-Yukimura Household-

"Oh. My. God!,"

Yukimura rolled his eyes seeing the exaggerated surprised look of his mother. They were currently enjoying their dinner, if not for the fact that his mom's particularly talkative that evening. At first it started with some general questions about school and if he wasn't having issues catching up with their lessons. And then it went to tennis.

But as to how his mother managed to make him talk about that kiss between him and Sanada was beyond Yukimura's understanding. It's one of his mother's best skills - asking you series of questions before slapping you with a completely different one. After all the years they've been together, he has to admit he still can't directly counter it.

"You finally had your first kiss! Oh my god I can't believe it!" Mrs. Yukimura exclaimed, excitement evident on her face, "This one calls for a celebration, Seiichi. I'll go get some-"

"No, mom..hold it." Yukimura said, quickly thinking of means on how he could stop his mother from overreacting. He saw a frown marring her beautiful face. Yes, his mom's beautiful, with her long, curly brown hair and dangerously, intelligent eyes he sometimes compared to Tezuka's. He only wished his mother has the same degree of tact like what he and the Seigaku captain has.

Clearly she didn't.

Yukimura breathed deep. "It was just a kiss," he started, studying his mother's reaction. "It doesn't mean anything, okay. Sanada and I are good friends, you know that and-"

"Wait...he's not your boyfriend?"

Yukimura saw the more confused look of his mother, and he's starting to worry how he could bring this conversation to an end without having to embarrass himself.

"No, he isn't."

Mrs. Yukimura gasped, again, too exaggerated for Seiichi's liking. He thanked his father's stronger DNA. He can't imagine himself behaving the same way his mother does. He just can't.

His mother cleared her throat and looked at him straight in the eye.

"Did you.." a hesitation and Yukimura sensed that he wouldn't like what's coming.

"Did we what?"

His mother made an incomprehensible wave of her hand. He looked at her in question. She sighed.

"I mean...did you and Sanada...already have sex or something, because if that's the case-"

"Mom!" Yukimura exclaimed in protest as he felt a nerve just snapped on his head. "You are not saying another word," he warned.

"I'm asking a perfectly rational question," his mother retorted. "You know how teens are these days."

Yuimura found himself massaging his temples. "Mom, I'm not saying this again so, listen. No, . .Sex."

"And he's not your boyfriend?"

"No!"

"You're just friends?"

"I told you, yes."

"You promise that you're telling me the truth?"

"Yes, mom...really.."

"Seiichi?."

"YES. It's the truth."

"And you like him?"

"Mom, I said, yes!"

They both fell silent, and that was when it hit him. "No mom..I mean..Sanada..."Yukimura sighed. Why is it this difficult to talk to a mother?

Finally, Mrs. Yukimura smiled, "I get it. You like him. I thought so," she said with a wink as she got up, and brought her plate to the sink. Yukimura could only sigh. God...what's wrong with his mother?

-Sanada Household-

Genichirou Sanada has always prided himself for being strong-willed and courageous. He doesn't respond well to threats and can hold his ground just fine even with an angry Seiichi Yukimura in front. Yes there's a part of him that feared their captain. But it was also true that a certain side of his personality wanted to dominate and just sweep Yukimura off his mighty throne. It's exactly why he has always worked so hard to improve himself at tennis.

But if there is one person whom he feared above anyone else, (even more than how he feared his grandfather), it would be the woman sitting across him right at this very moment, legs-crossed, eyes studying him with interest as she took a sip of her favorite earl gray tea.

She's your typical Asian beauty at first glance. Shoulder-length black hair, black eyes, fair skin tone and petite figure. But Sanada knew better. And experience taught him that his mother's not the person you should be messing up with. Trust someone who did it a couple of times in the past and have direct experience on unwanted consequence.

"So, tell me. Who's that unfortunate person who's gotten your interest," It was supposed to be a question. But coming from Sanada's mother, it sounded more like a command.

Sanada's palms were starting to sweat and he suddenly felt so vulnerable under his mother's close scrutiny. He saw her snicker before placing down her cup on the glass table that separated them.

"You know you can't lie to me Genichirou. Let me guess. It's someone from your tennis club. Shorter than say...two inches than you. Beautiful, of course intelligent..now tell me the rest."

