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The harsh summer sun beats down on the ground outside, making it unbearably hot. Within the confines of his house, Haru had hoped he’d be safe from the unrelenting heat, but alas, his air conditioning chose the perfect time to stop working. On one of the hottest days of the year in Japan.
Sighing, Haru rolls over, his shirt having been discarded long ago. Next to his head, his phone buzzes yet again.
Checking it, he squints to see yet another text from the group chat. Nagisa asking where he was, Makoto demanding if he ate enough today, and so on.
And then there’s Kisumi -
Kiss Me [12:49]: anyone down to play some b??
ASSahi [12:49]: dude, for the millionth time, NO
Nagisa [12:50]: no Kisumi!! >:( how about YOU swim instead!
Speedo Glasses [12:51]: I agree with Nagisa. It’s too hot to play basketball. Thus, it makes more sense to swim.
Kiss Me [12:51]: ratio
Gou (Why am I here) [12:51]: Rei ur a simp
Twelve users liked “Rei ur a simp”
Kiss Me [12:52]: xD
ASSahi [12:52]: LMFAO
Momkoto [12:53]: sorry Rei, but - simp
Suske [12:53]: ^
Shark Boy [12:54]: simp
Speedo Glasses [12:55]: well, that’s quite rich coming from you, Rin!
Five users liked “well, that’s quite rich coming from you, Rin!”
Nagisa [12:55]: LOL go get em bby xD
Ikuya [12:56]: As entertaining as this all is, will you idiots stop blowing up my phone! I’m trying to not die of heat stroke
Natsuya [12:57]: turn it off then, little bro -_-
Ikuya [12:57]: no <3
Chuckling at his friend’s antics, Haru decides that now will be his time to strike. After all, the opportunity to mess with all of them was just too good.
Haru [12:58]: I’m down to play basketball.
Immediately, the “3+ people are typing” icon pops up, and Haru grins to himself. This was gonna be good .
Nagisa [12:58]: WAT
Speedo Glasses [12:58]: HARU??? HAVE YOU BEEN ABDUCTED?!
ASSahi [12:58]: BRUH
Momkoto [12:58]: Haru are you malnourished???
Ikuya [12:58]: say sike rn
Natsuya [12:58]: LMFAO
Gou (Why am I here) [12:59]: Seems the mackerel has finally caught up to him ;(
Hiyori [13:00]: LOL
Kiss Me [13:00]: HARU I LOVE YOU
Suske [13:01]: I think you broke Rin, Haru. He’s been staring at his phone screen in shock for the past couple minutes
Haru [13:01]: Good. I feel like beating him in another sport today.
Momkoto [13:01]: Oh boy
Nagisa [13:01]: OH HOHO *screenshots*
Ikuya [13:02]: Guys i think Haru might actually be suffering from heat stroke
Kiss Me [13:02]: HAHAHA THAT’S the spirit!
ASSahi [13:02]: what is going onnn
And then, the response from the one person Haru has been waiting for all along.
Shark Boy [13:03]: I thought I had taught you who’s in charge last night? Or do you need a reminder?
Blushing, Haru looks away as the group chat capitulates.
Gou (Why am I here) [13:03]: OMG RIN YOU FREAK WHYYYY
Momkoto [13:03]: PFTTT
Ikuya [13:04]: brb i’m gonna go bleach my eyes
ASSahi [13:04]: ^
Nagisa [13:04]: EWWWWW
Suske [13:05]: Sorry, everyone. I tried to take Rin’s phone away before he sent it, but… yeah
Natsuya [13:05]: in shock rn
Shark Boy [13:05]: What’s the matter, sweetheart? No response? :p
Hiyori [13:06]: you guys are ACTUALLY disgusting -_-
Kiss Me [13:06]: IDEA! How about we settle all this over a friendly game of basketball?
Haru [13:07]: Deal.
Kiss Me [13:06]: YES! Everyone meet at the courts near Iwatobi HS in 15!
Ten users liked “YES! Everyone meet at the courts near Iwatobi HS in 15!”
