Chapter Text
“This isn’t going to work!”
Touya opted for the longest skirt Fuyumi had for him, he took out all his facial piercings leaving only the ones on his ears in. She would have to continuously dye her hair white and he would have to grow his out, while she cut her own. The more they worked on it, they actually started looking more alike.
“I’ll have to buy you a fake pair of glasses.”
“It’s fine, when we switch just tell everyone you were wearing colored contacts. That you need glasses so you took them out.” Fuyumi nodded, sliding her glasses back on, meaning she would use the same lie in return as she went to school as her brother.
“Guys! I was joking!” Natsuo complained to the two older siblings, watching them try on each-others school uniforms.
Touya and Fuyumi were the same height now, he was skinny and she still wasn’t as developed as other girls. This was actually going to work!
“I can buy some compression shirts and shorts to make it look more realistic. Do you have any more of these skirts?”
“No. The girls aren’t allowed to wear pants yet either, the other skirts are mid thigh.” Fuyumi answered ruffling up her, mimicking Touya’s fluffy hair look. “Will you still be able to play football in compression clothing?”
“Yeah, I think I have to start shaving though...”
“Touya you’re not even that good at football!”
“I’m better than Fuyumi.”
“Stop!” She whined, buttoning up the black male uniform in front of the mirror. “Natsuo, it's just for the semester. I didn’t think I would actually get on the team, I just need Touya to play for me. Once it’s over we’ll switch back!”
“That’s dad’s name that got you on the team.” Touya replies holding the back of his hair, where he could grow the ponytail out. He was already close to a mullet, he could start tying it back in about a month.
“This looks so weird.”
Touya works on making his voice more gentle and lighter when talking to others, it’s annoying. But luckily so many people in the school hadn’t gone through puberty yet, so there was a mix of high and low pitched voices everywhere. Especially the awkward ones.
He still stayed as quiet as he could, avoiding talking to anyone besides the girls on the football team. The only reason he’s there is to play and do schoolwork, Fuyumi sweetened the deal when she added subjects from a few advanced classes he didn’t want to take.
Anything that would allow their University transcripts to glow. Mostly hers, she knew with a sports team on her transcript it would open the door to get into the University their dad went to. Touya didn’t care much about that part, this was beneficial for both of them.
Football girls are mean as hell!
The team captain Usagiyama kept reminding Touya to not let the other girls knock him down in practice. “Fuyumi! Push against her- you’re the left wing! You can do it!”
He follows through copying everything he can see the other girls doing, luckily he’s a fast learner if he watched enough times. He may have gotten kicked in the leg with a cleat a couple of times, but he was already a few practices in and it was going by smoothly.
Practice dribbling, strikes, passes…
There were already a few early games for the season, there were also people who would stay and watch the girls football practice. Touya’s hair had already grown out enough that Fuyumi was able to teach him how to tie a ponytail. It was small and looked more like a tail, compared to the rest of the fluffy hair on his head, it would even out soon enough when he grew it more.
Their dad worked 12 hour shifts or longer on the weekdays, so he was never home to notice Fuyumi or him leaving and returning home dressed as each-other. Leaving Natsuo the only person who knew what the two siblings were up to, given it was his joke that was meant to just be that, a joke! Shoto was always with the caregiver during the day when he wasn’t at pre-school. Their mom in the mental hospital, they couldn’t tell her. They can’t even talk to her without a legal guardian present, seeing them now would just confuse her anyway.
Fuyumi let him know that everyone at the private school he attended- she attended, as Touya. Everyone was so into themselves that they hardly noticed her, the best case scenario! Keep your head down, read, study, repeat. They were already a month and a half in, if none of the administrators noticed. They were fine! Touya felt confident after the first game they play and won, returning to school the next day. Only hearing congratulations and receiving smiles.
Easy shit!
Until halfway through the week he would feel like someone was watching him. Touya is repeatedly patting himself down, skirts on right, no compression layers visible, he took his face piercings out that morning. He doesn’t feel the tension in his body when he’s in class, it’s always during passing periods, lunch, even practice. At times an administrative official would be free… he could sense eyes following him.
It continued for a few more days after that.
So often he had enough of it, during passing periods he had to find out who it was. He took the stairs after Akaguro’s class, stepping down them quickly, making a sharp turn around the corner. Backing himself up under the stairs well, gripping the strap of the book bag slung over his shoulder, waiting under the spandrel of the stairs to hear and watch for who would try catching up to him.
