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, Furuya Akiyoshi, Furusawa Maya and the Reverie Café are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or places are unintentional and coincidental.
The Sadist of Seigaku
Chapter 18: Abduction
I want to take her to Paris with me.
He knew that he can't be with her always, but to think of her being several thousand miles away from him never crossed his mind. Genius as he is, he has his own aspiration of being near his beloved people almost always.
Every step he made was robotic; every second that passed was torture for him. Dread filled his stomach and he felt the walls of the hallway closing in on him. He never thought of the Reverie building as scary, but now, he just wants to find Sakuno and take her as far as he could go.
He quietly opens the first door he sees, walks in to the room and scans for people inside. Sharp blue eyes immediately focused on the couch by the left wall; the couch where his favorite kohai is half-sitting and half-sprawled on. With large bold steps, he approaches the sleeping figure of Sakuno and kneels by her side.
"Ne, Sakuno-chan?" He tests the depth of her sleep by asking a question, along with caressing the auburn locks of the girl. Finding that Sakuno isn't just taking a nap, he scoots closer to her. "I am so tempted to kidnap you right now; take you to a place far away from Iwase-san and Furusawa-san..."
He stopped whispering to her when he heard her groan in her sleep. A few seconds later, Sakuno shifts her position on the couch to sleepily sit up; eyes being rubbed the way a child does. All that while, Fuji Syuusuke took pleasure in staring at her, despite the dread conquering his stomach.
"Syuusuke-senpai?"
"Yeah, it's me, Sakuno-chan," he says before sitting beside her. "Why are you still here?"
She looked up at him, bit her lower lip before abruptly turning away; and that was when the weight of the circumstance came crashing on him.
Lean, muscled arms slowly wrapped around the small body beside him. He felt her wrap around her arms around his torso too, and then she started hiccupping.
Sakuno cried away all the confusion she felt that night, her whimpers muffled by Fuji's jacket. They stayed that way for almost an hour, never caring the time that passed or the worried family members that could be searching for them. After what seemed like eternity, Sakuno finally pulls away from her senpai's arms and looks up at him; squarely this time.
"Furusawa-san wants me to be her understudy. She told me that if I agree, I would be going to Paris with her to study there," she whispered. "That would be for university, though, so I have two years...left. In the meantime, she and Maya-san offered to take me to Paris during school break for a tour."
"What did you say?"
Sakuno bites her lip a second time. "I told her I'll think about it...I've always wanted something like this senpai, but the thought of leaving my friends behind is difficult."
Fuji continued staring at her, eyes drawn to the tears running down her cheeks.
"What do you want to do?"
Sakuno shook her head, and Fuji instinctively pulls her to him again. "I don't know yet senpai. It just came to me too fast. I'm not prepared for it."
"To make a decision," he rewords it for her.
She meekly nods at him, leaning on his right chest as his hand had guided her to do. What does she really want to do? She is only sixteen; she has two years to at least think of what she wants to do for college, and even before it could happen, this arrives. It isn't that she dislikes this; the opportunity presented to her is too golden, for that she is sure. Then again, it is beyond her comfort level and she does not know what to do next.
"Take time in thinking, Sakuno," Fuji finally tells her. "Don't let your fears get the best of you." Even if I fear for the worst myself.
I do not plan to lose you
"Hai."
But I do not want to take your dreams away
He felt her small arms wrap around his torso yet again, a gesture he found he would always want to happen. "Thank you, senpai," she whispered. "Thank you for everything."
Fuji just laid his head on top of hers, never giving a word. For a man who acts fast and does things fast, it pains him not to know immediately her take on this offer. He would have to leave everything to her.
Not being able to control is agony, but he loves her too much to take what she deserves
Atobe Keigo adjusts the cuffs of his white shirt before looking at himself in front of the mirror. Satisfied with the way he looked, he walks towards the door of his room only to hear his butler knock at the other end.
"Keigo-sama, the Madam is already waiting for you downstairs."
He does not give a reply, but instead, he opens the door and casually nods at the butler. After walking across the numerous hallways and walking down the stairs to the dining room, Atobe Keigo finds himself stopping in the middle of the hallway, his mother's cheerful laugh disrupting him.
There is absolutely no wrong with her laugh, it is just that he knows that she is entertaining a guest and that must be someone she genuinely likes. Being an Atobe has its own ups and downs. Most of the time, his mother is left to deal with women who just want to get acquainted with her because of her status. His mother would laugh with them, but it was more of a diplomatic laugh, if you could call it like that.
But this time, her laugh has a certain ring to it...like having to hear lively bells ringing
"Who is mother's guest for dinner?"
"Oh, it is one of her closest friends, Furusawa Maya-san, Keigo-sama."
"Furusawa Maya?" The name is certainly familiar.
Dismissing the thought, he proceeds to enter the dining room only to be stunned by another genuine laugh from his mother.
"Oh, Keigo-kun, come have dinner with us," his mother tells him as he kisses her on the forehead. "By the way, I'd like you to meet Furusawa Maya, my friend since my university days."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Furusawa-san."
"Likewise. I have heard many things about you from your mother," the guest amiably greets back with a sly look on her face.
