THE DEVIL PLAYS TENNIS
Summary: In which Kintarou is quiet, Sakuno is confused, and Ryoma realizes that he'll never get a break.
My body tells me no,
But I won't quit,
'cause I want more!
-My Body (Young the Giant)
FOUR.2
To say Kintarou was having a bad day was an understatement. Why shouldn't he? It wasn't everyday you realized you stole a kiss from your so-proclaimed-rival-slash-friend's girl.
"He'll kill me if he finds out. Well if he finds out. Well it's not like I can hold it in—OH WHY MUST I BE SUCH A VICTIM?" Kintarou continued to smack his head.
A few spectators watched the scene in worry. Maybe he was just warming up? They highly doubted it.
"Nya~ what's Kintarou kun's problem?" Eiji observed.
Oishi also looked a bit perplexed, "He's been troubled ever since this morning. I tried warming up with him but his mind seems to be elsewhere."
"Aah, I hope he gets his head in the game," Eiji crossed his arms, "The Golden Pair competition isn't something you can take lightly, you know."
Meanwhile, Ryoma was also having difficulty getting through to his doubles partner. Bad enough they had to play together, bad enough Sakuno was mad at him, and bad enough this damn competition was on the day his favorite show was airing.
No, Ryoma was not a happy prince this fine morning.
"Oi," Ryoma used his racket to knock Kintarou's head, "Get your head in the game."
Ryoma expected Kintarou to grin, scream, or even retaliate back with his own tennis racket. However, the red headed turned to the prince with the most pathetic, guilt stricken face ever.
"K-Koshimae…" Kintarou cried.
Eye twitching, Ryoma asked, "What's your problem."
"A-Are you worried about me?" Kintarou bawled, "KOSHIMAE, I DON'T DESERVE YOU!"
With that, Kintarou made the most animalistic cry and darted out of the courts, leaving Ryoma looking insulted and confused.
"… What the hell?"
XXXXXXX
… HE WAS SUCH A GOOD FRIEND!
This was all that ran through Kintarou's mind as he ran through the park in top speed. In his mind, he pictured Ryoma's face—worried for his best friend, not knowing that he was betrayed! Although, Ryoma's face was actually that of annoyance, Kintarou's mind decided to portray the opposite.
Kintarou sniffed and slowed his speed, "I'm such a despicable beast… I do not deserve to live."
"Oh, please don't do that, I was hoping to have a match with you one of these days."
Looking up, Kintarou saw Fuji perched nicely on the bench. He was carrying a book, hinting that the genius was reading.
"A match with you?" Kintarou exclaimed and then buried his head in guilt, "That would be so cool! But I'm such a jerk, I can't even bring myself to be excited about that!"
"Oh?" Fuji set down his book, "What's wrong?"
"I can trust you right?" Kintarou scrambled to the seat next to Fuji's, "I mean, I can whole heartedly trust you with my problems right?"
"Like that?"
"Like…" Kintarou played with his shoelaces, "Like problems with… Sakuno… and Koshimae…"
A slow smiled spread on Fuji's face. Perhaps if Kintarou weren't so trusting he would run, far, far away from the Seigaku Sadist. However, Kintarou didn't know better. So imagine his relief when Fuji said,
"You can trust me with anything, especially if it concerns Echizen kun and Sakuno chan."
XXXXXXX
Bored out of his mind, Ryoma sat on the bleaches. He watched with little interest what happened around him. The most interesting so far were the sprinklers going haywire every few minutes. It seemed the slightest jerk set them off. It was amusing to say the least, watching people unexpectedly get drenched when knowing a sprinkler over.
"Ryoma kun!" Sakuno greeted as she came running down the steps. She smiled at her boyfriend and held out two bento boxes, "I brought lunch for you and Kintarou kun!"
Taking the box, Ryoma replied, "You should eat the other one. Kintarou just ran off."
"Eh? Why?"
"Beats me," Ryoma shrugged and sat down to eat. Sakuno looked at him in worry.
"When are you two scheduled to play?"
"We're the next team."
"Eh?"
Perplexed, Sakuno dropped to the seat next to Ryoma. He looked effortlessly careless, like the fact his partner was missing was the most normal thing in the world.
"Do you think he'll come back?" Sakuno asked.
Remembering Kintarou's odd behavior, Ryoma answered, "Who knows. He was acting funny all day."
"Like how?"
