𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 | 𝘰𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘸𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘶 𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳
READ THE FIRST 10 CHAPTERS OF SOMEHOW, YOU ON AO3 HERE
first off, i want to apologize for my inactivity. i have been working on this the entire time and havent had any motivation to write anything else lol.
second off, I LIED THIS ISNT AN X READER IM SORRY. this is a self indulgent fanfic made for my friend and i, but i did write it so any reader can insert themselves.
third of all, this fic is wayyy too long to put onto tumblr, so this post will have a sneak peek at the first chapter. currently, there are 10 chapters with an 11th being written as we speak. it is more than likely this will be my main focus for writing for a few weeks, but i will try to write some reigen fics because i miss him dearly lol.
this is primarily an oikawa x self insert (reader) but it is also an readers best friend x iwaizumi hajime LMFAO. feel free to insert your friend as the readers best friend.
warning, it is very likely i wont be active during august due to moving into college and starting college! i will try my best to upload :C
anyways, tumblr will get the updates as soon as chapters come out so yay! enjoy c:
This is a self-insert of my friend and me, as a summer project and gift to both of us. Purely for fun and to cure summer loneliness.
Tooru Oikawa has a rule—he doesn’t get close to fans. Not out of cruelty, but because fame is fleeting and friendships built on admiration feel shallow. He's always kept a polished distance, a winning smile from the court and nothing more. But that rule begins to crack when he starts noticing a girl in the crowd who cheers louder than any other fan.
Caylee doesn’t fit the mold of a typical Oikawa fan. She’s somewhat quiet, eccentric, and utterly uninterested in popularity, though she could easily achieve it if she wanted. She's just there to support her best friend Leilani, who has been hopelessly pining after Iwaizumi Hajime since their first year started.
Tooru’s curiosity deepens as he finds himself seeking her out—scanning the crowd, walking past her classroom on purpose, and wondering why someone so strange and soft makes his heartbeat stutter.
First year, Aoba Johsai
Beginning of Spring Semester
Tooru had always maintained a cautious distance from forming friendships with his fans. It wasn't that he didn't value their support; in fact, he often felt a deep sense of gratitude for the unwavering enthusiasm they showed towards him. However, the pressure of constant confessions that swirled around him was something he found overwhelmingly exhausting. Each heartfelt note, every fervent declaration of admiration—it was enough to make anyone's head spin.
From the outside, it might appear to be an enviable position he was in, surrounded by adoring fans who dreamt of his lifestyle and presence. He understood why people would fantasize about achieving such a status; the average person would likely relish the attention and acclaim that came with it. Yet, for Tooru, the adoration often felt superficial. The barrage of compliments and admiration centered around his looks and talent, and while he was grateful for it, it didn’t necessarily build genuine friendships.
Beneath his charming exterior, Tooru harbored a romantic heart, albeit one cloaked in layers of reluctance. Which is why he longed for a genuine connection—one built on mutual understanding, shared interests, and emotional depth; something he couldn’t find in a relationship with a fan. The idea of sharing quiet moments with someone who appreciated him for more than just his public persona was a wistful dream he entertained in secret. And as a teenage boy with all the girls, yet none he actually felt connected to, he lived life with a tinge of sadness, as he sought a love that went beyond the superficial adoration of fans who only wanted him for his looks.
So… what was he doing walking up to this random girl after his game?
He always told himself he didn’t like being close with fans—too messy, too performative. So what was he doing now? Maybe it’s because she was a frequent audience member of the games…but wouldn’t that count as being a fan?
He’d catch glimpses of her reactions during the matches—how she’d erupt in cheers when Iwaizumi secured a solid block, her body practically leaping from her seat, or how she’d bounce with unrestrained joy when Mastukawa executed a good serve. With both hands thrust in the air, she celebrated each hard-earned point, her excitement infectious. Sometimes, she would turn to the girl beside her, eyes wide and gleaming with enthusiasm, sharing animated reactions that felt so… genuine. There was just this… softness about her. It’s not like she was much different from his usual fans. She was feminine, yeah—did her hair in cute little styles, wore subtle, yet cute makeup, or added something a little extra to the standard Aoba Johsai uniform. She wasn’t really all that different to begin with. But something about her just stuck with him for some reason.
