Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Wait! What’s this plush toy hanging from his bag?” Sofia asked her friends hesitantly, as Argentina's national volleyball setter, Oikawa Tooru, walked past her after stepping out of the airport in Paris.

It was the Olympics in Paris, and other members of the volleyball team also moved past them, waving excitedly and smiling. After all the team members left the airport, Sofia and other fans gathered together, trying to look at the pictures taken on her phone.

Zooming in and out and passing the phone around to every fan for analysis didn’t help them get a clearer view of what was hanging on the setter’s bag. What a bummer, since all they could make out was a plushie, but nothing else.

But this wasn’t enough. They needed to know what brand this plushie was. As a fansbase, they wanted to share snippets about each member of the Argentinian national volleyball team, and they would move mountains to get rare facts about their favourite setter, even if it was about a silly plushie. So they asked the one and only detective platform that brings local and global fans together: the not so holy Twitter community.

Cropped pictures of Oikawa’s bag, especially of his new plushie, spread like wildfire around the globe. Fans from Argentina and other nations as well as random users, took the time to analyse the mysterious item on social media.

And to no one’s surprise more and more people joined the plushie hunt. For the fans, however, it was clear that only one person could gather so many people from around the world and that person was none other than their No. 1 setter of Argentinian national volleyball team.

Oikawa Tooru, 30 years old, setter for Atlético San Juan in Argentina and after obtaining Argentinian citizenship also became the starting setter for the Argentina National team. Argentina’s No. 1 setter, born in Japan, played volleyball since childhood in his native country but chose Argentina as his new home years ago. Wearing Argentina’s colours soon made him one of their nation's radiating stars.

Even though every Argentinian knew who Oikawa Tooru was, that didn’t mean they knew much about him. He never shied away from interviews or fans and always answered questions with a charming smile or a playful response. However, those questions never delved too deep or became too personal, they always circled around sports, brands, or his gratitude for his new adopted home country.

Yet thousands of pairs of eyes, both fans and online rando’s couldn’t identify this secretive item, all they could tell was that it looked like a doll.

This uncertainty led to more fans and members of fanbases camping outside Argentina’s team hotel in the hope of getting a better glimpse of their favourite setter and a shot of his plush keychain.

As soon as Oikawa Tooru stepped off the bus with his teammates, the fans could no longer contain their excitement, shouting even louder to get him to come closer. Oikawa and his team were surprised by this loud and energetic welcome from their fans. He showed his most radiant smile as his teammates took their time to wave to them while waiting for their suitcases and bags, but eventually had to walk into the hotel lobby.

Luckily for the fans their latest obsession had collected his bag earlier and was waiting for his teammates Matías and Santiago before moving right up to the hotel entrance. This gave the fans enough time to take more pictures of Oikawa and also focus on his  bag, especially on his keychain.

As soon as the players went inside, the fans stepped aside from the entrance and circled back to check their photos. This time, they managed to get a clearer view of their No. 1 setter’s keychain, which was indeed a doll. Many fans analysed and discussed excitingly their pictures, but at the end everyone was a little bit bummed and disappointed that they only got shots of the doll's backside since its front was facing Oikawa’s bag.

So as a result, all the fans got were pictures of a doll with dark, spiky hair, a dark blue polo shirt with a small patch on one sleeve; and dark trousers with white sneakers.

Some members of the fanbase were frustrated, but others, like Sofia, who could only join via call because she hadn’t been able to get to the hotel in time, took this result as motivation to return to their most agile social media platform and ask their newfound community, who had helped them in the first place, for more information.

They created multiple group chats, threads and posts to quickly share their pictures and theories. However, it was only when some sparse Oikawa fans from Japan joined in that they were able to obtain the most important piece of the puzzle. And to everyone's surprise the dolls' clothes looked a lot like the attire of the Japanese athletes' team staff.

While it was no surprise to fans that Oikawa was related to Japan, it was indeed surprising that he showed subtle love and support for his former teammates who played for the Japanese national team. Some thought that perhaps it was even an homage to his native country, which, after all, did not take it well and even bad-mouthed him when he gave up his Japanese citizenship to follow his inspiration, José Blanco, and play for the Argentinian national team.

