The rest of the week went without incident, though Kitsuna was moved to a separate room for bedtime. They finished the week off with a string of practice games, running well until evening. Kitsuna was run ragged, to the point she was dozing off during lunch and barely hanging on even with extra snacks from Tanaka. She nearly fell asleep while packing up, and Takeda started to get really concerned. She ended up seated in the back of the bus again, and fell asleep with the others. Her and Noya were leaning into each other, a somewhat funny sight with their massive difference in heights.

The bus rolled to a stop, and Keishin woke them all up with a start. Kitsuna got off last, and was obviously not listening as a meeting was called. Sugawara took over the handler role, gently pushing her into the gym and over to where the others sat. Keishin tried to review some strategy for the upcoming Prelims, while Takeda disappeared for a minute. He returned with a canned coffee, which he handed to Kitsuna before joining Keishin. She sipped the drink, and managed to stay awake while the others wrapped up and headed out. Sugawara stopped Kiyoko, who had been taking notes during the meeting, to make a request.

She walked with the others, who stopped into the store for some snacks but returned empty-handed. Kageyama stopped Suga, starting a discussion about the starting positions. They talked for a while, and the conversation drifted to other topics. Yamaguchi and Tsukishima caught up to the group finally, throwing their own two cents in.

"Huh?," Suga felt something tug at his sleeve, and looked to his right. Him and Daichi made the same exasperated face, at Kitsuna. She was tugging his sleeve, and her eyes were totally glazed over. She was unsteady on her feet, clearly well past her limit.

"Looks like it's time to go," Suga laughed. He pulled Kitsuna's hand off his sleeve and bid the others good night before splitting off. Daichi and Asahi took their leave, as well, with a final order to go straight to bed and get plenty of rest over the weekend.

"So, Suga," Daichi started after the others were out of earshot. Suga was still pushing Kitsuna along, but glanced back over his shoulder at the other two. They were making some seriously snide faces, with evil grins. Suga felt his ears grow warm, and he glared at them.

"What?," the silver-haired boy asked with a terse tone.

"You've gotten pretty good at handling her," Asahi commented.

"Yeah," Daichi agreed, thumbing over the bandage on his fingers. He was lost in thought for a moment, but shook it off.

"I don't think I like what you're implying," Suga frowned. "Nor do I like the prospect of getting bit."

Asahi and Daichi laughed, one more nervously than the other. They arrived at their parting intersection, and Kitsuna kept walking forward. Suga grabbed the back of her jacket, and she stopped.

"Right. Really, though. Thanks," Daichi bowed with that, throwing the whole vibe off. Asahi panicked, trying to see if his friend was feeling okay.

"I'm fine, Asahi. Go on home," Daichi stood straight and tapped Asahi's shoulder twice, dismissing him. The other boy left, and Kitsuna knelt down next to a puddle while the other two wrapped up.

"Um," Suga wasn't sure how to proceed. It was clear Daichi had more to say, but he took a moment to find the right words.

"I mean, I did kinda give you some responsibility over her that I was in charge of. Sorry about that," Daichi finally spoke.

"Wh-uh. It's fine. I don't mind," Suga wasn't sure how to respond to the sudden display of gratitude.

"Just don't encourage any more of her bad habits," Daichi slipped in at the end. Suga knew full well what that meant, and tensed up with Daichi's hand on his shoulder.

"Kitsuna, don't pick that up," Daichi called over Suga's shoulder, and the girl froze. She was about to close her hands around a big frog, but looked up at Daichi and lost it. The frog hopped off, and she slowly stood up.

"Right, good night," Suga half-groaned. He turned around to finish getting Kitsuna home, and Daichi muttered something as he turned toward his street.

"I doubt she'd bite you, so don't worry about that. The others, though.."

"What's that about," Suga glanced back, but Daichi was too far out of earshot now. They reached her stop, and just when Suga was about to leave there was a weird croak from her clenched fist.

"Kistuna," he started. She looked away, moving surprisingly fast for her exhausted state.

"What's in your hand?," Suga's hand found its way to his forehead, and he pinched the space where his brow met his nose.

"Nothin'," she blurted out.

"Is it the frog," Suga was reaching his limit now, and she could at least understand that much still. She looked back at him with a sheepish look in her eyes.

"You can't keep that. What're you even planning on doing with it?," he asked, not really interested in the answer. Her face twisted into a pout, but he wasn't done.

"You don't wanna drop it, do you?"

She flinched, and he knew he had hit home. He sighed, rifling through his bag and pulling out something small. He held his hand forward, with the item hidden by his fingers.

"Let's trade," he offered. Kitsuna tilted her head, but moved her hand up and opened her fingers. A small yellow frog sat on her palm, and Suga felt his stomach turn. He didn't actually want to hold it, and thankfully it hopped away. He put the item he was holding on her open palm, sighing heavily. Kitsuna looked at it, then back at him.

"Huh?"

"When you returned my jacket, that was in the pocket. Daichi didn't make me spill my bag, so I still had that. Just don't get caught with it again."

"Um. Thanks," she managed to get the word out, though it was somewhat slurred. Suga took a deep breath, then spun her around and gave her a nudge toward the door. She went inside without another word, and he finally went home.