TYPICAL ROMANCE CHAPTER 10
The plunge down the clear blue water of the pool was beyond frightening. He was moving through the air so fast that his mind froze at the impending realization and danger of not knowing how to swim, much less float.
Hit body dived into the deep pool with a loud splash
He slowly lost consciousness, but before his eyes were completely shut, he saw a black mirage in the ripples of water coming closer to him.
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3 minutes earlier...
Tezuka received many congratulations once he got out of the pool. Being a prominent figure most of his life, getting embarrassed with overzealous praises was no longer an issue as it was back before junior high.
"Now that wasn't bad, was it?" Yushi had the winning smirk on her face that meant she won a bet of some kind.
"I haven't seen you swim since last summer. I didn't know you can still swim so well." Ayana complimented, giving him a towel to dry off.
"I'm your son. What can't I do?" Tezuka said, sounding way less cocky than if Ryoma were to say it.
Ayana smiled proudly at that before turning to Ryoma, giving her youngest an eyebrow raise and a challenging gaze. "Apparently that's not true with my other son."
Hearing that comment, Ryoma glared at his mother under the brim of his hat. "I'm better than Nii-san." He scoffed as he crossed his arms.
Ayana chuckled. "Ryoma-chan, you're still much shorter than Kunimitsu."
Tezuka watched joy dancing in her eyes. He knew she like familial interactions like this. But as she faced him, joy was instantaneously replaced with fear shown in her eyes. Her eyes widened and her mouth left gasping.
He had never seen her like this before. Immediately followed, a wave of shouts erupted.
"Someone fell into the pool!" It was 10 feet deep.
Tezuka heard the splash, but didn't see a body when he turned around. At that instant, he instinctively threw the towel aside and jumped into the pool, not noticing the lifeguard and one other jumping in at the same time as he did.
It was difficult to see clearly under water, especially when he didn't have the perfect eye sight, but he was pretty darn sure that it was who he was seeing. Fuji Syuki. That finding urged him to swim faster.
Silent whispers were heard as Tezuka reached the surface with an unconscious body in his arms. People came to the edge to help lift Fuji out of the water. They lied him flat onto the ground as Tezuka got out of the pool. He immediately pushed them aside to crouch down next to the unmoving body.
He panicked, and he didn't know that he was. All that was on Tezuka's mind was saving the girl in front of him. As he was about to put his hands on her chest to initiate a Heimlich maneuver, a pair of hands beat him to it. A look of confusion crossed his face as he regarded the silver-haired man in front of him.
"I'll do the chest compression. Give her breaths." Niou commanded the momentarily stunned president before initiating the compression right away. Truth was, when he saw who it was taking a plunge down from the top floor, he stayed at the scene, running through his mind for different plans to save Fuji's identity from being exposed. This quick thinking brought him here.
There was no room for discussion. Tezuka tipped Fuji's chin upward and blew 2 breaths of air into the awaiting mouth after 30 compressions were delivered.
It continued well into 3 minutes before Fuji spluttered out water and regain partial consciousness. He coughed and felt himself being lifted up. When he looked up, the first person coming into view was his friend. "Niou." He whispered out in shortness of breath.
"You're okay." Niou smiled down in relief as he cradled Fuji to his chest.
As Fuji tried to return the smile, he fainted. There were cries round him, but Niou assured them after checking Fuji's ABC. "She's okay, just passed out." Niou quickly gathered Fuji into his arms when he saw Tezuka making the move to take Fuji from him. He received a questioning stare from his boss and readily supplied the answer. "She's my school friend. I'll take care of her."
Again, Tezuka was left no room for discussing as Niou took off, feeling slightly ticked off with Niou's appearance.
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When Fuji woke up, he found himself in his cabin under the cover and in dry clothes. He gasped and sat up quickly when he realized that someone changed his clothes and must've seen him nude. Before anymore thoughts, his door opened to reveal a smiling Niou with a tray of food in his hand.
"Hey."
Fuji slowly smiled at him. "Did you..." He started and paused as he watched Niou putting the tray on the table.
