XXXVI

May 1st

Inarizaki's cheer squad was nice enough, just a little too... enthusiastic.

Isuma noticed that about them right away. They met a few of them and their faculty adviser in the hallway. The third-year who led them shook their hands eagerly, followed by the others. "Kita-san, it's been so long, right?!"

"Right..." Kita managed a smile as the third-year shook his hand enthusiastically, looking past him; his eyes landed on Isuma, and then the badge pinned to her chest "Aren't you... the Miyas' sister?"

Isuma's eyes narrowed- the Miyas' sister. She hated being referred to like that. She didn't even care that he was her upperclassman- she would've lashed out if Kita hadn't stopped her and distracted the third-year. "Kano-kun, where's everyone else?"

"They're getting ready. The rest of your volleyball team is helping them. Oh, Atsumu..." Kano's smile wavered; Atsumu hadn't ever gone along with them. "Kano Senpai, how's the cheer squad?"

Ginjima and Isuma exchanged glances, sighing at the same time. "Good. You probably aren't happy about that."

"Of course I am." Atsumu replied, flashing a smile. Akagi grabbed Atsumu's arm and pulled him away. "Come on. Sorry, Kano-kun, we'll see you later."

"Hey! Akagi-san!" Atsumu complained as Akagi pulled him away. "You idiot, you don't need to act like that every single time you see them!"

"I don't!"

Kita walked over, lowering his voice. "You got into an argument with one of the second-years in the orchestra a week ago."

Atsumu winced. "Uh, that was... his fault."

Osamu looked at him doubtfully but didn't say anything about it. "I wanna go see Mailo's match."

"They might already be done."

"I can check. You want to come, 'Suma-chan?" Osamu glanced at his sister. "I'll come."

"Me too!" Ginjima added; Suna shrugged. "I guess I'll go."

"I'll come! You coming, Senpai?" Atsumu glanced at Kita, who shook his head. "I have to go see the second- and third-string players. You go on. Michinari, can you come with me?"

"Sure." He waved before following Kita.

Ginjima asked, "So where's Mailo High playing?"

They all automatically turned towards Isuma. "Why are you looking at me?"

"You know everything. You're the smart one." Ginjima explained. Rather than debating the point, Suna glanced at Isuma. "Do you have the schedule?"

She was already kneeling on the floor, looking through her duffel bag. They all crowded around her as she pulled out a folder and flipped it open. "Um, let's see... they're in the 3rd gym. Where's that?"

"It's one of the larger ones, I think, so it'd be near the front, right?" Atsumu asked. Osamu straightened. "I know where it is. Let's go."

It ended up being back the way they came from; Mailo and their opponent had just begun their third set when they entered the gym. They sat down in the bleachers and watched the match, occasionally saying something. "Mailo's good as ever."

"How come they didn't take this match in straight sets, then?" Isuma asked. Akagi leaned forward, his eyes darting back and forth. "Their captain isn't playing right now. He's kind of the core of their defense."

"Probably why. Man, I really don't want to play them again." Atsumu murmured. Everyone else nodded in agreement. "Why not?"

"Well... our schools have always been good friends. We've been connected even before Inarizaki became a powerhouse." Kita said. "It must be hard for them... seeing us go further and further. We've played them every Inter-high, and, well..."

"We feel a little guilty every time." Akagi finished. "It's not easy. Thankfully, they've never been bitter. If anything, they try harder and harder each year."

The referee signaled for a time-out, ending their conversation. "Looks like their opponents are panicking."

"Yeah... I'm surprised they held out this long." Ginjima said, leaning forward to look at the other team.

"What're you doing here?"

Two people in dark green jackets were staring at them distastefully. Atsumu had to hold back a sigh. "Hi, Tsubara-san."

The boy- Taji's captain, Tsubara- barely nodded in greeting. "Hi."

Isuma's eyes zeroed in on the girl next to him- she had dark eyes like Isuma, but their similarities ended there. The girl was significantly taller and had long reddish-brown hair; a neat curtain that reached her waist in perfect locks. Her makeup was perfect- she had a lot of it, but somehow it worked on her.

