Archive of Our Own

“Sawamura’s an interesting guy, isn’t he?”

Kuramochi looks up from his textbook, arching an eyebrow. Miyuki is looking out the window at a group of first years playing soccer during lunch. Kuramochi knows Sawamura’s there without looking because he can hear him yelling for a pass. “My roommate? The guy currently banned from playin’?”

The grin that spreads on Miyuki’s face makes Kuramochi want to punch him. Miyuki may be his friend but boy does he have a punchable face. Handsome features be damned, that shitty personality really is unfixable. 

“That’s the one! can you believe he mouthed off to the coach like that?” Miyuki leans forward in his seat towards Kuramochi, excited. Kuramochi grimaces and leans away.

“Considerin’ the fact that the last time he was here he mouthed off to Azuma-san and you HELPED him, I’m gonna say this is your fault.”

“Haha! Thank you!”

Kuramochi kicks him under the table. He can’t help feeling satisfied at the way Miyuki yelps. “That wasn’t a compliment, asshole.”

“You wound me, Kuramochi!” Miyuki whines, though the sly grin never falls off his face. He turns back to look out the window, resting his head in his hand. The grin never goes away. Kuramochi feels a headache coming on. “Yeah, Interesting guy, that Sawamura. I look forward to seeing what he grows into.”

“If he ever makes it onto the field.” Kuramochi snorts. He looks out as well just in time to watch Sawamura score a goal and celebrate like he just won the Olympics. Kuramochi smiles, despite himself. His roommate may be a pain in his ass but he’s a good kid at the end of the day, at least from what he’s seen so far. Not that he would ever say that to Sawamura’s face. “What’s got you so interested in him by the way? You don’t usually go out of your way to mess with people the way you do with him.”

“He’s just so fun to rile up!” Miyuki leans back in his chair. “He was so trusting of me the first day when I told him I would help him sneak into the line.” He wipes an invisible tear, as if throwing Sawamura under the bus on the first day of practice makes him a martyr of some sort. “And then here he goes, just giving me reaction after reaction! He’s like a cat!”

“If I didn’t know any better I would think you’re pullin’ his pigtails like an elementary schooler with a crush.” 

“Hah! You’re funny, Kuramochi. He’s way too much of a dog for me to like him like that. Besides, realistically speaking I barely know the guy. He probably won’t make the first string until next year, so there’s no way for me to get to know him better.”

“You’re gonna find a way to annoy him regardless, aren’t ya?”

“If anything HE’S the one that’s going to be annoying ME. He calls me by my full name, no honorifics! Can you believe that??”

“It’s what you deserve.”

“Thank you!”

“It’s STILL not a compliment, asshole.” 

The bell rings and Kuramochi turns his chair around, facing his own desk. He looks out the window at Sawamura and finds he’s surrounded by people, laughing. He has to admit to himself that Sawamura’s personality is magnetic, even if he doesn’t have the skills to back up all that bravado. Kuramochi just has no choice but to look out for his roommate. He glances at Miyuki in the reflection of the window. He’s watching Sawamura with a small smile on his face. Kuramochi can almost mistake it as fondness. His gut twists in warning. Something feels…off. He’s gonna have to keep an extra close eye on Miyuki’s treatment of Sawamura.

His gut feeling becomes not-so-gut a month later. Sawamura is officially on the team, and training with Chris. He follows Chris around like a puppy, tail wagging enthusiastically. Kuramochi hates to admit it, but he sees the potential. There’s a very real chance Sawamura makes the first string in his first year on sheer guts alone. But again, that’s something he would rather die than admit out loud and make his roommate’s head even bigger. What sets his alarm bells off, is the way he occasionally catches Miyuki staring at Sawamura. It’s always brief, always when Miyuki thinks no one is looking.

Sometimes, the stares are soft, kind of fond. Sometimes, Miyuki looks angry for some reason—mostly when Sawamura is directing his attention to Chris or anyone but him. Sometimes, there’s a bit of a gleam to his eyes, and it sends shivers down Kuramochi’s spine. He doesn’t know what emotion that is but he has the instinctive need to hide Sawamura from Miyuki whenever he sees that specific one. Kuramochi has never been one to back down from a fight though, and he decides he wants to mess with his best (and he’ll never admit that aloud either) friend.

“Sawamura!”

“Oh! It’s Cheetah-senpai! To what does this great Sawamura owe the honor of Kuramochi-senpai’s attention?”

“Cut that shit out.” Kuramochi kicks the back of Sawamura’s knee. Sawamura takes it like a champ, long since used to Kuramochi’s attempts to get him to fall. “Come with me, Ryou-san and I are gonna help ya with your fielding.”

“Really?!” Sawamura’s face immediately lights up, and Kuramochi fights the urge to squint. Damn sunny brat. He slings an arm around his roommate, and Kuramochi scans the field for Miyuki. He spots him rather easily, simply following the booming sound of Furuya’s pitches hitting his mitt. Miyuki isn’t focusing on Furuya anymore. No, Miyuki is staring straight at Kuramochi and Sawamura. His gaze looks focused, almost angry—similar to the one he gets when he’s at bat and he’s decided he’s going to slam it out of the park. Kuramochi experimentally pulls Sawamura closer, leaning in to tell him a joke. Sawamura laughs, and Kuramochi smirks, making eye contact directly with Miyuki. Miyuki kind of looks like he wants to kill him. 

“How interestin’...”

“Huh? What is?”

“Nothin’ you need to worry about. Now let’s fix those banzai catches of yours.”

If Kuramochi didn’t know any better—and he’s starting to suspect that he does, Miyuki’s jealous. Jealous of him, since he has the honor of having Sawamura’s attention currently. As they walk by the bullpens, Sawamura points directly at Miyuki, nearly jostling Kuramochi off balance with the strength he does it at.

“MIYUKI KAZUYA! You’re going to catch for me once I’m done!”

There’s the booming slam of Furuya’s pitch meeting Miyuki’s mitt. He looks at Sawamura and grins, all cheek and attitude. It makes Kuramochi bristle. “Don’t wanna♥”

“You damn tanuki! What kind of catcher are you?!”

“Someone who wants to catch for people who can put the ball where I tell them!”

Oh yeah. Kuramochi doesn’t know how he didn’t notice sooner. Miyuki is definitely pulling Sawamura’s pigtails. He doesn’t know if Miyuki himself has realized it yet either. He decides to throw Sawamura a bone.

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up Miyuki. The joke’s gonna be on ya when Ryou-san and I polish this guy up and he ends up on the first string. Then you’ll have no choice but to catch for him.” Kuramochi feels his grin come out sharper than intended. The way Miyuki’s shoulders tense ever so slightly at the way Sawamura lights up and turns to Kuramochi like he just hung the sun in the sky for him feels better than Kuramochi thought it would. This is gonna be so fun. “Come on, Sawmura, we have better things to do!” he grins, pulling Sawamura along without a care in the world for if Sawamura can even keep up with him.

Sawamura ends up making it to the first string. Kuramochi feels a swell of pride when his name is called as the final number. That pride is immediately snuffed when they find out Sawamura can’t bat to save his LIFE. Or do much else. Sawamura continues to chase after Miyuki, begging him to catch for him. Miyuki, the stubborn motherfucker he is, refuses most of the time. Kuramochi knows half of the time it’s because Miyuki is just pressing his buttons and Sawamura doesn't know how else to reply aside from spitting and sputtering like a kitten. Only this time, Sawamura unknowingly has ammo that always makes Miyuki freeze.

“You’re such a jerk! Chris-senpai never treats me like this!!”

