More Than A Shadow

Summer Memories

"This is not that complicated. Stop getting distracted and concentrate!"An irritated Miyuki demanded.

"I'm not getting distracted!" Azusa exclaimed in frustration. "It's just that it's hard," she complained with a pout. To be honest she was distracted earlier on when they first started studying. And how could anyone blame her? Miyuki greeted her just as he was coming out of the showers with a towel draped over his shoulders which gave him a different air. A much more relaxed one and the smell of his aftershave was intoxicatingly delicious. Not to mention that his hair looked really good dripping with water.

How did he expect her to concentrate?

Miyuki let out an exasperated sigh as he pushed his rolling chair away from his desk that he was sharing with Azusa. "With that attitude you're going to fail," he chastised.

The manager continued to pout. "I'm sorry for being so stupid Miyuki-sensei," she mocked.

Azusa was sure she was going to either get a retort or a teasing remark but she didn't get either of those as Miyuki just gazed at her.

Miyuki inhaled a deep breath."You're not stupid," the catcher said. "You've mostly been doing well. Just because you're stuck on this, it doesn't mean that you're stupid."

Azusa's lips curved into a smile."Really?" she asked.

The catcher nodded. "Yes, you've improved a lot in the last two days."

Azusa grinned to herself as she looked down at her textbook and re-read the question. After a few moments where she pondered over the question, she looked up and turned to Miyuki.

"Is the answer B?"

The catcher gave her a small smile. "Yes, it is."

She clapped in excitement. "Yes! I guess I've improved a lot, right?"

Miyuki chuckled to himself. "You're just like Sawamura."

Azusa knitted her eyebrows in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You both love getting compliments," he said while chuckling. "It was as if you two were puppies," Miyuki continued teasing.

"Puppies?" Azusa exclaimed in anger. "So that's what I'm to you? An ANIMAL?"

Miyuki burst out laughing. "Relax, Azu-chan. It was just a joke."

"It's not funny and besides it's not true!"

"You're going to get a heart attack if you keep that up," Miyuki said with a smirk. "I can't have you dying on me. Your mom will kill me if you don't go home tonight."

Azusa snorted. "I doubt it," she said. "My mom likes you more than she likes me. She is probably going to forgive you because I was with you," she joked. "She doesn't even care that I'm getting home late because I'm studying with her beloved Kazuya," Azusa said while rolling her eyes.

"What can I say? Moms adore me," the catcher said in a conceited tone.

Azusa narrowed her eyes at him. "You just have her bewitched somehow."

Miyuki let out a dramatic sigh. "You wound me Azu-chan," he said, feigning to be upset. "I don't think Narumiya-san would approve of your behavior."

The manager scoffed. "Shut up you idiot," she said while she started to fan herself with her hands. "It's starting to get too hot to deal with your Mei- like shenanigans since that is something that he would say."

"Complaining about the hot weather is another 'Mei-like' thing too," he teased. "I remember him driving us crazy with his whining back in junior high."