The Third Miya: Isuma

XLIX

September 12th, 2021

So likee I looked at yall's responses about the second male lead, and I agree that Isuma has too much going on right now to be worrying about another guy as well. My original idea was to have someone like her LATER, like during college, when things are less complicated. 

Oh, and it's probably going to be Tamiko, bc I don't want to break Suna's heart. And I like their platonic friendship.

Isuma and the others were all cautious over the next few days, but the first she accidentally went somewhere by herself, she sorely regretted it afterward. 

It was just before practice; at the time, it had seemed like a small thing- running a small errand to the nearest convenience store didn't seem like a particularly dangerous task. Of course, if they had known they may have protested, but their coach wanted the meat buns to be a surprise.

So she went alone, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

The nearest convenience store wasn't very near at all- it was a good fifteen minutes away if someone was in a hurry- but the walk was relaxing and usually peaceful. Unless, of course, you were on the volleyball team. They had to run up and down the hills on the way to the store as practice, and it was a pain. Isuma had seen the state of the other second-years after running it ten times in a row; they hated it with a passion and would glare at the street every time they walked down it, as if the asphalt had somehow offended them.

The convenience store was oddly empty when Isuma arrived. Usually, it was crowded with students seeking a bite right after school, and the owners made a mint. At the moment, the only other people in there were two third-year girls.

The cashier looked up from his phone when Isuma entered. "Yes?"

"Um, I have an order. From Kurosu Sensei." Isuma held out the piece of paper to him; he glanced over it briefly before crumpling it up and tossing it aside. "It's ready. Give me a few minutes."

He vanished into a back room and returned briefly with a paper bag; Isuma gingerly took it and thanked the cashier. Before she could push open the door to leave, someone clapped their hand on her shoulder. "Excuse us."

She turned around: it was the third-years she'd noticed earlier. Only now they were accompanied by two young men; their uniforms were black and white, distinct to Inarizaki's. They were eyeing her beadily, like a boxer might look at their opponent before a match. The one who'd spoken to her was tall with long brown hair, while the shorter, blonde girl hovered in the background. "You're from Inarizaki, right?"

"...yes." Isuma cautiously replied, her eyes flicking back and forth between the four of them. The girls exchanged glances. "Good."

The tall girl moved so fast Isuma barely had time to react; the girl's hand missed her by mere milliseconds. Isuma couldn't regain her balance and crashed into the store's window. The cashier leaped to his feet. "Hey! No violence in my-"

"Shut it!!" The taller boy snapped. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Isuma, who had gotten to her feet. A few months ago, she may have been terrified, but now she was on guard. And the boy noticed. "Calm down, sweetheart, I don't have a bone to pick with you. Just do me a favor."

Isuma gripped her arm tightly, watching him. "What do you want?"

His eyes swept over her. "Do you know where the Miya brothers are?"

Her heart froze and she must've reacted physically in some way because the young man smiled. "Perfect. Tell me."

"What do you want with them?" She asked, her mind racing. He answered, "Nothing. It's their sister I'm looking for."