Chapter 14

Fuji slowly opened his eyes to a blurry white ceiling above him. With half-closed lids, he focused his vision until everything came into clear view.

"Fuji."

The tensai blinked at the deep, anxious voice as a familiar face suddenly hovered over him, brown eyes looking worriedly down at him.

"Fuji. Are you all right?"

Fuji felt a large, soft hand gently caress his forehead, and he nearly shivered at the touch. It was so warm, so comforting, and so caring that he felt his heart about to leap out of his chest.

Noticing a slight pain behind his head, however, he attempted to sit up.

"Fuji! You need to lie down!" Tezuka quickly ordered, trying to gently push the boy back onto the bed.

But the tensai ignored him and ended up sitting partially upright as the taller boy leveled the pillow against the shorter boy's back.

"What…happened?" Fuji asked groggily as he reached behind and felt a bump.

"The racket slipped out of Momoshiro's grip and hit you on the back of the head. You passed out and I quickly carried you here to the infirmary."

Fuji paused and silently cursed himself for not being awake when Tezuka was carrying him. Suddenly, the tensai's eyes shot wide open as all his senses returned. He quickly turned to look at the bespectacled boy next to him upon remembering.

"Tezuka! Are you all right? You didn't get hit, did you?"

"F-Fuji!" Tezuka gasped, taken aback by the look of anxious worry in the blue eyes in front of him. "I should be asking you if you're all right! You jumped in front of me!"

And then, Tezuka fell silent at his own words and looked down, hands placed nervously on his lap. "I'm…sorry, that you got hurt."

Fuji blinked before smiling amusingly at this rare expression. "Ne, I'm just happy you are all right."

"Fuji."

The tensai's ears perked at the tone in Tezuka's voice.

"Why…did you jump in front of me?"

Fuji dropped his smile and blinked in surprise as Tezuka frowned at him.

"Ne, it wouldn't be good for the buchou to get hurt before the match, right?" Fuji smiled again.

Tezuka opened his mouth slightly before closing it and nodding. "Of course."

For a second, Fuji thought he heard slight disappointment in that voice.

Tezuka reached out his hand and lightly patted the top of the tensai's head. "Thank you, Fuji."

Fuji nearly swooned at Tezuka's words and touch. His cheeks flushing bright pink, he quickly looked away.

The taller boy blinked, puzzled by Fuji's reaction as the tensai looked down, hands fidgeting with the bed sheet below.

A knock came at the door before the rest of the team walked in, all already dressed in their school uniforms.

"Fuji!" The redhead jumped excitedly onto the bed as he threw his arms around his best friend. "I was so worried!"

"Don't choke him, Eiji," Oishi chuckled teasingly.

"I'm sorry, Fuji," Momoshiro apologized, face full of guilt. "My hand slipped when I tried one of my new moves. I hope you're doing okay."

"It's okay, Momoshiro." Fuji opened his eyes to reveal dangerous blue ones. "Next time, I'll pay you back."

The second year shook in fear at the evil, blue aura surrounding the smiling tensai.

"Ryuzaki Sensei is currently talking with the nurse out in the hallway. She'll come in in a moment to check up on you," Oishi smiled.

"The nurse is going to give you some ice. She said you are lucky that it's just a bump on the head and nothing else," Inui added. "But any other odd side effects today and you should think about getting your head checked at the hospital."

"I think I'll be fine," Fuji laughed. And then, he paused as he realized that Tezuka's hand was now clasped over his shoulder. He wondered what it would feel like to have that strong hand grasp his naked skin. Fuji held his breath.

"Get better, Fuji. We need you," Tezuka said, completely serious as his hand on the contrary gave a warm squeeze before letting go.

Fuji's heart pounded wildly at the contact, and he felt his face flushing once more.

"Ne, Fuji! Are you okay? Your face looks really red or something-"

"I'm fine!" The tensai cut off his best friend as he put on his smile once more and willed himself to calm down despite the strong urge to glomp the taller boy next to him.

"Tezuka, you don't have to walk me home," Fuji chuckled outside the school gate after school.

