Blond hair comes into view as I slide off my apron. My manager, Ms. Kawada, is out of the office but due back in the next ten minutes. My shift ended maybe ten minutes ago, but I'm more than willing to watch the store until she comes back. I owe her that much for constantly having to miss work and still being employed. She's too kind for her own good, and I can't help but feel that I'm exploiting that.
"Haicchi! I thought you'd be here-ssu!" I look at the blond in surprise.
"Ryouta? How'd you find out I work here?" I say with shock. The blond kind of giggles in his own way, although I suppose it's more of a laugh than a giggle.
"I remembered the name of the this place since you always brought sweets for Murasakibaracchi after you got off work, and Aominecchi didn't really know where you were." Ryouta says with his usual model grin. "I wanted to see you-ssu!" I raise an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Somehow that seems slightly creepy, Mr. Kise." I say with all the politeness of a complete stranger. Ryouta pales and gives me the same look a kicked puppy would.
"Haicchi, that's so cruel." He says with a childish whine. I raise an eyebrow.
"Really, Mr. Kise? Sorry to have upset you~!" I try to hide the smile that's threatening to tear my deadpan expression apart. Believe me when I say I adore this kid, but he's just too easy to tease. His expressions are top notch.
"You're so mean to me, Haicchi!" Ryouta says as childishly as always. "Ryouta! Call me Ryouta, or at least drop the '-san', okay-ssu?" I can't help but laugh.
"Sorry, Ryouta, it's just that you're so fun to tease." I reply with a grin to Ryouta's still pouting face. "Sorry, sorry. Your reactions are just too precious."
The bubbly blond grins at me. "Anyway-"
"I'm back!" Ms. Kawada chirps as the bell attached to the door chimes like crystals. "Oh, Hai-chan, who is this?" Ms. Kawada is tall, with long hair that reaches her waist, and square bangs. Her eyes, as per usual, are large and curious and alive. Long fingers entangle with each other.
"This is one of my former classmates and teammates, Kise Ryouta." I say cheerily. "He's practically the sweetest human being I've ever met. Ryouta, this is my boss, Ms. Kawada. She always puts up with me." The two bow and exchange greetings.
"Hai-chan, why don't you take some of the things in the back? There's a box already full, so just take one." Ms. Kawada says cheerfully.
"Oh, thanks!" I reply with a smile. I take one of four boxes. "See you!" I don't bother to open the box as I walk out with Ryouta matching me step for step. "Anyway, why'd you come to see me? I don't think anything you have is remotely close to the bakery."
The park comes into view and I, being the child I am, stride for the swing set. It's a little late in the day, and although usually children are still all over this place, there's only a few in sight. I plop down into the swings. The pink box is opened gingerly as Ryouta sits on the swings beside me. "Score! I got cookies and pastries! No cake though. Satsuki will be disappointed. Do you want any, Ryouta?" I offer the blond the box as I munch on the biggest sugar cookie I've seen in my life.
It's the good stuff, too, not that chalky crap we got in the States that had a thousand pounds of whipped fat or frosting or something on top. Ms. Kawada is a fantastic baker, and while I mostly just handle the counter, I'm half decent at doing menial jobs. I'm getting better, though! The cookie is melting in my mouth. Ryouta politely declines my sugared deliciousness since he must keep his "model figure." I laugh in response and take another bite of cookie.
As we sit in the cooling air (thankfully), Ryouta flips open his phone a few times before looking at me directly. "How was your date with Aominecchi?" He asks in a chirpy voice. I choke violently on cookie bits. It takes about two minutes to get everything back to normal before I look at the blond with wide eyes.
"Excuse me?" My voice is higher pitched than usual, with an annoyed tremble and cracking at the end.
"Your date with Aominecchi, Haicchi~! How did it go-ssu?" My face is beyond a thousand shades of read. As the shades progress, Ryouta's grin gets wider and wider. "That well, huh-ssu?" He says with a wink. My face darkens.
"I d-don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Kise." I reply as I look away. "We hung out at the mall and caught a movie." Thoughts of yesterday bring a smile creeping along my lips.
"That's not what Kasamatsu-senpai said when we were behind you-ssu." My head turns so fast that my hair practically whips my face.
"Whaaaat?" My eyes are wide and surprised. "We were in the very back. There weren't any rows behind us!" The blond model grins.
"We were across the aisle and he mentioned it as you exited." My face is turning several darker shades of red. "You didn't pay much attention to that movie, did you-ssu?" I smack the blond roughly and let out a small cry of outrage as my cheeks redden once more.
"Be quiet, Ryouta!" I plead. Honestly, this boy is bad for my heart. My face is nothing short of scorching and I can't decide whether to laugh or cry. "Don't be mean to me." I try to pout my way out of this discussion. The model's having none of it.
"Ne, Haicchi, what was the movie even about, hm? Is Aominecchi a good-"
"Be quiet, Ryouta!" I squeal, placing my hands over the blond's mouth in an effort to stifle the flow of blush-inducing words that drop from his candied tongue. "So what if I didn't pay attention to the movie?"
