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tennis_hell2018-04-01 11:39 pm
tezuka_k) wrote in tennis_hell2018-04-01 11:39 pm
[Log] Sanada + Tezuka
Who: Sanada Genichirou + Tezuka Kunimitsu
What: Two old men having a drink together
When: Evening March 17th
Where: Izakaya near Mikiya Mansion and the long road back
Rating: G
Giving his spotless room one last glance - packed suitcase and tennis bag were waiting on the side, the spare futon was ready with fresh linen for its occupant later that night - Tezuka gave a satisfied nod and straightened his jacket in front of the small mirror before leaving to meet Sanada.
Making sure to turn the key in the lock twice he pocketed it securely. Prevention was the best weapon against crime after all, no matter what his stubborn rival/friend claimed - even if it hadn’t really been a problem at Mikiya Mansion yet, it didn’t hurt to make sure it wouldn’t become a problem now either.
Sanada was waiting outside of Mikiya for Tezuka since he didn’t want to accidentally run into Atobe or Yanagi on their way to the bathroom or something if they were in. He was just about to send Tezuka a message to let him know he was here when he saw him exit the building. “Tezuka,” Sanada said in greeting as he walked closer.
“Sanada.” Tezuka returned the greeting in an equally curt manner. “Which way?” He asked when they met half way, satisfied with not having to waste words or time on pointless pleasantries with his old rival. At the same time he took critical stock of the other man’s appearance. It wasn’t every day Sanada asked for his company to go drinking - this being the second time he could recall.
Sanada nodded in the direction they needed to go and then turned to walk that way. Tezuka and him might have a rivalry that spanned back through a time before they were even born but that didn’t mean he felt silences awkward with the other man or had a need to fill them with nonsense chatter. “Here. It’s better than it looks,” Sanada deemed important to explain as the izakaya looked a little seedy from the outside. But he and Yanagi had discovered it one day and the inside was as clean as could be expected from an izakaya and filled with more character than the fancy chain ones.
Nodding his understanding Tezuka followed Sanada inside, shrugging out of his warm brown jacket after deeming it acceptable to his standard. “Let's sit there.” He gestured to a free spot where they could be relatively undisturbed and coincidentally not so easy to spot by other patrons. “What do you want to drink?” Though he would be restricting himself to a beer, two at the most Sanada of course didn’t have to do the same - not that he seemed inclined to any way considering how they had come to be here. “How is your grandfather?” He asked once they were seated, waiting for the order to be taken.
Sanada got himself settled into his seat and was looking over the menu for both drink and food options. “I’ll start with a beer. And let’s get some food.” He might switch to sake later but beer seemed a traditional way to start a night at the izakaya. “And grandfather is as sprightly as ever. I think he has a game planned with yours for next Thursday.” And if his grandfather was hosting he’d make himself scarce. When the two were together things either got tense or they broke out all the embarrassing stories.
“Un, my grandfather has mentioned meeting him at the end of the month.” Tezuka recalled, giving the menu a critical look for things he would not regret too much consuming in the week to come though it was a good idea to fortify their stomachs for the alcohol to come. Especially given what a lightweight Sanada used to be. “I think I will have the Kamachi Hama.” He decided, closing the menu again. “And a beer as well.”
“They should enjoy that. Do you remember what their score is right now?” They had long since surpassed one hundred wins each but Sanada couldn’t remember if they were nearing 130 or 135. University, friends, kendo and trying to avoid his noisy niece and nephew meant he had less time at the house to listen to his grandfather’s stories about Tezuka-san. “And I’m thinking edamame and this platter of yakitori.”
“Close to one hundred and forty.” Tezuka was kept steadily abreast by his own grandfather. “I think one hundred and fifty will be quite the contest.” Edamame sounded good and he decided to add it to his own order as well.
“I’ve lost count by that much?” Sanada asked surprised he had missed that many games. Perhaps he’d make the time to let his grandfather chat about this upcoming match with him. It was important to balance the demands of school and life with being a good grandson. “And they’ll probably make us come and watch for that game. And possibly referee.” Sanada still remembered the great debate over a move in the match that would decide the 100th victor.
“They really should ask somebody impartial.” Tezuka did not look forward to spending another day with the two old men squabbling over a single move, completely ignoring any attempt Sanada or himself might make to mediate due to ‘bias’. Of course sometimes that move still came up and his grandfather could rant for hours about why it should have been allowed. “It seems they have begun to play online.” He explained to Sanada why his count was off. “But it just isn’t the same.” Without being able to look at the playing field from all angles, without the feel of the old, cared and well loved pieces against ones fingertips, it wouldn’t be playing shogi at all to his mind. “Your nephew must have suggested it.”
“Ah,” Sanada said thinking that that would explain how his counting got so off. “And it sounds like something Sasuke would do. He doesn’t have the same patience for traditional arts as rest of the family.” And as the first great grandson born he was rather spoiled and now with his two younger siblings taking up the attention he got away with a lot more than Sanada could ever dream of getting away with at his age. But at least if he suggested and helped to set up the online shogi he was still spending some bonding time with grandfather.
As the waiter came near, Sanada waved him down and began ordering, adding in what Tezuka said he wanted to keep things simple.
Content to let Sanada do the ordering Tezuka sat back and watched his lifelong rival. Maybe some distraction from all things Yukimura and French would be a good thing for Sanada. “The young ones do get more audacious.” He remarked, remembering his run in with Rikkai’s young ace and Shitenhouji’s former tensai.
“True. But it can be good to have someone give us a push. I know I can be a bit stubborn and traditional at times,” Sanada said. And while he would never understand of Pokemon Go he was at least learning to embrace the journal system and even catching on to a few tricks to make his posts better.
“Hm.” Was all Tezuka had to offer on that suggestion. “Sometimes tradition has its place.” He himself was still finding his feet on the journaling system considering he hadn’t even been partial to text messaging before. “But I suppose it’s interesting to see how many people are interested in your rock.”
Sanada nodded in agreement. He thought that Japanese traditional arts, clothes, and sports were especially important and didn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy a modern lifestyle, too. “I was surprised that people seem to be liking the photos. I just wanted to test out adding a photo so took a picture of the closest thing at hand. And now it even has a name and tag.” Sanada was proud that his family rock was getting the acknowledgement it deserved even if it came from odd photos he took of the rock.
“The internet does find fascination with odd things.” Tezuka still regretted ever wondering what doge was/stood for. Or that time he had rather innocently wandered into something called 4chan by trying to research for an essay. “However it isn’t always a permanent interest.” Though really Sanada’s stone was one of the least offensive things on there. “These things are fleeting.” He finished, spotting their server carrying a large tray toward them.
“Maybe. But the family rock has last this long. I’m sure it will weather the internet just fine,” Sanada said. He then thanked the server as their beers and food were placed in front of them. “Shall we drink to your future success at the tournament?”
Lifting his own beer Tezuka inclined his head. “I will drink to that.” After a moment of careful deliberation he added. “And to that of your kouhai.” Really, Kirihara’s success was impressive and something Sanada could be rightly proud of.
Sanada found himself actually grinning as he thought of Kirihara and how far he’d come in his tennis this season. He was infinitely proud of the brat. “To well played tennis games then,” Sanada said and gently clinked their cups together before taking a large swig of it.
“To tennis.” Tezuka echoed, taking a swig of his own beer as was proper for a toast, he’d slow down with the second one.
“Kirihara’s been doing really well at this tournament. Have you been following it?” Sanada asked. Happy to talk about tennis and Kirihara’s success so far. He hoped it held out for the last couple of rounds.
What a redundant question. Tezuka sipped at his beer again to give Sanada time to realise it before he replied. “I have indeed. He is playing a good tournament.” And if he could keep up the level of drive and concentration he could easily take the win from what Tezuka had seen. “Miami might present the greater challenge.” Two important tournaments in such close order could prove taxing if Kirihara didn’t pace himself early on.
“His team will probably tell him not to push as hard if he wins this one,” Sanada said. Not caring if Tezuka felt the question or observations obvious. He was proud of his former teammate and was going to be smug and brag about him.
“Hm.” Making a vague noise Tezuka picked at the edamame and popped one into his mouth. “And is he going to listen?” He finally replied, giving Sanada a knowing look. After all where restraint was concerned Kirihara may not have had the best role model.
“Maybe not to his coach. But he’d listen to - “ Sanada cut himself off not in the mood to even want to mention Yukimura’s name let alone think about him. “He’s surrounded himself with good people. Hopefully he’ll listen to them.” He distracted himself by tearing into some of the yakiniku in front of him.
Feeling no need to add to that Tezuka nodded and turned his focus on his own order. Sanada always had been the emotional one out of the two of them, ruled by his passions and regularly brought down because of them - and not just by Tezuka, who only resorted to using them against his old friend/rival when Sanada was being particularly obnoxious about something, he’d like to add. “I look forward to seeing how far he can go.” He finally offered, hoping it might distract his companion from mauling the rest of his meal.
“He’s a Rikkai alum. I’m sure he’ll go all the way,” Sanada said still happy to boast about Kirihara even when annoyed by his travelling companion. “How do you rate your own odds coming up?” Sanada asked.
