Wild Pitch

Wild Pitch

Chapter 19

As much as Ayumu didn’t want to see Naoya ever again, he had no choice but to see him nearly on a daily basis. However, Naoya didn’t make any attempt to speak to him, or even look his way. They weren’t particularly close in the first place, but at least it didn’t look like he told anyone about the incident. Ayumu was sure that if Naoya disclosed anything to Ayumi or Sasajima, he would’ve noticed immediately.  

“Akagi-kun?” He heard the sweet voice of the first-year manager. When he raised his eyes, he saw her smiling at him, holding out a plastic cup with green tea.

“Th-thanks,” he mumbled sheepishly and bowed slightly in gratitude. He didn’t even remember her name.

“Um,” the girl said with hesitation and Ayumu looked at her again. “Your sister asked that you go to her class… something about…” She tapped on her lips. “Something you forgot.”

“Something I forgot?” Ayumu raised an eyebrow.

The second year floor was full of people. They all gave him weird looks as he walked down the hallway; it was rare seeing a first year treading into the upperclassmen floors. After turning around the corner he saw his sister and Naoya standing close together in the hallway, by the window, looking intimate. They were silhouetted by the back light, but he recognized them immediately. He stopped, thinking he should turn around and leave.  

“Ayumu!” His sister raised her hand and called his name. “Over here!”

Ayumu lowered his head, as though it would make Naoya not see him, and slowly made his way towards the couple. He didn’t dare to raise his head, but his sister was just under his eye level.

“You forgot your lunch at home,” she explained.

“Ah…Thanks.” Ayumu replied quietly. “Though I could’ve bought something in the cafeteria…”

“Don’t be silly. You know mom wakes up early every morning to make it for you.” His sister dismissed him.

“I gotta go,” Naoya said quietly. Ayumu felt the heat spreading in his face. Naoya was ignoring him.

“Ayumu, don’t forget the Lions’ game tomorrow,” he added before leaving the two siblings behind.

Ayumu blinked. He didn’t forget about the game, but somehow he had assumed it was off, because of what happened. Naoya sounded just a little colder than usual, but Ayumi didn’t notice.

“Ahh…” She sighed. “I wish he would ask me out on real dates instead of baseball games.”

“Why don’t you ask him out then?” Ayumu asked.

His sister shrugged. “I got him to go out tonight… but you know, I’m not his wife, I don’t want to smother him.”

“But there are still a couple of weeks before it gets busy for us in the tournament…”

“I promised him.” His sister stated firmly. “It was his condition that he will have time to practice… he left his home to come here to play ball, it’s more important to him than dating. It can’t be helped.” She shrugged again. “At least I know he won’t leave me for another girl.”

“Yeah…” Ayumu looked at his feet.

His sister touched on his arm. “Come on, I’ll give you the bentou.”

Ayumu was surprised to see Naoya in his house when he returned from the batting center. It turned out the rain had spoiled Ayumi’s date plans and they ended up running home instead. Naoya, still in his school uniform, was sitting in the living room, watching TV, while Ayumi occupied the bathroom upstairs.

Before he could go to his room his mother stood in his way, hands on her waist. “Go keep Naoya-kun company,” she requested.

“Uh…” Ayumu looked at her as though she asked for the moon.  “I need to change. I’m all sweaty…” he whispered.

“So what, you’re both in that sweaty club together, aren’t you? You’re used to it.” She turned back into the kitchen.

Naoya didn’t acknowledge Ayumu when he sat down next to him. Ayumu was sure he would at least say some polite hello, but Naoya didn’t even look at him.

It was awkward and Ayumu didn’t dare to initiate a conversion.

“I’m home!” His father arrived a few moments later and Ayumu sighed in relief. His father could do a better job at keeping Naoya company. The man stepped into view, loosening his tie. “Oh, Naoya-kun! Good evening!” He smiled when he saw his daughter’s boyfriend in the living room. Naoya got up to bow in respect and returned the greeting.

Ayumu sat quietly and watched the two chatting about baseball and the coming summer tournament as though they were best buddies.

