Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama and Card Captor Sakura, especially each anime's characters. Iwase Kumiko-san, Yasuhiro-kun, Maeda Hideki-san and the Reverie Café are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or places are unintentional and coincidental.
Author's Note: This story is not a crossover fanfiction regardless of Daidouji Tomoyo's and Hiiragizawa Eriol's occasional appearances.
Enjoy reading.
The Sadist of Seigaku
Chapter 12: Suspension
"Ohayou gozaimasu!"
Fuji returns the greeting with an amiable smile, all the while sauntering to the corner table in the Reverie Café. Settling himself on one of the chairs, he gives another smile to the waiter who offers him some cookies and tea.
"The usual, Fuji-kun?"
"Hai."
"Sou. They'll be good in a few minutes," the waiter enthusiastically informs him before retreating to the kitchen.
Leaning back on the chair, the light-haired prodigy of Seigaku breathes in the familiar scent of baked bread as he watches the café come to life. Like most bakeries in Seishun, the Reverie is preparing itself for the early morning rush of bread and pastry orders for Sunday breakfast.
People sure have changed tastes a bit, he tells himself.
"Enjoying the scene, Fuji-kun?"
The young man looks up to meet the friendly face of Iwase Kumiko. "Hai, Iwase-san," he answers, giving her an acknowledging nod. "I've been sent again on another mission by Yumiko-neesan."
The owner of the café chuckles at the announcement, quite aware of who Fuji's older sister is.
"She really has this fascination for multi-grain bread."
"So I've heard, Fuji-kun."
The prodigy cocks his head to the right.
"Really?"
Iwase carefully nods as she sits beside him, a teasing smile on her face. "We've noticed that our orders for multi-grain bread increase every Sunday all because of a young man who visits our café as early as six thirty in the morning."
Fuji chuckles at the apparent chiding. "It can't be helped."
"I know, but it's a good thing actually. All thanks to Sakuno-chan, too," Iwase mysteriously trails.
The inquisitive look marring Fuji's face encourages her to continue. "Sakuno-chan spent a few days revamping our menu. She has thought of including those kinds of bread to attract dieters in town," she explains. "Quite the genius, that young girl is."
Fuji smiles at the piece of information, his eyes glazed with an emotion Iwase is very familiar of.
She pauses for a few seconds before deciding to throw down the bait.
"You are falling in love with her, aren't you?"
Fuji finds himself out of breath thereafter, wide eyes betraying the calm in his handsome face.
"I am not aware that I am that obvious."
If anything, Iwase is surprised at the indirect admission. She has encountered many young men Fuji's age who, when asked that kind of question, would react defensively and deny what is obvious. She smiles wanly at her observation before turning back to him. "You aren't. It's a wild guess actually," she admits. "Well, you do treat her differently, but that could mean a lot of different things."
She affectionately pats Fuji's hand.
"Regardless of how indirect your answer is, I am really glad you admitted it."
The prodigy smiles at the motherly gesture, quite unsure of how to react to Iwase knowing that he has more-than-friendly feelings for her student. Nevertheless, he takes it as her sign of approval.
The two are quiet for a few seconds before the proprietress raises another issue.
"Does she know about it?"
Fuji shakes his head to the negative.
"Do you have plans to tell her?"
Fuji pauses before answering. Does he want Sakuno to know? His answer is obvious – it's a 'yes', of course. Then again, he feels it isn't the right time to make a move yet. First, he has just started rebuilding his relationship with Sakuno. He does not want to burden her with a sudden confession of love after they just made up. Moreover, they are still studying, and their utmost priority is to finish school. Advancing their relationship to a romantic one may make things difficult for both of them.
Besides, they are still young. He'd rather take things one day at a time.
Like he said, he'll win her slowly but surely.
Blue eyes shining with conviction, Fuji turns to answer Iwase.
"I'll tell her, when the right time comes."
At that, Iwase cannot help but just gape at him and his answer.
Echizen Ryoma grunts to himself as he walks downtown…
…with Tooyama Kintaro.
For clarification purposes, the red-headed Shitenhouji player has asked the assistance, of yours truly, to look for a café whose name the red-head does not even remember. For the first time in his life, Echizen concludes that he'd rather spend the whole day with a noisy Momo-senpai than a chattering Tooyama Kintaro.
