Archive of Our Own

Second year and he already had the privilege of hosting his own area of an exhibit care of the university he  went to. Fuji smiled at this and gave himself a mental pat on the back. They told him it was usually the seniors that would be considered for these spots, but seeing the quality of the pictures he had taken as well as his subject, they would make an exemption. 

He knew it would pay off to keep in touch with those he had played with in Junior High. 

They also came, those subjects of his, to see the displays and others who were there. It was like a junior high reunion for those who went into tennis. It was a good opportunity altogether for everyone. The number of praise that he received were much welcome but those who actually took the time to be there was what made this memorable. 

For the next two days, Fuji found himself doing nothing than showing old friends around and exchanging promises that they would all meet again, promises he knew would be very difficult to keep. 

"Fuji-san, there's another guest looking for you," a student, a year his junior, who had volunteered to help him with his side of the exhibit said as he waved him over. 

Curious to see who it was and mentally listing those who had already come, he started to wonder who it was. After all, it was the last day of the exhibit. 

Exiting his hall, he soon found out who it was that ...how would the guest put it...ah...yes, graced him with his presence. 

The mere thought made Fuji smile. "Atobe Keigo," he said in greeting. "It's nice to see you again." 

"And here I thought my visit would surprise you," Atobe said as he smirked and shook hands in greeting. 

"After Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro visited yesterday, I didn't think anything else would surprise me," Fuji admitted with a laugh. 

"That makes sense," Atobe admitted. "Congratulations on your exhibit. Oshitari told me about it and when he said that you're a sports journalist I knew I had to come," he told him. "I will admit, however," he said as he looked around. "I thought I'd see fewer....subjects." 

Understanding what the other implied, Fuji inwardly sighed. "Allow me to surprise you even more, then," he said as he gestured to his area and showed Atobe around. Once he noticed that they weren't followed and that his junior had already focused his attention to another guest (Momoshiro and Kaidoh, but he'll talk to them later), he moved a bit closer to Atobe. 

"You were expecting all of it to be Tezuka weren't you?" he asked. 

Atobe raised a brow and glanced at him. "I think most of us were."

"I know," Fuji said as he looked at the corner. 

Following his gaze, Atobe saw that it was a picture of Tezuka. Possibly the only picture of him in the entire gallery. 

"What happened? The two of you were...."

"....perfect?" Fuji finished. "That's what everyone told me when we broke up. Apparently, they even went as far as to calling us the 'Perfect Pair', if you'd care to believe that," he said with a chuckle. 

"Anyone who didn't would have been a fool," Atobe admitted. 

"Sou...." 

"Was it the tennis?" 

"No. It wasn't the tennis."

"Then what was it?"

"Long distance relationships leave a lot of space for errors," Fuji said as he glanced away. 

Picking up, Atobe's eyes widened in realization. "Who...?"

"Ryouma Echizen. The Prince of Tennis himself." 

Atobe fell silent at this and Fuji took it as a cue to continue. 

"When Tezuka left for Germany we were a fairly new couple. He'd call and send an email every few days and I'd do the same. After all, he wasn't staying there for leisure, we all know it was both for rehabilitation and education. I didn't mind, really," he started. "He could only go back during the break, and if he had a tournament to attend that time would be cut even more..."

"So you lost time for each other," Atobe supplied. 

"In a way, but we were determined to make that work," Fuji told him thoughtfully. "That's how it usually is, isn't it?" he asked and Atobe nodded. 

"So what happened?"

"Well,  during one time he was supposedly participating in a local tournament, I decided to surprise him," Fuji started. "I had a part time job then and my parents financed half of my trip so I bought a one way ticket in the meantime, since I wasn't sure when I would be heading back."

"And that's when you found out...?"

Fuji nodded. "He was playing something else aside from Tennis, apparently. I didn't even know Echizen was there," he answered. "I didn't even bother staying. We saw each other, yes, but I went straight back to the airport. Worse flight home I ever had."

"I can imagine. What did he do after?"

"Nothing. He sent me an email explaining that he and Echizen had been together for a while. He told me everything, but not face to face."

