A/N: I'm really sorry for the long wait, I had midterms last week and had no time to post this chapter and to make matter worst - I also had difficulty ending this chapter (yes, I said that right), please don't misunderstand because all my chapters are plotted down; it just so happens, that I added something new in this chapter so it became difficult for me to end it the way it should - originally ended.
Also, I'd like to apologize for any wrong grammar and miss spelled words. I'm typing my story through my tablet and am posting it on fanfiction the same way, so I hope that there will be no flames in regarding these. I would like to thank these awesome people for alerting and leaving heartfelt reviews:
Angel Michael
midnightstealth
Yanagi Rin and guest-chan/kun (because you guys posted anonymously - but I'll still mention you guys to show that I appreciate everyone here equally, whether I know who you or not)
Regarding the review on Atobe's relationship with the OC character, that will have to wait -winks-
Disclaimers: I do not own POT but I do own the OC characters and the plot.
Sanada POV
Atobe and I have been staring at each other for quite some time now, his lips formed a mischievous grin and his eyes glinted with mischief. Nothing good comes from him whenever he wore that kind of look - I wanted to wipe that look off his face and I didn't even understand why.
I don't really understand why he is extra irritating today; usually I didn't give much thought or interest whenever he would act in such a manner. It was irritating to watch him act all - self-centered and egoistic, but none of that ever rubbed me the wrong way.
Seeing that girl next to him is not really helping me either. How can a girl shamelessly allow herself to be hugged by a man she has no relation to? She does not even try pushing Atobe away...well, she did but the force she placed wasn't enough to put a distance between them.
How is that girl even relevant in all this? I have to get my priorities straight! Yukimura could easily handle this situation and I don't understand why it has to be me, everyday hasn't been the same since I started living with that girl.
Debating who sleeps in the living room, making decisions based on what she thinks is right (like the curtain divider) and the persistent bentou. I am actually amazed she is still persisting with the bentou I have rejected it for two consecutive days, normally an ordinary girl would have already given up especially since I haven't complemented any of her meals (well, at least not out loud).
What's worst - I can't even consult with Renji or Yukimura about it. I let out a lingering sigh, hoping that it carries my stress with it. This is one situation I did not know how to handle and it kind of pisses me off. It looked like a simple situation from a far, but from where I currently stood it was not.
From the looks of it, Hyotei's manager just wants to bash Atobe's head but Oshitari Yuushi is restraining her from doing so not to mention Shishido Ryou was trying to coax her in calming down. She looks capable and not someone that allows Atobe to do whatever he wanted, but at the same time I also believe she is someone that cannot control her temper hence Oshitari restraining her.
I played all possible scenarios in my head but none of them seemed feasible, especially leaving Atobe at Tsubaki's care. Yes, I actually optioned the possibility of leaving that girl to deal with Atobe, but if I did that - Minase and Masachika will make sure that the price for that will be my head, not to mention that option was definitely asking for Akaya to snap into 'Bloodshot Mode' - something we could not allow to happen.
"Geez, Tsubaki isn't one of your play things! Now hands off" Akaya spat as he pulled that girl away from Atobe's grasps. I didn't expect him to actually pull her away calmly, honestly speaking; I thought he was going to beat the hell out of Atobe - not that he'll get the chance to.
"I would never treat a lady in such a rude manner. He reached a hand out to reclaim the girl again, but that girl hid behind Akaya. I unconsciously placed myself between Akaya and Atobe allowing myself to become the wall between them. I could not understand the rationale behind my actions but I just had that need to stop all this nonsense.
"Akaya, go escort Hanabusa to Minase" I ordered with my back facing him. There wasn't even a single response, but I could hear their footsteps walking away from where I stood. Honestly that boy, if I gave him any other order, he would be complaining, but when it's about that girl he complies right of the bat. "Shall we head to the tennis courts?" I focused my attention to the Hyotei tennis team; I noticed that Atobe's grin hasn't left his face I guess, he hasn't given up yet.
