[Prince of Tennis] Someone Familiar - Inu/Kai
Title: Someone Familiar
Author: sixthwinemaiden / staticspacetime
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Inui/Kaidoh
Rating: G
Words: 1,084
Warning(s): none
Summary: Kaidoh gets more than just a quiet evening stroll around town.
Dedicated to bunny_d_kate! Happy holidays~! May everyone, including Inui and Kaidoh, have a meaningful Christmas. (^-^)v
Someone Familiar
by sixthwinemaiden
Beautiful colored lights were lit everywhere in town that night. Kaidoh momentarily paused from his walk and gazed at the outline of the huge Christmas tree from afar, with the falling snowflakes gently accentuating its glow. People were everywhere-most of them heading towards that Christmas tree. Laughter and cheer filled the air, giving the atmosphere a cozier feeling despite the chilly evening. Kaidoh led out a hiss and continued walking towards the heart of town alone, amidst the groups of strangers that surrounded him.
Kaidoh had not planned on looking at the Christmas lights, no matter how much his mother talked about it. He had seen it many times before with his family, so it’s not like it gets any special every year. But since his aimless evening walk led him to town anyway, it’s not like he had a choice.
The surrounding gets brighter. Red, green, pink, yellow, and orange lights were everywhere, and they constantly glowed marvelously as one. Kaidoh stopped and gazed up as soon as he was considerably near the Christmas tree. A thick, red velvet rope encircled the huge Christmas tree, so no one would be able to get too close. A policeman would come by once in a while to check the peace.
“It looks prettier this year, doesn’t it?” gushed the girl beside Kaidoh.
Kaidoh tilted his head by impulse. He eventually realized that he was surrounded by young and old couples. Biting his lower lip and softly blushing, Kaidoh slipped out of the romantic crowd.
The poor boy couldn’t help hissing as he strolled along the sidewalk. Not too long later, Kaidoh noticed someone familiar sitting alone on one of the benches. Inasmuch as he wanted to simply pass by and go home, Kaidoh eventually jogged over to that familiar person.
“Inui-senpai,” Kaidoh called.
Inui tore his eyes away from the Christmas lights and looked at Kaidoh’s direction. He seemed surprised upon seeing his kouhai approaching. “Oh, Kaidoh!” he blurted out. “This is a surprise. Are you shopping with your family tonight?” he added with a friendly smile.
Kaidoh shook his head. “I just went out for an evening stroll.”
“Oh, I see,” Inui uttered with a nod.
“Um... I-I-Is that seat taken?” Kaidoh asked, pointing at the empty space beside Inui.
Inui turned to look. “Well, there was an old couple there a while ago. But I think they already left,” he replied.
Before Kaidoh could even react, Inui had already stood up and placed his hands on his coat pockets. “It’s getting cold here. Want to go someplace warmer for a while?” he invited.
“Ah, sure, I guess...” Kaidoh uttered uneasily.
Inui smiled and led his kouhai towards the chain of restaurants and café nearby. They went inside a café, as both of them already had their dinners at home, and chose a seat beside the window.
Kaidoh found himself staring at Inui as he conversed with the waiter for their orders. He couldn’t even give a straight answer when Inui asked for his order. Inui’s black coat and checkered black-and-green scarf looked awfully good on him. For the first time, Inui’s wardrobe wasn’t a disaster.
After confirming their order, the waiter left the two boys, and Inui immediately turned to Kaidoh with an amused look. “Kaidoh, your face is red,” he gleefully pointed out.
Kaidoh quickly covered his mouth and lowered his head. “I-it is? M-must be the change in temperature, s-senpai...” he stammered.
Inui chuckled as he took out his notebook from inside his coat and began scribbling something inside.
“W-What are you writing? You’re not taking data again, are you?” Kaidoh asked. Oddly enough, why is he not surprised anymore that Inui was able to extract a notebook from inside his coat?
“Of course I’m taking data,” Inui replied with a silly smile still playing on his lips. “Collecting data is an endless endeavor, Kaidoh. If it’s relevant, then it should be included at all costs.”
“But that’s-”
“By the way, Kaidoh,” Inui intercepted as soon as he finished writing. “That new coat looks good on you. It’s a different one from last year, right?”
