Casual Volleys

[volleygenius]

By the end of the day, most of the school had heard the rumor of Flayn and Yukimura holding hands in art class-- at least, that's what the rumor was by the time it reached Marui. Was it really true? Who knew. He admits, he'll be a bit surprised if it is, but maybe Yukimura had a reason for it. No. If it was true, he definitely did.

Still... it does raise a question or two about them. Marui is happy for them if it's how the rumors make it sound, but it's not like Yukimura to be outwardly affectionate like that, especially in the middle of a classroom. Is he okay? Is Flayn? Yukimura had a good heart, but he didn't always see the feelings of others well. Flayn on the other hand seemed to have a good sense of the room but was more freely affectionate than most people. Marui could imagine it left more than a few unsure how to respond to it. Yukimura might well be among them.

It must be hard trying to work out what's normal in a new country, not being able to trust that it's simply what you're used to.

Well. Whatever happened, it'll be fine. Yukimura and Flayn both are resilient people with the strength to persevere through the obstacles that stand in their way. The only thing Marui needs to worry about is what he can do to support them both along the way. Of course, to do that, some more information would be good. Rumors were just that, after all!

So it's his usual casual cheer that greets Flayn for practice on their combination that afternoon. Marui is dutifully still wearing the heavier weights Yukimura assigned him after their first match together. After a few exercises, they move to the court to finish warming up with some light rallying.

"Anything exciting in classes today?" He asks as he lobs the ball softly over the net.

Comments

[seems_fishy]

Flayn concentrates on her return before answering.

"How did you know? Yukimura-san gave me the most beautiful rose!!" she said brightly.

[volleygenius]

In class?

"Hoh? That sounds special. Can I see it?" He asks with an easy bunt of the ball back into her court.

[seems_fishy]

"You may if you win," she said cheerfully. She had no doubt he would, at this point, but it felt like the right answer in this place. It seemed like everyone was out for a challenge.

"It couldn't have been too special," she protested, once she'd hit the ball back. He must have whipped it up right there on the spot. "I don't think he thought too much about it beforehand."

[volleygenius]

Oh, that's dirty...! Or it would be, if perhaps she said it like she actually intended to stop him. He loves to hear it, though. Baby steps. That's getting into the Rikkai spirit, Flayn! Can't fit in without being at least a little bit of an asshole.

With that condition set, he returns the ball with a tightrope walk. As easy as it would be to simply smash it to the far corner, she deserves to lose the point to one of his special tricks. He's asking to see something of hers, after all. He blows a bubble of his gum with a knowing smile.

"It was exciting for you, wasn't it? That makes it special enough. Show me."

[seems_fishy]

She smiles at the trick, but she absolutely giggles at this words, and rushes for her bag. It's very carefully pressed into one of her textbooks, and she's only a little sorry for the crease...

But it's so skilled and beautiful, and she's a little embarrassed to be given such a lovely gift (complete with the invitation!), but she's guiltily happy, too, as she hands it to her friend.

[volleygenius]

"Ohh-- that's beautiful! He really knows how to draw well."

Things become much clearer once she hands him the paper and he sees the flower-- and naturally, the invitation with it. That causes Marui's eyebrows to lift for a moment. The roof of the south wing, huh? Marui knows what's waiting there, and he knows he's a dead man if he spoils it for her. It's more special than Flayn realizes (though if that giggle and eagerness to share her prize is any indication, she's elated enough all the same). Yukimura wouldn't invite her there if he didn't like her.

He also sees the color added to the rose, and he's not the expert on flower meanings that Yukimura is, but he knows enough to know that red roses mean love, pink ones mean admiration, and yellow ones mean friendship. That's certainly a different impression than what the circulating rumor gave. Sounds more like the Yukimura he knows, too. He's being enigmatic with her. Friendly in his own still-at-arms-length way.

He refolds it and hands it back to her with care, his smile full of warmth for just how happy she looks. "I'm happy for you. You're in for a treat."

[seems_fishy]

Just as carefully, she tucks the drawing back into its hiding place for safekeeping.

"I was so surprised, since I think I was a little bit offputting in class..."

[volleygenius]

Is that a lead-in?

"Hm? Why?"

[seems_fishy]

"I did... put my hand over his..." she said slowly. She didn't want to explain why, but: "It seemed the thing to do given what we were discussing..."

That was as good as an explanation as she felt authorized to give.

"But it drew quite a bit of attention, and I think I made Yukimura-san uncomfortable. It was nice of him to be so forgiving and recovering so quickly."

[volleygenius]

"I see..."

She's probably right in her assessment. As usual, she's got a good read on the feelings of others. That leaves Marui inclined to believe she's similarly correct about the mood of the moment when she acted in the first place.

She actually, literally, reached out to him. What an interesting view a fly on the wall would have had in that class. No wonder everyone was in a stir. Well, that rumor escalated a little from what actually happened, didn't it?

He feels a swell of warm, bubbly joy in his chest, a mix of relief and excitement for Yukimura. Everything was fine after all, for both of them. He sprouts a grin and starts meandering back to the court, his racket propped behind his neck between his hands. "Well, don't worry about it. You keep being you, and everything'll be fine."

[seems_fishy]

Is that all it took? The warmth Flayn felt at that, you keep being you, almost seems to be what's carrying her along as she follows Marui back.

She has to stifle a giggle. Yukimura said she was pretty, Marui said to keep being herself, and she was going to burst into flame from either pleasure or self-consciousness, and she couldn't be happier if she tried.