Disclaimer: I'm not good enough to own prince of tennis

Chapter 9: It's all my fault!

Next Morning at school…

"Tezuka-Kun, can you play a match with me?" The cocoa colored hair boy asked, his eyes obscured as usual. "I know freshmen are not suppose to play but we can play secretly afterschool."

The taller boy was caught off guard. He stared at Fuji for just a moment.

"Ahh I guess not?" Fuji answered for Tezuka, disappointment showing on his face.

Tezuka's mind was spinning. I want to see Fuji's true self after what I saw the other day and I need to pay him back for finding out that I was left handed awhile back. But freshmen are not supposed to play games.

"No, let's do it." Tezuka said after a long pause. This is the first time I have to break the rules…"I've always wanted to play a match with you, Fuji Kun."

"Ok meet you at the courts near the minamidai park after practice." Fuji said happily while running off.

Fuji Syusuke what is your potential? Tezuka wondered as he watched Fuji run out of his sight.

At Practice…

Since it was Fuji's turn to clean the classroom, he wasn't able to attend practice which was why he was unaware of something…

"Aizawa san would you like to rally with me?" Tezuka asked while I was tying my shoe.

"Sure," I smiled back. Which hand are you using this time? I wondered as I followed him into an empty court.

I should use my left hand today since she wasn't satisfied last time. Tezuka thought as he placed his racquet into his left hand.

I served a flat serve and he returned it swiftly, faster than any other player I've seen before. With his left, the force that came back was stronger and had more spin on it.

I had difficulty returning it. My racket was on the verge of flying out of my hand. Even if I had a harder time playing him, it was definitely more enjoyable than being given a handicap.

After we rallied for a few minutes, a tall second year with messy black hair stomped toward Tezuka.

"You!" he practically yelled, "You little brat. You've been laying us with your right all the time!"

Tezuka seemed unreceptive, he did not respond.

"I've watched you for a couple of minutes. Your left hand is your dominant hand! Playing your senpais as your right hand test subjects huh?"

Everyone in the tennis court gathered around. Everyone is watching but they're not trying to stop it? I was angrily shouting in my mind. They must be astonished also that Tezuka is left handed…Instead of waiting for anyone to stop the scene created, I tried to jump in to yell at the second year but I felt a hand pull me back.

"Mina-chan, you shouldn't get involved. It's too dangerous." Kawamura kindly said.

I tried to fight off his hand but he's the heir of a sushi shop. I'm no match for his strength.

"Oi Takeshi just drop it." Another second year finally stated. He seemed to have recovered from the fact that Tezuka was left-handed.

"No! He took as for retards. Stupid freshmen. If you're not going to lose your left hand, then I'm going to break it!"

Before I was able to blink, the hot headed second year swung his racket, fast and hard.

"Tezuka-kun!" I screamed out, attempting to run up to him but failed due to Kawamura.

Tezuka's glasses slipped off his face and landed on the ground. Tezuka clutched his left arm.

"Don't fool around." Tezuka declared fiercely, but quietly. Everyone was silent.

"How many years did you play tennis to think that a racket is for abusing people!" For the first time, Tezuka yelled. The hot headed second year seemed intimidated now. He backed off nervously.

"If this is the quality of this club, I'm quitting." Tezuka picked up his glasses.

"What are you guys doing?" A playful voice sounded and Yamato Buchou slowly strolled into the tennis court. "Twenty laps around the court now, everyone." He asserted without waiting for an answer.

With no choice, all members started to jog but Tezuka remained behind.

"You're part of the club too." Yamato said, adding a smile.

"Buchou, I decided to quit. It was a short period but thank you for everything."

"Eh? But I haven't received your resignation letter. After I receive that you may resign. But first you must run 20 laps."

Tezuka looked up surprised, but not daring to cross an authority, he began jogging.

"Why is he running when he's the victim?" Oishi he asked fiercely as he came up running next to me. I shrugged, thinking the same thing and I saw Oishi run back the way he came from.

"Oishi-kun?" I questioned but I was running at the same time.

Oishi held out both his hands and blocked Tezuka from running further.

"Tezuka-kun, you…you can't quit! We promised!" Oishi was loud enough to be heard by everyone that was running.

"I'm sorry Oishi-kun…" Tezuka answered guiltily, his eyes on the ground.

"Hmm looks like your friend wants to quit too…" Yamato popped out from the back.

Meanwhile…

I just realized…this is all my fault! I screamed inside my head. If Tezuka didn't use his left hand, nothing like this would have happened. He always used his right hand so no one knew…This is all my fault! I don't think I can face him right now. With that, I ran to the locker room, gathered all my belongings and practically ran home.

