You realize, in hindsight, you probably shouldn't have challenged Atobe Keigo to something. Your phone buzzes early the next morning with a text of a news article citing a generous donation by the Atobe Corporation for increasing research grant money in biodiversity. It's from an unknown number, but you know it is from Atobe. The text makes you giggle a little.
Another text comes later in the day citing a school newspaper article about the student council – obviously headed Atobe Keigo – choosing to sponsor a Make-A-Wish project for a fellow Hyotei student who was hospitalized with an illness.
"I'm not asking for your parent's corporation, or your student council powers," you text Atobe back, biting back a smile. "I'm asking for you."
"Hmm," Atobe responds. "Perhaps you don't understand how much of this school I actually run."
You laugh and decide to ignore that text. Nonetheless, you continue to get a few texts sporadically over the coming days, each slightly more obnoxious than the last. They always feel like some grand gestures made with a ridiculous amount of money and while you do find them amusing, you both know that's not what you meant.
That weekend, you are watching the game between Seigaku and St. Rudolph when the news that Hyotei is rapidly losing to Fudomine travels to your courts. You furrow your eyebrows when you listen to the crowd around you whisper about the news. Luckily, it's not an elimination match, but everyone is talking about the Singles 3 match that Tachibana Kippei is absolutely dominating.
Seigaku's match with St. Rudolph is not particularly consequential – Fuji cleans up S2 quickly and without much effort. The atmosphere between you and Tezuka is still a little tense, especially since you find out he's been keeping the invitation to the school in Germany a secret from the rest of the team, including Oishi. Instead, you find yourself wandering over to the Hyotei-Fudomine courts after your team's match to avoid any further awkwardness. You presume you're catching the end of the S3 match. You watch the Hyotei player – Shishido, the crowd tells you – fly across the courts. He's fast and he's good, but Tachibana Kippei is better. It doesn't take long before the game concludes, 6-0.
An sees you and runs over. "My brother absolutely crushed him!" she cheers. "Serves them right!"
You give her a small smile and congratulate her. Kippei is behind and makes eye contact with you as well, and you congratulate him and his team for their win. They certainly sent a message with their crushing victory. Kippei nods politely and thanks you before leading his team off the courts.
The entire large Hyotei tennis team is stunned – and quiet for the first time. You see Shishido collapse on his hands and knees on the court. Someone near you is whispering that he just lost his regulars spot for the season. You glance up and see Atobe give Shishido one look on the courts before turning.
He snaps his fingers and walks off the courts. The entire Hyotei tennis team follows silently, until it is just Shishido and a handful of stragglers in the crowd watching.
"He deserved it," An tells you, pulling you away from the courts. "He was an asshole."
You purse your lips. If Hyotei's reputation was to be trusted, that was probably a safe statement. Nonetheless, in the few glimpses you see of his tennis, you know Shishido is good. "Pity," you sigh and follow her.
It is a few days after the St. Rudolph game that Tezuka asks to speak to you after practice. Oishi gives the two of you a funny look – you know that he knows there's something weird going on, but he's too nice to ask. You shake your head at his questioning look and he leaves.
"I turned down the offer to go to Germany," Tezuka tells you.
Your jaw drops. You can't lie about the feeling of relief that washes over you, but a new surge of panic rises. "Oh shoot. It wasn't because of what I said, was it?" your eyes widen.
"No," Tezuka shakes his head. "I made the decision that it was more important for me to be here with the team. With all of you."
You take a deep breath to calm yourself down. "Whew," you let out the breath slowly. "Okay." You pause. 'All of you,' he had said. You try not to think too much about it and clear your throat. "I would have missed you if you left," you grin weakly.
Tezuka raises an eyebrow. "Would you?" he asks, and he sounds amused.
"Yeah," you laugh lightly. "Who is going to talk Oishi off every cliff if you're gone? Or order the team laps? Or accidentally finish all of Inui's juices?" you snicker.
"Is that all I'm good for?" Tezuka's lips quirks up.
"No," you giggle, taking a step towards him. His eyes are soft as he watches you remove a small piece of lint off his Seigaku jacket and he doesn't make a move to stop you. Your eyes flicker back up to his. "I think we keep you around for your passionate speeches before games."
