Archive of Our Own

It was the Japan Open, which meant they were back in Tokyo. Which meant something important.

This was Tezuka's chance to have them officially meet each other's parents. Because they were in a serious relationship, and Tezuka was serious about everything, and this was simply the next logical step.

Ryoma, being how he was, really didn't see the big deal. He was actually a bit grumpy about the whole thing, even if he was letting it slide.

"You're sure this is necessary?"

Tezuka nodded. "I have to assure your family of my good intentions."

Ryoma groaned, and then sighed, and then resigned himself. "They're going to be insufferable."

"I'm sure they'll be happy for you." Tezuka shifted the box of chocolates he'd brought as a gift, moving it from one hand to the other. He had put genuine thought into the selection. "Your brother already knows."

"Yeah." Ryoma nodded slowly as they arrived at the front door of the Echizen house. He stood there for a moment. "And I have to meet your cat properly."

He'd smiled at that, at least. "Yeah. Be nice, he's old."

"I will be very nice to your old cat." Tezuka meant it sincerely. He was perfectly aware that cat was number one in Ryoma's heart, and had made his peace with that.

Ryoma knocked.

Nanjirou answered with the expression of a man who had been mildly inconvenienced by his own front door. "Why are you knocking." He looked past Ryoma and his expression shifted into something between resigned and dry. "Oh. It's you."

Tezuka bowed politely. "Hello, sir."

Ryoga peered out over Nanjirou's shoulder with considerably more enthusiasm. "Oh! You brought your travel pet home to visit, Chibisuke!"

Ryoma rolled his eyes so hard it was practically audible. "Shut up. We're here for dinner."

Nanjirou sighed. "Your mom only said you were coming home."

Ryoga nodded with the sage gravity of someone who had been through this before. "You gotta warn people before bringing your boyfriend home."

Tezuka stood in the doorway and did his best to look like a man who had not just been referred to as a travel pet. This family was certainly unique. He adjusted his grip on the chocolates.

"I told Mom." Ryoma said.

Rinko appeared at last, cutting through the scene at the door with the brisk energy of someone who had been managing this household for decades and had no patience for whatever was currently happening. "Don't just stand there blocking the door, Nanjirou! Let them inside!"

Nanjirou grumbled and stepped aside with the grace of someone doing a favor he hadn't agreed to. "Come in."

Ryoma immediately made a beeline for his room.

Tezuka blinked and followed.

Ryoga followed too, apparently unconcerned about being wanted.

Ryoma picked up Karupin the moment he got his hands on him and turned around to find both of them standing in his doorway. "What the heck."

Tezuka looked at the cat, which was already purring against Ryoma's chest with the supreme contentment of an animal that knew exactly where it stood in the household hierarchy.

Ryoga grinned and produced his camera. "I wanted to see the tearful reunion!"

"You're a weirdo." Ryoma informed him, and carried Karupin to the living room.

Tezuka followed. Ryoga trailed behind them both. He was, in fact, the weirdo Ryoma had called him.

Ryoma settled on the sofa with Karupin installed comfortably in his lap. Nanjirou looked at Tezuka with the expression of a man composing his opening remarks.

Rinko arrived before anything could happen, carrying drinks for everyone and moving with the quiet efficiency of someone who had learned to head off situations at the pass. "You look well, Ryoma. I think you grew more."

Ryoma did visibly perk up at the sight of his mother. "Maybe. I've been working out."

"I hope you have. You're a professional athlete."

"I've been eating better, too."

Nanjirou snorted. "So not just Fanta and shrimp crackers."

Ryoga nodded enthusiastically, apparently delighted to have supporting evidence. "That guy he brought home eats with him every night and makes sure he takes care of himself. Right, Chibisuke?"

Ryoma rolled his eyes. "I can take care of myself."

Nanjirou did not look convinced, in the way of a parent who has watched a person survive on questionable dietary choices for most of their life.

Tezuka looked at Ryoma. "You have gotten better at caring for yourself."

"Yeah. Because I'm an adult."

Tezuka nodded, supportive. "You are."

"Is that so?" Ryoga grinned. "So did you bring him home to announce your pending marriage or something?"

Ryoma's brow furrowed. "He just thought we should meet each other's parents."

Nanjirou nodded. "How traditional."

"Aw, and here I was hoping to be your best man." Ryoga bemoaned this with some feeling.

Tezuka looked at Ryoga like he had sustained a head injury at some point that had never fully healed.

Ryoma's face had gone red. "You're so weird."

Tezuka took Ryoma's hand. "We don't have plans like that yet. But I am serious about Ryoma. So, someday."

Rinko's whole expression softened. "Oh my."

Nanjirou folded his arms. "So I'm really not getting grandkids." He sighed, processed this, seemed to accept it. "Can't be helped."

Ryoma glared. "Stop making weird statements."

"Your boyfriend is always welcome to come home with you when you're in town." Rinko said to Tezuka, warmly, as if the last thirty seconds hadn't happened.

"He has his own family." Ryoma said.

Ryoga shrugged. "Isn't it more comfortable for you two to stay somewhere together at this point? You already share hotel rooms."

"Well, yeah, but my bed is too small."

Rinko chuckled. "We can get you a larger bed."

Ryoma looked away and didn't argue.

Nanjirou snorted. "We have a guest room."

Rinko hushed her husband gently. "Ryoma will want to sleep in the same room as Tezuka-san, I'm sure."

Tezuka sat through this conversation with admirable composure and no outward expression.

