PSL /Overflow/ Open Post

[1foxgiven]

 What it says on the tin.

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[1foxgiven]

The ball fell and that was it.

The result.

Kita could not imagine a more intense game. Facing the Crows from nowhere. So ravenous they've devoured Eagles and now Foxes. He keeps running the match mentally. Not to ask what could be different. Just to enjoy the feeling.

It's not as if he has much else to do. The hotel staff is exemplary, bathrooms beyond reproach. And the hallways. And the elevators. Kita can't even find a spare corner cobweb. He's on his third inspection, which is where Osamu finds him. Staring at the ceiling.

"Oh - I'm sorry, where do you want to go?"

[chromatic_coma]

The fact that he catches Kita staring up at the door jamb that leads into one of the team's hotel rooms seems like a bit of a red flag. Not that Kita never behaves in mysterious ways, because the whole team can attest to the fact that they don't always understand him. It just seems kind of... off.

"A restaurant," Osamu repeats. "It's gotten a lot of buzz online. It's a hole in the wall kinda place but apparently their food is some of the best in the city. It's alright if you don't wanna come, but I figured I'd ask you since you're the only one on the team who really knows about how into this stuff I get."

And because Kita seems... upset. Which is painful to think about, especially when it feels like they could have - should have - done more to win.

[1foxgiven]

It's more that Kita is at odds. Drifting and unable to rely on routine. There isn't one. Not in a strange place, a strange city, nothing to work on. But Osamu's here. Talking about food.

That is the same, and that helps.

Kita nods.

"All right, sounds interestin'. Let's go."

[chromatic_coma]

"Cool," Osamu says, expression relaxing into a soft grin. "Lemme just go get my jacket."

His gym bag full of stuff is on his futon, and he digs around for his wallet in addition to the Inarizaki team jacket. Quickly, he confirms he'll have enough money to buy them both meals before shoving the wallet into his back pocket.

"Okay, I'm all set," Osamu says as he walks back over to Kita. "Are you all good to go, Kita-san?"

[1foxgiven]

Somehow Kita already has jacket zipped and mask on. As though ready for hours.

"Lead the way."

There's a few friendly calls as they leave. Teammates on the stairs, in the lobby. Kita just nods to each. No one tries to tag along. Letting the pair escape outside.

Kita exhales. Watches the breath float up into an orange sky.

"It's nice out here."

[chromatic_coma]

That's Kita, as to be expected. Seemingly prepared for anything at any time. Osamu's eager for them to leave, hoping that no one else on the team decides to invite themselves along - and fortunately, no one does. And they don't pass Atsumu at all, which is good, because he would absolutely have wanted to tag along.

Osamu joins Kita in enjoying the crisp air, outside of the somewhat stuffy hotel. "Yeah. Not as cold as I was expectin' for it being January. Do you like the cold, Kita-san?"

[1foxgiven]

"I like all the seasons. Winter just feels... Cleaner."

Especially when snow starts falling.

Except in Tokyo, it seems there's only white on the edges. Or plowed into grey piles. Kita frowns as he side-steps a mound of slush.

"Most of the time."

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu chuckles as Kita warily eyes a dirty pile of old snow. "Clean. Yeah, I get what you mean. It's always quieter and everything's sorta soft grey, right? It'd normally be dark by now back home, but there's so much more light here, it feels like it's still daytime."

It's just early evening, but Tokyo is beyond lit up. As they walk to the train station, every storefront beckons them with neon and energy, and signs layered over signs.

"It's not as cold as I thought it'd be here, either. Guess that's probably a good thing."

[1foxgiven]

The colors dance. Bathing the streets in pink, yellow, green. Each sign tugs at Kita's vision, promising one wonder after another. He concentrates on the task at hand. Keeps close to Osamu.

In all this chaos, his friend's an anchor. Height and presence almost as familiar as Kita's own.

"Last Nationals - My First Year - It was so icy people kept fallin'," Kita recalls. "We couldn't go walkin around."

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu spares a chuckle at the thought as he weaves through the crowd, wielding his size and aura to keep people out of their way. Not that he's doing it on purpose, but it works for him regardless.

"Gotta say, it's hard to imagine you as a first year," Osamu admits. "I bet you were still wiser than your senpai."

[1foxgiven]

"I'm only a year older," Kita retorts mildly. "You played with some of 'em."

It's not ancient history.

As they turn a corner, green and white station signs appear. A train rumbles, shaking the sidewalk. Kita realizes in all this, he never asked where they were heading. Not in the usual detail. He just... went with things. Let Osamu make the plans.

How disconcerting.

"Sorry, shoulda asked - How far we goin'?"

