Disclaimer : All charas here belong to Takeshi Konomi-sensei. Do not sue me.
Author : SIB
Chapter 4 : A Meaning of Comrades
Tezuka stood patiently waiting for his would-never-come friends on Saturday night. Lots of people were there but he didn't recognize any of them as the Seigaku tennis club's member. Certainly he wouldn't miss one of them IF they really came.
"Tezuka!" A voice cracked right in front of his ear, and eventually he saw Fuji smiling in a very innocent way, barely noticed that he might just cease the captain's heartbeat. "What were you thinking that you didn't see I'm here?"
Now, when Fuji had accustomed to Tezuka's few words, he merely changed the topic when no reply came. "By the way where's the other?"
"You're the first I've met so far." At this rate, the Mr. Perfect began to suspect his friends in trapping him with and only with that guy.
"Really? Well, I think I should call them then." Fuji looked around and spotted the telephone not far from their place. "You're coming?"
Feeling more and more sure about his guess, Tezuka followed Fuji silently.
* * *
"Oishi's residence here."
"Oishi! I have a good news! Guess what?"
"Our mid-term test are postponed?"
In the other line, Kikumaru groaned with frustration. "Baka! I mean about our plan!"
"Good news about our plan? Are you kidding me? I thought it was my plan!"
"Whatever! Listen, I just called Tezuka's house and his mother said he was going out somewhere!"
Oishi pondered for a second before uttering his doubt. "Are you sure he's going THERE?"
"Ne, don't you ever underestimating me, Oishi!" he responded with a highly-satisfied tone. "Your partner is Kikumaru Eiji and he won't forget a thing! Of course I asked her and she said our captain would see a tournament! What tournament can it be, you think?"
"Well, as far as I know, THAT tournament is the only one this night. So he's going at last!"
"I really curious to know what will happen!" He could hear his friend was giggling helplessly. "It's still a long way to go to Monday! Alright! My mom's calling! See ya, Oishi!"
Only a second after he hung up, the phone rang again.
"Oishi's residence here!"
"Oishi?" This time a soft voice came. He immediately recognized it as Fuji's.
"Fuji? It's so loud there!"
"I'm already at the sport centre! Why haven't you come?"
Oishi silently kicked himself and promptly made some coughs as the last attempt to accomplish his mission. "I felt a little bit ill and my mother forbid me for going out. Gomen, Fuji!"
"It's fine, but do you know about the others?"
He won't give up, will he? Oishi sighed then replied with the answer he had thought for the last two days. "Ah, yes! They just called me! Eiji is grounded because of something bad he had done, Taka-san has to help his father at the restaurant, and Momoshiro has a very important date! Kaidou said he had a jogging schedule for this night but he would come if it was possible. Echizen is forced to have a night practice with his father and Inui...well, he hasn't called me…" Great, I think what I should say was he's experimenting a new juice... "I'm really sorry, Fuji! I should have called you!"
"It's OK. Tezuka didn't call you, right, and he's here with me now," Hearing the statement, Oishi felt he was absolutely failed to lie to this guy, who seemed to know whenever someone was dishonest.
"Good, so you're not alone. Umm, this is pretty excessive, but can you two watch it for us, Fuji?"
"Sure, no problem. Get well soon, Oishi."
"Don't worry. Thank you and give my humble apologize to Tezuka!"
"You got it! See you!"
* * *
Tezuka waited beside the phone and heard every word his friend said. He really felt that this was the last thing he would forget and forgive in his life.
"Well, they cannot come," and the prodigy told him every word of Oishi's excuses.
"What a coincidence," he muttered sarcastically.
"We can watch it however. Do you mind?"
Tezuka stared at Fuji's calm expression and eventually gave up. No way he could object that request.
"Let's go," he headed for the court, strangely felt happier with Fuji was pacing up beside him.
* * *
A young woman stood behind the fence when she heard two other girls were enthusiastically talking about Seigaku Junior High's captain.
"I saw him there! Standing adorably there!"
"Really? Are you sure he is Tezuka-san?"
"Of course I'm sure! And you know what? I saw Fuji-san too!"
"He was with Fuji-san? Kami-sama, this is really my day! Where are they?"
"There, that corner! Come on, I'll show you!"
The woman listened carefully of the short conversation and stared at the way those girls disappeared. Suddenly, her lips curved a wicked smile.
"Tezuka-san?"
* * *
Their serves are still weak but they have pretty good shots. That guy has an amazing volley but I don't think it can compete with Kikumaru's acrobatic plays. Anyway their opponents are troubled.
Fuji turned to him after a long watch. "What do you think, Tezuka? Can Oishi and Kikumaru deal with these guys?"
"They are good but in double our members can do better."
"Lack of faith in their partner, ne? No one can beat our golden pair about harmony." Like it or not, Tezuka had to agree with this.
"They are agile but unfortunately have no amazing strokes," he continued appraising the match, "honestly, I expect more from the high school's tournament."
"Don't judge so easily. Who knows if they hide a surprising move?"
Like you. Tezuka quickly reprimanded himself in thinking such a thing. Unexpectedly, he spotted a figure was approaching them. He glanced at the young lady and froze.
"Nice to meet you again, Tezuka-san, no, Kunimitsu-kun."
