Author Notes: *laughs sheepishly* I don't know why, but I've been really motivated to write recently. This turned out much longer than I thought it would be, though.
This is set during Act II Chapter 200 of the manga. Inashiro winning against Seikou is the only spoiler.
This is part three of my Summer Sky series, but you don't need to read the first or second part to read this part.
I hope y'all enjoy it!
Inching Closer to That Summer Sky
Eijun knew he shouldn't.
It probably wasn't very proper, considering he was with his teammates. And they were here to watch his boyfriend's pitching.
Boss specifically asked him and Wolf Boy to carry out this duty. He had to show him his trust in him wasn't misplaced.
But he technically already completed the first part of his duty. He made sure to watch his boyfriend's pitching closely (but that was something he always did), and he would return in time for the next game.
So he couldn't help it.
He had to see his boyfriend. He didn't think they would get to meet until the finals (and depending on how that goes, one of them might not feel like talking even if they somehow met up with each other after. He would know since that happened to him last year, although part of it was because of what happened during the game, too).
Eijun looked over at Nabe, smiling sheepishly. "Nabe-san, I'll be right back. I'm going to the restroom."
"Are you going to see Narumiya?" Nabe smiled at him knowingly.
Eijun couldn't help but flush. Was he really that obvious? "N-No! I'm going to the restroom!" When Nabe and Wolf Boy only gave him a doubtful look, he huffed. "I'm going to the restroom!" He paused, flushing pinker. "But maybe after that, I'll go see him. I promise it won't take long and that I'll return in time for the next game," he said in a softer voice.
"Yeah, I got it. Don't take too long."
Eijun beamed, already walking away. "Thank you very much, Nabe-san!"
"Make sure to return in time for the second game. I can even have Okumura message you if you lose track of time," Nabe suggested, causing Wolf Boy to nod and hold up his phone, as if ready to text him at that moment.
Eijun reddened, shaking his head furiously. "T-That won't be necessary, Nabe-san! I won't lose track of time, I promise!"
… It would be embarrassing if he got carried away and forgot about his responsibilities as ace. No matter how much he liked his boyfriend and no matter how much he loved spending time with him (mainly kissing), he refused to let it affect baseball.
Last year, he didn't have a problem separating baseball and his relationship with Mei. Of course, only Cap knew he was dating the enemy at the time of their finals game with Inashiro. But he proved, at least to Cap, that he was serious about baseball. And about Mei. All he had to do was prove it again. This time to the rest of his teammates.
He was Seidou's ace. And although he was dating the enemy, he wanted to prove to his teammates he wouldn't let them down.
(He had felt so disappointed (but also angry) when he heard about Inashiro's loss during the fall tournament. He had, of course, felt upset for Mei, and when they received some free time, he had immediately rushed over to Inashiro to check on him. … Which could've gone better. But the part of him crazy about baseball had lamented about the lost opportunity to play them again.)
And to get to the finals, they needed to beat the team appearing in the second game first. Like Boss said, getting another look at their batting lineup will prove useful when preparing for that game.
Maybe it'll give him a hint for a new pitch. Or maybe a hint to improve one of his numbers.
After going to the bathroom (because he wasn't lying when he said he needed to go), he immediately exited the stadium, on the lookout for Inashiro colors.
And their arrogant ace.
Spectators and fans of both teams hung outside, chatting about the game. Countless people stood in line near the spectators' entrance, waiting to buy a ticket for the second game. He had to move out of the way for some people, bowing his head politely when someone apologized for almost bumping into him.
He could've sworn he heard some whispers, feeling several spectators' gaze on him as he walked.
But it was probably because of his school uniform and not because they recognized him as Seidou's ace.
A few minutes later, he spotted the unforgettable Inashiro uniforms. To his disappointment, he didn't see their ace anywhere.
Maybe he was still talking to the press? Or some graduates?
His eyes lit up, spotting Itsuki. Maybe he would know where Mei was. And if he had to wait, he could spend time talking to him about that series he got him into recently.
Itsuki had been speaking to one of his teammates, but as he walked closer, he turned his head in his direction, eyes widening when he spotted him.
"Eijun?"
"Itsuki, congrats on getting into the semifinals! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time," he said, smiling. "Not that I doubted you or Mei, of course! It was just one of those games."
Itsuki smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Eijun. It definitely wasn't as easy as the score suggested. They had some powerful swings that put pressure on Mei-san."
Eijun nodded, remembering when he pitched against Seikou during the fall tournament. "I know the feeling! Especially that fourth batter. He hit a home run off me." He made a face, causing Itsuki to hide his laugh.
"Really? I didn't know that. Did you tell Mei-san about that?"
Eijun almost squawked. Tell Mei… about the home run? "Of course not! It's bad enough he knows I gave up a home run during last year's summer tournament and during a practice game." He made another face, placing his hands on his hips. "He would just lord it over me, saying that he didn't lose any runs while I gave up a home run."
Itsuki automatically opened his mouth to defend his ace, but he immediately closed it a few moments later, knowing he was right.
Eijun frowned at his reaction before shrugging it off. "And he would count it as his win." He looked like he swallowed a lemon, almost causing Itsuki to laugh again. "I've lost enough times to him! I would be stupid to tell him about that!"
"Why would you be stupid?"
Eijun furrowed his eyebrows. This voice sounded awfully familiar for some reason. Maybe one of Itsuki's teammates?
"I already said why! I refuse to tell Mei about how that fourth batter hit a home run off me!" He huffed, oblivious to Itsuki's wide-eyed look. "Even imagining his reaction is making me annoyed!"
"Heh~ Naga-chan hit a home run off you?"
He froze, paling as he finally recognized this voice. It couldn't be…
He turned around, hoping and praying he was thinking of the wrong person.
But to his horror, Mei stood there, looking thoughtful.
"Gaah! Mei! When did you… How… How much did you hear?"
Mei hummed, tapping his chin. "No wonder you didn't want to talk to me about how you did during that game. I thought something seemed suspicious."
Eijun groaned loudly, resisting the urge to hide his face.
Kami-sama, kill him now.
He marched forward, grabbing Mei's wrist. "Good, you're here. Let's go. I don't have a lot of time left."
