*King's Apple*
by: WhiteGloves
"To return the favor is my specialty. Sometimes though, it's deadly" -Fuji
*I love all your support! I have no words for everybody! THANK YOU!
As long as passion is around- this story will revolve!
Atobe will always be Atobe!
AND HE WILL ALWAYS WIN!- according to him!
Same with our favorite genius!
So let's continue this
-drama/fluff/romance/love/action packed-
in this next
King's Apple chapter-
X
Oishi drummed his fingers on the payphone's top corner with the receiver on his left ear. He has been standing on the lounge's hallway for fifteen minutes without any results from the other end of the phone. Opposite him stood his co-team member and partner on the court, Eiji Kikumaru who's been watching his progress with undivided attention.
"It's not use," Oishi said after a few moments as the familiar voice of the female operator went on, "he's not picking up."
"Hmmm... that's odd; I couldn't reach him before too," Eiji answered with a frown, "Why can't Tezuka answer his phone calls? We've been calling him on convenient time yet he keeps ignoring us..."
"I don't think Tezuka would ignore us, Eiji," the Seigaku vice captain said as he put the receiver back on the phone and looked over his friend, "what made you say that?"
"Because..." Eiji paused with his frown deepening, "well—I told you before—he doesn't want to talk to Fuji."
"And why's that?"
"I don't know... I've tried calling him when Fuji was sick but he never called back once! Maybe he hates Fuji after all!"
Oishi blinked at the red head, and then gave a gentle smile.
"Eiji, I think you got some things wrong. Tezuka would never hate Fuji. I am not certain of their relationship, but as far as I'm concerned, I think Tezuka considers Fuji to be an important friend... that's why I think he wouldn't deliberately avoid Fuji."
"Then why doesn't he call him at all?" Eiji protested sounding unconvinced.
"Knowing Tezuka..." Oishi answered with a shrug, "it must be tennis."
Eiji pouted and looked away.
"You guys are here," Inui said as the data master joined the two in the payphone corner minutes later.
"Inui," Oishi said as he hung up the phone for a moment, "we've been trying to contact Tezuka but he hasn't picked up yet."
"Hmm," Inui looked thoughtful for a moment, and then he looked at Eiji, "thanks to your data I was able to finally fill up the hole on the match between Atobe and Fuji. Now I'm able to comprehend their actions better... knowing they have those kinds of feelings."
Eiji turned at the data master with a grim look.
If Fuji doesn't kill me for telling...
"Now," Inui pushed his glasses back at the bridge of his nose, "didn't you guys notice anything odd tonight?"
Both Oishi and Kikumaru looked at Inui.
"What do you mean?"
"It's in the air," the data master said quietly, "something's going to happen."
"Eh?" Eiji blinked.
"I don't know but my observations tell me so," Inui's glasses flashed, "the highschoolers are getting worked up... there's a rumor spreading around... I think only we middleschoolers are unaware of it... or rather—most of us..."
The three stared at each other and then finally, Inui raised his head.
"I think something's gonna happen tonight."
Shiraishi's footsteps echoed at the pavements as he dashed toward court C that evening. He was not sure why he was running in the middle of the dark at all, but he was sure it has something to do with the Seigaku genius' mysterious disappearance and Hyotei King's counterfeited letter.
That wasn't Fuji's writing... he thought as he ran with sweat on his forehead, but why was it sent to Atobe? Did something happen to Fuji...? What's going on between those two...?
He went pass court B and wasn't at all surprise to see light over court C as he drew near. What he wasn't prepared for the moment he reached the top of the bleachers was to see a man fall down the ground in pain. The Shitenhouji captain stared in disbelief as he watched the man clutch his knee and groan in pain.
"Gahh!"
Shiraishi paused looking stunned, and then his eyes travelled to the familiar large man standing above the fallen man who was holding a metal bat on his hands.
"Wh...what's going on?" he muttered to himself as his eyes widened at what he was seeing, "T-this..."
On the other side of the trees...
Fuji opened his eyes and stared at his assailants with a calm atmosphere even though he knew there was no place for him to run. Behind him was a tree and the nearby places were covered by bushes. He was in the middle of nowhere with four highschoolers surrounding him like another cornered animal.
It was that time of the month again, huh? He thought to himself in amusement.
