Chapter 27
"Ryoma," said Tezuka to the boy the day after he had gone to the hospital, "Do you know the new tennis court at Shinsengaki Park?" Tezuka had approached Ryoma after practice and pulled him aside while everyone else went to the club room.
"Hai," said Ryoma confused at where the conversation was leading.
"Go there after school tomorrow," said Tezuka, "We'll play a match."
"Hm?" asked Kiyoko aloud checking her watch, "Ryoma's late. He said he'd treat me to dinner."
"Kiyoko's got a date," teased Rei and Yuki.
"Do not!" denied Kiyoko though her cheeks were red. Just then Rei and Yuki had their backs turned from Kiyoko and were visibly moping.
"Kiyoko's way ahead of us in the love department," said Yuki making a big sigh and sounding sulky.
"I'm pretty sure she's already kissed him," confided Rei.
"Eh?" asked Yuki surprised while her eyes grew big, "Fuji and I haven't even done that." Yuki and Rei were surprised at what Yuki had just said. "Why did I say Fuji?" thought Yuki to herself pensively. Rei gave her a teasing look.
"So you like Fuji?" asked Rei though it didn't sound as if it was a question as she smiled at Yuki wickedly, "Are you two going out?"
"NO!" shouted Yuki trying to deny everything. Rei just laughed as she was inwardly happy that she now had black mail on her.
"There you are Ryoma," said Kiyoko spotting the boy and happily bounding up to him. Ryoma turned to Kiyoko having had looked very thoughtful before regaining his usual cool expression.
"Where do you want to go?" asked Ryoma. Kiyoko put her finger up in thought before grinning.
"How about we go to Taka-senpai's sushi restaurant," suggested Kiyoko eagerly.
"All right," said Ryoma not minding when Kiyoko held his arm.
"Fuji-chan," said Yuki running to catch up to the boy who was already on his way out, "Eiji-chan wa?"
"I was just about to see him," said Fuji, "Want to come? We're meeting at Takashi's restaurant."
"Yay!" cheered Yuki grabbing Fuji's hand and running to the store, "Let's hurry before someone eats all the sushi!"
"Tezuka," said Rei walking to him after he had finished talking to Ryoma, "Let's grab a bite."
"I still have some work to do," said Tezuka flatly though he was slightly apologetic.
"Onegai?" asked Rei looking directly into the serious boy's eyes as she stood in his way standing in front of the clubhouse door, "For me? You know you need energy for the match tomorrow."
"All right," relented Tezuka. The two walked inside the store and found all the regulars there except for Momo and Kaidoh.
"Looks like we all had the same idea," said Yuki as Rei and Tezuka stood at the front.
"Let's all sit together!" suggested Kiyoko excitedly. Everyone gave her a blank stare.
"Kiyoko, don't you want to be with Ryoma?" asked Rei after the awkward silence.
"We don't have to be together every time we meet up," pointed out Yuki before going with Fuji to the farthest table. Eiji had called and said he would be a little late.
"C'mon Tezuka," said Rei pulling on his jacket, "Let's go to the bar." Kiyoko looked heartbroken and was in chibi with two rivers flowing down her cheeks.
"Ryoma! Don't you want to eat with the others?" asked Kiyoko to the boy. By the look on Ryoma's face Kiyoko sweatdropped. "Party poopers," muttered the girl before the two took a seat by the window and Takashi had given them their order.
"Tell the old woman tomorrow that I won't be at practice," said Ryoma when Takashi had left.
"Hm? Why?" asked Kiyoko a roll of sushi midway between her plate and her mouth. She already knew the answer but didn't want him to know that she had been spying.
"I'm visiting my grandmother in the hospital," said Ryoma with a straight face sounding as if it had been perfectly rehearsed, "She's on her death bed." Kiyoko sweatdropped having heard his excuse.
"You are not," said Kiyoko pointing an accusing finger at him, "You're going to play a match with the captain." Ryoma gave Kiyoko a disapproving look.
"Were you stalking me?" asked Ryoma with a sly grin on his face. By then they had finished dinner and Kiyoko had decided that it was her turn to escort Ryoma to his house.
"No!" denied Kiyoko in a nervous voice that no one would have believed.
"Whatever you say," said Ryoma in a disbelieving tone before raising his hands up in a 'what can you do' gesture.
"Anyway," said Kiyoko tactfully changing the subject, "I can't tell Ryuzaki-sensei since I'm coming with you."
"No way," said Ryoma firmly.
"Why not?"
"Because I said so," said Ryoma before going inside his house, "And that's the end of it."
"Hmph," pouted Kiyoko, "We'll see about that."
