Happy Spring racketglomps!
Title How to be Destined Rivals
Recipient's name racketglomps
Rating PG-13
Pairing(s) Fuji/Mizuki
Author's notes Thanks to my two amazing betas. I hope you like this, racketglomps.
"Why would I want to spy on my brother?" Yuuta demanded, scowling.
Mizuki twirled a lock of his hair. "Why, he is my destined rival, Yuuta-kun. I have to gather data on him so I can beat him the next time we play a match. I simply thought that you could help me." He leaned against the doorframe of Yuuta's dorm room.
"He crushed you completely in that match two weeks ago," Yuuta argued.
Mizuki crossed his arms, frustrated. "Don't ever mention that match again! I told you that!"
"Aniki is much better at tennis then you'll ever be," Yuuta said. "You're not his destined rival."
Mizuki glared. Did Yuuta seriously doubt him? "Don't be ridiculous, Yuuta-kun. I just didn't have the right data. So would you like to help me collect new data?"
"I'm not spying on my own brother!" Yuuta looked scandalized.
"Very well, then. I can do this by myself."
"Good," said Yuuta. He looked back at his homework.
"Can you let me into his room?"
"What?! Why?"
"I don't want to leave anything out of my data this time," Mizuki said, his hand on his chin.
"Now you're just being creepy."
Mizuki flailed. "I'm not creepy!" he protested. "I'm just thorough!"
Yuuta scowled. "Yeah, whatever. I guess you could see his room."
"Great. I'll come home with you next weekend, Yuuta-kun. It will be a sleepover. Nfu."
Yuuta looked like he was about to argue, but then he sighed. "Okay. Fine."
"Excellent." Mizuki smirked.
*
It was indeed excellent, Mizuki reflected. He was in a bush, looking through the window of an ice cream parlor. Fuji was sitting at a booth by the window, eating ice cream. Strawberry. Mizuki made a note of this.
Fuji was sitting with Eiji. It was too bad that Mizuki couldn't overhear the conversation, but he wasn't sure if it was needed anyway. He was only getting data that was absolutely necessary to beating Fuji at tennis, after all. He peered through his binoculars, zooming in for a close-up.
Licks ice cream cone around the sides. Does not let any drip at all, Mizuki wrote down. Tongue appears to be skilled at this sort of thing. Nfu. His data was nearly complete. He had been following Fuji for almost two weeks. Not constantly, of course, but whenever he had the chance.
Ten minutes later, Fuji and Eiji left the ice cream parlor. They were less than 5 meters away. Mizuki sat perfectly still. There was no way they could see him.
"Hoi hoi! Let's go back to my house and play video games!" Eiji said, grinning.
"I can't right now," Fuji told Eiji. "I have to do something. But I'll see you later."
Eiji pouted a bit, but eventually agreed. He started walking down the street by himself. Fuji watched him go.
Well. This was interesting. What did Fuji have to do?
Fuji turned and looked directly at him. No, Mizuki corrected himself, at the bush. He was invisible, after all. He was in camouflage! His binoculars were coved in leaves! He was even wearing a green shirt!
Fuji approached his bush. Mizuki tried to keep calm. Maybe Fuji was an avid bush fan. It was a beautiful bush, after all, with pink flowers.
"Can I help you?" Fuji asked him. No. Asked the bush, Mizuki reminded himself. He remained silent, making a mental note: Talks to bushes. A sign of insanity?
"I'm talking to you," Fuji said, leaning over the bush and looking right at him.
Mizuki panicked, dropping his binoculars. "What? Me?! I'm just sitting in a bush! Innocently!"
"You've been observing me for two weeks." Fuji said, raising his eyebrows.
"I...no I haven't!" How could Fuji know that? Mizuki's stealth was flawless! Irritated, Mizuki crawled out from the bush and started pulling twigs and leaves out of his hair and clothes.
"Yes you have."
Mizuki suddenly realized what must have happened. "Yuuta-kun told you! That traitor!" He said, furious, brushing the last leaf off his shirt. He was going to kill that jerk!
"Actually, he didn't." Fuji reached into his pocket and held out an envelope.
"What's this?" Mizuki demanded, taking it.
"Something for you," Fuji said, his eyes glinting. "Open it up."
Fuji was looking at Mizuki with a rather scary expression. Mizuki looked down at the envelope quickly. He opened it up. Inside were a bunch of photos.
He squinted at the first one. It was unmistakably a picture of him looking down, writing something in his notebook, while hiding behind a bench. The caption read, Mizuki spies on me at tennis practice.
Mizuki's eyes went wide in horror. He looked at the next picture. Its caption read, Mizuki spies on me at school. He was standing behind a pole, looking off to the side. "What am I looking at?" Mizuki asked.
"Someone riding their bike, if I remember right," Fuji said calmly.
In the next one, Mizuki was behind a tree, looking up. Mizuki spies on me at home. "What about this one?"
"I think you were distracted by a bird," Fuji said.
"I'm not distracted that easily!" Mizuki said, annoyed. He looked at the last one. It was of him sneezing.
"Urgh! Fuji-kun, if you're going to take pictures of me, at least take ones that capture my handsome features!" Mizuki tossed his hair and lifted up his chin. "Like this. Now would be a good time to take a picture." He posed handsomely.
"Gomen," Fuji said. "I didn't want to startle you, so I took the pictures when you weren't looking."
"How could you have got all these though?" Mizuki demanded. "I never saw you holding a camera!"
Fuji smiled.
"And how could you have seen me at all? My powers of stealth are superior to anyone else's!"
"I'm just observant."
"Geez! You're creepy, that's what you are!"
"Speaking of creepy, you left this in my room. In my underwear drawer." Fuji held up a pencil that had Mizuki Hajime printed on the side.
"Oh." Mizuki blushed bright red. He grabbed it from Fuji quickly. "Thank you." He had been wondering where he had left that. And he had only had a quick glance in that drawer. Honestly!
Fuji opened his eyes and looked at Mizuki seriously. "Why are you spying on me?"
"Why are you spying on me spying on you?" Mizuki countered.
"I was curious about what you were doing. Now you tell me."
Mizuki put a hand on his chin. "It's simple, Fuji-kun. I - he paused for effect - "am your one and only destined rival," he said triumphantly, his arms flying out in a flourish.
"Oh, is that so? Are you the one that I crushed in that one match? Or was that someone else?"
"How do you not remember clearly?" Mizuki asked, outraged. "You completely humiliated me!"
"You were hurting my brother." The look in Fuji's eyes became fierce, cold. Murderous.
He did remember. Too well. "And I've learned my lesson!" Mizuki said quickly. "It will never happen again."
"Good." Fuji still looked ready to kill him.
Mizuki swallowed. "I just want to have a rematch. I think I've got the correct data this time."
"Fine," said Fuji. "If it will make you stop spying on me."
"Deal."
"We can play it right now. I know where there's a tennis court, and I have rackets."
Mizuki faltered. Right now? He didn't know if he was ready...
Of course he was ready! He composed himself. "Very well. And there's no way you're going to win this time, Fuji-kun. I know your weaknesses this time. I know everything. It's all in the data." He tapped his notebook cover knowingly.
"We'll see," said Fuji, smiling.
*
"What were you saying before?" Fuji asked. "Something about how there was no way I was going to win?"
Mizuki was on his hands and knees, panting for breath, sweating heavily. He looked up at Fuji on the other side of the net, standing over him, glaring. Just like before. "Shut up," he said, too exhausted and humiliated to think.
He grabbed his racket and shakily got to his feet. Fuji had won, 6-0. Mizuki didn't understand. It was his worst defeat yet, and he had tried everything. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair.
"You're good, Fuji-kun," he said finally. "But I am still going to beat you. I just haven't had time to review and synthesize all the data I've been collecting. And after I do that, I have to create a training program and adjust my moves to target all of your weaknesses. I simply wasn't ready today."
"Hmm," said Fuji.
"Just give me another chance!" Mizuki pleaded. "Give me..." He calculated. "Three weeks. I'll be ready then."
"You really want to beat me that badly?" Fuji said. He looked at Mizuki directly. He didn't look mean, more like curious.
Mizuki didn't know how to answer that. "You're my destined rival," he said, pouting a little.
"I see. Then I will play you again in three weeks."
Mizuki sighed in relief. He would have another chance. And there was no way he was going to let himself lose again.
