A/N: YAY! Last week of term 2 for the year! I desperately need a holiday. Away from school…I WANT MY HOLIDAY! But I'll miss writing my fanfic of course :D.

This will be my last chapter for a few weeks. I'll start writing again as soon as I get back from Japan, promise!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hyoutei and their sexy tennis regulars. That doesn't mean I own Kabaji, Konomi Takeshi owns ALL OF THEM. I own Hyo-chan though!

Chapter Nine: Feelings Revealed.

"Hmm, Hyo-chan, your calligraphy skills aren't bad." Yuushi commented as he examined Hyo's calligraphy. The subject of their tuition that day was Japanese.

"Thanks," Hyo replied. "I've won some awards for my calligraphy."

"Really?" Yuushi mused. He hadn't seen that when he searched Hyo's name in the Hyoutei database.

"No, just joking. I wish!" Hyo replied grinning. "My Father used to teach me when I was little."

"Ahh, so you had a good teacher." Yuushi purred.

"Mhm." Hyo replied breezily.

"Well, this is today's tuition done." Yuushi said. "Off to tennis practice now."

The two packed their bags and departed the music room. Before the door of the music room closed, Hyo looked back and glanced at the grand piano sitting inside. She hadn't touched a piano for days and her fingers were itching to dance across its keys.

"Hyo-chan?" Yuushi questioned.

Hyo tore her eyes away from the piano, smiled at Yuushi and walked away with Yuushi following closely behind.

"HYO-CHAN!" Jirou greeted Hyo with his usual hyperactive self when he was awake.

"Jirou-kun. Had a nice nap?" Hyo asked as she approached, putting her bag down beside someone's tennis bag.

"YES!" Jirou replied happily. "I GET TO PLAY AGAINST CHOUTAROU TODAY!"

"That's right." Said a voice from behind Hyo. Hyo turned around and tilted her head up.

"Hey there, Choutarou-kun!" Hyo greeted bouncily.

"You seem to be in a good mood today, Hyo-chan." Choutarou replied with a smile.

"It's been a good day today. Tuition with Yuushi-kun was especially good!" Hyo replied.

"O-oh. Did…something happen?" Choutarou asked trying not to sound too curious.

"Let's just say…calligraphy is one of my strengths!" Hyo said with a laugh.

"How nice to know." Came another voice behind Hyo.

Hyo instantly recognized the voice. It had been a week since she was made slave of Hyoutei's tennis team. That meant Hyo had passed a week picking up balls in morning, break, lunch and afterschool practices. She also had to eat lunch with the regulars. One or two days in the week, Atobe had allowed Hyo to bring Chiharu with her to the lunch table. Since Hyo had been spending so much time with the regulars and had been called on countless times by Atobe, it was now impossible for her not to recognize his voice.

"Good afternoon, Atobe-senpai." Choutarou greeted.

"Atobe-kun." Hyo greeted with a nod of her head.

"Ore-sama thinks Choutarou and Jirou's game should be starting now. As for you, Hyo-san, there are tennis balls for you to fetch." Atobe instructed.

"Yes." Hyo answered with a sigh, walking to her usual spot beside the basket of tennis balls.

'You could at least use another word rather than 'fetch' you know. It makes me sound like a dog.'

Standing beside the basket of tennis balls, Hyo got bored and started humming to herself and looking around the vicinity aimlessly.

"One set match! Choutarou to serve!" Gakuto, who was the umpire of the game between Choutarou and Jirou called lazily.

Choutarou bounced the ball a few times, then chucked it in the air straight above him.

"Ikkyuu…nyuu….kon!" With a powerful swing of his arm and a gentle flick of this wrist, Choutarou hit the ball with amazing strength, making the ball travel toward Jirou at 192 kilometers per hour. Jirou swung his racquet but missed the ball.

"15-love!" Gakuto announced.

"CHOUTAROU, AMAZING!" Jirou revered in wonder and enthusiasm. Choutarou scratched the back of his head bashfully.

"Thanks Jirou-senpai." Choutarou said.

Hyo, who was watching from a distance dropped her jaw and adjusted her glasses.

