Chapter 12:Be Awed by His Prowess!
To all the avid readers of this story who are, themselves, brilliant writers, welcome to the twelfth installment of Japan's Next Top Model: Kazuki Undercover. In this chapter, as we are all waiting for, will be coming a very special guest. Welcome to a chapter full of beauty as the stunning Kazuki Fuchoin is joined by the gorgeous Keigo Atobe, the most popular bishounen in the anime Prince of Tennis (according to a popularity poll in Shounen Jump). Atobe, a national level tennis player in the anime Prince of Tennis, is voiced by Junichi Suwabe. Some of you might have seen him before or may not be familiar with him, so here are some of his best known physical assets: he has a mole under his right eye, his hair is similar to that of Eiji Kikumaru, but it is colored gray. If you still don't have any idea as to who this guy is, feel free to visit my profile and view his picture, or look him up in Google. Be awed by his beauty and his prowess! Let us all welcome, Keigo Atobe!
"Hey, Kazuki! Aren't you excited?" a fellow contestant asked Kazuki, who was in deep thinking of Ayame.
"Why should I be excited?" he asked, obviously not listening to what she was saying. "Sorry, I was thinking of something."
"Today we'll be having a photo shoot for our newest endorsement, the Tennis Gear Unlimited! Guess where the shoot will be held."
"Where?"
"We're going to Keigo Atobe's vacation house! I'm so excited!"
"Who's he?" Kazuki asked, still not understanding why she was very excited.
"OMG! You mean, you don't know who Keigo Atobe is?"
"No, I don't know who he is. Who is he, anyway?"
"Oh my gosh! Keigo Atobe is that young national-level tennis player, the captain of Hyotei Gakuen's tennis team! He is very good in tennis; he actually beat the team captain of a rival school in his freshman year! Apart from that, he is insanely handsome! Look at those beautiful eyes; they're enough to make any girl melt!" Megumi, the other contestant, showed him a magazine. In its cover was a young man with gray hair, fair skin, and a mole under his right eye. He looked quite familiar, and Kazuki thought he must have seen him on television some days ago.
"Oh, so that's him? Yes, he looks really good."
"Really good? Just really good? He's gorgeous, dummy! Can't you see? He's so hot! Too bad he's younger than I am."
"He's younger than you? He doesn't look like it. How old is he, anyway?"
"He's fourteen when he led Hyotei to the National Championships four years ago. He's eighteen already. Too bad because I'm already twenty-three."
"Oh," was all Kazuki could reply. The more he looked at Atobe, the more he felt that something was wrong. Or something could go very wrong.
(at Atobe's house)
"Beat, come here." The little dog ran to its master. "Be a good dog later. Some ladies are going to visit. Don't run around too much and see something you aren't supposed to see. A tigress is among them; she'll make you pay dearly."
"Young master Keigo, the lady Florencias has arrived."
"Let her in." the door closed behind Florencias.
"Young master Atobe, thank you for allowing us to have a photo shoot here in your hose. Moreover, thank you for agreeing to help my undercover person, front runner Kazuki Fuchoin, to spy on Akiko Shiroyuki, a merciless murderer. Thank goodness Ayame Sohma was spared."
"That Ayame Sohma, he took the drug already, didn't he? So that just means that you won't be needing my help anymore."
"I wish I could say that, but we can't be confident, lest we'll again be caught off guard."
"Can't you take care of this matter yourself? After all, you are the head of NSSCA. It can't be too hard for someone like you."
"It's very hard to formulate our tactics, young master Atobe, although we've had our leads as to who else is helping her with the crime. We've come to know that her helper resides in Seoul, Korea."
"If that's the case, then you won't be needing my help at all. It's getting easier and easier for you." There was a long pause. Finally, Florencias spoke.
"Another thing is, Mr. Atobe, that helper she had been calling for so many days, had already died long ago."
(inside the contestants' bus)
"Hello, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you that bastard Ayame Sohma took a bottle of the drug? Send me another one ASAP!"
