"Keigo, are you listening?"
"I am."
Atobe was on the phone with his father that morning. His mood was at its worst thanks to the bad hair day he's having and it did not help much that his father is on the line, telling him that he and his mother won't be home for Christmas this year.
Again.
Just like it was last year.
And the year before.
And ever since.
"We'll try to get home on the twenty-seventh," Atobe's father said in an obviously unsure tone which pissed him more than he already was.
"You don't even have to try. I'm used to it," Atobe replied sarcastically, trying to sound like his usual arrogant tone. But his words appealed in another way to his father, something like held back no anger.
"Keigo, please understand us-"
"I've been understanding you for fourteen years now! I'm sick of it! What more understanding do you need?!" and he's still fifteen years old. Atobe is about to throw a tantrum but stopped himself as he found it unsuitable for his image.
''Good, now I even have to keep an image in front of my OWN father," Atobe thought.
"Keigo! Don't talk like you are always alone-"
"Am I not?! Aahn?"
"You had a lot of servants there with you to do as you wish, I can't think of anything else that you would want!"
"Really now, you cant? I wonder why a person as smart as me was born from a parent as dumb as you," Atobe thought again but left the words inside his brain and were never let out of his mouth.
"I don't need them!" Atobe wanted to tell his father that what he actually needs are his parents and not his army of servants but he chose not to. He thought that as a father, his dad should at least know what his son needs.
"Keigo!"
"Shut it! I'm tired of the excuses you give me each year! Don't even try to come home on the twnety-seventh or anytime after! I'll show you, I don't need all my servants! Nor you or mom! I'll spend the Holidays alone!" Atobe finally snapped, not like he wasn't planning to already. He's been longing to say that to his father for five years now.
His father, seemingly annoyed of his son's behavior, didn't even bother to stop his laughter at his son's first tantrum as a teen. He's not amused though, he's more like, annoyed.
"We'll see about that, Keigo. For someone like you who lived his whole life being served by other people? I doubt you will live through a whole Holiday season without anyone there to serve you. I don't even think you could survive a day without Munehiro-kun."
"Fuck you!" was the line that Atobe never let out of his mouth even if he really wanted to scream the hell on the phone just so his father would realize how he dislikes the current situation.
Then again, he chose not to do it.
"In my greatness, I'm gracing you the chance to take a vacation. I will let you spend your Holiday with your families this year. I want everyone to to go back to their families or anywhere you want. The maids, guards, cooks, drivers and gardeners. Nobody stays. Don't worry about your salary, you are still double paid for this month, nothing changes," Atobe announced from the top of the stairwell while everyone in the Atobe mansion looked up to him from downstairs.
"But, young master-" Michael, the butler tried to reason.
The old butler, who had witnessed Atobe's life more than his parents did never thought that a day like this would come. That a whim such as giving all his servants a very long off from work during the holiday season would cross the young master's mind.
"No buts. I don't want to see your faces after noon. That's an order. Don't bother preparing anything for me. That's all. Leave the soonest possible you can."
The servants shared the same wary look among them. Apparently, none of the servants wanted to leave their young master at such a season. It's Christmas, even a man as arrogant as their young master would be lonely in the absence of company. All of them knew that their young master has always been alone. They can count with their fingers the times that they've seen him sit on the table and dine with his parents and none of those meals were done on Christmas. Or even in a peaceful, homey manner.
They love their young master because they knew that despite that arrogant surface of his, he was never a bad person. Even with all that wealth to boast and all the power to abuse, their young master was never a he had so many whims but all of these were done with the maximum participation of him and not only giving orders to them alone. That was the reason why they loved to work on anything that Atobe wishes to happen- because he himself works in order to make it possible, no matter how impossible it can get.
No one else in the world knows about Atobe's miseries during the most important days of the year- the days when a complete family is so much needed more than any material abundance. They wanted to stay and look after Atobe just like they always do during Christmas, at least to accompany the young lad in probably the loneliest day of the year. But then again leaving their young master alone was an order BY THEIR YOUNG MASTER. And they cannot do anything about it.
Atobe felt stupid sending away all the people who lived with him. His father may be right, that he might not live through the season without anyone serving him. He might not even survive a day in that case.
He ran his fingers through his hair and went back to his room and dialed Kabaji's number on his phone as he plopped himself on his king size bed that matched his claimed title.
It only took one ring for Kabaji to answer the phone, "usu?"
