The courts were silent when the match ended, but not for long. Then came the predicable cheering and oohing at Atobe's prowess. Seemingly immune, Atobe shook Jiroh's hand and they walked off the court together. A tall, bulky player who Oshitari knew was named Kabaji jogged up to Atobe and gave him a water bottle and towel. Interestingly enough, Jiroh did not receive his own set. Whether this was because he lost the match and it was some unvoiced Hyoutei rule that the losers received nothing or because it was simply another demonstration of Atobe Keigo's strange hold on the entire school, Oshitari did not know. He guessed it was probably the latter.
Atobe drank the water and tossed the towel to Jiroh who caught it, looking dazed.
"Mou, thanks Keigo." Jiroh's tone seemed strangely surprised.
Atobe said nothing but drank the water. With a sigh he ran an elegantly fingered hand through his hair, slightly grimacing at the sweat he found there. He snapped his fingers and Kabaji immediately supplied him with another towel.
"Here." Atobe looked at Oshitari while he tossed the water bottle with some water left in it to a pleased Jiroh.
Atobe tilted his head, nodding in the direction of the locker rooms. "Oshitari-kun, wait for me after practice. I'll only be a moment." He strode off purposefully towards the Hyoutei changing rooms.
*
Oshitari was still waiting for the Vice-captain when Gakuto appeared with a muttering Ryo and a hyper Jiroh.
"Oh, Oshitari-kun! Sorry I stole your match with Keigo!" Jiroh didn't sound too sorry but Oshitari could very well understand. If it had been him who had a match with the vivacious Vice-captain, he would not have welcomed any interruption. "Ja ne!" He waved enthusiastically before bouncing away, presumably towards home.
"See ya," Ryo said without looking at Oshitari. "Gakuto, you coming?"
"Nah, I'll see you tomorrow." Gakuto waved Ryo goodbye, who glanced back once before shrugging and leaving.
"It's strange," a thoughtful Gakuto commented to an equally thoughtful Oshitari when they were left alone. "But he seems to have calmed down, somewhat."
Oshitari raised an eyebrow but Gakuto continued of his own accord. "Last year, Atobe would've made an example out of Jiroh. First off, he was late. Second of all," Gakuto looked up at the sky before staring at Oshitari's eyes again. "Well, you wouldn't know, but Jiroh has a really big crush on Atobe. Actually, the entire school probably does. Oh," Gakuto overrode Oshitari before he could open his mouth. "It doesn't really matter that he's a guy. He's Atobe Keigo. He's pretty enough to be a girl, but don't tell him I said that. He'd kill me. Or, he'd take of off regulars, which is pretty much the same thing," Gakuto mused. "Yeah, but as I was saying, Jiroh sort of confessed to Atobe right before summer started. The last day of school, I think it was. Anyway, Atobe said no. Said he was interested in someone else. Who knows if that's true? For all we know it is, Keigo cares enough about Jiroh, they are best friends after all, to lie in order to spare his feelings." Gakuto shrugged. "On the other hand, it's really out of character for Keigo to lie in order to spare someone's feelings. "
"I still don't understand," Oshitari said slowly. "Why would Jiroh's confession make Atobe feel the need to make an example out of him?"
"You don't understand Hyoutei yet. It's, for want of a better word, vicious. You can't just admit to liking someone in the open, can't admit your gay, even if it is Atobe Keigo."
Oshitari opened his mouth but Gakuto kept talking. "I'm not saying Keigo's homophobic or even prejudice. It's just," Gakuto fumbled around for the right way to say it. "Keigo wields a lot of power here, if you couldn't tell."
Oshitari snorted at that. Yeah, he could tell all right.
"See, you're new and even you can tell. But, yeah, in return, he has to keep us under control. He has to lead by example. Here at Hyoutei, you can't be gay. It's not normal, against nature, and all that stuff. It's stupid."
Oshitari completely agreed. What he didn't understand was why Gakuto wanted to have this conversation. But Gakuto, strange Gakuto, looked Oshitari straight in the eye and answered this question, too. "Because, sooner or later, you will fall in love with Atobe Keigo. You can't help it. You just will. And I'm telling you, as your friend, that you'd better keep it to yourself."
Then Gakuto shrugged and said a quiet, See you tomorrow, and was gone.
*
Oshitari was still deep in thought when Atobe Keigo emerged from the showers, wet hair dripping and looking delectable in his ironed white shirt.
"So, have you decided to join the tennis team?" Atobe asked smoothly as they started walking, Oshitari easily keeping up. He got the distinct impression there was a not so hidden 'my' before tennis.
"Yes, I think it seems like a worthy investment." Oshitari's eyes slid to his companion and soon to be Vice-captain. He hoped Atobe picked up the subtext.
Atobe's grin shifted gears and his teeth showed for a moment. "I can't wait to test out your abilities, then."
On or off court?
"Ah, both, of course." Atobe's smile was positively feral.
Oshitari blinked. Had he really just asked that out loud? Apparently so. He flushed slightly.
"I hear you play the violin," Atobe added.
Right, Oshitari thought. Off the court indeed. "Yes," was his vocal response.
"Just make sure it doesn't interfere with your tennis practice. That's all I ask."
"Right." Oshitari was sure that wasn't all Atobe asked. "Should I fill out a form?"
Atobe laughed and Oshitari was enchanted with the sound. "No, that won't be necessary. I'll just call the Captain to notify him to our newest addition."
Oshitari didn't miss how he used the word 'notify' and not 'confirm'. It really was Atobe who made the rules around here. "Thank you. Ah," he paused. "How are you getting home?"
Atobe laughed again and Oshitari had to mentally shake himself. Atobe snapped his fingers and a limo pulled up. Atobe called over his shoulder before getting in, "Call Kabaji tonight and give him your sizes. He'll set you up. Morning practice is at seven. Be there."
Oshitari nodded and started to walk away. The limo pulled up beside him and he waited. The window rolled down.
"One more thing." Atobe paused for dramatic effect. "I get there early to warm up."
"Six thirty." It wasn't a question but Oshitari was dying to know the answer.
"Perfect." Oshitari caught a last glimpse before the window rolled back up.
A part of his conversation with Gakuto echoed in his brain, Said he was interested in someone else. Well, even if it had at a time been true, it didn't seem as though Atobe had any problems moving on. Oshitari found he had no qualms with being the rebound guy. He stopped walking for a moment and then laughed to himself. Oh, he was in trouble, wasn't he?