Chapter 10: The Best, Final Birthday Present

February 29

When Fuji's eyes flickered open, it took him a few seconds that he was now 4 or 16 years old, whether you only include the leap years or not. Even though he smiled at what the rest of the regulars did for him, he can't feel special at all today. Maybe all of his excitement was drained away due to the past events. Or maybe it's because I just woke up, he thought, smiling.

After that thought, he decided to get ready as soon as possible. If they did prepare something for him again, it would be awkward if he was late. He gave himself a shower before grooming himself. He then proceeded to prepare his school stuff, as well as getting dressed. He watered his cacti before walking down, and when he came at the last step, confetti came from the ceiling.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SYUUSUKE!!" The rest of the Fuji household cried gaily, with the exception of Yuuta (Yumiko talked to Mizuki to let him stay at home for at least today), who said "Aniki" instead. Fuji smiled after the surprise from the loud pop disappeared. "Thank you." he said.

They then had breakfast together, which was rare since his father usually left early. Yumiko and their mother pulled off the best of their dining skills to create a breakfast fit for a king, including some spicy delicacies for only Syuusuke to enjoy. The morning was full of happy conversations, sometimes asking Syuusuke some embarrassing questions.

"Oka-san, may I go out for dinner tonight?" The genius suddenly said. "Something tells me that the Seigaku tennis club will celebrate my birthday later this night."

Their parents looked at each other for a while before agreeing. "Well, this does happen only once in a while." his mother said, in a rather playful tune. "Sure, you may go out for the night. However, be here by midnight. Also, I will prohibit you from drinking alcohol. If you did, I shall know."

"Oka-san!" Syuusuke replied, but rather playfully as well. The rest of the family then laughed.

After the breakfast, Syuusuke excused himself. Yumiko asked if he needed a ride, but the genius refused.

"I might ruin their plan today. I'll just walk."

Yumiko sighed. Until now, she had no idea how could Fuji know what his teammates were thinking.

Yuuta, who seemed to read her mind, answered it for her. "What do you expect, Nee-san? Fuji's a genius."

Fuji was correct when he chose to walk to school. Because when he turned to a corner, he had been glomped by one Kikumaru Eiji.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FUJIKO NYAAA!!"

Fuji, for a few seconds, finally felt what Echizen did. "E...Eiji...!"

"Ah! Gomen, nya!" He said, still cheerfully, before letting go of him.

After catching his breath, Fuji spoke again. "Do you plan to kill your best friend at her birthday?" Of course, this was a joke, but Eiji took it seriously.

"No!! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!!" Eiji bowed again and again.

"There's no need to apologize..."

"Really?"

A chuckle. "Yes."

"YAAAY!!" Eiji cried, about to glomp Fuji again, but stopped himself at the last minute. "...Oh yeah." He said sheepishly, and they went on their way.

Both of them conversed in multiple subjects, ranging from their project to today's lunch at the cafeteria. After a while, they were accompanied by Oishi, who joined them after they turned to another corner.

"Fuji! Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, Oishi." Fuji replied. "You're the 5th person to tell me that today."

"Am I? I must be really late. Eiji, please do not stranggle Fuji, even though it's his birthday today."

"Actually, he already did." Fuji replied.

"Eiji!"

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry! I'm very sorry!" Eiji replied.

"But what if -" Before Oishi could even continue into one of his rather otherworldly worries, Fuji was able to cover the vice president's mouth.

"Nice one, Fuji!"

The genius had to chuckle. "It's already over, Oishi. No need to conjure such thoughts."

After being persuaded, Oishi finally gave up. Soon, it was just an uneventful walk towards Seigaku, and aside from a couple of "Happy Birthdays", the whole school period was also boring as well.

Time seemed to slow by for most of the regulars. They were all excited on the celebration later this evening, as well as Ryuuzaki-sensei's own surprise. She told Fuji to go to the tennis courts a few minutes late. She knew there was no need to hide everything from the genius: the surprise had already been revealed before.

Fuji's agreement also gave him quite a surprise. When he finally went there, he saw the courts as well decorated as it could be. There were walls colored with blue and stars, and different colored confetti were thrown around the moment he entered. A loud "Happy Birthday!" (with a soft 'nya!' at the end) was shouted, and the only thing Fuji could do is to smile at to what extend they would do for such an occasion.

However, the mood went down the moment Tezuka annonced tennis practice. Only court A was decorated because of this. After a shout of "party pooper!!" from the brave ones among the team, therefore earning them a punishment of an extra 40 laps, the mood went to normal as it could be. Even though the captain made sure order was in place, one could feel the excitement from the regulars. At dissmisal, it exploded.

