7

Tendou rubbed his chin, lost in his thoughts. For some reason, Yoshikami was not only getting to him- but to the rest of his friends. It was somehow odd how easily she mingled with the first years. Quite odd for him, actually.

Was it simply a coincidence that they met twice jogging in the same area? Or did she do that a lot? Was she trying to get their attention? He did remember Ohira introducing the short girl to the rest of them. And it became just right that they hung out with each other at lunch.

"How did Hoshi become part of our group?" He asked out loud. All eyes turned on him and the person up front face palmed. Semi gaped at him in incredulous shock as if he had done something horribly embarrassing.

Well, it was true that it was embarrassing. The red-haired idiot had asked this in a room filled with 40 other students. He was inside the classroom when he asked, out loud, very loud, to no one in particular. But then his eyes locked on Semi's and Semi simply averted his gaze.

The teacher sighed. "Tendou-san, please stop disturbing class with your odd questions." She turned to Semi. "You may continue your speech, Semi."

Semi's right eye twitched at Tendou, but the red head was too deep in his thoughts to realize he was going to be dead later when class ended.

It was break time in Class 1 – A. Just right after 2nd period ended. The students had 15 minutes to themselves until the next teacher arrived.

Ohira was worried for his new friend. The short girl left the class right after the surprise math test and has yet to return even after class ended. He was tapping on his desk, eyes locked on the door- as if the short girl appearing would appease his worries.

The dark-skinned teen sighed after a few more seconds of internal panicking. He nudged Ushijima on the shoulder. The green-haired teen had been rereading his notes when he looked at his friend, left brow raised.

"Yoshikami-san isn't back yet. Do you think something like last time happened again?" He meant that time she came back- with her clothes drenched.

Ushijima blankly stared at the fretting teen before he turned away from him. "She's just getting her uniform. It arrived today."

Ohira was surprised to hear what came out of the usual nonchalant, unfriendly teen. "And…how do you know this?" Ushijima didn't face him at all when he asked.

"Before she left the classroom…" Ushijima sighed. "…she told me." The teen felt the flops in his stomach again. It was making him feel weird, especially around the short girl. His chest would tighten whenever she'd smile and it felt light when she'd direct that smile towards him. Something was wrong with him ever since he said he would support her a few days ago.

Ohira furrowed his brows. "You okay, Ushijima-san?" He nudged him again, but instead of the usual turn his head and blankly stare at him, the green-haired teen jumped. Like jump off his seat in surprise. Now, Ohira was really worried. "Ushijima-san, do you need to go to the nurse or something?"

Ushijima placed his hand over half his face and waved 'no' at Ohira. Why was he feeling this way? He never heard of these symptoms before. He studied all kinds of illnesses that may occur when he studied or practiced too much, but this was not part of any illness he had studied. He flickered his eyes to Ohira, who was looking down at his notes with his brows furrowed. He felt the need to ask. He might know what was wrong with him.

"Ohira-san…" Said boy jumped hearing his voice. He turned to Ushijima. "…I would like to talk to you about something outside."

Ohira looked at the clock that was stationed above the green board. They still had well over eight minutes left until the bell rang. He nodded. "Okay."

The two stood up from their desks and walked out of the classroom. There were a few students loitering around in the hall. Ohira simply followed Ushijima to where they could talk. Ushijima stopped by the staircase. Ohira noticed that no one was by the staircase. Did Ushijima wanted to tell him something private and serious?

After what happened earlier, the dark-skinned teen became really worried about what his friend wanted to tell him.

Ushijima pursed his lips, wondering about how to explain these symptoms to his teammate without making it seem serious. "Ohira-san, something is wrong with me."

Ohira's jaw dropped, fearing the worst already. Was it enough to not play volleyball? He wanted to ask but wanted it to come out of his friend's mouth.

Ushijima took a deep breath and said it. "I've been feeling this ache in my chest every time I see this person. For some reason, my stomach also makes these flips whenever…a certain person is…around. I've studied illnesses that I would get when I'd practice or study too much, but I have never come across this kind of illness." Ushijima looked at Ohira, confusion swirling in his eyes. "Do you happen to know what it is?"

Ohira's dropped jaw slowly- very slowly closed. He nodded in understanding, knowing fully well what Ushijima was---

His jaw dropped back down, but all the way down to the floor. His eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe his ears! He couldn't believe that he heard something like this from a die-hard volleyball maniac like Ushijima Wakatoshi.

He stared wide-eyed at his friend, still too shocked to even form words. And he was talking about a certain person. Who was that certain person? Who was around the guy the most? He didn't even see the guy answer the manager, the pretty manager of their volleyball team, in a proper way at all! He would answer the same way like he would the rest of his teammates.

Ohira searched through his brain for others who might have spent time with Ushijima.

After a while, nothing came to mind. Did he…perhaps…like guys?!

Ohira covered his mouth in shock, eyes widening even more than before. If that was true, then did Ushijima take him out of the classroom to confess to him?!

Now, the green-haired teen was slightly feeling worried as to why his friend is taking a long time to answer him. Was it perhaps serious? Is he not allowed to talk to Yoshikami anymore? If that was the case, Ushijima would do it. Just to stop these worrisome symptoms.

"You…" Ohira sputtered out. Ushijima locked eyes with him, waiting to hear what he said. "Do you…maybe…do you…?"

"Woah, guys, what are you doing here?" Ohira jumped hearing the familiar voice of the short girl.

Ushijima's gaze moved from his friend to the short girl who was walking up the stairs, and he couldn't stop the heat from spreading his face. Smoke drifted out of his ears as he stared, still and shock, at the white-haired girl.

Yoshikami grinned at them, not really sensing the atmosphere. "Look, I finally got my uniform!" She twirled around. Her skirt flew a bit too high, which caused Yoshikami to press it down with a blush on her cheeks. "Although the skirt is a bit short, but it's okay." She hummed then looked at her two friends. "What are you guys doing out here anyway? Class is about to start soon."

Ushijima coughed, looking away. He hoped no one noticed the redness on his cheeks. "I was simply talking with Ohira-san."

Ohira, still too shocked to even form words, only nodded. Quite dumbly, in fact. The information just passed through his brain without much notice.

Yoshikami pursed her lips, furrowing her brows at her companions. One was dazed, the other looking around except her. "Uhm, okay. We should head back to class." She motioned to the direction of the classroom. The two boys nodded and joined Yoshikami as they walked back to class.

One of the two boys began having an internal dialogue about how to deal with his friend's sudden confession.

Little did he know that the one affecting his friend was giddily skipping in front of them.