Chapter 5

Author's Note: Have a great weekend everyone! Chapter 6 comes Monday!

System Shock didn't quite seem to be the right name for it. Catastrophic System Failure seemed more like it because for three whole days, Atsushi suffered with all over body ache, that dry heaving cough and a nose that would stop up worse than a clogged pipe unless he put the menthol gel on his chest. It was miserable, but in the middle of the third night, he had awoken drenched in so much sweat, he could swim when his fever broke.

His system rebooted, he was able to get back on track with waking up at 3 to help with the day's chores, eat breakfast and go about the day with the rest of the chores unless it was a day Tatsuki would come to help out. Those days, he found he was enjoying the most because of all the things she would do in the kitchen. She was more than just a stable hand, she was his uncle's cook and since she would make a couple days worth of meals for him, it gave him the time to focus on caring for the farm. He helped her those days, to bake and cook and prepare and he was finding that it was something he was enjoying.

Those had been the following weeks, and now, summer vacation was over and he was crammed onto an old bus on his way to school. It was still mostly warm outside with the slightest hint of chill in the mornings, but it was comfortably handled with just the black sweater cardigan of his school uniform. He hugged his bag that rested on his lap as he stared out the window, listening to music on his earbuds without a care. He wasn't thinking about anything at all except admiring the sunrise that painted the sky. He didn't know what his weeks would look like now that hours of school was getting added into the mix and he just hoped that it wouldn't throw his system into a panic again. So long as that didn't happen, he could deal with it.

He drew in a huge breath as the bus slowed and turned down a long drive, pulling his earbuds out to put them away and turn off the music app on his phone. He turned off its ringer in favor of vibrate before slipping it into the side pocket of his shoulder bag while the bus slowed even more and came to a stop at a two story building that was so widespread that he couldn't get an entire look at it through the window. It wasn't the first time he had seen the school, as he had had to go to the open house orientation for the first years, but it was still huge in the fact that it was also surrounded by farm fields, crop and so many barns that it, itself, looked like a farm.

With a loud hiss, the bus stopped and opened its door to let the students out, all seemingly jovial and smiling despite it being early and most likely having been awake since 3 in the morning. He was slowly getting used to it and as he stood, he had to duck his head low to avoid hitting it against the top of the bus. Not a single other student had sat with him, mainly because he took up most of the two person seat, but that didn't stop him from having to wait his turn to get off the cramped bus. The whole time he walked towards the front, he had to keep his head ducked down to his chest and when he started down the stairs of the exit, he actually had to hunch over to make it through.

Free of the confines of the bus, Atsushi gripped his bag to his shoulder as he stood up straight, earning several stares from others students all in the same uniform. They just stared up at him, certainly not an act he hadn't experienced before, but he started to feel like a prized animal on display the longer they stared.

With a huff, Atsushi adjusted the shoulder strap of his bag and started for the wide spread of glass front doors of the school, easily winding his way around clusters of others whom had gathered along the long and wide swath of concrete lined with trees to talk. Birds chirped all around him and students laughed, but when his name was called, he stopped as his eyes widened.

Tatsuki was beaming and waving at him as she strode towards him, wearing the girl's version of the uniform which consisted of the black cardigan sweater, the white collared shirt and red tie, but instead of plaid pants, she wore a plaid skirt with black knee high socks. The skirt fell to mid thigh on her, and having gotten used to seeing her in her overalls and tank top, he was afforded his first real look at just how long her legs were.

They went on for miles.

Holy shit! You could land a plane on those legs! Atsushi gulped, but as he started to raise a hand to wave back at her, a trio of fresh and cocky third years stepped in front of her and stopped her path.

"Damn girl!... You got one hell of a set of stems on you!" One boy crooned, whom stood a bit shorter than Tatsuki and had a buzz cut of brown hair.

"I always knew that Himuro girl would turn into a tall drink of water." Said another boy, this one the same height as Tatsuki, but with messy black hair.

