#athlete problems

𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕚𝕥 𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕪

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Hinata's POV

Okay.

Take it easy now..

That was the first thing I told myself the second the plane landed in Brazil.

Except... I was already panicking. Not because I regretted coming. Not because I suddenly wanted to turn around and go back home. It was just that everything became real the moment my feet touched the ground.

The heat was different from Japan. The air felt heavier, warmer, almost like it wrapped around my entire body the second I stepped outside. The voices around me blended into a language I barely understood. People moved quickly around me with places to be, and everything looked unfamiliar.

I had spent months preparing for this moment. Learning Portuguese. Watching videos. Reading about Brazilian volleyball. Trying to imagine what my life would be like. But imagining something and actually living it were completely different things.

Honestly, if someone had told middle school me that one day I would move across the world alone because of volleyball, I probably would've laughed.

Actually...

Most people around me thought I was insane anyway. And maybe they weren't completely wrong. Because what kind of person leaves everything behind just because they want to become better?

Apparently, me.

But what else was I supposed to do?

Stay in Japan and pretend I was satisfied? Pretend I wasn't frustrated every time I saw someone else moving forward? Pretend I wasn't scared that everyone was getting farther ahead while I was standing still?

Kageyama was already moving forward.

He had always been like that. Even back in high school, he was always chasing the next thing. The next level. The next opponent. And now he was becoming a professional player.

Of course I was happy for him. I really was.

Kageyama deserved it. But if I was being honest... I was jealous.

A lot.

Because everyone seemed to have a path already. Everyone knew where they were going. And I hated feeling like I was the only one who didn't.

But more than jealousy, there was something else.

Something I couldn't ignore.

I wasn't ready yet. Not for the level I wanted to reach.

Indoor volleyball had always allowed me to focus on my strongest weapons. My speed. My jumping ability. My quick attacks.

But beach volleyball was different.

There was nowhere to hide. There were only two people on each side of the court. No six players covering your mistakes. No one else to rely on when you messed up.

You had to receive.

You had to set it.

You had to attack.

You had to think.

Every weakness you had became obvious.

At first, that terrified me. But then I realized... That was exactly why I needed it.

Because if I wanted to stand on the same court as the best players in the world someday... If I wanted to face Kageyama again and actually win... Then I couldn't stay the same person I was before.

I had to change.

I had to become someone who could do everything. So I came to Brazil. And honestly?

Things turned out way different from the way I planned them.

⋆˙⟡

April 2015

It was April 2015 when Kageyama joined the National League. We had literally just finished high school in March, and this bastard was already preparing to play his first official professional match in October.

Meanwhile, me?

I had nothing.

I knew I wanted to continue volleyball. I knew I wasn't done. But I didn't have a team waiting for me. I didn't have a clear path ahead.

I just knew one thing. I wanted to get better. I wanted to become someone who could stand beside the best players in the world.

That was when Shiratorizawa's coach, Tanji Washijō, gave me advice I never expected.

Brazil.

Beach volleyball.

As I said before, I thought it was crazy. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

During the rookie camp, when I watched the first years doing two-on-two drills, I understood.

That was it. That was what I needed.

Beach volleyball forced you to grow. There was no hiding behind your strengths.

So I spent one year in Japan preparing. I learned Portuguese. I researched Brazil. I trained as much as I could. And then...

⋆˙⟡

April 16th, 2016

I left Japan. I left everything familiar behind and chased my dream.

When I finally arrived in Brazil, I don't think I could fully comprehend it.

Everything was different.

The air. The sounds. The people. The energy.

Japan had always felt organized. Predictable.

Brazil felt alive.

Loud. Warm.

The streets were filled with movement, music, and voices I couldn't always understand.

And somehow... I loved it.

The first time I saw a beach volleyball court, I swear my heart almost stopped.

The net. The sand. The ocean behind it.

It felt impossible.

It almost reminded me of the first time I scored a kill in an official match. That feeling of...

This is where I belong.

I couldn't stop smiling. This was why I came here. This was the beginning.

I met with the person Coach Washijō had told me about. Coach Lucio Kato.

