To Anger Buchou
By Beletharatowen
Again. I do not own it.
The day before the game
Fuji could tell something was wrong. Tezuka was agitated. To someone who didn't know him as well as Fuji did, he would appear as normal, the cool and collected stoic captain. But Fuji did know him well, better even than the vice captain, Oishi, did. He could tell by the narrowing of his eyes and the fierce expression in them. He could tell by the way Tezuka would lean more of his weight on the balls and toes of his feet and the way he pushed up the rims of his glasses. Not only was Tezuka agitated, he was angry, pure and simple.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Fuji turned around to see Oishi and Eiji. He smiled nervously at them. "Saa…Eiji, Oishi, what's going on?"
"We were going to ask you that. You've been jumpy all day and keep staring at Tezuka," Oishi murmured, casting a quick glance at the captain himself.
"You mean you haven't noticed?" Fuji asked surprised.
"Noticed what, Fujiko-kun?" Eiji asked.
Fuji turned back to look at his best friend, Tezuka. "He's pissed."
"What?!" Eiji asked. "Surely not. He looks just the same to me. Tezuka never gets angry and besides, what would he be angry about?"
"Thirty-two percent chance that Tezuka is actually angry. Sixty-eight percent chance that he is merely agitated. Eighty-five percent chance that it is about Fuji's wrist and because he will not be able to play today. Fifteen percent chance his agitation, frustration, or anger is directed at Fuji," Inui muttered as he walked up to them.
"Wrong," Fuji said flatly. "He's furious. I don't think it is at me, but every time he looks at me, he becomes even angrier. I don't understand."
"Are you sure it's anger?" Inui asked.
"Yes. Can't you tell?"
"No."
"Really? It's quite obvious. He keeps messing up his hair, which shows he's anxious about something. Pushing his glasses up means he's agitated. Putting more weight on the toes and balls of his feet means he's restless and the narrowing of his eyes means he's angry," Fuji stated simply. "There are numerous other ways to tell, but those are just a few."
"You-you noticed all of that?" Oishi stuttered.
"Yes. Wouldn't a good friend notice that?" Fuji asked somewhat sadly.
Eiji just grinned at him. "You like him."
"WHAT?!" Oishi shouted. This earned him a glare from across the room from Tezuka. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "You like Tezuka? As in like like?"
"No," he replied. "I don't like Tezuka." He paused to look at the now pacing Tezuka before continuing. "I love him."
Whatever Oishi was going to say was interrupted by the coach coming in. "Alright everybody. Time to head out. This time tomorrow, you will be facing your toughest rivals yet. I want you all to do your best. Onto the bus now."
Fuji sighed and looked down at the cast on his right hand. He stood up and reached down for the bag that wasn't there. He looked up in surprise at Tezuka. He had his bag draped over his shoulder. "Tezuka?"
"The doctor said you weren't to strain your wrist." There was a look in his eyes that Fuji couldn't define which puzzled him. Tezuka turned around. "Come."
Fuji followed, bewildered. Tezuka was breaking all the rules he had set, all the boundaries Fuji had always remembered being there. On the bus, Tezuka placed their bags over their seats and sat in his general window seat, staring out. Fuji sat beside him and leaned back. He yawned and slowly drifted off to sleep since he hadn't gotten much that night.
He woke when the bus lurched to a stop. His head was lying on Tezuka's shoulder. He lifted it slowly and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Ne, sorry Tezuka. Guess I was more tired than I thought."
"Hn."
Fuji looked over at Tezuka to see him staring at him strangely again. "What is it, Tezuka?"
"Nothing," he murmured, looking away and towards the coach.
"Alright everybody. Listen up. You will be roomed as followed. Tezuka and Oishi. Fuji, Kikumaru, and Kawamura. Inui and Kaidoh. And then finally Echizen and Momoshiro. Here are the keys to your rooms. I suggest you unpack and go to sleep. You have a long day tomorrow. I just hope it doesn't rain."
Sorry this chapter is so short. Thanks for reading. Again, please review.
