Chapter 6

A Sudden Discovery

Fuji didn't leave his gaze on her. "We did?" he asked her with an innocent expression on his face. He loved teasing the girl, and the expressions she made were cute.

Ai cleared her throat and tried to divert the situation back to her interview. "Well, uhm... My next question would be... Uhmm," she's stammered.

Fuji made a soft chuckle, "Ai, relax. I won't bite," he said as he patted her head. "I'm sorry I teased you a lot. You're just so cute when you blush like that," he said nonchalantly.

The faint blush on her cheeks became even more visible now. "Fuji-kun," she said with a serious expression.

Fuji sat straight and done a serious expression as well, trying hard not to laugh.

She looked him in the eye, and saw laughter in them. She couldn't suppress a giggle, and suddenly burst out laughing. This made the tensai looked at her, amused and laughed as well.

"Okay okay," she said after a moment. "My next question would be... How do you feel about tennis?"

Fuji thought for a while. How does he really feel about tennis? He can't see himself playing tennis in the future because he can't see himself wanting to become a pro unlike the others. "Well, for now it's something that I want to excel myself in. The competition, the rush, the thrill; it makes me want to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious at. I love tennis, I do. I've come to love the sport after playing it for a long time," he said. "Each and every one of us has the goal of wanting to become a pro," he explained. "I guess I'm one of them, but then again, I'm not. I just want to continue playing until I reach my full potential. This might confuse you, but that's how I feel," he said.

She shook her head, "It doesn't confuse me at all. It just means that you're open to other possibilities. I mean, I know you love tennis, and you're having fun playing it. But what comes after the end? After you've achieved your goal? After you reach your full potential?" she said, "I guess you're thinking about that too."

He was amazed at how easily she read what he was thinking. This made him like the girl even more. He studied her while she's writing something in her notepad.

"I should have brought my recorder," she said to no one in particular. He smiled. Her long red hair was carried by the soft breeze and her hands where like dancing on the paper as she scribbled on them. Her eyes were happy, and she has a small smile on her face.

"You really like writing huh?" Fuji noted.

"I do," Ai answered without looking up. "Even though some people might not understand my words, or they might think I write about trivial things, I still write," she said.

"There! Done!" she said when she wrote something that Fuji could only recognize as period based on her stroke. "I'll let you read the draft before we publish it," she told him, "it's about you after all."

He chuckled at what she said and shook his head. "Nah, I trust you. I'm sure you'll write something beautiful," he said. "Also, it isn't trivial at all. Feelings and emotions aren't trivial, I believe. The words in your poems are honest," he said. "It's so easy to understand them," he told her, earning him a sweet smile from her, which made his heart skip a beat.

"Thank you Fuji-kun! That's really sweet of you!" she can't help but say.

Fuji didn't know what possessed him at that exact moment, but what he did shocked Ai. He actually gave her a peck on her cheek. She stared at him. He stared at her.

"Uhm," Ai said, breaking the silence first, "I have to go," she said, quickly standing and walking away.

Fuji could only look at her, mentally scolding himself. Great Syuusuke, the girl is scared of you now! He thought. Well, now that he could clearly admit that he likes her, he wouldn't let her avoid him.

That night, Ai read the diary again. Her heart was racing after reading what her grandpa wrote.

When you find out what you're looking for, you will return to the place where you truly belong.

That scared her. Somehow, somehow... She knew it. Deep in her heart, she knew she likes him. It was clear why she came to this world. But then, knowing that she might leave... She didn't even want to entertain the thought. That night, she cried herself to sleep. It was clear what she has to do.

Dokuji: The Seishun Gakuen Newspaper

The One Called "Tensai"

Tensai. What does the word mean? What do you think does it take for one to be called a tensai? For us, it might be hard to achieve such nickname, much less earn it. But, everyone can agree that Fuji Syuusuke lives up to his reputation of being called one.