Touya could hear the normal paced steps other students took up and down the first and second floor, only a single pair stood out to him, hearing the quick tapping of shoes down the stairs. Catching a flash of a blonde in the male student button up, book bag trailing behind.
Stepping out from under the stairs Touya looked over, noticing the blonde pause, look around down the hall and classrooms, before turning making eye contact with him. His taken aback look is quickly replaced with a flush of embarrassment and weak smile. Waving at him, walking over to Touya, rubbing the back of his neck.
“What are you doing?”
“Ha- Hey! Hello, I was looking for you.”
“Why?” Touya should be making an attempt to act embarrassed or nervous like Fuyumi would, but he’s too suspicious. Slightly relieved this wasn’t a teacher following him around under dubious circumstances. However this guy was still trailing him… “What do you want?”
“I wanted to ask if I could walk you to class, but you ran before I could.”
“You’ve been following me for days.” He states matter of factly, a bit more attitude than intended. He could see the blonde’s shoulders tense, moving his hand to cover his mouth, eyes looking away, nodding. “Have you been watching me at football practice?”
“Oh! Yes. But not alone, I’m on the baseball team. We sometimes go watch other teams practice when we don’t have our own, that’s where I saw you first… haha.. you really stand out!” Touya pushed his tongue against his teeth, tension in his jaw.
Was it obvious?
“Oh no! In a good way! You’re cool, your hair, ear piercings and eyes. You have a really neat vibe!” The blonde shakes his head, waving his hands at the other. Having no intention to insult or accuse the other. “I.. Can I walk you to class?”
“Why?”
“Erm- I think you’re cool...”
Touya taps his foot squinting at the guy, they’re about the same height. He seemed nice enough, compensating quite a bit given Touya’s hostile attitude towards him. He reminds Touya a bit of Fuyumi when she’s being teased, this guy has a prettier face in Touya's opinion. “Fine. You already know where my next class is.”
“On accident! You really push through everyone, so dedicated to get to class. I can keep up but- oh! I’m Keigo.”
“Tou-.” Right! Fuyumi is Touya today, he’s Fuyumi. “Todoroki.”
“I thought your name was Fuyumi.”
“That’s it.”
𓂃☁︎ 𓂃
Keigo did not stop following him after that, he expected him too after catching Keigo sneaking around following him after classes. On the contrary he made himself more obvious. Sometimes Touya would step out of the lesson with other students and Keigo would already be waiting, leaning against the wall in the hallway. If he wasn’t already waiting, Touya would be in the halls halfway to class when the blonde would come running waving his hand at him.
It would be embarrassing if Touya didn’t find it stupidly nice, he doesn’t actually think he’s stupid. Keigo spends the time walking to talk about his classes and the baseball team, you have to keep a good standing in your classes to stay on any sports team. Touya listened to him mention his elevated math and science classes, Touya hated those. It’s why Fuyumi was doing them for him at his actual school. So he could assume Keigo was academically smart.
“Do you have practice today?”
“Yes.”
“Can I watch?”
“You’ve already been watching.”
“Haha, well. Yeah! I have, but that’s been with the rest of the guys on the team. I want to watch you by myself.”
Oh.
“Go ahead.” Touya shrugged, uncomfortably feeling the blonde's golden eyes on him. Catching his gaze from the corner of his eye, Keigo’s smile beamed at him.
Fuck.
After classes he stops at the closest coffee shop near campus to treat himself, Keigo following him around is a slight stress. Fuyumi would feel the same if she had some guy following her around while she pretended to be someone else. He tries thinking if there’s anything he could do to deter the blonde from trailing him around school and football practice.
Sipping his drink making it to the girls locker room, last one in to change. They didn’t seem to mind if he was the first one to change or last, he just needed to be alone. They were quite open minded to the idea of privacy and openness regarding others' bodies.
He knows others at his private school would have some strong words, if they caught someone acting the way he was. Touya kept the compression layers under the yellow and white football jersey and shorts, along with compression sleeves to hide any muscles that may form. The long compression socks didn’t seem to cause his muscles to show too much. Besides it was a bit hard when Usagiyama was on the team, she would most likely go on to be a professional athlete with the muscles on her body.