He noticed her at nearly every game now—always in the third row, middle left, just where he could regularly spot her. Always accompanied by her enthusiastic friend, the taller one with the infectious laugh. Leilani, he remembered, the one with the vibrant energy who lit up every room she entered. She was part of the student council, social and outgoing, quick to break the ice in any situation, her laughter big and charming, yet never overbearing. She clapped with exaggerated enthusiasm during tense moments in the match, her cheers ringing out boldly enough to make him suppress a grin while on the court.
And yet, it was the girl beside her who caught his attention more.
The girl, whose name still eluded him, was no less expressive than her friend, just different; she shone brightly in a more understated way—bubbly, but more whimsical than her friend. While Leilani was up in energy, this girl matched her spirit, echoing the same excitement, just a bit more playfulness. Together, they formed two halves of a whole that just felt right.
It was shameful, honestly—how much he’d started to look forward to spotting them. He knew he should’ve been focused on the game, but somewhere between serves and rotations, his gaze would always wander back to that beloved third row. He’d see the taller girl leaning forward, voice raised in encouragement, and beside her, the other girl would be grinning, her smile casting an unexpected warmth over him.
Maybe it was the way she had made eye contact with him just moments before he served that day. Perhaps it was the surprise amusement that danced in her eyes when she turned to Leilani after catching his smile. It was probably the sweet, melodic laugh that reached his ears from across the court when she waved at him in a delightfully goofy manner. Whatever it was, the couple of seconds of interaction they had stirred something within him, urging him forward.
Tooru found himself moving towards her, towel still draped around his neck, fingers wrapped around his cold water bottle, heart pounding in a way that felt both exhilarating and terrifying. He wasn’t entirely certain what he planned to say; he just knew he had to talk to her—needed to learn her name before she disappeared with her friend. Just a name. That’s all he wanted. One name to match the girl who had become the highlight of every game, in a sea of people who only ever looked at him. He could see them getting ready to leave—Leilani swinging her bag over her shoulder, eyes scanning the exit, waiting for her other half.
He weaved his way through the edge of the crowd, still half-damp with sweat, sneakers scuffing against the polished gym floor. Around him, teammates were being bombarded with congratulations and selfies, and part of him was grateful for the distraction—it made his approach a little less noticeable. He just prayed to every god he could outrun his own fans.
But with every step closer, his confidence wavered.
What was he even going to say?
“Hey. You’re cute. I saw you waving. What’s your name?”
It all sounded so… unlike him. He didn’t want to be that guy . Didn’t want to approach her the way people approached him —with expectations, shallow praise, or worse, the assumption that they already knew him. But instead of mulling over what he was going to say, maybe he should’ve paid more attention because now she was right in front of him, adjusting the skirt of her Aoba Johsai uniform with a quick, almost shy motion. Her bag hung loosely over one shoulder, and her cardigan tied around her waist. Next to her, Leilani—her friend—was already scanning the exit, trying to navigate through the crowds.
He stopped just a few feet away, hovering in that delicate space where he could easily retreat if he needed to, but close enough that she would notice him. The fluorescent lights of the gym cast a soft glow, illuminating the subtle nervousness etched on his features. Before he could second-guess himself, she lifted her gaze to his. It was a fleeting glance, quickly locking their eyes, but in that instant, surprise flickered across her face like a candle flame catching the wind. Her eyebrows arched in surprise, and her lips parted slightly as if she were about to speak but was momentarily struck dumb.
“Oh,” she breathed, the sound barely a whisper, filled with unexpected delight.
Leilani, her friend, turned around upon hearing her friend speak and caught on immediately, leaning in with a teasing smile that danced in her eyes. “Wait… are you—?” she began, her expression encouraging.
Tooru raised a hand in a tentative greeting, a small, nervous smile forming on his lips—the kind he reserved for moments when uncertainty clouded his thoughts. “Hey,” he said, his voice coming out rougher than he intended, like gravel on a quiet road. “I, uh… I saw you at the game. Or—well, I see you at most games.”
