A Christmas Birthday
Summary: One more week. Just one more week until he arrived. I have a plan. I just don't know how to set it up well. Tezuka had this set up for your birthday first! I'm glad…that I can spend the Christmas Holiday with you. Merry Christmas Mitsu…and I'm glad you are here…
Sequel to "He's Got Talent" This is going to be a two-shot considering how close Ryoma's birthday comes to Christmas. Happy birthday Ryoma! This two-shot is not going to be just focused around the Pillar Pair as it is the Christmas holidays, so I decided to include a bit of every pair that was mentioned before in earlier oneshots of the pairing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. The anime and manga belong to their rightful owners. The only thing I own is the fanfiction story itself.
Word Count: 6070
One more week. Just one more week until he arrived.
"Oi! Buchou!" Tezuka heard from behind him. He turned to see that Momo was waving his hands at him energetically as usual.
"Have you heard the news buchou?" Momo asked as he finally reached the captain and took a chance to take a deep breath.
"I have heard the news," Tezuka answered him bluntly. How could he not have heard the news? It was about his boyfriend a.k.a. lover a.k.a. fiancé after all. It would not go well for him if he did not hear the news.
"What are you going to do for him?" Momo asked standing up straight.
What was he talking about again? Oh yeah!
Ryoma had left a month ago for a trip to America to join in the local, district, and regional tournaments in the States. Ryoma had wanted to stay in Japan with Tezuka, but Tezuka insisted that he go and have a change of pace for once instead of staying in Japan.
After all, he had left to Germany for rehabilitation and left Ryoma along for quite a while, so it was only right to allow Ryoma to leave once in a while as well.
"I have a plan. I just don't know how to set it up well," Tezuka answered as he turned to walk toward the school grounds followed by Momo.
"Oh? What do you mean you don't know how to set it up?" Momo asked as they made it to the school courts where the others were already waiting for them.
"Hello Tezuka!" Oishi yelled happily before gesturing the both of them over to where the group was at.
It was regulars only practice as it was winter vacation now. The captain figured that he wouldn't be able to drag the non-regulars to practice no matter how hard he tried just because it was the holiday vacation.
"So does everyone know what they are going to do for Echizen-kun?" Oishi asked everyone in the group.
It seems that they all got the message about Ryoma's return this following Saturday.
"I know what I'm getting him," Momo yelled.
"Fshh…shut up Momoshiri," Kaidoh hissed at his rival with a glare on his face. "You are being too loud."
"What did you say Mamushi!" Momo yelled back already irritated by that one sentence from the snake.
"Enough arguing!" Oishi yelled trying to get the two to calm down. "It's the winter holiday! There shouldn't be any fighting!"
"Nya! Oishi's right nya!" Eiji yelled jumping onto his partner's back in a glomp. "You two shouldn't be fighting when it is just five days away from Christmas Eve."
"Oh! That reminds me! Isn't Saturday Christmas Eve?" Momo asked forgetting all about Kaidoh for a second.
"It is Saturday Momoshiri," Kaidoh said once more which irritated Momo like no tomorrow.
"You are lucky it is so close to Christmas Eve or I would have so pummeled you for that," Momo muttered under his breath through gritted teeth as he tried to ignore the snake.
Fuji blinked before turning to the captain and saying, "Tezuka-"
"Yes, I also know that Christmas Eve is his birthday," Tezuka said interrupting Fuji and answering the question that the tensai was sure to ask.
"Oh, that's good. I thought you might have forgotten, seeing as it is the holidays and all," Fuji said with a wide smile on his face.
'He's planning something,' Tezuka thought to himself as he saw the smile on the other's face. 'As long as it does not mess with my plans, it should not be a problem,' he added in his head as he noticed Fuji's face turn slightly to the other person next to him.
Kawamura was just being as timid as usual and had a hand scratching the back of his head nervously from the near fight that the two second years had.
"What are you planning to do Tezuka? Echizen-kun is your boyfriend after all," Kawamura asked his captain shyly and turned away a bit after asking his question to a few other people's amusement.
"I have a plan-"
"He just doesn't know how to set it up!" Momo yelled finishing Tezuka's statement.
"What?" Eiji asked suddenly with a confused face. "How do you have a plan but can't set it up?"
