Cracked Reception [R; Eiji/Momo]
Title: Cracked Reception (1/2)
Author: worblehat
Genre: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Eiji/Momo
Rating: R
Notes: Written for prillalar as part of the santa_smex exchange. Beta'd by regulusa. I pretty much fail at archiving in a timely manner. Sorry?
Summary: Eiji's summer is not what he expects.
Word Count: ~12,000
Summer is slow.
The air is calm, the skies clear. Eiji stands on the small bridge, watching the water and making faces at himself to pass the time. He isn't allowed home for another three hours, at his mother's insistence. He yawns, leaning his head against the palm of his hand, wondering just how long three hours can feel.
This isn't the way summer is supposed to go. There are supposed to be parties or sleepovers or trips with the family. Instead, Eiji's father is working overtime, which means they aren't going anywhere soon. He tries visiting the tennis courts to see if anyone is around but all he sees is Kaidoh, who isn't very much fun to talk to and has little-to-no-interest in going to the mall. He wants to train and work hard.
Eiji sighs again, more loudly. Even Oishi is gone, without anything more than a text. Something came up. Eiji reaches for his cell phone, flipping it open to look at the message for the seventy-third time. He's tried texting a few times but has received no reply. He worries - almost as much as he frowns. They were supposed to spend the summer practicing, but no more than three days into summer, Oishi vanishes. At first, Eiji thinks Oishi's been kidnapped, but Fuji tells him that he saw Oishi packing up the car with his family and there was no sort of attacker present. He knows he should feel relieved, but it just makes Eiji angrier.
He looks at the time before closing the phone and putting it back in his pocket. It's been ten minutes and it already feels like he's been out here five hours. Lowering his head to the cool stone of the bridge's railing, he lets out a slight wail.
A hand on his back makes him jump. He turns to look and sees Momo, smiling wide. “What's up, Kikumaru-senpai?”
“Don't sneak up behind people like that!” yells Eiji in return, smacking Momo in the arm. “It's scary.”
Momo blinks. “It is?”
“Hey, wanna get burgers?” asks Momo after a while.
Eiji's face lights up. “Yes!” he says, knowing that he will have to treat and not caring that his wallet will probably be drained down to nothingness.
***
Oishi's handwriting is immediately recognizable Eiji tears open the letter laid on his desk, flopping onto his bed and cuddling his teddy bear as he reads.
Eiji,
I hope you haven't been worrying about me.” (“Hmph,” thinks Eiji). ”I'll can't explain things right now, but I will, later.
There's this camp nearby with a two-week program. They have all sorts of things to do, including tennis - and there's a pool. My mom is thinking of sending me there for a little bit. Do you Here's the address, in case you need to contact me (my phone broke, I'm trying to get a new one as soon as I can).
Oishi.
Eiji reads the letter two more times before putting it down on the bed next to him. He lies on his back, looking up at his ceiling. “His phone broke...”
The slight frown in his features begins to dissipate as he considers what he's just read. Holding the letter above his face, he looks at the address. Oishi must be visiting with relatives, he thinks absently. And this camp...
Oishi, Eiji knows, is not good at asking favors - especially if he is feeling guilty over something. Eiji hasn't known him a lifetime, but somewhere in their years playing as a doubles pair, he's gotten a little better at reading Oishi. Most times he can't decipher what his partner is thinking, but as his eyes fix on the scratched-out partial sentence, he knows exactly what it means.
Do you want to come?
He bounds out of his room, feet heavy on the floor as he looks for his mom. “Okaasan!” he says enthusiastically. “I want to go to camp!”
***
When Eiji trades in the promise of a week at the beach with his family for the chance to go train at camp, he barely thinks about it. The idea of camp is both relaxing and exciting. When he sees Fuji at the tennis courts, he finds out that both Fuji and his younger brother, Yuuta, are also attending, along with their childhood friend, Saeki.
“Actually, there are a lot of people we know going,” says Eiji as he starts on his second burger.
Momo makes a sound of interest through his sixth, his stomach settling in an appreciative growl. He reaches for his soda, gulping some of it down, forcing his mouth free. “Yeah, I heard that Sanada made it mandatory for all of Rikkai to go.”
“How do you know that?” asks Eiji.
Momo takes another bite, chewing it enthusiastically before answering. “Kirihara was mumbling about it when I saw him the other day.”
“Mumbling?”
“Sanada was with him at the time,” explains Momo. “That guy's scary when he wants to be.”
Eiji nods. “I wonder if Oishi knew how many people were going before he signed up?”
Momo shrugs. “Hey, did you tell him you were going?”
Eiji shakes his head, making a no-no gesture with his fingers. “That would ruin the surprise!” He folds his arms across his chest. “I told him to have a good time and that I would write him. Anyway, what did your mom say?”
“About what?”
Eiji leans in. “Can you go? It would be so great if we could get all of Seigaku there at the same time!”
Momo smiles. “Yep, I'm packing tonight.”
“Two more days!” says Eiji excitedly before stuffing the rest of the burger into his mouth.
***
He can barely sleep that night. He holds his teddy bear close, heart almost vibrating in his chest in anticipation, lids falling shut as the sun begins to rise.
***
The bus to camp is full of people, half he knows and half he doesn't. He notices Kaidoh first and slings an arm around his shoulders. Kaidoh merely grunts and talks about how this training will help him. Eiji asks if he can sit next to him and Kaidoh grunts again. Momo sits behind them and Eiji turns around, talking to him, passing the time. Kaidoh puts on headphones and ignores them, his features concentrated and unfriendly.
When they arrive, Eiji lets out a small yell of triumph. He tears his way off this bus, bouncing up and down a little bit, his eyes actively scanning the other arrivals. He can see Choutarou and Shishido from Hyotei, walking quietly behind Atobe who is - for the moment at least - sans Kabaji. Kirihara stands next to an irritated-looking Sanada while Marui chats animatedly with Jackal, who just nods every once in a while, as if to show he's listening. He hears Bane's kick and turns around just as Amane lands at his feet.
“Hoi?”
“Kikumaru,” says Bane as he steps on the back of Amane's head, ignoring the muffled protests. “I didn't know Seigaku would be coming to this sports camp.”
Eiji cocks his head to the side in curiosity. “Is Rokkaku here too?”
Bane pushes Amane's head to the ground a little more firmly. “Just us and Saeki.”
“Oh,” says Eiji. He smiles. “It should be a fun two weeks.”
Bane nods, lifting his foot from Amane and turning to go. Amane looks up at Eiji, spitting a little, his hair dirty. “Bane likes it when I'm down to earth.”
Eiji blinks at the pun, then frowns. Amane walks away, snickering, hands in his pockets.
“I wonder what our bedding assignments are,” says Momo.
***
Eiji lucks out. The beds in the cabins are double, one on top of the other, five to a room. Eiji shares a bunk with Inui, who spreads his notebooks out evenly on his bed, the gleam in his eye visible through the thick, translucent lenses he wears. Next to them are Rokkaku's Saeki and St. Rudolph's Yuuta; beside them are Mizuki and Atsushi, also of St. Rudolph; one bed over from there is the strange mix of Yanagi Renji and Dan Taichi. As Eiji unpacks, he watches the scene developing at the other end of the room, wondering just who had made the room assignments; whoever it was, they were either doing it for a laugh or they were completely unaware of the rivalry between the last two.
“I get the top bunk,” growls Kaidoh.
Momo waves his fist. “The top has the better view out the window!” he yells.
“I'm not sleeping on the bottom bunk!”
“Oh yes you are!”
“No I'm not!”
“Are!”
“Not!”
“Are!”
“Not!”
“Are they always like this?” Saeki asks, his brown furrowed in cautious amusement.
Eiji slides down from his bunk. Inui opens his notebook, pushing his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose. “They are like this 82% of the time,” he says in a knowing voice. “It is likely that either they will break the bed during an argument and be re-assigned, or -”
“Oh yeah?” comes Momo's voice. The rest of the cabin looks over at the two. Both faces are red and Momo's finger is poking Kaidoh's chest, his look threatening, bordering on maniacal. “I'll play you for it.”
“Kph,” says Kaidoh, closing his eyes in annoyance. “I'll win.”
“We'll see about that,” says Momo, his eyes narrowed. “Name the sport.”
Kaidoh considers for only a few seconds before he answers. “Basketball.”
“Who's going to referee?” asks Yuuta.
“Me, of course,” says Mizuki - or that is what he plans to say, before Renji cuts him off. “Sadaharu.”
“Hm?” says Inui, looking up from where he's been scribbling in his notebook.
“Sadaharu will be the referee.”
Mizuki grumbles to Atsushi, who doesn't really pay attention but who's learned how to nod enough times for it not to be noticeable.
