CHAPTER 10: Kudamono
Standard Disclaimer Applies
-oOo-
"Be careful on your date iiyo?" Kaidoh reminded Aiko as he was about to ride the coaster to the mountain training camp they were having.
"Iiyo." Aiko smiles sweetly.
"See you when I get back from camp." Kaidoh turns and gets on the bus.
"Aiko-chan gambatte ne?" Fuji smiles and nods before following Kaidoh up the coaster.
"Have fun nya!" Eiji patted her shoulder then followed Fuji.
"Don't eat too many sweets." Momoshiro lectured like a big brother.
Aiko frowned at the power player.
"Enjoy yourself, Aiko-senpai." Echizen tugs on his cap.
"Arigato Echizen-kun." She smiled at the freshman.
"Ano, hope you have fun." Kawamura shyly said.
Inui simply nodded.
"Ja Aiko-chan, we'll see you when we get back." Oishi smiled at her.
"Ja, minna! Hope you have lots of fun on your mountain training." She waves at them as they drive off.
Kaidoh can't help but wonder if it was right to leave her behind like that, What is something bad happens? What is does not enjoy her date? What if she has to walk home alone? His mind was wondering that he didn't notice his senpai staring at him.
"Do you want to stay behind Kaidoh?" Fuji asked with a smile.
"Fssssh." He lowered his head, "Iie Fuji-senpai."
Fuji chuckled and gave Kaidoh a meaningful stare.
-oOo-
Choutarou stood outside the gates of Sheishun Gakuen with his heart racing; he kept wiping his forehead, which was sweating profusely. Students who were walking pass him stared at the tall boy, being that he was an unfamiliar face in their school. At this rate, my clothes will get soaked from all this sweat. He thought as he wipes his forehead once again.
"Konnichiwa!" a girl greeted him with a smile.
"A-Ano, Konnichiwa." He greeted back hesitantly.
"You must be Ootori-san." The girl said with a smile.
"H-Hai." He nodded.
"Aiko-chan is just changing; she'll be here in a while." The girl smiled wider.
"A-Ano—."
"Yumi desu, I'm Aiko-chan's best friend." She replied as if reading his mind.
"Iiyo, yoroshiku Y-Yumi-chan." Hesitantly he bowed.
"Iiyo, iiyo, you can call me by my first name." She cheerfully assured him.
"Ano, Yumi-senpai." A timid voice called from behind Choutarou.
"Ryuuzaki-kun, Konnichiwa." Choutarou smiled at the younger girl.
"Konnichiwa, Ootori-san." The younger girl bowed back, "Ano, Yumi-senpai, we're having a bit of trouble."
"Nande Sakuno-chan?" Yumi's face suddenly turned all worried.
"Ano, it's about…" Sakuno pointing to her lower back.
Yumi and Choutarou tried to see what she was pointing at, Choutarou of course was clueless about what she was referring to, but Yumi knew exactly what she meant.
"Ki ni shinai de kudasai, I'm on it Sakuno-chan. Stay here with Ootori-san." Yumi left to assist Aiko.
"Huh? Ano senpai." Sakuno tried to protest but Yumi left so fast she didn't have time to.
"It's okay Ryuuzaki-kun, you can go help them, I don't mind waiting alone." Choutarou said noticing the uneasiness of the younger girl.
Sakuno stared at the boy and blushed.
"Sakuno!" Tomoka called her.
"Tomo-chan!"
"Konnichiwa Ootori-san!" Tomoka greeted.
"Konnichiwa Osakada-kun." Choutarou replied gleefully.
"Aiko-senpai will be here in a minute." Tomoka smiled at the boy.
Awkward silence followed. A few minutes past until Yumi returned.
"She's coming." She smiled at Choutarou.
"I-iiyo—." Choutarou paused at mid-sentence when he saw Aiko towards him.
Tomoka and Yumi were elbowing Sakuno after seeing the look on Choutarou's face.
"Konnichiwa Choutarou-kun." Aiko shyly greeted.
Choutarou just stared at her with his mouth half open.
"Daijabou?" Aiko asked the frozen boy.
"H-Hai." Was the response his eyes still wide open.
"Well, go on you two." Yumi pushed the two to start walking already.
"Have fun." Tomoka waved at them.
"Be careful." Sakuno followed.
"Arigato." Aiko waved back at the three girls.