"I think you owe me a hell of a favor." Niou leaned back on the table as he looked at Fuji with a smirk.
Then, Fuji realized it that Niou was his savior. He chuckled softly. "Thank you. I do owe you one. So nobody found out?"
Niou shrugged. "As far I know, no one, but..."
Fuji's eyes widened in anticipation. His heart hammered against his chest.
"When you were brought up from the pool, I'm not sure if your savior felt your fake chest when he had his arms around you. I mean, I could certainly tell when I gave you the chest compressions."
"Wait...you mean you weren't the one to rescue me from the pool?"
Niou nodded. "I didn't. It was Tezuka-sachou."
Fuji gasped. "I thought it was you."
"Well, I could have but he was closer and faster..." Niou trailed off when he saw the fear flashing on his friend's face. "Don't worry, I don't think he found out though."
"How do you know for sure?"
Niou blinked and thought. "He didn't say anything." A strange thought then came through his mind. "But if he did, the worse that's gonna happen is you getting fired. Why do you look like it's the end of the world, it's not like he likes you or you like him..." Nious trailed up when Fuji's expression and what he said connected. "What? Don't tell me that-"
Fuji peeked a shy look at Niou's unbelievable expression.
"Shit! So you like him. Like, like like him?" Niou was now sitting beside him on the bed.
Fuji nodded slowly. "Don't tell anyone this."
Niou let out a long sigh when he saw the pity face Fuji pulled. "So, your employment at this company is solely because of him."
Fuji shook his head. "Not entirely. I need the money too."
Niou dropped his hand on Fuji's head. "Alright. Since I'm your friend." Fuji giggled at the slight tease. "I'll do you another favor."
Fuji couldn't be any more thankful. He was glad that he had a friend in this strange crowd.
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Tezuka had returned to his room to shower and dress. Now standing at the balcony of his room, images of the situation earlier kept flashing through his mind. Three of his fingers ghosted over his lips, relishing on the feeling of Fuji's lips that still lingered on his own. He didn't realize how their lips molded perfectly together when he gave Fuji air then, but now that he did, it actually felt...right.
That was my first kiss.
Not entirely true, because they were rescue breaths, not kisses. Tezuka sighed as he dropped his hand and walked back inside. He felt ridiculous.
Ever since he first saw romance between his friends, he had become aware of what love was all about. He then noticed the shy glances girls threw his way as he walked by and the brave innuendos. He now understood those feelings that were unidirectional harbored for him, because he was now walking in the same path of those admirers. It was ridiculous.
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The pearl-colored purse bounced on the bed in a fury and hit the headboard with a soft clank. The bed was sunken as Aoki dropped her bottom on it. Her face creased in all places that were unpleasant. Anyone who happened to walk in would say that she was beyond furious. And she was.
Fuji's fall did not make her guilty at all. In fact, she was quite pleased with the result as she waited for him to hit the bottom of the pool. She didn't have a death wish for him, but merely wanted to make him suffer. She knew Fuji would be rescued by the lifeguard. However, what she didn't expect was for her object of affection to be Fuji's savior. Now, she wished she hadn't done what she did because the moment she saw Tezuka's lips on Fuji's, she was too furious to stay and watch the rest.
Aoki closed her eyes, looking calmer without the fire blazing in her eyes, but her respiration contradicted her calmness. It was deep and forceful. She tried to even out her breaths slowly. Her eyes opened once again when she succeeded in composing herself.
"Just you wait. No one can take anything away from me without going through hell." Fuji's face popped up in her head.
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When Fuji woke up again, he saw An laying on her bed reading a book. At the rustle, she turned towards her cabin partner and put her book to the side. "You're awake."
Fuji nodded. "What time is it?" He was certain that he didn't feel any pain earlier, but now he did. His chest hurt. He rubbed it in circular motion.
"10 past 9. You missed dinner."
Fuji jolted up. Had he really slept for that long?
Feeling Fuji's tension, An smiled and reassured him. "Don't worry. Tezuka-san said you are excused for the rest of the day."
