A/N notes: I am so sorry for taking so long with this chapter! I don't know what went into me, I suddenly couldn't write a single sentence anymore. This chapter has a crappy alert attached to it, so go easy on me! Thank you for bearing with me and thank you for all your lovely support! –feels so happy-
Chapter 12: From player to matchmaker
Atobe strolled down the halls of Hyotei Gakuen. The captain was deep in his thoughts, but to say that one was able to catch him off guard even now would be to exaggerate. Well, unless one was Oshitari Yuushi.
In his busy mind Atobe was thinking through options on how to succeed with his newest challenge brought to him by the said tensai, but it seemed like he was too focused in his thoughts to notice that his body was moving on its on accord. A hand came up to his face to brush fingers slowly over his lips.
Atobe was well-aware that he couldn't use Ootori much on this scheme. The only thing he could get from there was confusion and a strange urge to make the younger boy squirm beneath him.
Atobe sighed, realizing he was tracing his fingers over his mouth again and let his hand drop to the side. It had been like this ever since he had paid the younger boy a visit yesterday. For some unknown reason to him, he couldn't play to his fullest when it came to Ootori, so if he wanted to win this bet he would have to go through Shishido. Whenever he tried to play Ootori after what had happened between them, Atobe realized he only ended up breaking the junior's heart and wanting to satisfy his annoyingly strong growing need to get physical with the boy once again.
The last thing of those two was the one that really ticked him off. Atobe Keigo slept with a guy only once, because then he could avoid having to go through meaningless emotions afterwards. Atobe didn't need a reason to screw someone, therefore he didn't need to date or even make up excuses like love so that he could justify the action itself.
Nevertheless he had only slept with Ootori once and yet Ootori somehow managed to stay in the picture.
Atobe sighed bringing his fingers up to his lips one more time. Why did he crave to take control over that guy so much? Why did he rather like having his lips kissing Ootori's, next moving down to the younger boy's face and neck and then be rewarded by the look of embarrassment and innocence from the younger boy? What on Earth could be so special about Ootori that it was driving him to such behavior?
Nothing, Atobe thought. He found nothing so special. Atobe had done innocent boys before, he had done naughty ones, player-y ones, loving ones, religious ones…– Atobe had done every kind imaginable.
The captain ran his fingers through his hair, hoping for some kind of distraction. Shishido would probably be heading this way any time now since their classes were going to start soon and Shishido always took this route to his class, avoiding the noisy people. Atobe didn't have to wait long before said regular was in his line of sight.
Shishido stopped in front of Atobe. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on your way to class?"
"In a minute, I just wanted to talk with you first." Atobe gave a smirk, tucking his hands inside his pockets in a gesture that indicated that he was in no hurry whatsoever. Shishido gave a sigh.
"Well? What do you want?" the shorter boy asked.
"I had a little chat with my ex-boyfriend last night." Atobe said and that seemed to catch Shishido's attention, alright.
"Really…" Shishido muttered, trying so hard not to let his voice give out how annoyed he was feeling.
Atobe nodded. "Thanks to you I've actually thought about the possibility of dating him."
Shishido was clearly taken aback. "You have?"
Atobe nodded again. "Since you don't want him, I guess I could keep him for a little while longer…"
"Right… Let me guess: in an open relationship where he lives up to your rules. You have other guys and he goes home alone." Shishido guessed. "I think you're missing the whole emotional I-have-feelings-for-you part in a relationship and just jump straight to the sex."
"Maybe…" Atobe answered with a smile, only to tease Shishido some more of course. "But if he really loves me then that should be enough for him, right? To get to experience the love-making with me..."
"…but to never experience the love itself." Shishido filled in and Atobe's smile widened.
"You learn quickly. You should be one of us." Atobe joked and Shishido gave a snort.
"Thanks, but I'll pass."
"Well, that's the proposal I gave him." the captain said and turned to walk away, when Shishido spoke out making him stop in his tracks.
"So what did he answer?"
Atobe smirked victoriously before turning back to face the other boy again, smirk already gone and replaced by a normal smile. "He told me he would accept my terms and date me."
