Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis does not belong to me.

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Ryoma's Approval - The Next Day

Fuji was gifted Tezuka's recording and received lots of encouraging gestures from the team members, of course the largest share belonged to the Momoshiro-Eiji pair. Being the resident sadist of the school he was spared the teasing. All in all, he was in very buoyant mood. The second the gong was sounded for break, he sprinted to the terrace. He found the prince settling for a nap. When Ryoma saw Fuji, he smirked knowingly but subdued immediately as he caught sight of dazzling azure orbs. Within a few seconds he had slipped into somnolent bliss.
Fuji beamed when he saw Hikari come in. This was short lived as he saw the treasurer of the Student Council and heartthrob of several, Kawabata Natsume come running after her.
Natsume panted, "Hikari-san! I want to tell you something."
She said without turning her head as she walked up to Fuji, "Sure. Go ahead."
Natsume gritted his teeth and added, "In private."
Fuji's pupils had acquired a red haze - more prominent that when he was playing Kirihara Akaya of Rikkaidai. Ryoma too got up to watch the scene in front of him. He wondered what his Fuji-sempai would do if his barely-a-day-old girlfriend agreed to the request. He needn't have worried.
Hikari barely spared him a glance and said, "This is about as private as it can get. It's your call."
Fuji's eyes were still riveted on Natsume who was not retreating.
"Fine." Natsume closed his eyes tightly and squeaked, "I love you."
Hikari's witch green eyes lit with amusement. "How do you know that?"
Natsume stared at her in confusion, "Eh? How do I know?"
Hikari replied, "Yes. I want to know the symptoms. I can't assume your diagnosis is right. Answer this first - why do you love me?"
Ryoma snickered loudly and said, "Mada mada dane."
Natsume stammered, "You are beau-beautiful and smart."
Hikari continued to torture the prey as Fuji relaxed and opened his bento. Hikari turned to sit facing Fuji as they began to eat. She whispered into his ear, "Free entertainment." Fuji chuckled but then added seriously, "He's not getting away with this mild banter though. I'm a very possessive person."
She asked Natsume, "How do you know I am smart?"
"You are ranked first."
"Ah. So that's reason enough. I must say both your reasons for loving me are flimsy and you haven't told me the symptoms yet."
"Er-er. Ah-uh. My heart beats faster when you are there. My stomach feels queasy. My head starts pounding. I start sweating."
Natsume looked rather triumphant as he finished. He hoped it sounded convincing enough. Having the Ice Goddess for a girlfriend would make him the most successful middle-schooler in Seishun Gakuen.
He was hurt and shocked when Ryoma started guffawing loudly and Hikari and Fuji looked like they were supressing their laughter with great difficulty. Ryoma managed to say between his choking laughter, "You'd get the same reaction if you saw a mad bull!"
Somehow Hikari said in a steady voice that didn't betray her mirth, "Most probably your interpretation of these physiological reactions are incorrect. Even if they aren't, so what?"
Natsume scratched his head as he made sense out of the sentence. Meanwhile the three dug into the bentos. He then said, "I want you to be my girlfriend."
Fuji's eyes snapped open once more. Hikari patted him reassuringly and said, "So?"
"Um, will you be my girlfriend?"
"No. Do you want to say anything else?"
Before he could say anything, Ryoma did something uncharacteristic. He threw his can of Ponta at Natsume and said, "Hikari-sempai is way out of your league. Just get lost, you empty headed idiot. Can't you see she belongs to Fuji-sempai? Stop standing here if you're not going to say or do something funny."
Natsume shot out of the terrace in a jiffy.
Fuji asked Ryoma why he had done that. He squirmed and said stiffly, "She's cool. She made break fun."
Hikari smiled at Ryoma and said, "Arigatou."
Ryoma looked at her and said, "Betsuni. If you want I'll play tennis with you."
Hikari gasped and said, "I hope I'll be better than a wall for you."
Ryoma said, "Fuji-sempai said you play well. Now I'll sleep and give you two privacy. Mada mada dane."
Fuji smiled and they both ate. Fuji insisted that they feed each other. After they finished eating, Hikari said, "Arigatou. You truly are a very talented cook. It's delicious. The next time I'll get you something."
Fuji replied, "Next time is tomorrow. And thank you too. For providing theentertainment.

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