Tennis no Ouji-sama © Konomi Takeshi, Shuheisha, Inc.
- Act XLIX -
[ Ich Liebe Dich ]
"Say, Hikari-chan. Do you have anyone you want to curse?"
"Why are you asking that?" Hikari was glancing at the mirror while endlessly washing her hands.
"It's your face, duh. You're looking like you want to eat somebody alive." Kotoha rested her rear on the sink while glancing at her.
"Yeah, perhaps I do…" For the umpteenth time, she sighed that day. Throughout her life, she never met anyone who was very capable of making things develop in a way she never imagined before and she could no longer tell what would happen in the next second.
No one but a man named Atobe Keigo…
She wasn't exactly on good terms with him but she didn't have any choice. Her loss in their recent match resulted in her being guarded by security 24/7. What shocked her the most was the fact that he managed to get the stamp of approval from her brother. She didn't even know when they met to talk about it. When being told about securities, she was thinking about men or women in suits. There were a few around the school, but never did she think one of them would be…
"Ah, good afternoon, Kanamori-san, Tezuka-san!"
Hikari flatly glanced at the gorgeous woman who became their new Economics teacher in their school. Her asymmetrical dark brown hair perfectly framed her heart-shaped face. Her perfect hourglass figure was something Hikari truly envied. Unlike the other teacher, Nishida Sonomi was wearing a modern woman's black suit that made her look even cooler with black velvet heels that made her legs look long and lean.
"Good afternoon, Nishida-sensei…" Hikari bowed at her along with Kotoha.
"Do you guys mind touring me around the school? Sister Mary planned to personally tour me but she appears to be busy because of the charity festival preparation. I'll treat you to a nikujaga or anything you want in exchange after school."
"Actually, I'd love to but I'll have to return for my stall preparation in a few minutes." Though what Kotoha said was true about her shift, Kotoha was very picky with people she socialised with, especially when that person was a teacher.
"I'll… do that," Hikari said with a smile. "I'm done with my work today, so I'll tour you around, Sensei."
"My, thank you so much, Tezuka-san," Sonomi said while putting her hand on her chest.
"Then, I'll take my leave now. See you, Hikari-chan!"
"See you, Kotoha-chan…" Hikari weakly said as she waved to Kotoha. Suddenly, Sonomi took out something from her pocket and scanned her body with something coloured black. "Uhm, what is that?"
"Scanning you for bugs, Ojō-sama. We can't risk anyone putting bugs on you to locate your whereabouts." Sonomi took out her phone and said, "All clear. Update situation."
"W-will we have to do this every day?"
"Every time, Ojō-sama." Sonomi bowed to her. "Bocchama has to go through the same thing every day himself. I know that you might not be used to this but we're doing this for your safety. Please understand."
"I understand but… was my kidnapping attempt that serious? I mean, they were just randomly picking a girl like me, weren't they?"
"I'm sorry. It's not my place to explain. I only do what Bocchama ordered me to." Sonomi bowed to her again.
"Okay… Please take care of me, Nishida-san." Hikari bowed at her. "Shall we go around the school now?"
"Sure."
Who would've thought he would send someone disguised as a teacher to her school? Hikari started to wonder if disguising was his thing. Seeing Sonomi the first thing in her class being introduced as the new social teacher shocked her so much that she fell from her chair. Hikari never really talked to her but Sonomi was always there in the manor.
Though it did give her the feeling of assurance to have Sonomi around. Despite being a woman, Sonomi was the head security guard who had earned black belts in aikido and taekwondo. It surprised her that Sonomi fathomed into her role as a teacher that Hikari almost forgot that she was undercover.
"I think I've shown all of the places. Here you can see the festival's preparation." Hikari showed the stalls that were neatly lined.
"Hmm? Interesting. There are a few game stalls I would like to try later."
"Uhm, Tezuka Hikari-san?" Hikari turned around to see a man wearing Seigaku's uniform.
"May I help you?" She tried to remember if she had ever seen this man before. "The festival isn't yet open in case you're here for it."
"Ah, no. I'm not here for the festival!" He animatedly waved his hand.
"Then?"
"I-it's n-nice to meet you, Tezuka-san! My name is Takada Kotaro. I'm a sophomore at Seishun Academy! You don't know me but I've set my eyes on you ever since you came to my school to see your brother. I… I really like you so please go out with me!"
"Eh? I… uh…" Hikari placed both of her hands on her cheeks as she was taken aback by the sudden confession. "T-this is too sudden… I don't know…"
"Then, can I have your phone number? M-maybe we can get to know each other first."
"Uh, I'm sorry… I—"
"She's already taken, unfortunately."
Hikari widened her eyes and glanced to her side to see a widely smiling Sonomi.
"Eh, you already have a boyfriend?"
"Yes. I'm very sorry, boy."
"T-that can't be helped, right? You're so pretty and sweet." The boy scratched the back of his head. "So sorry to surprise you with my sudden confession, Tezuka-san. I'll be on my way then." The boy sprung as fast as he could even before Hikari got to say anything. She glanced to the side again, to see Sonomi clearing her throat.
"W-what was that just now?"
"I'm sorry Ojō-sama. It's Bocchama's order. 'Keep any men at the bay, especially dirty whistling wolves with bad intentions or filthy commoners who forget their ground and chase after my queen'—that's his exact line," Sonomi whispered.
