A/N: Hello all! I'm really sorry for being so late updating. Got lots of school stuff and examinations here. In addition… I attended a piano course now! I have to work really hard practicing everyday lately.
This chapter was beta-ed by Windy!!! Hontou ni arigatou!!! I'll learn from the mistakes and improve! ^^
So… in this story, Tezuka said he will go to Germany. Ryoma is a bit shocked and (of course) displeased with the idea. But… Tezuka has to go, right? The anime said so… and so do I.
Well… off with the story then…
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Chapter 4
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Ryoma was drinking water from his bottle while at the same time playing with a tennis ball on the edge of his racket. He then heard Oishi's voice calling for the entire regular members to gather in front of the clubroom. With a slight frown and a small curiosity, he walked along with the other members to the same direction and wondered even more when he saw Tezuka standing at the place they were heading to, waiting for them.
"Tezuka wants to have a word with us." Oishi said. There was a slight nervousness in his tone.
Ryoma stood right in front of Tezuka while the others took their places beside his right and left side. The tennis ball he had played before was still dancing on his racket. He looked at his team captain, who was also his lover from a month ago and saw that he was looking at him as well. He knew that Tezuka was hiding something from him, but as usual, he couldn't predict what it was.
Tezuka eyed the members one by one, from left to right, and then ended on Ryoma whom started to have a questioning look in his eyes. "I…" He started, "have made a decision."
As Tezuka spoke, Ryoma felt something that made him hardly breathing.
"I will go to Germany to cure my shoulder." Tezuka announced, followed with gasps from the others.
The ball Ryoma had been playing with has now stopped on the strings of the racket and it fell down to the ground since Ryoma held no more concern to it. In such a sudden, Ryoma seemed to forgot how to breathe. Tezuka… is going to leave.
"Germany?" Came Eiji's voice. He sounded shocked as well.
"I don't know when I will be back. But I want all of you to keep continuing and winning the tournament." He said again. His voice somehow gave them all encouragement after the astonishing announcement. "Remember, we are aiming for the nationals!"
"Demo…" Eiji said again, but then stopped. Even the usual positive-minded Eiji knows Tezuka won't change his decision. Since this is for his health too.
They stayed in silence for a moment while Ryoma seemed to be dealing with his surprise. His eyes were wide opened, but he didn't really realize that Tezuka was staring at him.
"How long will it take?" Inui asked slowly, as if he doubts to even speak.
"I don't know." Tezuka answered simply. "I don't even know if I can make it to the final." He added. "But… you all will and do it."
Silence occurred between them all again. They were all busy with their own mind, thinking whether to keep being silent or to start some conversations. Awkwardness filled the air, as it filled Ryoma's mind.
"That's all I want to say." Tezuka said, shattering the silence once again. His emotionless voice sounded gentler this time. He rebounded and walked back to the clubroom, followed by the other stunned members which went back to continuing what they've left before they were called.
Surely, no one has their spirits the same as before again. And the same goes for Ryoma.
He walked slowly to the clubroom where Tezuka was and stopped for a moment in front of the door, thinking whether he should enter the room or not. He needed his bag, which he had placed inside his locker, yet he doesn't feel like meeting Tezuka at the very moment.
After a quiet time of thoughts, Ryoma decided to open the door and it then suddenly moved, showing Tezuka's figure which was right behind it. Both of them were stunned, surprised for a moment before Ryoma slipped through the gap left between Tezuka's body and the threshold. He entered the room without saying anything.
Tezuka eyed Ryoma for a while with the door opened before finally closing it again, making sure they were both privately alone in the room.
Ryoma packed his stuff awkwardly under Tezuka's sight. For the first time since they are officially lovers, he felt uneasy under Tezuka's stare. He stayed in silence, not knowing which is better, to remain silent until he leaves the room or to shatter the stillness. He knew he wanted to speak at least something, but then he just didn't know what to say.
"I'll walk you home." Tezuka said, walking closer to his lover.
