Tennis no Ouji-sama © Konomi Takeshi, Shuheisha, Inc.
- Act XII -
[ Fairy Godfather]
Richard Wagner's music was truly a masterpiece.
There wasn't a day when Keigo didn't begin his day without listening to his music. Lohengrin was one of his favourites. He even joined the bid for the first edition phonograph record and was willing to pay ¥ 2,000,000 for it. It was a small price for something as grand as Wagner after all. The gramophone he inherited from his great grandfather was the more reason to buy the record.
Walking out of his bathroom, Keigo went to the window and opened the curtain to reveal the magnificent view of his house. His mother's favourite cherry blossom trees that perfectly lined the road to his house were ready to bloom as April was just tomorrow.
Keigo smirked when he spotted the car that brought his princess to finally enter the golden gate into the mansion. Buttoning down his dress shirt, he walked out from his room with both hands shoved into his pants. He smirked wider when Hikari's impatient steps echoed throughout the room, covering his mouth when he saw how what an awful mess she was with her loosened braid on her right and wearing a different pair of shoes.
"W-Weirdo!" she screamed as she quickly approached him with worry visibly glistened in her eyes. "A-are you alright? What was this emergency you mentioned in the message? Are you hurt?"
"Never thought that you would associate 'emergency' with my well-being but ore-sama is very happy to know that you were actually worried," he amusedly said.
She blinked. "So… what is this 'emergency'?"
"Nothing. Just wanted you to come and make sure you didn't refuse."Her thunderstruck expression was worthless but he clearly didn't see flying magazines being thrown in his direction coming. She wrathfully took everything within her arms' reach and threw skillfully caught one, avoiding the other while he stealthily approached her and caught her wrist. "Hey, stop that."
"You bastard! I canceled the meeting with my friend because I thought you really weredying!"
"Well, you're right about that. I was dying—" she stopped her movement, "—to see you." She scrunched her nose at this but he didn't miss the touch of red that spread across her cheeks. "I'm thrilled to have you here, Princess. Although I must say that you look—" he looked down to her feet, "—funny."
"I just finished taking shower and was braiding my hair when I got your message! And I was—" she loudly gasped when she followed his gaze, "Oh my gosh, I'm so dead! This is my brother's tennis shoe! I'm wearing a different pair of shoes all the way! Oh…" She wailed. "What a shame! I'll never be a lady this way!"
Keigo chuckled. "That explains your change of behaviour these past two do you suddenly want to become a lady, ahn? Any specific reason?"
Hikari squeezed her lips together and looked away. "N-no. I just… want to be more mature since I'm going to be sixteen this year."
"I see. That's a nice purpose. You can do whatever you want…" he caressed her cheek so she would look up to him. "…as long as you to stay true to yourself."
"Stay… true to myself?"
"Yes. As long as you're not trying to be someone you aren't." He entwined his fingers with hers and pulled her with him. "Come on, let's get you ready."
"What do you mean by 'getting me ready'? I won't go anywhere like this!"Keigo smiled as he led her way to the second floor and opened the door to the vacant room he had renovated for her.
"They will help you get ready. Come and see me after you're done," were his words to her as he opened the door.
"T-they?"
"Good morning, Ojou-sama!" the crew greeted in unison upon seeing Hikari, equipment ready in their hands. He bit his bottom lip upon her priceless expression. Keigo pushed her into the room when her lips chanted the question she didn't manage to spell out.
"Enjoy your make-over," he whispered to her.
"W-wait!" He closed the door and walked away with a smirk. It only took him a cup of coffee until Michael informed him that she was ready. Taking his coat, he walked out of his room listening to the steps she made with her heels.
When he chose the baby blue embroidered tulle dress, he only chose it because the dress reminded him of Cinderella. Never he expected that she would look like a real lady in it. Her hair was tied into a side ponytail with a blue rose adorning it. The sleeves were long but showed her fair skin below gracefully tilted her head in his direction and completed her graceful appearance with her sweet smile.
Keigo reached for her hand when she reached the last step of the stairs, not realising his mouth slightly gaped all the while.
"How do I look?" she mockingly chuckled, stroking her knuckles while holding himself from kissing it.
"Gorgeous," was what he could utter. "I should praise myself for knowing how to style you."
"Indeed. You're after all my…"
"Prince?" he confidently said.
"Fairy Godmother," she uttered with a smirk. Keigo still smiled, but he froze upon the nickname. He swore he could hear some of his pride falling apart because 'fairy godmother' definitely didn't align well with an AtobeKeigo. "Every time you say something, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo—it's done."
That definitely never crossed his mind.
"Ore-sama thinks that name doesn't suit him at all…"
"Oh, let me rephrase it then. I think you're my Fairy Godfather." She mischievously smiled at him. "I think that suits you well, Weirdo." She giggled while revolving with her dress. "Oh, I really love this dress!" So did he. "How do you know my size anyway?"
"I have this ability—" Keigo put his palm over his face, "—and can tell whatever I need about a person," he said while playing with his bangs, referring to his Insight ability.
"Ew…" She crinkled her nose while covering her chest. "What a perverted skill! You should be ashamed of yourself! How could you boast about it!"
