Disclamer : Still not own Tennis No Ohjisama. Hibino brothers belong to Heiuchi Natsuko.

Words in /….: someone's thoughts

Words in Italic : flashback

Happy Easter, everyone! Sorry for the long wait. I know I had told some of you that the reason for Fuji to hate his birthday would be reveal in this chapter. That would be true before I realize that I had write this chapter into 30 pages! So I decided to break it into two chapters.

Ishka-chan has kidly beta this chapter in a day. I should post the two new chapters right now. But I'm falling sick right now. I caught a cold. My throat is sore and my head is dizzy. I haven't finish reading the editing chapters yet, only the first part. I decided to post the first part anyway so you don't have to wait longer. Hontou hontou ni gomen ne.

A Half-Second Dream

Chapter 5 : Before The Party

"Fuji-kun had confirmed about the party. His parents already approved of it. The party will be held at 07.00 pm." Inui said casually.

The regulars were still changing at the club room. As usual, the non regulars had already gone home. Fuji had changed quickly and bidded them goodbye, saying that his parents wanted him to come home early.

"Oh," Oishi looked unsure. "I feel bad for Fuji. It feels like we're interfering with his personal life behind his back. And using Fuji-kun's birthday as a tool for that purpose. Aren't we a bit too sneaky?"

"No no no, Oishi! You can't hesitate now! There's no turning back, okay?" Eiji exclaimed. "Besides, Yuuta won't loose anything. He'll even get more presents because of this, nya!"

"Kikumaru, are you sure your list about Fuji's favorites is accurate?" Inui asked skeptically.

"Of course I'm sure! Mizuki might be a loser in everything else, but when it comes to collecting data he's just almost as reliable as Inui!"

"Oh, so you got the list from Mizuki?"

"Hey, I'm still in my right mind, you know. He's the best person to ask about Yuuta. Although…" Eiji pouted. "He'd probably would say. 'So the great Seigaku couldn't get the datas by themselves could they? They still need my help after all. How touching.'" He said, mimicking Mizuki. Then topped it with Mizuki's trademark hairflip.

Momoshiro snickered. Even the others couldn't hide their smile. Even Ryoma had a light smirk playing in his lips.

"Isn't there any other way?" Oishi asked hopefully.

"Well, I had asked Kisazaru otouto. That's how I got the lists." Eiji smiled, pleased with himself. "That's way I could avoid Mizuki's great ego."

"Well, the party would be held the day after tomorrow. We should buy the presents quickly. How about we go to buy it now?" Oishi suggested.

Everyone agreed and quickly changed.

When everyone else had gone out, Ryoma surreptitiously approached Inui.

"Senpai."

Inui turned at him. Tezuka stopped right outside the door, without looking back.

"About the patterns of Fuji-senpai's absence, you said it started after he showed some symptoms…?"

Outside, Tezuka quietly waited to see where the conversation was leading to. It wasn't like him to be nosy, but if it concerned the regulars, especially their youngest one, then he just couldn't help but butt in. He had long stopped wondering how the younger pillar could do that to him.

"Could it be that the symptoms appeared around Fuji-senpai's- I mean, the other Fuji's- birthday has something to do with it? The time somewhat overlaps… But then again, it could be just a coincidence."

"Aa." Inui nodded.

"Maybe… It has something to do with Fuji-senpai's parents coming home?" Ryoma stated softly.

Tezuka slightly frowned when he heard the last question. Inui glanced to see if there was someone else nearby other than Tezuka. The other regulars were already considerably far from the club room.

"Echizen? How did you…?"

Ryoma turned to Tezuka. "I'm sorry, Buchou."

When Tezuka looked back at Ryoma, the boy's head was lowered. He could no longer see the latter's golden eyes- they were concealed by the shadow of his bangs. "I accidentally overheard your conversation with Inui-senpai when I came back to take the water bottle I left yesterday."

"Does anyone else know?"

"No. I didn't tell anyone."

"Good. Look, Echizen." Tezuka looked at Ryoma sternly. "We're not very clear yet about Fuji's relationship with his parents. It could be just our imagination. So, for Fuji's sake, please don't tell anyone."

"You don't have to ask me, Buchou." Ryoma nodded, meeting Tezuka's gaze evenly. Inside, however, he felt a little hurt about being doubted. "I know when to keep my mouth shut." He quietly added.

"I know." Tezuka's gaze softened.

"Oiiii!" Eiji yelled impatiently, waving at them from afar. "Are you guys coming or what?

