Chapter 5

Questions and Answers

Over the last couple of days, Ai has been busy with club activities. She is now getting used to life in Gaia, even though most of the time she still doesn't know how to deal with difficult people. There is also one thing that she wants to solve, well at least not solved because it isn't a problem, somehow she just doesn't know how to... face her growing feelings for Fuji Syuusuke. To make matters worst, the club president in the newspaper club wants her to write an article about him.

"I want to write a feature about the tennis regulars," Iwatobi said.

"Okay. Then, should I start interviewing their captain?" she asked. It was easy for her because Tezuka is her classmate.

"No, I want you to start first with Fuji Syuusuke, the one they refer to as Tensai," he bluntly said.

"Why him? Shouldn't we write something about Echizen Ryoma instead? Or Tezuka Kunimitsu?" she argued.

"You can already read articles about them in local newspapers and monthy pro tennis publications. I want us to be different. So don't argue," the president said.

With that the president ushered her out and made her go to the tennis courts, hoping that she could talk with Fuji about it.

Fuji's currently sitting on a bench, with a towel on his shoulders. He's thinking about the poem that has been posted on the bulletin board each morning for the last couple of days. The words were so honest, and for some reason he looks forward to reading the poems everyday. Just this morning, the poem goes like this:

"Different beings
In different space and time
entangled together

You and I -
One with a confused heart
the other with strong wings

Together in a beautiful rhyme
Underneath a blanket of stars
take me with you where angels sing"

"

Different beings
You and I -
Together in a beautiful rhyme

In different space and time
one with a confused heart
underneath a blanket of stars

Entangled together -
the other with strong wings
take me with you where angels sing"

He likes the fact that you can form a second poem if you rearrange the lines. He thought the writer was very unique and creative. His thoughts were interrupted when she saw a red head girl slowly approached the tennis courts. She looked around and smiled at him when she saw him. Fuji stood up and went to her. "It's nice to see you here again, Ai," he said. "Hello Fuji-kun," the girl answered.

"Do you have any business with the tennis club?" he asked. Ai clasps her hands behind her and looks at him. "Actually I wanted to talk to you. I'm part of the newspaper club and..." she trails off, when she caught a glimpse of his face. Argh. This guy is just so distracting... she thought as her heart skipped a beat, "Uhm.. Well our president wanted me to write an article about you," she finished, looking at somewhere other than his face.

Amused, Fuji decided to tease her. "Well, I wouldn't want an interview with someone who can't look straight to my eyes," he saw Ai gasp and then automatically looks at him in the eye. "Please?" the girl said.

He chuckled softly, "Why me though?" he asked.

"He said that lots of articles are written about Tezuka-kun and Echizen-kun already. So he wants to start and feature the rest of the tennis club, and we'll start with you," the girl answered.

"So, you're in the newspaper club huh. Do you have any idea who writes those poems posted in the bulletin board?" Fuji asked, not answering her query.

"Ugh. I know they aren't that good, but the president said that we need to make ourselves present at school for all times," she said.

"So, you're telling me that you wrote them?" Fuji said, hiding the amazement in his voice.

She looks at him with an embarrassed grin, "Yes. What do you think about them?" she asked.

Fuji stared at her for a few seconds.

"About that interview Fuji-kun," he heard Ai said with his silence.

"Let's meet tomorrow, at the tennis courts near the park Ai, and we'll have that interview then I'll tell you what I think about the poems," he answered her as he stood when Tezuka asked for the regulars to gather. "I'll see you tomorrow!" he waved at her before he strotted to the gathering club members.

Ai sighed and went to retreive her things in the newspaper club room and went home.

That night, she knocked on Akemi's door and asked if she knows where the tennis courts are.

"You're going out on a date with Fuji-kun?" her sister asked.

"No, of course not. And what's a date?" she said.

"A date is when you spend time together, being all lovey-dovey and all. And, are you even a couple already? YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!" her sister exaggeratedly reacted.

"Of course not! We're just meeting because I need to do an interview with him!" she defensively answered.

Akemi smiled knowingly. "I see," she said. "I'll bring you there then, and we need to choose your outfit! Now!" she said as she dragged Ai inside her room. She said she was going to let her borrow some of her clothes.

The next day, Ai was on her way to the courts with Akemi. She was glad Akemi was there to show her the way. She was wearing a white mini sun dress that went a little up her knee, a blue cardigan, and black gable boots. When she saw Fuji playing tennis with someone she stood underneath a tree waiting for him to finish, and Akemi excused herself saying she needs to be somewhere else, even though the other just really wanted to give them privacy.

Fuji turned around to see what's the reason for some of the guys' whisperings. That's when he saw Ai. He couldn't take his eyes off her. The way the soft breeze carries her dress, her flowing red hair and that smile as she waved at him. He almost wished he wasn't playing a game and just go over to her. I'll just end this game quick, he thought. And indeed, it took only 10 minutes for him to win the game.

Ai walked over to the bench where Fuji was sitting. "Good game Fuji-kun, you won!" She said.

"That's only because I've been looking forward to be with you today Ai," he teased.

Ai blushed and gave an awkward chuckle. "Well," Fuji said, standing, "let's go to the park and have that interview," he said.

The two of them walked over to the park and chose a spot right underneath a big oak tree. They sat on a bench, right next to each other. Fuji took out something from his bag.

"What's that?" Ai asked, not seeing what the object was.

"It's a digital camera," he said. "Do you mind if I take a picture?"

"No, not really," she said as he looked at his camera. "So you like taking pictures too," she noted.

"Yes, I actually do. So, then, I'll take your picture," he said as he candidly took her picture.

"Hey, that's unfair," she said when the shutter went out. "Let me see?" she said, laughing.

"Your image is the first image in this camera. I just got this from my mom," he said as he showed her the picture. She laughed at her face.

"Next time, you won't catch me off guard," she said with a soft chuckle.

"Heh, you can't be so sure of that," he said with a smile. "So, Ai, how should we begin?" he asked.

"Well, uhm. First, how do you feel about people calling you a tensai?" she asked.

"I don't really consider myself a tensai. It's just that, I work hard. Maybe I became a tensai because I make effort, because if I do not, then someone else can just surpass me," he said.

"You're very competitive, I see," she said. "I heard that your research about cacti won an award?"

He chuckled. "It was only because my sister submitted my paper in her university," he said. "I was merely taking notes about my observation with the cacti," he finished.

"Ahh. Still, it's impressive that it won an award. what other things do you like to do?"

"I mostly observe people or things that I am interested in," he said, looking at her meaningfully.

"What makes you interested in them?" Ai said.

"Well," Fuji started, staring at her. "Your eyes are violet, but there are shades of lighter purple around it and when you really look at them, you can see that it's has a little blue in the corners of the iris and then it turns a shade of pinkish-purple when you stare at the setting sun. You've got beautiful eyes Ai," he said, not answering her question.

She was speechless. "Wow," she said. "I would have stopped at violet."

Fuji chuckled.

"Does that mean you're interested in me?" she bravely asked.

Fuji stared at her, and then nodded. "Must be because I'm clumsy and weird," she said.

"No," the male brunette said.

"Oh. Then why?" she asked, looking at the sky.

"Must be because you're kind, pretty, and I like your poems," he said.

She chuckled. "I guess we strayed off topic now," Ai said, as she's starting to feel her heart beating fast.