Keigo pressed his lips, a vein popped in his very ability was what brought him to where he was that day, the sublime skill that made his foes fell to their knees in defeat.
And she dared to call it a 'perverted skill'.
"Whatever. Let's go." He decided not to say anything that would ruin the perfect day to execute his perfect plan.
"Where are you planning to bring me anyway? Do we really have to dress this formally?"
"Yes." He put her hand around his arm. "Just wait and see."
Knowing how modern-day teens like them were barely attracted to classics, Keigo had to bet fifty-fifty on whether or not an orchestra would fascinate her. He had to thank his luck because she used to work with the orchestra group, thus she was very excited to see them performing in Japan.
"Oh gosh! I'm so happy to see them again!" she excitedly said. "They used to play the Nutcracker in Germany two years ago! I must say that they're one of the best orchestra groups I ever worked with!"They were walking out from the Kadokawa Hall and walked alongside the park.
"Do you enjoy orchestra?" he curiously asked. Because none of the Hyoteiregulars except for Choutarowere ever interested in classics.
"Not really. If it's the group I don't know, I won't go. It surprised me that you're into this thing, Weirdo. Are you sure you're not an old geezer trapped in a young body?" She chuckled when he gave her a disapproving look. "You don't have to be shy about it because I basically grew up with men like you around me."
"Like your brother?" He sniggered as he sat on one of the empty benches, ushering her to sat beside him.
"Yup. He and a childhood friend of ours—my brother's rival." This gained his full attention. "He has a splitting personality with my brother: very dedicated, loyal, and hard-working but he's really bad at technology. He can't use a phone and couldn't answer thephone because he didn't know how it works." She sighed. An image suddenly appeared in Keigo's mind and he knew exactly who it was.
He couldn't be…
"He was born in the wrong era, I guess. But I called him yesterday and he told me he finally got the phone that works for him because someone especially made it for him. It appears that someone named Atobe gave it to him for free. How generous," she blurted without realising Keigohad to look away to cover his cough. "Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Keigo took a deep breath and forced a smile at her. "Funny to hear that you're in a good relationship despite him being your brother's rival."
"Well, he's like a second brother to me."Keigo sighed deeply at this. "No one dares to bully me whenever he's around. Just like with my brother, I feel like I'm in the safest place whenever he's around." Truthfully, Keigo didn't know whether he should feel relief or not to hear that.
"Then how about being with me?"Keigo playfully asked while placing his hand behind her.
Hikari furrowed her brows, staring at him with herhead slanted to her right. "Uhm… We just met?"
"But you said that you want to trust me. What if I say that I won't let anything bad happen to you too?"Keigo was leaning closer to her, placing his other hand at the side of her left shoulder. Knowing how Japanese girls usually fell to this technique, he had planned to try it out.
"So you said but this is exactly what they call 'taking advantage'." She tapped his chest with her index finger.
"Ahn? What kind of man do you think I am? I'm getting this close just so you can seep my true charm into your senses." Hikari crinkled her nose and pushed his face away from her. "That aside—"Keigo took out a hair shaver from his bag, "—you still have the right for this, just in case I cross the limit."
She covered her lips as she laughed. "Save that charm for yourself, Weirdo. You'll need it more than I do."
"But I'm serious—" She looked straight into his eyes, "—about protecting you." He tightened his grip on the chair. "I won't cross the limit unless you allow me to…"
Hikari timidly looked away from him but he didn't allow her to by placing his hand on her cheek. Seeing that she slowly closed her eyes, Keigo let out a glorious smirk. However, he didn't expect that she was bold enough to put her hand on the back of his neck and pulled him down, but not enough to make him kiss her so he moved closer but she pushed his face away instead.
"Stay put and don't you dare do anything funny!" she said through her gritted teeth while keeping her eyes in the right direction.
"Ahn?What is going on anyway—"
"That was boring as hell, Choutaro… I don't understand how people could stay sane watching that for three hours straight!"
"You think so? I feel connected to the past listening to the pieces they played. I understand if you don't like it but thank you for coming with me, Shishido-san."
Keigo widened his eyes and craned his head lower so his teammates wouldn't be able to see him.
Especially since he was with her…
And most especially since he was in that position…
"What are you doing?! I've told you to stay put! Do you want me to shave your hair!" she whispered upon noticing how close their lips were. But his current position allowed him to see why Hikari pulled him down…
It was to cover herself from whoever was coming from the opposite direction.
And it was even more dangerous than being seen by Ryou or Choutaro…
AN:Wow! So sorry for not updating for a long time! I guess it's almost a year since my last update and I have to apologise for that. I really hope you, whoever reading this, along with your family and friends stay safe and well. Use your mask whenever you go out, people!
Now, who do you think Hikari is hiding from? Give me your guesses and see if you're right in the next update! XD
Favorite, follow, and most importantly—review are gold for me! As I mentioned in the previous chapter, the story is also posted on Wattpad. Since the site allows me to post videos and images, I might be able to pamper your eyes there. Check my account in ReikaNanatsuki!
Thank you for reading and have a nice day!
