Hayama Kotarou flashed out a smile towards the view on his front as his hands made their way at the back of his head.
He breathed in a long air.
The weather was so nice.
Even the air, it was so different from the city, at the school and even though Kyoto's air was better than the crowded capital of Japan, he still found the current surrounding as something else. Refreshingly cool, if he must define. He could tell that the atmosphere around—if not a hundred percent clean, would at least be two times cleaner and not polluted compared in the area where they came from.
The light wind passing by was as if being filtered by the hundreds of leaves around. He breathed in once more, longer than the usual.
What a good day to be alive.
If he could just go and relax in a corner or maybe under a tree while having a cup of tea and some sandwiches, then life would be so awesome.
All was good and well until he heard a whistle.
He let out a quick sigh and opened his eyes just to be greeted by an image of a girl holding a file board with a whistle in between of her lips.
Hayama bent his back, leaning both hands on top of his kneecaps.
So much for dreaming...
The cruel reality was this moment of training, running up and down in a hill, into the group of trees that seemed to make the area like an adventurous forest.
"We're going to start from here all the way to the top of the hill then back. This is a test and also part of the training to build up your stamina."
There's no time for some relaxation, the blonde realized. Although that should be what the trip must be about.
"Alright! Bring it on! I ate one day worth of sandwiches for this!"
"I don't think that would be enough." Someone commented.
"I do hope you won't get indigestion for eating that much."
Hayama didn't have to wonder who said that.
And then,
"Right, thanks Sasazaki. I'll keep watch to them as they run. For the meantime, can you prepare their water bottles?" Shota Hoguchi said, taking the file board with him.
The girl nodded.
Using his own whistle hanging around his neck, he blew it to make a signal and to steal everyone's attention.
"There's no more perfect time to do this but now. Alright everyone, the weather is so nice so let's begin! On my signal, run!" He eyed everyone as they all get ready to hit the ground.
But wait,
"Mayuzumi? Is Mayuzumi here?" Just to be sure that the co-third year was also participating on this run.
Mayuzumi sighed.
There it goes again.
Always, he always had to receive a special mention of his name from their manager.
When would he be accustomed with his presence? He was clearly just few meters away from him, just behind Hayama Kotarou and in front of Akashi Seijuro.
"Hai! Mayuzumi-san is behind me, Senpai!" Hayama proclaimed, pointing a thumb towards the phantom player through his shoulder.
"Oh, okay. Again, on my signal."
The basketball club's manager raised his forefinger, "3..."
"2..."
"1..."
"And go!" it was followed by a blow on his whistle. The club players started running.
No, running wasn't a big deal really, but what made this current activity hard was the fact that they were doing it on a hill. The uneven ground didn't help either and definitely neither was the consecutive branches hanging and blocking their view.
The visible roots of the trees were everywhere on their path, so if they didn't look carefully, they would be hugging the ground.
"Ugh, Shit!" Hayama frowned as he brushed away the leaves that hindered his way.
As Mibuchi Reo did a flawless dodging from those annoying things, Nebuya Eikichi, performed some slapping and smashing of brunches as if they were nothing. Now, the muscles he had built around his arms were finally bringing the advantage.
On a different scene, for Akashi Seijuro, instead of dodging, he was actually calculating the area that he must take to avoid any senseless disturbance. All thanks to the skills that his eyes had to offer and his 100 % accuracy when it comes to foretelling what lies ahead.
However, the other members mostly shared the fate of their small forward player as constant swearing and cursing towards the obstacles resurfaced the area.
Shota Higuichi was just strolling behind, watching and observing everyone. This also involved few reminders and cheers to the team but a certain, supposedly invisible team member seemed to have stolen his eyes quite often. "Kora! Mayuzumi don't slack off! Run faster!"
Mayuzumi just glanced at the club's manager from the corner of his eyes. Ever since joining the first string, it was only yesterday that he found out that this guy—Shota Higuichi was actually the manager and not that girl.
Anyhow, why must he run fast?
The goal was to reach the hill and be back to where they started and nothing else. Whoever reach first wasn't important and there were actually no specific instruction for that. What would happen if he increased his pace? Ah, yes of course, he would earn non-sense exhaustion.
Thanks, but no thanks.
He ignored the remark of the brunette and just continued on his preferred speed.
It stretched out for a couple of minutes until he noticed that the manager was already leveling the other players, making him the last one.
But, no worries though.
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Hotaru recounted the number of bottles she had put inside the big refrigerated container, making sure that she had enough supply for the thirsty players who would be arriving soon from their run.
