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The quidditch pitch was a flurry of gold, green, and silver banners fluttering in the wind. The roar of the crowd was deafening and Kuramochi could barely hear the shouts of his Hufflepuff teammates around him. Kuramochi charged straight for the goals with the quaffle tucked under his arm and his other hand gripping his broom. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see one of the Slytherin chasers rushing towards him and Kuramochi tightened his grip on his broom, trying to speed up, when he heard a loud thunk! and the chaser fell from his sight.
Kuramochi high-fived Masuko as he passed.
Kuramochi hurled the quaffle towards the leftmost goal only for Miyuki to appear out of nowhere—a flash of green as he caught the quaffle with an outstretched hand, tipping over his broom only to flip right back onto it. He flashed Kuramochi a cheeky grin.
“Your aim is as bad as ever, Kuramochi!” Miyuki taunted him.
Kuramochi growled. “Whatever! You have glasses!”
“What kind of insult is that?” Miyuki laughed before throwing the quaffle towards a Slytherin chaser.
Kuramochi rushed after the chaser to try to corner him. His fellow chasers blocked the chaser’s path halfway to their goal and the Slytherin chaser threw the quaffle towards a teammate. He swooped in and intercepted the quaffle, flying upward and turning around to avoid the chasers.
Kuramochi weaved through the chasers and even a bludger sent his way by one of the Slytherin beaters a small pink kid named “Kominato.” For someone whose hair covered his eyes, Kuramochi had to admit that the guy had great aim—he almost got his head.
However, for all of his skill, Kuramochi eventually found himself cornered with a Slytherin chaser hot on his tail. Dammit, he really wanted to make the goal.
“Kanemaru!” he called. His underclassman rushed forward and Kuramochi passed the quaffle, watching him pass the Slytherins who were blocking him. Kuramochi took a quick moment to catch his breath before he was about to charge forward.
“Kuramochi, look out!” Zono called from overhead.
Kuramochi turned around, looking around for whatever the fuck was coming his way when he saw him in a flash of green robes and wispy pink hair.
At first, Kuramochi thought it was Kominato, but he looked a little… Different from Kominato. Maybe they were siblings or something, but it definitely wasn’t the Kominato that Sawamura was always hanging out with. This guy was a little smaller and had a sly smile that sent shivers up Kuramochi’s spine.
Suddenly the roar of the crowd was dull to Kuramochi’s ears and he found himself in an open-mouthed daze. A ray of sunlight shown on the Slytherin beater like a halo, his hair illuminated a mix of yellow and pinks that reminded Kuramochi of a sunset. His brows were furrowed in concentration and a bead of sweat was running down his face. Despite the boy’s slender frame, Kuramochi could see that there was strength underneath the green robes in the way he handled his bat, swinging it with amazing accuracy to hit a bludger right towards—
Wait.
“Kuramochi!”
Before Kuramochi could react, he felt a sharp pain to his jaw and suddenly he was suspended in the air, broomstick out of reach, and everything went to black.
--
Kuramochi slid into his seat in Potions class to turn to the boy sitting next to him. “Hey, Miyuki,” he said, nudging the Slytherin with his elbow.
Miyuki looked up from his book, frowning as if upset at being interrupted, before he saw who he was talking to. He gave Kuramochi a cheeky grin that automatically made Kuramochi regret talking to Miyuki at all. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite bludger magnet,” Miyuki teased.
Kuramochi growled at him, but MIyuki only laughed.
“How’s your face?” MIyuki asked.
Kuramochi’s hand moved up to the large bandage on his jaw. “It’s fine,” he answered. “There was no concussion, but it hurts pretty bad sometimes. Got most of it fixed up in the infirmary, though.”
“Oh, yikes—hope it gets better soon,” Miyuki said.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, you need to be in top condition to cheer for Slytherin in the Quidditch finals,” Miyuki said with a smirk.
Kuramochi rolled his eyes. “Ugh, okay, I need to ask you a question before you get more annoying than you already are.”
Miyuki pretended to look bashful, scratching the back of his head. “Thanks for the compliment,” Miyuki laughed as Kuramochi punched his arm. “So what could I help my best buddy with today?”
“Okay, so,” Kuramochi automatically felt embarrassed. He hadn’t even asked the question yet, but he could feel heat beginning to rise up to his neck. He already started talking--there was no turning back now. “You know your Beater? The pink one?”
“Both of our beaters are pink,” Miyuki said. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“The one who hit me with a bludger.”
