Rin thanked god it's Friday. With a weekend full of plans she crossed the cafeteria to her all but reserved seat only to find no one around it. Confused, she looked around the room. The odds of both Lunara and Kira to be out on the same day was astronomical. There they were sitting next to Teyo. Who although still had his usual setup of food and study was actually responsive to Kira AND Lunara. How did this happen overnight? And what would she do about it? Believing it to be the best and possibly most risky option she joined her two friends and someone she considered dangerous prey.
“Changing seats?” Rin said, sliding in next to Lunara. Who was blushing too! What the hell happened last night? She also noticed for the first time all year Teyo wasn’t wearing his trademark weighted vest. And he did look very good without it. “And no vest, you all must have had an interesting night. Shame I couldn’t be a part of it” said Rin trying not to let her passive aggressive side show too much. Her talking didn’t seem to phase Teyo in the slightest.
“It was no shame. Some things happened and Teyo here saved me” Lunara said with a false air of positivity Rin could see right through. “Are you ok?” replied Rin, genuinely concerned for her friends.
“No, but I'm confident I will be with you three beside me,” said Lunara, grabbing and squeezing the hands of Rin and Kira. Then most curiously gave Teyo a head pat. Which caused his pencil to stop moving for just a moment.
“I have no idea what is happening right now, Can someone please fill me in?” said Rin, not liking being the only one out of the loop and starting to feel anxious over it.
“Hey Ogre my man, why don’t you introduce your teammate here to the lovely ladies you're eating lunch with,” an upperclassman said as he put his hand on Teyos shoulder.
“Don’t fucking touch me” snapped Teyo and the three girls all blinked. Did Teyo just swear?
Removing his hand as if Teyo started growling “Oh right, I’m Tobi Masamura and I play soccer with Ogre here, What are all of your names cuties”
“Hard pass” said Kira in a tone meant for dismissing someone from the mortal coil.
Lunara nodded at Kira’s answer and repeated it “Hard Pass for me as well” she said proudly.
“Beat it scumbag” said Rin in no mood to be interrupted while trying to figure out what happened to Lunara. Also she didn’t know Lunara to be capable of being rude to someone. ‘Hard pass’ What in the hell happened last night?
Masamura quickly retreated, vowing to himself never to try anything like that ever again.
In a rush of whispers Lunara and Kira revealed most of the happenings of last night. Luckily they had left out the part where they were both in a room with him in a tub and washed his hair and the nap he took with Kira and Lunara humming to him like a baby. After they completely caught Rin up and answered all of her follow up questions. You didn’t even have to pay attention to feel the violent storm building inside of Rin ready to be unleashed out into the world. Instead she took a deep breath and asked “How is your head Teyo?” Mildly surprised that she addressed him but always willing to be civil with well intentioned people. “Clean” he replied, able to hold himself with a hint of a smirk and a faint blush. “Thank you for asking” He didn’t want to give away his smirk to anyone but Kira and maybe Lunara but he did get a peak at their faces growing red mentioning the shower.
Then Lunara caught him off guard by whispering conspiratorially “Teyo says he won’t be able to masturbait with that hand for months” The earnestness and joy of how she said that made Teyo smile which he quickly covered up with both hands. Rin and Kira both laughed wholeheartedly. After the longest 10 seconds of his life he was able to slip his stoic mask back into place and drop his hands. Rin, Kira and Lunara were still in their final throes of laughter when Rin asked “Did you really say that?” to Teyo.
Looking up at her “Yes” He replied then continued eating and school work. That one is trying to get me to warm up to her by asking me questions. Need to keep that one at 2 arms lengths he thought. Hopefully that's just me being cynical. It is Kira's friend after all and Lunara was already a knot in their relationship he didn’t know how to untangle.
Lunara glanced at Kira “Do you and Teyo have plans this weekend?”
“I don’t” replied Kira “I know Teyo’s schedule is usually pretty packed though, What did you have in mind”
“I’m keeping this weekend wide open for you Lunara” added in Rin
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Hmm, I don’t know. Where do you work Teyo? Do you have any perks you can get us?" asked Lunara. “Or are there any school sporting events this weekend? I’d love to do something outdoors hanging out with my besties”
“I work for the Baystars if you’d like tickets.” Teyo offered without looking up.
Kira didn’t even know that, she never thought to ask, she didn't want to let slip that she was unaware so Kira relied on Rin's inquisitive nature to ask. Which she thankfully did. “What do you do there?”
“I pitch batting practice for them every Wednesday and Saturday if they're in town.” he said as a matter of fact. All three girls blinked.
