MORE IN SORROW THAN IN ANGER

The week passed by quickly. Your schedule still filled up with finishing schoolwork and studying for upcoming tests, and Tanaka mourning over his loss against Nekoma. Although, he had to keep his spirits up. It was a close one, they'd almost won! If only they'd worked harder in their second set, maybe they could've won. Oh well.

Next time, he told himself.

Next time I'll try harder.

With the weekend now over and Tanaka still in a slightly dejected mood, all he wanted to do was see you. So when school ended, he sent you a quick text saying he'd pick you up from school and slipped out of the school grounds before any of his teammates caught him. He did come to morning practice, surely it be fine if he missed practice after school just once? (Only it wasn't just once. Tanaka made a habit of coming late or entirely missing practice on the odd day or two. It wasn't as frequent before, not until he met you of course. Now it's engraved into his schedule to skip practice just for you. You didn't condone this behaviour, but you did like spending more time with him. You weren't going to scold him about it).

You were in class when you received the text and had to very discreetly- phones were prohibited on school grounds- text him back, reminding him you wouldn't finish school until another hour. He sent you back an emoji with its tongue out and eyes crossed.

Not quite knowing what that meant, you simply put your phone away and continued on with the lesson. When the bell rung, you carefully packed away all your books. Making sure to place the correct books in their respective colour-coded folders.

Morita was hot on your tail the moment you stepped out of class, greeting you with a mischievous smile and dragging you away to the opposite side of the building.

''[Y/N], apparently there's some guy outside the school. Kiara said he's been standing there for over an hour.''

Ah yes, Kobayashi Kiara, the school's gossip girl. She would always be the first one to know anything and everything, and also the first one to spread that. Always the first one on the scene, always first to tell you about it and always prepared to sabotage the situation to make it just a little bit more interesting. She also took a class in Communications, so it all kind of added up. You were sure she'd do great in life.

''Ah-ha,'' you hummed. Absentmindedly paying attention to Morita as she continued on dragging you towards the entrance (or exit) of the school building.

''Let's go see what he looks like,'' Morita giggled.

Morita was a bit of a fanatic when it came to boys. Her phone was filled with pictures of foreign models and she was quick to imagine herself with any guy who so much as said 'hi' to her. But she was also quick to get over somebody. Not a week goes by where she's not dropped at least three boys from her 'hotlist'. One week she was obsessed with some guy from Aobajosai but the next week she'd pretended she didn't even know who he was. It was hard to keep up, but you tried. This week, if you could recall, at the top of her hotlist was a model from Germany, Aaron Brückner.

''Rin, don't you have soccer practice right-,'' you looked down at your phone, ''Now?''

''Who cares, they can wait. Come, if we climb over the wall he won't be able to see us.'' She pointed toward the wall that surrounded the school grounds and where you presumed the guy was standing behind.

''Rin, we are not doing that.''

Wiggling your wrist out of her grip, you calmly started walking to the gates, ignoring Rin's whispers to stop and come hide.

''Look at him.''

''He looks like a thug.''

''Maybe he's from another school.''

''He has to be in college. Look at him.''

Some students were cowering around the gates, their backs hunched and toppling over each other as they peered around the corner. Other students gave the bunch an odd look before moving on and out of the school- probably third years, they never cared much for what went on around them. The second years, however, were like moths to a light, striving for any sort of entertainment or juicy information to spice up their own boring, studious life. And the first years were just trying to survive their first year of high school- sorry, of Shiratorizawa.

Shiratorizawa did not slow down for you. If you got in by scholarship, you could still get kicked out depending on your performance. If you failed a certain amount of exams, you'd be deemed lucky to be able to re-do the year; most kids getting kicked out. And if you got in through a sports scholarship and pertained an injury, well say goodbye to Shiratorizawa if it wasn't healed within three months.

Money could buy you a spot, yes, but it can't keep you in.

You were tempted to just walk away, but curiosity got the best of you. Peeking around the corner like the other students, you were pleasantly surprised to see Tanaka leaned against a wall, phone in hand and scowl on his face. He was wearing his school uniform, but instead of the blazer that went with it, he wore a leather jacket. A cap was on his head, the designer brand he always boasted about- he said he wanted to start a hat collection, but he never really got into it properly.

