I hope that everyone enjoyed the holidays!


Chapter 11

The sound of the hammer clashed repeatedly in the background of the auditorium.

Bam.

Solid rock pounded into the hard wooden board.

Bam.

Eyes stealthily peered over to where two individuals conversed in the corner.

Bam.

The taller one took a step to the side, barking out an order to a few freshmen behind the stage.

Bam.

A smile beamed from the tensai's face, those blue eyes closed as usual as the young third year nodded at something inaudible from the bespectacled man.

Bam.

"Echizen!"

The freshman paused, a look of annoyance on his face as his hammer remained still in midair. "What, Momo-senpai?"

"You're doing it wrong," the second year grinned, bending at the knees. "The nails should be hammered into here." He pointed out the spot.

"Oi, I can't move the nails now!"

"It doesn't take that long to pry them out."

"Then I'll just add more nails to that spot!"

"Sheesh," Momoshiro stood up, frustrated. "You don't have to throw a fit and be all moody."

"Of course I do! Look at my hands!" The first year held up his fingers wrapped in bandages.

"Well, it's not my fault that your fingers ended up that way." He pulled out his wallet, peering grimly into it. "I wouldn't be going broke soon if it wasn't for this bet."

"Not my fault you started this stupid bet in the first place," Echizen grumbled.

"Oi, YOU were just as much into doing this as I was!"

"Echizen, Momoshiro! 20 laps at today's practice!"

"EH?"

Tezuka turned back around with a look of irritation on his face.

"I was going to say, Tezuka, shouldn't you be doing something about their constant distractions during rehearsal?" Atobe remarked, arriving next to the top two Seigaku regulars as he flipped his hair. "I think it's about time we get started. The great Atobe can't be left waiting."

Once again, if Tezuka was the type to roll his eyes, this would be one of the few times he would have.

Fuji chuckled. "I do believe it is time, but we'll have to wait for Tomo-chan to make the announcement."

"Places everyone!" the young girl bellowed out into the megaphone.

"I do believe that's the call."

Everyone rushed to their respective locations as Tezuka stepped off the stage to join the young director at the front. "I will be taking my leave now," he mentioned to Tomoka. "I have some matters to attend to."

"Hm," the young girl nodded.

As Tezuka left the room, he did not notice a pair of eyes following his exit.


Before noon, the bespectacled student council president made his way back to the auditorium. Everything seemed to finally be going well for once, and the clubs are even on schedule. It was a big relief for the third year, who was under a lot of stress the last few days. But today seemed to finally be calming down, and Tezuka found himself looking forward to the following week. If things keep up this way, then he can be more at ease and…

"Tezuka."

This is why the famous Buchou of Seigaku can never let his guard down.

"Aa, Sanada. What is it?"

The Rikkaidai vice-captain stood face to face with the Seigaku captain in the middle of the hallway. "I would like you to reconsider your decision on having a match with me."

Tezuka's face remained stoic. "Unfortunately, I cannot do that. Please excuse me-"

"Wait." Sanada immediately blocked the other man's path. "I'm not asking you, Tezuka." His eyes darkened with a dim shadow.

Tezuka narrowed his eyes, his face as firm as usual. "Sanada, I have made my reasons very clear. Now excuse me," Tezuka walked passed him, accidentally bumping into the other vice-captain as he headed off down the hall.

Sanada turned around, his fists gripped tightly and shaking with fury. "Tezuka!"

Tezuka rounded a corner and sighed. Does Sanada not understand their positions? Tezuka would gladly like a match with the other man, but it would just be too inappropriate for them to do an unofficial one. He is willing to wait patiently until Nationals. Why can't Sanada? The man was clearly known for being a patient individual with his traditional background and strict training. But then, he has heard that Sanada was also known for having a temper with his own team.

"Tezuka."

But Atobe still topped Tezuka's list of person he least likely wanted to converse with, not that he converses with anyone that much to begin with.

"Aa, Atobe."

"Have you finished your runs?"

"Aa, quicker than usual."

"I see."

"You are all on break?"

"Yes." The Hyotei captain smirked, crossing his arms with those sharp eyes observing his rival with a knowing air. "How are you feeling?"

"Hm?" Tezuka blinked.

"That injury."

The bespectacled man was left speechless.

Atobe smirked some more. His eyes flickered, perusing the stoic man before him more closely. "Tezuka, it is pertinent that I of all people know when you have fully healed."

"If you're talking about my arm-"

"I mean your other injury."

