Happy Spring jain!
Title: Of Cats and Quiet and Other Things
Recipient: jain
Rating: PG
Pairing: Tezuka/Kaidoh
Notes: This wasn't a pairing that I would have normally chosen to write, but I had fun doing it. Thank you to my beta, and I really hope you enjoy this, jain! And sorry for the super-lame title. :P
--
It is one of his oldest, silliest habits, and one that he can't be bothered to get rid of; one that he doesn't think it would be possible for him to get rid of, as deeply engrained into his psyche as it is.
Kaidoh Kaoru wanders slowly down the breakfast foods aisle of the grocery store, distancing himself from his mother where she bends to pick through all of the brightly-colored boxes of cereal, trying to find that one brand of artificially-flavored popped rice that Kaidoh's little brother loves beyond all reason. When Kaidoh reaches the end of the lane, he makes a left, and goes up the one aisle that his mother always, always skips: the pet care aisle.
He ambles down it leisurely, eyes skimming over the canisters of birdseed, the big bags of dog kibble, the plastic containers of various other pet feeds. It is an automatic process, and he doesn't quite pay attention to where he's going until --
"Oi," the boy he bumps into says sharply, three cans of cat food jumping around in his hands as he tries to juggle them all. Two of them he is able to maintain a grip on, but the third slips through his fingers, and he winces a little, waiting for the inevitable clang of aluminum against the whateveritis supermarket floors are made of.
But the clang never comes. Instead, Kaidoh hands the can back, muttering an embarrassed, "Um," and trying not to blush.
Tezuka sighs a little -- just a little.
"Thank you, Kaidoh."
"Um," Kaidoh repeats. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"It's all right," replies Tezuka, although Kaidoh thinks that his tone really says, That was careless of you.
Kaoru doesn't really know what to respond to that with, and his mom isn't calling for him yet, so he shifts from one foot to the other awkwardly, trying desperately to think of another topic because he's standing in the same supermarket aisle as his captain, and he thinks that they should at least have a decent conversation before they flee their separate ways in complete embarrassment, but Kaidoh just isn't good at this whole conversation thing and --
"You have a cat, Tezuka-buchou?" he blurts out suddenly, and inwardly winces.
Tezuka blinks a little, then lifts a shoulder in a minute shrug. "I suppose so, yes. My mother found a stray a few nights ago."
"Oh… And, um. Have you named her?"
"Aa… Mikako."
Kaidoh stares at the cans in Tezuka's hands. "Mikako. That's a nice name," he replies, and it sounds really lame, even to him, but he just isn't sure of what else he could say.
But the corner of Tezuka's lips quirk. "Aa."
They lapse into a not-quite-comfortable silence again, and Kaidoh bites the inside of his cheek. It occurs to him that what he really wants to say is that he is jealous - jealous because it's a cat and Tezuka-buchou is lucky enough to just suddenly have one, while Kaidoh has wanted a kitten forever, but will never get one because his little brother is allergic, and besides, he's heard his mother say a thousand times that she doesn't like the way that cats scratch furniture and smell and… And…
"Kunimitsu! That's where you are."
Kaidoh startles a little, and turns to see a petite brunette woman making her way down the aisle, a basket clutched to her side and a placid smile on her lips.
"Ah. Is this one of your friends, Kunimitsu?" she asks. "A teammate?"
Tezuka nods, carefully handing her the cans of cat food. "This is Kaidoh Kaoru, one of our second-year starters. Kaidoh, this is my mother."
"Nice to meet you," Kaoru mumbles, bowing politely. Tezuka-san bows back.
"The pleasure is mine, Kaidoh-kun. I hope Kunimitsu has been treating you well at the club."
Kaidoh nods quickly. "Yes, of course," he murmurs. "He's a very good captain."
Tezuka-san smiles at him again. "That is very good to hear." A pause. "Ah. And has he told you about our stray?"
Kaidoh shifts from one foot to another, still just a tad uncomfortable. "Yes. A little bit."
