bluecastleace | PSL/Meme Continuation Post

[This is the first text he receives after that weekend - granted it’s only Monday morning, but.

[Whoops.]

Something tells me I should start apologizing.

Well, "apologize" may be too strong for this. I can't honestly say I don't like looking at it myself.
The positioning is inconvenient, to put it mildly, but being reminded of how it got there isn't so bad.

I had a wonderful time.

[Well, that’s a relief at least. He’d be lying if the comment didn’t bring about a bit of smug pride as well.]

Yeah, well. To be completely honest, I wasn’t really thinking about the positioning when it happened. I was a little preoccupied at the time.

[Mostly with the sounds Shirabu was making.]

I’m glad you had a good time. I did too in case you couldn’t tell.

You made everything very easy for me, and I appreciate that more than I can say. The last thing I would've wanted is to regret any of what we did and you ensured that wouldn't happen.

That said, eventually I'd like the chance to show you even half as much of a good time as you showed me.

[Once he's got his footing and really knows and is comfortable with what he's doing, look out.]

I’m glad to hear that, Shirabu. I really am.

[Because that’s the last thing Iwaizumi would have wanted either, and it’s a relief to hear that the both of them were able to avoid any regrets. He certainly has none, no matter what gossip may be going around.

[As for the second part of Shirabu’s statement, well...it’s no doubt thrilling, but Iwaizumi will keep any particularly eager energy to himself for now.]

I’d like the chance to see you again regardless of what I may gain from it.

I don’t know if I need to say this, but there’s no pressure to do anything you’re not ready for. I want you to know that.

There is that, too. Low-key dates are every bit as welcome, or even just spending time together.
I'd like to learn more about you now that I won't be so distracted wondering what it's like to kiss you.

I'd also like to host the next date, though I may need some ideas of what you'd like to do.

[What he’d like to do, huh? Well...]

Lol. I appreciate your consideration, but idk if you’d really want my ideas. I’ve been told I have a pretty one track mind when it comes to fun.

[Is sitting around the house watching American Football your idea of fun, Shirabu? ‘Cause...]

Getting to know more about you, though. I like that idea.

Do we need to wait for a date to get that train rolling, or do you think we could just start now?

[Depends if 1. he can do something else like read when he gets bored and 2. they can smooch during ads.

But ANYWAY -]

I don't see why we couldn't start now. Except that it's hard to think of questions I want to ask now that you've put me on the spot, haha.

Yeah? What if I told you nothing’s off the table?

Not sure I can promise that tbh, but I could still say so.

[He’s nothing if not honest, anyway.]

I guess starting with your favorite color is pretty lame.

What do you wanna do once you’re out of high school? [Pause.] Shit that’s even more lame...

Not lame at all, I think a person's ambitions can say a lot about them. In my case, I plan to go into medicine and decide on a specialty once I have a bigger base of knowledge.

... which probably says it's a miracle that I know how to have fun at all.

[Shirabu taking a swing at his own ego? Wonders will never cease.]

And my favourite colour is dark purple-red, like maroon or burgundy.

Do you plan to continue with volleyball?

Good to know. I like blue. Dark blue.

[As for volleyball...]

I guess that depends on a couple of things. I’m definitely not willing to give it up altogether. I’d like to keep playing on a team, yeah, but as for a career, something with sports for sure. I’m definitely not just into volleyball.

Personal trainer maybe. Team-wide would be nice.

Kicking someone’s ass on the court is nice and all, but kicking someone’s ass with an entire team, that’s gotta be awesome.

Anyway, you must be pretty fucking smart if you want to go into medicine. Not that I didn’t already know that.

Do you play any other sports?

Sports medicine would be a good choice for you, or even coaching. You'd make an excellent coach. You have just the right balance of kindness and firmness.

[Unlike a certain demon coach who basically lets his own wounded ego terrorize the team.]

Any science program is more about tenacity and self-discipline than pure intelligence, that's the thing. You spend so much of your time, energy, and mental strength on academics that the information can't help but stay in your head. The only ways to fail are slacking off or quitting.

[The compliment catches Iwaizumi a bit off guard - not so much the firmness part (he’s heard that plenty of times), but the comment about kindness. Kind of weird how this silly question game is making his chest feel warm.]

I’ll play any sport I can get my hands on, at least casually. Obviously I don’t have time to play for another team, but I probably would if I could.

Never really thought about coaching to be honest. I take that as a big compliment coming from you. [He does. Really.

[As for Shirabu’s answer, it’s intense as always, and impressive no doubt. Iwaizumi considers himself to be pretty driven, but this kid...]

I don’t know much about medicine, sport or otherwise, but I’m pretty confident you could do whatever you set your mind to, Shirabu.

Sounds corny as all hell, I know, but I mean it.

Ah, I see. It'd be fun to watch you play something else, even if I'm not very knowledgable about any other than volleyball. For some reason it's easiest to imagine you as a baseball player, or maybe soccer...

[Two things about Shirabu that tend to surprise people: he thinks a lot about the people he knows, positively and negatively alike, which is how he develops his very strong opinions of them; and more surprising, he's as free with his praise of those he respects and admires as he is with criticism of the opposite.

If they develop a deep, long-term relationship, Iwaizumi may have to adjust to Shirabu's capacity to gush.]

That's kind of you, but I've already failed at some of the most important goals in my life to date, and I'm sure there are more to come.

Determination's only one variable. So many others can block your path and refuse to move, and if you can't best them

Excuse me. That's not a very pleasant train of thought, we can leave it behind.

[Perhaps even more surprising is Iwaizumi’s ability to gush when he’s in the mood to do so - it doesn’t happen often, but despite how he might appear to others, he certainly isn’t one to ignore someone’s good qualities, especially when he cares about them.

[He’s learning that Shirabu has many of them. Even what appears to be self-doubt is grounded in practicality and astute recognition of his own deficits - everyone has them, after all. That doesn’t mean that Iwaizumi always agrees with him, but Shirabu certainly does make it a challenge to argue some of his points. He makes a good one there, as much as Iwaizumi would like to refute it.

[But aside from that, there’s something else he wants to say.]

You can talk about whatever you want to, Shirabu. I’m listening.

[There’s a pause, and then (just to lighten the mood a little):]

I do like baseball by the way.

PSL/Meme Continuation Post

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