ImaizumixNaruko- You Don't Have to Act Strong

It was only a few weeks after Interhigh, with Sohoku's big win of being the national champs, they had to stay on their A-game and train even harder; just as it was always said, it's hard to make it to the top, it's even harder to stay there. Everyday was filled with long, grueling training regimes that resulted in everyone staying behind an extra hour to cool down and relax their bodies before heading home. No one is immune to the fatiguing practice, not even the new stars of the team; Imaizumi and Naruko, but of course, the two refused to admit to their lethargy.

Speaking of Naruko, he had been acting weird recently, ever since the third day of Interhigh actually. Perhaps he was shaken up over his temporary blindness, or upset over not finishing the race with Onoda and Imaizumi; whatever it was, he was hiding it well, but not enough to not make others worry.

"Naruko-kun, are you feeling okay?" Onoda asked, practice hadn't even started yet and the redhead was already flushed and sweating. "Of course, Onoda-kun, I just had Phys. Ed, so I'm still a little tired." Naruko replied as he zipped up his practice jersey, Aoyagi cast a worrisome glance to his kohai, "I swear, I'm alright, Aoyagi-san." and the quiet sempai nodded in response. Imaizumi eyed his rival suspiciously, the other noticed and grinned mischievously, "What's wrong, Hotshot, if you don't get to practicing soon I'm gonna leave you so far behind, you couldn't catch up even in your dreams!" Naruko teased, putting on his helmet and running out of the clubroom.

Imaizumi's eye twitched in irritation, moving to chase after his "friend" (?), but was halted by a hand that grabbed his sleeve, turning, he saw Teshima. "Imaizumi, could you look after Naruko for me, I'm really concerned about him." Teshima requested, "Yeah, sure." Imaizumi said, sounding uninterested as he suited up and left the clubroom.

"I would've done that even if you didn't ask." the All-Rounder thought as he mounted his bike.

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Despite Naruko's earlier taunts, Imaizumi easily caught up to the obnoxious red bean, which was rather surprising; usually, if Naruko got a head-start, Imaizumi wouldn't catch up until the super slope. What was even more concerning was Imaizumi caught up Naruko on a flat, Naruko's second home, where he truly shines in the cycling world.

"You caught up faster than I expected, Hotshot! Wanted to see my beautiful face that badly, ka ka ka!" Naruko exclaimed, something was definitely wrong, if Naruko looked sick before, he was on his deathbed now. Sweat profusely seeped out of his pours, flattening his bangs and caking themselves to his forehead, his cheeks looked as red as the boy's hair and, as Naruko would put it, his expression appeared as if he was going to throw-up or constipated. Imaizumi shivered at the thought, it was unsettling seeing the cute Sprinter look so out of it.

Imaizumi pulled up beside the smaller, "Are you okay, you don't look so good." the redhead's face darkened, and the taller couldn't tell if it was due to his condition or if he was embarrassed, "What do you mean?" Naruko asked, "Teshima-san is concerned that you may not be feeling alright, and quite frankly, I agree with him; you aren't acting like yourself." Imaizumi explained. Naruko cocked a brow "Well, I'm fine." he said, trying to pull on ahead, but was cut off by Imaizumi getting in front of him, "Stay behind me, I'll draft for you and you better go right into the clubroom when we get back to the campus." the ebony-haired cyclist instructed, he was given the response of silence; this sent shock resonating throughout Imaizumi's body, as he had been expecting a sassy rebuttal.

The All-Rounder slammed on the brakes and checked his surroundings, "Naruko? Naruko?!" he called, looking behind him, seeing Naruko's small body prone on the asphalt." The memory of Naruko's collapse at Interhigh played in Imaizumi's memory, desperation flooded into his body, throwing his bike to the ground, Imaizumi ran as fast as he could to his teammate, "Naruko!"

Imaizumi knelt down beside the boy, pulling his upper body onto his lap, Naruko sounded as if the wind had been knocked out of him; he couldn't catch his breath and he appeared to be in immense pain. The taller teen didn't know what to do, he didn't know how to take both him and Naruko and their bikes back to school, he wasn't sure if he should take him home, to the hospital, or wait for help.

Luckily enough, Onoda, Danchiku, and Kaburagi were fast approaching, breathing a sigh of relief, Imaizumi waved them over, "What's wrong with Naruko-sempai?" Danchiku asked, stoic face showing emotion, displaying he was nervous for his sempai, "He collapsed, something may be wrong with him." Imaizumi replied, Kaburagi grabbed one of his water bottles and popped the top, squeezing some water into Naruko's slightly agape mouth, "That should help him with his breathing." he said. Onoda placed a hand on Imaizumi's shoulder, "Imaizumi-kun, take Naruko-kun back to the clubroom, I'll bring his bike back." he said, Imaizumi gave a soft smile, "Thanks, Sakamichi." he answered, lifting Naruko up and went to his bike, perching himself on the saddle, he gently placed Naruko along his lap, left arm occupied with cradling the petite red bean as his right hand directed them back through the training course to the clubroom.

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The cycle back to the campus was pretty embarrassing, Imaizumi and Naruko already had the title of a "duo" among the other students, but as Imaizumi pulled into school, the boy's tennis club had been practicing and saw them, a couple of them going, "Hey look, it's the cycling club's couple!" Had it been any other time, Imaizmi would've told them off and glare at them, instead, he kept his eyes forward and only focused on getting Naruko help. He pulled up to the front door, kicking down the stand, Imaizumi lifted Naruko and carried him into the clubroom, placing him down on a bench the team used for massages.