Kuramochi watches Miyuki freeze. There’s a flash of anger before that grin is back, but it doesn’t meet Miyuki’s eyes quite like normal. He shakes his head. Every time Sawamura invokes Chris’ name, he doesn't know if Miyuki is jealous of Chris or Sawamura. Miyuki looks up to Chris, after all. Kuramochi suspects that he’s hiding a bit of envy that Sawamura was able to pull Chris out of the slump no one else was able to. The next time they have their usual gatherings in Miyuki’s room, Kuramochi is the first one there, which means he can finally needle Miyuki about what’s happening.

“Ya keep messin’ with Sawamura. More than usual.” he collapses on Miyuki’s bed as Miyuki turns to him from his desk.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Like hell ya do. Every time Sawamura so much as looks at anyone else ya have to mess with him. What’s going on? You’re an asshole but not this big of an asshole usually.”

Miyuki groans. “What is this, an interrogation? I know you’re protective of him because he’s your roommate but what, you think I’m bullying him or something?”

“Hell no. We both know Sawamura can’t stay away from ya. I just mean that you’re giving him an awful lot of attention but not in the way it matters.”

Miyuki squints at him. “What exactly do you mean by that, Kuramochi?” there’s an edge to his voice that Kuramochi knows if he doesn’t tread carefully, Miyuki will shut down and that’ll be the end of that.

“I just…” Kuramochi groans and runs his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know man, I just think that maybe sometimes you could stand to actually catch for the guy.”

“Did Sawamura rope you into this?”

No! Look. I don’t know what’s going through your head right now, but Sawamura needs ya. We have more pitchers than just Furuya and Tanba. You said it yourself. Sawamura’s unpolished but the potential is there. The qualifiers are coming up. We need all we can get after Tanba got injured like that.”

“He has Chris to help him, he doesn’t need me. Chris is already helping him develop more than I can currently.” Kuramochi notes the subtle bitterness in Miyuki’s voice.

“Chris isn’t the starting catcher! You are!” Kuramochi snaps, frustrated. “Look, I don’t know why you’re so hung up on Sawamura and Chris being so close–”

“I’m not hung up on anything!” Miyuki snaps, a bit too quickly. He groans and takes his beanie off, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “You think I don’t want to catch for Sawamura?! Of course I want to catch for him! He’s developing at a crazy speed! But like you said, I’m the starting catcher. I can’t show favoritism to one specific pitcher because I think he’s, what? Interesting? That’s not gonna get us to Koshien, ‘Mochi. Furuya has stamina issues, Tanba’s out with that injury, and Nori is still finding his confidence on the mound. I can’t afford to show Sawamura any sort of favoritism.”

“Look, I’m not saying ya need to show him favoritism. Just…throw him a bone once in a while."

Miyuki snorts. “Yeah. Whatever.”

Kuramochi backs off. Miyuki’s walls have come up, and he knows that it’s gonna take some time until he’s able to get a conversation like this with him again. He didn’t expect it to get this heated. Miyuki got way more defensive than anticipated. Kuramochi can see the frustration in his shoulders. There’s something below all that frustration that Miyuki still isn't telling him. He’s seen the way Miyuki looks at Sawamura—Seen the way his gaze softens whenever Sawamura clears yet another hurdle in his journey. Kuramochi doesn’t know how long it’s going to take Miyuki to realize it himself.

 Their team comes together. They win games. Sawamura and Furuya shine on the mound. Everything is perfect for the most part. Until it’s not. Until he’s on the field one game away from Koshien and watches Miyuki make a call to a Sawamura that looks…smaller than he’s used to. A Sawamura with shaking hands and raised shoulders. Until that ball that Sawamura sends to Miyuki never makes it, hitting the batter in the head.

 It’s no longer fun.

They lose against Inashiro, the third years have their dreams crushed. Worst of all? Sawamura isn’t Sawamura anymore. Kuramochi sees the haunted, broken expression in his eyes. Sees him struggle on and off the mound with the Yips. How can he not? He’s his roommate. He hates to admit it, but he’s become protective of Sawamura. Like Sawamura’s a snotty little brother he can’t help but want to protect. But Kuramochi failed him, just like how the rest of the team did. How Miyuki did. How long has Sawamura not been okay? How many times has Sawamura hidden behind all that bravado? Kuramochi feels conflict rise like bile in his chest. He doesn’t know how to help him. So he makes a decision; he talks to Miyuki.

Miyuki doesn’t give him the answer he expects—he gives him no answer at all, in fact. Simply takes partial blame for pushing Sawamura too hard. Tells him Sawamura lost psychologically before he even stepped foot on the mound against the scrimmage with Yakushi. Kuramochi feels his conflict turn into rage. Snaps at him like a cornered dog. 

“If you understand him that well, why aren’t ya helping him!?”

“I had high hopes for him. I wanted them to hurry up and do all the growing necessary to get there.” Miyuki’s gaze burns. There’s frustration in his eyes. “Like hell I’d let the yips stand in my way.”

Kuramochi swallows. “You’re crazy, ya know that?”

“Sure do.”

Their conversation ends. Kuramochi tries watching over Sawamura in his own way, making sure Sawamura doesn’t burn himself out on the field with all his running now that he’s banned from throwing the ball again. Some sense of normalcy returns eventually. Miraculously, Sawamura recovers. He grows. Thrives, even. With help from Chris, Sawamura comes back stronger and more dangerous on the mound than ever. He’s happy, and Miyuki should be happy too, right?

Except he isn’t. Kuramochi finds him hitting ball after ball in the field one night, drenched in sweat.

“Y’know, the captain should be settin’ a good example for his kouhai don’t ya think? What’ll it look like if you collapse from exhaustion?”

Miyuki wipes his sweat with his shirt. He glares at nothing in particular. “I couldn’t help him.”

“Who?”

“Sawamura. I couldn’t do anything. He came to me for help and there was nothing I could do.” another clang as Miyuki hits a line drive out into the field. “You know what I told him when we were looking over footage–” clang! “Of him being unable to throw to the inside? I told him–” clang! “That his ball control wasn’t great to begin with and–” clang! “That he was a single-minded idiot through and through.” clang! Miyuki groans in frustration and tucks his bat under his arm. Kuramochi sits on the dirt. Miyuki flops down next to him. “I had to ask Chris-senpai to come in and rescue him for me. Sawamura wouldn’t listen to me.” Miyuki looks at him with a wry smile. Sweat drips down his face, and if Kuramochi didn’t know better he would have thought they were tears. “I’m so bad with people, Kuramochi. Sometimes I wonder if coach made the right call making me the captain.”

“Yeah, ya got a shit personality alright.”

“At least pretend to hesitate.” Miyuki whines. There’s a small smile on his lips now.

Kuramochi grins at him. “Look. I’m not gonna pull any punches. You’re my best friend.”

“Your only friend.”

“Watch it Miyuki, that goes both ways.” He elbows him in the stomach lightly and chuckles at the small “oof!” Miyuki lets out. “I don’t know if you’re equipped to handle Sawamura until ya come to terms with yourself on how ya see him.” Miyuki’s brows raise and he opens his mouth to say something but Kuramochi holds his hand up to stop him. “I don’t think ya see Sawamura the way you see Furuya and Nori.”

“What do you mean? Of course I don’t, they’re all their own people.”

“Yeah, of course they are? But that’s not what I’m talkin’ about.” Kuramochi takes a deep breath. “I think ya need to look at your personal feelings for Sawamura.”

“My personal feelings? What the hell are you talking about?”

Kuramochi stares. For a guy so smart at everything to do with the sport they play, Miyuki Kazuya sure is a fucking dumbass for things outside of it. “Seriously?”

“What? Is this about me bullying him again? Because I’m not!” Miyuki’s tone is getting whiny. Kuramochi rolls his eyes.