***
There are already a few people on the court, some playing an informal game. As Eiji walks with Inui, he can't help the small bubble of discomfort in his chest. He wants to go look for Oishi, to invite him to see this match - but if he leaves, it might be over too soon and he'll miss it. Maybe if he asks -
“Inui.”
“What is it, Kikumaru?” asks Inui, his long legs carrying him a few steps in front of Eiji. He looks down at the red hair and bright eyes.
“Do you know where the others are rooming?”
“Cabins 2, 7 and 9,” says Inui.
“Oh,” says Eiji. “Do you know which one Oishi's staying in?”
Inui doesn't stop when he answers but Eiji feels a momentary hitch in his step. “Oishi isn't attending this camp.”
“Oh,” says Eiji again but he doesn't even hear himself - he doesn't even look up until he notices someone standing right next to him. “Nya?”
“I asked what's going on,” Kamio says. “Why are they having a game now?”
“We haven't even had lunch yet,” Shinji adds in disinterested-sounding monotone as he looks on. “Now I have to choose between seeing a match that could be entertaining or going to fill my stomach so that it doesn't growl later. Why did they have to choose right now to demonstrate their rivalry...”
“Kaidoh wants the top,” explains Eiji, giving Shinji a weird look. He's never really gotten used to the muttering, though Kamio seems unphased by it.
Kamio looks at him blankly. “What?”
“The top bunk,” Eiji repeats. “Momo says it has a better view so they're playing for it.”
They decide to play half-court, the winner being whoever manages to get three shots in first. Inui pulls out a coin and they flip for who goes first. Momo grins when he takes the ball, standing at the line. Kaidoh is hunched over, in his snake position. He body waves back and forth, audible hisses falling from his lips.
Momo runs in and Kaidoh guards him, falling over when Momo ducks out from his reach. He recovers the second time this happens, and Momo only gets one shot in before Kaidoh scores the next two. The ball sounds out on the court as it bounces, Momo's dribbling faster while Kaidoh's is more controlled. Inui calls a foul and Momo stands at the line, aiming his shot twice before throwing. It goes in, the score at 2-2.
“Who do you think will win?” asks Kamio.
Eiji shrugs. “It doesn't matter,” he says evenly.
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Eiji laughs, “there'll be at least one more rematch probably. They're both really stubborn about losing. So even if one of them wins today, they'll be playing for it again tomorrow.”
“So it's not a real win,” says Kamio.
“It's real,” says Eiji with a wink. “But it's only temporary.”
The rest of the game doesn't last long, with Kaidoh's winning 3-2. Momo, sweaty and scowling, bypasses the rest of the group, sprinting towards the cafeteria. Kaidoh hisses before he drops the towel - picked up afterwards by Inui - and follows him.
“Those two really can't stand losing at anything,” mumbles Kamio.
“Not to each other,” says Eiji, tapping his nose knowingly.
***
Swimming is one of Eiji's favorite things to do in summer. The water is cold when he jumps in, hair tucked in under a simple black cap. He does a few laps, trying to test his stamina. Twenty minutes later he does a quick warm down, his body feeling stretched from the sprints he's managed to do. He hoists himself out of the water, removing the swim cap and shaking out his hair, running his fingers through it before heading to the showers.
It's been four days at camp. Each morning starts out with warm-ups. Eiji picks running the first few days but today he tries swimming. The camp directors have set up a tournament later in the day, with each team competing in three sports. The announcement is supposed to be read at lunch. As much as the idea of a competition thrills him, he can't help the ball of anger in his chest that seems to be growing with every time someone mentions Oishi.
Oishi is supposed to be at camp - he's supposed to be hanging out with Eiji, explaining what happened before or at least not ignoring him. Eiji is too angry to worry anymore, annoyed that Oishi would treat their friendship so blandly. When Eiji is angriest, he usually talks to Oishi, who calms him - sometimes just by listening. Since it's Oishi who's angered him this time, there's no one...
Eiji tries not to think about it as he showers and heads back to the cabin. Most of the time in the past four days, there are welcome distractions. It's only if he's alone like this that he remembers who is missing from camp or how someone he thought was his friend doesn't seem to care anymore.
“Eiji-senpai!” Momo's cheerful voice scatters Eiji's thoughts. He runs over, face sweaty from his warm up. “I thought you overslept.” Momo leans in. “You smell like chlorine.”
“I went swimming,” says Eiji. He shakes the edge of his towel. “See?”
“Isn't it too cold for that in the morning?” asks Momo with an empathetic shudder.
Eiji shrugs. The truth is, he likes the cold - it wakes him up, even as it numbs him initially. It's just what he needs.
“Kikumaru,” says Momo, and Eiji stops, blinking at him. Momo stands in front of him, one hand on each of Eiji's shoulders. His eyes are a little sad, a little curious. “What's wrong? You look out of it.”
Eiji feels guilt stabbing his conscience as he brushes Momo's hands off. “It's nothing.”
Momo makes a sound of unsettled yet overall quiet disbelief. He walks with Eiji for a while, stopping again when they get to the door of their sleeping quarters. His hand is on Eiji's shoulder, more hesitant this time. “I meant to ask: where's Oishi?”
Eiji's hand is on the doorknob; it tightens. He doesn't look at Momo, the anger spreading out from where he's kept it gated in his heart to the rest of him - to his eyes, his hands, his stomach. “I don't know, okay?”
The door slams behind him. Momo doesn't follow.
***
At lunch, the head director stands up. Eiji recognizes him as the coach from Yamabuki. His smile is unsettling as he reads out the long list of names. Eiji looks at his food, listening for his name.
Blue team: Kikumaru Eiji, Minami Kentarou, Hiyoshi Wakashi, Choutarou Ootori, Marui Bunta, Echizen Ryoma, Kisarasu Ryou...
“Ya-hoi, ochibi!” he says out loud when Ryoma's name is called. With fast eyes, he finds him at a nearby table and waves. Ryoma gives a somewhat-embarrassed wave in return, smirk hidden from under the brim of his hat.
Eiji's heart feels lighter as he readies himself for the tournament.
***
It turns out that their team's three sports are soccer, baseball and tennis. Eiji loves playing soccer, the sport making it easy for him to make use of his acrobatic moves. He wraps one arm around Ryoma's shoulder, talking animatedly the whole time. Their group does a few stretches in the minutes before the match.
Their opponents are the orange team. Eiji barely suppresses a loud burst of laughter when he sees who that means:
Kurobane Harukaze (Rokkaku), Dan Taichi (Yamabuki), Ishida Tetsu (Fudomine), Sanada Genichirou (Rikkai), Mizuki Hajime (St. Rudolph)...
...as well as Seigaku's Kaidoh Kaoru and Momoshiro Takeshi.
The last two are looking solemn, standing next to each other without saying a word to anyone.
They seem to be behaving this time. Maybe it'll work out.
“All teams - head out onto the field!”
***
The blue team chooses Eiji as their goalie, counting on his ability to see quick-moving objects and acrobatic movements. Eiji wishes he could be in the front, where most of the action is; he spends the first half of the game cheering, watching as Ryoma sneaks around the taller players, ducking and crouching out from under their reach in order to score. Minami directs them, shouting when he sees an opening.
The person at the other goal is Kaidoh, who grunts and hisses and - instead of catching the balls - kicks them back at the person who tries to score. Momo yells at him to stop being an idiot and Kaidoh kicks the next ball at Momo's knee, causing him to trip. When Momo is able to stand, he half-hobbles over to Kaidoh, waving his arms and shouting.
Marui looks back at Eiji. “Aren't they on the same team?” he asks, bewildered.
“You think that matters?” counters Eiji.
Ryoma re-adjusts his hat. “Some rivalries go too deep,” he explains simply.
“I guess...” says Marui, spitting out his gum and sliding in another piece, keeping up his sugar levels for the game.
Hiyoshi merely grunts as Choutarou looks on, a tinge of worry on his face as he turns to ask Ryou how he's enjoying the game. Ryou answers honestly and simply that he is having a decent time.
As the second half of the game begins, Eiji wipes at the sweat forming at his brow. He's made six saves so far, but the heat from the sun is making it a little harder to see. His blue soccer shirt sticks to his chest and his white shorts feel uncomfortable and tight. He's hunched over, breathing hard when the referee calls time out. He doesn't look up again until he sees a water bottle in front of him.
“Kikumaru, drink this.”
He stands up, guzzling down the water, some of it splashing down the sides of his mouth. He licks his lips when he's done, grinning down at Ryoma, who holds out his hand for the bottle. “Thanks,” says Eiji.
