Hi minna!

I couldn't resist hahahaha But anyway, the next time I'd be thinking about this fanfic is after our exams (Feb 27) so I tried to make this much longer than usual (The average length these last updates is 1,200 words. This one is almost 2,200 words so hurrah!).

I hope you're ready for some Tezuka OOCness hahahaha

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, just the plot of this fanfic and the crappy names of the restaurants and additional characters xD

Enjoy!

"Text" - Normal dialogues (Text - normal/italicized/bold/italicized and bold ; quotation marks - normal)

'Text' - Thoughts (Text and single quotation marks - italicized)

"Text" - Flashbacks (Text and quotation marks - italicized)

Third POV

"Ore-sama thinks that you should go ahead with the matter at hand, Fuji, Tezuka." Atobe said, hoping to get this over with and have some alone time with Ryoma, but forgetting one tiny detail. The boy perked up, a very different smile plastered on his face. "Ore-sama?" The king shivered at the sight of that smile and, realizing his mistake, dreaded what he knew would happen next. How could he had forgotten? He blamed his two other companions for draining his energy, causing this slip up. Speaking of those two, one of which looked amused at his expression while the other, maintaining a passive face, raised an eyebrow instead.

"R-Ryo, it was just once. Let it slide?" He knew it was futile but he couldn't help but try. The shorter man feigned a thinking face. "But I heard that your popularity rose when that happened 8 months ago." The two producers immediately racked their brains for information about what happened that time frame. Tezuka, being the one responsible for him, was the first one to think of something.

"Eight months ago, the time when Atobe went to the studio with a different haircut?" The stoic man said, finally contributing his thoughts to the conversation (a/n: because it's true hahaha). Fuji recalled how everyone made a fuss about it since it made the king look so much younger. They were all surprised when Atobe nonchalantly entered the recording booth as if he's not sporting a spiky hairdo, his side hair looking like long grown undercut. They inquired about it then but received a simple reply of "felt like it" and the whole thing was dismissed. That change was well-received by his fans, too well in fact that even to this date, some interviewers still ask if he'll be getting that haircut again.

"Yes," Ryoma started as he reached up placing his hand atop Atobe's head, ruffling his hair. "It's gotten long, hasn't it?" He felt the other man nod. "Well, if you want to keep this style, you could visit your parents for me. They've been lonely." Ryoma smiled slyly. He knows how much Atobe cares about his hair and how he would trade anything to leave it unharmed. In the first place, it's not like the diva didn't want to meet his parents at all. It's just too much of a hassle going to England for a few hours of conversation when such could be accomplished through a cellphone.

"That's why I didn't want you hanging with Yukimura. You're learning his ways, even his smile." Both knew that Atobe meant nothing of that. Ryoma's smile returned to his usual one. "At least you have a say in this, Sei would not have been so lenient." And it is true, the last time he made that mistake was eight months ago and it was even caused by Yukimura. The not-so-closet sadist made sure that Atobe reverted back to his normal self and used 'ore-sama'. Once his objective was achieved, Yukimura's personal hairdresser was called and the rest was history.

"Then I'll be taking your silence as you choosing the second option." Ryoma made a move to stand but the sudden hold on his arm prevented him from doing so.

"Where are you going?" Atobe asked, confused.

"Well, you said that they're here for business so I thought of excusing myself as to not be a nuisance." He said as a matter of fact.

"First of all, you'll never be a nuisance. And second, they're actually here for you." Atobe really, really, really didn't like the idea of Ryoma entering the industry. Besides the fact that he wants to keep the boy all to himself, he is well aware of how low people could go just to up themselves or reduce their competitions. The younger man has been through a lot and he didn't need anymore of that. But if Ryoma decides it, he could only support him in any way he can.

"Me? Why?" The surprise was evident in his voice, his right index finger unconsciously pointing to himself.

"Well, we're here to scout you." Fuji easily replied. Ryoma couldn't believe his ears, two of the most well-known persons in their field is expressing their desire to scout him! His heart started beating to a faster rhythm but then self-doubt took over.

"But how is that possible?" His lack of confidence showed when he started fidgeting on his seat. This made the tensai certain that the boy has no awareness at how amazing of a performer he is. But then something didn't add up…

"Ryoma-kun, has no one ever complimented you?" Fuji asked despite knowing the answer. From the two times he's seen him perform, the audience showered him with praises. And from how calm he is on stage, the tensai believes that he's been serenading customers for quite a while now. That is what made things strange in Fuji's opinion. He's no psychologist but it is easy to see that there's something preventing the boy from believing in his own abilities. 'And when I told him a while ago that we are his fans, he found it impossible.'

Ryoma didn't know where this is heading but decided to answer, only Atobe was faster.

"What kind of question is that? You've heard how great of an applause he had a while ago. And I never fail to tell Ryo how amazing he is." Ryoma blushed at that but his brows are scrunched together, Tezuka noticed this. He thought that Fuji asked a rather weird question but after seeing the boy's reaction, he might have an idea what Fuji is getting at.

"Ryoma-kun," the tensai emphasized, hoping that Atobe would understand that his input is currently not needed."What do you think when people praise you?"

"That they're kind." The boy replied after a while.

"Why do you think that?" To outsiders, it would look like Fuji is talking to a child with his line of questions. But he didn't mind as long as it will make things easier for Ryoma to answer.

