Chapter 15: Citrus and Berries

When Eijun arrived, everyone gathered to tackle him one by one. His struggle to escape was fruitless and a few minutes later, they all stopped to take a breather. Eijun welcomed himself back to the team with a grin, followed by his boisterous laughter. They were all gathered in the dining hall where Eijun and the rest had the time to eat the snacks left by Umemoto and the other girl managers before they left. The Seidou players stared at Eijun, or better yet, the volleyball that he had placed on his lap as he attempted to grab the plum-filled onigiri that Miyuki deliberately took away from his plate.

"Part of the prize," Eijun said with his earnest smile when they asked. He let Okumura hold it as he kicked Miyuki by the shin when Miyuki half-ate the onigiri, and everyone saw the signatures around the ball. Eijun saw the way their curious eyes were on it, and his chest tightened. "I said this before, and I'll say it again: I love both volleyball and baseball! But at the end of the day, baseball is my sport! So don't you guys dare think of something funny, you hear me? I'm still going to be Seidou's ace!"

They stared at him incuriously, and Okumura started tracing the lines of the pure white volleyball out of how smooth and rubbery it felt. Eijun rubbed his knees underneath the table. The elasticity of the bandage was like his sort of comfort amidst the fear that he had been trying to hide after all these years.

But the Seidou team wasn't like his Akagi Volleyball team. They were young and competitive, the same as Eijun was, but even if volleyball was something that his body reacted almost like second nature, part of him knew that something was missing when he was playing the sport. And a part of him knew that he was some prodigy in volleyball like everyone believes him to be but fully admitting that would mean acknowledging that he should've played volleyball instead.

It was like Eijun was holding a candlestick, but everyone else was holding a torch. Hinata and Kageyama were holding theirs high and for everyone to see. Bokuto, Atsumu, and Sakusa as well. Hoshiumi and Ushijima. Haru and Natsu. Everyone that he knew was carrying a much bigger flame than Eijun had in volleyball. And that's okay.

But baseball was different. When he plays baseball, it was more than a candle, more than a torch. It engulfed his passion, and he could feel not just the adrenaline on his body but even on the tiniest parts of his mind and heart. The way he threw the ball onto Miyuki's mitt was his one of many realizations why baseball was indeed his sport.

"Eijun-kun," Haruichi smiled. "No matter what, you're still Eijun-kun."

"Yeah," Eijun inhaled. "I know." Okumura rolled the ball back to him and Eijun caught it with his bare hand. He turned towards Miyuki and tilted his head curtly. "Anything to say, cap?"

Miyuki ran his fingers through his hair, and for some reason, there were some bits of rice from the onigiri stuck in his hair, and he awkwardly took it out. He considered what to say and what not to say. He almost bit his tongue when he was so close in telling Eijun how he looked sinfully good with the jersey shorts, and he should try wearing it if they're practicing their numbers in the indoor facility. Kuramochi and the others would skin him alive. He watched when Furuya looked so charmed by the ball, and Eijun playfully bumped the ball on his head, making a soft bam noise on Furuya's head, and Eijun giggled.

He considered with: "Why baseball?" but it stuck on his throat. He had an inkling of what will Eijun's answer to him be, but he was more worried about the fact that Eijun might take it the wrong way, and he doesn't want to hurt, see, Eijun being not Eijun. Eijun looked better when he was smiling. So instead, he gave out his smuggest grin.

"The Osaka practice game canceled," he paused to watch the way Eijun lost his grip on the volleyball before he continued. "But there would still be a scrimmage, except it's going to be here. And no, you won't pitch until the 5th inning, Sawamura~." He finished the last part quickly when it looked like Eijun was about to raise his voice in protest. When he finished, everyone expected Eijun to pour out his frustrations about not being the starter, but to their surprise, the only thing that looked like he was against it was when his eyes started to slit like that of a cat as he scrunched his nose.

"But that means I still get to pitch, right?"

"Naturally," Miyuki said nonchalantly.

"Then it's no problem! For a second there, I thought I won't even pitch since I hurt my knee!" Eijun grinned. "I mean, sure, I'd be pretty frustrated, but if it's for the team, then this humblest of me shall accept the consequences!"

"Huh," Kuramochi widened his eyes. "For some reason, you and humble don't fit well in the same sentence."

"What the hell does that mean—" Eijun was interrupted when a pair of arms circled his head for a headlock, and it was so swift that he was already on the floor tapping out. Kuramochi grumbled in his ears that underclassmen should respect the senpais.

Everyone laughed. This was what the team had been missing since this morning. Their practice goes by, but it wouldn't be the same if Eijun weren't there to make a mess of everyone.

When everyone cleaned out the hall, that's where Eijun started to pull Miyuki's shirt towards him when everyone else started to go out.

"What?" Miyuki's shirt felt tighter, and Eijun's eyes never left his. He swallowed and awaited what came after Eijun's lips parted.

"Catch for me, Miyuki Kazuya!"

Miyuki's lips twisted. "Now? Shouldn't you rest your arms for today?"

"Just 10!" Eijun tugged his shirt tighter. "You have no idea how much I wanted to pitch since this morning."

Miyuki's eyes started to trail down from Eijun's eyes towards his hips and then his lower legs. It was an opportunity for Miyuki to—. No. As a catcher, he should prioritize Eijun's physical wellbeing first above all else, no matter how tempting Eijun was right now.

"Even if you did not pitch this morning, it's still technically your no-throw day," Miyuki pointed out. He could hear the snagging of the fabric of his shirt. Despite it, he still lets Eijun tug his shirt. "And aren't you forgetting that I'm your senpai and your team captain?"

"Please!"

