Disclaimer: I don't own the Tenipuri characters. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Written on a whim. This is set somewhere after Tezuka wrecks his shoulder and just proceeds from there. Since it's been a long time since i've actually seen the whole series, this story might be peppered with OOC-ness.

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Isometrics
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Eiji had abruptly become Tezuka's secret.

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Well, he wasn't so sure about abrupt; it may have been years in the making, though he couldn't fathom how it could have happened. They were total opposites, and the captain was sure that the boy might have hated him ("He hates unresponsive people*," Oishi had joked once). Okay, hate was a strong word. Maybe the redhead just knew where effort was wasted and so steered clear of him; it was apparent that out of everyone from the regulars, it was with him that the childish boy interacted the least. And as for him, Kikumaru was too much to handle, too much work, and he was both thankful and in awe at how Oishi expertly and effortlessly manages the hyperactive youth. Fuji too, except putting those two together almost always equaled mischief.

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So how did it happen?

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Tezuka could only attribute it to the other's random nature and with how he had succumbed to stress out in Kyushuu. He had just gotten off the phone with his vice-captain, who had filled him in on what happened during training, had told him that he was locking up the club room, and then had added that everyone planned to have dinner together since the next day was a free day. After he told Oishi (not quite truthfully) that he was managing therapy quite well and wording out a couple of reminders, they had exchanged their goodbyes and then hung up.

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Just as he was about to pocket his phone, it rang again.

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They couldn't find Kikumaru. The last anyone saw him was when the bubbly youth had been hurriedly dressing and then he was just... gone. Oishi had tried the boy's phone, but couldn't connect. After discovering the boy's bag propped against the wall outside the club room, they decided to split up to look for him. Failing to find him around the vicinity of the courts, they then stepped into the school building and began searching.

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"Buchou?"

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A tentative voice rang out from the other end, and although he recognized it, his disbelief prevented Tezuka from making any sound.

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"Bu.. Buchou?"

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"Kikumaru."

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"Ah, mou, you startled me, nya!"

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Tezuka blinked. It was very much like his teammate to turn things around. He began to wonder what this was about, but didn't have to wait long, didn't even have to say anything else, "Um. Would you please listen?"

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"To what?"

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"Uh. Wait, I'll put you on speakerphone, okay?" And then there was a beep and shuffling sounds and a thud and some itai's and nya's.

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And then the most tender music begins to play.

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Seven boys immediately headed to the music room when they heard the sound of a piano. Fuji was already there, peeking through the slit of the door, and so everyone else positioned themselves around the tiny opening. ("Echizen, you're stepping on my foot." "Heh~"). The room was dark though, since the lights weren't on, but they recognized the sole occupant of the room by the silhouette of his curled hairstyle.

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It was an unexpected sight. No one knew Kikumaru could play, not even Fuji or Oishi. But it was the acrobat alright – his strokes were much like his tennis playing: fingers flying, reaching impossible keys, although in a more subdued, proper manner.

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The music tapers off. Tezuka was sitting by then, eyes closed. "Buchou? Still there?"

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The voice was quiet this time, question uttered as if whispering. The captain opened his mouth to say something, anything, but he seemed to have lost his ability to speak. So he gracefully grunts instead. It seemed as if it were enough of a reply though, "So there, get better quickly, okay? Everyone's really looking forward to seeing you again… We'll... we'll even run laps obediently and won't complain when you tell us to. For about a week. So yeah. Fight-o, nya~".

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"Hai."

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"Okay, bai-bai—"

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"Kikumaru."

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"Hoi?"

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"Thank you."

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Tezuka could almost hear the other's smile through the phone.

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It seemed like Eiji was… talking to himself? Or because he saw a brief flash of square light, Fuji figured it was someone over the phone. As to who, exactly, he had no idea. He was about to decide to needle, even trick, the information out of the other, when the redhead suddenly slumped over the keys (-CLANG-), and then rested a hand on the back of his head. It took only a few seconds before he straightened again, eyes to the ceiling, and his cheeks briefly glimmered when a sliver of light touched his face ("Ii data."). He suddenly slapped both hands against them, and practically shouted, "Dame, dame!"

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At this, Oishi and Fuji both shooed everyone off, and they all shuffled back to the club house. They caught sight of Eiji swiping at his cheeks though, before the latter finally got up to replace the cloth that covered the keys and then covered them with the hood.

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Later, Eiji ran up to Oishi, grinned sheepishly, "Gomen Oishi, forgot something." And then when he noticed the quiet of the place, "Uwahhh, they left us behind? So mean!"

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Oishi looked as if he wanted to say something, so Eiji tilted his head, pursed his lips, "Hoi?"

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So the more responsible half of the Golden Pair smiled gently instead, shook his head and then handed his partner's bag to him, "Come on, they might eat everything."

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"Ah! It can only be Momo nya, that meannie!"

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All the way to the restaurant, Oishi periodically gave surreptitious glances, but the other boy seemed to have fully recovered from earlier. Cataloging what happened for further perusal in the future, he decided to forget for the moment.

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As for Tezuka, he couldn't understand why his heart was performing isometrics, struggling against his ribs.

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-to be continued?-

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*"I hate unresponsive people" – actually, it was Kikumaru who said this, a bit before his match with Kabaji.

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Hope it wasn't too confusing. Can anyone direct me to a PoT episode or manga chapter wherein Eiji and Tezuka actually interact directly? Am totally just writing things out from my imagination and am in dire need of references... although this could just end as a oneshot. But thank you in advance! And thank you for reading this too. Comments (especially about the premise), critiques and suggestions are highly welcome. -25c