"That is a good idea" Their manager stepped in not giving Atobe the chance to speak, she flashed me a sweet and practiced smile. I noticed that behind Atobe, Oshitari was clutching his stomach in pain while Shishido was on the ground clenching his foot. I can only imagine what happened "I sincerely apologize for the stupidity our captain has shown" She bowed her head politely and I motioned for them to follow me.
"Wait just one second!" Atobe exclaimed in irritation, stopping me on my tracks "Did you just call me-"
"Yes" She sharply turned her head to Atobe s direction, her eyes voided of all emotions. This is actually the first time I have seen someone act indifferently towards Atobe, usually they would be all over him because of his so called charms , but here stood a girl that was totally unaffected by it. "I just implied that you are stupid"
Well, at least there is someone capable of putting his ego to a minimum plus, having the ability to shut him up. At first glance the girl didn't look like someone who could keep Atobe on a leash, but they did say 'Don't judge a book by its cover' . Their manager bowed for the second time and apologized for the commotion that had just happened, and said that I could escort them to the tennis court; I'm amazed on how proper each member were acting.
Hyotei Gakuen is a very prestigious school and only a few can afford to study there. Basically making them used to luxury, normally they would be already complaining about the environment or basically anything that doesn't meet their individual taste, but they aren't doing that at all and it seems like they are holding their tongues.
"Is it strange that they are silent?" Their manager inquired catching my attention and I nodded in response "I see. I actually drilled it in their heads that if they have nothing nice to say they should just keep it to themselves. Not everyone in Hyotei acts the way they do: all rich and snotty, because there are people like me: who are considers themselves lucky just to have the opportunity to study in Hyotei with a scholarship. Once you get that through their thick heads they kinda become a little bearable" She smiled faintly as she shifted her gaze to the ground.
"You are actually a nice addition to their team" I absent-mindedly complimented her I m aware that your team has numerous managers, but you seem to be one that is well grounded I pushed the wired gate open.
Everyone inside the court stopped what they were doing and openly stared at the people that accompanied me inside the courts. The regulars made their way to our directions "Welcome to Rikkai Dai Yukimura" smiled as he welcomed the foreign team; the rest of team bowed their heads as a greeting.
The environment around us was at a standstill for a while, I flashed them glare and they instantly resumed whatever it was they were working on. Where s Akaya? Marui looked around to search for the only junior on our team, but was not able to see even his shadow within the scouted area.
Kirihara POV
Aka…"
Stupid egoistic, self-centered diva! If it weren't for the fact, that Tsubaki was around I would have bashed his stupid face right there and then. It was fine the first time he pushed me aside, but to refuse to let go of Tsubaki after she clearly tried to swat his hand off her shoulder was going overboard. I never really liked that guy; he is always so full of himself. I hated how he treated everyone like they were just a speck in his universe.
"…kaya
I really wanted to bash his face with my fist until it's beyond recognition but if I did that Tsubaki will get caught in the fight, and she'll also end up scolding me for resorting to violence. What annoyed me more was the fact that Sanada-fukubuchou didn't do anything after telling that Atobe to let go of Tsubaki, he was all talk! They spent the whole freaking time staring at each other, like really! If staring could fix all the problems in the world then the military wouldn't have the need: to freaking exist!
Aka ya"
If I didn't step up and pull Tsubaki away from that stupid diva s clutches, probably until now, they will be stuck in their stupid staring contest. Argh! Honestly, I can't understand Sanada-fukubuchou! He didn't want to do anything with Tsubaki but when that Atobe's arms were around her shoulders - there was clearly an aura of irritation surrounding him, plus he created a wall between me and the stupid diva when I pulled Tsubaki away from that stupid diva s clutches. Then orders me to take Tsubaki to Minase-buchou, can't he make up his mind or something does he like Tsubaki or not!?
"Akaya" I heard a small yelp and when I turned around to look at Tsubaki, tears threatening to fall from her eyes "I won't ask you to let go of my wrist but please don't grip it that tightly...it hurts" Her voiced cracked as she held back her tears.
