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“How about no?”
“Too late!” Jun grinned (deviously) and shoved a piece of paper in Sawamura’s face. “We already signed you up and they accepted. You’re entering the contest with a girl from the Photography club.”
“What?!” Sawamura grabbed the paper and began scanning it.
We, the Executive Committee of the Inter-University Athletics Federation, have recieved your application form for participation in the annual Mr.&Ms. Freshie. We are pleased to inform you that your participants, Sawamura Eijun and Tsukino Etsuko respectively, have been reviewed and accepted by the Federation—
“I humbly refuse.” Sawamura said seriously, putting the paper down on the table. He was glaring at his senpais who were giving him ‘come-if-you-dare’ looks in return (Haruichi feared for his friend’s well-being).
“You have no choice.” Ryosuke said, smiling as usual but with a more threatening tone to his voice. Sawamura flinched and didn’t protest when Haruichi pulled him back a bit. “We’re to provide a male representative and between you, Furuya, and Haruichi, it had been an almost unanimous decision.”
“A totally unbiased and unanimous decision.” Kuramochi muttered lowly for only his seatmates Miyuki and Kawakami to hear. The two had to use a lot of willpower not to make a sound else they want to be grilled by the third-year.
“Wasn’t Miyuki the representative last year?” Maezono asked out of the blue. “Why isn’t another club supplying the male representative this year?”
“Because the way to decide the club providing the representative is done by draw lots.” Chris said. “And this year, we were fortunate—”
“YEAH RI—” Haruichi covered Sawamura’s mouth with his hand.
“—enough,” Chris continued on, nodding in thanks to the younger Kominato, “to be drawn again and represent the school.”
“Why not Furuya?” Sawamura tried , voice a little muffled but still loud enough for everyone to hear. “He’s taller and quieter— people find that more likable right?” Well, most people…
Everyone turned to Furuya who was sleeping with his head on the table.
“Yeah,” Kuramochi nodded, kicking the back of Furuya’s chair but received no response, “we’re sticking with you, Bakamura.”
“I don’t understand why it has to be between me, Harucchi, and Furuya.” Sawamura pressed. “Toujou would do better. He’s really nice! He’s not bad looking either!”
(“Careful,” Kanemaru whispered teasingly to his pink friend, “I think Sawamura has a crush on you.” Toujou hit him for that.)
“You saying you’re uglier than Toujou, Sawamura?” Miyuki smirked, never one to back down from teasing his underclassman. Sawamura finally removed the hand covering his mouth (Haruichi deemed it safe enough) and glared. “And that Toujou’s better? Hm, should we have Toujou replace your spot in the first string then?”
“Shut up, you teme-megane-catcher!”
(Kuramochi laughed, “He upped from megane-catcher.”
“That’s an improvement?” Kawakami raised a brow but was smiling, nevertheless.)
“I just want to practice on pitching more.” Sawamura huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Aren’t you all the ones who said I should practice more?”
“Don’t bother. I tried that excuse last year. It didn’t work.” Miyuki said drily. “The baseball doesn’t start until the middle of the tournament.”
“The actual intense training doesn’t start until after the Mr.&Ms. Freshie.” Tetsuya nodded, face as usual serious. “We did the same last year. And, as Miyuki said, the baseball season is in the middle of the whole tournament so we really have no rush. The club will split it’s priority anyway because this competition actually holds a lot of points for the InterU.”
“Really?” Haruichi asked, surprised. “Are there other benefits if we win?”
“Bragging rights.”
“Miyuki, quiet.” Chris lightly chided, flipping through his notebook (“Ah!” Sawamura said. “The Chris-memo!”). “Well, aside from what Miyuki said and the obvious points this gives the school, we also have extra benefits since our club’s sending the representative. We get 25% of the cash prize wins, publicity and exposure, and sponsors.”
“The winners are there to officially start the ceremony so yeah this is (apparently) important.” Kuramochi shrugged.
Sawamura bit his lip. “But—”
“Okay,” Miyuki stood up and walked over to Sawamura, “I think I know why you don’t want to join.”
Sawamura narrowed his eyes. “Really?”
Miyuki smirked at him. “You’re doubting me?” He took the empty seat beside Sawamura and stretched his legs and arms. “I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice.”
In an instant, he wrapped his arm around Sawamura’s shoulder and pulled him closed to whisper something in his ear. Sawamura struggled and protested but eventually quieted down, listening intently to whatever Miyuki was saying. If that hadn’t surprised everyone in the room, when Sawamura suddenly turned red and Miyuki leaned back, smirking triumphantly, everyone was definitely surprised then.
“So, what will it be Sawamura?”
“…You promise?”
“Of course.” Miyuki’s smirk widened, knowing he won that damned teme-megane catcher.
“…Fine.”
“What did you say to Sawamura?” Kuramochi asked when they were dismissed. The two were walking towards the indoor training room, at the back of the other group of people. “He looked reluctant but also excitedly determined. It was really weird.”
“I bribed him.” Miyuki hummed innocently. At Kuramochi’s surprised look, he quickly added, “Nothing harmful. Promise”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m hurt, Kuramochi-kun.”
“Good.”
“Remember when I said I wouldn’t join?” Sawamura laughed nervously, scratching his cheek and looking away. “That pageant contest thing? Ahahaha, well, funny story—”
“You joined.” That tone was never good. “The contest. Sawamura—”
“I’m sorry!” Sawamura bowed lowly. “Please forgive unworthy me! My senpais sent in my application form without me knowing and we already got the permit from the Federation this morning!”
