Ponta: Such cruel fate. Such cruel world.

Momo: ....Of all the sudden, Ponta seemed so negative.

QueenofEngland: Oh, she's just suffering from her horrible projects plus she need to be depressed for the upcoming angst.

Momo: Angst? What angst?!

Ponta: Sigh, happiness is so short.

Ryoma: Mada mada dane.

Ponta: Really? How can you be so happy if you haven't beaten your perverted father?

Ryoma: ................... :: sulks in the corner::

Momo: EHH! RYOMA!

QueenofEngland: This is getting too negative here. Let's leave the married couple to do the disclaimer!

Oishi: Married? Do we really seem like that?

Eiji: Hoi hoi! I don't mind!

Oishi blushing: ... I'm sorry! Ponta does not own Prince of Tennis!

Eiji: NOW CHAPTER 9! :: gave a cheeky smile that brightened the dark atmosphere::

The Right Guy

Chapter 9

~~~~~~~~~~ Momo's POV ~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up feeling extremely good. I was shrouded in comfortable warmth and my eyes didn't want to open. I moved closer to that warmth until I realized that I could feel a breath on my chest. I squinted my eyes open and saw Echizen, my roommate, was sleeping right next to me. Not only that, my arms were around him and he was pressed up against my chest. He was cuddling against my chest, probably thought I was Karupin, his pet cat.

I was very shocked and quickly untangle myself away from that comfortable warmth.

Why is Echizen here?! Sleeping right next to me too!

I sat up rapidly and saw that I was on the sofa with my own blanket over me in our dorm.

When do I get here? Then I remembered that I collapsed on Echizen while we were walking back to our dorm.

Echizen must have brought me here but that doesn't explain anything why Echizen is sleeping next to me!

I looked at him as he was sleeping peacefully. Echizen really looked adorable when he was sleeping like that, especially how he cuddles against me.

However a frown appeared on his small face and moved his arm. He suddenly grabbed my shirt and pulled me toward him.

I didn't know why Echizen dragged me closer to him but I knew he was sleeping at content again. But I was in a rather interesting position, where Echizen was cuddling against me again and I could felt my own sexual desire awakened. And my face was extremely close to his cute face.

I have a closer look at his face and I could see how extremely cute he was when he was this close to me. I saw these small lips looked very tempting to my mind.

Why does he have to be so damn cute?!

I inched my face closer to him.

If he wasn't so cute, I wouldn't have this feeling!

I went even closer and closed my eyes.

...Do I like him?

I was so close to Echizen's face that my lips barely touched his tempting lips. I was about to kiss that sweet lips of his but unfortunately my luck won't let that happen.

As I was about to kiss him, I suddenly felt him moving around. I opened my eyes and at the same time Echizen also opened his golden eyes. He looked at me and probably wondering why I'm so close to him. Then he did knee jab on my precious private part and I crouched in intense pain.

I fell over the sofa as the result and fell on my bottom, adding more pain to the enough suffering already.

Echizen yelled, "What were you trying to do to me? Rape me?!"

... I was trying to kiss you but why I did almost do that? I countered by lying, "No, I wasn't! I was trying to wake you up! Beside what were you doing by sleeping right next to me!?"

Echizen immediately became silent and averted his sight away from me. He muttered coldly, "It's your fault for making us stay up so late last night or is it early morning?"

"You agree too! And that doesn't explain why you sleep next to me!" I yelled in my defense.

"Baka, you were the one who collapsed on me, so you wore out my energy and I couldn't help but sleep here." Echizen said it flatly.

I sighed out of annoyance. But when Echizen sleep right next to me, I felt so warm and comfortable. It was a nice feeling.

"Momo-senpai, what time is it?" Echizen asked me.

I looked at my watch and gaped at what I saw.

Echizen took notice of my surprise and questioned, "What is it?"

"It's ...." I struggled with my words.

"It's what?!" Echizen was impatient.

"It's 8:55 a.m." I said it out finally.

Echizen looked at me with a questionable look, "Momo-senpai, isn't the district prelims start at 9:00?"

There was an uneasy silence between us. "WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" We both yelled at the same time.

We immediately got up and grabbed our tennis bags. We rushed out of the dorm and headed for my trusted bike.

As I got on my bike, I yelled at him, "Geez, why do you have to wake up so late?!"

Echizen got on after me and raised his tone against me, "You also woke up at the same time as me!"

I quickly leaved the school and speeded my bicycle as I was on the marathon. As I was speeding like crazy, I countered him, "Actually, I got up earlier than you!"

Echizen retorted, "If you were up so earlier, then how come you didn't wake me up?!"

...I remembered what I did to him this morning and I was blushing red. I didn't answer because I didn't want Echizen to know what I almost did to him. I yelled, "Never mind! Buchou is going to kill us!" I gained up the pace.

