𝐂𝐇. 𝟑𝟎

⋅. ˚₊ ‧  𐙚  ‧ ₊ ˚  ⋅

Practice had been intense all week.No jokes. No flirting. No stupid "manager-chann~" in my ear every five seconds.

You'd think I'd be happy.I wasn't.

Because Oikawa was being... weird.

Laser-focused. Dead serious. Clocking in two hours early, staying an hour late. Not even cracking a sarcastic comment when I told him to hydrate.

He was playing like the championship was already happening in his mind.

And I hated how much I missed the annoying version of him.

The loud, obnoxious, smug one who made stupid hearts with his hands when I glared at him.This new Oikawa? Quiet. Detached. Still brilliant—god, always brilliant—but emotionally MIA.

I stood by the court, gripping my clipboard, watching him run another perfect serve drill without a word.

"Focus, Tooru," Coach Sadayuki called.

"I am," Oikawa said.

And he was. More than ever.

But it felt like I didn't exist to him right now.

⸻

Oikawa's POV

I was trying to stay focused.Nationals weren't going to win themselves. If I even slipped once, if I let myself get distracted, it could cost us everything.

So I cut the flirting. Cut the side conversations. Cut the parts of me that wanted to wander over to Y/N and say something dumb just to see her smile.

Because she always smiled when she was mad at me.

But if I let myself slip now, I'd spiral. I'd fall.

And this was too important.

So I didn't look when she stood courtside.Didn't look when she walked past me with towels or clipboards or narrowed eyes.

But I heard her voice in the background.I felt her watching.And I wanted to talk to her more than I wanted to win.

Almost.

⸻

Y/N's POV

The gym echoed with the sound of squeaking shoes, the rhythmic thud of volleyballs, and the occasional yell of encouragement.

It was routine. It was focused. It was disciplined.It was miserable.

At least for me.

Because for the past days, Oikawa hadn't said a single annoying thing to me.Not one "manager-chann~." Not one wink. No finger hearts. No stupid texts asking if he looked good sweaty.

And as much as I hated to admit it... I missed it.

I missed him—or at least the version of him that constantly hovered, flirted, teased, and lit up the gym with his stupid grin.

But he wasn't that guy this week.This week, he was all business.

"Don't take it personal," Iwaizumi muttered beside me, breaking my very obvious spiral.

"I'm not," I said, definitely taking it personal.

Iwaizumi gave me the side-eye. "You're glaring at the back of his head like you've been betrayed."

"Because I have."

"Y/N."

"I'm serious!" I hissed. "He's usually all up in my space and now it's like I don't exist."

"He's focused. Nationals is everything to him."

"I know," I mumbled, gripping my clipboard tighter. "I just... I didn't think he'd go ghost mode on me."

Iwaizumi turned to fully face me. "Just admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you like him."

"I—"

"You LIKE him."

"I do NOT."

"You literally just said you missed him annoying you."

"I also miss being ten and having no taxes, doesn't mean I want to relive puberty."

He gave me a deadpan stare.

In retaliation, I chucked my clipboard at his chest.

He caught it without blinking.

⸻

Later – Team Meeting

After practice, the team slumped onto the floor. They were tired but buzzing—nervous laughter, bouncing knees, quiet murmurs about the game tomorrow.

Oikawa still wasn't looking at me.

Coach Sadayuki stood in front of everyone, arms crossed. "Tomorrow, we leave for nationals. This is what we've worked for. Everyone needs to be locked in, focused, and sharp."

Everyone nodded.

"You all earned this," Coach Nobuteru added. "You've got the skill. You've got the chemistry. All that's left—"

"—is not choking," Hanamaki said.

"That too," Nobuteru sighed.

Coach Sadayuki turned to me and Oikawa. "And you two—"

Oikawa and I sat up straighter like kids caught whispering in class.

"No fighting. No bickering. No distractions. Got it?"

"...Yes, sir," I muttered.

"Crystal clear," Oikawa said.

We both looked in opposite directions.

Hanamaki fake-coughed the word "lovers."Iwaizumi punched him in the arm.

⸻

Later – Night, Gym Empty

Everyone had gone home to rest.Except me. And him.

I was putting away towels in the storage closet, completely alone with my thoughts (mistake), when the gym door creaked open again.

"Oikawa," I said without turning around.

"You always stay late?"

I shrugged. "Someone has to clean up after you perfectionist nerds."

He didn't laugh.

It was silent.

Then he stepped a little closer. "Can we talk?"

I turned slowly. He looked... tired. Not physically. Emotionally. Like the weight of tomorrow had finally landed on him full force.

"Sure."

"I'm sorry," he said.

I blinked. "Huh?"

"For ignoring you."

"...Oh."

"I wasn't trying to be cold. I just—I needed to focus. Nationals is everything. And I didn't know how to deal with the fact that... you're distracting."

"Distracting?"

He took a breath. "Not in a bad way. Just... you make me laugh. You keep me grounded. You throw clipboards at people."

"Only Iwaizumi."

"That's why I was distant," he admitted. "Because when I talk to you, I forget about everything else. And I couldn't afford to do that. Not now."

I swallowed.

"...Okay," I said softly. "But maybe next time, just... tell me? Instead of going full ghost mode?"

He nodded. "Yeah. You're right."

He looked down at my hands. "You're still wearing my hoodie."

I tugged the sleeve. "Still comfy."

"I like that you kept it."

"You didn't give me a return label."

He grinned, but it was soft this time. A real one.

"I'll try not to ignore you again," he said. "Even if you are distracting."

I narrowed my eyes. "I can go back to yelling at you every day, if that helps."

"Please do."

He hesitated, then stepped closer.

And for one terrifying second, I thought he was going to kiss me.

But instead, he just bumped his forehead against mine.

And whispered, "Thanks for not giving up on me."

My heart was a traitor. It did a stupid little flip.

I stood frozen, his forehead still resting on mine, hoodie sleeves dangling past my hands.

And I whispered, "You're lucky I didn't throw something at your head."

He laughed quietly. "Yeah. I know."