The Pilot
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Malicious dark eyes glittered, as the pale boy pressed binoculars against them.
The movements were splendid: graceful, powerful and coordinated, almost like a dance. The elbow extended and bent, young muscles flexed in the effort of return. The boy's shining hair rippled in the slight breeze.
For months now, Mizuki had been sneaking off to Seishun Gakuen under the pretenses of data collecting on the players. Yuuta was also dragged along in the case of an emergency, where his personal connection to one of the students could come in handy. But that would only be in the most dire of situations. Usually, Mizuki promptly sent Yuuta away upon arriving, with a notebook and pen and directions to observe students and collect information, or something equally senseless. Then Mizuki, armed with binoculars, would climb a tree or hide in a bush. Once nestled comfortably, he would set his gaze to the only thing that truly caught his interest at the school, bringing him back again and again. He and Yuuta had a meeting time and place, so usually admiring from afar for the duration of the visit was no problem. Anyway, he could always claim to have been collecting data. After all, he had been doing this for quite some time. Improvisation came easily.
.
Today however, Yuuta, in a rare display of defiance towards Mizuki, insisted on accompanying him on the spying because, quote on quote: "I feel like a complete idiot walking around with an interviewing pad and obviously nothing to write down."
Being accommodating as he was, Mizuki had complied. The two were currently side by side, squatting on their haunches in a young sequoia. Yuuta had both hands on an overhead branch for support, but Mizuki was absolutely still and balanced, observing the Regular members in the distance.
One of them winced slightly as he bent his right knee. The effects of Kirihara's attacks did not seem to have completely worn off.
Pale hands gripped the binoculars harder, remembering his fury at watching that match. Though Fuji had won in the end, he would not forgive that demon boy for practically attempting murder in the match.
Or for putting red marks of Syuusuke's lovely legs.
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If asked, Mizuki could not name the point when his rival mentality towards Fuji Syuusuke had evolved into a riper, aching obsession of the heart. It must have happened gradually, like sunburn invisible until the white, untouched lines are revealed.
It had all seemed rather sudden to him, however. He had simply gone to bed one night, content with being Syuusukes rival, and had woken up the next morning realizing that he was completely smitten. He had--
"Remind me again why we are here?" Hissed an irritated voice somewhere to the left of Mizuki, effectively smearing his fantasies with reality.
Mizuki sighed. One irritating thing about bringing Yuuta was that he had not stopped complaining all throughout Mizuki's quiet staring time.
"Scouting the tournament players," he replied automatically. "And watching for any other information which will come of use to St. Rudolph."
Yuuta couldn't help but wonder why Mizuki had chosen as part of his "stealth" outfit a fluffy sweater, as yellow and soft as a baby chick.
"Really? Because it kind of seems more like you're ogling my brother."
"Can you blame me?" Mizuki asked, but very quietly.
"What was that?" Yuuta asked sharply.
"I said, 'would you like to get ice cream after this, Yuuta-kun?'" Mizuki had the strangest way of making an innocent question sound like a demand.
"I—what?" Yuuta asked, completely thrown by this sudden invitation.
"Ice cream, Yuuta-kun. Iced cream. Creamed ice? No, that doesn't sound right….." Lately, Yuuta had also noticed that Mizuki was far dreamier than his usual pragmatic self, often slipping into internal monologues, of which random pieces cam out as actual statements.
"Sure…" Yuuta accepted cautiously, more to cut off the babbling boy than anything else.
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"What's this all about, Mizuki?" Yuuta asked uneasily. It hadn't taken him long to regret accepting the invitation since they had arrived. Mizuki was clearly lost in thought or perhaps fantasies and didn't seem to really be aware of what was happening around him. First, he had agreed to treat Yuuta, then he had attempted to pay the lady at the counter with a ball of tangled shoelaces that he had retrieved from his pocket, and that Yuuta recognized as Syuusuke's. He didn't know what disturbed him more, his brother's shoelaces being in Mizuki's pocket, or the fact that Mizuki had mistaken them for money.
"What are you talking about, Yuuta-kun?" Mizuki's urbane voice was beginning to come back as he zoned back in from the last twenty minutes of silence. "Isn't it alright for two friends to get an ice cream after school?"
"Two friends, yes. You and me, no. Something is weird with you today. You never treat me to anything." He chose not to mention the shoelaces.
"Oh, did I buy this?" Mizuki looked down.
Quickly, before the other boy could change his mind about reimbursing him, Yuuta interjected, "But you seemed bothered even before that. Did something happened to you?"
Mizuki took a deep breath and let it out again in a long whoosh. He seemed to be prepping himself up for something.
"You know, don't you?"
"Eh?" Yuuta frowned.
