[DM POST]

[xyzai]

DM TO YUKIMURA-SAN
Your argument isn’t my business and I’m not messaging you to butt in — just if you’re going to get into shit with Sanada-san before a quarterfinal match, at least screen it. Your kouhai brought you with him for support — do better.


DM TO SANADA-SAN
Your argument isn’t any of my business, but Akaya should not have to see that from his senpai before a quarterfinal match. Do you understand the screening function? If not, I will send you screenshots. Learn it.


TEXT TO AKAYA
You’re getting electric guitar for this match — any requests?

Comments

DM to Zaizen

[gtl_yukimura]

I know.

DM to Yukimura-san

[xyzai]

Good. That’s all.

[text]

[knuckling]

jam project. pick anything but better make it something heavy and epic

[text]

[xyzai]

Heavy and epic. I can do that.

You free to take a call? I’m very concerned about your hotel floors with all the pacing that’s probably happening.

[text]

[knuckling]

heh. yeah you can call, ill find a quiet spot so give me a minute

[text]

[xyzai]

Call when you’re walking, then.

[call]

[knuckling]

[a few moments later, zaizen will receive that call.]

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Zaizen picks up on the second ring]

Hey. [He pauses to take in the noises around Kirihara] Are the floors spared?

[call]

[knuckling]

[akaya does his best to not sigh in exhaustion and relief (??) when zaizen answers.]

Yeah, but I couldn't tell ya which level I'm on. [a laugh] Our room's on the twelfthth floor, but I could be on the twenty-sixth or the second, no idea.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Zaizen pauses]

...Are you walking up and down the hotel stairwell? Is the press outside or something?

[call]

[knuckling]

I was? But I'm sitting down outside the stairwell now. [he pauses briefly to see if there was a floor number nearby, but nope.] I dunno, just didn't wanna go too far out.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

Fair [it makes sense, especially as his coach or PT might need him, or if something happens with the match]

[Since he has never beat around the bush about anything, he’s not about to start now]

So. Tell me.

[call]

[knuckling]

[this time he really does sigh, taking a moment to consider his wording before speaking.]

It's stupid. We aren't in school anymore, so it shouldn't be affectin' me like this. [pause] I'm probably missing something obvious here, aren't I? Why fukubuchou is so mad.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Leans back in his chair and soundlessly thumbs the strings on his guitar] You're in the middle, Akaya. Whatever it says your diploma, no one graduates from emotions. [Especially as Akaya is under a lot of stress and scrutiny, its understandable to feel shaken by a crack in the support system]

It's bothering you that you can understand where Yukimura-san is coming from, but not Sanada-san? [he asks to confirm, although he has his own guesses as to the source of his anger] What kind of things does Sanada-san usually get mad about?

[call]

[knuckling]

Yeah, but also it's more like... I don't see fukubuchou this kind of angry very often. Usually, he's more upfront about it. [another sigh. while he knows that zaizen isn't bothered by listening to all this, he still feels a bit awkward saying it.] I think whatever it is, he's being unreasonable? I can't figure it out, and buchou's been with me this whole time. So that's what's bothering me.

[his head makes an audible thump as he leans back to the wall behind him]

Fukubuchou gets angry when he thinks we're being slack or... reckless, which at least for the second one I always thought was kinda hypocritical.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Zaizen quietly listens, letting Akaya start to talk his way through it. After all, despite whatever Zaizen can surmise from the very public comment fight, Akaya knows them much better. He muses on Akaya's point and basically reinterates what Akaya says with a question at the end]

That's probably part of it -- that Sanada-san thinks that Yukimura-san is being reckless with his fling. Do you think that it's possible that he tried to suppress things instead of being up front?

[A few plucked notes are audible as Zaizen pauses, as if the motions of his fingers give him words]

...Sanada-san doesn't seem very tech savvy -- with dreamwidth, maybe he's getting a different view of Yukimura-san than he's seen before and doesn't know how to act? I'm not saying that he's right, or that Yukimura-san is. But feelings aren't...reasonable.

[call]

[knuckling]

[akaya frowns. he's also figured that sanada thought yukimura was being reckless, but...]

It's gotta be something else as well as that. Maybe nerves, or something. But he needs to trust buchou more. And me more. [as if akaya would let yukimura get into any trouble.

he listens to zaizen's strumming, quietly relaxing, before speaking again.] Y'might be right about that, though. It could be, like, the publicity of it. [a hum of agreement.] Feelings aren't fair at all.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Zaizen continues to play quiet acoustic --not interrupting Akaya -- just random, gentle notes that more reflect a thought process than any actual tune] Tell him that in person when you get back [he suggests, because an active plan might help Akaya center for now] Could it hurt to remind him that he can trust you -- you're old enough and experienced enough that the senpai-kouhai thing isn't a one way street anymore, if it ever was

[More idle notes fill his pensive quiet] Feelings aren't fair, and neither are one-sided expectations [Not fair on Akaya, not fair on Yukimura, not fair on Sanada]

[call]

[knuckling]

[akaya lets out a breathy laugh.] Yeah. I've gotta wait 'til this blows over before that, anyway. No way he's gonna listen to me right now, but. Y'know. I'll remind him sometime.

[listening to the meandering music trail again, akaya smiles to himself, waiting for a small gap in the notes before speaking.] Stressin' out over something unfair isn't really helpful either, huh.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Zaizen's light, wandering string of music agrees with Akaya.

After he hears and processes, he says in his informal Osaka drawl] ...There is something you can do, though.

[call]

[knuckling]

[akaya's happy to just listen. he's already feeling a lot better.] Yeah? What's that?

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[The already soft music crawls into diminuendo for Zaizen's words]

You've fought to the quarterfinals.

You deserve to be there.

Play the kind of game that recognizes that and shuts everyone the. fuck. up.

[call]

[knuckling]

[there's a beat of total silence before akaya starts laughing, really laughing. it's not mocking, or anything, just surprise and... well, zaizen actually has cheered him up.]

You're right! Of course! I'm gonna take this whole thing!

[a chuckle, and exhale.] Hey, Hikaru?

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[The notes resume sparse and warm with Akaya's laughter, as if joining him. There's no real way to tell over the phone, but he's smiling the barest bit]

Yeah?

[call]

[knuckling]

...thanks? Thanks. I needed that.

[pause.]

Careful though, keep this up and you might grow a whole emotion.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[The word thanks make his fingers stumble a bit, the sounds standing out slightly from his tune.]

...If you tell anyone, I will air your tekken secrets.

[call]

[knuckling]

[akaya barely restrains a giggle at the obvious falter. typical.]

There's no secrets if everyone already thinks I suck. But don't worry, this stays between us.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

Good. [Zaizen says, recovering from the super rude but actually sort of nice thanks] Now go terrorize some Americans.

[He means on the court but Akaya can interpret this however he pleases]

[call]

[knuckling]

You got it. [if this had been a video call, he's have saluted.] I expect that music video in my messages by 7pm sharp.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

[Satisfied, Zaizen drawls]

I always deliver -- so make it good.

[call]

[knuckling]

Have a little faith, man.

[he stands, ready to now figure out where he is and how to get back to the appropriate floor.]

Gotta find my damn room now.

Re: [call]

[xyzai]

Yeah, good luck with that [he says at a good natured drawl] See you on TV

[hangs up]

[call]

[knuckling]

Yeah. Talk to you later.

[as zaizen hangs up, akaya finds that he is actually on the fourth floor. he goes to the elevator instead of taking the stairs this time.]