~~~~~~~~~~~ Neutral's POV ~~~~~~~~~~~

The other Seigaku regulars were anxiously waiting for the last two players. Ryuzaki sent Takashi to check with the officials. Ryuzaki has her arms crossed and anxiously awaited for the good news. She saw Takashi coming and asked, "What do they say?"

Takashi delivered, "They said, if we don't register within ten minutes, we have to forfeit."

Ryuzaki sighed disappointedly, "Where were those idiots be?"

Oishi asked, "Eiji, are you sure you check on their dorm?"

Eiji replied, "Yeah, I did knocked on the door but no one was answering it. So I thought, they must be out."

Inui looked at data notebook, "It is 89 percent that they overslept."

Fuji smirked, "Come to think of it, I heave heard that they always go out late. They must be "busy.""

There was a deep serious frown on Tezuka's face.

Kaidoh hissed until he heard a skidding sound. He looked at where the source came from and was shocked at what he saw next.

~~~~~~~~~~ Momo's POV ~~~~~~~~~~

"Faster than a car! Faster than a plane! FASTER THAN SUPERMAN!" I yelled passionately as I pedaled at intense speed.

"Momo-senpai, you're over exaggerating." Echizen said to me as he holds on to my wrist, which felt really nice, if I say so myself. ....No time to think about that!

I reached the area and I sighted the others at the entrance. I cheered, "All right! We're not too late!"

I quickly tried to push the brake but it was futile. We continued to speed as I kept holding the brake.

Echizen yelled, "Stop the bike already!"

"I'm trying too!" I shouted and then saw Mamushi in our line of path, "Watch out Mamushi!"

We collided with Mamushi and the result was disastrous. Echizen, Mamushi, and I were all tangled together along with my ruined bike.

I looked up and saw Buchou glaring at me with stern face. I greeted, "Ah, Hello, Buchou."

Buchou spoke seriously, "Momoshiro. Echizen. After your game, 20 laps around the courts!"

I complained, "NANI!? There are more courts here than in our school!"

"30 laps!" Buchou countered my complainant with bigger punishment.

"Hai Buchou." I said it disappointedly.

"You and your big mouth." Echizen said it sarcastically.

"Shut up!"

We quickly untangled ourselves and we received another threat from Mamushi.

Sigh, this is not my day.

We register and meet our opponents, Gyokurin High School. Echizen and I also saw those guys we lost to few days ago. They were surprised to saw us but were even more surprised that we're playing against them.

As we entered the court and shook their hands, they taunted us.

Fukawa said, "We never expect to see you guys here."

Izumi teased, "But then we're lucky because we would beat you easily. Pity, you would have win in singles."

These assholes, I was about to unleashed my anger but Echizen smirked, "We would won in singles."

The pair scowled at us but Echizen continued, "But you know what. It's better to beat someone at their own game."

It was hilarious to see those shocked expressions at their face when Echizen just told them off. Echizen was right, it is better to beat someone at their own game. That is why we trained hard to win this.

"Echizen, let's do the AH-UN strategy!" I said.

"Hai." Echizen replied and we bumped each other's hands in agreement.

The referee announced, "Game between Momoshiro-Echizen pair and Izumi- Fukawa pair will begin! The best of one set match! Momoshiro to serve!

I immediately started with a power serve and they were able to return it. I knew that they were going to hit the ball right in the middle but too bad for them because it's not going to work!

As soon as they hit the ball to the middle, I yelled, "AH!"

Echizen yelled after me, "UN!"

Echizen countered the ball and we gain a point. It was priceless, the surprised expressions of our opponents' faces when we countered that ball.

Too bad, we overcome our weakness now!

The game was in our tide. They tried to hit in the middle again for numerous times but we were able to return it with our AH-UN strategy.

We were able to win couple of games until Izumi yelled, "This is not singles! This is doubles!"

I wasn't sure what he was talking about until I realized that Echizen and I were in one half of the court while the other half is empty. They took the advantage of that and gained a point.

We were shocked this time. Echizen regained his composure and asked me, "Momo-senpai, isn't that your ball?"

I replied angrily, "What are you talking about? That was your ball!"

Echizen raised his tone, "No, it wasn't! That was your ball!"

"It's the player in the back who's responsible for getting that ball!" I retorted.

"The ball hit in the area where the net player is responsible for!" Echizen countered against me.

