Chapter 1
"This couldn't be good…"
"Yeah, nya! I mean even for Momo… It's just too much nya!"
"Well, if you ask me, three is more than enough, but thirty-three?"
"Momo's regular consumption is fifteen nya, so this is that bad…"
"Should we stop Momo?"
"Let him have seven more, nya. I think he needs it, nya."
"Alright. So I guess Momo is really heart broken no?"
"Well, of course nya! Ochibi just returned with a boyfriend!"
"That wouldn't be the case if Momo just told Echizen about his feelings before Echizen went to the US, you know."
"I can hear you, senpai…" I finally said in a slurry voice as I shoved in another burger in my mouth. Ha. You might have been thinking that I'm drinking beer or something alcoholic right! Well, tough luck! I'm not legal yet to even touch a bottle! Even though I really wanted to get my hands on one right now…
If I had my way, I would've drunk myself till I forget about everything. Starting from the moment Kevin Smith had materialized in front of my eyes down to the way I saw Echizen reaching out to hold that brat's hand. I wanted to forget damn it, but all that my trusty burgers could do for me right now, was to get me constipated! Luck isn't being really fair to me right now!
Well anyway… Every time I think of Kevin Smith, I get so freaking mad! I was fuming mad that I almost bit my tongue off when I ate my first burger. I was so immersed in my anger at the brat that I forgot how to chew properly. All that I could think of at that moment was - How dare he steal Echizen away from me!
And then when the name 'Echizen' pops in my head, I start to get all sad and teary-eyed and hurt. I almost died chocking on that first burger. You see, I was all angry one moment and the next I was hiccupping with barely suppressed tears and moans. Next thing I knew, the large chunk of burger I had bit had decided to stay in my throat.
Eiji-senpai had panicked the moment he saw me clutching at my neck and turning purple. He was running around the table and yelling garbles only he can understand. Thankfully Fuji-senpai had a presence of mind because he did the Heimlich maneuver immediately on me.
After I spit that burger off, I then decided to bawl my heart out. At least this way, I was letting out the bottled mourning that I harbored close to my chest. It wouldn't do any good to look like a fool in front of Echizen. You know, what with me crying and throwing tantrums out of nowhere right? Sigh.
So I cried and cried. Once or twice, I think I banged my head on the table in frustration. I also screamed to my heart's content until all the demons I have whispering in my ear went away. After all that antic, after the burger joint have been deserted until only us were left, after Fuji-senpai and Eiji-senpai had stopped looking at me funny – I reached for my second burger and just sat there like I was lost in my own world. Suddenly, I just felt tired and numb.
Well, to be honest, I thought that feeling numb was all for the better. I was just blank. All that I understood for the moment was that my sole purpose in life was to finish the burger placed in front of me. And when I finished eating a piece, my next purpose in life was to order another one so that I could eat yet again.
I think Eiji-senpai and Fuji-senpai had finally decided I was safe after quite some time. Heh. If only I wasn't this heart broken, I would've laughed at their expressions. They were watching and monitoring my movements with utmost reverence. And when they moved, they did so carefully and quietly. They must be thinking that when exposed to loud sounds or whatever, I'd break down again.
So anyway, when they deemed that the coast was clear, they started chatting amongst themselves – in a barely above whisper voice, mind you. First they were talking about how scary I was when I broke down. They said that they hope that I wouldn't have another episode like that again. It was kind of traumatic to say the least.
Then they started talking about how they felt sorry for me and how they wish they could do something for me. At that point, the numbness that had settled over me, melted for a spilt second. I felt touched to the point that it almost moved me to tears.
And then they changed topics as swiftly as I ate my burgers. They said that, well, admittedly, Kevin and Echizen did look good together. And that they look content and happy. The tear that was already leaking in my left eye came back and dried itself when I heard that. Whose side were they on anyway! I asked myself as I tried to veil myself in numbness again and reached for my twenty-second burger calmly.
Then Eiji-senpai brought up that, nya, Momo and ochibi looked together as well. More so that Kevin and ochibi, nya! When I heard that, I decided that Eiji-senpai will be my most favorite senpai of all time. I mean, he has good eyes and judgment! But then Fuji-senpai confused me when he said that yeah, Echizen and Momo looked like they were made for each other. When I heard that, I was like - Who was my favorite now! Eiji-senpai or Fuji-senpai!
I was going on a crisis here, when Fuji-senpai suddenly commented out of the blue that it was really distracting to see Momo, meaning me, sitting there with a glazed over look and with a snot hanging from my nose. If I wasn't just in my own world – well, supposed to be! How was I supposed to stay there if they were discussing interesting matters! – I would have pouted and thrown a tantrum at Fuji-senpai.
Eiji-senpai suggested to Fuji-senpai to just avoid looking at my face. He said that he'd been doing that too, ever since he noticed the 'snot'. So anyway, when I was sure that both were not paying any attention to me, I discreetly wiped it away with a table napkin that suddenly materialized right beside my right hand. I could've sworn that it wasn't there earlier… But oh well.
After I finished discreetly wiping my nose, I then decided to myself to just keep this act until they get me home. I didn't want to open up and discuss my dilemma. I just wanted to get home, mope and cry some more. But then I heard Fuji-senpai said something that just caught my attention.
