Disclaimer: yuku no own-y ;.;
Pairing: OishixKikumaru, TezukaxFuji, little Oishi+Tezuka
Timely Reminisce
Part One
by: yukuro
Sometimes, when there was time to dream, Oishi would dream. Whenever there was time to think, Oishi would think. There were always times in bits of his busy day though, where Oishi would recollect memories of the past, smiling gently as he remembered every detail. Every fragment of his past, every memory and every smile, was always precious to him. But of all of his precious memories, there would always be one important person that stuck out in his mind.
It wasn't whom he had expected, as he thought about it in the present. With the way things had become, Oishi seemed to think a little less of that important person than before. There was always room for more people in Oishi's heart, but he would never forget the time when someone new dominated all of his heart, pushing out the old; only to be slowly replaced again by age.
It wasn't too long ago since Oishi was a first year in Seishun Gakuen. With wide, innocent eyes, everything around him seemed so new and exciting. Junior high was a whole different world from primary school, and as any first year would be, Oishi was excited.
Despite the new changes in life, some things never seemed to change. Immediately, the eager first year joined the tennis club with his best friend, and most important person at that time, at his side. In some ways, Oishi thought he may have really loved Tezuka back then. Maybe it wasn't romantically, but from the first moment he had seen those somewhat sadly determined eyes, Oishi knew that Tezuka Kunimitsu would always be important to him.
As time passed on, Oishi met many new interesting people. He had made many friends with his caring heart and friendly smile. Tezuka, on the other hand… Oishi had always known Tezuka was different. Not in any way that made him strange in any way, but in a way that was hurtful to himself.
Tezuka was like a child with an adult's soul. Even when they were still young, Tezuka would always be serious and responsible. He was completely independent. Already at an age so young, Tezuka had grown up; and maybe that was the first reason Oishi felt as if he was being left behind.
When he thought about his adult-like friend, the green-eyed boy sometimes felt sad for him. What was it like? To grow up so quickly without enjoying the joys of childhood? What was like it to tower responsibility after responsibility on top of oneself until the wall became so high and thick, a person was unable to see freedom on the other side?
From the moment Tezuka fulfilled his responsibilities, it was telling the world he could handle it all. Of course from then on, the tower never became any shorter, nor the wall between freedom any thinner. Tezuka was already isolated in a world of expectations and responsibility. His time to free his childish innocence had already disappeared, and there was no path to take backwards in time.
Oishi knew this about Tezuka. He always saw it in his friend's eyes. Instead of independence though, Oishi saw it as a kind of thorned cage of solitary loneliness. At that time, there was nothing more that he wanted then to free the surely pure white dove within the lonely cage of thorns.
"Oishi-kun. When our year comes, we have to lead Seigaku for sure to the National games. Definitely."
Maybe it was at that time when he decided Tezuka was most important to him. Because at that time he was sure that he would give everything to help Tezuka through life. The only thing he hoped was that he would be strong enough to follow after Tezuka. Tezuka, the strong, independent one; whose gaze never faltered when looking ahead. Tezuka, who never gave up. Tezuka, the silent, lonely one…
"Tezuka-kun," Oishi had said one day. A day that he thought at that time would not be significant. Of course he didn't know that it would be that day that could have ultimately changed the future. "You know… You're my best friend. If you ever fall on your way to the golden future you dream of, or even the slightest slip along the way, I just want to tell you that I will always be running after you; and I will be sure that I'm always close enough to catch you."
"Thank you," Tezuka had responded quietly. Even though his words were few, he had his entire soul poured into it. He knew that Oishi would understand though. Oishi always seemed to understand.
Without another word on the matter, Tezuka stared straight ahead again, looking towards the next thing that was coming. Tezuka Kunimitsu always looked straight ahead to the future. Not once has he ever paused or looked back on the way to achieve his dreams. "I'm going to be the top of the world someday, Oishi. Just wait and see."
"I know you will," Oishi replied with a gentle smile. "I know you will…"
Sometimes, Oishi thought to himself as he watched Tezuka from behind with a smile, sometimes it was alright to see his back. Oishi was always chasing after Tezuka, but he always seemed just out of reach. Seeing Tezuka's back move slowly further away was what always encouraged Oishi to get up again and keep running towards the future. Because the future was where Tezuka was going, and Oishi always wanted to be wherever Tezuka was going…
It seemed that despite the unforgettable words Tezuka had spoken that morning, the weight of the world was still determined to come crashing down upon him. Why was it that destiny was determined to destroy his dreams? Suddenly, time stopped, and the entire world held its breath…
"Tezuka-kun!"