"Hai hai." Ryoma sighed, then walked ahead of Tezuka and Inui.

When Ryoma was already out of the clubroom and Inui was sure that he and Tezuka were out of the younger one's earshot, Inui turned to Tezuka. "I think you offended him."

"I know. His eyes told me so." Tezuka sighed.

"That's right. His eyes are always very honest. But other than that, you saw something else in his eyes, am I right? For instance… those bags that are starting to form right below his eyelids. They're not that visible, especially because he's always wearing a cap, but since it's you, there's ninety-five… no, perhaps ninety-eight percent chance that you noticed."

"He's worried. That boy… He'd rather die than admit it but he does worry about his friends. He knows this matter is serious. And he's sincerely worried about Fuji. But to the point that he doesn't get enough sleep anymore… I can't allow it."

"Mm." Inui nodded. "But you could have just told him not to worry." He adjusted his glasses. "Maa. You've always been like that, Tezuka. You lose your cool when it comes to him."

---

Ryoma frowned. He just couldn't understand. And not being able to understand something always annoyed him. Whatever it was, he would end up thinking about it all day- and even all night- long until he figured it out.

He thought it over once more. All the evidence led him to think that Fuji-senpai may not have been on good terms with his parents? But then again, like he could talk. He himself bickered with his stupid Oyaji every second of every minute of every day, but… life without that perverted monk just wouldn't be the same.

He would never admit it out loud, but there are times that his father shows that he may actually- Ryoma cringed- care for him. He remembered when he got hurt after his match with Ibu Shinji, His dad came to his room when he thought Ryoma was already asleep.

"Not bad." He whispered. He then began ruffling his son's hair.

So if even someone like Ryoma, whom his father always treated like he was so mada mada da ne, could be- Ryoma shuddered- cared for, then surely, Fuji-senpai's parents must love Fuji-senpai a lot. Fuji-senpai, after all, is what you could call a 'perfect son'. There was just nothing anyone could criticize about him. He had nice looks, he had average- maybe even above average- academic records, and he definitely stood out in athletics. Fuji-senpai was just… flawless. He was a prodigy, after all. Everything he did often left people awestruck.

Even the oblivious Echizen didn't fail to notice that Fuji-senpai was beautiful. He wouldn't say that his senpai was handsome because the word beautiful suits him better. He remembered this song by N'Sync that he once heard when he was still in America. He mused that God must have spent a little more time on Fuji-senpai, or something. Everywhere Fuji-senpai went, he was a head turner. The way he looked, the way he smiled, the way he did everything in a gracefully lazy way… and how stunning his eyes were whenever their gazes would accidentally meet. Not to mention he had such a soothing voice.

It was a wonder, really, why Fuji-senpai still didn't have a girlfriend until now.

'It probably has something to do with his choice of food./ Ryoma inwardly snorted.'

Ryoma then remembered that one time when he and Momo-senpai were passing through a bunch of girls doting on Fuji one time. Momo offhandedly asked him if he also thought Fuji-senpai was beautiful. Without a second thought, he answered 'No'. Of course, part of it was because he knew he wouldn't make it through alive if someone heard him saying 'Yes'. And besides, his senpais would tease him mercilessly about it and would start treating him like a girl.

But another- bigger- part of it was because the mere thought of what Fuji-senpai would do to him if he ever heard it made him shudder.

Besides, Ryoma somehow understood that Fuji-senpai wasn't pleased about being reminded about how effeminate he looked. That was what he learned when one time, while he was walking alongside Fuji-senpai across the school grounds towards the club room, another third year student- a member of the kendo club, judging from his uniform- had approached them furiously, pointing his wooden sword at them.

Fuji had instinctively stepped in front of Ryoma to shield him with his body, but Ryoma stubbornly stepped beside him and looked at the other person in the eye.

That person then started to angrily accuse Fuji of being the reason why the girl that he liked had refused him.

Curious by passing students had started gathering around them, and it was in front of all these people that the jerk started mocking Fuji-senpai about looking like a girl. And maybe it would be better for him to find a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend.

That made something within Ryoma snapped. Flashes of a memory he thought he had already forgotten began to resurface in his head.

He himself had a similar experience in America when he accidentally overheard some of the boys in his class, who were always so touchy-feely around him, talking behind his back.

"Hey hey… I heard Ryoma won in the Junior tournament again. That's, what, four years in a row now, isn't it?"

"I know… And because of that, he's gotten more popular with the girls again."

"Yeah… But isn't it kinda weird? Even though his girls always flock around him, I heard he doesn't even have a girlfriend."

