i find myself walking home with a smile on my face and an iwaizumi by my side, and even though we can't speak, we can still have fun.

i point out small things as we walk and he shows me the signs. i remember maybe three — tree, sidewalk and shoes — but it's good fun. it's interesting. he's interesting.

we haven't even had a proper conversation. but he's interesting.

when we get to his house — i know because he points at it and walks towards the doorway — he turns, grabs his phone and hands it over to me, an empty contact on the display. i look up at him, raising my eyebrows, and he gestures to the screen.

oh my god he's asking me for my number.

i quickly enter my number and my name — kanji and furigana, just to be sure — and my number before handing it back to him proudly, smiling brightly, and he smiles back and i feel my heart skip a beat. is this love at first sight? it has to be, right? i don't fucking know what else this is because holy shit, every movement he makes just completely entrances me.

i jump when i feel my phone buzz and excuse myself, much to his amusement, which i now know is because it was him who texted me.

'nice to finally know your name'

i laugh softly, as he's typing again.

'i thought it'd be easier for us to talk now that we can text. thanks for inviting me to your practice today, i had fun.'

i smile at my phone as i send a message back; 'you can come along anytime!! i had fun too!'

'really?'

'of course!'

'thank you. i have to help mom with dinner, so, text me when you get home?'

'i will! bye iwaizumi!!"

i grin up at him and wave excitedly, and he smiles back. my heart's beating obnoxiously, and i swear he can hear, and it's all so fucking cliché. i spin around on my heels and glance over my shoulder, only to see him walk inside, bag slung over his shoulder. i blush slightly. 'text me when you get home'.

—

i do, of course, with a friendly 'i'm home safe!!' before i sit down in front of the steaming bowl of ramen my mom made for me, speaking a quick "itadakimasu" before digging in. my phone buzzes soon after, and i jump to check it.

'good. are you tired?'

'definitely. two-on-two's are intenser than normal matches'

'me too, i'll probably be sore tomorrow. do you practice a lot?'

'all days but monday! i usually practice until later, but coach let us go early, so you're lucky
（＾Ｏ＾）'

'i'm glad, i guess?'

'you should be!!'

'then i am ^_^'

'so how did you come to like volleyball?'

'my dad was a professional player for a few years. but since i'm deaf i can't communicate with anyone properly, so it makes games really difficult. i'd rather stay out than be an obstacle for my team.'

'well, i had fun playing with you today! you hit a lot of my sets perfectly with signals that we'd only just thought of!'

'that's because you're a naturally good setter.'

oikawa bit his lip, gulping. 'i'm not.'

'you're really talented.'

'i had to work my ass off to be where i am now, and i'm still being overtaken by people much younger than i.'

'i take it it's a long story?'

'it is... my kouhai in junior high ruined my life, basically. i had no self control. i hit him across the face once, i was so fucking crazy. because i was jealous that he had raw talent and i had to work for years to be able to set properly.'

'but it paid off, didn't it?'

'i'm a better overall player, yes, but as a setter... i can't compete.'

'you're a communication genius. that's your talent. i'm deaf and we almost managed to win.'

'i guess...'

'don't worry. i wouldn't ask for another setter and it seems like your team wouldn't either. you worked hard to make your talent grow and you created something great.'

'iwaizumi... thank you.'

'sorry, was that too personal?'

'no, no it was exactly what i needed. thank you! (≧∀≦)'

'anytime. i need to get to my homework, so i'm gonna go. i'll try to text you tonight. it's nice to really get to know you.'

'likewise iwa-chan!'

'...iwa-chan?'

'iwa-chan!'

'well. good night, oikawa.'

when i take another bite, my ramen's cold. but that doesn't really matter.