Atsushi's brows furrowed hard.

"I wonder if she bucks as hard as a bronco. She's got the legs of one." Laughed the third; The one in the middle.

Atsushi's throat rumbled.

"Please leave me alone, Shirō." Tatsuki glared, her own brows furrowed hard as she stared down the boy in the center of the trio.

"You know I've had my eye on you for a while now right? Good farm girl like you is best barefoot and in the kitchen." The same boy said.

Atsushi's teeth bared as he started for the group, having heard more than enough to spike his temper which he usually kept in a comatose state with the constant intake of sweets. Since being on his uncle's farm, his sweets intake had been halved unless Tatsuki baked something, and as such, his temper was waking up from its coma.

"Go away, Shirō. You're an awful person and I don't wanna have anything to do with you." Tatsuki glared with her right eye as her long, swept bangs kept her left covered.

"D'aw... Don't be like that, Baby. I can be gentle just before I'm rough." The middle boy laughed as he tried reaching up for Tatsuki's chin.

Tatsuki yanked her head away from his approaching hand, where her eyes flicked up to see whom had come to stand behind them. With the morning sun at his back, his features were cast in shadow and it painted a long river of gray shadow along the ground that looked more like it was being cast by a tree.

"Leave her alone." Said the dark shadow from behind them, his voice low and rumbling.

"Blow off, first year. We're busy." Said the middle boy without even taking his eyes off of Tatsuki.

However, the dark shadow didn't budge a single inch.

"Fucking first years... Always trying to play the hero." Said another boy; The one with the buzzed cut.

"I said leave her alone, or are you hard of hearing." Said the looming shadow with a laced growl underneath each word.

"I'd say the same of you since you aren't stepping off." Said the boy in the middle, again, not taking his eyes off Tatsuki whom had begun to lightly smile.

With a hard knuckle, the looming shadow thunked it down on top of Shirō's head, making him instantly cringe and press a hand into the spot, but when he wheeled around to face off with the stubborn first year, as did his two friends, they instantly froze as they came to stare at a broad chest.

Then their eyes drifted up.

"Leave." Atsushi growled, staring down at them with his threatening look set hard in his violet eyes.

"What... the hell?" Breathed out the boy with black messy hair.

Atsushi's brows drew down more, "Go away. She doesn't wanna talk to you." He said lowly and with a long huff of air coming out of his nose.

"And why the fuck would she wanna talk to you?" Shirō growled up at him, standing his ground against the giant in front of him.

"Because he's a sweetheart, but I wouldn't expect you to understand." Tatsuki chimed in, taking the opportunity to step around the boys and stand by Atsushi's side where she threaded her arm around his.

All three boys glared.

"He's new blood... He ain't from any of the farm families around here. Where the hell you come from?" Shirō sneered up, his brow still furrowed down over his yellow eyes.

"Akita." Atsushi said flatly and still with his furious glare.

"City boy? You playing around with city trash, Tatsuki?" Said the boy on the right as he shifted his sneer towards her as if she had offended all three of them.

"He's Hiroshi's nephew." Tatsuki said plainly.

"Grouchy Hiroshi?... That crotchety old man has a nephew?" The left boy reeled with wide open blue eyes.

"Say one more thing about my uncle and I'll crush you flat." Atsushi hissed, drawing in a huge breath that made his chest even fuller than it already was.

"What're you gonna do about it?" Shirō fired back.

Atsushi pursed his lips together as he dropped his bag to his feet and raised his hand, his fingers spread wide as he planted it right down on the boy's head where he gripped his skull like a basketball. His hand alone was as big as the other boy's head and it only took a fraction of his strength to throw him back just enough where he flopped back onto his rump with eyes wide of shock.

"Talk to her again, and you'll have me to deal with. Am I clear?" Atsushi hissed as he flicked his eyes over to meet the other two boys whom gulped once they came under the furious violet gaze.

