CHAPTER THREE
Akira's PoV
Today is the first day of the training camp for the Nekoma game. I'm still having mixed feelings about the practice game because... reasons. Reasons that I'm not about to let out first. I'm not ready yet. I still had to come to school... ugh.
I got dressed and let my brown, wavy, hair hang down on my back. This is the first time I'll be coming to school without styling my hair. I put on my light make up and head down for breakfast. Unlike yesterday, Daichi is nowhere to be found.
"Mom? Where's Daichi?" I asked my mom who's humming while cleaning the dishes. "He left early, honey."
I ate my breakfast and went back up to my room to get my things. I packed up last night, since I'll be coming with Daichi on their training camp. It's just a few outfits that's enough for 4 days so it fit inside my small traveling bag. I looked at the scarf on my table. I took it and wrapped it around my neck. I almost forgot about you~ I went down, complete with my things. I took my bento box from the counter, put it in my backpack and kissed my mom good bye.
I looked at my wrist watch as I walked on the streets. I'm early today...
I passed by a convenience store, the same one I went inside on my first day, not Sakonoshita, and went inside. I took two boxes of vanilla flavored Pocky sticks. I wanted to make Nishinoya-senpai feel special yesterday as a thanks but I ended up buying everyone and I'm afraid that made him feel less than I intended him to feel.
I paid for them and went outside the convenience store. It's a good thing that I brought my scarf with me because it's extra freezing out here. I opened one box and put the other one on my backpack.
I'm walking towards the gate when someone walked beside me. I looked at him and saw Nishinoya-senpai.
"Good morning, Nishinoya-senpai. Pocky sticks?" I offered him. He laughed at me and took one from my box. "Good morning. It's too early for chocolates, don't you think?"
"Nope." I made sure to pop the letter p of my sentence. "And it's not chocolate, it's milk." He laughed at me again and we proceeded to get inside the school. Nishinoya-senpai opened the door for me and we were greeted by noisy chatters from our classmates.
We both went to our seats and Tanaka-san went over to me and took one stick from my box. Nishinoya-senpai smacked Tanaka-san on the head and the bald guy winced in pain. "Noya-san, what's your problem?!" He said, still rubbing his head.
"Get permission first, you idiot!"
"Okay. Can I get another one, Akira-san?" He smiled goofy at me. I don't mind, actually. The fact that he was able to get one of my things without being too weird about it means that he's already comfortable with me. And I like that.
Just like that, my whole morning is full of shouts and banters but it's fun. I'm happy.
-
Lunch.
I'm gathering my stuff since I'll be eating my lunch with Rinko-chan. Nishinoya-senpai went to the bathroom for a minute and he said he'll be back to get his things. He'll be eating with Tanaka-san somewhere that he didn't told me. He told me to look after his things for a while.
"Akira-chan! Let's go!" Rinko-chan called. Nishinoya-senpai must be coming back by now. I took the box of Pocky sticks from my bag and put it on his desk and attached a sticky note to it and went to the roof tops with Rinko-chan.
Nishinoya's PoV
I came back from the bathroom only to see my seat crowded. Akira-san is nowhere to be found. My classmates looked at me and scrambled away so I can go back to my seat. I looked at them weirdly and looked at my desk and saw a box of Pocky sticks. There's only one person who will leave this.
Huh. There's a note.
[Thank you for yesterday, Nishinoya-senpai. I really appreciate how you defended me yesterday. I'm sorry I wasn't able to treat you well yesterday. Hope this makes up for it~]
I smiled. This is clearly Akira.
"Nishinoya! Who left that note in your desk? Is it an admirer?" One of our classmates asked. I don't want to say Akira's name. They might make a rumor about us and I don't want to cause her any trouble. "Uhm... I don't really know."
"You're so lucky, Nishinoya!"
"It must be nice being admired!"
"Go for it! Ask the mysterious girl out!"
Various of our classmates commented. So that's why they were hanging on my seat. I shook my head. "Nishinoya! Come on!" I looked on the door and saw Ryu.
"Coming!"
-
"Where did you go?" I asked him as he's leading me on the stairs. "I forgot my lunch so I bought food from the cafeteria. What's our classmates shouting about?" Ryu asked me. I sighed. Our classmates are nosy.
"Akira-san left me a box of Pocky sticks in my desk with a note attached to it. Our classmates seemed to think it's from an admirer." I rolled my eyes. Why can't they mind their own business? I bet, our classmates told people that Akira's on our class and other people knew, causing that commotion yesterday morning.