*
The next three weeks passed quickly. Mizuki spent hours pouring over his notebooks, thinking, planning. He went on long runs and spent extra hours in the weight room. He practiced and perfected his moves. He was in top condition.
The only problem was, after a day of focusing only on defeating Fuji, he had a weird dream. A weird dream involving Fuji. Without a shirt. Involving Fuji pushing him against the wall and -
No! Fuji was his destined rival! People don't think of their destined rivals like that! That dream had never happened! And it would never happen again!
*
When the day of the match at last arrived, Mizuki was well prepared. After he woke up, he stared at the ceiling, giving himself a pep talk. He knew all of Fuji's weaknesses and how to play to target them. He had a plan of attack, so he wasn't going to mess up this time.
He met the Fuji brothers at the tennis court by their house. Yuuta had agreed to be the referee.
Before the match, Mizuki and Fuji shook hands. Mizuki's hand gripped Fuji's, and when their eyes met, Mizuki gave a small nod. He was too nervous to say anything.
Yuuta looked back and forth between Fuji and Mizuki. "Good luck," he finally said. Mizuki wasn't sure whom Yuuta was talking to. He didn't think Yuuta even knew. But no matter. Mizuki was going to win.
*
He didn't.
*
Mizuki stayed in his room and sulked for days. He lay on his bed dejectedly. His data notebooks were scattered everywhere. He just didn't understand it. Fuji had to have a weakness! They were equals! Why did he keep losing? "I should've won!" he said out loud.
"Will you get over it?" Yuuta said irritably. "I can't beat him either. Most people can't." Yuuta was sitting at Mizuki's desk, working on his homework. Usually it was Mizuki who came to Yuuta's room, but today it was the other way around.
Mizuki propped himself up on his elbows and glared at him. "I'm going to beat him, Yuuta-kun. I just haven't thought of the right way to go about it."
Yuuta sighed. "Whatever. You're more annoying than usual lately, you know that?"
"Then why did you come here?" Mizuki said furiously.
Yuuta frowned. "You haven't barged in on me for days! I just wanted to check on you!"
Mizuki smirked. "Why, Yuuta-kun. You missed me. And after only a few days. I had no idea you felt so strongly about me."
Yuuta flushed and stood up, clenching his fists. "It's not like that!"
"There's no reason to get violent, Yuuta-kun." Mizuki said calmly, twirling his hair. "It's important to be open about your feelings."
"There are no feelings to be open about!"
"Nfu. I know I am irresistible," Mizuki said. "Who could blame you?" Mizuki sat up and admired himself in his floor length mirror. "Why, with hair like this, skin like this, and a body like this, it's no wonder you want me, Yuuta-kun."
There was no response. "Yuuta-kun?" Mizuki looked around. The door was open. Yuuta and his books were nowhere to be found.
Mizuki lay back on his bed, smirking. He definitely wants me.
*
Mizuki wasn't about to let this destined rivals thing go. He wanted to play Fuji again.
Or maybe he just wanted to see Fuji again.
No. That definitely wasn't the case. People did not simply want to see their destined rivals! They wanted to beat them. Destined rivals are enemies. Yes. That's what Fuji was. An enemy.
*
Mizuki knocked on the door of the Fuji house, his tennis bag slung over his shoulder. It was midnight on a school night, so Yuuta wasn't even home. Mizuki was counting on Fuji answering the door. If a parent answered it instead, he wasn't sure what exactly he would say.
He was lucky. Fuji was the one to open the door. He was in his pajamas, and looked only mildly surprised to see Mizuki. "Yes?"
"We're going to play tennis, Fuji-kun. Right now."
"Right now?" Fuji said, glancing at his watch.
"Yes. You can get out without anyone noticing, can't you?"
Fuji looked up the stairs. "My parents and sister are asleep. Why do you want to play tennis now?"
"I've been planning for this moment all week. I am prepared. You are completely unprepared and unsuspecting. Since I have the element of surprise on my side, I'm going to win this time. Nfu."
Fuji yawned and stretched. "Is that it? Well. I guess we could have a quick match."
"Come on then," Mizuki said impatiently.
"Let me change," Fuji said. His pajamas were a light blue silk material, definitely not suited for tennis.
"No time for that!" Mizuki said. "Just grab your racket!"
"Can I put on proper shoes at least?"
Mizuki looked down at Fuji's teddy bear slippers and smirked. "Nfu-nfu-nfu. Very well. Since I'm feeling generous."
*
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the tennis courts. Though it was dark outside, the courts were lit by bright stadium lights. Mizuki was excited. He had always wanted to play a match this late at night.
They faced each other at the net and gripped hands. Fuji always looked so intensely at Mizuki that it made him a little breathless.
"Let's have a good match," Fuji said.
"I know I will," Mizuki retorted. "You won't."
Fuji smiled.
*
They played tennis. They rallied back and forth for what felt like longer than before. Mizuki knew he had improved. He had been preparing mentally and physically for this moment.
He was starting to be able read Fuji's movements and respond to them. But he had finally realized that Fuji's tennis was simply unpredictable. He couldn't win against Fuji using a complicated plan to tackle Fuji's weaknesses, not when Fuji didn't seem to have any weaknesses. Instead, Mizuki played on pure adrenaline and instinct. His body responded faster than his brain could. He lost track of the score, of how tired he was, of everything except Fuji on the other side of the net and the tennis ball.
Fuji's tennis was flawless even this late at night, even not having prepared for this, even when he was wearing ridiculously out of style pajamas. But though Mizuki was losing, but he felt euphoric under those lights, as though he was somehow greater than his normal self. Their tennis was a complicated dance of dashing, pivoting, hitting, diving, smacking, lobbing. For a while, the world beyond tennis simply did not exist.
It finally ended. It had been a good game. Even though Mizuki lost, he had drawn the match out longer than before. It was really late now.
They shook hands at the net.
"Good match, Mizuki," said Fuji. He looked like he actually meant it.
Mizuki sighed dramatically. "You beat me again, Fuji-kun. But as your destined rival, I will beat you. Someday."
Fuji studied him for a moment. "Did you ever think that you're my destined rival at something besides tennis?" He asked.
Mizuki considered this. "Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know. Billiards."
"Nfu. I happen to be an expert billiards player."
"Oh, is that so?"
Mizuki nodded. "Ask anyone."
"We'll have to play sometime."
"And you will definitely lose."
Fuji picked up his racket. "Maybe. But right now I am going to bed. See you later." He started walking back home.
"Goodnight, Fuji-kun," Mizuki said, watching him leave.
*
Mizuki waited impatiently outside of the arcade. He was meeting Fuji to play billiards, and he was sure that he could win. From what he could tell, he was pretty good at billiards. He had only played it a few times, but he was a quick learner.
Fuji approached him right on time, holding a long, skinny case. "What's that?" Mizuki asked.
"It's my cue stick." Fuji opened up the case and showed it to him. "It's custom made, so it's rather expensive."
Mizuki felt vaguely sick. "You have your own cue stick?"
"Yes. Don't you?" Fuji raised his eyebrows. "I thought you were an expert billiards player."
"Oh." Mizuki panicked. "I seem to have left mine at home! How silly of me. I guess we can't play billiards after all. Damn!"
"That's too bad," said Fuji, smiling.
"It's okay. I'm probably your destined rival at ping-pong anyway. They have ping-pong tables here too."
"Oh? We should play that instead then."
*
Mizuki lost the ping-pong game. He hadn't known that Fuji would be able to perform all three of his triple counters in ping-pong as well.
"No matter. I'm your destined rival at something else. It must be...volleyball. My volleyball skills are excellent."
Fuji smiled. "We should meet to play volleyball. There's a volleyball net at the park near my house."
"Nfu. You don't stand a chance, Fuji-kun."
*
Fuji played volleyball effortlessly, like he had practiced it every day. He beat Mizuki without breaking a sweat.
Mizuki couldn't help but be impressed. But then he found his voice. "I must be your destined rival at badminton instead! I am a far greater badminton player than you could ever be, Fuji-kun."
*
Fuji could apparently do his triple counters in badminton too. Mizuki lost.
"Foosball!"
*
He lost at foosball.
"...I must be your destined rival at...golf!"
*
He lost at golf, though he took comfort in the fact that his golf polo was much better than Fuji's outfit.
"Maybe bowling then."
