How Do You Know?
MitsuMiya Fanfic
by Tierra
"Ayachan, did you see that steal?!"
Same old, same old.
"Ayachan, watch this shot!"
Yes Ayachan, no Ayachan...
"Did you see? Did you see?!"
Three bags full, Ayachan.
Why did he keep doing this?
He'd been like this for...God knows how long. It had become more of a habit than something backed by any kind of feeling.
Maybe he should drop what had finally become a charade.
*****
Miyagi Ryota. No. 7. Point Guard. 168cm. 59kg. Second year.
And one hell of a cocky bastard, he thought proudly, walking down the empty road, his bag swinging cheerfully from one hand. Practice had been good today. That Hanamichi...seriously...when would he understand that Rukawa might just be a bit better than he was? Miyagi could identify with Hanamichi's feelings, though: he also wasn't the type who would just lie down and admit defeat very easily.
In anything.
He frowned, the thought casting a dark shadow over his happy thoughts. It let in a thought that he really didn't feel like addressing yet. But it kept coming.
Ayachan.
He was getting tired of it. Of her. She knew about his crush, it wasn't exactly the subtlest thing about him, and yet she did nothing about it. He was a friend, and apparently that's all he ever would be.
A friend. Yes. And to be frank...he wasn't really against that idea. He was getting sick of suffering from his unrequited love. And, now that he came to think of it...it was becoming more a background thing in his mind than anything else. A habit. That's all it was. The way he fawned over her everywhere, acted cool just for her...it had become as much of his personality as anything else about him. She'd become more of a sister in many respects, not only to him, but the entire team: her condescending fan-thwaps, her encouraging words, her eternal genki-ness.
Miyagi Ryota, No. 7, Point Guard, 168cm, 59kg, second year, walked into a tree.
He winced, and in a fit of blind anger, kicked the tree bad-temperedly, wondering why people had to put up trees in a park, unfairly wondering if they were just there to annoy him. The point guard recoiled, nursing his foot, and sighed. Damn women. Troublemakers of love, he thought darkly, hopping on one foot and biting his lip.
"Oi, Miyagi. Trees won't just jump aside for you, you know."
Miyagi looked up from his odd jumping dance of agony.
Mitsui Hisashi. No. 14. Guard Forward. 184cm. 70kg. Third year.
As the pain receded, he lowered his foot again and leaned on the tree. "Yo, Mitsui-san."
He let his gaze sweep over his older teammate. Mitsui, too, had just come from practice and had, apparently been trailing him. Or maybe he lived over this way. It looked like he'd just slept in his school uniform.
"Problems?"
"Eh...a few." Miyagi sat in the shade of the tree and leaned against it, using his bag as a pillow, intent on napping. Maybe Mitsui would take the hint and be on his way. He didn't really feel like discussing his problems.
No such luck, of course. Miyagi heard a thud and opened his eyes to see Mitsui lying next to him, hands behind his head, staring at the clouds. "So...want to talk about it?"
"Not really." Miyagi was a little annoyed and shut his eyes stubbornly.
"Ayachan troubles?"
Miyagi opened his eyes again, forgetting his nap, and shot Mitsui a dark glare. "Don't even go there, Mitsui-san."
He was a little surprised to see a small smile playing over Mitsui's lips. "Okay, okay, I can take a hint." Yeah. Right. "Just stop calling me that."
"What?"
"Mitsui-san. Ugh, it makes me feel old. We're teammates now, right? Just call me Mitsui."
"Alright...Mitsui. Heh, it feels kinda weird."
Mitsui...
*****
Miyagi woke up slowly, letting himself drift awake rather than forcing himself awake like when he absolutely had to get up for school. That was a pleasant nap. He yawned and propped himself up on his elbows, looking around sleepily. It was about...he squinted at his watch...4:33pm. Right. Still much of the day left to enjoy.
A soft snore.
Odd...he'd woken up. You don't generally snore when you're awake.
He looked down.
Mitsui was stretched out next to him, sleeping soundly, one arm still clutching his gym bag protectively. He looked so...innocent, for lack of a better word, asleep like that. Nothing like the gangster he used to be, the one Miyagi'd had to fight, with both of them ending up in hospital.
Miyagi smiled unknowingly, picking some fallen leaves off Mitsui's shirt.
His hand brushed the taut muscles of Mitsui's chest lightly. He stirred.
Miyagi blushed.