“Che,” says Ryoma, pulling his hat lower before pointing to the other side of the field. “You're being switched.”
“Nya?”
Kaidoh grunts from behind him. “We're switching,” he mutters.
“Switching?” Eiji blinks. “Why?”
Ryoma's smirk is practically tangible when he answers. “Because Kaidoh-senpai kicked the ball at Momo's face and gave him a black eye.”
Eiji frowns at Kaidoh, whose face reddens slightly before he turns away, pretending to look for the ball. “But I don't want to be on that team,” says Eiji, pouting as he thinks of his fight earlier in the day. He doesn't want to talk to Momo - he doesn't want to think about Oishi, especially not when he's having so much fun. “Why can't someone else go?”
“Because you're goalie and so is Kaidoh,” says Hiyoshi, hands folded across his chest. “It makes the most sense.”
“But -”
“Kikumaru Eiji!” calls the referee. “Switch!”
The bubble of anger in his chest expands, the target no longer Oishi alone, but also Momo. Eiji walks over, eyes sharp and unforgiving, ignoring Momo completely. He wanted to play with Ryoma; he wanted to -
But what does it matter now? He's stuck here, because Momo can't just shut up, he has to keep talking, even when no one wants him to.
The orange team loses, and Eiji sulks quietly as he changes uniforms.
***
The orange team's next sport is volleyball. It's a game Eiji likes almost as much as tennis. He isn't surprised when he sees Fuji on the other team, smiling happily at him.
“You look upset,” says Fuji from the other side of the net. “Bad match?”
“I had to switch teams because Kaidoh and Momo are idiots,” says Eiji a little meaner than he meant to. His face flushes. “I mean -”
“Move over, Aniki,” says Yuuta, the usual glower he reserves for his brother plastered onto his face.
“Hi, Yuuta-kun,” says Eiji pleasantly.
“Hi, Kikumaru,” answers Yuuta with no enthusiasm whatsoever. “Aniki, I said -”
“Is here good?” asks Fuji, smiling at his younger brother as he moves to the indicated space.
Yuuta shrugs and looks away.
The orange team gathers together to decide which positions they should play. Mizuki nods as Sanada assigns spots, adding “that was just what I was going to suggest” every few sentences. Sanada casts a wary eye at him but says nothing. When they break, Dan cheers. “This is so exciting desu! I can't wait to see if I can hit the ball desu!”
Momo ruffles his hair affectionately, laughing with ease. When he turns, Eiji gets his first glimpse of Momo's face. A bright blue circle spans downward from his forehead, across half of his nose, over his eye and to the top part of his cheek. Eiji wonders if he can really see through that eye. It looks infected, but Momo doesn't say anything - doesn't show one sign of complaint. Instead, he stands behind Eiji and to the right, at his assigned position.
The game begins with Yuuta's serve, which is calculated and sharp. Ishida leans back, catching the serve easily and sending it back, slamming into the edge of the other team's court. Fuji's eyes narrow as he considers the angle. He smiles at Ishida. “Nice method,” he says gently.
Ishida's face colors He whispers, “Does he always look that frightening during games?”
Eiji laughs. “Fuji's an...unknown quantity,” he says. “I wouldn't try that return again - by the looks of it, he's already figured out how to counter it.”
Ishida's face darkens further and he steps back, avoiding Fuji's hidden eyes.
The game continues. Fuji's team scores the next two points.
Bane makes a sweeping dive to rescue the ball on their next turn and crashes into Mizuki, who goes flying, his foot slamming against Sanada's thigh. Sanada's eyes go wide and he doubles over. In the commotion, Dan shuts his eyes tight and throws one fist upward - it connects with the ball, which falls just inside the border of the other side's court. “Did I score desu?”
“Mizuki, stop talking to me about coaching and start paying attention the game,” Sanada booms, his voice resonating with annoyance.
Mizuki glares when no one tries to help him up. Pouting, he goes back to his spot, taking time to throw dirty looks in Sanada's direction between serves. His pout deepens when he realizes Sanada is ignoring him.
The game ends and the orange team loses. Fuji claps Eiji on the shoulder. “Better luck next time,” he says.
Eiji forces a smile.
***
Water polo is not a sport Eiji has ever played before. Bane explains that it's got the same basic rules as most other sports, and that Eiji will be playing the position of hole, in the center. Eiji worries about stamina - especially when Mizuki blurts out that the hole usually gets drowned most and takes the most underwater fouls - but nods. Sanada assigns positions once more, deciding that Mizuki will be goalie.
Mizuki's chest puffs out impressively and he pulls Dan to the side, talking about the importance of his assigned role, further extrapolating as to his general awesomeness.
Bane leans in to whisper confidentially to Sanada. “Are you sure putting him as goalie is a good idea?”
“No,” says Sanada. “But if I put him into regular play, I might hit him. And not by accident.”
Bane chuckles.
Eiji jumps into the water, refreshed as his head bobs above the surface. They do a few warm-ups in the water, with Eiji teaching the others how to keep afloat with minimal energy. Dan seems to struggle a little and Sanada has him switch with Ishida, to keep him from having to swim as much.
Their opponents for this last match are the grey team. Eiji snorts a little when he looks at the line-up, which includes Inui who seems a little shy in his silver and black speedo. He doesn't see Amane until he hears Bane grumbling at his left about needing to kick something. Among the others are Atobe Keigo (Hyotei), Ibu Shinji (Fudomine), Kirihara Akaya (Rikkai) and Yukimura Seiichi (Rikkai). Sanada stutters a little as they enter the water, eyes on Yukimura for a few seconds. When their eyes meet, Yukimura smiles lightly. “May the best team win,” he calls out to Sanada.
“Yeah,” says Sanada, his eyes glinting, and Eiji thinks he sees him bite back a retort.
“Players, to the walls!” calls the referee.
The teams go to their respective sides, staring each other down. Eiji holds onto the wall with one hand, preparing his body to sprint forward. “Ganbatte, Kikumaru-senpai,” says a voice to his right.
Eiji looks over. Momo's face is focused on the middle of the pool, no indication that he'd just spoken on his features. Eiji shakes his head and forces his mind blank when the whistle blows.
He manages to get to the ball first, swimming with it in front of him successfully enough to make progress. He grins at Inui, who is muttering. “Chance of left aim...sixty-three percent...”
Eiji spins and chucks the ball. Inui lunges for it, falling two inches short when his cap falls into his face. He sputters a little as he tries to right himself.
“Inui,” says Eiji. “How can you see without your glasses?”
Inui taps two fingers to his eyes. “Prescription goggles.”
“Really?” asks Eiji. His heart is tight - not with anger this time, but with taunts. Blood flows faster in his veins, despite the cold temperature of the water. “I didn't know they made prescriptions that high. Are you sure they're working?”
“My vision is not that poor, Kikumaru,” says Inui evenly.
“Is that so?” continues Eiji. “Guess that means your data was lacking.”
Inui's brow creases ever-so-slightly in disdain but it's enough for Eiji, who swims back to his own wall, laughing easily.
***
The score fluctuates, each team catching up to one another quickly. Eiji can feel the scratches down his legs and arms, things the referee can't see. He wonders how many band-aids it will take to patch him up afterward. It already burns a little but the rush of playing is too much. Inui's frown increases by a little bit every time Eiji approaches.
They're at the walls and Eiji can feel his stamina dropping. Bane is picking up the slack for him as he recovers, with Momo shouting to indicate when there are easier openings for Eiji to pick up. He's breathing hard, trying to get his heartbeat down to normal before the whistle blows again. At a lag of two seconds, he finally pushes off, sprinting towards the ball. His eyes are red with chlorine and Atobe gets the ball first, throwing it to Yukimura, who is guarded heavily by Sanada. Dan swims, tailed by Shinji, whose muttering seems to be distracting him ("please stop talking desu!"). Kirihara follows in Yukimura's wake, elbowing Sanada out of the way. A foul is called and they line up; Eiji takes the shot and misses. Inui's frown decreases by a fraction.
Amane gets the ball next and Bane, as if on in slow-motion until then, spurs himself forward in Amane's direction. Amane makes a crack about Bane not bringing the balls and Bane kicks him. A foul is called and Atobe swims forward. Mizuki is stationary - his eyes holding the “deer in headlights” look - and there is a loud thud as Atobe takes the point.
Eiji is almost choking as they line up again. Two more points...just two more...
“Ganbatte.”
Eiji smiles in spite of himself. He pushes back the stray hair from his face, forcing his eyes to concentrate as best he can. The whistle blows and the ball bounces on the water's surface. This time Kirihara gets it, closely guarded by Ishida. They swim down and Kirihara passes it to Atobe.
