Chapter 13: Thoughts and Tears
"Uhm, Rei-chan?" Miyuki twitched a smile, looking at his assistant coach, and then to the two strangers right in front of the entrance dorm.
Miyuki just had his dinner done before heading back to the entrance dorm to wait for Eijun while the rest would follow suit when Rei called him to greet someone at the entrance. Thinking it was finally Eijun, he happily went with her only to find an orange-haired and dark-haired both wearing a pair of jeans, matching sweatshirts, and masks to conceal themselves, waiting for them.
He had seen these two on the television, heard about them from the girl managers. The shorter player was the first one who greeted Miyuki, eyes beaming at him, and Miyuki could tell he was smiling underneath the mask.
"Hello there! I'm Hinata Shoyo, Eijun's friend!"
"Miyuki-"
"Miyuki Kazuya, right?" Hinata cuts him off. The corner of his eyes formed a dimple. "I've heard all about you from Eijun!"
"He did, huh?" Miyuki said faintly. "All the bad things, I assume?"
"Ohhh, even better." Hinata giggled. Miyuki was about to question that when his taller companion came close and introduced himself.
"Kageyama Tobio," Was all he said. Miyuki was sure Kageyama was glaring down at him.
"Smile!" Hinata elbowed him. Kageyama didn't even so much as flinch. "You're scaring him."
"But I'm not even doing anything to scare him?"
"Exactly! Anyone would feel intimidated by your natural scowling face. Now smile! This is Eijun's team captain we're meeting. Do you want me to tell him what you've done to his precious captain?"
Kageyama rolled his eyes, and Rei and Miyuki swore Kageyama cursed under his breath but he relented.
"Nice to meet you." Kageyama moved his lips, skewed.
"Nice to meet you too, Kageyama-san." Miyuki nodded and glanced at Hinata who was staring at him, almost observing his every move. He was taken aback when Hinata said he was Eijun's 'precious' captain. He hid himself not to smile.
"Suga-kun explained everything to me, Hinata-kun. I've already talked to the coach about it, and he allowed it. Still, the condition is for Sawamura-kun not to overwork himself," She looked at Miyuki with worried eyes before she continued, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience that had occurred earlier."
"It should've been us who should apologize, Takashima-san!" Hinata bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle. "We were there, but we didn't even notice it."
"How is he?" Rei asked. Her maternal instincts kicked in, surprising Miyuki.
'What are they talking about?' Miyuki raised a brow.
"He's all good. We managed to convince him it's a serious injury so that he won't be too reckless again," Hinata sighed. It's for the best, Eijun.
'Injury?!' Miyuki widened his eyes.
"I'm surprised Sawamura-kun believed everything. He's always the most energetic player on the team." Rei giggled. Scraped knees are a common thing in baseball. She remembered Tanba having one like Eijun's. Skin opened and whatnot. That didn't stop him from practicing right after.
"That's because the doctor was convincing. And us, of course." Hinata nodded triumphantly. "But it helped when everyone was really worried for him."
"You guys are too much when it comes to him," Rei smiled, fixing up her glasses.
"Nothing's too much when it comes to Eijun," Kageyama said matter-of-fact.
Miyuki blinked. So it was true that these guys treasure Eijun. How, despite the intimidating aura, Kageyama spoke fondly of Eijun. And here, Miyuki thought he'd be an awkward tall guy like Furuya.
"What are you guys talking about?" Miyuki turned to Rei. "Did Sawamura get himself injured? Since when?"
"Miyuki-kun…"
"Oi Miyuki!" Kuramochi called from behind, a bat resting on his shoulder. "That idiot still not here-what?"
Kuramochi looked at the two individuals like how Miyuki did the first time he saw them, too. Miyuki could see the others making their way here, and oh boy.
Hinata gasped when he saw Kuramochi and ran towards him. If it weren't for Kuramochi's strong self-control, he would've hit the poor guy with his bat before anything else. Hinata stood right in front of him with his hair fluffed up like the sun.
Hinata beamed at him, his sharp iris landed on Kuramochi's, and the ex-delinquent blinked, mouth wide open.
'So bright. The hell?' Kuramochi rubbed his eyes with his free hand.
"You're… cheetah, right? Kuramochi-cheetah-senpai!" Hinata grinned. Kuramochi stared at his friend a few meters away from Hinata, only for the captain to shake his head and shrugged, and then went back to look at Hinata. "I heard all about you from Eijun! Hey, is it true your ancestors used to have pet cheetahs? How fast are you, exactly?"