Isuma was immediately on her guard; she was from Taji North, which was in itself enough of a reason to avoid her- but aside from that, Isuma had known plenty of girls like her. In fact... "Do I... know you?"

Atsumu and Osamu both looked at their sister, startled. "'Suma?"

The girl's eyes narrowed, but there was a glimmer of realization in them. "You might. I couldn't care less... princess."

Isuma's eyes widened- there was only one way the girl could've known that nickname... 'No. Please. Not now. Not here.'

The girl raised her eyebrows. "On second thought, I do know you-"

"Stop." Isuma was shaking, as was her voice. Suna looked at the Taji North girl, then back at Isuma. Before things could get any worse- Isuma already looked like someone had stabbed her- Tsubara said, "Come on, Soorin, leave the girl alone. You can intimidate her after we beat them."

"Fine. Oh, and princess-" Soorin leaned forward to whisper in Isuma's ear. "-about your captain. You ruined things back in middle school. You can have a redemption..."

Isuma looked like the knife in her gut had just been twisted; she shoved Soorin away before she could think about it. She backed into Suna, who caught her arm, startled. Tsubara snapped, "Soorin!"

"Alright, I'm leaving!." Soorin went on ahead without him. Tsubara glanced over them all. "Sorry about her." He didn't sound very sorry. "We'll see you on the court, Atsumu-san." 

"Yeah." The second Tsubara was gone, everyone wheeled towards Isuma, who had sat back down. "Isuma...?"

"Please. Don't ask." 

Ginjima looked at Atsumu and Osamu, who shook their heads helplessly. He started to ask her something but stopped when Suna glanced at him, silently telling him to not say anything. 'Leave her alone for now.'

Osamu was feeling frustrated all over again- every time he thought he finally understood his sister, he discovered a new side to her.

Most of the time, it was small things- heck, he'd just found out last week that she actually liked watching movies every now and then- something he and Atsumu had never bothered asking her to do with them because they'd always assumed she'd say no- but sometimes it was serious. Like this.

Osamu wanted to help her. He was sure Atsumu did too. But how were they supposed to do that if she didn't ask for it? Why couldn't she? Neither he nor Atsumu would ever tease her for it- so why couldn't she just let them help her?

He was clenching his fists so tightly his fingertips were white. "I'm going to find Coach."

Without giving any of them a chance to reply, Osamu stood up and walked out of the gym. Even after a few minutes of walking nowhere in particular, he was still lost in thought- so much so that he practically crashed into Akagi and Kita. "-sorry, Senpai."

Kita took one look at him and asked, "What happened?"

Osamu knew there was no point in hiding it- Kita would call it on him right away. So he told him everything that had just happened without trying to conceal anything. "...I don't even remember this girl, Soorin or whatever her name is. And, well... it just makes me feel worse..."

He didn't need to finish. "I'll take care of it. But Osamu... do you really not realize why Isuma didn't tell you?"

Akagi didn't understand what Kita meant, and Osamu didn't seem to either. "No..."

"For this exact reason. She didn't want your help. She wanted to solve her own problems."

Even if she can't?" Osamu snapped. "Senpai, we could've helped with whatever happened back then-"

"Listen. Has Isuma never told you about how your aunt's treated her?"

Osamu took a step back. "Our- aunt?" Kita nodded. "She's always disliked 'Suma... I don't remember very well, but Oba-san wasn't nice to her. She taunted her a lot."

Kita bit back a sharp retort- it took all his willpower not to snap. "Osamu... Isuma doesn't want to rely on you too much. I respect that, but, well..."

He didn't want to complete his thought, but Osamu knew what he was talking about. "...I know. I should've figured it out."

Kita placed his hand on Osamu's shoulder. "Go. Leave Isuma alone for now. Take her mind off it, and talk to her later."

Akagi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hey, Osamu, I have to talk to Shinsuke for a second."

"Right. Thanks."

The second he'd vanished, Akagi demanded, "Are you avoiding Isuma?"

"No." He didn't even bat an eye. Akagi raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"It's complicated."

"Then tell me. I'm not stupid."

"I'm not."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Yes."

"I don't."

I totally did not forget I had to update today nope totally did not 

TY for 73K :>