Our Promised Race

Last spring was love. 

And love came in the form of a certain Makishima Yuusuke. 

He thought about the future much too often. But Hakone’s cycling club meant everything to him, which is why he wanted nothing but the best for his team. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing that his team would most likely be in capable hands, if he was correct in assuming who the new team would be composed of after the third years graduate. 

And of course…he didn’t forget about the promise he and Makishima made…to race against each other to claim the mountain checkpoint. There was nothing else he would be more excited for.

He heard some rustling coming from the side of him, so he turned his head to meet Makishima’s gaze. He honestly didn’t expect the other male to be looking at him, so it surprised him a bit, but he quickly regained his composure. 

"Did you want to say something, Maki-chan? Or are you just admiring the view?" He laughed playfully. He didn’t even know how long Makishima was staring at him, but it was just like him to joke about things like this. His smile softened shortly afterward, as he continued to look in Makishima’s direction. "…This weather sure is nice, isn’t it? I wouldn’t mind having a picnic up here sometime…it’s really relaxing."

"I --"                                                 just wanted..  " -- H-Here, water.", he winced, fumbling over the words he so carefully planned in his head before.

Thankful for his quick thinking and fast reflexes, Makishima tossed the bottle over to his rival, hiding the faint blush of embarrassment behind his hands. Shit. He really must be losing his mind.

Thinking back to the times when Toudou would blurt out embarrassing lines like that during their races had him flushing once more. 

                   "Without you, it would be meaningless!"                     "You belong next to me"

Makishima grimaced. Was such embarrassing, dramatic stupidity contagious? Considering how he, too was about to say something along those lines, the green haired male grimly decided it so. Better to stay further away from Toudou now. 

Turning his attention back to his rival and the green haired male was momentarily surprised to lock gaze with his cobalt hues. Makishima averted his gaze with an awkward cough before settling down next to Toudou. 

"Yeah.", he agreed softly, nodding. "It's really nice."

Makishima looked up, dazedly staring at the mix of colours that painted the evening sky. It was times like this that reminds him of how fast they were moving. A week or two from now and they'll see each other again in the interhigh and as exciting as that sounds, he couldn't help the small frown that tugged at the corner of his lips.

                               And then what?

 "How are you guys prepping for the interhigh? We won't lose this time.", he spoke quietly but confidently.

visual kei toumaki for the ywpd 69min

"Ah…sure. Let me see…" He looked around to see if there was a safe spot to stop off. "There’s a flat area by the side of the road over there! You don’t mind sitting on the grass, right, Maki-chan?" He pointed over to the spot he was talking about, just a few meters from where they were. It was just before the slope to head downhill. 

He rode his bike towards the spot, then put the bike stand up to keep it from falling over. Getting off his bike, he quickly lied down on the ground and looked at the sky with a giant grin on his face. 

It sure feels nice…the wind blowing…the sun beating down, yet not feeling overwhelming…

                                      And being here with Maki-chan, my best rival                                                                                                 and friend…

"Maki-chan! Hurry up, before the sun sets!" He cried out while laughing. He was really enjoying himself today for some reason. Maybe it was because he got to race with his rival before Interhigh.

Ah, was he being too forward today? Makishima wondered, unconsciously scratching his chin with a finger, a frown on his lips and a deep crease on his forehead. It feels weird. Usually, he'd be the passive one, unknowingly pulled into Toudou's rhythm and begrudgingly being dragged along with the current.

                                                                 But today..

He caught a glimpse of his rival, riding just a couple of feet away from him and briefly wondered if Toudou noticed it too.

Slowing steering his bicycle towards the side of the road, he parked it behind Toudou's, their shiny bikes glistening in the glow of the setting sun. Makishima grabbed his bottle with one hand before sauntering over to where Toudou was lying down, back on the ground and hands propped up behind his hand. 

Easing himself down next to his rival, Makishima wiped the sweat off his brows with the back of his arm before taking a swig of the drink. The cooling liquid was refreshing, soothing the burn in his throat and it made the ache in his lungs just a little more bearable. Once he was done, Makishima brushed the back of his hands against his moist lips, wiping at it gently before tossing the bottle to Toudou, knowing that his rival was probably desperately in need of some water too. 

                                                 He wondered if he was feeling                                                  a little more adventurous..?

The emerald haired male laid on the grass. His hair, sprawled out behind him swirled and blended with the ground, hints of red standing out from the rest. And as he stare at the sky, Makishima couldn't help the softening of the edges of his onyx hues. For some reason-- quite unfathomable to him, the mixture of pink, orange and purple in the sky filled him with peace and comfort. And --the loud rustling at his side had him turning to Toudou-- well.. perhaps, he had played a part too.