the art of subtlety

1.

Toudou had been in such a rush this morning that he’d forgotten to pack his water bottle in his bag. Normally he could just grab a spare one from the club room, but they were all out – apparently he hadn’t been alone in his forgetfulness. He was at a loss at what to do, Fukutomi wouldn’t let anyone train without hydration.

He joined the other third years who were currently getting ready for morning training. “Fuku, I forgot my bottle and there are none spare,” he said.

Fukutomi didn’t even look up from where he was putting on his shoes. “You know the rules, Toudou. Sorry.”

Toudou was just about to argue when he felt something cold press against his arm. “Here. He can have one of mine. We’ll make a pit stop at the vending machine on the way back,” Arakita said.

Fukutomi nodded. Toudou took the bottle and smiled. “Thank you, Arakita!”

“Yeah, yeah. Just get a move on,” he replied, but Toudou couldn’t help but notice the small smile that graced the other’s face.

2.

There was ten minutes until history class started, Toudou was at his desk biding his time by texting Makishima. Irritated by the lack of response (although used to it) Toudou pocketed his phone and tuned into Shinkai and Arakita’s conversation.

“You mean to say you didn’t do the homework?” Arakita said.

“Nah… I did, but I think I got most of it wrong,” Shinkai said through a mouthful of powerbar.

Toudou perked up. “What homework? We had homework?”

Arakita groaned while Shinkai laughed. “Seriously Jinpachi? You’re worse than me.”

“Quick, what was it? Maybe I can do some of it now,” Toudou said while he rushed to open his notebook and pencil case.

“Here,” Arakita said as he handed him his own notebook.

Toudou’s eyes widened comically as he looked from the notebook to Arakita. “Really? You’re a lifesaver.”

“Tch, just hurry up.”

Shinkai sat back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his back as he watched Toudou furiously scribble notes. “You’re making a habit of forgetting things lately, Jinpachi,” he said.

Toudou sent a glare Shinkai’s way. “Last thing I forget,” he said and then turned to Arakita. “Promise.”

Arakita crossed his arms and looked away. “What ever,” he muttered.

3.

To say Toudou was embarrassed would be an understatement; he was mortified. Foolishly, he’d looked back to the rest of the team during a fast descent from the peak of the mountain. He’d known never to do this because when travelling downhill at such high speeds you needed to be focused on the front and aware of any kind of obstacles that lay ahead.

Problem was that he was so familiar with their circuit that he had gotten cocky, what he hadn’t accounted for, though, was a person standing by the side of the road taking photographs of the mountains. In a last minute attempt to avoid running the person over he ended up spinning out and was fortunate enough to land in the bushes that lined the outside of the road.

The other third years raced across to help. Toudou assured them he was okay, despite the fact his knees and elbows were all grazed and would probably bruise. After helping him up and checking that his bike was still rideable they rode back to the school at a slower pace.

Once their bikes were locked up, Toudou sat down on one of the benches. Fukutomi sent a stern glance his way. “Save the lecture, Fuku. I know what I did wrong. It won’t happen again,” Toudou said.

Fukutomi nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Good. You’re not to train with us again until your injuries heal,” he said but gave Toudou’s shoulder a small squeeze before leaving the club room with Shinkai in tow.

Arakita emerged from the joint bathroom with a wet cloth in one hand and a first aid kit in the other. He crouched down on the floor in front of Toudou’s scraped knees and gently got to work on wiping away the now dried blood.

Toudou bit his lip as Arakita rubbed over the graze with an alcohol wipe. “Why are you doing this?” he said.

Arakita shrugged but didn’t tear his gaze away from Toudou’s knee. “Someone has to.”

“I’m not incapable of doing it myself, you know.”

“Just shut up and let me do this,” Arakita said. Toudou didn’t push the subject further, instead offered his elbows to him to look at when prompted.

After Arakita had applied the final band-aid he said, “Don’t do anything like that again. Idiot.” But he left before Toudou could think of something to say.