"Like… funny!" Ryoma snapped, "Why do you care, anyways."
Sakuno looked shocked, "O-Of course I care if someone if in trouble…"
Ryoma scoffed and continued eating. Silence spread between them.
Finally, Sakuno said, "I'll go look for him."
"Don't. It's just a cry for attention."
"I'm worried…"
"Just stay here," Ryoma said and then paused, "We haven't… had lunch together in a while."
The statement was shocking to say the least. Sakuno blushed and looked down at her boyfriend, who was sharing her embarrassment. He played with his food nervously, refusing to meet Sakuno in the eye.
"Ah… But…" Sakuno bit her lip, torn between running after someone's well being and sharing a lunch with her boyfriend.
Ryoma sighed, "Fine go look for him—"
"No, I'll stay—"
"ATTENTION! WILL THE RYOKIN COUPLE PLEASE SOME TO THE TENNIS COURTS!"
"What kind of name is RyoKin?" Ryoma snapped, consequently cracking his chopsticks in half.
Sakuno giggled in the back of her hand, making Ryoma look at her. Slightly blushing, Ryoma played with his cap.
"Aah, but what am I going to do without a partner…" Ryoma said, "How troublesome."
"Hmm…" Sakuno mumbled. She remembered her promise with Tomoka. She was determined to change Kintarou's degrading nickname if it was the last thing she did.
XXXXXXX
Meanwhile in another part of the city, Fudomine's Kamio was riding his bike. He was excited, having just won two tickets to a festival that day. On his way to the Tachibana house, he was hoping to sneak away the little sister of a certain Fudomine Captain.
Alas, his efforts were in vain when a wild banshee decided to jump in the way of his bike, causing both parties to collide with each other.
"W-What what that?"Kamio immediately got up. He saw a body sprawled across from him and ran towards it.
It was a young boy with wild red hair, a leopard print tank, and a tennis racket was strapped to his back. Kamio shook the boy.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked.
The body twitched and then jumped up in a fury.
"WHICH WAY TO THE GOLDEN PAIR COMPETITION?"
Distinctively remembering the famous competition and its whereabouts, Kamio pointed to the direction west of them.
"It should be on the other side of town, but it already started—"
"NO! I GOTTA GET THERE!" Kintarou screamed. He got up to run.
"Are you seriously running? It's blocks away from here you won't make it in time—"
"I CAN DO IT!" Kintarou screamed. He made to run, but quickly fell to his knees.
Kamio noticed the swelling on Kintarou's ankle and mentally grimaced.
"Hey… you knee doesn't look so good…"
"I CAN STILL RUN!"
Seeing that Kintarou wasn't about to give up anytime soon, Kamio sighed. The guilt welled up inside him, so much so that he knew Operation: Take-Tachibana-Out-On-A-Date would have to wait another day.
"Get on," Kamio said and he adjusted his bike, "I can get you there in time."
"No way!" Kintarou yelled, "Are you that fast?"
"Tch," Kamio grinned. "Don't doubt my rhythm~"
XXXXXXX
"What an interesting turn of events," Fuji wondered outloud.
"Excuse me?"
Yuuta looked at his brother in confusion. He had met up with Fuji that day so they could have lunch with their sister. The other sibling smiled at his younger brother.
"Do you know that red head I was talking to earlier?" Fuji asked.
Remembering the leopard clad boy, Yuuta nodded. Their conversation just ended when he had arrived.
"He… stole something from a friend of ours," Fuji said, "Something very important."
"Uh huh," Yuuta replied, half listening.
"Now, what do you think you're supposed to do in that situation?"
Looking across the street for their sister, Yuuta absent-mindedly replied, "I dunno, return it?"
Fuji smiled, "Exactly, I told him to give it back."
XXXXXXX
"Wait! So you're from Fudomine?" Kintarou yelled over the wind zooming by him.
"Yep!" Kamio said, "And you're the famous kid from Shitenhouji! I heard about you!"
"Of course!" Kintarou said confidently, "Hey, hey after this, wanna play a match with me?"
"We'll see!"
The two zoomed through the town, making their way to the competition in record time. During which, both had gotten very well acquainted with each other. Though, over the sound of rushing in the streets, they had to yell their responses to each other.
"I didn't know Echizen was entering a doubles competition," Kamio said, "Much less with you, no offense!"
"He's my best friend!" Kintarou grinned.
