Love at Greater Heights
Chapter 8
AN: Hey guys! I was planning to make this chapter but I really wanted to update after well, almost a month since I have no idea when I'll be able to get the time to write next. I apologize in advance if Chitose is OOC in this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy. Please do review.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis
Third person POV
"Kin-chan is improving by leaps and bounds, ne Chitose?" Shiraishi asked, turning his head to face to the blunette next to him.
"Mm hmm" Chitose grunted barely looking at Chitose.
Shiraishi turned fully to Chitose who was deep in thought "What is it Chitose? What're you worrying about?" he asked mildly concerned for his usually-cheerful and talkative friend.
"Nothing much" Chitose said waving his hand.
"That always means something, spill" Shiraishi said leaning towards Chitose.
"Is this the part where you tell captain, that you like Kurosaki-san?" Zaizen, who had seemingly come out of nowhere asked.
Chitose jumped and turned around, while Shiraishi's eyebrows rose up so high it almost disappeared into his hair.
"You like someone?" Shiraishi asked, a smirk as well as look of surprise crossing his face.
"Is this the wrong time?" Zaizen asked "I figured since Kurosaki-san figured out she likes you, you would've figured out you like her too by now"
Chitose's eyebrow rose "She likes me? Who told you that?" he asked, half-curious, half-hopeful.
"Oops, I guess I wasn't supposed to spill the beans" Zaizen said in, but there wasn't even a hint of remorse in his voice. "Since I already said it, the answer to your question is yes. Kurosaki-san told Tooyama-san (Yuki) who told Yumi who told me"
By this time Shiraishi's eyes were figuratively sparkling, (more like glinting) "So Chitose, do you like her? ~" he said in a sing-song voice.
A dusty pink hue made its way on Chitose's cheeks "Well um..kind of, yes..I mean I like spending time with her and hanging out with her. And I like the feeling of her hand in mine...and well, I guess I want to be her boyfriend" he mumbled. "But" he continued, his voice regaining its usual volume "I don't really want to disrupt what we already have, it's pretty awesome." He said with a rueful grin.
"I think you should just tell her, anyway you know she likes you, so there's no chance of rejection." Zaizen said shrugging nonchalantly.
"I agree" said Shiraishi "I mean your relationship doesn't necessarily have to change dramatically after all."
"I don't know...even if I wanted to how would I go about it? It's not like I can jump straight in after all there is still a chance of rejection. Yuki-san might have been joking; you know she has a strange sense of humour. " Chitose said quickly, wringing his hands in a very un-Chitose-like manner dreading the gleam in Shiraishi's eyes but even worse were his next words.
"I have an idea!" Shiraishi exclaimed "I'll help you and Kurosaki-san get together. It'll be fun to play matchmaker"
"That's really not necessary" Chitose said with a nervous laugh. He had already witnessed enough of Shiraishi's disastrous matchmaking attempts to know that while they did somehow get the job done, it always led to misunderstandings and awkward situations.
"Why don't you ask her out on a date?" Shiraishi suggested. Before Chitose could shoot down the idea, Zaizen voiced his concern
"Isn't that essentially the same as confessing?"
"Of course not" Shiraishi exclaimed "You don't have to tell her that it's a date..."
"Then it's just like hanging out which they already do" Zaizen interrupted again.
"Let me finish" Shiriahi said impatiently "Ask her out, then wait for the perfect romantic moment to confess. Don't gain public attention because then she'd feel awkward especially if she had to say no. But also make sure it isn't too romantic because well same reason."
"Wow, you sure know a lot about the perfect confession set up" Chitose said, clearly impressed.
"What can I say? I am more or less the resident Cupid, rejection or not it's you should always let the other person know about your feelings, it's better than hiding them away and letting them fester" Shiraishi said proudly, obviously pleased with the compliment
You're one to talk" Zaizen scoffed "Why don't you take your own advice with your relationship with Tooyama-san?"
"What, what're you talking about?" Shiraishi demanded.
Chitose rolled his eyes "Come on, even you should know that it is painfully obvious that you two like each other"
Shiraishi didn't answer, but the red face he was sporting spoke for itself.
"Come on, we'll be late for morning assembly if we don't hurry up.", Said Zaizen, as he turned to walk to the locker rooms.
As Shiraishi and Chitose walked back to the locker rooms, Chitose gave in "Fine, you can play matchmaker. Do you have a plan?"
Shiraishi's eyes gleamed with glee "Of course I do, one of my sister gave me two tickets for a basketball match this weekend, she assumes that because I play tennis, I will interested in all sports. So anyway, you can have, ask Kurosaki-san, you can even start with a joke about how everyone assumes you like basketball because you're tall and then she'll laugh and share an anecdote and it won't be awkward at all."
