TITLE: Who Says College is Easy?
PART: Side Story 2
PAIRING: Atobe Keigo/Tezuka Kunimitsu
GENRE: Shounen-ai (Humour/ Continuation/ Angst / Romance)
DISCLAIMERS: The series I'm referring to does not belong to me… only this weird story does.
NOTES: Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/ is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience, or whatever inner voice there is, talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words. Some of these words are footnoted at the end of every page (I'm beginning to understand the need for footnotes in fiction. Thank you dear friend, you know who you are. ).
Side Story 2 (part 2): Deep Ocean Eyes
"Our rival university is the same level with us in the prefecture tournament. We have never lost a single game, and we should keep it that way. Start playing up your skills people! Am I understood?"
"HAI!"
Yudan sezu ni ikkou... I thought, remembering my motto in life. It was just my luck that I never got to fulfil it all the time...
"The other thing is that we have a newcomer in the team."
It was the chorus of murmurs that gave me the creeps. It was not the normal kind I always hear. The reactions were almost bloodthirsty... what had happened to my reputation way back when I was still in junior high? Many wanted singles matches, some disregarded me as someone weak enough to have been injured so easily by the prospective captain next year. So... Atobe's vying for the spot...
All in all, it was quite frightening. I bowed low. "Good afternoon. I am Tezuka Kunimitsu. Please do accept me." I recited automatically in a loud, clear voice, a mere semblance of what I had in the past – control... power... surety... things that I rarely enjoyed now that I had failed most of the people I cared for.
The chorus of "pleased to meet you" came just as robotically, seeming emotion of pure happiness over the prospect of having me in the team only a façade of sorts. Why did they regard me as someone high and mighty? I knew my skills, and I had to say that I was not hypocritical enough to deny that they were exceptional. I was good – and I showed it through my matches, practice or otherwise... but could they not see?
I was not the person they regarded me as.
I wasn't perfect in any way.
"Ahn?" Atobe said coyly. "Tezuka is so kakkoi1, is he not?" I turned to him in surprise as he sidled up to me and laid a firm hand on my shoulder. "But he's just a student and a tennis player like all of us... so why the fuss? Shouldn't you be appreciating me instead of him? Me with my omnipresent beauty?"
I stared, mesmerised and quite taken aback from what he had just told everyone else. Was he a mind reader now? I mean, maybe his insight just went a whole notch... deeper? "Ato... be?" I murmured, gaze fixed unblinkingly at his even features. It was when he gave me a small conspiratorial wink that I finally knew he was doing this for me... so I would somehow fit in without being mauled by the pack of wolves that were my teammates in an effort to take me out of the regulars if I got in (Which I had a big chance of bagging by the way). But why was he doing this?
I seriously wanted to know.
He gave my shoulder a squeeze as he snickered smugly at the small crowd before walking up front and raising an arm in the air. "Tezuka is good, but there's someone better than he is, na minna?" He did the hair flip again, making me shiver. "And that is Ore-sama!"
There were cheers and whistles everywhere and I felt the corners of my mouth turn up in amusement.
"Here we go again..." The captain of the team moaned quietly.
Even if he did deny it, Atobe Keigo had somehow changed... but this...
This I had always remembered – and I had never forgotten.
oooOooo
"Tezuka-buchou," Syusuke greeted as he sat down beside me on one of the court benches. "You're lucky you made it to the seasonal match-ups... now, aren't you happy you came to this university?"
I halted mid-sip and glanced at him, handing him a towel when I saw his face dripping with sweat. I nodded. I agreed with him in that part. After all, Sadaharu said that this team was the only one who did match-ups whenever there was a newcomer... It was all about balance of power or something along those lines.
"But I'm so disappointed that I lost to you though..." He gave me a coy smile.
I snorted. "Disappointed?" I asked him, placing my water bottle down. "You did not play seriously... again. I thought we are past that stage?"
He raised an innocent brow, as if saying 'Who, me?' Who was he kidding anyway? I knew him for a long time and he had never fooled me – and never will. "We are... but then, who are you to tell me that... you are not playing like yourself too."
He's right. I shook my head, taking the towel from him. "Fine, next time then... maybe we could test out who's Zone2 it is that is better." I gave him a small smile.
He grinned back, blue eyes visible, accepting the challenge of playing me again under different circumstances. "Yes... we will do that."
"You two are getting so serious."
"Ah, Kei-chan!"
Kei-Chan? I turned to see Atobe grinning down at us, a drenched towel covering his equally drenched head. "Ah, Fujiko-chan, am I interrupting something? Are you finally proposing to Tezuka-chan?" At the irritating nickname, I wanted to uncap my water bottle and dump the contents on him, but seeing that it wouldn't do any kind of damage since he was already wet, I decided to do otherwise. So I glared – hard. And as per usual, it didn't seem to work.
"Don't call me that." I said monotonously, still glaring.
"Ah, Keigo... I'd never dream of proposing! Someone else might kill me if I did." Syusuke declared, standing up and leaning against Atobe teasingly, his eyes half-moons of chocolate brown on his suddenly cheery face. There was something that crossed Atobe's face then... something I could not quite identify, before flattening into its usual narcissistic planes. "Oh? He has a secret admirer?" He cocked an eyebrow as if intrigued. "I wonder who that person is when everyone is virtually in love with my great self?"
I was about to respond when a shrill whistle caught our attention.
"Ara? The results are already out? That was fast." Syusuke tilted his head to the side as he contemplated something I would rather not ask anything about. He was probably thinking if the team's playing-vice manager (Mizuki) was the one who made the list... and probably a hundred ways on how to play with the poor guy in a mission to irritate him now that it was clear he was trying to ignore him as much as possible. I couldn't do anything at this point. When Syusuke had a plan, it would push through, no matter what the cost. He was motivated to do something, and was going in for the kill.
"Hmm, Ore-sama wants to know his rank, so we'd better go." Atobe sighed, snatching the sopping towel on his head, moving forward and following Syusuke before stopping mid-step and looking back. "Aren't you supposed to be getting up now?" He sounded impatient and yet he was standing there, obviously waiting for me. Why was he doing it in the first place? Wasn't he supposed to be off now like the others and let me take care of myself?
"Are you waiting for me?" I asked, taking note of the same emotion I saw earlier flashing on his face once again... at least, before something resembling annoyance crossed it out once again.
"Uh, no. I was waiting for your water bottle to whack you on the head." Atobe said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Duh, of course I'm waiting for you! For someone who is supposed to be smart, you're not acting like one." Tapping his foot, he cocked an annoyed brow. "Well?"