*
Mizuki studied himself in his mirror. He patted down a stray hair. He felt weird and he didn't know why.
He was meeting Fuji to go bowling in a half hour. He wondered why Fuji wanted to meet him all these times to play sports. Did Fuji like spending time with him? He must, or he would've put a stop to this. Though maybe it was just because Mizuki was such good competition.
Or maybe...Fuji liked him?
What if Fuji thought of this outing as a date?
No. It couldn't be. They were just destined rivals.
He would have to stop this nonsense and concentrate on beating Fuji. Not how attractive Fuji might be. Not that he was! People aren't attracted to their destined rivals! Mizuki certainly wasn't! Winning was the important thing. Just winning.
*
Mizuki was almost nervous by the time he got to the bowling alley. Almost. He spotted Fuji waiting by the entrance. To his surprise, Fuji wasn't alone. He was with Inui, a data collector who was obviously inferior to himself. Mizuki scowled at Inui as he approached them.
Inui adjusted his glasses. "Ah. Mizuki. We meet again."
"Hello," Fuji said pleasantly.
Mizuki stared between them wordlessly. What was this? This couldn't be a date if Inui was here! Or what if Inui and Fuji were on a date? Why would Fuji invite Mizuki along then?
"Oh. I should have explained," Fuji said, "Inui is here to gather data on my bowling. You're not the only one who tries to get my data." Fuji smiled.
Mizuki was betrayed! He was the only one who was allowed to get Fuji's data! And now this jerk thought he could just tag along and get Fuji's data right in front of him? This was an outrage! Did Inui think he was Fuji's destined rival?!
Fuji was cheating on him!
"That's not a problem, is it?" Fuji asked.
"What?" Mizuki panicked. "No! Not a problem at all! Everything is perfectly fine!"
"My bowling needs work," Inui said. "I was hoping that observing you and Fuji could give me data to help my own bowling technique."
"He gets only one pin down every time," Fuji said, smiling.
Mizuki relaxed a little. Inui could never be Fuji's destined rival if he couldn't even bowl properly.
"Well. In that case. Watch and learn, Inui-kun. But you'll never become as good as me. Nfu-nfu-nfu."
*
It was extremely annoying to have Inui gathering data on them. He sat on a chair on the side, observing them carefully, and then he scribbled endless notes, murmuring to himself. Mizuki was certainly never that annoying when he gathered data.
"Percent chance that Fuji will get a strike..." Inui muttered, "seventy-two percent."
Fuji smiled at this. He approached the lane and bowled a perfect strike. "Correct as usual, Inui," Fuji said, pleased.
Mizuki was down by 30 points already, and thus was in a bad mood. He held his bowling ball and stared down the lane, concentrating. He visualized what he was going to do. He'd approach the lane and in one swift motion he'd bowl the ball right down the middle...
"Percent chance that Mizuki will get a gutter ball...ninety percent."
"What?" Mizuki turned and glared at Inui. "Shut up! I'm concentrating!"
"You don't have to pay attention to Inui," Fuji explained. "He's just gathering data."
"No he's not! He's ruining my game! I can't bowl under these conditions!"
"I apologize," said Inui.
"Good." Mizuki took several calming breaths, concentrated, and bowled a perfect gutter ball.
"I hate you," Mizuki told Inui, enraged.
Fuji touched Mizuki's arm and looked him in the eye. "Just try not to listen to Inui," he said. "That's just the way he gathers data. He doesn't mean to affect the game."
Fuji brushed past him and got ready to bowl. Mizuki watched him, feeling strangely calmer.
"Hmm," said Inui. "Percent chance that this is actually a date...forty-nine percent."
"I heard that!" Mizuki flailed. "This is not a date!"
"Fifty-nine percent," Inui corrected, raising his eyebrows.
Fuji looked at Mizuki and smiled before bowling another strike.
"Sixty-nine percent," Inui muttered.
Mizuki was definitely not blushing.
*
Mizuki lost the bowling game. Though it wasn't his fault. It was Inui's. Still, he was running out of sports. Thus, he decided that he must be Fuji's destined rival at a board game instead.
It was several days after the bowling incident. Mizuki was at the Fuji house, sitting across the table from Fuji. They were playing chess, but Mizuki found that he wasn't concentrating very well. The word date kept popping into Mizuki's head. He frowned at the chessboard, unable to decide where to move.
Finally he blurted, "Is this a date?"
Fuji looked at him. "What do you think?" he asked, as though asking Mizuki's opinion on the weather.
Mizuki looked down at the board and moved his bishop a space. He looked back up at Fuji, who was staring at him.
"We're destined rivals," Mizuki said finally. "Enemies!"
"What are we destined rivals at again?" Fuji teased.
"Chess! Why, my chess skills are far beyond..." he paused, watching Fuji move his queen. The queen captured Mizuki's knight, giving it a direct path to Mizuki's king.
"Checkmate," Fuji said.
Mizuki glared at the chessboard. "Did I say chess? I meant checkers."
"Hn," Fuji mused. He pulled out the checkers pieces. "Maybe."
*
Several hours later, the door opened and both Fuji and Mizuki looked up. It was Yuuta, carrying his suitcase. "Aniki!" said Fuji happily. "What a nice surprise!"
"Yuuta-kun," Mizuki acknowledged quickly, before turning his attention back to the game board.
"Why is Mizuki at my own house more than I am?" Yuuta asked grumpily.
"I am not! Now be quiet! I need to concentrate!" Mizuki stared at the game board, his brow furrowed.
"Mizuki, you're playing Candyland. How can you need to concentrate?" Yuuta asked.
"I am Fuji's destined rival at Candyland, I'll have you know! Look at this. I'm way ahead of him. There's no way that he can beat me now. Nfu-nfu-nfu." Indeed he was. All he had to do was pick a purple. This was the Moment of Truth!
Mizuki closed his eyes and thought deeply about the color purple. He thought of all the purple things he knew. A plum. A grape. Violets. His favorite shirt. Prunes. Then he picked up a card. "Nooooooo!" The card said he had to go all the way back to Plumpy the Plum Tree! He had clearly thought too hard about plums!
"Tough break," said Fuji. He picked up a card. Double purple. He moved his piece to the candy castle. He had won. "Ah. I just got lucky."
"It's not fair! I was so close!" Mizuki shouted. "You may have won this time! But I'll think of something I can beat you at!"
Yuuta rolled his eyes. "That will be the day."
"It is statistically impossible for Fuji to always win!" Mizuki argued.
"Statistics don't work with Fuji," Yuuta pointed out.
Mizuki was not pouting.
*
Several days later, Mizuki called Fuji up on his cell phone. "I got it!" he said excitedly when Fuji had answered. "I'm your destined rival in fashion!"
"Fashion?" said Fuji skeptically.
"Of course! I am renowned for my excellent fashion sense. Surely you've noticed my many stylish outfits by now."
"How would we prove who had better fashion?"
"We could just ask people who looks better. Where are you now?"
"I'm at Kawamura Sushi with the rest of the Seigaku regulars. We're about to have a team meeting."
"Good. I'll be right over. And I'll be wearing my most fashionable outfit."
Fuji laughed softly. "Alright. Fine."
*
Mizuki entered Kawamura Sushi and took off his sunglasses with a flourish. He was wearing his purple shirt with pink flowers, the most fashionable shirt he had. There was no doubt about it: he looked hot in this shirt, and he knew it.
The Seigaku regulars all stopped talking and stared at him. Mizuki was sure that they were dumbstruck by his beauty. He winked at Kaidoh, who turned red and looked down at the table. "Fshuuu," he hissed.
Fuji was looking at him with an unreadable expression. Mizuki sat down next to him, running a hand through his hair. "Ah. Fuji-kun. I see you are only wearing your sweats from tennis. It is too bad you did not have an opportunity to put on your best clothes like I did."
"I don't mind." Fuji smiled.
"Alright. Seigaku. Can I have your attention. As I'm sure you all remember, I am Mizuki Hajime. How, think deeply and carefully about this: which one of us has better fashion, me or Fuji?"
"Fuji," all of Seigaku said together.
"But he's just wearing a t-shirt and shorts!" Mizuki protested.
"Fuji," they all said again.
"Ah, but your shirt is...nice," said Oishi quickly.
"This isn't fair!" Mizuki turned to Fuji. "They're biased!"