"Your parents are in England this Holiday, right Kabaji?"
"Usu."
"Go to them."
"But-" admit it, it's rare for Kabaji to say something else other than "usu" and "katsu no wa Hyotei."
"I want you to spend the Holiday with them."
There was a long, reluctant pause.
"Kabaji?"
"Usu."
"Good. Don't worry about me. Ore-sama will be able to take care of himself of course," then Atobe hung up.
Even Kabaji knows it. He probably knows better than everyone else. Atobe must not be left alone. ...even though he's always been alone ironically. Specially on days like these. As a friend, Kabaji wanted to not to leave for England and stay with Atobe instead. But Kabaji knew better. Atobe won't ask for it if he can't take it. He knew that Atobe will be fine if he said he'll be fine but that doesn't save him from worrying about his best friend.
Atobe was the one to end the call first, not like Kabaji ever does.
He stayed laying down on his bed, because he really has nothing better to do. It's really cold outside and it would seem like it would snow later so he set aside the idea of going out for a jog or training. He'll do that maybe later he thought, inside the mansion, in his private gym. But right now, he just wants to say staring at the ceiling.
He turned to his side and saw the darkening clouds outside the windows. He clutched the matress, as if seeking comfort from it. Not long later, without realizing it, the king fell asleep.
Two knocks on the heavy wood of his door woke Atobe up.
"Young master Keigo, we will now take our leave. Are you sure you'd like to remain alone?" Michael the butler asked with genuine concern
"Ah."
"Please take care of yourself young-"
"I know. Just leave already."
Michael bowed from the other side of the door. He still respects his young master that much even if he doesn't see it from the other side. Then he left.
"One more thing Michael," Atobe's words made the butler come to a halt, ready to forget about taking the vacation and stay instead if his master asked for it.
"Yes, young master?"
"Enjoy."
Atobe stayed inside his room for the rest of the day. He didn't even bother to eat lunch when noon came. He was asleep for most of the day and read books that he's already done with for the rest and went out of his room around five in the afternoon.
He slowly stepped down the stairwell and stopped halfway as he took his time taking in the new scenario at the mansion. There was a total silence, the type that's ironically deafening. He continued his way down and then realized that it is only his breathing and his footsteps that he could hear.
"This house is very silent and cold," he thought. "But it's always like this."
Atobe might be that one person who everyone thinks who has everything but actually, there still are things that he is looking forward to...
"So this is the real Atobe Kingdom. Cold and silent."
..just like that certain warmth that he has never felt before. Probably the warmth that his "Kingdom" never had.
He tightened his hold on the banister and sighed. It's not like him to get all emotional just because his parents won't be around for Christmas again. He would not admit it it but he should be used to it by now but he just can't.
"It's not bad to throw a tantrum, even for someone who is as great as me, ahn?" he said loudly, not caring if anybody would be there to hear him admit that all he's done since this morning was just a tantrum.
A king's tantrum.
It's not like anybody's there to hear him too. So he thought that it should be fine.
He went to the living room and laid down on the sofa. He thought of going out for the jog that he wasn't able to have this morning but again, set the idea aside. His body is ready for the jog there and now but the state of his emotion just drags him down. It's not like him to get all like this but Atobe knew better. Everyone has his own weakness, even a person as great as he claim he is.
"This sucks, being left all alone here," he grunted. It's okay to rant now, nobody's there to hear him anyway.
"God, I wonder if you answer the prayers of the wealthy but... at least, give me a reason to not call back my servants. My pride is at stake here. I don't want to look like a fool in front of my father. I want to prove him wrong that I can't live a day without my servants. I want... to.."
He was about to close his eyes to finish his what seemed to be like a prayer when the doorbell of their gate rang.
His head perked up, wondering who it might be.
"Maybe the carolers," then the idea crossed the young king's mind.
Although carolers always visited the Atobe mansion during the Holidays, he was never really able to face them personally. His servants would face them for him instead.
"Maybe I should listen to them for the first time. It shouldn't be that bad. Though, I would prefer going to Christmas concerts."
Atobe went out of the house, not even bothering to wear extra garments to warm his body from the light snow falling outside.
The doorbell rang more and is becoming rather persistent. He thought that he should have checked the monitor inside first so that he can tell them that he's coming over.
The bell chimed more as he neared the gate. He found it annoying how the mansion's gate is TOO far from the mansion itself.
