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It’s their first date. They didn’t plan on doing something fancy that would be too weird. No, for they first date they decided to walk on the lovely path beside the river and enjoy the last week of summer. After all, the leaves are already turning different shades of copper. A little something calm that would allow them to go with the flow without any kind of pressure. After all, that’s what they do best.
It’s a fine morning and the sun is shining on a bright blue sky. It looks like the sky has been painted with the finest brush, its color deep and airy with no clouds to be seen. It feels like today is theirs and theirs only. The sun’s rays hit Shirakawa’s face and Carlos cannot help but stare. Burgundy hair framing perfectly his feature, the light caressing his face and accentuating the sharp angles of his jaw; Shirakawa is truly the epitome of astounding. Carlos feels his heart skip a beat and his eyes widen unconsciously. It isn’t like he never knew the other second year was gorgeous but, under the sun, the smaller man looks absolutely breathtaking.
The bright blue suddenly turns to grey and the colors are drained. Feeling rain drops on his nose, the centerfielder raises his head to see dark clouds invading the sky and covering the sun. It only takes a few minutes before the rain falls hard on the ground making it wet and slippery. Synchronized, Carlos and Shirakawa look at each other taking in the sight of the other completely soaked to bone. Tears of laughter mingle with the water streaming down their hair and face as their body shake with their amusement. Looking around they spot a large building close to where they stand. They head toward it and as they enter the building, the first thing they see is a giant banner covered in planets that says in big letters TOKYO’S PLANETARIUM – WELCOME. Shirakawa’s eyes linger on the colorful banner with a tiny smile tugging his lips. Oh, this is new.
Leisurely walking around the planetarium they find the ‘Universe’ aisle and the simulation room which, after taking Carlos’ hand, the shortstop frantically runs to. Letting Shirakawa lead him the taller man giggles to himself. Seeing Shirakawa so excited for anything other than baseball was a first; especially considering that there wasn’t any anger or intensity in it. It is a gentle excitement, naïve and innocent like a kid receiving one of those giant lollipops. The smaller teen chooses the seats and tugs at Carlos’ arm signaling him to sit down beside him. It seems like the red head already knows what is to come, anticipation submerging him. The room’s lights dim and close leaving the two teens holding hands in the darkness. Carlos momentarily thank god no one can see his blush. The screen soon lights up, covering the walls and the ceiling. Letting their heads rest on the top of their seat, they look above them; Shirakawa’s eyes are burning with interest and passion as the Milky Way makes its way on the screen. The shortstop’s face soften up, a wide smile stretching his lips. As they travel through the ever-expanding universe, Carlos can feel joy emanating from Shirakawa; so pure and beautiful. Just like a child.
The screen’s scenery changes showing the Earth’s night sky and all its stars. The red head points the constellations murmuring their names and stories in Carlos’ ear. Never before has Shirakawa’s voice sounded so warm and lively, never before has Shirakawa been so utterly absorbed in his own stories. Unaware, Carlos tightens his grip around the other’s hand almost clamping it. It’s only when he feels the shortstop’s own hand pressing back against his that he realizes it. Smiling like a fool he wishes they would never let go of each other. Shirakawa is still rumbling about constellations after the simulation ends but the brunette cannot bring himself to tease him, too afraid it would make the dazzling smile fade away. They stay until the planetarium closing hours and walk back to the dorms. It feels a little bit surreal how happy they were all through the day, the rush of being so close for so many hours slowly decreasing.
Sitting in his bed, his arms folded behind his head the brunette ponders on ways to make Shirakawa’s face brighten up one more time. Ways to be the reason the red head would irradiate joy anew. Coincidentally, a few days later Carlos recalls an interesting fact on his teammate. He recalls Shirakawa telling him in their first year at Inashiro that he had to leave his telescope behind. Thinking back, the teen doesn’t remember seeing Shirakawa with a telescope this year either. An idea forms in his head. Yes, he found what he would do to make the shortstop golden eyes shine.
September 6th arrives quickly enough and Carlos is restlessly waiting for the day to end. The hours seem endless and too short. Going through practice is nerve-wracking and the centerfielder tries his damnest to pretend he’s in control. Finally, 9’oclock rings and Carlos is filled with anxiety, his hands slightly shaking but mostly he is eager to give Shirakawa his gift. They meet outside the dorms and the brunette leads the way to a hill away from the too bright city lights. Trying to calm down he breathes deeply and disappear behind a tree. He comes back with a large box and put it down in front of the red head. Curious, Shirakawa takes a step forward and open the box. Next thing Carlos knows is that the ever so stoic shortstop is tackling him and muttering “thank you” like a chant. Hiding his face in Carlos’ neck Shirakawa take several seconds to compose himself. Slowly detaching himself from the taller teen, he gets the telescope out of the box and starts to install it in the grass. Shirakawa enthusiastically looks through the scope shouting stars’ name. Afterwards, they settle down on the barely damp meadow. Carlos looks up and stares at the stars glistening above him. It makes him think of a sea made of blue velvet and constellations. He never knew such a sky was possible. Beside him Shirakawa seems just as bewildered as he is. Scrutinizing an already well-known stratosphere and tracing invisible lines between the luminous orbs, the shorter man surely is resplendent. The red head looks like all of his worried have melted away and his expression is positively ecstatic. Carlos thinks to himself that Shirakawa really fits with the scenery as he is a thousand times more brilliant than any of those stars. The smaller teen turns his head to Carlos; a smile tugging the corner of his lips and locks his eyes with the taller man. The centerfielder can literally feel time stopping and everything freezing around him. He stares at those eyes that make him feel caged and free at the same time; those eyes that were always both kind and fierce. An antithesis he couldn’t help but believe was so representative of Shirakawa himself. Those same eyes that reflected fire and honey are now holding the universe within them. As he keeps gazing in the shortstop’s eyes he swears he can see every single galaxy. He forgets to breathe for a while, willingly drowning himself in a stream of golden nebulas. Looking at him, Carlos immediately thinks that he could do anything for this boy. He would paint stars on the night veil every night if he had to. He would create entire galaxies just to have the chance of seeing Shirakawa’s eyes light up with innocence and awe. Carlos thinks he would go as far as offering the shortstop the universe in its entirety if it would make him as much as grin. Time and life regain their normal flow and the centerfielder feels dizzy. It’s exactly at this moment that Carlos realizes he is completely and thoroughly in love with the shorter teen. The discovery hits him like a punch in the guts and, still looking straight into Shirakawa’s eyes, he blurts out a muffled “I love you.” So low and quiet Shirakawa doesn’t hear him. Then he clears his throat and tells himself to dive in this new adventure as a few words escape his lips.
“I love you like you love the stars.”