Ryoma nodded, focusing intently on Karupin's ears. "Yeah. I don't want to force him to sleep in a room alone."

Ryoga nodded seriously. "He'd get lonely, right?"

"Yeah."

Nanjirou raised an eyebrow at Tezuka. "Is that true, Tezuka-kun?"

Tezuka cleared his throat. "At this point, I've gotten used to having your son beside me."

Ryoma's face went scarlet.

Nanjirou started laughing. "Totally smitten, huh?"

Ryoga laughed too. "They're cute, right?"

Nanjirou nodded, considering. "Kind of awkward, but it's cute."

"Well, Ryoma apparently just likes awkward." Ryoga said.

Ryoma glared at his brother. "He's cool when he isn't around weirdos."

"He's cool on a tennis court. That's all that really matters." Ryoga chuckled.

Ryoma shook his head. "I'm not just with him because of tennis."

Tezuka squeezed his hand. He knew that. He had always known that, even when Ryoma had needed a little convincing that he knew it.

Rinko nodded, something fond and understanding settling into her expression. "I'm sure the tennis is a nice perk, though. I always loved watching Nanjirou play."

"We get it, you like him." Nanjirou said, waving a hand. "We aren't going to break you up."

Rinko patted her husband's back. "Children grow up. You have to accept it."

Nanjirou balked. "Me? He's the one acting weird!"

Ryoma frowned. He just hated this kind of thing. The whole performance of it, the way his family turned everything into an occasion.

"Because you're making him uncomfortable!" Rinko said.

Tezuka thought, with some quiet certainty, that Ryoma's family was very loud. He was also of the opinion that they loved Ryoma in a way that came out sideways, which was something he had come to understand over time.

Nanjirou grumbled. "He knows how we are. What was he expecting?"

Ryoma stood up. "Come on, Buchou. Let's just go."

Nanjirou blinked. "Buchou?"

Tezuka bowed to Ryoma's family with polished composure. "Good evening."

Ryoga snorted. "Chibisuke is kind of kinky, huh?"

Ryoma ignored this entirely and looked down at Karupin, who had returned to the sofa and was staring at him with reproachful yellow eyes. "Sorry I have to leave so soon. Blame Dad and Aniki."

Rinko hugged her son firmly. "Try not to let them get to you."

Ryoma sighed against her shoulder. "Why do they have to be so weird?"

"They show their love in unconventional ways." She said it as though this were a reasonable explanation rather than a diplomatic reading of the situation.

"Kunimitsu doesn't like loud places."

Tezuka shook his head. "It's fine." He meant it. Loud was manageable. He'd survived louder.

Ryoma sighed. "I just wanted everyone to be normal about this. He's my boyfriend."

Ryoga dropped the teasing tone, just for a moment. "I know. You're desperately in love. I'm happy for you, Chibisuke. I guess I should bring my guy home next."

Nanjirou sighed dramatically. "I can't believe the Echizen family name dies here."

Ryoga grinned. "Maybe I'll adopt some poor orphaned kid or something."

Ryoma rolled his eyes. "Sure, that's a great idea."

Ryoga shrugged, casual as anything. "Ralphie wants to." He said it like a footnote. Like it wasn't a bomb dropped in the middle of a perfectly ordinary sentence.

Both Ryoma and Nanjirou stared at him.

Nanjirou sputtered. "Really?"

Ryoga nodded. "Yeah, could be fun."

Nanjirou shook his head, the part of him that was still a father reasserting itself. "You need to think about something like that seriously."

"I have." Ryoga replied, unruffled.

Nanjirou's expression shifted entirely. "Well that's great, then! I'll have grandkids after all!"

Ryoma looked deeply uncomfortable.

"On that note," Ryoga said, with the energy of a man who had been waiting for precisely the right moment, "I got married."

Ryoma's mouth fell open.

Nanjirou closed his eyes. "Please don't tell me you went to Vegas."

"Nope. Courthouse in the Dakotas."

Nanjirou sighed. "That's a little better. But why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Was waiting to see you in person." Ryoga shrugged. "Ralph's at the hotel. I'll bring him by later."

Tezuka looked at Ryoma with quiet, private astonishment. Was this how your brother did everything?

Ryoma just shook his head, the gesture of someone who had long since stopped being surprised by his brother and had simply started cataloguing. He supposed there were certain advantages to having an American husband. One of which was apparently a very loose definition of when news needed to be shared.

Nanjirou, having recovered, found himself indignant on different grounds. "You should have brought him over! He's your husband now!"

Ryoga laughed. "Well, I hadn't told anyone yet."

"Regardless, we like Ralph." Nanjirou said.

Ryoma frowned at the implication.

Tezuka also frowned.

Rinko rolled her eyes at her husband with the quiet precision of someone who had been doing this for many years. "When you get married, please remember to invite your family, Ryoma."

Ryoma sighed. "Whatever."

Nanjirou raised his hands. "I didn't mean it like that. I like Tezuka-kun. He's a hard worker."

Tezuka stood there, uncertain how one was supposed to respond to this particular form of approval.

Nanjirou laughed, a little awkward now. "It's just that Ryoma's still so young."

"He's nineteen." Tezuka said. Ryoga was only twenty-one.

"Right, still a teenager."

"We intend to take our time." Tezuka said.

Nanjirou smiled at this. "Good, good." A pause. "Besides, you two are so busy. You should focus on your careers."

"We have no intentions of letting our guards down." Tezuka said. "We just intend to continue to enjoy each other's company as we do so."

