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[After he sends the message, he tells himself not to think about it any further. Sakuma may or may not send a reply back, but it wasn't anything he needed a response to; if the message got properly relayed to Kidou, their plans will go smoothly, and Kazemaru truly wasn't expecting or hopeful. Seeing Sakuma's name in his inbox had come with a startled leap of his heart, but that was about it.
And the second one, also, makes his breath hitch. His heart races. He hadn't been expecting a response. Excusing himself from the table he was sharing with Kabeyama and Kurimatsu, he steps out of the dining room into the hallway and flips his phone open, reading the message to himself.
He really doesn't know what he was worried for. Really, he should learn to be less jumpy. Maybe he could never fully forgive himself for what he did with the Aliea Meteorite, but what would Endou say if he heard that Kazemaru was being so nervous, taking so long to trust his current teammates?
(Endou would promptly smile and tell him he didn't have to make himself, and to play soccer with them, but that's besides the point.)]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta Message: If you're all right with it being me, I can go with you. If it's the one the guys were talking about during breakfast today, I use it pretty regularly too. I needed new running shoes so it's good timing for me as well.
[The feeling is all too mutual with Sakuma. Like Kazemaru, he'd also fallen victim to the Aliea Meteorite, his wishes twisted and distorted into something terrible and thus..done something terrible along with it. His body had only just recovered from using Koutei Penguin 1...And here he was scouted for Inazuma Japan.
When you were on a rival team, and then a momentary enemy, it made conversation with the team awkward. Mostly he just stuck to Kidou and Fudou...but there's something telling when Fudou is on the list of the top three people you speak to in the squad. A part of him wondered if Kazemaru would reply. After all, they weren't all that close, and the extension for the invitation had multiple outs, should the boy not want to. The message WAS for Kidou, after all. There's nothing saying that the blue-haired boy had to comply with a misunderstanding.
Cue his own heart leaping up to his throat when he gets the reply, seeing Kazemaru's name on his alert screen before flipping it open, hoping that he could dodge a curious Fudou's eyes long enough to reply.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Sakuma Jirou Message: Then it'd work out in both our favours. The one down the street from the main square, close to Raimon Junior High, correct?
We can meet at the square before heading there. I can treat for lunch.
[You know, to make up for the impromptu outing with no notice.]
[It's now a game of waiting. Kazemaru pokes his head into the dining hall to excuse himself completely once he sees that Sakuma is responding, rushing to his room where he plops down on his bed, only then opening up the message.
Endou... wasn't the type to message like this. He did, but it was mostly captain-like announcements of changes in training schedules. He didn't have the attention span for written messages, and he was more likely to call or come to your room. Before, he would've exchanged messages with Mach from the track team, but there was much less to talk about now that they were in different sports.
Seeing his inbox fill up like this again was... nice. He finds himself smiling as he responds.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta Message: That's the one.
Practice is only in the morning that day so how about around 11:30? There's a few other useful places in that shopping district I can show you.
[It was weird having a conversation like this. Kidou, Genda, the other Teikokus didn't really put much chitchat into their replies. Sometimes it was just the time with nothing else, especially if it was from Genda. He didn't necessarily mind that, but Sakuma had found himself checking the screen on his phone every few minutes for a response, something he never would have done with the others.
A human conversation can do a lot for someone starved for some interaction.
Kazemaru's response comes, and his gold eyes flick a shade brighter as he opens it up, a little ashamedly rushed in reading it.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Sakuma Jirou Message: 11:30 works for me.
What other kinds of things are there? Kidou failed to mention anything other than the sports equipment place.
[Then again, Kidou wasn't exactly known for his shopping tendencies, despite his family's income.]
[A written conversation with someone his own age, on his own team. Kazemaru, who still tended to distance himself from anyone not originally from Raimon (and even in that case, he stuck mostly to Someoka or Kurimatsu) due to lingering guilt from his Dark Emperor stint, feels a tingling in the back of his throat as he thinks about this is almost-- almost like a conversation with a friend.
He has to take a breath even though this is just a text message before responding back.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta Message: Haha. I can't see a guy like him browsing around a normal shopping district at least. I use the bookstore there for study books and I know Kino goes there to get groceries for the team sometimes.
