I really don't know, but there'll at least be more safety in numbers if he leaves right after school I'll switch to a later cram school class so I can meet him partway if I have to
[Except that class is SO much later. Suga seems like he's already struggling for sleep. That won't help with the practice tests. Let alone the official exams.]
What about me?
It's only a few more weeks
[Coach WON'T be happy, but Mr. Takeda would... Probably understand?]
[Maybe Suga really has been running on pure stress and sleep deprivation lately, because that show of concern almost bring tears to his eyes.]
Huh I never even thought of that but I guess there's no reason why not, is there? He's going to Karasuno so it's not like he can bring any secrets to a rival school (We know he wouldn't, but you know what I mean) And he'd stay far out of the way with all that noise and chaos
Right, the important thing is that Kenzo's safe, then we can work on Then YOU can decide what we should do about those bastards If I'm allowed to participate in whatever you come up with
Tsukki, you've been such a huge help with Kenzo I really don't know how to thank you
[... if they manage to weather the strain of going long-distance right at the beginning of this relationship, Suga could really fall in love here. The realization makes his heart give a ridiculous flutter and he immediately refocuses on the matter at hand.]
Just broke the news to Kenzo and he's alright with it, I think mostly because you'll be there to escort him into the gym Though he also brought up Yamaguchi as Not Awful, have you three been hanging out behind my back?!
I can bring this to Coach and Sensei too if you want I know this is important to you too, but he's still my brother so it might sound better coming from me
And you started with my own family!! You evil bastard!
[After a few minutes:]
Ennoshita's fine with it, I had a feeling he would be Coach and Sensei will allow it for one practice but they want the team to have a vote after that Which is honestly fair and I have no plans of intimidating everyone into voting my way And he has to go right away if he's a distraction but... it's Kenzo, he'll be doing his best to disappear
Well, if you get it into your head, what could I possibly do to stop you?
In all seriousness, I can't imagine any of those guys NOT getting the same protective instinct as soon as they meet him Even now that he's an honest to god teenager, he's still got that baby animal effect on people
[If anyone on the team was inclined not to feel protective of Kenzo, it may help his case that he arrives at his first practice with a pronounced half-moon bruise under one pale green eye. Standing a full inch under five feet tall with the sleeves of his school sweater wrapped around his hands and his backpack sagging nearly to his knees, Kenzo looks he should be about to start middle school, not leave it.
He trails slightly behind Tsukishima and, when Yamaguchi runs over, uses both boys to shield himself from the rest of the team. Sure, everyone he's met up until now has been nice, but he knows from watching nationals on TV that some of the others are downright terrifying - the famous one with the oni mask face, the bald delinquent one, the small but foghorn-loud one.
Koushi-nii's coming right before the end of practice to see how he did and walk home with him, so he just needs to survive that long. He can do it.]
[Yachi strikes Kenzo as kind but nervous - the sort of nervous that gets louder instead of quieter, unlike his own quailing terror in the face of social interaction - and he's oddly relieved that she isn't just effortlessly friendly. Hopefully that'll make her a bit more forgiving, or at least understanding, of his own awkwardness.
He bows respectfully and manages to lift his eyes to meet her gaze for a whole two seconds before looking back down.]
I'm... Sugawara Kenzo. Koushi's brother. [Ugh, she probably knows that, doesn't she? Undoubtedly they all know why he's here. He should just stick to answering any questions directed at him and not say anything else.]
[Okay! She didn't mention the black eye or the swollen nose! Even though they're obvious, poor guy. Maybe she should get him some ice, though? Or keep quiet about it -
Tsukishima huffs. Clearly amused.
"Kenzo, you're sticking with Yachi. You'll be fine with her."
[O-oh. He touches his hair at that, cheeks going a bit pink.
It's very thoughtful of Tsukishima to hand him off to someone else rather than just leave him alone, but Kenzo's still struck with terror at the older boy's words. He has to spend the whole practice with someone he just met??]
Ah - right. Okay. Thank you. [He nods at Tsukishima and Yamaguchi in turn, then sets down his bag - and immediately starts to twist his too-long sleeves in his hands.]
Yachi-san, I - you should know - I'm not very good with new people. I'm sorry if I seem rude.
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I'll switch to a later cram school class so I can meet him partway if I have to
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[Except that class is SO much later. Suga seems like he's already struggling for sleep. That won't help with the practice tests. Let alone the official exams.]
What about me?
It's only a few more weeks
[Coach WON'T be happy, but Mr. Takeda would... Probably understand?]
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I can't ask that of you
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well YOU can't go on less sleep
What if
It's insane
but what if he just stayed at our practice?