Getting up, Haru puts his shirt on and packs a water bottle and towel into his bag, before exiting his house. Thinking about Rin and the stupid look on his face just excited him even more.
Don’t get him wrong, he loves Rin dearly, but he was going down .
Approaching the basketball courts, it's deserted except for Kisumi. The pink haired boy practices his shooting, which is near flawless.
Silently approaching, as the ball ricochets off of the backboard, Haru snags it before Kisumi can even turn around.
“Ah!” Kisumi yelps, bringing a hand to his chest. “Haru, you scared me!”
Haru silently gets into his stance, before he takes his shot. It’s been a long while since he’s played basketball, but muscle memory kicks in, and the ball swishes through the net.
“Nice one!” A loud, familiar voice calls from behind.
“Asahi!” Kisumi calls back, waving.
Asahi, along with Rei and Nagisa in tow, approach the courts, throwing their stuff off to the side.
“Hey Haru!” Nagisa calls.
“It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be,” Rei comments, looking up at the sky. “The clouds are giving us some cover.”
Haru hums in agreement, as a couple of cars pull into the high school’s parking lot. As the doors fly open, all sorts of familiar faces pile out.
“Yo!” Coach Sasabe greets. “I was with Gou and Makoto at Iwatobi SC, and I heard of a little match going on?”
“Yup!” Nagisa chirps. “The shark and his emo boyfriend are going head to head!”
Makoto laughs, as he helps Coach bring some lawn chairs down next to the courts.
“Oi, Haru!” Gou calls, approaching him.
“Hm?” Haru hums, raising a brow at his boyfriend’s little sister.
“Here,” she says, pulling out two thousand yen. “If you beat Rin, this is all yours.”
“Hey, you can’t gamble on the game!” Coach calls, a disapproving look on his face.
Gou pouts, but gives Haru one last wink, before gallivanting away.
In the next car, Natsuya, Ikuya, Nao, and Hiyori pile out, before one last car pulls up - a black SUV, that belonged to a maroon haired boy Haru knew all too well. And accompanying him, of course, is his own gaggle of goons. Though Haru didn’t mind, they were fun to hang around with.
“ Gou !” Two voices call, and the poor girl sighs.
Before Seijuro or Momo can reach her, Rin grabs them by the collars of their shirts, yanking them back.
“Don’t you even dare , you two!”
The brothers cross their arms and pout, as Sosuke and Aiichiro come down as well.
“Oo! Is everyone here?!” Kisumi says excitedly, looking around. “Alright! Who’s playing?!”
“Obviously you, me and Rin,” Haru says.
Makoto, Ikuya, Sosuke, Asahi, Rei, Nagisa, and Natsuya step forward, while everyone else gathers on the side of the court, watching.
“Sweet!” Kisume whoops. “A full five on five!”
“Me and Haru will be captains,” Rin says. “Everyone else, lineup.”
The other eight boys listen obediently, and form a straight line across the centerline. Rin sidles up next to Haru, casting a toothy grin his way.
“You can have the first pick, Haru.”
“How generous of you, Rinrin.”
Rin blushes and pouts at the nickname, which causes a few chuckles from the other guys.
“Whatever! Just make your pick already.”
“Fine, you big baby.” Haru teases. “Makoto, you’re with me.”
Makoto smiles, his green eyes shining. “Sweet.”
“Sosuke.” Rin says.
“Aww,” Makoto pouts.
“Kisumi.” Haru picks.
“Let’s go!” Kisumi whoops, fist bumping Makoto.
“Asahi.” Rin selects.
Asahi grins, gloating at Kisumi, who rolls his eyes.
“Ikuya, you’re with us,” Haru says.
“Then I’ll take Natsuya.” Rin hums.
“Alright. Rei, get over here.” Haru commands.
Rei smirks, adjusting his glasses. “Wise pick, Haru!”
Nagisa pouts, crossing his arms as he walks over to Rin’s team. “I’m really the last pick?!” He whines.
“Sorry, shorty.” Sosuke laughs, patting the blond’s back.
“Hey!”
“Oh!” Nao calls, springing to his feet and clapping his hands. “I’ll be the referee!”
