Okay! Since I'm having troubles deciding on the characters, I want you to choose a favorite character from one series to be your super protective older-brother-like best friend, and one character from the other series to be your mutual crush!
Thanks for participating! I felt like these two would havean interesting dynamic!
Walking into the park, your heart starts beating faster whenyou see your long-time crush Tanaka Ryuunosuke headed your way. He’s in townfor a tournament but has a break between games so asked you to come see him whenyou were off work. The two of you have been flirting over texts after meetingat a volleyball co-ed training camp and really hit it off.
Spying you ahead of him, Tanaka’s hands start sweating, hisneck getting tense. He likes you sooooo much and really wants to ask you outbut he’s been dragging his feet. Today Noya threatened that if he didn’t grow apair and finally confess he’d do it for him. Knowing the hyper active liberowould make good on his word, Tanaka requested an opportunity to see you.
“Hi, Tanaka-san!” you shout waving jovially. He smileslightly, blush coming up on his cheeks as he waves back. In little time, you’vemeet half way both wanting to hug the other but refraining from doing so due toyour nerves and not really knowing where the other person is.
“Hey _____-chan, thanks for meeting me. It’s too bad youcouldn’t make it to the game, you would have seen my awesome spikes!” he saysadding a bit of bravado to his voice to cover his nerves.
You laugh to cover yours, sighing, “I know! I tried really hardto get out of my shift but no one would cover for me!” You let out a littlepout and he thinks you’re the cutest girl he’s ever seen.
“No problem, we have more games tonight and tomorrow causewe’re going all the way to the top!”
You nod enthusiastically. Then, remembering why you’re here,you ask, “So, what did you want to talk to me about Tanaka-san?”
Tanaka’s eyes widened a bit, his throat becoming a bit drywhich he clears, repeatedly, trying to drum up the words he wants to say. Justas he’s about to open his mouth, you notice someone behind him and yell out, “Oh!Rinnosuke-kun!” Dodging around the bewildered volleyball player you launchyourself into Mitobe’s arms, his large frame easily catching your smaller one.
Inside Tanaka is dying a little, ok maybe a lot, because hewas sure you were single and you’dnever mentioned a boyfriend and he couldn’t conceive of you being so cruel asto lead him on and-
“Tanaka-san, this is one of my very best friends, MitobeRinnosuke. Actually, I guess it would be more accurate to call him my bigbrother!”
Big…brother…so this wasthe guy. You’d mentioned your “brother” before but until now had never said hisname. He sizes up the tall male, not entirely pleased with the expression onhis face and while normally he’d be asking if he has a problem, it’s quite clearthat would be a rhetorical question.
Mitobe raises his eyebrows at your mention of Tanaka’s nameprompting you to blush furiously and hiss out, “Oh shut up!”
Tanaka is confused; did the dude even say anything? If so,it must have been pretty low.
Another beat of silence passes but then your attention isonce again diverted when your name is called by a group of girls over by ashop. Squealing out a hello, you whip your head to the boys, “Sorry guys, Ineed to go chat with them for just a minute. But that will give you time tobecome acquainted! Be right back!” Before either of them can protest you’rerunning off to your friends.
Turning back to look at Mitobe, Tanaka crosses his arms. “So,you’re _____-chan’s “brother”. She talks about you a lot, seems you two arepretty close.”
Mitobe nods, his face remaining neutral, eyes focused onTanaka. Despite his cocky attitude, Tanaka does, deep down, care about what peoplethink of him. And it’s pretty clear that this guy means a lot to you, whichmeans he should probably put in some more effort to get to know him. After all,if he wants to date you, doesn’t “family” usually come along in the mix?
“Um, _____-chan tells me you play basketball. Uh, that’s…cool…Iguess,” Tanaka says. Again, Mitobe just nods. Tanaka can feel himself gettingirritated with the guy. Is this some kind of a game? Pushing his buttons so hecan get him to explode or make a fool of himself in front of you? How is he supposedto get to know the guy if he won’t talk?
“Oi,” he says a bit gruffer, “aren’t you gonna say anything?”
Mitobe shrugs, turning his head momentarily to look at youthen back at Tanaka. He repeats the motion, one eyebrow inclining slightly.
Sighing, Tanaka somehowgets what he’s “saying”. “So, you figured out that I like her, huh?”
Mitobe nods, eyes narrowing a bit.
“And she’s really important to you, obviously,” Tanaka adds.
Another nod, arms crossing in front of his chest.
Scratching the back of his head, a sudden thought occurs toTanaka. “Well, seeing as you’re pretty much the only “family” _____-chan has, Isuppose this is appropriate.” He sees Mitobe’s eyes soften, a slight curvedownward of his lips as he recalls just how you’ve become an honorary member ofhis family. Tanaka goes on, “Yeah, well, seeing as that’s the case, I guess….um…I,”he sighs, closing his eyes before opening them again and blurting out, “Could Iget your permission to date her?”
Before Mitobe can react, a sudden shout from you draws both boys’attention away from one another. You’re standing by yourself now, your friendsapparently having left, but there’s a guy messing with you, not letting youleave.
Tanaka is there in a flash, yanking him back from you andinjecting himself between him and you. “Just what the hell do you think you’redoing?” he shouts, fists clenched.
“Scram brat, this doesn’t concern you!” the bully saysmoving to shove Tanaka out of the way. He dodges, grabbing the guy by the wristand twisting his arm around making him grunt in pain.
“Now,” he says gruffly, “get the hell out of here before I reallymess you up.”
He pushes him forward, making him stumble. The guy whirlsaround, about to try again, when Mitobe arrives standing just behind Tanaka. Atthe sight of the imposingly tall basketball player, the offender leaves,cursing under his breath.
Tanaka turns to you. “Are you ok?” he asks. He’s barely finishedthe question before you’ve flung yourself into his chest, tears streaming downyour cheeks. Awkwardly, Tanaka places his hands on your back, while yours wrapmore fully around his waist. He gulps, patting your head, unsure exactly whatto say but figuring he can help by just holding you.
His eyes shift to Mitobe who is standing very still watchingthe two of you. Slowly, a soft smile pulls up his lips, his eyes flicking from Tanakato you then back again before he lifts his hand and shows a thumbs up.
Tanaka grins, saying lowly, “Thanks man.”
You sniff, pulling back to look up at your rescuer. “Did…didyou say something Tanaka-san?”
“What? Eh, no. Hey, I never did get a chance to talk to you,you know?” he says smiling into your tear stained face. He pulls you along,unwilling to ask his question in front of anybody else, brother or not.
As Mitobe watches you go, Koga arrives, standing next tohim.
“So that’s the guy?” he asks and Mitobe nods.
“Do we like him?” Mitobe nods again.
“Good, come on, the captain’s waiting,” he concludes, turningon his heel headed back to the park court Seirin is practicing on. With onelast glance at you and your new boyfriend (he’s sure he’s right judging by howyou’re hugging him) Mitobe turns to follow his friend, glad he won’t have toworry about you as long as Tanaka is around.
