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

- Act L -
[ Munehiro POV – Man of Honour ]

Munehiro was too small to understand what was going on when some people came to kick and destroy the property in his house. His mother and sister were holding him close while his father was down to his knees, begging bad people to stop ransacking their small house. That happened almost every day that a day without them coming felt like one day in heaven for him.

But when his father was kicked until he was losing consciousness, Munehiro couldn't take it anymore. No matter how small he was, he only wanted to protect his father. His mother and sister tried to pull him back but Munehiro tightened his hold on his father.

Protect his father, that was his duty as a son.

Munehiro squeezed his eyes shut as he accepted the pummels, the kicks, deep in his heart praying that somebody would save his family from this hell hole they were living in. His eyes were blurred when he saw a woman running in their direction, before an endless stretch of black conquered his vision.

He found himself awoke in a room that wasn't the room with one bed for all four of them to sleep in. The room was nothing fancy but it was something Munehiro would consider fancy. His father worried looking eyes were the ones he saw next, having bandages all over him while his mother and sister were crying in relief to see him awake.

A woman—the most beautiful woman he ever saw was talking to his family and suddenly, they got to stay there. Everyone was promised a job and a decent place to live in and Munehiro was thrilled to know that they finally left the hell hole.

However, the boy who was standing behind the woman was catching his attention. He was around Munehiro's age but looking at his clothing alone would define how different the worlds they were living in. The boy had a mole below his right eye and throughout the conversation between the woman and Munehiro's family, those dark blue eyes kept looking at Munehiro. Suddenly, he pointed at Munehiro and said, "I want him to be my playmate."

The next thing Munehiro knew, he had attended the King's Kindergarten with the boy. The boy had the kind of charm that attracted people around him; old and young, boys and girls. He was excellent in many things he did and never ceased to amaze people most of the time. Munehiro didn't understand how a boy who was always surrounded by many people like him still wished Munehiro to be his playmate. Despite attending the same class, Munehiro would always stay in the corner so he wouldn't block anyone from approaching the boy. However…

"Kabaji, come with me," the boy said in an unexpectedly fluent Japanese. Knowing how his family worked for the boy's, Munehiro followed whatever he asked him. For anyone else, it sounded like a command—like a boss to his underlings. But years afterwards, Munehiro realised that it was more than that.

It was the boy's way to keep Munehiro from feeling out of place.

Not only that, the boy kept talking to Munehiro in Japan all the while Munehiro was still learning English.

It was the boy's way to keep Munehiro from feeling estranged.

Since he was a kid, Munehiro always had this uncanny ability to effortlessly learn things from other people. One look and Munehiro could master it. Which was why he was glad that this ability came in use to help the boy learn things he should. Munehiro could not only become his playmate but also his sparring partner.

At last, Munehiro could make himself useful to push the boy to his fullest potential. There was nothing that could make him happier than proving that he was useful to the boy. When the boy discovered a deep passion for tennis, Munehiro did too. Of all the things he was learning, never did Munehiro see him showing such enthusiasm. The boy watched all the Wimbledon matches in person, replaying the recorded version over and over, then trying the techniques until he developed his own.

Despite all his grand qualities, the boy was still the kindest person Munehiro would want to accompany throughout his life.

Years later, he remained the same kind boy he met for the first time…

Even after the boy had no longer been called by the name his mother usually called him …

And forced to leave the life he loved back in England.

To his surprise, he became an entirely different person when he moved to Japan.

A different person known as Atobe Keigo.

"Be awed by my beautiful prowess!" Keigo shouted as he threw his jacket to burn the growing passion of the spectators who continuously hailed his name. He suddenly became a man who was thirsty for attention. The change shocked him so much that Munehiro decided to remain stoic and followed everything he asked for without comment.

Keigo spent the years living in Japan showered with praise. Everyone glorified his name that he even trademarked the full set of his name so it was illegal for anyone to use the name 'Atobe Keigo', even when naming their babies. There were many stories about him on the internet and in magazines but none of them actually told the truth about his past…

The past Keigo wanted to bury in the deepest part of his heart…

Munehiro knew no one in Japan that actually knew his back story. Only Michael and Munehiro's family knew about this while the other staff only heard rumours without anyone clarifying the truth.

Though many girls have attempted to approach him and get his attention, Keigo only spared a glance to one woman he deemed 'qualified'. Nishiyama Marika was a graceful woman who became the student council vice president back in middle school. She excelled in every subject, was a talented singer, and was a graceful woman everyone deemed to be the only one to match Keigo's quality. She was the only one Keigo allowed to stand in close proximity with him.

Until a day when she accidentally spilt her tea, or deliberately when Munehiro was the only one in the council room. Munehiro helped clean the mess on the floor but Marika kicked him in the face and said, "Lick the spilling tea on my shoes, servant Kabaji," with the most malicious smirk Munehiro had never seen before.

Munehiro politely refused but the woman started to throw things at him, telling him that he had to learn how to serve her when she became Keigo's woman.

A woman like her with Keigo?

"Atobe-san will never choose someone like you!" It was his very first outburst, not only startling Marika but Munehiro himself.

