A/N: So here it is, chapter 7. I promise this story does have an end in the near future…like two chapters in the future…Well, this continues the somewhat serious stuff but it does end on a lighter note. Ignore the random Hyoutei team stupidity towards the end…I don't know where that came from…Anyways, read, enjoy and review!
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Count on Me
"I'm not playing with Shishido-san today...Why...I just want to know why..."
"Today you'll be playing each other again. Same as last time only Hiyoshi, you'll play with Ootori."
Gakuto came up to Choutarou and poked him.
"Hey, how come you're not playing with Shishido?"
Choutarou internally grimaced at the reminder. However, no matter how much it made him upset, he just smiled and looked innocent.
"I'm not sure. But there has to be some reason, so, it's not that big of a deal."
The shorter boy looked skeptical. Choutarou continued to smile.
"Yeah…You're way too understanding. If Yuushi randomly decided not to play, I'd show him what for."
Gakuto's partner came up behind him and purposely stood over him causing the other boy to start fuming.
"Hey! That was a low blow!"
"Definitely low."
"Gah! You know I'd totally beat you up!"
"How can you beat me up when you can't reach 'up'?"
"Yuushi!"
Gakuto had no jumped onto his back and began putting him in a deadlock. Yuushi was laughing yet trying desperately to pry the smaller boy off.
"Bah, let go! It's not like it would happen anyways."
Choutarou had watched their antics and then frowned. He looked around and saw Shishido a court over talking to Jiroh who apparently was not listening, but about to fall asleep.
"Seeing you frown like that is a rarity."
Atobe had come up behind Choutarou. He whipped around to face the eccentric tennis captain.
"Atobe-san! anou…What are you doing?"
"Just wondering…Don't think too hard about it."
He imperiously walked away leaving Choutarou standing confused.
"What is he talking about?…Shishido-san…Wait! Did he know I heard?"
"Wait, Atobe-san!"
Choutarou ran to catch up with Atobe.
"What do you mean? Why aren't I playing with Shishido-san?"
Atobe stared blankly and then smirked.
"Shishido can be so dense…Like I said, spare yourself and don't think about it. Things always work out eventually."
Choutarou once again was left speechless. He stared as Atobe walked toward the others and Hiyoshi walked up.
"Shall we start?"
"Oh, right. Let's go."
Choutarou joined Hiyoshi along with Yuushi and Gakuto on one of the courts. The two had made up and were talking about one thing or another.
"Atobe-san was no help…He just loves to be so ambiguous…Really…I should ask Shishido-san…"
"0-0!"
Choutarou snapped out of his thought process as Yuushi began serving. He ran to the ball and returned it. Gakuto decided to poach right in the beginning.
Hiyoshi began running to towards it as did Choutarou. They both had to suddenly stop before they collided with each other. Gakuto and Yuushi won the first point.
"Sorry Hiyoshi-san."
"Don't worry. We'll call it out now."
"Right."
Yuushi looked over at the make shift pair and shook his head.
"They share nothing. There isn't any kind of rhythm."
Choutarou heard him and had to agree. It was much easier to play with Shishido and even easier to play by himself.
"This is almost pointless…Atobe-san knows this so why did he agree with Shishido-san?"
"15-0!"
Yuushi served a second time, this time Hiyoshi returned it. It went cross-court. The Hyoutei tennis prodigy easily got to it and deftly hit it straight down the line.
"Got it!"
Choutarou called out to Hiyoshi as he got behind the ball and volleyed it cross-court behind Gakuto. Had it been any other person, it would have resulted in winning the point. However, since it was Gakuto, he was able to reach the ball and volley it towards the center line.
"Nice try, but too bad!"
Gakuto smiled. Due to their positions, neither Choutarou nor Hiyoshi were able to retrieve it.
"Sorry."
"Not a problem."
Choutarou smiled calmly at Hiyoshi. Internally, he was not so calm.
"Why are we even doing this?…Hiyoshi-san is good, but not at doubles…and not with me…Shishido-san should be here."
The game progressed without much change. Choutarou and Hiyoshi were able to win a few games, but they were unable to beat Gakuto and Yuushi's defense.
