Archive of Our Own

Seeing her classmate Itadori Yuuji get on the field for the first time was breathtaking. 

Megumi already fell hard, for an entire year really. But the girl's attitude and poise was unmatched. Seeing her able to truly play a sport was amazing. Outwardly Megumi’s amazement didn't show. She merely looked mildly impressed by the girl during tryouts and nothing more than that. 

It was a well known fact that Yuuji excelled in any physical activity. Even if you didn’t already know her, anyone could make that assumption upon first glance easily. She had quad muscles already qualified to be on the soccer team, and strong arms. On warm days, normally the girls wore skirts and short t-shirts as a variation of their uniform so Yuuji’s athleticism was on full display.

Megumi herself, wasn’t as feminine as Yuuji, but not as masculine as her cousin Maki. She didn’t prefer skirts, but when it was hot, she enjoyed to wear them. She preferred pants to skirts when weather permitted, simply because she never felt like shaving. 

Apparently, when Maki was a freshman, girls ‘violated’ the rules if they wore pants. Maki thought this was stupid and rightfully fought for it and set a precedent by wearing pants no matter the weather her entire first year. They amended the rules and Maki got what she wanted. 

If you go to an all-girls school, chances were that you were going to run into some lesbians or bisexuals, and Maki was one-hundred percent an out and open lesbian. Megumi…wasn’t nearly as confident in her sexuality to make it known to others, but she knew she liked girls. 

After all, her first crush was Itadori Yuuji in the ninth grade. 

Yuuji looked like she belonged in skirts. She was the ideal feminine archetype. If this was a co-ed school, straight boys would be all-over her. 

She kept herself looking nearly perfect all the time. Megumi wondered if it was completely effortless. That long pink hair of hers reached past her elbows when it was down. She styled it every day of the week and said she’s never cut her hair short her entire life. Braids, pigtails, ribbons or straight or wavy, Megumi found herself admiring that effort. Even in a ‘messy’ bun it was picture perfect. It just had to be a dedicated effort.

For today’s tryouts, Yuuji had a high-pony during school and then converted it to a bun, sticking a pencil through it. Megumi could never figure out to make those stay when running around. 

Megumi could do without a bun  for tryouts since her hair wasn't nearly as long as Yuuji’s. She knew she couldn't get her thick black hair that long if she tried. She cut her hair in layers, framing her face. When she woke up, it looked completely wild before styling it. Some days she didn’t feel like doing all that so she’d simply put her hair with a claw clip to secure it in place and leave it there the entire day.  

Tsumiki, her older half-sister was well-adept in everything ‘womanly’ and opted to part knowledge onto Megumi. Teaching her how to use the flat-iron, makeup, all her period information. Tsumiki was both older sister and somewhat of a mother figure in some areas. There was a short period of time when it was just them after all. 

But just because she knew all of these things didn’t make her want to use this knowledge. But she ended up doing so, maybe in a subconscious effort to match Yuuji’s energy (as much as she could anyway) she wanted to be noticed, but never wanted to approach in that first year. 

She longed to just be her friend, but Yuuji had plenty of those, and they were so different…so she didn't pursue it, simply looking from afar during their gym class and now it seemed soccer tryouts.

✦

The year settled into a warmer October than usual. The trees were all still very alive and green, and Megumi found it fine to wear a light jacket even in the mornings when heading to class. Though Gojo always had something to say about it. Tsumiki would say something like "Don't complain if you get cold!" Megumi never would, and never did.

"Good luck at soccer practice." Tsumiki smiled, before handing her the lunch she made herself. Megumi could never tell her she didn't need to have made anything for her. Tsumiki didn't always have the time for it, but seemed to make time anyway. Which she very much appreciated. 

Tsumiki was an aspiring chef going to culinary school so she would insist if Megumi refused.

"It's just tryouts. You can’t say practice we don’t even know if I’ll make the team.”

“Come on Megumi, you will.”

After the school day was over, she headed to Nanami's office just to check exactly when tryouts were. The flyer was not specific whatsoever and very poorly designed with the school colors navy and red absolutely just chaotically used. An eyesore, really.

Then, right in front of her was Yuuji herself in what seemed to be the gym uniform. At that moment, Megumi’s mind could only reach one conclusion. 

She must also be here for tryouts.

This was an opening. A chance to talk. Ask her if she was actually here for tryouts, or maybe she never changed out of her gym uniform from third period. 

