Summary: "The Sawamura family had never been traditional, despite their best attempts" - with the one exception of Eijun's grandfather.
Quirks to know for this chapter: Eijun (partial lion), Sawamura Eitoku (partial lion), Wakana (radar)
The Sawamura family had never been traditional, despite their best attempts. If there were ever any doubts about that, they disappeared the day Eijun's father, a lion, married his mother, a mere housecat, and had Eijun himself. His grandfather tried to cover it up, pressing lessons of the lion's manners on him. It had no effect. While the lessons stuck, the one that stuck the most was that the lion is, above all else, king. And kings don't follow the rules when there's a better option.
For Eijun, this showed the most in how he first started playing baseball. As a sport that required no tails, people with animal quirks often decided not to play.
"A gentleman," his grandfather had proclaimed rule number four, "never hides his tail. It is always groomed and held aloft."*
There was that, but there was also just the discomfort of stuffing your tail down one pant leg. It was as if Eijun tied one arm behind his back whenever he stepped on the field. His tail was still there, of course, but not being able to use it had been the biggest adjustment to baseball.
Between that and rule number four, Eijun's grandfather had done his best to forbid him from playing.
It hadn't worked.
Eijun just snuck out with the help of Wakana, her radar quirk alerting them to any adults in the area. The only thing Eijun knew was that baseball was addicting, and he would do anything to keep pitching: even give up his tail.
It wasn't long after starting baseball that Eijun realised none of his teammates seemed to have traditions regarding their quirks. When his curiosity got the best of him and he finally asked Wakana, she just looked at him with a single eyebrow raised.
"Ei-chan, you know lions are some of the only quirks with traditions, right? And big cats in general."
Eijun shook his head; he hadn't known this. Somehow, his grandfather had managed to skip a history lesson while impressing manners on him.
"It's because there are so many of you," Wakana explained. "Canines are the same. Also, while most quirks are passed down through generations, felines and canines are some of the quirks that generally stay the same. Combined with your large numbers and the instincts that accompany your quirks, you formed traditions." Her lips quirked up. "Or at least, that's what my mom says! When she found out I was friends with you she gave me an entire lesson."
"Friends?" Eijun bristled. "Wakana, you're pride!"
Wakana's mouth dropped open and for the first time in their thirteen years, Eijun saw her cry.
It took Wakana blubbering about not even being a big cat for Eijun to remember rule number two: prides are made of lions and, on occasion and if they're lucky, other cats. Considering his father had married a house cat and there were no other cat families in town, Eijun had tucked this rule into the 'unimportant' part of his brain and promptly forgotten it. Wrapping Wakana tightly in a hug, he resolved to, if not forget it, ignore it forever. Clearly it wasn't meant to be followed.
"Traditions" Omake - "The Kings (of the Forest)"
Eijun gritted his teeth as he stared up at Chris-senpai. His head hurt from whacking it on the floor, he knelt into the dogeza so quickly. Still, though…
"But I still want to beg you!"
His grandfather would be ashamed of him, bowing his head to someone with almost zero consideration. Teachers were one thing. Other students were something else entirely, and lions…
'We're the kings,' his grandfather always said. 'We don't bow to just anyone.'
And yet—
"Can you… teach me to play baseball?"
And yet, Chris-senpai clearly wasn't just anyone.
*For those wondering, yes, this is very much a flipped "Blue Exorcist" reference. :D
I hope you all enjoyed, and please review! Also, gentle reminder that you can find me on tumblr at queenofmoons67.