That was a good question and his answer would have to walk the fine line of showing confidence yet not encourage overly ambitious expectations. “I think there will a number of interesting matches.” Tezuka settled on after a moment of consideration. “The participating players are quite varied.” Of course he was aiming for the win but should that turn out to not be feasible he’d rather not leave himself open for Sanada’s gloating. It was certainly one of his least appreciated character traits.
Sanada rolled his eyes at Tezuka’s answer. “I’m not the press. You don’t have to give me something so boring. How’s your arm and shoulder?” He asked before he waved down the waiter to order sake since his beer was almost gone.
Noting the switch with a very much internal resigned sigh Tezuka nodded. “It’s mostly fine, or I would not be playing.” It had taken a few tries but that lesson has finally sunk in, for the most part. “Of course there is always a risk.” Once broken some things simply were not as resilient as they once had been - Sanada surely knew just how that felt with his knees. “But I want to see what I can do.”
Sanada nodded. He could understand wanting to challenge yourself and see what you were capable of. It was the same thing Yuk- no he told himself he wasn’t going to think about him. He downed the remaining bit of his beer and started munching on more meat. “That’s good. I’m sure you’ll go far as long as nothing crops up.” Tezuka had the skills and mental fortitude to go far in any tournament as long as injuries didn’t plague him.
Inclining his head in a silent thank you Tezuka continued to pick away at his edamame, his beer depleting at a much more reasonable rate than Sanada’s. If they were the regular kind of friends this might have been the point where somebody else could possibly have asked about what was so obviously bothering Sanada - Tezuka limited himself to also ordering them some water and pushing a glass over to the other man once it arrived. “I didn’t see kendo on the list of Olympic sports for Tokyo.” He remarked when it looked like Sanada might get stuck in a permanent sulk.
Sanada ignored the water and poured himself some sake from the flask he had into one of the two small cups the server had brought him. He didn’t bother pouring one for Tezuka since he had made it clear he planned on being boring. At the mention of kendo he grumbled and took a sip of his sake. “We failed to win the bid to have it placed as a sport. Which is ridiculous because the home country can include extra sports and including kendo would have been a strong show of support to the sport. And the international federation has participants in dozens of countries so they can’t argue it’s too Japan centric a sport.” He was still annoyed that they had excluded kendo. It was a tradition rich sport with clear point guides and rules. It was perfectly suited for the Olympics.
“I heard they added skateboarding and surfing as well as karate.” Tezuka pointed out in a perfectly placid manner that was sure to incense the competitive part of Sanada. “Maybe they felt that two martial arts would be too much.” Dipping his lashes down he glanced at Sanada to see how his companion would take that barb.
Sanada grumbled into his sake at Tezuka’s words. Just because judo was an Olympic sport did not mean he had to be so smug. “Skateboarding isn’t even a sport. It’s a mode of transit for child hooligans,” Sanada complained. He remembered Sasuke zipping around on one while he tried to walk to the supermarket and just being a pest. “And don’t get me started on surfing.” As if Japan was known for their great surfers. Ha! Now kendo, kendo was a sport worthy of Olympic glory.
“The mastery of every sport requires dedication and skill.” Tezuka pointed out, perfectly unhelpfully. “I’m sure the athletes who will be competing deserve your regard as much as any tennis player or kendo-ka.” He took another sip from his beer, then traded it in for the water when he felt that first slow rush of warmth blooming in his cheeks and along his neck. “Maybe they will suggest Kendo next time.” He offered as a weak consolation.
“Well I’m certainly not giving up without a fight. I’ve been writing a new speech.” One he was going to have Yukimura listen to and give advice on. But he was sure Yanagi could help with his English just as well. He wasn’t going to ask Tezuka though, he’d probably try to be sneaky and sabotage him so that kendo would never make it in. “Are you going to go for the olympic team?”
“No.” Making little interconnecting condensation rings with his glass Tezuka shook his head, recalling his grandfather’s face when they had discussed this very same topic. “I’m sure there are enough eligible judo-ka who wish to compete that are more skilled than myself.” Much to his grandfather’s disappointment his passion had never fallen to judo though filial respect had at least left him competent enough to hold his own on the mat as well as off of it. It simply didn’t hold the same thrill to grapple as it did to face an opponent across the court and he did respect Sanada more than he suspected the other knew for dedicating him so completely to something that was not, could never be, tennis.
Sanada laughed at Tezuka’s answer finding it amusing and then shook his head. “I know you suck at judo. I meant for tennis.” Not that Tezuka actually sucked at judo, he was pretty sure he’d be booted off the family tree if he wasn’t at least competent. But Tezuka deserved some payback for prodding him so much about kendo not being an olympic sport.
Giving Sanada a dead eyed fish look Tezuka left no doubt about how very inappropriate he found the other man’s hilarity. “I’m hoping to return to the professional circuit before 2020.” He pointed out. “Olympic athletes shouldn’t be professionals.” He added, just to illustrate his point. Obviously this made Sanada’s question rather redundant.
Sanada just rolled his eyes at Tezuka and would have gave him a light kick under the table if he wasn’t worried about injuring the delicately constructed man. “Like that ever stops any of the other pro players in tennis? So? I’m pretty sure Kirihara will qualify but there will be at least one more slot open.”
“I am not responsible for the choices of others.” Tezuka returned with an expression Sanada might have come to know as a stubborn-ass-mule look. “Only for my own and I will not subvert the spirit of the Olympic games.” If he were a lesser man he might have suggested Yukimura for that vacant slot but he did like to think he was better than that - for the moment.
Sanada poured himself more sake and took a sip before answering Tezuka’s look and comments. “I thought every athlete dreamed of Olympic gold. You’d be a fool to turn down a chance to compete if it’s offered,” Sanada said. He would even cheer for his friend, at least until he competed against Kirihara. Then he’d probably stay true to Rikkai solidarity and cheer against Tezuka but he was sure his rival would understand.
“It is a question of integrity not of desire.” In a bid for patience Tezuka drained the last of his beer in a few steady swallows and ordered another. “This is what separates us from animals. We don’t take things simply because we want them.” He grew more animated as the alcohol worked its insidious magic. “As a society we have agreed upon these restrictions and are bound by them.” That was why there were rules, in life, in tennis, in everything that mattered.
“Except the only thing restricting you is yourself. The Olympics are open to professionals in tennis,” Sanada said and then poured himself more sake as he found his cup empty and frowned as it was only filled half way up. Had he drunk that much already. No wonder the room felt warm. “And sometimes I think animals have more fun.” Sanada liked his life, minus the current situation with he would not be named, but sometimes he did think being an animal that didn’t have to worry about school, training, family obligations or chores had the ideal life. Especially whenever he caught sight of a lazy cat…. Or Niou. He smiled as he thought about the next time he found Niou napping in the sun he should try to pet his hair like he did napping cats. Was Niou the purring or hissing type of cat?
Giving Sanada a leary look for that rather unprovoked sappy grin he was suddenly sporting Tezuka shook his head. “You would think fighting for survival every day would be fun.” He accused with a rather inelegant snort. “I prefer civilisation and all it has to offer.” Such as the truly dreadful beer he was currently imbibing.
Sanada had been thinking more along the lines of domesticated animals but he supposed being at the top of the food chain and an impressive hunter in the animal kingdom could be rewarding, too. “I suppose civilization has its perks. Like sake. Which I need more of. Do you want any?” Sanada asked as he flagged down a passing server to get another flask.
“I have to leave for a tournament tomorrow.” Tezuka reiterated for what felt like the hundredth time. Apparently much like water and stone it took a very long time for information to penetrate through Sanada’s skull and into the brain matter below.
“It’s not like I’m saying drink five bottles. And you’re travelling tomorrow, not playing. Live a little,” Sanada said with a smile. He thanked the server when he came back with the sake and refilled his cup before waving the bottle enticingly toward Tezuka and the second empty sake cup.
“The tournament starts the next day.” Tezuka pointed out, though he would have expected it to be obvious. After reconsidering the situation and drawing a surprising similarity between this and a number of evenings he had spent in Germany warding off well meaning offers of beer and other alcoholica while still far too young to drink by Japanese standards he decided on switching tactics. “Fine, one cup.” He allowed, nudging the small container over to Sanada. “It’s a good thing we don’t have to go very far.” He added as an aside to himself since dragging what was shaping up to be Sanada’s very drunk bulk through the streets was another item on his things not to do before a tournament list.
“Excellent!” Sanada said and gave Tezuka a beaming smile before pouring him some sake. “One cup won’t hurt anything and it’s no fun drinking alone.” And Tezuka was always more fun when he was a little drunk and loosened up. It also meant Tezuka would probably stop teasing him over kendo’s failure to be in the Olympics.
Lifting his cup to his lips to satisfy the scrutiny that always followed the drink being poured Tezuka took a small sip to appease Sanada. The sake was much better than the beer, he had to admit and after another little sip he set the cup back down to tell Sanada as much. “I miss German beer.” Was what his mouth came up with and he was left looking surprised at his own words for a moment before mentally shrugging and rolling with it. “I prefer their flavour.” He added since Sanada might be inclined to take any criticism on Japanese beverages as a personal offence.
