Chapter 8

It was hard for Atobe to stay away from Mizuka. He had his arm around her or was holding her hand or touching her face, it seemed that he had to touch her in a way. She wore the necklace everyday. It was beautiful. Every time she looked in the mirror, she would stare at it for the longest time. It hurt her to just take it off before going back to camp. She had to have on her disguise since the suspicions of a girl there died down over the Christmas week.

The first stringers were coming back on the very day they were going back to camp. Atobe had been excited, she had seen it in his eyes. It was already late into the afternoon and she was unpacking when there had been a knock on her door. She thought it would be Atobe and he would be really early but it was Mizuki smiling kindly at her.
"Welcome back, Mizuka," he gave her a warm hug, hugging her body against his even though she barely knew him. She pulled herself awkwardly back as his hand lingered on her arm. "How was your Christmas break?"
"It was good," she eyed the hallway, nervous that someone might see them talking there.
"I'm surprised that you're here. I thought you might be watching the matches against the first stringers."
"I want to but I'll stay hidden for today. Aren't the matches already over?"
"No, there are still plenty of matches. Don't you want to see Atobe play?"
She did. Atobe had told her how much he had improved.
She grabbed her hat and jersey and followed Mizuki out to the courts. She didn't expect him to grab her arm and lead her all the way down to the courts where the rest of them were gathered. They were apparently waiting there for their comrade of high schoolers who secretly went and played against a couple of the first stringers. He had let go of her and slipped through some cracks of players and now she turned around looking for him. She accidentally bumped into someone tall and he turned around glowering at her.
It was Akutsu.
"Huh?!"
"I'm sorry!"
Luckily, Sengoku was beside him and pulled her away. He gave Akutsu a smile as the latter continued to glare at them. "Mizuka? What are you doing here?"
"I thought you guys were playing the first stringers."
"We aren't. The only high schooler that was chosen was Yukimura."
"Isn't Atobe-"
A hand grabbed her wrist and tugged her and she turned to see Atobe, and he did not look happy to see her there. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought..." The words died on her lips since he looked so angry. "I wanted to see you play," she said.
"You can't be here. There are way too many people," he hissed angrily and looked around, trying to see if they could leave without anyone noticing but it was too late. Their comrades were already coming back with their new pins in the direction they were going. They turned to go to the bleachers but the first stringers from positions 1 to 10 stood on there looking down on them.

Atobe swore under his breath and shoved Mizuka behind him.
"Kei-"
"Just be quiet." He did not want her to be seen by them. Especially not by them. How could he have been so stupid? She never should've come back here. He thought that it would've been fine but with them right in front of him right now, it was different.
Sengoku stood beside him as they looked up at the first stringers. Oshitari and Shishido casually stood near once they noticed that she was there.
What the heck was she doing here? He had left her in her room and apparently she was going to stay in the room the entire day. Then he had to hear her voice and see her stumbling around looking lost. He cannot let them see her. He could already see the recognizing glances that shifted to him from them. It had been like that ever since he got there from most of the other players but he knew the first stringers had the most influence. They had to wait until after Echizen finished challenging them before they could move.

The shuffle matches for the first stringers would be tomorrow. It was all he heard. Atobe had her. They were going, they were leaving, they were moving away from everyone. He led her through the courts and up the other side of the bleachers. They had to go around to avoid everyone. But then she yelped and he felt her get pulled. One of the first stringers had ended up near them and yanked Mizuka's other arm. He had already pulled her hat and was wearing it flipped on his head.
"Well, hello beautiful. Long time no see," he gave her a wink which irked Atobe but he would never let it show.
Mizuka only stared back at the black-green haired player, her eyes wide. He wasn't a first stringer that Atobe recognized.
The player then gave her a sly grin. "Don't tell me you forgot who I am?"
She tilted her head. "I'm sorry, I really have no idea."
"Come on, now. Do you need a reminder?"
Atobe tugged her and put himself between them since the player had moved close to her and looked like he wanted to kiss her. He gave Atobe a thoughtful look with some shine in his eyes.
"Ahn, well is this the famous boyfriend I've been hearing about?" He gave him a playful smile.
That phrase. He had heard that phrase before. It was from the cruise. This was that little shit's brother. This was Echizen's brother. This was Echizen Ryoga. The name had come up when he was researching on Sakurafubuki Hikomaro and had stuck with him since he almost had the exact same name as Echizen Ryoma.
"Now that's a scary face." Ryoga took a step back and grinned, tilting his head at him. "Why? Do you remember my voice?"
"Yeah, kind of nasally, kind of annoying," Atobe leveled his eyes with him, the playful spark never disappearing from his eyes.
"Keigo.."Mizuka tugged on the sleeve of his jersey and he pulled his gaze away from Ryoga to look at her. She looked frightened as if she were remembering something about him.
He looked back at Ryoga to see that he wasn't enjoying Mizuka's reaction to him. His smile faltered and he seemed to look a little concerned but it was gone in a flash.