Chitose looked doubtful "Okay, ti sounds like one of your less disastrous plans." He said.
Shiraishi gasped, mock-offended "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Chitose resisted the urge to roll his eyes "Nothing, come on let's go"
Later...
As soon as the bell had rang for lunch, Chitose had hurriedly gotten the tickets from Shiraishi and made his way to Akira's classroom. His eyes sought out the dark-haired beanpole amongst the sea of second years. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted some crazed fangirls coming his way. Taking advantage of his ridiculously long legs, he quickly made his way to the subject of affection. Some reason admitting the fact that he liked Kurosaki to Shiraishi made it 10 times more obvious in his mind. He felt like he had a giant highlighter pink arrow pointing to him with the words 'He likes Akira Kurosaki' plastered on his forehead which naturally made him feel a wee bit awkward.
"Hey Kurosaki, can I talk to your for a second?" he asked, hoping the hope in his voice wasn't as obvious to Kurosaki as it was to him.
Akira grinned at him "Yeah sure, what is it?"
"I have an extra ticket for a basketball match this Saturday at 3, my cousin gave it to me, she figures because I am tall I am bound to like basketball even though I have explained to her a thousand times that I play tennis and not basketball" Chitose rambled, ending with a nervous laugh. "So I was wondering if you'd want to go with me?" he asked hoping that the hope in his voice wasn't as obvious to her as it was to him.
"Why are you asking me? Are you assuming that I like basketball because I am tall" Akira asked accusingly, a small smile playing on her face.
"It's a chain of misunderstanding and stereotypes, you see" Chitose said with a straight face.
Akira laughed "Yeah sure" she said shrugging her shoulders. "Wait a minute..Are you asking me on a date?" she asked, smirking.
'Oh no, she knows!' one part of Chitose's brain yelled 'No she's just joking, you guys joke about dating and stuff all the time' the more reasonable part of his brain argued 'But, Zaizen said she likes you, maybe she wants it to be date' a third part helpfully suggested. Before his brain to come to an unanimous decision his mouth had already chosen to say the very coherent sentence "Huh, um, what?" and worse, ended with a very fake and very forced laugh.
As if sensing his discomfort Kurosaki quickly spoke "No, it's nothing, never mind. I'll meet you in front of the library on Saturday at 2:30, see you around. Bye" she said and quickly walked away. If Chitose had stopped being super embarrassed for a second to look at her face instead of the ceiling he would have seen the flicker of disappointment flash across her face.
Chitose buried his head in his hands. He was Chitose Senri, he was calm, collected and confident. He was not a blushing, stuttering idiot. He wasn't that person, he wasn't comfortable being that person but apparently that's what the male brain does when left to its own devices, or maybe it was just his brain that acted this way. Either way, he would have to get his composure back in check before Saturday if he wanted to have any chance for a nice, non-awkward and romantic confession.
He avoided having a nervous breakdown until he reached his class. Before he could break down Shiraishi quickly made his way to Chitose "So how did it go~" he asked in a sing-song voice.
"She said yes, but I was so awkward. I kept blushing and stuttering. At this rate, she'll find out way before I'm ready to tell her" Chitose explained.
"Well, we'll just pray that she remains oblivious to your feelings"
"You mean like how oblivious you are to Tooyama-san's feelings?" Chitose asked smirking.
"Will you stop that?" Shiraishi huffed "We do not like each other, I mean come on she is the ice queen."
"I notice, you didn't deny the fact that you like her" Chitose said, taking advantage of the opening. He laughed at Shiraishi's annoyed expression, taking the sandy-haired boy's silence as a personal; victory.
After a few minutes Shiraishi spoke again "Just wait till Saturday, I assure you will not get my divine and awesome help. You'll regret it."
Chitose just laughed "Sore loser" he taunted. But Shiraishi was right, asking Kurosaki out to confess probably would be better for the long run but right now the very thought of it was making him queasy like the times when he was a kid and he would eat too much chocolate. Wait chocolate. Was he supposed to get Kurosaki chocolate or flowers? Or would getting her a gift make it obvious. But then getting her nothing might make it too casual. Plus, friends give each flowers sometimes. And flowers would set the mood but would they be too much.
He sighed, burying his hands in his heads again. Shiraishi looked at his friend and sighed, marvelling at how Chitose turned from calm, confident and composed to an embarrassed and stuttering mess.
Kurosaki Akira was truly a force to be reckoned with.
AN: Hope you guys enjoyed, please review. Constructive criticism is appreciated.