He was the person who helped me settle into Brazil, find an apartment, and adjust to my new life. He also introduced me to my roommate.

Pedro.

⋆˙⟡

"Pedro, não é? Eu sou Shoyo. Muito prazer." I introduced myself as best as I could, probably with terrible pronunciation, and smiled awkwardly.

I was really excited to meet him. Living with someone from another country sounded interesting. A new friend. Someone I could talk to. Someone who could help me understand Brazil better.

Instead...

He just looked at me. And ignored me. Completely.

For a few seconds, I thought maybe he didn't hear me. So I tried again.

Nothing.

"...Okay." Maybe he was shy.

Yeah. That had to be it. He would get used to me.

⋆˙⟡

I quickly brushed off the embarrassment and told myself it was fine. My first practice match was when reality finally hit me. I played against a pair that was preparing for tournaments. And I was completely caught off guard.

I couldn't jump.

Not properly. My legs sank into the sand. My timing was wrong. My movements felt slower. My biggest weapon... The thing that had always made me feel powerful... Wasn't enough anymore.

My jump wasn't saving me.

And that scared me. Because if I couldn't rely on that, then what did I have? That was the moment I realized that I had to become better at everything.

Coach Kato noticed my frustration, but he also noticed my determination. He told me that my spark was something special. That I just needed time. And I tried to believe him.

Because I wasn't terrible. I knew that. But deep down, I also knew something else. I was much better than this. I just had a long way to go. And everyone around me seemed so far ahead.

So I worked harder. Because if everyone else was ahead... Then I had to catch up faster.

⋆˙⟡

I also started working as a delivery guy. And honestly?

That might have been the hardest part of my first year in Brazil.

Volleyball was difficult, but volleyball was something I loved. Work was different. I remember getting lost constantly. The streets were confusing. The language was still difficult.

I would ride my bike around for what felt like hours, carrying food that was slowly getting colder while desperately trying to find the right address. The angry customers. The disappointed looks. The endless apologies. It felt like every day I made another mistake.

And then I would come home exhausted... Only to remember that my roommate still barely talked to me. How does someone live with another person for months and say almost nothing? I didn't even know that was possible. I tried, though. I said good morning. I asked him about his day. I offered food.

Nothing.

Eventually, I started talking to myself just because I missed hearing another person's voice. But I couldn't leave. I didn't want to. Because every time I stepped onto that sand, everything became worth it. The exhaustion. The loneliness. The mistakes. All of it.

Because volleyball was still there. And that was enough.

At least... I wanted it to be enough.

⋆˙⟡

June 23rd, 2016

After two months, I remember one practice day that destroyed me. The sun was unbearable. The sand burned my feet. My body felt heavy. I was exhausted from working half the day before training, and it was catching up to me. I couldn't perform the way I wanted. I couldn't move fast enough. I couldn't jump high enough. I wasn't giving everything I had. And I hated that feeling.

Coach Kato helped me whenever he could, but he had other players to train too. I wasn't his only responsibility. And because I worked so much, I couldn't practice as much as I wanted.

After the game ended, I remember sitting there covered in sand and sweat. My hair was sticking to my forehead. My entire body felt like it weighed a hundred kilograms. And there was this horrible feeling in my chest.

Like maybe... Maybe I wasn't improving fast enough.

I biked home, planning to shower quickly before heading to work. Of course, I got lost again. The crowded streets surrounded me. People talking. Cars moving. Languages I didn't understand.

The same things I admired when I first arrived suddenly made me feel incredibly small. The world that seemed exciting before suddenly felt overwhelming.

"Pô, demorou demais! Tá fria!" The woman stared angrily at the food I delivered.

I apologized immediately. She slammed the door.

No tip. Of course.

My shift ended earlier than usual because fewer people ordered food. They probably already knew the new foreign delivery guy was going to be late. I sighed while packing my things.

And then I noticed something. My bag felt strange.

Too light. I stopped.

"Wait..."

I looked down. "When did my bag open?"

My stomach dropped. I searched quickly. No. No way.

"My wallet..." It was gone.

"Did someone steal it?"

