" KIKUMARU!"
Fuji scanned the post-it note paper which he stuck on the back of his textbook again quickly.
List of things to do: 1. Taste Inui's latest juice (ticked) 2. Try to smuggle Inui's juice into Mizuki's water bottle 3. Make Yuuta come home (unsuccessful) 4. Matchmake Tezuka and Atobe (may not be successful) 5. Help Momo get a date from Tachibana Ann. 6. Make Jiroh stop calling my mobile phone - no idea what he wants 7. Get someone - anyone - into trouble. 8. Laugh at that someone - anyone. 9. Burn new classical CD records 10. Buy " The Book for Saddists" 11. Buy a koi for Oishi and make him name it Eiji No. 5 12. Buy a new toothpaste for Eiji so he'll stop whining during class when he's not sleeping 13. Wake Eiji up . . . 14. 15.
Fuji looked up and turned his textbook to the relevant page.
" KIKUMARU!" The sensei was beginning to get impatient.
" Eiji? Eiji?" Fuji prodded his friend. Eiji Kikumaru had fallen asleep during the most boring class of the day but that didn't seem to matter because the whole class was nodding off anyway. That was, everyone, except Fuji.
" Wha - what?" Eiji opened an eye.
" Sensei was calling you," Fuji whispered back. He smiled at the red-haired boy next to him. All the teachers loved to pick on Eiji and it was exceptionally funny to see how he deals with the situation and how he always gets away with everything.
" Eh?" Eiji jerked up abruptly. The whole class seemed energized all of a sudden. Heads turned towards Eiji's direction.
" Gomen, sensei." Eiji gave the teacher a sheepish grin.
" Read," the teacher ordered.
" - what?" Eiji said, not troubling to keep his voice low. The teacher, who was already looking very frustrated from the start, turned into the colour of a beetroot. Smilingly, Fuji told Eiji the page to be read out.
" Pardon, but her lesson is so boring that I decided to take a nap. " Eiji said in another audible whisper that made the whole class snigger. It was obvious that Eiji hadn't noticed that subtle change in the teacher's facial expression.
" Write - write - one hundred - times ..." the teacher choked. She had turned scarlet. She looked like she was going to cry any moment.
" Eh, sensei, I can't! If I write, I'll break my fingers, and if I do, I won't be able to play tennis anymore and . . " Eiji had gone into his series of whinings when . . .
" RRRRINGGGGG!"
" Sorry sensei! Going to be late for practice!" Eiji said gleefully. Without waiting for the teacher to reply, he grabbed his already packed bag and ran out of the class. Fuji got up with his bag. It was usual for him to repair the damage Eiji does everytime. Throwing his sadistic personality aside for a minute, he offered the teacher a tissue which she readily accepted.
" Thank you, you're such a nice boy, unlike your friend," she sniffed. Fuji had to keep himself from smirking loudly. He excused himself and found Eiji waiting outside for him.
" Hoi! I don't see how you can please the senseis all the time," Eiji said sulkily. " I'm always getting into some sort of trouble."
" Stop sleeping in class then," Fuji remarked.
" How can you possibily not sleep in THAT class?" Eiji exclaimed, jabbing his thumb towards the classroom. Just then the teacher walked out. She threw him a dirty look and was about to open her mouth when Fuji felt a thug on his arm as Eiji pulled him away from the scene.
" How about I get Inui to create you a " Wake Up Juice" ?" Fuji suggested.
" Fuji! You wicked! You know I never touch anything he makes, nyaaaa. . ." Eiji protested.
" Hmmmm," Fuji seemed to ignore his friend's objections. He had already made up his mind to get Inui to test it on Eiji.
" Oishi!" Eiji yelled. Fuji squinted his eyes and caught sight of his captain and vice-captain coming out of their classroom. Fuji smiled as his hyperactive friend went over to greet his doubles partner. Suddenly, he found himself face to face with Tezuka.
" Hello, Tezuka!" Fuji said brightly. " How was your date with Atobe yesterday?"
Tezuka glared at him. "I broke it off."
" Oh, how sad." Fuji continued smiling maliciously. " Atobe was looking forward to it."
" Fuji, I appreciate your, uh, 'concerns', but I would be very much obliged if you would stop pairing me up with everyone you see." Tezuka scowled
" No, I was just helping you 'make more friends'," Fuji demurred.
" Look, I've enough fanmail as it is." Tezuka glowered at Fuji and stalked away. Fuji grinned evilly at Tezuka and looked back to see the Golden Pair joining him.
Oishi looked at him and sighed," Fuji, give him a break, the poor guy's been pestered the whole day yesterday by Atobe. He was looking exceptionally murderous when Atobe said he got his phone number from you."
" Hoi! Thanks to our dear friend, Fuji, buchou has become very famous," Eiji agreed.
" Ah, I was just trying to help," Fuji said.
" I think your help is making his life worse than before," Oishi said, shaking his head.
" Really? I'll go fix up another date for him," Fuji lit up.
" I wish I hadn't said that," Oishi lamented.
