i scribble down a question on my notebook quickly as i sit down at my desk again, tearing it out and placing it on iwaizumi's desk.

'would you like to come join volleyball practice? sensei slipped you seemed to like it ^_^'

he takes it, and i watch him as he scans it, before he raises his eyebrow at me with a questioning look on his face. i smile brightly, nodding to hopefully encourage me, and he pointedly taps his right ear with his index finger, reminding me. i take my pen and start writing again.

'don't worry! we have a huge team, i can miss an hour of practice to show you around (*'ω'*)'

he writes down, and i read 'are you sure?' and i'm saddened by the fact that he'd think i'm not. because i am. i really, truly am. so i nod furiously and he smiles up at me, nodding in agreement, and he stands up, following me to our destination.

it's awkward to not speak. i want to tell him about our team, ask him about his past experiences, get him to say anything, and it pains me not to be able to. i'm a person that uses words a lot. i can read people, but speech is a huge part of that, and i almost feel handicapped now that i'm with my hours-old crush and i can't even ask him a thing.

i point at the club room as we arrive. the cicadas chirp, and at least they break the silence as i open the door, and let him in, following him after. he looks at me expectantly, wondering what's gonna happen.

"ah..." i say quietly, holding up my bag, and grabbing my jersey out, "get changed?" he nods, and turns around — what a blessing, this boy — and i quickly slip everything on, stuffing my uniform into my bag clumsily, hoping to get into the gym early.

the door opens as i slip on my shirt, and in walk yahaba and watari, surprised by the new member.

"oh, uh, hi?" yahaba says, confused as to why he's here, "who's this?"

"oh, that's iwaizumi hajime. he transferred to my class."

"hey there!" watari chirps. iwaizumi doesn't respond, as he has his back towards them, so they're not in his sight. watari frowns. "is he okay? that's kind of rude."

"he's deaf," i inform him, "i, uh, he's sitting next to me, and apparently he likes volleyball, so i decided to bring him along."

"oh, he's deaf," yahaba says, as if it should have been obvious, "got it." he walks over, gently tapping him on his shoulder. iwaizumi spins around, and looks up at him, surprised, before bowing.

then, yahaba does a miraculous thing.

he lifts up his hands and signs something, and iwaizumi starts beaming, radiating the most intense happiness i've ever witnessed as he signs back. yahaba lets out a small laugh, and watari and i look each other in the eye, confused as hell.

"he says it's nice to meet us, and sorry for ignoring you," yahaba says after two more minutes, turning to us, "and thanks to oikawa-senpai for bringing him along."

"you know sign language?" i ask, surprised to the max. he nods proudly. of course he does.

"my sister's deaf in her left ear and bad-hearing in her right, so it's easier this way," he explains, "anything you need to say?"

"there's so much," i murmur, and yahaba raises an eyebrow. i shake my head quickly, saying that it's fine, and if i need to ask anything, i'll write it down.

"actually," i start, "could you ask him if this is okay? me hanging around him? i mean, he's allowed to go home if he wants to, i just thought..." yahaba turns to iwaizumi, and i bring my hand to my neck again, rubbing the skin softly out of nervousness. iwaizumi grins at me, sticking his thumbs up and i almost swoon.

"he says he's very thankful for your help and hospitality," he chuckles, "honestly, oikawa-senpai, i wouldn't worry. he used the thank you sign at least three times in a sentence."

my heart skips a beat as i grab iwaizumi's wrist, yelling out a 'thanks, shigeru-chan!' and i head out, iwaizumi's arm in my hand, my face red and iwaizumi's too as i pull him along to the gym.