"This is so not fair!" shouted Rei at the top of her lungs in the girls' house while kicking a chair in frustration, "I can't believe Tezuka won't let me come with him."
"Rei!" whine Yuki, "You're breaking the furniture!" The two were home and Kiyoko had just barged in kicking away the chair that Rei had kicked before.
"This is so not fair!" said Kiyoko, "I can't believe Ryoma won't let me come with him." Yuki sweatdropped before shaking her head and then suddenly looking like a chibi nurse and taking care of the chair that Rei and Kiyoko had taken their anger out on.
"I really think you guys should stop hurting the furniture," said Yuki, "And why don't you guys just trail them? They won't know if you do that." At that Rei's and Kiyoko's eyes glinted.
"That's a great idea!" said Rei regaining a determined look on her face.
"What?! You actually thought I was serious?" asked Yuki in surprise. Kiyoko and Rei were not listening and were cheering at their new plan.
"I'm impressed Yuki," said Rei, "I guess inside that empty head of yours there actually is a brain."
"Hey!" shouted Yuki before running after the girl in anger. But then Kiyoko stopped and looked thoughtful.
"But then who's going to tell sensei why we're not at practice?" asked Kiyoko. Rei stopped and thought with Kiyoko before turning their heads in unison to Yuki with identical demonic smiles on their faces and bright eyes.
"Eep!" cried Yuki.
"Nani?! What do you mean Kiyoko and Rei are out sick?" asked Momo when Yuki had spoken to the Seigaku regular members.
"And what about why Ochibi-chan has to visit a grandmother in the hospital!" said Eiji. All the regulars crowded around Yuki who was unsure by all the people around her.
"Ah!" shouted Yuki when the regulars reached for her trying to tickle the answers out of her.
"Regulars! Stop!," said Coach Ryuzaki who had just come in, "just because Tezuka and Oishi and some other regulars are absent is no excuse for all of you to start playing. Back to practice." Yuki heaved a sigh of relief before joining the other regulars for practice.
"There they are Kiyoko," said Rei grabbing the girl and pulling her back so that no one would see her. Kiyoko looked to where Rei was pointing. Ryoma was stretching on the court while Tezuka was in the process of taking his jacket off.
"This is the first time I've ever seen Captain play," said Kiyoko, "I'm sure this'll be interesting."
"Shh," said Rei, "They're starting." Ryoma and Tezuka stood in front of each other talking.
"I can't hear," whine Kiyoko straining her ears to try and catch parts of the conversation. Soon it ended and the game began. It started normally enough but soon Tezuka's real colors began to show. He started speeding up his counters while Ryoma kept getting pushed further and further back. Rei and Kiyoko watched in fascination.
"Such a high level," said Rei, "We'd certainly have a hard time going up against Tezuka."
"His power," said Kiyoko, "it's too much. Rei I don't know who'd win if I ever went against him. Ah! Ryoma." Ryoma had just fallen trying to return one of Tezuka's attacks. It seemed they had agreed on one game. Tezuka was leading 30-love.
"This is the last one," said Rei. Ryoma stayed where he was for awhile before getting a determined look on his face. He still wanted to win. Ryoma returned the ball one after another. He had a look on his face that she had seen only once. Ryoma had changed from the calm and collected person he usually was in a game and acted like he was playing his father. His steps were unsure and hesitant as if he didn't know he could win against the person.
"Ryoma," said Kiyoko wanting to help him but knowing that she couldn't.
"Kiyoko," said Rei breaking her reverie, "Do you notice something about Tezuka's moves? It feels as if he's getting ready for something." Kiyoko looked to the older boy who's face had not changed throughout all of the game. Now it was like there was a light in him. One that pulled you in and couldn't get out of. Kiyoko's eyes widened as she looked at Tezuka's feet. He had not moved from his position throughout the game. Rei looked worried now.
"Tezuka, don't forget to take it ease," said Rei quietly to no one. Now it felt like the end was coming. Tezuka attacked and used his drop shot. Ryoma tried to reach for it but was too late. He fell on the court his eyes lowered. Now the girls could hear what Tezuka was saying for he was now using the loud voice he usually used when talking to the tennis club. Only one phrase stood out.
"Echizen! I want you to be the pillar of Seigaku, I want you to be its most important player." Kiyoko looked at Ryoma who was looking up at Tezuka. He was silent. Rei stood and then pulled Kiyoko getting ready to leave.
"C'mon Kiyoko," said Rei pulling on the girl who made no move to resist, "I have a feeling that we shouldn't be interfering.
"Hai," said Kiyoko quietly before joining her to go to the subway. The two were silent thinking the same things. About Tezuka's amazing power and the look on Ryoma's face.