Now, Tezuka was left completely confounded. Just what on earth is going on with…

"I sincerely hope that you are not planning a secret match without my knowledge," Sanada suddenly appeared behind the two conversing captains.

"Sanada, how nice to see you," Atobe smirked sarcastically.

Sanada eyed the Hyotei captain carefully. "Shouldn't you be in the bathroom somewhere fixing your hair?"

The Hyotei captain let out a hearty laugh before displaying his arms openly and announcing, "My hair is perfectly groomed. What else is there to fix?"

The Rikkaidai vice-captain glared. "I do believe the so-called great Atobe will not be so low as to do a match behind my back."

"Hm, this is interesting. Before, I thought you didn't care what was between Tezuka and I."

Tezuka pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed and embarrassed as students passing by began to stop in their tracks to see what the commotion was about.

"As far as I'm concerned, there was nothing between you and Tezuka to begin with," Sanada bared his teeth.

"Are you jealous that I, the great Atobe Keigo, will be the first and only one to officially defeat Tezuka?" The Hyotei man lifted his head up high with a confident smile, his hand held out over his chest.

"Ii data."

Both Atobe and Sanada blinked and looked to the side where the tall data collector stood before them, jotting into his notebook.

"This is certainly good information," he grinned in satisfaction, pushing up his glasses.

Blinking some more, the Hyotei and Rikkaidai regulars immediately glanced around them, seemingly confused.

"Oi, where did Tezuka go?" Atobe murmured.

Meanwhile, Tezuka was sneaking around a corner, avoiding the crowd as he finally found himself in a safe hallway. He breathed a sigh of relief, resting against the wall. Why is it that every time he felt that things were going smoothly, something gets thrown into his face? He rubbed the sides of his temples, groaning quietly. He hadn't had a headache recently, and now it was threatening to come back.

"Tezuka?"

Tezuka blinked and glanced down to find a very happy Jirou grinning up at him.

"Tezuka, I baked these for you." The young Hyotei man held up a new bag of freshly made chocolate chip cookies.

"Aa, thank-" Tezuka stopped his hand midway, remembering his promise to Fuji. "Gomen, but I cannot accept."

Jirou's eyes enlarged, completely shocked as his mouth fell ajar and the bespectacled man gently brushed passed him, heading down the hallway. The poor Hyotei regular stared, his lips trembling at the unexpectedness of the response as the bag of cookies shook in his hands, threatening to fall.

Tezuka walked quickly down the hall, slightly on edge. He had a feeling that today was not his day as he had hoped, and perhaps it'd be best for him to be even more on guard today. The student council room might be a good place to go back to. Not that he would be retreating. It would be just to get some more paperwork done of course.

Of course.

No, wait. Fuji might be there.

He turned a different corner and passed the locker room when he retraced his steps back and exclaimed, "Fuji!"

Fuji blinked, finding his Buchou at the door, those brown eyes wide open. "Ne, Tezuka," Fuji fully turned around with the bouquet of roses in his arms. "Don't worry, I was about to toss these."

"Aa," Tezuka stepped in, staring at the long-stemmed roses in his arms. "Even more than before."

"Hm," Fuji nodded. "And dethorned too. It must've taken the person a while this time." Fuji sighed and proceeded to dump the flowers into the trashcan. "Such a waste, but I understand." He promptly whirled around, confronting the bespectacled third year. "Now then, how about a reward for keeping my promise?"

"Hm?" Tezuka blinked. "What do you mean?"

"A reward. You know, as in…" the tensai leaned up dangerously. "A kiss."

Tezuka blushed and backed away. "Fuji, do you not know where we are?" he stressed disapprovingly.

Fuji immediately pouted, giving puppy eyes before throwing his arms around the taller man's neck. "I want a kiss, Ku-ni-mit-su."

Tezuka's face turned even redder, and as those pink lips threatened to come forward, he tried to push them away with his hand. "Oi, w-wait, Fuji!"

There was a sound of a footstep, and both individuals froze. Slowly, they turned to the side.

Standing at the door, the very nonexistant door to the locker room, was Jirou, his eyes blinked blankly at the sight before him. The Hyotei regular noted the hands around Tezuka's neck, those pink lips perched up drastically, and the flustered look on the Seigaku captain's face. In general, he was speechless.

"Oh, Jirou. Is break almost over?" Fuji smiled, releasing his hold on Tezuka and heading towards the door. He watched as the Hyotei regular's eyes followed him closely. And then, right before exiting, Fuji threw his infamous, notorious smile as blue eyes snapped open with a silent triumphant gleam at the other third year.

