Gakuto's tennis was fascinating, he had always thought so. Sometimes, if he jumped really high, it almost looked like he had wings, carrying him wherever he wanted. On the courts he seemed to be entirely at ease, always jumping around, bending his body in ways he wouldn't have believed possible. And all the while taunting his opponents, showing off just how superior he was to them. Except when they were better than him. Gakuto would then grit his teeth and get angry, sometimes to the point where Yuushi would have to interfere, so he did not insult his teammates too much.
And yet, his eyes were almost always (when he was not playing Atobe and had to pay attention) following the little red-head around, entranced by his movements, sometimes wishing he could get even closer to watch. Though sometimes (lately it happened more often) he thought simply watching was not enough. He did not know when he had last taken a nap during practice – somehow no one else had noticed either – but the view he got here was infinitely better than any he could get during lessons. Especially when he flipped, yes, just like that, and he could watch Gakuto's shirt ride up, revealing skin that looked oh-so-very-soft… He licked his lips. Maybe, maybe there was some sort of chance for him. He certainly hoped so.
Clear, brown eyes also watched as Gakuto finished his opponent off, straight after bouncing over to where Yuushi was standing and jumping onto his back. More taunts and insults were thrown - he liked humiliating losers – until Yuushi's soft-yet-resolute voice reprimanded him to stop. Sure, their club had over 200 members, but that did not mean they should bully anyone out. Gakuto only grinned at his Doubles partner – he wished he would want to play Doubles with him – and somehow managed to look even cuter than before. He sighed, lips quick to form a pout afterwards. Yuushi was so lucky. Though, come to think of it, Gakuto never minded hugs from him either. Maybe he really should just tell him.
From across the court Yuushi looked over at Jiroh, a smug smile playing around his lips. He knew the other boy had been watching.
It was Gakuto's turn to clean and lock up today. Before they lost in the Regionals in his first High School year there had been staff at Hyoutei to do that, but since their coach could hardly kick all of the Regulars off the team he had decided that their punishment was taking care of the facilities themselves until they learned how to win again. Well, with Seigaku being almost fully reunited that hardly seemed possible nowadays. Gakuto snarled. He was sure those guys were inhuman monsters, created merely for Hyoutei's annoyance. Letting out an annoyed huff he kicked at the tennis net he was supposed to be folding. He was the only one who had barely grown a centimetre or two since Middle School, and his arms just weren't long enough for that kind of task. And, of course, when he was done everyone else would already have left, since he took so long and no one bothered waiting another hour before they could go home. Not even Yuushi.
Gakuto kicked open the door to the locker room, frustrated to no end. Really, the only good thing about being a Regular was that the eight of them had their own room. That, and… was someone snoring there? He sighed in exasperation. If Jiroh had fallen asleep here it would probably take another hour until he had woken him up and would be able to go home. If it was within Gakuto's nature to cry he would surely have done so. Today really wasn't his day. First he only got a 29 in his Maths test, then he tripped and fell down the stairs (luckily he hadn't seriously hurt anything, just a couple of bruises here and there), Shishido had mocked at him about it ("Oh, but how can such a great acrobat like you not manage a landing after that?"), at practice he could have sworn someone had been watching him and now Jiroh had managed to fall asleep in the locker rooms. Suddenly banging his head against a wall seemed to be a very valid option. But first he needed to wake that moron up, which usually a good slap or so would do. And right now he couldn't care less about hurting Jiroh in the process.
Just as he was starting to walk over to the boy something seemed to tug at his shoe, making him fall flat on the face. A flow of not-so-nice words started coming out of his mouth as he realized he had managed to trip over his own fucking shoelaces. What, just what exactly had he done to deserve that? But still, Mukahi Gakuto's did not cry, especially not over having a little bad luck. He grit his teeth, getting up again from the ground – and was staring straight into very brown, very, very close eyes.
"Woah!" he jumped back a little, eyes wide and startled, hitting the lockers behind him. "Jesus Christ, Jiroh, ever heard of the concept of personal space?" How had the other managed to wake up so quickly anyway? This was Jiroh, for heaven's sake, and that one did not wake up from a little cursing. Yet, while he was still busy rambling to himself, he suddenly found Jiroh invading his personal bubble again. The boy had somehow managed to get about a head taller than him since Middle School, he absently noticed, still a little too busy wondering how Jiroh was, in fact, not still sleeping.
His train of thought was interrupted, however, when the other boy lowered his head, tilting Gakuto's own chin up. "Err, Jiroh, what are you…?" was all he managed to get out before the other boy's lips covered his own in a short, but sweet kiss. He did nothing. He stared. Some part of his brain didn't even register as Jiroh nuzzled against his neck. "I really like you, you know. Really,really like you." Jiroh smiled happily. Gakuto still didn't move. Had Jiroh really just… just kissed him!