Disclaimer: I don't own Tennis no Oujisama/ Prince of Tennis and any phrase that I may accidentally use.

P. R. no 3: Yes! Another chapter done! I'm on a roll! Again, milk, cookies and Tezuka and Fuji plushies (and yes, I actually do have some) to all the reviewers, thank you so much! Merry (late) Christmas and happy New Year to everybody!

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Façade: His and His Circumstances

--Chapter Two--

Tezuka

No one knew he was left-handed, even against Yamato-buchou, he purposely used his right hand, even though it meant the chance of losing existed. It went the same way with the senpais he played. In fact, during school hours, he was so careful that he didn't even touch his tennis racket with his left hand.

Yet one way or the other, Fuji had known. Tezuka had always been the careful type, had he unwittingly slipped up somehow? Let down his guard so carelessly?

They were serving cleanup duty together that day, ironically, another Thursday, when Fuji brought up the subject.

"Ne, Tezuka-kun, may I ask you a kind of a personal question?"

It wasn't the question that bugged him, it was the adjective inserted in the question within the question. Tezuka looked up, but of course, the shorter boy's calm smile was etched firmly in place, "What?"

"Are you left-handed?"

…Left-handed? The only visible reaction that he showed was a slight twitching of the shoulders. He was relieved, Tezuka realized, that Fuji knew, perhaps, deep down, he was even happy that Fuji knew.

Fuji was staring at him like he expected some sort of violent outburst of denial.

"Yes, I am left-handed." He stated wearily and turned back to picking up wayward tennis balls, "But how'd you know? Not even Ryuzaki-sensei should know."

His reaction, or rather, his lack of one, no doubt surprised Fuji, for it shocked himself as well. Fuji put down the crate of balls he was holding and knelt down next to him. "Just lucky, I guess." He said lightly, "You don't want hurt the senpais' feelings, don't you?"

Tezuka's own query was never answered. "Hn." It wasn't like he expected an answer anyway. Whatever it was, he was certain that it wasn't luck.

"…You about done?" Fuji's ability to switch from topics that had almost nothing to do with one another was amazing, "We'd better hurry or else the gates will close. I'm going ahead."

"Aa, coming." Picking up his crate, Tezuka quickened his stride to catch up. Then he stopped, turned, and looked back at the empty tennis courts. The sun was setting.

"Tezuka-kun?" Fuji's voice sounded questioningly, somewhere in the distance.

"…I'm coming." He said quickly, though he didn't move. But now, the peaceful feelings he possessed not a mere five minutes ago about Fuji's knowing had evaporated completely for no particular reason. "Fuji?"

"Hm?"

"You won't…tell anyone about this, will you?"

For a minute, the other boy appeared bemused, and then he smiled reassuringly, "If Tezuka-kun doesn't want me to."

For all of Fuji's sadism and tricks, Tezuka felt that the promise could be kept. "Aa."

That was the first of many promises they would make, though none except this one would be kept.

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Fuji

He thought he saw the slightest flicker of a smile pass Tezuka's lips, but then, Fuji blinked and the borderline frown was back. "Aren't you even going to say thank you?"

Tezuka paused; he was a few steps ahead and turned back, "…Thank you, Fuji." he said quietly and started walking again.

Fuji had to jog easily to catch up, but he didn't mind. "You're welcome. Ne, do you walk home, Tezuka-kun?"

"I take the bus."

"…Is it far? The station, I mean."

"Not that far, two blocks." Tezuka glanced at him, vaguely perplexed. "Why? Don't you ride home with your sister?"

Fuji returned the query deftly with one of his own, "May I walk with you? I can just have neesan pick me up at the station."

"...Suit yourself." Tezuka shrugged indifferently.

The two of them fell silent, until Fuji couldn't stand it anymore and asked. "How many years have you been playing tennis, Tezuka-kun? I heard from Inui-kun that you tied with Yamato-buchou the other day."

Maybe it was just Fuji's imagination, but he thought Tezuka's shoulders stiffened. "…Seven come spring."

"I've been playing for eight." Fuji shifted his racket cover from one shoulder to the other. "But to tie with buchou…you must be very good."

"…Not everyone thinks so."