He’s the last to join in stretches, following drills, keeping an eye on Usagiyama’s movements. He seemed to be learning the most from her, even though he didn’t have to tell her anything. The looks she gave him acknowledged she’s noticed, especially when he copies a back kick she did during a scrimmage. Hearing Usagiyama’s voice holler out to coach Kaina, giving a few pointers to other players. Touya gets switched out to rest on the bench while others play against each-other. Grabbing his iced coffee, leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees watching the match play out.
“You did really good!” Keigo whispered as loudly as he could behind Touya, causing him to straighten up and and look over his shoulder.
“Thanks.”
“What kind of coffee do you like?” Keigo points to Touya’s drink he was sipping on, seemingly wanting to talk to him. Touya looks to the field and back at the baseball player. Standing up walking over to the fence, so the blonde wasn’t pressing his whole body against the metal to try and talk to him. “I’m more into canned coffee. Cold ones to grab on the go, also gives me a lot more energy for practice and games.”
“I just got whatever their special was today.” Touya takes another sip of it trying to detect the clear flavor under all the espresso.
“I think it’s vanilla or honey, it’s kind of sweet.” Touya physically offers the coffee to taste test, handing over the iced drink for the other to try. Holding it over the railing above their heads, Keigo giving a surprised look- followed by a quick ‘thanks’. Opening the lid to try the drink, which was more than what Fuyumi and Natsuo ever did. They wouldn’t wait for him to offer, snatch and drink, Natsuo usually ran and held it over his head, granted he’s taller.
“I like the sweet stuff too. There’s a really good place that’s towards the train station further North, the one with the old man’s convenience store next to it. At Sato's place, they have a tiramisu latte. Everyone usually goes for their taiyaki. They have a lot of different flavors.” Touya nods listening, Keigo could yap Touya’s ear off the same way he does Natsuo’s. Keigo held the drink over the wrought iron fence, to return it. “If you’re not into that there’s actually a really good ramen shop with good prices… if you want-.”
Keigo jumped back, dropping the drink when a football loudly smacked the fence, bouncing right off causing the iron wire to shake from the force. Touya stood still, surprised by the abrupt action. Turning looking over to see Usagiyama with her arms crossed, as the ball slowly rolled back towards her.
“Todoroki! You're back in!”
“Sorry!” Keigo apologized looking at the other sympathetically, checking to see if the coffee had gotten the football uniform dirty.
Touya bent down picking up the empty plastic cup from the fall, cringing at the waste. Avoiding stepping in the coffee wearing his cleats. “It’s fine.” He shook the cup off, discarding it in the nearest metal trash can, hurrying back to Usagiyama who tapped her foot impatiently.
“You’re at practice, not on a date.”
“I wasn’t -hhh, okay.”
“You’re center forward, behind me.” Usagiyama reminded everyone of their position, correcting them if they were too close or far. They made it through another half hour of practice, the team captain and coach reminding certain players to work on their offense, defense, shooting, passing. It went on long enough to understand how dedicated Usagiyama was, there wasn’t much need for a coach with a captain like her. When they’re finally given the clear to grab their belongings everyone does.
Touya could see Keigo still in the spot they were standing in earlier, holding out an iced coffee, confusing him. “What’s that?”
“I feel bad for distracting you. So I went ahead and bought you another drink!” Keigo tightens his grip on the drink, handing it over the wrought iron fence between them.
“You didn’t have to.” Touya taking hold over it, mixing it before taking a sip, the exact same drink he ordered earlier. He ran all the way to the coffee shop and back? “Thanks.”
“No problem. I can get you another next time you have practice, I’m fast. Only if my own schedule doesn’t interfere.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I can walk you home if you want.”
“I’m fine. Go home.”
“Okay, okay. Bye Fuyumi!” Touya turns, rolling his eyes at being called his sister's name, sipping the drink. It’s fine, that’s just what he was here to do, be Fuyumi. He gripped his duffel bag strap, pulling it onto his shoulder. Passing a few other girls on the way to the locker room.
“Heheh, your boyfriend's nice.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Aww, that sucks. Haha! If you want him to stop bothering you, you should tell him to buy drinks for the whole team! Takeyama said her boyfriend would bring us all snacks, and he stopped showing up.”
“I told you guys I broke up with him!”
