Chapter 56
'Happy Mother's Day'
"You're starting a volleyball club?" Iwaizumi asked as he stared down at the school yard from the rooftop of Kitagawa Daichi.
Tsukiko, who was sitting beside him, nodded. "I want to play volleyball. And I can't do that unless we have a girl's volleyball team."
Iwaizumi turned around and smiled at her. "That's good. You have more experience than your brother right?"
Tsukiko nodded again, smiling at Iwaizumi's cute smile that he only usually showed when he was with Oikawa. He must be genuinely happy for her.
"Yup. I learnt it when I five. A boy your age taught it to me," she answered remembering 'Ushiwaka-chan' briefly.
"Really? Who is it?"
She smiled and said happily, "Ushiwaka-chan."
"Wh-What?"
"Well, that's my nickname for him. His full name is Ushijima Wakatoshi."
Iwaizumi choked on his juice, but the dense girl just continued talking, unaware of her senpai's reaction.
"I haven't seen him since I was five actually," Tsukiko continued, staring at the sky whilst trying to remember his face. "I can't remember what he looks like either. But every time I see the volleyball in my room, I just suddenly remember his face and have a very strong urge to throw the ball at him."
Iwaizumi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, still shocked at what he heard. "Ushijima taught you volleyball?" Iwaizumi asked in disbelief, looking at the first year who was leaning her forehead on the railings.
Tsukiko nodded, looking at Oikawa who was being flocked by girls in the courtyard. Even from the rooftop, she could see his -forced- smile and how he was actually annoyed. It's only been two months but she's noticed a lot of things about Oikawa.
"Yup. He should be in junior high now too."
Iwaizumi scoffed. "Yeah. He's in Shiratorizawa Academy."
Tsukiko whipped her head up to look at him, her dark blue eyes wide. "You know him? Ushiwaka-chan?"
Iwaizumi nodded sourly, remembering their losses. "I guess you can say that."
Oikawa looked at Tsukiko who had her eyes on his best friend. Getting a little frustrated, he brushed the girls aside and cupped his hands over his mouth.
"IWA-CHAN!!" He shouted loudly, getting the attention of the two. He waved at them and grinned, trying to hide his annoyance.
Tsukiko looked at Iwaizumi and saw a fossil of a smile on his lips before he proceeded to shout back at Oikawa.
I didn't stand a chance, Tsukiko thought, looking at Oikawa who smiled brightly at Iwaizumi who in return pretended to look pissed.
That, was one of the things she noticed. She was glad that she didn't like Iwaizumi. Oikawa would have been a very formidable opponent.
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"Ne, Tooru-san, can I possibly join you guys in practice?" Tsukiko asked with an emotionless expression. Realizing that she spoke quite rudely, her cheeks heated up and she stuttered. "I-I-I-I mean, until I can get a teacher to approve my appeal to get a girl's volleyball club here."
Oikawa grinned. "Of course, Tsukiko-chan! You can train with the other first years," Oikawa said, pointing to a group of first years who were at the other side of the court, practicing receives with some of the third years.
Tsukiko averted her eyes and bit her lip. She didn't want to practice with the first years. Things were still awkward between Tobio and her. And she barely knew any of them.
Oikawa, who knew how to read people easily, saw right through her. "Unless you don't want to?"
Tsukiko looked up, her eyes focusing on Oikawa's nose.
"If you don't mind, I think that practicing on my own is better," she murmured shyly.
"Sure! If that's what you want."
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Tick. Tock.
Tsukiko put her elbows on the dining table and rested her chin on her palms, staring blankly at the door through the dim lamp that shone over the dining table.
Tick. Tock.
She glanced at the clock before looking back down at the food she prepared which had gone cold half an hour ago.
Tick. Tock.
She looked down at the five pieces of paper resting on her lap before sighing. English. Math. Science. Japanese. History. 90. 98. 87. 79. 65.
Tick. Tock.
Tsukiko's eyes snapped open just as they were about to flutter shut. The faint sound of keys jingling outside the door woke her up from what was about to be her first shut-eye in two days.
Tsukiko didn't bother to look up when the door opened quietly. She waited for the familiar sound of footsteps to come nearer and when they did, she looked up slowly. All the lights were closed except for the lamp and she could barely see the figure standing in front of her.
"... Why are you still awake?"
Tsukiko met her mother's sharp emerald green eyes, which shone despite the lack of light, for the first time in a month. Tsukiko said nothing and pushed the five pieces of paper stacked on top of each other to her mother with a small blue card on top.
Tsukiko stood up slowly and walked towards her mother.
Her mother didn't move.
In a flash, Tsukiko's wrapped her arms around her mother. Tsukiko inhaled softly, the motherly smell surrounding her and comforting her as if they weren't just in a big fight a few weeks ago. Tsukiko kept hugging her mother silently, surprised that her mother didn't even try to pull away or even flinch when she suddenly hugged her.
"Happy mother's day," Tsukiko whispered after letting go.
Quickly turning away, Tsukiko ran up the staircase to her bedroom.
↯
"Shit!"
Iwaizumi's head snapped up and he glared at the short black haired girl.
Tsukiko pursed her lips, muttering an apology.
She inspected her chipped nail and scowled.
"Tsukiko-chan, having trouble with serves? Tooru-senpai will be able to help you!"
Tsukiko looked at Oikawa who grinned at her.
She shook her head and shoved her finger to his face.
"I chipped my nail."
Oikawa nodded, moving backwards. "That's why you shouldn't grow your nails out. A tiny difference like that can cause you a whole game. Imagine, what if you were serving and the other team was at match point? That's the end."
Tsukiko nodded, looking up at him with brightly lit eyes while Oikawa grinned smugly.
"I have a nail clipper with me," Oikawa said after giving it some thought, "gimme a second."
Tsukiko nodded again while Oikawa jogged to get his bag.
"What happened to your nail?" Iwaizumi asked, wanting to find out why the twelve year old girl cursed so loudly during practice.
"I chipped it."
Iwaizumi nodded. "Be careful next time, OK?"
"OK."
Oikawa who watched from afar, clenched his fists tightly, the nail clipper poking his skin. He felt his heart wrench in pain, seeing Iwaizumi give the black haired girl a warm smile.
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Hey hey hey! I just had a random idea and I think I might end this book after Shiratorizawa's match?
But, don't get angry.
I'm gonna make a book two! Yay? Nay? I was just thinking that this book was getting a little too draggy and I don't want there to be too many chaps.
So, tell me what you think?
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!