The ball moves quickly down the pool, Momo trailing behind. Eiji's body is sluggish, his reaction time slowed severely. He makes it down to the edge of the pool, half-guarding, half-hanging onto Kirihara, who has swam into the hole position. Looking around, he can see the status of the game - he sees the semi-blurry yellow of the ball. It's in Atobe's hand, moving back and forth. Atobe's brows furrow and Eiji lunges.
The loud crack is one everybody hears. Eiji falls down into the water immediately. Sanada and Bane swim down first, each grabbing onto one arm and pulling him up. He's passed out as they lay him down above the tiles.
“Is he going to be okay desu?” asks Dan, his wide eyes worried, the beginning of tears visible.
The rest of the teams are frantic as the referee bends over, checking Eiji's pulse, Eiji's breathing.
“What happened?”
“Did you see that?”
“Is Kikumaru-senpai dead desu?”
“I've seen more impressive displays.”
“I can't believe he did that...”
Eiji comes to when he feels himself being lifted. His eyes open wide and he sits up. “What's going on? Why am I on this stretcher? Who won?”
“Relax, Kikumaru,” says Sanada. “They're taking you to the nurse's station.”
“Nurse's sta - but that means we didn't win!” He begins to flail, kicking against the taut fabric of the stretcher. “Let me down! Hoi! Let me down now!”
“Relax -”
“LET. ME. DOWN!”
Slowly, Eiji is lowered to the ground. His head is swimming a little bit and half of his face feels like it's on fire. He raises one careful hand to his face, wincing as it makes contact with his face. Fingers curl around his wrist and pull it back. “You'll make it worse if you keep touching it.”
Eiji blinks, looking up at Momo. “Is it that bad?” he asks, his voice weak.
“Um...”
“It looks awful desu!”
Bane covers Dan's mouth quickly. “It's not...that bad,” he offers.
Eiji sighs. He looks around at the other two teams, at the referee. “I want to keep playing.”
“Kikumaru!” the others say in amazement.
Momo smiles at him, throwing an arm across his shoulder. Eiji's own smile widens. “Let him play!” he says to the others. Pointing to his own face, he adds, “it's not like it's fatal.”
They slide back into the water. The pain makes it hard to focus, but Eiji tries to train his mind.
They take the last two points. Both teams cheer at the end before heading back to the showers. Momo pats Eiji on the back. “I knew you could do it, Kikumaru-senpai,” he says loudly.
Eiji feels the heat rise in his cheeks at Momo's compliment.
***
At dinner, everyone points to them and talks about them being raccoon twins. Eiji is a little annoyed at first but having Momo there next to him helps, especially when Momo retorts that everyone should shut up unless they want rabies. He wonders if Momo's figured out that he blocked a shot aimed for Momo's head or if he just thinks Eiji is clumsy, but he doesn't ask. Instead he pokes his eye slightly and compares it with Momo, trying to figure out which black eye is more infected. Ryoma says “gross” but Momo laughs and Eiji figures it's okay.
When they get back to the cabin, everyone is talking loudly. Saeki asks him about his eye and Inui mutters about making a form of juice to reduce eye tenderness. Momo and Eiji chorus, “No really, Inui - that's okay. We're fine.”
After half an hour inside, Eiji feels like his face is going to explode. It's too warm inside the room with so many people moving and talking. He slips outside, sitting on the steps. Ten minutes pass and he hears the door open behind him.
“Did you want to be alone, Kikumaru-senpai?”
Eiji looks back at Momo and smiles. “Nope.” He pats the spot next to him.
Momo closes the door and squats down next to Eiji. They sit silently for a few moments before Momo speaks again. “Maybe we should go see if we can get ice. It's too stuffy in there to sleep, you know? Especially with our eyes like this.”
Eiji nods and they stand, walking along the cool grass, down to the kitchen. Their eyes open wide when they see a familiar face.
“An-chan!”
“Kikumaru-san, Momo-chan,” she says happily as she ties up a garbage bag. “I wondered when the Seigaku regulars would visit! Fudomine's already been down here.”
“How's your brother doing?” asks Momo.
“He's okay,” she answers with a slight shrug. “He really wanted to come but his physical therapist said it might not be a good idea. I've been writing him letters everyday though, letting him know how his teammates are doing.”
Eiji leans in, opening his mouth to say something about how nice An's hair looks in the kitchen light. A high-pitched scream comes out instead, matching the rough shout from Momo. They turn around to see a smiling, cheerful Fuji, Inui standing closely behind him, writing avidly in his notebook.
“Hello Fuji-san,” says An brightly. “Inui-kun too.”
Inui nods, making a vague grunt of acknowledgment, apparently too engrossed in his writing to partake in the conversation.
Eiji glares at Fuji. “Baka! What did you do that for?”
“Hm?” asks Fuji.
“You -”
“Do you happen to have anymore of that pudding from desert?” asks Fuji, taking An's hand in his own.
An blushes, stammering a little under Fuji's gaze. “I-I think we put most of it away, b-but let me check with Sakuno. I'll be right back, okay?” She flushes a little more and leaves.
Fuji turns to look at Inui, completely ignoring Momo and Eiji. “Was it the vanilla you liked?”
Inui sniffs.
“The strawberry?”
“Hm,” Inui grunts.
When An returns, Fuji winks at her. “Late-night snacks are a lot of fun, aren't they?”
“Oh...yes!” she says. She looks at Momo. “You better not want any.”
“What?” Momo yells. “Why does Fuji get pudding and not me?”
“You eat too much,” says An, folding her arms across her chest.
“I'm a growing teenager!” shouts Momo. “I'm supposed to eat like that!”
“Momo, calm down,” says Eiji, pulling on Momo's shirt sleeve.
“No, that's not fair!” Momo continues to protest.
“I think we should go,” says Eiji, forgetting about the ice.
“I agree,” says Fuji. “Come on, Inui.”
“Hm,” says Inui, not looking up from his notebook as they walk back outside, somehow managing not to trip even once.
“Fuji, let me have some of your pudding,” says Momo when Eiji lets go of him.
“You should have asked for your own.”
“She wouldn't let me have any!” says Momo. “You heard her!”
“Really?” says Fuji, smiling. “Hm. I thought she would have favored you more than me.”
“What do you mean?” asks Eiji.
“Well I was never her boyfriend. Momo was.”
Momo's face is bright red. “I-I wasn't her boyfriend!”
“Weren't you?” asks Fuji, his smile constant.
“No!” shouts Momo.
“So you don't think An-chan is cute?”
“There is a ninety-two percent chance that Momo will lie,” interjects Inui, his writing momentarily paused.
Momo growls. “Shows how much you know, Inui,” he says defiantly. “An-chan is...okay-looking.” He flushes. “But I don't like her that way!”
Inui sniffs.
“Hey!” says Momo. “I know what that sniff means!”
Eiji has to hold onto Momo with two hands when they part, Fuji waving happily as he walks off with Inui to his own cabin, holding the two bowls of pudding. It takes Momo over two minutes to calm down; he laughs apologetically.
“You really think An-chan is cute?” asks Eiji.
Momo's face hardens. “Not you too...”
Eiji raises his hands behind his head and they continue to walk. “No, I just figured Fuji's sister would be more your type.”
“Who, Yumiko?” asks Momo. He shakes his head. “No, she looks too much like Fuji too me.”
“I guess you're right,” says Eiji. “I've always thought she was really pretty all the same.”
Momo grunts.
They're back at the stairs when Eiji stops, looking down.
“Eiji-senpai?” asks Momo.
“I'm sorry about before,” he says quietly. “I didn't mean to yell at you.”
Momo shrugs.
“I just...thought Oishi would be here...you know?” Eiji can feel his vision blurring, the hot sting of tears at the corner of his eyes. Why isn't he here?
“Have you heard from him since that letter?” asks Momo.
It kills Eiji to answer, but he does. “...no.”
They stand awkwardly, side by side, neither looking at the other. Momo comes a little closer, wrapping one arm around Eiji's shoulders. Eiji holds onto Momo's shirt, clutches at him, trying not to cry but his body is shaking. The hurt leaks out of him sobs and he clings tight, the knot of anger in his chest unwinding.
“I'm sorry,” he says again when he pulls away. He can see the wet spots where his tears dampen Momo's shirt. He wipes at his eyes.
Momo's voice is a little hoarse. “Don't worry about it.”
It takes a few seconds for Eiji to be able to raise his eyes to meet Momo's. He feels scared for some reason; maybe this is too much to lay on someone, maybe Momo doesn't really care to hear about Oishi or how his seeming lack of interest in keeping up friendships is hurting Eiji. Maybe -
“Thanks,” he says and scurries up the stairs.
