Chapter 7

Kaidoh was running out of the school gate as fast as his legs could take him as if he had encountered a ghost. After running a certain distance from the school, he made sure that nobody was following him before he finally stopped to catch his breath.

Kaidoh jumped when someone tapped him on his shoulders but he heaved a sigh of relief when he realized who he was.

"Kaidoh, have you seen a ghost? What were you running away from to become this exhausted?"

"Kikumaru-senpai, I'm glad it's you… Erm… I'm just doing my usual routine…" Kaidoh replied.

"Nah! You're definitely lying! Or do you mean that being chased by Momo has become a daily routine for you?" Kikumaru teased Kaidoh, who turned red at the mention of Momo.

"No! I… I'm really just doing my usual routine of running around the town… I… I should be going now. See you in club practice tomorrow, senpai…" Kaidoh denied and quickly excused himself to be alone.

When Kaidoh had reached home, he headed straight for his room and locked himself in. He thought that he would be able to forget about everything that had happened that day after a short nap but whenever he closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind, Takeshi would intrude his thoughts instead.

-An hour ago-

"It's too bad, Kaidoh." Dentai tried to console Kaidoh.

"I'll never give up my spot. NEVER!" Kaidoh shouted in a fit of anger and stormed off.

Kaidoh was pissed at himself for falling into Ryoma's trap and losing so quickly to a first-year. Something in his heart stirred as he was worried about losing his spot as a Regular. He had competed with Dentai thrice and all three matches were won by Dentai. It was not exaggerating to say that Dentai had seen through his strength and weakness.

Since Kaidoh did not have any more matches that day, he thought he could leave early to do more training in order to build up his stamina and power. However, he had not realized that another fellow Regular was secretly following him into the changing room…

Just as Kaidoh had finished changing into his uniform and closed his locker door, he turned and was surprised to find Takeshi just in front of him, looking extremely worried. He attempted to leave the room as he felt that Takeshi was being weird, like the first time Takeshi had confessed to him, but Takeshi blocked the entrance immediately, as if sensing what Kaidoh was thinking at that time. Seeing that Kaidoh had turned anxious and afraid caused Takeshi's feelings of worry for Kaidoh to feeling hurt and depressed.

"Takeshi! Get out of my way now!" Kaidoh warned Takeshi but he stayed still.

In a flash, Kaidoh found himself pinned down on the floor and Takeshi was grasping his wrists tightly to prevent him from fighting back. Kaidoh knew he was in trouble as Takeshi looked serious and he knew that he was already drained completely from his match with Ryoma.

Takeshi smashed his lips against Kaidoh's and snatched Kaidoh's lips immediately. He wanted to taste Kaidoh and attempted to sweep his tongue into Kaidoh's mouth but Kaidoh bit hard on Takeshi's tongue, causing it to bleed. Takeshi winced but he was not going to give up so easily as he finally had Kaidoh under his control.

He used his right hand to grasp both Kaidoh's wrists and moved his unoccupied hand to grope Kaidoh, who yelped and Takeshi took this chance to gain dominance of Kaidoh's lips. Kaidoh could feel Takeshi's tongue wrapping around his and he could taste a slight taste of blood. He felt guilty for inflicting pain on Takeshi, so he did not try to reject Takeshi this time. Instead, he lost himself and let Takeshi control him, as he knew that he had absolutely no chance to overpower him in his current state.

Kaidoh then felt a tickling sensation in his ear as Takeshi licked his ear lobes and this was all it took for Kaidoh to let out a soft moan. Takeshi moved his left hand up, sliding into Kaidoh's shirt, caressing Kaidoh's sensitive body. He could feel Kaidoh's every muscle tense up as his hand moved past.

Just as Takeshi started to unbutton Kaidoh's shirt, voices could be heard from outside the door. The clearest and loudest had been Kikumaru, who was still hyperactive after his ranking matches with two second-years in his block.

The sound of the doorknob being turned could be heard and it startled Takeshi. Having failed to open the changing room's door, Kikumaru complained to Oishi and asked if he had the keys but was disappointed when Oishi shook his head.

It was probably Kikumaru's loud voice that brought Kaidoh back to his senses. Takeshi had loosened his grip on him and was paying less attention to Kaidoh. Kaidoh saw his opportunity and knocked Takeshi's forehead with his own and pushed him away roughly. Kaidoh then grabbed his belongings, unlocked the door and ran out of the school as fast as his legs could take him.

-Back to the present-

Kaidoh opened his eyes and felt relieved that he was safe in his own bedroom. He cursed himself for being so weak and stared at the white ceiling. Suddenly, a sad and depressed Takeshi appeared in front of Kaidoh's eyes and he knew he had to do something to drive Takeshi's images out of his mind, but he did not know how.

For no reason, Kaidoh's legs were somehow manipulated by an invisible force and dragged Kaidoh back to school and to the changing room. Reluctantly, he opened the door of the changing room and went in, standing at the spot where Takeshi had pinned him. He tried to sort out his emotions. He wished he could say that he hated Takeshi but the thought of hating Momo caused an unknown rising pain in Kaidoh's heart.

Out of nowhere, a sniffled sob could be heard in the room and Kaidoh stepped back, startled. Although he might look fierce, he was actually weak at heart when it comes to the supernatural. He took a few seconds to realize where the cry was coming from – the innermost corner of the room. He plucked up his courage and cautiously approached the source and found a familiar shaking silhouette, made obvious by the moonlight pouring through the window.