Thankfully, my ID was inside my phone case. But the cash was gone. And worse... The wallet itself was gone. It wasn't expensive. It wasn't special because of the brand. It was special because of who gave it to me.

Natsu. My little sister.

She gave it to me before I left Japan. She told me to take care of myself.

"Shit..."

When I finally arrived home, all I wanted was food. I was exhausted. Hungry. And honestly, I just wanted one normal thing to happen.

"Pedro, jantar. Você gostaria de comer juntos?" I asked him if he wanted to eat dinner with me. Maybe today would be different. Maybe he would finally talk. Maybe...

"..." Nothing. Again. He ignored me.

I stood there for a moment before forcing a small laugh.

"Okay..." I entered my room. And for the first time since arriving in Brazil... I felt tired of pretending everything was okay. The room was dark. Quiet. Too quiet.

I sat on my bed and stared at the ceiling. What was I doing? I was on the other side of the world. Alone. Struggling. Working until my body hurt. And for what?

I looked at my phone. My lock screen was a picture from our first game as seniors.

Me.

Kageyama.

Yachi.

Yamaguchi.

Tsukishima.

Everyone was moving forward. Yachi, Yamaguchi, and Tsukishima were in college. Kageyama was already a professional player. He was even preparing for the Olympics.

And me?

I was sitting in a dark room in Brazil wondering if I had made the biggest mistake of my life. The room felt colder than it should have. And for the first time...

I missed home. I almost called my little sister Natsu that night. I really wanted to talk to someone close to me. But she was so happy for me when I left. I didn't want to bother her anyway... so I didn't call.

⋆˙⟡

I am not sure what happened next or how, but I felt my hand fly and slap my face.

"UGH, Hinata, shut up! Stupid brain! Stop! What am I doing right now? Get your ass UP," I thought to myself. The truth is that whatever happened in the past, I didn't really have enough time to sit and cry about my life. I had to do something. I had to get up and do something, anything really. Just not... this. Rotting, doubting, and blaming myself wasn't going to lead anywhere. I still had plenty of work to do to reach my goal, and this was just the beginning; I couldn't predict the ending when my story had just started... right? "Speak from the gut! "Speak from the gut, Shoyo!" I said to myself loudly.

I got out of my apartment and started biking to God knows where. I felt the cold summer night breeze hit my face; my cheeks were hot from the embarrassment. It wasn't really late, so there were many people outside, mostly young people and tourists going to the clubs and workers closing up their shops for the night. After a while, I ended up on the beach, where I usually practice. Completely by accident, of course.

I listened to the music playing by a speaker that was covered in sand next to the net. There were a bunch of elderly people playing beach volleyball.

"Opa!" "Medra!" They were all laughing and teasing each other as they played. They didn't look like professionals or something, but they sure looked like they were having the time of their lives.

As I got closer, I saw the ball fly to me, so I decided that I had made enough of a fool of myself already, and instead of letting the ball hit my head, I passed it to one of the people playing. At first I couldn't really understand what they were saying, but I think they all started praising me and asking me to join them. I got really shy, and I couldn't refuse.

As we started playing, I noticed how everyone was so kind to me. I don't understand how, but that day I saw beach volleyball with different eyes. When I played with these people, I wasn't really focused on my technique or my power; I was just trying to have fun. That's how I saw how Beach wasn't that evil after all. On the other hand, I realized that it's really forgiving. It may be difficult to jump, but when you fall, it's hard to get injured.

I think an hour passed and we were still playing. The night was getting darker and colder. For a moment I looked up and realized that this was the most fun I had in a while, so I decided to enjoy the moment as much as I could; I had a shitty day after all.

"Wait...what? Oh...you are kidding me. No, seriously...here? Of all places? You have to be kidding me!"

I was sure I recognized that language, and God, I did recognize that voice.

"THE GREAT KING?"

⋆˙⟡

People still ask me how this encounter changed my mindset so much at the time. I think it was probably because it had to do with a person from my high school years that I valued and admired a lot.

But yeah, we basically had lunch, we talked a lot about our lives after high school, and we even played some beach volleyball afterwards. It was really funny watching Oikawa struggle in the sand like that. We even took a selfie and sent it to Kageyama.

