Of Reaching and Trust

tetsucchin:

Summary: He’d never doubted Takao’s passes. Not since their first practice together. Not even for an instant.

Rating: G for grumbly Shin-chan’s

Word Count: 3000+

A/N: So Extra Game still makes me very upset. I wanted to write something to make me less upset. Also happy belated birthday to the big green nerd~

AO3

Practice was just as grueling as it’d always been. 

Regardless that Midorima had just been in an important match
against Jabberwock, Coach Nakatani didn’t take it easy on him. Even as he used
his selfish requests (now cut down to merely two a day), the coach would find
ways around it. Even compared to Teikou and their training last year, it felt
particularly brutal. 

It was strange, Midorima thought, how much had changed when
their third-years graduated. The whole team had to be changed, plays rethought
and strengths reestablished and trust reformed. He expected it the moment he
attended Shuutoku, but being the complete cornerstone for the team and having
everyone depend on him until they sorted things was difficult. 

And yet, he mused as he shot from the half-court line,
nothing had changed. From how Coach Nakatani ran them until it felt like they’d
break. From how Takao still joined him for every after hours practice. From how
Miyaji Yuuya threatened him with all kinds of bodily harm for bringing another
gigantic tanuki and keeping it on the bench. 

Of course, their thirst for victory—clawing for wins like it
was life and death because it was—hadn’t changed at all. 

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