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[Aoi was like cool water on a hot summer day. Refreshing, soothing, and something you didn't know you needed until it was running across your hand or looking right at you. He'd never speak such poetry out loud--Tsurugi was a man of few words on a good day, but his smile says it all as he listens to her, taking that waterbottle and starting to walk alongside her towards the locker rooms.
After all, she always made time to listen to them. And with Tenma and Shindou caught up in their own problems, Tsurugi had to be the one to listen.]
You keep up just fine.
[His tone's soft, not quite a whisper, but gentle enough so that only they could really hear it.]
You're exactly where you need to be, and it's something we all can rely on you for. [His head turns, to look down at her as they walk.] But...know that we're here for you, too.
[His thoughts turn to his brother. Yuuichi, who'd always been his reason for pushing forward, and his reason for trying so hard now. He was always supportive of Tsurugi's goals, but in the back of his mind, he always wondered if Yuuichi had ever needed a shoulder to lean on. He didn't think about it at the time, and even now...he's not sure how he could even ask that. Yuuichi would smile just as Aoi was now.
Always supportive.]
If you fall too far behind, I'll take your hand and lead you.
[ Really, she thinks, Tsurugi is much too considerate during a time when this still-delicate team is working on strengthening their bonds, as well as their teamwork. That was still a work in progress, and if anyone needs Tenma's optimism, Shindou's wisdom and Tsurugi's understanding guidance, it's likely their motley crew.
But it's nice to hear. When teams took to the grounds, their battle, their world was there until the whistle had blown three times. It was a manager's task to support them and ensure that they fought to the best of their abilities. Tsurugi smiling at her now, though, was a reminder that managers were still a part of that world. ]
I'm sure your hand is just as reliable as your legs. [ If she fell, she has no doubts he'd help. ] ... Thank you, Tsurugi-kun. Just don't worry too much about me, okay? It's because I know you're there for me that I can try so hard in the first place.
[It was all Tsurugi could do, in his mind. He wasn't the captain like Tenma, nor the tactician like Shindou. All he could do was make sure that their hopes and plans came to fruition, and as the ace striker, he'd do whatever it took to make sure that the soccerball made it into the opponent's net.
Slowly, but surely, the team was coming around to see that as their goal, too. Matatagi seemed eager to go the distance, and Sakura too. Their motivations might be external forces--Sakura's need to be the best, and Matatagi had his brother's image of him on the line. To him, it didn't matter the drive--Yuuichi was his, after all--so long as the spirit of the sport came through in their plays.
Aoi's words are so like her. In a way, he's reminded of Tenma, and he can see just how they've been by each other's side for so long. He's not sure who rubbed off on who, or if they were just like forces bound together, but he couldn't have been more happy for either of them in his life.]
I know I can trust you to take care of us. I'll try not to worry too much.
[His gaze finally shifts towards her, his smile subtle, but sweet....before adding awkwardly--]
But these are still too many towels for just you to carry.
[ There's a very clear huff in her tone, as though Aoi is completely affronted by this claim. Because yes, there are a lot of towels, and yes, if he hadn't come over to help her, she might have had difficulty seeing on her way back inside, but--!! ]
[His smile spreads somewhat apologetically, thinking over his words a moment.]
And you'd keep that promise. [If anyone could heavy lift those towels and get them in without toppling over, it'd be Aoi. His arms shift the weight of the towels easily, lips opening to amend his statement.]
... Mm? [ Aoi angles a puzzled glance at him, thinking back as if she's trying to recall an instance where he'd promised anything... to her, about her? Was he talking about her falling behind? ]
[That's good enough for him. At the very least, it makes it so his help doesn't degrade Aoi's own abilities. They continue down the hall, making a turn for the lockers and passing by a straggling Konoha and Manabe as they make their way to the mess hall.
Guess it's just them for the moment.]
Sorano.
[Despite being there since the beginning, he still couldn't drop the formality with her just yet. Tenma had even taken some time to warm up to the idea of going by a first name basis.]
What do you think of the team?
[Shindou was too stressed and pessimistic. Tenma had too much on his shoulders and tended to put up blinders. Aoi...the manager, could see everything without having to worry about the game. She was his best source of an opinion right now.]
[ Honestly, that's fair. He's still "Tsurugi-kun" to her, even though Tenma had been "Tenma" for as long as she'd known him, and Shinsuke had very quickly rocketed to first-name status as well. Maybe because no one had ever called Tsurugi "Kyousuke"... well. Either way, Aoi clearly doesn't mind his formality with her, even as her smile gives way to a more pensive expression. ]
... I think they're improving, even if there's still a lot to be worked on. Everyone has potential, but not only do they have to learn how to apply that to soccer, they have to be able to work together. And you know this by now, but being on the same team doesn't mean it's easy to trust each other. [ Tsurugi had experienced it himself, when joining Raimon and actually starting to care about working alongside the others. ]
But Tenma is there to believe in them and improve their confidence, and you're there to help guide them along. I'm sure Shindou-senpai will realize just how hard they're trying and how far that will get them and lend his help as well.
Mm. [ A nod. ] I think we can win. It's just going to take everyone's best effort.