"Oi, Atobe-kun, Tezuka-kun, come here!"
"See?" His raised brow lifted another half-inch. "If we don't go there we'll be running a hundred laps – and Ore-sama doesn't want to suffer such humiliating display – iya-iya-iya-iya3... that just won't do! So come on and get your skinny ass up, hayaku!"
My ass isn't skinny...The instinct to lash out (verbally, at least) at the insult was strong, but the confusion was much stronger. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?" All of these... I added mentally. I wanted an answer, and I wanted it pronto.
The emotion was there again. I wanted to know what he was thinking. He had changed, and his patterns were not that visible anymore. Back then I could read him and practically hear his thoughts, but now... now, not even a figment of his ideas I could grasp. Nothing.
Then he smiled, the dimensions of his face smiling along with his perfect-looking lips. Slowly, he made his way back, and upon reaching me, grabbed my shirt, hauling me up and dragging me – literally – with him.
"Atobe..." I protested, trying to make him unhand me. Unfortunately, like the true tennis player that he was, his grip remained, if not tightened.
"Tezuka, you want to know why I waited for you?"
I stopped momentarily, letting him take control for once, staring at the back of his head. "Why?" I murmured.
He glanced back at me and snorted.
"Because Germany aged you much more than I expected... you can't even move with your usual speed anymore... you look like you need some sort of help from someone."
We had reached the back of the crowd and he immediately let go, facing me with a serious look on his face.
"And for now, I want that someone to be me."
We stared at each other, eye to eye, and I immediately knew from the way he was gazing at me, that he was dead serious... at least, for now. Was this the Atobe Keigo I left first back in junior high, and again in senior high? Was this the Atobe Keigo, the prissy, bossy, short-tempered, egotistic and narcissistic jerk I knew for quite a long time?
No.
My brain kept saying, "Does not compute", but I nodded anyway. I did not understand the new him, but it was very much welcome after all I had been through.
"Tezuka?" his wondering voice entered my thoughts.
"Yes?" I asked almost breathlessly as his deep ocean eyes bored into mine... and blinked.
"Am I sexy?"
I almost fell flat on my face. "What?"
"I asked you if I'm sexy... wait, are you going deaf now?" Atobe grinned sunnily, as if he knew what my reaction would be and was actually targeting it.
"I heard what you just asked." I retorted. "I just don't get why you had to ask now of all times?"
"What's wrong with now?" He ran a hand through his hair sensually, much to the adoration of his fans inside the team who all went 'Hanyaaan....'. "Ore-sama's beauty and prowess should be admired at all times, na, Tezuka-chan?"
My eye twitched in annoyance. "Don't call me that." I muttered automatically upon hearing the accursed nickname again. I take back everything I've said about this guy... I thought quite crossly, levelling him with a patented stare.
"Ahn? Are you jealous of Ore-sama, Tezuka-chan?"
It was a fortunate thing that the coach of the club finally came and began calling out the names of the regulars. Or else I'd be strangling him by now.
"These are the ones composing the new team! Listen up guys! Let's start! First off, Miki Rikuomi, your captain, is currently injured, so he wouldn't be playing until next season. Fukubuchou4 Kurozawa Teruyuki. Baba Kenkichi5 and Mizuki Hajime, you're both playing again, but since you're vice manager by choice, you're only spares... "
"I know sensei." Came Mizuki's quiet assent, smiling slightly at Baba-san's effervescent reply of "Nimyu Ryoukai6!"
"Shishido Ryo... Kurobane Harukaze... Hiyoshi Wakashi..."
"Hmmm, seems like the Drama Queen improved... and Hiyoshi too." Atobe quipped quietly as his eyes followed the excited movements of his former junior high teammates. There was pride in them even if his tone said otherwise. He cared for them in some way, and he was just as psyched as they were at the prospect of being Regulars. I smiled inwardly. We were the same in that aspect at least.
"Amane Hikaru – don't say anything, please... Marui Bunta – oi, don't nibble on Amane's –"
"Dabide, Asami-sensei! Call me Dabide – ow Marui, hanase! Nani7- Marui – Ite8! Bane-san, what was that for?"
"You're loud." Kurobane glared at him.
"But... but... I'm the victim here! Bane-chan don't you love me anymore?"
Kurobane gave him another kick to the head and he fell, followed by Marui who was nibbling on the ends of his hair in his never-ending quest for food – or at least, in this case, something to chew on.
"... Hair. Umm... next is Akutagawa Jirou... where is he?" The coach asked, peering through his thick lenses at the crowd hanging onto his every word. His eyebrow twitched as a distinct snore followed his question. The need to laugh was strong, but I couldn't seem to open my mouth and go right ahead. There were too many people around. The old me was there still.
"Okay, moving along, we have Fuji Syusuke –"
"FUJI SYUSUKE? DOKO, DOKO DE9?" Akutagawa's sudden outburst was very entertaining, for he suddenly attached himself to Syusuke like there was no more tomorrow. "FUJI!"
Shishido groaned audibly, smacking his forehead in irritation. "There he goes again... honestly now..."
"As I was saying, Fuji Syusuke... Arai – good job, you made it in the regulars!"
Arai, as polite as ever, even with his infamous temper that would give Akutsu a run for his money, bowed low and smiled. Being friends with Kachirou-kun for a long time did wonders for him. "Thank you sensei." He murmured respectfully. I was proud of him for making it at last. He lost to me, but he bounced back and fought the others with fervour for the coveted spot.
"Again, another spare. Inui-kun you're the playing manager, but no more inedible drinks, alright?"
"Hai, sensei" Haru smiled, his glasses glinting evilly still in the late afternoon light.
"Ah, Atobe Keigo, you made it again. Record of zero losses in these match-up games... great job as usual."
I gazed at the quiet pride in Atobe's smile. He didn't say anything... he just...
Grinned.
Just as he did when...
"And last, is our newcomer, Tezuka Kunimitsu!"
The smile was there on Atobe's lips... his eyes as clear and happy as Gustav's had been – but with the uncertainty I never thought he was capable of feeling. It was illogical... but it was present. Why?
"Omedetou10" He murmured, placing a warm hand on my left shoulder.
I nodded, placing a hand over his own in acceptance. "Arigatou11... Atobe."
oooOooo
"So, there are fourteen of you." Asami-sensei said seriously. "I have made a decision regarding the placements. Nine would play in the senior division and the rest in the junior division."