Kaidoh felt bad as he knew why this person was so agitated and miserable as he was the one who broke his heart.

"Takeshi… …" Kaidoh called out in a gentle and soft tone.

"Kaidoh! I'm sorry…" This was all Takeshi managed to say as he sobbed even harder that his subsequent apologies became muffled.

Kaidoh felt a pang of guilt in his heart. He did not mean to hurt this man before him, who always looked so cheerful, optimistic and strong yet, he was so delicate inside.

'How can I have never noticed this side of him…' Kaidoh thought to himself. 'And I'm so sinful to have brought this man his sufferings…'

"Why must you like me when there are so many other people out there who are more suitable for you, Takeshi?"

Takeshi merely shook his head and replied that he just knew that Kaidoh was the only one for him.

Takeshi's face was lifted up by Kaidoh tenderly, who proceeded to wipe the streaks of tears with his thumb gently. Takeshi was astonished by Kaidoh's actions and couldn't make sense of what was going on. Why was the man who had rejected him thoroughly treating him so sweetly and gently now?

Kaidoh brought Takeshi's head to lean against his chest and he slowly stroked his head, running his fingers through his hair as he did so. As much as Takeshi could not figure out what Kaidoh was thinking, Kaidoh had no idea what had gotten into him to make him behave like that.

Takeshi thought it was safe and wrapped his arms around Kaidoh's waist. Kaidoh had stiffened a little but he did not push Takeshi away this time. As Kaidoh gradually adjusted himself in this new awkwardness, Takeshi sat on Kaidoh's lap and let Kaidoh hold him and soothe his emotions like a child.

'Kaidoh's such a darling! I could never dream that he can be this sweet to me… This is my lucky day!' Takeshi grinned to himself, careful not to reveal his happiness to Kaidoh in case Kaidoh decided to ignore him and leave him behind.

"Kaidoh…"

"What?"

"Can I lie in your arms until the next morning?"

"NO!" Kaidoh was almost shouting and he immediately tried to push Takeshi away so that he could get up and leave.

"I'm sorry to make such a ridiculous request! Please don't leave me now, will you?" Takeshi begged Kaidoh and looked at him with puppy eyes. He knew that Kaidoh would always give in to him when he looked like that.

"(sigh) Fine., but just a while longer. I need to go home soon…"

"I'll let you go… But only after you promise that you'll be my boyfriend! Kaidoh, I really can't live without you!" Takeshi cried.

"Stop being all mushy! You're a guy! It's disgusting… And there's NO WAY I'll accept you… Not when I like An- "

"Since tennis has let the two of you meet each other, why not use tennis to decide whether Kaidoh-kun will be Momo's boyfriend? I'll be the chair umpire!"

Kaidoh and Takeshi turned to see who had cut into their conversation. It's Tachibana An! Kaidoh was quite appalled and speechless that the girl he had been pursuing was all ready to let Takeshi have him.

"An… An-chan, what brought you here? It's so late already, Tachibana-san will be worried for you-" Kaidoh's sentence was cut by An again.

"Don't worry, Otou-san knows where I am and that I am doing a good deed for Takeshi-san and Kaidoh-kun! Besides, I'm not alone… Kikumaru-chan and Syuichiroh-san are with me, so Otou-san is not worried at all!"

"B… But… An-chan-"

"Kaidoh-kun, haven't you realized your true feelings? I know that you like Momo-chan and your liking me is just a sense of obligation. Anyway, I've decided to accept Atobe-san!" An-chan had expressed Kaidoh's true feelings towards her but Kaidoh was not about to admit that he liked Takeshi!

He looked at An, who was smiling widely and innocently at him, and he thought, What a girl…

Takeshi saw his chance of being with Kaidoh and quickly pulled Kaidoh to the court.

"Yo! Good luck, Momo!" Eiji and Syuichiroh greeted the couple as they approached the court.

"Kaidoh! I'll crush you and make you mine tonight!" Takeshi exclaimed with great excitement, laughing wildly as though he had won the match already.

"Which?" Takeshi asked Kaidoh.

"Smooth."

Takeshi spinned the racket and let it fall onto the ground.

"Too bad, ne! It's rough! Looks like I'm going to be extra lucky tonight!"

Kaidoh gritted his teeth and started to pray that what Takeshi had said wouldn't come true…

"1 set match. Tezuka Takeshi to serve!" An announced the start of the match and Momo immediately served his dunk serve.

"Oh! I guess Momo is seriously excited…" Syuichiroh commented.

"Yeah! His dunk serve has become faster!" Eiji observed.

"Too bad Sadaharu isn't here to compute Momo's new data… I think we'll get to see a new stage of these two's progress tonight, don't you think so Eiji?"

"I totally agree!" Eiji replied and jumped on Syuichiroh, who played around with him until…

"Don't take me like I'm an item to be possessed just because you claim to like it! And certainly don't think that luck's on your side, Takeshi! I will not lose to the likes of you! You hear me? I will NOT lose!" Kaidoh suddenly got pissed off and ranted at Takeshi.

"Nani yo?! Why did Kaidoh become so angry out of the sudden? He's so scary…" Eiji pouted and continued to cling onto Syuichiroh.

"Eiji! Look at the scoreboard!" Syuichiroh forced Kikumaru to let go of him and notice what was going on.

"EH! MAJIDE?! Momo has already won three games in just 10 minutes?!" Eiji couldn't believe what he was seeing and gaped at the scoreboard.

The both of them turned to look at the power player, who was looking all smug and exhilarated at his winning streak so far.