Hyotei's First Date

By NarutoandBleach

Teacher: Who has all the rights to Prince of Tennis?

Students: Konomi –Sensei of ocurse! The Person writing this will not own the series whatsoever!

Chapter 42: Ryoma's True Confession

Although the fair has given Atobe a chance to improve his game, he somehow has left Ryoma a parting gift in his locker at school. Furthermore, it was strange for someone from another school sending his lover a present, but Ryoma didn't seem to be worried since this was his one chance to confront Atobe and show his true feelings.

Back at school, Ryioma prepped himself for first period, but as soon as he got to his locker, he could see a photo of his boyfriend smiling and much more focused in the middle of tennis since he was ready to return a ball. Ryoma figured that's the only reason why his boyfriend was dead serious on dating him since he was famous all over the magazines and the newspapers.

Just then, Kachirou tapped Ryoma on the back and said, "Ryoma-kun! I didn't know that you would be coming to practice today."

"Why?" asked Ryoma as he frowned.

"Well, its about yesterday." Began Kachirou.

"What about yesterday?" ryoma kept frowning. "And why are you in the locker rooms? Classes started almost a few minutes ago. If you are late, you could be running laps again."

Kachirou could only sigh at him, "This is why you are stuck between a rock and a hard place." He mumbled before heading into the classroom, hoping that Ryoma didn't hear him.

"I heard that Kachirou! 10 laps after school is over!" said Ryoma.
"What exactly did you say to him?" asked Oishi.

"Nothing, I was trying to stop him from spreading rumors about Atobe's new girl."

"I thought he was dating you instead of that girl." Continued the captain.

"No, that girl was just an acquaintance." Replied Ryoma.

"Oh, well get out of here and get back to class." Ordered Oishi.

And with that, the school day has begun.

By the late afternoon after practice, Ryoma was on his way to detour through some shops since he needed to buy bread and rice. But he really needed new tennis shoes since his old ones are worn out already. Furthermore, even his own allowance and grocery money would not be enough for it, but he figured that he will survive it one way or another. Besides, he could always ask his sempais since they always help him out whenever he is in a bind.

Just as Ryoma was about to enter the shop, he could see a couple stepping out of a nearby shop and sure enough, it was Atobe and his new girl. However, he was only taking her shopping and not on an actual date. This girl was even more beautiful than the one Atobe took to the movies previously since he was more focused towards her.

"God, I am such an idiot! Why did I even agree to be Atobe's boyfriend? If I tell him that we are breaking up, I could lose my chance at confessing to him. And this is all his fault for dating too much when I am stalking him at a place like this." Said Ryoma as he hid behind a tree.

Once Atobe and his date stopped to admire some shop windows, he frowned when the girl kissed his hand. "God, he is so sappy!" thought Ryoma. But the girl herself was blushing after witnessing what just happened and a graceful smile appeared on her face. Atobe was asking something frm her and the girl was shaking her head.

"What the hell am I doing, I should be spending my money on new shoes and not stalking Atobe."

"Ochibi? What are you doing here?" asked a red-headed acrobat.

"Kikumaru-sempai, hey. What's up?" said Ryoma.

"Did I hear you correctly? You are still stalking Atobe?"

"I'm just trying to gather some data from them. It worked so well for Inui-sempai so I thought I might learn from him." Said Ryoma.

"Well, you are doing it in an amateurish way." Said eiji as he frowned. "Where are your binoculars, notebooks, and a cell phone in case you need to call for back up?"

"I have the phone that Atobe gave to me and it seemed to be very helpful. But I didn't have time to prep my notebook or the binoculars. He just showed up out of nowhere!"

"How dense are you? Are you just going to blame the mark? You must always come prepared when gathering intelligence, ochibi." Said Eiji as he shook his head in sadness. "looks like I have to assist you." Eiji then gave Ryoma a pair of small binoculars from his tennis bag. He then took out a notebook and handed it to the tennis prodigy. "here, take it."

"What are you giving me this for? It's your notebook. I can't take what is yours." Pleaded Ryoma.

"If intelligence gathering is what you need, please keep it. I have no intention of using it since I have all the data I need." Said Inui.

