RP Log

[tezuka0]

Who: Atobe Keigo and Tezuka Kunimitsu
What: Dinner and conversation
Rating: PG
Setting: Kitchens and then Tezuka's (and Urayama's) room.

Are you free for dinner this evening, Atobe? Tezuka texted simply, without really considering the implications. He checked on the menu; deep fried chicken was hardly appealing, no matter what sides were offered with it. Since Atobe told him he had only a little experience of Japanese food, he thought it only polite to offer to cook for two.

There was also the fact that Tezuka did not know how to cook for one.

'Are you asking me out to dinner?' Atobe found his fingers hovering over the send button scolding himself and deleting the whole thing again. Instead he sent 'I am free. What do you have in mind?' It just wouldn't do to scare Tezuka off should this really be a sign of interest.

It was a good half an hour before Tezuka replied. Making sure he had all of the necessary ingredients held more importance than a text message.

I am making dinner. You may join, if you like, he replied, sparing a few seconds to do so before we went about washing everything.

Though he had retreated to the student council room for some time alone to gather his thoughts Atobe found his desire to be alone had vanished with these two short messages. 'It would be my pleasure to join you' he typed in return with a flourish. 'Where shall we meet?'

The message pleased Tezuka. Not only did he desire to expose Atobe to more Japanese food, but they also had some things to discuss. He hated to pry into the personal drama and struggles of others; in this situation, with Echizen seemingly over his head, his participation was warranted. I am making preparations in the kitchens. It will take a little over an hour. You may join me whenever you please.

Studying the message for a moment Atobe gathered up his notes. If he headed back now he could be showered and dressed for dinner just in time. 'I will see you soon then.' He sent back after a moment, allowing himself that little frivolity.

Tezuka heard his phone buzz, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he tied the plain, light blue apron over his t-shirt and tennis shorts, pushed his bangs up with a plain, gray headband and went about cleaning and steaming the eel. Within a half an hour, he occupied most of the stove and the small rice cooker with his task.

Since his room was still mercifully abandoned Atobe made good time in picking out an outfit to wear and constant lack of privacy the public showers offered did their own part in speeding up his ovulations so he was finished almost thirty minutes before he had anticipated. With a last critical look in the mirror he left the dorm room to go looking for the other captain and the promised dinner.

Tezuka was in the process of painting more sauce onto the grilling eel when Atobe entered the kitchens. After greeting the other man with a nod, he turned back to task. It would be careless to let the hijiki and bean mix burn.

"Hello Tezuka." Atobe greeted in return to that nod, glancing around the kitchen before taking a seat at the table. "What is it that you are making today, ahn?"

The hijiki and beans were done, so Tezuka divided it between two small bowls and went back to work on the eel. "Grilled eel, hijiki and beans and rice. Set the table, if you don't mind." He wouldn't have Atobe sitting around idly if he could make himself useful.

Pushing himself back to his feet Atobe obediently went to the cupboards to pull out two plates, adding chopsticks and some napkins. "You look quite dashing." He remarked when he brushed past the other man.

Atobe's remark was met with a vague raise of eyebrows, exaggerated by the wide planes of Tezuka's bang-free forehead. He looked much younger and plain faced, with his ears sticking out and hair sticking up, even as it started to curl on the ends. Deciding that Atobe was attempting to joke with him, Tezuka replied, "There are two aprons, you know."

"So there is." Atobe drawled, turning to the table to set it for their dinner. It was rather plain for his taste but he supposed that was just how it had to be under the circumstances. Maybe he could kidnap some of the plants several of the resident were so enamoured with to brighten the setting the next time - and find some candles to go along with it.

Far from noticing anything lacking on the dinner table, Tezuka nodded in approval and started bringing food over. He set a serving of the grilled and marinated eel on each of their plates before fetching the smaller bowls of black hijiki and beans. The rice came last, again in its own bowl, set on the side of the other dishes. "Tea?" he asked Atobe.