Who among you doesn't know this third year student who is considered the second strongest tennis player in Seigaku tennis club with his special moves - The Triple Counters? Right, none. Everyone has heard of him and his amazing skills in the sport that he chose to undertake. But what does it take for someone to be considered a tensai? Here is what Fuji Syuusuke has to say.

"I don't really consider myself a tensai. It's just that, I work hard. Maybe I became a tensai because I make effort, because if I do not, then someone else can just surpass me," Fuji said in an interview with Dokuji. He believes that constant practice, effort and determination or not giving up easily is what made people call him tensai. For him, anyone can become a tensai if they not only will themselves to, but also make themselves become one.

Aside from tennis, he is also interested in plants and photography. He has several cacti plants in his room, and has even won an award for his paper which contains his observations of the said type of flora. He has an inquisitive eye, and can detect even the slightest change of color or characteristic of a certain thing that interests him. He never forgets to bring his camera to capture various things that he finds interesting or plainly lovely.

When talking about the future, the tensai is not quite sure yet wether or not he will be pursuing tennis. "Well, for now it's something that I want to excel myself in. The competition, the rush, the thrill; it makes me want to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious at. I love tennis, I do. I've come to love the sport after playing it for a long time. Each and every one of us has the goal of wanting to become a pro, I guess I'm one of them, but then again, I'm not. I just want to continue playing until I reach my full potential. This might confuse you, but that's how I feel," Fuji noted in the interview.

Fuji Syuusuke, a well-rounded player, popular, and sometimes "feared" by his team mates. He is one of the reasons why the Seigaku Tennis Club has become strong and is one of the strongest team in the region. You always see him with a smile, but one thing's for sure, he is a mystery who hasn't yet shown his true self, both in and outside the courts. This, is what makes him a tensai.

- Fujiko Ai, Class 3-1

Ai sighed after she read the published article that she wrote about Fuji. Why? Because of the last paragraph. What can she do? That's how she wanted to end it. And the president didn't even change it. She also mentioned to him that she'll let him read the draft. Well, technically she did, but she asked another member of the club to show it to him. And she didn't ask him what happened, what his reaction was or what he said about the article.

She knew it was wrong to avoid Fuji. But she also knew that this is what she has to do because she doesn't want to hurt him. She likes him! Of course she does! What she concluded after she read her grandfather's diary, why she was sent her, and why she felt incomplete in Orion - everything made sense to her now.

Ai was walking towards the volleyball courts when she saw Fuji walking towards her. She stopped and went the other way, running as fast as she can. She knew the shortest way to the volleyball court that they were using is to pass by the tennis courts, but she went the other way because she doesn't want to see him. Not just yet.

Fuji saw Ai running away from him, and he concluded that he had done something wrong. He read the article that she wrote about him, and he wanted to thank her for what she did. He didn't even tell her that he likes photography, but she was able to obtain such precious information. He bet she asked Inui about it. It hurt him to see her run away from him, but for now he will let it slide.

Ai was satisfied to watch him from afar. Over the next few days she thought she was doing a good job of avoiding him. Right now, she's watching him play his match from behind a tree. She might look stupid but that's what she must do, for now. What will it take for her to stay here? To stay in Gaia? She knew that the moment she admits to him that she loves him... She might... She might... A tear fell from her eyes and she harshly wiped it away before it continues falling. She continued to watch him play until the game was over. He won, of course. As expected from him. But then he wasn't pitted against a regular, so it was an easy win. He didn't even use one of his triple counters.

She saw him sit on a bench after the game. Ai stood and prepared to leave. She took one last glance at him, only to meet his eyes. He stared at her, and so did she. It was painful for her to look away first, but she did. She did, and walked home alone.

Fuji knew that Ai has been watching him. He knew her spot and he knew she had been going there after volleyball practice. She has been going home late, and alone too because of that. He can't help but worry for the girl. He wanted to at least walk with her to her home, but he can clearly see how she had been avoiding him. He knew she needed some time, but he was getting impatient and worried about her! This game has to stop, and he has a plan. He is the tensai after all.