Nanjirou considered this. "I just hope you can keep your tennis and your relationship separate."

"Of course. Ryoma would be upset if it was otherwise."

Ryoma nodded.

Nanjirou looked at his son for a long moment, something shifting in his expression. Then he sighed. "Then I suppose you have my blessing."

"We weren't looking for it." Ryoma said, prickly.

Tezuka put his hand on Ryoma's back, gently. "Shall we go play with your cat?"

Ryoma nodded immediately. "Yeah. Let's go to my room."

"Dinner will be soon, don't get too busy!" Nanjirou called after them.

Ryoma stomped off without dignifying that with a response.

Ryoga moved to follow, but his escape route was cut off by Rinko, who was already holding out a phone with the quiet authority of a woman who had not forgotten.

"Call Ralph-kun and invite him over right now, Ryoga."

Nanjirou snickered from the sofa. "Thought you'd escape, huh?"

Ryoma settled onto the floor of his old room, Karupin finding him immediately and installing himself in his lap with the ease of an animal who had been waiting all evening for exactly this. Tezuka sat beside him on the floor, back against the bed, and for a moment they were just two people sitting quietly together, which was something they were both good at.

"Sorry about my family." Ryoma said.

Tezuka shook his head. "They're lively. But they seem kind." A pause. "Your brother is a bit much, though."

Ryoma smiled despite himself. "He just had to show off that he can get married and adopt kids."

Tezuka nodded. "Perhaps you should settle on American citizenship, while we're thinking about the future." He had to choose before turning twenty-two.

Ryoma's brow furrowed. "But I love Japan."

"I do as well." A beat. He also loved Ryoma. He left that part unsaid, filed away in the same category as most things that mattered to him.

Ryoma smiled wryly, running his thumb along Karupin's ear. "We're together. We don't need a wedding or kids."

"But it's okay for you to want things. I'd like a wedding, even if it's just symbolic."

Ryoma looked at him. "I never really thought about any of this stuff before you."

"We're still young. We have time to decide."

Ryoma nodded slowly. There was a small, quiet fear somewhere in the back of his mind that didn't bear examining too closely. "Yeah."

Tezuka took his hand. "But if we do get married, I want an actual ceremony."

"I know." Ryoma leaned into him slightly. "It's a little surprising, though."

"Why?" Tezuka looked genuinely puzzled.

"You just seem like the type to do things quietly."

Tezuka considered this. "It can be a quiet wedding. For my family."

Ryoma's stomach turned over. "What if they don't approve?"

"I've already told them about you." Tezuka said. "They're excited to meet you."

Ryoma kept his eyes on Karupin. "What if they don't like me, though? What if they want grandkids?"

"My parents trust my judgement." Tezuka said. "My cousin is going to carry on the family line, so there isn't pressure on me in that regard."

Ryoma absorbed this. "I see."

"My mother in particular wants to meet the person I've chosen."

Ryoma looked up, unexpectedly bashful. "That's a lot of pressure."

Tezuka smiled. "I know you'll impress her."

"You really think so?"

"You're an impressive man."

Ryoma snorted. "Not as impressive as you."

A comfortable quiet settled between them. Karupin purred. Outside the room, Ryoga could be heard being directed by Rinko on how to correctly invite someone to dinner.

"Also," Tezuka added, in the tone of someone adding an item to a meeting agenda, "my mother likes cats."

Ryoma laughed, genuine and surprised. "Should I bring Karupin?"

Tezuka considered this with complete seriousness. "Perhaps."

Dinner arrived with Ralph, who showed up looking calm and perfectly at home, which Tezuka noted with appreciation. He nodded to the American and took his seat.

Ryoma waved across the table. "Long time no see. Can't believe you married Ryoga."

Ralph chuckled, glancing at his husband. "Well, I figured I had to take advantage of it when he said he would. Never knew when he'd change his mind."

Rinko came to the table with yakisoba and proceeded, without comment, to give Tezuka and Ralph distinctly larger portions than everyone else. Tezuka accepted this with a brief nod. He was fairly certain he understood what it meant.

Ryoga had gone slightly quieter than usual, seated on Ralph's other side, with the look of a man who had made several dramatic announcements in one afternoon and was now reckoning with the follow-through.

He was a careless man, Tezuka decided. But there was something genuine underneath the carelessness. He'd definitely landed the better brother, either way.

Nanjirou cleared his throat. "Ryoga mentioned kids."

Ralph nodded. "He wants to adopt a child in a similar situation to the one he was in."

Nanjirou's expression shifted into something more careful. "Is that so?"

Ralph looked at Ryoga with barely-suppressed amusement. "I was surprised, honestly."

Ryoga shrugged, looking put on the spot. "I've just been thinking about it for a while."

Ryoma seized the moment. "He said it was your idea."

Ralph shook his head pleasantly. "It wasn't."

Ryoga pouted. "I have a fun-loving image to maintain. Cut it out."

"You shouldn't lie, Aniki."

Ryoga sighed. "Well, it wasn't totally a lie. Ralph said it sounded like a good plan, once I brought it up."

"Ryoga just decided he wanted a family." Ralph said, with the ease of someone who had fully accepted this. "There's no shame in that."

Ryoga looked briefly, genuinely sheepish. Something softer underneath the bravado. "I just think being a dad sounds nice. Dad always made it look fun."

Ryoma made an uncertain sound.

Ralph smiled. "He declared out of the blue that he wanted to have a family with me. How could I say no to that."

