Author's Note: Hey, everyone!~ Here's Chapter 7, where the Hyoutei regulars and the Rikkai regulars figure out what to get the twins for their birthday. And a hint on who has a secret crush on Kana! Mehehehe~
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of its characters! Atobe Kana, Hitachiin Akira, Haninozuka Nanami and the rest of the OCs are mine, though~ *u*
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"KEIGO, YOU POMPOUS BASTARD!" Kana rushed into his room, fury evident on her face.
"Oh, look. The Grinch has arrived." Keigo smiled sarcastically.
"WHY DID YOU INVITE THOSE PEOPLE?!" she raised her voice higher, her finger pointing directly at his nose. Keigo grinned; his sister's angry face was amusing, not the least bit scary. And besides, what he did wasn't illegal, right?
"I assume you're talking about those invitations I gave to Yukimura Seiichi and his team. I heard you were classmates with him, Sanada and Yanagi and I thought you were friends."
"Well, we are not and I am mad at you for doing this! Don't you know how much he irritates me?" Kana paced around his room, her hands on her face.
"Oh, it's not that big a deal. You probably won't even see him in the event. Father invited so many partners, again." Keigo swished his non-alcoholic wine in his glass.
"Maybe, but still!"
"Okay, I'm sorry, but I figured you'd be better friends with them this way. Inviting someone to your party is always good socialization."
"Fine. But you still did this behind my back, so you owe me something! You better make your present real good this time, Mister." Kana said, as she left his room.
I always outdo you in presents, dear sister.
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Mukahi Gakuto was sitting inside an ice-cream shop with Choutarou, Oshitari, Shishido and Jirou when he had an idea.
"How about I get her bread?! Kana-chan loves bread, right? I remember her telling me that it's her #1 weakness!" Gakuto smiled at his friends, who stared blankly at him.
"Really, Mukahi? Bread is your gift to the girl who owns 1.25% of the Atobe stocks?" Oshitari looked at him. ((I was watching this k-drama the other day, and it turns out, 1.25% is already BIG.))
Gakuto grunted. "Well, what do you get a girl who has everything and can buy anything?!" he raised his fist in annoyance.
"Why do senpai-tachi keep on thinking of ideas for Kana-senpai, not Atobe-buchou?" Choutarou asked.
"Don't you remember, Choutarou? Atobe only asked for one thing." Shishido looked up at his kouhai.
"AH! Winning the Nationals! Now, I remember."
The five were silent, remembering how their captain sat down them once in a meeting, before the school year, and telling them, "If you guys do your best, like we always do, and we go and win the Nationals, I will think of it as the best birthday present. This year, after all, is my last as your captain and I'd like to leave you guys the memory of having me as your captain the year Hyoutei ranked #1."
The team was taken aback by surprise; it was the first time they all saw the King look sentimental, his high and mighty façade wearing away as his inner tennis player and team captain showed colors. Gakuto knew that everyone, except for Atobe himself and Kabaji, nearly shed tears after the King left the locker room and the rest were left. It wasn't everyday their proud and egoistic leader said something that, Gakuto hated admitting this, touched their hearts.
"But that's taken care of, right? We're totally defeating everyone anyway!" Jirou smiled at his teammates, who all put grins on their faces. He had confidence in his team.
"Of course. We're taking the crown from Rikkai." Oshitari added.
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Yukimura Seiichi looked at his teammates, who were all eagerly participating in a conversation they've started hours ago.
"How about flowers? And chocolates?" Kirihara asked, his eyes gleaming.
"Bakaya! It's not White Day!" Niou said, laughing. "You really don't know your way with the ladies, Akaya."
"Oh yeah? What are you getting her, Masa?" Marui asked, his right eyebrow raised.
"A necklace. Ladies loooove jewelry." Niou said, smiling smugly.
"And you think that Atobe Kana, the heir to the Atobe conglomerate, who is destined to own billions when she reaches 18, cannot buy herself diamonds, rubies and sapphires, Masaharu?" Yagyuu pushed his glasses up his nose, judgment in his voice. Niou reddened.
"Well, it's from me! There's a saying "there are thoughts that count", Hiroshi!" Niou yelled.
"Senpai, you're the idiot! The saying is actually "the thought is counting"!" Kirihara shouted.
Jackal sighed. "Why are my teammates so stupid.. It's "it's the thought that counts"... "
Yukimura laughed. "What are you getting her, Jackal?" the buchou asked.
