How Do You Tell Someone You Like Them?

Prince of Tennis

Pillar Pair Tezuka Kunimitsu and Echizen Ryoma

Prologue: The Dilemma

"Oi! Seishounen! Come here!" yelled Nanjiroh to his son who had just walked through the front gate. He was just coming home from afternoon tennis practice.

"What do you want, baka oyaji? I have to do homework!" yelled back Ryoma. He was tired and he wanted to go finish his homework so he could take a nap before dinner.

"That's a lie, Seishounen! This won't take long. Just come over here!" replied Nanjiroh. Instead of just ignoring his oyaji like he normally did, Ryoma walked over to where his dad was lying down at the back porch.

"Well? What did you want?"

"Your okaa-san was wondering if you told me anything about a girlfriend. Which got me thinking -yeah, cause that's such a safe thing to do- you're around the age where boys are always thinking about girls. But all you think about is tennis. So? Is there someone? Even a boy? Don't worry about being gay, seishounen. Your ookaa-san will still love you."

"I never said that I was gay!" spluttered Ryoma.

"Yeah, well you never said that you were straight either."

"Oyaji! I'm not talking to you about this!" exclaimed Ryoma as he made his way inside the house.

"OI! Seishounen! Your ookaa-san said she wants you to bring someone home to introduce to us by the end of the week!" This caused Ryoma to freeze and turn back to his oyaji.

"What do you mean I have to bring someone home? You can't do that! What if there is no one for me to bring home, huh? Did you ever think about that!"

"OI! It was your okaa-san's idea. Don't go yelling at me about it!"

"Well, what does she expect me to do? I don't have a girlfriend! Don't even suggest a boyfriend, Oyaji!"

"-chuckles- Are you sure you're not gay? You're certainly protesting far too much. Maybe you're still in denial..."

"Okay, fine! I am gay! Happy, now? You'd think you'd be upset because that means no teenage girls around the house...or grandchildren when I'm older..." mumbled Ryoma.

"Yeah, yeah... there's always adoption. Besides, Seishounen, aren't you too young to be thinking about children?"

"Aren't I too young to be expected to bring someone home to meet my parents?" Ryoma shot back.

"Either way! Your okaa-san wants you to bring someone home by the end of the week to introduce to us."

"Che. As if."

"Isn't there someone you at least like? Come on Seishounen, there's got to be someone!"

"Like I would tell you! I'm going inside. Tell okaa-san I'm not bringing anyone home anytime soon," Ryoma said as he made his way back into the house this time not listening to his oyaji's shouts behind him.

Upstairs, Ryoma was now just realizing what his oyaji told him. "Kuso! Baka oyaji. Che. Just because I like someone doesn't mean I should bring them home to meet my parents..." yelled Ryoma to his empty room.

Ryoma sighed, knowing that there was no way he could avoid bringing someone home to introduce to his parents. If it wasn't done by this week, his ookaa-san would most likely just go to his school and ask around. It would be even more embarrassing for him if it were his oyaji who went to Seigaku.

Ryoma made up his mind that he would use this as encouragement to finally confess to his love interest. After all, it's been two months since he had fallen for the person, it was about time for him to do something about it. However, he would need help. "Maybe senpai-tachi will be able to help me out with this..." pondered Ryoma.