#fujigata

[zeni-gatto]

Fujizeni ❤️

[indzae-mayumi]

Winter, You, And Me

(Fujima x Hanagata fanfic. "Slam Dunk" is by Inoue Takehiko.)

(I dedicate this fanfic to my fellow Kenji x Toru fan, @commodoreseverus. Also, I merged the events from the manga with new technology, so please give me the liberty to write this fic.)

****

Kenji sat at a table by the window inside a coffee shop. He faced outside the window, idly looking at the people passing by. It was a few days before Christmas, but he was stuffed with lots of projects and things to study in university. He needed a break. Man, it was like his time at Shoyo was child's play compared to university life.

Shoyo got him in high school because he was smart and had leadership skills. His leadership was tested when he became the player coach for the Shoyo basketball team. Despite that, during his third year in high school, they lost to the underdog Shohoku during the prelims in the spot for the district matches for the Interhigh. However, they won the spot in Kanagawa for the Winter Invitational last year, beating the almighty Kainan. And they were able to get to the second spot in all of Japan during the winter games.

Kenji smiled as he thought of it. It was a bittersweet victory, and he and the third years were able to taste what it was like to last to the finals in a national game. (But if only they reached second during Interhigh too). Seeing his life from last year, he went from being very active in sports to ultimately retiring from it because of the intensity of his course.

He was busy sipping his hot latte when more people came pouring in the coffee shop. It was cold outside, probably at freezing temperature, so going to a warm place serving warm drinks was a perfect excuse. Not that it was really an excuse to begin with, but it's perfect, nonetheless. Engineering was tough, but latte could ease out some of his burdens.

He learned that Itou had a bit of a hard time being the team captain, but the new coach hired after Kenji graduated was so nice, and yet so competitive. If other people could put it this way, it was like the new coach was the twin of Domoto-sensei from Sannoh. Hasegawa, Takano, and Nagano had also gone busy that they rarely post on SNS. So Kenji had the least idea what the three were up to.

And his thoughts led him back to the man who brought him warmth and mushy feelings back in high school: vice captain Hanagata Toru.

Toru and Kenji were still able to hang out for the first few days during the summer break earlier this year, but because of Toru's medical course, they were not really able to enjoy their break at all. They had always wanted to go to Okinawa to enjoy the beach (even though there were a lot of beaches in Kanagawa and Maki had been surfing all the time). But they never really got to.

And two days ago, it was Toru who sent a text message to Kenji, telling him he was free this day. Kenji felt his heart leap, missing his crush so much. He had a thing for this former vice captain, and he wanted to confess today. He had long been keeping it inside him, and he thought he would regret if he failed to confess.

And they agreed to meet here at the coffee shop.

He was excited to give the gift he had purchased at a luxurious jewelry shop yesterday. He knew that Toru was going to love his gift. But he knew that the best gift he can give to his best friend is his romantic feelings.

As he was deep into his own thoughts, the door of the coffee shop opened once more, and in came the object of Kenji's affection. Toru waved with a smile and hurried towards the table.

"Omatase," Toru greeted, his face and voice a bit apologetic for making Kenji wait. "Did you wait too long?"

"Mm, daijobou," Kenji replied with a smile. "I had been here for thirty minutes, but it's okay. The scene outside fascinated me."

"I'm going to get some coffee first," Toru replied with a smile.

Kenji nodded before watching the man go to the counter. Toru seldom smiled, but when he did, it was a trillion-yen magic. It made Kenji fall hopelessly in love even more with his best friend. He watched as his best friend ordered coffee, up until Toru went back to the table with his buzzer.

"I'm really sorry," Toru apologized again. "I had to submit a report from one of our subjects and had to rush in. Even foot traffic is bad."

Kenji laughed. He specifically chose this coffee shop because it was near Toru's apartment and his uni. His apartment was blocks away, but he was very considerate.

"You know, I may be very brazen for bringing this up, but I need a roommate," Toru said sheepishly. "Okaa-san can afford my living expenses and my tuition, but going home to an empty apartment is lonelier than I thought."

Kenji's ears perked up. What a surprise! Toru's apartment was nearer his university too. He knew there was a spare room because Toru showed him around during the summer break. Kenji was envious because the ideal temperature of the apartment. His wish had come true. He was wondering if he could transfer to Toru's apartment because his current one was small, and not to mention, the heating was terrible. Despite coming from a good family, Kenji's parents technically did not want to spoil their son, so he had to put up with it and study diligently so he could ask for a nicer apartment if he get excellent grades.

"I don't mind rooming in with you," Kenji said. "With that, we both can have someone we rely on."

"Great!" Toru said with a smile. "Just tell me when you're going to transfer. I'll help you get your things to my place. Fortunately, we don't have classes starting today until the week after New Year."

"Nice, nice," Kenji said before sipping his latte. "I'll start packing up once I get home."

As Toru only ordered americano, his buzzer buzzed a few minutes later. He excused himself and went to the counter to retrieve his drink. He gingerly came back and placed his drink on the table.

"You know, I can already imagine you being a doctor," Kenji crooned. "Are you still going to pursue psychiatry?"

Toru smiled. "Yeah. But my fallback is surgery. I realized I enjoyed watching operating room scenes in TV dramas. I can even eat a meal while watching a bloody operation scene."

Kenji laughed when he heard that. It was the first time he heard it from Toru. Before, it had been mostly about psychology and psychiatry from the other guy. Something must have changed during the course of the year.

They enjoyed catching up about life and about school. Soon, they agreed to take a stroll at the observation deck of the Tokyo Skytree.