Later, once everyone had already taken their shower, they sat down to eat. At the end of dinner, Ayumu was in charge of cleaning the dishes. Ayumi and Naoya continued to sit at the table, chatting quietly as though they were the only ones in the room. Ayumu huffed. He didn’t expect Naoya to start talking to him as though nothing happened, but he was already tired of his attitude.  

The father showed up at the kitchen again. “I’m afraid the guest room’s ceiling is leaking,” he announced.

“Then Naoya-kun will sleep in Ayumu’s room,” their mother hurried to say.

“Ehh?” Ayumu made a face. “Why can’t he stay in Ayumi’s room?”

“What are you saying?! A boy and a girl can’t stay together in the same room!” His mother was aghast by his suggestion.

Ayumu scoffed. “It’s not like they haven’t— OUCH!” He yelped when his sister kicked his shin.

He raised his head to see her smiling at him, a smile that said he was going to regret it if he said anything further. Naoya was looking away, impassive, at the television.

“There’s a futon and sheets in your closet,” the mother said, oblivious to the quiet exchange between the siblings.

Later that night, Ayumu found himself in his room, followed by Naoya. He shivered when he felt the taller boy behind him. It was awkward. Naoya didn’t make any attempt to lighten the mood; he just stepped inside quietly, his eyes touring Ayumu’s room.

Ayumu looked around the room, hoping there was nothing embarrassing around. His room was a pretty normal boy’s room, in his opinion. Some sports banners of his favorite team on the wall, a bookcase over the desk, with some framed pictures from his childhood and a couple of Gundam robots, which he built with his dad when he was a kid, on the shelves. His old bat and kid glove were thrown near the door of the tiny porch. The sound of the rain hitting against the thick-glass door and the window was amplified by the boys’ silence.

Ayumu sucked in air and slid open his closet, taking out the folded futon. He had to struggle to free it from the weight of the other sheets. He was startled when Naoya stood next to him to help him take it out. Together, they managed to drag it out without messing the sheets and spread it on the floor, next to Ayumu’s bed.

“Uh, thanks…” Ayumu uttered without looking at the other boy.

“It’s nothing,” Naoya replied in a mere whisper. He didn’t even look at Ayumu.

He continued helping to prepare the futon and even though Ayumu wanted to shake off his assistance, it was probably better than being stared at tacitly.

As he finished tucking the sheet under the futon, he decided he had enough of the silent treatment. He slammed his hands on the blanket, making Naoya raise his eyes to him.

Kneeling forward, his knees touching the futon, Ayumu quickly shifted his eyes when he met Naoya’s ebony eyes.

“Do you… do you hate me?” he asked quietly.

“I’m angry.”

Ayumu was surprised by the sincere and quick statement coming from the pitcher and raised his eyes again. Naoya was still looking at him. Before he could say anything, Naoya spoke again.

“You lied to me. I knew something was going on, but you let that guy take advantage of you,” he stated.

Ayumu hung his head down in shame, his face getting flushed. He couldn’t even speak back.

“I’ve lost respect for you.” Naoya continued. Ayumu shivered. He wasn’t familiar with the contempt in Naoya’s voice. The pitcher really was angry and sulking all this time and it wasn’t just Ayumu’s imagination. Naoya’s next accusation made Ayumu snap from his thoughts. “Is that how you made it to the second string?”

“What?! No!” Ayumu jumped forward, now he was angry too. “It started after I got on the team! It had nothing to do with the club!!”

Naoya sat back, resting an arm on his folded knee. “That bastard…”

Ayumu hesitated. He had a feeling there was something more into Naoya’s anger. He swallowed, mustering his courage. “Did the captain… do something like that… to you?” he asked and blushed deep, taking his eyes away, before he could meet the angry black orbs again.  

“Of course not,” Naoya spat. “Do you think I would let him do such weird stuff?”

Ayumu cowered. Yeah, he was the only weird one in the room. Of course Naoya wouldn’t do things like that.