"Yes! Yes! I'm here! Could you just stop pressing the button-"
"Uhm, good afternoon there, mister..." a single voice of a girl said from the gate.
"Ahn? It doesn't seem like the carolers. Do carolers go alone like this?" he thought to himself.
" I assume that you are not a caroler, are you?"
"I'm sorry but I'm not..." the girl reluctantly showed herself to Atobe. She was wearing a brown trench coat, brown winter boots and a white beanie. Her (e/c) eyes looking all sad and tired.
"What business do you have with this household?" there's no point in making this girl know who he is so he spoke like he's not the master of the house.
'Uhmm... My... my bag..." the girl started shyly.
"Aahn?"
"My bag, it's inside your fence," the girl blushed out of embarrassment as she fidgeted more.
"What? How did your bag ended over my fence?" Atobe's tongue slipped on that, he was not supposed to say "my fence". But he was more into wondering how the girl's bag would actually end up inside his yard when his fence is like, a six-meter high wall?
"I... I was robbed," the girl's eyes began to swell " not far from here. I chased those men who stole my bags and we headed here. Seeing that I was able to catch up to them, they threw my bag over your fence for distraction."
The girl looked at Atobe's face, she thought she has seen his face somewhere.
"Which way?" Atobe asked, pertaining to where the bag was thrown over.
The girl pointed to her left and Atobe's eyes followed. He could see it, a red bag hanging on the branch of a pear tree. And it wasn't just a bag, it's a travelling backpack.
"We'll get it. Come in," unsuspecting, Atobe opened the gate to let the girl in. He was always told to never trust anyone easily like that, as they might take advantage of him, specially when he's alone like he is right now. Many people would plot anything and everything just to get their hands on the only heir of the Atobe plutocracy.
The girl wasn't able to move right away as she was taken aback by Atobe's sudden acceptance of her plea. The look on the girl's face was rather too pathetic to look at, it made Atobe's heart skip a beat which doesn't really happen that often. She looked very worried, too worried for something like a backpack thrown over such a high wall and he's even being kind enough to give it back to her.
At the girl's first step forward, Atobe's insight examined her for no reason.
What he saw surprised him though.
The girl's left wrist is broken. But it seems like it isn't that bad.
"What's your name?" Atobe asked as he closed the gate and started to walk to the direction of the pear tree.
"(Last name), (Last name, first name). Thank you very much for helping me... um..." the girl can't continue her sentence since she doesn't know Atobe.
"Atobe Keigo."
The girl thought she has heard that name before but she's not sure when and where, "must be my imagination," she said in her mind.
"Thank you very much for helping me, Atobe-san."
"It's nothing. Nice to meet you, (last name)," Atobe replied as he examined the tree and tried to see the best route to take in order to retrieve the girl's bag.
Let's admit it, a sad Atobe Keigo is can get super nice, even to a stranger.
"Nice to meet you too, Atobe-san," the girl replied timidly.
With ease, Atobe climbed up the tree and got the red bag. The girl approached him as he got down but he refused to give her the bag.
The girl got confused of this action but did not manage to say a word.
"Before I give this to you, would you-"
"I only have enough money to get back home to Osaka, Atobe-san. I surely cannot pay you with anything now but I hope you'd be considerate, I'll pay you back that's for sure, since I don't keep debts for long but its impossible for now."
"Would you come inside for some hot drink?" Atobe replied from point blank, which left the girl blinking at him in surprise.
Atobe did not wait for her response and headed back to the mansion with the girl's bag over his shoulder. The girl, who had no choice since her bag is still with the man who helped her, followed close behind.
He doesn't want to let the girl go away with a broken wrist.
Or maybe he just doesn't have anything better to do.
He knows it's just the latter. It's really boring inside the house. (First name) was the second person he's talked to after Michael this morning.
Atobe let (first name) inside the mansion and made her sit on the sofa on the living room.
"Stay there, I'll be back in a minute," Atobe put the girl's bag on the other sofa. And turned the TV on for her.
He headed to the kitchen and tried to think of something he can actually make without having to call for his servant's help, which is deemed impossible for the moment.
At least he has the idea how to make it, since he's not a total ignorant despite the fact he has never prepared one himself ever since.
Tea? Choco? Coffee? Milk?
Coffee. It's probably the safest choice he has.
Civet coffee. One of the most expensive coffee types of the world. But he just hates the fact the seeds came from civet cats' shit. Anyhow, it will never reach the market unless it's clean.
