Tachibana didn't realise how intense her gaze was. She was just waiting, hoping for a positive reply to her suggestion. She would stare at each feature of your face without you even realising it. She watched the way your eyes moved slowly, moving up towards the ceiling in thought as your eyebrows furrowed slightly. You moved your lips inwards, licking them momentarily before puckering them a little, completely absentmindedly while thinking over the first years' words.

"I don't know..."

"I- I said volleyball because my friend is there, it's a bit easier than going to a club where you don't kn-know anyone? Uh, oh, I can come.. with you..?"

To this, hearing her shaky voice say such a sentence, you couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped your mouth so smoothly, she caught the smile grow on your face and indulged herself in it, her own breath ceasing before she took a moment and inhaled to relax her rapidly beating heart.

"I'd... like that, Tachibana-san. Are you busy today after school?"

She shook her head and you felt at ease, "I'll come with you! Thank you [Name]-senpai!"

Nodding, you didn't have anything else left to say and all you had to do for now was to wait until school ended, it was period four now, two more classes to go and then you would go but the nagging feeling that you may be a bother to them had set inside your mind. You didn't want to be a bother to anyone, you just wanted to do what you loved. You didn't think about that when agreeing to Tachibana's request when you asked for help. She was already walking away with a little jump in her step when she got back to her own painting, mixing the colours at random to see if she could acquire the one she wanted with your advice repeating in her mind.

Sketches were completed, drawing of eyes and nose, the shadows and contours of a human face; both male and female and you did their lips as well. You completed hairlines and some different shades of hair as well, flowing down the page when you also used the pencil sharpener to shave of bit of lead from the pencil, using your forefinger to smudge the colour in and fill in the shadows. A couple of pages were filled, they were covered in fingerprints and corrections; even though an eraser was also grabbed from the tray, you didn't actually use it so you could perfect your own mistakes by learning from them.

You had to leave the art club after another thirty minutes or so, you were the last to leave even though you noticed the way Tachibana strayed at the door, watching you for a few seconds longer before leaving in silence. You had been placing the sketchbook in your bag as you noticed the way her eyes were consistently shining, glowing when she looked at you. As if she was in a dream, in disbelief and you weren't really sure why. Maybe you could get to know her to do a portrait.

After art, you went to Japanese and then maths, you sat in the same class in the same desk and wrote the nonsense that was written on the chalkboard. Minami Hiro was also in your class, he sat behind you with his friends and you sat in the front row, the desk that was right next to the door.

When the final bell rang, you grabbed your books and pens and placed them in your bag. You had stood quietly to bid a farewell to the teacher in unison with the class and then stepped away from the desk to leave down the hallway. The bag was held in your right hand, hanging next to you when you walked away from the second year block to get to the first year classes.

You weren't really shocked to find Tachibana already on her way towards you, her eyes lighting up at the sight of you and she saw your shoulders sag down a little, "[Name]-senpai!"

She hurried over to you, cringing at the volume of her voice when she approached you with a small apology, more students were leaving their classes to finish the clean up and then go home. Both her and yourself left and you let her lead you to the outside, approaching the multiple gyms until she found herself at one in particular.

There was yelling that echoed inside, the squeaking of shoes that dragged on the floor for a millisecond and you looked at the front door, the net that covered the door so that balls wouldn't bounce out of the building. That same net was then pulled away by a hand and you stared as multiple boys began walking out, gradually and all at once.

The same feeling of being a bother came back to you, wanting to be recognised and it was instantly. You would've'e turned around and left immediately if it wasn't for Tachibana who remained incredibly close to you, slowly moving her body slightly behind you when the third and second years were coming out.

There was a boy, tall and well-built and when he saw you, the both of you, he stopped slightly and then approached you. He had dark, spiked up hair with olive-green eyes that watched you curiously with a serious expression, "Is there something I can help you with? Oh, are you here for Trashykawa?"