“Oi, Sawamura—”
“I tried backing out but they were persistent and then I gave in after a bribe from Miyuki and I really wanted it—”
“Kazuya did? Okay maybe I understand more if it’s that guy but—”
“—okay that sounds very shallow of me I am terribly sorry and wish for your complete forgiveness I mean I tried, I really did—”
“Eijun.”
That silenced him.
“Eijun, look at me.” His voice was quiet, unusually so, but was gentler than Sawamura ever expected from him in this scenario. “Please.” Okay fine, who is Sawamura to refuse anyway?
Sawamura slowly straightened his body and looked straight (albeit nervously) at blue eyes that has captured his attention ever since.
Narumiya sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not completely fine, but I’m not mad either—at least not to you.” Sawamura blinked.
“Y-You’re not? Even if I broke my promise?”
“Well,” Narumiya huffed, “you said your senpais applied for you without your knowledge, right? And that the Fed already accepted? It’s not like we can do anything now. And, well, I understand that this competition, no matter how shallow, gives an advantage for the school that wins.”
Sawamura stared at him for a moment. “How… oddly mature of you.”
“Rude! I’m still your senpai!”
“That has grown into such a fine young man.” Sawamura wiped a tear jokingly. “I am so proud.”
Narumiya glared and place his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, you’ve been hanging out Kazuya too much. You’re acting more and more like him.”
“I’m still nicer, though, yes?” Sawamura said, batting his eyelashes at him. “And you like me more.”
“Can we just go?” Narumiya said, turning his back to him. He began walking, knowing Sawamura would follow him anyway. The knowing laughter coming from behind made him walk faster. “We’re wasting time here. Let’s just go to that reservation you kept on insisting and finish dinner. I have to go back to my apartment and do my Literature assignment.”
“Oh!” Sawamura said, quickly catching up. “Want me to help?” He easily slid his hand in Narumiya’s pocket and took it out, swinging it back and forth in time with their steps. It was night and none of their schools were nearby so chances of them getting noticed, even with Narumiya’s popularity and Sawamura’s brightness (aka loud voice), are slim.
“I doubt we’ll get any studying done if you go back with me.” Narumiya said, sending a smirk in Sawamura’s direction. Predictably, he blushed. Narumiya held himself back from kissing his cheek and settled for interlacing their fingers together. “You sure you still want to go back with me?”
“One hour.” Sawamura nodded firmly. “We’ll be finished with your assignment in one hour.”
Narumiya doesn’t doubt him—Sawamura’s an idiot in everything else, but he’s actually pretty good in Literature and very disciplined with following a schedule he made so it should be fine (even when Sawamura would sleep over he would wake up 5:30AM on weekends —on their day offs even). It still doesn’t mean he won’t tease him. “Hm, are you sure about that?”
“So you do doubt me!”
“Hm~.”
“Narumiya-senpai,” Okay that’s not fair, “I swear—”
“There will be less time for us to meet.” Narumiya said, suddenly growing quiet. “Before the contest, you’ll be busy getting ready. Not to mention the events you’ll have to go to should you ever win. Remember what I did last year?”
Sawamura frowned and nodded his head.
“Yeah, well, you’ll go through all of that. Not to mention after that contest we have our own training to consider. “ Narumiya began racking his brain for holidays, common day offs. Not a lot, he thought with a sigh.
“Then,” Sawamura took a few steps and was in front of Narumiya, looking at him seriously, “I’ll make sure to have my phone with me almost all the time! I’ll even charge it every night!” For Sawamura, whose reply time varies from five hours after to five days later, that’s a big deal.
Narumiya felt a rush of affection but outside he raised a brow. “You sure about that?”
“Sawamura Eijun never breaks his word unless something unavoidable comes up like if my phone gets stolen or broken!”
Narumiya shook his head. “Yeah, yeah. Come on,” he grabbed his hand again and resumed their walk, “dinner, yeah? This place better be good.”
“Don’t worry! The food is heavenly!”
“Kominato.”
“Ah, hai?”
“Have you seen Sawamura?”
“Eijun-kun left nearly three hours ago.” Haruichi frowned. “Is something wrong, Kuramochi-senpai? I’ll pass the message to him if you want.”
“Ah, no, it’s fine.” Kuramochi stretched his arms. “Did he say if he was going to be out the whole night?”
“He didn’t say.” Haruichi thought about his last encounter with the southpaw. “But he was dressed up better than usual.”
“He’ll be out the whole night.” Miyuki said, passing by.
“How do you know?” Kuramochi raised a brow. Miyuki showed his phone.
“He texted.”
Well, technically it was from Sawamura. At least the phone was.
FROM: Sawamura Eijun
First off: you’re a bastard.
Second, I’ll make sure he returns tomorrow. ヽ(。ゝω・)ノ☆ –NM
Dear god he’s even using Sawamura’s weird (actually some are kinda funny and sometimes cute) emoticons.
TO: Sawamura Eijun
(Ew.) Enjoy. Make sure he can walk properly tomorrow.
FROM: Sawamura Eijun
MIYUKI KAZUYA I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF THANK YOU VERY MUCH 凸(｀△´＋）
TO: Sawamura Eijun
Make sure to use protection~ ヽ(。ゝω・)ノ☆
Totally wasn’t lazy and just copied the earlier emoticon.
FROM: Sawamura Eijun
qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvnm （＊〇□〇）……！
FROM: Sawamura Eijun
Since you asked nicely~ (づ￣ ³￣)づ o(-`д´- ｡) –NM
TO: Sawamura Eijun
Good NIGHT, Mei. Sawamura, I won’t cover for you so don’t be late.