CHAPTER 10 – Matches of Love
"Hoi! Hoi! Stop getting near at Ryoko!" Momo said fretting.
Everyone was still trying hard to get near Ryoko. Ryoko then felt annoyed so do Fuji, Kaidoh, Inui, Eiji, Momo, and Taka. Eventhough the annoyance of their faces are visible, the others still trying to get near her. Atobe and Tezuka just stared the crowd. Then Atobe smiled and raised his right arm and snapped his fingers. The snapping thing caught everyone's attention.
"I guess it is the right time to start the match." Atobe said arrogantly. "Right, Tezuka?"
Tezuka did not answer him. He just looked at his teammates and said, "Stop what you're all doing! Let us now start the match.."
Being ignored by anybody makes Atobe angry. He stared at Tezuka angrily and tried to control his anger.
"You heard what Tezuka said right? So stay away now and get yourselves prepared." Eiji instructed.
Everyone had nothing to do but follow. They scattered away from the huge crowd. Ryoko felt relieved. She breathed out hard and pouted. Fuji went near her and ruffled Ryoko's hair. She felt annoyed even more because she hated being treated like a little kid
"It seemed like you won the crowd." He smiled in a way he always does.
Kaidoh went near them and told Fuji, "She always wins the crowd."
"I agree with you, Kaidoh." Fuji replied.
Tezuka began calling Fuji and Kaidoh. They both excused themselves to her and then entered the court. While her guardians are out, Kamio, Ibu, Ishida, and Kyousuke took advantage. They went near Ryoko. Kamio reached Ryoko's shoulders and held it tight. Ryoko widen her eyes. She looked at Kamio and Kyousuke. Hyoutei and Seigaku greeted each other on the court. They bow down to each other. Kaidoh turned his head and looked outside the court. And there he saw Kamio and Kyousuke touching Ryoko. He got angry, very angry. He went out of the court and rushed towards them. His teammates gazed at him.
"Is he mad?" asked Eiji.
"You bastards!" yelled Kaidoh as he rushed towards them. Ryoko saw him. "Kaidoh-senpai," she called. "Stay away from her you bastards!" he yelled with anger.
This caught everyone's attention. They saw Kamio and Kyousuke holding tightly Ryoko's shoulders. They all gone mad and rushed towards the place except for Tezuka and Atobe.
"Why the hell should you instruct me?!" answered Kamio. "You are overprotecting Ryoko. It seems that all of you, Seigaku regulars are courting her!" Kyousuke added.
Ryoko sighed and was annoyed.
"Here we go again." Muttered Ryoko.
Meanwhile,
"Yes we are courting her. And what is it to you?!" Momo scolded. "AH! BURRNIINGG! GOD DAMN! We are just protecting her from creeps like you two!" The burning Kawamura said.
Tezuka got irritated and went near to his teammates. Atobe just smiled.
"Don't act as guards!" yelled Kamio. "We'll not if you would take your hands off Ryoko's shoulders." Fuji calmly told Kamio. "Kamio! Put your hands off her!" yelled Kyousuke. "Nya! I'm warning you Kamio!" said Eiji.
Tachibana, Ann, and the rest of the Fudomine tennis club confronted Kamio.
"Stop it, Kamio-kun!" Ann said.
Kamio did not listen.
"Stop it Kamio!" Yelled Tachibana.
But still he won't listen. Tachibana was disappointed. This is the first time that one on his teammate disobeyed him. He tried to stop him again, but it has no effect.
"If you won't take your hands off her, be prepared for a fight!" boasted Momo.
but Kamio did not listen to him. Instead, he held her shoulders tighter. Ryoko got angrier and this time, she slapped Kamio's hands away. Kamio was shocked and so do the others. They saw Ryoko's angry face. Her expression made her senpais angrier at Kamio. Kamio's heart was pounding as Momo and the others started to walk towards him with their clenched fists.
"Stop!" warned Tezuka.
They stopped.
"Is that the way tennis players behave?" asked Tezuka.
Tezuka began to walk towards them. They kept quiet while Tezuka scolded them. As Tezuka scolds them, Ryoko walked backwards to get out from the crowd. As she walks backwards, she bumped onto somebody. She turned back. There she bumped Atobe.
"Atobe," she called.
Atobe smiled and gazed at her.
"What a pleasant greeting from a girl like you." He said.
She did not say another word. She just gave him an uncongenial look, making Atobe displeased. But he soon smiled. He began to caress Ryoko's cheek and then held her chin that made Ryoko lift her head.
"What a displeasing attitude of yours. But, it made me interested of you even more." Atobe said.
