This (the 'pillar pair' moment) will probably not be as dramatic as most of us would have wanted it to. T_T I tried other things, but this is the best I could do after my writing break. Be warned! Thanks for bearing with this story until now, as well. :D
But before going to the story, I would like to thank everyone who fa'ved, C2d, subscribed, and especially those who reviewed! Extra hugs to those who gave out multiple reviews. I'd also like to give special mentions to those who reviewed most of my chapters so far! Free Cheers for Mintleafeon, Frostfire613, Jury28, Blueberryxn, and Shadowhawk~
In any case- HAPPY READING and please don't hesitate to review. ^^
DISCLAIMER: I wish I own Prince of Tennis
[9/25/12]
CHAPTER XXV: Pillar
SEIGAKU TENNIS COURTS
Only two days left before the prefectural tournaments and everyone was all hyped up. Everyone was, indeed. But no one knew why two of their most stoic members were actually showing their enthusiasm. It was evident in their play. They were both going all-out, no matter who the opponent was.
'Today's the day.' Ryoma mused quite excitedly. She was finally going to play with Tezuka again, something they didn't do since she found out about his fragile arm. Tezuka said she should trust that he wouldn't get hurt, and she did so without hesitation. Trust was, after all, practically one of the largest pillar that supported their odd relationship. In fact, at the moment... it was like she's forgotten the fact that she might just break his arm altogether.
After pummeling one of his non-regular schoolmates, Tezuka stole a glance of his girlfriend. She was hyped-up, he could tell, and he smiled. All he had to do now was to make sure he didn't damage his arm… not only because he was scared of not being able to play tennis, but also because he was scared that Reina would no longer trust him.
He recalled that condescending frown that she gave him the moment she found out he hid something so important from her.
He frowned. She didn't hate him that time, just disappointed. Her being disappointed in him already gave him so much pain...
So he wondered if he'd be able to take it if she became genuinely mad at him.
...
His short trance was broken by Oishi approaching him. The raven-head fukubuchou wore a very grave expression telling Tezuka that Ryuzaki-sensei told him about his upcoming match.
"Nothing you say will stop me." He replied before he could say anything.
"B-But you arm!" He exclaimed fervently, but only loud enough for Tezuka to hear.
"It's fine. I won't use my special shot, nor will I allow my arm to get too stressed." He answered his vehemence with his calming baritone voice. Oishi stared at him in a way that he was hoping his pleading gaze would change the man's mind.
But Tezuka did not even flinch.
"Don't worry, Oishi. Everything will be fine." Oishi flinched at that soft expression that Tezuka let out. Oishi's expression, too, softened immediately.
"If you say so…" Seigaku's mother hen breathed deeply. "But... why?"
He didn't answer vocally but instead looked at Ryoma. Oishi shifted his gaze on to her, as well. He looked at his captain. Tezuka's eyes were showing emotions that he was never allowed to see before. His eyes widened at the realization.
"Tezuka, you…?" He incoherently uttered. Tezuka just nodded in understanding.
"Does she know?" He asked, Tezuka replied with a nod again. Oishi blinked. He never noticed. Those two were really good at hiding their emotions, he concluded. Otherwise the incredible strength of emotions that Tezuka showed would have so easily showed.
"How long?
"A few weeks."
"Ah…" he gulped, not really knowing what to say. "Congratulations."
Tezuka smiled in assent. And Oishi stuttered at the sight he hadn't seen for…well... ever.
HOME-EC LAB
Inside one the most accursed place (for Reina) in the school, she took the only blasted subject she was required to attend to. She glared at the knife and the onion she was supposed to cut- which unfortunately, seemed be afraid of getting cut and literally jumped out of her cutting board.
"Che." she muttered, but hell she would give up.
No way.
She did not notice a pair of eyes watching her so close.
It was a female teacher no younger than 40 years old, and she observed her adorable student who was working harder than ever. The woman smirked.
'She must've found herself a boyfriend.'
...
About half-an-hour later, the dreaded taste-testing finally commenced.
A pair of golden orbs watched closely as her food was getting analyzed. The taste-tester, Sakuno, widened her eyes- making Ryoma flinch.
"Whoa! This is actually edible Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno couldn't help but exclaim, and Ryoma found her posture softening in relief.
Everyone gaped at the odd but cute sight they made. It was the boyfriend that made his girlfriend lunch and was waiting shyly for her affirmation. Although she didn't show it, Ryoma was so embarrassed that she didn't notice a vengeful glare directed at her best-friend-slash-pretend-girlfriend.
