CHAPTER 130
"7-5, Seigaku's Momoshiro wins." The Seigaku students cheered as the referee announced the finally score. Momo had ended up laying on his back still on the court completely exhorted. Sengoku quietly left the court as Seigaku student rushed onto it to congratulate Momo on his win.
"One more win and we're Tokyo Champions." Momo said with a grin on his features as Inui helped him up. Ryoma stood to the side watching with a small smile. As he was about to go over, when Horio called his name and he turned to the freshman.
"Hey Ryoma." The monkey put on his best fake smile. "So you and Tezuka-Senpai getting serious?" Tilting his head, the cat frowned.
"How did you know? I was told that Sei stopped you before you saw anything." Hearing a scoff, the loud one folded his arms and stared at Ryoma.
"Then someone is lying to you." Ryoma winced. He hated being lied to. He didn't know whether it was from the fact that he couldn't lie to save his life or from the way he was brought up. Most likely the second options, but the first was the one he would say if he had to give his opinion out loud. "Wow, I can't believe Tezuka-Senpai. One second your both making out and the next he's lying to your face. Who would have thought." Horio shrugged his shoulders and walked away leaving the boy to ponder on what was said.
'Why did they lie?' Tapping his chin in thought the boy started to wonder over to the court so he could start his match. Lost in thought he didn't notice Sei step in front of him. So walking into the other's chest he stared up for a second before going round and past the blunette. Sei on the other hand had just caught Horio walking away from Ryoma's general direction and panicked, knowing that he must have told that cat something.
It was Mitsu's decision not to tell Ryoma that Horio had caught them kissing, knowing the boy might have confronted the loud one about it. The captain had to just hope that Horio would drop the subject after he had caught them. One of the deciding factors of not telling the truth was that Horio always had a habit of twisting things so they suited him. He had hoped that the other wouldn't say anything on the situation and so Ryoma would remain oblivious, knowing from what he had seen from the cat's train of thought in the past. The boy could go from happy-go-lucky to blaming himself in a matter of seconds from just a few words said to him by another.
Ryoma stood there slightly confused as he watched Akutsu pointed his racket into the cats face. "I've been waiting for this. Let's play." Ryoma gave him a passing glance as he looked over to the side to see Sei talking to Mitsu and Syu about Hoiro speaking to him. Catching a small smile from the blunette, the cat snapped back to attention when he heard the referee telling his opponent about what he just done wasn't very sports-man-like.
Sighing the boy felt his whole body suddenly grow heavier. He already knew that this match was going to be even more difficult than it was first meant to be, considering only half his attention was directed to the match and his other half on three 18-year-olds who kept giving him small glances.
The referee was now shivering as he got sent a glare from Akutsu. "Brat, concentrate." He shouted turning his attention to the cat who was showing his lack of interest. "I don't want to play someone who's only half-fuck about this whole thing."
As the match started Ryoma was first to serve. As soon as the ball made contact with his racket he sprinted forward towards the net. "That's not the serve I want to see." His opponent shouted as he returned it with ease.
Ryoma narrowed his eyes as he used a drop volley. He could hear it. From the corner of his eye, he could see it. Syu was whispering something into Horio's ear. Catching what it was, Ryoma knew that the tensai was threatening him. He was telling the loud one to back off. 'What does he mean? Back off from what?' He snapped out of it when he heard Akutsu shout at him again.
"That's all you've got? Underestimate me and you'll be sorry!" In a flash of annoyance from him not being able to answer the question in his own mind, the cat jumped and swung his arm round catching the ball from above give it a top spin.
"Back off from what?" The cat finally lost his temper and looked to Fuji who was now standing just behind Horio, for a second Ryoma's eyes turned to slits. Everyone was stunned silent when the boy shouted and Ryoma ignored the sound of a racket hitting the floor as the tennis ball made contact with skin.
"Wow, what was that move?" Huffing Ryoma wanted to know why some of the people watching were now shaking in fear. Turning his head to his opponent, the cat froze when he saw the blood coming from the grey-heads mouth. Taking a breath the cat calmed his heart rate knowing that being this annoyed was getting him nowhere. "Echizen!" He could hear Kachiro shouted.
"Drive A." He said softly not even he took note of the name he gave it as he stared down. "Are you ok?" The chimera looked to Akutsu slightly worried.
"Ryo-Chan." Ryoma turned to Syu. "I'll tell you what I meant after you win." Nodding the cat went back over to edge of the court to serve. Akutsu smirked as he stood and went back over to the far line on his side of the court. One of his legs was straight and leaning forward as the one in front was bent to support the other one. The top half of his body was forwards and his arms dangled down almost touching the floor.
"He's getting serious!" A Yamakubi students shouted. "He's in that stance."
Changing to his right hand Ryoma used the twist serve. As the ball sailed across the net, bouncing and was about to hit Akutsu in the face. Instead the grey-head teen dodged it at the last second sending it flying back. Reflex kick in and Ryoma ran for the ball smashing it back. The cat could feel his eyes widen as his opponent was suddenly at the net jumping high. He didn't react this time when the ball passed him and hit the fence just behind him. The first set went to Yamabuki. 'I need to be faster.' Ryoma thought as he positioned himself for Akutsu to serve.
Ryoma stood on the court breathing deeply as he raised his heart rate forcing himself into a high alert. Looking to the other side he could see Akutsu getting ready and about to serve. Now panting, the cats eyes narrowed as the other serve with no special spins added. Ryoma returned it, before rushing to the net and watched the gray-heads body movements. Seeing his opponents hands get into position, the boy shot over to where the ball would land, only for Akutsu to reposition himself at the last second and shoot it in the opposite direction to where the cat was running.