[Eyes soften once again when Kazemaru's message pops up, making sure to do it nonchalantly in case anyone from Teikoku saw his texting as something out of the ordinary. Despite being the more social one of Teikoku's members, he still mostly kept to just them.
And if none of THEM were texting him...]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Sakuma Jirou Message: You don't know the half of it.
The bookstore sounds promising. I've been looking for something to occupy my time when we're not at practice.
[Kazemaru can't help it -- he laughs a little at the response, not surprised by it at all, but still a little pleased to have it given by Sakuma. So Kidou's just like that, in the end. Just a natural part of his personality...]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta Message: Sounds good. It's not that big but I think it has a decent collection, so we can take a look there. Do you like music?
[It's strange. There haven't been many times Sakuma was asked on his personal preferences to things. Oftentimes, the Teikoku kids kept to themselves, and he was the one who seemed most extroverted and willing to reach out. No one asked if he 'liked music' or anything similar. He just had to simply say he did, or he'd be the one asking that question.
[Kazemaru's excitement jumps up like three levels at that response. Sure, people at Raimon's soccer team listened to music, too, but the people Kazemaru shared musical tastes with most were the track kids. Handa was probably the closest he had on the soccer team, and Handa was not here on Inazuma Japan. He was perfectly happy with the playlist he had now, but with Sakuma's admission he suddenly glimpses a small light of hope.]
The district's also got a music store. I guess most people just download online now but I still like going there and getting the actual discs. Can we stop by there?
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday Sender: Sakuma Jirou Message: Of course!
[Sakuma looks at that response at first, wondering if the ! was a little too bold of him to put, and he almost wants to correct it. But in a bold move, he leaves the exclamation there, as if it were testing the waters on if he could be that excited to hang out with someone with...normal interests. That was so weird to think about.]
Sometimes it's best to have a physical copy. It feels more.
[Sakuma's bold move is responded to with something that may seem bolder, but is in fact just an ordinary punctuational choice for Kazemaru. His excitement rises as he finds someone with a common opinion.]
I like having the booklet open the first few times time I listen to follow along to the words. Sometimes it's different from what you hear and knowing what it's really saying.
Ok! I'll be under the clock in front of the station :)
[And that's where Kazemaru will be, dressed in personal clothes for once, backpack straps over his shoulders as he leans back against the building wall.]
[It's not often that Sakuma's seen in his own casual wear outside of Teikoku, although the military aesthetic is every present was his dog tags hang from his neck, jeans tucked into his boots and his bomber jacket to match.
Thankfully, Kazemaru is easy to pick out among the normal hair coloured townsfolk, raising his hand to hail down his...friend? acquaintance? Teammate?
[They're both the more reserved, relatively level-headed members of their respective school teams. And yet, that slight difference in tone as they finally speak to each other marks the difference between them and the schools they come from. Kazemaru, even with his skittishness and tendency to overthink, is a boy who grew up with Endou Mamoru and was raised by the friendship-and-guts environment of Raimon Jr. High. Once he opens up his heart to someone even a little and realizes that it's safe, that charismatic leader of the defense squad comes pushing out of his shy outer shell. It's that side of Kazemaru showing through now as he, spotting Sakuma's soft, mint-colored hair among the sea of darker-haired cityfolk, comes trotting up to him with an unreserved smile on his face, blue ponytail bouncing with every step.]
Hey, sorry -- did you end up waiting long? I tried to get here as fast as I could, but I had to help Kurimatsu and Otonashi carry some stuff up the stairs.
[It's rare to hear his name called out with such excitement, usually addressed just as formally as he'd given to Kazemaru. Such a small difference on the outside, but something that he's almost fumbling to find a response for. Was Kazemaru truly that excited to see him? The smile and brightness of those amber/brown eyes was not what he was used to.
It made him feel...strangely good. His own eye brightens to match, brushing some unkempt hair out of his line of sight.]
It wasn't long. I was able to get a good look at the area. It's not the biggest shopping district, but it's got a charm unlike any I've seen.
I'd say you made good time if you arrived that quick after helping Otonashi.
