The Cather and the Pitcher
Chapter Four
Miyuki abruptly stopped grinning and looked towards the pitcher, frowning. "Date? What are you talking about? Dating who?"
Sawamura froze on his track. Turning slowly, he gaped back at Miyuki.
"Eh?"
Miyuki cocked his head to the side. "What date are you talking about, Sawamura?"
The first-year frowned. 'What date am I talking about? Isn't it obvious?' Sawamura looked back at Miyuki who is now standing up from his position from the ground, dusting his back.
He asked hesitatingly. "Yesterday—uhm—well— w-where were you yesterday, bakayuki?"
Miyuki tilted his head and gave a slight frown. "What's with the sudden change of topic?"
"I'm not changing the topic! Just answer the question!"
The catcher schooled his face in neutral expression. "Out."
"Heehh~? Out, huh? That doesn't answer the question at all!"
"Well I wasn't here right? So I was out."
"Bakayuki—!" Sawamura can feel veins popping on his forehead. He sneered. "Nani? Can't answer the question, huh? Feeling guilty aren't we?"
Miyuki raised an eyebrow and smirked teasingly. "And why should I be feeling guilty? It's not like I should get your permission to go on dates, ne, Sa~wa~mu~ra~?"
Sawamura sputtered, heat spreading over his cheeks. "T-that's not what I mean! You made me wait the whole day yesterday! I have the right to know where you were! You bastard! And you yourself even said dates! As I thought, Chris-senpai was right! You were with a girl yesterday, weren't you?!"
That wiped the smile off of Miyuki's face. Shit. He was seen yesterday. Is that what this is all about? All the glares from his senpais and this tantrum from Sawamura. If the situation isn't so dismal, Miyuki would have appreciated the pitcher's pouting cutely about his so-called date. (For a record, Sawamura's not pouting, he's seething. Anyway, let Miyuki have his infatuated delusions.)
Miyuki watched the irate first-year, pondering the situation. Now, how should he go around with this? It's not like he can claim that it was a mistake. Chris-senpai was the one who saw him, and if he ever said that it wasn't him he saw yesterday, the other catcher isn't exactly an idiot to fall for such a feeble lie. Well, Miyuki's not exactly lying. But there are complicated reasons why he can't say the entire truth either.
"Oi, Miyuki, teme! Are you listening to me?!"
Miyuki turned his attention back to Sawamura and gave him a crooked grin. "I'm listening. Anyway, with that kind of voice, anyone in a five-mile radius could probably hear you."
"Teme!"
He sighed softly and stared at Sawamura, eyes turning serious. Sawamura paused, seeing the look on Miyuki's face. "N-nani?"
"I'm not on any date, especially yesterday." He said, hoping Sawamura wouldn't ask any more questions about it. It's true that Miyuki didn't need to explain anything. He can just say that it was his business alone and he knew Sawamura will leave it at that, though begrudgingly. But Miyuki can't just leave it at that at all.
For whatever reason he couldn't grasp, he didn't want Sawamura to misunderstand. Yes, somehow, Sawamura's opinion matters and he didn't want him to get any wrong ideas over his actions. He didn't want him to think that Miyuki was already involved with someone else, well, not as far as he was concerned. Just that idea he couldn't bear to stay on Sawamura's mind.
Silence stretched long as Sawamura studied Miyuki's face. What's gotten into him? He was so sure Miyuki will evade any insistence he will throw at him, but what's with all the seriousness? Miyuki's eyes look—Sawamura averted his gaze and flushed lightly. Miyuki's eyes look intense. So intense he can feel them burning into his skin.
Sawamura gave a sideway glance towards the other. "Who—" He cleared his throat. "Then, who was that girl?" He asked hesitantly. "I mean—who is she to you?"
Miyuki's eyes twitched. 'Who is that girl?' Like hell he'll say that girl's name out loud. Just thinking about it made him shivered.
"Let just say she's someone from my past." 'That I really hate to think about.' Miyuki thought with a scowl.
