Chapter Text
Chikara was pretty sure he could blame this on Tanaka.
After all, who even is that nice? Who welcomes a teammate who walked out on everyone back with open arms, with nothing more than, I’m glad you came back? Who does that? Who’s so supportive and enthusiastic and funny and loud and–
Tanaka. Tanka fucking Ryuunosuke, that’s who.
And Chikara, for god knows why, was in love with him. Well, okay, so he knew why. So what? The way Tanaka was always drooling over Kiyoko was basically a neon sign over his head screaming heterosexual! Chikara didn’t hate himself, okay? He wasn’t going to torture himself about it.
But Chikara could deal. It was actually surprising how well he could deal. But he’d been dealing since first year, and nothing was really any different as they went into their third year. Tanaka…was still Tanaka.
But maybe he should’ve paid more attention to his creative outlet for his feelings. Basing a character in a screenplay on the object of his affections was, admittedly, not his wisest move. Especially not when the deuteragonist was loosely…maybe…kind of Chikara. But like, they were just friends, and he had no romantic plans, so it was fine!
It was totally fine.
“Hey, how’s your screenplay going? Did you get any more of it done?” Yachi asked as they began the bus ride to a Tokyo training camp.
Chikara brightened up at the sound of that. “I am so glad that you asked, Yacchan!” He took out his phone and started opening the document, and she leaned over his shoulder to see. “Okay, here’s where you left off the last time.”
“Ooh, when the apocalypse gets intense.”
Usually, watching people read his story made him anxious, but never Yachi. She was so expressive when she read it, having all the reactions he wanted to cause, and it made him feel good about it. But she was the only person who’d ever read it so far.
After reading through, she gave the phone back. “So, are the two main people going to realize they’re in love at some point, for a tragic romance?”
He felt like his heart stopped. “Eh?”
Yachi turned red and waved her hands in front of her face, stammering out an apology. “Uh, forget I said that! Sorry, they just seemed really close, and all the cues have them looking at each other fondly-”
“They- they’re based…they’re not…” He rubbed the back of his neck. There was not time to unpack all of that. “Okay, I guess I do see where you could be getting that.”
“Sorry,” she said again, making herself smaller.
He switched to his notes app on his phone, contemplating. “If they do, someone’s going to have to die immediately afterwards.” Could I get away with killing the main character…? Honestly, either one would do…
“Well, yeah, it’s an apocalypse.”
“Right.” After a beat, he asked, “What do you think of the dorky sidekick?”
“Which one of them is meant to be the sidekick again? They’re both so evenly developed, I feel like I know them both as a protagonist.”
Ennoshita nearly preened at the praise. “That…is such a high compliment, I can’t even begin to tell you. It’s the medical one, not the one usually fighting.”
“Oh. I think he’s really cool. Like, the ‘main character’ would completely die without him, and he’s not useless. Like when he fights off the zombies while the protag is down and out for that scene? Totally awesome!” She beamed up at him. He wasn’t even sure how to respond to it.
“So, do you have any plans for tonight?” he asked after a bit of silence. “I can’t remember if you were close to any of the Tokyo kids.”
“Well, I do look forward to seeing Kenma again, but actually…I’m hoping to steal some time from Akaashi Keiji,” she admitted nervously.
“Ah, yes, the setter – and captain, now, right? – of Fukurodani,” Ennoshita remembered, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. He didn’t have a crush on Akaashi, but he was gay and Akaashi was, objectively speaking, the prettiest human being on the face of the earth.
“Ah – yes, that’s the one. Bokuto-san asked me if I could check on him.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “You – you keep in touch with Bokuto?”
“Long story,” she explained. “But it’s mostly from being in a group chat with him and Kiyoko-san.”
“That’s so cool!”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Anyways, since it’s not much playing tonight, I’m hoping I can grab him – especially since the delinquents won’t be holding him hostage for late night practices this time around.”
“Yeah. Would you like me to, er, come with you? You know, captain to captain, and all that?” he offered, feeling embarrassed to even do so.
“That’d be great, Chikara-senpai!”
After a long dinner of watching Yachi painfully carry out the task of seeing if Akaashi missed Bokuto, Ennoshita found his thoughts drifting back to the screenplay. He hadn’t planned for a romantic subplot, but looking back on some things…
Oh, god, they were totally in love, and he hadn’t even meant for it to happen.
He watched the rest of the team file into the sleeping quarters or a gym to do some more practice before his eyes locked on Tanaka.
He and Nekoma’s ace were talking about something, laughing obnoxiously and hanging off of each other. Tanaka was loud and brash, but something about him just radiated sunshine. Chikara might not have planned to actively pursue this, but that didn’t mean he could fight the smile tugging his lips. In his own unique way, Tanaka was beautiful.
