Warning: SPOILER! There're some scenes from the second season of Daiya no Ace anime.
bold words: memories
Italic words: thoughts
Tenth Memory –The Unfolded Memories
"He steals the second base! The runner's now in scoring position!"
Loud cheering then filled the stadium when Todoroki successfully stole the second base with his quick running. A delighted look was seen on Todoroki's face when he realized he got the second base.
On the other hand, Kuramochi as the second baseman looked utterly surprised. The ball that Miyuki threw fell around Kuramochi's right feet and it made Kuramochi realized that Miyuki threw a ball inaccurately and that was something that Miyuki never did before.
Did he...misthrow? Kuramochi quickly turned his eyes to Miyuki and he saw a shocked face of him. Miyuki...
Sawamura who was also surprised by the Todoroki's successful steal, felt that there's something wrong with Miyuki.
Misthrow? Sawamura froze still, looking at the second base with wide eyes.
"Sawamura." Miyuki called as he approached Sawamura at the mound after he called a time out.
Sawamura turned his body and looked at Miyuki, still with his surprised eyes. Then Miyuki said in a strangely calm tone. "The runner might run again, but don't worry about that. That batter is a bigger problem."
Miyuki glanced at Sanada and Sawamura followed the gaze. Miyuki continued again. "We got a free strike. So, I want to pitch one to the inside before finishing him with a change-up. Can you do it?"
Sawamura blinked in surprise as he saw Miyuki's usual smirk on his face. So he's just fine? Then he let out a relief sigh softly before he smirked too, playfully.
"More like, can you?"
Miyuki furrowed his brows, feeling a bit confused. Sawamura smirked wide with his firm eyes. "Don't put everything on your back just because you're captain, Miyuki-senpai."
Surprised by Sawamura's words, Miyuki widened his eyes. Sawamura added again. "You can just wait behind the plate! Like a boss!" Sawamura then laughed loudly.
"So, I don't care how much of a slump you're in. I'll just throw my best pitch into your mitt every time!"
Enthralled by Sawamura's bold statement, Miyuki suddenly felt a tingling excitement and thrill inside. Damn. He really got me there. Miyuki then smiled pleasantly as he tapped Sawamura's chest with his mitt. "I'll trust your words then."
Sawamura replied with a wide smile filled with confidence and determination. Miyuki simply gave him another glance before he went back to the plate.
In secret, Miyuki couldn't keep his face from smiling so wide. The bursting amusement inside of him was almost unbearable for him to hold in. He still couldn't believe that Sawamura would notice a bit of his bad condition, though he was wrong.
A slump? That idiot, he really doesn't disappoint me. Miyuki took a glance at Sawamura. Well, I didn't want him to worry about me anyway. So if he's able to focus on pitching, there's nothing better.
The game then started again. With so many struggles from both teams, the game became an exciting and unpredictable one. Each innings went with so much anxiety and thrill from every player. But nonetheless, the game finally reached its end.
With a two-RBI hit over the second baseman, Maezono gave a chance for Seidou to turn the tide of the game. And in the last inning where Seidou was on defense, Furuya as the pitcher successfully defended Seidou's lead and cleanly closed the game.
The euphoria of winning the game filled every each one of Seidou's players. They finally got what they always wanted and what always they wished for.
The ticket to the National game.
Unfortunately, that moment of euphoria and excitement couldn't keep up so long when Miyuki was seen walking with his body drooped limply. The vice captains, Kuramochi and Maezono, immediately accompanied Miyuki to Seidou's restroom inside the stadium with the rest of players followed them behind.
Sawamura, who saw Miyuki got supported by Kuramochi as they walked at the front, couldn't help feeling that it was strange.
"Is there something wrong with Miyuki-senpai?"
"Eh?! Eijun-kun, you didn't know?" Haruichi replied with a slight surprised tone.
"What is it?"
"Miyuki-senpai was injured. Apparently it was from the game with Seikou."
"What?! You're serious?" Sawamura widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Yeah, it seems that the medic had checked him before, after the fifth inning. I also just knew it from Furuya."
Anger suddenly emerged inside of Sawamura. What the hell?! He was injured all this time?! And he didn't tell anyone about that?!
"Eijun-kun?" Haruichi asked him in a careful tone as he saw Sawamura's angered face.
"Is it so bad?" Sawamura murmured softly. "The injury..."
"Uhm, well, I don't know that much. I wasn't there too when the medic checked Miyuki-senpai."
Sawamura then fell silent. He didn't say anything even until they were inside the restroom.