"Calm down, Akiko, I'm going to do that; don't you fret."
"Just make sure I'll have it in time!"
Kazuki noticed that Akiko had been busy on her phone the last couple of days, ever since Ayame took the bottle of drug. He had a bad feeling about those calls she was making.
(in Germany)
"Really? The contestants are coming here to Germany for their finale? That means I'm going to see Kazuki, right? When are they coming?" Jubei was very excited to hear the news that he would be able to see Kazuki again.
"I'm not really sure, young man, maybe in two weeks' time."
"Two weeks? That's far too long! I can't wait to see him again!"
"Don't worry, young man, you'll be able to see him."
"I can't wait! I miss him so much."
Mr. Chiba just gave Jubei's shoulder a pat.
(in Atobe's vacation house)
"Young master Keigo, the ladies have arrived."
"Let them in."
The aged butler led the contestants in to the enormous house. It was full of expensive furniture. The contestants stared in awe. Atobe himself walked into the room. The girls squealed with delight as he shook each of their hands. Kazuki just greeted him politely.
"Awed by my furniture, aren't you, ladies? Place your things on the couch and change to your tennis costumes. I want to awe all of you with my prowess."
The girls squealed once again, and then headed to the changing room. Kazuki stayed with Atobe.
"Kazuki Fuchoin, if I am not mistaken?"
"Yes, Atobe-san, I am Kazuki Fuchoin. If you don't mind me asking, did Florencias-san ask for your help?"
"Yes, she did. Now that I see you face to face, I can't help but wonder why you still need my help. You look skillful enough, and your pretty face cannot conceal your intelligence. Apart from that, I know that you are very skilled as a fighter. Anyway, I guess it wouldn't hurt to be careful."
"I don't want to put another life on the line again because of this job."
"Really a fighter, are you not? If you beat me at the game later, I'll give everything to help you."
"Agreed."
(in the changing room)
"Darn! My phone's battery is low already. I still need to call him. I need to make sure he'll send the drug to me." Akiko was grumbling. And then, she had an idea. "I'll ask Atobe-san if I could make a phone call."
Kazuki entered the changing room. He did not understand why Atobe did not want to help them. He was also worried for he did not know how to play tennis. He sighed and prepared for the shoot.
(at the tennis court)
The girls gamely posed for the photos, except for Kazuki who was still very worried about the game. As the shoot went on, Kazuki just thought to himself that he can't force someone who doesn't want to help. He gave out a sigh.
"Atobe-san, I really need to make an important phone call. Unfortunately, my battery went low. May I please use your phone?"
"Sure. I don't really mind." Akiko thanked him and went inside the house. "Kazuki Fuchoin, I would like to play a game with you. Six games. I can see that although you look fragile and delicate, you are skilled when it comes to these things."
The girls began to cheer. Kazuki stepped into the court, clueless of what he was supposed to do. "I'll be glad to, Atobe-san."
Atobe served first. Kazuki witnessed his strength at once. He was unable to hit the first few shots. But as he studied Atobe's moves, they seem to grow more and more familiar. He felt like he was swinging his bells and using his strings to hit the opponent. Only this time, he should hit the ball. He earned a couple of points, but at the end of the first round, Atobe won.
"I wasn't mistaken. Kazuki Fuchoin is strong."
In the succeeding rounds, the game grew more intense. Atobe was more serious, and so was Kazuki. The six rounds ended. Kazuki won only two rounds.
"That was a good game, Atobe-san."
"You lost. That means I won't help you."
"I understand. Thank you very much."
But at the back of his mind, Atobe thought that Kazuki played very well. That was a first-timer, yet he won two games. Not bad at all. He smiled to himself. He went inside and saw Akiko hung up the phone. Akiko walked out of the room. Atobe opened his laptop and searched the records of his phone. Akiko made a call to Korea, just as Florencias said.
The models were going back to their bus when Atobe called Kazuki.
"The person Akiko was calling is Saizou Tofuuin."
Kazuki's mouth fell open. He knew Saizou was already dead.