“I’ve never had German beer,” Sanada said thoughtfully. It was hard for him to compare since he’d really only had Japanese beer and not a lot of it. “But I guess Japan is still pretty new at making beer compared to places in Europe. But our sake and umeshu is the best.” He was willing to give Germany the better beer title if only because beer wasn’t a Japanese creation. He was sure in a few more decades or century, Japan will have mastered beer making and be on par or better than anywhere else when it came to beer.
“They don’t really drink sake or umeshu in Germany.” Tezuka pointed out, frowning a little at Sanada being unable to appreciate just how much better beer could taste than the watery swill they were served here. “I’ll bring you back a bottle next month.” He added, making a mental note to figure out how to best transport something like that without it ending up a beer soaked pile of laundry and shards in his suitcase.
“Their loss. And if you’re bringing back a bottle you better make it two so we can drink together,” Sanada said. Because drinking with a friend was infinitely better than drinking on your own. Not that Sanada had ever been sad enough to drink on his own but he imagined it would be depressing.
“Two shouldn’t be that much harder to transport safely.” Tezuka nodded his agreement to that suggestion, though it gave rise to his next question. “Would you prefer a blonde or something darker?”
Sanada nodded at that and then gave Tezuka a blank look. “A blonde? Did we switch to people?” Sanada asked as he topped up both of their sake cups.
“No, still beers.” Tezuka despaired a little at Sanada’s lack of understanding of the fine nuances of beer. “There are different colours, depending on the ingredients and the filtration process.” He pursed his lips, the only blonde in their mutual acquaintance coming to mind. “I’m not a pimp - and you can overcome your differences with Atobe on your own.”
Sanada didn’t quite get how beer could come in so many variations but the thought of Tezuka being a pimp for Atobe was enough to make him forget about beer all together. He laughed and really wanted to ask Atobe if he would be open to having Tezuka as his pimp. “I don’t need a pimp… but I really want to see Atobe’s face if I told him you thought I thought you were pimping him to me.” He laughed again and almost spilled his drink as he tried to take a sip while still chuckling.
That...sounded ridiculous but somehow Sanada’s riotous laughter was really unfairly infectious and Tezuka had to bite his lips to mute the embarrassing giggle threatening to slip free, his ears going an alarming shade of red where they weren’t covered by untameable brunette hair. “Please don’t tell him that.” He gasped, the potential fall out somehow managing to be just as ridiculous. “I don’t need him to select me a pimp outfit.”
“Oh now I have to,” Sanada declared somewhat loudly. “It will be the gaudiest thing ever. Purple, leopard print, and all the gold.” Just picturing Tezuka in something that garish was making him laugh again. He pulled out his phone to search for Atobe’s contact information, not really planning on messaging him but definitely ready to tease Tezuka about doing so.
Eyes going wide at the deceives horror of it all - he could handle most purple, except maybe the violent Higa kind, but in combination with the animal prints he remembered playing a not negligible part in Atobe’s wardrobe together with his love of pomp and shiny things was enough to make anybody’s eyes bleed. “Sanada!” He hissed when his idiot rival pulled out his phone. “Don’t you dare!” Mind racing he added. “What if he feels you need a matching outfit?!” He raises both eyebrows, somehow the image of Sanada with a fur covered top hat going bare chested in gold lame pants popping up before his inner eye and sending him into a helpless bout of giggles. “You could really display your muscles then.” He added with a wheeze.
Sanada’s eyes widened at the thought of being shoved into something just as atrocious, not even stopping to wonder why Atobe would want to dress him up to. “No. He’d try to put me in some horrible floor length fur coat. He keeps complaining I’m naked in my icons. I think he’s jealous,” Sanada said that last part as seriously as he could while still traumatized by the horror of all the strange things Atobe could dress him in.
“Of your nakedness or of you displaying your nakedness?” Tezuka followed the random topic switch with the ease of those well alcoholically lubricated. “I don’t think he has anything to be ashamed of himself.” He pointed out regarding the first possibility. “Maybe he is shy about it?” It was a strange thought, but then all the spectacle could well be used to hide any number of things. “Have you seen him naked?” For try as he might he could not remember ever sharing a locker room or a shower with Hyoutei’s former question.
“No. But don’t you think he’s a little…. Noodley?” Sanada asked using the word that his niece and nephew liked to use all of the time. “Should we invite him to the onsen? Maybe that will help.” They could see if Atobe really had any reason to be shy and if they were all naked together they could bond and Atobe could get over his adversity to nudity.
“Not at all.” Tezuka refuted that suggestion with a firm shake of his head. “Do you remember the Tannhäuser? He’d need muscles for that.” A companionable onsen trip did sound nice though. “We can invite him if you don’t tell him about the...pimp thing.” He offered as a compromise.
Sanada still thought he was noodley but the Tannäuser was a really annoying move so maybe he wasn’t noodley everywhere, just compared to him. “Fine. No pimp talk. But you’re the one who brought it up first,” Sanada said with a chuckle thinking of horrible pimp outfits again.
Accepting his defeat in the pimp matter with as much graciousness as possible Tezuka shook his head with a sigh and drained an amount of his watery beer. “We could invite him to come drinking too, next time.” He suggested, the two separate topics of conversation crashing into each other and creating a strange mixture.
“Well beer after the onsen is a popular thing to do,” Sanada said finding this plan agreeable even if it would mean putting up with a certain amount of Atobe telling grandiose stories of his greatness for a while.
“You should invite him then.” Tezuka suggested, congratulating himself on pushing that off on Sanada who apparently had no shame in the online realm or outside of it anyway.
“Fine. I’ll ask him when we meet up for dinner.” He hadn’t told Atobe they were meeting up for dinner yet. But it seemed like something nice to do this coming week that didn’t involve Yukimura or thinking about him.
That sounded like a solid plan and Tezuka nodded his agreement. “Best not to mention cockroaches.” He suggested, remembering the way Atobe had lost all appetite during their short conversation. “He’s a little squeamish.”
“I don’t think cockroaches like the onsen, Tezuka,” Sanada said before laughing.
“During dinner.” Tezuka managed through another burst of giggles. “But that might be a good argument for Atobe to come.” He added after a moment of tipsy consideration. “Escape from the cockroach stronghold.” The thought of the cockroaches establishing a suspiciously Hyoutei-esque kingdom drew another bout of chuckles from Seigaku’s somber former captain.
Sanada didn’t fully understand what was setting Tezuka off but he couldn’t help laughing along with Tezuka anyway. “It’s a good chance to bathe in peace without cockroaches watching,” Sanada said with a chuckle. Though he hoped Atobe didn’t mind that he and Tezuka would be watching since they were doing it for the scientific reason of figuring out if Atobe had a reason to be shy or not.
At the thought of cockroaches spying on Atobe in the shower there was just no helping it anymore. Hiding his face in both hands Tezuka laughed so hard his shoulder were shaking, only little broken up gasps actually escaping after the first burst had passed.
It no longer mattered what Tezuka was laughing about. Watching his friend lose it and struggle to breathe through laughter just made Sanada’s laughing worse. “Stop…. It’s too much,” Sanada struggled to get out as he wiped his eyes from the tears caused by laughing too much.
Slipping his glasses off once the laughter had at last run its course Tezuka wiped at his own eyes before blinking owlishly at the hulking blur that was Sanada. It really had been a long time since he had laughed this hard, in fact he couldn’t even remember the last time. “Ah…” he sighed, leaning back. “Shall we head back then?” He suggested, noting that the beers were gone and all that remained of the sake was a few drops in the bottle and his half filled cup.
Sanada nodded, yawning a little now that most of his laughter had subsided. “Cockroaches,” He muttered to himself as he stood up. Of all the things for Atobe to fuss over it would of course be some random bug. He dug out his wallet and headed toward the register at the front, not quite as steady on his feet as he had been earlier.
Sighing at that traitorous yawn Tezuka got up as well to collect Sanada from the register and steer him toward the door. “Come on, look alive.” He needled when the taller man shuffled too slowly for his taste.
“So impatient,” Sanada grumbled as he tucked his wallet away and made for the door. He paused to yawn again before stepping out into the cool spring air. “So onsen and drinking with Atobe? When are you back?” He was not going to do onsen and drinking with Atobe on his own.
“On March twenty sixth if things go well, but I am participating in a Futures tournament in Tsukuba until the first of April.” Then there might be some downtime until the next tournament in Taipei at the nineth. When Sanada continued to lag behind Tezuka wrapped a firm arm around the taller man to make sure he didn’t stop for a quick nap against a lamppost or in a ditch.
“Hmmm,” Sanada said trying to think about all those dates and tournament names. He automatically moved his own arm around Tezuka when Tezuka’s came around him and leaned more on the lithe man. “So April?” He asked when he was sure he figured out all those dates. April was still a nice time for onsen.
“Yes.What day in that week is best for you?” Steering Sanada down the street Tezuka had to slow down when they reached the first corner, letting a group of older men pass them by with a polite nod, blandly ignoring their amused and knowing looks at the way Sanada was drooping against his side. When they were gone he gave Sanada a resigned look and prodded him into moving again. “You’re lucky you are a martial artist, you’d be the worst salary man ever and they would eat you alive.” Was his verdict as they shuffled across the street.
“Whaddya mean?” Sanada asked around another yawn. He idly batted Tezuka’s bony fingers away from him even as he snuggled up more against the other man’s side. “Nobody eats me.”
