Kuramochi mesmerized the jersey for a long long time, before finally putting it aside by folding it up carefully.

He looked over at Miyuki, who was sitting cross legged on the couch, while hugging a couch cushion. He has been flipping through the TV channels for a while now, but didn't seem to be searching for anything in particular.

Kuramochi looked over, and frowned when he saw Miyuki's eye lids flutter in an attempt to stay awake, and took the remote from him, "The MLB season ended a while ago, there would be nothing to your interest on TV right now."

Miyuki didn't seem alarmed, and yawned exaggeratedly, "Cinderella, it's time to go home."

Instead of taking that as a cue to leave, Kuramochi planted himself next to Miyuki on the couch, and turned off the TV, "Miyuki, what's going on."

His voice carried an unwavering tone, but Miyuki didn't seem to be bothered, and just grinned back, "It's getting late."

Kuramochi sighed and took out his phone. He flipped through pages of social media, as he spoke, "Miyuki, what are you doing here? It's league championships right now, you don't seem to be injured, what could bring a superstar catcher all the way here?" Before Miyuki could speak up, Kuramochi looked up at him sharply, "And don't tell me you're here to deliver the present."

Miyuki dropped his chin, and rested it on the cushion in front of him. He spoke as he blinked innocently, "I didn't know I needed a reason to visit friends."

Kuramochi scoffed, "When you couldn't even come to gatherings in Tokyo, it seems rather difficult for me to believe that you'd fly to visit just Sawamura."

"Just ...? Sawamura..?"

There was a brief moment of silence, before Miyuki started laughing, "Kuramochi... I can't believe it...! Who in their right mind would travel all the way across the globe, only to be annoyed by a brat like Sawamura?"

"Miyuki... you know you don't mean that."

Miyuki had a smile lingering on his face. He ran his fingers through his hair, "Even engines require cool-off time, Mochi. Nothing more than that."

Kuramochi froze slightly after hearing that. His frown deepened, but as he finally found the post he was looking for - Okumura being the starting catcher for the Tigers - and tossed his phone over, "What happened in October? You missed the playoffs."

Miyuki glanced down at the official team's social media account, and didn't say anything, and only hugged the cushion tighter against his chest. Kuramochi allowed the silence to sit between the two of them, as he knew he was getting close.

Ever since he saw Miyuki earlier tonight at the baseball diamond, Kuramochi could sense behind that bright smile of his, there was a hint of sadness hovering around. But he knew a few weeks ago, he saw Miyuki's contract was renewed with the Tigers on social media. Throughout the night, he observed Miyuki closely, but quietly, and doesn't seem to pick up on any signs of any injury.

And honestly, had Miyuki actually been injured, that would make the headlines in sports news immediately anyways.

But red flags remained, especially when Miyuki did not reject the beer he was handing over at the bar. Miyuki never drank during the season, and even less so during off season, as he once said to Tetsu-san that he didn't enjoy the feeling of a foggy mind.

Kuramochi kept a close eye on Miyuki tonight at the bar, and when Miyuki reached for the pitcher to refill his own glass for the fifth time, he subtly pushed the pitcher away from him, and rejected the suggestion from another teammate for another pitcher of beer.

The blush on Miyuki's face was becoming more and more apparent as the night went on, and along with that, Miyuki's demeanor also became more chirpy than usual. Sawamura seemed to have also noticed, and ordered high carbs food to make sure this catcher was not drinking on an empty stomach.

But it was too late by then.

Sawamura seemed to have been somewhat relieved when he saw Miyuki walking steadily to Kuramochi's car by himself at the end of the night, and therefore did not ask any further question.

But Kuramochi knew better. Especially in that elevator earlier, when Miyuki found comfort leaning on Kuramochi, even if it was only momentarily.

Vulnerability was not something Miyuki Kazuya demonstrated often, if not never.

"You never took cool-off time, Miyuki. You do all things for a win." Kuramochi spoke in a softer tone, "You no longer have to carry the burden of being a captain in front of me anymore, Miyuki."

Miyuki seemed to have slumped forward even more, almost protecting himself from what Kuramochi had been saying to him. His fingers rubbing the corners of the cushion subconsciously.

He no longer carry a smile on his face, and the sense of sadness thickened around him.

Kuramochi was patient. He sat in silence together with him, a way of demonstrating that Miyuki was not alone. Eventually, Kuramochi got up, and poured a cup of hot ginger tea, and gestured Miyuki to drink it.

"Mochi, baseball is the only thing I'm good at."

"Mm, that's not news."

Kuramochi sat down again, this time slightly closer to Miyuki, and he caught his eyes behind those glasses. They seem to be looking at something far away, while starring at the steam coming up from the mug in his hands.

"People think I'm good at it, because I'm gifted."

Normally Kuramochi would've shot back a snarl at such a comment, but this time, he allowed it to sit, as he knew it wasn't completely inaccurate.

"But one person has always believed in me."

Kuramochi's heart sank.

He sensed where this conversation was going, and he immediately regretted initiating it. He looked over at Miyuki, and couldn't decide if he should reach over for a man hug, or to just stay put and allow Miyuki to continue.

"Although, he's never came to a single game of mine, but he always somehow find a way to stay on top of everything. He knew my stats by heart, something I can't even remember myself."

"Miyuki..."

"I wanted to play pro, not only because I was good at it. Supporting me through Seido financially was not an easy task. I wanted to let him know none of his effort was wasted. I wanted... to make him proud, Mochi."

Miyuki's voice broke slightly, and Kuramochi reached over and patted him on the shoulders.

Miyuki took a deep breath in, and clutched the warm mug between his hands tightly, "I gave him tickets to the games. I've always given him tickets to games, but he always gave them away because the shop always needed him. I... never thought he'd actually come this time."

Sensing what's coming next, Kuramochi tightened his grip on Miyuki's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Miyuki."