Ryoko gave him an uncongenial face once again. She gazed at Atobe. Atobe just smiled. He moved his head slowly closer to Ryoko's face targeting her lips. Ryoko was dazed. She thought of pushing Atobe away. But, in an unknown reason, she felt numb that she couldn't even move a bit. She thought of a way to escape this kind of situation. She tried to yank off but she was numb. She needed help this time but no one's there to help her. All the people are busy to their conference with Tezuka. Now, Atobe's lips are getting nearer and nearer as seconds pass by. She began to panic. She could hardly move until their lips were an inch apart. She couldn't do something about it. She forcedly closed her eyes silently begging for help for the first time. Now, they were 2 centimeters away. She suddenly remembered:
*flashback*
There is one way to be back in the normal you without waiting for a year." "What is it?" Ryoma willingly asked. "A kiss, a kiss on the lips from a boy who loves you."
*end of flashback*
"A kiss will make me Ryoma again. If that's so, I need to do this." She thought. "But, this is such a shame for me. This is....so disgusting! I'd rather die than to kiss a man like I was....before!" she doubted.
Her words gave her strength. She tried and tried to yank off. Now, their lips are only a centimeter apart. And…..At last! She is numb no more! She yanked off immediately from Atobe. Atobe was disappointed but his face was expressionless. He regretted after letting the chance of kissing her escaped. Eventhough he was disappointed, he just smiled at her and laughed. Ryoko's heart was pounding so hard because of fear. She almost kissed a person of the same gender like she was before! She turned back and touched her chest feeling her heartbeats, she panted, and tried to forget what happened earlier. He smirked and then, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers. This caught everybody's attention.
"Nyaa! Here he goes again." Eiji murmured. "Should we start our match now?" Atobe asked. "Captain's right!" Jiro said. "We just wasted much time lately. We should start now." Oshitari agreed. "Okay! We should start now!" said Kawamura. "On to the court!" they cheered as they march down to the court. "*Sigh* At last they're on to the match." Ryoko muttered.
She watched them march down. In her great surprise, they looked at her (except Tezuka) and said:
"This match is for you."
But Atobe just looked at her and smirked.
She blushed and told herself, "This is such a shame."
After seeing the boys did for Ryoko, Ann became angry. But she did not show it to anybody. She decided to hide it first. The players were inspired. They were fired up because of Ryoko. They now called on the players of the first match. The players were—Oishi and Eiji versus Choutaro and Shishido.
"Interesting," Ryoko muttered.
They went inside the court. The rest including Ryoko watched at the side outside the court. The rest were apart from Ryoko.
"Let's now start the match." The referee signaled.
The two teams went near each other.
"Which?" asked Eiji. "Smooth," answered Shishido.
Eiji spun his racket, it stopped and landed. It was Smooth.
"Choutaro will serve." The referee announced. "Okay!" Choutaro cheered.
Meanwhile, Atobe called his servants. He let them prepare his summer lounge chair and an elegant coffee table. He sat down on it while his servant lends him lemonade. Once again he caught everybody's attention.
"Hah! Showing off!" Momo grumbled as he looked at Atobe. "Just say you envy him, Momo!" Kaidoh fussed. "What?!" Momo yelled in anger. "Want me to repeat it again?!"
"Shut up Viper!"
"Hoi, hoi, your temper Momo, your temper." Kawamura said.
"Don't tell that to me, tell it to him!" Momo pointed Kaidoh.
They kept fighing and left Kawamura behind. Atobe looked at them and smirked.
"It's a shame you got that brats in your team, Tezuka." He said.
Tezuka heard what he just said, so do the others.
"What?!" Kaidoh and Momo got pissed off.
"You brats are too short-tempered and---."
"Mind your own business, Atobe." Tezuka told him.
Atobe shut his mouth up and got angry. He then gave his attention to the match. Oishi and Eiji prepared themselves. Choutaro prepared to serve. He tossed the ball and said:
",Ikyuunyuukon!"
Then, he hit the ball with much force. The ball went too fast that the Golden pair did not return it. Everyone was surprised. They almost did not see the ball because of its terrific speed.
"A scud serve!" Eiji guessed. "A scud serve?" Oishi doubted. "Yeah. A scud serve." Eiji answered.
"15 love!" the umpire announced.
Everybody, almost everybody, still can't believe it.
"A scud serve? It's faster than before." Momo said. "It improved so much." Kaidoh added.
Fuji smiled and laughed shortly.
"It's getting more and more interesting." He murmured.
"Interesting," Ryoko said to herself.
Once again Choutaro served the ball. It was a scud serve. The golden pair did not have the chance to return it for it was faster than the first one.