"… Of course you don't," Mei muttered. Before they left, he looked over at Itsuki. "I'll be back soon. Make sure to cover for me when someone asks where I am, Itsuki."
Itsuki gave Eijun a sympathetic look before looking at Mei. "I will, Mei-san."
Eijun looked over his shoulder, giving Itsuki a small smile. He quickly tugged Mei after him as he searched for a nearby unoccupied spot, determinedly not looking at him.
Several minutes later, Mei tapped his shoulder, causing him to look over his shoulder at him. Mei indicated a nearby spot under a tree with his head, causing him to nod and lead them over there.
Once they were safely under the shade of the tree, Eijun let go of his wrist, turning around to face him.
To his displeasure, Mei smirked at him, Eijun already knowing the reason why.
And before he could think too much about it, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around his back and kissing him.
He grinned as Mei responded to the kiss, his boyfriend's arms wrapping around him and keeping him close.
It was a little embarrassing (especially considering how long it had been since he last saw him), but he missed him. Both were too busy with baseball to meet up or go out on a date, so they had to make do with video calls and texts.
(He had kept his promise to Mei, texting him frequently whenever he had a chance. His teammates had long gotten used to his relationship with Mei, but whenever he smiled goofily at receiving a text from him, most of them couldn't stop their glares. Or disgusted expressions. He had long forgiven them for overreacting, only feeling amused whenever he noticed said reactions.)
As they pulled away to take a breather, Eijun couldn't stop himself from burying his face in his shoulder, muttering something.
Mei furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "What was that?"
To his surprise, Eijun leaned back enough so he could look him in the eyes, cheeks pink. "I said I missed you," he said in a low voice.
Mei grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously. He leaned in closer, one hand cupped around his ear. "I couldn't hear you. What was that?"
Eijun glared mutinously, tempted to pull away and cross his arms. "I SAID I MISSED YOU!" he yelled, causing him to wince at the volume.
Serves him right.
Mei pulled away, frowning as he rubbed his ear. "I don't think they heard you over in Okinawa," he said, rolling his eyes.
Eijun scoffed, almost rolling his own eyes in response. "I don't care. You deserved it."
"Now who's the petty one?"
Eijun stomped his foot, agitated. "I don't want to hear that from you!"
Mei gave him an incredulous look that he felt was uncalled for, but before he could yell at him, he grinned at him, causing his heart to skip a beat.
Because it was his normal cheeky grin. The one he liked but also disliked at the same time.
… It was ridiculous for him to act this way when it hadn't even been that long since he last saw him, but he missed seeing his cheeky grin.
(And if he were honest, his cheeky grin was one of the things that caused him to start liking him. He didn't enjoy it whenever his boyfriend teased him with that grin. But a part of him couldn't help but notice that like his smirks, his cheeky grin already made him more attractive than he already was.)
"Can you imagine everyone's reactions when they find out we're dating?" he snickered, already imagining their faces. "Everyone will be so stunned that their jaws will drop."
Eijun couldn't stop his gleeful grin, snickering at the thought of it. "I bet we'll even crack some of those poker faces." He gave his best impression of a poker face before letting his jaw drop comically. "Like that."
"I know! You can't help but want to crack those poker faces," Mei said, snickering again. "Especially when the other person is a pitcher."
Eijun nodded enthusiastically. "Right? That usually only happens when you hit their winning shot."
"Don't you mean when your teammates hit their winning shot?" He laughed at his glare, shaking his head. "As far as I remember, your batting isn't that good."
"I've been improving!" Eijun almost growled at the doubtful look. "It's true! I even scored a single RBI during a practice game!"
Mei furrowed his eyebrows. "When did that happen? You didn't tell me about that."
… Which surprised him. Normally, his boyfriend wouldn't hesitate to text him and brag about his most recent achievements. Well, achievements unrelated to pitching, that is. He had learned from his mistake from when they first met and refused to give away any information regarding his pitching or his team. Before Eijun could reply, he smirked, eyes gleaming mischievously. "I'm sure it was just luck, though."
Eijun huffed, shooting him a dirty look. "It wasn't luck! I actually hit the ball!"
"It was an actual hit? The pitcher didn't jam you?"
Eijun couldn't help but flush, causing him to laugh again.
Bingo.
"… It still counts," Eijun said stubbornly. "I meant to hit it that way."
Mei gave him an amused look. "I don't think there's anyone who wants to get jammed."
"It worked out, didn't it?"
Mei nodded, placating him. "It appears so." But in the next moment, he snickered, giving him another smirk. "Still thanks to luck, though."
Eijun huffed, pointing at him. "You're as bad as my teammates! I hit a double off Sankou's Amahisa-san during the spring tournament, and everyone couldn't believe it!"
Mei almost laughed, shaking his head fondly. "Probably because it hasn't happened before?"
"Shut up! We'll see who's laughing when I hit off you!"
Mei laughed hard, unable to imagine it. "That won't happen." Chuckles escaped his mouth as he glared at him. "And if you somehow do hit off me, it'll be thanks to luck. Nothing else."
"I touched your slider last year, remember?"
Mei snorted, waving a hand flippantly. "That was just a fluke. You're the one who was the most surprised by it."
"It still counts," Eijun muttered, frowning. He brightened up, remembering something. "Cap even complimented my batting!"
Mei looked at him doubtfully. "During last year's game?"
Eijun gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to point at him again. "… During practice." When Mei continued looking at him doubtfully, he huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "He did! It was while the spring tournament was going on!"
"… Wasn't that a while ago?"
Eijun uncrossed his arms, pointing at him. "It still counts! My batting skill will only go up from here, so you better watch out!"
"Skill isn't the word I would use," Mei said, rolling his eyes. Maybe if his boyfriend was lucky, he could hit his fastball. If he scored a decent hit off anything else, he would be shocked. "Speaking of Kazuya… Is he here?" He looked around, as if expecting him to pop out of nowhere with that annoying smirk on his face.
Eijun shook his head, reaching out to take his hands. "He's at practice."
"And you're not?"
Eijun almost huffed at his pointed look, pouting. "I'm probably not pitching in the next game."
Mei nodded, looking thoughtful. "That makes sense." His lips twitched at Eijun's betrayed look. "Your coach probably wants you to rest up for the semifinals, right?"
