Karasuno Quartet

"Are you serious, Shizu? You've brought home another failed test?" her mother screeched. "Honestly, what is wrong with you? When did you get to be so lazy?"

Shizu sat on the brown leather couch that she hated so much. They never had family bonding nights on that couch. She never had friends come over to study, watch movies, or take naps on that couch. The only purpose that couch seemed to serve was to be verbally reprimanded. As a child, it wasn't so bad. Her brother had always sat next to her as they both received a verbal lashing for a prank they pulled or a fight they had gotten into either with each other or the neighborhood bullies. As she got older, though, she seemed to be on her own.

Shizu sat, a distant look in her olive brown eyes. She thought that she could let her mother's words fall on deaf ears again, but something about them stung this time around. She was unsure why. On average, she failed her tests six times out of ten. She always made sure to ace one or two so she wouldn't fall too far behind. When it came to midterms and finals, she always made sure to put her all into them and receive perfect marks.

"How do you ever expect to get into a good university with grades like these?"

"Obviously with athletic scholarships if my grades won't cut it." she sharply retorted.

Her mother sent her a chilling glare. "Why can't you be more like Wakatoshi? Respectable. Dependable. Studious."

Her entire body had suddenly grown stiff. Shizu felt her throat tighten as she felt a sharp sensation in her nose. Hot tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. She lowered her head to hide reddening eyes beneath her silver dyed bangs. She sniffled quietly, unable to hold in her emotions.

Wakatoshi noticed the small droplets fall from her hidden face. He watched as she quickly brought a hand to one of her flushed cheeks to wipe away the tears that had started to glide down. "I think she understands, mother," he chimed in, his gaze never leaving his sister. His brows furrowed, hearing the small whimper that snuck past her lips.

Shizu gritted her teeth. I don't need your help.

"We may attend different schools, but the coursework is essentially the same..."

Don't say it, she pleaded silently.

"With that in mind..."

Don't you fucking say it, she demanded, a fire suddenly bursting within her, replacing the worthless feeling she had experienced just a moment ago.

"I can help her study."

I hate you! This is all your damn fault anyway!

Their mother’s gaze softened as she turned her attention to her son. "You're always looking out for her, but I don't want you to compromise your studies. You work so hard in both your academics and your athletics. I'm so proud of you, Wakatoshi, but she needs to learn to stand on her own two feet."

Shizu rose to her feet. She scoffed, saying, "standing is overrated anyway. I prefer running."

"Stop being a brat! You can't run from your problems! That’s not how the real world works!” She released an exaserpated sigh upon seeing Wakatoshi shake his head at her, her cue that she was somehow being too combatitive. She shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose to herlp her ease the frustration she felt towards her daughter. “Are you going to at least thank your brother for his offer?" she asked, a more calm tone in her voice as her eyes narrowed towards Shizu.

Shizu looked up at him, her head tilted slightly, which told him that she wasn't going to be genuine. She forced a smile. "Thank you, dearest brother, but I Im afraid I will have to decline your offer,” she said, venom spilling from each syllable. “Nothing personal, I just really hate you right now," she added, her voice taking on a honeyed tone.

“Shizu!” their mother yelled, her voice coming out harsher than before.  

She made her way towards the front door, ignoring the presence of her mother and brother.

"Where are you going? Get up to your room and study!" their mother demanded.

Wakatoshi grabbed her wris, gentle yet still firm. "It's getting late, Shizu..."

Shizu locked gazes with his matching olive brown eye. The anger in hers dulled slightly. She sighed at the genuine concern he had for her no matter how upset she was. "I won't be gone long,” she said softly, a hint of guilt in her voice. “I'll...what was the phrase on that old American game show we used to watch? Phone a friend?"

Wakatoshi stood quietly for a moment, staring down at his sister. He considered the consequences if she left on her own, but he also considered the consequences if she stayed while in the mental and emotional state she was in. He knew his sister well enough to know that the longer her feelings of anger and inadequacy festered, the more spiteful and reckless she would become. He had a choice to make. No matter which he chose, one would not like it.

Wakatoshi nodded, releasing his hold on her.

As Shizu slipped back into her shoes to prepare to leave, her mother spat out a string of insults that she felt would keep her daughter home and better herself. She compared her to Wakatoshi, calling her a problem child and an imbecile. While she was active in a sport, she would never go far due to her lack of discipline and haughty way of thinking.

Shizu bit down on her bottom lip, hurrying out of the house. She didn’t want to give her mother and brother the satisfaction of seeing the tears falling down her cheeks. As she walked, she took her phone out of the pocker of her school uniform’s black blazer and scrolled through her contacts. Most were from middle school whom she didn’t even talk to anymore. Her finger suddenly stopped as she stared down at one particular name. The fellow first year had run up to her after a track meet a few weeks ago and had done the strangest thing.

"You were so amazing out there! Please, marry me!" He had screamed out, holding her hands tightly.

She was certain that wasn't what he meant to say. He didn't look too fazed when she awkwardly declined his proposal, just more embarrassed at his own words. She smiled softly at the memory. She clicked on his name to call.

