F̶o̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ Fuck the Rulebook - Kenma Kozume

Group talk - C7

Slam. Akasuki’s eyes shot open, vibrations running through the bench as she lazily gazed at the scene before her, what the hell was that? The boys were all staring at her until suddenly Tetsuro grinned slapping Kenma on the back,
“we win!”
Oh, they were just playing. She climbed to her feet stretching out her arms as she searched around for the coach. Where did he go? Maybe he left early. She rubbed her eyes, covering her mouth as she yawned gazing towards a grinning Tetsurō watching her eagerly
“what's my prize?”
Prize, who does this kid think he is? Akasuki glanced around at the boys grabbing their bags. She reached up patting his back,
“congrats for beating some newbies.”
She pulled away with a smirk, being captain, it probably didn’t take a lot for his ego to be boosted massively. She grabbed her bag slinging it over her shoulder, also grabbing a towel handing it to Tetsurō. He took it dabbing at his face, scooping down to pick up his own bag, glancing around as he lowered his voice,
“so, any updates?”
Updates? Akasuki glanced at him curiously as she slowly made her way towards the door.
“The trouble,” Tetsurō spoke moderately louder.
Is he serious? He did that on purpose. She furrowed her brows,
“there is no trouble.”
“Trouble?” Taketora spoke suddenly appearing beside Tetsurō.
Great, now he’s going to get involved. Tetsurō shoved the towel into his bag as he crossed his arms,
“she’s being bullied.”
Akasuki stopped walking slowly turning around to face Tetsurō with a sharp glare, her tongue moving faster than her mind,
“I’m not.”
“She is,” Tetsurō spoke confidently.
This boy, Akasuki didn’t want to get angry at him but she didn’t want the rest of them knowing. Sō approached Akasuki with a frown,
“is it the girls from class?”
Girls from class? Oh,
“no,” Akasuki sighed, “they were staring at you, and muttering about me because you were speaking to me.”
Sō frowned further rubbing his cheeks,
“Maybe I’m too cute?”
She didn’t think that was it. Taketora slapped Sō around the head with narrow eyes, turning to Akasuki, his lips parting as he went to speak. However, Morisuke cut in,
“speak to us Akasuki.”
Speak to them? How was she meant to speak them? She rubbed her temples as she frowned, speak to them, it’s that simple,
“I don’t want, to live a life full of drama, okay. I prefer a simple, quiet life,” she sighed, “is that so hard?”
When life gets loud, it gets complicated. Morisuke reached out to squeeze her shoulder with a soft smile, glancing at Tetsurō,
“we understand but what I think he wants to say is, you’re not alone.”
Is that really what he wanted to say? Sō scoffed breaking the tension,
“life’s not going to be so drama free when everyone finds out we’re dating.”
The tension started to crack, the boys chuckling at Sō’s statement shaking their heads. Akasuki could sense So wasn't used to dealing with uncomfortable situations, neither was she to be honest. But she does what she has to do when it comes to trying her best. Akasuki glanced to Sō scoffing, she could tell he was trying. But now wasn’t the time for praise, it was time for Akasuki to leave,
“right, instead of creating unrealistic situations in your mind, you should spend that time actually practicing,” she turned on her heels heading towards the doors.
Enough is enough Akasuki thought, she doesn’t want this year to be filled with drama like the last. All she wanted was for the boys to forget anything was ever mentioned, then maybe she could forget about everything too.
“Hang on,” Taketora called sprinting after her, “I’ll walk with you!”
She threw the doors open not paying much attention to Taketora’s words, bursting out into the warm night. Wow, she took a deep breath gazing into the darkened sky lit by tiny sparkling stars,
“I wonder if they have any troubles.”
Of course, they don’t. They’re perfect, unlike the things in her life. She sighed shaking her head, why don’t things make sense?
“You really showed him,” Taketora chuckled joining her side.
