***HOSPITAL***
"I tell you, Buchou, that Atobe is really a bastard, he tried to get to Ling-chan sempai all to himself at that oh-so-fancy café. Luckily, I was around in the area and managed to stop him!" Akaya boasted as he jerked his nose into the air while leaning against the wall of Yukimura's room.
Ling-chan, who was peeling an apple for Yukimura, stiffed and glared at Akaya, who shifted his attention from ceiling to his Buchou, just like a puppy seeking the approval of the owner. "Stop him! Stop him from what? We were just having coffee and cakes, in front of the whole Tokyo and café staff too! Your manners back then were disgraceful and when I decided to bring you here, it's for you to repent and reflect on your actions, not for you to boast about it in front of Yukimura-sempai!" Ling-chan scolded.
"But! Ling-chan sempai, he is a well known playboy!" Akaya retorted. "Buchou, won't you agree with me on this? I saved her from a wolf and there she sits, scolding me!" The baby of Rikkai whined, all puppy eyes at his captain. At this, Ling-chan huffed and passed a plate of cored and sliced apples to Yukimura who smiled his thanks.
Taking a bite of the apple, Yukimura was quiet for a moment before he spoke up. "Ling-chan is a mature girl who won't fall for the charms of Atobe-san, Akaya. You should have more faith in her that she knows what she is doing." At this, Akaya pouted and sulked. Offering a slice of apple on his plate to his kouhai, Yukimura continued "I know you have her interests at heart, but Ling-chan is right, your manners need to be improved on. You were wearing the school uniform, or have you forgetten? Sanada would be displeased if you had disgraced the school in any way. "
At this reminder, Akaya paled and the apple that he was chewing on fell to the floor, just as Sanada opened the door and walked in. Akaya turned a shade paler if it was possible. Glancing at Yukimura who nodded his head in acknowledgement and Ling-chan who sat next to him, Sanada then noticed Akaya who was trying to make himself as small as possible. "Akaya!" He barked. "What are you doing?"
"I…er…." Akaya stammered, wilting under the intensity of his fuku-bochou who stalked towards him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ling-chan then stopped Sanada, by blocking him physically with her body, halting him in his walk. Pushing a piece of tissue paper into Akaya's hands, she pointed towards the floor, where the fallen slice of apple was. Picking up on the hint, Akaya scooped up the fallen apple using the tissue and scuttled towards the door, calling "I am going to throw this apple away!"
Silence then reigned in the room as all the occupants gathered their thoughts. Looking back at his friends, Sanada asked "What was that all about?" At this, Ling-chan sighed as Yukimura laughed "Long story."
***THE NEXT DAY, SEISHUN LIBRARY***
"WHAT?! Kirihara Akaya interrupted your date with Atobe-san?" Eiji screeched, startling everybody who was studying nearby. "Shhhhhhhh! Eiji!" Oishi admonished, as he cast apologetic looks at his fellow school mates who looked scandalized or interested in their conversation. At one corner of the long table, Inui was busy scribbling away in his notebook, muttering "Fu….fu….data, new data.."
Ling-chan was exasperated as she continued working on her calculus without looking up. "Yes, Akaya was there suddenly and I didn't get to finish my latte as much as I wanted to. No, it is NOT a date with Atobe-san; we were there for tea and Eiji - " She said suddenly, looking up at the cat-like figure in front of her with steely eyes, "if you continue screeching here over the matter of my tea session with Atobe-san, I swear I won't bring you to that café where I had the best cheesecake and fruit cake in the whole of Tokyo."
With that threat hanging in the air, Eiji slapped two hands over his mouth and backed off to where Oishi was sitting. Stiffing a sigh, Ling-chan looked back over her work, which she completed while Eiji was screeching away. A gentle touch on her arm caused her to look up at Fuji who was sitting next to her. "Sa….Ling-chan, question number 12. You missed out a number." "Ah! Arigato, Fuji-kun." Ling-chan smiled as she corrected her sums. Once done, she looked over to her other side, where Ryuzaki sat, frowning over another English comprehension yet again. "Ryuzaki-chan….your tenses…"
Just before Ryuzaki could reply, an interruption came in the form of the librarian who approached the table "Hitachiin-san? There is a package delivered to the school and it's at the counter now. Can you pick it up please?" At Ling-chan's puzzled look, the librarian added with a smile "It's a huge bouquet of roses. Is it your birthday?"