“Last year, when I just got into the school…” Naoya’s voice suddenly returned to its normal, calm tone. “Before I made it to the regulars, I had my first training session with Kaji…”

Ayumu perked his head in curiosity.

“Then when we were alone at the dressing room, he suddenly told me he really liked me… I didn’t pay much attention, but after a few times, he made it clear and said he wanted to have sex with me.”

“Geh.” Ayumu almost bit his tongue. It struck him that Kaji never offered that to him. Could it be that the captain actually had feelings for the pitcher? It was a mind boggling revelation.

“I thought he was joking… but soon I realized he wasn’t. At least he stopped harassing me after I started dating Ayumi, but now I wonder if he did that to you to get back at me… that bastard.” Naoya clamped his fist in anger.

“No… uh…” Ayumu hesitated. It would have been easy to dump the blame on Kaji, but it didn’t feel right.

“Kaji… the captain didn’t make a pass at me…” Ayumu admitted again in a low voice. “I… I actually… I was the one…” he hummed and looked around the room, before his eyes fell on Naoya again. He sighed and continued, “He was telling the truth. I asked him to teach me about gay sex.”

It took Naoya a moment to react. He just asked, “Why would you ask that?”

Ayumu shifted in his place, feeling like he wanted to die. He felt so hot and sweaty. He lowered his head again. “Because… I think I’m…” He hesitated and bit his lip. “Well, I think I’m gay,” he admitted in a whisper.

Again, he didn’t dare to look at Naoya. The silence was humiliating enough. His knees were becoming numb, but he stayed rooted to his place.

“Why… why do you think that?” Naoya asked again.

Ayumu wrinkled his nose. “I just… think… that,” he uttered. “I can’t explain.”

“I see.”

“Do you think I’m disgusting?” Ayumu dared asking. His mouth moved before his brain processed any thought.

“I’m surprised… I thought you had a sister complex.” Naoya shrugged.

“Hey, you!” Ayumu frowned and jumped forward. He wanted to whack Naoya as he would occasionally do to Ryuuji, but quickly realized it was Naoya after all. Stopping himself in midair was difficult and he slipped and landed on Naoya’s lap.

“Ah… sorry…” He blushed again and straightened, finding himself face to face with Naoya. They were so close, their noses almost touched. If he kissed Naoya now, would he be rejected? He was almost tempted to try.

“Sorry…” he mumbled again and fell back on his butt.

Naoya smiled lightly. “Well, if you were attracted to me, it would still count as an indirect sister complex.”

“Ehhh…” Ayumu knew Naoya was teasing him, but he would seriously need another shower before the night was over. A very cold shower.

A knock on the door startled him. “Boys, go to sleep already! It’s late!” his mother called.

“Okay!” He called back and looked at Naoya.

The older boy shrugged and Ayumu got up. He hoped Naoya didn’t notice the tent that was forming in his pants. He reached up to the lamp and pulled the string, turning the light off.

He was careful not to step on Naoya on his way to bed.

“Good night,” Naoya said.

“Good night…” he mumbled under his blanket, trying to suppress his budding erection.

The room fell quiet again, and Ayumu tried to hold his breath. He was still bothered.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hm?”

“Don’t… don’t tell anyone okay?” Ayumu pleaded even though he knew Naoya wasn’t likely to reveal his secret if he hadn’t thus far.

“Okay,” Naoya agreed. “I won’t tell anyone you had sex with Kaji.”

“Hey I didn’t have sex with him!” Ayumu yelled in a whisper, jumping back to his knees, trying to glare at Naoya through the darkness.

“I mean, yeah… he did some things, but not with his… you know, thing… and only with those other… things…” the young boy tried to explain. “I mean… you know what I mean!”

“No, I don’t think so…” Naoya replied with a chuckle. “Just that there were things involved.”

“Well, anyway, it’s over now…” Ayumu lay back down. After a moment he had to speak up again. “And he never even took off his clothes in front of me… so—“

“Ayumu… I don’t want to know.” Naoya interrupted.

“Fine, so good night!” Ayumu tossed away from him.

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