Each Other's Worries

The semi finals of the National tournament is ongoing, Seigaku fought against Hyotei and once again they were able to win and now it is a one-step victory to reach the finals, they all have to face the Shitehouji tennis club. While the female club were doing well also, they were about to face the Hyotei's female club in the semifinals and there is one more problem that they have to make solutions with.

"Aoi-san, tomorrow will be your fight against Hyotei right?" it was Oishi

"Yeah…" she said in a low tone

"Why do you look so down?"

"It's just I hope that we will be able to keep up against Hyotei"

"Of course you guys can! You made it through the semi finals already and that fact means you can do it!" he's trying to lift up her spirits

"I hope so, I gotta go see Oishi-kun tomorrow and good luck on your matches too!" she waved back. At the station she met Nanami and Sunako who are seriously talking then she greets her kouhais

"Aoi – fukubuchou, have you heard it?" asked by Nanami

"Yeah, a moment ago Ryuzaki sensei told us" she replied

"What was Yamada-buchou's reaction?"

"She doesn't know anything about tomorrow's match but somehow she is stunned"

"Maybe she knew a little"

"Maybe, how about the others?"

"Riku-senpai and Megu-tan were told after the practice"

"and Risa-chan?"

"Riku-senpai will tell her when she got home"

"This is a lot more nervous shaking than I expected" she said and the two girls agree on her

On Risa's side

*Phone rings* "Hello?"

*on the other line*"Risa! Where are you now?"

"I'm just stopping by the market nee-chan"

"Oh, okay… we have something to talk about later so go home early okay?"

"Hai!" and she hung up, then she saw a bookstore. She doesn't know why but her feet lead her to the store. Though she doesn't like books something attracts her and takes a look at the novels on the bookshelves

"A Lesson in Romantics, hmmm… this looks like an interesting one." She reaches for the book but as she holds it someone grabs the other side too. She was surprise and make a deadly glare at the guy, and it make her more of shock to know who it was

"I'm sorry miss, but I think I see this book first" a guy with a tall figure wearing an eyeglasses and a shoulder length midnight blue hair is in front of her

"Oshitari Yuushi?" she unexpectedly utter his name with surprise and covered her mouth after realizing that she actually called the guy by his name

"You know me?" he was surprised for a pretty little girl know his name, he likes the way this little girl with short braided pigtails uttered his name, it's like a soft music that chuckles in his ears

"Of course who would have not known you guys? The so-called prodigy of Hyotei, the genius, but still Fuji-senpai is more of a genius and a prodigy than you! You're just another copy cat of my senpai" she said, a little bit irritated. She doesn't know why but her heart beats so fast when Oshitari eyed her from head to toe. And somehow it makes her face flushes

"What?" he was surprised as to what this girl said, and what make him amazed at her is when she grabs the book that he was holding

"I found this book first, and I believe that gentlemen should do "ladies first" in everything, so I'm gonna buy this now" and she headed to the counter and paid for the book. Her heart is beating faster, she was guilty for saying such a mean word to that guy, and he did not do anything wrong so why did she shame him that way? She was so rude that she hurriedly left the store after paying, not turning her head back to where Oshitari left.

"Ahhh… what am I doing? I've always been said to be a sweetie but why do I act bitterly in front of that guy? Nee-chan… I have to get home…" she said but someone grabs her hand

"Hi there cutie? Are you in a hurry? Won't you mind riding on my bike? I'll drive you fast I promise" a guy from another school halted her way the way he talks. He is seriously one of those perverts scattered.

"hey, l-let me go… thanks but no thanks!" and she tried to free her hand from that guy but the guy got irritated from the way she rejected him

"Hey, you're such a snob! I offer you so nicely then you will answer back rudely?"

"Stop bothering me, pervert!" she said and slap the guy's face that make him mad he raised his hand and was about to hit Risa, she just closed her eyes and she was so afraid when

"A man should not be raising a hand on a lady!" a manly voice speaks, she slowly opened her eyes to see that Oshitari stops the pervert guy's fist with his hand and he pushed him back

"And who are your four eyes?" the guy asked

"It doesn't matter. If I were you I'm going to leave now because a lot of people saw the shameful thing you did to a girl, you don't want to be suspended from your school aren't you?`` Then the guy looking around the authorities was eyeing him, there were some others with a deadly glare against him. With his head down he starts the engine of his bike and drives away from them. While Risa is left speechless

"Are you okay?" he asked, they stop at a nearby café as he give her the chocolate latte that he ordered for her

"I… I am just a bit shocked… my father never raised a hand on me so I was stunned at that moment"

"It's a good thing that I followed you… be careful next time. What is your name again?"