Sawamura frowned. That's not exactly what he wanted to hear.
"Ex-girlfriend?"
"God, no!"
The pitcher's frown deepened from the reaction. "Then— childhood friend?"
Miyuki tilted his head, thinking. "Mah, I guess. Maybe. Probably?"
"What the hell kind of answer is that?! That doesn't clear up anything at all!"
"Well, why should I need to clear up anything to you? Hohoho… bothered aren't we? Nani, Sawamura, getting jealous?" Miyuki asked teasingly.
"I'm not! Why would I be?!" Sawamura huffed.
"That's what I want to know. Baka." Muyuki flicked the other's nose. Sawamura smacked his hand away, glaring daggers. "You're acting like a jealous girlfriend, you know." Miyuki grinned gleefully.
Sawamura left sputtering again, blushing furiously. This megane bastard! He just knew exactly what to say to make his blood boil. Sawamura turned and walked away, muttering curses under his breath.
"Oi, where are you going?" Miyuki called out.
"Do you really have to ask? Bullpen! You have some making up to do, so catch my pitch already, you lying bastard!"
"Who's lying?!" Miyuki jogged after him.
"Shut up!" Sawamura growled back, still hiding his blushing face.
"He just won't admit that he's jealous." Miyuki muttered loudly, intending the other to hear his words.
Sawamura walked faster, almost running. "You can have ten girlfriends for all I care!"
Miyuki raised an eyebrow and grinned. 'Say that when you don't have that kind of expression on your face.'
Sawamura panted as he run. He didn't get any proper answer from Miyuki, and to be honest he was bothered by the way Miyuki refused to answer who that girl is. Well, not like he cared, really. It was just—you know—curiosity on his part. Or annoyance, probably. It's not like he felt relieved when Miyuki denied vehemently that she wasn't his girlfriend. No, he's not. Really. (Yeah, right.)
Sawamura blushed. He was really bothered, wasn't he? So bothered he was starting to question his own questions that questioned his own—Gyaahh! Even his inner monologue was working against him!
Was he really bothered by the mere thought of that girl going out with Miyuki? Sawamura can feel an answering loud thumping on his chest. His heart's constricting painfully. Something is going on inside of him. Something's changing. Something Sawamura isn't sure he's ready to find out.
Sawamura looked back at Miyuki and found him jogging towards him, eyes glinting with mischief and a smirk on the corner of his lips.
His heart slammed harder and he sucked in a breath. He can feel heat spreading throughout his body, the same way when Miyuki held him just a while ago. Sawamura suddenly felt dizzy. What's going on with him? Just one look in that bastard direction and he's already feeling disoriented.
Why?
...
Jun snatched his baseball cap on top of his head and put a hand on his waist, eyes glaring. He was itching to grab someone and just shook them violently until he let out his frustrations. Those two idiots. Just watching them acting so dense made him want to tear his hair out.
"You're exaggerating." Someone spoke behind him.
"Haaaahhhh?!" He spun around and saw Tetsu, Masuko, and Ryo coming towards him.
"Oh, Masuko, how's Kuramochi?"
Masuko shrugged. "He's fine. He already took his medicine and he's resting in our room. But he needs to rest for the next three days and he can't come to practice for the rest of the week."
"I see." Jun shifted his gaze towards the second baseman. Ryo merely stared back at him.
"What's got you frustrated, Jun-chan?" Ryo asked, seeming to guess a question heading his way and tried to steer the conversation away from him.
Jun blinked. He shook his head and glowered once more when he remembered what got him so irritated. Jun tilted his chin towards the bullpen and everyone turned to look. Miyuki and Furuya were practicing while Sawamura and Ono talked. Ono was trying to correct Sawamura's form and was holding the pitcher from behind, correcting his angle as Sawamura lifted his leg to pitch.
Everyone watched the scene for a while. At first, nothing seemed out of ordinary. But the longer they've watched, they've finally saw what Jun was talking about. If Miyuki shot another glower towards Ono's back anymore heated than they already were, they were afraid the other catcher will burn to crisp. They can see Ono sweats dropping, trying hard to ignore the murderous aura coming from behind. They can also see Miyuki was just itching to grab Sawamura away from the other catcher.
