Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sunlight gently shines into Tooru Oikawa's room on a blissful Monday morning. The birds are tweeting and the wind is rustling the tree leaves almost in a symphony. Oikawa's eyes drift open as he sits up and stretches the remnants of a good night's rest away. He shakes his head as his hair naturally falls into place bouncing lightly. He stifles a yawn before heading to the bathroom to shower and get dressed. He gives himself one last good look in the mirror before winking at himself and heading for breakfast. Breakfast is protein oatmeal pancakes with fresh orange juice (his favourite). Just as he finishes breakfast, his doorbell rings; Iwaizumi greets him with a smile as they walk to school together. Life is as perfect as one can imagine... or is it?

The alarm goes off like an emergency siren as Oikawa attempts to hit the snooze with his eyes closed. That was a nice dream, he thinks to himself as he groans and rolls out of bed. At least he had gotten 4 hours of sleep which was more than he has the previous nights. The sun blinds him as he painfully lifts his eyelids.

"Tooru!" his mum shouts from downstairs, "Iwa is here!" 

Already? Iwa-chan never fails to be early. 

Oikawa checks the time on his phone which then awakes him with a sense of urgency. He's going to be late if he doesn't hurry up. He inspects himself in the mirror after washing his face. His eye bags have gotten darker and look much heavier - hopefully, the tinted moisturizer will hide it. His hair droops a little which he then fixes with some volume mousse. He irons and puts on his freshly washed uniform and flashes himself a weak smile before heading downstairs. There is nothing he wouldn't do to achieve the success he desires even if it comes at a great cost. Hopefully the late nights and early mornings studying his school work and volleyball matches will pay off. He can't let his guard down; he needs to catch up because what he can't do with talent he has to make up for with hard work.

He perks himself up, straightening his posture and posting a huge grin on his face as he shouts, "Iwa-chaaannnnn, Good morning!" "Morning," Iwaizumi yawns as he sips his morning coffee. "Iwa-chan you got coffee without me, " he teases frowning. "What was I supposed to do whilst your dramatic fashionable ass took so long to put your hair right," Iwaizumi sneers. "At least my hair is right," Oikawa mumbles. Iwaizumi stops and stares at him with the intent to kick his ass, "What. Did. You. Just. Say." 

"Nothing, nothing - oh would you look at the time Iwa-chan; wouldn't want to be late," he changes the topic faster than he can hit a serve. He says his goodbyes to his family as he nudges Iwaizumi out of the door. 

They walk in silence until Iwaizumi speaks. 

"Did you have any breakfast?"

Oikawa's silence is his answer. Iwaizumi takes out something wrapped in foil and hands it to Oikawa, "well I know how you are and breakfast is important." 

Oikawa opens the foil and his stomach rumbles when he smells the delicious egg roll. "Iwa-chan! Thank you! You're the best!" he gushes.

"Shut up and eat," Iwaizumi says with a smile. 

"By the way, you don't have to hide what you're going through you know. Everyone can't be perfect all the time." Iwaizumi states. Oikawa tries to hold back his tears as he munches on his egg roll. 

Chapter Text

"Well if it isn't our favourite couple" Mattsun nudges Makki as Oikawa and Iwaizumi arrive at school.

"I heard that!" shouts Iwaizumi. Oikawa playfully reaches to wrap his arm around Iwa's shoulders but Iwa slaps his arm away with such force the slap echoes in the open. 

"Ouch that's got to hurt," Makki winces whilst Mattsun cackles next to him. Oikawa's eyes start to water from sheer pain. "I thought you like it like that," Iwa says grimacing. 

Mattsun and Makki become quiet, mouths agape. Before Oikawa can say anything the bell rings and they head to their individual homerooms. 

Tooru Oikawa is famously known as the star player and captain of Seijoh's volleyball team but what's lesser known is that he is also a straight-A student and huge nerd. He tries to hit it hard in every area of his life. 

Oikawa pushes up his glasses and stares are the blackboard, before furiously scribbling down notes. Japanese literature is one of his favourite classes. There's just something so comforting about classic novels and poems that intrigues him. Apart from volleyball and being a menace, he loves to read. 

"Okay class that's it for today. Don't forget your literary analysis essay for No Longer Human is due next Monday, " concludes their literature teacher as the bell rings. The whole class sighs in unison; the whole class except for Oikawa. He has already written the essay and finished editing and finalizing it; all he needed to do was hand it in. He makes a quick note in his planner to hand it in early so he can strike it off his to-do list. If he's not ahead, he feels like he is behind. Oikawa being in the top class in his high school meant that effort would be required on his part, excluding his natural brilliance. 

Ahh, lunchtime! I'm so hungry I hope the cafeteria has something good.

Oikawa meets up with Iwaizumi, Hanamaki, and Matsukawa outside the cafeteria. "Hey isn't that your ex?" Iwa points behind Oikawa. Oikawa turns to see the trash can and they all burst into laughter. "You know what they say, like attracts like, Trashykawa" Iwa gently punches his shoulder before walking into the cafe. "True love," Makki and Mattsun sing in a high-pitched voice at the same time. Oikawa sighs and follows Iwa. 

Oikawa decides to have onigiri for lunch. Iwa has some heavy meat dish and veggies whilst Makki and Mattsun are having ice cream. "You guys seriously can't be eating ice cream for lunch. You know we have practice later right? You're both gonna crash" Iwa warns them. 