"Maybe," Fuji agreed.
"We have to ask my team now."
"When I'm done here," Fuji suggested.
"Very well. I will gather up my team. We can meet them. Nfu."
"Now can you leave?" Echizen said rudely. "We're trying to have a meeting."
Mizuki glared at him. "I am leaving. I don't like to be in the presence of people who don't know good fashion when they see it."
"Che. My mom has a shirt like that," Echizen said.
Choosing to ignore this last statement, Mizuki stood up, put on his sunglasses dignifiedly, and left.
Outside the restaurant, he called up Yuuta and told him to assemble the team at a nearby street corner. "It's urgent."
"Is anything wrong?" Yuuta asked.
"You could say that," Mizuki said curtly, and then he hung up.
*
The St. Rudolph regulars were gathered on the street corner, looking apprehensive. They fell silent when Fuji and Mizuki arrived.
"Ah, my loving teammates. I was wondering if you could help Fuji-kun and I in a small dilemma. We need to know who has better fashion sense, me or him."
They all looked dumbstruck for a moment.
"That's it?" Akazawa demanded. "That's why we all had to meet here?"
"I thought this was important!" Yuuta said, scowling. "I have much better things I could be doing!"
"Just answer the question! Me or Fuji?"
"Fuji," they all said at the same time.
"What?!" Mizuki was outraged. "You don't even vote for your own team mate? Mutiny!"
"But that shirt is gay, dane!" Shinya said.
"Don't be stupid. Shirts can't have sexual preferences. Everyone knows that!"
"That one definitely does, dane!"
Fuji laughed.
Mizuki sighed dramatically and turned to Fuji. "We need to find completely impartial, unbiased judges. But judges who at least know what real fashion is." He glared at his teammates.
"Like who?" Fuji asked.
Mizuki thought for a minute. "I've got it! Hyoutei!"
*
They found the Hyoutei regulars gathering up their things and drinking from their water bottles. They looked like they had just finished practice.
"Hey, Hyoutei."
"Intruders!" said Atobe, pointing at them dramatically. "Spies!"
Kabaji stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
Mizuki looked up, way up at Kabaji's leering face and stepped back quickly. "We're not spies! We just have an extremely urgent and important question to ask you all."
They all looked at him as though he were a bug they wanted to squish, and then ignored him.
Mizuki paid no attention to that. He grabbed Fuji's arm. "Hey. Listen up. Which one has better fashion sense, I, Mizuki Hajime, or Fuji Syuusuke?"
They exchanged looks, muttering. "Atobe," they said in unison.
"What?" Mizuki demanded. "I didn't even say Atobe in the question!"
Atobe put a freshly manicured hand on his hip. "But my fashion is far superior than either of yours. Ne, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
"That's not fair!" Mizuki shouted.
"It's alright, Mizuki," Fuji said calmly.
"Are you two dating?" Shishido asked. "Lame."
"We're not dating!" Mizuki flailed. "We're destined rivals! Rivals I tell you!"
"Well, thank you for your help. We'll be leaving now," Fuji said. He turned and walked away. He grabbed Mizuki's wrist and dragged Mizuki with him.
*
One Saturday morning, Mizuki woke up to find half a foot of fresh snow on the ground. Then he had an idea. A brilliant idea as far as ideas go. He ate and got dressed in a rush, taking only half an hour on his hair. He left a note on the table for his mom and bounded out the door to take the train to Fuji's house.
*
Half an hour later, he rang the doorbell. Fuji opened the door, still in his pajamas again. "What brings you here so early?"
"Snow sculptures!" Mizuki said triumphantly. "I'm your destined rival at snow sculptures!"
"That's an interesting one," Fuji commented.
"More than interesting! Inspired! Hurry up and get dressed!"
*
Once they were outside, Mizuki explained the rules. They would have on hour to make their sculptures. They would be on opposite sides of the house so that they couldn't look at each other's work, or affect the other person in any way. They could only use snow, and nothing else.
"Sounds simple enough."
"Yes. But you're not going to win this time. I am amazing at snow sculptures. I am an artist."
Fuji smiled.
*
When the hour was up, Mizuki gazed proudly at his sculpture. It was of himself, of course. And it was amazing. It truly reflected the beauty of its subject. He was especially proud of the sculpture's hair.
"That's nice," Fuji commented, peering at it. "What is it?"
"What is it? What is it?! It's me!" Mizuki spluttered. He posed next to it. "Can't you tell?"
Fuji squinted. "Ah. I see it now."
"Hmph. Let's see yours then."
They trudged through the snow to the other side of the house. Mizuki stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Fuji's sculpture.
Fuji had built an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower, complete with skinny steel poles, stairs, and a working elevator.
"What!" Mizuki shouted. "You're cheating again! You can't use anything but snow!" Mizuki walked up the tower and kicked it. It came crashing down in a pile.
It was all snow. Fuji hadn't cheated.
"How is that even possible?!"
Fuji shrugged. "What's that?" He pointed behind Mizuki.
Mizuki turned and looked. "Hey, I don't see -" Suddenly, a snowball hit him in the arm.
"Ha! I have found your weakness!" Mizuki said triumphantly, looking back at Fuji. "You throw like a girl!" He grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at Fuji.
Fuji dodged it neatly, and threw another snowball that nailed Mizuki in the back.
"Ouch!" Mizuki raged. "I'm gonna get you for that!" He picked up a handful of snow and chased after Fuji, pelting him. When he ran out of snow, he kept chasing Fuji anyway.
He finally caught up to Fuji and pushed him by his shoulders, tackling him to the ground.
"Ha!" Mizuki said breathlessly, his eyes glinting as he looked down at Fuji. Then he became aware of how close their faces were. Fuji opened his eyes and looked up at Mizuki. His blue eyes were electric with some emotion that Mizuki could only guess at.
"Hmm," Fuji observed, his breath hitching.
Mizuki swallowed. Suddenly, despite the cold air, he was steaming up. He quickly got off of Fuji and stood up, unable to look Fuji in the eyes.
Fuji smiled. "Why don't we go inside? We could make hot chocolate."
Mizuki hastily agreed.
*
Mizuki sipped the last of his hot chocolate. They were sitting in Fuji's room on the floor. Neither of them had said anything for a while. Mizuki wasn't exactly sure that drinking hot chocolate was a proper thing to do with your destined rival. He didn't think that desperately wanting to kiss your destined rival was proper either.
"Mizuki," Fuji said quietly.
Mizuki looked up.
"Maybe you're my rival at...kissing."
Mizuki felt his cheeks heat up. What could he mean by this? Could Fuji read his mind now? That was alarming.
But no! Fuji couldn't mean it like that! He must be just teasing him.
Mizuki tried to keep his voice calm. "I'm an excellent kisser. Why, at St. Rudolph my kisses are...legendary. Nfu."
"Hmm," said Fuji. "I don't know. Maybe we should test it."
"Test it?" Mizuki squeaked.
"We could both kiss Yuuta and see what he thinks."
"What!" Mizuki flailed. "Kiss Yuuta?! That's your brother! You want to kiss your brother?"
"Gomen," said Fuji. "I was just kidding."
Mizuki stared. "That's sick! That's what it is!"
"It's okay. I have another idea," said Fuji. He moved closer to Mizuki.
Mizuki stared at him. "You do?"
Fuji nodded and leaned in.
"What?" Mizuki asked, his voice hoarse. Fuji's eyes were blue, so blue.
Fuji put his hand on Mizuki's cheek and kissed him softly.
God. Fuji's lips were smooth and soft against his. Mizuki's eyes slid shut. Suddenly he didn't care that they were destined rivals. This was what he wanted, what he had wanted all along. He grabbed at Fuji's shirt and tugged him closer, kissing him hard. Fuji gasped in surprise, and then kissed him back, his hands pulling on the back of Mizuki's neck. Their mouths opened hotly against each other. Mizuki moaned. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but kiss Fuji.
Fuji pulled away, breathing heavily. "What do you think? Who won?"
"Ngh," said Mizuki vaguely.
"I agree," said Fuji. "I couldn't tell. I think it was a tie."
Mizuki found his voice. "I couldn't tell either."
"We should try again," Fuji suggested.
"We may need to have multiple trials, Fuji-kun," Mizuki agreed.
Fuji laughed softly. As he leaned in again, Mizuki couldn't help feeling that he had finally won.