The two boys nodded before swooping down and hoisting their leader up to his feet, where he glared another moment as if he was getting the last word before walking off with a scoff. Atsushi and Tatsuki just watched them go, but as soon as they stepped through the doors of the school, Tatsuki heavily sighed with relief that snapped Atsushi free from his temper.

"I don't like him." Atsushi grumbled, staring another moment before bending over and picking up his bag.

"Neither do I. He only got that way after his family's farm went corporate." Tatsuki said, still clinging to Atsushi's arm as she flipped her long bangs over her left eye.

"Huh?... He's the family that rents Uncle Hiroshi's land?" Atsushi asked, his glare softening as he looked down at her.

Tatsuki nodded, "Yeah... You'll learn real fast that everything is interconnected out here. Shirō's family is the one who got bought out by a corporate company, but left them in charge to meet the quotas. To meet those quotas, his family started buying up the smaller farms surrounding theirs to get the land. When people started refusing their offers, they offered to rent the land from those who couldn't till it themselves. Your uncle needed the money, so he agreed." Tatsuki said, her dark gray eyes sad as she looked up at him.

Atsushi's lips parted, "That doesn't sound good."

"It's not... His family got greedy and if a farm's land doesn't meet standards, they lower the payment until the family who's land they're renting is desperate. They offer to buy and by then, because they're desperate, the families agree." She said, releasing a long sigh as she clung even tighter to his arm.

"Uncle Hiroshi-"

"He's protected though. Some farm families like ours joined together and we stand against Shirō's family just fine. My dad... He's a agricultural lawyer and drafted the contract between your uncle and Shirō's family. They can't get his farm." Tatsuki said, having cut him off with the need for her to explain.

"Good." He said dully as he rubbed the back of his hair.

Realizing that she was still clinging to his arm, Tatsuki jerked back, taking her arm back from around his as her cheeks began to burn with a blush. She hid her face in her bag that she started to cling to her chest and refused to look up at him, missing his own soft coloring of crimson in his cheeks that was luckily mostly hidden because of his hair that hung loose to his shoulders.

"Um... I-I'm sorry, Atsushi. I-I didn't mean to cling like that." Tatsuki stuttered out, shying into her own shoulders as the five minute bell rang to get the students to start heading towards class.

Atsushi just grumbled as he looked away from her and started for the doors with her by his side.

"It's okay... If it helps keep him from bugging you, I don't have a problem with it." He said, releasing a long sigh to puff the lock of hair that hung down his nose.

Tatsuki lightly smiled up at him as he opened the door for her to step through before he followed. Students were going in every direction as they headed for their classes and with the nerves of going to a new school in a new place, they were eased when he had found out that he and Tatsuki were in the same class. They stepped into their classroom only to fall under a few stunned gazes, as Atsushi had to duck just to get through the door. It was more of the same for him, but he ignored it as both headed for the back of the classroom and found a pair of seats next to each other where they settled in for their first day as high school students.

The class was pretty plain, generic even as their teacher rumbled on through introductions, having each student stand and announce their names and which clubs they wanted to join at the end of the day. Atsushi found out that it was required that he do so, but wanting to stick to his guns about not playing basketball anymore, and having no other friends, he followed Tatsuki and had signed up for the baking club.

The first half of the day droned on with more introductions to what to expect throughout their year, what exams to watch out for and the work they expected to get during from the class. They had even had enough time to start some lessons, which afforded Atsushi a chance to relax because he was already proficient at it; Physics.

Finally, lunch time rolled around and he and Tatsuki headed for the cafeteria, where he found the food to be top notch and smelt fresh and warm. It was a chicken curry lunch that day and to his utter delight, it had all been prepared with ingredients that the school grew and cultivated themselves. The meat came from the neighboring farm, the herbs from the horticultural club and the only thing trucked in was the rice, which didn't have to go all that far. It was so fresh and so good that the entire lunch, Atsushi just sat with a gentle smile on his face while he and Tatsuki ate in their companionable silence.

