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The breeze is pleasant, Nobara thinks as she sits under a tree, listening to the steady thrum of cicadas hidden overhead. Her assigned reading lies forgotten on her bag. Her trance-like reverie for the nice day is interrupted by the approaching sound of cleats on concrete and raucous conversation.
She looks over to find the university baseball team filtering onto their practice field. Her attention is quickly drawn to a girl, who looks to be about her age, who begins ordering the others around.
"Itadori, you're still on my shitlist for that stunt you pulled last practice so you get to lead warm-ups," the girl shouts, causing a familiar pink-haired boy to groan.
"Wait," Nobara guffaws as her brain catches up to what she'd just witnessed, "since when is Itadori on the baseball team?!"
She sits up further and watches as the team lines up and begins going through warm-up exercises. After a few minutes and several stretches it becomes abundantly clear that Yuuji has forgotten the next stretch, earning an amused snort from Nobara. Then he begins to fumble for a suitable exercise, clearly settling on something completely made up and the girl who'd yelled earlier draws Nobara's attention.
"Itadori," the girl's tone is dangerous, "if you can't remember our warm-up routine how can I expect you to remember the correct hand signals for my pitches?"
Nobara leans forward, watching the girl closely as she marches toward Yuuji. The effect the girl has is immediate; Yuuji wilts and begins sputtering apologies.
"I'm sorry Maki," he squeaks out before bowing his head.
"Start running the bases and don't stop until I tell you to." The girl, Maki, has an expression that leaves no room for arguing and Nobara finds herself needing to know more about her.
After practice, once all the players have gathered their respective bags and filtered out, Nobara rises to her feet. She approaches the sad, sprawled-out form of one Yuuji Itadori. Judging by the fact he doesn't hear her approach, Nobara figures Maki had pushed him to his limits.
She nudges him with her foot and barks out, "Itadori, why didn't you tell me you joined the baseball team?"
"Kugisakiii," Yuuji whines, lazily rolling away from her, "I was going to tell you soon, I promise."
"Hmph, you can make it up to me by telling me about that Maki girl you pissed off," Nobara says, trying her best to sound casual.
Yuuji lifts his head and looks over his shoulder at her. "Why do you want to know about Maki?"
"She looks cool," Nobara says a little too fast before crossing her arms over her chest and looking away to hide the blush dusting across her cheeks.
"I mean, she is really cool but she's also very serious about practice," Yuuji agrees, not thinking anything of Nobara's behavior.
"What position does she play, I think I overheard her talking to you about pitches?"
"Ah- Yeah, she's the pitcher and, even though she's just a second year, she's the acting team captain after the third year that was captain stepped down."
"Whoa, she is cool," Nobara says, "and- uh- why is everyone so casual with her? Calling her by her name? What even is her family name?"
"Oh, well, y'know Fushiguro right?" Yuuji rubs the back of his neck.
"Yeah, I know your moody-ass boyfriend," Nobara huffs, "what does he have to do with Maki?"
"Hey, that's my moody boyfriend," Yuuji gasps, "but to answer your question; they're cousins."
"Oh," Nobara says, "OH! Fushiguro was raised by his foster dad instead of any blood relatives because his blood relatives are horrible, right?"
"Bingo! I don't really feel comfortable telling you too much without her permission. If you really want to meet her, come to practice tomorrow.”
"Y'know what? I think I will," Nobara says with a nod, "also, I'm still mad at you for not telling me you joined the team. Make it up to me by buying me a latte."
Nobara spends perhaps a little too much time choosing an outfit and just barely arrives at the practice field as the baseball team approaches. Yuuji spots her and, with the excitability of a puppy, nudges Maki and gestures in her direction. They're too far away for her to make out what they're saying as they break away from the rest of the team.
"Kugisaki, this is Maki," Yuuji says, "Maki, this is Kugisaki."
"Alright, so why'd you want Itadori to introduce us," Maki asks, cutting straight to the point.
Nobara stutters for a second before rapidly blabbing, "I just thought you looked really cool and I don't have many friends who are girls let alone girls who know how to handle Itadori's dumb antics!"
Maki recoils at that, having expected the introduction to be for any number of less pleasant reasons. "You- You want to be friends?"
"Yeah," Nobara says with an excited nod.
"Oh-" Maki relaxes almost immediately, "I thought you were a jealous or possessive girlfriend trying to set unnecessary boundaries. I'd rather kill myself than ever date a man."
