PSL /Overflow/ Open Post

[1foxgiven]

 What it says on the tin.

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[chromatic_coma]

Osamu purses his lips. It's time to decide, now, if he's going to say the words he's been thinking about for weeks now.

He takes a deep breath.

"I don't think I'm going to keep playing after high school."

And then he watches for Kita's reaction, holding his breath entirely. He'd stop his heart from beating if he could, but it thunders in his chest.

[1foxgiven]

'I don't think I'll keep playing.'

It's like missing a step. This world pitching forward into a new one. The same feeling as earlier, when Osamu defended Kita from unnecessary work.

Kita starts to speak, feeling the words jumble from shock. He clears his throat.

"You don't?"

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu can read the surprise in Kita's body language and on his face. He knew to expect it, because it's taken for granted by pretty much everyone that he and Atsumu can and will go pro together.

But that isn't really what Osamu wants.

"No," he confirms. "I love volleyball, and I love playing with Tsumu. But I'm not hungry for it the way he is. I can't really imagine doing this for the rest of my life."

[1foxgiven]

Neither can Kita.

Of course, he never had the same expectations. He understands his limits, and they do not reach to the pro levels. Inarizaki is the pinnacle. For as long as it lasts, and he's lucky to have it.

Especially lucky if this is also Osamu's last team.

"I believe you. But you are hungry. How you play, run, attack - You don't leave anything on the table. So what will you do instead?"

[chromatic_coma]

"That's because of Tsumu," Osamu concedes with a tiny, barely there smile. "I can't let him have all the fun. And he'll be even more insufferable if he's much better than me. I was basically born to keep his ego in check."

He's mostly teasing, but there's some truth there too. Atsumu wouldn't be who he is without Osamu there pushing him.

"What will I do instead... I'm not sure. I think there's only one thing I love more that volleyball, and that's food. So probably... I want to make good food."

[1foxgiven]

"You're right. It takes the best to handle that attitude," Kita chuckles. Yes, Osamu is still included in that group. Regardless of future decisions.

Then comes the next part. It makes sense, with how Osamu talked about his cooking classes. A glimpse of passion beyond the here and now.

"Is that why you've been bringing me snacks?"

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu cracks a hint of a smile. A compliment from Kita is a thing to be treasured, the whole team would agree. But then Kita calls him out for the snacks, and it flusters Osamu a little bit. Kita's just so direct sometimes, and it catches him off guard.

"Well, yeah," he agrees sheepishly, scrubbing his neck with his palm. "I like being in the kitchen, like practicin' my cooking skills. And watchin' other people eat and enjoy what I make... that's the best part."

[1foxgiven]

"I do enjoy what you make."

Kita looks straight at Osamu. Paying the respect such honesty deserves. Because it has to be nerve-wracking, stepping out alone like this. Not with his brother, not with his team.

"If you know what feels best, work towards that. As hard as you do here. There's no way it won't happen."

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu inhales sharply. Kita's stare, his words, both are so overwhelming in the best possible way. A validation of Osamu's secret desire, now shared with his trusted senpai.

He clenches his hand into a fist at his side. "Thank you, Kita-san. I will work as hard as I can. But that's why I want to enjoy volleyball now, while I can. And why it's frustrating to be injured."

Re-reading manga and Kita's/the Kansai dialect is a bit more distinct SO

[1foxgiven]

"So quit focusin' on that."

Kita pushes up.

Holding a hand out to Osamu.

"Get better and get ready for Nationals. We're gonna enjoy every second."

Totally up to you how you wanna render it!

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu looks at Kita's hand for a moment, just taking in the weight of it. It's like they're shaking on a promise, a promise to work as hard as they can, to put in that effort. And Osamu knows how Kita is about effort, so the idea of trying to live up to his upperclassman's example is a lot to take in.

But then Osamu reaches out and shakes his hand. "We'll take you all the way, Captain."

[1foxgiven]

Inarizaki chugs along. Preparing for their next stage and the return of the two loudest players. Kita looks forward to that. Not the noise, but having their monsters again. It feels off-balance without them.

(Even though Osamu hasn't left. Their promise still a weight in Kita's hand.)

Finally, Sunday evening settles in with its rare peace. Kita's run, showered, cleaned. Only dinner is left. Simple, since his parents are out.

He lines up the ingredients. Then the tools, down to the serving bowl. Even the recommended spices are pre-measured. Set out on small folds of paper. No last-minute digging through drawers for Kita.

[chromatic_coma]

The Kita household may be quiet and calm, but the Miya household is nothing of the sort. Atsumu is abuzz with energy, bright and alive, talking nonstop about the camp, who he's met, the kind of players they'll be up against at Nationals, "and eventually on teams with when we go pro. Personally, I'm hopin' Kageyama-kun stays on the other side of the net."