"Don't you think she admires you though, Noya-san?" Ryu teased. Tch. Her? Admire someone like me? "She already has a boyfriend, stupid!" I scowled at him and he grinned in response. "So what if she didn't? Would you have made your move?"
Ryu has a point. If she didn't date Daichi-san... what would I have done? Would I chase after her like we did to Shimizu-senpai? Akira's definitely pretty. She's different from Shimizu-senpai in so many ways but they have their own strengths. They're attractive in their own way.
We reached the top of the stairs and I realized that we're on the roof top. I looked over to the far side and saw Akira-san and another girl from our class sitting under the shade of the tree. They prepared a blanket to sit on. I think the girl's on the volleyball girls team. Rinko?
"Akira-san!" Ryu took off running and greeted Akira-san with a hug. STUPID RYU! YOU ALREADY HAVE SHIMIZU-SENPAI! I followed him and smacked his head. "I'm sorry about him, Akira-san."
"It's okay. Did you get it?" She asked me. I showed her the box I was holding and she smiled in response. "You picked vanilla yesterday so I figured that should be the flavor I'll buy."
"That's sweet. Thank you, Akira-san." She grinned at me. Rinko and Tanaka-san just looked at the two of us. "Ow, uhm... let's eat?" She awkwardly said. We all opened our bentos and started eating. Akira-san and her friend, Rinko, are great company. I always spend my time with Ryu so having new people around sounds like a fresh start.
"So... Akira-san, have you figured out on what club you're going to join?" Rinko asked. Yeah, I did wonder. She's been hanging out on the gym and I never really thought of what club she'll be participating in.
"I haven't thought of anything yet... All I really wanted was to stay in the court and support Daichi." Why isn't she thinking about herself even just for once? I know that she's very considerate, especially when it comes to Daichi-san but maybe she should think about herself too.
I unconsciously gripped my chopsticks too strongly and my food fell on the ground. "Here, Nishinoya-senpai." She took a piece of her lunch and put it in my bento box. She even thought about my well being! I blushed and thanked her.
"Since you spend a lot of time in the gym, why don't you apply for the manager position, Akira-san?" Ryu asked. That makes sense. If they're going to ask me, I would personally like it if she'll be our next manager. Not in a weird way, of course! I'm just saying that, in that way, she can still hang around the team, especially with Daichi-san!
"Yeah, then you could support Daichi-san while being in a club!" I said. I think I said that too enthusiastically. "But... isn't Kiyoko-san the manager?" She said.
"Oh. She's a third year and graduating soon so she's finding a replacement." Ryu added. She became quiet and stared at her food blankly. Is there anything that's bothering her? I put a hand on her shoulder and met her eyes. "Are you okay?"
She smiled weakly and responded. "I would love to be your manager. But... I'm just scared that I'll have to go back to Tokyo and then there'll be no one to be your manager." As I said earlier, she does think about other people's well being before herself. Why is she thinking about these things? These things will only weigh her down.
"Why? Are you going back to Tokyo after this school year?" Rinko asked. Please don't...
"I'm not planning to. But if my own manager suddenly calls me and I'll have to go back, I will move to Tokyo again." Her frown is taking over her beautiful face and I don't like it. I'm saying she's beautiful because she's a model but I still like Shimizu-senpai!
"That's okay! We can get another one! It's going to be hard to manage us all alone, you know. Then after Shimizu-senpai graduates, we'll have two managers!" I said, trying to comfort her. I do hope that this is enough to lift her spirits.
"That's possible?" She asked, stunned. "Yeah!" The three of us, me, Ryu and Rinko shouted happily. "If you say so. Then I'll ask for a form later."
With that, we all went back to our lunches and enjoyed each other's companies.
-
Akira's PoV
"Are we all here?"
"Yes!"
"In four days, we'll play Nekoma, and the Inter-High Preliminaries are soon after. There's no time, and you're still a mess. There's only one thing that can help you win. Training. Training. Training. Retrieve the ball even if you puke." Coach Ukai said. I'm worried about Daichi and the rest but it can't be helped, since they're athletes.
"Okay!" Hinata answered happily, earning chuckles from Suga-san and the others.
-
"Forward!"
Coach Ukai spiked the ball towards Yamaguchi, who failed to receive it.
"Hey! How many last balls do you think you get? Concentrate!" He shouted.
"Once more!" He replied with determination.
After another try, Yamaguchi managed to receive one. Kiyoko-san said he has received five balls in total.
-
"Nice one!"
