"Confession"

By: Setsuna- X

Summary: Ryoma wants to confess his feelings to a certain captain but doesn't know how to go about it so he asks the rest of the regulars for some tips. Pillar Pair TezuRyo
Disclaimer: PoT and it's characters do not belong to me
Warning: This contains mentions of boy x boy (yaoi, shonen-ai, BL, slash, etc.)
Pairings: Eventual TezuRyo. MomoxAnn, Golden Pair, InuixKaidoh
Note(s): May contain several OOC moments

Chapter 6: Confession 1.5/2

Ryoma decided that today was the day he was going to complete his confession. After spending all day yesterday asking the Regulars for their advice and then having his personal feelings yelled out to the entire club Ryoma decided to just get it over with. He had everything he needed to complete his confession to his buchou.

Classes seemed to drag but it at least gave him more time to plan his strategy.

So far he had carried Tezuka's books and helped set up the tennis courts. Obviously he was doing things that he knew Tezuka would appreciate.

Although carrying that pathetic book this morning had been hard. Thankfully his senpai didn't make too much of a fuss.

The lunch bell rang and Ryoma gathered his materials. He had successfully avoided the 'freshman trio' along with Ryuzaki's grand-daughter and her girl sidekick. He knew that at any moment Momo-senpai was going to show up and invite him to lunch.

Before that could happen Ryoma had a few things he had to take care of at his clubroom locker. After gathering his materials he slipped out of the classroom and made his way outside. Luckily neither Tezuka nor Oishi-senpai locked the clubroom door during school hours. After the sixth time Kikumaru-senpai forgot something for a class they just decided to leave the door open. It wasn't as if there would be anyone interested in taking their tennis uniforms...right?

Regardless, Ryoma made it to the clubroom without running into anyone from the tennis club. Once reaching his locker he made sure that he still had all the things he had gathered yesterday.

The once yellow, fluffy flowers were now a bruised orange. Their once springy petals were clumped together and the stem no longer seemed able to hold the petals' weight. Unfortunately there were no flowers on the school grounds so these would have to do.

Next to the withered flowers was the history book he had purchased with his allowance. There didn't seem to be a title on the front cover, only a gold, ornate outline. The title seemed to be on the spine of the book but the font used was too unreadable. It was, however, a thick and hard-cover book that he had found in the history section so it had to be something good. Hopefully Tezu-no it was Kunimitsu now. Hopefully Kunimitsu didn't own the book already.

Calling his buchou by his first name, even if it was just in his head, still sounded weird. It seemed so informal and it made it seem like his buchou was losing some of his authority, but Ryoma had to stop thinking that way.

Oishi-senpai was the one that suggested he call Tezuka by his first name. Aside from Fuji-senpai, he decided to trust Oishi-senpai's advice the most. This was especially because he himself had confessed to Kikumaru-senpai earlier in the year.

The last item for him to inspect was the tube of toothpaste he had swiped from his bathroom the night before. He used it in the morning but was careful not to use too much since he needed to give it to Tezuka as a gift.

But toothpaste? Really?

Well, it had worked for Kikumaru-senpai so it had to have some merit.

After inspecting all his items did Ryoma carefully put them back in his bag.

He had a little left of lunch so he decided to just sit under a tree outside the clubhouse and eat some bread he had grabbed on his way out the door and buy a ponta from the vending machine nearby.

Classes were finally done for the day but Ryoma knew he could no longer avoid the freshman. It was a miracle he managed to dodge them for as long as he had.

"Ne, Echizen," called out Horio, his voice as loud as ever.

Ryoma glanced up from his desk as he finished putting his things in his bag.

"Where were you during lunch? We were looking for you and you didn't tell us where you went!" ranted out Horio, annoyed that he had spent half his lunch time looking for the other freshman.

"Horio, don't be rude," reprimanded Katsuo. "Ryoma-kun, we were just worried that something happened to you but we're glad that wasn't the case. Next time can you let us know where you're headed?"

Kachiro just nodded his head in agreement.

"Che," muttered out Ryoma. "Gomen, I'll let you know next time," he responded softly, though inwardly he wasn't sure if he would even remember that he made this promise in the future.

"Well, thanks," replied Katsuo. "Where did you go though?"

Before he could reply Ryoma heard a loud, screech sound.

"Ryooomma-san, you're back!"

Tomoka and Sakuno walked into the classroom.

"Welcome back," shyly said Sakuno as she approached the other freshman.

Ryoma stood from his seat suddenly. There were too many people in his space right now and he had a mission to complete.

"It's time for practice. I will see you all there later," said Ryoma as he beat a hasty retreat before the others could realize what had happened.

He rushed to the nearest boys' bathroom deciding to hide out there for a few minutes until he was sure that the rest of the students had headed to the tennis courts. He also knew that Tezu-err-Kunimitsu was going to come late to practice as he always did because he either had a student council meeting or was having a meeting with Ryuzaki-sensei.