While the coffee was boiling, he got the first aid kit. he needs to treat that girl's hands.
Atobe went to the living room with a tray with two cups of coffee on his right hand and the first aid kit on the left.
He left the coffee and the first aid kit on the table and went back to the kitchen to get a stool chair.
"You have a broken wrist. Its not that bad but it will if you'd just leave it hanging like that." Atobe told the girl as he sat on the stool chair in front of her with the first aid kit on his lap.
One part of his mind says "I'm fine doing the first aid for my team whenever they get injured in matches but I never thought that a day when the great me would serve coffee to other people would come. This is insane."
The girl stared at Atobe in awe.
"H-how did you know?" she said as she held her right wrist close to her chest.
"Nothing can deceive my insight," Atobe replied without meeting the girl's eyes. He was too busy rummaging the first aid kit, preparing the materials he need. "Give me your left hand," he demanded. The girl gave her hand to Atobe still confused as to how Atobe knew about the injury on her wrist.
Atobe used bandage to stabilize her wrist. When he was done, he started to drink his coffee.
"T-thanks." the girl broke the silence.
"I should have not taken the trouble of making the coffee if you're just going to let it sit there." Atobe said as he picked the coffee by it's saucer and handed it to the girl which she received using her right hand.
"How were you able to tell that I have an injury, Atobe-san?" the girl asked, not wanting to keep the awkward silence for long.
"I can see it..." Atobe briefly replied "...with my insight."
The girl paused for a moment. Insight. He has recently heard about a person who can use inisht that well. She tried hard to remember gasped a bit when it hit her.
That face, that name, that insight.
It was during the nationals when she heard about that from a member of the boys' tennis club of her school that also participated. Atobe Keigo, senior student of Hyoutei academy, student council president of the middle school department, captain of Hyotei Boy's Tennis Club and apparently, the man who can use his insight to see through his opponents weaknesses.
That was so much to take for her. The person with her right now is no ordinary person.
He is THE Atobe Keigo from THE Hyoutei, the guys with THAT insight.
"What?"
"I... I'm sorry for my intrusion, Atobe-sama!" the girl half-panicked as she started to make bows of apology and stared distancing herself from the man on the stool in front of her.
"What are you sorry for, aahn?"
"I.. I intruded your-"
"Intruded my what? You asked for my permission to enter and I let you in. I see no intrusion in that,' Atobe said as he set his cup and saucer on the table.
"But...''
"Besides, it was me who invited you in," Atobe turned to face his visitor, "What happened?"
Atobe himself cannot believe what he's doing. He actually made a stranger into his house and now they're conversing like this.
"I was on my way to the train station when three men snatched away my bags. I had four bags with me. The one that was thrown over your fence, another one that contains my school stuff and the other one, that looks exactly like the one that's left now had my clothes,"
Atobe couldn't help but wonder, why does she have so many bags with her?
"Where were you going?"
"Home. For the season."
So that explains it.
"Is your home somewhere around here?" Atobe asked, he thought that maybe he could take her there, as he had nothing better to do after they talk.
"I was living quite far from here here, in an apartment. I am from Osaka but I lived here in Tokyo since I had to attend the school that my sponsor chose for me. I was on my way to the train station when I was robbed by three men. I chased them from where I was and we ended up here. I was able to keep up with one of them that's why he threw my bag over your fence to distract me. One of them even sidestepped me and I fell, that's why I broke my wrist."
"And she has yet to leave Tokyo. How unfortunate. Is poverty that much of an evil for this to happen?" Atobe thought.
"And that school would be?" Atobe chose to keep the conversation for long, as he selfishly didn't want to be left alone again.
"Shiritsu Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku Chugakko"
"That's far."
The girl chuckled a bit, "Yes, it is. But it won't be anymore next time, I'm going to transfer to a different school after the Holidays."
"That school is has a strong tennis club," Atobe said, leaving the transferring of schools behind on purpose. The girl's eyes lit up upon hearing that.
"Yes, it does. Yukimura-san and Sanada-san train the members themselves."
"Still, they lost to Seigaku during the nationals,"
'Uh... they did. But that made them work harder. The new captain and vice-captain will surely take the crown back." The girl said reassuringly.
Atobe somewhat glared at her, wanting to say "No way, Hiyoshi and Ohtori will never let that happen."
The girl noticed Atobe's glare and quickly apologized.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry, Atobe-san! I should have not said that!"