“Remember when the year first started and ya said that Sawamura was an interesting guy?”

“Yeah, kinda.”

“Remember how ya said you were lookin’ forward to seein’ what he grows into?”

“...Yeah?”

“Are ya still lookin’ forward to it?”

“Of course I am.”

“What about Furuya?”

“Well…Furuya could actually play the game when he came here.” Miyuki snickers.

“Ya got me there. Anyways, that's not my point. My point is, maybe there’s somethin’ about Sawamura that makes you wanna pay more attention to him?”

Miyuki stares at him. His eyes go wide in realization. This is it. Kuramochi is going to finally be able to stop watching Miyuki stare down Sawamura like a kicked puppy when no one else is looking, hopefully. 

“Oh! It’s because he’s an idiot!”

Kuramochi takes it back. He’s going to kill Miyuki Kazuya. “You’re fucking hopeless.”

“Hey!!”

“I think you need to sit down and really think about what Sawamura means to ya and why you’re so interested in him.”

“First of all, I’m already sitting. Second of all, I know why I’m interested in him, Kuramochi! I’m not an idiot.”

Kuramochi begs to differ. “Then tell me, oh wise captain—why’re ya so interested?”

“Well it’s a very rare opportunity! Sawamura’s practically a blank slate with a ton of potential! Any catcher would be salivating at the chance to develop a pitcher like that.” Kuramochi watches the way Miyuki lights up excitedly at the thought. Damn. This idiot really does have it bad and doesn’t even notice. Miyuki looks at him, eyes wide and expression open. It’s soft. It’s not the Miyuki Kazuya he’s used to. “I can’t wait to see what kind of flower that moron grows into.” he breathes, and Kuramochi knows the undertone to his voice is more than it seems. There’s a tangle of things Miyuki has to work out himself. Kuramochi isn’t going to spell it out for him and risk Miyuki shutting down on both him and Sawamura. 

“A compliment and an insult in the same sentence, Miyuki? Yeah it’s worse than I thought.” Kuramochi snorts. 

“I have no idea what you’re getting at.”

“Yeah and you’re gonna have to use that big boy captain brain of yours and figure that shit out yourself.” Kuramochi nudges him, smiling. “But seriously, you could stand to compliment the guy a bit more to his face.”

“You think so?”

“You just compared him to a flower to me. I think you can stand to give him a ‘nice pitch!’ occasionally.”

Miyuki looks out into the field, face unreadable. “I think you’re right.” He stands up and dusts himself off, holding his hand out to Kuramochi. Kuramochi takes it and stands as well. They grin at each other. “Thanks, Kuramochi. I feel better now. I was getting in my own head.”

“Yeah you tend to do that. Now come on, let's pick all this shit up.”

“Aye-aye, vice-captain” Miyuki snickers. Kuramochi kicks him in the back of the knee and Miyuki stumbles. Kuramochi laughs.

One month later, Kuramochi sees Miyuki running at him, grin wide on his lips after practice. He nearly leaps at him, grabbing him by the shoulders.

“‘Mochi holy shit I could kiss Sawamura right now!”

Kuramochi’s eyes widen. Did they make more progress than anticipated in a month? Are Miyuki and Sawamura on kissing terms suddenly?

“What…?”

“Holy shit this is the best thing that’s ever happened.” Miyuki’s eyes are sparkling. He doesn't think he’s ever seen Miyuki this excited. “Sawmura learned a changeup.”

Kuramochi feels the grin on his face before he can stop it. “No shit?! For real?!”

“Yeah! But that’s not all, Kuramochi. We just found out that depending on his grip, his ball changes wildly. But it all looks the same until he throws it. I couldn’t even catch some of them. One of them even went completely by me!” Miyuki is buzzing with excitement. He’s starting to shake Kuramochi.

“Stop shaking me! What the hell does that mean?! What do you mean one went past you???”

“It means that Sawamura’s pitches are only limited to how many ways he can grip a baseball. All without changing his form.”

Kuramochi is stunned. Hell, he wants to kiss Sawamura right now. “No fucking way. How..how many different pitches does that open up?!”

“I have no idea! But holy shit,” Miyuki breathes. His cheeks are flushed pink as he stands up straight and fixes his glasses and hair. “I have to catch for him over break! I need to know how many he has!”

Kuramochi stares, a small smile on his face. This is the most open Miyuki has ever been with him. The most unguarded. “I take it you’re excited?”

“More than excited! Kuramochi, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!” Miyuki is practically vibrating with excitement. He’s never seen Miyuki Kazuya look more his age than right now. “I get to build him from the ground up.” Miyuki grins and looks out to the darkened field. Kuramochi looks with him. Somehow, the energy feels different. Hopeful. Kuramochi half expects the sun to begin peeking out over the horizon. “I get to make Sawamura Eijun the pitcher of my dreams.” 

Kuramochi snorts. He doubts Miyuki has realized that whether Sawamura can build up a freaky repertoire unique to him or not, Sawamura Eijun would still be the pitcher of his dreams. “That much potential in one brat is a little scary, ain’t it?” 

“Terrifying. I don’t think even he realizes what a crazy unique setup he has going for him. I mean, it’s not every day a pitcher is that flexible.”

“Yeah, sometimes it freaks me out when I’m twisting him like a pretzel. Did you know the guy can put his foot fully behind his head?”

Miyuki chokes. Kuramochi cackles. “You should try being his warmup partner next time. It’s freaky how little pressure he needs to have his chest touch the dirt between his legs when he’s sitting down.”

Miyuki’s ears are getting red. Kuramochi is having the time of his life. “You good, captain?”

“Yeah.” Miyuki lies. 

The Meiji Jingu tournament passes in the blink of an eye and their off season begins. Winter training from hell rears its ugly head, and Kuramochi has no time to keep an eye on Miyuki and Sawamura dancing around each other in the middle of him physically dying from exhaustion. Disgustingly enough, it’s mutual. He’s started seeing the looks Sawamura gives Miyuki. Seen the way his eyes sparkle like a teenager in love one moment and then go cat-like the next whenever Miyuki pulls his metaphorical pigtails. Kuramochi feels like the world’s most tortured person, trapped between a roommate who keeps complaining about Miyuki and a best friend who keeps complaining about Sawamura. Kuramochi just wants them to get their heads out of their asses and kiss already so he can get some proper fucking sleep for once without Sawamura asking him if he thinks Miyuki will catch for him tomorrow for the millionth time after lights out.

Miraculously, he survives the winter training camp with his sanity intact—barely. He watches the usual dynamic of Sawamura begging Miyuki to catch for him reverse for a solid week after the holidays are over, with Miyuki practically chasing (more like briskly walking) after a complaining Sawamura to have them work out grips together. Sawamura hisses and spits like a kitten, talking a big game about not letting him, but the sparkle in his eyes lets Kuramochi know that Sawamura’s simply giving Miyuki a taste of his own medicine. Good. The bastard deserves to be on the receiving end for once. Eventually, Miyuki has to physically drag Sawamura to the indoor training facility, with Chris a few feet behind. Kuramochi chuckles to himself; looks like Miyuki had to pull his trump card to get Sawamura in the bullpen.

“Thirteen."

“Pardon?”

“Thirteen different viable grips.” Miyuki grins at him over breakfast the next day. “He’s going to be a monster. And I’m going to make him one!” the grin on his face twists into something almost evil.

“You guys are fucking ridiculous. I’ve seen the way you laugh on the mound together when ya talk. You’re just turning him into you.”

“And that’s a problem, how? If he was more like me he would actually be able to hit during his at-bats!”

“Well yeah, but would ya be willing to lose that absolutely ridiculous bunting skill he has? Your bunts suck.”

Silence. “Shut up, Kuramochi.”