"What were you doing out there?"
"I just wanted to see you play."
"You told me you were going to stay in your room. What made you leave?"
Mizuka sucked in a short breath at the cruel tone in his voice. Atobe was so mad at her for just going out there. Why did it even matter to him? He had told her he wanted her back here at camp. Most of the players should already know she was there. Why not let the rest of them know? He had dragged her back to her room, his footsteps being that much longer than hers and had shoved her in the room and slammed the door. Now he looked at her with such fire in his eyes she didn't know what to do.
"Nothing." She turned away, not wanting to see him so mad but he grabbed her and spun her to face him.
"How do you know Echizen Ryoga?"
"Who?"
Atobe gave her an impatient look which made her rethink for a moment, that the player looked exactly like Echizen Ryoma but older. Now, where had she seen him before. When she was staring at him before, it was jogging at her memory, a very unpleasant one.
"He was on the cruise.."
"Did you sleep with him?"
Atobe's quiet question shook her. He was looking at her so calmly that it scared her. The first memory that always came back to her was that bedroom. She blinked it away and thought of how she met Ryoga. First she was dancing with Ryoga even though she didn't want to and then she had woken up beside him...naked? She was already shaking her head slowly.
"I don't...I didn't." But clearly her answer wasn't enough for him, his hardened eyes narrowed slightly at her and the words just slipped out. "I don't know."
Atobe let go of her hand and turned to walk to the door. Her heart cracked. No. Not after the Christmas they just had together. Her hand was already reaching out to his back.
"No, Keigo!" She ran and hugged him from behind. "No, please. I didn't. I don't know. Please, Keigo, I really don't know." She didn't know what to say but she just wanted him to stay. Him leaving was hurting her chest. She didn't know what to do.
Atobe turned to her, slowly unwrapping her arms from him. His hand was already tilting her chin up to him but she didn't see his normal loving face, all she saw was his cruel smile as he said. "Then I suggest you find out."

Oshitari had been enjoying his time relaxing and reading his magazine since there was no way he was going to challenge the Genius 10. His annoying cousin kept saying how amazing his rookie was and he just had to argue that Echizen was way better. He was just getting into a childish yelling argument with Kenya when Atobe barged and they froze. Atobe's passive face revealed nothing but it was always his eyes that gave it away. It probably had something to do with Echizen's older double being flirty with Mizuka. He followed Atobe out of the room since his presence commanded it and gave Kenya an apologetic smile.
The halls were empty since everyone was practicing outside for tomorrow's shuffle matches. Atobe led him to the piano room and quietly shut the door. He watched as Atobe walked over to the window and looked outside. Why did he feel like Atobe would break at any moment?
"Atobe," he started cautiously. "What happened?"
Atobe didn't answer for the longest time and he thought he might not have heard him when he said, "I don't know."
"Where's Mizuka?"
Her name was what brought the words out and it threw Oshitari off.
"What? Are you sure?"
"I-No. I don't know. I don't really know."
"If you're not sure then, why are you so upset with her?"
Atobe turned on him, his hands shaking so he stuffed them in his pocket. "You should have seen the way he was talking to her."
Oshitari put a hand out to pat his arm. "But a lot of people flirt with Mizuka. Mukahi's like obsessed with her," maybe if he reminded Atobe about everyone else who was obsessed with her Atobe would calm down a little more.
"But Echizen Ryoga was on the cruise with her. She almost got raped on the cruise. What if it was him?"
"Atobe, you saw the man that almost raped her. It's not him," Oshitari said quickly.
"Yeah, right." Atobe did a deep sigh. "I just needed...To get away for a bit. I can't stand another man near her."
"Then I suggest we go find her right now."
Atobe gave him a sidelong glance. "Why?"
"Because how else is she going to find out if she slept with Echizen Ryoga or not if she doesn't go and ask him herself?"