He told me he had started playing for the Argentinian league and shared some of his stories and struggles. They were pretty similar to mine, so I felt really better about myself.

"You know, Shoyo, the funny thing about becoming a professional is that everyone thinks the hard part is getting there. It's not. The hard part is waking up every day and realizing everyone around you is trying to take your place." That was really cool of him, not gonna lie.

"For real?" I asked with a confused face. "I always thought that the hard part was to actually become a pro. Well, when I go pro, I won't give a shit about these things!"

"What? You? A pro? Yeah, right! I hope to live to witness this!"

"S-shut up!"

"HAHAH," that was evil.

I don't know, this encounter really made my day in a way I can't explain.

When I finally arrived home that night, I was a different man from the one I was when I left. I saw a different version of beach volleyball and talked with an old... friend? I was really confused, but I knew something had changed in me.

I was really hopeful, even if that hope was small...it was there. I realized that even if I wasn't so good at beach volleyball, it was really fun learning something new and getting good at it eventually, no matter how hard or easy that was.

⋆˙⟡

"De quem você gosta? Eu. Zolo!" I asked my roommate about his favorite character in One Piece. I had noticed he was into manga, so I finally decided to man up and talk to him without any chit-chatting.

"Como vou dizer quem? Não da! Se tiver escolhido um... de qualquer jeito..." Yeah, we kind of clicked after that. He opened up immediately and started talking to me about his favorite manga and characters. He really reminded me of Kenma as well! Apparently, Pedro also knew Japanese? That was a shocker, not gonna lie.

I couldn't really believe how the guy who rarely said a word to me for two months actually said something after asking him about freaking One Piece. Well, better late than never, I guess! I was actually really happy that we started communicating. I knew that then at least I wouldn't feel so alone in the house.

"I thought you were weird."

"WHAAAT?"

"Yeah... I didn't know you would be into this kind of stuff, Shoyo... You are kind of cool now, I guess..."

My heart actually melted.

⋆˙⟡

Before Oikawa left for Argentina, they played some practice matches together and talked a lot. He talked to me about how different volleyball was in the league. How you had to balance your life to the fullest. Practice, eat, sleep, family, friends, repeat. Up until now, the only thing I ever did was overwork myself and push things.

When I didn't get what I wanted, I would just try harder and harder until I reached my breaking point. I remember in my first year of high school how sick I got after our match with Kamomedai High School. Karasuno was so close to winning the match, and I just fell. I had a really bad fever. But the thing is I didn't really protect myself from stuff like that.

Becoming good at everything meant practicing and improving my technique. Although it also meant that I had to start taking care of myself. Eat healthier, sleep 8 hours a day, meditate, lift weights, practice, work, believe in myself, have fun, relax, and stay in contact with my friends and family. I had to balance everything to succeed.

Because I wasn't only doing it for volleyball, but I was also doing it for myself. I was doing it for Shoyo, not Karasuno's number 10.

And that is what I did for the past 2 years. I followed this balanced routine every day. I took a lot of care of myself, I worked and practiced, studied more Portuguese, and always tried to stay positive. It wasn't perfect. But it was something. I still had issues with the quality of my practice, but I tried to brush it off. I had to improve, and this was the only way.

⋆˙⟡

May 27th, 2017

There was one more year left in Brazil until I had to leave for Japan again, and I have to admit that I had improved a lot. My mindset, my body, and my technique changed, and I got like... super tan.

But well, there were still many things that I had to perfect... and the issue was that Coach Kato was leaving for Japan in June. My coach had to leave, and there were still so many things I had to learn.

What was I supposed to do?

It was not so late in the evening; the day was pretty much the same as every other one. Well, actually, I got off work earlier, so I decided to wander around at the beach.

I had my volleyball with me, and I started playing by myself, you know. Mostly passing above my head.

"I will be leaving for June in a month or so," Coach Kato said. His head was looking at the ground. I guess he felt really bad leaving me in Brazil, but I believe he left for family reasons. Of course I couldn't ask him to stay.