We continued to argue until we decided to ignore each other.

Who does that cocky prick think he is?

The game was now in their tide, we were losing and our teamwork was ruined. Eventually our pride will be marred.

We were taking a break and I knew our formation was ruined. I was about to talk to Echizen but he ignored me.

Fine, I'll just ignored him too. See if I care about that arrogant brat.

Then we heard laughing from Izumi and Fukawa, mocking our strength. We sneered at them until someone pulled our face cheeks away, painfully I add.

Grandma Coach grabbed our cheeks and yelled, "What are you idiots doing out there!?"

"I was playing fine until Echizen ruined everything." I said in my defense.

"Me too but the big oaf was the one who lazing around." Echizen murmured.

I glared at him and he glared back. Then we felt sudden painful smacks on our heads. We covered our heads in response and looked up to Grandma Coach. She yelled, "All you guys have learned is how to strike the ball down the middle but in the rest of area, there was no teamwork! Now do you understand your problem!?"

I was embarrassed that I blamed Echizen for nothing. Grandma Coach was right, we didn't have teamwork in other areas except the mid court. So, how can we turn this game into our tide?

Then I realized something and I looked at Echizen, who was looking back, probably have the same realization as I do. I grinned, "Hoi, Echizen! Thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Hai." Echizen smirked.

Luckily, this tennis courts was dirt courts or otherwise, this plan wouldn't happened. We dragged our rackets halfway through the court, creating a line between us. If the balls landed in Echizen's side, he would hit it. If the balls landed in my side, I would definitely hit it back.

We'll definitely win this game with our own style, even if we have to play singles.

Our opponents were shocked again and the game was flowing into our tide. We overcame our weaknesses. They were surprised that we're playing doubles as singles.

In the final game, they tried to hit it down in the middle again. I guess they forgotten that we have that particular strategy.

I yelled, "AH!"

Echizen yelled after me, "UN!"

I hit the ball back and its game!

We won the game and gained our manly pride back. Things were going great for us until ... Grandma coach hit us again for making her worry and stuff and we still have to run thirty laps around the courts.

Despite that, I felt happy because I was able to play with Echizen.

Few days after playing doubles together, I wasn't sure what actually happened but somehow Echizen and I became best buddies even though we bickered among each other. But the time I spent with him was pure happiness.

However deep in my heart, I have a feeling that happiness would not last forever, in fact, it's short and fragile.

One afternoon, Echizen and I were taking a stroll to visit the shops and fast food place too. We talked about tennis as usual and our progress in it. We stopped in the front of sports emporium, where Echizen need to buy a new grip tape.

He entered the store first and I was about to follow him until I heard a familiar voice calling for me.

"Well well, isn't it Momoshiro?" A suave voice called for me.

Oh god! Please do not tell me it's him!

I turned around to see where it came from and saw the person I hate so much, probably even more than Mamushi.

Why did it have to be him?

"What no greetings to Ore-sama?"

"What do you want, Atobe?" I scowled his name.

Atobe, the captain of the Hyotei team and also the national level player. We have lost to his team for numerous times in the past year but this year, it's different.

Atobe gave his annoying smirk, "I came all the way here to see you, Momoshiro and this how you treated me? This is very insulting to Ore-sama. Right, Kabaji?" He asked his tall, hulky servant that has pea for a brain.

"Use." That is the only word that servant always said for Atobe.

"If you have no business with me, I don't need to waste my time with you." I sneered at the purple-haired man.

"How am I wasting your time? I could see that you're lonely and perhaps you need someone with you, perhaps me?" Atobe smiled as he gets closer to me. Way too close, he is invading my own invisible personal space. He began to caress my face, which leaves me to shudder under his hand. Then he came even closer, his disgusting lips almost touching mine but yet I felt like I want this. Suddenly, Echizen came to my mind.

I quickly pushed him away and yelled, "What the hell were you trying to do to me?!"

He laughed at my reaction and grinned, "Is it not obvious that I want you?"

