Happily Ever After

Day Four – Days Before Turbulence (Part One)

The week after Tezuka had made his decision of being with Ryoma was rather normal. He went to school and practices then back home, did his homework, had dinner and all those daily routine stuff. He didn’t talk to Ryoma about his feelings and there were no increased intimacy between them. But, there were still slight changes in his behaviour towards Ryoma which could easily go unheeded if you were unobservant and which, Ryoma himself were unaware of.

~Practice Time~

“Okay, let’s have some double practices, choose your partners, quickly!” yelled Ryuzaki-sensei as she clapped her hands, catching their attention. “Who’s already ready, into the court!”

“Hey Ryoma, seems like we are a pair again,” laughed Momoshiro as he patted Ryoma’s head several times before pushing him towards the court.”

“Wait.” Tezuka put a hand on Momoshiro’s shoulder. “I’ll be Ryoma’s partner.”

“Huh?”

“Is there a problem?” asked Tezuka narrowiis eis eyes.

“Uh, no, no. Absolutely no problem,” said Momoshiro immediately as he shook his head while putting up his hands.

Tezuka nodded then he looked at Ryoma. “Let’s go in.”

“Okay,” answered Ryoma, failing to notice the possessiveness in Tezuka’s voice.

“What luck I’m in! Encountering a temperamental Captain,” complained Momoshiro silently and grudgingly. He then recalled something: Tezuka had been temperamental RECENTLY. Like yesterday, when they had their ‘escape from penal tea run’ practice, Tezuka insisted that he was the last to arrive but he was REALLY sure that they both arrived at the same time and even landed on the same feet at the finishing line. When Ryoma tried to back him up by saying he saw that they arrived at the same time, Tezuka, without saying a word, turned around and passed him the big jug of penal tea and told him to finish it. It was a rather scary experience for him, really scary.

“Momo,” said Fuji as heked ked towards Momoshiro.

“What is it?”

“My advice: try to keep a distance from Ryoma.” Fuji smiled mysteriously.

“Huh? Why?”

“Haha, try to figure it out yourself.”

“Anyway, wanna pair with me?” asked Momoshiro as he put his arm around Fuji’s neck.

“Nope, our opponent’s them,” refused Fuji as he looked at Ryoma and Tezuka. “Those lose have to drink the penal tea.”

“Ugh.” Momoshiro turned green. “I thought you like the tea.”

“Ourseurse but I want to see those lose drink the penal tea. It’s funnier that way.” Fuji smiled.

Momoshiro felt a shiver down his spine.

“I can be your partner,” said Eiji who was standing next to them.

“Huh? What about Oishi-senpai?” asked Momoshiro, surprised.

“Well, do you want or not?”

“Okay, let’s go,” said Momoshiro brushing his hair backwards before picking up his racket.

“Are you okay, Eiji?” Fuji noticed Eiji’s voice lacked his usual sp and and energy.

Eiji looked back and smiled weakly. “I’m okay.” Fuji nodded but didn’t believe a bit of what he said.

The match ended within fifteen minutes with Tezuka-Ryoma pair the winner. They were invincible together.

Inui stood behind Eiji and Momoshiro who were panting and exhausted by the game.

“Super Special Marvellous Deluxe Inui Juice Golden Remix, large-size,” he smiled scarily. He had a big jug of liquid which was sizzling, bubbling and changing colours.

“I am not going to drink that,” wailed Eiji.

“You lose.” Inui moved forward and towards Eiji. He pointed behind him. “Look, Momo had already drunk it.”

Eiji turned pale when he saw Momoshiro lying on the floor with white foam dripping from his mouth.

“You are mean, and, I will not drink it!” Despite all his wailings, he still put out his hand to take the jug.

“Wait.” Oishi walked towards them and stopped in-between. Eiji looked away. “Somehow, this has to be finished.” Oishi pointed at the jug.

“Yes.” Inui nodded.

“You said it.” Oishi snatched the jug from Inui’s hand and drank it without stopping until he finished.

“I finished it,” said Oishi weakly as he fell backwards and fainted.

Tezuka sighed. “Bring him aside and we’ll continue on with the matches.”

~After Practice~

“Ryoma, let’s go home,” said Tezuka as he packed his racket.

“I can’t, I have something to do,” replied Ryoma.

“Hmm?”

“I have to go out for something with Momo-senpai, see you later; he’s waiting for me outside!” Ryoma rushed out the door quickly, and once again failed to see the darkened face of Tezuka.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Would you stop following me?” Eiji turned around angrily to face his stalker: Oishi.

“I will, as soon as you tell me the reason of your weirdness,” answered Oishi.

“I am not weird,” retorted Eiji pouting.

“You are, ever since last week right after the open house party at Tezuka’s house. When I asked you why, you told me that I was mean. What kind of answer is that?” cried Oishi desperately. “If I was mean, I won’t take that poison on your behalf.”

“You.” Eiji looked down staring at his shoes. “You are always gentle, caring and kind. You took good care oeryberybody; you try to make everyone happy, even those whom you have just met.”

“Thank you.” Oishi blushed.

“Yet, you are still mean!” cried Eiji loudly, head still bowed downwards.

“You are confusing me.” Oishi began rubbing his temples.

“No, it’s you, you are confusing me. You are giving me all those strange ideas and, and, how could you be so nice to everyone as if they are all some kind of related-people.” He then continued softly. “You could hurt a lot of people like this, by your gentleness.”

Oishi was infuriated. He began to yell in a voice that he neverw hew he could. “What do you mean by that? You are the one who was giving people wrong ideas. You are always being so lovable and cute and everything, you make people fall for you and you don’t know; how could you be so clueless? Don’t you know that I was very much in love with you?”

Oishi regretted immediately after the words left his mouth. But what done is done and there’s no turning back so he chose to wait for Eiji’s response, very anxiously.

With his head still bowed low, Eiji walked towards Oishi and put his arms around him while resting his head against Oishi’s shoulder.

Though soft, Oishi could hear it clearly from Eiji: I love you too.

Oishi smiled and returned the embrace.

After a while. “Are we now lovers?” asked Eiji.

Oishi blushed as he nodded.

“Since we are now a pair, would you drink the penal tea or whatsoever Inui Juice whenever I lose starting from this moment?”

Oishi paled. “That I should think over.”

Eiji pouted and pushed Oishi away. “You said you love me but I don’t see how sincere you are!” He made a face at Oishi before turning around and walked towards the direction of his house. “Goodbye!”

“Sorry, sorry! Please wait for me!” Oishi ran after Eiji.

After several minutes of running, Oishi managed to catch Eiji by the arm. “I caught you.”

Eiji took several deep breaths before turning around to face Oishi with a wide smile. “What’s with the face?” He noticed Oishi was not smiling and looked serious.

“I caught you.” Oishi declared softly as he cupped Eiji’s face with both of his hands. He lowered his lips onto Eiji’s to share their first kiss together.

Their shadows merged into one under the late afternoon sun.


Authoress’ words: Because this chapter is too long so I have to divide them into two parts, again. Also, because I haven’t finished the later part of this chapter.

Ryoma being so ignorant is not Out-of-character, watch the anime and know how clueless he is outside tennis.

*Hint*Hint* There’s some progress in Tezuka and Ryoma’s relationship in the next part, but, there’s always *obstacles*.

Last words: Thank you for reading and pls and review, the second part I’ll put it up soon, maybe two or three days later. If I don’t get enough review I might not want to continue the story. Gomen.

My mood: -_- I hate exams!!