This was like the pimp discussion all over again. Tezuka endured the snuggling, which from a man of Sanada‘s size was not as easy to do as one would have hoped and dragged him the last few steps to the safety of the curb. “Don‘t hang off of me like that in the middle of the street.” He grumbled, giving Sanada another, firmer prod to make sure he wouldn‘t fall asleep and in part just to be vindictive for what felt like a little bit of drool stuck to his neck.
Sanada snorted and half laughed as that poke hit a ticklish spot. His feet got tripped up on nothing and only reaching out for a lamp post kept him from toppling over and taking Tezuka with him. “You’re boring,” Sanada said as he let go of lamp post and latched onto Tezuka again, yawning against his neck. He should have got Tezuka at least another beer or flask of sake.
“So sorry I don‘t share your preference for drunken displays of affection in moving traffic,” Tezuka returned blandly, grunting softly at the strain of suddenly supporting all of Sanada‘s not inconsiderable bulk. “I think you‘ve gotten fat,” He added, trying to see in which direction they needed to head now, a mission made needlessly difficult by Sanada eclipsing most of his view.
“What?!” Sanada said as he pulled back a bit at that. “It’s muscle. Muscle.” He gave a flex and patted his arm to show Tezuka just how much muscle he had. He then reached for his shirt to lift it up to show off his abs but tripped on a bump in the sidewalk and was forced to cling back onto Tezuka. He laughed then played it off like he wanted to do that the whole time and ran his hand down Tezuka’s arm half petting it. “That’s why you keep getting injured. Not enough muscle. Don’t skip arm day.”
Giving Sanada a blank look Tezuka released the other man he had reflexively caught to let gravity do its thing. “I do not ‘skip arm day’,” he informed his rival archly. “I am simply trying to keep the muscle between my ears trained as well.” And besides not everybody shared Sanada‘s tendency to bulk up, something young Kunimitsu had been deeply resentful of more than once.
Sanada managed to keep his own balance for all of one second before falling to the ground with an umph. He chuckled and then looked up at Tezuka with a pout. “You dropped me.” That wasn’t what friends, or rivals, were supposed to do.
“Maybe you shouldn’t skip legs day.” Tezuka pointed out cooly then leaned down to help Sanada back to his feet. “Your ego is going to have worse bruises than your backside from that tomorrow.” He informed the taller man.
Sanada threw his arm back around Tezuka and decided to forgive him for letting him fall since he helped him back up. “My ego is fine,” Sanada boasted, “And so are my legs.” Minus his knees which liked to act like those of an 80 year old from time to time. But his legs were still muscled and amazing.
Shaking his head Tezuka’s lips quirked into a hint of a wry smile. Sanada really was very solidly built - from his chest, his legs all the way to his ego and his skull, sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse. “You’re lucky we don’t do this more often.” He remarked, glad to see the familiar silhouette of Mikiya Mansion appear around the next corner. “You would lose your ferocious demon image.”
“I don’t need to be a demon anymore… Just like you don’t need to be a pillar,” Sanada paused in his stumbling shuffle to give a mighty yawn, his eyes growing heavy. “Though you make a good pillar.”
“I make an abysmal bed if you think you can fall asleep on me.” Tezuka pointed out helpfully, giving Sanada’s ticklish side another prod to motivate the other man to keep moving. “So unless you care to spend the night on the street outside I recommend we adjourn to my room.”
Sanada squeaked, a noise he would deny making for life, and jumped a little as he was prodded again. “Stop that,” He muttered but did as Tezuka wanted and continued shuffling toward the building. Mostly because the promise of a bed was much better than sleeping on Tezuka and his bony elbows.
Satisfied with Sanada moving whatever the reason Tezuka hoped he would still remember the exact location of that ticklish spot just in case it might ever come in handy again. “Good boy.” He praised when they had shuffled through the entrance hall and down the corridor to his small apartment. “Try not to fall over now.” He instructed, carefully leaning Sanada against the wall so he could retrieve his keys from his pocket.
“Not a dog,” Sanada said around a yawn as he got comfy against the wall. It really wasn’t that bad a spot to close his eyes for a few moments.
Keeping his view on the matter to himself Tezuka fumbled the key into the lock as quickly as his own alcohol clumsy fingers would allow. “I put out a futon for you.” He informed Sanada when the door finally swung open and he reached inside to flip the light switch on. “But I’ll probably be gone when you wake up tomorrow.”
“Good. I’d have to sleep on top of you if we were going to share,” Sanada said as he pushed himself off of the wall and stumbled the three steps into Tezuka’s room and into Tezuka at the same time. He let out an omph as he grabbed hold of Tezuka to keep them both standing.
“You would not be sleeping on top of me.” Tezuka protested, just in case that scenario would ever come to pass. “It would make much more sense if I were to be on top.” He had only just completed his very logical explanation when Sanada slammed into him with all the grace of a tumbling tree, the momentum in combination with the mass proving too much for him to compensate unprepared, his shoulder giving a warning twinge just before they both fell, landing thankfully on the two futons taking up most of the available space.
After the room had stopped moving, Sanada let out a laugh and then lifted up a bit from Tezuka so as to not further squish him. “Looks like I ended up on top anyway.” He rolled off of Tezuka and then tugged his friend to him like he would a giant teddy bear. “Though you on top makes more sense. We can’t squish you before a tennis game.” He yawned and was quite content to just nod off right where he was now that he was horizontal and not on a street.
“And it was deeply uncomfortable.” Tezuka grumbled, sitting up and giving his shoulder a wary rub before glancing over at Sanada. “Take at least your shoes and your jacket off, I have a spare toothbrush if you want it.” He instructed, giving the taller man a shove when it seemed like his words had fallen on deaf ears. “You will thank me for it tomorrow.”
Sanada grumbled and struggled to tug his jacket off before kicking his shoes off. It really was rude of him to wander around Tezuka’s room still wearing them and to be in bed with them on. He’d worry about apologizing tomorrow. Feeling hot from his exertions of fighting with his jacket and shoes, he tugged his shirt off before forcing himself to sit. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall, the other side of the kitchen.” Having removed his own jacket and shoes Tezuka crawled across the futons to fetch his wash bag and returned to the door. “Come on, I’ll show you.” He suggested after retrieving a second pair of slippers as well.
“Know where it is,” Sanada said with a yawn as he dragged himself to his feet with help of furniture and the nearby wall. He stumbled over to the slippers, looked at them blearily as if they were a foreign concept and then slid them on his feet after some trial and error. “Don’t know how Atobe lives here…” He was fine roughing it when he needed to. And Mikiya was hardly roughing it. But right now he would very much appreciate an ensuite bathroom and a large soft comfortable bed to fall into.
“The same way we all do.” With his own slippers securely in place Tezuka took over the part as Sanada’s guide once more. “It’s not much worse than sharing with a large family would be.” He guessed as they quietly made their way down the hall once again. “The bathroom is through here.” He explained just in case Sanada’s somnambulant brain had forgotten his previous knowledge, opening the door to the common washroom with the second door leading to a row of toilet cubicles. “Try not to make too much of a mess.” He advised then set his bag down the edge of a sink to dig out toothpaste and toothbrush.
Sanada didn’t even bother with words that time. He just mumbled out something nonsensical and went to make use of the toilets. Where he half nodded off standing up and jerked awake suddenly when his head smacked into the opposite wall. Embarrassing but at least he didn’t make a mess anywhere. He flushed and wandered back out to where Tezuka was and washed his hands and then stared blearily at Tezuka since he had mentioned something about a toothbrush and that seemed like something he should use.
Glancing over at the more asleep than awake man Tezuka retrieved the spare toothbrush he always kept in his bag and after removing the plastic wetted it and added a dab of toothpaste before handing it over to Sanada. “I hope mint is all right.” He offered, rinsing his own and returning it to the travel satchel. “I’ll be right back.” He added, giving Sanada a wary look before disappearing in the direction of the toilets as well.
Sanada took the brush with a muttered ‘Thanks’ and began brushing his teeth. He watched sleepily as Tezuka disappeared, his hand moving more on muscle memory than with any actual thought as he continued to brush his teeth while staring blankly at the direction Tezuka had disappeared to.
Upon his return Tezuka was greeted by the sight of Sanada listing dangerously, the sink the only thing keeping the other man upright with a quite impressive amount of foam coming from his mouth, while facing away from aforementioned sink. “Sanada…” rejoining his rival he stole the toothbrush from the lax hand before wetting the corner of his towel and wiping the foam away carefully. Once the lug had been taken care off he gave his shoulder a brisk shake. “Oi, come on - let’s get you in bed.” He ordered in his best ‘fifty laps for everybody’ captain’s voice.
Sanada blinked at Tezuka and let him lead him through the last of brushing his teeth and back toward the room. He hooked his arm back around Tezuka and was half snuggling against his neck as he shuffled his way back toward their room. The only thing keeping him motivated was the knowledge that Tezuka was evil when it came to poking and that there was a bed at the end of the walk.
Breathing a sigh of relief once they were back inside his room Tezuka let his rival lug drop onto the futon and after collecting his sleepwear switched the light off. “Good Night Sanada.” He offered quietly once he was changed and had crawled under his covers, the March air still holding a chill. With his covers tucked up to his nose there was just one last request he had to make of the softly snoring man. “Please don’t puke.”