At least, Momo-senpai knows where he wants to go.
"Oi, Koshimae," Kintaro asks as he nudges Echizen. "Should we go this way," he says as he points to the right, "or that way?" he finishes as he points to the left.
Echizen blinks before realization dawns on him.
They are on a crossroad.
Oh yeah.
"Tsk, it would have been easy if you know where you want to go," he sarcastically comments, not knowing where to go as well.
Unfortunately, his statement falls on deaf ears as Kintaro's gaze is now fixed on something – or someone – ahead of them.
"It's you!" He says, pointing at someone in front of them.
"Huh?" Echizen's mind registers blank as he turns to his companion. After recovering from the stupor, he glares at Kintaro for attracting the attention of other passers by. Almost everyone near them has stopped, thinking they are the ones being pointed at by the red-head.
Kintaro does not waiver, however. While he has dropped his hand, he starts grinning like an idiot in public, eyes fixed on a particular person.
Echizen follows Kintaro's line of sight, only to have his heart lurch as uncountable feelings start to reel in him.
"Eh? Me?"
Ryuzaki Sakuno
"Yeah," Kintaro begins as he takes the brave step forward. He takes a few more before stopping just a few inches away from Sakuno.
"I came here to see you."
Girls in the Reverie are swooning at the sight of the tall, young man who has just entered the café.
Who can blame them anyway?
The young man has platinum blonde hair, messed up a bit to look rugged. His eyes are piercingly daunting, with the intensity enough to leave them breathless. His gait is confident and powerful, in a mysteriously quiet way.
Add the naturally good looks and athletic frame, his presence is enough to turn the greatest man-hater to a puddle of goo.
Unaware of the attention he is getting, Shiraishi Kuranosuke walks to an empty table located near that of a group of girls from a distinguished private school.
The prim and proper girls did not even stand a chance as hearts grace their well-schooled faces.
Meanwhile, Shiraishi blinks at how eerily quiet the café is, but he gladly welcomes it. Getting a dose of Tooyama Kintaro's chattering as early as five in the morning would do that to any person. Speaking of his kohai, he pulls out his mobile phone from his pocket and scans his address book for Kintaro's number.
He agreed to go all the way to Seishun in order to satiate Kintaro's interest on the Reverie, only to lose sight of his kohai upon their arrival. He does not even know how that happened. He was dead sure the red-headed ball of lightning was standing beside him when they left the train station in Seishun.
Upon seeing Kintaro's number, he gives it a ring.
Nobody answered.
He mumbles in irritation before snapping the phone shut. Glancing around the café, he smirks as he finds the most interesting sight of all.
Fuji Syuusuke…
…Fuji Syuusuke carrying several bags, each heaping with bread
"Never knew he's quite domesticated," he mutters to himself as he makes a beeline for the shorter athlete.
"Long time no see," he says as he taps Fuji's shoulder.
The prodigy turns to the source of the familiar voice and genuinely smiles at the newcomer.
"Yeah, it's been quite a while, Shiraishi."
"Well, try to think of it as your good deed for the day."
"That statement…you make it seem as if this weren't important to me," Atobe carefully utters, eyes narrowing considerably after hearing Oshitari Yuushi's advice from the other end of the line.
As usual, Oshitari lets go of the sarcastic tone in his friend's voice. Somehow, he understands why Atobe is reacting that way.
His friend has to go shopping.
Technically, men are not that interested with that.
He hears his friend sigh a few seconds later.
"I did not mean it that way, Atobe," Oshitari calmly explains in an effort to placate his friend.
Pacing around his living room, Oshitari warily smiles at Atobe's sudden change in behavior. Only a number of people can say that Atobe has a vulnerable streak in him, and he is one of those.
Anyhow, the issue is not just about shopping.
It's no laughing matter as well.
Atobe Keigo's mother will be celebrating her birthday this coming Friday.
While some may think it easy for a young man as wealthy as Atobe to find a gift for his mother, Oshitari would plead otherwise. Obnoxious as he is, the King of Hyotei is rather particular with the gifts he gives to his important people. He will do whatever he can to make them feel really special.
Just try to think of the birthday celebration of Kabaji Munehiro.