"Maya-chan!"
"Ehn? I hope those are good things," the youngest Atobe chides back as he gives his mother a playful smile.
"Oh, they are all good things all right. You'll make any mother proud of your achievements."
Stunned for the second day at the sincere praise, Atobe Keigo just gives his mother's hand an affectionate squeeze before taking his place at the dinner table. Dinner was pleasant all throughout, and the Hyotei tennis club captain quietly took pleasure at the sight of his beloved mother genuinely happy with a guest.
"Oh, by the way, Maya-chan, how long will you stay in Japan?"
"I'll be staying until school summer break. I have to honor my agreement with a television network to do a documentary, then, I'll fly to Paris again."
The two women kept on talking with whatever they could think of over dinner, while Atobe Keigo's head is elsewhere.
Furusawa Maya...of course, isn't she the celebrated Japanese chef and restaurateur in France? Forking a piece of his fillet mignon, Atobe counts down all the well-critiqued shows of their guest, until a certain piece of information disturbs him.
"I met someone today; someone who I want to be my protégé."
"Really? Who?"
"She's an apprentice of one of my good friends, Iwase Kumiko, owner of the Reverie Cafe downtown. I already invited the dear little girl for a trip back to Paris."
The conversation is interrupted by the sound of silver cutlery hitting against porcelain.
Atobe Keigo's mother immediately turns to her son who looks as pale as a piece of paper. "Keigo-kun, is everything all right?"
The Hyotei captain unseeingly heaves a sigh and gives his mother a small smile. "I'm all right, haha-ue," he says as he wipes his mouth with the napkin before standing up. "Pardon me for my manners, but I would have to excuse myself right at the moment."
The madam looked uncertain at his request, but her son is visibly perplexed despite his efforts to keep it to himself. "All right. You are excused."
"Thank you."
After receiving his clearance to leave the dining table, Atobe Keigo rushes out of the room and onto wherever his feet would take him; his loyal butler and guardian at his heels.
"Keigo-sama!"
The young master paid the old man no heed. He rushes out of the main building and on to the outer gardens, all the while unbuttoning his vest. When he was a few feet from the swimming pool, he jumps to it and lands on the water, back first.
"Keigo-sama!"
He heard the old butler's panicky voice; he knew that in a few minutes, his mother would come out from the dining room to find out what happened to him; he knew that his father would ask why he did what he just do. Nevertheless, he allowed his prone body partially float and partially sink on the cool water, hoping that it would, somehow, calm his frazzled nerves.
It does not take a genius to know that the one Furusawa Maya wants to take as her protégé is Ryuzaki Sakuno.
He does not have to be a genius to know that he likes that girl.
Badly
It is not love yet, for that he is sure, but it may just be treading to that path.
And if she leaves Japan for Paris, he would be truly devastated.
"Uwa!"
"Eiji!"
The red-head turns to his best friend of several years, a glorious puppy pout adorning his boyish face. "I'm hurt Oishi. Why do you reprimand me?"
Oishi sighs at his friend's antics before smiling to himself. Well, there is really no need to be uptight even if they are passing by the hallway near the teachers' offices. The two then stop by a wooden door, with Oishi knocking on it. A muffled voice at the other end is heard, and the two take it as a queue to enter, only to stop on their tracks to see Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi standing at the left side of Ryuuzaki-sensei's table. Tezuka Kunimitsu and Echizen Ryoma are standing at the other side.
It was like the clash of the tennis greats, one way or the other. Oishi could not help but stifle another sigh at the empty chair by the coach's table.
Just another day for peace-making Oishi Syuuichirou
"Errr...what is happening here?"
"Happening, you ask?" Atobe turns to Eiji who visibly ruffles at the question. There's something about Atobe Keigo nowadays that does not sit good with Eiji.
"We'll be having the mock matches with Hyotei this weekend," Tezuka answers for all of them.
"At Ore-sama's vacation house at the outskirts of Tokyo," Atobe finishes for him.
"Eh?"
"We'll have to seek Ryuuzaki-sensei's approval on this first. We can't decide by ourselves, Atobe."
"Sasaki-sensei already agreed to the mock match outside the school. We're sure Ryuuzaki-sensei will not decline this proposition," Oshitari replies.
Tezuka pauses in thought as his three teammates eye him silently. Among the three, it is the youngest member he is worried about. Ever since the Hyotei captain's entrance, Echizen has been emitting waves of discomfort. Nevertheless, he does not want personal issues to influence his decision, because despite the incredulity of Atobe's proposition, a mock match outside the schools would be much better than conducting it inside. They would be spared from the so-called home-court advantage issue. They would also be far from the prying eyes of news reporters.
"I'll do my best to convince Ryuuzaki-sensei on this," Tezuka finally says as he eyes Atobe. "On one condition."
"Name it."
"We will only be playing on your house's tennis court. We will not stay in the house."
He saw Atobe's eyes squint at the statement.
"It would be fairer ground for both of us. Besides, the point is to have the matches outside school premises, is it not?"
