Love at Greater Heights
Chapter 6
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis :)
AN: In my defence, I had model exams so I had a lot of studying to do but I know that's no excuse to stop writing for so long and I am super sorry to the people who are still reading (if anyone is still reading, which I highly doubt) Thank you for your support. Hope you enjoy the chapter
Akira's POV
Thankfully okaa-san didn't ask me why I took so long, probably due to the fact I put the groceries on the counter and immediately legged it to my room where I stayed until she called me for lunch. Fortunately by then, it seemed to have slipped her mind.
I glanced at the digital alarm clock on my bedside table, it read 2:45 pm. Chitose had asked me to meet him by 3. I quickly changed into a black form-fitting t-shirt covered with a dark-blue hoodie and jeans. Since both Michiro and okaa-san were out, I quickly scribbled a note and left it on the table in the living room. After double-checking that I had locked the door, I quickly made my way to the library.
"Hey!" I called out as I spotted a head of tousled dark-blue hair.
"Hey, so you ready to taste the best ice-cream in the world?" he asked, a grin on his face as usual.
"Hmm, my mum makes delicious ice-cream at home, so I really doubt that is going to happen." I said thoughtfully, placing a finger to my chin.
Chitose nodded, "Okay, point taken, it is hard to beat home-made food," he said, running a hand through his curly locks. After a moment he added, "Let me rephrase, are you ready to taste the best commercially produced ice-cream ever?"
I pumped my fist in the air with a grin "Yeah" I said loudly, causing a few people to look at us.
He smirked at me "You're pretty good at attracting unwanted attention."
I rolled my eyes and looked sceptically at his usual(but unusual to the rest of the world) attire, the same outfit he was wearing when I first saw him- loose fitting khaki shirt, jeans and the infamous geta I retorted, "But I must admit, you are a lot more talented in that field."
Chitose pretended to look flattered, "Aw shucks, you shouldn't" he said in an embarrassed tone, which would have almost fooled anyone who didn't know what the conversation was about, if not for the mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"So where is this ice-cream place anyway?" I asked switching the topic from our natural talents.
"Well, it's supposed to be near here, I've never been to the place, Gin-san told me about, he and Kobayashi-san go there often." Chitose said.
"Who is Kobayashi-san?" I asked quizzically, Yumi had told me that Gin-san was the tall, scary bald guy, though according to her he was pretty sweet.
"Gin's girlfriend, they confessed to each other there, so they go there often." Said Chitose, looking thoughtful
I remembered seeing a red-haired girl with Gin-san yesterday that was probably Kobayashi-san.
"Don't get any ideas" I said to Chitose nudging him with my elbow, breaking his train of thought.
He smirked instantly and looked at me with wide doe-eyes "Me? Get ideas? Do you really think that's possible?"
I rolled my eyes at him "Yes, very much so."
He placed a hand over his heart, a hurt expression on his face "Kurosaki-san! I am hurt that you think of me in that way."
I patted his shoulder comfortingly "There, there, you have to face the truth eventually." I said, keeping a straight face.
Chitose chuckled "I suppose, I shall have to" he said morosely.
After walking for a few more minutes, I threw up my hands "Do you even have the faintest idea where this place is?" I asked, half-exasperated.
Chitose looked surprised for a moment, and then said "Of course I do, it's right over there."
I turned around, and to my utmost surprise, there was really a cute little cafe where Chitose was pointing. I turned back to him, eyes widened. "Wow!" I breathed surprise evident in my voice.
Chitose smirked and flipped back his imaginary hair "What can I say, I'm psychic" he said as he started sauntering towards the cafe. I quickly caught up. As we opened the door, a little bell jingled making almost everyone turn towards us for a very unnerving fraction of a second before they returned to their business.
I quickly scanned the café, it was airy and well-decorated. The place was neither too crowded nor deserted or as to quote Goldilocks, it was 'just right'.
"Would you like to sit near the window, in the middle or in the corner," Chitose asked, his eyes darting to window subtly.
"Window" I said confirming my suspicions, as happy look crossed his face before changing to questioning.
"Well," I said "It may seem like an odd habit, but I like people-watching." I stated. "You may proceed to judge me." I added with a flourish of my hands.
Chitose's eyes lit up "Seriously, I thought I was the only one." He said, with a grin "Not everyone understands how interesting it is" he added, moving towards the said table
"I agree", I said nodding fervently, following him. "You never what kind of people you'll see, you know once I saw this guy, all tousled blue hair, khaki-shirt, jeans and get this, a pair of geta. One of them flew off and cracked the pavement." I said smirking. Chitose returned it. "You know" I added slyly "I was pretty sure that guy was a homeless man."
Chitose chuckled "A homeless man with a sense of fashion, all the same right?"
"Hmm," I said thoughtfully, putting a finger on my chin "A non-existent one, perhaps?"
Chitose stuck his tongue out at me and I could swear I had murmur that went along the lines of "My fashion sense is impeccable."
My smirk increased "For someone who is older than me, you are so mature." I said, sarcasm dripping from my words.
Chitose grinned "I try, I see myself as a role model. After all, we can't all run around, being mad at people because they showed up to school, contrary to how most teachers react, I must say."
"At least I don't stick my tongue out at people, as far as immature actions are concerned, that one takes the cake"
He opened my mouth to retort, when he was interrupted by a chirpy "Good afternoon, what can get you guys today."
"Hmm," I started my eyes scanning my earlier forgotten menu. "I think I'll have the Sea Blue Surprise,"
"I'll have the Mystery Dish of the Day." Chitose said.
