Above

Vivi stood in front of the Struggle signup board. Under Hayner’s name was Vivi’s, written in a slanted, expressive scrawl. It was crossed out. Under that, Vivi’s name was written again, this time in rounded, carefully formed, childish lettering. It was also crossed out. The name below that was exactly the same, as was the name below that, and below that, at the very bottom of the board, Vivi’s name was just barely squeezed in. This last one remained uncrossed off for the moment.

“You’re going to run out of room,” Seifer said, and Vivi only jumped a little.

“Um. That’s okay. I think I’m going to. Leave it like this,” Vivi said slowly.

“That’s a nice bat,” Seifer said. Vivi shifted his grip and the star tip shone in the lamplight.

“Thanks,” Vivi said, and just barely blocked Seifer’s attack.

Vivi blinked in surprise. Seifer grinned over their crossed bats. “Yeah. Yeah, I think that’ll do. Good bat, nice moves...so long as you don’t let anyone push you around, you should be fine.”

Vivi met his gaze with a shaky determination. “I’m going to do my best. To be strong.”

Seifer nodded and let his bat drop. “You do that. Me and you, number one and number two, right?”

Vivi nodded back, and the two of the turned to walk back to Vivi’s home. Vivi’s shoulder bumped against Seifer’s hip as they walked, and he echoed, “Number one and number two.”

Vivi stood in front of the Struggle signup board, his old, worn bat resting against his leg. On the board, under Hayner’s name, was Vivi’s, written in a slanted, expressive scrawl. Vivi was peering at it curiously, his head cocked to one side.

“Looks like someone signed you up,” Seifer said, and Vivi turned to look at him.

“Yeah, but. I think I’m going to. Leave it up there,” Vivi said slowly.

“It’s your decision,” Seifer said. Vivi shifted his head slightly, and his eyes shone brightly in the lamplight.

“Right,” Vivi said, and neatly blocked Seifer’s attack.

Seifer blinked in surprise, then grinned over their crossed bats. “Yeah. Yeah, I think that’ll do. Nice move. So long as you don’t let anyone push you around, you should be fine.”

Vivi met his gaze with a steady determination. “I’m going to do my best. To be strong.”

Seifer nodded and let his bat drop. “You do that. Me and you, number one and number two, right?”

Vivi nodded back, and the two of the turned to walk back to Vivi’s home. Vivi’s shoulder bumped against Seifer’s hip as they walked, and he murmured, “Something like that.”