Capítulo 44: Brothers Conflict
[Let's take a gander at something I've honestly just noticed real quick. When Miyuki first rejected Furuya's pregnancy, Kuramochi was there to comfort him and took care of him unconditionally. In ch 15 after Eijun confronted Miyuki about his scoundrel behavior and had a mental breakdown, Kuramochi was there to support him through his depression and gave him time to heal.
I've noticed that whatever mess Miyuki makes, Kuramochi has to clean up after him on his own. Now that he's absolutely broken by Ryosuke's infidelity, who's really there for him? Who's really there to comfort him and tell him that everything's going to be okay? Idk bro, this shit kinda hurt lol. But we love Kuramochi for his sacrifices, and we're here for him, right y'all? :)]
--
'Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck,' is the first thought that invades Kuramochi's mind as he wakes up in the morning.
Maybe it was the potent steam from the bathhouse or a convoluted sense of revenge that had infected him last night, but now his decision-making skills are intact and he regrets everything that happened.
Head pounding, his half-lidded eyes see Haruichi's naked backside as he gathers his clothes that were strewn across the floor, putting them on.
"Kominato," he croaks, his throat dry.
Haruichi turns around and smiles a hollow smile, "I already know what you're going to say. Nothing happened last night, right? It's fine. I'll leave before Eijun-kun sees me and starts asking questions."
"OBJECTION!" Eijun shouts in his sleep.
Kuramochi doesn't have time to respond as Haruichi shuffles into his slippers and opens the door, closing it carefully on his way out.
Shirtless and disheveled, he props one leg up on his bed and covers his forehead with his arm, letting his thoughts consume him.
'Good going, Youichi. Why the hell did you do that? The kid likes you, and now he thinks you used him because you were hurting. You kissed him and let him touch you where only Ryo-san can. What kinda message does that send?
'Not that Ryo-san would care anyway, but that was screwed up. I can't allow myself to fall to his level. Or Miyuki's. You can't contradict what you've been so passionate about. Using Kominato because you were desperate was a bitch move. Get it together.'
BUZZ!
Kuramochi flails about, feeling for his phone. The touch of cold metal is familiar and he grabs it, checking the lock screen.
It's a text from Ryosuke.
[Ryo-san: Sorry. Work ran late and I forgot. My phone died too so I couldn't text you back. I'll make it up to you]
"You're killing me, babe," Kuramochi says through gritted teeth, "Are you even trying? I feel sick just calling you babe. Why? Why, man?"
He sends a message, waits for an answer, then tosses his phone.
[Youichi: It's cool. Ik ur busy. Lemme know when ur free next time. I love you]
[Ryo-san: Okay]
--
"Here, silly."
At the restaurant they decided to meet at, Haruichi turns and Ryosuke is waving in the air, trying to garner his attention. He walks over to his table.
"Aniki!" he greets as they hug, "I didn't think you'd actually make it."
The older teen shrugs as he sits back down, "I'm off work for the afternoon, so I had some spare time. Don't think I'm too busy to stand you up."
'Hmm, Kuramochi-senpai would love to attest to that.' "I know, I know. We're brothers, after all. Nothing can tear us apart. Nothing."
"Okay, let's refrain from getting too lovey-dovey before I throw up," Ryosuke chuckles as he pours Haruichi a glass of lemonade.
They share a parfait he's ordered—he's developed a sweet tooth since working at the lounge and indulged in the free leftovers—and converse normally, as brothers do.
They talk about how school and baseball are going for Haruichi, local news, stores that have recently opened around the area, and popular video games that have the teenage community in a chokehold.
It's casual and pleasant, until Haruichi, like a viper, bares his fangs and sneaks a bite at Ryosuke, waiting for the insidious poison to settle.
"How's your relationship with Kuramochi-senpai?" he asks, tapping his spoon against his lips.
Ryosuke doesn't take the bait just yet, no visible shift in his demeanor, "Why do you ask?"