What: Two old men having a drink together
When: Evening March 17th
Where: Izakaya near Mikiya Mansion and the long road back
Rating: G
Giving his spotless room one last glance - packed suitcase and tennis bag were waiting on the side, the spare futon was ready with fresh linen for its occupant later that night - Tezuka gave a satisfied nod and straightened his jacket in front of the small mirror before leaving to meet Sanada.
Making sure to turn the key in the lock twice he pocketed it securely. Prevention was the best weapon against crime after all, no matter what his stubborn rival/friend claimed - even if it hadn’t really been a problem at Mikiya Mansion yet, it didn’t hurt to make sure it wouldn’t become a problem now either.
Sanada was waiting outside of Mikiya for Tezuka since he didn’t want to accidentally run into Atobe or Yanagi on their way to the bathroom or something if they were in. He was just about to send Tezuka a message to let him know he was here when he saw him exit the building. “Tezuka,” Sanada said in greeting as he walked closer.
“Sanada.” Tezuka returned the greeting in an equally curt manner. “Which way?” He asked when they met half way, satisfied with not having to waste words or time on pointless pleasantries with his old rival. At the same time he took critical stock of the other man’s appearance. It wasn’t every day Sanada asked for his company to go drinking - this being the second time he could recall.
Sanada nodded in the direction they needed to go and then turned to walk that way. Tezuka and him might have a rivalry that spanned back through a time before they were even born but that didn’t mean he felt silences awkward with the other man or had a need to fill them with nonsense chatter. “Here. It’s better than it looks,” Sanada deemed important to explain as the izakaya looked a little seedy from the outside. But he and Yanagi had discovered it one day and the inside was as clean as could be expected from an izakaya and filled with more character than the fancy chain ones.
Nodding his understanding Tezuka followed Sanada inside, shrugging out of his warm brown jacket after deeming it acceptable to his standard. “Let's sit there.” He gestured to a free spot where they could be relatively undisturbed and coincidentally not so easy to spot by other patrons. “What do you want to drink?” Though he would be restricting himself to a beer, two at the most Sanada of course didn’t have to do the same - not that he seemed inclined to any way considering how they had come to be here. “How is your grandfather?” He asked once they were seated, waiting for the order to be taken.
Sanada got himself settled into his seat and was looking over the menu for both drink and food options. “I’ll start with a beer. And let’s get some food.” He might switch to sake later but beer seemed a traditional way to start a night at the izakaya. “And grandfather is as sprightly as ever. I think he has a game planned with yours for next Thursday.” And if his grandfather was hosting he’d make himself scarce. When the two were together things either got tense or they broke out all the embarrassing stories.
“Un, my grandfather has mentioned meeting him at the end of the month.” Tezuka recalled, giving the menu a critical look for things he would not regret too much consuming in the week to come though it was a good idea to fortify their stomachs for the alcohol to come. Especially given what a lightweight Sanada used to be. “I think I will have the Kamachi Hama.” He decided, closing the menu again. “And a beer as well.”
“They should enjoy that. Do you remember what their score is right now?” They had long since surpassed one hundred wins each but Sanada couldn’t remember if they were nearing 130 or 135. University, friends, kendo and trying to avoid his noisy niece and nephew meant he had less time at the house to listen to his grandfather’s stories about Tezuka-san. “And I’m thinking edamame and this platter of yakitori.”
“Close to one hundred and forty.” Tezuka was kept steadily abreast by his own grandfather. “I think one hundred and fifty will be quite the contest.” Edamame sounded good and he decided to add it to his own order as well.
“I’ve lost count by that much?” Sanada asked surprised he had missed that many games. Perhaps he’d make the time to let his grandfather chat about this upcoming match with him. It was important to balance the demands of school and life with being a good grandson. “And they’ll probably make us come and watch for that game. And possibly referee.” Sanada still remembered the great debate over a move in the match that would decide the 100th victor.
“They really should ask somebody impartial.” Tezuka did not look forward to spending another day with the two old men squabbling over a single move, completely ignoring any attempt Sanada or himself might make to mediate due to ‘bias’. Of course sometimes that move still came up and his grandfather could rant for hours about why it should have been allowed. “It seems they have begun to play online.” He explained to Sanada why his count was off. “But it just isn’t the same.” Without being able to look at the playing field from all angles, without the feel of the old, cared and well loved pieces against ones fingertips, it wouldn’t be playing shogi at all to his mind. “Your nephew must have suggested it.”
“Ah,” Sanada said thinking that that would explain how his counting got so off. “And it sounds like something Sasuke would do. He doesn’t have the same patience for traditional arts as rest of the family.” And as the first great grandson born he was rather spoiled and now with his two younger siblings taking up the attention he got away with a lot more than Sanada could ever dream of getting away with at his age. But at least if he suggested and helped to set up the online shogi he was still spending some bonding time with grandfather.
As the waiter came near, Sanada waved him down and began ordering, adding in what Tezuka said he wanted to keep things simple.
Content to let Sanada do the ordering Tezuka sat back and watched his lifelong rival. Maybe some distraction from all things Yukimura and French would be a good thing for Sanada. “The young ones do get more audacious.” He remarked, remembering his run in with Rikkai’s young ace and Shitenhouji’s former tensai.
“True. But it can be good to have someone give us a push. I know I can be a bit stubborn and traditional at times,” Sanada said. And while he would never understand of Pokemon Go he was at least learning to embrace the journal system and even catching on to a few tricks to make his posts better.
“Hm.” Was all Tezuka had to offer on that suggestion. “Sometimes tradition has its place.” He himself was still finding his feet on the journaling system considering he hadn’t even been partial to text messaging before. “But I suppose it’s interesting to see how many people are interested in your rock.”
Sanada nodded in agreement. He thought that Japanese traditional arts, clothes, and sports were especially important and didn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy a modern lifestyle, too. “I was surprised that people seem to be liking the photos. I just wanted to test out adding a photo so took a picture of the closest thing at hand. And now it even has a name and tag.” Sanada was proud that his family rock was getting the acknowledgement it deserved even if it came from odd photos he took of the rock.
“The internet does find fascination with odd things.” Tezuka still regretted ever wondering what doge was/stood for. Or that time he had rather innocently wandered into something called 4chan by trying to research for an essay. “However it isn’t always a permanent interest.” Though really Sanada’s stone was one of the least offensive things on there. “These things are fleeting.” He finished, spotting their server carrying a large tray toward them.
“Maybe. But the family rock has last this long. I’m sure it will weather the internet just fine,” Sanada said. He then thanked the server as their beers and food were placed in front of them. “Shall we drink to your future success at the tournament?”
Lifting his own beer Tezuka inclined his head. “I will drink to that.” After a moment of careful deliberation he added. “And to that of your kouhai.” Really, Kirihara’s success was impressive and something Sanada could be rightly proud of.
Sanada found himself actually grinning as he thought of Kirihara and how far he’d come in his tennis this season. He was infinitely proud of the brat. “To well played tennis games then,” Sanada said and gently clinked their cups together before taking a large swig of it.
“To tennis.” Tezuka echoed, taking a swig of his own beer as was proper for a toast, he’d slow down with the second one.
“Kirihara’s been doing really well at this tournament. Have you been following it?” Sanada asked. Happy to talk about tennis and Kirihara’s success so far. He hoped it held out for the last couple of rounds.
What a redundant question. Tezuka sipped at his beer again to give Sanada time to realise it before he replied. “I have indeed. He is playing a good tournament.” And if he could keep up the level of drive and concentration he could easily take the win from what Tezuka had seen. “Miami might present the greater challenge.” Two important tournaments in such close order could prove taxing if Kirihara didn’t pace himself early on.
“His team will probably tell him not to push as hard if he wins this one,” Sanada said. Not caring if Tezuka felt the question or observations obvious. He was proud of his former teammate and was going to be smug and brag about him.
“Hm.” Making a vague noise Tezuka picked at the edamame and popped one into his mouth. “And is he going to listen?” He finally replied, giving Sanada a knowing look. After all where restraint was concerned Kirihara may not have had the best role model.
“Maybe not to his coach. But he’d listen to - “ Sanada cut himself off not in the mood to even want to mention Yukimura’s name let alone think about him. “He’s surrounded himself with good people. Hopefully he’ll listen to them.” He distracted himself by tearing into some of the yakiniku in front of him.
Feeling no need to add to that Tezuka nodded and turned his focus on his own order. Sanada always had been the emotional one out of the two of them, ruled by his passions and regularly brought down because of them - and not just by Tezuka, who only resorted to using them against his old friend/rival when Sanada was being particularly obnoxious about something, he’d like to add. “I look forward to seeing how far he can go.” He finally offered, hoping it might distract his companion from mauling the rest of his meal.
“He’s a Rikkai alum. I’m sure he’ll go all the way,” Sanada said still happy to boast about Kirihara even when annoyed by his travelling companion. “How do you rate your own odds coming up?” Sanada asked.
That was a good question and his answer would have to walk the fine line of showing confidence yet not encourage overly ambitious expectations. “I think there will a number of interesting matches.” Tezuka settled on after a moment of consideration. “The participating players are quite varied.” Of course he was aiming for the win but should that turn out to not be feasible he’d rather not leave himself open for Sanada’s gloating. It was certainly one of his least appreciated character traits.
