Work Text:
Toma Shingo
Toma had heated everything his mother said about him, whether she was telling it straight to his face or behind his back.
He’s a problem, the reason she’s unhappy, ungrateful, and will never be as good or loved as his brother. She wasn’t the only one who thought so anyway.
The other teams they played continued to say so, ‘he isn’t as good as Ryoma’ ‘Will this match even count as practice’ ‘Some captain he is’. Sure now that the team had been getting better the comments lessened but there was always, no matter how good he got, comments comparing him to Ryoma, always saying he isn’t as good as him, whether it be from straight up telling him or from offhanded compliments. He tried not to think about them, they weren’t on his team he wouldn’t see them often.
Next was his team, these comments might happen all that often, but they still happened and he can tell they like Ryoma better. They were more common at the beginning, at first words of joy that they got the famous Ryoma's brother expecting him to be just like Ryoma. When he wasn’t the comments were behind his back. ‘I wish we got Ryoma’ ‘The more talented sibling’ ‘the nicer brother’. Soon it became just the second years and the comments became fewer, there was a point in time we’re he thought that maybe he was finally seen as the sibling people wanted to see, but when he invited his brother to come and help them practice he realized that no matter who it is, they preferred his brother, ecstatic that he was practicing with them and gushing about him. He decided that it was because he was a star player that gave them hope to win, they didn’t mean anything by it, he knew some of them had siblings they were compared to, they knew what it was like.
The one that hurt the most no matter how he thought about it was Maki himself. Because Maki was, well, hard to describe but if he had to try Maki was caring and understanding. Always able to tell what’s up with the team, able to motivate them and get them on the most effective pairs because he was able to read them.
He hated how this hurt because Maki always seemed to see when something was upsetting them, but when he hurt Toma (no matter how much he didn’t mean to), he never seemed to understand or see the pain the actions caused Toma.
Maki talked about Ryoma with admiration. Calling him randomly and asking about anything from stars to practice. He went to Ryoma to practice serves, not his own captain. Maki never made comments that Ryoma was better or that Toma was worse, but he did show it through action, and that hurt more.
One day he decided he had enough and decided not to go to practice… for a week.
Then Ryoma came into his room. Now don’t get him wrong, he loves Ryoma just as much if not more than everyone else, but right now he doesn't want to see him.
But Ryoma only came in, put his phone down, said “Maki really needs to talk to you” and left.
He picked up the phone
“Hello”
“Why aren’t you at practice”
“Why does it matter”
“Because we need you, I need you”
“The team doesn’t need me, they can find another captain, you only say you need me because of money, I’ll tell you that I’ll still-“
“THAT'S NOT JUST IT! We need YOU to win, and yes I need you to pay me, but I don’t get paid if we get disbanded and I need YOU to win”
Maki sounded hurt
“I can ask my brother-“
“I don’t want your brother Toma, we don’t want your brother or anyone else, your our captain, not Ryoma or anyone else, so please, come back to practice”
Toma eyes started to tear up, Maki really did always know what to say
“Yeah, yeah okay”
His team needs him, Maki needs him, that’s all that matters
Itsuki Ameno
It was at this point, no secret that Itsuki had burn scars on his back, and it was no secret that those scars came from his mother, even the newbie knew. But knowing never stopped people from giving their sympathy and questioning him.
He didn’t want their sympathy and he didn’t want to answer their questions, but they were alway so persistent and annoyed him into answering.
He didn’t change in the locker room with Maki. He wasn’t self conscious but he just started to like Maki and it would be a shame if all progress was lost because of stupid curiosity.
But one day he decided to just go for it and change in the locker room. Everyone was staring at him, Maki looked over and hear come the questions.
“I came up with a new practice idea, do you wanna work on it during practice today”
…
What? Where were the questions, the sympathy, anything??
