Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Prince of Tennis
A/N: With loads of hugs to my beta-reader, vierblith!
Chapter 3 – Here comes Tia
Tezuka found himself relaxing the tensed muscles at the back of his neck only after he had reached his classroom. Sitting on his chair, he took out his books and waited for lessons to start while his mind was preoccupied with the question that Inui had posed earlier.
'Love Fuji?' he questioned himself repeatedly. His eyebrows drew together into a frown. His thoughts were broken off when his hand-phone vibrated, signaling that he had received a text message.
"Days are too busy. Hours are too long. Few seconds are too fast. But there's always a time for me to say 'Have a Great Day ahead!"
Tezuka could feel the corner of his lips curl into a smile as he read the text message from Fuji. His heart was filled with warmth.
"Ohayou, minna-san," the teacher, who was dressed in a one-piece black dress with hair tied up in a bun, spoke as she walked into the classroom. "We have a new transfer student joining our class. Her name is Tia." With that, she gestured to a petite-looking girl with long, brown hair resting on her slim shoulders. Everyone clapped to welcome the new student, who did not seem to be shy at all.
"So," the teacher cleared her throat to catch the students' attention again. Her eyes scanned around and stopped with delight at the sight of a certain individual. "Tezuka-kun, I believe you would greatly assist Tia in getting familiar with the school."
Tezuka blinked. 'Me?' He asked silently before the teacher began again, "Now Tia, you can sit beside Tezuka-kun. Now," she paused, clasping her hands together, "Let's begin our lesson."
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While most female students were shy when interacting with Tezuka, Tia seemed to be the opposite.
"Hello, Tezuka," Tia immediately greeted the stony-looking boy once the school bell had signaled lunch break. "Could you bring me to the canteen? I have no idea where it is, and I am hungry!" She pouted.
Surprised at the outgoing behavior of the transfer student, who was now looking at him with innocent, wide eyes, Tezuka sighed.
"Okay, let's go." With that, Tezuka took his packed lunch and walked out of the classroom, expecting Tia to follow behind him. He stopped when he felt an arm linking through his.
Frowning, he looked down to find Tia's arm looped through his.
Sending Tezuka a wide, yet seemingly innocent grin, Tia said, "Let's go. I am starving!"
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The canteen was packed with students as usual. Chatters of hungry students and voices of stallholders repeating food orders filled the noisy atmosphere.
Despite the crowd, there were still seats available. Sitting comfortably on one of the seats, Tezuka turned to Tia, and said in monotone, "You can go and buy lunch for yourself. I will wait here for you."
"How about your lunch? Aren't you eating?"
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes in annoyance, Tezuka replied immediately while holding up his packed lunch to emphasize his point, "I brought my lunch."
Giving a nonchalant shrug, Tia turned to buy her food, leaving Tezuka to eat along for the time being.
Not long after, a familiar voice shouted out. "Buchou!" Eiji greeted with a bright grin as he plopped himself to the seat opposite Tezuka.
"Tezuka," Oishi said, acknowledging the presence of the Seigaku tennis captain as he sat beside Eiji, "Alone?" He asked.
Before Tezuka could reply, a sweet voice broke in, "Hi! I suppose you are friends of Tezuka? My name is Tia, a new student here. Nice to meet you." Tia introduced herself as she made herself comfortable by sitting beside Tezuka. Without waiting for the Golden Pair to introduce themselves, Tia turned to Tezuka with a smile on her face, "Here, let me treat you to sushi," she said, as she placed a piece of sushi that she had purchased earlier into Tezuka's lunch.
Eiji whispered into the ear of his boyfriend, "Ne, Oishi," he said as he frowned a little, "Is that Tia girl very close to Buchou?"
Oishi was also surprised by how close Tezuka and Tia were sitting together, not to mention that Tezuka did not reject Tia's sushi treat.
"I don't know," Oishi whispered back.
With a pout on his lips that made Oishi wanted to kiss Eiji on the spot, Eiji replied, "Well, I don't like that girl."
Sensing a pair of eyes now glaring at them, Oishi cleared his throat and straightened his back. Trying not to feel awkward for being caught gossiping, Oishi asked casually, "So, where is Fuji? Is he coming to eat at the canteen too?"
Immediately, Tezuka's eyes widened. 'Fuji!' he thought as his heart began to race, 'I have forgotten to inform Fuji to meet at the canteen!'
Upon that realization, Tezuka's mind began to panic. It was some time ago, around the same time when Fuji started to send good night messages to Tezuka, that the two of them had made a silent agreement to eat their packed lunch together at the rooftop where it was quiet, away from the noisy canteen. He could still remember that clear day when Fuji suddenly popped into his class during lunch break and dragged the surprised captain to the rooftop.
"This is a nice place to have lunch. With no distractions, no noisy people around…" Fuji chuckled as he held out his packed lunch in front of Tezuka, "Let's eat together. I brought your share today."
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"Fuji!" Eiji called out cheerfully as he waved, breaking Tezuka's thoughts, "There you are! We were wondering where you were!"
Tezuka turned to find himself looking into the immense blue eyes of Fuji Syusuke. He noticed that Fuji was holding a packed lunch in his right hand.
"Ar," Tia greeted, "You must be a friend of Tezuka too! I'm Tia, nice to meet you!" she paused, before continuing, "Well, Tezuka is very nice to accompany me to have lunch here. Would you like to join us?" she beamed.
There was the unmistakable note of iciness in Fuji's voice as he rejected with his usual smile, "Oh, it is okay." He continued without giving Tezuka a chance to interrupt, "I have finished my lunch. See you."
As Fuji spun around to make his way out of the canteen, he felt a tug on his arm, "Fuji."
Forcing himself to put on his usual smile again, Fuji looked at Tezuka as he asked sweetly, "Is anything the matter, Buchou?"
Tezuka's gaze shifted away. He felt extremely apologetic and guilty for neglecting Fuji. The question that Inui had posed that morning combined with Tia's chatter had made Tezuka…disorganized.
"If there is nothing, see you during tennis practice then," Fuji replied icily as he shrugged his arm out of Tezuka's hold, hurrying out of the canteen without looking back.
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'Who am I kidding with?' Fuji thought. He gave a bitter laugh as he clenched his fists unconsciously. 'Well, I guess I don't need to try anymore.' His eyes darkened with disappointment and sadness as he hurried down the corridor. His packed lunch was still unopened in his right hand.
A/N: Once again, sorry for the slow update. But I do hope that everyone enjoys reading this chapter, though you might think that it is a little short. :X
For those who reviewed previously, thanks!!
Once again, reviews for this chapter will be greatly loved! :D