Chapter 21: Infinites
The student council members are practicing their relay on the oval garden pathway surrounded by the school buildings. For some reason, every time it's Yuu's turn to pass the baton to her lanky girlfriend, the baton somehow gets dropped. Touko decided to intervene and told her best friend that she would change the order.
"She will pass me the baton, Touko."
"But you two can't seem to synchronize your passes."
"It doesn't matter. We will figure it out."
"Why can't she just pass the baton to me?"
"I am the vice president. I should be the one to pass the baton to you."
"I am the president. I can choose the order."
"She will pass it to me. That is final."
"Then the two of you will just have to keep practicing after school."
"Fine!"
The couple decided to meet up at the elevated passage near the baseball field since no one seems to go there after the last class of the day. Yuu arrived first, wearing her gym shirt and shorts. She stretched out a bit as she watched the baseball team practice some drills. 'If only there was a softball team here. But then again, I wouldn't have met Sayaka. Still, I miss playing with Natsuki. I wonder if her team will enter the district competition. I should say hi sometime.'
"Did you wait long, my love?"
"No, it's okay. I was watching the baseball team."
"Sorry, my last class got held up with a last-minute quiz."
"It's alright. Don't worry about it." She glances at the field again.
"Do you miss playing?"
"I do. I played for three years. It is weird not going home ragged every day."
"I am sorry you are stuck with the student council." She said mockingly.
"Don't be silly. I would not give it up for the world. Though I must confess, you are the only reason I joined. I don't regret that decision, but I will be lonely after you graduate, I don't have any reason to stay there."
"We can figure something out when the time comes." Sayaka said as she walked away to give them enough space to practice the relay.
"Heads up!" said an urgent voice.
Yuu saw a baseball rapidly falling from the sky. She rushed forward and jumped a few feet off the ground in time to catch the ball and stop it from hitting Sayaka on the head.
"Hey!" She yelled after landing on her feet. "That was dangerous!"
"Sorry, my teammate got a little excited." Said a lanky boy with handsome features inside the chain link fence. He has that cool-boy swagger. Baseball cap worn backwards, hiding most of his wavy dark brown hair; a toned forearm on the crisscross post; head slightly inclined to the side; bright blue eyes brimming with confidence. "Nice catch, by the way. Can you throw it back?" He challenged her with an impish smirk.
'Can I throw it back? Oh, I'll show you how far I can throw it back!' She shifted her body sideways and got into position. Aim the ball towards the field and wind-up her arm, then move her body forward with a step and release the ball. It flew high over the three-meter-high fence and landed where the pitcher was. A good sixty-five meters from where they were standing. The boy at the barrier whistled, while the other players on the field cheered.
Sayaka, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. It was the first time she saw Yuu display her athletic ability, and from what she can deduce, her girlfriend is really good at it. Not only was she saved from what could have been a concussion, but she also witnessed Yuu's protective side. Even telling off someone she doesn't know—someone taller and stronger than her. "We need to go." She whispered.
"What? Why? We haven't practiced yet."
"I want to kiss you." The senpai declared with fervor. Yuu blushed.
"Hey!" Both girls turn to face the speaker. "What's your name?" Shouted a different boy who came to the fence, smiling happily at Yuu. He is a bit shorter than the first boy and skinnier. He has jet-black hair under his baseball cap and kind, chocolate-colored eyes.
"You don't need to know." Sayaka snapped back.
"Hey, we are sorry. It was an accident." Said the blue-eyed boy.
"Yeah, sorry. So, what's her name?" asked the second boy, indicating the small girl with his catcher's mitt.
The senpai only grabbed the first year's wrist and started to walk away from the barrier.
"Hey, redhead. My teammate's got the hots for you."
"Dude, shut up!"
"Come by next time without your bodyguard. He is Jun from Class 1-4!" He shouted the last words to the retreating couple.
The hand's grip on Yuu's wrist got tighter; she is almost jogging to catch up with the long, quick strides that the brunette is taking.
'Is it too much to ask for boys not to pose a threat to me as well?!' Sayaka screamed inside her head.
"Sayaka, don't worry about it. I am not interested with that boy."
"Do you have a shift today?" The grip loosens, and she begins to walk at a normal pace.
"No, I told my mom that we were practicing for the run."
"Then let's go home."
"I won't get bitten, right? That incident isn't my fault."
