Work Text:
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
"Good work today Itsuki." Mei utters as he heads to the showers done with pitching for the day.
It isn't as if those exact words haven't come from any other of his seniors before but hearing it from Mei sent a happy feeling through his chest. He couldn't place a finger on the emotion no matter how hard he tried but he couldn't possibly be falling for the third year pitcher right? Shrugging it off he heads to the showers himself eager to be done for the day.
Waiting for the sunrise
Waiting for the day
Waiting for a sign
That I'm where you want me to be
"Itsukiiiiii~ You're lateeeee." Mei whines.
"I'm sorry Mei-san. I got caught up with classroom duties." Itsuki apologies hoping that Mei would forgive him just this one for being late to practice.
"Here, I got you a drink to make up for it. Would you like me to catch for you in the bullpen today?" He offers his senpai the drink crossing his fingers that he did indeed remember the right one. His worries die down when Mei accepts the bottle and pops the cap off taking a big gulp of the liquid.
"Hmmmph. You're forgiven. Now hurry up and get ready. I'm feeling good today so I hope you're ready to get worn out. I'll be waiting for you at the bullpen." Mei grins, laughing to himself. He knows that he probably shouldn't treat Itsuki this way but he can't help but tease his kouhai and help push him beyond his limits.
You know my heart is heavy
And the hurt is deep
But when I feel like giving up
You're reminding me
That we all fall down sometimes
But when I hit the ground
They had just lost the semi-finals just barely missing the cut to go to Koshien. With heavy hearts the team walked back to the bus silence enveloping the dense, gloomy atmosphere. The next few weeks were difficult for everyone to cope with. Defeat wasn’t something everyone was used to, being a team from a powerhouse school with a team that made it to the semi-finals of the nationals the previous year. Going to bed Itsuki could hear the quiet sobs above him. Climbing up to the top bunk he brings some tissues scooting over to sit beside the ace.
“Mei-san. Here’s some tissues.” Itsuki presents the box, setting it down in front of the both of them.
“Go away, Itsuki. Can’t you see I’d like to be alone right now?”
“I know that by building your ideal team, you didn’t think we’d lose but failure is something that we all need to experience in order for us to grow. It’s only natural. Not everyone’s hard work pays off and we need to accept that.”
“What mainstream television show did you rip those lines from? Of course I know that. Tch, who do you take me for Itsuki? Do I seem that miserable to you?” Mei scoffed, offended that his catcher would suggest such an idea.
“Mei-san I’m trying to help you.”
“Do I look like I need someone to help me right now?”
Giving out a sign Itsuki gets up ready to head back to his bunk.
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I can't see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go
Regretting his harsh comment he tugs at the bottom of Itsuki’s shirt. Mei mutters the words barely above a whisper.
“Please don’t go.”
Turning around he embraces the Ace in a hug handing the boy some tissues to dry his tears. Sitting back down Itsuki allows Mei to rest on his shoulder.
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
Staying still, they sit side by side listening to the gentle sound of breathing echoing throughout the room. Feeling his heavy eyelids drooping, he takes a look at the ace only to find the older boy asleep on his shoulder. Careful not to disturb the boy’s sleep he gently maneuvers Mei on to his side and slips the blanket over his shoulders before returning to his bed before passing out the moment his head hits the pillow.
I know I'm not perfect
I know I make mistakes
I know that I have let you down
But you love me the same
And when I'm surrounded
When I lose my way
When I'm crying out and falling down
“Itsuki!! How many times has it been? We can’t use this pitch in games if you can’t catch it.” Mei on the verge of giving up puts down the ball ready to stop for the day.
“One more!! I swear I’ll catch it this time!”
“You keep saying that but you’re not improving at all.”
“Mei-san, I’m nowhere near as good a catcher as Masa-san and even further than what Miyuki-san can accomplish but I swear I’ll catch up to you without fail. So please Mei-san, one more!!”
