I regret... {Asahi Azumane X OC} (oneshot)

I regret...

Volleyball is my passion. It's the one thing I enjoy and am good at. Volleyball is the one thing keeping me here. Keeping me from ending my existence.

I'm not good at school subjects. I'm not good at socializing. I'm not organized or confident.

I'm clumsy and stupid. I'm ugly and I slouch and I'm shy and I'm not good at making people proud. Apparently I don't try and I don't care.

Despite these characteristics, I try not to bother people. I don't talk unless I'm spoken too. I always help when I'm asked. So why am I bullied if I've never even bothered anyone.

I'm bullied at school and home. I'm bullied on the volleyball team even though I try my hardest.

People bully me and they don't even know my name. They see me as weak and as a target and I would love to stand up to them. But I don't. I'm afraid.

But volleyball is my passion. And I would do anything to keep playing.

I'm a setter. Even though my team bullies me, I set the ball to the player who I know will make the spike. Whether it's one of my bullies or someone who is kind of nice to me. I always make the right decision.

But recently, I was deemed unfit to be a setter. To even be in the team. I was kicked off the team where I could play with passion. No one on that team liked me. Not the players or the coach.

They labeled me as useless, uncoordinated, and that I had bad judgement.

So here I stand, on a stone bridge looking down at the raging waters. The bridge was high and the water was a long way down. If one were to fall off this bridge, they would surely die. That's what I wanted.

Standing on the edge of this stone bridge made me think. About my life. About my bullies and my parents.

Tears fell down my cheeks as I made a sour face. I let out a silent plead that my next life would be a better one. With friends and a loving family. A life where I could freely play volleyball with my never ending passion.

I waited as if someone was going to come and try to stop me but I knew no one was coming.

I stuck out my foot as if I was going to step on air. My eyes shut and I leaned forward, wishing that my death would be a peaceful one. There was no turning back now.

I was about to fall and one thought crossed my mind.

"I regret not-"

"HEY!" A voice rang through the night.

My eyes snapped open but I knew it was too late. I've never heard this voice before. It was deep and made me feel calm in a situation like this. This person is just trying to save someone who he doesn't even know.

My foot was about to leave the edge of the bridge when I felt a strong, warm hand grab my wrist. I was no longer standing on the bridge, but dangling over the side of it. The only thing holding me from my death was this man.

A man who looked scary but I never judged people by looks. If this man was willing to hold me back from death then he wasn't scary.

I looked at his face. He had short stubble that decorated his chin. His strong features and tall stature were probably the only thing scary about him. His brown hair was in a loose bun and a small white string held back the loose strands that threatened to fall into his face. He wore a school uniform that indicated that he went to my school. Although he may not look like it, he was probably a third year based on his mature features. His face contorted in worry as he grasped my hands tighter.

"Hold on please. I'll pull you up. I don't want you to fall." He said as he tugged me slightly before fully pulling me up.

I said nothing as I silently cried. He said he didn't want me to fall. As if he knew me. As if he didn't care about my ugly personality as some would call it. But I was almost sure that he would leave like the rest, if he knew who I really was.

Once he finally pulled me up, we both rested on the ground. I quickly wiped away my tears as I stared at the ground. I wonder why he saved me. Maybe because he didn't want guilt on his conscience. Whatever the reason, he should know that it was a mistake.

I was about to say something when I felt him wrap his arms around me. I flinched at the sudden contact but soon rested in his arms. I couldn't help but start crying again. I didn't want to get his uniform wet but I couldn't stop crying. He pulled me closer and I wasn't able to hold in my emotions anymore.

I started to sob. I was mumbling incoherent words that didn't sound like anything but really they were apologies.  I don't really know what I was sorry for but I was apologizing. He didn't judge me. He just held me closer and rubbed my back. I'm sure he felt awkward but he didn't pull away from the hug.

I calmed myself down and soon pulled away from the hug. I finally found the courage to look him in the eye and I noticed the genuine worry he had.

"I don't know what made you feel the need to jump but I want you to know that you're not alone." He slightly blushed and looked away. I was surprised but I was curious with this man.

"I-I... Um what is your name?" I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. I was nervous talking to a stranger but also grateful. He also looked nervous and a bit shy.

"A-Asahi Azumane." His blush remained on his face and I gave him a small smile. I had no doubt that I was blushing too. Now that I had the time to actually look at him, I noticed how handsome his features were. I blush at the thought of 'handsome' and averted my eyes.

"T-Thank you for saving me A-Asahi-san. My n-name is Takahashi R-Rae." I bowed to him in thanks and he blushed even harder. At this point we were both stuttering messes.

Soon, he escorted me home. On the way we had a quick chat about our school and how he wanted me to come to his volleyball practice after school tomorrow. My eyes lit up after I heard that and we had a few laughs. I learned that he was a third year and I told him that I was a second year. We were both very shy in the beginning but we quickly warmed up to each other.

After I got home as usual, my parents ignored me so I went to my room. I laid in bed staring at the ceiling. I thought back to the thought that crossed my mind as I almost fell.

"I regret not-"

I thought about what that was. It felt like fate. Some strange occurrence that was thought to only be in movies. How this man, Asahi Azumane, happened to be on the same bridge at the same time I was. It was definitely fate. Maybe Asahi-san was meant to save me. It was a good thing too. Because the thought that had crossed my mind was...

"I regret not falling in love."