You do show up to practice, as promised, the next day. The team has been split into doubles pairs – mainly at Oishi's suggestion, and they've started practice matches. The freshmen and remainder of the tennis team are practice drills on the side.
You're sitting on the benches, watching Inui-Kaido face down Oishi-Kikumaru in a surprisingly close match. "This is actually not a bad idea for Prefecturals," you mutter, and jot something back down on your paper.
"It's surprising, isn't it?"
You almost startle as Fuji smiles and sits down next to you on the bench. He's just finished his doubles match with Kawamura. You give him a suspicious look but he just smiles at you. You decide to take the bait. "What is?" you ask hesitantly.
"Hmm," Fuji looks back at the court to continue watching the practice match. "I just feel like something's changed with you. You seem … happier."
You raise an eyebrow at your friend. "Is that a crime?"
Fuji chuckles at your deflection. "No, I just thought you'd want to share," he stands back up. "You can tell me later – I think the second years are struggling."
You glance up and see he's right. They are running drills in the corner but it is clear that their form is a little off, and the shots are missing the basket. You sigh and stand up – with most of the regulars busy with practice doubles matches, it was the least you could do to help with some of the coaching.
"Hey," you walk up to the second-year group. They quickly stop and look at you. "Make sure you're following through with your shots. You're currently under-rotating and your spin is inconsistent because of it."
The second-year who is currently up nods. You nod for the server to feed him another shot, and you can tell that he tries this time to make sure his racket follows through, but the slice is still too strong. It bounces off the rim of the target across the court.
You sigh. "Hand me your racket," you hold out your hand and he quickly hands it over. "You're doing this," you gesture with his racket. "You need to be doing this."
You drop a tennis ball and slice it across the court. It knocks over the target. You hear the dull think of the cone and then realize what you are no longer hearing.
All matches on the regular courts have stopped.
You whip around and see Kikumaru's jaw is currently dropped. Oishi, Inui, and Kaido have similar shocked expressions, albeit a bit more subtle. Fuji's eyes are open in shock. Even Echizen has a stunned look. More than anything, however, you make eye contact with Tezuka, who is currently frozen and staring.
The second- and first-years, who are currently doing drills, have no idea what the commotion is for, but they quickly stop what they are doing as well to see what is about to happen.
Your heart drops. It had happened so quickly – so naturally – you hadn't really thought about it.
"Oh? Is this where you've been spending your time off?"
This time, everyone turns around to the other side to see Atobe and Kabaji standing there, staring at you all smugly.
"This is what you meant when you had to cancel our date today?" Atobe takes a step towards the entrance to the tennis courts. Kabaji follows him silently.
Your feel your heart start racing. "What are you doing here?" you aren't even sure who to focus on anymore. Atobe is walking closer to the tennis court entrance. All the Seigaku regulars – hell, the entire tennis club – has stopped to watch this.
"Perhaps I was curious," Atobe smirks. "I see I was presumptuous to think you were with the women's tennis team."
"How does she know Atobe?" you hear Kikumaru whisper very not-quietly.
"I … I don't know." That you presume is Oishi responding.
"Atobe," you flinch when you hear Tezuka's voice, but your surprise, he steps in front of you to shield you from Atobe's view. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh?" this makes Atobe pause as his smirk curls up and it gives him an air of ruthlessness that makes your stomach turn. "Tezuka? Really, Michi? I should have known."
You furrow your eyebrows. This was so different from the Atobe you knew – the one who had generously opened his courts and slowly coached you back into tennis this last week. What in the world was happening?
"Michi is part of my team, Atobe," Tezuka speaks up again, and you turn to him. "If you have a problem with her, you can take it up with me. Otherwise, this is a private practice and I'll ask you to leave."
"Hmmm," you see Atobe's eyes focus on Tezuka instead and you know he's scanning with his insight. "I had thought your weakness was something else, Tezuka," he laughs cruelly. "I see instead it was her this entire time."
Tezuka doesn't move to affirm or deny Atobe's accusation. "I've asked you to leave once already, Atobe," the sunlight reflects off his glasses and makes it difficult for you to see his expression clearly. "I won't ask again."
Atobe laughs again. "Well, this is certainly interesting," he flips his hair and turns around. "I was just doing some reconnaissance. Remember, Tezuka, I will destroy you this weekend. Let's go, Kabaji."
"Usu," his second responds and the two slowly walk out towards Seigaku's gate.