“Oh yeah, Ryousuke Kominato,” Miyuki answered. “What about him? You’re not going to try to get revenge on him are you? Look—as your friend, I have to warn you against that. Kominato’s scary as hell—“
“No, I’m not trying to get revenge on him or anything I was just… I, uh… I was wondering,” Kuramochi looked away from Miyuki, rubbing his neck. “Do you… happen to know if he’s like single… or like if he’s seeing anyone or something?”
Miyuki was quiet for a long moment before he turned his entire body to face Kuramochi, his expression deadpan. “What?”
“Look, I think I like Kominato or something?” Kuramochi spluttered, his face turning redder by the moment. “I don’t know like, ever since he hit me with that bludger, I couldn’t stop thinking about him? He’s really cute, honestly and like--hey!”
Miyuki suddenly reached forward to grab Kuramochi’s face, his brows furrowed seriously. “Did Kominato get your head or something?” he asked.
“Wh--no!”
“Why the hell would you want to ask out Ryousuke Kominato?” Miyuki asked. “I mean, he’s way out of your league—“
“You’re the worst best friend anyone could ever have,” Kuramochi said.
“—and I heard he once cursed a bunch of upperclassmen in his third year for picking on his baby brother,” Miyuki said, shaking his head “No one ever heard from them again.”
The image of Kominato Ryousuke with his arms crossed, that same sly smirk on his face, and his wand raised for a fight flashed through Kuramochi’s head. “That’s kind of hot actually,” he mumbled.
Miyuki squinted at him. “You have some really weird taste.”
“Hey, I’m friends with you, aren’t I?”
“You make a good point,” Miyuki sighed. “Alright, fine—because I care about you and also because I kind of think it’d be funny to see you get rejected by Kominato, I’ll give you a tip. Kominato hangs out at the library every Thursday after quidditch practice. So, I’d say around 9PM.”
“The library…” Kuramochi frowned in thought.
“Yeah, you know. The place with a lot of books. People normally go there to study.”
“I know where it is,” Kuramochi said, elbowing Miyuki as the other boy snickered at him. He crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling, before letting out a sigh. “Thanks, Miyuki.”
“Anytime,” Miyuki said. “And when you get rejected, just remember that I’ll always be here… to tell you ‘I told you so.”
“I know.”
--
Kuramochi was completely lost.
When Miyuki told him that he might run into Ryousuke at the library, he figured, hey, how bad could it be? Sure he’s only been in the library about three times, but it was probably fine.
He was pretty sure he passed this shelf four times already. Fuck, he was totally gonna die in the library and no one was going to find his body. So much for trying to get a date.
Kuramochi took a deep breath. Well, no choice now but to retrace his steps.
Kuramochi walked towards the end of the row and turned the corner when suddenly he was startled by another person going in the opposite direction. There was a clatter as the other person’s books fell to the floor and Kuramochi winced.
“Fuck, sorry!” Kuramochi apologized quickly, kneeling down to help the other person pick up their books. “I—“
“Oh,” came a cool voice in reply. Kuramochi looked up to see that the other student was keeling in front of Kuramochi with his head slightly tilted. The boy kneeling in front of him was strikingly pretty, looking at him through narrowed eyes and frowning, pink hair framing his face. “It’s you.”
Ryousuke Kominato was right in front of Kuramochi. And he was sitting very close.
Kuramochi fell back on his ass, his face totally flushed. “Fuck, sorry, I, uh—“ he stammered. This was not how he had planned on approaching Ryousuke at all. He figured maybe he’d be cool and get to know Ryousuke a little, but now he never wanted to show his face in front of him ever again.
“Youichi Kuramochi, right?” Ryousuke asked, starting to gather his books.
“I, uh—“ Kuramochi gulped. “Yeah… And you’re… Ryousuke Kominato.” he said as if he didn’t already know.
“I knew you looked familiar,” Ryousuke said with a smile. He got to his feet and extended a hand towards Kuramochi. “You’re that Hufflepuff chaser that I knocked out last weekend.”
What a way to be remembered. Kuramochi grimaced as he took Ryousuke’s hand. “I wasn’t really knocked out or anything,” Kuramochi said sheepishly.
“No, you were definitely out cold,” Ryousuke said as he pulled Kuramochi to his feet. Kuramochi felt a momentary feeling of loss as Ryousuke let go of his hand, wrapping his arm around his books
Now that Kuramochi could truly see Ryousuke up close, he realized just how short he was in comparison to Kuramochi—and Kuramochi was not a short guy by any means. Ryousuke stood, shifting his weight between his legs with his head tilted up to Kuramochi. His brows were furrowed, as if he were examining Kuramochi and it made Kuramochi absolutely nervous.
“I never thought Hufflepuff would let someone so absentminded be their chaser,” he said, smiling as if he hadn’t just insulted Kuramochi.