"Where's Aizawa-san?" Tezuka asked as Oishi passed by.

"I think she left. She didn't come back to practice."

So they ended up walking home together.

"So Tezuka-kun, are we still keeping our promise? We promised that in our senior year, we'll lead Seigaku into Kantou and even to the Nationals."

"Yeah." Tezuka slightly smiled and Oishi gave him a high five.

"Oh Oishi-kun, I have to go this way today." Tezuka said, hoping Oishi wouldn't follow.

"Ok. Bye Tezuka-kun, take care of your arm." Oishi said, sounding like the mother hen that he was.

Tezuka was relieved. He surely didn't want any one to catch him playing a forbidden match.

"Tezuka-kun, you came! I'm so glad!" Fuji said, his usual smile shining brightly.

At Mina's house…

I was still fluttering back and forth. Tezuka is still not home yet. It shouldn't take him this long to find out that I left school already. What's taking him so long? But what should I do when he gets home? Should I say something? I'm afraid to face him. I was the one that injured his arm. What should I do? With one foot swinging down and the other bent, I was sitting uncomfortably on the porch while my brain was becoming a plate of chow-mein.

Then I looked up to see Tezuka heading towards his gate. I thought my heart stopped. My body wanted to run inside while my conscious told me to say something.

"Tezuka-kun!" I ran up to him, "How's your arm? I'm sorry I left first without saying anything! Come here, I need to see your arm. Why did it take you so long to get home!" I huffed and puffed as I pulled his right arm into my house. I was boiling with worries and guilt, about to explode.

Tezuka didn't say anything while I rolled up his sleeves.

He must hate me now. He doesn't even want to answer at all. But of course, I deserve it. This is my doing…

His arm was better off than what I had imagined. Instead of a bloody, bent arm, there was a big bruise.

I ran up to retrieve the first aid kit and took out an ice-pak from the freezer.

I applied some menthol ointment, placed some cotton on his bruise and wrapped his arm with a soft roll of fabric. Finally, I placed his arm on the ice pak.

"Tezuka-kun, I'm so sorry if it wasn't for me, nothing like this would have happened to you." I blurted out, not knowing where to start.

"No, no one is to be blamed. I was wrong to keep it away from senpai-tachi that I was right handed but that was no reason for me to receive the blow. Also, I decided to use my left today, you didn't tell me to."

His expression was unreadable like usual. Even if his words told the truth, I still felt I was at fault.

"Aizawa-san, I'm sorry. I can't keep you company today. I want to go see a doctor to check my arm. Thank You for the first-aid."

I nodded and with that he stood up. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't even able to pull a smile. How can I? I walked him outside to his gate and we parted in silence.

He can hate me forever; he can abuse me whenever he's wants to but let his arm be okay…I prayed sadly as I watched him enter his house.

At the doctor's clinic…

"How is my son's arm?" Ayane Tezuka asked as she peered over from the waiting seat.

"It's fine. The bruise should recover in about a week. He should avoid long matches and tremendous amounts of practice." The doctor said calmly. "How did you get a bruise there?"

Tezuka spaced out while he listened to his mother gave the doctor a short summary of his unfortunate afternoon.

Next morning…

"Mina, stop playing with your food." Dad finally said after he watched me poke at my scrambled egg for about five minutes.

I poured myself a cup of hot tea and sighed. I didn't get to sleep for the whole night due to my worry for Tezuka's arm.

"Mina, it's not your fault. It was about time that people found out he was left-handed." Mom gently said.

I didn't know what to say anymore so I got up and left after bidding my parents good-bye.

I stood gloomily, leaning against my face and gazing up at the sky. It was beautifully clear sky, no cloud in sight. Must be because I trapped all clouds into my heart…While I continued on my dismal moments, I didn't notice Tezuka walking out.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your thoughts but are you ready?" he asked, straightforward and apathetically.

"Teuzuka-Kun! What did the doctor say about your arm?" I inquired urgently.

"It's fine. The doctor said to not play for couple of days and to avoid tremendous amounts of practice."

I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I gently placed my arms around Tezuka's waists and my head on his shoulder.

"I'm so glad. But I'm sorry. If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have to go through this."

I'm sure Tezuka was not expecting this since he twitched as soon as my head reached his shoulder but somehow I was surprised he allowed me to hug him until I let go. This was my first time giving a hug to a boy and it was not bad. I felt his bony hips and smelled his clean crisp shirt with a detergent smell. His soft hair grazed my forehead when the breeze blew. My ear rubbed against his smooth cheeks and my cheeks felt his throat swallow.