Caylee blinked, surprise still etched on her features but layered with calmness. She didn’t appear to be a fan caught in a starry-eyed daze; rather, she seemed genuinely bewildered. “You… do?” she asked, confusion lacing her tone as if trying to piece together a puzzle.
He let out a soft chuckle, the tension easing slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck, a habit he fell back on when he felt out of his depth. “Yeah. It’s hard not to notice someone who cheers louder than our own bench,” he explained, a hint of admiration slipping into his words.
A soft blush crept across her cheeks, and she instinctively covered her mouth, glancing at Leilani, who nudged her gently, a knowing look in her eye that signaled encouragement. Tooru’s expression softened at the sight of her shyness; he couldn't help but smile a bit wider than he already was.
“I wanted to know your name,” he admitted, the sincerity in his voice breaking through the chaotic sounds of the gym around them, “if that's okay.” The noise faded into a distant hum—shoes squeaking against the polished floor, the echo of equipment being put away, Iwaizumi’s voice calling for Matsukawa to hurry. In this small pocket of space, her reaction felt monumental; she smiled shyly, a warmth radiating from her infectious honesty.
“It’s Caylee,” she said, her voice clearly nervous but overshadowed by her smile. “Caylee Quon.”
He nodded slowly, imprinting the name in his mind like a cherished memory. “Caylee,” he repeated, letting the name linger on his tongue, feeling its familiarity resonate deeply within him. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Her cheeks flushed deeper, taking on a lovely shade of pink that seemed to glow against the backdrop of the dimly lit room. Despite the visible flush, her gaze remained steady and unwavering, filled with a shy intensity that contrasted sharply with her friend’s teasing smirk, which danced across her features like a playful challenge.
“You too,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, but the softness carried a weight of sincerity. A gentle smile tugged at her lips, revealing a delicate mixture of nervousness and exhilaration that sparkled in her eyes.
“Uhmmmmm…I’ll see you next time… haha…” Caylee managed to stammer, her laughter a desperate attempt to mask her anxiety. As the final syllable escaped her lips, she instinctively grabbed Leilani’s arm, her fingers curling tightly around it as if seeking comfort in her friend’s presence.
It wasn’t long before she was already rushing toward the exit, her heart racing in sync with her hurried steps. The door loomed ahead, a gateway to the outside world where her emotions could settle, but she couldn’t help but steal one last glance back, the thrill of the moment still thrumming through her veins.
Tooru barely had time to savor the fleeting moment before a sudden, firm smack landed squarely on the back of his head, jolting him back to reality.
“Oikawa, quit standing around and start cleaning up,” Iwaizumi's gruff voice sliced through the gym's fading buzz like a whistle, echoing against the high ceilings as he approached. With a towel slung casually over his shoulder and a mildly exasperated look plastered across his face, he exuded a blend of authority and warmth that was all too familiar.
Tooru blinked rapidly, the heat rising to his cheeks as he shook his head in an effort to dispel the lingering thoughts of Caylee. “Yeah, yeah, I’m on it,” he muttered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and determination. The words barely made it past his lips, but inside, his heart still fluttered with excitement from their brief exchange—her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled.
As Iwaizumi stepped aside, a hint of annoyance still lingering in his posture, Tooru turned his attention to the equipment scattered across the gym floor. He moved toward the equipment cart, his mind still half-lost in the daydream, trying to push the sweetness of that moment to the back of his mind as he focused on the task at hand.
The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the wide windows lining the school hallways, casting a warm glow on the polished floors. Tooru had just emerged from a grueling morning practice session, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, dampening his hair and sending a few rebellious strands sticking to his skin. His usual confident aura was slightly dimmed; fatigue tugged at his limbs, but a contented smile hinted at his satisfaction from pushing himself to the limit. He ambled through the hall, still resonating with the adrenaline of practice, when he suddenly bumped into someone rounding the corner.
“Whoa! Sorry—” Leilani’s voice rang out, bright and steady, but her eyes sparkled with mischief as they met his. She was a force of nature, her vibrant demeanor hard to ignore.
Tooru blinked, momentarily startled by her sudden appearance. “Leilani? Hey…” He adjusted his posture, shaking off the weariness as he took in her enthusiastic energy.