Oshitari Yuushi stayed silent as he eyed the four Seigaku players inside. Then, he turns to his best friend, giving him the time to decide for all of Hyotei. "Ore-sama agrees to that condition. Just make sure the house is near our place. Ore-sama does not want to spend his money for your transportation to and from my house," he says before gracefully exiting the room, Oshitari just a few feet behind him.
"Oooohhh! They don't have the right to demand from us!" Eiji says as he jumps up and down his spot, cheeks huffed in annoyance. "What does he think he is?"
"Eiji..."
Echizen, on the other hand, turns his back to Tezuka and stares at their coach's table. He is glad that Tezuka made that particular condition. There is a very high probability that Sakuno would be assisting them in the mock matches. If so, Atobe Keigo would be seeing her often.
He does not want that to happen.
Today is one of Daidouji Tomoyo's best days.
This is because she has Ryuzaki Sakuno to play as her doll all afternoon.
"Ohohohohohoho! This white-laced skirt suits your silk top so well, Sakuno-chan! You look so kawaii!" Tomoyo squeals for a hundredth time that day as she spins around her friend. If her best friend decides to go out with what she's wearing, boys would never know what had hit them.
"Ano...Tomoyo-chan..."
"Ohohohohoho! Don't worry Sakuno-chan. Classes are over, so it's fine to wear civilian clothing at this hour."
"Oh, ano...it's just that people are staring at us, Tomoyo-chan."
Unfortunately for Ryuzaki Sakuno, Tomoyo did not seem to hear her, as her beautiful dark-haired friend continued on filming her every move. Sighing at her situation, she gathers all the guts she could muster and smiles at the camera, no matter how sheepish she felt.
Then again, no matter how smothering Tomoyo could be, that's just one of the things Sakuno likes about her friend. Even with all the wealth she has, Tomoyo is so selfless and caring. Smiling at her friend yet again, she finally gets Tomoyo turn off her camera, and drag her to the tennis courts.
"Oh, the Nationals are coming soon, right?"
"Hai. They are arranging mock matches amongst tennis clubs in the region as a way to prepare for it. Others who did not qualify to the Nationals still see it as a way to practice because there are still small competitions to join this season."
"The first mock match was with Rikkai Dai, right? When will the next be?"
"It's going to be this weekend."
That was a voice that was definitely male.
The two girls whirled around to see the newcomer.
"Oishi-senpai!"
"It's nice seeing you around here, Ryuzaki-chan, Daidouji-chan," he greets amiably. "Watching the team?"
"Oh, yes, we were watching them practice," Sakuno replies as she gives the players another glance. "Where will the next mock match be?"
Oishi wanly smiles at her before looking at the non-regulars practice. "It's going to be at the outskirts of Tokyo, as Tezuka said. Say, I need some help in preparing the necessities and organizing our activities there. Is it okay if you go with us and help?"
Sakuno looks at Tomoyo who offers her a small smile. "Can Tomoyo-chan go with us too?"
"Of course she can."
Oishi blushed at the sight of Sakuno's wide and pretty smile. "Thank you senpai. We'll be of help. Where should we start?"
"Saa...I'm so glad that Sakuno-chan is coming with us to the mock matches," Fuji says as he and Sakuno walk away from the clubroom. "Tezuka said we are going to stay in a log cabin. It would be like playing house in the woods for the weekend, ne, Sakuno-chan?"
"H-house?" Sakuno blinks several times as she tries to process what he just said. Then, she looks up at her senpai to see the dark and teasing look in his blue eyes.
Her face turned as red as her hair.
"Se-senpai! Please don't do that."
"Don't do what?"
Sakuno stares down at her shoes before looking up at him with a small pout on her lips. "Ano...teasing me like that."
"Eh? I'm not teasing Sakuno-chan," Fuji says as his voice drops down a few notches. "I'm just giving her my undivided attention, that's all," he finishes as he caresses the curve of her right cheek with his thumb.
"A-ano...ano..."
Seeing her flustered at his ministrations, he grabs her hand and drags her out of the school. "Let's go on a date," he announces out of nowhere.
"D-date? Where?"
Fuji stops and mockingly pouts as he feigns thinking. "Let's see...there's a string of restaurants down this way," he says, pointing to the right. "Only a few people go there because of the formality of the atmosphere, but I'd like to pay the place a visit. Is it okay?"
"Uhm...it's okay senpai. Wherever you want to go."
"Really? So, this means you are going on a date with me?"
Sakuno blushes at his questions, but with all her guts, she looks straight to his eyes and gives him her prettiest smile. "Uhn!"
With that, the two make way for the upscale part of the town via a bus that dropped them off to a small garden near a bigger park. The two went their merry way just observing their new surroundings, Fuji telling her a bit of things he knew about the place they just visited. Sakuno took joy seeing the unusual items in the place, especially the antiques store that sold porcelain dolls with dark painted cheeks.
After walking for half an hour, the two stop at a quaint teashop that also served pastries. They were surprised to find it nearly full as the town seemed unpopulated, what with it being quiet. Taking the table near the window overlooking the streets, the two settle for green tea and a slice of apple pie each. Fuji specifically requested the waitress to leave them one menu should they want to order another piece of sweets.