The bus ride to the amusement park was quiet, with Choutarou mostly staring at Aiko and Aiko shyly smiling at Choutarou each time she catches him staring.
"Ano, Aiko-chan, where do you want to go first?" Choutarou asked with a blush.
"Ano—." Aiko looked around the amusement park, "The carousel." She pointed.
"Iiyo, the carousel it is." Choutarou nodded and walked slowly beside Aiko as they made their way to the carousel line.
"Where were you born?" Aiko asked.
"Ore? I was born here in Tokyo." Choutarou replied, "And you?"
"Same." She smiled.
"Nande?"
"Because I've never been able to go horseback riding." Aiko explained.
"Hontou? We went horseback riding a few weeks back at Atobe buchou's vacation place." Choutarou gladly shared.
"I wish I could do that someday."
"Maybe we should do that one day." Choutarou gladly offered as they were about to enter the carousel entrance.
"Hontouni?" Aiko asked her eyes shining.
"Hai." Choutarou replied his eyes shining as well.
"I'd like that." Aiko smiled as Choutarou assisted her to get on to the carousel horse.
-oOo-
I wonder how the date is going? Wakashi thought, just as his brother hit him on the head with his foot. "Itte!"
"Oi Wakashi, are you even here?" his Niisan asked.
Wakashi throws a few punches and attempts to hit his brother on the head to take revenge.
"Are you even trying?" his Niisan teased as he dodged all Wakashi's hits.
"Why don't you stand still and try so you'll know if I was even trying?" Wakashi replied sarcastically.
"Your zoning out? Nande? Did you and your boyfriend have a fight?" his Niisan teased some more.
"Nani?" Wakashi tried harder to hit his Niisan.
"Oi! Oi! Yamero!" His Niisan grab him and locks his head, "I said Yamero! What's up with you today?"
"Betsuni!' Wakashi elbows his Niisan's abdomen and gets away from his headlock.
"Itte! Oi, kidding aside, did you and Ootori-kun have a fight or something?"
"Iie." Wakashi replied as they go for another round for hand combat.
"So why so zoned out?"
"Ootori-kun's on a date right now." Wakashi explained.
"And?" His Niisan waiting for any further explanation.
"And what?" Wakashi stop attacking.
"Nani? Are you jealous or something?"
Wakashi throws a tanto towards his Niisan.
"Hey! No throwing sharp objects during practice!" His Niisan gaps the knife.
"Why would I be jealous?" Wakashi asks as he grabs his Niisans wrist and twists it.
"Well, it's either your jealous that Ootori-kun found a girlfriend ahead of you, or your jealous of the girl because you don't get to spend time with Ootori as much as you want to." His Niisan explains trying to hide the pain he was feeling from his Otouto's wristlock.
Wakashi lets go of his brother then takes a few steps towards the door, then suddenly kicks his Niisan on the head.
"Itte!" His Niisan drops to the floor.
"Niisan, isn't the first rule to never let your guard down?" Wakashi smirks then exits the dojo.
-oOo-
"Well, Choutarou-kun you can choose the next place to go since you let pick the first one." Aiko told the silverette with a smile as they exited the carousel.
Choutarou think for a while before answering, "How about the fun house?" he points to a colourful hut with pictures of clowns and animals painted on the exterior.
"Isn't the fun house for younger kids?" she chuckles.
Choutarou blushes deep red, "Gomen." He scratches his head.
Aiko chuckles some more and stares at the boy, He looks kawaii when he blushes.
"How about the horror house instead?" Choutarou offered.
Aiko's smile disappeared, she turned pale and her eyes widened. "Iie, the fun house is fine with me." Then starts walking towards the happier looking place.
Choutarou walks after her but teases, "Demo you said the fun house was for younger kids, so why not let's just go to the horror house instead?"
"Mou—." Aiko was about to complain when she turned around and saw just how happy Choutarou looked. "You're enjoying teasing me aren't you?"
"I'm not." Choutarou tries to stop a giggle but his lips were twitching really bad.
"Mou! Fine! Let's go to the horror house, demo, if I die of a heart attack it's your fault!" Aiko stubbornly walks towards the horror house.
"Iie!" Choutarou grabs the girl's hands and pulls her towards him, "I wouldn't want you to get a heart attack while we're on a date."