"Try to relax," Oshitari finally says, sitting down on his plush sofa. "You will eventually find a gift for her."
At the other end, Atobe squares his jaw before answering a stiff "Ah."
Pressing the 'end call' button of his mobile phone, the captain of Hyotei's tennis club stands up from a luxurious sofa inside an equally posh clothing store. Approaching a nearby dress, he absentmindedly fingers its sleeve, wondering what it is that would please his mother. He has given her anything the mind can conceive: from extravagant tours abroad to a lavish party at home. He wants something different this time though, but right now, his mind is not processing anything.
He is so deep in thought that for the first time, the young heir of the Atobe clan is unaware of the women's love struck gazes directed at him.
"It's very nice of you as a senpai to accompany Tooyama to Seishun," Fuji slyly comments, earning a raised brow from Shiraishi in the process.
"Oh well," the blonde says as the two walk down town after dropping the bags of bread Fuji bought to his house. "Inevitably, I would have to accompany Kintaro all the way here as he wouldn't stop waving that flyer to my face."
"Flyer?"
"Yeah. It's this one," he says as he pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to Fuji.
The Seigaku prodigy opens the folded sheet of worn paper and visibly stiffens at the picture drawn on it.
Shiraishi misinterprets his reaction.
"Cute girl, ne?" Shiraishi nonchalantly asks, not really expecting an answer in return. "But it isn't that. Kintaro heard Marui Bunta of Rikkai Dai raving about that café the other day and that piqued his curiosity. It did not help that the red-head likes to eat."
"Oh," Fuji rigidly says as he returns the paper to the blonde, quite displeased with the fact that Shiraishi Kuranosuke is keeping a picture – yes, regardless of it being a flyer – of Sakuno-chan with him.
Shiraishi, on the other hand, raises a brow again at the prodigy's unusual behavior, but he decides against pointing it out to Fuji.
"By the way, I've heard that Seigaku has been doing well with the prefecturals," he begins. "Others have high hopes that your team will place first in the regional games again."
It is Fuji's turn to smirk at the apparent bait. "I've heard the same goes with Shitenhouji."
"Really?"
Fuji simply nods at him.
Shiraishi laughs at the flow of their conversation. "Anyway, I think I would have to make myself clearer since you did not take the trap," he says as he seriously looks at Fuji.
"How about we play a match, one on one, against each other?"
The Seigaku prodigy squares his jaw at the offer. He knows that would be coming. Shiraishi wouldn't simply 'accompany' his kohai with nothing for him to gain.
Before Fuji can answer…
"Shi-chan!!!"
…the ominously loud voice of Tooyama Kintaro is heard within the vicinity. Shiraishi immediately scans the crowd for the familiar head of unruly red locks. Fuji does the same. Eventually, the two find the 'missing' Shitenhouji player a few feet from them, flailing his arms to get their attention.
Fuji is amused as he hears his companion groan in embarrassment.
"Oi, where did you go?" Shiraishi asks as his kohai approaches them, Echizen Ryoma lagging a few steps behind.
"He actually came from our house," Echizen butts in, much to the embarrassment of Kintaro. "He mistook it for the Reverie Café."
"Huh?"
Fuji chuckles at the disconcerted look on Shiraishi, who on the other hand, plants a noogie on his kohai's head upon realizing what had happened.
"I would like to apologize for my kohai's actions, Echizen."
"Hn."
"Mou, Shi-chan! Koshimae and I actually enjoyed this trip, ne, Koshimae?"
Shiraishi takes in the noncommittal look on Echizen's face and smirks in amusement. "Anyway, I think I would have to thank you for accompanying Kintaro as well."
"Uhn!" Kintaro enthusiastically nods in agreement, all the while scratching the back of his head.
"Hn."
Fuji chuckles again at the embarrassed reply his kohai has just 'emitted'. He is about to comment on how repressed Echizen's reaction was when he is interrupted by the rumbling sound of thunder.
All four immediately look up.
"Rain was not part of the weather forecast this morning," Shiraishi mutters as he immediately looks for shelter.
With the dark looming clouds fast approaching, Fuji cannot help but take note of the sudden heavy weight slowly sinking in his chest. Somehow, he does not like the thought of having rain showers today.