Eijun gasped, looking wide-eyed. "How did you know that? That's scary! Can you read minds now? Or somehow eavesdrop on our conversations from Inashiro?"
Mei laughed his real laugh, causing him to smile goofily.
He loved making him laugh like that. Even if it was at his expense.
(… Okay, that wasn't true. He didn't mind it most of the time, but it was difficult to stay angry with him whenever he laughed like that. Was there such a thing as liking someone too much? He made a mental note to check his shoujo manga when he got back to Seidou.)
Mei tugged him closer, wrapping his arms around him once he got close enough. To his delight, his boyfriend kept laughing, causing him to fall further into his embrace, wanting to hear that deep and melodic noise again.
Mei finally stopped (much to his disappointment), pulling away to look him in the eyes and giving him an amused look. "Why was that the first thing you thought of? You do remember I've been an ace longer than you, right?"
… Which probably meant he had experienced something similar.
Eijun reddened, laughing sheepishly. "Now that makes more sense."
Mei gave him a fond look, still amused. If he didn't know any better, he would've accused him of just saying that to make him laugh. But he knew him well enough to know he was serious. "Of course it does." He raised his eyebrows, remembering what they were talking about before. "You're here with some of your teammates, right?"
Eijun scowled at his pointed look, tempted to jab him in the ribs. "What do you take me for? I'm not some abandoned animal!"
"I don't know. You reminded me of an abandoned cat when we first met." Mei paused deliberately. "And when we met in town a couple of days later."
"I told you I was running some errands for my senpai!" Eijun huffed, unable to stop himself from blushing at the memory. "In what way did I resemble an abandoned cat?"
Mei hummed, letting go with one hand to tap his chin. "Maybe it was how…"
"Just tell me!"
Mei grinned cheekily. "Maybe it was how pitiful you looked."
"P-Pitiful?! Why you…!"
But before he could yell at him, Mei's eyes darkened, tugging him closer and letting his arm wrap around his back once more as he kissed him.
Eijun forgot about yelling at him, choosing instead to focus on his boyfriend's lips on his and promptly responding. He shivered, almost jumping as he felt fingers brushing his sensitive sides. And before he could huff into the kiss (because he knew that irritating smirk was on his face), he actually did jump when those fingers brushed against his bare arms.
He broke the kiss, startled before remembering belatedly he had his school uniform on. And because it was summer, he wore the short sleeve uniform shirt.
Instead of looking annoyed, Mei gave him an amused look, eyes soft. "I think this is the first time I've seen you wearing your school uniform."
Eijun couldn't help but flush as those (now heated) blue eyes roved up and down his body. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure and act like it didn't affect him. He pulled away enough so that Mei could get a good look but didn't move any further, wanting those arms to stay around him. "How's it look?"
He would strike a pose if it didn't mean leaving his embrace.
Mei hummed, nodding a few moments later. "It doesn't look half bad on you." When Eijun only gave him a pout, he snickered, pulling him closer and allowing their foreheads to touch. "It looks good on you," he said truthfully.
Eijun flushed pinker, laughing softly as he gently bumped his forehead with his own. "I'm happy you think so. Thank you, Mei."
Mei rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he pulled away a little. "You're acting like this is the first time I've given you a compliment."
Eijun pouted as he leaned away, tempted to pull him back in. "You don't normally give me compliments on my appearance."
"I do, too! I've told you that you're attractive before."
This time, Eijun rolled his eyes. "Yeah, maybe when we first started dating. And it always felt like you were teasing me instead of complimenting me."
Mei shook his head, giving him a mock disappointed look. "What about all those times you stayed the night? Have you forgotten already?" He tapped his chin, ignoring his wide-eyed look. "I specifically remember telling you while we were in bed." He gave him a suggestive look, snickering as he turned red.
When it looked like Mei would continue talking, Eijun couldn't stop the embarrassed squeak from escaping as he covered his mouth with one hand. "I-I wasn't talking about those times!" He pulled his hand away before he could get any ideas (not that he would be opposed to said ideas, but they were out in public), pointing at him. "You need to return the favor now."
Mei snorted, almost smirking as his fingers brushed the hairs along his nape, causing him to lean into the touch. "What, you want to see me in my uniform?"
Eijun grinned triumphantly. "It's only fair."
"… Fine. I'll send you a picture later."
Eijun beamed at him, his breath catching in his throat at how bright it was. "I promise I'll let you know what I think."
Mei cleared his throat, giving him a teasing smirk. "I won't blame you if your reply is late. I know you'll be too busy admiring it." He could already imagine his boyfriend's red cheeks as he gaped at the picture.
If he were honest, he felt like he was being cheated out of his reaction. It wasn't fair.
"Shut up!" Eijun hated how he couldn't respond with anything else, knowing it would be a lie.
Mei laughed at him, causing him to glare. "Speaking of school uniforms… You're here with some of your teammates, right?"
Eijun blinked a few times, confused before nodding slowly. "Yeah, I'm here with Nabe-san and Wolf Boy."
"You really need to introduce me to your teammates one of these days," Mei said, amused. "Does he really resemble a wolf?"
Eijun laughed loudly, nodding enthusiastically. "He really does. Especially whenever he growls at me."
Mei furrowed his eyebrows, remembering something. "Isn't he the first year who picked a fight with you?" His boyfriend had complained about a first year mouthing off to him (much to his amusement).
"That's right! You remember that?"
Mei couldn't stop himself from snorting. "I asked how your day was, and you started complaining about it. Of course I remember." When Eijun only gave him a sheepish smile, he shook his head, lips twitching. His eyes lit up, remembering what happened earlier. "You came to watch us?"
Eijun pursed his lips, not wanting to admit it. A few moments later, he reluctantly nodded his head. "… Not Inashiro."
Mei gasped, looking delighted. "You came to watch me?"
"… Boss specifically asked Wolf Boy and I to carry out this duty. So of course I watched your pitching closely."
Mei grinned at him, eyes sparkling and leaning in closer. "And? And? What did you think?"
If his excitement wasn't so annoying, Eijun would find it very cute.
(Of course he was lying. He thought it was very cute but also annoying at the same time.)
He hated boosting his already huge ego, but he couldn't lie to him.
