Disclaimer: I do NOT own PoT

Pairing: Inui Sadaharu X Echizen Ryoma

Note: I am so sorry it took so long. I'm not going to make excuses but I do really feel sorry and I myself felt disappointed that I only find the time now to update this. I'll make sure though that from now on, I'll do my very best to update regularly. I really like this story of Inui and Ryoma and I'm determined to see this through to the end. I hope you feel the same way. Anyway, without farther ado, here's the second chapter of Data Entry: The Love Syndrome. Please, enjoy.

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Chapter 2

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Inui lets his eyes wonder over the side where a certain freshman was standing just outside the fences. Just like the last five times that he looked, his eyes were met by puzzled yet slightly annoyed expression.

He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, his face flushing as he felt strangely guilty for no apparent reason at all. His brows furrowed. He doesn't like how he felt. Inui tried to recall the previous occasions that he have interacted with the freshman, thinking that maybe he have done something wrong to deserve the glares.

He couldn't think of any.

Shrugging, Inui turned back to the game.

The match was between Momo and Kawamura. It was only a practice match, the two being assigned to play against each other so they could test their strengths.

Throughout the game, Inui kept alternating between writing on his notebook and watching the game. Occasionally, he would look to the side before heaving a sigh. Nope. The glares haven't let up yet.

"What's wrong, Inui?" he turned to his left to see Fuji watching him. "You've been sighing nonstop since the game began. Something wrong with your data?"

The tensai tried to take a peek at Inui's notebook but the data gatherer immediately flipped it closed. Fuji just shrugged.

Inui, on the other hand, hesitated. He stole another glance at the freshman and sure enough, the boy was still looking quite ticked although this time he was glaring daggers at Momoshiro's back.

"Fuji," Inui started, his eyes fixed on Kawamura as the power-player prepares for his serve. "What do you think is wrong with Echizen?" He asked as casually as he could.

"Hmm?" Fuji mumbled, distracted. It took him a second to look away from the court and turn confused eyes at Inui. "Something wrong with Echizen? What do you mean?"

Inui cleared his throat. How will he explain that he's been glared at since the beginning of the afternoon practice? "Er, Echizen . . . He, uh, seems to be in a bad mood."

Fuji blinked at Inui's stutter. That was very out of character for the data gatherer. Moving his eyes farther behind Inui, he saw that Echizen was indeed scowling. He watched him for a moment and was surprised when the younger boy turned annoyed-looking eyes directly at Inui before looking down and kicking the toe of his shoe on the ground.

"What did you do to him?" Fuji asked Inui. He didn't sound accusatory though, just plain curious.

It was Inui's turn to blink. What did he do? He looked at Ryoma. The younger boy was rubbing his slightly red nose with the back of his hand. Then he looked up to the court and sniffed loudly.

Inui turned back to Fuji when he heard him laughing. He raised his brow.

Fuji continued to laugh, watching Echizen. "He's dejected." He answered to Inui's unspoken question. "He's upset that he wasn't allowed to play because of his colds. How cute."

Inui, completely ignoring the tensai's last sentence, nodded. He supposed that Echizen might indeed be upset by not being able to play. He will be, too, if everyone was telling him to sit down when all he wanted to do was hit some balls. That doesn't explain though why it was Inui who was receiving the death glares when it was Tezuka who told Echizen not to play.

Shaking his head, Inui decided to just ignore the younger boy's bad mood and focused on the game. It was on its peak – when the players are giving it their all and are playing without hesitation. The score was 5-3 in favor of Kawamura.

Completely oblivious to the calculative look in Fuji's eyes, Inui opened his notebook again. He needed the data so that he could adjust the team's training menu.

….

After a few more minutes, Ryoma decided to just skip practice altogether. He wasn't allowed to play, anyway. What was the use of standing there, sniffing and looking pitiful as he look longingly at the court when all he gets were sympathetic looks and pats on the back?

Scowling to no one in particular, Ryoma bent down to take his unopened tennis bag. He slang it to his shoulder and sniffed wetly. Damn it but his nose is running. He took his handkerchief from his pocket and looked up. His eyes caught a familiar glint of sunglasses.

Ryoma couldn't help but glare. After Inui's cold-hearted 'analysis' yesterday about his colds, Ryoma felt that he has the right to be annoyed at his uncaring senpai. The data-gatherer didn't even wish him well even after stating that there was a high percentage of his colds turning into fever.