Recipient's name racketglomps
Rating PG-13
Pairing(s) Fuji/Mizuki
Author's notes Thanks to my two amazing betas. I hope you like this, racketglomps.
"Why would I want to spy on my brother?" Yuuta demanded, scowling.
Mizuki twirled a lock of his hair. "Why, he is my destined rival, Yuuta-kun. I have to gather data on him so I can beat him the next time we play a match. I simply thought that you could help me." He leaned against the doorframe of Yuuta's dorm room.
"He crushed you completely in that match two weeks ago," Yuuta argued.
Mizuki crossed his arms, frustrated. "Don't ever mention that match again! I told you that!"
"Aniki is much better at tennis then you'll ever be," Yuuta said. "You're not his destined rival."
Mizuki glared. Did Yuuta seriously doubt him? "Don't be ridiculous, Yuuta-kun. I just didn't have the right data. So would you like to help me collect new data?"
"I'm not spying on my own brother!" Yuuta looked scandalized.
"Very well, then. I can do this by myself."
"Good," said Yuuta. He looked back at his homework.
"Can you let me into his room?"
"What?! Why?"
"I don't want to leave anything out of my data this time," Mizuki said, his hand on his chin.
"Now you're just being creepy."
Mizuki flailed. "I'm not creepy!" he protested. "I'm just thorough!"
Yuuta scowled. "Yeah, whatever. I guess you could see his room."
"Great. I'll come home with you next weekend, Yuuta-kun. It will be a sleepover. Nfu."
Yuuta looked like he was about to argue, but then he sighed. "Okay. Fine."
"Excellent." Mizuki smirked.
*
It was indeed excellent, Mizuki reflected. He was in a bush, looking through the window of an ice cream parlor. Fuji was sitting at a booth by the window, eating ice cream. Strawberry. Mizuki made a note of this.
Fuji was sitting with Eiji. It was too bad that Mizuki couldn't overhear the conversation, but he wasn't sure if it was needed anyway. He was only getting data that was absolutely necessary to beating Fuji at tennis, after all. He peered through his binoculars, zooming in for a close-up.
Licks ice cream cone around the sides. Does not let any drip at all, Mizuki wrote down. Tongue appears to be skilled at this sort of thing. Nfu. His data was nearly complete. He had been following Fuji for almost two weeks. Not constantly, of course, but whenever he had the chance.
Ten minutes later, Fuji and Eiji left the ice cream parlor. They were less than 5 meters away. Mizuki sat perfectly still. There was no way they could see him.
"Hoi hoi! Let's go back to my house and play video games!" Eiji said, grinning.
"I can't right now," Fuji told Eiji. "I have to do something. But I'll see you later."
Eiji pouted a bit, but eventually agreed. He started walking down the street by himself. Fuji watched him go.
Well. This was interesting. What did Fuji have to do?
Fuji turned and looked directly at him. No, Mizuki corrected himself, at the bush. He was invisible, after all. He was in camouflage! His binoculars were coved in leaves! He was even wearing a green shirt!
Fuji approached his bush. Mizuki tried to keep calm. Maybe Fuji was an avid bush fan. It was a beautiful bush, after all, with pink flowers.
"Can I help you?" Fuji asked him. No. Asked the bush, Mizuki reminded himself. He remained silent, making a mental note: Talks to bushes. A sign of insanity?
"I'm talking to you," Fuji said, leaning over the bush and looking right at him.
Mizuki panicked, dropping his binoculars. "What? Me?! I'm just sitting in a bush! Innocently!"
"You've been observing me for two weeks." Fuji said, raising his eyebrows.
"I...no I haven't!" How could Fuji know that? Mizuki's stealth was flawless! Irritated, Mizuki crawled out from the bush and started pulling twigs and leaves out of his hair and clothes.
"Yes you have."
Mizuki suddenly realized what must have happened. "Yuuta-kun told you! That traitor!" He said, furious, brushing the last leaf off his shirt. He was going to kill that jerk!
"Actually, he didn't." Fuji reached into his pocket and held out an envelope.
"What's this?" Mizuki demanded, taking it.
"Something for you," Fuji said, his eyes glinting. "Open it up."
Fuji was looking at Mizuki with a rather scary expression. Mizuki looked down at the envelope quickly. He opened it up. Inside were a bunch of photos.
He squinted at the first one. It was unmistakably a picture of him looking down, writing something in his notebook, while hiding behind a bench. The caption read, Mizuki spies on me at tennis practice.
Mizuki's eyes went wide in horror. He looked at the next picture. Its caption read, Mizuki spies on me at school. He was standing behind a pole, looking off to the side. "What am I looking at?" Mizuki asked.
"Someone riding their bike, if I remember right," Fuji said calmly.
In the next one, Mizuki was behind a tree, looking up. Mizuki spies on me at home. "What about this one?"
"I think you were distracted by a bird," Fuji said.
"I'm not distracted that easily!" Mizuki said, annoyed. He looked at the last one. It was of him sneezing.
"Urgh! Fuji-kun, if you're going to take pictures of me, at least take ones that capture my handsome features!" Mizuki tossed his hair and lifted up his chin. "Like this. Now would be a good time to take a picture." He posed handsomely.
"Gomen," Fuji said. "I didn't want to startle you, so I took the pictures when you weren't looking."
"How could you have got all these though?" Mizuki demanded. "I never saw you holding a camera!"
Fuji smiled.
"And how could you have seen me at all? My powers of stealth are superior to anyone else's!"
"I'm just observant."
"Geez! You're creepy, that's what you are!"
"Speaking of creepy, you left this in my room. In my underwear drawer." Fuji held up a pencil that had Mizuki Hajime printed on the side.
"Oh." Mizuki blushed bright red. He grabbed it from Fuji quickly. "Thank you." He had been wondering where he had left that. And he had only had a quick glance in that drawer. Honestly!
Fuji opened his eyes and looked at Mizuki seriously. "Why are you spying on me?"
"Why are you spying on me spying on you?" Mizuki countered.
"I was curious about what you were doing. Now you tell me."
Mizuki put a hand on his chin. "It's simple, Fuji-kun. I - he paused for effect - "am your one and only destined rival," he said triumphantly, his arms flying out in a flourish.
"Oh, is that so? Are you the one that I crushed in that one match? Or was that someone else?"
"How do you not remember clearly?" Mizuki asked, outraged. "You completely humiliated me!"
"You were hurting my brother." The look in Fuji's eyes became fierce, cold. Murderous.
He did remember. Too well. "And I've learned my lesson!" Mizuki said quickly. "It will never happen again."
"Good." Fuji still looked ready to kill him.
Mizuki swallowed. "I just want to have a rematch. I think I've got the correct data this time."
"Fine," said Fuji. "If it will make you stop spying on me."
"Deal."
"We can play it right now. I know where there's a tennis court, and I have rackets."
Mizuki faltered. Right now? He didn't know if he was ready...
Of course he was ready! He composed himself. "Very well. And there's no way you're going to win this time, Fuji-kun. I know your weaknesses this time. I know everything. It's all in the data." He tapped his notebook cover knowingly.
"We'll see," said Fuji, smiling.
*
"What were you saying before?" Fuji asked. "Something about how there was no way I was going to win?"
Mizuki was on his hands and knees, panting for breath, sweating heavily. He looked up at Fuji on the other side of the net, standing over him, glaring. Just like before. "Shut up," he said, too exhausted and humiliated to think.
He grabbed his racket and shakily got to his feet. Fuji had won, 6-0. Mizuki didn't understand. It was his worst defeat yet, and he had tried everything. Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair.
"You're good, Fuji-kun," he said finally. "But I am still going to beat you. I just haven't had time to review and synthesize all the data I've been collecting. And after I do that, I have to create a training program and adjust my moves to target all of your weaknesses. I simply wasn't ready today."
"Hmm," said Fuji.
"Just give me another chance!" Mizuki pleaded. "Give me..." He calculated. "Three weeks. I'll be ready then."
"You really want to beat me that badly?" Fuji said. He looked at Mizuki directly. He didn't look mean, more like curious.
Mizuki didn't know how to answer that. "You're my destined rival," he said, pouting a little.
"I see. Then I will play you again in three weeks."
Mizuki sighed in relief. He would have another chance. And there was no way he was going to let himself lose again.
