- two years later -
iwaizumi was home from tokyo for his birthday for a week, it was nice to be back home again after not being home for six months. his job had been keeping him so busy that he hardly had anytime to come home to see his mum anymore. but finally he had some time off to spend some time with her just before his birthday.
of course he would still be celebrating when he got back to tokyo, bokuto and atsumu had already planned a night full of horrific activities planned for their favourite athletic trainer who visited them. how that would be an interesting night.
iwaizumi had been feeling good recently with everything going on, he even moved into a new flat recently which was so much better than his first flat in tokyo. the whole thing was just a little bigger than his bedroom, he had no room for anything. now he had saved up his wages he could finally get himself a flat he could show off and invite friends over to.
hanamaki and matsukawa had even been up to visit him, saying the flat had to be christened before he could do anything else. which involved the three of them getting black out drunk and so memories iwaizumi did not like to think back on.
everything seemed to finally be working its way out. iwaizumi was still in touch with sakura too, she herself had a new boyfriend and had moved to kyoto for her job which was great. iwaizumi however had remained single, he wasn't really looking for anything too serious. not while he was still on his mind.
it was funny because up until two years ago iwaizumi would never had thought of oikawa in that way, but everytime iwaizumi goes out and flirts he's always at the back of his mind. it's infuriating. it's almost like he can hear his god awful voice mocking him whenever iwaizumi tries to make a move.
iwaizumi had no idea how oikawa was, he seemed to have blocked his number seen as though none of the texts iwaizumi sent ever went through, so he eventually gave up trying to contact him. he just hoped he was doing well and playing volleyball like they always dreamed.
his mum even asked about him, but iwaizumi would respond with the same thing every time "i'm guessing he's doing alright,". after iwaizumi had rushed to the airport to stop him leaving and to tell him he loved him, his mum had been very nosey with his love life. but he kept telling her he really didn't want a relationship at this moment in time. he was young and didn't want to be held down. he just wanted to have fun. and fun he was having.
iwaizumi had come to the park as he today to get out of the house, he just enjoyed the walk around and to see the new faces. the regular volleyball classes still took place which gave him some nostalgia as he watched them train. he smiled to himself as he dug his hands in his pockets and walked along to path, stopping to stroke a dog that passed him along the way with its owner.
the warm breeze of the japanese summer was something iwaizumi loved, but it always seemed to be better when he was home in miyagi.
on the court coming up iwaizumi could see a small group of three people playing volleyball aswell, causing a smile on iwaizumi's face to form. he did miss playing. it was fun training all the amazing players in tokyo, but playing the sport was a different feeling that he missed. but iwaizumi glanced away from the group and kept on walking.
"i'm not that tall! why do you insist on setting like that!" he heard someone yell.
"because you're lazy! i know you can jump to get it so pick up your feet and jump otherwise you'll never beat them!" the other shouted back.
the voices sounded almost familiar, but iwaizumi didn't pay it much of a second thought as he walked past in his own thoughts.
hearing the footsteps on the grass get closer as someone ran to collect the ball, iwaizumi glanced down seeing the ball next to his feet and picked it up.
"here," he said looking up to pass it to the person coming to collect it.
"iwaizumi? hey it's iwaizumi!"
iwaizumi looked at the person he was passing the ball to. it was takeru. how did he look so different in the space of two years. he had grown even taller and looked even more like oikawa than he did last time.
iwaizumi froze realising if takeru was here, the person he was calling to was him. iwaizumi's eyes shifted over to see oikawa walking over, not noticing him yet.