"I'm Harada Risa, a sophomore from Seishun Gakuen, I am also one of the female regulars in tennis club"

"I see, that's why you look familiar too…"

"Why did you follow me anyways?" she asked, Oshitari who was sipping his cappuccino was surprised at her question and cough

"Is it because of the book?" she asked

"Ah… sort of… btw, do you love music?"

"Music? A little, why?"

"I see, do you play any musical instrument?"

"No, I don't… wait, why are you bringing up such questions?"

"To be honest, that book…" he paused. "It's a song book, and it's the last copy, so if you don't play any musical instrument why did you buy it anyways?" he said in a serious tone, while Risa

*facepalm*"I thought that this is a novel… sorry…" then she give it to Oshitari "Here, you can have it"

"Oh I didn't mean that for you to give it to me, I can ask for when another stock will arrive."

"No, accept it! It's a token for thanking you! Maybe I just mistakenly bought it to give it to you." She said sweetly to him and smiled. He dropped his jaw to see how pretty she was while smiling, something brought up at the side of his mind but slowly shook his head.

"BTW, how's the female team of Seigaku doing?"

"We're heading to the semi finals… and I heard that we will meeting Hyotei's female club"

"Well I guess the rivalry of Hyotei and Seigaku never ends, even in the female club there will be a hot fight, especially between the members. I think it will be hard for the team this coming match"

"Huh? Is that a compliment or what? Are you saying that our club is no match against yours?"

"Don't you know anything?"

"What? I don't understand anything…"

"I see… you haven't seen her yet. Would you mind coming with me? I'll show you something" Risa is puzzled but she came with Oshitari

"What are we doing here in Hyotei Gakuen? I am not a student here, am I allowed to enter?" she asked as they walk into the entrance

"You're not wearing a Seigaku uniform and besides you're with me so it will be fine" and they headed on the way to the tennis court. Risa is surprisingly amazed on how the other students eyed her, maybe because this Oshitari Yuushi is one of the famous, knowing he's friends with Atobe. Somehow she feels great to see those envious students looking at her while walking with Oshitari.

"Is she Oshitari-sama's girlfriend?" asked one of the students

"Oh my! She looks so pretty and sweet!" said the other, the thought make her smile, slowly as they reach the tennis court and saw the female members of the team in practice rally, she sweat cold, her hands shaken and as they get closer she was speechless and feel so nervous like she will blackout anytime after seeing the person in the court.

"Maybe you know what I meant?" he said in such an apologetic tone

"I see… it's clear now…"

On Yuuki's side

She was alone in her room, listening to music while her body was lying in her bed. Something is bothering me about tomorrow's match. Suddenly she thought of the club's previous captain, Tatsuki Ise. She was wondering about that person's identity like she had heard the name before. But she doesn't know when? Her thoughts were stopped when she jumped on her bed when her phone rang; she was surprised and reached the device at the table side.

"Yamada speaking. Who's this?" in such an uninterested tone

"Is that how you greet your boyfriend?" after hearing the voice on the other line, she sits up straight and composed herself

"K-Kunimitsu?" she feel like her heart leaps in just hearing his voice

"Why do you sound so surprised?"

"Nothing, why d'you call me?"

"Tomorrow is your match against Hyotei right?"

"Uh huh, so?"

"I just… uhm…" he paused for a long time and Yuuki is quite getting impatient so

"I'm going to hang up now Kunimitsu if you don't say anything anymore…"

"Wait! I…"

"Mmm?"

"Goodluck on your match, and… please don't get yourself too worked out…" as he says this his tone slowly lowers but she heard it clear on the line that makes her stop herself from laughing, she never heard Tezuka stammer.

"Oh… Well, goodluck to you too… and thanks for the concern…"

"Yuuki…"

"Yes?"

"I love you so much" and that's it he hung up, he was smiling at the thought that he was able to say those words, he had been thinking for the nth time if he was going to call her or not. And it's worth it, just hearing her voice makes him happy and the way she calls his name makes him smile like a young boy. Such feelings of happiness and pleasure, all filled with love.

She was left looking blankly at the wall, after a few minutes more she slowly grabbed a pillow and covered her face and screamed up to her heart's content. When she's tired she can't erase that big smile on her face.

"He really said it?" after hearing the words of Tezuka she just can't sleep all the night she was thinking of him, she turns right and lets all over her bed, doesn't know when she slept. All that was bothering her is gone.