Chapter Text
Knowing Tooru Oikawa the entirety of your life had its pros. You were never an outcast, always invited to social events, and you got to watch all of the volleyball games for free. Being his best friend also led you to be friends with the rest of the team, you had a permanent spot at the lunch table and a locker next to his. Being his next door neighbor and family friend also included awesome parties, Saturday movie nights, and
Being in love with Tooru Oikawa also had its pros. When he would casually put his arm around your shoulder, it would send a shiver down your spine. Or when he would bend down at the waist for you to fix his tie, and you were just a tad too close, it would be on your mind for the rest of the day. Friendly mannerisms would send you into a spiral.
Your love for him was much like winter, a skeleton for the world to see. Too bad he never liked the cold, never paying attention to the blatant obvious. It seemed as though Oikawa was the one person in the entire world who hadn’t noticed that you loved him.
But he knew that now. As it turns out, he loved you just as much and for not quite as long.
Because when you would fix his tie, and he was just a tad too close, his eyes went directly to your lips. Or when he would call you from an entire hallway away and you would smile at him, he wanted to reach you as soon as possible. Or when he would point you out in the crowd, wearing his jersey, he would see you like a spotlight in a dark room.
So maybe he did love you for as long as you loved him, it just took his time to bubble into a realization.
When he kissed you that night, the night both of you confessed, he made you feel warmer than you ever had been before.
--
You weren’t dating. Not yet, at least, and not officially.
Don’t get it wrong, you loved him. And he loved you too, apparently. But it takes a while for trust to reform, and things to go back to what was once normal. He apologized to you enough for your lifetime, and you apologized to him too.
“I’ll give you as much time as you need.” Oikawa had told you after a kiss to your temple. “I’ll wait.”
You both were laying in Oikawa’s bed now, legs tangled together and facing each other. You would sometimes play with his hands and fingers, and he would sometimes reach for your face. It was comfortable.
“I don’t want to be a distraction.” You said to him.
The school year was almost over, entrance exams coming close and the final volleyball games arriving just as quickly. You weren’t only thinking of your trust, or only thinking about what people would say. You were thinking of being a distraction when he had a lot of things to focus on.
“You would never be a distraction.” He replied, pushing some of your hair out of your face. “And even if you were, you would be the best distraction ever.”
--
“I feel like I’ve been waiting twelve chapters in a fanfic for y’all to be together.” Matsukawa told you at lunch.
The three of you had returned to your lunch study sessions. Though this time was actually spent studying now that exams were around the corner. Iwaizumi had been on both of your asses (he even made a group chat with just you three to send links to things to read). He was the only reason you were confident about exams, but you would never tell him that.
“Have I told you that you’re dramatic?” you said. “Iwa, tell your boyfriend that he’s dramatic.”
“I don’t know. I feel like it’s been years since you found us in the closet, literally and figuratively. It does feel like forever.”
“I cannot believe I’m being tag teamed here!”
“Sweetheart, you would have the best time of your life if you were tag teamed by us.” Matsukawa said, sending you an obvious wink.
Iwaizumi hit him with a pen, surprise written all over his face. “I cannot believe…”
“Shh, it’s a library, my love.” Matsukawa sent him a smile and turned to send you a look. You giggled.
--
Iwaizumi called you one night, it was already dark and he was very clearly walking.
“Hey, I know that it’s late and you’re probably doing something but I need a favor.” He said.
“What’s up?”
“It’s Oikawa.”
--
Tooru Oikawa had a tendency to overwork himself. He constantly needed to be the best he could possibly be, and that included staying extra hours and staying up for days on end. Most of the time, he would eventually either wear himself out or Iwaizumi would talk him out of it before it got too bad.
He never liked you seeing him like that.
So, there he was. Still at the school, the sky dark and everyone at home, practicing his serves. There was basically holes in the floor by how hard he was hitting them, how fast they were going. Oikawa was a sweating mess, face red and chest heaving.
“’Kawa, I think you’re good.” You told him from your position at the door. “It’s late, let’s go home.”
He didn’t hear you, of course, continuing his serving. He was going to collapse if he kept it up, you thought.
You walked over to him, grabbing his arms as he bounced the ball to the floor (getting ready for yet another serve). He paused, frozen, as he realized that you were there. His eyes were red when he looked at you.
“Oh. Hey, nut.”