She smiled widely, folding her arms confidently, a playful gleam in her eye. “I was just looking for you.” Her gaze flickered sideways, clearly assessing him, perhaps searching for the right way to approach the topic on her mind. “It’s about Caylee.”
Tooru felt a jolt in his chest, his heart skipping a beat. “Oh? What about her?” His curiosity sharpened; Caylee had been on his mind since their brief yet impactful encounter the day before.
Leilani laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing dramatic, don’t worry. She just wanted to say sorry for rushing out yesterday.”
Tooru raised an eyebrow, his posture relaxing. “Rushing out?”
“Yeah, after the game,” she said with a sheepish grin. “We kind of dipped fast, huh? Caylee and I were excited to try this new café that opened near the station. They’ve got these ridiculous parfaits in flower pots. We were both kind of bouncing off the walls about it all day.”
He chuckled softly, “Sounds like it was serious business.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Leilani said with mock solemnity. Then she glanced at the wall clock and made a small noise of realization. “Shoot, I gotta get moving. Homeroom’s gonna start soon, and I promised Caylee I wouldn’t make her wait outside again.”
Tooru tilted his head, not quite meaning to sound curious. “She’s in your class?”
Leilani shook her head. “Nope. She’s in 1-B—other side of the hall. I just usually meet her there so we can walk in together.” She offered him a friendly wave, already starting to head in that direction. “Anyway, see you around!”
“Yeah, later,” Tooru replied, but he remained rooted in place for a few seconds longer, eyes lingering on the path she’d taken.
He hadn’t known that. Not that it mattered. But now he did. Just… information. Normal stuff.
Still, as he turned toward the lockers, his steps were a little slower, his mind oddly occupied. He wasn’t planning to do anything with that knowledge. Of course not.
But then again… passing through that hall wasn’t exactly out of the way. Not if he took the long route.
Just once. Maybe he’d get a glimpse. Just to… confirm she was real, maybe. That she hadn’t only existed in that strange, perfect little moment yesterday.
He didn’t even realize he was smiling a little as he reached for his water bottle.
After homeroom ended, Tooru slung his bag over one shoulder, his steps light as he exited the classroom. His next class wasn’t far—just down the hall, two doors over—but instead of heading straight there like everyone else, he drifted in the opposite direction. A slow walk. No rush.
The hallway was filled with the sounds of first-years settling into their new rhythms—voices bouncing off the walls, lockers clattering open and shut, the faint squeak of shoes on the polished floors. Tooru moved at an easy pace, his hand tucked into his blazer pocket, hair still slightly tousled from practice that morning.
No one stopped him. He didn’t draw attention to himself. Just another student wandering the halls—except he wasn’t really wandering. His steps had purpose, masked beneath a calm, casual stroll. A casual stroll toward Room 1-B…
It wasn’t his class. His own homeroom was over in 1-D, tucked further down the corridor. But 1-B sat squarely along the way to the vending machines by the stairwell—or at least, that’s what he told himself. That it was a reasonable detour. Just a slightly longer path. A scenic route.
As he turned the corner, his gaze slid lazily across the row of doors ahead, some propped wide like most of the others, voices murmuring from inside. The usual first-year chaos—shuffling chairs, rustling notebooks, someone laughing too loud in the back. He didn’t stop. His footsteps didn’t falter.
He walked past the classroom’s familiar doors, then around the corner where the sunlight spilled through the high windows, streaking across the floor. And just a little further down—toward the middle of the first-year hallway—was room 1-B.
He glanced to the side. Casually. Or at least he hoped it looked casual.
The classroom door was cracked open, voices drifting lazily into the hallway. A couple of students stood by the doorway chatting, their uniforms half-unbuttoned in the spring warmth. Tooru passed them without pause, just slow enough to glimpse inside.
Her short hair was pinned back with a soft clip today, glasses pushed up her nose, her head slightly tilted as she listened to the girl beside her—Leilani, probably. Her hands were folded neatly over her desk, and she was smiling at something, soft and wide, like whatever was said had completely lit up her thoughts. Her smile was the kind that crept up slowly and stayed longer than expected—genuine, unhurried. The movement of her expression—soft, bright, entirely unguarded—pulled at something in his chest.
