CHAPTER TEN

      The day after the tournament final were probably the most tense days Misaki had experienced. Though things had returned to a normal routine of practice, practice and more practice, there was still a stiff atmosphere surrounding the team, mainly the third years.

      Misaki knew very well exactly what was going through their minds. They had one more chance; one more chance before everything would come to an end. And maybe that was a dramatic way of putting things, but things were like that. Efforts had to be made. This was the third years' last chance to go to the Nationals and they had to win. Staying back in the team came without question.

      The whole team trained hard in all ways possible, whether it be improving their serves, their receives or their blocks and increasing the strength of their spikes. They all train harder.

      Once again, Oikawa started staying late to practice. Sometimes, Misaki would stay back with him; other times, Iwaizumi would be there and yet others, it was both of them. They couldn't stop him, not when he wanted to release the frustration he was feeling. It started to remind her of the time he had gotten his worst knee injury, essentially putting him out of play for three weeks. She had been there when that had happened; the memories of that night still troubled her.

       Getting Oikawa to stop was a task in itself; he was relentless and sometimes stubborn. But for now, he could practice as much as he wanted.

       Just like that, a week passed.

        In a week, a lot could happen. Her parents had stopped fighting, but talked to each other in hush whispers that died the moment they saw Misaki. She really didn't pay any attention; this past year, they had been fighting a lot, probably because both of them were busy working a lot and she had to be alone a lot of times. But they would resolve it, eventually. They always did.

      In a week, Oikawa practiced even harder. He continued to push himself and Misaki watched him with careful eyes, hoping that he wouldn't go too far. (He hadn't yet, but she still worried.)

       If she was being honest, Misaki spent a lot of time worrying about Oikawa. But she didn't really mind it, seeing as it was something she had done for years now.

       They were in the gym today, all by themselves. This was a familiar scene; Misaki was used to it now. Iwaizumi, once more, had chores to do for his parents. What had he said? Oh yeah, grocery shopping. So he had left early, leaving Misaki and Oikawa in a scene that was annoyingly familiar. Misaki watched while Oikawa practiced, but this time she had to be careful that she didn't fall asleep. It was just them and no one else. She knew Oikawa's fangirls would kill for this chance and then smirked to herself. Lucky her that she was the one who got this chance.

       Oikawa, though, off-handedly had said to her that she could go home. But Misaki had responded with a loud "No."

      He didn't really say anything after that, just ruffled her hair and murmured a quick "Suit yourself."

      Once more, he was practicing his jump serve, his amazing jump serve she found perfect. The serve had a lot of power behind it, but Oikawa felt the accuracy had been a little off during the match. ('That's why we lost,' he had said; Misaki protested against that)

       He was already soaked with sweat and was breathing hard. Just like that, an hour passed.

       After another thirty minutes went by, Misaki knew it was time to make him stop. The last five serves, by her standards, were perfect. Too perfect, she thought. She walked over to him, grabbing his wrist just as he went to grab another ball from the ball cart.

      "You're done for the day," Misaki said firmly. "Did you forget you have a test in maths tomorrow?"

       "Wait, what maths test?" Oikawa suddenly looked forgetful, an expression that was all too familiar.

        Misaki facepalmed. She should have expected this to happen. "You forget didn't you? I'm talking about the test that your teacher said is really important and that you said you might need my help with even though your maths is pretty strong, given that you are in a college prep class."

        "Oh." A look of realisation crossed Oikawa's face. "That one."

       "Yeah, that one," Misaki replied. "So let's start cleaning up. It's gonna be sunset soon and I wanna be at home in time for dinner. I think mom is making katsudon today so..."

       "Ooh, can I come over?" Oikawa suddenly asked. "I love Katsuragi-san's cooking."

        "NO," Misaki immediately said, pushing him gently. "Start with your stretches now and then help me take down the net."

       She turned around and walked towards the bench, ignoring the feeling of Oikawa's eyes on her back. She opened the zipper of her team jacket and took it off, tying it around her waist. It was easier to gather the scattered volleyballs that way. She started walking around the gym as she picked up the scattered volleyballs, making sure that she kept one eye on Oikawa so that he did his stretches properly.

      Five minutes after she started, she had already gathered half the volleyballs and Oikawa was done with his stretches and was gathering the rest. She was almost ready to make this a competition, but decided that now would not have been a good time. Maybe sometime later. She didn't feel awkward; neither were talking. They worked in silence and this was a silence that was needed.

      Ten minutes later, the gym had been completely cleaned, the equipment room locked. Oikawa had changed back into his tracksuit and was ready to leave.

      "Volleyball is important," Misaki finally said as they left the gym. "But don't forget your studies too."

      "But it's not like I'm going to be making a career out of studying," Oikawa said, in a slightly whiny tone.