The blond laughs as he pulls my hands away from his mouth. "See? I knew it-ssu!" My flushed cheeks darken more, something that should now be impossible.
"Ryouta, you're being cruel!" I'm just a whirling mess of embarrassment, and I wonder how anyone can stand be next to someone as embarrassing as I am. "How about we talk about your date with this Kasamatsu person?"
Ryouta's cheeks darken in a very non-Ryouta-like blush. "It was a date!" I reply with wide eyes. "I didn't think I'd gotten that right." It's funny, though. I guess that interesting or endearing would be better words to describe the way the blond's eyes light up at the mention of this Kasamatsu. It brings a smile to the corners of my lips. Ryou's a lot like a puppy, I think. He loves everyone, sometimes too much I think. I'm glad he found someone he likes.
Then the blond evades the question, or rather, the suggestion very sneakily. "I paid more attention to that movie than you did, Haicchi~!" In my new flush of humiliation, I completely forget about Ryou's much more interesting love life as I chase him around the park and threaten him. It goes on far longer than it should for kids our age, but what do I care? Ryou's sunny and bright and fun to be around. Messing with him makes me smile.
"Your loss then~!" I say teasingly. "My distraction was much more fulfilling than yours was, apparently." The blond laughs, a noise that sounds like wind chimes.
"Sure, sure, Haicchi." He says. "I'll walk you home. Aominecchi will probably get worried if you're out too long. I told him I was going to see you." I stick my tongue out.
"Daiki isn't my babysitter, ya know." I reply with a roll of my eyes. "But I guess it would be good to get home. If you don't mind the distance, you're more than welcome to walk with me."
The walk home is filled with brisk, cool breezes, Ryouta's laughter, and a constant stream of chatter that never ceases, even when I stop to get meat buns. He finally takes me up on the offer to eat something when we pass along onto a new street.
The street lights are flickering on one by one as we continue toward my increasingly familiar neighborhood. I'm grateful for Ryou's company, especially because sometimes things get a little shady around here when it's the weekend, and I want no part of it. Normally Daiki would walk me back, especially since my baked goods will still be fresh and he can eat and walk at the same time without any fear of choking. Today I have Ryou, a nice change of pace, and he's in an unusually good mood, even for how cheerful he normally is.
I can't help but feel that Ryouta's cheerful attitude is nothing short of contagious, even if it's at times nearly unbearable. I find myself more chipper and singsong-y than I've been since leaving Teiko for Touou. I'm not complaining, of course, merely stating a fairly well known fact. I'm definitely not the peppiest person around, but I'm definitely not the most negative, either. I'm somewhere in the middle. I guess I'm mostly just neutral.
"How's Kaijou, anyway? It looks like a nice school from the time I went to watch your game." I ask, watching the grinning blond carefully. "The campus was pretty." The blond only grins wider.
"Gonna leave Aominecchi and Momoicchi for me?" He teases. "Kasamatsu-senpai might like you." I roll my eyes.
"Sure, sure, Ryou. It looks like a good fit for you." I reply with a sloppy grin. "I'm happy you found a school you like."
"You should come watch another game, Haicchi! But don't fall asleep this time, okay-ssu?" The blond is giving me the eyes. Not just, you know, a puppy look. It's far more advanced. The Look. The Eyes. No matter how hard I try to look away, I can't seem to do it. "Pleeeeeease come watch a game, Haicchi~!"
I groan and look away. "Stop giving me the Look, Ryouta." I say as I try to block the blond's face from view. It's not an expression I can ever say no to, and he knows this very, very well. It's gotten me to do more things than I'll ever be willing to admit. The blond merely moves my hands and amplifies the puppy in his expression.
Enough is enough, I decide, as the urge to squeal and squish the blond's face becomes overwhelming. "Fine, fine! I'll go watch a game, Ryouta! And I won't sleep! Happy?" The Look transforms into what I can only describe as the Afterlook.
The Afterlook is pretty much the only expression I can name that shows nothing but utter joy, and no matter how hard I try to resist it, I find myself smiling right back at him. It's basically useless to resist, but I like to try anyway. "Thanks-ssu!" Ryouta chirps cheerfully. "You don't be disappointed." I offer the blond a half-grin.
"Like you ever disappoint me." I reply. It's true that in the past Ryou and I weren't always the closest of friends, but we got along incredibly well. This kid has never let me down, and his unfailing cheer for what seems like just existing makes everything a little brighter. He's practically a human sunbeam.
The blond chirps with excitement and news of his team as we continue along until reaching my building. "This is where we part ways." I say with a smile. "Unless you want to come in?" I guess it's fairly unusual for me to actually invite others into my apartment since the blond looks surprised.
"Thanks, but no thanks-ssu. I'll text you, okay? See you, Haicchi!" Ryouta waves with his trademark grin before walking back down the way we came toward the nearest train station. Seeing the blond has reminded me that I've neglected my friendship to a particular shadow, and that's not something I'm very comfortable with.
