Fic Type: Ficlet, Future, Drama, Fluff
Pairing: Perfect Pair, Tezuka Kunimitsu X Fuji Syuusuke
Warning: Fluff, BL/Shounen-Ai, Slash
Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Oujisama (Prince of Tennis/TeniPuri/LOVE). Konomi-sensei does (bless his soul!). I do not earn anything from this aside from pure, unadulterated pleasure.

Summary: Seniors are graduating high school from Seishun Academy. People become nostalgic, especially the pillar of Seishun tennis club, Tezuka Kunimitsu. One certain blue-eyed genius also seems to be finding it hard to accept that things were about to change.

CLOUDS

"That's all for today!" Tezuka Kunimitsu exclaimed, ending his recap of their afternoon practice and wrapping up his training reminders. He was standing in front, Ooishi his second-in-command of sorts was a step behind to his right, facing the assembled tennis club members of Seishun Academy, more commonly and affectionately called Seigaku. "Block A, gather the balls; Block B, the nets. Blocks C and D, make sure the courts and the locker room are clean before locking up."

"Yes, Captain!" Everyone answered in chorus.

Captain… Tezuka pondered. Starting tomorrow, people would probably stop calling me that…

Tezuka cleared his throat as he swept his eyes around his teammates. This was the last day for club meetings and activities for this academic year. This was also Tezuka's last term in Seigaku. He, along with the other members and students in his year, was graduating from high school in less than two weeks. Of all the time for the memories of his six years in this school he considered his second home and of the people he thought of as family to come to him, they come crashing in on him now like a merciless waterfall - now, when about fifty pairs of eyes were trained on him. But he supposed it couldn't be helped seeing as everyone else's thoughts were going along the same lines as his. He cleared his throat once more but the lump that steadily grew there in the past few seconds didn't seem to want to go so he just took a drink from one of the water bottles on the bench to his left, taking care to read the label in fear that he might grab one of Inui's concoctions by accident. He wouldn't want a fainted captain be the last memory of these people of him.

One of the members stepped forward, and he wasn't surprised that the kid appeared like he was trying hard not to cry. He couldn't blame him; even Tezuka felt his chest tighten at closing what was his final address to the team that stuck with him through thick and thin, braving every challenge that led them to remain the nation's number one.

"Captain…" Their resident rascal managed, his lips uncharacteristically trembling. Momoshiro swallowed a few times before opening his mouth but no sound came out. This Momoshiro… So tough yet to soft… Seigaku will be all right. Tezuka smiled inwardly. Momoshiro sniffed and tried again. "Captain Tezuka, thank you for…" But Momoshiro couldn't continue; instead of inhaling, he choked and finally the tears he's been holding back started to fall.

Tezuka has always been the serious type that his poker face was just as famous as his skill in tennis. But no, he wasn't uncaring - he just took his job as the team's leader very seriously. His stoic expression rarely changes even under extreme pressure, people would often comment; Tezuka wasn't sure if they knew, especially at a time like this, how difficult it was for him to hide his emotions and remain strong like a true pillar of Seigaku. In this moment, they probably didn't have a clue that he needed all his will power and even his reserves to stay composed and not lose it like Momoshiro had…

Kaidoh, Tezuka's successor, glared at his bawling rival while walking towards Tezuka and Momoshiro. Surprisingly, he didn't hit Momoshiro even though Kaidoh probably wanted so much to do so like he used to on countless occasions. Instead, he put a hand on his spiky haired classmate's shoulder. He knew choosing Kaidoh as the next captain was still a good decision. "What stupid Momoshiro's trying to say's that we thank you for all your hard work, Captain. It's been a great honor playing tennis alongside you all these years."

Breathing had become hard for Tezuka since Momoshiro started crying but with what his junior just said and with every second of meeting Kaidoh's intense gaze, it had turned out to be almost impossible. He looked away in the end but it might have been a mistake - now Tezuka was also aware that everyone else (aside from Momoshiro and a few others who were openly sobbing into their jerseys' sleeves or collars) was looking at him in the same manner as Kaidoh. He'd feared this would happen. Now that it had, Tezuka was still at a loss as to what he was going to do or say.

