Disclamer : I don't own Tennis No Ohjisama. It's all Konomi Takeshi's. TT Also the sea horses thing is from The Duck Of Mr. Fredward by Ushijima Keiko.
Words in /….: someone's thoughts
Words in Italic : flashback
A Half-Second Dream
Chapter 2 : Watching The Sea Horses
Fuji could feel Eiji's eyes scrutinizing him. He pretended to act like nothing was wrong.
/Stop it, Eiji. Don't you know that it suffocates me/ Fuji kept chanting silently to not avail.
So he did the only thing that he could think of. He fled as soon as possible after the practice ended with random excuses. He could sense, even without looking at Eiji, that his friend was looking at him suspiciously, but he didn't want to think about it at the moment. Nor about the consequences that might follow later. He just needed to get away- and fast- before the crack in his smiling façade became wider.
He kept walking automatically without even thinking about it, until he realized that he was standing near the coast. He blinked in surprise. He didn't even remember that he had taken a train to go to Chiba.
To that beach.
Their beach…
Fuji went to the special spot that they used to go. He looked at the big rock near the sea. He watched at the waves that broke after crashing to a rock.
/The sea horses…/
---
"Well, I don't have Fuji's birthday data," Inui said as he adjusted his glasses.
"Hoi?" Eiji gasped theatrically. "And you're supposed to be the everyone's Official Stalker! Shame on you, Inui." Eiji shook his head, feigning disappointment. The others snickered.
Everyone except Tezuka, of course.
Ryoma, however, noticed the subtle twitching of his eyebrows, making the little one smirk.
Inui adjusted his glasses, making the spectacles glint as it momentarily reflected the sunlight.
"First of all, Kikumaru, I am not a stalker. Everything I do is for the sake of science. Secondly, I think that all the third grades remember that Fuji joined the tennis club at the middle of the second semester."
"Huh? Why did Fuji-sempai wait that long to join the club?" Momoshiro asked confused.
Ryoma frowned while Kaidoh's hiss could be heard clearly. They also couldn't understand why it took Fuji that long to join the club, since they were all eager to join the famed tennis club of Seishun Gakuen.
"Unyaa, now that's you mentioned it, I remember. He transferred to Seigaku at the beginning of second semester right? But he joined the club almost a month later."
"I had overheard Ryuzaki-sensei's conversation with Yamato-buchou."
Everyone looked doubtfully at Inui. Only an idiot would believe that he just 'happened to be there' and 'accidentally heard them talking'. They themselves learned the hard way that there is no such thing as coincidence when Inui Sadaharu is involved.
"It seems that Fuji didn't join the tennis club willingly. He didn't register to any clubs. But Ryuzaki-sensei tricked him into believing that part of the school rules is that every student should join at least one club. And since he still decided on which one to join, she kindly offered to select a club for him after reading his background."
"Yamato Buchou replied that Fuji would become a valuable player for Seigaku. His statement made me so curious. I kept my eyes on Fuji since then because I wanted to see his true power. But he's really too good in hiding his ability. I couldn't see anything special in him until one of the senpais accidentally smashed a ball to court where he and other freshmen practiced the swing. Fuji hitted the ball back with an accuracy and skill that matches that of a pro's. "
Tezuka narrowed his eyes. Of course he remembered it too. It was the first time he realized there was something more in Fuji than the boy showed.
"At our second grade, I helped Ryuzaki Sensei to collect the data of our freshmen's registration. I also rearranged the data of the third graders and second graders. I found out that there was something missing in Fuji's registration data. The missing data was his birth date and the name of the school he was in before he entered Seigaku. I tried to search the missing data at the student case file at the secretary's office only to find out that Fuji's data wasn't there either."
"What did Shinohara-sensei say about it?" Oishi asked.
"What about her?" Inui frowned, not understood.
"Uhm… Since she let you search Fuji's data at the student case file, surely she would have answered your questions about the missing data?"
"Who said that she'd let me?" Inui lifted his eye brow.