"Because, when's the last time you guys saw each other in person? I notice these types of things, you know."
"We text often and he knows I'm busy. There's nothing wrong—"
"Who said there was anything wrong?"
The older Kominato crosses his legs under the table, huffing, "It sounded as if you were insinuating that there's turbulence between us."
"Well, is there?" Haruichi probes, cocking his head, "It's a yes or no question."
"No."
"Too bad. There's about to be turbulence."
"What do you mean?"
Haruichi straightens his back, elbows on the table, and intertwines his fingers. His fangs are at the ready, thirsty for another bite.
"Aniki," he says, voice sickeningly sweet and patronizing, "you're lucky. Or should I say, you were lucky? You had Kuramochi-senpai for yourself, a boyfriend people could only dream of having. Smart, gifted at baseball, attractive, and he has a big…heart. Big heart was what I meant to say. Whoops, almost messed up there."
Ryosuke's brow furrows, the poison fully infiltrating his system, "Why are you talking about Youichi like that?" he snaps, "We're still dating, so don't be absurd."
"Dating? You and him? That's weird, because, if that was the case…why did he sleep with me last night?"
It's bait, and Ryosuke, like a guardless, helpless fish, latches onto it and bites down, furious. The brotherly atmosphere is now corrupted with an imbalance of superiority, the scale weighing in Haruichi's favor.
"Don't confuse reality with your imagination," Ryosuke scolds, "Such childish behavior, you're too old to be playing these games with me. Grow up."
Haruichi puts a hand on his chest and retracts his head, offended, "Me? Grow up? Aniki, you must be mistaken. I respect you, but it hurts when you speak to me like that. Kuramochi-senpai and I had sex and that's the truth. What can I do to prove it to you?"
"I'm done with this stupid conversation. Youichi wouldn't cheat on me with you of all people."
'You would cheat, though, but we'll get to that later.' "Let's see. What's something only you would know about him? Hmm…oh. He has a birthmark on his inner left thigh. It's high, like near his groin."
Ryosuke doesn't answer, and by the look on his face, Haruichi wasn't a crafty master of deceit. Kuramochi's birthmark wasn't visible even if he was wearing the breeziest pair of shorts or completely exposing his legs. They needed to be spread apart a considerable amount, and the sole activity Kuramochi would be participating in for that to be possible was…
Haruichi takes his spoon and prods it against the inside of his cheek repeatedly, giggling.
"It curves."
Ryosuke, bereft of any self-restraint at this point, splashes his glass of lemonade onto him, seething.
"You seduced him!" he spits, "Youichi is my boyfriend, so why the hell did you do that? Because I'm not around to monitor you? How long have you liked him, preyed on him? How long have you been planning this? Answer me!"
Haruichi, starkly tranquil, uses a wad of napkins to wipe his face and upper body.
"You don't have the right to be angry, Aniki," he says nonchalantly, "You're putting on a splendid show of pretending to be concerned. You don't care, right? You don't mind if I just snatch him up, right? That's less work on your part."
"What the hell are you saying?"
"I'm saying, stop acting like you haven't done anything to make Kuramochi-senpai do this."
"I haven't done anything."
"So he was randomly possessed by a spirit that made him take me in his strong arms, kiss me, carry me from the bathhouse, throw me on his bed, and want to have sex with me? Come on, I may be younger than you, but I'm not dumb."
Ryosuke sucks his teeth and shakes his head, "There it is, that side of you I detest. Haruichi, you're correct. You're not dumb. You're an expert at fooling others. Everyone thinks you're some innocent, friendly angel, but you're the farthest thing from it. Growing up, you were always like this, unsatisfied and covetous. Whatever I did, you copied me.
"Wanting the same toys our parents bought me, playing baseball, attending Seido; everything. You hated me for some odd reason and wanted to be like me—no, overtake me. It was your twisted obsession, and I guess it's evolved into pining for Youichi. Aren't you embarrassed, Haruichi? Chasing after your brother's boyfriend? Is this how far you're willing to go to upset me?"
