I kinda changed the way I wrote it in this chapter please comment on which chapter you liked better writing wise.
I hope you enjoy Chapter 2 of Hidden Faults!
Recap
"Hehe today's gonna be fun!
""Huh?"
"Hehehe oh it's nothing."
"Che, whatever."
Yesterday
-Momo POV-
"Six games to four!" The referee called. Ryoma had beaten me again but there is no doubt that he had to fight.
I was still panting hard when I met Ryoma at the net for a handshake.
"Mada mada dane, Senpai." He said with that universal smirk.
"Hehe I'll get you next time!" I said using my smile to hide my heavy panting. Ryoma started walking toward the tennis club house. "Oi! Where ya goin?"
Ryoma then looked at his watch and grabbed his tennis bag. I noticed he had been kinda worried about time lately. "Practice is over." He said pointing toward the empty courts.
"Ahh…" I scratched my head and try to hide my dumb look. Then I heard Ryoma chuckle. I ran up to him and put him in a head lock. "What was that gaki! Hehehe."
"Momo-senpai! Let go of me!" I only laughed as he tried to struggle more. This was payback for all the burgers I was gonna end up buying him.
We then walked, half struggled, toward the tennis club house and I didn't loosen my grip until we got to the door. As we walked in we noticed that the others were already more then half dressed and about to leave.
"Momo-senpai, I can't wait for those burgers." Ryoma smirked. He once again looked at his watch. What was so important?
"I know, I know. But we don't have to go if you don't want to." I said while looking at my wallet. I know I wouldn't see this money again after both our stomachs were filled with fast food burgers.
Ryoma stared at me with an expression I never saw before. It was as if a deep dark secret had been incovered. But it was quickly replaced with a smile. "I would never turn down free burgers."
I continued to wonder over the look I had just seen until I was finally dressed. I turned to Ryoma and he had a kind of annoyed look on his face and then looked at his watch again. This time I could see worry on his face.
After we changed, we headed for the door and saw Eiji sitting on a bench outside. I guess he was waiting for us because he came running and gave Ryoma a bear hug when he saw us.
"Ne ne, Ochibi can I go get burgers with you guys!"
"Sure, I don't care and it's Momo-senpai's treat." Ryoma said, and with no hesitation, after Eiji finally released him.
"Hey why did you only ask him and who said I was treating Eiji too?" I questioned both of them but they had already started walking away. "Oi! I'm talking to you! Wait up!"
-Eiji POV-
After eating some burgers and fries we headed out to walk home.
"Nya, thank you Momo-chan!"
"Jeez! You better pay me back Eiji!"
"Che. I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow." Ryoma said. I noticed he had been constantly looking at his watch ever since we had gotten to Burger N Fries.
"Ne Ochibi let me walk you home." I said with a cheery smile.
"No, that's okay." He said and then ran off. I looked at Momo as he left and saw his face filled with worry.
"Momo-chan I think Ryoma-kun is sad about something."
"Yea, or maybe it's something else. He's been worried about time recently."
"Nya, let's cheer him up tomorrow!"
"Okay! We'll meet you at the lockers tomorrow morning."
"Operation: Make Ochibi Happy in action!" I wonder if me and Momo will be the first to see Ochibi smile! I can't wait until tomorrow.
Today (Where Chapter 1 stopped)
-Ryoma POV-
What was Momo-senpai talking about? I knew something was weird when we met Eiji-senpai by the lockers after morning practice. On the way to class Momo-senpai and Eiji-senpai kept making jokes about random things. The jokes weren't even funny. But it's not like it's easy to focus this morning. Argg, why did Oyaji tell me that when I was little?
"Hey! Did you see the match between Ryoma-kun and Momo-senpai?" Horio's loud mouth said. This is always my cue to go to sleep and I needed it.
"Ne Ochibi! Wake up!" I could hear Eiji saying. What time was it? Doesn't matter I wanna sleep more.
"Five minutes." I sleepily spill the words out and turn my head the opposite direction.
"Wake up, gaki!" I woke up to that voice mistaking Momo for Nanako. "Oi, you okay? What's with that face?"
Face? There isn't anything wrong with my face, right? I just return Momo's comment with a "Che." And slowly get out of my seat. My stomach really hurts. I happy Nanako only messed with my head this morning. That reminds me, I have to make dinner for her tonight.
Momo and Eiji senpai stuck with me for the rest of the lunch period and I wasn't able to take any of my painkillers. Since I am already fluent in English I guess I can skip it and go to the nurse's office. Why can't school go by any quicker?
As soon as English class started I asked the teacher if I could go to the nurses office because I felt sick. He looked at me with curiosity. Probably because I always sleep through class and have never asked to go to the nurses office. He eventually let me go. When I got to the nurses office I told her I had a headache. She gave me those needed painkillers and let me lie on one of the beds.
(Ryoma's dream will be in the next chapter)
I never thought I'd have that dream again.
"Brrrrrg!"