Fuji's face fell. He was glad that he didn't have to get back to working in this condition, but he'd rather be earning money. After all, that was the whole point of this trip. "Looks like I'm getting a cut in my paycheck, so much for being here."
At that, An chuckled as she stood up and walked over to sit on his bed. "Is that what you should be worried about right now?"
Fuji raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
"You were injured after all. Niou-san told me that you have a bruise on your chest when he changed you." An made sure to observe Fuji's face as she talked. She found it strange that Niou refused her to care for Fuji since they were both females. Looking at Fuji's face now, he wasn't at all affected by the fact that an opposite sex saw Fuji nude.
Fuji placed a hand over the area that hurt. "It pains a little when I breathe."
"The doctor wanted to see you, but Niou-san insisted that you were fine and didn't need any further medical attention."
"Ah."
Fuji's lack of reaction made her confused. "Fuji-chan...are you and Niou-san together?"
"Eh?" Fuji widened his eyes. "What makes you think that?"
An pulled back. "You didn't feel embarrassed or show any emotions about Niou-san changing you out of your wet clothes. He's a guy, and you're a girl."
"Oh." Fuji slowly smiled. He placed a hand over hers. The contact made her feel a bit weird as a blush came onto her face. She didn't know why the mere touching of their hands made her feel so. It wasn't a normal reaction because this was the first time she felt this way towards a girl's touch. "We're good friends."
An seemed to accept that as she nodded her head. "Do you want to see the doctor now? I can get her for you."
"What? no no no." Fuji shook his head vigorously.
"But what if you have a broken rib?" An pressed, seeing concern overriding Fuji's face. That was an unusual response. Was Fuji afraid of the doctor?
Fuji smiled as he patted his chest. "See? I'm fine."
An looked at him suspiciously before standing up. "Okay then, my break is over. I have to get back. I'll get someone to bring you food."
Fuji nodded and thanked her. He let out a sigh after she was gone. "Ow~" He rubbed his chest with a wince.
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"Come on, Nee-san." Ryoma tagged his sister as she walked down the corridor towards her room.
Turning to the door, she got out the key card from her pocket and swiped to unlock the door. As she turned the knob, she looked sideway at her youngest brother to see a pout on his lips. "If you want to visit her, why don't you just go by yourself."
"That wouldn't be right because her cabin would be in the female vicinity." Ryoma stubbornly insisted. "Please Nee-san. It'd be quick."
"You know I'm expected in the ballroom right now." Yushi walked into the room, leaving the door ajar for Ryoma to walk in, and he did.
"You just have to walk me there, then you can leave right after."
He received a raised eyebrow from his sister at the suggestion.
"This is not practical." Yushi mumbled as she got a dress out of the closet and walked to the bathroom to change.
"I don't care. I'm not leaving you alone until you do what I asked." Ryoma replied. His voice was laced with his renowned stubbornness like the brat he was. He leaned against the door as he waited for Yushi to come out.
Yushi wasn't surprised to see Ryoma was still in her room deliberately wanting to be a nuisance. She sighed. "Fine. Let's go before I'm too late."
As they walked towards the employee's cabin, Yushi couldn't help but noticed the now bright smile on Ryoma's face. "You are smitten with her aren't you?" A smirk was on her face when Ryoma's cheeks colored in pink.
"I'm not! She just has something that I like. And besides, she's Nii-san's age. That's too old for me."
Yushi laughed softly. "You're too cute, Ryoma."
Ryoma huffed, throwing a glare up at Yushi. "I'm not."
"I hope your intention is not to get whatever you want from her because she's tired enough to deal with your bratty self."
"Why do you always see me as a troublemaker?" Ryoma murmured under his breath.
"D5. Here it is." Yushi anounced as she spun her heels to face the door. With a smile, she knocked on the door and heard a muffled invitation. "She sounds tired." Yushi whispered before letting them both in.
Fuji sat up and pulled the cover up as much as possible. Seeing his current employer surprised him. "Tezuka-san. Tezuka-kun."