However, just as he raised his chopsticks to take another bite, a hand came down on the back of his head, but having highly tuned reflexes that had been honed because of his time in middle school basketball, he dropped his chopsticks onto his plate and slammed both hands down onto the table, thus stopping his face from getting smashed into his own food.

Pushing his chair back hard that bumped into whomever stood behind him, Atsushi rose to his full height, drawing ever set of eyeballs straight to him as he turned around and glared down at the very boy whom he had just faced off with that morning, and his two brain dead friends.

"What do you want?" Atsushi asked dully, his eyes narrow as he glared down.

"Shirō?... What're you doing? Leave him alone." One of his friends hissed in a hushed whisper, standing a ways back so not to get involved too much.

"He needs to know who runs this town." Shirō said sharply, never once taking his eyes off the much taller, much wider and thicker boy.

"I'm not looking to replace you, but if you keep at it, you won't like the outcome." Atsushi said lowly, taking in slow and steady breaths so his temper was reined in.

"So long as you know that I'm in charge, we won't have an issue. Just stay away from Tatsuya if you know what's good for you." Shirō said through clenched teeth as he jammed a finger into Atsushi's chest with precisely zero give.

"I'll go wherever I like and if Muro-Chin wants to be near me, than I won't stop her. She can do whatever she wants. It's not up to me." Atsushi said, his voice firm.

"We'll see about that. Enjoy your lunch, City Trash."

As Shirō and his mortified friends left, Atsushi fumed at the backs of their heads, not even flinching when Shirō looked back over his shoulder with a grin and a wink. His temper was starting to heat up as his breathing increased, but when he felt a soft hand resting on his arm, he calmed and looked away from the boy whom disappeared through the back of the cafeteria.

"He's not worth it, Atsushi." Tatsuki said quietly, her eyes saddened as she took her hand away from his arm.

"Why does he want me to stay away from you?" Atsushi asked, releasing a long breath to seal away his temper.

Tatsuki sighed, "Because he thinks he can win me like a prize if he can convince my father to arrange a marriage, but my father has other ideas." She sat down into the chair beside his, having abandoned her half eaten lunch.

Atsushi's brows furrowed as he sat, "Other ideas?... What do you mean?" He asked, his squared shoulders dropping down as he hunched over.

He couldn't ignore the soft glistening in her eyes, how they shimmered from the lights over their heads and when it made his heart ache at seeing her like that, his own eyes softened as he watched her fidget with her fingers.

"My father wants me to follow in his footsteps. He wants me to go to a law prep school in Tokyo, but he's respecting my mom's wishes that I stay here and make my career choice myself. Shirō wants me because if he and I were together, it would negate the contracts my dad drafted due to conflict of interest." Tatsuki said in just above a whisper as a single tear fell from her exposed eye.

Atsushi sat up straighter, "M-Muro-Chin-" He tried to say something, but he genuinely didn't know what to say as more light tears fell down her cheeks.

Hearing her softly sniffle, Atsushi's anger started to rise again, but it wasn't threatening to lash out. It was just enough to make him angry with the boy from a distance, but seeing her tears, seeing her pale cheeks streaked with their trails, he had to do something to ease her internal pain.

With a soft sigh, he hesitated a moment, but holding his breath, he raised a curled knuckle and swiped away a tear that earned him her gaze. She shied into her shoulders again while she avoided his violet eyes, but her right one, the only visible one, kept flicking over to catch glimpses of him.

"I'm sorry, Atsushi. You don't need to hear my problems." She said softly as she dried her eyes and face before making to stand.

However, as she got to her feet, her hand was captured in one so large, that it had to hold her hand with just his fingers.