“Hyaha! Hit a nerve, did I?”

“As if anyone is better than Sawamura at bunts.” Miyuki mumbles, picking at his mackerel with a pout. “The guy is practically Kawai Masahiro in that department. He’s probably the best bunter in our generation.”

“High praise coming from you so early in the morning? Were his pitches that crazy?”

Miyuki sighs and puts down his chopsticks, flopping back in his chair to stare at the ceiling. “Honestly? yeah. I got goosebumps.”

“Damn. Can't wait to see them complete, then.”

“Neither can I.”

Sawamura walks in at that moment, followed by Haruichi and Furuya. Sawamura is as loud as ever as he piles the rice high for himself, laughing at something Furuya mumbles. Miyuki quickly sits up and continues eating his food, probably not wanting to get caught having actual emotions by Sawamura. Kuramochi supposes Miyuki has an image to uphold in his crush’s (ugh) mind. He decides to throw him a bone.

“So do you think they’ll be usable by the time the new first years come around?” 

Miyuki thinks as he chews, eyeing Sawamura briefly. “Honestly, a few of them are probably usable now, but I kinda wanna keep them under wraps until Koshien is over. Can’t let them know how fast Sawamura is developing.”

“Ya think it’ll be too much pressure?”

“For Sawamura? Probably not. I just think it’ll be better to show other schools that Seido is even stronger than we were before after Koshien.” Miyuki pauses to take a bite of mackerel, chewing in thought for a bit before continuing to speak. “Besides, Furuya’s at the top of his game right now, I don’t know if I want our ace feeling more pressure than he needs to with Sawamura nipping at his heels like that. Furuya gets in his own head a lot. If he finds out Sawamura is capable of all these pitches it’s a very real threat that he forces himself right into another injury. Furuya’s under a lot of pressure, and he’s still getting used to the idea that he has a team he can rely on.”

Kuramochi snickers. “Maybe so, but you were chasing after Sawamura for a whole week to work on those grips. You give Sawamura a hard time whenever he begs you to catch for him, but when it's the other way around you're surprisingly persistent at getting what ya want." He leans forward in his chair, grin wide and a little predatory. Miyuki leans back in apprehension. “I know for a fact that you’re dying to mess with some batters with those new pitches of Sawamura’s. It’s written all over your face.”

Miyuki flushes, clearing his throat. “What I want isn’t important right now. Being as prepared as possible for Koshien is.”

“You’re surprisingly self-sacrificial sometimes, ya know that?”

Miyuki looks surprised for a beat. “The team is more important than what I want, Kuramochi. As the captain I have to remember that. I wanted to make sure we had at least a few figured out before Koshien, but if the pitchers are happy then I guess I'm happy."

"Most of the time."

"Unless they're being idiots." Miyuki agrees.

“Hyaha! When aren’t they idiots?”

“…Bigger idiots than usual. Except Nori. Bless him.”

There’s a small reprieve from training when the third years graduate. Sawamura bawls into Chris’ chest, leaving tear stains on his blazer that look almost like a ghost apparition. Kuramochi watches Miyuki from the corner of his eye. Miyuki’s smile is grateful, if ever so slightly strained watching Sawamura be consoled by Chris. Miyuki’s face tightens further when Chris leans down to whisper something to Sawamura and Sawmura turns a shade of pink in a way Kuramochi has never seen before. Sawamura’s eyes dart to Miyuki, and Kuramochi suddenly has a bit of an understanding on what Chris might have told him. He turns to Miyuki and nudges him with his leg.

“Come on, let’s go peel Sawamura off of Chris-senpai, otherwise we’ll never see him again.”

Miyuki laughs. It’s real, if a bit soft and fond. “Yeah, you’re right.” He takes a breath in, chest expanding as he crosses his arms over it. “Sawamura!” He shouts, cheeky grin on his face. “You better let Chris-senpai actually leave! Stop trying to fuse with him!” Both of them walk over to the pair as leisurely as possible, Sawamura having gone cat-eyed at Miyuki’s ribbing.

“I’m not gonna hold Master hostage! He’s simply moving on to the next stage in life! and this Sawamura Eijun intends to tell him goodbye with all the honor he deserves!”

“Does part of that honor include crying a ghost onto his poor blazer?”

“Miyuki Kazuya!”

Chris laughs, petting Sawamura’s hair gently after extricating an arm from Sawamura’s hold. Sawamura preens under the touch. “Thank you for your concern, Miyuki. Do you have a moment?”

“Huh? Yeah of course, Chris-senpai.”

Kuramochi peels Sawamura off of Chris like a piece of velcro. He swears he hears the ripping sound. “Come on you idiot. Let’s go say goodbye to the rest of the senpai.”

“Kuramochi-senpai let me go! I can walk by myself!”

Kuramochi rolls his eyes and puts Sawamura in a headlock before dragging him away and letting Miyuki and Chris talk. Looking over his shoulder, Chris has a knowing look on his face as he talks. He can see how red Miyuki’s ears are. Must be about Sawamura. He hopes Chris lets Miyuki figure out his feelings on his own.

“Hey, Sawamoron.”

Sawamura sighs. “Yes, Kuramochi-senpai?”

Unlike Miyuki, Sawamura wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t put up walls when confronted about it, so Kuramochi decides to just rip the bandaid off. “You like Miyuki, don’t you?”

Sawamura’s face immediately blooms scarlet. “Wha—how did you know?!” he shouts, immediately covering his mouth and looking around as if people turn around to look at Sawamura when he shouts anymore. He leans in to Kuramochi, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Did Harucchi tell you?”

“What?! No!” Kuramochi kicks him gently. “Of course he didn’t! have a little more faith in your friend would ya?!” He looks over at Miyuki, still talking to Chris, then back to Sawamura, leaning in as he lowers his voice. Sawamura leans in with him. “You’re not as discreet as ya think, you know. Also I’m your roommate so I’ve learned to read ya better than others.”

Sawamura blanches. “Y-you don’t think he’s noticed have you?”

“Absolutely not.” Kuramochi says with such speed and finality that Sawamura deflates visibly in both relief and a little disappointment.

“Of course he hasn’t…Cap isn’t good at anything that doesn’t have to do with baseball.” Sawamura grumbles, teeth gritting.

Kuramochi is caught so off guard by the comment he barks out a laugh so sudden that Sawamura jumps and people turn to look at them. The moment they see it’s Sawamura with Kuramochi, they lose interest and turn back to their own conversations. “Yeah you’re right on the money there. Anyways, do you plan on doing something about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like…do ya plan on telling him ever?”

Sawamura looks at the ground, kicking at an invisible pebble. “Probably not. I don’t want to cause him any trouble.”

Kuramochi’s brows arch in surprise. He expected the former, but not the latter. “Trouble?”

“Yeah…I’m already kind of a handful as it is. I don’t want to burden him with my feelings too.” Sawamura shrugs. “Don’t get me wrong, Kuramochi-senpai. I like him. I like him a lot. Enough for me to come to this school for him.” Sawamura looks towards Miyuki and Chris. There’s a complicated look in his eyes. It makes Sawamura look painfully mature. Older. Kuramochi isn’t sure if he likes seeing it. “But I know my chances are slim. Hell, I don’t even know if he likes guys like that. Worst case scenario, I disgust him and that breaks our battery in a way that I don’t know if I’m equipped to handle.” He turns back to Kuramochi and smiles wryly. “The burden of these feelings are mine alone. Either I get over them, let them break me, or I cherish them. I want to cherish them as long as I can.”