Instead, the opportunity was passing, and Megumi froze in place, not about to think of a single thing she could say to her. This would be Yuuji’s first impression of her essentially, and here she was a deer in headlights. It was as if every single word in her vocabulary evaporated. 

When she finally mustered the courage to speak, all she could say was “Hey–” 

Before getting interrupted by someone who wanted to speak to Yuuji. That interaction maybe lasted a few seconds, and Megumi couldn’t discern the expression on Yuuji’s face when their eyes met before the moment to speak was gone.

The girl who came to talk to Yuuji was short with bright blue hair, also in the gym uniform. She took Yuuji away from Megumi only a short distance away to tell her something.

The two head to the locker rooms, which was Megumi’s next course of action anyway since Nanami wasn’t in his office. She was going to assume tryouts were right after school. She followed after them while also trying not to look like she was ‘following.’ The two don’t even notice Megumi trailing behind them so that effort was unnecessary. 

She keeps her bag on one shoulder ready to take it off when she enters the locker room. 

Some of the girls were already changing. Some were changing out of gym clothes, they must have had gym last. Megumi takes out her clothes she wore earlier that day to change into them.

Changing in front of other people always made her feel strange, so she went to an unoccupied corner and quickly took of her shirt and pants to replace them. She comes to the center to see Miwa and Yuuji sitting on the bench speaking. 

There was enough room for Megumi to sit on the next bench over to put on her shoes. She couldn’t help but hear their conversation.

“I went to ask Coach Nanami when tryouts were. Just in case I changed into my uniform before my last class ended in the bathroom.”

She’s already calling him Coach?

“You just did that to get out of the last six minutes of Algebra,” Miwa comments, and Megumi isn’t looking at the two of them but there seems to be a silent exchange via body language because Miwa laughs lightly.

"It's not your fault you didn’t know when tryouts were. There was a misprint so like half the flyers had the wrong design without the times on it. I wanted to find you so you didn’t miss it.”

Megumi would argue all the schools posters were the "wrong" design but that would just be her opinion. Clearly some student was working on them (and not caring).

"Are you here for tryouts too?" Yuuji asks, Megumi wonders how close friends they are. As far as she knows, the blue-haired girl, Miwa is a year older than them. Do they have a class together?

“Sort of? I’m not trying to make the team, I’m here for Momo. She said she wouldn’t come if me or Mai didn’t. Mai can’t get dirt under her fingernails without throwing a fit, so I came instead. There’s limited spots since current players have yet to graduate.”

That name conjures a face in Megumi’s mind. Mai was Maki’s twin who Megumi’s barely interacted with despite being cousins on her father’s side. Megumi’s first impression of Mai was that she was self-important, but that was when she was 11 though. 

Megumi knows Maki more only because she likes to come over to their house sometimes. She’ll hang out with her, or with the twins. Megumi knows there’s something more than just ‘wanting to stay over for the night’ but she never presses, Gojo and Geto would never say no so they make space for her whenever she chooses.

This tells her that Miwa must be a second year to know Momo and Mai. Based on her statement they must be friends.

"I think you should at least try even if you don’t want to be on the team," Yuuji is here trying to lift up what is essentially her competition. "Who else do you think is here for tryouts?" 

"Uhmm..." Miwa seems to think, looking around. Megumi’s back was turned to them, so she can’t tell this, and almost jumps when she hears her own name.

"Megumi definitely."

She wasn't staring, eavesdropping or anything but she still felt like she was doing something wrong, just by listening in. Not that the conversation was private or sensitive, being caught was still nerve-racking anyway.

"Megumi?" Yuuji asks, and Megumi's heart sinks of course the girl doesn't know her. She's a nobody. Someone who barely speaks to anyone at all. "She's in my gym class, you really think she's here for tryouts?" 

The statement isn't judgemental, Megumi can see why Yuuji would think that she wasn't. It's not like she's giving her all during their indoor volleyball games. It's just that she's not the biggest fan of volleyball, she likes running on grass more than the squeaky gym floor, and soccer doesn't entirely depend on your place on the floor, you can move around way more freely than you can in volleyball, or at least that’s her experience.

Megumi decides to insert herself into this conversation, since she was mentioned, so she turns to face them and Yuuji glanced her way just now. It would be weirder if she pretended she didn't hear anything they were saying at this point. The locker room wasn’t as loud as usual since most have cleared out, save for the people here for tryouts, like the three of them.

