Chapter Text
Miyuki Kazuya did not understand the purpose of graduation ceremonies. After all, they ruin the pretty atmosphere of sakura petals scattering in the air. And simply because they disturb the peace of the land.
I get that we need to retrieve the diplomas, but was it necessary for all these people to crowd around the courtyard, the most sought after high school catcher grumbled to himself. In reality, this would be better described as a golden opportunity for fan-girls and, to be fair, fan-boys to ambush the object of their affections. Until today when he became the bloody bait thrown into a pool of piranhas, Miyuki Kazuya had never fully realized his true popularity as part of the baseball team.
I should’ve listened to the managers’ warnings, Miyuki groaned to himself as he turned a sharp corner in an attempt to dodge another tackle from the clamoring masses. Yesterday, the managers had tried to warn the graduating members of the team about the famous graduation stampedes. Apparently the year before, Tetsu-san and Jun-san had almost been admitted to hospital as a result of their fans' ferocious fighting over their uniform buttons, especially the second jacket button closest to the heart. Miyuki acknowledges the whole romantic idea behind it, but is it really necessary to threaten bodily harm? What if he gets injured again?
Miyuki Kazuya, as anyone who knows him personally will tell you, is an expert tactician who has no qualms lying to get his way. In his bid to get at least one photo with his pitcher, he had already sacrificed Kawakami, whose popularity had shot up in the last year, to those looming predators. In anticipation of certain danger, Miyuki himself had hidden that most targeted button away in the safety of his pocket. Then preparing himself for a speedy escape, he imitated the frenzied cry of an outraged fan-boy. “Oh no! Someone took the button! That way!!”
Smirking at his success, the former baseball team captain would have gotten away had he not run into a second wave of fans after his skin when he turned the corner of the school building. Noticing the already missing prize, the mob then proceeded to relieve the catcher of the rest of his buttons, leaving the poor boy’s chest exposed and clothes thoroughly desecrated.
It would take another hour of careful tactical retreats from roaming mobs of fervent fans before Miyuki Kazuya would find his way to Seido’s dorms. He could not remember a worse beating than this, not even that time back in junior high school a lifetime ago.
“What took you so long?” A bored voice interrupted Miyuki’s thoughts.
“Sorry about that Okumura. Got ambushed by the crowds.” Miyuki said carefully as he was the one currently asking for a favor.
“Whatever. Just know that my stuff is off limits.” Okumura Koushuu said as he let his senpai into his room. “And please don’t do anything that’ll make Sawamura-senpai cry. Because I’m going to be the one picking up the pieces now that you’re graduating.”
“Well… Okumura-kun, just so you know, you’ll only have Eijun to yourself this year anyway. So make the best of it.” A smiling Miyuki responded with a little edge on his voice.
Sighing, the current regular catcher merely looked back with a wary look as he began to walk out of the room he shared with Sawamura Eijun. “Miyuki-senpai, I hope you properly settle things with Sawamura-senpai tonight. He’s been moping a lot more than usual… ok? Good luck.”
Finally, alone at last. Settling himself into Eijun’s bed, Miyuki released a sigh of relief. Staring into space, he smiled to himself as he felt the comforting presence of the item that he has kept on his person for the past few weeks. Taking a moment to slip his button into the envelope that contained the coming year’s plans, Miyuki then quickly fired off a text to the object of his affections. Despite having had many an unpleasant encounter, he had nonetheless been able to snap at least one picture with his pitcher. Smiling at the photo which had promptly been turned into his phone’s background, Miyuki felt the fatigue of the day slowly catch up to him and soon he was dozing off surrounded by Eijun’s scent.
Miyuki was woken up by the sound of someone throwing themselves on the floor. In the dimness of the room, Miyuki smirked at the silhouette of that favorite idiot of his.
“Bakamura, where the heck have you been? I’ve been waiting for you for hours.” To the catcher’s amusement, the shadowy figure jumped almost a foot into the air in surprise.