"Yes please." Atobe nodded, eyeing the food spread out before him curiously. "It doesn't look bad."

"It's not," Tezuka said, pouring the brown summer tea into glasses. "But perhaps you will require more sauce." After he put the glasses in place for both of them, he continued, "This is for the eel," he pointed out the thicker sauce with a brush on the side of the bowl, "And this is for the hijiki," he pointed to the bottle of soy sauce. Since Tezuka tended to go lightly on flavorings, he left them open for Atobe to experiment with.

Nodding his understanding Atobe moved to take a seat again. "Thank you for the meal then, Tezuka."

Once they were seated, Tezuka did not waste his time in pressing his hands together for the customary blessing. "Ittadakimasu," he murmured, and then reached for his chopsticks.

"Itadakimasu." Atobe echoed, picking up his own chopsticks. "Is there a specific order?" He inquired, chopsticks hovering over the dishes.

Tezuka shook his head once, unwittingly shifting the hair atop his head back and forth. "As it pleases you." As long as Atobe did not pour the hijiki over the rice; that would be very queer.

Biting the inside of his cheek as Tezuka's hair gave him the appearance of a cockatoo Atobe nodded. "Very well then." He picked up some of the hijiki and lifted it to his mouth.

Tezuka nibbled a little at the eel, to taste for himself if he had cooked it just right. Deciding that even his mother would approve, he continued on to the dark seaweed mix. He remained completely unaware of his strange appearance; even if he was aware, it would serve no end to correct it. After all, he still had to do the dishes.

As he ate quietly, he considered how to bring up the topic of recent events. Though Atobe always seemed willing enough to answer his questions, Tezuka had never asked anything personal or prying of the man. He preferred not to ask such questions at all.

After a few bites Atobe remembered Tezuka's instructions and picked up the soy sauce bottle to add a few drops of the dark liquid to the seaweed and try it this way. "So I take it fried chicken wasn't to your taste?" He questioned after chewing after another bite.

Despite its appearance, the seaweed was soft and sweet, rather than prickly and bitter. "I can eat fried chicken," Tezuka said after a moment's contemplation. He did not enjoy it, but he could potentially eat it if the situation were dire enough. "Is there anything you cannot eat?"

"You mean like allergies? No - my magnificence extends to excellent health...usually." Atobe's lips twisted. "I have to say I am not sad to be missing this round of fried chicken. It's always too heavy for my taste."

Tezuka's pointed look punctuated that usually, but otherwise, he made no remark. "Aa," he agreed. The fried chicken always did leave his stomach feeling like a rock. "Balanced meals are most beneficial to the body."

"You would think they would pay more attention to it considering how much care they care about our abilities." Atobe shook his head. "It is almost reassuring that something here is practically normal." Picking up his glass of chilled tea he took a long sip then sighed softly. "Especially when it allows me to share something like this with you."

After a nod, Tezuka admitted, "I'm surprised that you are enjoying it so much." He rather expected more reluctance on Atobe's part. But, in retrospect, he imagined that Atobe had to eat all sort of things with quiet politeness.

"Why is that?" Atobe inquired, picking up a piece of eel now that he emptied half of his hijiki. "I'm not that picky with my food." In all honesty he never had to be - first his parents influence and money and then his own reputation had made sure of that. "After you go through the trouble of cooking for me the least I can do is enjoy it, ahn?"

To Tezuka this was not so interesting a meal; his family might eat this sort of thing on any given weeknight, depending on what looked good at the market. "So it would seem," Tezuka said as he topped up their tea. "Though I assure you, a meal like this is hardly trouble."

"So modest." Atobe drawled taking another sip. "Just accept my thanks Tezuka, it won't hurt - I promise."

I would not offer it yet, if I were you, Tezuka thought privately. Of course he hadn't invited Atobe solely for the purpose of questioning, but he could not call said questioning entirely irrelevant. He certainly hoped Atobe did not take it that way. "I'll accept empty plates as thanks," Tezuka said dryly, countering that drawl with a look of minor amusement.

