(chapter xiv)

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

As soon as Yuna arrived at the train station, she caught sight of Tooru leaning against a wall, surrounded by a group of infatuated female admirers. She let out a resigned sigh before leisurely walking over, allowing him to bask in the attention while she kept her pace unhurried.

But almost instantly, Tooru's sharp eyes spotted her, and he discreetly bid farewell to the group of girls before skilfully maneuvering through them to reach her.

"Are you sure you didn't want to talk to them longer?" Yuna inquired, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

Tooru chuckled and shook his head, waving his hand dismissively. "No, I invited you, Yu-chan," he repeated, his tone light and nonchalant.

Meanwhile, the group of girls watched the two with envious gazes, clearly disappointed that their chance to speak with Tooru had been cut short.

"I wouldn't mind if you invited them," Yuna responded with a casual shrug, indicating her indifference to the presence of the group of girls.

Tooru's face betrayed a moment of slight disappointment at her indifference, but he quickly masked it, replying, "It's fine~." He adjusted the duffle bag casually slung over his shoulder and redirected the conversation. "Anyways, are you hungry?"

The mention of food captured Yuna's attention, and she quickly nodded in affirmation. Although her facial expression remained stoic, her tightly clenched fist and eager head movements conveyed her excitement clearly to Tooru.

Tooru chuckled lightly at her reaction before nodding in understanding. "Looks like someone's hungry," he commented with a knowing smile, enjoying her nonverbal cues.

While Tooru was still far from being an expert in reading Yuna's feelings, he was gradually learning that her words carried more weight than any facial expression ever could. Occasionally, he caught glimpses of her facade slipping, revealing moments of vulnerability, but they remained fleeting and not nearly as open as she was with the others.

Tooru's voice filled the air with excitement. "Great, because there's this new café that just opened up recently, and I've been really excited to go," he shared, gesturing with his head for Yuna to accompany him.

She followed his lead as they began walking together toward the café. Tooru's enthusiasm was evident, his words carrying a mixture of anticipation and genuine interest.

"It's said to have some amazing pastries and coffee," he continued, his tone eager. "I've heard their chocolate cake is to die for."

Yuna hummed in acknowledgment as he spoke, listening to his description of the new café. The mention of pastries and coffee piqued her interest, and the thought of a heavenly chocolate cake made her stomach rumble lightly.

As they walked together, Tooru and Yuna engaged in casual conversation. They shared basic likes and dislikes, occasionally pausing to chuckle or agree on certain points. The topic of conversation remained lighthearted, just two friends getting to know each other better.

As they continued walking, Yuna suddenly posed a question that left Tooru slightly flustered.

"So, why did you ask me to get you Yakisoba bread over Milk bread?" she inquired, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Tooru recalled his nephew Takeru's good-natured teasing about the choice of food, which had managed to get under his skin and make him embarrassed about it. As he explained the reason behind his preference, Yuna couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

Tooru's pace halted, and he attempted to catch a glimpse of her face as she chuckled, but her agile maneuvers made it difficult for him to do so. After a brief struggle, he eventually gave up, realizing she was intent on hiding her laughter from him.

"I will see it soon, just you wait," Tooru muttered in frustration as Yuna simply rolled her eyes in response.

"I don't see why you're so interested in seeing my expressions," she retorted. "It's not like they're that exceptional or thought-provoking."

Tooru walked alongside her, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "I'm just curious about the faces you make, Yu-chan," he confessed. "Honestly, I've never seen someone so stoic in any situation."

Yuna explained with a shrug, "I just got used to not showing them to people who aren't my family. It's not that I don't want to; it's just a habit."

Tooru paused in his steps and bent forward, his face inches away from hers. He winked at her with a mischievous smile, declaring confidently, "I'll just have to do my best to get them to show."

Yuna reacted with a sigh, both amused and slightly exasperated by his sudden declaration.

Upon arriving at the café, they discovered a crowded scene, and momentarily considering waiting. However, with the sun setting, their rumbling stomachs became their deciding factor, leading them to seek alternative dining options.

Finally, they found themselves seated in a small street-side ramen restaurant, still the only customers. Neither of them voiced any complaints, as their hunger overpowered any disappointment over their initial plans.

"So," Yuna spoke up, turning to him as they waited for their food to arrive, "You knew that I had noticed your knee, didn't you?" Tooru let out a sigh, resting his palm against his chin as he faced her.

He responded with a slight nod, "It was kinda hard to miss, with the way you kept watching my knee during practice. At first, I figured you didn't notice, but then when I played a game, I saw your eyes always fixated on my leg rather than my hands. That's when I knew you had figured it out."

"I'm sorry for being so observant," Yuna murmured, her head bowed slightly. "I know you don't like dwelling on it, but it's hard to turn a blind eye to it."

Tooru's gaze shifted forward, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "Is it because I'm not fully focused on the game, keeping you from hearing the sound again?"

Yuna stared at him with a look of slight offense, letting out an indignant huff. "Hearing the sound of your playing is the last thing on my mind. Maybe you don't believe it, but I'm genuinely concerned about your injury. I know I don't know you well enough to speak like this, but I can see how much you love volleyball; the passion you have for the game is so strong that I can't help but worry you'll only make your injury worse and ruin your chances in the future."

Tooru turned towards her, noticing the frown on her face. He lowered the arm that had been propping up his face and reached out to gently pat her head.

"My bad, Yu-chan," he apologized. "I didn't mean to be so doubtful. I guess it's just that I hate the thought of people being overly concerned about something I caused to myself."

He clenched his fist tightly and lowered his head, his expression filled with determination. "I still feel like I'm not there yet—not where I want to be."

"Hey, To-kun," Yuna called out, drawing his attention. "Nothing good comes from pushing yourself beyond your own limits. Trust me, I know exactly what it's like to constantly want to improve myself."

Her gaze shifted, locking eyes with him. "For a long time, I've been betrayed and let down by people I thought were my friends. That's the reason why I stopped showing my true feelings."

Yuna paused, placing a hand over her heart. "Before meeting both you and Iwaizumi-kun, besides my family," she whispered, "Music was the only way I could express who I truly was. But ever since we became friends, I actually think I want to try smiling more, laughing, showing anger or sadness without fearing other people's judgment. So, I'm sorry if me meddling hasn't been something you've wanted, but you've become someone important to me, and I hope you can forgive me for something you don't like."

"Ahh," Tooru whined, placing his head on the tabletop. "You can't go saying such cute things and not expect me to get all embarrassed," he protested, his face turning slightly red.

Yuna couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction, and this time, when he looked up, she didn't shy away from him. For the first time, he saw her laugh without trying to hide her face. The sight made him laugh even more, lifting his spirits and erasing any previous concerns from earlier.