Summary: POT Headlines! Tezuka Kunimitsu, the stoic, expressionless and rocky captain is finally rumored to be involved in a love triangle with the Seigaku Student Council Vice-Chairperson and Hyotei Tennis Club Buchou Atobe Keigo! Full story inside. Editor-in-Chief: Mizuki Hajime
Main Pairings [with a twist]: OCxAtobexFujixTezuka, YukimuraxSanada
Minor pairings: to be revealed in the future… ^__^
Disclaimer: POT belongs to Konomi Takeshi.
Chapter 1: A Day in the Life of Tezuka Kunimitsu
6:00 AM
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGG!
Tezuka groaned and turned off the alarm clock on his bedside table. He reached for his glasses and got off his bed to stretch his muscles. He opened the curtains and allowed the sunshine to enter his room. He got the towel from the rack and proceeded to the bathroom to take an invigorating shower.
To him, this was no more than a daily morning routine. He got used to waking up early, may it be weekdays or weekends. He held the complete balance of his life. He managed to perfect the art of juggling a very busy schedule and still getting enough sleeping hours. No wonder he's got no eye bags, low blood pressure or any other sign of being stressed.
Finally, after 20 minutes in the shower, he got out of the bathroom with only a towel covering the lower part of his body. He dried his hair and then changed into his uniform. He grabbed his tennis bag and went downstairs to eat breakfast.
He set his bag beside him and took a seat on their dining table. His mother, Tezuka Ayana was busy setting the table with their usual breakfast.
"Ohayou, Kunimitsu!" Ayana cheerfully greeted.
"Ohayou okaa-san." Tezuka replied with his usual poker face on.
Sitting across him was his father, Tezuka Kuniharu, who was currently reading the day's newspaper.
"Kunimitsu, did you happen see my attaché case?" he said, lowering the paper to see his son's face.
"No." Tezuka said as he poured himself a glass of juice.
The last one to be seated at the center of the table was his grandfather, Tezuka Kunikazu. He pulled out the chair and carefully sat down. Tezuka noticed the letter in his grandpa's hand but he didn't give much attention to it.
"Kunimitsu, I have something urgent to tell you." His grandfather started.
Tezuka inwardly cringed. He was starting to have bad vibes on the path of this conversation. "What is it, Ojii-san?"
Kunikazu cleared his throat. "My old friend, Shinomiya Junichiro sent me this letter from Europe." He paused, breaking the news down slowly. "He asked me if you and his granddaughter could be engaged for your future financial security."
Tezuka felt a lump of food stuck in his throat. He downed the stuck piece and his dumbfounded-ness with a whole glass of juice. "What? And you agreed?" He finally spoke.
"I'm about to do so. I have talked to your parents about this and I have decided to give him my answer anytime next week." Kunikazu said, handing him the letter. "She'll be back here in couple of months so everything should be arranged by then."
Tezuka eyed his mother and his father before reading the contents of the dreaded letter. "Ojii-san, this can't… I'm sorry but I can't let this can't happen." He calmly said. "This is all so sudden."
Kunikazu raised an eyebrow. "Are you defying me? This is for your future, Kunimitsu. You know I don't insist on anything that would jeopardize you." He said, slightly raising his voice. "What are your reasons?"
Tezuka lowered his gaze. "It's because… I'm…" Tezuka Kunimitsu, think!
"If you're thinking about your tennis career, it wouldn't be a bother. You're going to get married as soon as you feel that you have accomplished everything you wanted."
Now that tennis is out, Tezuka has now run out of excuses. His grandfather sternly looked at him, waiting for an answer.
Tezuka clutched his glass firmly. "I already have a special someone."
Ayana choked and Kuniharu dropped his cup at the same time. "NANI?"
"You *cough* have a girl*cough cough* friend and you *cough* didn't even bother to tell us?" Ayana said, struggling to talk while coughing. Kuniharu was caressing her back to relieve her.
Tezuka calmly offered his mother something to drink, which she accepted. "I'm sorry for not informing you about this…" This lie and nothing but a lie.
"My son, you have finally grown up into a real man!" Kuniharu shook Tezuka's hand, clearly congratulating him. "I can't believe it!"
"Who is this girl? When and where did you meet her?" His grandfather interrogated.
Tezuka felt his whole body stiffen. "I will introduce her to you… next week."
Kunikazu gazed at his grandson intently. He had doubts in his mind but since it's his grandson, he trusted him enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Hn. I will give this girl a chance. If she is not worthy, I will send my yes to Junichiro. However as of now, my decision will still stand. Do you understand?"
"Hai. I understand." Tezuka replied as he stood up. "I'll take my leave."
"Take care Mitsu." His father said.
"And take care of the girl too!" His mother added.
The three remaining people heard the front door slam.
Kunikazu shook his head and folded his arms. "What am I going to say to Junichiro? This was against my expectations."
"Maa, otousan," Ayana sipped her tea. "You should relax. I'm sure Junichiro-san would understand."
"But that kid doesn't understand…"
"Otousan, I know we have agreed about this but let's just see how this turns out." Kuniharu said. "And don't be biased about it."
Kunikazu sighed.
oooooo
Tezuka, to be exact, was overly flabbergasted. The calm and collected captain walked on a faster pace than usual. He tried to tell himself that the shenanigan that happened was a nightmare but unfortunately, it wasn't. He couldn't believe that one damned letter could take his life to a 180 degree turn. To top it all, he couldn't believe himself for blurting out the lamest excuse ever. He wasn't supposed to let his guard down at all times and this morning, he definitely did.