A look of disgust washes over Nobara's pretty face as she sputters, "Eugh- Gross, no. First, same about ever dating a man. Second, Itadori's like a dumb puppy that keeps your life interesting."
"Hey," Yuuji says quietly, pouting at the backhanded compliment, "I'm also dating Fushiguro so..."
Maki, mouth open to respond to Nobara, snaps her mouth shut and turns towards Yuuji with a mechanical stiffness. "So you're the one I need to give the shovel talk to."
"Oh- would you look at that, it's time for me to lead warm-ups," Yuuji rushes out before running away, leaving Nobara and Maki alone.
"What an idiot," Maki grumbles, pushing her glasses up to pinch the bridge of her nose, all the while unaware of the doe-eyed look Nobara is staring at her with.
"He's dumb but he's a good friend," Nobara says after a minute, "do you need to follow him?"
"Yeah, I do," Maki sighs before looking at Nobara with a gentle smile, "uh- you can sit in the dugout and watch us practice if you'd like to stay. If any of the guys give you crap just tell them I said you're allowed to be there."
"O-oh! Thank you, I appreciate that," Nobara says, nearly stuttering nervously.
Nobara follows after Maki, plopping down on the bench beside her duffle bag once she sets it down. She gives the older girl a bright smile and a thumbs. With a small nod of acknowledgment, Maki makes her way over to the rest of the team.
Nobara spends the next two hours sitting there in the dugout, watching Maki lead the team through practice. She finds herself sighing dreamily as Maki seems to lock in for her own routine and throws pitch after pitch after pitch directly into Yuuji's waiting glove.
"Maki, can you maybe mix up your pitches, all these fast balls are making my hand hurt," Nobara hears Yuuji say in the distance.
Maki huffs and says, "fine, be ready for this next one then."
Nobara watches as Maki winds up and releases the ball. It flies much slower and appears to dance through the air, moving erratically. Yuuji lunges to catch it when it veers to the side.
"Whoa, nice knuckleball! I've never seen one in person before," Yuuji exclaims, tossing the ball back to the pitcher's mound.
"Thanks," Maki says with a nod, catching the ball, "I'm gonna take a quick water break."
Maki steps off the mound and begins walking towards the dugout. Her eyes meet Nobara's and she smiles. Nobara chokes on nothing and, despite her efforts to suppress the ensuing coughing fit, doubles over.
She hears cleats scuff through the dirt and a weight settle on the bench beside her before hearing, "whoa, hey, try to breathe, Kugisaki."
Maki's strong hand rubs large, comforting circles over her back until the coughing finally subsides.
"T-thanks," Nobara says between deep breaths, "must've inhaled some dust on accident."
"Yeah, you gotta be careful out here, the groundskeepers don't wet the dirt before practice like they're supposed to," Maki hums.
After a moment, she reaches across Nobara to pluck her water bottle from her bag. She takes several larger gulps before holding the bottle out to the other girl. Nobara's brow furrows and she tilts her head in confusion.
"You don't have anything to drink and it's kinda warm today," Maki says, looking away from Nobara to hide the blush beginning to color her cheeks.
"Oh- Thank you," Nobara says before gently taking the water bottle.
Their eyes meet as Nobara brings the bottle to her lips. Their faces redden, neither able nor willing to look away in the moment. Eventually, Maki flinches and hops to her feet.
"'Kay- Gotta get back to practice now," she rushes out, all but sprinting away from the dugout.
With the start of baseball season comes baseball games and Nobara, in all her newfound enjoyment of baseball, harangues Yuuji into getting an extra "family" ticket right behind the dugout just for her. This is how she finds herself sitting next to the ever-gloomy Megumi, waiting for the game to start.
"I didn't know you like baseball, Kugisaki," Megumi says flatly.
"Oh, y'know me," Nobara says with a forced, awkward laugh, "picking up new interests all the time."
Megumi looks at her with narrowed eyes before looking at something behind her, "I thought you were too busy to come today."
"And miss the first game of the season? It'd be a shame to miss the opportunity to heckle the home team," says a velvety voice that makes Nobara's head whip around.
Standing there, holding a drink from the concession stand, is a girl who looks nearly identical to Maki. Her hair is cut short and styled in a cute bob unlike Maki's longer hair that's usually worn in a ponytail. The ginger also notes the girl's distinctly less athletic physique on display in a cute sundress Nobara herself would love to have.