"But Fuji, I'm worried about that bump on your head. I don't want you to faint on your way home. We shouldn't let our guard down."

"Ne, Buchou, don't you think you're exaggerating?" Fuji laughed. "I can take very good care of myself." Although he was secretly jumping in joy at the prospect of having Tezuka walk him home, he had enough pride in him to not want to seem too clingy.

"Fuji."

The tensai snapped out of his daydream and turned his attention back to the boy in front of him. "Yes, Tezuka."

Tezuka opened his mouth as though to say something, but then closed it, hesitating. Fuji stood there, smiling patiently as the taller boy in front of him frowned as though in deep thought.

Finally…

"Fuji." Tezuka paused, debating how to word his sentence before looking back up and continuing carefully. "You don't…hate me?"

Fuji flinched and opened his eyes. He stared at Tezuka, surprised by this question. And then, remembering Inui's words, he smiled and responded, "Actually, quite the opposite."

Tezuka stiffened.

Silence.

"Is there anything else?" Fuji continued to smile.

"N-no. That's it. I'll see you tomorrow." Tezuka quickly turned around and began walking ahead, leaving the tensai standing at the school gate, clearly puzzled by the scene just now.

As Tezuka walked further away from the school and his mind went over Fuji's words over and over again, trying to discern their meaning, he felt a slight blush tint his cheeks. He didn't understand Fuji's response exactly, but for some reason, it made him slightly happy.

When Tezuka got home, he shut the door to his room and fell face forward onto his bed, thankful that no one was home. As he lay there in his room, he still remembered the scene earlier today at practice.

He shook.

He felt guilty that something like that happened at his practice. If only he had been more on his guard, he would've prevented Fuji from jumping over the net and getting hurt.

How could he, the captain, have been so careless?

He scolded himself.

Thinking about the tensai, he was still boggled by Fuji's cryptic words to him before he left the school.

Actually, quite the opposite.

He groaned into his pillow. What was that supposed to mean? He still didn't understand the tensai. But, the answer does sound more like a positive one than a negative one, right?

He sighed in frustration. Why does the tensai have to be so damn vague all the time?

Tired by now, Tezuka turned over onto his back and closed his eyes, deciding to take a short nap before starting on his homework.

And then clear, enchanting, blue eyes appeared before him.

A graceful smile shined on him as soft hands caressed his cheeks.

Full, pink lips press up against his as hands roamed his body freely, yearningly.

Tezuka began panting. What is going on? His body is getting hot.

Soft hands traveled over his nether regions as wanting lips trailed over his neck. Warm breaths brushed his cheeks and familiar whispers fell sweetly on his ears.

Tezuka shivered.

Arms wrap around him in a warm, comforting embrace.

"Fuji," he subconsciously whispered.

Kisses rain over his chest while the same entrancing blue eyes never leave his sight.

Soft touches and exposed smooth skin cover every part of his body.

The silky hazelnut hair brushed teasingly over his forehead.

His heart pounded wildly.

The kisses, the touches…

It's not enough.

His body cried out for more.

And more.

And more…

Tezuka jerked awake, his eyes shot wide open.

He immediately sat up, panting heavily. He lifted his hand, finding it shaking uncontrollably, as he felt his hot cheeks.

No, his whole body was hot. His whole body was screaming.

"My body," Tezuka breathed to himself, catching his breath. "What…"

He dropped his head into his hand, trembling.

What is happening to him?

The next day, dark clouds covered the sky and blocked out the sun.

Tezuka arrived at the school gates early in the morning and debated whether he should ask for his umbrella back from Fuji. Upon thinking about that, images of that incident in the clubroom sent shivers down his spine. He still felt uneasy around the tensai.

"Ah, I forgot to bring you back your umbrella."

Tezuka whirled around at the familiar voice.

"Aa. I have an extra." Tezuka held up a blue umbrella in his hand, brushing away from his mind the connection between his other umbrella and the last incident.

"I see," the tensai smiled.

