Chapter 26
"Can't you guess?" asked Yuki. "I want to live my own life! Now I know that this arranged marriage thing will never work out."
"That's not why," objected Keita in a sure voice.
"How would you know?" asked Yuki grumpily.
"Because even back in the U.S. when you heard me say I was going to cheat on you when we were married," began Keita, "You didn't care. Now, you cancelled the marriage. Face it Yuki, you're in love with someone and it's definitely not me."
"Why do you care?" asked Yuki in a not too soft voice, "We're not engaged anymore."
"Did you even think that what I said in the states was a lie?" asked Keita. Yuki looked up in surprise.
"What are you talking about?" asked Yuki. Keita looked away.
"I was really happy about the arrangement," said Keita, "Why do you think I gave you that necklace? I'm sorry about what I said Yuki. Rai, Kosuke, Reika, and I'll go back as soon as we finish our business here. Good luck with whoever you like now!" Yuki looked confused as she looked after Keita's back.
"What does he mean by that?" thought Yuki to herself, "Am I in love again?"
"Rei," said Kiyoko during practice, "Captain hasn't asked Ryoma yet. What do you think is wrong?"
"I don't know," said Rei with a shrug, "Just watch Ryoma."
"Hai!" said Kiyoko. Just then Momo went to Kiyoko.
"Kiyoko-chan!" said Momo tapping his racket lightly on Kiyoko's head, "We've got store duty with Ryoma, Horio, Kachiro, and Mizuno today!"
"All right!" said Kiyoko cheerfully, "I'll go get my things."
"Hayaku Kiyoko," said Momo when he and the first years were outside.
"Coming!" said Kiyoko walking outside in khaki pants and a navy blue shirt, "Let's go!" Just after the group left for store duty, Tezuka dismissed practice.
"Yay!" cheered Yuki, "We're off early. What do you want to do Eiji-chan? Fuji-chan?"
"Hm," said Eiji thinking before Yuki's stomach rumbled loudly.
"I can treat us to some food," offered Fuji cheerfully.
"Cool! Come on everyone," said Yuki pulling on Eiji's and Fuji's hands.
"Hm? Tezuka, are you and Oishi leaving early too?" asked Rei.
"Tezuka and I are going to the hospital today," informed Oishi.
"Could I come?" asked Rei standing up from where she had been doing paperwork. Oishi was about to object when Tezuka stopped him.
"If you want," said Tezuka coolly. Rei smiled before following the two boys outside.
"Shopping, shopping, we're going shopping," chanted Kiyoko happily in a singsong voice as she skipped along next to Ryoma trying to get him to join in. It wasn't working.
"Momo-chan-senpai," said Horio looking up at Momo, "Did you volunteer to come do store duty with us? You could have left practice early. All the regulars must be tired by now."
"Iie," said Momo, "It is a senpai's duty to help his juniors whenever possible." Just then a shout was heard.
"Thief!" cried a lady pointing at a man rollerblading away with a purse in his hand.
"Hold this for me Kiyoko," said Momo giving Kiyoko his racket and bags before running to the thief.
"Momo-chan-senpai!" cried Horio in chibi near tears as he looked admiringly at Momo. Kiyoko rolled her eyes as Momo ran after the thief.
"Momo Lariat!" he shouted lunging for the man. The thief ducked in surprise but kept on.
"You guys do the shopping!" said Momo behind his back before taking someone's bike to race after the thief.
"Hey! Bicycle thief!" exclaimed the boy Momo took the bike from in shock before getting furious. Upon closer inspection on the boy and the other next to him, it was...
"Kamio Akira and Ibu Shinji!" exclaimed Kiyoko in surprise nearly dropping Momo's things.
"Why you!" said Kamio angrily to Momo's back, "Get back here thief! You should've picked someone else to steal from! I'm in the rhythm." Kamio chased after Momo and his bicycle leaving Shinji behind.
"Konnichi wa Shinji-san," said Kiyoko cheerfully, "Where were you and Kamio-san going?"
