Chapter 9

Tezuka lifted up Fuji in his arms and hurried off. Yuuta followed closely at the back. The nurse was quite shocked when Tezuka and Yuuta bumped in with Fuji suddenly, the standing ones looking anxious, and the lying one looking ill. She immediately demanded Tezuka to put Fuji onto the bed in order to examine him. After she announced that Fuji was going to be fine, both of the boys sighed with relief. Tezuka requested the nurse politely to take good care of Fuji and then left, saying that he would be back after all the matches were over. Yuuta just took a seat beside the bed, waiting patiently for his brother to regain consciousness.

It was after an hour when Fuji woke up. He seemed to be a bit confused about what has happened, but after Yuuta's reminder, he felt that the clearness that he has never had in his mind, so refreshing. If only he had the strength to stand up, he would love to return to the tennis courts to watch the remaining games, most important of all, to find somebody to pick on. However, he was too weak even to get up himself, not to mention whether the nurse would let him go. Sitting on the bed, he could only chat with Yuuta, who kept denying that he worried about his brother as Fuji asked him.

By the time the nurse permitted Fuji to go home, it was already sunset. As Yuuta helping his brother to get out of the room, they met Tezuka and Oishi in the corridor, carrying Fuji's belongings. Together they left, with Oishi announcing the overall results. He also explained, as requested, why Kikumaru wasn't there to look for his best friend, since he got something urgent to do. Fuji giggled about the excess explanation. He didn't mind at all. Taking the opposite direction, Oishi waved goodbye to the three of them after getting out of the front gate of the school. Tezuka took over Fuji's feeble body from Yuuta and they walked home.

"You know very well that your health condition isn't that well these days, Aniki. You shouldn't have played so hard!" blamed Yuuta on their way, shouldering both bags of his and his Aniki.
"I am sorry, Yuuta. You are anxious about me, aren't you?"
"Of course I am not, Baga Aniki! It has nothing to do with me at all. But I want to let you understand that what you did would only made yourself suffer, and you should have considered your health." Yuuta blushed.

Fuji just responded with his trademark smile. Suddenly, he spoke, "You know, the memory of my first match with Tezuka when we were still in second grade suddenly flashed back in my mind during the game. It made me dizzy though, that I could hardly concentrate well. That match was superb. I shouldn't have forgotten it!"

With Fuji half-lying on his back, Tezuka listened to Fuji silently. He remembered that match too. When he first saw Fuji playing tennis, he has already seen great potential in him. Fuji was one of the most gifted and best players among the freshmen, together with himself. Tezuka has been wishing to play against Fuji since then. When he finally seized the chance, he asked Fuji seriously to "show me your truth self", which was exactly what he demanded for during the match just now. No wonder why that would cause such strike in Fuji's mind. Surprisingly, Fuji smiled and nodded. That was the one and only one time for him to put down his façade and revealed his genuine strength to somebody else. Tezuka never forgot about that. The match they just had was the second time for Tezuka to get to know more about the tensai's strength, though he sensed that Fuji still hasn't exposed his talent candidly.

"Don't talk anymore, Fuji. You are weak," ordered Tezuka in his captain manner, but his tone of voice was slightly more gentle than usual, which could hardly be noticed.
"Hai, Buchou," teased Fuji.

After the match, Fuji became extremely exhausted. Although he did get some rest in the nurse's room, he still couldn't regain his strength. Suddenly, Tezuka realized that the person on his back has increased in weight. The next thing he did was to catch the waist of the collapsing body just in time, before it fell onto the ground.
"Aniki!" Shocked, Yuuta, who was walking behind the two Seigaku boys originally, immediately approached Tezuka.
"Quiet. He just fell asleep," said Tezuka calmly. He bent down slowly, "Attach him on my back, I would carry him." He took his jacket from his bag and wrapped it around Fuji's body, prevent him from getting a cold.

Yuuta hesitated, thus did as he was told. As they continued their journey, Yuuta sighed and smiled bitterly, "After all, Aniki is still a patient that needs to be taken care of before he has fully recovered from his 'illness'."