"Well," Tezuka-san begins, "there's one thing he probably didn't tell you, and that's that she's adorable. A tiny, fluffy white thing… Say, do you like cats, Kaidoh-kun?"
Kaidoh nods hesitantly, and shifts again.
"Then why don't you come over and see her? Kunimitsu doesn't mind. How about it?"
Kaidoh blinks and sneaks a look at his captain.
"I… wouldn't mind," he replies, even though his true answer is a resounding, Yes, yes, of course! "I mean, if that's really all right with you, Tezuka-buchou…"
Tezuka gives him an odd look. "If it's what you want, then please come."
"Good!" Tezuka-san chirps. "It's settled then. Are you free tomorrow? Yes? Wonderful. See you then, Kaidoh-kun!"
And then, with one last wave good-bye, she turns and makes her way down the aisle. Tezuka-buchou gives him that odd look again, then gives Kaidoh a nod and follows his mother.
Kaidoh stands in the aisle for a few long moments after Tezuka-buchou and his mother have left, wondering if that last glance meant that Tezuka-buchou was angry with him for accepting.
He thinks so, but can't dwell on it for long -- not when his own mother is calling his name from the next aisle down.
--
Later that night, Kaidoh gets an email from an unfamiliar, but not-quite-mysterious address -- because really, how mysterious could the name tezukak14 be?
The subject is a very simple From Tezuka, and when Kaoru opens the mail, there are only five lines of text. The first line reads Just in case. The next three are instructions. And the last says, Call me if you get lost, followed by a phone number.
It feels very impersonal, even by emailing standards, and as Kaidoh prints out the message, he begins to feel that maybe accepting was a bad idea.
--
But still, Sunday afternoon finds him entering the Tezuka residence. Everything about it is quiet, from the paint down to how Kaidoh hadn't heard people scrambling over each other to answer the door, the way one would at his house.
Instead, Tezuka-san calmly lets him in, taking his jacket and leading him away.
"Kunimitsu is in the dining room with Mikako-chan," she explains, smiling. "Have fun! I'll bring in tea and snacks soon."
Kaidoh nods once and steps into the room.
Tezuka-buchou is sitting in one of the dining room chairs, a very, very cute white kitten sitting in his lap. He looks up when Kaidoh comes in, and without a word, rises and hands over the cat.
Kaidoh takes the squirming, mewling little thing into his hands and feels the temptation to start snuggling her rise in his chest. He squelches it instantly.
It is only when Kaidoh and Mikako are comfortably settled with each other that Tezuka gives a very faint sort of almost-smile and says, "Good afternoon."
The other boy nods, returns the almost-smile, and replies, "Good afternoon, Tezuka-buchou."
And then it's just… calm and quiet. Kaidoh vaguely feels like he should say something, do something, make this feel less awkward. But Tezuka-san was right, and Mikako-chan is adorable enough that Kaidoh feels himself loosening up. She wriggles a little in his arms, and he lets her down in silent compliance, resting her front paws on his knees and tickling her sides lightly.
For a long while, he forgets that he isn't alone in the room, and that Tezuka is sitting in a chair not too far away. Forgets that this isn't his house, that this isn't his cat. Forgets, until Tezuka clears his throat a little.
Then Kaidoh looks up and blushes.
"Oh -- I. I'm sorry."
Tezuka seems surprised.
"No need to be sorry. You get along well with her." He pauses. "But your tea is getting a little cold."
Kaidoh blinks, looks at his cup sitting untouched on the table, and scrambles up and into a seat.
"I think I'm glad you came," Tezuka says slowly after a while, when Kaidoh is almost finished, and nibbling on some cookies. "You're different with her. I think it's interesting."
Kaidoh blushes, and really, really doesn't know what to say to that.
--
"Oi, oi. Did you see Tezuka-buchou's cheek, Echizen?" Momoshiro gossips in the locker room on Monday morning. "It's all bandaged up!"
Echizen just looks at Momoshiro.
"Don't you wonder what happened?"
