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Tsuji was used to sacrifice.
Well - no, he wouldn’t call it sacrifice , he wasn’t changing the world or anything like that, he was just used to… helping out. Tsuji was good enough at whatever he did: sports, classes, being a son. No real reason for his parents to worry about him, so they didn’t - not that they were free enough to worry about any of Tsuji’s siblings, but for the few minutes a day he did see them, he knew they cared. Probably. They said so at least.
Tsuji’s older brother didn’t mind much. He was a hotshot at the university, a high octave musician with women constantly around him - he was good at what he did, and didn’t work well with others. He ruffled Tsuji’s hair occasionally, but they stayed out of each other’s way. Tsuji preferred it this way, to be honest - his brother had groupies .
His younger brother through… Hideo was chronically ill and often depressed and no one seemed to notice or care but Tsuji. Since he was 13 and their parents had picked up the second business, Tsuji cooked all their meals, walked Hideo to school when he could, and tutored his little brother in all of what he missed on the days he could not go to school.
Tsuji didn’t mind. This was just how he was most helpful.
Even if his parents didn’t really… know much about Tsuji. Of course, they made sure his grades were good, asked about if he had a career path in mind (Border, for his athletic abilities), and they did what they were supposed to do. There was always food in the house, and it wasn’t like they were unreachable . Not that his older brother was much different, but his elder brother at least tried and complemented his baking during his breaks.
Hideo knew him though. Hideo was inquisitive, and Tsuji appreciated it, even though he often left the negative details of a story out for his younger brother’s sake. It didn’t really matter, that friends were few and far between, that sleep was sometimes hard, that his teachers didn’t really notice him: those were normal problems. Small things.
Hideo thought Tsuji was popular and good at everything he did but didn’t leave like their older brother or their parents did, and that’s how Tsuji wanted to keep it.
Hideo deserved a good older brother.
Joining Border was different. His brother was proud Tsuji finally got a hobby, but he wasn’t sure if being part of a military operation counted, even if it was the first club-like thing he ever wanted to do. Hideo was glad, either way. Tsuji rather liked being a swordsman, even if he wasn’t the best - Yoneya got the honor, with his scorpion, for their year.
It was odd, either way. Border expected him to get points for his own sake, and compete in the individual rank wars.
Tsuji liked the group operations the most, though.
It was hard to talk about, and even Inukai, one of his few friends within Border, didn’t fully understand it when Tsuji tried to explain: there’s a space, a peaceful, big picture sort of focus, that comes from being a good support unit. Inukai had a good day whenever he got off a tricky shot and a snarky enough one liner that Kageura would notice and glare at him, but Tsuji genuinely hoped not to be noticed.
Partially because it hurt when Konami pinched his cheeks in teasing sisterly glee, but Tsuji did prefer keeping an eye on the big picture movements of a battle, on what needs to happen rather than what “would be so cool” if it did happen.
So Tsuji wasn’t expecting to really be picked up by much of anyone, because he wasn’t very flashy: he knew how to take what was handed to him and work with it, so maybe he’d work with Inukai or Kageura would want another unit in the squad he’s starting out, or maybe it’ll be 3 whole strangers. Tsuji could work with it. He’d just need time.
It was a surprise when both he and Inukai were approached by Ninomiya, one of the most intimidating A-rankers Tsuji had ever laid his eyes on.
Ninomiya hadn’t said a word to Tsuji before this - though apparently Inukai had talked to him before - mainly because Tsuji was a swordsman and Ninomiya was a shooter on the best A-rank squad in Border, Azuma squad. Ninomiya, in that little meeting, not only spoke to Tsuji for the first time, but also offered him a place on his squad.
Him!
Tsuji was somewhat struck mute by the whole thing, but Inukai had agreed for the both of them, and Tsuji, if he was really being honest, was fine with being anywhere as long as he had Inukai to be social for the both of them, so really it was a good twist of fate.
Even if his new captain scared the shit out of him. He’d probably get over it. Hideo thinks so.
Still, Tsuji stress baked creampuffs the night before and packed them in his nicest tupperware to bring to the first official Ninomiya squad meeting.
“Cream puffs?” Ninomiya archly said, “You bake?”
Tsuji nodded, sitting to the side of the kitchen table in their squad room. “My younger brother suggested I bring them over, he likes how I make them.”
Ninomiya nodded, taking a bite of the desert, “He’d be correct. Thank you for bringing them.” Tsuji savored that complement longer than he probably deserved to, but his captain liked his baking! It was nice of him.
In all honesty being part of Ninomiya squad wasn’t as intimidating as it seemed to be. Inukai and Hatohara are energetic enough for the five of them, and Ninomiya was a deeply reasonable man, even if he’d flare his dramatic streak on occasion - Tsuji, if he ever got the bravery to say it to someone, would say Ninomiya was positively catlike. Hiyami was a girl , but was always very polite to Tsuji, so he slowly grew more used to her presence.
Hatohara couldn’t shoot people. Tsuji understood, to some degree, but he also didn’t: he’d do anything to support his squad. Maybe she never experienced the calm he did. Regardless, they were both support units: Inukai and Ninomya got the most points regularly.
Soon, life was just… school, Hideo, and Border. Tsuji couldn’t easily remember the last time he saw his parents, and he’d considered moving out so he didn’t have to commute so far one way or the other, but Hideo still needed him. Maybe when Hideo was older, they’d both move out - it was a good goal. Tsuji saved his B rank commissions for it.
