Disclaimer: The author of this fanfiction does not, in any way, profit from the story. All creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator(s).
Breakneck Down the Same Road
by Pout
1. Forgetfulness
Oishi was sure he was headed for Alzheimer’s. There was no other reason for why he kept coming back here every week. He could feel himself getting preemptively red as his cheeks flushed. He tried to keep his eyes glued in front of him, but they shifted nervously to the right when Akutsu nonchalantly joined him, as if they had been walking the same road all along. Usually, the archetypical bully said cruel things and kind of pushed him around. But today, he only snickered and teased him a little. And somehow, that made Oishi’s cheeks flame that much brighter.
2. Running Away
They stumbled through a back alley, racing madly through an urban jungle of dumpsters and parked cars. Oishi was gasping for air. Ahead of him, Akutsu had the nerve to laugh, as if this was fun. Maybe it was fun for someone like him. Oishi, however, was sure they were going to get caught, beaten, then suspended from school, in that order, from least to most traumatic. Suddenly, Akutsu ducked into a doorway and snagged Oishi’s arm, dragging him inside. Pressing against the closed door, they listened as their pursuers raced right on by. This time, they were both laughing.
3. Sunsets\Sunrises
Oishi notices that Akutsu doesn’t like to go home before sunset. He doesn’t know if it’s because he has a reputation to maintain as a delinquent who doesn’t come home until dark, even if dark really is only seven or eight sometimes. Or maybe it’s because he has troubles at home that Oishi doesn’t know about. (Oishi thinks Akutsu and his mom still don’t get along very well, but that’s just speculation.) Of course, they never talk about stuff like that. They don’t really talk at all, actually. But somehow, they do manage to watch a lot of sunsets together.
4. Make Believe
Sometimes, when they’re just sitting there together, Oishi can kind of blur his eyes and see Akutsu as a generally decent sort of guy. After all, Akutsu has saved his ass plenty of times. Sure, Oishi only ever got in trouble to begin with because of Akutsu, but still. And sometimes Akutsu displays indications of sensitivity and possibly the ability to think of others. Like that one time when he lifted a CD that Oishi had said he wanted. But eventually Akutsu reminds him of what a jerk he actually is and all is right in the world once again.
5. Blind
Akutsu has been hanging around Oishi for a few months now. For a guy that is supposedly so smart, Akutsu thinks he’s kind of slow. Luckily, Jin’s not a totally intolerant guy; he’s actually more patient than anyone ever gives him credit for. So even though it’s been going on for so long and Oishi still hasn’t reached any sort of enlightenment, Akutsu sticks around and waits. Oishi may be blind to the situation, but the obliviousness is actually kind of cute. Besides, when he finally figures things out, Akutsu will have really good material to hold over his head.
6. Old Sayings
What’s the old adage? One step at a time is good walking? Oishi wishes that wisdom was a byproduct of running laps. Maybe then he would have been able to avoid this entire embarrassing, ridiculous fiasco. He glances over to check, and yes, Tezuka is still neon red and looking very pissed off. That’s what happens to a captain that finds his best-friend/vice-captain making out with their previously ambivalent arch-nemesis, the notoriously violent delinquent from two towns over. Oishi thinks it wouldn’t have been so bad if they hadn’t been caught in the sanctity that was the Seigaku locker rooms.
7. Weird
Half of the tennis team is gay. In fact, two of them are in a threesome with one of the boys from another school. They are a very chummy, touchy-feely, sensitive team. It’s perfectly acceptable to like boys. It’s fine to want to kiss and touch and pet other boys. There are no judgments made, no ultimatums or threats, not one ugly homophobic word. They are indeed a very progressive bunch. And yet, Oishi still feels self-conscious when Akutsu slings his arm over his shoulder and escorts him out past the courts. And that is what makes Oishi a weirdo.
8. Undone
It’s a flaming hot day. Everyone is drenched in sweat. Oishi pulls at the open collar of his uniform and dreams of stripping down naked, even if he is in the middle of class. When the clock releases them, he drags his body from the school and slinks down to the park where he usually meets up with Akutsu. The overbearing heat is suddenly the last thing on his mind. Oishi snaps to attention and bites his lip. Sprawled out on the grass is a long lanky body, shirtless, the top button of his jeans undone like an unknowing invitation.
9. Song
Akutsu enjoys the long introduction. He likes how the gentle, pleasant hum starts to build and thrum; how he can feel the vibrations infect his every molecule until the pulse is in his own veins. At the verse, the song increases in rhythm and volume, purposeful and exciting. By the chorus, the need to move, to writhe, to thrust, overwhelms all attempts at restraint. The melody increases, crescendos, and at the climax, Akutsu, too, is screaming along with the words. The last few measures are an abrupt resolution that leaves him panting, blood boiling, long after the song has ended.
10. Crowds
Once Akutsu mentioned it, he knew it was a bad idea.
“I just thought it would be interesting.”
Oishi blinked angrily.
“You know, to spice things up.”
Oishi turned away without pointedly ignoring him.
“Not that I think we need spicing up.” No reaction. “He’s not that good-looking anyway.” Oishi swung back around to stare at him. “Not that I was looking! … Ok, I was, but…” Oishi started walking without actually walking away, which for Akutsu was as much of a blessing as he was going to get. No, bringing up a threesome was definitely not a good idea.
11. Done Away With
Akutsu had gone through most of the boxes by the time Oishi returned. They were cleaning out the Akutsu household’s storage room which was jam-packed with the litter from Jin’s youth. An old Nintendo set and a stack of vintage games sat in one corner across from a bent hockey stick and a deflated football.
“You played hockey,” Oishi commented, picking up the stick. “And football, too?”
Akutsu stuffed a racquet into a box. “Toss ‘em.”
When Oishi walked home that night, passing so many boxes and a racquet sitting there on the curb, his heart shivered and felt cold.
12. Wars
Oishi felt that Akutsu was fighting too many wars on too many fronts. At school, when he managed to show up, he railed against authority, trampled on the ideology of their society. He mowed down kids that dared cross his path and blew grannies out of the waters when he stomped down the street flaring up delinquent. At home, he and his mother played World War III; outcome undecided. With Oishi, the war was a battle between Akutsu’s own two selves: the independent with the reputation and the devoted that made Oishi feel safe. In this game, Oishi played Switzerland.
13. You & Me
Fuji asked them to dinner one night and Oishi’s answer was: “Sure. We’ll be there.”
He called Akutsu to tell him about their plans, then stopped abruptly in the middle of the street. “When did it become…like this?”
“…”
“It’s not You and Me anymore; it’s We.”
“…”
“Fuji asked, ‘Do you guys want to have dinner?’ and I said, ‘We’ll be there.’”
“…”
“I just hadn’t noticed, I guess.” He was blushing with the realization.
“Why don’t We blow them off, then you can come over here, and I’ll show you just how You and Me turns into We.”
If you would like to provide feedback on this story, please feel free to e-mail me at: poutonly@gmail.com.