"What's the score?"
Atobe came up towards the end of practice to check on the doubles.
"6-3."
Yuushi responded and walked over to Atobe with Gakuto right behind. Hiyoshi stood silently and looked off to the side. Choutarou just stood off to the side looking over at Shishido.
"Fine. You're dismissed. Same thing tomorrow."
"I don't want to do this again…""Something the matter. Ootori?"
Choutarou looked over at Atobe. He was looking over his shoulder staring at the younger. Choutarou smiled and shook his head.
"No. Nothing's the matter. See you tomorrow, Atobe-san."
He looked skeptically at Choutarou then nodded his head. He motioned for Kabaji to follow.
As he was watching Atobe leave with Kabaji, Shishido came over.
"Hey, Choutarou!"
He looked up and forced himself to smile. He immediately remembered that it was Shishido's idea to split them up.
"Oh, hi, Shishido-san."
Shishido began to fidget and look around. He was trying to come up with something to say, but failed miserably. Choutarou watched and began to ask him questions.
"Shishido-san…Why do you think we didn't play together today?"
"Uh…Maybe it's because…Well…I don't know…"
He was now really uncomfortable and started blushing. Choutarou shook his head and thought.
"Shishido-san is such a bad liar…What's better?…If he could lie…or he can't…I suppose this is better…If he's so uncomfortable…Why'd he even do it?"
Choutarou glanced over at Shishido. He was still blushing. He once again forced himself to smile.
"I'm sure there are reason, right, Shishido-san?"
"Uh, right. There are reasons…Definietly."
Even though there was an answer, Choutarou noticed that Shishido was still fidgeting.
"Okay, there are reasons…but what are they?…Why wonder…Just ask him…""Shishido-san, wh-"
"Hey, Shishido! Atobe wants to see you!"
Shishido gulped. It always worried anybody when Atobe summoned them. He looked up at Choutarou.
"Sorry. Got to go! See ya tomorrow."
"Alright. Goodbye, Shishido-san."
He smiled and watched Shishido run over to Atobe. After he left, Choutarou dropped his smile and gathered his things. He did not and was not looking forward to another practice.
"This shouldn't bother me…I guess because I know Shishido-san wanted it this way it bothers me more…Of course it bothers me…I wonder if he actually doesn't like me?…"
Choutarou walked home in a bad mood. While at practice he had felt angry. Now he felt sad. He wanted to think that there was some weird reason why Shishido did not want to play with him anymore. However, no matter how he tried, his mind always came back to Shishido not liking him anymore.
He continued to go to practice each day with a smile and play with Hiyoshi. They had gotten better together, but there still lacked a real rhythm. After ever practice Choutarou intended to ask Shishido, but each time he was either interrupted or changed his mind.
It was the final day of practice when Choutarou was resolute in learning the answer.
"Shishido-san?"
"Yeah? What's up?"
"…Well, the other day…I…You're a bad liar!"
Choutarou imagined saying something a little differently but keeping everything inside caused him to start blurting out whatever came to his mind. Shishido just stared in confusion.
"What are you talking-"
"You said you didn't know. But you do know. It's…It's not fair to me, you know."
By now, the other players heard the conversation and were coming closer to hear more. Choutarou ignored everybody staring and kept his eyes locked on Shishido. On the other hand, Shishido was still confused and feeling awkward with the Hyoutei regulars staring.
"Choutarou, what is this about? What's not fair?"
"Atobe had also come over and stared expectantly at Shishido. His expression was on of I-told-you-so looks. Immediately Shishido knew what Choutarou was talking about."
"That?…Well…I asked-"
"You asked Atobe to play singles right now and that I play with somebody else, Shishido!"
Now it grew interesting. Nobody on the team had ever heard Choutarou get this upset and to top it off, he had dropped all honorifics.
"How did you know-"
I was there. I heard the whole conversation!"
Now Shishido was extremely uncomfortable knowing that Choutarou had heard part of his conversation and that he realized how much taller Choutarou was. The younger boy had gotten much closer to Shishido and was looking down at him.
"So why? Just tell me why and I can finally let it go!"
