heleanor | 【ＲＰ】ＯｐｅｎＰｏｓｔ

[Junior high seems so long ago. Three years is a long time, really. He'd like to think that he's changed since then, but he knows if he has it probably wasn't much. He's acted the same ever since he can remember, ever since Iwaizumi can remember, too, from some of the stuff he says.

He stirs the straw in his milkshake around and shrugs.]

I'm busy, it's not easy being captain of a team like Aoba Johsai. But I suppose I'm used to it.

[Sometimes Oikawa messes up his timetable and winds up with an hour spare between studying and volleyball and he never has any idea what to do with the time - especially if he knows Iwaizumi isn't free and whichever girl confessed to him last realised they were going nowhere and already dumped him. That's actually how he came to bother Yamaguchi in the first place. He just didn't stop once he had things to do again.

He attempts a smile that comes off a little more genuine than his completely false ones before.]

Karasuno's lucky to a first year like you, some of ours are a handful, they don't realise just how important they're going to be next year.

That's...nice of you to say, but...

[But it isn't true. Yamaguchi may have earned his place as the team's pinch server, but with three of the four first-years on the starting team this year, and most of the upperclassmen having a great deal of distinguishing talent as well...]

[Oikawa sits back in his chair, sucks down more of his milkshake as he considers Yamaguchi.]

Yamaguchi, when did I ever give you the impression that I'm nice?

[He's not nice. Or he doesn't think he is. He might say nice things sometimes but it's not because he's nice. It's because they're true and someone needs to hear it. Or if they're not true they're close enough that it achieves the same goal.]

[Yamaguchi freezes in his seat. He manages, barely, to avoid hissing in a sharp breath of surprise that threatens to catch in his throat—there's been a subtle, perceptible shift in the air between him and Oikawa, like the older boy somehow sucked out all the warmth and cloying sweetness out of the room simply by dropping the "-chan" from Yamaguchi's last name. This is the Oikawa Tooru that defeated Karasuno with his team during the inter-high, leading them bravely every step of the way.

The same Oikawa who Yamaguchi had unconsciously pushed to the back of his mind over the past few weeks, after countless vexing and teasing text messages sent back and forth made him forget exactly how they came to know each other. Yamaguchi wouldn't let himself be intimidated so badly again, if he were met with this super-intense Oikawa on the volleyball court.

Here, though, it's the last thing Yamaguchi expected.]

Er...O-Oikawa-san? [Yamaguchi swallows, struggling and too nervous in the coming seconds to speak. He's not afraid of the change in attitude he sees in Oikawa, precisely; but Yamaguchi finds his skin is erupted in chills nonetheless simply at the look in the setter's eyes.]

...You, ah...said yourself on the phone, Oikawa-san. [A lot.] ...That you were a nice guy...

[And were going to prove it to him, no less.]

[He considers, plays with the straw of his milkshake without looking at it, still fixed on Yamaguchi instead.]

I suppose I did. You didn't believe me. [Because no sane person would. The only person who's ever thought (or more likely not thought at all) well of him like that was Kageyama persistently asking him to teach him to set and to serve. And Oikawa's long thought he's lacking in the sanity department.

When he mentioned it before, told Yamaguchi he'd prove how good a person he is, it was with the assumption that Yamaguchi knew that's impossible. That it's part of his jokes. Iwaizumi always laughs when he says things like that and he's his best friend.

It sits a little unhappily in his stomach that Yamaguchi might think he's better than he is and thinks that he'd say something for someone else's comfort alone rather than because he means it or because saying it will help in the long run. He's not sincere, necessarily, but he can tailor his words to people so that they should believe him enough.]

Well, no...at the time, I didn't.

[Yamaguchi's not sure whether he believes it now, but despite Oikawa's pushy or embarrassing requests at times, he's never been actively mean to Yamaguchi (that he's aware of).]

But you did say it, Oikawa-san.

[Oikawa sighs, they're getting off the reason he brought it up in the first place. And he doesn't particularly want Yamaguchi thinking too hard about that.]

Either way, Yama-chan. I wouldn't say Karasuno's lucky to have you to be nice.

You wouldn't say a nice thing to be nice?

I'd say it because it's true and you should know it.

[That...That really is nice.

But it's hard to be optimistic about it when Yamaguchi only really has failures under his belt.]

...Thank you... [Yamaguchi fidgets, looking down at the spoon in his hand instead of at Oikawa.] ...Though, compared to the other first years, I'm...

Not ridiculous and irritating. [Oikawa says it with no question. Because as far as he's concerned Yamaguchi is far more likeable than any of the other Karasuno first years. Kageyama and Hinata are freaks and Tsukishima... has some problems.]

[Welp, that'll get him on the defensive pretty fast.]

Tsukki isn't ridiculous and irritating! [He's...not going to bother defending Hinata and Kageyama, thought it's not as though he liked Oikawa insulting them either.]

Oh no? [He pauses to consider what he can use, what he knows or can guess about Tsukishima.] How often does he make plans with you?

[Because Oikawa's guessing that it's "never" and Yamaguchi's always the one asking him to places. Which is a pity because Yamaguchi is good company.]

Make plans...? Tsukki?

[That strikes Yamaguchi as a rather non-sequitur; though at least does wipe the anger from his expression. He pauses to think.]

Er...just whenever he wants to hang out, I suppose.

