Hamburger

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"So, what are you gonna order today, Echizen?" Inquired a shaky voice. This voice belonged to none other than Momoshiro.

The silent tennis prodigy stared off into thought, thinking about what he should eat today. A cat like smirk made its way onto the small boy's lips, finally knowing what to order. He called over a waitress, ordering only one item, and then turned to face his friend. "What are you going to get?"

"Y-you know!" His friend began loudly. A little too loudly. "Nothing too ... expensive." His form sulked a bit, as he gave his order as well. "How much did yours cost?"

"It's a special."

"The special, huh?" Specials, lately, were typically cheap at this restaurant, so Momo was completely relieved when Ryoma decided not to eat out his pockets. Lately, he was running low on cash, so he was glad for Ryoma's consideration.

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"Ah, that was great! Great!"

The two boys finished their meal just as the waitress from before made her way to them. She tucked the tray she had carried orders on to the side, and from her apron's pocket brought out a small piece of paper. "So guys, who's handling the payment? Momo, I assume?" She looked the paper over herself, raising an eye. "I thought Momo didn't have enough cash on him today."

Gradually, slowly, inch, by slow inch, Momo turned his head, and gave a look of mortification to the waitress, practically petrified of what he thought was going. "Th-that's right. Ahaha but Echizen here ordered the special ... !"

"Right, and the special today was a little more pricey than normal. Didn't you know--"

"N-no!" Spat an angry Momo. The tennis player fumed, taking his attention from the waitress. "Hey, Echizen! ... ?" And now focusing on Echizen. Only, Ryoma wasn't in his seat anymore.

Because the smaller boy had a seat closer to the door, he made a quick dash for the exit, hoping to scare Momo. Ryoma knew that the special for today wasn't anything Momo could afford, but he wanted to just mess with him. He was going to pay his for his meal ... just after he riled him up a bit. His plan was going fine up until the smaller one bumped into someone just outside the door. The person grumbled something, and after recovering, Echizen glanced up, seeing who it was that ran into him.

"Echizen ... ?" Inquired a surprised Atobe. He straightened himself out as he stood up straight, about to question what he was doing, but before he could even get the words out of his mouth, Ryoma replied.

"Nothing."

Again, those short, one worded answers. Something Atobe wasn't too fond of receiving from the boy, if anything. Unfortunately for the captain of Hyotei, he was cut off again, this time by a not so happy Momo.

"Hey! Echizen, where do you think you're going!? You are going to pay for your meal, aren't you?!" Momo approached them, fists balled up, glaring down at the tennis prodigy, who was clearly not listening to him, for he was fixated on the irritated Atobe which made Momo fix his attention on him. "Atobe ... ?" Momo stood up fully now, apparently forgetting about the bill, also fully directing his attention to the captain.

Finally, the captain caught on. "Can't seem to pay?"

"Hey, shaddup! I can pay for myself, but not--"

Before the raged teen could finish his sentence, Ryoma shoved something into his hand, shaking his head before he exited.

"Echizen?" Momo was perplexed. More importantly, he didn't get understand why Ryoma just left without the bill being able to be paid. Irritated, he balled up his fists until he felt something cold in his hand. Opening his palm, he saw just enough money that would take care of Echizen's meal. "That kid ..." Momo muttered to himself, preparing to leave until Atobe spoke up.

"What? But I just heard you say something about not being able to pay. Which is it?"

"I can now, obviously." Momo paused, to take in consideration of why Ryoma might do that. Well, he figured Ryoma wouldn't leave him like that but ... he honestly didn't expect him to pay either. "The special was what he usually orders but ... it was a little more today, and he knew I must have forgot because he still ordered it!" Momo clenched the money in his fist angrily, then gave an appreciative smile, calming down. "Ah, but knowing this, the little guy was going to pay in the end ... stupid Echizen, what horrible thing to do to his senpai. That said, better go pay before they get mad."

That Momo sure did talk a lot, but some of it was actually useful. "So Echizen likes the specials here?" That brought a brilliant idea to Atobe. Hopefully, he'd come here again tomorrow.

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The restaurant was unusually quiet. It seemed they weren't as busy as before. Not that Ryoma minded. He didn't mind it at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He rather liked when the restaurant would get like this sometimes. Sometimes even the usual customers weren't here, excluding himself, and thus, making it seem emptier than before. You could swear that Ryoma was the only customer for the time being.