At this point, I kind of wonder if he wants anything to do with me. He looked devastated at the end of the game, and at that moment I'd wanted nothing more than to apologize for playing and curl around the bluenette and make him feel better anyway I can. Don't get me wrong, I'm not touchy-feely, or particularly love-struck, but there isn't anything I wouldn't do for Tetsuya. He's one of my favorite people on the planet. If I made a list, Tetsuya would definitely be the person at the very top.
Not that I'll ever admit to having a list of favorite people. Ever. You can keep a secret, right? I'll trust you with that.
My fingers brush against the doorknob before I enter, still trapped in thought. What if Tetsuya hates me? I'd never be able to live with myself. Despite what he told me during the game, the only words that kept me from asking to be pulled out near the end of the final quarter, I can't help but feel guilt build up, ready to burst like a broken pipe. I wonder how much more of this I can take.
The apartment is dark and somewhat chilled as I walk in. I don't spot Daiki anywhere, so I send him a text to let him know I'm home. He replies that he'll be at the arcade a while longer, but will be home pretty soon. He also plans to pick up some takeout on his way, and promises not to buy anything spicy. I tell him I'll hold him to that, and if he does by some chance buy anything spicy that I just so happen to place into my mouth, he'll be sleeping on the porch. All I get is a snickering emoticon in response.
All I manage to do in the time it takes for Daiki to finish up his game and start walking home is dig myself into an ever-deepening pit of despair. I mean, sure, it isn't my fault that Seirin buckled. Well, I guess it is. Nobody holds up well when I'm the one who undermines his or her foundations. But they chose to keep fighting, and I think that stands for something! I'll admit that their defeat was ugly, and by no standards clean, and I can only hope they'll rile up and get back into the swing of things so I can play them once more, not as the one to undermine them, but as the one they go head to head with. Is it foolish of me to hope for a good game?
All things, however, swivel back to my possible problem with Tetsu. I don't want to lose him as a friend. He's probably been the most positive influence on me, the most helpful in all aspects of my life, and the one of the only people who has never turned their back on me. I really would do anything for that boy.
"Ugh," I groan, rubbing my face as I try to calm myself. "There's really no point in overthinking these things. It's just a game, right? We'll play again, and what happens on the court stays on the court. What happens off the court stays off the court. Tetsuya won't hold it against me."
Somehow, it sounds much more logical and a lot more believable when I say the words aloud. I can feel some of my anxiety fading. All I need to do is talk to him, right? It's a little late for that now, as in time-wise, not that I'm putting this off. Then again, what if he takes my silence as a signal that I don't want to talk to him? Surely he knows me better than that. He knows precisely how socially awkward I am. I decide that I'd better do it now. I'll feel better about it, anyway.
Tetsuya, we're still friends, right? The words practically glare daggers at me. Do I sound as stupid as I feel? I think I'm being too blunt, but Tetsu is known for his harsh bluntness and he knows I don't like to beat around the bush. My fingers are itching to send the text, but what if he replies with something other than yes? What if he doesn't even want to hear from me?
Before I have a chance to second guess myself and cause unlimited amounts of misery to flood in, my fingers slam into the send button. I watch in mild horror as the message sends, lighting up my screen with a little green check mark.
For the longest time, my phone offers me no solace. I take it off silent, past vibrate, my usual setting, to an easy-to-hear volume that won't deafen me, but also won't slip past me like what happens all too often. I do a better job of waiting while I'm doing busywork, so I pull out my math, which starts to require more thought that I initially thought was necessary, and watch as the problem solves itself in front of me. I can't seem to focus on anything properly anyway, so why not? I can't even name the steps I'm going through, even though logarithms shouldn't be all that difficult.
It's nerve wracking, very, very nerve wracking, to think that the kid who helped me live through culture shock and middle school might not want to hear from me again. Believe me when I say that I wouldn't hold it against him given what we've experienced, but I'm not up for allowing our friendship to fall apart like a Jenga tower. I don't have the heart to allow that to happen, ever. I guess that makes me clingy, but what do I care? That kid is closer to me than my own siblings, although I guess that's a bad example.
I nearly jump out of my seat as my phone lets loose an entirely too perky chirp. The screen brightens, a notification of a new message casting its light brighter than ever. Kuroko Tetsuya, it reads. At least I'll have my answer. My background, a picture of Daiki, Ryouta, Tetsuya, and I messing around at the convenience store with the other Miracles casting rather amused glances our way, seems to make the ominous notification a little more welcoming.
With a few taps and a big breath, I skim over our last texting session to see my stressed, strained query reaching out to grasp at straws. "I'm home, Alex!" Daiki calls as he slams the door shut. My lips curl up into a smile.
We've always been friends, Alex. Normally, Tetsu doesn't bother with my first name, but when he does use it, he's dead serious. A game isn't going to change that. What I said during the game still stands, no matter what the outcome is. My smile is growing larger.
It wouldn't be much good if we didn't struggle with each other. I text back, grinning. I'm glad I could be of use. The bluenette takes a long while to reply.
We're friends no matter what, Alex. I don't want you to forget that. Let's see each other again soon, all right? The blue-haired wonder comes over and nuzzles into my neck.
"What're you smiling about?" He murmurs into my ear.
Sure! I respond, locking the screen and placing it down once more. "Nothing too special."