He showed us then checklist for the Junior Division first, and needless to say, Akutagawa started hopping up and down in excitement as he saw his name on Doubles One.
JUNIOR DIVISION
Singles One – Hiyoshi
Singles Two – Arai
Doubles One – Marui and Akutagawa
SENIOR DIVISION
Singles One – Kurozawa (Fukubuchou)
Singles Two – Shishido
Singles Three – Fuji
Doubles One – Atobe and Tezuka
Doubles Two – Kurobane and (Amane) Dabide
"I matched you up not because of your year level, but by your competence based on Inui-kun, Mizuki-kun and my forecasted performance by the given line ups of the next university division teams. I will shuffle again for the next game, so please, no fighting over your positions, all right?12 If anyone has any question, please feel free to ask later after practice."
I didn't want to answer then... all I wanted to was stare at the piece of paper tacked on the movable board. Doubles one? With Atobe? Was there some kind of conspiracy lurking deep against me? It was not as if I did not like the prospect of having Atobe as a partner, it was just... well, we weren't exactly the best of friends, and we are not like the old Momoshiro-Kaidoh doubles pair back in junior high. Although we were both strong players, we were without a doubt... breakable.
I was about to raise a hand to question the seemingly poor judgment when I caught Atobe staring at the same piece of paper with a wistful smile on his face.
And his eyes...
His eyes were twinkling happily.
And I was left staring at them.
All thoughts of protest left me as I drowned in the sparkling depths.
oooOooo
Student Council Elections.
I could not help but stare at the huge poster inside the Student Council Hall.
I was waiting for Syusuke to return from his English class inside his office when I caught sight of it taped near the tiny couch where he entertained guests and those filing Grievance Forms. It triggered a sudden nostalgia in me, remembering how it had been when I was president in junior high. There was the distinct feeling of power, fame, and much more, respect. Senior high had not been too kind to me in Germany. I did not enjoy a high-profile life in there... at least, the kind that I hungered for.
Maybe it was possible now... but then again, how should I know? I had no interest filing for anything. I was not capable of protecting and standing up for myself and for my friend, what more the whole student body? No, even if the craving for restoring my former identity as someone was strong, the will was weak... from all the uncertainty I lived through for the past four years, I didn't know what I was capable of anymore. That was why I regarded tennis and my studies higher than anything else, for it was in them that I knew my capabilities, I knew my abilities... and more importantly, I knew my limitations.
"Kunimitsu."
A hand suddenly intruded upon my line of sight, and startled, I looked up, sighing inwardly in relief as I saw the concerned gaze of Syusuke and that of Sadaharu. Unable to speak, I nodded in the usual manner.
"Ah, Kunimitsu, you look like you've eaten something bad. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I murmured finally, eyes straying to the colourful election poster. As if on cue, both of them turned to see what I had been eyeing for quite a while now... and Syusuke chuckled.
Busted.
"Ara? Tezuka-buchou..." He reverted back to calling me by the nickname he gave way back. He grinned, eyes little rainbows of happiness. "Are you interested in running for the elections?"
I needed not respond. They already knew.
Sadaharu chuckled, whipping out his infamous notebook, scanning the pages until he found what he was looking for. Syusuke peeked too, and soon, they were debating my chances of winning.
"Kunimitsu's probability of winning, seventy-five percent." Haru recited matter-of-factly as he snapped his notebook shut. "That forecast is ninety-five percent accurate."
"Sou... What are we going to do then? I have lots of poster stuff at home, you can have them... but of course you can't say they're from me because I would get fired..." Syusuke added softly.
"We'll get Ohtori-kun and Ryo to do the designing for us... and then Dabide and Marui would be the marketers..."
"Oh, and Kei-chan will enlist the help of his hordes of fans... he can also be the market researcher since he's an Economics student..."
I felt a vein pop in my head. They sounded so happy thinking of ways to broaden my campaign when I hadn't even given them the go-signal yet.
"Ah, Mizuki, Arai-kun and Wakashi would be the ones to concentrate on campaigning to the exchange students... They are linguists after all..."
"Ah, sou. Sengoku-san will be in charge of the fraternities... oh, and Akutsu too."
"And Bane-san will be the accountant!"
"Yes, yes... Demo... what about Jirou?" Syusuke was totally hyped for this... as hyped as he could get. "He's good at anything..."
Inui looked thoughtful for a second before coming to a reasonable conclusion. Raising a finger in supplication, he declared:
"He'll be the mascot."
That was it. If I would be running shouldn't I have a say in this? I groaned inwardly. "Stop. No anything – I'm not running."
Silence.
"But of course you are! Take advantage – seventy-five percent chance of winning!" Sadaharu protested, while Syusuke nodded in complete agreement.
"No, I'm not... and I won't." I said with finality. "I can't handle anything this big as of the moment."
"But you want to." Syusuke murmured softly, blue eyes gazing at me with something akin to sadness. "It's so obvious that you want to."
I remained silent; turning away from them to hide the aching sensation I could feel was mirrored on my face. "No." I responded, trying to convince them as well as myself. "No... I never said I wanted to."
They didn't push anymore – and for that I was grateful.
Syusuke sat on the armrests of the couch I was sitting on and put his arms around my shoulders, resting his cheek on the top of my head in a gesture of comfort. Haru stood tall, but seemingly helpless for one second before placing a hand on my shoulder. Yes, this was comfort... one that I hadn't been able to get since Gustav withered away to nothing and faded together with the sakura blossoms one rainy evening.
"Demo..." Syusuke's voice broke through the silence.
"Hmm?"
"Jirou would look cute in a dinosaur costume... don't you think?"
oooOooo
"Atobe..."
Annoyed, I poked him using the end of my ballpoint pen. Jeez, never had I imagined that this guy would fall asleep during a project-making session. And it did not help that he actually fell asleep when I was in the middle of explaining my theory about the problem set. I couldn't help but feel insulted – somehow.
Upon recognising the elements of deep unadulterated slumber written all over his body, I gathered that he wouldn't be able to wake even if I sloshed water on him. Besides, it would ruin the carpet of my living room. Maybe this was precisely the reason why he immediately volunteered my flat as our workplace (He volunteered MY flat. Imagine that). I sighed heavily, unsure of what to do.