[Tsukishima actually does invite Yamaguchi over a fair amount, at least by his standards. They usually end up doing nothing and watching TV hanging out over at his place, or at Yamaguchi's, although the latter's house isn't as spacious. Going out is another story. Yamaguchi doesn't think he and Tsukishima would eat out at a café like this very often, though it hasn't bothered him in the past when they would cook or order takeout.]

[He presses.] Which is how often? Or... [He pauses to think of a better question.]

How often does he do something that shows he is your friend out of something other than convenience?

Tsukki is my friend!

[He definitely looks offended at the direction Oikawa's questions are taking.]

Why do you seem to have a hard time believing that, Oikawa-san?

[Oikawa notices Yamaguchi's offence but he figures Yamaguchi should probably lose any hope of thinking Oikawa's nice and not taking heed of overstepping his bounds will help that.]

Because you don't see how good you are and he hasn't told you. [Oikawa shrugs, tries to let go of some of the tension he's built up.] I think you like him more than he likes you.

[Yamaguchi looks like he might actually snap at him for that—then, he deflates a bit instead, and sits back with a slumped posture in his chair. He avoids looking at Oikawa again, staring down at the spoon in his hand as he twirls it distractedly. Yamaguchi's eyes are downcast and narrowed, but not quite angry, either. Only thinking.]

...Tsukki is my friend. [There's no doubt in his voice of that, none at all. ] If he didn't like me, he wouldn't let me hang around him the way he does, I don't think...

[That phrasing makes their friendship sound a lot worse and more one-sided than it actually is. Not that Yamaguchi notices, used to talking about himself that way. He's still a bit lost in thought: thinking of the ways that Tsukishima treats him differently than other people, which are hard to explain to an outsider. But he notices.

Tsukishima does tell Yamaguchi to shut up plenty. And he's not spared from the other's sharp tongue, when he deserves it. But Tsukishima does go out of his way to spend time with Yamaguchi, and includes him on his jokes. He lets Yamaguchi hang off him more than is probably appropriate, and never speaks disparagingly of him the way he would people like Kageyama and Hinata.

Tsukishima makes Yamaguchi's life better.] It's true that I like Tsukki a lot...probably more than he likes me.

But he has told me I'm cool. [He finally looks up at Oikawa, forcing himself not to break eye contact.] I'm glad, that he's my best friend.

[Oikawa's breath hitches as Yamaguchi says that last bit. God damn it. He breaks eye contact, since it doesn't seem like Yamaguchi will, and drags his hand down his face.]

Well, he's right about you being cool, at least.

[He doesn't get it. Yamaguchi sounds completely certain of himself. Happy to have a best friend who Oikawa's seen no evidence of caring about him. He probably shouldn't talk, his best friend isn't exactly affectionate, but no one would mistake Iwaizumi's yelling for not caring about Oikawa.

And he can't imagine Yamaguchi being happy with the way Tsukishima treats him. Not when he seemed so flattered by Oikawa's attention, but there's no way he's lying.]

[This time, it's Yamaguchi's turn to inhale sharply—any anger or resentment is driven from his mind and he goes the slightest bit pink, again, giving Oikawa a strange look that's half-stunned and half something else.]

You...You really think I'm cool?? [IT DIDN'T CROSS HIS MIND TOO HEAVILY WHEN HE WAS THINKING ABOUT IT EARLIER BUT YEAH, YAMAGUCHI IS STILL NOT PREPARED TO HEAR THAT FROM ANYONE, EVER]

[Yamaguchi, stop being cute or he's going to fall for you and then your real problems start. Just ask Iwaizumi.]

Of course. I don't say things like that unless they're true. [Oikawa's lips quirk into a small smile, he's not quite ready to go back to his entirely fake ones just yet but it's kind of nice that Yamaguchi is looking happier again.] Would you like to know why?

...!? Umm... [The honest part of Yamaguchi is desperately curious, as a matter of fact. But he still burns unpleasantly at the memory of Oikawa accusing him of fishing for compliments.]

...Well...that's...

["Well... that's..." a good enough answer for Oikawa.

He starts playing with the straw of his milkshake again to keep his hands busy as he starts listing things. This is going to be a little embarrassing to say but he'll be less embarrassed than Yamaguchi.]

You're humble - you would never think you're capable of more than you are which makes you an excellent team player. I don't know what they've done to deserve it but you're loyal to your friend and your team. You'd never do anything against any of them if you could help it. And I can trust you as well, which is important when we're opponents. I don't think you'd ever hesitate when playing me.

You work hard, even when you don't know if it will pay off and you don't get discouraged easily.

If you get a chance, you make jokes. You're smart and quick on the uptake. You make me laugh all the time and actually mean it - not many people can do that on purpose, Yama-chan.

And you're cute. [He finishes, picking up his drink and sipping at it.]

[Yamaguchi...doesn't know how to react, let alone respond, as Oikawa starts talking—and Yamaguchi realizes he's talking seriously.]

Edited (forgot a word oops) 2015-02-08 07:00 (UTC)

[He's outlining things about Yamaguchi, real-sounding things, like he's actually noticed and been paying attention to him these past few weeks while Yamaguchi was texting him. Like he actually enjoyed doing so. Like Oikawa actually thought these things to himself enough to actually have something waiting to say, when the time presented itself and–]

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