Tezuka stopped by on a bench, trying to regain his composure. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He took out his phone and scanned his phone directory for people whom he could talk to. Even though he seems like a rock and all that, he can't keep bottling up the stress inside. He had to talk to someone who could possibly help him get through this nightmare.
'Atobe…'
He and the Hyotei buchou indeed shared a degree of closeness that he didn't have with anyone but… he had to find other choices.
'Echizen...'
He shook his head. The brat didn't have the maturity to help him.
'Fuji…'
That sadist? Never. Not even in his dreams.
'Inui…'
Definitely not. He couldn't reveal this precious piece of data to him.
'Oishi.'
The Fukubuchou had his trust but he was not the right person.
He scanned his phone until the last entry but still, he went back to this name:
"Atobe."
oooooo
40-0! Hyotei- Atobe's lead! Match point!
"YOSHA!" Atobe expressed.
"WHOOOOOOOOOO! GO ATOBE!"
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! ATOBE-SAMA!"
"KATSU NO WA HYOTEI! THE WINNER WILL BE HYOTEI! THE WINNER WILL BE—"
Atobe snapped his fingers and hushed the audience. "Me."
The cheers of victory… the yells of triumph… it was music to his ears. He didn't mind the scorching heat or the sweat that drenched him all over. His only focus was to defeat the person standing on the other side of the court—his ultimate rival, Sanada Genichiro.
He watched Sanada's fierce expression as he dribbled the tennis ball. "Sorry, Sanada, but this game's mine!"
He tossed the ball up and was more than prepared to hit his tannhaüser serve and…
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Keigo-bocchama?"
"Ugh." Atobe rolled under his sheets, trying to rewind the scene in his mind.
"Keigo-bocchama,"
"What the hell is it? Interrupting my pleasant dream at this time. Tch." He snapped, trying to get his eyes open.
"Tezuka-sama is on the line. He says it's urgent." His butler said from the other side of the door.
Oh? Tezuka? "Give me the phone." Atobe said with one eye still closed.
His butler went in and handed him the phone. "You may leave now." Atobe ordered.
The butler bowed his head and left. Atobe sat up as he pressed the talk button.
"Hello." he sleepily said.
"Atobe…" Tezuka said, still having second thoughts.
"Hm…?"
"I..." Tezuka hesitated.
"You…?"
Silence came from the other line.
"Oi, Tezuka." The Hyotei captain said, his eyes still drooping. "If the urgent thing you're going to talk about is this, I'm hanging up."
"Wait." Tezuka said, his voice raising a little. "I need your help."
Atobe's eyes shot open with curiosity and interest. It was like a bucket of ice-cold water thrown at his face. "My, a miracle from the heavens has been bestowed upon Ore-sama. You rarely ask me or anyone for help."
"Atobe…"
"Okay, okay." He stifled a yawn. "What is it?"
Tezuka cleared his throat. "My grandfather informed me just this morning that he's going to get me engaged to his friend's granddaughter. He'll get everything arranged before the next couple of months."
Atobe suppressed another yawn. "So? Isn't that a good thing? You finally have a lovelife."
"No, it isn't. And on top of that, to escape from Ojii-san's judgment, I told him… that I'm already..." Tezuka paused, hesitating to tell him the word. "…committed to someone else." He hastily murmured.
"What? I didn't catch that."
Tezuka sighed. "I told him that I have a girlfriend."
Silence.
"Pffft- wh- hahahahaha… you what?" Atobe said, trying to talk while in the midst of laughter.
"Atobe…" Tezuka's glasses flashed in anger as he put the phone away from his ear to protect his ears from his friend's eardrum-busting laughter. He knew this would happen but it was too late to wish he hadn't done it. "This isn't a laughing matter." He firmly said.
Atobe released his final chuckle and sniffled. "I couldn't help it... It's just that… the words Tezuka and girlfriend don't match…" He said.
"…"
"Okay, okay. So you're asking me to help you find the 'perfect' lady, right?"
"Apparently, yes."
"Hmm… that's simple." Atobe said, fiddling with his hair. "You have a LOT of fangirls. Pick a decent one; introduce her to your family and poof. You're done."
"It would cause a lot of trouble." He said, thinking that even his most normal fangirl would squeal to death if he told her the situation he's in.
"It could have been easier if there was some girl who is closely linked to you." Atobe said.
"I just need someone who could understand that all of this is just strictly business."
"A girl who doesn't worship you, you mean?"
"Yes."
"Seriously, Tezuka, I honestly do not know of any girl who doesn't adore you."
"This isn't the time for flattery, Atobe." Tezuka sarcastically remarked.
"I'm not trying to flatter you. Besides, I have more fangirls than you do."
Tezuka sighed. "Let's go back to the topic."
"Okay." Atobe said. "But do you seriously think that this is going to work? No offense, but that excuse won't fool your grandfather for long."
"I know that." Tezuka said. "But if I could keep up this scheme for a few months, he will decide to call it off."
"But isn't 'a few months' too long? You could get tangled in another messy situation with that."
Tezuka sighed deeply. "I can't think of any other option but to go with this right now. This is already more messy and tangled than you think."
"Okay then. Suit yourself." Atobe said. "So you're looking for someone who doesn't worship you at your feet, eh?"
"Yes."
Atobe suddenly thought of a bright idea. "Well, there might be someone after all."
"And who might that be?"
The ice king smirked. "My girlfriend."
A/N: How was it guys? ^__^ please do tell me your thoughts and comments so I can improve…