The Third Miya: Isuma

VII

Neither Atsumu nor Osamu put much effort into practice that day. Finally, Kita ordered them to go home and come back when everything was sorted out. Neither of them complained- or said anything, for that mattered.

A few minutes after they had left, Atsumu asked, "So how do we apologize to her?"

"It's not really an apology we have to give though, is it?" Osamu murmured. "We- we should've realized earlier about her."

"But we thought of it, didn't we!" Atsumu exclaimed. "We just didn't tell her about it!"

"That's the point!" Osamu grabbed his brother's arm, his eyes flaring. "She's shy, Tsumu! But that doesn't mean we just leave her alone! It was both of our mistakes. "

Atsumu pushed his brother back. "I know! Let's go home and just try and talk to her."

Osamu asked, "What if she doesn't talk to us?"

"We'll think about that later. Come on." Atsumu resumed walking, and Osamu shook his head and then followed.

<<Skip to When They Get Home>>

Atsumu and Osamu stepped inside and looked around: their mother was in the kitchen while their dad was reading a book. "Where's Suma-chan?" 

"She went to sleep a while ago... she must've been tired." Their mother shrugged and turned back to the stove. "Go get cleaned up and then come back for dinner."

"Sure." The two of them stopped in front of Isuma's room and opened the door. Her lights were off and she was in bed, asleep. Osamu closed the door. "She never goes to sleep this early." 

"Let's just leave her alone for now and talk to her tomorrow morning,"  Atsumu said. "Okay."

<<the next morning>>

"Hey, Suma-chan!" Atsumu knocked on her door early in the morning. Isuma hesitated before opening it. "What is it, Tsumu?"

"We're all going to hang out. You want to come?" Atsumu exclaimed. Isuma asked, "Who's 'we?'"

"Kita Senpai, Suna, Ginjima, and Akagi. Samu's coming too." Atsumu looked at her. "...do I have to?" She asked.

"It's either that or you stay home alone all day! Come on, it'll be fun!" He coaxed. Isuma sighed. "Okay, I'm coming."

She followed Atsumu downstairs, where Osamu was.  All three of them were wearing their normal gym clothes: Osamu and Atsumu had thrown on their volleyball team jackets over dark shirts and sweatpants. Isuma's clothes were smaller, and she didn't have a volleyball team jacket, so her arms were bare. "Hey, Samu, let's go!"

He pulled Isuma and Osamu out of the house enthusiastically. They had to run to catch up with him. "Slow down, Tsumu!!" Isuma exclaimed. Osamu grabbed his brother's arm before he could sprint off again. "We're meeting them here!"

They were in front of a busy street near a bus station. Suna and Kita, as always, were already there. "Hi, Captain. Suna."

"Where are the others?" Suna asked. "Probably on their way."

Kita noticed Isuma and smiled slightly. "Hey, Isuma-chan." 

She seemed flustered and hastily looked down. "...hi."

"Thanks for lending us your notes for the quiz." Suna glanced at her. Isuma's eyes lit up. "Did you pass?"

Atsumu exclaimed, "We all got scores over a 90!"

Kita told them, "Be thankful you have Isuma, or you wouldn't have gotten over a 30."

All three of them avoided Kita's gaze: he was right, but that didn't mean they had to admit it. Akagi and Ginjima ran over, saving them. "Kita Senpai! Suna- Isuma!! Thanks for helping us study! I got a 94!!"

"Good job, Gin." She nodded slightly, looking down. Kita glanced down the street. "That's all of us. Let's go."

Atsumu leaned over to Ginjima. "How much more emotionless can he be?"

"I don't want to find out." Ginjima glanced back at Isuma. "Did she even want to come, or did you drag her out?"

"I asked her!" Atsumu protested. "Did you apologize?"

"Um... not yet, but she doesn't seem that mad anymore, does she?" Atsumu glanced at Isuma too. Ginjima couldn't help himself and groaned. "Are you kidding me? Hey, Senpai!"

"Don't-" Atsumu tried to stop him, but Ginjima fell in beside Kita. "They still haven't apologized."

"You two are worse at interpersonal relationships than Kita is," Suna said. Kita laughed. "I'm not terrible at them, Suna. I just choose not to try. But you really need to talk to her."

Kita looked back at Isuma: she was talking about something with Osamu and actually seemed into the conversation. Kita's eyes narrowed: he was sure the others didn't notice, but, unlike the usual aura she gave out, right now she seemed perfectly relaxed and not shy at all. What are they talking about? What could make Isuma change that much, even if it's just for a second?

"Hey, Suna, Ginjima." Kita glanced at the two of them. "Yeah?"

"Do me a favor." He whispered something into their ears, who looked puzzled. Suna asked, "But why can't Atsumu and Osamu do it?"

"I need them for something else. Just for an hour, okay?" Kita glanced at Atsumu. "Can they take Isuma somewhere for a while?"

"Where?" he asked curiously. "I'll tell you later. Is it okay?"

"Sure." Atsumu shrugged. "Just do me a favor and pummel any guy who tries to get close to her."

"You got it. Isuma-chan!" Ginjima called. She and Osamu looked up. "Can you come with us somewhere?"

"...sure? Where are we going?" Isuma asked. Osamu glanced at Atsumu, who motioned to Kita. "Go with them, okay? Trust me on this." Kita looked at her. Isuma's cheeks turned pink briefly, but it faded in less than a second. "Right."

Osamu shrugged. "Fine. Where are we going, Senpai?"

"I'll tell you in a second." Kita glanced at Suna, Ginjima, and Isuma. "We'll meet you there in an hour, okay? Tell me how it goes. And take it seriously."

"Sure."

So, my friend gave me a great idea, and I have to start foreshadowing that now. Actually, I was going to do that earlier, but then I was like, "No, maybe it'll ruin the story." So I didn't. But then she gave me the same idea and I was like, heck, let's give it a shot! Because her ideas usually turn out good. So I trust her :>