Ugh.
"Uhm," Kuramochi started, still confused in all of these.
"Yo, Kuramochi! What are you standing there for...?" Zono trailed off when he saw Hinata and then one by one, the rest of the team saw them. Kageyama only did what he knew best: smiling at Eijun's teammates. Hinata praised him for trying.
Now that everything was settled, Rei went back from the start for the rest of the Seidou team to understand:
Kageyama and Hinata, Eijun's childhood friends and pro volleyball players are here to wait for the arrival of Eijun as it was their plan with the rest of the Karasuno team. They got to leave early, much to the opposition of the Adlers and the Black Jackals. They all wanted to come as well, but they couldn't say anything once Hinata explained to them that it was the Karasuno's turn to have a reunion with Eijun. Hinata stared at them with puppy dog eyes, and they finally relented. Eijun's not the only one they're weak for.
"I know it's a huge favor to ask this out of the blue, Takashima-san," Kageyama fiddled the drink given to them by the girl managers, which after they handed it to him, they were all over the moon.
They let them in their dining hall. They took off their masks to reveal their full features. Hinata, as expected by everyone the moment they met him, was precisely what they'd imagine: Good-looking, angelic, even looked better in person than in the television. Kageyama was rough on the exterior, but no one can deny that's he's handsome with that sleek dark hair of his. Both were celebrities in the sports world, and they couldn't believe such people were in their building. "But I hope you would allow this chance for Eijun as well."
"It would be our pleasure, Kageyama-kun. Kataoka already asked the staff for the preparation as we speak. It's the least we can do to thank our donor from last year."
"Oh, you knew that?" Kageyama turned red and looked down. "Did, did Eijun tell you that?"
"You wore the same thing when you came here to donate those drinks, Kageyama-kun," Rei said, recalling that monstrous amount of drinks that was too much even for members reaching over a hundred. They had to give some to the other sports clubs. She remembered a group of tall-looking individuals squirming at the bleachers, wearing shades, masks, and sweatshirts as if they were hiding their true identity or even hiding from someone.
Kageyama groaned in embarrassment, and Hinata gave him a pat on the back, saying, "Kageyama, don't mind!" Only for Kageyama to claw his hair out.
Making Eijun play again made Miyuki hesitant, however. He wasn't that knowledgeable about volleyball, but seeing the way Eijun swung his arms over and over again, wouldn't that strain him too much? Besides, they want to play again when he arrives? After all that swinging and hitting the ball, you'd think these pros would rest for the rest of the night.
"Pardon me," Miyuki cleared his throat. "I understand you wanted to play volleyball again, but wouldn't it strain your arm for using it too much? I think it's okay if you all play, that's fine by me, but I'm worried about Sawamura's arm. He's our pitcher, and as a catcher, I have to look out for his well-being to ensure his arm is in good condition."
The freak duo stared at one another and then at Miyuki.
"Wow, first time hearing Miyuki so…" Zono trailed off, looking for the right words to say.
"Soft? Worried?" Kuramochi finished him off.
"Concerned."
Kuramochi shrugged. It's obvious. So obvious. Why couldn't the people in the room see it? Screw the catcher-reasoning; He's worried for Eijun. Period.
"Are you sure you care for Eijun as a catcher?" Hinata grinned like a Cheshire cat. Kuramochi was impressed by how straightforward, and observant Hinata was because, really, wow.
Miyuki's throat went dry, and luckily his hands were tucked over his pockets for others not to see how tightly he clenched his fists.
"Of course," he said, smiling that didn't reach his eyes. "What else is there?"
'Wrong answer, idiot captain.' Kuramochi glowered at him with such intensity.
Hinata hummed, then shook his head and crossed his arms around his chest. "Volleyball is different. Unlike pitchers who need to rest a day or two, a wing spiker can easily rest his arm after a few minutes and go up about again. In Nationals, the matches were held in 5 days. The third day is what we considered the 'three-day-hell' because the 3rd match and the quarterfinals are held on the same day."
The baseball guys were wide-shocked. Sure, Miyuki would love nothing more than to have matches every day, but pitchers need to rest was deemed important for the team. But he couldn't imagine the 3rd match and quarterfinals held on the same day in a baseball game unless you switch members.