Shishido tightened his fists together. Atobe was pulling Ootori into the same dirty game again, unless he would do something about it.
"Don't look so grumpy, it's what you wanted, isn't it?" Atobe said playfully. "I offered to help you out, but you refused the whole thing."
"You were serious about it!" Shishido asked, surprised. "You would help me out? …What is in it for you? Why would you care what happens to Choutarou?"
Atobe put on his most charming smile, "Because I want to see Ootori happy of course!"
Shishido only eyed Atobe like he didn't believe a word the captain said, which he so seldom did. Outside of tennis, that is.
"But I guess it's too late for that now," Atobe said and took a dramatic pause. "I've given him some hope again to be with me, and you know Choutarou isn't one to give up on a person just like that… First of all you'd have to convince him pretty hard to see you as more than a friend, and then secondly to take a chance on you and give up on me."
Shishido only glared at Atobe. "You said you've considered giving him that chance…Maybe you should go and tell him you've made your mind up on not giving him a chance instead, and then apologize for thinking a shit like you could change!"
Atobe only gave a carefree shrug to the insulting statement. "I did think about confronting him about the matter today, but I thought I'd have another discussion with you first to see if you really meant what you said yesterday. After all, maybe I could make him happy, but the odds are I'll make him miserable as well."
Shishido couldn't believe it. First Atobe had blackmailed him into staying away from Ootori and now the captain was blackmailing him into dating the junior. Reading between the lines Atobe was practically telling Shishido that if he chose not to 'save' his little doubles partner, Atobe would play with Ootori some more by pretending to be his boyfriend again. Shishido would know that beneath that I-am-a-boyfriend act, Atobe was a player dying to come out and that only worked if Ootori was once more out of the picture. A relationship built upon that between Atobe and Ootori would only resolve into more heartache and pain… and of course only on Ootori's part.
Shishido stepped closer in an almost threatening way, much to Atobe's amusement since the other senior was shorter than himself, and Atobe could take Shishido down at any time. "Fine, I'll convince him today. I'll tell him how I feel for him. Just stay away from him."
For some reason Atobe wasn't as relieved hearing that as he had hoped he would be.
The captain gave one more shrug and made another attempt to walk away when Shishido's voice once again interrupted his actions: "Why do you put so much energy into this?"
Atobe turned back towards the shorter boy with a light smile. "I don't want that heartache of his to affect him, his tennis and after that also the team. Besides it's getting kind of troublesome to have him so in love with me all the time." Atobe explained. "And if he falls for you next and you make sure not to break his heart, then I might just kill two birds with one stone."
Shishido raised one eyebrow, hearing that statement. "Really? So this has nothing to do with you developing some kinds of feelings for him, has it?"
Atobe never lost his mask, gazing the other boy nonchalantly. "What feelings? And where on Earth did you just come up with that? You should know me better than to say something like that."
Now it was Shishido's turn to be nonchalant. "It's not just me. Practically the whole male population of the school is talking about the boy who won Atobe Keigo's cold heart."
Atobe frowned. Could it be Oshitari's doing or was it only Shishido trying to talk big?
Shishido stepped up to his captain, placing an arm to rest on Atobe's shoulder. "So, are you really sure you meant what you said, because it's not too late for you to steal him from me again."
Atobe only shot the shorter boy an expressionless look. Actually, right now the thought of taking Shishido down was starting to sound very appealing.
"I just might if you don't hurry up." the captain replied and brushed the other one's arm off his shoulder, starting to walk away.
Shishido looked after his captain. The rumors Oshitari, Gakuto and him had spread seemed to have some truth in them…just like the tensai had suspected. Shishido couldn't understand, though, why Ootori couldn't find himself a little more loving guy to give his heart to. If Shishido didn't confront Ootori about his feelings for the younger boy now, then Atobe would definitely put Ootori through some more heartache just to lure Shishido completely out of the closet.
The third year sighed as he looked after his captain until the boy was out of sight. Class was half way over already, he had missed almost an entire lecture talking with Atobe. It had also been his last lesson for the day and Ootori probably didn't have any other classes after this either.
