These broken lights they shine on us tonight.
Under the pale streetlights, Tezuka's face glowed. Beside him was another, a smaller girl who played with a lopsided smile on her lips. She reached up and gently removed his spectacles.
The park was empty save for the two. Despite forcing himself to not let his guard down, Tezuka had had too much to drink. Kimiko had urged him to.
Kimiko toyed with his hair fondly. Here was the person she loved, one with a stoic expression and never spoke of his past. She was glad to have met him in high school. Without him, she wouldn't be who she was today. Despite the fact that he had never openly shown his affections for her, she was willing to believe that he did return her feelings. Or maybe it was just her wishful thinking.
And tonight, she let him have his share of fun. Even with too much to drink, even with wildness surrounding him, Tezuka was still ever-so serious. But it was he who had not wanted to go home.
"Kimiko." At the sound of her name, she looked up into his eyes. They were glassy and unfocused but they stared right through her. "Thank you for tonight."
She smiled at his words. "You're always welcome, Kunimitsu. Be mine tonight?"
"…Aa." His calloused fingers trembled as he traced the outline of her jaw, lower, lower. Tezuka could barely see without his glasses, but he expertly felt his way downwards. Like he had done this so many times before.
The jaw line… It felt so familiar. His head was swirling now, the hangover was approaching.
And he leaned forward slowly to meet her lips, alcohol's tipsy aftereffect finally getting to him. Kimiko wrapped her hands around his neck contentedly, like a kitten nuzzling against its mother. A migraine attacked his head.
That was when it struck him. It killed him, the resemblance. Without his glasses, his soul couldn't see.
"Fuji…"
Her head jerked up at the unfamiliar name. "Are you all right, Kunimitsu?" She asked softly, not wanting to hear his reply.
"Fuji, I missed you."
Knowing that she was right, Kimiko slowly unclasped her hands. It had been a one-sided relationship all along. She was a replacement, even if she refused to admit it. Tezuka didn't love her. He had loved another all along.
His bewildered expression was almost ironic. "Don't leave."
She laid a final peck on his red cheek before rising. "You don't love me, Tezuka."
"But Syusuke… I do." Kimiko had already disappeared into the darkness, leaving him alone under the flickering lamp, not knowing that he would wake up the next day, regret ever letting his guard down and all of his foolish words that would forever break a girl and ultimately himself.
Miles away, Fuji Syusuke could not sleep. He turned on his desk lamp, afraid to wake his family. But it was so dim.
Watching the piece of sky outside his window, Fuji felt a strange sense of nostalgia. Few stars dotted the midnight-blue heavens, and occasionally, a jagged bolt of lightning would slice through the atmosphere like broken lights.
If only Tezuka had been here to share this with him. If only he could tease the captain, ruffle his hair – if only he had not chosen to let him go.
Using his camera, Fuji took a snapshot of the night. He would show it to Tezuka, every single picture he captured when he missed him.
The only comfort Fuji had was that they were beneath the same sky that night.
Published with other old, long forgotten works.