To The Community from Your Tenifriend
Title: Burger Shop Encounters
Rating: PG
Genre: Gen!
Word Count: 1,822
Summary: Four days of chance meetings in a burger shop leads Eiji to think that, really, Tezuka is part of his inner circle of friends.
Author’s Notes: A huge THANK YOU to speadee, who saved my life when she beta-ed this. Do enjoy.
Day 1, or the First Time They Saw Each Other in the Burger Shop
Eiji was surprised, really, to find Tezuka standing before him, looking all stoic and sheepish. Wait, no one could look stoic and sheepish at the same time, right?
However it was what Eiji saw in Tezuka’s face, and because Eiji was a good boy, he said, “Sure, you can sit across me.”
Seeming embarrassed, Tezuka pulled out the chair and sat down as Eiji watched him.
“So, what brings you here?” he asked.
“What?”
“Here.” Eiji pointed at him. “And I thought you were busy.”
“I-dropped by for a while to eat.”
“Hmm, so Tezuka likes eating at burger shops too?”
Tezuka shrugged. “It happened to be along the way.”
Eiji frowned. He felt as though Tezuka wanted to hide something. What was there to hide anyway? Everybody went to burger shops, even Kaidoh, and now Tezuka too.
“Oh, oh, I get it!” Eiji was so happy he could almost bounce off his seat. “I get it! You eat like Momo, right?”
Tezuka blinked at him, and started wrapping his burger back up, as if he was really trying to hide his Momo-like gluttony. “What do you mean?”
“You know.” Eiji reached across the table to get a piece of French fry… no harm in getting one. Even Momo, with his bottomless stomach, allowed it. “That’s why you refused my invitation to eat today. You don’t like anyone seeing you eat like Momo!”
Tezuka blushed. “No, no, that’s not it!”
“And why not?”
“You see…” and Tezuka pushed up his glasses, “if everyone had refused your invitation today too, that wouldn’t mean they eat like…Momoshiro.”
“Ah.” Eiji saw he was correct. He felt stupid! Now, Oishi had declined the invitation because he had urgent family matters, but Oishi ate only enough, and was always the first one to tell Momo and Ochibi off when they started eating like pigs, but not really messy like pigs. Fujiko had declined because he wouldn’t miss Yuuta’s homecoming for the world, and Fujiko looked like he was on a diet since he ate so little.
Tezuka had unwrapped the burger again. Eiji followed suit, because he was hungry now, and maybe Tezuka did not like to talk while eating, which did not make sense.
Day 2, or The Second Time Eiji Saw Buchou in the Burger Shop
“Hoi hoi!” Eiji saw Tezuka alone at another table and decided to join him. “Why are you being such a loner, nya? We ate together yesterday!”
“!” Tezuka was so startled he almost choked on the coke. Eiji was impressed. If it were he being surprised he would have shot off the seat into the ceiling, and that would hurt. “K-Kikumaru!”
Eiji took the seat across the former captain. “Hello, Tezuka! May I join you?”
“…Of course.”
“You sound like I just forced you.”
“…No.”
Eiji unwrapped the burger and began to munch. Yesterday he’d observed that Tezuka ate slowly, methodically, like he was testing the food, and he ate only enough. Eiji wondered, because Tezuka looked so mature and old (he’d run a gazillion laps around the world if ever Tezuka found out Eiji thought of him as an old kid!), why he wouldn’t he eat lots.
Inui said something about metabolism varying in people. Maybe that was it. Anyway, Eiji could not recall a time when he’d gobbled things up himself like Momo and Ochibi.
“You’re alone?” Tezuka asked.
“Huh? Oh, yeah…”
“I thought you’d be asking Oishi…”
Eiji blinked. Tezuka actually started the talk! Yey! “He said something about family matters. And you know how Fujiko is whenever Yuuta’s around, and Momo and Kaidoh are busy with the club and Ochibi is in America, and everyone else is so busy! Wait…what about you?”
Tezuka shrugged. “I was hungry.”
“Hungry?” There was that feeling again, that Tezuka wanted to hide something, or maybe Eiji was only imagining things. After all, he didn’t know Tezuka that much.
“Yes.”
Eiji grinned. “Next time you go on an eating spree, Tezuka, tell me.”
“…What?”
Eiji snatched a fry off Tezuka’s tray. This was something Eiji looked forward to.