“’Kawa, you’re doing it again.”
“I’m fine.”
“No. You’re not.” His arms were shaking in your hands. That’s how long he had been there, his strength not keeping up anymore. “Come on, let’s go home.”
“I can’t. Just a couple more…”
“’Kawa, what’s going on?” You were searching for his eyes, but he kept his head down. His hair was dripping in sweat, some pieces sticking to his forehead.
“I just. I have to get this. I have to.” He said. His voice was low, from exhaustion or from his anxiety, you didn’t know. “I have to get it absolutely Tperfect otherwise I shouldn’t even be here. I can’t keep fucking shit up all the time and…”
“It’s already perfection.” You interrupted him, letting go of his hands and reaching up to place your hands on his cheeks to lift his head up. “Overexerting yourself will only make it worse. You’re brilliant, you know that. I know that. And you aren’t a fuck up, either. So, let’s go home and get some rest. That way you can use your perfect serve tomorrow at the tournament.”
Oikawa looked at you, searching your eyes for some indication that you were lying. When he didn’t, he nodded weakly. “Okay. Okay.”
You pressed a kiss to his lips. He tasted like salt, and it was wet and gross, but it made both of you feel better. He chased after your lips after you moved back.
He stayed at your house that night. He showered in your shower and fell asleep with his head on your chest. He had cried earlier, and you knew that, but maybe a silent reassurance was what he needed.
--
“Good luck today, Tetsurou Kuroo.” You handed him your hoodie (his hoodie).
He was about to deny your offer, tell you that he had to wear his uniform, when you said “I wore it all day today, got dress coded and all. It’s a token of good luck. Wear it.”
“Fine.” He pulled it over his head.
Your relationship with Kuroo wasn’t strained at all. It was strange, actually. You would think that after a kiss, after telling him that you were in love with someone else, after you told him your entire life story, that everything was still the same.
Maybe that’s a perk of being best friends. It was like hanging out with Iwaizumi, almost. Though you couldn’t really compare the relationships, they were completely different. You have kissed them both, though, now that you thought about it. Moving on.
Seijoh was the school hosting the tournament, so a lot of students were there. Many from other schools, family and friends who came to watch. People were filtering in and out. Kuroo happened to meet up with you before you were going to wish Oikawa good luck.
“Oi!” Kuroo called over your shoulder, and you turned to see who he was calling over. A boy with dyed blonde hair appeared at Kuroo’s side, wearing the same red. “Kenma, this is the girl I told you about.”
“Kenma? As in your best friend Kenma?” you turned to the newly introduced boy. “Hi. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I heard a lot about you, too.” Kenma said. He spoke low, quite different than Kuroo’s natural extraversion.
“What game are you playing?” You asked, gesturing to the game in his hand. “I used to play my nintendo all the time, but I haven’t had time recently.”
“Really? What’s your favorite game?”
As you and Kenma got into a discussion about old video games, Kuroo couldn’t help but smile. His two favorite people were great together.
--
You had been Oikawa’s rock since you were children. He always thought about you whenever there was a minor inconvenience or if there was something he needed to tell someone. You were the first one he told when he found out his brother’s girlfriend (now wife) was pregnant, you were the first one he talked to when he was going to talk to his mom about a summer volleyball program, you were the first one he complained to when he tried to wash his own clothes for the first time and got bleach stains all over his favorite shirt.
You had always been the one.
Oikawa never wanted to rely on anyone, he wanted everything to be done independently and with pride. Yet, there you were. Always. And he never had a second thought about it.
Because he was also your rock.
You would listen to him, too, when he would come to you. You would hug him when he needed a hug, you would throw a volleyball up for him when he needed help, you would make him a sandwich when he needed a sandwich. All without him actually telling you that he needed those things.
One day, in elementary, the teacher asked the students to write about themselves. It was a simple project, just write about you, your favorites, and whatnot. One of the questions was “who do you look up to the most?”
Oikawa wrote your name.
--
The volleyball tournament was starting soon, everyone standing around talking and hanging out before the first game. You stood by Seijoh’s bench with Oikawa, laughing at something he told you.
Tetsurou Kuroo leaned against the wall under the bleachers. The way the gym was set up, the bleachers were accessed by stairs and there was a good length of wall under them. That’s where Kuroo stood, away from the rest of his team since they weren’t playing the first game yet. (They had to wait for Seijoh to win first, and then they would play a team, and then they would play Seijoh if they won that game. That was the stupidest explanation but that should explain it in simple terms).