Ryoma busied himself with his food.

"Ryoma's never made noises about wanting kids." Nanjirou said, cheerfully. "He probably thinks you're crazy!" He laughed.

Ryoga waved a hand. "He's going to be a crazy cool uncle though. The best, I bet."

Ryoma shrugged. "Won't be around much."

Ryoga nodded. "We can watch you on TV."

Ryoma nodded too, not quite sure why this conversation was making him feel edgy around the edges. Some vague, unexamined thing.

Tezuka noticed, and found Ryoma's hand beneath the table.

Ryoma squeezed it, and felt some of the tightness ease.

Nanjirou, oblivious, kept going. "Make sure to text from time to time, so the kid doesn't think you're fake!"

Rinko looked at Ryoma, quieter, something watchful in her expression. "Is everything okay?"

Ryoma nodded. "Yeah. Just bored with the conversation."

Ryoga, perhaps sensing an opportunity, grinned. "Let's dog-pile Ryoma for a while instead of me. He brought a guy home too!"

Rinko shook her head. "We don't want to overwhelm Tezuka-kun. We already know Ralph."

Ryoma glared at his brother. "He just wanted to meet my family."

Ryoga's grin widened. "That means you must be getting pretty serious, though. You going to meet his family too?"

Ryoma nodded. "He wants me to."

Ryoga snickered. "Suspicious. Bet he's planning to propose."

Tezuka simply looked at Ryoga.

Ryoma shook his head. "Stop messing with him, Aniki."

Ryoga rolled his eyes. "I'm not messing. I'm just telling the truth. You're planning to propose to my brother, right, Tezuka?"

Tezuka blinked. "Not in front of his entire family."

"And not any time soon." Ryoma added immediately, firmly, backing Tezuka up. Making sure Ryoga knew to back off.

Tezuka looked at Ryoma. Something adjusted quietly in his chest. ...Ah. I suppose not. Not if Ryoma didn't want him to.

Ryoma nodded, satisfied with having shut this down. He wasn't going to pressure Tezuka into anything. "See, Aniki? So back off."

Ryoga shrugged. "Fine, fine."

Tezuka finished dinner quietly and efficiently.

The ring in his coat pocket could wait.

They said their goodbyes. Rinko hugged Ryoma for longer than he pretended to mind, Nanjirou gave Tezuka a nod that contained something that might have been approval, and Ryoga waved from the sofa with the easy affection of a man who had already moved on to the next thing.

"I'll visit again before I leave." Ryoma told his mother.

Rinko nodded. "Try to visit a few times." She held him one more time before letting go.

They headed out into the evening together, and Tezuka asked, carefully, after they'd walked a little while: "Do you want to stay the night?"

"A larger bed is necessary to keep us in top physical condition for our upcoming matches." He said it with complete composure. Also he wanted to escape Ryoma's family, but that was secondary.

Ryoma huffed a laugh. "Come on."

They walked. After a moment: "Sorry about them."

Tezuka shook his head. "It's fine. I'm not upset." He was, a little. Not at Ryoma. Just quietly, somewhere he was working on not showing.

Ryoma looked at him. He saw it anyway. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just tired. Your brother is a lot."

"Yeah. He's so pushy." Ryoma sighed. "He shouldn't pressure you like that."

"I didn't feel pressured." Tezuka said. Which was true, in its way. He had gotten quite good at filtering out Ryoga. "I'm good at ignoring your brother at this point."

"Yeah." Ryoma smiled slightly. "You're tough."

Tezuka wasn't entirely certain about that. "Your mother seemed like a nice woman."

"My mom is the best."

"She usually lives in New York, correct? Did she come back to watch you play?"

Ryoma shook his head. "I think the timing just lined up."

"I see. That's fortunate."

Ryoma nodded. "Yeah. Come on, let's get you some rest."

They walked. A few more quiet steps, and then Tezuka said, without quite meaning to: "You don't have to come see my family tomorrow. I'm sorry I forced it on you."

Ryoma blinked. "You didn't force me."

"But you didn't want to." He'd gotten that impression at dinner. "It's fine."

"I'm nervous." Ryoma said. "It's not like I don't want to."

"It can wait until next time, then."

Ryoma stopped walking. "You're acting weird. What's really wrong?"

"Nothing important." Tezuka said. He knew he was being unreasonable. He would be fine in the morning.

The hotel arrived shortly after that, which was a mercy.

Ryoma frowned once the door was closed behind them. "You're lying."

"I don't feel like talking about it." Tezuka said simply. "I'll be fine in the morning."

Ryoma looked at him, unsettled and uncertain. "Did I do something wrong?"

Tezuka shook his head. "No. You didn't do anything wrong." Ryoma was allowed to want to take his time. It was reasonable. He knew that. "Don't worry."

Ryoma nodded slowly. "Okay. If you say so."

Tezuka carefully emptied his pockets into the nightstand drawer, folded his clothes with the precise economy of long habit, and went into the bathroom.

Ryoma watched him go, his stomach unsettled in a way he couldn't account for.

He texted a few friends. Momo texted back almost immediately. [Are you sure Buchou doesn't just have an upset stomach or something?]

[Maybe? I guess that's possible...]

[Yeah, don't worry too much about it. He's crazy about you.]

[okay. Thanks Momo.]

Tezuka was, in fact, still quietly sulking in the bathroom about his ruined plans. He knew it was unreasonable. He was working on it.

Ryoma didn't want to wait. He just didn't want to pressure Tezuka into anything.