"Saa…I think he means he doesn't know how to set it up to the point where it is bound to definitely surprise our rookie," Fuji answered on Tezuka's behalf. "After all, take a look at the party that Echizen threw for Tezuka. That was certainly something after all. It would be tough to beat unless you had help and knew what Echizen-kun liked most of all."
"That should be easy for Tezuka to know what Echizen likes!" Momo yelled happily before staring at his captain who was still looking as stoic as ever. "What's the problem then buchou?"
"You forget that I normally do now throw parties," Tezuka said pinching the bridge of his nose with his hands to ease the headache coming in from this conversation.
"Why don't you get some help then?" Oishi suggested trying not to add on to the headache that was sure to grow after a few more minutes.
"From who?" Tezuka asked this time as he stared at his vice-captain.
"His parents?" Inui suggested while bringing out his notebook for information about the rookie.
"They are out for the holidays. They'll be back a few days after Ryoma returns back to Japan," Tezuka said clarifying why he couldn't ask Ryoma's parents for help.
"His cousin Nanako?" Inui suggested once more.
"She is out with her boyfriend for the holidays. She won't return until New Years," Tezuka clarified once more.
"Who else can you ask then?" Oishi asked worried that Tezuka's plan may not work even though he didn't know anything about said plan.
"That is the problem. I have no clue on who to-" Tezuka blinked as he finally realized something. "I actually do have someone to talk to. I'll talk to her after practice."
"Okay then. We should get afternoon practice started so that you can talk to this person. It wouldn't do well not to have anything ready for Ryoma on his birthday return," Fuji said with a smile on his face as he made his way into the changing room followed by everyone else.
"Ah! Tezuka-kun!" Hanako yelled as she noticed Tezuka walk up to her. "How are you Tezuka-kun?" she asked.
"I have been fine Hanako," he replied with a small nod of his head.
"Is something the matter? You usually wouldn't go to the trouble of meeting me unless something is the matter. You are the same as Echizen-kun with that aspect," she said with a giggle as she turned to him.
"Do you happen to know that Ryoma is coming back this Saturday?" Tezuka asked.
"Oh yes. He informed me this morning via text message. I don't get why he has to tell me five days before his return though," Hanako said taking out her phone and showing Tezuka the text she got in the morning.
"Oh that's good to hear that you know of it. It's also his birthday on his return."
"Oh really? Sounds so similar to when you returned from Germany and we both threw that party for you," Hanako said with a large smile on her face as she put her phone away. "Oh yes, I finally got the payment for those portraits that I did for you and your tennis team a while ago," she added bringing out the check. "I only charged about five dollars per picture, but I ended up getting twenty for each portrait. Do you have any idea why?"
"Ryoma and I suggested it with backup from the rest of our teammates. They all agreed that the portraits looked like a pro's."
"That's such a nice compliment," Hanako said putting the check away. "I am going to guess that you need help with something for Ryoma's return? Especially considering it is his birthday?"
"Yes. That is exactly why I called. His parents are out, and they will not return until a few day after his return, so I cannot ask them. Nanako, his cousin, is also out and will be returning on New Years, so I cannot ask her either."
"So you decided to choose me for the help considering what I did to help Ryoma with your party?" Hanako concluded.
"Precisely."
"Well, it's been a while since I planned a party. About…two months I have to say. Your party was the last one I threw because I wanted to spend some more time with the two of you. You two are quite interesting to say the least," she commented with a giggle.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is. Don't worry. We'll go ahead to my mansion then. It'll be one of the best places to throw a party," Hanako said already starting to walk out of the park they were meeting in to head over. "On the way, feel free to tell me what Ryoma likes so that I know what to set up for."
"Like what?"
"Well. Let's start off with something easy. What is his favorite color, favorite sport – I'm thinking tennis, but that is just a conclusion – favorite food, favorite drink, favorite clothing brand, and hobbies and all that stuff. It's the same I asked of him when we were throwing your party."
"Well…"
"Hello buchou! Have you figured something out for Echizen?" Momo yelled across the courts as Tezuka walked in the next day.
"Yes, I have talked with my friend, and she has agreed to help me," Tezuka answered making sure not to give any information about who was helping with the party.
