[An outburst he catches himself saying, catching his own tone and immediately pulling it back as quickly as it'd come out. It was true, though...he loved Kidou for all he'd done, all he'd accomplished, and for giving him a reason to stand on his own two legs again. A man he'd watched leave Teikoku more than once and leaving him behind to hold the fort in his place. And in that very same place...he'd found Fudou, another friend he found himself almost inseparable to...
Someone who also left Teikoku, and even Japan while leaving him still rooted here.
Fudou's words continue, and Sakuma falls into silence as he listens, having no more objections for the moment. There's idle stirring of his rice, listening to Fudou's harsh, but true words. Even Miyabino, who had always said it was Kidou's soccer, always looked to Sakuma when he said it. And Fudou's compliments hit him in much the same way.
It's confusing, and it makes his heart race just thinking about the idea that he had been a driving force for what Teikoku was. He'd always been so quick to default to giving Kidou the credit. He didn't mind it, he told himself. Kidou was the mastermind behind a lot of things both on and off the field. But maybe a small...small dark part of himself wished he would be the one who was praised.]
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[An outburst he catches himself saying, catching his own tone and immediately pulling it back as quickly as it'd come out. It was true, though...he loved Kidou for all he'd done, all he'd accomplished, and for giving him a reason to stand on his own two legs again. A man he'd watched leave Teikoku more than once and leaving him behind to hold the fort in his place. And in that very same place...he'd found Fudou, another friend he found himself almost inseparable to...
Someone who also left Teikoku, and even Japan while leaving him still rooted here.
Fudou's words continue, and Sakuma falls into silence as he listens, having no more objections for the moment. There's idle stirring of his rice, listening to Fudou's harsh, but true words. Even Miyabino, who had always said it was Kidou's soccer, always looked to Sakuma when he said it. And Fudou's compliments hit him in much the same way.
It's confusing, and it makes his heart race just thinking about the idea that he had been a driving force for what Teikoku was. He'd always been so quick to default to giving Kidou the credit. He didn't mind it, he told himself. Kidou was the mastermind behind a lot of things both on and off the field. But maybe a small...small dark part of himself wished he would be the one who was praised.]
Do you...really mean that?
[It slips out before he can stop himself.]