"I understand..." I tried to hide my concerns, but my expression betrayed me.

"You think you are going to be okay on your own?"

"I guess?"

"Look, I will try to find you someone to coach you for the next year... It's not going to be easy though... Most people will ask for some sort of payment, and they tend to be expensive..."

"Well... um... thanks... To tell you the truth... I don't know if I will be able to afford something like that... But I will figure something out, don't you worry!"

"I know you will, kid..."

The air was still a little chilly, but the sky was light... Summer was right around the corner, so days were longer.

The breeze brushed through my hair as I prepared to serve, but this time I was preparing to attempt a jump serve. I never really tried one of those; I mostly focused on jump floats...

Alright... now throw the ball.

Prepare...

Jump

Hit!

"OUCH?!"

"OH MY—sorry! I...um, I didn't mean to—are you alright?"

I got really anxious until I finally locked eyes with the person I hit in the head with the volleyball. After that, I got really... distracted. I could feel her study my hair, then my face and my body.

"Be careful, dude! Is this your first time serving or what?" That kinda hurt. But she wasn't wrong... It's not like I knew what I was doing. I quickly explained the situation.

"You served without checking the wind?" She raised an eyebrow. Damn girl. "Are you sure this isn't your first time?"

It wasn't! I didn't even know I was supposed to!

Her words kinda triggered me in a way that reminded me of my arguments with Kageyama or Tsukishima. I was about to talk back but got caught up in the moment and forgot what I was about to say. I stared.  She was muscular in a way I could tell...

She played volleyball.

But there was something else that caught my eye... her hair... then her face... her eyes... she was pretty! Like, really pretty.

"What are you looking at?" Damn, Hinata, stop staring!

"Do you perhaps... play volleyball?" I quickly tried to save the situation.

She looked more tense than before after that question.

"Yeah?" Sweet!

I got really excited... I mean, I couldn't actually communicate with anyone who knew volleyball at that time except Oikawa, so I was relieved. I quickly introduced myself and asked her what position she played.

"I... ugh, don't really play right now." ... What?

"What?"

What did she mean by that? I mean, how could anyone like... choose not to play when they know how? I couldn't understand at that time. I would figure it out eventually, though.

"You should really work on those serves; they need improvement." Did she really just say that?

All these insults really made me want to talk back, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I don't know why.

Then she turned around and started to walk away. Oh, you are not getting away like that.

"Hey," she turned.

"Wanna try again?"

"It's getting late, so..." Oh? Is it now?

"Please... unless you are scared or something." Now that I think about it, it would make sense for her to be scared since I am a man and we were kind of alone at the beach, but I said that for the plot.

"Scared? Of what?" Gotcha.

⋆˙⟡

Seriously... she didn't like that one either??

"It was fine." I seriously couldn't understand why that was just 'fine.' It got over the net! And it wasn't out...

She quickly explained it to me, and then I kind of understood what she wanted me to do. I mean, it made sense. When I spike whenever I don't like a set, I try to communicate with the setter. And I kind of struggled to make that serve, not going to lie. I threw the ball a little too low. So I have got to pretend that I am setting for myself!

I tried it, and boom, it literally worked. The second time, it worked! She was really good at explaining this stuff.

"YEAH!"

I got really happy when she got excited like that.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY JUMPED AND SERVED!" I really couldn't believe it.

I started jumping like a kid for three seconds, and she seemed so happy for me too. I don't know what got into me, so I kinda...

"Uh- hey!?" Shit! Why did I grab her like that? I wasn't acting like myself at all! But I just couldn't... resist... she looked so pretty when she hugged me like that.

Hey! Snap out of it, Hinata! Put her down, you idiot!

I apologized immediately as dramatically as I could. I really hope that didn't creep her out...

She told me it was fine, but I still felt bad...and then

She smiled at me.

I felt more at ease after that.

She continued showing me some moves, but mostly technical stuff. She didn't even touch the ball. I really wondered why.

"Would you maybe want to do this again sometime?"

That caught her off guard. "Do what?"

"Play together, or—well, you helping me play counts too."

She agreed, so I asked her for her number.

