[And Yamaguchi would do anything to be there right now, so he could help in a more practical way than just listening and trying to talk Tsukishima down from murder. It’s hard not to feel like he’s being left behind, actually, being the only first year not at a training camp. Even if Hinata isn’t there legitimately. But he definitely can’t admit to Tsukki, especially in the state he’s in now, that he maybe sort of just a little bit understands the frustration that must have driven Hinata to do something so insane.]
Everyone’s kind of freaking out now here, too. The news already spread.
[Except Yamaguchi's not some show-off who has to make everything about him. He's putting in the work to keep things going. Every single day. The whole team has. Finally earning respect from their rivals.
Then this stunt.
Making it look like Karasuno can't control itself at all.]
Great.
They'd better not blame the team for this.
[Tsukki didn't choose to be here, but if Shiratorizawa decides Karasuno is too much trouble... That would be worse.]
Yeah. I don't know what we'd do if it came to that
But it probably won't, right? I mean, he'll probably just get some kind of punishment and everything will go back to normal
Pfft, maybe they'll make him write an essay about what he did wrong. You know that face he makes when he's thinking too hard and you can almost smell something burning?
[Oh god, what a relief. He can't be there to read Tsukki's face or tone or body language, so that is the only hint he has that maybe he's calming down a little.]
Isn't it just the fuel he gets from eating his own weight in food?
[Only a little. But that's all to Yamaguchi's credit. No one else could have talked Tsukki down from the blinding rage. Pulling in a breath, he shoots back - ]
[Only that - like everything else today - Does not go as planned. Tsukki gets pulled aside to talk with Coach Ukai and Mr. Takeda. Not to blame him. Just to find out his side. Which leaves no time to vent any of the pressure.
By lunch he's about to explode.
The meal chime isn't even finished by the time Tsukki hits the door. Knowing Yamaguchi will follow.
[Okay, so Tsukki is known for his brevity even in the best of times. But that is... a little worrying. Yamaguchi sends a couple of gently prodding texts, but then decides to leave it.
So he worries by himself, a lot, and is on the verge of his own anxious version of an explosion by the time he can take off at a run to take his place at Tsukishima's heels.]
Tsukkiiiii! Tsukki, hey! Um, so, you made it back in one piece, huh...
[He already knows he's talking too fast, and too loud. But he can't help it!]
[It's an automatic response. Because Tsukki does want to talk. Just not here. The longer they hang around, the greater odds someone else on the team will poke their nose into it.
[It's kind of comforting to go through this familiar routine. It makes the worry and dread in his stomach ease up a little, and he follows with duty and gratitude. And as soon as they've set up in their spot, he offers coffee-flavoured bread that he's only taken a couple of bites out of.]
Um, do you want the rest of this? It's kinda too sweet for me.
[Good. Tsukki always seems a little calmer after eating something sweet, so Yamaguchi counts it as a silent victory that his offering was accepted.
If only Tsukki would actually eat the dang thing. Yamaguchi nibbles at his own lunch, letting the silence stretch out for a little while before he starts in tentatively.]
I think it sounds like the whole thing kinda sucked. I'm sorry.
[He carefully avoids looking too much, sensing that Tsukki won't want to be scritinised right now. Instead he stares at his own hands, wondering why he can't use them just a little better. Be a little less clumsy. Maybe taller, and more able to think on his feet, too. If he had more raw talent, maybe he could have gone along, too. And then Tsukki wouldn't have had to grit his teeth through the whole experience all alone.
...He shakes his head. Getting caught up in self-loathing isn't going to help anything. He has to focus on Tsukki right now.]
I'm still amazed they let him stay. I mean, that's gotta be unprecedented, right?
[Hinata wants to be on the court more than he wants to sleep or eat or breathe. Instead, he'll have to watch everyone else play. All week. In another situation Tsukki would take notes. This is a masterclass in Petty.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Not enough
We're on break because the coaches are all DEALING WITH HIM
[Instead of the people who were actually invited. Whatever. Not like Tsukki asked to be here anyway.]
no subject
What’s it like there, anyway? Is it really fancy?
no subject
Of course
Should have just stayed home for all the good it does me.
no subject
Might as well take advantage of what you can while you’re stuck there, I guess?
Maybe the food will be really good or something
no subject
[The fact he is not letting this go?