*
The next three weeks passed quickly. Mizuki spent hours pouring over his notebooks, thinking, planning. He went on long runs and spent extra hours in the weight room. He practiced and perfected his moves. He was in top condition.
The only problem was, after a day of focusing only on defeating Fuji, he had a weird dream. A weird dream involving Fuji. Without a shirt. Involving Fuji pushing him against the wall and -
No! Fuji was his destined rival! People don't think of their destined rivals like that! That dream had never happened! And it would never happen again!
*
When the day of the match at last arrived, Mizuki was well prepared. After he woke up, he stared at the ceiling, giving himself a pep talk. He knew all of Fuji's weaknesses and how to play to target them. He had a plan of attack, so he wasn't going to mess up this time.
He met the Fuji brothers at the tennis court by their house. Yuuta had agreed to be the referee.
Before the match, Mizuki and Fuji shook hands. Mizuki's hand gripped Fuji's, and when their eyes met, Mizuki gave a small nod. He was too nervous to say anything.
Yuuta looked back and forth between Fuji and Mizuki. "Good luck," he finally said. Mizuki wasn't sure whom Yuuta was talking to. He didn't think Yuuta even knew. But no matter. Mizuki was going to win.
*
He didn't.
*
Mizuki stayed in his room and sulked for days. He lay on his bed dejectedly. His data notebooks were scattered everywhere. He just didn't understand it. Fuji had to have a weakness! They were equals! Why did he keep losing? "I should've won!" he said out loud.
"Will you get over it?" Yuuta said irritably. "I can't beat him either. Most people can't." Yuuta was sitting at Mizuki's desk, working on his homework. Usually it was Mizuki who came to Yuuta's room, but today it was the other way around.
Mizuki propped himself up on his elbows and glared at him. "I'm going to beat him, Yuuta-kun. I just haven't thought of the right way to go about it."
Yuuta sighed. "Whatever. You're more annoying than usual lately, you know that?"
"Then why did you come here?" Mizuki said furiously.
Yuuta frowned. "You haven't barged in on me for days! I just wanted to check on you!"
Mizuki smirked. "Why, Yuuta-kun. You missed me. And after only a few days. I had no idea you felt so strongly about me."
Yuuta flushed and stood up, clenching his fists. "It's not like that!"
"There's no reason to get violent, Yuuta-kun." Mizuki said calmly, twirling his hair. "It's important to be open about your feelings."
"There are no feelings to be open about!"
"Nfu. I know I am irresistible," Mizuki said. "Who could blame you?" Mizuki sat up and admired himself in his floor length mirror. "Why, with hair like this, skin like this, and a body like this, it's no wonder you want me, Yuuta-kun."
There was no response. "Yuuta-kun?" Mizuki looked around. The door was open. Yuuta and his books were nowhere to be found.
Mizuki lay back on his bed, smirking. He definitely wants me.
*
Mizuki wasn't about to let this destined rivals thing go. He wanted to play Fuji again.
Or maybe he just wanted to see Fuji again.
No. That definitely wasn't the case. People did not simply want to see their destined rivals! They wanted to beat them. Destined rivals are enemies. Yes. That's what Fuji was. An enemy.
*
Mizuki knocked on the door of the Fuji house, his tennis bag slung over his shoulder. It was midnight on a school night, so Yuuta wasn't even home. Mizuki was counting on Fuji answering the door. If a parent answered it instead, he wasn't sure what exactly he would say.
He was lucky. Fuji was the one to open the door. He was in his pajamas, and looked only mildly surprised to see Mizuki. "Yes?"
"We're going to play tennis, Fuji-kun. Right now."
"Right now?" Fuji said, glancing at his watch.
"Yes. You can get out without anyone noticing, can't you?"
Fuji looked up the stairs. "My parents and sister are asleep. Why do you want to play tennis now?"
"I've been planning for this moment all week. I am prepared. You are completely unprepared and unsuspecting. Since I have the element of surprise on my side, I'm going to win this time. Nfu."
Fuji yawned and stretched. "Is that it? Well. I guess we could have a quick match."
"Come on then," Mizuki said impatiently.
"Let me change," Fuji said. His pajamas were a light blue silk material, definitely not suited for tennis.
"No time for that!" Mizuki said. "Just grab your racket!"
"Can I put on proper shoes at least?"
Mizuki looked down at Fuji's teddy bear slippers and smirked. "Nfu-nfu-nfu. Very well. Since I'm feeling generous."
*
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the tennis courts. Though it was dark outside, the courts were lit by bright stadium lights. Mizuki was excited. He had always wanted to play a match this late at night.
They faced each other at the net and gripped hands. Fuji always looked so intensely at Mizuki that it made him a little breathless.
"Let's have a good match," Fuji said.
"I know I will," Mizuki retorted. "You won't."
Fuji smiled.
*
They played tennis. They rallied back and forth for what felt like longer than before. Mizuki knew he had improved. He had been preparing mentally and physically for this moment.
He was starting to be able read Fuji's movements and respond to them. But he had finally realized that Fuji's tennis was simply unpredictable. He couldn't win against Fuji using a complicated plan to tackle Fuji's weaknesses, not when Fuji didn't seem to have any weaknesses. Instead, Mizuki played on pure adrenaline and instinct. His body responded faster than his brain could. He lost track of the score, of how tired he was, of everything except Fuji on the other side of the net and the tennis ball.
Fuji's tennis was flawless even this late at night, even not having prepared for this, even when he was wearing ridiculously out of style pajamas. But though Mizuki was losing, but he felt euphoric under those lights, as though he was somehow greater than his normal self. Their tennis was a complicated dance of dashing, pivoting, hitting, diving, smacking, lobbing. For a while, the world beyond tennis simply did not exist.
It finally ended. It had been a good game. Even though Mizuki lost, he had drawn the match out longer than before. It was really late now.
They shook hands at the net.
"Good match, Mizuki," said Fuji. He looked like he actually meant it.
Mizuki sighed dramatically. "You beat me again, Fuji-kun. But as your destined rival, I will beat you. Someday."
Fuji studied him for a moment. "Did you ever think that you're my destined rival at something besides tennis?" He asked.
Mizuki considered this. "Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know. Billiards."
"Nfu. I happen to be an expert billiards player."
"Oh, is that so?"
Mizuki nodded. "Ask anyone."
"We'll have to play sometime."
"And you will definitely lose."
Fuji picked up his racket. "Maybe. But right now I am going to bed. See you later." He started walking back home.
"Goodnight, Fuji-kun," Mizuki said, watching him leave.
*
Mizuki waited impatiently outside of the arcade. He was meeting Fuji to play billiards, and he was sure that he could win. From what he could tell, he was pretty good at billiards. He had only played it a few times, but he was a quick learner.
Fuji approached him right on time, holding a long, skinny case. "What's that?" Mizuki asked.
"It's my cue stick." Fuji opened up the case and showed it to him. "It's custom made, so it's rather expensive."
Mizuki felt vaguely sick. "You have your own cue stick?"
"Yes. Don't you?" Fuji raised his eyebrows. "I thought you were an expert billiards player."
"Oh." Mizuki panicked. "I seem to have left mine at home! How silly of me. I guess we can't play billiards after all. Damn!"
"That's too bad," said Fuji, smiling.
"It's okay. I'm probably your destined rival at ping-pong anyway. They have ping-pong tables here too."
"Oh? We should play that instead then."
*
Mizuki lost the ping-pong game. He hadn't known that Fuji would be able to perform all three of his triple counters in ping-pong as well.
"No matter. I'm your destined rival at something else. It must be...volleyball. My volleyball skills are excellent."
Fuji smiled. "We should meet to play volleyball. There's a volleyball net at the park near my house."
"Nfu. You don't stand a chance, Fuji-kun."
*
Fuji played volleyball effortlessly, like he had practiced it every day. He beat Mizuki without breaking a sweat.
Mizuki couldn't help but be impressed. But then he found his voice. "I must be your destined rival at badminton instead! I am a far greater badminton player than you could ever be, Fuji-kun."
*
Fuji could apparently do his triple counters in badminton too. Mizuki lost.
"Foosball!"
*
He lost at foosball.
"...I must be your destined rival at...golf!"
*
He lost at golf, though he took comfort in the fact that his golf polo was much better than Fuji's outfit.
"Maybe bowling then."
