ok guys. i decide that. we are following the actual storyline bc rewatching the s2 game got me lookin like gawwwddd 

there's not much iwa in this chapter but we gots to develop relationships besides him cmon guys. also no hating on my girls. leave them alone they're literally just silly teenage girls ugh

.・゜-: ✧ :-　

THINGS HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT FOR A WHILE.

L/N wasn't sure when she had started noticing that she had been walking home alone. It wasn't like it came out of nowhere - she had actually been told by Iwaizumi himself that he would be more busy training and practising than usual.

She was confused, on why exactly, but soon figured out that they had...

"Interhigh Preliminaries?" L/N scrunched her face up, looking at her friend in confusion. "What's that?"

She was back with the girls in her class that she was friends with, now that she wouldn't be eating with Iwaizumi and sometimes Oikawa, she was glad to have these girls around.

A girl with blonde hair tied into a plait shrugged her shoulders, resting her head on her folded legs. Her name was Gigi. While the rest of the girls sat on a bench, she insisted on sitting on the ground, for whatever odd reason. "I'm friends with a girl on the girl's volleyball team... and I'm pretty sure they're like, competitions between the school's teams. The girl's one is before the guy's, but we already lost to another team."

L/N's mouth formed into an o shape, as the information slowly sunk in. Actually, she was sure that she had heard her friend talking about something like this before... she just couldn't remember when.

"F/N! I totally thought you would know what it is." The girl with pigtails who had a fat crush on Oikawa pouted at you, leaning closer and staring. I think her name is... Osi... L/N thought. "I mean... you hang around that boy so much, he's so volleyball-obsessed that I can't help but think he must have mentioned it at least once."

A frown formed on her lips. "He's not obsessed. He just likes it. But... I'm not sure. Maybe he had, but I'm not that good with terminology."

"Oh yeah! They don't even have a manager, right?" Auyumi, a girl with grey hair and glasses perked up, smiling at her kindly. Out of all the girls, L/N thought her to be the nicest. "You still haven't decided on a club yet, right? Why don't you sign up to be their manager? I mean... it isn't easy, because of how popular Oikawa-san is, but since you're already friends with them, they should totally let you in."

Gigi grinned up at her, giving L/N a thumbs up. "Yeah! I'm pretty sure Osi here tried to sign up last year, but was totally denied because she knew absolutely nothing about it!"

Osi's face flushed red and she started smacking Gigi, "Shut up! What's so bad about me wanting to get closer to a guy, huh?! You're acting like you don't have a crush on that- mph!"

Hands flew over her mouth, and a girl with bright purple hair stood behind the pigtailed girl. "Shush. You're going to give away her secret."

"And you're going to make her run out of air!" Auyumi said worriedly, springing out of her seat and prying the tan hands away from Osi's mouth, who let out a heavy breath.

The girl with purple hair, L/N was pretty sure she was Yusa, took a seat beside her and leaned back, rolling her black eyes. "Whatever. Hey, L/N. Have you decided what club you're going to join? I'm pretty sure the deadline is soon."

L/N thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. Maybe... art?" She scratched her chin and gave a shy smile. Yusa snorted.

"Okay, sure. But if you decide art isn't actually for you, you're always welcome in the girl's basketball team. We're always looking for more players." She gave a kind smile. 

L/N sweatdropped, "I'm not sure about that... I'm not the most athletic person in the world..." She stared at Yusa's legs, which were much more muscular than her measly chicken legs. She almost felt ashamed.

"You can join the cooking club! With me!" Osi jumped up, smiling wide. "It's super fun!"

"No way! Join the music club with me, L/N! It's so boring with none of my friends there." Gigi grabbed her hand in her own, golden eyes pleading.

L/N's face flushed up, and she broke the eye contact swiftly. "I'm not sure what this has to do with our original conversation!"

"Oh right," Auyumi, being the ever-loving person she was, forced the rest to sit down. "So, Interhigh Preliminaries are like a competition, right?" She looked at Gigi.

"Yeah. It's actually a pretty big thing. If you get a pass, I'm pretty sure you can go and watch the game." 

I can watch?!

"Oh my gosh, yeah! We should all go!" Osi grinned, packing away her lunchbox. "L/N can go and support her boyfriend, and y'know... maybe you can introduce me and..." She nudged her knowingly, wiggling her eyebrows before bursting out into laughter, along with L/N.

"Sure, whatever you say," a teasing smile fell upon the girl's lips. "But Iwaizumi-san's not my boyfriend."

"Sure, whatever you say," mocked Osi, who rolled her eyes and smiled. "You're not fooling any of us! I saw how your face lit up when Gigi said you could go and watch."