No, Maki was different, Maki didn’t look like he even had one question
“Yeah, sounds good”
“Okie dokie”
And with that Maki left
Maki came up to him later and asked to speak to him alone
Was he going to question him, but it was going so well, with this and that time Maki didn’t even get mad at him for almost splitting someone’s skull
“What”
Itsuki hadn’t meant for that to sound cold, but he really didn’t want Maki to question him
Maki smiled, his shocking warm smile.
“Thank you for trusting me, I know it can be hard, but I think it’s a great thing you can trust us since that helps a team grow, this may sound random but I wanted to thank you”
“Your not going to ask me about them, I know the team probably spilled but your not at all curious”
“No not really, honestly people asking about minor wounds is pretty annoying, I can’t imagine how peving it is to explain how those happened”
Well damn, this was new, even the rest of the team had a few questions.
“Yeah, wanted to hit someone last time they brought it up”
“We’ll just remember no weapons, oh I have to go make dinner, have a good day Itsuki”
“Good day to you MakiMaki”
Well this newbie was definitely something
Yuu Asuka
While being a girl never felt right to Yuu, wearing skirts did. The only problem being that they would either be made fun of or called a girl. They didn’t want that, they simply wanted to wear a skirt to one of the outings the team was having.
“So why don’t you”
“It isn’t that simple Kanako, I’m self conscious”
“So just don’t think about it”
“I can’t just not think about it”
“Okay then why don’t you just think, their opinion doesn’t matter”
“Ugh, Maki it isn’t that simple”
“Yeah maki, Yuta got bullied when people found out he was gay, I can understand him being self conscious”
“Thank you Toma”
“But maki’s right, why should it matter what they think, if they hurt you your on a team with people who would hit them with a racket”
“No weapons”
“Ugh, your always on that, ‘no weapons’ can we murder them as long as it’s with our bare hands”
“Murders a little far, also messy, especially with your bare hands”
“How about no violence”
“Well if they hurt you I don’t know how well that statement will work”
“Glasses is right you know, Maki are you almost done, I’m hungry”
“Yeah yeah, just let me do one more thing”
With that, food was on the table and Maki was there sitting next to Toma and across from Yuu
“I don’t understand how you two seem to be so confident”
“Mhmm, less confidence and more the fact that I’m online, I get comments way worse on there”
“That’s not good”
“What are you gonna do about it, not like it matters anyway, I do what I want with my art”
“What about you maki”
“Well, unless they're paying me or they’re someone I care about their opinion shouldn’t matter”
“What great life advice”
“Why are you even here”
“Food”
Maki rolled his eyes before taking a bite of a spring roll
“She is right, your food is amazing”
Yuu noded at Tomas comment
“Wait, if you live by that, do our opinions matter”
“Yeah, why not”
Yuu smiled
“I still don’t think that helps though”
“How about one of the other teammates go with you in a skirt”
“What do you mean Kanako”
“Well it would help to spread the ‘embarrassment’ if one of the other teammates was there right”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t ask anyone to do that”
Kanako sighed and pointed to the boy diagonal to her
Maki let out a questioning hum tilting his head, smiling while he did so
“Maki already crossdressed with you and he doesn’t seem to care about what others think”
“Yeah, but he already cooks for us I couldn’t ask that from him”
“I wouldn’t really mind you know”
“Really”
Toma replied, said boy was already iffy on coming in the first place, seeing as he was cooking for the team plus whoever else came, the boy said that he had chores he had to do and the only reason he had agreed was because Toma and Yuu agreed to help even more that day
“Yeah, I mean I’m going to ask for something in return”
“Of course, anything! That would help a lot thank you”
“Calm down, he hasn’t even said what he wanted, he could give you something impossible to get him so he doesn’t have to do it”
Kanako said, mouth half full
“It’s true, maki what do you want”
Toma said, mouth also half full
“All I want is him to paint my nails, you guys have such nice opinions on me”
“You want me to paint your nails”
“Yep, I heard from somewhere your really good with that sort of stuff”
“Yeah, I practice on me and my sisters, and not to sound judgey, but why?”