"Some sempai you are! You are of no help to me and now you ware leaving this intelligence gathering mission all alone to me? Sometimes I wonder what you are even thinking doing this to me." Said an indignant Ryoma.

Inui didn't say anything else as he left while Eiji snickered quietly before waving good luck to him. At this point, Ryoma had no idea what he was walking into, he just knows that stalking Atobe would be bad move on his part. In other words, he could be sued for stalking. But there was no way for Ryoma to back out now since he was here to find out what exactly his boyfriend was doing seeing other girls.

As Ryoma followed his boyfriend carefully without being detected, he could see Atobe settling down at a nearby café sipping on coffee when he noticed a noise behind the bushes and decided to investigate. Luckily Ryoma ducked deeper into the trees without being seen. Unfortunately for him, Atobe wasn't abot to be fooled and crossed his arms, "I know you are in there, Ryo-kun. And I can see why you have been stalking me for the last several minutes. Did that dataman send you here to scout me out?"

"You are very perceptive for a boyfriend. I was just gathering intelligence on your girl since I was the one that gave her the prize back at the concession stand not too long ago. Did you not notice?"

"I can see that! You know this is an invasion of privacy and I could have you thrown in jail? What will it take for you to stop following me?" protested Atobe.

"I just don't want you to date other people when you already have me. Anyway, do you mind me joining you at the table?" said Ryoma as he took at seat.

"Did you really have to ruin my date by bringing Sakuno here?" Atobe pleaded.

"I think I do."

"No, you don't need to do this."

"Excuse me, who is that kid talking about?" said the other girl.

"He's no one important." Said Atobe as he took the girl's hand. "My boyfriend is mentally challenged as he keeps following me around and ruining my dates."

"Interrupting your dates? Who else are you seeing after you asked me last week?" said the girl as she narrowed her eyes

"There was that squealer that I met on a staurday." Said Ryoma.

"Squealer? So you have been dating my best friend? And I presume that the best friend was Amane? I knew something was suspicious when she said her leg was supposed to be shaved!" She then stood up and slapped Atobe across the face before storming out of the café.

"Wait! Don't leave me alone with this obnoxious brat!" shouted Atobe. But the girl didn't hear him as she was out of sight. As Atobe blinked for a moment while rubbing his sore cheek, he glared at Ryoma. "Are you satisfied now, Echizen? What do I have to do to make you stop ruining my social life?"

"Stop dating other women and focus on me." Said Ryoma as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

Atobe looked at him for a moment and laughed. "You are serious, aren't you?"

Ryoma shrugged and nodded his head.

"you know I am not gay right? I know what you are trying to do, but it will not work." Said Atobe.

"I know that, but I have been falling for you on the day that we first met." Said Ryoma

"Yeah okay! You are just gay for me." Chuckled Atobe.

"Maybe." Said Ryoma as he threw the napkin away before looking into Atobe's eyes.

"If this is some sort of a joke conjured up by your sempais, it is not funny, Echizen." Warned Atobe.

"I wish it was a joke." Muttered Ryoma.

"Um, Ryo-kun… This is not a date, isn't it?" asked Sakuno.

"Not really." Said Ryoma.

That night, Atobe sat in his room by his desk while staring at his math homework while trying to concentrate. He still couldn't get Echizen out of his mind. This whole situation wasn't true because after all this time, Echizen still didn't want to leave Atobe no matter how many times rich boy tried to get away from him. He suspected the kid hardly tolerated him!

"Atobe, we all know you are a narcissist so you do not need to convince us." Said Oshitari while drawling from the bed where he was lying. He was reading a book instead of doing homework. Jirou was also asleep while the rest of the Hyotei regulars were busy with their assignments. Atobe turned from his chair and looked at the human pile on his bed. He was about to say something, but decided not to.

Oshitari gave a puzzled look at Mukahi before closing his French book and marking it with the pink feather before straightening out his glasses. He then walked up behind Atobe and stood next to him. "The answer to that problem is a blur. So what is troubling you?'

"Its not me. It's actually Echizen and he has a crush on me."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, don't make me repeat it."

"I see, so what are you going to do about it?" asked Oshitari.

"Do? What can I do? It is not my problem." Said Atobe as he slammed his book shut and stood up from his desk before walking towards the window. Why should I care what that brat does?"