"No~." He prolonged the word, making Eijun pout. He looked so cute doing it. "You need to rest your shoulders. You pitchers are so greedy!"

"I thought I was your beloved teammate!" Eijun lets him go, and Miyuki fixed his crumpled shirt. "You said you like me! You should walk the talk as the captain!"

Miyuki laughed and curled himself as he held his stomach.

"Of course, I like you," it came out more naturally this time, and Miyuki stopped to see anything in Eijun's face if the guy understood what he meant by I like you . Does Eijun realize Miyuki not once said this to anyone but him? When there was no reaction or whatsoever, he sighed and continued as he straightened himself again, wiping off a tear from all that laugh. "but that doesn't mean I would allow you to over-exert yourself." He then, unknowingly, surprisingly, ruffled Eijun's hair. To his surprise, Eijun suddenly jolted. It was quick, but with his sharp eyes, Miyuki felt it.

" Eijun's more of a touchy person, so he won't know anything unless you show him your real intentions." Hinata's words came out to him like a wind passing by.

Miyuki had the whole communication thing with everyone else as sharp and blunt as possible. He pours out facts that are easily calculated in his twisted and scheming mind, and it's better that way. And to him, whatever people react after his words parted in his lips are all on them. He's just stating the obvious. After all, facts don't care about your feelings.

That was before he realized that people were standing by beside him and calling out of his bullshit. Even if facts themselves don't have feelings, it doesn't mean people don't as well. And steadily and eventually, he learns, like how he learned little by little what it means to be a captain and to be a catcher. And to be a person with feelings.

But Eijun. Sawamura Eijun was different. Even Eijun himself admitted that words alone aren't enough for him to understand something. He would take things in another way, out of everyone's comprehension and only for Eijun himself to understand. And perhaps, maybe this whole confession thing wasn't the end for today. Maybe—

"Senpai?" Eijun called, and then he sighed as Miyuki took away his hand from his head. "No matter how many times I beg, you still won't catch for me, huh?"

'If you beg on your knees, I might consider it,' was what Miyuki would like to say, but he cleared his throat. "Tomorrow, okay?"

Eijun's face lit up. "You promise?!"

"Promise," Miyuki said and turned back. He realized everyone had left, leaving the two of them alone in the hall. Eijun poked him in his side, and Miyuki held his breath. "What is it this time, Sawamura?" He exhaled.

"I forgot to remove these," Miyuki saw the tapes on Eijun's ten fingers, all tightly sealed, protecting every finger. "Tobio-san tied the tapes too much. Instead of helping me perfecting the numbers tonight, could you be a good and reliable captain by helping your beloved teammate remove these?"

Miyuki nodded, and they pulled out the chairs. Miyuki sat beside Eijun, and Eijun placed the volleyball on the table, and he placed his right hand on the table in front of Miyuki.

"You're not going to help?" Miyuki reached out anyways and felt how rough and rugged Eijun's fingers were with the tapes. When Eijun cheekily shook his head, he smirked. "You do realize I'm a senpai, right?"

"And as the senpai, you should watch the wellbeing of the kohai!"

"I think you're mistaken that for a babysitter," Miyuki said and started with the pinky. He furrowed his brows when he looked for a strip to remove the tape. His fingers circled the pinky.

Eijun rests his chin on his left palm with his elbow on the table while watching Miyuki struggle to look for the strip. Perhaps Miyuki started to get frustrated over the lack of a strip, he took Eijun's hand out of the table and placed the hand on his lap for better focus, and now both his hands were looking for that blasted strip. Eijun felt the tinkles of his heart ringing in his ear and bit his lower lip. Miyuki finally found it, and with one long and twisting pull, the pinky was finally free, and now that it was easier to feel than with the tapes, Eijun couldn't hide his blush from the way Miyuki brushed his fingers over the pinky as he went to the next finger.

The ball suddenly rolled away, and Eijun caught it with his left hand in the sudden force, his body followed, and his right hand slipped away from Miyuki.

Miyuki snatched back his hand and put it firmly against his lap. He pulled his chair closer to Eijun, and he leaned forward to look for that strip he had found before Eijun pulled away.

Silence overtook them completely, and with each tape removed, the more Eijun could feel Miyuki's fingers against his.

"Miyuki-senpai," Eijun said, finally. He couldn't take the awkward silence and the butterflies in his stomach. "Aren't you curious about me as a volleyball player?"

"Should I?" Miyuki did not look at him and continued pulling the tape from his middle finger. It feels oddly satisfying pulling the tapes. "I mean, is there a point? You play baseball, and that's what matters now." And for me.

"Well, you're right about that."

"And let's not forget your emotional revelation to us a while ago~."

"That doesn't count because I didn't know you guys were there!" Eijun replied angrily, and Miyuki laughed. "That doesn't count."

"Yeah, yeah," Miyuki drawled. He slowed down when he reached for the index finger, and unknown to Eijun, Miyuki went back to his ring finger and tapped it playfully. "I saw you play with the Karasuno team, Sawamura. And I watched your game. The closest thing I knew about volleyball was during PE. I didn't know how intense the sport was until I got to see you and your cousin and his friends' play. Heck, I didn't know you have to jump that high. But other than that, then I guess I was almost impressed by you when you play, Sawamura."

Eijun scoffed. " Almost? Even in a different sport, you won't compliment me?"

"I see that when you play a different sport, you still want people to praise you," Miyuki snickered.

"I only want yours, you jerk!" Eijun curled his fingers, but Miyuki laughed and gently straightened up the fingers, and each time he held it, he could feel Eijun's hand shaking.

