impatient to get started! By the way, I know you're wishing to stay in Sendai but do you know what Kiku-chan will do next year?" He asked suddenly, turning towards Iwaizumi.
Hajime blinked before looking down, shoulders tensing a little.
"I… don't know… we haven't talked about it yet." He admitted, knowing that Oikawa could guess that both Hajime and Kiku were afraid to start the topic.
"I see…"
"Have you decided what university you'll go to? For studying beside training for the National team?" Iwaizumi asked, tone a little scolding.
Oikawa startled guiltily, looking away and shook his head.
"No… I… think I might consider something else."
Iwaizumi stopped in his tracks, eyes wide.
"You'll consider something else than the National team?! Who are you and what have you done with Oikawa?!"
"NO! You're wrong! Something else than university!" Oikawa answered.
It took Iwaizumi by surprise and he stared at him curiously, silently asking him to explain.
"I… met a guy the other day who gave me his name. He said he was working for an artists agency and they're looking for male models. It's in Tokyo."
Hajime kept his eyes wide open, opening and closing his lips but before he could say anything, Oikawa turned towards him and spoke up again:
"I know what you're thinking! That it's stupid and ridiculous and that I'm not even good-looking enough for that! But I checked it out and it's a real thing and he didn't fake his name or anything! And… I don't know what to study at the university… Until I figure it out, it'll be a good option for me to settle there and get some money out of it and… and… I'm still thinking about it but…"
"…It's not completely stupid. You seem to have actually thought about it – another option besides volleyball and that's all I wish for you. But model… that's just as risky as being a pro athlete, Oikawa. Are you sure it's the right thing to do?" Iwaizumi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's only temporary. Until I find whatever I want to do besides volleyball once I'll be old and useless and that my career will be over because Tobio-chan has come to steal my place on the team." He answered with a shrug, a hinge of mockery at the end.
Iwaizumi sighed before shrugging awkwardly:
"Well, if that's what you want to do… Have you told your family yet?"
Oikawa made a sour face, which was answer enough.
"Only my sister who is in Tokyo, she kinda supports me, I guess. My parents don't know yet but yesterday they gave me a talk about choosing carefully the university and that I should consider this or that or whatever they think has a name complicated enough for it to be worthy of me…"
His parents supported him in whatever he wanted to do, but they never hid that they'd prefer if Tooru chose a more careful career than something risky like volleyball, especially after his knee injury. They knew it was his passion and he had the potential to become pro and they would support him but like any parent, they worried for his future and they wanted the best for him. Go to a good university, have good grades, get a good job that will pay his rents – that was what they wanted for him. Volleyball as a career left them with slightly tight smiles, but they supported him. If he were to tell them he was only balancing the rest of his life with something as fancy as modeling, it might throw them off completely. They might freak out, they will definitely freak out.
"Well, if Aiko onee-san supports you they might let you do it." Iwaizumi said with a shrug.
"They didn't like nee-chan going to Tokyo to become a pilot but they changed their mind when she ended best of her promotion – each and every one of the Oikawa are amazingly talented, after all~!"
"Where is she now?" He asked curiously, knowing that as an airplane pilot, Oikawa's older sister was always traveling around the world.
"Her instagram has pictures of some Italian cities so I suppose that's where she is?" Oikawa said with a shrug.
They arrived at school and Hajime caught sight of Kiku who was putting her bicycle away all the while bickering with Makki. His steps slowed down a little until Oikawa smiled at him:
"You should talk with Kiku-chan and know where she'll be next year. With luck you might even move into a place together~!"
"D-don't be ridiculous!" Hajime exclaimed, blushing.
"You don't plan on living with your parents all your life, right?"
"That's not the problem here!"
He looked away in embarrassment, making Oikawa chuckle.
"Oikawa-san!"
"Oikawa-kuun~!"
Suddenly surrounded by his fangirls, Iwaizumi quickly escaped the growing crowd to find his girlfriend. She immediately lit up when she saw him, suddenly ignoring Hanamaki while Hajime kissed her cheek and took her hand in his.