"Store," muttered Shinji.
"Great!" said Kiyoko, "We're going the same way. Let's go together." When Shinji and the others had gotten there, Horio, Kachiro, and Mizuno stood in front of Kiyoko with scared looks on their faces. "Hm? What's wrong with you guys?"
"Kiyoko!" said Mizuno, "Don't you remember? Shinji-san and Echizen went against each other at the district preliminaries! Shinji ruined Ryoma's eye and Ryoma beat Shinji-san to win first place!"
"But they seem to be getting along," pointed out Kiyoko as she looked over at Shinji and Ryoma who were busily shopping for their own supplies.
"Arigato Fuji-chan," said Yuki while merrily patting her full stomach.
"Hehe," snickered Eiji, "Yuki-chan will get fat on sweets!"
"Eiji!" cried Yuki kicking the boy in the shins.
"Itai!" cried Eiji in surprise while cradling his leg.
"Nye!" said Yuki teasingly holding her tongue out and pulling down an eye.
"Sometimes Eiji is very baka," said Fuji laughing softly.
"Hai!" said Yuki nodding her head vigorously. Eiji was now in chibi crouching in the background moping.
"Gomen Eiji," said Yuki cheerfully patting the boy on the back, "I was just kidding." Eiji now looked considerably happier.
"There's no way you can beat me!" said a very loud voice, "I'm Seigaku's #1 reflex movement player." a boy on a bicycle and another running right next to him soon jetted down the sidewalk. It seemed the thief had been forgotten and the chase between Momo and Kamio suddenly turned into a race with no apparent sign of finishing.
"Wasn't that Momo-chan?" asked Yuki looking adter the figure. Next to her, Eiji had the anger mark on his face and was fuming in chibi form with snorts of air going out of his nose.
"That Momo," said Eiji, "I'm supposed to be Seigaku's #1 reflex movement player!" Yuki patted Eiji comfortingly on the back before suddenly remembering something.
"Fuji-chan? Eiji-chan? Can we please go to the sports store?" asked Yuki in a pleading voice, "I wanted to buy something to help me practice. It just came out with the latest model and I want to be the first to get it." She gave Fuji and Eiji a puppy dog face and they were fully won over.
"Sure!" said Eiji happily. The three headed for the sports store and were suddenly bombarded by Mizuno, Kachiro, and Horio.
"Fuji-senpai! Eiji-senpai!" cried Horio with his ever so loud voice in relief as he said, "Help! Echizen and Shinji from Fudomine are about to get into a fight over medicine tape!"
"They're only talking," said Kiyoko sweat dropping at how much the boys exaggerated. Ryoma and Shinji were making small talk but finally came into a snag when they both reached for tape at the same time. It was the only one left and none of the boys were willing to give it up.
"Kiyoko-chan!" said Yuki happily and clinging to the girl.
"Yuki," said Kiyoko in a teasing voice, "Why were you with Eiji and Fuji-senpai?"
"Eep!" cried Yuki hiding behind Fuji from Kiyoko's persistence in having her question answered. The first years sweatdropped at Fuji's ever so happy face and turned to Eiji hoping for help. They were surprised to see Eiji's excited face. There were stars in his eyes as he started jumping up and down in glee.
"Yes!" said Eiji all riled up as he cheered for Ryoma saying, "Go Ochibi-chan! This is a battle between Seigaku and Fudomine! Go Seigaku!"
"Baka," said Yuki sweatdropping. Yuki and Fuji walked outside for air while Seigaku went to the register to buy the medicine tape they were fighting over. Just then a man rollerblading Yuki's way with a purse and a woman shouting "Thief!" behind him appeared.
"Out of the way!" shouted the man. Yuki had no time to move and gasped before the man was merely a foot away. Fuji acted quickly and pulled Yuki to him. Yuki raised her eyes in surprise at the two's close proximity and unconsciously snuggled closer to Fuji's arms.