"For someone that does not care, you do spend and awful lot of time pondering something that isn't your problem. You could date him again since he is professing his love for you." Suggested Oishitari.

"Are you serious? I don't date boys, Oshitari."

"What about Sanada?" asked Mukahi.

"That was just a test okay? I was just curious to see if he would fall for a guy like me." Said Atobe. He was hoping the lie would go down because there was no way he would talk about sanada like this.

"A test? You claim that two months of bad poetry from you guys was just a test?" chuckled Oshitari.

"Don't forget, you whined like a baby when he decided that Yukimura deserved more love than you." Reminded Mukahi.

"That's not what happened! I left him because he was not my type!" screamed Atobe.

"You gave him an ultimatum. And we all know how that is going to end since he spends a lot of time admiring yukimura's picture." Said Oshitari.

"Oh screw you!" hissed Atobe.

"No thanks, I am straight."

Mukahi was giggling. "So that makes me a girl right?"

"Aren't you a girl already?" replied Oshitari. "My world has turned upside down! I am so confused!" He then turned towards Mukahi and proclaimed, "A girl a boy, and I don't care. All I can say is I love you! The world might be against us but love shall prevail!"

"For you my love, I would do some gender changing surgery and have my nuts plucked!" declared Mukahi. He was then hit on the head by a pillow.

"Cut it out, you woke me up with that nonsense!" pouted the sleepyhead.

"Thank you jirou!" said Atobe. "But next time, please use a mallet or something heavier?"

"I do not have a mallet."

"I will buy you one as long as you promise to drop it on those two if they act like idiots again!" said Atobe

"But Atobe, that's all the time!"

Mukahi just made a face at jirou before falling back on the bed. "you might not be gay, Atobe. But you are not straight either. Just because Sanada dumped you, doesn't mean you should swear off men."

"What are we talking about?" asked Jirou.

"That Echizen brat has a crush on Atobe." Said Oshitari.

"Is everyone playing tennis really that gay?" continued Jirou.

"Well, you are not." Answered Mukahi. "Unless there is something you haven't told us?"

"No, I still play tennis." Finished Jirou.

"You guys are a bunch of idiots, I swear!" deciared atobe affectionately.

"That's for sure, but do you wonder why you fit so well with us?" replied oshitari.

"Maybe it's because you people can't leave me alone?" shrugged Atobe.

The next day, practice resumed as usual since Tezuka left the role of temporary captain for Ryoma while he was in Germany since that kid didn't want the job in the first place. Furthermore, he just couldn't stand why the brother that he knew left him for the Hyotei captain.

"I knew this captain stuff was too much work for you, but why did you even ask for the job?" asked one of the players.

"I cannot handle the duties that much." Said Ryoma.

"It's not that much work as long as you can handle it."

"Huh?"

"I will leave you in charge for the rest of practice and locking up for today because I have a date and I cannot be late."

"What!? You can't do that to me!" yelled Ryoma.

"Yes I can! Because I make the rules here." Smiled the man. "It's good to be the captain."

"I could easily usurp your position if I wanted to." Growled Ryoma.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that." The captain patted Ryoma's head and smiled. "Don't forget to check to see if everyone has left before you lock up. Bye!" He waved cheerfully off the courts and Ryoma finally noticed that he was wearing school uniform and not a regular jacket.

"One day I will take your position as captain!" muttered Ryoma.

"What is going on?" yelled Katsuo.

"echizen still thinks that he wants the position of buchou." Replied Horio.

"What's new about that?" yelled Kachirou. "He is already acting like the captain!"

"If I hear one more word out of you guys, you will be running an additional ten laps!" Yelled Ryoma.

"What additional laps?" you haven't ordered us to do that yet." Said Horio.

"I will increase that to twenty-five!" screamed Ryoma.

A miracle has just occurred. Horio opened his mouth and tried to argue but he couldn't do it. He just sighed and started walking the laps with Katsuo and kachirou following close behind. The rest of the team quickly diverted their eyes from the seniors and pretended to practice, but Ryoma ws not fooled by their antics. "Great! Now you guys can run laps for—"

"Being useless as usual, we know." Muttered a sophomore.

