Oikawa POV
"We will have this conversation again after you giving your all and fight your hardest agains those people you deemed jeniuses, boy." Jose blanco end the topic.
i've been looking up to him fo years and just recently, thank to my coach, i am able to meet him in person again. He counsel me about certain issue i've been struggling with. I mean how can an average human being like me can ever fight with those with natural born jenius and inhuman talent. I've been working my ass off since middle school to bet a certain someone yet i haven't manage to win any match agains him.
should i give up volleyball?
i know deep down i can never giving it up. It's part oof me,my identity, yet somehow i never manage to achieve great things in it. I couldn't help the team to go to national. Not once.
"Hai Blanco-san. Thank you for your time and advice." I stand and bow, ready to go leave back to miyagi. I've wake up super early in the morning to take train so that i can visit Jose blaco in in tokyo from miyagi. Today is the only free day i got before he tight practice schedule for the upcoming tournament.
just before Blanco-san can response my stomach growled.
this is embarrasing
Aw.
I am glad iwa-chan is not around to see me embarrasing my self in front of my idol. He will never let this go.
Blaco-san let out a chuckle."ahaha, actually, i am about to have lunch with my wife and her friend. Do you mind to come along? I always become the third wheel when those two meet."
"I-" I hesitate.
"Oh come on, we can talk about some setting trick during their girl talk."
"Alright blanco-san, if you insist."
I follow him from the coffee shop to the parking area and hop in to his black BMW car. In less than twenty minutes we arrived at a office building that was the redaction office of-
"Japan Sport Mag, my wife is head editor here." Jose Blanco said proudly.
"wow, i didn't know. Our team have subscription over the magazine and we fought constantly every month to read it first. And they always publsh a lot of volleybll news by the this time of the year. It's always my dream to be featured in the news one day." I said excitedly.
we get inside and the woman in front desk greet jose who seems to come here a lot and direct us the office.
Before we get in I heard a girl voice in a strange definitely non japanesse accent. Altough it surely not the same as blanco's accent it's clear for me that who ever speaking before is not a japanesse native.
"who is cute?" Jose get in before me, and considering he doesn't invite me in, i stayed outside.
they talk for a while about something godmother something a laugh and i am standing awkwardly in the corridor. jose quetioned gain about the cute guy they are talking about.
"Just this guy from team that i supposed to interview,ao-ao Aoba Johsai" the strange accent voice speaks again.
Wait, that's my almamater, my team, and interview? Who is this girl?
"which one?" Jose asked.
"the one in number 11," she answer almost inaudibly from the outside.
Ah, that's my number. Glad to know that even the stranger found me attractive. Somehow i feel my face redden a little. Not like this is the first time i heard people compliment My look of course, i have bunch of girl that follow me and flatter me in every match or schoool. I got used to it. But the way this stranger talks just so cute , calm and unfamiliar. Ilike it
"ah, that will be the setter, what is s cute about him?" Jose asked again.
"his smile is cute and his hair is gorgeous. I mean look at him?"
"ah what a coincidence. You hear that oikawa? Your smile is cute and your hair is gorgeous." Jose call me."get inside , boy."
I get in and I see Jose standing next to Mito Blanco, that i've meet but never talked too directly before, sitting in a big main chair, another woman in a officelook that is somehow so familiar eventhough i can not remember where i see her. And a girl In glasses that i asume is the one with the strange accent.
she looked at me as if in horror-hey that's not cool, i am not ugly, or scary like iwa-chan when he is angry. She just compliment my hair and smile. Why would she not look happy to see me now.
the women start laughing and even Jose chuckles.
" Hi, I am oikawa." I introduce my self.
"Hi oikawa,it's been a while." Mito greet me."Jose didn't tell me you're coming but I am glad you can have lunch with us. The more the merrier, right?"
"Thank you Blanco-san" i give her my polite smile that works like charm to every woman i've met.