"I feel like I understood just how good you are by watching you pitch."
Mei laughed happily, flushing at the compliment. "Thank you! You finally understand, don't you?"
Eijun nodded, remembering how he looked on the mound. "Before, I thought you were amazing. But I didn't really understand just how amazing you are until now."
To his surprise, instead of looking even more pleased, Mei looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Now that I shoulder the ace number myself, I mean."
Mei let out an understanding noise, pointing to himself gleefully. "Well, I am your senpai. Especially when it comes to being the ace."
"… And that's why I don't plan on losing."
Mei smirked at his determined look, tempted to puff his chest out. "You can try all you want. I won't lose."
Eijun rolled his eyes, wondering yet again why he liked this guy.
Mei's eyes softened, taking him by surprise. "I'm really happy you came today. Even if your coach asked you to come."
Eijun's tongue refused to work at seeing those soft blue eyes. All he could do was stare, his mouth drying up.
… It wasn't fair how he could go from cocky jerk to… this soft version of himself in no time.
(And he was embarrassed he liked both sides of him. His cocky side still irritated him at times, but he wouldn't change him for anything. He liked him for who he was.)
"… Because you got to show off?" he asked, his tongue finally working.
Mei gave him a cheeky grin. "Well, there's that of course." But in the next moment, he smiled at him, Eijun's breath taken away at the genuine smile. "But really, I'm just happy to see you." He reached up, placing a hand on his cheek. "I've heard how Seidou is doing, of course, but it's nothing compared to seeing you in person."
Eijun groaned even as he leaned into the touch, feeling his cheeks flush. "I told you to stop saying stuff like that."
Mei shook his head, giving him an amused look. His eyes were still unfairly soft. "You're not getting it. Although I'm not too surprised." At his confused look, he couldn't help but lean in, kissing his forehead. "I'm saying I missed you, too, Eijun."
Eijun blinked. Then blinked again.
… Huh?
What did he just…?
His eyes widened, mouth opening as he finally registered what he said. "You… You missed me?" His voice was impossibly soft.
Mei flushed, still looking amused. "Isn't that what I just said?"
"You missed me," he repeated. "You missed me."
Mei rolled his eyes good-naturedly, leaning in and kissing his cheek. "You're acting like this is the first time I told you that."
"It's not the first time, but it feels like it's the first time," Eijun said, grinning devilishly. "You don't normally tell me things like that."
"Shut it, you. If you keep reacting like that, I'll stop saying it."
Eijun laughed softly, kissing his cheek. "I'm happy. Really. I want you to keep saying things like that."
Mei groaned, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Now you're saying embarrassing stuff."
"You started it," Eijun said cheekily.
"And you call me childish."
"But you are childish," Eijun pointed out, smirking.
Mei felt tempted to stick his tongue at him but resisted the urge at the last second. "And who is it that likes me again?"
Eijun beamed, pointing to himself proudly. "Me!"
Mei's lips twitched at the automatic answer. Cute.
He couldn't deny that it felt… nice to hear that. He might be the one who had fangirls (and some fanboys) cheering for him (and frequently asking him out), but he knew there had to be people who had a crush on the human sun before him.
The thought of other people dating Eijun… Other people who weren't him…
It made him want to keep him all to himself.
If Eijun had allowed him to, he would've marked him a while ago.
Eijun tilted his head, confused when Mei only stared at him. "Mei? Are you alright?"
But Mei only muttered something he couldn't catch.
He leaned in closer, giving him his most patient smile. "What was that?"
Mei tightened his grip around him almost possessively.
… Which surprised him, considering that usually only happened when they were in the privacy of Mei's dorm room.
Because of him, they couldn't act like a normal couple. And even if it technically wasn't a secret relationship, it felt like one at times. At least whenever he was at Seidou.
Whenever he visited Mei at Inashiro, they could touch each other and hang out for as long as they wanted. Mei's teammates liked to rib them with comments or the occasional fake disgusted look, but they never minded the attention, always getting back at them somehow.
But he enjoyed it the most when Mei took him back to his room, letting the door close behind them as he held him in his arms. He liked cuddling with him on his bed, but one of his favorite things was whenever Mei held him after they hadn't seen each other in a while. It always made him feel safe and warm.
And maybe it was foolish, considering who his boyfriend was, but it always made him forget who they were. For however long Mei held him, he could pretend they were just two kids (teenagers really) liking each other and enjoying each other's presence.
Because both were strong. They refused to back down no matter what life threw their way. But sometimes, it felt nice just to forget that they were enemies. That Eijun's teammates (except for Cap) had no idea of their relationship.
During those moments, they were no longer relief pitcher and ace. They were only Eijun and Mei, two boys who really liked each other (and occasionally getting into trouble because of it, but it was always worth it in the end).
From now on, they could be as bold as they want. They could even kiss each other in front of his teammates if they wanted (he wouldn't deny that a part of him was looking forward to doing that).
They enjoyed their privacy, of course. But now, they didn't need to hide from his teammates. Or anyone else for that matter. It was only a matter of time before the press found out or someone else saw and told them.
And he hadn't been lying earlier when he told Mei that he was looking forward to everyone's reactions when they found out.
He blinked, the sound of Mei's voice bringing him back to the present. But as much as he tried to hear what was said, he couldn't hear anything. "Is there something wrong?" His voice was soft and confused, almost sounding concerned.
Mei pursed his lips, looking around them a couple of times before looking back at him, causing him to feel even more confused. "What makes you think something's wrong?"
"You're acting weird," he said bluntly. He paused deliberately. "Well, weirder than usual."
Mei rolled his eyes. "Very funny. I'm not acting weird."
"Yeah, and I'm the king of aces," Eijun said, snorting.
Mei was about to retort (and maybe cause an argument), but before he could, Eijun gave him a serious look, catching him off guard.
"Really, what's wrong?"
Mei almost had to look away as he tilted his head, tempted to lean in and kiss his inviting neck. He huffed, pointing at him. "You're not allowed to laugh."
"I would never."
He swore his heart skipped a beat at how serious (but also sincere) he looked. He knew Eijun well enough to know that he wouldn't laugh at him whenever he got like this, but it still felt nice to hear the confirmation. "I want to ask you something. If you're not comfortable with it, let me know. Immediately," he said, giving him a serious look.