The voice sent him chill to the core. Suddenly there were voices in his head, yelling about past he so badly wanted to forget.
"It has been quite a long time, hasn't it? I miss you so much."
"What are you planning now?" he asked coldly, his eyes never left the cruelly smiling woman.
"Don't be so suspicious, I'm only watching for my brother there," eventually she turned to Fuji. "Don't mind to introduce your friend?"
"Yoroshiku, I'm Fuji Syusuke," the shorter guy smiled courteously although he felt a great dislike in this woman. Beside, his captain seemed was quite burdened with her coming. I wonder why.
"Reiko Murou, I'm…an old friend of Kunimitsu-kun," she snickered mockingly, "although he may choose never to meet me. It surprises me that you now a team captain, even more Seigaku's. Past is no hindrance for you anymore, my dear?"
"He's a great leader and we all love him," Fuji broke in. His countenance was still calm but his eyes bore through Murou like a bullet. Do not insult my captain.
The woman shivered, receiving the looks. What made her felt more and more uneasy was the fact that this protective guy was staring composedly but full of threat, very much alike a wolf which spying its prey. At last, Fuji diverted his gaze and touched Tezuka's arm.
"By the way, it's already nine, Tezuka. We must see Ryuzaki-sensei or she'll be mad at us. I wonder where is the other?" Then he glanced back to Murou. "Excuse us, please." She only nodded and they left her standing bewilderedly.
Fuji had to lead Tezuka because the taller guy seemed practically oblivious about the way he was going. He made their way to a remote bench where few people were around and seated Tezuka down.
"Stay there," he commanded before leaving the captain alone. In the other hand, Tezuka only heard a faint sound since the voices hadn't stopped screaming. This will be enough to make me insane.
"Here," he looked up and found Fuji was handing him a glass of hot chocolate. His friend merely sat himself beside him and drank his own silently. Tezuka grew calmer when the sweet liquid passed his throat and warmed every part of his shaking body. Amazing. He really thanked Fuji for not asking him a thing but was also grateful of his presence there. They stayed for a good half an hour in the peace harmony.
At last, Tezuka cut the silence. "It's getting colder. Maybe you should leave now."
"Only if you're leaving too," Fuji calmly replied.
The captain shut his words for another five minutes before unexpectedly, the least of all sentences he was willing to say slipped out of his mouth.
"I was close to her."
The other showed no reaction so he continued, more likely to himself. "I wish I had never gone to that city, but father had said so. Maybe the education in England was better, that's why he sent me. I know he loves me but if only he knows about it."
"My uncle didn't like me. He's jealous of father and blamed all his dislikes on me, sent me to that school, made me to have friends like them..."
* * *
"What an easy way to earn money! All we have to do is pretending : 'Tezuka, how are you? Want to play with us?' or 'Tezuka, thank you for being a very good friend to me' and cried touchingly. Isn't that great?
Laughter answered the cruel mockery while Tezuka sat amidst them, burning with anger. His uncle did this to him but he wouldn't forgive these 'friends' also. He had seen their falseness but continued convincing himself that they really liked him, thought he was a friend.
Then she came. She soothed him, tried to lift him up, be a good friend. Once again, he saw a light in his darkened life. Even an idea that he liked the five-years-older girl more than just a friend ever crossed his mind.
I trusted her.
I loved her.
"Do you really think I'm fool enough to have a special feeling for a kid like you? I have lots of lovers who would beg to me, boy."
"One more thing, your uncle sent some words to you. 'Be happy with your girlfriend, Kunimitsu-kun' and looked what he gave me," she flourished the payment in front of the miserable Tezuka.
"Do not resent me, little boy. He asked me to do this and the one who ordered me to tell you about this puppy love. Thanks anyway for being my gold mine."
In that exact day, he built a thick wall around his heart.
* * *
"That year, my father took me back and that's the first time I met Oishi in school. But I will never forget it in my whole life."
He ended his story and suddenly was aware that they were there alone, although some noises from the court were still could be heard.
"So your father doesn't know about this?" Fuji's question startled him.
"No meaning in telling him. It has happened, he can't change it."
Another silence amongst them. Tezuka stared blankly at the pavement, thought anxiously that he had made a big mistake by telling his friend. Why should I meet her again?
"We love you."
Those words stunned him and he could felt the wall was trembling, ready to collapse. Instinctively he embraced himself as afraid he would fall for another beautiful trap. No, I can't handle it for the second time.
Suddenly a pair of pale hands reached for his shoulders and pulled him backward. When he gained his conscious back, his cheek had already pressed on the softness of Fuji's jacket. He could felt fingers ran gently through his hair.
"Trust us, we love you."
A tear slipped from his eye and ran down his cheek while his gaze was blurring. Pride had completely left him when he pressed even more to the warmness beside, as looking for his pillar of strength. The weird feeling he had felt for Fuji became clearer. Apparently, even with the barricading wall, undoubtedly the guy still could find a way to his frozen heart. But he pushed them aside. For now, this is all I want, to stay like this by his side.
He will learn to love again and to believe them who love him, for you only need to trust your friend in starting a new.
Still TBC.....
Geez, I'm not sure about this one. Can Tezuka really cry? I don't know, but that's how the story goes! And do you think I should continue?