Everyone looked at him with wide eyes.
"But… but you… How could you… Uh, never mind."
Inui continued his speech like Oishi never interrupted him.
"So I searched it at the head master's office but still couldn't find it. My guess is Fuji's data is hidden at the safety box at that office. Too bad I still couldn't find the combination code till now."
Everyone were silently grateful for that. Just how far would Inui go in the name of the data-gathering?
"Anyway, that's make me believe that there's something about Fuji's data that the teachers couldn't let any of the students know."
There's a long silence after that. Everyone thought about the shocking news that they just heard about their Tensai.
"And the connection of this with Fuji-sempai's birthday is…?" Ryoma lifted his eye brow.
Inui readjusted his glasses and smiled.
"I thought you would never ask. Well, maybe any of you also realize that Fuji is rarely sick. But each year there are two times that he wouldn't go to school. When the teachers would call his house, Fuji's sister would tell them that he's sick. I found out that it was strange that she didn't call the school to inform them about Fuji's sickness but only told them after they called her."
"What is so strange about Fuji getting sick?" Eiji stared at Inui like Inui had gone mad. "That just means that Fuji's just as normal as we are, right?"
Ryoma wanted to ask 'who's normal among the Seigaku regulars anyway?' but bit back the comment. Just because arguing with Eiji-sempai was never a good idea- unless he wanted to go home with broken ear drums.
"Fuji didn't go to school at December 6th till December 15th and at February 16nd to March 4th at his first grade. Then at December 4th till December 14th and February 22nd till March 5th at his second grade. So you see there's a sort of pattern here. One is at early December and the second is at the middle of February till the beginning at March. This time, he didn't show up at December 8th till December 17th. There's a 98.96 percent chance that he would repeat this pattern at the coming weeks."
The silence that engulfed them after Inui disclosed that was almost unnerving.
"There're… there're repeated dates. Patterns… like what Inui-senpai said. And it's too obvious to let it pass as a mere coincidence." Momoshiro whispered.
"I don't like to voice something that the possibility still under 70 percent, but there's a 58.87 percent chance that Fuji's birthday is between that pattern. And there's a 65.52 percent chance that Fuji's birthday is at the first pattern."
"December? But that means his birth month is the same as Ochibi's."
Everyone looked at Ryoma.
Ryoma blinked. "What?"
"But but… That also means it had already passed!" Eiji looked like he was about to burst into tears.
"Eiji…" Oishi moved closer to his doubles partner and patted him "Inui's not yet absolutely sure about that. It's still just a wild guess, okay?"
"Why do you think Fuji's birthday falls at the first pattern?" Tezuka asked casually.
"There's a 89.69 percent chance that Fuji's absence at the middle of February has something to do with Fuji Yuuta, because his- I mean Yuuta's- birthday falls on the fifteenth. Since the relation between them was not on good terms during those years, I think Fuji's absence has a relation with his younger brother's birthday."
Everyone frowned slightly after hearing that. How the hell did Inui know when Fuji Yuuta's birthday is? The question wasleft hanging since everyone realized that they didn't really want to know how Inui knew about it.
"But this year their relationship finally started to get better after our match with St. Rudolph." Kawamura finally said.
"Every time, before Fuji repeats the pattern, I could notice subtle differences in his behavior. First, his smile would be tighter and much forced by about 5.95 percent to 15.97 percent, before he would suddenly stop going to school. Secondly, the percentage that his eye lids would close increases from 51.75 percent to 83.21 percent. Third, he would become somewhat distant and about 18.36 percent to 30.84 percent quieter than usual."
Momo nudged Ryoma's elbow. "Sounds like someone you know?" He whispered, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Well, that would be hard for us to notice, ne?" Oishi pondered out loud, looking somewhat guilty. "I mean, I wouldn't think it's unsual for Fuji to close his eyes. And the percentages of the first and third symptoms are so small that before we knew it, he'd already be absent from school."