"Then I will do my best not to disappoint." Atobe saluted his fellow captain languidly. "I think I can already say it won't be difficult." The eel was well done, the flesh tender and juicy.

The salute almost drew a chuckle from Tezuka, and the closeness showed in the lines of his face. "I should hope not," he replied, and went about finishing his meal in comfortable company. They could speak of less pleasant things once all of the food was gone.

Pleased with the result of his joke Atobe set to finishing his plate like promised. And to round things off he even made sure to drain his glass.

Once they were both done with their food, and enjoyed a few moments of comfortable, yet full, silence, Tezuka stood to gather the few small plums that he had washed. "You were right," Tezuka said as he set the bowl of fruit between them. "It did not hurt."

"See, I keep my word." Atobe eyed the fruits then picked one with elegant fingers, turning it slowly. "And dessert too, I am impressed."

Tezuka's long, scarred and calloused fingers followed in taking a plum. "I did not grow them," he added, quite sure that Atobe did not labor under such a silly impression. "And I never considered that you would not keep your word. In fact, it is your word I must call upon at the present moment," he turned the topic that worried him as of late.

"Oh?" Lowering the plum he had raised to his lips Atobe arched an inquisitive eyebrow. "How surprising. You have never called on me for anything." Leaning back he made a sweeping gesture. "Go ahead, what is it that I can do for Seigaku's illustrious captain."

That certainly was not true. Tezuka recalled asking Atobe quite the favor while he was in Germany. But, he called no attention to the past. "You can answer a few highly personal questions," he made no secret the nature of his venture. "If you do not wish to answer, I will certainly not hold your word in less regard."

Tezuka knew he would certainly have a poor reaction to such questions himself, if they ever came to him.

"Now I am intrigued," Lacing his fingers together Atobe rested them on his chest. "Does this perchance have anything to do with Echizen and his ill-fated romantic ambitions?" He hazarded a guess.

"I would not put it so, but yes," Tezuka confirmed. Instead of biting into his plum, he cut the fruit into pieces around the pit. It gave him something to do with his hands. "Would you give me your side of things?" he inquired, instead of asking direct questions.

"I'm sure you didn't ask me here to hear my take on your protégée." Atobe smirked. "May I ask why you feel the need to question me about this?"

"I am not asking your opinions on Echizen," Tezuka was familiar enough with those opinions. "The reason for my concern is no great mystery to you, I'm sure," especially given Echizen's public post. "Conflict such as this serves to divide us."

Considering their situation, numbers and ingenuity were their only allies. Conflict would decrease their numbers and distract any hope of ingenuity. "I would not pry for the details of your love triangle," rectangle, if Shiraishi were to be counted, "If I did not think it necessary."

Exhaling slowly Atobe turned his eyes up before smiling wryly. "Of course." He didn't bother to point out that Tezuka had given him a whole lot of nothing as answer. "If this is about Echizen's misconception that Kabaji is harbouring some greater hidden affection for me I can assure you that I have already discussed this with him and it is nothing but Echizen's imagination."

Breathing a little annoyed sigh he pursed his lips. "And despite what many may think despite my firm believe that Kabaji could do better I am not in fact actively discouraging him from Echizen."

At least, with that news, things were simpler than they seemed. He suspected that many things Echizen said could be chalked up to hormones, but with so little knowledge, he could not know what. "Thank you for the clarification," Tezuka stated, picking up a piece of plum to chew on the thought.

"I certainly would not expect you to encourage him, under the circumstances," Tezuka admitted. Echizen's recent actions would not endear him to anyone, but he was Tezuka's kouhai to protect. He trusted that Echizen only required more time to come into his own. "Either your passive discouragement is extremely powerful, or he has done enough to earn your ire." Tezuka suspected a both. With Echizen's current mentality, a puff of wind would be impressive enough to blow over any confidence of feeling and Atobe's protectiveness over a lifelong friend was only to be expected.