Momo stays outside, watching the stars for several more minutes before heading inside and getting ready for bed.
Author: worblehat
Genre: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Eiji/Momo
Rating: R
Notes: Written for prillalar as part of the santa_smex exchange. Beta'd by regulusa. I pretty much fail at archiving in a timely manner. Sorry?
Summary: Eiji's summer is not what he expects.
Word Count: ~12,000
Summer is slow.
The air is calm, the skies clear. Eiji stands on the small bridge, watching the water and making faces at himself to pass the time. He isn't allowed home for another three hours, at his mother's insistence. He yawns, leaning his head against the palm of his hand, wondering just how long three hours can feel.
This isn't the way summer is supposed to go. There are supposed to be parties or sleepovers or trips with the family. Instead, Eiji's father is working overtime, which means they aren't going anywhere soon. He tries visiting the tennis courts to see if anyone is around but all he sees is Kaidoh, who isn't very much fun to talk to and has little-to-no-interest in going to the mall. He wants to train and work hard.
Eiji sighs again, more loudly. Even Oishi is gone, without anything more than a text. Something came up. Eiji reaches for his cell phone, flipping it open to look at the message for the seventy-third time. He's tried texting a few times but has received no reply. He worries - almost as much as he frowns. They were supposed to spend the summer practicing, but no more than three days into summer, Oishi vanishes. At first, Eiji thinks Oishi's been kidnapped, but Fuji tells him that he saw Oishi packing up the car with his family and there was no sort of attacker present. He knows he should feel relieved, but it just makes Eiji angrier.
He looks at the time before closing the phone and putting it back in his pocket. It's been ten minutes and it already feels like he's been out here five hours. Lowering his head to the cool stone of the bridge's railing, he lets out a slight wail.
A hand on his back makes him jump. He turns to look and sees Momo, smiling wide. “What's up, Kikumaru-senpai?”
“Don't sneak up behind people like that!” yells Eiji in return, smacking Momo in the arm. “It's scary.”
Momo blinks. “It is?”
“Hey, wanna get burgers?” asks Momo after a while.
Eiji's face lights up. “Yes!” he says, knowing that he will have to treat and not caring that his wallet will probably be drained down to nothingness.
***
Oishi's handwriting is immediately recognizable Eiji tears open the letter laid on his desk, flopping onto his bed and cuddling his teddy bear as he reads.
Eiji,
I hope you haven't been worrying about me.” (“Hmph,” thinks Eiji). ”I'll can't explain things right now, but I will, later.
There's this camp nearby with a two-week program. They have all sorts of things to do, including tennis - and there's a pool. My mom is thinking of sending me there for a little bit. Do you Here's the address, in case you need to contact me (my phone broke, I'm trying to get a new one as soon as I can).
Oishi.
Eiji reads the letter two more times before putting it down on the bed next to him. He lies on his back, looking up at his ceiling. “His phone broke...”
The slight frown in his features begins to dissipate as he considers what he's just read. Holding the letter above his face, he looks at the address. Oishi must be visiting with relatives, he thinks absently. And this camp...
Oishi, Eiji knows, is not good at asking favors - especially if he is feeling guilty over something. Eiji hasn't known him a lifetime, but somewhere in their years playing as a doubles pair, he's gotten a little better at reading Oishi. Most times he can't decipher what his partner is thinking, but as his eyes fix on the scratched-out partial sentence, he knows exactly what it means.
Do you want to come?
He bounds out of his room, feet heavy on the floor as he looks for his mom. “Okaasan!” he says enthusiastically. “I want to go to camp!”
***
When Eiji trades in the promise of a week at the beach with his family for the chance to go train at camp, he barely thinks about it. The idea of camp is both relaxing and exciting. When he sees Fuji at the tennis courts, he finds out that both Fuji and his younger brother, Yuuta, are also attending, along with their childhood friend, Saeki.
“Actually, there are a lot of people we know going,” says Eiji as he starts on his second burger.
Momo makes a sound of interest through his sixth, his stomach settling in an appreciative growl. He reaches for his soda, gulping some of it down, forcing his mouth free. “Yeah, I heard that Sanada made it mandatory for all of Rikkai to go.”
“How do you know that?” asks Eiji.
Momo takes another bite, chewing it enthusiastically before answering. “Kirihara was mumbling about it when I saw him the other day.”
“Mumbling?”
“Sanada was with him at the time,” explains Momo. “That guy's scary when he wants to be.”
Eiji nods. “I wonder if Oishi knew how many people were going before he signed up?”
Momo shrugs. “Hey, did you tell him you were going?”
Eiji shakes his head, making a no-no gesture with his fingers. “That would ruin the surprise!” He folds his arms across his chest. “I told him to have a good time and that I would write him. Anyway, what did your mom say?”
“About what?”
Eiji leans in. “Can you go? It would be so great if we could get all of Seigaku there at the same time!”
Momo smiles. “Yep, I'm packing tonight.”
“Two more days!” says Eiji excitedly before stuffing the rest of the burger into his mouth.
***
He can barely sleep that night. He holds his teddy bear close, heart almost vibrating in his chest in anticipation, lids falling shut as the sun begins to rise.
***
The bus to camp is full of people, half he knows and half he doesn't. He notices Kaidoh first and slings an arm around his shoulders. Kaidoh merely grunts and talks about how this training will help him. Eiji asks if he can sit next to him and Kaidoh grunts again. Momo sits behind them and Eiji turns around, talking to him, passing the time. Kaidoh puts on headphones and ignores them, his features concentrated and unfriendly.
When they arrive, Eiji lets out a small yell of triumph. He tears his way off this bus, bouncing up and down a little bit, his eyes actively scanning the other arrivals. He can see Choutarou and Shishido from Hyotei, walking quietly behind Atobe who is - for the moment at least - sans Kabaji. Kirihara stands next to an irritated-looking Sanada while Marui chats animatedly with Jackal, who just nods every once in a while, as if to show he's listening. He hears Bane's kick and turns around just as Amane lands at his feet.
“Hoi?”
“Kikumaru,” says Bane as he steps on the back of Amane's head, ignoring the muffled protests. “I didn't know Seigaku would be coming to this sports camp.”
Eiji cocks his head to the side in curiosity. “Is Rokkaku here too?”
Bane pushes Amane's head to the ground a little more firmly. “Just us and Saeki.”
“Oh,” says Eiji. He smiles. “It should be a fun two weeks.”
Bane nods, lifting his foot from Amane and turning to go. Amane looks up at Eiji, spitting a little, his hair dirty. “Bane likes it when I'm down to earth.”
Eiji blinks at the pun, then frowns. Amane walks away, snickering, hands in his pockets.
“I wonder what our bedding assignments are,” says Momo.
***
Eiji lucks out. The beds in the cabins are double, one on top of the other, five to a room. Eiji shares a bunk with Inui, who spreads his notebooks out evenly on his bed, the gleam in his eye visible through the thick, translucent lenses he wears. Next to them are Rokkaku's Saeki and St. Rudolph's Yuuta; beside them are Mizuki and Atsushi, also of St. Rudolph; one bed over from there is the strange mix of Yanagi Renji and Dan Taichi. As Eiji unpacks, he watches the scene developing at the other end of the room, wondering just who had made the room assignments; whoever it was, they were either doing it for a laugh or they were completely unaware of the rivalry between the last two.
“I get the top bunk,” growls Kaidoh.
Momo waves his fist. “The top has the better view out the window!” he yells.
“I'm not sleeping on the bottom bunk!”
“Oh yes you are!”
“No I'm not!”
“Are!”
“Not!”
“Are!”
“Not!”
“Are they always like this?” Saeki asks, his brown furrowed in cautious amusement.
Eiji slides down from his bunk. Inui opens his notebook, pushing his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose. “They are like this 82% of the time,” he says in a knowing voice. “It is likely that either they will break the bed during an argument and be re-assigned, or -”
“Oh yeah?” comes Momo's voice. The rest of the cabin looks over at the two. Both faces are red and Momo's finger is poking Kaidoh's chest, his look threatening, bordering on maniacal. “I'll play you for it.”
“Kph,” says Kaidoh, closing his eyes in annoyance. “I'll win.”
“We'll see about that,” says Momo, his eyes narrowed. “Name the sport.”
Kaidoh considers for only a few seconds before he answers. “Basketball.”
“Who's going to referee?” asks Yuuta.
“Me, of course,” says Mizuki - or that is what he plans to say, before Renji cuts him off. “Sadaharu.”
“Hm?” says Inui, looking up from where he's been scribbling in his notebook.
“Sadaharu will be the referee.”
Mizuki grumbles to Atsushi, who doesn't really pay attention but who's learned how to nod enough times for it not to be noticeable.