"That, was, fast!" She breathed. "I bet that was more than 216 semiquavers per minute!" Hyo said, trying to judge the speed of Choutarou's serve using the timing method in music.

Choutarou took another tennis ball from his pocket, bounced it a few times and chucked it in the air exactly the way he did it the previous time. Jirou grasped his racquet with two hands and lowered himself a bit, readying himself for the ball.

"Ikkyuu…nyuu…kon!" Choutarou successfully hit the ball with the same speed power as he did before.

"30-love." Gakuto announced.

"AMAZINGGGG!" Jirou exclaimed again.

Hyo's jaw dropped again and all she could do was stare.

'How can anyone hit a ball so fast?'

"Hyo-chan, two more tennis balls please!" Choutarou called to Hyo and held up two fingers for her to see. Hyo stayed stationary and just stared.

"I think Hyo-chan's truly amazed by Choutarou's skills." Shishido remarked when he saw Hyo's expression.

"She looks like a fish." Gakuto snorted and started to imitate Hyo's expression.

Atobe cleared his throat. "Hyo-san. Tennis balls please!" He ordered, in an abnormally loud volume.

Hyo snapped out of her amazement and grabbed two tennis balls from the basket beside her and walked over to court A where all the regulars were watching Choutarou and Jirou's match. Hyo handed the ball over to Choutarou.

"Even though I don't know anything about tennis, your serves are, absolutely, amazing…" Hyo told Choutarou, her eyes wide with admiration.

Choutarou took the tennis balls from Hyo and on hearing Hyo's compliment, a tinge of pink crept across his cheeks. "Thanks Hyo-chan. But there are lots of people who –"

"Hyo-san, do not disturb Choutarou. He is in the middle of a game." Atobe informed Hyo rather irritably. Hyo looked at Atobe.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Hyo muttered under her breath. Choutarou heard and chuckled quietly.

"Ore-sama begs your pardon, arn!" Atobe demanded.

"Nothing!" Hyo said quickly, then returned to her station next to the basket of tennis balls. 'That was close. Good thing Choutarou-kun didn't sell me out or else Ego-sama would've made me run laps or something.' Hyo thought to herself.

Choutarou won his service game and it was now Jirou's turn to serve. Jirou's serve was no where near as fast as Choutarou's so Choutarou was able to hit back the serve easily. Jirou and Choutarou rallied for a few minutes until Jirou scored a point.

"15-love!" Gakuto called.

Jirou's service round went on.

"So, are you starting to get the gist of tennis?" Yuushi asked Hyo, suddenly appearing beside her.

Hyo's head spun around to see who it was. She let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, it's only you."

"What do you mean by that?" Yuushi said, pretending to sound hurt.

"You could've been a stalker sneaking up on me?" Hyo replied shrugging.

Yuushi choked back a laugh. "Um, yes, I'm sure that's very…"

"Game Jirou! One game all!" Gakuto announced.

"Oi, Choutarou! Keep your eye on the ball eh!" Shishido grunted.

"Yes, Shishido-senpai." Choutarou had missed the ball because his attention had been diverted from the game.

"So, Hyo-chan." Yuushi started from where he got cut off. "You still haven't answered my question. Are you more familiar with tennis now?"

"Kind of. I know the scoring system now and the rules are pretty basic and obvious." Hyo replied.

"Good. Maybe I could play you one day." Yuushi replied, smirking.

"Not a good idea." Hyo immediately replied. "Just because I know the rules, it doesn't mean I know how to play. I think playing a game with me is a very bad idea. Really!"

"It was just a thought." Yuushi said shrugging.

"HYO-CHAN!" Jirou called, waving his arm and racquet above his head. "TENNIS BALLS PLEASE!"

"Looks like I've got a delivery to make." Hyo told Yuushi as she grabbed a few green balls and jogged over to Jirou, leaving Yuushi standing by the basket of tennis balls. Yuushi let out a small sigh as he made his way in the direction of Atobe.

Choutarou and Jirou's game ended with Jirou winning 6 games to 4. Next up was Atobe against Hiyoshi.