Sigh. Fuji-senpai did know how to hit a nerve. And when he hits that nerve, it's usually spot on. I've been regretting my choice of actions, really. Ever since my backside hit the booth of the burger joint, my mind had been flooded with the 'what if's'. What if I told Echizen about my feelings before he went to the US? What if I called him frequently when he was in the US? What if I called and confessed? Could I have prevented this from happening?
So anyway, since I don't want to hear other people blaming me too, I decided to just drop the act and just confer with my senpais on what to do or to at least unload my burden on their shoulders. I was stirring my strawberry shake with the tri-colored straw when I heard Eiji-senpai laugh nervously.
"So, Momo! Feeling better nya?" He asked as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He must've realized that I've been listening in on them. I looked wearily at Fuji-senpai. He just smiled serenely at me. Bastard. He was baiting me! Hmmp. It's decided then! Eiji-senpai will be my most favorite senpai of all time!
"No." I said gloomily as I reached for the fortieth burger. I was unwrapping it and putting extra ketchup on it when a hand reached out to touch my wrist.
"That'll be the last one, okay Momo?" Fuji-senpai said in a soothing voice. He smiled eerily after saying that and I frowned at him.
"No." I said stubbornly. Fuji-senpai opened his eyes slowly and then glared daggers at me. Suddenly, I felt like I was being scolded by my mother. I squirmed on my seat not wanting to give up, but Fuji-senpai's eyes were just too much for me to handle!
"Fine. This will be last one!" I said grumpily as I shoved the last of my burger in my mouth. Fuji-senpai smiled happily as he closed his eyes yet again. Eiji-senpai was finishing his own chocolate shake with a loud slurp.
"That's good, Momo. We've wasted enough time - what with you pigging out and bawling your eyes out." Fuji-senpai reflected as he put a hand to his chin. He then shrugged his shoulders as if it doesn't matter. Then, out of nowhere, he looked at me with piercing eyes.
"Now we can strategize." Fuji-senpai informed me gaily as he promptly closed his eyes. I looked at him like he was speaking Grecian.
"Strategy?" Me and Eiji-senpai asked at the same time. Obviously, our acrobatics player hadn't known that our tensai had something else going on in his mind besides comforting me. Eiji-senpai must've thought that Fuji-senpai went along with us to just show some support to me.
"Yes. You know the make-Echizen-dump-Kevin-and-run-to-Momo-instead strategy." Fuji-senpai calmly explained. I paused for awhile. That sounded like a good idea… a very good idea! It's no wonder really that Fuji-senpai is called the tensai of the Seigaku team! Not only on tennis but on other matters too! Eiji-senpai was nodding his head up and down enthusiastically.
"Yeah, that's a good idea, nya!"
"So what should we do?" I asked, barely suppressing my own excitement. I believe in Fuji-senpai's capabilities so this was only understandable.
"Well, I haven't thought that far yet… But as for today, I think you should go home and get your beauty sleep, alright Momo?" Fuji-senpai responded after a full minute of thinking. I face faulted.
"WHAT! That's all you could say to me! Get a beauty sleep!" I burst out. I was so outraged at the simple order that I stood and banged the table top with my fists. And to think that I raised my hopes up for this!
"Calm down Momo, nya!" Eiji-senpai said loudly as he stood up and grabbed my arm. He looked pleadingly at me.
"Fuji says 'for now' nya! Don't worry, Fuji is terrific with this! He helped me snag Oishi with his strategies nya!" He said in his most convincing voice. I stopped all movements. Slowly, I turned to our acrobatics player with wide eyes. Oishi-senpai and Eiji-senpai are…?
Eiji-senpai must've realized that he let his tongue slip because he turned as red as his hair. He lowered himself on the booth and covered his face with his hands in embarrassment. Forgetting my own misery for the moment, a devil's grin started to form on my face. I was about to tease him when Fuji-senpai coughed demurely to get my attention.
"Well in any case Momo, you should get some sleep and leave the rest to me okay?" Fuji-senpai said. I sat down, nodding at him. Yeah, even tensai's need to think about plans and what not so thoroughly right! I noticed Eiji-senpai was giving Fuji-senpai a grateful look. Well ha! I could always tease him tomorrow… that is, if I haven't seen Echizen and Kevin yet to spoil my mood…
"Let's go home nya! It's already late!" Eiji-senpai remarked as he stood up and stretched his arms, all redness gone from his face.
"Yeah, we better go. Nee-san might be waiting." But even though they said indirectly that they really wanted to go home, they first went to the trouble of seeing me to my house. And all the way there, they chatted about various ideas for the plans. I listened to them, with a small smile on my face and a little measure of comfort.
I really do have good senpais.
t.b.c
A/N: Here's the latest chap, hope you like it! Tell me what you think! And lots of thanks to those who reviewed!
Natsumi - don't worry, Momo will have to suffer lots just to get Echizen back!
VanillaCat - oh, sorry about that, but eventually it does lead to MomoRyo...
FreezingSoul - yeah, poor Momo! But that was just the first degree! Hahaha... (insert evil laugh)
Goggelgirl - thanks for the review! Hope you like this chap...
Rebriwien -oh well,I think Momo will have to rely on Fuji-senpai first for the tactics!
Slithy -wellI hope this is soon enough!hope you enjoy this as well...
akari-hayashi - the humor comes in this chap ne?hehe... Getting Echizenis tough and Momo has some price to pay...!
KagomeGirl21 - indeed! MomoRyo doesn't get enough loving! and they look so cute togther, aren't they? anyway, hope you like this chap!