saltinourstars | Open Post

[There's no missing the fact that Tsukishima and Kenma have their very own battle going on within the game, even without intimate knowledge of strategy and how their roles play off each other. Those also happen to be the two people Nagisa watches with the most interest, of course, so he picks up on both the rising tension and the unusual ferocity between them - "ferocity" being relative when Kenma might actually show less outward reaction on average than Tsukishima.

All throughout, Nagisa makes a point of cheering for sensational plays by Kuroo and Kenma as well as Tsukki, though his team support still leans heavily toward Karasuno. Now that he's tuned into the game deeply enough to pick up on more of its intricacies, he's able to see both how unorthodox and how skilled Karasuno really are as a team - and he thinks this must be how Iwatobi look during their famous relays, Haru's natural gift clashing with Rei's precision and Makoto's steady pace clashing with Nagisa's startling burst of speed near the end but everything working perfectly when all the parts are in motion.

Rei would probably find this team beautiful, Nagisa thinks, fighting the wash of bitterness that follows.

As the end of the wild game approaches, Nagisa winds up having to sit down again because the tension's left him so exhausted, but he's on the edge of his seat. His hands are pressed together and tucked between his knees. He's so still that the sight of him would likely be unsettling to his close friends.]

[There's a certain irony. That the preview of this hoped-for Final - The Battle At The Garbage Dump - is indeed a very beautiful game. Later, Coach Ukai will insist that there was nothing to be sorry for. That they'll be ready for Tokyo.

But this time... it's not enough. Nekoma is still a step ahead.

They take Karasuno down with a familiar weapon - the multi-attack the Crows have become known for. Not as strong, not as clean, but the shocker is Kuroo sets. Which means - Tsukki bolts to the side. Catching up a fraction too late because who would expect Kenma to attack.

It's too late. There's a flash of gold, a gentle tap - and the ball lands right at Tsukki's feet. All he can do is fold his hands behind his head. Gasping for air.]

Well... All right, then. Next time.

[Kenma nods back. Smiling faintly.

"Next time."

Then Kuroo's sweeping Kenma up into a bear hug, despite his protests. Reaches through to ruffle Tsukki's hair.
Double Annoyance Attack!]

[As soon as the spectators are allowed to leave the stands, Nagisa bolts down to court level and catches the boys in the middle of Kuroo's attack. He doesn't even know where to start congratulations and it shows in the way he seems to begin in mid-sentence:]

- never been so into a game before but it was so exciting, you're all so, so good, holy, you must scare other schools half to death, all of you - !

[He looks from Kuroo to Tsukki and then - his heart stuttering nervously - to Kenma. Will he finally be acknowledged, or not...?]

[Kenma goes as red as his jersey. Staring at Nagisa. With Kuroo's arm still conveniently ~~trapping~~ around him, there's no other options but the unthinkable - accept the compliment. It's practically a whisper. Mouth barely moving at all.

"Um - I - Th-thanks -"

Kuroo and Tsukki only have a second to share an astonished look -

"KENMA!"

A streak of orange comes barreling in. Hinata, waving his arms so madly that Kuroo has to release his hostage or risk a broken nose. None of which interrupts the flood of words.

"ThatwasamazingI can't BELIEVE you HI NAGISA!!!!"]

[Kenma said thank you...

Nagisa stares right back at him just as blankly, cheeks just as red, a smile slowly dawning on his face. There's no chance to say more before Hinata descends, but to everyone who isn't caught in the moment happening between them, his face really says it all.]

Sho-chan - [Too late, Hinata's already swept the newly free Kenma away, leaving Nagisa with two smartasses who just saw him swoon so hard he was struck dumb.

This will not end well for Nagisa, will it?]

[It's Tsukki who recovers first. The one most used to the whirlwinds of his fellow teammate. Of course this isn't a hard read. That blush could be seen from space. He folds his arms and smirks.]

Ohhhhh.

[Kuroo chimes in at once. Unable to resist a cue. "Ohoho?" he chuckles. Leaning on Tsukki's shoulder with eyes glinting.

