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It’s nearly midnight by the time Sawamura returns to his dorm room, taking care to make as little noise as possible as he opens the door, choosing to leave the lights off so that he doesn’t inadvertently wake up Kuramochi.
His legs are lead from running and his shoulder harbours a dull ache - actually, his whole body is sore, but it’s a good feeling. Nothing feels better than the post-workout high.
Except maybe his bed. He could really use a good night’s rest considering the fact that the hot bath he had just taken did little to soothe his aching muscles.
Sawamura rids himself of the towel serving as his only garment of clothing, his calves seizing up as he slips into his sleeping attire.
“Ahh...” he groans. Maybe he was too intense with the aerobic workouts right after his laps around the field. He touches his stomach - or maybe he overdid it with the core training with the medicine ball? He waves the thoughts away; No, no, impossible - there’s no such thing as too much training. Especially when it’s for the ace number.
In any case, tomorrow’s a Day Off and he’ll definitely be rejuvenated by the time morning comes after a nice sleep in his comfy b-
“Wh-Why.....?!”
Kuramochi’s dead asleep in his bunk, one arm slung over his stomach, cradling his open 3DS which emits quiet midnight Animal Crossing music. Sawamura snorts when he sees that the shortstop still sucks his thumb.
Masuko-senpai is also sleeping, and Sawamura decides it would be best to just sleep in the upper bunk for tonight but when he tries to climb up, his knees buckle and he crumples to the ground.
“Damn...” he curses under his breath. His arms feel like noodles... how could he be so weak that he can’t even pull himself up to the top bunk?
He sighs as he looks over at Kuramochi, so innocent-looking in slumber, who would certainly rip him to shreds come the morning...
Sawamura lifts the 3DS and saves the game before closing it, placing it atop the dresser for safekeeping. He reasons that he could very well just wake up before him, sneak away in the morning and Kuramochi would be none the wiser.
He nods to himself, congratulatory of his smart thinking, and he carefully hoists a leg over Kuramochi’s waist, then an arm, quickly steadying himself as he holds himself right above Kuramochi.
Close.
Sawamura pops his other leg over, almost kicking the underside of the top bunk in the process, the bed creaking under his full weight. Laying on his back, it’s a snug fit, a very tight squeeze thanks to his broad shoulders and Kuramochi’s alike.
Smushed against the wall, shoulders hunched, there’s no way he’s going to find sleep in this position.
He slowly rolls onto his side putting his weight on his right shoulder because it’s less sore than his left, and he tucks his hands under his cheek, eyelids drooping.
Alrighty... time to sl-
An arm makes its way under his neck, curling around him, and it scares the daylights out of him, eyes flying open instantaneously.
Heart pounding, he sees that Kuramochi is still asleep, chest rising and falling evenly, mouth slightly opened, sans thumb.
His eye lashes are pretty long. Huh.
Sawamura relaxes, timidly shifting a little closer to Kuramochi. It’s more comfortable like this, though he doesn’t take his eyes off of Kuramochi’s jawline as he rests against his shoulder.
“Goodnight...” Sawamura murmurs, a tiny yawn escapes and he lets his eyes close, breathing in his musky scent, “Kuramochi...”
*
When Kuramochi wakes up in the morning, he’s surprised to be staring at the underside of a bunk rather than the ceiling. He furrows his brows, thinking back to last night, recalling that he had been playing Animal Crossing for a couple hours while Sawamura was out.
‘Ah, I must’ve fallen asleep,’ he thinks, absentmindedly patting his chest, looking for his 3DS. It’s not there and he assumes it must’ve fallen off the bed or something, but he spots it on top of the dresser. ‘Odd...’
The numbness in his left arm finally registers with his drowsy brain and he turns his head to see Sawamura fast asleep.
Kuramochi wiggles his fingers a little to try to regain some feeling before pulling him closer to him.
He doesn’t quite know how he feels when he watches the way Sawamura unconsciously curls up to his side, fleecy brown hair against his neck.
Warm.
“Hmm?” Sawamura ruses from sleep, eyes blinking open.
“‘Morning,” Kuramochi says, feeling Sawamura tense up. “Did you sleep well?”
“Ah! Kuramochi-senpai! GOOD MORNING! I JUST-”
He squishes Sawamura’s cheeks together, cutting him off. “You’re too loud!” he hisses before letting go.
Sawamura’s hands fly to his face, massaging his pained cheeks. “Sorry!”
“Nevermind that,” Kuramochi mumbles, looking off to the side. “This is... nice.”
He peeks back at Sawamura who’s smiling widely, brightly. He feels Sawamura’s arms snake around him, enveloping him in that sunshine, and he’s inclined to push him away because he doesn’t want him to feel how ridiculously fast his pulse is racing.
“I think so, too,” Sawamura tells him before pressing his mouth and nose against the side of his chest.
Kuramochi runs his fingers up the back of Sawamura’s neck before weaving through his hair, and Sawamura looks up at him.
“So... this is okay? And you’re not mad?”
“Just... shut up.” Kuramochi buries his nose in Sawamura’s hair. Soft... fragrant... Somehow quite somnolent... “It can be our secret...”
“Good morning, Kuramochi. Good morning, Sawamura-chan,” Masuko says, and the two quickly fix their attention at the door where their upperclassman is just about to head out, a fond smile on his face. “See you two at breakfast... or later...”
Blood rushes to Kuramochi’s face immediately; he feels way too warm, especially with Sawamura trying to burrow into his side, and he barely utters a greeting in response.
“Sh-should we go get breakfast now?” Sawamura asks.
Kuramochi shifts so that he’s laying on his side as well, facing Sawamura squarely, catching sight of faint freckles and widening golden eyes.
“Later...”
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