LXV

PLEASE READ THE AUTHORS NOTE OR YOU WILL BE CONFUSED LATER. IT TAKES TWO MINUTES (maybe five)

A/N: hi! these are just a few things I need to clarify so yall can understand the timeline of this

Our first major time skip, right after Isuma wakes up in the hospital, happens in early 2014. This is towards the end of her second year. Isuma then graduates in early 2015. She graduates from college in 2019, and she immediately began the process for an internship after that. She hadn't graduated in the first version- the one that was originally published. That has been edited for future readers.

After she graduates and right before the story picks up, Isuma is taking a break from school, researching internships, etc. At this point in the story, she isn't entirely sure if she wants to go to med school or pursue her studies as an athletic trainer or work. 

The story skips to 2020, when Isuma is interning in California with Iwaizumi. When the chapter where Isuma wakes up was first published, I originally said it was a four-and-a-half-year time skip. That was my fault; the time skip would actually be six years.

This story doesn't take COVID-19 into account. COVID didn't impact Haikyuu's original storyline, so it won't impact this story either. 

Currently, we are in late 2020. For context, the Argentina-Japan match happens in 2021. If y'all have any questions PLEASE comment or DM!!

This next chapter will be a little awkward because a lot of it is summaries of what's happened so far. Please bear with me! The story should wrap up in 2-3 chapters (that includes an epilogue!!)

enjoy :)

***

After Isuma returned, she spent several weeks recovering and allowing her multiple injuries to heal completely. In that time, Iwaizumi and Takahiro both returned from California as well. Upon returning, Takahiro got a job at a local fitness center while he started graduate school. He stayed in Tokyo to remain close to his sister and friends.  Meanwhile, Iwaizumi applied to be the Men's Volleyball Team trainer for the next Olympics. He was accepted quickly and immediately began working with them.

Once Isuma recovered, Iwaizumi and his boss offered her the job as Iwaizumi's assistant trainer. It was an amazing job opportunity, even if it was only for a year. The position would buy her time to decide her future and give her more experience as an athletic trainer if she chose to continue her career as one. 

Isuma, Iwaizumi, the National team, and the dozens of staff worked day and night to prepare for the Olympics. They spent every spare moment training and perfecting their technique. There were days when Isuma didn't bother going home because she stayed at the training center so late. For seven months, they worked their hardest. They poured every ounce of passion they had into refining every skill they had to offer. 

When the Olympics finally came, they won. Again. And again.

And then they faced Argentina. 

Oikawa.

SUMMER OF 2021

TOKYO OLYMPICS

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

ARGENTINA VS JAPAN

'Wow...'

The feeling right before a volleyball match was something else- something Isuma hadn't felt for almost 7 years. She'd witnessed plenty of matches, sure, but she hadn't been on the court for one in years. The air was thick with tension, and the roaring crowds added another layer of pressure. Isuma's skin prickled as her anxiety levels rose.

The teams hadn't even entered the arena yet. 

She paused for another moment to take in everything on the court. Dozens of people were hustling around, making last-minute adjustments and fixing cameras and rolling in equipment. Thousands of fans were streaming into the stadium, which seemed to never end. Isuma let out her breath and ducked through the large AUTHORIZED PERSONEL ONLY doors, which were propped open. The young man stationed at the door gave her ID a cursory glance and waved her through. She quickened her pace, anxious to return to the others.

Several people were crowded around the doors to the locker room. Somehow, some die-heart fans had still made it into the restricted area, even with the many security checks. A staff member was attempting to reason with them with little avail. Isuma managed to weave through them while the fans were busy arguing and slipped through the door, locking it behind her.

The locker room was just as busy and chaotic as the court had been, just with less people. Isuma immediately went towards Iwaizumi, who was trying to talk to four different players at once. She waited until they departed to say anything. Immediately, Iwaizumi sat down in a chair and groaned. "I swear, if they delay this thing any further I might have to go talk with the CEO himself."

"Again?" Isuma said sympathetically. Iwaizumi nodded, rubbing his eyes. "We haven't even gotten the stand-by. How does the court look?"

"They're just about done. We should get the signal soon." 

They should've been out on the court already- and probably well into the first set- but they kept on receiving staggered messages for another delay. Iwaizumi had just received the FIFTH notification announcing another fifteen minute delay. 

The locker room was a hive of activity. Many of the players weren't expecting to play and were assisting those who were. The starting line-up seemed the most frazzled- except for Hinata, who was pestering everyone in sight out of excitement. 

Iwaizumi's phone rang. He immediately picked up the call and stood to walk to the other end of the room. "Hello?"

Isuma reached for her own phone and refreshed for the millionth time. Finally, the schedule had updated. Iwaizumi noticed her and motioned to the rest of the room and pointed at the door. He mouthed, "Go. Stand by!!"

"What about you?" Isuma said urgently. He waved her off, signaling her to hurry. Isuma stood up and clapped her hands. "Okay, go time!! We're on stand by!"

"Let's go!!" They were all suddenly wide awake and energetic. Iwaizumi hung up on his phone and ordered, "We're on! Everybody good to go?"

"Yes, sir!!" 

"Alright. Before we get out to the cameras..." Iwaizumi glanced at Isuma, who was at the door. She shut it tightly. "They're out there. So is security."