"Ryoma," said Tezuka to the boy the day after he had gone to the hospital, "Do you know the new tennis court at Shinsengaki Park?" Tezuka had approached Ryoma after practice and pulled him aside while everyone else went to the club room.
"Hai," said Ryoma confused at where the conversation was leading.
"Go there after school tomorrow," said Tezuka, "We'll play a match."
"Hm?" asked Kiyoko aloud checking her watch, "Ryoma's late. He said he'd treat me to dinner."
"Kiyoko's got a date," teased Rei and Yuki.
"Do not!" denied Kiyoko though her cheeks were red. Just then Rei and Yuki had their backs turned from Kiyoko and were visibly moping.
"Kiyoko's way ahead of us in the love department," said Yuki making a big sigh and sounding sulky.
"I'm pretty sure she's already kissed him," confided Rei.
"Eh?" asked Yuki surprised while her eyes grew big, "Fuji and I haven't even done that." Yuki and Rei were surprised at what Yuki had just said. "Why did I say Fuji?" thought Yuki to herself pensively. Rei gave her a teasing look.
"So you like Fuji?" asked Rei though it didn't sound as if it was a question as she smiled at Yuki wickedly, "Are you two going out?"
"NO!" shouted Yuki trying to deny everything. Rei just laughed as she was inwardly happy that she now had black mail on her.
"There you are Ryoma," said Kiyoko spotting the boy and happily bounding up to him. Ryoma turned to Kiyoko having had looked very thoughtful before regaining his usual cool expression.
"Where do you want to go?" asked Ryoma. Kiyoko put her finger up in thought before grinning.
"How about we go to Taka-senpai's sushi restaurant," suggested Kiyoko eagerly.
"All right," said Ryoma not minding when Kiyoko held his arm.
"Fuji-chan," said Yuki running to catch up to the boy who was already on his way out, "Eiji-chan wa?"
"I was just about to see him," said Fuji, "Want to come? We're meeting at Takashi's restaurant."
"Yay!" cheered Yuki grabbing Fuji's hand and running to the store, "Let's hurry before someone eats all the sushi!"
"Tezuka," said Rei walking to him after he had finished talking to Ryoma, "Let's grab a bite."
"I still have some work to do," said Tezuka flatly though he was slightly apologetic.
"Onegai?" asked Rei looking directly into the serious boy's eyes as she stood in his way standing in front of the clubhouse door, "For me? You know you need energy for the match tomorrow."
"All right," relented Tezuka. The two walked inside the store and found all the regulars there except for Momo and Kaidoh.
"Looks like we all had the same idea," said Yuki as Rei and Tezuka stood at the front.
"Let's all sit together!" suggested Kiyoko excitedly. Everyone gave her a blank stare.
"Kiyoko, don't you want to be with Ryoma?" asked Rei after the awkward silence.
"We don't have to be together every time we meet up," pointed out Yuki before going with Fuji to the farthest table. Eiji had called and said he would be a little late.
"C'mon Tezuka," said Rei pulling on his jacket, "Let's go to the bar." Kiyoko looked heartbroken and was in chibi with two rivers flowing down her cheeks.
"Ryoma! Don't you want to eat with the others?" asked Kiyoko to the boy. By the look on Ryoma's face Kiyoko sweatdropped. "Party poopers," muttered the girl before the two took a seat by the window and Takashi had given them their order.
"Tell the old woman tomorrow that I won't be at practice," said Ryoma when Takashi had left.
"Hm? Why?" asked Kiyoko a roll of sushi midway between her plate and her mouth. She already knew the answer but didn't want him to know that she had been spying.
"I'm visiting my grandmother in the hospital," said Ryoma with a straight face sounding as if it had been perfectly rehearsed, "She's on her death bed." Kiyoko sweatdropped having heard his excuse.
"You are not," said Kiyoko pointing an accusing finger at him, "You're going to play a match with the captain." Ryoma gave Kiyoko a disapproving look.
"Were you stalking me?" asked Ryoma with a sly grin on his face. By then they had finished dinner and Kiyoko had decided that it was her turn to escort Ryoma to his house.
"No!" denied Kiyoko in a nervous voice that no one would have believed.
"Whatever you say," said Ryoma in a disbelieving tone before raising his hands up in a 'what can you do' gesture.
"Anyway," said Kiyoko tactfully changing the subject, "I can't tell Ryuzaki-sensei since I'm coming with you."
"No way," said Ryoma firmly.
"Why not?"
"Because I said so," said Ryoma before going inside his house, "And that's the end of it."
"Hmph," pouted Kiyoko, "We'll see about that."
