𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐲 || 𝐭. 𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐚

⤷𝟠𝟡: 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕪-𝕤𝕚𝕩

when we smile, we're exercising a number of our muscles.

that should be a given—a human is, really, just a set of bones with some muscle and blood thrown into the mix (okay, maybe we're downplaying the complexity of it all. sue me. <3)

it should also be a given that you, a pre-med student that's passed semester one with flying colours, should know the exact number of muscles it takes to smile.

but out of all the random anatomy facts and rules you've memorized, the simple question of 'how many muscles does it take to smile' had somehow slipped your mind.

(to your defence, it's not like you had photographic memory.)

even so, you hated not knowing something. the missing number was crawling under your skin as you tried to reach back into your memory to find it.

what was that number?

oh, and while this debate was going on in your head, two individuals were still standing in front of you, probably waiting for an answer to a different question.

those two individuals, unfortunately, are able to provide zero insight as to what that number might be.

"wait. so does this mean that she knows kageyama?"

the boy, hoshiumi, questioned.

hinata nodded. "they were really close during first year, i think."

"how do you know y/n then?" hoshiumi frowned, demanding hinata.

with an impatient look, the orange haired boy explained. "i was on the same team as kageyama, remember? actually, i don't know y/n and i have ever even been introduced to each other before...but we both know of each other."

as the three of you continued walking towards the gym—ah, yes. the undeniable 7b—, a small silence filled the void.

...which lasted for about a millisecond before hoshiumi broke it again.

"how close were she and kageyama?"

you sighed. "i'm right here, you know."

the light haired boy raised his eyebrow at you. "but you're my tour guide."

"what does that have to do with anything?"

"it doesn't," hoshiumi stated.

i—

"how close were you and kageyama then?" hoshiumi directed the question at you.

"we were..." you paused. "pretty close."

"and you're still close now?"

chile—is this an interview now?

"well, technically yes, but at the same time, we sorta hated each others' guts for two years," you spoke truthfully.

hoshiumi stopped in his tracks, giving you a curious look. "is that a joke?"

"it's not," hinata confirmed. "i think y/n and bakageyama had a falling out for some reason—it was super weird, to be honest. i've never seen kageyama so depressed—even when lana showed up, kageyama was unbelievably distant. i honestly have no idea what even happened since we didn't see y/n for two years after that." hinata finished speaking, before adding, "oh, and oikawa-san also knows y/n."

hoshiumi perked up at the new names. "who's lana? and oikawa too?"

you stopped them both before they could continue the string of gossip.

i'm ngl, but at this rate, hoshiumi's going to become the new mr gossip dude.

(lol jk we could never replace shirabu).