Atobe just laughed. He knows what the girl is thinking right now. It might be rude of her to say something like that in the face of Hyotei's captain. Well, it could have been, if he's still the one to lead Hyotei the next time they'd fight in the Nationals. But it's not him anymore so it shouldn't bother him. BUT IT DOES.
"It's fine. It's not like I am still leading Hyotei when that happens. But I'm sure the team's new captain will be the one to snatch away the crown from Seigaku, even if it means declaring war against Rikkaidai."
"That's really the fighting spirit of Hyotei! But, do you know? In the girls' tournaments, the story is quite different."
''I heard from the captain of our girls' tennis club too."
"Unlike our boys' tennis club, Rikkai's girls' tennis club was able to keep it's fourth consecutive win. We did, after putting up such a fight against Hyotei Girls' Tennis Club, of course. Your girls really are troublesome opponents. Even the queens of Rikkai needed to fight on long, drawn-out matches and even the reserve players had to play."
"That's as much as I heard too. But, I must say, next time, Hyotei's girls' and boys' tennis clubs will reign the nationals."
The girl just smiled on that, the type that says "I'm looking forward to that."
"Uhm... Atobe-san, I'll be going now." the girl gave the king a look that asked for confirmation.
Atobe nodded. Seems like his company wouldn't stay for long and he has no right to hold her back.
Atobe stood up too, and picked up the girl's bag and gave it to her, "I'll see you off."
The girl blushed at that, but bowed out of politeness.
Atobe let the way and opened the door.
"And I'll be left alone again. This sucks. Those robbers need to rob more people and throw their bags over my fence." Atobe thought.
"Oh my God!" The girl exclaimed but covered her mouth right away when Atobe turned to look at her.
"What is it?"
"My... wallet..." the girl trailed off as she rummaged her bag, "MY WALLET IS NOT HERE!"
"What?!" Atobe exclaimed too, surprised of the revelation.
"I... My wallet... was inside my tennis bag!How could I forget that? And my tennis bag was also stolen! All this bag contains are... are.."
"Are what?"
The girl blushed hard.
"Nevermind, Atobe-san. Thank you for your hospitality," the girl quickly walked out the door, completely forgetting that it is a very rude thing to do.
But she was pulled back inside by Atobe.
"And where do you intend to go without your money? You told me that you ONLY have enough money to go home, aahn? And you don't have that money now."
"But! But..."
"It'll be hard. It's snowing outside. You can't possible reach Osaka alive if you don't have your money."
"I'd get by."
"You're staying."
"I've troubled you enough. Thank you but no thank you." the girl politely refused.
"I don't take refusals. You are staying."
The girl wanted to leave, feeling that she's caused so much trouble for Atobe just by coming there. But Atobe already closed the door and it will be very rude to make the king open that again.
As for Atobe, a part of him is happy because he won't be alone for the night. He would not be caught alive admitting to it but, he's looking forward to being with his new companion.
"She's not my servant and I helped her." he thought. It doesn't stray away from his plan of bragging to his father how he survived the Holidays without his servants.
Atobe cooks.
He made their dinner.
Yes, that's right. Even if he's probably never touched a kitchen utensil his whole life, Atobe's cooking is rather excellent. Nothing less is to be expected from a perfect king like him after all... even if there'd be a lot of people who'd expect a total mess on the thought of Atobe cooking.
The two of them were on the dining table, Atobe sitting on his usual place, the place where the head of the household is supposed to sit ant to his left is (first name). Atobe thought that there's no reason to be all formal.
"Atobe-san, I've been wondering this whole time but... are you alone in this house?" the girl asked, seeing nobody else were the except them. It was even Atobe who made dinner.
"Aaahn. Yes I'm alone."
"Would you mind if I asked why?" the girl tried not to hit any sore spot, as she sensed that there really is one somewhere.
She thinks that it doesn't take an expert to tell. THE Atobe Keigo, all alone in a big mansion is just impossible. Unless it's made possible by the person who has the power to make the impossible possible. She thinks that if Atobe can make a festival out of nowhere just to dedicate it to a friend, it wouldn't be impossible for him to send all his servants away if he wanted to.
"I made a bet," well, it wasn't really a bet but Atobe can put it that way, "with my father."
The girl gave that look of wanting to hear more but averted her eyes away from Atobe when she realized that she's in no position to ask further.
Anyhow, Atobe went on. If he kept it secret, what's the point of having her company?