"Daijobu?" asked Fuji in Yuki's ear. Yuki pulled away immediately and nodded while blushing. Now Kiyoko waked out shaking her head in disapproval while Ryoma and Shinji followed behind her with a bag between the two boys.
"Hm?" asked Yuki diverting her attention from Kiyoko's unamused face to Ryoma and Shinji and said, "Haven't you guys settled this yet?"
"Not yet," said Eiji in a pleased voice, "But Ochibi-chan will win for sure!"
"You know, this doesn't bug me but it's starting to!" shouted Kiyoko turning from happy in the beginning to mad in the end. Mizuno, Horio, and Kachiro had given up on Eiji and Fuji and were now turning back to Kiyoko again. She also wanted to get home and Ryoma and Shinji were holding her up. "There better be a decision right now or people'll be seeing some blood." There was now a fire surrounding Kiyoko.
"Kiyoko-chan!" said Yuki in chibi as she cowered. Kiyoko's anger was directed at her since Ryoma had used Yuki as a shield. Now they were all heading for the bridge.
"We still don't know who gets the tape," whined Kachiro.
"Hm," said Eiji determined to get Seigaku the win before the rollerblading thief everyone had seen all throughout the day. It seemed he was trying yet again.
"All right!" said Eiji, "Whoever stops the thief wins the medicine tape."
"Deal," said Ryoma and Shinji.
"Eiji!" whined Yuki suddenly next to the excited Eiji, "I wanted to hurt the thief." Her words went to unheard ears as Ryoma and Shinji served.
"Huh?" asked the purse thief before a ball launched into his face and knocked him out. The purse went flying.
"Mada Mada Dane," said Ryoma. Kiyoko sweatdropped and just took the medicine tape from the triumphant Ryoma's hands.
"Baka," muttered Kiyoko. Just then Momo and Kamio walked in. Eiji noticed Momo.
"Momo!" cried Eiji pointing his finger accusingly at the younger boy, "Who did you say was the best reflex movement player in Seigaku?!"
"Eh?! Did I say that?" asked Momo feigning innocence as Eji started chasing him around. Suddenly Kaidoh appeared looking like a total mess. It seemed the all the times the thief failed in stealing a purse, Kaidoh had been there taking his place getting caught by the police when the purses landed on him.
"Oh? Kaidoh, did you do some extensive training again?" asked Fuji. Kaidoh looked around and saw the thief who had been knocked out by Ryoma's serve.
"You!" said Kaidoh in a growl to the thief who was now stirring into consciousness.
"Eep," said Kiyoko trying to stop him along with the other first years.
"I'll kill you," said Kaidoh marching to the thief with a snarl.
"Hey!" cried Kiyoko as she and the other first ears tried to stop Kaidoh to no avail.
"I'll kill you," said Kaidoh.
"Ahh!" cried the thief running past Yuki who was pushed to the ground along the way. Fuji put his foot out tripping the thief as he went past him when he had seen what the thief had done. There was an intense look in his eyes before he smiled and helped Yuki up.
"Fuji-chan," said Yuki surprised before smiling as she said "Hai" when Fuji asked if she was all right.
"Ryoma!" called Kiyoko while still pulling Kaidoh back by the shirt, "Get over here and help me out!" Ryoma, who had been listening to Shinji's mutterings, happily complied.
"I'll see you some other time Momo," said Kamio pedaling off with Shinji after he had watched the cat and mouse game between Momo and Eiji for awhile.
"This is way too crazy," said Kiyoko giving up as she let Kaidoh go.
"Well your arm looks fine now Tezuka," said the doctor, "Try not to overstrain it for a month and your tennis elbow should be gone by then."
"Arigato," said Tezuka to Oishi's uncle.
"So," said Rei, "The reason ou couldn't play against Ryoma today was so that you could see if your arm was healed."
"I thought I heard someone outside," said Tezuka.
"Gomen," said Rei. Tezuka stood up and walked outside.
"Iie," said Tezuka shaking his head, "I don't mind if you know." Rei blushed before catching up to Tezuka.