"It's faster!" murmured Inui. "Should it be slower the second time?" asked Kawamura. "They got stronger, much stronger than before." Fuji said.
"30 love!"
"Uh-oh, this match is a tough one." Momo said. "Just watch the match." Tezuka told them.
Tezuka looked at the golden pair. "How will you handle this, Oishi, Eiji?" he thought.
"Come on, Choutaro. Show them your true power." Atobe thought.
Choutaro serve it again. But this time, it gone a bit slower. Golden pair focused on the ball. They noticed its speed change. And they took advantage on it.
"Eiji!" Oishi called. "Okay!" Eiji replied.
Eiji ran sidewards and summersaulted to reach the ball faster. He hit the ball but it was too strong that it made his racket flew away. Eiji landed on his feet.
"40 love!"
He lifted his right hand and looked at it. He noticed his hand shaking. "That was strong," he thought.
"My scud serve, how---" Choutaro murmured in disappointment. Shishido seemed shocked but he did not show it. He notice Choutaro's disappointment. He went closer to Choutaro. He patted him.
"Hoi, Choutaro, don't be disappointed." he said. "They did not even returned it and they never will." he tried to cheer him up.
"But, they almost did." Choutaro exclaimed. "You just have to be more focused in the game and I assure you, they will fail to return it. So, cheer up." he replied.
Choutaro looked down and said, "Hai." in a low, distressing tone.
"Aahh! That was so close!" screamed Eiji. "Right, you almost returned it. And you'll completely return it the next time." Oishi said.
"He almost returned it!" Momo said. "Just a bit more force and I'm sure they can return it." Inui said. "The speed of ball slowed up, noticed it?" Kaidoh asked. Inui nodded.
"Yes. It is because Choutaro's energy was used up already. He then used less energy on the third serve." he calculated.
"So, it means from now on, the following scud serves will slow up." Kaidoh murmured. "Duh! What else will it be, Viper!" teased Momo. Kaidoh looked at him with piercing eyes.
"Shut up! I am not talking to you!" answered Kaidoh.
"Hoi, stop it already. Choutaro is about to serve now." Fuji told them.
They stopped fighting and then gave their attention to the match.
"I can't disappoint him. I can't." he said. He focused and started to toss the ball. "Ikyuunyuukon!" he yelled. He hit the ball with his might. The ball went so fast. Choutaro was a bit confident this time. "Can you return that to me huh?!" he thought.
"Eiji!" Oishi called. "Okay!" Eiji answered. He ran sideward and summersaulted once again. But before he summersaulted, the ball rapidly passed through the pair and earned a point. It was too late.
"Very fast!" Fuji said. "Aaah!" the shocked Eiji said. "The ball, is very fast!" Oishi murmured. Eveyone was surprised, even Tezuka and Atobe, and Ryoko too.
"I guess.....I miscalculated him." Inui said. "No Inui, it's just....unpredictable." Kamio said.
"This is unbelievable." Oshitari said.
"He improved so much." Jiro said.
"Aaah! Jiro you're awake!" Gakuto yelled.
"It's a miracle!" Wakashi murmured.
"Shut up," Jiro answered.
"But how could it be?" Ibu asked himself as he looked at them curiously.
Atobe heard what Ibu had said and he smiled and answered, "We practiced a lot and it seemed like our intense training has resulted great improvements, right Kabaji?"
"Yes." Kabaji answered.
Fuji looked at him and grinned. "So, we should be prepared, Tezuka." Fuji said.
"Yes." Tezuka answered.
"Game Shishido-Choutaro pair, 1 game to Love! Change court!" the umpire announced.
Ryoko sighed. "They lost a game," She murmured.
Eiji went towards Oish and said, "Sorry, I did not returned it. I guess I'm not swift enough." Eiji was a bit disappointed. Oishi smiled and patted Eiji. "It is not your fault, it's just that the ball was too fast. We can return it." He said. Eiji lift his head upon hearing Oishi's words and then, he started to smile.
"Right!" Eiji said.
"Choutaro! That was a great blast of might. Where did you learned that?" Shishido asked. Choutaro smiled. "I learned that from you." he answered. "From me?" Shishido asked. "Yes, from you senpai. From your motivation. Thanks."
Shishido smiled. They went together on the other side of the court.
"Okay! It's their turn to serve now!" said Momo excitedly. "I hope it's their advantage." Tachibana said.
"Oishi to serve!" the umpire announced.
"Alright! It's Oishi senpai's turn to serve!" Momo cheered in excitement. "I hope this will be Seigaku's advantage." Tachibana said.
