Covet

Kuramochi walks into the cafeteria.

"Hey, look at our engaged speedster!" Jun hoots.

He's busy lighting the candles on the custom cake designed by Kasumi, '6+4' written on top in cursive icing, "Lemme just get this done, and then we'll chow down. Where's Ryosuke?"

"He didn't show up," Kuramochi deadpans.

Jun freezes, mouth agape, "Oh."

"I saw him with some other dude."

"Oh."

"They kissed."

"Oh."

"It's like he didn't even know I was there."

"Holy shit, man."

Everyone, except for Furuya and Miyuki who were attending late-night classes, rushes over to Kuramochi and traps him in a group hug, expressing their condolences.

The candles on the cake remain half-lit, resembling how Kuramochi feels internally: half-empty and snuffed out.

'What happened?' Haruichi thinks, searching for any plausible explanation, 'How could Aniki do this? I thought they were solid, but he was cheating? Here I was, thinking he was lucky to have Kuramochi-senpai when I…'

The group hug is dissolved and the shortstop stands in the center, his eyes glossy red from crying on the lonely and frigid walk back to Seido. Another wave of tears was forming, but he fought them with the remaining strength he has left.

"The hell am I supposed to do now?" he asks, not particularly looking for an answer, "Do I even talk to Ryo-san about it? Do I confront him? Do I forget it? I freaking loved him, man…I should return the ring and refund you guys. I'm sorry."

"No, keep it," Tetsu insists, "Let it serve as a reminder. It will hurt for days to come. I'm not too acquainted with situations like these, but I can assume healing will be a difficult affair, so I understand if you'll want a couple of days off of practice. I'll speak to Coach for you."

"Really? You'd do that?"

"Yes."

Kuramochi ruminates on it, then shakes his head no, "The team needs me. Besides, baseball will be a distraction for me. I probably won't be at peak performance, but…bear with me."

Tetsu nods, "Okay. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Thanks. I'm gonna go see Furuya, so g'night."

When he leaves, the team members talk amongst themselves, hands on their hips or on their heads in disbelief. Kuramochi was one of their most valuable players, their mood-maker and resident delinquent comedian, and seeing him in such a traumatic state was nothing short of shocking.

"I wonder why Ryosuke-san did that," Kawakami says, "He's not the type to recklessly fall in love, so dating Kuramochi for two years meant he had serious feelings for him. Something must've changed."

Shirasu agrees, "I'm thinking the same thing. Do you think it has anything to do with why he dropped out? We still don't know the reason behind it."

"Whatever the reason is," Jun adds, "Seido's gotta be cursed. Shit keeps hitting the fan and everyone's getting hurt like it's no one's business—Sawamura! What are you doing to the cake?"

He leans over and sees Eijun smudging the plus sign in '6+4,' changing it into '6-4.'

"Get it?" Eijun stifles a laugh, "Six minus four."

"That's tasteless! We weren't sayin' twenty minus two when Miyuki cheated on you, did we?!"

Eijun gasps, mortified, "SPITZ-SENPAI! Wha—I—How could you say that?!"

"Exactly! Have some compassion, will ya? This ain't funny!"

"I-I was just trying to lighten the mood!"

"I'm gonna light your ass up, that's what! Behave!"

--

Packing his books into his bag, Furuya sees Kuramochi sliding the classroom door open.

"How did it go?" he asks, "Are you married yet?"

"More like divorced."

Kuramochi recaps the events of his failed proposal and the raven-haired teen visibly sinks in his seat.

"Save your sorries," the shortstop says, fingering a piece of chalk on the blackboard, "I don't need any more pity. It sucks like ass, but I'll get over it. I can't retire from supporting you just yet."

Furuya pushes himself out of his chair and meets him at the blackboard, "I asked you this before, but I'm going to ask again. Why are you so committed to helping me? I feel that's not only stemming from your obligation as an upperclassman. And a friend, I suppose."

Kuramochi's face is wistful as he stares at Furuya's stomach.

"I was in your shoes last year. I was gonna be a father. Ryo-san got pregnant and we wanted to keep it. Well, he persuaded me to, his conniving ass, but I was prepared. I was thinking of quitting school and finding a job to support us, building our life as a family from the ground up. Sounds rash, but I was willing to drop everything for him. Everything. Then, the stress overwhelmed him and he miscarried. Ryo-san is strong, but he handled the miscarriage horribly.