"Can't you guess?" asked Yuki. "I want to live my own life! Now I know that this arranged marriage thing will never work out."
"That's not why," objected Keita in a sure voice.
"How would you know?" asked Yuki grumpily.
"Because even back in the U.S. when you heard me say I was going to cheat on you when we were married," began Keita, "You didn't care. Now, you cancelled the marriage. Face it Yuki, you're in love with someone and it's definitely not me."
"Why do you care?" asked Yuki in a not too soft voice, "We're not engaged anymore."
"Did you even think that what I said in the states was a lie?" asked Keita. Yuki looked up in surprise.
"What are you talking about?" asked Yuki. Keita looked away.
"I was really happy about the arrangement," said Keita, "Why do you think I gave you that necklace? I'm sorry about what I said Yuki. Rai, Kosuke, Reika, and I'll go back as soon as we finish our business here. Good luck with whoever you like now!" Yuki looked confused as she looked after Keita's back.
"What does he mean by that?" thought Yuki to herself, "Am I in love again?"
"Rei," said Kiyoko during practice, "Captain hasn't asked Ryoma yet. What do you think is wrong?"
"I don't know," said Rei with a shrug, "Just watch Ryoma."
"Hai!" said Kiyoko. Just then Momo went to Kiyoko.
"Kiyoko-chan!" said Momo tapping his racket lightly on Kiyoko's head, "We've got store duty with Ryoma, Horio, Kachiro, and Mizuno today!"
"All right!" said Kiyoko cheerfully, "I'll go get my things."
"Hayaku Kiyoko," said Momo when he and the first years were outside.
"Coming!" said Kiyoko walking outside in khaki pants and a navy blue shirt, "Let's go!" Just after the group left for store duty, Tezuka dismissed practice.
"Yay!" cheered Yuki, "We're off early. What do you want to do Eiji-chan? Fuji-chan?"
"Hm," said Eiji thinking before Yuki's stomach rumbled loudly.
"I can treat us to some food," offered Fuji cheerfully.
"Cool! Come on everyone," said Yuki pulling on Eiji's and Fuji's hands.
"Hm? Tezuka, are you and Oishi leaving early too?" asked Rei.
"Tezuka and I are going to the hospital today," informed Oishi.
"Could I come?" asked Rei standing up from where she had been doing paperwork. Oishi was about to object when Tezuka stopped him.
"If you want," said Tezuka coolly. Rei smiled before following the two boys outside.
"Shopping, shopping, we're going shopping," chanted Kiyoko happily in a singsong voice as she skipped along next to Ryoma trying to get him to join in. It wasn't working.
"Momo-chan-senpai," said Horio looking up at Momo, "Did you volunteer to come do store duty with us? You could have left practice early. All the regulars must be tired by now."
"Iie," said Momo, "It is a senpai's duty to help his juniors whenever possible." Just then a shout was heard.
"Thief!" cried a lady pointing at a man rollerblading away with a purse in his hand.
"Hold this for me Kiyoko," said Momo giving Kiyoko his racket and bags before running to the thief.
"Momo-chan-senpai!" cried Horio in chibi near tears as he looked admiringly at Momo. Kiyoko rolled her eyes as Momo ran after the thief.
"Momo Lariat!" he shouted lunging for the man. The thief ducked in surprise but kept on.
"You guys do the shopping!" said Momo behind his back before taking someone's bike to race after the thief.
"Hey! Bicycle thief!" exclaimed the boy Momo took the bike from in shock before getting furious. Upon closer inspection on the boy and the other next to him, it was...
"Kamio Akira and Ibu Shinji!" exclaimed Kiyoko in surprise nearly dropping Momo's things.
"Why you!" said Kamio angrily to Momo's back, "Get back here thief! You should've picked someone else to steal from! I'm in the rhythm." Kamio chased after Momo and his bicycle leaving Shinji behind.
"Konnichi wa Shinji-san," said Kiyoko cheerfully, "Where were you and Kamio-san going?"