Aiko caught by surprise stared into the tall boy's eyes. Only after realizing that they were standing too close to each other that they both cleared their throats and promptly stepped a step away, keeping their hands clasp on their backs.
"Iiyo, let's go to the fun house then." Aiko shyly suggested.
Choutarou quietly followed the girl.
"Konnichiwa! Don't you two look lovely together." The fun house attendant smiled as he led the two to the door.
Aiko and Choutarou blushed at the attendant's comment.
"Now, now, don't be all shy about it." The attendant chuckled, "Enjoy looking around." He smiled then left the couple.
"Maybe we should have just gone to the horror house instead." Aiko suggested as they began to walk the quiet halls of the fun house with the weird carnival music playing on the background.
"Demo, you were too scared to go there." Choutarou teased.
"Mou! Shut up!" Aiko pouted.
Choutarou tried his best to stop himself from giggling, but he just couldn't resist Aiko's adorable face.
"Stop giggling!" Aiko complained.
"Gomen, gomen." Choutarou replied and covered his mouth.
Aiko pouted some more, but Choutarou looked so cute trying to stop himself from giggling that she started to giggle herself.
-oOo-
"This camp sucks!" Eiji complained about not being able to hold a racket since getting in the camp.
"Eiji!" Oishi began, "The basics are important as well in tennis, you have to strengthen your muscles and develop your reflexes as well."
"Mou! I know that Oishi! But I want to play tennis!" Eiji continued to complain.
"Hmn." Momoshiro smiled as he looked up the afternoon sky.
"Nande Momoshiro?" Inui asked.
"Sa, I was just wondering how Aiko-chan and Ootori's date is going." Momoshiro slyly smiled.
Kaidoh stared despitefully at his rival, "Fssssh, stop sticking your nose in other people's lives Momoshiro."
"You've bitter and cynical about this date from the start Kaidoh. You jealous?" Momoshiro teased.
"Nani? Do you want to fight?" Kaidoh grabbed Momoshiro's collar.
"Oi! Oi! Yamero!" Oishi reprimanded.
"I think the date is going fine." Fuji commented not really minding the two juniors practically killing each other.
"Why do you think so Fuji-senpai?" Echizen inquired.
"Yeah Fuji, what do you know that we don't?" Eiji added.
"You were there the first date weren't you? Did they get along well?" Kawamura also joined in.
"Sa, why don't you ask Eiji, Momo, Echizen and Inui, they were there too." Fuji commented.
"Eiji! You spied on Aiko-chan's date?" Oishi outraged.
"Mou! It wasn't just me. Momo, Ochibi and Inui were there too!" Eiji complained.
"Ah! You dragged us to come along Eiji-senpai!" Momoshiro complained.
"You wanted to spy on them too!" Eiji rebutted.
"Momo-senpai dragged me along." Echizen commented.
"Echizen!" Momoshiro hit Echizen on the head.
"Itte!"
"And how about you Inui?" Oishi crossed his arms and was thumping his foot on the ground.
"I thought it would be a good way to gather Fuji's data." Inui adjusted his glasses.
"Inui-senpai, I knew you were a data master, but spying on other people's dates." Kaidoh commented.
"I'm sure you would have come along if I asked you to Kaidoh." Inui rebutted.
Kaidoh blushed.
"Senpai-tachi are so nosey about other people's lives." Echizen commented.
"E? How about you Ochibi? Ryuuzaki-sensei's granddaughter is here with us, aren't you going to do something about it?" Eiji teased.
"What do you mean Eiji-senpai?" Echizen cluelessly asked.
"Hmn. Echizen, you." Momoshiro teased along.
Echizen grunted and pulled his cap down, "Mada mada dane senpai."
-oOo-
"Are you hungry?" Choutarou asked the girl walking beside him.
"Iie, this is fun." She happily stated.
"Hontou? When was the last time you went to an amusement park?" he asked.
Aiko thought for a minute before answering, "When I was in second grade I think."
"That was a long time ago."
"I know." Aiko rolled her eyes.
"Let's go to one more ride then we can eat dinner, is that okay with you?"
"Hai."
"You choose the last ride." Choutarou gladly stated.
Aiko looked around and thought, "Ah! The Ferris Wheel! You can't come to an amusement park and not tide those."
"Hai. The Ferris Wheel it is." Choutarou takes Aiko's hand and runs towards the Ferris Wheel.