The day went on in a numbing casualness, everything was the same as usual but Kiku could tell that Hajime wasn't into any of it. She could only imagine the rest of the third-years of the volleyball club feeling just as numb. At the end of the school day, though, while she was calmly putting everything into her bag, Hajime stood up suddenly, throwing his bag over his shoulder like he always did.
"Let's go to practice," he told her.
Kiku hesitated, blinking in confusion before Hajime seemed to realize what he had just said. He looked around, a heavy, sad silence falling on them.
"But… there isn't any more practice anymore for us…" Kiku murmured.
"…Starting tomorrow only. Come on, it's… the last day." He said, showing his hand.
She wasn't certain what he was getting at but she stood up, taking his hand and following him. She didn't have her manager outfit but the third-years players must have been prepared because they went into the changing-room. She realized that Hajime still had the key and that the first and second-years were still following his and Oikawa's lead. She waited for the team outside of the gymnasium, her uncle and Mizoguchi arriving before the boys.
"Oh, you're here Kiku-chan," Mizoguchi said with a smile.
"U-um, I- um, t-the boys are changing… even the third-years…" She said.
"Ah yes, we have to choose the Captain and Vice-Captain for the second-years." Mizoguchi said with a nod.
It left a bad taste in her mouth but she didn't say anything. She followed the coaches and even if she didn't have her outfit of manager, she helped as she usually did until the team arrived.
"Gather up!" Oikawa called, everyone immediately surrounding him.
He looked at his fellow third-years who smiled to him encouragingly, then he turned towards the first and second-years with a smile of his own:
"First and second-years, from now on, you'll be the ones who will have to carry Aoba Jousai's playstyle."
Some looked down, others just tried to keep at bay all of their emotions. It was hard saying goodbye to the senpais they admired so much. Oikawa paused before nodding, a little to himself:
"You're strong. All of you. Next year, you'll have the strength to win against Karasuno, Shiratorizawa – all of these teams. You'll beat them and you'll go to Nationals!"
Iwaizumi stepped forward with an encouraging smile:
"You're strong enough for that if you believe in your capacities, so go all out!"
Some tears filled their eyes, but determination burned into their gazes. The third-years smiled, glad to see that their kouhais were ready to shoulder the weight of the team.
"Yahaba," Oikawa called, startling the setter.
He hesitated lightly before stepping forward:
"You were chosen as Captain by the second-years, and I couldn't agree more! Your skills and strength are there, you just need to have more confidence in yourself. I believe in you." Oikawa said, showing his hand.
"C-Captain…" Yahaba whispered, blinking away the tears in his eyes.
"Not anymore, eh!" Iwaizumi exclaimed with a chuckle, "You're the Captain from now on! Make sure to handle these boys right, okay?"
"Y-yes… I won't disappoint you, senpai…" He said with a stiff but respectful bow.
"Speak louder, Yahaba! Get your voice heard!" Makki exclaimed with a teasing grin.
Yahaba looked at him then took a deep breath:
"YES!"
He glanced quickly at Oikawa then turned towards the rest of the team who was now staring at him with the same respect they had been looking at Oikawa since he had become Captain. It threw him off a little but then, he felt a hand against his back. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Oikawa smiling at him. He pushed him lightly forward, the way he did to tell the spikers "jump without fear, I'll give you the toss you prefer." It was Oikawa's way of saying "go ahead, it's YOUR team now."
It was a turning point – for the team, for the third-years, for the ones who might become professional volleyball players…
Yahaba took a deep breath before turning towards his team:
"Seijou!" He called, putting his hand forward.
They all gathered around him, putting their own hands above his. Kyoutani looked a little forced, but he went into the circle anyway. The third-years smiled.
"Seijou, fight!" Yahaba screamed loudly.
"OOSS!" They all echoed, throwing their hands upwards.
It was time to give the team to the second-years, they would handle it right and they would carry on their goals.
"All right, everyone!" Mizoguchi called, taking out his camera.
