[As it happens, Oikawa's not the only one visiting that shrine today seeking refuge—though for Yamaguchi, the term is used less literally. It's the start of a new academic year, his first one at high school as a matter of fact, and just past the two-week mark Yamaguchi's already dreading the remainder. He's somehow even more unhappy now at his new school than he was during the preceding break, when there was nothing for him to do but wait at home alone for the days to pass. There aren't many kids from his middle school attending Karasuno (which was definitely a factor in Yamaguchi choosing it, if he's being honest) but he's still unable to shake the sense that they know he isn't like them. That he's weird, and odd-looking because of his freckles, and that he's pretty much destined to be alone indefinitely now because Tsukishima's moved to America with his family. His classmates last year would drop hints about it sometimes under the pretext of harmless teasing, at least when the teacher was around: Yamaguchi the chatterbox. Yamaguchi the crybaby. Yamaguchi who used to jump at his own shadow over things he thought he'd seen, but weren't even there.
Tsukishima's little pet friend…
By eighth grade his childhood bullies had mostly grown out of sticks and stones and backpack duty, so bad the encounters were only infrequently violent. But even so, nearly a year of being treated as a joke or else charitably ignored at school has made it hard for Yamaguchi to be optimistic. He's not sure how to go about making new friends and so keeps to himself out of habit in high school, which of course hasn't helped with ingratiating himself to his new classmates.
Now more than ever, Yamaguchi misses Tsukishima. But since there's nothing he can do about it, he finally decides that taking a detour to the shrine after school is at least a better alternative than wallowing in self-pity. Maybe if he buys a paper lot out of the fortune box today, it will tell him better luck is on the way…
Better luck doesn't seem to be holding its breath for him, though. As Yamaguchi nears the shrine entrance with his mind distracted, his foot lands on an unnoticed object lying on the ground. The item rolls unexpectedly beneath his weight, and Yamaguchi is sent toppling to the ground, shriek of surprise cut off as his backpack chokes his air supply.]
Wh…What… [Instinctively, he looks around for what tripped him, and picks the item up when he spies it rolling to a stop by his head. Closer inspection proves it to a smooth, shimmery-colored orb that feels oddly warm to his touch. Yamaguchi rubs his head a few times in bewilderment, assessing his condition as he tries to think of what it could be for.] …A ball?
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Tsukishima's little pet friend…
By eighth grade his childhood bullies had mostly grown out of sticks and stones and backpack duty, so bad the encounters were only infrequently violent. But even so, nearly a year of being treated as a joke or else charitably ignored at school has made it hard for Yamaguchi to be optimistic. He's not sure how to go about making new friends and so keeps to himself out of habit in high school, which of course hasn't helped with ingratiating himself to his new classmates.
Now more than ever, Yamaguchi misses Tsukishima. But since there's nothing he can do about it, he finally decides that taking a detour to the shrine after school is at least a better alternative than wallowing in self-pity. Maybe if he buys a paper lot out of the fortune box today, it will tell him better luck is on the way…
Better luck doesn't seem to be holding its breath for him, though. As Yamaguchi nears the shrine entrance with his mind distracted, his foot lands on an unnoticed object lying on the ground. The item rolls unexpectedly beneath his weight, and Yamaguchi is sent toppling to the ground, shriek of surprise cut off as his backpack chokes his air supply.]
Wh…What… [Instinctively, he looks around for what tripped him, and picks the item up when he spies it rolling to a stop by his head. Closer inspection proves it to a smooth, shimmery-colored orb that feels oddly warm to his touch. Yamaguchi rubs his head a few times in bewilderment, assessing his condition as he tries to think of what it could be for.] …A ball?