Winter Solstice

Seven: First Date

"Can you repeat that?" Eijun rapidly blinks at Kazuya as he stops moving his hand midway with his toast just shy of his mouth.

"Ryo-san asked Mochi..." Kazuya takes a bite of his breakfast that Sawamura-san made for them, carefully watching the way his pitchers face reddened at the news. "...out on a date."

"Holy shit," Eijun whispers, setting his toast down. "I mean...holy shit, Kazuya this is huge!"

"I know, I know," Kazuya smiles, taking a drink of his coffee. "He's freaking out...here, take a look." He passes his phone over to Eijun to look at the messages. He continues to enjoy the dark roast with a hint of hazelnut as the younger boy scrolls through his phone.

Eijun reads each message carefully as he finishes eating. Between all of the teasing that Kuramochi received from their Captain, he found a lot of helpful information that Kazuya had given. Why is he always a damn Tanuki...why can't he just say it normally, instead of also teasing...

Wait...what is this?

Eijun had accidentally scrolled back a few too many messages, coming across something that had happened a few days ago.

(Kazuya's phone)

Me⚾️: I told you...it's not like that.

Mochi👿: yeah right!

Me⚾️: Think about...I'm probably the last person he'd have a crush on...next to you! 😋✌

Mochi👿: can you be serious for one minute?!

Me⚾️: sure...you get 60 seconds

Mochi👿: fine!

Mochi👿: I see the way you look at him...

Mochi👿: ...and the way he looks at you.

Me⚾️: your 60 seconds are up...

Me⚾️: Thanks Mochi...but I don't want anything to come between me and baseball.

Mochi👿: yeah, but...

Me⚾️: I know, I know...we're both Baseball obsessed idiots, but he's-

"So what do you think?"

Eijun's face starts to heat up as he looks across the table at a pair of chocolate brown eyes, catching him in a trance.

What do I think? I think I've lost my freakin mind! Eijun takes a deep breath and slowly backs out of the message, before handing the phone back.

"Um...I think you're right. He's overthinking it. I'm sure Ryo-san isnt playing a trick on him," Eijun smiles, nodding his head.

"Good," Kazuya smiles in relief. "I'm not great at giving love advice, especially since I've never even been on a date before," Kazuya laughs lightly.

"Then it's a good thing you showed me," Eijun laughs, hiding his nervousness.

"Have you...ever..." Kazuya starts to ask, his voice drawls Eijun back to his face.

"What? No, no...Hahahah..." Eijun waves his hand in front of his face. "I've only ever read about them in Shoujo mangas! I told you...I've never really thought about this stuff before."

"Oh yeah, that's right..." Kazuya smiles, feeling relieved. He pulls up the messages from Kuramochi again. "So what advice should we give him?"

The boys spend another thirty minutes coming up with first date options for their friends to go on, after they grab a handful of Eijun's romance references from his room.

Once they text Kuramochi about their date ideas, they wait patiently for him to respond. Eijun decided to text Haruichi and asks him to keep them updated on the progress throughout the day.

"So Haruichi said he's gonna tail them to see how the date goes," Eijun looks down at his phone as Kazuya does their dishes in the kitchen. "Hahaha....he even made Fuyura dress up in disguise! Look!" He holds up his phone for Kazuya to see the floppy hat and sunglasses the two spies are wearing.

"They look ridiculous!" He laughs, drying off his hands. "I can't believe Fuyura went along with it. I hope they dont get caught. Ryo-san is the last person I'd want to piss-off." Just the thought sent shivers down his spine.

"Yeah...I don't think anyone would survive if Oni-san finds out," Eijun laughs. "But I'm glad they took our advice and are going to the aquarium. It's the perfect first date. I wish we had one near by."

"Did you want to take me to the aquarium?" Kazuya can't help but tease the younger boy. He can't help but wonder what kind of date the younger boy would plan out for the person he liked.

"W-what?....No!" Eijun hisses. "I just meant that we don't have that much cool stuff in the country. You might get bored," he shrugged.

"Doubtful," Kazuya laughs, sitting back down at the table. "I've always lived in the city, so I have no idea what you guys do out here for fun, but I'm sure you'll find a way to keep me entertained, you always do." He smiles, leaning on his hand, elbow on the table. "So...what's the plan?"

"Oh..." Eijun smiles softly, was that a real compliment? No...don't get distracted! He shakes his head quickly and takes a deep breath. "Well...I wanted to ride over to my old school to see my friends. I didn't tell them I was home and they are having a practice game there today in the old field...so I thought..."

"That sounds like fun," Kazuya smiles. Eijun will hopefully tire himself out playing a game with his friends that he wont ask for Kazuya to catch for him later. "Wait...ride over on what?"

"My bike," he smiles, looking out the window, pointing outside.

"And do you have a bike for me to ride?" Kazuya asks, looking over Eijun's shoulder outside.

"......." Eijun blushes.

"I'll take that as a 'no'," he laughs.

"It's fine...I can totally peddle fast enough for both of us!" He laughs.

"Alright, alright," Kazuya laughs. "Just don't hurt yourself. I know it's hard to think and move your feet at the same time."

"Shut up!" He quickly jumps up, face flushed and heads towards the back door. "Hurry up or I'll leave without you!"

"You'd leave without your date?" He teases, shaking his head as he stands up.

"It's not a date!" Eijun growls.

"That's a shame..." Kazuya overly sighs, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"WHA-"

"For crying out loud Eijun...take your boyfriend on a damn date!"