"You guys switch members every day?" Miyuki asked exactly what he was thinking.
"Nope. The regulars play unless they're having an off day that day." Hinata smiled. Miyuki whistled, impressed. "Eijun's used to this kind of thing in volleyball back in middle school. Muscle memory, if you'd like to call it. He can be a handful sometimes but he knows his limits as a pitcher. He even asked us to put arm sleeves and tapes on his fingers to protect himself."
"Don't worry about him straining his arms. Two of our friends are a physical therapist and a sports trainer, and they'll know what's up if something bad happens to him," Kageyama said. "Hopefully, nothing will because he's going to get it once he gets hurt again."
Again. Kageyama probably meant when Eijun got hit by a ball, Miyuki thought. Now that was a sight to be seen. Seriously, how does Eijun get to be friends with such unique people? What's next? One of them is a cop?
"Excuse me, but is it true that Sawamura-senpai's a genius volleyball player?" Yui spoke up from behind, staring at Hinata and holding an odd admiration to the orange-haired. Kageyama jumped up and looked for the person who had asked that. Yui came forward and introduced himself.
"Yui Kaoru?" Kageyama glanced at Hinata, who looked so adorably clueless on how similar he and Yui sound like. Yui's short, too, same as how Hinata was back in his first year. He then cleared his throat. "You're asking us whether it's true he's a genius like what everyone is calling him?"
Yui nodded. Miyuki wanted to hear it from the ones who really taught Eijun how to play volleyball. Their insights, their opinions of Eijun as a volleyball player.
"Everyone considers him to be gifted in volleyball. Same as how people considers you, Miyuki Kazuya, gifted in baseball," Hinata said, his chin resting on his palm and winked at him. Miyuki gave him a wry smile, unsure how to react to that. "Let's just say it like that."
He gave them a vague answer. No, he's giving them the benefit of the doubt; making them find the answer themselves.
"Then, if he's good in volleyball, how come he chose baseball?" Miyuki blurted out. It wasn't his intention. He never even thought about it. It just got out of his mouth even before it reached his brain.
"I think that's a question that you should ask Eijun, Miyuki Kazuya~" Hinata twirled around his finger and stared at Miyuki for a very long time, and then he giggled. He didn't know Miyuki would be this handsome.
'Way to go, Eijun!' He snickered, earning him a kick in the shin by Kageyama underneath the table. He turned towards him, glaring and holding out not to yell in front of the kids. 'What the hell, Kageyama?' he mouthed.
"Why do you keep on staring at this Miyuki-kid? And why are you calling him in his full name? You never do that to me."
Hinata rolled his eyes and grabbed his boyfriend's hand and started massaging it. It's cute that he gets jealous from time to time.
"You guys are free to join us, by the way," Hinata turned to the group in front of them, ignoring the heavy glares Kageyama was giving him as he continued massaging Kageyama's knuckles. "To watch us play with Eijun in your school gym, that is."
"Is that alright with you? I thought it was a reunion game for you all." Rei said, picking up the apparent willingness of the team to watch Eijun play.
"Of course! Volleyball is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what sport they play. Plus, I think it's better to see him play volleyball personally than watching it on the television, right? Kinoshita-san told me how you guys exchanged LINE for them to send you guys pictures of Eijun when he's playing. " Hinata smiled teasingly, looking at Miyuki again.
He heard everything from Kinoshita how Miyuki asked sincerely to send pictures of Eijun only for Kuramochi's phone to be used in the end. Kageyama might be dense in this kind of thing, but it was obvious as day on how much Miyuki liked Eijun and vice versa. Hinata couldn't be happier for Eijun. "I have more pictures of Eijun when he was with us in the morning. I even have a video when we told him that he's going to play volleyball. It's the most adorable Eijun I've ever seen."
"Hinata," Kageyama said, his protectiveness towards Eijun was showing. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Playing cupid," Hinata winked and then turned to Miyuki, who was sweating for some reason. "So Miyuki, the main catcher and the team captain of the famous Seidou High, would you like to watch our dear Eijun play volleyball again? I'll let you see his photos and video after we play."
Miyuki swallowed deep, his adam's apple bopped. Only Kuramochi knew his feelings towards Eijun but this guy, this Hinata Shoyo. It looked like he had an inkling of it for some time now because every time Eijun was mentioned, Hinata always looked at Miyuki. Always. Was it that obvious?