Haha. She goes a mile a minute, and I can keep up with Endou most of the time. I guess I have some practice getting things done quickly.
[The cheeriness doesn't leave his voice, already sounding like the way he would talk to encourage the more timid first-years that were also on the team. Kazemaru tended to speak about himself as a wallflower, and it was true that he hung back in a group than ran to the center, but there was a charisma to him that made him reach out to those who struggled with doing so. Today, it was Sakuma's turn.]
That tends to be how Inazumacho is. It's small and quiet, but it tends to have more than strictly what it needs.
[It's hard to hide the smile that spreads across his face. Kazemaru's demeanor was almost infectious, and completely different from the attitudes he grew up around. Not that Teikoku wasn't warm--they certainly had their own ways of showing affection, but they weren't nearly as bubbly as Kazemaru was being now, and Sakuma didn't even realize how much he secretly longed for a friend that would light up at the mention of music, or just to go shopping for something other than picking up milk.
He loved Teikoku dearly, and he'd always be loyal. But he was discovering that...like Kidou, he needed friends outside of that as well.
There's a softness to him that blooms, putting his hands in his pockets as he walks.]
... What, full of surprises? I swear most of that comes from Endou, and he still surprises us too.
[But Kazemaru's laughing, falling into step beside Sakuma with a naturalness and ease of those who may have known each other for years. The same way he'd walk besides Endou, Handa, or Hayami or Miyasaka from track. He regards Sakuma with just as easy of a smile.]
Only a town like Inazumacho could raise a guy like him.
[A difficult subject sometimes. While he personally had no ill will towards him, there would always be a part of him that knows he's the one Kidou chased after, and there's some...competition in that feeling. He accepted that Kidou was destined for far more than just Teikoku, but that didn't mean he'd just let him run without trying to catch up.
That was his drive, after all.]
I've never met anyone with the ambition towards soccer that he has...
[Admirably, he might add. Most of his feelings towards Endou were positive ones.]
He seems to truly reach everyone's heart no matter what the situation.
[Kazemaru's laughter is clear, crisp like the sound of wooden chimes in the wind. At the same time, it carries with it a sort of dryness, a drop of different emotion mixed in with the fondness and love he has for his long time friend.] I don't know if I know anybody with stronger ambition toward anything than Endou, honestly.
Toward soccer, toward doing the right thing... toward his friends.
Endou didn't leave me behind. That makes me want to follow him no matter where he wants to go with that ball.
Something maybe Sakuma had to really look at. Sure, Kidou had transferred schools, but the same warm tone had welcomed him to FFI. He'd been introduced as if he were already chosen for the team, and despite not being in the initial lineup, he'd practiced and proved himself earning a position in its final matches.
Genda was proud. Kidou was proud.
And he knows, if he asked Endou, he would be too, despite how it still felt like they were strangers to each other. A smile forms on his face as his hands stuff themselves in his jacket pocket.]
Guess that means I'll be following too. Kidou will be chasing after Endou as well, and I'm tired of falling behind. It's time I catch up.
Then that means we'll be running with each other, you and me. I think that'll be nice.
[Kazemaru doesn't think he'll ever be able to catch up to Endou, but that thought no longer gives him pain. It's pure admiration, though it's a mindset that only came after a lot of hardship.]
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And the second one, also, makes his breath hitch. His heart races. He hadn't been expecting a response. Excusing himself from the table he was sharing with Kabeyama and Kurimatsu, he steps out of the dining room into the hallway and flips his phone open, reading the message to himself.
He really doesn't know what he was worried for. Really, he should learn to be less jumpy. Maybe he could never fully forgive himself for what he did with the Aliea Meteorite, but what would Endou say if he heard that Kazemaru was being so nervous, taking so long to trust his current teammates?
(Endou would promptly smile and tell him he didn't have to make himself, and to play soccer with them, but that's besides the point.)]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
If you're all right with it being me, I can go with you. If it's the one the guys were talking about during breakfast today, I use it pretty regularly too. I needed new running shoes so it's good timing for me as well.