He stopped and you raised a single brow, Tachibana hadn't said anything and he continued with a sigh, "I'll go get him for yo-"

"Ah- Kunimi-san!" You saw the next boy to walk out of the gym, he didn't appear as physically tired as the other boys of the team. There was no indication that he had been sweating or even playing despite wearing the comfortable-looking sports attire.

The boy, a first year had walked out with another boy behind him. The other boy was really tall, if you ignored his tall hair then you could see how he was most likely one of the tallest of the team. His dark hair was pointed straight up and he also looked at Tachibana as she was jogging to the smaller boy.

"Tachibana-san.. Are you alright?"

She held her arms to herself as she grew increasingly aware of the attention she was getting. Other than that, the other boys either stopped to look out of curiousity or they began leaving to change and go home. You looked at the spiky-haired boy in front of you as he gazed back at you after seeing Tachibana begin talking to Kunimi.

"Oh.. Alright, well I'm Iwaizumi Hajime, the vice captain. We've just finished practice, if that's what you were here for." He noticed the way your face dropped. It wasn't that noticeable but he didn't say anything and the silence was deafening, "May I... come here... next time you have practice?"

He didn't quiet understand what was going on but he didn't have any reason to deny you from watching the team. He wasn't sure if you'd have to also sit in the stands with the girls that usually come for the team captian or if he could allow you to sit on the bleachers besides the court."Uh sure, you can come during period 4, that's usually when we start."

They had been practising for so long.. From period 4 to the end of the school day. Previously, you didn't even know that there was a volleyball team like this, all physical educational classes were ignored and avoided but now you had been taken here, "Thank yo-"

"Iwa-chan, don't leave without me~! Why'd you leave me to clean up myself!"

Another boy caught your attention when he stepped out of the gym with a whiny face, a high-pitched voice to go with it as he looked at the Iwaizumi-san. Before Iwaizumi could get a reply, the boy with the chocolate-brown hair who had eyes of the same colour had stopped upon realising that there were two girls; cute girls nonetheless, standing right in the middle of his team.

Most of them had dispersed, only Kunimi and his friend were near Tachibana and Iwaizumi and this other tall boy were there as well. A smile appeared on the newcomers face and you stared, unfazed and Iwaizumi groaned lowly to himself, "Shut up Shittykawa, your voice is so annoying."

"You're so mean, Iwa-chan!"

He stepped forward now, a sports bag hanging over his shoulder as he walked in a way that suggested he was tired. You didn't know how they practised and you didn't know how volleyball was played - properly, so you didn't say anything until Kunimi was walking closer to you with Tachibana.

"[Name]-senpai, this is Kunimi. He's in my class."

"Hey! You're that girl from the hallway! Do you have more paintings?" 'Trashykawa' or 'Shittykawa' was in front of you, literally and almost in your face but you stepped back slowly to put some distance between both of you. He smiled widely, closing his eyes to appear attractive but he didn't really have to try.

You'd be lying if you said he wasn't attractive but his charisma was overwhelming and the tone of his voice almost made you cringe. It didn't sound real, authentic and natural, it was distasteful and you only shifted your attention to the first year boy who was watching - or glaring - at his captain though his body language told you he was bored and tired.

"Kunimi-san.. It's nice to meet you."

He nodded in reply, opening his mouth a little as a couple of words fell from his thin lips, "[Name]-senpai, Tachibana-san told me you're in the art club with her."

Oikawa gaped, his mouth dropped and he didn't dare look at his best friend to see the condescending grin he'd receive, "Why do I feel like I've lost to Kunimi-chan?!"

He was ignored again, Kunimi looked at you and you looked at him, conversing casually as Tachibana avoided the third-years look of utter shock when she turned pink at the sight of him.

"I am.. I- Tachibana-san.. She said I should come here to find something to paint.. I was feeling as if I should do a portrait and well, she suggested you - because you both know each other."

He looked surprised, his eyes widened a bit and the boy beside him also grew surprised instead of wearing that scowl he wore when he realised he wasn't going to get home when he wanted to now.