"Eh- You look just like-" Nobara can't fully stop herself from ogling the other girl.
"Maki is my twin sister, my name is Mai," she says, her voice dripping with annoyance, "and who might you be? Last I checked this section is reserved for family members."
Nobara bristles slightly at Mai's tone and says, "I'm friends with Maki, Itadori, and Fushiguro. Does it actually matter whether or not I'm family with any of them?"
Before either of them can make another snappy remark to the other the loudspeakers crackle to life and the announcer's voice booms, "annnnnd welcome everyone to the very first home game of the season for the Tokyo Technical College baseball team!"
The crowd whoops and hollers, building hype for the home team. Music begins to play just quieter than the announcer.
"Rrrrreeeeturning for her second year as our starting pitcher; the one, the only, the exceptional, Maki Zenin," the announcer says cooly.
Nobara leaps to her feet, cupping her hands to project her voice further. "Whoooo! Maki! Maki! Maki!"
Once she sits back down she notices Mai staring at her, practically boring a hole through her. "You have a massive crush on my snob of a sister. That's actually kinda pathetic."
"What the fu-" Nobara sputters as Maki jogs out and stops along the foul line in front of the home dugout.
"Anyways," Mai interrupts before standing and shouting her own phrase, "exceptional my ass, she barely manages a handful of strike outs each game!"
"Hey! That's your sister, why are you being mean," Nobara growls out.
"Oh please, don't pretend to know anything about our relationship," Mai deflects with a sneer.
"Sounds like we've got a lively audience today," the announcer laughs, "next up is the newest member of the team, our new starting catcher, Yuuuuuuuuji Itadoriiiiii!"
Megumi gives a quick, almost uncharacteristic whoop and claps for the boy as he runs out to stand beside Maki. Nobara pauses her on-going glaring match with Mai to cheer for her friend. The announcer runs through the remaining team members and the visiting team's lineup before the game starts in earnest.
The top of the first inning quickly comes to a close as Maki throws perfect strike after perfect strike, leading the teams to swap places.
"What was that you said about Maki barely striking anyone out," Nobara says with a smug grin while waiting for Tokyo Tech's first batter to step up.
"Tch- There are still eight more innings," Mai scoffs loudly, "I'm sure she'll choke in one of them.”
The game continues on like that; Nobara loudly cheering the home team on while Mai heckles and mocks them, especially Maki. Maki, for her part, throws strike after strike after strike. Soon enough the game is in the top of the ninth inning, the home team miles ahead on points while the visiting team haven't scored once. They're up with two outs and the at-bat is one strike away from being out.
"C'mon Maki," Nobara says, leaning forward in her seat, "you've got this!"
Tensions in the audience are high, everyone watching with baited breath as Maki winds up her pitch. She launches the ball at incredible speed straight down the middle. The batter swings as the sound of the ball hitting Yuuji's glove can just be heard.
"SteeeRIKE," the umpire yells as the batter looks back, bewildered by the speed of Maki's pitch.
"We've witnessed something spectacular today," the announcer's voice booms while the home team rushes the mound to lift Maki into the air, cheering raucously, "Tokyo Tech's very own Maki Zenin just pitched a no-hitter! The first one in the school's history!"
"What's a no-hitter," Nobara wonders, leaning over to Megumi.
"It's when every pitch thrown by the pitcher either strikes every at-bat out or walks them to the base," Mai answers as Megumi opens his mouth, "how do you not know this?"
Nobara puffs out her cheeks and glares at Mai. "I'm a new fan, thank you very much."
Mai narrows her eyes at Nobara, watching, observing. Nobara glances away and looks to Maki to watch how the boys carry her around center field chanting her name in unison. Mai immediately doesn't like the lovestruck sparkle she sees in the ginger's eyes as she stares at her twin.
"Gross, Megumi did you know that's why she's here," Mai demands.
Megumi lets out a long-suffering sigh before standing up and leaving them there. Nobara whips around as a blush rises up her neck.
"I was joking earlier about you having a crush, this is actually pathetic that it's real," Mai taunts.
"Hmmph- Are you having trouble sleeping? You have open pores," Nobara huffs indignantly, "not that a proper skincare routine would get you anywhere near as pretty as Maki."
"Why you little-" Mai growls, rising to her feet.
