DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS. NOT NOW, NOT EVER.

7. Atobe HATES being compared to Tezuka.

Atobe was on the edge of his patience. Hyotei and Seigaku had a joint practice and Ryoma kept comparing Atobe to Tezuka, who by the way was still in Germany.

"Monkey King, you're like Tezuka-bucho when he gets mad. He gives everyone laps even if the crime wasn't that big…"

"Monkey King, you're like Tezuka-bucho when he commands everyone and with one word, everyone agrees…"

"Monkey King, you're like Tezuka-bucho… You actually know Zero-Shiki Drop Shot…"

Those were three of the many other lines his bratty prince told him.

Oshitari sighed as he shook his head. "You better stop that pillar of yours before Atobe blows his top. We all know he hates Tezuka. And that gaki is comparing him to Tezuka." He said but Fuji, Eiji, Momoshiro, Mukahi, Ryo, and Jirou wanted to see how long Atobe was going to last. They even made bets, "I'm betting Atobe will snap at Echizen before this day is over." Momo said confidently. "Iie, Atobe will snap when he hits the showers." Ryo smirked. Eiji agreed with Ryo. Fuji, Mukahi and Jirou watched Atobe carefully.

Ryoma had been pulled away by Oishi for a light rally with Hiyoshi. Atobe had sighed and shook his head. "Atobe's going to snap when Echizen compares him one more time to Tezuka." The three chorused. They looked serious and were pretty sure of their theory. This made Ryo, Eiji, and Momo think that maybe the other three was right. Out of nowhere, Inui popped in in the middle of the group with his notebook open. "89.879% sure that Fuji, Mukahi, and Jirou are correct. Judging from how Atobe looked before and after Echizen had left, it was clear that one more comment from the freshman rookie was going to send him on a trip to the nurse's office."

Now the betting group knew that Inui was right. He was not known as The Data Tennis Player for nothing. They all silently looked back and waited to see if Fuji, Mukahi and Jirou would be right just as Inui had said.

They were all half way through the joint practice session when Atobe had returned from the Nurse's office. He was looking a little better and the Hyotei captain was in time to see his beloved's mock match come to an end. Atobe had a stoic expression on his face, he was lost in his thoughts. "Though Ore-sama does not doubt that he loves that cocky brat…It's just that… Sometimes, Ore-sama just want to strangle him with his bare hands…" Atobe didn't notice that Ryoma had managed to stand next to him and look at the direction the older boy was looking at. Ryoma then looked up at Atobe's face, being reminded of someone else.

"Ne, Monkey King…" the dark haired wonder called out.

Atobe snapped out of his thoughts and looked down at the person who was calling him. He sneered for a second when he realized that his beloved had called him by that awful name once again. "What is it brat?" he answered.

Ryoma looked away, "You know…. When you were lost in your thoughts and looked like you were far away…" he began.

Atobe was listening. It wasn't always that his Ryoma would speak so maturely and notice his actions. "What about them?" he asked.

Ryoma smiled for a few moments which made Atobe's breath hitch up. Ryoma had actually smiled. In public. Where everyone could see him.

"You know… Just for that very moment…" he trailed off.

Atobe was waiting patiently for Ryoma to finish his sentence. What was he going to say? Was Ryoma going to say that when he looked lost in deep thoughts was that he looked more amazing that he already was? Atobe began to smile slowly. It was yet to happen that Ryoma would say out loud that Atobe was amazing.

"Just for that very moment, you look like Tezuka-bucho when he watches us during practice." Ryoma finished and loud enough for the people close enough to hear, meaning Fuji, Mukahi, Jirou, Inui, Ryo, Choutaro, Oshitari and Momo.

Silence.

No one said anything.

Not even Atobe.

Yet.

Then they waited.

Atobe was processing what Ryoma had just said.

"You look like Tezuka-bucho when he watches us during practice…"

"Look like Tezuka-bucho…"

" Like Tezuka-bucho…"

"Tezuka-bucho…"

" Tezuka…"

Atobe snapped.

"Argh! You insufferable—" he didn't finished. Ryoma's death glare was locked on him.

"Insufferable what, Keigo?" Ryoma's voice was laced with icy venom.

The ones nearby shivered, even Fuji.

"Nevermind!" he said as he stomped away, leaving Ryoma to watching him in confusion.

From behind Ryoma, his sempai's were laughing and snickering. Some even tried to hide their laughter behind their hands. This made Ryoma a lot more confusing.

"Did I say something wrong?" Ryoma asked.

This statement just made everyone else laugh harder.

It was indeed true that their baby Ryoma was still innocent and a bit dense when it came to a few certain things connecting to Atobe Keigo.

"Not at all, Echizen. Not at all." Fuji said as he smiled along with Mukahi and Jirou.

A/N: Read and Review. Constructive Criticisms are very much welcomed.

Thanks to those who have reviewed this new series. I hope you guys won't get tired of reading my tales. ^_^

And I humbly apologized to everyone who are reading this story of mine. Real life really just got so busy that I had no time to write much. Well, I hope to be finishing this story within this week so I can start writing request stories as I said in my profile. ^_^