Kuramochi is silent. He always forgets how…emotionally intelligent Sawamura can be. Still, he’s frustrated. He knows its mutual. It pisses him off that Sawamura has resigned himself to his feelings being one-sided and that Miyuki still hasn’t pulled his head out of his ass and realized that what he feels for Sawamura isn’t anything close to what he feels for other people. Still, this isn’t his situation to butt into. He needs to let the two of them figure it out as much as watching them pine away makes him want to lock them in a room together until they do. Knowing them, they would come out of that room without any progress whatsoever. Stubborn motherfuckers, the lot of them. He sighs. “Alright, Well…” he kicks at the same invisible pebble, trying to shove his hands further into his pockets than they already are. “If ya need to like…talk…about it…I’m here.”

Sawamura smiles. It’s soft and knowing, and Kuramochi feels so…seen by those large golden eyes—like he can’t hide from Sawamura. Like they see right through him to the soft, squishy core he tries to hide so desperately from everyone. “I know, Kuramochi-senpai. Thank you.”

Spring Koshien ends just as fast as the Meiji Jingu tournament. The new first years show a ton of promise, and Kuramochi feels a little bad for scaring their new roommate so thoroughly. Asada is a tall, lanky kid, but a good one. He brings a nervous energy to the room that wasn’t there before, and he seems to be avoiding both him and Sawamura, but Kuramochi hopes they’re able to become closer soon. As much crap as he gives Sawamura, he does care a lot about the guy and wants that to extend to their new, very anxious first year roommate. Funnily enough, the two new catchers in their repertoire seem to have taken a liking to each of their now second-year pitchers. Yui is rooming with Furuya, so he gets to see him a lot more and even when they’re not in their dorm room, offers to catch for Furuya whenever he needs it. Furuya, fresh from an intense pitching battle against Komadai’s Hongou, had turned him down pretty spectacularly, according to Miyuki later on. Okumura, on the other hand…

“I can’t stand that guy!!” Sawamura shouts, tossing his bag on the floor, teeth gritted with rage. Kuramochi can practically see the steam coming from his ears.

“You good?”

“Of course not! I tried giving Asada a pep talk and that stupid wolf guy got in my face about it!”

“Wolf–that Okumura guy??”

“Who else?!”

Kuramochi raises his hands in acknowledgement. “Alright, fair. So what did he get in your face about?”

“It was so stupid! it was about them always being the last ones to finish eating! He got in my face and said they were fighting in their own way!”

“Ah. So ya put your foot in your mouth then.”

Sawamura throws a balled up sock at him. Kuramochi dodges expertly and moves to put him in one of his patented wrestling moves. It’s always interesting finding one that hurts Sawamura just enough to be distressing but not actually dangerous; He’s so bendy that most of his go-tos are useless. Either way, that entire situation gets pushed out of Kuramochi’s head quickly until a mere 48 hours later something he could have never expected happens.

As practice ends and they leave the field, Furuya suddenly asks Miyuki to catch his pitches. Sawamura lets out a squawk of indignation, yelling that Miyuki was supposed to catch for him and that he had already promised. It’s par for the course between Furuya and Sawamura, and Kuramochi almost tunes it out, until Miyuki speaks up.

“Alright. Just for a bit though.”

Kuramochi’s eyebrows shoot up. He eyes Sawamura, who looks genuinely upset. Everyone on the first string, and some of the first years are watching this go down.

“What about your promise to me, Miyuki Kazuya?!”

The “sorry.” Miyuki gives Sawamura feels so insincere that Kuramochi feels slighted on Sawamura’s behalf. “The great ace has spoken. I’ll catch for you later, alright?”

Kuramochi closes his eyes and bites his tongue so he doesn’t say something stupid. He can hear Yui ask to come along, and Furuya agrees, as long as he just watches. Miyuki, Furuya, and Yui walk away, leaving Sawamura abandoned in the practice field. Kuramochi opens his eyes and sees Sawamura, face full of hurt and frustration. Kuramochi genuinely feels for him. He’s gonna have to give Miyuki a piece of his fucking mind later, because this is too much even for an asshole like him. The gaggle of first years behind Sawamura eye him warily, and Kuramochi knows this is more than simply just favoritism. The logical part of his mind tells him that Miyuki probably has a reason for acting like this, but the emotional part can’t stand seeing his roommate and (he’ll never admit it out loud, even on his deathbed) the closest thing he has to a little brother be iced out like that in front of the new kids. He can’t stand the way the first years eye Sawamura, almost with pity as if Sawamura isn’t the most resilient person on the team. He makes a note to himself to talk to Sawamura later, in their dorm when they have privacy. In the meantime, he busies himself with getting some dinner and then going out to practice his batting some more. If he imagines himself swinging at a stupid bespectacled grin, well, that’s between him and his bat.

Sawamura and Asada return to the room in a surprisingly good mood. Kuramochi opens his mouth to ask what happened, but his roommates beat him to it, giving him all the juicy details of what happened in the indoor training area. Apparently, not only did Okumura and Sawamura stomp out their beef, Sawamura (according to him) threw so well that Okumura left in a bit of a trance. Asada backs him up, nodding excitedly as he talks about how cool some of Sawamura’s pitches looked from where he was standing. Sawamura preens, and Kuramochi laughs, despite himself, feeling the anger from before dissipate. He’s still going to give Miyuki a piece of his fucking mind though.

“What the hell was that about last night?” He asks, turning his seat to face Miyuki in the dining hall after hours, finally tired of pretending to watch the game video from two days ago as he shuts the TV off.

“What do you mean?” Miyuki asks, feigning ignorance as he looks over the scorebook from the same match.

“Last night! What you did to Sawamura was a dick move, even for you."

Miyuki closes the scorebook, looking at Kuramochi. “I did end up catching for him, you know. Okumura couldn’t catch the Cutter Kai so I had to step in.”

“That’s not what I’m fucking talking about.” Kuramochi snaps, tired of Miyuki’s nonchalance. “Ya damn near humiliated the guy in front of the entire first string by blowing him off like that for Furuya. In front of the first years too!”

“Furuya has some stuff he’s going through that I need to figure out before our game against Ichidaisan. It’s like he’s back to how he was when he first came to Seido. I can’t have him acting like that on the mound during a game.”

“Yeah well, to do it at Sawamura’s expense is a dick move even for you.”

“Sawamura’s resilient. He’ll get over it.”

Kuramochi rolls his eyes. He’s so fucking tired of Miyuki trying to pretend that he doesn’t hurt Sawamura with his actions and the walls he puts up. Even with Sawamura’s stubbornness, there’s a very real chance that as much as Sawamura is in love with this guy, he could get tired of it eventually. The last thing Kuramochi wants is to have to pick up the pieces of his best friend’s or his roommate’s hearts. “Look. I get it. As the captain, you have to make sure you get to the bottom of what’s happening with our ace. I don’t blame you. But as your vice-captain I’m telling you to cool it on the way you treat our other players in your bid to figure out what’s happening with him. You’re setting a bad example for the first years and for the rest of the team blowing Sawamura off like that.”

“It wasn’t that bad, Kuramochi.”

“You didn’t see the way the first years were looking at him!” Kuramochi slams his fist on the desk. Miyuki jumps, eyes wide.

“What the hell, Kuramochi?!”

“No! you’re going to listen!” Kuramochi glares at him. “I’m sick of watching this damn dance you have going on with him! I know ya think highly of him but fuck, Miyuki, you’re the master of mixed messages! Ya tell me one thing, but you show him the exact opposite!” He points a finger at Miyuki, whose eyes are still wide with surprise. “Get your shit together. I’m telling you this because I care about you, but Sawamura won’t wait for ya forever.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You can interpret that however you like. All I’m saying is that even Sawamura has his breaking point.” Kuramochi stands and pushes his chair in a bit rougher than usual. The sound of it scraping against the floor grounds him a bit. “Goodnight, captain.”