"Smiling at this situation, Fuji?" said one of the highschoolers with spiky blonde hair the genius recognized to be the same man that attacked him before in the forest court, "I see you still think you can take care of us on your own? But what do I see here? You're not holding any racquet? Aren't you too vulnerable tonight, Fuji?"
The genius stared and then realized the truth of the man's words.
"I don't understand," he started, wondering if Arata's team was really around as the tension grew between him and the four thugs, "why you keep going after me? I don't think I ever deserve such treatment from my senpais."
The highschoolers surprisingly chuckled after looking at one another.
"What are you talking about? We were just trying to be acquainted with one of the middleschoolers' genius after all." said the man behind with a black hair.
"Yeah," nodded the third man with a lengthy black hair, "we just want you to hang around us and maybe even play for a bit. We don't plan to hurt you at all, Fuji. Right, Ikagami?"
He turned to the man with spiky blonde hair who snickered and gave Fuji a meaningful stare.
"Of course. All we wanted was for you to come and join us. Give us the favour and let us play together, Fuji."
A malicious glint came over the highschooler's eyes that made Fuji frown a little. That was when he saw the man take a step close to him. Fuji's senses were alerted.
"Ditch that mole prince of yours and come with me instead," continued the blonde man named Ikagami.
Mole? Fuji's lips would have split into a smile as the thought played across his mind if not for his situation, If he heard you saying that... I wonder what his reaction would be...
Then Fuji's eyes flickered as he suddenly remembered Atobe's habit of appearing whenever he was in danger.
I wonder if he would also...?
"Forget about that guy!" said one of the highschoolers suddenly.
"Yeah—after all he won't be coming here in pieces haha!" finished the black haired guy, making Fuji shot him a look of surprise.
"What do you mean?" Fuji's tone was sharp, "are you talking about Atobe?"
There were silent smiles behind the highschooler's face that made the genius stare.
"He won't be coming," said the long haired highschooler, "we made sure of that."
A crease appeared on the genius' eyebrows.
"What?"
"It's pretty easy to lure him out once we sent a fake note to him pretending to be you," answered the other highschooler with a grin, "serves him right for acting all arrogant after your match and being in the First Stringers."
Fuji gripped his hands close.
"So, what d'you say?" said Ikagami quietly, reaching a hand toward the genius' shoulder, "won't you come along quietly and give us what we want?"
The highschooler's hand was upon his shoulder—then Fuji slapped it away using his left hand without question, his eyes hidden under his bangs.
"Don't touch me." He whispered.
"What the—?"
"He still bites," chuckled the other two guys behind the blonde haired man. Ikagami's patience ended as he grabbed Fuji's collar—
"You little—!"
Fuji's jaw set with his mind already far away from what was occurring in front of him.
"That's as far as you guys go," said a voice.
The three highschoolers looked behind them and saw a group of other highschoolers come out of the bushes. Arata's team has decided to show themselves, completely taking the other group by surprise.
"W-what's this!?"
"What're you guys doing here!?"
"That's something I should be asking all of you," said Arata's voice as he stared at the three, "we've been monitoring your movements for the past week. Your group's violation against the safety of the players in this camp shall result to your expulsion without further notice. This incident leaves us the final evidence to support the claim of kicking you out of this camp."
The leader of the group inclined his head to another highschooler who was holding a camera on his hand.
"W-what?" the three highschoolers all looked horrified as they stared at Arata whose eyes narrowed as he gestured his members to seize the three, "B-but you can't do this!"
Arata closed his eyes as the three were surrounded by the others.
"We've already done it."
And as if it was the final word, Arata nodded and the men were lead back toward the main campus.
Arata watched them go, and then looked back at Fuji who was still standing by the tree.
"Fuji-kun?" the highschooler called, "are you alright?"
"Y-yeah," the genius replied, "thank you."
Arata tried to peek at the genius' face but failed so raising his head, he offered a hand to Fuji.
"Let's go."
Fuji stared at the hand, and then looked up.
"I'm sorry, Shinji-san but I've got to go!"
Arata watched as the genius ran away in a hurry without another word and wondered to himself.
"Fuji-kun... why are you going that way?"
Fuji hurried along the trees with a sweat drop at the side of his face. He couldn't help worrying about what the highschoolers said about Atobe. If it was true and Atobe really did fall for the trap then it means between them—it was the Hyotei captain who was in much danger.