"Oh, this is Nishinoya Rokuda. You know her from the talkshow she is hosting right?" Mito Blaco point at the other woman earlier. She look at the same age as her. But they looked so contrast agains each other, Mito looks so energetic and radiancing spirit while this woman is soo calm and elegant.
Wait, I know her, She is the host of "reveal with rokuda". A programs that talk alot about social issue and always invite high calliber sources. Wow, iwa-chan is a big fan of her.
"Nice to meet you, nishinoya-san." I bow a little. "My best friend is a huge fan of you. And oh my, can I have your autograph for him?" I fail to keep my composure. I mean this women is in the other level.
"the pleasure is mine,Oikawa-kun." Nishinoya-san smile grcefully.
I tried to get anything from my bag, paper and pen, but i couldn't find any. Yet the girl give nishinoya a pen and her binder.
"what is your friend's name, oikawa-kun?" Nishinoya-san asks.
"Iwa-cha Iwaizumi hajime." I replied
she write things down and give te paper and pen to me.
"Thank you Nishinoya-san."
I feel somebody eyes is glaring at me. Or more like glaring at the pen i hold. The strange accent girl.
"Sorry," i give the pen back to the owner.
"no biggie." She accept the pen.
"What's with you nishinoyas and possesiveness over pen?" Mito laugh again. "I remember borrowing a pen from roku and lose it, then she doesn't talk to me for two weeks when we were in primary school."
everyone smile again. Well, mito laugh and positivity is so dangerously contagious.
"This is Intan, my intern." Mito intrduce the girl.
intern? She looks younger than me, although the way she dress up resemblance nishinoya rokuda, plain and simple, softgrey sweater that shows her white shirt collar and dark grey trousers that warp her legs nicely. Her hair is black and being styled in a low tidy bun with some loose part framing her face. Then I notice how she is really curvy in some parts of her body. Not that she is very fat. It's just surrounded by so many petite fangirls that it's not usual for me to see a girl to see curvier one.
"h-hi, nice to meet you oikawa san." Intan finally greet me.
her voice, she is just a girl, and i am sure she is younger than me so how does she get to be an intern here? And did mito-san just call her nishinoya earlier?
"Yeah nishinoya chan." I call her and in a microsecond she stunned before she give her smile.
"Actually it's just intan, having surname is not so common in where i was born, and grow up. Instead we have long given name. I am Intan Kirana Maharani. But please call me Intan." She explain calmly with a smile.
"Intan-chan is it then? Your name sounds beautiful by the way" I said, and oh so satisfying blush appear in her complexion that i've just notice have more pigment than common japanesse folks.
"Now, about the lunch. I have a very special place that suit this ocassion." Mito cheered.
***
Intan POV
It's just a lunch time and I already damned the whole day as disaster. I talked about a gorgeous guy in front of him, and having my mom, my just now godmother and her husband witnessing it. Not cool. But then my mom get a call from works, and she is needed at her studio or office or whereever she works.
and now i ended up in the back seat of mr Blaco's car with the cute slash gorgeous guy siting next too me. I would be beyond excited sitting next to oikawa guy if it wasn't because the accident earlier. So i just stay stunned the whole way while mito-san blasting michael jackson song in the stereo. Guess she and mom share the same music taste.
but at least Mito-san take us to "nusantara", a famous indonesian restaurant not far from where she works.
"Mito-san?" I gasp when i read the restaurant name.
