Osamu nodded stiffly. "Tsumu works harder, but we push each other plenty. So him getting on there without me... sorta feels unfair. And we'll be too old next year."
This is really hard to talk about, to Osamu's surprise. And there's more to the story that he still feels reluctant to say. But maybe, because it's Kita, Osamu can trust him? Maybe. He has to weigh it more first.
"It's not like that's your only chance. Aren't you two getting scouted already?"
That's the rumor, anyway. Accompanied by suspicious regulars at their games, scribbling notes. There is no way Osamu won't shine. Players like him, monsters like him, they demand the spotlight.
"And you were invited to camp - Junior Olympics still isn't off the table."
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."
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?"
"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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?"
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.
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?"
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.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-12-07 05:14 pm (UTC)It was a big deal to have two Inarizaki players invited to that camp. Even if the announcement shocked no one.
Then again... maybe that lack of surprise should be looked at. One brother went, and the other stayed. This did not play out how anyone expected.
"Guess it makes sense, you're bothered by that. It was proof of how hard you worked."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-07 05:26 pm (UTC)This is really hard to talk about, to Osamu's surprise. And there's more to the story that he still feels reluctant to say. But maybe, because it's Kita, Osamu can trust him? Maybe. He has to weigh it more first.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 01:48 am (UTC)"It's not like that's your only chance. Aren't you two getting scouted already?"
That's the rumor, anyway. Accompanied by suspicious regulars at their games, scribbling notes. There is no way Osamu won't shine. Players like him, monsters like him, they demand the spotlight.
"And you were invited to camp - Junior Olympics still isn't off the table."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 02:10 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 01:59 pm (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 02:30 pm (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 04:33 pm (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 06:17 pm (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-09 01:16 am (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-09 01:38 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 12:26 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 02:00 am (UTC)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
Date: 2022-12-11 02:51 pm (UTC)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!
Date: 2022-12-11 04:47 pm (UTC)But then Osamu reaches out and shakes his hand. "We'll take you all the way, Captain."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-12 01:57 am (UTC)(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.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-13 02:58 am (UTC)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?
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 12:51 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 01:43 am (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 01:36 pm (UTC)"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.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 02:35 pm (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 09:48 pm (UTC)"Peppers, tofu, and rice. Nothin' fancy, but it'll feed us both."
Kita heads back to the stove, oblivious to any confusion.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-14 10:49 pm (UTC)"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.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-15 12:53 am (UTC)Kita hands the box to Osamu for perusal. Which is maybe a horror, pre-made stock, or maybe not.
"I think dashi?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-15 03:05 am (UTC)"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?"
no subject
Date: 2022-12-16 05:04 pm (UTC)Fortunately, garlic made the cut!
Kita digs out a head and begins peeling cloves off. The smell stinging his nose.
"How much?"
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