"That's not what I expected from a man like him."

"Me neither. But he was busy, he said," Fuji explained. 

"What did you do?" 

"Broke up with him, naturally," Fuji said with a sigh. "After seeing your boyfriend banging someone you lost contact with that's the next step, wasn't it? Plus, Tezuka didn't exactly show any remorse." 

"I see..." 

A moment of contemplative silence passed by them which was cut off by Momo and Kaidoh finally approaching the two of them. 

Fuji smiled at Atobe apologetically, "Sorry. If I ended up babbling about my failed boring relationship," he said. 

"It's fine. I was the one who asked," Atobe said with a smile. "Maybe next time we can talk about something more pleasant," he added. "Do you still have the same number?" 

"Ah, no. I changed it actually," Fuji said as he took out a card holder from his pocket before handing Atobe one of his business cards. "Here, feel free to send me a message."

Atobe smirked as he pulled out one of his own calling cards for such an occasion. Exchanging cards, they nodded to each other in a silent parting greeting before Fuji went off to greet his two former juniors. 

It was a pleasant interview. He was able to snag a private booth in one of his favorite restaurants which gave them the chance to conduct the interview properly and properly catch-up with one another. After exchanging numbers and an invitation to join Shitenhouji's reunion in a few weeks, they both decided to call it a night. 

Zaizen had left first since he had a flight to catch leaving Fuji to stay for a few more minutes to finalize his interview notes before getting up as well. As he walked out of the door a familiar figure blocked his way. 

"Atobe?" he called out. The man paused for a second before turning around to face him.

"Fuji," Atobe greeted with a grin. "What brings you here?" he asked. 

"I just finished an interview, you?" 

"Business meeting. We already wrapped it up," Atobe responded. 

"I see," Fuji said with a chuckle. "Well it was nice bumping into you again," he said before taking a step forward. 

"Would you want a ride home?" Atobe offered. "My driver's just out front."

"No thank you," Fuji told him. "My apartment is just around the block," he explained. 

"Very well then. I'll see around," Atobe said before putting on his coat. 

Fuji nodded and smiled before passing him and heading out the door.

The following day Fuji had another interview. This time it was before a tennis match with one he knew well. Hiyoshi Wakashi, former Hyoutei member and Atobe's successor as captain. Managing to reach the younger man, he was allowed a private interview. 

The previous rivalry that they had was now transformed into friendship. Just like with Zaizen, it was half catching up and half an interview. 

Hearing an alarm beep from his watch, Fuji smiled. "Well, I'll be heading out now. I'm sure you need to prepare."

"It was nice seeing you again, Fuji-san," Hiyoshi told him. "You rarely come to the reunions despite Tezuka-san being there."

"I've been busy," Fuji told him, a half-truth. 

"It'd be nice if you can come to the next one. Shitenhouji is hosting."

"I've heard from Zaizen Hikaru. I'll try to make it this time."

"I'll look forward to seeing you there, then," Hiyoshi said with a nod and Fuji nodded back before heading out. 

Only to crash into someone walking in. 

"Oh sorry I---......Atobe?!" Fuji exclaimed. 

Atobe chuckled. "We really have to stop meeting like this," he told the smaller man before nodding at Hiyoshi. "I'll be watching your match. Good luck," he told him. 

Hiyoshi nodded his thanks before preparing and pulling out his racket. 

Closing the door, he and Fuji stepped out to give Hiyoshi his time to focus. 

"Another interview?" he asked Fuji. 

"Yes. It shouldn't be a surprise though since I mostly cover tennis," Fuji told him as he chuckled. 

"I suppose..."

The two of them fell silent for a while, awkwardly looking away. 

"Fuji," Atobe started. "Why don't we have dinner later? For a proper catch-up," he offered. "I can't have you just talking to the others when I'm also readily available," he pointed out. 

"Ore-sama demands it?" Fuji asked teasingly. 

"Ore-sama isn't giving you a chance to say no," Atobe told him pointedly as he smirked. 

"Dinner sounds great then."