Hajime grabbed Kiku's hand, forcing her to move along with the rest of the third-years as they all gathered to take pictures. The entire team together, posing for the last time, with and without the coaches then, food and drinks were brought so that they could all enjoy the improvised party for the departure of the third-years. They all still felt a little sad because it was the end of Aoba Jousai's team with the current third-years, but they were all happy for the years they had spent together.
In the end, Kiku was happy to see smiles everywhere.
By the end of the not-practice, the third-years had gathered all of their stuff from their lockers and were finally ready to leave the changing-room for good.
"We had lots of fun in here, didn't we?" Hanamaki said with a smile.
"Probably too much at times," Matsukawa answered.
"I felt sorry for Mizoguchi so many times!" Iwaizumi exclaimed with a chuckle.
"You're saying that but you never said no to anything we proposed, no matter how crazy," Makki teased, poking into his chest.
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes but couldn't deny it. They had had the best high-school time in this changing-room, it was hard saying goodbye but it also meant they were moving forward for more and new perspectives for their future.
"Let's go have ramen~!" Oikawa proposed.
"Only if it's on you, ex-Captain!" Hanamaki said.
"O-oi! D-don't call me that, it's sad! Also, you always eat like crazy so no!"
There was some bickering, but they finally agreed to get some ramen, inviting Kiku along with them mostly so she and Hajime could spend more time together. After they got their usual ramen, bickering and challenging each other like usual, Hajime decided to walk home Kiku. They were walking in silence, under the night sky, holding hands, comfortable in the quietness and warmth they felt.
Hajime's thoughts started going towards what Oikawa had mentioned in the morning. Knowing what Kiku would do next year, what studies she would follow… perhaps they could even consider living together. They were so comfortable with each other, it wouldn't be a problem for either of them. If they lived together, it'd be more economical for both of them and their families… It was a sudden turning-point in their relationship but… he felt ready, if she was ready as well.
"Kiku…" He started, voice a little tight to talk about such a topic so suddenly, cheeks flushing, "I know… we've been dating for only a few months but… in a few more months… it'll be almost a year… More like eight or nine months, no– actually, ten months next April, so um…"
He was rambling. Gods, he was rambling so much. He felt himself blush. He hadn't rambled with Kiku in a long time.
She looked up at him curiously, waiting for him to say what he was trying to get at…
Hajime rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to find a nice, casual way to put it without sounding like a creep.
"A-anyway, I was just thinking… I'll have my own place… to study at the university, y'know and… um, perhaps… P-perhaps you… could join me… I mean, it wouldn't be then a one-person apartment but more like…two… I mean… p-perhaps you would consider… joining me… to live together…"
He blushed even more if it were possible and Kiku went to a stop, staring at him with wide, shocked eyes at his proposition. Hajime looked around before realizing that his sentence had turned out weird.
"I mean, if we live together, it wouldn't be you joining me in my apartment, but you and I… choosing some place to live… together…"
He couldn't meet her eyes, but the silence was starting to get long. Just as he started worrying, Kiku squeezed his hand, attracting his attention on her. His heart sped up when he saw her smile and blushed cheeks.
"I-I'm so happy you… are saying… that… but…" She started, before biting on her lower lip and sighing.
His own smile wavered as she looked back up at him, looking straight into his eyes:
"Hajime, next year I won't remain in Miyagi to study at the university." She said in a strong voice.
Hajime's heart really felt like it physically broke a little bit to hear these words.
BONUS
[Some days later, at Oikawa's home, the third-years were all gathered to check the pictures that Mizoguchi had sent them along with tears of random moments during the year, reminded of the three years together…]
"Oi, look at that…" Makki said, pointing at a picture from the party.
"And this one too," Matsukawa added, skipping to the next on the computer.
They kept showing pictures until Iwaizumi stopped grinning and pouted, arms crossed over his chest and Oikawa laughing.
"Iwaizumi is always hidden by Oikawa!" Hanamaki exclaimed, making everyone, except Iwaizumi, laugh loudly.
Just a few more chapters beofre the final arc! :)
NEXT CHAPTER : STRENGTH OF HEART, STRENGTH OF MIND
Yours Truly,
May