      "Yeah, but if you want to graduate, you still need to study," Misaki lightly jabbed him with her elbow, ignoring his small cry of pain. "What would the world think if they learnt Tooru Oikawa, pro-volleyball player, was a high school failure?"

      "That's mean, Misa-chan. Also I don't really care about what the world thinks."

      "Right. Tell me why I don't believe that."

       Maybe that was a little harsh to say. But it was kind of the truth, or at least somewhat close to the truth. The day Oikawa stopped thinking about what other people thought of him would be a truly strange day. It was another one of his bad traits, one which Misaki wished she could remove, not that she could. His whole process of trying to prove himself and keeping up his outer appearances was just a way to keep the cracks of his insecurity hidden away.

       Misaki pinched the bridge of her nose as they started walking out of the gym. Releasing a sigh, she turned her head to look at Oikawa. "Just this once...we can stop by that bakery you like and I'll treat you to milk bread."

      "Really?" Oikawa's face visibly brightened and Misaki swore her heart skipped a beat at his smile. "You're the best, Misa-chan. Thank you."

      "Yeah yeah," She answered, turning away as her cheeks grew warm. "It's really nothing. Anything to make you happy." (What was she even saying?...but she meant every bit of it)

      "You're being too nice," Oikawa ruffled her hair as he grinned brightly. "But I don't mind it. You're way cooler when you're nicer."

      "Hey! I'm always cool, you know? Not just when I'm being nice."

      "I know, I know. But being nice just makes you cooler."

      "Thanks, I guess. Also one more thing, Oikawa..."

      "What is it, Misa-chan?"

      "If you mess up my hair again, I'll beat you up."

      "See," Oikawa said as he laughed. "You look scary when you're like this. Just be nice always."

      "Uggh, whatever you say," Misaki said as she rolled her eyes.

       But this was good. Things were good right now; at least he was joking around with her. She felt relieved. This was fine; things were fine. Oikawa looked like he was going to be okay for now and thoughts about tomorrow would only come later.

      "X equals 16, got it?"

       Explaining maths to Oikawa wasn't as hard as Misaki had thought. He was capable, seeing as he was in a college prep class and she was not. He was insanely smart, probably way smarter than her, though she would never admit that out loud. He picked up things with so much ease, that sometimes she wished she could just borrow his brain sometimes.

        "Got it," Oikawa sent her a thumbs-up as he scribbled down the answer.

       With feet curled up under the kotatsu in his room and books scattered over it, this was a familiar scene, though other times, the rest of the third years also joined them.

      "See, you know stuff, then you act like you don't," Misaki said as she leaned over to look at his calculations. "Stop acting like you are stupid, when you aren't."

       "I just forget things, but lucky for me, I have you to remind me of them," Oikawa answered with a grin.

       "Is that all you need me for?" She questioned, mildly annoyed but also amused. "To remind you of things?"

       He let out a laugh, putting down his pencil. "You and Iwa-chan are the devils on my shoulder, always yelling after me to do things."

      "That's mean! The devil is supposed to encourage you to do bad things and Iwa and I never do that. We try to stop you from doing those, but you end up doing them anyway. Maybe you're the devil."

     "That's not true at all," Oikawa said with a prideful tone. "I will have you know I'm very angelic."

      Misaki snorted. "In what world is Tooru Oikawa an angel? Take me there, please."

      "I'm an angel in every world," He said, sounding haughty. "And everyone loves me."

      "Yeah, I guess so," She answered, shaking her head with a smile. Just then, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out, seeing the notification for a text message from her mom.

      MOM: When are you coming home? There's something important your Dad and I have to talk to you about.

MISAKI: I'll come back asap if it's that important.

      MOM: Alright. See you. Love you.

MISAKI: Love you too.

      "Guess that's my cue to leave," Misaki said as she kept her phone back in her pocket. "Mom's asking when I come home."

      "Can't you stay just a little bit longer?" Oikawa asked as she started to keep her textbooks in her bag. "Please..."

      "Maybe tomorrow or day after? Mom says it's urgent," Misaki replied. She finished putting the books in her bag and stood up, her feet warm because of the kotatsu. Oikawa stood up with her, pouting slightly.

       "Don't make that face, loser. We see each other enough as it is," She added, sending him a smile. "And we'll hang out together, just the two of us, if that's what you want."

       "Alright, but at least let me walk you home," Oikawa said. "It's night already and I'd feel bad if I didn't and I don't like feeling bad."

      "God, Oikawa, I'll be fine," Misaki answered with an amused look. "I literally live five houses away from her and it's gonna take me like five minutes to walk from your house to mine. Don't worry about me too much; it's weird. 'Cause, you know, I'm the one who is supposed to do all the worrying."

      "Alright, but you better text me when you get home," Oikawa had the smallest of frowns. "Otherwise, I'll think you got kidnapped or something."

      "Okay, mother."