"Not really…" Echizen replies, and it is clear in his voice that he thinks Monday mornings are too early to have to deal with Momoshiro's drama.
"Yeah, well, you're no fun. Hey, maybe it was a girl! Like, that he broke up with her and she scratched him or someth -- "
Kaidoh finishes putting his things away, turns, and bangs past Momoshiro.
"Oi, Mamushi! What's your problem toda -- "
"Don't gossip about things you don't know," Kaoru growls, glaring.
"…Man. What's up with him?" Momoshiro mutters indignantly to Echizen as Kaidoh opens the door and leaves the clubroom.
--
"Kaidoh."
Kaoru stops in his tracks and turns, bowing quickly. "Tezuka-buchou."
Tezuka bobs his head in return. "Kaidoh. I -- My mother would like to know if you are free on Saturday night. To have dinner with us," he adds.
Kaidoh blinks.
"That is, please don't feel pressured to accept. My mother simply likes you, and wants to -- "
"No! I - I mean. …I'm free on Saturday."
And now Tezuka blinks.
"All right."
Kaidoh nods, and tries very hard not to stare at the bandage on Tezuka's cheek. But it is hard, and Tezuka notices.
"She scratched me this morning. Just a little bit."
"I -- oh. Oh. I see." It makes Kaidoh unreasonably proud that he knows who and what Tezuka-buchou is talking about, and he tries not to show it.
Tezuka smiles that odd, faint smile. "See you later, Kaidoh," he says, and then heads off to class.
--
Dinner at Tezuka-buchou's house is so much quieter than dinner at Kaidoh's house. His parents talk a little, mostly amongst themselves or with Tezuka's grandfather. There is no one arguing over seconds or thirds or dessert or who gets the last piece of chicken, and yet it still carries the same feeling of a very solid family.
After dinner, Tezuka takes Kaidoh up to his room with Mikako. They talk a little more this time; about tennis, and about high school, carefully skirting around the issue of captaincy, and who Tezuka will give it to. But for the most part, they are quiet, taking turns between amusing the cat and playing the video game hooked up to the television.
Kaidoh kind of likes it, how Tezuka-buchou doesn't expect him to say anything or do anything, just be there. It feels very comfortable, in an odd way.
--
After that, Tezuka invites Kaidoh to his house every two weeks or so, and only the first few times does he mention his mother.
They haven't become friends, really. It's simpler than that. They just… keep each other company. They play with video games or with Mikako, or if Kaidoh comes on a school night, they do homework together. Kaidoh thinks he likes that the best, because if he needs help, he has it. And even if he doesn't need help, it's just… nice.
A lot of things are nice about being around Tezuka, actually. He is quiet, and thoughtful, and calm. Kaidoh likes that. He likes it a lot.
--
"Kaoru, who's that boy you always hang out with?"
Kaidoh swallows his rice. "Who?"
His mother sighs impatiently. "The one whose house you go over to!"
"Oh, that's -- oi, that was mine!"
Hazue gleefully sticks his tongue out at his older brother. "Too slow!" he giggles.
"Don't mind it, Kaoru, there's more in the kitchen. What's his name? Not Inui-kun…"
Kaidoh shakes his head, still glaring at his little brother.
"It's the captain. Tezuka-buchou," he replies distractedly.
"Captain? Oh, my… Well. You'd better invite him over here for dinner, Kaoru. Friday night."
Kaoru's head snaps to his mother.
"No! No way, not while he's still being a brat," he hisses, jabbing his chopsticks in Hazue's general direction. The younger boy pouts.
"Oh, Kaoru. I'll make sure he behaves. Just invite Tezuka-kun, will you?"
"But…"
"Or I'll cut your allowance! Kaoru, don't be difficult…"
"Fine," Kaidoh concedes, disgruntled. "Friday night."
--
"Um -- Tezuka-buchou!" Kaidoh calls once morning practice is over and the captain is heading to class.