"I…have something I need to attend to with Ryuzaki Sensei. Please excuse me," Tezuka quickly rushed away towards the school.

Fuji stood there, watching the taller boy disappear into the school as Inui walked up from behind.

"Good morning, Fuji. How is everything?" the data collector smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Putting lotion on the handle of Momoshiro's racket was a good idea, right?"

"Inui!" Fuji cried out, but at the same time couldn't help slip up a small smile. "You know, you were lucky that I managed to jump right in on time."

"Yes. That provided me good data." Inui smiled wider. "It proved my theory that your reflexes are quite impressive."

"Ne, can we not do something that dangerous again? I had no idea you would do something like that."

"Ah, but Fuji, what is more dangerous than you?"

Fuji glared.

"I'm kidding," Inui chuckled uneasily, holding up his hands in defense.

"By the way, playing seriously during practice obviously caught his attention, just like you predicted. But…" Fuji sighed. "I think Tezuka's still avoiding me. Not to mention my attitude wasn't all that great yesterday during our practice game." The tensai shook his head. "I'm making it hard on him. I can see that he is still uncomfortable around me."

"Well then," a glint appeared on Inui's lenses, "there's one more thing that needs to be done."

Fuji opened his eyes, puzzled. "Inui, what is there left to do?"

The data collector smiled as a scheme formed in his mind. "As I told you before, don't worry about it for now. Leave everything up to me."

"Tezuka, let me help you carry that," Fuji smiled outside the student council room door.

The taller boy blinked in surprise at the tensai standing right there in front of him. "It's okay, I can carry these books on my own."

"Ne, but there are so many. You're going to the head of the literature department's office again, right?"

"Aa."

"Then let me help you." Fuji reached out to grab the books from the student council president's hand.

Upon feeling the touch of pale fingers, Tezuka suddenly had a flashback of Fuji helping him carry books the previous week and another flashback of Fuji pushing him against the lockers in the clubroom a few days after. He gasped and pulled his hands back abruptly.

Books tumbled onto the floor between the two boys.

Fuji gaped in surprise as Tezuka stood there and stared at the pile of books in front of him, slightly trembling. When the taller boy finally looked up, the tensai's own eyes widened as he briefly caught sight of small fear in those brown eyes before it disappeared.

"G-Gomen," Tezuka stammered, shocked at the mess as he kneeled down to gather up the books once more. Fuji did the same. As he reached out to grab the last book, Tezuka's hand accidentally touched his. The taller boy immediately pulled back, a slight blush to his cheeks, as he quickly stood back up and straightened himself.

"Please give me those books, Fuji," Tezuka ordered in his serious, commanding voice. The tensai obeyed and put the rest of the books in the student council president's hand. "Thank you. I'll be going now."

As Tezuka walked past Fuji and left for the teacher's office, he didn't see the look of disappointment on the tensai's face behind him. Instead, he was trying hard to shake off the uneasiness he still felt. Memories of Fuji being nice to him and then suddenly pushing him down against his will still haunt him. There seems to be a disturbing pattern. He tried to brush off any thoughts of the seemingly volatile tensai, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he was secretly afraid of what the tensai would do next.

Fuji stood at the door to the empty student council room as its previous occupant disappeared around the corner of the hallway. He sighed and looked at his hand, opening and closing it at the feel of Tezuka's brief touch. He played with his bangs before feeling the back of his head.

At least the bump was a lot smaller and doesn't hurt anymore after he put ice on it.

He sighed again, this time out of frustration. Other then Tezuka still freaking out about him, Inui still had not told him what he had planned this time or what Fuji should do. Even when he asked the data collector during break, the tall boy only smiled secretively before putting a finger to his lips and saying, "You'll know what to do when the time comes."

Fuji replayed the scene of Tezuka withdrawing from him just now and banged his head against the wall. It was hard enough trying to win the stoic boy's heart, but it was more disheartening to know that they can't even be friends if things stay the way they are.

"They call me a tensai, but, why can't I even figure this out?" Fuji mumbled into the cold wall.

"Fuji, are you okay?"