"But Inui-senpai noticed it. Fssshh." Kaidoh added.
"Well, Inui-senpai himself is unusual." Momoshiro snickered.
Inui sent him a warning look.
Momoshiro gulped.
"I think I should inform you. I saw the first stage of the symptoms in Fuji today. That surprised me since it was earlier than the data that I already collected."
"It was because of me, right?" Eiji whispered, looking deflated. "Because I kept nagging him about his birthday."
"Eiji…" Oishi looked at him sympathetically.
"That's it!" Eiji perked up. "I've had enough of this mystery. Everything seems to connect with birthdays, his and his younger brother's! I'll find out what is so forbidden about Fuji's birthday! And there's only one way to do it! I'll ask Yuuta personally." Eiji shouted suddenly.
"What? Eiji…"
"No, Oishi. I've made up my mind. I'll go to St. Rudolph this Saturday!" Eiji said, eyes burning with determination.
---
"Na, Saeki, hurry up! I'm hungry!" Aoi Kentarou shouted.
"Tell me something new." Saeki Kojirou said teased.
After a long and exhausting practice game, the Rokkaku regulars planned to stop at their favorite ramen shop. Suddenly Saeki's mobile rang. Saeki's smile brightened when he heard that ring tone.
"Yo, Fuji. What's up?" Saeki answered cheerfully.
"Saeki…"
Something in Fuji's voice alarm bells ring inside him.
"Fuji? What's wrong?" Saeki asked anxiously, ignoring the curious glance from his team mates.
"Iie. It's nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice. Sorry. Am I bothering you?"
Saeki frowned, doubtful. He knew him too well to know that something was not right.
"Where are you now?"
There was silence. When Saeki thought Fuji would hang up, finally he heard an answer.
"It doesn't matter. I'm on my way home in a moment. Ja, Sae."
"Wait, Fuji… Fu…"
Fuji already hung up.
He thought he had heard something familiar at the background of Fuji's voice. Something like the wind and…
/Of course. The ocean./
"…ki. SAEKI!" He jumped when he heard someone calling- more like yelling at- him. When he looked around, he noticed that the other regulars looked worried.
"Is there something wrong with Fuji? Why did you sound so strange?" Itsuki asked. "I've been calling you, but it looks like you didn't hear me at all. You-"
"Look." Saeki interjected. "I'm sorry. I don't think I can go to the ramen shop with you guys. I forgot that I already had an appointment. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Without waiting for an answer, Saeki just fled.
---
The three boys finally reached the coast. Shuu was breathing hard. Behind him, the white hair boy grumbled.
"Just what did you want to show us? You kept us walking this far. Don't tell me that you just want to watch the sunset!"
The other boy with dark brown hair just laughed and pointed to the rock that was surrounded by waves.
"Look! The sea horses!"
The other boys looked at rock with wide eyes.
"Where?" The white-haired boy insisted.
"There!"
He looked where the boy was pointing to, and looked at the bottom of the rock.
"I can't see them! Are you playing with us?" The white-haired boy yelled, getting frustrated.
The dark brown hair boy just laughed.
"Oh, come on, Koji. Use your imagination. Don't you see that the waves that break free at the rock? They look just like horses' head, don't they?"
"Ah!" Shuu said when realization dawned on him.
"What's so special about them?" Koji frowned.
"Have you ever heard the story of the sea horses?"
The other two shook their heads.
"Do you see the waves? Look closer at the waves hitting against the rock. They look just like horses' heads trying to break free from the ocean to reach the sky. There's a story that the sea horses are the souls of people that already died. The dead people who left unfinished dreams are trying to break free from the ocean so they could be born again. They want to come back to the world and fulfill the dream that they left behind. They try hundreds- perhaps thousands- of times to reach the rock only to fall down again. It is so sad. They disappear with the waves' foam..."
"Is there… one of the sea horses that could break free from there?" Shuu whispered, tears threatening to fall from his eyes that matched the color of the ocean.