A bead of sweat slid down the genius' worried face.
Atobe...
In the middle of the light, Shiraishi watched with complete astonishment as two other men fall on the ground like flies being swatted with giant hands. Then he saw saw the whole picture as two other shadows of people he was not able to notice came into the light.
"Y-you bastard!" shouted one the players the Shitenhouji captain realized to be one of those highschoolers in the area, "bringing that guy along!"
"Heh," said a cool voice that came from another man standing meters behind the large fellow with his right hand on his hair, "who in their right mind would fall under such pathetic trap?"
Atobe! Shiraishi watched as Atobe walked toward the large man in front of him and smirked.
"Right, Kabaji?"
The large man called Kabaji nodded.
"Uz."
Atobe shot a look toward the remaining highschoolers standing in front of him with an arrogant air.
"You highschoolers just don't know when to learn your lessons huh? And what's with this cheap trick? Surely you didn't think I was naive enough to come alone? And that writing sucked. You think I didn't know that guy's handwriting?"
Shiraishi stared at Atobe with a new form of respect but was still in the dark about what was happening.
The two highschoolers gritted their teeth but one look at Kabaji made them both hesitate. They then looked at their friends on the floor and then back at the egotistical middleschooler who was standing tall above everyone.
And they realized they could not handle this guy.
They started backing out.
Atobe's eyes glinted.
"Going to run?" he whispered quietly, "I'm not going to stop you but... I'll make sure to return the favour."
His eyes said it all as he stared unblinkingly at the two highschoolers who started backing out and then without further notice, dashed into a run—leaving their comrades on the floor without looking back.
But then more shadows in the darkness appeared—
The running highschoolers stopped in their tracks as middle schoolers all wearing gray jackets with the words 'HYOTEI' in them closed in one by one.
"So this is what Atobe meant by party, huh?" said a guy with flashing eyes and red hair, "Atobe does know how to use words."
"Huh?" the highschoolers frowned as they saw Gakuto take a step close with a smile on his face. "Middleschoolers?"
"Ganging up on our team captain," muttered Shishido looking fierce, "absolutely unforgivable."
All the lights in court C were opened, revealing more Hyotei team member standing around in the area quietly.
"I can't believe you got us involved in this," Yushi Oshitari said as he pushed his glasses back at the bridge of his nose, "but as the saying goes...'the more the merrier'."
He looked over at Atobe who gave his team mates a gloating look.
"O-oi!" groaned one of the men on the ground as he tried to lift his head up, "t-this is...!"
The other two men on the floor started stirring and one by one the three of them started picking themselves up from the ground. Just as they struggled to get up, Atobe leaned down and picked up one of the metal bat.
"I'm not done with you guys yet."
On his corner, Shiraishi could not even blink his eyes.
Atobe...?
The highschoolers got up but then—found Kabaji blocking their way. The three gulped. They looked at their other companions only to see them all surrounded by Atobe's team.
"You cannot leave yet," said Atobe's voice as he stood behind the three with the metal bat hanging on his right shoulder. "You have to answer me first."
He swung the bat and pointed it at the highschoolers who backed a step away from his swing looking uncertain.
Atobe's eyes flashed.
"Where is he?"
"?" Shiraishi was all ears as the three highschoolers looked at the threatening metal and at Kabaji behind them.
"W-what are you talking about? We don't know where he is!" answered the man in the middle unconvincingly.
Atobe kept his intimidating eyes at the highschoolers.
"I checked on his room... he was not there... and I was informed he was last seen talking to a highschooler..."
"B-but we really don't know where that guy is!"
Atobe's patience which was believed to be longer than anyone's because of indifference—snapped.
He dropped the metal bat and took the guy in the middle around the collar and dragged him close. The other two highschoolers tried to take the chance to escape but in a matter of seconds—Kabaji's large arms were already around their necks.
"Arghhh!" they shouted in chorus, trying to hold off the large man's clutch but Kabaji was not easily overpowered. Atobe kept a firm grip on the highschooler's collar with his eyes as sharp as ever.
"Don't take me for a fool. Deliberately leading me where he is not... I don't think you guys would give up that easily so clearly something is up. And I know you guys are not acting on your own. Where is he?"
"Who's Atobe looking for?" Choutarou asked, turning his head to Oshitari.
