Author's Note: I was gonna post it up last night, but my modem broke…of all things, and now I'm stuck on dial-up. RAWR.
Dislcaimer: I do not own PoT. Yes, I'm not a druggie. Duh. Lol.
Tezuka was trying to run after Akira only to lose track of her.
Where did she go?
"Psst. Look! It's Tezuka-Kun!" a girl squealed quietly to her friend.
What a nuisance…at least Akira doesn't squeal about me.
Tezuka sighed and continued looking.
Hn…I can't find her…I guess I'll just have to apologize to her at practice.
And just as fast as he went to go looking for Akira, he gave up.
Chapter 4 – Nguyen's Zero Shiki Shot!
Sheesh, who does he think he is? Mister I'm so cool, I get to steal your free drink?!
"Grr…" I growled leaning against the wall within my sanctuary – the bathroom…to be more exact. Seriously, It's the best place to hide when you don't want guys chasing your tail.
Yeah! What was that all about! He kept following after I left…well…I guess I was harsh…
"Ugh."
I checked the time.
"Better get going to class. I'll just avoid him for now."
I splashed me face with cold water and dried It off before leaving the peaceful silence of the washroom.
When I entered the classroom, Tezuka-san wasn't there yet, so I took the chance to sit at my desk right away.
Good thing he sits behind me…That way I don't have to look at the face that's pissing me off right now.
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Avoiding Tezuka in class was easier than I thought. I was also able to dash away to my locker before I could bump in to him.
"Nyah!"
"Eeep!" I shouted looking at the person who had startled me.
"Eiji-kun…you surprised me."
"Hehehe! I came to escort you to practice."
"Uh…That's okay. I can walk there by myself."
"Tezuka-senpai asked me to…he said you might come late." Kikumaru explained.
That BAKA. He thinks I'll get lost or skip out.
"Grrrrrr!" I was once more angered at Tezuka…or so to speak, I got even angrier at him.
"You okay Akira-chan?"
I almost forgot Eiji was standing there…"Nothing going on really. I guess we should get going ne?"
Eiji smiled goofily at me.
I was a bit confused at why he was smiling at me, but seriously "I can see the resemblance now between a monkey and you." I told him sticking out my tongue while closing my locker.
"Hey!"
"Haha. Okay, let me change and then we'll head over."
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As Kikumaru and I arrived on the court, most of the team, including the regulars, were already commencing practice.
"Ah looks like we'll be playing practice matches. Hey, Inui's looking for you over there."
"Oh, okay. Thanks for the escorting." I replied to Eiji-kun.
I made my way to the bench where Inui-Kun was sitting.
"So why exactly are you the health manager?" he questioned.
I sat down. "Well," I sighed in between, "I was looking for some experience as a health consultant. My uncle, who used to live with me, taught me many things and well…I want to go to America to receive my university and maybe my college education."
"Ah. I see…ambitious…" Inui commented while scribbling once more into his book.
-.-;
"Oh sorry, my investigation will have to be delayed. I've got to help Kaidoh warm up. Ja ne!"
So…there I was sitting alone on the side of the courts observing each regular as they played.
Ryoma, quite the young prodigy, was practicing his amazing twist serve.
Whoa…I can't believe I'm witnessing this…
Momo, had a superb dunk smash, Kaidoh, had a talented buggy whip shot – also known as the 'snake' – which I learned though eavesdropping a conversation between two freshman girls, Inui, looked like he was playing a game of Sudoku tennis while on court, Fuji had his disappearing serve that I managed to catch sight of along with his swallow return; not to mention Eiji and Oishi were a burning duo, Kawamura-san, had super human strength, and…Tezuka wasn't anywhere to be seen…or so I thought.
What a hypocrite. He's the one who's –
"Huh?"
Someone had tapped my left shoulder from behind.
"T…Tezuka?!" I leapt from my seat.
"I apologize…for my behaviour."
"Uh…" What the...first he's cold…and now he's being nice? Is he playing with me?
I looked at him a bit confused, only to find no answers in his deep pool of brown eyes.
"…" I was a bit speechless nonetheless.
Well it doesn't hurt to give him another chance...it's better to have a friend than an enemy.
He then handed me a racket.
"Will you be my warm-up partner?" he asked.