Completely out of sync. And meanwhile, the ring sat in the nightstand drawer.

Ryoma was not a snoop.

Tezuka eventually emerged in a hotel yukata, looking tired in the particular way of someone who had been performing composure for several hours. "Your turn."

Ryoma nodded. He showered quickly and came out in a matching yukata, settling beside Tezuka on the bed.

"Tomorrow I booked the gym for training at seven."

Ryoma nodded. "Okay."

"I set an alarm for five so I can jog before breakfast. And one at six for you."

Ryoma looked at him. "You don't want me to jog with you?"

"I thought you would enjoy sleeping in. You woke up early the past few days."

Ryoma smiled softly. "Oh. Thank you."

"You aren't as good at waking up early as I am. It takes a lot out of you. And then you drink that coffee with an ungodly amount of sugar."

Ryoma laughed. "It always offends you so much."

"You'll be diabetic by the time you're twenty-five."

"I'm trying to cut back."

"I suppose you just have American taste buds." Tezuka said, with something that was almost a smile.

Ryoma moved closer. "Guess so."

"We should probably get to sleep."

Ryoma nodded and snuggled in, and Tezuka let his fingers move slowly through his hair.

"Yeah, I'm tired." A pause. "I love you."

Tezuka felt something tighten in his chest, warmly, in the way that still caught him off guard sometimes. "I love you too. Very much."

Ryoma hugged him. "I want to be with you forever."

"I want to be with you too." Tezuka said. "Don't worry." He meant it as reassurance for Ryoma. He also meant it, quietly, as reassurance for himself. We'll be together forever, regardless of status. He held that thought and let his eyes close.

Ryoma, who could fall asleep almost anywhere, did.

Tezuka woke at five, dressed in the dark, kissed Ryoma on the temple without waking him, and went out to run.

Ryoma's alarm went off at six. He woke up slowly, lay there for a moment processing the ceiling, and eventually shuffled toward the dresser for his workout clothes.

He found the ring box.

He stood there, not quite registering what he was looking at. His brain was still mostly asleep.

He opened it.

There was no denying it. That was a ring. Small, simple, clearly selected with care. And engraved on the inside, in small clean letters: Ryoma.

His heart dropped straight to his stomach.

He was still standing there, holding the open box, when Tezuka returned from his run, pink-cheeked from the morning cold, holding a paper bag. "I got Mister Donut-" He saw what Ryoma was holding and went very quiet.

Ryoma looked up at him. He was crying, a little. He hadn't noticed until now.

"Ah." Tezuka set the donuts down and came to wipe Ryoma's face, careful and unhurried. "Don't cry."

Ryoma sniffled. "I must have made you feel terrible yesterday."

"It's fine." Tezuka patted his back with the slightly awkward gentleness of someone who deeply meant well and was still working on the execution. "Wanting to wait is perfectly valid."

Ryoma shook his head. "It wasn't that I want to wait. I just... tennis is so important to you. And people will bother you. About me."

Tezuka looked genuinely puzzled. "This wouldn't prevent me from playing tennis."

"I know that. But people will bother you. It seemed like a lot to put on you."

"I don't mind." Simple. Settled. Like something he had already decided.

Ryoma rubbed his eyes. "Really?"

"It would be careless to propose without considering the inevitability of going public with our relationship." Tezuka said. "I considered it. I'm not concerned."

Ryoma nodded slowly. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk yesterday."

"You weren't that bad." Tezuka said. "You were evading your brother."

"But it probably sounded like I didn't want it."

"It did leave that impression." He said it honestly, without accusation.

Ryoma sighed. "I do want it, though."

Tezuka looked at him for a moment. Then he reached for the ring. "Then will you marry me?"

Ryoma nodded. "Yeah, duh." Affectionate. Completely, warmly affectionate.

Tezuka smiled- the real one, the one that reached his eyes- and slid the ring onto Ryoma's finger. "I'll be introducing you to my parents as my fiance, then."

Ryoma looked at his hand. At the ring sitting there, matter-of-fact and real. "Yeah."

Tezuka nodded, looking quietly, thoroughly pleased with himself. "You should eat your breakfast so we can get to the gym on time."

Ryoma nodded and ate his breakfast with a doofy smile on his face that he could not fully suppress and had entirely given up trying to.

Tezuka behaved much like normal. Only someone who knew him very well could see how happy he was.

Ryoma could tell. He smiled at him over the donut box. "Let's get you a ring after training."

Tezuka nodded. "Okay."

"Good."

And so they headed off to train together, happy as could be.

Fellow players at the gym definitely noticed the ring on Ryoma's finger. It was Kirihara who eventually worked up the nerve to approach, because of course it was Kirihara. The man had a supernatural ability to identify an interesting situation from across a room.

"Is that an engagement ring!?"

Ryoma nodded. No use pretending otherwise. "Yeah. Jealous?"

Kirihara nodded with complete, unguarded sincerity. "Yeah, I am!!!"

Ryoma blinked. "Oh. Um. Sorry, that sucks."

"I want Kura and Shuu-san to propose to me!!!!"

Ryoma tilted his head. "How would that even work?"

Kirihara blinked, apparently encountering this logistical question for the first time. "I'm not sure. But I want it!"

Ryoma nodded slowly. "I hope you get it someday."

Kirihara brightened immediately. "Thanks! And congratulations! Let's throw a party for you!"

"That's not necessary."

"Everyone will want to celebrate though! Did you tell your sponsors yet?"

"It just happened this morning."