"Isn't my house far away from yours?" Ryoma asked. His tone sounded harsh although he didn't mean to do so.
"Then I'll just stay with you tonight." Tezuka simply said, making Ryoma surprised and staring at him in astonishment. Tezuka gave a gentle smile to Ryoma before beckoning him to get out from the room.
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As usual, the two stoic people walked in silence. But this time, it's a comfortable one compared to the one they shared at the clubroom before. None of them know what made it comfortable again since they haven't spoke about anything on Tezuka's departure, which gave them the awkward feeling from before.
However, it's always been their habit to do so. They scarcely have problems. But when something bad occurs, this kind of silence will occur between them as if giving them time to cool down their head before they start to talk about the problem again. So the emotion that filled their heads from before had vanished and now revealed the real ratio to deal with the problem.
They walked and walked, from street to street, from path to path, and still none of them initiated any conversation. Ryoma had thoughts to start it, but his pride allowed him to wait. It's just as usual, because when things turned out like this, it was Tezuka who'd always take the first pace.
A few more paths and they will reach Ryoma's house. Somehow, both of them slowed down their steps, wanting to keep their time together like it is now.
Tezuka turned his eyes to look at the side of Ryoma's face. Ryoma's bangs moved up and down as they walked and it attracted his interest. He took a step closer beside Ryoma and silently took Ryoma's hand in his gentle grip.
Ryoma had his eyes slightly widened as he felt the clutch Tezuka gave him and a tingling sensation was found on his palm. Out of his awareness, he smiled gently. They haven't talk yet, but the touch proved nothing could get worse after this.
They reached the gate and then at the front door. Ryoma, as the owner of the house, opened it slowly and stepped inside before Tezuka. "Tadaima." He said.
"Okaerinasai." Nanako's voice greeted them though she didn't reveal herself. "Ryoma-san, would you mind buying some cat food for Karupin?" her voice came again, this time along with footsteps on the wooden floor. "I think it ran out again." She then showed up from the dining room. She looked at Ryoma and was surprised to see Tezuka as well.
"Oh… Tezuka-san is here too." She said, since Tezuka had visited Ryoma's house a few times before, Nanako remembered the Buchou's name. "Sorry."
"Don't mind me. It's alright for me to go too." Tezuka suddenly answered, making Ryoma who stood beside him startled. Tezuka's words were kind of telling Nanako to think that Tezuka was a part of this family.
"Well… I'm sorry to disturb you then." Nanako said with an apologizing smile as she handed some money to Ryoma, who took it without saying anything.
They turned back to the front door after putting their bags on the floor.
"Ittekimasu." Ryoma said with his usual low tone and walked out. Tezuka bowed down a little to Nanako before he closed the front door completely and walked through the garden. Once again, they walked in silence among the streets that will bring them to the supermarket.
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Ryoma handed the money to the cashier as much as the monitor showed the price for the cat food and a can of Ponta. Tezuka stood beside him and took the purchased items that were wrapped in a plastic bag. They left the queue and walked out of the supermarket.
"Do you have anything else to buy?" Tezuka asked.
"No." answered Ryoma, trying to take the plastic bag away from Tezuka, who didn't allow him to do so. Instead of giving the whole plastic bag to the boy, Tezuka took the Ponta from it and gave it Ryoma without saying anything. "Don't you want to go and check out the bookstore?" He took the Ponta and complained no more.
Tezuka looked a bit surprised. It actually has been his habit to check a bookstore for his favourite books whenever he is out. And the fact that Ryoma had already understood that habit of his, somehow it started within the boy as well. "Aa." Tezuka said as he nodded.
When they reached at the front of the bookstore, Tezuka decided to enter the place alone since Ryoma still has his Ponta unfinished. With Ryoma waiting outside, it doesn't take time for Tezuka to find the book he is looking for, bringing it to the cashier and having it paid. Within no time, he strolled out of the bookstore with a new book in his hand. His eyes explored the surroundings, starting at the spot he was separated from Ryoma and with the kouhai not found; he started searching for his boyfriend.