4.

“What do you mean none of you can see the movie?” Toudou said. All week he’d been looking forward to seeing the newest big name film from America, but apparently his friends didn’t share his excitement and were backing out of the plans they’d made a week ago.

“I have to feed my turtle,” Fukutomi said, and what a sorry attempt at an excuse that was, Toudou thought.

“Shinkai?”

“I’m going home for the weekend. Sorry, Jinpachi. Next time,” he said, and shot Toudou his signature finger gun pose.

Arakita cleared his throat. Toudou wasn’t sure he wanted to hear another excuse, but nodded at Arakita. “What’s your excuse then?”

“I don’t have one,” he said as he scratched the back of his neck. “Do you still want to go?”

Toudou beamed. “Of course!” He’d never gone to the movies alone with Arakita before, but he was certain it couldn’t be much different from when they went in larger groups – if anything it may be better. No Shinkai crinkling a packet of crisps every other minute and no Fuku asking questions whenever he was confused (all the time). He couldn’t recall Arakita having an annoying movie habit.

The cinema they went to was quiet, only a few other people watching the film. Toudou had been right, of course. Arakita had been fun to watch the movie with. Once it had finished the two of them fetched some dinner from the convenient store and cycled back to school. They ended up turning their night out into a night in their dorm together by playing a new Playstation 4 game Arakita had bought.

It had been a fun night for Toudou. He looked to see Arakita concentrating on the game, his tongue slightly poking out the corner of his mouth. “Um. Thanks. You know, for coming out with me tonight. It was fun,” he said.

Arakita paused the game and turned to look at him. “No problem,” he said and actually grinned. “I had fun too.”

Toudou nodded but retreated to the bathroom to splash his flustered face with water. When had Arakita gotten cute?

5.

Makishima was leaving to move to England. This was news to Toudou, news that he hadn’t been informed of until before the day Makishima flew out. Toudou was devastated; he wouldn’t even get the chance to say bye.

He spent the whole day in a silent daze, lacking his usual abundance of energy. At training when Shinkai asked what was wrong Toudou had said nothing, he just wasn’t feeling too well. Shinkai had proceeded to pat him on the shoulder and wished him well. Everyone else left him to his own devices after that, though Arakita would occasionally glance over at him, a frown on his face.

Toudou skipped the usual after training dinner the team went out for on Friday nights, calling for an early night. The team simply waved him off for the evening. Everyone except Arakita, that was.

“You’ll get sick staying too close to me, better you go off to dinner,” Toudou had argued.

Arakita shrugged. “We share a dorm anyway, if I get sick so be it.”

Toudou showered and changed into his pyjamas, when he entered their dorm Arakita was already passed out on his bed. Toudou got comfortable in his own bed, unlocked his phone, and started re-reading past texts from Makishima. There wasn’t many, most of their conversations had been one-sided on Toudou’s part, not that that mattered to Toudou it just made him cherish each response even more. It proved too much though, as he found himself sniffling and fighting back tears.

He was so distracted by his thoughts of Makishima that he practically jumped when he felt another body sit on his bed. It was Arakita. Before he could say anything though, his phone was snatched out his hands. Toudou scrambled out from beneath his covers to get it back but the damage was already done. Arakita had read the text from Makishima about leaving.

“So this is why you were upset today,” Arakita said as he handed the phone back. Toudou held it tightly to his chest and looked away stubbornly. “Oi look at someone when they’re talking to you.”

“No!” Toudou said.

Arakita grabbed Toudou’s face and forced it to turn to him. His face was slightly red and blotchy from crying. “I know I’m not the best at this stuff,” he said and dropped his hands from Toudou’s face, “but you can talk to me. I’m not gonna bite.”

Toudou sniffled. “Maki-chan… Maki-chan’s leaving.”

Arakita nodded. “You’ll see him again. You’re his best rival, right?”

“Yeah.. but he’s going to England!” Toudou said.

“Geez, it’s like you’ve forgotten emails are a thing.”