I felt my heart sink at the way she looked right now, I let go of her wrist and it was evident that I gripped her wrist too tightly there was a clear mark of my hand on her wrist and I m certain that it'll turn into a bruise later. I am also certain that she was only preventing the tears from falling because she didn't want me to feel bad.
"I'm sorry Tsubaki" I really wanted to pat her head but I was afraid that I'll end up doing more harm than good, so I placed my hands inside my pants pocket.
"I'm okay!" She exclaimed looking straight at me "It's not Akaya's fault! You were just too mad to notice!" She tried her hardest to make me feel better, but it wasn't working it only added that small tinge of pain and guilt I felt.
Besides that was the point, I was too mad to notice. I can't always excuse actions like this with reason like I was too mad to notice. Tsubaki is really important to me and if I don't even realize that I hurt the person important to me then it defeats the purpose, it doesn't make me any different than Sanada-fukubuchou.
I shifted my gaze from her face to her wrist, it was starting to turn purple I bet that it hurts a lot; she just refuses to voice it out. I used my left hand to reach out and gently take hold of her bruised wrist "I promise this will be the last, definitely the last time I'll hurt you like this" I vowed as I kissed the bruise I left.
Sanada POV
Minase entered the tennis court with the female regulars behind her, that girl was clinging on Amane probably afraid of Atobe, I couldn t help but notice that her right wrist was covered in bandages. Did something happen when Akaya escorted her to Minase? I kind of doubted that, he seems to be someone that really cares about that girl's well-being, so maybe she had acquired that injury earlier in the day.
Shortly, Akaya entered the court looking less agitated than he did earlier, but the air around him wasn't exactly at ease either. The final line-up had been given to Minase and she is about to announce the matchup Singles 3: Yanagi Renjji versus Oshitari Yuushi. Doubles 2: Marui-Jackal pair versus Wakashi-Gakuto pair. Singles 2: Sanada Genichiro versus Kabaji Munehiro. Doubles 1: Yagyuu-Niou pair versus Shishido-Ootori pair and lastly Singles 1: Kirihara Akaya versus Atobe Keigo
Something about this line-up seemed wrong, but no one dared question Yukimura s decision. The shock of Yukimura not putting himself in the line-up was not that big of a deal, it was probably because he knew that it would disrupt his rehabilitation and could ultimately do no good for him. He knew Rikkai Dai needed him for the nationals and in order for that to happen he has to make sure that he doesn't push himself to his limits.
"We will begin with Singles 3. Player, please proceed to court A" Minase announced "The umpire for this match will be Amane Ringo, assisting her will be Izuki Ai and Koshiro Hinata" Those whose names were mentioned bowed their heads as their names were called.
"Oi, Akaya. You okay kiddo?" Marui ruffled Akaya's hair; he sat on the ground between Marui and Jackal, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. He didn t seem to mind Marui (normally he would be complaining) "Want some gum?"
"Aka-chan, it ll be okay" Masachika suddenly cuddled with Akaya, we all didn't want to interfere because we all knew that: one, Masachika had the right to do whatever pleases her and two, most of the time when it involves being all close to guys that doesn't really make Yukimura the happiest guy on earth scratch that, it doesn't make him the happiest guy in the entire universe.
I glanced at Yukimura's back; he sat at the coach's bench while Renji stood in front of him probably giving him one last instruction. As if knowing that someone was watching him, Yukimura glanced over his shoulder to and instantly met my gaze. His eyes shifted to Masachika who was cuddling with Akaya (who didn't seem to care about Masachika's antics at the moment) after which he concentrated his attention back at me with a despondent look written all over his face I don't really understand what that look meant and I wasn't even sure if it had anything to do with me.
Yukimura pointed to his eyes followed by pointing his finger to Masachika, it didn't really need a genius to understand what he wanted to say 'Watch over Hana', that's basically it in a nutshell. I let out a frustrated sigh, why is it always me?
He was able to see how against I was with the idea and flashed me a wry smile, great now I m the bad guy, I scratched the back of my head in frustration and nodded my head in agreement with what he wanted.