Deciding to add onto the deliciously quiet and relaxing atmosphere, Ryoma picked the same special as before. And then, Ryoma's mind began to wander, albeit, only for a little while, due to the ring of a bell. Ryoma straightened himself at the counter seat upon hearing someone enter the empty shop.

"Hey,"

Though he recognized the owner of the voice, Ryoma made no move to actually acknowledge the owner.

"Echizen." The voice tried again, stern, demanding.

Ryoma seem unfazed, and even decided to throw in a yawn, though, finally decided to speak, "Monkey King," the younger replied in a mock, stern, demanding voice equal to Atobe's previous tone he had just used on him.

Atobe felt his eye twitch, but decided to ignore and not dwell on the name Ryoma had just addressed him by. Because he certainly was not a Monkey King.

Finally, he took a seat next to Ryoma, looking to him, "So, you're here again today."

"Same for you."

Atobe twitched a second time. Why did he feel like he was having a discreet debate of some kind with him? Though, Atobe thought, at least this time his answers have more ... words and syllables. Atobe began to speak up, but like before, was interrupted by a waitress bringing Ryoma's food. And it seemed to be the exact same thing Ryoma had the last time he was here.

"It's the same thing." Atobe decided to point out the obvious.

Ryoma's reply was taking a bite into his food as if Atobe wasn't even there to begin with.

"That's so bland of you, Echizen."

Ryoma was apparently annoyed with Atobe, talking to him while he was eating. He decided to eat faster, and managed to finish his small meal before Atobe got out another word. (He probably astounded the "king" with how fast he ate, though his meal wasn't big to begin with.) Then younger boy began to search for his money for the meal.

Then Atobe began to speak again, "I was actually hoping to catch you before you came here to eat, like you seem to always do."

Ryoma continued to dig in his pocket, wondering where his money went.

"But here you are, done with your meal. So," Atobe paused, finally take a look at Ryoma, watching him struggle to find his money. He wanted to laugh. Was it Karma playing with Ryoma for playing with Momo from before? But he put the thought of laughing on hold, a new idea taking place, "So, how about I just pay for this meal instead? And next time, Oresama will personally take you out to eat."

Ryoma looked up, giving Atobe a blank face. He began to speak, but Atobe had already called the waitress over, paying for the meal. Just when he found the money too. Ah well. He could spend his money on something else. Something else like Ponta. Ponta actually sounded good right now.

Having made up his mind about the Ponta, Ryoma stood up, and headed for the exit.

Atobe finally turned around to see Ryoma leaving. He was actually waiting to see if the brat would even consider giving a thank you, but the way he kept walking away, the king figured he wasn't even going to get that. Just as Atobe stood up, and was about to protest did Ryoma finally acknowledge him.

Ryoma glanced over his shoulder, a smirk formed on his lips that Atobe hated oh so much, "Then, thanks for the food Monkey King." And proceeded to leave.

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Not too long after the restaurant encounter, Oshitari had reported to Atobe by cell about a few of the Seigaku regulars playing, as he was passing by, but mostly about how Ryoma was sitting around. He figured he was having one of his lazy days.

"Oh, and he seemed to be drinking that ... soda you say he likes so much."

What? What soda? The Ponta?

"But, I thought you said you paid for his meal or something because he didn't have the money?"

Atobe's eyes grew large. But he didn't have the money! I know he didn't.

"He had money, actually, I was talking to him while he was paying for it. You see, I ran into him while he got something to drink ... as I happened to be purchasing something to drink as well."

He had money! Atobe was silently fuming, not really paying attention to Oshitari's rambling anymore. And he couldn't even say so! Spoiled -- !

"Anyway, I'm guessing your plans didn't work so far ... I suppose I'll leave you to that. Good bye, Atobe." And with that, Oshitari hung up, leaving a stunned Atobe.

So much for the dining plan. How else was he going to get Ryoma's attention now? This would require some more careful planning. After all, Atobe's plans were foolproof.

Samayo here! I didn't care for this chapter too much ... it seemed to wordy and long, much unlike the other chapter. Um, oh right, sorry about how long this took. I guess even planning out things doesn't mean anything if you don't actually get around to doing it. Just a fair warning about how this is going to end, it's rather chessy. Ha, unless I find an alternative ending, it's probably going to stay chessy.

Besides that, I'm pretty sure Atobe's character is killing me. I'm not sure if I'm nailing it so much ... eh. that's all.