Meanwhile, Tezuka readjusted his collar, coughing into his hand before regaining his composure and heading for the door. "Aa, Jirou, it would seem it's about time to return to your rehearsal," he said monotonously, passing by the third year quickly and not wanting to see whatever expression the Hyotei regular was making. If anything, Tezuka would rather not know what the third year thought of when he saw him in a rather…inappropriate position, and on school grounds of all places. This is where he would agree that ignorance is bliss.


Saeki leaned back against the tree, enjoying the shade and the peacefulness after his delicious lunch. It was a sunny warm day, and a good majority of the students were outside to take advantage of the welcoming weather.

"Seigaku offers some pretty delicious meals," Bane noted, also sitting against the same tree on the grassy lawn.

"Hm," Saeki responded. "It's a good school." He closed his eyes, relaxing when he felt a hand gently brush against his cheeks. Peering with one eye open, he saw Bane up close, his face only a few inches away. The tall Rokkaku regular's arm hovered over the silvery white-haired man's head, leaning against the bark for support.

"Saeki."

"What."

"Why don't you come over to my place tonight?"

Saeki opened the other eye and looked away. "I'm busy."

Bane leaned in closer, whispering into the other's ear. "Saeki."

The vice-captain shivered, feeling a strange tingling sensation trickle down his insides as his cheeks blushed slightly and he refused to look at the other. "I said I'm busy." The hand now precariously traveled to Saeki's collar, tracing downward before undoing a single button and brushing against the skin.

Saeki stiffened his gasps as he shut his eyes tight, his eyebrows furrowed in frustration. "Bane. Stop."

"You wouldn't want me to stop," Bane whispered, licking Saeki's ear.

Saeki trembled some more, finding his breathing erratic. "I'm serious."

"You let me do you that time."

"I wasn't myself."

"That's not true. You enjoyed it."

Saeki opened his eyes and blushed furiously, staring at his knees. He remembered that day. He was so upset for days after losing that tournament against Tezuka and, mostly, losing Fuji. He had wallowed in his pain, although mostly secretly instead of in front of his teammates. And then Bane came by his house one evening to check up on him…

He was alone. He hadn't been thinking straight. That's right. He was emotionally unstable. He was vulnerable. His logic was completely shot and still recuperating

But even so, even if that was the case, he could not deny the feelings the other man made him feel, the passion the other man showered over him as he devoured him, nor the way the other man made him cry out in utter ecstasy…

Saeki promptly pushed Bane away, surprising the other man. "Um, not now, Bane."

Bane paused for a moment, slightly hurt, before giving a kind smile. "I understand." He went back to resting his back against the tree.

Saeki sighed silently before relaxing himself as well. He looked up at the sky.

At the thought of Fuji and Tezuka, he remembered their current predicament. Everything has seemed rather odd and suspicious lately. The anonymous gifts, the stalking, and even the dangerous incident from yesterday with the stage prop – who would go that far? It's true that Fuji has a lot of suitors, but still, after the last incident, this has become a rather seriously disturbing issue. He brainstormed about the possible suspects. Well, that could be anyone, but yesterday pretty much proved that it was someone working on the play. That still leaves a large pool of suspects. Saeki knew they still don't have solid proof, but given the information he has, the stalker was also suspected to be one of the ones watching Seigaku's practice that one day. That narrows it down to Hyotei and Rikkaidai. But one of the regulars from the other schools could've stayed and lingered behind secretly. Fudomine and Rokkaku were still in the mix, but he wanted to nick his own team from the list. He highly doubt anyone on his team has a crush on Fuji, and even though he himself had been in love with the tensai, he knew of course he himself wasn't the one responsible for everything happening this past week. There was also the possibility of Seigaku's own teammates. That redhead, Kikumaru, seemed to be quite clingy to the tensai. The second year, the sociable Momoshiro, he seemed to be quite fond of Fuji as well.

Saeki shook his head to himself, attracting the attention of Bane.

"Something up, Saeki?"

Saeki didn't respond and only proceeded to continue to stare up at the sky. No, it also seems unlikely that Seigaku's own would do something so drastic. But then, almost anyone is capable of doing something like yesterday. So, who is it?

"Saeki?"

Saeki blinked and looked at his friend who returned a concerned gaze. Relaxing his brows, the Rokkaku regular returned his focus to the sky. "I may be busy tonight. But I'm free for dinner."