“Yeah, you never seemed the type to have your nails painted”
“Wow, sounds pretty judgey to me, but I never really wanted them painted before, but my mom says it might help with the nail biting which apparently is a ‘bad’ habit”
“Oh yeah, nail polish helped my sister with that, I didn’t know you bite your nails, may I see your hand”
Maki held out his hand for the boy in front of him
“Wow, I’ve never seen you bite them but this looks pretty bad”
“It doesn’t happen all the time, only when I’m anxious or scared”
“Wow you scared, didn’t know you felt more than three emotions”
“I’ve have no experience with nail polish, how would painting them help with the biting”
“The nail polish has this almost sour taste to it, and your body knows it’s chemicals, if you have your nails painted regularly eventually you’ll relate nail biting to the sour taste”
“Ah so one time thing might not help all that much”
“No, but I’ll be more than happy to paint your nails regularly, especially if you’ll wear a skirt with me”
“Yeah, why not, it sounds like a fair trade to me”
And with that Yuu’s self consciousness went down
“Boys are so stupid sometimes”
“Your hanging out with three”
“Toma, I’m getting feed this amazing stuff”
The day of the outing the self consciousness returned. They went over to maki's house to help him with the skirt and to uphold their end of the deal.
They rang the doorbell and after a moment the door opened
“Hello Yuu”
“Hi Maki”
Yuu walked into Maki’s apartment and saw Toma and Kanako where already there
“Finally, we’ve been waiting”
“Oh sorry”
“It’s no problem Yuta, we were helping Maki chop some vegetables and fruit”
“Oh if your busy I can still go in pants”
“No, we were almost done, they can finish it, it’s not that hard”
“Alright”
And with that, both were in makis room changing into the skirts
“Are you really sure painting your nails is all you want”
“Yep”
“But, your doing so much for me”
“Well, it makes you more comfortable, and as… am I still the only one you told”
“Yeah”
“You should tell the rest of the team, they would support you”
“I know but, I’m not even sure”
“But you don’t like being referred to as a boy”
“Yeah’
“So I’ll tell you this, I refer to you as Yuu with they/them pronouns”
“That… that feels better, I’m not 100% sure, but that feels better”
“Than you should tell the others that, and your still questioning”
“Yeah, I guess”
“I’ll support you no matter what you know, stuff like this and the people around me should be comfortable with how they are, no matter what”
“Thanks Maki”
“Yep, and thanks for painting my nails”
Maki looked at them in awe
“Any time”
The outing was a huge success, no one judged either of them, even people from other teams
A week later he asked Maki to help them come out and of course maki agreed
They felt happier
Nao Tsukinose
Nao’s mom didn’t even try to hide her over protective nature. Nao tried to hide a lot from her.
One day it became too much. He regretted how he handled the situation so much. He didn’t mean to put anyone in danger, especially not one of his teammates' 8 year old sister but at the time it was the only thing running through his mind.
Now, he was at Maki’s house. At first Maki started by going to his house under the statement he needed help studying. His mother reluctantly let him stay as long as they were studying and only studying, and they did.
Maki came over once a week and even brought over some food he made.
His mom began to like Maki, a ‘good example on how everyone should ask’ and when maki asked if Nao could come over since his mom wouldn’t be home (even though his mom is almost never home) Nao’s mom eventually agreed
Nao brought his books under the assumption they would be studying again, he didn’t particularly like this was the only way the hung out outside of practice and school but Maki made studying a little more fun
When he got there, Maki and Kanako were waiting for him in the Apartment.