Touya caught on to the fact that Keigo wasn’t going to stop following him around between classes, or after practice if he could catch up to him. Luckily most of his baseball practices conflicted with the football teams practice, allowing Touya time to walk home without being followed. If Fuyumi and him were going to do this, no one could know too many personal details. Or come anywhere near the house, asking for them, Natsuo could possibly come up with a lie. But if anyone ever saw his sister or him outside of the disguise, it’s over.
“-yumi! Fuyumi!” Touya feels for his phone in his pocket, turning the volume down, looking around his surroundings spotting the blonde running over.
Donned in the baseball teams yellow and white uniform, similar to the one Touya wore, school and duffel bag bouncing behind him. Removing his headphones Touya can hear the metal and plastic materials in Keigo’s bag hit each-other.
“Hah! You forget your own name?”
“I was listening to music.”
“Oh? What do you like?”
“Weird music.”
“Hah! Yeah right, let me listen!” Keigo urged, falling in step with the football player who carried his own bags. Touya took his left earbud out, handing the left to the blonde. Returning the right to his ears, scrolling through his phone to find the weirdest song he could find.
‘sex, sex, sex, yeah, sex, sex, sex.’
A small grin crept onto Touya’s face watching the blonde wide-eyed mouth in a firm line, stunned, staring ahead as they walked, hiding how uncomfortable he was. “Hah!” He doesn’t believe he’s seen Keigo so quiet before.
“What is this?!”
“I’ll change it.” The older one scrolls on his phone for a bit, while they’re stuck at a crosswalk.
‘…masturbate the pain away lonely boy…’
“I didn’t take you for being so… provocative.” Keigo swallows, closing his eyes, earning another laugh from Touya. Resuming the walk hearing the beeping of the crosswalk countdown begin. “Your music taste is… very interesting.”
“That’s the Western music.” Touya quips back, scrolling on his screen to find tame alternative and palatable music for the blonde. Ending the weird electric moaning song.
“Ah, you like American music.”
“Western. There’s more than just that country’s music that’s good. They’re just very loud.”
“I see… you’re in the Advance English class, right? You must be very smart.” Touya hums, shrugging at that scrolling on his phone, Keigo poking inside the side of his mouth with his tongue. Resisting the urge to look over at others business, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I can carry your bag for you, if you want.”
“I’m good, you’ve already got your own duffel bag.”
“Well- I want to. Can I?” Keigo tries again, giving a small smile. Cerulean eyes flashing with a hint of confusion but the smile and quiet laugh creeping up. Allows Keigo to know that what he was doing was working.
“Ha… no, you’re weird…. no- not weird. Persistent.”
“Is that good?”
“….in a way. But you have to leave me from here, I’ve got a strict dad.” Touya half lied, he was strict. But he was at least half a mile from the house, his dad wasn’t even off work yet. He just can’t let Keigo get close to knowing where he lives.
“Oh. Okay.” The baseball player nods, returning the earpiece, adjusting the straps of his own bags. Touya recognized the nervousness in his body language. Waiting for Keigo to say whatever was on his mind. “Can I walk you to school tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Keigo’s smile slightly deflated, shifting between his feet, nodding. “..okay.”
“If you want… I have practice again tomorrow. Do you?”
There’s a pause between the two, golden eyes flashing over, catching up to where the conversation was leading. “Nope! I’m free.”
“Do you want to watch?”
“Can we get something to eat after?” Touya blanks, stunned for a moment, Keigo’s slight smirk indicating he caught the look on the other's face.
Ugh… smooth.
“I- we can, after practice. Yeah.” Touya stammers, shaking his head, collecting his thoughts.
“Cool. I’m still walking you to your classes tomorrow by the way!” Keigo calls out, turning heel running in the opposite direction Touya was walking in.
He feels embarrassed he reacted that way, guilt creeping up behind that feeling. Keigo was nice, attractive, social, everything Touya was currently not and couldn’t be. Touya is pretending to be Fuyumi, which is what Keigo seems to be chasing after!
He just has to be as platonically nice and friendly as he can. Don’t allow any underlying attraction that may be bubbling up, compromise anything. Fuyumi and him were doing something very wrong, he doesn’t need to add on to the list.
Throughout the next school day Touya allows Keigo to walk around with him, let Keigo chat him up through a one-sided conversation. It was better that way, however it did feel like being around the blonde was bringing more attention to himself. Something he very much didn’t want or need, Touya as Fuyumi needs to be mellow and meek- unapproachable and forgettable!
