Chapter 17 - Tezuka's Resolve

Tezuka arrived at the agreed location, the secluded area at the back of the school, far away from the busy tennis courts. As he approached, he saw Oishi and Kikumaru already waiting for him, their figures etched in the background of the quiet surroundings.

"Um... thank you for being here," he began.

"You're still the captain and our friend," Kikumaru replied warmly, his eyes shining with curiosity. "What do you want to talk about? Why did you choose this place?"

Tezuka fixed his gaze on Kikumaru. Despite his outwardly jovial appearance, Kikumaru possessed a keen perception that often belied his cheerful facade. His keen senses, honed by years of playing doubles, made him adept at reading his partner's every move, a skill that had served their team well. Meanwhile, Oishi stood silently beside Kikumaru, a comforting presence amidst the tension.

"This is about yesterday... I've been thinking... and I... uh..." Tezuka's voice trailed off as he carefully weighed his words, his eyes darting between his two friends.

Encouraged by Oishi's nod, Tezuka took a deep breath and continued. "I started to realise how special Fuji is to me..."

"And how special is he?" Kikumaru interjected, his expression curious but guarded.

"Sometimes, I forget that you are very close to Fuji," Tezuka managed to answer.

Oishi stepped forward and put a reassuring hand on Kikumaru's shoulder. "Let's hear him out. Give him a chance to explain," he suggested gently and gave Tezuka a supportive look.

Kikumaru countered with a hint of scepticism in his voice, "Sometimes, I forget that you are close to Tezuka."

"There's no enemy here. There's no reason to be hostile," Oishi reiterated, his tone gentle yet firm.

"I envy you guys," Tezuka interjected.

The air between them seemed to be still as the two stopped their bickering, their attention now fully focused on Tezuka. "You're very open with each other. I wish I could be like you, but I'm just a person who repeatedly denied his feelings," Tezuka confessed, his voice beginning to crack. While he was known for his stoicism, he found it increasingly difficult to conceal his emotions, particularly when it came to Fuji.

"At least you've arrived at a conclusion. So tell us, what is special about Fuji?" Kikumaru reiterated, his gaze steady.

Tezuka glanced away and instead stared at the blue sky, blue, just like his eyes. Is this how it feels to be in love? All around him, he couldn't help but see Fuji in it. "I love him," he declared softly, his voice carrying the weight of years of unspoken emotion. "For so long..."

"How certain are you?" Kikumaru pressed, his tone unwavering.

"To the point where I'm ready to expose myself and try everything to win Fuji back. I want him to love me again," Tezuka confessed, his desperation laid bare.

"How far are you willing to go? What if he rejects you? What if the school or your family finds out? Will you still pursue him?" Kikumaru fired off his questions one after the other, each one probing deeper.

"I understand all your concerns, but I resolved last night that I will win him back, no matter the cost," Tezuka asserted, his resolve unwavering.

"That's a 180-degree turn from your earlier self... Hmm... I've been rooting for you since Fuji began to like you," Kikumaru admitted, his expression softening with understanding. "But I can't help you... I noticed that he was a little happy with Shiraishi," Kikumaru finished.

Tezuka's protest emerged with a tinge of urgency, "I understand your hostile attitude towards me, but for the sake of our time together as teammates and friends, can you help me one last time?" Tezuka knew what he was asking for, but he couldn't afford to turn back now. As he had contemplated last night, the first barrier to reaching Fuji was convincing Kikumaru of his sincerity. If he couldn't break through to him, there was zero chance he could convey his feelings towards Fuji.

"Yes, but as I told you, Fuji is in a happier place now," Kikumaru replied, his tone firm yet tinged with empathy.

Oishi fixed his gaze on Kikumaru, his expression one of gentle encouragement. "Why don't you give Tezuka a chance?"

Kikumaru's response came with a sharp retort, "You two... Are you not listening to me? Fuji... is happy... with Shiraishi."

