After so many years of having known each other, Agon Kongo was still a rather prominent thorn in Asami's side.
Since learning they'd be attending the same college of Saikyoudai, he'd been sending her what she assumed were drunken texts of many a different subject matter although most would undoubtedly lead to perversion.
The brunette had wanted to put her best foot forward and in a show of good faith, rekindle her friendship with her ex since they would be sharing a university. However, the more they 'bonded' since the long separation, the more irritated Asami became.
She currently sat impatiently in a booth at WcDonald's, staring at her phone while tapping her fingers on the table.
With no context at all he'd sent her a text telling her to be there at 12:30 this Saturday and though she'd prodded him for answers regarding why it was she needed to be there and what for, he'd never replied. How typical for Agon.
Normally he at least had the courtesy not to call her out anywhere but she still had too much trouble saying no, not that he'd accept that anyway.
She watched as each new customer came in through the door, waiting for any sort of sign of what her purpose was here.
It was when she spotted a familiar spiky head of hair come in that she was unable to help but smile and call him over. "Ikkyu! Hey, over here!" She waved.
"O-Oh, Asami-chan," He replied nervously, walking over to her table immediately, "You came..!"
"Of course I ca…" She had a thought and remembered that the text Agon had sent her merely said to be here at this time. Did he actually intend on coming? "I mean, I was asked to be here but… is Agon on his way, or…?"
Ikkyu slid onto the other side of the booth she sat in, eyes drifting from her own at the observation as a blush covered his cheeks. "Well… that is… Agon-san may have um… asked you without giving much warning…"
"He didn't set us up… did he…?" She murmured skeptically.
"I-I didn't ask him to, I swear!" Ikkyu held his hand up in a gesture of promise, nervously trying to explain himself.
Asami giggled, "Don't worry about it Ikkyu, I always enjoy seeing you anyway and it's actually preferable with just the two of us."
He swallowed harshly, trying to fight back the embarrassment from showing on his face. "Sometimes Agon-san just sort of… acts on impulses. We might have been talking about next season when you were brought up and then… Well, you're here."
"Trust me; I understand his whims better than most…" She laughed, waving off his concern.
"You're going to Saikyoudai right?"
"That's right!" Ikkyu had answered without hesitation.
"Good, I'll need someone reliable when that slimy trash takes over…" Agon scoffed, rolling his eyes, "As usual, he's too much a piece of trash to be worth looking at with that pathetic physical ability,"
"You can count on me Agon-san though both of you make an oni great combination,"
The younger Kongo twin made a disgusted face, "Admitting to a combination with him makes me sick, I think I'd rather spend more quality time with those hot managers that trail behind that trash for some reason."
"T-They're both going to Saikyoudai as well?" Did that mean he'd finally get to be on a team with really cute girl managers?
"Mamori-chan's too serious and she's always looking to that slimy trash," Agon pondered, "Not to mention her."
"Asami-chan..?" Ikkyu gulped, crush already showing.
"Yeah, what the hell does she see in those trashes?! Kukuku, at least I'll have a chance at opening her eyes back up to what's actually worthwhile."
The shorter male nodded meekly, imagining what it'd be like to go to practice every day and be greeted by her warm smile; the thought bringing heat to his cheeks that he couldn't hide.
"Ahhh? What's with that face?"
Ikkyu turned pale, waving his hands in front of him, "I-It's nothing, honestly!"
Agon squinted, leaning in closer to invade the cornerback's personal space, "I don't know why you make the same pathetic face as the other trashes at Shinryuji when girls are brought up…"
"No I… I mean there's… not a lot of time for those sorts of things when we're always training and such; I wouldn't sacrifice it for anything!" It was true that being the best was his first priority but he'd never refuse quality time with a cute girl.
"Maybe for the other trash but those of us with talent can obviously make time for the finer things in life, right?"
Ikkyu flushed, knowing talking to Agon about girls was the equivalent of a novice asking a professional musician how to play a complex piece… yet the fact that the overall genius considered him an equal in many regards and respected him was something that gave him immense pride.
However, his mastery of the backwards run and pre-eminent senses in motion ability wasn't very helpful when it came to flirting with girls, unless maybe if he were to catch one out of the air.
Before he could stutter out another excuse, Agon went on, "Out of every other trash she hangs around, you would be preferred… I'd rather have someone like you play with Asami if I had to relinquish her," he mused as if picturing it. If she was unwilling to mess around, he could think of no one more suited to take up his place than Ikkyu.
"Me and… and…" The shorter gawked, not expecting this sort of turn in the conversation.
"Fine I'll set you up. Meet her at the WcDonald's, 12:30 this Saturday."
Ikkyu's mouth hung open.
"Be grateful, no one else is usually worth my time to take my leftovers, but she's a special case and somehow picturing her drooling over some trash leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
"I'll do my best… Agon-san…"
"He's always selfishly doing what he wants without considering anyone else's opinion… I just hope he doesn't think Saikyoudai is going to treat him as leniently as Shinryuji did." She huffed: the understatement of the year.
"We're both excited to be on the team with oni strong competition and comrades." Ikkyu added, both having their own trey's of food.
"It will be harder with all of us being freshmen verse the upperclassmen but as long as we work at it, I don't doubt we'll have the talent to go far in the upcoming tournaments."
The two chattered on about the American Football season which was what they mostly had in common. It was safer and more casual that way though they had known each other for a few years now, she couldn't recall a time where had a chance to talk alone.
"But yeah, I'm grateful Mamori's always so helpful… I'd be doomed if I tried being manager alone. She'll be washing the jerseys and things… and I can't even stay in the room," Asami laughed.
"Wait the… you two wash the uniforms?!" Ikkyu gawked.
"Mmmhmmm, or at least we did in Deimon though I usually stuck to hanging them to dry,"
His blush returned, suddenly more self-conscious then before, "Y-You shouldn't worry about that, at least I'll take care of my own!"
"We work on everyone's Ikkyu; guess boys can't be expected to get those tough stains out."
"But leaving such a job to…"
"You trust me, right?"
He met her gaze from across the table, deep brown eyes locking with her icy blue ones.
"It's probably strange to think about, but all of us are going to be a part of the team. I can't help in the same way the rest of you can… so leave the smaller things to us and know that we're supporting you, ok?" Asami smiled.
Ikkyu tried his best to seem unimpressed but it was unbelievably hard to brush off that kind of statement from a crush of his. "Alright, I understand… though I'd rather you simply relax and watch us win for you."
She giggled, folding her hands together, "You win for yourselves. No one can take that pride away from you."
He felt as if she understood him way too well.
"I admire you, Asami-chan," He spoke out, posture stiffening when realizing the weight of his words.
Her lips parted just slightly, the ever-concerned stare she held watching him with a quiet intensity he had always avoided for his own sake.
Ikkyu felt his jaw lock shut as if to keep at bay the instinct to apologize and pretend he'd never stepped that far for the fear of embarrassing himself or chasing her away. He wasn't like Agon or Hiruma who could spar with words and manipulate others into seeing his way; the only thing he could do was speak his mind and hope to be accepted through his actions.
Asami smiled warmly, "I've always admired you as well. You stay kind and can understand that there's strength in many things. I'm looking forward to getting to know you this year."
"Yeah… me too." He nodded, glancing away and trying to seem apathetic. She always got to him in ways that made his heart flutter beyond just physical appearance and he silently thanked Agon in the back of his mind.
AN: I actually have so much love for Ikkyu Hosokawa so I wanted an arc devoted to the progression between him, Asami, and Agon. Ikkyu is the sunshine of my life, worthy of everything good and pure tbh.