Inside the restroom, Miyuki immediately sat on the chair around the corner of the room and talked with the coach and the vice captains. But then, his eyes caught the sight of Furuya, Haruichi and Sawamura talking to each other.
"Oi you two, don't forget to ice!" Miyuki shouted out loudly, trying to get their attention.
Furuya glanced at Miyuki and giving him a glare while Sawamura kept his mouth tight and didn't even give any response. Though they're all didn't respond with words, they immediately went with the preparation for icing their shoulder.
Seeing that they had started to prepare the ice, Miyuki felt slightly relaxed. However, he sensed that Sawamura was acting strange. He was quiet and looked somehow gloomy. And that's weird. So, he decided to tease Sawamura like what he usually did.
"Oi, Earth to the loud, idiot person there. Can you hear me?"
Sawamura still didn't respond.
"Ooiii! Don't tell me you got so happy that you can't even hear anything?! Ooii—"
"Shut up! I'm doing it right now!" Sawamura abruptly raised his voice.
Sawamura's loud voice suddenly brought all attentions to them. Even Furuya and Haruichi was surprised and looked at Sawamura with widened eyes.
The mood in the room suddenly became so awkward and Miyuki who was aware of that immediately broke the silence.
"Hey, chill out. What's with that, Sawamura? Did you get so exhausted?" Miyuki said with a teasing tone, trying to soften the mood.
Unfortunately, Sawamura just got more irritated. He gritted his teeth and replied back with his loud voice. "You didn't even tell us that you were hurt! You kept me out of the loop!"
Surprised by Sawamura's sudden remark, Miyuki widened his eyes and looked Sawamura in disbelief. "What? You're worried about me?"
"Tsk, do you think I won't? We're teammates right?!"
"Eijun-kun..." Haruichi approached Sawamura and tried to calm him.
"Relax, Sawamura. It's not just you who are annoyed by his dumb action today." Kuramochi abruptly said. "We all got extremely pissed off." Kuramochi sent a death glare at Miyuki.
Miyuki could only avert his eyes as he felt guilt slowly emerging inside.
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell about my injury. I also honestly thought that I was dragging the team down with my own selfishness. But I want to be useful and fight until the end. So...I..."
Miyuki paused a while before he exhaled softly. "I really am sorry."
The sound of Miyuki's voice was soft and filled with heartfelt feeling. With Miyuki's gentle eyes now staring straight at him, Sawamura could only look away and turned his back on Miyuki. He simply went back preparing the ice for his shoulder.
Knowing that Sawamura was still mad with him, Miyuki could only let out a sigh. Then Kuramochi immediately said that he would take Miyuki to the hospital. Maezono then followed them and while bickering a bit, they went out from the restroom.
The awkward, heated mood that was felt before slowly melted with each player doing their own activity. Sawamura, on the other hand, still shut his mouth tight. Though his anger wasn't as intense as before, Sawamura still felt so pissed off.
Why he always like that?! Always, always trying to keep everything by himself!
Sawamura unconsciously bit his lips hard as the tears slowly fell down from his eyes.
"Damn it!" He murmured under his breath as he tried to hide his tearful face.
In the night after the final game with Yakushi, all of members of Seidou Baseball Team from third years until first years were having a celebration party. The fact that they won the ticket to the National game, Koushien, was a joyful thing that couldn't be uncelebrated.
Until almost the midnight, the celebration party was exhilarating and delightful. Even so, there's still an awkward mood mingling inside that joyful moment. Though it was just several people who realized that, they could faintly feel that Sawamura wasn't just like his usual self.
At the party, Sawamura was still as loud as ever. But Kuramochi, Haruichi, and even Furuya realized that Sawamura and Miyuki didn't talk to each other even for a bit.
Sawamura and Miyuki usually would bicker a bit as Miyuki would tease Sawamura for his loud voice or anything like he usually did. But tonight was different. Miyuki would only sometimes talk with the second years and quietly watched other, while Sawamura kept talking loudly to anyone except Miyuki.
It appeared as if it felt normal and just like usual. But not for Kuramochi who had known their usual interaction. Kuramochi clicked his tongue, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Oi, Miyuki."
"Hm? What?"
"What are you gonna do with him?"
"Who?" Miyuki turned his gaze to Kuramochi who stood beside him.
"Tsk, it's Sawamura, you idiot." Kuramochi clicked his tongue again.
"..." Miyuki merely smirked like he usually did. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't give me that shit. You know that he's angry with you."
"That's why I'm trying not to agitate him more." Miyuki replied calmly.