Haruichi nods as he scoops the last spoonful of parfait into his mouth.
"Yes," he says, knowingly triggering his brother's pet peeve of talking with his mouth full, "I'd go to any length. Being outwardly civil with you is exhausting. I've been made to feel inferior my entire life, in both age and skill.
"Can you imagine how frustrating it is to be compared to your own sibling for simply existing? That's why I wanted to best you, Aniki. You don't deserve what you're gifted at. You don't deserve Kuramochi-senpai, either. I do."
"Why not?"
"Did you know he was going to propose to you last night? That's why he wanted to meet you."
There's no snark or malicious intent behind those words, and Ryosuke uncrosses his legs, facade cracking at the edges.
'Shit.'
"Aww, you had no clue," Haruichi taunts, swaying from side to side, "I'm telling the truth. The both of us went ring shopping yesterday and the whole team was rooting for him. When he came back alone, though, and told us what he saw, we were devastated. Well, not me, because I was slightly relieved that it didn't work out, but I had to keep up appearances."
"What did Youichi see?"
"You already know the answer."
"…"
"Kissing some older guy, walking out with him, getting into his car, and sucking him off as he drove away. You weren't busy with work. You were busy at work, cheating on Kuramochi-senpai. Aren't you embarrassed, Aniki?"
Ryosuke tucks a loose hair behind his ear, his nervous tick, "Haruichi, listen. It's not that I wanted to, it just happened. I thought I was doing fine, but I suddenly couldn't deal with the pain of losing our chi—"
"Save the explanation, Aniki," Haruichi interjects, standing up, "I'm not interested. You sat here and brazenly lied to me, hoping I'd let you gaslight me into thinking everything was peachy between you two. How long were you going to keep Kuramochi-senpai in the dark? Do you have any idea how hurt he is?
"He wanted to spend the rest of his life with you, someone as despicable as you. I can't believe we're related. From now on, even if he's still hung up on you and doesn't want me pursuing him, I'll replace you. I will become the better Kominato, rightfully so, and steal your title, steal your jersey number, steal your boyfriend, everything. I will steal everything."
Haruichi removes the cover of the lemonade pitcher.
"Also," he continues, "let's end this whole 'civil' thing of pretending to like each other. You're not a nice person and neither am I. The longer I put on this act, the more I can't restrain myself from doing things like this to you."
With a smile, he tips the pitcher over and pours lemonade on Ryosuke, watching his clothes become doused with the sweet liquid. The other occupants in the restaurant gasp, gossiping amongst themselves.
Haruichi tosses the empty jug and apologizes for the disturbance, saying that his hand slipped.
"I'm sure you can ask your new partner to pay for dry cleaning," he says, "That's the least he can do. Anyway, practice is about to start, so I have to go. Bye, Ryosuke."
He pops a lemon slice between his lips and skips out of the restaurant.
--
"Coach, you seem bothered," Rei says as she and Kataoka enter the office.
"Kuramochi wasn't performing at his best during practice," Kataoka explains, sitting at his desk, "I wonder if he's injured."
"Oh, haven't you heard the news? It's quite personal, so I understand why the boys haven't told you."
"Enlighten me."
"Kuramochi-kun was supposed to propose to Ryosuke-kun last night, but things didn't pan out too well. He caught him being unfaithful."
"They told you about this?"
"It was in the group chat."
Kataoka quirks a brow under his cap, 'Group chat?' he thinks, 'Why am I not included in it? Additionally, since when was this team full of drama? First Furuya and Miyuki, then Sawamura, now Kuramochi. We must be cursed…'
--
"Furuya, you sure you wanna play this game?" Jun questions, shuffling a deck of cards, "I don't wanna judge, but it really isn't for your meek type."
"It's fine," Furuya says.
The team members are in a circle in Miyuki's room, preparing to play a game of Spin the Bottle. Jun places the deck in the center. Each card has a rather suggestive truth or dare, and whoever the bottle points to has to respond to it or act it out. Refusal results in taking a shot of the dastardly concoction Eijun's been tasked to whip up.