"Oh, it's your fault, alright, for being so charming and talented. You will get bitten a lot, but only because I want to bite you."
"Then it's the same. When did you ever not want to bite me?"
"The days before our weekend together in Osaka."
"Geez, who is insatiable now?"
"Wait, are you saying that me biting you is crossing a boundary?"
"Boundary? Oh, yeah, boundaries. No. Maybe. Wait." Yuu considers this as they walk towards the gym lockers to change back into their uniforms. 'It doesn't really irritate me when she bites me when she's jealous. I just don't like that she gets upset and expresses it like that. It was not even painful. I guess I hope she trusts me enough already. Why can't she realize no one can even hold a candle next to her?' They had changed into their uniforms and were walking towards the gate when Yuu finally spoke. "I like it when you mark me. I marked you too, and I enjoy it a lot when I see them, even after a few days have passed. But I want you to believe that I won't cheat on you. I can't see anyone else. Can you look at yourself in the mirror once in a while? You are so gorgeous, elegant, and absolutely sexy. But even if we take away your physical advantages, you are brilliant, talented, kind, thoughtful, and a hard worker. When you care about something, you give it your all. You don't take things lightly, and..."
"Stop it. You are embarrassing me." Sayaka cuts her off.
"And your scent is just out of this world. It is like a drug to me. Every time I get a whiff of it. I feel helplessly intoxicated."
"Now you are entering the corny category." Rosy cheeks betray her true feelings.
"Can't you see that you are amazing? Who would cheat on you?"
"It's not about you cheating. I can't help it. I feel very possessive of you."
Silence fell over them as Yuu pondered. They are near the parking lot when she speaks again.
"I am trying to understand. But I am coming up empty. Why do you feel so possessive of me? Sure, I feel somewhat possessive of you too. I feel jealous at times, even. But I haven't reacted the way that you have. Are you that scared of losing me?"
"Very much. It would be the worst thing that could happen to me."
"But I am here. I am not going anywhere. I had promised that many times. I am wearing your ring. Have I ever shown you a reason not to trust me?"
"I trust you. But it doesn't stop how I react when people get near you. People who had the potential to take you away from me."
"They had to pry my dead body off of you before they could succeed."
"What did I tell you about speaking about death?"
Yuu laughs heartily.
"Sayaka-chan?"
The couple turned their heads towards the speaker for the second time that day. The brunette's face displayed a mixture of emotions that her kōhai had never seen before. Shock, disappointment, pain, betrayal, loneliness, and pride. "Senpai…"
"Long time, no see! Crazy running into you here!
"Uh, yes."
"Is this your friend?" The newcomer asks as she gazes at the small girl.
Sayaka glanced at her girlfriend. 'I don't have permission to tell her we are dating.' "Yes, this is my kōhai from school."
"Uhm, hello." Yuu bowed.
"Yuu, this is my senpai from my middle school, Yuzuki Chie. Senpai, this is Koito Yuu."
"Ah, nice to meet you."
The kōhai just bowed again, realizing who the person is. She could not say that it was a pleasure to meet her. Deciding that they might need a moment to catch up, "Senpai, I'll wait for you in the car." She bowed a third time to her lover's ex and walked as calmly as she could towards the parking lot.
"Is she going home with you?"
"I don't think that's anything you should be concerned about."
"Ah, of course. Anyway, I am glad to see you. I really wanted to talk to you and apologize when you entered high school, but then you suddenly transferred away." Taking a deep breath and joining her hands on her chest. "I am sorry, Sayaka-chan."
"What exactly are you apologizing for?"
As her senpai replied and expressed her regret about the things that happened in middle school, pressuring her to go out and the things they did, all that Sayaka could think about was how happy she is that she got Yuu in her life. Someone who loves her so freely and deeply that she can't even begin to comprehend what made her like the person speaking to her now. Chie continued on with a concern that she might be the reason that had turned her into liking girls and about her wish that she had gotten over that phase and was living a normal life.
"Don't worry, senpai. We can put those things behind us." She expressed herself as confidently as she could. "I am actually grateful to you."
"Oh, for what?"
"You are the reason I know what it feels like to be warm because you show me what it feels like to be cold."
"Hmmmn, I don't quite get that."
"It's okay. Maybe you will understand someday. Now I need to go. Take care of yourself, senpai. Farewell." With that, she walks away without missing a beat or giving her senpai a chance to reply. She doesn't want to waste another second with her past. Her feet almost wanted to fly towards the place where her present and future were waiting.