Rin thankfully willing to take the lead “You, a high school 2nd year, pitch for a champion level professional baseball team?”
Teyo took a moment to consider. “It sounds way cooler when you put it like that”
Shortly they all agreed that it would be a fun day out in the sun. Even if the weather was beginning to turn they could easily bring a blanket or two. And after 5 minutes of doing stuff on his phone Kira had all 3 tickets and a heart emoji from Teyo.
Teyo hoped for Kira and her friends.. Maybe his friends, he wasn't sure how that whole deal worked, were having a good time at the game. He had left right before the game began to come home. With his arm throbbing Saturdays were the only real time he could spend with his mother. He excitedly walked up the stairs to his apartment to find his mother smiling with lunch ready. He walked into his immaculate apartment just as he left it and embraced his mother as he did most days. “I love you mom” He said with a genuine smile. “How did you sleep last night?”
Teyo’s mother was a traditional Japanese woman with high standards and a double edged work ethic. He admired her for that and tried to emulate it. “My darling boy,” She said with a refreshing smile. “I’ve slept amazingly. Ready to take on next week already. How are you, your schooling and your extracurriculars going? I worry you’re overworking yourself again .”
“Thank you for bringing me here, This town, this school. I am at peace and to whom much is given much is expected” he replied. “I’m happy to say and I'm holding up my end of the bargain with the athletic director. Well mostly, the soccer coach is an immature narcissist but I’ve been able to slowly win over the rest of the coaching staffs.”
“What a relief. You’re basically a man now. I feel sorry for taking your youth away.” said Moukemono with a sadness of failure behind her eyes.
“Mother” Teyo said, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. “The people in this place are amazing. I have friends. And I might be in love” he said, raising and lowering his eyebrows conspiratorially. “Also my studies are proceeding ahead of schedule because I have the number 1 student in my year as my study buddy. She's actually more than that, you see.” facing his mother not hiding his blush. He prided himself on being an open book to her.
Teyo recognized that look on his mothers face. Deep contemplation. She was weighing his words. He knew better than to add to the courtroom that is her head right now. He ate his meal giving her the time and peace to respond. And when she wasn’t done he started to clear the table and ice his throbbing throwing arm.
“Teyo” Moukemono said with a warm smile. “What is love to you?”
Prepared for that question he eagerly replied “Love to me is a compound of two people that radiates happiness like a powerplant radiates energy. It's how a look from the right person can lift your mind, body and soul to heights unachievable by oneself. It's a building built on trust, compassion, and respect. I fully understand my youth and inexperience. I may be mislabeling this feeling but love is the only word I can find that might fit.”
Moukemono’s smile became wider after each word her son said. But she had to bring him down to earth. “What is your greatest fear?” she asked her son, still beaming with pride from his answer clearly with someone in mind.
The sparkle in his eyes never waivered “With you and her by my side I only fear failing this opportunity and letting you both down. I’m sorry mother but I know I’ve talked about her before but I’ve waited until now to tell you because I know how you worry about me. But I worry about you too” He rumbled in his baseball bag. “I got this on the way home” Said Teyo, sliding a small packet of papers across the table.
“Oh and this is?” she said, starting to casually filter through the paper. Then dropped it suddenly to start over with a renewed and intense focus. “This isn’t possible” her eyes began to water. “You’re a young man this isn’t your responsibility” she said as her tears began to flow uncontrollably.
The papers she was flipping through were a confirmation of payment for the next 3 years of Kazumi preparatory school. ‘Paid in Full’
“Ever since dad died you have been fully devoted to being the best mom ever to exist. You shouldn’t be surprised when your son turns out ok” He said, beginning to tear up as well. That night in Kira’s room what Lunara said resonated with him at such a fundamental level. She altered his outlook on morality and he respected her greatly for that. “I’ve seen you working yourself ragged too. I’m proud of you for getting us this far but you have to respect my feelings too. You’re not alone mom. I see you suffering at the end of long days and longer weeks. I did this because I wanted to. Because someone I love is struggling and I could stop it so I did.” Bawling uncontrollably with his mother now. The only person on the planet he’d allow himself to see him like this, he continued. “Do you think I could sleep at night if I did anything else?” he cried like a child unable to continue to articulate his point any further and embraced his mother. The two continued weeping into each other's arms for some time.
True to his word as always he added Lunara into their study group for midterms. Kira and Lunara were so good to him, indulging his selfish and odd request to revisit studying in the stairwell while he worked out. With two free weights and some work out bands he liberated from the crowded gym Teyo was able to do everything he needed to.