Sanada rolled his eyes at Tezuka’s answer. “I’m not the press. You don’t have to give me something so boring. How’s your arm and shoulder?” He asked before he waved down the waiter to order sake since his beer was almost gone.
Noting the switch with a very much internal resigned sigh Tezuka nodded. “It’s mostly fine, or I would not be playing.” It had taken a few tries but that lesson has finally sunk in, for the most part. “Of course there is always a risk.” Once broken some things simply were not as resilient as they once had been - Sanada surely knew just how that felt with his knees. “But I want to see what I can do.”
Sanada nodded. He could understand wanting to challenge yourself and see what you were capable of. It was the same thing Yuk- no he told himself he wasn’t going to think about him. He downed the remaining bit of his beer and started munching on more meat. “That’s good. I’m sure you’ll go far as long as nothing crops up.” Tezuka had the skills and mental fortitude to go far in any tournament as long as injuries didn’t plague him.
Inclining his head in a silent thank you Tezuka continued to pick away at his edamame, his beer depleting at a much more reasonable rate than Sanada’s. If they were the regular kind of friends this might have been the point where somebody else could possibly have asked about what was so obviously bothering Sanada - Tezuka limited himself to also ordering them some water and pushing a glass over to the other man once it arrived. “I didn’t see kendo on the list of Olympic sports for Tokyo.” He remarked when it looked like Sanada might get stuck in a permanent sulk.
Sanada ignored the water and poured himself some sake from the flask he had into one of the two small cups the server had brought him. He didn’t bother pouring one for Tezuka since he had made it clear he planned on being boring. At the mention of kendo he grumbled and took a sip of his sake. “We failed to win the bid to have it placed as a sport. Which is ridiculous because the home country can include extra sports and including kendo would have been a strong show of support to the sport. And the international federation has participants in dozens of countries so they can’t argue it’s too Japan centric a sport.” He was still annoyed that they had excluded kendo. It was a tradition rich sport with clear point guides and rules. It was perfectly suited for the Olympics.
“I heard they added skateboarding and surfing as well as karate.” Tezuka pointed out in a perfectly placid manner that was sure to incense the competitive part of Sanada. “Maybe they felt that two martial arts would be too much.” Dipping his lashes down he glanced at Sanada to see how his companion would take that barb.
Sanada grumbled into his sake at Tezuka’s words. Just because judo was an Olympic sport did not mean he had to be so smug. “Skateboarding isn’t even a sport. It’s a mode of transit for child hooligans,” Sanada complained. He remembered Sasuke zipping around on one while he tried to walk to the supermarket and just being a pest. “And don’t get me started on surfing.” As if Japan was known for their great surfers. Ha! Now kendo, kendo was a sport worthy of Olympic glory.
“The mastery of every sport requires dedication and skill.” Tezuka pointed out, perfectly unhelpfully. “I’m sure the athletes who will be competing deserve your regard as much as any tennis player or kendo-ka.” He took another sip from his beer, then traded it in for the water when he felt that first slow rush of warmth blooming in his cheeks and along his neck. “Maybe they will suggest Kendo next time.” He offered as a weak consolation.
“Well I’m certainly not giving up without a fight. I’ve been writing a new speech.” One he was going to have Yukimura listen to and give advice on. But he was sure Yanagi could help with his English just as well. He wasn’t going to ask Tezuka though, he’d probably try to be sneaky and sabotage him so that kendo would never make it in. “Are you going to go for the olympic team?”
“No.” Making little interconnecting condensation rings with his glass Tezuka shook his head, recalling his grandfather’s face when they had discussed this very same topic. “I’m sure there are enough eligible judo-ka who wish to compete that are more skilled than myself.” Much to his grandfather’s disappointment his passion had never fallen to judo though filial respect had at least left him competent enough to hold his own on the mat as well as off of it. It simply didn’t hold the same thrill to grapple as it did to face an opponent across the court and he did respect Sanada more than he suspected the other knew for dedicating him so completely to something that was not, could never be, tennis.
Sanada laughed at Tezuka’s answer finding it amusing and then shook his head. “I know you suck at judo. I meant for tennis.” Not that Tezuka actually sucked at judo, he was pretty sure he’d be booted off the family tree if he wasn’t at least competent. But Tezuka deserved some payback for prodding him so much about kendo not being an olympic sport.
Giving Sanada a dead eyed fish look Tezuka left no doubt about how very inappropriate he found the other man’s hilarity. “I’m hoping to return to the professional circuit before 2020.” He pointed out. “Olympic athletes shouldn’t be professionals.” He added, just to illustrate his point. Obviously this made Sanada’s question rather redundant.
Sanada just rolled his eyes at Tezuka and would have gave him a light kick under the table if he wasn’t worried about injuring the delicately constructed man. “Like that ever stops any of the other pro players in tennis? So? I’m pretty sure Kirihara will qualify but there will be at least one more slot open.”
“I am not responsible for the choices of others.” Tezuka returned with an expression Sanada might have come to know as a stubborn-ass-mule look. “Only for my own and I will not subvert the spirit of the Olympic games.” If he were a lesser man he might have suggested Yukimura for that vacant slot but he did like to think he was better than that - for the moment.
Sanada poured himself more sake and took a sip before answering Tezuka’s look and comments. “I thought every athlete dreamed of Olympic gold. You’d be a fool to turn down a chance to compete if it’s offered,” Sanada said. He would even cheer for his friend, at least until he competed against Kirihara. Then he’d probably stay true to Rikkai solidarity and cheer against Tezuka but he was sure his rival would understand.
“It is a question of integrity not of desire.” In a bid for patience Tezuka drained the last of his beer in a few steady swallows and ordered another. “This is what separates us from animals. We don’t take things simply because we want them.” He grew more animated as the alcohol worked its insidious magic. “As a society we have agreed upon these restrictions and are bound by them.” That was why there were rules, in life, in tennis, in everything that mattered.
“Except the only thing restricting you is yourself. The Olympics are open to professionals in tennis,” Sanada said and then poured himself more sake as he found his cup empty and frowned as it was only filled half way up. Had he drunk that much already. No wonder the room felt warm. “And sometimes I think animals have more fun.” Sanada liked his life, minus the current situation with he would not be named, but sometimes he did think being an animal that didn’t have to worry about school, training, family obligations or chores had the ideal life. Especially whenever he caught sight of a lazy cat…. Or Niou. He smiled as he thought about the next time he found Niou napping in the sun he should try to pet his hair like he did napping cats. Was Niou the purring or hissing type of cat?
Giving Sanada a leary look for that rather unprovoked sappy grin he was suddenly sporting Tezuka shook his head. “You would think fighting for survival every day would be fun.” He accused with a rather inelegant snort. “I prefer civilisation and all it has to offer.” Such as the truly dreadful beer he was currently imbibing.
Sanada had been thinking more along the lines of domesticated animals but he supposed being at the top of the food chain and an impressive hunter in the animal kingdom could be rewarding, too. “I suppose civilization has its perks. Like sake. Which I need more of. Do you want any?” Sanada asked as he flagged down a passing server to get another flask.
“I have to leave for a tournament tomorrow.” Tezuka reiterated for what felt like the hundredth time. Apparently much like water and stone it took a very long time for information to penetrate through Sanada’s skull and into the brain matter below.
“It’s not like I’m saying drink five bottles. And you’re travelling tomorrow, not playing. Live a little,” Sanada said with a smile. He thanked the server when he came back with the sake and refilled his cup before waving the bottle enticingly toward Tezuka and the second empty sake cup.
“The tournament starts the next day.” Tezuka pointed out, though he would have expected it to be obvious. After reconsidering the situation and drawing a surprising similarity between this and a number of evenings he had spent in Germany warding off well meaning offers of beer and other alcoholica while still far too young to drink by Japanese standards he decided on switching tactics. “Fine, one cup.” He allowed, nudging the small container over to Sanada. “It’s a good thing we don’t have to go very far.” He added as an aside to himself since dragging what was shaping up to be Sanada’s very drunk bulk through the streets was another item on his things not to do before a tournament list.
“Excellent!” Sanada said and gave Tezuka a beaming smile before pouring him some sake. “One cup won’t hurt anything and it’s no fun drinking alone.” And Tezuka was always more fun when he was a little drunk and loosened up. It also meant Tezuka would probably stop teasing him over kendo’s failure to be in the Olympics.
Lifting his cup to his lips to satisfy the scrutiny that always followed the drink being poured Tezuka took a small sip to appease Sanada. The sake was much better than the beer, he had to admit and after another little sip he set the cup back down to tell Sanada as much. “I miss German beer.” Was what his mouth came up with and he was left looking surprised at his own words for a moment before mentally shrugging and rolling with it. “I prefer their flavour.” He added since Sanada might be inclined to take any criticism on Japanese beverages as a personal offence.
“I’ve never had German beer,” Sanada said thoughtfully. It was hard for him to compare since he’d really only had Japanese beer and not a lot of it. “But I guess Japan is still pretty new at making beer compared to places in Europe. But our sake and umeshu is the best.” He was willing to give Germany the better beer title if only because beer wasn’t a Japanese creation. He was sure in a few more decades or century, Japan will have mastered beer making and be on par or better than anywhere else when it came to beer.