Osamu doesn't know why he says it; maybe talking to Kita, having his support, has emboldened him to the point where he can't pretend anymore. "I'm not goin' pro with you, Tsumu."

Everything freezes. Then the explosion happens.

Talked to Tsumu
He's throwin the tantrum of the century
Can I come over?

[1foxgiven]

Honestly?

That text is no surprise. Osamu's on edge, and Atsumu's always the one to push him over.


Of course


Kita sends the address, then begins washing rice.

[chromatic_coma]

Once Osamu has an address, he books it. Out of the house with only his phone and keys in his pocket, and a few hundred yen coins that were left over from the vending machine earlier that day. Good thing Kita's house is in walkable distance, because Osamu isn't about to wrestle with bus fare, and he doesn't have his transit pass, anyways.

It's not a short walk exactly, but the walk over gives Osamu some time to replay the conversation with Atsumu in his head, which has the opposite of a cool-off effect. To say that his twin's upset is an understatement; they'll probably need a few days for this to blow over. Time apart will be good.

That's what Osamu tells himself as he knocks on the Kita household's front door, far away from where his twin lives. Kita's home is super traditional from the outside, but that's hardly a surprise given his whole personality.

"Kita-san?"

[1foxgiven]

The door opens to Kita in a striped apron.

"Hi, come in. You can hang your jacket there."

Inside, the place gleams. Floors swept clear. All pictures straight. There are signs of people actually living here, though. A half-finished puzzle of butterflies. Clouds of steam rolling in from the kitchen. Enough to feel like a home, and not some movie set.

[chromatic_coma]

Osmau has to do a double take at the sight of an aproned Kita. Not that he hasn't seen his upperclassman in cleaning mode before, but it just looks so sweetly domestic against the backdrop of this traditional, warm house. And that's the impression Osamu gets of the house right away, that it looks warm and inviting and welcomes him in just as much as Kita does.

He toes his shoes off, removes his team jacket, and politely mutters a "Pardon the intrusion," as he steps past the entryway. "So this is where Kita-san lives," he can't help but wonder. Then Osamu takes a deep breath. "What's cooking?"

[1foxgiven]

Of course he's wearing an apron. Splattering oil damages clothes. Also skin.

"Peppers, tofu, and rice. Nothin' fancy, but it'll feed us both."

Kita heads back to the stove, oblivious to any confusion.

[chromatic_coma]

Intruiged, Osamu follows Kita to the kitchen, takes in the sight of the hot pan on the stove and the rice cooker nearby. He's fascinated to see the kind of food Kita makes, even if it is a simple dish.

"Is that a soy sauce based sauce, or dashi stock?" He asks, unable to help himself. It gives him something to talk about other than Atsumu.

[1foxgiven]

"Hm? Oh - Dad does the shopping. I didn't look."

Kita hands the box to Osamu for perusal. Which is maybe a horror, pre-made stock, or maybe not.

"I think dashi?"

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu is not horrified by the premade stock; a bit surprised, because Kita's family seems too traditional to pick stuff like this up at the grocery store.

"Oh, this is the one my mom gets, too," he comments, turning the box over in his hands. "You know what makes it taste a lot better is some garlic. Have you got any?"

[1foxgiven]

Homemade is best. However, Kita's juggling volleyball with college prep. Both his parents work. Some things have to be sacrificed for the overall result. Including kitchen time and ingredient quality.

Fortunately, garlic made the cut!

Kita digs out a head and begins peeling cloves off. The smell stinging his nose.

"How much?"

[chromatic_coma]

"Two cloves," Osamu suggests. Unable to help himself, he steps towards the counter. "Let me. There's a much easier way to do this."

He grabs a knife out of the block, and uses it bluntly to smash the garlic cloves. The skins are loosened by the pressure, so it's ridiculously easy for Osamu to pull them off and toss them in the trash. Then he starts mincing the garlic, not quite waiting for permission.

[1foxgiven]

Osamu sweeps in with such assurance. Chopping, smooth and even. And fast. Quicker than Kita could ever manage. How many hours of practice does this represent?

Right. Words.

"That's a lot faster."

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu smiles a bit as he stirs the garlic into the sauce. The smell of the dish is already notably different. "Yeah. I saw it on a cookin' show before, the host was showin' how it's much easier this way and it releases more flavor, too."

He pauses, then realizes that he's somehow got hold of Kita's wooden spoon. "Ah, sorry. Sort of took over." He holds it out to give it back to its rightful owner.