Day 3, or When Tezuka and Eiji Accidentally Meet (Again)
“You again!”
“…Kikumaru!”
Eiji grinned as he put down the tray on Tezuka’s table. “I think this is your daily habit now too, Buchou!”
“Not really.” Tezuka shrugged.
“Want a sundae?”
“If it’s your treat.”
Eiji’s grin widened. Who knew Buchou wanted to be treated too? “Hoi hoi! It’s on me! What flavor?”
“Whatever you choose.”
“Hoi!” And Eiji dashed off toward the counter. When he opened his wallet, he was surprised to discover he was running low on money. Oh well. He could walk home. It had happened before. He ordered two rocky road sundaes because they had marshmallows, and because he thought Tezuka might like them.
When he came back to the table he found Tezuka waiting, his food untouched. Eiji couldn’t help but smile. “Hoi! I thought you would run off, nya!”
“I would never, unless it was urgent.”
“Urgent like?”
“Hm…maybe when I would have to go to the bathroom?”
Eiji pushed one of the sundaes across the table to Tezuka. “Haha! But then you would have to come back, or I’ll make you pay for both sundaes.”
Tezuka peered into the sundae container. “Rocky road?”
“It has marshmallows. Come, let’s eat!”
So they ate, and Eiji felt very glad. It was only the third time in his entire life that he’d eaten with Tezuka on the same table, outside of Taka-san’s sushi shop or school. He found the lack of funny conversation saddening, but it was okay. At least they interacted.
Day Four, or When They Meet for the Fourth Time
Eiji thought it was fate, like the time he had knocked off Oishi’s doubles help book, and they’d later met in the club and became the best doubles pair. Or like the time he and Fujiko happened to sit beside each other in class and became the best of best friends.
Why else would he and Tezuka run into each other in the same burger shop for the fourth time in a row?
“I think Inui can’t predict this,” Eiji commented as he sat down before Tezuka. “He wouldn’t guess you’re gonna be eating here! For the fourth time in a week!”
Tezuka shrugged. All he ever did was shrug, Eiji noted. It’s better than looking stoic and sheepish at the same time. “He could. He hasn’t quantified it yet.”
“Yeah.” Eiji sighed. “Did you ever watch Kung Fu Panda?”
“Huh?”
“The movie. Kung Fu Panda.”
“…No. Haven’t had much free time.”
“What? You know, all work and play makes Kunimitsu-chan a dull, dull boy,” Eiji said in a matter-of-fact tone, like what Inui always used when he talked about some data. “Uh, wait. We play tennis. Never mind that one, nya.”
“How’s your training going?”
“Ah…the usual happens, you know, running around, doing stretches, playing games… Unyaaa! They’re going to allow us freshmen to join the club day after next, right? Are you joining?”
“Of course.” Tezuka nodded. “You should too.”
“Right, right! And when we all join we can take the club to the Nationals and we will win!”
As soon as those words left Eiji’s mouth he suddenly felt stupid. Ochibi was in America, and gave no sign that he would be going back to Japan. Taka-san wouldn’t be playing tennis anymore, and Fujiko was losing interest.
“Ah, well. That was wishful thinking, nya,” he said.
“No, of course not.” Tezuka looked at him, the face saying What are you thinking, that we can’t win without them? Eiji ducked under the stare. Even after three years, he was still sort of intimidated. “We still have you and Oishi, then Inui, and maybe Fuji.”
“You sure?”
“Kikumaru, have you let your guard down or something?”
Eiji blinked, then burst out laughing. Of course! He’d let down his guard. No waay could he let down his guard. He wanted to go to Nationals again, with Tezuka as buchou, Oishi as partner, Inui and Fuji and everyone else as teammates. “Silly me, nya! Of course not!”
“Good.” Tezuka seemed to hesitate. “Did I mention I would treat you today?”
“Huh?” Eiji recalled no such thing, but then had the feeling that Tezuka didn’t want to hide things anymore, which was good. Tezuka was a friend, and Eiji didn’t like secrets much, because it made him feel like he was outside the world, floating in outer space, which was scary.
“You’re treating me? Yey! I want a sundae, two burgers, large fries, large-“
“An appetite like Momoshiro’s.” Tezuka shook his head. “You’re going to drain my wallet.”
“Teehee.” Eiji made a V sign. “I win! Bui!”