He sighed. The team has been waiting for Eijun since they found out he wasn't here. Eijun. Sawamura Eijun. He missed seeing that face of his, and it's only been a few hours since he wasn't here.
'Hours of hell,' Miyuki corrected himself. And if Eijun were to play volleyball again, does that mean Miyuki's going to see him wear that volleyball shorts again? Seeing those toned thighs of Eijun's? How it flex every time he moves? Miyuki licked his lips, and a grin appeared.
Kuramochi wanted to kick him in the ass again. No, wanted to lock him in his room while Kuramochi and the rest would watch Eijun play. Yeah, that would be better.
"I guess it won't hurt how our little pitcher plays. Want to see if it's the real thing," Miyuki grinned, fixing up his glasses as he looked back at his teammates. "So? What do you think?"
"Real thing? Were you not convinced that guy's been diving and jumping like a grasshopper in the court?" Kuramochi snorted, laughing at his own imagination of Eijun being a grasshopper.
"I just want to make sure it wasn't those CGI, you know? Or Sawamura just got lucky back there," Miyuki smirked. Kageyama glared for real this time at him while Hinata cupped his hands on his mouth, holding back a laughter.
"I like this Miyuki Kazuya, Tobio!" Hinata whispered.
And that made Kageyama's glare even deadlier.
"I'd like to see Eijun-kun play," Haruichi clasped his hand, poking Furuya right after. "What about you, Furuya-kun?"
"I'm more interested in how does an ace work in volleyball," Furuya bluntly said, and everyone agreed.
"I'll ask Kataoka if he'd also like to watch then," Rei happily stated. "When will they arrive?"
Hinata blinked and took out his phone. He was expecting a text from either of the Karasunos in their group chat. He opened his messages, and a smile crept upon him. It seemed like Hinata was distracted that he didn't feel the messages popping out 15 minutes ago.
"They're already starting," Hinata closed his phone and stood up. He hit Kageyama in the head when he didn't stop glaring at Miyuki. "And Eijun's the referee."
"Touch-net! Hey, Kei-san! It's a touch-net!" Eijun yelled, holding a whistle in his hand and pointing at Tsukishima with his free hand. "Yacchan! A point for Team B, if you please!"
Hitoka giggled and flipped the scoreboard.
"Set point for Team B! One more for Team B!"
"Such a loud referee." Tsukishima groaned.
"Play!" Eijun whistled.
He watched them play. It's a 5v5 game. His eyes were in deep focus as if he were the one playing with them. Single sound, double. Various sounds, the movement of the ball-he was in deep concentration.
Team B won when Asahi poured out his full power to the ball and quickly overpowered the blockers.
Eijun whistled loudly than usual that it echoed the entire gymnasium.
"Line up!"
They've been at it in the past 10 minutes since they've arrived. Eijun volunteered to be the referee as he didn't want to move much because of his knee. Admittingly, he wanted to play, but for his own sake, he shouldn't. Just seeing everyone play was enough for Eijun. This fleeting time goes by.
He decided to step outside for a minute and enjoy the night breeze when everyone decided for a break. He had never been to the gym at night, so it was a new experience for Eijun. The facilities for the volleyball team were in great shape, and it seemed like the volleyball team was out in their joint training with different teams, same as how the Karasuno team did with the Tokyo teams back then.
He felt something on his hand, only for him to realize he had his signed volleyball with him all along. He bit his lips and started to bounce the ball on his arms. He could hear the Karasuno team's laughter inside, could listen to Nishinoya praising Asahi during their match, could hear Tanaka's story back in high school, and everyone just started to add up to their recollection. And Eijun continued bouncing the ball.
Playing volleyball when he's here in school. Was that okay? Truth be told, he's afraid on what the team will think of him once they'd ask him about it. He doesn't want them to hate him. His guilt back in middle school haunts him once again, and Eijun bounced the ball a little too high.
"Something on your mind, Ei?" a familiar voice approached from behind, and Eijun flinched. He caught the ball before it hit his head and he held it around his arms.
They could hear insects making sound, and the fainting laughter inside.
"What," Eijun breathes in when he turned to the voice, facing him . "What did my teammates say or react when they found out I used to play volleyball, Daichi-nii?"
"Surprised, shocked. They couldn't believe it. They couldn't see you more than just a baseball player, after all," Daichi chuckled.
"Were they mad?"
"What do you mean?"