"Hey, that's their business," warned Auyumi who cast a glare at the pigtailed girl. She looked at L/N and smiled, "If you don't want this one there, we promise we'll do the best we can to keep her away from you two."

"Hey!"

"I'm fine," L/N shook her head, swinging her legs. "I don't mind introducing them, actually."

"See! L/N totally gets it! Oh my gosh, I feel so alive!" Osi brought her into a hug, face flushed and showing off her pearly white teeth. "You're the best! We all HAVE to go. No exceptions."

She noticed the hard glare she received from a purple-headed chick. "You can miss practice for one day, Yusa."

"Fine, but if coach kills me, I'm putting You can miss practice for one day - Osi on my gravestone."

"Fine by me!" Osi grinned.

"I can go and get slips for all of us if you want," Gigi stood up, stretching slightly. "I'm pretty sure the coach likes me, anyway." It still shocked L/N how tall she was.

"I'll go with," Auyumi also stood up.

"Thanks! You guys are the best!" Osi blew a kiss.

.・゜-: ✧ :-　

L/N hadn't realised how lonely it was, to walk home alone. She packed away her shoes, placing them neatly on top of her jacket in her locker, and then she started heading home. Usually, it would be well after sunset when she would be getting home, but for a while now, she had been getting home much earlier, now that she didn't have to wait for Iwaizumi.

Sure, it was a bit lonely. But she didn't mind all that much. 

Sure, she missed talking to him about class and didn't even see him in the halls. But she didn't mind all that much.

Sure, she kind of wished he would spend a bit of time with her. But she didn't mind all that much.

...

Okay, maybe she did mind.

She gripped her bag strap tighter, feeling the rhythmic beat of her keychain bumping against her bag with every step she took. It almost calmed her. Maybe she would take up the offer of joining the music club.

Until a sickenly familiar voice called out her name, and she whipped her head around, eyes widening in shock. 

"L/N!" Iwaizumi looked out of breath, running up to her. Her cheeks grew hot as he got closer, and slowly stopped running to stand in front of her. "Hi."

"Hi." She breathed out. "I thought... you had practice?"

"I... do." He looked almost embarrassed, breaking eye contact and hand reaching up behind his neck. "But Oikawa saw you walking alone yesterday and said you looked pretty depressed. So he told me to go with you today."

Her heart almost melted. "Oikawa-san really said for you to do that?"

"Yeah. Even that asshole can be caring sometimes, it shocked me too." 

She let out a small laugh, as he started to walk beside her. "I heard the Interhigh Preliminary thing is coming up soon."

He looked surprised. "You know about that? I was... actually going to talk to you about it today." He let out a sheepish laugh.

"My... friend told me that was why you guys were training harder." L/N's eyes crinkled up as she grinned even wider. "Uh... do you mind if I go and watch? I haven't really seen you play in an actual game."

"Yeah!" He sounded a little too excited. Iwaizumi flushed red, then coughed, "I... I mean, yeah. Sure. Cool. I was going to ask if you wanted to... but you beat me to it, I guess."

"My bad," she giggled.

"You can get to see us beat Shiratorizawa," he said, and a fire burned in his eyes. "Ugh... just thinkin' about that stupid Ushiwaka gets me mad."

"Ushiwaka? I've... heard about him." L/N tapped a finger on her lip. "He's a guy who has a super strong hit... like that thing you do when you hit the ball down...?"

She made a spiking motion with her hand, staring at him expectantly.

"A spike?" He snorted, shoulder shaking with laughter. L/N nodded and smiled excitedly. 

"Yeah, that!" She placed her hands on her hips. "I'm learning more about it every day. It's pretty fun!"

"Fun enough to be the manager?"

She paused, staring at him incredulously. "...Manager?"

He gave her a boyish grin. "Yeah. You know, we haven't had a manager for a while now. It would help a ton if we did. And you haven't joined a club yet, right?"

Iwaizumi made a shrugging motion, smiling. "Well...? And the best part is, you're not one of Shittykawa's ridiculous fans, so you won't make a big deal out of everything."

"I don't know, Iwaizumi-san." She laughed nervously, suddenly feeling too hot in her blazer. "I don't think I'm cut out for the manager thing... I don't really know that much about it."

"I'd be a huge favour if you did. I mean... you don't have to," he looked a bit disheartened, and guilt pooled in her stomach. "But if you did, that'd be... cool."

"I... I'll think about it," she turned her head away and nodded silently. His face brightened up, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"The Interhigh Prelims are happening in a few days. If you are coming along..." Iwaizumi tilted his head to look down at her, a smirk on his lips. "Make sure to cheer us on."

Ignoring how widely her heart beat in her chest, she swallowed and nodded. "I promise. I'll cheer you on."

.・゜-: ✧ :-