No words could stop what had already happened though. For that moment, the wind stopped blowing and fell into silence. No one dared to move for that second. No one breathed at the moment the racquet hit Tezuka's arm.
It must have been the way destiny showed it would always be in Tezuka's way. No matter now hard he tried and how hard he worked, cruel destiny would always stand in his way. Just when Oishi thought the "golden future" was close to Tezuka's grasp, it seemed destiny always ensured it was just out of his reach. This was just another attempt to slow him down. The thing that Oishi feared most though, was that this could be what would finally make Tezuka halt.
"How long have you been playing tennis?" Tezuka had demanded with a serious, almost painful, glint in his eyes, his right hand gingerly touching his left elbow. "A tennis racquet is not to hurt people with!"
Oishi didn't dare to move. Even if he wanted to, his feet wouldn't move. He was in too much shock in what had just happened before his eyes. The glass road Tezuka ran on towards the future had just been struck and cracked. Glass is a fragile material; a single crack could affect the entire thing. Would the glass road collapse beneath Tezuka? Oishi could only stare in shock as Tezuka stormed towards the court entrances. The glass was cracked, and the damage was deep.
Somehow, after Yamato-buchou arrived, Oishi found the courage to stand in front of Tezuka as they ran. He didn't do much, he knew. It was Yamato-buchou who spoke to Tezuka. It was Yamato-buchou who said all the things Tezuka needed to hear at that time. Oishi knew that, but for some reason he didn't feel completely satisfied.
Shortly after the incident, everything fell back into place. Tezuka was still in the tennis club and he still was Oishi's best friend. Their relationship hadn't changed much, but a few slight changes were noticeable. Tezuka was just a bit quieter with renewed determination and Oishi spent more time letting Tezuka be on his own. It wasn't that Oishi wanted to leave Tezuka alone, it simply seemed that the silent boy with the glasses needed more time to himself. Oishi was simply understanding enough to respect his feelings.
It was different not being with Tezuka everyday after tennis practice, Oishi noticed. But also, as time passed, the green-eyed boy couldn't think of Tezuka every moment of the day anymore. Some things become bigger, absorbing his heart up quickly.
"N-No way… I lost?"
Kikumaru Eiji had always been an outspoken person. He always said whatever he wanted and never thought about what others would think. The redhead was confident almost to a point of cockiness, but Oishi still smiled kindly at the other boy across the court.
"Your acrobatics are really amazing," Oishi said with an admiring sparkle in his eyes. "It's unpredictable and really hard to catch. I hope we can play doubles sometime."
"As if I'd want to play doubles with a boring guy like you!" Kikumaru had retorted, his pride stung when he lost to the green-eyed boy he had been ridiculing before, 4-6. "Let's play again! I'll win this time!"
"Sure," Oishi had replied with bright eyes and a soft smile. The moment he saw the redhead's blazing dark blue eyes, Oishi felt his heart bubble. It didn't matter how many mean things Kikumaru said to him at that time, Oishi's heart simply continued to beat quickly with newly experienced emotions. It was exciting and new, and at that time, thoughts of Tezuka temporarily faded away.
The result was always the same, a 6-4 victory for Oishi. Kikumaru accepted his defeat grudgingly that day and eventually left Oishi alone for a while. Whenever Oishi walked up that small hill to practice after the school's tennis practice, those times when Tezuka wasn't with him, he found his thoughts straying back to that match with the fiery-eyed Kikumaru. There was something about the boy's spirit that made Oishi constantly think about him despite the fact that he hadn't seen the boy around school lately.
That day, Oishi practiced just as usual, hitting against the wall. There was nothing out of the ordinary. His mind was clear as he played tennis. Constant thoughts of Tezuka, Kikumaru, and problems all disappeared when he played tennis. It was freedom. That day though…
Kikumaru leaned over the top of the large bin Oishi had been playing against and grinned down at the boy. "Oishi! I'll make a promise! Until the day I can beat you, I'll play doubles with you!"
Oishi was surprised, but happiness spread through him. Making a new friend had never felt so good…except for the first time he had met Tezuka. It was almost a little frightening. Oishi didn't want to replace Tezuka in his heart, but then…
"And while we play doubles over the years, I'll learn all your weaknesses so I can defeat you!" Kikumaru called out cheerfully, ignoring the shocked expression on the other boy's face. Reaching out to pull the green-eyed boy up to stand beside him, Kikumaru broke out in a smile. "From now on, you can call me Eiji."
Fate had once again tangled itself around Oishi's fingers, making his heart skip vital beats with every sunny smile Kikumaru directed at him. The road before him was still long and filled with new adventures. Slowly but surely, new people came into his life and slowly filled the places that had once entirely belonged to Tezuka.