Kirihara's eyes went wide. "Wow, and you still came to training! I'd be getting naked like IMMEDIATELY!"

Ryoma blushed. "Because you're a sex fiend."

Kirihara blinked, genuinely taken aback. "I'm pretty normal though, right?"

Ryoma shook his head. "I would never describe you as normal."

"Rude."

Ryoma laughed.

"Well," Kirihara said, recovering with impressive speed, "have fun telling Atobe you're getting married to Tezuka. He's going to want to throw a party."

Ryoma groaned. "You're right."

"Maybe the Japan Open party will be all about you."

Ryoma sighed. "God."

Kirihara grinned. "Good luck! I'm rooting for you!"

"Gee, thanks."

"Any time! Want to play a practice match?"

"Sure."

"Let's go!!!"

And off they went.

Tezuka, meanwhile, found a quiet corner and texted Atobe.

[I have news for you as my sponsor. Ryoma and I have gotten engaged.]

[Is that so? Congratulations.]

[As of such, we intend to go public with our relationship.]

Atobe took a breath. [Understood. Should I set up a press conference.]

[That would be appreciated.]

[Before or after the tournament?]

[Either is fine. There is a ring. Someone will notice.]

[Then before.]

Tezuka smiled slightly. [Thank you, Atobe. But not tonight. We will be visiting my family.]

[Understood. Tomorrow at noon then.]

[I'll inform my fiance.]

[Congratulations again.]

[Yes.]

A pause.

[When are you planning to get married?]

[That's not been discussed yet.]

[I see. Poor Irie.]

[Don't poor him. This is his fault.]

Tezuka raised an eyebrow. [You two need to work on how much you disagree.]

[We weren't disagreeing. I just can't think of a grand enough way to propose.]

[I see. Well, I'm sure you'll think of something suitably over the top.]

[I know.]

Tezuka pocketed his phone. That was enough of that.

After training, they went to find Tezuka a ring.

"Any ring is fine." Tezuka said, as Ryoma studied the case with the focus of someone preparing for a match.

Ryoma shook his head. "I'm going to pick out a nice one."

Tezuka nodded. "I trust your judgement." He paused. "Oh- Atobe has arranged a press conference. Tomorrow at noon."

Ryoma blinked. "That soon?"

"Before more people notice the rings."

Ryoma nodded. "I guess that makes sense."

"It's bound to cause a stir."

Ryoma sighed. "Just wanna marry you, not have a media circus."

Tezuka nodded. "I understand. But I don't want to marry you in secret."

Ryoma looked at him. "I know. I just wish people were more normal about all this."

Tezuka nodded again. "I understand that too."

Ryoma paused at a particular display and stared at it for a moment. "But I'll deal with it, to be with you."

Tezuka smiled. "I understand that feeling most of all."

Ryoma found the one he was looking for and brought it over to where Tezuka was standing. "This one."

Tezuka held out his hand without even looking at the ring first. "Okay."

Ryoma slid it on. He looked at it for a moment, then at Tezuka's face. "Perfect."

Tezuka looked at his hand. "Now we match."

"Yeah." Ryoma smiled. "It's perfect."

They picked up gifts at the train station on the way to Tezuka's family home; Ryoma choosing with care, adding items to the pile with the specific thoroughness of someone who had decided this mattered and was not going to do it halfway. Tezuka watched him and thought that it was very like Ryoma to try hard when he wanted something.

What he wanted right now was for Tezuka's family to like him. Tezuka had known this for a while, and found it quietly affecting every time he thought about it.

Tezuka's home was settled and quiet in the way of a house that had been well looked-after for a long time. He showed Ryoma in with ease, stepping out of his shoes at the entry and gesturing for Ryoma to follow.

"Mother, Father. I've returned."

Ayano came from somewhere inside the house with the warm energy of someone who had been genuinely looking forward to this. "Kunimitsu, it's been too long! And Echizen-kun, it's so nice to meet you!"

Ryoma bowed. "Hello, ma'am. Please accept these gifts."

Ayano gasped at the quantity. "So many! Kuniharu, come help with these!"

Kuniharu appeared from down the hall, looked at the collection, and nodded with approval. "Oh my! So many, thank you young man. We can enjoy the sweets with tea."

Tezuka nodded. "Ryoma wanted to make a good impression."

Ayano smiled, something warm in it. "He didn't need to bring so many. Please, come enjoy them with us."

Kuniharu went to fetch Kunikazu while Ayano got the tea started. He returned with the old man in tow- lively and sharp-eyed, taking in the situation immediately.

Ryoma was sitting beside Tezuka on the sofa and was suddenly, acutely nervous.

Tezuka nodded to his grandfather. "Grandfather. You look well."

Kunikazu chuckled. "Not as well as you."

Tezuka nodded. "Ryoma and I have an announcement." He held up his hand. "We've decided to get engaged."

Ryoma showed his ring too, and tried to look like someone who was not currently being watched by a man who could probably bench press his entire life history at a glance.

Kunikazu looked at both rings. Was quiet.

Ayano's face lit up. "That's wonderful! Congratulations!"

Kuniharu looked equally pleased. "How wonderful. Congratulations, Kunimitsu. And welcome to the family, Echizen-kun."

Ryoma bowed his head. "Thank you."

Kunikazu was still quiet. Ryoma was growing properly nervous now.

Tezuka, characteristically, did not seem particularly concerned. "We made this decision after carefully weighing the options. We'll be announcing it publicly tomorrow."

