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After their stunning victory against Hai Guang, the off-season comes as the weather starts to get colder. Aware that they will have targets on their backs when things resume, the team doesn’t rest on their laurels. Each regular is prescribed a new training regimen to keep their skills sharp and strengthen any weak points.
“Yoga?” Jiale arches an eyebrow at Yan Zhiming as he looks up from the paper detailing his training program. Ah Yan nods sagely.
“Yes. To help prevent injury and strain, it is important for you to have a full understanding of your body’s capabilities and limits when it comes to flexibility. By learning to pair your breathing with your movement, it will also help you maintain your stamina for longer.”
It all sounds very logical to Jiale who nods thoughtfully before leaning over to glance at his partner’s program. “You get plyometrics while I get yoga?! Maaannnn!!” Jiale whines and unceremoniously goes boneless.
Chi Dayong feels Jiale’s body collide with his own, and tries to ignore the flutters in his stomach. “Has Ah Yan ever steered us wrong though?” He nudges Jiale gently so he can look his partner in the eye. He feels his lips curve into a smile as Jiale’s big brown eyes stare back at him. “You know I need to work on my vertical and improve my sudden direction changes.”
Jiale sighs before sitting up, his bottom lip pushed out in a slight pout. It’s all Dachi can do not to comment on how cute that expression is, knowing that Jiale would rather be called cool or handsome. “Not that Jiale would want to hear me call him handsome…would he?” is the thought that floats through Dachi’s head before he manages to bring himself back to the present. He settles for rubbing his partner’s back reassuringly. Seeming to come to some sort of decision, Jiale jumps up and pumps his fist.
“Okay! Bring it on!!”
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Jiale starts doing the yoga videos that Ah Yan points him to, but it doesn’t take more than two days before his curiosity leads him down another rabbit hole.
“Dachi! Dachi! C’mere! Check this out!!”
Jiale calls out to his partner who is on the other side of the gym lifting weights. Dachi finishes off his last two reps before wiping the sweat off his brow and walking over to see what has captured Jiale’s attention.
“Isn’t it yoga time for you right now?”, Dachi asks with a slightly teasing grin on his face.
“It is!” Jiale replies brightly. “And you’re going to help me with it!” He hands Dachi his phone.
Dachi chokes on air the moment he reads the words on the screen. He swallows. Hard. “C-c-couples yoga challenge?”
“Aren’t I a genius?! I get my yoga practice, and we work on our coordination, all in one fell swoop!” Jiale looks completely impressed with himself before tapping his lower lip thoughtfully. “I wonder why Ah-Yan didn’t suggest this in the first place?”
Dachi wouldn’t want to answer that question even if he knew what went through their data tennis specialist’s head. He can feel his heart rate start to climb.
“Uh...Are you sure you want me to help you with this?” Dachi tries to hide the mild panic from his voice.
“Of course! Who else would I ask?!” Jiale retorts incredulously. “Besides, you need to work on your stretching too. Now stop talking and come over to the mat!”
Jiale pushes a very flustered Dachi over to where he has set out some yoga mats, thrusting his phone out to show Dachi the first pose.
“Let’s start with an easy one. A V-sit becomes a W with two people!” Jiale can tell from the way Dachi is biting the left side of his bottom lip, and how his brow has that slight furrow, that his partner is nervous; Jiale chalks it up to the uncertainty of trying something new. He’s determined to get Dachi past his self-doubt. Once they get going, Jiale knows Dachi will get out of his own head and become absorbed in the task at hand.
Jiale gracefully lowers himself to the floor, props his legs up and extends his arms out before turning his entreating eyes up to Dachi who has no choice but to follow suit. With a quiet chuckle, Dachi sits down on the yoga mat.
"I apologize in advance for any poses that don't work out because of my lack of flexibility."
Jiale shoots him a scolding expression, and Dachi quirks an eyebrow up before laughing gently because Jiale is the only person he can have an entire conversation with and never have to say a word.
As Dachi gets himself into a V-sit, Jiale reaches out to take his partner’s hands. As one might expect of the Golden Partners, they settle into the pose easily, neither one pulling or pushing too hard, and yet supporting each other comfortably. Dachi can feel his nerves easing as they often do when Jiale is around. His partner’s grip is reassuring, and while he can feel that ever more familiar flutter in his stomach, he finds the contact between them anchoring. Their breathing naturally synchronizes, and Dachi holds himself steady so he can be the support as Jiale shifts around to stretch different muscles. After a while, by silent mutual agreement, the pair decide that they have finished with the W-sit, and ease themselves out of the pose. Jiale flashes Dachi a huge grin, and it fills the vice-captain’s chest with confidence. If Jiale finds it helpful, he can do anything.