"This is so not fair!" shouted Rei at the top of her lungs in the girls' house while kicking a chair in frustration, "I can't believe Tezuka won't let me come with him."
"Rei!" whine Yuki, "You're breaking the furniture!" The two were home and Kiyoko had just barged in kicking away the chair that Rei had kicked before.
"This is so not fair!" said Kiyoko, "I can't believe Ryoma won't let me come with him." Yuki sweatdropped before shaking her head and then suddenly looking like a chibi nurse and taking care of the chair that Rei and Kiyoko had taken their anger out on.
"I really think you guys should stop hurting the furniture," said Yuki, "And why don't you guys just trail them? They won't know if you do that." At that Rei's and Kiyoko's eyes glinted.
"That's a great idea!" said Rei regaining a determined look on her face.
"What?! You actually thought I was serious?" asked Yuki in surprise. Kiyoko and Rei were not listening and were cheering at their new plan.
"I'm impressed Yuki," said Rei, "I guess inside that empty head of yours there actually is a brain."
"Hey!" shouted Yuki before running after the girl in anger. But then Kiyoko stopped and looked thoughtful.
"But then who's going to tell sensei why we're not at practice?" asked Kiyoko. Rei stopped and thought with Kiyoko before turning their heads in unison to Yuki with identical demonic smiles on their faces and bright eyes.
"Eep!" cried Yuki.
"Nani?! What do you mean Kiyoko and Rei are out sick?" asked Momo when Yuki had spoken to the Seigaku regular members.
"And what about why Ochibi-chan has to visit a grandmother in the hospital!" said Eiji. All the regulars crowded around Yuki who was unsure by all the people around her.
"Ah!" shouted Yuki when the regulars reached for her trying to tickle the answers out of her.
"Regulars! Stop!," said Coach Ryuzaki who had just come in, "just because Tezuka and Oishi and some other regulars are absent is no excuse for all of you to start playing. Back to practice." Yuki heaved a sigh of relief before joining the other regulars for practice.
"There they are Kiyoko," said Rei grabbing the girl and pulling her back so that no one would see her. Kiyoko looked to where Rei was pointing. Ryoma was stretching on the court while Tezuka was in the process of taking his jacket off.
"This is the first time I've ever seen Captain play," said Kiyoko, "I'm sure this'll be interesting."
"Shh," said Rei, "They're starting." Ryoma and Tezuka stood in front of each other talking.
"I can't hear," whine Kiyoko straining her ears to try and catch parts of the conversation. Soon it ended and the game began. It started normally enough but soon Tezuka's real colors began to show. He started speeding up his counters while Ryoma kept getting pushed further and further back. Rei and Kiyoko watched in fascination.
"Such a high level," said Rei, "We'd certainly have a hard time going up against Tezuka."
"His power," said Kiyoko, "it's too much. Rei I don't know who'd win if I ever went against him. Ah! Ryoma." Ryoma had just fallen trying to return one of Tezuka's attacks. It seemed they had agreed on one game. Tezuka was leading 30-love.
"This is the last one," said Rei. Ryoma stayed where he was for awhile before getting a determined look on his face. He still wanted to win. Ryoma returned the ball one after another. He had a look on his face that she had seen only once. Ryoma had changed from the calm and collected person he usually was in a game and acted like he was playing his father. His steps were unsure and hesitant as if he didn't know he could win against the person.
"Ryoma," said Kiyoko wanting to help him but knowing that she couldn't.
"Kiyoko," said Rei breaking her reverie, "Do you notice something about Tezuka's moves? It feels as if he's getting ready for something." Kiyoko looked to the older boy who's face had not changed throughout all of the game. Now it was like there was a light in him. One that pulled you in and couldn't get out of. Kiyoko's eyes widened as she looked at Tezuka's feet. He had not moved from his position throughout the game. Rei looked worried now.
"Tezuka, don't forget to take it ease," said Rei quietly to no one. Now it felt like the end was coming. Tezuka attacked and used his drop shot. Ryoma tried to reach for it but was too late. He fell on the court his eyes lowered. Now the girls could hear what Tezuka was saying for he was now using the loud voice he usually used when talking to the tennis club. Only one phrase stood out.
"Echizen! I want you to be the pillar of Seigaku, I want you to be its most important player." Kiyoko looked at Ryoma who was looking up at Tezuka. He was silent. Rei stood and then pulled Kiyoko getting ready to leave.
"C'mon Kiyoko," said Rei pulling on the girl who made no move to resist, "I have a feeling that we shouldn't be interfering.
"Hai," said Kiyoko quietly before joining her to go to the subway. The two were silent thinking the same things. About Tezuka's amazing power and the look on Ryoma's face.
