Chapter Eighteen.
Jealousy issues exist too in a friendly relationship.
"Kazuyoshi-kun?"
Yume turns around and sees Shiraishi. She blinks. "Ah! Shiraishi-san!"
The Shitenhouji tennis team captain looks at her in confusion. He looks at various directions as if looking for something. "I thought I heard a girl's voice. Are you with a female companion, Kazuyoshi-kun?"
Her face turns pale. She clears her throat and says in a deeper voice, "You probably just heard some girls who passed by." Marui grins.
Shiraishi blinks. "That's odd. I didn't notice anyone who passed by." His smile appears. "By the way, what are you doing here, Kazuyoshi-kun?"
"Ohh... I was just having a chat with my friend here. Have you met Bunta-san, Shiraishi-san?"
"Rikkai Dai Fuzoku, right?" Shiraishi looks at Marui and bows. "Nice to meet you. I am Shiraishi Kuranosuke from Shitenhouji Middle School."
"I'm Bunta Marui," Marui replies with a bow. "I see that you're a tennis player as well. How is your team doing?"
"We don't have any matches as of now. But we're doing fine so far." Shiraishi glances at Yume. "Did I interrupt or something?"
"Not really. We're just taking a little break from all those matches," replies Yume.
"Shiraishi!" Kenya runs towards the scene, approaching his captain. Shortly after calling, he reaches their location and rests his hand into Shiraishi's shoulder. "There's some trouble. Kin-chan's nowhere to be found."
"Eh?!" Yume exclaims.
Kenya's attention turns to her upon noticing her presence in the venue at that certain moment. His face lightens up a bit until he notices that Marui is there as well. His face twists in irritation.
Shiraishi, still ignorant of the situation his friend is in, simply sighs. "Kin-chan... not again."
Marui smirks at the coffee-haired boy when he noticed that the latter has been glaring at him.
"... Anyway, I'll be seeing you later, Kazuyoshi-kun." Shiraishi scratches the back of his head. "I'm going ahead to look first for our troublesome Kin-chan." He bows politely at Marui, "Well, best of luck with your matches." He bids farewell and jogs away.
"Later, Shiraishi-san!" Yume waves her hand as the captain disappears from sight. She takes a deep breath and a frown appears on her face. "Uhm... Bunta-san, I-" As she turns to her companion, she is surprised and frightened to see Kenya's irritated face. "O-Oshitari-san...?" she gulps.
"It's you again," Kenya growls at Marui.
Marui whistles. He rests his arm on Yume's shoulders. "You're too heated up. I think you should cool down or else you'll scare everyone away. Even Kazuyoshi-kun."
Kenya stops at Marui's last words. He looks at Yume's worried face and takes a deep breath. Despite his attempt to calm down, however, he remains irritated. Irritated, partly because he does not particularly like the person accompanying his 'best friend' and partly because he is reminded of how Kenya was previously reprimanded when he tried to have a quarrel with the Rikkai Dai trio.
"Oshitari-san, I think you should calm down first. Now, I don't know what you're fussing about as of the moment, but will you please just calm down?" she says.
Kenya snaps. "Aren't you supposed to be cheering for our team?"
"I thought Shitenhouji has no tennis match as of the moment. That's why I'm watching Bunta-san's team."
"Fine. If that's what you want to do..." he turns away.
Yume gently removes Marui's arms on her shoulder and takes a step toward her 'bestfriend.' "O-Oshitari-san? Are you leaving now?" she asks worryingly.
"I'm gonna go do some warm-ups while searching for Kin-chan," Kenya takes a few steps away.
"Do you guys need some help? I can go look for Tooyama-san if you'd need help." She approaches him.
"Just..." he sighs. "... enjoy watching Rikkai Dai's tennis matches with that guy." A sound of bitterness is evident in Kenya's voice. Before Yume could place a comforting hand on his shoulder or even touch his back, the young man speeds away from the place.
