" I'll not tolerate it. " Chapter3
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" You know they really do like their old captain. " Fuji took a sip of cold water as they rested on the bleachers.
"…….? " Tezuka's simple response was a confused, questioning turn of the neck in the tensai's general direction.
" Oshitari, Jirou. " Fuji shrugged, " They seem to be… how to put it? " he furrowed his brow lightly, " ….attached to that guy. "
"……." Tezuka's blank stare focused back on the courts again, " I wonder why. " The thought about what kind of captain the other made had crossed his in way back in the past, but for now he was getting more than his desired share of the king's company, so the said king was not a subject of fascination for him.
" Saa…" Fuji appeared amused at the less than warm response.
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" I'll not tolerate it. "
Tezuka stopped in his step, outside the first-years' council room office ( yes they actually had one, it was more like Atobe's private office, on demand of course ), at the sound of Atobe's haughty voice.
" Please listen. There are ten of them, and only one you. It's a wonder you could even…"
He knew that voice too, it was one of Atobe's so-called subordinates ( lackeys? ) supporting him as a student rep.
" How badly is he hurt? " Atobe's voice sharply sliced through the other's.
" He escaped with minor scrapes, thanks to your security measures. " The other boy's voice sounded a little relieved, " They really helped. "
" Good. " Atobe spoke again, " Now all we have to do is verify the names of…"
" Demo, Atobe…" the said lackey intercepted.
" That's Atobe-sama to you, peasant. " Tezuka could almost picture the narrowed eyes and disdain on Atobe's face at being interrupted.
" Yes, Atobe-sama. " The lackey's voice was strained, " They are all third year seniors. Even if we do take action now, who knows what they could…"
" Who do you think you are talking to, ahn? " That smug drawl was unmistakably Atobe.
Tezuka felt like he was hearing something he really shouldn't, not that he was understanding anything, or even trying to eavesdrop for that matter, he was just here because…
The door suddenly flew open and two boys stepped out, " Tezuka, what are you doing here? "
" You missed lectures again. " Tezuka started, " I brought you the…"
" That's not important. Don't move around so freely. " Atobe snapped, something akin to irritation flashing across his face, before marching off, head high.
" Gomen, Tezuka–kun. Please forgive his rudeness. . " The other boy, whose name Tezuka couldn't remember, smiled sheepishly, apologizing in stead for Atobe.
"….." Tezuka simply arched a fine brow.
" It's just that you moving about as you want is making things a little difficult for us… " The other bowed in apology.
" What things? " Tezuka asked stiffly.
" Never mind. " The unnamed boy shook his head, as if reminiscing on whether he had spoken too much, " Let me accompany you to class. "
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" Did you hear about the incident? "
The day had almost ended, and as usual, Fuji was accompanying Tezuka on his way back from the library?
" Incident? " What incident? For a moment Tezuka's thoughts flew back to the less than normal conversation he had come to overhear.
Fuji gave him a look that could be interpreted as something akin to disbelief, or mild surprise in the tensai's range of expressions ( meaning that his eyes were still closed, but his lips were turned into a light frown, rather than a scary smile).
" A student was cornered and roughly handled on campus. " He sighed softly, apparently giving up on Tezuka's lack of awareness when it came to general up-to-date information of the happenings around them.
"……" That was news to him. But when Tezuka recalled the snippets of the earlier conversation, it was starting to make sense in his head, somewhat.
" Maa, security got to him in time. " Fuji spoke, taking that as a nod of acknowledgement from the other, he did know how to read the habits of his old captain after all.
" That's good. " The other nodded stiffly. It was not like he was unaware of the consequences of such incidents; his hand almost flitted to his left elbow, almost.
" It could have been worse ne. " The tensai agreed. " Also…."
"…..? " Tezuka's eyes questioned.
" I was just thinking how it could have been you or me. " Fuji replied with a wry smile. " You could almost think that's probably why he is rooming with you, Oshitari with me…. "
Now that he thought about it, Tezuka had noticed how the ten scholarship students were more or less in close proximity of those close to Atobe himself, like Oshitari Yuushi, Akutagawa Jirou, and a few members from the council. It couldn't be….
" Ne Tezuka. " Fuji paused. " It seems he always does his job well, doesn't he? " …...Whether it be ruthlessly crushing an opponent on court, or this, he thought with a wry smile.
" Hn. " And Tezuka couldn't exactly deny that.
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No more incidents of ragging/bullying were reported on campus after Atobe smoothly got twelve seniors suspended for their involvement.
Everyone was left more or less speechless. To say the least, no one really managed to figure out how the boy had pulled it off, gathering sufficient proof to support his claims; every guilty one was practically hunted down.
Of course, people who had prior knowledge about Atobe were not the least bit surprised. Atobe had reliable contacts with the management, who was more than eager to tackle the issue. And his network with the students was also formidable, with about half of the freshman population being former students of Hyoutei.
By the end of the incident, after the whole matter was neatly wrapped up and taken care of, every one knew that Atobe Keigo was not someone to be trifled with.
Many of the students were already calling him king.
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A/N: reviews loved and hope it was a good read :) 2 more parts to go!