“Tch, you better catch it this time you hear?”
Mei winds up his arm for one more pitch before retiring for the day, careful not to overwork himself as per the coach’s orders. Concentrating, Itsuki focuses on the ball determined to catch the last pitch of the day. Whoosh the ball flies cutting through the air and bam it’s suddenly in his mitt in a blink of an eye.
“Nice ball!! MEI-SAN!! MEI-SAN!! I DID IT!!!” Itsuki waves his mitt in the air showcasing the ball held within it.
Smirking, Mei remarks, “I knew you could do it Itsuki.”
You are here to
Lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I can't see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go
“Hey, Itsuki. Thank you for dealing no, putting up with my selfish behaviour all the time. I didn’t think we would work as well as we do but you’ve surprised me and exceeded my expectations. So for that, thank you.”
“It’s no problem. I’m glad I got to form a battery with you. I’m glad that I got to play in an official game with Mei-san before graduation.”
With that, they head out into the baseball stadium ready for their last game that would either take them to Koshien or end the third years’ summer early.
I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
With your love
I don't know what I can offer
In this moment I surrender to your love
To your love
Reminiscing, Mei recalls the early morning runs that Itsuki would accompany him on. After Masa-san graduated, Itsuki was really the only one to keep up with him like the boy promised. Shirakawa and Carlos were often off doing something by themselves. That meant the job of entertaining the ace was always left to their Kouhais as most of the team wanted nothing to do with the pushy ace. Maybe, just maybe he could admit that he feels something for the catcher that had grown on him. Now on the mound, he felt that the only way he could repay Itsuki for his efforts was to at the very least, bring their battery to Koshien. It had been one full year since they had started working together and Mei believed that as Itsuki’s senpai he should do his best and set and for once, be the responsible senpai that he can be.
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I am weak
Your arms wrap around me
Your love catches me so I'm letting go
You lift me up when I can't see
Your heart is all that I need
Your love carries me so I'm letting go
It wasn’t enough. Their combined efforts wasn’t enough to bring them to Koshien. Even after all that they still lost to Seido by one measly point. One of the third years in his carelessness had thrown the ball too wide leaving the third baseman unable to catch the ball; allowing the runner to return home.
"I'm sorry we couldn't make it to Nationals Mei-san." Itsuki says in a somber tone.
Wrapping his arms around the older boy attempting to console him seeing the tears starting to build up in the ace's eyes.
"I know you said we would hug when we won Nationals but you look like you need one right now Mei-san."
He croaks out the words, barely able to stop his voice from breaking or concealing his disappointment. Sure Itsuki felt sad, but nothing was more important to him than knowing that Mei was going to be alright. Feeling the ace reciprocate the hug, he finally lets the tears overflow and fall down his face.
I can see the dawn is breaking
I am feeling overtaken with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up with your love
You lift me up
The next morning when Itsuki woke up Mei was already hard at work packing up all his belongings; ready to move out of the dorm room he had been living at for the last two and half years.
"You're up early Itsuki! There's no practice. You can go back to sleep." Mei states without sparing a glance.
"Mei-san. Do you need help?" Itsuki offers although groggy from sleep.
"No. I should be fine. Go back to sleep Itsuki, you need to rest."
"Mei-san." Itsuki starts trying to find the confidence within himself before the former ace leaves the dorm for good. "I love you."
Whipping around Mei is faced with Itsuki half awake and fighting a blush off his face.
"Pfft. The look on your face is really something right now." Mei snickers.
"Mei-san stop teasing me!!" Itsuki pouts with indignation but, unable to hold anything against the older boy.
"I love you too idiot." Mei pauses for a bit letting the words sink in before continuing. "Also, thank you, Itsuki for being the best battery partner anyone could ask for."
Closing the distance between them, Itsuki places a light kiss on Mei's lips letting them mould together perfectly.
"I love you Mei-san."
"I know I love you too~"