"Is this because you're spoiled by Hinata-san's team that you want nothing but praises?" He teased. He remembered how those tall players handled Eijun so comfortably and how Eijun let them hold him so close that it was heavy to continue watching. He coughed when he felt a lump stuck against his throat.

"It's not spoiled. It's well-loved!" Eijun corrected him, and Miyuki laughed harder. "And mind you, they don't praise me all the time. They're pretty scary if you're not serious enough."

"Oh, is that so?~" Miyuki grinned when Eijun pulled a face in annoyance. He missed this even if it was only a day he didn't see Eijun. "Though, I am curious about something."

"What is it?"

"Your former teammate. Hyuuga." Miyuki started with the index finger again and slowly stripped off the tape.

"Haru?" At the ringing of Eijun calling Hyuuga Haru by his first name, Miyuki looked up.

"Oh? First name basis?"

"I call those who play volleyball seriously by their first name, and they call mine in return. It's sort of my… unwritten rule," Eijun scratched the bottom of his chin. "Anyone who plays volleyball seriously deserves to be called by their names."

"Why?" Miyuki stopped after he took the tape from the index finger. His voice was coarse and a bit loud. Even Miyuki was surprised.

"When I think of volleyball, I think of Shoyo-san, Tobio-san, Daichi-nii, Kou-san, the rest of the Karasuno team," Eijun's head turned to look at the ball and brushed his fingers against the lines, his face softened. "They're my first family. And of course, as a kid, I thought that anyone who plays volleyball with the same look as they did should be called like when you're in a family, and I think even until now, I hold on to that. So yeah. That's why I call most of the volleyball players by their first names, so stop frowning for whatever reason, Miyuki Kazuya!"

"Even the pros?" Miyuki shook his head in amusement, hiding the frown he didn't know he had until Eijun pointed it out. "I'm surprised they left you off the hook for being so casual with them."

"Some of them liked it when I'm casual with them! Mind you, I asked if it's okay! I don't just call people by their names all of a sudden. Even I know where to draw the line in those kinds of things."

"And here I thought you don't know a thing or two about personal boundaries!" He grinned. Miyuki still had that thought of Eijun not waking him up in the morning like a pin on the corkboard. "Though, you didn't wake me up a while ago."

"I got a bit side-tracked," Eijun glanced away. And they were back to being quiet again with Miyuki finally finished with his thumb, and his fingers now felt free. And vulnerable with Miyuki tracing his finger over the marks left by the tapes. It's odd because Eijun doesn't want to pull away, and he missed Miyuki enough to care at this point, damn it.

Now with his left hand, Eijun faced Miyuki. Their knees bumped into each other. Eijun pulled away for a second when his bandage got hit. It was a good thing Miyuki was busy looking for the strip because his eyes kept wandering around from Eijun's hands to his thighs. Eijun opens and closes his right hand to feel the circulation of the blood running through his hand. This time, Miyuki started with the thumb. When Eijun noticed how awfully quiet Miyuki usually was, he took a deep breath.

"So, what about Haru you wanted to ask from me?"

He thoughtfully chose his words: "How did it feel like, playing with him as your setter?" Miyuki looked at him askance, slowly stripping off the tape.

"It's weird at first, but then he quickly adjusted his toss for me. When I got used to it, I demanded a better toss from him," Eijun smiled at his recollection. "He got better in setting that it gives me the creeps. That accuracy, his trajectory of the ball, his overall stats in volleyball got better than in middle school."

"Demanded, huh?" Miyuki arched a brow. "I assume he didn't like that coming from a pitcher of all people?"

Eijun cackled all of a sudden. "He had a weird grin on his face when I yelled to set the ball to me. And when he did," Eijun felt a sting on his left hand. Miyuki felt the clenching of Eijun's palm, but he ignored it. "It's nostalgic. And I wanted more, but then we got interrupted when a reporter arrived. He and the other volleyball players were upset when the game ended abruptly."

"After that, did it ever feel like you wanted for him to toss to you again?" Miyuki said, the oddity in his voice startled Eijun.

"Don't tell me you're jealous, Miyuki Kazuya?!" Eijun roared, and Miyuki covered one of his ears away from Eijun. "You won't lose a pitcher! There's no way I'm giving Furuya the chance of an easy pass in having the ace number. As long as I have you as my catcher, I'm here to stay!"

Eijun's eyes lit up, and Miyuki's stomach turned upwards. How Eijun quickly tells him this was always a trait Miyuki admired from Eijun. His nonchalant honesty. God, Eijun is just…..

"Of course not, you idiot," Miyuki drawled as he stared at Eijun with half-lidded eyes. "Knowing how you'd pull me out of bed in the most ungodly hours just to make me catch for you is enough to convince me that you think nothing but pitching. I just want to know more about a thing or two in volleyball, after all."

"You sound so sketchy. You know that, right?!" Eijun stared at him incredulously, his right hand clenched on Miyuki's lap. Eijun observed for a while, however, and thought about what he should say and finally said: "To be honest, it doesn't matter who's going to be my setter. As long as they set for me, it's my duty as a wing spiker to hit the ball. If I see a low-quality toss, I'd… I would get mad because that means the one tossing to me was hesitant in not believing in his own ability rather than him doubting me as a spiker."

"Mad?" Miyuki chuckled. "You, Sawamura, getting mad even though it's just a toss? Besides, how would you even know it's a high-quality toss or not?"

"I'll let you off the hook for now because you have no idea how volleyball works," Eijun made a low growl noise in his throat, his face scowling at Miyuki. "You'll know by how good a toss is by how a setter treats the ball. Did you know a setter brings out the ability of a wing spiker and vice versa?"

"So I've been told," Miyuki shrugged as he went back to take off the strip from Eijun's index finger.

