Taka/Ryoma
Some of you aren't members of pot_spotlight and so you are missing out on neat stuff. I'm posting a little ficlet I wrote for this week's winner Kawamura Takashi. I think these two would make a great couple. But I'm a pairing slut, so what do I know? XD
Totally worksafe and full of cute:
Ryoma was bored. Buchou was closeted away with Coach Ryuzaki, Momo-senpai was in a snit - or a blissful, euphoric haze; it was too hard to tell the difference these days - after a recent fight with Kaidoh-senpai. Inui-senpai and Fuji-senpai were standing close and speaking to one another in hushed voices and Eiji-Senpai was busy wrapping Oishi-senpai’s wrist. They weren’t speaking - Ryoma knew that they didn’t need to.
Sitting by himself on the bench was Kawamura-senpai. He wasn’t holding his racket and he didn’t have anyone to talk to. Taking a brief moment to ask himself if he really wanted to put forth the effort of getting up, walking over to the bench and having a conversation he doubted either of them would really be interested in, Ryoma decided - in the end - that he wanted to talk to Kawamura.
Ambling over, tapping his racket against his shoulder, Ryoma paused beside the bench and simply waited for Kawamura to notice him. It didn’t take long - Kawamura seemed ever aware of Ryoma’s proximity and activity, though Ryoma was never certain why. It wasn’t something he’d ever pondered at any great length as he typically had other, more significant thoughts to entertain.
Kawamura glanced up, obviously surprised to find Ryoma standing before him, and smiled. “Echizen.”
Ryoma tugged the bill of his cap down to shield his eyes and nodded slightly. “Taka-san.”
Kawamura tilted his head, considering. “Are you bored, then, Echizen?”
Silent for a moment, unsure as to whether that was a trick question or not, Ryoma answered easily after a time - it was not in Kawamura’s nature to tease him unnecessarily. “Why do you ask?”
Kawamura laughed nervously, fidgeting with the collar of his jersey as he braved the intensity of the sun in order to look up into Ryoma’s face. “You’re always bored, I think. Unless you’re playing tennis and since we’re not…”
Ryoma frowned. Kawamura’s assumption that Ryoma would not bother to speak to him unless he had nothing better to do bothered him more than he’d have thought it might. Kawamura, who was such an important part of their team, who was so selfless and thoughtful, was sitting alone with no one to talk to and seemed to accept it as the norm.
Ryoma scuffed the toe of his trainer on the concrete and allowed himself to recall one of his more embarrassing, vulnerable moments when Kawamura had been the one to support him. It had happened that day, when he’d responded to Kevin Smith’s taunting in a way unbefitting a Seigaku regular and, as a result of his own arrogance and disregard, had incited Tezuka to strike him. Afterward, when Tezuka had left, unable or unwilling to discuss the loss of his composure, Kawamura had stayed behind - saying nothing and offering his particular brand of quiet support and reassurance. Ryoma had wanted to lean against Kawamura that day, had wanted to borrow his strength and discipline just for a while. But he hadn’t and, in the end, they’d exchanged no words between them as Kawamura saw Ryoma home. When they’d reached Ryoma’s mailbox, Kawamura had smiled, rubbed the back of his neck as though unsure of what he should say, and bid Ryoma a good evening. Ryoma had watched his shadow fade from sight before he’d gone inside to ponder the mess he’d made of his day.
Though that incident was behind them and, indeed, they never spoke of it - it was all in the past. Forgiven and forgotten. Ryoma, however, had never forgotten what Kawamura had done for him that day and it was no surprise when Kawamura sometimes found himself uncertain and in need of a friend, that it was to Ryoma that he went. Having sought Ryoma out when he'd struggled so with the decision to play tennis or quit for the good of the family business, seeking him out for other matters had seemed so effortless.
Standing before his senpai now, Ryoma was surprised to realize that the feelings of friendship, of camaraderie, had somehow become something else in the past year.
“Taka-san,” he began, shifting his cap to reveal his eyes even as he moved to block the sun from the older boy’s face. “Are you free after practice?”
Familiar big, brown eyes blinked up at Ryoma for a moment before he nodded, obviously confused. “Of course, Echizen. Did you want a practice match?”
Shaking his head, Ryoma flashed that mischievous little grin that made those who knew him just the tiniest bit uneasy. Kawamura was no exception, though he trusted Ryoma implicitly and wasn’t afraid of any challenge the younger boy might throw his way. “No, Taka-san. I wanted to invite you for ramen, my treat.”
Kawamura shrugged, averting his eyes. It had not gone unnoticed by Ryoma that Kawamura often opted out of after-school group activities. “Thanks, Echizen, but…”
Ryoma tapped his foot idly on the concrete. “Just you and me?”
Still surprised, and blushing faintly now, Kawamura looked a little edgy. “Uh…you and me? But…usually you and…”
Ryoma smirked. “Maybe that’s what I’m bored of, ne, Taka-san?”
Kawamura ducked his head and when he glanced up again, he was grinning, too. The way his eyes sparked interest did not go unnoticed by Ryoma. “Your treat, eh?”
“That’s what I said,” Ryoma returned, voice light.
Kawamura nodded, “Thank you, then. Yes.”
Smiling to himself, Ryoma turned to walk away, already well aware that Kawamura would never let him pay. Glancing over his shoulder, face in profile, Ryoma added, “Oh, and Taka-san?”
Kawamura sat up a little, attention precisely where Ryoma wanted it. “Yes?”
Soft, little sound of amusement and Ryoma adjusted his cap again. “You can call me Ryoma.”