"Nice kill!"
"Looking good!"
The gym was filled with shouts of passion and determination, driven to fight and take down Nekoma. I still don't know how I'll be able to prove myself useful to the team. I've been hanging out on the gym for three days now. I don't know how to welcome the Nekoma team for the game. I'm still having mixed feelings about meeting them.
"Okay! Let's move!"
The team have been working really hard since afternoon until now. It's already evening and we all went out. "Akira-san! Let me carry your bag!" Nishinoya-senpai offered.
"Don't worry, I can handle..." I brought with me a small traveling bag. "What kind of a Senpai I am if I'm not going to help my Kouhei?" He joked. I gave it to him and we continued our way to the place.
I'm walking beside Nishinoya who's happily walking while glancing at the sky. Nishinoya-senpai and I have hanged out almost the entire day. Our classmates are even teasing us about it earlier.
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Flashback
It's science class and our teachers told us to form a pair. I wanted to pair with Rinko-chan but her seat is too far away. Nishinoya-senpai looked back at my seat, since he's seating in front of me.
"Do you want to be partners, Akira-san? Ryu left me." He glanced at Tanaka-san and scowled at him. "Of course!"
"Okay, class! Position your seats so you could face each other!" The two of us moved our seats. We'll be conducting an experiment and we're all given a microscope per pair. Our lesson is all about cells and we'll need to identify on what phase of mitosis the cells are and something.
The both of us are too invested in the experiment that we didn't even realized that we both went over to look at the microscope at the same time. I've only realized how close his face was when I felt his minty breath on mine. Our eyes went wide and we sprang apart from each other.
We didn't realized that everyone on the class are looking at us. I even saw Tanaka-san grinning at us like a maniac. I think we're both flustered but I refused to look at him. I pushed the microscope in his way without looking at it and he took it.
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I sighed. That was really embarrassing. We stopped trying to think about it so we came back to normal after Science class but our classmates teased us even afterwards.
We're almost at the place and Hinata-kun ran off from us.
"Wow! So we stay here, huh?" Hinata-kun excitedly said as he ran in front of us towards the cabin. I laughed with Nishinoya-senpai, upon seeing Shoyo's excitement.
We all went inside the training camp. Shoyo's excitedly roaming the hallways and is opening each door that he sees. And every time he opens a door, he'll squeal in excitement. My Kouhei is really adorable.
"Calm down, will you?" Kageyama-kun said.
"I've never been to a camp before." He replied. So I'm guessing he never joined a team before Karasuno? Normally, teams go to these places at least once.
"I don't see what's so fun about being with these shabby buffoons." Tsukishima said. Words like that is the reason why Tanaka-san is always shouting at him. The others are calling him 'salty' too...
"Tsukishima!" Tanaka-san shouted. I knew he'll call him out on it.
"There's nothing shabby about being 500 meters from Kiyoko-san!" Nishinoya-senpai praised. I looked at him and he has the same angry expression as Tanaka-san. Wait, so he likes Kiyoko-san too? I don't know why I felt disappointed but I do. I glanced away from him and head to the vending machine near Suga-san. I took out my purse and put the bill in the vending machine.
I chose the bottle of iced coffee. I don't feel like sleeping tonight. Daichi's going to kill me...
"I feel sorry for anyone who can't appreciate the clear air of this almost mountain range." Tanaka-san added. I'm quietly sipping my coffee as I stood next to Suga-san.
"Shimizu lives close by, so she's going home once she's finished." Suga-san replied. The two boys looked defeated and fell on the floor, face planted. Shoyo, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi and Kageyama just stood there, looking at the two boys.
Suga-san walked out on the hallway and I went with him too. I don't know why but I don't want to see Nishinoya-senpai any longer. Takeda-sensei opened the door, only to see Tanaka-san and Nishinoya-senpai on the floor.
"W-What are you two doing here?"
"Take-chan... We're... just..."
I can still see them from where I stood. Kiyoko-san walked on their directions and they caught a glance of her. Heaven seemed to have opened up and shone brightly at Kiyoko-san. The two boys looked happy and relieved as if an angel has touched them. Kiyoko-san is that angel.
I'm sorry if I'm not pretty looking as her. I walked away from them and head over to my assigned room. In my whole career, I've never felt that all the affection towards me are real. I think that they're just infatuated with me because of my occupation. People can go compliment me but there's always a catch. They're networking... or they're social climbing... maybe they need a favor...