Satisfied with my response, Yukimura concentrated his attention with the tennis game currently in play. Renji was leading 2 games to love, but that didn't seem to bother Hyotei's tensai and Renji knows that he shouldn't under estimate his current opponent. "Aka-chan, please smile. If you keep looking like that it'll start bothering Tsu-chan" Masachika pouted as she crossed her arms over the other, Akaya flinched a little then his eyes glanced at that girl's direction.
That girl...direction
"You see sempai this girl has zero percent sense of direction. She often gets lost on her way home and always gets lost on her way to school. She can't tell which way is her north or south"
Akaya s words suddenly chimed inside my head, zero percent sense of direction that actually explains why she got lost on the very first day. I don't understand. Why did she not tell me from the very beginning that she couldn't walk home alone!?
Tsk, who am I fooling? From the very beginning it was me who didn't give her the option to not tell me. It wasn't a matter of: she did not tell me, it was more like she couldn't. I already declared that we should go to school separately and even when she asked if we could go home together, I instantly said no without ever asking why we had to go home together. She probably wouldn't have been late for her duty the other day and lost today if we had just walked to school together and, she wouldn't have gotten lost on her way home on the first day if I had agreed to walk home with her when she asked if it was okay.
I selfishly denied that girl of her right to clarify the matter; I gave negative meaning to something that didn't have any hidden agenda everything she did from the very beginning were all of purest intent. I guess, you just assumed it then. I never thought that Mom s words would really hit the nail on the head on this one.
There's no point dwelling on something that has already happened, right? I might as well apologize to that girl and fix the problem that could have been avoided from the very beginning. Yagyuu, I'll be leaving for a while. Please watch over Masachika and the rest, make sure no trouble takes place Yagyuu nodded his head in response and I made my way to that girl.
She stood near Minase now since Amane is the game's umpire; I noticed that she was scratching the bandages on her right wrist as if they were uncomfortable, while her eyes seemed to be staring at something that definitely wasn't the game in play. "Can I help you Sanada?" Minase flashed me a smile and I shook my head "I'd like to speak with Hanabusa, is that all right?"
That girl didn't seem to hear me and I glanced over to Minase, worry was clearly written all over her face. She flashed me a wry smile then placed both her hands on that girl's shoulders, snapping that girl out of her trance "Eh?" That was the only response we got from that girl, she glanced at me then at Minase with a confused look "Can I help you with something buchou?"
"Sanada wanted to speak with you" Minase explained catching that girl off guard, she probably didn't expect to hear that since I wouldn't usually speak with her even when it s just the two of us at home. Still a bit confused, she shifted her attention to me her eyes seeking confirmation of Minase's statement, I nodded in confirmation. "What is it about sempai?" There it is again, she was scratching her bandages.
It has something to do with the social experiment, so we cannot disclose it here I started walking out of the tennis courts, I looked over my should to see if she was following me after abruptly bowing to Minase, she chased after me then started keeping up with my pace.
We didn't walk that far from the tennis courts, we stayed near enough to watch the match unfold but far enough to assure us that no one accidentally overhears our conversation. "First, let me apologize" That girl stared at me in confusion but chose to not say a word "You wouldn't have gotten lost on numerous occasions if I just didn't assume that you had hidden intentions. All the things that you do are done out of the purest intentions and I'm the only one giving them hidden meanings, and I sincerely apologize for that" I really wanted to bow my head to properly express that to her but that would only catch unwanted attention.
Her lips formed a smile as she scratched the bandages on her wrist; I'm starting to believe she doesn't even realize that she has been doing this for a while now. "Sanada-fukububou doesn t need to apologize. In the first place I never properly explained myself, so it was only natural for you to think in such a way"
I heard what she said and wanted to retaliate badly, it was clearly my fault and yet she doesn't blame me for it. I let out another lingering sigh, honestly, if I really lose a bit of happiness every time I let out a sigh then I m best assured that I won't be having any happy moments left in my lifetime. "Is the bandages wrapped in an uncomfortable manner?" I was going to ignore that fact that she has been scratching the bandages that were wrapped around her wrist but her action is distracting me, so I couldn't help but ask. "You have been scratching the surface of the bandages for a while now, so I came to the assumption that they were wrapped in an uncomfortable manner" I didn't know why I had the need to explain myself, but I did it anyway.