Bane paused for a moment before his mouth curved into a small smile.


There would appear to be some strange, unknown tension residing in the auditorium after lunch that day. Saeki couldn't quite pinpoint what, but his senses were very keen to those things, and right now, it was definitely feeling the tension. His dark green eyes surveyed the room. Sanada seemed to be throwing a rather unpleasant glare at the haughty Hyotei captain smirking back at him. Well, that was probably normal. The Rikkaidai individual was never fond of the "great Atobe." On the other side, the Fudomine captain appeared to be in deep thought, brooding over something unknown. Beneath the stage, Yukimura sat with a pleasant smile in a seat at the front row, his legs crossed and his eyes calmly gleaming towards the center of the stage.

Tezuka and Fuji conversed with Oishi, discussing some tennis matters most likely. A couple feet away, the redheaded Kikumaru appeared to have a rather unsettled look on his face, and was pacing around in circles as though something was worrying him.

Saeki sighed. This auditorium was filled with suspects, and he hasn't even observed everyone! Suddenly, someone bumped into him in the aisle. "Oi!"

"Gomen!" the bubbly Jirou blinked, apologizing shortly before running down towards the stage.

"Sheesh, a little clumsy there," Saeki crossed his arms.

Back on stage, Tezuka and Oishi parted in their separate ways. The tensai, meanwhile, stood at the same spot and reflected on the conversation. Tezuka was definitely against the idea of luring the stalker out, believing it to be dangerous and reckless. He also protested when the tensai offered using himself as bait. Fuji sighed, slightly disappointed. Although Oishi didn't completely oppose the idea, he didn't support it either, and Fuji was actually a little excited at the prospect of luring the stalker out. He would like to enact his revenge on whoever was responsible for hurting Tezuka. Shaking his head, he headed towards the steps and walked down, wanting to ask Tomoka a question when Jirou appeared a few feet away.

The two stopped before crossing each other's paths.

Sleepy eyes met hidden ones. Fuji noted the Hyotei regular examining him closely, that carefree smile no longer there, only to be replaced by something unusual. The tensai smiled. "Yes, Jirou?"

Jirou waited for a moment. "Fuji, what is your relationship with Tezuka?"

That same smile and pair of closed eyes remained unmoving on the tensai's face. "What do you mean?"

Jirou paused again, eyes carefully considering the mysterious Seigaku third year. And then, he looked away. "Never mind."

"Hm." Fuji made out about to pass him by when he suddenly leaned his face forward, surprising Jirou.

The Hyotei third year found himself blinking at the mercy of crystal clear, mesmerizing blue eyes that reflected back at him with a piercing gaze.

"You best know your place," Fuji smiled before leaning back and walking passed him.

The Hyotei regular's heart pounded, hearing those cryptic words echo in his mind, before whirling around to find the tensai distancing himself further away towards the bottom center of the stage.

Meanwhile, the perceptive Rokkaku vice-captain decided to stroll on to the front row where the Rikkaidai captain sat alone, seemingly enjoying himself. "Yukimura Buchou," he addressed politely.

The famous third year slowly turned his head at a glance and smiled friendly at the young man standing over the seats behind him. "Hm, you're Saeki Koijirou, Rokkaku's vice-captain."

"Hai," he nodded. "Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Do go on ahead," Yukimura grinned pleasantly.

Somehow, Saeki felt that he wasn't quite settled by that grin. It was too calm, too pleasant, too…

Ambiguous. "I can't help but notice that your vice-captain, Sanada, seems to have a rivalry with Atobe."

Yukimura nodded. "Hm, yes. But his main rivalry is with Tezuka. Atobe can never hold up against Sanada."

"I see." Saeki gleamed over the stage to where Sanada and Atobe appeared to maintain a glaring war. "So his main goal is still Tezuka?"

"Yes."

"Why does he want to beat Tezuka so badly?"

"Everyone wants to beat Tezuka."

"True," Saeki carefully watched the individuals on stage. "Have they played together before?"

"Yes, long ago. Sanada…lost to Tezuka."

Saeki blinked, surprised. "Have you played against Tezuka?"

"Yes."

"And what was the result?"

Yukimura's calm, vague eyes closed in amusement. "That is something between Tezuka, Sanada, and I."

"I see," Saeki felt his heart skip a beat for some unknown reason. "So ever since Sanada lost, he has been determined to defeat Tezuka one day."