Ryoma became a little uncomfortable. It wasn't because of Fuji's questions, but due to a memory which suddenly played in his mind.

"Because they compliment me to make me feel better." Atobe received the most shock after that revelation. He didn't know that that is what's going inside Ryoma's head when people say positive things about him. And now he's on aboard with the other two.

"Ryo, why do you say that?" Atobe tried so hard to not let the feelings of hurt flow in his words; hurt from not being believed in and for the boy who is unable to see himself using other people's perspectives. Ryoma became puzzled as the king joined the questioning.

"Why?... Because it's the truth." He said in a low voice albeit with a tone like it's common knowledge.

"Ryoma-kun, did you came to that conclusion yourself or did someone..." Fuji let his words die down, not liking the idea that someone instilled such thoughts to another. But as Ryoma froze in place and kept silent, the tensai felt his stomach twist.

Atobe, on the other hand, is a different story. He felt anger rise within him. 'How could someone dare do this to Ryo?!' Before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed Ryoma's right shoulder and made the boy face him.

"Who? Who told you such a thing?!" His raised voice alarmed the people from their neighboring tables, letting the screeching sound from the chair across him go unnoticed.

Ryoma felt terrified. He's never heard Atobe this angry. Despite knowing that his anger is not directed towards him, he still felt his body shake.

Atobe suddenly felt a pain on his wrist, effectively clearing his mind. "You're scaring him, Atobe. Let go." As the king lifted his hand off the boy's shoulder, the bruising grip that Tezuka had on him was also removed. 'When was he on this side in the first place?' But that is the least of his worries as he heard small whimpers from the man beside him. Atobe became frantic.

"S-sorry, Ryo. I didn't mean to raise my voice." The diva said with a consoling tone, trying to place his hand on Ryoma's back only for the latter to flinch at the touch. Atobe was hurt at the treatment but knew that he brought it upon himself.

Fuji knows that something must be done or else this could cause Ryoma to be more reserved. And he realized that he wasn't the only one thinking that as he saw Tezuka move to Ryoma's right side, kneeling down on one leg.

"Ryoma," Tezuka's gentle voice surprised even himself. He didn't know what came over him but what he do know is how painful it is to see the younger boy in this state. Atobe wanted to interfere and tell Tezuka off but, remembering how Ryoma reacted to him a while ago, kept silent.

Ryoma was scared. was. He was panicking one second and then he heard somebody call out his name from beside him. He wanted to ignore it but a wave of deja vu washed over him. He knew Tezuka's voice sounded familiar a while ago but didn't dwell on it. But after hearing it so close and while saying his name, he's quite positive that he's heard of it before; if not with more cheer. His head unconsciously turned to face the source of the voice, noticing that the man would have to be crouching or kneeling for the call to sound so close.

Taking it as a good sign, Tezuka went ahead and gathered Ryoma's hands in between his with no resistance from the boy.

"I want you to know that we want to help you, not hurt you. And we'll only be able to do that if you'll tell us what happened for you to think that you are not good enough for people's compliments. Because you are good enough, more than enough." Fuji was surprised at the stoic man's soothing voice.

"Ryoma, don't cry. They're like that because they're envious of you. Your voice is good enough, more than enough! Believe me!"

The younger man abruptly freed his left hand from Tezuka's hold, clutching his head. On his face is a pained expression. "What's wrong?" The bespectacled man immediately asked upon seeing the look on his face.

'What was that? Whose voice was that?' Ryoma repeatedly asked himself the moment the unfamiliar voice stopped intruding his mind. 'No, it's not unfamiliar. This is the first time I'm hearing it but… it's not unfamiliar. But why did my head hurt so much? Could this be… a flashback?' He was brought out of his reverie when the hold on his right hand tightened, as if asking if he was okay.

"Why do you want to help me so much?" The desperation on his voice so evident making it impossible to say anything but the truth.

"At first, Fuji's younger brother invited us to Ethereal Bar to see you perform. He told us that he wants you to reach greater heights because you need it." Fuji was shocked that Tezuka was really telling Ryoma everything. The younger boy, on the other hand, was surprised at what he heard.

"Yuuta doing something he shouldn't have." Ryoma mumbled to himself.

"But then we heard you sing and mesmerize the audience. We knew then and there that the world needs to hear your voice." Ryoma was deeply touched by how highly this man thinks of him.

"Then Fuji's younger brother told us that you became separated from your parents." Tezuka felt the younger boy stiffen through their connected hands but continued.

"But that only made me more certain of my decision." Ryoma didn't know what he was expecting but certainly not that. His sudden intake of breath gave him away. Tezuka realized his slip the moment he said 'me' instead of 'us' but surprised himself by not only leaving it uncorrected but also continuing it that way.

Atobe's knuckles turned pale at the tight grip he has on the table napkin resting on his lap. He dislike this expressive and talkative Tezuka. He dislike that it is because of his Ryoma.

"You know, Yuuta will make a scene if he hears you referring to him as Fuji-san's younger brother." Ryoma said as he smiled, temporarily lifting the mood of his three other companions. The younger man knew that he didn't need his vision to know the sincerity Tezuka has. For the first time, he found himself wanting to trust someone.

Ryoma brought down his left hand, successfully trapping his and Tezuka's right hands. He closed his eyes and let out a big sigh.

"Seven years ago…"

End of Thinking Capacity.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed imagining it hahaha

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Ja ne!