Maybe you should buy him another one.

Shoving your way through the lurking students, you brought your hand up in a wave.

''Ryū?''

Looking up from his phone and seeing you, Tanaka pocketed his phone and pushed himself off the wall. He made his way towards you and immediately clasped your waving hand into his, bringing it up to his mouth to give your knuckles a quick kiss. His lips didn't part into the usual grin he would always greet you with, teeth bared and all. Instead, a closed-lip smile, barely turning up into a curve, was looking down at you.

''How long have you been standing there?'' You asked. Your body automatically moving in rhythm with his steps.

''Dunno.'' He shrugged.

''Don't you have practice today?'' You knew he did. You've already memorised his schedule because often times he forgot himself.

''Eh.''

The usual eccentric Tanaka wasn't here. He didn't jump to tell you about his weekend or tell you about the new drama that unfolded in his favourite series, 'Space alignment' (Which frankly, was a very intricate series with many paths of mysteries you needed a certain type of intelligence to solve. And to hear him speak so animatedly about it- granted, he missed most of the messages and didn't solve many of the mysteries, and only focused on the easier parts of the series. But that's not the point- and fill you in on all the details. To just hear him ramble on and describe things in a simplified way (nice way of saying dumbed-down version).

The silence told you he wasn't in the best of moods.

''The training camp?''

He only sighed in response.

So it didn't go well.

''Let's go to Gelato, I heard Gulia-san added a new flavour.'' You squeezed his hand and slowed your step a little, willing him to do the same. When Tanaka was like this, you found it best just to take it slow. He was always doing things quickly, with haste and full of energy. What he needed to calm down was slow, low energy costing things. And if that meant a calm walk over to Gelato's, then that's what you'll do. Even if it took twice the amount of time to get there.

Eventually, Tanaka would open up and explain what happened in his own time. From experience, you know how Tanaka reacts to a bad situation. Either he quickly got over it, or just needed a little time to see the positive side of things. And Tanaka always thought about the positive side of things.

Even now, as he mourned his loss, he was thinking of ways to improve and get over himself- and he was going to tell you all about it. He will. He just needs the time to mull over it and be desolate about it. And you would let him. Because as much as it is good to think positive and get over things quickly, you also need time to let your emotions take over. To let the sadness convey and not shove it down only to come up all at once.

He nodded, his gaze still straight ahead.

His steps were light, opposed to his usual heavy foot and swagger. His thumb brushed tentatively against your skin and you felt his arm graze closer to you, almost leaning on you.

Seeing this, you wrapped your other hand along his arm that was holding your inlaced fingers. Leaning in, you sent him a light feathered kiss on his exposed collarbone (you'd have to stand on your toes if you

''I'll text my parents I'm coming home late.''

Tanaka opened up to you an hour after sitting in Gelato. Explaining how close they were to winning and how disappointed he was in himself when they ended up losing the set. Internally he was devastated, but outside to his teammates, he kept up his happy-go-lucky attitude. Ruffling the first years' heads and reassuring them they'd win next time, bringing up the spirits of the others when all he really wanted to do was frown and swear at everything that was in close proximity to him.

You listened to him rage on and reassured him he was allowed to when he asked you if it was okay to continue. At the end of the day, after all his ranting, he was back to his eccentric and loud-mouth self. His spirits up and his strive for greatness back in place.

With a swing in his arms, he walked you over to the train station and pecked you goodbye.

As the doors were closing, he threw you a beaming smile and with the utmost confidence in his voice he said,

''You're my favourite person in the world.''

That sure did leave you in a flustered mess all the way home. You had to rub your cheeks to get the hot feeling to fade and as you entered your house, the sizzling feeling in your chest hadn't disintegrated yet. Smiling to yourself like an idiot, you were about to trek up the stairs to your room when your mother's voice stopped you.

''You're home late.'' Her arms were crossed over her woollen sweater, and she was frowning.

''I texted you didn't I?'' You replied back meekly.

A sigh left her lips and a defeated look crossed over her features. ''That's true. Dinner's been waiting for you.''

''You guys didn't eat yet?''

''Your father came home late today as well. The both of you left me all by myself,'' she sulked.