One glance from her mobile that was set on a timer made her aware of the one and half hours that passed. What was taking them so long? She wondered, looking at the direction where the group went. Maybe they did few breaks at the top? Without any idea, she decided to crouch under one tree and wait patiently.
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Just half way downwards back at the starting point, everyone couldn't wait to reach the finish line. They were already bathed in sweats. Their shirts were as wet as a newly washed one.
Going up had to be the hardest. With gravity as their main enemy, they felt like their feet were being pulled down. It was still so early in the morning but their energies were on its limit. Really, who planned this activity? It would have been better if they ran in an even ground instead of a slope.
Regardless of everyone's silent cursing, they somehow managed to survive.
Now, all left was to get back. At least running down in this slope was two times easier. The only thing that was keeping them forward was the thought of the cold water once they reached the goal point. Because—Uh—whose idea was it to not bother bringing a bottle of water thinking there would be ration at the summit?
Among the tired and breathless crowds, one person was thinking and wondering why did he even sign for this. He may not be the one who had the weakest stamina, still, he wasn't someone like Nebuya Eikichi who apparently seemed to have a tank supply of energy.
He would fall on the average category or could be a bit like his other two co-regulars, however, unlike Mibuchi Reo and Hayama Koutaro who had been doing this since their freshman days, this one moment was his first.
Ever since he started his career in basketball, all he had been doing was run on and off inside the gymnasium that had a nice flooring and nice atmosphere, a complete opposite of this slope. Mayuzumi was almost out of breath, even though he was just following the pull of gravity. Basically, he didn't have to put much force to his body, instead, just a slight stepping and hopping would do. But really, screw this branches scattered everywhere. On and off, his arms were working hard to brush each of them away from his face.
It went like that until he finally reached the place.
Thank God! Everyone said in unison afterwards.
"C-crap, I-I thought I'd pass out." Hayama cried out.
"Here, Hayama-san, nice work there." Hotaru jerked one bottle of water near his face. The blonde, who was actually leaning on the ground using his arms and knees as the support tilted a head to look at the girl.
Ahh
Suddenly, her image appeared like an angel who fell from heaven on to his eyes. A savior, Thank you God of Water! "Z-Zaki..."
Hotaru smiled. Ah, he is crying...
"Please have a drink. It will make you feel better."
"Zaki! I—no, my legs are trembling!"
"Then, please rest for a while."
The girl distributed the bottles upon noticing that even the manager was out of breath, so she did the job by herself.
"Akashi-san, please have a drink... and a towel." the girl offered, squatting in front of the redhead.
From the corner, someone had his eyes to the two. It was with no particular reason and neither was he watching them. Coincidentally, his eyes just happened to shift on them.
There it is.
Mayuzumi thought right away. The obvious act of being biased to that one particular member. It was like an overwhelming portrayal of attachment to the captain. Special treatment, indeed. What are they really? There, he could say, it was his curious thought once again. He was curious, merely because the situation was showing it right exactly in front of his eyes. A human nature like usual. Definitely, not a curiosity caused by his self-interest.
Mayuzumi straightened his back, finally stabilizing his breath. Of course, he wouldn't wait to be given his own portion of water. After all, she seemed to be too occupied with the captain.
He took his way to the cooler box and opened it on his own accord. Unfortunately, he was greeted by nothing but pieces of ice cubes scattered in the inside. He blinked and stared at it for a moment. Seriously, when would this joke going to end? Did she possibly, actually, forget to include him on the total count of water bottles?
He couldn't bring his self to sigh anymore. He was thirsty and tired. But whatever... he would just grab a drink once he gets back at the inn.
That was the plan, until, he felt a presence of someone beside him and simultaneously an object that he wanted so badly—as if by miracle, suddenly appeared in his front, being held by someone.
By the looks of it, he would assume he was being offered to take it. His gray-eyes sluggishly fell on the cold bottle.
From there, his sight trailed all the way from her hands, then to her arms and finally to her face.
Hotaru plastered a smile, or rather, she could have been smiling already from the start and he just didn't notice it. "Mayuzumi-san, I was about to give-" she paused.
The smile around her face was all of a sudden replaced by a small frown.
Now what. It came quickly in his thoughts.
Hotaru blinked, put her eyes once again at the bottle before stretching her arms further to offer the drink.
Mayuzumi took it and only uttered an almost inaudible word of 'thank you'. The girl smiled nevertheless.
Finally, he went to sit down on the corner and pondered what just happened.
Why did she look at him as if something was on his face that she didn't want to point out.