"Like a catcher, I tell you!" Eijun laughed. "But even if I'm okay with any setters if I play volleyball, it's different when it comes to baseball. Don't get me wrong! Wolf-boy and Young Yui are really good catchers! Even Kariba and Ono-senpai could catch my cutter-kai now, and it really feels good when they tell me so, but it's different if it's you. It's really—- Could you wipe that annoying grin off your face?!"

"It's not every day you get to compliment me, Sawamura~."

"Yeah, well, that makes one of us!" Eijun rolled his eyes.

"My, my. I do compliment you if you pitch well, though?"

"Verbally!" Eijun flicked him between the forehead. "I meant it verbally! Just you throwing the ball hard to my glove isn't enough."

"Pitchers are so demanding!" Miyuki sing-songs and he had to listen to one of Eijun's ramblings again why he should take his role as captain more seriously as he quietly curled his fingers between Eijun's.

"We won't be in Osaka, huh?" Eijun said, tapping on his foot.

"Nope."

"Shoyo-san's team is based in Osaka. Exactly near the place we'll be playing," Eijun rested his free hand on Miyuki's lap. "but they won't be there since they have games this week. I wanted him and the Black Jackals to see me play, and it's not every day they'd be here.

"I invited Hinata-san to watch our game the day after tomorrow," Miyuki said. He could feel the calloused hand of Eijun-his hard work in pitching evident, and a curl on his half lip twisted upwards. "Hope you didn't mind."

Eijun slapped his thigh, and Miyuki winced from the sting. When Miyuki was about to make a fuss out of it, he saw the light gleaming in Eijun's eyes. And slowly, Eijun smiled.

And oh. Miyuki, once again, found more reasons why he's so in love with the guy right in front of him, how his face lit up when he was excited, how upset he was when his eyes dropped lowly. It's those eyes. The eyes that tell Miyuki that they'd be more aggressive in the mound. The eyes that never left Miyuki's. The eyes that fired up the rest of the Seidou team. Eijun was always straightforward with how he navigated his eyes. And Miyuki wants nothing more. With every bit of Eijun's everything. Hiding his flustered face, he went back to focus on Eijun's hand.

"Thank you, Miyuki-senpai!" Eijun smiled so brightly in the room. As he always did. He then noticed how there were only three fingers left to remove the tapes. But then, he finally realized the situation that they were in right now: his knees bumping Miyuki's, his right hand steadily on Miyuki's lap so naturally and comfortably, and his left hand resting on Miyuki's palm while the other was navigating through his index finger. It's too close. Too close, and Eijun watched as how Miyuki looked so serious in just removing the tapes so carefully. His hair smelled faintly of citrus and berries.

"Miyuki-senpai?" Eijun slowly clenched his right hand. Miyuki noticed it, and he firmly held Eijun's left hand.

"Hm?" Miyuki didn't look. He was still looking for a strip to pull the tape, or at least try. Eijun's hand felt like it was made for him.

"You said you like someone earlier. I thought playing baseball is your…." Eijun trailed off as he heard the tape taking off. Their eyes briefly caught one another before Miyuki went on with his middle finger next.

"Of course, baseball is everything to me. But the person I like," Miyuki interjected as he easily pulled out the tape in Eijun's middle finger and went next to the ring finger. He lingered a bit and stared at Eijun, his golden-colored eyes staring at him straight-on. "Well, baseball and this person are one of the same."

"Does that even make sense?!" Eijun looked puzzled, and Miyuki grinned.

"Yes," Miyuki murmured. He likes him. He likes him. Miyuki likes Eijun. "It makes sense."

Eijun always wore his heart in his sleeves. When he's happy, the dimples on his eyes lit up, and he'd smile too much that his cheeks would start to hurt. When he's angry, tiny wrinkles around his forehead are visible as he gritted his teeth. When he's sad, his entire body would be slumped throughout the day. But when he's hurt, it's…well, people could even tell without Eijun saying anything.

"I see!" Eijun said, his voice cracked. It seemed like Haru jinxed him; Eijun didn't even confess, yet he felt rejected. "Who knew a person as nasty as you would think something like love, cap! And did you know you've been awfully honest with me today? The Seidou captain finally learns how to open up! Nyahahaha! Don't worry. This Sawamura Eijun will keep his mouth shut in—"

"I likeyou, Sawamura," Miyuki cuts him off. The ring finger was halfway free from the tape. Miyuki sighed and set Eijun's hand onto his lap and held it close with his, his other the same in his right. "If you don't get this the second time around, I swear to the baseball gods that you're as dense as you are awful in batting."

"I improved, mind you!" Eijun stomped his foot, and Miyuki laughed. "Wait, what do you mean 'second-time around'?! You confessed before?!" Miyuki laughed harder.

"Well?" Miyuki leaned forward. Miyuki never lets go of Eijun's hands that were both on his lap. He tested Eijun's reaction when he started to brush his fingers against Eijun's knuckles. "Will you continue keeping your mouth shut if the person I like is you? Though I'd be surprised by that since almost half of the time, you'd—"

"I like you, Miyuki Kazuya!" He said immediately. It was bold, non-hesitant, and confident. So much so that Miyuki gaped. "Why is your face like that? You confessed first, so why are you acting so surprised?"

Miyuki blinked and slowly closed his mouth. "I honestly didn't expect you to like me back so…."

"Well, you thought wrong!" Eijun barked. Rose-colored tinted on the tip of his ears. "I thought you never considered things such as liking someone and you're so busy for the tournament that I didn't plan on telling you until after you retire. You idiot tanuki! I didn't even know you have other feelings other than to gloat other people's miseries!"

