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i.
"Senpai!"
It's the ninth time that day, Chris notes exasperatedly, not really irritated so much as worn-out from the constant spewing of unwarranted affection (– there's only so much one could take from Sawamura's kiss ups before finally drawing the line). The kid means well, Chris is fully aware, but like anyone else there's a limit to his waning patience. The hushed whispers and glinting looks his classmates are throwing his way is enough to give him a headache, all the more as he stares at the bento box sitting neatly in the middle of his desk. He glances up wordlessly at brown eyes gleaming with certain expectancy.
"Please help yourself, Chris senpai!"
Chris half expects to see heart-shaped eggs on rice.
"Sawamura," he looks him dead in the eyes. "This isn't necessary."
The younger is, as always, undeterred at the brisk rebuff. "It's healthy though! Lots of nutrients packed into one – err, that's what the old lady at the counter told me – but still! It's in your best interest to eat it."
Chris sighs. "You should worry about your own health first," he chides listlessly.
"Oh don't worry, I already ate before coming here!"
"Look," Chris states a little more sternly. "I don't need it." The younger's exuberant smile drops a little and for a second – just an explicit second, Chris feels momentary guilt seep under his skin. "I...it's just – I'm not hungry right now."
At that Sawamura brightens again. "You can save it for later then!" Another toothy smile and Chris finds himself in a state of stupor from the other's vibrant personality. Really, he should be used to this by now. "Ahhh, I gotta run! See you at practice, Chris senpai!" It's not a moment later that Chris sees a blur of mop brown hair sprinting out of the classroom in record time, accompanied with the familiar shout of, "I'll throw an awesome pitch for you to catch this time!!" before leaving a cloud of dust in his trail.
The kid's mass bundle of positive energy has always been one of his stronger points, unsurprisingly. With another sigh, Chris gingerly picks up the wooden chopsticks next to the bento box and takes off the lid.
ii.
"You're so loved," Miyuki teases as they both watch the self-proclaimed ace miss a throw from third base, followed up by a string of curses and screeching complaints erupting from the rest of the second-string players on the field. "Still stalking you without shame I take it?"
"It's exhausting," Chris replies dully, keeping his eye on the game. "But it's nothing to be bothered about." Chris suddenly clicks his tongue disapprovingly, a frown set upon his features. "Should've covered first base right there, and his reaction time is slower than usual today. He's been overdoing his training again, that reckless brat."
Miyuki grins wickedly in response.
iii.
They eat together this time, much to Sawamura's persistent urging. Something about bonding and building up camaraderie as pitcher and catcher – not like having meals in each other's presence is going to jack up his performance any better but nonetheless, Chris doesn't refuse when he gets dragged out. The way Sawamura has been attracting onlookers with every boisterous visit to his classroom greatly served as an incentive to consider relocating to a more secluded area anyways (he has long given up on trying to stop the other from following him around). So today, Chris finds himself sitting under a shady tree near the school building with a new bento in his possession and a chatty young pitcher as company.
It's usually a one-sided conversation on Sawamura's part. Sometimes it's idle talk about nothing, often he would go through exclusive detail over an episode of Major or some other old baseball movie that he has recently watched. There are moments in which Sawamura would also insist on feeding him quality food –"Hey senpai, you should try some of these sweet potatoes!" – but most of the time it's just spent in comfortable silence as Chris reads his novels while the younger would quietly observe oddly shaped clouds in the sky.
It's nothing special, just whatever. Chris doesn't dwell on it. And it's because he doesn't dwell on it that these arbitrary lunch meet-ups somehow became routine and by the end of the first few weeks, Chris doesn't realize the amount of time he truly spends with Sawamura until he wakes up one day from an afternoon nap with the boy slumped on his shoulder, snoring and murmuring something incomprehensible in his sleep and Chris simply thinks – oh.
iv.
"That's enough for now," Chris says before standing up. He doesn't miss the disappointed look as he takes off his gear, but Sawamura doesn't protest this time.
"Um," Sawamuwa looks at him nervously instead, "Did I do okay?"
He improved considerably over the past few days at break-necking speed. His form and balance is more stable than it was before, and the power spiked a few degrees as well. Control still needs to be heavily worked on but otherwise, the force of the ball smacking into his glove feels nice this time – not perfect, but nice. Chris almost smiles at that. "Could be better," he comments mildly. "Just continue with the previous menu with resting periods in between. I'll add and make a few changes to your training sometime later this week."
Sawamura's eyes are practically glistening as he nods eagerly, the gesture oddly resembling a hyperactive puppy and Chris keeps the mental image to himself as he makes his way out of the bullpen.