***
There are already a few people on the court, some playing an informal game. As Eiji walks with Inui, he can't help the small bubble of discomfort in his chest. He wants to go look for Oishi, to invite him to see this match - but if he leaves, it might be over too soon and he'll miss it. Maybe if he asks -
“Inui.”
“What is it, Kikumaru?” asks Inui, his long legs carrying him a few steps in front of Eiji. He looks down at the red hair and bright eyes.
“Do you know where the others are rooming?”
“Cabins 2, 7 and 9,” says Inui.
“Oh,” says Eiji. “Do you know which one Oishi's staying in?”
Inui doesn't stop when he answers but Eiji feels a momentary hitch in his step. “Oishi isn't attending this camp.”
“Oh,” says Eiji again but he doesn't even hear himself - he doesn't even look up until he notices someone standing right next to him. “Nya?”
“I asked what's going on,” Kamio says. “Why are they having a game now?”
“We haven't even had lunch yet,” Shinji adds in disinterested-sounding monotone as he looks on. “Now I have to choose between seeing a match that could be entertaining or going to fill my stomach so that it doesn't growl later. Why did they have to choose right now to demonstrate their rivalry...”
“Kaidoh wants the top,” explains Eiji, giving Shinji a weird look. He's never really gotten used to the muttering, though Kamio seems unphased by it.
Kamio looks at him blankly. “What?”
“The top bunk,” Eiji repeats. “Momo says it has a better view so they're playing for it.”
They decide to play half-court, the winner being whoever manages to get three shots in first. Inui pulls out a coin and they flip for who goes first. Momo grins when he takes the ball, standing at the line. Kaidoh is hunched over, in his snake position. He body waves back and forth, audible hisses falling from his lips.
Momo runs in and Kaidoh guards him, falling over when Momo ducks out from his reach. He recovers the second time this happens, and Momo only gets one shot in before Kaidoh scores the next two. The ball sounds out on the court as it bounces, Momo's dribbling faster while Kaidoh's is more controlled. Inui calls a foul and Momo stands at the line, aiming his shot twice before throwing. It goes in, the score at 2-2.
“Who do you think will win?” asks Kamio.
Eiji shrugs. “It doesn't matter,” he says evenly.
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Eiji laughs, “there'll be at least one more rematch probably. They're both really stubborn about losing. So even if one of them wins today, they'll be playing for it again tomorrow.”
“So it's not a real win,” says Kamio.
“It's real,” says Eiji with a wink. “But it's only temporary.”
The rest of the game doesn't last long, with Kaidoh's winning 3-2. Momo, sweaty and scowling, bypasses the rest of the group, sprinting towards the cafeteria. Kaidoh hisses before he drops the towel - picked up afterwards by Inui - and follows him.
“Those two really can't stand losing at anything,” mumbles Kamio.
“Not to each other,” says Eiji, tapping his nose knowingly.
***
Swimming is one of Eiji's favorite things to do in summer. The water is cold when he jumps in, hair tucked in under a simple black cap. He does a few laps, trying to test his stamina. Twenty minutes later he does a quick warm down, his body feeling stretched from the sprints he's managed to do. He hoists himself out of the water, removing the swim cap and shaking out his hair, running his fingers through it before heading to the showers.
It's been four days at camp. Each morning starts out with warm-ups. Eiji picks running the first few days but today he tries swimming. The camp directors have set up a tournament later in the day, with each team competing in three sports. The announcement is supposed to be read at lunch. As much as the idea of a competition thrills him, he can't help the ball of anger in his chest that seems to be growing with every time someone mentions Oishi.
Oishi is supposed to be at camp - he's supposed to be hanging out with Eiji, explaining what happened before or at least not ignoring him. Eiji is too angry to worry anymore, annoyed that Oishi would treat their friendship so blandly. When Eiji is angriest, he usually talks to Oishi, who calms him - sometimes just by listening. Since it's Oishi who's angered him this time, there's no one...
Eiji tries not to think about it as he showers and heads back to the cabin. Most of the time in the past four days, there are welcome distractions. It's only if he's alone like this that he remembers who is missing from camp or how someone he thought was his friend doesn't seem to care anymore.
“Eiji-senpai!” Momo's cheerful voice scatters Eiji's thoughts. He runs over, face sweaty from his warm up. “I thought you overslept.” Momo leans in. “You smell like chlorine.”
“I went swimming,” says Eiji. He shakes the edge of his towel. “See?”
“Isn't it too cold for that in the morning?” asks Momo with an empathetic shudder.
Eiji shrugs. The truth is, he likes the cold - it wakes him up, even as it numbs him initially. It's just what he needs.
“Kikumaru,” says Momo, and Eiji stops, blinking at him. Momo stands in front of him, one hand on each of Eiji's shoulders. His eyes are a little sad, a little curious. “What's wrong? You look out of it.”
Eiji feels guilt stabbing his conscience as he brushes Momo's hands off. “It's nothing.”
Momo makes a sound of unsettled yet overall quiet disbelief. He walks with Eiji for a while, stopping again when they get to the door of their sleeping quarters. His hand is on Eiji's shoulder, more hesitant this time. “I meant to ask: where's Oishi?”
Eiji's hand is on the doorknob; it tightens. He doesn't look at Momo, the anger spreading out from where he's kept it gated in his heart to the rest of him - to his eyes, his hands, his stomach. “I don't know, okay?”
The door slams behind him. Momo doesn't follow.
***
At lunch, the head director stands up. Eiji recognizes him as the coach from Yamabuki. His smile is unsettling as he reads out the long list of names. Eiji looks at his food, listening for his name.
Blue team: Kikumaru Eiji, Minami Kentarou, Hiyoshi Wakashi, Choutarou Ootori, Marui Bunta, Echizen Ryoma, Kisarasu Ryou...
“Ya-hoi, ochibi!” he says out loud when Ryoma's name is called. With fast eyes, he finds him at a nearby table and waves. Ryoma gives a somewhat-embarrassed wave in return, smirk hidden from under the brim of his hat.
Eiji's heart feels lighter as he readies himself for the tournament.
***
It turns out that their team's three sports are soccer, baseball and tennis. Eiji loves playing soccer, the sport making it easy for him to make use of his acrobatic moves. He wraps one arm around Ryoma's shoulder, talking animatedly the whole time. Their group does a few stretches in the minutes before the match.
Their opponents are the orange team. Eiji barely suppresses a loud burst of laughter when he sees who that means:
Kurobane Harukaze (Rokkaku), Dan Taichi (Yamabuki), Ishida Tetsu (Fudomine), Sanada Genichirou (Rikkai), Mizuki Hajime (St. Rudolph)...
...as well as Seigaku's Kaidoh Kaoru and Momoshiro Takeshi.
The last two are looking solemn, standing next to each other without saying a word to anyone.
They seem to be behaving this time. Maybe it'll work out.
“All teams - head out onto the field!”
***
The blue team chooses Eiji as their goalie, counting on his ability to see quick-moving objects and acrobatic movements. Eiji wishes he could be in the front, where most of the action is; he spends the first half of the game cheering, watching as Ryoma sneaks around the taller players, ducking and crouching out from under their reach in order to score. Minami directs them, shouting when he sees an opening.
The person at the other goal is Kaidoh, who grunts and hisses and - instead of catching the balls - kicks them back at the person who tries to score. Momo yells at him to stop being an idiot and Kaidoh kicks the next ball at Momo's knee, causing him to trip. When Momo is able to stand, he half-hobbles over to Kaidoh, waving his arms and shouting.
Marui looks back at Eiji. “Aren't they on the same team?” he asks, bewildered.
“You think that matters?” counters Eiji.
Ryoma re-adjusts his hat. “Some rivalries go too deep,” he explains simply.
“I guess...” says Marui, spitting out his gum and sliding in another piece, keeping up his sugar levels for the game.
Hiyoshi merely grunts as Choutarou looks on, a tinge of worry on his face as he turns to ask Ryou how he's enjoying the game. Ryou answers honestly and simply that he is having a decent time.
As the second half of the game begins, Eiji wipes at the sweat forming at his brow. He's made six saves so far, but the heat from the sun is making it a little harder to see. His blue soccer shirt sticks to his chest and his white shorts feel uncomfortable and tight. He's hunched over, breathing hard when the referee calls time out. He doesn't look up again until he sees a water bottle in front of him.
“Kikumaru, drink this.”
He stands up, guzzling down the water, some of it splashing down the sides of his mouth. He licks his lips when he's done, grinning down at Ryoma, who holds out his hand for the bottle. “Thanks,” says Eiji.
“Che,” says Ryoma, pulling his hat lower before pointing to the other side of the field. “You're being switched.”
