Okay, so basically this chapter is, like, a month overdue (over a month, actually) and short, and I'm really, really sorry. But there's going to be a pretty big shocker in this one, so maybe that'll be enough to forgive me. Maybe? Possibly?

"Yukimura," Fuji said, smiling sweetly. His voice held a tinge of amusement as he added, "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Yukimura looked at him in surprise. "Why, it was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but . . . it's a rather big deal," Fuji admitted. "I admit I would take great pleasure in watching Kirihara-kun die of embarrassment, but are you sure you're ready for something like this?"

"No need to treat me like a ten year old virgin," Yukimura replied easily. "It'll be great fun for us, and we both know that it won't last forever. I can break it just as soon as I create it."

"What if he falls for you?"

"Unlikely."

"What if you fall for him?"

"Even unlikelier."

"You could ruin his life," Fuji pointed out.

"Not necessarily, not if I plan this right. He'll get attention, I'll say it was an unfortunate occurrence. The worst thing that could possibly happen would happen to me, so I don't see anything wrong with it."

"What if he . . ." Fuji made a vague gesture.

"Oh, yes. There's always that possibility. But he won't—I'll put him in a situation that requires everything to work in my favor."

Fuji smiled. "I'll help."

"I know." Yukimura returned the smile. "I can always depend on you to help me embarrass and frighten people out of their wits, Fuji."

Fuji's smile widened to the point it was frightening. "I know," he said in a very aw-shucks kind of way, and not at all modest.

Akaya took a deep breath before entering the stadium, and gave a brief wave to Yukimura.

"Akaya, you showed!" Yukimura exclaimed, looking positively delighted in that strange mix of sadistic and endearing. He eyed the outfit, took it all into stride and smiled brightly.

Marui snorted and sat next to Akaya, who seemed to be regretting his choice of attire. "Having fun yet?" the redhead asked, popping a piece of green apple gum into his mouth. He nodded coolly at Yagyuu. "I'm sorry you have to put up with Niou."

Yagyuu smiled slowly. "He's not that bad," he began, then paused when Marui and Akaya both gave him The Look ™. "Okay," he admitted, "but you get used to it after a while."

"What're you talking about?" Yukimura asked curiously, and instantly Marui and Akaya recoiled, bouncing back in their seats and waving their arms in a don't-look-at-me-I'm-totally-not-talking-about-my-evil-boss kind of way. "Oh, hush, the tennis game is starting!"

It was Echizen Ryoma against Tezuka Kunimitsu, and Akaya recognized them both at once—they'd both been present at the twenty-threesome. He cringed thinking about it, and sank lower in his seat as a reflex.

The match started with a Twist Serve, then Tezuka instantly pulled out the Tezuka Zone, and then a Drive B, then a Tezuka Phantom, then a bunch of other moves that Akaya couldn't be bothered to remember.

Sanada and Yukimura were talking tennis by then. "That's a good volley."

"He should have reached a bit higher; could've gone for a smash."

"The drop shot works better."

"Yes, but . . ."

"You're forgetting that Echizen has the Higuma Otoshi."

"I'm taking that into account, but don't you think that with a Higuma Otoshi, Tezuka could go for another smash? Echizen wouldn't have enough time to get back into position, and—"

"It's too wasteful of energy. You know those two; they're going to have a long, drawn out match."

"Or he could end it quickly."

"He could end it quickly with a drop shot!"

"That's not what I meant . . ."

"Do you know what they're talking about?" Marui whispered.

"I shouldn't have worn this outfit," Akaya moaned, shifting in his seat. "It's uncomfortable and people are staring."

Marui rolled his eyes. "Well, it was your idea, smart one. I tried to talk you out of it, but no, you didn't listen to your wiser, older, more handsome, more talented superior. Even though I'm a genius and awesome and—"

"And heartless," Akaya protested. "You brought a camera."

"It's for the greater good," he said seriously, and snapped a quick picture.

Akaya covered his face with his hands a moment too late, and tried to get the light from his eyes. "I think you blinded me."

"That's why it's for the greater good," Marui laughed, and put the camera away again.

"Shh," Yagyuu scolded, turning away from the game for a second. "One isn't meant to speak during a tennis match. Stay quiet."

Akaya took that opportunity to look around. Sure enough, everybody was staring at the pair of them, him and Marui. They were the only people talking above a whisper, the only people relaxed and lazy while everybody was else, on the edge of their seats, rooting silently for their preferred athlete.

They were also the only set of people not wearing tennis whites.

Everybody else had on something white, or at least beige. Akaya's face flushed. He was wearing what might as well have been a raver's outfit, and Marui was wearing a colorful tee shirt and shorts. Besides, he thought in mild annoyance, his hair's bright enough to draw the attention of anybody within two miles. They looked like two lunatics in an ocean of white, and Akaya smacked himself mentally for not noticing it sooner.

Marui noticed the stare and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Shh," Akaya said, feeling an odd sense of dejavu. "Look around. We look retarded."