Good thing Tezuka was saved. "Now, now, we still have a few more days. It's not like we're going to graduate tomorrow. Why don't we put off the goodbyes until then?" Ooishi, his fellow graduate-to-be, said as he walked from behind Tezuka to stand beside the anxious would-be ex-captain. Tezuka's head reeled at the mention of the word 'goodbye.'

Is this really it?

Almost panicked, he automatically glanced around, though trying not to meet anyone's eyes, but didn't spot the one person he needed to see to make him feel calm. Or not, Tezuka amended, picturing a pair of striking blue eyes dancing with glee. He'll probably just tease me more. Yes, Tezuka was certain Seigaku's tennis genius would just egg him on. In the years they've been classmates and teammates, Fuji Syuusuke never passed up on the opportunity to tease anyone, especially Tezuka.

Where is he, anyway? Nerves took a backseat and worry for Fuji became front and center. Tezuka was sure the last time he's seen his mischievous friend was the last period. Fuji said he was just getting something from someone in their photography club and would catch up with Tezuka to their tennis club's afternoon activities but Tezuka hasn't seen him since. He wanted to ask Kikumaru but the latter had been latched on to Ooishi ever since graduation talks exploded a couple of weeks ago and Tezuka didn't want to get in their way…

Envy pulled at his heartstrings. He was happy for his longtime friends but somehow Tezuka couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy at seeing those two overtly express their feelings to each other without any care for what other people might think or say. Tezuka wished he could be like that sometimes but it just wasn't in his nature. He was wired to be the rational, the responsible, the proper. He didn't even know if he would, if he could change at will.

Graduation, a beginning, change… Did it always have to be that way?

Tezuka didn't know what else to feel but sadness and anxiety. Should things have to change just because they're entering a new phase in their lives? Couldn't they stay the way they are?

Tezuka still didn't know the answer and that didn't make him any less sad.

That looked like a bee. Click. How can it look like a bee? Fuji mused as he stared at the bunch of clouds passing over him through the viewfinder. He'd have to wait until he used up the entire roll of film and print the pictures to be sure if the clouds really did look like the buzzing insect but he only had about a dozen shots left so it shouldn't be long.

Fuji sighed and removed the camera from his eyes, carefully placed it on its case that was sitting by his head, and extended his arms to his sides. Lying on his back, he was reminded of times past when everything was simple and easy. Snow… If there still was snow, he'd have made an army of snow angels by now but the ice was almost completely melted, giving way for the advent of spring so Fuji might have to wait to form his army until the end of the year.

Thinking of snow, Fuji's mind summoned memories of afternoons he'd always anticipated. During winter season, it was his favorite time of the day - walking home together, sometimes under a single umbrella, hands brushing in their sides, shoulders and arms touching… The past winter was probably our last…

Losing a fight with a massive yawn, Fuji stretched his body and sat up. He was already feeling down as it was; there was really no need to recall moments that would probably never happen again however much he might want them to.

And I do, don't I? Fuji laughed as a response to his own question. But really, there's no helping it. Soon enough, we'll be going on our separate ways...

Spotting a lone bird flying in his direction, he swiftly grabbed his camera and snapped a picture. As he was lowering the gadget onto his lap, he spotted two students walking straight towards the building the roof of which has been his haven for the last two hours. He inched back, lest he gets spotted. Not that Fuji was hiding. Seigaku's mastermind never hides from anything.

Camera still in his hands, he cautiously crouched and lied on his belly, trying not to make any noise. I'm also not spying, Fuji decided, his smirk widening, I'm just somewhere they happened to be heading and it's their fault if they don't see me. He wished he also had a recorder so he could torment his friends more with recordings of their club room tryst but remembering that fun moments like that might not occur, Fuji just contented himself with taking pictures. He focused the lens of the camera and the shutter clicked a few times. If the photos come out good, he'd frame them and give them to his best friend who was strolling arm in arm with Ooishi, stopping just a few feet beneath where he was not-hiding to open the locked door of their clubroom.

"Kikumaru," someone called from somewhere leftward. Fuji froze and his expensive camera almost slipped from his grasp. The speaker may be out of sight but he'd know that voice anywhere.

"Oi, Tezuka!"

A/N

Everyone (regulars) is present except for Taka-san who didn't continue to high school tennis club and Ryoma who, sadly, went back to America. :'(