He didn’t let his eyes linger. Just one glance. One heartbeat. One soft, unspoken “there she is.” And then he was past the door. It wasn’t like he had made the trip just to see her. That would’ve been weird. He was just passing through. Just stretching his legs.
He turned the corner and walked toward his actual classroom at the end of the hall, not knowing that the girl his gaze lingered on a few milliseconds too long had glanced toward the door, just a few seconds too late. His footsteps were quiet, his expression unreadable. But his thoughts were busy.
He didn’t know what he was trying to figure out, exactly. There wasn’t really anything to figure out. It wasn’t that he was interested in her, per se. It wasn’t like that. She had just… surprised him. Yesterday. Her reaction after the game hadn’t been what he’d braced himself for. No breathless fangirling, no squeals or fluttering lashes. Just a quiet, stunned smile. Like she wasn’t expecting him to speak to her at all.
And then the way she left so suddenly with her friend, half-laughing, half-hiding behind Leilani’s arm. He hadn’t been able to tell if it was nerves, or awkwardness, or something else entirely. The whole thing was… ambiguous. Open-ended. Unfinished in a way that lingered longer than it should have.
Still, Tooru had found himself wondering: had Caylee smiled about it later? Had she mentioned it to Leilani? Maybe even her other friends? Had she thought about it at all? It wasn’t like he cared. Not really . He just happened to pass by, a mere coincidence. Nothing weird about taking the long way to class. Nope! Nothing weird at all.
He tugged at his collar, suddenly aware of the warmth creeping up the side of his face. It was warm out. The sun was already climbing high, and the hallways were stuffy, and he had practice that morning after all. That was all it was. Just the heat. Not the way her smile had taken him off guard. Not the way he’d immediately noticed the little clip in her hair or the faint color on her cheeks. Definitely not that.
Tooru stepped into his next class just as the bell rang, sliding into his seat near the window with the kind of ease only someone who had timed it down to the second could manage. He set his bag down, pulled out a pen, and half-listened as the teacher launched into attendance. He twirled his pen between his fingers, elbow resting lazily on the desk, eyes drifting to the window even though there was nothing particularly interesting out there—just a patch of cloudless sky and the faint outline of the gym’s roof in the distance.
His mind wandered to how Caylee’s face had lit up when he first walked over. The surprised way her eyes widened, like she wasn’t sure he was actually talking to her. The slightly awkward stance. The way she turned to Leilani with her hand covering her mouth, slightly embarrassed by the abrupt interaction. The way she–
“Tooru-kun? You want to share your answer?”
He looked down. His notebook was blank. Right. He hadn’t written a single word.
A soft ripple of laughter moved through the classroom, but the teacher just sighed and moved on. Tooru leaned back in his chair, head tilted against the wall, tapping his pen against the side of his notebook now.
His eyes drifted lazily back to the window, but his thoughts stayed tangled somewhere between her laugh, the clip in her hair, and the warmth of her smile. He wasn’t going to do anything about it. It's not like it was anything that serious. Just curiosity…I guess? A passing thought, the kind that happened sometimes when someone surprised you.
He remembered seeing Iwaizumi talking to Leilani a few times. Not often, but enough. Between classes, or after practice, when she’d stop by to deliver council flyers. They weren’t close, but he knew Iwaizumi did seem familiar enough with her.
Tooru tapped his pen once more. Maybe he’d ask him later. Casually, of course. Just in passing! Right… just asking about Leilani. And maybe—if it came up—he’d ask if she ever mentioned her friend, too.
The courtyard was dappled in sunlight by midday, the spring air warm but gentle, brushing softly over the students who had spilled out of the building and onto the benches and stone ledges. Laughter carried lightly in the breeze, undercut by the low murmur of conversation and the rustle of convenience store wrappers being torn open.
Tooru sat beside Iwaizumi at their usual spot near the far edge of the courtyard wall, where a tall camphor tree cast just enough shade to keep the sun out of their eyes. Iwaizumi was halfway through a pork cutlet sandwich, elbow on his knee, idly scrolling through his phone in the other hand.
Tooru hadn't touched his bento yet. He held his melon bread loosely in his hands, the plastic crinkling beneath his fingers.