"Your problems aren't just yours, Muro-Chin. I'm here because I stood up against my dad too. He wants me to play for Yōsen High back in Akita and I don't want to and instead of accepting it, he kicked me out. He doesn't even want me home. This is the only place I have left, Muro-Chin." He said, his voice neutral and dull as he let go of her hand and looked down to hide the color of his cheeks.

"A-Atsushi... I-I... You're more than welcome to stay for as long as you'd like. You may not see it, but you fit pretty well here." Tatsuki said, managing to produce a soft smile and one that he had seen on more than one occasion.

Atsushi just returned her barely there smile, staying perfectly still as she reached out and brushed a lock of his hair behind his ear where her fingers waited that last little second before disappearing.

"I'll see you in class." She said before she turned and left him sitting there with their forgotten meals.

His shoulders slumped forward as he watched her go, how she picked up her pace until she was just shy of jogging as she stepped out of the cafeteria. He didn't like how she looked when she left, as that shininess was still in her eyes and he was finding that he didn't like it. He didn't like seeing her sad, didn't like the way she couldn't hold eye contact and didn't like how she looked without a smile on. It had been a little over a month since arriving at his uncle's farm and ever since meeting her, he found himself smiling more.

She was his friend.

With a sigh, Atsushi just scrubbed his face before returning to his lunch and finishing off both his and hers before returning the trays and heading back to class. He walked down the halls with his hands stuffed into his pockets, listening to the hushed murmurs of the behemoth of a boy facing off against the local rich kid and resident bully. He didn't even bother to look up from the floor which resulted in banging his head against the top of the door frame. He ignored the chuckles as he rubbed his head and went back to his seat, sitting down without a word, or look at anyone, but when the doorbell rang class back into season, Tatsuki had yet to return. He started to get anxious the longer time went on without her in class, but an hour after lunch, she walked in quietly and slipped into her seat while the teacher's back was turned. He wanted to asked her where she had gone, but seeing the cooling tint to her cheeks, he had a rough idea. She had gone to cry.

Instead of saying anything, he just let the day drag on until class finally ended and with the first day of school came the first meetings of clubs, but it had just been a day of introductions. No baking actually went on, which he was a bit heartbroken over since he hadn't had anything sweet for the whole day, but at least he was prepared with his alternative that he quietly clacked against his teeth. It was soon time to go home where he and Tatsuki merely said goodbye and went their separate ways.

The bus ride home, he never said a word, never looked away from the window from the evening sky and when he got off the bus and started the lengthy walk down his uncle's driveway, he never looked up from the ground. His mind kept replaying what had happened with that Shirō kid, how he sneered, how he eyeballed Tatsuki and how his friends just followed him around like lost puppies. The more he thought about it, the more angry he got, but instead of dwelling on it too much, he shifted gears and focused on helping his uncle with finishing up the day's chores.

Their evening theirs, they ate supper with barely a word said while Atsushi turned out the little bit of homework he had before he headed upstairs to shower and go to bed. He was tired; Tired of thinking, tired of all the physical labor and just plain tired. Half the time he couldn't stop yawning, and he had figured that after a month, he'd be used to it. That didn't turn out to be the case and as he got into his pajamas, consisting of a plain t-shirt and shorts, he laid down to get some sleep.

Or so he thought.

"Oi!... Get your ass up and get down to the barn!"

His door bursting open like someone had kicked it, Atsushi sat bolt upright with his violet eyes wide open from shock. He had been sleeping, completely drowning in dreamland when his uncle's voice boomed through his door and when he rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock on his nightstand, he flatly glared at the man.

"It's 1:30 in the morning, Uncle Hiroshi! What unholy level of hell is this?" Atsushi whined as he tried to stifle a yawn, but failed to keep it from releasing from the hinge of his jaw.

"There's no time! Get dressed and get your ass in the barn! It's Gretchen!" His uncle snapped before turning to leave.

That woke Atsushi up.

"Gretchen? What's wrong with her?" Atsushi called after the man, shooting out of bed and hopping on one foot as he struggled to pull pants on.