That night, Chris thinks about cheeky grins and disheveled brown hair as he unravels another blank scroll to write on.
v.
Sawamura recoils on the ground, groaning in pain before looking up to see Chris looming above him – brows furrowed and eyes stern as the older carefully removes the arm cushioning his head.
"You okay?" Chris asks, voice laced with concern.
Dazed eyes suddenly snaps open and he immediately looks at Chris' shoulder when realization hits him. "That – I should be asking you that!!" Chris should've seen the headbutt coming, unable to do anything but let out a fierce hiss when Sawamura abruptly sits up and slams their forehead together in a flurry of panic.
They both end up in the locker room with medical supplies littering the ground.
"For the last time I'm perfectly fine – but you!" Chris snaps, gripping the other's thigh harder as he applies ice to the bruised area. Sawamura winces but he doesn't let go. "What did I say about taking care of your body?" It's a simple fall – no dislocated joints, bone fractures, or any tear in muscle tendon groups. He's lucky enough to get away with just a non-severe contusion on his upper leg. Still, the outcome could've been way worse and the mere thought of that sent Chris into a frenzy.
"I'm sorry..." It's a genuine apology which eases away some of his frustrations. It's only when Sawamura thanks him that throws Chris off tangent.
"Thank you," Sawamura repeats again when he sees the puzzled expression on the other's face. "You're always looking out for me, thanks." He smiles and Chris feels all strength and anger evaporate completely from his mind. Shit, he really can't win against him can he?
A beat passes and Chris slowly raises his hand, amused when Sawamura flinches as if expecting some sort of punishment. Chris opts to flick his forehead lightly and watches as Sawamura exaggerates a pained expression. "Really now," he murmurs softly. "That goes without saying."
i.
They win their first and last game together as a battery a few weeks later.
Chris revels in the exhilaration and emotions during the play, their connection transmitted through each pitch Sawamura makes towards his mitt and that rush – that feeling he has missed for so long – felt more than incredible.
It's a moment he knows he'll be treasuring for a lifetime.
But it's not the end. Even if, for the moment, he wouldn't be able to officially step up behind home plate, his desire to come back as a player will never burn out. So it's okay, he thinks, to oversee things from the sidelines for now. He intends to observe Sawamura's potential growth from there on out. It would be a worthwhile sight to see, a pitcher who's always exceeding his expectations standing confidently on the mound and completely in his element. Chris wants to see it.
Moreover to no surprise, their chemistry doesn't stop there. It continues to grow with the unknowing hours spent together as a team – but once again, sharp and strategic as he may be, Chris is slow to realize that the growing affection towards his pitcher might not be as pure as he intended them to be.
So, their first kiss doesn't happen until much, much later.
Chris doesn't know how to describe the feeling after each game when Sawamura would scour for him in the dugout, all just to throw a bright grin in his direction when they meet each other's gaze. He's not stupid though, he gets it even if Sawamura himself doesn't. Then again, with Sawamura's mindset, there isn't a doubt in his mind that this vague, indirect approach would end up going nowhere and for a man like Chris, he's always been about progress.
It's then, at the break of dawn during a morning jog together – when the conversation has slowly died out and Sawamura finally ended his rant about Miyuki being a 'pretentious asshole' – Chris makes an effort to stop in his tracks, waits a second or two to gather his wits before making a swift turn, quickly reaching out to grasp at broad shoulders. Time stills. Chris searches for something in the other's face, something that would settle his resolve once for all. And it's when he finally spots it, that spark amidst the confusion in radiant, brown orbs, that he takes the chance to press a chaste kiss on Sawamura's lips.
"A reward," Chris says lamely after pulling away. "For winning the last game." He thinks he could've thought up a better excuse, maybe something less sleazy and disgustingly cheesy, but he's already taking a step back from the stunned boy who still hasn't reacted and maybe he actually read this all wrong and – dammit, he should just make an exit now and save himself from utter embarrassment.
"W-wait, hold on!" Sawamura calls after him, face flushed and voice stuttering as he grabs onto the edge of Chris' shirt. Oh. That's a good sign. "If we – no, when we win another game, can I...can I get another reward? The same as this one. Um, please."
The request sounded so sincere Chris actually laughs out loud.
"Don't be so cocky," he says as he affectionately ruffles Sawamura's hair. "But..." Gently, Chris slides his hand down rosy cheeks and watches as the younger boy awkwardly leans into them – he really is a wonder, Chris muses fondly. Sawamura is peering up at him expectantly again and it's actually pretty adorable and his heart is growing weak so it's understandable when Chris gives in to the unintended lure. His thumb brushes against pink lips and he leans forward with a light smile. "Yeah," he laughs warmly. "I guess I can promise you that."