The spiky-haired male paces out of the tennis club, huffing out air as he exasperatedly exits the court.
His hands were clasped behind the back of his head, supporting its weight as he rests his head on his palm.
"Hmm...~ what should I do today?"
He ponders to himself, giving a wary consideration of his activities.
Will he eat?
Will he play on the street tennis courts?
Will he check newly arrived CDs?
A sigh exudes from his mouth, given the activities he can do, he still has no motivation to do so.
Echizen, his usual companion, disappeared out of nowhere, and he wasn't surprised by it. Echizen always does things at his own pace.
Perhaps he could take Horio, Kachirou, and Katsuo instead-
"Hey! Momo!"
A feminine voice resonates in his ears and upon turning around, he was able to discern who the person is.
She was sprinting and waving her hand simultaneously at him, her (h/c) locks brushed on her face.
His usual bored demeanor shifted to a friendly one, grinning at her small figure (at least to him she is).
"Oi! Y/n!"
Momoshiro watched as she tried to catch her breath, ceasing in front of him.
Regaining her energy, she eyed him, her lips slightly pursed.
"Hey, where do you think you're going? Where's the 500 yen I lend you?" She crossed her arms almost as if she were a neighbor who fuss about debts.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry, I always forgot."
The lad sheepishly scratched his head, making Y/n pout. Momoshiro merely chuckled, whereas he always considered her pouts adorably funny. But he never tells her that.
"Alright, alright. I'll treat you something."
Her pout faded, replaced with a soft smile as she pats his shoulders, "Where are we going to eat?"
"On a plate."
"I'm so done with you, Momo."
"I'm just kidding, just kidding. Let's try the new café?"
"Alright."
Momoshiro eyed her with adoration. Having her beside him makes him genuinely happy is an understatement, he always knew his feelings toward her are surreal, and not simply just... "happy."
Of course, he'll never reveal that.
Aside from Echizen, she was someone whom he also shares a respectable bond with, and its deterioration is something least he wanted.
"Momo?"
"A-ah, yes?"
"You're staring at me."
When she looks at him with those glimmering orbs, something inside him stirs... making his feeling so... fuzzy and warm.
"Sorry, sorry. Anyway, the café is just a few blocks away."
She replied with a brief nod, batting her eyes on the streets as Momoshiro trailed behind her.
After a few more walking, they arrived at a café.
The tiny bells hanging on the entrance jingled as they pushed the glass door open, they were greeted by a welcoming and comfy ambiance and were seated near the windows.
"What will you get?" He asked her, glancing at the menu and her back and forth.
"I'll get... (favorite food)."
"Alright, I'll have meatballs. Um, excuse me!" He called the waiter, to which he complied, taking the duo's orders.
➸
"Gah! I'm so full...~!" The tennis player chirped, caressing his abdomen as they strolled toward the park.
"Geez, Momo. But I'm not surprised." She laughs, realizing something, "And we basically just feed each other by paying one's debts."
Momoshiro grins, chuckling at the thought, "You owe me 700 yen."
Her eyes widened, "What?! You said it's your treat!"
"I was just joking, you always take things seriously."
He gazed at her frown, the curves of his lips never vanished.
The ambiguous feeling that he always felt is something he determined a long time ago. Though, his lack of gumption to convey his affection dwells within him, making him unable to be upfront about it.
Aside from that, his fear to ruin their friendship also serves as a hurdle for him.
"Say... what do you think of me, Y/n?"
Her gaze which was glued on the streets, snapped toward the male. The slight tilt of her head made him purse his lips, and his orbs flickered, cutting eye contact.
"A-Ah, sorry, just... a thought, I asked An about it too!"
The noticeable fall of her face made Momoshiro confused, "Uh, is there something wrong?"
"Well, what did An-chan say?"
"Uh... she says I'm good?" He sheepishly chuckled.
"I see..."
...
"Well?"
She sighs, "Um... you're a great friend."
'A friend huh...?'
"But hey... what did An-chan say?"
This made Momoshiro's brows arch, "Why are you so curious about it?"
"Why can't you just answer?"
"Stop returning my question."
"I... Shut up..." She grumbles.
"Well, she did ask me on a date and played street tennis."
"Okay."
He noticed the abrupt shift in her mood, and a teasing smirk crept to his face.
"You seem jealous."
"I'm not."
"I can tell."
"I said I'm not, okay?" She huffs, a sour expression apparent to her.
She was aware that Momoshiro and An became close after he saved her from a creep. Something Y/n admired.
But what was beyond her expectations is An would ask Momoshiro on a date...
And she never knew about it too...
But does she have the right to know?
"Hey, Y/n?"
"Oh, uh, yeah?"
"You're frowning."
"Sorry, I was feeling... tired..."
He surveyed her complexion for a while, before his hands snaked up to her wrist, gripping it lightly.
"Hey. Don't worry about her."
"Huh?"
He gave her an assuring smile, "An is just a tennis friend. Besides, you're my real tennis partner."
"Why are you saying this to me, Momo?"
"I'm not naive enough to assume you lost your mood without any reason."
"We're the bestest duo, including Echizen. If he's here, we're the bestest trio." Momoshiro remained grinning, cheering up the female.
She laughs, her frown stretching into a genuine smile.
"So let's get some drink and play tennis after, okay?"
"Okay, Momo."
That was a good sign.
...
...
...
Maybe right now, they're better off as the bestest duos.
END!