Eijun furrowed his eyebrows before nodding. Surely Mei knew he could ask him whatever he wanted. "I'll let you know in my loudest voice," he promised.
Mei nodded, looking pleased. A large part of him knew he was overreacting and that Eijun would more than likely agree to what he would ask.
But he didn't want to assume. He wanted to make sure Eijun had a say in this.
He had messed up before. He didn't want to hurt him again.
(Even if the circumstances were different.)
And while he knew it wasn't totally proper (or fair for that matter), he couldn't stop himself from leaning in and kissing him, grinning as he responded immediately.
Eijun felt confused. Didn't Mei say he wanted to ask him something? Why was he kissing him?
… Not that he was opposed to it, of course. He just felt confused.
He couldn't help but squirm as one hand pulled him closer while another one tangled in his hair. He quickly reciprocated by moving closer so that he could feel his chest against his own, one hand holding onto him while his other hand (his left hand) reached up to touch his hair. Mei would complain about his hair later, but he didn't care right now.
Not when he was kissing him.
He could almost feel that irritating smirk on his face, causing him to huff into the kiss. He would show him.
Mei's smirk disappeared as he deepened the kiss, his tongue darting out to lick his lower lip. He hummed and tilted his head, approving the action and letting him take charge.
Eijun almost pulled away in surprise (because Mei was actually letting him do what he wanted without protesting). Surely there had to be some catch.
Deciding not to think too much about it while he kissed him, he eagerly licked his lower lip again, silently asking permission. He grinned as Mei's lips parted, allowing his tongue inside his mouth.
Mei couldn't help but moan as his tongue touched his own. He allowed his tongue to explore his mouth, touching different parts here and there. When Eijun's tongue touched his again, he responded eagerly, matching his passionate and brisk pace.
Eijun finally pulled away a few moments later, grinning triumphantly even as he breathed heavily.
Mei narrowed his eyes at seeing his grin, already pulling him back in to return the favor.
Eijun let out a barely audible laugh as he followed obediently, allowing their lips to touch again. He let out a moan of his own as his boyfriend's tongue touched his, unable to stop the shiver as fingers brushed his sensitive side.
Sometimes, he still couldn't believe he was dating him. And that Mei found him attractive.
But then he would pinch himself, causing him to realize it wasn't a dream.
It always made him feel happy and a little more confident in himself (if that made sense). It felt so good, knowing Mei liked him as much as he liked him.
When Mei finally pulled his lips away, he couldn't stop the whine from escaping.
"So noisy." Mei looked amused, causing him to flush.
Eijun cleared his throat loudly, hyperaware of those soft (but also heated) blue eyes watching him. "What did you want to ask me?" he asked, hoping to change the subject.
Mei snickered, shaking his head. "Not yet. I'm not done."
But before Eijun could ask what he meant by that, he started kissing down his neck. Eijun's eyes widened before tilting his head, moaning at the feeling of his lips on his neck.
Mei smirked at the way he seemed to melt under his touch, making sure to keep his kisses as featherlight and as slow as possible. He always enjoyed it whenever he got a chance to make him like this. It boosted his ego, but it also satisfied some of the possessiveness he felt.
Because only he could do this to Eijun and make him this way. No one else.
(And he adored giving him affection, always happy to give him some. Especially when it had been a while since he last saw him.)
If Eijun could pull him closer, he would. He didn't want him to stop, shivering as he felt those tantalizing touches. He felt a hand pull down his collar, his lips immediately kissing the now exposed skin.
He couldn't stop the whimper from escaping as he felt a graze of teeth, followed by a tongue licking it every so often.
He was about to ask what brought this on (not that he minded) when Mei's lips finally left his neck, causing a whine to escape his mouth instead.
His breath hitched as he met Mei's gaze. The look in his eyes was a mix of admiring and… possessiveness (if he wasn't imagining things).
Mei's hand left his hair, cupping his cheek. He leaned into the touch, almost shivering again at the look in his eyes.
It wasn't unpleasant, the way he stared at him. And he knew he had his fair share of looking at Mei like that, so he could understand where he was coming from.
"I wanted to ask you something," Mei reminded, causing his eyebrows to furrow.
He wanted to ask him something now? After all that?
Why didn't he ask him earlier?
"Can I give you a hickey?"
Eijun's eyes widened, unsure if it was because Mei asked for permission or because he somehow didn't see this coming.
Mei was acting weird because of that? After everything they've already done and experienced together, he seriously thought he would refuse him?
He grinned devilishly, turning his head enough so he could kiss the hand cupping his cheek. "Only if I can give you one in return."
(Before high school, he didn't consider himself a jealous person. Maybe because it was Mei, but he found himself feeling jealous a lot. Especially when they first started dating.
Mei kept bringing up Furuya's name, and even though he knew at the time that he was only interested in him as a pitcher, it still made him feel jealous. It felt like once again he lost to Furuya, and it made him want to yell. Mei was his boyfriend. Not Furuya's. As they continued dating and he started gaining confidence as a pitcher, though, he didn't feel as jealous. Sometimes, though, he wanted to let everyone know that Mei was his boyfriend. And that he was Mei's. And now was the perfect time for that.)
Mei's eyes widened, as if surprised he agreed. The next moment, though, his eyes lit up, as if he gave him the best present ever. Or told him he was his favorite player.
(… Which he was. Chris-senpai was his favorite retired player, but if he had to pick one person out of everyone still playing, he would always choose his boyfriend and no one else.)
He cleared his throat, finding it hard to breathe under those bright blue eyes. "I've never gotten a… hickey before." To his embarrassment, his voice cracked, almost squeaking as he admitted that out loud.
Mei watched him, amused. His eyes were still bright, but now a mischievous gleam entered them. "If you're not comfortable with it—"
"That isn't it!" he shouted, causing him to wince at the volume. "I was just saying that this will be my first." He lowered his voice, almost wanting to look away from those captivating eyes. "I want you to mark me."
Mei smirked before leaning in close to his ear. "Gladly," he said in a low voice, briefly nibbling on his ear before pulling away.
He felt delighted he was the first (and hopefully he'll be the only one) to mark him.