Toudou perked up at that. “You think he’ll email me?”

“Huh? Of course he will, you’re talking like he’s some sort of unrequited love.”

Toudou’s cheeks went red as he smacked Arakita on the arm. “It’s never been like that! He’s my rival and friend.”

Arakita laughed and patted Toudou on the shoulder. “You’re gonna be just fine.”

He moved to stand but Toudou grabbed his wrist first. “Thank you, Arakita,” he said as he pulled Arakita down to his level, embracing him in a tight hug.

“It’s… whatever,” Arakita mumbled into his shoulder, but even Toudou could hear the smile in his voice.

+1

Fukutomi was hosting a birthday party for his turtle. It was meant to be a relatively calm get together for the cycling club members, but things had soon turned rather wild when Manami and Kuroda had rocked up with a crate of alcohol. As it turned out, Fukutomi and Toudou were the only ones not drinking. Fukutomi because he didn’t want to suffer a hangover since he would have to clean up the mess, and Toudou because he didn’t want the empty calories.

It was amusing seeing the rest of the club members sloshed. Shinkai was wearing bunny ears (where had he found those?) and trying, but failing, to chat up a very sober Fukutomi. Manami was having an animated conversation with Fukutomi’s turtle, while Kuroda was dancing with Izumida who was dressed in nothing but tight jeans and a lacy pink bra.

Toudou was startled out of his musings when he felt an arm drape over his shoulders. He turned to see Arakita next to him. Arakita offered his drink, but Toudou shook his head. “And why aren’t you drinking, cutie?”

A blush rose to Toudou’s cheek. “It’s not healthy,” he said. Just how drunk was Arakita?

“What about YOLO?” Arakita said.

Toudou laughed. “You must be really drunk to even suggest that.”

“Eh, you’re probably right – but I need the liquid courage.”

“What for?”

“Because I like someone and want to tell them,” Arakita said.

Toudou’s eyebrows shot up. “Wouldn’t you rather confess when you’re sober?”

Arakita started rubbing circular patterns onto Toudou’s arm. “Probably, but if they reject me while I’m drunk maybe I won’t remember embarrassing myself in the first place.”

“They’re not going to reject you, Arakita,” Toudou said.

“You don’t know that.”

Toudou grabbed Arakita’s bottle from him, took a swig and smirked. “Yeah I do,” he said and passed the bottle back before removing himself from under Arakita’s arm.

He started to walk away but Arakita didn’t let him get very far as he pulled on Toudou’s wrist. “Wait, Toudou!”

“Yeah?”

“I like you!”

Toudou laughed, laughed so hard that he had to hold his gut. When he looked to Arakita he immediately stopped, Arakita was frowning at him.

“Geez, you’re just gonna laugh? Real smooth, Toudou. Thanks.” Arakita turned to leave but was stopped by Toudou who spun him around a planted a kiss right on his lips.

“I was wondering when you were finally going to confess,” Toudou said, a grin on his face.

Arakita furrowed his eyebrows. “You knew? But you didn’t say anything!”

“I wasn’t certain, but you haven’t exactly been subtle.”

“Ahh, fuck,” Arakita said, but he laughed all the same.

Toudou noticed Arakita starting to sway and took his beer away from him. He led him to a chair and sat him down. “We’ll talk more about it in the morning, when you’re sober.”

Arakita nodded and looked like he was about to drift off to sleep when his eyes shot open. “Wait! You never said whether you liked me back.”

“I thought kissing you would’ve cleared that up,” Toudou said.

A slow “oh” formed on Arakita’s face as he processed what Toudou had said. He reached for Toudou’s hand and stood up. “Can we go? I’m tired.”

They said their goodbyes to everyone and left the party. Toudou had to link arms with Arakita to prevent him from falling over his own feet.

“You – you better not let me forget this in the morning,” Arakita said once they were back in their own dorm.

Toudou smiled. “Too late for take backs now. You’re stuck with me.”

“Good.”