Probably sending up gigantic red flags. Tsukki doesn't usually harp on a point once made...]
no subject
Tsukkiiiiiii
You know if you end up in prison, we won’t be able to have Jurassic Park marathons anymore
Or use my grandpa’s telescope
no subject
I'm ANGRY, okay?
I have never been _THIS_ angry at Hinata.
[Frustrated? Annoyed? Sure.
This is different. Every breath full of needles.]
no subject
[And Yamaguchi would do anything to be there right now, so he could help in a more practical way than just listening and trying to talk Tsukishima down from murder. It’s hard not to feel like he’s being left behind, actually, being the only first year not at a training camp. Even if Hinata isn’t there legitimately. But he definitely can’t admit to Tsukki, especially in the state he’s in now, that he maybe sort of just a little bit understands the frustration that must have driven Hinata to do something so insane.]
Everyone’s kind of freaking out now here, too. The news already spread.
no subject
Then this stunt.
Making it look like Karasuno can't control itself at all.]
Great.
They'd better not blame the team for this.
[Tsukki didn't choose to be here, but if Shiratorizawa decides Karasuno is too much trouble... That would be worse.]
no subject
I think people already knew Hinata is, uh... different, though. So it doesn't have to reflect on all of us
[...Wait a minute, though.]
Are you worried about that kind of thing, Tsukki? Like, how people view our team as a whole?
no subject
I guess
Everyone worked TOO HARD
If Hinata gets benched and fucks it all up NOW
no subject
But it probably won't, right? I mean, he'll probably just get some kind of punishment and everything will go back to normal
Pfft, maybe they'll make him write an essay about what he did wrong. You know that face he makes when he's thinking too hard and you can almost smell something burning?
no subject
[Hey. Half a joke.
Maybe this tactic is working...?]
no subject
Isn't it just the fuel he gets from eating his own weight in food?
Time skip?
Be fair
TWICE his weight!
They're calling us in.
Sure! o/
Let me know what happens, okay? Remember, no murder.
no subject
Done.
Talk at school.
[Only that - like everything else today - Does not go as planned. Tsukki gets pulled aside to talk with Coach Ukai and Mr. Takeda. Not to blame him. Just to find out his side. Which leaves no time to vent any of the pressure.
By lunch he's about to explode.
The meal chime isn't even finished by the time Tsukki hits the door. Knowing Yamaguchi will follow.
Right?]
no subject
So he worries by himself, a lot, and is on the verge of his own anxious version of an explosion by the time he can take off at a run to take his place at Tsukishima's heels.]
Tsukkiiiii! Tsukki, hey! Um, so, you made it back in one piece, huh...
[He already knows he's talking too fast, and too loud. But he can't help it!]
no subject
[It's an automatic response. Because Tsukki does want to talk. Just not here. The longer they hang around, the greater odds someone else on the team will poke their nose into it.
At least the King is away. Small mercies.]
Let's eat out front.
no subject
[It's kind of comforting to go through this familiar routine. It makes the worry and dread in his stomach ease up a little, and he follows with duty and gratitude. And as soon as they've set up in their spot, he offers coffee-flavoured bread that he's only taken a couple of bites out of.]
Um, do you want the rest of this? It's kinda too sweet for me.
no subject
What? Oh. Thanks.
[He just fiddles with the bread, though.
Waiting for the onslaught.]
no subject
If only Tsukki would actually eat the dang thing. Yamaguchi nibbles at his own lunch, letting the silence stretch out for a little while before he starts in tentatively.]
So, um... are you, like, okay?
no subject
I just screamed at my idiot teammate in front of an entire gym of people.
What do you think?
[Keeping his head has always been a point of pride. Smirking while other people throw tantrums. Losing it like that... ]
no subject
[He carefully avoids looking too much, sensing that Tsukki won't want to be scritinised right now. Instead he stares at his own hands, wondering why he can't use them just a little better. Be a little less clumsy. Maybe taller, and more able to think on his feet, too. If he had more raw talent, maybe he could have gone along, too. And then Tsukki wouldn't have had to grit his teeth through the whole experience all alone.
...He shakes his head. Getting caught up in self-loathing isn't going to help anything. He has to focus on Tsukki right now.]
I'm still amazed they let him stay. I mean, that's gotta be unprecedented, right?
no subject
[Hinata wants to be on the court more than he wants to sleep or eat or breathe. Instead, he'll have to watch everyone else play. All week. In another situation Tsukki would take notes. This is a masterclass in Petty.]
...Why doesn't that feel like enough?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)