CHAPTER 3: Calm is to Sudden
DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimer applies
-oOo-
"Sugoi! That was a really fast shot!" Akaya's eyes widened after Yagyuu shot a laser beam towards him during a practice match.
Yagyuu adjusted his glasses, "Adieu!"
"Ne, Niou, Yagyuu has improved so much since you recruited him to the team. I hear you two practice together when school's out." Marui asked the trickster as they were watching the game in the sidelines.
Niou smirked; somehow, he was proud of Yagyuu's improvement. Somehow, he was also jealous, and he didn't know why.
"He'll definitely make it to regular soon." Jackal stated.
Niou turned his head towards Jackal, he wanted Yagyuu to make it to the regulars, but somehow a part of him also didn't want him to, because he'd be a tougher competition than anyone else.
"So Niou, lately we've noticed you haven't been playing tricks on everyone, does hanging out with Yagyuu have something to do with it?" Marui questioned as he popped his bubble gum.
"I'm just taking a break. Besides, it's not like I have a lot of time to plan any pranks with all the practice we've been doing for the Kantou Tournament." Niou defended before grabbing his racket and walking away.
"What was that about?" Sanada asked Marui and Jackal.
"Niou being defensive about his love affair with Yagyuu." Marui replied playfully.
Sanada's eyes widened in disbelief, because yes, even the Emperor can be gullible at times.
"Why does Sanada have a shocked look on his face?" Yukimura asked Marui and Jackal as he stepped into the court with Yanagi.
"The chance that Marui said something ridiculously insane and Sanada believed him is about 98.7%." Yanagi told Yukimura.
"Genechiro, are you alright?" Yukimura waved his hand in front of his best friend's face.
"Say that again Marui." Sanada told the volley specialist.
"I was kidding Sanada." Marui replied, "It's not like Niou and Yagyuu really have a love affair." He added.
Yukimura chuckled with what Marui said, "Of course they don't. Sa, minna, that's all for today, you're all dismissed." He said turning to the rest of the team to dismiss them.
"How about you Seiichi? Don't you want to share something with us?" Yanagi intrigued their fukubuchou.
Yukimura then turned around to face Yanagi, Marui, Jackal and Sanada also staring at him. "Do I?" he asked.
"Do you?" Marui asked in return.
"What's going on here?" Akaya asked as he and Yagyuu walked closer to the group.
"We were just asking Yukimura if there was something he wanted to say to us." Yanagi explained.
"Nande? Is something wrong Yukimura-kun?" Yagyuu asked full of concern.
"Nothing's wrong Yagyuu-kun, I think Renji is just speculating." Yukimura replied with a smile.
"Let's all go home." Sanada intruded grabbing Yukimura by the arm to drag him away from their nosey teammates.
"You know, if I didn't have such high respects for those two, I'd say they were boyfriends." Marui stated.
"Nande?" Akaya asked confused.
"They're always together." Marui shrugged his shoulder.
"So does that mean Jackal-senpai is your boyfriend Marui-senpai?" Akaya asked innocently.
Yanagi and Yagyuu chuckled. Jackal blushed a little.
"Oi Akaya!" Marui grabbing the younger's collar and dragging him out of the courts. "Let's just go home."
"Ah! Marui-senpai that hurts." The freshman protested as he tried to get loose from his senpai's grip.
"…" Jackal exhaled and followed the two out of the courts.
"How about you Yagyuu-kun?" Yanagi asked the bespectacled boy as he himself was walking out of the court.
"I'll follow you guys soon." Yagyuu replied staying behind the court.
"Iiyo." Yanagi left the other in the court but watching him closely as he walked away.
Yagyuu stayed behind swinging his racket and thinking, Why did I dream of her last night? He paused for a while twisted his neck to both sides, massaged his shoulders a bit before giving out a desperate sigh.
"Problem?" Niou suddenly appearing on the court, now changed into his school uniform.
"Niou-kun." Yagyuu turned surprised by the silverette's sudden appearance.
"Why did you stay behind? Are you loving tennis that much that you've gotten addicted to it?" Niou walked towards Yagyuu his hands in his pocket.
"Iie, I was just thinking." Yagyuu explained.
"Thinking about what?" Niou pressed.
Yagyuu adjusted his glasses, "A dream."
Niou's brow raised, "A dream?"
"Hai. A very unusual dream." Yagyuu furthered.
"What's the dream about?" Niou leaning his back on the fence.
"I don't think I should discuss it with you Niou-kun, no offense." Yagyuu shifted from where he was standing.
"It's about a girl isn't it?" Niou concluded on his own then started to walk out of the court, "Who would've thought the 'gentleman' dreams about girls."
Yagyuu blushed at the other's statement.
"Puri!" Niou nodded his head to signal Yagyuu to go home.
Yagyuu nodded then followed Niou out of the court.
-oOo-
Mayumi was in her favourite place in their classroom, the perfect place to watch the boy's tennis club practicing. Every day after classes, she would sit in that desk and secretly watch 'him' in the court. Because even if he seemed so distant from her, just watching him playing tennis made her smile.