"66 percent that it is a family member of Ryoma's, 12 percent that it is a distant relative of Ryoma's, 13 percent that it is a family member of Tezuka's, and then 9 percent that it is someone not related to either of them," Inui said coming up to them with notebook in hand.
"So who is it then?" Oishi asked walking up.
"I bet that he is not going to tell who is helping him like Echizen never told us who helped him until the party," Momo said with a chuckle as he had a large grin on his face.
"95 percent that you are correct," Inui commented writing some more notes in his notebook.
Everyone sweat-dropped as Inui continued to ramble about several percentages he came up with.
"So are you going to tell us?" Oishi asked with a smile on his face.
"She doesn't want me to. She wants to keep it a secret until his return," Tezuka said.
"Oh? So she wants to keep her identity a secret?" Eiji asked jumping on Oishi's back.
"That's correct," Tezuka said with a nod.
"Well, what are you planning for Echizen then?" Fuji asked walking up and smiling that sweet smile of his again.
"That's a secret too."
"The girl wanted to keep it a secret, or did you want to keep it a secret?" Fuji asked trying to get more information out of the captain.
"It's both of our wishes not to reveal what we have planned," Tezuka answered careful not to give any more information than necessary unless he wanted to hear more and more questions from Fuji about the plan. He didn't need anyone figuring it out after all.
"It's only four more days until his arrival. I can't wait!" Eiji yelled as he jumped around happily.
"Calm down Eiji," Oishi said as he tried to calm his partner back down after getting hyper once more.
"This is going to be one interesting holiday vacation," Fuji said with that smile on his face once more.
'He is definitely planning something…' Tezuka thought to himself.
"Hey Tezuka," Hanako greeted as he walked up to the mansion. "Have you decided where we are going to host the party?"
"Not yet," he replied shaking his head slightly and setting his bags down next to the table in the kitchen where they were keeping the supplies.
"I think it would be best if we held the party here," she said digging in her pocket and then throwing it across the table at him.
Catching the picture, Tezuka picked it up gently before looking over the picture of the place. "This is-"
"Precisely. It'll be perfect don't you think?" Hanako said interrupting his sentence. "Come on. We should go shopping for the supplies. I don't have many decorations in the color you specified. And I also need a few more things for my own present for him."
"Oh? What would that be?" Tezuka asked before gathering his wallet and walking out the door with her.
Locking the mansion doors and making sure she had her own wallet with her, she turned to him and walked with him saying, "I'm not going to tell you what my present for him is going to be. If I tell you, it won't be as special as when nobody knows what it is except for the giver."
"True," Tezuka said with a small nod of his head in agreement.
"Come on," Hanako said leading the way to the nearest market. "Let's get shopping. Boy that must sound awkward for a girl to say that to a boy. Usually girls say that to girls not boys," she said with a giggle as she grabbed Tezuka's hand and started walking.
"How about we go into that one?" Tezuka asked pointing into another shop. "That shop has items that you need for your own present doesn't it?"
"How did you know I needed to go for an artist's shop for his present?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as she led the way in.
"You are an artist. I would think that your present includes as such."
Hanako just gave a blank stare at Tezuka before turning toward the aisles saying, "You are too smart for your own good Tezuka-san."
Tezuka just shook his head slightly at her behavior before following her up and down the items while helping her carry anything that she couldn't, which was the basket that was already full of items which she had grabbed from the stand outside the store.
"Oh! What do you think about this color?" she asked holding up one of the containers.
"Why do you need that color? It's not silver," Tezuka commented as she grabbed a few more colors that had nothing to do with silver.
"I'm not using it for the decorations. I'm using it for the present."
"What are you planning to use it for?"
"Stop asking me questions about the present! It won't be fair!" Hanako yelled happily before grabbing everything she needed from the next few aisles. "Come on, I got everything I need. I'll go pay for it now," she said trying to take the basket away from Tezuka.
"You're going to drop it," Tezuka said as he held onto the basket.
"No I won't," she said tearing the basket away from him and then plopping onto the floor. "Whoa~. How much stuff did I grab?" she asked herself as she searched through the basket.
"A lot," Tezuka sighed before grabbing the basket from the ground and walking her over to the cash register to pay.
