(Hachiman POV)
"You know...I worry about the future of our sports clubs. This is going to affect them greatly in the upcoming Athletic Festival." I began. It's already the end of the day and Ichigo has managed to get me into the Tennis club with him. Normally, I would refuse any outside activities that would take my time away from me, but Ichigo only had to say one word to change my mind. Spar. A simple four-letter word that has so much more meaning to me than I wished.
Back in the old days, Ichigo and I fought a lot. Not verbally. Our combat sessions would fill up our Sunday schedule every week and we trained like hell to be the one to win during our next match. If you win, you get the glory and pride of having your hard work bearing fruit. However, if you lose, you get to have consequences put on you by the victor. Oh, man. I remember that I had to eat tomatoes daily for three weeks because I lost three times in a row.
Those days were fun. We messed around like that way too much and so far, I was winning by three if we kept score. Not that I took a record of our wins or anything, but I know I had 102 wins while Ichigo had 99. He never did reach triple digits, and I think he's about to this coming Sunday.
Oh crap. What did I just agree to? I'm gonna suffer for the rest of the first year! I hope there is a gym or dojo nearby.
"Eh. Who cares? I had fun demolishing them." Ichigo...you could become a real movie villain with that smile you know. "And no I'm not going to be a villain any time soon." HUH?!?
"Did I say that out loud?" I asked for confirmation. This could become a problem. I might let out my honest thoughts to the wrong person.
"Nah. I know how your mind works so I didn't have to. Besides, I'll let you know if you start speaking your mind." This guy. I don't know if I should smile because he understands me or be creeped out because he understands me. "Dude."
"I get it. I'll stop." I'm genuinely scared. I think it's time to stop monologing.
"Yeah. It's time for that skill to rest. It has been overused." Seriously. What in the actual hell. "Anyways. I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume that you're gonna hit up the gym sometime soon?" I stayed quiet. Ichigo chuckled and smacked my back lightly. "Good. I'll join you. I haven't trained in a year so I'm rusty too. Let's see who gets back into shape faster."
I couldn't help myself. "My blood is boiling. My bones are howling! My soul is burning!! I will win against you my eternal rival!"
"As expected of my rival. You understand my lust for combat and on this coming Sunday, we will display our passionate energy on the sacred grounds! Come, brother, for we shall make settle our score once and for all."
"Yes, we shall!" Our dramatic bit ended with us doing a firm handshake as we showed our battle-maniac faces to each other. Ichigo kind of looked like a warrior with his expression. I wonder if I do too. When we separated from our handshake, we broke into giggles that changed into full-blown laughter.
How long has it been since I openly enjoyed myself like this? Especially in public. I didn't give a damn as to who was watching us at the moment because there was no way I will not cherish this memory. I mean come on. I gotta tell my future kids that I had a fun high school life with their godfather.
Wait a minute. Godfather? That automatically brought a smile on my face. That's definitely happening. Only he can fit that role. Well...might as well confirm it.
"Hey Ichi," I called out.
"What's up?" Damn this handsome dumba*s. Why can't he see that he grew up to look like a model? I envy his looks all the time and then he turns it on me by saying that I look better than him. Has he seen himself? The girls were practically drooling at his sight.
"Do you want to be my child's Godfather?" He seemed surprised, and a part of me felt a little sad since I thought that he would say no. "Uh. N-Nevermind. Forget what I-"
"Yes." I stared at him, not believing the information my ears gathered for my brain to comprehend. "I said Yes Hachiman. I would love to. I was going to ask you the same thing for my kids when it was time, but I guess your thoughts forced this conversation early." I... "It might be difficult for me though. I've seen a lot of women and none of them caught my attention, so my marriage might not exist. There is always adoption." Ichigo was seriously thinking about it.
Why? Why is he so kind to me? Why does he care about anything I say? What does he see in me? Why do I matter to him? I don't get it.
"Why Ichigo? Why are you so good to me?" Great. It seems like my mouth is feeling quite rebellious today. Ichigo stopped where he stood and glared at me.
"Do I need a reason for anything I do?" People always have ulterior motives. "It seems like you're not convinced. Let me give you an example." He took one step. "I began walking with my right foot. Is there any reason I should've picked the left instead?"
"I-"
"I made lunch for you in the morning. Is there any reason I shouldn't have? When we were kids, I beat up a bully that was assaulting a little girl at risk of being suspended. Was there a reason I should've done nothing? I came back to Japan, knowing that I didn't have to ever come back. Is there any reason I should've stayed in America?" He got closer with every sentence. "I became your friend because I wanted to. Is there any reason I shouldn't have done so?"
This was one of those times where my mind stopped working. It was like doing math all over again.
"Answer me Hachiman." I lowered my head in shame. I shouldn't have doubted him when he has done so much for me. Ichigo never asked for anything and I didn't have faith in him. All because I thought it was too good to be true. Idiot. You are a giant idiot Hachiman.
"I'm sorry." I couldn't look up. It was too embarrassing.
He sighed. "I get it. I can understand why you would ask me that question. It just...really frustrated me when you basically told me that you don't trust me as much I trust you." I give him a guilty expression. "Look. You're forgiven. Promise me that this will never happen again." That I can easily do.
"I promise." Ichigo nodded in acknowledgment and we went home. Turns out, he and I were neighbors. Like actual next-door neighbors. No wonder he came into my house in the morning.
...Hm? Pause. How did he get into the house?