Over the next few weeks, Atobe Keigo tried to get a hold of the Kon Nikolaj situation.

The rumor mill had already started up. Dozens of students asked him about whether or not Kon Nikolaj would be the new tennis coach. Students simpered over his richness, daydreaming about when they would be able to earn that kind of success in the future. Some of his teammates were bouncing with excitement at the opportunity to have a new coach (Jiroh had grumbled, "Thank god! Coach Sakaki could be so cruel sometimes").

But most of all, everyone was excited for the money the school would get. The entirety of Hyotei would be revamped. The school that was already known for its quality would become a booming powerhouse. Every upper-class family would scramble to get their children to Hyotei. From a general perspective, the coach exchange was a win-win situation.

But Atobe wasn't sure if he agreed.

There was something fishy about Kon Nikolaj. And Ryoma… he had acted so weird around him.

Personal grudge? Atobe waved the thought away. Ryoma didn't hold personal grudges. He was uncaring of those kinds of things. Atobe sighed, entering the student council office. He was going to have to get Ryoma to spill one way or another.

"Oishitari." Atobe nodded as he took a seat next to him.

"Atobe." Oishitari had a notebook open, hand poised over the blank page. "You've heard about Kon Nikolaj, right?"

"Of course I have." Atobe tried to hide the distaste from his voice.

"It makes no sense." Oishitari scribbled something down. "He's the CEO of a major company. Can he really afford to take time out of his day to coach junior high students?" He was talking to himself more than anything. "That begs the question of why he would even want to coach junior high students. Rather peculiar taste, isn't it?"

Atobe agreed. This was weird. Kon Nikolaj had to have a deeper reason for wanting to coach Hyotei's team. But there was no use in mentioning it now. He had no evidence, and Atobe, being an Atobe, knew how the real world worked. Evidence was a requirement to proceed in any kind of accusation.

Folding his hands on the table, Atobe watched as student council members filed in. The teacher supervisor came last, almost ten minutes after the meeting was supposed to start, balancing a coffee mug and mounds of paper in her hands. "Phew! Sorry I'm late," she said, tripping over herself to get to her seat. "The students were crazy last period. Just crazy."

Atobe smirked. The teacher supervisor was always late. She was a total klutz.

"Oh, dear." She blew on her coffee, her cheeks pink. "Does anyone know what's on the agenda for today?"

"Kon Nikolaj," Oishitari said smoothly.

"Oh, yes, that famous CEO." She looked rather uncomfortable discussing him. "Is there really anything to discuss?"

"Well, yes," Oishitari said. He basically ran the meetings. "Is it really acceptable to replace our current coach with someone who, from what we know, has no professional tennis experience?"

Another student snorted. "You're joking, right. Do you know how much money he's giving the school?"

The teacher nodded. "Yes…" She took a sip of her coffee, trying to organize her notes. "We really have to look at the benefits the school is earning."

"But the tennis team could collapse," Oishitari said.

"It's a tennis team! This is the future of the school!" A student retorted.

"Well, yes…"

The teacher nodded. "Yes, I do imagine, if we get all that money, we'll even be able to have those neat coffee lounges we wanted to get." She smiled brightly. "We could even get personal servants in each class."

Oishitari pushed his glasses up. "Our school has a reputation for tennis."

Another student said: "You'll still be good at tennis with a different coach, won't you?"

"Yeah! Stop being biased. Just because you're on the tennis team…"

Oishitari looked exasperated. "Are we sure of this man's intentions?"

"Why be suspicious?" Another student complained. "This is benefitting the whole school. Hyotei will be richer than ever."

"And I really want that coffee lounge," the teacher said happily.

Atobe took a sip of his green tea, closing his eyes. The student council room was chaos. Everyone was arguing with Oishitari. He supposed it made sense to make the deal. Coach Sakaki could be cruel. And besides, it wasn't as if the coach had any credit for leading the team to victory. Atobe smirked to himself. That, of course, was the job of their majestic captain.

Still, the students trilled. So immature.

The only reason Atobe hadn't made a final decision yet was because of Ryoma.

Ryoma had specifically suggested they not have Kon as their coach.

