You Have to Love Oikawa-sama Every Day

Wangyue Qiusheng and Oikawa Tooru had known each other since childhood. People who knew them called them the perfect childhood friends, just as you'd expect from two kids who grew up together.

Wangyue Qiusheng's take was sharp and rather cutting: "They're blind."

Oikawa Tooru pouted. "How could I be childhood friends with him? I'd sooner be childhood friends with Tobio-chan than with him."

To outsiders, the two childhood friends seemed worlds apart.

Oikawa Tooru had failed to make it to Nationals in all three years of middle school, and even in his first year of high school, Ushijima still had him beat. Though everyone in Miyagi knew how good he was, that reputation only extended as far as the little Sendai gym.

Wangyue Qiusheng, on the other hand, was famous far and wide. He started in matches from his first year of middle school, and his worst result was third place at Nationals. He had graced the covers of volleyball magazines several times, and plenty of young girls who didn't even play volleyball were willing to pay just to see his face.

To everyone else, the word "genius" seemed tailor-made for him.

A perfect feel for the ball, unparalleled anticipation, and an enviable height. He had everything others had, and more besides. It just wasn't fair.

But Oikawa knew that everyone else's casual use of the word "genius" erased all the effort Qiusheng had put in: every practice under the moon, every serve receive, time and time again. Everything Qiusheng had achieved, he had earned through hard work. Whenever Oikawa watched him on TV, dazzling as he raced across the court and fearlessly unleashing powerful serves in the deciding set, he still wanted to say, "I hate geniuses the most."

Oikawa Tooru thought that, for the rest of their lives, they would only see each other during vacations. But when he stepped into the volleyball gym at the start of his second year of high school and saw the familiar yet unfamiliar figure before him, tears began to fall despite himself.

"Sorry I'm late," he said.

Before middle school, Wangyue Qiusheng and Oikawa had promised to meet at Nationals and beat each other.

But every time Qiusheng looked at the tournament bracket and still couldn't find Oikawa's name, watching his playing style from the sidelines, he understood that qualifying might be a little difficult for Oikawa. Yet he had never doubted that Oikawa would make it. After all, this was Oikawa Tooru.

One year, two years, three years. At the final match of his third year of middle school, Qiusheng still didn't see the name or team he missed most.

The year he took first place at Nationals, Oikawa Tooru called him, sobbing. "I broke my promise. I hate you geniuses the most." Then he hung up, and they never contacted each other again.

Later, Oikawa asked him why he'd gone to Aoba Johsai.

Qiusheng smiled. "Someone broke a promise, so I guess I'll have to go to Nationals with him."

His setter shouldn't be confined to the Sendai gym. He deserved to shine in national and even world-class matches, radiating the unique charm of a setter.

Oikawa Tooru would make it to the world stage one day.

(This story has been thoroughly revised. I recommend reading it again, because it's been changed beyond recognition! It's practically a different story now. I'll try to finish revising the whole thing by National Day.)

Theme: Those who work hard shine