"Of course! No more scud serves for a while." Kyousuke said.
"Is it?" Ryoko thought.
Oishi held the ball tightly. Slowly, he began to lift his left arm and tossed the ball. He then tightened his grip on his racket and started to hit the ball hardly. Surprisingly, the ball passed through Shishido and Choutaro swiftly, without letting them posed or moved a bit to return it. It made them gape in surprise.
"It was fast." Shishido complained. "In just a blink of an eye...it's done." Choutaro said.
Oishi and Eiji smiled. "Good job, Oishi!" Eiji cheered. "Thank you." Oishi replied.
"Great job, Oishi." Tezuka said. "It looks faster than Choutaro's scud serve." Ibu said. "Maybe you're right." Inui said.
Ibu looked at Inui. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"No one has ever returned that serve." Inui said.
"E!"
"Even Tezuka? Or Fuji?" asked Oshitari.
"Nope, excluding Tezuka and Fuji."
"Oh." said Kamio.
"Mada mada dane." Ryoko murmured from a distance.
"So that's what you've learned. What a weakling!" Atobe thought. "You're doing great Oishi senpai!" cheered Kawamura.
Oishi posed to serve. He held the ball tightly as well as his racket. As he tossed the ball upward, he thought, "This serve is..." He began to stare at Ryoko. "...for you!" he added as he hit the ball with great force. Once again, the ball passed through his foes swiftly and left them staring.
The crowd began to cheer. Another point goes to Seigaku. As the crowd cheers, Ann kept quiet. She stared at Ryoko angrily. No one except Ann noticed Oishi staring at Ryoko before he hit the ball. She thought Ryoko was Oishi energy source. She got angry at her, angry and jealous. As she stared at her, she saw Momo walking towards Ryoko.
"That serve is great isn't it?" Momo asked Ryoko. "Right." Ryoko answered. Momo kept on talking to her. Ann got mad and jealous even more.
"Why is she talking to Momo?" she thought. "I can't stand just watching them." she added.
She walked towards them. "Yo!" she greeted. Both of them looked at her. "Ann-chan, hello." Momo greeted. "T-the match is really interesting." She said.
"Yeah, this match is just...unpredictable." Momo answered. "Isn't it, Ryoko?" she asked. "Yeah." Ryoko answered.
Silence followed. Momo opened his mouth to tell something to Ryoko, but Ann interfered to prevent them to talk to each other. "Who do you like to win Momo?" Ann asked.
"Of course my teammates! 'bout you Ryoko?" Momo said.
"Oishi-Kikumaru pair." she answered. Ann looked at her angrily, "I did not asked you, Ryoko." she thought.
"What did you say, Ann?" Momo asked. "N-nothing! Nothing at all! Heh-heh!" She replied with a fake smile. Momo began to talk to Ryoko, "Wh---" but again, it was interfered by Ann. "I-I'm thirsty, can you please go with me to the vending machine, Ryoko?" Ann asked. "But," Ryoko doubted. "Please?" Ann convinced her. Ryoko just sighed and said, "Okay."
Ann smiled and grabbed the left arm of Ryoko. She was so excited to separate Momo and Ryoko. As she drag Ryoko, Momo stopped them for a while. "Oh, what is it, Momo!" The irritated Ann thought.
"I can go with you, girls." Momo suggested. Ann widen her eyes and answered immediately, "NO!" she raised her voice. Ryoko and Momo were speechless. They began to notice Ann's irritated face. Ann smiled quickly. "I-I mean, no thanks. That would be very nice of you but no thanks." she explained but it was just a fraud. "Okay." Momo answered. Ann and Ryoko walked to the vending machine.
"Where's the vending machine?" Ryoko asked. "It's upstairs." Ann answered. So, they went upstairs. Meanwhile,
"Alright! We won a point again!" Kaidoh cheered.
"Damn it! They won another point!" Shishido complained. "Oishi's serve still has its great speed." Choutaro added.
"Great job, Oishi." Fuji said. "One more and will win a round!" said Kawamura.
"Keep it up, Oishi senpai!" Momo cheered. Atobe stared at Shishido and Choutaro as he sips his orange juice through a straw. He held his glass of juice tightly and said, "Come on, show them what you've got!" he thought.
As Oishi serves the ball, Tezuka turned back and walked away from the courtside. "Where are you going, Tezuka?" Fuji asked.
Tezuka looked at his way and said, "Somewhere," he answered.
He continued to walk away and went straight upstairs (there were 2 staircases, on the west and the other on the east. Ann and Ryoko used the western staircase while Tezuka used the eastern staircase) to wash his hands.