Yushi inclined her head as she came closer to sit on the edge of his bed. Her eyes held a gentle gaze as she placed a hand on his knee. "You've suffered twice today, one after another. I hope you're not frightened too much."
Fuji shook his head and return the smile. "I'm fine, just a bit shocked, but not frightened. Thank you for your concern, Tezuka-san."
"That's good to hear."
"Though..." Fuji casted his gaze on her hand on his knee. "I'm sorry for being useless. I'm supposed to be working, yet I'm here doing nothing."
Yushi reached for his hand and held it in hers, compassion and understanding in her eyes. "Don't say that. You've been doing very well, and I really appreciate it. I also want you to know that even though you're resting, you are still getting paid because it counts towards worker's comp."
Fuji looked up in surprise. "...?"
Yushi looked over her shoulders at Ryoma, continuing her speech. "Ryoma wants to stay a bit if you don't mind?"
"No, that's fine, and thank you."
"You're welcome, and I apologize for being rushed, but I need to go." She patted Fuji's hand before putting it down.
Fuji smiled nostalgically. Yushi reminded her of Yumiko greatly. "Thank you for personally coming here."
Yushi smiled and nodded, accepting it, as she stood up. "Make sure you get enough rest, and if Ryoma bothers you, just kick him out, okay?"
Ryoma immediately squeak indignantly. "Nee-san!"
Yushi chuckled as she gave them a wave and left.
Ryoma glanced over at Fuji to see a smile sending his way. He forced a fake smile in anxiety of being in a room with a female unrelated to him. "So, umm, are you okay?" He asked gingerly, adjusting the cap on his head.
Fuji nodded. "Just a little tired, but I'm fine." He subconsciously rubbed his chest. "Thank you for asking."
The action didn't go unnoticed. "What's wrong with your chest?"
"Eh?" Fuji was momentarily confused but as he looked at his chest, he realized. He chuckled quite forcefully. "It's nothing."
Echizen looked skeptically at Fuji before relenting. "Anyways, I know you're unwell right now, but I have a request." At Fuji's nod, he continued. "I really like your tennis style. Would it be ok if we play again sometimes after this trip?"
"Pardon?" Fuji was surprised. Tennis was the last thing on his mind right now. He could see insistence in Ryoma's eyes as they looked at him, waiting for an answer. He knew he wasn't bad, but for Ryoma to be interested in his tennis style, that was a surprise. "Umm...I don't know..." He looked apologetic towards Ryoma.
Ryoma then plopped down on his bed and took Fuji's hands into his. He looked like a desperate child. "Please. Please. Please. Please be my tennis coach."
Fuji sighed. "I'm really sorry. Work gets very busy for me, and I don't have enough time for it."
"Where do you work? Can you ask them to shorten your hours? Because I can pay you when you're with me. Just please!"
Before Fuji could reply, the door open and An walked through, initially surprised at another being in the room. "Tezuka-kun."
Ryoma looked at An and blinked, hoping to linger long enough to shoo her away.
Since it was Tezuka's brother, An felt frighteningly nervous as she fidgeted with the tray of food in her hands under his stare. It sure made her uncomfortable.
Fuji then cleared his throat, which got Ryoma to lift his gaze off An, but back to him. "An is my roommate."
Ryoma nodded wordlessly, as if he didn't care much for that information, which was partly true.
"Wouldn't you say hi?" Fuji nervously urged the young boy, who seemed to fixate on him and made it awkward for An.
"Oh." Ryoma nodded and slowly turned back to An. "Hi."
Fuji smiled at An. "Is that for me?"
An nodded. "Umm. I was going to ask someone to bring this for you, but Inui-san insisted that I bring it to you."
"Ah, if you see him again tonight, please tell him that I said thank you."
An nodded with a smile before putting the tray on the table. "I'm going get back to work." She could feel Ryoma's stare on her, but she didn't have enough bravery to look at him. She kept her gaze on her roommate.
"Thank you."
After An left, Ryoma's attention was back on him, but the subject changed. "Don't get out of bed, I'll bring the tray to you."
Without waiting for an answer, Ryoma got up and did what he said.