They're both silent, until...

Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'til we see the sun
I know we only met, but let's pretend it's love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight, let's get some
And live while we're young

Mattsun and Makki start belting out One direction lyrics. Oikawa and Iwaizumi are too stunned to speak. After the first chorus, Oikawa joins them and Iwaizumi is left silently apologizing to the onlookers. Give me a break - Iwa thinks to himself. 

Iwaizumi gets up and leaves before Oikawa starts hitting the high notes. Luckily, the lunch bell rings before his final solo. Makki, Mattsun, and Oikawa high five each other. "Where did Iwa go?" Oikawa says with a frown. "He probably got embarrassed and left, " Makki comments. "Oh well at least we lived while we're young," says Mattsun before joining arms with Makki and marching toward their final classes for the day.

Oikawa stays back for a second and smiles. 

I'm so glad I have these weirdos in my life. 

Chapter Text

The bell rings and signals the end of the school day and you know what that means - it's time for VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE!!!

Oikawa heads to the volleyball auditorium to get changed for practice. Along the way, all his admirers swoon, whistle, or stop him to ask for autographs and give him gifts. He does get tired of it at times - having to keep up this image of perfection. If only they knew... 

He goes to the gym locker room and changes into his volleyball uniform. The weather is looking particularly good today so he puts on his sneakers, and earphones on and goes for a warm-up run. If you really want to know what playlist he's listening to it's a Megan Thee Stallion Mix. He's just a simple guy in need of a Hot Girl Summer. He giggles at himself and starts his run. The old right knee injury starts acting up. It hasn't done this in a while. Oh shit, what if it's really bad this time. His overthinking gets the better of him and he totally ignores the rest of the Seijoh seniors who were waving at him. 

He finally finishes his run, a little winded because of his knee. I'll have to take it easy today. As if he has ever taken it easy in whatever he did. Oikawa was an all-or-nothing person. This perspective was probably the reason why he felt that burnout feeling regularly. He had to give his 110% in everything - academics, sports, socials, and the list goes on. Did he ever give himself a break? Highly unlikely. Where did this gratification for perfection stem from? That would have to be answered some other time. He couldn't just stand there deep in thought; he had a team to be a captain of and set the best damn balls to score points and win matches. 

"Oikawa", the coach called him over, "Take it easy today kid. I saw you during the warmup run. You're putting too much stress on that knee - it's still recovering."

"Don't worry about me coach! I'll be fine," he says and walks over to talk to the squad. 

"Okay everyone, this may be practice but please give it your all!" he says sticking his hand out. The rest of the team follows suit. "Go team!" he shouts. "Seijoh!" the whole team cheers before lifting their hands. 

Everyone heads out to the court to do their drills. Oikawa stands there feeling a little wary. I think the lack of sleep is getting to me. Just before he could run onto the court, Iwa stops him and hands him a Red Bull. "Thanks Iwa! I don't know what I would do without you," Oikawa swoons. Iwaizumi tries to not blush, "Second time today, you ain't slick Chad. Get on out there and be a captain!" Oikawa appreciates the gesture and downs the energy drink before running onto the court. 

He starts with his serves and then some receiving. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth... 

No rest. 

The rest of the team watches him in awe during their water break. Whispers calling him a prodigy, a monster, unstoppable but if only they knew. If only they knew how much he worked, how much effort he put in to be where he is right now but it still wasn't enough. It was never enough. 

They finish off practice with a 4 by 4 match. Oikawa's side wins, unsurprisingly. The team says their goodbyes and leaves. Iwaizumi heads to lock up the gym after having a shower and getting changed. It is almost 8pm. He hears the familiar screech of the volleyball bouncing and slamming. He knows. Oikawa is still practicing. No breaks.

"Get your damn ass home before I lock you in here!" Iwa shouts at him. Oikawa is startled. He was in the zone. "Iwa-chan! I didn't even notice the time, my bad" he pouts. 

"Yeah, you don't notice shit when you get into it. Get home. We have another long day tomorrow - trails start", Iwa reminds him.

"Oh I almost forgot, I better get going" Oikawa says his goodbyes and leaves.  

It's 8:30pm when he finally gets home. His mum left his dinner on the dining table. He eats in silence. He goes and takes a shower and changes into his pajamas. He trudges along with what he has to do. He has to do it. He's not like them. He doesn't have the opportunity to just be talented, he has to work for it. He starts up his laptop and starts doing the assigned homework for the day. It's about 9:30pm when he finishes his homework. He can't stop yet. Stifling a yawn, he opens his textbooks and starts studying. Trials start tomorrow and he needs to do well. He needs to maintain his perfect grades. He ticks and crosses off whatever he has written in his daily planner. It's close to 12am when he finishes studying. 

He goes to his bathroom to wash his face. He can't help but stare at his sunken dark eyes in the mirror. It gets better right? I can become better than those prodigy freaks. This isn't for nothing. I can't slip up now. I have come too far to give up and be put down. I am going to Nationals! 

No one is going to feel sorry for me. He can't help but think if he brought this upon himself. When did I have to be this perfect? He starts to feel the familiar dull pain in his knee. 

He snaps himself out of his daze and heads to bed. He sets his alarm for 4am. He has to wake up early and do all of this again.

And again, and again, and again...