The game against Ichidaisan is, to put it bluntly, a disaster. Coach Kataoka, for some reason, waits until the fifth inning to switch Furuya out. As he jogs up to the mound, Sawamura is eerily quiet. Kuramochi can’t help the gulp he takes looking at his eyes. They’re so intense it’s scary. Sawamura is in the worst case scenario—the bases are loaded, they have one out, and their cleanup is up next. Miyuki doesn’t even finish filling him in before Sawamura interrupts him, golden eyes looking forward. He doesn’t see any of them. Sawamura’s looking directly through everyone, gaze focused.

“I know my job here.”

Kuramochi feels the shiver go down his spine. Has Sawamura ever looked this larger than life to him before? Sawamura does his usual routine before wiping some sweat from his forehead and picking up his rosin bag, bouncing it in his hand for a bit before tossing it to the side. Kuramochi watches Miyuki hesitate for a split second before calling for Number 4. Sawamura winds up, and a second later, the resounding thock! of his ball hitting Miyuki’s mitt rings out. Like clockwork, Sawamura takes out Ichidaisan’s cleanup with three clean fastballs. Seido’s cheering section comes to life, and Kuramochi hears the team’s cries of '“two outs!”

Sawamura cleans up the next batter just as quickly, and the inning is saved. The cheers are deafening. Kuramochi leaps onto him, adrenaline pumping. “Nice pitching, ya little shit!”

Sawamura says nothing, simply looking ahead as they make their way back to the dugout. Kuramochi looks over at Miyuki. Miyuki is staring at him like he just hung the moon and the stars in the sky. As they approach, Sawamura takes his hat off and wipes some sweat off his forehead. The coach takes the opportunity to place his hand on the top of Sawamura’s head, rubbing it. It stops him and everyone else in their tracks.

“You saved us. Sorry you had to.”

At the distance he’s at, Kuramochi sees Sawamura’s grip on his hat tighten. “The game isn’t over yet, boss!” he shouts, making his way into the dugout. “Who’s up next to bat?! Let’s score some runs!”

Kuramochi and Miyuki look at each other. Kuramochi is the one who speaks up.

“You’re up, dumbass.”

“Oh!”

Miraculously, Sawamura hits a fucking double off of Amahisa, as if he’s not already the savior of the game. He proceeds to pitch a master class game afterwards, keeping Ichidaisan down to their 5 runs they got off Furuya. Unfortunately, they can’t meet him in the middle. Seido loses to Ichidaisan 5-3. The taste of defeat is bitter in Kuramochi’s mouth—he can’t imagine what it must be like for Sawamura. As they settle down to watch the Teito/Inashiro game, Sawamura sits away from the rest of the team due to lack of room. Kuramochi has a sneaking suspicion that that’s not the only reason. It’s confirmed when the person next to him moves and Sawamura refuses to move from his spot, saying he can see the game better from there. He can’t say he blames Sawamura for wanting to be away from everyone.

About a month later, Miyuki grabs Kuramochi by the arm suddenly after practice. He’s about to pitch a fit until he sees the look in Miyuki’s eyes—pure distress. He lets Miyuki drag him away, towards the stairs by the training field. They walk in silence, Kuramochi’s heart pounding in his chest. He hasn’t seen Miyuki so openly distressed since his injury. The sound of their cleats on the pavement is the only sound as Miyuki goes down a few stairs and flops down on them, head in his hands. Kuramochi sits down next to him slowly, unsure of what to do.

“You okay…?”

“No.”

Figures as much. Kuramochi isn’t sure if he should wait until Miyuki speaks or if he should break the silence. Miyuki decides for him as he opens his mouth.

“I think I fucked up, ‘Mochi.” he says into his hands. He takes a shaky breath. “You fucking warned me about this…and I didn’t listen.” He looks up. Miyuki’s eyes are glassy behind the frames of his glasses, tears pricking the corners. Kuramochi is alarmed. He’s never seen Miyuki so emotional outside of a game. “You were right. Sawamura isn’t going to wait forever for me to get my head out of my ass.”

“What happened…?” Kuramochi asks. He’s scared of the answer.

The breath Miyuki takes in is shaky. “Sawamura told me he would rather pitch to Okumura when I asked him if he wanted to pitch to me today.”

If it were appropriate to smack Miyuki upside the head right now he would. That’s it?! THAT’S what has Miyuki so distressed? “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t ya tell him and Furuya they had to make batteries with catchers other than you?”

“Yes!” Miyuki groans, pushing his glasses onto his forehead as he rubs his eyes in frustration. “But that was before Okumura joined the first string. That was before he made his intentions known that he wants my starting spot.” He swallows. “That was before I realized that I’m not the only person in love with Sawamura.”

Kuramochi stares, shocked. He didn’t expect Miyuki to not only finally connect the dots for himself, but to pick up on the fact that Okumura looks at Sawamura the same way Miyuki does. Miyuki looks at him, eyes red. The tears refuse to fall. Whether Miyuki refuses to let them or he can’t bring himself to, Kuramochi doesn’t know.

“You knew already, didn’t you?” Miyuki sighs, pulling his glasses off his forehead and back over his eyes. “That I was in love with Sawamura? That’s why you kept telling me to think about my feelings for him. To be careful with him. You knew before I did.”

Kuramochi looks away, unsure how to say it. Is he careful? Does he rip the band-aid off? “I…yeah.” he admits plainly. “I didn’t want to tell you outright that you were probably in love with the guy because I didn’t want to freak you out.”

Miyuki gives him a wobbly smile. It’s small, but he looks calmer. “Thanks, ‘Mochi. Sorry for putting you through hell.”

“You owe me big time, asshole.” Kuramochi punches his arm lightly. “So how’d you figure it out? Okumura tell you straight up he was gonna steal your man?”

Miyuki sputters, turning red. “He’s not–!” he coughs and clears his throat when his voice cracks. "Sawamura isn’t…my man.”

Kuramochi can’t help but start laughing. Miyuki Kazuya really is not good at anything outside of baseball. Emotions included. Not one bit. “Oh my God, you’re hopeless!”

“Shut up! No! Okumura didn’t do any of that! He just…I don’t know.” Miyuki hugs his knees and rests his face on them. He pouts. “Sawamura was giving him all his attention. And ignoring me. I hated it.”

“….Dude.”

“I KNOW!!!” Miyuki cries out, hiding his face in his knees. His ears and the back of his neck are red. Kuramochi is dying. Of all the ways for Miyuki to figure it out, it was because he got jealous that Sawamura’s attention wasn’t entirely on him anymore. He’s never going to let him live this down. This is ammo for the ages. “I got jealous of a guy two years younger than me! Sue me! That’s not even the worst of it!”

“No?” Kuramochi’s shoulders are shaking. “What’s the worst part?”

“The worst part, is that I thought I was fine. I thought that it’s okay that Okumura tries to take my starting spot—which he won’t by the way. Just so we’re clear. Because there’s no way my feelings lose!” He looks up at Kuramochi, angry pout on his face. His nose is red with all the sniffling he’s been doing. “The worst part was watching them walk away after Sawamura chose him over me and he was looking at Sawamura in a way that I immediately understood what he was seeing! I knew that look immediately because I give him the same one!”

Kuramochi doubles over in laughter, holding his stomach. “Holy SHIT Miyuki! You’re not just screwed, you’re FUCKED!” He wipes a tear and looks at Miyuki, snickering. He looks nothing like the captain of a powerhouse school right now; more like an awkward 17 year old struggling through his first crush. He looks small, shy. This is probably the closest he’s seen Miyuki look his own age since his injury—when he was relegated to the stands. He remembers looking over to that the cheer section and watching Miyuki put his megaphone on top of his head like a hat at one point. “So are ya gonna tell him?”

