So she wanted to get bubble tea with him? This was rather new, other girls who tried to convey their feelings towards him with lunches and even other cakes and chocolates usually told him that they'd want to go to see a movie or go shopping. As if he'd date a gold digger, sure, the other girls in Hyotei had just as much money but they weren't his type. Atobe loved strong-willed girls, definitely, she stood out, even when they first met.
"Fine by me." He replied, allowing her to lead the way as she took the lead to a shop that sold all sorts of bubble tea flavours. "Pick one too, okay? It's not nice to not have one," she said to him. The whole way she could tell other girls were staring at him, cheeks red and heart eyes with some whispering as to who she was, they didn't like some unknown girl was on a date with Atobe-sama.
She already learned to ignore other girls gossips, she didn't attend Hyotei so Shinoa felt like she was lucky. "What are you picking?" She asked as he was in line, it wasn't very long but enough for him to decide.
"Earl Gray sounds nice," he said while staring up at the menu. "Get pearls with it, you'll enjoy it." She chuckled, "I want coconut, with pearls." She told him, letting him order for the two and waiting beside her for their order. Taking two straws, once given their boba's she had placed the two straws in the centre and let him drink his. "Nice, isn't it?"
Her eyes hopeful while staring at him, seeing him light up while she sipped hers. "You certainly have excellent taste." And he didn't just mean with the bubble tea, though she didn't need to know that. Leaving, she had wanted to go to the bookstore as she wanted to find something to read.
"Let's go to the bookstore, but... you're not paying." In case he got any ideas about wanting to pay, she didn't like that he had to feel obliged to buy everything for her - she wasn't a gold digger.
"So, Evans...care to tell me how you managed to hold me that day?" Curious, asking her so he could learn more about her. "A lady can't reveal all her secrets," she teased but didn't mind telling him a little, "its because you're very light." Truth was that she was just strong and she didn't want to show that to him, not yet.
Atobe raised an eyebrow, he knew that wasn't the case but he wasn't going to ask too much, "sure." What was she going to buy there? Now heading off to the bookstore, Shinoa was sipping away at her bubble tea and thought about what to buy.
"You love attention, don't you?" She asked him, seemed like girls were staring no matter what. Heading inside the bookstore, straight away the brunette headed to the young-adult section, fiction always brought her imagination up and sometimes became wild, though that sometimes was because of Honoka who sometimes bought adult books with a fake ID.
Looking through for a while, she could tell he was doing a bit of browsing himself; seeing one she liked, Shinoa headed towards the counter to pay, seeing a sudoku book nearby, she picked it up to buy it too.
Waiting outside as she finished her drink then placed it in the bin. Seeing Atobe come out too with his finished drink, "I thought you'd buy something." She laughed, "I didn't realise how much time passed." Adding in, knowing she needed to head home.
"Let me give you a ride," Atobe offered but the brunette shook her head. "I can make it back on my own, thanks." She smiled before waving and headed to the station.
Once arriving at her stop, she headed out and already the sun was setting as she slowly made her way home. Before reaching, she noticed Tezuka. "So what was your meeting about?" Shinoa asked, "we went bowling."
"How was that?" Tezuka remained silent, he wasn't going to say how unpleasant it was, mixed with losers drinking Inui's juice. He took a few steps towards her, brown eyes staring down and apologetic, knowing something was up. "Why are you giving me that look?"
She didn't like that look, it never meant anything good. "I'm going to Kyushu tomorrow."
Her eyes widened when he told her, "why didn't you tell me earlier?" A pained expression came to her face, he had looked away from her, unable to give her a proper response.
"Here." She said, handing him the sudoku book she bought, "I thought you might like it." She couldn't tell him not to go, she had a feeling he had a good reason for it. Turning, Tezuka went to head in but stopped himself when hearing a faint sound, it sounded like a sob.
"Do you hate me?" Back again to see her sad, "...senpai-"
"-enough with the senpai, stop being so formal with me." Shinoa frowned, fighting the tears as she didn't want to cry in front of him. "I told you to address me by my first name," her voice soft as she continued to stare up at him. "I don't hate you," he replied as he placed his gear down then approached her.
"Then why continue to ignore my feelings?!" His eyes widened, really he had no idea what she was speaking about. "What do you mean?" He asked, "I've noticed that you like me, as you do with everyone else." Perhaps he was being polite?
"No, I mean...my feelings for you." Sure she was nice and liked a lot of people but not in that way, not how she felt about him. "I like you, I mean really like you...I-" A pause as she took a small breath, "I'm in love with you, Kunimitsu!"
Pouring her heart out, he was shocked to hear she liked him, his expression softened while approaching her, his hand reaching out to brush her hair aside then wiping the tears that formed in her eyes.
"I apologize for my negligence, I should have noticed sooner." Her head raised to stare up at him, his lips planting on her forehead. "I love you too," his eyes gazing down at her, arms around her in a warm embrace as they kept that hold for a moment, her arm around him while face buried in his chest, listening to his beating heart.
Feeling warm and thrilled he returned her feelings, wanting to know how long he felt like this, but didn't want to ruin the moment. "You're going because of your arm, aren't you?" She asked, staring up at him with a faint smile, sad that he had to leave.
"I am, I will return when it comes the Nationals." Having strong faith Seigaku can win the Kanto Tournament, "I'll be waiting." She smiled before taking leave in her home.
Her doorbell rang the next morning, Tezuka out front with his luggage. Ready, Shinoa wanted to see him off at the airport, "are you ready?" He asked, "yes. Just wait, I need to tell them I'm leaving."
Quickly departing in again, telling her parents she was leaving and will be home later. Coming back, they would sit in the back of the car together, his father driving them to the airport; his mother beside, already Kunimitsu had said his farewell to his grandfather who remained at home.
Their hands holding, smiling at each other with faint music playing in the background. Wanting to say something, she partially didn't want his parents to overhear, "I won't message you too much. I want you to make a swift recovery."
A smile while squeezing his hand slightly more. Doing some small casual talk until they arrived at the airport. Getting out as his parents said their goodbyes to him before leaving in their car. Heading off with him to his departure area, the others had arrived too, saying their goodbyes.
Before he left, Shinoa's heart ached since she wasn't sure when he'll return, sure the Nationals were in a few months but she was worried it wouldn't be enough time, but she believed he could do it.
"Kuni, wait." She was the only one who could address him with such a nickname, her feet carried while he stared at her, arms wrapped around him tightly while reaching up on her tip toes. Lips pressing to his own, passionately.
The others shocked, looking away as Fuji chuckled, "looks like Tezuka's lucky."
"Captain Tezuka with a girlfriend, I thought she'd be like him." Momoshiro commented, "well senpai always liked Tezuka." Oishi added, the first years confused.
"Senpai?" Horio asked, raising an eyebrow, "she's our senpai. Evans went to Seigaku last year, she was the Captain for the girl's team." Kawamura told them, Sakuno staring at the brunette in awe. Fuji keeping a smile on his face, "yeah, they called her Seigaku's Angel. Rumour had she could fly," though not true, just the way she jumped seemed like she was flying.
"It's magical!" Kikumaru exclaimed happily, "return by the Nationals, okay? If you don't, I won't be happy." Her hand reached out to brush his hair back before taking steps backward, a call for the flight to Kyushu. Watching him head off, while she turned back to the others.
"Make sure you'll win Nationals." A wide smile came on her face, the others agreed. "We will!" Oishi smiled back, while the freshmen had more questions, wanting to know more about their senior's senpai - Tezuka's girlfriend.