*
Mizuki studied himself in his mirror. He patted down a stray hair. He felt weird and he didn't know why.
He was meeting Fuji to go bowling in a half hour. He wondered why Fuji wanted to meet him all these times to play sports. Did Fuji like spending time with him? He must, or he would've put a stop to this. Though maybe it was just because Mizuki was such good competition.
Or maybe...Fuji liked him?
What if Fuji thought of this outing as a date?
No. It couldn't be. They were just destined rivals.
He would have to stop this nonsense and concentrate on beating Fuji. Not how attractive Fuji might be. Not that he was! People aren't attracted to their destined rivals! Mizuki certainly wasn't! Winning was the important thing. Just winning.
*
Mizuki was almost nervous by the time he got to the bowling alley. Almost. He spotted Fuji waiting by the entrance. To his surprise, Fuji wasn't alone. He was with Inui, a data collector who was obviously inferior to himself. Mizuki scowled at Inui as he approached them.
Inui adjusted his glasses. "Ah. Mizuki. We meet again."
"Hello," Fuji said pleasantly.
Mizuki stared between them wordlessly. What was this? This couldn't be a date if Inui was here! Or what if Inui and Fuji were on a date? Why would Fuji invite Mizuki along then?
"Oh. I should have explained," Fuji said, "Inui is here to gather data on my bowling. You're not the only one who tries to get my data." Fuji smiled.
Mizuki was betrayed! He was the only one who was allowed to get Fuji's data! And now this jerk thought he could just tag along and get Fuji's data right in front of him? This was an outrage! Did Inui think he was Fuji's destined rival?!
Fuji was cheating on him!
"That's not a problem, is it?" Fuji asked.
"What?" Mizuki panicked. "No! Not a problem at all! Everything is perfectly fine!"
"My bowling needs work," Inui said. "I was hoping that observing you and Fuji could give me data to help my own bowling technique."
"He gets only one pin down every time," Fuji said, smiling.
Mizuki relaxed a little. Inui could never be Fuji's destined rival if he couldn't even bowl properly.
"Well. In that case. Watch and learn, Inui-kun. But you'll never become as good as me. Nfu-nfu-nfu."
*
It was extremely annoying to have Inui gathering data on them. He sat on a chair on the side, observing them carefully, and then he scribbled endless notes, murmuring to himself. Mizuki was certainly never that annoying when he gathered data.
"Percent chance that Fuji will get a strike..." Inui muttered, "seventy-two percent."
Fuji smiled at this. He approached the lane and bowled a perfect strike. "Correct as usual, Inui," Fuji said, pleased.
Mizuki was down by 30 points already, and thus was in a bad mood. He held his bowling ball and stared down the lane, concentrating. He visualized what he was going to do. He'd approach the lane and in one swift motion he'd bowl the ball right down the middle...
"Percent chance that Mizuki will get a gutter ball...ninety percent."
"What?" Mizuki turned and glared at Inui. "Shut up! I'm concentrating!"
"You don't have to pay attention to Inui," Fuji explained. "He's just gathering data."
"No he's not! He's ruining my game! I can't bowl under these conditions!"
"I apologize," said Inui.
"Good." Mizuki took several calming breaths, concentrated, and bowled a perfect gutter ball.
"I hate you," Mizuki told Inui, enraged.
Fuji touched Mizuki's arm and looked him in the eye. "Just try not to listen to Inui," he said. "That's just the way he gathers data. He doesn't mean to affect the game."
Fuji brushed past him and got ready to bowl. Mizuki watched him, feeling strangely calmer.
"Hmm," said Inui. "Percent chance that this is actually a date...forty-nine percent."
"I heard that!" Mizuki flailed. "This is not a date!"
"Fifty-nine percent," Inui corrected, raising his eyebrows.
Fuji looked at Mizuki and smiled before bowling another strike.
"Sixty-nine percent," Inui muttered.
Mizuki was definitely not blushing.
*
Mizuki lost the bowling game. Though it wasn't his fault. It was Inui's. Still, he was running out of sports. Thus, he decided that he must be Fuji's destined rival at a board game instead.
It was several days after the bowling incident. Mizuki was at the Fuji house, sitting across the table from Fuji. They were playing chess, but Mizuki found that he wasn't concentrating very well. The word date kept popping into Mizuki's head. He frowned at the chessboard, unable to decide where to move.
Finally he blurted, "Is this a date?"
Fuji looked at him. "What do you think?" he asked, as though asking Mizuki's opinion on the weather.
Mizuki looked down at the board and moved his bishop a space. He looked back up at Fuji, who was staring at him.
"We're destined rivals," Mizuki said finally. "Enemies!"
"What are we destined rivals at again?" Fuji teased.
"Chess! Why, my chess skills are far beyond..." he paused, watching Fuji move his queen. The queen captured Mizuki's knight, giving it a direct path to Mizuki's king.
"Checkmate," Fuji said.
Mizuki glared at the chessboard. "Did I say chess? I meant checkers."
"Hn," Fuji mused. He pulled out the checkers pieces. "Maybe."
*
Several hours later, the door opened and both Fuji and Mizuki looked up. It was Yuuta, carrying his suitcase. "Aniki!" said Fuji happily. "What a nice surprise!"
"Yuuta-kun," Mizuki acknowledged quickly, before turning his attention back to the game board.
"Why is Mizuki at my own house more than I am?" Yuuta asked grumpily.
"I am not! Now be quiet! I need to concentrate!" Mizuki stared at the game board, his brow furrowed.
"Mizuki, you're playing Candyland. How can you need to concentrate?" Yuuta asked.
"I am Fuji's destined rival at Candyland, I'll have you know! Look at this. I'm way ahead of him. There's no way that he can beat me now. Nfu-nfu-nfu." Indeed he was. All he had to do was pick a purple. This was the Moment of Truth!
Mizuki closed his eyes and thought deeply about the color purple. He thought of all the purple things he knew. A plum. A grape. Violets. His favorite shirt. Prunes. Then he picked up a card. "Nooooooo!" The card said he had to go all the way back to Plumpy the Plum Tree! He had clearly thought too hard about plums!
"Tough break," said Fuji. He picked up a card. Double purple. He moved his piece to the candy castle. He had won. "Ah. I just got lucky."
"It's not fair! I was so close!" Mizuki shouted. "You may have won this time! But I'll think of something I can beat you at!"
Yuuta rolled his eyes. "That will be the day."
"It is statistically impossible for Fuji to always win!" Mizuki argued.
"Statistics don't work with Fuji," Yuuta pointed out.
Mizuki was not pouting.
*
Several days later, Mizuki called Fuji up on his cell phone. "I got it!" he said excitedly when Fuji had answered. "I'm your destined rival in fashion!"
"Fashion?" said Fuji skeptically.
"Of course! I am renowned for my excellent fashion sense. Surely you've noticed my many stylish outfits by now."
"How would we prove who had better fashion?"
"We could just ask people who looks better. Where are you now?"
"I'm at Kawamura Sushi with the rest of the Seigaku regulars. We're about to have a team meeting."
"Good. I'll be right over. And I'll be wearing my most fashionable outfit."
Fuji laughed softly. "Alright. Fine."
*
Mizuki entered Kawamura Sushi and took off his sunglasses with a flourish. He was wearing his purple shirt with pink flowers, the most fashionable shirt he had. There was no doubt about it: he looked hot in this shirt, and he knew it.
The Seigaku regulars all stopped talking and stared at him. Mizuki was sure that they were dumbstruck by his beauty. He winked at Kaidoh, who turned red and looked down at the table. "Fshuuu," he hissed.
Fuji was looking at him with an unreadable expression. Mizuki sat down next to him, running a hand through his hair. "Ah. Fuji-kun. I see you are only wearing your sweats from tennis. It is too bad you did not have an opportunity to put on your best clothes like I did."
"I don't mind." Fuji smiled.
"Alright. Seigaku. Can I have your attention. As I'm sure you all remember, I am Mizuki Hajime. How, think deeply and carefully about this: which one of us has better fashion, me or Fuji?"
"Fuji," all of Seigaku said together.
"But he's just wearing a t-shirt and shorts!" Mizuki protested.
"Fuji," they all said again.
"Ah, but your shirt is...nice," said Oishi quickly.
"This isn't fair!" Mizuki turned to Fuji. "They're biased!"
"Maybe," Fuji agreed.