"With not talking to him at all?" Kuramochi getting more irritated. "Have you forgotten how pissed off we are when we knew you're hiding that injury? And do you understand why we're so pissed off?"
Miyuki turned his gaze to the glass of juice on his hand. "I know."
"Then tell that idiot too." Kuramochi then suddenly took the glass from Miyuki's hand. "Explain everything! It's the only thing you can do for keeping secrets for your own selfishness."
Miyuki widened his eyes in surprise.
Kuramochi added again. "I don't know what happened between you two, but I knew that Sawamura was somehow worried about you these past days. He looked spacing out sometimes and strangely got this strange, pained look on his face when he saw you."
"He did?"
Kuramochi snorted sarcastically. "I'm surprised you didn't realize that."
"No, I mean...I'm aware that there's something in his mind these past days but I've never seen that pained look you said."
"Does it matter now? You and that idiot are hiding secrets to yourself and now it's time to just let that out! I'm getting irritated just by seeing both of you!" Kuramochi harshly said.
"I don't know you're so keen, Kuramochi." Miyuki smirked as he said the sarcastic comment.
"Not that I want it. Well, not for this stupid matter."
Miyuki cracked a laugh. "You're right. It's stupid, isn't it?"
"So? You're gonna talk now?"
Miyuki turned his gaze to Sawamura who was across the table. He inhaled deeply. "Yeah, it's time to tell everything."
After saying that, Miyuki slowly approached Sawamura who was talking to Furuya and Haruichi. Sawamura didn't realize of Miyuki's presence until Haruichi and Furuya turned their gaze from him.
As he followed their gaze, Sawamura found Miyuki stood in front of them.
"I've got something to say, Sawamura."
The cold night wind softly brushed their bare skin as they walked together in silence on the way to the practice ground. Miyuki walked ahead quietly while Sawamura simply followed him behind. It was only the sound of crickets and cicadas that filled the silence between the two of them.
But slowly, the silence felt suffocating and Sawamura couldn't hold it in again. He finally opened his mouth.
"What do you want to talk about?"
Hearing a sudden question, Miyuki stopped his track and turned his body. He looked at Sawamura with a straight gaze.
"Are you still mad of me?"
Sawamura turned his face away, looking slightly irritated. "You're asking me that?"
"Right, I know. If it's about my injury, I'm sorry. I didn't tell because of my own selfishness, because I want to play with you all, because I want to win the game."
"Well, it's true that you're so selfish by thinking like that. But you know what? I don't care about such things!" Sawamura suddenly raised his voice angrily.
Miyuki widened his eyes in surprise. Then Sawamura quickly added. "I don't care what the reasons you're hiding things in secret. But because I care—!"
Tears slowly appeared on Sawamura's eyes. His glistening eyes slowly let the tears falling down his reddened cheeks.
"Sawamura..."
Sawamura continued as he tried to hold the tears. "Because I care for you, that's why I'm getting so worried and anxious! I just want you to rely on other, even if it's just a bit! But you...you keep hiding things..."
Seeing the tears that kept streaming down from Sawamura's eyes, Miyuki felt his chest tightened so painfully. He didn't want to see this pained look on Sawamura. He didn't want to see any of this.
Miyuki immediately approached Sawamura so that he could wipe the tears at least. "Sawamura, calm down, please..."
"You're so unfair, Miyuki. I knew that if I probe into whatever secret you hide, you'll just run away. You'll just keep your distance...and then close your heart more than before..." Sawamura said while trying to keep his sobs.
Miyuki then wiped the tears on Sawamura's face with his both hands as he cupped Sawamura's face. He kept trying to calm Sawamura down with a soft shush.
"Sawamura, I don't really get what you meant. But whatever that is, I'm sorry. It's in my nature and sometimes I can't stop myself. I didn't mean to make you worry."
Sawamura didn't say anything for a second before he murmured softly.
"It's not just about your injury, but your headaches too. I'd asked you before if it's because of those memories or not. But you're not giving me any chances. You kept averting the subject and never tell me what really happened."
"Sawamura, if it's about that I—"
"It's fine if you don't want to tell me the reasons, but at least you can rely on me when you're hurt..." Sawamura took Miyuki's hands on his face and grabbed hard. "Tell me if it's hurting you. Tell me that's it's too much for you. Tell me...so I can be with you when you're in pain!" His voice was shaking as he said those words.
Miyuki then suddenly hugged Sawamura tight, leaving Sawamura with surprised look on his face.
"Miyu—"
"Sawamura." Miyuki softly whispered on Sawamura's right ear. His husky voice made Sawamura shivered a bit.
