Lovex2

Afterschool Practice

By his second year of junior high, Hinata was able to get enough signatures to start a volleyball club in their rundown school. He was delighted and asked Izumi and Koji to join the team. they had disagreed at first, but Izumi in the end, couldn't help but accept Hinata's request. Koji followed suit and they played under their 'Yukigaoka school' boy's volleyball club. They couldn't recruit extra players, so the team in their second year never got the chance to play against teams from other schools.

The trio practiced instead, having the time of day in the afternoon to do some volleyball rally. By the time the sunset, they were entirely worn out. As much as the other two wanted to express their excitement for volleyball like Hinata was doing, they didn't have much passion for it compared to him. On the other hand, Hinata was like a ball of energy. It's astounding how much the boy moves and talks in a single day. Izumi, for the lack of better understanding, finds it very nostalgic. He remembered when Hinata used to look, and was, like this. The reminiscence of his childhood before he had to grow up; Izumi can't help but want to hug him.

There was that perennial warmth surrounding him again; it coiled around him like a heated blanket. His body temperature rose, hot air breaching his summer clothes and shyly touching his skin. The feeble tingly sensation on the tips of his fingers has been driving Izumi insane for the past few months, and he was concerned for once because he'd noticed it's behavior.

Izumi, who was sitting alone after Koji left first, turned to the boy standing in the middle of the field not far from where he sat. The fluffy orange hair that swayed softly as he moved vividly replicated a lofty tangerine. His face was round and childish, and his height–short enough that if he was to hug him from behind, he can rest his chin perfectly on the curvature of Hinata's collarbone. Hues of red blossomed over his cheeks like pink clouds from where his freckles lays. Izumi swiftly covered them to hide his embarrassment, but it grew hotter when he heard footsteps coming his way.

"What's wrong Izumi?" Hinata asked him, and for some reason, his voice has turned into a melodic tune in his ear. He enjoys it when Hinata talks. It was so refreshing that Izumi, once in a while, had to stop himself from grinning ear to ear. It wasn't like Hinata didn't talk on a daily basis, but he was just trying to get his point through.
--------
Hinata squatted down and turned his head to the side to have a better look at Izumi's face behind his hands. As if he had figured something out, he tucked his volleyball securely into his lap and grabbed Izumi's wrists, pulling on them gently so that Izumi would get the hint to let go of his face.

"If you want to get something off your chest, you can tell me," he said earnestly even though its connotation was a bit hesitant. He was afraid that his friend might think he was over analyzing the problem. His brain was so preoccupied that he didn't notice it when Izumi's hands danced coyly up his shoulder to rest comfortably on his nape. With a soft tug, he fell forward into the latter's embrace. Losing his balance, he quickly stuck his hands out on either side of his friend's hips to support his own weight, legs bent in an awkward position because the boy was sitting cross-legged on the ground. And due to their height difference, half of his face was covered by a slim shoulder. The only thing he could see was the bark on the tree they were leaning against, because he was that close to slamming his face into it. He should've been upset at how comfortable Izumi was compared to him, but that was the least of his problems.
-
Izumi suddenly pinched the shorter's neck in slight irritation and it evoked a small inhale from the redhead. The sensation on his fingertip disappeared and his body started cooling down. He discovered the remedy weeks ago and has been trying to keep it discreet no matter how difficult it was. However, to suddenly do that now, at the wrong time and place, Hinata's bound to notice somehow.

But under the towering tree, Hinata didn't say anything. They were quiet amongst the singing crickets, volleyball rolled quietly out of the ginger's lap.
-
They've hugged a dozen times, but Izumi's erratic cover was abnormal, almost as if he was trying to offer something to Hinata. It was dubious but it reflected Izumi's personality. He's quiet and reserved, and like an enigma, he tends to not express himself. Hinata on the other hand was a see-through mirror; he showed his feeling through his expression and his body language. Everything he does is to express himself. He taught himself to be quiet and be disciplined, but in front of his friends, Hinata wanted them to see the other side of him.