"Yeah I'm here for the soccer tryouts." 

Megumi says simply, confirming that yes she was listening, and no she wasn't upset they thought she was just a total wallflower. 

"You like soccer?!" Yuuji's eyes light up, and Megumi is completely taken back by the enthusiasm. What. 

"Yes, uh I played with my cousin and other friends all the time." This is a girls' school so Toge and Yuuta couldn't exactly play on the team alongside Maki. If Megumi does make it, she'll be sure to let them know though. 

"You have friends?" Miwa says in that shocked jokingly– but also not joking —kind of way some girls do. Megumi wasn't bothered by it, if anything they were satisfied alone with the look Yuuji gave them questioning why Miwa just said that at all. 

As if saying Why are you being rude? With just her eyes.

"Sorry I just don't see you talk...to anyone," Miwa rectifies, when she finds out her popular underclassman doesn't go for that type of behavior. 

"We've only been here a month," Megumi says, but it's only an argument for people like her who take weeks minimum to make a new friend at a new place. This did not work for Yuuji Itadori who made a new acquaintance practically everyday, and even managed to squeeze in people who aren't even in the same classes or year as her. I.e Miwa.

"I get that," Yuuji says even though it makes no sense to her how she could. "When I was in middle school, I had a hard time making friends too, I was pretty happy when starting high school that people are very nice here." 

They aren't nice. Megumi thinks to herself not wanting to burst Yuuji's bubble. You're just pretty.

Gorgeous , actually. The only reason Megumi could think Yuuji's tale making any sense is if in middle school she wasn't pretty (how?) or maybe deemed weird, so now that she came to a new school, people don't know a thing about her and only judge her by what they do know. How she looks. 

(Honestly, in a way, Megumi did that too didn’t she?)

Megumi wasn't ugly, but she could definitely be considered weird. The tendency to listen to music all the time to avoid people talking to her, the short clipped sentences and sharp words. 

Yuuji was personable and polite, and Megumi was reserved and kept to herself. 

The two even looked like opposing forces. With Yuuji's dusty pink hair that looked way too healthy for pink hair, and Megumi's natural black which she straightened whenever she wasn't lazy in the morning. Yuuji was more forward and put together, Megumi was kind of just fucking winging it and it always, always worked. 

Gojo said something about being "gifted" to which Megumi equated to "more work" and denied signing up for honors classes. Tsumiki asked her why she turned it down and she couldn't give a real reason why so she only shrugged, and moved on. 

"Really?" She can't help the minimal sarcasm that seeped into her voice. People weren't nice here, even the girl right next to them was an example, she just tried to say Megumi had no friends as if she knows anything about her life at all. (Okay maybe it was a little true but still.)

"Yeah," Yuuji says again, that smile doesn’t cease or falter, "I like to think I'm pretty nice maybe you should hang out with me?" 

Megumi is so glad she doesn't get a chance to answer, because one girl is yelling for the girls ‘here for tryouts’ to head out into the field now. 

She heads out, leaving her bag in a locker, and taking her water and phone outside. Hopefully Gojo listened to her and didn't come all the way here to see her tryout that would be pretty embarrassing if she doesn't make the team. Nevermind how he'd tease her about it.

Nanami tells them to use the soccer balls on the field and do some drills for now, he wanted to give some more time for more people to show up. Megumi then looks around and sees there are only eight, it's still enough but he understands wanting to give everyone a chance, and making up for the initial flyer confusion. 

They disperse, and Megumi grabs the nearest ball, she just simply rolls it with the tip of her cleats back and forth, and seeing the others run around she's not doing nearly as much work as them. She thinks the effort their putting into drills right now is a bit much. This is before the actual tryouts. What if Nanami makes them play a mock game? She's not trying to run herself ragged running across the field for—

Her train of thought stops abruptly. One of those people 'running themselves ragged' is indeed Yuuji. Megumi can only stop and wonder about her physical prowess because it truly made no sense how someone her age could be this physically gifted. 

Yuuji was fast, faster than anyone else on the team by a long-shot, and Megumi knew instantly they would demolish tryouts. 

Megumi would be a good technical player, and Yuuji was by far more of a physical addition. 