“Now this airplane one!” Jiale points to a picture of one yogi on their back, arms and legs extended toward the sky, supporting a second yogi who looks like they are a flying superhero.
Without a word, Jiale waits for Dachi to lie down on his back, eyes expectant, and it occurs to Dachi that even he couldn’t picture Jiale as anyone but the one flying through the air.
“Hmmm…” Dachi gets thoughtful as he lays down on the mat and stretches his arms up. Jiale has a look on his face that seems to say that he’s about to take a flying leap onto his doubles partner “I think it’s too dangerous for you to jump on. Maybe…” Dachi thinks for a moment about the physics behind the pose before humming more confidently. He bends his knees so they are pulled in close to his chest. “Grab my hands, and then lay yourself onto my feet. I’ll push you up once you’re stable.”
Dachi marvels at the trust the acrobat has in him; Jiale doesn’t pause to wonder if his suggestion makes sense or if it will even work. With a nod, Jiale comes in closer and links his hands with Dachi’s. Dachi takes a deep breath, nods his head subtly, and invites his partner to rest his torso on his feet. He’s determined to help Jiale fly, just like he does when they’re on the courts.
As he tips himself forward, Jiale’s face is mere inches away from Dachi’s, their eyes locked. He can see the concentration on the vice-captain’s face as he makes slight adjustments in order to support the added weight, warm breath fanning Jiale’s cheeks. The moment feels frozen, and Jiale starts to get lost in the depth of Dachi’s steady gaze, and his mind wanders.
“Dachi’s eyes are really warm. He looks really handsome when he’s focused like this. It’s not the same look as when he’s focused on his books. It’s different from when he’s playing tennis too. I kinda like this look, this one where he’s totally focused on me.”
Jiale is totally distracted by his thoughts and doesn’t notice Dachi saying something until it’s too late.
“I’m going to lift you up now okay?”
Out of habit, Jiale nods even though he’s not totally sure what’s been said, and it’s too late to take it back because he feels Dachi’s strong legs push him skyward. Turns out he wasn’t actually ready at all, and he panics as the distance between his face and Dachi’s grows. Instead of straightening his body into a superhero-style plank, he curves in on himself, as though his instinct is to keep the distance between him and Dachi to a minimum.
“Ah! Wait! Jiale!!”
Dachi’s voice is urgent, and his eyes go wide as he feels his partner sway precariously in the air. Without thinking, he quickly drops his legs, allowing Jiale to come crashing down on top of him so they are on the floor, chest to chest, fingers still intertwined.
“Jiale! Are you okay?! You’re not hurt are you?”
Dachi releases Jiale’s hands to wrap his arms around his partner, wanting to reassure himself of the acrobat’s safety. When he sees the look in Jiale’s eyes, he drops his head to the mat with a relieved exhale knowing that everything is okay.
Except everything is not okay. Dachi can feel his cheeks start to burn as his mind catches up to the position he is currently finding himself in. Even though Jiale is fine, Dachi hasn’t released his embrace, and his stomach is giving the diving team a run for its money in terms of somersaults per second.
It takes Jiale a moment to catch up to what is happening. One moment, he’s staring into Dachi’s eyes, then he’s crashing into something warm and comforting, and now he’s back to staring at Dachi’s eyes. He’s in a bit of a daze as he realizes that Dachi is hugging him, and he relaxes into it even as he notices a warmth creeping up through his stomach to his chest.
“Thanks, Dachi. You totally saved me there.” Jiale’s voice is uncharacteristically quiet, and there’s a tension in the air that neither of them can explain nor define, but they’re each sure the other notices it too.
A beat of silence goes by as neither of them move, and the space between them seems to crackle with electricity. Dachi nervously clears his throat before shifting Jiale off of him, rolling to a crouch, smiling sheepishly.
“Anytime. I promised I’d always be there for you, right?” His voice is gentle and quiet, like he’s afraid to break whatever spell there is woven between them. “I….uh…” He runs a hand through his hair before rising to his feet. “I’m going to finish off my training. I’ll meet you back in the club room when we’re done? We can go for omurice? My treat since I almost dropped you there”.
Jiale bounds to his feet beside Dachi, the butterflies in his stomach seemingly giving him a little extra lift. He launches himself at the young man in front of him, wrapping Dachi in a hug. Dachi, with his bashful smile, nervous stutter, and heart of gold.
“Yay! You’re the best! Makes it worth getting dropped.” Jiale gives Dachi one last squeeze before detangling himself from the other. His sharp eyes don’t miss the flush on Dachi’s cheeks, nor the slightly quicker breathing coming from the vice captain. He can feel his own face start to heat up as Dachi’s face blossoms into that smile reserved only for him.
They high-five before going their own ways temporarily. Neither of them are sure what to call this thing between them just yet. But whatever it is, they wouldn’t trade it for anything.
FIN