Keigo.
His name was all she thought of as she walked aimlessly through the corridors. She walked and bumped into someone and just kept walking until somehow she had ended up outside. It was a full moon, somewhat cloudy, somewhat windy, and dark.
A hand grabbed her shoulder firmly and she turned to see Sengoku, his blue eyes traced with concern.
"Sengoku.."
"Mizuka, where are you going?"
"I...I'm just...Going out."
It was all the words she could manage. She just had to find Echizen Ryoga.
"Where? Mizuka, you're not even hiding yourself. Where's your hat?" He asked as he followed her.
Echizen Ryoga.
He had her hat. He was on the cruise. All that was coming back to her from the cruise was...She cringed. That sailor. In that bedroom. He was ripping apart her clothes. Touching her. He was going to-
Sengoku put his hands on her shoulders. "Mizuka, calm down."
"I'm sorry." She had been shaking, her hands shook as they clung to his jersey.
He pulled her around the walled bush when he spotted other players walking down the path. He waited until the voices of the other players were gone until he spoke. "You can't be walking around like this. What's wrong?"
"I need to find Echizen Royga," she managed to say each word slowly, her voice wobbled.
"Alright, okay," Sengoku nodded. "Where's Atobe?"
She flinched at his name. "I don't know. I don't know," she shook her head and wanted to get away.
Sengoku kept his hands on her arms and rubbed them, trying to soothe her with calming words so she just tried to listen to the sound of the tapping, the repetitive tapping sound, and focused on that to calm down.
Wait.
Where was it coming from?
Mizuka turned in the direction of the sound and spotted him down on the first level of bleachers.
Echizen Ryoga.
He still had her hat on backwards and was bouncing a piece of tangerine on the side of his racket as he sat leisurely, his foot on the seat in front of him. She turned and marched down to him, ignoring Sengoku's protests. She just had to ask him, then she would know. She just had to ask him, then everything would be back to normal. Atobe would love her again.
Ryoga turned his head and looked up at her, pausing his tangerine. "Done with your lover's spat?" Had he overheard them? Did he know she was looking for him?
"I just want to know-" She stopped. The words felt stuck in her throat. Now that he was in front of her, she couldn't bring herself to ask him. She felt like she needed to sit down and sat on the seat across the stairs from him.
"Hmm? Well, spit it out now," Ryoga sat up, his hand reached out for her face. "I hate seeing your face like that."
She moved back from his hand and asked so quietly that his hand paused in the air. "Did we sleep together?"
It was a couple seconds before he chuckled and stood up. "Of course we did. Don't you remember?"
They did. She had slept with Ryoga. She closed her eyes, her shoulders tensing, she did not want to cry in front of him but she couldn't walk away. She moved a hand to cover her mouth to try to staunch her cries. Atobe will never love her again. Her body felt drained of energy, so empty and hollow.
Ryoga took her arm and she let him pull her up, feeling his hand sliding up her back as his other hand went to the back of her head. "That's all we did," he said quietly. "All we did was sleep."
"That's...all?" She couldn't control the high pitch of her wobbly voice.
"That's all." Ryoga said, his voice had gone soft. He slowly slid his hand to her face and this time she allowed it and he gently prodded her. "It's okay. Let me see your face."
"No..." But his hand pushed her face up to face him.
She blinked and tears slid from her eyes so she can see that his eyes were soft as he looked at her, there was no judgement there.
"You're still beautiful," Ryoga said. "Don't cry. It'll give you wrinkles."
There were steps echoing through the night and she quickly turned her face into his shoulder, but Ryoga slowly slid his hands from her.
"Hello, boyfriend."
She froze. Oh, gosh. Atobe was there.
"Hello." Atobe's voice matched Ryoga's tone.
"Your boyfriend is here. Do you want to go with him?"
Mizuka took a shallow breath and nodded. She turned, not wanting to look at either of them. Atobe had grabbed her hand and she walked with him back up the stairs. Atobe was holding her hand. At least he would love her again since she didn't sleep with Ryoga. Her vision blurred from her tears and she blinked to clear them, using her sleeve to wipe her eyes. That was when Atobe gently guided her back against a wall. His hand lifted her chin up to him, his thumb sliding across her cheekbone. She couldn't look up at him, she just stared at his chest as she sniffled. She swallowed. She had finally stopped crying.
"I'm sorry, Love," Atobe said huskily, sincerely.
And that started her tears again. He pressed her face into his shoulder as she cried her hardest, her cries muffled by his shoulder, her tears falling, streaming onto his shoulder. She shook so much, she felt like she was going to fall apart. His arms held her to him, holding her, supporting her.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I love you." He kept saying but for some reason, it was making her cry even more.