She was fast, sure, but not carelessly so. She kept her ball in range enough to always catch up to it when she needed to. Megumi sees her run halfway across the field to strike and score a goal. Granted it was going to make it in anyway since no one was there to block, but she couldn't help but admire the form and effort put into it anyway. Would she put this effort in a real game? Was she even breaking a sweat right now? It sure didn’t look like it.

Nanami blows his whistle, Megumi watches Yuuji as she returns the group quickly.

"For this season's tryouts, you're going to have to play against each other in teams of three, and don't worry about scoring or anything, though you should try, I just want to see how you all play and work together even though you don't know each other." 

Megumi instantly locked eyes with Yuuji. Only by coincidence really since she was looking right at her the whole time. When they first got here, they were instructed to just work on drills, and Megumi was mostly average at that.

"Do you want to work with me?" Yuuji asked her directly, which if Megumi said no it would just be a plain lie. 

"Yeah I don't mind," Understatement of the year, why did she have to say this as though this was the worst possible outcome? Maki was always saying she needed to work on her resting bitch face. ( ‘It’s genetic have you seen any photos of my biological father?’ )

"My name's Yuuji by the way," She says, extending a hand, which Megumi finds more than a little weird, but she shakes it anyway.

"I know," She answers, but that's only because she paid attention when someone calls her name, not because they had met before or anything. 

"We are in Miss Shoko's biology class together too," Yuuji says as if just putting it together, "You sit in the back so I don't see you often."

Megumi holds back the ' I see you all the time ' comment. She sees Yuuji every biology class since she sits diagonally two seats away. 

Sometimes when Yuuji is thinking, her eyes look up as if she's looking in her head. Pen on her lips and when she gets it, her eyes brighten and she starts to rush to write it down like the thought will escape her completely if she doesn’t.

So yes, Megumi already knew Yuuji Itadori, the prettiest girl in her year, who she couldn't dare try to talk to. The girl who already had friends, and Megumi knew she couldn't fit in with them, so she didn't even try. 

She'll settle for the occasional smiles in the hall, and the 'can you pass this paper down,' in the classroom. A brush of the hand, and a genuine smile was enough. Looking from afar never upclose. It's been a month since the year started, and she was perfectly content with just that. Until she saw Yuuji in that soccer uniform and realized it was the greatest thing she's ever seen.

"Coach Nanami, sir?" 

Megumi hears someone say and she turns in the direction of that voice. It's Momo Nishimiya, who is also a year older. Taking it in, Megumi realizes the group was mainly freshmen, though her and Yuuji were sophomores. (Megumi missed tryouts last year, and Yuuji didn’t even know the school had a soccer team.) 

Nishimiya was kind of short so Megumi didn't even notice she was at tryouts. Especially since she was captivated by a certain someone else. 

"Do you really think this is good idea for tryouts? I think you should see our individual skills."

Nishimiya says this as though it's a helpful suggestion, and Megumi already knows what Nanami will say. She tries not to roll her eyes at their tone though. It's condescending.

"Individual skills don't matter when soccer is a team sport. I know you're probably worried since there are only three spots available for the team, but I am judging you all impartially."

Megumi already knew she didn't have a guaranteed spot just because the Coach knows her dads, or she's related to someone already on the team. She didn't really care about the possibility of being rejected either. ‘Cause then Maki will be off her back about it now. But now she saw Yuuji Itadori who is a fitness goddess and is way cuter up-close, so now Megumi has to be on the team. Because she knows Yuuji will make it.

If that means she has to play a little aggressively then so be it.

The names of the other students around escape her. All she knows is Miwa and Nishimiya. Though with Miwa’s bright blue hair everyone knew of her. She was kind of hard to miss in the halls. Even if she wasn’t just here to support her friend, Megumi was sure she wouldn’t make the team because she’s the clumsiest person Megumi’s ever seen. Megumi is sort of a people watcher, and Miwa has tripped and fallen, broken things, and more over the course of just last year to give her enough evidence to make this claim. 

"Who else should we ask?" Yuuji asks and turns to look around, everyone else seems to be in teams already. Megumi counted earlier so she already knows there's enough for an even amount of teams of three. There were twelve people when tryouts began. 

Turning as well, Megumi sees a girl with short copper-brown hair already approaching them. Nobara Kugisaki, a brash freshman Megumi has never spoken too but has heard her voice many many times already. Especially since, her and Yuuji were already friends. If Megumi had to guess, Nobara was Yuuji’s best friend.