He had his arms crossed against his chest as he stared at the forming couple. His hoodie still smelled like you.
“You know, gawking at them only makes it suck.” A voice said from above him.
Kuroo looked over his shoulder to find Sana. She sat on the bleacher floor, swinging her legs over the open area and arms crossed over the bars keeping kids from falling to the gym floor. She smiled at him. Her hair was dyed, and she looked as incredible as she always did.
“You would know.” Kuroo said. “Sorry, that came out mean. I didn’t mean it like that. Your hair looks good blonde, by the way.”
“Thank you, and don’t worry about it.” She pushed his shoulder with her foot. “But seriously. You’ve been staring at them since they got here.”
“So you’ve been staring at me staring at them?”
“I guess I have.” Sana smiled at him again. “It’s weird, huh? To finally see them together.”
“Yeah.” Kuroo looked back at the two of you, your hand on Oikawa’s arm. “I don't think it's weird to see them together. I think it's more weird that I was a middle guy."
"You're telling me." She laughed. “Good thing we're cool as hell, huh? Where are you sitting to watch?”
“With my team.” Kuroo looked over Sana’s shoulder to where the group of red sat. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you sat with us, if you would care to join.”
“I would love to.”
--
Girls swarmed Oikawa before the game. They wished him good luck, taking pictures with him and giggling whenever he spoke directly to them. He basically towered over them, too.
His eyes found yours and he sent you a gorgeous smile.
“Sorry ladies,” Oikawa told them as you moved closer. “I have to give my girl some attention.”
“You guys are so cute I’m so jealous!” one girl exclaimed, while another girl sighed “I wish I had a boyfriend like him.”
“Not dating, not yet.” Oikawa corrected her. He looked back to you. “Hello, nut.”
“Hey, ‘Kawa.”
The girls all disappeared, dispersing like mice. Oikawa’s full attention was on you.
“How are you feeling?” You asked, putting your hand on his arm. He wasn’t shaking.
“Better. Got wonderful sleep.” He joked. You chuckled. “I never got to thank you.”
“You don’t have t…”
“Thank you.” He stopped your spiel. “For everything. I wouldn’t be standing here if you hadn’t stuck with me this long, whether you were in love with me or not. And thank you for last night, too.”
“Well, what can I say?” you shrugged. “I’m kind of dope.”
“Yeah, you’ve definitely been hanging out with Kuroo haven’t you?”
“Eh, a little.”
Oikawa shook his head, but he was smiling. He was going to say something else when Iwaizumi and Hanamaki arrived by the bench, followed by the rest of the team.
“Time to warm up.” The coach told them.
“Good luck.” You told Oikawa, holding his hand. “You got this.” You turned to the rest of the team as you headed towards the bleachers. “Good luck, you guys!”
A chorus of thank yous from the team. Oikawa’s eyes watched you for as long as he would allow before returning his attention to his team.
--
You waited outside for Oikawa and Iwaizumi. It felt good, to be back to normal and to be back into your routine. You missed this.
Oikawa came out first, smiling and cheeks stained with tears. It was a good game, they won the tournament, and he was basically shining. You smiled back almost as an instinct.
“Hey, nut!” He exclaimed, coming to you.
He hugged you, wrapping his arms around you. Your feet even left the ground. You giggled, smacking his arm and yelling at him to put you down. He did (though after another spin or two).
“Oh! I have something for you.” Oikawa rolled his backpack over his shoulder to rummage around inside.
He handed you his jersey.
“I believe this belongs to you.”
“I missed this.”
“I did too.” He was staring at you.
He wrapped his arm around your shoulder, giggling again. You leaned into him a bit. Iwaizumi came out not too long after, rolling his eyes at your proximity. Oikawa looked over his shoulder at his best friend, winking.
“C’mon, Iwa!”
“You two go ahead.”
A shrug. Iwaizumi waved you both away, hanging back until Matsukawa came out of the doors. You sent him a knowing look.
So, with your jersey back in your hand, Oikawa walked you home. You talked as you walked, giggling and laughing and teasing and bumping into each other with your hips. It was warm, full, and growing into something new, something kind and bright.
It felt like spring had finally arrived.
fin.