But Ryoma… Atobe barely knew Ryoma properly. He couldn't let their school lose nearly a million dollars because Ryoma was nervous about something. That was ridiculous. He had to think with a clear head.

"Atobe," Oishitari whispered over the chaos. "What do we do?"

He would get his father to get a private investigator look into Kon Nikolaj's history.

And then he would have a little chat with Seigaku's favorite rookie.

"Atobe," Oishitari repeated. The student council room was now raging with arguments. Apparently some students thought the money should be spent on classrooms while others thought it should be spent on sports.

Atobe sighed. It was remarkable that he got through each day with these little people. He was so much greater than everyone.

Closing his eyes, he snapped his fingers – the sound tore through the chaos, and silence fell immediately.

Everyone looked to him for guidance.

Atobe opened his eyes, and smirked. "The meeting will be postponed for this Friday." He turned slickly to the teacher supervisor. "Isn't that right?"

She flushed a deep red, looking down meekly. "Yes – ah – yes! Atobe-kun is right. Meeting, dismissed!"

Atobe got Ryoma's number from Gakuto, who got it from Kikumaru, who got it by taunting Kikumaru by daring him to get it. According to Gakuto, Kikumaru had fiercely taken on the dare, giving him Ryoma's house number with passionate savagery.

Children. They were all children.

But Atobe now possessed Ryoma's house number. Sinking into his specially-designed bubble bath, he dialed the number.

He was met with a: "I'm not Nanjiroh! I'm a monk!"

"Eh?" Atobe raised a brow.

"… I'm not Nanjiroh. Who the hell are you?"

"Atobe Keigo, heir to the Atobe company."

"Oh? No idea Shigeo had a kid…"

Atobe ignored the statement. He didn't know what the man was talking about. "I request to speak to Ryoma."

"Ryoma? Ha… didn't know that kid had friends…RYOMAAA! It's FOR YOUU!"

Atobe chuckled at the statement. So Ryoma wasan antisocial loner. Interesting. After a few moments (a rather long time, actually), a disgruntled voice came on the other end. Atobe sunk deeper into the bath.

"What do you want?" The brat sounded irritated.

"Echizen."

There was silence. Then:

"… Monkey King?"

"Incorrect. It's Ore-sama."

"How did you get this number?" Ryoma sounded even more annoyed.

"I have my methods."

"What do you want?" His voice… he seemed almost unsure of himself. Atobe realized with growing satisfaction that Ryoma was embarrassed over his little incident at the tennis courts. He smiled to himself. It served the brat right.

"I need clarification about Kon Nikolaj."

There was a long moment of silence. Ryoma's voice trembled when he replied. "Leave me alone."

"Echizen." Atobe sighed deeply. "Don't be stubborn."

"Just drop the subject."

"I can't. Hyotei depends on it."

"Just – I already said not to make him coach. Now leave me alone!"

Atobe could tell Ryoma was on the verge of hanging up. He had to move fast.

"Coffee at six tonight?"

"Coffee?" Ryoma sounded disgusted.

Atobe quickly amended, "A diner."

"A diner?"

"I'll pay for an unlimited supply of Ponta delivered straight to your doorsteps."

There was a pause. Atobe knew he had got him.

"Fine," Ryoma said shortly. "But we're doing burgers."

Then he hung up. Atobe frowned into the phone. Burgers. How filthy and middle-class.

Still. Atobe leaned against the bathtub. He was going to have the brat right where he wanted him.

There was a knock on the door. "Atobe-sama!"

Atobe tugged at his silky dress shirt, standing in front of a full-length mirror. Burgers didn't call for fancy wear, but Atobe needed to ensure that other residents of the burger place didn't think he was one of them. "Come in," he said. He pushed back his gorgeous locks of hair. He did look quite stunning. He supposed he always looked stunning, but white always brought out his elegance.

The door opened, and one of servants approached him. She had a note in her hand. "Atobe-sama." She bowed.

"Yes?" Atobe disinterestedly spritzed on cologne.

"This is a note with information about Kon Nikolaj, as you requested."

Atobe paused. He eyed her. "Read it."