      Misaki's home was a good place; just like all surrounding houses, it had a somewhat big backyard, wide-enough that she, Oikawa and Iwaizumi could play a silly, childish version of volleyball between them. When she was ten, her parents had a hammock installed in between the two trees in the backyard and that had just made the place a thousand times better.

      She loved her home; she really did.

       But recently, she had come to lose this love for her home. With her parents fighting a lot these days, she disliked spending time at her home. She'd stay late for practice or slept over at Iwaizumi and Oikawa's houses. And if she did stay home, she barely talked to her parents. Or they didn't talk to her. Or if they were talking, the conversation would die down the minute she walked in. It was weird.

       Still, she loved her home. She really did.

      But, what the hell was this unusually stiff atmosphere?

      Her parents were not even looking at each other. The food on the dining table was slowly getting cold; but Misaki quietly ate it. (The katsudon was too tempting.)

      'Right,' She thought. 'I should probably say something.'

       "What's going on?" She said out loud, getting her parents' attention. "You two are acting weird today. I mean, you guys aren't fighting and all so that's good. But seriously, someone has to talk or else I'm taking my katsudon and leaving for my room."

      "Misaki," Her dad started to say, sounding strangely official but at the same time guilty. His mouth was curled up in a frown. "Before we tell you, both of us just want you to know that what we say...it is not your fault. It never will be."

      "Uh...what exactly do you mean?" Misaki felt confused. 'What did I do...'

      "Nothing," Her mom spoke up. "You did nothing. You see, your father and I have come to this decision after a lot of discussion and counselling. It's hard to say this but..."

      "Mom, Dad, seriously, what is up with you?" Misaki asked. Meanwhile, the cogs in her brain were already turning, thinking of the situation. 'Counselling...it couldn't be, right? Right? That, of all things?' (She was probably over-thinking...right?)

      Her dad, her loving, so nice, kind dad spoke next. Words that would end up destroying her. "We're getting a divorce, Misaki and I'm moving back to Tokyo."

      "What?" Misaki froze. "A what?"

      Her mom said, sounding a little quiet and sad. "A divorce. I'm so sorry, Misaki."

     "I didn't ask you to repeat his words, Mom," Misaki said, unintentionally harsh. "I heard Dad very well. But what? Seriously, what the actual hell?"

     For the first time since the three had sat down at the dining table, her parents looked at each other with worried and guilt-filled glances.

      "What the hell is wrong with you two?" Misaki could feel herself drifting, slipping away. Her voice sounded too loud, even to her ears. But this situation...this was wrong...this shouldn't happen. No. No. "Seriously, what the hell? This is my last year in high school and if I wasn't already stressed because of the stupid fucking loss at the finals or worrying about the team or my studies, you just dump this on me, out of nowhere. I thought you two were taking counselling. That should have worked!"

      She turned towards her dad, anger and sadness floating inside her in equal measure. "And what do you mean you're moving to Tokyo? How long has that been decided for? I want it straight."

     "Misa, sweetie," Her mom started to say, sounding rather regretful. "Sometimes, things like counselling don't work out. And people fall out of love too; it's a sad thing, but it's true. Love is a very strange thing and very fickle. That is what happened to your father and I. It's the reason the two of us haven't gotten along in a long time."

      "No, no," Misaki shook her head. "That's not how it's supposed to be. It's supposed to work. Counselling is supposed to work, damnit!"

      "Sometimes, it doesn't work, no matter how much we can try," Her dad answered quietly. "Your mom and I tried our best to resolve things, but there was too much conflict and tension existing between us. We discussed a lot and finalised things three weeks ago. The only reason we held off on telling you because you were busy working hard for your team and the tournament. This would only upset you if we did."

      "Do you think it doesn't upset me now?" Misaki asked with a glare. "Already when I'm feeling upset about the match and other things? I hate this. I. Hate. This. And why are you moving to Tokyo? Can't you just stay in separate rooms or something? Why do you have to leave? Why does this have to happen? What went wrong?"

      Misaki placed her hands against the edge of the table and pushed back her chair. She stood up from her chair. "I'm going to my room. I don't wanna deal with this right now."

     Her parents don't stop her from leaving. The katsudon grew colder. Fault lines started to emerge. The resolution to the fighting had been found. It was permanent now.

      Too permanent. 

Welp, this chapter is almost 3K words and probably the longest for this book. But, it's a good start to the all the angst hehe. Poor Misaki is going to suffer for a bit now; I hate hurting her but it's necessary for the plot. This chapter is probably the lighter angst; the heavier angst starts from the next chapter. Till then, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Let me know our thoughts in the comments below! 

IMP. NOTE: https://helplebanon.carrd.co/

Please check out this carrd; it contains important links about the situation in Lebanon, especially after the blasts in Beirut. And if you are able to donate, please donate directly to the Lebanese Red Cross!