"Right. Before I have to give you all my fake encouragement for the cameras, here's my real encouragement." Iwaizumi crossed his arms, glaring at them. They all flinched and some even took a step back. He said, "Don't screw this up. I might actually pass away if we don't beat Oikawa. Got it?"

"I like your fake encouragement better." Sakusa mumbled under his breath. Someone suddenly pounded on the door and yelled, "Japan, it's time!!"

Isuma looked at Iwaizumi, who nodded. "You go on first. I'll bring up the back."

"Alright." Isuma turned around and unlocked the door. Dozens of security guards immediately barged in. Every single one of the players straightened and shoved away any last minute nerves. They readied themselves for the cameras as they walked down the hallway, straightening their shirts and practicing smiles. Isuma paused at the final door to activate her earpiece and make sure they were all there. 

These doors were grand and different from the one Isuma had just gone through. They were meant to be noticed and needed two people to push them open. Two employees- one of them the man who'd checked Isuma's ID earlier- were standing there, waiting for approval. She held up a thumbs up, questioning their status. "We're all good? Ready for the cameras?"

They all nodded in union. Iwaizumi emerged from the crowd and stood with Isuma. He looked at the team, then at Isuma. He took a deep breath. "Open the doors."

The two employees shoved them apart, revealing them to the world. 

And so it began.

***

They lost. 

It was a close match. 

But they still lost. 

It was one of Isuma's happiest and saddest memories at once. Even ten years in the future, Isuma would look back on the day with the same conflicting emotions. It was difficult to explain. Yeah, of course she was heartbroken that Japan had lost- she was one of their coaches! But that loss wasn't all that happened that day. There were other bad things. Like the team breaking down in the locker room later. Iwaizumi, then Isuma's speech to them. Them accepting millions of peoples' condolences and forcing themselves to sit through interviews. Atsumu and Isuma both crying to Osamu, who took a train to Tokyo the moment the match ended. 

(Osamu should've just moved to Tokyo at this point. The poor man was there every other weekend anyway.)

But good things happened too. 

And one of the best parts about the day was meeting Oikawa again. 

Isuma met him right after they all entered the stadium. She was asked to enter a separate door to assist with Argentina's team- and Oikawa was among them. She knew this, of course, but actually seeing him caught her off guard.

She had been asked to go through a revised schedule (WAYYY too last-minute, considering her team was already inside the stadium) and was speaking to three different people at once, providing rapid-fire instructions. They all departed to perform their tasks and she was about to re-enter the stadium when she heard someone call, "Isuma-chan!"

She turned around, puzzled as to who'd even know her first name- and then she saw Oikawa.

He was surrounded by dozens of other men dressed in blue, many of whom Isuma recognized. None of them glanced at her as her eyes widened in disbelief. "Oikawa-san!"

He reached her first, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She barely had time to reciprocate the hug before he released her, ducking his head. "Sorry," he whispered. "There's way too many people here for me to give you the hug you deserve."

"It's okay." Isuma shook her head, laughing. She would never tell him, but she'd missed his stupid, arrogant smile. Oikawa said, "I was hoping to meet you before the match! Away from all the cameras, I mean. Japan's coach probably shouldn't be with Argentina's star player, yeah?"

"Since when are you Argentina's star player?" Isuma cocked her head, listening to her earpiece. "I gotta go. Don't tell Atsumu or Iwaizumi-san I said this, but good luck! You got this!"

"I know. I always got this." He flashed his beautiful, trademark smile. "Oh, and Isuma-chan?"

She turned back around, her hand on the door handle. Oikawa lowered his voice as quiet as he dared. "I'm so proud of you. You're amazing."

She didn't even have time to respond before an employee ushered her out the door. As it turned out, Isuma didn't have a chance to speak with him for more than a few minutes again until a week later, when Bokuto hosted a party. But it made her day so much better. It even helped with the lost. She had been close to tears when Argentina took the fifth set, but then she saw Oikawa, who was being tackled by his teammates.

Oikawa had worked harder than anyone to make it to Nationals in high school. And he never did. He spent every spare moment practicing volleyball and honing his skills. And here he was, on a national stage, having beat every single person who had ever beat him.

He kind of deserved the whole world. 

So much to the cameras' and Iwaizumi's surprise, Isuma smiled. She shook her head and sat back down on the bench, crying and laughing at the same time. Later, when she was asked by reporters by her strange reaction, she gave no explanation. How was anyone supposed to explain that?

And yeah. They lost. There wasn't much to say, in Isuma's opinion. There was no point in reliving a loss and torturing yourself. And they all moved on. All the members of the National team were immediately recruited for teams all around the world. Hinata returned to Brazil- after tearfully promising all of them that he would most definitely return- and Kageyama went to Italy, preparing to defeat Hinata again. Iwaizumi continued his career as an athletic trainer and returned to Miyagi, where he began his own center. Atsumu went to South Korea and joined a team there- to everyone's surprise. (Osamu had reminded him of his poor grades in Korean in high school, but did Atsumu listen? Of course not.)

And then there was Isuma. Of course. She had so many possible destinations and- after years and years of debating- finally chose. 

But you'll have to find that out next chapter :)

AJKSHKSD GUYS IM DYING

THIS IS THE SECOND TO LAST CHAPTERRR

One more chapter and MAYBE an epilogue depending on how things go

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH