Don't be alarmed, that this chapter seems to have totally deviated from the previous ones. It's just that the whole story is long, has many themes, so it's not going to just follow one couple throughout. I'm hoping to create the feel of the original manga, just with lots more shonenai...
Hope you guys like my MomoRyo pairing (Did Echizen go out of character?)
P.S. I just found out that I've been using "sempai" instead of "senpai" for the past chapters. That is such an idiotic mistake, I apologize... just automatically substitute it into the right thing when you see it. (God i'm embarrassed...)
Chapter 3 – Echizen's First Date
"Ryoma-kun! Momoshiro-kun is here to fetch you!" Nanako shouted, finally getting Ryoma out of his room, for which he seemed to have fallen in love with recently, locking himself up in there unless it was dinner time. Ah, puberty. Although wasn't it a little late now?
Ryoma strolled down the stairs, took a piece of toast and began slowly munching it while teasing Karupin.
"Ryoma-kun! Didn't you hear me? Momoshiro-kun is waiting outside!" Nanako nagged. Ryoma's daring attitude was growing by the day, especially when it came to Momoshiro, with whom (even though she shouldn't say this since she's his relative) he acted like a total spoiled brat.
"It's ok. Just let him wait. He deserves it since he made me late last week." Ryoma mumbled, but started wearing his shoes. "See ya."
Nanako signed after Ryoma. Her woman's instincts told her that her little cousin definitely was sinking into the mud pool called love, and there was no way he was going to come out clean like he did in all those tennis matches. Should she tell uncle Nanjirou for precation? Hm…
"Echizen! Hurry up! We're going to be late!" Momoshiro waved, but Ryoma acted as if he heard nothing, and continued at his easy pace until he hopped onto the back seat of the bicycle. Momoshiro bristled, and in a fit of annoyance, grabbed Ryoma's cap and flopped it onto his own head, and ruffled the latter's hair until it looked like a bunch of wild grass.
"Oi! Give it back!" Ryoma barked, and could only do so, lest he made a fool of himself trying to scale Momoshiro's height advantage over him.
Momoshiro whistled, "Is that the way you should talk to your sempai?"
"As if you ever act like –" And Momoshiro braked abruptly, sending Ryoma crashing into his back, efficiently cutting off any retorts. "What the heck are you trying to do?!" Ryoma fumed, digging his fingers very deeply into Momoshiro's side.
"I… I'm sorry, Ryoma-kun, Momoshiro-sempai!" A pitiful voice that sounded as if she was already crying managed to route around the mountainous mass that was Momoshiro and reached Ryoma's ears. The boy stuck out his head from behind the senior, and saw Ryuzaki Sakuno standing in the middle of the street, looking utterly lost.
"What's wrong, Sakuno-chan?" The gallant Momoshiro rushed forward. The girl flushed bright red, then whispered something in Momoshiro's ear. The latter gave a knowing nod, a sneaky grin, then rushed back to his bicycle and lifted Ryoma off it.
"Sorry, I just remembered something, so gotta rush! You walk Sakuno-chan to school like a man, you hear me, Echizen?" And off went Momoshiro, sending dust flying in his trail.
Ryoma started leading the way to school wordlessly. There was a limit as to how dumb someone can be, and Momoshiro-senpai had just broken it.
"Um… I… I mean, Ryoma-kun," Sakuno ventured in the tiniest voice possible, "Are you free this Sunday?"
"I'd have to check if there's weekend practice. Why?" Better test out her intentions first. If it were going to be another tryst in getting Sakuno's tennis skills out of beginner level, then he'd really have to think about it.
"I… that is… I have two tickets to the zoo, Tomoko-chan's busy, so… willyougotothezoowithme!" Sakuno gushed out, looking as if she might hyperventilate.
"The zoo… I'll confirm with you after I know the practice schedule." Ryoma said neutrally, and they walked on in awkward silence until they reached the tennis courts. "I've got to go to practice. See you later."
"See… see you…" Sakuno stuttered, blushed, bowed, and fled.
"Nyaa, what was that, ochibi?" Kikumaru, always on the watch for gossip, bounced over and lagged onto Ryoma. For the first time, Ryoma did not bat him away, instead dragged the senior into the equipment room.
Kikumaru, unlike most people, only became more excited by having his head in the clouds. "Oi, ochibi, what's the secret? Romance problems in need of the ever-ultimate all-powerful Eiji-sempai to help you solve? Don't be shy, we've all known that Sakuno-chan has liked you for years! There's no way she'll reject you."
Ryoma rolled his eyes. "Eiji-senpai, I'm discussing this with you only because you are the most obvious, 100 percent positive homosexual member on the team."
Kikumaru jumped up, was tempted to flee, but if he ran away now, it would just be pure embarrassment on his part, not to mention having to lose against ochibi. If he swallowed the insult, bear with it, then in exchange he would know Echizen's dirty little secret, and they would be on par. That weighed out, Kikumaru coughed and tried to sound more mature. "I'm pretty sure you have the wrong ideas, Echizen, but I am very open minded, and I'm sure I'll be able to accept any peculiarities you are about to confide."
"Should I go on a date just to take revenge on somebody?"
"Nya?" Kikumaru blinked, not sure if that really was the romance idiot Echizen speaking. Purposefully invoking jealousy was something the pure Kikumaru Eiji would never consider. No, not a chance. "So… who's the victim?" Kikumaru's eyes were more than mischievous.
"Momo-senpai." Ryoma was a very straightforward boy.
"Momo? Peach? Momoshiro?" Kikumaru took a minute to digest the information, "Are you saying you want to go on a date with Momo in order to let Sakuno-chan be jealous? That's so stupid! You go on outings, shopping trips with Momo all the time and I'm sure she's already immune by now."
Ryoma was beginning to doubt his choice of an advisor. "No, it's the other way round."
"…"
"I like Momo-sempai." Ryoma said it as if asking for a glass of water.
"Oh… ochibi likes Momo… hm…" Kikumaru went unexpectedly serious, supporting his chin in his hands and evaluated the situation. "You sure about this, Echizen? Cause it's not going to be easy, with Momo's thick skull and typical manly attitude."
"Didn't know Eiji-senpai can analyze so well." Ryoma commented in his usual half sarcastic, half well-meaning tone.
"That's not the focus right now! We're facing a very serious problem here, and it involves two of my precious kouhai's lifelong happiness!" Kikumaru lectured, pouting. "Actually, now that I think about it, you two do seem to have quite some possibilities, although I don't think Momo's realized the prospect of having a relationship with a boy, since he seemed so negative about homos in that match against Shitenhouji. It's making Momo come to an epiphany that's the biggest barrier here, nyaa."
Ryoma lifted an eyebrow. Perhaps he really did underestimate his senpai, or rather, maybe Eiji-sempai had just been under oppression for too long from the years of ambiguous relationship he shared with Oishi-senpai. "That's why I'm thinking to agitate him by going on a date with Sakuno."
"Ah… the quick and harsh way, nya? Well, that's an option… but be careful if it backfires." Kikumaru frowned. "Also, go talk to Sakuno-chan, and get her understanding. Even though I'm helping you, I still won't forgive anyone who hurts a pure little girl's heart!"
"Thanks, Eiji-senpai." Ryoma's lips curved up by a fraction.
When they finally opened the door of the equipment room, two very stern-looking captains blocked any sunlight or hope that could befall on them.
"Do you realize how long you've been in there?! The whole team could not practice with the lack of nets and tennis balls! 30 laps around the school for hindering progress!" Tezuka snapped, and for once the kind and gentle Oishi didn't step up for his partner.
Kikumaru tried his puppy eyes, but Oishi just avoided them. "You guys have been in there for 45 minutes." Anger was not the word for it, disturbed, more likely, for the expression on Oishi's face.
"Nyaa!! Oishi's angry at me!" Kikumaru whined, and dashed off for his run.
Ryoma took another look at Oishi's embarrassed and guilty face, before embarking on his own punishment. "Hm… Eiji-senpai, yaru jaa..."
………………………………………
"Oi, anyone seen Echizen? It's not like him to miss practice, even if it's on the weekend." Momoshiro looked around, trying not to seem as frantic as he felt. "That brat, can't even make it on time without me going to get him, eh?"
"Momo! Looking for ochibi?" Kikumaru flounced over at the calculated time, looking hyper and innocent as ever. "Didn't you hear him yesterday after practice? He took leave from Tezuka in order to go on a date!"
"EH? Really?" Momoshiro rubbed his chin, "Then I guess Sakuno-chan's confession worked. Hehe, she should really thank me, cause if it weren't for my extra push, she'd never find time alone with him."
Looking at the loudly laughing and boasting Momoshiro, Kikumaru sweatdropped. Reaction #1: Negative.
"Momo," Kikumaru tried to look secretive, "you wanna skip and go watch over them? Echizen told me that they're going to the zoo at 1 p.m. We'll make it in time."
Momoshiro seemed skeptical. "And risk bucho skinning us alive? No thanks."
"But ochibi is such an idiot when it comes to dating! Remember last time you followed him on the mistaken 'date' with Sakuno-chan? Just by hearing you say it was bad enough. What if he makes the girl cry again? All guys have responsibility to prevent any female from shedding tears, furthermore, it's ochibi we're talking about. Shouldn't we be the responsible senpai and guide the future generation onto the right way of life?" Even Kikumaru himself thought maybe he was overdoing it.
"Yeah… Echizen can be such an idiot sometimes…" Momoshiro mused, his hands already on autopilot to put his racket away. The guy finally nodded with determination, slinging his tennis bag back onto his shoulder, "Yup, you're right, Eiji-senpai! A little physical punishment cannot be compared with the importance of setting Echizen's first step into romance on the right path. Let's go!"
Kikumaru grinned all in the world like a cat that got the cream. The Kikumaru labeled plans never fail.
………………………………………
"Sorry, have you been waiting long?" Ryoma walked up to the blushing girl, just in the right angle to catch a glimpse of Kikumaru and Momoshiro hiding behind the bushes, the former winking blatantly at him. Ok, smile.