Ryoma's colds, thankfully, remained being colds. Having a runny nose though and not being able to play tennis still sucked. He blamed all these on the unsuspecting Inui. It was childish. He knew that. But he was sick so it was okay.

He gave the data gatherer one last glare before he turned his back and walked away. He brought his handkerchief to his nose and blow.

….

Inui was aware that Ryoma was leaving. Not that he was watching him. No. It was because the heaviness of Echizen's glare suddenly vanished and Inui was surprised that he could breathe easily again. He shook his head. Those are very impressive glares indeed if he could actually feel a physical weight.

The game wasn't finished yet but it was already clear to Inui who will win. Kawamura has a lot more power behind his shots compared to Momo. Thus, the sophomore was struggling to return the ball and was quickly losing his equilibrium.

Deciding to take a short break, Inui raised a hand to Tezuka. He received a small nod. Fuji already left Inui's side a while ago and was now standing next to Oishi. He gave them a small wave, as well, before leaving the courts.

Inui stretched his arms as he walked. He felt as well as heard the satisfying cracks.

He was a little tired. He lost a couple of hours of sleep last night because he had been busy with the training menu. Plus, he had to calibrate his new improved Inui Vegetable Juice Drink. The juice had a beautiful deep violet color and the bubbles forming at the top were popping in a most satisfying way. It was still, however, missing the lovely steam so Inui was working on that.

So preoccupied was he on his thoughts that he almost missed the familiar dark head currently drowning itself under the cold rush of the drinking fountain. Inui frowned before walking over to the younger boy.

"Echizen," he called when he was a couple of feet behind the first year.

There were a few seconds that passed before Ryoma raised his head from under the water. He shook his head to get rid of the droplets before turning to Inui.

Inui's frown harden when he saw the slightly glazed look on those wide, golden eyes. He took an unconscious step forward.

"What's up, Inui-senpai?" Ryoma asked. He resisted the urge to rub his throat. It felt scratchy and parched, which he thought was weird considering that he'd just drank plenty.

"Why are you soaking your head like that?" Inui asked, keeping his voice light. In honesty though, he was feeling more than a little worried. Not only were the boy's eyes glassy, but they looked red on the edges, as well. And his complexion was pale and seemingly clammy.

Ryoma shrugged then promptly closed his eyes to fight off the sudden nausea. "I felt hot and I was sweating." He answered after a few moments. He wanted to ask why the older boy cared but although he was feeling irritated, he didn't want to be rude.

Inui took the last step forward and slowly reached out. He ignored the younger boy's slight flinch and continued to lay his hand on his forehead. It was warm. He let it stay there as his other hand reached for his own forehead in order to compare their temperature. After a few seconds, he let both his hands drop to his sides.

"You have a slight fever, Echizen." This time, Inui allowed the concern to touch his voice. He tilted the younger boy's face upward and examined his eyes. They were starting to water. "You should probably go home. I'll go tell Tezuka. Do you want me to come with you?"

Ryoma sluggishly blinked his eyes. The older boy was starting to look blurry. "I'm fine. I can go home by myself."

Even after saying this, however, Ryoma didn't move from his position. He continued to look up at the older boy while his right hand unconsciously reached out to hold onto Inui's jersey sleeve. He felt strangely sleepy. And cold. Why was it suddenly cold?

Inui's concern escalates at this. He could see that Echizen was starting to get weak from the fever.

"C'mon, Echizen, we need to get you to the Nurse's office." Inui placed an arm around the younger boy's waist. He could feel the slight shiver on the smaller frame. He started to take a step forward but had to stop when Ryoma let out a pained groan.

"Damn it." Inui cursed under his breath. Ryoma was losing consciousness and no one was around to help. Taking matters into his own hand, Inui immediately scooped the younger boy into his arms. He fervently hoped the school nurse was still there.

….

A bit of a cliffhanger. I'll apologize except that I think cliffhangers is what makes stories exciting. So, yeah. What do you think? Ryoma is still arrogant here and very snobby, but I'd really like to emphasize his age which is 12 so I gave him some childish tendencies. I hope that's alright. Also, the reason for Inui's coldness from the previous chapter had been explained in Ryoma's POV. Apparently, Inui was cold and calculating in his analysis of Ryoma's condition. I have to agree with Ryoma here but . . . well, that's just the way Inui is, I guess.

Anyway, please don't forget to give me reviews. I would really like to know what you think of my stories. Thanks and much love,

Eftela.