Grabbing a bucket that was filled with spare parts, Imaizumi dumped its contents onto the floor, found as many spare water bottles he could find and poured the water into the bucket. As Imaizumi was searching for a rag that wasn't covered in tire grease and wondering where the team's maintenance crew was, Naruko began stirring on the bench. Imaizumi heard the soft groans of the redhead regaining consciousness, he grabbed the cleanest looking rag and put it in the water-filled bucket for a few quick moments before taking it and wringing it out.

One small red orb opened, "Hotshot...?" Naruko called, while he could see, he couldn't make anything out, like when he was regaining his vision at Interhigh; the reminiscent sensation put Naruko in a slight state of panic. He needed someone next to him, to tell him he was okay, "Hotshot?!" the boy called louder, desperation seeping into his voice, before receiving a verbal answer, Naruko's forehead was given the cool comfort of water.

"Sshh, it's okay Naruko, I'm here." Imaizumi answered, using the rag to wipe down Naruko's face, the smaller's eyes adjusted properly and he was finally able to make out Imaizumi's face; which was etched in worry and comfort. Naruko pounced Imaizumi, hands grabbing the tight material that made up his cycling shorts, face buried in Imaizumi's sculpted thighs, "What happened?" the Sprinter asked, Imaizumi swiped the rag along the other's neck and rubbed his back soothingly, "You passed out while cycling, I brought you back to the clubroom." Naruko turned his head to the side, looking up at his teammate, "Thanks then..." he said, slight flush coming to his face.

Imaizumi dumped the rag into the bucket, "Don't mention it." he said, assisting Naruko into a sitting position, "Are you sick?" Imaizumi suddenly asked, making Naruko leap in shock and blushing in embarrassment at being found out. But Naruko wasn't gonna let Imaizumi know that easily. "Wh-what are you talking about, Hotshot? The great Shoukichi Naruko never gets sick!" Naruko exclaimed with false bravado, his indignant shouts were cut off by Imaizumi pressing their foreheads together.

Naruko let out a squeak, Imaizumi's eyes were closed in concentration, and the redhead flushed at the closeness; he couldn't help acknowledging the fact that Imaizumi's lips were only a couple of millimeters away from his own. Before Naruko could spare another thought on the matter, Imaizumi's eyes opened, "You have a fever." he said. The smaller pulled away from the other, "No I don't!" Naruko insisted, "But your face is red." Imaizumi retorted.

"Because you put your ugly mug so close to my face, I got embarrassed." Naruko replied, "If my face is ugly, why would you feel embarrassed?" Imaizumi teased. The redhead's face brightened to a shade that rivaled the color he dyes his hair with, "Be-be-because what if Onoda-kun, or the kohai, or the sempai, or anyone walked in during... During that, they'd get the wrong idea." Naruko explained, face darkening all the while. Imaizumi smirked at Naruko's embarrassment, it was honestly cute, but the ebony-haired teen needed to buckle down and get serious with his petite assistant.

Imaizumi took hold of Naruko's shoulders, "Why did you hide being sick?" he asked, Naruko huffed a sigh before responding, "Because I wanted to cycle, if I'm sick, I can't practice... And if I don't practice I'll..." There was a pause in Naruko's explanation, "You'll?" Imaizumi asked, "I'll be left behind... I won't get back to Interhigh..." Imaizumi couldn't believe what he was hearing; Naruko not going back to Interhigh? That's the most ridiculous thing the taller boy had ever heard!

"Hate to break it to you, but there's no way you're not going to compete at Interhigh. And you're not gonna be left behind, missing one endurance practice that's more for the first years than anyone isn't going to screw with your chances." Imaizumi explained, Naruko smiled in response, a weight lifting off his shoulders. Imaizumi returned it with one of his own and then leaned in and planted a kiss on Naruko's forehead, "But you need to take better care of yourself." he chastised lightly, "You had me really worried, I thought my heart was gonna stop when I saw you collapsed." a light pink blush peppered Imaizumi's fair skin. "Sorry, I won't do it again." Naruko said, returning the gesture, but on Imaizumi's lips.

Imaizumi smirked, "You better not." he said firmly pressing their lips back together, arms reaching around Naruko's waist and pulling him into an embrace. Naruko gripped the other's shoulders as he returned the kiss, face flushing once again.

"Imaizumi-kun, Kaburagi-kun, Danchiku-kun, and I brought Naruko-kun's bike back, is he o-KAY?!" the two cyclists were too immersed in their first kiss that they didn't hear the metal clubroom door squeak open. The two separated and saw a flushed Danchiku, an equally flushed Onoda, and a simmering Kaburagi, "What are you doing to Naruko-sempai, Imaizumi-sempai?!" Kaburagi demanded, about to march up to his sempai to give him what for, but was held back by Danchiku.

"Th-this isn't what it looks like!" Imaizumi and Naruko cried, faces flushing, "We-we're sorry for interrupting, we'll leave you alone now!" Onoda shouted, grabbing his two kohai and hastily left the idiotic Sohoku cycling club's duo, now actually a couple, in a flustered mess.