Chapter 9

The Tensai: Fuji Syuusuke

"Nakashima, I need to talk to you," Fuji said after class to his classmate Nakashima Rei. Rumors are spreading in school that both of them are a couple, and it isn't helping him at all. He doesn't want a certain to misunderstand. He wanted to settle things between them once and for all, and he is starting with Rei. He took her to a quiet corner in the school corridor and faced her.

"I'm sorry Nakashima-san," he started. "But I'd like you to stop telling your friends that we are dating. I've told you this before, right? I like someone else," he told her with gentleness in his voice. Please understand, he said, rather annoyed with the fact that it has come to this.

"But Fuji-kun, I don't see you with anyone," the girl insisted.

"That's only because I haven't confessed to her yet," he lied. "But how can I do that with these rumors running around?"

The girl in front of him was quiet. "I understand," she said and walked away with tears in her eyes. Fuji sighed. I never thought it's so difficult to deal with this kind of stuff, he thought.

It had been two weeks since Fuji told Ai about his feelings for her. He knew that the girl was having a hard time, he was sure that she loves him too but somehow there is something that is holding her back, and he needed to know what that is. The girl has been talking to some of the regular members for the newspaper club's feature on them, but she has obviously been avoiding him, especially when rumors spread about him dating Nakashima. I'm glad I've settled that, he told himself.

Regarding Ai, her secret glances and stares directed to him did not escape Fuji. Somehow, there is a glimmer of hope in him that he'll be able to fix it. To persuade her to be honest with how she really feels. Fuji is sitting on a bench after his match while the girl he's been thinking about the whole time was in another side of the court talking to Momoshiro. So it's Momo's turn, he thought.

He could see her smile at something that Momo told her and then he could hear her laughter. Can't blame her, Momo is funny, Syuusuke thought to himself. Somehow, there is a pang of jealousy slowly building up in his heart as he sees her laughing and talking to a guy aside from him. Momoshiro might have felt his glare because he moved slightly further away from Ai when he saw his senpai looking at them.

Fuji smiled to himself. That's right Momo, he thought, be very extra careful with that girl because she's special to me. Fuji was about to go out of the courts when he heard a scream. "Fujiko-senpai!" Momoshiro shouted.

The tensai quickly ran to Ai and helped her up. The girl seemed dizzy and there was a bit of blood on her head. Seeing that she was hurt made him really angry, he opened his eyes and spoke, "What happened?" he asked Momoshiro who was starting to get scared seeing his expression.

"I-I I don't know Fuji-senpai. She was hit by a tennis ball, we-we didn't see it coming. We should have had the interview further away from the court," Momoshiro explained.

"Who hit her?" Fuji said with a hiss.

"Fuji-senpai," said someone in the crowd. "It... It was me. I hit the ball with a lot of force so I could return it to the opposite court but but..." the second year tennis club member tried to explain but didn't finish when Fuji held him forcefully by the collar of his shirt.

"Fuji!"

"Fuji-senpai!"

"Fujiko-chan!"

The regulars were instantly in the scene, trying to stop Fuji. "I'm sorry Fuji-senpai! I'm sorry Fujiko-senpai!" said the person who hit Ai, who was about to cry.

"Fuji-kun," Ai whispered, walking over to him and held his hand. Fuji harshly let go of the guy and turn to Ai who was now beside him, while he held her close by the waist to support her. "It's okay Fuji-kun, I'm okay. And it was an accident," she said.

"Fuji," came a stern voice in the midst of the crowd.

"Tezuka," Fuji acknowledged the captain of the tennis club with a deadly threat, as if saying "I do not need your lectures now".

"Bring Ai-san to the clinic," Tezuka said, and Fuji flinched at his casual use of her name. Well, they are classmates and at least he used -san, he thought.

"Of course, I will," he said, still quite angry as he shoot another glare to the terrified second year who hit her accidentally. Fuji, to everyone's surprise, had carried Ai in bridal style to the clinic. Ai, wrapped her arms around his neck, and didn't argue. It must have hurt because she didn't argue, he thought.

"Fuji-kun," Ai whispered. "Thank you," she said, closing her eyes. She felt really dizzy but his scent was warming her senses. She's closing her eyes because she doesn't want to see his blue eyes or else she might actually blurt out that she loves him.

"No need to thank me Ai," he said. "You know I'd do anything for you."

She hugged him and buried her face on his neck, getting a bit of her blood on his collar. "Please don't," she whispered, already in tears. "I already hurt you, I'm sorry. I don't deserve this. And, Nakashima... Nakashima will be..." her voice cracked a bit and she just buried her face on his chest, feeling the fabric of his shirt and taking in his scent.

Knowing she was crying again made him hold on to her tightly. "Ai," he said calling her name ever so gently. "I know. I know it's hard for you, who do you think I am? I know you have reasons, but that won't stop me from showing you how much I care for you and how much I love you. So let me do this. And, Nakashima and I aren't dating. I already told her that there is someone else," he explained to her, emphasizing on the words how much I love you.

With his words, Ai tightened her hold on him and was quiet until they reached the infirmary. The nurse wasn't there so Fuji treated her wound himself. "Fuji-kun, are you sure about Nakashima? I mean, she'll be very sad," she said, concered written on her face.

"She will, but everyone has to deal with rejections Ai. I know I did," he said as he hovered over her, tapping her wound with a medicine.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I just... I hope one day I can tell you everything," she said as she looked up to him.

Fuji was quiet. She awkwardly smile and said, "And please don't scare that second year kouhai, okay?" she said.

"Of course not," he answered with a soft chuckle, although he was already planning exactly the opposite. "I'll walk you home today and I won't accept NO for an answer."

Ai chuckled. "Fuji-kun, it's really oka-" Ai wasn't able to finish what she was about to say because she was suddenly enveloped in Fuji's arms.

"It isn't okay Ai. I don't want to see you hurt, to see you cry," he said. "Please just let me walk you home."

"Okay," she said, face still buried on his chest.

After Fuji treated her wound, he collected her things that she left in the tennis courts, and brought it with his. They walk quietly to her house for the most part, with Fuji holding her hand tightly.

"Ai, can you do something for me?" he asked.

She looked up to him with a confused expression on her face. "What is it?" she asked him with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Can you call me Syuusuke, instead of Fuji-kun?"

"But that..." she trailed off. It's not really too much to ask Ai, and that's the least you can do for him. "Of course Syuusuke," she said. She was so used to calling him that way because every time she looks at him from afar, she would address to him as Syuusuke.

He stopped in front of her and caressed her cheeks, looking at her with gentle expression in his eyes. There is no doubt with his growing affection for the girl, it was obvious, clearly visible in his eyes. "Ai... I'm sorry for doing this," he said as he descended and captured her lips onto his.

Ai closed her eyes and kissed him back. After the kiss, both of them were quiet. That explains everything. Fuji thought. She loves me. She's just scared. And I'll convince her that there's nothing to be scared of. The tensai thought and firmly decided that he will not leave this girl alone in her troubles.

When they were in front of her house, Ai faced him and smiled a little. "Thank you for everything today Syuusuke," she said.

"I told you, no need to thank me," he said. "I'll be with you from now on Ai," he told her and gently tuck her hair behind her ears. He gave her one last hug, wanting to let her know that he'll never leave her alone before turning to leave.