leftwinger | Open post [ACTION]

[The game had taken its toll on him. Along with the emotions from returning to play in his homecourt of Miyagi and running into all sorts of friends and colleagues from days past, there was also the physical aspects of going all out in a long-awaited game consisting of players from what the media has dubbed The Monster Generation. Body sore in a good sort of way, his socializing had reached the limit to where it was starting to chip away at his resolve and that was when Wakatoshi had decided that he needed to clean up and head out for some fresh air before he returned to schmoozing with his teammates, both current and former.

He's only finished one of those tasks when he overhears a familiar voice in the venue. There was no mistaking it and with the lobby area mostly cleared out, he's able to easily spot him. The height helps.]

...Oikawa?

[Well. There's no reason to run off now that he's definitely been recognized by Ushijima, and pulls his phone out to send a message to Hinata that they'll need to catch up and meet up with the team later because of running into someone else before stuffing it back in his pocket.

It's fine, he's fine, Tooru knows how to keep his temper in check now, and it would be one hell of a conversation if any of his teammates or coaches got wind of him getting into any fights or causing an international incident. Instead he pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath before saying anything.]

Yeah, that's me. Guess I can't hide that I'm back now, can I? Do me a little favour and don't tell anyone I'm here, I wanted to surprise everyone.

[Ah, so it is him. Not an apparition or, like that one instance, a lookalike that Wakatoshi can swear is him. It is him, and he's not sure how to feel about it. It's been years, more than enough time to sort things out. And yet...

Wakatoshi's face remains as unmoved as ever. He blinks and tilts his head just slightly.]

Why would you hide?

[Curious, that someone so (seemingly) extroverted and fond of his old teammates would not want his presence known. Or perhaps they do know, and he's referring to outsiders? Or...?

His head starts to throb and he shakes his head.]

I will not speak of it.

I-- no. Not what I meant.

[It takes everything he has to not facepalm at how his words are taken literally. He hadn't missed this, but being an adult and not a pissed off teenager fresh from losing his final chance to go to nationals or defeating the very man in front of him's team, Tooru is much more composed than back then.

He can do this, and have a much more civil conversation his eighteen year old self could never imagine doing. And yet, he still can't resist being a brat. Though there's much less vitriol, for now.]

Do you still really just take everything literally? I'm only "hiding" because I wanted to surprise people that I came back to visit after all these years.

[A deep breath, forming the words his teenage self never would in his head, and surprisingly meaning them; spitting them out after replaying them over in his mind a few times.]

But, thank you. Shouyou's the only other one that knows, only because he's been hounding me about it since I said I'd maybe visit everyone. Nice match, by the way.

[There's a double meaning in those words, unable to help it with seeing Ushijima lose a match. Doubly so for him and Kageyama both.]

Ah, I see. That would make sense, in that context, then.

[That Shouyou and Oikawa are close enough to warrant this sort of closeness between them isn't a surprise, considering the pictures from Rio. Oikawa would watch a friend's match and call it a nice one just as easily as he would to take a shot at someone he considered an enemy.

It's tricky, trying to figure out what he really means. Of course, it's not so evident in Wakatoshi's expression save for, maybe, the tipped brow.]

...thank you. It was quite the change of pace from Warsaw but I am glad I was able to communicate with my team and that Kageyama is such an adaptable and capable setter.

Yes. It would explain why.

[But Tooru collects all of his bitterness that's seeping through and stuffs it away completely in the moment. Neither of them are being antagonistic, so no need for sharp tongues or venom until it was needed.

Though he does show a visible eye twitch at the mention of Tobio being a capable and adaptable setter. Tooru knows that better than anyone and his jealousy of the younger setter wasn't anything he hid even after high school, watching his matches just to figure ways to one-up him someday, yet lying to everyone about watching them.

But he still cracks a smile at the rest of what's said. Warsaw was something new, Tooru hadn't been paying much attention to where everyone else ended up after graduating, not when he had been making a name for himself in San Juan.]

When did you start playing there?

[Genuine curiosity, for once. And then a snort, an idea his teenage self would die on the spot for thinking.]

If you want to play off someone else who can adapt, I... Suppose I could set for you a few times. For practice. I don't plan on taking a break just because I'm on vacation.

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Sorry for delay, been sick!