Modern Dating: A Practical Guide

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"...And that's another batter out!"

Like the rest of the stadium on their side, Nagisa cheers. Though, it's a little more personal for him, because Sugino is the one doing the pitching. It's not like he goes to all of Sugino's games in person like this, or would even choose to watch a baseball game normally, but this is a really big one in Tokyo Dome itself and Nagisa wants to be as supportive as possible.

Beside him, Karma cheers with slightly less enthusiasm, to the extent he feels there may be a hint of irony in it. But Nagisa's mostly just pleasantly surprised he agreed to show up. Actually, he's more surprised that Sugino distinctly offered two tickets in the first place. He figures it must be some kind of peace gesture. The thought makes him at least a little bit happy.

"We'll be out of here in ten minutes at this rate," Karma says.

Nagisa worries his lip. "This isn't too boring for you?"

Karma rolls his eyes. "I was talking about Sugino taking out their entire team. It's not like I'm in a rush." He raises his eyebrow. "Why, got somewhere to be?"

"No..." A faint blush fills his cheeks.

Is this a date? Nagisa knows that people go on dates to baseball games. It should probably count, even if the purpose is to watch his friend more than general enjoyment. It's hardly a romantic atmosphere either. Well, he supposes balls are technically flying around? It's also partially where Karma took him on their first date, with the giant Ferris wheel just a short distance away.

He'd been similarly distracted that day, trying to figure out what exactly he and Karma were together. Nagisa had thought they'd be better at this by now... No, he can't blame Karma for the lack of control he has over his own incessant brain. What Nagisa really needs to do is just try to sit back, relax, and enjoy himself for once. Especially as his friend hurls baseballs at the other team at frightening speed on the field below.

The game actually does go on for longer than ten more minutes, though each inning is admittedly pretty short. Before he knows it, they're already at the last one, and even though the score is close Nagisa's confident Sugino's team can take the win. The break between innings is only a couple of minutes long, but rather than the usual advertisements that flash up on the big screens, the camera focuses somewhere in the crowd.

The announcer's voice also comes over the tannoy. "But before our final inning, we have a very special question for someone."

On screen, a man from the crowd gets down on one knee and pulls out a ring towards a woman, presumably his girlfriend, who looks nods enthusiastically. Most of the crowd claps politely for their happiness, as the two embrace lightly.

"Oof, lame," Karma says.

Nagisa tilts his head. The couple look happy enough. "It is?"

Karma leans back casually. "Of course. It's tacky, for starters, but what if she wanted to say no?"

Admittedly, he hadn't thought about that. "What would you do, then?" He asks it without really thinking, before realising exactly how it sounds. "I-I didn't mean-"

He just shrugs though. "It's not like I've thought about it. But it wouldn't involve 50,000 people."

Nagisa lets out the breath he'd been holding. There's nothing unreasonable about that at all. In fact, Karma's opinion was probably absolutely normal. He's never really seemed like the grand gestures kind of person anyway, except if to specifically embarrass someone or something, and Nagisa kind of hopes that wouldn't be Karma's goal at... a time like that.