"He's too young for that."

"Cut the crap man, even fourth graders get girlfriends nowadays."

"Iiiiiidiots. Isn't it obvious? What girl would fancy a boyfriend who's more beautiful than her? It's an insult, man. An insult!"

Outside the door, Ryoma stood frozen, fists tightly clenched.

Sure, he had always been told that he looked a lot like his mother, even though he had his father's eyes. But to be compared to a girl and be ranked more effeminate was just too… much.

Since that day, Ryoma never spoke to those idiots again.

Some friends they were. Ryoma had always been an introvert, so when they approached him, telling him they wanted to be friends with him, he didn't know how to react. But at the same time, he didn't want them to see that he was confused, so he accepted their offer with a casual shrug.

"…chizen? Echizen, what's wrong?"

Ryoma started when he felt Fuji's hand on his shoulder. All traces of smile were gone from the Tensai's sweet face, replaced by a genuine look of concern.

"Ah… no. Nothing."

Fuji just stared at him a bit longer, then let it go with a quiet "If you say so…"

He then turned to the other guy. He smiled, but the look in his eyes was so cold. Ryoma racked his brain… He was sure he had seen those eyes before. And then it clicked.

It was exactly the same eyes Fuji-senpai had right before his match against Kirihara.

Fuji-senpai didn't yell. He just stepped casually and said something with a low voice for only the boy's ears to hear then walked away, still wearing then same deceptive smile.

To this day, Ryoma couldn't forget how terrified the boy looked. His eyes were so wide that Ryoma thought they would popped out from the sockets. And he was shaking uncontrollably. No one ever knew what Fuji'senpai said. But the boy didn't go to school for weeks. He only came when his parents dragged him to school. Even so, the boy would freak out and flee whenever Fuji-senpai was nearby.

That day, Ryoma learned a very important lesson.

Never say Fuji-senpai looks like a girl.

---

It was a week after the meeting at the tennis street court. Ryoma mused that it must be his curiosity that made him agree to help Kikumaru-senpai to do a little detective game. Kikumaru-senpai wanted to list all the books and cds that Fuji-senpai already had. He even dragged Momo-senpai, Inui-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai along.

How Eiji-senpai managed to drag Ryoma himself was something the boy wonder had yet to figure out.

Kikumaru-senpai had sternly said they couldn't ask Oishi-senpai and Kawamura-senpai to help them. They would be too worried about interrude Fuji's privacy and how the Tensai would react if he catches them, and that would only blow up their cover.

Ryoma then asked why Kimumaru-senpai didn't ask Tezuka Buchou to come along.

Kikumaru-senpai changed the subject in a nanosecond.

Ryoma tugged his cap down to hide his satisfied smirk.

Then again, it still didn't change the fact that it would really be a miracle if they got out of the Fuji residence alive, especially because of this kind of motive.

For a moment, Fuji arched an eyebrow when he saw them right in front of the doorstep. Eiji smiled, as if it was the most common thing in the world for them to visit the Fuji household.

"Saa, it's a nice surprise." Fuji usual smile took its rightful place.

Eiji just burst in and quickly went straight to Fuji's room upstairs. Fuji sighed and asked the others to come in. After he closed the door, Fuji went to his room, the others tailing behind.

"Eiji, what are you doing?" Fuji asked sternly.

"It's payback time!" Eiji said cheerfully. "I said I would make you all pay for ruining my time with Chocolate before!"

Fuji sighed.

"Eiji, it was months ago. Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge? Besides, at least, in the end, you had the chance to take picture with them and also got their autographs. And shouldn't you go after Oishi first if you want to take revenge?"

"I would." Eiji pouted. "But Oishi has a family gathering. And I was so bored. And I met these guys at the tennis street court. And then I remembered your house was pretty close by. And so I said why didn't we disturb Fuji?"

Fuji just shook his head, chuckling, after he heard Eiji babbling cutely.

"So? Found anything interesting yet?"

"No. And it's your fault! You should at least make your room a mess or watching or reading your father adult stuff or something!"

While the others burst into laughter, Fuji noticed a lone little figure by his windowsill, curiously observing his lined up cacti.

"Cute, aren't they?"

Ryoma startled. Fuji-senpai's footsteps were too quiet, so he didn't notice the latter until he was already right behind him.

"What part of them is cute? They're too noisy."

Fuji laughed lightly. "No no, I meant these little ones." Fuji gestured to his precious little treasures by the window.