The court is dead silent after they leave. You look at Tezuka but he doesn't make eye contact with you as he turns back around to the team.
"Twenty laps for stalling practice," he commands, and everyone drops their rackets immediately to start running.
The court clears until it is just you and him. He moves to pass you without further acknowledgement and you know he's angry. "Wait," you grab his tennis jersey sleeve. "I can explain -"
Tezuka pauses but still doesn't turn to you. "We're in the middle of practice, Michi," he responds coolly.
You flinch and let go. "You're right," you mumble. "I'm sorry," you quickly drop the racket that you had borrowed from that second year and run off the courts.
Friday comes and goes without any change. Tezuka is clearly ignoring you and you can't find a single spare moment between the breaks in class to after school to simply catch the man for any explanation. You watch him head down the hall after class ends and let out a defeated sigh.
"Hey," you turn and see Oishi giving you a sympathetic look. "He'll come around."
"I don't know," you mumble, and you're sure the hurt is evident on your face. "I feel like I really screwed things up."
"No," Oishi shakes his head. "Tezuka just needs some time. Let's focus on our game tomorrow. We'll need your support there against Hyotei."
At the mention of Hyotei, you tense up as well. You still had no idea what Atobe was thinking – you'd also never seen the cocky, cruel version of him outside of the rumor mill. But yesterday … you shudder.
Oishi pats you on the back and shoots you another sympathetic smile before he excuses himself to follow Tezuka.
Saturday comes faster than you expect. You wake up early in the morning and find yourself unable to go back to sleep. Instead, you decide to get up and get some exercise in. You grab your tennis bag and head to the nearby street courts and find the tennis wall. It is so early that there isn't anyone else there yet.
You set your stuff down on a bench and open your bag. You see your usual rackets as well as the one Atobe gifted you. You stare at them before slowly reaching for your previous racket. You don't think you can focus with Atobe's recent gift in your hands. You grab some extra tennis balls you keep in there and start hitting them against the wall. The dull, rhythmic thuds provide a meditative state for you and helps quiet some of the chaos still going on in your head.
"I must admit, this isn't where I expected to find you."
You let the ball fly past you and turn around. Fuji reaches for the ball that rolls towards him and smiles at you.
You're slightly out of breath but grab the ball quietly from him.
"Would you like some company?" he asks, and he gestures at his bag slung over his shoulder.
"You have a game today," you grunt at him.
Fuji smiles. "Perhaps I could use a warm-up."
You pause, but eventually nod and his grin widens. He places his stuff next to yours and the two of you move to the nearby court.
While Atobe plays a hyper-defensive style, Fuji's is swift and smooth. It feels like chasing water when he hits the ball back across the net – quick and effortless. You let your senses heighten and focus solely on hitting the ball back. No insight.
You rally for a short while but then your return hits the net. Clearly you still needed more practice. Fuji pauses and you're fully out of breath. Definitely needed more practice.
"I don't think I've seen you play before," Fuji mentions casually as he returns your service.
"I … didn't. For a while." You tell him as you hit the ball back. "You knew that."
Fuji hums and easily returns your ball. "And yet, here we are."
You grunt as you return the ball. "Here we are," you repeat.
"Is it because of Atobe?" Fuji's return slices across the opposite side of the court from you and thuds against the baseboard behind you.
You pause and try to catch your breath. You look back and see Fuji's opened his eyes. He's watching your carefully now, and you wonder if he can tell that you're playing without your insight. If so, he hasn't commented on it yet. You're suddenly glad you're using your own racket instead of the one Atobe gifted you.
"Is …" you pause. "Is Tezuka still mad at me?" you ask quietly, eyes on the ground.
Fuji sighs and heads back towards you. It is clear the rally is over. "He'll come around," he tells you, which sounds oddly exactly like what Oishi had told you yesterday.
Your posture relaxes into a defeated one. "I didn't tell Atobe anything," you feel the frustration bubble up. "About any of you. I promise. He … I thought he was different from the rumors. He was so kind to me, Fuji. He understood."
Fuji sighs again but comes around to place a comforting hand on your shoulder. You shake him off.
"You have a game to get to, Fuji," you remind him.
"So do you," Fuji heads back over to where you two have kept your bags. "We do need you there, Michi. We want you there. All of us."
You give him a watery smile. "Okay," you respond quietly. "I'll be there."
Fuji gives you a tight smile and grabs his tennis bag to leave.