"I don't want to tell you because I don't want to worry you." He added. "I just want you to be like yourself. Like your loud, idiot, naïve, and cheerful self."
Hearing the unexpected reply from Miyuki, Sawamura stopped his cry. The warmth from Miyuki that spread out as they're hugging was giving him a calming sensation. Then without thinking too much, he hugged Miyuki back with a fervent grip.
"What's with those stupid names? Don't call me idiot, you idiot." A soft chuckle was heard from Sawamura while he leant his head on Miyuki's shoulder.
Miyuki couldn't help but to let out a chuckle too. "The one who said idiot is the one that idiot."
"Huh? But you said it first!" Sawamura immediately looked up at Miyuki's face and retorted back with his usual loud voice.
"Well then, we're both idiots?" Miyuki simply smirked playfully.
"What's with that question mark? You're saying that it's just me?!"
An amused laugh then escaped from Miyuki's lips. "You really are hilarious." Miyuki then caressed Sawamura's left cheek, feeling the damp skin because of the tears.
Miyuki stared straight at Sawamura's eyes in silence, looking as if he was contemplating inside. Then he opened his mouth.
"Is there something you want to know? You know, like...anything in your mind." Miyuki asked with a slight playful tone.
Sawamura widened his eyes. He's surprised by the sudden and unexpected question about what Miyuki had tried to hide so hard before. But Sawamura quickly regained his composure and gazed Miyuki back intensely.
"I don't want to force you. But if you're willing to tell me, then I'm all ears."
Miyuki then smiled gently before he released Sawamura from his hug and took Sawamura's right hand instead.
"Let's have a sit then." Miyuki pulled Sawamura to the stairs that connecting the practice field that on the lower ground than the pathway.
Without saying anything, Sawamura simply let himself be pulled and then sat beside Miyuki on the stairs. They sat in silence for a while before Miyuki finally let out a soft breath into the thin cold air.
"Let's see...what we should talk first..."
Sawamura reacted by taking a glance on Miyuki. He saw a slight conflicted look on Miyuki and felt a bit reluctant.
As I expected, it's hard to talk about the reasons behind those headaches...
After all...it's about his mother...isn't it...?
Sawamura gulped nervously. "You know, Miyuki...actually...about the strange headaches you'd been suffering lately...can you...tell me the reason behind it?"
Miyuki stared at Sawamura with a calm gaze before he replied. "The reason huh?"
He looked up at the night sky and exhaled heavily. "It's just because I'm not strong, Sawamura."
"Can you not explain it to me in codes? I mean...I don't understand."
Miyuki chuckled in response. "My bad. It's just that it's a bit hard for me to tell it."
Sawamura's face turned sad with his eyes averted its gaze down. "Those memories were behind that right? It started from that right?"
"If I have to say yes then..."
Sawamura turned to look at Miyuki with guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry...I'm the one that started this. Because I mentioned that summer! Because of—"
"It's not your fault." Miyuki immediately interjected. He faced Sawamura with a firm gaze. "It's true that I started to have those headaches because of those memories. But because I also want to know, understand, and remember what really happened three years ago in the summer that I've long forgotten."
Then he added. "I've realized that there's something I'd tried to bury deep inside my mind in the summer three years ago when I suddenly had headache just by trying to remember any kind of memory of that summer. Of course at first, I didn't really know what that is. But gradually I got a clear picture of what had happened in summer three years ago."
"And now you know?"
Miyuki sighed heavily with a smile on his face. "Yeah...I finally understand."
The answer instantly made tears slowly reappeared on Sawamura's eyes again. He knew that it meant that Miyuki had perfectly remembered his mother death and the cause of it. He couldn't imagine how pain it was to remember something that you've been trying to forget for all of this time.
With his voice shaking, Sawamura said in teary eyes. "All...of it? About how your mother died too?"
Miyuki's eyes widened instantly. "You knew?"
"I'm sorry...I asked Takashima-sensei." Sawamura replied with his head bending for forgiveness. "I was so curious and worried. I meant to help if I knew the reason behind it, but..."
Miyuki smiled as he ruffled Sawamura's soft hair. "It's fine. I should've known that you're so stubborn to the point that it's annoying." He said with a teasing tone, trying to lighten Sawamura's mood.
Then he continued again. "Even until now, the fact that my mother died because she was trying to protect me still bothered me a lot. I felt so guilty and I hated myself."
Miyuki flashed a smile. "But now...I understand that because I only tried to bear the pain not to overcome it, that's why I eventually forgot that accident as time grows. I know now that I had to accept it and tried to forgive myself."