"Actually, you guys acted like gossiping girls." Said Ryoma.

Once practice ran smoothly, no one had to run additional laps as they headed into the shower room to change. Unfortunately, the last person to leave the clubhouse would need to run an additional ten laps for tomorrow. As for the unlucky freshman, he was all teary eyed and began telling Ryoma about his sick mother. However, Ryoma didn't buy that act for a minute since he only wanted to leave so that he can spend time with Atobe instead of sorting out his teammate's fictional troubles.

Ryoma locked up and not bothered to check to see if he had left anyone behind since he couldn't care less. Overall, it was a depressing day since he really needed new sneakers after his old ones were so worn out. But as for Atobe, he wanted to ruin Ryoma's day even further with the date.

This time, Atobe' date was an elegant older woman with a beautiful dress. Yes, she was very good looking and even more beautiful than atobe's earlier dates, but she was a bit old.

Ryoma was twitching when the woman lifted her hand to caress Atobe's face and smiled brightly. This time Ryoma was planning to save Atobe from the clutches of this cradle robber and decided to follow them to the expensive restaurant. They were just about to sit down when Ryoma joined them.

"Ryoma…." Stammered Atobe.

"I thought we had agreed you are not going to date anymore." Said Ryoma. "And why would you go for someone older like her? Come now! She could be old enough to be your aunt!"

Atobe immediately coughed and with a polite tone, he said to Ryoma, "Echizen, I would like you to meet my mother."

Ryoma was blinking at the woman and smirked. "Yeah right! Nice try Atobe, but she is not old enough to be your mother."

Atobe immediately buried his face in his hands and sighed melodramatically. "This cannot be happening!"

"Why, thank you dear. You have such an exquisite taste in women!" said the lady as she smiled at him.

Ryoma frowned at her and a waiter came by. He then bowed and questioned, "Is everything all right, Atobe-sama? Is the boy disturbing you and your son?"

"No, it's quite all right. He is just a friend of Keigo's that will be joining us for dinner. "Said the woman.

Ryoma suddenly realized that Atobe wasn't really joking. "Is she really your mother?"

"Yes, you little idiot!" Hissed Atobe. "And what the hell do you mean I should not date anymore? I never agreed to anything like that!"

"Well it wouldn't do you any harm if you stopped dating. I am worried about your tendencies to date so many girls and not seeing them more than twice. You need a break from that." Said his mother.

"Mom, I just wish you would stop interfering with my social life." Said atobe.

"As long as you live under my roof, I will have every right to interfere with your social life." Replied the woman

"Then I have to live with my father." Said Atobe.

"Your father has enough on his plate already and does not want to have a moody teen messing anything up, darling. We've been over this."

"You know I am not a moody teen." Said Atobe.

"yeah right! You are just overdramatic." Said Ryoma.

Atobe's mother just laughed while Atobe just stared with his mouth gaping open.

"I like your friend, Keigo." She said.

"He's not my friend, he is just an old rival." Said Atobe.

"You mean like Sanada?" asked the mother.

"No, he is not like Sanada!" said Atobe.

"Che, Sanada's got nothing compared to me." Exclaimed Echizen. Atobe then stared at him for a while before reminding himself that Echizen knows nothing about him and Sanada.

"A young man like him with a healthy dose of self-confidence. Very refreshing!" She then picked up the menu. 'Why haven't you introduced me to him earlier, Keigo?"

Atobe wasn't sure how to answer this because Ryoma's phone rang. As the boy answered it, he was frowning and growling, "What do you mean you are stuck in the clubhouse? Call the actual captain instead of me!" He then ended the call, but the phone rang again and ryoma answered. "All right, All right! Stop sniveling and I will get you out!"

"Sorry about this, but I need to get one of the freshman out of the locker room since the captain is out on his date right now. Why couldn't I have gone for the position of Buchou? I am already doing all of his work." He was whining under hisbreath.

Atobe smiled at him, "It's quite all right. Too bad we had to cut the dinner short." He lied about that.

"I was hoping you could dine with us." Said Atobe's mother sincerely. "Tell you what, why don't you come over tomorrow and I can show you around the house! Isn't that lovely, Keigo?"

"Sure, that would be wonderful." Smiled Atobe.