Fuji looked at the boy in wonder at how he could be so demanding, yet innocent and cute, just like Akaya.
"Here." Ryoma settled the tray on Fuji's laps, receiving a smile that he readily returned. Even though he didn't bring the tray from the kitchen, but moving it so that Fuji could have dinner in bed made him feel elated because he had done Fuji a favor.
"Why don't you tell me about yourself." Fuji started, to get a mostly one-sided conversation going while he had dinner. He couldn't have Ryoma sitting there watching and waiting for him.
By the time it got late into the night, Fuji managed to keep Ryoma talking about things besides the earlier request. It was killing two birds with one stone. The second bird was a peek into Ryoma's family life. He didn't expect or intend to find out more about Tezuka through Ryoma, but since the younger brother was here and voluntarily offered it, he might as well give a listening ear.
When Ryoma left, Fuji fell back to sleep, dreaming of coming home.
Not once, as Ryoma walked back to his room, had he thought that what he did for Fuji was to please the older. In fact, it was out of a natural act that he acted like a brother caring for his sister.
"Where are you going?"
Ryoma stopped in his step and turned to the source of the voice, which was right behind him. He quirked an eyebrow up at his brother. "What?"
"How are you going to get in without the key card?"
Ryoma scoffed. "I have it right here." And turned back to the door to swipe, but the door didn't open. A confused frown marred his face. "What the...? Why is it not working?!" He swiped it over and over again.
"You're opening my room door...with your key card." Tezuka drawled out as he watched his idiotic brother keeping trying to open the door.
"Eh?" Ryoma took a few steps back and looked at the number on top of the door frame. Damn
He stepped aside, keeping his gaze to the ground as he muttered. "I uhhh well...good night!" He ran back to his room and quickly unlocked it before entering with haste.
Tezuka stood watching as his brother disappeared from sight, wondering what was wrong with Ryoma.
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Soon, vacation ended, and Tezuka was once again found where he always belonged, his office. Since the day he rescued Fuji, he hadn't seen the employee again. He had been busy thanking the guests for coming and sending them off at the dock while Fuji was busy cleaning up the cruise.
There was no work for the company that day, but Tezuka wanted to stop by and visit it since it was like his second home. Being away from it for a few days made him miss the routine company life.
The pile of awaiting documents still lied on his desk like how he left them. Lifting through them, he was reminded, not that he needed it, he just wanted to confirmed it the dates, of their due dates that were a 2 days from now. He then checked his calendar on his desk at all the appointments made in advance for the month and next. None tomorrow.
Once he was done checking a confirming a few other things, he left, looking forward to tomorrow.
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Fuji plopped down onto the sofa in his sister's home with a relieved sigh of finally being at a familiar place. The closed his eyes and smiled in contentment and suddenly wanting to fall asleep even though it was a bit past 2 in the afternoon.
Yumiko came into the living room with a cold bottle of water in time to see Sasuke walking by with luggage in hands. "I can't imagine work was difficult for you the past 72 hours." She tossed the bottle softly on Fuji's belly, earning a yelp.
"Careful with the injured." Fuji chastised jokingly with a soft glare at his sister. His hands were fumbling with the cap on the bottle, opening it after a couple of seconds.
Yumiko thought it was a joke, but dismissed it at the way Fuji opening the bottle with somewhat difficulty. She didn't reply immediately as she watched Fuji drinking from it. "What happened to your right hand?"
Fuji widened his eyes very subtlely as he brought it down and recapped it. "Nothing really. Just the heavy platters that made it a bit sore." He hoped it satisfied her.
"Let me see your hand." Yumiko held out her hand. When Fuji simply looked reluctantly at it, she bent her fingers and beckoned him to hand over his hand, in which he did with a sigh.
Yumiko examined it. She was not a nurse or a doctor, but getting a flinch when she felt around his wrist gave her a slight idea of what might have happened. "This doesn't seem like nothing." Her eyes hard on him when she saw slight discoloration.
Fuji fidgeted and took his wrist back, rubbing it soothingly. "It's not dislocated. Someone pulled me, tried to get me somewhere, nothing intentional." He defended, not wanting to identify who it was.