Eijun closed his eyes, feeling him nip his way down his neck. He felt a hand loosening his tie before pulling down his collar, lips kissing a soft spot near (or on?) his collarbone. He drew a long breath audibly, causing Mei to snicker against his skin.
He realized belatedly Mei had chosen an area easy to cover up with a shirt, feeling a strange mix of warmth and annoyance in his chest. Because while he knew Mei could be considerate, all he wanted right now was for him to mark him in a more obvious spot.
Proving to everyone he was Mei's.
He moaned as teeth bit him, more of a full bite than his small nips.
Mei pulled away briefly, causing him to whine and open his eyes. His blue eyes were dark with what could only be described as arousal. "That was hot. You're hot, Eijun," he said, causing him to flush and shiver.
It wasn't so much what he said caused him to shiver (okay maybe just a little), but he used this quiet and low voice he had long ago considered dangerous. This time, though, he wasn't angry with him or responding to a challenge. It was during this… intimate moment. And that voice saying those words caused his skin to feel too warm.
He could feel his gut burning, belatedly realizing they… probably shouldn't be doing this in public. But the thought quickly disappeared as he realized he didn't care, resisting the urge to squirm under those dark blue eyes. His mind kept repeating Mei's words (he thinks I'm hot), unable to stop a goofy smile from forming.
(Or feeling aroused because of what they were doing.)
Eijun tilted his head, exposing his neck more and causing Mei to remember what he was in the middle of.
Mei leaned back in, kissing his collarbone gently. Eijun cried out when he nipped at the skin then started sucking. Hard. It hurt more than he was expecting, but he found he didn't mind it that much. He whined louder as he bit the spot once more, noticing how Mei had stopped scolding him for his loud voice. Knowing Mei, though, he probably didn't want him to stop, enjoying how he could pull that reaction out of him.
And while he felt a little annoyed he was boosting his ego, he didn't want him to stop.
To his disappointment, Mei pulled away after kissing him on the lips long and hard. He gave him a self-satisfied smirk as he watched him breathe heavily. "There. No one should notice that."
"What if I want them to?" he blurted, unable to help it as his thoughts returned to wanting everyone to know he belonged to Mei.
Mei froze briefly, eyes widening. "You're alright with that?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah. I want everyone to know."
Eijun let out a yelp as Mei almost shoved him against the tree, mouth opening to yell at him.
But nothing escaped his mouth at seeing Mei's blue eyes gleaming with excitement and mischief.
Mei immediately closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around him and kissing him briefly on the lips before pulling away. "Can I give you a hundred more?"
Eijun flushed, almost drawing a long breath. "We don't… We don't have time for that much."
Unfortunately.
Mei let go of one hand, tapping his chin. "Then how about I give you a few more?" He gave him a suggestive look, arms already pulling him closer so that their chests touched. "And I can save the rest for next time."
"… Only if I can give you that much," Eijun said, grinning devilishly.
Mei snickered, leaning in to kiss his chin. "Of course. It's only fair." He smirked, kissing his cheek. "You must love getting to show everyone that the king belongs to you."
Instead of rolling his eyes, Eijun smirked, tilting his head invitingly. "It's not unpleasant. Even if you can be a bit much at times."
Mei snorted, already leaning in to kiss his neck. "I could say the same about you. I don't mind it too much, though."
"Is that so?" Eijun drew a long breath audibly as he felt teeth nibbling on his neck.
"It means you belong to me. And that only I can touch you," Mei said against his skin, pulling away briefly and letting him see his eyes. Eijun's breath hitched at seeing the admiring and… possessive look in those dark blue eyes.
(He wasn't imagining it this time.)
Instead of answering verbally, Eijun let one of his hands reach up into his hair, tugging him closer. Once he was close enough, he kissed him on the lips, unashamed to admit he was a little eager with how he used his teeth and tongue during said kiss.
… Not that Mei seemed to mind, already meeting him halfway and just as eager as he was.
It was a long moment before Mei pulled away, his breath catching in his throat at the look in Eijun's eyes. It was a mix of arousal and possessiveness, but there was also something very soft to it at the same time (not that he knew how he pulled that off).
It was an admiring look, but it was also a look that conveyed how much he liked him.
He had teased him multiple times before about how Eijun should feel blessed to grab the king's attention.
But he wasn't stupid. Nor was he clueless.
A lot of his fangirls (and some of his fanboys) had confessed to him before, but none of them knew the real him. They just admired him as the ace pitcher of the school they attend. And while he always felt flattered (and smug enough to brag about it to his teammates), none of them were Eijun.
None of them were like Eijun either.
Eijun knew the real him and liked him despite that. He knew he annoyed him a lot of the time with his cockiness, and he knew he always gave him a hard time whenever he had to drop his pride and be vulnerable with him.
(Memories of teary (and noticeably hurt) golden eyes that seemed to see through him rose unbidden in his mind, causing him to quickly shove them away. Why was he thinking about that now? He had already apologized and more than made up for hurting him.)
And yet, Eijun still stayed. Even when he was difficult. Or getting jealous because he kept talking about other people. Or acting childish.
Really, he was the lucky one. He couldn't believe this human sun liked him and didn't want anyone else.
(And maybe one day, he'll actually tell Eijun that. But for now, he wanted to enjoy his presence. … And give him a few more hickeys.)
He leaned back in, nibbling on his neck. Eijun whined, causing him to start sucking. He took some more time with this one, smirking at the sight of a dark bruise forming.
True to his word, he gave him a few more hickeys, snickering as Eijun unconsciously pulled him back in once he finished.
While he did feel tempted, he distinctly remembered Eijun promising to return the favor. And he really liked the idea of Eijun marking him.
Eijun let out a disappointed whine when he didn't continue, opening his eyes to give him a pout.
Mei's smirk remained on his face as he looked at him. "I thought you might want to do the same." He tapped his neck. "Unless you changed your mind?"
Eijun narrowed his eyes at the challenging gaze, not wanting to admit that he… almost forgot about returning the favor.
(Stupid Mei with his pretty blue eyes and irritatingly good looks. He really needed to check his shoujo manga about liking someone too much. This cocky jerk was too distracting. And very good at making him melt into a puddle whenever he so much as barely touched him.)