Sawamura's the same. Every time Miyuki stood and went close to Furuya or complimented the other pitcher, Sawamura scowled, making Ono huffed frustratingly. The first-year was subtly following the other with his eyes, flushing lightly every time their gaze connected. They can see Ono barely restraining himself from strangling the first-year and just be done with it. Jun hoped he will.
"And the two of them thought they were being subtle." Ryo smirked.
Jun scowled, squeezing his baseball cap tightly on his hands. "Just watching them makes me want to—ARGHH!—and—Guuhhh!— and—Oraaa—that makes me want to-grrrr!-Kuussooo!—and—glaaghh!—Just LIKE that! You know?!" He huffed frustratingly.
Everyone sweat dropped. Is that a dinosaur language? That doesn't make any sense at all.
Ryo snorted under his breath. "Nice vocalization."
Some players behind them who also heard Jun's antic snickered, making the third-year scowled towards them. "Oraaa! What are you laughing for?!"
"You're right. Those two are just too troublesome to handle, aren't they?"
All of them shifted their gaze and saw Chris and Tanba heading towards them.
Tetsu nodded. "I don't know what kind of talk they had yesterday, but they've been acting like this since last night. I guess it's a progress, but at this rate, they wouldn't be able to concentrate during practice."
'I think getting them together would just make them more distracted.' Tanba thought, but didn't dare say it out loud. The rest of them were already acting like schoolgirls trying to matched-make their two kohai. Who knows what will happen to him if he voiced out his unnecessary opinion?
Masuko murmured. "If only we can find a way to make them realize their feelings sooner."
Jun winced. "Like that's easy to do."
"Actually, I have an idea." Chris piped in.
All of them stared at the catcher, surprised. Chris was the last person they thought would gave off a suggestion. Not only he's a bit protective of their loud-mouth pitcher, the guy was just too serious to the core. Tanba nearly choked on his own tongue.
"All of you are thinking that I'm too serious to suggest an idea, aren't you?"
They all jumped, flabbergasted, and shook their heads fervently.
Chris merely smirked. He gestured the others to come close and they huddled in a circle. Chris whispered his suggestion and they all gape back at him, stunned. They couldn't believe such thing ever came out of his mouth. Chris, the ever straight-laced player? Will miracle ever cease?
"You're all thinking of something impolite, aren't you?"
Again, they all jumped and shook their heads. 'This guy can totally read minds.' Jun thought, sweat dropping.
"Well? Think that'll work?" Ryosuke asked.
Chris shrugged. "It's better than nothing." He smirked. "Besides, aren't you curious of what they will do in that kind of situation?"
They all exchanged looks of doubt. Then, all of them suddenly started smirking evilly. Tanba shivered. He may not like Miyuki too much, but this time, he can only pray for his two kouhai.
...
Sawamura just came out from his bath and was heading towards Harucchi's room, humming to himself. Masuko insisted that he couldn't sleep in their room tonight because of Kuramochi's flu so he was bunking with his friend. He was just turning at the corner when someone called out his name.
"Oi! Sawamura!" The first-year turned. He grimace when he saw Jun and Tetsu heading his way.
"Nani, Spitz-senpai? Did the two of you lost you way?"
Jun smacked him right on his head and Sawamura whimpered.
"That hurts senpai!"
"That's for being an idiot! And don't call me Spitz-senpai!"
Tetsu coughed lightly and threw Jun a pointed look. The vice-captain scowled. This brat just made him forget their purpose of being here.
Tetsu turned towards the whining pitcher. "Sawamura, your tire, you forgot to return it back. We saw it at the field just now."
Sawamura's eyes widen. "Nani?! No way! I've just retuned it before going in, that's for sure!"
Jun rolled his eyes. Well, at least the brat's not suffering from any short-term memory loss. That's a plus for Sawamura in his opinion.