"My parents were always away abroad. I used to come with them but it started to affect my studies so I was sent back here in Japan to settle."
The girl looked up from her plate and put on that "I'm ready to listen to you" look.
"Where was the last school you attended before Hyotei?" she asked, curious.
"King's School in England."
The girl, not even able to fathom how far that place could be from Japan, slowly nodded, "Please continue."
Atobe liked the girl's company. She probably is the person who he likes to talk to best. He always wanted to talk to someone who'd listen to him with interest but would not let him do all the talking. He usually talks to Kabaji about things like this but he knows that Kabaji, despite being his best friend, would not say much.
Atobe sighed. There's no point in talking about his life now. It's rather repetitive. His parents leaves him, he plays tennis and does a damn good job at it, and he can count using the digits of his hands the number of times that he saw his parents in his fifteen years of life and he even has a few fingers to spare.
"Well, I made all my servants go home for the season and I'm left alone here. I want to prove to my father that I can get by without their service. I'm always with them. Its safe to say that I've spent way more time with my servants rather than my parents. They were never present for Christmas, ever since," Atobe cut the story short.
The girl, despite what little Atobe has said, understood the situation and smiled at Atobe.
"What are you smiling about?" Atobe asked wondering why the girl smiled like that.
He at least expected her to say something like he's so pitiful and that he needs more loving or something like he should try to understand his aparents more, not like that's what he wanted to hear. That's how people would normally react, at least that's what he thought.
"Atobe-san, you're unexpectedly kind, aren't you?" the girl said without hesitation.
Atobe looked at the girl, confused.
"I think it's not because you made a bet with your father."
"What are you talking about?"
The girl drank some water then smiled at him again.
Atobe's heart skipped a beat again, "what's with her?" he thought.
"Could it be that because you don't want their loved ones to feel the same as you that's why you sent them home? I mean, you said it yourself. Your parents were never really able to celebrate Christmas with you and now, you don't want the same thing to happen to the people who were there for you when your parents weren't around. Or maybe, you don't want your servants' children feel bad about their parents just like you do. Sorry if I'm talking so much but, no matter how I look at it, that's how I see it. Anyhow, Atobe-san, that's very kind of you," the girl ended her sentence with another smile which was able to somehow paint a slight blush on the king's cheeks.
Atobe laughed loud. He never saw those words coming. Him? Being as kind as that? "HEH," he thought.
"Atobe-san..." the girl's tone became rather serious which made Atobe stop laughing, "could it also be that the reason why you kept me for the night is that... you are lonely?" Her sudden seriousness reminded Atobe of Fuji Syuusuke and how he can suddenly shift from being all gentle to that scary tone.
Atobe laughed and shook his head lightly.
"You are smarter than you look," he said, standing up, wanting to end the conversation hanging there but implied that she's right, that he's lonely being all alone in that big mansion and that exactly was the reason why he "forced" her to stay for the night.
"I'll help with the dishes." the girl volunteered.
"No need. I can handle it," though, Atobe doubted that. "Do you want to take a shower? You're taking the guest room, there's heated shower there. Feel free to use it. Follow me, I'll take you to your room." Atobe left the kitchen and the girl followed him.
Atobe hoisted the girl's backpack on his right shoulder and led her upstairs to the guest room.
The girl gaped in amusement as she saw the extravagant room before her.
"Is this... really just..."
"Just a guest room." Atobe continued the girl's sentence as he entered the room and dropped the girl's bag onto the bed and started orienting her of the room.
"That door there is the bathroom. If you want to take a bath, feel free to use it. This room was used just a few days ago so the sheets were newly changed, you don't have too worry about dust," that was all Atobe has to say so he left, "By the way, if ever you need something, my room is just four rooms away from here to the right. I'll go back downstairs to clean the dishes."
Yes, Atobe's reason for taking his visitor early to her room is that so she won't see him break a plate or fail in doing the kitchen job. He's sad and being all kind but he still has an image to keep.
When he left, the girl laid down on the bed but not yet ready to sleep.
"Atobe-san is so nice. He's different from the words I hear from others," she thought.
She made a loud, frustrated sigh after. She just realized the pinch she's in. After this night when Atobe was kind enough to keep her, she will have to find a way to return home without her money. She thought of borrowing money from Atobe but threw the idea right away. Atobe has been so kind to her from the start and she doesn't want to seem like she's abusing it even if that's not her intention.
