The Third Miya: Isuma

XX

Um, so I've passed away. Writing this chapter was too cute for me. Sorry.

Wait, I'm back. Guess I can still write. All I can say is: tell me your reaction at the end of the chapter. I want to make sure I'm sane. (I may or may not have collapsed on my bed rereading this. And I'm the one who wrote it.)

"The way you pick up everything on the court. I can do that too. Not as well as you can, but I can tell what the opposing team is thinking. How their emotions affect their actions."

"You- you can see the way I do?" Isuma asked in disbelief. Kita replied, "Again, I can't do it as efficiently as you do, but yes. And, well, while you see their physical states, I can see their mental states. How the game is affecting them and the amount of pressure they're facing. What they'll decide and what risks they're willing to take. I'm not always sure- actually, I'm never usually sure- but I'm usually right about what the other team is going to do."

"...but doesn't it scare you? Knowing you could be wrong about everything and your team losing a match because of you?" Isuma asked. Kita looked down at his hands. "Back in middle school... I was never a starter then either, so no one knew me. The first time I tried to help... I was terrified. I was sure I was wrong, and on top of that, my upperclassmen didn't think a first-year would be right. But I turned out to be right about everything. Our school won against a powerhouse that day. So, Isuma-chan..."

He turned towards her. "I know how you feel right now. And I promise you, I saw everything you saw at Ameba High. You're right about this-"

Kita wasn't listening. So she got his attention the only way she knew how. "Shinsuke, listen to me."

He looked down at her, sure he'd misheard. Did she just... "You're amazing." Her eyes were locked on him, and she looked strangely desperate to tell him. "You're an amazing volleyball player even if you aren't a starter. You're confident about everything you do and can do everything. You're a great leader and captain- even Tsumu and Samu listen to you. You're at the top of your class. But I... I've never been good at anything. Even volleyball. I'm too... I can't lead anyone. I'm too shy to even talk like a normal person- I can't face somebody without freezing and not being able to do or say anything. I can't even restrain my own brothers. I'm not anybody. I- I'm not like you."

Isuma's hands were gripping the edge of the bench so tightly her fingers were white. Kita, still getting over the shock of being called Shinsuke- by Isuma, of all people- answered, "That's not true. You are somebody. Atsumu and Osamu never would've gotten as far as they are without you- not in volleyball, not in anything. You are the smartest person I know- every person who's told you you're too shy is going to regret it one day. And you- you don't ever get to say you aren't important. You are the most important person in your brothers' lives. You're an important person in Suna's life. In Ginjima's. In Akagi's. And... mine."

Her hand- the one that had been burned- was on the bench in between them. Kita briefly hesitated before taking her hand with both of his own. "I trust you, Isuma."

Isuma couldn't speak: his fingers gently ran over the still-pink skin on her hand- his hands were smooth and calloused from years of handling a volleyball, yet his touch was incredibly warm and comforting. Isuma's cheeks turned a warm shade of pink, just like they had when he'd taken her hand the first time...

This time, he didn't let go.

"Talk to me after the game. Rethink everything you just said and say it again to me later." Kita looked to the right just as Atsumu and Osamu walked back into the gym, followed by the others. He let her hand drop and stood up, grabbing his bag as they approached. No one felt the tense conversation they'd just stopped. "I'm going. Start your warm-ups."