Keigo made that extremely hard, especially right before practice. Touya believes someone on the football team must have said something or Keigo’s hearing was better than he initially thought.
‘If you want him to stop bothering you, you should tell him to buy drinks for the whole team!’
A girl whose name slipped his mind had joked. But Keigo was currently passing out iced coffees over the wrought iron fence dividing the field from the metal bleachers. The football players laughed, joking as they walked away sipping their drinks.
“Todoroki! Your boyfriend is so nice!”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Touya hissed, quickly walking over to the gate, earning a few cooes. Most of the girls giggling running off, Touya hearing one whisper ‘give them space!’
“Keigo, what are you doing?”
“They didn’t have that special drink you got last time. So I got you hazelnut so it wasn’t so sweet.” Keigo turned around looking through the last large brown paper bag the cafe had given him, stacked with the now empty drink carriers.
“Ooooo!”
Touya whipped his head to try and spot who was teasingly cooing at them, he hasn’t felt this embarrassed in years. Possibly never! Flexing his fingers trying not to clench his fist, pressing himself against the gate to whisper. “Keigo. Please don’t do this again! How much was this? You carried all of it here?!”
“Don’t worry about it, Fuyumi!” Touya could feel how warm his face is, tightening his jaw, teeth grinding, watching a dopey smile form on the blonde. Feeling his stomach knot up as Keigo tried climbing the fence to get closer, handing out the drink he ordered for Touya. “Do you like hazelnut?”
“…yes.” Touya huffs, swiping the drink from his grasp, quickly taking a sip. Turning his head, hearing cleats crunching against the grass, quickly heading towards them, Keigo hopping down from the fence waving.
“You have to clean all this up. We’re running behind because of you!” Usagiyama ordered Keigo who cupped his hands together apologizing, picking up the drink carriers and small trash from straws, stuffing them into the bag. The older girl pulling Touya’s arm along who was chewing on the tip of the straw in his drink. “You can’t let your boyfriend be a distraction! I want you as my second.”
“He’s not-.”
“I don’t care, same deal. I want us all focused!”
Touya didn’t argue, no one does with the team captain, the coach hardly ever did. Usagiyama clearly ran the show. Due to the fact Keigo had given out coffee to everyone on the team, Usagiyama used it as a reason to push everyone harder than usual. She called it ‘dribbling and defending day!’
‘Keep up, don't slip and fall!’
‘Jump! We have a loose ball flying right at your face!’
‘All that caffeine you had! I know we can keep up!’
It was over when a girl slipped and twisted her ankle. Touya brushed his tongue against his teeth, checking if he could taste blood or if any of his teeth were loose from getting hit in the face with the ball so many times. Trying to jump and block it, hands behind his back just to be hit in the cheek and mouth. It would be embarrassing if his dad caught him pretending to be Fuyumi because of a tooth falling out.
He switched out of the cleats into his regular shoes on the bench, while everyone else walked off of the field heading inside. Trying to pull and loosen the compression shirt riding up his back, without being obvious feeling the gold eyes watching him from the sidelines.
“You did good!”
“You suck.”
“I’ll take that, you guys worked pretty hard today.” Keigo retorts in his usual happy tone, taking the empty cup from Touya, throwing it away for him. Tugging the football bag up, adjusting the school bag on the other shoulder. “…can I carry one of your bags?”
Keigo always asked that, but this time it sounded genuine, possibly guilty for being Usagiyama’s excuse for everyone getting hit by a ball so many times in one day. “….yes.” Touya let the duffel bag fall off his shoulder, lazily handing it over to Keigo who was only carrying his own book bag due to not having practice.
”Thank you. I wanted to eat at a new place a couple of blocks away, but there’s some food trucks that are close by. They’re also in the park, where there’s some really cool ducks. If you want to eat and walk around.”
Touya hummed, nodding along, pulling his water out from his duffel bag while Keigo held it, flexing his mouth. Fuyumi owed him for getting multiple rounds of a football to the face! “Is my face red?”
“Ahah… Only when you were embarrassed earlier. You made the funniest face, your mouth- wide, hissing like a cat.” Keigo teased, stretching his mouth out in what looks like a wide grin, gritting his teeth, his cheeks slightly turning upward. “-like this.”
“Man, you suck.”
“If you were one of the guys I would say something else-.”
“Is it, ‘you swallow’?”