“W—“ Kuramochi was a mix of totally affronted and surprised. Ryousuke was the one who hit him in the face, after all. “Hey! I’m not absentminded—I was just… kind of distracted.” By you, a voice in Kuramochi’s head added.
“Like I said, ‘absentminded’,” Ryousuke added with a shrug. “Didn’t they teach you to dodge bludgers when you joined the Hufflepuff team?”
“I’ll have you know, I’m actually great at dodging flying balls,” Kuramochi argued stubbornly.
Ryousuke covered his mouth with his fist and began to chuckle. Kuramochi suddenly realized how terrible that sounded.
“Uh, wait, that is not what I mean,“ Kuramochi said quickly, waving his hands frantically. “Wh-what I mean is like, you know. I’m good at going like swerving and stuff, y’know? I’ve been called a weasel—“
“’A weasel’?” Ryousuke said through breathy laughter.
Kuramochi’s face was growing warmer by the second. “Wait, fuck, that sounded stupid, I mean—“ Kuramochi ran a hand down his face. “I have to go.”
“Go where?” Ryousuke asked, still smiling. “Aren’t you lost?”
Kuramochi froze in his steps. “How did…”
“I watched you round this corner about six times,” Ryousuke said.
“Y-you were watching?” Kuramochi asked. “Why?”
Ryousuke hummed thoughtfully. “I suppose you could say you’ve caught my interest Kuramochi.”
Kuramochi kind of wanted to melt at the way Ryousuke said his name like he was teasing and smiled at him like he was interested. Was he dreaming? He had to be dreaming because there was no way—
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you since the game,” Ryousuke continued. “I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize?”
“Yes, for that,” Ryousuke said, with a nod towards the bandage on Kuramochi’s jaw. “It looks pretty bad.”
Kuramochi’s hand flew up to it subconsciously. He smiled sheepishly. “Oh, it’s not that bad or anything,” he said with a smile. “Just a minor fracture—it’s no big deal or anything. Honestly, like you said, I should have been paying attention.”
“That’s true,” Ryousuke said thoughtfully. Ouch. “But,” he added, “I probably shouldn’t have hit it towards your face that hard.”
“I mean, it wasn’t that bad,” Kuramochi said, as if he hadn’t been totally knocked out by it.
Ryousuke didn’t look like he believed Kuramochi for a second. ‘Regardless, it doesn’t quite fit right with me. I don’t like owing people, you know?” Ryousuke paused for a minute, staring at Kuramochi with scrutinizing eyes and tapping his chin. Kuramochi just stood there like a deer in headlights, nervous under Ryousuke’s gaze. Should he say something?
“Perhaps I could make it up to you somehow?” Ryousuke asked.
Kuramochi stared, totally stunned. “What?”
“Think of it as my way of apologizing,” Ryousuke said. “That way we can make things even.”
“Oh, uh,” Kuramochi said, totally flustered, he scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously. Was he just imagining things, or was Ryousuke leaning towards him? “I-I mean I did just bump into you and made you drop all your books—that kind of makes us even.”
Ryousuke tilted his head. “That was my fault to though,” he pointed out.
“I-I mean, you really don’t have to—“
“I want to, though,” Ryousuke said
Kuramochi’s eyes snapped over to Ryousuke to meet his gaze, his brain going haywire. Fuck, was it hot in here or was it just him?
“Perhaps I should be more forward,” Ryousuke continued. “I’m interested in you, Kuramochi, and I would like to make up for hitting you—maybe over lunch in Hogsmeade?”
Kuramochi’s mouth fell open. “Uh,” he said, his eyes wide. “I-I, uh—“
“Or maybe I could even teach you how to stay on that broom of yours,” Ryousuke said with a chuckle. “Unless you don’t want—“
“No!” Kuramochi said quickly. “I mean, yes! I mean, I would love to do whatever it is you wanna do, uh—“
“Are you always this articulate?” Ryousuke asked.
“Yes? No? I don’t know. I just, uh,” Kuramochi took a deep breath. “I think I’ll take you up on that Hogsmeade offer.”
“Perfect,” Ryousuke said, leaning back with a pleased grin. Kuramochi let out a breath that he didn’t even know he was holding. “Lunch next Saturday, then?”
“Yeah,” Kuramochi grinned. “Yeah, that’d… that’d be great.”
“Then I’ll see you next weekend, Kuramochi,” Ryousuke said, waving as he passed Kuramochi and disappeared around the book shelf.
Kuramochi waited for a long while until he was sure Ryousuke was gone before pumping his fist into the air. “Yes!”