"what are you saying? i can't hear you from over ther—" he cut himself off when he realised what takeru was shouting about.
iwaizumi saw him, and he looked even better than the last time. he had a little sunburn on his nose and cheeks, but was still pretty tanned in all from being in brazil and argentina.
his breath caught in his throat, his mouth suddenly went dry.
iwaizumi couldn't find anything to say as he looked him up and down. he looked good, so good iwaizumi had to hold himself back as he composed himself, clearing his throat and letting go of the ball and letting it fall into takeru's hands.
he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"erm hey, didn't realise we were both back home at the same time," iwaizumi said awkwardly.
oikawa looked as though he was too stunned to speak, but hearing iwaizumi speak he straightened up and nodded.
"yeah," oikawa just said and looked away.
iwaizumi nodded and swallowed the large lump at the back of his throat.
god this was awkward.
and why did oikawa have to be looking so toned and tanned when he saw him. the one day iwaizumi hadn't done his hair or dressed in something more appealing than a sweatshirt and shorts.
"hey iwaizumi, why don't you play, you can do 2 on 2 matches, right uncle tooru?" takeru asked looking to oikawa almost pleading.
2 on 2? but there was only them two. but then iwaizumi realised there was a third, he had seen another person playing here with them when he was walking up here. however, this person was a mystery, he didn't recognise them from their silhouette when he glanced earlier. but then again he didn't realise it was takeru and oikawa until moments ago.
"i thought i should come over and see what all the fuss is about, what's going on?" a voice spoke in very broke japanese.
iwaizumi glanced up to the new voice, seeing a guy a little taller than oikawa stand behind him. he was buff, his longish brown hair pushed back and tanned skin almost looked golden under the sun. iwaizumi stared up at him with wide eyes, he had never seen this man before, and he definitely wasn't from japan.
who on earth was this guy? was he from brazil or argentina? where did this guy even come from?
"no need to worry manuel, just saying hi to an old friend," oikawa said turning towards him, he gave him a smile before looking to iwaizumi again. "right iwa?"
"yeah, just saying hi," iwaizumi said giving manuel a weak smile before looking back to oikawa.
manuel. iwaizumi heard oikawa mention him
before. wasn't he the guy he was seeing until they called it quits because oikawa was in love with someone else? so why was he here with him.
iwaizumi felt his heart drop into his stomach, looking at the two of them with his eyes dropping with a sad gleam. there was only one reason why he would be here right now with oikawa. and it wasn't what he wanted to think about.
"so are you? it'll be like old times," takeru said trying to convince iwaizumi to play.
iwaizumi was still looking at oikawa and manuel, as iwaizumi's eyes scanned down to see the hand on oikawa's waist. iwaizumi pulled his eyes away quickly to save himself the heart ache, looking to takeru quickly with a smile remembering he asked him a question.
"sorry, i have plans, maybe some other time," iwaizumi told him.
"but—"
"he's busy takeru, he's probably going to see sakura," oikawa told him. "how is she by the way?" oikawa asked.
"she's good, she's in kyoto with her boyfriend," iwaizumi said.
good one iwaizumi, casually slipping in that you broke up.
oikawa furrowed his eyebrows and looked at him confused.
"what does that mean?" oikawa asked. "did you two break up?"
"yeah, a while ago actually," iwaizumi said nodding.
oikawa glanced up and down at iwaizumi suspiciously, almost as though he was trying to suss him out. iwaizumi just stared at him softly while trying to ignore manuel's lingering presence behind him.
"oh i'm sorry, when did you guys break up?" oikawa asked him.
"the day you left actually," iwaizumi said, hoping what he meant by that oikawa understood.
and oikawa did. as oikawa stared at iwaizumi after hearing those words, he could see the realisation hit him while he stood him. oikawa suddenly looked away from him and coughed pulling everyone's attention away from the awkward conversation.
"anyway, you better get to your plans, come on takeru, you need to practice your spikes," oikawa bosses him grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling him away from iwaizumi.
he protested a little but soon gave up when he was walking away with his uncle. manuel gave iwaizumi a confused look before following behind. while he stood and watched the three walk away. he realised this was his second chance, and he wasn't about to let it go to waste. sorry manuel, but you were about to second once again to him.