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i.
Kanemaru has never dreaded school so much. He’s always done well and gotten good grades, but in high school the stakes feel so much higher.
It doesn’t help that one half of their first string’s pitcher relay is in his class and they’re both idiotic beyond repair. He tells Sawamura over and over again, “Don’t you dare fall asleep in class again or I’m telling the upperclassmen.” but the jerk never seems to listen.
Logically, Kanemaru shouldn’t care what happens to him but the thought of Sawamura embarrassing the entire class of first years by getting kicked off the team for sleeping in class when Kanemaru was there to prevent it makes him a little nauseous.
He tries complaining to Toujou but he just pats Kanemaru on the shoulder and gives him a, “Good luck Shinji, stay strong.” before he goes off to practice his swings.
ii.
The spring tournament is over and it’s Kanemaru’s first ever summer of hell. Nothing in his life has ever compared. The heat is almost as unbearable as the excruciating drills they’re forced to do, and it’s exhausting. Everything from sleeping to eating to breathing is a part of their strict training regimen.
The usually rowdy table of first-years is almost silent as each and every player is scarfing down their own heaping bowls of rice. Sawamura is nearly dead on his feet as Kanemaru stands over him, shouting, “IF YOU LOSE A SINGLE KILOGRAM THIS SUMMER YOU’RE DEAD!” He absolutely will not have the pitcher losing muscle and disappointing the team on his watch.
Sawamura cries back “PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON ME, SUPERVISOR FROM HELL!” but his sobs for mercy fall on deaf ears as Kanemaru fills up another bowl of rice and brings it to his seat. Kanemaru doesn’t care how mean he seems, not when the other’s health is on the line.
After dinner, he puts on his helmet and protective gear before joining Chris-senpai and Sawamura in the indoor practice room. The idiot is going to get his control in shape before the summer tournament starts if he can do anything about it. While he’s standing in the batter’s box he realizes that being hit by a wild pitch doesn’t scare him, but the amount of energy he spends caring about this team, about Sawamura does.
iii.
It’s their second year of high school and Kanemaru has found himself in the midst of something new and tenuous with their resident loudmouth. They haven’t put a name to it yet, but there’s definitely something beginning between the two. Every once in a while, the tension gets too much and it results in moments of extreme weakness. This is one of those times.
“I’ll tell the coach I saw you overworking yourself if we get caught.” he murmurs as Sawamura works his hands through Kanemaru’s hair and crowds him against the walls of the dugout. They’re supposed to be on a morning run, but Kanemaru can’t help but run his hands up and down the pitcher’s sides, admiring the sinuous flesh underneath his shirt. “You think you’re so tough, but you’re just a goody two shoes aren’t you. Party boy.” Sawamura replies, with his breath hot on Kanemaru’s neck and a mischievous glint in his eyes as he tugs sharply on his blonde strands.
“Oh shut up.” Kanemaru says back, sucking his teeth, before pulling the other even closer to him.
iv.
“You’re so lucky Seto doesn’t mind that you’re here all the time.” Kanemaru says as he shuts the door. Now that Miyuki-senpai has retired, Kanemaru finds Sawamura in his dorm more often than not. For some reason, his boyfriend is always making himself at home in the new captain’s bed and there’s nothing he can do about it.
Sawamura is lying on the bed with his elbows resting on a pillow as he reads Kanemaru’s newest volume of their current favorite shoujo series. “Now give me back my manga or else you’ll have to run laps all week.” He lightly pushes on the pitcher’s shoulder, signaling him to move towards the wall as he sidles up next to him on the edge of the bed. Sawamura doesn’t respond right away but he leans into Kanemaru’s side and continues his reading. After a beat he says, “You know Shinji, I know you prefer fielding practice when it’s me on the mound, you wouldn’t dare force me to run all week.”
Kanemaru’s face turns red instantly, “You, you-“ he sputters, putting his hot face in his hands and letting his boyfriend finish the chapter before flipping him over onto his back and kissing him senseless.
v.
“We’re breaking up if you embarrass me at your first pro game.” Kanemaru says as he helps button Sawamura’s new dress shirt. It’s the season opener that everyone has been waiting for. Seido’s ace of the past two years is finally making his professional debut.
Sawamura, the lecher that he is, brushes off Kanemaru’s hands and hooks his fingers around his belt loops, bringing his boyfriend towards him until their chests are flush together. “At least give me a kiss for good luck if you’re gonna break up with me.” he whispers back.
“You idiot. If I didn’t break up with you after all the other times you’ve embarrassed me, I think you already know that I’m never breaking up with you.” It sounds like a promise as it rolls off of Kanemaru's tongue.
+i.
When Kanemaru tells his best friend about his plans at their weekly brunch, Toujou just smiles as he says, “Good luck Shinji, stay strong.” Kanemaru has never been more sure of something in his life, but he still appreciates the sentiment. After all, he’s signing up for a lifetime with the most infuriatingly stupid man he’s ever met.
He’s been planning this for the past few months, and it’s weighed heavily on his shoulders. Even though there’s been no indication that Sawamura would ever decline Kanemaru’s proposal, there’s still something so scary about asking in the first place. It doesn’t seem like the right time will ever come to him.
The first time he tried to do it, it was at a fancy restaurant where Sawamura was quickly mobbed by adoring fans. After his boyfriend finished taking selfies with every one of them, their food had gotten cold and the romantic ambience had dissipated.
The second time was in Nagano, they were lying in the Sawamura family fields under the warm glow of the sun when Kanemaru tried to pop the question. “Sawamura, I’ve been thinking-” he started before being interrupted by a shrill, eardrum piercing scream. “KANE LOOK LOOK IT'S THE BIGGEST BEETLE I’VE EVER SEEN! OH MY GOD! GET MY NET I NEED IT RIGHT NOW!” The rest of the afternoon was spent chasing his stupid bug catching boyfriend and he wasn’t able to get another chance during their whole visit.
The third and final time, he decides, will be where it all started for the two of them. They rarely have time to visit Seido as much as they’d like, but Kanemaru makes sure to bring up the idea on their next shared day off and the pitcher quickly acquiesces. Before the kids can even get their eyes on Japan’s ace, Kanemaru drags him into the empty indoor practice field for a game of catch.
“So I’ve been thinking” He says as he winds up his arm getting ready to throw.
“About what?” Sawamura replies once the leather meets his mitt.
“The future. Our future” Kanemaru states with trepidation.
“Oh?” Sawamura says. Stopping the easy rhythm they've gotten into.
“Yeah.”
A beat.
“Do you want to get married?”
“Depends on who’s asking.” The pitcher says cheekily, getting ready to throw the ball back.
“Me, obviously.”
“Are you serious? You better not be messing with me.” He looks a little cat-eyed when he says it.
“More serious than I’ve ever been.” Kanemaru replies earnestly.
The next thing he knows, Sawamura is running towards him, crying with snot running down his face. He buries his face into Kanemaru’s shirt with big heaving sobs. “I should’ve known better than to expect something more romantic from you,” he says through his tears.
Kanemaru can feel his own tears springing up as he rubs his hand up and down his boyfriend’s back “Hey, you know you’re supposed to give me an answer. I’ll die right here on the spot if you don’t.”
He gets a whack on the shoulder at that, “Stupid Shinji, as if I’d ever say anything but yes.”