Onoda Sakamichi frequently arrives to practice early. Because he's rather inadequate, he supposes, he doesn't often have a lot of after-class duties or clean-up to do. It works out though, as he likes getting to the clubroom early. He's clumsy and a bit uncoordinated, and it usually takes him longer to change than everyone else. Sometimes, if Koga or one of his other senpais is there early also, he gets to spend a little time learning about bike maintenance and technical things.
As summer approached though, Onoda notices that Teshima and Aoyagi are often in the clubroom discussing things before practice. The first time this happens, Onoda stands just outside, waiting politely so's not to intrude on their conversation. The conversation isn't hard to overhear though.
"Everyone's getting better, but we're not strong enough yet," Teshima says, and Onoda can imagine him gritting his teeth. "I'm not strong enough yet."
"Junta..."
"I know there's no point in getting down on myself about it, but facts are facts, right? I'm the weakest link in the team, and I wish there was something I could do about that? Kinjou-san was an amazing captain and an amazing cyclist. He wasn't the ace for nothing, and it's easy to follow your hero into battle, right? The strongest person is a reasonable captain. But I can never be Kinjou-san... Onoda is our ace, our hero, our champion and king. I know he's not the type to be captain, exactly, but... I don't know. I don't know."
"Junta," Aoyagi says quietly. "Come on. It's about time for practice."
The door to the clubroom opens and Onoda stiffens against the wall next to it. Aoyagi casts a cool, unreadable expression in his direction, but doesn't say anything.
Onoda overhears similar, one-sided conversations a few more times over the next several weeks and feels more and more awkward each time. He knows he shouldn't listen, but it's hard to pull away once he starts parsing the words. It's hard, too, not to burst into the clubroom each time and stutter out something contrary.
Onoda is sure that everyone knows that his win at the Inter-High was a group effort, and that he would have never succeeded without the support of his team and his friends. He is sure that they hold him up as the ace and the champion as a matter of formality, and not because they truly believe that he's the strongest on the team. He can't be. There is still too much he doesn't know and doesn't understand about cycling, still so many things he is learning every day. He knows it isn't true.
And yet behind closed doors, Teshima says day after day that he is, all while putting himself down. And Onoda starts to think that maybe they're very similar. Onoda believes that Teshima is strong. Teshima believes that Onoda is strong. It's the faith that teammates have in each other, he knows, he's learned, but there's a crippling self-doubt coupled with it too. Onoda knows it's hard for him to believe in himself, and he thinks, probably, that it's even harder for Teshima.
A month ahead of the Inter-High, Onoda runs into Teshima on the way to practice.
"Oh, hi, Onoda! How're you feeling today? Good, right? All that rain's finally let up, so we should have smoother sailing during practice today--"
"T-Teshima-s-san!" Onoda interrupts without thinking.
"Hmm?" Teshima smiles warmly at him. "What's up?"
"Y-You're strong!" Onoda blurts. "A-And you're my h-hero! I don't think you're weak at all!"
Teshima blinks at him a moment, then laughs softly. "Ah... Aoyagi thought you probably heard some stuff I said."
"I-I'm sorry!"
"It's fine, Onoda... I shouldn't've said anything where you could hear. That's my fault. I'm sorry to make you worry about me."
"It's true though, Teshima-san! I think you're strong! You're a g-great captain and I know Imaizumi-kun and Naruko-kun and Kaburagi-kun think so t-too! None of us think you're weak!"
Teshima sighs and shakes his head, still smiling. "Thanks, Onoda. You don't have to say that--"
"It's okay if you don't believe me," Onoda says, looking down. "I don't believe it when people tell me I'm strong either. When they call me a hero and an ace and all that... I was only strong last year because of Makishima-san... our senpais, Imaizumi-kun, Naruko-kun... and you, Teshima-san, and Aoyagi-san. Everyone helped me to be strong."
He looks up again. "S-So even if you think you're weak... don't forget that we're all here with you, to help make you strong! We're a team, and t-together, we're strong!"
Teshima laughs, slings one arm around Onoda's shoulder and ruffles his hair with the other. Onoda thinks he sees his captain wipe a tear from his eye just before his glasses get bumped just out of place.
