𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓'𝖘 𝕷𝖎𝖔𝖓: 𝕮𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖙

The First Match

AN: Don't worry, I provide a somewhat decent explanation of how Cricket is played (I think) and manga panels also explaining the game are provided as well. And if you're still confused, same. I have never once seen a Cricket game before and I have no intention of ever watching one. Your understanding of the game isn't completely and totally necessary to understand the plot.

The stadium was packed to the brim. People were screaming, chanting, and cheering for their favored team to pull through. Some spectators were waving flags with the house colors through the sky, others were dressed in their House's color from head to toe. Women had colored parasols to protect them from the sun that was shining down on the field while the men relied on their hats. The sun was shining and there were only a few scattered clouds in the sky. Occasionally a bird or small flock would cut through the sky above and cast a fleeting shadow down onto the teams gathered down below on the dirt and grass cricket field. Each team was lined up to face their opponent.

The boys all wore fine tailored suits. Their pants, jackets, and shirts were white, their house color only used to accent the hems of their jackets and the solid backs of their House crests which were sewn onto their lapels. The pristine white of their clothes would collect stains from their diving, running, and sliding in the grass and dirt as the boys tried to prove their House the best of them all. And the Blue and Red on their uniforms served only to help the crowd differentiate between the teams. Though, their differences were rather plain to see.

Just like their Prefect, all of the Red House boys looked like Princes pulled right from the pages of a fairy tale. Meanwhile, most of the Blue House boys looked as if they had never stepped foot outside of a library or classroom. Nearly all of them had glasses, slicked back or raggedy hair, and a horrid aesthetic that begged for them to be bullied by a large gang of muscular boys who never heard of a shower. To put it plainly: they were the stereotypical nerd from any high school or middle school themed movie or show. Their only physical saving grace was that Y/N, Ciel, Clayton and Bluewer were somewhat handsome or at least less sickly looking.

The Red House team smiled as the Blue House scowled. Redmond stood opposite of Bluewer, Harcourt opposite of Clayton, Soma opposite of Ciel, and a ginger boy with ringlets whom she had never seen before stood opposite of Y/N. She could tell by the way her opponent was smiling that he clearly thought the Red House easily had the upper hand in this match. After all, Blue House was desperate enough to put poor, sick, mangled James onto their team. Surely the Red House thought this to be some kind of play for sympathy from Blue House to get the crowd on their side at the very least. And Y/N could easily conclude by the way the ginger boy grinned towards her that there would be no pity. Her lips curled up into an equally sinister smile. Naturally, they had already planned to win without a single drop of pity.

Although there was not a microphone, the umpire's voice boomed through the field. "Well then, the First match of the Interhouse Cricket Tournament-" Every last boy, and Y/N included, straightened their posture-"The Sapphire Owls of Blue House vs. The Scarlet Foxes of Red House-Will now begin!"

"What unfortunate luck for you to be pitted against Red House as the outset, Lawrence," Redmond teased as he looked almost with pity at the rest of the Blue House lineup.

Bluewer just huffed at his fellow Prefect's comments, and while Harcourt didn't dare to say anything, Soma was bubbling with excitement. "I may lose to you in chess, but I won't lose at cricket!" He told Ciel.

"We'll see about that," the Earl retorted with a mischievous grin. And the boy who was against Y/N didn't say anything to her. He just looked her up and down and gave her a flash of his perfect white teeth. Each of which she wanted to yank out of his head for being so smug. But instead, she stiffened up her lower lip and straightened up her posture. Because of how much moving Y/N would be doing, and how baggy her vest was, Y/N was allowed to be without her full contraption. Yes, today the only part of her that was wrapped up tight in canvass and clasps was her bust so it would lay more flat. And while it was still uncomfortable, it would certainly help should Y/N have to run for whatever reason.