"Oh hey Hanako," the man at the register greeted as he scanned the items. "Working on another party again?"
"Maybe~," she drawled out happily.
As soon as the last item was scanned, the register said, "And then there is the ten percent discount for your membership here."
"How often do you shop here?" Tezuka asked with a raised eyebrow.
Hanako glanced at him from the corner of her eyes before saying with a giggle, "You'll have to find that out later won't you. Now come on! Let's go!" She grabbed his hand once again with the items in a bag in her hands and dragged him out of the store and into the next one.
"How many more days until his return Tezuka?" Hanako asked as she continued to make the decorations. They didn't exactly find the exact decorations they were looking for, so Hanako decided to start making them instead.
"Two more days," Tezuka said. The two of them had been shopping for both birthday gifts for Ryoma and Christmas presents for everyone else. They had finished the shopping on the first day just two days ago, and now they had been working on the decorations.
"You've been busy with tennis practice haven't you?" Hanako asked not looking away from her work.
"How did you know?"
"Your hand is shaking," Hanako said before staring up at him. "Take a break. If I know your teammates from last time I saw them, they probably nagged you about what you are doing for Echizen's return."
"They were," Tezuka said placing down the needle he was holding. "Did we already get everything?"
"Yes we did Tezuka, now stop fretting and relax. I don't need you getting hurt on me or else Echizen is going to have my he-"
A phone started ringing interrupting her sentence.
"That's your phone," Hanako said not recognizing the ringtone as her own.
"Right," Tezuka said picking up the phone from where he had left it. "Hello?" he answered.
"Hello Tezuka," the other greeted.
"Hello Oishi. What is it?"
"I was just wondering where you were. The others are getting anxious as to why you aren't here at the meeting place we scheduled last week."
"Meeting place?"
"You must be busy. We were all planning to meet at Kawamura's father's restaurant in order to plan the Christmas party we were thinking of planning for Ryoma. Are you still able to come?"
Tezuka just blanked out a second.
"Is something the matter?" Hanako asked noticing that he didn't speak for a few seconds. "Is it one of your teammates?"
"Yes it is," Tezuka said covering up the mouthpiece of his cell phone.
"What did they call about?"
"I was supposed to be at a meeting for planning a Christmas party with the rest of my team."
"I guess you've been so worried about what to do for Ryoma that you plain old forgot about it?" Hanako asked looking up from another finished decoration.
"Yes," he answered bluntly much to Hanako's amusement.
"Hmm," she hummed, "I'll finish up here. You go ahead and plan that party. Make sure to tell me what you are planning, so we don't do anything similar."
"Alright then," Tezuka said before uncovering the mouthpiece. "I'll be there in about an hour Oishi."
"Okay then Tezuka," the other replied before hanging up the phone.
"I'll be off then," Tezuka said gathering his things before leaving the mansion.
"Be sure to call me before you come back, so I can unlock the house!" Hanako yelled as he walked out of the house and onto the cold streets.
"So what are we going to do for Echizen? He's coming back in two days," Momo said as Tezuka showed up inside the restaurant.
"How should we know Momoshiri?" Kaidoh hissed at his rival.
"What did you call me Mamushi?" Momo said about to stand up until someone interrupted.
"Momo! Kaidoh! Stop or run 20 laps around the restaurant," Tezuka said having enough of the fighting for one holiday break.
This seemed to sober the two immediately as they both just went ahead and sat down.
"So what are we planning?" Oishi asked everyone in the room.
"I say we have a big Christmas tree! We should buy it soon though!" Eiji suggested happily with glee in his eyes at the thought.
"That's a good idea for the Christmas party," Fuji commented with a small smile on his face. "What do you think Taka-san?"
Kawamura just rubbed the back of his head sheepishly before saying, "I think it's pretty good. It's good for the Christmas holiday."
"Anything else we can think of?" Oishi asked once more looking around the room for any suggestions.
"How about a movie?" Momo suggested.
"78 percent that you are thinking of a horror movie, 13 percent that you are thinking of a holiday movie, and 9 percent that you are thinking of a comedy movie to show," Inui said adding his own comment into the conversation.
"How did you know I was thinking for a horror movie?" Momo asked with a surprised look on his face.
