Chapter Thirteen

Working Hard

Fay was in the university library hard at work. She had two papers due, and needed to finish her research part for Takeda. Speaking of Takeda, I hadn't seen him all last week since the beach incident. She tapped her pen lightly on the desk, and began thinking. Am I actually worried about him? I seem to have started thinking about him a bit more these days. My father's comments are not really helping either.

The sudden drops of books on her desk startled her out of her thoughts almost making her yelp if she had not remembered that she was at the library.

Glaring menacingly, she was about to scold that person when she realized it was actually two people standing above her who were Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri.

"Oh, Ren's girl?" Chitose casually sat down opposite her.

"You need to stop saying that,' Fay said, resuming back to her writing assignment. I don't need people to force these things on me. I am nobody's girl until I say so or acknowledge my own feelings. I need to get good grades. I don't have time to think of somebody else.

Tachibana sat down next to her. "You need to excuse Senri, he just likes to tease people like that," he explained, opening his own book. "Mind if we join you?'

Why ask when you're already seated? Fay thought sarcastically. 'It's fine." I really don't want to sit with people that will remind me of Takeda. argh! I need to stop saying his name in my mind! It's overwhelming.

They worked in silent for a while when Chitose broke it. "So, is he alright?"

Fay seemed startled by his question as she finished one of her tasks. She thought of what to say, but then decided to be honest. "I don't know, I haven't seen him in class." Why assume that I would know? Am I giving people that impression?

Tachibana raised his eyebrow. "Weird, he never tends to skip class." He frowned. "I'll text him." he pulled out his phone, and began writing. In a few seconds, he sent it.

Fay was worried as well, but she didn't want to show it. During the week she wasn't sure if she should send Takeda a text or not. She really wanted to check how he was, and why he wasn't showing up to class. I didn't think it was in my place to do so, plus… What if he had gotten the wrong idea about me if he sees a personal text?

[Beep]

Tachibana unlocked his phone, and read the text that arrived. "Oh? Interesting. He was on sick leave for a week, and only attended university today. He's on his way to the library."

Thank God, Fay thought relieved.

Chitose didn't comment as he continued typing furiously on the laptop. The three of them again worked silently when Takeda finally arrived. He was holding a crutch to support himself, and was holding his books with the other hand. "Hello," he said, sitting down next to Chitose.

He had a pair of black pants on with a black t-shirt, and accompanied it with a tanned leather jacket. His hair was pulled back with a head band again so it wouldn't fall on his eyes.

"Atobe-san tells us you were out for a week," Tachibana said, closing his book and leaning against the chair.

Takeda had a serious look on his face. "I always tend to get a fever when I sprain my knee." He took of his jacket, and placed the crutch on the floor.

Fay felt her heart really beating loudly at his presence. I think I'm in trouble. Fay hadn't said anything yet, so she finally spoke. "Why do something stupid if you already knew that this would happen?" why would he go to the extent of playing volleyball and hurt himself?

Takeda laughed heartedly. "Because I miss the rush," he admitted. 'Stupid of me, I know."

Chitose placed is arm around Takeda. "You know tennis doesn't require a lot of jumping, and you can still join."

Tennis? Fay thought. Isn't that Keigo's domain?

Taked pushed him slightly away. "There will be no sports activities for me for a while."

"Atobe-san, do you play any sports?" Tachibana asked Fay.

"Sports? Not really," she admitted.

"I'm surprised considering how good your brother is," Tachibana remarked.

So? if Keigo's at something doesn't mean I excel at the same thing. Fay gave him wry look. "That doesn't mean I'm good," she mumbled, as she finished her second task. She tucked her papers into her folder, and pulled out her last task for the day.

Again, the three of them continued working when Fay finally handed Takeda a piece of paper with notes on it. "I think this should suffice for the final charts."

He took it from her, and began reading her analysis. He pulled out his pen, and began writing furiously on them. He was so busy editing it that he didn't realize Fay standing next to him watching him work. "Not good?" he asked, noticing that her mouth was formed in a tight rim.

"You're just really butchering my work," she muttered, going back to her seat.

Tachibana grinned while Chitose had an obvious smirk on his face. Before Takeda could reply back to her comment, Tachibana stood up. "It's time we take a break. Let's go to the mall and eat,' he said, "You too Atobe-san, why don't you join us?' There's no telling what Takeda might say to her, knowing how he was blunt.

Again? Argh! I can't just go with them if…

"Sure, we'll come as well," Takeda said. "I'm sure you can too," he told Fay while winking at her.

Fay seemed embarrassed. He knew I could only go if he would come as well. I guess now that he has met father it should be alright. She nodded, and began collecting her stuff. "I am hungry,' she admitted.

They all stood up. Takeda put on his jacket, and took his crutch while the others collected their stuff. "I'll take your books," Fay offered, looking at Takeda.

He thanked her, and handed her his book. "Are we walking or driving?" he asked Tachibana.

"We'll take the metro,' Tachibana answered.

An hour later, they were seated at a sushi bar with a rotating table. It took them fifteen minutes of arguments until they agreed where to eat. Fay was seated between Tachibana and Takeda while Chitose was on Tachibana's side. She was awed at the array of selections. "Is the food good? I've never been here," she said, looking at Takeda.

"It's good," he said, pouring soya sauce into his bowl. He took two pairs of chopsticks, and handed her one. "You just need to know which one to pick out."

Chitose nudged Tachibana. "She looks like a kid in a candy store," he said with a grin.