"I was thinking of writing a card, with my thank-you message inside, and a bracelet with her name carved."
The others looked at their defense specialist in surprise. "Wow, Jackal! You must have given this a lot of thought!" Marui complimented.
"Not bad, senpai! Can I have the bracelet, though? I keep on having bad ideas.." Kirihara said.
"Akaya, think of your own gift. Jackal worked hard in thinking this on his own." Sanada scolded the 2nd year.
"Oh yeah, what are you getting Kana-senpai, fuku-buchou?" the junior asked.
"A calligraphy letter." Came the usual stoic answer.
"As expected.." Niou commented, snickering.
"That reminds me, Seiichi. Are we also getting Atobe Keigo a present? It's also his birthday, and technically, he was the one who invited us." Sanada asked his childhood friend.
Yukimura smiled, as he remembered how Kana, or Atobe-san, got angry earlier.
Flashback:
"OOOH, ATOBE KEIGO, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! I'M GOING TO SPOON YOUR EYES OUT AND TOSS THEM TO A FIRE! AND CHOP UP YOUR LEGS AND GIVE THEM TO KABAJI! AND I'M GOING TO TIE YOU UP AND MAKE YOU WATCH AS I USE YOUR FAVORITE NON-ALCOHOLIC WINE TO WASH MY HAIR!" Kana clenched her fist, stomping it on her desk. Her eyes were on fire and even Kirihara had to back away; the girl was clearly infuriated.
"Kana-senpai, you don't want to invite us…?" Kirihara asked, trembling. Yukimura had to look at his kouhai; was the devil ace sad?
Kana had the same surprised look on her face, along with the Rikkai regulars, as she stared up at Kirihara. Immediately, her expression changed.
"Oh, gomen ne, Kirihara-kun. I was just thinking that our birthday party could become a bother to you guys!" she said as she ruffled the younger boy's hair.
"It's not a bother, Kana-senpai! And I would really like to come!" Kirihara exclaimed.
"Well, if you want to… then I guess I have no choice, right?" she gave him a wide smile, as the 2nd year and a certain redhead began jumping up and down. The regulars went back to their conversation; worrying about their attires.
Yukimura noticed how Kana's eyes were fixated on Kirihara; they held a certain gleam. Huh, she seems happy. I wonder why.., the captain thought.
End of Flashback
"If you guys want to. I suggest thinking up of a gift for Atobe-san first; she is our schoolmate." He replied.
"I'm getting Atobe-kun a gift, too. It's manners." Yagyuu said.
"As expected of The Gentleman." Marui commented.
Yukimura noticed the figure seated beside him, who had been quiet all along. "What's wrong, Renji? You've been quiet."
He heard a mumble, which sounded like this, "All this data and I still can't think of a proper gift…"
"Neh, buchou! What are you getting Kana-chan?" Marui asked.
Yukimura smiled. "I still don't know yet.."
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An hour later, Gakuto was walking down the streets of Tokyo, occasionally peering through shop windows. The five left the ice-cream shop and separated; Oshitari boasting his knowledge of women would enable him to find a perfect gift but Gakuto swore he was headed to a lingerie shop, Jirou going off to god-knows-what but probably to sleep, Choutarou saying his mom needed him home, which left him to go shopping with just Shishido.
"What are you really getting her, Gakuto?" Shishido Ryou, who was walking beside him, asked.
"I'm sticking to my bread idea. It's genius!" he asked, with complete confidence that Kana would like his gift.
"Say, what are you getting her, Ryou?", he asked his friend.
"Just some flowers, I guess. I don't really care."
"Wow, what a good fri—" Gakuto commented, his eyes rolling, only to be cut off by Shishido.
"But then again, she likes books, but I can't get her a book; that's boring.. How about shoes.. but she owns a thousand… or a hair accessory or make-up… but she looks perfect already…" Shishido began mumbling to himself, his voice trailing off yet it was clear he was in deep thought; his furrowed eyebrows proved that.
Gakuto had to smile. Oh, my dense friend.. Just what will it take for you to realize that you like Kana-chan?
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Author's Note: I'm sorry it's so short! /cries/ So, what do you guys think? Shishido likes Kana! I've laid out a few hints in the previous chapters, but they're so subtle ;_;
Next chapter, Keigo's and Kana's birthday! It's going to be longer than my usual chapters, mehe~ And I've got a lot in store for this one!