"Well, we don't care. Just put it back or else one of the janitors may find it and throw it away." He said.
Sawamura's eyes got even wider if possible. His tire! His best partner! He sprinted away hurriedly, a bit in a panic mode. "Thanks for informing me, senpai, Captain!"
The two third years watched the pitcher dashed away. They looked at each other and Jun smirked.
"Well, that went easy, isn't it?"
...
Sawamura was still fuming as he hurled his tire inside the shed. That bastard Furuya, he probably stole his tire again for his late-night training and just left the tire lying around after he used it. He'll make him pay for it tomorrow.
He was just putting the tire beside the cupboard holding the torn bats when the door suddenly slammed open, making the pitcher jumped. He spun around, readying for any attack.
Miyuki, who was bringing in some balls in a cart, tilted his head to the side. "Aree, Sawamura?"
"Geh! Miyuki! What the hell are you doing here?!"
The catcher raised one of his brows. "Returning the balls after practice, obviously." He drawled. "Chris-senpai asked me to. And what about you? I thought you already took your bath?"
Sawamura about-faced. "Who cares what I do? It's my business."
Veins popping on his forehead, Miyuki dropped the cases containing the balls he was holding, and approached the first-year languidly. Looking uneasy, Sawamura tried to step back away, but Miyuki suddenly moved quicker before him, reaching towards him unexpectedly. Before Sawamura can react, Miyuki pinched the other's cheek, and pulled hard.
"You brat. What kind of attitude is that towards your senpai, huh?"
"Stoff fulleng, yo' bashtar!" Sawamura struggled, words muffled almost uncomprehendingly.
"Say let go of me, Miyuki-senpai."
"I dent waft tho'!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Again." He pinched harder.
Sawamura's eyes were already in tears, glowering towards the catcher. Miyuki inwardly gasped. What the—
That face looks strangely— erotic.
Trying to will the tightening of his stomach to ease, Miyuki pinched Sawamura's cheek harder one last time and let go, intending to leave immediately. Unexpectedly, at the same time, Sawamura tried to pull away, causing the momentum from both side to send the two of them toppling onto the ground, Sawamura ending up at the top of him. Again.
Both of them yelped in surprise.
"Ouch, ouch. That hurts…" Sawamura's whined, rubbing his head in disorientation. When he came into, he blinked, realizing his position. Wha—?
Miyuki winced. "Ugh, I've thought about it yesterday, but you're really heavy, aren't you?" He grabbed the back of his head, looking for any damage.
Sawamura flushed red and tried hurriedly to right himself, a bit alarmed, and his stomach gradually feeling queasy. Again, both of them tried to move at the same time, and his knee jabbed Miyuki right on his stomach. Hard.
Miyuki doubled-over in pain.
"Teme, stop moving! At this rate, you'll kill me before you can stand up properly! Stay still!"
Sawamura froze, halting all his movements, even his breathing. He looked down at Miyuki and gasped inwardly, realizing their faces just a breath away from each other.
Sawamura gulped. Close. They're so close.
Miyuki looked up from his muttering and found Sawamura's face mere inches from him. He sucked in his breath, heart slamming hard behind his chest. He can also feel Sawamura's thumping heart against him, both pounding resonates with each other and spreading within their bodies.
He didn't notice it earlier because he was a bit preoccupied of the pain on his stomach, but their position ended up of them being too close. So disturbingly and erotically close. So close he can feel Sawamura's breath mingling with on his own.
Miyuki stuttered a breath. "Sawa—"
Just then, an audible click echoed throughout the room, making the both of them froze, and they stared at each other blankly.
What the hell—?
...
Chapter Four: Chris' Unexpected Suggestion
End of Chapter….
A/N: Phew! Another hurdle passed… kekeke… Oh, thank you for all the reviews and comments; they were all truly very much appreciated.
And, oh yes, I planned to write chapters dedicated to the other pairings as well so look forward to them...and.. I think this is very much all I needed to say… Kakaka... I hope everyone loved this chapter... Look forward for the next one…