She entered the car, closed the door, and immediately claimed her girlfriend's lips. "Yuu, please sit on my lap. I want to feel you against me."
The younger girl can sense the desperation emanating from Sayaka's body. She complied without a word and straddled her. Long arms guided the seatbelt over them, and when it hit home, she drew Yuu nearer, trying to mold herself into her. Face buried in her neck. Body shaking a little.
"I am here." Yuu murmured as she rubbed her lover's back. "I'll always be here for you."
"Thank you. Please stay like this for a bit."
"Anything you need. Take everything."
Yuu would softly kiss the places she could reach. Running her fingers through the wavy, light brown hair. Touching everywhere possible. Snuggling closer. Trying to give as much comfort as her small body is capable of. They stayed enveloped in each other's arms even after Sayaka had stopped shaking.
Face still buried in the petite girl's neck. "I love you, Yuu. Thanks for loving me. Thanks for staying even though I am crazy, possessive, and immature at times."
"Hush, it is natural for me to love you. It is the easiest thing in the world. Like breathing." kissing strawberry-scented hair and twirling it around with her fingers. "Hmmm, well, maybe sometimes it is hard to breathe. Especially after an intense kiss from you. My body forgets the ability to breathe." She felt a smile on her neck. "Hmmm, what is easier than breathing?"
"You are being silly." Sayaka chuckled.
"Am I? I am deadly serious. Okay, how about it's as easy as eating ice cream during the summer?"
"Hmmmn, maybe." The lanky girl pulls away and gazes at the brown eyes. "I hope this helps you understand why I am so possessive of you."
"How so?"
"I just got reminded that relationships end."
"Your ex isn't exactly at my level."
Two eyebrows were raised.
"She was a fool for letting you go. She didn't recognize that she had stumbled upon something that could define the reason why she's alive. But I am glad she let you slip by. I am still the leader of the pack. I will never ever let you go. If I had to defeat every competitor, I would. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to win you over."
Sayaka chuckled again.
"But of course, if you don't want me, I will let you go. You are free to love me, but I will not hold you hostage when the feeling is gone."
"Mmmmm, I can't believe I will take a page from Shakespeare again."
"What? Another thing about me killing the moon?"
"No, this one is about the sea."
Yuu smiled warmly. "Please tell me."
"'My gift,'" a kiss on the collar, "'is as boundless as the sea,'" a kiss on the neck, "'my love as deep,'" a kiss on the forehead, "'the more I give to you,'" a kiss on a cheek, "'the more I have,'" a kiss on the other cheek, "'for both are infinite.'"1 a light kiss on the lips "My feelings are infinite. Like the sea, it will take forever to run dry."
"Quoting him like that is cheating."
"I'll never play fair when it comes to you. If you will compete with everyone to get me. I will annihilate everyone, so you won't have a choice but to pick me."
"That is scary." Yuu chuckled. "But you don't need to kill anyone." She touches Sayaka's face with both hands, thumbing her cheeks as the rest thread through wavy hair. "I'll always choose you."
Their lips meet again. Full of longing, full of promise, and full of warmth.
Green eyes are shining. "You really are my sun. You can burn me however you want."
Brown eyes stared back, expressing those warm feelings that Sayaka can't get enough of.
"I am sorry that you experienced something like that. If I could erase it, I would."
The green eyes smiled sadly. "It's alright. Because of it, I appreciate more what I have now. Please extend your patience with me. I'm not sure when I'll stop being afraid of losing you. It's not about not trusting you. I am really afraid to be alone again. I'm sorry. It is selfish, I know." She buried her face in Yuu's neck again.
"I did promise I would be patient. I will do my best to fulfill that promise, but you also need to be patient when I get irritated sometimes. Because I really love you, Sayaka. If only you could see yourself through my eyes. You will know you have nothing to be worried about."
"I know you love me. I would not be this fearful if I didn't know that. I know that I have something rare and precious. I am addicted to you, your love, your touch, and your warmth."
The car stopped.
"Okay, I understand. But let me show you how much I love you." She unlocks the seatbelt. "You still have the blindfold, right?
-*+/
Rain is falling unrelentingly. It was one of the times that Yuu didn't bring an umbrella. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. After fishing it out, she answered it.
"Honey, do you have an umbrella?"