Hm? Akasuki glanced up at him looking at the grin on his face. Oh, he’s talking about what she had said to Sō. She shrugged with a weak smile. She noticed the doors open again, Tetsuro exiting with a grin, Kenma slinking behind in his shadow. Oh no, he comes the big boss captain. She started to walk preening she hadn’t seen them, hoping to avoid the pair.
“We’re joining you two,” Tetsuro remarked striding along beside her.
Shit, why are his legs so long? Akasuki thought, rubbing her shoulder as she continued to walk. Tetsuro and Taketora stood on either side of Akasuki, Kenma ahead of them face down in his game, silence overcoming them all. This is so awkward, Akasuki glanced around trying to find a conversation boaster.
“What were you talking about?” Tetsuro suddenly questioned.
What? She glanced over to him with a tilted head. He cleared his throat,
“with the coach.”
Oh, right.
“My brothers,” Akasuki explained, she parted her lips to speak again but Taketora interrupted her, “oh cool! I have a younger sister.”
A younger sister, Akasuki had thought about how that would’ve been being raised with a sister, but she’d never trade in her brothers, no matter how annoying they got,
“cool! What’s her name?”
“Akane, she’s pretty confident for a girl her age,” Taketora grinned, pride taking over, “what are yours like?”
Hers? What were they like? She’s never really thought about it,
“they’re twins,” she started to speak, “Reiji and Tatsuo,” a small breath of hesitant air left her lips, “Reiji, is most like our father, mostly smarts, while Tatsuo is more like our mother, kind, caring,” she paused a smile curling onto her lips, “loud.”
Those boys made her life what it was today. They were demons wearing angel costumes but somehow, it never bothered her, she knew deep down they were good kids.
“What about you?” Tetsuro wondered, “more like your mother or father?”
Her? She furrowed her brows as she thought, was she more like one than the other? She was a lot like her mother in a way of appearance. Yet, her personality had a magnetic pull towards her father’s, the business man with the income of his dreams. Akasuki hummed under her breath, she was a mixture of both, but she wasn’t sure who she gained her interest in books from,
“I guess my father.”
“So,” Tetsuro paused smirking down at her, “a nerd?”
A nerd? Taketora suddenly exclaimed, staring straight at her,
“you’re pretty cute for a nerd.”
Why was she a nerd suddenly? Confused, Akasuki squinted between the pair.
“Because you’re more like your intellectual father,” Tetsuro explained.
Oh, right. She didn’t agree exactly with the point he was making but nonetheless, she didn’t want to create anymore issues between them. She glanced at Taketora, his remark running through her mind, ‘pretty cute for a nerd’, wow, inspiring,
“you’re pretty bad at romancing for being a womaniser.”
She hoped that he took it as a joke, that’s what she intended at least. Tetsuro reached over to shove Taketora’s shoulder with a laugh,
“she’s not wrong.”
Taketora grumbled under his breath, his face growing red as he looked away. Hopefully he knows it was a joke. Akasuki lightly tapped his shoulder, Taketora glancing at her his eyes fearful of her words,
“thanks though, I think.”
A grin spread on his face at her words, that was simple. He stuck his tongue out at Tetsuro, apparently having achieved something. Strange. Tetsuro shook his head before crossing his arms,
“so, how come you haven’t got any friends?”
Wow, Akasuki halted immediately, mouth agape staring at him in disbelief, there is no possible way that saying something along those lines are appropriate. Tetsuro grabbed Kenma’s bag straps preventing him from walking as he stopped ahead facing Akasuki,
“sensitive topic?”
Yes, a tiny bit.
“No,” she muttered.
She wasn’t going to let him know that though. He stared at her, suspicions raising his brows,
“do you have friends?”
Seriously? Did he have to say that? It’s embarrassing. Akasuki crossed her arms glaring at him, he has no filter, does he? His face fell into smugness as he watched her become defensive,
“good.”