“Nya?”
Kaidoh grunts from behind him. “We're switching,” he mutters.
“Switching?” Eiji blinks. “Why?”
Ryoma's smirk is practically tangible when he answers. “Because Kaidoh-senpai kicked the ball at Momo's face and gave him a black eye.”
Eiji frowns at Kaidoh, whose face reddens slightly before he turns away, pretending to look for the ball. “But I don't want to be on that team,” says Eiji, pouting as he thinks of his fight earlier in the day. He doesn't want to talk to Momo - he doesn't want to think about Oishi, especially not when he's having so much fun. “Why can't someone else go?”
“Because you're goalie and so is Kaidoh,” says Hiyoshi, hands folded across his chest. “It makes the most sense.”
“But -”
“Kikumaru Eiji!” calls the referee. “Switch!”
The bubble of anger in his chest expands, the target no longer Oishi alone, but also Momo. Eiji walks over, eyes sharp and unforgiving, ignoring Momo completely. He wanted to play with Ryoma; he wanted to -
But what does it matter now? He's stuck here, because Momo can't just shut up, he has to keep talking, even when no one wants him to.
The orange team loses, and Eiji sulks quietly as he changes uniforms.
***
The orange team's next sport is volleyball. It's a game Eiji likes almost as much as tennis. He isn't surprised when he sees Fuji on the other team, smiling happily at him.
“You look upset,” says Fuji from the other side of the net. “Bad match?”
“I had to switch teams because Kaidoh and Momo are idiots,” says Eiji a little meaner than he meant to. His face flushes. “I mean -”
“Move over, Aniki,” says Yuuta, the usual glower he reserves for his brother plastered onto his face.
“Hi, Yuuta-kun,” says Eiji pleasantly.
“Hi, Kikumaru,” answers Yuuta with no enthusiasm whatsoever. “Aniki, I said -”
“Is here good?” asks Fuji, smiling at his younger brother as he moves to the indicated space.
Yuuta shrugs and looks away.
The orange team gathers together to decide which positions they should play. Mizuki nods as Sanada assigns spots, adding “that was just what I was going to suggest” every few sentences. Sanada casts a wary eye at him but says nothing. When they break, Dan cheers. “This is so exciting desu! I can't wait to see if I can hit the ball desu!”
Momo ruffles his hair affectionately, laughing with ease. When he turns, Eiji gets his first glimpse of Momo's face. A bright blue circle spans downward from his forehead, across half of his nose, over his eye and to the top part of his cheek. Eiji wonders if he can really see through that eye. It looks infected, but Momo doesn't say anything - doesn't show one sign of complaint. Instead, he stands behind Eiji and to the right, at his assigned position.
The game begins with Yuuta's serve, which is calculated and sharp. Ishida leans back, catching the serve easily and sending it back, slamming into the edge of the other team's court. Fuji's eyes narrow as he considers the angle. He smiles at Ishida. “Nice method,” he says gently.
Ishida's face colors He whispers, “Does he always look that frightening during games?”
Eiji laughs. “Fuji's an...unknown quantity,” he says. “I wouldn't try that return again - by the looks of it, he's already figured out how to counter it.”
Ishida's face darkens further and he steps back, avoiding Fuji's hidden eyes.
The game continues. Fuji's team scores the next two points.
Bane makes a sweeping dive to rescue the ball on their next turn and crashes into Mizuki, who goes flying, his foot slamming against Sanada's thigh. Sanada's eyes go wide and he doubles over. In the commotion, Dan shuts his eyes tight and throws one fist upward - it connects with the ball, which falls just inside the border of the other side's court. “Did I score desu?”
“Mizuki, stop talking to me about coaching and start paying attention the game,” Sanada booms, his voice resonating with annoyance.
Mizuki glares when no one tries to help him up. Pouting, he goes back to his spot, taking time to throw dirty looks in Sanada's direction between serves. His pout deepens when he realizes Sanada is ignoring him.
The game ends and the orange team loses. Fuji claps Eiji on the shoulder. “Better luck next time,” he says.
Eiji forces a smile.
***
Water polo is not a sport Eiji has ever played before. Bane explains that it's got the same basic rules as most other sports, and that Eiji will be playing the position of hole, in the center. Eiji worries about stamina - especially when Mizuki blurts out that the hole usually gets drowned most and takes the most underwater fouls - but nods. Sanada assigns positions once more, deciding that Mizuki will be goalie.
Mizuki's chest puffs out impressively and he pulls Dan to the side, talking about the importance of his assigned role, further extrapolating as to his general awesomeness.
Bane leans in to whisper confidentially to Sanada. “Are you sure putting him as goalie is a good idea?”
“No,” says Sanada. “But if I put him into regular play, I might hit him. And not by accident.”
Bane chuckles.
Eiji jumps into the water, refreshed as his head bobs above the surface. They do a few warm-ups in the water, with Eiji teaching the others how to keep afloat with minimal energy. Dan seems to struggle a little and Sanada has him switch with Ishida, to keep him from having to swim as much.
Their opponents for this last match are the grey team. Eiji snorts a little when he looks at the line-up, which includes Inui who seems a little shy in his silver and black speedo. He doesn't see Amane until he hears Bane grumbling at his left about needing to kick something. Among the others are Atobe Keigo (Hyotei), Ibu Shinji (Fudomine), Kirihara Akaya (Rikkai) and Yukimura Seiichi (Rikkai). Sanada stutters a little as they enter the water, eyes on Yukimura for a few seconds. When their eyes meet, Yukimura smiles lightly. “May the best team win,” he calls out to Sanada.
“Yeah,” says Sanada, his eyes glinting, and Eiji thinks he sees him bite back a retort.
“Players, to the walls!” calls the referee.
The teams go to their respective sides, staring each other down. Eiji holds onto the wall with one hand, preparing his body to sprint forward. “Ganbatte, Kikumaru-senpai,” says a voice to his right.
Eiji looks over. Momo's face is focused on the middle of the pool, no indication that he'd just spoken on his features. Eiji shakes his head and forces his mind blank when the whistle blows.
He manages to get to the ball first, swimming with it in front of him successfully enough to make progress. He grins at Inui, who is muttering. “Chance of left aim...sixty-three percent...”
Eiji spins and chucks the ball. Inui lunges for it, falling two inches short when his cap falls into his face. He sputters a little as he tries to right himself.
“Inui,” says Eiji. “How can you see without your glasses?”
Inui taps two fingers to his eyes. “Prescription goggles.”
“Really?” asks Eiji. His heart is tight - not with anger this time, but with taunts. Blood flows faster in his veins, despite the cold temperature of the water. “I didn't know they made prescriptions that high. Are you sure they're working?”
“My vision is not that poor, Kikumaru,” says Inui evenly.
“Is that so?” continues Eiji. “Guess that means your data was lacking.”
Inui's brow creases ever-so-slightly in disdain but it's enough for Eiji, who swims back to his own wall, laughing easily.
***
The score fluctuates, each team catching up to one another quickly. Eiji can feel the scratches down his legs and arms, things the referee can't see. He wonders how many band-aids it will take to patch him up afterward. It already burns a little but the rush of playing is too much. Inui's frown increases by a little bit every time Eiji approaches.
They're at the walls and Eiji can feel his stamina dropping. Bane is picking up the slack for him as he recovers, with Momo shouting to indicate when there are easier openings for Eiji to pick up. He's breathing hard, trying to get his heartbeat down to normal before the whistle blows again. At a lag of two seconds, he finally pushes off, sprinting towards the ball. His eyes are red with chlorine and Atobe gets the ball first, throwing it to Yukimura, who is guarded heavily by Sanada. Dan swims, tailed by Shinji, whose muttering seems to be distracting him ("please stop talking desu!"). Kirihara follows in Yukimura's wake, elbowing Sanada out of the way. A foul is called and they line up; Eiji takes the shot and misses. Inui's frown decreases by a fraction.
Amane gets the ball next and Bane, as if on in slow-motion until then, spurs himself forward in Amane's direction. Amane makes a crack about Bane not bringing the balls and Bane kicks him. A foul is called and Atobe swims forward. Mizuki is stationary - his eyes holding the “deer in headlights” look - and there is a loud thud as Atobe takes the point.
Eiji is almost choking as they line up again. Two more points...just two more...
“Ganbatte.”
Eiji smiles in spite of himself. He pushes back the stray hair from his face, forcing his eyes to concentrate as best he can. The whistle blows and the ball bounces on the water's surface. This time Kirihara gets it, closely guarded by Ishida. They swim down and Kirihara passes it to Atobe.
