Author's Note: Oishi will be referred as Oishi while his family will be referred to as their given names.
Special thanks to Hikari Sango for beta-ing!
Happy Birthday
Disclaimer: Sadly, Konomi Takeshi owns everything here.
Chapter 7 – Oishi Syuichiro:
"Eh? A birthday dinner?" Oishi asked with a confused look. He had just arrived down the stairs and found his parents wishing him a happy birthday and asking for a birthday dinner later that day.
He hesitated for a bit, but a smile was quickly plastered on his features and he nodded in agreement. "Sure," he replied.
"Yay!" his younger sister, Hanako, yelped gleefully as she launched herself onto her older brother's back.
Oishi turned back and yelped at the sudden weight on his back. "Hana!" he admonished, trying to pry the hyperactive girl off him. She was so much like him…
He blinked and glanced at the clock, which read a little after eight. He turned to his parents and, with a smile, finally tugged his sister off, grabbed his bag and said, "Itakimasu!" and left.
A birthday dinner… he thought, frowning a bit as he walked up the steps onto the bus which he took everyday to school. It was part of a routine. His routine. What am I going to tell him? He asked himself; his eyes seemed to not see at all.
His arm reflexively grabbed onto the pole next to him as the bus turned and gave a lurch, waking him out of his thoughts.
"Oishi."
He turned around, half-surprised and half-expecting the voice. "Tezuka," he greeted with a smile.
Tezuka had his own way of greeting: he nodded and handed Oishi a small package. "Happy birthday," he told the younger boy, same stoic features still plastered on his face.
Oishi smiled, accepted the package and thanked him. He glanced at it and saw that it was fairly small – only about a size of a large pencil, only wider. "Thank you Tezuka," he thanked.
Tezuka nodded. "The team decided to get together and buy you something," he explained.
"Ah, then this… must be a lot," Oishi answered. He lifted the package and inspected it. What could be in it that could be so small and expensive? He asked himself.
The Seigaku captain didn't talk for the rest of the ride to school. Oishi didn't mind; he, too, fell silent.
--
Practice started out normally. The captain and vice captain stood around, supervising the other members while they cried out and grunted, reaching for the flying balls with their racquets.
Oishi smiled as he fixated his attention over at the regulars, watching as they played practice rounds – partners chosen by Inui. He watched as Kaidou sat on the ground, stretching out his arm as Inui stood towering over him, the usual notebook at hand.
"Hoi hoi!"
He turned his attention towards the doubles practice, finding that his double partner was practicing with Fuji against the Momoshiro-Echizen pair for extra practice in doubles.
Kikumaru seemed to have sensed Oishi's gaze on him as they took a break, for when he reached for his bottle, he stopped suddenly and waved at the vice captain, grinning wildly.
"Hi Oishii!" he greeted.
Fuji walked up and appeared next to the hyperactive acrobatic player. Smiling, he nodded in acknowledgement of Oishi and went on to talk to Kikumaru about their plan to keep attacking.
Before Oishi knew it, practice was over and the tennis club members trooped into the club room to change into their school uniforms.
"That was great practice today, everyone," Oishi commented, making sure his voice was loud and clear as the other members trekked in. He nodded to each of them as an acknowledgment and smiled at Kikumaru.
"Eiji, can I…talk to you?" he asked the acrobatic doubles player.
Kikumaru's reply was a grin and a nod, holding a "V" with his fingers. His way of answering "yes" and meeting after school.
--
However, the day seemed long to Oishi. Class after class, he tapped his pencil impatiently, waiting for the bell to ring at the end of the last class.
He sighed and stared up at the chalkboard in which the teacher was writing formulas on.
What was he supposed to tell his doubles partner? That they couldn't celebrate his birthday together because he decided that he would celebrate it as a birthday dinner?
He let his thoughts wander for a while and before he knew it, the class had ended with the bell ringing.
--
Oishi knew it.
That look on Kikumaru's face told him all.
"Sorry Eiji…" Oishi apologized. Kikumaru stared at his feet and looked up, grinning as if everything was still fine in the world.
"It's fine, Oishii nya!" he proclaimed, and began to turn around. "I'm sure you'll have a fun, happy birthday, Oishi!"
With that, he turned and ran, giving a small wave as he did.
Oishi stood frozen. His doubles partner hadn't called him that in a long time. And so suddenly…
…Kikumaru was definitely and most likely mad at him, Oishi thought sadly as he pulled the gift from his tennis bag.
Traditionally, he and Kikumaru had always spent Oishi's birthdays' at the tennis courts, playing against each other and perfecting their tennis formations. Of course, Kikumaru still wanted to defeat Oishi at some point, but somehow never did so.
Oishi sighed and placed the gift back in the bag, walking over to the entrance of Seigaku to wait for his ride.
Please let him forgive me…
--
"What's wrong Nii-san?" Hanako's childish voice asked as she looked up at her elder brother.
Oishi glanced down and smiled. "Nothing Hana-chan," he replied, giving a small wave. They sat around the large table, all four chairs were filled.
His mother stared at him worriedly, hand over her mouth as if she had realized something. "I shouldn't have convinced you to have a birthday dinner…" she murmured. "You must have wanted to go out with your friends…"
"No Okaa-san, it's fine," he replied.
In truth, he really did want to spend time with his friends…
--
"E-Eiji?" Oishi stuttered, eyes widening. He stepped forward to the doubles player who had suddenly appeared on his front porch as he arrived home from the dinner. His parents, who seemed to understand and knew automatically who it was, dragged Hanako into the house.
Kikumaru grinned. "I was wondering if you were still up for a game, nya," he confessed quite carelessly. He looked abashed, hands hiding behind his back.
Oishi smiled and nodded. "Sure, just wait a minute while I go grab my—"
He was suddenly cut off when Kikumaru grabbed his chin, pulled it towards his own and placed his lips over Oishi's.
The kiss was brief, as they were still young and Kikumaru still hadn't known…
They backed away and Kikumaru – who still held a hand over his mouth – looked away, almost afraid.
Oishi didn't speak for a moment.
"E-Eiji…" he whispered.
The next action seemed to have told Kikumaru what he wanted. For Oishi grabbed Kikumaru's chin, spun it to face him and kissed him.
--
"Open your present!" Kikumaru chided, urging his doubles partner and boyfriend to open the small gift.
Oishi smiled and took it out from his tennis bag, carefully peeling off the tape and wrapping paper. He lifted the lid that covered the box and stared.
Two tickets to an onsen.
Hot springs.
He picked one up and handed it to Kikumaru.
"You're coming with me."
Author's Note: ((hides)) Don't kill me? I know they're OOC but in order for me to get this up in time for Oishi's birthday, I had to rush. I know, I should have written it earlier, but school got in the way. Just so you know, we're past halfway finished with this! Yay! I'll probably rewrite it later anyways…
So anyways, Hanako is the name I made up for Oishi's sister because, he does have a sister. We just don't know the age or what her name is. So I made it up.
Er yeah, I should have warn you peoples about the shonen ai content. Well, it's GP so it's CANON.
And so… comments? Reviews? Advice? Thoughts?