"for my intern and goddaughter's smile, i present to you, jose's favorite indonesian resturant." Mito announce proudly. "Jose really loves rendang(it's indonesian food that extremely heaveny) you know"
"you give me me much credit, babe. We all know your obsession over gudheg(jogja's traditional food)." Jose smile and lead the way inside. That's when i realize how small i was compared to them. The Blancos are at least 175 cm, and oikawa is even taller.
me? 156 cm, thank you very much.
for the record eventhough i know that i am not tall, but i also not that short. In jogja a lot of my friend are also in the same height as me, some even shorter than me. 156 cm for 15 years old is not short. Full stop.
but now, walking with this petites people. I feel like a dwarf , Jose san eventhough in the bulkier side is still tall, and there is mito san and oikawa that have the body of models. Damn, i've never feel more like a fat tuyul-an indonesian demon who appears like a bald dwarvish kid.
both mom and dad are not tall, but at least mom has petite body. I am aware that i am curvy and that's why i avoid to wear feminine clothes like skirt aside from uniform.
we got our seat and the waiter gave us the menu. The blacos look like they know what they want, leaving me and oikawa. I checked the menu and it's all familiar i want teh anget which is basically warm sweet tea and rawon a.k.a black soup. Then glance oikawa who looks confused what to order.
"need a help? I know the menus are so diverse and not so familiar for you." I offer.
"okay, what do you recommend for me, intan-chan?" He asked.
"so, what kind of taste do you like? Sweet? Spicy? Little bit of both?" I asked.
he seems amused with my answer and mutter "can the sweet one become spicier?"
ha?
"what was that?" I confused.
"don't mind, intan-chan. Say, if i got niche for both what would you offer?"
"that'd be the same as mito-san, gudheg seems fit your taste."
"you're gonna love it. It's perfect combination of sweet and spicy that will bless your taste bud." Mito excitedly promote her favorite dish in menu.
"Like my favorite thing in the world. The sweetest that can be super sassy and spicy when she want to." Jose kiss mito's cheek. Makes her blush slightly.
i feel awkward seeng their interaction, i mean it's so sweet, but never seen people display such affection up close. I mean i watch them a lot in movie, but seeing one in real life seems so weird
"ahm sush you, babe! Not in front of the kids." Mito elbows her husband.
"Gudhego, it is." Oikawa tried to pronunce the food name.
We wait for our order and start talking again.
"So intan-Chan, what school are you studying?"Oikawa asked.
"Ah, i've just graduted from middleschool in july, so i take gap year before i take the test to nekoma for next school year."
"So you are supposed to be a first year?"
"um hum,"
"how old are you intan-chan, you still look like a midschooler. Not in a bad way off course." He said.
i must have a thing to soothing voice because i swear to god his voice is so so soooo attractive and alluring.
"I am fiveteen. How about you, oikawa-san? What year are you?"
"Sixteen, second year. Anyway, any specific reason to choose nekoma?"
"ah," i answer shyly. "They have bilingual classes. As you must have notice, i can speak japanese altough not so fluent, i am not as good as i am with english. I want to make sure i can at least maintain a good academic scores otherwise i will have to go back to indonesia." I tried too hide my fear from the last part.
"You are Nishinoya san's daughter right? But you move in japan just now?" He asked confusedly.
I stunned.
Mito must've known my term and condition as well as all my blood and tears i sacrificed to come here.
One of the condition is i have to be a trophy student, paricipate in national competition that i choose. And I choose writing, specially journalist.that and i have to still be the top 5 at my class in academic grade, i failed at math and chemistry, average in almost every subject, but i excel at indonesian language, english, and social study, that's how i manage to stay in the top five at class. well barely, the score gap between me and number 6 are so thin. But i manage to stay in the lowest academic class at school so i don't actually have to compete with the smartest student at school.
"intan" mito tries.
"that's okay mito-san." I calm her down.
"I am sorry, I don't know that it's sensitive topic." Oikawa shows some guilt.
"Like I say, daijoubu. It's not a biggie, I was afraid to stay here because I grow up there, and my family afraid that if i moved when i was too young , i will get a culture shock." I explain briefly, covering the hard part.
"ah." He look not sure how to react. "But you feel homey here? Do you make a lot of friend already?"
"That's a question i'd like to know the answer." Mito join in.
"me too" jose agreed.