Good? Akasuki’s glare fell into further confusion, good? Tetsuro glanced at the other boys before finding his words,
“the less friends you have, the more you can commit to us.”
What? That literally doesn’t make sense. What’s the difference between having friends and committing to a group of people? Taketora noticed the confusion in her face,
“we’re your friends now.”
Oh, right, she relaxed her face nodding slowly, but how could boys like this be friends with her?
“I,”
“You don’t really have a say,” Tetsuro remarked bluntly.
Right, she had forgotten he always gets his way, no one can deny that. She observed his face, his eyes stern and his lips taut, he looks so serious about what he said. Is he joking or? His expression suddenly crumbled, his eyes beginning to glow softly as his lips curled into a smirk, what happened? She held her breath; nervous at the sudden change.
“We don’t know where you live so, lead the way,” Tetsuro beamed.
Wow, okay, she let the breath go, the nerves diminishing as she started to walk towards her house just down the street,
“It’s just this way.”
What just happened? How can he switch his emotions so quickly? The pair followed her, Tetsuro steering Kenma accordingly. His severity is kind of terrifying. She glanced over to him; his hands wrapped around Kenma’s straps playfully jolting him around. And him, he’s so calm, his gaze hasn’t budged from the screen. She would not be able to trust someone to steer her through a dimly lit street. Her eyes fluttered back up to him, he’s the captain, with a serious form of trust between him and his team members. How? There was a pang of jealousy in her chest as she stopped outside her house, how can they trust each other so easily? Tetsuro lifted his gaze from Kenma noticing Taketora and Akasuki had stopped moving, his eyes floated over to the house they stood before. This was her. She stepped onto her path raising her hand as a goodbye, her chest growing heavy. What is this feeling? Abruptly, there was a bang and the squealing of kids, Akasuki glancing over her shoulder just in time as Reiji and Tatsuo collided with her legs. A joyful laugh left her lips, the sight of them filling her with admiration,
“hey, you gremlins.”
Tatsuo beamed his golden eyes glimmering under the moonlight. Ever since he was a baby, he displayed instant love for stupid nicknames. His grasp loosened as he registered the presence of others, his eyes widening, scampering to hide behind Akasuki. Yet, he was still as shy as her. It sucked, she always wished he wouldn’t ever have to feel that anxiety, that she could just take it all from him. Reiji had noticed the immediate trespassing of others, his feet firmly positioned as he faced Akasuki not caring for them. His eyes, a silvery blue, staring up into hers as if he was trying to communicate telepathically. It was amusing to her.
“Read us the book,” Reiji demanded, his voice unshaken and stern.
Right, Akasuki was convinced Reiji had stolen Tatsuo’s confidence, the way he spoke to others and approached things had made it obvious he didn’t express the same nerves as her and Tatsuo. She scuffled his raven hair with a stern face,
“not tonight.”
“Why?” Tatsuo whined from behind his voice squeaky and shaking.
He knew why, Reiji did at least. Reiji sighed, dramatically rolling his eyes,
“Please, can you read to us?”
That was better. Akasuki grinned,
“of course, I will.”
“What book?” Tetsuro piped up.
She glanced at Tetsuro briefly wondering why he spoke up; does he feel the need to have a say in everything? Tatsuo tugged on her skirt. Right, they don’t know about her volleyball book. Akasuki rummaged in her bag pulling out the book but before showing it to the others, Reiji and Tatsuo started to charge around jumping, rolling, making dramatic noises while performing jumps.
“A volleyball book!” Taketora exclaimed with a grin.
How did he get that? Actually, no, that makes so much sense. Akasuki nodded crouching to her brother’s height, holding out her arms the pair clashing it them, handing the book go Reiji,
“come on, go get ready and I’ll be up in a moment.”
The pair nodded zooming towards the house. So cute, she genuinely adored them. She stood to her feet, brushing herself down, facing Tetsurō,
“thanks for walking me, Tetsurō.”