Oshitari merely gave a small smile as he answered—
"Who knows? Maybe he lost his apple."
Choutarou and the others blinked at the Hyotei genius who turned to them.
"All right, pick these guys up if you can manage them."
The tall highschoolers didn't look threatened as the middleschoolers looked at them.
But then the middleschoolers raised their hands holding racquets.
"Heh." Gakuto smirked, "it'll be a piece of cake!"
As the Hyotei team got busy, Atobe's side was getting intense.
The highschooler stared at Atobe's dark eyes with a sweat drop at the side of his face. He gulped next with his mind racing as Atobe's grip tightened on his collar. And the man realized he could never win with such a guy.
"T-there was a guy who told us... to do diversion...he told the five of us to come after you and then another four people to come and tackle that Seigaku genius! T-that guy..."
Atobe's eyes narrowed and then he noticed another man standing at the top of the bleachers.
Shiraishi saw Atobe's eyes travelled to him.
As the genius run with one thing in mind, he noticed something move just ahead of him. A silhouette of a tall man.
Fuji frowned as he continued running, and then stopped as he slowly approached the spot where he saw the man standing.
"Whose there?" he called quietly, his senses heightened in the dark.
There were no other sounds that moment, not even the rustle of the wind.
Just complete silence.
And then a man emerged from the light, a tall man with a clean cut black hair, wearing U-17 red uniform. Fuji stared at the new presence and his frowned deepened. He recognized the guy, he knew the guy by sight but not personally. A player from the highschoolers he would often see around the cafeteria. What was this guy doing there?
There were no words that needed to be spoken as the two caught each other's eye.
Fuji saw the unknown man's sharp, cold eyes surveying him with silent intensity and felt an uncomfortable nudge on his guts as his fist closed.
It felt like he had seen the man from a long time ago.
"Syuusuke Fuji."
Fuji watched as the man emerged from his position toward him. The genius held his ground.
"Who are you and what do you want?" the genius asked as he clearly saw the man in the moonlight, "are you with those highschoolers from awhile ago?"
The unknown man's eyes flickered.
"You can say that... but I cannot believe you've forgotten me too... as Tezuka did."
"?" Fuji frowned as the man stepped close to him again.
"I was at Seigaku team back in middleschool," he said conversationally, "a potential member who could have gotten a spot on the regular third years... before you two second years started dominating."
Fuji's eyes widened. But it was funny... for he could really not remember the guy.
The same thought seemed to cross the man who gave an insulted smirk and took another step toward the genius.
"I do not blame you if you do not remember. You guys were on the level of your own when you dominated Seigaku's regulars. And to think I practiced with my all just to be on the team... and then to be defeated by monsters like you... you wouldn't know how that felt."
For the first time that night, Fuji saw a disturbance on the unknown man's face that triggered his senses to be alert.
"You guys were so talented that I admitted defeat. I realized hard work was not enough in the game. I realized tennis must've been for talented people... but I did my best when I entered highschool... and then years later..."
An air of madness seemed to fill the man as he gritted his teeth.
"You guys appeared here. I knew you two would be different and stronger... but to have tennis that surpassed even the meaning of limits...it's just like that time over again."
He was silent after that. Fuji measured his words.
"So then... are you here now to relieve me with your frustrations because of tennis, senpai?"
The man's eyes flashed and in an instant, he was able to nudge Fuji on a tree that nearly robbed him of breathe because of the force. Then the genius felt the man's left hand stretched and slammed it on his right side—cornering him on the broad tree.
"Frustrations?" he said, his face too close to Fuji, "maybe that's exactly why I'm doing it. You middleschoolers are too damn powerful that it's almost not fair... somewhere... I know somewhere you must've weaknesses... even that Tezuka... that Tezuka! Even after receiving that injury he was still able to play tennis... we were not able to break him at all."
Fuji's mind, which has been wandering in the middle of the ordeal, snapped in attention.
"You...?" the genius' blue eyes were electrifyingly wide. "You were one of those guys...?"
The man smiled.
"That was why I almost doubted if Tezuka really forgot... but he did... which is more frustrating... that guy... that guy didn't even remember the face of the guys who broke him that time."
There was a disturbing tremor on Fuji's heart as his memory of the first game he played with Tezuka came. The time when Tezuka lost the game while clutching his arm in severe pain. Tezuka's longing expression as everybody was able to play while he watched in the background from their first year... and then on...