Then his eyes caught Ryoma without the finished Ponta, who was standing not too far away from where he is. He seems concerned about something as he is looking intently into the window of a small store. As Tezuka walked closer, he realized the store Ryoma was looking at was actually a small photo studio. And suddenly an urge to have a picture together with Ryoma appeared in his mind.
"Wanna have some pictures together?" Tezuka suddenly asked as he reached Ryoma's spot.
Ryoma, who was drowned to his own dream, was bounded by the sudden voice. In a few seconds, he couldn't hide the blush that appeared across his face. It seems like he was thinking the same thoughts as Tezuka had.
"I'd like to have your picture with me when I'm in Germany." Tezuka added, giving more reasons for Ryoma to accept the offer.
Ryoma looked at Tezuka for a moment before answering, "I'd like to have yours too." And then they walked together once again, entering the small photo studio in another silence.
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Ryoma was looking at the dark ceiling of his bedroom when he felt Tezuka had shifted his position to beside where he laid. He turned his head aside and met Tezuka's eyes were looking at him. "Can't sleep?" Ryoma asked.
"Not really." Tezuka answered.
Ryoma sighed deeply before he turned his body to face Tezuka. They haven't really spoken about Tezuka's departure. It's not that they don't want to. But merely because they didn't find the right time to start such a conversation. It feels more like both of them preferred to spend their time like now.
And finally, Ryoma felt he wanted to have everything made sure. And so, he spoke up. "I want you to come back as soon as possible."
Tezuka was slightly surprised by this but then smiled. His eyes told Ryoma not to be worried. "It might take some time. But I'll definitely come back."
"How long will it take?" Ryoma asked. The fact that he has to spend his days without Tezuka's presence made him somehow displeased. "You said you perhaps won't make it to the final."
"I don't know." Tezuka answered. "I never imagined what kind of treatment I'll get or how long it will take. But it definitely won't be cured within a week or two."
Ryoma thought he was going to pout from Tezuka's words. But somehow, he did not. Instead, he only stared at Tezuka's eyes deeply, trying to be an understandable person. "You know, I hate this. But I'll hate you even more if you can't play tennis anymore." Ryoma said faintly as if he didn't really want to say it. Then he pulled his blanket over his face, hampering Tezuka's sight at him.
Tezuka only stared at the blanket for a while before he decided to close his eyes. And that's when he heard Ryoma's muffling voice again, low and indistinct, but somehow it can be clearly heard with his ears.
"I'll miss you."
Ryoma's words made him stunned for a while. It has been quite a while Ryoma have said such romantic words since the last time was when he confessed his feelings to him. His eyes opened again and he faced the same blanket beside him. And his lips then moved. "I also definitely will." And it's true since he had grown accustomed to being around with Ryoma from a month ago. Being away from Ryoma will have quite an effect on him.
Tezuka moved forward, closer to Ryoma and pulled the blanket down slowly, revealing Ryoma's face again. His golden eyes were looking at Tezuka and his cheeks were slightly flushed. "Aishiteru." Tezuka said gently.
There was a short silence before Ryoma responded in an equal gentleness. "You know, I always think that you're never serious with me. Since I was the one who confessed and you never said you loved me."
"Aishiteru." Tezuka repeated. "I love you. Wo ai ni. Je suis amoureux de toi. Ich lieb dich. Whatever you like to call it." He said with a smile, which Ryoma replied gently. Then he lowered his face and closed the gap between their faces with a gentle kiss.
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To be continued
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A/N: WHUAA!!! Chapter 4 is finally done! It's quite pointless I think… what do you think? And then the scene where Tezuka said I love you in five languages… I think Tezuka reads a lot; so… saying those words in different language won't be quite a problem for him. Anyway… I like it… hehehe… Those are Japanese, English, Chinese, France and German.
The next chapter is the last one. It actually seems to be an epilogue about what happened right after Tezuka left. Well… don't forget to read it…
Now… review!!! Review me… PLEASE!!! I think I really depend on it… ^^