"Hey, I'm glad you both made it," Maki's voice cuts through, making both girls turn to find that Maki has escaped the celebration and is just on the other side of the fence from the stands, "it means a lot to me having you both here."
"Of course," Nobara says immediately, giving Maki a dazzling smile that makes annoyance twist in Mai's stomach.
"Yeah, well who else can psyche out the other team by heckling you like I can," Mai grumbles.
"That wasn't serious," Nobara exclaims, "I was ready to fight her through the entire game!"
"Well, yeah, we're twins, I'm the only person allowed to torment her," Mai explains, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I wouldn't have been able to tell that you two are close with how mean you were all game."
"Mai has always been prickly but I know she cares a lot in her own ways," Maki says from the fence, "just like she knows I care about her in my own ways too, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," Mai huffs, "whatever, go get changed so you can take me and Momo to dinner."
Nobara's brow furrows. "Oh, you two aren't going to the afterparty?"
"Not this time, next time though," Maki answers before waving herself off, only to stop mid jog and turn back towards her sister and friend, "oh, 'Bara, I'm really glad you came."
Mai stares a hole through her twin as she heads back to the locker room. She can practically hear Nobara's internal swooning over Maki, making her want to be anywhere else. The younger twin retrieves her phone from her purse and shoots off a quick text to Momo.
Mai: eugh, Maki has a crush on someone and it's obviously mutual but they're both idiots.
Momo: omg! Tell me her name, I'll look her up while I wait for you two!
Mai: Megumi called her "Kugisaki" and Maki called her "Bara" but I think that's a nickname.
Momo: That's a start! I'll begin looking! It's so exciting that Maki has finally met someone!
By the time Mai has reached the locker rooms Maki has made herself presentable and is waiting for her.
"So, who's that annoying girl I was sitting next to all afternoon," Mai asks as they make their way out of the park.
"Hmm? You mean Nobara? She's a friend of Itadori's," Maki answers, "she just recently became a fan of baseball, I think to support Itadori. She comes to a bunch of our practices to cheer us on."
Mai can't help but pinch the bridge of her nose. "I understand Megumi's frustration now.”
Maki rolls her eyes and says, "c'mon, your girlfriend is waiting for us."
Momo is waiting for them when they finally arrive at the restaurant, lost in whatever she's looking at on her phone. Mai sidles up to Momo before practically draping herself over the shorter girl.
She chances a quick look at her screen and, upon seeing a social media profile of an annoyingly familiar ginger, whispers, "that's her."
"She's cute and has good fashion sense," Momo responds just loud enough for Mai to hear before looking at Maki, "hey! Congrats on pitching a no-hitter today, sorry I couldn't be there with Mai."
"Ah it's fine, we weren't lacking in support today," Maki says coolly.
"I heard," Momo says, a grin forming on her face that makes Mai immediately regret looping her into this current situation, "Mai told me your new girlfriend was there, I'm hurt you didn't tell us you're seeing someone."
Mai's regret doesn't last long, quickly replaced with amusement as Maki flushes bright red and sputters wildly. "It was so cute, she was ready to fight me for heckling my dear sister all throughout the game. She was like a protective little lap dog."
"I don't- I'm not-" Maki stutters, waving her arms and shaking her head.
"That’s so sweet of her," Momo coos, "I've also heard she comes to watch you practice, you two really are smitten, huh? You should've invited her to dinner with us."
Maki's face is bright red and she's practically hyperventilating as she tries to say something, anything, but keeps coming up short. Eventually she gives up on trying to speak and chooses to pull the collar of her t-shirt over her face to hide from Mai and Momo. Their ensuing laughter only makes her blush rise higher, now tinging her ears red. Why can't the ground just open up and swallow her whole?
Momo grabs Maki's hand, beginning to bounce excitedly, "you'll need to tell me more about her over dinner. I want to know all the details of how you two got together.”
Still hiding her face, Maki mumbles, "Nobara isn't my girlfriend."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you Maki," Mai goads, "hiding your face in your shirt like that is making it hard to understand you."
"I said; Nobara isn't my girlfriend," Maki repeats after pulling her shirt down to reveal her intense blush.
"Mm- We never said it was her," Mai says with a teasing lilt.
Maki, a little annoyed, looks at them flatly as she says, "there isn't anyone else who fits the description you've both given. She's the only person who ever watches the team practice and she was definitely ready to fight Mai over her heckling all game."