[chromatic_coma]

"Right, yeah, but I mean the year before. What kinda third years were around when you were a first year. And did they look up to you, or did your wisdom go unappreciated?"

Osamu's teasing, but only just; he does really think that Kita deserves the appreciation, the attention. He's special. Always has been, even before Osamu met him, no doubt.

"Oh, sorry. Just four stops on the train, and then it's a five minute walk from there. Kinda close by, but it'd be a long walk. Hope it's okay with you? I did tell Coach so he knows where we're gonna be."

By train I meant subway (Only knows about Tokyo transport from internet)

[1foxgiven]

"Good. Thanks for thinkin' of that."

It's considerate. On the level Kita usually manages.

Bemused, he pulls out his IC card. Tapping it on the gate scanner.

"I wasn't tryin' to shake up the team. Coach just told me to watch. Tell him and Captain Wataru what I saw. Nothin' special."

All good! Tokyo has both above and underground trains.

[chromatic_coma]

"No worries," Osamu responds, leading the way through the IC card gates so that they get on the right train. The area they're headed to isn't especially popular, not one of Tokyo's big name neighborhoods, but every review promises this restaurant will be worth going out of one's way.

Osamu is excited, but not enough to distract him from listening to Kita. The train pulls up a short minute after they get onto the platform, and they board together.

"That's a huge deal. It's not like Coach asks for everyone's input. Most of the time he can't get Tsumu to shut up with his opinion." He adds, snickering.

[1foxgiven]

"Atsumu does have a lot of opinions," Kita agrees. Which may or may not be actual shade. Will the world ever know?

The train is crowded, but not oppressive. There's even a pair of open seats. Kita folds his arms as he sits. Not wanting to inconvenience any neighbors.

"Huge... Guess so. I'm lucky Coach took a chance."

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu snorts. "Well, you don't gotta put it politely."

Osamu sits down next to Kita, and is surprised by his next comment. "Lucky?" He repeats dubiously. "Pretty sure luck had nothin' to do with it. You earned his respect by bein' you."

[1foxgiven]

"Wasn't a typical recruit, though."

Kita's not arguing. Merely exploring the point. He does not question deserving everything he worked for, or his place on the team. Former place. The station slides away.

"That's amazin' players like you. Like Aran and Atsumu."

It isn't planned, but a noted variation. Osamu thought of first and solo.

Atsumu paired with someone else's name.

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu bristles a little bit at the implication. "You're an incredible player, too. Who else could adapt to so many positions, wherever Coach needs him? Or hold his own against a monster like Tsumu?"

Not to speak too highly of himself, because he knows he lacks Tsumu's drive.

"Coach has a good eye for talent. That's that."

[1foxgiven]

"Guess talent comes all kinds of ways."

For some reason, Osamu seems to be raring up for an argument. Which really isn't necessary. So Kita can at least agree this far. The rest is semantics, right?

There's a slight smile.

"And don't pretend Atsumu's the only monster I had to wrangle."

[chromatic_coma]

Osamu has the decency to look sheepish. "Ah, yeah, we've caused you a lot of trouble the past two years, huh. Sorry, Kita-san. Hope you won't cut us out of your life now that volleyball's over."

He seems quiet and contemplative, as if he really believes such a thing could happen.

[1foxgiven]

Kita huffs, amused. Except the mood doesn't lift. He looks over as the train slows. Trying to follow the strange line of reasoning, why it's got Osamu's body twisted up like that.

"Cut you out?

Here they are right now. Spending time together, not a volleyball in sight.

[chromatic_coma]

"We won't be on the same team anymore. And you graduate in two months. So if you never wanna see us again, you probably won't have to."

Osamu says with a small shrug. Just an observation.

[1foxgiven]

"Have to?"

Small though it may be, the shrug rattles. This doesn't make sense. If Kita didn't want to spend time with the team, he could have joined any other club. Certainly wouldn't spent all this time working out the kinks and issues. Especially the interpersonal ones.

Wound up here.

"I'm not followin'. I've never done this because I have to."

[chromatic_coma]

"Well, I dunno. When you signed up to play volleyball you probably weren't expectin' a pair of over the top twins to come barrelin' in for you to corral. You're a peaceful guy and we're... not that. So it'd be understandable.. Am I makin' sense? You're looking at me like I'm not."

[1foxgiven]

"But I was expectin' you. I saw your last Juniors match. You and Atsumu..."

It was one thing to read stats in a pamphlet. Another to watch the flesh and blood twins. Screaming and stomping, desperate for the ball. Like it was going to disappear any second. The game end before they wrung out every last scrap of love.

The memory still sends Kita's heart jumping.

"You were a level I'd never seen. Even if you spent as much time fightin' as playin' I wanted you on Inarizaki. Bad as anythin'."