Tennis no Ouji-sama © Konomi Takeshi, Shuheisha, Inc.


- Act XLV -
[ Ice Emperor VS Ice Pillar ]


Along his way to his destination, Keigo didn't dare to look at the mirror, simply because he was certain how ugly he would look at that moment with so much emotion within him. A wave of flare was still raging in his chest, burning through his fists that he felt like wanting to punch something after he heard what happened to Hikari during his match with Kunimitsu. Covering the upper half of his face, Keigo gritted his teeth upon remembering what she had to go through after the incident.

The guilt was growing like a cancer cell in his body, biting down his spirit that he felt like nothing he could do would fix everything. As if he wasn't allowed to swamp into such a feeling, he got another piece of news about the mess his beloved teammates made. There was a mixed feeling of anger and dejection, but also touched at the same time when he heard how his teammates went through such a hassle for his sake, even though it ended up in the mess he had to fix.

As if that wasn't enough, he had to take a deep breath to be able to breathe properly in the most awkward atmosphere since Tezuka Kunimitsu sat right beside him in his car, after getting the call from his teammates who were trapped in the same situation as Keigo's.

No words were exchanged between the two but Keigo could feel the swirl of dangerous energy around Kunimitsu, and it wasn't the Tezuka Zone. Kunimitsu crossed his arms all the time, looking directly at the road with his usually stoic face.

"I didn't ask them to do this." Keigo broke the silence.

"Hn."

"It seems that you don't trust me."

"Hn."

"Fine. I don't care whether you trust my words or not. What I've stated is the truth."

"Hn."

Bastard!

Of course, it wasn't the Tezuka Zone. It was Tezuka Phantom. Kunimitsu literally forced his words out of bounds. If he wanted to make this a match, then Keigo was happy to comply. Placing his hand between his widely opened eyes, he glanced at Kunimitsu, who glanced back at him…

"What's wrong, Tezuka? Too cowardly to talk?" Instead of replying with words, Kunimitsu's aura was getting stronger but Keigo wouldn't spit and lick at the same spot.

"Actually, I do have things I want to ask of you." Keigo was so taken aback that he pulled down his hand.

"Ahn? What's the change? Just a few seconds ago you refused to say anything, now you're talking."

"Have you heard anything about the underground tennis gambling match?"

Keigo slumped himself on the car chair. "Not much. They're very popular among the rich, just like the horse racing bet. Some even go as far as recruiting famous players. But even if I'm invited there's no way someone as magnificent as me would join a low-class competition like this."

"So, you weren't involved…"

"Ahn? What is this about anyway?"

Kunimitsu fixed his glasses with his middle finger. "Since the other schools have learnt about it, I think it's only fair to let you know about this. Ginka was involved in this illegal tennis gambling match and since then has been used for the competition. They couldn't quit the organisation unless they kidnapped my sister."

"What?!" Keigo couldn't not shout at this. "Why her?! Did they specifically ask for her?!"

"Hn." Kunimitsu nodded. "But if you weren't involved then it mustn't be because of you. Or did something strange happen on your side too?"

Keigo nodded. "A butler I never knew of served spiked tea for me." Kunimitsu widened his eyes in response. "I didn't take it of course, but—" He rolled his eyes, slightly hesitant to tell the next part, "—I promised to meet your sister in my house. This butler happened to direct her to our match venue…" Keigo was hit by the realisation.

"Then someone ordered Ginka to kidnap her …"

"But no one should ever see me together with her."

"It appears that it's not everyone. My junior mentioned seeing you with my sister in Kadokawa Park." Keigo pressed his lips together at this. "Maybe they're interested in you."

"Or maybe you. You're having an uprising of popularity in the tennis world recently. What if they're planning on using her to get you? As I've said before, they went as far as recruiting famous players. It wouldn't be surprising to see them interested in you."

"By using her…" Kunimitsu muttered under his breath.

"It's too early to say anything without solid proof though. I'll look into this but in exchange—"

"Don't even think about using my sister for this."

Keigo chortled. "Let me finish. That wasn't my point. I want to provide her with the securities she needs. That's my proposal." Though he had done that, he had to ask official permission for this.

"No need. We're fine on our own."