However some fans like Sofia, weren’t convinced that this was really related to the setter's origins, and perhaps a piece offering to his native home. Another theory was that it was related to one person in particular, and so a small group of Sofia's friends tried to look up all the staff members of not only the Japanese volleyball team, but all Japanese athlete teams, to see if they recognised any names.

Getting a list of names wasn't a problem, but finding a connection between those staff members and Oikawa was quite a struggle. As the fans already knew their starting setter wasn’t very open about his private life. He would either give vague or sarcastic answers or cleverly change the subject, so it wasn’t easy to identify the truth behind his words, but which were always accompanied by an easy smile.

Yet it wasn’t only the blurred information about Oikawa that made it difficult for fans to see the connection between their favourite setter and one of the staff members. Information about staff members or training team members was very hard to find, either because it was only available in Japanese or because some members didn't exist online at all. But this didn’t stop fans and rando’s to keep trying and talking about it.

Despite all the tight schedules and distractions, it was very unlikely that the Japan volleyball team would not notice such a big engagement about Oikawa on the day of his team's arrival in Paris. And so it happened that Shoyo stumbled upon Oikawa’s pictures and cropped ones of his keychain, which made Japan's opposite hitter smile from ear to ear. With sparkling eyes, the orange-haired player moved up to his athletic trainer and shoved his smartphone in his face.

“It seems Oikawa-san has a doll of you as a keychain, Iwaizumi-san.”

Iwaizumi scoffed as he had to move Shoyo's smartphone out of his face before his eyes started to cross permanently. “What are you talking about, Hinata?”

Unfortunately for Iwaizumi, some of the volleyball team didn’t escape the name that Shoyo had dropped, and they immediately started gathering around him.

“What’s goin’ on, Shoyo-kun?” Atsumu asked while he tried to move behind their athletic trainer to get a look of the display but got shortly shut down when Iwaizumi took a step to the side. Also other players like Bokuto, Aran, Kiyoomi, Suna and of course Kageyama and Ushijima joined the group.

Shoyo moved his smartphone again to the former Aoba Johsai spiker as he said, “Oikawa just arrived and everyone talks about his keychain that looks a lot like him.” and moved his eyes to their athletic trainer.

Everyone slowly followed Shoyo's eyes so all the surrounding players were now locked in on Iwaizumi.

In an attempt to conceal his irritation, the trainer with the dark spiked hair briefly uttered, "Stop staring at me and get on with your warm-ups."

“No, no, no! Yo can’t just drop somethin’ like dat n not show us!” Astumu demanded, moving closer to Iwaizumi again. To their athletic trainer's misfortune, the other players also didn't want to let this go so easily.

“What a keychain? I also want a keychain. Maybe I could get a cute one for Akaashi, too.” Bokuto asked desperately . 

“This will be fun. I need to get my phone and have to show this to Osamu later.” Suna smirked.

But to everyone’s surprise it was Kageyama and Ushijima that said eager in unison, “I also want to see.”

Iwaizumi rolled his eyes as Shoyo shoved his phone into his hand. “Why did I think it would be a good idea to work as your athletic trainer again?” A loud sigh escaped his lips, signalling his defeat, as they all came close to take a look at the screen.

-

After dinner, Iwaizumi returned exhausted to his room. All the talk about the doll had given him a headache. Atsumu and Suna, of course, tried to make fun of him, while Bokuto desperately tried to find the doll-maker to get one for Akaashi. Even Kageyama and Ushijima couldn’t hold back their blushes when they saw the doll hanging on Oikawa’s bag.

However, as he wouldn't be able to see Oikawa until after his first game, he just sent him a message. This wasn't the first message he had sent to Oikawa that day, as he had welcomed him when he received confirmation of his safe arrival, but he still didn’t want to wait for their meet-up. 

19:55 - 

What is this?

[Pic of cropped doll attached]

19:56

From: Oikawa Tooru <3

Ohhh, you already saw it? ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝

19:56 - 

Oikawa?

19:57

From: Oikawa Tooru <3

It’s you, as a doll ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

19:57 - 

Where did you get this, shittykawa?

