Chapter Sixteen
The first thing you'll ever tell yourself when you feel the 'magic' is 'oh no.'

The four of them sat on a separate table across the table where Yume was. Kenya had been occasionally glancing at his 'best friend' and wishing to be there. Hikaru remained cool the whole time while Hitouji observed the two closely. Meanwhile, the captain wore a serious look on his face.

Laughs and clattering noises filled the whole restaurant. Everyone seemed to be in gleeful celebrations of their own. Except for them. No one had said a word after sitting down. When their respective orders had arrived, each one of them glanced at each other's movements as if waiting for the first person to touch his food.

Shiraishi cleared his throat and reached for his chopsticks. "So... is there something going on between you guys recently?" he asked in a serious tone. Kenya looked at him in confusion. Hikaru and Hitouji, on the other hand, perfectly understood where this was going.

"I don't think there's anything to worry, Shiraishi," Kenya replied as he took his bowl of ramen.

Hitouji took a deep breath and said, "Shiraishi, if you would let me rephrase the question..." He turned to Kenya and Hikaru. "What is it about you two guys and that guy over there?" He pointed to the table across them, referring to the newcomer.

Kenya and Hikaru glanced at one another. Both were waiting for the other to speak up.

Hikaru sighed. "We're neighbors. Okaa-san is excessively worried over him since he is 'too young' to live alone. Moreover, Okaa-san has already taken a liking to him, so she wanted me to closely look after Senpai." He took a glance at the girl.

"Is that so?" confirmed Shiraishi.

Hitouji grinned. "But is that all?"

"Yes, that's all." Hikaru clicked his tongue in annoyance. "What the hell have you been thinking of me?"

"How 'bout you, then?" Shiraishi turned to Kenya.

"Ahhh... Kazuyoshi?" Kenya laughed. "We're best friends, of course," he stated proudly.

"Why the possessiveness, then?" asked Hitouji straightforwardly. He pouted to express how he has been disliking such behavior exhibited by the coffee-haired boy.

"I-I'm not being possessive!"

"And what about the excessive obsession? Or the fact that you always want to be where he is?"

"I-!" Kenya's mouth opened in attempt to defend himself from the allegations, but his teammate cut him short.

"Kenya, you've been wanting to be in the company of Kazuyoshi-kun. Everyone can see it. Even Osamu-chan," Shiraishi explained. "We're just wondering why you're suddenly acting that way."

"Especially since you're the type who doesn't really get attached to things or people... in a very short span of time," Hitouji continued, "In fact, I haven't known anyone to open up that quickly to someone for a span of a week. Only you, so far."

"W-Well, if that's the problem here... Th-that's because of-"

Suddenly, the group heard Miu's giggle from the table across. The girl had said aloud, "Do you like him? Oshitari-san, that is." They noticed how Koishikawa's girlfriend intently glanced at their group. Realizing that the question was specifically addressed to his 'best friend,' Kenya glanced at the other table and stared at her back as he wished to hear Yume's answer.

Hitouji snickered. "Come back to Earth, Kenya."

Shiraishi was surprised to see his friend's face. He blinked twice.

Hikaru raised a brow. "Senpai, you're blushing."

The red in his cheeks glowed more upon realization that everyone was looking at him. He turned to Shiraishi, Hitouji, and Hikaru. "I-I'm not!" he insisted.

"Sorry, Kenya. I know we've been friends since first year, but..." Shiraishi glanced at Yume from the other table. "... do you perhaps like Kazuyoshi?"

The young man nervously chuckled. "What are you talking about, Shiraishi? That's absurd. You know I don't swing that way."

Everyone blinked.

"W-we're just friends! There's n-no way I'd like K-Kazuyoshi that way." Again, a nervous chuckle.

"You're getting even more suspicious, Senpai."

"I'm straight!"


'... Look at me. Can't you tell I'd be so thrilled to see the message in your eyes...'

After having dinner with the whole Shitenhouji tennis club regulars, Yume has gone to the hotel that Zaki had booked for her. The room seems large inside with an enormous bed with white sheets on the side. Across the bed is a flat screen television. A desk is on the bedside with a lamp and an angel sculpture on top.

'... Suddenly the wheels are in motion. And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean...'

She lies with her stomach on the bed with earphones plugged into her ears and fingers on her laptop. The room is filled with her relentless singing.

'... You make it seem I'm so close to my dream and then suddenly it's there...'

Flashed on the screen of her laptop is a series of paragraphs on a word processor. Her fingers lightly tap the keys on her laptop. Yume continues to smile throughout the process. Suddenly, she notices a message sent to her phone. Yume momentarily lets go of the laptop and grabs her phone. She lies on her back.

'You missed my awesomeness. So here's a picture for you.' Marui has sent another email with an attached picture of himself, Kirihara and Jackal. While Marui is winking, his companions are visibly upset and annoyed as they appeared in the image.

Yume laughs. She replies, 'It seems your two friends beg to disagree. LOL'

'... Longing to spend every moment of the day with you...'

Her smile grows wide as the song comes to its end. A few minutes later, her phone rings once again. The screen flashes again the name 'Bunta Marui.'

"Hello, Bunta-san?"

"Good evening, Yume-chan," the other line answers with a chuckle.

She laughs. "Why did you call? Weren't we sending text messages just a while ago?"

"I am getting lazy from typing."

"That's too bad, then. By the way, aren't you going to bed now? After all, tomorrow's a big day. "

"Well, I think there's something I've been waiting to tell you since we departed earlier. Just didn't get the chance to do so."

She blinks twice. "Oh?"

Marui snickers. "But I'm thinking that you might not be able to sleep if I tell you what it is."