"Here Choutarou-kun. Your drink bottle." Hyo said as she handed Choutarou his drink bottle.

"Ah, thank you!" Choutarou replied, taking his bottle.

"Jirou-kun, your drink bottle." Hyo said to Jirou, handing him his drink bottle.

"THANK YOU HYO-CHAN!" Jirou replied happily, taking his bottle.

Hyo had gotten used to her position as 'slave girl' now and didn't really mind being the ball picker and water girl and, well…slave as much as she did when she first started.

"Hyo-chan, it's Atobe-kun's game with Hiyoshi now. Watch closely because the real show is about to begin." Choutarou told Hyo informingly. "Atobe-senpai's skills will blow you away."

Hyo looked at Choutarou with a skeptic expression, not quite believing that Atobe was as good as Choutarou said.

'Sure, he's the captain, but maybe he was made captain because of his humungous ego?'

"Okay, if you say so." She replied.

Yuushi swapped places with Gakuto as Yuushi was to umpire Atobe and Hiyoshi's match.

"Man, my butt's sore." Gakuto said when he jumped out of the umpire seat and rubbed his backside. It also happened that he had his back to Hyo, meaning he was rubbing his backside right in front of her.

Hyo cleared her throat in disapproval.

"Um, Gakuto-kun?" She finally said. "Do you mind?"

"Eh?" Gakuto said, turning around to face Hyo, still rubbing his bottom. "Mind what?"

"Mind not, you know, doing whatever you're doing." Hyo replied, not looking in his direction.

"What do you mean?" Gakuto asked, confused.

Yuushi spoke up, coming to the rescue –as usual.

"Gakuto, please do not taint Hyo-chan's brain with the image of you rubbing your bum." Yuushi said, straight to the point.

Gakuto blinked a few times, then drew in a breath of realization.

"OH!" He exclaimed. "HYO-CHAN IS A GIRL!"

"…"

"I'm glad you finally noticed I that I'm a girl." Hyo told Gakuto, not out of annoyance, but out of relief as Gakuto finally stopped rubbing his backside.

On the opposite side of where everyone was standing, Atobe stood impatiently. Usually, he was the centre of attention and whichever side of the court he was on was where everyone, except his opponent would be. However, this was not the case today as his teammates were gathered at the opposite end of him, fussing over the fact that Gakuto was rubbing his backside in front of Hyo.

'Ore-sama is kind of regretting making Hyo-chan slave of the team.'

He massaged his forehead with his free hand and flicked his hair.

"Hiyoshi, let us begin out match!" Atobe said loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"…Gekokyjou…" Hiyoshi said, getting in his Enbu style tennis stance.

"One set match. Hiyoshi to serve." Yuushi announced.

And the game started.

Hiyoshi was doing well at the start, taking two rounds of the match. When the third round started, Atobe started to show his true potential. He hit each ball with precision, power, and purpose. Although Hiyoshi was managing to hit the ball back, Atobe's aim was to deteriorate Hiyoshi's stamina.

"The time is right." Atobe said to himself, smiling smugly. He hit the ball at a low angle, hitting something in between a smash and a drop shot. Hiyoshi ran to get the ball. He managed to nip the ball. The ball was lobbed back to Atobe.

'Perfect.' Atobe thought as he jumped and did his two step smash, 'Hametsu e no Rondo'.

"Game Atobe, one game to two." Yuushi called. "Change court!"

"So what do you think, Hyo-chan?" Choutarou asked Hyo who was beside him. "Atobe-senpai is good isn't he?"

Hyo stood there, dazed.

'What was that? That move was amazing. It's almost inspiring. I could somehow see musical movement in Ego-sama's move! Wait…I'm not supposed to be impressed!' Hyo was impressed, but she wasn't about to admit it.

"Yeah," She replied Choutarou casually. "It's okay, I guess."

'What? Most girls scream when Atobe-senpai uses his signature move…' Choutarou laughed slowly, not knowing what to reply.

"Hyo-chan, Atobe needs a few tennis balls." Yuushi told Hyo, looking down at her from the umpire seat.

