Hohoho! In the previous chapter I said that this is the last chapter. But nooooooo.... I write a bit too much and so there will be a chapter 8! This is the second last chapter! Gomen ne.... Hope you liked the story! Pls comment!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis
Warning: Beware of bad grammar and bad sentence structures! Heh!
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Monday came and Ryoma was putting on his shoes when he saw Atobe walking towards him. Atobe handed him his mud stained fluffy pink notebook.
"Please pass this to Hiyoshi on your way back," Atobe said. Ryoma took the notebook.
"Eh, I have practice today," he said. "Sorry."
"You don't have to look for him. He will come and look for you," Atobe said and walked away. Ryoma looked at the notebook in his hands, irritated.
"Mada, mada dane," he said.
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When he reached school gates, he saw the Seigaku regulars having a small meeting.
"Eh, another meeting and senpais never invite me," Ryoma said as he walked past them. Momo grabbed the back of his collar.
"Come here, Echizen!" Momo said. "Big news! Big news! HAHAHA!"
Ryoma looked at Momo weirdly.
"I got an email from Tezuka last night!" Oishi said, excitedly.
"Eh, what did he say?" Fuji asked.
"He'll be back for Coach Ryuzaki's birthday this weekend!" Oishi declared.
"Coach Ryuzaki's birthday?? How old is she anyway?" Momo asked. Kaidoh glared at him.
"Stop asking stupid question, idiot!" Kaidoh said. He hissed.
"Oh," Ryoma said. "I'm busy this weekend."
"Why don't you all celebrate at my dad's restaurant? Let's make it a surprise party for coach!" Kawamura said.
"Alright! It's confirmed then," Oishi said. "I'll confirm the time and meeting place later!"
"I said I'm busy-" Ryoma said. No one was listening to him.
"Come! Let's go to class!" Oishi said. Everyone apparently ignored Ryoma.
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Back at the Echizen's home, Atobe was eating his breakfast when the phone rang. Nanjiroh picked it up from the living room.
"Oi, it's for you!" Nanjiroh yelled. He walked into the kitchen and threw the cordless phone at Atobe. Atobe put the phone to his ear.
"Atobe," came the familiar deep voice.
"Tezuka," Atobe said, surprised to hear his voice.
"I'll be back in Japan this weekend," Tezuka said.
"I'm glad you've healed."
"I'm here for a short break. I've not fully recovered. How about your leg?" Tezuka asked.
Atobe looked at his injured leg.
"I'm taking the cast off in a couple of days… Let's meet Tezuka," Atobe said. "Both of us aren't fully recovered. Let's have a match."
"No," Tezuka said. "I won't let you strain yourself."
"Mmm… backing away aren't you, ah?" Atobe asked. "Are you admitting defeat already, ah?"
"Let's meet as friends… not tennis rivals," Tezuka said. Atobe thought for awhile. He didn't want to sound like the bad guy here. He don't mind waiting for Tezuka to healed completely.
"If you say so," Atobe said. There was a long pause from the other side.
"Please take care," Tezuka said, finally.
"You too," Atobe said and hung up. He turned to see Nanjiroh standing behind him with an erotic magazine covering his face.
"Were you listening to my phone conversation?" Atobe demanded. Nanjiroh chuckled. He lowered the magazine and looked at Atobe.
"Hoo hoo! Little brat, do you want to see this magazine with me? Ryoma didn't seem interested in such things so I thought you would!" Nanjiroh said and laughed. Atobe looked at him disgusted. Nanjiroh saw Atobe's expression and stopped laughing. He sighed and put the magazine away.
"Kids these days don't know what they are missing!" he said. He looked at Atobe.
"So you want me to teach you The Zone to defeat Tezuka?" Nanjiroh asked. Atobe wondered how he knew that.
"Nanjiroh Echizen, I had always admired you since I was little. Both Tezuka and me wanted to be just like you. It would be an honour to learn from a pro like you," Atobe said. Nanjroh was surprised at Atobe's humble words. He thought Atobe was a spoiled rich brat. Maybe he's not that bad after all, Nanjiroh thought to himself.