For strange reason, Atobe has this weird obsession of me. Last year right after our match with Hyotei, he whispered to my ear, "I want you."

Those words gave me the creeps and I always refused his offer, "How many times I must do this?! I don't want to go out with you! Not now! Not ever!" I yelled passionately, hoping that King of assholes would go away.

However, he just laughed it off wickedly, "Even if you said that, Momoshiro, you cannot resist me. After all, I'm irresistible."

Shit! Atobe was right. I have to admit that he's really handsome and all but in my heart, I know he is not the one for me. But every time he flirts with me, slowly, I began to fall under his spell. One time, I even wanted to slept with him. Now, I almost let him kissed me. I was now scared because I knew he was right. Atobe tried his attempt again until I hear a voice calling for me.

"Hoi, Momo-senpai, who is the monkey king?"

I looked at Echizen standing there, glaring at Atobe. I saw that Echizen's golden eyes were showing anger.

Atobe frowned but snickered, "You dare call me Atobe-sama, the captain of Hyotei, the monkey king? What an energetic kid. Who is he, your brother?"

I smiled, knowing that Echizen saved me, "He's my roommate."

His frown went even deeper and put his hand below his eyes. Then he smiled, "So, this is what you're after?"

I didn't know what he was talking about until I realized that he was talking about Echizen.

He laughed again, "Foolish attempt, Momoshiro. There is hidden hatred within him."

Echizen muttered angrily, "Hey, what are you implying?"

I have to stop this before it gets even more messy. I yelled at Atobe, "Just leave us alone!"

"I could see that I'm unwanted here. Let us go, Kabaji." Atobe ordered and left with his servant.

Before he leaves, Atobe said one final thing, "You cannot deny me, Momoshiro." Then he left.

I complained loudly, "Man, what an asshole!" I smiled at Echizen because I knew he did save me, "Hey, thanks for what you did out there!"

But Echizen didn't reply, he still has anger in his eyes. Such horrible anger, it creeping me out.

Echizen glared at me and asked in icy tone, which frightened me, "Is that Monkey King gay?"

This question. This scene. All of this was the same thing that happened on the first day I met Echizen. The same thing where I discovered that uncertain truth of Echizen. Is Echizen homophobic? I asked myself again. My happiness began to crack.

I couldn't help but ask, "Do you hate Atobe?"

"Yes." Echizen replied.

"Is it because he's gay?" I asked with fear.

"Hai." Echizen replied coldly.

The uncertainty now turned into a certain truth. So Echizen is really homophobic. When I realized that, my happiness began to shattered like a broken glass.

Echizen walked ahead of me and called, "Hoi, are we going to go eat?"

I looked up and saw that he was not angry anymore. But I couldn't take this anymore. I quickly lied, "I have to do something!" I ran, leaving Echizen alone.

I didn't know where I was running but all I know was that I wanted to stay away from him.

As I was running, my happiness was consumed by this sadness. My heart was aching again like that time but this time, it felt even more painful. As sadness consumed my happiness entirely, I stopped running. I felt tears coming out from my eyes.

Why am I crying now? This is so stupid, I'm crying over that brat. However I couldn't help it, I felt really happy when I was friend with Echizen. I don't know how to say this but it was the happiest moments I experienced. However, I couldn't even tell him I'm gay and now I know I couldn't say it because Echizen is actually homophobic. I couldn't be friends with him if I knew that truth. Why?

Why do Echizen have to bring me so much happiness and then sorrow?

I now knew that pure happiness never last.

TBC

Ponta: HORRAY! I finally introduced Atobe!

Momo: HOI! What do make Atobe almost kiss me?!

Ponta: Well I need to create conflicts, so I can create angst! Beside isn't kissing Atobe better than kissing Mamushi?

Momo: NO! Wait I mean... NO!

Ponta: Sorry readers, I couldn't help but not like ATOBE. Its just his personality that gave me the creeps. Yes, I also hate Mizuki too and that evil Mizuki twin in Rikkai who beat up the captain of Fudomine.

Ryoma: But isn't the Monkey King's personality is the same as ...

QueenofEngland: BOW TO MY BEAUTY!

Ponta: ................Come to think of it, my friend does have the same personality as Atobe. ...How creepy, I actually know a live version of Atobe. Readers, I will create more angst later for the story but do not worry, everything will be alright in the end. That if I actually make it to the end with all the evil homeworks. Please send a review! Arigatou!