"Adventorous, aren't you?" I murmured. I was answered with a cheeky smile. The waitress quickly jotted down our order. "Anything else?" she asked politely. We both shrugged. "Okay, your order will be here in a bit." She said and walked away.
After the waitress walked away, Chitose looked out of the window, staring at the different people that passed. Probably trying to deduce what they were doing and their story or for what reason they were wearing a feathery pink boa with a t-shirt and jeans or some other odd combination. I should know, especially since I usually do the exact same thing. But today, I decided to observe the Spring Fairy in front of me. To be honest, I could totally imagine him wearing fluttery green clothes and jumping around with pixie dust.
Well, first off, he was tall, almost unnaturally so and slender but unlike most tall and slender guys, he didn't look weedy, I suspected he had some pretty good muscles under all that loose clothing, if his well-toned arms were anything to go by. I wonder if he has any siblings, it would be hilarious if he had a short sibling. His dark eyes were narrowed in concentration, probably using his skills of deduction. My eyes travelled up to his hair. His locks were dark and curly and from where I was sitting they looked luxuriously soft. I wondered if they were actually as soft as they looked. Before, my mind had time to process it properly; my body had already leaned forward and taken one curl under my fingers. It was incredible; his hair was soft like cotton yet as smooth as silk at the same time. Don't even ask me how that is possible, I didn't it could was possible till that moment either.
Chitose turned to look at me inquisitively. I felt my cheeks heat up, something they weren't used to doing as he looked straight into my eyes. I was pretty sure that he could probably see into my soul. I quickly pulled my fingers away "I wanted to see if your hair was as soft as it looked." I said hurriedly, my voice borderline defensive.
The corner's of his mouth turned up, it wasn't exactly a smile nor was it a smirk, it was somewhere in between. His eyes twinkled. "So, was my hair up to your expectations?" he asked amusedly.
I couldn't help myself from grinning as I nodded "It's unnatural." I said. I leaned forward as I whispered "What's your secret Chitose-san?"
He grinned at me evilly "I'm afraid that is a family secret, Kurosaki-san."
I pouted "I won't tell anyone, I cross my heart and hope to die."
Chitose looked thoughtful "Well, since it's you...nope, no way!"
I glared at him "You're evil, you know that."
"Well, there's one way of knowing the secret, you could join the family." He smirked at me knowingly.
I fought hard to stop my cheeks from flaming up. "So, do you have an attractive older brother?" I asked grinning slyly.
Chitose face fell a bit "Nope," he said.
"What about a male cousin?" I asked, feeling my smirk grow as his reduced.
"Not really, all my cousins are female"
"That's not surprising" I muttered.
He looked offended "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
"Nothing" I said my tone sugary sweet. "Okay, now I am desperate, what about a relatively young uncle"
"I have one but he's married." He said smugly "So you're stuck with me"
I put one finger to my chin, pretending to be in thought "Well, in that case, I'd rather not know the family secret."
Chitose shrugged his shoulders "Well, have it you way" After a moment's thought he added "You really know how to crush a guy's ego"
I smiled smugly "I'll take that as a compliment, plus your ego surely gets enough boosting without me getting involved."
"Actually.." he started when he was interrupted again by the waitress "Here, are your dishes." She announced in that fake sugary voice all waitresses are well-versed in. "Here's the Mystery Dish." She said about to take it off the cloche that had come with the Mystery Dish.
Before she could, Chitose stopped her "Wait, let me take a guess, it's a choco-vanilla swirl with chocolate syrup and diced strawberries. The waitress removed the cloche to reveal exactly what Chitose had predicted. She looked at him impressed
"How did you do that?" she asked.
Chitose shrugged "I'm psychic" The waitress looked disbelieving but didn't ask further, walking away quickly after giving me my dish.
"So, how exactly did you the contents of the mystery dish?" I asked inquisitively.
Chitose smiled "Another family secret"
"So, it's learn the secret to great hair and psychic power but in return get married to you," I pondered out loud.
"Basically a deal with absolutely no negatives" Chitose said proudly.
"Hmm, I don't think so; as far as I can see the negatives definitely outweigh the positives." I said grinning.
Chitose rolled his eyes dramatically but didn't say anything. I took the silence as the opportunity to give my full attention the beautiful ice-cream in front of me. Now, I wasn't particularly hungry, after all I had just eaten lunch before I came but whether I am hungry or not, I don't think I have ever eaten ice-cream slowly or gracefully. And as always, I started wolfing it down.
Suddenly, Chitose started to chuckle. I looked up, "What is it?" I asked.
You have a speck of ice-cream on your cheek." He pointed out. Before I could ask him where, he leaned forward and brushed it off with his thumb. Unlike his hair, his thumb was rough, but not in a bad way. I suppose that is what years of playing tennis does to you. At the brief contact, my cheeks took on a rosy hue.
Chitose leaned back, a small smirk on his face "You know when someone is reluctant to marry a person; they don't usually blush around them. Though I must say that is an interesting shade of red, somewhere in between tomato-red and fire-engine red," he said, his face reminiscent of the Chesire Cat.
At his words, the blush on my cheeks just intensified. "Now it's definitely fire-engine red" Chitose remarked. Left with no retort, I did what anyone would do in my situation. I stuck my tongue out at him.
AN: Well, that was definitely the longest chapter I have ever written. Next time, I pinky promise the update will be sooner. Please leave a review Till next time
~IceCrystal