"She's in trouble! Just hurry it up! I already called Tatsuki!" His uncle's voice came from down the hall.

Pursing his lips together as he growled to himself, Atsushi pulled his pants on and snatched his hoodie from the back of his desk chair before sprinting downstairs and putting on his work boots that his uncle had bought him only a week ago. The air was chilled, but it didn't slow him down as he threaded his arms through his sweatshirt and headed straight for the open barn whose interior light was on.

The closer he got, the more he heard a rather distressed mooing coming from inside, and as he rounded the corner, he stopped as his eyes set on the first paddock on the right. Gretchen was breathing heavily, mooing with pain and had been tied to a post to keep her still. His uncle was standing behind her with plastic gloves on that traveled the whole length of his arms, but his brow was crinkled and his forehead was glistening with the first appearances of sweat.

"Come here, Kid." His uncle said firmly without even looking up from the cow's rump.

Atsushi gulped, but hurried over, only to freeze with held breath at what his eyes laid upon. His uncle was holding a tiny little head, a baby cow, but only half its little nose was free of its mother's womb. Its little nostrils flared and gargled as the tiny baby struggled to breath and blood and fluid streamed down Gretchen's legs from the birth, but no more progress was being made. The little calf wasn't budging despite its mother's clear attempts to move things along.

"W-What's wrong? Baby isn't moving." Atsushi said, forcing himself to breathe so the painful and rapid thumping of his heart didn't become too strong.

"I don't know. That's why I called Tatsuki, but I'm starting to think the little guy's stuck." Hiroshi said, still holding the calf's head so his nose didn't slip back into its mother.

"W-What can I do?" Atsushi asked, nervously biting his bottom lip with uncertainty.

"Hold the calf's head just like I'm doing. I'm gonna go get some towels and some rope." Hiroshi said as he took a step aside.

Atsushi stiffened, "Uh... Okay. Where are the gloves like you have?"

"Don't have anymore! Suck it up and do it!" Hiroshi snapped.

He desperately wanted to protest, positively wanted to refuse, but with more distressed moos from Gretchen, he couldn't stomach hearing her pain. He wanted to help her, wanted to help her small little calf, so sucking in a stiff breath, he rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and slipped his hands in to replace his uncle's.

He tried not to cringe at the feel, but it was all hot, wet and slimy against his fingers. He couldn't look, opting to just stare up, but he could feel the small calf trying to struggle and breathe. Its small head fit in a single hand and he cradled it as delicately as he thought he could. More labored breaths reached his ears, but when a small, tiny little squeak followed, he found himself suddenly looking.

The small calf was squeaking for help, noticeably struggling with its tongue lolling out of its mouth. The tiny thing was wanting out, to be free, born, but no amount of struggling and causing its mother more distress was helping. Gretchen was trying to birth her calf, but with not a single inch gained, Atsushi was starting to wonder if anything could be done.

"Come on, Muro-Chin... Baby needs your help." Atsushi grumbled to himself, but his plea was answered when the skidding stop of tires drew his attention.

He watched the opened barn door, listening as a car door opened and slammed shut. He heard whomever had arrived run and only a breath later, Tatsuki darted around the corner and tore off her jacket.

"Atsushi! Let me see." Tatsuki said, her face determined as she rushed into the paddock.

"Baby's in trouble." He said, his expression worried as he took a side step, but kept his hands in place to continue cradling the calf's head.

"Baby's stuck. Stay put." Tatsuki said, instantly knowing what was wrong with a single glance.

All Atsushi did was watch her as she stepped up to Gretchen's head and softly pet the labored cow, easing her distress for a single moment before sidestepping to her swollen belly. She ran her hands down her side, pressing in hard enough to feel the baby inside and her face was so determined, so set in its expression that he doubt it would ever ease.

"Y-You know what to do, Muro-Chin?" Atsushi asked, still watching her and with another gulp to settle his nerves.