Sawamura could only bit his lips, feeling frustrated by himself. He fully realized that there's nothing he could do for Miyuki.
"And so...the reason why you sometimes spaced out before was because you knew my past? Because you're feeling guilty? Or maybe pitying me?" Miyuki added.
"Wha—?! Pity?!" Sawamura retorted quick. "No! I never— I was lost at what to do after knowing that! I don't know how to help you."
Miyuki flashed a gentle smile. "You don't have to, Sawamura." He patted Sawamura's head lightly. "Like I said before, just be yourself. It's enough for me."
Sawamura lost his words. He didn't know whether he should feel happiness or sadness for hearing those words. He bent his head down in reflex.
Seeing Sawamura shut his mouth tight as he looked sad and dejected, Miyuki sighed softly.
It seems that he doesn't understand the meaning behind my words huh? Not to mention, I've said it twice.
He sighed again, heavily. Well, he's an idiot after all...
"Sawamura, look at me."
Responding to those words, Sawamura slowly turned his eyes up. And after their gaze met, Miyuki smirked wide.
"I still haven't yet remembered the summer that we'd spent together three years ago. Well, not so clear. So when I've remembered it all, let's talk about it all. I want to remember it slowly with you."
Sawamura looked at Miyuki with a blank look. "And you're okay with that?"
"Well, I'd remembered the accident, the cause that blocked my memories. So it's time to remember the rest." Miyuki smirked so confidently with his strong and firm gaze.
Sawamura chuckled lightly, seeing Miyuki's usual cheeky smirk. "Yeah, it'll be fun."
Many days passed after the final game with Yakushi. Lot of things happened and after the winter training camp was over, the awaited winter break finally came. And in the first day of the break, all of the members of Seidou baseball team had already prepared themselves to go back to their family.
As the one that had to travel plenty far for coming back home, Sawamura had already readied himself since early in the morning. With refreshed feeling for the winter break, he joyfully packed everything he needed to come home.
"Oi, Sawamura. What time do you leave for the train?" Kuramochi asked with a big packed bag hanging on his shoulder. He looked like he was readied to go home anytime.
"Around eleven, I think." Sawamura replied with an energized voice and wide smile.
"Heeh. Do you have anything to do after this?"
"Um, well..." Sawamura scratched his neck, feeling unsure to tell the promise he had made before...
"Sawamura, can you spare me a few hours before you go home tomorrow?" Miyuki abruptly asked.
Sawamura turned back and faced Miyuki with a curious gaze. "Why? Don't tell me you..." He paused as he lowered his head.
Miyuki frowned, feeling puzzled. "...Sawamura?"
"You want to catch my pitch for the last time?!" Sawamura abruptly said in a loud, excited voice and sparkling eyes.
"That's not it!" Miyuki instantly retorted back.
"Eh? That's not it?" Sawamura blinked in surprise. "Then what?"
Miyuki looked restless and scratched his head, looking strangely hesitant. And Sawamura simply stared in silence with a confused gaze.
"Well...I want to..." A light blush was seen on Miyuki's face as he looked so hesitant. "I want to...ask..."
"What is it? Please speak clearly!" Sawamura prompted, feeling impatient.
Miyuki then inhaled deeply before he finally said, in a loud and with smirk on his face. "Let's have a date, Sawamura!"
Sawamura blinked thrice while his face was blank in shock. Then his eyes widened in an instant. "D-d-d-date?!"
Miyuki just kept smirking, although it was clearly shown that he was extremely nervous. On the other hand, Sawamura was left in bewilderment. He still couldn't believe what he had heard but with his mind fully understood what that meant, his face slowly became red.
"D-d-date...you mean that kind of c-c-couple thing?!" Sawamura stuttered with his shaky, nervous voice.
"Well, is there any different meaning of that?" Miyuki replied in a casual tone.
"W-why? Why do you want to—"
"Do you want to or not?" Miyuki suddenly interjected. He looked straight at Sawamura's eyes with serious look on his face.
"Eh?!" Sawamura's eyes wandered everywhere. He looked extremely perplexed. "Ah...uhm...I..."
"You don't want to?" Miyuki asked again.
"N-no! I didn't say that I don't want. It's just that—"
"Then I'll wait on the school's gate at nine tomorrow." Miyuki immediately said as he approached Sawamura and patted his head. "Make sure you're not late."
Miyuki then left without any glances after he flashed a gentle smile, not his usual smirk. Sawamura could only stand still, speechless and shocked...