"Store," muttered Shinji.
"Great!" said Kiyoko, "We're going the same way. Let's go together." When Shinji and the others had gotten there, Horio, Kachiro, and Mizuno stood in front of Kiyoko with scared looks on their faces. "Hm? What's wrong with you guys?"
"Kiyoko!" said Mizuno, "Don't you remember? Shinji-san and Echizen went against each other at the district preliminaries! Shinji ruined Ryoma's eye and Ryoma beat Shinji-san to win first place!"
"But they seem to be getting along," pointed out Kiyoko as she looked over at Shinji and Ryoma who were busily shopping for their own supplies.
"Arigato Fuji-chan," said Yuki while merrily patting her full stomach.
"Hehe," snickered Eiji, "Yuki-chan will get fat on sweets!"
"Eiji!" cried Yuki kicking the boy in the shins.
"Itai!" cried Eiji in surprise while cradling his leg.
"Nye!" said Yuki teasingly holding her tongue out and pulling down an eye.
"Sometimes Eiji is very baka," said Fuji laughing softly.
"Hai!" said Yuki nodding her head vigorously. Eiji was now in chibi crouching in the background moping.
"Gomen Eiji," said Yuki cheerfully patting the boy on the back, "I was just kidding." Eiji now looked considerably happier.
"There's no way you can beat me!" said a very loud voice, "I'm Seigaku's #1 reflex movement player." a boy on a bicycle and another running right next to him soon jetted down the sidewalk. It seemed the thief had been forgotten and the chase between Momo and Kamio suddenly turned into a race with no apparent sign of finishing.
"Wasn't that Momo-chan?" asked Yuki looking adter the figure. Next to her, Eiji had the anger mark on his face and was fuming in chibi form with snorts of air going out of his nose.
"That Momo," said Eiji, "I'm supposed to be Seigaku's #1 reflex movement player!" Yuki patted Eiji comfortingly on the back before suddenly remembering something.
"Fuji-chan? Eiji-chan? Can we please go to the sports store?" asked Yuki in a pleading voice, "I wanted to buy something to help me practice. It just came out with the latest model and I want to be the first to get it." She gave Fuji and Eiji a puppy dog face and they were fully won over.
"Sure!" said Eiji happily. The three headed for the sports store and were suddenly bombarded by Mizuno, Kachiro, and Horio.
"Fuji-senpai! Eiji-senpai!" cried Horio with his ever so loud voice in relief as he said, "Help! Echizen and Shinji from Fudomine are about to get into a fight over medicine tape!"
"They're only talking," said Kiyoko sweat dropping at how much the boys exaggerated. Ryoma and Shinji were making small talk but finally came into a snag when they both reached for tape at the same time. It was the only one left and none of the boys were willing to give it up.
"Kiyoko-chan!" said Yuki happily and clinging to the girl.
"Yuki," said Kiyoko in a teasing voice, "Why were you with Eiji and Fuji-senpai?"
"Eep!" cried Yuki hiding behind Fuji from Kiyoko's persistence in having her question answered. The first years sweatdropped at Fuji's ever so happy face and turned to Eiji hoping for help. They were surprised to see Eiji's excited face. There were stars in his eyes as he started jumping up and down in glee.
"Yes!" said Eiji all riled up as he cheered for Ryoma saying, "Go Ochibi-chan! This is a battle between Seigaku and Fudomine! Go Seigaku!"
"Baka," said Yuki sweatdropping. Yuki and Fuji walked outside for air while Seigaku went to the register to buy the medicine tape they were fighting over. Just then a man rollerblading Yuki's way with a purse and a woman shouting "Thief!" behind him appeared.
"Out of the way!" shouted the man. Yuki had no time to move and gasped before the man was merely a foot away. Fuji acted quickly and pulled Yuki to him. Yuki raised her eyes in surprise at the two's close proximity and unconsciously snuggled closer to Fuji's arms.