''How terrible of him.'' You shook your head in disappointment.

''Hey. You left me too, don't think I forgot.'' She turned the corner into the kitchen, leaving you to take off your shoes.

Gently placing them onto the shoe rack, you dropped your backpack by the stairs to take up later. A buzz from your pocket led you to fish out your phone as you were walking towards the kitchen.

:Ryu

U home safe

:Ryu

?*

Seen 20:43

[Y/N] <3:

I am, thank you c;

''[Y/N], finally you're home! I've missed you so much.'' Your dad stood in the kitchen, spatula in hand and apron tied around his waist. His black hair was tied into a tight bun atop his head, making him look slightly deranged with the few strands escaping.

''You saw me this morning, Renji.''

''Yes! It felt like ages.''

You chuckled softly at that and made your way over to the table where your mom was already sitting.

''How was school today?''

''It was pretty good. I was able to finish the assignment that's due for tomorrow and then I went out with Ry-'' you caught yourself, ''With Rin, for ice cream.''

Your mom's eyebrow raised at your slip up, but a smile took over her face. ''Well that's great! I'd love to have Rin over another time, she is such an interesting character. And that hair of hers, wowie- gosh, I've never seen such fiery hair before,'' she gushed on. Her fingers coming to ruffle her short bob. ''When I was her age, I used to have long hair like Rin's- actually, I used to have long hair like your daddy does.''

Your dad nodded from the kitchen in confirmation.

You visibly grimaced. ''Please don't call him daddy.''

''And dinner is served! You may thank the chef, or kiss him, whichever you prefer.'' Your dad set down the wok filled to the brim with vegetables and noodles combined. Your mom clapped her hands in praise before grabbing a spoon and serving herself without offering anybody else first. She took her time picking out the onions- she didn't like those- and your dad had to snatch the spoon from her to let you eat.

''Thanks. This looks really good, Renji.''

Your dad sent you a grateful look as you passed over the spoon to him, and he quickly grabbed some napkins to give to your mother who was about to spill her dinner onto her lap.

''Work was so hard today, ugh- I just wanted some food but Derek decided to steal my lunch! Again! I've confronted him about it but he's such a stingy bugger, he won't admit to it.'' She gobbled down another serving of food and moaned in delight but quickly went back to grumbling about her office acquaintance, Derek.

''Sho, have you tried bringing it up with your superior? Or sending in a formal complaint? You say it isn't just you who's had this problem, I'm sure with enough complaints about him somebody will do something,'' you offered your two cents.

''Genius! Of course. I'll tell Akane to do the same, she hates his guts as much as I do.'' A cackle left her lips, and your dad had to scold her not to talk- or cackle- with her mouth full

''How am I blessed with such a smart daughter,'' your mom gushed.

''Well you picked the right one,'' you joked.

The table went silent.

Your laughter slowly died down, seeing your parents reaction.

Your dad's eyes were downcast to his plate, eyes swimming with a mixture of sorrow and dismay. Your mother stopped eating and placed her fork down, it took her a great deal to swallow the food still in her mouth.

You were adopted.

Previously, your biological parents had given you up because they couldn't take care of you anymore. You arrived at the orphanage with bruises around your tiny wrist and it was said that you were thinner than any of the babies in the establishment. You were only eight months old when you arrived and at one years old you were out of the place to your new family, the [L/N]'s.

You didn't remember any of it, really. So it didn't matter to you.

When at six years old, they'd told you you were adopted; you stopped calling them Mom and Dad. At first it really hurt them, but later on, they slowly got over it.

You didn't do it out of spite. You were just more comfortable calling them by their real names. And that's not to say that they weren't your parents to you, they were- you called dad your dad and your mom,your mom when talking to other people about them, but when addressing them, it was by their names.

And when at twelve years old they told you your biological parents abused you, you didn't really know what to do with the information. And after a day of contemplating about it, you figured out that you didn't really care.

Adopted or not, you had no resentment for anybody.

Your parents, clearly, were still quite sensitive about the topic.

''Guys, it's a joke,'' you reassured, coughing out the last few awkward chuckles. Your mom sent you a tight lip smile and reluctantly went back to eating. Sending your dad a look who slowly picked up his fork to slurp down his noodles.

Awkward.