Chapter 1
~Feelings~
Fuji's POV
It has been a week since Ryoma left. It was three days after the Nationals when Ryuzaki-sensei told us that he's currently in New York working on some family matter.
As I counted the months that we, seniors, have left on the calendar hanging inside my locker door, I couldn't help but feel sad. Five months is long but in some sense, also short.
I almost jumped in surprise when the clubroom door opened. Tezuka, with the light of the afternoon sun shining on a side of his face, frowned at my startled expression. I immediately put up my usual smile just to avoid questions.
"Hello," I greeted as normal as possible as I tried to hide the tension in my voice due to the sudden rapid beating of my heart.
"Hi," he answered back as he walked to his locker. In the six years that I know Tezuka, that's the only answer I'm going to get from him.
I panicked when he started unbuttoning his coat. Without thinking, I walked – almost ran – to the door.
"I'll start my warm-up." I didn't expect for him to reply so I immediately ran out of the room.
I walked to the farthest corner of the tennis courts and waited for my heartbeat to stabilize.
Tezuka's POV
The whole day in the classroom went through like the usual. Too usual that it's already boring. It's really surprising how I'm looking forward to club activities. Suddenly, our tensai's face popped up in my head and I gasped surprisingly loud enough for my classmates to hear. The teacher and my classmates alike looked questioningly at me. I'm Seigaku's Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected. This is an unusual behavior for me. Everyone knows that I don't have any liking for daydreaming.
I sighed, slinging my bag on my left shoulder. As I walked towards the clubroom, I wondered why Fuji never failed to appear in my dreams or just pop up in my mind lately. Umm…does six years account for lately?
I was about to open the door when I saw Fuji through the window. He's sighing while staring at the calendar on his locker. After a minute, I opened the door and he slightly jumped in surprise. His startled face made me frown, my hand gripping the doorknob to keep myself from reaching for my chest to calm the loud thumping of my heart.
"Hello," he greeted in the most musical-like voice I've ever heard, the usual smile he always have already on his face.
"Hi," I managed to breathe out.
I walked to my locker and dropped my bag inside. I was unbuttoning my coat when Fuji walked rapidly to the door.
"I'll start my warm-up." He was gone before I could even reply.
With only myself in the room, I clutched my left chest and closed my eyes. I waited for the tremors in my heart and breathing to subside.