"You finished with whatever you were using it for?"
Ryousuke nodded and handed back the computer. "Thanks for letting me borrow it."
The second year shrugged. "I wasn't using it. Took you long enough though, you've had it for almost a month now." Setting it on his desk, he eyed the third year. "Do I at least get to know what you were using it for?"
"Just looking up something," The pink haired teen answered. Sitting on one of the bottom bunks, he asked, "How are you liking your first year?"
The short stop groaned. "He's the most obnoxious, loud, annoying first year I've ever met. He's fun to tease though, and is resilient enough for me to use my wrestling moves on."
"Are you sure you're not just getting weaker?" Kuramochi laughed and waved off the idea. "So how's ototou? You haven't left his side since he got here."
"Haruichi's fine. He just got done moving his things into my room."
"Really Ryou-san? He's not a kid, I'm sure he'll be fine if he sleeps in a different room than you. He's been fine the past two years without you." The second year knew he'd stepped on a landmine when his partner's face darkened for a moment, the smile falling from his face. "Ryou-san?"
"It's nothing Youi-chan," the third year remarked, his face returning to normal.
"Ryou-san…"
"I'll see you later Youi-chan. Thanks again for letting me borrow your computer." The short stop watched his partner leave before slumping down at the desk. Running a hand over his face, he sighed and booted up the computer.
He hated invading the third year's privacy, but the elder Kominato was acting strange, and Kuramochi had to admit he was worried. Pulling up his search history, he frowned at what he saw. 'What's Long QT Syndrome? And why was Ryou-san researching it?'
Typing it back into the search engine, he clicked on the first link, attempting to find out what his friend and partner was so upset about. Reading through the information, he swallowed as his mouth went dry. 'Does Ryou-san…or maybe it's ototou? Or maybe he found out one of his parents has it?' Shaking his head, he continued to read.
He wasn't sure how long he sat looking at everything the third year had searched, but when his first year roommate asked what he was looking at, his first reaction was to jerk his elbow back, catching Sawamura in the nose. Reeling back, the pitcher's eyes watered.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"Don't sneak up on me bakamura!" Slamming the lid shut, he swept out of the chair and pulled his idiot roommate into a headlock.
"But you were staring at the screen so seriously!"
"It's homework you idiot! If I don't keep my grades up I'm off the team. Same goes for you." He watched the first year pale at the news, as though he hadn't realized he had to get good grades.
Tossing the pitcher to the ground, he grumbled about annoying roommates and stalked outside. He needed to clear his head. Obviously either Ryou-san or someone close to him – Kuramochi's bet was on ototou with how overprotective he'd been since the first year arrived – had been diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome. From what he'd read, it wasn't a huge problem so long as it was monitored, which explained the third year forcing his little brother to share a room and the way they were practically glued together since the elder Kominato refused to let the younger one out of his sight for long.
It also explained why the coach wasn't getting mad with how frequently the younger brother was stopping to take a break during practice. He'd heard Sawamura complain how it wasn't fair that the coach was being so nice and lenient towards 'Harucchi' compared to the others. 'If only you knew,' The second year thought bitterly, 'Then you'd probably be doing the same thing as Ryou-san.'
Heading towards the vending machines to get something to drink, he was surprised to find the younger Kominato without his protective elder brother around. "This is a surprise," He commented lightly, inwardly wincing when he startled the first year. From the stuff he read, that was a bad idea. He'd have to announce himself earlier next time.
"I don't think Ryou-san's left your side since you got here." He meant it to be a joke, but the way the first year's mouth curved down and his nose scrunched slightly showed he was annoyed with his brother's constant hovering.
"I left aniki on the phone with our parents," He explained. "I told him I was thirsty."
Sliding his coins into the machine, he punched his selection and waited for it to be spit out, wondering what he should say. He'd been around the younger Kominato quite a bit, but they two hadn't really talked much. "Has Ryou-san always been this overprotective?"
"Not really."
"Oh? What changed?" Kuramochi wanted to smack himself when he saw how uncomfortable he was making the first year. "Never mind. Have you heard of the new game coming out next week?" He remembered Ryousuke mentioning his brother was big on games.
He could tell the pink haired male was grateful for the topic change by the way the corners of his mouth curved into a small smile. "I can't wait to play it. I don't think I'll get to for a while though." He must have looked confused, since the shorter teen explained, "I don't have enough money to buy it, and even if I did they'll probably be sold out by the time I'm able to go and pick up a copy."
Kuramochi grinned. "We can play it together then. I reserved a copy last time I was at the store, and already paid for it. All I have to do is go pick it up when it comes out." He swore the first year's face lit up with joy, almost like a kid at Christmas time.
"Really?"
Laughing, he ruffled the pink locks – absently wondering if Ryousuke's was that soft before violently pushing the thought down – and nodded. "Sure. It's more fun with people who can give you a challenge. No offence to your brother, but he sucks a video games."
Haruichi laughed, and Kuramochi felt proud of himself. He gulped slightly when he heard the elder Kominato's voice behind him. "Is that so?"
Turning slightly, he scratched the back of his neck. "R-Ryou-san! How long have you been there?"
"Long enough," The second baseman said evasively.
"It's true though aniki," The first year piped up, "You suck at video games." Kuramochi's feelings were mixed when Ryousuke shifted his attention to his younger brother.
He couldn't lie to himself, he knew he liked the third year. He just wasn't sure how his partner felt about him, or if his feelings were more strong admiration rather than actual like. 'I don't want to take a chance and have it blow up in my face if I'm wrong about what I feel or he doesn't feel the same way.'
Shaking his head at the thought, he wrapped his arm around the younger Kominato's shoulders. "Ototou agreed to go with me to pick up the new game coming out next week." He ignored the younger teen's surprise. "Then I'm going to show him how real men play video games."
He'd expected Ryousuke to let out a laugh, but instead it was the younger brother who snorted and whispered, "In your dreams."
"Is that a challenge I hear?" He laughed at the blush covering the first year's cheeks. He obviously hadn't meant to say that out loud. Kuramochi was surprised when the younger teen looked up at him, his bangs parting slightly to show one intense pink eye, a fire inside and a mocking smile upon his lips eerily similar to his brother's.
"Maybe."
Shivering slightly, he retracted his arm. "You're more like Ryou-san than I thought."
Before he could retort, Ryousuke cut in and pushed his brother back towards the dorms. "Alright, it's getting late. Go back and finish your homework Haruichi, I need to talk to Youi-chan for a bit." The two watched as the first year huffed, his cheeks puffing out slightly, before shuffling his way back towards his room. Only when he was gone did Ryousuke say, "You know." It wasn't a question.
"You didn't delete the search history." There was no way he could lie to his partner. "I was worried."
He watched as the third year seemed to deflate, his shoulders slumping. "Don't let Haruichi know you know until he tells you."
"I know that." Laying a hand on one of the second baseman's broad shoulders, he grinned. "However if he doesn't want people to know you should probably lay off a bit with how protective you are over him. I didn't realize you had such a huge brother compl-" He gasped for breath, knowing he deserved the punch to the gut. Watching his partner walk away, he said just loud enough for the other to hear, "I'll look after him Ryou-san."
He simply got a wave in return before the pink hair disappeared around the corner.
