𝐂𝐇. 𝟒

⋅. ˚₊ ‧  𐙚  ‧ ₊ ˚  ⋅

Y/N's POV

Practice ends. The boys collapse onto the floor like it's the Hunger Games.Meanwhile, I'm over by the bench, setting up water bottles and stacking papers like a tired but efficient office worker trapped in a gym full of teenage boys.

I flip through the practice sheets, jotting notes and organizing stats while thinking about way more important things—like the full-course meal I'm going to devour the second I get home.

Soba noodles or ramen? Fried chicken? Oh god, I want both. Maybe even dumplings—

"WHISTLE!"

Coach Nobuteru's sharp blow nearly makes me throw a clipboard.

"Go get water from Y/N!" he yells.

I blink. Why can't they get it themselves? I think, already dragging my feet toward the cooler.

I hand out water bottles like I'm passing out candy at a sad haunted house. Each player shuffles over, muttering "thank you manager" with the energy of a kid who's grounded.

Then...

Last in line.

Oikawa.

Of course.

He walks up with that annoying bounce in his step and a gleam in his eye that makes me want to throw the water bottle at him instead of to him.

"Thank you, manager-channn~" he coos, doing that flirty eye squint thing.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." I shove the bottle in his hands and walk away.

⸻

The team is now scattered across the floor, laughing, stretching, breathing like they just climbed Everest. I'm still over near the bench, reorganizing the ball cart and muttering under my breath about how none of them know how to coil a single damn cord.

Then, I feel a presence.

That presence is loud, tall, and full of terrible ideas.

"Manager-channn~," Oikawa singsongs, suddenly beside me. "Would you like to 1v1 me right now?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Why would I do that?"

He grins. "If you win, I'll stop bothering you."

I squint at him. "I don't believe you."

"Okay, maybe not completely, but I'll stop a little."

I pause. The drama in me wants to spike a ball straight at his face.

"...Fine," I say, wiping my hands on my hoodie. "Okay."

He gasps. "SHE SAID YES."

Then turns dramatically toward the team.

"TEAM, PLEASE. GATHER. YOU SHALL WITNESS THE GLORIOUS SHOWDOWN BETWEEN ME AND MANAGER-CHAN."

He skips—literally skips—to his side of the net.

My dad, sipping his bottle of water on the sideline, calls out, "Good luck, Oikawa! She's actually better than you think!"

Oikawa laughs. "Coach, you're just being dramatic."

Big mistake, drama king.

⸻

Round One

Oikawa spins the ball in his hand, bouncing it a few times. He shoots me a wink. I resist the urge to barf.

From behind him, I hear Hanamaki whisper, "There's no way she can return his serve."

"Yeah," Matsukawa mumbles. "Oikawa's serve is brutal. Like national-level."

He tosses the ball up.

Slams it.

It's fast.

But I'm faster.

I shift one step to the left, arms steady, and boom—perfect pass.

The ball floats into the air like I choreographed it. Clean. Effortless. Smug.

I smirk at Oikawa. "Do better."

The gym erupts.

Matsukawa falls backward. "DID YOU SEE THAT?!"

"NO WAY—SHE ATE THAT SERVE."

Oikawa? Frozen. Eyes wide. Jaw slightly dropped.

"You okay over there?" I shout sweetly. "You want to try again?"

⸻

Rounds Two, Three, Four...

He tries again. I shut it down.He spikes. I block.He fakes a drop. I dive and save it so casually it almost looks staged.

Every time I score, the team loses it.And every time I score, Oikawa looks closer to rethinking his entire existence.

After the fifth straight win, he just... lies down. On the court. Face up. Defeated.

Arms sprawled. Hair messy. Ego shattered.

"I got defeated... by a beauty..." he moans dramatically.

"Please get off the floor," I deadpan, stepping over him.

"No. Leave me. This is my grave."

Coach Sadayuki walks by and pats him on the stomach. "Told you."

⸻

Oikawa's POV

I don't know what just happened.

One second, I was being charming, flirty, hot.

The next second, I was decimated. Annihilated. Spiritually humbled.

By her.

Y/N freaking Mizoguchi.

She's not just scary. Or hot. Or bossy.

She's better than me.

That's new.

That's terrifying.

That's... kind of hot?

No. No, no. This is bad.

Very bad.

⸻

Later That Night - Oikawa's POV

[To: Iwaizumi 💢]

Oikawa: bro. I'm obsessed.

Iwaizumi: no

Oikawa: she destroyed me. in front of everyone. I can't stop thinking about it

Iwaizumi: it was 1v1 volleyball not a love confession

Oikawa: she told me to "do better." that's basically flirting

Iwaizumi: you've barely known her

Oikawa: and in those moments I've seen my future with her

Iwaizumi: you're delusional

Oikawa: and you're jealous

Iwaizumi: of what, your loss?

Oikawa: ...shut up