He walked away, quite pleased with himself. Let Taka-san worry over whether it was a date or not. Ryoma had every intention of clarifying when the older boy walked him home later.
Totally worksafe and full of cute:
Ryoma was bored. Buchou was closeted away with Coach Ryuzaki, Momo-senpai was in a snit - or a blissful, euphoric haze; it was too hard to tell the difference these days - after a recent fight with Kaidoh-senpai. Inui-senpai and Fuji-senpai were standing close and speaking to one another in hushed voices and Eiji-Senpai was busy wrapping Oishi-senpai’s wrist. They weren’t speaking - Ryoma knew that they didn’t need to.
Sitting by himself on the bench was Kawamura-senpai. He wasn’t holding his racket and he didn’t have anyone to talk to. Taking a brief moment to ask himself if he really wanted to put forth the effort of getting up, walking over to the bench and having a conversation he doubted either of them would really be interested in, Ryoma decided - in the end - that he wanted to talk to Kawamura.
Ambling over, tapping his racket against his shoulder, Ryoma paused beside the bench and simply waited for Kawamura to notice him. It didn’t take long - Kawamura seemed ever aware of Ryoma’s proximity and activity, though Ryoma was never certain why. It wasn’t something he’d ever pondered at any great length as he typically had other, more significant thoughts to entertain.
Kawamura glanced up, obviously surprised to find Ryoma standing before him, and smiled. “Echizen.”
Ryoma tugged the bill of his cap down to shield his eyes and nodded slightly. “Taka-san.”
Kawamura tilted his head, considering. “Are you bored, then, Echizen?”
Silent for a moment, unsure as to whether that was a trick question or not, Ryoma answered easily after a time - it was not in Kawamura’s nature to tease him unnecessarily. “Why do you ask?”
Kawamura laughed nervously, fidgeting with the collar of his jersey as he braved the intensity of the sun in order to look up into Ryoma’s face. “You’re always bored, I think. Unless you’re playing tennis and since we’re not…”
Ryoma frowned. Kawamura’s assumption that Ryoma would not bother to speak to him unless he had nothing better to do bothered him more than he’d have thought it might. Kawamura, who was such an important part of their team, who was so selfless and thoughtful, was sitting alone with no one to talk to and seemed to accept it as the norm.
Ryoma scuffed the toe of his trainer on the concrete and allowed himself to recall one of his more embarrassing, vulnerable moments when Kawamura had been the one to support him. It had happened that day, when he’d responded to Kevin Smith’s taunting in a way unbefitting a Seigaku regular and, as a result of his own arrogance and disregard, had incited Tezuka to strike him. Afterward, when Tezuka had left, unable or unwilling to discuss the loss of his composure, Kawamura had stayed behind - saying nothing and offering his particular brand of quiet support and reassurance. Ryoma had wanted to lean against Kawamura that day, had wanted to borrow his strength and discipline just for a while. But he hadn’t and, in the end, they’d exchanged no words between them as Kawamura saw Ryoma home. When they’d reached Ryoma’s mailbox, Kawamura had smiled, rubbed the back of his neck as though unsure of what he should say, and bid Ryoma a good evening. Ryoma had watched his shadow fade from sight before he’d gone inside to ponder the mess he’d made of his day.
Though that incident was behind them and, indeed, they never spoke of it - it was all in the past. Forgiven and forgotten. Ryoma, however, had never forgotten what Kawamura had done for him that day and it was no surprise when Kawamura sometimes found himself uncertain and in need of a friend, that it was to Ryoma that he went. Having sought Ryoma out when he'd struggled so with the decision to play tennis or quit for the good of the family business, seeking him out for other matters had seemed so effortless.
Standing before his senpai now, Ryoma was surprised to realize that the feelings of friendship, of camaraderie, had somehow become something else in the past year.
“Taka-san,” he began, shifting his cap to reveal his eyes even as he moved to block the sun from the older boy’s face. “Are you free after practice?”
Familiar big, brown eyes blinked up at Ryoma for a moment before he nodded, obviously confused. “Of course, Echizen. Did you want a practice match?”
Shaking his head, Ryoma flashed that mischievous little grin that made those who knew him just the tiniest bit uneasy. Kawamura was no exception, though he trusted Ryoma implicitly and wasn’t afraid of any challenge the younger boy might throw his way. “No, Taka-san. I wanted to invite you for ramen, my treat.”
Kawamura shrugged, averting his eyes. It had not gone unnoticed by Ryoma that Kawamura often opted out of after-school group activities. “Thanks, Echizen, but…”
Ryoma tapped his foot idly on the concrete. “Just you and me?”
Still surprised, and blushing faintly now, Kawamura looked a little edgy. “Uh…you and me? But…usually you and…”
Ryoma smirked. “Maybe that’s what I’m bored of, ne, Taka-san?”
Kawamura ducked his head and when he glanced up again, he was grinning, too. The way his eyes sparked interest did not go unnoticed by Ryoma. “Your treat, eh?”
“That’s what I said,” Ryoma returned, voice light.
Kawamura nodded, “Thank you, then. Yes.”
Smiling to himself, Ryoma turned to walk away, already well aware that Kawamura would never let him pay. Glancing over his shoulder, face in profile, Ryoma added, “Oh, and Taka-san?”
Kawamura sat up a little, attention precisely where Ryoma wanted it. “Yes?”
Soft, little sound of amusement and Ryoma adjusted his cap again. “You can call me Ryoma.”
He walked away, quite pleased with himself. Let Taka-san worry over whether it was a date or not. Ryoma had every intention of clarifying when the older boy walked him home later.