“So,” he began, too casually to be casual, eyes fixed somewhere ahead of him instead of on Iwaizumi. “That girl you were talking to the other day. The one in student council. Tall-ish. Wavy hair. Confident.”
Iwaizumi didn’t look up from his phone. “Leilani?”
Tooru shrugged one shoulder. “I guess.”
Now Iwa looked at him, a little sideways. “You guess? What, you trying to talk to her now?”
Tooru rolled his eyes. “No, nothing like that. I’ve just seen her around a lot at the games. You know her, right?” He tried (and failed) to ask casually, unwrapping his melon bread.
Iwaizumi gave him a look, the kind that suggested he wasn’t buying the nonchalance in Tooru’s voice, but he didn’t push. Instead, he leaned back against the wall and wiped his hands on a napkin.
“We have a couple of the same classes,” Iwaizumi replied, shrugging. “She’s cool. Funny. Pretty extroverted. I invited her to watch one of the practice games against Shiratoizawa once, so we could study after. She’s shown up to games and stuff ever since, and she always brings along her friend, Caylee. ”
Tooru’s eyes flicked subtly to Iwaizumi, a flicker of interest hidden beneath his casual tone. “Caylee?”
“Yeah, Caylee,” Iwaizumi said, biting into the last bite of his sandwich. “They’re pretty tight. Leilani’s the extrovert, always a bit loud but in a funny type of way. Caylee’s more low-key but bubbly when she’s with Leilani. Think she mentioned they’ve known each other since middle school?”
Tooru nodded, letting the information settle as he chewed over the details. “Hmm. So, they usually come together, huh?”
“Pretty much,” Iwaizumi confirmed. “Leilani’s kind of the leader of their little duo. Makes sure Caylee’s always included. You asking about them for some reason?”
Tooru laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from his face. “Nah. Just curious. It’s nice having familiar faces in the crowd, you know?”
Iwaizumi chuckled. “Well, they’re definitely not your usual crowd. Both of them are pretty closet-level freaks, if you ask me. Not that it’s a bad thing—they’re just… total dorks and nerds. But you wouldn’t guess it looking at them. Leilani’s all confident and lowkey kind of intimidating, but once you hang out with her, she’s a little dorkier than she lets on. Caylee’s more whimsical—super into her own world of nerdy stuff and jokes around a lot more than Leilani, but she only really lets that side show around Leilani.”
Tooru nodded thoughtfully. “Oh..”
“Yeah,” Iwaizumi said, leaning back with a grin. “I was pretty surprised the first time I hung out with them both after a match. They’ve got this weird little thing—like Caylee completely nerds out, and Leilani adds onto it with her. So funny.”
“That so?” he murmured, taking a small bite of his melon bread, chewing slower than usual.
Iwaizumi glanced sideways at him again. “You sure you’re not interested in one of them?”
Tooru scoffed, though the sound lacked any real sharpness. “I literally just said I wasn’t.”
“Yeah, but you’ve been weirdly attentive ever since I brought them up.”
Tooru gave a lazy shrug, letting his gaze wander to the distant crowd at the far end of the courtyard. “I just think it’s interesting. That’s all.”
Iwaizumi didn’t say anything right away. He only pulled out his phone again, lazily scrolling through a few messages. A breeze rustled the leaves above them, scattering bits of sunlight across the ground like little golden coins. The lunch period was winding down, but the courtyard was still buzzing with fragments of conversation and distant laughter.
After a moment, Iwaizumi spoke up again—more casual this time. “Well, like I said, I can probably get Leilani to agree to hang out sometime. Maybe get them both to come. They’re kind of… attached at the hip anyway.”
Tooru nodded slowly, the faintest glint of excitement flickering in his eyes now as he leaned back against the bench, lifting his arms to stretch. “Could be fun,” he said easily. “Good way to unwind after practice or something.”
“Right,” Iwaizumi drawled, unconvinced, but too tired to call him out again.
They fell into a comfortable quiet after that. The sunlight filtered lazily through the branches above, and Tooru sat with his half-finished melon bread in one hand, head tilted toward the sky, the breeze brushing through his hair.