“All right.” Tezuka got up and went to the counter.
That was one of the best things about friends, Eiji thought. They’d always volunteer to treat you.
Day Five, or When It’s Not an Accident Anymore
“Eiji! Wait up, Eiji!”
“Hoi?” Eiji turned, and saw Fuji hurriedly packing his school bag and dashing after him. “Fujiko! What’s up?”
“How about burgers for today? My treat.”
Eiji grinned. Finally! He’d missed eating with Fuji after school. “Who can resist that, nya?”
Fuji returned the grin. “All right! Oh, and Oishi said he and Inui are free today, they might come along.”
“Nice one, nya!” Eiji glomped him. They walked out of the classroom together, and down the corridors already filling with students. Eiji scanned their faces-and suddenly remembered one person. “Fujiko, how about Tezuka?”
Fuji blinked. “He…”
“Come on now, he’d really like it.” Eiji tugged at Fuji’s sleeve, as if that would really convince Fuji. “I ran into him four times this week and he’s okay! He doesn’t eat people.”
“All right, if that’s what Eiji says.”
“Hoi hoi!”
Eiji was happy. It was always fun to make new friends, and although Tezuka looked like a mature, old kid, he wasn’t bad at all. Maybe, Eiji thought, he knew the reason why Tezuka was hiding things. Tezuka was shy.
“How could he be shy?” he wondered aloud.
“Tezuka? No, he’s not really shy. He only needs to be prodded,” Fuji answered, and he sounded as if he knew what was in Eiji’s mind. He was right.
“Right! So let’s prod him!” Eiji dashed into classroom 1-A, waving, “Tezuka! Me and Fujiko are going to eat, how about you come join us?”
Tezuka was packing his bag, and he looked surprised. “...What?”
“We’re eating at the usual spot.” Eiji nodded to assure him. And as an afterthought he added, “It’s Fuji’s treat!”
“Eiji!” Fuji exclaimed.
“Come on, it’s okay, Fujiko! Didn’t you say Yumiko-neesan gave you some money?”
“All right. Tezuka, you coming?” Fuji asked. “It’s my treat.”
Tezuka blinked. Then, with a grin that rarely graced his face, he said, “Who can resist that?”
End
Rating: PG
Genre: Gen!
Word Count: 1,822
Summary: Four days of chance meetings in a burger shop leads Eiji to think that, really, Tezuka is part of his inner circle of friends.
Author’s Notes: A huge THANK YOU to speadee, who saved my life when she beta-ed this. Do enjoy.
Day 1, or the First Time They Saw Each Other in the Burger Shop
Eiji was surprised, really, to find Tezuka standing before him, looking all stoic and sheepish. Wait, no one could look stoic and sheepish at the same time, right?
However it was what Eiji saw in Tezuka’s face, and because Eiji was a good boy, he said, “Sure, you can sit across me.”
Seeming embarrassed, Tezuka pulled out the chair and sat down as Eiji watched him.
“So, what brings you here?” he asked.
“What?”
“Here.” Eiji pointed at him. “And I thought you were busy.”
“I-dropped by for a while to eat.”
“Hmm, so Tezuka likes eating at burger shops too?”
Tezuka shrugged. “It happened to be along the way.”
Eiji frowned. He felt as though Tezuka wanted to hide something. What was there to hide anyway? Everybody went to burger shops, even Kaidoh, and now Tezuka too.
“Oh, oh, I get it!” Eiji was so happy he could almost bounce off his seat. “I get it! You eat like Momo, right?”
Tezuka blinked at him, and started wrapping his burger back up, as if he was really trying to hide his Momo-like gluttony. “What do you mean?”
“You know.” Eiji reached across the table to get a piece of French fry… no harm in getting one. Even Momo, with his bottomless stomach, allowed it. “That’s why you refused my invitation to eat today. You don’t like anyone seeing you eat like Momo!”
Tezuka blushed. “No, no, that’s not it!”
“And why not?”
“You see…” and Tezuka pushed up his glasses, “if everyone had refused your invitation today too, that wouldn’t mean they eat like…Momoshiro.”
“Ah.” Eiji saw he was correct. He felt stupid! Now, Oishi had declined the invitation because he had urgent family matters, but Oishi ate only enough, and was always the first one to tell Momo and Ochibi off when they started eating like pigs, but not really messy like pigs. Fujiko had declined because he wouldn’t miss Yuuta’s homecoming for the world, and Fujiko looked like he was on a diet since he ate so little.
