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When Atsuya announced he was leaving for Russia the night before his flight, he didn’t expect the entire team to show up at the airport, intending to see him off.
He especially didn’t expect to see Nae, eyes watery and cheeks and nose flushed red from the cold.
And crying. There was definitely a lot of crying.
“You guys will literally see me and my brother again in like, a month. And I don’t remember this happening when he left for Russia?” Atsuya said accusingly. Sure he was happy they came, but he couldn’t help but feel like Shirou was being a little underappreciated.
“The airport the team left from was in Tokyo. This one is local.” Hakoda said, looking down to meet Atsuya’s glare passively.
“Also, there were significantly more people there, not just from the other teams.” Hyoujou added. “I don’t think we could have gotten in if we tried, much less gotten near them.”
Atsuya, who didn’t have a response to their legitimate reasoning, just huffed and crossed his arms.
“My first point still stands, it’s not like we’re going to be gone long!”
In truth, he wasn’t unhappy. If anything, he was beyond happy that they came to see him, even if it was partially out of obligation. His parents were busy and were only able to drop him off with some hugs and kisses before driving off to work, leaving him to fend for himself in the - surprisingly large - local airport.
Not that he was lost, of course.
But it had felt a little lonely, going through the check-in and getting his luggage tagged. He’d been a few steps away from walking through the gates that separated the reception and boarding areas when he’d heard the familiar - and loud - sound of Nae calling his name.
And thus, he came face to face with his teammates, and Nae’s tear-stricken face.
Why was she even crying anyway?
Watching her out of the corner of his eye, he turned to Someoka, who had an amused smile on his face.
“They just wanted to wish you a safe trip, isn’t that what friends do?” He said, and Atsuya glanced away, cheeks reddening a little.
“Well, yeah…” He mumbled. “Thanks, I guess.”
He pursed his lips to keep from smiling, seeing their cheerful and amused expressions. Then he blinked.
“Wait, “they”? What did you come here for then?” He said, and several pairs of eyes were now directed at Someoka, who sputtered slightly.
“Uh, I mean, the same, you know?” He said, looking this way and that to avoid meeting eyes with anyone. “But, yeah, I guess there was one thing I needed to ask…”
Atsuya grinned widely. There was only one thing that would get Someoka so flustered.
He was proven right when Someoka reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter.
“Ooh, old-school.” Sorano said, and Someoka groaned.
“Just- can you pass this on to Shirou?” Atsuya raised an eyebrow.
“You could just, you know, call him?”
“He’s in Russia, Atsuya.”
“You both have Line and I’m pretty sure they have internet in Russia.” His grin grew wider when Someoka sighed in frustration.
“... He hasn’t been responding to my messages.” He said finally, and there was a collection of “oooh”s from their group.
Atsuya had to admit, he felt a little bad now.
“He’s probably just busy with practice.” Kitami said. “He’s their main defender, after all.”
“Yeah, and hasn’t he been getting friendly with Raimon’s Hiura? He talked a lot about him last time he was in the team chat.”
“Ooooh, do you think he’s replacing Atsuya? He did say he was trying to get Hiura to call him “big bro” too!”
Atsuya rolled his eyes at Juka and Konko’s giggles. He knew Shirou was just interested because, according to him, Hiura was “like a human ice pack”, or whatever that meant. He’d have to see for himself if that kid’s skin was actually as cold as Shirou claimed he was. If it was true, then he wouldn’t be opposed to adding another member of the family…
But that was beside the point, and he was pretty sure Mabuka didn’t want them discussing kidnapping the member of a rival team in front of him.
They’d talk about it in Russia.
Tuning out the girls gossiping off to the side, he turned his attention to Nae, who had yet to say a word. The tears had stopped now, but she was still looking at Atsuya with a mix of hurt and anger, which he didn’t completely understand. What was she mad about?
“Uh, you… got anything to add?” He asked. Normally she’d have joined the girls in their conversation, but she’d been strangely quiet this whole time.
In fact, addressing her seemed to change the mood of the whole group, who took a step back and watched carefully.
“... You didn’t say anything.” She said finally, and Atsuya raised a hand to scratch his head.
“Pretty sure I did? Like, last night. I texted the group chat that I was leaving today-”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it!” Nae interrupted, causing Atsuya to jump. “You should have told us sooner! We could have prepared a bunch of stuff and thrown a goodbye party-”
“Wait, goodbye?! It’s only going to be like a month!”
“-and we could have gotten a cake from that shop you showed me before, and spent the whole day playing with you before you had to leave! But you didn’t let us!”
… When she called him out like that, he could see why she was mad. He’d gotten the invitation only a few days ago though, so there was barely enough time for himself and his parents to prepare for his departure. He didn’t have time to think about his teammates, who would be informed by their coach and could watch their matches online.
He thought it would be fine.
Apparently Nae thought otherwise. And she was still shouting.
“Okay, I get it!” He said hurriedly, if only because people were starting to stare. “Uh, how about this? When we get back, we’ll help you throw a big welcome back party! You, me bro, and the rest of the team, I guess-”
“Hey!”
“-and when I get there, I’ll call you! I’ll even text you every day, because I know how to use Line and connect to the internet, unlike Someoka here.”
“ Hey .”
Ignoring the annoyed look Someoka was giving him and the snickers coming from their teammates, he watched Nae hesitantly.
Slowly, her face began to brighten, until the tears had all but evaporated from the sunshine practically radiating from her smile.
He didn’t want to know why he made that comparison, but it was the only way to describe the phenomenon.
“Really? You’re sure? No backsies?” She squealed, already hopping in place. Atsuya backed away slightly.
“Absolutely. No backsies. Bro will be happy about it too, he loves your parties.”
In a very “I was forced to be here against my will because Mabuka said ‘you reap what you sow’” way, but he would be supportive nonetheless. Atsuya just had to talk him into it and make sure he didn’t dig himself a hole seven feet below snow again.
Just when Nae looked about ready to lunge at him, there was a chime sound, and the announcer’s voice called out Atsuya’s flight and boarding time.
“Okay, that’s me, gotta go before I’m stuck here in Japan with you losers!” He said, grinning at the jeers and boos that comment earned him.
“Make sure not to fall into a hole in the snow!” Someone called out, and he jogged in place as he shouted back “As long as bro’s not digging any again!” which earned him a few laughs.
Just when he was approaching the gate - he’d stepped away when the others arrived so as not to block the way - he heard Nae call out again.
“Atsuya! You forgot something!”
Vaguely, he knew he didn’t, he had everything packed. But the second announcement of his flight and the panic that came with it forced him to turn around, if only to keep from being held up any longer. Behind him, Nae was approaching quickly.
“What did I-”
He was cut off by the weight of an entire middle school girl barreling into him, nearly knocking him over and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He barely managed to right himself and awkwardly pat her on the back a few times, while she squeezed his shoulders one more time before letting go.
“Your goodbye hug! Can’t let you leave the country without it!”
He sputtered, but she was already running back to the others, who he could barely see through the crowd but was sure were smirking at him.
He paused.
“Like I said, it’s not “goodbye”!”
He ignored the amused smiles the flight attendants gave him on the way in.