One thing I was sure of at the moment though, was that the living room carpet wasn't exactly the ideal place to take a nap. I should move him to the bed. I thought, standing up and casting his dozing form a helpless glance. But how in heaven's name am I going to move him? Trying not to think like Inui, and yet failing, I calculated the distance between where we were and my bedroom. After a few moments of decision-making, I finally decided to slowly drag his obviously taller form so as not to wake him up (as if I could when he was snoring happily away... but I wouldn't tell him he was snoring, that was good blackmail material).
Taking hold of his hands, I proceeded to do such, halting for a short while when we got through the corner where we were supposed to turn left. The task was by no means easy.
Atobe, contrary to his own belief, was heavy.
Somehow, I managed the hard stuff and somehow weathered the harder task of hefting him gently on my bed. Seriously now, even I ask my own self... why did I do such thing? Maybe he was a friend... or was he? What was he to me really? It was simple... and yet so complex. I was still new to this 'shades of grey' thing, and what it was I am currently feeling was altogether too...
I shook my head. Looking down at his immobile form sprawled carelessly on black satin sheets. 'Su13' he went, travelling in his dream cloud. It was adorable, I had to admit. Without meaning to, I stooped and planted a chaste kiss on his forehead, marvelling minutely at the smoothness of his skin... and the scent of his perfume as it wafted to my nose, teasing me with its potency. I realised then that if I did not do anything, I would end up limp on the floor from... whatever it was that girls suffer from whenever they faint in front of someone famous. It wasn't that he was a movie star or something... it was just that... well...
When his nose twitched, I immediately reared back, standing up to my full height (which wasn't much but I felt taller now and that was what mattered), lips feeling burnt, body inexplicably hot. I shook my head once again as if to clear it, and peered closely to see if he was still asleep.
It was the 'Su' that gave him away. Sighing with relief, I pulled the blanket up to his chin and patted him just like one would do a child. And as of the moment, he did resemble one, so I figured it was fine.
Quietly, I slipped out of my room, leaving the door open so he wouldn't panic the moment he woke.
I wasn't halfway to the living room when the phone rang. After a mad dash to where it was, I finally answered it, pushing the button and switching to speaker mode.
"Ah, moshi moshi... Tezuka desu..."
"Mitsu, it's Souichirou."
I looked up at the wall clock. Souichirou? Calling at this time of night? And since when did he start calling me Mitsu? " Ah, Oishi Souichirou?" I asked sceptically, wondering if it was Momoshiro or Akutagawa (He grovelled to Atobe for my phone number the other day, though why, I don't exactly know) baiting me and then saying 'GOTCHA!' after.
A very Souichirou-like laughter erupted from the other end of the line. "Is there any Souichirou with a voice like mine? Oi, you're becoming senile!"
I allowed a wry smile. "Ha. Ha. Humour me."
"Just kidding! How are you doing? We haven't seen each other in ages!"
"I saw you just a couple of months ago." I reminded him. If anyone's becoming senile, it's you."
Souichirou laughed. "That would be the day." He quipped light-heartedly. However, knowing him for such along time, I couldn't help but think that something was definitely wrong with him. It was his tone. He was never this light-hearted. I knew people change, but this was pushing it. It was fake cheer. "No, seriously, Mitsu, how are you doing?"
Mitsu again. Memories came rushing back... Memories of the one who became the centre of my existence before. "I'm doing fine... how about you?" I answered, in an effort to clear my head for a short while.
"Same old, same old. Nothing new to talk about... or at least, nothing that would be interesting to anybody..." There it was again... definitely false cheer.
Even though I knew he couldn't see me, I raised a brow in incredulity. Honestly, he did not sound okay. "Honto ni."
"Hai, Honto ni honto. Anyway, I called to ask about your candidacy."
Ooh, changing the subject now, aren't we? I thought, and then shivered. I sounded like Atobe. " Oh, about that. I'm still thinking about it... but..."
"I say go for it, Mitsu! You'll be the best Business College President in your university!" I smiled. If it was not for the forlorn thread laced in his encouraging words, I might have said he was acting normally. This was my best friend... the 'Go Go Fairy'... the proverbial Mother Hen.
"I would? Somehow I doubt that. From the complaints I've heard from the members of the tennis teams I've handled in the past – and yes, that included you too, I think I would not do well with it on my back." There was that lack of good judgement issue. Based from what I have experienced... my decisions, contrary to popular belief, weren't always that... I shook my head, pain puncturing my tired heart once more. Gustav... if I only... maybe...
"Oh c'mon, don't tell me you care about those types of complaints? It was natural – you were handling sports teams, and hard training was in order, but this is different! You know how to listen Mitsu, you care even if you don't show it that much – you lead by example! You'll make a great president!"
Great president? Somehow I doubted it. If I couldn't keep myself in check all the time, how could I check everyone else? Junior high was easy... there were no extra life threatening and earth-shattering things to decide on, but this was college. Fraternities were at war, students were aiming to get to the top in order to get the best jobs, lovers were breaking up over a hickey on one's neck, people were engaging in orgies almost every drunken-and-drugged night... and partisanship was the "in" thing for politics to be reduced to. Besides, how could I win? Haru's data was probably incorrect. If I went on ahead, I would be running as an independent – and independent candidates were almost always voted out of the system.
"Oi, Mitsu, still alive?" I heard him ask. There was concern in his query... and I for once was moved. I knew he was having problems over something, if his tone before was of any indication, but still, he gave what thought he had to me. Yes, this was one of the qualities I liked about him...
"Wow... I don't remember you being so eloquent before, fukubuchou." I answered lightly, humouring him in an effort to stop his worries over something he shouldn't even be worrying about.
It was of great relief for me when he laughed. " Tough."
"Seriously though, I've always wanted to be a college president, but I'm too young. I can file for candidacy but there's just a slim chance of me getting in... Contrary to The Great Inui Sadaharu's belief..." I remarked easily. I had to close this topic before I began suffocating.
"I think What Haru told me over the phone the other night was true – after all, his data is ninety-nine percent accurate!"
Ninety-nine percent? I thought in surprise, resolve momentarily forgotten. I thought it was only seventy-five? Did my chances escalate that quickly in a span of an afternoon? It was truly intriguing, and the urge to just relent and satisfy the yearning deep inside me was making me quite dizzy. "What happened to one percent?"
"He lost it in a bowling game and a billiard game back in junior high."
I snickered, my throat unclenching a bit. Souichirou might have felt bad vibes coming from me that he made such amusing comment. "Oh... right, Takeshi-kun told me about that the moment I came back from Germany."
"You were still a dork when you came back that first time though... a guy with no social life."