"Shoyo," his best friend whispered into his ear suggestively. His breathing was even and soft, but Hinata can hear the quick inhale and exhale coming out of his lips. He feels Izumi's fingers crawl up his hair and he shivers. It made his ears go warm and his body to become rigid.

He was aware of his racing heart, and as he try and shove the fluttering butterflies back into his stomach, his body reflexes made him hiccup weakly. Whether he heard it or not, Izumi didn't say anything.

Sweats began to pool in the palm of his hands, and he pushed Izumi off of him rather roughly because he heard the boy grunt. Hinata stood up and covered his red face with his arms. He wasn't sure why he was reacting this way, but he was embarrassed. His hiccups subsided but his turmoil was present.

Hyaline amber eyes blazed with indescribable pain, but within it was despair. He was conscious of his action. No matter how brazen he was, he knew when not to cross the line. Somewhere along the way, like an adventure at sea, he neglectfully jeopardized his friendship for the second time. What he was feeling wasn't right; he thought he had abandoned them, but a persistent weed doesn't die until its roots are pulled out. It crawled back to him with fervor, fusing itself to him and lithely lingering like poison ivy.

It was those damn strings dragging Izumi by his head. Hinata knew a long time ago. The way Izumi acted around him changed when he had noticed the string. Izumi was more attached to him, more caring, more loving. Izumi hugged him every day and he soaked up the attention. Under the jovial cover, he was just a selfish, messed up kid, coinciding with his father's plan towards self-destruction. Hinata had to use others to protect himself. It wasn't his fault that Izumi didn't know his affections for him were tied and manipulated by that ugly string. He didn't ask for it.

Even with that though, Hinata can still harbor the sheer disgust Izumi would feel when he finds out that he likes him. Looking at his friend, Hinata can see another Murae. They were benevolent beings before Hinata came into their life. If he confesses now, Izumi would shun him. He'll have to apologize, and then he'll lose him like he had lost Murae. He knows Izumi would resent him no matter how affectionate the boy was being.

The two friends stood facing each other. A small breeze drifted between them. Honey like eyes were shallow, but the boy didn't shed any tears; there was nothing to cry about. His face was contorted, somewhat akin to a constipated patient.

"It didn't feel right to hug since we're both sweaty." Before the disheartened Izumi, Hinata gave a lame succinct excuse. Izumi didn't look convinced, but he didn't try to push him to tell the truth and Hinata respected him for that. The smaller boy swiftly left to grab the ball.

"How about we call it a day. It's already dark out," he announced to fill in the silence since Izumi kept quiet. He was scared his friend might not want to talk to him again after this, so he tries his best to patch up his mistakes through reassurance.

Hinata jammed the ball into his basket attached to the front of his bicycle; he took a seat and said jubilantly, "You're upset that I pushed you away right Izumi? If it makes you feel better, I'll give you a 'VIP special only hug from Hinata' gift card tomorrow as compensation, how about that?"

"I'm sorry, Shoyo." Startled, Hinata turned his head to face sheepish freckle boy with cherry cheeks. He was grabbing onto the back of his bike where the rear was located, eyes piercing the ground.

The dumbfoundedness settled when he got the gist of what Izumi was feeling.

"Don't be, I wasn't uncomfortable. You're starting to worry a bit too much, I mean who do you think I am to be afraid of some sweaty body contact? I thought that I might make you feel uncomfortable since I was more active than you and have been sweating more than you...but that's besides the point, you should go home now before your parents end up call you missing," Hinata grabs his friend's wrist and guides him forward towards the bike rack while he sat on his own. Izumi lips quirked upward into an abash smile and nodded his head.

"Be safe. I'll see you tomorrow," he adds shyly. Hinata nodded his head and gave him one last wave before he rode away.
——————