Upstairs:
"It's your turn, Ryoko-chan. You want to buy right?" Ann said as she walked away from the vending machine. "What do you want to buy?" she asked. "Hmph.." Ryoko murmured as she looks at the drinks available. As Ryoko thought of what to buy, Ann opened her drink. She secretly poured some of her beverage to the ground near the staircase. (The vending machine was just near the staircase) She stared at Ryoko angrily and lied, "Um, Ryoko, I need to go. My brother is finding me right now. He texted me recently." She picked her phone and looked at it as if her brother really texted her.
Ryoko was not yet finish deciding on which to buy, so she said, "Go ahead of me, Ann." Ann smiled and went ahead.
At last, Ryoko decided to buy Ponta. She inserted her money and pressed the button below Ponta. After a while, she got her Ponta.
Ann went downstairs and went near Momo drinking her beverage on the courtside. Momo noticed her and noticed that Ryoko is not with her.
"Where's Ryoko?" Momo asked her. He looked at her seriously. Ann began to be nervous. She tried to think on what to reason Momo. As she thinks, her eyes were wondering around. And her fingers were moving, fiddling. She thought of a reason. "S-she said she will wash her hands so I should go ahead of her." she reasoned out.
"Okay." Momo answered. Ann smiled and looked down and thought, "Sorry, Ryoko, but I have to do this to you."
After washing his hands, Tezuka went on the hallway going to the western staircase.
Ryoko opened her Ponta. She walked slowly to go downstairs. But as she opened it, she did not noticed the wet and slippery area that Ann made. She stepped on the area and slipped. She lost her grip on the Ponta. She lost her balance so it means she's gonna fall downstairs. She was completely out of balance that she could not do anything. She started panicking. She was about to fall when suddenly, an arm moved around her belly. The arm held her belly tightly to stop her from falling. The arm pulled her. As the person pulled her, her head bumped a bit into the chest of her savior. Her savior put her down the ground. Her savior let his arm off Ryoko. Ryoko was relieved. She was very grateful to that person. She turned back to see that person. There she saw Tezuka. She was surprised to see him. She bowed down to show her respect and her gratefulness to him.
"T-Thank you, Captain." she said still nervous. Tezuka looked at her seriously and said, "Watch where you're going the next time." He immediately went downstairs leaving Ryoko. Ryoko then went down. Tezuka went straight to the courtside. He watched the match. Ryoko's heart was still pounding hard because of the accident. She was still afraid and shocked because of it. She started to walk downstairs. She held the handrail tightly until she reaches the base. She went slowly to the courtside. Fuji noticed her and smiled at her. Tezuka, on the other hand, just stared at her and immediately refrained from looking at her. Ann noticed her and was shocked to see her without any injury. She got really angry and her heart beats faster. She looked down with her eyes wide opened. She clenched her fists in anger.
"How....How did she overcame my trap? Damn her! I promise that the next time, you won't be able to destroy my plans!" she thought angrily.
Momo noticed Ryoko and Ann's angry face. He looked at Ann and patted her. "Is something wrong?" He asked.
Ann looked at him nervously. She tried to look away but she saw Ryoko approaching. Ann looked back and slapped Momo's hand away from her shoulder and quickly ran away. Ryoko went towards Momo. "What happened to her?" She asked.
Momo shrugged his shoulders and said, "I dunno. She's weird. It seems like she's scared or hiding something from us."
Ryoko just stared at Ann as she runs away. She looked back to the match. "How's the match?" she willingly asked. "They're tie. The score is 2-2." Momo answered as he blushed. "Oh," Ryoko murmured.
"Gasp, gasp!" Ann breathed heavily as she runs out of the place. She stopped on the streetside. She leaned her hands on her knees and panted. She was so nervous of being caught. Her heart beat started to stabilize. She stood up properly. She touched her chest to feel her heartbeat.
"Damn it! I was almost caught. Damn her! Gasp, I will never lose to you! You'll see, you'll see!" she warned. She ran farther away from the place. Her brother called her on her phone and she reasoned out. She completely left the place.
The rally between The Golden pair and Choutaro-Shishido pair is still burning hot. Each pair doesn't give a chance to get a point. It was getting dark but still the match hasn't finished yet. But it was about to end. The score was 5-6 with Seigaku on the lead.
"40 love!" the umpire announced.
"Okay! Just one more serve, Choutaro and we'll be tied with Seigaku!" Shishido said as he ruffles Choutaro's hair. Choutaro smiled at Shishido. He held his racket tightly and said, "Right! Shishido senpai."
"Come on, Oishi senpai and Eiji senpai!" yelled Momo.