Tatsuki nodded, "Yes... I help birth calves all the time. We've gotta hurry though, or Baby dies."

Atsushi's eyes shot open wide at her words as his heart seemed to stop in his chest. He didn't want Gretchen's calf to die, as over the last month, he had felt that very calf whose head he held move and shift inside its mother's womb. He was kind of attached to the little thing and with the knowledge that its life was truly in danger, he knew they needed to work and work fast.

"I think I got it... Its leg is stuck. It might be wrapped up the umbilical cord though, which means, if it is, we can't just pull." Tatsuki said before stepping out of the paddock.

Atsushi blew out a nervous breath, "So what do we do?" He asked, being tall enough to watch her go to the hose and rinse off her hands and arms all the way up to her shoulders.

"We have to go in." Tatsuki said, not even drying off her bare arms before rushing back to the paddock.

"Go in! Like... In in?" Atsushi reeled as Tatsuki nudged him a step over to position herself directly behind the labored cow.

His question was soon answered as she flattened her hand and began to slip it passed the tiny calf's head, diving deeper and deeper with the water serving as a lubricant to provide some minuscule amount of comfort for the mother. She mooed even louder, but the poor girl remained patient as Tatsuki's arm dove passed the elbow and kept going.

All Atsushi could do was watch as Tatsuki reached inside Gretchen's womb all the way up to just shy of her shoulder. Her head was craned up and facing towards him so he could see her lips pursed together, but the more precious seconds that ticked by, the more her browline furrowed and her teeth grit together.

"Grr-... I can't reach." She growled, taking another second to try, but ultimately withdrawing her arm with no success.

"Now what?" Atsushi asked, his eyes conveying his worry as he continued cradling the calf's head in a single hand.

Tatsuki pursed her lips together once more, but when her dark gray eyes set on his arms and traveled all the way up to his shoulder, her eyes widened with glimmers of hope.

"Take your hoodie off." Tatsuki said, slipping her hands over his to replace them in cradling the calf's head.

Atsushi gulped, "W-W-What?"

"Do it!"

With her sudden snap, Atsushi tried to hesitate touching his hoodie with his slime covered hands, but it was unavoidable. He unzipped it and took it off, tossing it over the top of the paddock wall before stepping out to wash his arms. He knew exactly what she was thinking, and doing the same thing he had seen her do, he washed his arms and left them wet as he returned to her side directly behind the mooing cow.

"Go nice and easy and angle down. Just follow the calf's body." Tatsuki said flatly, her thumbs gently stroking the calf's head that rested in her hands.

With another gulp, Atsushi nodded, trying not to cringe as he flattened his hand and began to slide it inside, following the line of the calf's body. It was so hot that it felt like he was standing next to a fire and keeping his hand on the calf's body, he dove his entire arm all the way up to his shoulder. He was hunched over, his heart hammering and his breath coming in a mild pant, but he kept his eyes locked with hers simply for a distraction that he was arm deep in the womb of a pregnant cow. It was incredibly odd, even wrong feeling, but with her guidance, he proceeded to feel around.

"It's firm... Natural skin can tell the difference between a leg and the umbilical cord. Just feel for it." Tatsuki said lowly, her breath drifting over his face with only an inch between the ends of their noses.

Atsushi nodded, kept staring as he felt around, feeling the wet slime covered fur of the calf and the heated walls of the cramped womb. It was disgusting, but that's when his fingers grazed over something round, feeling just like the womb's walls, yet was curled tightly around one of the calf's legs.

"I-I... I found it." Atsushi said, trying not to yelp and scare the cow whom, despite being in great pain, was still capable of kicking a cloven hoof.

"Ease Baby free, then we pull." Tatsuki said quietly, her eyes never wavering from his.

Atsushi nodded as he drew in a deep breath, his fingers working to unravel the cord from the calf's leg and despite not wanting to play anymore, he silently thanked basketball for giving his hand the dexterity to function on its own.

