brain

Considering how much I adore Kenma, and how Nagata Takato as Kenma in the stageplay is literal, adorable perfection… drawing him was SO overdue. 

(Also please wake me up when it’s March and the Summer of Evolution DVD is here to bless us all k thanks.)

Kenma: Who knows

Kenma: (I know)

Kenma: (I’m not leaving the house)

“……” Once again, it was true he talked to a stranger without fainting or anything he’s done before (eg. running away or hiding behind his teammates), but it was also true that there’s a certain amount of willpower that goes into this socializing thing. Willpower that Kenma from time to time, depending mainly on the situation, seemed to lack. And, even if he wanted to change, it’s not like he could do it overnight.

Whether or not he thought of himself as boring, that reply sure took him by surprire. Not everyday you find someone (weird) like that who’d call even the grumpiest cat interesting. “… Mn…. I don’t know…. I could possibly… think of many reasons…. maybe you… find it fun? It’s like you’re watching a turtle struggling to climb out of its tank…”

✝ : “kukuku… while i must admit, that is rather amusing, it is more so to see how you face adversity. it is my job to learn about humans, and i find immense interest in all sorts of people. struggle is a part of life, and humans reactions to it are most beautiful. so, in a way, maybe you are correct.”

Though labelling people was just something he really didn’t “appreciate”, he couldn’t really deny that after all he was an antisocial. That’s all he has ever been and all he’ll always be. Not that the idea makes him sad or anything, anyway. He’s always been no good with people, so not interacting with them had just become natural at this point, sort of.

“I understand that…… kind of, at least. But right now it doesn’t feel right for me……. I’ll deal with that kind of things when the time will come, one way or another…….. But why are you asking me this…….. rather than annoying, I’m not really an interesting…….. I don’t have much to appease your curiosity.”

✝ : “i do not know how much i can judge since i’ve only just met you, but i do think you are doing quite a fine job speaking to me, and i am a complete stranger. life is full of things you do not want to do, but you must. there is no way around that. putting it off will only make you not want to do it more.” 

you could see his smile from underneath his mask, a shake of his head following. 

What was the point in going to practice, if he wasn’t allowed to actually practice? Well, thinking carefully about it, it wasn’t that bad: he didn’t have to get all sweaty, he didn’t have to run for who knows how many minutes, he didn’t have to hear people yelling at him for accidentally avoid blocking a ball[…]. Thinking carefully about it, it was pure bliss. It’s not like he hated going to practice - he’s been playing volleyball for so many years now that at this point it kind of became part of his routine -, but the attitude with which the other players treated him that made him so desperate to stay away as possible.  Not that he minded, after all it was something Kenma grew accustomed to over the years.

As always, that he tried his best not to stand out (not really because of his hatred of being in the spotlight, he just didn’t want to be ordered around, clean the gym or play the dog and go fetch balls for other people), so he just picked a random spot on the bleachers hoping he could just play in peace. Nothing out of the ordinary was going on anyway, so he decided he could use that time to actually be proactive… and play. Despite all the allnighters he pulled up until now, there were still so many video games he had to finish. Might as well start now, no?

Not sure of how much had passed since he started playing, but he definitely heard someone calling him at some point. Startled, at first, Kenma decided to just calmly pause (and save) the game. Slowly putting his console on his lap. Too many times people, his “teammates” but mostly Tora, had startled him by calling his name out of nowhere, so he learned his lesson: be sure to save whenever you can and grip firmly whatever it is that you’re holding if you don’t want to plan an assassination.

He hesitated at first, thinking it was one of the players that wanted his help, but quickly shook off that idea. Kenma was sure he heard the voice before, in TV maybe? But he wasn’t exactly sure to whom it belonged until he finally looked up. His poker face for a moment disappeared; his stoic expression now mirroring the same expression the other man in front of him was wearing. Not everyday you find people you actually know in this city, so it was understandable. “…………. Oh, uhm. Yeah…. That’s my name…..“ He paused. “You’re……  Iwaizumi Hajime… right? Seijou’s…..” He’s never talked to him before, but thanks to Kuro and Hinata, mostly the latter and their long message exchanges, Kenma knew at least his name and how he looked like.