The tensai quickly moved away from the wall as he met the concerned face of his best friend.

"Eiji, I'm fine." Fuji put up his trademark smile.

"Ne, are you sure?" Kikumaru blinked. "You looked like you were talking to the wall."

The tensai chuckled. "Ah, how embarrassing. Perhaps I am." Fuji turned his head to look at the wall and lifted his hand to touch the cold surface. "It…actually reminds me of someone." His lips curved into a nostalgic smile.

The redhead blinked. "Do you mean…Tezuka?"

Fuji flinched in surprise. "Yes, I mean Tezuka," he chuckled.

Kikumaru laughed. "But, I think Buchou has more feelings than that wall."

"Aa, soka…" Fuji smiled sadly, eyeing the wall.

The redhead looked at Fuji worriedly.

"Ne, Eiji, what do you think Tezuka thinks of me?"

Kikumaru blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you think he…dislikes me?"

"No way!" the redhead cried out, imaginary cat ears standing on ends. "Tezuka cares about you just as he does the rest of the team!"

Fuji turned to look at his best friend. "You really think so?"

"Of course! Did you forget what happened yesterday?"

Fuji blinked. "Eiji, I was knocked out, remember?"

"Fuji! Fuji!" Tezuka called out repeatedly as he slowly kneeled to the floor, clinging onto the unconscious tensai who had just fell face forward into his arms. "Fuji!"

"Buchou, is he all right?" Momoshiro panted as he ran over. "I'm so sorry!"

"Fujiko! Wake up!" Kikumaru cried out as he dropped to his knees.

"Fuji!" Ryuzaki called out as she leaned over.

"Fuji, are you okay?" Tezuka held Fuji tightly with one arm as he maneuvered his other hand to tilt up the tensai's face towards his, only to find the pale boy completely knocked out cold. "I'm taking him to the infirmary!" Tezuka called out as the rest of the team reached them.

"Tezuka, do you want some help?" Oishi offered.

"I can carry him." Tezuka carefully turned the tensai around and propped him into his arms before lifting him up.

"I'll take you there," Ryuzaki said.

"Hai," Tezuka nodded before quickly walking in the direction of the infirmary, his coach following alongside him. He held Fuji tightly, panting as he past the red-haired boy, "It'll be all right, Fuji. It'll be all right…"

Fuji blinked some more as he gaped at his best friend.

"See, Fuji? He cares about you!" Kikumaru breathed, catching his breath as he finished explaining in detail. "He was really worried! We all were!"

The tensai smiled. "Thanks, Eiji, for telling me everything."

The redhead smiled widely. "I cheered Fuji up! I cheered Fuji up!" He ran in circles excitedly as the tensai laughed at him. "I told you that Buchou cares about you. He looks like an ice block, but he cares about all of us because we're his teammates!"

Fuji flinched.

Teammates.

He opened his eyes.

That's all he was. A teammate. Nothing more. Of course Tezuka would worry. He is a good, responsible captain and cares very much for his team.

In Tezuka's eyes, Fuji…is just like everyone else on the team.

"Ne, Fuji?" the redhead paused, worried. "Is something the matter again?"

Fuji closed his eyes and smiled, shaking his head. "Everything's fine. I have to go talk to a teacher now before lunch ends." The tensai waved goodbye as he left his best friend standing at the door wondering what just happened.

As Fuji rounded a corner, he saw a restroom nearby. Pushing the door open, he paused at one of the mirrors before staring at his reflection. "Ne, perhaps, I'm just a teammate to you," he said to the hazelnut-haired boy in the mirror. "And maybe even a friend. But, is that all?"

Clear, blue eyes stared back at him.

How long has it been?

Three years, was it?

Ever since the first day he met that bespectacled boy, he found himself immediately drawn to him.

They became good teammates.

They even became good friends and were in the same class one year.

When did that attraction evolve into something more?

Fuji stared at his reflection.

A teammate.

A friend.

Just like everyone else.

His reflection frowned before lips curved into a sad smile.

"Ne, is that enough for you?"