Tezuka stops in his tracks and waits for Kaidoh to catch up, smiling that faint smile that makes the other boy suddenly feel awfully shy.
"Um. I… was wondering." Kaidoh swallows. "Are you… Are you busy on Friday night?"
This seems to catch Tezuka by surprise, and Kaidoh rushes on.
"You could have dinner at my house. For a change. I mean. My mother asked."
The faint smile returns.
"Friday night is fine," he replies, nodding. "I'll be there."
And for some reason, rather than easing the nerves coiling in the pit of Kaidoh's stomach, it only tightens them.
--
Friday night comes awfully quickly, in Kaidoh's opinion; it's just a blur of classes and tennis practices and fights with Momoshiro, until suddenly, he finds himself sitting at the table across from Tezuka-buchou and Hazue, who is surprisingly quiet.
Kaoru thanks his mother with his eyes.
And the first half of the dinner goes fairly well. Kaidoh's mother and father ask him and Tezuka about school, and when that subject exhausts itself, they talk amongst each other.
It is quiet and normal and Kaidoh feels slightly better.
Until, that is, Hazue gets bored. He starts to fidget. He starts to play with his food.
And then he pipes up with an impatient, "Tezuka-san! Are you really the best at tennis? Kaoru says you might be, but I dunno if I can believe him 'cause he's my brother. So are you?"
Kaoru freezes.
"…I don't think I am," Tezuka replies slowly, and blinks at Kaidoh.
"Really? What about the best at Seigaku? And who's the best in the world, then? And how good's my brother? And -- "
"Hazue," Kaidoh's mother begins uneasily, watching her older son's stony face. "Hazue, don't pester Tezuka-kun."
"But it's boring to be quiet!"
"That's…"
"I don't mind, Kaidoh-san," Tezuka cuts in politely.
"Really?"
"See? He said I could ask him!" Hazue exclaims, and then proceeds to fire off questions like there's no tomorrow.
Kaoru takes a deep, deep breath.
--
The instant that Tezuka shuts the door of Kaidoh's bedroom behind him, Kaoru bows deeply.
"I'm sorry. I mean, about my brother. He wasn't supposed to bother you, but he did and -- and I wouldn't blame you if you never want to come over again and -- and I'm sorry, buchou."
Tezuka blinks.
"Kaidoh, it's fine," he says. "I didn't mind."
Kaidoh bites his lip, but still doesn't quite look at his captain.
"And don't be foolish. I don't mind coming here again."
Kaoru looks at him uncertainly. "Oh."
It's quiet, then. Not the sort of quiet that Kaoru has gotten used to when it's just him and Tezuka-buchou. This… This is like those first few times, awkward and just a little uncomfortable, neither of them sure exactly what to do as they stand face-to-face in front of Kaidoh's door. Kaoru fishes for things to say, but can't think of anything that Hazue hadn't already covered downstairs.
"Tezuka-buchou, I think -- " Kaidoh begins, without really knowing where he's going, but Tezuka is already doing something; already reaching out for Kaoru's shoulder and bringing him close, closer, until --
Until their lips meet in a kiss, soft and uncertain and unbearably sweet and Kaoru just -- just -- just doesn't know what to do before Tezuka leans back and away and mumbles an, "I apologize." As Kaidoh blinks, Tezuka steps backwards, into the door, and blushes -- blushes, and Kaidoh can't quite believe it -- the faintest shade of pink.
"I suppose I'll leave, then," the older boy murmurs, and begins to turn.
And that is when Kaidoh realizes that he has to move, and hastily grabs Tezuka's wrist.
"No," he growls, even though he hadn't meant to. "No, it's fine."
It takes Tezuka a moment to look at Kaidoh, and then he looks. "Are you sure?"
Kaidoh nods slowly, swallowing.
"It's fine," he repeats, and his voice is still low and unsteady and gruff, but Tezuka-buchou doesn't seem to mind it, really; he is too busy interlacing their fingers.
--
And Mikako, lying somewhere in a cozy corner of the Tezuka house, cat-smiles in her sleep, utterly satisfied with her world.
