Nishinoya burst into her classroom as soon as the bell rang. "Ai!!! Chikara! Kazuhito!"
The other students of Class 2-4 shot him weird looks, and Ai was glad for him that the teacher had already left so he wouldn't get yelled at. She finished packing her textbooks for homework and stood. "Yū, we can hear you just fine."
He entered the class, as Ennoshita came over from his desk to hers.
"You always scream indoors, Nishinoya," her classmate said hopelessly.
The proud libero laughed. "It's summer vacation! Let's go to club!"
"You're really energetic, Nishinoya." Narita shrugged his backpack on and got ready to leave the classroom as well.
"It's Friday today," Ennoshita told him.
"Yeah, last day of school!" Nishinoya yelled happily.
Ai shook her head. "He means, I have sadō club. You'd have to go ahead without me, Yū."
"Nah, I'll walk you! Let's go!!!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her out to the hallway.
Ai giggled as she tried to keep up with his pace. Ennoshita and Narita followed them to the stairwell, and Tanaka and Kinoshita joined them, too.
———
At Aoba Johsai Private School
Ai: Hello, Yūtarō. How are you? I hope Tōru-san has a happy birthday. Please give him, Akira, Iwaizumi-san, and the rest of your team my regards.
Kindaichi received this message in the morning, but he had been too scared to reply. It was now after school, and he was walking with Kunimi to the club room to change clothes. Students in the same summer uniform crowded the campus as well, each on their way to their own club activities or to go home.
"Should I say something?" the middle blocker asked his friend as they walked around a group of people standing around.
"You haven't even responded to your own birthday message over a month ago," Kunimi retorted. "She probably thinks you're ignoring her."
Kindaichi stopped in his tracks. "Wait, really?" He looked terrified.
His friend stopped too and looked back at him with his usual lazy, straight face. "No."
The other first-year sighed and started walking again. "What am I going to tell Oikawa-san?"
"Just show him the message. Knowing him, he'll probably just answer for you." They walked up the stairs of the separate building to get to the boys' volleyball club locker room. The wing spiker twisted the metal knob and opened the door, entering first. "Hey," he greeted the upperclassmen who were already there.
"Hey," they chorused back in masculine voices.
"Hey," Kindaichi repeated. He closed the door behind him and went to his locker.
"What's up, Kindaichi? You seem down." Matsukawa continued to change, but he wasn't in a hurry to put on a shirt in the stuffy, hot room.
"Are you adverse that it's Oikawa's birthday today, too?" Hanamaki added.
The first-year blinked. "Huh? Uhh... no..?"
Kunimi sighed and answered for him as he opened his narrow gray locker. He started unbuttoning his blue checkered shirt. "He got a text from Karasuno's manager about Oikawa-san's birthday."
"What?" Yahaba asked as Watari quietly stared with widened eyes.
Hanamaki snapped around as well. "Huh? Seriously?!"
"No way," Matsukawa said, throwing his teal club T-shirt over his bare shoulder. "Let me see."
Kindaichi paused in his changing to give his senpai the phone. He passed it over when he displayed the message on the screen.
The two third-years whistled.
"Wow," the older middle blocker said.
"Show us too, senpai." Yahaba took the phone to share with Watari.
"That's her name? Akatsuki Ai?" the strawberry blond guy asked.
"Yes."
"Show them the one from your birthday," Kunimi told no one in particular.
"There's more?" Hanamaki peered over at the device, as Matsukawa asked the owner of the cell phone for permission to see.
Kindaichi nodded and pressed some more buttons.
The door clicked open and the captain came in, followed by his annoyed vice-captain. "Yahoo, everyone! Guess what day it is today???"
"Shut up, Trashykawa." Iwaizumi grumbled from behind about his friend's incessant need to be the center of attention.
Hanamaki waved him off. "No one cares about that. Check this out."
"Kindaichi got Karasuno's manager's number," Matsukawa said as he got the phone again.
"Huh? Really?" Iwaizumi walked around the other guys to look at the messages, too. Then, he hesitated. "Which one?"
"Really? I want to see!" Oikawa pushed his way past to them as well.
Hanamaki grunted when the setter butted in. "Hey, wait for your turn!"
"But it's my birthday, Makki!"