Before Marika could say anything, Keigo appeared from the back door, shocking them both because he had seen the whole incident. Keigo dismissed her and she resigned from the school the very next day. Munehiro didn't feel good about the incident because he had made Keigo lose his dream woman.

"Ahn? Don't degrade my taste, Kabaji. How on earth would you think I'll like someone like her? I only allowed her to get close to me due to bullying reports regarding her until she eventually let her guard down. It appeared that woman Nishiyama was using her parent's influence to get people to do whatever she wanted."

"S-sorry…"

"Don't apologise. I'd never want a whore who treats you like trash to be anywhere near me. No matter how good the woman is, there's one specific thing I require from her."

Munehiro blinked. "May I know what it is?"

"Hn. I have to see how she treats you. If she treats you like my equal, then she's the one."

Munehiro didn't need the highest Order of the British Empire Award. Knowing that he was involved in Keigo's requirement to choose his future lady was the greatest honour he ever received. Due to Keigo's deep interest in himself, never did Munehiro expected he'd see the day when Keigo found the woman.

Keigo would never fool anyone close to him in the janitor's clothes, especially not Munehiro. It was one fine summer day when Munehiro saw Keigo in those clothes, presenting a rose to a woman who had such a sweet smile, looking at her with eyes that were full of love and protection. The kind of gaze Keigo never spared to anyone. Though he could only see his eyes while everything was covered, Munehiro could tell that Keigo was at the peak of happiness every time he met her…

Thus, Munehiro decided that he would protect her the way Keigo would.

That feeling was growing when she defended him from his bullies the way Keigo would.

When he saw them arguing, there was nothing he wished more than their rekindling. How happy he was when she came to the manor to talk to Keigo, but very confused when she suddenly cried on the manor's doorstep even before meeting Keigo…

Thinking that she wasn't in the condition to talk to Keigo, Munehiro asked if she allowed him to accompany her to cool herself down in the park nearby. She sat on the swing while Munehiro sat on the nearest seat because the swing almost broke under his weight.

"I'm s-sorry, Kabaji-san…" She hiccupped.

"No need to be sorry, Tezuka-san… It's best to cool down the hot head." He handed her a bottle of water he always had on him in case Keigo was thirsty. "Here's a toffee candy to make you feel better." Munehiro gave a signal to the security that were guarding her that he needed a space to talk to her in private so they were standing slightly further.

"T-thank you…" She ate the candy and Munehiro couldn't hold back his smile when she raised her eyebrows and held her cheeks. "I-it's so delicious…"

"Usu. Atobe-san doesn't tolerate sweets. But he likes that one."

"Are you always prepared with everything he needs?" She twitched when he nodded. "What a lucky guy…"

"I'm the lucky one to be able to serve Atobe-san. My family and I are very indebted to him."

She faintly smiled at him before kicking the ground to sway her swing. "He told me a bit about you. Though he didn't mention any name, I think you were the one he called his best friend. He's the one who's very lucky to have you around, Kabaji-san… I told him to be honest with his feelings so you'd know that you're always his best friend."

So the reason Atobe-san told me that was…

He gently smiled before bowing at her. "It's an honour to hear that from you, Tezuka-san."

"No, don't thank me. You two have a wonderful friendship. It's just…" She shook her head. "I hope everything he told me was true… just like what he told me about you… Did you know that he even disguised as a janitor in your school, telling me that his name was Louis and…" She took a deep breath. "…there was this sob story about how he left England for Japan. You know that I've…" She chuckled again, "…I've fallen in love with him because he stayed strong through all the adversities he was facing."

Munehiro widened his eyes. "S-sorry, he told you what?"

"That his name was Louis?" She chuckled to herself. "I believed it at first because of his eye colour. I can't believe that I believe this lies just like that."

"Louis is…" Munehiro tightened his lips. "Louis is Atobe-san's middle name, Tezuka-san. It's the name he used back when he still lived in England."

It was her turn to widen her eyes. "What…?"

"Keigo Louis Atobe—is Atobe-san's full name. He didn't lie to you about it being his name." She seemed to be lost for words, moving her hands as if it would get the words out of her mouth. "Atobe-san never told anyone that name ever since he moved to Japan."

"S-since he moved to Japan? So, he really used to live in England? And that story about him being…"

Should he tell her, shouldn't he? Munehiro closed his eyes for a deep moment of thinking and finally opened his eyes.

"Tezuka-san… Will you change your feelings towards him if I tell you the truth?"

Her chuckle ended up bringing more tears into her eyes. "I've loved him as Louis before I knew him as Atobe Keigo, Kabaji-san… How much will the truth change my feelings?"

The answer pulled his lips into a smile. Maybe the reason Keigo decided to reveal his middle name was that he spent his fondest memory with that name, and he wanted to spend it with her.

Keigo would probably be mad at him if he decided to do things on his own but so be it. It was the risk he was willing to take if it meant straight things between him and her.

Because Keigo deserved to get the happiness and love he was longing for…

And Kabaji Munehiro would do everything he could to see it until the end of his life…

AN: Sorry guys, I initially planned to let Kabaji reveal the truth but let's let Atobe do it in the next chapter. XD

Happy Chinese New Year to those who celebrate it! I hope that this year of the dragon will bring prosper to everyone!

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