Track and stuff

"Yo, Shin. What's up?" asked Ryuji, cheerfully.

"The sky." replied the black-haired boy, blandly.

"Why you gotta do me like that, man...?" Ryuji slumped. "Anyways, remember that Yamauchi guy I told you before?"

"The guy who gives as many fucks about the students' wellbeing as your average teacher at this school?"

"Uh, yeah, that's him. He's going to be the new track team advisor. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the sport, though. So y'see, I heard this rumour... Apparently, he's gotten in trouble with the school before for drinking, but that hasn't held him from going out. I'm thinking he might slip up if he were drunk."

"So that's your plan?" asked Shin with a raised eyebrow.

"That's the gist of it, anyways. I'll find some time to tail him and see where he's going to drink. I'll give you a message when that happens."

Later, that same day.

Shin, who was laying around in his room, received a message from Ryuji.

Ryuji: Yamauchi said he's gonna go drink at some monja restaurant.

Ryuji: You'll help me investigate, right?!

Shin: ...Fine.

Ryuji: Sorry that I kinda forced you into this.

Ryuji: I'm pretty sure that guy would recognize my face if I sit around him.

After that, Shin travelled to Tsukishima by subway, and almost a quarter later, he was sitting inside the restaurant. He could see Yamauchi and another man in a suit sitting a table to Shin's right.

Ryuji: The teacher with him has shit on me too.

Ryuji: I'll be sitting in the bathroom.

Ryuji: Just give me a call so I can hear what they're saying.

Shin did as the blond said, not forgetting to mute Ryuji so no random sound in the bathrooms would be heard by the 2 teachers.

It wasn't much later that one of the teachers started talking.

"Wow, you can really hold your liquor, Yamauchi."

"Mmm, I've had some experience. In my college days, we used to rent a yacht for the weekend and throw massive parties. But I have to say, the sake's been tasting particularly sweet lately." said the other man, proudly.

"No surprise there. Without Kamoshida, things have been much calmer nowadays. Those were some really dark times for Shujin, right? But now that he's gone, you finally get the chance you deserve, Yamauchi!" said the other teacher, obviously flattering Yamauchi.

"Don't flatter me, haha. He had his strengths, sure... but because of him, our volleyball team will be forever scarred. The only real option is to abandon it completely."

Shin could practically feel Ryuji's annoyance through the phone.

"There has to be a way to bring Shujin back into the limelight, though. That's where I come in..." said the cocky teacher.

"You mean that stuff with the track team, right?"

"The students who went through so much hardship under Kamoshida rise again with a caring new advisor... It'll be the rebirth of a team that found themselves in the depths of despair... The public will love it. Despite my lack of track and field knowledge, I'll form a tight bond with the students... I'll be the protagonist of my own tear-jerker..."

"Incredible..." muttered the other teacher, in awe.

"And of course all the praise for reviving them will go to me, their wonderful, loving advisor. I'll have to hire a great coach if I want to pull this off, though."

"So you're gonna pretend to coach them while someone else does all the legwork? Amazing, Yamauchi!"

'This guy is such an ass-kisser.'

"Such stunning achievements will look great when it's time to hand out bonuses. But I'm not gonna stop there. I'll publish books, write motivational speeches..." as Yamauchi was about to lose himself in his delusions of grandeur, he was interrupted by his own brown-nosed colleague.

"What are you going to do about all the troublemakers on the team? I've heard that Nakaoka kid is especially bad."

"Huh? Nakaoka...? Oh, you mean the one who asked to bring the pre-Kamoshida coach back? Don't worry, I've already taken care of him..."

Yamauchi must've seen the other teacher's confused expression, because he then explained.

"There's this other boy in the team... Takeishi. Doesn't excel in much of anything. I told him I will make him the new captain if he could get rid of that troublemaker Nakaoka. I might've mentioned something about how Nakaoka was working with Kamoshida too... Subtly, of course."

"And? What happened?" asked the other teacher, curiously.

"Apparently, Takeishi chased him away... The plan worked perfectly! And the best part is, not only are Takeishi's parents loaded, his mother's also the president of the PTA." said Yamauchi, taking pride in his simple plan.

"I see... He'd make a great pawn!" commented the unimportant teacher.

"Perhaps, but a nothing like him could never captain a championship-winning team. He may have to have an 'unfortunate' accident at practice one day. But until then, he can show the others the value of obedience."

The other teachers clapped his hands a little. "You're incredible, Yamauchi!"

Afterwards, the two talked about unimportant subjects and once they were noticeably drunk, they decided to get to their homes. Ryuji finally exited the bathroom. Poor guy must've sat on a toilet seat for ages.

"That fucking bastard!" he shouted, slamming his fist on the table.

"You should tell the track team about this." said Shin, as he was browsing through the menu for the first time since he arrived.

"Yeah. They should decide on their own about this stuff." said the blond, looking calmer.

He was quiet for a few moments as he was thinking, moments that Shin appreciated.

"Y'know, track wasn't a sport team. At least, sprinting wasn't. That's why I never thought about asking people for help or trying to solve our problems together. But, I can't ignore this stuff. They all suffered with me, gritted their teeth with me... So I can't just go and turn on them now, can I?"

Shin smiled.

"I think you're finally maturing, Ryuji. A little, but it's progress."

The compliment caught the blond off guard, and he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Thanks, man."

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Confidants:

0. Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2

I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1

II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 2

IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 3

Odd man - Rank 1

V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3

VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7

VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 7

IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3

XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 5

XIV. Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) - Rank 3

XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2

XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 2

Toranosuke Yoshida - Rank 1

XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 1

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 8