Wow, volleyball players are a lot taller then swimmers, huh?]

Wh -

[He looks waaaaay the hell up at Tsukki (who has to be looming over him on purpose now), then snaps his gaze over to Kuroo (who's doing the same, and that's a bit intimidating with the level of pure wickedness in his smirk), and it finally sinks in what's happening here.]

- nooooo, no, you can't - he's already scared of me, if you two -

[But then he manages to catch a glimpse of Kenma and Hinata just past Kuroo's shoulder, and the way Kenma jumps and whirls his head around makes it all too obvious that he was still watching Nagisa.]

- oh.

[Maybe that wasn't fear at all. And if that's the case, maybe he should just let these two keep plotting, because he's worn down lots of cold, distant, downright mean people but that level of skittishness could be something else entirely.]

[The Looming is absolutely on purpose, and Tsukki might be enjoying this. A little. As the protests fade out, he gives an exaggerated shrug. Looking to Kuroo.]

I don't know. Maybe that's a point. He's your best friend.

["I mean, I wouldn't want to fluster our Jinchou-chan," Kuroo muses. So casually it can only be a blatant lie.

"But Kenma doesn't waste his energy on scared."]

[Flustered? He's not flustered!!]

We don't even really know each other... [Since when has a little thing like that mattered to Nagisa? Since he got so wildly thrown off by Kenma's immediate reaction to him, that's when. It's like someone revealing a power he never knew he had - not only that, but it's the power he developed his extremely aggressive approach to compensate for not having.

Haru makes people nervous but intrigued. Makoto inspires crushes so fierce that people hardly dare approach him (despite his being the world's biggest, buffest puppy.) Rin outright terrifies people, who occasionally happen to be scaroused by him as well. Nagisa doesn't think he's ugly, nor unappealing, nor even unlikable, but he's always needed a little something extra in the company he keeps.]

I - don't know what to do if someone likes me first.

[And that's honestly so sad that it might just put a pin in their mirth.]

[That does sober the mood a bit, yes. Tsukki and Kuroo are only mostly smug assholes. Both aware of the emotional wringer Nagisa's been through. And who would have called this? Nagisa being less then violently confident about anything?

Before they can really form a plan - either attack or defense - their coaches are calling them over.

"Don't run away, Jinchou-chan," instructs Kuroo. "We'll be right back."

Tsukki hangs behind a moment longer.]

Funny. This sounds familiar. Someone who couldn't believe a person could like them first.

[With a knowing smile, he ambles towards his own huddle.]

[It's a good thing they warn him not to run, because he's not a runner - he's a chaser, for goodness sake - but everything is so upside down that part of him does want to escape. Instead he puts his back to the bleachers and waits, trying not to watch Kenma too directly and doing it in spite of himself.

What is it about Kenma? There are his otherworldly eyes, of course, but his tentative posture and sleepy expression also give him an endearing air. The little hitch in his voice when he's taken off-guard. Another thing that's upside down: the cute one has fallen for another cute one.

Kenma looks over again, seeming to feel Nagisa's eyes on him, and Nagisa forces himself to smile warmly instead of startling. This time Kenma holds his gaze for a second, then offers a tentative smile in return.

Oh, help, when will Tsukki and Kuroo be done?]

[Not terribly soon. They do have to shower, after all. For the public good. Have fun processing that bit of knowledge, Nagisa!

Tsukki returns first. Hair damp, wiping his glasses. He hadn't been at the right angle to observe interactions... but Nagisa's still here. That's a start. Sitting down, he fixes the swimmer with a firm look. Not in the mood for any dancing around.]

Hey. Do you actually want to try for this?

[It's actually quite a comfort when Tsukki reappears in no-nonsense mode, because Nagisa really doesn't feel secure enough to let teasing roll right off him this time. He's made much more snap decisions than the one Tsukki's asking him to make now, and yet -]

Yeah. [- and yet nothing, apparently, since that's what leaves his mouth when he dares open it.] Maybe it's dumb when we don't even know each other and I'm still figuring out how to make - everything work with my other friends now and we live in different towns and all we've done is have a really hard time looking at each other but -

[Is Nagisa about to say something really inspiring about taking chances and trusting things that feel different and scary because they're the only ones that'll ever bring about different results?]

