Haikyuu!! Tobio's Girl. Chapter 1

Author's notes:

I had an idea for Kageyama's girlfriend for years in my head. I decided to let her out finally. I hope you  will enjoy it. Let me know what you think. I welcome all comments and reviews.

This story is cross-posted on fanfiction.net and ao3, if you prefer those platforms.

8i8

Lunch break, then two more classes, I can do this. Reina Takenaka took a deep breath. She tried to focus her attention on what her friends were talking about.

"Look, Reina-chan, Sawako," Miyako pulled out a magazine, "have you seen that new line of PF cosmetics? Ahh, I need something like that. I hate my complexion."

"Even if you had them, you wouldn't be able to use them at school. It's a shame, really, especially in your case," Sawako said.

"Well, some people don't care about the rules. Maybe that's the way," Miyako whispered while looking meaningfully at a girl sitting nearby, Eri Yoshida.

Reina stole a glance at her, too. The girl was openly wearing makeup and looked fashionable even in her school uniform. She's gorgeous.

"I heard she has a boyfriend. Outside of school," Miyako's said.

"Obviously. Girls like her are popular with boys. But I wouldn't want to have that kind of reputation," Sawako said.

"Well, isn't that what everyone wants? Didn't you say that you want to have a boyfriend, go on dates and have fun?" Reina asked.

"Okay, yes. But you shouldn't act like you want one. You should be more subtle and natural."

Reina was lost. Where is the logic in that? Instead of saying it aloud, she just smiled politely and nodded her head. She hadn't much experience with social interactions and didn't want to say something that might seem weird.

"I think being a shy, cute girl with effortless beauty is the ideal. But, of course, you don't need to worry about that." Miyako continued.

"That's right," Sawako added, "I wish I had Reina's face. Your face is so white. You look like Snow White."

Or a vampire. She didn't understand the girls' awe. She was pale because she had spent most of her life indoors.

"Yes, you have porcelain skin. With those bright eyes and long hair, you look like a fairytale princess. Especially today."

Reina, who started living in Japan only a few months ago, usually felt awkward when she heard such comments, but today she didn't care. She didn't have the strength to care. All she was striving for was to make sure that no one would notice she was feeling sick again.

"I'm gonna go outside and... get something to drink," she stood up while holding her desk for support.

"Are you sure? The break's almost over."

"I'd better go quickly then," Reina said and turned around, bumping into a desk next to her. Eri Yoshida, who was sitting there, gave her an angry look.

Reina mumbled, "Sorry..." and quickly left the classroom.

In the corridor, she managed to straighten herself up. Feigning a confident walk, she started to the door on the other end.

"Hi, Reina-chan," she heard somebody call her.

"Oh, hi...'' she answered and went on. Just smile, and they won't suspect something's wrong. Finally, she reached the air outside. She took a big breath and stumbled. Fresh air kicked her too hard. Luckily, there was almost no one around. She coached herself into thinking she was feeling better. Looking at the ground, she dragged herself to the vending machine. I'll just drink something cold, and I'll be okay. She looked up.

Only to face an elbow of someone turning around abruptly.

"Takenaka-chan, watch out," she heard someone shouting behind her.

But it was too late. She stumbled backward, losing her balance. She anticipated hitting the ground, but someone's arm caught her.

"Oi, are you alright?" the boy who knocked her out and was now holding her asked. Quite embarrassed, she looked up. She had seen this face before. What was his name?

"Kageyama, you big oaf, don't bump into people! Takenaka-chan, are you ok?" Eri Yoshida said.

How come she is here? Reina just saw her in class.

"But... I..." The boy was looking in panic from one girl to the other. "Sorry, are you alright?" he asked Reina again.

Kageyama was one of her classmates as well, but she knew nothing about him and had never spoken with him before. She heard the bell. It was getting ridiculous.

"I'm fine. Sorry, I'll just..." she tried to lean off him, but as soon as she did, she felt dizzy again. He caught her arm.

"Girl, stop pretending," Yoshida said. "Kageyama, help me get her to the nurse's office."

He hesitated for a moment. Then he said, "Osu," and lifted her up before she could protest.

She stiffened and buried her face in her hands not to look at him. Even Yoshida went quiet out of shock. They went on their way.

It felt so weird to be carried by a boy. Hahaha, My first "princess carry." Isn't that how shoujo manga romance should start? No freaking way. Being carried by a stranger was much more awkward than romantic. Also, she was quite sure she could walk by herself now, but she didn't know how to let Kageyama know. She just wished it to stop. Luckily, the classes had already started, so no one else was around. And the infirmary was right around the corner.

"So this time, you've bumped your head," the nurse greeted Reina with warm familiarity.

Reina landed in her office way too often. She was attending school for the first time ever, and it was taking a toll on her weak constitution.

Why can't I be normal already?

That was her biggest dream. To be normal. Till now, her life wasn't normal at all. Living abroad with her dad, getting out of the house only to go to a hospital, struggling because of her heart defect since childhood. When she woke up from her last heart surgery and was told that it was successful, she couldn't quite believe it. She wasn't "that sick girl" anymore. Granted, she wouldn't be able to go crazy and overexert herself, but at least she didn't need to fear for her heart to give out at any random moment. It was worth all that pain and grueling recovery she had to endure. She was psyched. Now she could fulfill her dream to go to Japan, see more of her family and make her high-school debut: go to classes, hang out with friends, and maybe even meet a boy. Like in all those mangas she's been reading over the years—a completely ordinary, carefree teenager.