"There, at the teahouse," Kintaro announces, pointing at a quaint shop a few feet from where they stand.
The rain pours a few seconds after the four settle inside the teahouse.
"Che, quite troublesome," Echizen comments as he watches people outside scram for shelter.
Meanwhile, Shiraishi and Kintaro take their seats at a table near the door and warily start flipping over the menu. The tennis prince is about to do the same when he takes note of the prodigy of their group still standing by the door, mobile phone in hand.
Fuji presses the 'call' sign and immediately brings the phone to his ears. He unconsciously bites his lower lip as he waits for the person on the other line to answer his call.
"Something wrong?" Echizen asks from behind when the prodigy floppily presses the 'end call' button.
Fuji turns to meet his kohai, and Echizen cannot help but take note of the traces of worry in his senpai's usually smiley face.
"Her phone is turned off."
Echizen decides not to ask who the 'her' Fuji is referring to. He already knows the answer by heart. Right then and there, a thought strikes him.
Fuji has this habit of calling the people important to him whenever he feels trouble is near.
Inui-senpai actually mentioned that during one of their club practices. The prodigy spent his break that day calling someone on the phone. Echizen and most of the other regular members did not pay much attention to his odd behavior. A few minutes after that though, they all found out that Fuji Yuuta sprained his ankle during St. Rudolph's practice matches with another school.
Since then, they all become serious whenever Fuji calls someone on the phone with a blank look on his face.
Ryuzaki, I hope you're okay.
Atobe squints upon hearing the sudden pour of the rain.
He has just exited another store and much to his surprise, people are running here and there looking for shelter from the rain. He already told his chauffeur to stay at the parking lot and he does not intend to change his plans.
He has something to do and not even the rain can stop him.
Much to his chagrin, however, he jerks to the right when someone from his left bumps him. He instinctively places most of his weight on his right foot to steady himself as well as the person who bumped him. He is about to apprehend the so-called nuisance when he freezes at the sight of apologetic hazel eyes speaking volumes to him.
"Ano, I'm really s-sorry for bumping you, Atobe-san."
Clenching his jaw, Atobe breathes out as he gathers his cool. Strange as it sounds though, he is somewhat placated at the girl's sincere apology. He is about to acknowledge the apology and simply brush past her when realization dawns upon him.
"You know me?"
"Eh?"
Narrowing his already intense eyes, he looks at the girl with growing interest.
"You heard me, little girl."
"Oh, ano…I u-usually see you during tennis matches whenever my school's team plays against yours."
Atobe carefully nods to that. "And from what school are you?"
"Seigaku."
Oh.
"And your name is?"
She absentmindedly bites her lower lip. "Ano, Ryuzaki Sakuno."
Silence ensues between the two as Atobe carefully nods. He, then, turns at the streets when he hears the rumbling sound of thunder. Sakuno, on the other hand, barely hears the threatening noise, a bit disoriented at the Hyotei player's reaction. She was quite sure he'd snap at her for bumping him. Biting her lower lip, Sakuno looks up at the taller man and is surprised to see the dazed look in his eyes.
Worry for him instantly engulfs her. What if she had hurt him?
"Is there something wrong, Atobe-san?" She softly asks him. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Sakuno slowly approaches the young man, reluctantly placing a comforting hand on his forearm. "Atobe-san?"
Said man immediately looks at her, jolted by her bold but innocent touch. "I'm fine."
Sakuno blinks in confusion before nodding in hesitation. Deeming that he is fine and that she has been forgiven, she picks up her paper bag that fell during their collision before bowing to Atobe to excuse herself.
She has only taken three steps when she is jerked by Atobe's hand grasping her left wrist.
"Wait."
"Eh?"
Pulling the young girl close so that she is a good foot from him, Atobe proceeds to examine her with eagle's eyes. He does not know why, but he feels as if they were meant to meet this day. Noticing her squirming under his intense gaze, he loosens his hold on her wrist as he enigmatically smiles at her.
"I would like to accept your offer."
Sakuno gapes at him as she slowly digests what he is saying.
Atobe smirks at her reaction.
"Ryuzaki Sakuno, help me find a gift for my mother."
Few things amuse Atobe Keigo in a genuinely good way.
