Chapter 2: Surprise!
Today was the day they had waited. At 6 that morning, they set out on the bus which took about two hours to reach the spot. Yuuta shouted at his brother the night before when he found out that they were not alone. He should have known that his brother was never simple minded. He had a good mind not to go that night if aniki didn't ask nee-san and okaasan to cook his favourite foods once they return from the holidays. It was an easy trick for Syusuke.
On the bus ride, the older Tezuka (I'll address him as Tezuka-san later to avoid confusion) try to have a small conversation with Syusuke and his brother.
"Fuji-kun…" He was cut of by Syusuke before he could go to his question
"Syusuke and Yuuta would be fine, Tezuka-san. You could get us confuse later." He smiled brightly.
"Ok, Syusuke-kun. How long have you known Kunimitsu?"
"Since junior high Tezuka-san. We know each other from tennis club."
"I see. And you Yuuta-kun?"
"From aniki, also through tennis. I'm not in the same school as aniki."
"It that so. Why?"
"Otousan, I'll tell you later," Kunimitsu stopped his father immediately. Tezuka-san frowned, but later knew why after his son shook his head.
"Do you enjoy playing tennis Syusuke-kun? I heard from Kunimitsu that you are a great player."
"Is that what you told your father, Kunimitsu? (Tezuka swear if his father and Yuuta weren't around, Syusuke would have hugged him like a teddy bear.) I'm not that great player Tezuka-san. I still lost to Kunimitsu on every match (You purposely lose to me Syusuke, Kunimitsu small heart say). Tezuka-san, did you know that Kunimitsu is a great buchou and he hadn't lost a single match?"
"I often hear it from my wife about my son's achievements. I couldn't have been any prouder of him. He takes after his grandfather a lot. Probably he spent so much time with him."
"I see."
The conversation went on throughout the bus ride. The two hour bus ride felt like nothing. Before they knew it, the bus had reached its destination. The four didn't waste anytime and headed to the camping spot Tezuka-san had reserved earlier that week. It was the first time the two Fuji been here. Syusuke even joked that the place probably belong to their ancestors because was name after their family name. He was fascinated by the view and glad he came. He wants to take lots of pictures to share with the others once the holidays were over. Yuuta meanwhile just tag behind aniki. He couldn't understand how aniki loves taking picture especially what he think as abnormal. Aniki was too hard to understand what he is thinking, sometimes. Aniki once told him that he couldn't understand himself sometimes either.
"Here. This is the spot for our camping. What a great view. We could see Fujisan clearly from here and a good fishing spot." The others agreed with Tezuka-san.
"Come on. Let's set up the tents."
"Hai!" the three youngsters answered in chorus.
"That was tiring aniki. I never thought that putting tent needs so much skill. I don't think we could have put up the tent successfully if Tezuka-san hadn't helped. We could end up staying at the cottage tonight."
"Hm…"
"Syusuke would you like to walk around here? I'll show you around. I've been here a number of times. I want to check out if they changed anything. You could come along too Yuuta-kun."
Syusuke couldn't believe that Kunimitsu just spoke more than 1 complete sentence to him with one breath. "Kunimitsu, that's the longest conversation I heard since junior high." Pulling one of Yuuta's hands, "Come on Yuuta. I also want to check out this amazing place. Too bad nee-san could joint us."
"But I'm tired aniki," he said in defeated. No one can change aniki's decision once he made up his mind.
They walked along the lake going upstream. The view of Fujisan from where they are just beautiful. They found a good spot near a deserted cottage and sat down.
"I'm glad that I came Kunimitsu." He gave a rare smile to his buchou. He lied on his back and stare at the sky. Soon the two follow suit. Small breeze blew and makes the evening comfortable for a nap. Soon the three friends fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Tezuka-san sat by the bank watching the fish swimming freely. It reminds him of the koi Kunimitsu had at home. He rarely goes to the pond his son enjoys in the evening. Time hadn't permitted him to do so. Only he glanced at the Kunimitsu's favourite place before he goes to work every morning. It reminded him of his younger years when he too spent time feeding the koi every evening with his father. It seems that it was a habit that had passed down from his father's generation. It had been in the family for as long as he remembered. Now he son is taking care of the koi during his free time.
"Buchou." A hand was shaking him.
"Fuji-senpai" He heard a very familiar voice.
"You!" He was thinking that about the tennis match.
The three slowly open their eyes; only found they have been given a shock of their life.
"ECHIZEN!" the three shouted together.
"What are you doing here?" he asked innocently.
"That was supposed to be our line, Echizen." Kunimitsu was sure another nightmare he had to endure tonight.
"My family owns a cottage. We're here to spend our summer holiday here."
"Cottage?" asked Syusuke sleepily.
"Behind you," he pointed.
"That? How come I never knew about it? I've been here since I was little, now you are telling me that cottage there belongs to your family?" asked Kunimitsu with his usual pokerfaced.
"Something is definitely wrong with you today Kunimitsu. That's the second time today you ever spoke that long." Kunimitsu frown at Syusuke. He does feel something wrong with his mouth. Since when did he become so talkative?
"That's why is deserted. As my family had been away for so long, oyaji only pay for the caretaker to come cleaned it once every four months."
"That explains a lot Echizen."
"I should be going. Ja," he wave goodbye.
Now Kunimitsu feel that he is coming down with fever all of the sudden. The original plan that he plan to spend with his father was shattered when Syusuke found out about it. Now even Echizen Ryoma's family also here for the vacation. He hoped that no more of the regulars showed up. It is not that he was not happy to see them, but for once he wish to spend time away from the faces he sees nearly everyday. He had a good mind to check with the others before he made up another vacation spot in the future.
Who would have thought this could have happened.