Work Text:
There were very few things Kuramochi Youichi treasured enough to follow him from his childhood home to Seido’s sprawling emerald fields: His gaming system- the prior year’s birthday present his parents scraped and saved to buy him after hearing the joy-filled news he had been accepted at Seido high school. A baseball poster his group of friends had gifted him after his very first home run, that he still kept even after the fallout of their final year in middle school. And most precious, an old but well-loved glove that his father had once worn during games. The leather showing its years of fading from the harsh summer sun, edges barely holding together with the mis-matched stitching lining the glove; memories strong of watching his father field ball after ball from the field to turn crisp plays to first base.
Youichi knew based on these few items he clung to over the years he was far from materialistic, preferring to borrow or use an item until broken before accumulating something new. Although, the swell of pride from being able to wear the blue and yellow of Seido’s school colors daily allowed him the small luxury of a few more team shirts and jackets than likely necessary to accumulate in his room.
Yet there was one person’s possessions and advice that he treasured above all the rest, the one person on the team he respected after starting his high school baseball career in almost the most negative way possible.
“You suck!”
Two simple little words but with their bite came along endless hours of gruelling practice to live up to their creator’s almost unattainable standard. Nights spent dreaming of monsters with pink hair chasing him around the field, demanding that he become better, faster, stronger in order to join the first-string and finally help to lead the team to the one destination most high school baseball players could only dream of playing on one day – Koushien’s black soil.
It was with the strength of his teammates, his ever-evolving friendships in many ways, that Youichi was able to grow, and persevere, and evolve until finally a throw to his partner at his back between second and third was like second nature. Hours of fielding ground balls, healed over scabs and blisters accumulating into his keystone partnership with one Kominato Ryousuke.
Along the way Youichi would have never considered himself a superstitious guy, watching with mirth as other players showed their own odd behaviors on the team. Some needing to always put on one sock or even place one side of their body first when donning uniforms, sticking to the same pattern of exercises in stretching routines, to even good luck charms of various shapes and sizes.
“Kuramochi… what in the world is that?” Ryousuke’s keen eyes opening slightly to stare at the charm dangling from Youichi’s gear bag.
“A… good luck charm?” Youichi hesitantly replying, never thinking he would turn out to be one of those people who were superstitious, but he just couldn't ignore an act of good will from others. “It's from my old middle school team mates. In their own way apologizing I guess for some of the bad blood spilt before I came to Seido.”
“Are you sure that's the type of luck you want to be carrying around though?” Ryousuke replied, studying him in that thorough way that made Youichi shiver all the way to his toes.
“I'm hurt Ryousuke, you of all people should appreciate the joys of a terrifying looking zombie. With the stories I've heard of the movies you've dragged people to watch late at night.”
“Watching movies – yes, bloodied corpses on my bag – no… especially when you pair that with the other one hanging there.”
“The cheetah was a gift from my mom, and it's not going anywhere!” Kuramochi almost growling in response, reaching for the charm in question to twirl the solid plastic in his callused fingers.
“Hmm… so what's the story behind that one, then?” Ryousuke sounding curious as he moved closer to wrap his fingers around Youichi’s with the slightest touch.
“It- it was a birthday present from her after the very first time I stole a base,” Kuramochi replied, unable to stop the flush from spreading over his cheeks in memory of his family’s frenzied yelling, “She always said from that day on I ran as fast as a cheetah, and it stuck.”
Youichi swore he could almost see something flash across Ryousuke’s gaze. A glint of something teasing yet at the same time, sharp as a razor just below the surface. The curl of his smirk showing far too late for Youichi to back away before he struck.
“Well, she’s right – it suits you.”
Warm fingers leaving behind just a trace of Ryousuke’s presence as he walked back onto the sunlit field from the dugout.
*~~~~~*
Youichi from that point on in all truth didn't know how to fully describe their partnership on the field into words. Ryousuke’s scowls from his first half-fumbled attempts to field baseballs driving something burning within his core to earn his approval on, and off the diamond. He really, even by his second year at Seido wouldn't know what to call their strange relationship when he could at normal intervals swear he could read exactly what Ryousuke was thinking without words.
Shock and disappointment hitting even more painfully when the team lost once again to Ishashiro in the third-years final high school game.
Realization dawning on all the players, and Youichi specifically, of the rapidly growing void at second base. Sure, there was a pink-haired Kominato always at his back for the assist but as hard as Haruichi tried – he wasn't, he couldn't be Ryousuke.
He couldn't be the bite of harsh, yet truthful words at Youichi’s side. The one constant, driving force at his back pushing him towards excellence – forcing Youichi to strive for it in his absence.
So it was a shock on the third year's graduation day, when Youichi had slipped away to hide his tears behind an excuse of needing to use the restroom, that he found a simple paper bag lying in front of Room 5. Assuming automatically it was for Sawamura before he saw the characters of his name, neatly lined in crisp, black ink near the top. Opening the contents inside the tissue wrapping to find a carefully folded note, and a present that made his heart clench and flutter with it’s meaning.
Youichi-
I've never seen the reason behind good luck charms, preferring to make my own way instead with perseverance and hard work on and off the field.
I feel this would be better kept in your care (just don't share or tell Haruichi since it was originally a gift), and well after hearing your nickname, I highly agree with your mother’s choice and care behind it.
With luck,
~ Ryousuke
Cradling the present between his fingers as he tucked it safely away in his gear bag from prying eyes that might see it in the room, but strangely feeling better about having to face his teammates one last time to say goodbye to their high school days together.
*~~~~~*
“You-san! Do you have any tar stick in your bag? I just bought a new bat and forgot mine in my room,” Haruichi questioned.
“Sure thing Haruichi, might be buried a bit near the bottom, but should have some in my bag.” Kuramochi continuing his stretching routine, turning to work out a kink in his shoulder before he heard it – the sound of a chuckle being held back from the dugout.
A chill running down his spine as he stood up to head into the dugout, feet moving far too slowly to try and avoid Haruichi from seeing any more. Just getting to the base of the steps in time to see his team mate pull out the ball of fluff from something he held very dear to his heart.
“Speedy!” Haruichi’s laughter infectious as he hugged the stuffed toy to his chest. Eyes turning in Youichi’s direction studying, “But how in the world did you get a hold of him.”
Guilt filling Youichi’s gut as he came to the conclusion the stuffed toy may have in fact been Haruichi’s at one point in time. “Oh… Ryou-san gave him to me, but I didn't know it belonged to you Haru-“
“No You-san, it doesn't… I'm just a little shocked is all as his stuffed cheetah was the one thing he always had hidden in his bag for good luck. I’m just a bit surprised is all to see it again…”
Youichi shocked in his own way before he couldn't hold back a grin followed by a cackle any longer, “Your brother is full of shit Haruichi… not believing in good luck charms my ass.”
“No, he was correct in what he believed You-san. He’s not one to waste his times on silly charms, it just means he believes in you instead.”
Haruichi placing the stuffed cheetah in Youichi’s hands before jogging back onto the field. Youichi’s cheeks only glowing redder at the thoughts of his former team mate, and the many ways in which his gift was so important.