"Ichirou. Don't say things like that. I had a social life and I have a social life." I said in my best buchou voice.
" Hai hai gomen ne buchou!" He laughed.
"You should be sorry, but then it's fine. You have the privilege of harassing me since you're my best friend and all... and yes, I'm trying to get you in a guilt trip..."
"A guilt trip... I don't need more of that, especially now... you're so cruel sometimes, Tezuka-bouchou." The mere mention of the word 'guilt' made him turn back to using the fake kind of cheer I had been debating internally before. If I didn't say anything, he would just clam up, that much I knew. I decided to bite the bullet and know what was happening once and for all.
"Wait... why do you sound so..." I started, only to be cut off.
"Oversexed?"
Bait would remain unbitten. Sorry, my friend. "No, I don't think oversexed is the word. The right one would be unhappy. Why do you sound unhappy?"
"Mitsu, you must be dreaming, maybe you're the one sad and just projecting. If you ask me, you are the one who sound unhappy!" There was desperation in his voice, and he was probably thinking that he would have escaped being interrogated if he hadn't called.
Tough luck. "No, I'm not projecting, Ichirou... I'm not un – wait... don't change the subject..." Did I sound unhappy? I shook my head. No, no time to think about such thing. "As I said before, you don't sound fine. Why do you sound so unhappy? Is something wrong?"
Tense silence.
"Ichirou..."
"You wouldn't understand..."
"Try me."
"It's about me and – Eiji." Oh, okay. That sounded pretty severe. Love problems. Should I even listen? I had one then and... well...
"He's mad at me."
"Why?"
"He got mad at me for not being entirely honest with him. I lied to him when I said the letter I got from Georgetown University in the U.S. last week was a letter of rejection." He revealed quietly. "Then he yelled at me. Turned out, he asked Fuji about it since he was suspecting I was hiding something from him whenever he asked about my application."
"Syusuke got wind of it after I told Genichirou and Kojirou the same day I got the letter, and well, I told the two of them not to tell Eiji... but the two of them did not tell Syusuke not to say anything about it, with him being Eiji's close friend and all, so... it wasn't exactly his fault. He was apologising to me over and over because of it."
His misery was overpowering. But this was where I usually come in. He offered me courage, and in return, I gave him something to work on... a plan, an idea... the quiet kind of comfort one could get from knowing that there was a good chance everything would end up fine.
"Ichirou, why don't you..."
Yes, this was our brand of friendship...
One that lasted an entire lifetime... and will last another.
oooOooo
Souichirou and I talked for a long time, and I did not stop giving him everything I had in mind until he was able to be himself again. By the time we ended our conversation, my ears were hot from overuse, but I knew it was worth it.
Slowly, I got up, stretching a bit before turning... only to see Atobe sneaking back to bed holding a glass of... what seemed to be milk. "Atobe." I called out, making him flinch and stop in his tracks. Caught, he turned, schooling his features to their normal arrogance.
"Ah, Ore-sama was hungry when he woke up, so he decided to get something to eat."
"But you didn't bring anything to eat."
He flipped his hair, making me cringe.
"Tezuka-chan" He started. "You should take a close look at your refrigerator. You need to go out and shop, honestly! How could you live on instant cup noodles? They are horrible!"
"I don't have time..." I defended myself.
"Pshaw, then, we'll have to make time!" He announced determinedly as if my nutrition issues were his own. "I'm going to take you grocery shopping with Okabe-obaachan14 tomorrow after tennis practice!"
I couldn't say anything anymore.
He wouldn't let me – ever.
This was Atobe Keigo we were talking about.
oooOooo
Everything was going fine in the tennis club a month later. We worked surprisingly well, with Asami-sensei teaching us how to synchronise movements on court after the embarrassing first game in which I used my Tezuka Zone (Which I soon learned did not work much in a doubles game), and hit my partner eight times on the back of his head. And if that was not enough, there had to be an unanticipated payback. Atobe hit me smack in the middle of my chest with an equal number of Hametsu no Rondos gone awry. The moment the ball rebounded off our opponent's weak spots, the ball proceeded merrily to it's favourite past time of hitting me until I was out of breath.
It was a good thing I didn't have Kaidoh's temper or else he'd be beaten into a mushy pulp right after the game – and it was a good thing that he did not have Momoshiro's temper for I would be beaten into a mushy pulp after the game. But that was over now... resolved.
And I thought I wouldn't have any problem with him anymore, until two weeks later.
"Atobe."
"I have never gotten a failing mark in anything before."
"There is always next time..."
I gave the perpetrator a glare. Atobe was the one who passed our first graded draft since he was late in giving me his part due to a busy schedule... apart from his boasting that he knew everything about the topic we had on Linear Programming. I conceded and thought it was fine, since he was as conscious of his marks as I was. But, lo and behold – I received a notice about the project proposal. We failed. Imagine that. Turned out, he failed to submit on time. My barbaric professor was especially with it though... gee, I wonder why?
"Stop looking at me like that!" He smirked. "I know I'm pretty, but you don't have to do that predatory look thing... it makes me want to push you in the janitor's closet and eat you alive."
EH? I must have resembled a ripe tomato for he snickered even more. I narrowed my eyes even further to hide my embarrassment. Let him think it was anger. "Atobe, I'm serious."
"I'm serious too you know." His smirk deepened. All I wanted was to smack the hypnotic presence off his face.
"Atobe, teme15..." I growled, patience loosening it's hold on me.
"Tezuka-chan?"
"One more time that you call me that, I'll..."
"You'll what, Tezuka-chan?"
"I'll... I'll fire you."
"Eh?"
Insert foot in mouth. Call Ripley's, everyone, I just made a dork out of myself.
Why me?
oooOooo
Atobe was stretching me to my limits.
A few weeks later and not one but two (Take note of sarcasm here) failed experiments ago, we were making our third Chemistry project inside the most famous coffee shop in the area one morning when he started asking the most ridiculous questions available in anyone's scientific vocabulary.
"So... all I have to do is glue the pieces together on the plate and we'll be done?"
I kept silent, counting one to ten in order to replenish my fast-depleting stock of patience. I knew he was not this much of a bimbo, because he normally got grades as high as I did, maybe even more since Hyoutei Gakuen had better educational training than Seishun Gakuen, so why this show of stupidity? Was this true, or just an act to mock me?
Atobe glared at me. "Oi, I'm talking to you!" He poked me with the blunt end of his fountain pen. It hurt but I tried not to show it, otherwise he would just increase the amount of his Atobe-brand torture and render me senseless. "I was asking if..."
