Chapter Text
It wasn’t often Karasuno received a new student half way through the school year, in fact, it hadn’t been done in years. It was generally expected that any student could complete their year of education before switching schools but it seemed this particular student had some sway with the education system. Whether it be money or intelligence that bent the rules so thoroughly, no one could tell.
If he had come from wealth it wouldn’t have been surprising, his upright posture as he marched into Ennoshita’s classroom that Monday morning exuded a ‘proper’ upbringing. The teacher had been mid announcements when the blue haired teen stepped into the classroom, grinding the usual to a halt while he bowed lowly to the teacher and then again to the class, introducing himself a clear and confident voice.
“It’s nice to meet you Ryuugazaki, if you would sit in the seat in the back please. Next to Ennoshita.” Ennoshita raised a hand and waved, forcing a small polite smile to go with it when the other teen look particularly lost attempting to find his new desk.
Ryuugazaki dropped into the seat gracefully, pulling the bag to sit against his knees, his back ramrod straight against the back of his chair. Obnoxiously alert for a Monday morning.
Their teacher valiantly pressed onwards with the announcements, reading from the wilting paper before him while the students he addressed were much more invested in the strange movements of their new addition. He wasn’t shifting from the multiple eyes trained on him, simply staring at the teacher as though he was explaining the mysteries of the universe and not that pork buns would no longer be sold at the canteen on Wednesdays.
As the bell sounded, the teacher shifted to grab the books he had dropped on the desk earlier that morning on arrival, “Ennoshita!” He called as he did so.
“Yes, sir?”
“Take Ryuugazaki under your wing today, please. Introduce him to your club tonight, too.” Ennoshita nodded in response and turned to face the silent boy beside him, introducing himself. Ryuugazaki merely nodded in response, offering a slightest quirk of his lips that Ennoshita supposed would be an attempt at a smile. Ennoshita sat, staring at the blue haired teen awaiting a more acceptable response.
“Ryuugazaki Rei.” He finally said, “I prefer Ryuugazaki.”
Ennoshita nodded, “Good to know. Well, I’m in the volleyball club. Do you like volleyball?”
Ryuugazaki shrugged, “I’ve never seen it before. My family is more invested in the track and field events.”
“Ah, so you’re a runner?” Again Ennoshita received a moment of silence, Ryuugazaki pursed his lips and swallowed in a way that it might have been audible if the class was quieter.
“No.” He answered eventually, “I was a swimmer.”
“That would explain the shoulders.” Ennoshita grinned and Ryuugazaki choked out a laugh, a small smile gracing his face as the teacher slid open the door and greeted the class with a cheery wave.
“I’ll wait for you outside this classroom after school.” Ennoshita whispered to Ryuugazaki as the teacher had already begun to rattle off the assignments they had coming up, things Ryuugazaki was furiously scribbling down. Ryuugazaki only responded with a small nod which could have been to him or the teacher, Ennoshita couldn’t tell.
When the final bell rung, Ennoshita waited outside the classroom he had spent much of the day in, rubbing his eyes tiredly and trying to drown out the whining voice that was building up strength against going to practice that night. He’d already waved Kinoshita and Narita on, explaining the new student situation thoroughly during lunch when they’d spotted the teen reading beneath a tree, somehow managing to avoid looking lonely.
Said new student hurriedly turned the corner, face a little flushed as he tugged his bag further up his shoulders. Ennoshita waved in his direction, catching his eyes hidden by a thick pair of bright red glasses.
“What’s got you so flustered?” Ennoshita asked as they walked together. The other teen was slightly taller than him and Ennoshita found himself having to walk a little faster than usual to keep up, despite the fact that Ryuugazaki had no idea where he was going judging by the faltering steps every time they approached a fork in the path.
“People are very…friendly here.” Ryuugazaki responded, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously while Ennoshita laughed.
“Who was it?” Ennoshita asked and Ryuugazaki shrugged, “They didn’t tell me their name.”
“Ah, sorry. What’d they look like?” Ennoshita tried again, cheeks flushing at little at his mistake.
“Um. Short, bright orange hair, really loud.” Ryuugazaki rambled off, eyes darting in every direction while they walked as though he was memorising their path.
Ennoshita nodded, smiling fondly, “That’s Hinata. He’s on the volleyball team.”
Ryuugazaki nodded, “He mentioned it.”
“Of course he did.”
As they approached the hall, the pair could already hear the squeaking signs of drills being run inside the gym, Ukai’s gruff voice calling out commands and the thumps and squeaks of shoes against polished floorboards as the team carried them out.
The pair slipped into the gym, Ukai merely gesturing for them to join the group. Ryuugazaki paused in the doorway, conflicted as to where he should be going. Ennoshita shoved him towards the managers, waving to Kiyoko who had already started walking towards them. By the time Ennoshita had regained his breath and the freedom to look for Ryuugazaki he found the other teen immersed in conversation with Kiyoko, nodding along to her every word and smiling more than Ennoshita had seen him smile all day. Kiyoko did have that affect.
“Eh? Who’s that talking to Kiyoko?” Tanaka grumbled, arms crossed tightly, forearms bulging. His teeth were grinding audibly and Ennoshita tapped him on the head lightly to distract him.
“It’s the new student, Ryuugazaki Rei. Don’t scare him.” Ennoshita replied, prepared to grab Tanaka by the collar if he decided to rush the new student and Kinoshita prepared to do the same with Nishinoya. Unfortunately there was no such guard dog on Hinata.
The enthusiastic first year bounded towards the much taller teen, calling out cheerily, “Rei! What are you doing here? I thought you said you don’t play volleyball!”
“I don’t.” Ryuugazaki answered, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, reluctantly turning away from the conversation he was having with Yachi and Kiyoko.
Hinata tilted his head in confusion, a muted hum warning others that the boy was about to burst with a barrage of questions if Ryuugazaki didn’t continue. Thankfully, he did. “Sensei asked Ennoshita to introduce me to his club.”
This seemed to sate the questions for a moment, but the allure of the new, mysterious student was too strong, “So, what sport do you play?”
Ryuugazaki let the question hang for a minute. He seemed to enjoy that, Ennoshita noted, letting suspense build. Or maybe he was just thinking. It was dramatic either way.
“I used to swim, and pole-vault.” Was Ryuugazaki’s stilted response, entirely unwilling to reveal any information about himself and only adding to the shrouded view people had already built up around him.
“Ah, the shoulders make sense now.” Daichi murmured to Suga who nodded and hid a grin.
Takeda, overhearing the short conversation, interrupted, “We have a swim team here, and they’re always open to new members. Not many people enjoy swimming competitively, it seems.”
Ryuugazaki shook his head urgently, “No! No, thank-you! That’s okay. I’m done with swimming. It’s…it’s not for me, anymore.” The silence that followed was heavy, dripping with something thick and toxic.
Tension? Perhaps.
The undeniable fact that their new addition had secrets, secrets he was clinging to with all he had? Almost certainly.