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When you were on a rival team, and then a momentary enemy, it made conversation with the team awkward. Mostly he just stuck to Kidou and Fudou...but there's something telling when Fudou is on the list of the top three people you speak to in the squad. A part of him wondered if Kazemaru would reply. After all, they weren't all that close, and the extension for the invitation had multiple outs, should the boy not want to. The message WAS for Kidou, after all. There's nothing saying that the blue-haired boy had to comply with a misunderstanding.
Cue his own heart leaping up to his throat when he gets the reply, seeing Kazemaru's name on his alert screen before flipping it open, hoping that he could dodge a curious Fudou's eyes long enough to reply.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
Then it'd work out in both our favours. The one down the street from the main square, close to Raimon Junior High, correct?
We can meet at the square before heading there. I can treat for lunch.
[You know, to make up for the impromptu outing with no notice.]
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Endou... wasn't the type to message like this. He did, but it was mostly captain-like announcements of changes in training schedules. He didn't have the attention span for written messages, and he was more likely to call or come to your room. Before, he would've exchanged messages with Mach from the track team, but there was much less to talk about now that they were in different sports.
Seeing his inbox fill up like this again was... nice. He finds himself smiling as he responds.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
That's the one.
Practice is only in the morning that day so how about around 11:30? There's a few other useful places in that shopping district I can show you.
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A human conversation can do a lot for someone starved for some interaction.
Kazemaru's response comes, and his gold eyes flick a shade brighter as he opens it up, a little ashamedly rushed in reading it.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
11:30 works for me.
What other kinds of things are there? Kidou failed to mention anything other than the sports equipment place.
[Then again, Kidou wasn't exactly known for his shopping tendencies, despite his family's income.]
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He has to take a breath even though this is just a text message before responding back.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
Haha. I can't see a guy like him browsing around a normal shopping district at least. I use the bookstore there for study books and I know Kino goes there to get groceries for the team sometimes.
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And if none of THEM were texting him...]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
You don't know the half of it.
The bookstore sounds promising. I've been looking for something to occupy my time when we're not at practice.
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Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
Sounds good. It's not that big but I think it has a decent collection, so we can take a look there.
Do you like music?
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His fingers pause a moment before responding.]
Subject: Re: sports Equipment shop this Saturday
Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
Music?
Yes, actually...a lot of different kinds.
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Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
Really?
[Kazemaru's excitement jumps up like three levels at that response. Sure, people at Raimon's soccer team listened to music, too, but the people Kazemaru shared musical tastes with most were the track kids. Handa was probably the closest he had on the soccer team, and Handa was not here on Inazuma Japan. He was perfectly happy with the playlist he had now, but with Sakuma's admission he suddenly glimpses a small light of hope.]
The district's also got a music store. I guess most people just download online now but I still like going there and getting the actual discs. Can we stop by there?
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Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
Of course!
[Sakuma looks at that response at first, wondering if the ! was a little too bold of him to put, and he almost wants to correct it. But in a bold move, he leaves the exclamation there, as if it were testing the waters on if he could be that excited to hang out with someone with...normal interests. That was so weird to think about.]
Sometimes it's best to have a physical copy. It feels more.
Real. I guess.
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Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
Right???
[Sakuma's bold move is responded to with something that may seem bolder, but is in fact just an ordinary punctuational choice for Kazemaru. His excitement rises as he finds someone with a common opinion.]
I like having the booklet open the first few times time I listen to follow along to the words. Sometimes it's different from what you hear and knowing what it's really saying.
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Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
Yeah! I like being able to get the lyrics correct right from the start. It avoids any embarrassment when you're singing along with friends.
[Not that they actually sing--]
And sometimes they have little footnotes with their inspiration for the song.
It's fascinating.
[Much better. Could you two be any more middle-aged-women than you already are.]
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Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
Really? Teikoku sings?? lol just kidding
I'm glad I finally have someone who agrees! Maybe you can share your thoughts with me too. See you in a bit?
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Sender: Sakuma Jirou
Message:
You've got me there. I can't really imagine Genda singing a sonata.
I'll see you there!
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Sender: Kazemaru Ichirouta
Message:
Ok! I'll be under the clock in front of the station :)
[And that's where Kazemaru will be, dressed in personal clothes for once, backpack straps over his shoulders as he leans back against the building wall.]
