wifi connection lost

I can see Sawamura and Haruichi slowly getting closer and seeing each other as comfort in times when Sawamura's heat comes around. They were already getting along and being friends, but that was a little push in a different direction.

The dorm has a room for this very purpose that he can borrow to be away from his roommate, although it gets boring really easily and fast. Also, it makes him feel restless, hating how he can't practice and how his body acts.

Thankfully, Harucihi comes to keep him company, eating dinner with him and even bringing items for Sawamura to build himself a nest (even if he has to teach him how, which he couldn't help finding a little cute when Sawamura got all happy when they managed to make something he liked). Seeing how he's still unpresented, none of their coach sees an issue with it, and it would be bad if Sawamura felt down because he has to spend a couple of days by himself like this.

As months roll by, it just becomes the norm for Haruichi to spend time in the extra room with Sawamura. If anyone wants to pass a message to Sawamura, they pass by him or stay in the open doorway after Haruichi opened the door (no one would dare step in after the one time Miyuki and Kuramochi tried, and they received one of the classic Kominato smiles). He even collects items for Sawamura's nest brought by teammates, mostly from the first string, bringing items for Sawamura to decide if he wants.

Haruichi does feel happy that his offering does seem to get priority, along with Furuya and Miyuki's, in his nest hierarchy.

Sawamura does feel really sad when Haruichi is not allowed to stay in the room with him anymore once he's presented, even if his friend still passes by to deliver food, snacks and items for his nest. They talk over the phone so he's not alone.

(I think it would be really funny if, as Furuya starts unconsciously seeing Sawamura as a packmate, he tries to also visit him. No matter how many times people tell him he cannot, he still passes by and chats with him as best he can. He does feel pleased inside when Sawamura seems happy to see him visit.)

Furuya starts showing signs between the Fall tournament and their winter training camp, a rather obvious shift happening.

He sticks closer to Sawamura and Haruichi, spending more time with them. He especially sticks closer to Sawamura, even if the pitcher doesn't seem to notice or really care about it. Although everyone sees it as clear as day.

He's still rather blank-faced when he does anything, but he does go out of his way to do things for them or get them things he knows they'll like. He doesn't necessarily think about it consciously; he just has a feeling it would make them happy and does it.

Can you imagine the first time scenting gets brought up?

Imagine everyone eating after a long day of practice, having also played against another school. Sawamura feels a little down because he wasn't really at the top of his game, mulling over the errors he made. Of course, Furuya doesn't like how Sawamura smells like this, preferring the fresh scent of citrus he usually carries.

So now we have Furuya "never was socialised properly as an alpha and doesn't think before he does something" Satoru, who gently grabs Sawamura "most oblivious and dense person you'll ever meet on earth" Eijun's wrist and starts scenting him right here and there, trying to comfort him without words. And it does work, Sawamura reacting without really realising it and enjoying the act, even if he's a little confused.

But everyone has to stop Furuya when he gets up after hearing the quiet purr that left Sawamura, ready to also scent his neck. Miyuki has to scold them about doing something like this right in the middle of the dining hall while everyone is around (and he totally doesn't feel jealous because he also wants to scent Sawamura).

But it never stops, really, and Furuya continues scenting both Sawamura and Haruichi all the time. He gets in an especially good mood when Sawamura scents him back, citrus mixing with ocean breeze.

Even when Haruichi present as an alpha, Furuya doesn't stop, despite how unusual it is for alphas to scent each other. Some try to warn him, but when Haruichi doesn't seem to mind, and even scents him back, they all just give up.

No one really dares make any comment about how Sawamura too often smells like his teammates, just feeling happy and content. He even also gets used to casually scenting them, feeling really happy when either or both of them smell like him.

Imagine in an official game, Sawamura taking up the mound in a tight spot, and as they get back to the dugout, Furuya stops him. Sawamura doesn't look anxious or anything, but Furuya still feels the need to scent him, happy that he did such a good job (even if he had to give up the mound after one too many walks).

But he doesn't even wait to be in the dugout, doing it right outside of it, for everyone to see. They get dragged inside by Haruichi, who's embarrassed at his friends doing something like this in front of the whole public, both pitchers getting scolded once they get inside.

I just like the idea of them all slowly creating their own little pack within the team. Maybe the first string already feels like one, despite most players being alphas. But the trio has something different, something only between the three of them.

People will often find them just sitting right into each other's space, always hanging out and training together when they can. More than once, they are found napping in the grass in the sun, all huddle up close despite the heat.

Maybe as if sensing a heat/rut coming up, sometimes they just quiet lay in one of their room, offering a pleasant and comforting presence before they are forced to not be around each other.

Wouldn't it be funny if in the future, as Miyuki tries to court Sawamura, he's met with a sort of wall because of the two alphas, who feel protective of him, even though they know Miyuki and know he wouldn't hurt Sawamura. He feels a little exasperated to have to win them over, even if he still works on doing it. It does help a lot that Sawamura is obviously reciprocating his feelings, which is probably what makes them loosen up a little. (Somehow, Miyuki fears Haruichi more than Furuya in what could happen if he ever makes Sawamura cry by accident).