"Ah, he has a girlfriend, doesn't he? That Ryuuzaki girl, An hangs around her sometimes!"
Kintarou shook the guilt at hearing Sakuno's name and paused, "Whose An?"
Kamio blushed, "This… girl."
"Your girlfriend?"
"No!"
"Oh."
"…"
"Your… boyfriend?"
"AN IS A GIRL!"
"Okay, okay," Kintarou grinned, "Sheesh."
"Uh oh," Kamio said he looked up ahead. Construction had begun on the road they were biking on, "Look like we'll have to take a detour."
"Not enough time!" Kintarou snapped, "The fastest way through a maze is straight through!"
"What—"
"Go straight through there!"
"That's a forest!"
"I SAID GOOOOOOOO!"
XXXXXXX
"I'm sorry but if he doesn't come in five minutes we're going to have to abandon the RyoKin ship…"
Ryoma's eyebrow twitched, wondering exactly why the announcer had chosen her words like that. Besides him, Sakuno face was wrinkled with worry.
"Oh, why doesn't he carry a phone…" Sakuno sighed, "I hope Kintarou kun is okay."
"He's fine," Ryoma assured her, then he turned to the announcer, "He'll be here."
"Well, I sure hope so! This fandom is sinking, you know."
"…"
"He'll be here," Sakuno said. She took Ryoma's hand in her own and squeezed.
Ryoma sighed and held Sakuno's hand, "This guy is so troublesome."
"Hey," A guy walked up to them, "If you're not playing right now do you mind stepping off the court? We kind of want to warm up."
"S-Sure," Sakuno said. She was about to guide Ryoma off the court when suddenly,
"OF COURSE WE ARE PLAYING, WE DIDN'T COME HERE TO DAWDLE, YOU KNOW!"
Zoom in on Kintarou, posed with a stance of challenge. Behind him Kamio was about to collapse from biking too hard. Both had sticks and leaves stuck to their hair with various scratched on their skin.
"Crazy… banshee," Kamio gasped before collapsing on the floor.
"Who's 'dawdling' you idiot!" Ryoma snapped, "Get down here!"
"You're right!" Kintarou said as he marched down the steps and onto the court, "You and I have unfinished business, Koshimae!"
Kintarou marched right in front of Ryoma until they were inches from each other. Ryoma looked at the other boy in annoyance.
"And what," Ryoma said, "Business do we have other than this competition."
"A long time ago," Kintarou said, "I stole something from you."
"Oh?"
"Yes…" Kintarou pointed at Sakuno, who was behind Ryoma, "And that was Sakuno chan's first kiss!"
Several things happened—Eiji and Oishi were stunned into silence, doubles teams all around dropped their rackets in shock, and Sakuno collapsed on the seat behind her. Worst of all, was Ryoma who couldn't imagine being anymore angry with Kintarou at that moment.
"WHAT?" Ryoma snapped, he immediately looked at Sakuno, "WHAT?"
"I-I don't remember!" Sakuno held her hands up defensively, "I mean, I had a dream I was kissed but I didn't think it was real!"
"That's because I did it when you were asleep!" Kintarou said.
Ryoma immediately punched Kintarou, earning a gasp from the people around him. He vaguely made out Sakuno saying something before grabbing Kintarou by the collar and crouching over him, "I'm going to kill you."
Kintarou could get away with eating Sakuno's lunch, hold her hand at random times, and even hugging her—but this, Ryoma knew, this was something he wouldn't let fly by.
Knowing he was going to get more than a slap on the wrist, Kintarou grasped Ryoma's wrists.
"I know! I know! I didn't even know her and I didn't even know I was doing it until it happened!" Kintarou exclaimed, "But I plan on making it right!"
"How," Ryoma hissed.
Fuji's face flashed through Kintarou's head, along with the advice given to him.
"I'm giving it back!"
That declared, Kintarou took advantage of their proximity, grabbing Ryoma's face, and bringing him down in a desperate kiss.
Silence.
And then,
"HELL YEAH, RYOKIN PAIR!"
Ryoma gasped, pushing the red head away from him and gagged. Kintarou stood up, not even letting it faze him that he kissed a boy. Instead, he marched up to Sakuno, stepping over Ryoma in the process.
"I'm giving it back to you, too!" Kintarou said and he grabbed Sakuno's stunned shoulders.