The other girls hold their hands up in mock surrender as Mai says, "okay, okay. Yes, we mean Nobara. She's got a massive crush on you."
"Bullshit," Maki blurts out.
"Mmm- I found another one of her socials and she posted this the other day," Momo says, presenting her phone to Maki.
@FemmeHamber: oh my god the pitcher on my school's baseball team is so hot and dreamy. I have never met a more handsome woman in my entire life, I'm gonna marry her someday
Maki lets out what can only be described as a squeak before promptly pulling the collar of her shirt back over her face. Mai and Momo laugh to themselves when Maki pivots on her heel and faces away from them.
"Aww, don't get shy now, tell us about her," Mai teases.
Maki's response is muffled and difficult to hear. "There's no way that post is real, you're just teasing me."
"Hey, no, these are real, see?" Momo moves closer and, after goading Maki out from behind her her again, shows her more posts.
@FemmeHamber: She's so cool and kind and sweet, she brought an extra water bottle and snacks for me when I came to watch her practice. I need ideas for how I can return the favor NOW
Momo scrolls to another post, posted not too long ago.
@FemmeHamber: I went to her first game and she was amazing, she pitched a "no-hitter" and her team won! Her twin sister was sat next to me and definitely clocked my crush, FML
"I really like her," Maki mumbles, "she's fierce but cute and I've known she likes girls since Itadori introduced us because she gagged when I thought she was a possessive girlfriend trying to set boundaries."
"I mean, she probably is a possessive girlfriend," Mai jokes, "she strikes me as the territorial type."
Momo gives her a look that says to be quiet before saying, "it really looks like she likes you a lot too, you should ask her out."
"I still don't know-"
"What in the world is stopping you? She clearly likes you and you like her back, just ask her out next time you see her," Mai bursts.
"I don't want to date someone my twin has issues with," Maki says, looking at Mai, "you've always had my back so being with someone you'd probably fight with doesn't feel like the move."
Mai steps closer and puts both hands on Maki's shoulders. "Sure, I find her annoying but I respect her for being so ready to fight me for thinking I was disrespecting you today. Ask her out."
"Fine! Fine, I'll ask her out, now can we go eat?”
It's raining, pouring even, so Maki and the coach decided to cancel practice. Maki, frustrated by not getting to see Nobara for the first time since the game, since deciding to pursue the cute first year, has secluded herself in the weights room to run through a light exercise. She's nearly done with her last set of squats when she hears the door open on the far end of the room just out of sight.
"Maki," a familiar voice, Nobara's, calls out, "are you in here?"
"Y-yeah, I'm in here," Maki says before racking her weights.
Nobara rounds the corner, as cute and pretty as ever, and gives Maki a beaming smile. She quickly closes the distance and wraps the taller girl in a hug. It takes Maki a moment of stunned silence before she returns the hug.
"Not that I'm complaining but what's the hug for," Maki asks, her breath warm on Nobara's ear.
"Mm, no reason," Nobara's response is muffled against Maki's shirt.
"Even though I stink from working out?"
"I don't think you stink."
"I definitely stink but thank you."
Nobara leans back, her hands lingering on Maki's body. Her hands tense against the taller girl's body as Nobara realizes just how toned Maki is under her workout clothes. Whatever she'd been planning to retort with has completely left her mind, instead choosing to marvel at Maki's body.
"Wow, you feel so strong. I bet you could pick me up very easily."
Maki grins mischievously and, by the time Nobara realizes why, it's too late for her to pull away. Maki's strong arms encircle her then, all-too-quickly, Nobara is shrieking and giggling as she's lifted into the air with ease. Her giggles continue, unbidden and gleeful, when Maki decides to spin and twirl her around.
"Mercy- Mercy," Nobara cries out after a thrilling moment of being spun.
"What's the magic word," Maki asks through a playful laugh.
"Please!"
"Okay but only since you asked so nicely," Maki says before setting Nobara down, holding her steady as she wobbles slightly from being spun.
Nobara smiles up at Maki, making the taller girl's stomach flutter. Maki likes her so much and this is the perfect opportunity to ask Nobara on a date. She'd be a fool to let the moment pass, she just needs to make herself say the words.
"Uh- Nobara?" Maki lets out a shaky breath as her nerves threaten to overcome what little courage she's mustered.
"Hmm," Nobara hums, tilting her head slightly and oh so cutely as she waits for Maki to continue.
