In the bathroom, I splash some water on my face and flatten my hair down.

Get a grip, Asuga. Why are you acting weird? So what? The guy became your friend and then ditched after you rejected him. Daichi just confessed to you. You should have forgotten all about that pretty-boy by now.

I sigh and dry my face, combing my fingers through the fringe of my dark brown hair and fixing the bands on the ends of my braids.

I push open the door and start to make my way to the stairs when my path is blocked.

"Well aren't you a cutie," I hear a voice above me say. I look up to see two boys from the team versing Shiratorizawa today. "Wanna come cheer us on today?"

"Excuse me, I have to get back to my friends," I tell them, avoiding eye contact. I don't have the patience for idiot, hormonal boys right now.

"Aw come on. We just wanna talk to you some more," the other one grins.

"Please, just let me through," I tell him, getting annoyed. I try to sidestep them but one of them blocks me and backs me up to the wall.

"Not until you tell me your name, babe," he says with a smirk.

"Leave me alone," I tell them in a louder voice. Unfortunately, my voice wavers due to the close proximity I am with this creep. Dammit. Now I sound like a weak little girl.

"Why? We just wanna ta-" the boy gets cut off by a voice.

"You know, when a girl says to leave her alone, you really should just leave her alone." The voice is confident and almost condescending. It's all too familiar to me.

"Tooru-kun!" The exclamation flies out of my mouth before I can stop myself. The two guys in front of me immediately back off revealing Oikawa standing a few yards down the hallway. His hands are in the pockets of his pants while his bag is slung around his shoulder. He stands there in a relaxed stance, a bright smile on his face, although the fire in his eyes gives away his true emotions right now. His teammate, Iwaizumi, stands next to him, a glare fixed on his face.

"Isn't that Tooru Oikawa?" one of the boys mumbles to the other.

"I don't think Asu-chan wants to watch you be completely crushed by Shiratorizawa," Oikawa continues as he walks towards us.

I stand frozen against the wall. He's right in front of me now. Say something. Make a comment. At least move away from these creeps. But I can't move as I watch the ace setter delightfully picking apart these two guys.

"Are you two that desperate for attention that you go and throw yourselves at girls who don't even want you?" Oikawa is standing in front of me now, his back facing me as he faces the two boys.

"Tooru-kun, it's fine-" I finally speak up.

"No, it's not fine," he cuts me off in a sharp tone, then focuses back on the boys. "You think since you're bigger than her, you can disrespect her? Never speak to her again. Now get out of my sight."

The boys scramble away down the hallway and turn the corner going out of our sight. Oikawa is silent for a few seconds and then turns to face me, a worried look in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asks me. "They didn't touch you at all, did they?"

"Wha- no!" I exclaim, quickly "No, they didn't. I'm fine... um good luck with the game. I'm just gonna go."

I start for the stairs, but Oikawa stops me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I tense up, the knot in my stomach getting worse. "Wait. Asu-chan, I'm-" He breaks off and I turn around to face him. He isn't looking at me, but at the floor instead.

"I'm gonna head back," Iwaizumi mumbles, turning on his heel and leaving us alone in the empty hallway.

He looks up and his intense gaze meets mine and I feel like I'm trapped by it. "I'm sorry," he murmurs. "It was already bad enough that I made things awkward, but then I left before we could make sure everything was still good between us. I was a coward and I get that. I'm sorry for not responding to any of your messages either."

I bite my lip, but a small feeling of relief washes over me. He still wants to be my friend. I didn't lose him. "It's okay," I tell him. "I get why you were upset."

"That doesn't give me an excuse to make you upset," he replies. "I saw your messages about your college letters. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed someone to talk to."

"Don't beat yourself up over it," I tell him with a small smile. "You've already seen me cry enough. Let me see you cry for once," I joke.

He let's out a small laugh. "Yeah I definitely have," he says. "But sorry to break it to you. I'm not really much of a crier unless it's really sad dog movies."

I laugh, but quickly fall silent due to a feeling of tension still between us. Its quiet and I lean against the wall behind me as Oikawa stands in front of me. "We're still friends, right?" I ask him, nervously.

"If you'll allow me to be, I'd love to," he responds.

I can't stop a huge grin to split across my face. "Good. You're stuck with me then."

"Oh no, what a tragedy," he remarks, sarcastically, but a smile finds it's way to his face making my chest feel heavy. Why do I feel so funny around him? This has never happened before.

"Good luck with the game today," I tell him, changing the subject so I can calm myself down.

"Thanks," he replies, quietly.

We lapse into another silence. Should I tell him about Daichi? Would that be cruel to do? But I don't want him hearing it from other people.

"I heard about you and Sawamura," he says as if reading my mind. "You must be pretty happy."

"How-"

"I overheard the bald kid and libero teasing him about it a few minutes ago," he explains. "They talk very loud."

"Oh, Tanaka and Nishinoya," I mumble. "Yeah they do."

"Oh, Asuga-chan!" We both hear someone calling my name. I turn to see Daichi making his way toward us.

"Hi, Daichi-kun," I say.

Oikawa and Daichi share a look and I can't tell what's going through their minds until Oikawa speaks up. "Well, I gotta join my team. I'll see you later, Asu-chan." He gives me one of his signature smiles as he walks off.

"Oh, yeah. See you, Tooru-kun," I tell his retreating figure. As I watch him go I can't help but feel like something is wrong. I don't know what's wrong, but I can't shake the feeling.

"Asu-chan?" Daichi asks, I guess questioning Oikawa's nickname for me.

"That's just what Tooru started to call me when we met and it kinda stuck," I explain.

"How did you two meet?" he asks me.

I laugh nervously. "Its a long story," I tell him.

"Can I hear it over dinner Sunday night then?" he asks me.

My eyes widen and I feel my face get hot. "Uh y-yeah," I stutter.

He smiles at me. "Great," he exclaims.

I smile back. "Well I gotta find Yui and Mei and you have to go be with your team. I heard they lost you during the end of one game yesterday," I tell him as I reach up to lightly touch the dark bruise on his cheek. "Does it hurt?"

"Not really, no," he admits. "Well it did a lot yesterday, but not anymore."

"Good," I nod with a smile and turn to go. "The team needs their captain. I'll be in the stands cheering for you guys."

"Asuga-chan, wait."

***