Author's note: -Third chapter up- (slightly introspective, implied golden pair )
Disclaimer: Konomi-sensei owes all the characters. I only owe the plot.
Chapter 3
By the time Fuji reached his apartment, it was already evening time, yet there was only one thing on his mind. Draping his canvas bag carelessly over the back of a chair, he withdrew his camera and proceeded to the storeroom which he had ingeniously converted into a darkroom. Blinking for a few to allow his pupils to adjust to the dark atmosphere, Fuji then unloaded the film in his camera to develop the photos. Once the photos were developed, Fuji hung them up and surveyed them. He stopped at the last photo.
Tezuka stood frozen in time, a contemplative look evident on his countenance.
Fuji developed a reprint of that photo by four-fold, with his photograph enlarger.
Flopping onto his comfy bed with the rarity nestled in his arms; Fuji sank into deep thought, thinking about how his entire life had just changed in a matter of hours. He recalled the conversation he and Tezuka had beneath the maple tree that afternoon. Apparently, Tezuka had just moved to Italy recently, and had been busy working most of the time. (if you considered being a sports coach, work) Fuji reached into the back pocket of his trousers and pulled out a slip of paper, on which he had coerced Tezuka into writing his address and phone number, and read the neat handwriting. Ironically, Tezuka lived a mere few streets away from himself, completely within walking distance. Not like Fuji would be frequently walking to Tezuka's house in the middle of the night or anything… He mentally berated himself for thinking immoral thoughts, than stood up to grab a bite, realizing that it was way past dinner-time.
Settling himself down on the sofa and absently chewing on a mouthful of chilli noodles, Fuji's mind was preoccupied. In fact, he had been in this state of suspended animation ever since he had met Tezuka in the afternoon. For the past ten minutes or so, Fuji had been trying to decipher every word that came out of Tezuka's mouth during their short exchange, trying to figure out whether he was still single or happily attached. Sighing with disappointment at his own impatience and growing curiosity, Fuji decided that there was only one way to find out, if not from the horse's mouth itself. Swallowing the mouthful of noodles, his fingers punched out numbers, which had long since ingrained into his mind, on the telephone…
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Meanwhile, a few streets away…
Tezuka buried his head in his hands and crumpled up the third attempt of a report in extreme frustration. He had been trying to type out the routine analysis of his team's improvement, which he managed to do in minute detail every day without fail. However, today his brains seemed to have shut down completely. The only thing that stood out from that afternoon's practice was a pair of blue eyes, the exact color of the estuary sky. In fact, the only thing his mind could comprehend right now was the smiling visage of his ex-teammate.
Tezuka tried hard to ignore the fluttery feeling present in the pit of his stomach whenever he thought of Fuji, but he was failing miserably in his half-hearted attempt. True, he thought that he had felt something slightly deeper than friendship with the tensai back when they were in middle school, but he didn't want to make a move and scare the other boy off. Besides, they were too young back then… Heck, Tezuka hadn't even known that he still felt that way until Fuji actually reappeared before his eyes. Too overwhelmed with all the feelings and confusion that threatened to engulf him all at once; Tezuka sub-consciously reached for the phone and dialed a very familiar number, belonging to someone who would definitely help him out.
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Dead in the middle of the night, in a certain house in Japan…
Two cell-phones rang shrilly, jolting Oishi awake. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, and yawned with fatigue. Who in the world would be calling at 2 am in the morning?? Blinking blearily, he realized that it was not only his, but Eiji's cell phone ringing too. Forcefully shaking the still form next to him, Oishi whispered,
"Wake up, Eiji! Your phone is ringing."
"Huh?? Hoi…" Eiji replied sleepily, reaching over Oishi's chest to grab the phone on the bedside stand.
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"Hello, Eiji here nya. Who you?" Eiji slurred in a sleep-induced tone.
"Eiji? Sorry, I forgot it was so late over in Japan. This is Fuji."
"Hoi, hoi! Fuji! Haven't heard from you for so long! How's Italy? How are you? Are you having fun?" Eiji visibly perked up at the sound of his best friend's voice, and started to babble on as usual.
Fuji laughed at the abundance of zest flowing from the red-head, even at 2 am in the morning. He could feel the genuine happiness and warmth radiating from the phone, even.
Toying absently with the phone cord, he wondered how to phrase the next sentence coherently.
"Erm, Eiji listen, I need you to do me a favour." Fuji began hesitantly.
"Sure! Just name it."
"Oishi is just beside you now, right?" Fuji said in a slight teasing tone, knowing that the golden pair had shifted in together.
"Hoi, he is…"
"Do you know whether he has kept contact with Tezuka-buchou all these years?"
"Yah, he has.."
"Then can you help me ask him whether Tezuka is still single?"
"…whether Tezuka-buchou is still single?"
"Can you help me?", Fuji asked. If this didn't work, there was no way he was going to quell his growing curiosity.
"Sure… hang on a second nya…" Eiji covered the mouthpiece with one hand and turned to Oishi on the other side of the bed.
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"Moshi-moshi. Oishi here."
"Oishi. This is Tezuka."
"..Oh, Tezuka. Is something wrong? Why are you calling me at this late hour?" Oishi couldn't help worrying that something had happened to his best friend over in Italy.
"Sorry for any disturbance. It's just that I need a favour from you, is it alright?"
"It's fine. All you have to do is ask."
"Aa. Thank you. Is Eiji by any chance with you right now?" Tezuka asked. Not that he knew anything. He was just making a wild guess, pure and simple.
"Hai…" Oishi replied, feeling slightly puzzled.
"Has he kept contact with Fuji over the years?"
"I think so…"
"Good. Can you help me ask him whether Fuji is currently single?"
"Erm, sure… hold on for awhile.." Oishi covered the mouthpiece and turned over to Eiji.
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" Eiji, is Fuji single right now?"
" Oishi, is Tezuka-buchou still single nya?"
The words fell from their lips at the exact same moment.
Glancing at each other wide-eyed, they nodded simultaneously in bewilderment. Then each turned back to their cell-phones with the new answer.
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"Fuji? Hai… Oishi says that buchou is still single nya. Why do you want to know, anyway?" Eiji asked inquisitively.
"Oh, no particular reason. Thanks, well then, I won't disturb your time with Oishi any further. Bye now!", Fuji replied vaguely, yet with a hint of mischief.
"Fuji, you're so mean nya!" Eiji wailed into the phone, but it was too late. The tensai had already hung up.
Back in Italy, Fuji felt much comforted at the reply he had received. Replaying the phone call to Eiji over in his head, it lulled him into a peaceful sleep.
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"Tezuka? Eiji says Fuji is still single…" Oishi replied tentatively.
"Oh, okay then. Thanks. Have a good night."
His brain too fogged up with the idea of going back to bed, Oishi didn't even stop to probe. Instead, he just replied good night, and hung up the phone as well.
Somehow, the answer made Tezuka somewhat more settled. Heaving a sigh, he continued on with his team's report, sleep gently taking over his exhausted being…
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Eiji nudged the body next to him. The phonecall from Fuji had got his mind working again.
"Oishi, do you think Fuji and Tezuka might have met in Italy?"
Oishi thought about it for a second. So did Eiji.
Then they both burst out laughing in unison.
"Nah!"they chuckled.
"Italy is so big, how could they have met one another?"
"Sou,sou.. It would've taken a miracle nya! Besides, Fuji doesn't even know that Tezuka is in Italy too! I never told him…"
Chuckling softly once more, the golden pair fell gently into slumber again.
Apparently, miracles do happen.
----------Owari for now---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Read and review, ne?