"Could I take you out for a date?" Maki swears her hands must feel clammy and thanks whatever spirits that are looking out for her that she's resting them on Nobara's hips just below her belt-line.
Nobara stares at her for what feels like an eternity, processing her request, before beginning to vibrate in place. The shorter girl's excitement quickly becomes apparent as she throws herself against Maki and hugs her tighter than before.
"YES," Nobara all but shouts against Maki's shoulder, then pulls back and rattles off, "when? Where? I want to get all dressed up and pretty for you!"
"I didn't think this far ahead," Maki mutters, just barely audible, "I- I need to figure that out. Can I have your number so I can text you when I have a more definitive plan?"
"Of course! Give me your phone and I'll add it in." Nobara holds her hand out.
Once Maki gets her phone back, now with Nobara's contact information added in, she opens her messenger app to send a message only to find Nobara did it for her. Then, upon seeing the string of cute emojis on both sides of Nobara's contact name, she finds herself smiling and blushing like a smitten fool.
"You're so cute." Maki is stunned when her words earn her a quick, chaste kiss on the cheek.
Nobara, adorned in Maki's away jersey, plops down into her seat behind the dugout. She pulls out her compact to double check her appearance and fix any runaway hairs when she hears several voices growing louder, clearer.
"She's here, she's here," an unfamiliar voice gasps, "and she's wearing Maki's jersey! They are adorable."
"Eugh, it's nauseating how smitten they are," Mai's voice follows, causing Nobara to whip around and glare at her.
"Excuse you," Nobara bites out, "I'd appreciate it if you kept your commentary on my relationship to yourselves."
Mai simply rolls her eyes and looks to the other girl, a short blonde with pronounced pigtails. Nobara looks between them and notes the proximity, or lack thereof, between them and how positively giddy the blonde looks. She bounces over to Nobara and sticks her hand out.
"I'm Momo, it's so nice to finally meet you properly!"
The ginger looks at her for a long moment before tentatively taking her head. "Nobara."
"I know, I've been stalking you socials since Mai mentioned how obviously you and Maki were crushing on each other," Momo says with a broad grin
"You've been-" Nobara stammers as she feels blood rush to her cheeks, "YOU'VE SEEN HOW UNHINGED I WAS?!"
"The post right after Maki asked you out was..." Mai grimaces. "I'm still queasy whenever I'm reminded of it."
"You've been showing my posts to Mai? What, have you been showing them to Maki too," Nobara cries, hiding her face in her hands.
Momo's ensuing silence answers what was meant as a rhetorical question, causing Nobara to let out a loud, embarrassed noise before sliding out of her seat. The ginger lies there on the sun-warmed concrete in a pile of shame and regret while the other two share a bemused look.
With an awkward laugh, Momo says, "in Maki's defense, she repeatedly told us to stop after the first few we showed her to motivate her into asking you out."
Nobara peaks up at them through her fingers and says, muffled by her hands, "you what?"
"She thought you just wanted to be friends," Mai chuckles, "Maki has always been a little dense and while I do find you annoying I at least respect you enough to think you'd be good to her."
"Once we made Maki realize how you felt she couldn't stop talking about you that whole night. It was really cute," Momo adds, "so you're welcome for the girlfriend."
"Thanks, I guess," Nobara mumbles into her hands.
None of them hear the sound of approaching cleats on dirt before Maki speaks, "Hey, Mai, Momo, is Nobara here yet?"
Nobara sits up lightning quick, giving Maki a goofy grin. "Hey baby, I'm right here."
Mai both hates and loves seeing how Maki's demeanor brightens upon seeing Nobara. "I'm going to hunt down Megumi instead of watching these two."
"Aww, okay I'll save your spot then," Momo says before refocusing on Maki and Nobara like they're some corny soap opera protagonists.
Maki steps through the chain-link gate and closer to Nobara. "You look good in my jersey."
"Oh stop it," Nobara giggles, blushing, "actually don't, keep telling me how cute you think I am."
"You're the cutest and I'm the luckiest girl in the world having you here, cheering me on, and wearing my jersey," Maki purrs, inching closer until her forehead is pressed to Nobara's.
They share a brief, affectionate kiss, neither of them hearing or caring to hear the shutter sound of Momo's phone camera. With a kiss stolen, Maki returns to her team as the announcement music begins. Something tells Maki that this season will be hers for the taking with all the unwavering support cheering her on.