"Would you be surprised that I don't?" She heard a light chuckle.
"I figure you wouldn't. Please wait for me. I'll be down in a bit."
"See you."
A small hand tried to catch the cool drops of rain pouring from the side of the building entrance, feeling excited about meeting her girlfriend and the fact that they would walk together in the rain for the first time. Something that could be listed among the first things that couples do and another first she could give to Sayaka 'Maybe we could even kiss while under the umbrella. Most people had gone home. Maybe no one will see.'
"Oh, hey Yuu."
"Hello Nanami-senpai." She smiled sweetly, still dazed by her musings.
"Geez, don't smile at me like that."
"Huh? Why not?"
"You look heartbreakingly adorable."
"Sheesh, senpai." She blushed lightly. "You should be embarrassed when you say things like that."
"You might be my best friend's girlfriend …"
"Senpai!" Yuu grumbled as she looked around. But since the last bell had rung a good hour ago, the area was essentially empty.
"… but I am still not over you."
"Huh?"
"Why didn't we meet each other first?" Gray eyes study her face with affection.
"Don't say that. Sayaka is already jealous of you."
"Is she? Hmmmn."
Yuu gazes at her with suspicion. "What are you thinking?"
"I could be the one walking home with you under an umbrella on a rainy day like this."
"Senpai, don't be weird." She laughs weakly. Surprised that her senpai had echoed her thoughts.
"I will not do anything that will cross a line." Even with that, she touches the first year's cheek. "I am just wondering what could have been. I guess it was my fault for being impulsive, huh? I scared you with my advances."
Yuu blinked at her several times. "It's not like that. I just fell in love with her immediately. There's no space left after that." She stepped back to get away from the delicate fingers. And it was a good thing since the footsteps of her girlfriend came fast after that.
"Touko," Sayaka said calmly. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't touch her like that again." She steps forward and covers Yuu with her body. "Your friendship means a lot to me. But I can't allow interactions like this."
Letting the extended arm fall to her side, the lonely gray eyes still gaze at the place where Yuu was a few seconds ago. "You are right, Sayaka. I am sorry. I think I'll need some time."
"Take all the time you need." She kindly replied. "Should we go first?"
"Please"
Sayaka opened her umbrella, placed a hand over Yuu's shoulder, and began to walk away. Yuu tried her best not to look back. Her senpai needs to move on. And her compassion won't help. She didn't know that Touko still felt something for her. 'Sayaka's feelings are not unfounded, apparently.'
They walk silently, deep in their own thoughts. The senpai was wondering if she had handled the situation with as much grace as possible for her best friend. While the kōhai was pondering how she should act with Touko again. Or if she was allowed to do so, or if that would help at all. 'All the times I had talked and laughed with her must not have been easy for her.' Being made aware that she had been oblivious to Touko's feelings, she felt guilty about how her relationship with Sayaka had affected their friendship.
They were near the train crossing when Yuu spoke again. "Please don't stop being friends with her."
"I won't. She is and always will be my closest friend. I can sympathize with her, of course. I know where she is coming from." She squeezes her lover's shoulder a bit. "I would be in the same situation if you had fallen for her."
"You don't know that. You liked her before we started; you might be jealous of me and not of her."
"Good point."
"Then I should be jealous."
"But you are not, aren't you?"
They arrive at the train crossing in time for the pole gate level to drop.
"I am not." She said proudly "Does that bother you?" Now a little concerned.
"No, it means you are secure about my feelings for you."
"As boundless as the sea?" Yuu inquired with a raised eyebrow and the dazzling smile that both her senpais find very alluring.
The green eyes sparkle. "My love as deep."
"The more I give,"
"The more I have,"
"For both are infinite."
"Both are infinite." Sayaka agreed.
Their lips met without provocation. The train passes in front of them, helping the rain and umbrella conceal their intimate moment from the world.
-Chapter End Notes-
1 The exact quote was 'My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.' – Romeo and Juliet -Act 2 Scene 2 lines 133-136 - I changed it a bit since some words are kind of old-school.
A/N: For people who are sticklers for timelines, you would say that this chapter should have happened before the last one. And you are right. I forgot to write about this first. I was so excited about the events of the last chapter that I skipped this one. When I looked back at my outline, this screamed at me. I tried to make it look like they were interchangeable, but I may have failed. Anyway, I still hope you guys enjoyed this one. Drop a comment below. It helps me more than you know.