Tezuka's frustration was more than anyone's... and the one who did it...
This guy... this guy...!
"I'll break your spirit too," whispered the man on Fuji's ear as he reached a hand on the genius' chest, "And I know how to."
"Atobe!" Shiraishi called as he tried to catch up at the running Hyotei captain, "Atobe—what's going on? Where's Fuji!?"
Atobe and Shiraishi were both running in the middle of the darkness as fast as their feet could manage. The King has left all the trash to his teammates and told them to take care of things before dashing away. He didn't have to tell the Shitenhouji captain to come along—Atobe wondered if he actually needed the help of the guy.
"Atobe!"
"Don't waste time asking!" Atobe replied sharply, "you'll find out soon—right now we need to find him!"
Shiraishi stared at Atobe's back.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" he went on, "don't tell me these kinds of things always happen around Fuji?!"
Atobe was silent for a moment, before giving his reply—
"Finally caught on, have you?"
Shiraishi's eyes widened and Oshitari Yushi's words came back to him.
It's obvious you don't have any idea what's been going on... and because of that you'll remain in the zero percent. You have lots to work on...
Is this what that megane was talking about?
And does that mean Atobe has known all along?
He watched Atobe's back and couldn't say anything about the King's actions.
Has he always been doing this... for Fuji?
As they run along the trees, they saw a number of people come out from the darkness ahead of them. They were all highschoolers—four of which Atobe recognized to be Fuji's attacker a long ago. They were escorted by other highschoolers who looked firm and in control.
The two middleschoolers stopped to watch them pass, until Atobe found the familiar highschooler he had seen before with Fuji.
"Oi!" he called with grit teeth as he met Arata head on.
"Oh," Arata stopped to face Atobe looking unsurprised, "so the knight has finally caught on?"
Atobe frowned and then took a step toward the highschooler.
"I've no time to waste. Where's Fuji?"
"Fuji-kun?"
"My team mates are holding five other highschoolers on court C. Seemed like you guys were able to sort this one out—now where is he?"
"Court C?" Arata frowned, before looking back at Atobe and pointing at the trees, "I don't know where exactly he went, but right after this plan he ran off somewhere on his own."
Plan? Atobe caught on, and then looked at the dark trees. Shiraishi also looked over the dark forest with a frown on his face.
"Really, that fool," Atobe murmured, leaving Arata without another word with Shiraishi right behind him, "running alone on his own again when the person behind this all is still out there!"
Atobe noticed Shiraishi ran beside him with another speed. He looked at the Shitenhouji captain.
"We need to hurry," Shiraishi said with a determined look on his eyes, "Fuji-kun might be in danger."
Atobe watched Shiraishi for a moment, and then looked ahead of him.
Well... even if you say that... that Syuusuke...
A smile suddenly appeared too ironic on the King's face that Shiraishi found odd.
"Why are you smiling at times like this?"
"Shiraishi... it's obvious you don't know anything about Syuusuke Fuji."
Shiraishi stared at Atobe who continued with glinting and somewhat amused eyes—
"Against one person... that Syuusuke..."
Atobe's words were not so clear to Shiraishi until at their last turn—they saw it.
In the middle of the moonlight and hidden around the bushes in the centre of the trees stood one person—
Shiraishi was about to call the familiar guy but Atobe stopped him and the two inched closer.
The wind blew steadily, making the wind encircle around the silent forest.
And then moonlight.
The Shitenhouji's captain caught his breathe. Atobe gave a gloating smile as the familiar fierce angel appeared before his eyes once more. Fuji was standing in front of a guy with that fierce look on his electrifying blue eyes. It was a look Shiraishi has never seen before and he too was mesmerized by its beauty.
Except that this time, Atobe felt something was wrong.
Syuusuke...?
Fuji remained standing with half his face hidden under the shadow of his hair. He was holding a branch on his hand. That was when Atobe noticed the man on the ground clutching his left arm in agony.
And Fuji didn't look like he was ready to back down yet.
"This..." Shiraishi was also able to feel the danger—not for Fuji but for the guy on the ground.
Then Fuji spoke in the middle of silence, his eyes fiery and his voice full of cold anger.
"Tezuka's arm... was worth more than all of yours put together."
Blazing anger seemed to envelop the genius' blue eyes and the intensity made Atobe stare.
