Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis

Lady Monozuki: Happy holidays everyone! I hope you enjoy!

Unexpected

"Fuji-sempai," he heard. He knew who the voice belonged to. It was the same voice that haunted his dreams at night, but also the same voice that he could not get enough of. He put on his shirt and then turned to face the super rookie of Seigaku.

"Yes, Echizen?" he said in a soft voice. It was softer than he intended, but there was no possible way he could go back and change the tone. Instead, he waited for the arrogant tennis player to make his next comment. After all, it was him who started the conversation.

"You've been staring at me a lot during practices lately. It's kind of creepy."

His mask faltered for a moment before he replaced it. He had hoped that the tennis prodigy had not noticed, but it seemed that he was wrong. He chuckled. He supposed that it was too much to hope. After all, Ryoma was quite observant both on and off the courts. He really should have tried harder to conceal his glances.

A part of you wanted him to notice.

It was true. As much as he wanted to keep his crush a secret, there was a treacherous part of him that wanted their star tennis player to notice so that this exact conversation would come up. However, he had not thought of Ryoma to think of him as "creepy". He would have to do something about that opinion.

"Maybe I just like seeing you, Echizen."

"I doubt that. You were always attached to Tezuka-buchou until recently."

Saa, I suppose that I haven't been as subtle as I thought.

"You're so interesting to watch though. There aren't many who can keep their eyes off your tennis skills."

Or your body.

He wanted to smack himself. He had to be perverse at a time like this.

"You don't just seem interested in my tennis skills. You're worse at lying than I am."

He chuckled. "I doubt that."

"So, what's the real reason?"

"Why are you so intent on getting an answer out of me?"

"Because I want to know if I should avoid you like Inui-sempai," came the casual reply.

Liar, this could turn out interesting.

"Fine, I'll tell you my reason and you tell me the reason why you are being adamant about knowing why, deal?"

"Hai."

"I want you to be my boyfriend."

Silence was his only reply. He was blunt, but Ryoma was always the same. He stared at the super rookie and noticed that Ryoma looked taken aback. Maybe he should have tried a different method? No, if he wasn't this honest then their youngest Regular would never understand what he wanted. The silence stretched on. It was getting more uncomfortable, but he was patient. He assumed that Echizen was not expecting anything of the sort and probably was trying to think of how best to reject him. He was preparing himself for the worst.

No matter what Ryoma said though, his feelings would not change. It had to be him. There was no one else that could ever keep up with him.

"It took you this long to confess? I thought you would have done it sooner."

He opened his eyes slightly. Of all the answers, he certainly had not expected that. In fact, he was dead certain that rejection was going to be Ryoma's response. This was the reason why Echizen Ryoma was perfect for him. He was one who challenged him yet submitted on some ends.

"I would have," he confessed. "But I wanted you to talk to me first."

"I know, mada mada dane, Fuji-sempai."

"Well, now that I told you the reason why I keep staring at you, tell me the reason why you were persistent about getting an answer?"

"I thought you were the tensai here, Fuji-sempai."

He chuckled. He was and it seemed that he had overlooked something else in his scenarios. He forgot to think that Echizen would be interested in him. He smiled.

"I see. Shall we go out now that practice is over? After all, we are boyfriends now."

"Che, doesn't make a difference to me."

This is going to be an interesting relationship.

~End~