Oishi saw less and less of Tezuka when the boy had become a Regular. Tezuka would always be busy training with the other Regulars or playing in tournaments. It was sad at some times, but Kikumaru instantly whisked him away in a whirlwind of laughter and jokes, instantly laying layers over the holes made by the sadness of Tezuka leaving him behind. The more time he spent with the energetic redhead, the dearer he became to Oishi. Replacement in his heart had already begun from the moment he first saw Kikumaru smile.
---
The first year of middle school flew by in a flash after that. Before Oishi knew it, he was a second year student at Seigaku back in the tennis club as a Regular. He still had Tezuka as his best friend and he still played doubles with Kikumaru often. His time was torn between the two, yet he still found it possible to be with both.
"Oishi!" Kikumaru exclaimed with a grin after afternoon tennis practice one day as they went out to eat ice cream together. "I heard from Kyoko-chan in your class that you were elected class representative! I can imagine you in that position!"
Blushing slightly, Oishi rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as Kikumaru licked his ice cream with a greatly amused expression. "A-ah… I was. I was really surprised actually… How are things in your class, Eiji?"
"Oh," the redhead said suddenly, blinking when he remembered. Tapping his cheek with one finger, he said slowly, "This new transfer student just entered my class. His name is Fuji Syusuke. I think his brother just moved into Seigaku too."
"Sounds interesting," Oishi commented politely, smiling at the redhead's cute display of tapping his cheek. "Do you get along with him?"
"Fuji?" Kikumaru brought his hand down and grinned widely. "Oh yeah! He's amazing! He's really smart—they call him a genius. All the girls like him since he's always smiling and you know what else?!"
Laughing slightly at how excited Kikumaru had become, Oishi licked his ice cream again, doing his best to push his jealous feelings back down. "No, I don't know. What else is there about Fuji?"
"He plays tennis, Oishi!" Kikumaru said excited with sparkling eyes. "He's modest and all, but I heard from some of the guys that he's called 'tensai Fuji Syusuke' for tennis! I can't wait to bring him to club practice tomorrow. I really want to play him… Oi! Isn't that the first year Momo over there? Momo!"
Kikumaru was a happy, bouncing creature who everyone found easy to like. Oishi stood quietly with a smile as the redhead rushed to the younger boy nearby to pounce on him, bombarding him with questions and jokes that made them both laugh. It seemed, Oishi thought to himself as a small group of first years gathered around Kikumaru, that whether he was with Tezuka or Kikumaru, he always seemed to be slowly falling behind.
Turning and blinking when he realized Oishi wasn't still behind him, Kikumaru waved at his doubles partner and flashed him a grin. "Come over here, Oishi! I'll introduce you to these cute first years over here!"
A gentle smile crossed Oishi's face as Kikumaru rushed over to his side to drag him into the small group. Once again, he changed his mind. With Tezuka, Oishi could only follow slowly behind him as he advanced. But with Kikumaru, even though the redhead stretched far ahead, he would always be holding a hand back at him to pull him up alongside. "Eiji…"
"This one's Momo!"
"Come on, Eiji-senpai! Don't treat us like sheep or something!"
"M-Momo, you shouldn't talk to Kikumaru-senpai like that…"
"Hoi hoi, you! Lighten up! Kikumaru-senpai makes that an order!" Kikumaru laughed aloud, winking at the flustered first years while Momoshiro watched him with admiring eyes.
Oishi had to at least slightly insecurely wonder. How long will that hand be stretched out to him? He felt as if he didn't want to let Kikumaru out of his reach anymore… After all, he had already done so with Tezuka.
It was painful to be left behind. The more the thought hit him, Oishi realized, he was beginning to fear the loss of Kikumaru by his side more than the panicky feeling he felt whenever Tezuka retreated behind his barriers. Why was it though? Between Kikumaru's golden smile and Tezuka's golden future…
I don't want to fall behind…
Distance was beginning to grow inevitable, and it became harder and harder to cling onto those most important to him. Time will always be cruel in this sense.
Tezuka…I have to keep chasing after you…
--- ---
A/N: ^^'' wow… I started this a while ago and never really finished it. This is only part one too! _;; Anyway…*sparkle* oh, Oishi-kun… XD He's such a sweet character. I've always wanted to write a piece about him. This is for his birthday on the 30th!
I had considered
making this a one-shot thing…but then I got too many ideas so now it's in two
parts. ^.^; Hopefully this part is ok…
Oh…not much of the pairings in this half. X_x;; the pairings will definitely be
there in the next part though. u_u;; ah, mengo mengo!~
*bow* thanks for reading and please review if you can! ^_^;;