"Of course I didn't change my mind!" he retorted, annoyed by his smirk. He leaned in, kissing his neck. One of his hands pulled his compression shirt down, allowing him to kiss more of that tempting and very attractive skin.
Mei hummed, tilting his head and pulling him closer. He couldn't stop the moan that escaped as Eijun nipped at a sensitive spot. Eijun pulled away briefly, blinking before smirking.
That look suited him a little too well.
Eijun leaned back in, nipping that spot again and hearing another audible noise. He started sucking on it just as hard as Mei had been, causing him to let out another moan. After kissing it once and biting it lightly, he pulled away, causing him to give him a glare.
He laughed softly, kissing him on the lips before moving over to his ear. "One down," he said, voice husky. "Just a few more to go."
Mei stared at him before pulling him back in. "Stop teasing me, and just do it!" he said impatiently.
"Now who's the impatient one?" Eijun laughed again, nibbling his ear before kissing his neck. This time, he moved on to areas where he knew Mei couldn't hide them with a shirt. He nibbled on his neck, hearing him exhale sharply. Taking that as his cue, he started sucking again, making sure to spend more time on each one.
He pulled away, smirking at the sight of a few dark bruises forming.
"There. Now everyone will know you belong to me. Maybe this will stop those confessions."
Mei shook his head, grinning cheekily. "I doubt it. I've already told everyone at my school that I'm dating someone, but that only seemed to increase the number of confessions."
Eijun frowned, tightening his grip. "They do say an unobtainable person is very attractive."
Not that he would know anything about that. He didn't receive as much confessions (or attention for that matter) as his boyfriend.
Mei leaned in, nuzzling his neck and almost causing a smile to form on his face. "Such a jealous boyfriend," he said against his skin, kissing his neck once before pulling away.
Eijun squawked, pointing at him. "I don't want to hear that from you!"
"I'm glad you think I'm attractive," Mei said, grinning at him. He grabbed Eijun's hand and kissed the top of it, grin widening as he noticed his flush.
"I wasn't saying… That's not… I mean, I do…" Eijun huffed, giving him a glare, as if he blamed him for his speaking problems.
Mei laughed, unable to help it at the look on his face. It was a mix of embarrassment and anger. Definitely a look that belonged on his face. And one he's seen countless times before.
"It goes without saying I think you're attractive, too," he said, eyes softening. "And while I enjoy the attention, none of those people are you, Eijun."
Eijun felt like yelling. He's so unfair! "… I know. I wasn't worried," he said in a low voice.
Mei raised his eyebrows. "I would hope not. Especially after what we just did to each other." He snickered as Eijun blushed.
It amused him that Eijun could be so bold and not become embarrassed. But then sometimes, a suggestive comment or telling him some sweet words would cause his cheeks to heat up.
He looked very cute whenever he blushed.
And seeing him like that made him want to push for more.
Eijun opened his mouth, but the only sound that escaped was a moan as Mei kissed his neck. Before he could pull him closer and encourage him to continue, Mei pulled away, causing him to whine.
"You know, seeing you like this with my marks on you is making me want more," he said in that low and quiet voice of his, causing him to shiver.
Eijun cleared his throat loudly, looking around them a couple of times before looking at him. "Normally, I would agree. But here? Now?" When he only nodded, he flushed, noticing the aroused look from earlier. "Aren't you tired? You almost had to pitch a full game," he reminded.
Mei hummed, nuzzling his neck. "Thanks to you, I don't feel tired as much anymore."
"What do you take me for?! I'm not your personal charger!" Eijun huffed, hating the way his arms pulled him closer, wanting more contact with him.
Mei laughed softly, kissing his nose. "Was it that bad? I'm telling the truth, though."
"You're so embarrassing sometimes."
Mei grinned cheekily. "But you like me like that, don't you?"
"Shut up." Seeing his expectant look, he rolled his eyes. "Not here, you pervert."
Mei whined pitifully, nuzzling his neck again. "But I need my Eijun now!"
"… Maybe when we're not in public," Eijun murmured, causing his eyes to light up. He hated how he almost gave in at hearing him call him his. He was so weak. "I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."
Mei grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously. "If you want to give it a try, I'll go along with it." He gestured to some nearby bushes. "Look, I already found us a good place."
Eijun blushed, causing him to laugh softly. "I-I already said no. Give up."
"But you like that I'm bad at giving up."
Eijun groaned, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "That's regarding baseball. Just… stop."
Mei pouted before nodding reluctantly. "… Okay. Next time then." He gave him an eager look, no doubt already looking forward to it.
Eijun's heart skipped a beat at his eager look, reminding himself not to get carried away. Even if he felt the same. "Yeah, next time. If we're not tired from practice."
Mei grinned triumphantly, kissing him briefly on the lips. "Not like that's stopped us before," he said, giving him a suggestive look.
Eijun's whole face turned red, causing him to laugh.
But before he could yell at him, their ears picked up distant cheers and laughter.
He immediately pulled away, eyes wide. "Shit! The second game! What time is it?" He quickly took out his phone, ignoring his boyfriend's whine. To his relief, he saw that he still had some time left before the game started.
And that no one had texted him yet.
"Good. I've still got some time left before it starts," he said, breathing a sigh of relief. He looked at Mei, unsurprised to see the pout on his face. "I'm—"
"Don't apologize," Mei interrupted, reaching out and pulling him close. He hummed, pleased as Eijun immediately wrapped his arms around him. "You said it from the start. That you don't have a lot of time left." He closed his eyes, tightening his grip around him. "And while I would prefer that you didn't have to go, I understand. I don't like it, but I understand."
"Maybe if I wasn't with my teammates, we could watch the game together," Eijun said, nudging him and winking once he saw his eyes opened.
Mei snickered, kissing his cheek. "We would be quite the sight. I don't know if everyone will understand that we're together by doing that, though."
"True. Maybe they would understand if they saw your arms wrapped around me. Or vice versa," Eijun said, amused. He celebrated inwardly that he managed to make him snicker.
He never liked seeing a disappointed or upset Mei. Especially when it came to goodbyes. Maybe it was sad (and a little pathetic), but neither of them liked it despite being used to it.
(Mei had joked once about him transferring to Inashiro so that they could always see each other, but he immediately refused, wanting to become Seidou's ace and pitch against him. He had looked disappointed, but he told him he understood. And that was the last of it.)