“They don’t really drink sake or umeshu in Germany.” Tezuka pointed out, frowning a little at Sanada being unable to appreciate just how much better beer could taste than the watery swill they were served here. “I’ll bring you back a bottle next month.” He added, making a mental note to figure out how to best transport something like that without it ending up a beer soaked pile of laundry and shards in his suitcase.
“Their loss. And if you’re bringing back a bottle you better make it two so we can drink together,” Sanada said. Because drinking with a friend was infinitely better than drinking on your own. Not that Sanada had ever been sad enough to drink on his own but he imagined it would be depressing.
“Two shouldn’t be that much harder to transport safely.” Tezuka nodded his agreement to that suggestion, though it gave rise to his next question. “Would you prefer a blonde or something darker?”
Sanada nodded at that and then gave Tezuka a blank look. “A blonde? Did we switch to people?” Sanada asked as he topped up both of their sake cups.
“No, still beers.” Tezuka despaired a little at Sanada’s lack of understanding of the fine nuances of beer. “There are different colours, depending on the ingredients and the filtration process.” He pursed his lips, the only blonde in their mutual acquaintance coming to mind. “I’m not a pimp - and you can overcome your differences with Atobe on your own.”
Sanada didn’t quite get how beer could come in so many variations but the thought of Tezuka being a pimp for Atobe was enough to make him forget about beer all together. He laughed and really wanted to ask Atobe if he would be open to having Tezuka as his pimp. “I don’t need a pimp… but I really want to see Atobe’s face if I told him you thought I thought you were pimping him to me.” He laughed again and almost spilled his drink as he tried to take a sip while still chuckling.
That...sounded ridiculous but somehow Sanada’s riotous laughter was really unfairly infectious and Tezuka had to bite his lips to mute the embarrassing giggle threatening to slip free, his ears going an alarming shade of red where they weren’t covered by untameable brunette hair. “Please don’t tell him that.” He gasped, the potential fall out somehow managing to be just as ridiculous. “I don’t need him to select me a pimp outfit.”
“Oh now I have to,” Sanada declared somewhat loudly. “It will be the gaudiest thing ever. Purple, leopard print, and all the gold.” Just picturing Tezuka in something that garish was making him laugh again. He pulled out his phone to search for Atobe’s contact information, not really planning on messaging him but definitely ready to tease Tezuka about doing so.
Eyes going wide at the deceives horror of it all - he could handle most purple, except maybe the violent Higa kind, but in combination with the animal prints he remembered playing a not negligible part in Atobe’s wardrobe together with his love of pomp and shiny things was enough to make anybody’s eyes bleed. “Sanada!” He hissed when his idiot rival pulled out his phone. “Don’t you dare!” Mind racing he added. “What if he feels you need a matching outfit?!” He raises both eyebrows, somehow the image of Sanada with a fur covered top hat going bare chested in gold lame pants popping up before his inner eye and sending him into a helpless bout of giggles. “You could really display your muscles then.” He added with a wheeze.
Sanada’s eyes widened at the thought of being shoved into something just as atrocious, not even stopping to wonder why Atobe would want to dress him up to. “No. He’d try to put me in some horrible floor length fur coat. He keeps complaining I’m naked in my icons. I think he’s jealous,” Sanada said that last part as seriously as he could while still traumatized by the horror of all the strange things Atobe could dress him in.
“Of your nakedness or of you displaying your nakedness?” Tezuka followed the random topic switch with the ease of those well alcoholically lubricated. “I don’t think he has anything to be ashamed of himself.” He pointed out regarding the first possibility. “Maybe he is shy about it?” It was a strange thought, but then all the spectacle could well be used to hide any number of things. “Have you seen him naked?” For try as he might he could not remember ever sharing a locker room or a shower with Hyoutei’s former question.
“No. But don’t you think he’s a little…. Noodley?” Sanada asked using the word that his niece and nephew liked to use all of the time. “Should we invite him to the onsen? Maybe that will help.” They could see if Atobe really had any reason to be shy and if they were all naked together they could bond and Atobe could get over his adversity to nudity.
“Not at all.” Tezuka refuted that suggestion with a firm shake of his head. “Do you remember the Tannhäuser? He’d need muscles for that.” A companionable onsen trip did sound nice though. “We can invite him if you don’t tell him about the...pimp thing.” He offered as a compromise.
Sanada still thought he was noodley but the Tannäuser was a really annoying move so maybe he wasn’t noodley everywhere, just compared to him. “Fine. No pimp talk. But you’re the one who brought it up first,” Sanada said with a chuckle thinking of horrible pimp outfits again.
Accepting his defeat in the pimp matter with as much graciousness as possible Tezuka shook his head with a sigh and drained an amount of his watery beer. “We could invite him to come drinking too, next time.” He suggested, the two separate topics of conversation crashing into each other and creating a strange mixture.
“Well beer after the onsen is a popular thing to do,” Sanada said finding this plan agreeable even if it would mean putting up with a certain amount of Atobe telling grandiose stories of his greatness for a while.
“You should invite him then.” Tezuka suggested, congratulating himself on pushing that off on Sanada who apparently had no shame in the online realm or outside of it anyway.
“Fine. I’ll ask him when we meet up for dinner.” He hadn’t told Atobe they were meeting up for dinner yet. But it seemed like something nice to do this coming week that didn’t involve Yukimura or thinking about him.
That sounded like a solid plan and Tezuka nodded his agreement. “Best not to mention cockroaches.” He suggested, remembering the way Atobe had lost all appetite during their short conversation. “He’s a little squeamish.”
“I don’t think cockroaches like the onsen, Tezuka,” Sanada said before laughing.
“During dinner.” Tezuka managed through another burst of giggles. “But that might be a good argument for Atobe to come.” He added after a moment of tipsy consideration. “Escape from the cockroach stronghold.” The thought of the cockroaches establishing a suspiciously Hyoutei-esque kingdom drew another bout of chuckles from Seigaku’s somber former captain.
Sanada didn’t fully understand what was setting Tezuka off but he couldn’t help laughing along with Tezuka anyway. “It’s a good chance to bathe in peace without cockroaches watching,” Sanada said with a chuckle. Though he hoped Atobe didn’t mind that he and Tezuka would be watching since they were doing it for the scientific reason of figuring out if Atobe had a reason to be shy or not.
At the thought of cockroaches spying on Atobe in the shower there was just no helping it anymore. Hiding his face in both hands Tezuka laughed so hard his shoulder were shaking, only little broken up gasps actually escaping after the first burst had passed.
It no longer mattered what Tezuka was laughing about. Watching his friend lose it and struggle to breathe through laughter just made Sanada’s laughing worse. “Stop…. It’s too much,” Sanada struggled to get out as he wiped his eyes from the tears caused by laughing too much.
Slipping his glasses off once the laughter had at last run its course Tezuka wiped at his own eyes before blinking owlishly at the hulking blur that was Sanada. It really had been a long time since he had laughed this hard, in fact he couldn’t even remember the last time. “Ah…” he sighed, leaning back. “Shall we head back then?” He suggested, noting that the beers were gone and all that remained of the sake was a few drops in the bottle and his half filled cup.
Sanada nodded, yawning a little now that most of his laughter had subsided. “Cockroaches,” He muttered to himself as he stood up. Of all the things for Atobe to fuss over it would of course be some random bug. He dug out his wallet and headed toward the register at the front, not quite as steady on his feet as he had been earlier.
Sighing at that traitorous yawn Tezuka got up as well to collect Sanada from the register and steer him toward the door. “Come on, look alive.” He needled when the taller man shuffled too slowly for his taste.
“So impatient,” Sanada grumbled as he tucked his wallet away and made for the door. He paused to yawn again before stepping out into the cool spring air. “So onsen and drinking with Atobe? When are you back?” He was not going to do onsen and drinking with Atobe on his own.
“On March twenty sixth if things go well, but I am participating in a Futures tournament in Tsukuba until the first of April.” Then there might be some downtime until the next tournament in Taipei at the nineth. When Sanada continued to lag behind Tezuka wrapped a firm arm around the taller man to make sure he didn’t stop for a quick nap against a lamppost or in a ditch.
“Hmmm,” Sanada said trying to think about all those dates and tournament names. He automatically moved his own arm around Tezuka when Tezuka’s came around him and leaned more on the lithe man. “So April?” He asked when he was sure he figured out all those dates. April was still a nice time for onsen.
“Yes.What day in that week is best for you?” Steering Sanada down the street Tezuka had to slow down when they reached the first corner, letting a group of older men pass them by with a polite nod, blandly ignoring their amused and knowing looks at the way Sanada was drooping against his side. When they were gone he gave Sanada a resigned look and prodded him into moving again. “You’re lucky you are a martial artist, you’d be the worst salary man ever and they would eat you alive.” Was his verdict as they shuffled across the street.
“Whaddya mean?” Sanada asked around another yawn. He idly batted Tezuka’s bony fingers away from him even as he snuggled up more against the other man’s side. “Nobody eats me.”