"Great, I will definitely stop by tomorrow after practice. Bye Monkey King!" ryoma smirked as he left the restaurant.

"He's such a nice boy." Commented Atobe's mother.

Atobe was banging his head on the table and continued his mantra. "This is really not happening!"

The next day after practice, Ryoma realized that he had no idea where Atobe lived. He could have called his boyfriend and asked him for the address, but he didn't have his number either. "He wouldn't want me anywhere near his residence anyway." Muttered Ryoma as he searched through his contact list and found Yuushi's number and ask him for the information. Once he got home, he could see Karupin sleeping innocently on the couch after witnessing the new aquarium shattered into pieces on the carpet. There was no sign of the goldfish.

"Looks like you are not going to be eating dinner tonight?" he asked the cat. "you are lucky that my dad and mom are not here, or I would be planning your funeral now." Sighed Ryoma as he had to say goodbye to a portion of his grocery money that would be needed for a new fish and aquarium.

After he gathered the glass shards into the bucket, his phone started ringing, "Yes, Atobe-kun?"

"Where the hell are you?" Atobe's annoyed voice questioned him and Ryoma somehow cut his index finger on a piece of glass.

"OUCH! SHIT!" he cursed and sucked on his finger/

"Are you all right? It seems that you are injured or something. But no matter, you should feel bad about forgetting that you had an appointment to come to my hosue after your practice is over. Even if you do not have access to proper transportation, I can come and get you. But since I waited long enough, I wil need to come to your house and get you!"

"How on earth did you get my number? I was about to call Yuushi-sempai and ask him for the information. No, karupin, do not step on the carpet, you will hurt yourself!" Ryoma immediately lifted the cat with one hand while sucking the finger on his other hand and talking to Atobe at the same time before heading to the kitchen.

"Your phone number is no longer a secret! Besides, why would my friend yuushi tell you? You wanted him to pick you up himself? I can easily handle that without the assistance of my associates." Ryoma could hear Atobe snorting. "If I knew you were not coming, I can reschedule and do something much more productive with my time, Echizen. Are you listening? I don't know how you were raised, but when you agreed to be my boyfriend and do something, please keep those appointments on your phone so that you do not forget them."

"I'm so sorry for not fulfilling my promise, but I do think I need a lift from you. And also, if you can give me a bandage for my index finger, I would greatly appreciate it." Said Ryoma.

"you brat! Why didn't you say something sooner? Answer me!" said Atobe.

But before Ryoma could answer, Karupin immediately leaped from Ryoma's arms and ran out the front door that the brat had left open. "Hey get back here Karupin!" ryoma shouted as he placed the phone down on the counter and ran after the cat.

Atobe waited for Ryoma's response like a simple explaination, but the line was still silent. Finally he placed the phone down on the desk and a frown appeared on his face. It's not like Atobe really cared, eh was just annoyed that no one kept appointments that they made. Echizen said that he was coming and should have fulfilled his promise. But echizen didn't bother calling and this had made atobe waiting like a fool for the brat to show up/

"I have been stood up, I really have been stood up!" repeated Atobe as he sat down, but instead, he was on the floor. "Ouch, Shit!" shouted atobe as he rubbed his aching behind.

"This is so unacceptable." He announced and stood up, grabbing his phone and coat before leaving the house. "I am going out to pick up Echizen, Mother!" He passed her in the hallway without seeing them.

Atobe's mother elbowed the chef that she was talking to and winked. "He was like that with Sanada-kun, isn't he?"

"Surely, Madam," answered the chef. He was still not comfortable with his employer's familiarity. He just preferred Master atobe sincer that would be the highest compliment since he enjoyed working for his employer.

Meanwhile on the second floor of the mansion, Yuushi and Gakuto watched with amusement as they saw the captain outside of the house and said, "He will never give up on that Seigaku brat, won't he?"

"Nope, it's like he really wants the brat for himself. I wonder if you really were going to pick that boy up from his house?" added Gakuto.

"I would, but my limo driver is on vacation right now. Perhaps I should go with Atobe to see if he needs my assistance." Said Yuushi as he closed his book and headed downstairs with his phone and coat in both hands. He then rushed out the door and ran towards the front yard and off to the bus station.