“No!!” Miyuki gasps, sitting up so fast he knocks his own glasses askew. “I can never let Sawamura know!”

“And why the hell not?”

“Because I’m not gonna burden him with my feelings right now!" What if his performance falters because of it? because of me?”

Kuramochi sighs. Impossible. the lot of them. Maybe it’s okay to meddle a bit now. “Alright let’s make a bet.”

“Huh?”

“If Sawamura becomes the ace and we face off against Ichidaisan again, You’re going to confess to him. Win or lose.”

“What?!”

“If we face Ichidaisan again you’re confessing to him.”

Miyuki groans. “You’re so fucking evil.”

“Yeah, but we have to make it there first.”

Miyuki throws his hands up, defeated. “I guess!”

Kuramochi grins widely. He wraps an arm around Miyuki comfortingly, rubbing his back. “You’ll be fine, ya big baby. Just be honest with him. Everything else will follow.”

“You’re sure about that?” Miyuki looks small. Like he wants to run from his emotions. Kuramochi is sure he probably does.

“Positive.” Kuramochi pauses. “I noticed ya didn’t fight me at all over the possibility of Sawamura becoming the ace.”

“I think he could do it, Kuramochi. That game against Ichidaisan gave me goosebumps. Full body. He was like…the embodiment of what an ace should be. That guy took the pressure the mound puts on you and didn’t crumble, but became a diamond.”

“Poetic.”

“Go to hell.” Miyuki grins, cheeky. Kuramochi grins back.

“So. Enlighten me, captain. What exactly about Sawamura do you love?” Kuramochi holds an invisible microphone up to Miyuki’s lips. Miyuki laughs and sits up straight, adjusting his glasses and putting on a serious face, as if it’s a real interview.

“Well, to tell you the truth, Kuramochi, aside from his pitches, his eyes were the first thing I noticed.”

“He’s got pretty big peepers, yeah.”

“not only are they big, but when he’s on the mound they’re so…intense. I feel like he can see right through me. When he looks at me with those eyes…” Miyuki smiles softly to himself. “I feel like I can do anything when he looks at me with all that trust.”

“Gross.”

“You’re the one who asked!”

“Alright, alright. What else?”

“He’s super resilient. His smile is so bright it feels like I’m looking at the sun sometimes. He chases after me like a lost dog sometimes but I can’t say I hate it.” Miyuki grins at Kuramochi. “Sawamura’s a steady presence for me. Grounding. I feel like…as long as he’s there it’s gonna be okay.”

“So you rile him up on purpose, then.”

“Of course! He gives me so many good reactions it’s hard to hold myself back!”

“That’s a twisted ass personality, Cap.”

“That’s rich coming from the person who routinely puts him in wrestling moves.”

“Yeah, but I look like someone who would do that. You’re disgustingly handsome until ya open your mouth and your true personality comes out.”

“You think I’m handsome, Kuramochi?” Miyuki teases, wiggling his brows.

“Oh fuck off! You know you’re good looking!”

“I am!”

“Fuck you! Stop making me go off-topic!” Kuramochi holds his fist up to Miyuki’s face, invisible microphone close enough to make Miyuki go cross-eyed. “So. Sawamura’s looks. What do ya like about them?”

“Well…” Miyuki’s cheeks are immediately dusted a delicate pink. “He’s cute. He’s got a boyish type of charm to him. Like…boy-next-door type of thing. Someone you take home to your parents. Though because he’s an idiot, sometimes he says or does some stuff with that crazy intense gaze that just pins you down out of nowhere?” He crosses his arms over his chest as he thinks. “Like…he’s the type of guy to look you straight in the eye and tells you exactly how he feels about you during a confession. No frills, no bullshit. Just a straightforward ‘I love you.’ kind of thing.”

“Yeah I can see that happening out of nowhere. Or him pulling someone aside to tell them that with no preamble. He’s super straightforward.”

“But at the same time he has this other side of him that’s kind of…prince-like? He reads so much shoujo manga that I wouldn’t be surprised if he also goes out of his way to give the person he likes something straight out of that. Under the cherry blossoms or on the school rooftop.”

“So how would ya like him to confess to you? What’s your ideal Sawamura confession?”

“Huh?!” Miyuki turns to Kuramochi wide-eyed, face turning so red that he can practically see the steam coming from Miyuki’s ears. He flushes down to his neck, mouth snapping closed instantly. Kuramochi cackles.

“Hyahaha! You should see your face right now!”

Miyuki buries his face in his hands, voice muffling in them. it’s not a scream, not a whine, but a steady “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh", voice in his throat. “I don’t know if I should indulge in the thought of that, ‘Mochi.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I drive myself insane thinking of something that’ll never happen in a million years?”

“Isn’t Sawamura supposed to be the dramatic one?”

“Shut up!”

“Just answer the question! Ideal Sawamura confession. Go.”

Miyuki groans, shoving Kuramochi’s fist away from his face. Kuramochi immediately puts it back. “Fine! My ideal confession would be…” He thinks for a moment, leg jiggling. “I guess…maybe on the field where we struck Azuma-senpai out together? I don’t really need anything fancy like being confessed to under the cherry blossoms, or to have someone leave a letter in my shoe locker. I get enough of those already.”

“Way to rub it in for those of us perpetually single.”

“I’m being honest! at this point those letters are just a nuisance.”

“If the girls who wrote those letters heard ya say that they would cry.”

“I couldn’t care less about them, to be honest. None of those girls know me.”

“If they did they would have never left them.”

Miyuki snorts. “Yeah, maybe you’re right about that.” He shrugs. “Anyways, I think just taking me out to that field and telling me straight up is probably ideal. I don’t need a big show. That place means a lot to both of us, I think.” He nods to himself. “Yeah. A no frills confession between two baseball-obsessed freaks. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“How’d you manage to get it to be both stupidly utilitarian and somehow super sentimental at the same time?”

“Who knows!

Kuramochi shakes his head and stands, dusting himself off. He holds a hand out to Miyuki, who takes it and stands as well. “Feel better?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Kuramochi.”

“Yeah man, no problem. Now let’s get something to eat. I’m starving.” They walk for a few minutes before he stops, turning to face Miyuki. Miyuki looks at him, tilting his head slightly in question. “Don’t think I forgot about the bet, by the way. Ichidaisan. Win or lose. You’re doing it. I’m making sure of it.”

Miyuki groans, pushing his glasses up to hide his blush a bit. “Yeah, I got it. I won’t lose to Okumura.”

All things considered, Kuramochi doesn’t think he’s going to need to push Miyuki to confess to Sawamura with the way this game is going. Amahisa has clearly taken a great interest in him, very blatantly treating Sawamura different than the rest of the team. Not to mention that apparently Sawamura had gotten his number after their last match and somehow, him and Amahisa had started messaging each other on LINE pretty regularly (for Sawamura, worst texter in the world, at least). Sawamura, ace number now emblazoned proudly on his back, is pitching great. At the top of the 3rd, he strikes Amahisa out cleanly with a number 9, splitter kai—courtesy of Miyuki staking his claim on Sawamura from the plate. Kuramochi can’t help but laugh at the intense look in Miyuki’s eyes as Amahisa swings and misses. He’s looking at Amahisa as if telling him that he won’t give Sawamura up to him no matter what.

Bottom of the 8th, they’re tied 1-1, Kuramochi having brought in their first point to tie the game—with Miyuki up to bat next. From the dugout, Kuramochi can see the determination in Miyuki’s face to bring Shirasu home. If he’s determined for any other reasons, that’s beyond Kuramochi’s guess. Miyuki swings big. Shirasu starts running before he even makes contact. With a loud clang! the ball goes sailing into the outfield and Shirasu makes it home as Miyuki makes it to first base. Miyuki finds a cheering Sawamura on the sidelines and gives him a little fist pump, as if to ask ‘kept you waiting, didn’t I? ’. Sawamura immediately turns to the stands to sing (scream) Miyuki’s praises, Causing the man himself to smile a little awkwardly at the attention.