I've met someone in Tokyo who never did that to me. Who have valued me as I am. I guess I'm kind of jealous about how Kiyoko-san is loved genuinely by everyone. I miss him... I wish he's with me right now.
I finally arrived at my room and realized that my luggage is not with me, just my back pack. Right... because Nishinoya took it. I sighed again and sat on the floor. I took off my back pack and lied on my stomach on the floor. I opened my phone and browsed through my Instagram feed.
I think back on the things... the people... that I've left in Tokyo. I never told him where I'm going next. I just said that I'll be leaving Tokyo for a year or two and he and I doesn't have to see each other anymore. I told him that I don't want us to meet again, because I'll only bring misfortune for him.
But... I didn't totally disconnected myself from everyone and from him. I'm still following him on our social medias. As I was thinking of him, his post popped up in my feed. It's a photo of his home made dinner. I smiled and I liked his post. I wonder how he's doing...
Does he think about me sometimes? Does my face suddenly pops in his head out of nowhere? Is he thinking of me the way I'm thinking of him? Ugh.
This is pathetic. Why am I wallowing over it now? When I stepped foot here in Miyagi, I was able to distract myself from thinking about him. I never thought that I'll be able to forget about him for a while in the first place.
My phone pinged. I looked over and it's Suga-san. He messaged in our group chat in Instagram.
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Suga-mama:
Everyone, head to the dinner. Be late, and Daichi-san will be mad!
I'm talking to you, Akira! I don't see u anywhere!
Official_Aria:
Coming!
[Official_Aria changed her nickname to Akira]
[Akira changed Daichi_S's nickname into Dadchi]
Dadchi:
Akira, stop messing around and head to the dining room! I'll get you myself.
Akira:
I'd like to see you try, old boy!
Dadchi:
Watch me.
Suga-mama:
Ooh! Hide, Akira-chan!
Tanakathenextace:
This oughta be good!
Tsukishima_Kei:
So childish.
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There's no way that Daichi's actually going to do that. He's just kidding-
The doors of my quarters snapped open and a smug looking Daichi strut inside the room as if he owns it.
"What the hell are you doing here! Get out, Dadchi!" I screamed at him.
"Who are you calling old?! I'm not old!"
"Yes, you are! You are too serious!"
"That's because I'm the captain!"
I lost the will to even answer to him. I realized that I'll be going out of this room and spend time with everyone. I'm having the same feeling that I've gotten on my first day of work. I don't know anyone and I'm all alone in Tokyo. I didn't even know If I'll be able to make friends.
Daichi realized that I became quiet and his scowl turned into a frown. He sat next to me on the floor. "Sis? What's wrong?" He asked worriedly. I don't really know what's wrong. All of a sudden, I remembered Tokyo and my people there.
"I'm just not in the mood, I guess." Lie. I don't want to see Nishinoya-senpai for unknown reasons. I just want to lie here in my room, alone, and reminiscing the good parts of my Tokyo life and how I miss some people there.
"You need to eat, sis. Come on." He helped me get up and we headed to the dining room. Everyone is already seated there and there's yummy looking food on the table. I feel bad that I wasn't able to help with the cooking. I'll help tomorrow...
"Oh! Looks like Daichi did found you!" Suga-san cheered as he saw us. But I guess he realized that I'm not feeling like myself because his smile disappeared and his aura felt awkward.
I heard Shoyo shout from the other end of the table as he took a good look of the food. I sat next to Daichi and Suga-san on my other side.
This is the table setting:
Daichi, Me, Suga, Nishinoya, Tanaka, and Narita
(Table)
Takeda-sensei, Kiyoko-san, Ennoshita, Asahi, Kageyama, and Hinata
"Bon appetit!"
The rest of the guys sat on the other table. It's kind of funny that of all people that I'll be seating apart, it's Kiyoko-san. I felt uneasy just by her presence. I don't hate her or anything... It's just that I feel small around her? Okay, yeah I know that I am much smaller than her. Ha ha, funny. But jokes aside, I do felt intimidated by her beauty.
Maybe she's much more fitting as a model. Maybe I should invite her to my agency. She will be much, much popular and successful than me. Everyone, especially Hinata and Kageyama-kun is happily eating and stuffing their face with food while here I am... wallowing all by myself.
I'm eating my food slowly, I don't feel hungry at all. But I don't want to be rude by not eating anything. The food is heavenly, I'm just not into it.
"Anyone want seconds?" Kiyoko-san asked. I looked and saw her on the other side of the room, holding a wooden spoon. Nishinoya and Tanaka-san quickly head over there for a refill. "Yes please!" They both said in unison. Ugh, why did I even looked? They both went back to their seats, that are one seat away from me.