Tachibana laughed. "True, but you know. Even I get excited when I'm here."

They began eating, and picking out the different things. The entire time that they were there both Tachibana and Takeda were picking things out and asking Fay to try.

"Hey, Atobe-san try this," Chitose passed a selection to Fay.

"It looks interesting," Fay said, picking it up with her chopstick.

"Wait a minute…" Tachibana began, but too late.

Fay swallowed it whole, and froze in her place. She dropped her chopsticks, and felt her whole mouth was on fire.

"Ren! He gave her the wasabi maki," Tachibana told Takeda who just realized that Fay was chocking next to him.

Takeda put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a glass of cold water as she tried to breathe. He could see that there were tears in her eyes. "You need to calm down, and breathe. Drink this slowly."

He patted her back several times until Fay was finally alright.

Tachibana and Chitose looked worried as Fay finally got the color back into her face.

"That was mean," Fay said, shivering. Am I shivering from the experience or am I shivering from how close he is to me? Why is his arm still around me? She thought, feeling the heat rush through her cheeks. She kept her gaze at the floor. I just can't look at him straight in the face if he's so close. Let go of me. Let go of me. My stomach is fluttering butterflies.

Takeda still had his arms around her. "It was mean," he acknowledged, glaring at Chitose who pretended to be busy eating.

Takeda finally let her go and they all got up to leave after paying the bill. Fay refused to accept Chitose's apology and was ignoring him. Tachibana noted that Chitose looked stricken. "Serves you right," he whispered into Chitose's ear.

Tachibaa finally left dragging Chitose with him while Takeda stayed with Fay. "Shall I drop you home?" Takeda asked.

"No need to. I can call our driver and he'll pick me up," she said. that prank really tired me out, and I didn't think Takeda would get so pissed off, but yet again I can't tell from his expression what he was thinking. It was his tone of voice that showed me.

Takeda nodded, "then I'll keep you company until he arrives. Want to walk around?"

She lifted her thumb and bit it lightly. Umm… Do I want to be alone with him? I'm really feeling strange around him. I wish I could tell what I was feeling. He is my partner after all, right? Fay's eyebrows burrowed. "Sure you should be walking?"

"It's fine," he said, "just as long as we go on a slow pace."

Maybe I should start learning about him more until I assess my feelings. He is worrying me more than necessary. "You know Takeda-san… I still don't know why you would do such a thing to hurt yourself?"

"Takeda-san?" he asked, "why so formal? Shouldn't you be calling me Ren by now? I did have my arms around you." he grinned at her as they walked along the designer section of the mall.

Fay blushed at his comment, and looked away. Is he teasing me? I can't even look at him… Fay hesitated, as she thought about it. "It won't be weird?" then I should tell him to call me Fay I guess.

Takeda raised an eyebrow playfully. 'I told you the first day you met me that I can be weird, so it's normal." He winked.

"I guess then I'll…" Fay began, but stopped abruptly. Argh! She quickly turned around, making Takeda look at her surprised.

Takeda seemed amused, "everything alright?"

No. I don't want to see her. "No, I think I just saw Keigo's mother walk out of Louis Vuitton… Let's go the other way," she grabbed his jacket, and pulled him towards the side she was walking.

"Keigo's mother?" Takeda asked, following her. "Keigo? Your brother?"

Oh, I just realized I've never told that to anyone. I've always assumed that they knew… she gave him a wry look, and nodded. "We have different mothers."

Takeda whistled, "sounds interesting," he said. "No wonder there's tension between the two of you."

Tension? Is it that obvious to people that Keigo and I are having problems? They walked to the other side of the mall, and Fay felt that he was tiring out so she suggested that they sit on a bench by the fountain and chat until her driver arrives. She finally decided to speak about it. "I guess it's hard to get along," she said simply.

Fay was seated next to him, but not too close. She was studying him as he tried stretching his other leg casually. They were silent for a long time until he broke it. "It doesn't matter if you're full siblings or half, he's a member of your family so you should try to get along. Eventually, you'll only have each other," he said seriously. Then he leaned against the bench, and looked at her… You asked me why I did something stupid earlier…"

"Yes," Fay said, recalling that. However, in her mind she couldn't help think of what he said about getting along. It does make sense. Friends come and go, but family always stays.

"I miss volleyball. The game. The crowd. The rush. The minute you jump to score that point," he said with his eyes closed. "It's all just an amazing feeling."

"But Takeda…"

"Ren!" he interrupted.

Fay's cheeks turned red. "Umm… Ren, I'm surprised someone as you just left the team before an important game. You don't seem the type to abandon your friends." He seems like a loyal person. I don't think he'd be the type to have someone distrust him.

He sat up straight, and bent forward holding his hands. His head was down, and she couldn't tell what his expression was. "I told you that family first always, I was needed."

Fay felt like a dark cloud was hovering on top of him. I hope I didn't open a subject that I wasn't supposed to. "I'm sorry if I butted into something personal."

He snapped out of his thoughts. "Not at all, you don't know what went on." He pulled out his phone, and showed her something. "See? Mother had just given birth to them at that time, they're three now. Yuu and Yui." He showed her a photo of two chubby kids. One boy was hugging his arm, while the girl was sitting on his shoulders. They were dressed in cow suits and looked adorable.

And you're eighteen? What an age gap… Fay was about to say something when her phone rang. "I need to go now, my driver is here," she said, standing up. "Thank you."

Takeda nodded. "Take care."