Super-quick update once again... This time, Yamamoto's POV mostly (switching to Gokudera for a moment somewhere in between). I'm starting to realise it's far easier for me to write in Gokudera's POV, a bit of a surprise to me tbh. And yes, you can see now that Gokudera's love is not unrequited, he merely thinks so... I'm really not that mean to make him suffer through unrequited love :P

Next chapter coming up in a day or two, it's a bit longer finally – explaining the science homework. Can you guess which one of the laws of physics is troubling Yamamoto? :P

The time was always passing by too quickly.

And Yamamoto, after two hours still almost literally tearing up his mind with a science problem, felt as if the clock hanging on the wall next to him would absolutely and utterly hate him, running twice as fast as normally. There was no way he could finish his homework in time and get some sleep tonight – even worse, they were having a test coming in two days, and his knowledge was still far below expected. Damnit, if at least he hadn't been so tired from the baseball practice... They had practice twice per day now, due to the upcoming match – the regionals of the middle school national cup were coming up, and this was his last chance to be a part of the winning team. The victory evaded them by a margin last year, and now in his senior year, he was made the captain of the team, and promised to lead them to victory. But he's been training and worrying about it so much he hardly had any sleep, and the consequence was passing out into deep slumber in the middle of the class.

He sighed loudly and let his head fall onto the notebook. There was no way he could manage to solve this, especially when he didn't understand what it was all about due to his sleeping in class.

"Giving up already, Takeshi?"

A strong yet warm and homey voice nudged the raven-haired teen to lift up his head again. His father, knowing how hard he's been pushing himself lately, brought him some sushi and a large glass of milk – a little help for the little grey cells, as he liked to call it.

"Mmmh... I can't even understand the problem..." his son replied truthfully, his face betraying he had already given up all hope of getting his assignment done today. However, with his father bringing him food and expressing his support, he couldn't just call it quits, even if the sushi master could already see it in his eyes.

"Why not call that clever friend of yours, Takeshi? What was his name... Gokuaku*?

The son chuckled lightly at his father's memorizing of the names – however, a tiny flame of hope lit up his eyes, pools of swirling milk chocolate. "I'll see if he's home... thanks for the food, dad."

The father, already retreating to the kitchen, waved his left in reply, and disappeared around the corner. He was glad he could be of help to his child, even if it was just a bit; and to have given him an idea that lit up hope in his eyes, already admitting defeat before. Only, he was misunderstanding the source and the meaning of that spark that flamed up the inside of the teen.

As far as it was true that Gokudera would certainly be able to help – if he was willing as well, was another matter altogether – Yamamoto's sudden eagerness had nothing to do with his science homework.

The baseball ace was thrilled at the thought of Gokudera explaining him the laws of physics once again – for one, he could understand things through his explanation, and moreover... he would be able to watch those lustful lips move, twitch and scream at him. In the privacy of the empty hallway, Yamamoto let the blood rushing to his face paint his cheeks tomato-red.

Even if it meant the silver-haired bomber threatening to put dynamite up his ass or shove it down his throat, calling him various insulting nicknames or even punching him – he'd have the pleasure of watching him closely and simply being alone with him. For that, he'd endure anything.

The telephone rang. And rang. And rang...

'Maybe...he's out...? Seems I've been relishing too soon...'

Yamamoto was just about to hang up when the phone was rather brutally picked up on the other side, and an irritated voice, between two heavy breaths, nearly yelled at him: "Yes?"

"Um, hi, Gokudera, it's Yamamoto," replied the excited teen, flashing one of his 100-watt smiles, for a moment forgetting he can't seen that over the phone wire.

"Ah, it's you, yakyuu-baka. What do you want at this hour? I was just having a shower..."

Yamamoto was just about to reply and explain his problem when the worlds stuck in his throat due to his brain catching up to his hearing. Gokudera in a shower... certainly a sight he'd love to see, and the storm guardian's comment made his vivid imagination fly. In his imaginary world, the air would be thick with steam, a translucent veil that hardly provided any obscurement of silver-haired teen's body... water slowly trickling down his back, diving into streams that caress the pale skin, curving their path according to the shape of the teen's lean posture... This time, the raven-haired teen was thanking all the gods he could remember for the the fact that his friend can't see his face now; and it took him quite an effort to soothe down the violent blush and concentrate enough as to not blurt out something stupid he'd regret later.

"Well, I was wondering if Gokudera is busy... See, there's this science problem I really don't get, and Gokudera always explains it so well..."

He didn't dare to ask too directly, and as he finally uttered a vague expression of asking for help, he fell silent, waiting for a response from the other side of the line.

A few seconds passed, with Gokudera taking his time to think – even though he already knew exactly what his answer would be from the beginning, he had to make it seem he's hesitating and making this as a big favour. Naturally, he couln't refuse an invitation for being able to watch the subject of his affection without having to hide in the bushes like some stalker; and actually, he really loved explaining things to him. He'd look so confused at first, and then he'd curl up his forehead in numerous tiny creases as if thinking intensely (which, incidentally, Gokudera thought was super-cute although he'd rather die than admit it); but the best part was when he'd beam happily at him after understanding, rewarding him with a truly sincere smile.

However, he had to act as if it was all a big favour to the rain guardian, and that he was only doing it for juudaime's sake. Maybe he was overdoing it, but after all, he can't have anyone uncovering his secret.

And thus, with a sigh and a shower of insults mostly related to the lack of brain cells in the head of his always smiling schoolmate, he agreed.

"But don't you imagine anything, yakyuu-baka. I'm only doing this because juudaime asked me to help you."

"Hai, hai," agreed Yamamoto happily. 'As long as you're coming here, everything's fine.'

He put down the phone, and let the merry grin dance across his face, making him shine with an aura of pure happiness as he never did in front of others, when he was flashing his signature smiles to everyone. No, this smile was just for Gokudera.

And he was on his way.

'Even if it's just for the juudaime...'

Instantly, his face darkened, and the gleam in his eyes died out, instead filling them with unspoken pain.

'Even if it's always just for the juudaime...'

*gokuaku = heinous