Shrugging elegantly Atobe crossed his legs. "The boy has enough problems of his own without my interference." He informed Tezuka archly. "I am only trying to look out for Kabaji here."

That, Tezuka could not deny. "I see," he said finally, satisfied with the knowledge that he gained. If anything, it solidified his own suspicions. "That only leaves one matter left to request of you."

A raised eyebrow and a lofty wave of Atobe's hand was all the encouragement Tezuka received to share said request.

After taking his last bit of plum, Tezuka had to look on Atobe's pose with a mix of amusement and concern. His reason for the last required much more thought. "I've obtained a recording Professor Greenberg's lectures on the Symphonies of Beethoven. I thought you might be interested in listening with me."

Evidently that was not what Atobe had expected, judging by the slight widening of his eyes. "Well..." He deliberated. "I wasn't planning on indulging myself tonight but since you asked so nicely." His lips quirked. "How could I refuse."

Somehow, he managed to catch his companion by surprise. Though he supposed the change of topic was drastic enough to merit surprise. If one looked hard enough, one could see a glint of humor in glass framed eyes. "Good," Tezuka expressed, as he stood. "Now, would you rather wash, or dry?"

"Dry, if it is all the same to you." Atobe decided after a moment, getting to his feet as well. Joining the taller captain at the sink he picked up a dry dish towel. "Washing dishes is murder for my nails."

Tezuka turned on the hot water and went companionably to the sink. "There's no hope for my nails, I'm afraid," his dire tone and flat delivery struck very close to something that resembled a joke. Though his square nails and marked up hands were admittedly not very impressive.

Humming a note of consideration Atobe draped his towel over his arm before reaching over and catching Tezuka's wrist, tugging it up so he could have a better look at the other teen's nails. "Hm, they are in a dreadful state but I know somebody back in Tokyo who can work wonders, even with this." Pulling Tezuka's hand up even further he used his own nail to push at the cuticle skin on one finger. "Though I have a travel manicure set that could already help if you'd like."

The mild shock of having his nails examined could only be noted for a few seconds in his gaze. Very few people touched him, let alone in such a forward manner. Though Tezuka was far from offended, it took him a moment to reply. "I regret to inform you that your hard work would be wasted on me," he informed Atobe, even as the Hyoutei captain sought to reveal more of his short, blunt nails. "Pretty nails would not stand up to caring for Marylin, or my whittling."

Marylin? Atobe's eyebrows jumped up as he looked from Tezuka's hand to his face before quickly turning his attention back on the strong hand in his grip. "I'm sure your girlfriend would appreciate well cared for nails Tezuka." He scolded mildly. "They are a sign that you care about your appearance." Besides even when fishing or fencing he himself managed to keep his nails in a decent shape. "Let me see what I can do, just once ."

Tezuka knew Atobe's comments stemmed from what he felt a serious matter, but he could not help it. First, his eyebrow twitched. Then, his lips pressed ever so slightly up. And finally, he let out a low, but unmistakable puff of laughter that wrinkled the corners of his eyes.
5:18:36 PM Sara Mercuro: When his second of mirth was up, Tezuka corrected, "I don't think Marylin has any opinions on the state of my nails, Atobe. She is a bonsai."

"Ah..." Feeling embarrassed for a moment Atobe pushed it aside and blustered on. "Well, she should - like I said, they are a matter of pride." Inwardly he cursed the heat he could feel spreading to the tips of his ears, though he did feel somehow pleased at having made Tezuka laugh.

"I apologize," Tezuka offered, feeling a little badly for having a moment at Atobe's expense. "I should have specified."

Personally, Tezuka felt that he would look quite silly, making a cake of his nails with the rest of him so incongruent. "I am not so lucky," he continued, "Not everyone can have nails like yours. I can tell that you take great pride in their upkeep." Such dedication to hygiene could only be applauded.