" Nya . . . let's go for practice," Eiji said and pulled his two friends along.
********
It was a tough day and practice was finally over. Fuji stuck his head in his locker and scrutinized his 'list of things to do'. He would call Yuuta again and yes, must get the juice from Inui first.
" Uh, Fuji-senpai?" It was Momo. Fuji slammed his locker shut and turned to face his kouhai.
" Yes? Momo?" Fuji smiled and asked.
" I was wondering, have you, uh, have you . . . " Momo was turning red.
" Oh! Haven't had the time, I was busy with the another party," Fuji said, waving his hand towards Tezuka. " I'll help you as soon as I possibly can."
" Thanks, Fuji," the spiky-haired boy said. " Just don't want to let that Kamio get her first." With that, he hurried away to join Ryoma. Fuji watched until they had disappeared.
" Fuji? Here's the juice you want," Inui walked up to Fuji and held out a closed jar of liquid. It was blue and frothing. " Works best in an environment of thirty-seven degree celsius."
" Thanks Inui!" Fuji smiled. He took the juice from his team mate. He opened the jar and sniffed at it. It smelt . . . horrible. Yes. He loved that word. Fuji hid the jar in his bag and hurried outside the locker room.
" Riinngg." Fuji's mobile phone rang. ATOBE. The words appeared on the tiny screen.
Fuji pressed the phone to his ears and said," Hello? Atobe?
ATOBE: He broke it off.
Fuji replied: "Sorry to hear that, maybe that wasn't a really good idea. Tezuka's a really shy guy and I was thinking about . . . How about fishing? Tezuka loves to fish. . . Oh no . . . "
Tezuka appeared with his arms crossed. His face was passive as though he had expected it.
" Hello, Tezuka!" Fuji said brightly.
" Cancel that date," Tezuka said, ignoring Fuji's greeting.
" Uh, uh I can't do that . . . " Fuji's voice trailed off as Tezuka looked daggers at him.
" What did you tell him?" Tezuka's voice was dangerous.
" I didn't say anything ," Fuji said stubbornly.
" Out - with - it," Tezuka said threateningly.
" Well, all I said was that you like fishing," Fuji replied glibly.
" Fuji Syusuke!" Tezuka's voice was submissive.
" Does this mean you'll go on the date?" Fuji said cheerfully.
Tezuka said grudgingly ," Whatever, whatever to keep him away. Once only."
" Great, I'll tell him," Fuji took up his phone readily. Tezuka grunted and stormed away. Fuji smiled as he pressed the phone to his ears again. Fuji always managed to make Tezuka go dates in the end.
Fuji scanned the post-it note paper which he stuck on the back of his textbook again quickly.
List of things to do: 1. Taste Inui's latest juice (ticked) 2. Try to smuggle Inui's juice into Mizuki's water bottle 3. Make Yuuta come home (unsuccessful) 4. Matchmake Tezuka and Atobe (may not be successful) 5. Help Momo get a date from Tachibana Ann. 6. Make Jiroh stop calling my mobile phone - no idea what he wants 7. Get someone - anyone - into trouble. 8. Laugh at that someone - anyone. 9. Burn new classical CD records 10. Buy " The Book for Saddists" 11. Buy a koi for Oishi and make him name it Eiji No. 5 12. Buy a new toothpaste for Eiji so he'll stop whining during class when he's not sleeping 13. Wake Eiji up . . . 14. 15.
Fuji looked up and turned his textbook to the relevant page.
" KIKUMARU!" The sensei was beginning to get impatient.
" Eiji? Eiji?" Fuji prodded his friend. Eiji Kikumaru had fallen asleep during the most boring class of the day but that didn't seem to matter because the whole class was nodding off anyway. That was, everyone, except Fuji.
" Wha - what?" Eiji opened an eye.
" Sensei was calling you," Fuji whispered back. He smiled at the red-haired boy next to him. All the teachers loved to pick on Eiji and it was exceptionally funny to see how he deals with the situation and how he always gets away with everything.
" Eh?" Eiji jerked up abruptly. The whole class seemed energized all of a sudden. Heads turned towards Eiji's direction.
" Gomen, sensei." Eiji gave the teacher a sheepish grin.
" Read," the teacher ordered.
" - what?" Eiji said, not troubling to keep his voice low. The teacher, who was already looking very frustrated from the start, turned into the colour of a beetroot. Smilingly, Fuji told Eiji the page to be read out.
" Pardon, but her lesson is so boring that I decided to take a nap. " Eiji said in another audible whisper that made the whole class snigger. It was obvious that Eiji hadn't noticed that subtle change in the teacher's facial expression.
" Write - write - one hundred - times ..." the teacher choked. She had turned scarlet. She looked like she was going to cry any moment.
" Eh, sensei, I can't! If I write, I'll break my fingers, and if I do, I won't be able to play tennis anymore and . . " Eiji had gone into his series of whinings when . . .
" RRRRINGGGGG!"