Marui obeyed, and his violet eyes widened in a mixture of amusement and embarrassment. "Wow," he replied cheerily. "We sure look like idiots, don't we?"

Akaya stared at him for a long moment, then sputtered, "How can you just say that? We're sitting with Yukimura and Sanada and Yagyuu, a bunch of celebrities, and we look like morons!"

"I know, it's great!"

"What—I—okay, no. No. Just . . . no." Akaya frowned at him and turned away, huffing. Marui shrugged, and went back to staring at the tennis match.

"Tiebreaker," Sanada murmured. His eyes narrowed appreciatively. "This has been a very good match. I think Tezuka has thirty-three wins at the moment, and Echizen has thirty-two. If Echizen wins this, they'll be tied."

"He might," Yagyuu commented. "He's been training especially for this match."

"And Echizen has been rather wrought up over his last loss to Tezuka," Sanada agreed/

There were a few rallies, and suddenly Echizen was several points ahead. Then a smash, and Echizen won the match.

There was polite clapping, a few cheers from especially rabid fans, and the match came to a conclusion.

Just as everybody was about to leave, however, a young man suddenly ran up to the courts. Akaya stared in confusion, then realized it was Atobe Keigo, the head of Atobe Corp, holding a microphone in his hand and smirking rather confidently. "Everyone! Wait a moment."

The simple sound of his voice made dozens of girls squeal in delight, and needless to say, everybody paused.

He raised a hand and snapped his fingers to ensure silence, then declared, "I have a very special announcement to make, regarding one of my dearest friends."

It was then that Akaya realized Yukimura had disappeared from his seat.

It was then that Akaya realized Sanada seemed extremely worried and exasperated.

It was then that Akaya realized Yagyuu was uncharacteristically smirking.

It was then that Akaya saw his own face reflected on a screen, the one that had showed Echizen and Sanada playing tennis only minutes ago.

It was then that Atobe Keigo handed the microphone to Yukimura. It was then that Yukimura burst into a fancy speech about how he'd only known Akaya for a short time, but had fallen oh-so-madly in love with him and wouldn't he please marry him, for he couldn't bear to live without him, and don't you feel the same way, Akaya?

It was then that all eyes turned to him.

It was then that Akaya heard a small voice that sounded suspiciously like Niou's, chanting, "I told you so, I told you so, I told you so." And he was doing the cha-cha for good measure.

It didn't help that Marui was doing the exact same thing. Out loud.

And he was really bad at the cha-cha.

There were a few giggles, and quite a lot of pointing. Yukimura was smiling up at him hopefully. Sanada ushered Akaya down the stadium and onto the courts, where Yukimura gave him a look that was all rainbows and sunshine, and dropped to one knee.

Holy-crap-please-tell-me-this-isn't-happening-Kami-sama-save-me-now—

"Akaya, will you marry me?"

Slowly, making sure to enunciate every word clearly, Akaya said, "I'm nineteen."

"And I'm twenty," Yukimura replied brightly, like that was totally the point.

Akaya really, sincerely wanted to ask, What the hell? But he couldn't, not with an entire stadium of people watching him, expecting him to say yes . . .

Oh.

Oh.

Of course. How had he not seen it before?

Yukimura did this on purpose, the annoyingly smart, too sly for his own good, clearly takes after Niou, or Niou takes after him, or something to that effect, and what did he want to say again?

"Akaya? Marry me?"

Marui was urging him on now, cheering silently—and laughing not so silently. Sanada seemed exasperated, as did Yagyuu, though the latter seemed more amused than exasperated. Atobe watched expectantly, sadistically, and Yukimura smiled up at him, as hopeful as ever.

He couldn't very well say no.

Well, he could, but it'd be the death of him, what with two thousand Yukimura fan girls in the stadium.

Maybe he could just break it off, quietly, later . . .

He contemplated silently. Did he want to risk the humiliation of saying yes? It might be worth it in the long run, but there was the risk of never leaving the stadium alive. He nodded his head to himself. No, that wouldn't be a good idea.

Yukimura's eyes brightened. "That's a yes! You said yes!"

Akaya was jolted out of his thoughts. "Wait, what?" he asked, panicking. "No, I . . ."

"He said yes!" Yukimura exclaimed, and Atobe grabbed the microphone, announcing it to what may as well have been the world.

The stadium erupted into cheers, a few catcalls, a lot of laughing (Thanks, Marui, for being such a supportive friend. Really.), and even some tears.

"Congratulations," Atobe declared. "Ore-sama has deemed your relationship worthy of my approval, and so you have my blessing to get married."

If Akaya had bothered to glance at Atobe and Yukimura, he might have noticed the sadistic glance the two of them shared, but as it was, Akaya was staring at the crowd in horror.

Yukimura turned to him and beamed. "We'll be husband and wife, you and me!" he said happily. He paused. "Respectively," he added. "Like, you're the wife." Like he needed further clarification.

Akaya fought the urge to bite someone's head off.

. . . Told you so. :)