“—- Their former vice-captain n’ ace, yeah,” he grins, more at ease at being recognized and not seen as some kind of—- weirdo, or something. Though, he figures, it’s kind of obvious that they’re both former members of their previous teams; given where they are now, at least. It’s one thing they can relate to, even if it is kind’ve a weird thing nevertheless.

He takes a few quick strides over, then, the echo of squeaking sneakers accentuating his every step as he abandons his post by the doorway in favor of standing next to the bleachers, and, consequentially, Kozume. His attention briefly flickers back to the court again, grunting as he muses aloud, “soon-to-be wing spiker for the local team, ideally. It’s no Seijou or national team, obviously, but it’s no big deal; nothing you can’t just adapt to, y’know ? ” The whole ‘you’re here forever’ thing notwithstanding, of course. Just thinking about the letter he woke up to annoyed him. “Just hoping my teammates back home are alright, I guess. They can overwork themselves and get lost in that kinda headspace, sometimes. It’s annoying as hell.”

Shaking his head, Iwaizumi grunts again, offput by his own irritation and forwardness. “Sorry, sorry; didn’t mean to get all—-” what ? suddenly sentimental ? probably. He waves off the rest of his sentence like the gesture will somehow summarize the rest of his feelings for his—- former—- team, shooing away the tangent entirely. He didn’t want to scare off the one familiar face he’s seen since getting here with that kinda talk.

Anyway, be it his shyness or just that he wanted to see where this amusing situation was going, Kenma let the other talk (not that he wanted to say something in the first place and the other seemed like he had to let out his thoughts, so Kenma give him carte blanche). But while he was busy, the blond took his time to observe him: Hajime Iwaizumi. From the few informations he gathered in the past, the taller man was as old as Kuro, which basically meant that Kenma’s one year younger, commonly you’d define him a kouhai. From what Shouyou’s been telling him, though, Hajime on court is fearsome and a talented volleyball player, and at the same time, if paired up with the "Grand King”, someone who can be reallly, really scary. Not much information, that is true, but at least he was sure he wasn’t an annoying character like Lev (or Kuro), but more a mom type like Yaku.

As interesting, amusing, entertaining as he could get, that sort of monologue... Kenma felt he could relate to what the other was talking about. Well, maybe not fully, but some parts he did agree (okay more than just “some”, but he’ll never admit it--).

Thinking about it, the main problem wasn’t really related to liking or disliking things. He never understood those ideas, anyway. His surroundings, the city itself wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be either. If he really had to point finger at something, the answer would certainly be people. 

“ I never… said the city is a waste of time. I do think it has something… interesting… It’s just…. well…….. uh, I mean… you know… If I start something, whether it’s annoying or not, I do finish it… But dealing with people… that is something I don’t feel like getting myself involved into.” Once again his eyes fixed on the ground. “Not everyone is as curious as you think.”

✝ : the person who was in front of them, buying something, was long gone, but korekiyo was too invested in this unnecessary therapy session that was playing out. he just enjoyed finding out how people functioned and how they viewed the world. it’ll all ultimately help him understand humanity. 

Okay… being with someone, or, better, the idea of being judged by someone, was indeed something he disliked more than anything, but maybe it wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be. At least, not in this situation. He even got complimented for literally speaking in monosyllables. Phisical skills were still (and hopefully forever) unknow, but his other stats were far above your average final boss… so maybe, after all, he could give it a try? Socializing, that is.

“Video games are like….. life? At the beginning, you are given certain rules. You learn these and play through the game in order to beat it. However, if we were talking about mastering the game then that takes more…. time, effort, and skill that what it took to learn the basics of the game….. I’m…. not saying…. anything new….. and I don’t think I’m wrong thinking this way……. I’m simply interested in polishing…… my skills more.”

✝ : my my. he reminds him of a certain new friend he made in this city. he didn’t know much about video games, but he could make sense of what he was trying to get at. it wasn’t completely ludicrous either. though, he still couldn’t exactly understand how this city and being here came into play.