Smooth lids opened, revealing those vague, calm, silent, ocean deep eyes that slowly glanced upwards and gleamed over the silvery white-haired third year, piercing through his very soul in a silent, heart stopping, cold, eerie manner. Those lips grinned. "I suggest you stay out of my vice-captain's business, Fukou Buchou Saeki Kojirou."

There was something off, something strange, something demeaning, something deeply disturbing and unsettling in that pleasant, steady, unwavering, soft tone of the Rikkaidai captain, and the Rokkaku vice-captain found his heart pounding hard twice in large thumps. He smiled and said apologetically, "Gomen. I didn't mean to intrude."

"It's all right," Yukimura smiled friendly again, returning his attention back to the stage. "It would appear the rehearsal is about to start. You best be getting back, Saeki."

"H-hai…" Saeki promptly left, glad that he was leaving that extremely suffocating conversation behind. Somehow, he felt that he just had a very small taste of why many feared the one deemed the Son of God. There was something remarkable, something overpowering, something strong and sturdy and mesmerizing about the quiet, pleasant Rikkaidai captain. And that all made it the more frightening. The third year was surly no ordinary third year in the middle school world.

"Places everyone!" Tomoka called out into the megaphone. "We're going to do scene…"

As the young director made the announcement, Fuji stood ready when he was unexpectedly pulled on by the arm. He glanced over his shoulder to find in amusement a rather worried and agitated cute redhead sniveling behind him. "Ne, Eiji, what's the matter?" He smiled kindly.

"Fujiko, I, I, I have to ask you something later. Um…" he began shaking, his hand tightening on his best friend's arm. "I can't say too much here. But it's about Oishi."

"Oh?" Fuji raised his eyebrows.

"Last night, he, he," the redhead's eyes were trembling. The poor acrobatic boy was clearly shaken.

Fuji could only guess at what may have happened. He smiled and said in a gentle, comforting voice, "Don't worry. We can talk about this later after rehearsal, okay? Eiji." He petted his friend on the head.

Kikumaru immediately perked up, as though a small load was taken off. He nodded. "Fujiko! You're the best!"

"Oi, we got rehearsal! What are you two doing?" Atobe scolded.

Kikumaru threw a childish look and stuck out his tongue at the Hyotei captain before quickly running away, much to Atobe's annoyance.

"Gomen, Atobe. Please excuse him," Fuji laughed.

The Hyotei captain only grumbled some incomprehensible reply.

"Okay, now, listen," Tomoka continued into the megaphone. "We have given this particular scene a lot of thought and discussed this in great detail, and have come to decide that in order to make sure this is the best play that Seigaku has ever hosted," she took a deep breath, "we will be having a real kiss between Romeo and Juliet!"

"What?" Both Atobe and Tezuka exclaimed, their eyes widening in shock and disbelief at what they just heard as a few others gasped in the background.

"Oi, what is this?" Sanada demanded, stepping out from the side of the stage. "This is ridiculous. Two men cannot kiss! It's bad enough you have two men playing the lead roles!"

"I agree. Isn't this going a little too far?" Tachibana chimed in, a concerned look on his face.

"I don't think I want to see two men kissing," Kamio murmured, feeling as though he would hurl at the thought.

"Hm? Didn't they agree before that they would be doing a pretend kiss?" Aoi blinked, clearly confused.

"But it's Fuji. Technically, he's not a complete male, 'cause you know, he's quite Bishie," Davide joked before getting smacked in the back of the head.

"Shut-up, Davide!" Bane shook his fist as his teammate groaned and glared at him.

"Who made the decision on this?" Atobe demanded, exasperated.

"We did," Tomoka stuck both hands on her hips.

"And who's we, little girl?" he asked in a condescending tone.

Tomoka pointed at the group of girls in the back who were giggling silently to themselves.

"Oi, I don't believe we have Tezuka's approval on this!" Atobe argued.

"I agree with Atobe. This is inappropriate," Tezuka stared down at the young freshman girl next to him. "Why has this not been discussed with me?"

"But Tezuka Buchou," Tomoka frowned, "We want this play to be as accurate as it can be, right?"

"It does not need to be that accurate," Tezuka stressed sternly.

"Hm, I don't really mind," Fuji remarked light-heartedly on stage.

"Fuji!"

"Oi, I'm not agreeing to this," Atobe said, crossing his arms at the smiling tensai standing before him.

"But Atobe, surely someone as literate as you is well aware of how back then, Shakespearean plays were all played by men, including the female parts," Tomoka changed the tone in her voice, a sly glint gleaming in her eyes.

Atobe's ear twitched.