I agree. They have potential, and are making steady improvements with each day Tenma [and himself] trains them.
...But.
[There was always going to be a 'But.' His voice trails off, not sure if this is the best time to voice his concerns. Tenma needed encouragement more than anything, but he would be lying if he said Shindou didn't have his valid concerns as well.]
We have to recognize our weaknesses.
[As the team's striker, it was his duty to make sure the ball got into the goal. It came with the unfortunate choice of having to prioritize his own ball handling over those of his teammates, which didn't really give the team solidarity feel...
But sacrifices had to be made if they were to get to the world. At least until the others picked up the sport's pace a little more.
Which brings him to his next thought--nothing more than escaped whisper from his lips.]
Why -did- Coach Kuroiwa choose people with no experience in soccer? Hakuryuu...Amemiya...Kirino-san, Kariya... They'd all make for an easy victory.
[His brows furrow in thought as he starts to put the equipment away. Was Coach Kuroiwa seeing something they just couldn't? Or was this just sabotage?]
[ There's a small hand placed on his arm, once her hands are free; as she does, Aoi can't help but think that out of all the first-years, Tsurugi really is the one who feels so much older than them. Maybe it's his height, but she thinks it's also the weight of his decisions and his responsibilities she sees swirling in his eyes every so often. ]
I don't know what's going through our Coach's mind. And I'm sure the others are also wondering why they're here, and whether this is a joke or not.
But they've started to believe in what this team is, and actually work at winning. I'll do my best to help them, too, so you and Tenma don't have to push yourselves as much.
In the meantime, as a manager, I'll try to see if I can understand where Coach Kuroiwa is coming from. [ He seems to be more loose-lipped around Minori, so maybe she can figure out what's going on there. ]
[His eyes immediately dart to her hand on his arm, its gentle hold keeping him in place while not restraining him whatsoever. It's how Aoi always connected with them--a strong, but gentle hold, making sure they always kept facing forward, and stopping when she felt they needed to.
His eyes catch hers, amber, angular ones meeting her dark blue, and he listens.]
...
[A smile forms, as she shows the same confidence that Tenma had become almost notorious for.]
You're right.
[Eyes close, as he turns to face her, shoulders relaxed and hands stuffed in his pockets--a true sign of comfort around someone he knew.] No matter what Kuroiwa's reason, they're still our team. They're trying for all of us, and in turn I'll support them on the field. [as much as possible. Optimism aside, he still had to stick with Shindou's way of doing things to a point if they were going to win. Trying hard and winning were two different things, and he had Raimon's dreams to carry as well]
I'm counting on you for the rest, if that's alright.
[It's soft and sincere, and the weight that had been on his shoulders just minutes ago finally felt lifted. Aoi's talent, after all. She's the one who carried Tenma this far.]
...
[But his eyes cast up, looking just behind her as he hears something. Almost as if his hair itself acted like ears and stood on end.]
We'd better get to the mess hall before the food's gone.
[Ace strikers and managers both had one thing in common: stomachs that need to be fed.]
[He waits patiently for the last of the supplies to get put away, the smile now present on his face. Whatever he was worried about...it just disappeared.]
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After all, she always made time to listen to them. And with Tenma and Shindou caught up in their own problems, Tsurugi had to be the one to listen.]
You keep up just fine.
[His tone's soft, not quite a whisper, but gentle enough so that only they could really hear it.]
You're exactly where you need to be, and it's something we all can rely on you for. [His head turns, to look down at her as they walk.] But...know that we're here for you, too.
[His thoughts turn to his brother. Yuuichi, who'd always been his reason for pushing forward, and his reason for trying so hard now. He was always supportive of Tsurugi's goals, but in the back of his mind, he always wondered if Yuuichi had ever needed a shoulder to lean on. He didn't think about it at the time, and even now...he's not sure how he could even ask that. Yuuichi would smile just as Aoi was now.
Always supportive.]
If you fall too far behind, I'll take your hand and lead you.
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But it's nice to hear. When teams took to the grounds, their battle, their world was there until the whistle had blown three times. It was a manager's task to support them and ensure that they fought to the best of their abilities. Tsurugi smiling at her now, though, was a reminder that managers were still a part of that world. ]
I'm sure your hand is just as reliable as your legs. [ If she fell, she has no doubts he'd help. ] ... Thank you, Tsurugi-kun. Just don't worry too much about me, okay? It's because I know you're there for me that I can try so hard in the first place.
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Slowly, but surely, the team was coming around to see that as their goal, too. Matatagi seemed eager to go the distance, and Sakura too. Their motivations might be external forces--Sakura's need to be the best, and Matatagi had his brother's image of him on the line. To him, it didn't matter the drive--Yuuichi was his, after all--so long as the spirit of the sport came through in their plays.
Aoi's words are so like her. In a way, he's reminded of Tenma, and he can see just how they've been by each other's side for so long. He's not sure who rubbed off on who, or if they were just like forces bound together, but he couldn't have been more happy for either of them in his life.]
I know I can trust you to take care of us. I'll try not to worry too much.
[His gaze finally shifts towards her, his smile subtle, but sweet....before adding awkwardly--]
But these are still too many towels for just you to carry.
