Typically Shibuki went to pick up his younger son after he had participated in tournaments with his school's track team. But this time he had promised to do the same for his older son for a change. Kaoru had called him earlier and said that he might not be able to get on the bus with the rest of his team, so he would be pleased if his father could give him a ride home. Naturally Shibuki didn't have anything against it. On the contrary, he was very happy he could do something to his other son as well. However, deplorably because of his working hours, he knew he wasn't going to be able to see his son playing his own match this time either. That was truly a pity. He would have certainly wanted to see just how much Kaoru had progressed since the last time he had seen him on the court.
When Shibuki was already parking the car, he began to think that maybe he should ask if Kaoru would like to play a light match with him some time. Surely his son would win easily with his remarkable abilities that he must have obtained during his harsh training throughout the past years, but it wouldn't have mattered to Shibuki. The important thing was to spend time with his children, especially Kaoru, before he would drown into a pile of school books. Since he had already decided the high school he wanted to apply for, it meant he would have a lot of studying to do. But Shibuki was certain Kaoru would make it. If it was Kaoru, he would be able to achieve each and every goal he had set in his life. After all, he must have inherited his tenaciousness from the man himself.
Shibuki was still deep in thought when he was walking around and looking for the right court. There were a plenty of school boys in their tracksuits everywhere. Fortunately finding Kaoru shouldn't have been very difficult. In the morning when he had been packing his racket bag, Shibuki had seen him putting his special bandana into the bag with the other necessities. Besides, a couple of days before the tournament he had even asked his mother to wash, dry, and iron it for him especially for this day. Such a cute feature in him.
And that was when Shibuki noticed the boy among the other people. Just seeing his son's posture, as he was walking along the road, was enough to know that Seigaku had won again. Their team was undoubtedly strong, and it just might have had something to do with the fact that Kaoru was now their buchou. With a faint smile lingering on his face Shibuki walked towards his son but pretty soon he realized that Kaoru hadn't seen him yet. He seemed to be taking another route. Where was he going to go? Perhaps there was still something he had to take care of, but now that Shibuki had already found his son, he thought that he could as well follow the boy and let him know his ride was ready whenever he was ready to go.
But the place where Kaoru seemed to be heading for was only a tree. Under the tree was standing another boy who was wearing the same kind of tracksuit, just like Kaoru's. So he obviously had something to talk about with his teammate before going home. Alright, Shibuki could wait until they were finished. There was a bench nearby and he decided to sit on it to wait.
And as a matter of fact, it was probably better that he had sat down, because otherwise he just might have collapsed on the ground when he saw what happened soon under the tree. No, the boys weren't talking to each other - simply because they couldn't have spoken at all. No one would be able to talk properly if their lips were pressed on another pair of lips, right?
That moment Shibuki could hardly believe his eyes. And he definitely didn't know how to react. Except he did realize he was going through quite a shock. Because honestly speaking, all things considered, it would have been too strange to think that Kaoru would celebrate his victory by kissing with his teammate. And on top of that, it wasn't just a mere kiss. The other boy, who suddenly seemed somewhat familiar, had placed his hands on Kaoru's hips gradually moving them to his buttocks. If that boy would even try to slip his hand under Kaoru's shorts, Shibuki would have to step in and make them stop.
No, wait a moment. It was his son. And rather unexpectedly the situation reminded Shibuki of the time in his teenage when he had been head over feels in love with Hozumi. He had experienced it as well - how Hozumi's father had found them making out with each other and how he had been terribly scolded by the man in the end. Of course something like that could have easily been expected after he had wanted to touch the panties under Hozumi's miniskirt when he had been about 17 years old.
But this was completely different! His son was with another boy! And he was only 14! How could he ever explain that to his wife? Not that Hozumi was narrow-minded or old-fashioned. Actually she was a very modern woman but would she be able to handle the fact that her older son was attracted to boys? Because everything that was happening between Kaoru and his teammate under the tree, had absolutely nothing to do with a plain friendship. The way they were embracing each other, the way that they must have been French kissing, the way that they were completely absorbed in what they were doing. All of those things were enough proof of the fact that they definitely weren't friends but something much more. Something like lovers.
That would be a problem. Even if Kaoru was in love with that other boy, wasn't it a little bit too much for him to have such a relationship when he was only 14? At least the hands hadn't slipped inside the clothing although it seemed like Kaoru enjoyed how he was being touched and caressed by that other boy. Even if Shibuki was a mature man, he couldn't help but feel at least a little embarrassed to witness his son's love life so closely. Naturally, he didn't have to stare at them, it was enough knowing that the two boys were there together.
Furthermore, Shibuki had another problem to ponder. Exactly how was he going to meet Kaoru now? Staying where he was sitting might have been really bad. If his son was going to find out that he had seen his private moment so thoroughly, things would definitely become far too complicated. And for Shibuki himself it was more than enough to think that soon he would be in the car with his son trying to act completely normally, just as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Slowly Shibuki lifted his head to glance at the situation under the tree. The other dark-haired boy had his fingers in Kaoru's jet black bangs and fiddled with them for a while before giving a quick kiss on Kaoru's temple. Perhaps they were just about to part. Such an atmosphere could be sensed around them when Shibuki watched them finally talking something to each other. It was better to get up and change the scenery before it would be too late.
Although Shibuki knew he would lose the sight of his son, he got up and decided to walk ahead. While he was walking aimlessly, he thought that what he had experienced was something he would have to discuss with his wife before he could bring it up in a conversation with his son. Kaoru was much more sensitive than Hazue and it would be extremely thoughtless to hurt him by saying something unconsidered. That wasn't the way things were to be handled anyway. Always consider other people's thoughts and feelings, and not just your own. So Shibuki's parents had told him a long time ago and he had passed the message to his children, and therefore he would have to remember to act appropriately as well.
As Shibuki walked on, he suddenly noticed a vending machine. He stopped in front of it and decided to buy himself and his son a can of fruit juice which they both enjoyed. Kaoru might even appreciate it. And just when Shibuki had grabbed the cold cans in his hand, the left pocket of his trousers began to vibrate. Holding the cans in his right hand he picked his mobile phone from the pocket and put it on his ear.
"Moshi moshi."
"Father, where are you? Have you arrived already?" Kaoru's voice sounded completely natural on the other side, sort of rough yet kind like always.
"Oh, I've been looking for you for a while. Instead I found us some juice and I bought you a can, too," Shibuki replied wondering which way he should go now.
"Hmmm, I'd like that. If you've left the car in the parking lot, then we could meet over there," Kaoru suggested.
"Alright, I'll see you over there then," Shibuki said and started to walk again.
"See you then, father," Kaoru said finishing the phone call.
Pretty soon it was the time to face the seemingly active teenager and this time it would be so very different to all of the times before. As Shibuki walked to the direction of the parking lot, he could only think that his older son was truly becoming an adult and might do it much faster than he could have imagined. However, after seeing him stand next to the car with his racket bag over his shoulder, he still looked exactly like he was supposed to, a young boy. For the moment Shibuki decided to put complex thoughts into the back of his mind and just enjoy a can of fruit juice together with son before driving home to eat dinner with his dear family.