Yuuta supposed it was all sorts of good omens and stuff like that for the third years to graduate just as the sakura were blooming, but this year he felt just a little lost, watching the petals fall over everyone’s carefully pressed uniforms.
Mizuki-san was leaving.
He walked beside Yuuta, under the trees, hands tucked into his pockets. “So, Yuuta-kun. What are your plans for the next year?”
Yuuta blinked. “You know what my plans are. We’ve talked about it. You’re the one who wrote my training menu for the next two months.”
“Not your tennis plans, your academic ones.” Mizuki-san gave him a sharp look. “You’ll need to keep your grades up to the mark, to join me again a year from now.”
Yuuta stopped and looked at Mizuki-san with a certain exasperation. “Yes, Mizuki-san. I know that,” he pointed out, as patiently as he could. “But my grades have always done just fine, here. You know that.”
Mizuki-san shrugged, as if tossing something off his shoulders. “Well, I suppose so.”
Yuuta’s mouth tugged up at one corner. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who was feeling jittery about this graduation. “I’ll be fine.”
Mizuki-san turned to face him, silent and inscrutable for a long moment. “Yes. I believe you will.” And then his lips curled just a bit, the way they did when some plan of his was about to succeed, and he lifted a hand to cup Yuuta’s cheek. “You always have so far. It’s one of the things I like about you, Yuuta-kun.”
Yuuta had to swallow hard as Mizuki-san’s thumb brushed over his cheekbone. It was hard to catch his breath all of a sudden. “Oh… Good…” This was not the place he’d expected Mizuki-san to do something like this. He was glad Mizuki-san had, because damn it was nice to be sure, finally, but…
Mizuki-san took one light step toward him, and Yuuta’s heart started going faster, and—
“Mizuki!”
Mizuki-san stepped back again, hand slipping away with a last brush of fingertips as Akazawa-senpai came around the curve of the path.
“Mizuki, are you coming with—” Akazawa-senpai broke off, brows rising slowly as he eyed the two of them.
“Ah, are we leaving already? Yes, I’ll be right there,” Mizuki-san said, as collected as if Yuuta wasn’t standing beside him turning red.
“Sure,” Akazawa-senpai agreed in a tone knowing enough to make Yuuta squirm. As he turned back down the path, Mizuki-san huffed and looked at Yuuta out of the corner of his eye.
“Perhaps we can continue our discussion later, Yuuta-kun.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Yuuta managed. He nearly lost his breath again at the way Mizuki-san smiled, rueful and genuinely amused for one unguarded moment.
“Perhaps you’ll visit me at St. Christopher’s dorms; I’ll send you my room number.” His fingers stroked the back of Yuuta’s hand. “Until then.”
Yuuta thought, watching Mizuki-san walk down the path, that that almost-promise might just have been worth the entire past year.
End
Hey, sorry if I’ve never commented on your writing before; I’m new at this whole live journal thing. I read Back Stage and adored your portrayal of the relationship between Atobe and Tezuka.
I read Dislocated and now I’m thinking you should write a Tezuka and Inui standalone; Inui deserves to finally catch up to his goal, don’t you think?
Also, I’m sure everyone else is dying for a match, either on the courts or in bed, between Tezuka and Yukimura – I mean, how else could you celebrate the return of the hottest captains ever? They could even bond over their injuries! I don’t know, just keep writing!
*laughing* Thank you! It’s great to hear you liked the stories.
And Tenipuri shows no signs of letting me go, so more fic looks like a pretty sure bet. ^_^
*sparkles helplessly* Well finally. It’s about time. (Was that what Akazawa was thinking, by any chance?)
*snickering* I suspect that’s /exactly/ what he was thinking.
Of course, now everyone gets to tease them mercilessly. *grins*
1.) fgjhsfg damn you Akazawa. ):< (Only not rly, I love yooouuu.)
2.) YAY update.
3.) SO CLOSE.
4.) Loved it.
5.) I hope they DO get teased. Yuuta is so hotheaded, it’d be adorable and Mizuki… well, actually, I kind of fear for the team if they tease him.
6.) What will Aniki think! /gasp
In short, can’t wait for the next part, I’ll be waiting! 8D
Thank you!
*giggling* Yuuta is /so/ getting teased. I think everyone’s too scared of Mizuki to tease him directly, but Akazawa will get a chance to do it offstage.
Kisses up next!
almost, almost!!
these are getting so good. Can’t wait for more : )
*dies laughing over your icon*
Yep, they get some action starting with the next story! *evil grin* And all sorts of new problems of course.
Great to hear you liked it!
Yay! Actual confession! I totally feel their pain for having been interupted … and for Akazawa knowing.
*evil grin* I couldn’t resist. Especially since the whole team has so clearly known the whole time.