"Yes, I heard you the first time, Atobe." I answered as calmly as I could.
"Then why didn't you answer the first time?" He huffed, crossing his arms in annoyance.
"Because I've answered that question thrice ever since we came in here." I said through gritted teeth, glaring back at him just as intensely.
Atobe looked faintly surprised. "You did?"
"Hai."
"Oh."
"Maybe if you focus more on what I am saying rather than whatever it is about me that you're particularly fascinated with, you'd hear me." Of course I had seen him staring at me as we laboured over segregating pieces of volcanic rock.
"Oi, don't be such a wet blanket!" Atobe exclaimed, a smirk on his lips, those intense eyes staring at me once more. "I like staring at you."
"Why is that?" My stomach did the flip-flops... kind of like what I felt with...
"You're interesting."
... With Gustav...
Atobe chuckled, poking me once again. "Don't sweat it, it's just one of my habits."
"That's what I am afraid of." It took quite a while before I came back to my senses. And silently, I vowed never to let myself go another time.
"Oh?"
I nodded. "Stop looking at me like you are going to gobble me up alive, that's all I ask." I countered, trying to act nonchalant, even though my insides were roiling like crazy.
"Hai, hai, Tezuka-chan!"
"Don't call me that."
oooOooo
What was supposed to be a brainstorming session for our Operations Research project, turned into a late-lunch bitch-fest started by my one and only partner. Although it was quite annoying, I would have to say that I had finally succeeded in letting Atobe grow on me. The amazing thing was that... I was not fuming even with the gloating, the veiled mockery, prissy attitude and haughty responses like I was this morning. I was actually enjoying being with him now, though why, I would never know... well, maybe the lack of "Tezuka-chan"s had something to do with it... or maybe because he wasn't whining about me being the walking ice cube again.
"Tezuka, Hiyoshi was absent in our last class yesterday." Atobe sighed as he picked on his limp pickled radish, a disgusted frown on his face. "My book for first period is with him... and I don't have a spare. What am I going to do? I survived class since I study in advance, but what about my assignments!"
"Then buy a new one." I quipped, taking a bite of my crab salad. "You have the resources too, haven't you?"
"Done that... sold out... restocking after two weeks." He said miserably. "I have the income, I can take care of the demand, but the supply seems to be inching away from me the moment I try closing in on it."
"You just didn't say that, Mr. Economics Major." I couldn't help saying, glancing briefly at him, needing to know what he would look like surprised. After all, it was only fair that he was surprising me with all these little bouts of kindness. Besides, it felt kind of good everytime I saw the changes on his face whenever I attack him with bouts of platonic wit.
"Tezuka-chan..." He smirked. "You just love shocking me, don't you?"
I raised a brow, trying to look innocent. It wasn't exactly working, I knew, but then, who cared? It felt nice to talk to him not-oh-so-seriously all the time.
"Hmm? This is interesting... does this mean that you like me, ah, Tezuka-chan?"
Like you? Why does it feel as if I'm missing something here...? Atobe was flirting with me, yes, but I couldn't help reading too much to it. There was something about his tone that suggested lighthearted banter... it was as if he was actually...
Serious.
To cover my confusion, I glared. "Don't call me that."
"Whatever!" He said breezily, waving my comment away as if he knew it was a farce. How much did he know about me anyway? It seemed he was aware of whatever it was I felt at certain occasions. What was with this guy? "I know you like me, Tezuka-chan, admit it!"
Sighing, I set down my fork. There was no winning against him. If he knew, then he knew – there was no getting around it. "Fine, I like you."
Silence.
The planes of his face were flat now... and then the same emotion I saw repeatedly in his eyes for more than two months was there once again. It never changed. I was intrigued by it... most of all now, when his eyes were turning watery. I noticed this in complete alarm. Did I say anything offensive? Then he blinked.
And everything went away with it.
What was that just now? I didn't know... but did I want to know?
Yes.
However, it seemed that he saw something in my own eyes that made him morph back to his usual self. What was going on? The stillness was deafening. I had to say something. I knew that I should break the silence to halt something that would make him regret ever asking and I ever answering...
I had an inkling of what it was... but still, after all this time... I was not sure.
"I like you... enough for me to let you borrow this for a while." I quickly opened my backpack and took a massive book out. "Here."
He stared at me as if I had grown three heads before letting his eyes drop to the heavy book on his hands. "What... what is this...?"
"A book. Like the one you need." I answered quietly. "We have the same course, remember?"
"Oh..." He started, looking up and staring at me once again. "But what about you? Don't you need it too?"
I shook my head. "No I don't need it. Just give it back to me during Operations Research class tomorrow and I'll be fine."
He nodded, his trembling hands setting the book on his file case. I was actually feeling sorry for him for not using a backpack like I did, for once. It was hard lugging that thing around.
There were no smart comments from him... anything at all, which somehow surprised me. Then he spoke, bowing his head and staring at his food, his demeanour as solemn as one had whenever worshipping in the olden Shinto temples. "Tezuka... would it be alright if I ask you another favour?"
I blinked. A favour? From me? Slowly, I nodded, keeping my eyes on the top of his head. I have an assignment to do on this later... could you... could you remind me that I have to get through it at exactly nine in the evening? I mean... call me at home, not my cell phone since I often forget which one I'm about to use? I'm a bit tired as of late, and..."
My eyes softened at the fidgety behaviour he was exhibiting. "I will." I answered back, nodding in emphasis, even if I knew he would not see me with his eyes glued to the discarded radish like that.
Maybe he was not expecting an affirmation... for he suddenly looked up and stared hard at me, as if trying to gauge if I was not toying with him. Somehow, the assurance was drawn out of my face, for he immediately smiled – one that lighted up his whole face, making him seem more radiant than ever before...
It was then that I decided that he looked positively beautiful.
oooOooo
"Ah, Tezuka-kun."
I paused mid-step at the authoritative voice of which I knew was my Advanced Calculus professor. "Doushite, sensei16?"
With a smile he handed me a hard copy of the day's homework. "Kindly give this to Inui-kun and tell him that if he'll be absent in my class anymore without filing for an Excused-Absence Form, I'll flunk him. His council work is interfering with his studies."