In his young life, he has dated many girls. Those dates were either to fulfill his obligation as heir to the Atobe clan or just out of his whim. Most of the time, it would be the latter but he almost always get what he wants. Besides, who can resist his charm?
While Tachibana An's case may be an exception, he does not hold it against him.
The girl was just in denial.
As he has observed, girls react to his presence differently, but almost always, he gets the same reaction whenever he takes them out to a posh store or a luxurious restaurant: they ogle at anything they see or get so self-conscious they freeze all over. Some act stoic as if they're used to every thing they see, but he knows better. Though not entirely disconcerted, he is strangely amused at their antics; strangely amused because he has never thought that those girls could get so caught up with themselves even amidst his presence.
This time, however, is an entirely different experience.
He and Sakuno are roaming around a posh department store to look for a gift for his mother. He has seen her gape at the size and atmosphere of the store, but instead of gushing out at how 'cute' one dress is or how 'adorable' one piece of jewelry is, she is focused on the one thing he asked of her: help him find a gift for his mother.
While she does not appear immune to the luxury of the things around her, he is pleased with the way she looks at an item and consults him for an opinion. For Atobe Keigo, Ryuzaki Sakuno has in mind the interest of his mother and not what she thinks his mother would like.
"Ano, Atobe-san," Sakuno's soft voice disrupts his musings. "How about this one?" She asks as she holds up a delicate piece of Swarovski crystal for him to see.
With an expert's eye, he takes the item from her and examines it.
"Ano, do you think she will like that?"
A tingling sensation runs down Atobe's spine as he recognizes what the item is. Of all crystal figurines in the shelf, Sakuno has chosen a replica of the Louvre in Paris.
He remembers telling her that his mother is particularly fond of her trips to Europe.
She has listened to him intently and tried to pick a gift based on the clues he dropped.
He has not felt so touched and turned on all his life.
Squaring his jaw to control a smile, Atobe puts back the item in the shelf, shaking his head gently. While he is impressed with Sakuno's selection, he has noted that his mother has a number of equally beautiful pieces. He wants his gift to stand out.
Sakuno limply nods at his decision Adjusting her hold on her paper bag, she takes a peek whether the clothes inside have wet it already. She bites her lower lip, seeing the recognizable darker shade of brown at the bottom of the bag.
She sneezes afterwards.
"Is something wrong?"
Sakuno looks up at Atobe and immediately shakes her head. He cocks his head, somehow unconvinced at the worried look marring her beautiful face. To Sakuno's relief, however, the taller man drops the subject.
She does not want him to know that she had to run in the rain and that her sneeze may be the after-effects of what happened.
The two continue to walk in the department store in silence. Atobe is getting a bit edgy as he sees the time. It is already five in the afternoon and he has not found anything yet.
"We're not going anywhere," he mutters through clenched teeth, combing back his hair with his fingers in frustration.
Sakuno looks up at him again before bowing her head in contemplation. An idea is forming in her head, but how to say that to Atobe Keigo is a different issue.
"Ano, Atobe-san," she carefully begins, taking note of his facial expression. "Would you like to prepare dinner for your mother?"
Atobe Keigo blinks at her suggestion.
Prepare dinner?
Him?
His raised brow makes Sakuno gulp.
"Ano, I mean, mothers tend to…ah… appreciate it if we do something unusual for them, n-ne?" She asks, stuttering.
She bites her lower lip again seeing his blank face.
Atobe inwardly staggers at her suggestion. He will prepare dinner for his mother? From the looks of it, she isn't suggesting a lavish party he has been used to giving his mother. She is proposing an intimate dinner with him and his parents alone to celebrate his mother's birthday.
Atobe stops walking as he contemplates.
It is an ingenious idea, but there is one problem.
"Ore-sama has not tried his hands on cooking."
He is not saying he does not know how to cook. He is just saying he has not…tried cooking.
Sakuno blinks at him before smiling gently.
The "ore-sama" expression is back. While aware that some are annoyed at the way Atobe refers to himself, Sakuno is genuinely happy that he is back to his usual self – without him noticing it.
"Ano, that won't be a problem, Atobe-san. We'll go look for a cookbook. You just have to follow what the recipe says and you'll be fine."
