A/N notes: thank you for your reviews :D you've made me very happy! I've been a little sick lately and had a lot of school so the update has been slow…I still fight to keep my deadline on Ootori's birthday with the 7th (?) chappie. This story, the way it looks now, is going to be long. Almost 10 chapters long. But there will not be, like I've mentioned before, no character death cuz I hate that! It's justtoo sad!And I'm still not completely sure about the ending pairing…

Chapter 3: The plan in action

"Oi, Choutarou! Are you coming?" Shishido asked, as he was heading towards the locker room with the other regulars and non-regulars.

"Actually I'm waiting for Atobe-buchou." Ootori replied where he was picking up a few balls on the court. "He wanted to help me with my serve."

Shishido paused. 'Atobe what..?' Shishido had a bad feeling about this, but on the other hand Atobe was a very dedicated tennis player…among other things.

"Alright, I'll catch you tomorrow then!" Shishido said and headed to the locker room by himself.

"Tomorrow…" Ootori replied, mostly to himself.

"Shall we get started then?" Atobe's deep voice suddenly came from right behind him and Ootori practically jumped.

"A-ah. Thank you for taking the time!" Ootori said and was about to bow, when noticing that Atobe had already disappeared onto the other side of the court. Ootori hurried to take his position.

"Why don't you show me your serve again." Atobe then said. "So I can see what you've learned with Shishido so far."

Ootori nodded and tossed the ball up in the air. Atobe watched his body bend and his racket came in contact with the ball. In a second the serve was over and the ball hit then fence behind the captain.

"You've been working on not bending your wrist I see." Atobe noted, seeing the rather uncomfortable movement Ootori had performed when serving. "You need to get it perfected. That will only work by practicing. Hit another one."

Ootori nodded and served again.

"As I thought, your arm hasn't gotten used to not moving your wrist yet. It still feels forceful to keep it in place. Here, let me." Atobe explained, as he trailed onto Ootori's side of the court and grabbed the boy's right hand in his, guiding it the way it's supposed to go during the serve.

"It feels like the way Shishido showed me how to do it..." Ootori mumbled, and Atobe hid a frown where he was standing behind the other boy.

"Ah. That's the movement you should try to get used to doing." Atobe then said and guided the younger boy's arm once more before letting go. Shishido had came in touch with Ootori already physically? The captain smelled trouble, if not competition as well.

Ootori tried it out a couple of times without Atobe's hand on his. "Shishido-san has so far been the only one to return my serve. He must see a lot about it."

"Shishido is no ordinary player." Atobe commented. "Would you like to see me return it as well?"

Ootori gave out a small blush and Atobe turned to his side of the court.

"Serve like…we've taught you." the captain pressed out the words and Ootori paused for a second, before tossing the ball up and with concentration not moving his hand like both Atobe and Shishido had told him to.

In a second the ball was onto Atobe's side of the court, and one second later it hit the fence behind Ootori. The younger boy looked shocked at the ball rolling back from the fence. He hadn't even seen Atobe's return clearly. It had been even faster than Shishido's.

Ootori broke out into smile. There were so strong players on his team! He was lucky to have such players as his senpais, looking out for him so much as they did.

"So, shall we go again?" Atobe's voice brought him back to earth and Ootori gave an excited nod.

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Atobe returned from the shower wrapped in a towel. Ootori was already dressing and had his back turned his way.

The captain glanced the time on the phone in his bag. It was almost nine. They had been at it non-stop for five hours. Atobe smiled. The boy sure had stamina. That could be very useful later on.

"So are you going home?" Atobe then broke the silence and Ootori turned to him with a quite worn out smile on his lips.

"Hai. I'll train on the serve a couple of times more and then I'll get well rested for tomorrow's practice!"

Atobe broke out into a smirk. "Ootori, there is no practice tomorrow." he commented and saw in the corner of his eyes how Ootori stiffened and flushed in embarrassment.

"A-ah. Of course not…" the younger boy stuttered. That was so humiliating! Ootori didn't know why he couldn't behave normally around his captain. He always ended up making a fool out of himself.

"You're tired." Atobe then said. The boy was probably banging his head against an imaginary wall right now, for making himself look stupid in front of his captain. "Let me walk you home."

"Huh?" Ootori shot him a baffled look. Wow, Atobe-buchou really did everything for his team!

"I'll accompany you home, do you mind?"