"Hmmm… Bet you don't think that when you get pricked by the thorns, though." Ryoma smirked.

Fuji chuckled. "No, they're just arrogant that way. But that's what makes them all the more adorable. They stand proud and tall in a stubborn way even though they're so small. Just like someone I know."

"Eh?" Ryoma blinked up at his senpai.

"Fuji-senpai! I'm hungry. Do you have something to eat?" Momoshiro asked, but unbeknownst to Fuji, this was part of their 'plan'.

"That's right! I'm a little hungry too! Please please please, Fuji!" Eiji begged.

"Sa, I think I could fix something up. Be patient, ne? Why don't we come downstairs and I'll make something for you."

"Nah, we'll wait here. It's more comfy here." Momoshiro sat on the floor beside the bed and pretended to be interested in the photo magazine on the desk.

"Don't worry about us, Fuji-senpai." Kaidoh said dryly. "I'm sure they are more than competent to entertain themselves.

"He's right. Shall I help you cook something?" Inui kindly offered.

"You don't have to!" Everyone, except Fuji, answered in unison.

Fuji didn't move from where he stood. He looked at the remaining three with a smile that seemed harmless. But Ryoma noticed Fuji's eyes quietly scrutinizing them.

Fuji must've felt Ryoma's eyes on him, so he simply shrugged it off, smiling at them.

"Saa, please do feel at home. I'll be right back."

He walked towards the door, chuckling ominously.

As soon as Fuji stepped out and closed the door behind him, Eiji tiptoed to the door, then pressed his ears to it. When the sound of Fuji's footsteps seemed to have died down, he sighed. "That was close!"

Everyone else sighed along.

That is, until Ryoma spoke.

"Senpai-tachi… You do realize you've just given him the freedom to make us eat anything he likes. And I mean anything."

Deathly silence followed Ryoma's words.

Then Eiji and Momo promptly dashed to the kitchen.

---

It was somewhat of a relief that Fuji didn't come back at once after Ryoma's somewhat cryptic warning.

"Hmm, interesting choice of books does Fuji have." Inui started to read the titles out loud. "A collection of Lonely Planet. Awareness by Anthony De Mello. The Frog's Prayer and Called For Love, also by De Mello."

"Fsshh, Inui-senpai, we don't have much time." Kaidoh looked at the door worriedly.

They could heard the sound of things that fell and all the noise that Eiji and Momoshiro made by whatever it was they were trying to do to buy some time.

"Relax, Kaidoh. We still have 15 minutes. Well, 14 minutes and 35 seconds to be exact."

Ryoma felt the urge to smack say "Mada mada da ne!" but he just gritted his teeth and continued to jut down the titles of the books and cdsas fast as he could. Kaidoh followed his lead.

Ryoma, however, couldn't help but flinch each time he wrote a title. There were various books written in English, which, if he used his classmates' level of English as a benchmark, shouldn't be read by a middle scholar. There were even titles like An Genetic Analysis of Human, Schrödinger's Equation & Wave Motion Function, A Study of Leonhard Euler's Formula, A Study of Dedekind Cut Theory only a dork like him who spent time on books as much as he did for tennis would bother paying attention to.

He had flipped the books out of curiosity only to close them again quickly. The math problem he had accidentally read was not a material for a middle scholar, not even a high school student. And he knew about it because he had taken a look to the high school material when he was bored.

Ryoma felt a headache started to form after seeing all the math formulas that he never see before along with the talk of genetic and quantum. It was beyond him how Fuji-senpai could read those books. Well, if he was on his favorite spot at the school library, Ryoma might spend some times to read them to try to understand them. He wasn't someone who would back off from challenge. He had to remind himself that he was at Fuji-senpai's room and didn't surrender to the temptation that the books gave him. Ryoma scowled at the evil books.

Now he could understand how Tezuka Buchou felt everytime Momo-senpai had an argument with Kaidoh-senpai. A continuous headache that could never disappeared. Ryoma smirked when he realized he had thought that Momo-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai were as annoying as the math problem he had encountered just now.

"Enough. Put everything back the way they were." Inui finally said after what felt like a very long time for his kohais.

They placed everything back as soon as they could. They could hear footsteps from downstairs and Eiji's chatter was loud enough to act as a signal for them. They could hear Eiji babbling about how sorry they were about the mess, that he didn't know how clumsy he and Momo were.

Then the door opened. Fuji came with a grim smile. Behind him, Eiji and Momo closely followed. Each of them carried a tray of food except for Momo who held a tray with cups of steaming hot chocolate.

