I just picture the people who are already following this fic getting so many notifications cause I keep updating this fic.

"Does this chick just sit in her room on her laptop all day with no life?!"

Ehhhh, yes :D

Lol, jk, sometimes I do homework

Anime4us

Chapter 17

Miyuki got breakfast as soon as the cafeteria opened. Many of the players took their time in the morning, but, seeings how he had been up, he figured going in for an early breakfast wouldn't hurt.

He plopped himself down at one of the empty tables, setting his tray in front of him. The unappealing bowl of cereal stared up at him, the cafeteria's lights bouncing off of the milk he'd added to it. He wasn't exactly hungry, but he knew he needed the food to fuel him through the day, especially after the all nighter he had just pulled. Not only had he not slept last night, but he had barely slept an hour the previous night. The last night at Sawamura's place had been an eventful one for sure, he'd felt the pitcher slowly chipping at his walls, and, at times, he could feel himself wanting to let his southpaw in.

Miyuki felt the room spin and quickly closed his eyes. He pinched the bridge between them, trying to ground himself.

It's gonna be a long day..

He sighed before opening his eyes again. He pulled him glasses off and laid them on the table before taking a deep breath. He picked up his spoon and brought it to his lips. He hated when the most mundane of things became a difficult task.

0_0_0_0

Sawamura woke up in the middle of the field. He pushed himself up right with a jolt and looked around himself. The sun was just barely peeking through the clouds, indicating that he hadn't slept long. He groggily rubbed at his face before standing on shaky legs. His tire was still wrapped around his waist from his early morning run. He scoffed down at it before untying it and dragging said tire back to the equipment shed.

Furuya was just stepping out as Sawamura hefted his tire into his arms.

"Oh. I didn't see you in the field. Did you run without me?" The team's ace asked indifferently.

Sawamura had gotten to know Furuya and how the boy expressed his emotions. Although his face seemed to be a mask, those who got to know him could tell the minute difference that would show a different emotion. Right now, he could tell Furuya was disappointed.

"Yea. Sorry, I got up early." Sawamura lied.

"You have black under your eyes." Furuya stated.

"What?! No I don't!" The southpaw shouted.

Furuya sighed before stepping towards the southpaw.

"I'll see you at practice." He said before grabbing the tire in Sawamura's hand.

"Be gentle!" Sawamura called out, only to be ignored.

0_0_0_0

Haruichi groaned as he sat up. He was up before the alarm. He was up way too early.

Why is there a light on?

He thought groggily, turning his attention towards the desk that was in front of him. Kuramochi sat in the chair, arms folded on the desk in front of him. The shortstop's head lay rested on his arms, sleeping rather peacefully to be having a desk light right in his face.

Haruichi couldn't help it, he had a soft smile paint itself across his lips at the rather endearing picture that had painted itself in front of him. He had to take ten minutes to talk himself out of taking a picture with his phone, telling himself that Kuramochi wouldn't appreciate the breach in privacy.

He stood from Sawamura's bed and slowly made his way towards the shortstop's desk. He planted a soft kiss on the older boy's temple before focusing on what was under his arms.

A café review?

Haruichi's smile only grew as thoughts of Kuramochi planning a date for the both of them filled his head.

"What's got you all smiley?" Kuramochi murmured as he sat up, rubbing his eyes somewhat.

"Hm… Nothing. Morning." The pinklet said, keeping his smile.

"Good morning." Kuramochi greeted before reaching out and pulling Haruichi onto the desk chair, plopping the younger boy between his legs.

Kuramochi wrapped his arms around Haruichi's stomach and set his chin on the pinklet's shoulder.

Woa! This..

Haruichi glanced to the side to see that Kuramochi had let his eyes fall back closed as he leaned on his partner's shoulder.

"Hey. You have to wake up." Haruichi mumbled, the blush making his voice quiver somewhat.

"Do I? Isn't it still early?" The shortstop drawled.

"We could go for breakfast.." Haruichi offered.

"Don't wanna." Kuramochi mumbled.

"Common Yoichi… we can't stay like this-"

There was a knock at the door, grabbing both of their attention.

"Hey… I just… Wanted some clothes to change."

Haruichi cocked his head somewhat before a soft 'ah!' left his lips.

"Coming Eijun!" The second baseman said as he pulled away from Kuramochi.

He pulled the door open, plastering a smile on his face. The smile soon fell when he saw his best friend's state. His clothes were full of dirt, as if he'd been rolling around the field. His hair definitely had some grass clippings stuck in it. When he looked up, Haruichi had to refrain from gasping. Dark, ominous bags were painted under the southpaw's eyes, but what scared Haruichi further was the lack of life in the pitcher's eyes. The once so vibrant brown/gold color that danced in his friend's eyes was nowhere to be found.

"Sorry, I'm just gonna grab some clothes, I'll be out of your hair in a second." Sawamura said, side stepping the second baseman and making his way towards his dresser.

0_0_0_0

Kuramochi's 'terminator' switch was flipped as soon as he heard the southpaw's voice. After what had happened between him and Miyuki, he had promised himself that he would at least pull his worst wrestling move on the pitcher upon laying eyes on him.

But that was the problem. As soon as he did lay eyes on Sawamura, his will to pummel the boy seemed to disappear. He took in his junior's appearance and couldn't help but wonder just how bad whatever was going on actually was. The distant look in his roommate's eyes made him nervous. He'd never seen the boy without his energetic exterior.