"Were they mad that I used to play a different sport?" It might be Daichi's imagination, but it sounded like Eijun's voice was different than usual. Soft, fragile, cracked, even. "Were they disappointed in me when they found out I had other interests than baseball?"
"No. No, they weren't. They know you might have a reason not to tell them, and it's not like they have the right to know anyway," Daichi shook his head. Beneath the full moon, Daichi sees nothing but his little cousin, curling back, holding the ball around his chest, his eyes were glassy. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"I know how pissed I was to you guys when you told them about my past, but I hate how grateful I am that you did tell them. That it wasn't me who told them," Eijun said, looking down and finding comfort of the ball around his arms. "I thought I could bury it, lock it away. But Daichi-nii, I just don't want what happened before to repeat itself. I don't want my team to hate me."
"What do you mean?" Daichi paused. "Did something happen back in middle school?"
Eijun hesitated before he nodded.
"Did someone hurt you?" Daichi never meant to sound angry, but in the end it came like one.
Eijun shook his head.
"2nd year, February. The off-season. My teammates in volleyball. I told them that I had an interest in baseball a long time ago, and I wanted to quit the team to form my own baseball team before the school got demolished. I wanted to have no regrets in my middle school life, so to speak," Eijun breathed in deeply. "I thought they were okay with it. They were smiling at me when we bid farewell, even giving me words of support and encouragement. So I thought they'd understand since they're my teammates. We're close, after all. Like how you guys were when I told it to you all,"
Daichi nods, and then Eijun continued.
"I only had three months left for baseball, so my friends and I had to practice. Learn the basics and all that. We never had a coach. Looking for an advisor was hard enough, and I'm grateful my volleyball coach helped me look for an advisor and recommended my Math teacher. We never gave up, and I had fun with my friends as we played baseball with all our hearts. But then, different things started happening. Our pieces of equipment were gone, the balls were stolen, the field was messed up and uneven. We never had the time to practice anything because we couldn't practice without our equipment, and it was a long time fixing up the field. Before we know it, it's already the start of the tournament. We never won in any our matches."
It was the first time Daichi heard this from Eijun. He suffered this alone, endured it, and never told this to anyone. Daichi felt his anger rising. How could anyone do this to him? To Eijun?
"I found out that my volleyball teammates did it. They were the ones who sabotaged our baseball team with their pettiness because they wanted me back. I couldn't... I couldn't say anything bad to them. I just got out of there. I didn't want to see any of them. I thought Haru was the mastermind since he was the team captain, so I cut him out as well, but it turns out he knew nothing of it. It was my teammates with whom I shared my laughter and tears, the ones who saw me as the team's ace. And it broke me. I never...I never get to play volleyball after that, Daichi-nii. I just couldn't. I was conflicted. When Shoyo-san told me that sports is free, it kept me from not hating volleyball completely. It reminded me that not all were like my teammates because you guys, the Adlers, the Black Jackals, Tetsurou-san, Osa-san, everyone are still with me. You helped me not hate the sport,"
"And when I played this morning again, I thanked Shoyo-san, Omi-omi-san, Kotarou-san, Osa-san, and Atsu-san because I was glad. So glad. So very much glad. I didn't dislike volleyball, that my disappointment from my former teammates didn't affect the way I played. That I still, in fact, love volleyball despite the years of not playing it. But Daichi-nii!" He finally looked up. And Eijun smiled. He smiled, and yet he looked like he was about to break. "I would still choose baseball over volleyball despite it all. I realized how selfish I was back then, and maybe there really was a reason why they did those. And I apologized. I apologized to Haru. That's why you saw me crying back then in the hallway. And Haru apologized to me. I asked him where everyone was. If they're still playing volleyball. And they did. I don't know why I was so happy that they didn't quit volleyball even after they did that to me. I must be out of my mind."
Daichi pulled him as Eijun leaned on his shoulders. Daichi didn't mind the awkwardness of the ball between them, he just wanted to be here where Eijun was right now. It was hard to listen, and he couldn't imagine how hard Eijun had endured this all this time.
"Thank you for telling me this, Eijun," Daichi rubbed his back as Eijun started sobbing. "It must've been hard keeping all of this."
"I don't know how to face my teammates like this. I just...I don't want them to think I'm pathetic. I don't want them to see me like this and I don't want them to be disappointed in me that I easily give up a sport that I'm better off than in baseball. I don't want to hear them say that I should've been a volleyball player."