"REALLY?! It's not Charcoal?!" Horio yelled as he eyed the meal that only looked…gray. Ryoma's eye twitched.
"Urusai, Chimp."
Everyone laughed at Horio making him blush in embarrassment.
"That is so fitting~!" Tomo commented slyly. "You're so good at making names Ryoma-sama~!"
"Sakuno doesn't deserve him." A girl commented out-of-nowhere making everyone stare at her. She looked around and pointed a demeaning finger at Sakuno.
"She's cheating on you Echizen-sama."
Everyone stared at her as if she ate a cockroach. The girl frowned deeper.
"And with one of your teammates, too. I can prove it." She added making everyone, save for Ryoma, open their mouths in shock while Sakuno blushed furiously. She showed them a picture from her pocket as proof. It was true; Oishi and Sakuno were happily holding hands, chatting.
The girl blinked at the sight of her idol's unfazed expression. But Ryoma was actually relieved that this came up before anyone got seriously hurt. It was lucky that the girl who saw seemed to have guts and a knack for attention.
"I know. We broke up already some time ago." She stated. "We're just friends now."
Silence
No one said anything for a while, not before Horio caught himself and started to yell.
"EHHHHHHHHHHH!?"
ECHIZEN HOUSEHOLD
It was nearing dusk that day, and two demanding figures stood alone inside the tennis court behind the temple. Someone from afar would not have guessed just how smugly they were looking at the other.
"I'll win this time." She commented arrogantly, pointing him her red tennis racket. He returned it with an equally haughty grin.
"We'll see."
Ryoma gripped ball and dropped it to the ground, dribbling it as a habit. She threw the ball up after the 3rd bounce and smirked.
"Oh, we will."
...
THUMP!
Ryoma frowned muttering curses as she got another ball, since another one just went past her. Tezuka smirked.
"30-love, Reina. You won't score a point if you continue holding back." He said stoically. Reina frowned.
"Who said I was holding back?" She shot back an instant before hitting a very fast ball. Tezuka almost missed it.
"Che." She muttered in disappointment. She really had to get serious to get a point. But what if something happened to his arm?
"Didn't I tell you to trust me? Nothing will happen to me even if you use your full force." He said to her trying to intimidate her. Her eyes twitched.
"Isn't that like underestimating me?" She asked with her eyes not stopping its incessant jerking.
"Well. We are having a one-sided game." He replied bluntly effectively placing a vein on her head. Ryoma breathed in to calm herself and then smirked arrogantly at her opponent.
"You'll regret saying that."
...
*A few minutes later*
"Tsk." Reina muttered irritably since she still couldn't get a point. And she was no longer holding back.
What could she be doing wrong?
"That mimicry of a style you are currently using is no match for mine, Reina." He commented confidently, as if answering her thoughts. She only glared at him, though.
"You are really starting to annoy me, Mitsu!" She exclaimed upon hitting a lob.
"I haven't already…?" He replied returning it with a smash.
"Grrrr… " She sounded, both for the point and for his comment. She closed her eyes for a second in attempt to catch her cool. He wanted to see her style again? She'd give it to him.
Tezuka noted the slight change in her rhythm.
He smirked.
RIIINNG!
The phone of the house rang taking Rinko out of her concentrated effort to watch the fast-paced game. She lazily walked to it and answered.
"Hello?"
"Rinko-san? Is Reina there…?" The boy from the other line asked, obviously trying to mask his eagerness.
"Ah… Yes, Keigo, but she's kind of busy."
"She is?" He muttered disappointed but Rinko knew he's planning something.
"You're planning on a surprise visit with a peace offering, aren't you? I bet it's a stuff toy of one of her favorite anime characters."
Silence
She scoffed. She just knew that one of her godson was blushing like hell on the other line.
"She'd really hate you if you disturb her now, Keigo. Try again next time." She said trying to avoid additional complications for her daughter. The boy sighed. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. But she knew her godson well, he wasn't making a move on Reina because of his pride and due to the fact that it seemed like Reina would never fall for anyone. Especially anyone that wasn't him or Seichi.
She sighed as well, she didn't want things to be so intricate for her daughter but Keigo didn't deserve the kind of aversion her daughter was giving him.
"Call her again tonight, but this time please don't mask your true feelings with haughtiness." She stated, immediately hanging up.
...
