[Shirabu wouldn't have believed an apology, and would have lost respect for Iwaizumi if he'd tried to placate Shirabu with one - because he's not even angry with them, really. He resents Oikawa's long, long shadow over his high school volleyball career, and he does think Iwaizumi has veered way out of his lane to make Ushijima and Oikawa's issues his own, but he's not hypocritical enough to deny that he's doing the same for Ushijima.
Iwaizumi avoids hypocrisy, avoids defensiveness, avoids outrage and even avoids hollow appeasement just to end the conversation, and Shirabu's respect for him soars to unprecedented levels.]
I admit that I encouraged them to with my own actions. Thankfully, someone managed to talk me out of that approach before I let it destroy my chances of being a good captain.
[Hoo boy, that stare knocked the wind right out of Shirabu's lungs for a second. He's shocked he managed to recover and say something a tiny bit cool in response, because Iwaizumi's still looking at him like that and it's making his skin prickle with apprehension that's not entirely unpleasant.]
no subject
Iwaizumi avoids hypocrisy, avoids defensiveness, avoids outrage and even avoids hollow appeasement just to end the conversation, and Shirabu's respect for him soars to unprecedented levels.]
I admit that I encouraged them to with my own actions. Thankfully, someone managed to talk me out of that approach before I let it destroy my chances of being a good captain.
[Hoo boy, that stare knocked the wind right out of Shirabu's lungs for a second. He's shocked he managed to recover and say something a tiny bit cool in response, because Iwaizumi's still looking at him like that and it's making his skin prickle with apprehension that's not entirely unpleasant.]