- but I do lots of dumb things! So why not this too? [Of course not.]

[Tsukki blinks at him.

Then throws his head back laughing.]

I can't argue with that!

[Just then, Kuroo comes jogging up. Judging from the dampness soaking his collar, he might have rushed a bit. But hey. There's plotting to be done."Okay, talked Kenma into getting food. Chibi-chan's probably coming too, so Tsukki and I will run interference!"

He ignores the dirty look from Tsukki. But there's nothing for it. Of course Kenma would want Hinata to come, there's no reasonable way around it. Which means someone needs to step in. Or there will be no room for conversation at all.

You're welcome, Nagisa.]

[Nagisa makes a noise that sounds a lot like "hrk!" He has to compete with Hinata for Kenma's attention? When he can barely string together three words to Kenma's face??

Then he nods, looking for all the world like a soldier who just got his marching orders. There's no way of saying when the stars will align for him this way again - he likes someone, someone likes him right back, he's got friends helping him out and very little to lose if they're not successful - so he can't wimp out now.]

((this seems like a reeeeeeally complicated action thread to pull off with that many NPCs, so do you want to skip to Nagisa and Tsukki talking about how it went afterwards? Probably texting again because that's how they do?))

((OOC: Sounds good! It got crazy but also I couldn't figure out a way Hinata WOULDN'T come that isn't wildly out of canon? (Or stuffing him in a closet. Tsukki voted for that one. :3))

[One montage of Cute Sport Boys Having a Day Out and a little later in the evening - ]

So?

Where did you two disappear to??

SORRY KEICHAN I really thought we were gonna come back after!!

Kenchan said he had to ask me smth alone and he was sorta pulling on my sleeve so
We went for a walk and ig he thought you guys were
Not bullying me into it but smth like that you know?

He wanted to make sure I really wanted to be there

But YEAH he kinda dragged me out so I didnt have time to tell u what was going on

[Okay the idea of Kenma 'dragging' someone somewhere just isn't reconciling. But Tsukki gets the drift. Sounds like their iron-clad plan was a total success.

(Never mind that he had to set Hinata off on a five-minute rant about meat buns and that is five minutes he's never getting back. Some sacrifices are worth it.)]

That's a fair concern

I'm not mad

'Kenchan' huh?

[It was more like a very gentle tug and Nagisa melted the rest of the way out the door, truth be told.]

Kenchans really nice! Just so so shy I worry abt scaring him but Kurookun did say that prob wont happen

[How did Kuroo escape the -chan curse, anyway? He and Nagisa may take that bit of info to their graves.]

Im just used to people yelling and getting all huffy when I embarrass them!!
But he goes quiet and hides his face and I just feel bad

[So... that's cute. Even touching the depths of Tsukki's salty heart. Good thing this is text, and he does not have to admit such embarrassing things.]

Remember

Kuroo's his best friend and he likes Hinata.

He can probably handle more then you think.

Eheheheh yeah

Idk what happens now but Ive got his number and added him on all my SM and
We sat by the water for awhile and just talked
Mostly me talking ofc
And the sea wind was too cold for him but he said the view was so pretty he didnt want to move

So I had an arm around him for a bit??

[The truth begins to make itself evident: Kenma is light years ahead of Nagisa when it comes to getting what he wants through indirect cuteness.]

[Kenma's good at that. Getting games to go the way he wants, without people noticing. From what little Tsukki's picked up, the setter inspires that in a lot of people. The desire to - not exactly protect , but connect with him? It's hard to understand.

Then again, it's not Tsukki who needs to understand it.]

You know, Kenma is the last person I would have guessed.

Guessed what part?

To have the crush first.

Or for you to connect with

ahahahha well kurookun told me kenchan was the one at the meet w/him
He wont say anything else just that but i already knew the other one left right before me and kurookun met in person
Soooooooo

And were still getting to know each other and all
But he's so so so so pretty 😫

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