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Thankfully, Kazemaru is easy to pick out among the
normal hair colouredtownsfolk, raising his hand to hail down his...friend? acquaintance? Teammate?One of those.]
Kazemaru.
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[They're both the more reserved, relatively level-headed members of their respective school teams. And yet, that slight difference in tone as they finally speak to each other marks the difference between them and the schools they come from. Kazemaru, even with his skittishness and tendency to overthink, is a boy who grew up with Endou Mamoru and was raised by the friendship-and-guts environment of Raimon Jr. High. Once he opens up his heart to someone even a little and realizes that it's safe, that charismatic leader of the defense squad comes pushing out of his shy outer shell. It's that side of Kazemaru showing through now as he, spotting Sakuma's soft, mint-colored hair among the sea of darker-haired cityfolk, comes trotting up to him with an unreserved smile on his face, blue ponytail bouncing with every step.]
Hey, sorry -- did you end up waiting long? I tried to get here as fast as I could, but I had to help Kurimatsu and Otonashi carry some stuff up the stairs.
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It made him feel...strangely good. His own eye brightens to match, brushing some unkempt hair out of his line of sight.]
It wasn't long. I was able to get a good look at the area. It's not the biggest shopping district, but it's got a charm unlike any I've seen.
I'd say you made good time if you arrived that quick after helping Otonashi.
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[The cheeriness doesn't leave his voice, already sounding like the way he would talk to encourage the more timid first-years that were also on the team. Kazemaru tended to speak about himself as a wallflower, and it was true that he hung back in a group than ran to the center, but there was a charisma to him that made him reach out to those who struggled with doing so. Today, it was Sakuma's turn.]
That tends to be how Inazumacho is. It's small and quiet, but it tends to have more than strictly what it needs.
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He loved Teikoku dearly, and he'd always be loyal. But he was discovering that...like Kidou, he needed friends outside of that as well.
There's a softness to him that blooms, putting his hands in his pockets as he walks.]
Surprises hidden somewhere small...
Like the Raimon Eleven, wouldn't you say?
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[But Kazemaru's laughing, falling into step beside Sakuma with a naturalness and ease of those who may have known each other for years. The same way he'd walk besides Endou, Handa, or Hayami or Miyasaka from track. He regards Sakuma with just as easy of a smile.]
Only a town like Inazumacho could raise a guy like him.
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[A difficult subject sometimes. While he personally had no ill will towards him, there would always be a part of him that knows he's the one Kidou chased after, and there's some...competition in that feeling. He accepted that Kidou was destined for far more than just Teikoku, but that didn't mean he'd just let him run without trying to catch up.
That was his drive, after all.]
I've never met anyone with the ambition towards soccer that he has...
[Admirably, he might add. Most of his feelings towards Endou were positive ones.]
He seems to truly reach everyone's heart no matter what the situation.
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[Kazemaru's laughter is clear, crisp like the sound of wooden chimes in the wind. At the same time, it carries with it a sort of dryness, a drop of different emotion mixed in with the fondness and love he has for his long time friend.] I don't know if I know anybody with stronger ambition toward anything than Endou, honestly.
Toward soccer, toward doing the right thing... toward his friends.
Endou didn't leave me behind. That makes me want to follow him no matter where he wants to go with that ball.
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Something maybe Sakuma had to really look at. Sure, Kidou had transferred schools, but the same warm tone had welcomed him to FFI. He'd been introduced as if he were already chosen for the team, and despite not being in the initial lineup, he'd practiced and proved himself earning a position in its final matches.
Genda was proud. Kidou was proud.
And he knows, if he asked Endou, he would be too, despite how it still felt like they were strangers to each other. A smile forms on his face as his hands stuff themselves in his jacket pocket.]
Guess that means I'll be following too. Kidou will be chasing after Endou as well, and I'm tired of falling behind. It's time I catch up.
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[Kazemaru doesn't think he'll ever be able to catch up to Endou, but that thought no longer gives him pain. It's pure admiration, though it's a mindset that only came after a lot of hardship.]
We'll get to support each other.
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