You don't realize how close you are standing to him until he chuckles and you feel his breath tickle on your face. His gaze drops to your lips for a second and you wonder if he is going to kiss you.
Suddenly, you hear the locker room door open and the two of you startle, jumping apart. You glance over and see Ryuzaki-sensei also surprised to see the two of you. You're sure she sees the hot blush on your cheeks.
She shakes her head. "Wouldn't have expected to find the two of you making out in here," she mutters to herself as she heads over to the office.
Your jaw drops and the two of you watch her disappear around the corner. You glance at Tezuka and something about the situation feels absolutely hilarious. You burst into giggles and he purses his lips but you can tell he's smiling.
The texts from Atobe stop after the weekend. You assume he's got his hands full dealing with the tennis team in the wake of their recent embarrassment against Fudomine and don't think too much of it. However, it is almost two weeks later at the end of practice when you see the freshman have gathered together and are watching something on someone's phone. Your ears perk up when they mention Hyotei.
"What is that?" you ask, hesitantly approaching.
Katsuo, who you recognize mainly by his bowl-cut, turns to you. "It's about that Hyotei regular they kicked off the team. He got his spot back."
You furrow your eyebrows in confusion, but Horio snatches the phone out of Katsuo's hands and shoves it at you. You glance down and see it is a shaky video – clearly secretly recorded on someone's phone – of what seems to be a heated discussion between Atobe and the Hyotei tennis coach. You scroll on the video timeline to the beginning and see it starting with Shishido begging for his spot back while the Hyotei coach watches, clearly unmoved. You notice Shishido's hair is much shorter than you remember from this weekend.
Then, to your surprise, Atobe steps out of the crowd on the right. "I think he should get his spot back as well," Atobe states, standing beside Shishido.
The crowd hushes and the coach turns his attention to Atobe silently.
"This was a mistake," Atobe tells him evenly. "It won't happen again. I'll make sure of it."
The coach glances down at Shishido, who is still bowing with his head down. "Will you give up your spot on the regulars for him?" the coach asks.
Atobe bows. "If that's what it takes," he responds.
The coach pauses and looks at both of them. He sighs and turns around to leave. "Don't let me regret this decision," he states, walking away.
The video shakes and cuts out, and you're stunned. "When did this happen?" you ask Katsuo.
He shrugs. "I don't know. Probably a few days after the game. My cousin just sent me this."
You blink. Just after the game would put this video to have been filmed almost two weeks ago. "I need to go," you mutter and quickly leave the courts.
You don't know really think about what you're doing until you've already dialed Atobe's number and are waiting for him to pick up. He does pick up after the second ring.
"Arn?" you can hear the curiosity in his tone. "To what do I owe this pleasure, Michi?"
You ignore his amusement. "I saw the video," you tell him. "The one of you defending Shishido's spot on the regulars."
Atobe is quiet for a second. "What of it?" he asks quietly.
You pause. "You sent me so much stuff these last few weeks about all the philanthropy the Atobe corporation does," you respond quietly. "And yet I heard about this through a leaked video that the freshmen found on social media."
"Would you prefer I send the video to you?" Atobe responds dryly.
"No I-" you stop. "I'm just not sure I expected this from you," you mutter, a little embarrassed to be admitting it out loud.
Atobe laughs and the sharp sound makes you flinch a little. "Why not?" he goads. "What do the rumors at Seigaku say about me?"
You purse your lips. You didn't call him to get into an argument. "It doesn't matter," you tell him flatly. "What matters is that it was the right thing to do."
"Arn?" Atobe responds haughtily. "Are you calling to congratulate me?"
You purse your lips again. "No," you decide. "I'm calling because I can keep a promise. You said you had open tennis courts?"
Atobe goes silent on his side and for a second, you wonder if this is the first time he's been speechless. You also wonder if this is a bad idea – you haven't considered getting back on the tennis courts since your last panic attack with Tezuka. Yet, if Atobe could stand before his entire massive Hyotei tennis club and put his own regular spot on the line for his members, what was stopping you keeping your end of the promise and stepping on the courts again?
You check the phone to make sure the connection hasn't dropped. "Atobe?" you hear him clear his throat. You swallow. "I said, I want to try tennis again."
"Tell me your address," he responds roughly. "I'll send a car."