"I think I got it." He said, taking one last second to make sure before slowly withdrawing his arm.

The moment his arm was free, Tatsuki slid in front of him, still grasping the calf's head and began to pull, pressing back into him where his own hands grasped her wrists to help. They pulled every time the labored cow's muscles worked to push the calf out and slowly, surely, the calf began to come free.

"Oh my god!... Baby's coming, Atsushi... Keep pulling!" Tatsuki smiled big, stepping back further into his huge form which pushed him back in the process.

Gritting his teeth together, Atsushi kept his strength in check, still grasping her wrists as they pulled. The calf's head was free where its neck soon followed, and when its front legs dangled free, they grabbed them and pulled more. Inch, by inch, by inch, the calf emerged, the white patches of its fur tinged yellow as if someone had colored it with a highlighter from the distress. He had thought with all the fluid, that the calf coming free would be fast, but under her guidance, he quickly learned that that wasn't the case. They timed their pulls with the mother's pushes, but when the calf's rump popped free with what almost sounded like a literal pop, the sudden change in pace sent them off balance and both fell back.

Atsushi dropped onto his backside, planting his soaked arm into the straw to keep from falling onto his back with Tatsuki falling into his front. He wrapped his other arm around her in an attempt to catch her, but that's when his violet eyes set wide on what laid in her lap.

The baby calf, with eyes big and open, was free, resting and covered in birth with its little head cradled in her lap. The little thing was breathing and as she peeled away the thin membrane that still clung to the tiny beast, he realized what they had done; They had helped in birthing a cow.

"We did it... Baby's okay." Tatsuki said after several moments, just catching her breath before looking over to see his eyes peaking over her shoulder.

"Baby-" he breathed out, "So small." Atsushi said, starting to softly smile as he released his arm from around her to drift a knuckle softly over the calf's head.

"Brand new to this world. You saved his life, Atsushi. He would have died if it wasn't for you." She said, just settling back against Atsushi's chest, not wanting to move in favor of letting the calf rest and calm down from the ordeal.

"Really?" He asked, setting his chin down on her shoulder as he just watched the calf and continued to softly pet the small thing.

Tatsuki nodded, "Mmhmm... You should name him."

When she looked over to meet his gaze, her breath stopped as she realized just how close they where and how they were sitting. She was suddenly very aware of the weight of his head on her shoulder, the feel of his chest against her back and the light sparkle in his violet eyes that bore into hers. She immediately looked away and shied into her available shoulder and found herself thankful that her long raven hair was somewhat hiding her blush, but when dry, warm fingers grazed over her cheek, brushing her hair aside, she flinched.

"I-I'm sorry... I-I... I thought you were crying again and wanted to make sure you were okay." Atsushi said softly as he took his hand away so she wouldn't flinch again.

Tatsuki shook her head, "It's okay, Atsushi... I'm fine. If anything, I'm happy the calf's okay." She said with a half truth.

"Me too." He said.

Tatsuki blew out a nervous breath, but still wanting the calf to rest, she didn't move from her spot leaning back against his chest and between his legs. She just breathed the awkward away and decided to return to the task of naming the small animal, if at all to distract her some more.

"What're you gonna name him?" She asked, managing to look at him and this time without her blush.

"Um-" he hummed, "Oh!... Maiubo." Atsushi smiled dully at her.

"Maiubo?... Like the candy?" Tatsuki lowly chuckled.

Atsushi nodded, "Yeah... Because she's sweet."

"He." Tatsuki breathed out softly.

The gentle smile that followed his words made her cheeks color once again, but this time, she didn't hide. His eyes were soft as they looked at her, gazed at her with kindness and it made her stomach flutter with that warm flip that sent a wave of flushing heat radiating throughout her chest. She couldn't stop her lips from tugging up into a smile and when the small calf named Maiubo squeaked and lifted his little head on his own, their smiles reached their eyes.