What happened...?
And Atobe's eyes widened as he saw Fuji raise the thick branch against his opponent with blades on his eyes—
"Fuji-kun?" Shiraishi's jaw dropped open—Atobe went out of their hiding spot in an instant as Fuji gave the final blow—
The fast branch was about to make its second contact—
The man on the ground whimpered as he raised his other arm to defend himself—
"N-no!" he shut his eyes closed tightly.
But the blow never came.
Instead, the branch of tree fell down the ground with a thud.
Shiraishi came out of his spot to see Atobe standing in front of Fuji with a hand firm on the genius' raised wrist.
Fuji stared back at Atobe who was looking at him with serious eyes.
"That's enough, Syuusuke."
Fuji's eyes flickered.
"A-Atobe?"
The two stared at each other, and then, Atobe felt the genius' hand shook against his hold and smiled. He liked all of the genius' personality sides... but he liked the vulnerable Fuji more.
Then Shiraishi's eyes widened as he saw it coming—
"ATOBE! WATCH OUT!"
Fuji's eyes widened as from Atobe's back he saw a shadow suddenly appeared—the shadow of the guy he had just beaten rising up with the branch of tree at hand and ready to strike—
"You damn middleschoolers!" he cried angrily—
Fuji wanted to throw Atobe away—but he was the one embraced so tightly by the King—and the blow came hitting Atobe squarely on the back.
The King gave a suppressed grunt, his arms around Fuji with a hand protectively holding the back of the genius' head.
"A-Atobe!" Fuji cried as he felt the man's weight on his arms and they knelt on the floor— then he saw the enemy raise the branch again for the second strike—
I won't let you—! The genius thought, grabbing Atobe by the back and trying to turn him down but by all means his force was nothing compared to Atobe's stubborn form. Indeed, the King wouldn't budge an inch as he gripped the genius close to his body.
Fuji's eyes widened.
Atobe!?
And the strike came—not from their assailant, but from the Shitenhouji captain who was able to reach them in time and punch the demented highschooler around the cheek that sent him sprawling on the ground.
And the highschooler got up no more.
"Shiraishi...kun?" Fuji's eyes flickered as he looked at the Shitenhouji captain in relief.
Shiraishi looked back at him and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Atobe's not the only one who can protect you."
Fuji blinked at him, and then they looked at Atobe on his shoulder.
Oshitari Yushi glanced up as highschoolers cleared the area after taking those involved other highschoolers in the incident. He looked at the other side of the trees in nowhere in particular.
If he was not mistaken, Atobe left with that Shitenhouji captain...
"Yushi," Jirou's voice came behind the Hyotei genius as the Hyotei team started walking out of court C, "where did Atobe go to? And just what exactly is happening here?"
Oshitari looked over at his teammates who looked back at him expectantly.
The megane guy then pushed his glasses back at the bridge of his nose.
"Well, everyone, let's just say our King's found a pretty strong damsel that leaves him always in distress..."
"Atobe?" the genius' worried tone was music to the King's ears as everything started to calm down "are you okay?"
Atobe opened his eyes and had to bite his lower lip because of the pain on his back. It was not a serious injury— that he was certain of. He knew his body better than anyone after all but fresh pain was still there. He wouldn't be surprised to find a bruise there... a bruise to his beloved body...
"Atobe?" Fuji's concerned voice made Atobe a fanatic of pain all of a sudden.
He realized then that he was glad to have it.
"This is nothing," he slowly raised himself up.
"Can you stand?"
As Fuji helped the King, they heard rustles of feet coming from the darkness of the trees.
"Oi!" shouted a familiar voice coming out from the trees and Fuji was relieved to see Arata-senpai coming with two other highschoolers, "are you guys alright?"
Atobe grunted at the highschooler as Fuji put the King's arms around his shoulder to support him.
"You need to chain your people," he told Arata coldly, "you're all a pain..."
Arata sighed and then looked from Atobe, Shiraishi and Fuji.
"I'm glad you're all still in pieces... we'll take care of things from here... it's good to see that you're okay, Fuji-kun. Thank you for your help today... but I guess we were all save by your knights in the end."
"Knights?" Shiraishi blinked and thought the idea was not half bad.
But Atobe put his foot down as he glanced at the highschooler with a grim face.
"Knight? You've got to be joking..."