Tezuka turned the grip that Atobe had around, such that Tezuka was the one holding them to display. He held up his other hand, for comparison with Atobe's. "If you look closely, you will notice that even though mine are neither even nor shining, they are equally clean."

"Have you ever had a manicure?" Atobe curled his fingers over Tezuka's. "Why not give it a try? It's not going to hurt." He echoed his promise from earlier. "Tipping his head he gave Tezuka an encouraging look. "I promise not to tell anybody." He added teasingly, to show that he wasn't sore about the little misunderstand from earlier.

Though Atobe was persuasive enough with his warm grip and beckoning tone, Tezuka shook his head. "Not tonight. But I will think on it," which was more than Tezuka ever thought he would offer anyone on the matter. "The nails will be soft from the hot water anyway," he added to his excuse.

"Some other time then." Atobe pushed but released Tezuka's hand. "Who knows, you might even like it." He winked with a quick smirk.

Tezuka doubted that as seriously as he doubted that there was a unicorn castle on the moon, but he allowed for the statement with no more than a nod, which neither disagreeing nor agreeing.

That wink, however, sent the lightest of pinks to decorate his exposed ears. He could not for the life of him understand why, but he plunged his hands into the water to start washing. Perhaps the heat could serve as an excuse.

Wether he noticed or not Atobe didn't mention it, instead busying himself with towelling off everything Tezuka passed him with a secret little pleased smile.

Between the two of them, the dishes were efficiently cleaned in comfortable quiet. "My room, or yours?" Tezuka queried after, in reference to the music lecture they were to hear.

Since he believed Urayama was out for the evening, Tezuka nodded and started leading Atobe to his room. "Please, have a seat," Tezuka gestured to the bed. The dorm space was small, but Tezuka utilized every bit of it to organize his things scrupulously to preserve the alphabetical order of his books (despite the fact that the shelves were all crammed into odd, unoccupied corners, and even atop the small space above Tezuka's bed). Marylin sat in a place of honor: a low table by the window behind Tezuka's fastidiously organized desk.

Looking around curiously Atobe nodded and took a seat. While Tezuka was occupied he studied the rows of books then turned his attention to the bonsai. "And this is the special woman in your life I imagine." He drawled. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Madame."

Tezuka busied himself with pulling up the right files on computer and gathering the right notebook materials.

"Aa, that's Marylin," Tezuka's voice was a little softer with pride. Marylin looked lovely this evening, with her blue and red bow and the healthy sheen of her branches.

Leaning closer Atobe ran his fingertips over the cool pot before touching the ribbon wrapped so carefully around the little tree's stem. "She is lovely." He congratulated. "Have you been taking care of her for a long time?"

"Thank you," Tezuka accepted the compliment for Marylin. "She was a gift from my grandfather when I entered Junior High School," he kept an eye on Atobe and Marylin while he found the file.

"He must be very proud of you." Atobe commented then straightened again, folding his hands in his lap. "Was she your first?"

Tezuka nodded curtly as he brought the laptop and his notebook onto the bed. Talking about his family's pride in him was somewhat embarrassing. "She was. I had to prove myself responsible first." He set the laptop over his translated copy of the Little Prince and opened his notebook to the correct page. On the notebook, he wrote neatly, in English, the name of the lecture and the date. "Would you care for a piece of paper, or will memory serve?"

Though he would usually trust his memory Atobe had to admit he wasn't completely sure what was in store for him so he nodded to Tezuka's offer of a sheet of paper. "Do you listen to lectures of this kind often?"

Finding one of his spare notes, Tezuka turned the page vertically. Once Atobe was finished with the notes, he could tear it from the book. He offered Atobe the file along with a mechanical pencil. "Yes, when I can find them," the lecture series itself was quite expensive. "I listen to German in the morning, and English in the evening," he stated openly enough. Even if he did not always find music lectures, he could generally find something interesting enough. "Occasionally I am lucky to find something of this nature."

"That is quite admirable." Atobe commented quietly, running his hand over the paper to smooth it down before dating it. "I didn't know you had such an avid interest in foreign languages..." Or classica music for that matter.