"Ha-ai, I mean, no! I mean…-"

"Then it's settled." Atobe said, throwing the bag over his shoulder and heading towards the door. Ootori hurried to follow.

Atobe eyed the boy walking next to him, shyly peeking his way. With most guys the locker room would've been the best place to score, but not with Ootori. In fact it could've scared the junior off. Ootori needed the love in making love.

In that case it was love Atobe was going to give him.

"So Ootori, you spend a whole lot of time on your tennis, don't you?"

"Hai, I try my best! I wanna be as strong as I could possibly be!"

"That's nice to hear." Atobe smirked. "But doesn't that leave you with very little time for the other aspects in your life. School? Dating?"

"D-dating?" Ootori blushed. "I-I of course work hard in school!"

"But there's no special someone?" Atobe said and Ootori shook his head. "Are you kidding me? A handsome guy like yourself?"

"No, senpai! I would never play jokes on you!" Ootori confirmed quickly and Atobe's smirk widened.

"It's good to hear that you're serious with me." Atobe replied and stopped, holding an arm out in front of the other boy and preventing him from running over the street without looking.

Ootori blushed even harder and Atobe didn't remove his arm, where it rested across Ootori's chest, before the lights turned green again.

"But you shouldn't work too hard." Atobe then continued on their previous discussion as they had crossed the street safely. "You've always gotta have room for a personal life in the midst of all of your obligations. It will do you good to relax and think about something else for a change."

"Yes, captain. I'll keep that in mind."

Atobe turned a smirk his way, the same face that could make most guys, and girls, weak in the knees and grant him anything. "Call me Atobe."

"A-ah, Atobe…"

"That's better. You don't need to be so formal with me."

Ootori only nodded, not really sure how to respond. His captain was so nice. He had never believed that Atobe would turn out to be such a people person.

"Atobe-buch-…I mean, Atobe, what about you?" Ootori then broke the silence and Atobe shifted his eyes from the road to the younger boy. "Do you…find time for your personal life? I mean, you are the captain. It must take extra much of your time and…"

"Heh, are you asking me if I'm single?" Atobe said and Ootori stiffened. This was interesting. The younger boy had indeed tried to maintain a conversation with him when Atobe had shut up…just as predicted.

"I-I was just wondering, when you said to me that…-" Ootori's voice died and the boy struggled to keep eyecontact with his captain.

"What?" Atobe pushed the matter a little further. "Are you asking me out?"

Ootori didn't answer to that. Actually the boy was incapable of answering to anything at the moment. He now knew why he couldn't behave normally around Atobe. It was those eyes. Those grey-blue eyes that seemed to strip him naked with every look. Atobe's insight.

"Well, for your information I am single." Atobe smirked. The junior was playing everything straight into his hands.

"I…didn't mean to intrude." Ootori sank his head. He knew he shouldn't have become too personal with his respected captain. He should've asked something more appropriate instead.

"Do I look offended?" Atobe then shot him a small smile, and Ootori looked confused before visually brightening up. They walked for a little while longer before Ootori then took a stop.

"Here we are." he said and glanced the house behind him. "Thank you for walking me home."

"My pleasure." Atobe said and looked around. "It's a nice play you've got here."

"Oh, it's nothing compard to what I hear you live in. A mansion."

Atobe returned his gaze to the boy in front of him. "Really? You've heard that?"

"Well, it's only rumors…Isn't it true?" Ootori asked, again afraid if he had stepped on the senior's toes somehow.

"Why don't you come over and see for yourself." Atobe then replied. "Is tomorrow night okay with you?"

"Huh?" Ootori piped out.

"I'll show you my place." Atobe said and Ootori could only muster up a shocked nod. "Good. I'll pick you up after school." Atobe said and took a step closer. "Then I'll say goodnight now…"

As in a reflex Ootori stumbled backwards to the weird approach Atobe had just performed on him, and the captain reached out a hand to grab a hold on him and keeping him from possibly falling.

"…Do you want me to follow you all the way up to your bedroom?" Atobe then asked as Ootori got a hold on himself and developed a whole new blush on his face again.

"N-no, thank you. I'll manage!" he replied, taking a deep bow. "Thank you for everything today and good night."

Atobe looked after the boy, who hurried to get inside. "Pleasant dreams."

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A/N notes: something was off with this chapter XP can't come up with what…it moved too slow, but I'll try to work more with the next chapter!