To keep brief, I missed writing this story so much and I continued to get notifications from people still reading it, and I love that you guys loved it. Also I'm watching season 4 so my love for haikyuu was revived.
Gotta give the people what they want...

*Also fyi: Texts italicized are flashbacks*

The way home was quiet and lonely. I stared out the bus window into darkness, giving me the canvas to relive the events that had just occurred.

I went on a date. And not just any date, but one with Oikawa Tooru. I couldn't believe it. And even more so, I couldn't believe that I'd enjoyed it. Not only did everything feel real, like he wasn't getting me going as a fan girl, but there was a human connection that I hadn't felt in a long time.

"So now that you're in on my super secret space club," Oikawa said, I felt his head turn to me, "what's your secret obsession?"

I stared blankly. "I don't know." Oh how dull could I be? "I mean I'm pretty busy with school, and helping out the team, I guess I don't really do much."

"That's a lie, everyone has something they at least want to do." I thought again, harder this time. Did I really have no dreams that passed "level one" tier?

"I like playing volleyball." I finally stated. And I felt Oikawa's anticipation release. "I mean, I'm the assistant manager. But I like to play volleyball too, I just don't do so anymore. But the exhilaration is something completely different, which I guess you know already." I trailed off. I was talking volleyball to a great volleyball player. I must sound so amateur.

"If it gives you that feeling, why don't you play?" His inquiry was serious, like he wanted to look deep inside me. And that suddenly made me want to back down.

"I like seeing my friends succeed. That's all." I suddenly felt like getting the conversation topic off of myself.

The bus halted to a stop. Pulling me out of my trance. I was tired, and it was making me relive and rethink what tonight meant. Would we talk again after this? Would he text me, or would I text him? Who am I even supposed to tell about this, if anyone.

I stepped off the bus and into the brisk air, which woke me up a bit even more. Since the bus stop was located on the same street as my home, I quickly made it inside. The lights were off and I knew my mom was sleeping already. Good. I thought. I couldn't take questions how "how it went?" I barely knew myself.

I undressed in my room and slipped into shorts and a tee, getting into my bed almost immediately afterwards. Tonight was good for me, I assured myself.

I knocked out within minutes.
____________________________________

I rolled over as my alarm blared in my ears. I was tempted to snooze it, but shook myself awake before I could fall back into my blankets. I groaned, weekend practice. I forced myself onto my feet and into the bathroom to wash up.

When I stepped back into my room, now more aware from the splash of cold water I'd doused myself in, I realized the remnants from last night. The printed dress on the floor, a shoulder bag on the chair, and a flower sitting gracefully on my desk.

I stood before Oikawa as the bus pulled up. "Thanks." I mustered.

"Thank you, (l/n)-San." He smiled. "Here. I guess I got this for you." He handed me a white flower rimmed with pink.

"You guess?" I laughed.

Oikawa's face turned down. "Well, I did. I just didn't know how to give it to you. It's cheesy now that I'm doing it."

"It's okay. Thank you, again." I smirked as I stepped onto the bus. The doors closed and I quickly took a seat, forcing myself not to look back. As we pulled away I released a glance. Oikawa walked away in the opposite direction, holding a now compacted telescope, a picnic basket, and a folded blanket. My smirk crept into a wider smile.

I stared at the flower for a while longer. So it really wasn't a dream, huh. I thought. I grabbed an empty water bottle off the ground and filled it up with water from the bathroom sink, then quickly plopped the flower through the top. There was no sense in letting it die, it was a pretty flower after all.

I glanced at the clock, 7:24 am. Oh no, how many times had I snoozed that alarm? I snatched my gym bag from off the ground. A quick sniff of the clothes inside, and I deemed them acceptable. It wasn't like I participated in much activity that caused me to sweat anyways. 

After whipping my clothes on, I stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen, where my mother stood serene with a cup of tea in her hand. I grabbed a banana out of the fruit bowl as I dashed by her. 

"How did last night go?" She managed to get it out as I reached the doorway.

"Fine." I said quickly. "I'm late though, see ya, Mom." Although I was truthfully leaving in a rush, I was glad I could use it as an excuse to get out of her inquiries. I launched out the door, 7:38 am, read my phone screen. It usually would be a 30-minute walk to the school. If I wanted to make our usual 8:00 am start-time, I'd have to run some of the way.

I sprinted through streets beginning to awake with the sun now risen. People wandered to bus stops and errands, while some prepared their shops for opening hours. A cat trotted along with my shadow, caste on the concrete wall to my right. I was beginning to get winded, and felt a cramp creep into my side. I used to be able to run miles just a few years back, man was I out of shape. 

Noya opened the door lamely. "How long did you run tonight?" He asked, perfectly used to this routine. I stepped into his house and followed him through the foyer. 

"Just over two miles, I'll probably run another two after I leave here." I checked my phone as we entered the kitchen. 8:22 pm. Noya reached into the fridge for a bottle of water. It's almost like he was waiting for me to pop up at his door. 

"I'll never understand  how you can run this much even after volleyball practice." He said as I began chugging the water. This was a statement he said often, like after every time I responded he forgot my answer. Or perhaps it could've been his way of checking to see if anything had changed.

"Well by the time I get home, hopefully he'll be asleep, or I'll fall asleep without being bothered." Noya met my eyes, and I glanced down. I felt as if he was going to propose something, a solution to my life dilemmas, or maybe he was going to give me a hug. 

"How are you going to continue your crazy schedule once we get into high school." Was all he said. "We're going to have way more homework then."

"I'm thinking of quitting volleyball." I said it quickly, like ripping off a band-aid.

I felt Noya tense up. "You love volleyball though, and you're amazing at it too. If you keep doing it you could get onto the All Japan team!" 

"It's not the same lately." I looked down into the half-empty water bottle. Noya stepped closer to me, and put his hand on my arm. It was a small gesture, but I felt his empathy through it.

I crouched outside of the gym door, panting like a dog in the summer. I had to walk in between the sprints it took to get here on time, but I made it anyways. I already heard volleyballs smacking the floor. I was supposed to help set up the net, but looks like I hadn't gotten here on time for that. 

Inside, Noya was prepared to receive serves from Yamaguchi, Asahi, Kageyama, and Hinata. Daichi, Suga, and Kiokyo chatted around the closet, and Tanaka and Tsukishima filled up their water bottles. 

"(f/n)!" Noya shouted from the court, "Where have you been? You're just about late." 

"Quit acting like you're my parent!" I yelled back, still out of breath. He smiled, and turned back to the servers. 

I put my gym shoes on and entered. Today was a rough start, I had to get my mind back in the now.