XXXVIII

May 29th, 2021

HII GUYS!

It's literally been forever lol. I'm 100% sure I didn't get above a 95 on my Latin exam today but whatever. Imma just update early cause I miss this.

(Kita don't be an Adrien🙄🤚🏻)

<<15 Minutes Ago>>

"Who was it that talked to Isuma while you were watching Mailo's match?" Kita asked Suna as they walked down the hallway together. The others were still watching Mailo- Akagi had joined them- but they'd opted to head back to their coach. "Taji North's captain and manager."

"Manager? They didn't have one last year, did they?" Suna shook his head. "No, they didn't. Isuma-chan knew her back in middle school. She must've done something to Isuma back then."

Kita's eyes narrowed. "How did Isuma react to seeing her?"

"Isuma-chan looked... scared, almost. It worries me. She wouldn't say anything about it either." Suna replied. "...I'll talk to her later."

"Um, speaking of which... are you okay?" Suna mumbled, his voice so low Kita almost didn't hear him. He blinked. "Yes...? Why?"

"Both you and Isuma were distracted earlier today, during our first match. You two had lunch with Kurosu Sensei today... did something happen then?"

"No. It's just..." He stopped himself- he couldn't tell Suna how he felt about Isuma right now. "Nothing. We just... talked. It's not her. It's me... I'm just thinking about a lot of things right now."

"Senpai..." Before Suna could finish, two people rounded the corner and stopped. Tsubara noticed Suna. "You again?"

Both of them tensed; Kita disliked Taji North with a passion- they didn't care about cheating and did it so subtly referees never noticed. Aran had been injured in their last match against them- Isuma had noticed his injury the first day they'd realized her ability... that seemed like forever ago.

Kita's eyes landed on the girl next to Tsubara. She was very pretty- he wouldn't deny that- but all he had for her was distaste and anger. "Why did you have to approach Isuma?"

Soorin's eyes swept over him. Kita was undoubtedly handsome, and he had a certain vibe about him- maybe his posture, or the intimidating look in his eyes, or perhaps the way he carried himself, like he was just daring someone to cross him. 'So this is Inarizaki's great captain... no wonder Isuma likes him. He's handsome.'

She asked, "Has Miya-chan never told you about me?"

"No..."

"Oh? I guess she doesn't trust you as much as I thought she did."

"What do you mean?" Kita asked, already regretting starting a conversation with her. "I saw the two of you watching Kaiso High's practice match a few weeks ago. I didn't recognize Miya-chan at first- the girl I knew back in middle school was shy and had never spoken to a guy- excluding her brothers- in her life. And yet there she was, talking and laughing with you. It came as quite a shock- she's the last person I would've expected to change like that."

Seeing Kita's controlled rage, Tsubara warned, "Soorin..."

"I saw you again during your match against Kamino- the way you stood up for her." Soorin continued, ignoring Tsubara. Kita asked, "What's your point?"

"You can't be that dense," Tsubara said incredulously. Soorin raised her eyebrows. "You genuinely don't know?"

"Suna."

"-yes, Senpai?" Suna hastily looked at him. "Go back. Let me talk to her."

Kita's tone was so commanding Suna didn't dare contradict him. "Um, sure."

Suna walked around the corner, but after a brief hesitation, he stopped just out of sight. Part of his mind protested and argued that he should leave, but the other, more curious part, fought it down and insisted he stay. Suna leaned against the wall as Tsubara started to walk away as well. "I'm not staying here for this; come back whenever you're done, Soorin."

He went the way Suna had gone and stopped when he saw him, listening in. Tsubara raised his eyebrows before shrugging and leaving. Suna almost followed him- but he really, really wanted to know how Kita felt about Isuma.

The second Tsubara's footsteps died away, Soorin said, "Miya-chan likes you. I figured it out three seconds after seeing you two for the first time. And from what I've seen, I'd bet good money that you like her too."

Kita's eyes were blazing with- what, anger? No, that wasn't it. Soorin tilted her head curiously. "Wow, you must really like her."

Kita snapped, "That doesn't matter. Let me just say this- bother Isuma again- threaten her with anything that may have happened in the past- and you'll regret it."

Soorin didn't look fazed. "I couldn't care less about what you'll do. You might not like her as much when you find out the truth."

"What did you do to Isuma in middle school?"

"We were friends at first- I was her first friend, has she ever told you that?" Soorin said. "She did some... things I couldn't forgive- but of course, princess wouldn't want me giving away all her secrets."

"Why do you call her that?"

"It's not my fault she doesn't trust you enough to tell you. My advice to you is to reconsider Miya-chan. She's not the person you think she is- at least she wasn't."

Her words actually sounded genuine, as if she was truly trying to assist him. "I don't know you, Kita-san, but you really deserve better. Miya-chan isn't a terrible person, but that girl's done a lot. I'm not surprised she hasn't told you everything. She probably thinks you'd abandon her."She brushed past him; Kita didn't move. "I'm not kidding, you know. She really does like you. I'm just saying though... you deserve more.

"She's barely told you anything about herself. Will you like her anyway?"

"No."

Soorin looked back in disbelief; Suna, who was still listening in, bit his tongue to stop from cursing. Soorin repeated, "No? You won't like her?"

"Not that. No, I would never abandon Isuma. I don't care that she's keeping things to herself. I can't expect her to tell me everything- I don't. Isuma is human too- she has worries and concerns and fears too. She has every right to."

Soorin turned around, raising her eyebrows. "Really? You wouldn't abandon her?"

"Never. And to answer your question truthfully..." Kita stared at her, his eyes sparkling so dangerously she almost took a step back. "I do like Isuma. Hurt her- or even approach her- and I'll ruin your life."