He withdrew his hand and felt his cheeks. What? A blush? This is MITSUI here! What's wrong with you, Ryota?! You're acting like a lovesick schoolgirl! You're acting just like you did when you had a crush on Ayach--...oh no no no no, don't even GO there. He's your teammate and good friend. You don't think of him like that. That's right. Now, stop blushing, people will get the wrong idea. Good thing it's around this time...not many people out in the parks at this time.
You're mind-babbling Ryota. That's a bad sign. You only mind-babble when you're thinking about Ayako. Ayako? Ayachan. Not Ayako, he never called her Ayako anymore. Until now.
...No way.
*It's true, you've fantasised about him before.*
*No matter how much you try to deny it.*
*When your problems with Ayako became too much...*
Is this why I don't love Ayako anymore?
Because...I'm...in love with...
He looked down at the still-peacefully-sleeping three-point shooter, stunned and scared by his own realisation. Oh God. What if people found out? What if Ayako found out? What would she thin--
Would it matter?
*No.*
What if -he- found out?
*That would matter.*
Yes...what if he found out. Ryota groaned and put his head in his hands. This was going to be worse than his love for Ayako...so much worse...because he couldn't even show it...
"Nng..."
Oh God, he's waking up! What should I do? Should I run away? Fuck, this was not going to be pleasant...
Ryota nearly got up to run.
*Don't run away. You never run away.*
"...Ryo...ta..."
Eh?
Miyagi looked down at Mitsui, startled. He wasn't waking up but...he just...just...why? What was he dreaming? Could he...? Don't get your hopes up, Ryota, just because he's never shown interest in a girl or acts all buddy-buddy with you doesn't mean he...swings that way. Just because...
Don't get your hopes up.
*It could happen.*
Squash them.
*They'll still be there.*
He probably has a girlfriend.
*He would have mentioned her.*
He wouldn't be interested.
*How do you know?*
He'll hate you.
*How do you know?*
*Aren't you the one who never gives up easily?*
*Aren't you the one who won't lie down and admit defeat?*
*How do you know, unless you don't try?*
*How do y--
Mitsui slid an arm around Ryota's waist and hugged him gently, murmuring unintelligible sentences under his breath.
--ou know?*
Ryota inhaled sharply, blushing furiously. He felt as if his head might explode, as if his heart was going to burst out of his chest at the rate it was beating, but he didn't dare struggle. Mitsui was still asleep, it seemed, and to struggle might wake him up. And if he found them like this...who knows what might happen. Better to lie still.
Don't concentrate on his warmth. Don't concentrate on the feeling of his body against yours. Don't concentrate on his sexiness. Don't concentrate on--...hell, I'm giving myself a nosebleed.
Just concentrate on how nice this feels.
*It could happen you know. Consider it.*
Nothing else.
*Nothing else.*
*****
Ayako walked down the road hurriedly. She'd stayed late for private lessons after basketball practice and wanted to get home in time for her favourite drama. She checked her watch. 4:45. She slowed a little, sweeping her curly hair back. She had plenty of time, so she could walk normally and enjoy the...hang on a minute...
She cocked her head curiously to one side, moving to one side of the path for a better look at the two figures, both asleep under a tree. She drew closer, close enough to make out who they were...and smiled.
Mitsui had both arms around Ryota's waist and was hugging him protectively in his sleep, almost curled around the smaller boy. Ryota was leaning against the tree, one arm around Mitsui's broad shoulders. His head rested on Mitsui's. Both were deep in sleep.
Ayako pinched her nose, searching for a tissue to stop her nosebleed. With a tissue piece safely up each nostril, she continued to rummage through her bag. I have a camera in here somewhere...there it is.
She skipped home, just in time to catch her drama.
Her mind was a million miles away. Well, not really. More like a few hundred metres. As far as a certain tree in a certain park, and two certain boys.
Finally.
Now he'll get off my back.
...I'm so happy for them.
~+To Be Continued+~
Author's Notes: Wahey. Written in a mad fit of fanfic sickness when I was supposedly doing my Maths coursework. Feh.
Anyway! There are not enough MitsuMiya fics in the world! I shall brainwash you into
writing more, oh hapless reader! Mwaaahahaha...okay, that's enough.
Credits are due! Credits go to...uh...Inoue Takehiko for creating Slam Dunk! Yeah!
Thanks, too, to my beta reader and good friend (plus another fanfic writer...she turned me into a writer...) Xara, Bishounen Hunter! Many thanks y'all. Hail to the Spork!
~T