It was then that he saw Sakuno reading an article at the back of the menu. "Caught something interesting?"
"Eh? No, nothing senpai. I was just reading the history of the teashop."
The speed at which she answered him told him otherwise, but he did not press on the issue. "Saa...Tomoyo-chan surely has good timing. She made you dress up for our date."
"Oh...ano...she designed this a few days ago. She was so excited that she wanted me to try it on as soon as possible."
Fuji smiles at the fond way she told the story. "I think I know now what your other job would be."
"What is it?"
"Modelling"
"Eh? Ano, I can't be a model senpai."
"Well, I'd be happy to be your audience."
Sakuno's jaw dropped at his nonchalant statement before flushing hard. "Senpai, you're teasing me again."
Fuji just smiles at her before grabbing the menu she had been reading. A few seconds later, the apple pie came. They ate in companionable silence, with Fuji quietly reading the menu and Sakuno eyeing the streets, a forlorn look adorning her beautiful face. He knows she is thinking about the Paris offer all over again, and though he wants to give her a few of his thoughts regarding this, he knew he had to be silent.
Just then, a certain piece of information written all over the menu catches his eye and he stops reading. Quietly forking his pie, he glances at Sakuno before looking at the picture with a caption underneath it.
She must be thinking about it too.
After half an hour or so, Fuji calls in the bill and takes Sakuno home. The walk back home was pleasant, with Sakuno telling him of what she did in school, and what she thought of their substitute English teacher. All the while, Fuji listened to her, and all the while, he observed her moments of silence; the way she would just stop as if thinking of something she is not voicing out.
As he opens her house's gate for her, he gives her one last look for that night but not before brushing his lips against her forehead.
"I'm always here, Sakuno-chan."
It was an ungodly 5 o'clock in the morning when all of the Seigaku regulars, Ryuzaki Sakuno and Daidouji Tomoyo assembled at the parking lot. The coach they were supposed to ride is already parked a few feet from where they stood. Ryuzaki-sensei opted to go out because of several school matters, entrusting everything to Tezuka's and Oishi's hands.
"We'll board in three minutes. Make sure that your bags have been given to the driver. You've been given your seating assignments so I trust that we'll have an organized group all the way to the log cabin," Tezuka instructed them as he scans the group of sleepy individuals.
"Hai..."
Exactly three minutes from speaking, the group found themselves being whisked away from Seishun City to the outskirts of Tokyo. The hours it took to be there went unnoticed as almost every one of them – except for the coach driver and Tezuka – were asleep. A few turns here and there thereafter, the coach finally stops and Tezuka was left with the task to wake all ten sleeping individuals.
He just had to sigh to himself.
While Tezuka was busy waking up his band of sleepyheads, Atobe Keigo and his team are having breakfast in the informal dining room at his vacation house. Everybody in the team noticed their captain's silence over breakfast. Usually, he would be explaining to them the main entrees being served over breakfast, but today is a different matter altogether.
The Ore-sama has not spoken a word since the morning...and come to think of it, he was unusually quiet these past few days.
"Is something wrong with him?" Shishido asks Oshitari while feeding himself a bratwurst. "This is not his way of expressing how excited he is to have a match with Tezuka. The last time they did, Atobe nearly drove us mad during practice."
"Well, he hasn't told me anything. Kabaji is also worried, but he said Atobe has not mentioned anything to him either."
At that, Shishido just shakes his head and proceeds to eat as nonchalant as he could. He saw the worried glances Choutarou is giving their captain, but he already gave him the look to leave Atobe be.
"The mock match with Seigaku will be after lunch. You have at least four hours to prepare," Atobe speaks, much to the surprise of everyone.
His seven teammates stared at each other before absent-mindedly nodding their heads at his last statement. At that, Atobe excuses himself then leaves them to themselves.
Instead of heading back to his room to fetch his practice gear, Atobe treads his way to the bleachers overlooking his several tennis courts. He sits atop one bleacher before staring back at the empty tennis court before him.
"You've been awfully quiet for the past few days."
"Ore-sama made specific instructions for you to prepare for the mock matches, Oshitari."
"Well, I was about to, when I discovered my friend needed help first," the blue-haired guy countered as he firmly taps Atobe's shoulder. "Come on, spill the beans. I'm not going to leave this place until you tell me what is wrong with you."
Silence ensues between them, and Oshitari had this nagging feeling that Atobe is quietly asking him to leave. Then again, his friend does not "ask quietly". He orders around, and since he has not heard an order, he stayed beside him.
"I like this certain girl," was the beginning of the statement that made Oshitari's eyes widen immediately. "She accepts me as I am and is after my friendship, not my money. She does not know I like her yet...and then, she might be leaving the country to study elsewhere."
Oshitari was stunned silent. Atobe has a crush? Who would have known! If his friend did not look so serious, he would have teased him until he gets a beating, but then, there is a certain devastation he could trace from his friend's voice; he kept his mouth shut for the moment.
"Is she our schoolmate?"
"No."
"Have you talked to her about this?"
"Not yet. I am...uncertain with what to tell her. If I could have what I want, I might just stop her from leaving the country."
"Then again, you can't seem to find the guts to control her, right?"