A sweat maybe? Well, all of them had it anyway.
Were there any bed-hairs on top of his head? Not like he would bother with such thing.
He was never the most self-conscious person around. More else, it didn't really matter what other people think about his looks.
If there was one person who would, it would be that sophomore who was nearby, currently panicking all to his self while poking few spots around his face. "Hmm, maybe I should switch back to my old brand."
"Eew, what is that Reo-nee?!" Hayama squinted his eyes towards Reo's face. "...uh it looks greasy...or oily?"
Reo shot a quick glare, "Considering that dry skin of yours, I would not wonder if you don't know what a sunscreen is."
Mayuzumi's bottle was almost empty. His eyes still secretly glued to his co-players while judging them silently as he eavesdropped on their conversation. Maybe, it was just his way of passing time while re-charging his energy.
"Those who are done resting, please assists me on bringing back this cooler box." Their manager announced after a while. However, all club members seemed to have suddenly turned their attention onto something. Some even uttered an obvious alibi of having cramps in their legs or even claiming that their legs have given up on them.
"You-"
"Geez, you guys are so weak!" Nebuya stated proudly, hands on both waist while eyeing those who complained with pity.
The fact that he said that seriously and wholeheartedly annoyed the rest. Little did he know, he was being ridiculed by the others for failing to read the atmosphere.
Either way, it earned Shota's liking, why didn't he realize that the club actually has a reliable muscle man? "Alright! Nebuya!" He said, moving back and forth the tips of his fingers. "Let's put those muscles in action."
"Yeah, Sure."
And in one arm, he was able to lift the cooler box which amazed everyone's eyes. It was even more frustrating for some, to see how he could easily do the task that everyone feared to. Not because they were lazy or something but because they thought the cooler box was too heavy and troublesome to carry by two people. They would rather take a rest.
God of manliness Nebuya-sama!
"Uwaa, Only now that I feel respectful of that gorilla..." Hayama mumbled, jaw almost hanging in awe.
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The weather was so nice at this time, especially after that dreadful running. Though others already went back to do some shootings and practice, there were some who preferred to stay outside, nearby the vicinity of the court, just feeling the cool breeze of air.
After lunch, their practice game would commence and by then they got a free time all for themselves. They could spend it however they want.
As for Mayuzumi, he preferred to be outside, just sitting in the corner, in one of the benches. In his front was the same forest that would lead to the hills, the same setting where their morning activity took place. Somehow, just looking at that place made him tired.
Suddenly, a ray of sunshine came in contact with his eyes, peeking from the leaves in one of the trees surrounding the area. He closed that one eye while squinting the other one. It was too bright, but the warmth it gave around the eye was rather...nice.
"That's very impressive." A voice came in.
He didn't have to look to know who the person was. Just that soft voice, the familiar feeling it gave towards him, he knew that very well and it was irritating. Why would she always find him when he was at the peak of his relaxation?
The girl walked in small mincing steps, as if being careful not to make any noise with her feet. She had always been like that.
From her sight, the sun ray was like a spotlight focused on his closed eye. That right eye...
As if in trance she raised her one hand and hovered it on that right eye. It helped the fact that he was sitting on the bench and she was standing. The gap in their height—that Mayuzumi could effortlessly win if only he would stand up, reversed.
Mayuzumi didn't know why, or if she was fooling around when she suddenly hovered her palm on his right eye. Instantly he felt the absence of sunshine that fell on his eye a minute ago and that was when he realized what she was up to. The third year slowly opened his eyelid, impassively looking at her palm.
Always, always an unforeseen gestures, really.
"What are you doing?" He managed to ask.
"I think it's causing you discomfort." She answered so casually, like it was the most normal human gesture anyone would do to someone in this kind of event.
He didn't get it.
Not the reasoning itself but her for giving that.
She remained as it was. "So Mayuzumi-san can wink, hmm?" She smiled, followed by a slight tilting of her head to the side, as if trying to peek behind her own hand just to eye him.
"You shouldn't be calling that a wink..."
"Why not?"
Mayuzumi sighed inwardly.
His eyes traveled to her arm that was still hanging in the air. "Do you plan to stay like that? Well, not that I care though." If you get tired, that is.
Hotaru held the area of her shoulder, "Actually, this is tiring." She laughed a little and pointed on the right end of the bench, where the ray of sunlight wouldn't reach him. "Then, please move on that side."
What is this girl? "You don't have to be bothered with it." He mumbled.
"..."
God, couldn't she be nosier than this?
He frowned, in the end, he decided to shift at the other end of the bench but only because it was annoying.