Mei snorted, shaking his head. "No, if we did that, everyone would just assume that we're close friends. We would have to kiss to make them understand. They can be quite dense."
"You're just saying that because you want to make out with me with everyone watching." Eijun snickered, shaking his head fondly.
Mei grinned cheekily, winking at him. "I know you would enjoy it."
"Making out with you? Or letting everyone know about us?"
Mei pulled him closer, a dark look in his eyes as he nibbled his ear. "Both," he murmured.
Eijun almost pulled away at hearing how close that dangerous voice was to him, resisting the urge to tell him that he changed his mind. "You're not wrong." He smirked. "When that time comes, I'll enjoy it. A lot."
Mei laughed, looking delighted. "Well, I'm looking forward to that then."
And before he could remind him that he needed to go, Mei leaned in, kissing him on the lips.
He responded eagerly, tightening his grip around him as the kiss quickly became heated.
Pulling away several moments later, he grinned, breathing heavily. "Text me when you get back to Inashiro."
Mei hummed, reluctantly letting go. "Only if you do the same," he said, looking him up and down.
"Of course. You need to send me that picture of you in your school uniform, too," he said, resisting the urge to shiver as blue eyes looked him up and down. Like they appreciated the view.
Mei gave him a teasing smirk, placing his hands on his hips. "Are you sure you're ready for it? I look good in my uniform," he said, striking a pose.
Eijun rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "You look good in everything you wear. Especially your baseball uniform," he muttered, wondering what he did in a past life to have such a good-looking boyfriend.
He looked so tempting in his baseball uniform that he almost changed his mind. Maybe one of these days, they could do it while wearing their respective uniforms?
Mei leaned in closer, one hand cupped around his ear. "Say that again?"
"… Forget it. I'm leaving," he said, flushing at the knowing look.
"Don't be like that," Mei whined, gripping his sleeve. "Give me one more kiss!"
Eijun's lips twitched. "If I kiss you, you won't let me go."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Mei pouted.
Eijun shook his head fondly. And after kissing the top of the hand gripping his sleeve, he scurried away, smiling as he heard the loud huff behind him.
Mei watched him leave, grumbling about mean boyfriends. He reluctantly started making his way back to his team, wondering if they were already inside the stadium.
After a few steps, though, he stopped in his tracks.
An image of Eijun with his tie loosened and collar pulled down to reveal the marks he created came to mind. His lips were red, and his hair looked messy. But even if Eijun fixed his uniform, people would still see the marks he left on spots he couldn't hide with his shirt.
He snickered, smirking.
Hopefully, Eijun wouldn't get into too much trouble. Knowing him, he had probably forgotten at some point that he still wore his school uniform.
… Oh well.
It wasn't his problem.
He didn't regret doing it. And he knew Eijun enjoyed it as much as he did.
He felt happy he got to show off his pitching with Eijun watching. He definitely showed him why he's the king.
And next time they meet, he would have a meal fit for a king.
ZZZ
Thankfully, Eijun made it back with plenty of time to spare. He couldn't stop the flush at Nabe's knowing look, though.
He watched the second game closely, an idea coming to mind for a new pitch after listening to Nabe and Wolf Boy's commentary.
He was so distracted by the thought of a new pitch and their next opponent that he forgot Mei was supposed to text him.
(That didn't mean he didn't think about him. It was impossible not to, especially with the way Boss and the rest of the coaching staff gave him a Look (it deserved the capitalization) at the visible marks on his neck. He had looked sheepish, flushing at the scrutiny. But they didn't say anything or try to make him apologize. Which he felt grateful for. Because he didn't regret anything.)
They were in the middle of dinner when his phone buzzed, causing him to look away from his meal.
Everyone watching rolled their eyes, some of them making disgusted expressions at noticing his goofy smile. They continued eating, ignoring their smitten ace.
Only to look up again at hearing a sound close to a squawk and strangled gasp. Their ace had red cheeks, gaping as he looked down at his phone.
Kuramochi, sitting close by, was unable to stop his curiosity at what made their ace react like that. He leaned closer, looking over his shoulder.
Everyone else watched, amused as Kuramochi clicked his tongue then rolled his eyes.
"Really, Sawamura? You're acting like he doesn't have a shirt on," Kuramochi grumbled, eye twitching and resisting the urge to throw their ace's phone away.
Only Sawamura would react that way to seeing a picture of Narumiya Mei in his school uniform, striking a pose he probably thought was cool and winking cheekily.
Eijun pouted, looking at his senpai. It wasn't his fault he had a very good-looking boyfriend. "It just surprised me! I forgot he was going to text me this picture." He looked back at his phone, huffing. "Besides, I already know what he looks like without a shirt on."
Several people choked, causing him to look up alarmed, face turning red.
… Did he just say that out loud?
"Heh~ So you've already gone that far with him," Miyuki said, amused by their reactions. Despite his words, though, his hands tightened their grip on his chopsticks. Fortunately for him, no one noticed his unusual action.
Kuramochi groaned, rubbing his ears violently. "I didn't need to hear that! What's wrong with you, Bakamura?!"
"You're the one who said it!" Eijun retorted, seemingly blaming him for his slip of the tongue.
Kuramochi hit the top of his head, causing him to whine. "Shut up. You better focus on preparing for the semifinal game. If we don't win, we won't get to face your boyfriend."
"I know that! We're not going to lose." Eijun rubbed the top of his head, shooting him a glare. A determined glint came into his golden eyes, surprising them. "And I don't plan on losing to Mei. Especially as a fellow southpaw ace."
It didn't matter if he was dating him.
He would beat him and Inashiro, so they could get their revenge.
And they'll be the ones who go to Koushien.
Not them.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Author Notes: I hope y'all enjoyed this story.
Please let me know what you thought.
The next part in the series will be the long-awaited backstory part. I already have a plot bunny for how everything will go, so I'm excited to start writing it.
What I'm not looking forward to is revisiting certain parts of Act I (such as the Yips arc 😭) to make sure everything is correct.
I can already tell that it's going to be a very long part (possibly one of my longest stories ever), so it might take some time before I can post it.
See y'all next time!
Happy Holidays!