"He barely slept, ate, and his grades reflected it. He dropped out of school mainly because he didn't want the others to notice or for me to see him so broken. A year later, he said he was doing fine and I believed him, but I guess not. Being with me must've been painful. Just the thought and sight of me must've been painful and that's why he chose to cheat…move on, rather? I don't know. He could've told me…"

Furuya puts a consoling hand on Kuramochi's shoulder and squeezes it softly.

"When I give birth, I'll let you hold my child," he says, "You can be their godfather."

"Why? So I can live vicariously through you?"

"That was my intention."

"Tch. Thanks, Furuya. I look forward to it."

--

12 AM

After taking Furuya to his room, Kuramochi had spent the last three hours swinging his bat with a vengeance. No gloves, no music, no breaks, no shift in his steady form as he swung relentlessly. Envisioning the nondescript visage of the man who had pilfered his boyfriend made it invigorating, fun even.

His arms grew heavy as lead and his palms were oozing red with hideous blisters, but it was the sole thing preventing him from having an outburst and losing utter control. Each powerful swing, each twist of his hips, was a second spent not lamenting and dwelling.

He eventually stopped when Haruichi came out to the field and pleaded with him.

Now, they're here in the bathhouse, wading in the water together.

"You shouldn't overwork yourself," Haruichi advises, "You could get injured doing that, especially for three hours straight."

"Wanna know what I find weird?" Kuramochi mutters, "Why the hell do you care more about me than your brother, the one I'm actually dating?"

A silence hangs in the air, waiting, as Haruichi frowns, then swims over to the shortstop.

"You're right," he finally says, balling his fists, "Why do I care more? I used to think Aniki was lucky to have you. You're good at sports, funny, smart, emotionally intelligent, and good-looking. It isn't fair."

Kuramochi realizes just how close Haruichi has gotten, their skin flush.

"What's not fair?" he asks, "What are you talking about?"

Haruichi unclenches one hand and uses it to slowly rub Kuramochi's toned abdomen. He traces his abs and the space between his pecks with his fingertip, then curls his fingers behind his neck and whispers.

"I want to be lucky, too."

He presses his lips against Kuramochi's.

The green-haired teen's eyes dilate. The sudden action catches him off guard, but his reflexes only kick in when the bathwater ripples.

"Yo!" he exclaims, shoving Haruichi away, "Not cool! The heck are you doing?"

"S-Sorry! I don't know what came over me! I just…there's no point in hiding it now. I never said anything because you were dating Aniki and it would have been rude, but…I've always had feelings for you. I didn't act upon them or tell anyone, including Eijun-kun, in case it would cause conflict. What Aniki did was sickening and I felt that you deserved better…and someone to make you feel better."

"And? You think that's supposed to be you? Don't force your bullshit coping mechanisms on me—wait. My bad. That was uncalled for. I mean, I appreciate how you feel, but, no. I can't do that. You're his brother and that would fuck with my head."

"I-I get it. I shouldn't have gotten ahead of myself. Sorry. I'll head out first."

As Haruichi stands, Kuramochi touches his lips with his fingers. His head begins to cloud with incoherent, precarious thoughts, his decision-making skills becoming obsolete. His body wants to move and contradict his better judgment, and as a current slave to his emotions, struggling was futile.

"Fuck it," he curses.

One foot on the edge of the tub, Haruichi yelps as Kuramochi yanks his arm and pulls him back into the water. The older teen smushes their lips together hungrily, desperate and seeking.

Haruichi moans as the shortstop grabs his waist and teases his lips with his tongue, politely asking permission for entrance. He grants it, and their tongues perform a sloppy dance of tango, exploring each other's warm and wet caverns, no need for grace.

Underwater, their lower bodies grind against each other, craving further friction. Haruichi dips his shaky hand and finds Kuramochi's cock, stroking it. Another moan escapes his mouth as Kuramochi deepens the kiss, their tango escalating into a fast-paced salsa.

Sighing and pumping into Haruichi's hand, Kuramochi breaks the kiss, a thin line of mixed saliva connecting their lips.

"My room," he says, "Now."