"Oh!" Hyo said as she hurriedly grabbed two balls and jogged over to Atobe.

"Hyo-san, Ore-sama called for you three times." Atobe said irritably.

"Sorry, I didn't hear." Hyo replied, smiling sheepishly.

"Obviously. Now, Ore-sama has a game to continue, please remove yourself from the court." Atobe ordered as he put one ball in his pocket and bounced the other ball on the ground.

Hyo sighed. 'You don't have to be so mean you know, Ego-sama.'

After Atobe showed his true potential, Hiyoshi never got a point. So, the outcome was obvious. Atobe won with a score of 6 games to 2.

"Hiyoshi-kun, your water bottle." Hyo said cheerily handing Hiyoshi his water bottle.

"…Thanks Hyo-senpai…" Hiyoshi replied, a little agitated that Hyo was acting so happy towards him after he just lost a match.

Hyo then rummaged through Atobe's tennis bag, searching for Atobe's drink bottle. When she found it, she went over to Atobe and handed Atobe his bottle.

"Here you go, Atobe-kun." Hyo said. Her hand extended, grasping his bottle.

"Hyo-san, you do not have to be so rough with Ore-sama's belongings. Ore-sama believes Ore-sama's bag is tidy enough for you to find a drink bottle in without ransacking Ore-sama's tennis bag." Atobe told Hyo, taking his bottle from her.

Hyo's eyes widened in annoyance, and opened her mouth to protest –but after three seconds of thinking it through, decided against it so she shut her mouth.

'Calm, Hyo, calm.' Hyo told herself, taking a deep breath. After about ten seconds of calmness, Hyo couldn't keep calm anymore because it was one of those situations where the more she thought about it, the more it annoyed her.

"Atobe-kun, I was hardly ransacking through your tennis bag. It's called looking. Moving a few objects out of the way to get to your drink bottle is not, called, ransacking. I realize you're not a poet but, please choose your words carefully or else you would be making false accusations." Hyo said heatedly. "Oh and, you know that you've never said one 'thank you' to me? Sure, I'm supposedly the 'slave' but I'm human too. Manners, I was always taught. Have you no manners, Atobe-kun?"

There was silence. The regulars had just witnessed a side of Hyo they had never seen before. She turned from oblivious and awkward to confident and strong. At the same time, they feared for her because no one had ever spoken to Atobe like this.

"Ore-sama was born and raised in a good family. Of course Ore-sama has manners!" Atobe flourished.

"Well then, use it." Hyo told Atobe her eyes narrowed.

Everyone was watching Hyo and Atobe's argument, afraid of what would happen to Hyo.

"Ore-sama does not need you to tell Ore-sama what to do!" Atobe said loudly and firmly.

"Well…well…." Hyo stammered. Her confidence had vanished.

"Well what?" Atobe asked smugly, raising an eyebrow. Hyo didn't have anymore comebacks and he knew it. No one had won an argument against him before.

"Well nothing." Hyo finally said quietly, her cheeks were now pink from embarrassment.

"I think," Yuushi piped up. "I think we should probably be wrapping up today's practice. Don't you think so, Atobe?"

"Indeed." Atobe agreed. "Practice is over."

The regulars gathered their belongings and headed for the showers us usual, leaving Hyo behind to pick up any stray tennis balls.

When the regulars were done with their shower, they made their way outside. Choutarou was already dressed since he hurried with his shower and was standing near the entrance.

"Oi Choutarou, lets go." Shishido said when he finished dressing.

"Shishido-senpai, you go ahead, I- forgot to do something." Choutarou replied.

Shishido gave Choutarou a confused look.

"Okay…" He said and left.

Soon, the only people left in the cloakroom were Choutarou, Gakuto and Yuushi. When Gakuto and Yuushi finished dressing, they headed towards the door. Gakuto walked out and Yuushi followed. Yuushi was about to step outside when Choutarou spoke up.

"Yuushi-senpai. May I have a word with you?" Choutarou asked.

"Of course. What is it?" Yuushi asked. Choutarou's face was the slightest pink.