Hotaru widened her smile before dropping the arm to her side.
So...
Did she come all the way here just to do that?
What else does she want?
"What?"
Hotaru blinked before snapping. She clasped her hand in front. "Ah, right. I almost forgot."
Seriously?
He watched her as she put one hand inside the pocket of her P.E pants. Then it came out as a fist and the next thing he knew she was showing him a Band-Aid on top of her palm.
He only gave it a blink.
"..."
"..."
"What?"
"Actually, I've been looking for you to give this." She said.
"Why?"
Hotaru looked at him the same way she did this morning. "What do you mean 'why?' Doesn't it hurt?" She asked, uncomfortable as it may seem but from his ears, she actually sounded worried.
The short haired girl pointed her forefinger to her nose. "There's a cut on top of your nose..."
He frowned. Huh?
He tried tapping the surface using his forefinger.
Well, true, it quite stung when he did that.
But how...and when?
Then, he remembered the branches from the forest.
Ah...
Mayuzumi tilted his head and looked back at the girl, "It's fine. No need to worry about it." Worry? Did he really just assume she was worrying?
Hotaru shook her head. "No, please have this. It's not safe to let your wound–no matter how small it is, opened in the air."
What is she talking about? "It's nothing serious."
"It's nothing serious until it gets serious, or you don't think so?" She jerked the Band-Aid once again.
"I don't need it."
"..."
Hotaru sighed before taking the plaster from her own palm. She tore the tip to get it outside from the cover. "I'm sorry but this is like a first aid." She peeled both sides slowly, "And since you refuse to take it, I guess I'll just have to force it on you."
"..."
Mayuzumi slightly raised a brow in confusion but most of all in disbelief at her actions.
Her figure had gotten deeper as her hands appeared to be nearing to his sight.
By the looks of it, she seemed to be serious on doing it, but... Is she really going to-
Suddenly, he felt the tip of her forefinger touching the surface of his nose, the sticky plaster finally coming in contact with his skin.
He blinked, both of his hands were frozen and hovering to her sides in surprised. Anyone could tell that he was on the verge of pushing the girl away if only she hadn't managed to tape the bandage quicker than that.
For a millisecond there, his mind actually stopped functioning.
Hotaru finished it by gently tapping both ends of the Band-Aid, making sure that it was sticking properly.
Why she wasn't getting awkward with their sudden closeness. It was something else, like she was so used on doing it. He noticed and he was aware of the reason.
Mayuzumi closed his mouth. At this point, he wasn't sure anymore what he felt. For some reason he was annoyed but at the same time, a tip of his consciousness was aware that he was also somewhat shy yet excited.
"This reminds me of someone from before." She began, voice quite low, like someone telling a bedtime story at night. "That person doesn't like getting a bandage as well."
He knew it. Not that story, but the fact that—of course, she was referring to Akashi Seijuro. There it was again. The unexplainable loyalty and obvious yet strange attachment she seemed to have with him.
He breathed out, all quietly. Just few seconds ago, his eyes couldn't seem to focus anywhere. He just didn't know where to look at, if he straightened his eyes, he would only find her face. And nothing good came from looking at that. He closed his fist then open again that still hovered on the sides of her waist.
Hotaru twitched in slight surprised.
Something, there was a sudden tap she felt beside her arm. Or, was it a tap? It seemed like it remained there, touching her, holding her.
Her eyes adjusted a bit higher from his nose, all the way to look at his eyes, maybe she would find a hint of what it was about if she saw his eyes.
She expected the usual, him having the vacant expression but just when her eyes landed on his', she found him already watching her.
It unknowingly made her stepped one foot behind, suddenly realizing the closeness they had with each other.
This movement broke the contact. Mayuzumi didn't look away just yet, instead, he watched her calm face suddenly turned into a confused one, just to turn back onto a smile again.
The transition of her face happened so fast.
It was like how models would quickly pull out a smile by hearing a simple call from the photographer.
However, he knew it quite well. The smile was too forced out.
Strange, since when did he become expert on noticing the differences of a person's face?
Her hands were kept at the back.
As usual, he averted and didn't put any changes in the expression of his face.
He stood up, one hand inside his pocket as he looked down on her small figure.
Hotaru smiled timidly.
He pondered.
For a while, it felt like his consciousness, his ability to question and reason someone's action and even his own attitude stopped from functioning. In an instant, he just moved depending on what his body wanted.
Perhaps, she noticed that too well.
It's because she's being nice...
"..."
"..."
"Thanks."
"Y-You're welcome."
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