"Wow, how humiliating. He went the wrong way." Someone said as whispers started to spread. It wasn't just that time either. It happened two more times making the set 40-0 to Akutsu.
"He's changing the course at the last second. Echizen can see where he's going to hit it and moved before hand, but since the balls not made contact with the racket yet Akutsu can bend him body so that the ball will go into the opposite direction it was originally meant to go." Inui stated as he looked to see both Fuji and Tezuka not looking too pleased.
Glaring, Ryoma waited until the next ball came over the net. Switching hands, instead of hitting it back as hard as he could he just tilted the racket letting the ball go up for a lob, before dashing to center on his side of the court. Akutsu was about to just return with another lob so it would end up behind Ryoma, but changed it into a jump when he heard the unibrow from Seigaku shout.
"Ahh, Echizen! He's going to aim behind you. Che! Isn't that the same as running away!" In annoyance the gray-head aimed straight for Ryoma's face. The cat's instints kicked in and he used his racket as a defence to cover his face as he flew backwards landing on his back. The ball soared though the air landing just behind Akutsu before bouncing just inside the court earning Ryoma a point.
Ryoma's eyes shone with happiness as he finally got a point. Letting his breathing even out slightly as he tried to preserve his energy, knowing that he had a habit of just falling to sleep if he became to exhorted.
One the benches Banji watched Ryoma with interest, before looking over to Seigaku's grinning couch. "Ryuzaki, is that boy related to Nanjiro Echizen? He has the same look the samurai once had. From what I know he had a son that die when he was two, but other than that I had no idea he had any other relatives. Is he a nephew? Did Nanjiro even have any brothers or sisters?"
"No, he was an only child." Banji frowned as he watched Ryoma score another point after realizing that the cat needed to challenge Akutsu with words, not just tennis itself. "Ryoma Echizen is the son of Nanjiro." Was all the old lady said as she looked back to the court to see the determined look in the boys eyes.
Ryoma could feel relief bubbling inside as he had gotten the hang of Akutsu play style. Much to everyone's surprise the cat had started using a one footed split step, to step one way and if his opponent changed the course he could always bounce in the other direction. Not only was this helping the cat, but he had made his moves sharper causing Akutsu to just barely miss the ball.
The score was now 1-1 with Ryoma using a drive B to get his final point. Banji was still in shock to hear that the boy standing on the court was a child of that man.
"I thought he only had one son. So there are only two reasons I can come up with. One is that he is a secret child formed by Nanjiro cheating on his wife, which I think is unlikely since the man adored his wife. The second is that the boy never died in the fire." Sumire chuckled, as Yamabuki's coach frowned.
"Well it seems you managed to figure it out and you should know as well as I do that Rinko was only after his wealth. Finding out that Nanjiro had given it all to Ryoma in his will do you really think that woman would smile and do nothing. Nanjiro may of loved her, but his son meant so much more to him." They didn't speak again after that. Both knowing that the match was far from over.
Ryoma managed to win the next set letting the score go to 2-1 to Seigaku. Both boy's went over to their coaches for a quick rest and drink. Ryoma struggled to keep still as his body was pumping more oxygen into his system than he was getting rid of it.
"For crying out loud, Ryoma just sit for a second." Sumire finally lost her temper at see the boy constantly jumping on the stop. Ryuzaki knew just by looking that Ryoma was getting more tired by the second and could only hope that they could start the next set soon. Sumire heard the chain of the fence rustle behind her and she turned to see Mitsu.
"You know your not meant to be over here Tezuka." Instead of getting a reply she finally took note that Mitsu's eyes were on Ryoma. Sighing, she rolled her eyes and got Ryoma attention, before telling him he had 2 minutes.
"Ryoma..." Mitsu said softly as he looked down as the cat approached and stood on the other side of the fence. "I'm sorry I lied." The boy looked to the floor and nodded as he felt his breathing starting to calm down from heavy pants to just breathing deeply. "I only did it because I didn't want you near Horio. He tends to distract you and not exactly in a good way." Ryoma bit his bottom lip as he looked over to Syu and Sei who were both smiling while Horio was next to them sulking. The cat could only guess that the two sadists were keeping an eye on the monkey.
"Ryoma." Ryuzaki called. Letting out a deep breath as he felt his heartbeat slow down even more he looked over his shoulder before turning back to Mitsu.
"Lean down." Doing as he was told the captain bent down so his face was level with the cat's. "I really, really love you." He whispered. Sumire just caught what was said and grinned as Mitsu held down his own blush from Ryoma's words. The boy gave the captain one last smile before grabbing his racket off the bench and running over to the court. Hearing an evil cackle, he finally stood up straight to see Sumire giving him a shit-eating-grin. Choosing to ignore her, Mitsu started to walk back over to Syu and Sei. Looking up as he started to get closer to them.
The tensai kissed his palm and blew a kiss towards Mitsu's direction as Sei snickered besides him. Scowling, the captain went to stand next to Syu and under his breath he muttered. "You're a childish idiot." Causing the blue-eyed Seigaku student's face to break out in laughter.
Half-way though the set, Mitsu had a strange feeling someone was glaring at him. Looking round, he looked past Syu and Sei and finally met Horio's angry eyes.
"Something wrong?" He asked, already knowing what this could be about.
"Are you and Ryoma really in a relationship?" He shouted, but only loud enough for the people surrounding them to hear. Biting the inside of his cheek, Mitsu fought against the urge to rub his temple. Although he knew that most got the idea he wasn't into females, he still didn't want to admit it out loud. Knowing that Ryoma could be listening in he came out with the truth.
"I am. I thought it was obvious considering what you saw." He stopped at that, knowing that Horio got the idea from what he meant. Horio smirked. 'We'll see who he's with in the end.'