Recalling the last night's event made Sawamura's face slowly turned to a red one. He still couldn't understand why Miyuki asked that, but he simply tried to think that it might have a different meaning.
It can't be meant that kind of d-d-date right? Sawamura was panicked inside of his mind. It's just a hangout! Right! Moreover I'm a guy, so it's not like that!
"Yeah! It's just a simple hangout between senpai and kouhai! Ahahahahahaha!" Sawamura abruptly burst into laughter.
"What's wrong with you suddenly?" Kuramochi looked at Sawamura with a questioning glare.
"Then Kuramochi-senpai will be going now?" Still with airheaded look on his face, Sawamura asked.
"Of course, I won't spare any minutes in here. It's our long time break after that hell." Kuramochi trembled in fear, remembering the winter camp.
"Then, have a safe trip, Mochi-senpai! And Happy New Year!" Sawamura smiled wide.
"Yeah, you too. Don't too slack off, Bakamura." Kuramochi then left after he said that.
Sawamura simply gave Kuramochi a wide smile until he was left. But then, with a silence now filled the air inside the room, Sawamura couldn't help feeling more embarrassed and nervous.
I-it's almost nine! I've to go now!
Sawamura then quickly wore his blue parka and his light grey scarf before he went out of the room. Every step, Sawamura carefully looked around so that he wouldn't meet with anyone in the team.
I can't let anyone saw me go with Miyuki-senpai! Or they'll make fun of us!
Sawamura was walking fast with half of his face covered by his scarf and his eyes kept wandering restlessly. That sight of him, without him knowing, was seen by Miyuki who already waiting near the school's gate.
With a frown on his face, Miyuki could only sigh as he murmured under his breath. "What is he doing?"
Then their eyes met and Sawamura fastened his pace. After they stood face by face, Sawamura forced a smile awkwardly.
"It's cold, isn't it?" He said after he saw Miyuki also wearing a brown parka with black scarf folded around his neck tightly.
Miyuki stared in silence before he flashed a smirk. "Are you nervous, Sawamura? Your face is red, you know."
"W-what?! No! it's b-because I'm cold!" Sawamura's eyes turned into cat eyes. He quickly changed the subject with stuttered voice. "Anyway...w-what exactly you want to do by doing this? It can't be just walking around aimlessly, right?"
Miyuki simply smirked wider. "That's a secret, of course."
"H-huh?!" Sawamura blinked in surprise. He instantly felt a bit annoyed. "Wait! I've got more important thing to do rather than to just follow your whims!"
"Geez, would you shut up for a while?" Miyuki then suddenly took Sawamura's hand and walked fast.
"Hey, wait! Where're you going?" Sawamura tried to resist. But it just made Miyuki gripped his hand tighter. The warmth that he felt from Miyuki's hand, made his heart beat louder and faster. He felt more embarrassed, but even so, Sawamura let himself be pulled and gripped back Miyuki's hand.
It won't hurt if it's just once in a while, right? He secretly smiled behind his scarf. Though it was embarrassing for two guys to walk hand in hand like that, but Sawamura couldn't help feeling content. Not to mention that it was hard for him as he always tried to keep his feeling hidden when they're just only teammates.
But after a while, Sawamura started to feel awkward with the silence around them. He decided to start talking or he would just feel too conscious with the warmth that he felt from Miyuki's hand.
Sawamura softly coughed. "Can you tell me where we'll be going?"
Catching the question, Miyuki took a glance and smirked. "We're going to a park. I had a dream that had something to do with park on that summer."
"That summer?! Is it about your mother again?" Sawamura looked at Miyuki worriedly. He instantly remembered that Miyuki was suffering from having those dreadful memories coming back without him wanting it.
Miyuki then gently smiled but quickly turned his face back. "No, it's different. I don't know if it's because I've remembered all about that accident or not, but I started to have dreams about that summer when we first met."
Sawamura could only stare with an anxious gaze. He still didn't know if he should be happy or not. After all, those memories had given Miyuki hard times too.
Seeing that Sawamura fell in silence and looked so dejected, Miyuki then stopped his steps. He let go of Sawamura's hand and abruptly ruffled Sawamura's soft hair with his both hands.
Sawamura was surprised in response. "W-what?! What are you—"
"The dream that I saw was about you and me playing catch ball together in an empty field of some kind of park. I remembered the trees, the flowers, and even the grass." He suddenly said and flashed a gentle smile unwittingly. "I remembered how excited I was when I played with you, Sawamura."