"You don't need my help to win, brat. I see great talent in you. You defeated Tezuka didn't you? If you work hard to improve your skills, I think you will be a great tennis player. Anyway, I no longer play tennis… I am unable to coach you… so please forgive me," Nanjiroh said.
Atobe looked at him.
"But let's have a match when u take off that cast," Nanjiroh said. Atobe looked at him.
"You just wait, Nanjiroh! You'll be amazed by my incredible tennis skills!!" Atobe said, pointing a finger at him. Nanjiroh smiled. What a brat! He thought.
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Ryoma was having a practice match with Momo in school when he saw an odd looking guy watching him from behind the fence. He remembered the guy as Hiyoshi Wakashi, the one he met in a match with Hyoutei. It was the guy with the irritating Kung Fu tennis style. Ryoma wondered if he was spying on him. Then he remembered the pink fluffy notebook that Atobe had passed to him that morning. Atobe said Hiyoshi will come and look for him.
Momo spotted the visitor too. "Oi, Echizen! I think you have a fan!"
"Don't be stupid, Momo-senpai!" Ryoma yelled. He asked for time out. Ryoma headed to his bag and took out the pink fluffy notebook.
"You are brave to come in here," Ryoma said to Hiyoshi Wakashi.
"Give me the book, brat," Hiyoshi answered. He looked irritated and angry. Atobe must have threatened him or something. Ryoma handed him the book, feeling slightly sorry for him.
Hiyoshi took the book and walked away quicky. Ryoma sighed.
"Mada, mada dane," he said and walked away.
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Ryoma reached home at sunset. He spotted Atobe sitting infront of the TV. Ryoma took off his shoes quietly, hoping that Atobe didn't notice him.
"Ah, Ryoma. Come over here please," Atobe called out to him. What did he want now? Ryoma thought. Ryoma put his shoes aside and glared at Atobe.
"What did you want-" Ryoma said but he was interrupted.
"I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow. Could you please accompany me?" Atobe asked in his smooth, bossy voice.
"Get your servants to do s-"
"Echizen… is this how you treat a crippled man, ah?" Atobe asked. Ryoma felt like taking his racket and throw it at him. "Please say yes."
"I am not free-"
"Thank you, Ryoma," Atobe said. He turned back to the TV. Ryoma stared at him.
"Mada mada no mada dane!" he said under his breath. It's no use arguing with the Monkey King. He had better things to do.
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The fateful day came and Ryoma left tennis practice early so that he could send Atobe to the hospital.
"Will you be okay being alone with him?" Oishi asked, worried.
"Ochibi! He bullied you again! That Monkey king! EEEEYAH!!! He makes me angry, nyah," Kikumaru said, stomping his feet.
"Mada, mada dane," Ryoma said as he walked away.
"Call us if something happens!" Oishi yelled after him. "We'll come and rescue you!"
Ryoma reached home to see Atobe at the door, waiting for him.
"Thank you so much, Echizen. You know how difficult it is for me to go to the hospital alone! What if something happens to me?" Atobe asked. Ryoma did not answer. He walked to the road and flagged down a taxi. A taxi stopped and both of them got in.
"What's with the face, ah… poker face," Atobe commented. "Tezuka must be impressed. Haha… Seigaku seemed to have a lot of poker faced people!"
"Uh," Ryoma answered. They both rode to the hospital in silence.
They waited for their turn at the hospital. It was pretty crowded. Half an hour passed before a nurse called for Atobe.
"Ah… finally it's my turn! Remind me to go to a private hospital next time! I hate to wait, you know!" Atobe said, looking awfully upset.
"Do you need me to go with you?" Ryoma asked.
"Ha… I guess not. Please don't wander around and wait for me here, brat!" Atobe ordered. Ryoma did not answer. The nurse came and took Atobe away. Finally some peace and quiet, Ryoma thought to himself. He closed his eyes to get some sleep.