"You can do it!" Kawamura cheered.
The crowd began to cheer for the golden pair. Their cheers motivated the golden pair.
"Eiji," Oishi said. "I know, Oishi." Eiji answered without letting Oishi finish what he wanna say. "We can do this Oishi." he added.
Oishi let a small smile escape on his face. Then, they both posed on the court. Everybody except Hyoutei people began to worry. It is visible to their faces. Ryoko's face was expressionless but deep inside she was worried. Choutaro tossed the ball and did the same thing in serving the scud serve. The ball passed through the net. Choutaro was confident that they couldn't return it so as Shishido.
"Eiji!" Oishi yelled suddenly. This caught Everyone's awareness. "Hai!" Eiji answered Oishi. He ran swiftly to reach the ball but this time, he was faster.
"What the--- Is he trying to return it?" Shishido said. Eiji got the ball on his racket and tried to push it away. It was stong but not too strong. The ball spun infront of his racket. He pushed it hard and at last, he returned. The ball passed through Choutaro and Shishido and landed on the ground. Fortunately, it went in. Silence landed and followed by the cheers and noise of the crowd. Choutaro widen his eyes in great surprise. He cannot believe his serve was defeated. And Shishido, he cannot believe it either. Atobe too was surprised.
"40-15" the umpire announced.
"Alright!!!" Eiji yelled in joy. "You did it Eiji!" Oishi said. "No, WE did it!" Eiji said. They smiled to each other.
Shishido went closer to the golden pair.
"It's not yet time to celebrate!" Shishido told them with fierce look.
Choutaro posed to serve. He was disappointed, too disappointed to focus on his service play. He served but the ball bumped on the net and was not able to go through it.
"Fault!" the umpire announced.
Shishido widen his eyes. "Choutaro," he called.
Choutaro stand right immediately and said, "Ah, sorry!"
He posed again and tossed the ball, "Ikyuunyuukon!" he said.
But once again it bumped the net.
"Double fault! 40-30!" the umpire announced.
Choutaro widen his eyes and was more disappointed. He got mad and began to panic. He posed once again to serve. He did the same thing. He put too much force on the ball that made it went out.
"Choutaro!" Shishido called angrily. "Gomen," Said Choutaro.
"What's happening to him?" Oishi wondered. "Saaa, but it's our advantage." Eiji said.
"Eiji!" Oishi called. "Sorry." Eiji said.
Choutaro posed to serve but still, it went out. He wasn't still in his normal state.
"40 all!" the umpire informed.
"Choutaro," Oshitari called. "Choutaro," Jiro called. "Choutaro, you fool!" Atobe thought.
"CHOUTARO! What the hell are you doing! Focus!" Shishido said.
Shishido's words woke him up. He looked at Shishido. Shishido too looked at him seriously.
"Shishido senpai," he called.
"It is not the end of the world, Choutaro! And so what if they did return you're scud serve? You should be thankful to them for returning you scud serve so that you can improve what you need to improve..... Come on, Choutaro. Focus,... please focus." he motivated him.
"Shishido senpai," he called. He slowly realized what Shishido want him to realize. His started to gain his spirit again. His senpai's words was locked in his mind. This time, he was determined. He posed to serve and tossed the ball upward. He gripped his racket tightly as he says, "Ikyuunyuukon!"
He hit the ball. The ball swiftly passed through the golden pair without giving them the chance to return it. It landed on the ground and went in. The golden pair widen their eyes and so as their supporters, including Ryoko herself.
"Deuce!" the umpire announced.
Hyoutei members smiled and cheered for Shishido and Choutaro. Shishido smiled too. He ran towards his doubles partner and patted him on the back.
"Good job, Choutaro!" he said. Choutaro smiled at him. "I did it, Shishido senpai!" he cheered.
"Th-that was fast." Oishi said, still surprised. Eiji kept silent but he was surprised too.
Choutaro posed again to serve. He hit the ball with his might. The ball passed through the golden pair and went in.
"Advantage Shishido-Choutaro pair!" The umpire announced.
"Alright!" cheered Oshitari's doubles partner. (Sorry, I don't know the name of Oshitari's doubles partner.) "This game is ours!" Oshitari said.
"Damn it! They won another point." Eiji murmured. "Where did he get his energy from?" Oishi wondered.
Seigaku just stayed silent. They just watched the match. Choutaro prepared to serve. He tossed the ball upward and said his beloved phrase.
"Ikyuunyuukon!" The ball went through the net. "Eiji!" Oishi called. "Hai!" Eiji answered. He dashed to reach the ball. He stretched his right arm to reach the ball but it was too far.