Echizen Nanjiroh watched the two behind his window with both admiration and amusement. Then his gaze moved to another boy with raven hair looking at the two with worried eyes. He positioned himself far away from them. Like Nanjiroh, he knew the two players would appreciate this important game alone.
It was good that she met that boy. He recalled the disappointment he felt when she turned to this style again after those boys left her to fend for herself all those years ago. Reina started using her own style again from time to time when she saw them again, but she was still reluctant. He was shocked to say the least when he found out she used her techniques during the first time she met Tezuka.
He smiled at them. He had a lot of thanking to do…
He watched as Tezuka performed an impressive drop-shot. Nanjiroh's gaze softened further.
...especially now that the boy was willing to sacrifice something big for her.
"Ugh." Ryoma puffed out as she involuntarily sat down due to fatigue. She got two points after changing styles, but she lost due to that blasted shot of his.
Since when did drop shots roll back to the net, anyway?
After catching his breath he walked to his girlfriend to help her get up. But just before their hands could touch, Reina stared at his extended arm.
"Are you sure I didn't damage your arm?" She asked worriedly, he just nodded in reply.
"Are you sure you didn't do anything that might damage your arm, then?" She questioned, noting his posture when he did those unbelievable drop shots.
Tezuka's eyes twitched for a millisecond but he immediately shook his head to deny the claim. He forced himself to calm down as an arrow of self-hatred pierced his chest. He just lied to her. Again.
Reina frowned, she saw that twitch, but she shook her head of the thoughts. She would never think that Tezuka could lie to her about this. Hiding things was one thing, but lying was something totally different.
She sighed.
"What?" Tezuka asked, masking his anxiety well.
"When will I ever beat you in tennis?" She muttered making him smile. He smiled at her. He somehow rehearsed this scene.
"Accept and enhance your own style, and you will be able to defeat me in no time." He stated and then straightened himself up after she could stand up on her own, by herself. He just realized that Reina could do something even bigger, and not just for him.
She could also do something bigger for the team that both of them had grown to love.
"Reina, you know most of the regulars are graduating soon, right?" He asked and Reina reluctantly nodded. 'Why does he have to remind me of this now?' she thought grimly. They would no longer be able to spend as much time then, after all.
"Become Seigaku's pillar of support."
"Huh?" She asked with an eyebrow raised. Tezuka made no change in expression, so she shifted her questioning gaze at Oishi, whom she just noticed there. The fukubuchou just smiled encouragingly at her.
"Don't you already have tons of fan clubs?"
Silence
If Tezuka wasn't Tezuka, he would've lost his footing. Oishi chuckled. "Way to ruin the mood Echizen."
She continued to stare alternatively at the two. Then something clicked on her brain.
"W-Wait… Are you asking me to be your successor?" She remarked incredulously. He nodded firmly.
"How come? Don't you think it's kind of unfair…? And tell me you're not asking me this because I'm your girlfriend…"
Tezuka smiled at her, amused at her reactions. "I'm not. You have great strength Reina, but you don't seem to know that. We need someone like you to keep Seigaku standing tall."
She blinked at the statement and pondered. And pondered.
And pondered…
Tezuka chuckled, making Oishi gape at them. Their captain then put his hand on the girl's head to pull her out of here trance.
"Anyone but you could see it, Reina." He said to her. "You give strength to people without anyone even noticing it immediately. Even me." Reina tilted her head to him and looked at him in the eye, trying to interpret what he just said.
"What do you mean?"
"A lot." He replied, now trying his best not to look away in embarrassment.
"Tell me." She requested, looking at him intently. Tezuka could not refuse her.
"I never would've had the courage to accept I had a weakness if the weakness wasn't you." He said as nonchalantly as he could.
And Reina flushed. Oishi did, too. He never would've expected those words from his supposedly stoic captain.
After pushing the blood on her cheeks down, she cleared her throat and looked at Tezuka. "Are you sure you're supposed to be so blunt? I can take advantage of that, you know."
"I don't mind." He replied with a smirk. Reina chuckled at the answer, while Oishi just... well, froze.
'Oh my God.' he mused in incredulity.
'I can't believe Tezuka's flirting…'
...
Later that day, the three watched the orange sky as they sat at the verandah- feeling the cool wind against their faces. Tezuka held Reina's hand, while Oishi stared at her. He had a lot of questions.
"Why did you seal it in the first place?" Oishi asked her getting Tezuka, who was staring at the tree in front of them with a soft expression, look at them to listen.