"Huh? No!" Ling-chan exclaimed, in shock. "I will go collect it immediately though. Arigato gozimas!" She rose and disappeared in the wake of the librarian while the team members all looked at one another, grim faced. Barely five minutes later, Ling-chan returned, holding a humongous bouquet of baby pink roses. Squeals went up immediately as all the girls present gossiped and gushed over it.
"Kya! Such a beautiful bouquet! Who gave it to her?"
"So many roses! How many stalks do you think are there?"
"Pink! The colour of love! Ooooh, Hitachiin-san is so lucky! I want to be her!"
"Must be from Atobe-sama! I overheard from Kikumaru-san that Hitachiin-san went on a date with him! I am soooooooooooooo envious!"
Returning to her table, Ling-chan placed the bouquet gently on the table while she took her seat. Eyeing all who were present at the table with her, she smiled helplessly as she admitted "Yes, from Atobe-san." The commotion around them increased in intensity until the librarian had to hustle the trouble-mongers out. "Ano….it's so pretty, Ling-chan." Ryuzaki said, as she felt the velvet smooth text of the petals. "How many stalks are there?"
"99 stalks." Kawamura said; who had done a quick count earlier. "Wah! 99 stalks! It must have cost a fortune then! How many burgers can I buy with this?" Momoshiro wondered as he looked at the bouquet. "Sheeeesh, peach butt! Don't drool onto my books!" Kaidoh hissed as he yanked his books away. Just as the two is getting into a scuffle, Tezuka spoke up, halting the pair's actions, "What are you going to do with this bouquet, Ling-chan? If you bring it back to our classroom later, it's going to cause an even bigger commotion."
"Don't worry; I will distribute it to Atobe-san's fans in the school! Should there be leftovers, I will pass it to the flower arranging club, who will definitely be delighted to accept them." So saying, Ling-chan started unwrapping the floral paper, issuing instructions as she did so "Ah, Ryuzaki-chan? Can you pass me a pair of scissors? Ano….aniki, can you please keep my books away for me? I need the space…."
Extracting three best-looking blooms, Ling-chan wrapped them up and secured it with the ribbons that had come along with it. Presenting it to Ryuzaki, she smiled and said "For you, Ryuzaki-chan. You like pink roses, don't you? Here are three. Put them into a vase when you get home!" Grabbing her bag, she hoisted it over her shoulder before she picked up the remaining 96 stalks of roses. "I will see all of you after class. I got to give out these roses first! Sayonara!" With that, she left the library, but not before she gave another 3 stalks to the librarian who smiled in appreciation.
The whole team looked at one another and finally, Ryoma broke the silence "Looks like we have to guard Ling-chan sempai well. Monkey King is really coming all out to impress her." The rest of the team, with the exception of the confused Ryuzaki, Fuji and Tezuka, nodded as one. "Yosh!"
***SCHOOL DISMISSAL, OUTSIDE SEISHUN SCHOOL GATES***
"Oh man, that is a beauty alright. I am so envious! Wonder who is she waiting for?"
"Whoever it is, it must be someone rich. Do you know how much that baby cost?"
Walking through the school gates with her cousin on her right and Fuji on her left, Ling-chan overheard that particular conversation and stopped in her tracks as she looked at the beautiful BMW convertible parked directly in front her. The driver's door opened and a black leather clad foot appeared, followed by white pants, which ultimately ended off with the appearance of Atobe, wearing a pair of Ray-Bans.
Ling-chan sighed mentally as she greeted Atobe "Konichwa, Atobe-san. Thanks for the flowers today. They are lovely." "If they are as lovely as you claim, how come you are not holding onto them?" Atobe questioned, as he took off his sunglasses, looking at her. "While I was waiting here, I saw many other girls holding onto a stalk of pink rose each."
"Hai, because they are lovely, I shared your graciousness with the school, especially to your fans here. Your fans were over the moon and last I heard, they swore that they will write a letter of thanks to you. So please be prepared for massive fan-mail over the next few days. Oh, I do believe I added a few more members to your fan club too." Ling-chan replied as Fuji smirked and Atobe groaned. He raked his hair with his fingers in an obvious form of frustration as he considered the amount of junk that he would receive. Gaining back his composure, he looked back at the girl whom he was trying so hard to impress but failing "Thank you for your efforts then. Can I buy you a cup of latte to express my thanks? We were so rudely interrupted yesterday."