Recipient: jain
Rating: PG
Pairing: Tezuka/Kaidoh
Notes: This wasn't a pairing that I would have normally chosen to write, but I had fun doing it. Thank you to my beta, and I really hope you enjoy this, jain! And sorry for the super-lame title. :P
--
It is one of his oldest, silliest habits, and one that he can't be bothered to get rid of; one that he doesn't think it would be possible for him to get rid of, as deeply engrained into his psyche as it is.
Kaidoh Kaoru wanders slowly down the breakfast foods aisle of the grocery store, distancing himself from his mother where she bends to pick through all of the brightly-colored boxes of cereal, trying to find that one brand of artificially-flavored popped rice that Kaidoh's little brother loves beyond all reason. When Kaidoh reaches the end of the lane, he makes a left, and goes up the one aisle that his mother always, always skips: the pet care aisle.
He ambles down it leisurely, eyes skimming over the canisters of birdseed, the big bags of dog kibble, the plastic containers of various other pet feeds. It is an automatic process, and he doesn't quite pay attention to where he's going until --
"Oi," the boy he bumps into says sharply, three cans of cat food jumping around in his hands as he tries to juggle them all. Two of them he is able to maintain a grip on, but the third slips through his fingers, and he winces a little, waiting for the inevitable clang of aluminum against the whateveritis supermarket floors are made of.
But the clang never comes. Instead, Kaidoh hands the can back, muttering an embarrassed, "Um," and trying not to blush.
Tezuka sighs a little -- just a little.
"Thank you, Kaidoh."
"Um," Kaidoh repeats. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"It's all right," replies Tezuka, although Kaidoh thinks that his tone really says, That was careless of you.
Kaoru doesn't really know what to respond to that with, and his mom isn't calling for him yet, so he shifts from one foot to the other awkwardly, trying desperately to think of another topic because he's standing in the same supermarket aisle as his captain, and he thinks that they should at least have a decent conversation before they flee their separate ways in complete embarrassment, but Kaidoh just isn't good at this whole conversation thing and --
"You have a cat, Tezuka-buchou?" he blurts out suddenly, and inwardly winces.
Tezuka blinks a little, then lifts a shoulder in a minute shrug. "I suppose so, yes. My mother found a stray a few nights ago."
"Oh… And, um. Have you named her?"
"Aa… Mikako."
Kaidoh stares at the cans in Tezuka's hands. "Mikako. That's a nice name," he replies, and it sounds really lame, even to him, but he just isn't sure of what else he could say.
But the corner of Tezuka's lips quirk. "Aa."
They lapse into a not-quite-comfortable silence again, and Kaidoh bites the inside of his cheek. It occurs to him that what he really wants to say is that he is jealous - jealous because it's a cat and Tezuka-buchou is lucky enough to just suddenly have one, while Kaidoh has wanted a kitten forever, but will never get one because his little brother is allergic, and besides, he's heard his mother say a thousand times that she doesn't like the way that cats scratch furniture and smell and… And…
"Kunimitsu! That's where you are."
Kaidoh startles a little, and turns to see a petite brunette woman making her way down the aisle, a basket clutched to her side and a placid smile on her lips.
"Ah. Is this one of your friends, Kunimitsu?" she asks. "A teammate?"
Tezuka nods, carefully handing her the cans of cat food. "This is Kaidoh Kaoru, one of our second-year starters. Kaidoh, this is my mother."
"Nice to meet you," Kaoru mumbles, bowing politely. Tezuka-san bows back.
"The pleasure is mine, Kaidoh-kun. I hope Kunimitsu has been treating you well at the club."
Kaidoh nods quickly. "Yes, of course," he murmurs. "He's a very good captain."
Tezuka-san smiles at him again. "That is very good to hear." A pause. "Ah. And has he told you about our stray?"
Kaidoh shifts from one foot to another, still just a tad uncomfortable. "Yes. A little bit."