It is now Atobe's turn to blink at her encouragement. Cocking his head, he smirks at her. She is simply full of surprises; so refreshing in his eyes.
"Well then, let's go look for a cookbook."
Echizen pockets a tennis ball as he strolls all the way home. It has been a long Sunday and he is intent on grabbing a pillow and sleep the minute he gets home.
He pauses in mid-step as he finds himself passing by the Reverie Café. Adjusting the bill of his baseball cap, he grunts as he realizes that his life, as well as the town, has changed because of the café. He has encountered many strange people who would either make fun of him or tease with about his so-called 'lovelife' – and they came to town just to visit the café.
Echizen puckers his lips as continues walking. A few minutes later, he finds himself at the high-end shopping district of the town.
Eh? I've never been to this place before, he tells himself.
Deciding that it isn't really bad to take a detour on the way home, he continues with his leisurely pace of walking only to stop at the sight of Atobe Keigo and Ryuzaki Sakuno.
Say what?!
Meanwhile, Atobe is escorting Sakuno to his awaiting car. The young heir is quite glad, to say the least, of how things have turned out for the best. He has a gift for his mother, and while he has to do some cookbook reading at home later, he does not mind at all. Of course, he has expressed his utmost gratitude to the auburn-haired girl by treating her to a lavish restaurant for a light dinner.
Then again, there is one thing that is threatening to spoil his mood.
His dear auburn-haired princess is being stubborn. She is refusing his offer to drive her all the way home.
Girls would kill just to be with him in his car, but the auburn-haired girl is not buying it. Then again, he has accepted that she is different from the rest, and regardless of her child-like innocence, the young girl has a strong spirit.
For sure though, it is something he can definitely manage.
"Ano, I'll be fine, Atobe-san," Sakuno murmurs. "Ano, a-"
Sakuno simply squeaks as said young man grabs her wrist and pulls her to him. Then, Atobe hooks an index finger under her chin for her to look up at him. Instead of a retort of some sort, however, Atobe finds his throat going dry at the sight of her red-tainted cheeks. Guilt washes over him as he takes note that the blush on her pale skin is far from healthy-looking. Clenching his teeth and giving her his best 'determined' look, he leads her to his car as his chauffeur opens the door.
He immediately stands behind her to keep her from running away.
"Just take Ore-sama's gratitude as it is," he softly whispers to her, bending to her height.
Sakuno innocently looks up at him before nodding her assent. It would be rude of her to reject his offer even though she knows she can go home all by herself.
But before she steps into the car…
"Oi."
…Echizen Ryoma decides to intervene.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Tezuka's protégé."
Echizen glares at Atobe for the nickname.
"Where are you going to take Ryuzaki?"
Atobe cocks his head to his right, surprised at the question. He looks at Sakuno before turning to Echizen. "What is it with you?"
If Echizen's glare could get any more lethal, Atobe would have been dead meat.
"She's my classmate."
Atobe sneers at his pathetic answer. "Oh. How sweet of you."
Echizen lets a low growl. He better not mess up and drop a clue or else he will never hear the end of it from the monkey king of Hyotei. Gathering his cool, he retorts by giving his best blank face.
"Ano," Sakuno miraculously interrupts the brewing war with her soft voice. "Ryoma-san…"
Her voice drifts off, however. She actually does not know what to say to a schoolmate who spots her with someone from a different school. While she knows Echizen is not a busybody, she does not want him to think something is between her and Atobe.
Echizen is pacified a bit after hearing her call his name. Honestly, he does not know why the two are together, but knowing that Atobe can be very insistent on what he wants, he concludes that Sakuno has been forced to go on a 'date' by the captain of their rival school.
He only huffs at that. Turning to her, his brows crease with worry at the sight of her pale face. "Oi, are you alright?" He asks as he takes the few but bold steps forward.
"Uhn."
Seeing the way the two are interacting, Atobe firmly clasps his hand on Sakuno's shoulder in an effort to discourage Echizen from 'kidnapping' her. "Well Echizen, we'd better go home. You should as well."
Realizing that it would be better for his pale-faced classmate to be driven home even by the insufferable captain of the Hyotei tennis club, he resigns to just narrowing his eyes in suspicion. He does not like Atobe's sudden protectiveness of Sakuno.