"A little" She murmured as she hid her wrist at her back, I offered a hand which she only stared at it in confusion.
"Let me fix it for you"
Kirihara POV
"Please watch over Masachika and the rest, make sure no trouble takes place" I snapped out of trance and involuntarily my eyes followed Sanada-fukubuchou's figure as he approached the location where Tsubaki and Minase-buchou stood.
I'm such a fool, Tsubaki has already told me that it's fine and her wrist doesn't hurt, but I knew her better than anyone it does hurt and its not fine, the bandages I wrapped around her wrist aren't probably of any help to her. I don t even remember how tight I did it, I was too afraid to even be the one wrapping the injury I caused but Minase-buchou insisted.
Usually it would be me that's being bandaged up by Tsubaki and not the other way around. Strange, the physical pain I would feel would be nothing compared to this stinging feeling I get from my heart it hurts three times as much than from what I get from physical injury.
I don t even know how to look at Tsubaki after this; I'm too scared that she'll look at me the same way as those people. I'm too scared to lose the only person that actually believes that there s still something positive in me. "Eh, Tsubaki-chan is injured?" I glanced up at Marui-sempai s direction and I shifted my attention at the same direction he is currently looking at "Looks like she injured her wrist, from the looks for it, it's bruised badly, puri" I felt sick when I heard Niou-sempai say that, I bit my lower lip as I glanced at the ground, but I was still able to see Sanada-fukubuchou fixing the bandages around Tsubaki s wrist, as I thought it wasn't wrapped around her wrist comfortably.
"Aka-chan" I glanced at Masachika-sempai, who offered me a gentle smile "You shouldn't hurt yourself like that, it'll only make Tsu-chan worry about you more" I vaguely started to taste that irony tang of blood, it seems like I unconsciously bit my lower lip too much that blood started to come out from it.
I fixated my gaze once more to the direction where Tsubaki and Sanada-fukubuchou stood, as I thought those small stabbing sensation I get seems to intensify even more whenever Sanada-fukubuchou is near Tsubaki or if she s talking about him, not only that there s also this uneasy feeling lurking with it. "I have to stop" I told myself this and from the corner of my eye I knew that caught Masachika-sempai's attention but she remained silent.
I should hide these feelings I have for Tsubaki and keep them from surfacing. Being her best friend that should be enough, I clenched my shirt preventing myself from looking away. Tsubaki doesn t need to know about my feelings or the pain that I feel whenever she s with Sanada-fukubuchou it ll only make her feel responsible for the causing me this much pain. I also need to take control of my feelings for Tsubaki, if I allow it to take control then I lose sight of what really matter just like how I managed to hurt her after I was blinded by my anger which was rooted from that stupid diva. Tsubaki is pretty dense, I for one know that but if I keep acting this way it won t be long before she notices my hidden feelings for her or worst she might hear it from someone else.
If it comes to that, I'd prefer it if she heard it from me
Sanada POV
"There, that should do it" She flashed me a smile as thank you and gently massaged her wrist. I couldn't help but notice how small her wrist is; it looked so fragile that I was afraid that it ll break. The injury in itself wasn't that bad, but it would probably be best for her to wait for it to heal before she does any swings. Minase isn't necessarily strict when it comes to her regulars and practices, but this girl diligently practices and usually sticks to the basics - which I find very admirable, I really wish Akaya follows her example.
From the looks of it, someone gripped her wrist too tightly hence the bruise. "Are you being bullied?" She looked shocked from my question, probably wondering how I managed to come up with the idea she is being bullied. I later realized that there is absolutely no way that this girl will be a target for bullies because for one: Akaya will have their heads if they did something that stupid. She shook her head violently "I'm not being bullied, everyone around me has been pretty nice"
If that were the case, how did she acquire that bruise? It isn't possible to acquire a bruise like that without anyone inflicting it. I want to ask who inflicted it because I couldn't feel at ease knowing that someone hurt her like this, and there is also something with her getting hurt and not knowing how she got it that kind the bothers me.