"Alright." Yumiko relented. "Did you have lunch?"
Fuji shook his head. "Saved my stomach for your home-made food." He gave her a cheeky smile, making her shake her head.
"Such a bother." She teased, but he knew that she loved cooking. "Go change out of your disguise and it'd be ready."
"Okay, Yumiko-nee-chan!" He saluted her with a wide smile.
Yumiko laughed. She rubbed his head as she walked out.
Fuji let himself fall back onto the couch. "Home." He was happy to be back.
Once he had a quick lunch and returned everything to Yumiko, Sasuke drove them both to their parents' house.
His little brothers were ecstatic to see him back. Akaya didn't want to let go. He clung to Fuji-side and didn't let go until he was deep asleep.
Fuji carefully slipped out of the room and came to the porch. Sitting down, he pulled his outer wear closer to himself at the chilly air.
Right at that moment, Yuuta came through from the front door. He was surprised seeing Fuji sitting on the porch. "Nii-san, what are you doing up this late? Aren't you tired." He resumed a seat besides Fuji.
"Couldn't sleep, maybe the trip upset my circadian rhythm."
If Yuuta paid attention in science class, he would have known that explanation was not correct. "Oh, that sucks."
Fuji only smiled. Even though he voiced out that he would support in whatever Yuuta decided, he wished Yuuta would hold out in school longer, until he had some sort of degree. He couldn't have Yuuta treading on the same path he had. Cross-dressing wasn't fun and not something to be proud of, even though it provided income. "What have you been doing in the past few days while I was gone?"
"Eh..." Yuuta chuckled dryly.
"Spill it and be honest...does anyone know?" Fuji's voice held no amusement.
Yuuta shook his head. "Not yet. I just got the job today, and it's a...bartender at a night club."
If it wasn't late into the night, he would already yelled out in surprise. Instead, he blinked incredulously at Yuuta, who looked sheepishly at the ground.
Fuji looked around to confirm that they were indeed alone, and whispered harshly. "Are you in the right mind?" He hissed. He didn't care what Yuuta did as long as it wasn't something bad, immoral even.
"I didn't." Yuuta protested quickly. "I was going on a job hunt, and bumped into a guy. He offered me the job."
"Yuuta!" Fuji emphasized in a quiet voice. "No normal guy comes up to you and kindly offer you a job. Why didn't you ask Yumiko or Kura-nii for help?"
"They're gonna tell me to go back to school." Yuuta said, feeling sad and disappointed that even his best sibling was against this. He didn't like it either, but he had thought about it. He was only going to work as a bartender, and from there, he'd try to get connections before branching out into a profession that was more acknowledgeable. "Plus, you said that you're going to support me,."
Fuji let out a frustrated sigh, almost pulling out his hair, but Yuuta was right. He did say that, and he was a man of his words. "Fine." Fuji swallowed. As he turned to look at Yuuta, he noticed how deflated Yuuta looked. He didn't like the way Yuuta looked like he was going to give up. "Only as a bartender. No drinking. No dancing. No strip-."
"Nii-san!" Yuuta hissed, raising his hand over Fuji's mouth to stop the older from going on about embarassing things. "I said just a bartender. Not a-a-you know."
Seeing his younger brother flustered, Fuji let out a light-hearted laugh. It got muffled by Yuuta's hand, but it was retrieved when it became moist from Fuji's breath.
Yuuta grunted in disgust, wiping his hand on his pant.
"Yeah yeah. But you still have to promise me that you're not going anywhere beyond that, please?" Fuji's face became serious again.
Pleased and happy at how it went with Fuji, Yuuta smiled and linked their pinkies. "Promise."
"Good. Go get ready for bed."
"What about you?"
Fuji looked up at the moon and sighed softly. "I'll be there in a moment."
Yuuta nodded and left silently.
The moon was full and bright tonight. Usually the sight of it made him feel at peace and happy, but the thought of returning to work under Aoki made him dread for tomorrow.
TBC
AN: Merry Christmas!