Fuji's eyes opened dangerously while he scanned his room.

"Saa, I hope you found what you're looking for."

Everyone felt that the room's temperature had dropped when they heard how cold Fuji's voice was.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Fuji." Inui said calmly while adjusted his glasses.

Ryoma admired that his senpai could stayed calm under Fuji-senpai's cold eyes. Only a few people could be that way. Well, he didn't know if Inui-senpai felt the same as they were inside. He surely didn't show it.

But as for Ryoma himself… somehow, he couldn't look Fuji in the eye. It felt as though he had betrayed his trust, even though Fuji-senpai had always been so nice and gentle to him.

Fuji didn't say anything, instead he showed it. He gave the food tray to Kaidoh and started to place the book at his desk 2 degree to the left and pulled the bookmark 5 millimeter above. He made a little adjustment to the glass in his desk, the books in his shelves The arrangements of the books that were the same, since Ryoma didn't need to move them that much because all he had to do was copy the titles written on the sides, but he did take flip through some of the interesting titles so, the arrangement was somewhat altered. But the change was so little that it amazed him how Fuji-senpai noticed even that.

Eiji and Momoshiro looked confused at Fuji's behaviour. Kaidoh looked bewilded.

Ryoma's eyes widened slightly. 'Could it be that Fuji-senpai also…'

No sooner had Ryoma realized this did Inui voice his thoughts.

"I see. A photographic memory." The data play specialist stated calmly.

"Huh? A photographic memory? Because Fuji loves photogtraphy? Then I have an acrobatic memory!" Eiji exclaimed.

There's a silence. Everyone stared at Eiji. Ryoma saw that Fuji's anger had lessened a bit.

"Kikumaru, there's no such thing as acrobatic memory!" Inui twitched annoyed.

"Then how could Fuji have a photographic memory?"

"Kikumaru, a photographic memory is an ability to remember everything exactly as you saw it."

"Sugoi! I wish I have it! So I wouldn't have to study hours for exam! No wonder Fuji-senpai is a tensai!" Momoshiro said in awe.

Ryoma noticed that Fuji's body tensed upon hearing that.

Ryoma immediately yet seemingly nonchalantly spoke up. "Momo-senpai, having a photographic memory doesn't mean that you shouldn't study. Besides, just remembering isn't enough. Wouldn't it be better to learn more about it? Not having photographic memory just means you have to put a bit more effort to in memorizing."

When their eyes met for a fleeting moment, Fuji smiled at him gratefully.

Ryoma could understand Fuji's feelings because he felt it too. A lot of people that he met always said that it's not a wonder Ryoma could play tennis that good. It was only because he was Echizen Nanjiroh's son. In that sense, he wasn't born with the gift at all! It was his father who was the prodigy. Not him. He was only trained. And he was trained really hard.

But to Ryoma, that was the whole point. If he hadn't trained, if he hadn't put any effort, he wouldn't be able to play tennis the way he did now.

Fuji seemed to have read through his thoughts, so when Ryoma snapped out of his unseeing gaze, he saw that Fuji's blue eyes were so gentle, it felt as though he was gently patting Ryoma's back. But his tender gaze disappeared when he turned back to the rest and asked once again.

"You still haven't answered my question."

"Gomen ne, Fuji." Eiji started to sob. "It was all Inui's fault. He said that you never show your true self in tennis and everything. So we just curious to investigate if your strange taste for food and anything are the same with what you had show us."

Inui twitched, feeling as though putting the blame on him was thoroughly unjustifiable. Of course, Eiji was the only one capable of making up some excuses that sound truthful enough. But still… To be put straight to the lion's mouth… Inui started mentally calculating his formula for the next Inui Juice he would serve especially to Kikumaru.

Fuji knew that they were hiding something. But he really didn't want to know. If the reason was what he was thinking about, he rather let it pass and pretended to be stupid.

"And what did you find?"

"That you really have a unique taste for books." Inui stated. "And that you're really fond of cacti."

Fuji's cold eyes softened somewhat after hearing that. He spared a glance at Ryoma, only to see Ryoma looking questioningly at him.

"Fuji-senpai, may I look the pictures?" Ryoma asked while he pointed to the box under Fuji's bed.

Everyone eyed Fuji hopefully. He didn't really feel like it. Fuji was never one to share his thoughts openly. But his pictures… Pictures never lie. And pictures reflect the photographer. They spoke about Fuji's passion when he took them. About the feelings he had when he took them. But he couldn't find an excuse to deny the request.