The game ends 2-1 in the 9th inning with a 6-4-3 double play, and Seido are once again, one game away from Koshien with Inashiro snapping at their heels. Kuramochi catches up with Miyuki after the game as they get on the bus back to Seido. “Don’t forget, Miyuki. It’s time.” Miyuki simply nods at him, determined expression on his face.

The confession doesn't happen. At least, not like how Miyuki intends. Sawamura’s in a weird headspace after the game, laying in bed staring at his phone while talking about space and distance, and how many games he has left to play with Kuramochi and the rest of the team. In the middle of Kuramochi threatening to put him in a chokehold to get him to pass out, Okumura comes in and tells Sawamura Miyuki wants to talk to him. After Sawamura doesn’t come back for half an hour, Kuramochi tells Asada he’s gonna go look for him. He arrives at Miyuki’s door just in time to see Sawamura leave Miyuki’s room in a huff, slamming the door behind him. Shortly after, Miyuki emerges, chasing after him while calling his name.

Kuramochi groans and runs his hand through his hair, going after them at a distance. He doesn’t know what’s about to happen, but he wants to be there in case things go south. Does he feel kinda scummy eavesdropping on them a bit? of course he does! But it looks like it’s now or never for Miyuki, especially after whatever happened in the room.

“Sawamura! wait, dammit!” he hears Miyuki call out. Kuramochi hides around a corner of the equipment shed, listening closely as he peeks out just enough to be able to see. He has a good angle. If he needs to run, they won’t catch him.

“Leave me alone!!”

“What exactly did you mean by ‘you’re one to talk’?! What’s going on with you?!”

“Why didn’t you tell me? About your intentions to go pro?”

Miyuki stiffens. “What about it?”

“I think your battery partner deserves to know, right? Or do you trust Furuya more?”

“Sawa–what? Why would me telling Furuya about my plans after Seido mean I trust him more?”

“I don’t know!” Sawamura runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. “I don’t know why I think that! Hearing you talk about your ambitions made me realize we only have a few more games together and I don’t know how to handle that!"

“What are you trying to say, Sawamura?”

“I’m saying that I don’t want to be separated from you, Miyuki-senpai! I don’t want to say goodbye! What happens if we don’t beat Inashiro?! Our summer ends there and…and…” Sawamura rubs his eyes roughly. "I want to keep playing baseball with you forever.”

Kuramochi hears Miyuki inhale sharply, taking a careful step towards Sawamura. He can’t see Miyuki’s face from the angle he’s watching them at.

“Sawamura. Look at me.”

“Why?”

“Just look, you idiot.” Miyuki sighs. Sawamura looks up at him, frown on his face as tears collect in the corners of his eyes. Miyuki’s fingers twitch at his side, stopping himself from reaching out to wipe them away. “How much of my conversation with Furuya did you hear?”

“I heard enough.”

“That’s not answering my question, moron.” Miyuki chops at his head gently with his hand. “Seriously, how much of it did you hear?”

“I…” Sawmura hesitates. “I got there as you were asking Furuya if he ever thought about pitching professionally. I left as Furuya was saying he hadn’t thought about it.”

Kuramochi assumes that Miyuki is frowning. “So you didn’t hear anything I said before or after then?”

“No.”

“Then…let me enlighten you a bit.” Miyuki’s hand hesitates at his side before he reaches out and takes Sawamura’s left hand, turning it palm side up in his own to look at the calluses. “After the way you took down Ichidaisan today, you’re gonna have just as many scouts looking for you as Furuya.” Sawamura is looking down at their hands, eyes wide. “And…you’ve surpassed all my expectations as a catcher. Blown them away, even. The number on your back? you earned it fair and square. You shone on the mound today.”

Sawmura looks up at him, surprised. “You mean it, Miyuki Kazuya?”

“Of course I do. As captain and cleanup…as your partner… I want to support you. However I can. That at-bat in the 8th inning was me trying to connect those feelings to you no matter what.”

Sawamura swallows. He looks Miyuki in the eye, expression unreadable. “Cap…can I…can I say something?”

“Only if you can wait until I finish saying what I wanna say.”

“Yeah…I can do that.”

Miyuki takes a breath. “I was gonna tell you this regardless of what happened today. It’s not…the exact place I wanted to do it in but that’s fine. It’s close enough.”

Sawmura arches his brows curiously, but doesn’t interrupt.

“I want to keep catching for you, even after I’ve left Seido. Whatever happens after Inashiro—whether we make it to Koshien or not, I’ll be waiting for you." He turns Sawamura’s hand again, palm down as he turns his own palm up, intertwining his fingers with Sawamura’s. Sawamura gapes.

“Miyuki-senpai…?”

Miyuki brings their joined hands up to his chest. Sawamura’s eyes widen at what Kuramochi assumes is how fast Miyuki’s heart is beating. The tips of Miyuki’s ears are red. “I’ll always be waiting for you, Sawamura. There’s no one else I would rather spend my life playing baseball with.” The redness in his ears is spreading down to his neck now. “I’m not good with words. Hell, I’m not really good at anything outside of baseball and cooking. I’m not in tune with my emotions. I hesitate and second-guess myself a lot. I get in my own head. But if there’s one thing I know I’m sure about, it’s how I feel about you, Sawamura.”

“How do you feel about me, Miyuki-senpai?” Sawamura breathes, staring at Miyuki, eyes wide with hope.

“I’m in love with you, Sawamura.”

Sawmura closes his eyes tightly, as if the words hurt to hear. Kuramochi blanches, feeling his heart skip a beat at the expression. Is Sawamura going to reject him?

“Miyuki-senpai.”

“Y-yeah?”

“You took the words right out of my mouth!” Sawamura grins, wide and sunny. Kuramochi lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Thank God. Sawamura squeezes Miyuki’s hand and pulls, placing their hands against his own chest. “My heart is pounding like crazy! I was ready to get rejected in 30 seconds!"

“Wait, is that what you wanted to tell me???”

“Yes! I was gonna lay my heart out on the table and tell you how I felt but you beat me to it, you sly tanuki!”

“W-well…what if I still want to hear you say it?”

Kuramochi rolls his eyes. He can guess the disgusting expression Miyuki is making. He should probably leave before they start sucking face.

“Then I can say it! No big deal! This Sawamura Eijun is in love with Miyuki Kazuya! Since the very first pitch hit his mitt!”

It’s Miyuki’s turn to gape, Kuramochi assumes by the silence and the way Miyuki’s free hand reaches up to cover his face in embarrassment. “You say that so easily…” Miyuki groans, looking away. Sawamura laughs.

“I’d really like to kiss you now, Miyuki-senpai.”

Aaaaand that’s Kuramochi’s cue to leave. He slinks off as quietly as possible, leaving those two to finish talking it out and swap spit for a bit. He really hopes they don’t take too long so he doesn’t have to come back out here and pretend to catch them in the act. Flopping down on a bench by the vending machines, he decides to wait for them there, getting himself a Pocari Sweat from one of the machines to kill time. He’s just about polished it off when he hears their voices approaching. Looking towards the source of the noise, he sees Sawamura and Miyuki walking hand in hand, laughing at something together. Miyuki spots Kuramochi sitting on the bench and grins widely, holding his and Sawamura’s intertwined hands up like a trophy. Kuramochi grins back.

“It’s about damn time you two got your shit together.”