"That's the school bell. You can go unless you'd like to lay for a little longer." The nurse said.
"No, I'm fine. The painkillers helped." I slightly bowed my head and thanks and walked toward the door.
-Tezuka Pov-
As I was walking to the tennis club house I overheard Eiji and Momoshiro talking about Echizen.
"Ne ne Operation: Make Ochibi Happy isn't working! Ochibi isn't happy!"
"What are we gonna do! Maybe you should treat him to burgers." Momo chuckled.
"That's not funny and Ochibi looked annoyed this morning."
"I bet a match with me will make him happy!"
"I doubt it. Ochibi can beat you easily."
"Oh yea? Let's just try it! I bet he'll be happy!"
"Nyaa, I'm not sure but I don't know what else to try."
Operation: Make Ochibi Happy? What are those two up to? If they make trouble on the courts today I'll be sure to make them run thirty laps!
Gonna just skip tennis practice and now it's Ryoma and Momo's tennis match.
-Regular POV-
"Senpai, am I gonna see that improved slam today?"
"Of course! I'm just waiting for that serve!"
Ryoma performs his famous twist serve and had it just barely returned by Momo. They rally back and forth and then Momo hit's the ball leaving Ryoma the only choice but to lob it. The ball goes high until it is at the perfect hieght for Momo's improved slam. Momo swings and hits Ryoma into the gut with the fast moving ball. Ryoma falls to the ground.
-Ryoma POV-
The ball came at my stomach and I could almost feel the bruises darkening. I felt my body hit the ground and slowly conciousness left me.
Something is after me. I turn around to see if I can catch a glimsp of the stranger. There is nothing there. There may be nothing there but my body is still running against it's will. What is going on? I am quickly approaching a neighborhood. Where is this place? My feet bring me to steps of a familiar door.
-Regular POV-
Something is still after Ryoma but what? He stands at the door not wanting to turn the knob. He trembles and begins to bang on the door. Whatever it is, is coming closer. The door finally opens and he steps in.
" Oi oi Ryoma this isn't a funny joke wake up." Momo said in a worried voice.
"Nya Ochibi! You're scarin' me here." Eiji said with tears welling up in his eyes.
"Everyone move. Let me see him." As Oishii came close to Ryoma he noticed Ryoma's face twist in pain.
"This doesn't look good."
"Man! It was just supposed to be a joke!"
"Calm down Momo! I am sure he is fine."
"Hey, is he really in pain?" The tennis players at the scene turned to Fuji to see his smiling face. "Ne Oishi, don't you think he's just taking a nap?."
"Ehh, I don't thin-" Oishi wasn't able to finish his sentence as he was pushed aside by Fuji.
"Oishi let me see the fir-" Fuji was lifting Ryoma's shirt to see where the ball hit him and saw the bruises.
Oishi returned the other players back to their drills and jogged over to Fuji. "What did you say?"
"Never mind." Fuji looks at Ryoma and then smacks his cheek, HARD.
"ITAI! Senpai what was that for?" Ryoma yelled, very lively.
"Ah, Ryoma-kun was taking a nap during practice so I took authority to wake you."
"Authority? Um thanks I gu- UGH" Once Ryoma's feet were on the ground his knees collapsed and his stomach started to pound.
-Tezuka POV-
I heard the commotion at Echizen and Momoshiro's court. When I approached the court I saw Ryoma on the ground with his face twisted in pain. I look at Momoshiro and Eiji.
"Momoshiro, Eiji, go run fifteen laps."
"Nya, what did we do?" Eiji said turning his teary eyes toward me. I could see the worry in both, Eiji and Momoshirro's, faces. I knew then that they knew they did wrong.
"I overheard you're conversation before practice. Go!"
Eiji and Momoshiro quickly left knowing that I would give them more laps. I kneel down by Fuji and Oishi. I had never seen Echizen look like he was in so much pain. Even in that match where the racket cut his eye. His face was never twisted like this.
"Echizen, do you need to go to the nurses office?" Surprisingly Echizen stood up straight.
"No, I'm fine." He said and immediately turned the other the direction. I'm guessing he was hiding a wince and I think Fuji caught it.
"Ne, if your in so much pain that you can't keep your face straight you should sit down for awhile." Fuji said with his unreadable smile.
"Yea, you should just rest for the rest of practice. There isn't that much time left anyway." Oishi added.
Echizen started to walk in the opposite direction of us.
"Oishi, Fuji, go back to practice. I'll handle him." And with that they left. I walked over to Echizen who was rummaging through his bag. I didn't say much and just observed him. I noticed that as he packed his racket into his tennis bag he checked his watch twice.
"So will you be leaving?" Echizen jumped at the sound of my voice but didn't turn to look at me.
"Hai, buchou. I will be back tomorrow morning." He replied without looking at me. He walked off the courts with his head down. I noticed before he left the courts he checked his watch again. What could be so important?
YAY! it's done! What do ya think? please let me know!