The Deer & The Owl [Haikyuu x OC]

December - I

It was only a few minutes before the end of the lunch break: the hubbub in the corridors of Fukurodani Academy intensified, as droves of students began pouring into their respective classrooms, where the tension and stress of the exam period could be felt, which was also mixed with a hint of excitement about the now ever-closer winter break.

"Nooo, I can't believe you beat me!!!" exclaimed Ume, staring in dismay at the screen of the phone she was holding, and then lifting her gaze to her opponent, who was smiling contentedly in front of her

"Believe me, I didn't do anything different than usual! I usually suck at multiplayer races!" justified Nori, finishing the leftover milk brick from lunch with a gulp

"Mmm, then maybe today is your lucky day! Surely this morning's algebra test must have gone well for you!"

"Maybe... I hope for at least a passing grade, it was the subject I most feared of all..." 

 "I wouldn't complain if I were you! In last semester's exams you didn't do too badly, did you? And then you're lucky enough to be able to speak English so well! How I envy you!!!" screeched Kaneko, sinking her hand into the packet of gummy candies lying flat on the counter on which they were resting

At that moment the classroom door opened and a small group of girls entered the room talking to each other, only one of them at one point breaking away, as if she had just remembered something important.

"Shikako-san! I brought back the English notes you lent me the day before yesterday! They were so helpful, I hope I can do my best in tomorrow's test!" said Arimi, approaching Nori and Ume

"Not at all, I'm glad they helped you. If you were able to study the whole syllabus, I'm sure you won't have any problems," she replied, returning the smile

"Huh?! Wouldn't you lend them to me, too?" asked Ume looking at her with adoring eyes as soon as they were alone again

"Sure, the English exam is really the last thing on my mind anyway," he said, handing her the notebook.

"Lucky you! By the way, how come Bokuto-san didn't visit you today as usual? In fact, he hasn't been around for a while now that I think about it..."

"The fool was reduced as usual to studying everything at the last minute, so Akaashi decided to block him for all his lunch breaks to give him some sort of accelerated review since he doesn't want to know about sacrificing practice," Nori explained to her, shaking her head, "And this afternoon I finally managed to convince him not to go to the gym and go over math with me, his Achilles' heel, since I'm fresh from today's test."

"Ooooh! Are you going to her house?" he asked her, looking at her with dreamy eyes. "Yes, her parents moved to Chiba for a few months as her older sister entered the last trimester of pregnancy."

"Oh! So you'll be on your own, huh?" he teased her, making her blush.

"Don't get any ideas, I really have to get him down with algebra or risk yet another failing grade!" screeched Nori, trying to chase away the dirty thoughts leaking from her friend's mischievous gaze

"Um, be careful that he doesn't run you over..."

"UME-CHAN!"

Nori leaned forward to shush her, feeling her cheeks boiling, but ended up causing her friend to burst out laughing, who continued to poke her until they heard the sound of the bell reach them and call the class to order.

*

I stared at the notebooks arranged on the table, then cast a sidelong glance at the clock above the bed.