Chapter Text
Standing on the bunk bed ladder, Kenya reached across the pillow to fluff up Zaizen’s freshly dried hair. He definitely was not restraining himself from brushing Zaizen’s hair off his forehead and running a finger along his eyebrow or some other soft nonsense like Yuushi would have done. “Get some rest, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Zaizen rolled over to face the wall, his tired equivalent to a “good night,” and Kenya left, strolling back to his own room with more energy than the day’s training should have left him.
What was wrong with teammates, and doubles partners, for that matter, visiting each other’s rooms? No matter that one of the pair was an ornery thing and seemingly resented the disruptions posed by the other’s restless presence in his room, and they hadn’t been that close before anyway. Kenya was just trying to be a good senpai, keep the guy company, and maybe push him to grow a little, not only in tennis but in befriending his roommates. He was so lost in his own denial that he didn’t notice said roommates peering around the corner until the obnoxious one whispered a little too loudly, “he’s gone!” and the cat lover thumped him on the back. The martial artist - that must be why he had the best manners - bowed his head as Kenya bid them good night.
As much as he loved his darling iguana, sometimes he wanted to lavish attention on something that could at least vocalize to him, if not reciprocate. Being away from family and non-tennis schoolmates was rough, so why shouldn’t he try to get closer to the people around him? He had been trying very hard for weeks, reading Zaizen’s blog and leaving actual comments, even if they were just indignant exclamations, chatting with Shiraishi about beetles, letting Zaizen eat way too many of his snacks without once eating Zaizen’s snacks in revenge, listening to Yuuji ramble on and on about love, making sure Zaizen was not fighting with his roommates, tolerating Yuushi’s inane novel reviews during lunch, asking Zaizen how he was doing…
Too bad he wasn’t getting much in return.
~
It had all started some days ago when Kenya chanced upon his cousin relaxing on a bench, nobody else in sight, and he took the opportunity to join. He couldn’t stand the silence, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak either, so he swung his legs, scuffing the ground and stalling for time.
Apparently psychic, Yuushi spoke first. “First that spiny lizard, and now your little hedgehog. You’re asking to get poked.”
“What do you mean, my little hedgehog?! As if that jumping bean is any nicer. I don’t even know where to start with you--”
“Oh, Kenya.” Yuushi sighed. “Why am I surrounded by idiots?” It was not a question.
“Don’t give me that rhetorical BS! I’m trying to get an honest answer here.”
“There are a lot of things that people don’t like to say directly, but here’s where I make an exception: matters of the heart.”
Kenya groaned. “Not again. Why is everything romance this and romance that? Life is not one of your trashy books.”
“I’m serious, you know. It’s called having a crush.”
What the hell did that mean? Kenya thought back to all the times he’d enthusiastically thrown an arm around Zaizen and chatted him up and how the kid had frozen up at first but never shoved him off. He might have made some comment, smart ass that he was, but he never tried to skulk away or shove Kenya off. So they were getting along, so what? It was basic skinship. Thinking about someone all day every day and trying to be as nice to them as possible in the hopes of receiving even a scrap of positive attention was normal. Yuuji had told him so. He did not have a big crush on his little teammate, no way, no how.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to read one of my trashy novels. If you want something to help with your, uh, situation, I have plenty of recommendations.” Yuushi sauntered off and Kenya remained a benchwarmer.
~
Hiyoshi and Zaizen were planning to walk into town after a relatively light day of practice, the sun having come out and warmed the air. They stood at the edge of the courts, finalizing their route, when they heard footsteps hurrying toward them. It was Kenya, a bundle under one arm, waving at them with the other.
“You left this on the bench. If Speedy needs his heat lamp, you need your jacket!” Without another word, he snapped open the bundle of green and yellow and threw it around Zaizen’s shoulders. He would be the reliable senpai for once, and the thought made him grin.
“Are you my mother?” Zaizen rolled his eyes. “I think I can take care of myself.”
“I’m going to buy food for Speedy. Maybe I’ll see you around!” Used to being brushed off by the ungrateful bastard, Kenya rushed away, a man on a mission.
Zaizen curled his hand around the hem of the jacket, muttering barely audible, “stupid.” Hiyoshi refrained from commenting and suggested that they leave.
Upon reaching town, they poked about various shops, with Hiyoshi patiently waiting while Zaizen took an obscene amount of photos and notes of seemingly everyday things, for who knew what purposes, possibly nefarious. At last, they went to their favorite place for snacks, bought way too much junk, and settled on a bench in a quiet area. They ate in peaceable silence until Hiyoshi could bear it no longer.
“So, what was all that about?”
“What was what about?” Zaizen feigned ignorance.
“We may not be the brightest of bulbs, but even Kirihara has noticed something between you and your senpai. You might think it’s a coincidence that you have so much alone time with him, but the truth is, we’re leaving you two alone on purpose. It’s kind of awkward otherwise.”
“I have many senpai and no idea to which one you are referring.” If even those three had their suspicions, what about all those with more brains and observation skills? Zaizen didn’t dare imagine what would happen if Koharu found out. He pretended to calmly examine his nails.
“Listen, let me be straight with you. Well, not exactly, but you know. Who goes around putting a jacket on peoples’ shoulders? I could excuse the hanging off of you and ruffling your hair and letting you steal his snacks and stalking your blog…”
Zaizen stared at the table in a mild panic, his usual quick wit gone, and did not offer any clarification.
“We’re friends, right?” Hiyoshi offered after what was an awkward silence even for them. “It’s okay.” He stood and cleaned up after them both, letting his friend absorb the implications of everything they had just discussed. “Now, do you want to gather more blog content or can we go back?”