"I see you're in your favourite place again." Yukimura said smiling at the purple haired girl.
"Seiichi-kun, you caught me again." Mayumi blushed.
"Do you want to watch up close?" Yukimura asked the girl.
"Iie, iie, I'm fine right here." Mayumi refused.
"You can get a better view up close." Yukimura insisted.
"Demo, I'm fine just watching from afar."
Yukimura walked closer until his face was about three inches from the girl's, "Mayumi-kun, I know you want to."
Mayumi blushed meagrely.
"So, I'm taking you to practice with me today." Yukimura then grabbed the girl's hand and dragged her to the tennis courts.
"Demo, Seiichi-kun, Demo—." Mayumi protested, but before she knew it she was just outside the tennis courts, with everyone looking at her and Yukimura.
"Minna, Mayumi-kun will be watching us today, iiyo?" Yukimura announced still holding the girls hand.
Sanada had his poker face on.
Yanagi's eyes snapped open.
Marui had a grin on his face.
Jackal blushed a little seeing the demigod holding Mayumi's hand.
Niou's brows furrowed a bit with the sight.
Yagyuu choked on his own saliva.
"Welcome to the tennis club practice Suzuki-senpai!" Akaya greeted joyfully.
"Well, it looks like Kirihara-kun is happy to see you here Mayumi-kun." Yukimura smiled at the girl still not letting go of her hand.
"Demo, won't I disturb your practice?" Mayumi asked shyly.
"None sense. Right minna?" Yukimura again addressed the group.
Everyone just nodded, except Niou who had already walked away to practice with one of their senpai's.
"Hope you enjoy watching the practice Suzuki-kun." Yanagi said finally recovering from the shock.
"Arigato Yanagi-kun." Mayumi smiled and nodded.
"You can sit here Suzuki-kun." Sanada offered a foldable chair where the girl could sit in the sidelines.
"Arigato Sanada-kun."
"Ja, I'll be practicing now Mayumi-kun, just call my attention if you need something iiyo?" Yukimura smiled at the girl before leaving to practice.
"Suzuki-kun." Yagyuu called when the rest of the group had all returned to practicing.
"Yagyuu-kun." Mayumi smiled, "I heard from Seiichi-kun that you've really gotten good at tennis."
"Ah, hai, Niou-kun has been helping me a lot in practice." Yagyuu shyly responded.
"Niou-kun?" Mayumi a bit surprised.
"Hai, he's actually a good guy once you get to know him." Yagyuu explained.
"Sou dane."
"Ja, I'll also be going back to practice now." Yagyuu excused himself.
Mayumi shifted her eyes from one player to another as she enjoyed watching the practice games, but there was one person she enjoyed watching up close, whether he was in the courts or not. Seiichi-kun, arigato for dragging me to practice today. She thought in her head as she tried to hide a smile as she stared at that certain someone who had inspired her to love watching tennis.
-oOo-
Sanada kept silent during their walk home.
Yukimura was smiling eerily, while watching the surroundings.
Sanada glanced at his best friend.
Yukimura smiled at him.
Sanada cleared his throat.
Yukimura was bobbing his head to an unheard music.
Sanada looked weirdly at the demigod.
Yukimura ignored Sanada's stare.
"Yukimura." Sanada being the first to surrender with their silent walk home.
"Nande Sanada?" Yukimura replied, the smile on his face not wavering.
"Why did you bring Suzuki-kun to practice today?" Sanada asked firmly.
"Because I wanted to." Yukimura replied like a spoiled brat.
"You know the implications of your action don't you?" Sanada reminded.
"I take responsibility for every action I take Sanada." Yukimura's smile widened.
Sanada massaged his temple; he was not winning this discussion at any expense, so he might as well just shut up about it.
"You worry too much Sanada." Yukimura patted his best friend's shoulder.
-oOo-
Mayumi was having a good day, she was early to school, she hasn't been involve in any misfortune yet; but she knew it was too early to be that cheerful because who know what would happen next.
"Suzuki." A male voice called her.
She stiffened, she knows that voice, and she slowly turned around to face the person calling her. She gulps before trying her best to sound happy, "Niou-kun, Ohayou!" she forced a smile.
"Can I ask you something?" Niou went direct to the point.
"Ano, sure." Mayumi replied with a confused look in her face.
"Are you dating Yukimura?" Niou asked without any hesitations.
"E?" Mayumi's eyes widened, her jaw dropped.
"Forget I asked." Niou left without waiting for a reply from her.
Mayumi was not quick enough to walk to their classroom, her face was so red with embarrassment and anger mixed that she could not contain herself that when she opened the door to their classroom, "Seiichi-kun!" she screamed.
Yukimura who was talking to one of their classmates lifted his head towards the girl, "Ohayou Mayumi-kun!"
"We need to talk!" the usually gentle soft-spoken Mayumi dragged the demigod out of their classroom to the rooftop garden.