Uh…well…let's see…Ryoma is paired up with Momo…Kaidoh's playing Inui…Fuji, KaMaWaru, Oishi, and Eiji, are playing doubles…I guess I have no choice then?
"I…don't sthink so..." I said shaking my head.
"Didn't you say you can play tennis?" Tezuka questioned me raising his eyebrows.
"I USED to." I stated.
"Why did you stop then?" He persisted.
Should…I tell him?
Before I could give it anymore thought, my mouth seemed to blurt out words on it's own: "My father…"
His brown eyes suddenly looked directly into mine with concern…
I continued since I had already started: "he was the one who taught me tennis…and he was the one who…"
My throat swelled up. I wasn't sure I could finish the sentence.
"He...He...cheated on my mother with a FUCKING prostitute!" I shouted.
I really couldn't control myself….
Tears sprouted from my eyes as I could feel them trailing down my cheeks.
Why did I tell him? there's nothing he can do...
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She was crying about a careless father…Pain welled in my chest when I saw her endless tears fall to the ground. By reaction…I guess…Itook her into my arms and hugged her.
"I once almost gave up tennis…" I suddenly blurted out.
Her head that was leaning on my chest seemed to stop shaking a bit, and she looked up at me wiping her eyes.
"I loved tennis and was said to have great skills as a freshman…and the captain at that time was jealous of me, so he permanently injured my left arm. The one I use…that day, I thought about my future and where I could go…I thought about giving my dream of being the number one world champion in the world…but instead, I changed my mind, I wanted to show the guy that, no matter what he does, I'll still accomplish my dream and always be better than him. Maybe you're mad at your father, but you can show him that you don't need him…Think about the Seigaku team. We are, and I am, after all, your friend."
That…has been the longest thing I've ever said since freshman year…what made me decide to talk to her like this?
Akira smiled at me. The same one she had given me on the first day we met.
"Thanks." She said softly, grabbing the racket I offered before out of my hand.
"Okay pretty boy! Let's warm up! You serve."
I nodded a bit satisfied with the mood change, took a ball and served it to her with only one-quarter of my strength. She hit it back with ease using a perfect swing for a forehand. I hit it with my backhand back over the net deep into the corner furthest from her. She managed to get to the ball and return it once more effortlessly.
"You know and I know, that you can hit harder." She said.
"Are you sure?" I asked her…a bit late.
I had already hit the ball at full strength. The bright yellow-green object travelled at top speed deep into the court, but Akira still was able to hit the ball back only with less power. We rallied at the base line; I was having a hard time trying to find a way to 'break' her momentum without using any of my special moves, while she kept playing with…grace.
She has good technique.
This time around I hit a hard top-spin ball to the right corner, but she even manage to hit it back…with a drop-shot! Not just any drop-shot…the zero shiki drop shot!
"Shit…?" I cursed under my breath.
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Tezuka stood there astonished while Akira was a bit puzzled to why he was surprised.
"Why didn't you get that ball?" she asked.
"You…know how to perform the zero shiki drop shot?"
"Uh…yeah." She said still confused. "Why didn't you go after it?"
"You already know there's no point. After all, it does spin back to you."
"Ah, so I guess you know how to do it too then?"
"It's one of my mastered techniques."
"Heh, so then –"
"YOU PUNK!" yelled out an angered Kaidoh in the back.
"Seems like I must help Fuji control the others."
"Sure, go ahead."
Tezuka muttered some other words and walked to the next court.
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"Ah! Practice is finally over!" whined a freshman as he walked out of the court area.
While the rest of the team left, Akira was picking up leftover balls on the ground. Tezuka who was tending to his arm, observed her.
She played very well today. Better than my expectations...
"Akira-chan." He stoically called out.
"Hai?" she looked up to him from afar.
"Stop. I'll make the others pick them up later."
"Um…okay." She walked over to the bench where Tezuka sat. "Is that the injured arm?" she asked gently.
Tezuka nodded.
"Here let me help."
Akira went over to her kit box and took out a cold compress. She shook it a bit, then held it against Tezuka's left forearm.
"Better?" she asked him again.
He nodded once more.
She smiled at Tezuka and whispered, "Thanks for earlier, you're forgiven."
He nodded with an unnoticeably smile of his own.
TBC
Sweeeeeet action, humor, and love. X3
Tezuka is OOC - but I'm trying to portray some development here, so if you have any suggestions, please send them in.
- Last Edited: 20/04/07