“Hi, is Kanako studying with us”
“For someone who lies as much as you, your pretty dense to lies”
“Lies”
“We’re not studying, we’re here to hang out and watch a movie”
“Oh… OH”
Maki smiled
“I made some food I think you’ll like, Kanako brought some cookies”
And with that, they hung out
“Thank you Maki”
“Anytime, I think your mom likes me now”
He was right he started coming over less because he had other things to do and his original goal was done but his mom still asked if he was coming over each week
Even though his mom overwhelmed him so much, Having friends like Maki made it easier to cope
Kanako Mitsue
Her goal was professional. She didn’t see why it wouldn’t count as professional, why so many people she talked to called her unprofessional. Even her fans began to hate her since she changed her art style.
Honestly people could be so stupid.
One day she was drawing and she felt someone over her shoulder.
She looked over and some random person was there
“Do you want something”
She said in an annoyed tone
“Well it’s just your art isn’t all that good, and you choose to draw those losers, wait, your art looks familiar, are you that girl who used to draw those cringe anime girls in thigh high socks, pathetic do you really wanna become an artist, with that talent”
And with that the person left, Kanako sat, angry and upset. She sat there for a while, losing track of time
“Hey, what are you doing”
She looked up and saw maki, already changed
“I could ask the same thing, how bout practice”
“Ended a few minutes ago, you must be really out of it”
“Yeah yeah, whatever, why didn’t you go home, aren’t you like constantly busy”
“Yeah, but you seemed upset over what that person said”
“You heard that”
“I was closest and not really talking to anyone, may I see, the art I mean”
The art. The art of him and the rest of the team. The team she constantly makes fun of.
“Yeah whatever”
It’s not like it matters. Apparently it sucked anyway
“Holy cow, is this the team”
He looked over
“No really Sherlock, congratulations”
He rolled his eyes
“These are amazing and the coloring looks so cool
“The colors are actually a…”
She rambled on about colors she assigned everyone and the environment and how she planned out everything, from what colors meant to color theory on what colors looked good together, and what not
“Wow”
“Sorry, or whatever”
“Nah, don’t worry about, honestly you could be a professional with how well you draw and how much you know”
“Your just saying that to make me feel better”
She said as she moved to cover her small smile
“One, do I look like Nao, two, it’s working isn’t it”
She stuck out her tongue
“You want to come over and eat katsudon, I already have everything since it was half of yesterday”
“Your inviting me”
“It’s good to eat a big meal to feel better”
“I’ll get fat”
“Nah, also who cares, as long as you're happy and healthy”
“Fat isn’t healthy”
“That’s not true all the time”
“Yeah whatever, let’s go so you can feed me”
She smiled
“Also just to let you know artists are super professional, anything that makes money is professional”
“That’s a low standard”
“But it’s a standard, and honestly money makes the world go round, no matter how you make it”
“Hit men make money”
“Morally questionable, but professional”
She giggled, but she supposes he’s right
It’s her life, she gets to choose how to make money
Rintaro Futsu
He wasn’t enough, he wasn’t supposed to be here.
He definitely shouldn’t be the Vice President of the soft tennis, I mean so many people deserved the title.
Especially the new teammate, Maki Katsuragi.
After weeks of sitting on it, he talked to Toma about it, he definitely didn’t believe him and it didn’t make him feel better, so despite what Toma said he went to Maki about switching titles with him
“Huh, you want to switch with me?”
“Yeah, I mean you deserve the position more than me, it’s such an important role, a vp and President duo is super cool, and you alone were able to whip the team together, we trust everything you come up with”
“Honestly I see myself as more of a tactician than the Vice President”
“But that’s what the Vice President should be”
“No, or at least, not in my opinion”
“What”
“You have a good record, time for the club, and are kind and make sure people on the team are okie”
“That sounds like a manager”
“Not exactly, the manager is a different part of the team, almost like a body”
“A body?”
