“My father's e-mailed me an equation,” Atobe says, frowning into his 'cell. “He wants to know. Look, that's the problem. He's testing me, because he thinks I'm at summer school, and it's been weeks since we did this and I don't. I can't remember how to do it, maths...I should be better at maths, I've never been good enough. I never have, and if I can't remember how to do this he'll know.”

Beautiful and so full of win. For a character like Atobe who is incredibly full of pride and ego, it's precious to see him talk about shoulds and admit to weakness.

Atobe only knows how to be vulnerable with Oshitari, but it soon turns out that he can do it with Shishido, too.

When I was reading, that line really struck bull's-eye for me because it's completely true. It might be easier for Atobe to open up to Oshitari because Oshitari supports Atobe like his unofficial vice-captain so much of the time, but with Shishido it's a different story. The atmosphere around them is one of rivalry and fierce competition. I applaud Atobe for being able to be vulnerable in Shishido's presence, and I applaud Shishido for not exploiting that.

All the characters, really, were very believable. They weren't just cardboard figures; they were people.