"Well," Tezuka-san begins, "there's one thing he probably didn't tell you, and that's that she's adorable. A tiny, fluffy white thing… Say, do you like cats, Kaidoh-kun?"
Kaidoh nods hesitantly, and shifts again.
"Then why don't you come over and see her? Kunimitsu doesn't mind. How about it?"
Kaidoh blinks and sneaks a look at his captain.
"I… wouldn't mind," he replies, even though his true answer is a resounding, Yes, yes, of course! "I mean, if that's really all right with you, Tezuka-buchou…"
Tezuka gives him an odd look. "If it's what you want, then please come."
"Good!" Tezuka-san chirps. "It's settled then. Are you free tomorrow? Yes? Wonderful. See you then, Kaidoh-kun!"
And then, with one last wave good-bye, she turns and makes her way down the aisle. Tezuka-buchou gives him that odd look again, then gives Kaidoh a nod and follows his mother.
Kaidoh stands in the aisle for a few long moments after Tezuka-buchou and his mother have left, wondering if that last glance meant that Tezuka-buchou was angry with him for accepting.
He thinks so, but can't dwell on it for long -- not when his own mother is calling his name from the next aisle down.
--
Later that night, Kaidoh gets an email from an unfamiliar, but not-quite-mysterious address -- because really, how mysterious could the name tezukak14 be?
The subject is a very simple From Tezuka, and when Kaoru opens the mail, there are only five lines of text. The first line reads Just in case. The next three are instructions. And the last says, Call me if you get lost, followed by a phone number.
It feels very impersonal, even by emailing standards, and as Kaidoh prints out the message, he begins to feel that maybe accepting was a bad idea.
--
But still, Sunday afternoon finds him entering the Tezuka residence. Everything about it is quiet, from the paint down to how Kaidoh hadn't heard people scrambling over each other to answer the door, the way one would at his house.
Instead, Tezuka-san calmly lets him in, taking his jacket and leading him away.
"Kunimitsu is in the dining room with Mikako-chan," she explains, smiling. "Have fun! I'll bring in tea and snacks soon."
Kaidoh nods once and steps into the room.
Tezuka-buchou is sitting in one of the dining room chairs, a very, very cute white kitten sitting in his lap. He looks up when Kaidoh comes in, and without a word, rises and hands over the cat.
Kaidoh takes the squirming, mewling little thing into his hands and feels the temptation to start snuggling her rise in his chest. He squelches it instantly.
It is only when Kaidoh and Mikako are comfortably settled with each other that Tezuka gives a very faint sort of almost-smile and says, "Good afternoon."
The other boy nods, returns the almost-smile, and replies, "Good afternoon, Tezuka-buchou."
And then it's just… calm and quiet. Kaidoh vaguely feels like he should say something, do something, make this feel less awkward. But Tezuka-san was right, and Mikako-chan is adorable enough that Kaidoh feels himself loosening up. She wriggles a little in his arms, and he lets her down in silent compliance, resting her front paws on his knees and tickling her sides lightly.
For a long while, he forgets that he isn't alone in the room, and that Tezuka is sitting in a chair not too far away. Forgets that this isn't his house, that this isn't his cat. Forgets, until Tezuka clears his throat a little.
Then Kaidoh looks up and blushes.
"Oh -- I. I'm sorry."
Tezuka seems surprised.
"No need to be sorry. You get along well with her." He pauses. "But your tea is getting a little cold."
Kaidoh blinks, looks at his cup sitting untouched on the table, and scrambles up and into a seat.
"I think I'm glad you came," Tezuka says slowly after a while, when Kaidoh is almost finished, and nibbling on some cookies. "You're different with her. I think it's interesting."
Kaidoh blushes, and really, really doesn't know what to say to that.
--
"Oi, oi. Did you see Tezuka-buchou's cheek, Echizen?" Momoshiro gossips in the locker room on Monday morning. "It's all bandaged up!"
Echizen just looks at Momoshiro.
"Don't you wonder what happened?"
