Disclaimer: I do not own POT. THE LONGEST CHAP Since forever.

Chapter 38 The talk

Ryoma had seen the way Buchou carried himself back from the store, he looked like he may as well be carrying a piano on his back. Ryoma wondered which part of this man did Sakuno truly loved? He hoped it was his management skills and his way of being calm because if that is the case, Sakuno may forget about buchou now. For he looked nothing like the buchou he knew. To Ryoma he looked like he could be just another middle age man with a crisis.

Ryoma stuck out a ponta which he bought since, his buchou conviniently forgotten to buy some. Tezuka took it graciously, he watched as Ryoma took a sip of his own ponta and sat right beside buchou as if they were two men drinking beer and about to have a man to man chat.

Out of the corner of Ryoma's eye he noted how Tezuka seemed to coming to a decision. He hoped it better be for both their sakes good to hear. Tezuka took a sip before he said to Ryoma in a calm manner

"Ryoma, I think it is best you take care of Sakuno."

Ryoma internally groaned, this man was thick and stupid. Whoever told him that Tezuka was exactly like Ryoma when he was younger must have lost their marbles someway along their journey to the next year. How can he say something so stupid like that? Perhaps he hadn't heard that he in fact confessed to Sakuno and got rejected, and Ryoma thought he would rather not need to say it to Tezuka to get him to understand.

"Chiz, Mada mada dane Buchou, I don't like being GIVEN something. I think I will earn it. Fuji knows where your stuff is, I will meet you at the nearby park, we'll do it the traditional way Buchou. Tennis."

Tezuka looked slightly dumbfounded, as Ryoma took his Ponta and walked away. He had his tennis equipment all ready... now Tezuka had to go and get his. Ryoma took another sip of his ponta as he whispered into the darkness as he said

"Chiz, Buchou doesn't even see it. His ponta was shaking when he said he'd give her to me. Buchou, you really are stupid. Why would you give someone something you don't want to give?"

Tezuka walked inside and sure enough, Fuji seemed to be awake and his eyes were wide open in fact. Seems like Fuji heard everything, and he was holding Tezuka's tennis material.

"Thanks."

"...Buchou, you know why Ryoma is doing this right?"

Tezuka looked puzzled, for the first time every one of his team members seemed to be awake and they were all looking at him with a serious look. Tezuka for the first time felt like he was doing something and if he did it wrongly, it wouldn't just be Ryoma who would be disappointed. Everyone else would be as well.

"I know where Ryoma headed, I will walk you Buchou."

Fuji steered Tezuka out of the door, his hands never leaving Buchou's shoulder until they were well away from the place. Tezuka noticed Fuji guided him away from the direction Ryoma walked, and he gave another glance at Fuji.

"It is the wrong way."

Tezuka pointed out blankly, but Fuji smiled and replied

"We are taking the long way there. Buchou, the one reason why we look like this is because... you are going to do something stupid. At this rate Kennichi will hate you for life."

"...Kennichi should hate me for what happened to him, so if he does by what I have decided... so be it."

Fuji didn't seemed fazed when he stopped and punched Tezuka in the cheek, Tezuka fell onto the pavement floor staring up at Fuji. Fuji was still smiling and that is what made him so scary.

"You are really being stupid, if not a jerk. Kennichi was your son, he is Tezuka Kennichi. He was born with that name and he carried it with pride and the consent of his own mother. You think by abandoning them now, when Kennichi has just lost his leg somehing worth being blessed?"

Tezuka was struck speechless, but he got up regardless. Fuji noted and started walking as he said

"Kennichi has just lost his leg Tezuka, he NEEDS his parents and you are also his parent no matter how you see it. How could you think of leaving Sakuno to look after Kennichi? Sakuno can be strong at times, but I don't think she could handle this alone! She had your support the whole time, and she needs you now more than anything. She needs the strong and confident buchou of ours. The one who took her through Kennichi's life, removing yourself from their lives doesn't make it the best decision."

"I... Fuji, they were in this situation because of me."

"If you really think this way, you should be with them. Because of you means you are responsible, what you are doing is shunning your responsiblities back to Ryoma. How do you think Sakuno is going take this? How is Kennichi going to take this? What makes you think you have any right to decide whether leaving them is the best decision? You never took their opinion into thought! Buchou, We are all disappointed. This is not our leader, he doesn't make stupid mistakes like this."

Tezuka noticed that they were arriving, Ryoma can be seen from a distance, however, from where they were positioned Ryoma would not be able to see them. Fuji stopped walking, Tezuka taking note of that stopped. He turned around as he replied

"So is this why, Ryoma is challenging me to a tennis match?"

"Well, I hope if anything went it, it would be the fact that, Buchou... none of us wants this to happen."

To be Cont.

Well? Ok, I will leave it to your scrutiny, next up FINALLY Ryoma vs Tezuka.