Kaidoh blinked and stared back at Inui. “Uh, yeah... Thank you, senpai,” he uttered. The kouhai had to look away after that just so he could breathe properly. He wanted to comment on Inui’s coat, too, but he might explode from embarrassment if he does so.
Their order came shortly after-two cups of coffee, a cheese-and-lettuce sandwich for Inui, and two doughnuts for Kaidoh. After their snack, Inui insisted on paying their bill himself. Kaidoh eventually succumbed and thanked his senpai. They stepped out of the café just in time to see the Christmas lights shine at its brightest and hear Christmas melodies play from the shops nearby.
“Let’s go take a closer look, shall we?” said Inui as he pulled Kaidoh closer to the Christmas tree.
“B-But senpai... The people...” Kaidoh tried to reason out, but to no avail.
The two eventually paused and gazed up at the Christmas tree together, standing side-by-side. Kaidoh had to try his best not to hiss and sprint away from Inui, as they were too close to each other for his own good. The people around them chatted away in awe-some held hands, a few cuddled close to each other, while some simply enjoyed a friendly conversation. Kaidoh didn’t know about Inui, but the surrounding was already making his face as red as bricks... all the more when he felt Inui’s fingers claim his hand slowly.
Kaidoh’s senses jolted up. “S-senpai...”
“You don’t have to be so edgy around me, Kaidoh,” said Inui as he gave Kaidoh a glance. Kaidoh pressed his lips together and pretended to look around. Inui smiled and looked up at the Christmas lights again. “I’m not a stranger to you anymore, right? Just as you’re not just a kouhai to me anymore.”
Snow started falling from the sky again at that. Kaidoh blinked and watched a snowflake flutter down onto the coat of the person in front of him. Everyone around him was too engrossed in their talks to actually mind the soft snowfall, or the people around them.
Everyone around him had someone familiar with them.
Kaidoh lowered his head, feeling the warmth of Inui’s hand over his. Closing his eyes shut, he moved his hand and squeezed back Inui’s hand, holding on to it as if he’d lose himself among the crowd of strangers if he lets go.
End~
Author: sixthwinemaiden / staticspacetime
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Inui/Kaidoh
Rating: G
Words: 1,084
Warning(s): none
Summary: Kaidoh gets more than just a quiet evening stroll around town.
Dedicated to bunny_d_kate! Happy holidays~! May everyone, including Inui and Kaidoh, have a meaningful Christmas. (^-^)v
Someone Familiar
by sixthwinemaiden
Beautiful colored lights were lit everywhere in town that night. Kaidoh momentarily paused from his walk and gazed at the outline of the huge Christmas tree from afar, with the falling snowflakes gently accentuating its glow. People were everywhere-most of them heading towards that Christmas tree. Laughter and cheer filled the air, giving the atmosphere a cozier feeling despite the chilly evening. Kaidoh led out a hiss and continued walking towards the heart of town alone, amidst the groups of strangers that surrounded him.
Kaidoh had not planned on looking at the Christmas lights, no matter how much his mother talked about it. He had seen it many times before with his family, so it’s not like it gets any special every year. But since his aimless evening walk led him to town anyway, it’s not like he had a choice.
The surrounding gets brighter. Red, green, pink, yellow, and orange lights were everywhere, and they constantly glowed marvelously as one. Kaidoh stopped and gazed up as soon as he was considerably near the Christmas tree. A thick, red velvet rope encircled the huge Christmas tree, so no one would be able to get too close. A policeman would come by once in a while to check the peace.
“It looks prettier this year, doesn’t it?” gushed the girl beside Kaidoh.
Kaidoh tilted his head by impulse. He eventually realized that he was surrounded by young and old couples. Biting his lower lip and softly blushing, Kaidoh slipped out of the romantic crowd.
The poor boy couldn’t help hissing as he strolled along the sidewalk. Not too long later, Kaidoh noticed someone familiar sitting alone on one of the benches. Inasmuch as he wanted to simply pass by and go home, Kaidoh eventually jogged over to that familiar person.
“Inui-senpai,” Kaidoh called.