Startled, all I could do was nod politely and stare at the back of my professor's head as he wandered away. Inui? Council work interfering with his studies? It was something I truly deemed as impossible... but seeing that he had been absent for the third time in a row (In which I now knew he hadn't filed absence for)... I shook my head. He'll hear from me, I swear. I thought determinedly. I wouldn't say anything to him of course... but I knew a sure-fire way to get the old responsible him back. With a wry smile I started off to my next class, hand slipping in my back pocket to retrieve my mobile phone. Carefully, I dialled one of the ten phone numbers I knew by heart. As I waited for the other to pick up, I schooled myself back to my former buchou self.
/Ah, Moshi moshi...? Tezuka-san? /
I took in a deep inaudible breath and began.
"Ah, Kaidoh, I think you should know... About Sadaharu..."
oooOooo
That was it. I solemnly vowed that I would never ever set foot on the thirteenth floor again. After the guilt-trip I suffered over laughing at what had happened to Hiyoshi-kun and Inui Jiru disaster, I decided that anything was not worth taking a trip upstairs... unless absolutely necessary... and I had to review my standards when it came to the word "necessary". I would probably do the reconsidering after Kaidoh administered his painful 'disciplining' on Haru. I sighed, plopping on the edge of my bed.
I hated this...
I shook my head tiredly and stared up at my bedroom's wall clock.
Ten minutes before nine o'clock. I thought, finding the ticking Seconds hand fascinating as it revolved around the surface, briefly touching the numbers before moving progressing systematically.
I hated this.
Just as much as I hated what I did during lunchtime today. Not because I did not want to help Atobe, but because of the queasy feeling that had settled deep in my bowels when he looked at me like... like... he was the happiest person alive... even for a fleeting moment. What was he thinking? Did he actually believe I liked him that way? Did I want to imply that I liked him more than... more than whatever it was I regarded him as? What was he to me anyway? What was he to me after all this time together?
Five minutes still, before nine o'clock... I thought, Atobe's favour echoing in my brain for the umpteenth time. Why was I obsessing over something as petty as calling someone for study reminders?
/But it isn't just any one... you're going to call Atobe Keigo. / My brain decided to put in its two-cent's worth over my problem. Wait... when did it become my problem? I didn't have any problem whatsoever!
/You have a problem... you want to – /
RING!
I was jolted out of my thoughts when the alarm for nine o'clock. Oi, oi... wasn't that a bit too soon? I snuck a peek at my wristwatch. It was indeed nine in the evening.
I quickly bounded over to the phone and was about to snatch the receiver and place the call when I realised what I was doing. I was acting like a love-struck girl about to call her first boyfriend. I shuddered, slowing my movements and punching the numbers carefully, heart trying to break free from the chambers of my chest.
The phone was ringing... but strangely, no one answered. Where was he? I was sorely tempted to just call his hand phone, but then he said I should call him...
"This is the great Atobe Keigo's residence. If you called just to waste my time, then please, just leave; I've got lots of things to do than converse with the likes of you. If you're a fan, then I understand, so leave as many messages as you want..."
I snickered quietly, unable to believe that he had the guts to record such message in his answering machine. And that breathy voice...! I felt my nether regions tighten in response. Blushing, I fidgeted.
"And if you're Tezuka Kunimitsu..."
I stood still, unable to believe I had just heard my name in his answering machine. Intrigued, I listened carefully.
"Thank you for... calling."
I nearly dropped the phone. What was that? I wondered. Somehow, I had the inkling he was not just thanking me for calling... could it be...?
No... Probably not.
But I was shaken, and my voice did not come out as I had hoped it would. I sounded as confused as I felt...
Uh... hi, it's me." I started awkwardly, the fingers of my free hand playing with the thin rice paper covering of my desk lamp. "Did you get through your assignment yet? You told me to remind you at exactly nine in the evening... so here, I'm reminding you now
I paused, enough to catch my breath before continuing. "Are you having trouble with it? I'll be glad to... help... Umm... I hope you finish it early so you don't have to stay up late... uh... that is all."
The vision of Atobe lying in bed flashed through my mind. I shivered uncontrollably and swallowed as quietly as possible.
"Good night then." I finished quite hurriedly, replacing the phone down as fast as I could. Leaning back against the wall, I breathed deeply, trying to erase the disturbingly erotic picture Atobe made in that single fantasy.
Atobe with the hem of his shirt revealing his powerful abs (and a nice set at that) while his chest rose and fell rhythmically in sleep. The waistband of his boxers riding low on his hips, nearly showing the fine hairs of his...
I smacked my forehead twice. I was all hot and bothered now... and there was a stick trying to wrestle with my underwear at the moment. Any more of that and I would definitely explode. Why was I thinking about him like that? Atobe was too far apart from Gustav! Gustav was more considerate, less narcissistic, less annoying! Besides, I promised myself not to betray his memory... so why was I obsessing over someone just because they had the same set of oceanic eyes? I cradled my head between my hands, as I slid, defeated, down the wall, eyes closed and breath exhaled in panicked puffs.
Did I actually...
I shook my head, opening my eyes and staring at one of Gustav's paintings hanging opposite my bed. I had to get out... think everything over... maybe when I calmed down I would be more rational about this. With renewed purpose, I stood shakily up and stumbled towards the shower. I needed one...
Maybe ice-cold water would stop the heat raging inside once and for all...
Now if only it was that simple.
oooOooo
It was dark, but I didn't care even if there were no lampposts around. I knew the place as well as I knew the backs of my hands.
I had been walking for quite a long while now, and somehow, I had cleared a major part of my possessed mind. I felt kind of cleansed... and very much relieved. I was relaxed too... somewhat. Relaxed enough to think about what happened this afternoon with Akutsu, Hiyoshi-kun and Sadaharu and snickering in semi-amusement over it. Inui would never change, that's for sure. Poor stepbrother... Hiyoshi would have to get out to preserve his sanity.
Speaking of sanity, my mind strayed to what I had done tonight. I had actually called Atobe to remind him of his assignment. Why? Maybe because I promised (although grudgingly, when we were at the end of our project meeting that early afternoon) that I would... but why was it that something kept telling me things I wasn't sure I could comprehend?
That maybe in the slightest sense... I actually cared?
It was scary, but I was open to it. After all, only a callous person would not even, with the barest hint, care for somebody... and that I sure am not. However... I was just not too sure that it was precisely the reason why. I knew I was not obsessing over Atobe, but something in my body reacts almost intuitively to every piece of stimuli the he offered unknowingly (Damn pheromones). Like that seemingly smiley and innocent-y way I had been led to making that promise to check up on him the minute the hands on the clock turned nine... I had been suckered into doing that for him without even knowing why and how he did it. Was it because of the way he became very un-Atobe-like? Or was it something else that piqued the sensitive parts of my senses? It wasn't so scary once you think about it (like what I was doing all evening), but what actually alarmed me was the fact that...