"A-Ah, wait Kintarou kun," Sakuno blushed. She immediately covered Kintarou's invasive mouth with her hands, "Perhaps there is some better way to settle this! It was an accident after all, yes?"
"Accident or no, I still did it!" Kintarou said, "And the guilt won't stop eating at me until I do something about it!"
A firm hand then clamped on Kintarou's shoulder.
"I'm… going to kill you." Ryoma declared.
"I already settled things with you!"
"THAT'S NOT SETTLING!"
Oishi grabbed Ryoma just in time, holding him back from KIntarou.
"Now, now," He said, "Let's not do this in public, yeah?"
"What's he so mad about?" Kintarou looked at Eiji.
"Nya, kid… you sure did it this time," Eiji shook his head.
Sakuno on the side was blushing, dying from embarrassment.
"I'll kill him!" Ryoma snapped.
"Easy, it was an accident, right?" Oishi said.
"ACCIDENT MY ASS!"
"But I made it right!" Kintarou proclaimed, "I gave what I stole back to you, just like he said!"
"Like WHO said?"
A voice called from the sideline. "… And I guess that's my cue."
Everyone averted their attention to Fuji and Yuuta, who had just decided to intervene after watching the spectacle unfold before them.
"Of course it's you," Oishi sighed.
"That's pretty cruel, even for you, Fujiko chan," Eiji shook his head.
"I didn't mean any harm," Fuji smiled, then earned a jab from Yuuta, "Well, nothing too damaging, anyways."
"I did what you told me too!" Kintarou protested.
"Well, not exactly," Fuji said as he walked towards Kintarou, "You didn't really give the right kiss back."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"After all," Fuji smiled, "It's Sakuno chan's kiss… if it comes from Sakuno chan, am I right?"
The crowd was stunned into silence.
"… Nice, nice.." Eiji acknowledged and gave Fuji a thumbs up.
"A-Ah, but that means…." Sakuno blushed.
"Hmm, and I guess since Kintarou kun stole both of their first kisses, that would put Echizen kun and Sakuno chan on the same level, right?" Fuji smiled.
A pause swept the crowd.
It kind of… made sense.
"No way!" Ryoma snapped, "No way!"
"Aww, c'mom, Koshimae, it makes sense." Kintarou said.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE TALKING!"
"Wait so," Eiji tried gathering his thoughts, "If Sakuno chan just kisses Ochibi then everything is fine, then?"
A chorus of agreements traveled about the courts.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Ryoma deadpanned as Sakuno turned redder by the minute.
"That makes sense!" Kintarou said and he turned to Ryoma, "Kiss her Koshimae!"
"It's not that easy, fool!" Ryoma snapped.
"Aww, kissing is no biggie you know."
"Of course he would know that," Eiji whispered to Sakuno, who hit her senpai's arm in response.
"Just do it!"
"Kiss her!"
"Yeah, kiss her!"
Ryoma was growing angrier by the minute. Of course things had to turn out this way, let us all forget that Kintarou stole a kiss from a girl sleeping the park.
"Let me go, senpai," Ryoma told Oishi.
"A-Alright," Oishi said and slowly let go of Ryoma.
Stretching his arms from being held so long, Ryoma shook himself. Then, he turned to Sakuno, who regarded him with frozen eyes.
"W-Wait Ryoma kun you can't really be thinking…" Sakuno gasped.
"No way around it," Ryoma said and he strolled towards her.
Everyone gasped at Ryoma's actions. Most of all, Kintarou who looked at the two in amazement, was shocked. Fuji only smiled and Eiji grasped Oishi's shoulders in anticipation. Even Kamio shook himself from fatigue to watch the event unfold.
"Ryoma kun…" Sakuno said as Ryoma stopped in front of her.
He was so tall, towering over her in an intimidating manner. Finally, he took off his cap, and leaned down. Sakuno could feel his breath against her cheek, and tremble as he whispered,
"When I count to three, run."
Sakuno blinked.
"Eh?"
"One…"
Ryoma leaned towards Sakuno, reaching behind her to grab a racket.
"Two…"
A ball in one hand Ryoma suddenly turned around, serving the ball with accurate precision.
"Three!"
The ball smacked a sprinkler, causing the rest to explode as they did earlier that day. Everyone gasped as water smacked at him or her.
Within the confusion, Ryoma grasped Sakuno's hand and they ran away from the tennis courts.