"Damn it! He could not reach it!" Kaidoh said. "Eiji," Oishi called.
"I can't...reach it!" Eiji doubted. He almost gave up but suddenly,
"Eiji senpai!" He heard a sweet voice calling him. He knew that it was Ryoko's voice.
Everybody, as in everybody looked at Ryoko. All was surprised hearing her call.
Eiji was surprised, and glad. "Ryoko-chan is....calling me." he thought. This made Eiji gain hope and strength. He reached and reached the ball and was successfully caught the ball.
"What?!" Choutaro wondered in his great surprise so as his partner.
The ball spun on Eiji's racket. It was so strong but he managed to push it away and returned it. It passed his foes and went in.
"Deuce!" the umpire announced.
Cheers rained on the golden pair. Oishi was happy for they won a point but obviously jealous at Eiji. He frowned while the others are happy. Choutaro began to serve but this time, it was not so fast and was a bit weak. Eiji ran towards the ball. Oishi too, quickly rushed to the ball to return it eventhough it was Eiji's task to do so. He managed to return it.
"Oishi! It was suppose to be my ball." Eiji complained. Oishi looked at him angrily. Eiji was surprised to see him like that. So he did not complain anymore.
"Advantage! Oishi-Kikumaru pair!" the umpire announced.
"Alright! Just one more point and we'll win!" Momo cheered.
"I hope they will return the next serve." Fuji said.
Ryoko let a small smile escape on her face. She was happy for the golden pair. "Mada mada dane." she said.
"Choutaro," Shishido called. "Hai, I know." he answered. He posed once again to serve. He held the ball tighly as he thought,
"I should be more focused on this one, or else, or else,"
*flashback*
"You can do it Choutaro, perfect your scud serve. Your not that weak right? Put your soul into it!" Shishido said. Choutaro was so tired because of hours of practicing his scud serve. "H-hai!" Choutaro answered as he panted. He tossed the ball, "Ikyuunyuu....kon!" he hit the ball with much force. The ball went so fast and amazingly went through the hole. Shishido was surprised and started to grin slowly. Choutaro widen his eyes and cannot believe that he made the ball in his jurisdiction..... "Choutaro! You made it!" Shishido screamed in joy as he ran towards him. "You made it!" Shishido put his arm around Choutaro's neck and started to ruffle his hair. They laughed. "I made it, Shishido senpai!" Choutaro said. "Yeah, you made it." Shishido answered.
*end of flashback*
he remembered. He tossed the ball, "Ikyuunyuu....kon!" he yelled as he hit the ball. "Or else, Shishido senpai will be disappointed." he thought.
"You can do it Choutaro, I know you can do it." Shishido thought. The ball passed the net swiftly. "There it goes!" Oishi said. He had nothing to do so "Eiji!" he called.
"I know!" Eiji rushed sideward and summersaulted again. He tried to reach the ball. Choutaro watched Eiji. He widen his eyes and Shishido's as Eiji successfully reached the ball. Then, silence followed. Eiji give his best to return the ball. The ball still spun on his racket. "Eiji!" Oishi called.
"Eiji senpai!" Kaidoh said. "Eiji!" Fuji called. "Eiji." Tezuka and Kawamura called.
The ball is still spinning on Eiji's racket. He gave more force. But still it is spinning on his racket.
"Come on, let me return this ball!" he thought. The ball's force got stronger than Eiji's. His racket inched backward.
"Eiji!" Oishi called. "I can't...." he doubted. He tried to fight but the ball's force is greater. He almost gave up but he coincidentally saw Ryoko looking at him. "Ryoko," he called. He looked at her carefully.
"She...believes in me." he analyzed Ryoko's expression. He looked back on the match. "I can't....." he thought. He closed his eyes and put his full force on it. ".....disappoint her." he added. He pushed and pushed the ball away. He gave his all to return it. "AAAAHHH!" He yelled as he pushed the ball away. He then successfully pushed it away. The ball passed swiftly through their foes leaving their jaws dropping. It landed on the ground and fortunately, it went in.
"Game set match, Oishi-Kikumaru pair! 5-7!" the umpire announced.
"ALRIGHT!" Momo yelled. Cheers followed.
"We did it Eiji!" Oishi ran towards Eiji. He patted Eiji and smiled at him.
Eiji smiled too but it seemed it was forced. "What do you mean WE DID IT? I only did it myself." He thought. Aww, Eiji is so evil.
"Our golden pair is undefeated!" Momo said. "Of course they are, fool!" Kaidoh answered, trying to pick a fight against Momo.
"What did you say, Viper?" Momo asked angrily. "Are you really deaf?!" Kaidoh said.
