Worth

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Lys ap Adin

Ink Burns

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

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Published on 2005-01-06 16:59:39.

Attributions can be made by author's name and a link to the archive.

This ebook edition was published on May 16, 2012 by the Ink Burns fanfiction archive.

Worth

Tezuka sets up ranking blocks. Angst, I-4

"Headache, Tezuka-kun?" Raphael asked, leaning against one of the empty desks.

Kunimitsu took his hand from his forehead. "I'm fine," he said, and that was true, but not likely to deter Raphael's bored curiosity.

"And here I thought there wasn't the homework assignment invented that you couldn't master," the angel said.

"It's not homework," Kunimitsu said, and because today was not a good day, he simply slid the stack of papers towards Raphael, who picked them up after a moment.

"Lovely penmanship," Raphael noted, which was a reminder Kunimitsu didn't particularly need to write out a clean copy for Ryuuzaki-sensei. He handed the papers back. "What is it?"

Heartbreak, he wanted to say. Disappointment. Exclusion. The last time I have to decide who stays and who goes--until the next time I have to decide. "The assignments for the ranking matches."

Kunimitsu took out a fresh sheet of paper and began transcribing the names again, this time without the cross-outs and scribbling. "Hardly seems worth a headache," Raphael said, examining his nails.

Kunimitsu put his pen down. "Raphael-san." When the angel was looking at him, Kunimitsu spoke carefully. "There are only eight slots for Regulars."

"And a slot for the captain, of course," Raphael said.

"No. Including the captain." Kunimitsu began writing again, filling in the names for the A Block. His name. Fuji's. Arai's. Yoshimura's. Kuwahara's.

"I see. Perhaps worth the headache after all." Raphael at least had the decency to sound respectful of a difficult decision. "Still. It seems odd to eliminate one of your best players purely for the sake of numbers."

"Are you suggesting I make an exception?" B Block: Oishi. Kawamura. Ikeda. Nishi. Mikami. Fushimi.

"Of course not," Raphael said. "It's not like you would listen."

"It would be easy," Kunimitsu said. "Seigaku gives its captains the power to make these decisions. I could do it." C Block: Kikumaru. Inui. Nagayama. Saeki. Hiratsuka. Nakahama.

"But you won't." He could feel Raphael eyeing him. "Why not?"

"Seigaku's strength lies in the monthly ranking matches." D Block: Echizen. Momoshiro. Kaidoh. Ninose. Kashiwa. Ogawa. "While I am captain, no one who wears that jersey will ever need to wonder whether he earned the right to wear the jersey."

"I've heard," Raphael murmured, "that before this year, freshmen weren't allowed to compete for a position on the Regulars."

"That's true," Kunimitsu said, evenly. "Before this year, they were not." Raphael's eyebrows drifted up. "Before this year, there wasn't a freshman skilled enough to be worth ranking against his sempai."

"There wasn't?" Raphael smirked. "Sumire-chan tells me stories, you know."

"Ryuuzaki-sensei has been a coach for years. I'm sure she knows many stories," he said.

"Indeed she does." Raphael stood. "A good leader, Tezuka-kun, knows when to break his rules, and when to follow them." He paused, probably waiting to be asked whether he thought Kunimitsu was a good leader. When Kunimitsu didn't ask, Raphael sighed, expression wry. "You're one of the good ones," he said. "For what it's worth."

Kunimitsu inclined his head. "For what it's worth," he said, "thank you." He stood as well, and went to deliver the paperwork for the ranking matches to Ryuuzaki-sensei.