It has been a routine since the first day of school. And he got so used to it.
"Ohayo, Kunimitsu!" That was every day's start off. He'd wake up at six and at six thirty, Kenita would come and knock at his door. Then they'd go running together around the park until seven thirty.
"See you after school!" That was what she always said before returning to her room. By eight, they would each go off to their classes (yes, they still do study even though it is a tennis school. They must do academically well as well).
Then they'd have their lunch break at one o'clock, the free time that they did not spend time together. She would be with her friends, and him with his. Though he'd never interacted much, the new friends he made stuck by him somehow.
Lessons end at three in the afternoon, the last hour before school ends would be their 'Healing Lessons'. (What they do there I will not elaborate) They only have training twice a week, as all of them are still 'healing' some part of themselves.
At six in the evening, Kenita would knock on his door again. "Finished your homework yet?" And they would go running again until it was seven. Then they'd return back to school and that would be it for the day.
Except on Saturdays and Sundays, Kenita would sometimes ask him out for lunch and dinner. She knew where all the good food around the estate was, and he usually had enjoyable meals on those days. But sometimes she would completely ignore him on weekends though it was still the same routine on weekdays.
They have yet played tennis against each other. Until one day.
She knocked on his door as usual at six thirty. "Ohayo, Kunimitsu! Guess what?"
He shook his head. "I've gotten permission from one of the teachers to play a game of tennis with you today! Say you'll come!"
He nodded.
She smiled happily and tugged at his arm.
After the run, they let themselves cool down before starting their warm up stretches. What Kenita did surprised Tezuka. She reached unreachable places easily, her body was so flexible. The way she twirled her body to warm up was almost impossible.
Then she even did a split. Calling to Tezuka, she smiled, "Can you come and help me for a while?"
Tezuka stood up from his stretching position and moved over.
"Hold my front ankle down and don't let go."
He did as instructed. Slowly, her body began to move backwards, and he felt her ankle moving up. He pushed it back down. Finally, her upper body was flat against her back leg.
"You can let go now, thanks," she smiled warmly. Slowly, she got up from her position and stood up. "Ready to play, Kunimitsu?"
He nodded.
"One game then, okay?"
"Hn," he finally replied, his voice deep.
"Hang on, I need to change my shoes."
Taking out a pair of heels from her tennis bag, she took off her sports shoes and put the heels on instead. Tezuka was surprised. Looking down on me?
She then walked back on court, as steadily as she did on sports shoes. 'A good balancer,' Tezuka thought.
"Rough or smooth?"
"Smooth," Tezuka decided. Kenita turned her racket. It spun and spun. Then it slowed to a stop. Rough.
"I'll start first then," Kenita smiled her dazzling smile, which Tezuka grew to dislike.
She threw the ball up and Tezuka's eyes widened. She was now standing only on her heels, body bent like ' '! The ball came down and she hit the ball lower than usual. Still it flew over the net, and Tezuka almost missed it.
Both were using their right hands.
As Tezuka hit the ball, Kenita had gotten the position where the ball was landing.
Holding her racket sideways, she went into a split position as she hit the ball. When the ball bounced up from it's position, it flew sideways of where Tezuka's racket was and to the other side of the court.
"Split Shot," Kenita introduced, back to standing position, "the ball can go any direction I want it to at anytime."
The match continued, neither side losing concentration. Soon, Tezuka found out that Kenita could only do her Split Shot when the ball was near the side of the court. So, he concentrated on aiming the ball to the middle.
Tezuka wondered, 'If you hit it to the left, or right, it will be an out.'
She was already in Split position. She lobbed the ball. On Tezuka instinct, he jumped to smash the ball. As he waved his racket, the ball shot from within his reach and was doing a Split Shot in the air. It turned another way and was an IN.
"Just to let you know, my shots can adapt to any changes, and can come out at any point of the game," Kenita smiled and Tezuka caught a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
---
Later that night, Kenita lay in her bed and thought about the match. She had lost 7-5. Her right hand was feeling sore from having used it too much, and her left hand was getting restless. She had so wanted to play with her left hand but couldn't. That was what the doctor said.
Still hot-blooded after the game, she could not sleep. Instead she got up from her bed and decided to go for a moonlight walk.
Finding a nice big tree, she climbed up and sat on one thick branch. She leaned back and just admired the moon and stars. Then, she heard soft footsteps and looked down. There he was, walking slowly with his hands in his pockets.
He sat down under the tree.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu!" she called softly. He looked up. For the first time, he really smiled just at her.
I don't know if it's okay with you guys, but this fic will be showing more of the girls than the Seigaku regulars. And of course, more on Tezuka and Kenita... If it's any problem, please tell me! Thank you!
Alternate-Mysteries