"Um, Makishima-san?"
Yuusuke rolled his eyes in fond exasperation. Hadn't he told Onoda he was a terrible conversationalist? Wasn't climbing taxing enough? Yet Onoda kept asking questions, or telling him how much fun he was having whenever he caught his breath. How patience hadn't run dry yet on either side, Yuusuke couldn't even fathom…
…Oh, who am I kidding, sho. How could anyone get mad at this kid!
"What is it, Onoda? Are you getting tired?"
"Um, there's something I've been wanting to ask you…"
"Oh? What is it?"
"Are… are you and Arakita-san dating?!"
Yuusuke skidded to a halt.
"Yuusuke…" Yasutomo clicked his locker shut and stretched his arms. Beside him, Yuusuke glanced up from his phone, relieved no one else had returned to the clubroom yet.
"What is it?"
"I'm taking a bath. You coming?"
Yuusuke flushed. "I'll pass for now, sho. I promised I'd talk to Onoda."
"Onoda..?"
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Just a... a heart-to-heart between climbers," Yuusuke laughed nervously.
"Alright," shrugged Yasutomo. "Knock yourselves out. …Yuusuke."
"Sho..?"
Yasutomo tapped a finger to his cheek. Yuusuke leaned in and kissed him. Yasutomo returned the favor.
"See you, Yuusuke… You want dinner later?"
"Sure, sho."
"Aight…"
"Onoda…"
"Yes, Makishima-san?"
"I know I said I would tell you after practice…" Yuusuke pinched the bridge of his nose, "but what are these two doing here, sho?!" he gestured to Naruko and Sugimoto, who now flanked Onoda in evident anticipation.
"Oh! We um, we've all been wondering, about you and Arakita-san…"
Naruko raised his hand. "I overheard the old man say 'gross couple' under his breath."
"I began to suspect when Arakita-san brushed your hair during our briefing, and called it the pride of Sohoku," offered Sugimoto.
"Oh, man," Yuusuke rubbed his nose, "we've gotten way too obvious, sho."
"Was it love at first sight?!"
Of course you'd think that, Onoda...
"Ka-ka-ka! More like giving in to the ol' hormones, riiight, Makishima-san?"
Naruko, please!
"I vote rivals to lovers. It's a popular trope in sports!"
Where did that even come from, Sugimoto?!
"Don't make me laugh, sho..!"
On second thought, Yuusuke had no idea what descriptor fit them best. As far as he was concerned, Arakita Yasutomo simply crashed into his world and took Yuusuke by storm.
Inner radiance? Sexual charisma? Mutual appreciation and respect?
Those things, Yuusuke learned to discover for himself - after the fact, if you will.