I was in the midst of reviewing for my removal examination when I decided to prop myself in front of a computer and write. Removal exam. Damn, I never expected to get a grade of 4.00, you know. I didn't deserve it. Even my classmates said so. Sometimes, it's the teachers that are the issue. I was never a top notcher in her subject, but hey, I never failed any of her exams. It sucked, big time. So here I was, venting my frustration by typing hard on the keyboard of my laptop.
I missed writing. How I wished I have the convenience of frequently updating my stories. But with my studies in the way, I don't think I'll be updating them anytime soon. I was happy with the reviews I got with this story. That was why I was psyched to write the second chapter for this, even though I've only written this for a few hours. Please bear with the spelling and grammar errors, if you see them. I am only human after all.
For the 28 individuals who reviewed, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Years ago, I only had myself to admire my own creation, and it wasn't even on par. To get people to say that my story is something worth continuing and is something they're looking forward to is amazing. Thank you so much!
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis
Italics – flashbacks
Warnings: Tezuka is OC. Colder than usual Echizen. Lol.
Believe Me When I Say It's Real
Chapter 2
By Flair Do (then MindShrewed)
Practice went by fast. Tezuka watched the freshmen pick up balls used in the practice matches. There was something about today's practice that was commendable. The regulars exuded enthusiasm and good vibe during the matches. Something that they hadn't shown for the past week. He guessed it was Echizen's presence that brought back the excitement for them. It was unfortunate though, for the freshman rookie that he had to run 100 laps to compensate for his absences.
But at least, everyone and everything were back to normal. Eiji was back in throwing hugs at everyone. Momoshiro was a loud mouth and started picking fights with Kaido again. Fuji wasn't throwing him the accusation look anymore. And Oishi, well, he was still the mother hen that he had always been. He kept asking Echizen the reason why he was on hiatus for seven days, inspecting the poor boy if he was injured or was hurting somewhere. But Echizen was very discreet about his no show. In fact, when Tezuka questioned him about it, the only thing Echizen said was, "Family matters." Tezuka said nothing after that. It was too awkward for him. He simply assigned the boy his laps and let him go. Yeah, everything was back to normal. Or so he hoped.
Tezuka felt neutral. Echizen was in front of him. And it was weird for him. Because normally, when someone misses practice in the club, be it a regular or not, Tezuka would pin the person down with his cold stare and then throw sermons at him. And Echizen missed practice in a week, without even letting any of the regulars or his classmates know. But this time, he couldn't even open his mouth to lecture Echizen. He stared at the boy as he waited for him to speak. Finally,
"Buchou", Echizen finally regarded him, his cap hiding the expression on his face.
Tezuka summoned his strength and spoke, "Echizen. You were out for the past week. Where were you?"
"Family matters." Echizen simply said, showing signs of impatience. Apparently, he was only waiting for the captain to give his deserved punishment. He did not want to be in front of Tezuka any longer because it only made him think of what happened last week, specifically the downright rejection of the captain towards his rejection.
Sensing that the situation was getting uncomfortable for the both of them, Tezuka decided to dismiss the matter and said, "You will run 100 laps around the court to make amends for your 1 week absence." To which Echizen only answered, "Hai."
Tezuka watched the retreating form of the rookie.
Echizen was not acting any different. He was, as usual, indifferent towards Eiji's bone crushing antics. He was still goofing around with Momoshiro. Still smirking every time he scored a point, and scowling every time he lost one. He was on speaking terms with everyone, but he was still quiet like he had always been.
It made Tezuka wonder if Echizen took what happened between the two of them badly. Because deep down inside him, he still felt slightly responsible for Echizen having to skip practices that long. Honestly, the hurt look that Echizen sent him that night was only the second emotion Tezuka had seen him wear aside from his arrogant smirk and cold expression.
But at the same time, there was this nagging voice behind Tezuka's head. This wasn't the first time he rejected someone. And he had never felt guilty like this before. Being a student leader and the captain of the Seigaku Tennis Club, Tezuka was never without attention. He got them from the praises of his teachers, from the love letters and invitations given by majority of the female population at their school and some guys even, from the high respect his schoolmates give him. The attention was insane; thus, putting a heavier burden on Tezuka to never bring down the people around him.
While Tezuka found the admiration and all flattering, he also found them a bit of a nuisance most of the time. For instance, he never wanted to be one of the reasons why girls would cry. As Fuji graciously put it, it was never nice to reject a girl who took her time to gather her wits to ask him out, only to be turned down by Tezuka. But he got over the guilt for declining those girls' offers.