"Aren't I generous then?" Miyuki smirked. He continued brushing Eijun's knuckles. Eijun's face grew in deep red, and it made Miyuki want to see more of it. Just when he was about to cup Eijun's cheeks, the door opened wide, revealing a worried Kuramochi scanning the room.

"Senpai?!" Eijun suddenly yelled.

Kuramochi was worried when he realized Eijun wasn't back yet after they all left the dining hall. He assumed his roommate headed straight to the shower room to clean himself, and so he waited. When Asada got back after hanging out with Kuki and Seto in Miyuki's and Okumura's room, he was surprised to see Kuramochi the only one in the room. When he asked why, Asada said that he thought Miyuki would be in here hanging out with him since he wasn't with Okumura in the room. His radar popped out, and he ran straight to the hall.

As he scowled, Kuramochi analyzed the situation these two were currently in: Both Eijun's hands were on Miyuki's lap as Miyuki was about to reach over Eijun's flushed face. Kuramochi knew Miyuki longed for Eijun but at the same was acting so thirsty towards him, and a vein popped right out of Kuramochi's forehead.

"Goddamit, Miyuki!" Kuramochi lunged forward, and it took Eijun and some third years, who heard a loud banging noise in the dining hall, to separate Kuramochi from clawing Miyuki. Miyuki, however, just gave Kuramochi his smug grin, infuriating him more.

Two days go by like a flash.

Furuya managed to hold off the batters until he started losing control in the third inning. With Eijun's boisterous laughter and taunts, Furuya safely passed the baton to him by the start of the fifth inning with only one run from the opponents. Eijun yelled his usual catchphrase, surprising the opposing team and their dugout. When he heard several familiar voices shouting back at him by the crowd, he flashed them his brightest smile. When he started with his wind-up, he muttered under his breath that the very first pitch was dedicated to them.

He swung the ball towards where Miyuki's mitt was. A four-seam, low and away fastball. The sound when it hit the mitt was crisp, and when the umpire called out for the strike, he pointed to where they were, and they all stood there grinning at him and vice versa.

'Yeah,' Eijun caught the ball when Miyuki threw it back to him. 'This is for you guys. For supporting me until the end.'

They won, and thunderous claps were heard from the bleachers, and Eijun cackled as they bowed to the opponents. When everyone finished up cleaning the dugouts and Eijun ice-packed his shoulders as he sipped a sports drink at the edge of his mouth, he briskly walked out the dugout.

"I'm going to meet them! You guys go first," He said to the rest of the team before turning his head to where Miyuki and Kuramochi were. "Except you, Miyuki Kazuya! You're coming with me."

"Already?" Kuramochi teased as Miyuki took off his chest protector. "Good luck meeting with them, Miyuki. I heard from Tanaka-san that those guys are pretty protective to Sawamura."

"I met them last night," Miyuki said. He could hear the surprised gasp from Kuramochi, and he couldn't help but smirk. "Well, technically, when Sawamura video chatted Hinata-san when he was in my room."

Kuramochi raised an eyebrow. "So? What did they say when Sawamura told them you two are going out?"

Miyuki blinked as he remembered what happened last night. He could hear Atsumu's Kansai dialect over the camera and rambling so fast that Miyuki couldn't quite get what he was saying-his face entirely on the screen with Hinata struggling to take him out from his screen until Bokuto popped out yelling. Suddenly, several players came over, and their heads all tried to fit over the phone screen that Hinata had to switch his phone to horizontal so they could all fit in.

"What's ya credentials?! So what if yer the capt'n of yer oh-so-famous school or the best catcher in yer generation? Ya ain't good enough for—!" Atsumu had told him only for Sakusa to pull his ear out and scold him in the background.

"Ignore him. He's weird," Eijun sighed beside him. And Eijun, with a troubled face, looked so cute that Miyuki just had to steal a kiss on his cheeks where everyone saw it in Hinata's phone. They all gasped, and they heard Bokuto shouting the most and Hinata had no choice but to hang up.

"They were happy," Miyuki mused as he stood up. "So happy that they couldn't wait to see me~."

"That bad, huh?" Kuramochi guffawed.

Miyuki ignored the laughter behind him as Eijun waited for him to come up. He smiled as Eijun reached for his hand, and together, Eijun and Miyuki met up with the Black Jackals and the Adlers, where Miyuki could feel them glaring at him as they got closer to them.

Bokuto and Atsumu circled him for inspection while Eijun talked with Hinata and Kageyama, the latter heavily impressed with Eijun's pitches that even the duo attempted to imitate Eijun's pitching form, much to Eijun's amusement. The rest of the Adlers and the Black Jackals continued glaring even when Miyuki smiled to greet them.

Miyuki knew they were already tall when he watched them play on the television, but they were taller than he'd thought. Looking up, Miyuki watched Ushijima nod at him as the southpaw's lips drew a thin line, chagrin.

"Wakatoshi-san!" Eijun went to them, a volleyball on his hands Inunaki let him borrow.

"Hey, you already iced your left arm and shoulder," Miyuki reminded him.

"I know!" Eijun said, and he tossed the ball up with his right arm bouncing it back and forth. "But this one isn't!"

Miyuki watched with blatant amazement at how effortless Eijun bounced the ball with his non-dominant arm as he talked with Ushijima. The older's face softened when Eijun spoke to him, completely different from when Ushijima faced Miyuki.

"I like surprising my opponents back then," Eijun said when he noticed Miyuki's eyes in amazement while staring at him. A tiny blush scattered across his sun-kissed skin. "Thank goodness for muscle memory, right, senpai?"

"Mhm," was all Miyuki could say before the Adlers came to him and started asking him questions curiously about what he liked about Eijun or baseball in general.