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[Maybe Suga really has been running on pure stress and sleep deprivation lately, because that show of concern almost bring tears to his eyes.]
Huh
I never even thought of that but I guess there's no reason why not, is there?
He's going to Karasuno so it's not like he can bring any secrets to a rival school
(We know he wouldn't, but you know what I mean)
And he'd stay far out of the way with all that noise and chaos
That might actually work!
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Just for now
Until those creeps get suspended or something
[He is NOT expanding on the 'Something' and definitely not sharing details on a burner account with a certain Genius from Nekoma...]
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Right, the important thing is that Kenzo's safe, then we can work on
Then YOU can decide what we should do about those bastards
If I'm allowed to participate in whatever you come up with
Tsukki, you've been such a huge help with Kenzo
I really don't know how to thank you
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Kenzo's a good kid
idk
maybe it's like having a cousin or something
[Tsukki's never been around younger family members. He doesn't have anything to compare with this pull in his chest.
The idea of Kenzo not being safe just pisses him off.]
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Just broke the news to Kenzo and he's alright with it, I think mostly because you'll be there to escort him into the gym
Though he also brought up Yamaguchi as Not Awful, have you three been hanging out behind my back?!
I can bring this to Coach and Sensei too if you want
I know this is important to you too, but he's still my brother so it might sound better coming from me
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And yes
We made an official Hang Out And Not Tell Suga So He Will Be Paranoid club
There are t-shirts!
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[After a few minutes:]
Ennoshita's fine with it, I had a feeling he would be
Coach and Sensei will allow it for one practice but they want the team to have a vote after that
Which is honestly fair and I have no plans of intimidating everyone into voting my way
And he has to go right away if he's a distraction but... it's Kenzo, he'll be doing his best to disappear
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In all seriousness, I can't imagine any of those guys NOT getting the same protective instinct as soon as they meet him
Even now that he's an honest to god teenager, he's still got that baby animal effect on people
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They'll just think he's another Yachi
Oh my god
Kenzo as a MANAGER can you imagine
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Being manager did help bring her out of her shell, didn't it?
She's not at all the same person we first met
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I never heard her TALK until she joined
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Would this be a terrible idea or THE BEST idea??
He's never had much to do in music club and Karasuno's probably won't be any different
Skip to practice?
Okay?
[If there are expectations on it, Kenzo might be even more nervous. Which won't work out.
Tsukki still sends a heads-up to Yachi.
She won't mind.]
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One step at a time
[If anyone on the team was inclined not to feel protective of Kenzo, it may help his case that he arrives at his first practice with a pronounced half-moon bruise under one pale green eye. Standing a full inch under five feet tall with the sleeves of his school sweater wrapped around his hands and his backpack sagging nearly to his knees, Kenzo looks he should be about to start middle school, not leave it.
He trails slightly behind Tsukishima and, when Yamaguchi runs over, uses both boys to shield himself from the rest of the team. Sure, everyone he's met up until now has been nice, but he knows from watching nationals on TV that some of the others are downright terrifying - the famous one with the oni mask face, the bald delinquent one, the small but foghorn-loud one.
Koushi-nii's coming right before the end of practice to see how he did and walk home with him, so he just needs to survive that long. He can do it.]
Surprise!
She's going to do her best!
Yachi's waiting on the bench as the group walks over. Stands as Tsukki makes introductions. She's barely taller than Kenzo - maybe half a centimeter?]
Hello! I'm Yachi Hitoka - Assistant - Oh, no, Manager! I'm the Karasuno Manager. It's nice to meet you!
A BABY
He bows respectfully and manages to lift his eyes to meet her gaze for a whole two seconds before looking back down.]
I'm... Sugawara Kenzo. Koushi's brother. [Ugh, she probably knows that, doesn't she? Undoubtedly they all know why he's here. He should just stick to answering any questions directed at him and not say anything else.]
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[Okay! She didn't mention the black eye or the swollen nose! Even though they're obvious, poor guy. Maybe she should get him some ice, though? Or keep quiet about it -
Tsukishima huffs. Clearly amused.
"Kenzo, you're sticking with Yachi. You'll be fine with her."
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It's very thoughtful of Tsukishima to hand him off to someone else rather than just leave him alone, but Kenzo's still struck with terror at the older boy's words. He has to spend the whole practice with someone he just met??]
Ah - right. Okay. Thank you. [He nods at Tsukishima and Yamaguchi in turn, then sets down his bag - and immediately starts to twist his too-long sleeves in his hands.]
Yachi-san, I - you should know - I'm not very good with new people. I'm sorry if I seem rude.
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