As his name left her lips, she saw the visual cringe in his face, his lips parting with a chuckle,
“Kuroo, call me Kuroo.”
She nodded. Kuroo, her chest becoming warm. Is this a step in the right direction? Kuroo turned towards Taketora and Kenma, sighing at the sight, snatching the gaming device from Kenma’s small fingers,
“say thank you.”
Kenma stood still for a moment, his hands stuck in the air, slowly turning towards Akasuki, a whisper slithering from his lips,
“thank you,” his eyes lifted momentarily catching hers.
They’re so bright, she felt her heart thud heavily in her chest, she hadn’t noticed the gold specks dotted around within his iris. She forced a rigid nod as the words wouldn’t form in her throat, what is happening? Kuroo then glanced to Taketora who had already gotten the point, turning to her with a soft expression,
“thanks, Akasuki.”
Kenma lowered his gaze to the ground breaking the direct contact, Akasuki's body melting as she managed to nod freely. Thank god. But what exactly was she being thanked for? Kuroo faced her, waiting for Akasuki to meet his intimidating gaze. Hopefully this is a good thing. He lowered his head in a long nod,
“we really appreciate the effort you’re putting into the club.”
What? Her mouth fell open, did, did she hear him correctly? Did the almighty captain just thank her for her effort? She tried not to contain the sarcasm from slipping off her tongue as she spoke,
“It’s only the beginning.”
She was grateful, despite her snarky thoughts, she was genuinely grateful to be thanked for doing something. Even if he didn’t mean it, Kuroo, thank you. Kuroo gazed at her with a satisfied grin, his eyes shifting behind her then back to her eyes,
“your fans are waiting for you. You better get going.”
Fans? She glanced back to see her brother’s standing at the door, oh her fans. She chuckled, they’re adorable, turning to the boys,
“see ya later.”
Kuroo gave a large dramatic wave as he stepped back beside Kenma, whose eyes were still locked on the ground. She understood how awkward he may feel, it’s okay, she can forgive it. Taketora slapped her shoulder with a smile before descending back. She backed up, her eyes lingering on them until she turned around jogging up to the door. Today was weird, it seemed like she somehow, she had managed to begin turning the stones over. She ushered the gremlins in, closing the door behind them, heading up the stairs with them into their shared room. A new goal was billowing in her mind. Reiji and Tatsuo clambered into their beds, Reiji holding the book wide open out to Akasuki. She pulled a chair between the two beds, comfortably leaning forward as she started to read the words. She wants to be accepted. She wants to accept. She didn’t want just anyone. She wanted them. The team. She wanted that stupid trust Kuroo and Kenma have. Their eyes soon closed, dreams dancing around their heads as Akasuki shuffled from the room whispering,
“goodnight.”
She continued to her own room, resting the book upon her desk as she threw herself on the bed sighing heavily into the sheets. That is possible right? Buzzing from her pocket alerted her to a new message, hm, who was it?  She rolled over sliding her phone from her pocket gazing at the screen, a notification for a new group chat? She opened the app, her eyes widening at the sight of the immediate messages from the boys’ team, what is this? There were recent messages from Kenma and Yūki detailing an online game, sending pictures of different items into the chat.  What game is this? A message popped up from Kuroo,
“welcome our official manager!”
Official manager. Did he just decide that? Can he just decide that? Is that his job? Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard as a small cartoon image of Yūki's face popped up, a bubble appearing above his head signalling he was typing,
“welcome!!”
What should she put? His cartoon head stayed there, the bubble disappearing. Akasuki began to type, hey, no, hello, no, thanks, no. God, what was she meant to reply with? She tapped two smiling emojis sending them into the chat, perfect. Kenma’s cartoon head appeared briefly before disappearing. Talkative like usual. She closed her phone putting it to the side as she settled down into her bed staring at the ceiling. Official manager. That felt good.