"RYOMA-KUN!" came a familiar voice. Sakuno appeared. "Ah! Hello, Ryoma-kun! Erm… are you ill?"
"Uh… no," Ryoma answered. He looked at her. What is she doing here?
"I went to visit my aunt who is sick," Sakuno explained. "What are you doing here?"
Ryoma told her about Atobe.
"Oh… okay. It will take some time, right? Let's get a drink!" Sakuno suggested. Ryoma nodded.
Ryoma went to the drink machine and put some coins in it. He took out 2 Ponta cans and handed one to Sakuno.
"How is everything? Is he really horrible to you? Tomochan said Atobe isn't that bad after all," Sakuno said.
"Tomochan?" Ryoma asked. Sakuno nodded.
"Mmm… yeah… Tomochan is interested in Atobe suddenly. She is funny, isn't she?" Sakuno said and laughed.
"He's not that bad you know. He is only proud with his teammates and I guess he have to do so because he is the captain," Ryoma said. "I am getting used to him being around. In fact he didn't bother me that much."
Sakuno looked at him happily. "I'm glad."
"Glad?" Ryoma asked. Sakuno suddenly looked so happy. Ryoma wondered if he had accidentally tell a joke. "Oh… Okay. Um… Why are you suddenly so happy?"
"I'm happy because Ryoma-kun is happy," Sakuno said brightly.
"Why must you be happy when I am happy?" Ryoma asked. Sakuno's face fell. She put the Ponta can on the table and stood up.
"I think I've gotta go," she said. She looked unhappy all of a sudden. Ryoma could not understand her at all sometimes.
"You have not finished your drink," Ryoma pointed out.
"Ryoma-kun would never understand," Sakuno said softly. She looked like she was about to cry. She turned and walked away. Ryoma watched her leave. Had he said something wrong? He didn't think so.
"You shitty brat," Atobe said. Ryoma saw him standing at the table behind him. "I told you to stay and you went to wander around with a girl and then you make her upset."
"Ah, the Monkey King," Ryoma said. His gaze turned to Atobe's leg. The cast was gone. A knee guard is in place. "Eh, I thought you were seriously injured."
"I fell while trying to run of out my mansion," Atobe explained.
"Oh yeah. What happened to your mansion now?" Ryoma asked.
"It's being repaired as we speak," Atobe said. He glared at Ryoma. "You really hurt her, you know."
"Oh? Sakuno?"
"Go and apologize!" Atobe said. "I think she likes you a lot and it does not hurt for you to show her some attention, idiot."
"Why are you giving me relationship tips?" Ryoma asked.
"Because I am your senior and you must listen to me. Now go run after her. I'll go home on my own."
Ryoma nodded and rushed off after Sakuno. Atobe watched him go. He pulled out his handphone and dialed Kabaji's number.
"Oi, Kabaji. Please pick me up at the hospital now," he said.
"Usu!" Kabaji said. Atobe hung up the phone. It's great to have people like Kabaji around, he thought.
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Days passed after Atobe went to the hospital. Ryoma and Atobe had grown used to each other. In fact, Atobe had been really nice to Ryoma. Ryoma sometimes wondered if a spirit had possessed him.
"Take my pink notebook to Hiyoshi," Atobe said to Ryoma on Friday morning.
"Eh, your leg is fine. You can go to school now," Ryoma said. "Or are you purposely skipping class?"
"Don't try to change the subject," Atobe said. Ryoma took the notebook. The mud had been washed out and there was a bald patch on the fluffy notebook.
"Oi, Echizen. What time is Tezuka's arriving at the airport tomorrow?" Atobe asked.
"Tomorrow at 11am," Ryoma answered.
"What time are you guys meeting him?"
"For lunch at 1.30pm."
"Okay, you can go to school now," Atobe said and he turned on the TV.
"Mada, mada dane!" Ryoma said as he walked away.
"Tezuka," Atobe said to himself. "I can't wait to meet you."
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