Chapter 7 I told him

Echizen snapped back to his senses and was embarrassed when he realized he was staring wide eyed at Tezuka. He must have spaced out for a long time because Tezuka's back to his normal buchou-look. The guitar neatly placed in its case and hidden, his black gakuran worn and fitted to a T and his glasses placed snuggly. He's just thankful he's not blurting out embarrassing things like last time.

"Buchou… you like me?"

With the memory relieved in his mind he can't help feeling more embarrassed and in order to hide the blush that is persistently making its way he pulled his cap down and hid his face.

"Sorry." Without really understanding the reason why he's apologizing to the captain he felt stupid. "I brought-"

"This time, you're not going to ask me whether I like you?" Echizen was about to push the memory to the back of his mind by changing the topic only to be stunned by Tezuka's blunt statement.

Echizen normally do not stutter, but there are really days when you can't stop yourself from stuttering more so spluttering like an idiot. The blush he was trying to push down had successfully invaded his face up to his ears and neck. 'This is downright embarrassing'

"T-that..that was… a..ano…" because he can't really form any coherent sentence right now and is just further embarrassing himself with his lack of witty response. Echizen decided to click his tongue and sulk.

"You don't have to remind me of my embarrassment buchou" he muttered between his teeth.

"I didn't give you an answer right?" Tezuka continued as if Echizen didn't just make a spectacle of himself.

"You don't have to answer! More importantly you don't have to take it seriously and just forget it!" It may not be obvious but Echizen is starting to panic internally now. He knows that with Tezuka-buchou's personality that incident couldn't be easily forgotten but he trusted that he alone will not make fun of him. Especially a week after the incident!

"That was just a mistake. I don't-"

"I like you"

Ba thump

Again for the nth time today, Echizen is stunned. But with an improvement, he's mouth is hanging open. I mean…. He stared wide eyes at Tezuka who in turn is staring straight at him. Those hazels do not have an inch hint of mock nor humor in it. Not like it ever did but….

"I like you" Tezuka repeated, this time a little more purposeful, more passionate, it sounded real.

Ba thump

"Are you serious?" this time it's Echizen whose voice is more like a whisper.

"I had always been serious" Tezuka replied in his strict no nonsense voice-though Echizen could see a bit hurt.

"I.. I'm not… It's not like I'm doubting you buchou…" yes, Tezuka-buchou is not the type to joke around. Especially when it comes to love, so even though he doesn't exactly believe it he needs to give his reply. Now.

"I'm sorry!" he gave him a deep bow. He's happy to hear his confession, honored in fact. He knows that if this has happened before maybe he would use this as an opportunity to make Momo jealous. But he can't do it.

"I… I'm really in love with Takeshi. My mind is currently filled with thoughts of him" yes, even through the ordeal they're facing right now.

"That's why I can't go out with buchou" it's the first time he'd say it to another person but he respects Tezuka-buchou. Enough to atleast say this much.

"I know" Tezuka walked towards him and stopped a few steps before him.

"I like you…" He paused, the gentleness in his tone was enough to make Echizen stand up and look at him. Ba thump

"…Is not a question. *Ba thump* I simply wanted you to know" Echizen had seen that hazel be filled with softness before. But he had never thought that it will ever be directed at him. But in an instant the sharpness returned and with that Tezuka left. Echizen almost collapsed to the floor if not because of the wall which serves as his pillar.

Pillar

"What is happening?"

Omake…

Outside.

The student's of Seigaku are quickly spreading out. Nobody wants to get in the way of the student council president whose mood is probably at its highest peak of annoyance. He's countenance is as strict as ever, yet his eyes are sharper and the lines on his face were deeper. He's also taking fast purposeful strides towards a certain tensai whose innocent back is facing him. They can only wonder what prank the tensai did to make pink tints appear in the pale faced president.

"He must be really angry"

If only they knew.

As for Fuji, his blue eyes can only pop out when he heard these words come out from Tezuka.

"I told him."

WHEW~ this is the once in a blue moon chance where I had been able to update twice in a week and I thank you all for that! This is the next installment a bit below the normal standard but I hope you guys don't mind that much. And I am officially announcing that I have successfully diverted the story from its outline. Nice job characters.

Response corner~

Shadowhawk-san you never cease to make me happy and amazed with your reviews! Thank you very much!. Ohohoho and about Ryoma and Momo I'm sorry for always always stretching the wait but these characters move on its own. Jokes. Uhm... Actually I have planned it out till the end but sometimes the characters just do what they want and everything just messes up. Thank you very much and sorry for the wait!

animelover4ever69 yes! thank you very much!

haruharurun: I missed you too! and thank you for the always so upbeat and fun to read reviews~

The runt Duchess thank you very much for giving this fic a chance and staying till now! I really appreciate it! hahaha and here is the next installment! sorry for the wair

amehaine: well yes, it's up to you really XD but thank you very much! and I too think that that' s just like Tezuka, I'm thankful someone felt the same as me XD

ladyimmortal011 oh no you're a reader from for better or for worse? I'm sorry if I haven't updated that story for eons! I'm actually trying to concentrate on this story first, and unfortunately even with effort it takes a month or so before I can update. I'm really sorry and thank you for picking up and liking this story!

Kurikaeshi Thank you! Actually my song storage is limited so until I find a song that I like I can't really update XDXD thanks and sorry for the wait! and you got the thing about 5 right XD

and here's the ever present disclaimer!

I don't own POT, the song nor the characters! and maybe not even the plot since the characters just do whatever they want without following the outline. XD

by the way guys the keyword is 5~~~ REVIEWS are very much appreciated!