19:59

From: Oikawa Tooru <3

You’re so mean, Iwa-chan! (ಥ﹏ಥ)

-

Iwaizumi closed his eyes. A gentle warmth stirring in his belly as he thought of the setter.

-

20:00 - 

Everyone freaks out cuz of your doll.

20:02

From: Oikawa Tooru <3

It may surprise you, but the Japanese team has a lot of fans and someone made dolls of the team members. I asked for a commission to custom one of Iwa-chan (⸝⸝> ω <⸝⸝)

[Pic of doll - frontside attached]

-

Iwaizumi stared at his screen with big eyes while a chuckle left his lips. He shook his head in disbelief, “I can't believe him.”

-

20:04 - 

You’re ridiculous.

20:05

From: Oikawa Tooru <3

I just miss you and want you close to me °՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞°

-

The dark haired athletic trainer’s shoulder gets loose while he again can’t remove his eyes from his screen. He smiles softly, one of those almost intimate smiles he rarely shows to anyone, but is always related to his fiancé.

“Soon!” Iwaizumi thinks. “Soon, you’ll be by my side again.”

-

20:06 - 

I miss you, too Tooru.

Ever since his conversation with Oikawa, Iwaizumi has seen dolls that resemble Oikawa's. They are either of other athletes or of some volleyball players — they are just everywhere. Wherever he goes, he sees fans waving those dolls excitedly in the air at public viewings or live at the games to encourage their favourite player.

Yet every time he sees them, he thinks of his fiancé. 

He thinks of Oikawa, who customised a doll of him. Thinking about it always makes him smile, although he would never admit it to Oikawa. 

That night made him realise again how special Oikawa makes him feel. Even after all these years of being in a long-distance relationship, they still go the extra mile to make each other feel loved, supported and cared for. He can proudly admit that the butterflies Oikawa placed in his heart all those years ago never left, and still fill his heart and body whenever he thinks of his fiancé.

He knows their time will come again, when they won't have to say goodbye at the airport with tears in their eyes, when they won't have to check the time zone to see if it's a good time to call each other or won't have to plan months in advance just to spend two days together. The time will come when they both have fulfilled their dreams and can close a great chapter of their lives, only to start a new one together.

It was only a matter of time. And even during the tournament in Paris, time was precious, yet it went by so quickly. Everyone worked hard, putting their heart and body on the line. They all wanted to represent their country, show the world how great their sport or discipline was, and shine as individuals. Both the Japanese and Argentinian volleyball teams worked tirelessly from round to round until Argentina emerged as the winner.

So Paris was bittersweet, Japan lost to Argentina but it still gave Iwaizumi and Oikawa time to be close again. Despite all the games, Iwaizumi and Oikawa always found time to see, to feel and to love. 

At the end of the tournament, athletes and teams were celebrated by new and old fans, family and friends, and their countries. For fans like Sofia, the end of the tournament meant being back at the airport to congratulate the team and wish them a safe flight. 

She and the other fans still weren’t sure whether Oikawa wanted to support his country, his former friends, or someone special with this doll, but she still felt that the name of the Japan National Volleyball team's athletic trainer, Iwaizumi Hajime, rang a bell, which she found listed as one of the training members. Although she found no evidence, she felt she had heard his name before.

“Iwa-chan come, we have to get the flight.” Rang at the airport as Argentina's setter rushed past Sofia and other fans who were waiting for Argentina's volleyball team.

Sofia shook her head. She couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. 

Iwa-chan

It hit her like a lightning thunder, that’s where she heard it. Sofia smiled fondly as she remembered that Oikawa mentioned Iwa-chan every now and then in interviews. She closed her eyes for a second while a smile slowly stretched across her face.

“We wouldn’t be late if you hadn’t taken hours to get ready, Shittykawa.” Iwaizumi grumbled, pulling his suitcase behind him. As he moved past her, she spotted a doll on his bag. And since he was so close she was able to actually see it. 

It was a doll of Argentina’s starting setter, Oikawa Tooru.

Sofia's smile grew wider and wider as she scrambled to take some pictures of the couple. Once the couple had disappeared from view, Sofia checked her photos, zooming in and out but suddenly, she stopped and her eyes widened.

“Wait, is that a ring on Oikawa’s and Iwaizumi’s hands?”