“Yeah, Toma would be the brain, the main part of the team, you’d be the heart one of the most important parts of the body, I’d be… mhmm… I’d be the lungs, fueling the team with oxygen, or I guess the oxygen would be ideas and stuff, I’m important to get the fuel but you spread it through the team”
“I think I get it”
Maki glanced at him
“Yeah, we all have our roles, switching them would be troublesome and possible life threatening”
“Wouldn’t say life threatening, but yeah you got the idea”
“Thank you Maki, I feel better”
“Glad to hear vp”
With that Maki put his visor on and stood up
“We should probably go back, don’t know how long the body can survive off the brain alone”
Maki chuckled a little
Every know and again when Rintaro would seem down Maki would refer to the team as a body, no one understood but it always seemed to brighten Rintaro’s mood
+1: Maki Katsuragi
Maki had seemed off in class, first coming in with a few gauze patches, claiming he fell down the satires doing chores, believable
But he seemed quite, reserved, and almost seemed small.
He changed in the wash rooms and a bit after everyone, claiming he had to finish something and might as well change at the closet place he can
His movements were slower, and was he limping
“Had quite the fall huh makimaki”
“…Yeah, tripped half way down the stairs”
“Oh no! Are you sure you should be at practice today”
Rintaro asked, not wanting the lungs of the team to break down
“I’ll… I’ll be fine, I mean it was only a small tumble”
“Fine looks different here”
Nao’s wouldn’t let Maki lie for downfall, especially his own
“I mean, fine is subjective”
“Yeah but clearly hurt and not in the situation to play a sport isn’t”
Kanako honestly can’t believe how idiotic these boys could be
“I guess… I have stuff I have to do anyway”
“No maki, I promise I’ll do the stuff you need, please just let me help you”
Maki had help Yuu so much for almost nothing in return despite what he said
“…”
“Just a tumble”
Maki clearly need Toma in this moment, more than anything”
“I… yeah”
“Bull”
“Wh-“
“Just tell us so we can help you”
Maki opened his mouth just to close it, again and again at a loss for words
“If that’s what Makimaki is telling us then we need to believe”
“But-“
“No, I understand wanting to know but forcing someone to talk is not the way”
Makimaki didn’t make him uncomfortable by asking him questions about his wounds, he had no right to do so know, he would let Makimaki take it at his own speed
“Fine, maki your going home, getting your wounds treated and we’re helping you”
They all nodded at their captains words
“While none of our cooking can compare to yours, I’ll definitely try”
Maki just nodded
They changed together. All turning away from Maki
Once at his house Yuu and Itsuki helped Maki finish cleaning and treating his wounds, only leaving when he was in the shower but still just a call away
Rintaro, Kanoko, and Taiyo were trying to cook something half as good as Maki.
Most of them could work something mediocre since a lot of them had others to cook for them
Itsuki walked out looked back and then spoke up
“Hey, definitely not stairs”
“Maybe he was being extra clumsy, I headed a few crashes last night”
Kanako said, clearly upset at her self
“No, unless clumsiness leaves a handprint bruise on you”
“WHAT”
“Shush, Yuu is trying to keep maki from knowing I’m telling you”
“Why doesn’t he want us to know”
Toma looked in an especially angry look
“Who would even hurt-“
“His dad”
“Toma, what?”
“His dad comes over to shake them down, I thought I gave him enough so he would leave them alone”
“Oh so we know whose ass to beat”
“Not a great idea, this man sounds unstable, and probably wouldn’t hesitate to kill one of us”
“Yeah but we have to protect Maki”
“Idea! We’ll come over as much as possible and if his dad comes we can protect Makimaki like Toma did”
“Great idea, i mean if Nao’s mom like Maki already im sure it won’t be hard for us to come over many times”
“I live down stairs, I could literally be hear almost all the time, and when im not, I can listen, now I know not all the bangs are him falling”
“Does this happened often”
“Yeah, but I have reasons to believe some are really him falling or dropping stuff”
“Why?”
“Cause we saw he does have a clumsiness to him, not as extreme as he made it seem but…”
“I’ll come over anytime I hear a crash, especially repeated crashes now though”
“Good idea”
“Alright group, time to protect Makimaki”
The one who tries his best to keep people happy, who excepts them all no matter what, the smart selfless maki