How…
Could…
He…
"Get him on the line now." Sonomi swiftly presented a special-looking phone that only had his number on it as if she had seen this coming. Hikari sauntered towards a quieter place, calling him after she made sure it was safe to talk.
But she couldn't risk getting overheard.
"Hello?"
"How could you do this to me?!" She spoke in Germany to avoid possible eavesdropping. "I could understand if you're worried and want to put security around me, but how could you go as far as keeping men away from me?!"
"Ahn? This is the first time we spoke in German." He sounded very, very excited on the other side of the line. "Has anyone told you how sexy you sound while speaking German?"
"Answer my question!" Hikari stomped her foot on the ground. "You never stated that condition! You can't do this to me! We've already broken up!"
"It doesn't matter. I'm going to win you back." Hikari could hear Sadaharu saying that this man was 120% certain of his statement. "Have you seen my letter?"
Hikari was blushing outright the moment she recalled the content of the letter he slipped into her pocket, along with the necklace he gifted for her birthday and the access card to the manor.
"I… I…"
"That was my reply to your letter. I won't expect you to answer me right away but when you're ready, I'll always be here in the manor." She widened her eyes. "Ich liebe dich, my queen."
Suddenly, her knees were too weak to support her so she fell, which was quickly supported by Sonomi. Her words failed to reach her as something overwhelming clouded her heart with emotions she couldn't put into words. Hikari had to hold herself as his last sentence automatically replayed in her head over and over again as if it was echoing.
"Ich liebe dich, my queen."
Why was he so certain about her returning his feelings again to begin with?
Didn't she already state that she would never go back to him?
Going home, she wanted nothing but to be alone but the securities were keeping her in the centre of their formation as they steered her path clear of anything suspicious. Hikari sat in the park, seeing them pretending to be busy on their own. Some of them didn't even wear suits to blend in with the people around them.
Taking the letter from her pocket, Hikari opened it again to see the content, breath hitching as her emotions were bubbling within her chest.
To whom my heart belonged to,
As long as I live, I've never once experienced such an intense love you've made me feel. The moment you walked into that court was the moment you walked into my heart. The memory was so fresh both in my mind and heart that you became the first thing I'm thinking of in the morning and the last thing in the night.
I love you for everything you are, for your love makes me the perfect man I'm not. You're my one and only, and will always be. I want to be the man who would stand by your side through your rise and fall, simply because my heart will never cease to love you.
-AK-
Hikari put the letter on her chest, hugging it close in her attempt to find the obvious form of her feelings toward him. Ever since she found out about his real identity, her mind was clouded by anger and everything became murky. But thinking about what had happened to her brother, she could only think of one obvious answer…
She had made the mistake of giving him hope that they could mend their relationship, which was why she needed to see him clarify that it was already hopeless.
Walking with so much confidence in what she wanted to say, Hikari was heading to the Asakura manor, where he said he'd wait for her. After a while she hadn't been there, the security guards who guarded the gate seemed to be very pleased to see her, as if they were waiting for her to come all this time.
It was sad to tell them that it was going to be her last.
Before she got to enter the manor, she was startled to see a man called Kabaji Munehiro near the entrance, bringing some flowers in his hand.
"K-Kabaji-san?"
The man bowed at her in response. "Nice to meet you, Tezuka-san."
"Fancy meeting you here…" She truly meant it because in the past months she was here, never once did she encounter Munehiro.
"Usu. Atobe-san ordered me to stay in the main house. He just ordered me to move here recently."
"M-main house?" She shouldn't be surprised to know that he had many manors aside from the one she visited.
"Yes. It appears that he enjoys his stay in this manor. He must be having a great time here with you."
"W-what are you saying!" Hikari craned her head lower to hide her blushing face. "He was just playing around with me but that will end today." Munehiro raised his eyebrows in question. "I'm… going to end things once and for all with him, Kabaji-san."
He shook his head. "Don't. Atobe-san wasn't playing around with you."
"You don't know anything at all, Kabaji-san."
"I don't know everything but I know Atobe-san the best…" He lowered himself a bit just so she could see the flowers in his hand. "These are all to decorate the court to welcome you back. He's doing this every day because he's always waiting for you to come back."
Hikari widened her eyes.
"Will you do this for someone you're only playing around with, Tezuka-san?"
She placed her hand on her chest as his questions numbed her tongue. Her hands were trembling, and so were her lips. For a moment, there was nothing but the orchestra of crickets in that summer, until a melody she knew too well filled the silence of the night.
The melody that wrapped their union that day…
Their favourite songs…
Hikari could no longer see her surroundings as her visions were blurred by her tears…
In a realisation that she was still so deeply in love with him despite everything that had happened.
AN: How do you feel if I say that I'm so close to wrapping this story up? XD
Well, at least for the first part as you can see that there are still so many things remain unanswered. Though I'm not updating much, just for your information I'm still on my way to finishing the story. It's just there are so many things to do that I can't do it fast.
The next chapter's POV will be told by another character who hasn't had any POV in the story! Can you tell who? Please review with your answer and you will be PMed with the hint of the next chapter! =D
For people who give comments and feedback, I appreciate your responses and I'm sorry if I can't reply or miss replying to you back but your votes and feedbacks are love love!
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!