"What's in these?" Tanba asks warily, holding the shot glass.
"A lot of random stuff I found in the cafeteria," Eijun says proudly, "Don't be a wuss and you won't have to drink it!"
"Doesn't sound promising."
"Alright!" Jun claps his hands, "This is my last warning. These cards are kinda wild and shit might get wild, so if you don't wanna play, say something or forever hold your peace."
Nobody contests, and therefore the game commences. Jun, the self-appointed host, spins the bottle and it lands on Chris.
"I'm too old for this," he sighs playfully.
Jun picks the top card from the deck, "Hmm, starting off light, I see. Have you ever had a wet dream about someone in the room? If so, who? Your current partner, if applicable, doesn't count."
Chris glances at Tanba, whose stoic expression is nothing but a ruse, then looks at the floor. Drinking the suspicious shot was tempting, but the game had just begun.
He nods and everyone tenses.
"Sawamura," he admits.
Miyuki coughs.
Eijun shrieks, "CHRIS-SENPAI! How could you?! I thought we were student and teacher, master and disciple! How have you defiled me in this manner? I am appalled!"
"It was a long time ago."
"STILL!"
Tanba rolls his eyes, and the next round commences.
"Masuko!" Jun selects a card, "Tell us your most recent Google search."
Masuko retrieves his phone and scrolls, "Slow motion jiggly pudding videos."
"That basically equates to porn for you, so we'll let that slide. Next up…"
The bottle lands on Tetsu and the members 'ooh' in unison.
"What's wrong, Jun?" Tetsu asks, "You look like you've seen a ghost. Pick a card."
"Hell, no!" the bearded male argues, "You're drinking that shit!"
"Not until I hear what the card says. It's only fair."
Jun reluctantly swipes a card and reads it, "Perform your favorite sex position with your partner. Bro, drink, I'm begging ya! This is embarrassing!"
"I don't understand why you're protesting," Tetsu says, standing, "This is quite doable. Up you go."
Everyone bursts into laughter as the captain, and an extremely reluctant and florid Jun, execute a wheelbarrow position. Jun bends downward, hands planted on the floor, and his upper body is suspended in the air as Tetsu holds his calves from behind, their bodies flush.
"Looks difficult to maintain," Miyuki remarks, impressed.
"Precisely why it's my favorite," Tetsu says straight-faced, giving a thumbs up, "Would definitely recommend. Both pleasurable and beneficial. Jun's upper arm strength is superb because of it. Right?"
"Y-Yeah," Jun whimpers, his soul leaving his body, "L-Let me down…"
The game resumes after he takes a minute to recover from his damaged pride.
"Sawamura!" he calls out.
Eijun pumps his fist, smoke puffing from his nostrils, "Yes, sir!"
"Show us your party trick!"
"Ooh, I know this one," Haruichi chirps, giddy.
The brunette hops to his feet and stretches, "And so does Kazuya. You're not allowed to watch anymore, so close your eyes!"
"Understood," Miyuki says, doing as he's told.
Steadying himself, Eijun flips into a handstand against the wall, balls of his feet on the surface, his ass facing the guys. Counting to three, he starts twerking.
They clap to his skilled movements, whooping and cheering him on, save for Tanba. He nudges Chris.
"Going to have wet dreams about that?" he quips.
Chris exhales, "Stop, Koichiro."
Eijun tumbles to the floor and basks in their applause, "Thank you, thank you! The humble Sawamura the Stallion will be holding private twerking lessons soon, so stay tuned."
"Sanada's a lucky guy, eh?" Jun cackles, "Following is…"
The bottle is spun and Furuya watches as it points at him.
The bearded male draws a card, "How do you prefer your sex? As I said, you're the meek type and you should just drink—"
"Rough," Furuya confesses, deadpan, "I like it rough."