Shishido slowly started to walk towards his kouhai's class. Today he was going to have it over with. It didn't matter if Ootori rejected or accepted his feelings anymore, because Shishido already knew how this was going to come down if things went according to plan.
"Shishido-san?" Ootori asked, as the junior stepped out of class just in time to see his senpai walking down the hallway in his direction. "What are you doing here? Did your class end earlier as well?"
Shishido pressed on a tiny smile. "Yeah and I thought that maybe we could do something."
Ootori mirrored his smile, only making it slightly bigger, and they both walked for a while in silence. Suddenly Shishido halted and Ootori stopped as well, curiously eyeing his doubles partner. The corridor was empty where they were standing so at least the third year wouldn't have to go through a public humiliation in case Ootori rejected him.
"Shishido-san?"
"Choutarou, do you want to go and get an ice cream with me?" Shishido asked doubtfully.
A smile spread across Atobe's face where he was standing behind the corner, listening in on their conversation. 'Ice cream? That's the brilliant plan? Why didn't he invite Ootori over to play video games while he was at it?'
"Huh? Sure! It's strange that Shishido-san wants ice cream." Ootori gave a small chuckle and Shishido cleared his throat.
"I meant that if we went out together."
Ootori fell quiet and Atobe refused the urge to let his head drop against the wall behind him in a loud thump. Shishido could've handled it better. The boy had had the time to think through a strategy for this, after all. Ootori was probably overly confused right now, not wanting to believe what he was hearing.
Atobe sighed. 'Give a clearer hint before dropping the bomb next time, or at least corner him into a no-way out of the situation date.'
"I…like you and I think it'd be nice if we went out together… on a date." Shishido continued and switched position a little where he was standing. "On an… ice cream date."
"Shishido-san…" Ootori sounded shocked. Atobe guessed that the younger boy really hadn't had a clue about Shishido's feelings until now, although Atobe had told him about them on several occasions. Ootori was just too good living in the denial sometimes.
"I know that dating is probably the last thing on your mind right now…" Shishido muttered, feeling as uncomfortable sharing his emotions as always.
'Oh yes, those two would indeed make one terrific couple,' Atobe thought sarcastically.
Shishido's voice fell into a murmur, "…but I'd just like for you to have some fun. You know, forget about Atobe for a while. That's all I ask."
"I-I'm not sure that this is such a good idea..."
"I understand if you feel that you can't trust me, after all that's happened and how I kept the knowledge about Atobe's other side away from you." Shishido continued. "But I've been your partner for a while now, before Atobe started to show an interest in you. I haven't got the same intentions as he did."
Ootori didn't reply and Atobe waited for a reaction. Shishido was such a smooth talker sometimes. The third year could've won Ootori's heart at any time. It was too bad Shishido hadn't had the confidence in himself to done it sooner and would now have to live to regret it. He could've been Ootori's true love and Ootori's first.
"Would it…be only one date?" Ootori's insecure voice came and Atobe shut his eyes, leaning backwards onto the wall. He was half way there and Ootori had finally chosen Shishido over him. Atobe had never before been replaced, and he came to realize he wasn't exactly loving the feeling very much.
Shishido apparently nodded in response, since Ootori then continued to talk: "Atobe always told me to take a chance."
'Well, at least the boy had learned that lesson well,' Atobe thought.
"Yeah, if you don't you'll never know, right?" Shishido filled in, being a little taken aback by Ootori's sudden statement.
"And if I turn my back on love…it might pass me by." Ootori said and they were quiet for a while.
"Choutarou, if you don't want to I'm not going to force you." Shishido said.
"No, I want to spend some time with you…" Ootori replied, sounding a little more cheerful this time. "…and have fun."
After a short moment of silence Atobe heard footsteps be taken in the opposite direction. The captain pushed himself up from the wall, checking around the corner to see their departing backs.
Okay, so what had that last thing been all about? Ootori trying to tell himself he could find love in Shishido?
They sure didn't look like the happy couple going on a first date, but it didn't matter to him, did it? What mattered was that he had won this bet as well.
Atobe gave out a sigh, walking to a nearby window. He would just wait here for Oshitari to get from class so that he could tell the tensai the happy news. Leaning down to rest his elbows against the window sill, his gaze hit the Sakura trees just outside.