"Tezuka, you're underestimating the underground. They'd do anything necessary to get what they want. As long as we don't know their motive, your sister isn't safe. We're responsible for her safety."

"I am responsible, as her older brother. You're no one."

His blood veins popped on his temple. Kunimitsu was truly getting on his nerves by pressing how he was no one to Hikari. This triggered the glaring competition he didn't want to lose though Kunimitsu remained unperturbed, stoic, and calm. But he had already imagined their surroundings turned into a court—their battleground.

"Uhm… Bocchama?" Keigo narrowed his eyes on his chauffeur. "We're already here."

Kunimitsu fixed his glasses as he got out of the car while he scoffed. But it wasn't like he had any time to tattletale.

It turned out both his teammates and Seigaku were involved in a fight while chasing after Hikari, and ended up breaking things in the marketplace which triggered the rage of all the vendors in the area. There was nothing he couldn't settle with his black credit card. Once it slid across the machine, it made everyone happy—just like magic.

But it wasn't like that magic worked for everyone…

Especially the Seigaku's Ice Pillar.

"I expect this to be the last time this incident happened. You hear me?"

"But, Atobe—"

"Don't meddle with my personal matters, ever!" Keigo pressed his tone as he wheeled around to see Kunimitsu with Hikari walking behind him while rubbing her red-rimmed eyes, probably shocked due to their first time being seized by the police.

Why did seeing her always make his heart flutter?

The moment her eyes met his, Hikari widened them for a moment before hiding behind her brother. Only at that moment did he notice Seigaku's stabbing and judging eyes on him, and the expecting eyes from his teammates—as if his next movement would direct the story somewhere.

"Atobe, I'm sorry for all the trouble." Kunimitsu bowed at him.

"Don't be. It's only right because my team caused this." He then glared at his teammates. "Apologise now."

"We're sorry for the trouble," they said in unison.

"Also, to my qu—Tezuka's sister." There were a few seconds before they did what he ordered them to.

"We accept the apology. I hope this is the last time this happened," Kunimitsu said as he fixed his glasses.

He furrowed his brows as he stared at her biting her bottom lip, still avoiding his eyes. "I'm sorry," he muttered softly to her.

She widened her eyes he had longed to see. It was beautiful under the moonlight, and it was equally beautiful under the sun. Only in those eyes, he could see himself—his real self. Her lips were slightly gaping but no words were coming out of them.

"Let's go."

Hikari obediently followed her brother, sparing a glance once at him and seemed to be surprised by something. When she was heading out, she stopped right before Munehiro.

"Uhm… Totoro-san…"

"What did you just call him, Hikari-chan?!" Takeshi laughed his guts out that he clenched his belly along with the Seigaku shrimp. "Now that you mention it, he does look like one! He does!"

What was Totoro, he wondered.

"S-sorry! I don't know your name!"

"It's Kabaji. Don't arbitrarily call people names as you wish," her brother told her.

"It's okay. You can call me anything you want," Munehiro gently said with a small smile.

"No, Kabaji-san. It's nice to meet you! Thank you for the umbrella you gave me that day."

"Don't worry about it."

"You are a really nice guy. Thank you for saving me back there." Hikari smiled a little. "He's lucky to have you around so please… take care of him." The last part came out in a whisper but Keigo could clearly hear it. She quickly sauntered before her brother, who glared at him as if telling him not to tail them.

When they exited the police station, Keigo rushed to follow her. His breath came out ragged, his chest was burning with the desire to scream out what he wanted to tell her that it pained him to hold it back.

He couldn't and wouldn't give up on her…

Clenching his fists, Keigo slowly raised his trembling hands in between his eyes.

He would do everything to put her in the safest place on earth…

Even if it wasn't within his arms…


AN: I'm still alive, guys! So sorry that I'm not updating the story for a while. A lot of things are recently happening that I'm too fried even to do my hobbies. Though, seeing your votes and reviews are boosting my spirit, so thank you so much for your support!

Btw, the next two chapters are probably something that you've been awaited after all these melancholic dramas between Keigo and Hikari. What's going to happen? Please comment in this line to tell me your guesses! I will PM the hint to those who guess correctly! =D

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!