Eijun sniffled and took a deep breath. They were like that for a minute or two until Eijun started to speak again.
"I was invited to the All-Youth Camp."
Daichi started to pat him gently, and he could feel Eijun nuzzling, asking for more.
"Obviously, you declined."
"Yeah, I did. Could you imagine a baseball player playing with players who dreamt of going pro in the volleyball league? Other countries will start to think we lowered our standards in choosing players."
Daichi laughed at that. "Come on, don't be so hard on yourself. If they invited you despite not being a volleyball player, that just means you really have what it takes."
Eijun nuzzled in further on Daichi's shoulder. "Yeah. But that's my off-season, and I wanted to improve my other pitches."
"You baseball freak."
Eijun laughed. That's Eijun all right, the guy who wears his feelings all the way out. That he could cry after he feels hurt inside, that he could laugh when he feels warm inside. Daichi held him for a bit longer, and Eijun felt the familial affection that opened up the nostalgia.
"Hey, Daichi-nii?" He said, still muffled on Daichi's shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to miss you."
Daichi took a deep breath for a long time, and then let it out.
"I'm not... We're not going anywhere other than in Miyagi. Well, except Nishinoya but you know you could still call us when you want to see us. Kageyama's team is situated near your school, and you know how he and the rest of the Adlers adore you. No matter what, everyone loves you, Eijun. Be it when you play baseball or volleyball, we love you all the same."
"Yeah. I just wanted to say that. And thanks for going all this way to watch me play volleyball. I hope you get to watch me and my team win this year's summer tournament. I'll do my best to be the team's ace."
"I will. We will. We promise," Daichi smiled gently. "Though you need to catch up. Natsu's the ace in her team."
"What? She never told me!"
"Just how you never told her you played volleyball with his brother ?"
"This and that are different, Daichi-nii! I left my phone back in the dorm."
"You want to go back to the court? Everyone's probably waiting for us."
"We should, but can we stay like this for just a few minutes?"
"You're always clingy when you're emotional. You know that, right?"
"Just say you prefer Kou-san cuddling you right now instead of your beloved cousin."
"I would actually."
"Wow, and you didn't deny it. Since when?"
"Since college."
They both got quiet again. Eijun was still on his shoulders, Daichi putting all his weight on his upper body because Eijun got heavier than in the past few years Daichi held him. Daichi then looked up, and saw a group of people behind Eijun. He nodded at them, and then smiled.
"Hey, Eijun."
"Hm?"
"What do you think about your teammates?"
Daichi heard him groan loudly, and the youngster said, his voice a bit hoarse from crying. "Abusive since they're always making a mess out of me, and some of them are annoying to boot. They don't understand the meaning of privacy from time to time."
"But despite that, you care for them. Otherwise, you wouldn't have said those a while ago. Am I right?"
"Yeah. That's why I don't ever want them to hate me when they find out about my past. They're the roughest bunch, but I love them to bits. Those bastards."
Eijun finally lifted his head. A mark from leaning too much on his cousin's broad shoulders could be seen on his forehead. He had snot all over his face, and like before, Daichi had to wipe it using his towel.
"What a lovely confession. Maybe you should tell that to them face to face."
"I rather eat natto-What the hell?"
Behind Daichi, he saw the Karasuno team gathered around with a handkerchief in their hands, sniffling and wiping away their tears, and completely not hiding the fact that they're trying to hide behind the wide gym door.
"Daichi-nii, since when did they...?"
"Look behind you."
"W-what?" Eijun blanched. "No way."
"Go on," He grabbed Eijun by the shoulders for encouragement and lets him go. "They've been waiting for you all this time."
Slowly, he turned his head. And he saw them. He saw him in the moonlight, where Eijun could see the reflection of his glasses. He could see him blinking slowly, not moving an inch, not saying anything that sounded like he would attempt a jest. It was only because of Daichi's gentle push that made Eijun jolt.
"Mi-Miyuki Kazuya!" He dropped the ball, and it rolled towards Miyuki.
Miyuki leaned down to grab the ball and he padded towards Eijun. The fact Miyuki wasn't saying anything yet made Eijun a bit worried. He watched as Miyuki handed the ball back and placed it on Eijun's chest. Eijun saw a look on Miyuki that he had never seen before.
'This is bad,' Eijun's legs turned jelly. 'This is really, really bad.'
"Welcome back, Sawamura."