Once the lights were turned on, Miyuki slowly adjusted to the sudden brightness. At the awkward silence that followed, Miyuki narrowed his eyes and slowly turned to his side to address the dumbfounded southpaw.
“Oi, are you listening to me?”
His kohai slowly responded. “Miyuki, I've been looking for you everywhere… what are you doing here?”
Well, that wasn’t quite the welcome I expected. The catcher thought to himself. “Didn’t you get my mail? I told you that I was going to meet you back here since I was being swarmed by people.”
As Eijun checked his pockets for his phone, Miyuki sighed in exasperation. Noticing the other boy’s blush and questioning gaze, he smiled and said, “Apparently I had more fan-girls than I thought.”
Miyuki had always found it difficult to handle a quiet, diminutive Sawamura Eijun, who he associates with exuberance incarnate. Raising an eyebrow, he noted. “You’re not acting like the usual Uzamura. Isn’t there something you were supposed to say to me?”
“Miyuki, I…” As Eijun continued to falter and the senpai thought to himself that perhaps in these times, he should really help out his kohai.
“You know, Sawamura, you really need to stop treating the important things the same as always.” Miyuki prodded.
Before Eijun could complete his trademark retort of “I don’t want to hear that from you”, Miyuki threw the envelope containing his itinerary and button towards the former’s face.
Confused, the younger boy asked, “What’s this?”
Miyuki smirked, anticipating the many questions his kohai would surely ask. “It’s my itinerary. Well, Rei-chan and I have been keeping things under wraps since it took longer than we thought to arrange and finalize all the places I’m going to tour.”
Except Miyuki should have known that at times his pitcher had the tendency to come to the wrong conclusions: “Tour? What? What about baseball!? Don’t tell me you’re quitting!?!?!? Miyuki!”
So trying to remain as smooth as possible, Miyuki began to improvise on what had previously been his much practiced proposal. “Calm down, you idiot. I’m not quitting baseball. I’m doing a baseball tour to work with as many different kinds of pitchers for a year or so. It’s not normally done but since I’ll be stuck with you for a long time, might as well get around before you graduate.”
When all Eijun could do was repeat the words “stuck with me?”, Miyuki broke out into his signature Cheshire cat grin. He couldn’t help but tease the disbelieving pitcher. “Are you just going to repeat what I said the entire night? Or have I finally left you completely speechless?”
Adorably confused, Eijun stuttered. “But that still doesn't make any sense, Miyuki! What do you mean, with me!? I don’t even know what's going to happen next year! How can I even think about after graduation....”
With remarkable patience, Miyuki replied. “Oh Sawamura, did you forget how many offers I got? To be honest, it really doesn't matter where you go, because everyone wants me anyway. What I’m saying is: this time, I’ll go to where you are.”
As realization finally began to dawn on him, Eijun slowly formed the words Miyuki had been waiting for. “Is that supposed to be some kind of proposal?”
Now, he gets it.
Not missing a beat, Miyuki continued. “Really, Eijun, where's that self-confidence of yours? We both know you’ve liked me forever. But since you're so dense... I’m telling you that I like you too.”
Miyuki Kazuya knew that victory was in hand when Sawamura Eijun’s face blossomed into the most alluring pink that could rival even the sakura in bloom. Swiftly, he sealed Eijun’s lips with his before that idiot pitcher of his could slip in another word. With the conviction of the past few months’ efforts on his mind that stemmed from his desire to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible, so that he could personally make Eijun’s potential flourish and shine, Miyuki looked earnestly into his pitcher’s eyes and implored: “So just promise me this one thing. Don't fail anything this year because logistics is a NIGHTMARE. Seriously Aibou, hurry up and please, PLEASE choose something good. Because this time, I’ll be waiting.”
Because, I’ll be waiting. Waiting so that we can walk together always in this endless baseball career of ours. Shoulder to shoulder.