"Daijobu?" asked Fuji in Yuki's ear. Yuki pulled away immediately and nodded while blushing. Now Kiyoko waked out shaking her head in disapproval while Ryoma and Shinji followed behind her with a bag between the two boys.
"Hm?" asked Yuki diverting her attention from Kiyoko's unamused face to Ryoma and Shinji and said, "Haven't you guys settled this yet?"
"Not yet," said Eiji in a pleased voice, "But Ochibi-chan will win for sure!"
"You know, this doesn't bug me but it's starting to!" shouted Kiyoko turning from happy in the beginning to mad in the end. Mizuno, Horio, and Kachiro had given up on Eiji and Fuji and were now turning back to Kiyoko again. She also wanted to get home and Ryoma and Shinji were holding her up. "There better be a decision right now or people'll be seeing some blood." There was now a fire surrounding Kiyoko.
"Kiyoko-chan!" said Yuki in chibi as she cowered. Kiyoko's anger was directed at her since Ryoma had used Yuki as a shield. Now they were all heading for the bridge.
"We still don't know who gets the tape," whined Kachiro.
"Hm," said Eiji determined to get Seigaku the win before the rollerblading thief everyone had seen all throughout the day. It seemed he was trying yet again.
"All right!" said Eiji, "Whoever stops the thief wins the medicine tape."
"Deal," said Ryoma and Shinji.
"Eiji!" whined Yuki suddenly next to the excited Eiji, "I wanted to hurt the thief." Her words went to unheard ears as Ryoma and Shinji served.
"Huh?" asked the purse thief before a ball launched into his face and knocked him out. The purse went flying.
"Mada Mada Dane," said Ryoma. Kiyoko sweatdropped and just took the medicine tape from the triumphant Ryoma's hands.
"Baka," muttered Kiyoko. Just then Momo and Kamio walked in. Eiji noticed Momo.
"Momo!" cried Eiji pointing his finger accusingly at the younger boy, "Who did you say was the best reflex movement player in Seigaku?!"
"Eh?! Did I say that?" asked Momo feigning innocence as Eji started chasing him around. Suddenly Kaidoh appeared looking like a total mess. It seemed the all the times the thief failed in stealing a purse, Kaidoh had been there taking his place getting caught by the police when the purses landed on him.
"Oh? Kaidoh, did you do some extensive training again?" asked Fuji. Kaidoh looked around and saw the thief who had been knocked out by Ryoma's serve.
"You!" said Kaidoh in a growl to the thief who was now stirring into consciousness.
"Eep," said Kiyoko trying to stop him along with the other first years.
"I'll kill you," said Kaidoh marching to the thief with a snarl.
"Hey!" cried Kiyoko as she and the other first ears tried to stop Kaidoh to no avail.
"I'll kill you," said Kaidoh.
"Ahh!" cried the thief running past Yuki who was pushed to the ground along the way. Fuji put his foot out tripping the thief as he went past him when he had seen what the thief had done. There was an intense look in his eyes before he smiled and helped Yuki up.
"Fuji-chan," said Yuki surprised before smiling as she said "Hai" when Fuji asked if she was all right.
"Ryoma!" called Kiyoko while still pulling Kaidoh back by the shirt, "Get over here and help me out!" Ryoma, who had been listening to Shinji's mutterings, happily complied.
"I'll see you some other time Momo," said Kamio pedaling off with Shinji after he had watched the cat and mouse game between Momo and Eiji for awhile.
"This is way too crazy," said Kiyoko giving up as she let Kaidoh go.
"Well your arm looks fine now Tezuka," said the doctor, "Try not to overstrain it for a month and your tennis elbow should be gone by then."
"Arigato," said Tezuka to Oishi's uncle.
"So," said Rei, "The reason ou couldn't play against Ryoma today was so that you could see if your arm was healed."
"I thought I heard someone outside," said Tezuka.
"Gomen," said Rei. Tezuka stood up and walked outside.
"Iie," said Tezuka shaking his head, "I don't mind if you know." Rei blushed before catching up to Tezuka.