"Momo! A horror movie is not good for the holidays!" Oishi yelled startled that Momo would even think to bring a horror movie to a holiday celebration party.
"So what would you suggest Inui?" Momo asked trying to get the attention off of himself on someone else instead.
"I would suggest a holiday movie, not one of those children movies however. Then possibly a well cooked meal prepared by a parent. Afterward, we can just have a normal party until the next day," Inui said after flipping a few pages of his notebook.
"That sounds good to me," Momo said thinking over the idea.
"Yeah! Yeah! Let's do it!" Eiji yelled jumping around happily to the point where Oishi had to grab him by his shoulders just to get the red-head to calm down and sit down back in his own chair in the restaurant.
"So has everyone gotten a birthday gift for Echizen?" Inui asked staring at everyone over the tip of his notebook, not that anyone could tell because his eyes were covered by his glasses completely.
"I know what I'm getting him," Momo said with a wide grin on his face.
"Us too! Us too!" Eiji yelled referring to him and Oishi, who Eiji glomped onto while he yelled his answer.
"I have a birthday present for him as well," Kawamura said rubbing the head of his head again. He seriously is a bit too shy sometimes…
"Saa…I already know what I'm getting him for his return," Fuji said with that same sweet smile on his face. I swear, it scares me sometimes when I look at him.
"What about you Kaidoh? Inui? Tezuka?" Fuji asked turning his attention to them.
"Fsshu…" was all Kaidoh answered. Those that knew him knew that he had something for the boy's return and just chose not to say anything about Kaidoh's answer.
"I already have what I am giving him," Inui said not once looking from his notebook as he continued to write notes in it.
"I'm still working on his present," Tezuka said crossing his arms over his chest at the looks he got from the others.
"It's only two more days until his return and his birthday! You are still working on it?" Momo yelled with surprise written all over his face.
"Momo calm down," Oishi said trying to scold Momo lightly for yelling at their captain. "At least he is working on it instead of just not getting a present in the first place," he tried to reason with the dunk smash player. That's true.
"Argh, when is that brat going to get here?" Momo whined as he tapped his foot impatiently. Today was the day that Ryoma was returning from America, and the entire team was waiting at the airport to pick him off and get him back home.
"Calm down Momo. His flight is probably being delayed, or it is taking a while to get his bags from the airport. It is Christmas Eve after all, there are many people around wanting to get back home for the holidays," Oishi tried to reason the irritated second year.
"But still! This is the time he was supposed to be here," Momo yelled looking at the clock.
"Shut up Momo-senpai," they all heard from someone behind them.
Turning around, they all saw the person they were waiting for. Ryoma had two large suitcases in his hands from the things he brought to the states and there was another bag around his shoulders.
"What are you all standing around for?" Ryoma asked tilting his head to the side curiously like a cat except with a blank stare on his face.
"Aren't you excited that you are back in Japan?" Momo asked the boy before going up and putting the younger in a headlock and rubbing his fist against the younger's scalp.
"Ochibi!" Eiji yelled rushing over and jumping to glomp his favorite freshman.
"Hello Momo-senpai. Kikumaru-senpai," he greeted trying his best to break free out of the two's grip. "In case you have forgotten, I have jetlag," he said answering the question Momo had asked earlier.
"Let's get you home then Ryoma," Tezuka said staring at Ryoma with a soft look on his face which was reciprocated by Ryoma.
"That would be appreciated," Ryoma said for once not giving a snarky reply.
"So where are we going?" Eiji asked as they made their way with Ryoma out of the airport and started walking away.
"We will be heading to Ryoma's house first," Tezuka replied before anyone else had a chance to.
"It sounds good to me," Ryoma said fixing the bag on his shoulder to a more comfortable position. Well…as comfortable as he could get with two suitcases in his hands hindering his movement a bit.
"Let me help you with that Ryoma," Tezuka said taking one of the suitcases and carrying it instead to make it easier on the younger.
"Thank you Mitsu," Ryoma said not caring that he was getting help with something.
"Alright. Let's go inside then," Ryoma said about to walk up to the door before Tezuka stepped in front of him.
"I have a key, and you have your hands full," Tezuka said gesturing to the two bags that Ryoma was holding and then holding up a spare key to the house in his hand.