“…no.” Touya barks out a laugh following Keigo along. Rubbing his right cheek, continuing his small jaw stretches, hoping there weren't going to be any bruises.
That would be hard to explain, if one did form Fuyumi may have some concealer, if not they could look through their moms old belongings to see if she had any left over. She was always good at hiding them. “It’s not.”
“What’s not?”
“Red. Your face. It’s nice and attractive as usual.” Touya is 100 percent sure Keigo knows what he’s doing. Because he catches the gold eyes staring at him and he gives Touya no time to react. By the time he’s pulled himself out of being surprised by the comment, Keigo was sprinting towards the food trucks in view that he mentioned. Running away as if he didn’t want to give Touya the chance to reply back.
If he was allowed to be Touya he would react differently! Push him more, not physically. A little physically, but in a teasing way. He’s done it before, he’s just not allowed to right now.
“Ahh- okay, can I just get one then?” Touya caught up to Keigo standing next to him at the green food truck looking over the menu. Chicken, beef, vegetable skewers, the main allure of the food truck being everything was on a stick. “Here you go.” Keigo holds out a skinny open tray of two chicken skewers.
“What about you?”
“Oh. I’m a little light on cash right now.”
“You’re light?” Touya questioned, wondering why Keigo would offer to get them food if he didn’t have the money for it. “Did you spend all your money on coffee for the team?!”
Keigo’s gaze stuck to the plate in front of him shrugging. “I overheard one of the girls you were talking to mention it. I thought it would be impressive.”
Touya throws his head back groaning out loud, mentally counting the cost of how much money Keigo just blew with that embarrassingly- terribly nice act of kindness. Pushing the blonde's arm aside so he could unzip the side of his duffel bag Keigo was still carrying for him, keeping his hand on the others arm so he wouldn’t move while the other dug around for his wallet. Feeling the leather texture, pulling it out, sliding his dads card out. “Order whatever you want.”
“I can’t make you pay! It’s not polite, guys are supposed to pay.”
“You’re not making me. Just do it.” The football player walks up, sliding his card across the metal surface of the food truck, the older man taking it looking down at Keigo.
“Hhh- Can I get two more of these? Sauce on the side? Orange drink too please.”
Touya took one of the skewers Keigo was still holding on the small tray, trying one. He should try eating more protein, he’s been sweating so much during practice and games. Sweating in general, he runs hot. But if he wants to stay looking soft instead of lean from working out and doing nothing but Fuyumi’s classwork, he needed to eat more. “Do you like it?”
“It’s good.” Touya nods, his card returned to him by the vendor, taking the skinny tray from Keigo so he could walk with his own food and drink. “Don’t spend your money like that. I owe you now.”
“What? No you don’t.”
“Yes, I do. You can’t waste money like that. I have to buy you a hell of a lot of food now.”
“Haha! I guess you owe me a couple of dates, then.”
Touya bites down on the wooden skewer squinting at Keigo, the sly smirk on his face as he happily chews on his chicken skewer. As if he didn’t just imply Touya taking him out on multiple dates. He was doing it again! “Maybe I’ll get you a gift card.”
“That’s no fun!”
“I am not a fun person.”
“I think you are.”
“Hah! You’ve got me confused with someone else.” Touya grinned as he chewed, finishing off a skewer, walking along the trail of the park. Spotting a few of the ducks Keigo had mentioned were here, waddling along the trail that followed a river a couple yards off the trail. A large brown duck with a flared out tail chasing two smaller ducks. “That one looks like you.”
“What!? No it doesn’t…” The brown duck launches itself off the quarry, flying further down the river, obnoxious squawking noises.
“Sounds like you.”
“Like you would know, whenever I call you out you never turn around- that one looks like you!” Touya’s gaze followed where the baseball player was pointing, a dark black almost blue looking, skinny duck that looked more like a peacock sleeping under a tree.
“Why?”
“It’s got a white patch on it.”
“You walk here a lot.”
“Eh, sometimes. Mostly for the food trucks.” Touya hums, nodding, taking another bite of the last skewer he had. Feeling the blonde tug him closer, pulling him aside. “There’s a stray cat, he’s mean.”
Touya would’ve thought Keigo was trying to make a move if it wasn’t for the tone of his voice, along with how stiff the hand on Touya was. Along the trail there was a black cat laying down further up on Touya’s left side. “You’re scared?”
“He scratches. I saw him chase the ducks.”