Kunikazu gave a short nod. Then he reached for his phone and began typing with the deliberate, satisfied energy of a man settling a score. Once satisfied with whatever he'd sent, he set it down and looked up.

"Congratulations, boys."

Tezuka looked at him with the patient expression of long familiarity. "Grandfather. Were you bragging to Sanada-san again?"

Kunikazu smirked. "Just sharing the joyous news."

"Sanada is in a relationship with two separate men. Marriage isn't a viable option for him."

Kunikazu blinked, recalibrating. "Well, that's too bad, isn't it?"

"I'm sure he has many regrets over it." Tezuka said. "Please don't use this as an excuse to lord over him."

"Okay, I won't."

Tezuka nodded, satisfied.

Kuniharu chuckled warmly. "What a good boy, worrying about your friends."

"Our Kunimitsu is so sweet." Ayano agreed.

Kunimitsu looked faintly embarrassed in the way of a man who did not enjoy being described.

Ryoma smiled. "He is. Even if he doesn't like to be praised."

"He's always been a shy boy." Kuniharu said, fondly.

"I love him this way." Ryoma said, simply.

Tezuka blushed, just slightly. "Ah. Thank you."

Kuniharu chuckled. "He seems very taken with you, too. He's never brought someone home before. We didn't think it would ever happen, honestly."

"He's so solitary most of the time!" Ayano added.

Ryoma smiled. "I'm glad I got so lucky, then."

Tezuka shook his head. "It wasn't luck. You very purposefully won me over."

Ryoma's smile widened.

Ayano laughed. "I'm not surprised."

Kuniharu nodded. "I've seen you play Kunimitsu before, actually. Echizen is a very handsome and skilled young man."

Ryoma blinked. "Ah. Thanks. Yeah, we've played a few matches. He usually wins."

"But not every time." Tezuka said, with just enough weight that it landed as genuine pride.

Ryoma nodded. "It's been pretty even lately."

"You've worked hard."

Ryoma smiled, a little warm at the back of it.

Kunikazu grinned. "A healthy rivalry is good for a relationship!"

"I agree." Tezuka nodded. "Ryoma drives me to improve myself."

"Yeah, Kunimitsu does the same for me."

Ayano smiled. "How lovely."

Kuniharu nodded. "You two make a good couple. Thank you for looking out for Kunimitsu, Ryoma-kun."

Ryoma smiled bashfully. "He looks out for me too."

"That's how it should be."

Ayano looked between them with the expression of someone who had already decided how she felt about this. "Are you staying tonight?"

Tezuka looked at Ryoma.

Ryoma nodded. "Yeah. I would like that."

Ayano clapped her hands together, delighted. "Wonderful!"

"I'll show you to my room, then. You can leave your bag there."

Ryoma nodded and paused to bow again to Tezuka's family. "Thank you for letting me stay."

Kuniharu smiled. "Of course. You're part of the family now."

Tezuka's room was tidy and quiet, with a large bed and a good deal of shelf space. On the desk was a neat stack of envelopes. He set his bag down and went to sort through them.

Ryoma looked around at the room, taking it in. "What's with the letters?"

"They're from a friend." He supposed that was the right word. "When I was recuperating in Kyushu during middle school, a little girl helped me. She sends me letters now." He held one out for Ryoma to look at. "Her name is Chitose Miyuki. I used to call her little coach. She's as tall as me now, I believe."

Ryoma read the letter with a slight frown forming. "She seems to like you a lot."

"She started my fan club when she was nine." Tezuka nodded. "She's what I think having a younger sister would be like."

Ryoma hesitated. "How old is she now?"

"Sixteen. Second year of high school." Tezuka said. "She's a good tennis player too. You should come with me to meet her. She could learn a lot from you."

Ryoma felt something he was going to call caution and not examine further. "Okay. As long as she doesn't have a crush on you."

Tezuka looked at him. "Are you jealous of the sixteen year old girl who told me I should propose to you?"

Ryoma blinked. "She said that?"

"She told me to 'lock you in' while I had the chance. Because I'm not good with people." He frowned. "She used a lot of slang that made me feel old."

Ryoma burst out laughing.

Tezuka considered whether he should feel offended and decided probably not. "She'll be at the tournament this year. She usually comes with her brother, and Tachibana when he isn't busy."

Ryoma hugged him, still laughing. "Okay. It'll be nice to meet your biggest fan."

Tezuka continued going through the letters- mostly detailed reports on regional matches, with commentary and player names worth passing on to Volk. "She wants to meet you too."

Ryoma settled in close to him. "I should tell my family about our engagement."

"Do you want to call them?"

Ryoma nodded. "At least my mom."

Tezuka nodded. "Go ahead."

Rinko answered on the fourth ring, and Ryoma could hear background noise immediately. "Ryoma? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, hey, Mom. I have news."

She shifted the phone. In the background, Ryoga's voice. "Quiet down, Ryoga, your brother has something to tell me."

Ryoma braced himself. "I'm engaged."

"Engaged!?" Rinko gasped. Somewhere behind her, Ryoga could be heard screaming vindication. "That's wonderful!"

Ryoma sighed, a little fond and a little exasperated. "Yeah. The ring is nice. I'll send you a picture."

"Wonderful! Bring Kunimitsu-kun back by before you leave so we can celebrate properly!"

"Yeah, I will."

"I'm so happy for you, Ryoma."

His phone was already buzzing. Ryoga. [Best man, right? Please please pleaaaase!]

Ryoma texted back with one hand. [I was gonna have Karupin do it.]

