Chapter 24

Miyuki casted a side long glance towards the southpaw, perturbed with how quiet he was being.

"Everything all right?" The catcher asked as they walked through the first year's hall.

"Sawamura! Did you read that last chapter? It was amazing wasn't-"

Miyuki regarded the small girl that had made her way down the hallway so excitedly.

"Yea, I did." Sawamura said before smiling.

The girl had short brown hair and an easy enough smile on the eyes.

Am I really getting jealous over a little girl? Nope. Stop it.

The catcher chastised himself.

"This guy looks like he just walked out of a host club!" The girl said before looking over at Sawamura.

Miyuki couldn't stop the smirk that made its way to his lips.

"Don't be fooled, this guy may have looks but he has no traits of being a host." Sawamura said before waving his hand dismissively.

Miyuki watched the two first years speak, raising his brow at his southpaw's words.

"Is he mute?" The girl than asked.

"Unfortunately, not." Sawamura said before huffing.

"I'm standing right here." Miyuki stated, raising his brow again.

"Here's the real question." The girl said before smiling. "Is he single?"

Miyuki couldn't help but smirk at how bold the girl in front of him was. He glanced towards Sawamura, wondering if the pitcher would be answering for him. What met his eyes confused him somewhat. There was a definite tint of pink on the southpaw's cheeks, but his lips were pressed into a tight line.

The catcher sighed before pulling Sawamura towards him, wrapping his arms around his waist before plopping his chin on the pitcher's shoulder.

"No he's not." Miyuki responded before smirking.

The girl could only laugh as the southpaw tensed up, blush engulfing his features.

"I see!" The girl said as she smile. "What a catch Sawamura." She said before nodding. "I'll catch up with you later, don't want to monopolize your time."

0_0_0_0

Haruichi sat up and rubbed at his face. He'd actually managed to fall asleep in the nurse's office, which his body was thanking him for immensely.

I should talk to him… My jealousy is seriously getting out of hand… I can't be one of the psychos that doesn't even let him have frineds…

The pinklet slid off the bed, slipping his feet into his shoes before pocketing the phone he'd left on the bed. He thanked the nurse before checking the clock.

Lunch time hm? Maybe he'll want to eat together?

Haruichi showed as small smile as he pulled the door closed behind him and walked down the halls. He came to his decision and pulled his phone out, typing out a message before hitting send.

I suppose I'll have my answer depending on what he sends back.

0_0_0_0

Kuramochi laughed as Yukki puffed out her cheeks.

"It's not funny!" The second year whined before pouting.

"Your ex sounds like a tool." Kuramochi stated before smirking.

"He may have taken me to a sea food restaurant after I told him I was allergic to that stuff, but at least the thought was there." Yukki said before sighing.

"And yet, you still dumped him." The shortstop said before rolling his eyes.

"Long distance relationships are pointless though… and, why date him when I've started liking someone else?" Yukki said before focusing her gaze on the shortstop.

Kuramochi was about to answer when his pocket went off.

He was surprise to see Haruichi's name on the screen as he opened the message up. It was a simple text, containing three words.

'Are you busy?'

The shortstop rose his brow at the text before replying.

'No, what's up?'

Haruichi must have been waiting for his message because not even thirty seconds later his phone chimed again.

'Wanna have lunch with me?'

The shortstop couldn't help the smile at that.

"Uh, so, what's up?" Yukki asked, startling Kuramochi.

He had forgotten that he'd been sitting with the second year girl and felt a little bad for it, though he smiled softly before standing.

"I gotta bounce, I need to see someone."

Yukki's smile faltered as Kuramochi sent a quick text before grabbing what was remaining from his lunch.

'Courtyard. Be there in 2 mins'

0_0_0_0

Sawamura's cheeks couldn't get any darker as he watched Yuiko walk away. Miyuki still hadn't pulled away, his face was way too close for people not to notice, not to mention the arms that were wrapped carelessly around the southpaw's waist.

"Well, that was entertaining." Miyuki stated and Sawamura just knew his infamous smirk was in place.

"You're so full of yourself." Sawamura muttered.

"Mh, how exciting. I've made us official." Miyuki continued before dropping his arms and stepping back.

"You needed public acceptance to feel official?" Sawamura asked while raising a brow.

"Oh, big words, have you been practicing?" Miyuki asked before side stepping the elbow that Sawamura sent towards his stomach. "Are you trying to assault me?"

"Either you're trying to seduce me, talk baseball, or piss me off. There is honestly no in between." The southpaw stated before rolling his eyes.

"So you're saying that I do seduce you?" Miyuki asked with a playful smirk.

"Kazuya, keep it up and I'm gonna kiss you in front of the whole population of the first year hallway." Sawamura stated matter of factly.

"What bravado." Miyuki stated, eyes brightening with excitement.

"You actually want me to, don't you." Sawamura huffed, his words more of a statement than a question.

"I'm not saying no." Miyuki said while shrugging.

Sawamura glanced up at the second year catcher before slipping his hand in his and tugging him down the hall.

"I'm not gonna lie here, you taking the initiative is one hell of a turn on." Miyuki stated before smirking.

"I can't believe this." Sawamura stated before huffing.

"Where are we heading?"

Sawamura's steps slowed as something caught his attention.

"Kuramochi?... And Furuya?" The southpaw muttered before cocking his head slightly.

Sawamura's words effectively grabbed Miyuki's attention. The catcher looked out the window before his eyes widened some.

"Oh shit." Slipped passed his lips before he began to drag his pitcher towards the courtyard.

0_0_0_0

Haruichi was leaning against one of the trees in the shade of the courtyard when Furuya popped out of nowhere.