The ball moves quickly down the pool, Momo trailing behind. Eiji's body is sluggish, his reaction time slowed severely. He makes it down to the edge of the pool, half-guarding, half-hanging onto Kirihara, who has swam into the hole position. Looking around, he can see the status of the game - he sees the semi-blurry yellow of the ball. It's in Atobe's hand, moving back and forth. Atobe's brows furrow and Eiji lunges.
The loud crack is one everybody hears. Eiji falls down into the water immediately. Sanada and Bane swim down first, each grabbing onto one arm and pulling him up. He's passed out as they lay him down above the tiles.
“Is he going to be okay desu?” asks Dan, his wide eyes worried, the beginning of tears visible.
The rest of the teams are frantic as the referee bends over, checking Eiji's pulse, Eiji's breathing.
“What happened?”
“Did you see that?”
“Is Kikumaru-senpai dead desu?”
“I've seen more impressive displays.”
“I can't believe he did that...”
Eiji comes to when he feels himself being lifted. His eyes open wide and he sits up. “What's going on? Why am I on this stretcher? Who won?”
“Relax, Kikumaru,” says Sanada. “They're taking you to the nurse's station.”
“Nurse's sta - but that means we didn't win!” He begins to flail, kicking against the taut fabric of the stretcher. “Let me down! Hoi! Let me down now!”
“Relax -”
“LET. ME. DOWN!”
Slowly, Eiji is lowered to the ground. His head is swimming a little bit and half of his face feels like it's on fire. He raises one careful hand to his face, wincing as it makes contact with his face. Fingers curl around his wrist and pull it back. “You'll make it worse if you keep touching it.”
Eiji blinks, looking up at Momo. “Is it that bad?” he asks, his voice weak.
“Um...”
“It looks awful desu!”
Bane covers Dan's mouth quickly. “It's not...that bad,” he offers.
Eiji sighs. He looks around at the other two teams, at the referee. “I want to keep playing.”
“Kikumaru!” the others say in amazement.
Momo smiles at him, throwing an arm across his shoulder. Eiji's own smile widens. “Let him play!” he says to the others. Pointing to his own face, he adds, “it's not like it's fatal.”
They slide back into the water. The pain makes it hard to focus, but Eiji tries to train his mind.
They take the last two points. Both teams cheer at the end before heading back to the showers. Momo pats Eiji on the back. “I knew you could do it, Kikumaru-senpai,” he says loudly.
Eiji feels the heat rise in his cheeks at Momo's compliment.
***
At dinner, everyone points to them and talks about them being raccoon twins. Eiji is a little annoyed at first but having Momo there next to him helps, especially when Momo retorts that everyone should shut up unless they want rabies. He wonders if Momo's figured out that he blocked a shot aimed for Momo's head or if he just thinks Eiji is clumsy, but he doesn't ask. Instead he pokes his eye slightly and compares it with Momo, trying to figure out which black eye is more infected. Ryoma says “gross” but Momo laughs and Eiji figures it's okay.
When they get back to the cabin, everyone is talking loudly. Saeki asks him about his eye and Inui mutters about making a form of juice to reduce eye tenderness. Momo and Eiji chorus, “No really, Inui - that's okay. We're fine.”
After half an hour inside, Eiji feels like his face is going to explode. It's too warm inside the room with so many people moving and talking. He slips outside, sitting on the steps. Ten minutes pass and he hears the door open behind him.
“Did you want to be alone, Kikumaru-senpai?”
Eiji looks back at Momo and smiles. “Nope.” He pats the spot next to him.
Momo closes the door and squats down next to Eiji. They sit silently for a few moments before Momo speaks again. “Maybe we should go see if we can get ice. It's too stuffy in there to sleep, you know? Especially with our eyes like this.”
Eiji nods and they stand, walking along the cool grass, down to the kitchen. Their eyes open wide when they see a familiar face.
“An-chan!”
“Kikumaru-san, Momo-chan,” she says happily as she ties up a garbage bag. “I wondered when the Seigaku regulars would visit! Fudomine's already been down here.”
“How's your brother doing?” asks Momo.
“He's okay,” she answers with a slight shrug. “He really wanted to come but his physical therapist said it might not be a good idea. I've been writing him letters everyday though, letting him know how his teammates are doing.”
Eiji leans in, opening his mouth to say something about how nice An's hair looks in the kitchen light. A high-pitched scream comes out instead, matching the rough shout from Momo. They turn around to see a smiling, cheerful Fuji, Inui standing closely behind him, writing avidly in his notebook.
“Hello Fuji-san,” says An brightly. “Inui-kun too.”
Inui nods, making a vague grunt of acknowledgment, apparently too engrossed in his writing to partake in the conversation.
Eiji glares at Fuji. “Baka! What did you do that for?”
“Hm?” asks Fuji.
“You -”
“Do you happen to have anymore of that pudding from desert?” asks Fuji, taking An's hand in his own.
An blushes, stammering a little under Fuji's gaze. “I-I think we put most of it away, b-but let me check with Sakuno. I'll be right back, okay?” She flushes a little more and leaves.
Fuji turns to look at Inui, completely ignoring Momo and Eiji. “Was it the vanilla you liked?”
Inui sniffs.
“The strawberry?”
“Hm,” Inui grunts.
When An returns, Fuji winks at her. “Late-night snacks are a lot of fun, aren't they?”
“Oh...yes!” she says. She looks at Momo. “You better not want any.”
“What?” Momo yells. “Why does Fuji get pudding and not me?”
“You eat too much,” says An, folding her arms across her chest.
“I'm a growing teenager!” shouts Momo. “I'm supposed to eat like that!”
“Momo, calm down,” says Eiji, pulling on Momo's shirt sleeve.
“No, that's not fair!” Momo continues to protest.
“I think we should go,” says Eiji, forgetting about the ice.
“I agree,” says Fuji. “Come on, Inui.”
“Hm,” says Inui, not looking up from his notebook as they walk back outside, somehow managing not to trip even once.
“Fuji, let me have some of your pudding,” says Momo when Eiji lets go of him.
“You should have asked for your own.”
“She wouldn't let me have any!” says Momo. “You heard her!”
“Really?” says Fuji, smiling. “Hm. I thought she would have favored you more than me.”
“What do you mean?” asks Eiji.
“Well I was never her boyfriend. Momo was.”
Momo's face is bright red. “I-I wasn't her boyfriend!”
“Weren't you?” asks Fuji, his smile constant.
“No!” shouts Momo.
“So you don't think An-chan is cute?”
“There is a ninety-two percent chance that Momo will lie,” interjects Inui, his writing momentarily paused.
Momo growls. “Shows how much you know, Inui,” he says defiantly. “An-chan is...okay-looking.” He flushes. “But I don't like her that way!”
Inui sniffs.
“Hey!” says Momo. “I know what that sniff means!”
Eiji has to hold onto Momo with two hands when they part, Fuji waving happily as he walks off with Inui to his own cabin, holding the two bowls of pudding. It takes Momo over two minutes to calm down; he laughs apologetically.
“You really think An-chan is cute?” asks Eiji.
Momo's face hardens. “Not you too...”
Eiji raises his hands behind his head and they continue to walk. “No, I just figured Fuji's sister would be more your type.”
“Who, Yumiko?” asks Momo. He shakes his head. “No, she looks too much like Fuji too me.”
“I guess you're right,” says Eiji. “I've always thought she was really pretty all the same.”
Momo grunts.
They're back at the stairs when Eiji stops, looking down.
“Eiji-senpai?” asks Momo.
“I'm sorry about before,” he says quietly. “I didn't mean to yell at you.”
Momo shrugs.
“I just...thought Oishi would be here...you know?” Eiji can feel his vision blurring, the hot sting of tears at the corner of his eyes. Why isn't he here?
“Have you heard from him since that letter?” asks Momo.
It kills Eiji to answer, but he does. “...no.”
They stand awkwardly, side by side, neither looking at the other. Momo comes a little closer, wrapping one arm around Eiji's shoulders. Eiji holds onto Momo's shirt, clutches at him, trying not to cry but his body is shaking. The hurt leaks out of him sobs and he clings tight, the knot of anger in his chest unwinding.
“I'm sorry,” he says again when he pulls away. He can see the wet spots where his tears dampen Momo's shirt. He wipes at his eyes.
Momo's voice is a little hoarse. “Don't worry about it.”
It takes a few seconds for Eiji to be able to raise his eyes to meet Momo's. He feels scared for some reason; maybe this is too much to lay on someone, maybe Momo doesn't really care to hear about Oishi or how his seeming lack of interest in keeping up friendships is hurting Eiji. Maybe -
“Thanks,” he says and scurries up the stairs.
Momo stays outside, watching the stars for several more minutes before heading inside and getting ready for bed.