Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ Electronic Love ❯ Of Hopes and Hesitations ( Chapter 4 )

Of Hopes and Hesitations

“Shusuke, what's wrong?” Yumiko asked as she handed a cup of hot cocoa to her brother.

“Nothing, nee-chan.” Fuji replied with a smile that they both know was fake. “I was just enjoying the rain.”

Yumiko stared at her brother then turned to the pouring rain outside the window of Fuji's room. “You know, people said that when it rains, it means that someone, somewhere, is crying. With this downpour, I bet that person's really sad.”

Fuji stared at the brown puddle in his cup silently. She knew, of course. After all, his sister was the one who knew him best.

“But you know, everything moves on. Time won't stop at the moment we feel pain. Tomorrow will be a sunny day.” She turned to her heartbroken brother. “It won't rain forever, Shusuke.”

“I know. But I think this rain will stay for quite a while.” Fuji replied with a soft, sad smile.

“But who says that we can only wait until it does stop. The human mind is so creative it created the devices called umbrella and towel.” Yumiko said with a playful smile. “And life goes on until the sunny day finally arrives.”

Fuji smiled at his sister. He understood what Yumiko was trying to say. His relationship with Tezuka maybe hopeless but he still had his friends. He knew that just a phone call to Eiji would brighten his day. He knew that Kawamura would gladly deliver his favorite wasabi even if it rained cat and dog. Even calling Inui would give him enough amusement to help him live through the day. And there were his cyber friends, those who would understand his pain and broken heart, his confusion and uncertainty. Fuji was in good company.

“Thanks, nee-chan.” Fuji said with a genuine smile as he handed the now-empty cup.

“Anytime. If you need me, I'll be in my room.” Yumiko said with a smile of her own. She took the cup and then left the room.

So what if he wouldn't get Tezuka, eh? He still had his friends, Fuji thought as he turned on the computer. He had very good friends and some admirers still. Quickly, he checked his incoming messages and found the reply from Prince_Charming.

My note is definitely not a jest

For all words came straight from my chest

Mockery, concerning this, is something my brain would not call

Now permit me to learn how to make you fall

Fuji's smile softened as he read the message, then he clicked the `reply' button. Maybe he'll give this person a chance. Who knows, maybe he'd be his Prince Charming for real.

*

The first thing Tezuka did after he finished homework was checking the net. He ignored other incoming message from other people who wanted to know him and go straight to checking Fuji's reply.

The tensai's reply was a complete one-eighty from the first one. If Fuji had been suspicious and reluctant before, the prodigy had now easily relented. Tezuka almost smiled as he read the poem Fuji made for him.

It's not easy to make me fall

But when it happens

I promise to give my all

Yet nothing comes for free, as many say

Therefore there'll be a small price to pay

An oath shall be taken

That you shall only be mine

And I shall be your only one

He didn't know what had happened to Fuji that he changed his mind suddenly. Perhaps it was Tezuka's own reply that caused it. He was certain that the poem he made had sounded at least slightly annoyed that Fuji dared to doubt him. Perhaps Fuji relented because he saw how determined he was about this.

Or, Tezuka's mind produced a scary possibility, Fuji had known that it was him and decided to play along. Tezuka paused to think. Eiji was the first to know that Fuji had joined the site. And everyone knew that the acrobatic player would know that Eiji was not good at keeping confidential news to himself. And when Eiji broke the news, there's a very big chance (Tezuka didn't feel like asking Inui of the exact percentage) that the first who heard about it was his double partner and lover, Oishi. And if Oishi heard… Tezuka naturally had heard, too.

Before he was aware of his own action, Tezuka had dialed Inui's number. The phone rang thrice before Inui's voice greeted him from the other side.

“Moshi moshi, buchou.”

“Inui.”

“I'm rather surprised that you call. There's very little chance that you, of all people, would call me. Is there anything wrong?”

Tezuka surprised the urge to sigh out loud. His data player could be so infuriating at times. “What is the chance of Fuji knowing that it's me?”

“So early? Five percent. He might have suspicions. After all, knowing Eiji, things will first get to Oishi, then to you.” Inui said, confirming Tezuka's concern. “But right now at least ninety eight percent of the girls and boys of Seigaku who also joined the site had known this fact. Not to mention those who weren't its member previously. It could've been anyone. Also if you have followed my instructions, then there is nothing to be worried about.”

“Are you sure? Isn't it rather suspicious that I suddenly found him among all the members of the site?”

“It is. But the chance that it is you is still very slim. After all, I think no one would even consider that you would visit such site.”

Tezuka didn't know whether to be relieved or not. Inui said that there was still a chance that Fuji knew it was him. Should he reply Fuji 's message and take the risk or not?

“Buchou? May I ask what spurred the question?” Inui asked. Tezuka could envision the data player ready to take notes. He decided that he wasn't ready to give Inui some data about his level of insecurity so he tried to keep his voice as clipped as usual.

“ Fuji suddenly changed his mind about this. He was reluctant at first but now he agreed to… communicate with me.”

Inui noted the pause, of course. “You didn't ask him to go out with you straight away, did you?”

Tezuka pushed his glasses up to hide his embarrassment, though Inui couldn't see it anyway. Finally he cleared his throat to make it clear to Inui that he wasn't up to discuss this. But the data player seemed to ignore the hint.

“That's not like you to push, buchou.”

Tezuka scowled lightly and made sure that Inui could really hear it this time in his voice that he actually didn't want to discuss this. “We don't have much time.”

“Of course.” Inui agreed. Tezuka knew he as taking note of this even without seeing Inui.

“That would be all, Inui, thank you. Good night.”

“Good night, buchou.” Inui replied absently, clearly still engrossed in his taking notes.

Tezuka frowned at his cell phone's screen after he cut off the connection. This was what he wanted, right? Fuji agreed to give him a chance. But why did he feel so unsure?

The change in Fuji's mind was too sudden. Tezuka knew that this wasn't uncommon to the tensai to suddenly change his mind when he found something more interesting to do than his previous plan. But would he still be that way when it came to the matter of the heart? It seemed unnatural. Tezuka felt that something had happened.

And then there's that new possessive tone to Fuji's poem. It reminded Tezuka of the `evil Fuji ', the one that appeared in the match with St. Rudolph. Fuji won't let anyone hurt, or even touch those he liked. Yuuta was an example of one of those people. Tezuka didn't think that Fuji would be possessive of someone he didn't know.

But Tezuka couldn't deny that he was happy about Fuji's positive response. He as almost worried that the tensai would reject him. He remembered the conversation he had with Echizen this evening. The boy had asked why he bothered to hide his identity this way. After clearing his throat, Tezuka had answered that he was afraid that Fuji would reject him. Because although there's still a chance that Fuji would reject him, it wouldn't be as painful as having Fuji rejected him in the face.

Echizen must've been shocked that Tezuka was willing to admit fear and pain that the boy decided to pay for their tea and food. Though most probably, and Tezuka had a very strong suspicion about it, that he was planning to make a bet with someone about his current progress with Fuji .

But back to the issue at hand, Tezuka didn't know how to reply the poem. After a very long moment of contemplation, Tezuka's hands finally danced on the keyboard hesitantly, than slowly with more confidence. Once he was done he re-read it and changed a few words to his liking.

Challenge is how I view the note you sent me

I conclude it won't be easy

Yet with the reward, it's how I expected it to be

But forgive my manner

If I ask if you were sure of what you offer

Happy but hesitant and confused. Exactly how he felt about Fuji 's note. Finally he gathered the courage to slick the `send' button. As he turned off the computer, he wished that Fuji's next response would be no less than positive.

^_^