"Ushijima-san!" The usually mellow voice called out enthusiastically.

She laughed nervously. "I told you it's okay to just call me Shizu."

"Right! Sorry about that!" His features suddenly dropped, hearing a soft sniffle over the phone. "Shizu, is everything okay?" His voice was softer now, concern in his tone.

She paused for a moment, thinking about what had transpired. In retrospect, she knew she was at fault.

Why am I like this?

"Daichi!" A voice in the background called out. "We're going to stop by Sakanonshita Market and try their nikuman! Want to join us?"

"One minute, Asahi," Daichi replied, his face scrunching in worry at her silence.

"Oh! I'm sorry! You're with your friends! I'll--"

"Don't say sorry. It's not like you knew."

His voice was authoritative now, something she wasn't used to in the few weeks she had known him. She had known him to be quiet, but someone everyone seemed to like. He always had a gentle smile on his face. There was something paternal about him. She wasn’t even sure he was capable of feeling anger or frustration. Her lips pursed. She almost felt as if she were about to be scolded again and was waiting to get hit by another wave of insults. She fell silent.

"Hey, Shizu," Daichi suddenly said, the easy-going tone returning to him, "why don't you join us if you're already out. It's just me and two guys from volleyball club."

"A...are you sure that's all right?" she asked, her voice taking on a more timid nature.

"Of course! We first years have to stick together, right? We'll see you soon!"

"R-right! Okay! See you soon!"

"Oh, wait, before you hang up!" Daichi yelled out quickly.

She smiled softly. She could hear the urgency in his voice and the blush on his cheeks "What's up?"

"Would you...do you maybe...want me to stay on the phone with you?"

"That's kind, but not necessary," she replied, slightly taken aback by the gesture.

"Yeah, but the sun is setting and you're alone, right? If any creepy guys try to talk to you, you could just...tell them you're...talking to your...boyfriend or something maybe." His voice had gotten quieter and more muffled towards the end.

She tapped her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Hm, I guess that's not a terrible idea." Her shoulders jerked, hearing a loud thud on the other end. “D-Daichi?”

"Daichi, are you okay?!" She heard the voice from earlier call out.

"Did you just catch a fever?" She heard another voice frantically call out.

The second voice had sounded familiar to her somehow. She couldn’t quite make it out, the sounds of squeaking sneakers against polished hardwood floors obstructed her clarity.

"S-sorry about that!" Daichi said into the phone.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, a small frown on her lips.

"O-oh! Um, yeah! I dropped my phone, that's all!"

As she walked to her destination, Daichi stayed on the phone with her, talking and laughing as his two teammates attempted to wrestle him for the phone to see who he was talking to. They had hung up when she could see them a few yards away. They all waved to signify their exact spot. When she reached them, her body grew stiff and her entire face reddened.

"Ushijima-san!" Sugawara called out with a wide grin.

HE KNOWS MY NAME??

"Y-you c-c-can call m-me Shih tzu! I-I-I mean Shizu! My name is Shizu! You can call me that! My...by my...name..." Embarrassment overtook her. All she wanted at that point was to be buried alive.

"Oh, are you cold?" Sugawara asked, taking note of her stutter.

Before she could answer, he had already taken off his black club jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She was enveloped in its secondhand warmth and the strong sweet scent of warm vanilla. She looked down, feeling her cheeks grow even hotter. She sputtered out an incredibly timid 'thank you.'

"So you two know each other?" Daichi asked.

"We're in the same homeroom! And we have a few other classes together," Sugawara answered.

Shizu looked up, a faint look of shock in her eyes. He had noticed her. He knew she existed. He somehow acknowledged her. She had long since forgotten the magic and appeal of fairy tales. However, the day of orientation, she felt as if she were living in one. The moment she had laid eyes on Koushi Sugawara was the moment she knew what the silly little children's stories meant by love at first sight. Time seemed to stand still whenever she passed him in the halls. The room felt so much brighter when illuminated by his smile or his laugh. When they would accidentally lock gazes, her heart pounded to hard against her ribcage that she was certain she would drop dead on the floor from a heart attack. Whenever she felt her body about to give out on her during practice or an official race, she would pretend he was waiting for her at the finish line. She knew it was a delusion, but it was a delusion that made life seem just a bit more bearable.

"Great!” Daichi exclaimed, “introductions are nearly done then! Shizu, this is Asahi."

Shizu blinked, Daichi’s voice forcing her out of her thoughts.

"Nice to meet you," he said quietly.

Shizu smiled to the only bot she didn’t know, not expecting the tallest and broadest of the trio to also be the most soft spoken. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

After buying the buns, the four Karasuno first years stood outside, getting to know each other more, laughing, smiling. They exchanged stories about their day. The boys were so animated talking about volleyball practice. Shizu began to feel more at ease.

"Oh, hey, Shizu," Daichi suddenly said. "When we were on the phone earlier, you sounded as if you were crying..."

Shizu gave a sad smile. "It's nothing. It was my fault, anyway. My mom yelled about another failed test and compared me to my brother. It's silly, really. Nothing I should have cried over."

The three boys frowned.

