Day 8: "Tell Me the Truth"

Whumptober 2024 Prompt: Confession / Unspoken Words / Heartbreak

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Hitoka Yachi never imagined the weight of her own silence could hurt so much.

She stood in the crowded gym, her eyes glued to the figure on the other side of the court. Oikawa Tooru. The Great King. He was effortlessly charming as always, flashing his signature grin at his teammates, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around him.

But she wasn't fooled. She could see past the smiles, past the charismatic facade. She could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the strain in his posture. And she knew why.

Because Oikawa had been carrying the weight of expectations for too long, shouldering the burden of his team, his pride, his dreams. And now, as their paths crossed once more for a practice match between Aoba Johsai and Karasuno, Yachi's heart clenched painfully in her chest.

She'd fallen for him. Hard. But she had never told him.

The match began, and Yachi tried to focus on her job as Karasuno's manager, but her gaze kept drifting back to Oikawa. Every time the ball came his way, every time his sharp eyes calculated the perfect move, her heart skipped a beat. She was so proud of him, but she also felt the ache of knowing that her feelings would likely remain a secret forever.

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the match, Oikawa's team celebrated their narrow victory, but Oikawa himself seemed distant, his expression unreadable. He caught her gaze from across the court, and for a split second, his smile faltered.

Her stomach twisted.

She knew she had to tell him. She couldn't keep this bottled up anymore. It had been eating away at her, and she feared that if she waited too long, she'd lose the chance forever. But the fear of rejection kept her frozen in place.

Later, as the gym began to empty, Yachi found herself lingering behind, fidgeting with her hands. Oikawa was still there, leaning against the wall, his head tilted back, his eyes closed as if he were trying to catch his breath.

This was it. Now or never.

With shaky steps, Yachi approached him, her heart pounding in her ears. She wasn't sure if her legs would carry her all the way to him, but somehow she made it, stopping just a few feet away.

"O-Oikawa-san," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

He opened his eyes, glancing at her with a tired but soft smile. "Yachi-chan. You're still here?"

She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I… I need to tell you something."

Oikawa raised an eyebrow, his smile fading as he stood up straighter, giving her his full attention. "What is it?"

Yachi's pulse quickened. She could feel the words rising to the surface, begging to be spoken, but the fear clawed at her insides, keeping her from letting them out. What if he didn't feel the same? What if this ruined everything? What if—

"Yachi?"

His voice was gentle, concerned even. He had never been cruel to her. In fact, he had always been kind in his own way, teasing her lightly but never crossing the line. But that only made this harder. She had so much to lose.

"I…" Her voice cracked, and she clenched her fists at her sides. "I… like you."

The confession hung in the air between them, raw and vulnerable. Yachi felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, her entire body trembling as she waited for his response.

For a long moment, Oikawa didn't say anything. He just stared at her, his eyes searching hers, as if trying to process her words.

Then, finally, he let out a slow breath, his expression softening. "Yachi-chan…"

Her heart plummeted. She knew what was coming next. She could see it in his eyes. He didn't feel the same. How could he? He was Oikawa Tooru, the Great King, and she was just… Yachi. Quiet, nervous, ordinary Yachi.

"I'm sorry," Oikawa said quietly, taking a step closer. "I didn't know you felt that way."

Yachi forced a smile, even though it felt like her chest was caving in. "It's okay. I-I just wanted you to know."

Oikawa reached out, his hand brushing against her shoulder, and for a moment, Yachi thought she might crumble under the gentle touch. "You're amazing, Yachi-chan. I mean it. But… my heart… it's not in the right place right now. There's too much going on."

She nodded, biting back the tears that threatened to spill. She had expected this, but it didn't make it hurt any less. "I understand."

Oikawa's hand lingered for a moment longer before he pulled away, his expression pained. "You deserve someone who can give you everything. Right now… I'm not that person."

Yachi took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "It's okay," she repeated, her voice barely audible. "I just needed to say it. I didn't want to regret not telling you."

Oikawa smiled softly, though there was a sadness in his eyes. "I'm glad you told me, Yachi-chan. I really am."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of the unspoken words pressing down on them. Yachi wanted to say more, to tell him that she didn't need everything, that just being by his side was enough. But she couldn't. She wouldn't. He deserved the space to heal, to figure out what he needed without the burden of her feelings weighing him down.

Eventually, Yachi took a step back, her heart heavy but her resolve firm. "Thank you, Oikawa-san," she said quietly. "For listening."

Oikawa gave her a small nod, his eyes filled with a warmth she couldn't quite decipher. "Take care, Yachi-chan."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving behind the gym, the confession, and the heartache that followed.