"Ano, take care, Ryoma-san," are the last words he hears from Sakuno before she gets into the car.
"I'll see you and Tezuka at the games, Echizen," Atobe says in a chiding tone before he himself gets into the car.
A few seconds later, Echizen finds himself following the dark figure of Atobe's car driving past him.
Digging his hand into his pocket, he fishes out the tennis ball and squishes it with huge amount of force.
Today just isn't my day.
"He really asked that?"
Oishi Syuuichirou is rather surprised at what Fuji just told him.
Shiraishi Kuranosuke is basically asking for a rematch.
Yes, Fuji just told him about what happened at the quaint teahouse yesterday.
Fuji nods to the affirmative, taking note of the traces of worry in the vice-captain's face.
"Have you told Tezuka about it?"
"Not yet."
"He may stop you."
"I know," Fuji replies. "But I don't have plans of backing out on the game."
"I'm fine with it. Just tell me when and where, the prodigy remembers himself telling Shiraishi before he and his kohai board the train.
Sighing in resignation, Oishi adjusts his hold on the strap of his duffel bag. "Well, I'd leave that to you and Tezuka to talk about."
Fuji simply nods again.
The two proceed to walk quietly along the hallway. They, as well as the other regular members of the tennis club who are still at the courts, are going to meet at a room Tezuka specifically reserved for them. On the way, Fuji discloses that he met the captain of Shitenhouji yesterday and that he has been offered with a rematch. If he were Fuji, he would have thought twice in accepting the offer, considering Tezuka's stand on unofficial matches against players from other schools. Then again, Fuji has a bigger…rebellious streak than him.
The prodigy will stand well against their captain.
Taking a furtive glance of his teammate, he breathes out a controlled sigh knowing that something bigger than the rematch with Shiraishi is bothering Fuji.
"I'm fine, Oishi."
Oishi blinks before scratching an invisible itch at the back of his head, quite surprised for being caught. "Well, something's amiss with you. You've been so quiet today."
A pregnant pause passes between the two before the prodigy decides to answer.
"She has not been answering my calls."
"She?"
"Sakuno-chan."
"Oh."
Oh…
"Uh, well," Oishi begins, getting quite uncomfortable with the topic. He just isn't used to the prodigy opening up with his personal life. "When were you calling her?"
"Just a few minutes ago," Fuji answers. "Right after club practice."
"Are you supposed to meet her?"
"No," is Fuji's soft reply. "Sakuno-chan is supposed to be at the Reverie for her training today, but I did not see her pass by the school grounds during practice. She walks by at that time."
Oishi absentmindedly nods at the information given, secretly intrigued at the fact that Fuji Syuusuke, even at the heat of battle, is still aware of his surroundings. Noticing that they have arrived at the meeting room, he grabs the knob and opens the door.
"Well, her schedule may have changed," he suggests.
Fuji narrows his blue eyes as he enters the room. Oishi has a point. Sakuno's schedule may have changed and that may be the reason why he did not see her pass by the school grounds during club practice. And maybe she is not answering his calls because her phone is not at her reach. His good head is reeling with possibilities, but even then, the warm and heavy feeling in his chest has not been subdued.
He just hopes nothing bad has happened to his favorite kohai.
"Hm, this is the first time Tezuka would be meeting us in this setting," he suddenly comments, trying to change the topic of conversation.
Oishi wryly grins at the remark as he takes in the rows of chairs settled on pitched floors. The classroom is like a mini-lecture hall. This is not the first time he will be discussing training menus with Tezuka inside a classroom with such layout. Then again, such meetings have always been among the coach, the captain and the vice-captain. Somehow though, Tezuka has decided that it would be good for the team if others would participate in their meetings.
Oishi slowly walks to the board and writes the date on it. Fuji, meanwhile, pauses from roaming around the room as he spies a figure slumped near a chair. He immediately runs to the person's aid, only to stop as he takes in the most horrifying sight in his life:
The slumped figure belongs to the lifeless form of Ryuzaki Sakuno, sprawled on one of the treads of the stairs.
The prodigy feels his heart take the plunge to the ground as he runs to her, screaming her name in terror.
"SAKUNO!"