“Ducks chase people.” He ignored Keigo’s warning, stepping quietly to the cat, squatting down in front of it, waving the chicken skewer in front of his nose. The cat's nose twitched before it’s eyes opened, woken up from a nap, smelling the chicken before it started chewing on the food. “Maybe you messed with her too much, Keigo.”
“Last time I tried petting it, he scratched me.”
“It’s a girl, she doesn’t have a ballsack.” The blonde choked and coughed to clear his airways, Touya’s mood lightened up hearing the cat begin purring. Slowly moving his hand to rub her head as she ate. “You can check if you don’t believe me.”
“That’s alright, I believe you... You like cats?”
“We’re not allowed to have pets at home. I’ve considered sneaking a cat in, but I’m not home enough. It’s not worth my dad losing his shit.” Touya testingly snakes his hands against her sides letting the chicken skewer fall, picking her up feeling the cat continue to purr.
“Fuyumi don’t...”
“This is who you’re scared of?” Touya teased, holding the cat against his chest, continuing to gently pet it, stepping closer towards the blonde. “Face your abuser Keigo. I’m losing respect for you, she’s baking biscuits on me.”
“Don’t let her see me…” Keigo’s face shifts uncomfortably, Touya could’ve used better words. But the noise the cat was making, feeling her paw and stretch on his chest, it’s got him in a good mood. Keigo adjusts his grip on his food tray, tucking his drink can under his arm. Slowly moving his free hand to the black cat’s back, trying to copy the others hands, petting. But he’s more so awkwardly grazing Touya’s fingers. “You’re kind of keeping her all to yourself.”
“My bad.” Touya bends down letting her go at Keigo’s feet.
“I thought you were gonna hold her!” His panicked whisper was enough to cause the cat to run, Touya picking up his trash. “That’s a stray. What if it had fleas?”
“If she had fleas the park would’ve captured her and sent her to a shelter already.” Touya discards his trash in the nearest bin he could find. “I take it you’re not a cat person."
“Not really…”
“That sucks.” Touya pats his torso down, wiping off whatever cat hair remained. He adjusts the strap of his book bag, reaching to take his black duffel from Keigo so he wasn’t stuck carrying it anymore. “This was fun, I’m going to go.”
“Already!? We only walked for a bit.” Keigo asked, disappointment clear in his tone.
“Sorry, it’s getting late. I can buy you lunch to make up for all the money you spent on the team, or pull some cash out to make it easier on you. If you tell me how much all the drinks were?”
“Nope, money is no object.” Keigo shakes his head, facing away, Touya feeling an upwards tug on his lips.
“Hah… until you run out and can’t buy yourself food.”
“…okay. But I don’t want money or food.”
“No? What do you want?” Touya starts the walk back to the closest exit of the park as Keigo hummed aloud, thinking to himself.
Mostly eating but he looked around playfully as if he was trying to find something to make up for the money spent. The football player stopped and waited at one of the entry points of the park, waiting for Keigo who was throwing away his trash. Rubbing his hands together, covering his mouth, humming. “Keigo…”
“I’m thinking!” He looks around a bit tapping his cheek staring at Touya. “… you have to watch me play.”
“Play what?”
“Baseball.”
“Ah, right. Does it have to be a game? I have a curfew.”
“Nah, I’m flexible. On Saturday there’s an early practice at school. I watch you play, now I want you to watch me play.” Keigo shifts his weight back and forth from the heels of his feet to the tip of his shoes, lightly rocking himself.
“I really can’t turn this down when I’m being blackmailed-.”
“It’s not blackmail!”
“Right, it’s extortion.”
“No it’s-!”
“That’s okay, do you play as dirty as you are now?” He teased trying not to laugh, as Keigo added a pep to his step walking around Touya nearly skipping.
“I’m a great team player. You’ll see, I’ll be expecting to see you, Todoroki.”
“Deal.”
“If you don’t- I’m going to walk you home everyday! Your dad is going to ask who this random guy is!” Touya cringed at the idea, but the mental image of his dad seeing him dressed as a girl with Keigo following him around is also a bit funny.
“Funny threat.”
Please don’t.
Everything would blow up in Fuyumi’s and his face, he smiled at Keigo’s cheeky-ness waving at him watching him run to head home. It sucks he’ll have to be his sister on Saturday, he’ll have to change somewhere outside the house to avoid returning home when their dad is off work.