"Well, I'll let you go. I love you, sweetie."

"Love you too, Mom."

She hung up. Ryoga did not stop. [Oh come oooooon don't be like that!]

[You can be his escort.]

[I brought a picture of you along to the courthouse as MY best man.]

Ryoma was grinning now despite himself. [Aniki. I'm joking.]

[Yay!] Then, a moment later: [Happy for you, Chibisuke. You deserve it.]

[Thanks. You do have to watch Karupin during the wedding though, okay?]

[Lol sure.]

Tezuka looked up from the letters. "I take it your family was okay with the news?"

"They're happy." Ryoma smiled. "Karupin is going to be my best man."

Tezuka nodded. "I see. That is an unconventional choice. I intend to ask Oishi."

Ryoma laughed. "I'm kidding. It's Ryoga."

Tezuka blinked. "Ah. That does make more sense."

Ryoma chuckled. "I'm not totally crazy."

"You could be." Tezuka said, deadpan.

Ryoma squinted at him and crawled into his lap. "That's mean."

Tezuka wrapped his arms around him, unhurried. "I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

Ryoma hummed, considering. "Kiss me."

Tezuka leaned in and kissed him as instructed.

Ryoma kissed back, smiling against his mouth. "Hey. Guess what?"

Tezuka blinked. "What?"

"I love you." Playful, light, perfectly sincere.

Tezuka smiled. "I love you too."

Ryoma settled more comfortably. "I'll do most of the talking at the press conference tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay." He was genuinely grateful for this.

Ryoma knew. He'd always been good at knowing the things Tezuka didn't say directly.

They sat like that for a while in the quiet of Tezuka's childhood room, happy and unhurried, while downstairs Ayano could be heard calling them for dinner.

"I'm glad your family likes me." Ryoma said.

"I told you they would."

Ryoma laughed softly. "Oh! I need to introduce your mom to Karupin."

"We'll have to come back."

"Yeah." He got comfortable, easing his weight into Tezuka's side. "For now, I guess we rest."

"Until dinner."

Ryoma nodded and got cozy. He was half-asleep almost immediately.

Tezuka smiled at his lazy fiance and settled in alongside him without complaint.

The next day arrived fast.

Ryoma dressed nicely for the press conference. He was still wearing his Fila hat. Tezuka would have expected nothing else.

The press were already buzzing when they stepped up. "What is this all about!?"

Ryoma sighed. "We're holding this conference to announce our engagement."

The room doubled in noise.

"An engagement! So you were dating!?"

"How long has this been going on!?"

Ryoma rolled his eyes. "Several months now. We've known each other forever, and I've been in love with him since I was twelve."

Tezuka looked surprised. "Since you were twelve?"

Ryoma nodded, entirely unbothered. "I didn't know then that it was love. But I'm an adult now, and it's totally what was going on with me."

"I see." Tezuka said. He was going to be thinking about that for the rest of the day.

"Any other questions?"

"When is the wedding!?"

Ryoma shrugged. "Probably during the off season."

The press accepted this and moved on. "Are you planning to have kids?"

That one caught him slightly off guard. "Ah. Probably not." He said it quietly, and kept going.

"Where are you two planning to settle?"

"Probably here in Japan. But that's not going to be for a while."

The reporters buzzed happily among themselves.

Ryoma looked around. "Well. If there are no more questions."

"Let's go." Tezuka said. Time to get out before anyone asked a follow-up.

Ryoma followed him out without looking back.

They headed back toward the hotel together. "That went about as well as I'd anticipated."

Ryoma nodded. "Why do people always ask about kids?"

"People assume that's what everyone wants."

"It's kind of insensitive, though."

"They're reporters. They aren't known for their sensitivity."

Ryoma sighed. "Guess not."

They walked. After a moment: "You want children?"

Ryoma looked away.

Tezuka made a thoughtful sound. "We could find a surrogate."

Ryoma shook his head. "It's fine. I would be a sucky dad anyway."

Tezuka frowned. "Says who?"

"Me? Anyone who knows me?"

"If your brother can be a father, I don't think you'd have any trouble."

"Let's be 100% honest. Ralph is going to be the responsible parent in that situation."

"Thank goodness for that." Tezuka nodded. "But you would make a responsible parent too."

Ryoma looked at him. "You think so?"

"Yes. And you would be fun when needed."

Ryoma sighed, softer now. "Maybe someday. But not now."

"We have plenty of time."

Ryoma nodded. "It's just kinda sad to think about. I know my mom wanted grandkids."

"I know how you feel."

"You do?"

"I'm sure my mother would want grandchildren too."

Ryoma nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Sorry I'm not a girl."

Tezuka shook his head. "I prefer you male."

Ryoma chuckled. "That's a relief."

"It has clear benefits." Like playing in the same tennis league, for one thing.

Ryoma chuckled. "Like playing tennis in the same league?"

"Yes." A pause. "Also I like your anatomy."

Ryoma blushed. "I see."

Tezuka was blushing slightly too. "You're very attractive."

"You're hot, Kunimitsu."

"Ah. Thank you."

Ryoma laughed softly and kissed him, right there on the street, in front of whoever was walking past.

"We're almost back to the hotel."

Ryoma smirked. "I'm impatient."

Tezuka blushed. "I see."

Ryoma kissed him again.

Tezuka smiled and kissed back.

Ryoma smiled up at him. "Okay. Let's get back."

Tezuka nodded, and headed into the hotel with his fiance.