Suna's eyes widened- he'd known for a long time... but to hear Kita actually say it... it felt surreal. The Kita he knew would never admit something like that.

"Wow. You really do like her." Soorin almost seemed sad. "If you ever regret it- and I think you might- remember what I just said."

"I won't regret it. Ever."

"We'll see." Soorin wheeled around and walked away; Kita let out his breath, clenching and unclenching his fist. He wanted to punch a wall, or kick something, or just...

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to calm down. He'd never met someone like Soorin before- her words were so convincing and coaxing, even he'd told her what she wanted to hear in a matter of minutes.

Kita looked down the hallway Suna and Tsubara had gone. "Come out already, Suna."

Suna flinched. "How'd you know I was listening?"

"I know you too well for that." Kita's expression softened when Suna came out. "Sorry for listening."

"It's fine." Kita didn't elaborate, which was very unusual for him. Suna hesitated. "Kita-san, do you really like Isuma-chan?"

Kita glanced at him, sure he'd misheard. "-what?"

"Senpai... what does Isuma mean to you?" Suna's voice was suddenly stronger. "Don't say she's just a friend."

"...I don't even know how I like her. Part of me is just protective of her- but recently..." He didn't finish the thought- recently, whenever he saw her smile or laugh, his heart revved up and he hastily looked away every time. "Never mind-"

"No. Tell me." Suna's voice was unusually sharp. "She's my best friend. If you like her... I want to know."

"...fine. I do. Happy?" Kita looked at Suna, who let out his breath, as if gathering his courage. "I don't care what you do, Senpai- if you tell her in two weeks or nine years from now, it doesn't matter to me. But-"

His voice dropped, and his eyes were suddenly blazing. "If you hurt Isuma-chan in any way- if you ruin her life- I'll never forgive you. I don't care what your excuse is; I won't give you a second chance. This is your chance. Use it now, or when we're all older- I don't care. But if your decisions hurt her- if you break her heart... I can't forgive you."

Kita didn't even blink; Suna's sudden boldness was surprising, almost amusing to him. But the seriousness of the topic wasn't very friendly. "If, in the future, I hurt Isuma, it's for her. Whatever I do, I do it for the best. Suna, you know as well as I do how Isuma feels. Don't you think her feelings could be harmful to her future?"

Suna asked, "How so?"

"I don't know much about their family life- neither do you, for that matter. But we at least know that Isuma has a long and complex future ahead of her- she has a lot of things to accomplish in life before she can take it easy. You realize that, don't you?" Kita looked at him expectantly. Suna bit his lip. "I... yeah. I know. It's why you agreed to let her be manager, right? Kind of to... prepare her. Did you think she'd be a good manager in the first place, or was this all just for her?"

"I'll admit, I didn't see how Isuma could help us at first. She was so distant, so introverted- those weren't exactly the qualities a manager should have. I didn't sense any special qualities in her either- the only thing significant about her was her past, and the pressure she'd endured.

"But then I saw her amazing skills- first her ability to notice our smallest mistakes, ones our own coaches hadn't seen after hours of watching us. Then, when I asked you and Gin to take her to watch the middle schoolers play, we saw her other ability to analyze any team's weaknesses and strengths. Then the way she was able to see what other teams were going to do. She could practically see into the future- if only a few seconds- it was incredible. She knew what was going to happen before it did; just by seeing everyone's positions.

"Isuma's amazing. She's one of the most intelligent and talented people I've ever met. And Suna... I liked her before I knew all that."

"...how long have you liked her?" Suna asked. Kita tilted his head, considering the question. "I think... the day we got our jerseys, and I was made captain, she congratulated me. It was cute- the way she turned a little pink. But, well... I didn't accept it until a while ago."

"Oh. Um... about what Soorin said." Suna uncomfortably fidgeted with his fingers, tugging and pulling at his sleeve. "Do you think..."

"I don't blame Isuma for not mentioning anything to us- and I think Soorin's wrong. Isuma is exactly what she seems like- no matter her past, I won't abandon her." Kita's tone softened. "You realize Soorin was trying to make her sound worse than she actually is, right?"

"Yeah... I know." Suna looked down. "I- I'm sorry. For-"

"Don't be. You have every right to be protective of her. She's your best friend." Kita flashed a smile.

"You've thought so far ahead... you've been thinking about this for months. Part of me is afraid this is all going to make things worse... and the other part thinks you really do have your best intentions at heart... and that this will help Isuma-chan."

Kita raised his eyebrows. "So? If, by any chance, I tell Isuma I like her, will you trust me?"

"That depends on how long you take. Do- do you plan to?"

"Of course not," Kita replied, his tone suddenly a little regretful. "I would only hold Isuma back. I won't ever be in her way. I won't tell her until..."

"Until when?" Suna repeated, slightly curious. "Suna... if I left Isuma- so I wouldn't hold her back- would you hate me?"

Suna wanted to say he would- hadn't he just said that, if Kita hurt Isuma, he'd never forgive him??- but he didn't. "...no. If it was for her... I wouldn't."

Kita hesitated. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"What is it?" Suna questioned. Kita said, "I need you to tell Isuma something for me."

"Why can't you?" Suna asked. Kita answered, "I just can't. I'll explain."

"You want me to tell her now?"

"No. Not now... later. When she needs to hear it. Will you?"

Not "can you." "Will you." It was Kita's way of asking if he, Suna, could take the first step towards trusting him with Isuma. He hesitated, dozens of thoughts running through his head.

"...sure."

TYY for 83.5K!! :>>💕