Tezuka had unwrapped the burger again. Eiji followed suit, because he was hungry now, and maybe Tezuka did not like to talk while eating, which did not make sense.
Day 2, or The Second Time Eiji Saw Buchou in the Burger Shop
“Hoi hoi!” Eiji saw Tezuka alone at another table and decided to join him. “Why are you being such a loner, nya? We ate together yesterday!”
“!” Tezuka was so startled he almost choked on the coke. Eiji was impressed. If it were he being surprised he would have shot off the seat into the ceiling, and that would hurt. “K-Kikumaru!”
Eiji took the seat across the former captain. “Hello, Tezuka! May I join you?”
“…Of course.”
“You sound like I just forced you.”
“…No.”
Eiji unwrapped the burger and began to munch. Yesterday he’d observed that Tezuka ate slowly, methodically, like he was testing the food, and he ate only enough. Eiji wondered, because Tezuka looked so mature and old (he’d run a gazillion laps around the world if ever Tezuka found out Eiji thought of him as an old kid!), why he wouldn’t he eat lots.
Inui said something about metabolism varying in people. Maybe that was it. Anyway, Eiji could not recall a time when he’d gobbled things up himself like Momo and Ochibi.
“You’re alone?” Tezuka asked.
“Huh? Oh, yeah…”
“I thought you’d be asking Oishi…”
Eiji blinked. Tezuka actually started the talk! Yey! “He said something about family matters. And you know how Fujiko is whenever Yuuta’s around, and Momo and Kaidoh are busy with the club and Ochibi is in America, and everyone else is so busy! Wait…what about you?”
Tezuka shrugged. “I was hungry.”
“Hungry?” There was that feeling again, that Tezuka wanted to hide something, or maybe Eiji was only imagining things. After all, he didn’t know Tezuka that much.
“Yes.”
Eiji grinned. “Next time you go on an eating spree, Tezuka, tell me.”
“…What?”
Eiji snatched a fry off Tezuka’s tray. This was something Eiji looked forward to.
Day 3, or When Tezuka and Eiji Accidentally Meet (Again)
“You again!”
“…Kikumaru!”
Eiji grinned as he put down the tray on Tezuka’s table. “I think this is your daily habit now too, Buchou!”
“Not really.” Tezuka shrugged.
“Want a sundae?”
“If it’s your treat.”
Eiji’s grin widened. Who knew Buchou wanted to be treated too? “Hoi hoi! It’s on me! What flavor?”
“Whatever you choose.”
“Hoi!” And Eiji dashed off toward the counter. When he opened his wallet, he was surprised to discover he was running low on money. Oh well. He could walk home. It had happened before. He ordered two rocky road sundaes because they had marshmallows, and because he thought Tezuka might like them.
When he came back to the table he found Tezuka waiting, his food untouched. Eiji couldn’t help but smile. “Hoi! I thought you would run off, nya!”
“I would never, unless it was urgent.”
“Urgent like?”
“Hm…maybe when I would have to go to the bathroom?”
Eiji pushed one of the sundaes across the table to Tezuka. “Haha! But then you would have to come back, or I’ll make you pay for both sundaes.”
Tezuka peered into the sundae container. “Rocky road?”
“It has marshmallows. Come, let’s eat!”
So they ate, and Eiji felt very glad. It was only the third time in his entire life that he’d eaten with Tezuka on the same table, outside of Taka-san’s sushi shop or school. He found the lack of funny conversation saddening, but it was okay. At least they interacted.
Day Four, or When They Meet for the Fourth Time
Eiji thought it was fate, like the time he had knocked off Oishi’s doubles help book, and they’d later met in the club and became the best doubles pair. Or like the time he and Fujiko happened to sit beside each other in class and became the best of best friends.
Why else would he and Tezuka run into each other in the same burger shop for the fourth time in a row?
“I think Inui can’t predict this,” Eiji commented as he sat down before Tezuka. “He wouldn’t guess you’re gonna be eating here! For the fourth time in a week!”
Tezuka shrugged. All he ever did was shrug, Eiji noted. It’s better than looking stoic and sheepish at the same time. “He could. He hasn’t quantified it yet.”