Daichi noticed my still sad expression. I didn't realized that I was chewing my food far too long and Daichi glared at me. "Eat." I rolled my eyes at him and finished the food in my mouth. When I was going to take my spoon again, he took it from me and offered to feed me.
"I'm not a child, Daichi. You're being a dad again." I glared back at him. "You won't finish your food for another hour if I don't do this. Eat up."
With that, I became a baby crow and he fed me like the dad he is.
-
I'm heading to bed but I wanted to wash off first, before I will. My clothes are still with Nishinoya, and I really don't want to come get it from him. Do I come in their room and ask him for it? Maybe I should sneak in and I never have to talk with him? Or maybe I could ask Daichi for it? But I know he'll scold me for being lazy.
I head out from my room and walked around the dark hallways. I ran into Tanaka-san who looked like he just came out from his bath. He has a towel draped over his neck.
"Oh! Akira-san! Where are you going at this time of night?"
"Do you know where my traveling bag is? The one Nishinoya's holding earlier?"
"Yeah, I could get him for you."
"No! No! Uhm, I mean, I don't want to inconvenience him so maybe I could get it without disturbing him?" Please don't be suspicious!
"Sure!"
We walked around the hallways and saw Hinata-kun's back, he's beside the vending machine, the only thing giving the whole area light.
"First years, you got the bath next." Tanaka-san said.
Hinata's weirdly still and he didn't responded right away. "What's up, Hinata?"
"Th..."
"There's someone I don't know here." His voice is filled with a little bit of uncertainty and chills went up my spine. I unconsciously wrapped my arms on Tanaka-san. I-Is this house haunted?! Tanaka-san laughed nervously and answered Shoyo. "I'm sure there isn't. We're the only one's-"
"There's..." He turned to look at us and his eyes are wide with fear. I jumped in place as I saw Shoyo's eyes. "A kid."
The three of us are paralyzed for a moment. I stayed silent, being awfully scared and hugged Tanaka-san's arms tighter. He noticed my fear and tried to reassure Hinata-kun. "You're seeing things." He looked at the window on the side, "It was just your reflection in the window."
"You're right. I'm just seeing things."
"That's it. You're seeing things. Just seeing things."
Everything is silent for a moment. The three of us didn't say anything. No one even dared let out a sound of their breathing. Until...
We heard a footstep.
The three of us jumped.
"AHHHHH!"
Only to see Nishinoya standing a few feet from us. "Huh?" The three of us said in unison.
"What's all the noise? Daichi-san's gonna tell you off." I refused to look at him. The two boys stood, still processing what happened. "It's just Noya!" Tanaka-san smacked Hinata's head. "Huh? Noya-san? B-But Noya-san, you've shrunk!" He shouted. I looked at Nishinoya and yeah, Hinata-kun's right.
The two of them laughed at his expense while I stayed quiet and looked away from him once more. "That's right. Your hairstyle adds some height." Tanaka-san said, while pointing at Nishinoya at the same time.
"Oh, Shut up! Don't laugh at me!" He suddenly stopped shouting. I looked at him and there's a long haired figure beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. I hugged Tanaka-san again out of fright. "Keep it down. Daichi's gonna tell-" He looked at us with one eye showing off his face. Our screams interrupted what he was saying. We don't care what Daichi will say! This is too scary!
"AHHHH!"
"IT'S ME! ASAHI!"
"YOU LOT! SHUT UP!" We heard Daichi scream.
-
After the whole, scary moment earlier, the three boys escorted me on their room. "I'll get your bag for-" Nishinoya offered but I went inside their room already. I saw my bag near a futon and took it. He was stood outside with the rest of the boys, all confused on what I just did.
"Thanks, but no thanks." I answered coldly and went my way back to my quarters. I immediately took a nice hot shower on my own bathroom and head to bed after. I lied on my futon but I didn't sleep. The coffee's working its magic and I just lied there, very still, and looking up at the ceiling.
-
Nishinoya's PoV
I've noticed that Akira-san haven't talked with me ever since we arrived here in the training camp. I didn't know what she did on the dinner table, as I was too busy with Ryu bugging Shimizu-senpai.
I just finished my bath and heard some voices near the vending machine. They're standing weirdly and they screamed when I approached them.