Their jaws drop, dumbfounded, confounded, holy shit-founded. They were oblivious to his promiscuous past, except for Miyuki, but even he was stunned. To them, Furuya having an opinion on sex was so...inconceivable. He carried an air of purity about him, having a one-track-mind about baseball, and he never partook in their sexual banter.
Their quiet and docile impression of him that had been ingrained in their minds is redrawn with one of a teenager who loathed gentle touches and liked rough sex.
It traumatized them.
"W-We learn something new every day, huh?" Kawakami chuckles awkwardly.
"Lesson of the day," Jun says, "don't judge a book by its cover. Wow, uh. Next! Kominato!"
Haruichi flinches, swallowing, "Oh, no. Please let this be mild."
"Sike, it's juicy! Make out with your crush for ten seconds!"
All eyes are on him, curious and pressuring, and his anxiety slowly turns into confidence. He could aim for the safe route and make out with Eijun, as they would accept him having a friendly crush, but where's the fun in that?
He was reborn today. It was time to make a statement as Haruichi the Viper.
Firming his resolve, he walks over to Kuramochi, sits on his lap, grabs his face, and kisses him deeply.
A mass of gasps fills the room.
"And the swift overtake begins!" Eijun announces, "Harucchi upsets the unspoken societal rule by choosing his older brother's boyfriend! Mochi-senpai, any words?"
"No comment," Kuramochi says, wiping his lips.
Jun scratches his temple, sweat-dropping, "Goddamn, this game is gonna get us in trouble. This is the last round, okay?"
Hand on the bottle, he spins it with force, and it lands on Miyuki.
'Oh, boy,' he thinks, 'As if my name isn't tarnished enough.'
Jun picks a card from the deck, "It's another kissing one! Kiss the person in front of you or next to you."
Miyuki looks directly across from him and it's Eijun. The other options were Furuya to his right and Maezono to his left.
Maezono stares at him sheepishly, "For the bros?"
Miyuki mulls it over, then laughs.
"Ha! I am not getting caught lacking today."
With a smirk, he reaches for the shot glass and tilts his head back, drinking its contents.
Furuya frowns, 'Is that so?'
--
At Rei's proposition, Furuya and Miyuki share a renovated room at the formerly abandoned section of the dorms. It's large, with a king-sized bed for them, two desks, a mini-fridge, and other amnesties for Furuya to live in the utmost comfort.
"Hey, I'm getting the silent treatment?" Miyuki asks as he returns from a refreshing shower, "What did I do now?"
The raven-haired teen is sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, reading his English textbook. He shrugs.
The catcher folds his arms across his chest, baffled, "We did not spend a week bonding for us to digress like this. Tell me. Did I do something? Or is it the hormones?"
"You know."
"No, I don't."
"Really? How convenient."
Miyuki groans, "You're being difficult for no—wait a minute. Are you perhaps…angry because of the dare? Because I didn't kiss you?"
The look on Furuya's face tells him that he's hit the nail right on the head, and a smug grin creeps onto his lips.
Miyuki stands next to him, takes his book, and closes it. "You're bold," he says, "wanting me to do that in front of everyone. But who's to say I actually drank that vile shot for the sole purpose of teasing you?"
"I wouldn't put it past you," Furuya mumbles, 'Do it. Please, just do it.'
"Well? If I kiss you, will you stop giving me the silent treatment?"
"Yes." 'Do it, do it.'
"Jeez, the things I do to keep the peace. It won't hold any meaning behind it, though."
"That's fine." 'Do it already.'
The scent of Miyuki's shampoo perfumes the air between them as he leans in and kisses Furuya, chaste and quick.
Furuya's features soften as he carves this instant into his memory, permanent and powerful.
'He's gotten relaxed around me,' he thinks, 'Weeks ago, he wouldn't have done this. Even if he doesn't like me, even if he never likes me, I'll treasure moments like these dearly. I want to do more than sleep in the same bed, more than kiss, but I'll wait until the time is right.'
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