Taking a step back from them overcrowding him, Miyuki told them about all there was about baseball, completely dodging their first question. Eijun chuckled, watching Miyuki feeling tired already when Kageyama started glaring at him for no apparent reason.

When he knew it was too much already from them, Eijun caught the ball and returned it to Inunaki, who was also ganging up on Miyuki. The former was more interested in who confessed to who, much to Bokuto's and Atsumu's disapproval of the matter. Eijun then pulled Miyuki away from them.

"So ya startin' to rebel on us after ya have… Ugh! I don't even wanna say it!" Atsumu went on his knees dramatically while making a mess with his hair. Behind him, Sakusa stared at him deadpanned. "We came all this way, Eijun-kun! And it's just been two days since then, and ya started goin' out with that guy?" He blenched. "Now see! You made me say it!"

Eijun sighed exasperatedly. He turned towards Miyuki, confused about what the hell was going on in front of him as Meian kicked Atsumu. "You should go first, cap. Don't we have a meeting after this?"

"It's okay. There's a reason why Zono and Kuramochi are the vice-captains." Miyuki wiggled his eyebrows, and Eijun cackled.

"You're a hopeless guy!" Eijun nudged him at the side.

Miyuki reached out to Eijun's cheeks and brushed his thumb against the remnants of dirt on his face that Eijun didn't even notice was there in the first place. Eijun beamed at him, and Miyuki smiled back, putting his weight on the sole of his feet. "Yeah, I really am."

"And what do you think you're doing on Junei's delicate face?" Bokuto stood in front of him, arms crossed around his chest.

"Junei?" Miyuki stared in disbelief. He's debating himself whether to question or laugh at Eijun's nickname.

"If you're going to make fun of Kotarou-san's precious nickname for me, I might as well have to kick you out of here, Miyuki Kazuya!" Eijun frowned, but his eyes were laughing. "And as much as I would love to hang out with you guys, we do have a meeting after this."

"Don't worry, Eijun. We're just glad we get to watch you pitch! You outdid yourself today," Hinata said, gesturing for Heiwajima and Inunaki to take Bokuto before he might consider pouncing Miyuki. Since last night, Bokuto was the most surprised out of the Black Jackals when Eijun told them about Miyuki. Meian had to call Akaashi to convince Bokuto not to go to Seidou last night.

"That's just 3 out of 11 of my repertoire, Shoyo-san!" Eijun said. Miyuki could see the sparks on Eijun's eyes when Hinata and the rest were impressed by Eijun's pitching today. Miyuki wanted to show more during the match, but he noticed how unstable the other numbers were for today.

"Then I guess we'll have to see more of that during your Summer tournament," Hinata winked, and Eijun's face lit up to a new kind of excitement. "Right, guys? Atsumu-san?"

Atsumu stood up by then, Sakusa behind scowling at him.

"Hmph, ya better make Eijun-kun shine in that mound of yers. If what Eijun-kun told me bein' a setter is like a catcher, then ya better not disappoint us. Ain't that right, Tobio-kun?"

"Right," Kageyama murmured, eyeing Eijun and then to Miyuki.

"Don't worry. I won't. He needs me since he's still hopeless in controlling his other numbers, after all," Miyuki said dryly. Eijun gasped, and Miyuki leered on him, and he ended up laughing when Eijun scrunched his nose in the process.

"I can do that with Ono-senpai or Kariba!" Eijun huffed. "Don't get all cocky just because you're the main catcher."

"And who here said it's different when it comes to me, hmm?" Miyuki pinched his nose, his temptation got the best of him.

Eijun pushed him away, and he rubbed his nose; the sudden pinching almost made him sneeze. He groaned, and, ignoring the obnoxious way of Miyuki laughing at him, he turned to Hinata.

"Now you see how annoying he is, Shoyo-san?"

"Is that before or after you look so smitten?" Hinata teased. Eijun made an 'o' in his mouth, his face blushing and flustered. Hinata took off his cap to wipe the sweat off his hair and put it back on. His tanned skin was all getting sweaty from the heat. "Osamu-san and Kuroo-san are with Takashima-san, by the way. We did promise you to bring your team some of his onigiris. Better late than never."

"Geh! Black rooster is also here?!" Eijun yelled. His teammates in the field turned to where they were. "I didn't see them when I was in the dugout, though?!"

"'Samu and Tetsu-kun were watchin' near yer dugout. Yer were too busy in yelling to yer teammates to notice 'em," Atsumu rested his elbow on Hinata's head. "Speakin' of Tetsu-kun, I heard from 'im ya turned down Hibarida-san's invitation?"

"Yeah," Eijun said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know you're disappointed in me for turning it down, Atsu-san. I could tell."

Miyuki, alarmed, stood beside Eijun, resting his hand on his back. It's a small gesture, but Eijun appreciated it.

"Not disappointed, ya dumdum," Atsumu bemused. "I'm impressed that even Hibarida-san recognized yer skill as a volleyball player and probably everyone who watched yer game with us. It's a…." He paused. "Volleyball also suited ya, Eijun-kun."

"I know," Eijun said, surprising everyone, including himself. He shook his head as he smiled and looked at Miyuki and then at them. "But I think I'm content to where I am now. With baseball. With this guy. With my teammates who defend my back when I'm in the mound."

They didn't seem surprised. Instead, they looked like they were about to cry from that declaration-slash-confession that Bokuto ran towards him and tackled him for a hug.

Bokuto called out his nickname as Eijun laughed over his shoulder, his tears followed as Bokuto held him tight. Miyuki took a step back.