"What's all the noise? Daichi-san's gonna tell you off." I said. If he found out that we're staying up late and might wake everyone who's asleep, he will definitely kill us. I looked at them and noticed that Akira is also present. She's facing away from me. She was hugging Ryu earlier. STUPUD RYU! SUCH A LUCKY BASTARD! HE GETS TO HUG GIRLS!
"It's just Noya!" Ryu smacked Shoyo's head.
"Huh? Noya-san? B-But Noya-san, you've shrunk!" He shouted. Akira-san looked at me and I immediately felt embarrassed. There's a girl! And it's not a manly look to be teased by something like this in front of a girl!
The two of them laughed at my expense and that angered me more.
"That's right. Your hairstyle adds some height." Ryu said, while pointing at me. HE'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!
"Oh, Shut up! Don't laugh at me!" I felt a hand clasped my shoulder and I slowly turned around to face it. It's a guy with long hair. Only one of his eye can be seen because the other's covered with his hair.
All of us screamed out of terror. Akira-san hugged Ryu again as we panic. I think the scariest thing that's happening is that. I felt a pang of jealousy but I shrugged it off.
He then explained later that he's Asahi-san. Why do he have to make that scary face in the first place?! Daichi-san heard all the commotion and scolded us. All of us boys escorted Akira-san to our room. She's awfully quiet, unlike this morning. I figured that she wants to get her bag from me so I didn't bothered to ask her.
We reached our room and I offered to take her bag for her but she went inside our room without saying anything. The boys and I are frozen stood outside and she passed by me, cold words came out of her mouth,
"Thanks, but no thanks." She said. She never looked back, and she never bothered to look at us as she passed. I felt a shiver from the way she said those words. Have I done anything that she didn't like? But I didn't see her talking with Ryu and Shoyo either. It must be a coincidence?
All of us boys went over to our room and lied on our own futons. I thought back at what just happened. Maybe it's not a coincidence... What if she's angry at me? I looked at my side and saw Ryu still wide awake. I poked him and he turned to me.
"What's up?"
"Does Akira-san seemed weird to you? She never said a word on our way here to the room. And the only word that came out of her mouth sounded very cold and distant." I explained. He looked up thoughtfully.
"I don't know... But she was looking gloomy after Daichi-san fetched her on her quarters. She was quiet on the table too."
I didn't noticed. How could Ryu notice? We were bugging Shimizu-senpai together and he noticed? How come I didn't? I'm such a bad friend. She must be upset that I didn't checked up on her. Wait... Ryu is her friend too and she didn't looked angry at him. We're just equally close, right?
Ryu noticed... DOES HE LIKE AKIRA-SAN? He hugged her on the rooftop, took food from her without permission, and he notices little things... HE'S FLIRTING WITH HER?!
With the sudden realization, I felt weird. Weird and angry. I don't know why. I shouldn't feel like this towards my friend! We bond by admiring Shimizu-senpai together so why am I suddenly feeling possessive? Like I want her all to myself, with no one to share.
Ugh! I really am such a bad friend. I'll try to let this go. Ryu is one of my best friends and I can't treat him this way. But still! He should tell me about these things right? Friends confide in each other! Wait, why am I interested in hearing Ryu's side? He deserves his own privacy! My head's a mess.
"Bro, you went silent. Are you okay?" He asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Do you... like Akira-san?" I need to be honest, I need to be straight forward!
"Huh? What made you think that?"
"Instincts?" Lie. Why are you lying, Yuu?!
He laughed. "Maybe a bit. Does that bother you?" I was surprised with his answer. I kind of saw him liking Akira-san, coming but why is he asking me that?
3rd Person's PoV
No, Tanaka didn't like her. He only said that to get a reaction out of Nishinoya. Tanaka did get a little comfy with Akira but it's all a coincidence. He was being close with the girl, that's all. He's comfortable with their friendship. Nishinoya must be thinking more of it, he thought. Tanaka's plan is basically trying to help Nishinoya come to his senses.
He saw how Nishinoya looked at the girl, and how he acted. As he thought on the first day, he wanted to keep Akira's connection with Daichi a secret. He wanted Nishinoya to be happy with someone. When he asked Nishinoya if he felt bothered, Tanaka wanted him to act jealous. Acting so will confirm all his suspicions about Nishinoya's feelings.
Tanaka thought that him and Nishinoya didn't really stand a chance with Shimizu. But at least, now that there's a possibility of Nishinoya loving someone and that person, loving him back, is such a big deal for him. Even though Tanaka loved Shimizu greatly and is willing to have a one sided love, he wanted to help his friend find his match and not end up on the same fate as him.
This was just the first day full of complications.