"Um…Yuushi-senpai…" Choutarou said slowly.

"…Yes?" Yuushi replied equally slowly. 'He isn't about to confess his love for me is he?' Sometimes, Yuushi's ego could be just as big as Atobe's.

"Um…whatdoyouthinkofHyo-chan?" Choutarou said in one breath.

"Pardon? What do I think of the future?" Yuushi asked, confused.

"No. Um…" Choutarou said nervously. "What do you think…."

"Of…?"

"OfHyochan?" Choutarou said quickly.

"Choutarou, you have to speak more clearly." Yuushi told Choutarou pointedly.

"Sorry, senpai." Choutarou said, embarrassed. "What…do you….think of…Hyo-chan?

"Oh." Yuushi said, perplexed at Choutarou's question. Yuushi pondered for a while, looking thoughtful. Choutarou waited for Yuushi's answer.

"Well, she meets my requirements for looks." Yuushi said finally.

"Oh…okay." Choutarou felt his heart drop.

"But," Yuushi carried on. "She's not my type in terms of…intelligence. Not saying that she's stupid or anything. She's smart in her own way, but not the way I look for in a girl."

Choutarou's heart lifted and his face broke into a smile.

"Oh, is that so? Sorry for taking up your time, Yuushi-senpai!" Choutarou told Yuushi.

"No worries." Yuushi said while smirking inwardly. He now knew something about Choutarou others didn't know.

The boys departed the showers and found Hyo sitting on the ground outside, her back resting on the wall of the building. Her head was tilted down so her face wasn't visible, but the coper red hair which was a defining feature of Hyo immediately gave away who she was.

"…Hyo-chan. How long have you been sitting there?" Choutarou asked worriedly, thinking she might've heard his conversation with Yuushi.

Hyo remained silent and still.

"Hyo-chan?" Yuushi said, making a move to crouch down but Choutarou beat him to it.

"Hyo-chan?" Choutarou said, putting a hand on Hyo's shoulder and shook her gently. Hyo lifted her head up slowly.

"Wha…?" Hyo opened her sleepy eyes.

"Hyo-chan, you were…sleeping?" Yuushi asked.

"Hm? Oh…I think…so?" Hyo said sleepily, then she jumped up. "What? I fell asleep?"

Choutarou and Yuushi both jumped back and stood up.

"Yes Hyo-chan. You fell asleep." Choutarou said, feeling relieved that Hyo was asleep. It meant that she hadn't overheard his conversation with Yuushi.

"Oh no, what's the time?" Hyo cried, gathering her possessions and stuffing them into her bag. Both Yuushi and Choutarou noticed that Hyo was stuffing music paper in her bag, the music paper had notes written on it and it was apparently in E major.

"It's 6:30 PM" Yuushi told Hyo and bent down to pick up a pen she had dropped.

"That's the time?" Hyo said, taking her pen from Yuushi. "And thanks. Ah! I'm so late. Grandma Kasumi wanted me home straight after practice! I really have to go. I can't believe I fell asleep!" Hyo slung her bag around her left shoulder and dashed off.

"Bye Hyo-chan!" Yuushi called after Hyo.

"See you tomorrow Hyo-chan!" Choutarou called.

Hyo waved an arm without turning back and kept running. After 300 meters of running she reduced to walking slowly, puffing.

"Grandma Kasumi is going to kill me. I promised I'd be there when she bakes the sponge cake so I'll know what I did wrong in Home Ec last time!"

A/N: This was a boring chapterrrrrrr!

I've been packing my stuff for Japan most of this week, so yeah.

I'm leaving in a day! OMGAHH! No more updates for three weeks.

Hmm, I'm curious to know. WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO KNOW THE PAIRING OF THIS FIC? OR SHOULD I JUST LEAVE YOU GUYS TO uhh…."ASSUME" THINGS FOR YOURSELF? Sorry for yelling, it just attracts more attention.

Please review! (Even if it's boring. I like to know what readers think. So I know what you guys like and don't like.)

SEE YOU GUYS IN THREE WEEKS! OH! AND!

Yuu.