In Eiji's and Momo's cases, at least.

"AT LAAAAST!!" The two scream in unison, making up noise. "Party! Party! Party! Party!" They seemed to be a sponge, draining the non-regulars' excitement to their own.

"Eiji! Momo!" Oishi scolded, being the 'mama' he is. At the meantime, Echizen was mumbling why they were so excited over something like a party. Kaidou joined him, though he was hissing about Momo caring only about food. Momo heard this, and before they could even stop it, the two 2nd years started another quarrel. Taka-san's futile efforts did nothing to calm them down.

"Looks like we have to do this..." Inui said, handing him a racket, which he took it.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds...

"BURNIIIIIIING!! THE TWO OF YOU, CALM DOWN!!! IT'S FUJIKO'S BIRTHDAAAAAY!!!"

That was enough. Momo and Kaidou suddenly turned silent, but were still glaring daggers at each other on the way to Kawamura Sushi.

There, more chaos happened. Kawamura-san, who prepared a lot of sushi, including Fuji's favorite, filled their stomachs, even Momo's. Inui stuck to his promise and didn't pull out a single cup of Inui Juice. However, he seemed to have slipped a genius a drink of it...

After dinner, Eiji brought out a birthday cake.

"Make a wish, Fuji nya!"

"That's too childish, Eiji-sempai..."

"Still!"

Echizen sighed in the sidelines. "This is pointlless..."

"Shut up!"

Echizen remained silent for the rest of the day.

After Fuji blew out the candles, Momo volunteered to slice out the cake while the others got forks. However, when they returned, Momo already ate all of it. All of them scolded the 2nd year, which concluded with Tezuka giving him 15 laps around the shop. Actually, it was 30, since Momo complained about it.

After they all ate the cake, Kawamura-san revealed a karaoke machine. For the rest of the night, they sang their hearts out until the neighbors were already complaining about the noise and that their curfew was near. They all seperated at the entrance of the shop, leaving no one but two people.

"I was surely an exciting 10 days, isn't it... Tezuka?" Fuji asked.

"Yeah."

"Should we walk home together, just like in old times?"

The only reply needed was a nod to get them going.

Neither talked to each other at that time, and neither knew why. They weren't anxious with talking to each other, probably its was only because they prefered silence.

Soon, they reached a forkroad, where the two had to part. "It was a nice birthday plan indeed," Fuji said in a barely audible whisper. "That was probably the only birthday gift I received that was so long, it had to last for 10 days."

Tezuka said nothing, leaving Fuji disappointed. "Well..." the genius started. "I have to go." He was about to walk out of his sight when Tezuka suddenly talked.

"I am to leave for Germany tomorrow."

Fuji froze in his steps. "I know. You really wanted to go pro, don't you?"

"Yes."

Fuji didn't look back. "I'm really going to miss you. We are going to miss you."

"I know." There was another silence, where Fuji decided to walk on again, however, he was halted by a grasp on the shoulders, and that was when Tezuka kissed him.

A rainbow of emotions flowed through him as the passionate moments ticked by. Fuji could not describe it – it was just a simple one, merely the meeting of a lips, nothing dramatic. However, he still could not express the feelings that rushed through him.

He suddenly felt a box thrusted into his arms before Tezuka released the kiss. Fuji was silent in shock, still trying to interpret his emotions. Tezuka at the meantime, seemed disappointed. "I knew it. You never returned those - "

He was interrupted by a kiss, but this time Fuji did it. It was more passionate, Tezuka feeling the acceptance of the genius. They kept it a secret to each other, and neither knew, until now, that one loved another.

Fuji then released it after a few minutes, leaving the two of them to gaze at each other's eyes. "I will surely miss that taste."

Tezuka couldn't help but smile. "I would as well. Until I return, make sure Seigaku does not let their guard down. Also, take care of Echizen."

"I will."

After they shared a goodbye between their eyes, Tezuka finally walked away. Fuji, at the meantime, took notice at the box. When he opened it, he saw a rather strange cake.

It was covered thickly in green icing, detailed with red. The shape was strange, as if it was quickly made. Fuji took a taste of the icing.Apple and wasabi, he complimented.

Fuji again smiled before walking towards home. That was truly the best birthday present he received.

Disclaimer:Tennis no Oujisama was created by Takeshi Konomi.

...Tezuka could bake. O.o