Gosh, there is NO way I am asking for a girl's number. High school me would not believe it.

"You still don't know my name, you know." It didn't really matter.

She gave me her number and told me her name. That was a name I would never forget.

I couldn't help it, but I smiled.

"I was actually about to grab dinner before heading home," he said suddenly. "Do you maybe want to join me?" "There is no way I said that; she is so going to say no."

"What?"

"NO—wait! Not like that! I mean—unless—no, that's not what I meant!" I looked horrified. "I just got excited because you know volleyball and I thought maybe we could talk more about it and—"

"It's okay." There was no way she just agreed to eat dinner with me.

I was never the best with girls back in high school. I would mostly get flustered when they talked to me. Oikawa, on the other hand, was a natural at stuff like that, so when we met here in Brazil... I kinda asked him to help me.

Well, we didn't do much... we went out with a bunch of girls, and he tried to set me up with some of them. So I wasn't completely inexperienced. I knew stuff until the making out point, but nothing after that... and flirting was not my strongest suit.

Basically, I couldn't believe I was sitting in a restaurant with a pretty girl in front of me.

My face was really red after what I had heard from our server. I mean, I don't blame her; it's not like I had brought any girl before with me. So it was understandable to think we were a couple.

A few hours passed, and I had just finished talking about high school. Even after all the beers she had, she looked so focused on what I had to say; her eyes never left mine. When I first talked to her, she seemed pretty cold and introverted, but now she looks so interested in what I had to say.

As we talked, I noticed more and more things about her. The way her hair fell on her forehead, how she would crack her fingers from time to time, how the room's warm lights reflected onto her skin. She had a bunch of beauty marks too. And her eyes were so expressive. Every time she laughed, questioned, or judged, her eyes would betray her before she even said a word.

She offered me a drink. Who would make sure you got home safe if I had something to drink?

"We seriously need to get you home."

She took her wallet out of her bag, and of course I stopped her.

"I invited you, remember?"

⋆˙⟡

The moment we left, she started to walk kinda funny.

"Woah—" I caught her before she fell.

She was so close. Close enough that I could hear her heartbeat.

As I continued to walk and watch her stumble on air, I decided to save us some time. She looked so shocked when I picked her up. She was really light for me, honestly.

"Sunscreen is good for your skin." "You should wear it throughout the year. It prevents wrinkles too."

"What?! Wrinkles? I don't even think about that stuff!" I really didn't. Maybe that is why she looked so pretty. It's because she wore sunscreen?

"I can tell."

"I have the best tan already, thank you very much."

"Yeah, you mean crispy."

"I heard that."

"Good."

"You're going to regret not using sunscreen someday."

"I will NOT."

"Sure. But really, don't forget to wear it; the sun can be really toxic."

I didn't argue this time.

By the time we finally reached my hotel, my face hurt from smiling too much.

She thanked me; I gave her bag back and watched her enter her hotel room. When she disappeared into the building, I almost called her name so she could come out again.

⋆˙⟡

It was past midnight at that point, but I just couldn't sleep. That encounter shifted my brain chemistry for some reason. She was so good at explaining stuff about volleyball, and her physique showed that she had been playing for quite a while. Why did she stop?

Now that I mention it...the way she walked on the sand looked as if she were afraid of it...like she would get hurt if she weren't careful... Could it be...that she has..--

INCOMING CALL - pro player ;p

That was a goofy name. Why was she calling me at this hour?

I quickly sat up and grabbed my phone.

"Hey, what's up? It's pretty late; is everything all right?"

"Where are you?" She sounded serious.

"At my house? Did something happen?"

"Nope, everything is perfect. I have a question though."

"Oh... What's up?"

"Can you come over?" Huh

"Huh? "Huh... what?

"Yeah... I feel kind of lonely... I would kill for some company..."

I stood frozen on my bed... What was she implying? Was she seriously trying to? No. There is no way.

"Are you there?"

"YEA—Umm—Yeah, I am here... It's just, um, why do you want me to come over? It's pretty late and—"

"Please."

Shit... what should I do? I might be reading this completely wrong... What if this is an actual emergency? She has no one else to call after all...