Silence ensued between them again, before Atobe conceded. "Yes."
"She must be something to have caught your eye," Oshitari comments before leaning back. He did not receive a reply, but he did not mind it. "Just talk to her about this first. You might have to get her opinion on the situation before jumping to conclusions."
He receives a soft nod to that. "So, I'll head back and prepare for the mock match. You go too, Atobe."
Echizen Ryoma scratches his head at the room assignment. He has no qualms with their venue. The log cabin is a simple but homey kind of rest house overlooking a river and surrounded by trees. The first floor contains the living, dining and kitchen areas. The second floor contains three rooms – two large ones and a small one, where he supposed Sakuno and Daidouji would be staying.
All in all, nothing is to be said about the place, except for well, the room assignment.
He has to stay with Tezuka, Oishi and Fuji...of all people.
He is quiet in his own way, but to be with equally quiet and efficient people would be a tad boring for him. While he would be safe from the brawls Momo-senpai and Kaidou-senpai would apparently have, he would miss the fun they would be having at the other room.
"Are you alright?"
He looks up at Oishi before nodding robotically. "I'm done with settling my things. Where is the tennis court located?"
"It is a fifteen-minute walk from this place," Tezuka replies as he settles on his own bed before opening his duffel bag. "We'll proceed in thirty minutes. You better eat something before we start our practice."
Echizen did not have to be told twice to eat. He practically runs all the way out of the room, with Fuji and Oishi giving him weird glances. Once downstairs, he opens the fridge and grabs his bento, a box containing his name at the top of the package. He is about to close the fridge when he felt someone else grab the handle.
"Oh, sorry Ryoma-kun. I'll just take my water bottle. I'll close the fridge for you," was what Ryuzaki Sakuno told him before joining him at the counter table. "You haven't eaten breakfast?"
"Did not have time," he said as he gobbles a huge onigiri. "How about you?"
"Ano...Tomoyo-chan and I ate while we were unpacking our bags. She brought food with us upstairs," she answered before drinking from the water bottle.
In that instant, Echizen discovered that he has been hanging out too much with his father.
He badly wants to be the water bottle Sakuno is drinking from.
Argh! I don't want to be a pervert!
No matter what he told himself though, his mouth just went dry as he continued staring at Sakuno.
"Ryoma-kun, are you alright?"
It took a few waves of her hand before he snapped from his momentary stupor. Calm down Ryoma. She's your friend. DO NOT grab her! "I'm fine," he croaked out, forcing another onigiri onto his mouth. When he has forced down the whole thing down to his stomach, he croaks another "really fine."
"Oh...okay..." Sakuno tells him as she turns to look at the other regulars descending from the second floor. "Senpai-tachi?"
"Ne, we'll be having our practice at the tennis court, Sakuno-chan. We'll be back for lunch," Fuji says as he affectionately tugs a loose strand of her hair. "Will you and Tomoyo-chan be fine?"
"Hai! Don't worry, senpai-tachi, Ryoma-kun. Tomoyo-chan and I will take care of this house."
She received appreciative nods and smiles at her statement...and a "be a good wife" comment from Eiji before finding herself alone at the kitchen.
Ryuzaki Sakuno never found out that Kikumaru Eiji received a head noogie from Fuji, a stray tennis ball from Echizen, and a hundred laps around the court from Tezuka, all because of the "be a good wife" comment.
"Ne, Sakuno-chan, do you think they are done with practice?" Tomoyo asks as she adjusts her hold on the basket she has been carrying.
Her auburn-haired companion is silent for a while, but after a few steps, Sakuno finally speaks.
"Ano, I don't know, Tomoyo-chan. Senpai-tachi have a tendency to lose track of time whenever they are practicing. It means a lot to them, too, because they are going to have mock matches with Hyotei."
"Rivals?"
"Sort of," Sakuno says as she carefully skips to avoid a tree root. "Atobe-san, Hyotei's captain, has declared Tezuka-senpai his rival. Hyotei's other regulars are really good too. It's just that one day, underdog Seigaku beat Hyotei in the Regionals."
Sakuno rambled about the history between Seigaku and Hyotei as she and Tomoyo walk all the way to the tennis court where the boys are. The trip was generally pleasant, except for the loads they have been carrying. The supposed picnic was never planned; it so happened that it was nearly lunch time and no sign of the boys returning to the log cabin could be seen.
It was then that the girls decided to surprise them with a sudden picnic.
"Oh, we're here, Sakuno-chan!" Tomoyo exclaims happily, sighting the tennis court where the Seigaku regulars are playing.
At her friend's excited chirp, Sakuno walks at a faster pace; well, as fast as the load she has been carrying could allow her.
"Oi, Ryuzaki-chan! Daidouji-chan!" Kikumaru was the first one to spot them. Forgetting the laps he has been finishing, he runs to the girls and helps them carry the baskets of food. "Eh? We're going to have a picnic?"
Sakuno giggles at his wide-eyed stare. "Hai. You were so busy with practice, so Tomoyo-chan and I decided to bring the food to you."