"How do you have a key to his house buchou?" Momo asked curiously as he watched Tezuka unlock the front doors to the temple-like house.
"His parents gave it to me just in case I wanted to visit while someone was out," Tezuka said without hesitation as he opened the front door.
When they all went inside, they all noticed that Tezuka accidently leaned too much on one side while taking off his shoes and knocked into the wall.
"Are you okay Tezuka?" Oishi asked concerned that his friend was unwell or something.
"No. I didn't put the bag down before I pulled off my shoes, so it made me off-balanced," Tezuka explained before placing the suitcase onto a table Ryoma said to put it on.
"Let's go into the living room everyone," Oishi suggested gesturing toward the room.
"Sounds good!" Eiji yelled happily jumping in as he dragged Ryoma in.
"Let's allow Ryoma to go in first," Tezuka said pushing the younger forward in front of everyone before following behind him into the room with everyone else behind him or next to him.
The room was dark until someone knocked on the wall again.
As soon as the sound quieted, another sound made its way into everyone's ears.
"Surprise Echizen-kun!" a female yelled turning on the lights and the sound of party favors popping rang through the room.
Everyone turned to look at the culprit who threw on the lights.
"Why didn't we think it was her before?" Momo said palming his forehead as he leaned his head back at the sight of her.
"Why didn't we? It was so obvious too…" Eiji whined as Kaidoh hissed in amusement at their reactions.
"They both know her, and she was the one to plan Echizen's party. Why the percentage of meeting her for help with Tezuka's plan was not higher is a mystery," Inui said writing more notes into his notebook much to the amusement of the others in the room that weren't whining or overreacting to seeing Hanako as the one who was the other in the room.
"Welcome home Echizen-kun. I see that you are surprised that I am here once more," Hanako said as she raised a hand over her mouth to hide her laughter. "It was quite a surprise for me to see Tezuka actually come up to me and ask for help with what he had planned."
"Wait, he was the one to think the party up?" Momo asked surprised at the information.
"That is correct. He came up with the idea for the party. He just didn't know where to start with decorations and a location. He had what was happening during the party planned out though," Hanako explained as Tezuka did not want to explain anything at the moment.
"So he did have something planned for Ryoma!" Eiji yelled happily.
"But of course," Hanako said with a large smile on her face. "Oh yes! Happy birthday Ryoma!" Hanako said before going up to him and giving him a hug. "I'll be giving you my present later!"
"O…kay…" Ryoma said giving the girl a quick hug before letting go immediately.
"Come on Ryoma! Tezuka had this set up for your birthday first!" she yelled dragging him over to Tezuka before linking their hands together and walking off toward a nearby table.
"How do you like the decorations?" Tezuka asked Ryoma as they followed the happy girl.
Ryoma looked around and noticed all the silver decorations. Silver snowflakes, silver stars, silver decorations were everywhere. There was also a bit of blue and green in some places that he had to admit matched rather well with where they were. "It seems that she figured out that silver is my favorite color. I wonder who did that?" he asked while staring up at Tezuka.
"She asked me the same questions she asked you when you were throwing the party for me," Tezuka answered.
"Oh? When did you go to her for help?" Ryoma said as they sat down on the couch close to where the table was at and the one Hanako was standing by with a large smile on her face.
"Just five days before today as you didn't give her much notice either or any of the others for that matter about your return," Tezuka said pulling Ryoma closer to him with an arm around his waist.
"You two are such lovebirds," Hanako commented with a giggle as the others came up to sit around the table as well.
"First up was a birthday dinner," Tezuka said pointing at the several placemats on the table. "Hanako?" Tezuka questioned looking up at the girl.
"Right!" she yelled before going into the kitchen.
"What is she doing?" Fuji asked with a curious look on his face.
"You'll see," Tezuka answered as she popped her head out of the kitchen. He nodded and got the same as she walked out with two trays of food in her hands.
Making her way carefully toward the table, she placed it down saying, "I got my mom and dad to make Japanese food as that is Ryoma's favorite type of food. It also includes fried fish which Tezuka told me was Echizen's favorite."
"That's right," Ryoma said already reaching for a bowl and starting to eat along with everyone else.