"Well, when it comes to studies," Daichi said, "I'm not bad, but I'm not great at it either. Suga studies a lot and has helped us. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, right, Suga?"

Shizu waved her hands."O-oh! N-no, I don't actually--"

"Of course I don't mind."

Shizu's eyes wandered towards the soft smiling face. She could feel her cheeks heat up once more.

"It'll be a nice excuse to talk to each other more, too!" He placed a hand on top of her head, softly patting it. "I'm glad I didn't hear you cry. That'd make me sad. Let's work together so your mother doesn't make it happen again, okay?"

Shizu bit her bottom lip to stop the tears trying to make their way to her eyes. She nodded with a soft smile. She could most definitely be buried alive. Just like this. Euphoria replacing the blood in her body. She felt her phone give off a series of vibrations. When she looked at it, she frowned at the text.

Fr: Face Stealer
Where are you?
When are you coming home?
Mom is about to call the police. She thinks you were kidnapped.
I can come meet you.
From Waka

He's such an idiot...

"Is something wrong?" Asahi asked.

"Just my brother. I should get going. Thanks for letting me tag along."

"Any time!" Daichi said.

"It'd be cool to do this more often," Asahi stated.

"Yeah!" Sugawara agreed, that charming and soothing smile still plastered on his lips.

"That definitely sounds like a plan!" Shizu said, taking the jacket of her shoulders to hand back to Sugawara.

He stared at it thoughtfully for a moment. He smiled again, taking it from her. As she turned, he placed it back on her shoulders, hugging her from behind. His chin rested on her shoulder. Shizu's eyes widened, heart pumping rapidly as her face lit up again. She turned her head, the tips of their noses touching. She felt her knees buckle.

"You're still cold, right? I'd feel terrible if you headed back on your own with your teeth chattering. You can just give it back in homeroom tomorrow," he said, his voice was soft, caring.

"S-s-sou...s-sounds g-good."

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow then. I'll get your number from Daichi."

She watched as Sugawara and Asahi walked off. She tilted her head slightly, a small frown as she watched him rub his arms before punching Asahi in his shoulder while laughing. Her cheeks flamed up again at the unexpected action of Sugawara looking over his shoulder, smiling and waving to her.

"Do you...want to talk like before? On the phone, I mean," Daichi asked.

Daichi’s voice pulled her from her thoughts again. "Hm? Oh, n-no, that's okay. My brother's going to meet me."

"The brother that made your mom compare you two?"

"We have a complicated relationship..."

Daichi put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I get it. I'll see you at school then."

"Yeah.” She said, watching him walk away. “H-hey, Daichi?”

He stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder at her. “Yeah?”

“Thanks…for inviting me and all. It means a lot. Really," she said, giving him a soft smile.

His ears were glowing red as he laughed. "Any time. I mean it."

They parted ways. She smiled and giggles as she walked away from the market, grateful for the new bonds she had made. She was even more grateful for the opportunity she had to actually talk to the boy who unknowingly grabbed onto her her heart just a bit tighter. She wrapped herself up more in just jacket, inhaling his scent, committing it to memory.She sighed happily and took out her phone.

To: Face Stealer
K.
Hey, Waka...

Fr: Face Stealer
Yes.

To: Face Stealer
About what I said earlier...

Fr: Face Stealer
I know
:)
uwu
つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

To: Face Stealer
What is this??????????????

Fr: Face Stealer
My classmate, Tendou, showed me.
He told me I can express myself more through text since I look like a robot...

To: Face Stealer
Stop that

She made it to the bus stop she and her brother walked home from. He was already standing there, staring down at his phone intently. She already knew he was expecting to see another text from her stating that she had arrived.

She quietly made her way towards him. "You know...you don't have to put from Waka at the end of your texts. I know it's you. Kind of defeats the purpose of caller ID, don't you think?"

His body jerked hearing her voice. He pressed a button on the side of his phone before shoving it into his pocket. He looked down at her, mimicking her head tilt she often did. "Where did you get that jacket?"

"I told you I'd phone a friend."

"It's big on you."

"So?"

"Your friend isn't a girl."

"Please don't start the protective big brother role. You're barely older than me," she said, walking ahead of him to hide the pink tint.

"Three minutes..."

"I should've eaten you in the womb."

Wakatoshi softly smiled to himself. He knew whenever she said that, she wasn't angry anymore.

After getting home and preparing for bed, her phone set off a series of vibrations again. She picked it up from her desk to look at it.

Fr: UNKNOWN NUMBER
Hey, Shih tzu!! OH. I MEAN SHIZU
Lol kidding! That wasn't a typo. Your blunder earlier was funny.
And cute...
OH
It's Suga-chaaaan!! :]
It was great to officially meet you! We'll talk more at school about tutoring. It's late so don't worry about texting me back.
Have a great night!
HEY NO WAIT. I TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID. TEXT ME BACK TO LET ME KNOW YOU GOT HOME SAFE
Don't make me worry about you. I'll come over and take my jacket back right now! T_T

She held her phone to her chest, the smile so wide it was hurting her cheeks. This was it. This was the moment she wanted to be buried alive, the happiness she felt more intense than before.