FILL: Team Aoyagi Hajime/Teshima Junta, G
Onoda Sakamichi frequently arrives to practice early. Because he's rather inadequate, he supposes, he doesn't often have a lot of after-class duties or clean-up to do. It works out though, as he likes getting to the clubroom early. He's clumsy and a bit uncoordinated, and it usually takes him longer to change than everyone else. Sometimes, if Koga or one of his other senpais is there early also, he gets to spend a little time learning about bike maintenance and technical things.
As summer approached though, Onoda notices that Teshima and Aoyagi are often in the clubroom discussing things before practice. The first time this happens, Onoda stands just outside, waiting politely so's not to intrude on their conversation. The conversation isn't hard to overhear though.
"Everyone's getting better, but we're not strong enough yet," Teshima says, and Onoda can imagine him gritting his teeth. "I'm not strong enough yet."
"Junta..."
"I know there's no point in getting down on myself about it, but facts are facts, right? I'm the weakest link in the team, and I wish there was something I could do about that? Kinjou-san was an amazing captain and an amazing cyclist. He wasn't the ace for nothing, and it's easy to follow your hero into battle, right? The strongest person is a reasonable captain. But I can never be Kinjou-san... Onoda is our ace, our hero, our champion and king. I know he's not the type to be captain, exactly, but... I don't know. I don't know."
"Junta," Aoyagi says quietly. "Come on. It's about time for practice."
The door to the clubroom opens and Onoda stiffens against the wall next to it. Aoyagi casts a cool, unreadable expression in his direction, but doesn't say anything.
Onoda overhears similar, one-sided conversations a few more times over the next several weeks and feels more and more awkward each time. He knows he shouldn't listen, but it's hard to pull away once he starts parsing the words. It's hard, too, not to burst into the clubroom each time and stutter out something contrary.
Onoda is sure that everyone knows that his win at the Inter-High was a group effort, and that he would have never succeeded without the support of his team and his friends. He is sure that they hold him up as the ace and the champion as a matter of formality, and not because they truly believe that he's the strongest on the team. He can't be. There is still too much he doesn't know and doesn't understand about cycling, still so many things he is learning every day. He knows it isn't true.
And yet behind closed doors, Teshima says day after day that he is, all while putting himself down. And Onoda starts to think that maybe they're very similar. Onoda believes that Teshima is strong. Teshima believes that Onoda is strong. It's the faith that teammates have in each other, he knows, he's learned, but there's a crippling self-doubt coupled with it too. Onoda knows it's hard for him to believe in himself, and he thinks, probably, that it's even harder for Teshima.
A month ahead of the Inter-High, Onoda runs into Teshima on the way to practice.
"Oh, hi, Onoda! How're you feeling today? Good, right? All that rain's finally let up, so we should have smoother sailing during practice today--"
"T-Teshima-s-san!" Onoda interrupts without thinking.
"Hmm?" Teshima smiles warmly at him. "What's up?"
"Y-You're strong!" Onoda blurts. "A-And you're my h-hero! I don't think you're weak at all!"
Teshima blinks at him a moment, then laughs softly. "Ah... Aoyagi thought you probably heard some stuff I said."
"I-I'm sorry!"
"It's fine, Onoda... I shouldn't've said anything where you could hear. That's my fault. I'm sorry to make you worry about me."
"It's true though, Teshima-san! I think you're strong! You're a g-great captain and I know Imaizumi-kun and Naruko-kun and Kaburagi-kun think so t-too! None of us think you're weak!"
Teshima sighs and shakes his head, still smiling. "Thanks, Onoda. You don't have to say that--"
"It's okay if you don't believe me," Onoda says, looking down. "I don't believe it when people tell me I'm strong either. When they call me a hero and an ace and all that... I was only strong last year because of Makishima-san... our senpais, Imaizumi-kun, Naruko-kun... and you, Teshima-san, and Aoyagi-san. Everyone helped me to be strong."
He looks up again. "S-So even if you think you're weak... don't forget that we're all here with you, to help make you strong! We're a team, and t-together, we're strong!"
Teshima laughs, slings one arm around Onoda's shoulder and ruffles his hair with the other. Onoda thinks he sees his captain wipe a tear from his eye just before his glasses get bumped just out of place.
"You're incredible, Onoda," Teshima says. "Thank you."