"Sorry, I'm just gonna grab some clothes, I'll be out of your hair in a second." The pitcher mumbled.

He watched as the southpaw gathered his clothing and made his way out of the room sluggishly. He watched as Sawamura pulled the door closed and made his way to the baths. He watched as Haruichi's smile faded and worry marred his second baseman's features.

"What's wrong with Eijun?.." He heard the pinklet mutter.

What's really going on Kazuya?...

0_0_0_0

Miyuki finished his breakfast just as everyone was coming in.

"Oh! The captain is up early!" One of the first years stated with a wave.

Miyuki offered the boy a small nod of acknowledgement.

Kuramochi came from behind them, his face holding some worry to it.

"Morning Yoichi." Miyuki offered with a small smile.

"Ah, morning Miyuki." Haruichi said, popping out from behind.

Miyuki showed the second baseman small smile.

"Kazuya."

Miyuki's smile slipped at Kuramochi's serious tone.

"Did you actually make him sleep outside?..." The shortstop asked silently, so that only Miyuki could hear.

Haruichi cocked his head but gave them some distance as they spoke.

"I didn't make him do anything." Miyuki said, his gaze hardening.

"He looked like shit this morning. Full of dirt. Grass in his hair… You don't think he actually slept outside… he could have come back to the room…" Kuramochi said, worry lacing itself into his tone.

"I donno Yoichi! I don't control him. I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to!" The catcher muttered under his breath.

Kuramochi levelled him with a harsh glare.

"You're doing it again."

Miyuki returned the hard glare.

"Doing what?" He demanded.

"Verbal punching bag." Kuramochi said before walking away.

0_0_0_)

Miyuki clenched his teeth as he watched the shortstop leave. His vision began to swim once again, causing him to reach out towards the wall to stable himself. He'd been through this before, the nausea from the spinning room and the way his body became way heavier than its actual weight. He closed his eyes and took a breath, waiting for the spell the pass.

"Miyuki?" Came a quiet, and yet concerned, voice.

Miyuki opened his eyes and momentarily saw Sawamura in front of him. His eyes widened at his pitcher's look of worry.

Wait… He doesn't call me that anymore…

The image slowly faded and revealed who it was that was actually standing in front of him. Furuya, although impassive, was waiting for an answer.

"Are you ok?" The pitcher prodded once more.

"Ah! I'm fine! I was just stumped over how it is that I can better your pre-game." Miyuki said before smirking.

Furuya scowled at the catcher before walking away.

Damn… I really need sleep…

The catcher shook his head, slowly making his way out of the cafeteria. It would just be his luck that the southpaw was walking towards the cafeteria at this exact moment. Miyuki tensed up, not exactly ready to face the pitcher just yet.

He glanced at the pitcher's face and froze. His chest tightened at the sight. His pitcher's eyes… The one's he loved so much, looked so… dead.

Miyuki wanted to reach towards him, wanted to pull him into his arms.

I don't need you to give me empty promises.

The catcher bit his tongue looking at the ground as the pitcher got closer. He expected the pitcher to at least say hello. At least acknowledge his presence… but he simply walked by, not uttering a word as he went into the cafeteria. Miyuki's eyes widened as he watched the pitcher walk right by him.

Was he… looking right through me?...

0_0_0_0

Sawamura went through the mechanics of cleaning himself, his body moving solely on autopilot. He wasn't entirely aware of what was going on around him.

Get the hell out.

Sawamura felt himself tense up.

Now.

He had the hot water on full blast but he felt ice cold. The thought of him making it worse than it already was scared him to no end. Images of Miyuki with both arms emerged in scarlet haunted him every time he closed his eyes.

The southpaw turned the water off and robotically dried himself off. He made his way towards the cafeteria, barely registering the dirt under his shoes as he walked.

I need you to understand that you will never be the reason

Sawamura stumbled somewhat, an attack of nausea hitting him from behind. Images of Miyuki sitting on his bed with a blade haunted him as he closed his eyes to catch his bearings.

"Eijun!"

Miyuki just sitting there, scarlet dripping from his fingers. His eyes held no emotions as he stared down at the pitcher. They were dark… unnerving.

Sawamura brought a hand to his mouth.

Just as soon as the image had manifested, Sawamura was met with the angry expression he'd seen on his catcher's face last night.

Get the hell out!

"Eijun! What's wrong?!"

Garbage… Garbage!
The southpaw stumbled around the cafeteria until he found a garbage he could empty stomach into. Sawamura coughed a couple of time, his eyes wide as he realized what had just happened.

"Eijun, what's wrong? Are you sick?"

Sawamura tried to look up, but all he caught was a blur of pink before the garbage demanded his attention once more. He heaved into the garbage, having nothing to throw up.

A dizzy spell hit the pitcher as he tried to stand. He stumbled on his feet, using the garbage to keep him upright.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Sawamura vaguely recognized that voice to be Kuramochi's. The pitcher felt the feeling in his legs leaving him as he tried to take a step.

Shit.. It's getting really dark.

"Oi! Sawamura!?"

"Eijun!"

The pitcher felt himself falling as the room went dark.

"What just happened?..."

"Did he just puke?.."

"He just passed out!"

Voices seemed to fade away from him slowly.

No… I gotta get up… I have… I have to go see Kazuya… I have to talk to him…