Tezuka liked classical music to listen to lectures about it; they were just as interesting as clips he could find from history channels or documentaries. "I would not go so far as to call practice avid interest," Tezuka stated simply.

Feeling disinclined to argue this point with Tezuka Atobe simply nodded. "Well, whenever you are ready then. Let the fun begin."

"Aa," Tezuka said, and pressed the button to start the lecture. The American professor discussed the music at length, occasionally playing clips to demonstrate what he meant. The university level lecture went quite fast, but Tezuka gathered the meaning of most of it. Only the fastest, most tangled bits of explanation escaped him; he carefully jotted down the times of those places in his notebook.

Atobe was pleasantly surprised at the lecture. Since he was familiar with the work in question and the lecturer spoke in clear, barely accented English it wasn't all that difficult to follow and he made notice of the passages Tezuka jotted down so they could discuss it later if they were so inclined.

Along with the times, Tezuka also noted the main ideas in English, as well as the little tidbits he found of particular interest. When the forty minute lecture came to an end, Tezuka resisted the urge to press repeat. His lips pursed thoughtfully and dark, hazel eyes looked quite far away as he contemplated the piece. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke in lightly accented english, "For my part, I am not disappointed."

"Indeed." Atobe nodded, easily slipping into English as well. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I found it very enjoyable."

"I am glad," Tezuka replied with a slight bow of the head. "What did you think of Greenberg's thoughts on…." he engaged Atobe in conversation on one of the minor arguments in the piece. The language had been a bit difficult, but as far as he could grasp, he understood the best of it.

It was impossible to say it any other im way -Atobe was impressed by Tezuka, not only his grasp on the at times difficult language but also as always by his determination, though he hadn't realised it before how far into his every day life beyond tennis it expanded. "If you would care for it I could play the piece for you some time." He offered toward the end of their discussion.

Tezuka too was impressed, but mostly by Atobe's passion and knowledge of music. Their discussion and, at times, argument bettered his understanding of the lecture and of the piece as a whole. Bowing his head in thanks, Tezuka said, "If it would not put you out, I would be very pleased." He did not feel uncomfortable accepting such a gift.

"Not at all. I have been rather shamefully neglecting my playing - it would be my pleasure to play for you." Atobe smiled in satisfaction. "Just let me know when would be a good time for you."

After a moment of thought, Tezuka decided that he could neglect English for an evening, if he had a discussion in said language with Atobe after the performance. "Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings would suit. And there is also the weekend."

"Indeed. Why don't we see if we can fit it in this weekend then." Atobe suggested. "I have to locate the notes but I don't think it will be difficult."

"Aa," Tezuka agreed easily. The weekend suited him just fine, so long as Atobe did not decide on Saturday morning. "If the notes are not in the library, you could always print them." It was much better to read the music in a book, but a copy could do in a dire straits.

"I will ask the music teacher if they have the notes, if not maybe Ootori does." Atobe nodded to Tezuka's suggestion. "I will have everything ready." He promised easily.

Tezuka nodded. Once Atobe received the music, they could fix a time to meet. "Thank you, Atobe. I enjoyed this evening, but it is getting late," he looked a little anxiously to Marylin. She was still dressed, and her soil could use a little moistening.

Knowing a dismissal when hearing it - though it happened rarely if at all - Atobe nodded graciously and rose to his feet. "Thank you for the lovely evening Tezuka. I hope we can repeat this again soon."

"Aa," Tezuka bowed a little to Atobe. A glint of humor sparked in his eye when he said, "We do not have to wait for the next fried chicken night."

"That is a relief to hear." Atobe quipped back, inclining his head in return. "Have a good night, Tezuka, Marylin."

Tezuka stood to walk out into the hallway with the Hyoutei captain; he would be seen that far, at least. "You as well, Atobe." Part of him wanted to thank Atobe, but then he decided it best not to. Thanks would be shown another way.