Mizuki gazed at him expectantly for about thirty seconds, but then seeing that Yuuta truly was nonplussed, it was his turn to be surprised. He leaned forward in his seat, eyes flashing in a slightly irritated way, before speaking softly:
"I know that compared to your brother and sister you may not have always appeared the most…how to put it delicately…ahem….scintillating perhaps. But I happen to know that you are quite an intelligent boy and I have a difficult time believing that you have not noticed that I am in love with your brother."
He spoke calmly, as though the two were discussing nothing more unusual or interesting than the persistently sunny weather.
Yuuta, throat had gone rather dry. Eyes normally squinted in frustration were as round as quarters and stared at Mizuki, who was now casually digging his spoon into an eight inch peanut buster parfait.
"Whenever you're ready." Mizuki smiled and took a bite.
Yuuta managed to close his mouth, but was still unable to deflate his eyes from the bugged out state they must be in.
"My brother."
"Yes."
"…..The one who completely defeated you in tennis."
"If I'm not mistaken."
Yuuta cleared his throat, suddenly feeling rather awkward, now seeing the manager he had know for years in this new, twisted light. Past locker room memories made him blush.
Unable to speak at all, he simply stared at Mizuki, who was stealing longing glances at Yuutas neglected sundae. Yuuta suddenly doubted that he would be able to finish it.
"Well,…um, that's…." He began in a slightly raspy way when he finally found his voice.
"Awkward? Yes, it is a little."
"………."
"……..Why though?"
"Oh, Yuuta," Mizuki sighed and leaned back in his chair, eyes glazing over so suddenly that it was really rather alarming. "Must I explain? His delicacy, his charm, his wit, his graceful motions, his smile, his laugh…..God, it tinkles, Yuuta, like little bells...and I don't mind his blindness either—
"I already told you, he isn't blind!" Yuuta screeched shrilly, half just to cork this highly disturbing stream of thoughts. In truth, Yuuta wasn't sure how this all worked. Mizuki was a pretty good friend of his and Syuusuke was his brother, so in a way the whole match should be ideal. Yet...
"Wait, a minute…." Yuuta couldn't organize his feelings. "You hated him! He hated you! You screamed at him after the quarter finals match!"
"Past events, Yuuta-kun, passed…..all in the past." Sighed Mizuki, waving his hand casually in front of his face and nearly smacking a passing woman. "I, for one, have grown far passed that stage and have learned to accept it as another milestone in my tennis career. We were both playing as professionals; I admire the strength he displayed. He helped to make me a better player. And after all, if you hadn't seen the actual match, 7 to 5 sounds like an impressive score, doesn't it?" His voice had grown thoughtful.
Yuuta shook his head. "But my brother…he doesn't…well he….."
"Doesn't like me?"
It was bothering Yuuta how Mizuki kept finishing his sentences.
"Not even just that…I think he might…"
"That's okay, Yuuta-kun!" Mizuki interrupted in voice similar to the one he used when assuring the St. Rudolph's tennis team that victory would be theirs due to his data skills. "I have learned to accept him; he will do the same! I've charmed girls millions of times before; how difficult could a boy be? I will make Syuusuke love me!"
The last part came out a little louder than intended and a group of girls at the adjacent table stopped their conversation to stare in surprise at the pair; Fuji's name was well known around here.
"Ahem..." He covered his embarrassment with a short cough. "Well anyhow, now that you know how I feel, you will be prepared for the future."
Oh no.
Yuuta felt a prickle of suspicion stab the uneasy shock he had been feeling for the last few minutes.
"Why are you telling me all this?" He demanded.
"Dear, dear Yuuta-kun…" Mizuki reached out and touched Yuuta's hand, which Yuuta jerked back instantly. "You're my best friend, you know that? My only true, loyal friend. Coincidentally, you are also rather well acquainted with the object of my affection. Why wouldn't I confide in you?"
Yuuta's eyes narrowed. Coming from anyone else, the words would almost seem sincere, but Yuuta's instincts forbade him to accept this as the real reason from the enigmatic, scheming Mizuki.
"…..and of course with your compassion, I'm sure you will be more than willing to help your lovely brother notice me…"
There it was. Yuuta had known this was coming. He had tasted it coming. He was psychic.
Yuuta had just been hoping that he could deal with this by stepping off, and ignoring the situation. His jaw stiffened as he imagined what sort of "help" Mizuki could want from him.
"And what if I'm not interested in helping you pursue this?" he asked.
"Ah, yes, I thought we might hit that little snag…." Mizuki leaned forward, smile in place, index finger never leaving his hair.
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A/N: I've always found it weird how Syuusuke is referred to as Fuji, but his brother is called by his first name. For the most part, I will be referring to them both by their first names.
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