Inui tore his eyes away from the Christmas lights and looked at Kaidoh’s direction. He seemed surprised upon seeing his kouhai approaching. “Oh, Kaidoh!” he blurted out. “This is a surprise. Are you shopping with your family tonight?” he added with a friendly smile.
Kaidoh shook his head. “I just went out for an evening stroll.”
“Oh, I see,” Inui uttered with a nod.
“Um... I-I-Is that seat taken?” Kaidoh asked, pointing at the empty space beside Inui.
Inui turned to look. “Well, there was an old couple there a while ago. But I think they already left,” he replied.
Before Kaidoh could even react, Inui had already stood up and placed his hands on his coat pockets. “It’s getting cold here. Want to go someplace warmer for a while?” he invited.
“Ah, sure, I guess...” Kaidoh uttered uneasily.
Inui smiled and led his kouhai towards the chain of restaurants and café nearby. They went inside a café, as both of them already had their dinners at home, and chose a seat beside the window.
Kaidoh found himself staring at Inui as he conversed with the waiter for their orders. He couldn’t even give a straight answer when Inui asked for his order. Inui’s black coat and checkered black-and-green scarf looked awfully good on him. For the first time, Inui’s wardrobe wasn’t a disaster.
After confirming their order, the waiter left the two boys, and Inui immediately turned to Kaidoh with an amused look. “Kaidoh, your face is red,” he gleefully pointed out.
Kaidoh quickly covered his mouth and lowered his head. “I-it is? M-must be the change in temperature, s-senpai...” he stammered.
Inui chuckled as he took out his notebook from inside his coat and began scribbling something inside.
“W-What are you writing? You’re not taking data again, are you?” Kaidoh asked. Oddly enough, why is he not surprised anymore that Inui was able to extract a notebook from inside his coat?
“Of course I’m taking data,” Inui replied with a silly smile still playing on his lips. “Collecting data is an endless endeavor, Kaidoh. If it’s relevant, then it should be included at all costs.”
“But that’s-”
“By the way, Kaidoh,” Inui intercepted as soon as he finished writing. “That new coat looks good on you. It’s a different one from last year, right?”
Kaidoh blinked and stared back at Inui. “Uh, yeah... Thank you, senpai,” he uttered. The kouhai had to look away after that just so he could breathe properly. He wanted to comment on Inui’s coat, too, but he might explode from embarrassment if he does so.
Their order came shortly after-two cups of coffee, a cheese-and-lettuce sandwich for Inui, and two doughnuts for Kaidoh. After their snack, Inui insisted on paying their bill himself. Kaidoh eventually succumbed and thanked his senpai. They stepped out of the café just in time to see the Christmas lights shine at its brightest and hear Christmas melodies play from the shops nearby.
“Let’s go take a closer look, shall we?” said Inui as he pulled Kaidoh closer to the Christmas tree.
“B-But senpai... The people...” Kaidoh tried to reason out, but to no avail.
The two eventually paused and gazed up at the Christmas tree together, standing side-by-side. Kaidoh had to try his best not to hiss and sprint away from Inui, as they were too close to each other for his own good. The people around them chatted away in awe-some held hands, a few cuddled close to each other, while some simply enjoyed a friendly conversation. Kaidoh didn’t know about Inui, but the surrounding was already making his face as red as bricks... all the more when he felt Inui’s fingers claim his hand slowly.
Kaidoh’s senses jolted up. “S-senpai...”
“You don’t have to be so edgy around me, Kaidoh,” said Inui as he gave Kaidoh a glance. Kaidoh pressed his lips together and pretended to look around. Inui smiled and looked up at the Christmas lights again. “I’m not a stranger to you anymore, right? Just as you’re not just a kouhai to me anymore.”
Snow started falling from the sky again at that. Kaidoh blinked and watched a snowflake flutter down onto the coat of the person in front of him. Everyone around him was too engrossed in their talks to actually mind the soft snowfall, or the people around them.
Everyone around him had someone familiar with them.
Kaidoh lowered his head, feeling the warmth of Inui’s hand over his. Closing his eyes shut, he moved his hand and squeezed back Inui’s hand, holding on to it as if he’d lose himself among the crowd of strangers if he lets go.
End~