"Yukimura," you greet, calling him by his last name though you've known each other for years.
"I thought I'd be receiving a call from you," is the merry reply. You think only Yukimura is capable of sounding sly over the phone.
"Why did you have Sanada kiss Keigo?" you ask bluntly.
Yukimura laughs, the sound cheerful yet devious in a way you thought only Fuji Shusuke was capable of.
"Just because I was there, what makes you think I had anything to do with it?"
You snort delicately, a habit you've picked up from Keigo. "Yukimura, you're smart and not just on the tennis court; people don't give you enough credit."
Again that chilling laughter. You're going to have to talk to Fuji, tell him he has some competition. "Why, thank you." You can almost see Yukimura's eyelashes fluttering and delete the image from your brain.
You forge onwards, feeling decidedly foolish. "You always have some ulterior motive. I know Sanada doesn't like Atobe like that. What's more, Sanada knows Atobe is mine, why would he kiss someone who's already taken? Besides, isn't Sanada head over heels for you?" The questions come bursting from you, and you realize just how worked up one little kiss has made you.
"Kunimitsu, you really have no idea how desirable your Atobe is." Yukimura's voice is flat but still holds a hint of mocking.
You flush but don't correct him. Atobe is yours, make no mistake.
"I understand," you say, comprehension dawning. "Yukimura, you pretend to be so tough, but it was really for Sanada, wasn't it?" Your tone is understanding.
Yukimura's light breathing is all you hear on the other end as the silence stretches.
You clear your throat. "You wanted Sanada to realize his feelings for Atobe. You thought that by having Sanada kiss him, he would have an epiphany," you continue, certain you are close to solving the enigma that is the captain of Rikkai Dai.
It opens up new questions. Did Sanada confuse his obligatory feelings for his captain with romantic ones? That's what you had once feared Oishi would do as your vice captain, but Eiji Kikumaru had solved that problem.
"Atobe will never like him," you feel prompted to say, but your tone is kind. Your thoughts are whirling around you, trying to unveil the truth and block out the lies. "He loves me."
"I know. And now, so does Sanada."
"What?"
That throws you, to say the least.
"Very well, if you want to know," the captain purrs, baiting you with a long suffering sigh. "While I'm pleased you believe me to be so noble, Tezuka, that is simply not the case." Yukimura is serious.
More silence.
"Tezuka, you give me too much credit. Atobe came to me wanting help on his techniques, I, of course, accepted." Yukimura is smiling on the other line, "I won the match, Atobe learned whatever it was he'd learned, and I," Yukimura trailed off mysteriously but deliberately. "I only wanted them to kiss to ensure that Sanada belongs to me."
Oh. Well, that changes things, you suppose. Your first thought is relief; Atobe is still yours, not that there was any doubt and you don't have to march over to Rikkai Dai and talk to Sanada. However…. and here you chuckle. Yukimura Seiichi, you think, not Niou Masaharu, is the true trickster of Rikkai Dai.
"I said it before but this time I really mean it. Yukimura, people really don't give you enough credit." Your voice is honest, genuine. You can't wait to play a match against him and it gives you a heady sensation knowing he feels the same.
A soft giggle, though strangely maniacal. "I should say the same to you. Who knew Tezuka Kunimitsu was capable of jealousy?"
You hear his laughter, tinkling, peeling, and haunting quite some time after you've hung up.
"What's so funny?" comes the sleepy voice from your right.
"I'll tell you later," you reply before arranging the covers around the both of you. You wrap him up in your arms, your own personal Atobe Keigo plushie, only life size. He elegantly extends his hand and catches your glasses, pulling them off. Your expression is always more open and revealing when your glasses are off. He smiles, liking it when he can see you without them. You have fallen in love with his smiles. Following his lead, you duck under the covers and the two of you snuggle. Your Keigo indeed.
~Fin