Yume and Marui are both stunned at the speed shown by Kenya. They turn to look at each other, both with surprised faces. "Your boy sure can run fast," Marui remarks.
"Even I haven't seen Oshitari-san run that fast." She blinks. "And, excuse you, he's not my boy."
"I think you two would look fine, though," he teases to which she simply grunts as a response.
"Kintarou-san, you musn't run around without telling anyone where you're going. You'll get really lost in this huge venue," Koharu reprimands the young red-haired boy whose face is pale from fear of Shiraishi's 'poisonous hand.'
"But I really want to play tennis with someone!" Kintarou reasons out to the whole team. "I want to play with the guy Kenya has been talking about right now! I want to play Koshimae!"
"No," the captain replies, "Kin-chan, behave yourself and wait patiently for your time to play tennis."
The whole Shitenhouji tennis club regulars are gathered under a tree on a certain bench. Their coach is seated beside the calm and reserved Gin. Hitouji and Koharu are clinging to each other while Hikaru is frowning at his 'disgusting' teammates. Koishikawa and Shiraishi are looking at Kintarou who is at the center of the circle.
"Our next match is with Fudoumine. If we win those games, our next opponents will be Seigaku," Osamu announces. He looks at Kintarou. "Maybe you could play with Koshimae by then. In the meantime, you should preserve your explosive energy." His attention shifts to a certain member who has remained unnaturally silent for a while. "Right, Kenya?"
Kenya is standing beside Hikaru and has been intensely staring at the ground. His silence seems to render him absent from the informal team meeting they are currently having.
"Kenya?" the coach calls him once again. Everyone is now looking at their teammate.
"Is Kenya... having deep thoughts?" Hitouji gasps.
Koharu follows up, "But that's... impossible! What happened to the mindless speed star of Naniwa?"
While they are expecting for an offended reaction from their teammate, the Homo pair gets disappointed when their attempt did not work at all. "Senpai-tachi, it did not work," says Hikaru.
Koharu pouts. "Well, this is one serious problem."
Shiraishi sighs and rests a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Kenya."
Kenya snaps out of his deep thoughts and immediately looks at his captain. "Shiraishi? Is there something wrong?" He notices the worried look on Shiraishi's face. He looks around and sees everyone staring back at him. "You guys, too."
"Kenya-han, are you having trouble with something?" Gin asks him straightforwardly to which the man in question simply shakes his head.
"You've been in deep thoughts since we got here," Kosihikawa says, "Are you sure there's no problem with you... at all?"
"Nothing! I'm fine," Kenya insists.
"Just keep your head in the game, Kenya," says their coach.
"Y-yes!"
"If you guys want to win this National Tournament, everyone will have to be focused. You can leave your thoughts of your loved ones back at Osaka. But for now, your head should be in the matches!" Osamu teasingly looks at Kenya, "Especially you, Kenya. You can calm your nerves down before asking someone out."
The young man's face reddened. "O-Osamu-chan, what are you talking about?"
"Oh? Were you not thinking about that person?" The coach scratches the back of his head and looks at the other team members. They are all equally confused. "Are we not all in consensus on what Kenya is thinking about?"
"Osamu-chan, no one has really talked about what Kenya is thinking of," Hitouji explains.
"Ahhh... is that so?" Osamu laughs it off. "I thought that we're all thinking the same thing."
"Then, what were you thinking, Osamu-chan?" the young red-haired asks innocently.
He glances at Kenya whose face is red and decides to let it go. "Let's just leave all my thoughts inside my head, where it belongs. For now, what we need is to decide your lineup for your next match. Is everyone here?"
"Chitose still isn't here," Shiraishi replies. "Did anyone tell him that we've already found Kin-chan?"
"Oh, no. We forgot."
"I hope you won't ruin my day by coming here."
"Just so you know, I certainly didn't come here for you."
