Despite desperately praying during the whole game for them to win—for him to win, Aoba Johsai still tasted defeat against Karasuno High School.

The cheering squad of Seijoh's team went awfully quiet; a lump in your throat forming with the tense atmosphere that surrounded everyone that had supported Aoba Johsai and expected them to win.

As tears formed in the corner of your eyes, you immediately searched for him. The moment your gaze landed on his face, your heart shattered. The way Oikawa's eyes held a distant look, the way his lips quivered in disbelief, the way his hands shook in frustration--all of them made your heart ache for him.

You wanted to say you understand him and you do, but you don't know the intensity of the pain he felt, the efforts he did just trying to reach his dreams—only to end up in failure and loss. Oikawa fought with insecurities and tried his absolute best to improve just to defeat his long-time rival Ushijima and go to nationals. It's his dream.

Although he looked like the type of person to skip practice because of his carefree personality, Oikawa practiced in hopes of improving fast, more than anyone. Though he doubted himself more than anyone else did—he's also the one who desperately tried to believe that he'll achieve what he wants if he worked harder.

This was why it's so painful; because he knew—no, they knew that they did their best to win. But in the end, they still lost.

Some people might only see this as a simple game of sports to see which or who was the strongest and may never understand the disappointment; but those who poured all their heart into this—like Oikawa—knows why it's painful and so disheartening.

Your eyes just followed Oikawa who stared downwards the whole time, even when they took a bow in front of the cheering squad. Hikari and Momo shouted words of comfort to the team, while you stood still with a pained expression—as if you were the one who lost.

Though the plan to tell him that you're leaving still didn't change, it's harder to do it now than what you thought previously. A lot of ideas entered your mind on how you can stay longer beside Oikawa until he regains his energy, but there's a voice in your mind that's telling you it's futile.

Because the team won't be participating on the tournament tomorrow, your stepmother would decide to leave tomorrow—maybe in the afternoon—since the company she works for seems to be saying that she's urgently needed in their Tokyo branch. Her promotion was decided last minute because of her colleague who was the one supposed to be at the receiving end, that's why there's a rush.

Imagining how Oikawa's expression would fall apart when you finally tell him made you close your eyes in anguish. Telling him and not telling him will hurt the Great King the same, but the last thing he needs is knowing that you left without telling him properly.

Oikawa will definitely understand the reason, but he won't appreciate it. However, you contemplated wether you'd go with your plan at the cost of seeing his pained reaction later. Revealing it to him the day you'll leave is not good either, but it's better in your opinion.

Then why am I hesitating? Why is my heart aching so much?

The day you first saw him surrounded by people at the school gate, you thought Oikawa was flashy and annoying; but most of all, envied him for he was friendly, sociable, and a happy-go-lucky—someone you thought you'll never be.

You dreaded the favor you did for Rina because of the commotion it caused, but now you're actually grateful that you accepted it. That's when you and Oikawa crossed paths with each other.

If it weren't for him and your friends, you wouldn't change a thing about yourself. Perhaps you'd still be chained by your past, cowering behind your stepbrother, Kentaro.

"...Tooru-kun," you mumbled behind him when you finally got to the team.

Your hands gripped the strap of your shoulder bag tightly, as you stared at Oikawa's back. He stopped moving when he heard your voice, but he didn't turn around and after a few seconds, he started packing his things again as if he didn't heard you.

You weren't offended or hurt by his action, in fact, this worried you more. You love Oikawa's serious self—you love all of his sides—but you didn't know what to say to his sad self. The comforting words that you always say to your friends and him when they're sad or worried, were stuck in your throat; you knew the best he wouldn't be okay especially when he figures out that you're leaving.

So you just sadly gazed at his back as you waited for him.

Finally, after a couple more minutes, he finished arranging his stuff. But even then, Oikawa still didn't face you who he knew, stood patiently behind him.

"...I'm sorry, Y/N-chan. I don't have the courage to face you right now," he said.

Your eyes wavered knowing this. But you forced yourself not to sound sad because you didn't want Oikawa to think that you're disappointed at him. Because you're not, even a little bit. You are actually proud.

"It's okay, Tooru-kun. Just please take care of yourself and...," you hesitated but when your gaze went to his back again, you were reminded of an important thing he should know, "And please...talk to me tomorrow."

You didn't wait for his reply and walked away by yourself. Tears fell down from your eyes but you wiped them away as you approached Chiyo, Hikari, and Momo who waited for you.

Apparently, the team will be having ramen, so Kentaro didn't go back with you. So you went home alone, and helped finalized the things you'd bring to Tokyo.

When the team arrived at the ramen place, Kentaro looked irritated as if he was forced to go there. But he still knew he had to go there since didn't bother to notify their coaches about him leaving after the game.

Kentaro went to tell just now to his coaches that he will quit the club and be transferring the day after tomorrow. He wasn't worried about his team's wellbeing as the cause of his delay, but he didn't felt the need to tell them and you also requested for him to keep quiet since Oikawa will know if Kentaro tells the team.

He felt his heart ache when you told him that, but he was on the process of letting you go and only seeing you as a sister. So he complied.

Because of Kentaro suddenly dropping a bomb, the younger coach couldn't help but scream it out loud.

"You're quitting?!"

This grabbed all the players attention since they wondered who was quitting right after they lost. Kentaro frowned since he didn't like the curious gazes that were directed to him since he was the only player beside the coaches, and the one actually leaving. Still, he continues explaining because he needed help to get his transferring papers tomorrow.

"We're moving to Tokyo tomorrow, and I want my papers." He was as straightforward as ever, and the players who heard this, suddenly erupted with noises of shock.

Oikawa, who sat beside Iwaizumi, gaped as his world fell apart. His mind went blank and his chopsticks made a clattering sound on the table.

"...What?" He softly whispered, none of them hearing it.

Kentaro. Moving away. To Tokyo. You're his sister. You two are siblings. You're leaving too. You're going away too.

Oikawa stared at his food with his wide eyes open. The conversation he just had with you—no scratch that, he didn't know if it was even a proper conversation when silence sat between the two of you the whole time. The few words you exchanged flashed in his mind.

You, gazing with a faraway look, multiple times before the tournament. The smiles you gave him as if you were savoring your moments for the last few days like it's never gonna happen again. You, taking the initiative to go to him and spend time with him as long as you can.

The memories you had together, the laughter and tears you shared, the little moments that made you two blush furiously—you, actually sharing his feelings; all of it flashed in his mind.

You thought that Oikawa would be the most devastated about him losing the game, but on the contrary, it was you, leaving that made him scared the most. He didn't even want to think about it that he just stopped thinking at all.

Oikawa had a plan for his volleyball career, and he had a plan for the two of you. But now he's knowing that you were going away...

What about the future he wanted to share with you?

+++++

UNEDITED