"If you don't mind me asking" I paused to catch her attention "Who did that to you?" She flinched at the question, she looked unsure on how she will answer the question thrown at her.
"I caused that" Akaya admitted as he walked near us "Minase-buchou wanted me to rely a message - "Atobe wants to speak with you" is what she said"
"Very well" I left the two and made my way back to the tennis courts.
I never expected that brat to be the one who inflicted that bruise, he was the last person that went into my mind. There were only two instances where he would unconsciously activate his 'Bloodshot Mode': when his pride is being crushed or whenever someone would hurt and/or play around with that girl .
I walked pass Minase who had a wry look on her face and it wasn't because Renji is losing - in fact, he seemed to have the upper hand against Hyotei's tensai. Renji is the brain of our team, there was no way he will lose, especially on our home court.
"What is it?" I saw no need to exchange pleasantries with Atobe at the moment, the scene he caused earlier caused a lot of commotion. Their manager stared carefully at our direction, the aura of suspicion surrounding her.
"I wanna make a bet" Atobe proposed and I simply raised an eyebrow. I simply crossed my arm over the other and kept a steady gaze "I found that junior of yours earlier, rather cute. I propose that if I win, she goes out on a date with me. Of course, if I lose then she doesn't have to go on a date with Ore-sama"
No words can explain, how much I wanted to introduce Atobe's face with my right hand. I have no idea how on earth, he managed to propose such a stupid and selfish thing like that. There was no way I can agree with such an idea, Minase wouldn't allow it and there is no way Rikkai Dai will allow one of its members to be treated in such a manner.
"I refuse" I prepared myself to walk away when he stopped me to my tracks "Why? Don't you have any confidence in that junior of yours?"
That isn't really the case that I have no confidence in Akaya, what I didn't have confidence in was the fact if Atobe could come out alive. If Akaya finds out about the whole bet he suggested, the moment he steps inside of the court - it was without doubt that 'Bloodshot Mode' would activate.
Even if that girl will stays nearby, that wouldn't make much difference with how Akaya will act. I actually believe that her presences will only add fuel to the fire. Akaya probably wouldn't admit it but with his current abilities, he can't beat Atobe and that is exactly the reason why Atobe made such a proposal. No matter how much Akaya will refuse the idea but the only way he'll win is if - he accepts the idea of activating 'Bloodshot Mode' wholeheartedly.
With that girl nearby, it is almost certain that Akaya will snap. He'll probably push back the idea in relying with 'Bloodshot Mode', however the more he'll be pushed back in the game agaisnt Atobe, adding to that is the knowledge of the bet and that girl's presences - it will eventually lead Akaya to the realization that he needs to use that skill he hates so much.
"You know that I only longer carry the position to accept your bet" It would be best if I talk this over with the rest of the team, that way - everyone gets a say and if we all don't meet eye to eye on this one, we can always vote for the final decision. "Give me time to talk it over with Yukimura and my team" I walked away.
Renji's match just ended and it was his win, Yukimura was congratulating him when I caught Renji's attention. "Something wrong Genichirou?" Yukimura glanced over his shoulder and motioned for me to continue "Atobe made a proposal"
"This is news to me" Yukimura frowned slightly.
'What is it about?" Renji peered.
"It's pretty straightforward" I crossed my arm over the other, recalling his stupid and selfish idea "He wants to have a date with Hanabusa if he wins"
"And if he doesn't?"
"Obviously, there will be no date" I answered Renji's inquiry.
"Did you accept?" Yukimura peered at me.
"I told him that I don't have any authority in accepting that offer" That was only a natural response, with Yukimura back - the authority to accept matters like this is his responsibility. However, I saw no point in telling him that I have originally rejected the said bet.
Yukimura stood up and made his way to Minase while Renji and I trailed behind him. "Minase, please postpone the game for a bit. I need to have a word with my team" Minase nodded and made her way to Hyotei's manager to relay the message.
