Author Notes:

Okay, that was a bit rushed... But tomorrow I'm going to Norway and I wanted to leave sth here :)

Today it's a bit more about our dear Fuji.

Still un-betaed, I will search for one when I come back - which is on 9th August. Three weeks...

Thank you Silverrowanraven for your review, I really enjoyed it. Of course I will continue! And English isn't my first language (easy to guess, huh?), and the longer I learn it, the harder it gets. I will correct both chapters when I come back.

Hope you like it:)

Being Feminine

Chapter 2

It was really hot and Kanon kept cursing herself for her stupidity.

'I knew it was going to be extremely hot, so why did I took the jumper?' she sighed. Her breath has spread and she wondered why was Tokyo such a calm and quiet city in the mornings? Capital should be more... dynamic, she guess. Only few cars passed her and the only people she met were some old lady with her dog, nice man from that vegetable shop and students. Japanese people really take their work seriously, even from young age. Besides, why were lessons starting so early? It's unforgivable! There are students that want to sleep longer and don't care much about grades... Kanon as the very example. Though it's not something to be actually proud of, is it?

As the girl draw nearer the school, the more students kept coming her way.

'Why are there so many of them? Did I understand Mother wrong? But I'm pretty sure lessons start at 9...' Kanon got a little nervous. What were they doing here?

Then she heard balls pouncing on the tennis courts on her left, followed by the screams from a soccer ground. Then she realized... Morning practice! Relief overwhelmed her, as she finally calmed.

'And I thought I would be the first one here!' she chuckled quietly and headed to the school office. Trying to look elegantly, she tripped over some rock and fell with a loud scream.

'So much for wanting to make a good entrance and gain attention.' thought the unfortunate girl bitterly. She could hear some of the students giggle or even laugh openly at her. Seeing as they wanted to help her get up, she quickly stood up and ran off to the school building. 'As if I want attention of that kind! Oh, God...'

Ten minutes and a few downfalls later, Kanon found herself in front of door with the 'Head Office' sign. She knocked and heard "Come in!". So she entered.

Being Feminine Being Feminine Being Feminine Being Feminine Being Feminine Being Feminine

It was really hot, so Syuusuke unbuttoned his uniform. He liked how calm it was in the mornig. He would walk slowly, greeting neighbors and familiar shopkeepers. Sometimes he would take his camera along and sparing few minutes to take pictures. Mostly of nature, but he didn't mind if some people got caught in the process. It was amusing to see those usually serious workers with yawning or making funny faces. Sometimes he would stop at the flower shop, watching new delivery of cacti (of course he always ends up buying some after school). At some point he would hear familiar 'Fujiko!!' and wait for the redhead to catch up with him...

"Fujiko!!" Syuusuke smiled at his best friend, who was waving at him with such speed that the outline of his hand was fuzzy. "It's so hot, nya! Think Tezuka will spare us?"

Syuusuke just chuckled at his friend's naivety.

"No way. If you ask him, he will give you even more laps... with Inui's juice as the reward for your hard work."

"Nyadda!" Eiji mimicked their freshman in his own fashion.

Then, after some more walking, they would hear

"Good morning, senpai-tachi!"

"Uissu."

and the said freshman with his best friend Momo would pass them on a bike.

"Morning Momo, Echizen."

"Mooorning, Ochibi! Hey, wait for your senpais!" Eiji tries to catch up with them. And he succeeds, even though they ride a bike. Of course he does, that's Seigaku's acrobatics player after all.

And Syuusuke would walk slowly, not bothering with the loneliness because he knows he will meet another friend just a few more steps ahead...

"Ah, Fujiko! Good morning," says Taka-san, smiling shyly. Liking new presence in his surroundings, Syuusuke smiles his rare true smile.

"Helping father again, Taka-san?"

"Yeah..."scratches his head Takashi with a sheepish grin. "It's hard to bring together tennis and taking care of our shop, but I just can't resign from any."

"Of course. And we're happy to have you with us again. You and Echizen."

"That's right, he just starts Seishun High, doesn't he?"

"Yes, it will be fun again. All of us will reunite."

There is a moment of comfortable silence. Takashi thinks a bit and says gently "You're resigning from the Photography Club, right? Is it the right decision?"

"... I guess." Syuusuke can't find the right words. Maybe some day he will explain it to them...

They would walk in silence again until they meet Tezuka and Oishi at the front gates. Short greetings, question if everything is alright from Oishi.

"Oishi!!" the redhead bounces to his doubles partner happily, babbling about new toothpaste his sister bought for him and some unique formation he learned recently that they could practice later...

Inuiwas already on the courts, mumbling to himself and scribbling in his notebook.

"Yo," he greets his friend and buries his nose in the Notebook-To-Fear again. "Kaidoh, you should increase number of your laps by 12,01"

"Yes, senpai" came from the snake boy, who was running around the courts. "Good morning, senpais." A short bow.

There is no place for loneliness, that's for sure. And Syuusuke knows his place belongs here, where so many people are fond of him. The crowd is so big, you could get lost yourself in this mixture of different personalities. But even though no one pays attention to you now, it will change in few seconds. Because they acknowledge you. Because they won't forget about you...

It's funny. How do they endure with him and his sadistic antics? How can they keep up with Tezuka's orders? Why no one bothers with Echizen's arrogance? Why Inui is still alive? How come Kaidoh and Momo aren't kept on leash? Why aren't they fed up with Oishi's worrying? How is it possible to be near Burning-Taka-san for more than five minutes? Why nobody stops Eiji from glomping on others?

They like each other, that's why. Simple.

"Let's start practice!" orders Tezuka.

The usual morning that will never change.

And that's what Syuusuke liked about it the most.