Fuji blinked, given the type of person Tezuka was, he'd expected a monotonous fragment of praise in return, yet… "Oh, you mean the senpais? You shouldn't let it get to you, back in Kyushu, things were like this for me too."

Tezuka didn't answer; he merely looked up at the orange-gray sky. "The bus is late." He said simply. "It should have been here five minutes ago."

"Saa…maybe it's stuck in traffic or something." Fuji returned idly.

"Maybe."

His sister's car rolled in sight right then and skidded to a stop in front of where he and Tezuka were standing. Yumiko smiled a smile of sudden relief when she rolled down the window, "I stopped by the school earlier, Syusuke, and I couldn't find you. Why didn't you give me a call if you decided to walk home?"

Fuji bowed gravely. "I'm sorry to worry you, neesan. I was just accompanying Tezuka-kun to the bus station and then I was going to call you."

"Well, never mind, at least I found you. We should go; Mom's going to be worried. I usually don't take this long picking you up."

Fuji hesitated, one hand on the car door, "Are you sure the bus will come, Tezuka-kun? What if it broke down?"

"It's all right," Tezuka replied, seemingly avoiding his gaze, "I can always call my grandfather. See you in school tomorrow."

"Are you sure? I'm sure neesan won't mind giving you a ride." Fuji stole a look at his sister, "Right?"

"As long as he doesn't live too far from home." She agreed. "Tezuka-kun, is it?"

"I appreciate your offer," Tezuka bowed slightly, "But I rather you didn't go through all the trouble on my behalf."

"Come, Syusuke." Yumiko said, "Let's go."

Fuji obliged, though somewhat reluctantly, "See you, Tezuka-kun."

A nod was all he received.

As they drove away, Fuji saw Tezuka lift a hand and wave. He waved back.

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Tezuka

Tezuka knew all too well that even though people made offers, they were pressuring you not to accept. The world was amusing that way. Yet Fuji's sister had been friendly enough, and Fuji had appeared disappointed that he didn't accept.

Perhaps he should have accepted after all.

After twenty minutes, however, the bus came, with the elderly driver sprouting apologies like a broken faucet. They had met a horrible accident a few stops ago, would the young sir please understand the situation please…

Tezuka nodded briefly, and when the driver failed to take the hint, the boy made his way to the back of the bus and read his Biology textbook for the rest of the way home. But his mind wasn't on underwater ecosystems, which was very understandable, for more reasons than one.

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Fuji

"Was that a college kid you were with?" Yumiko wanted to know as they pulled away from the curb.

"College kid…?" Fuji thought for a minute then laughed, "No, neesan, that was Tezuka. He's in the same grade as me. He wanted me to accompany him to the bus station so he won't be lonely."

His sister raised a mildly curious, yet knowing eyebrow, "…Or is it the other way around? Don't play around with me, Syusuke, I know you too well."

"Guilty." Fuji handily changed the subject, "But neesan, did Tezuka-kun really look like a college student to you?"

"Maybe when he grows another foot, I'd fall for him." Yumiko sighed, "Is he in the tennis club too, your friend?"

Friend? Fuji hadn't thought about Tezuka in such prospect before, but yes, he hoped they were friends. "Yeah, but I don't know how he stays in. The senpais are always picking on him more than the other first-years." he laid his head against the windowpane. "I find him interesting."

"You find everyone interesting, Syusuke." Yumiko interjected, half-teasing, yet half-serious as the same time. "And everyone you find interesting is scared to death of you, Saeki-kun aside."

"Neesan, you really hurt my feelings. Am I really so horrible?" Fuji said.

"…If I was lying, your feelings wouldn't be hurt." Yumiko's retort was alarmingly blunt.

"Saa…Tezuka-kun's especially interesting, then. May I at least say that?"

They stopped at a red light, so Yumiko had time to twist around and regard her younger brother with a hard stare, not saying anything.

"The light is green." Fuji warned her absently. "You better turn and drive."

"Syusuke, I don't understand you." A sigh, and then a very forced chuckle that faded away into another sigh.

Fuji suddenly looked down at his intertwined fingers with renewed interest, "I thought you knew me."

"I do, but knowing and understanding aren't the same thing."

Fuji drew his thumb lightly across his bottom lip; "I don't understand myself, often, I think."