“It’s rude to stare, you know.”
Chikara stifled a screech and turned to see Noya smugly watching him.
“Shouldn’t – shouldn’t you be getting ready for bed, Noya!”
“You can’t fool me, Chika; I see the way you’re ogling my bro.” Noya wiggled his eyebrows. “I can’t believe you never told me you were into him!”
“I literally don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chikara muttered. “And even if I did like him, he’s into girls.”
“Hmm. You’re right about that,” Noya conceded. “Well, I’ll see you, Chika.”
Chikara watched him go, frowning. That wasn’t weird at all.
“Hey, Chika!” Kinoshita called across the room. “Wanna practice your receives? I’m blocking, Kazu-chan’s serving!”
“Uh, yeah! Be right there, Hisashi.” Chikara glanced one more time at Tanaka before following his friends to a gym. He was the captain. There wasn’t time to entertain a silly, unrequited crush on his ace.
THOTs and Gayers
[DatekHOE has added Ennoshita to the group.]
DatekHOE: we’re all fuckin stupid and forgot to add Karasuno’s cap
HOEzenji: oh shit how could we forget he’s this year’s hottest captain !
ShiratHOErizawa: I hate him and no he’s not
Ennoshita: what is happening
DatekHOE: we’re this gen’s captains here to form a squad
Ennoshita: what the fuck
Ennoshita: also why isn’t Seijoh here?
HOEzenji: because no one fucking likes that creampuff bitch anyways
DatekHOE: also we don’t have his number :/
HOEzenji: that too
ShiratHOErizawa: I wish Ushijima-san never gave any of you my number.
[HOEzenji changed Ennoshita to KarasunHOE.]
KarasunHOE: is there a reason for the names?
HOEzenji: does there need to be?
KarasunHOE: I guess not
HOEzenji: big q
KarasunHOE: okay…
HOEzenji: do u know any tokyo caps???
KarasunHOE: uh, kinda?
HOEzenji: can u add them
ShiratHOErizawa: they won’t let me add Sakusa-kun because they all suck
KarasunHOE: uh I can add one of them I guess?
[KarasunHOE has hadded Tora to the group.]
KarasunHOE: it’s Ennoshita, and I’m sorry
Tora: ooh what’s this?
HOEzenji: this year’s captains! What school are you? You gotta change ur name
Tora: ooh!
[Tora changed their name to NekHOEma.]
NekHOEma: like that??????
HOEzenji: is it too soon to say I’m in love with u
NekHOEma: sorry but my heart belongs to my vc
KarasunHOE: Fukunaga-kun?
NekHOEma: yes😞
HOEzenji: man the tea is gay in tokyo
HOEzenji: good shit
NekHOEma: one day I will marry him but first I have to be brave enough to talk to him about feelings
KarasunHOE: lol I admire ur faith
NekHOEma: does the pretty boy captain have an unre
NekHOEma: unrecuite
NekHOEma: siri how do u spell unrequited
NekHOEma: thaT’S THE BITCH
KarasunHOE: yes, I do, but it’s ages old and I’m dealing just fine :)
HOEzenji: ooooh who is it
HOEzenji: is it me because I love you
DatekHOE: lmao raise your hand if you’ve ever had a crush on Ennoshita-kun
ShiratHOErizawa: shit, this applies to me, doesn’t it
KarasunHOE: I’m, uh, flattered, but it’s none of you. It’s my ace, and I don’t really feel like there’s anything to talk about? He’s the embodiment of a straight boy?
NekHOEma: hmm
KarasunHOE: will everyone stop saying that when I tell them about my crush? What the fuck?
While Tanaka worked on homework, Chikara typed vigorously at his laptop, trying to bang out the next scene. Tanaka seemed to be doing fine, and Chikara was still trying to fix whatever accidental romantic subplot he’d created.
“Uh, you okay over there, Ennoshita?” Tanaka asked, looking up for the first time in half an hour. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were writin’ a strong-worded letter to someone’s manager.”
Chikara snorted. “I’m working on my screenplay.”
Tanaka’s eyes lit up faster than if he’d just been presented with a plate of meat. “Can I see?” he asked, diving across the table.
“No!” Chikara gasped, pulling his laptop away. “Not a chance in hell! No way! Work on your homework!”
Tanaka pouted. So fucking cute, stop that! “If I finish my maths, can I look at it?”
“No,” Chikara said firmly.
“Aww, how come?”
Because it’s gay. Because the main characters are us, and in love. Because–
“It’s not done,” he said. “So, I don’t want to show anyone until I have all the details fleshed out.”
Tanaka pouted harder, but picked his pencil back up. “Fine.”