It didn't take long to bike to her hotel. We met exactly where I left her previously, and she guided me to her room. As she closed the door behind her, I started observing the room. It looked like she had just tidied it up for me... that was really cute.

"So why did you—" PSSSSSSS

"WHAT THE FUC-UGH! My eyes!"

"WHERE IS MY FREAKING WALLET?!"

"WHAT??"

She had just sprayed pepper spray on my goddamn eyes.

Freaking pepper spray.

"What do you mean, 'What?! 'I know you stole it! All my cash and cards are in there! My ID! I need that wallet to stay here! Unless I have to go back home!"

"I didn't steal your freaking wallet, dammit—UGH!" I cried in pain. My eyes were burning like hell!

"Yeah, right! You think I am stupid? With all your friendly talk! And your restaurant and high school stories! They are fake too, right? I knew you were just trying to get something out of it! You robbed me!"

"What are you talking about—FUCK... SHIT, THIS HURTS."

I tried to sit on her bed as I rubbed my eyes.

"I am saying you are a thief! And you are not going ANYWHERE until you give me back my wallet! Don't make me call the police!"

"I didn't steal your wallet, alright... ugh... I don't know where it is..."

"Yeah, yeah, right... Don't you think you lied a little too much today? Tell me, where is it?"

My vision was blurry, and my eyes burned so much. Thankfully, the pain was only in my eyes, and it didn't go to my nose. I started sweating and whimpering from the pain.

"Fuck... are you crazy, girl? My eyes are killing me...fuck... I didn't steal anything... You probably dropped it somewhere..."

"Crazy?" Oh, I will show you crazy if you don't tell me where you put it..." She raised her hand and tried to spray me again, so I grabbed her arm.

"Put that down... do you want me to go blind?" I was so mad at her... but I couldn't yell at her. Thankfully, she didn't spray a lot on me, and the pain left after a while. My eyes were still red, though.

"What is wrong with you? Why would you do that?"

"What did you expect me to do? I didn't even expect you would answer my call... so I had to make you give my wallet back somehow..."

"And I thought you had an emergency... You can defend yourself just fine; you don't need my help!"

"You shouldn't even question that..." She rolled her eyes.

"I swear I didn't take it, alright! I can help you find it if you want, jeez... Just... don't pepper spray people like that..."

"And how do you expect me to trust you now, huh?"

"I don't know, alright! You are making it difficult! But I swear I didn't steal anything... L-look... I will call my friend from the restaurant and ask her if they found anything, alright?"

"...Alright...go on."

I took my phone and dialed her number. The restaurant closes at 12, and it was 1.30 am; she must still be awake.

"Hinata? Está tudo bem?"

"Hey! Sorry to bother you so late. Can you talk in English? My friend from earlier wants to ask you something..." I gave her my phone.

"H-hey... um... did you perhaps find a wallet? I lost mine, and it had my cash and ID inside..."

"Sim!—Uh... I mean, yes! I found your wallet earlier. I recognized you from the ID. You can take it tomorrow!"

"Really? I am so relieved, thank you so much!"

"Obrigado, conversamos amanhã. Boa noite!" I hung up the phone.

...

"Guess we have found your wallet now..." I crossed my arms and leaned against the door frame. She was looking down at her feet.

"I am really... sorry. I shouldn't have done... that."

"You mean pepper spray me?"

"Ugh... yeah, no need to point it out..."

"The color of my eyes points it out too, don't worry."

"Shut up..." She rolled her eyes.

"What was that? I am sorry; I didn't hear you." I leaned a little closer.

"I thought you were blind, not deaf."  Oh no, she didn't.

"You owe me now. When you get your wallet back, you will buy me lunch," I said with a grin.

"Tch... fine."

"That's what I thought. Goodnight now, I will be dreaming about that lunch!"

"Be careful not to choke on it!"

I laughed at that as I walked away from her room.

The air had gotten colder, and I felt a shiver down my spine. I started biking again and watched the ocean waves crash on the wet sand next to the familiar net. I think I should skip morning practice for tomorrow and get some sleep.