****

It was dusk, and many people were there, crowding the place. Many took selfies, some took photos of the blue violet sky. The atmosphere warmed up because of the number of people, so those who were intolerant to the cold despite their winter clothes were grateful for the other people's warmth around them.

"Ora, ora, does it not look pretty?" Kenji asked with bated breath as he took his phone to take a photo of the sky from outside.

He was enthralled by the scenery that he did not notice Toru smiling as he took a photo of a smiling Kenji taking photos from outside. It was only after taking the photo of the sky that Kenji knew that Toru took a photo of him because Toru showed him.

"You look so... happy here, you know?" Toru said, not wanting to let it slip he meant that Kenji was cute.

"Aw, you should've told me," Kenji pouted cutely. And with a smile, he invited Toru to have a selfie with him, with the pretty evening sky as their background.

Kenji took a photo of them with his phone, and immediately after, Toru did the same. Toru said he'd make this his phone wallpaper, but when he looked at Kenji, he saw a pink blush on the former Shoyo captain's cheeks.

"Cute," he said to Kenji aloud.

"What?"

"You're... scarf is cute," Toru said thoughtfully with a smile.

Amidst the noise of the crowd, the two friends stood still closer as they enjoyed the city lights. Just then, Kenji's heart skipped a beat when he realized that Toru held him by his hand. Toru's harm was warm and tender. It made Kenji think that, perhaps, the former vice-captain had feelings for him too. Oh how he wished! Kenji could feel the erratic drumming of his heart when Toru leaned forward to his ears.

"Let's go somewhere private," Toru told him solemnly.

****

That "private" space happened to be Toru's apartment. Toru was a minimalist, so he had a small Christmas tree on the table. Nothing very fancy. No lights, no decors. Just that tree.

"I did not decorate mine," Kenji said. "There's no use, as I feel like it's winter at my place everyday."

Toru smiled, "Then, you should transfer here with me."

The invitation made Kenji blush all over again. They sat down at the couch. Kenji saw that Toru seemed uneasy, but at the same time, wanting to get something off his chest. But still the level-headed that he was, Toru took out a small package from the pocket of his hoodie. He asked Kenji to hold out his palm, and when Kenji did, Toru put in his gift before closing Kenji's fingers around the gift.

"What's this?" Kenji asked in surprise.

"Christmas gift," Toru replied. "Open it."

Kenji blinked in surprise and turned his attention to the gift. He gingerly opened the wrapping, making sure not to tear it because he thought it was a waste. What took him by surprise was a small box. Not the velvet box that usually cases engagement rings. It was a small shiny wooden box. It was simple but looked so elegant. But it was rectangular, so Kenji shook the box to guess what's inside.

The object inside was intriguing because Kenji could not guess it. For his part, Toru was amused (despite being slightly nettled still) at Kenji's shenanigans. Finally, Kenji gave up and opened the box.

Inside it was a set of two keys. But those were not ordinary keys. They were fancy, like they came from some store where you can also duplicate using fancy designs. The keys looked cute yet ritzy. And it was when Kenji had put two and two together.

"Wait, so that talk about you needing a roommate, you are inviting me over... to live with you?"

Toru gave a kind of look which, to Kenji, looked like the other guy was pleading him to stay.

"Will you?"

Kenji rolled his eyeballs as he smiled. He said of course, it was already arranged earlier that day. He would transfer to Toru's apartment and be his roommate. Toru explained that he already informed his landlord about it, and that he had two keys for Kenji. The other one was for the front door, and the other one, for the other room.

"You know, you just fulfilled one of my wishes tonight, Toru-kun," Kenji said in a sassy manner.

This time, it was Toru's turn to blush. Kenji was often haughty on court, and when he smiled, it was smug. And yet, at Toru, he seldom showed this playful smile, like he was flirting.

This time, Kenji told Toru to hold out his hand and close his eyes. Toru did as instructed, biting his lower lip in anticipation. He was wondering what Kenji would be giving for him as a gift.

Kenji fumbled with his gift and opened the small box with him. He took one of the rings inside and put it on a ring on his right hand, seeing how Toru held out his left. Lucky him. And he took Toru's hand and put on the other pair on the left finger.

Toru was surprised to find something slipped around his finger, so he opened his eyes to see a ring. He looked at Kenji with a question mark on his face, so he asked him if they were getting engaged.

"It's a couple ring," Kenji explained as he showed his hand with the other half. "I have to stand on your left side since I put yours on the left, so that when we walk together, the one you'll hold will be my right hand. And I'll be near your heart."

Toru blinked. "Uh, is that a confession?"

Kenji laughed. "Oh no. Not yet. Well, uhm... I had liked you since high school, Toru-kun. I like you a lot. I wish I had confessed to you sooner while we were still at Shoyo."

The confession did not turn out how Kenji practiced it, yet it sounded so sincere to Toru.

"I like you a lot too, Kenji, since the first time I saw you. I was envious you were a starter right off our freshman year, so I had to work hard so I can stand next to you the following year," Toru confessed.

Kenji smiled. "Aww, you just granted another wish of mine, Toru. I love you."

"You are my wish that had been granted many times over," Toru said. "But hearing you say you love me is the best wish granted of all. I love you too."

Toru grabbed Kenji by the nape and leaned forward to give his first kiss to the former player-coach of Shoyo. Kenji, meanwhile, felt his cheeks erupting as he felt Toru's soft and luscious lips on his, so he melted at his friend's touch and gave in to the kiss.

--end--