"Mayumi-kun what's this about?" Yukimura looked at her with confused eyes.
"What did you tell the tennis club?" Mayumi's voice not dying down.
"I didn't tell them anything." Yukimura replied with a smile finally getting what the girl was so upset about.
"Then why did Niou-kun approach me today asking if we were dating? Don't they know that—?" Mayumi was cut off by Yukimura's finger on her lips.
"So, Niou was the one who asked you." Yukimura's eyes widened his smile eerie.
"It doesn't matter who asked, why would they think that?" Mayumi removed Yukimura's finger from her lips.
"Don't worry about it Mayumi-kun, I'll tell them what they need to know in this afternoon's practice." Yukimura assured the girl as he turned his back to go back to their classroom.
"You better!" Mayumi pouted and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Yukimura chuckled at the sight, "Kawaii ne." he teased, "Come on let's go back, class will start soon."
-oOo-
The team was watching Yukimura as they were doing their laps before practice.
"I think Yukimura-fukubuchou is really into Suzuki-senpai, he brought her to practice again." Akaya whispered to Marui and Jackal.
"Hmn." Jackal nodded.
"What do you think Yanagi?" Marui turning to the data master.
"Well, it's actually beneficial for us when Suzuki-kun is here." Yanagi replied.
"Nande?" Marui asked.
"Because Yukimura doesn't make us do extra laps when she's watching." Yanagi explained.
"Aa." Marui, Jackal and Akaya agreed.
Niou never took his eyes off Yukimura and Mayumi who were talking under a tree near the court.
Sanada groaned.
"Nande Sanada-kun?" Yagyuu asked the emperor as they were running side by side during the laps.
"Betsuni." Sanada replied.
Yagyuu then glanced at the two talking but immediately returned his eyes on the path they were running because he felt his chest got tighter from the sight.
"Oh, Suzuki-senpai is leaving!" Akaya pointed out as they turn the last curb of the final lap.
"Ah! She's not watching practice today?" Marui asked Jackal.
"How am I supposed to know?" Jackal replied.
"Probability that she has something important to do today 87%." Yanagi butted in.
Niou followed Mayumi with his eyes. So did Yagyuu and Sanada.
-oOo-
By the end of afternoon practice everyone couldn't help themselves and decided it was time to ask Yukimura.
"Seiichi." Yanagi was first to approach.
"Nande Renji?" Yukimura smiled at the data master.
"We were wondering about your relationship with Suzuki-kun." Yanagi asked directly.
Marui, Jackal, Akaya, Sanada and Yagyuu stared at the demigod waiting for a response. Niou kept himself busy with his locker combination.
"What about my relationship with Mayumi-kun?" Yukimura's smile widened knowing where this was heading.
Sanada rolled his eyes then went back to fixing his tennis bag.
Yanagi cleared his throat; he doesn't think he can be any more direct than he already was.
"Oh for crying out loud Yukimura, are you guys dating?" Marui said frustrated.
Yukimura chuckled then glanced at Sanada.
Sanada again rolled his eyes then shook his head.
Yagyuu was closely observing the two. Niou glanced at Yukimura.
"Iie." Yukimura replied.
"E?" was the disappointed response of the team.
"Chotto matte! Demo, you've been spending a lot of time hanging out with her." Yanagi pointed out.
"And you brought to practice holding her hand." Jackal added.
"And you're really really really nice when Suzuki-senpai is around." Akaya also added.
"What do you mean by that Akaya?" Yukimura's face suddenly became dark and dangerous.
"E? Ano, gomennasai fukubuchou." Akaya hid behind Marui and Jackal.
"Just tell them already!" Sanada commanded.
Niou and Yagyuu turned their head to Sanada.
"Oh sheesh Genechiro!" Yukimura rolled his eyes.
"Tell us what Yukimura-kun?" Yagyuu finally spoke up.
"Yeah, tell us what Yukimura?" Niou second.
"Well, I guess I have to now." Yukimura sighed.
"For goodness sake! Tarondurou!" Sanada irritatedly eyed his best friend.
"Yukimura the suspense is killing us." Yanagi stepping closer.
"She's my cousin." Yukimura said happily.
"E?" Marui, Jackal, Yanagi and Akaya's sweat drop.
"Puri!" Niou smiled then zip his tennis bag.
"I see." Yagyuu adjusted his glasses, smirked then closed his locker door.
"Demo, fukubuchou…" Akaya tried to explain.
"Mayumi-kun is the youngest daughter of my Oba-san. My Otou-san and her Okaa-san are siblings, that's why we have different surnames." Yukimura explained with a smile.
"Oooohhhhh…." Marui, Jackal, Yanagi and Akaya nodded their head.
Yukimura's smile widened, because despite being the center of attention, he was actually observing some other people's reactions. Because being the demigod that he was, he knew, someone would be very happy to hear what he just said.
-oOo-
There, one confusing part of the story out of the way. So Mayumi's mother is older than Seiichi's father is, Mayumi is the youngest child while Seiichi is the oldest child.