Sawamura's eyes suddenly became teary as he recalled that memory too. He perfectly remembered that it was the trigger that made he came to like baseball more than just children's game. And it was all thanks to Miyuki who made that all happened.
Feeling his chest tightened painfully, Sawamura turned his gaze down and forced a smile. "So you remembered that huh?" His voice was a bit quivering. "Is that why you want to go to a park?"
"Well, that's too. But it's not all of it."
Sawamura turned his gaze up, feeling confused. Miyuki then pulled up a playful smirk. "I'd said it, hadn't I? It's a date, Sawamura."
Sawamura's eyes immediately widened in surprised. He didn't think that Miyuki would bring that up now.
"D-don't joke with me!" Sawamura yelled out angrily as he got flustered by Miyuki's remark. His face slowly turned into red. Then he immediately smacked Miyuki's hands off from his head and walked ahead fast.
But after a few steps, Sawamura turned back and shouted again with his red face. "Whatever it is, please do it quickly! I've got to go back before eleven!" Then he turned back again and left with stomping steps.
Miyuki simply pulled his lips up into a satisfied smirk. He knew that Sawamura got too conscious of him and was embarrassed because of that.
This is fun. I can get addicted with this.
After that, he quickly caught up with Sawamura and spent his time teasing Sawamura along their way to their destination.
"So this is the place?" Sawamura asked while his eyes scanning around the area.
After taking a bus and walked for five minutes, they finally arrived at the park where Miyuki wanted to visit. The park was in a suburb area and it was a rather large one. There are a lot of maple trees around and bushes covered by snow, grew on the roadside.
Miyuki looked at the surrounding too before he turned his gaze on Sawamura. "Does it kind of resemble the one near your neighbourhood?"
With his eyes still looking around, Sawamura replied. "Yeah, kind of. But there's not many maple trees like this."
"Really?" Miyuki raised his brows confusedly. "That's strange...I kind of remember that a sight of a big maple tree..."
"Hmmm...I think there's a few around the outer area of the park. I only remember that sometimes I slept under trees around the outer area when I was a child, since it's quieter than the ones near the park's road." Sawamura explained.
"You...slept under a tree?" Miyuki asked in attentive tone. He looked like something in his mind that bothered him after he mentioned a big maple tree before.
Sawamura nodded in reply. "I sometimes did that when I couldn't stand the summer heat. It felt relaxing and cool, you know."
Miyuki then turned his face away and looked at the maple trees around the roadside. Suddenly, a flash of image popped inside his head.
"Humph! If you know that I'm just sleeping, you don't have to wake me up. And you didn't answer my question!"
Miyuki's eyes got widened in an instant. That was Sawamura, wasn't it? He immediately turned to look Sawamura with a surprised face.
Sawamura got a bit surprised with a sudden stare from Miyuki and he asked curiously. "Miyuki?"
"I'm Sawamura Eijun, remember that!"
Another image popped out again and those were all Sawamura when he was still a child. Though he had many of memories of young Sawamura and him coming back before, strangely, he felt that memory was something more precious than the ones before. He could feel his heart stirred up without him understanding anything.
What is it? It feels so dear and important to me...
"Miyuki, what happened? Why are you being so quiet suddenly?" Sawamura suddenly asked. He could slowly sense there's something wrong with Miyuki after he talked about maple tree.
Is there something wrong with the tree? Why is he...
Sawamura tried to recall the memories of that summer three years ago. Then surprisingly, he remembered something out of the blue. Don't tell me...
"Miyuki, are you talking about when we met for the first time under some tree? When you suddenly woke me up from my nap?"
Miyuki instantly turned his face to Sawamura and stared him blankly. He deeply gazed at Sawamura's face before bit by bit pieces of images came into his mind...
"Haah...what should I do in the remaining time while I'm here..." I sighed, feeling extremely bored. I kept strolling around a quite wide park on the neighbourhood where my mother distant relative's house was.
I looked around the park and found some of big trees around the outer area of the park near the main road.
"Looks like it's nice place to rest."
I immediately walked to nearest tree. But as I slowly neared that tree, I realized that there's someone already resting under the tree. Knowing that, I sighed wearily. I had no choice but to search another place to rest.
But then, my curiosity won over me. I felt a slight interest to a person that had the same intention like me and decided to take a peek. I carefully and silently approached that person.
And when I had stood beside that sleeping person, I realized that he was a child.
"I thought he was a girl..." I squatted down to look on that child face closer. "He has a rather cute face even though he's a guy...How misleading..."
Feeling strangely fascinated with him, I kept staring on his face and watched him softly breathing. But then suddenly, that child stirred slightly and mumbled something.