"And someone as well educated with such an impressive background would definitely do his best to not disappoint in representing one of history's greatest plays."

The Hyotei captain's eyebrow flinched.

Upon seeing the noticeable change in the man playing Romeo, Tezuka was getting rather concerned and proceeded to take the stairs up to the stage. Meanwhile, in the back, Momoshiro nudged Echizen with a smirk. "Hey, how about a bet on this one?"

Those large cat-like green eyes rolled up at the second year. "You don't think I can do it?"

"I bet you can't," Momoshiro winked.

Echizen smirked. He reached behind him, and slowly and quietly unzipped his tennis bag on the floor.

"So, Atobe, what say you on the matter? Will you lead this wonderful play to its glory in one of the best interschool festivals ever organized?" Tomoka declared with a dramatic flair, masking her eagerness.

Atobe tapped his finger on his elbow. Hm, she does have a point. He is the glorious Atobe Keigo after all. He glanced at Fuji, who continued to smile the same smile before him.

"Oi, just a minute here," Tezuka barked, marching straight across the stage towards the two leads.

In the back, Echizen juggled a tennis ball in one hand, his tennis racket lingering readily in the other. Sharp, green eyes zoned in on the back of the Hyotei captain's head, then darted to the face of the tensai still smiling, then glanced back to the Hyotei captain's head.

"Piece of cake," Echizen smirked.

Momoshiro smiled in excitement. "I can't wait to see Atobe's face when he plants his lips on Fuji." He tried to maintain his giddiness. "Of course, that's assuming that you can do it, Echizen."

The ball stopped bouncing in Echizen's hand. The young freshman's eyes flashed with a bright glint as his mouth replied with a grin, "But of course, Momo-senpai." And then, the ball was flung high into the air, the object spinning up and slowing down as it reached its peak before falling back down with accelerating speed.

Atobe considered the tensai carefully, his mind reasoning with his current predicament and his duties as a Hyotei captain playing the lead role. He carefully observed those lips, those soft, pink lips that were unusual for a male to possess.

"Ha!" Echizen grunted, whacking the ball hard with his racket. The ball spun, flying at an intense and impressive speed as it ripped through the air.

"I strongly oppose this," Tezuka stepped in between Fuji and Atobe. "I will not allow this kiss to take place in-"

Suddenly, the ball smacked right into the middle of the back of Atobe's head, sending the Hyotei man's face flying forward and crashing straight into Tezuka's lips.

Sanada's jaw dropped. Echizen and Momoshiro's faces went deathly pale. Kamio held his mouth as though holding in his stomach. Jirou looked like he was about to faint. Saeki gaped in utter disbelief. Fuji blinked. Tachibana looked as though a truck was about to hit him.

And then, the auditorium has never been more silent than ever, save for the tennis ball that slowly bounced away off stage in this building that currently hosts some of the best and most renowned tennis players to have ever appeared in the middle school world, an event that doesn't occur except every ten years or so. But that day, at that moment, the gathering was not about tennis, nor was it about who was the best. For right now, all the regulars in the room were staring in shock as they witnessed two of the most famous, most admired, most respected captains in the middle school tennis world locking lips.

Dark silver eyes stared at horrified brown ones. Deep brown orbs stared at horrified silver ones.

The two captains were frozen in their places by the impact. And then, after a long awkward pause, both pulled back and turned away, coughing and gagging and spitting in utter disgust over their knees.

Atobe wiped his lips, an extremely flustered look on his face. He did not…he did not just kiss another man.

And his rival at that.

In front of everyone.

Tezuka brushed his lips against his sleeve repeatedly until they turned painfully red, a rather shaken look on his face. Oh gosh. What just happened?

"We're so dead," Momoshiro squeaked, his eyes glancing left to right for an escape while Echizen stood frozen in place, the racket glued to his cold sweaty hand as he gulped.

Fuji's hand went up to his mouth. "Oh my," he said. "That was surely unexpected." That's when he heard footsteps approaching behind him. Turning around, he found Jirou, still shakily recovering from the scene just now, slowly walk forward before stopping just a feet away.

"Fuji," he began.

Fuji blinked, dropping his hand back to his side as he observed the other curiously.

Jirou stood, strong determination in his eyes. "Let's have a match."

Both Atobe and Tezuka, startled, raised their heads at those words as they turned around to find their respective team members facing each other.

Fuji's clear blue eyes carefully and calmly watched those steady orbs of the normally sleepy Jirou standing before him.

Everyone remained still.