Akaya was already back with the rest of the team, Masachika and that girl were also with them - she was no longer fidgeting with her bandages. "Hana, please leave with Usa-chan"
"Usa-chan?" I peered at Yukimura and he simply flashed me a smile. Masachika stood up and hid behind that girl, they then left us as Yukimura requested. That girl is 'Usa-chan' - I'll never understand Yukimura and his sense of giving people nicknames. "I want everyone to know that Atobe has proposed a bet; if he wins then he gets to go on a date with Usa-chan, of course if he losses than there will be no date in play"
"He has to be freaking kidding us, right!?" Akaya exclaimed, he clutched his fist tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"No, he wasn't kidding at all" I couldn't help but butt in, there is no one here that understands how serious Atobe was but me. At first, I thought he was fooling around but turns out he wasn't - that was the reason why I had refused the bet.
"There must be a way to alter the bet" Yagyuu commented as he straightened his glasses.
"Yagyuu's right" Niou sounded bored but he was definitely on the same page as Yagyuu was "I mean, if we accept the bet then the girl's team wouldn't exactly be the happiest group of girls alive" He sounded sarcastic but he made a point, a point we all knew too well.
"As sad as this sounds, with Atobe's skills there is no way for Akaya to win" Renji pointed the obvious out, it was a fact that everyone knew but no one wanted to voice it out (except Yukimura, Renji and me that is). We were all aware that what Renji said was definitely a bullet to Akaya's pride but him not retaliating meant that he knew the difference in skills when it comes to him and Atobe.
"Frankly speaking, can't we just decline the bet entirely?" Jackal voiced his opinion "He's right, I mean, Tsubaki-chan might be the a part of the girl's team but she's still a Rikkai Dai member - we can't just let Atobe treat her like that" Marui spoke with a serious tone, he patted Akaya's head - who remained silent all this time.
"I have no problems in declining the offer" Yukimura admitted as he crossed his arm over the other "But wouldn't it seem like we're running away?"
Rikkai Dai is a team that honors victory and to decline the bet will definitely make it seem like we are running away. Everyone stayed silent, as if Yukimura's words were weighing a ton. The thought of declining the bet almost became a subject not to talk about.
Honestly speaking, I find it easier to decline the bet but the thought of us running away from the challenge leaves an awful after taste. Then again, I can't help but feel that all this is a trap - just like how I got caught by the obvious intimidation made by that man.
"Can't we just turn it into a team bet?" Akaya murmured but enough for us to hear.
"Doesn't sound like a bad idea" Yukimura mused "Everyone in favor of that idea"
No one seemed to be able to come up with a much better idea, that everyone nodded in approval. As long as we have two more wins than the bet is assured to be in our favor, however with the current lineup there was no way Atobe will approve.
"Assuming that we all agree to the suggestion Akaya has made, how assured are we that Atobe will approve?" Renji glanced over his shoulder "The first game is already counted as a win and it's not like our Doubles 2 will lose nor will Genichiro, with this in mind - Atobe is assured to refuse the team bet"
"Why should we care about being fair?" Niou lashed out "From the beginning his offer was already unfair. He knew Akaya wouldn't win against him, that's why he made the offer. No offense brat" He placed an arm over Akaya's shoulder.
"I understand what you are trying to say Niou, and I'll make sure to voice out our concerns" Yukimura assured "Besides if worst comes to worst and we can't come up with a compromise. Minase isn't a biased individual, she'll come up with a fool proof compromise" Yukimura left and made his way to Atobe's direction to rely our response to the bet.
A/N: And there you have it, I don't really know what you guys think with the ending but this was the only way I could end it (while keeping the next chapter in mind), I'm really sorry if it's sloppy and I promise to make it up to you guys on the next chapter.
Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter and don't be afraid to let me know what you think about the story - I'm quite interested in knowing what you guys think about the bet Atobe offered and about that tiny - Sanada x OC scene hehehe
Oh! And let me know what you guys think - about the overall pace of the story :3
Thanks and lots of love to you guys 3