Sanada refused to look straight at his mother's eyes. "Great at tennis."

His mother nodded in understanding, "Well, Seiichi is indeed, attractive."

Sanada gaped. How the hell did his mother know?

"You're my son. Of course I know you best," her mother said, answering his unspoken questions with a meaningful smile.

Yukimura slammed himself down on his bed.

Yes he kissed Sanada. It wasn't how he wanted his first, actually. He was hoping that his vice-captain would take the first move. Unfortunately, Sanada's initiative in romance seemed to be 0%, and Yukimura was never used to waiting for so long. He could be patient of course.

But gosh..he's been waiting for Sanada to do something for more than 3 years now. So is getting impatient? Hell yes. Very much.

No words were exchanged after their first kiss. And knowing how Sanada might still be in a state of shock, he took the decency to give themselves a break. But seriously? Doesn't Sanada really have any plans on at least calling him?

Yukimura groaned and grabbed his phone, debating whether or not he should make the call instead. Just when he was about to dial his vice-captain's number, his phone rang. He answered on the first ring.

"Hey.." he greeted trying his best to sound not too excited.

"Y-Yukimura...,"

Yukimura shifted and sat himself up on bed. "Hi...I was just-"

"Seiichi..."

Yukimura raised a brow. "Yes, Sanada I'm here."

There was silence on the other line, and he had to look at his phone to make sure that the line wasn't cut off. It wasn't. He brought back the phone against his ears.

"Sanada, you there?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"..about that kiss...I don't want to assume so I'm making sure if-"

"Yes, Sanada I like you. What else do you want to know?" He can almost see how his vice-captain looked and he savored the thought. Sanada can be brutal. But he's got this super cute side that Seiichi only knows - one thing that he would like to exploit as long as the other allows him to.

The other guy cleared his throat. "Ughm...so...us...are we like..."

"Dating?"

"...ughm..."

"That depends on you Sanada. I'd love to, but I don't want to impose."

"No, that's not..."

Yukimura could sense the hesitation from the other man and he felt a bit guilty for going overboard this time. Perhaps he might have teased his vice-captain too much. He knew Sanada's not really good in dealing with upfront confrontation. Not especially when it comes to his love life.

"Let's do it this way, Sanada. You'll only have to answer yes or no. That's it."

Sanada frowned. "I don't get-"

"Yes and no, remember?"

Sanada sighed. Fine he'll play along. "Yes."

"Do you care for me?"

"Yes."

"Do you like the idea of me getting hurt?"

Sanada frowned. He wondered what Seiichi is getting at. "No. Of course not."

"Do you think we deserve to stand by each other in tennis?"

"Yes...I believe so."

"Do you like me seeing somebody else?"

"I don't get what-"

"For instance, do you want me dating Niou?"

"No."

"Renji?"

"No."

"Tezuka?"

"No! Seiichi...he's taken."

Yukimura was trying his best not to laugh at Sanada's reaction. He was so close to losing it but he'll have to finish this off.

"Well...it's Atobe then."

"Over my dead body...Seiichi wait. What is this all about?"

Yukimura cleared his throat, hiding his giggles. "It's a simple yes or no. One last thing. Did you like the kiss?"

Another silence. "Yes."

Yukimura smiled. "Well. That settles it. You like me, I like you. We're perfect."

Sanada smiled at that. "That's it?"

Yukimura thought for a while. "Nope. Actually, that's not yet it. But I bet you can think of something by the time we see each other tomorrow? I'm sure-"

Beep...

Yukimura frowned and looked at his phone. Low battery level. Great. Guess he just have to trust Sanada to do the work from here on. He was about to lie back down on bed when he noticed the shadow lurking just outside the door of his room. He frowned in annoyance and padded to the door, yanking it open, just in time to catch his mom slowly walking away in tip toes.

"Mom, seriously?"

His mom stopped on her tracks, straightened herself and faced his son. "I just wanted to say good night."

Yukimura smiled. "Yeah right."

His mother went closer and kiss him on the cheek. "Oyasumi, Seiichi,"

He just nodded in reply and closed the door. Two seconds after, his mother peeked inside, "Be sure to take some photos on your first date and post it on Facebook. Good night!"

Yukimura breathed deep. If only he can make his mother run laps.

OWARI