At this point, Choutarou was venting all the frustration from the week. Now that it was in the open, there was no stopping him. Even though he was upset and frustrated, he could only look at Shishido pleadingly.
"Please just tell me…I would love to let it go, but I can't…Because I couldn't I ran into a broken door, milk became one of the most complicated problems, clerks are ditzy, lines are boring and long and no matter how many there are, they never fix the carts! Tell me why and I can be at peace…"
Choutarou drifted off silently by the end. Shishido and others just stared. They were lost the minute Choutarou began mentioning broken doors. Even though Shishido had no clue as to what the rest of that speech was about, he saw the desperate yet determined look in Choutarou's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Choutarou. I should have said something to you. I guess I'm really bad at this, but I didn't mean to make you stress and…um..have such problems with what I think was a grocery store."
Choutarou calmed down a bit and continued to listen. Shishido kept his eyes locked with Choutarou.
"It's not because I don't like you or anything like that. It's only temporary and I can't tell you why…not just yet though."
He paused a moment to see how the younger boy was responding. Choutarou had relaxed and was beginning to regain his normal gentle and calm nature. Shishido sighed in relief.
"Shishido-san, you're telling the truth?"
"Total truth."
Choutarou studied his face. He still kept his eyes locked with Choutarou. He was not shifting or blushing, he was just standing and staring at Choutarou. He was surprised when Shishido suddenly grabbed his shoulders.
"Do you trust me?"
The younger boy was caught off guard with the question. He stared at Shishido for a few moments in silence. Finally, Choutarou was able to smile because he was happy. He also placed his hands on Shishido's shoulders.
"Yes."
Shishido smiled confidently at Choutarou. They were knocked out of their happy moment however when they heard multiple camera noises. Choutarou looked to the side and remembered the other members standing around.
"Oh my."
He noticed that each of the regulars were standing there with their cell phones out and using the camera function.
"Ore-sama must make copies."
Atobe smirked as he reviewed his picture. The others began to look at each other's pictures and compare them.
"Hey, Yuushi, how did yours turn out?"
Gakuto craned his neck to see the prodigy's cell phone screen. They were all trying to decide who took the best picture.
"W-what do you think your going to do!"
Shishido practically shrieked at the tennis captain. Choutarou had to grab Shishido and restrain him. He attempted to calm him down.
"It's okay…It's not that bad, Shishido-san."
"W-why would you make copies!"
Atobe looked at him like he was an idiot.
"It captures such a beautiful and cute moment…You're like the poster children of Hyoutei. Seigaku has their Golden Pair and we have you two."
"So would that make them the Silver Pair or something?"
"Well, it can't be gold, that's already taken...Silver Pair...Sounds catchy. Let's use it!"
Shishido jaw dropped and fell slack in Choutarou's arms. He was stunned at the odd turn of events. The other members were busily deciding what the doubles pair should be called while Choutarou smiled worriedly at Shishido.
"Anou…Shishido-san, are you okay?"
He finally shook his head and tore away from Choutarou. The regulars stuffed their phones in their pockets and ran off in multiple directions laughing. Choutarou just stood there and looked over at Hiyoshi.
"You too, Hiyoshi-san?"
The other boy just cleared his throat, put his phone in his pocket and slowly walked away. Choutarou watched him leave and laughed at the antics of the Hyoutei tennis club. Shishido was trying to steal the phone from Gakuto who was practically doing flips around him.
"Hey! Choutarou, help out here!"
"Okay, Shishido-san!"
As he was running around with Shishido and the others, he felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Now this feels right…I'm glad I asked Shishido-san…I may not know the exact reasons behind it, but I'm okay with it now…I…I trust Shishido-san."
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A/N: Chapter 7 is finished! Only a couple more chapters now. This turned out a lot longer than I originally planned…Anyways, this ends any serious stuff I suppose…I still felt like I was writing some sappy romance novel…Oh well, I'm glad how it turned out and now it should be much easier to finish it up. So next chapter, random things that happen while at Atobe's house…mansion…castle…villa…whatever that large of an estate would be called…Warning, more random fluff up ahead. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it!