"You guys are a team of two right now?"

Megumi nods, while Yuuji says, “Nobara?! Why are you here, you said you didn’t care for soccer.”

“I said I didn’t care for soccer, not that I couldn’t play at least somewhat. Remember, I’m supposed to be a multi-talented prodigy.”

“Right, right,” Yuuji seems more relaxed and happy, and Megumi feels officially like something tore through her. 

“What’s your name?” Nobara asks her.

“Fushiguro Megumi.” She answers, like it’s attendance in homeroom. 

“Nice to meet you, I’m Nobara. We will be the best team here.” 

Her confidence is said so unashamed that Megumi has no choice but to respect it. Clearly, this girl is used to winning. 

“Though, I only decided to come because the girl I like is on the team.”

This information hits Megumi fast. Yuuji only looks slightly surprised, but Megumi would guess more at the admittance of what she’s actually here for.

"Maybe you want to inform Megumi who they are?” Yuuji leads, looking at Megumi, her pink-tinted face makes Megumi shy away slightly. “She’s probably not familiar.”

Yuuji directly addresses Megumi when she lowers her voice to say, “She tells pretty much everyone she comes into contact with. Shameless, don’t you think?” 

Megumi doesn’t answer. Maybe some part of her wishes she could be that bold. 

“I have a crush on Maki Zenin. She’s perfect, gorgeous, smart, brilliant, hot—”

“Alright! Alright!” Yuuji says, “Once she begins, it’s like a list she checks off.”

Megumi would have spit out her water if she was drinking any. She stops herself from saying, ' my cousin? ' super loudly. 

“Isn’t she an upperclassman?” 

“So? It makes her even more attractive really…” She says wistfully. 

Yuuji lightly pushes Nobara, it’s an affectionate gesture. “I guess we will just have to win then. Maybe you’ll get her attention?”

Yuuji puts out her hand for the other two to get into a team formation. They both think it's a little bit corny, but Yuuji is so enthusiastic about this team that they can't help but give into the energy as well.

All four teams go to opposite sides of the field. Nanami gets the ball in the middle and says the rules. Obviously don't touch the ball with your hands, don't hog the ball, and don't kick anyone in the face or try to trip anyone. Megumi looks toward the other teams and they seemed to be a little annoyed with this rundown. Everyone knew it already.

Yuuji is practically bursting with energy, rolling on the heels of her feet and staring at the ball like Megumi's husky, Demon, just wanting to get it and nothing else. It was endearing.

When the whistle blows she's the first to it, rushing like a superhuman, and Megumi can't even keep up, Nobara stays closer to the goal, with her eyes on them. Miwa tries and fails to trip Yuuji, Megumi is sure it wasn't her idea, and gives her a glare anyway. Stupid bitch.

"Megumi!" She's shocked to hear her name called because she doesn't remember giving it out. It also wasn't Yuuji who said it, and Yuuji has the ball.

Yuuji passes the ball very well, and it lands in front of Megumi just before her foot goes forward to kick it. Nobara gets in place quickly, and Megumi sees an opening, but also a challenge. If she kicks the ball, will it get to Nobara in time or will she just be giving it to another team? 

Megumi chose to shoot anyway, and Nobara gets the ball with her knee, hitting it in the air and it falls forward. She kicks it then and it's an easy win. Though they weren't supposed to be caring too much about scoring goals, clearly they showed they had very good teamwork already.

The game ends with their team scoring the most goals, Yuuji is the unmentioned MVP. The other teams weren't communicating well, and Nishimiya even yelled at Miwa for not being able to stop Megumi from stealing her pass. 

The whistle blows for the second and final time, and Megumi is panting, Nobara is as well, and Yuuji doesn't even seem to have exhausted herself half as much. What the hell? 

"You all did very well today, I'll let you know who made it on the team tomorrow. I'll put a paper on my office door. Thanks to everyone who came today, and if you don't make the team don't worry..." 

Megumi tunes him out when Yuuji starts to speak to her.

"Megumi you did amazing," She says in awe as if she wasn't the amazing one. Running so effortlessly and staying with the ball easily. One might think she was already on the team. There was no way she wasn't one of the three spots. 

"Only because you got ahold of the ball in the beginning and most of the times after..." Unable to accept a compliment, truly it makes her so shy. 

Nobara isn't having any of it, "Just take the compliment, you did do good, and you know how to pass. I wasn't running any closer, so I'd miss my shot if you weren't decent."