Aiko runs after the boy but stares at their hands clasped together, her heart began to beat faster, faster than it already was. He has really warm hands.
Choutarou stops running at the end of the line for the ride but doesn't let go of Aiko's hand, "Ano, Aiko-chan."
"Hai?" the girl replies, still staring at their hands.
"Ano, you—." Choutarou turns his head towards the girl and s tint of pink paints his cheeks.
Aiko raised his brows waiting for what the boy was going to say.
"You look really pretty today." Choutarou blushed deeper.
Aiko blush deep red as well with the compliment, "Arigato. You look really nice too Choutarou-kun."
"Arigato." The boy lightly rubs his nape.
"Two tickets?" the attendant asks and opens the door for them, "Enjoy." He smiled and shuts the door.
Choutarou sat beside Aiko, a good twelve inches beside Aiko.
Aiko placed her hands on her lap and turned her head to the opposite direction.
"Ano, Aiko-chan can I ask you something?" the boy began as they slowly made their way up.
"Uhum." She nodded and turned towards the boy.
"C-Can I walk you home from school every day? I mean, on days that I can?" Choutarou shyly asked.
"Demo Choutarou-kun, your school is far from mine and our homes are on opposite direction." Aiko reasoned out.
"It's okay." The boy assured her.
Aiko thought for a minute, "How about tennis practice?"
"You watch the Seigaku Tennis Club practice every day don't you?" he asked.
"Ah, hai. I cover them for the school paper."
"Then, I'd still be able to fetch you from school—If our practice finishes earlier than theirs." he hesitantly explained.
"Wouldn't that be a bother to you?"
"Iie, it won't." he insisted.
"Iiyo." She replied.
Awkward silent ensued.
"The city lights looks so pretty from way up here." Aiko commented as they reached the top most part of the Ferris Wheel.
"Not as pretty as the view in here." Choutarou commented as he stared at the girl beside him.
Aiko turned her head back to Choutarou and blushed.
*Ring, ring*
"Ano, excuse me a bit, it's Atobe buchou calling." Choutarou turned a little away from Aiko.
"Iiyo."
"Moshi, moshi, Atobe-buchou?—Hai, hai—When shall we leave?—Tomorrow morning, hai.—Hai, arigato buchou. Bye-bye." Choutarou ended the call.
Aiko smiled at Choutarou.
"Gomennasai, it was Atobe-buchou, I had to take the call." Choutarou apologetically said.
"It's alright." Aiko assured the boy.
"It seems we're going to a training camp in one of his vacation places in the mountains." Choutarou explained.
"Oh, more tennis yehey!" Aiko clapped her hands.
"E?"
"Well, when you got eliminated during the Kantou tournament, I felt a bit sad that you won't be able to compete anymore, so, now that you're going to a training camp it mean more tennis for you." Aiko gleefully explained.
"Hai." Choutarou agreed.
"Then I guess walking home together will have to wait a little longer."
"H-Hai—Gomen."
"It's okay." She smiled sweetly to reassure the boy.
"I promise to make up for it." Choutarou insisted.
"Iie, iie, just enjoy your training camp."
"Iie, I promise to make it up to you when we get back." Choutarou stared deeply into Aiko's eyes.
"I-Iiyo." Aiko melted from the boy's stare.
The rest of the ride down, they mostly stared and smiled at each other. When the carriage got down, Choutarou assisted Aiko getting off the ride.
"Where do you want to eat?" he asked.
"Hmn…I think I want Yakitori." Aiko replied.
"Iiyo, Yakitori it is." Choutarou held her hand and they walked towards the food section.
He really likes to hold hands. Aiko thought to herself as she walked quietly beside Choutarou who was holding her hand tightly.
I hope she won't get mad at me for holding her hand. Choutaoru thought as he occasionally glances towards the girl as they walked.
"Ano, Choutarou-kun."
"Hai?"
"Arigato for today, I had a lot of fun." Aiko shyly bowed.
"Iie, arigato for allowing me to spend time with you." Choutarou bowed back.
They both smiles at each other, Choutaoru held Aiko's hand tighter and she squeezed his hand back a little.
-oOo-
There, a proper first date, without the gang intruding on them, although I just have to say, Mou! Atobe-buchou, you ruined the moment there! =)