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“You'd better not snore or I'll kick you out of bed,” Arakita growled in his usual manner.
“No worries, I don't,” Shinkai replied calmly, wondering if being so angry and snappy all the time didn't eat up too much of Arakita's energy, but if you saw him ride you could only conclude that his anger (or whatever it was) enhanced his abilities.
“Do you turn around a lot?”
Shinkai continued making his bed. They had separate beds, but in a room as small as this, there was barely any space between them anyway.
“Normally not, no.”
“Good.”
Usually the Hakogaku team didn't need to stay overnight for training, having all possible courses right around their school, but this time they were out for a four-day ride through the Japanese Alps, since Fukutomi had decided it would be good to see a change of scenery sometimes too – and not get too used to their own environment.
Roommates were decided by lottery, and to Arakita's frustration he didn't get to stay with Fukutomi, but at least he didn't have to suffer Toudou's endless chattering. Shinkai at least was quiet and agreeable.
There was only one downside about being in the same room as Shinkai. It made Arakita nervous, and being nervous made him more snappy than he already was. He'd really done the same reasoning in his head over and over, but he couldn't very well convince himself why seeing Shinkai lately made him feel on edge.
There was nothing different about the sprinter, was there? Sure, he'd grown his hair out and it looked really good, he'd gained a lot more muscle compared to their first year as well. Arakita never hated him, but he simply tolerated the guy, and respected him too. But lately, he'd felt like running away from him, like being too close would set him on fire.
And now they had to share a room. How ironic.
Shinkai was done making his bed, and opened the window of their room. A gentle breeze entered the room.
“Hey, there's a balcony.”
“Yasutomo, come take a look,” the sprinter said, with a hint of wonder in his voice.
“Hah?”
Even so Arakita got up, as curiosity made him want to take a look at what Shinkai was talking about.
The cool evening air felt pretty nice, and Arakita understood why Shinkai had called him. The view on the mountains behind the hotel was pretty nice in the dark.
“Beautiful, isn't it? Pretty romantic,” Shinkai said softly, tilting his head a little towards Arakita.
“Hah? Romantic? Maybe if you'd be here with a chick-”
Shinkai smiled. Arakita felt his mouth close, and heat rose to his cheeks. That smile was unfair!
It did far more damage than his kapow pose!
“The thing is, Yasutomo...”
Shinkai's right hand brushed past Arakita's cheek and his fingertips combed through his black hair.
“I'm with you...”
He leaned in, just like that, effortlessly, and Arakita felt a pair of warm lips on his own. He was too dumbfounded to react, while his heart was beating loudly in his chest. It lasted only a moment, and was over before he knew it.
“...and I still think it's romantic.”
Arakita was left gaping at Shinkai, his mouth open in shock, but where Shinkai touched him, he felt a gentle warmth lingering.
“You... idiot...” Arakita finally mumbled, turning away a little to take a deep breath and calm himself.
How do you expect me to sleep now, he thought.