"If we don't make the team then Coach is making a mistake."

"There's only three spots, he can't pick all of us who played the same team."

"Why not? We were the best."

Megumi can't even deny it. When Miwa tried playing dirty she couldn't even do it right. When they did score a goal it was never with as skill as when they did it.

"See you got nothing more to say," Nobara taunts, and Yuuji tells her she shouldn't act like they know for sure already. She decided that the two were too nice, and a little boring and went to the locker rooms to change. Megumi figured she'd start walking too since she was sweaty as hell running around for an hour. 

"Do you want to maybe hang out sometime...?" Yuuji asks when Megumi is about to go, "I feel like you'd be a good person to hang out with."

"...Thanks?"

"No I didn't mean it like—sorry, I just want to know you more, you're only in that one class with me, and this is the longest conversation we've ever had..." She starts to look past Megumi. She's clearly nervous and Megumi doesn't know how to react, she's never seen Yuuji act this way around people. Was she really intimidating? Maybe Maki really wasn't exaggerating.

"I would love to hang out with you." 

She means it, truly. There's nothing else she'd like to do more, but she's also worried she'll do or say something stupid or mean accidentally and ruin everything because her social life consisted of only her family and her pets. 

"Okay," Yuuji says as though she's relieved. "Good! Can I get your number? We can work something else later, I should get home soon."

"Uh yeah, pass me your phone," Megumi takes Yuuji's phone in her hand, and not surprising, the home screen is some sort of delicious-looking food, in the back of her mind, she remembers Yuuji saying something about cooking. Was that something she made, or just something she ate once?

Putting in her number and name as 'Megumi Fushiguro' plain as ever. When Yuuji takes the phone back, Megumi can't help but notice she's placed a blue heart next to her name. 

Something about that small detail just makes her heart clench. 

When Yuuji puts her name into her phone, she puts her name with a star, and Megumi didn't even think of changing that. 

"I'll talk to you later," Yuuji says waving, taking her bag, and heading to her bike at the edge of the field. 

"I'll be waiting on you." Megumi answers, seeing Yuuji turn and look away without another word. 

✦

It's no surprise that Yuuji Itadori is the first name on the list on Nanami's door. It is a surprise when she sees Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki right under it. It's hard not to smile at Momo Nishimiya's frustrated cries of 'favoritism' and 'nepotism' or whatever 'isms' she can come up with. 

Yuuji comes up to her in the hallway and hugs her in celebration. The act of which completely takes Megumi out. She's not used to physical contact from strangers in this way. Not even Maki or Tsumiki hug her all that often. So to get a hug from the girl she's absolutely enamoured with, throws her for a surprise. When Yuuji lets go she's stunned, and Yuuji apologizes for invading her personal space. 

"Sorry Megumi, I won't do that again I was just excited," Yuuji says laughing it off and Megumi feels the need to reassure her and tell her it wasn't that big of a deal. 

"No, I don't mind, just...don't ambush me next time?"

"Got it," Yuuji nods glad to have settled it. "I'll see you during practice?"

"Yes, I'll see you," Megumi smiles, seeing how the girl practically skips away. How did she deal with not talking to her? She truly doesn't know.

✦

“Ha!” Nobara says, showing her the photo she took of the paper on Nanami’s door. “I did what you asked. Now will you go out with me?”

“Nope.” Maki says, with a smirk, looking at Nobara with a rather devious expression. “I said I’d think about it if you made the team.”

“Come on.” Nobara rolls her eyes, taking her phone out of Maki’s hands. “That’s not fair and you know it.”

“Really didn’t expect you to try this hard. It’s cute.” Maki says, knowing exactly what she was doing. “Honey, all that rage over me ?”

“You’re so evil.” Nobara says, brown eyes still locked onto Maki’s own golden. 

“And if you didn’t like that would you be here in front of me flaunting your little accomplishment? You love it.”

Nobara flushes red , furiously, turning away. She’s practically stomping to Nanami’s office to withdraw her name from the team. She didn’t want to play anyway, she just wanted to prove to Maki she could make it if she tried. 

‘It’s cute.’ Maki’s voice rings in her ears like a mantra almost. 

“If you want to impress me, try harder than that next time, okay?” 

A tilt of her head looks like the appraisal of a predator and Nobara wasn’t one to back down.