"Eto… Apparently Kon Nikolaj was briefly arrested a few years ago while he was in the US, marketing his company. It was apparently for a very scandalous reason, but it was covered up by Kon. He was only arrested for a week before the court appealed him as innocent."

Atobe stared at the maid. Kon Nikolaj had been arrested before?

Maybe Ryoma actually had a good reason to be frightened of him.

"So he corrupted the other lawyer?"

"Probably something like that." The maid bowed respectfully. "May I leave your presence Atobe-sama?"

Atobe waved her off. He was no longer interested in his own stunning elegance.

Kon Nikolaj might be more dangerous than he had first predicted.

Atobe glanced at himself once more, before asking his butler to prepare a limo. This was exactly why he needed to get Ryoma to confess what he knew – even if it took the boy breaking into tears from the pressure for it to happen.

Ryoma entered the burger place ten minutes later with sluggish steps and dark circles around his eyes. He flopped down on the chair across from Atobe, not bothering to hide a huge yawn behind his hand.

Mannerless, Atobe noted. Still. His brows furrowed in concern. "You're late."

"I'm doing this favor for you," Ryoma said darkly. "I get to be late if I want."

Atobe pursed his lips. "Can you be less insolent?"

"No." Ryoma glared. He seemed to be in a horrible mood. Atobe wondered if it had something to do with the darkness under his eyes. Pushing aside unwilling worry, Atobe studied Ryoma. He was a tough nut to crack. If Atobe wanted information out of him, he was going to have to be very slick. Incredibly slick.

"Filthy place, this is," Atobe said.

"Grow up." Ryoma yawned again. "Besides, you chose this place."

"Unfortunately, even after extensive searching, it seems all burger places are filthy. This was the best I could find."

"Shut up, Atobe."

Atobe smiled pleasantly. "Atobe? I'm delighted to see that you've moved on from your childish nicknames. Although, of course, Atobe-sama is preferable-"

"You know what's preferable? If you grew a tail and hopped from tree to tree."

"You wound me."

"I really don't."

Atobe sighed dramatically, pretending to be amused by Ryoma's antics. A waiter came over a moment later, asking them what they wanted. While it was a burger place, Atobe had chosen the best burger place he could find. He would never walk up to the counter to order food. That was a crime if you were an Atobe.

Ryoma eyed her lazily. "Two cheeseburgers and a soda."

Atobe gave her an apologetic look. "He means to add please. Now, I personally would enjoy a nice burger deluxe…"

In only five minutes, the orders were given and food was delivered. Atobe stared suspiciously at his burger, while Ryoma downed his food like… well, like a disgrace. Atobe watched him distastefully before taking a sip out of his bottled water. He would just eat a proper meal when he got home.

Just halfway through the dinner, when Ryoma had relaxed considerably, Atobe dove into the heart of the matter.

"Our school is deciding whether Kon should be the coach or not. Most people are in favor of it."

Ryoma tensed immediately. He swirled his straw around his iced soda. "I don't care."

Atobe leaned forward. "You're a brat. But I don't think you're cruel enough to send the whole student body of a school in danger."

Ryoma looked uncomfortable. "What do you want, Atobe?"

"I want you to tell me what you know about Kon Nikolaj."

Ryoma stared at the table. "Can't you take my word for it?"

"It's a million dollars." Atobe pressed his lips together. "Unless I have a reason, I can't just let go of that much money for the school."

The boy shrunk into himself. He looked exhausted. "Stuff happens."

"Stuff?" Atobe inquired patiently.

"Yes," Ryoma said tiredly. "He's an asshole."

Atobe was momentarily surprised by the language. "Oh."

Ryoma pushed himself up. "I'm leaving."

"No," Atobe demanded.

"Fuck you," Ryoma responded. He started forward.

Atobe, desperate to keep the boy for a moment longer, said: "I know he's been arrested."

Ryoma paused, eyes flashing. He turned back around. "Yes. He has."

"But he cleared it. Do you know what he got arrested for?"

Ryoma's eyes were shiny now. He blinked rapidly. "I can't tell you."

"Yes, you can!" Atobe practically shouted.

