The Third Miya: Isuma

XXX

March 19th, 2021

And the chapter we've all been waiting for (and the one I procrastinated on writing for, like, two weeks) is here Enjoy :p

Kita made them go home after two hours of practice. Although reluctantly, none of them dared to complain and obediently cleared the gym. As he locked the door, Kita said, "Get home fast. And please- please- rest. Don't push yourself too much."

"Yes, sir!" They bowed hastily. Kita looked at them all for a second before adding, "Come on. I'll buy you all onigiri or something."

Osamu looked up. "Really?!"

"Really." Kita smiled. "As long as you promise to rest at home."

He frantically nodded. "Yes! Definitely!"

"Let's go, then." Kita motioned for them to follow him. Atsumu and Osamu began arguing about something within seconds while the others laughed at them. Their arguing was so familiar to Isuma it almost calmed her, and the stabbing sensation in her head dulled- slightly. Ginjima looked back at her. "Isuma-chan, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She immediately said, knowing that half of the others were listening, including Kita. Before any of them could pressure her, they reached the main street, which was lined with stores. All of their lights were on, and people were going in and out freely. Kita motioned to the closest one. "There."

Isuma's eyes landed on him, and she suddenly remembered how he'd said to talk to him after the match- now. 'Please, please forget!'

As if he'd heard her, Kita caught her arm just as she walked in. "Isuma, hold on."

She was anxiously fidgeting with her sleeve, her eyes on the ground. "Listen. What you said earlier... you had a reason behind it, didn't you?"

Isuma took a step back. "I didn't mean anything! I was just worried about the match and-"

"You weren't just worried about the match." Isuma looked up for the first time. "There's something else, isn't there?"

She didn't reply- she couldn't. Her aunt's harsh words over the years- and her parents'- were flooding back, crashing in on her. Thousands of terrible memories were coming back at the same time. Kita could almost feel how many emotions and thoughts she was experiencing. "You don't have to-"

He stopped; Isuma had looked up, and her eyes were blazing. For a second, her expression was identical to her brothers' when they were dead-serious about something. Her gaze was so startling that, if Kita hadn't known her, he would've backed away. "I won't ever let anyone call me worthless again, Senpai. Ever."

Before he could answer- not that he knew what he would've said- one of the first-years opened the store's door. "Kita Senpai, Isuma Senpai...?"

"I'm coming. Sorry." Isuma went inside without looking at Kita. Their brief conversation hadn't gone unnoticed- at least by Atsumu and Osamu. They exchanged glances when Kita walked in a second later, his demeanor visibly changed. Osamu whispered, "What do you think happened?"

"I dunno." They both looked at Isuma, who was lost in thought again. Osamu was so distracted he had forgotten about the onigiri Kita had promised them- until Akagi pulled one out of a paper bag and handed it to him. "Careful, it's hot."

"Yeah... thanks."

<<Skip to the Miyas walking home>>

Isuma didn't seem any different on the way home. None of them spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. When they finally arrived, they all stiffened slightly at the sight of the empty driveway. Finally, Atsumu pulled them inside their house. "...come on."