'It's only for today ,' he told himself as he watched everyone else circle Eijun. He turned his head towards the field and saw the rest of the team jeered at him. Rolling his eyes, he beckoned them over with a crooked finger, his attention back to Eijun when he heard him struggling from the heaviness of Barnes. Volleyball players sure are tall, huh?

Kuramochi and the others walked cautiously when Eijun chased Sakusa for a hug, where the wing spiker muttered curses under his breath while the Black Jackals and the Adlers laughed. Hinata introduced the team to everyone else when Eijun was too preoccupied trying to make himself clean for Sakusa to give him a handshake. In the end, they both settled on an air-hug.

"So you're the so-called rival of Ei-chan?" Hoshiumi eyed Furuya up and down with curiosity while Furuya was fascinated with his hair. Furuya was reserved, Hoshiumi noticed, and then he faced the freak duo who was busy holding some of the team members' gloves in awe. "Kinda like Kageyama and Hinata, right?"

"No!" Eijun yelled a few meters away, his face in deep red. "I mean, yeah, Furuya and I are rivals but definitely not like Tobio-san and Shoyo-san!"

Everyone breathed out under their noses, their laughter holding in as the Seidou team was curious enough to ask him what was wrong with him.

"N-nothing!" Eijun stuttered, playing with his unbuttoned jersey to distract himself. When it clicked to him that the Seidou team were with them, he widened his eyes and found them all interacting with the Adlers and the Black Jackals. His teammates, however, were surprised at how taller they were in personal and, honestly, it was a bit intimidating standing near them. He heard Kuramochi cackling at the top of his lungs, his arms hooking around Miyuki as they talked with Kageyama, Atsumu, and Hinata. Bokuto grinned when Shirasu asked for his autograph, while Zono was hesitant to approach Atsumu.

Hoshiumi and Haruichi stared; both had a familiar feeling with one another for some reason. When Heiwajima joked that it was probably because of how similar their heights were, Hoshiumi lunged forward at Heiwajima. Ushijima approached Furuya and asked him if he had ever considered playing volleyball, only for Furuya to end up sleeping in the middle of their conversation, which Ushijima didn't know since he thought Furuya was listening and so he continued talking.

It was weird watching his volleyball friends and his baseball friends interacting like these. His first-year self wouldn't believe it, let alone him going out with Miyuki now.

"Looks like he's in a pinch with Kageyama and Miya," Sakusa muttered underneath his mask, and Eijun turned to him. Sakusa was slouching, digging his hand on his pockets while he used his other hand to straighten the brim of his Black Jackal cap. "That guy. Miyuki Kazuya, right?"

"Yep," Eijun watched as Atsumu got closer to Miyuki and stared at him as if Miyuki had committed a crime. Kageyama emitted his dark aura around him that Hinata swatted him in the head. "Kuramochi-senpai's with him, so I think he's going to be fine."

"Miya's just overreacting, by the way," Sakusa said.

"I know," Eijun breathed in the warm breeze of the afternoon. "I think it's a setter thing because Tobio-san and Atsu-san are ganging up on him since he's the main catcher."

"I think they're trying to remind him to make you shine in the mound. Though, I think that is unnecessary. Since he's known as the best catcher in his generation," Sakusa observed as Atsumu started comparing his thighs with Miyuki's and Kuramochi was cackling over how Miyuki looked so troubled. "You know both are passionate in volleyball, and both would love nothing more than to bring out the best in their teammates' abilities, including yours."

"Even if I don't play volleyball that much?" Eijun tugged his unbuttoned jersey and readjusted the strap of the shoulder pack.

"It doesn't matter if you play volleyball again or not. The moment you're in a court with either one of them, you'll always be their wing spiker. They always want you to exceed their expectations, after all."

"Man, setters are so demanding!" Eijun stretched over his arms, and Sakusa softly laughed, agreeing with Eijun.

It took a few more minutes before Osamu and Kuroo joined the rest of them. Kuroo headed to where Eijun was right away to tease him about his pitching, and Kuramochi had the luxury of making fun of Miyuki.

"Sawamura's always like that to anyone making fun of him," Miyuki said, annoyed. "Besides, they're just…." They watched when Kuroo squished Eijun's cheeks, saying something to him that made Eijun flustered. "Close. Sawamura told me that guy was one of the people who taught him volleyball."

"Just admit you're jealous of them, Miyuki," Kuramochi slapped him in the back, highly amused by his friend. "Even Miya-san's twin is joining them right now, and also Bokuto-san."

Miyuki snorted, ignoring the short-stop as he winced from the pain from where Kuramochi had slapped him. The pros were a lot closer with Eijun than everyone on the team had expected. Eijun was a bit tactless. Still, they never imagined him talking to the pros-who were so famous that Kataoka and Rei had to limit the number of people watching the scrimmage today because everyone heard they'd be coming here, so casually as if he was the same age as they were. Except for the older players, Eijun was more casual with those near Hinata's age.

"They are his first family," Miyuki said. "Things like jealousy…it's normal. Let's not forget that you guys were staring at them so enviously just before I called you guys here," Miyuki winked at him, and Kuramochi rolled his eyes. "Sawamura just has a way with people that even if he's loud, people will find that admiring of him."

"Or attractive," Kuramochi added, and Miyuki gave him that knowing look that made Kuramochi elbowed him so hard that he curled away.

Eijun gave Miyuki a not-so furtive glance, and Miyuki, whose eyes never left Eijun since they got separated, smirked and winked at him, and Eijun smiled at him, looking so smitten. Kuramochi made a face, and the Black Jackals and the Adlers all turned back at Miyuki with fervent glare.

"Haha! I'm hated ❤️."

