"Kitsuna? So you live around here?"

Kitsuna opened the door, and was recognized immediately by some students on the street. Some girls, first years. But not just any first years, they were classmates of hers. She slammed the door shut without a word.

"Kitsuna. We have to go through that door to get to school. Through that door right there," Suga was confused, but also exhausted from the day's weird start. When the girl turned around with a terrified look, he shut up quick though.

"Uh."

"Sorry, I think we'll be late today," she finally said something so ridiculous that Sugawara had no rebuttal.

"What."

"Listen. I wasn't really bothered by it before but, I just got spotted by some classmates. If they see us both go out now, it's gonna be awkward as hell. Think about it," she tried reasoning for once and it was shockingly effective.

"Beh! Right, fine. Not too late though, or you could use the back door? No, if they see me leave after knowing you were here that might be even weirder," Suga tried to think of other options but came up at the same conclusion. Kitsuna realized something, and slammed her fist into her open palm.

"Ah! If I leave now, maybe they won't see you head out a little later? I'll try it. Sorry, I'm leaving first," she dropped her explanation while adjusting her bag's shoulder straps. She headed out with a wave, the one where she didn't even look behind her. Then she bolted out the door, and Suga's mom sensed an opportunity she couldn't refuse.

…

"Hey, Kitsuna," the girls from that morning found time between breaks to bother Kitsuna at the end of the day, after she'd pointedly avoided them all day.

"Yes!," she responded in a more shrill tone than intended, cementing her fate.

"I was wondering, y'know because of this morning."

Kitsuna gulped hard, sweat beading up on her forehead.

"You were stepping out of that house, but," the girl trailed off at a horrible time. It was like a cliffhanger in a horror anime, and it was lethal.

"The nameplate, it says Sugawara. You've got a different last name right?," the other girl spoke up to finish the question. Kitsuna went stiff as a board.

"Are you like, living with some relatives or something?," another girl popped her head over and asked a question. Saved by a random stranger.

"U-uh, yeah. Yeah! They live closer to the school, so it's easier to stay there sometimes," she took the chance and ran with it.

"Ohh, that makes sense. I was wondering why you were with Sugawara so much," the girls accepted that answer and left. Kitsuna practically ran out of the classroom, ending up at the clubroom door out of habit.

"Shit," she cursed and turned to leave. She was well past the gate when the third years called out to her.

"Hey! Sorry, are you busy today?," Daichi called out. He waved at the other two, picking up the pace to catch up with Kitsuna.

"Hm? What's up?," she asked, genuinely curious what this could be about.

"Sorry, it's just been a while since you were over. Mom was wanting to say hi and catch up."

"Eh."

That was bound to be awkward, but Kitsuna agreed to go. She ended up playing with his siblings for quite a while, well past dark. She ate dinner with them, and Daichi's mom smiled for the first time in a while when hearing the girl's name. It must have been reassuring for her to see how well Kitsuna looked and was doing now, up close. Daichi agreed to walk her home, despite her insistence that she could go herself.

"Hey, thanks," he said with sincere gratitude.

"Ah. Yeah," Kitsuna was sort of lost in her own thoughts for a good portion of the walk. Of course she was, it was the first visit after almost three years now. The younger kids were just as excited to see her as before, and were smart enough not to ask any uncomfortable questions. Well, except one about her relationship status.

"Hey, I know it's not really my business but I wanna know too," Daichi started up a conversation again. Kitsuna tilted her head, not following.

"You and Suga-I mean! Um," he went all in on the question, but her bombastic side eye made him flounder.

"Where is this going?," she asked cooly.

"Listen. I'm not one to really talk here, but y'know. Even Yui's doing her best to face stuff head on. So-"

"Wait, so you know? Dude," Kitsuna gave a look rivaling one of Tsukishima's hard stares. She wasn't wrong there, but Daichi wasn't ready to handle that yet.

"Anyway," he cleared his throat. "I think you should speak your mind when you're with him. The others too, but especially be clear and communicative when you're with Suga."

"Hm? Eh? Why Suga specifically? What're you getting at here, quit beatin' around the bush," she definitely caught his meaning but was forcing him to be direct.

"I think you probably have a fair chance? No. He'll be sure to fully consider whatever you say to him. I think. Just, be more honest," Daichi found the perfect words at the end. Or he thought they were, but Kitsuna was once again quiet with a dark look in her eyes. They reached her doorstep, and she unlocked it to head in.

"Deal with your own stuff first," was all she said in response to Daichi's attempt at a little nudge.