Everybody saw Atobe's eyes flashed confidently together with his incomparable smile—
"I am King."
Arata and Shiraishi stared at the arrogance.
Fuji couldn't help smiling to himself.
Shiraishi saw it and felt a tightening around his stomach.
"Fuji-kun," he suddenly called as Arata left them to meet other highschoolers. Atobe and Fuji turned to the Shitenhouji captain and then—
"O...oi..." Atobe's eyes slowly widened as he found his arm locked up around Shiraishi who has just pushed Fuji away from the Hyotei captain, "what the devil are you doing, Shiraishi?"
"I'm helping you up," the Shitenhouji captain with a narrowed look at the King, "you're too weak to move on your own, right?"
"What did you say, you...?"
The Seigaku genius blinked as the two captains stared hotly at each other with curt eyebrows.
"Hmmph, I don't need your help," Atobe snatched his arms away and stood straight, "I can stand on my own."
"That's what I thought," Shiraishi said pensively, "you didn't hurt your feet anyways so what's the need of clinging to others?"
"Hey..." Atobe turned darkly at the Shitenhouji captain with an evil smile, "you're really asking for it...?"
Shiraishi gave his own evil smile.
"You guys..." a sweat drop fell down the genius' face but then—
"I'm not giving up."
Atobe and Fuji both stopped to stare at Shiraishi who was looking at Fuji with serious eyes.
Fuji felt the intensity behind the Shitenhouji captain's eyes and found it surprising.
Shirashi...kun?
Atobe's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the guy who kept his eyes only at the genius.
"I'm not giving up on you so don't give me your answer yet, Fuji," Shiraishi went on, then his eyes travelled to Atobe and there was a spark that appeared on his eyes, "I'll take him from you soon."
Atobe didn't respond but his jaw tightened.
You fool, he thought to himself as they stared at each other, I'm not your real opponent... and you're neither mine... the real person we're both up against... is not even here...
The phone rang inside a dark room.
Then the room door opened and in came a tall man wearing a white jacket, pants and a pair of spectacles. He stopped by the bed to drop his bag and looked over his phone. He watched it ring for some time, before walking toward it and picking it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello—Tezuka! Finally, you picked up!"
The Seigaku former captain's glasses flashed as he raised his face.
"Oishi?"
"Yeah, it's me!" Oishi said at the other end of the line with Eiji jumping around him to listen, "we've been trying to contact you for weeks! You weren't picking up your phone so it kinda worried us."
"Sorry about that," Tezuka replied as he looked around his neat room, "the campus administrator invited me for a tour around here and it took us weeks to round the whole place."
"I see," Oishi tried to calm Eiji whose ear was on at the back of the receiver, "so that's why..."
"Is something the matter? How's everybody?"
"N-no, everybody's okay!"
"Not everybody, Oishi!" Eiji muttered as he nagged the vice captain.
"Oi, Eiji—don't pull on the cords!"
Tezuka blinked at the receiver.
"Are you with Kikumaru?"
"Ahh—yeah, he's with me—wait, Eiji I said don't tug on the cord! Are you a cat?!"
Tezuka heard a number of different sounds and had to close his eyes. He could just see what was happening between those two. Just as the noise on the other end started to cease down—Tezuka heard another familiar voice joining his two former members.
"Oishi, Kikumaru—you guys are still here?" It was Inui Sadaharu's voice, "leave the phone and come with me at once, we've got trouble."
"Trouble?"
Tezuka's attention was caught at once as he listened closely.
"What happened, Inui?" Eiji's voice said on the other side.
"There really seems to be a riot between some highschoolers and middleschoolers outside and Fuji's involved."
"Eh? Fuji!? Our Fuji?" Kikumaru's voice was frantic.
"I believed he was brought to the hospital with Atobe or something so let's go check it out."
"Yeah—wait, hello, Tezuka?"
"What's happening over there?" Tezuka's voice was sharp.
"I'll explain to you later, okay? I've got to go, Tezuka!"
"Oishi, faster!"
Tezuka was about to open his mouth when he heard Oishi hang up.
End of the line.
Tezuka Kunimitsu stared at the receiver of the phone as the conversation between his former team mates played on his head over and over again... and then his friend's name was mentioned above all.
Fuji..?
*.*.*
~TBC~
A/N: Is someone returning?
Thanks for Reading! :D