I actually had a staring match with my desk clock from exactly eight-fifty in the evening until the big hand struck twelve... nine o'clock.
Strange.
I shook my head, feeling slightly lightheaded all of a sudden, making me stop for a while and sit down on a patch of grassy lawn in the park I was walking through. If my thoughts ran closer to the other direction (one that had been threaded through before I took a 'gratifying' shower), I would end up being a maniac – in many ways than one.
But I couldn't just turn off my brain and lose interest in him, because, even if I did hate to admit it (and even if my vanity hated to admit it – yes, I was vain too, thank you very much), he was very interesting. Interesting in away that you just didn't want to let go once you caught sight of him – narcissism and all. You just couldn't help but see him and feel his presence even if he was not around.
It was stupid, and what was even more stupid was the fact that I was actually smelling the scent of a very familiar brand of perfume. Givenchy, that much I knew. It was Gustav's favourite... and strangely... It was Atobe's too, the one he wore to school every single day.
Atobe. Why was it that everytime I thought about Gustav, Atobe came to mind? What was happening to me? Tiredly, I sat back, and was about to lean back on my hands when I felt something warm... warm... arms? Since when did grass grow arms? I thought, mentally considering asking Sadaharu the minute I got back home. But... what if... My eyes widened considerably. What if there was a dead man lying just behind me?
With a start, I got up, breathing fast and hard, trying to calm myself down the best I could, eyes adjusting to the darkness as I took out a small penlight I always carry in my pocket. Turning it on, I trained it at the source of my alarm. What I saw made me take a surprised step forward. What the –
I stared.
Hard.
Steel-grey hair... fair complexion that glows ridiculously in the even in the dark... partially opened crimson-stained lips... That cute little... erm... the tell-tale mole below one eye... EH? "Atobe?" I whispered incredulously. What the hell is he doing here? I thought wildly, eyes darting towards the still form and even stiller hands. Wait... is he dead?
The mere thought sent a wave of nausea tiding over me... I felt sick... as if I had been zapped with an energy-depleting alien laser gun (I'm starting to sound like Sadaharu, curse him for his lack of finesse in naming things). Leaving no time to waste, I immediately crouched down and touched my ear on his chest, listening for a heartbeat... for anything that would prove his existence. I was shaking... terrified of the prospect for finding nothing at all. I strained, close to panicking... straining to recognize the sound of even a single beat of his precious heart... and finally finding...
Lots of it.
I groaned, finally collapsing from unnecessary stress, my rapidly pounding heart finally slowing down to its normal pace. Gazing at him, a smile touched my lips as he turned towards me in sleep, arms splaying out and hitting my knee, rendering me immobile. There was no getting out of it. If I wanted to move, I had to wake him up. But there was something in me that didn't want to. There was this huge amount of strange contentment as I slowly, ever so slowly, reached out and touched his cheek, marvelling at the softness and smoothness of what I already knew would be flawless skin.
But then the rational part of my brain digressed. I had to get up or else suffer a nasty cramp. Sighing, I relented. "Atobe." I whispered, patting the warm suppleness hard enough to wake him up. "Atobe, wake up... Atobe."
He stirred, head swivelling from side to side in restlessness. "Hmm?"
I couldn't help the widening smile blossoming on my face. Atobe looked just so cute waking up that I couldn't resist. Briefly, I wondered what it would be like to see this every single waking day...
The smile slipped down a notch. What am I thinking? I thought dazedly. That was the most ridiculous thing I had ever thought of in my whole life!
/Is it? / Countered a small voice at the back of my head that I currently had no energy to squash. I was melting at the sight of the six-year-old innocence playing before me. Wearily, I shook my head and proceeded to wake him up. "Atobe." I whispered once more. "Atobe, wake up... if you don't you'll get sick – it's too cold and damp out here... it's late autumn, you know... Atobe..."
Atobe stretched, as if looking for something, his hand automatically grabbing whatever it was it encountered... even...
The crotch of my pants.
Oh. My. God. I winced, sensitive to every move his fingers made. My demons were finally coming alive. Desperately, I squeezed his wrist in an effort to loosen his hold – all to no avail. As if on instinct, his fingers tightened even more, and a twinge of pain penetrated through my senses. If Atobe did not let go of me, I would end up impotent for life – and that was not a good thing.
My mind was screaming, panicking... and the voice inside my head was not helping, for what it poured forth were colourful epithets worthy of any gangster.
I could do nothing but squirm, and the most effective wake-up call everyone knew (Which did not apply to Akutagawa, of course)...
Shook him... and screamed.
"ATOBE!"
TBC
A/N: I decided to extend this fic... so I'll be continuing until part 3... I hope there wouldn't be any Part 4, since the main story (Who Says College is Easy) is seriously lacking chapters... ; Well then, onto the next part!
1 Roughly translates to "Cool"
2 Fuji did his own version of the Tezuka Zone in the Manga against Kirihara while he was momentarily 'Blind'.
3 Uh... four consecutive "No"s... where I got it? It's in Suwabe Junichi's voice message...
4 Vice captain... like Oishi, like Sanada, like... erm... like them. ;
5 Okay... I know many of you have heard these names before... but I just couldn't help including them! They are the main characters in Jajauma Narashi. They are tennis players in that BL Drama (and Manga too). Okiayu plays Kurozawa, Shibuya plays Miki, and lovable Hoshi plays the equally lovable Baba.
6 Just putting in a Yuy Heero (of Gundam Wing fame) feel to it. XD
7 Roughly translates to "What –"
8 One of the various Japanese words of pained interjection. One word – OUCH.
9 Jirou is always looking around for Fuji, ne? XD
10 Translates to "Congratulations"
11 Means "Thank you"... I would be very happy though when he's thanking Atobe for being such an exceptional guy in bed... But that is just me... enough now, on to the story! XD
12 I really don't understand why, but my cousin's school actually uses this kind of assignment (I patterned it after her tennis team)... the same with the match-ups for when newcomers enter the team... weird... but every inch true.
13 SFX: Sound of breath being exhaled while sleeping.
14 An original character (OC). She is Atobe's personal nursemaid and attendant ever since he was young.
15 An angry version of "You..." (You smexy guy, you! XD)
16 Roughly translates to "What is it, teacher?"