"Me? Well... I guess it's whatever, I just have to stand in one spot and let you paint, right? When do you want to do it?"

"Ehh? Hello, I'm still standing here?!" Oikawa earned a slap across the back of his head and Tachibana jumped, Iwaizumi glared at him and then readjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder, "Shut up, you're interrupting them, Crappykawa."

"Me?! She's the one who ignored me!" He thrusted his palms in your direction and again, you didn't blink an eye his way, "Why doesn't she want to paint me? Hey, why won't you paint me?! I want to see your paintings!"

He was droning on like a child and it slightly exasperating, Kunimi had successfully ignored him after inhaling deeply, closing his eyes for a moment and you mirrored him though outwardly, both Kunimi and the boy next to him saw nothing on your face. Iwaizumi began walking away but 'Crappykawa' seemed stubborn. He stayed put but whipped his head around towards you and then his best friend, "Iwa-chan! Don't leave me!"

"I don't want to paint you."

A single sentence rendered him gaping like a fish out of water and you stared at him indifferently for a few seconds longer after turning to the first year, "My style isn't to just stand there and I'll paint, Kunimi-san.. I actually prefer getting to know my models before painting them - that's why I'd like to know if you'd really like to go through with it."

He stayed silent, tilting his head faintly and you continued, "I don't draw or paint what's on the outside. I'd like to watch you play and see what you're like - please, if you agree, don't put up a front. That's all I'd like. I hope I won't be a burden to you."

He was quiet after you finished speaking, Tachibana stood by his side as well and she watched the face you made though it looked as if you were neutral; bored even, but your eyes showed hope and desire.

"I-.. I guess it's alright.. I mean, If that's how you do it then I don't have a proble-"

"As if! You don't even come to practise!" Oikawa had bellowed from the side, watching like an intruder who received two glares as the boy with the tall hair and Tachibana had looked at him in surprise. The third year grinned triumphantly with two hands on his hips, his posture straight and smug.

"Is this true, Kunimi-san?"

He looked at you, aloof and nodded, "Sometimes I don't, It's tiring."

A thoughtful look crossed your face and the other boy nudged his friend, "Kunimi-san, should you have really said that?" He grew louder as he directed his attention to you, "Ahh maybe s-someone else will do-"

"That's right! I can be a model, I think I'd suit that title the best, anyway - I mean, look at me."

Again, the volleyball captain almost yelled, stepping forward quickly and he spoke again, quickly, "I'll do whatever you want and in exchange, you let me see that painting again, it was you, right?" Right?"

A sigh fell from your mouth and you stepped back again, two fingers lifting towards your face to pinch the bridge of your nose, "I took it down because they didn't get permission. That wasn't mine."

You had noticed the odd look on Tachibana's face but a single glance caused any queries to disappear as he tightened her lips together, "Kunimi-san, if it isn't too much, I'd like to watch you practise tomorrow, please? Is it safe to say that you'll let me do a portrait of you?"

"I don't believe you! That painting was- it was, I don't get art and stuff but it was really cool! It made me feel really sad though, like the painter felt worthless or something like that, it was yours, wasn't it?!"

He was pointed at you fiercely, his eyes were bright as he was completely sure of everything he was saying and you ceased breathing for only a second to see the look in his eyes when he spoke of the painting making him feel sad.

There was no way he could find those emotions within the art, it wasn't possible because no one had ever said anything like that about your paintings before. Again, Kunimi glared at his captain and spoke lowly, to you, "I'll come to practise, I'll do your portrait too [Name]-senpai."

"Th-than-.. thank you."

Oikawa felt himself sink within himself as he stared at your face. You were looking at the ground, turning to walk around Oikawa as he felt his mouth fall open, his eyes wide with disbelief and he knew for sure it was you. He just didn't expect the display of sheer panic crossing your face like a tidal wave when you practically ran away.

Oiks you bih