Perspective
Pairing: Inui/Shinji
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Theme: #4—our distance and that person
Disclaimer: All disclaimers are in chapter 1
Rating: PG
It was never hard for Kamio to tell when something was bothering Shinji. Unlike most people, who tended to babble and distract easily when upset, Shinji became extremely focused…and silent.
It was the silence that Kamio found particularly disconcerting. Shinji, as a general rule, was never silent. Quiet, yes, but they were two different things altogether.
The worst of it was that Kamio had no idea as to what had shaken his best friend so much. Their routine hadn't varied in the least…except for yesterday, when he had had to stay behind at school. With a flash of realization, Kamio saw that whatever had happened, it had happened then…and he had no idea what it was
The thing that bothered Kamio the most was that Shinji wasn't talking to him about it. Normally, he and Shinji shared everything. It…hurt, to think that his best friend was hiding something from him.
But Kamio also knew that, left to his own devices, Shinji would brood for days and not think to talk about it…so it was up to him to drag it out of Shinji.
Accordingly, when the lunch bell rang, Kamio steered Shinji to the roof, jammed the door so they wouldn't be interrupted, and sat Shinji down. "All right…talk to me."
Shinji blinked, looking up at Kamio, who had yet to take a seat. "Talk about what?"
"Talk about whatever's upset you so badly." Kamio slid down next to Shinji. "You left school yesterday and you were fine. Now…you're not. What happened to change that?"
Shinji hesitated, picking at his bento. "Akira…what does An-chan mean to you?"
Kamio was taken aback by the question. "She's…special." Kamio blushed. "Not like you. Different…she makes me…warm inside." He blinked. "Why?"
"How did you know she was so special?" Shinji asked, ignoring Kamio's question. "What made you decide that you wanted her?"
"I—I don't know," Kamio stuttered. "I just…did. Why do you want to know—" Understanding dawned. "You met someone, didn't you?"
"I may have…I don't know." Shinji sighed. "I don't know if it's real, or just because of circumstance." He paused. "They're so far beyond me…."
"Don't think like that!" Kamio shook his head. "No one is too good for you. So…tell me about her?"
Shinji flushed. "It…isn't a her…."
"A guy then…all right." Kamio nodded slowly, processing this. "What's he like? Does he go here?"
Shinji shook his head. "He goes to Seigaku. He's smart…he's tall and dark. But not handsome. That would be cliché. He's…observant. And bold." Shinji touched his lips, remembering. "He kissed me…."
Kamio smiled at the returning of the normal Shinji, but then stared at him, stunned. "Kiss! Without asking or anything?"
"No…but I don't think I minded…."
Kamio blinked as Shinji's eyes began to glaze over. "You've got it bad…." A thought occurred to him. "You said he's from Seigaku…who is he?"
Shinji blushed a little. "He's a year older…on the tennis team…."
Kamio considered the options. "Tezuka…no, he wouldn't know impulsiveness if it came up and bit him. Ummmm…everyone knows Kikumaru and Oishi are dating…that leaves Kawamura—no, he's got that thing with the delinquent from Yamabuki, I heard from Sengoku—so that leaves Fuji or Inui." Kamio sat back and grinned. "My money's on Fuji—I think he'd be the type to pull a stunt like that."
Shinji shook his head slowly. "It was Inui." He smiled. "It was nice, actually…I didn't think he could be nice, but he was."
Kamio just stared, trying to process that. "Wait. You're trying to tell me that this guy, the same one that Momoshiro keeps branding as a sadist in the extreme, is b nice /b ?"
Shinji nodded. "And he's a good kisser, too. Well, I think he is. I don't have anyone to compare him with." He glanced at Kamio consideringly.
"Oh no!" Kamio threw his hands up. "I am not kissing you!"
"And I don't want you to." Shinji shuddered. "That would just be wrong. Like kissing a brother, or something else wrong."
Kamio had a moment where he wasn't sure if he should be insulted or not. "So…why were you looking at me, then?"
"I don't know…have you kissed An-chan at all?"
Kamio's blush rivaled his hair in color. "Ummm…well, don't tell Taichibana-san…."
That was enough of an answer for Shinji. "How did it make you feel, Akira?"
Kamio took a moment to seriously consider the question. "It made me feel…like I was floating," he responded slowly. "Happy, you know, but almost like a dream. One that I didn't want to wake up from."
Shinji nodded as he listened. "I don't know if it was all that for me, but it was over so fast, so I don't know."
"Did you like it?"
"After the fact? Yes, I did." Shinji blushed softly.
"So…what are you going to do now?" Kamio asked, curious.
"Do you think I should go back and see him again?" Shinji sounded honestly confused.
"I really don't know." Kamio bit his lip as he thought. "He's a year older than you, he goes to a different school…his interests are so different from yours, Shinji. There's so much distance between the two of you, and he'll be moving on to high school soon…then what?" Kamio shook his head. "Is Inui worth all of that?"
Shinji closed his eyes, thinking back to their encounter. "I don't know…but I think I want to find out, Akira." He looked down at his hands. "It may sound crazy, but I think if I b don't /b give this a chance…I'll never forgive myself. He may be out of my reach…he may be too distant, but I have to try. I need to."
Kamio sighed in his head, but showed a smile to his best friend. "Then go for it. If you think he's worth bridging that distance, then that's enough for me."
"Thank you, Akira." Shinji looked truly happy to hear that, and for Kamio, that was enough to assuage many of his doubts.
"Then let's finish lunch. And this afternoon, you track Inui down and demand that chance." Kamio turned his attention to his lunch.
Shinji looked down at his food and smiled. To him, Inui was a very interesting person, and promised to be well worth the effort it might take to get close to him.
--The End--