"You sure you won't use that when you want to play or something?" Kuramochi looked over his shoulders as he fixed up his necktie. He and Asada watched when Eijun placed the volleyball in a glassed case, which Eijun had purchased in a nearby home-store along with something to hold the ball in place, and putting it on display on his study table.

Eijun gave them his triumphant smile before inspecting the glass case having no dust or whatsoever again.

"I don't want the signatures to fade out!"

"But you have every signature from that notebook of yours, senpai," Asada reminded him, pointing to where the notebook was hiding underneath Eijun's covers. "Even from the Schweiden Adlers."

"Even so. I want to laminate those as well and frame it!" Eijun grabbed his pants. "Besides, a signed volleyball is different, and it's not every day you get to have every member of the team sign it."

"If you sell that on the internet along with the notebook, I bet you'd earn a lot," Kuramochi flashed him his sinister smile.

Eijun gasped, shielding the glassed case from Kuramochi as if it would do any much help at all. "You wouldn't dare!"

"If you get to be my gopher for a month, then maybe I won't. Gyaha!" Kuramochi cackled, and Eijun made a growling noise. Kuramochi grabbed his usual wax from the drawer and smeared it all over his palms. "Ah, that reminds me. I heard you talked with Suzuki the other day," He clicked his tongue as he styled his hair. "That jerk. To think he has the guts to ask help from someone else's teammate. I thought he and his team are doing well!"

"They are!" Eijun buckled his pants. "He and the team just need some help and a few tips, that's all."

"They want some tips from an underclassman," Kuramochi said slowly. "Right. Is that their way of trying to recruit you in their team?"

"The Seidou Volleyball Team are not that sneaky!" Eijun squawked. "They just want tips, that's all. You sounded just like Miyuki-senpai when I told him about it."

"I will have to kick your ass again if you compare me to that guy," Kuramochi pointed at him, the remaining wax scattered from his fingers. "Suzuki is just… I don't know. I have a bad feeling about him."

"Is it because he's too tall for you, senpai? Don't worry! It's normal to feel like that. If it makes you feel better, we common folks are in the average height! And sure, Suzuki-senpai is more approachable and more popular than you, and he has more friends than you and Miyuki-senpai combined, and the fact he doesn't have a scary looking-face—gyaaah!"

Kuramochi wrestled him to the ground, and Eijun asked help from Asada-who was smart enough not to interfere when it comes to Kuramochi before he ended up tapping out. There's always chaos inside Room 5 every morning~.

After everyone had dinner, they either went to their room to rest or had their individual practice in the field or the indoor facility. Eijun and Miyuki were in the laundry room clearing out their clothes from the washing machine.

"Why does that have a different number than your other jerseys?" Miyuki asked when Eijun carefully took out his Black Jackals jerseys.

"Ah," Eijun stretched out the jersey he was holding where he could see SAWAMURA 3 right in front of him. He let out a soft smile. "My ace number back in middle school."

"So the ace number is different when it comes to volleyball?" Miyuki made a humming noise, genuinely curious as he threw some of his clothes in his basket to be hanged afterward.

"It depends on the school. Usually, the number 4 is the ace number. In Karasuno's case, their number 4 means you're the libero no matter what year level you are. They're unique and all."

"Just like how they made a shorter player than the rest of the team their ace back then?"

Eijun gasped. "So you were listening when I told you about Shoyo-san's time back in high school!" Eijun beamed at him, putting the jersey in his basket.

"Why shouldn't I?" Miyuki arched a brow.

"I thought you'd get bored since it wasn't related to baseball!"

"Ehhhh~" Miyuki walked towards Eijun. He hugged him from behind and smelled his shampoo on Eijun's hair: citrus and berries, and it was so tempting to bury himself more on Eijun's soft hair. "It would be rude of me not to listen when it was me who asked, you know?"

Eijun giggled, grabbing a pair of jersey shorts from the washing machine. Miyuki licked his lips.

"You should wear that sometimes when we practice our numbers," Miyuki rests his chin on Eijun's shoulders, his hair tickling Eijun's neck.

"Eh? Why?" Eijun looked at him, ruffling Miyuki's hair on instinct. "Not that I mind, though. It would be easier to move since the bandage on my knee keeps on snagging my pants. Luckily it's already healed, though, and it's comfortable wearing the shorts!"

Miyuki didn't say anything. He just smirked as he planted a kiss on Eijun's cheeks before going back to finish his own set of laundry.

Kanemaru silently whimpered just a few meters from the couple as he, himself, was folding his clothes.

'The senpais were right; I should've done the laundry in the morning!'

5:10 AM

Eijun made his way down to the bunk bed carefully not to wake Asada up. He grabbed Miyuki's hoodie that he borrowed and changed into more comfortable pants appropriate for a run before tiptoeing out of the room.

He stretched, inhaling the chilly morning breeze when he did. His laundry from last night was still damp as he inspected it in the clothesline in front of their room. He stopped when his hands reached on his Black Jackals jersey.

His ace number.

He traced the number over and over.

He doesn't know if his old teammates watched the game last week, nor watched his and Haru's message for them during that day:

'We didn't regret anything, and we hope we get to play again soon, wherever you guys are.'

Regret.

Eijun frowned. He never regrets his choice in choosing baseball. Not even once. Perhaps the only thing he ever regretted was how he never fully explained to them entirely about baseball. But this time, if he ever gets to meet them someday, he will hold his chin up high and show them that baseball was indeed his sport. And this time, maybe they will understand.

Hinata's word always stuck on him: 'Sports are meant to be free.'

He took a step back and walked away.

He stopped when he got near the staircase, looking over his shoulders to see his old ace number once more. He smiled. Finally, he went upstairs and woke Miyuki up to join him in his run.

Business as usual.

~End~