"Not really…" Echizen replies, and it is clear in his voice that he thinks Monday mornings are too early to have to deal with Momoshiro's drama.
"Yeah, well, you're no fun. Hey, maybe it was a girl! Like, that he broke up with her and she scratched him or someth -- "
Kaidoh finishes putting his things away, turns, and bangs past Momoshiro.
"Oi, Mamushi! What's your problem toda -- "
"Don't gossip about things you don't know," Kaoru growls, glaring.
"…Man. What's up with him?" Momoshiro mutters indignantly to Echizen as Kaidoh opens the door and leaves the clubroom.
--
"Kaidoh."
Kaoru stops in his tracks and turns, bowing quickly. "Tezuka-buchou."
Tezuka bobs his head in return. "Kaidoh. I -- My mother would like to know if you are free on Saturday night. To have dinner with us," he adds.
Kaidoh blinks.
"That is, please don't feel pressured to accept. My mother simply likes you, and wants to -- "
"No! I - I mean. …I'm free on Saturday."
And now Tezuka blinks.
"All right."
Kaidoh nods, and tries very hard not to stare at the bandage on Tezuka's cheek. But it is hard, and Tezuka notices.
"She scratched me this morning. Just a little bit."
"I -- oh. Oh. I see." It makes Kaidoh unreasonably proud that he knows who and what Tezuka-buchou is talking about, and he tries not to show it.
Tezuka smiles that odd, faint smile. "See you later, Kaidoh," he says, and then heads off to class.
--
Dinner at Tezuka-buchou's house is so much quieter than dinner at Kaidoh's house. His parents talk a little, mostly amongst themselves or with Tezuka's grandfather. There is no one arguing over seconds or thirds or dessert or who gets the last piece of chicken, and yet it still carries the same feeling of a very solid family.
After dinner, Tezuka takes Kaidoh up to his room with Mikako. They talk a little more this time; about tennis, and about high school, carefully skirting around the issue of captaincy, and who Tezuka will give it to. But for the most part, they are quiet, taking turns between amusing the cat and playing the video game hooked up to the television.
Kaidoh kind of likes it, how Tezuka-buchou doesn't expect him to say anything or do anything, just be there. It feels very comfortable, in an odd way.
--
After that, Tezuka invites Kaidoh to his house every two weeks or so, and only the first few times does he mention his mother.
They haven't become friends, really. It's simpler than that. They just… keep each other company. They play with video games or with Mikako, or if Kaidoh comes on a school night, they do homework together. Kaidoh thinks he likes that the best, because if he needs help, he has it. And even if he doesn't need help, it's just… nice.
A lot of things are nice about being around Tezuka, actually. He is quiet, and thoughtful, and calm. Kaidoh likes that. He likes it a lot.
--
"Kaoru, who's that boy you always hang out with?"
Kaidoh swallows his rice. "Who?"
His mother sighs impatiently. "The one whose house you go over to!"
"Oh, that's -- oi, that was mine!"
Hazue gleefully sticks his tongue out at his older brother. "Too slow!" he giggles.
"Don't mind it, Kaoru, there's more in the kitchen. What's his name? Not Inui-kun…"
Kaidoh shakes his head, still glaring at his little brother.
"It's the captain. Tezuka-buchou," he replies distractedly.
"Captain? Oh, my… Well. You'd better invite him over here for dinner, Kaoru. Friday night."
Kaoru's head snaps to his mother.
"No! No way, not while he's still being a brat," he hisses, jabbing his chopsticks in Hazue's general direction. The younger boy pouts.
"Oh, Kaoru. I'll make sure he behaves. Just invite Tezuka-kun, will you?"
"But…"
"Or I'll cut your allowance! Kaoru, don't be difficult…"
"Fine," Kaidoh concedes, disgruntled. "Friday night."
--
"Um -- Tezuka-buchou!" Kaidoh calls once morning practice is over and the captain is heading to class.
Tezuka stops in his tracks and waits for Kaidoh to catch up, smiling that faint smile that makes the other boy suddenly feel awfully shy.