"Ehh?! What is it? Tell me, please."

"Hmm... Let me think."

She pouts. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

He laughs. "Kind of. But, you know, I might tell you if you promise that we hang out again to some cafe. Your treat."

"You're a real parasite, do you know that? I'm starting to think that this friendship is all about you trying to extort me. And why do I have to treat you?"

"Gender equality!" He responds before laughing.

"That does not even make sense. But anyway…" She smiles. "My treat for our next hang out."

Marui chuckles. "Free food, hooray!"

"Then tell me what it is."

"Remember that guy back there. The one from your school that you introduced to us."

"Ah! Oshitari-san. What about him? Is there something wrong about him?" she asks worried.

"He's not your boyfriend, right?"

"Boyfriend?!" Yume exclaims and bursts into laughter. "What makes you think that?"

Marui chuckles. "Is he not?"

"No!" She smiles. "No one in my school knows my gender, remember?"

"Well, he seems so into you."

Yume shrugs it off. "He's just that type of friend who... you know, gets so clingy and possessive of you since he really thinks that you're his 'best friend.'"

"That's not what we saw, though."

"We?"

"Jackal noticed it, too. Even Akaya, who is supposedly ignorant of things other than tennis and games, noted that your 'friend' is too protective of you." Marui laughs. "Did he, like, get mad at you or some sort when we left?"

She taps her chin, pretending to recall. "Well, he did get a little... mad when he said he saw you winking at me."

A burst of laughter is immediately heard at the other line. "He... he even noticed that?!"

"Did you wink just to...?"

"The result was as expected." Marui soon bursts into laughter once again.

"I don't understand why you're laughing at such a fact."

"Aren't you getting excited with what you heard?"

"N-no!" Yume pouts as a blush of red appears on her cheeks. "Stop saying things like that, Bunta-san. We're just friends. Really, we are."

His laughter slowly dies down, but the happy tone remains in his voice. "Hmm... If you say so. I cannot really meddle with whatever relationship you have with that guy."

"Right, right. Anyway, I think you need to go to bed now."

"You, too! Although, I really think you won't be able to sleep tonight."

"I'll sleep perfectly fine." Yume sticks her tongue out even though he will not see it.

"Watch me tomorrow, 'kay?"

"Sure, sure! So you better do your best!" she says as she raises a fist into the air.

"I will. Good night!"

"Good night!"

A flat sound is heard from the other line. Yume smiles as she closes her phone. She takes a deep breath, and stares at the screen of her laptop. Yume blinks and blushes upon a realization.

'... Somethin' stronger than the moon above 'cause it's magic when two people fall in love...'

"Oh god no. This is not going to happen."


'I like Kazuyoshi? That's impossible! That cannot be. I'm straight!' Kenya forces a smile as he stares at the wooden ceiling.

Their room is quite large that all the regulars are able to sleep in the same room. Lights are already off, and everyone seems to be dozing off. Except for him. Kenya has been lying on his futon, wide awake. His head lies on the palms of his hand as he stares at a closed light bulb at the ceiling. He recalls the events earlier that day.

After the conversation during dinner, Kenya has been trying to act normal towards his 'best friend.' He has finally become aware that everyone around him has been observing his actions. If he is to suddenly change habits towards the newcomer, an issue might just arise.

When Shiraishi and Coach Osamu began to express their worries regarding Kazuyoshi walking alone at night, Kenya thought that it will also be normal for him to say his concern as well. Before he could talk, however, Hikaru began giving instructions to the newcomer. It closely sounded to what mothers would usually say, so Kenya thought that Hikaru may be telling the truth.

Things proceeded so quickly until he realized that Kazuyoshi was already quite far and that he just missed his chance on having the last say to his 'best friend.' He slaps himself when he suddenly realizes how awkward he was for the whole day. The others have been giving him strange looks throughout the day.

Kenya sighs. "He's a real trouble," he murmurs to himself as he turns to lie on his side.

"Are you talking about Cutieyoshi-kun?" a whisper is heard in front of him.

He gasps as he restrains himself from shouting. "You startled me!" he whispers back.

Koharu grins. "You've been tossing and turning for an hour now. I'm worried you're not getting asleep."

Since the 'feud' between Koharu and Hitouji has not ended yet, the doubles partner has decided to sleep away from one another. Koharu sleeps on the futon beside Kenya's.

"I guess it's because of the new girl after all," Koharu continues.

"... new girl?" Kenya raises a brow. "Are you talking about Kazuyoshi? He is a guy, though."

"Oh! I mean, guy. Pardon me for the mistake." Koharu giggles at his error. "Were you thinking of Cutieyoshi-kun?"

"N-no."

"If you say so." Koharu grins before turning to his side away from his teammate. "But you better sleep now. We still have to play tennis tomorrow."

Kenya closes his eyes slowly, taking the advice of his teammate. He fills the darkness with images of tennis. He imagines how the games will turn out to be the next day. As the time for the final matches are nearing, he wants to be prepared and eager to win.

Winning would be really nice. Their team will carry the title of champions when they come home. And he would experience the victory before he graduates from middle school. He would be able to brag to Yuushi and to his parents. And of course, Kazuyoshi will be there to congratulate him. When the competition is over, he'll be able to hang out more often with Kazuyoshi. The two of them could go to some restaurant together, watch some movies together or at least go home together. Kenya would have more time to spend with Kazuyoshi once everything is over.

His eyes immediately open wide. Silence is in the room, except for the snores of a few teammates. Kenya slaps himself again for the nth time that night.

"Dammit, Kazuyoshi, not again."

~ End Chapter ~