At that, Sakuno squeals in surprise as Kikumaru suddenly hugs her with all his might. "Oohhh! You're such a good wife Sakuno-chan," he cutely says as he rubs his right cheek against her left one. "It's a good thing practice is done for the morning. I can't wait to eat!"
"And I can't wait to see what those three would do to you if you don't release Ryuzaki-chan in a second."
The three immediately turn behind to see a grim-looking Inui Sadaharu staring right at Kikumaru.
And it was all Kikumaru needed to look past the data guy.
Tezuka's eye glasses are gleaming, indicating that its owner's eyes are marked with dark intent; something more than just a hundred laps around the court.
Echizen Ryoma looked positively murderous; it was just a good thing for the red-head that the prince have two brawny guys – (ehem...) Momoshirou and Kawamura (ehem...) – to stop him from strangling a teammate.
Fuji Syuusuke looked the most passive of all, but Kikumaru has been friends with the prodigy and he knew too well to look past the nonchalance and straight to his friend's eyes.
The usually friendly blue hue is gone. The prodigy's eyes are dark with possessiveness and Kikumaru can actually feel it; waves of discomfort went up and down his spine.
In a flash, he releases the auburn-haired girl who is blissfully unaware of what is happening around her.
With all these, Oishi could just sigh. "Ryuzaki-chan, I think it's best that you set the picnic mat under that tree," he instructs, pointing to an old grandfather tree a few feet from the court. "I'll help Eiji and Daidouji-chan with the baskets."
Without much ado, Sakuno unpacks one bag and pulls a huge roll of cloth. Then, she runs to the tree Oishi told her about and sets the picnic mat. Meanwhile, the three grimlords broke their intense stances one by one: Tezuka helps in clearing the court; Echizen helps carry the baskets; and Fuji stalks Sakuno to "help" her with setting the picnic.
"Saa...it's a good day for a picnic, Sakuno-chan," he says as he pulls her down to sit beside him. "What did you bring with you?"
"Hmmm..." Sakuno pauses in thought before enumerating everything that she remembers. "And then there is a strawberry cake Tomoyo-chan and I made."
"Really? Saa...I can't wait to eat." The last words were for her ears only, as he purposefully leaned to her ear.
Sakuno blushed at the proximity, while Fuji smirked knowingly at her reaction. The moment was disturbed when the other regulars arrived at the picnic area. Lunch under the grandfather tree was relatively pleasant...and definitely interesting as Tezuka broke the "love triangle" in his own weird way: Sakuno sat beside Tomoyo and Kawamura, while Fuji and Echizen found themselves sitting by Inui.
"Uwa! I' so full..." Momoshiro comments as he sprawls on the picnic mat. The other regulars quietly agreed.
"No time to relax, Momoshiro. The mock match will start in an hour," Inui intercepts as he looks at the junior. "It's best that we pack now and walk the way to Atobe's rest house," he finishes, looking directly at Tezuka.
He receives a nod from the captain who proceeds in clearing the place. The others followed silently, enabling them to pack and return to the cabin in fifteen minutes.
The heat of the afternoon sun blazed gloriously at the Hyotei regulars. The others bathed in the heat while the others opted to hide under the comforts of a huge tree beside the grand court.
Interestingly, their captain is one of those who insisted in basking under the sun.
Sensitive-skinned King Atobe Keigo
"Penny for your thoughts?" Oshitari asks as he stands beside Atobe. "This is very much unlike you," he continues as he glances around the court. "Your entourage is not within a few meters away either."
"Are you teasing me?"
"No. Just an observation. I've spent years with you and I know that if something like this happens, you're thinking too deeply."
His friend did not even give him a glance.
"She's coming."
"Ehn? How could you guess?"
"Just a hunch. I'm really interested you know. It isn't everyday I'd see you think of a mere girl."
"Captain, it's Seigaku."
The two top players of Hyotei turn to Choutarou before giving the rival team a glance. Truth be told, the nine regular players of Seigaku are treading to their territory. Atobe leaves Oshitari's side, biting back a counter to his friend's last statement, to greet the newcomers.
He stops on his steps when he finds Ryuzaki Sakuno talking amiably with Fuji Syuusuke.
His hands automatically clench at the sight.
"Neh, senpai, do you have a line up ready for you in the mock match?"
Fuji smiles at her before poking at her cute cheek. "Nothing yet. Tezuka has insisted on having a surprise line up, although I don't want to know what he meant with that."
"Eh? That's kind of new for senpai."
"Hai. Kind of new...and weird. It isn't like Tezuka not to plan, but we let him have his way. His guts are usually good with these kind of things."
"Oh."
"Ne, here we are," Fuji whispers as he also watches Tezuka come to terms with Atobe. A few minutes passed between the two captains before Tezuka returns to the group to debrief them.
"The players would be based on a deck of cards," he begins as if it would explain everything. When he saw blank faces – except for Fuji who pretended as if he did not know – he clears his throat to explain further. "Seigaku would be represented by the deck of spades. Each of us would be labelled as a card, from the ace to the nine spades."
"Go on," Inui tells him when Tezuka pauses.
"The player or players for each match would be decided through the cards. Atobe will pick from this set," Tezuka pauses and raises a few pieces of game cards. "While I will pick from his set."