I laugh "Well aside from japanesse tutoring from Ayumi-san i haven't go to any formal school. I mostly stay in mom's apartement or to her office if she is not really busy. Today is the first time i go out to meet someone new, by that i mean you mito-san," i let out a giggle. "You guys do the math."
"well you make three friends. now, baby." Mito reach my hand and rub it gently. And look, the food is here."
We eat happily and i talk to mito alot about what she missed in my childhood. Jose and oikawa talk about volley and some setting trick that i don't really understand. But i listen seriously considering i will write about it soon.
"so, do you like volley , intan?" Jose asked me.
"I don't really watch moreover play volley, jose-san. Football gets all the hype in indonesia." I answer honestly. "I saw your picture in mito-san's desk, looks like you win something big. Is it your volly ball match?"
"Ah yes, i swear to mito that I will defeat her country team and when i actually did I asked her to marry me." Jose said proudly.
I gasped. "You play on your national team?"
Jose laugh at my reaction and give me a wink.
"So basically you guys are power couple, Mito-san is Miranda Prisely of sport in japan and Jose-san is a super national player. Wow, where did you win that match?"
"here actually." Oikawa answer that. "Blaco-san played in the last minutes of second set when they were about to lose the game. Then he completely turned the table."
i stares at him,"You said it as if you were there."
"I did watch that." He said. "That game is the reason i want to be a setter. Blaco-san didn't speak english so well back then , but he manage too say 'ganbatte' when i asked his autograph and tell him about my ambition to be a setter."
"And here you are, a very skilled setter for your team." Jose lean his body forward to pat oikawa's shoulder.
"I want to see you play oikawa-san." I said excitedly. "I mean a pro player deemed you as skilled. You must be very good."
"then I will make it to national so you can watch me plays here in tokyo." He says confidently.
if a smile can kill, oikawa will be held accountable for massmurder every goddamn day.
"now that's the spirit you've been lacking the whole day." Jose reacted.
that's the momment i realize, it was his first smile that reach his eyes. he smiled a lot, yet this one is the only one that powerfully vibing.
"You don't have to wait for long to see him in court tho." Mito reminds me.
"the interview." I nod.
"what interview?" Oikawa asked.
"I interviewing some school's team for japan sport mag. And because of my acces is limited for now, and by acces i mean my mobility, i will be covering tokyo and miyagi prefecture. I will cover aoba johsai and shira-shira-" i am having trouble remembering the school name.
"Shiratorizawa." Oikawa shares a look with Jose.
"yep that one." I confirmed.
"We will have a practice match tomorrow against one of the top 8 school in miyagi tht will be a perfect time if you want to see seijoh in action."
"whoa, I haven't contact your school and coa-"
"Perfect! You have to go, Intan dear. I will contact the coach makes sure you get your permision pass. If you leave today you can be there in a fit condition toomorrow." Mito clap her hand excitedly.
"But my camera, and clothes?" I confused.
"we can take it after this."
"but, how about mom?"
"We will tell her that you left early. I am sure your grandfather wouldn't mind you come out of the blue. He can even tell you about volly even more while you are staying there. But make sure you can visit shiratorizawa as well in the following day. You can contact them tomorrow morning." Mito-san suddenly turns in to a whle different person and being serious. "Or is that too much for my intern?" She smirks
"You kidding me? I am so in, finally i got somethig to write!" I feel so challenged. In an exciting way.
"Told you she got my spirit." Mito elbowed her husband."Now let's get your stuff and we will take you to the train station."
We head back to mom's apartement and i take my on the go backpack that already filled with my essential needs and outfits. Pairs of shirt and triusers, my journalist club blazer, camera, and flashdisk, my glasses, cultery set and bathing goods. I make a small visit to the toilet because no way i want to hold my pee on the way. And head back to the car.
"that was quick." Mito sounds impressed.
"I always have my essential ready on the bag. Mom teaches me as a kid. And i also have some clothes there."
"she definitely well more organized than her godmother." Jose announce owning him a smack from his wife.