When he noticed that Hanako was just standing around, Oishi asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"
"Oh I'm fine. I'm just here to help," she said waving the concern off dismissively.
"Just join and eat," Ryoma said with a cocky tone.
"Fine, fine, fine," she giggled out.
"Let's open presents now!" Eiji yelled jumping up and down before moving to the pile of bags everyone left by the door. He came back holding several bags and presents in his arms before setting them on the clean table.
They had just finished eating, and Hanako volunteered to clean up the table while the Seigaku regulars talked. After all, they were the ones who were planning to throw something for Ryoma before Tezuka asked her.
"I want to go first! I want to go first!" Eiji yelled thrusting his present into Ryoma's hands.
Opening the present, Ryoma saw that it was a plushie that looked exactly like Karupin with the shape and form, just not with the colors. It was instead a deep silver color with blue spots and then dark blue eyes.
"Thank you Kikumaru-senpai," Ryoma said putting the gift off to the side not noticing something that had happened as soon as he had opened the gift.
Moving along, Oishi and Inui were next to give him their presents. "Here you go Echizen-kun," Oishi said for them both as their gifts were pretty similar in their opinions. They had given him a new pair of tennis clothes along with a new pair of shoes, both created by Fila.
Nodding this thanks, Momo came up to him and put him in a headlock. "Here's my gift Echizen!" he yelled as he placed something in the younger's hands.
"A bunch of coupons for the burger shack?" Ryoma commented as he stared at the small pile of coupons.
"Yup," Momo yelled with a large smile on his face.
Kaidoh hissed as he came up but handed Ryoma his present anyway.
Ryoma took a look at it and noticed that it was a cat toy along with a picture book. Opening the book, he noticed something. "Ah. They are all pictures of me with the team and with Karupin." Looking up, he saw Kaidoh nod with a small tint of pink on his cheeks from embarrassment.
Moving on so that Kaidoh wouldn't be embarrassed further, he looked toward Kawamura and Fuji.
Kawamura handed something over saying, "Here, my dad suggested to give you these since you like the sushi there." He handed Ryoma a few pieces of paper that were able to let Ryoma have all the free sushi he wanted there.
Ryoma nodded before turning as Fuji put something else in his hands. "It's a Bridgestone racket. The same brand you use," Fuji answered as they all looked at the silver racket with blue marking the sides.
"Thank you Fuji-senpai," Ryoma said placing the gifts nearby so that nothing would happen to them.
A slight cough made him turn his attention to Hanako as she brought out something from behind her back. "Heehee, this is the reason I wanted to go last, but I felt it more suiting for Tezuka to go last. You'll have another few presents later," she said handing them to Ryoma.
Ryoma widened his eyes at what he saw. "But…we…just…"
Everyone crowded around to see what he was talking about and gaped at what they saw. They were pictures of when Ryoma just opened his presents just now! How did she do that?
"I set up a camera on the table, and I have the remote right here," she said holding the remote out, "then I attached the camera to a printer so it would print the pictures right away," she finished her explanation.
"Now that is smart…" Fuji said commenting as he was a bit of a photographer himself.
"Last but certainly not least," Hanako announced happily before gesturing at Tezuka, "Tezuka-kun!"
Tezuka shook his head slightly at her antics before revealing two presents from behind his back. Handing the silver wrapped one to Ryoma, he said, "This is your birthday present and," he handed the green and blue present over, "that is your Christmas present."
Ryoma unwrapped his birthday present to find a new set of books inside. "These are by my favorite author. How did you know?" he asked looking over at Tezuka. "I never told you who he was."
"I called in a favor from someone who knew you," Tezuka answered before gesturing toward the Christmas present. "Open that one now."
Ryoma did so and pulled out the contents to his surprise. "Bath salts?" He saw Tezuka nod before he turned back to the three bottles in front of him. "Thank you Mitsu," Ryoma said with a small smile on his face before hugging the taller.
Hanako giggled as she snapped yet another picture and gave the latest ones to Ryoma to put into the scrapbook she gave him on their first meeting.
"Now that that is settled!" she yelled standing up from her spot and going over to the side of the wall. "Let's have some fun for tomorrow!" she yelled bringing something else from the hallway outside.
"When did you buy that?" Tezuka asked with semi-wide eyes.