Tennis no Ouji-sama © Konomi Takeshi, Shuheisha, Inc.
- Act XIV -
[ Beautiful Spring]
The beginning of spring was the day when the new school year had begun. The weather news channel had predicted the day would be sunny but for the first time in the decade, they were wrong. It was the kind of weather that would give a pessimistic atmosphere for those who wanted to begin anew that day but for Keigo, how the day would be would depend on what was in one's head.
"Beautiful weather today, isn't it?" he said with a black coffee in his right hand.
"It's raining since dawn, Bocchama," Michael told him with a bow. "But if you say so. It seems you have a good mood today."
"Indeed, I am. I have things to be achieved this year." He sipped his coffee and smirked at the sensation.
"The National Championship, I assume?"
"Many." Keigo was staring to his right and smiled upon seeing the pink handkerchief with cherry blossom pattern on it. Hikari accidentally dropped it when she climbed onto the garden and he decided to keep it longer because it had her scent on it. Glancing to his right, Keigo smiled upon seeing the garland she made for him the day before to 'crowned' him as a king.
The date didn't go as he initially planned. From the jet plane, bubble shower, and restaurant reservation where he would ask her to be thanks to Kunimitsu and Genichiro, who miraculously appeared in that very spot, of all the places they could be in Tokyo.
As if they knew about his plan and disagreed…
He gritted his teeth at the memory. How could Kunimitsu accepted Genichiro's invitation and never his? Did Kunimitsu actually underestimate his prowess?
But it was all thanks to her, it didn't end in the most awkward way due to her garden finding. Keigo glanced at his palm, recalling how soft her hair was against his hand, how good it felt to have her in his arms. He even missed the sensation when he slept that night.
He wouldn't need to long for her for too long now, knowing that it was the first day of school and she would always be by his side.
Since he was certain that she would choose Hyotei.
"Ah…" Michael nodded with a smile, as if he understood something. "I wish this will be a good year for you, Bocchama. If I may…" Michael took out something from his pocket and handed it to him.
Keigo glanced at him for a while before unwrapping the silver-wrapped gift, revealing a black fountain pen with his full name engraved on it.
"It's small, but this is my gift for you for your final year as a senior high school student, Bocchama. Congratulations!" It wasn't a small thing at all. For someone like Michael, the pen cost a fortune.
A wide smile grazed his face. "I appreciate this, Michael. Thank you so much." Keigo returned the pen back to its box and put it close to his chest. Michael would always give him something at the beginning of his school year, but seeing how special this year's gift, Keigo knew what the butler head meant.
"Only this year left, ahn?" Keigo walked into his room to get his bag, stopped right in front of the window where he put a golden-framed picture. Keigo took the picture and lowered his head as he put the frame close to his chest. "I'll take my leave now. Wish me well…"
Once he reached his school, it wasn't surprising to see the girls were following him, especially since the rain had ceased the moment he stepped on the holy ground of Hyotei. He twitched and slightly jolted his hand when one of them was holding onto him, but upon recalling the possibility of Hikari being amongst the crowds, he politely excused himself and walked in all his glory.
It had been his six consecutive years to deliver the speech for the school opening ceremony. Keigo had been a VIP in Hyotei ever since he entered the school in Junior High as a valedictorian. After his father donated a large amount of money for the school, the council literally worship him. Even turning the school into the way he wanted.
But he didn't want that anymore…
"Dear teachers and fellow students. My name is Atobe Keigo…"
Such a glorious name…
He had to stop for a moment just to let the feeling sunk into the deepest core of his soul.
He didn't have to hide anything from her from then on that she had finally known and witnessed the amazing person he actually was.
"It's my great honour and pleasure to welcome you all to Hyotei's official opening school year. I'm particularly happy to welcome you; first-year students and transfer students—local and abroad to Hyotei Academy." Seeing everyone gathered in the assembly hall, it shouldn't be hard to find her sitting in the first year's rows.
"I can't even begin to describe how important it is for you to take advantage of and exploit the facilities and resources offered by our Academy. However—" Keigo glanced at the pink handkerchief he was holding inside her fist, "—several changes had been made and it takes effect immediately. First of all, Hyotei Academy's cafeteria will no longer serve students with five-star Michelin's menus. Half of the gym facilities will be taken down." There he heard the first wave of disappointment groans.
"The recreation dome will be turned into an academy for the disabled and the special needs. From now on, the Academy will be transparent about the money funding you can see on the homepage. From this year on, the Academy will enforce equality in pursuing education, no matter what your background is…"
Keigo smirked when some students expressed their amazement for him, some even started to call either his name or Hyotei chants.
