(chapter xvii)

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

The entire weekend passed by, and Yuna found herself growing restless. Her hands longed to play music, to express herself through the familiar notes and melodies.

But with her attention focused on assisting her brother with the tutoring, she found no time for her own passions.

The itch in her hands grew more intense, a yearning for the connection she felt when the music took over.

Sunday proved to be an even busier day than usual, as Asahi and Daichi arrived to lend a hand. Yuna was aware that entrusting the task to them would not be feasible, as she was determined to see it through.

The day was filled with the four of them tirelessly working to help the two first-year students, leaving no room for leisure or relaxation.

Monday arrived, and Yuna, who typically managed to wake up on time and stay organized, found herself in a rush as she hurried to school. The buildup of stress, including her inability to enjoy music and now being late for the train, felt like the final straw.

The wait at the train station only fueled her frustration, exacerbating the sense of being overwhelmed.

The usually calm and composed Yuna struggled to keep her emotions in check as she tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the train to arrive.

Her irritation was further fueled by the loud noise of the platform, the people bustling around, and the constant announcements over the speaker.

Finally, the train arrived, but it seemed like everyone had the same destination as Yuna, causing it to be much more crowded than usual.

She squeezed her way in, finding herself surrounded by people, and let out a deep sigh, feeling trapped in the sea of bodies.

A sense of claustrophobia crept in as the train packed even tighter, leaving little to no personal space between passengers.

Yuna clutched onto the railing, feeling her frustration and discomfort intensify with each passing moment.

The jostling of the train and the constant bumping against strangers tested her patience to the limit.

She fought the urge to vent her frustration on the person standing too close to her, knowing it wouldn't help in the slightest.

The journey seemed to drag on for an eternity, and Yuna's patience was wearing thin.

The loud conversations and constant noise around her felt like a drill hammering into her head, amplifying her stress and helplessness.

Each announcement from the speakers made the already cramped space seem even smaller, and the heat from the crowd only added to the discomfort.

Yuna couldn't help but feel like she was suffocating, her frustration and agitation reaching a pinnacle.

As the train doors finally opened, Yuna didn't care about the people she bumped into as she forcefully made her way out. All she wanted was some fresh air and room to breathe. Pushing her way through the crowd, she finally stepped out onto the platform, gasping for breath.

After momentarily catching her breath, Yuna wasted no time in continuing on her way. She quickly left the station and started making her way towards school, eager to put the stressful train ride behind her.

Upon arriving at the main gates, Yuna was met with a large crowd of students all making their way into the campus.

Although she had arrived on time for classes, the sea of people was not an easy sight to navigate through. She took a deep breath, preparing herself to deal with the people she usually tried her best to avoid.

Oikawa's devoted fans were a sight to behold, and Yuna had always managed to avoid them due to her punctuality and strategic maneuvering through the classrooms. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't escape the intense stares from the fans that day.

She could feel their burning gazes, and it added a layer of discomfort to her already stressful morning.

"Sugawara-chan/Sugawara-san," Yuna's eyes widened as a firm arm draped over her shoulder and voices echoed on both sides of her. She took a moment to process the situation, then turned to look in both directions. The person with their arm over her shoulder was none other than Takahiro Hanamaki, and the one standing beside her was Issei Matsukawa.

Hanamaki and Matsukawa were both in the same year as her, but in different classes, and they were also on the school's volleyball team. Although she had occasionally chatted with them during practice, they were not exactly friends.

"Hanamaki...Matsukawa?" She addressed them, and Hanamaki responded with a cheerful grin, while Matsukawa's messy black hair bobbing in affirmation.

Hanamaki maintained his arm around her shoulder and steered her into a slow walk, with Matsukawa matching their pace.

Takahiro continued, "Tooru and Hajime came to us earlier, asking us to keep an eye on you since they had to meet with the upperclassmen unexpectedly. We were told you arrived ahead of schedule, though."

"Ah, I overslept today..." Yuna admitted in a hushed tone.

Hanamaki chuckled at her confession, remarking casually, "Even you have those days, huh?"

Yuna's cheeks tinged with a hint of embarrassment at the thought of oversleeping. She typically prided herself on being punctual, but even she succumbed to occasional oversleeping.

Hanamaki smiled amusedly at her reaction, finding her rare lack of composure endearing.

"It happens to the best of us," Matsukawa chimed in, his voice even-toned. Although his expression was neutral, there was a hint of lightness in his eyes.

Both males found amusement in seeing Yuna, who normally exuded an air of composure, display a moment of vulnerability.

For the most part, the walk was filled with casual exchanges of conversation. Most of the talking was initiated by the males, discussing the meeting that was underway.

Yuna listened keenly as they mentioned that Tooru and Hajime were aiming to secure higher positions on the team for the upcoming year.

Yuna harbored no doubts about the matter; Tooru and Hajime's status as the talented rising aces was unquestionable. It was almost humorous how they seemed to work in sync, like a perfect package deal.

They were constantly pushing each other to higher levels, extracting the best from each other effortlessly.

Hanamaki's playful voice rang out, "The princess has been delivered!"

Yuna was jolted out of her thoughts as she found herself thrust forward into the waiting arms of Tooru and Hajime.

Tooru quickly pulled her in, draping his arm over her shoulder and spinning her around.

Tooru flashed a thumbs up at Hanamaki and Matsukawa in appreciation, and as the two returned the gesture and walked off, he turned his attention to her.

"Morning, Yu-chan~"

Yuna let out a weary sigh at his cheerful greeting. She didn't even bother to question the scene she had just witnessed and simply replied with a weary "Morning."

They took a moment to gather near their classrooms, engaging in light conversation. The focus shifted to discussing their respective weekends, and the boys even shared details about the meeting.

Yuna suddenly remembered something she had bought for Tooru. While Hajime had already entered the classroom, she held onto Tooru's arm, preventing him from going in just yet.

"To-kun, I have something for you..."

Yuna rummaged through her bag, eventually pulling out a small paper bag. "My brother and his teammates helped me..."

Tooru's eyes widened in surprise as he received the bag, peering inside to see a white knee support.

"This is a brace..." he repeated, disbelief etched on his features.

Yuna nodded slowly, her gaze lowered as she continued, "I'm not sure whether you'd consider wearing it but, I thought it would make your practices easier..."

Tooru's expression softened at her concern and thoughtfulness, the knee support in his hands. He knew her well enough not to disregard the gift, as it was clearly a gesture from the heart.

Tooru chuckled lightly and ruffled her hair affectionately as he reassured, "I'll wear it."

Knowing the significance of the gesture, Tooru accepted the gift, although he didn't relish the thought of needing injury prevention.

"I know you meant well, Yu-chan. And... well, as much as I don't want to think about it, it's best if I do start taking better care of myself or else—," he admitted.

As he spoke, Yuna interrupted him, "It's okay. I'm glad you'd wear it. I was seriously considering teaming up with Iwaizumi

Tooru's complexion paled at the thought of Iwaizumi and Yuna teaming up to ensure he wore the brace. He quickly reassured her, claiming he would "wear it with pride"

Yuna hummed in acknowledgment, patting his shoulder before walking into her class. Just before she entered, she turned her head to send him a small smile before disappearing.

As Yuna gracefully entered the class, she failed to notice Tooru blushing furiously behind her. With the paper bag still in his hand, he frantically covered his face, overwhelmed by her cuteness in that moment.

Unbeknownst to her, Tooru suppressed a sound of adoration, silently acknowledging her innocent, adorable demeanor.