“Tsuji-kun.”
The teen in question looked up from his phone, tilting his head slightly as his squad leader approached him. Tsuji thought he did pretty good in the past simulation - he wasn’t really sure what Ninomiya wanted from him.
Ninomiya rubbed the back of his neck as he shifted his weight from foot to foot, his nose slightly scrunched as though he was deeply, deeply uncomfortable - Tsuji must’ve messed up terribly . Tsuji controlled his face, quietly reflecting on the past bit of time to figure out what Ninomiya was going to be upset about.
“How are you?”
Tsuji blinked.
Ninomiya didn’t bother with small talk. It was one of the things Tsuji appreciated about the man.
“Fine.” Tsuji automatically replied, “And yourself?”
“Fine.”
Ninomiya continued to just stand there, face twitching as though he was trying to figure out a particularly horrible puzzle, while Tsuji tried very hard not to start panicking under the intensity of the gaze - at this rate, Tsuji was convinced he’s going to be kicked out , but his captain wouldn’t do that, right? Tsuji really did think he was doing good.
“Did… you sleep well last night?”
Tsuji was wrong. Ninomiya wasn’t about to fire him.
Ninomiya was replaced by an imposter .
It had been all the rage for the past few months, when a B rank squad realized they could, with some finagling, make their trion bodies look like other people, changing their entire body instead of just their outfit. There was a particularly terrible image that Inukai captured, of a squad of all Tachikawas just walking around - apparently, one of them had actually been the real Tachikawa.
Tsuji turned on his trion body. “Kako-san, you know Ninomiya-senpai doesn’t like it when you try to steal his body. Please deactivate, or I’ll deactivate you for you.”
Ninomiya threw up his arms in exasperation, “What? No. Tsuji. It’s me . You saw me deactivate .”
Tsuji wasn’t so easily fooled. He lunged forward, surprised when the imposter not only didn’t dodge, but his Kogetsu just phased through the real human body and Tsuji slammed face first into his captain, toppling both of them to the floor, with Ninomiya crushed under Tsuji.
Oh god .
Tsuji was definitely getting fired after this .
“I - Ninomiya-san. I’m so sorry.” Tsuji started quickly apologizing.
Ninomiya reached around Tsuji and gently patted the younger teen’s head, stunning him to silence. “Please… don’t apologize. I can’t believe I ask so little after you that when I do so, you’re convinced it’s Kako-san in a disguise.”
“Oh! Sir, I know you care -” Tsuji reddened even further, “I… yeah.” He trailed off as Ninomiya continued to gently scratch his scalp.
That felt… really nice. When was the last time Tsuji got such easy physical affection?
“Thank you.” Tsuji quietly said, oddly realizing that he had relaxed on his captain’s chest.
“You’re welcome. Now, get off me?” Tsuji scrambled away, stuttering apologies. Ninomiya looked amused, more than anything though, and waved the younger man off, “C’mon, let’s get to the kitchen, I made some red bean pancakes earlier.”
Tsuji blinked, surprised his captain remembered his favorite food. “Thank you.”
“Mm.” Ninomiya diligently served them both, sitting across from Tsuji. “When I was part of Azuma squad, one of the most important things I learned was how important it was for all of us to genuinely be friends and comrades. You fit very well into the squad dynamic, though I would imagine you’d find a way to fit into any squad, but I… don’t know a lot about you, beyond what’s in your file and what you’ve shown me. I realized I have failed as a captain to create a bond with you. So please, tell me about your day?”
Tsuji was stunned and blurted out the first thing he could think of, “I… uh… ran out of eggs this morning?”
His captain nodded, as though this was actually important information that he would bother to remember when there was just so much more he could be doing with his time and brainpower than asking Tsuji about his morning and -
“Did you go to the grocery store?” Ninomya asked.
Tsuji shook his head, “Hideo wanted to go to school early for a project, so I walked him.”
“Your younger brother?”
“Yes.” Tsuji smiled, “He’s 11, the baby of the family. He likes you when he watches the battles, he said if he didn’t want to be a writer so badly, he’d want to be like you and Nasu-san.”
Ninomiya smiled with no small amount of smugness, “Your brother has good tastes.”
Tsuji recounted a little more about his brother, his schoolwork, and some of the funny things Inukai had told him. He even updated his captain on Kage and Inukai’s latest date - disastrous as always, and yet Inukai was sighing fondly over it already - when Ninomiya sighed and held up his hand.
“I appreciate the information but… You realize when I ask how you are, I’m asking how you are, correct?” Ninomiya said, making Tsuji frown. “I mean - I am happy to hear about your brother’s welfare, as well as Inukai’s terrible courting rituals, and how your school is handling the influx of new students, but… how are you feeling, in all this? You’re the person I care about more than the other parts of your life.”
Tsuji felt his throat burn a little. Ninomiya opened his mouth to speak again, but Tsuji croaked out a gentle, “Please give me a moment?”
And they sat in silence, and Tsuji eventually spoke. About how lonely he’s feeling, about how pointless, a lot of this feels. About how he really hopes Ninomiya squad makes A rank by the end of this, so they could try out the custom triggers Hatohara keeps designing.
It was a new experience. After all, Tsuji was used to sacrifice and silence.
But it was nice, for a moment, to be recognized as an individual.