People from the burger place turned to look at them. He adjusted the collar of his dress shirt, coughing. He needed to keep his composure. Yelling at Ryoma wasn't going to do anything but drive him away – and Atobe wasn't a fan of raising his voice. He just didn't understand why Ryoma wouldn't tell him.

It couldn't be that bad, could it?

"Can you sit down?" Atobe asked after a moment of hesitation. "I won't ask about him. I'll buy you another burger."

Ryoma stared tensely at the ground. Then he nodded slightly, and sat back down. Atobe waved the waiter over to order another burger. They sat in silence for a long time. Ryoma chewed slowly on his burger, half-asleep. Atobe watched him. In the dim lights of the restaurant, he couldn't help but notice that Ryoma was attractive.

Atobe knew attractive when he saw it (being gorgeous himself) but he was normally too occupied with observing Ryoma's tennis or bratty attitude to notice it.

But Ryoma was cute. He had those bright amber eyes and curved cheeks. He had the soft hair. He had the innocence (when he wasn't insulting people).

Atobe looked away. He didn't need to think about that.

Minutes drew by. Ryoma finished his burger, and sipped on his soda. Atobe ordered a dessert. He needed to somehow extend the wait. He needed to ask questions. But he didn't know how without getting Ryoma mad.

When the cherry pie arrived, he cut a slice for both of their plates. He was hungry, and cherry pie wasn't nearly as filthy as burgers.

"You're eating it?" Ryoma snorted. "Surprising."

Atobe was surprised that Ryoma had started the conversation voluntarily. "A little cherry pie never hurt anyone."

"But a little burger does?" Ryoma asked.

"Burgers are filthy," Atobe reminded him.

Ryoma made a noise of objection, but otherwise didn't say anything else. Comfortable silence spread over them. Atobe ate the cherry pie, finding it surprisingly good. Ryoma ate his food with ungraceful manners, but at least, Atobe supposed, he chewed with his mouth closed and used utensils. He knew not everyone was blessed with the gracefulness of an Atobe.

At one point, Atobe asked: "You look tired."

"Yeah." Ryoma stared at the space between Atobe's brows.

"Any particular reason?"

Ryoma blinked tiredly. "Huh?"

"Any reason why you're tired?"

Ryoma shrugged – slowly and lethargically.

"Not sleeping well?" Atobe suggested.

"Yeah." He buried his face in his arms. "I'm sleepy."

Atobe observed. He wondered if he wasn't getting sleep because he was disturbed by the knowledge of Kon Nikolaj. Atobe was desperate to bring up the subject again, but his words stayed stuck in his throat. Ryoma wasn't going to give up knowledge. Atobe had come prepared for Ryoma's stubbornness, and had originally planned on using blackmail methods to get Ryoma to speak.

He knew where Ryoma's mother worked, and could easily get her fired. He could get them forced out of the country if he wanted to.

But now, watching Ryoma – with his curled form, his long lashes, his sleepy gaze – Atobe didn't have the heart to use blackmail.

I'm becoming too soft, Atobe sighed. He had been taught as a child that cruelty was always an option to get what you wanted. But Atobe wasn't sure if his father was right. Maybe he was right in business and marketing. But could you be cruel to someone who was twelve years old and had the tennis prowess of a pro?

Atobe couldn't. Not today.

Ryoma had fallen asleep on the table.

He looked at his sleeping form fondly for a moment, before shaking his head. This was ridiculous. He stood up and paid the bill. Then he shook Ryoma's shoulder, breaking Ryoma from sleep. The boy drowsily stared up at him. "Hmm?"

Atobe refused to think it was cute. "The evening is over. A limo is waiting outside to deliver you to your house."

Ryoma yawned and stood up. He didn't so much as glance at Atobe as he made his way to the door.

"It was my pleasure paying for you!" Atobe called.

"Goodnight, Monkey King!"

Then the door closed. He was gone.

Atobe stared at where his figure had been. Then he smirked to himself, and shook his head. He would try again later. And this time, he would make sure his feelings (as insignificant as they were) stayed in place. Being nice may have saved him guilt, but it hadn't gotten him answers.

His father was right. He had to be cruel.

He couldn't let a cute face let him forget that.