He finally sighed. "All right." He finally smiled, gazing at Ryoma gently, as if saying sorry for the cold side of him he had shown.

Everyone gathered around Ryoma who picked the pictures out of the box. There were pictures that taken by Fuji that gave them a warm feeling, sent them a joyous feeling when they saw them. But some also gave them a dark feeling. A portrait to the darkness of life in this world. About the poor, the struggle and more sad realities. The similarity was the pictures gave a strong impact for those who looked at them.

There were also some photo books by some people that they didn't know. But the pictures were beautiful. The pictures' message were clear. The beauty, happiness, and grateful feeling for living. The photo book about the war victims gave a pang in their hearts when they saw the pictures. And the sympathy the photographer felt for them was clearly visible.

"I love their works." Fuji sat on the edge of the bed, right behind where Ryoma was sitting cross-legged on the floor. "There's power and life in them, don't you think? I studied their works and tried it and made some innovations myself." Fuji explained calmly after he looked at their awed yet curious faces.

"Wow! So you studied photography yourself?" Momoshiro was impressed.

"Momo, when you have a hobby, don't you try to learn as much as you can about it too? Reading books about it, trying it yourself… These are things you'd do to do better at what you really like doing, right?" Then Fuji nodded to Ryoma, as if pointing out to Momo that he was an example of that. Momo grinned in understanding. "Ooohhh… I see."

Ryoma, on the other hand, was oblivious to the whole exchange, as a book at the second place from the bottom seemed to have caught his attention. The cover was a little path with huge trees on its left and right. The title was 'As The Seasons Go By'. Ryoma wondered why it looked familiar to him, before he remembered that it was one of his favorite books way back when he would spend hours and hours at his previous school's library. It was published by a known publisher in America.

/Oh… that's why./ Ryoma thought.

But when he looked down and read the name of the photographer, he dropped the book.

"You?"

Ryoma looked at Fuji, bewildered. The others saw his reaction so they took a peek. Ryoma flipped the pages and found it was published 3 years ago.

"Fuji-senpai... Sugoi ne…" Ryoma said calmly.

"Ah, I was just lucky. Someone who worked at the publisher liked my picture at a contest that I followed. He asked my permission to look at my other pictures and then offered to published them"

"It wasn't lucky! Luck wouldn't get you that far! You're really talented, Fuji!" Eiji said enthusiasm.

"They were the scenery of places in America." Ryoma quietly spoke as he saw the pictures.

The pictures were truly beautiful. The sceneries were taken during different seasons. The angle of the pictures taken was just right. The pictures seemed so alive and drew people into them. From the spring air to the winter cold, they could feel all of them by just looking. But there was something that sent them a lonely feeling in those pictures. Like the bitter feeling to watch the seasons come and go… yet feeling helplessly bound by time.

And then Ryoma remembered that because he was always very busy with his tennis practices, his daily routine only allowed him to only go as far as home, school, and the tennis courts. That was part of the reason why he unconsciously developed a liking for books. Books were the only way he could travel. And this particular photo book was by far the one he liked best.

Each time he felt exhausted from practice, he would always drop by the library first. And before he knew it, his feet would always lead him to that particular seat by the window right across the shelf where Fuji's photo book was kept.

"Ah, I studied in America for awhile." Fuji's voice snapped Ryoma out of his thoughts.

They waited but Fuji didn't say anything more. So they knew they should give up. They didn't say anything again about the matter. Just looked at the pictures and made some comments.

At the bottom of the box was another photo book. There was something in the book that strongly called the watcher to take a moment to look at it. Ryoma raised his hand to take it but was stopped by Fuji's hand that took his and pressed the book to the bottom.

"Fuji-senpai, may I take a look?" Ryoma asked calmly.

"You wouldn't like it, Echizen." Fuji gently told him. "They're some of my earlier works so the technique was still raw." Fuji smiled casually.

Eiji looked at Fuji, then Ryoma, then Fuji again.

"Nya, we wouldn't mind! We won't tease you. Promise! Please please pleeeeaase, Fuji."

Eiji did his best puppies eyes to press Fuji. Fuji sighed. He didn't really want them to see that book. This particular book revealed more of his feelings than what he would've liked.

But seeing Eiji's pleading eyes and everyone else's curious stares, Fuji sighed and finally decided to cave in. "All right all right."

Instead of letting go of Ryoma's hand, he pulled the book out with their hands on top of each other then placed it on Ryoma's lap.

