Breakfast was light, but good. Once they ate their fill, the students took turns in the room getting dressed and making their way to the lobby. It was decided that they would all be moving around in groups or pairs, and there was a lot of chatter about who was going where and when. Eventually everyone started to take their leave, Kitsuna and the girls hanging back for just a moment more while waiting on the other third years. Or one of them, anyway, who had disappeared at some point in the chaos.

"Where'd Daichi go?," Asahi finally acknowledged it out loud. Just as he did, Sugawara's and Kitsuna's phones beeped in their pockets. The two checked their phones, giving very different reactions. Kitsuna raised a brow but shrugged, and Sugawara scowled but wiped the look off his face before his phone was back in his pocket.

"Said he'll be around later. We're about to miss the bus, so we'll catch up?," Kitsuna delivered the cryptic news and checked that the other two were going to wait.

"Sure. See ya," Suga sighed and waved at the three that were leaving first. Kitsuna returned the little wave as she stepped out into the morning sun, shivering as her body adjusted to the change in air temperature.

…

"You've been awfully helpful."

"W-wait! I just-!"

The older man with warm eyes was being backed quite literally into a corner. A younger man with a much stockier build than he was looming over him, and very obviously agitated. The man could guess as to why, but honestly he was struggling to recall anything other than the boy's stern face and the hatred burning in those dark eyes.

"You've been lingering around where you ain't wanted. The team appreciates you stickin' your neck out and the little extras, but we don't need handouts. Not from someone like you," Daichi's tone was harsh. Cold. But somehow not unwarranted or unexpected.

"Captain. Let's not get any charges thrown around, yeah?," another man joined the group in the glorified broom closet. His hair was slicked back and held in place by two thin hair bands, bleached blonde but obviously naturally dark. There were two piercings in each of his ears, and a hardened face that rivaled the one already scrunched in disgust at the older man.

"Coach-"

Keishin placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, but didn't pull him back at all. The student looked up at their advisor, who just shook his head. A silent understanding between them, as sweat trickled down their target's neck.

"Tch, sorry," Daichi backed up a bit, releasing his prey. He clicked his tongue hard and considered spitting at the cowering old fart before him.

"I thought those eyes were familiar. You reactin' like that proves it right. Go have fun with the others, I'll handle this one," the coach patted his student's shoulder but the other didn't move a muscle.

"Sawamura. He's not worth it."

"I know! But, damn it all! He keeps slinking around, after what he did to her? After what she's been through. Like he deserves anything else," Daichi let it all out. His eyes watered up as he thought about everything he had been holding in. Everything he thought he had set aside when Kitsuna returned to his life. When she joined the team, made friends with the others. They relied on her, and her on them. She had learned to live with the scars, built confidence in herself in part thanks to the guys around her that propped her up. In part thanks to her horrid habit, with the cigarettes and sneaking around. She was doing well for herself, despite it all. Even when her injuries flared up and knocked her down again, she didn't give up or let anyone see her frustrations. And here was the man personally responsible for all that growth being needed in the first place. The man who led her down the road of habits and violence. Who pushed his wife, Kitsuna's mother, to the brink. Made a name for their family with news articles and broadcasts and interviews.

"Listen kid. I'm sure it's a lot to take in all at once. But we've gotta keep things clear for ourselves. For our futures. Much as I agree with you right now, you gotta know that she wouldn't want you to throw things away over this. Over him," Keishin shot a sideways glare at the man.

His head was bowed, hanging low. He knew this was a possibility. He knew that he had no right to try and force his way back into his daughter's life. She had built something for herself, all on her own, and he was damn proud of her for it. He was, but he felt guilty. Disparaged. Distraught. He was the reason she had to, and he could have destroyed so much more for her. Her face, he saw the scars. Saw how she had to tape up and wear braces while she played in the nationals. Saw how she was giving it her all despite what happened. He thought he would have been satisfied with that, when he left that notebook in his old house with the faint hope that she would find it. He checked back later, and it was gone. He knew that she would look it over, she was always horrifyingly curious. He didn't expect forgiveness, or even understanding. He didn't deserve it, he knew that. But still, he hoped for something. Anything. A reaction of some kind that solidified his position with her one way or the other. Instead, he got nothing. Not from her, at least. But he did get something from her old friend, and the man who had rescued her from his own hands several years ago.

"Fine," Daichi finally stopped trembling. With rage, or a well of other emotions, it wasn't completely clear. He wiped his eyes and made his exit, stopping at the end of the hallway to collect himself before he joined the others.

"There you are," Suga spotted him first, a little faster than Daichi was hoping for.

"Yeah. Sorry. Did the others already leave?," Daichi cleared his throat at the end of that, to try and get his vocal chords cooperating again. Suga's phone went off again, pulling his attention away for just long enough that Daichi centered himself and got his shoes on. Asahi peeked at the other's phone screen, and the two were trying not to laugh at whatever was there blowing up the notifications.