"Yes, I'm curious about that myself."
She tilted her head downwards thinking for a moment how to tell them. "Remember the childhood friends I told you about?" She asked Tezuka without looking away from the ground. Tezuka nodded.
But... all that she told him was that she had best friends as a child and she loved to play tennis with them. Apparently, they were in Japan as well.
"We made up our techniques together. My style was developed as I was playing with them. But when they all left me six years ago without telling me why... I guess it just reminded me of them." She muttered sadly to herself. They knew that the memory was unpleasant and they were not planning on digging deeper without her full consent.
They watched her sigh before they heard a clap from behind, calling their attention. It was Rinko.
"Dinner time, everyone~!"
A few hours later, the two seniors had taken their leave. Reina had been lying on her bed for quite a few number of minutes already, being unable to sleep. She was staring grimly at her phone as it vibrated. She set it to that setting for a specific number, and she was very reluctant to answer it.
A few minutes later, it didn't stop. And she sighed.
'I suppose I was too mean, after all…'
Click
Reina stared at the ceiling and composed herself, taking advantage of the momentary silence from the other line.
"Reina…" the person called her name with an unmasked relief in his voice. She winced at the hint of desperation she was hearing.
"Did anything happen?" She asked, worried for her arrogant friend. He didn't answer for a bit but when he did he seemed to have regained his composure.
"How would Ore-sama know? You tell me." She didn't answer. But before she could utter any insults, he cut her off.
"What did I do to make you mad?" He asked seriously making Reina sneer.
"Where's the Ore-sama bit?"
"…" was his reply. She smiled at first but then she remembered the answer to his question. She instantaneously frowned.
"Oh, nothing..." she muttered sarcastically. "It was just that you used tennis, of all things to pick a girl up and harass a few players."
She heard a rather huge offended scoff on the other line.
"… I know you have your beliefs about tennis- but how could you ignore my incessant calls for days?!" He yelled indignantly.
"The said girl and players just happen to be my friends."
"What?" He responded, almost squeaking.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Monkey King."
"T-Those people a-are?" He asked with obvious skepticism. "How do you know them?" he added. Atobe was thinking that the world was way too small if that were true.
"I'm schoolmates with one of them." She stated, it was followed by a momentary silence.
"Wait… Aren't you still homeschooled?"
"Baka." She replied. Baka-Atobe must have assumed that she still was after that little incident with that jerk who received additional pain from him.
"Oi. Answer Ore-sama's question, commoner!" He practically huffed.
"I just did, Monkey king."
"Calling Ore-sama an idiot is not an answer." He stated.
"Yes, it is." She shot back and she knew Keigo's eyes were twitching.
"Where?" He finally asked, admitting defeat.
"I study at Seigaku."
Silence…
..for about a second.
"You do?!"
"Yep. I don't get it though. I could've sworn I told you that I was no longer homeschooled and that I was studying at Seigaku."
"…"
"Ah. That was Seichi."
"Don't mix us up, darn it. That's just bad-mannered! Ore-sama is offended."
"Urusai. What's your school again…? Hy-Hyogyu..?"
"Hyotei. We're the number one team in Tokyo."
"Eeehhhhh…That's going to end soon." She responded haughtily. She heard something crash from the other line.
"What? Don't tell me you've become a fan girl!"
"As if."
"Then what?"
"Is it bad for me to support my own school?"
"It is, if you're choosing it over me."
"Who the heck would want to support you? Wait… I didn't know you even needed one- Ehhh… The arrogant Atobe Keigo admits he's not all that?"
"…"
"Ore-sama is the greatest being in existence."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Then why do you want my support, then?" She asked mockingly. They were good friends, but Keigo would never admit he needed her. Not that she knew this, of course.
"…"
"I don't."
"So…Like I said. Seigaku will take the championship."
"Don't be so sure. We beat them last year."
"You did? That's hard to believe…"
"Ore-sama effortlessly won against their captain last year making him even more popular. He is even the captain now of the great Hyotei Tennis club, with 200 mem—"
"But that's because Mi- Tezuka-buchou was not the captain yet." She stated assertively making him shut up.
"Tezuka? That blanked-faced—"
"Oi."
"What?"
"Don't you dare insult him, Keigo."
Atobe's eyes widened, but he cleared his throat to force some words out. "W-Why?"
"…"
"Reina."