Her belongings were all stolen. Her three bags: the tennis bag that contained her rackets, balls, Rikkai uniforms, wallet that contained all her money, and the most important of all, an envelope that contained a scholarship grant from a school that she apparently forgot the name. That bag being stolen damaged her the most as it contained three of her most important stuff: her money, her scholarship, and her sport. The backpack that contained all her school stuff, her books and notebooks. She brought them all home since she won't be needing them the next time she'll come back to Tokyo, And the other bag that contained all her clothes.
The bag that contained all her clothes.
She blushed as she remembered how she rummaged through her bag in front of Atobe only to find out that the bag that was thrown over Atobe's fence contained only her undergarments, toiletries, and the charger of her phone and the fact that Atobe's been carrying her bag for her since he got it off the pear tree until he placed it on the bed. It was nothing really of a big deal since she never really opened her bag in front of him but she's wondering if Atobe's insight knew that she had a broken wrist, could it be that he knew that her bag contained her undies?
All she was able to do was hope that his insight doesn't work on bags that contains underwear.
"Um... Atobe-san...?" the girl tentatively peeked into he kitchen. There she saw Atobe standing by the sink, who was rather happy that he has yet to break anything.
"What is it?" Atobe did not even bother to turn around to look at the girl. He just let his lean back do all the talking with that white ruffled apron that x-ed on his back and that ribbon that was tied loosely at his waist. Peasant's work clothes, as he says.
"Uhm... I... have a problem..."
"Yes you do, you just got robbed. Your money and majority of your belongings were taken."
"It's about something else..." the girl started to blush and at the same time, running out of words to say to put the situation she's in a not so embarrassing manner.
"There's still more?"
The girl jerked when Atobe turned around to face her from across the kitchen.
"Ah... My bag..." the girl fidgeted again. She's feeling uncomfortable to ask anything from the king now.
"Aahn?"
"How should I say this?! Atobe-san is so nice, I can't afford to ask him anything more!" the girl screamed internally.
"Uhm, nevermind. Sorry for disturbing you." she's rather not take a bathe for the night than disturb Atobe more.
The the girl started her way back only to stop in the middle of her first step when Atobe called.
"Do you need spare clothes?"
The girl's blood rushed to her cheeks and she can feel her ears burn when she heard Atobe say that in such a casual manner.
"Ah... Y-yes." it took all her might to anwer Atobe but she somehow managed to. She's already reached the match point of the night, the point of no return.
"I thought so." Atobe said as he took off the apron he was wearing and left it on the counter.
The girl's jaw dropped at that.
"HIS INSIGHT WORKED ON MY BAG! HE KNEW THAT IT ONLY CONTAINED UNDIES!" she screamed at the top of her imaginary lungs in her mind.
Anyhow, she wants to make sure,
"How did you know?" she asked as she followed Atobe upstairs.
"Your bag was too light to contain clothes."
They reached the front of Atobe's room. Atobe entered but the girl chose to stay outside since she was not invited in anyway. She will not enter even if she's invited too.
Atobe checked his walk-in closet for something small that would probably fit the smaller girl but found nothing. His clothes all perfectly fit him and his wardrobe is constantly updated since he's a growing teen, his sizes change drastically.
He just picked out a pair of blue pajamas that had an adjustable waist and a white wool sweater.
"This should do."
Atobe then went out of his room and gave the clothes to the girl.
"They're going to be big for you. They're my size after all. I don't have anything smaller, but I hope they'd do,"
"Thank you very much Atobe-san. With all the favor you gave me tonight, I can't think of a way that'd be good enough to repay you." the girl said, her voice brimming with innocence and gratefulness.
Never had Atobe ever heard anything so sincere and not fabricated.
"Good night, Atobe-san."
"Good night, (Last name)."
Atobe watched as the girl's retreating form disappeared on the guest room where she's staying. He sighed and laughed a bit, the type that he makes when he's happy but does not want to express it dramatically.
Atobe has an interesting visitor and he's hoping that he could keep her for a little while longer.
God actually heed his prayer and gave him a reason to not call his servants back. For the first day, that is.
And oh, Atobe had an idea that the bag contained personal belongings like underwear but threw the idea away as he thought that nobody would be stupid enough to put their undergarments in a bag separate from their clothes but the thought still convince him though.
a/n
I hope you understand why Atobe-kun is ooc here. He might be so until the story ends.