"Gomen ne, Atobe, but Ling-chan and Takashi-kun would be coming with me to my house. I have some new cacti that bloomed and Ling-chan wanted to see them. Another day perhaps?" Fuji smiled a tight smile as he gestured to the clear path next to him. "Let's go, Ling-chan." The girl in question nodded as she started walking "Sayonara, Atobe-san.", leaving the Atobe heir looking at their diminishing figures as they walked away.
And so it continues; despite Atobe's best attempts, his efforts were thwarted by the tennis players of BOTH Seishun and Rikkai. There will always be someone who will walk home with her, or the team would organize study sessions together, keeping the girl in their midst. There was even a session when both schools sat down together to study! Needless to say, not much studying was done that day as disputes and scuffles broke out, requiring the attention of Tezuka or Sanada. Despite their differences, all the players agreed on one single fact – Atobe is NOT ALLOWED to go near Ling-chan!
***CONVERSATION ROOM***
Oshitari-sama says:
Atobe-kun is a foul mood these few days, Ling-chan. I guess all his attempts to get close to you were thwarted by your friends?
Ling-chan says:
I do not know if this is a blessing or a curse. I am so heavily surrounded by the guys! No matter where I go, someone is bound to be there. I have Tezuka-kun in class, Fuji-kun or aniki after school and even if I want to go shopping, Eiji-kun would tag along! This is madness!
Rikkai's players are as bad too. Especially Akaya! If he knows that I am visiting Yukimura, he would come to my school to wait for me and then go to the hospital together.
Oshitari-sama says:
Well, one can see that you are precious to them and thus, must be guarded at all times. I can sense your frustration increasing though.
Ling-chan says:
I AM FRUSTRATED. I want to go out on my own without these "bodyguards"! I can't even read a book in peace without someone hovering nearby! To think that I can ignore people at will the last time! They fidget so much that I am distracted beyond measure! Do you have any suggestions, Oshitari-kun?
Oshitari-sama says:
Tell your team mates that you are coming to my house on Saturday for a fitting by nee-san. They would not follow you then. After that, we can zoom out to do something that you like. A bookstore then a café, how about that?
Ling-chan says:
Arigato gozimas, Oshitari-kun! You are my life savior! Then again, is your nee-san really in?
Oshitari-sama says:
She is. Why?
Ling-chan says:
Since she is in, I should go and pay my respects at least. Basic courtesy and manners after all!
Oshitari-sama says:
It's nice of you to say so, but do go straight out with Yusshi, my dear!
Ling-chan says:
Mayu nee-chan? Did you take over the laptop again? Hahahaha…
Oshitari-sama says:
How clever of you, my dear girl. Yusshi was so engrossed talking to you that he didn't hear me coming into his room. He is annoyed with me now as he has to surrender the laptop to me. *giggle*
Then again my dear, by reading this conversation over his shoulder, I saw what the problem was. Did Keigo really pester you that much? I can speak to his mother if you like. I am seeing her next week.
Ling-chan says:
Ano….daijoubu, Mayu nee-chan. It's not totally his fault. My friends are at fault too. Thank you for the offer though. I will see you on Saturday with some simple goodies – I baked some muffins, stuffed with strawberry jam, your favourite! :D
Oshitari-sama says:
Arigato gozimas my dear! I look forward to your arrival then. I am swamped with work orders these few days. Your muffins would be a delightful break for me. See you then! I will send the same BMW to pick you up. Do look out for it!
Ling-chan says:
Hai, Mayu nee-chan. Arigato gozimas! Ja ne, Oshitari-kun!
The conversation ended at 2030hr, conversation closed. Ling-chan appears offline.
By the time Oshitari manage to get his laptop back, Ling-chan had logged off. Glaring at his uncorrectable sister who gave him a cheeky grin in return, Mayu patted his cheek gently and said "Daijoubu, Yuushi. She will be here on Saturday and you can go out with her afterwards. Spare her to me for a quick tea break and I will be out of your hair for the whole afternoon. A good deal right? Hahaha!"
AUTHOR NOTES
2 months for this update! Definitely an improvement as compared to some the previous chapters. I must thank many of the readers out there who sent many encouraging emails to get me to write and update asap! ARIGATO!
Please review! :) Till the next chapter, ja ne!