Tezuka winced inwardly at the mention of that name, but he knew he had to confront the reality before him. Kikumaru was right once again. Fuji was already with Shiraishi, a fact that Fuji himself had disclosed to Tezuka. It stung to acknowledge that they had already progressed further in their relationship, even becoming intimate. But that was a discussion for another time. Tezuka presented his case with a mix of defiance and vulnerability, "I don't want to believe that. I cannot. I refuse to. If you won't help me, fine, I understand. But to claim that he's happier now, I think you're mistaken. I may be proud to say this, but Fuji's feelings for me couldn't be replaced that easily. I believe he's not that type of person. It's just that I pushed him into the hands of another person. My vagueness, my distancing myself from him, I could never blame him." Tezuka's gaze held firm as he addressed his teammates. "I've chosen to fight for him. Whether you're with me or not," Tezuka concluded with unwavering determination.

"Then, so be it," Kikumaru replied in a firm voice.

"Uhm… It's a little awkward, but I think we need to head to the training ground," Oishi interjected, gesturing to his watch, signaling the need to go to the training grounds.

Kikumaru walked ahead of them, and as he spoke, his words carried a weight that settled heavily in the air. "I'm sorry, Tezuka. I'm glad that you've finally figured out your feelings, but so has Fuji," then he walked away.

Again, Oishi found himself torn between staying and going after Kikumaru.

"It's okay. I expected as much," Tezuka replied with a resigned sigh as he adjusted his glasses. "Go ahead. I need some time to collect myself," Tezuka said, his tone tinged with sadness. "I guess, I am on my own. Suits me right for being an asshole."

Oishi nodded, reluctant to leave but still followed after Kikumaru, leaving Tezuka to his thoughts. Once they were out of sight, Kikumaru released a deep breath, his expression reflecting the weight of the conversation. "I thought I was going to waver," he finally admitted.

"I was really hoping you would," Oishi replied, offering a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Oh, I was even trying hard to maintain a stoic face... But I have to test Tezuka's determination. I want to see how he's going to proceed from here," Kikumaru explained.

"Are you sure you're not going to help?" Oishi asked, knowing Kikumaru's dedication to the team and his friendship with Fuji. "Tezuka is so pitiful."

"Of course, I would! Just in the background. Like I said, I was… and still am… rooting for Tezuka. He got one thing right: Fuji is still in love with him," Kikumaru explained.

The two continued walking until they reached the training ground, where Fuji greeted them with a bright smile.

"See, those smiles are still a little sad," Kikumaru observed, gesturing towards Fuji.

Oishi looked over at Fuji, his gaze thoughtful. "I can never quite tell," he replied honestly.

After a while, Tezuka joined the team, a genuine smile gracing his lips as he made his way directly towards Fuji, who was about to leave.

"Stay," Tezuka instructed him. "I need to consult you regarding the semi-finals."

"Ah, but I think Oishi, as vice-captain, can definitely help you," Fuji replied, his gaze briefly lingering on Tezuka. He couldn't help but notice a subtle shift in Tezuka's demeanour, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed. Normally, he would have been able to discern it, but with his recent efforts to create distance, it was understandable that he couldn't. The realization left him feeling restless.

"I need your tactical skills to win the semi-finals," Tezuka asserted, locking eyes with Fuji. "Starting today, I want you to stay by my side while we monitor the training of all the regulars. Understood?" Tezuka had shifted to his plan B, leveraging everything he could to win Fuji back, including their shared passion: tennis.

Fuji nodded in understanding. "Okay," he replied, a sense of pleasure settling within him.

"We also need to do some overtime to study the statistics of other teams, find their weaknesses and work on our team dynamics," Tezuka continued, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.

"Working late?" Fuji asked in surprise, raising an eyebrow.

"Any problem with that? You told me you will remain a pillar of this team," Tezuka said, as he looked at Fuji. "Until we reach the Nationals, I order you to stay by my side," he stated in a commanding but firm tone.

Fuji smiled at him, his expression serene yet determined. "Understood… Captain." Even though it was for professional reasons, he was glad to know that he was valued and needed. He was pathetic for wanting to be beside Tezuka even after all the rejections.

From across the court, Kikumaru gestured towards Oishi. "See, I think Captain Tezuka has already made his move."

Oishi nodded in agreement. "It feels like it's been a while since these two actually talked. It's refreshing to see them working together."

This sentiment resonated among the team, lifting their spirits. After a few weeks of tension, they were relieved to finally see the duo side by side, where they belonged. Even Coach Ryuzaki, observing from afar, couldn't help but smile. "Finally, they've managed to reconcile."

RxR! Ciao! 26.04.2024