"...ice...cream..."
I was surprised by the words that came out from that child's mouth. I chuckled lightly in response. "What's that? Ice cream? Is he dreaming about eating that now?"
"...hmmm...delicious..." He mumbled again and flashed an innocent, happy smile before he fell asleep deeply again.
The sight of that child's smile somehow tugged my heart. I felt strangely captivated by that innocent smile and I could feel that my heart gradually beat faster. Feeling puzzled by that unknown feeling, I unwittingly yelled out to that child.
"Oi, wake up! Do you hear me? Wake up!" I kept yelling on that child. I knew it myself that it was rude and weird to just wake and disturb someone from his sleep, moreover if it's a stranger. But I wanted to just rid of the peculiar feeling I got from that child and acted without thinking.
Then after a while, that child's eyes slowly opened, showing his big, round brown orbs. In just a moment, those brown eyes looked somehow mesmerizing and beautiful in my eyes. I shivered as I stared straight on those eyes.
But as soon as that child's eyes recognized me, those brown orbs instantly went wide. "Wha?! Who are you?!" He immediately rose up and backed away a bit.
Understanding fully of that child's surprised act, I could only grinned widely as I tried to look friendly as I could.
"I thought I found a dead person but it's only a kid sleeping so peacefully. I'm about to call ambulance if you don't wake up, you know." I tried to come up with a reason but without me realizing it, I uttered some kind of teasing remark and snickered.
That child raised a brow in displease. "Humph! If you know that I'm just sleeping, you don't have to wake me up. And you didn't answer my question!"
That child's eyes now glared angrily at me. But funnily, I felt it was rather cute. I could feel my grin went too wide as I could feel satisfaction fill me inside. Then I simply leant on the tree and replied casually. "Yea, yea, I heard you."
I kept my gaze on that child and decided to just introduce myself. "I'm Miyuki Kazuya, kid. And you?"
"Hey! You're a kid too!" That child immediately retorted back in a loud, angry voice. His face looked slightly flushed in anger. Feeling fascinated, I was just staring at that child.
Then he huffed angrily before he said his name. "I'm Sawamura Eijun, remember that!"
Satisfied by his reply, I grinned widely once more and teased him more. "I'll try, kid."
That child named Sawamura Eijun, simply got angrier than before. He was about to something again before I interrupted him.
"Hey, can you play baseball?"
"Miyuki! Oi, Miyuki!" Sawamura kept calling out Miyuki's name as he saw Miyuki stared at him dazedly and without moving at all.
He clicked his tongue, feeling a bit irritated. "Damn, can't he hear me? Oi, four-eyes! Leader in-training! Baka—!"
"Oi, who's you called stupid?" Miyuki flicked Sawamura's forehead suddenly. He had regained his sense back after recalling the memory that he felt so precious. He quickly composed himself and took in everything from the memory that he recalled.
So that's all it was about... Miyuki inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.
"Geez, what's wrong with you? You went blank and quiet all of a sudden. I'm getting worried, you know!" Sawamura huffed angrily with glaring eyes.
Miyuki simply stared in silence before he smiled so contently and ruffled Sawamura's hair. "It's the same glare." He murmured under his breath.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, it's just that it's fascinating to know that this idiotic face..." Miyuki suddenly pinched Sawamura's cheek. "And these eyes that made me fell over and over. How irritating." Miyuki smiled pleasingly as he pinched Sawamura's cheek harder.
"Hey! Ouch! It hurts!" Sawamura cried out loudly in pain while trying to pull Miyuki's hand from his cheek.
But then, Miyuki suddenly caressed Sawamura's reddened cheek in a gentle touch. The touch made Sawamura utterly surprised and stared blankly at Miyuki's eyes.
"Miyu...ki?"
Miyuki then replied with a gentle smile before he said in his soft, husky voice. "Do you know, Sawamura...From the first time I saw you, I found you strange and funny. There's something in you that always make me want to let down my guard. It was so weird, but strangely enough, I never hate that."
"What are you trying to—"
Miyuki added again. "It's strange and I'd tried to ignore it, but it keeps growing every each day and I had no choice but to accept it..." Miyuki flashed a smile again, a quite sad one. "If only I knew that it wasn't the first time I felt this..."
"Hey, I don't understand anything. Can you just talk in a simpler way?" Sawamura took Miyuki's hand on his cheek and grabbed it hard.
Miyuki simply kept his smile before he took Sawamura's hand instead and looked straight at Sawamura's eyes.
"Sawamura Eijun." He inhaled softly. "I like you."