"It was just a story, Shuu. But, Shuu, isn't it much better to try as hard as we can, rather than surrender? I like the side of you that is just like the sea horses… always trying all they can to escape from the ocean."
Shuu just looked down. He felt sad for the sea horses. He felt like if he didn't try harder, the tears will really fall from his eyes.
"Let's make a promise." The boy said suddenly. "We won't become the sea horses. We would never be one of them."
He lifted his right hand up.
Shuu and Koji looked at each other before they reached their hand to hold their friend's hand.
"From today, whenever we are sad or feeling down, let's go to this place to watch the sea horses. So we would be reminded not to end up as one of them."
---
Fuji felt someone was sit beside him. He didn't look up.
"How did you know that I'm here?" He asked quietly, looking ahead.
Saeki just smiled and looked at the ocean. "This is the perfect place to see the sea horses, right?'
Fuji just didn't say anything.
"What was the story about the sea horses again? The waves are like horses' heads that try to break free from the ocean to reach the sky. The sea horses are the souls of people that already died with unfinished dreams. They try to break free from the ocean so they could be born again to fulfill the dream that they left behind. They try thousands of times to reach the rock only to fall down again and disappear with the waves' foam."
Fuji kept silent.
Saeki sighed.
"What's wrong? It's still too early."
/Too early to start mourning for him all over again./ Saeki added it silently.
Fuji still didn't say anything.
So he gave up and just sat quietly beside Fuji.
Saeki didn't notice time passed, but by the time he paid any attention to his surroundings, the moon was already reflected by the ocean.
"Here."
Fuji looked at the plastic glass that Saeki held to him and at the water bottle at his left hand.
"I'm not thirsty."
"Take it!" Saeki's voice sounded more like an order, not a request. So Fuji gave in and took it. When the glass' tip reached his lips, Saeki spoke right before he drank.
"Look. The moon is in your hands."
Fuji looked at the moon's silhouette at the water's surface inside at the glass and he looked up to the real thing up at the sky. He didn't understand where the conversation was headed for.
"The moon is beautiful. Her light is gentle, not blinding like the sun. Yet she could cast away the darkness with her grace. Now the moon is in your hands. With drinking it, the moon's power will fill you. Her warmth will softly cover you and her light will illuminate the darkness of sorrow within you. No matter what your problems are, her power will gently support you." Saeki softly yet confidently spoke, like a sorcerer casting a spell.
Fuji looked at the glass, hypnotized, and slowly drank the water.
And then, he finally started to open up.
"It was him, right?"
Saeki twitched. "Hmm, I knew I couldn't get it past you. Yes, it was him."
"How?"
"Well, you see, he had listed what to do and what to say when you are sad and down. And this is one of them."
"The others are…?"
Saeki just shook his head and said cheerfully.
"S-e-c-r-e-t. I should save it for later use, don't you think?"
Fuji stared at him. Finally he sighed and gave a little smile.
"It's getting pretty late now. Do you want to sleep over at my place?" Saeki stood up and offered his hand to Fuji.
"Thanks. But no, I think I'll just go home." Fuji stood up on his own, ignoring Saeki's hand.
"Look, Fuji. Don't push yourself, okay?"
"Saeki, I'm fine, really." Then Fuji's usual smile took its rightful place. "I just drank the moon, remember?"
Saeki could still hear a hint of sadness in his voice, but he could tell that his friend was more or less feeling better now. At least, better than when he had just found him sitting at their secret place earlier.
"Fine." Saeki sighed. "Just be careful all right? It's getting pretty late."
Fuji nodded and started to leave.
"Fuji…"
Fuji stopped and glanced to him.
"It's nothing." Saeki shook his head, smiling slightly. "Never mind. Take care."
Fuji smiled back softly, then nodded and left.
As he watched Fuji's retreating back, Saeki sighed.
/Am I not enough? Am I not enough to be your shoulder to cry on/
---
Tsuzuku…
Ah, it's longer than the first chapter. Hope you like it.