They have been looking at each other with teasing (but equally annoyed) grins. He raises his brow when she raises a brow. She smirks when he smirks. Even though the field is packed with people, the two of them can only see each other at the moment. Neither backs down from the other's provocation.
"I hope your team loses so that people would see how that arrogant look in your face will be wiped out," Fumiko spits those words out of her mouth.
"Well, I hope that you won't see the person you're looking for so that you would look stupid and pathetic for coming all the way here," replies Atobe in an equally immature tone.
"One of your games, you'll fall down to your knees in defeat."
"You're going to get lost in this place and you'll cry helplessly."
Fumiko crosses her arms and a frown appears on her face. "I really regret that my parents are friends with yours."
"I wish my fiancee was someone else other than you."
"One of these days, you will see how I am far superior than you are."
"I'd like to see you try."
"You know, I hate to say this but... you're only rich. Outside your wealth, you don't have any remarkable or any valuable skills."
"Well... you should know, too, that all you have is your pretty face. And should I say that your face does a really good job of compensating the lack of the contents in your brain." Kabaji tugs the hem of his shirt. Noting this, Atobe clears his throat. "It seems that Ore-sama doesn't have any more time for your nitwit games, so if you'll excuse me..." He turns his back to Fumiko.
She glares at the sight of his back. "You're the one who is a nitwit. And that's my line!" She crosses her arms and turns away.
"I'm leaving!" They say in unison.
Atobe takes a last glance at her. "See you at dinner, Shizuoka." Then, his feet start to drag him away.
Fumiko glances behind her. And, she grits her teeth.
Hitouji whispers to his doubles partner, careful not to let the unexpected visitor hear what he is saying, "I thought that one of her dislikes is sports?"
"T-that's what I believe, too," Koharu replies while he adjusts his glasses. His face is flushing red as he, the genius dataman of Shitenhouji, somehow got his data wrong. "Actually... I thought the whole school is aware of that fact."
Hikaru raises a brow as he overhears the conversation of his upperclassmen. No one has spoken a word since the girl came in. He sighs and decides to take one for the team. "So what are you doing here, Shizuoka-san?"
A certain Shizuoka Fumiko has appeared in front of the whole team after the search for the redhead rascal. Chitose, standing behind the girl, scratches the back of his head and laughs sheepishly. Everyone else seems to be in quite a shock to the sudden appearance of the so-called 'Queen of Shitenhouji.'
"I heard that Kazuyoshi-sama is here, so I came over," the girl replies straightforwardly in a proud tone.
"I actually bumped into her while I was looking for Kin-chan. She looked really lost, so I took her here," Chitose explains, "... and she has been looking for Yuki-kun. I thought he is here right now, but he actually isn't."
"Oh yeah... right." The whole team sighs.
"So? Where is Kazuyoshi Yuki-sama?" Fumiko demands while she places her hands on her hips.
"You shouldn't have come here," Kenya bitterly answer with a tone of irritation. He has been feeling unhappy since he came back to the team. And the demanding tone that the queen has been using certainly did not help to ease the feeling. "He's not here. You should've looked for a red-haired, gum-chewing guy if you want to see Kazuyoshi-kun." The coffee-haired boy's unpleasant behavior does not escape the queen's keen observation. Shiraishi sighs at his friend's behavior.
Fumiko reacts accordingly. "Did you just use that tone with me?" She glares at him.
He, however with all his pride, refuses to be intimidated by her wrath. "Yes, I obviously just did. What makes you think you can act that way around here?"
The captain places a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Kenya, please don't do this," he whispers.
The team looks at Kenya worryingly. Osamu, who has been observing, finally stands up from the bench. Looking at the two students in quarrel, the coach says, "No fighting, you younglings." He scratches the back of his head. "And I thought this was just a lovers' quarrel..."
"O-Osamu-!" "Sensei-!"
"Oh?" The coach blinks in confusion. "I thought you two are the couple around here."
Koharu smiles while frowning. "Osamu-chan, they're not."