"Oh." Matsukawa leaned closer to Kindaichi. "Don't tell him about the message, got it?"
"Yeah. He'll be even more annoying if he sees," the Number 3 agreed.
"See what?" Iwaizumi asked, still confused.
Matsukawa passed him the phone to read for himself.
The ace started to blush as his eyes scanned the third birthday message to their team. He cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah. Don't give it to him." Iwaizumi returned the cell to Kindaichi. "And, tell her I said thanks."
"Y-yes!" the first-year stuttered.
"You're so lucky she mentioned you by name, Kunimi. We're just 'the rest of the team'." Yahaba grumbled as he finished changing. "Kindaichi. Give me her number after practice," he whispered.
"Hey!" Oikawa yelled. "Why are you hiding it from me?!"
"Kindaichi, don't," Matsukawa warned.
"Mattsun?!"
The first-year looked conflicted. "But, it is his birthday message."
"Shh!" Hanamaki hushed.
"Wait, for me?" Oikawa grinned obnoxiously. "Well, I have to see it then!"
"And there he goes..." Matsukawa shut his metal locker with a bang and headed out first. "See you in the gym."
"Yeah, see you," Iwaizumi called after him as he changed his clothes as well.
"Kindaichi, let me see!" The captain prodded for the phone.
"O-okay." He gave it to him as Hanamaki and Watari started to leave.
"The coach will get mad if you're late," the wing spiker said as the second-year libero bowed for leaving before his seniors.
"Wonder if she'll send me something on my birthday, too," Yahaba said.
Oikawa smirked smugly as he read the text. "Ah, I guess my famous reputation precedes me! She must've seen my interview for the Monthly Volleyball magazine!"
"Shut up, Oikawa."
"Come on, Iwa-chan! You're turning green with envy," he teased.
"I'm not!"
Kunimi interrupted their little quarrel. "But, she knew Kindaichi's birthday without saying."
Seijoh's starting setter hummed and didn't respond.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Iwaizumi questioned.
"Writing a reply, of course!" the captain sang cheerfully.
"Don't answer other people's messages! Use your own damn phone!"
"Then, I'll have to add her to my contacts!" Oikawa grinned.
His childhood friend growled and snatched the device away.
"Hey! Iwa-chan!"
Iwaizumi handed it back to the owner. "Ignore him. Just say thanks from all of us."
"S-sure," Kindaichi said as he retrieved his phone.
"And, don't give her number to anyone."
"What?! How am I supposed to talk to her, then?!"
"You're not!" Iwaizumi snapped. "Maybe this is why you got dumped by your girlfriend."
Oikawa gasped. "Iwa-chan, you're saying that here in front of everyone!?"
"It's not like you were going to hide it," the ace retorted.
As more people were finished getting ready and left the locker room, Yahaba also grabbed his towel to take with him. "I wish we had a manager," the younger setter mumbled as he made his way out.
"Did you get something for your birthday, Iwaizumi-san?" Kunimi asked and closed his locker.
"Uh, yeah, something like that." The ace pulled his shirt over his head to mask his blush.
"What?! You did?! And you didn't tell me?!" Oikawa gaped with a hand over his chest, feeling betrayed.
"I don't have to tell you everything!" Iwaizumi grabbed his water bottle. "Let's go, Kunimi, Kindaichi! We're late!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir..."
———
Near Karasuno High School
After Practice
Ai waved goodbye to her volleyball friends and walked the rest of the way home alone. She imagined a simulation of the tea ceremony in her head, moving her hands in precise movements to remember the steps. Her phone chimed as she crossed the street, and she took it out.
Yūtarō: I'm doing well! And I think Oikawa-san had a good birthday. Iwaizumi-san and the team said thank you!
She smiled and sent a reply as she reached her house.
Ai: I'm glad. Have a wonderful summer break.
***
Author's Note:
Happy Mother's Day!!
Go ahead, spend some time with your family ❤️
And, to quote one of my favorite authors,
"Family is a choice."
— C.L. Stone
Blood relations don't have to define who your family is. Be with the people who you love and who make you happy!
I hope you have a wonderful day!!
***
Any theories on Oikawa's (former) girlfriend?
***
Reference:
Pictures of Seijoh's locker room!
Total Word Count: 1477