“Yeah.” Eiji sighed. “Did you ever watch Kung Fu Panda?”
“Huh?”
“The movie. Kung Fu Panda.”
“…No. Haven’t had much free time.”
“What? You know, all work and play makes Kunimitsu-chan a dull, dull boy,” Eiji said in a matter-of-fact tone, like what Inui always used when he talked about some data. “Uh, wait. We play tennis. Never mind that one, nya.”
“How’s your training going?”
“Ah…the usual happens, you know, running around, doing stretches, playing games… Unyaaa! They’re going to allow us freshmen to join the club day after next, right? Are you joining?”
“Of course.” Tezuka nodded. “You should too.”
“Right, right! And when we all join we can take the club to the Nationals and we will win!”
As soon as those words left Eiji’s mouth he suddenly felt stupid. Ochibi was in America, and gave no sign that he would be going back to Japan. Taka-san wouldn’t be playing tennis anymore, and Fujiko was losing interest.
“Ah, well. That was wishful thinking, nya,” he said.
“No, of course not.” Tezuka looked at him, the face saying What are you thinking, that we can’t win without them? Eiji ducked under the stare. Even after three years, he was still sort of intimidated. “We still have you and Oishi, then Inui, and maybe Fuji.”
“You sure?”
“Kikumaru, have you let your guard down or something?”
Eiji blinked, then burst out laughing. Of course! He’d let down his guard. No waay could he let down his guard. He wanted to go to Nationals again, with Tezuka as buchou, Oishi as partner, Inui and Fuji and everyone else as teammates. “Silly me, nya! Of course not!”
“Good.” Tezuka seemed to hesitate. “Did I mention I would treat you today?”
“Huh?” Eiji recalled no such thing, but then had the feeling that Tezuka didn’t want to hide things anymore, which was good. Tezuka was a friend, and Eiji didn’t like secrets much, because it made him feel like he was outside the world, floating in outer space, which was scary.
“You’re treating me? Yey! I want a sundae, two burgers, large fries, large-“
“An appetite like Momoshiro’s.” Tezuka shook his head. “You’re going to drain my wallet.”
“Teehee.” Eiji made a V sign. “I win! Bui!”
“All right.” Tezuka got up and went to the counter.
That was one of the best things about friends, Eiji thought. They’d always volunteer to treat you.
Day Five, or When It’s Not an Accident Anymore
“Eiji! Wait up, Eiji!”
“Hoi?” Eiji turned, and saw Fuji hurriedly packing his school bag and dashing after him. “Fujiko! What’s up?”
“How about burgers for today? My treat.”
Eiji grinned. Finally! He’d missed eating with Fuji after school. “Who can resist that, nya?”
Fuji returned the grin. “All right! Oh, and Oishi said he and Inui are free today, they might come along.”
“Nice one, nya!” Eiji glomped him. They walked out of the classroom together, and down the corridors already filling with students. Eiji scanned their faces-and suddenly remembered one person. “Fujiko, how about Tezuka?”
Fuji blinked. “He…”
“Come on now, he’d really like it.” Eiji tugged at Fuji’s sleeve, as if that would really convince Fuji. “I ran into him four times this week and he’s okay! He doesn’t eat people.”
“All right, if that’s what Eiji says.”
“Hoi hoi!”
Eiji was happy. It was always fun to make new friends, and although Tezuka looked like a mature, old kid, he wasn’t bad at all. Maybe, Eiji thought, he knew the reason why Tezuka was hiding things. Tezuka was shy.
“How could he be shy?” he wondered aloud.
“Tezuka? No, he’s not really shy. He only needs to be prodded,” Fuji answered, and he sounded as if he knew what was in Eiji’s mind. He was right.
“Right! So let’s prod him!” Eiji dashed into classroom 1-A, waving, “Tezuka! Me and Fujiko are going to eat, how about you come join us?”
Tezuka was packing his bag, and he looked surprised. “...What?”
“We’re eating at the usual spot.” Eiji nodded to assure him. And as an afterthought he added, “It’s Fuji’s treat!”
“Eiji!” Fuji exclaimed.
“Come on, it’s okay, Fujiko! Didn’t you say Yumiko-neesan gave you some money?”
“All right. Tezuka, you coming?” Fuji asked. “It’s my treat.”
Tezuka blinked. Then, with a grin that rarely graced his face, he said, “Who can resist that?”
End