This was like the pimp discussion all over again. Tezuka endured the snuggling, which from a man of Sanada‘s size was not as easy to do as one would have hoped and dragged him the last few steps to the safety of the curb. “Don‘t hang off of me like that in the middle of the street.” He grumbled, giving Sanada another, firmer prod to make sure he wouldn‘t fall asleep and in part just to be vindictive for what felt like a little bit of drool stuck to his neck.
Sanada snorted and half laughed as that poke hit a ticklish spot. His feet got tripped up on nothing and only reaching out for a lamp post kept him from toppling over and taking Tezuka with him. “You’re boring,” Sanada said as he let go of lamp post and latched onto Tezuka again, yawning against his neck. He should have got Tezuka at least another beer or flask of sake.
“So sorry I don‘t share your preference for drunken displays of affection in moving traffic,” Tezuka returned blandly, grunting softly at the strain of suddenly supporting all of Sanada‘s not inconsiderable bulk. “I think you‘ve gotten fat,” He added, trying to see in which direction they needed to head now, a mission made needlessly difficult by Sanada eclipsing most of his view.
“What?!” Sanada said as he pulled back a bit at that. “It’s muscle. Muscle.” He gave a flex and patted his arm to show Tezuka just how much muscle he had. He then reached for his shirt to lift it up to show off his abs but tripped on a bump in the sidewalk and was forced to cling back onto Tezuka. He laughed then played it off like he wanted to do that the whole time and ran his hand down Tezuka’s arm half petting it. “That’s why you keep getting injured. Not enough muscle. Don’t skip arm day.”
Giving Sanada a blank look Tezuka released the other man he had reflexively caught to let gravity do its thing. “I do not ‘skip arm day’,” he informed his rival archly. “I am simply trying to keep the muscle between my ears trained as well.” And besides not everybody shared Sanada‘s tendency to bulk up, something young Kunimitsu had been deeply resentful of more than once.
Sanada managed to keep his own balance for all of one second before falling to the ground with an umph. He chuckled and then looked up at Tezuka with a pout. “You dropped me.” That wasn’t what friends, or rivals, were supposed to do.
“Maybe you shouldn’t skip legs day.” Tezuka pointed out cooly then leaned down to help Sanada back to his feet. “Your ego is going to have worse bruises than your backside from that tomorrow.” He informed the taller man.
Sanada threw his arm back around Tezuka and decided to forgive him for letting him fall since he helped him back up. “My ego is fine,” Sanada boasted, “And so are my legs.” Minus his knees which liked to act like those of an 80 year old from time to time. But his legs were still muscled and amazing.
Shaking his head Tezuka’s lips quirked into a hint of a wry smile. Sanada really was very solidly built - from his chest, his legs all the way to his ego and his skull, sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse. “You’re lucky we don’t do this more often.” He remarked, glad to see the familiar silhouette of Mikiya Mansion appear around the next corner. “You would lose your ferocious demon image.”
“I don’t need to be a demon anymore… Just like you don’t need to be a pillar,” Sanada paused in his stumbling shuffle to give a mighty yawn, his eyes growing heavy. “Though you make a good pillar.”
“I make an abysmal bed if you think you can fall asleep on me.” Tezuka pointed out helpfully, giving Sanada’s ticklish side another prod to motivate the other man to keep moving. “So unless you care to spend the night on the street outside I recommend we adjourn to my room.”
Sanada squeaked, a noise he would deny making for life, and jumped a little as he was prodded again. “Stop that,” He muttered but did as Tezuka wanted and continued shuffling toward the building. Mostly because the promise of a bed was much better than sleeping on Tezuka and his bony elbows.
Satisfied with Sanada moving whatever the reason Tezuka hoped he would still remember the exact location of that ticklish spot just in case it might ever come in handy again. “Good boy.” He praised when they had shuffled through the entrance hall and down the corridor to his small apartment. “Try not to fall over now.” He instructed, carefully leaning Sanada against the wall so he could retrieve his keys from his pocket.
“Not a dog,” Sanada said around a yawn as he got comfy against the wall. It really wasn’t that bad a spot to close his eyes for a few moments.
Keeping his view on the matter to himself Tezuka fumbled the key into the lock as quickly as his own alcohol clumsy fingers would allow. “I put out a futon for you.” He informed Sanada when the door finally swung open and he reached inside to flip the light switch on. “But I’ll probably be gone when you wake up tomorrow.”
“Good. I’d have to sleep on top of you if we were going to share,” Sanada said as he pushed himself off of the wall and stumbled the three steps into Tezuka’s room and into Tezuka at the same time. He let out an omph as he grabbed hold of Tezuka to keep them both standing.
“You would not be sleeping on top of me.” Tezuka protested, just in case that scenario would ever come to pass. “It would make much more sense if I were to be on top.” He had only just completed his very logical explanation when Sanada slammed into him with all the grace of a tumbling tree, the momentum in combination with the mass proving too much for him to compensate unprepared, his shoulder giving a warning twinge just before they both fell, landing thankfully on the two futons taking up most of the available space.
After the room had stopped moving, Sanada let out a laugh and then lifted up a bit from Tezuka so as to not further squish him. “Looks like I ended up on top anyway.” He rolled off of Tezuka and then tugged his friend to him like he would a giant teddy bear. “Though you on top makes more sense. We can’t squish you before a tennis game.” He yawned and was quite content to just nod off right where he was now that he was horizontal and not on a street.
“And it was deeply uncomfortable.” Tezuka grumbled, sitting up and giving his shoulder a wary rub before glancing over at Sanada. “Take at least your shoes and your jacket off, I have a spare toothbrush if you want it.” He instructed, giving the taller man a shove when it seemed like his words had fallen on deaf ears. “You will thank me for it tomorrow.”
Sanada grumbled and struggled to tug his jacket off before kicking his shoes off. It really was rude of him to wander around Tezuka’s room still wearing them and to be in bed with them on. He’d worry about apologizing tomorrow. Feeling hot from his exertions of fighting with his jacket and shoes, he tugged his shirt off before forcing himself to sit. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall, the other side of the kitchen.” Having removed his own jacket and shoes Tezuka crawled across the futons to fetch his wash bag and returned to the door. “Come on, I’ll show you.” He suggested after retrieving a second pair of slippers as well.
“Know where it is,” Sanada said with a yawn as he dragged himself to his feet with help of furniture and the nearby wall. He stumbled over to the slippers, looked at them blearily as if they were a foreign concept and then slid them on his feet after some trial and error. “Don’t know how Atobe lives here…” He was fine roughing it when he needed to. And Mikiya was hardly roughing it. But right now he would very much appreciate an ensuite bathroom and a large soft comfortable bed to fall into.
“The same way we all do.” With his own slippers securely in place Tezuka took over the part as Sanada’s guide once more. “It’s not much worse than sharing with a large family would be.” He guessed as they quietly made their way down the hall once again. “The bathroom is through here.” He explained just in case Sanada’s somnambulant brain had forgotten his previous knowledge, opening the door to the common washroom with the second door leading to a row of toilet cubicles. “Try not to make too much of a mess.” He advised then set his bag down the edge of a sink to dig out toothpaste and toothbrush.
Sanada didn’t even bother with words that time. He just mumbled out something nonsensical and went to make use of the toilets. Where he half nodded off standing up and jerked awake suddenly when his head smacked into the opposite wall. Embarrassing but at least he didn’t make a mess anywhere. He flushed and wandered back out to where Tezuka was and washed his hands and then stared blearily at Tezuka since he had mentioned something about a toothbrush and that seemed like something he should use.
Glancing over at the more asleep than awake man Tezuka retrieved the spare toothbrush he always kept in his bag and after removing the plastic wetted it and added a dab of toothpaste before handing it over to Sanada. “I hope mint is all right.” He offered, rinsing his own and returning it to the travel satchel. “I’ll be right back.” He added, giving Sanada a wary look before disappearing in the direction of the toilets as well.
Sanada took the brush with a muttered ‘Thanks’ and began brushing his teeth. He watched sleepily as Tezuka disappeared, his hand moving more on muscle memory than with any actual thought as he continued to brush his teeth while staring blankly at the direction Tezuka had disappeared to.
Upon his return Tezuka was greeted by the sight of Sanada listing dangerously, the sink the only thing keeping the other man upright with a quite impressive amount of foam coming from his mouth, while facing away from aforementioned sink. “Sanada…” rejoining his rival he stole the toothbrush from the lax hand before wetting the corner of his towel and wiping the foam away carefully. Once the lug had been taken care off he gave his shoulder a brisk shake. “Oi, come on - let’s get you in bed.” He ordered in his best ‘fifty laps for everybody’ captain’s voice.
Sanada blinked at Tezuka and let him lead him through the last of brushing his teeth and back toward the room. He hooked his arm back around Tezuka and was half snuggling against his neck as he shuffled his way back toward their room. The only thing keeping him motivated was the knowledge that Tezuka was evil when it came to poking and that there was a bed at the end of the walk.
Breathing a sigh of relief once they were back inside his room Tezuka let his rival lug drop onto the futon and after collecting his sleepwear switched the light off. “Good Night Sanada.” He offered quietly once he was changed and had crawled under his covers, the March air still holding a chill. With his covers tucked up to his nose there was just one last request he had to make of the softly snoring man. “Please don’t puke.”
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