'So much for Ootori's undying love,' the captain thought sarcastically. The next guy that came along and the junior was already 'giving chances' to him and offering a 'possible love'. Well, it at least proved the point that Ootori couldn't have stayed by his side even if Atobe had wanted him to. Ootori wouldn't survive in a relationship with him.
Atobe shook his head from all the thoughts involving subjects like love or relationships.
Oshitari had either become really bad at their games being with Gakuto and all, or then the tensai was giving him way too easy bets to complete.
Atobe remembered a time when they had given it their all to win a bet placed between them. Maybe Oshitari had gone soft. Or maybe Atobe wasn't enjoying the taste of this victory…and that might've been Oshitari's real victory all along. Not that the tensai would get to brag about that fact even if it was Oshitari's real intentions for placing this bet.
Atobe knew Oshitari. Just like with his style of playing tennis, the tensai carefully planned everything ahead. That's why when Oshitari challenges Atobe into a bet, the captain knows there is always a scheme behind it, or a trap he might fall into.
"To think that Atobe Keigo paired up two guys…What is the world coming to?" Speak of the devil. The captain turned around to shoot the tensai a questioning look. "Oh, I saw Shishido and Ootori leaving school together."
"Yeah well, don't get too excited. I only did it because you challenged me into a bet." Atobe said quite grumpily and Oshitari stopped next to him, wrapping an arm around his figure. "Plus this way I could finally get Ootori off my back for good."
"But Ootori was never on your back." the tensai pointed out. "Ootori never bugged you again since you made it clear to him what he means to you. So maybe you meant that you could finally get the thoughts about Ootori out of your head."
Atobe switched position awkwardly, when noticing his slip. Oshitari had caught him totally off guard the way only the tensai could. Atobe guessed he had underestimated the bespectacled boy before since Oshitari was clearly still as sharp as ever.
"Shishido really likes Ootori…" Atobe then said and the tone in his voice indicated that he was serious now and not fooling around anymore.
"Mmm, so in other words you wanted to make Ootori happy by giving him to someone you knew would treat him right and give him the only kind of loving you couldn't…" the tensai smirked and Atobe really hated the taller boy at the moment. "And if you were not to succeed, you'd know that he really loves you, not Shishido, and that he'd hold onto you no matter what."
"To think that he can be that persistent about his stupid feelings..." Atobe muttered instead, doing his best to show Oshitari he had ignored the rest of those sentences. "But not persistent enough." the captain added and gave a smile.
He had won, after all, so none of it mattered anymore. Ootori had gone off with Shishido, regardless of the fact that the junior had been practically pushed to go on that date one way or another from both Atobe and Shishido.
"Mmm, but your feelings have been persistent, haven't they?" Oshitari teased. "I guess certain persistent ukes can make you do the strangest things, and feel the strangest things you never knew someone like us could feel-"
"Well if I ever do feel like falling in love, it wouldn't be anytime soon. I haven't even near lived my life to the end yet." Atobe shot back. He hated the way Oshitari could get under his skin, but at the same time he loved the tensai for it. Atobe was happy to see that they hadn't changed after all.
"I never said anything about love…" Oshitari then said with a very wide smirk on his face that almost made Atobe want to lose his mask and hit the other boy on the head. Oshitari had once again made him blurt something out. Atobe hated himself for having such a sloppy day in that way.
"Didn't you just lose our bet?" the captain muttered. "You should honor your part of it now and shut up."
Oshitari's smirk widened even further in pure amusement. "But what if they never went on a date? I wouldn't have lost the bet then, would I?"
Atobe gave him an empty look. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean, what if they changed their minds, or better yet…" Oshitari winked Gakuto over. The redhead walked up to Oshitari and Atobe, followed by the two boys Atobe had just witnessed leave for a romantic and sappy ice cream date. Atobe stood up straight.
"…what if there was never any need for them to change their minds?"
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A/N notes: I didn't mean for it to end so cliffhanger-ishly, but the next part was getting too long so I had to cut it off somewhere. The next chapter is almost ready, and this time I will update faster, I promise:D