"Alright babies, we will drop you to the main station and you can take train from there, okay? Oikawa-kun you are in charge of my baby safety!" Mito bosses oikawa.
"Yes ma'am, I will make sure she arrives home safely." Oikawa salute her.
"Actually I will have someone to pick me up at the station." I smiled. "But thank you for the intention."
"Aaw, your lost dear, you got gorgeous hair-kun to take you home." Mito teased.
THE FFFF, why would she remind me about the embarrasing incident earlier.
"I need a hole to burry my self please" i mutter and looking to the window. I feel my face burns with embarrasment.
everyone laugh while i hope the ground opens up and swallows me.
and that how i end up sitting next to cute smile and gorgeous hair-kun on the train. It's been thirty minutes and I am too embarrassed to see him, more over talking. This is gonna be a long ride.
"you have cute smile too if that makes you feel better." Oikawa starts.
"Please." I sigh,"Can we forget that it ever happened?"
"what is 'it' exactly ?" He teased.
Jerk.
"can we talk about something else?" I asked.
"okay, how long have you write and what kind of stuf you write?" He asked curiously.
"since i can write, i write a lot, mostly diary and silly poem as a kid, short stories but i give up writing fiction at my last year in primary school. And i start joining journalism club i middle school. And i got obsessed. I manage To join national jambore, it's like national training and competition representing my my province in second year, manage to get the third prize in my last year." I tell proudly.
"wow that's some serious work you do, can i read some?"
"You read?" I asked skeptically. I mean he is a jock type.
"well, i grow up reading harry potter, not by choice at first, but my bestfriend talked bout it so much so i read it tthe first book and adicted , soo..." he explains but i cut.
"what? No way, me too, Rowling is the reason i love writing, eventhough i don't write fiction anymore tho. What house do you think you will be sorted to?" I asked.
"I want to be the hero. Can i be in gryffindor?" He questioned me.
"Ofcourse you can, to be honest i kinda think gryffindor is a bit overrated. Just because the main character is a gryffindor."
" how about you?"
"me? I feel like a ravenclaw, but i adapt to hufflepuff trait way more.. soo, ravenpuff?" I said doubtly.
"You are cute when you are talking about this kind of stuff, intan-chan." He said with calmer tone.
may the lord have the mercy on me because his voice is pure gold.
turn my face away so he doesn't see me all red again.
"And even cuter whe yo are being shy.You always behave so calmly, composed and mature that it's nice to see you blushed every once in a while." He chukles a little. "So. About your works, can I read it?" He asked again.
I reached my backpack and take my phone.
i open my flip phone and open browser to show him my blog.
"Queen's journey?" He asked.
"Yeah and that's from my last name. It's more convenient to use that instead of my first. People will see a figure instead of me."
"Does your name has any meaning?"
"Intan means diamond. Maharani, like i said before, means 'Great Queen' or 'Empress'" I explain. "Kirana is the name of one of ancient legendary princess name with a very amazing and challenging journey to be together with her lover. Clearly my parents were high on something when they named me with those glorified title, but I am not complaining, they could name me hitler and they didn't after all."
"wow, that name suits you." His compliments sounds genuine. "Now the crown logo make a sense." Poin at your profile in the background. Now here is my number so you can send me the link of your blog." He takes my phone and starts to write down his number and give it back to me. But not before he save his contact name as 'csagh tooru'.
i gave him the questioned look and he said "tooru is my given name."
"oh really? I can never guess, but i am talking about the csagh part."
"I that a sass i hear?" He grins. " CSAGH stands for Cute Smile And Gorgeous Hair, by the way."
His gut starts to rub me in a very specific way.
"ooh look," he point at the window. "It's sunset already, how pretty, tthe horizon is as red as intan-chan cheek right now."
way to make my heart go brr you gorgeous speciment.
i mumble. "Sunset, journey, you."
Sunset * journey * you
