Heir in Trouble (On-Going Baseball Story)

30

Note to all readers:
'--' - means a new POV
'ʕಠ_ಠʔ' - means the continuation of the POV but in a different scene or a fast-forward scene

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It's been two days since I bash my way inside Miyuki's room to take care of him because he got sick. My steps pitter-pattered rhythmically against the floor as I walked toward Miyuki's room. I smiled, amused with the discovery it had become a hub for the players. I was a little ways away from the door when it swung open to reveal the player in question on his way out.

"Heading over to Maezono-kun's room again?" my eyes fall to the pillow tucked under one arm, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

"Well, they've been making themselves at home in there, and I need to sleep," he sighed, somehow managing to keep his hands in his pockets despite shrugging.

"I see," I snorted, "Miyuki, you're like an old man complaining about the youngsters making too much noise."

"Oi, oi, give me a break," the catcher smirked back, "are you of all people seriously shaming me for not 'jumping on the bandwagon'?"

"Not at all," my tone was mirthful, "I find it admirable that you can take yourself away from such a fun crowd is all. It takes a lot of self-control to do so."

"From a crowd like that ?" my friend perked his eyebrow in response.

"Either way, it's really good that they're all hanging out."

"Why?"

"It improves the unity and keeps up the team's morale. And also..." I halted, "I'm happy they're having fun themselves amidst Tanba-san's injury rather than just sulking about it."

The bespectacled catcher didn't respond. "And I will be skipping practice for three straight days. The cram school wants me to tutor struggling and failed students for the upcoming summer exam."

I watched the catcher's lips upturn into his trademark dirt-eating grin, "Ehhh? Our Kat-chan is very popular with the cram school students."

"Not nearly as popular as our catcher-san is with the ladies," I responded with the same teasing lilt.

I didn't miss the twitch in his lips. There was the twinkle of a witty response that he'd decided to bite back dancing behind his eyes.

Strange. It was unlike him to hold back.

"You have something you want to say," it wasn't a question–and there was no hesitance in the way I said it. I could read him.

"I do," he sauntered past me, and my body followed his, "but I don't want to be disrespectful," his smirk challenged me.

My bright smile fell into something more solemn. I... it wasn't that I didn't enjoy him teasing me. I just... didn't like how he went about it sometimes. I looked away for a second before looking at my friend again.

Had I jumped to conclusions that day?

"Miyuki, what do you think of my stance on dating?"

The brunette eyes widen. He turned his body to face me again, giving me his full attention.

His brows furrowed slightly. He then realized I was serious. He didn't break eye contact when responding, not a hint of joking in him, "I respect it."

The smile that had sunk off my face returned, gentler, more understanding, "and do you respect me too?"