Took me a while to update... I kind of was thinking of giving up on this story, but I figured "let's just do it!" Besides, it's fun to write :D


Chapter 8: Bento

"What are they doing?!" Akia exclaims in frustration.

Ryoma and Momoshiro have oddly separated the court in two sections, so that they don't get in each other's way while playing the doubles match. Even though it's not a very doubles-like attitude, everyone let it slide, since they were getting a god lead. But that isn't the case now. The Gyokurin team have found the weakness in their strategy. They are now aiming all of their shots at the middle court line. Ryoma and Momoshiro, both wanting to get to the ball first, end up clashing or leaving half the court open for an attack. They start losing point after point until they eventually lose the whole game. The score is now 3-2, in Seigaku's favour. However, if they don't find a way around that problem, Akia fears that they might actually lose.

The next games, the unusual pair uses an unusual tactic. They scream either AH or UN.

"…What are they doing?" Akiko whispers.

Horio Satoshi, Mizuno Katsuo, and Kachirou Katou, who are all freshmen in Seigaku as well as Ryoma's classmates, are sitting next to Akiko, Sakuno, and Tomoka.

"Whatever they're doing is embarrassing to watch," Horio says in an exasperated tone.

Akia, who's sitting next to coach Ryuuzaki, couldn't help but sigh.

"Well, at least it's helping them not go after the ball at the same time," Akia mumbles, trying to convince herself before anyone.

"They're using it wrong…" Coach Ryuuzaki points out, "they should be able to use signals without having to shout embarrassingly like that. I should've had them train with Kikumaru and Oishi."

The match soon ends, to everyone's relief, with Seigaku getting the first win. Coach Ryuuzaki doesn't lose a chance to lecture Ryoma and Momoshiro about how poor their doubles ability is. Akia, on the other hand, goes to see Kikumaru who's finishing up with his warmup.

"Good luck out there, Eiji-senpai!"

At Akia's encouragement, Kikumaru flashes her a big smile and a thumbs up.

"It'll be easy easy! Especially with Akia-chan cheering for me."

Akia shyly giggles and Kikumaru waves at her while going to the court with Oishi.

The match ends with them not even losing a single point.

"As expected of the Golden Pair," Coach Ryuuzaki says, content with the results.

"Oh yeah! Way to go!" Akia, who can't contain her excitement anymore, shouts and jumps up from her seat.

Kikumaru comes running to her and gives her a big hug.

""Akia-chan! We did it! Did you see how good we were?"

"Y-Yeah, y-you were great out there," Akia stutters, her face flaming up at the sudden contact.

She feels a tinge of disappointment when he lets go, however, to go join Oishi in the player seats.

Only one more game, and Seigaku will win this round. Kaidoh's the one placed in singles three. Following in his senpai's footsteps, he wins the game without letting his opponent score. With this victory, Seigaku's advancement is decided. The matches continue however, for the overall placements.

Singles two's Kawamura Takashi is up next. As soon as he holds the racket, his character completely changes from timid to extremely confident and loud. Akiko along with Ryoma's fanclub cheer for Seigaku. Completely overpowering his opponent, Kawamura Takashi flawlessly wins the game, making Seigaku the victor once more.

The last singles being Fuji Syusuke pretty much guarantees Seigaku's win for this match as well. In the end, Seigaku wins all of their matches against Gyokurin.

It's not time for lunch. Akiko goes down to join Akia, followed by Ryoma's classmates. Ryoma goes to his sisters and takes his bento before leaving with Momo.

"So," Akiko whispers to her twin, "are you going to give the bento to Kikumaru-senpai?"

Akia's face involuntarily gets covered in a deep shade of red.

"I-I will…" Akia replies as she starts making her way to her senpai.

She soon halts when she sees a bunch of fangirls gathering around the players. Before he sees her, she quickly makes her way back to Akiko and the others. Akiko looks at her worriedly.

"Akia-nee…" Akiko sighs.

She doesn't need her sister to explain anything, since her face says it all. Akiko sees that Akia is scared. She sees that the smallest thing will make her lose all courage. She doesn't like to see her always bursting with confidence older twin sister in such a discouraged state. Then again, Akia has always been like that around guys that she liked.

Akia puts on a fake smile and tries to act as her usual self.

"Let's go eat! I'm starving!"

Akiko reluctantly follows Akia with Sakuno and Tomoka. Horio, Mizuno and Kachirou, on the other hand, go see what Ryoma and Momo are up to.

The girls find a nice place on the lawn to sit and eat while talking about how cool the boys were in their matches. Akia, who's usually the most talkative, isn't saying anything. She isn't eating much either, just staring at nothing in particular. She sighs every once in a while, oblivious to the worried looks that Sakuno, Tomoka and Akiko are giving her.

After a bit, Akiko and the two other girls look behind Akia and smile mischievously. Akia, still in her little bubble, doesn't notice anything. The person behind Akia gets close to her and then…

"YO!"

"AH!"

Akia screams as she turns around, ready to slap whoever gave her such a scare. As soon as she turns around, she realizes how close that person's face is. It takes her a while to register who it actually is.

"E-E-E-Eiji-senpai!"

Instinctively, she backs away.

"Hahahahaha, you should've seen your face!" Eiji laughs while holding his stomach.

Slowly and quietly, Akiko tells Tomoka and Sakuno to follow her and leave Akia and Kikumaru alone.

"What are you guys eating…" Kikumaru's voice trails off as he realizes that only Akia and him remain.

Akia turns around and follows his gaze.

"They left?"

"Well," Kikumaru scratches the back of his head, feeling a bit shy at the prospect of being alone with Akia, "what are you eating?"

He sits down next to her. He takes a glance at her bento and realizes that it's pretty much untouched.

"Ah! Kawaii! I wish I had someone who could do that for me…" Kikumaru says innocently, not aware that Akia has actually prepared something for him.

"Actually, if you're hungry," Akia reaches into her bag, "I made another one…"

She doesn't say that she made it for him, though, considering how shy she feels about it.

"Whoa, really?!" Kikumaru happily exclaims. "I can have it?"

Akia gives him a small nod.

"Lucky!" he happily takes the box from her, opening it right away.

He pauses when he sees the contents and then comes to a certain realization.

"It's a white cat like the one you liked when we first met," he giggles.

"Haha, yeah what a coincidence right, haha," Akia awkwardly laughs, not wanting him to realize that that's exactly what it is.

They both eat while talking about random things.

"You're facing off against Mizunofuchi after lunch," Akia says, "I'm sure it'll be a perfect victory this time too."

"If you keep cheering me on like that, then of course it'll be a perfect victory," Kikumaru smirks, "especially after feeling so energized with this cute bento."

"Stop it," Akia gives him a shy friendly shove.

"Whaat?" Kikumaru giggles.

"When you say things like that, I don't know how to react…"

They start heading to the court for the next match. The whole time, Akiko, Sakuno, and Tomoka were spying on them from not too far.

"Ohohohoho," Tomoka chuckles, "Kikumaru-senpai and Akia-senpai. Who would've thought?"

"Are you guys sure it's alright to eavesdrop on them like that?" Sakuno says worriedly.

"Akia-nee won't find out," Akiko smirks, "don't worry about it."

"That bento was definitely for him," Tomoka chimes.

"Indeed it is," Akiko answers her, "she woke up really early just for that."

The girls keep gossiping until their subjects get up and leave. Akiko and the others carefully follow them and get to the courts, making sure not to be spotted by Akia and Kikumaru until then.


Thank you for being patient with me! Review and tell me what you think.