"Hey Furuya." The second baseman said with a genuine smile.

"Haruichi… I went to find you at the nurse's office and you weren't there." The monster rookie said, his face expressionless, though Haruichi could read the slight pull of his lips.

"Yea, I woke up and wanted to get some lunch." Haruichi said before smiling. "Sorry, I'm meeting up with someone, I didn't think you'd come get me." The second baseman said before laughing gently.

"You looked upset this morning."

Haruichi looked up at the pitcher and one of his best friends before sighing, his smile slipping from his lips.

"Yea, Yoichi and I have hit a rough patch."

"I'd never let that smile fade." Furuya stated.

Haruichi looked up at him, his features showing how startled he was from hearing those words.

"Uh…" Haruichi laughed awkwardly before speaking again. "It's not his fault, I-"

"All he'll ever do is hurt you." Furuya said before stepping towards the second baseman.

Haruichi felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he pressed himself against the tree, the bark of the tree digging into his spine.

"Furuya?..." Came Haruichi's timid voice.

Furuya's eyes seemed to flash with determination as he placed his palms on the tree, Haruichi's face between his arms.

"I'd never let you cry." Furuya stated as he got closer.

"I don't-"

"I've never make you feel the way he has." The pitcher promised before closing the place between the two of them.

Haruichi's eyes widened as he felt Furuya's lips on his own.

Doesn't he know?! That I'm not… He can't…

Haruichi felt tears burning his eyes as Furuya continued to push forward.

"Haruichi, sorry I'm late, I ran into…."

Haruichi felt bile rise into his throat as Murphy's Law slapped him across the face.

0_0_0_0

Kuramochi had had one hell of a time getting Yukki to leave him be as he left to meet with Haruichi. He had even ran down the stairs to make up for the time he'd wasted in telling the second year that he had to leave.

"Haruichi, sorry I'm late, I ran into…" Kuramochi's voice died off as his eyes widened.

Nothing would have prepared him for what he saw when he set foot into the courtyard where the two had promised to meet. Before he could think better of it, his legs were moving towards the two that were making out against the tree.

He wrenched Seido's monster rookie from where he stood and chucked him to the ground a couple feet away from the tree.

"What. The. Actual. Fuck?" He growled as his eyes filled with uncontrollable rage.

Furuya's features stayed impassive, only succeeding in furthering Kuramochi's rage meter. As Furuya stood, Kuramochi had to meet his gaze to the taller boys.

"You son of a bitch." Kuramochi growled as he clenched his fists.

"Yoichi! It isn't what you think it is!" Haruichi said, his voice cracking somewhat.

"So I didn't just see my boyfriend making out with the team's ace?" Kuramochi asked, turning a cold glare towards Haruichi.

Haruichi was speechless, he didn't have words to deny that he had in fact been kissed by the monster rookie.

"If there's something I never thought you were Haruichi, it'd be a cheater." Kuramochi said, the hurt in his voice being masked by the pure aura of rage that encased him. "I guess I was wrong."

"It wasn't his fault. I was trying to comfort him." Furuya stated.

"The only think keeping me from breaking your wrist right now is the fact that it would harbor the team." Kuramochi growled, his glare sharpening as he turned his attention towards Furuya. "You can have him, I don't want someone who's unfaithful." The shortstop said before clenching his jaw, along with his hands and heading back straight where he had come from.

"Yoichi-" Haruichi started desperately.

"Enough Kominato. I've said my piece." Even as the words left his lips, pain blossomed from his chest.

The shortstop quickened his pace, ripping the courtyard door open and making his way into the school. He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings as he turned the corner and ended up slamming into someone.

"I'm sorry." He muttered before trying to move passed them.

"Yoichi."

Kuramochi looked up to see Miyuki and Sawamura standing before him, both breathing heavily as if they had been running.

"Kazuya… Sawamura. I really gotta… go somewhere." Kuramochi said, his voice getting quieter and quieter as he tried to bury the building lump in his throat.

0_0_0_0

Miyuki shook his head before glancing back at Sawamura, who showed a small encouraging smile before taking a step back.

"Text me later." The southpaw stated before walking pass the two second years and heading into the courtyard.

"Common Yoichi, I'm sure there's a vacant classroom around here." Miyuki mumbled before grabbing the shortstop's arm and dragging him through the halls.

It wasn't hard for him to pick up on how hard Kuramochi was trying to keep the pieces from shattering. When the catcher had managed to find a classroom, he made sure to shut the door before turning towards the shortstop.

"Did you hit him?" Miyuki asked softly.

"I didn't fucking do anything." Kuramochi said, taking a shuddered breath as he sat on the desk. "I wanted to punch him so hard… So bad Kazuya.." Kuramochi laughed harshly before clenching his jaw.

Miyuki was no idiot, he could see the tears that brimmed his best friend's eyes as he spoke. The catcher tried to picture what he would have done had Sawamura been in Kominato's place.

"Did you let him try and talk?" Miyuki asked softly.

"Would you have listened to Sawamura if you walked in on him kissing someone else?"

Miyuki frowned because Kuramochi was absolutely right, he wouldn't have listened to a bloody word. He would have locked himself in his room. He wouldn't have even bothering going back into the school building.

"Why wasn't I enough? What did I do wrong? I know I'm not some bloody romantic but for fuck sakes." The shortstop stated before punching the desk beside him. "I should have known. I should have fucking known." He growled before hitting the desk again.

Miyuki watched as the tears slipped down Kuramochi's cheeks, a frown pulling at his lips. He sat next to Kuramochi, squeezing his shoulder tightly before letting his hand fall.

"I'm right here." He whispered, remembering how Kuramochi had been there for him when he'd needed someone.