"He's…" Reina paused. Telling others of their relationship was a much more embarrassing task than she had imagined.
"He's what, Reina?" He asked forcefully making her flinch.
"…My friend." She lied. She was thankful she had learned to control her emotions… when she wasn't with Tezuka.
"I didn't know he coul—"
"KEIGO. You better shut up if you don't want me to hang up." She stated irritably.
"…"
"Good night, Keigo."
"Oi-"
Beep
ATOBE HOUSEHOLD
Atobe Keigo stared at his phone for who knew how long. He didn't understand why he was feeling so insecure. There was just something in her voice when she talked about his rival that she did not like.
'Could she—'
He shook his head. Reina told him they were just friends. She didn't sound disappointed, so she couldn't possibly have a one-sided crush on that guy.
'Right…?' He asked himself for assurance.
He fell on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He could not imagine Reina looking at anyone else that way… He had always dreamed of having a future with her but he could not admit his feelings in front of her. Not when he knew she didn't think of him the same way.
"What do I do, now?" he asked himself only to be answered by a knock on the door.
"Keigo?" Renko whispered checking if her son was set. She looked around and saw that he wasn't.
"Your team's flight to America is due in 2 hours, Keigo. What are you doing just lying there?"
"I won't come, Mother."
"What?"
"I…need to supervise the team. Shishido won't be able to do it alone."
"Are you sure?" She asked, a bit perplexed even when she already knew the answer. He set that trip a few months ago so he could visit her, he was lucky that there was a big tennis convention and training program there so he had an excuse. He was annoyed when his team found out, but what was important was that he got to see her again.
But now that she was here in Japan, there was no reason for him to. That, Renko knew. But what puzzled her was what she saw on her son's eye: Insecurity.
Keigo was anxious about something…
It was then she recalled an earlier conversation with her friends.
She smirked.
'Whoops, sorry Rinko. He found out.'
.
.
END OF CHAPTER XXV
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER XXVI: Turbulence
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Blueberryxn- I did! On this one, too. So happy I finally broke that freaking writer's block. XD Thanks for the review!
Frostfire613- Oh- haha. The match wasn't given that much emphasis. Hope I didn't disappoint much! Haha. Thank you for the comment~
MintLeafeon- Oh he did. Censored though. Ahahahahaha. And Thank you for reviewing~
Shadowhawk- Cute and scary at the same time is awesome. XD And I'm glad you appreciate my responses! I can't quite sit still without replying to the lovely people who review my chapters... so thanks again for the review!
Lady Syndra- I hope this chapter didn't take long! It's not as good as most of us would want it to be, but I hope you liked it! Thx for the comment~
Animelover9280- *blushes* Glad to hear that! And I'll try my best. You can be honest with me if you don't like a chap though~
etsukichan4- Thank you for the comment~ Hope it remains that way. XD Warn me if I go to that soap-opera tendency of mine. haha
think-pink-jess- Oh he won't, don't worry. I just changed his reasons for helping Ryoma out. Hehe. thx for the comment~
lunarmidnightwolf- Thank you so much and I'm glad I was of help. :D
xxxninJAxx- (Chapter 23) Ahaha. Took you long enough! XD Hope it stays, though. Lol. (Ch24) Sorry for the late update! I'll try harder. XD And the Reina-Kuniharu meeting will happen. Just not soon. It'll probably be on one of the last arcs. ;D Thx for the comments~
mai-chan265- (Chapter22) She doesn't! Wait.. I think I explained the answer in Facebook. XD (Ch23) Ahaha yeah. I needed OCs but too many can kill me so I just used existing characters. XD Glad you liked it! And yes, Atobe will see hell. (ch24) And they would? haha. They will and he would make them run laps. XDD The Shinji thing is a kind of sneak-peak for my first yaoi pairing. AhahahThanks for the reviews~
Big Sis of 8- A kind of stalker that is kind of flattering, you will be. Ahahah. I'll try harder to update faster now, though, so you don't need to!XD Thx for the review~
Guest [8/11/12]- (Ch3) Ahahaha. I'm glad you liked them, then! And I sure do hope you reached this chap. haha. Thx for the comment. ;D
FrancoiseLaraLapis- Indeed! Haha. It's lovely to get a boyfriend like that, ne? Thx for the review~
TunaForDesert- (Ch17) Ahaha. I am? That's awesome! XDD Thanks for the comment~!
Clarice- Thanks for the comment! Here it is! Sorry it was so late! T_T
...
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