Training is incredibly awkward, the team basically split in two. Kuroo, Kenma and Tao as one part; everyone else the other. Somehow, they make it work. No one quite knows how. And for once, nobody complaines when Kuroo worked them hard, everyone thinking it is their due punishment. So, they suck it up and stay quiet. Shamefully avoiding eye contact during changing, shuffling out the locker room quickly. All in all... Tao hates it. Yes, they all should feel bad and be remourseful for what they did, but... this type of tension is suffocating.
Thorough the day, some of the club members try approaching Filo to apologize. Yet every time; the photography club moves, putting themselves between them and her, like guards protecting a princess. Wisely, the boys back off every time. All of them beating themselves up over their idea. It had seemed so smart at the time, the movie trope of two people locked somewhere. They had thought Kenma could show off as a protector, win her over... All of them wished to turn back time a day and slap their younger selves.
"Damn, that's messed up", Mika says, leaning back against the fence. Daishou nods, eating some bites of his lunch. He had told his ex about what had happened the day before, needing to vent to someone. "I can't understand why they thought it'd be a good idea", he mumbles, sighing deeply, "Like... what if she had asthma or so? Heck, even without anything like that, without her being claustrophobic... How could they think locking someone somewhere was a good idea?!" He huffs a bit, chewing his lip.
Mika shrugs, unable to give much of an answer. She can think of some, but not a single one can even remotely justify the cats' approach. They had already lost when they decided to know better than the people involved, when they decided to do things without asking either of the wanted couple for their opinion on the help. "Think she'll forgive them?", she finally asks, just to break the silence between them. Daishou can only shrug.
"I've never seen her truly angry before. But neither did I ever see her truly sad or... anything, really. She's that type of person who seems to be locked in 'calm, content and happy' all the time. The one where any other emotion shown just... tells you things are very, very wrong. The once who's reaction you can't predict because it never happened before." Mika nods slowly, humming as she taps her chin. "That is complicated... I can see everyone on edge about it", she hums again, "If she doesn't... you think they'd transfer here?"
"Probably." Mika blinks at the quiet tone of Daishou's answer. He had always gone on and on about how much better Nohebi would be if his boyfriend would attent here. How much more fun every day would be here, how much better the volleyball team would be, how much more he'd enjoy practice if he had Tao by his side. For him to sound so... sad, over the prospect of his wish to come true was alarming.
"I thought you wanted them here", Mika starts, carefully. As expected, Daishou nods, hands clenching and relaxing, chewing his lips. She gives him time to form the words, waiting for his answer. "I do want him here, but... not like this. Not because they betrayed him. I want Tao here because they want to be here, not because... not because they're escaping something. Nekoma means something big to them. I don't want him to lose all that."
Tao walks alongside a ranting Kuroo and Kenma, who occasionally murmurs, back home. The rest of the day went pretty quickly, besides the awkward practices. The team was dead silent, so much so Nekomata had to yell for them in reminder to communicate. Tao spent most of the classes in deep heavy thought, replaying the events of yesterday in guilt, doodling and scribbling in their notebook. They'd missed Filo all day, more than usual, all day going forgetting until leaving afternoon practice that she wasn't walking with them home. Daishou quickly joined them, immediately going to hold onto Tao's hand, Kuroo pouting and grabbing onto their other one. It didn't take long for him to notice Tao's sad eyes and drooped shoulders. He frowned, nudging his arm. " What's wrong," He asks. Kuroo and Kenma look over as well, listening.
Tao hesitates, words getting caught in their throat. He clears it and weakly shrugs his shoulders, shaking. "...I miss her. I-I forgot all day she was gonna be gone at the doctors after school." He murmurs. Kenma adverts his gaze down to the sidewalk, mentally agreeing. He was sad too, had missed Filo all day and didn't even get to walk home with her. Kuroo deflates and moves to wrap an arm around Tao's shoulder, sighing. "Oh Tao..I know she misses you too, a ton." He murmurs and places a soft kiss to their head. Daishou hums in agreement, squeezing their joined hands. "He's right, yknow. I'm sorry she isn't here, maybe when you get home you can set something up for you two? I know you do movie nights. Put on her favorite movie or show?" He throws out. Tao listens and slowly nods, a small light catching in his eyes as they smile faintly. "That sounds really nice..I think she'd like that.." He murmurs.
The rest of the walk home was a lot more light, some nice conversations and a few shared laughs with each other, Daishou even managing to get Kenma to snort in amusement. They'd stopped by a convenience store to stock up on mostly Filo's favorite snacks, the others also getting a little treat for themselves for later. Immediately entering the house Tao changed out of uniform into lounge wear, he'd rather forget anything relating to school currently, and started their plan. Snacks stayed in the plastic bags on the kitchen island, drinks hastily shoved into the fridge. Soft music played from a record player in the living room, one of Tao's favorites, as they hummed and moved around the living room. A heap of all blankets, pillows, sheets and plushies laid in the corner as Tao carefully began rearranging cushions and a few chairs, pushing the sofa back to make a good amount of room between it and the television.
After almost an hour of frustration of uncooperative sheets and fiddling to get them and blankets to stay in place, Tao finally huffed and stepped back to admire the creation. A large fort, similar to the ones he and Filo would make all the time as little kids, a little safe haven where they would watch movies or pretend to be in a different world. Inside were hung up fairy lights to provide a dim glow, soft cushions, pillows, and multiple blankets lay for peak softness. And of course dozens of plushies carefully placed. Tao eagerly clapped before setting out the snacks on a lifted tray inside, placed on the side for easy access before moving to the kitchen to make a few onigiris and popcorn.