So why can't he do the same with Echizen?
Tezuka wondered.
By the time Tezuka decided to go back to the clubroom, the sun was already setting. Most of the club members had already gone home. He and Oishi were supposed to meet after the practice, but the latter had excused himself earlier because of emergency at their home. He dismissed the regulars earlier than usual, to which the team responded with cheers. It's not every day their captain allows them to go home before the clock strikes at 5 in the afternoon.
Tezuka sighed. It looked like their meeting would have to wait until tomorrow. He turned the door knob and opened the door. Tezuka stepped inside and realized he was not alone inside the room. Echizen's back was facing him. He was putting books and a shirt inside his tennis bag, probably getting ready to get home too. Apparently, he didn't notice Tezuka enter the room, and only when Tezuka shut the door quietly did he recognize the older boy's presence.
Echizen simply nodded and went back to packing up his things. Tezuka swallowed hard. Of all people to see, why does it have to be the freshman? Before things got messy between the two of them, Tezuka never really minded Echizen's presence, but after what happened, being alone with Echizen was too much for him to take.
Not wanting his kouhai to sense his discomfort, Tezuka tried to start a conversation. "Echizen."
Awkward.
"Hai?" Echizen replied, few seconds later before facing Tezuka. He noticed that the upperclassman was slightly pale. As if he was getting nauseous by the atmosphere surrounding the two of them. Echizen almost sneered at the constipated look plastered on the senior's face
"You got the whole team worried." You got me worried there. Tezuka started. "Why were you absent for the whole week?" He asked. Waiting for an answer, Tezuka grabbed his bag and started organizing his belongings as well.
Echizen was silent, as if he was carefully thinking of the right words to say. "I thought I already told you, buchou. Family matters." Putting in the last of his books and zipping his bag, Echizen slung his bag over his shoulder and looked at Tezuka.
Tezuka did not look convinced at all.
Echizen sighed. "My grandma died last week. We had to fly to America to attend her burial." He confessed, once again. Tezuka looked shocked. He was not expecting that at all. Great, he felt guilty again. Damn it.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Echizen" Tezuka said the words sincerely, but he didn't know what to say after that. He didn't know which words to speak that would comfort the younger boy in front of him. Echizen didn't like to be pitied. He, of all people, should know that. He would probably very lonely if the same thing happened to him, but like Echizen, he wouldn't go to other people to get sympathy. It just wasn't like them.
"It's okay. We had it coming. She lived a good life." The golden eyed prodigy replied. Tezuka didn't miss the sadness in his voice.
Moments of silence passed. Tezuka was getting uncomfortable, and Echizen impatient.
"Echizen, -"
"Look, Tezuka-buchou" Ryoma cut him off. "You feel guilty, right?" Tezuka was pinned down by those golden orbs. He continued, "You think you have a say in my long absence, is that it? I sense it. I notice everything, remember? Well, here's the good news, rest assured that my reason for being missing in action has nothing to do with happened last week. It's because of my grandmother, nothing more." Echizen pulled his bag up and turned to leave. "No hard feelings, Tezuka-buchou. So you can relax now."
Tezuka sat down, his hands cradling his head. Echizen said that it was not his fault, right? That he was not the reason why he skipped practice for a week. His family lost a family member, and it was because of that. It was supposed to make him feel better, right? Then why was he feeling so much worse? Like he had created a mess that could never be straightened out.
Echizen's grandmother died. Echizen made that clear. No other reason, whatsoever. But why does he feel so disappointed?
Tezuka knew. Echizen Ryoma was changing. He was different now, to him, at least. And maybe that was a good thing. Not only in how he showcased himself to him, Tezuka realize. For one thing, gone was the gentleness in the younger boy's voice every time he called him "Buchou". The gentleness that had gone unnoticed before. He called him Tezuka-buchou, in a spiteful way that was a stranger to him.
To be continued...
Author's Notes:
I accept constructive criticism, but say them in a matter that they won't come across as offending and rude. If you have suggestions, don't be shy to voice them out, and I'll definitely try and see it will fit with the plot of the story.
I did this for 3 hours. I really need to start reading dictionaries and encyclopaedias again. My vocabulary is getting weak. I have to return to reviewing for our removal exams. I hope you like this chapter, and will continue to support me until the end of this story! I'll see you in the next chapter.
Read and review please.