"Fujiko-chan, do you know where Kami-chan is?"
Fuji shrugged, "She mentioned something about a meeting. I'm sure she'll tell Yuuta about it tonight."
He was talking about how Kamiko would force Yuuta to come home every time she wanted to visit because she "didn't want to run the risk of running into the Mizuki demon". Of course, since they met at the Fuji household, and since she somehow convinced Yuuta to stay the weekend or even just the night, the elder Fuji brother joined in on their conversations. That's when she started distinguishing which Fuji was which, by calling the tensai 'Syu-chan' and then Yuuta with a form of a brother honorific.
Kamiko had a rather secretive meeting at the moment, the latest of a few, one that only Yuuta, Momo and Kaidoh knew about, and tried their best to keep it away from anyone. It was everyone else's wrath, or Kamiko's. The boys chose not to anger Kamiko even more.
"Do you think buchou will be ok?" Momo asked after practice. The whole first string were going out to eat, but Tezuka had denied the invitation, saying that he had an appointment with the doctor.
Kaidoh hissed, "Fshuu... Of course he'll be okay, he's buchou, moron."
"Of course he's buchou, stupid snake!" Momo yelled back, "I'm just wondering..."
"Tezuka will be okay." Oishi stated.
Now, it was odd for the Mother of Seigaku to be so sure of something that was so... worrisome, but as vice-captain, Oishi understood that if there was doubt he would have to be the one to help the team through it.
And he was trying now.
"At least... I hope he will."
"Oishi~! Look! There's Kami-chan, nya!" Kikumaru pointed across the street, "And she looks pretty!"
They all looked to where the hyper-active acrobat directed, and, to their surprise, she did look pretty. Kamiko wasn't ugly, no, in fact she was gaining more and more of a secret fan club since she managed to talk (and somehow cluelessly flirt) with the boys there. But she did look prettier than usual; she had dressed up for something special, that much was obvious when they saw her in a dress and her hair was up in a half-up, half-down hairstyle. But the sad, thoughtful expression on her face could have told people she was attending a funeral.
"I wonder what she's-"
"Come here, Taka-san!" Kikumaru pulled his whole team back so no one would interfere, much to Inui's delight, as the data man furiously began to scribble into his notebook.
"There's a high probability that Kami-chan's secret meetings have actually been dates."
Fuji noticed the extra glint in Inui's glasses, and turned back to the restaurant. Inui may have been right, since a boy walked in and tapped Kamiko on the shoulder. She came out of her tranced state, and frowned when a large bouquet of flowers appeared from behind the boy. And, yet, for some reason, it only made Kamiko's frown even larger. Fuji didn't remember Kamiko talking to him or Yuuta about any recent dates she had accepted from boys that courted her. It was a shame that the boy's back was facing them, and that they couldn't get a clear view. Only the younger Echizen seemed to know.
"Heh, senpai-tachi, I wouldn't get involved with Kami-chan's boyfriend troubles if I were you." Ryoma stood up and dusted himself off of the street dust, and began to walk away.
"Boyfriend..." The last time Echizen had said that was when they had the unpleasant honor of meeting Kenji.
"Don't you walk away from me, Echizen! We're not done yet!"
Ryoma stopped walking, hearing the voice as well as everyone else on the street. But it was the wrong Echizen that had responded, since Kamiko refused to stop walking down the street.
"You thought that I wouldn't cause a scene on the streets? Because we're in public? Well you're wrong!"
He grabbed the girl by the arm roughly, rough enough to make Kamiko wince and gasp out in pain.
"Kenji!" She winced, "Let go of me!"
He smirked, "Fine."
But letting go in Kenji's mind meant pushing her down. She fell with a loud thud, and even worse looking cringe as her legs and arms skid across the cement.
That was the last straw. First, chasing her out on the street, threatening her about making a scene, grabbing her, and then pushing her. Seigaku couldn't stand for this anymore.
"Get away from her!"
Fuji's already opened eyes widened at the voice he heard, and all of Seigaku looked across the street from them.
"Yuuta...?"
The older brother couldn't understand how Yuuta had gotten there, and Kamiko pushed past Kenji to stop Yuuta from getting closer to the boy. It seems the two hadn't seen Seigaku at all.
"Niichan!" She exclaimed, the fear overcame her shock, and it was clear to see, "What are you doing here?!"
"I followed you after you lied to me and I see you hanging out with this guy?! What the hell, Kami-chan?"
"Tell the brat to get away from here, Kami-'chan', or else there'll be some unwanted injuries."
"SAY THAT TO MY FACE, YOU-"
"Niichan!" Kamiko pulled Yuuta back, pushing him further and further away from Kenji. She glared momentarily at Kenji's words, but realized that Yuuta was ready to fight.
"Just get away from here, Yuuta-nii, please!" Kamiko begged frantically.
"There's no way I'm-"
Kamiko shook her head and stood between the two.
"Fuji Yuuta, go home now."
Yuuta finally stood down, unsure of how to move forward since this was the first time Kamiko had ever called him by his full name.
"Please," She said softly, a worried frown accompanied her words, "We're just talking, I promise. If you got hurt because of me... Please leave."
Yuuta's fists clenched together tightly, and he finally understood why his older brother would go through the trouble of beating the opponents that beat him. It was what an older brother felt like he had to do. But Yuuta wouldn't back down, he knew he couldn't.
"If Seigaku finds out-"
"They won't, will they, niichan?"
Yuuta finally sighed in defeat, "If you don't call that cocky cousin of yours tonight you better call me."
Kamiko nodded gratefully, and waited for Yuuta to start walking back before Kenji pulled her into a car.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters/plot/etc., of the PoT manga/anime.