"Stop it already, Momo, Kaidoh." Fuji said. "We should be happy for our teammates, not fighting them." Kawamura added.
As they continue their conversation....
"RYOKO-CHAN !" yelled Eiji. He immediately hugged Ryoko. This caught everybody, as in everybody's attention. Eiji blushed as he hugs Ryoko. He hugged her tightly.
"Stop it, Eiji-senpai. I-I can't breathe!" Ryoko complained. Ryoko of course doesn't think maliciously if boys hug her because she still thinks she's a boy. Everybody got angry and angrier at Eiji (including Tezuka and Atobe).
"EIJI!" they all yelled except for Tezuka and Atobe.
Tezuka stepped forward to scold Eiji but he stopped and decided not to do it. His heart beats faster. "Why am I angry to see Eiji hug her?" he wondered. "Forget it! Why am I thinking such silly stuff." he thought. He looked back and get himself out of trouble.
"E-I-J-I!!" everybody burst in anger and pulled Eiji away from Ryoko except for Atobe who just angry but did not pull Eiji away. Eiji wouldn't let go. "Let me go!" Ryoko said.
"EIJI!" they pulled Eiji harder. Eiji got off from her. Then he was confronted by his fellow suiters of Ryoko.
It was dark when the first match ended. So, the team captains decided,
"Let's continue this match some other day." Atobe suggested.
"Okay." Tezuka agreed. "Let us now go home. We'll continue our match on other times." Tezuka announced.
"Hai!" they all agreed. "Okay! I'll take Ryoko home!" Eiji volunteered.
They looked at Eiji with fierce look. "O-okay, I-I guess I need to.....go home now." Eiji said. He ran immediately out of the scene.
"Ryoko, we will take you home." Kawamura suggested. Ryoko sighed and refused Kawamura's offer. "I can go home myself." she added.
"Are you sure you're alright with that?" Fuji asked. "I'm not a kid, Fuji senpai." she answered.
"YOU ARE!" they told her in unison. Ryoko pouted and defended herself, "I am not." she said.
"Okay, but take care." Momo said. "I know!" She answered.
She walked slowly.
"Beware of pervert people who takes advantages and chances to you." Atobe warned and then smirked.
Ryoko stopped without looking back and said, "You're talking about yourself, Atobe." she murmured. She continued to walk home. The others went separate ways and went home. They were all tired and exhausted.
~~~In Ryoko's House~~~
"I'm back!" she said as she closes their main door. "Old woman?" she called as she walks forward.
"OLD WOMAN? I told you, young girl, call me MOM!" a loud voice struck Ryoko's ears. "Okay fine,.... MOM!" she said. She looked everywhere to find Suzuki. "Where are you?" Ryoko asked. She suddenly felt a caress on her back. She looked at her back and saw Suzuki. Suzuki hugged Ryoko suddenly. "How was it?" she asked Ryoko. "Let me go!" Ryoko said. Suzuki let her go and ased the same question.
"Seigau won the first match." she answered. "Not that one, I'm asking about your bonding with the boys..." Suzuki corrected her.
"It's fine." Ryoko answered. "Tell me the whole thing happened." Suzuki requested.
"I told you Seigaku won the first match." Ryoko said. Suzuki pouted. "Tell me about Atobe, who intended to kiss you, Tezuka, who saved you, and Eiji who hugged you tightly." she asked.
Ryoko widen her eyes. "H-how did you know that?" she asked. Suzuki just smiled and naughtily asked and asked Ryoko without answering Ryoko's question.
~~~In Tezuka's House~~~
Tezuka sat down on his bed thinking deeply about something. He thought about the match, and others that he thinks is silly. He took his eyeglasses off his eyes. He lay down on his bed. He laid his head on his arms still thinking of that silly thing.
"Why am I still thinking of her?" he began to wonder. He wondered why Ryoko's face is stuck up in his mind. Why can't he remove her from his mind? He wondered why did he get angry at Eiji seeing him hugging Ryoko. He still doesn't know the answers to his questions. He began to lift his left hand in front of his face. He stared at it closely. He remembered the incident happened earlier, saving Ryoko from falling by lifting her.
"Why can't I forget the softness of her body?" he asked himself.
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I'm so sorry for keeping you wait so long for this chapter. I know there are scenes here that are quite confusing so I'm sorry. I'm not good in grammar and vocabulary. I'm really out of ideas right now for my next chapter so I would really need your suggestions. Please give me your suggestions for the topic of my next chapter. Please review after you read. Questions? Suggestions? Comments? Feel free to tell me....
Thank you!