"K-Koshimae, where are yah going?" Kintarou yelled.
Ryoma turned and smirk,
"Mada mada dane."
XXXXXXX
They had escaped to the park. Ryoma seemed fine, but Sakuno was out of breath. Both weren't as soaking wet compared to the people they left behind.
"Sit here," Ryoma ordered. Sakuno sat on table, making her at Ryoma's eye level.
"Your hair face got wet," Sakuno giggled.
"Mmph," Ryoma mumbled.
"Here," Sakuno said and she her sleeve to wipe Ryoma's face.
Ryoma let her cradle his face with a delicate hand, as the only softly wiped at his face—cheeks, nose, chin. He closed his eyes and allowed her to wipe his face. Her sleeve, like the rest of her clothes, smelled delicately of flowers.
"It doesn't work if your sleeve is wet, too," Ryoma said finally.
Sakuno stopped and giggled. The sound was pleasant to Ryoma's ears. He opened his eyes, took in her smiling face, and leaned forward to perfectly capture her lips in his own.
It was soft, and the moment was sweet. Sakuno at first stunned, then smiled lightly and held Ryoma's face in her hands as he leaned on the table.
"I suppose we should do something about Kintarou kun." Sakuno giggled when they parted.
"Don't remind me," Ryoma groaned and leaned on Sakuno's shoulder, "I can't believe he was my first kiss."
"Mine too."
"Ugh."
"We've all kissed each other," Sakuno gasped in realization. She leaned back to look at Ryoma's face in mock horror, "Ryoma kun, are we an OT3?"
Ryoma lightly smacked Sakuno with his hat, "If you start talking like that, I'll punish you."
Sakuno smiled and stroked Ryoma's face, "Right, right."
XXXXXXX
Meanwhile Inui was scribbling down data in his notebook.
How lucky he happened to be resting in the park, where in which, he had the perfect view of Ryoma and Sakuno.
… Someone should arrest him for voyeurism.
XXXXXXX
The next day, Ryoma and Sakuno met Kintarou by the school gate. The red head looked bashful and embarrassed. He kept bowing his head in apology.
"I didn't walk with you to school today because I thought you were still angry," Kintarou continued bowing in apology, "PLEASE FORGIVE ME!"
Ryoma looked dry eyed at the boy in front of him. Over the semester he couldn't imagine anyone who brought him more misery and pain than the red head. Still, He felt Sakuno's hand in his and squeezed.
He supposed Kintarou did some good, as well.
"Idiot," Ryoma said and walked by Kintarou, "I'm supposed to have your bento today, so you better have brought it."
Kintarou snapped up in shock, glancing at the pair.
"Let's go, Kintarou kun!" Sakuno smiled, "We still have time before the bell so let's stop by the tennis courts!"
Grinning wildly, Kintarou caught up with the pair. He wrapped his arms around both of their shoulders and stuck his head between the two.
"What a good day!" He yelled, "Just Koshimae, my princess, and me…"
Sakuno laughed.
XXXXXX
Although they hadn't won the tournament and Sakuno was under the promise to make Tomoka lunch for a month, Kintarou had still gotten a new nickname.
"Ah, look, see those two playing tennis?"
"Yeah! They're pretty good. I wonder who they are."
"The one wearing the cap is the Prince. He's super good at tennis, I heard."
"Whose the red head?"
"Ah… I'm not sure."
"The knight," Horio said, "For some stupid reason, people are going around calling Kintarou the knight."
"Huh," Tomoka grinned, "I wonder what he saved."
Horio smiled, "I wonder."
From the window, Horio watched Ryoma take the break from his game. He walked over to the bench, where Sakuno, hs girlfriend of two years sat. The exchanged some words before Ryoma quickly bent down, pecking the girl on the lips. Sakuno paused, and then grinned openly at her prince.
EPISODE FOUR.2 END
Sunday, October 2, 11
IT IS UPDAAATEDDDD.
I finally got myself off my butt and updated this fic. Thank you so much to the people who reviewed, taking the chance to encourage me. I hope this update was something you guys were looking for.
No, seriously, I am so blessed to have people who still stop by to review this fic it makes me so happy aaahh.
Anyways, so is this fic over? It could be. I would like to continue with the storyline, but in case I don't update for another long time I wanted to at least leave it at a nice, conclusive point.
Again, thank you for reading.
With love,
Icebitten