“Cool!” Kisumi says, tossing the basketball to him. “Tip it off when you’re ready.”
Makoto and Sosuke go to the center, while everyone else falls back to their respective sides. Grinning at each other, Makoto and Sosuke get into their stances, ready to jump at a moment’s notice.
“Ready?” Nao asks.
Everyone nods, and as Coach Sasabe blows his whistle, both of the tall boys jump up, high above everyone else. Sosuke has the wingspan, but Makoto stretches his fingers just enough to tip the ball behind him.
The orange sphere flies backwards towards Haru himself, who catches it. Instantly, Rin is in front of him, guarding him fiercely.
“Whatcha gonna do, Haru?” He gloats, pressing him.
“Haru, here!” Kisumi calls.
Haru fakes the pass to him, and instead tosses it over to Ikuya. The teal colored hair boy catches it, though he almost trips. His big brother crowds him, though Ikuya is able to dodge him, and throws it up to the basket.
The net swishes as their small audience claps. Nao takes the ball and passes it to Sosuke, who starts the next possession.
The game proceeds with tough defense, though Haru’s team is just quick enough to slip past the cracks. Penetrating Rin’s defense, he shoots a three, and everyone gasps as it swishes through the net perfectly.
“What the hell…” Rin growls, glaring at Haru. “You didn’t tell me you were good at this!”
“Haru is a certified beast!” Kisumi gloats, enjoying the glares Asahi and Rin cast his way.
“Alright, let’s call a halftime.” Nao says. “Gou, what’s the score?”
“19-14, Haru’s team.”
Rin pouts, but gathers his team around him, and murmurs a plan with them. Haru rolls his eyes at his boyfriend’s dramatism, though he loves his competitive spirit. Always the one to push him, and give him that extra nudge he always needs.
“Alright, let’s get back to it!” Nao calls.
As the second half tip off is underway, Sosuke leaps amazingly high, as he passes the ball off to Asahi. The redhead catches it expertly, and dodges Kisumi’s defense to score.
Kisumi pouts, having fallen to his knees, though Asahi smiles and helps him up.
“Just like junior high!” Asahi laughs.
“Yeah right!” Kisumi squawks.
As the rest of the game passes by, Rin and his team tighten their defense. Haru and his own team struggle to get by, and as the last minute approaches, they’re all tied, 31-31.
“One minute left!” Gou calls.
As Rei tries to take a shot, Sosuke leaps up and blocks it. Nagisa recovers it, and sprints the length of the court to score his first points of the game.
“Atta boy shorty!” Sosuke calls.
As Nao hands the ball off to Ikuya, he slowly dribbles forward, burning the clock. As a hole opens up, he passes to Haru, who wastes even more time as he stays behind the three point line.
Rin’s red eyes watch him intensely, attempting to predict his every move. The crowd begins to chant the last few seconds of the game, and as Haru’s teammates frantically wave their arms for him to pass, Haru moves forward, Rin going with him.
But stopping in his tracks, he backs up on a dime, as Rin trips and falls over onto his ass.
“HARU!” His teammates yell. “SHOOT!”
Haru jumps and shoots, the ball arcing perfectly, but-
Ka-thunk!
The orange sphere bounces off of the backboard, rolling to a stop next to Kisumi’s feet.
Rin’s team cheers as Haru’s groans, though Rin remains on the ground of the court. Kneeling down next to him, Haru stares at Rin, who blinks at him.
“...You didn’t miss on purpose, right?”
“No,” Haru hums. “Though you falling on your ass didn’t help.”
Rin chuckles, and Haru offers him a hand. Taking it, he pulls his boyfriend up and on to his feet. Mischievously, Haru sneaks his hand around Rin, and brushes some dirt off of his butt.
Face going red, Rin playfully shoves Haru away, while their friends gag at them.
“Get a room!” Kisumi groans.
As Haru laughs, bright and loud, Rin stares at him. Eyes wide, he’s reminded that this is what he lives for - Haru.
And if him embarrassingly falling on his ass in front of all their friends would grace him with the sight of a laughing Haru, then it was more than worth it.