"They're not? Oh well..." Osamu claps as a sign for all seriousness. "Anyway, let's not continue on with this scene and go back to what is important right now - the matches." He turns to Kenya. "Cool your head, Kenya. Or else I'll have to put you in reserve for the Fudoumine match."
The young man clenches his teeth and takes a deep breath. "Yes, I understand."
Osamu then turns to Fumiko. "And you, young lady, I hope that you've come here to simply watch the games. Don't make a ruckus around here."
With a frown, Fumiko bites her lower lip. She does not have any other choice but to comply with the adult's order. "Yes, Sensei."
"Now!" The loud and energetic coach brightens up once again. He places his fists on the side of his hips. "I'll announce the order of the matches."
Ten minutes before the first match, Yume arrives to the court where the Shitenhouji tennis regulars are going to play. Upon being greeted by Ishida, she politely greets back and also greets the other members. However, there is someone else she has been longing to see. Kenya is tying his shoes on a bench; his right foot is placed on top of the bench while he dusts his shoes as well. Upon seeing the person of interest, Yume starts walking towards him but a certain girl blocks her way.
"Kazuyoshi Yuki-sama!" Fumiko greets her cheerfully.
Yume shrieks in response. "Uhh... hello, Queen-san?"
"Did you miss me?"
"Not... really."
Fumiko pouts. "You're such a meanie, Yuki-sama."
"Yuki... sama? Do I really have to play along with this?" she mumbles to herself. But then, Yume shrugs off the thought. "Anyway, I-I need to go to Oshitari-san. Please excuse me." Not waiting for an answer, she passes by Fumiko and approaches her friend directly.
Kenya senses her approach but ignores her. He just lifts his left foot to tie his shoelace.
She stands in front of him and clears her throat. "Uhm... so you're playing today," she awkwardly starts.
"Yeah. So what?" he flatly dismisses her.
The other members are pretending not to eavesdrop, but this is an event when they cannot just mind their own businesses. From his location, Hikaru glances at their direction. Koharu and Hitouji have noticeably stood nearer the scene. Shiraishi, Koishikawa and Osamu raise their brows upon seeing the scene. Gin closes his eyes and wishes that nothing bad happens. Chitose, on the other hand, momentarily glances at them and also watches as the other members eavesdrop.
She clears her throat once again. "D-do your best, Oshitari-san." Yume shoves her hand inside the pocket of her pants and takes something out. A lucky charm. She holds it out to him.
Kenya immediately stops dusting his shoes and looks at the charm. He then looks up at a blushing Yume and blinks. His energy rises once again after the previous gloomy events. He puts his feet down and stands up in front of her, staring at her intensely.
"I-I read that it is a custom here in Japan to give good luck charms to someone who will be having a very important event." She shyly escapes the stare of the taller guy. "S-so I wanted to give you this. It's nothing special, though. I just made it last night."
He remembers that the transferee had not been living in Japan for so long. His friend may have been very unaware with the popular interpretation of such an act. Nevertheless, he feels overjoyed with the handmade effort put into it for him. After all, it is Kazuyoshi-kun.
His ears have become deaf for his own thoughts with the overpowering music of his heart. Kenya mindlessly pulls Yume into a tight embrace. With a smile on his face, he gently whispers to her ears, "It doesn't matter if it isn't something too special. If it came from you, then it is really special for me. Thank you so much, Kazuyoshi-kun."
Her face turns redder upon hearing this. She feels her heart beating faster than ever and wonders if the same thing is with him.
Hitouji and Koharu grin as they watch the scene while the other members divert their attention away. Osamu raises a brow and utters to himself, "So, they are the couple? Oh well... this is not what I expected."
Meanwhile, Fumiko has a furious expression on her face as she has been caught out of guard. She definitely did not expect that Kenya would do that to her 'king.' Her mouth gapes at the scene of two young men hugging. Maybe this is the reason why Kenya was irritated earlier.
~ End Chapter ~