"So, for the Doubles Two, you and Atobe would be picking two cards from each other?" Oishi asks.
Tezuka nods to that.
"Interesting," Kawamura tells himself. Fuji quietly agreed.
"I'll be the nine spades. Fuji will be the ace. Echizen will be the eight spades. Inui the two spades. Kaidoh the seven spades. Kawamura the three spades. Oishi the six spades. Momoshiro the four spades. Kikumaru the five spades."
"We're all jumbled together. There's a chance the Golden Pair might not get picked up," Kikumaru whines to himself.
"It's the element of surprise that makes this interesting and difficult. You have a chance of getting paired with someone you're not entirely comfortable with and still expected to deliver," Inui comments while writing down the card assignments.
"Well, we just hope we're lucky enough to get paired with the usual," Oishi mumbles while the others nod in agreement.
While they are all friends, each Seigaku regular has his own playing style and is usually different from a teammate. It takes someone with special doubles skills to be paired with someone with the same doubles skills.
A moment of silence passes among them before Tezuka walks to Atobe for the first draw.
"Ore-sama wishes you a good game," Atobe begins while shaking his rival's hand.
"The same with you, Atobe."
Once the formality was done, Atobe offers his deck of cards and waits for Tezuka to pick the first two. Face showing no emotion, Tezuka drops the hand holding the two cards before offering the set representing Seigaku.
"Eight spades," Atobe announces after picking the first card. "Ace of spades."
"Five clubs. Two clubs," Tezuka announces as well, showing the two cards of Hyotei for Atobe to verify.
"Very well. Our Doubles Two would be Oshitari and I."
"Fuji and Echizen."
"Well enough," Atobe finishes, eyeing the tennis prodigy before exiting the court.
Fuji stared back at Atobe.
Tezuka gives his teammates a glance before existing as well. With his back to his teammates, he heaves a heavy sigh. The game has not started yet, but he can already feel the tension between Fuji and Atobe.
It's going to be an interesting day.
"Senpai, I'll guard the rear," Echizen says as he stands on his declared territory.
Fuji stares at him with an amiable smile on his handsome face. He just can't believe his luck. His rivals in and out of school for Sakuno-chan are right here on center court with him. Heaving an internal sigh, he approaches his arrogant kohai, and then ruffles his hair.
"Echizen, I should be the one giving you instructions, but since I feel so nice today, I'll let you guard the rear," he begins as his eyes gradually gain fierceness.
"Just don't mess with our game, and we'll both be fine."
"Hn. Understood, senpai."
"Good," Fuji says as he walks to the front part of the court. "Always remember, what's mine is mine."
Echizen raises an eyebrow at the statement. He is not dumb not to know that Fuji is not just talking about territories on court. "On court only, senpai."
Fuji smirks at his retort before looking forward.
Oshitari could feel the power of Atobe in waves. It's just a good thing he is not at the other end of the court to receive the wrath of their captain. Whatever it is that is igniting such concentration for Atobe, it should be big.
And present at the mock match
He glances around, and finally notices the tension between Atobe and Fuji Syuusuke. Funny thing. He has not known that the prodigy is a rival for tennis of his friend. While Fuji is an acclaimed tennis player, it has always been Atobe's goal to beat the more prominent Tezuka Kunimitsu. Or maybe...it isn't tennis they are rivals at...
It was fast, but he saw his friend stare at the auburn-haired girl before turning to Fuji.
No. Way.
His friend likes a girl from a rival school; and she is the granddaughter of the tennis club's coach, of all things.
Ryuzaki Sakuno
Beautiful girl
BIG problem
Huffing at the complication, Oshitari proceeds to his side of the court before allowing Atobe to serve. He looks at his friend's stance and knew that he is going to treat this match as a big one.
Well, we better win.
Win they did not
At 7 games to 6, the Fuji-Echizen pair won the Doubles 2. While generally exciting, it ate nearly half the time intended for the mock match. It is already past three in the afternoon and they still have four matches to go.
"Well, it seems we'll be spending the night playing here," Kawamura worriedly says as he looks at his wristwatch.
"Eh, don't worry Taka-kun. It'll be worth it," Kikumaru tells him in an effort to console him.
"Let's see who the next players are."
A panting Atobe goes to center court where Tezuka is awaiting him. "Nice match, Atobe," he greets.
"Spare me the sympathy, Tezuka. This is just a mock match. Ore-sama will be winning the next time."
"Hn."
Tezuka proffers the remaining seven cards to Atobe. Heaving a sigh, the Hyotei captain picks the first card. "Four spades," and the next one was, "Six spades."
After that, Atobe holds out his remaining cards to Tezuka who got the six clubs and the eight clubs.
"Oishi and Momoshiro."
"Shishido and Choutarou."
Kikumaru whistled at the Doubles 1 match. "Ne, Oishi, you're going against the Silver Pair."
"Neh, Eiji-senpai, what do you mean by that? Oishi-senpai and I will manage," Momoshiro retorts as he cracks his knuckles.