" Sorry sensei! Going to be late for practice!" Eiji said gleefully. Without waiting for the teacher to reply, he grabbed his already packed bag and ran out of the class. Fuji got up with his bag. It was usual for him to repair the damage Eiji does everytime. Throwing his sadistic personality aside for a minute, he offered the teacher a tissue which she readily accepted.
" Thank you, you're such a nice boy, unlike your friend," she sniffed. Fuji had to keep himself from smirking loudly. He excused himself and found Eiji waiting outside for him.
" Hoi! I don't see how you can please the senseis all the time," Eiji said sulkily. " I'm always getting into some sort of trouble."
" Stop sleeping in class then," Fuji remarked.
" How can you possibily not sleep in THAT class?" Eiji exclaimed, jabbing his thumb towards the classroom. Just then the teacher walked out. She threw him a dirty look and was about to open her mouth when Fuji felt a thug on his arm as Eiji pulled him away from the scene.
" How about I get Inui to create you a " Wake Up Juice" ?" Fuji suggested.
" Fuji! You wicked! You know I never touch anything he makes, nyaaaa. . ." Eiji protested.
" Hmmmm," Fuji seemed to ignore his friend's objections. He had already made up his mind to get Inui to test it on Eiji.
" Oishi!" Eiji yelled. Fuji squinted his eyes and caught sight of his captain and vice-captain coming out of their classroom. Fuji smiled as his hyperactive friend went over to greet his doubles partner. Suddenly, he found himself face to face with Tezuka.
" Hello, Tezuka!" Fuji said brightly. " How was your date with Atobe yesterday?"
Tezuka glared at him. "I broke it off."
" Oh, how sad." Fuji continued smiling maliciously. " Atobe was looking forward to it."
" Fuji, I appreciate your, uh, 'concerns', but I would be very much obliged if you would stop pairing me up with everyone you see." Tezuka scowled
" No, I was just helping you 'make more friends'," Fuji demurred.
" Look, I've enough fanmail as it is." Tezuka glowered at Fuji and stalked away. Fuji grinned evilly at Tezuka and looked back to see the Golden Pair joining him.
Oishi looked at him and sighed," Fuji, give him a break, the poor guy's been pestered the whole day yesterday by Atobe. He was looking exceptionally murderous when Atobe said he got his phone number from you."
" Hoi! Thanks to our dear friend, Fuji, buchou has become very famous," Eiji agreed.
" Ah, I was just trying to help," Fuji said.
" I think your help is making his life worse than before," Oishi said, shaking his head.
" Really? I'll go fix up another date for him," Fuji lit up.
" I wish I hadn't said that," Oishi lamented.
" Nya . . . let's go for practice," Eiji said and pulled his two friends along.
********
It was a tough day and practice was finally over. Fuji stuck his head in his locker and scrutinized his 'list of things to do'. He would call Yuuta again and yes, must get the juice from Inui first.
" Uh, Fuji-senpai?" It was Momo. Fuji slammed his locker shut and turned to face his kouhai.
" Yes? Momo?" Fuji smiled and asked.
" I was wondering, have you, uh, have you . . . " Momo was turning red.
" Oh! Haven't had the time, I was busy with the another party," Fuji said, waving his hand towards Tezuka. " I'll help you as soon as I possibly can."
" Thanks, Fuji," the spiky-haired boy said. " Just don't want to let that Kamio get her first." With that, he hurried away to join Ryoma. Fuji watched until they had disappeared.
" Fuji? Here's the juice you want," Inui walked up to Fuji and held out a closed jar of liquid. It was blue and frothing. " Works best in an environment of thirty-seven degree celsius."
" Thanks Inui!" Fuji smiled. He took the juice from his team mate. He opened the jar and sniffed at it. It smelt . . . horrible. Yes. He loved that word. Fuji hid the jar in his bag and hurried outside the locker room.
" Riinngg." Fuji's mobile phone rang. ATOBE. The words appeared on the tiny screen.
Fuji pressed the phone to his ears and said," Hello? Atobe?
ATOBE: He broke it off.
Fuji replied: "Sorry to hear that, maybe that wasn't a really good idea. Tezuka's a really shy guy and I was thinking about . . . How about fishing? Tezuka loves to fish. . . Oh no . . . "
Tezuka appeared with his arms crossed. His face was passive as though he had expected it.
" Hello, Tezuka!" Fuji said brightly.
" Cancel that date," Tezuka said, ignoring Fuji's greeting.
" Uh, uh I can't do that . . . " Fuji's voice trailed off as Tezuka looked daggers at him.
" What did you tell him?" Tezuka's voice was dangerous.
" I didn't say anything ," Fuji said stubbornly.
" Out - with - it," Tezuka said threateningly.
" Well, all I said was that you like fishing," Fuji replied glibly.
" Fuji Syusuke!" Tezuka's voice was submissive.
" Does this mean you'll go on the date?" Fuji said cheerfully.
Tezuka said grudgingly ," Whatever, whatever to keep him away. Once only."
" Great, I'll tell him," Fuji took up his phone readily. Tezuka grunted and stormed away. Fuji smiled as he pressed the phone to his ears again. Fuji always managed to make Tezuka go dates in the end.