𝐂𝐇. 𝟐𝟐

⋅. ˚₊ ‧ 𐙚 ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅

There was something in the air the day before a big match. Not the kind of "yay we're excited" tension. This was the heavy, vibrating kind that settled deep in your chest and made everything feel louder — shoes squeaking, volleyballs hitting the floor, even someone just breathing wrong.

Aoba Johsai had a huge match tomorrow. Against a team that actually had a shot. Against a team Oikawa needed to beat.

Practice was intense. Focused. Everyone was giving 120%. Except Oikawa — who was giving 300% and actively spiraling.

I'd been watching him for the past hour, his jaw locked tight, brows furrowed, setting after setting after setting, barely responding when someone called his name.

"You good?" Iwaizumi asked him at one point.

Oikawa just nodded. "I need to run it again."

Iwaizumi glanced at me across the court.

Translation: Please do something before our captain explodes.

⸻

After practice, I caught Oikawa sitting on the bleachers, unwrapping the tape from his fingers, shoulders slumped.

Everyone else was packing up. The gym buzzed with chatter and laughter — but Oikawa sat still, like the tension had drained him completely.

I walked over, crouched in front of him, and held out a cold bottle of water.

He blinked like he hadn't realized someone was even there. "Huh?"

"Hydrate, idiot."

He took the bottle and gave a weak smile. "Thanks, manager-chan."

"Okay," I said, sitting beside him, "what's going on?"

"Nothing."

I gave him a look. "Try again."

He exhaled slowly, twisting the bottle cap. "I'm just thinking."

"You always think. You're a chronic thinker."

"I like to be prepared."

"Yeah, but not to the point where you look like you're going to faint."

He chuckled dryly, then went quiet again.

A beat passed. Then he said, "What if I mess up tomorrow?"

I turned to him. "Then we move on. You play the next point."

He shook his head. "What if I really mess up?"

"Oikawa."

He didn't look at me.

"You're not going to mess up."

"You don't know that."

"Okay, true. I don't. But I do know that you've been working harder than anyone else in this gym. I know you're the reason this team holds itself together. I know you push yourself until your fingers bleed."

I reached down and gently took his hand, showing him his taped knuckles.

"And I know that no matter what happens, you'll still walk out of that game as the best damn captain in the prefecture."

His eyes finally met mine.

I held his gaze, unflinching.

Oikawa was loud, dramatic, obnoxious — but right now, he looked small. Human.

"Why are you being nice to me?" he asked, voice softer than usual.

I smirked. "Don't get used to it."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

He looked at our hands. I realized I was still holding his. I let go quickly, clearing my throat.

He smiled, slow and tired. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

Another silence fell. A rare, comfortable one.

Then he leaned back slightly, tilting his head toward me.

"You know," he said, voice low, "when you're not threatening to punch me, you're kinda..."

I raised a brow. "Careful."

"...sweet."

I threw my towel at his face. "There it is."

He laughed — the real kind. The one that made the corners of his eyes crinkle.

⸻

Oikawa's POV

I didn't realize how much I needed her until she sat next to me.

The others were helpful — sure. Encouraging. Loud. Supportive in their own ways. But Y/N?

She just saw me.

Not the flirty act. Not the captain persona. Just... me. And somehow, she didn't seem scared by it.

When she grabbed my hand, I almost forgot how to breathe.

And when she let go, I wanted to grab it back.

⸻

Y/N's POV

That night, I walked home slower than usual. My chest felt full in a way I couldn't explain. Not heavy — but not light either.

It was the way he looked at me. The way his voice dropped. The way he opened up without theatrics.

I hated how much it affected me.

When I got home, I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling.

"What the hell is going on," I muttered.

Because suddenly... I didn't hate Oikawa.

And that? That was terrifying.

⸻

Team Group Chat — Later That Night

[Matsukawa]:everyone good for game day tomorrow?

[Hanamaki]:as good as we can be under a dictatorship (aka oikawa's overthinking)

[Iwaizumi]:he's fine. manager-chan fixed him.

[Y/N]:i did NOT fix anyone.

[Oikawa]:she held my hand 🥺

[Y/N]:YOU WERE ANXIOUS

[Oikawa]:i felt safe ❤️

[Iwaizumi]:i'm gonna throw my phone