Damn, he must be looking so cool at that moment. He glanced at the first year row but he didn't see her. He didn't do all this out of sympathy for other people. She was his sole purpose doing all the things that would make him suffer the whole year.
"I understand if some of you are disappointed with the changes but education isn't limited to the knowledge of science, arts, or social studies. Education is learning how to live… Life is like…" Keigo recalled her words, "…the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossom. Beautiful, but short-lived… One time, you're at the peak of success, then it's gone the next second… This is why as a president of the student council, I want everyone on this ground to enjoy their youth, as much as possible—in modesty. Once again, welcome to Hyotei Academy!"
The students were clapping for him, screaming his glorious name as he raised both of his hands. Glancing to his right, he saw the students who were waiting for his signal to drop the rose petals behind him to glorified his look. Keigo wanted to snap his fingers when she appeared in his mind again.
"I appreciate everything you've done for me, but… the kind of things that made you happy might not be the same as mine."
Keigo brought his hand down and left the stage, leaving the students bewildered.
After the ceremony was over, Keigo went to the student board where they announced the classes. He ignored the third year and checked the first year, looking for 'Tezuka' but he saw it nowhere.
Thinking that the administration probably didn't put her name in time because she was a last-minute registrant, Keigo put up his incognito costume once again. Sometimes, being magnificent gave him too much trouble that it was a curse. Even with the janitor's clothes and mask, the first-year girls were still looking at him in such an adoring way, the way Hikari never did to him.
Keigo slammed his hands on his table in the Student Council office when he couldn't find her anywhere. The wave of anxiety filled his guts at the thought of her falling sick. He messaged her and stared at his phone as if doing so would get her to reply to his message fast. He shook his feet, drumming his fingers against the table, turning around, and got back in a second just to check if she replied.
"Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?!" he muttered under his breath. He almost dropped his phone when her reply came and widened her eyes at her reply.
[Of course you won't find me there, Weirdo! I'm going to St. Anne. How can you be so sure I'd choose Hyotei? The school is awesome! Check out my new uniform! Do I look good in it?]
Keigo smiled upon seeing the photo of her wearing the blue-themed uniform with a red ribbon around her collar. She posed in front of her school gate, unaffected by the gloomy weather in the background, her smile was as bright as her smile. Unlike his school, she was wearing black tights to complement her winter uniform. Even in her conservative style uniform, Hikari still looked very good in it…
"But you'd look better in Hyotei's uniform!" he dejectedly said while punching the table. With all the intriguing offers he gave her, he couldn't believe she still listened to her brother and went to the other school. It only meant one thing…
Kunimitsu's influence on her was too strong…
"Tezuka…" he said through gritted teeth. Keigo opened the curtain and had his eyes set on the purple tennis court in his school. "I'm going to win against you… Not only in the tennis court." He took out her handkerchief and inhaled it.
The rain that had ceased when he reached the school poured again.
Having things not going as his expectation didn't sit well with Keigo. Everything he did that day was done as if his body had been pre-programmed to do so, but having his head somewhere else. He had imagined personally toured her around the academy, as Atobe Keigo, not as a janitor.
The rain didn't stop the whole day so the outdoor club activity had to be ceased and it irked him that he couldn't carry his disappointment in the court. Wanting to go home as soon as possible to play in his indoor court, Keigo was staring at the rain droplets on his window.
It was a pity the rain shaded the cherry blossom trees near the school gate to its dullest. She should be posing there instead of the school of her choice. That way, she would light up the canvas just like her name.
Just like she did at that moment…
Keigo chuckled to himself, rubbing his eyes as he started to hallucinate things.
But that illusion didn't fade at all...
"Halt!" he shouted, making his driver stop the car into a screeching halt.
"W-what is it, Bocchama?" his driver asked. Keigo glanced at the window again, widened his eyes when he saw her truly standing there below the cherry blossom tree, sheltering herself with her bag. He had the urge to come out from the car before she was wet from the rain, but his hand stopped right in front of the car door handle.
As if the turn of events would react differently depending on whether he would open the door or not…
AN: Hmm, what will he do, I wonder? XD
Since I'm writing changing POVs between Atobe and Hikari, readers who've read the older version of the story might be missing Tezuka's POV. Don't worry, he'll show up later but it'll be like chapter half.
The story will be progressing faster because there are still so many arcs to occur so I can't meddle in one arc for too long. I've planned the timeline but do you have any suggestion on the arc you want me to show in this story?
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!