"We have to ask my team now."
"When I'm done here," Fuji suggested.
"Very well. I will gather up my team. We can meet them. Nfu."
"Now can you leave?" Echizen said rudely. "We're trying to have a meeting."
Mizuki glared at him. "I am leaving. I don't like to be in the presence of people who don't know good fashion when they see it."
"Che. My mom has a shirt like that," Echizen said.
Choosing to ignore this last statement, Mizuki stood up, put on his sunglasses dignifiedly, and left.
Outside the restaurant, he called up Yuuta and told him to assemble the team at a nearby street corner. "It's urgent."
"Is anything wrong?" Yuuta asked.
"You could say that," Mizuki said curtly, and then he hung up.
*
The St. Rudolph regulars were gathered on the street corner, looking apprehensive. They fell silent when Fuji and Mizuki arrived.
"Ah, my loving teammates. I was wondering if you could help Fuji-kun and I in a small dilemma. We need to know who has better fashion sense, me or him."
They all looked dumbstruck for a moment.
"That's it?" Akazawa demanded. "That's why we all had to meet here?"
"I thought this was important!" Yuuta said, scowling. "I have much better things I could be doing!"
"Just answer the question! Me or Fuji?"
"Fuji," they all said at the same time.
"What?!" Mizuki was outraged. "You don't even vote for your own team mate? Mutiny!"
"But that shirt is gay, dane!" Shinya said.
"Don't be stupid. Shirts can't have sexual preferences. Everyone knows that!"
"That one definitely does, dane!"
Fuji laughed.
Mizuki sighed dramatically and turned to Fuji. "We need to find completely impartial, unbiased judges. But judges who at least know what real fashion is." He glared at his teammates.
"Like who?" Fuji asked.
Mizuki thought for a minute. "I've got it! Hyoutei!"
*
They found the Hyoutei regulars gathering up their things and drinking from their water bottles. They looked like they had just finished practice.
"Hey, Hyoutei."
"Intruders!" said Atobe, pointing at them dramatically. "Spies!"
Kabaji stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
Mizuki looked up, way up at Kabaji's leering face and stepped back quickly. "We're not spies! We just have an extremely urgent and important question to ask you all."
They all looked at him as though he were a bug they wanted to squish, and then ignored him.
Mizuki paid no attention to that. He grabbed Fuji's arm. "Hey. Listen up. Which one has better fashion sense, I, Mizuki Hajime, or Fuji Syuusuke?"
They exchanged looks, muttering. "Atobe," they said in unison.
"What?" Mizuki demanded. "I didn't even say Atobe in the question!"
Atobe put a freshly manicured hand on his hip. "But my fashion is far superior than either of yours. Ne, Kabaji?"
"Usu."
"That's not fair!" Mizuki shouted.
"It's alright, Mizuki," Fuji said calmly.
"Are you two dating?" Shishido asked. "Lame."
"We're not dating!" Mizuki flailed. "We're destined rivals! Rivals I tell you!"
"Well, thank you for your help. We'll be leaving now," Fuji said. He turned and walked away. He grabbed Mizuki's wrist and dragged Mizuki with him.
*
One Saturday morning, Mizuki woke up to find half a foot of fresh snow on the ground. Then he had an idea. A brilliant idea as far as ideas go. He ate and got dressed in a rush, taking only half an hour on his hair. He left a note on the table for his mom and bounded out the door to take the train to Fuji's house.
*
Half an hour later, he rang the doorbell. Fuji opened the door, still in his pajamas again. "What brings you here so early?"
"Snow sculptures!" Mizuki said triumphantly. "I'm your destined rival at snow sculptures!"
"That's an interesting one," Fuji commented.
"More than interesting! Inspired! Hurry up and get dressed!"
*
Once they were outside, Mizuki explained the rules. They would have on hour to make their sculptures. They would be on opposite sides of the house so that they couldn't look at each other's work, or affect the other person in any way. They could only use snow, and nothing else.
"Sounds simple enough."
"Yes. But you're not going to win this time. I am amazing at snow sculptures. I am an artist."
Fuji smiled.
*
When the hour was up, Mizuki gazed proudly at his sculpture. It was of himself, of course. And it was amazing. It truly reflected the beauty of its subject. He was especially proud of the sculpture's hair.
"That's nice," Fuji commented, peering at it. "What is it?"
"What is it? What is it?! It's me!" Mizuki spluttered. He posed next to it. "Can't you tell?"
Fuji squinted. "Ah. I see it now."
"Hmph. Let's see yours then."
They trudged through the snow to the other side of the house. Mizuki stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Fuji's sculpture.
Fuji had built an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower, complete with skinny steel poles, stairs, and a working elevator.
"What!" Mizuki shouted. "You're cheating again! You can't use anything but snow!" Mizuki walked up the tower and kicked it. It came crashing down in a pile.
It was all snow. Fuji hadn't cheated.
"How is that even possible?!"
Fuji shrugged. "What's that?" He pointed behind Mizuki.
Mizuki turned and looked. "Hey, I don't see -" Suddenly, a snowball hit him in the arm.
"Ha! I have found your weakness!" Mizuki said triumphantly, looking back at Fuji. "You throw like a girl!" He grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at Fuji.
Fuji dodged it neatly, and threw another snowball that nailed Mizuki in the back.
"Ouch!" Mizuki raged. "I'm gonna get you for that!" He picked up a handful of snow and chased after Fuji, pelting him. When he ran out of snow, he kept chasing Fuji anyway.
He finally caught up to Fuji and pushed him by his shoulders, tackling him to the ground.
"Ha!" Mizuki said breathlessly, his eyes glinting as he looked down at Fuji. Then he became aware of how close their faces were. Fuji opened his eyes and looked up at Mizuki. His blue eyes were electric with some emotion that Mizuki could only guess at.
"Hmm," Fuji observed, his breath hitching.
Mizuki swallowed. Suddenly, despite the cold air, he was steaming up. He quickly got off of Fuji and stood up, unable to look Fuji in the eyes.
Fuji smiled. "Why don't we go inside? We could make hot chocolate."
Mizuki hastily agreed.
*
Mizuki sipped the last of his hot chocolate. They were sitting in Fuji's room on the floor. Neither of them had said anything for a while. Mizuki wasn't exactly sure that drinking hot chocolate was a proper thing to do with your destined rival. He didn't think that desperately wanting to kiss your destined rival was proper either.
"Mizuki," Fuji said quietly.
Mizuki looked up.
"Maybe you're my rival at...kissing."
Mizuki felt his cheeks heat up. What could he mean by this? Could Fuji read his mind now? That was alarming.
But no! Fuji couldn't mean it like that! He must be just teasing him.
Mizuki tried to keep his voice calm. "I'm an excellent kisser. Why, at St. Rudolph my kisses are...legendary. Nfu."
"Hmm," said Fuji. "I don't know. Maybe we should test it."
"Test it?" Mizuki squeaked.
"We could both kiss Yuuta and see what he thinks."
"What!" Mizuki flailed. "Kiss Yuuta?! That's your brother! You want to kiss your brother?"
"Gomen," said Fuji. "I was just kidding."
Mizuki stared. "That's sick! That's what it is!"
"It's okay. I have another idea," said Fuji. He moved closer to Mizuki.
Mizuki stared at him. "You do?"
Fuji nodded and leaned in.
"What?" Mizuki asked, his voice hoarse. Fuji's eyes were blue, so blue.
Fuji put his hand on Mizuki's cheek and kissed him softly.
God. Fuji's lips were smooth and soft against his. Mizuki's eyes slid shut. Suddenly he didn't care that they were destined rivals. This was what he wanted, what he had wanted all along. He grabbed at Fuji's shirt and tugged him closer, kissing him hard. Fuji gasped in surprise, and then kissed him back, his hands pulling on the back of Mizuki's neck. Their mouths opened hotly against each other. Mizuki moaned. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but kiss Fuji.
Fuji pulled away, breathing heavily. "What do you think? Who won?"
"Ngh," said Mizuki vaguely.
"I agree," said Fuji. "I couldn't tell. I think it was a tie."
Mizuki found his voice. "I couldn't tell either."
"We should try again," Fuji suggested.
"We may need to have multiple trials, Fuji-kun," Mizuki agreed.
Fuji laughed softly. As he leaned in again, Mizuki couldn't help feeling that he had finally won.