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[ There's a very clear huff in her tone, as though Aoi is completely affronted by this claim. Because yes, there are a lot of towels, and yes, if he hadn't come over to help her, she might have had difficulty seeing on her way back inside, but--!! ]
I promise I wouldn't have dropped any of them!
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And you'd keep that promise. [If anyone could heavy lift those towels and get them in without toppling over, it'd be Aoi. His arms shift the weight of the towels easily, lips opening to amend his statement.]
...
But I have one I have to keep, too.
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Which promise was that?
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[He breathes out, making his step into the hall of the stadium locker rooms.]
To help out my friends--Tenma and Shindou-san need my help on the soccer field. Carrying a few towels is the least I can do.
...
[He pauses, face turning serious, but with that small smile he always seemed to wear as he tried to pull off his most confident airs.]
Besides, Seto-san would have our heads if she knew all the work was put on you. [He likes being alive.]
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[ Aoi says this with a grin, still perfectly in step beside him as they make their way down the hall. ]
But I'll make sure to tell her how helpful you were with me, just in case.
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Guess it's just them for the moment.]
Sorano.
[Despite being there since the beginning, he still couldn't drop the formality with her just yet. Tenma had even taken some time to warm up to the idea of going by a first name basis.]
What do you think of the team?
[Shindou was too stressed and pessimistic. Tenma had too much on his shoulders and tended to put up blinders. Aoi...the manager, could see everything without having to worry about the game. She was his best source of an opinion right now.]
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... I think they're improving, even if there's still a lot to be worked on. Everyone has potential, but not only do they have to learn how to apply that to soccer, they have to be able to work together. And you know this by now, but being on the same team doesn't mean it's easy to trust each other. [ Tsurugi had experienced it himself, when joining Raimon and actually starting to care about working alongside the others. ]
But Tenma is there to believe in them and improve their confidence, and you're there to help guide them along. I'm sure Shindou-senpai will realize just how hard they're trying and how far that will get them and lend his help as well.
Mm. [ A nod. ] I think we can win. It's just going to take everyone's best effort.
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...But.
[There was always going to be a 'But.' His voice trails off, not sure if this is the best time to voice his concerns. Tenma needed encouragement more than anything, but he would be lying if he said Shindou didn't have his valid concerns as well.]
We have to recognize our weaknesses.
[As the team's striker, it was his duty to make sure the ball got into the goal. It came with the unfortunate choice of having to prioritize his own ball handling over those of his teammates, which didn't really give the team solidarity feel...
But sacrifices had to be made if they were to get to the world. At least until the others picked up the sport's pace a little more.
Which brings him to his next thought--nothing more than escaped whisper from his lips.]
Why -did- Coach Kuroiwa choose people with no experience in soccer? Hakuryuu...Amemiya...Kirino-san, Kariya... They'd all make for an easy victory.
[His brows furrow in thought as he starts to put the equipment away. Was Coach Kuroiwa seeing something they just couldn't? Or was this just sabotage?]
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[ There's a small hand placed on his arm, once her hands are free; as she does, Aoi can't help but think that out of all the first-years, Tsurugi really is the one who feels so much older than them. Maybe it's his height, but she thinks it's also the weight of his decisions and his responsibilities she sees swirling in his eyes every so often. ]
I don't know what's going through our Coach's mind. And I'm sure the others are also wondering why they're here, and whether this is a joke or not.
But they've started to believe in what this team is, and actually work at winning. I'll do my best to help them, too, so you and Tenma don't have to push yourselves as much.
In the meantime, as a manager, I'll try to see if I can understand where Coach Kuroiwa is coming from. [ He seems to be more loose-lipped around Minori, so maybe she can figure out what's going on there. ]
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His eyes catch hers, amber, angular ones meeting her dark blue, and he listens.]
...
[A smile forms, as she shows the same confidence that Tenma had become almost notorious for.]
You're right.
[Eyes close, as he turns to face her, shoulders relaxed and hands stuffed in his pockets--a true sign of comfort around someone he knew.] No matter what Kuroiwa's reason, they're still our team. They're trying for all of us, and in turn I'll support them on the field. [as much as possible. Optimism aside, he still had to stick with Shindou's way of doing things to a point if they were going to win. Trying hard and winning were two different things, and he had Raimon's dreams to carry as well]
I'm counting on you for the rest, if that's alright.
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[ It's said with a laugh as she lowers her hand-- just to ball both of them into determined fists. ]
I'd be happy if you relied on me, after all. I'll support you with all of my might!
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[It's soft and sincere, and the weight that had been on his shoulders just minutes ago finally felt lifted. Aoi's talent, after all. She's the one who carried Tenma this far.]
...
[But his eyes cast up, looking just behind her as he hears something. Almost as if his hair itself acted like ears and stood on end.]
We'd better get to the mess hall before the food's gone.
[Ace strikers and managers both had one thing in common: stomachs that need to be fed.]
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[ ... and admittedly, her stomach's already protesting. ]
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[He waits patiently for the last of the supplies to get put away, the smile now present on his face. Whatever he was worried about...it just disappeared.]