"Um. I… was wondering." Kaidoh swallows. "Are you… Are you busy on Friday night?"
This seems to catch Tezuka by surprise, and Kaidoh rushes on.
"You could have dinner at my house. For a change. I mean. My mother asked."
The faint smile returns.
"Friday night is fine," he replies, nodding. "I'll be there."
And for some reason, rather than easing the nerves coiling in the pit of Kaidoh's stomach, it only tightens them.
--
Friday night comes awfully quickly, in Kaidoh's opinion; it's just a blur of classes and tennis practices and fights with Momoshiro, until suddenly, he finds himself sitting at the table across from Tezuka-buchou and Hazue, who is surprisingly quiet.
Kaoru thanks his mother with his eyes.
And the first half of the dinner goes fairly well. Kaidoh's mother and father ask him and Tezuka about school, and when that subject exhausts itself, they talk amongst each other.
It is quiet and normal and Kaidoh feels slightly better.
Until, that is, Hazue gets bored. He starts to fidget. He starts to play with his food.
And then he pipes up with an impatient, "Tezuka-san! Are you really the best at tennis? Kaoru says you might be, but I dunno if I can believe him 'cause he's my brother. So are you?"
Kaoru freezes.
"…I don't think I am," Tezuka replies slowly, and blinks at Kaidoh.
"Really? What about the best at Seigaku? And who's the best in the world, then? And how good's my brother? And -- "
"Hazue," Kaidoh's mother begins uneasily, watching her older son's stony face. "Hazue, don't pester Tezuka-kun."
"But it's boring to be quiet!"
"That's…"
"I don't mind, Kaidoh-san," Tezuka cuts in politely.
"Really?"
"See? He said I could ask him!" Hazue exclaims, and then proceeds to fire off questions like there's no tomorrow.
Kaoru takes a deep, deep breath.
--
The instant that Tezuka shuts the door of Kaidoh's bedroom behind him, Kaoru bows deeply.
"I'm sorry. I mean, about my brother. He wasn't supposed to bother you, but he did and -- and I wouldn't blame you if you never want to come over again and -- and I'm sorry, buchou."
Tezuka blinks.
"Kaidoh, it's fine," he says. "I didn't mind."
Kaidoh bites his lip, but still doesn't quite look at his captain.
"And don't be foolish. I don't mind coming here again."
Kaoru looks at him uncertainly. "Oh."
It's quiet, then. Not the sort of quiet that Kaoru has gotten used to when it's just him and Tezuka-buchou. This… This is like those first few times, awkward and just a little uncomfortable, neither of them sure exactly what to do as they stand face-to-face in front of Kaidoh's door. Kaoru fishes for things to say, but can't think of anything that Hazue hadn't already covered downstairs.
"Tezuka-buchou, I think -- " Kaidoh begins, without really knowing where he's going, but Tezuka is already doing something; already reaching out for Kaoru's shoulder and bringing him close, closer, until --
Until their lips meet in a kiss, soft and uncertain and unbearably sweet and Kaoru just -- just -- just doesn't know what to do before Tezuka leans back and away and mumbles an, "I apologize." As Kaidoh blinks, Tezuka steps backwards, into the door, and blushes -- blushes, and Kaidoh can't quite believe it -- the faintest shade of pink.
"I suppose I'll leave, then," the older boy murmurs, and begins to turn.
And that is when Kaidoh realizes that he has to move, and hastily grabs Tezuka's wrist.
"No," he growls, even though he hadn't meant to. "No, it's fine."
It takes Tezuka a moment to look at Kaidoh, and then he looks. "Are you sure?"
Kaidoh nods slowly, swallowing.
"It's fine," he repeats, and his voice is still low and unsteady and gruff, but Tezuka-buchou doesn't seem to mind it, really; he is too busy interlacing their fingers.
--
And Mikako, lying somewhere in a cozy corner of the Tezuka house, cat-smiles in her sleep, utterly satisfied with her world.