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The pitch felt quite relaxed and serene in the late afternoon, the kind that only occurred by the end of practice. Everything remained unbothered and tranquil-however two players stayed behind.
Hyuga panted heavily, sitting out after hours of dribbling the ball and running around. His breathing remained steady yet intense. But across from him, Taro was dribbling the ball, so effortless and graceful, it was almost as if the grass around him beckoned to his will and movement. The wind blew in harmony to his light movements.
“It’s too.. perfect” Hyuga thought, eyes mesmerized by the way Taro could handle the ball. It was commanded with such gentleness that shouldn’t be legal. There was no fumbling, hesitation or second thoughts. All that remained was the accurate steps and shifting of his weight, all just strikingly right.
“Hyuga, are you spacing out over there?” Taro commented teasingly, yet without a hint of malice.
“Shut up..” Hyuga muttered, “Just keep dribbling..”
“You know, I thought this was a practice session, not me putting on a show for you..” Quiet remained for a short moment. Hyuga kept his eyes to the ground, careful not to gaze up at Taro.
He couldn’t risk feeling that light quivering in his stomach whenever he looked at his fellow teammate. It was butterflies. But no—it couldn’t have been nerves. Hyuga doesn’t get nervous after all.
He steps back onto the field, anticipating to receive that perfectly coordinated pass from Taro—WHOOSH! The ball went. It swished across the grass smoothly.
Before Hyuga even thought to say anything, Taro had kicked the ball perfectly to where he thought. Too precise. It was like Taro could look at his eyes and know exactly what to do.
But even then, damn.. The way Taro moved..
A few passes went by in silence, Hyuga’s drives shot toward Taro—sharp and calculated. But Taro kept pulling him in, without a sense of second guessing. Every time Taro started dribbling the ball, Hyuga only found himself decelerating slightly. He slowly trailed behind, lost in admiration of the midfielder’s soccer prowess. It only entranced the striker. That step-over, the way Taro’s body leaned into motion like a trance.
“Are you gonna stand there all day, or actually try and steal the ball?” Taro asked as the ball stopped up to his foot. He bent his head slightly, hair clinging to his temples with sweat.
Hyuga went wide-eyed into shock. He was caught. Red-handed. He scowled, turning his head away. “Think you’re real funny, huh.”
Taro stepped closer. “You keep gazing like that, and I’m gonna start charging admission..”
Hyuga’s jaw tensed. He despised how much his heart beat uncontrollably. How much he didn’t have a witty comeback. How much his face flushed. However, his pride tore at him, desperate for something to do and brush it off, like he always did.
Instead, he did something stupid.
He took two small strides—fast and determined. There was a sense of new purpose in his eyes. But before he could convince himself not to, he grabbed Taro by the collar and kissed him. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. But rather, quite messy and too sudden all too much. But it happened.
And then Hyuga jolted from the field, turning around and leaving the ball. A huge thumping in his chest rose, and pure adrenaline kicked in. Not a word was said after.
Taro stood for a moment and gasped in surprise. However, he laughed it off. Not mockingly, but quiet and awestruck. It was like the last piece of a puzzle clicked right into place.
It only took a minute for him to catch up to Hyuga.
Once he caught up, he stood beside the taller boy smiling softly and acting like nothing groundbreaking had just happened. “You know, you’re really bad at hiding things..”
Hyuga grunted. “Shut up.”
Taro grinned harder, “You know you don’t have to run, right?”
“I’m not running”
“Yes you are, Hyuga..”
“You kissed me just now..”
“No I didn’t”
Taro laughed once more, “You really did just kiss me..”
Hyuga finally slowed down to a more casual walking pace. His hands were clenched at his side and his teeth gritted. He couldn’t look at Taro, yet his voice came out lower and rougher. “It doesn’t matter. It was stupid. Forget it..”
But before Hyuga could egress, Taro blocked the path, standing in his way. And finally, their eyes met. Hyuga’s—glaring and sharp as ever, while Taro’s—soft and understanding. In Hyuga’s eyes, there was a panic of fear. It wasn’t fear of rejection, but rather the fear of feeling.
Taro softened.
“You think I’m gonna let you walk away after kissing me like that, Kojiro..?” He questioned mildly.
Hyuga opened his mouth—probably about to say something stupid again—But Taro left an outstretched hand toward the other boy, his fingers brushing at his wrist. It grounded him. Calmed him.
“You’re allowed to want something, Hyuga.. Even if it’s something you can’t fight your way into..”
Hyuga remained speechless. Those words clearly exposed him, left him vulnerable. It made him feel seen, but it was Taro. With a sweet tone like that, he could say anything and make it sound comforting. Somehow Hyuga didn’t feel like running anymore.
Taro approached him, closer now, hands in his. He looked in his eyes, pleading yet kind. “You don’t have to say anything, Kojiro.. But please—don’t pretend like this didn’t happen..”
Silence. It stood for a moment, tension lingering yet desperate to break out.
Then, finally, Hyuga muttered, “You know, you talk too damn much, Misaki..”
“And you kiss like a wrecking ball, Kojiro..”
And just like that, the unwavering tension cracked. It cracked into something less awkward, yet much calmer. It was a breath of fresh air, akin to an autumn’s first seasonal breeze. Hyuga sighed loudly—one that could have been a laugh if he weren’t as stubborn as he was. But he didn’t walk away again.