Meanwhile, Fuji Syuusuke is busy drying his forearm at a nearby faucet. A number of things are running through his head, foremost of which is the distant look Sakuno wears whenever she thinks he is not looking. Ever since their date at the cafe downtown, she has been thinking mostly to herself, distancing somewhat whenever she thinks he is busy.
He told himself he would give her some space to think, but now is the time to wiggle his way to her thoughts just in case she gets carried away.
With that in mind, he stalks his way behind his favorite kohai, covers her mouth with his right hand while his left hand wraps around her tiny waist.
"Saa...don't be scared, Sakuno," he whispers to her ear as he subdues a squeak from her lips.
And with that, they were gone.
"Uwa! This is so frustrating," Kikumaru whines as he grabs a fistful worth of his hair. "Oishi and Momoshiro should work on their coordination if they want to win!"
"Hora, Eiji. Just relax. Oishi and Momo can still catch up, ne, Fuji?" Kawamura tells his friend before turning to his right where he thought the prodigy was.
Unfortunately, the handsome prodigy was out of sight.
"Fujiko-chan?"
"He's not here, senpai," Kaidoh announces his observation.
"Don't worry about Fuji. He'll be back," Tezuka chastises their rising worry without removing his eyes from the match.
The regulars went back to watching the Doubles 1 match, except for Echizen who eyed the blank spot beside Daidouji Tomoyo.
Sakuno was just there a while ago.
Before his brain could process anything, his feet were already carrying him away from the court.
While the Doubles 1 match is going on, Fuji took his sweet time kidnapping his beloved kohai and carrying her on his back.
"Ano, senpai, the others might get worried if we go too far away," Sakuno voices her worry as she instinctively tightens her hold on Fuji. Inwardly, she is relieved she is wearing a pair of shorts instead of a skirt.
"Don't you want to be with me, Sakuno-chan?" Fuji asks, feigning hurt.
"Ano...no...I mean, y-yes! I mean no! I like spending time with Syuusuke-senpai!" She tells him loud enough for the whole forest to hear. Silence followed before she hears her dear senpai chuckling.
"Mou! Senpai! You're teasing me again."
"Saa...I can't help it. You're just too adorable when teased," he tells her.
Their little trek is put to a halt upon arriving at a brook. Fuji gently puts Sakuno down his back before removing his jacket. Then, he places it on the ground, sits on it and pulls down his kohai to sit beside him. "This is the brook I saw when we were going to that place," he tells her, never minding to mention Atobe's name because the mere thought of the Hyotei captain disturbs him. "It is a good place to relax after a good tennis match, ne, Sakuno-chan?"
"Hai," she enthusiastically answers before moving forward to play with the water.
He knows it is not her intention, but she has turned her back to him yet again.
He's not going to have that.
"Sakuno-chan."
"Hai?"
Fuji waits for her to turn to him, and when she did, he puts his hand on her limp hand, silently telling her to remain that way. "There is something you are not telling me."
Sakuno's cheeks turned red at his statement, and her eyelids fluttered against her cheeks. She cannot lie, and he knows it so much. She tried looking away at him, but the hand on hers and that other hand on her chin have prevented her from doing so.
"Is it too personal?"
She shakes her head to the negative.
Fuji smiles gently at her as the hand on her chin proceeded to caress her cheek.
"Ano...I have been thinking, senpai," she begins as her free hand starts to fiddle with the hem of her shorts. "Ano, I think I'm not ready enough to go to Paris to study there. I want to be a pastry chef, but it has always been my dream to study in Todai too. I also want that to happen," she finishes, her last sentence barely a whisper.
"What about Maya-san's offer?"
She chews her lower lip, a feat Fuji has found to be delightful torture as he has to keep himself from forcing a kiss on her whenever she does that – which is often, if he says so himself.
"Ano...I still have to tell Maya-san my decision. I'll go to Paris with her on summer break, but...I'll study culinary arts in Paris after getting my university degree. Ano...I want to be a pastry chef, but I still have to know something else other than cooking and baking, ne?"
Fuji smiles at her question. "Well, you could run the Reverie after a few years. You can cook and bake but you should know business management to run it effectively," he tells her.
"Iwase-san told me she studied business management after taking a food technology course in university," she tells him.
Fuji's smile widens at that. "I guess you have a conclusion then."
Sakuno's eyes brightened at his statement, but immediately turn downcast when she remembers Furusawa Maya. "Do you think Maya-san would not mind my decision?"
"If she is really concerned for your welfare, she would understand it."
Sakuno nods slowly before looking up at him with bright eyes. "Ne, senpai, thank you for listening to me and being a great friend."
"Don't mention it," he tells her before cupping both of her cheeks. "Although I must say, it is difficult for me to just want to be friends with you, Sa-ku-no."
The auburn-haired girl flushes in embarrassment at the way he pronounced her name. Dark and husky, his voice sent tingles down her spine, causing her to look down and bite her lower lip.
Fuji could feel his self-control waver at the adorable sight of Sakuno. Slowly but surely, he brings her face closer to his.
"I should tell you, Sakuno, that if you keep doing that, I will kiss you."
Before Sakuno could say anything, a loud growl was heard just a few feet from them.
"No way, senpai. Not if I can help it."