The cover was a picture in black and white, which showed footsteps on the sand while the waves slowly erased them from the shore. The golden words on the book were read as 'Footsteps Through The Time". Ryoma saw that the photographer was indeed Fuji. The book was published only a year ago by a well-known publisher in Japan.

They flipped the pages slowly. There were some black and white pictures along with the colorful ones. There were the scenery of some places in Japan like Tokyo, Kyoto, and more. Although they guessed that Chiba had more shots compared to the other places. There were some places from outside Japan too. Ryoma could recognized some places at Germany from where they visited Tezuka. Only the pictures that taken at the visit weren't there since the book was published long before that incident.

The pictures took from times to times and arranged in the book so they could see the changes in the scenes. Event though some of the pictures were taken when Fuji was still so young, the pictures were sharp and told what Fuji wanted them to see. There's no denial that as time passed, Fuji's techniques became more and more polished. But it didn't lessen his early days' works as something that had the power to catch everyone's attention.

Ryoma mused that the pictures in this book told more than the first book they saw. There was sadness as the photographer watched how time could cruelly passed by so fast. Happiness changed into grief, hope turned to despair as they couldn't do anything to stop the flow of time.

How could this always-smiling Tensai that they've known take pictures that screamed heartbreak like this?

But the changes weren't all bad. The more recent pictures seemed to give off a peaceful, and more stable feeling. A warm feeling from some interactions of people there that told them that humanity could still be saved. The sadness and relief were so intense, but left them satisfied. There was a clear reminder for all who watched it to be careful of what they do, and savor each moment to the fullest. Nature, environment, people… All of these change and whither through time. And what time had taken away is often something one could never take back.

While looking through the photos, Fuji caught Ryoma smiling. Perhaps even Ryoma himself wasn't aware of it, but Fuji found himself smiling along with Ryoma.

That's right… thinking of the future is wise. But so is treasuring what you have in the present.

---

"Aniki," Yuuta's head emerged from the door.

"Ah, Yuuta." Shuusuke smiled warmly. "Come in."

"Do you need any help?" Yuuta said while studied all the decorations that his aniki made.

"My, that's really sweet of you, Yuuta." Shuusuke chuckled. "But it's all right, I'll manage."

Yuuta must admit that he was really impressed. His aniki was truly talented. He made a long paper crafting that depicted a tennis match. Yuuta could easily imagine that it would be the center of attention once displayed in the living room.

Shuusuke had been working on the decorations since Tuesday. After he heard about Yuuta's birthday party, he handled all the decorations. Yuuta was very happy for this time his aniki always got home earlier than usual. Well, except when he went to buy all the materials he needed for decoration.

Yuuta had kept debating with himself if he should asked his aniki about the time around his birthday when his aniki always went home late. He never thought that his aniki would avoid meeting their parents until his talk with Inui-san. But he didn't really know how to ask his aniki about it. So he kept them all to himself.

Yuuta's attention was caught by the balloons that Shuusuke arranged. His jaw just dropped when he saw them.

"Wow, Aniki! How did you make them? It's as good as the ones that I saw at TV Champion!" Yuuta exclaimed while he took a big transparent balloon, which had little pink balloons that arranged like sakura blossoms.

"Ah, thank you, Yuuta. I never knew you loved to watch that show."

Yuuta laughed embarrassedly.

"I didn't watch it all the time. Just some of the episodes. Like the contest about who the best chef for cakes, the one who know all the cheap but delicious meal, the ramen man and so on."

Shuusuke looked amusedly.

"Hey, it was Yanagisawa-buchou's fault." Yuuta said defensively. "He was the one who always watched it. He said he learned a lot from the show. Like the best ramen shops, the delicious cakes shop and all. I got interested when it showed the eating contest."

"Ah, I remembered that one. I thought maybe Momo should participate on that one." Shuusuke laughed lightly.

"So you do watch it too," Yuuta said thriumphly.

Shuusuke just smiled gently while his hand kept working to arrange the balloons. He inflated each balloon by filling it with just the right amount of helium. He arranged them to make a resemblance of a tennis player that posed to hit the ball.

"You're… really a tensai, Aniki." Yuuta softly stated, admiring his older brother's work.

He noticed that his aniki's fingers were tensed when he said it. But then he swiftly continued working.

"That's not true, Yuuta." Shuusuke said softly.

"Oh no, it is true. You're really talented. In tennis, school, photography, art, in everything!"

"Yuuta."

Yuuta stopped. There's something in his aniki's voice that told him something was wrong. Shuusuke didn't smile. He didn't look angry either. He just had a blank expression. But there was something in his exterior that told Yuuta his aniki was upset. Yuuta just couldn't figure the reason.