Now that he was alone with his thoughts Ryoma became a little nervous. He wasn't sure why his stomach suddenly decided to betray him and get all fluttery. He had planned everything out and had sought out advice beforehand. He had never planned anything out this extensively before, so Te-Kunimitsu should really appreciate his efforts.

It wasn't as if his buchou was going to reject him anyway.

Right?

Well, Ryoma had decided that he wasn't necessarily doing this to get together with Kunimitsu – it was more that he decided that the bespectacled boy deserved to know his feelings.

But if that was the case why was he suddenly so nervous?

When Ryoma arrived near the tennis courts practice was already underway. He could see the non-regular team members practicing their swings in courts A, B and D. C court was reserved for the regulars this day.

Ryoma took a deep breath and approached the club house, his eyes scanning the landscape in search of broad shoulders and chestnut hair.

Tezuka was on his way to court C, just about 20 paces from the chain link fence.

Ryoma steeled his reserve. He knew that this was his only chance.

With his items in hand he approached his buchou from behind, purposely quieting his steps.

'Now or never,' thought Ryoma to himself as he shifted his weight and bumped into Tezuka's back with some force.

Tezuka turned around, confused as to what just hit him. As he glanced downward he saw some wilted dandelions, a book, and a tube of something thrust into his face. Reflexively he reached for the items. Before he could get a word in he was interrupted.

"Tezu-err-Kunimitsu, I just wanted to let you know that I lo-like you. Here."

Ryoma strained himself to get the words out as he shoved the items into his buchou's face.

The other boy just stared at the things in his hands in surprise. Brown eyes then shifted their stare to the small freshman.

Tezuka opened his mouth to say something, but he just couldn't get the words out. No one had ever managed to surprise him so well and the worst was that all thoughts flew from his head. He could see Echizen's usual calm demeanor evaporate, leaving behind an embarrassed tennis player.

Ryoma could see that no answer was forthcoming. Although he had declared that he didn't care to hear an answer to his confession he secretly, desperately, wanted one. He didn't go through all this trouble to let Tez-Kunimitsu know that he liked him just to leave it at that. Ryoma needed some kind of closure and he knew just how to get it.

"Mada mada, buchuo," Ryoma said, a smirk plastered on his face, "how about a match?"

Tezuka's field of vision was then replaced with a shiny, red tennis racquet.

Glancing at Echizen's fierce golden eyes he knew that he couldn't say 'no'.

Tezuka nodded his head in acquiescence as he led them over to Court C. Ryoma followed duly behind him. The smaller teen took his place at one side of the court, testing the bounce of a tennis ball as well as the strings on his racquet.

Tezuka stopped by the benches and placed the items Echizen had thrust at him on them. He made sure that the weedy dandelions were inside the book as to not blow away. As he placed the last item down he noticed it was a tube of toothpaste. Further inspection yielded that it had been previously used. Tezuka really wasn't sure what it all meant, but he knew that he would get answers to his questions in the tennis match.

All the regulars as well as few other students from Courts B and D have stopped practice and just stared openly at their captain and rookie star players.

"Get back to practice, any one not practicing will have to stay later and complete 50 laps," sternly said Tezuka as he glanced around the club. Many of the club members hastened back to their practice, but were keeping an ear out to hear the match.

None of the Regulars went back to practice as they were all transfixed at the court in front of them. This was a match they had all secretly been waiting for.

Tezuka glared at the Regulars but said nothing. They would be getting a 100 laps.

"Oishi."

"Ye-yes, Tezuka?"

"Can you be referee to my and Echizen's match?"

"Yes, of course." Oishi scrambled to the side of the net and raised his hand as Tezuka took his place on the other side of the net.

The rest of the Regulars exited the court and were all staring through the chain link fence.

Horio, Katsuo, Kachiro, Tomoka, and Sakuno made their way to stand next to the Regulars.

"Ehhh! Why is Tezuka-buchou having a match with Echizen?" asked Horio loudly.

"Fssshh, be quiet."

"Ehh? But what's going on?"

"It looks like Echizen challenged Tezuka to a match, though it's hard to say why," replied Fuji with a secret smile on his face.

"Ne, who do you think is going to win?" chirped out Kikumaru.

"Tezuka," replied Inui as he looked through his notes.

"Tezuka," replied Momoshiro. He wanted to bet on Echizen but experience won out against friendship.

"Fsshh, Tezuka," replied Kaidoh as he stared at the other teens intently.

"We should believe in both of them," chided Kawamura. Fuji slyly handed the taller boy a racquet.

"HOO HOO, Tezuka for the win!" he shouted in English. All the regulars sweat-dropped.

"I think Tezuka will win too," said Eiji. "Sorry, Ochibi!"

"What about you, Fuji?" asked Eiji as he clamped onto Fuji's arm.

Fuji opened his cerulean eyes as he gazed at the players on the court. He stared at Echizen and Tezuka separately as a true smile made its way onto his face.

"Echizen will definitely win."

TBC

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I lost my muse and have been out of the fandom for a long while. I told you all that I would finish this story and I will – I promise!

I have the ideas for the next 2 chapters already planned out and I hope to get them out soon!

Previously updated: May 2012
Updated: August 2015