A/N: Tanaka is my favorite character, by far, so Ithought it was only fair to write a poem for him. Enjoy!


Ryuu's glad to indulge his inherent selfishness

if it means he gets to live the happy life

he's meant to: one where

volleyball is life

friends are supportive

and meat remains god.

Volleyball remains the constant

in his life, even when

everything changes faster

than the speed of light;

volleyball was there during his

Spectacular list of firsts.

Crushes - - -

to the general public:

it was the glorious gorgeous gal Kiyoko;

to those who know him with the intimacy

of a friend: it was Ennoshita Chikara,

but to those who know him with the closeness

of a family member will know

it was actually Ennoshita and Kiyoko

at the same time,

(and if you're interested in threats

and hilarious overreactions:

try reminding him

of that abominable, unspeakable

crush on Noya) - - - didn't crush him

because he excelled at volleyball,

the sport that didn't care

the gender your heart desired

as long as the volleyball

soared through the air

like a valiant, proud crow.

He loved intensely,

and he loved loudly

and he loved with endless loyalty,

thanks to volleyball.

Ryuu excelled with coasting by

in classes with his charisma - - -

which went underappreciated by

teachers, who saw him as

an idiot

a slacker

wasted potential

motor-mouth

too keen on socializing.

He'd always kept a surprise up his sleeve

by pulling astonishing grades

at the weirdest of moments, and for that

teachers gave him knowing glances,

the look that said

"I'm onto you,

strange one: I'm willing to

solve your ways

if only you weren't so difficult".

It was volleyball

that kept him stylish

even when he had braces

for that awful time right before middle school

and Saeko kept telling him

that there wasn't anything stuck in his teeth

when there clearly was.

(Saeko gave Ryuu advice

on how to look awesome

with a shaved head after all of

the grief he received after growing

His mop of hair too long,

so Ryuu supposed Saeko wasn't

that awful as an older sister).

Volleyball kept him

passionate,

kept him energetic,

kept him sane,

and for that,

he's eternally happy

for the anchor keeping him

from drowning.

After all: Ryuu's inherent selfishness

led him to

the life he's living

right here, right now.