"N… no! Not at all!" Sakuno turned bright red after being subjected to one of Ryoma's rare smiles, no matter how fake the boy knew it really was. He'd have to apologize later, but right now, he had a show to put on.
"Hm… ochibi's doing good, isn't he? That's the first time I've seen him smile as if the whole world is made of bubbles. He must like Sakuno-chan a lot, nya?" Kikumaru edged the transfixed Momoshiro.
"Y… Yeah… he sure does. Heh, never knew that Echizen's such a charm, huh?" Momoshiro's laugh was more than forced.
Reaction #2: Positive. Perhaps he should've had Inui here to help him calculate the success rate.
All in all, it didn't feel like a bad trip, with ochibi honestly seeming to enjoy himself looking at the animals, and Sakuno-chan stealing glances at ochibi. It was, of course, no easy work crouching all the time behind trees and buildings, but the expressions on Momo's face were all too amusing. Such juicy news and complicated problem, he'd definitely have to analyze it together with someone… Hehe…
The wind suddenly picked up, and since pretty clothing always cannot stand against the cold, Sakuno sneezed.
Ryoma looked back, then wordlessly took off his jacket and tossed it back, landing on top of Sakuno's head nicely.
"Way to go, Echizen! Let her fall for your careless, grouchy, yet gentlemanly actions!" Momoshiro cheered on, and Kikumaru had to cover his mouth to prevent him from being too loud. Reaction #3: Negative.
And then Echizen sneezed. That was only natural, considering he only had a thin, short sleeve T-shirt on – the consequences of being charming.
"Eiji-senpai! Let me go! Just, just let me give this coat to Echizen, ok? It's still winter now, and we can't have the future pillar of Seigaku tennis sick!" Momoshiro was battling Kikumaru's grasp, and the latter was tempted to twist his neck. Why did he never recognize that Momoshiro had such a self-debating personality? Anyway, Reaction #4: Positive.
The zoo was one of Kikumaru's favourite places. He loved seeing the grace of those big cats, how the butterfly managed to look like a piece of leaf, and just how adorable the baby seal was with all its white fluffy down. But right then, the zoo was the equivalent of a nightmare. Ochibi was doing good, having the image of a perfect date, if not somewhat silent, but that's his charisma too. The main problem was that Momoshiro was acting even more ambivalent than Oishi! Just make up your mind if you want to lock ochibi and Sakuno-chan in a closet, or jump out and steal the date!
By the end of the trip, even with his newly boosted stamina, Kikumaru was tired to the bones, chromosomes, and DNA. And what data did he get? Half positives, half negatives, which cancel themselves out to become zero.
"You really owe me one, ochibi… you really do!" Back again in the equipment room, Kikumaru strangled Ryoma in a headlock. "Right now, I'd advise you to totally give up on that Momo. There's so many other peaches out there! I mean, he can't even figure out what he wants to do, and although I can see that he cares a great deal about you, the whole subconscious debate of friendship vs. love is messing him up. Perhaps he himself hasn't even realized it, but –"
"Thanks, Eiji-senpai." Ryoma heaved a sigh from the weight of Kikumaru all dumped on him. "Guess I still have a long way to go, eh? Mada mada dane…"
"You know, you may want to find inspirations from Fuji next time. I can't advise you much, since I'm not that close to striking the jackpot myself." Kikumaru shrugged. He'd try his best, but if it were Echizen, Momoshiro and Oishi all at the same time, he'd burst.
"Yeah… Fuji-sempai… He does seem to get the bucho pretty well right now –" And Ryoma's thoughts were broken by heavy banging on the door. Such clashing noise, such strong vibrations that rocked through the whole equipment shack, it could be none other than Momoshiro himself.
"Echizen! Eiji-senpai! Tezuka-bucho just ordered us to run 50 laps for missing practice!"
"Well, see you on the courts later!" Kikumaru winked, and bounced out, leaving the thick tension behind him.
Momoshiro scratched the back of his head, "Um… Echizen, you wanna grab a burger on the way home today? If you don't have anything planned out with Sakuno-chan, that is."
"Nope, I'm free."
"Good… So… are you and Sakuno-chan going out together?"
"Not anytime soon."
"I mean, dating, becoming boyfriends and girlfriends, that is." Damn this nervousness. Why the hell was he getting nervous anyway?!
Ryoma skimmed his sempai out of the rim of his cap. "Not sure."
"Oh… But, you know, if you do, treat her well, ok? That's the basic principles of being a man!"
"Sure." Ryoma stepped past the taller boy, then paused. "You still coming to pick me up tomorrow?"
"Of course! Why'd you ask?" Momoshiro's gaze followed the departing silhouette, only seeing the top of the white cap, nothing else.
"No reason." And he coolly walked away.
Momoshiro's face softened into an incomprehensible smile. "That little brat…"
The first attempt to awaken Momoshiro ended in failure. The balance between them rippled for a second, then the surface was smooth again. Except that there was one more rock at the bottom of the pond. It may add to something, it may not, but gigantic dams also start with the smallest pebble. Ryoma didn't want to know how many more pebbles he would have to throw before the dam builds up, or before his arm hurts too much to throw anymore.