Or at least that was the plan.

One month into the school year and so far she struggled with her weak condition during class, fainted a couple of times, and got carried by a guy she hadn't talked to before. Bravo! Being healthy enough apparently didn't mean being fit enough. Maybe she should have listened to her doctors and taken more time to recover, but she was anxious to start high school on time.

Yoshida and Kageyama were back in class, and she was left alone to think about today's disaster. She was worried she'd be the topic of talk among first-years again. With a sign, she thought she'd rather be talked about for living abroad. It attracted as much attention as her frail condition. She had an ice pack on her head. It helped to cool down her nerves.

At least it didn't happen in the middle of the classroom. Maybe, it won't be so bad.

It depended on what Eri Yoshida would say to others. Reina wasn't sure why, but she was relieved that it was her who saw it and not Miyako, Sawako, or some other girl from class. Yoshida was rather a subject of gossip among other girls than a gossiper. She seemed way too sassy for that.

But Kageyama...

She didn't know anything about him or whom he was friends with. She was still perplexed by so many people around.

There were boys that she remembered... Yes, she did pay attention to boys.

Maybe, if she didn't remember him, he wasn't that talkative. Perhaps, he won't talk about it to anyone.

Even if not, she was still embarrassed to face him. She felt the icepack melting from her heat when she remembered being carried way up high. Come to think of it, he must be strong. He didn't stumble once.

She decided she needed to talk with him tomorrow and apologize. And with Eri Yoshida as well. She seemed noisy but friendly too.

8i8

The next day Reina bravely entered the classroom. Who cared if everybody would talk about her being carried like a princess? She lived through worse things.

"Hello, Reina-chan. Are you feeling better?" Miyako welcomed her.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."

"You disappeared again yesterday. I thought that you were playing hooky. But then, everybody knew that you're probably not feeling well. Nobody was surprised by your absence."

"Yeah, I wish I could just come and go from classes like you," Sawako said.

"Ah, well. Excuse me for being me." If those two didn't know the details of what happened yesterday, no one in the school did. Except for Yoshida and Kageyama. Apparently, they didn't tell anyone. She felt relief.

She spotted Eri Yoshida coming into the classroom. "Yoshida-san, good morning!" she greeted her immediately and excused her two stunned friends to go talk with her.

"Thanks for helping me yesterday. Sorry for all that."

"No problem, but you shouldn't push yourself so. If you feel bad, tell someone. Don't wander alone on corridors, bouncing off local jocks." Yoshida laughed. "You pulled off quite a damsel in distress. You startled poor Kageyama."

Reina turned red. "Did he say anything afterward?"

"No... but the look on his face was to die for," Yoshida said.

"Yoshida-san, please, don't tell anyone about it..."

"Don't worry. I won't. And you can call me Eri," she said with a wink. Somehow, Reina knew she wouldn't talk behind her back. She was glad she resolved this. Maybe even she found a new friend.

Then she felt a chill going down her spine.

She looked around and saw Kageyama staring at her. She met his intense gaze and quickly turned to Eri again.

"Wow, you stirred something in that guy. He usually looks so mellow," Eri commented.

"What should I do? I should talk with him too. But how?" Reina didn't know why she asked Eri for advice.

"Just go for it. He won't eat you. He looks intense, but yesterday he seemed quite worried too."

But Reina didn't dare to go to him. Not before class nor during breaks.

Now she understood why she didn't remember him well. He was sitting two rows from her and usually was asleep. Normally, she would only see the back of his head lying on the desk if she cared enough to look far to the side. But today, she felt itchy and self-conscious and fought with the desire to look his way. Every time she lost at it, she saw him staring at her. His face was scary. Thus it came to a lunch break. She was relieved when she saw him leave the classroom.

" You seem lively today. It's the first time I saw you fidget so much in class," Sawako said.

" It's nothing, really."

" Quite mysterious, I'd say. There is nobody to stare at around here. Oh, I wish I was a year older and in Kobayashi-senpai's class. I could stare at him all day," Miyako said.

"Yes, you're right." Kobayashi senpai, the most acclaimed heartthrob in school, was a good subject to steer attention away. Reina started to feel at ease, nodding to her friends' usual babbling.

Suddenly, with a baam! something landed on her desk. She looked up and froze. Kageyama was standing in front of her.

"This is an apology for yesterday. I hope you're ok now. So, that's all." He turned to go back to his seat without waiting for a response.

Reina unfroze and jumped up to her feet. "No, no... I mean, it was my fault. You shouldn't be apologizing. It's me that should thank you."

He looked back at her, but his gaze lost its previous intensity. "You fell because of me. But then, you fall so easily. And you're so light. You should eat more. I hope you'll drink that," he said and strolled back to his place.

"Wow, Reina, you're so popular," Miyako said with a hint of not-so-well-hidden jealousy.

Reina heard Eri burst out laughing next to them. She realized they'd made quite a commotion, so she sat down to avoid the curious eyes of nearby people. A cartoon of yogurt was standing on her desk.

Her friends didn't want to let it go.

"So... What exactly happened between you two?" Sawako lowered her voice to whisper.

"Nothing. It was just a small accident, that's all."

"If you don't want to say then don't. But I'm surprised. I mean, Kageyama seems so boring."

"Well, when you think of it, he's quite good-looking. But he's just..." Miyako joined the explanation. She looked back at Kageyama.

He ate his lunch already. Now he rested his head on his hand, yawned, and closed his eyes.

"He's not my type, ok? Just drop it." Reina answered.