He loves Hitoka the way he loves the fall of sakura petals in April, carried off the branches by the wind. She's just as pretty and starts a similar ache in his chest, filling him with so much fondness and longing that he can't help but choke on it, can't help the way that it comes spilling out of him in every glance, every smile, every word that he says to her.
It's okay, though, because he knows that she loves him just as much in return. She loves him the way she loves the night sky, when there isn't a single cloud in sight and the milky way spreads itself out over her head like a sparkling river that she can immerse herself into, the same way she does with all the things she loves the most.
Tadashi is used to this feeling, now. It no longer feels like some big, intimidating truth that takes up residence at the back of his mind, shifting and making itself known every time he think that it's settled. It's been long enough now that it's turned into something warm and comforting that lives in his chest, and it flutters a little whenever Hitoka looks at him, but that's not an unpleasant feeling at all.
He feels it when they're at practice and she does what she can to help the team. She's settled into her role as manager too, the same way that he's settled into his role as the team's captain. They've both grown a lot and he knows that it's because they've had each other's support all this time, encouraging each other, taking comfort in each other.
Hitoka is the quiet, steady strength that straightens Tadashi's spine before a match. She inspires him, she encourages him, and as amazing as that is in itself, it's made even better by the fact that he knows that he does the same to her. They're two anxious hearts beating together, taking comfort in each other, learning how to beat louder and stronger with each other.
It might not always work, but that's alright too. Sometimes, their comfort is taken in the form of sweating hands clasping each other tightly, knuckles turning white. Sometimes, the nerves can't be dispelled so much as being traded back and forth, but Tadashi knows there's nothing wrong with that, either. They'll get there, they'll learn to be even braver than they are now.
The most important thing is, they'll do it together.
FILL: Team Kyoutani Kentarou/Yahaba Shigeru, G
word count: 414
He loves Hitoka the way he loves the fall of sakura petals in April, carried off the branches by the wind. She's just as pretty and starts a similar ache in his chest, filling him with so much fondness and longing that he can't help but choke on it, can't help the way that it comes spilling out of him in every glance, every smile, every word that he says to her.
It's okay, though, because he knows that she loves him just as much in return. She loves him the way she loves the night sky, when there isn't a single cloud in sight and the milky way spreads itself out over her head like a sparkling river that she can immerse herself into, the same way she does with all the things she loves the most.
Tadashi is used to this feeling, now. It no longer feels like some big, intimidating truth that takes up residence at the back of his mind, shifting and making itself known every time he think that it's settled. It's been long enough now that it's turned into something warm and comforting that lives in his chest, and it flutters a little whenever Hitoka looks at him, but that's not an unpleasant feeling at all.
He feels it when they're at practice and she does what she can to help the team. She's settled into her role as manager too, the same way that he's settled into his role as the team's captain. They've both grown a lot and he knows that it's because they've had each other's support all this time, encouraging each other, taking comfort in each other.
Hitoka is the quiet, steady strength that straightens Tadashi's spine before a match. She inspires him, she encourages him, and as amazing as that is in itself, it's made even better by the fact that he knows that he does the same to her. They're two anxious hearts beating together, taking comfort in each other, learning how to beat louder and stronger with each other.
It might not always work, but that's alright too. Sometimes, their comfort is taken in the form of sweating hands clasping each other tightly, knuckles turning white. Sometimes, the nerves can't be dispelled so much as being traded back and forth, but Tadashi knows there's nothing wrong with that, either. They'll get there, they'll learn to be even braver than they are now.
The most important thing is, they'll do it together.