He kept thinking about what he had said. It must be something that he said. He just didn't know what he said that could upset Shuusuke that much.

"Aniki." Yuuta said carefully. "What's wrong?"

"Ie. It's nothing, Yuuta." Shuusuke forced a smile. "Don't worry."

Yuuta didn't believe him. He knew something was bothering his aniki.

"Aniki, is it because I said that you're a tensai? Do you worry about what I feel about it?"

That's the only reason that Yuuta could think would trouble his aniki. He knew he had treated Shuusuke very poorly because of his lack of self-confidence. But it didn't mean he hated his aniki. And he felt the urge to tell Shuusuke about it right now.

"Aniki, you should stop worrying about it. I mean it. Sure it bothers me when people compare… But you're my brother. To hate you for something like that would be so... low."

Shuusuke looked at him curiously.

"Uhm, I … I … I've always been proud of you. I just… I've always wanted to make you proud of me too. But I'm not you. I couldn't be as bright as you are. And … sometimes… I snap because of all the pressure. I just… I just want to be able to confidently stand on equal footing with you and Neesan. So I need to try harder. Then someday you could proudly say that I'm your otouto."

"Yuuta…"

"No, Aniki. Let me finish before I lose the courage to say it." Yuuta said determinedly. "If I had stayed in Seigaku, I know you would help me but that wasn't what I needed. I needed to learn how to stand on my own. Then I would be strong and make you proud at me."

His voice became a whisper. Yuuta didn't dare to look at Shuusuke. It was too embarrassing for him. He didn't the type of person who could open himself. Well, it seems that his aniki wasn't that type either or else his friends wouldn't try that hard to know about his birthday.

Yuuta was startled when he felt Shuusuke hug him tightly.

"Now it's my turn to say Baka Yuuta." Shuusuke's voice was tremble. "I would never feel ashamed to you! You're my otouto! My only one! You don't know how much we eagerly waited during your birth."

Yuuta felt hot tears threatening to fall from his eyes. And he knew Shuusuke felt the same.

"You know what, Yuuta? I've always been proud of you." Shuusuke whispered.

Yuuta didn't know what to say. He just returned the embrace more tightly. They stayed that way for a while before they realized about their situation. They let go of each other as they laughed nervously. Even in that situation, Yuuta felt pleased that he could see his aniki that way.

Shuusuke always be in control for everything. He was never the one who let his feeling exposed freely. Yuuta never saw his aniki feel nervous like that. And Yuuta enjoyed that rare moment very much. As long as he didn't need to remember how embarrassing he was either.

They talked while Shuusuke continued his work. Yuuta didn't remember how long have they talked. He felt happy. He didn't remember when was the last time they could talk so freely like that. Yuuta knew the fault was his. He always guarded himself, his feelings, and in process he hurt his aniki's feeling.

He didn't know the time when he felt drowsy. He was snuggled comfortly in Shuusuke's bed.

"Yuuta, you should go to your room."

"Hmm, don't wanna. Cozy."

Shuusuke smiled. He didn't push Yuuta, instead he covered his otouto with blanket. He continued to make the decorations.

---

Tsuzuku…

The whole Chocolate things are from the anime version when Eiji was chosen to have a visit by his idols. But Oishi came and then Fuji. And the others followed. Well, except for Tezuka who was in Germany that time.

Lonely Planet is a guide book for the people who love to travel. There are information of the best places to visit, the foods you should try, the information to get there and much more.

All the strange books that Fuji has was taken from Q.E.D by Katou Motohiro. Well, only the quanta mechanical book (Schrödinger's Equation & Wave Motion Function) that really a book in Q.E.D. The others I made up from the conversation in that manga.

Ah, and there's Fuji's brotherly love. I always love to read stories about it. Cause I think Yuuta really hurted Fuji's feeling when he treated him harshly before the match with St. Rudolph. I love to see the change after that match. Yuuta was more supportive to his aniki. I love to see him embarrassed because of Fuji's joke.

TV Champion was a program in Japan about various contests. They had competed about the one who could eat the most (surprisingly the winner was the thin one!), ramen biggest fan, decorative specialty, the owner of the most trained dog, and more. I loved to watch it, especially anything that showed Japanesse foods. Hmm, yummy.

Oyaji/Otousan : father

Sugoi ne : amazing, wonderful

Gomen ne : sorry

Hontou hontou ni gomen ne : I'm really really sorry