Ai Kotoba - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

“AKAYA! TARUNDORU! You better have a good reason why your performance is so bad today!” Sanada yelled at the cowering second year ace, but even Akaya’s apparent display of fear did not deter his yelling, “If this is the way you’re going to act after Nationals is over, we will have to rethink your position as future captain!”

“There, calm down a bit Genichirou. I am sure Akaya have his own reasons. You know as well as I do how hardworking he is,” Yukimura said and placed an arm on Sanada’s shoulder to calm him down.

“Buchou… Fukubuchou… I am sorry, but today I-,” he stopped mid-sentenced with a sigh, “Can I please go home early today?”

“You will have to run extra laps tomorrow,” Sanada threatened, but Akaya was already out of the gates and into the clubroom.

“I wonder what’s wrong with him. Being depressed is not his thing,” Yukimura commented.

“He’s still tarundoru, that’s what,” Sanada said and walked away to yell some more at the other members, but Yukimura’s motherly instincts welled up inside of him and he had this growing feeling at the pit of his stomach as he watched Akaya picked up his bag, and with his head down, walked out the gates and into the clubroom.

Yukimura decided the best course of action was to follow him and walked into the club room after him, not bothering to say anything to anyone else. When he stood in front of the door, he stopped. Akaya was clearly crying. His wrecking sobs can be heard throughout the clubroom. Yukimura widened the tiny creak in the door, trying to conceal his presence and walking towards the second year ace whose face was buried inside his hands and sat slumped on the bench, but Akaya heard him and looked up.

“Buchou,” he hastily wiped away the evident tears in his face and ignoring how he looked like right now, he got up and took his shirt out of the locker and changed.

“Akaya,” Yukimura gently called his name, but the wakame only grunted in response as he buttoned up his shirt. “Is there something wrong?”

“No,” he said a little bit too quickly.

“Did you really think you can lie to me?”

“… No.”

“That’s what I thought. Well?”

Akaya hesitated, “Buchou, aren’t couples in love supposed to say ‘I love you’? Isn’t that the normal thing to do?”

Yukimura saw where this was going. “Claire never said that to you.”

It wasn’t a question. Because Yukimura never questioned anybody and nobody ever questioned Yukimura. Akaya sometimes dislike the fact that Yukimura can see through almost anybody. Not as well or as efficient as Atobe’s insight, but it was on par.

“Yes, that’s right. I am not so sure she needs me as much as I need her. I don’t think she loves me. If she did she would say that she does, right?”

Yukimura placed a soothing hand on Akaya’s shoulder, the latter who was trying to hold back tears.

“You might just be thinking too much. It’s hard for Claire to say those things and you know it. Give her time to get past the initial shyness.”

“But it’s been months! It’s also hard for me to say those things, but I still do,” Akaya said, his voice rising. He can feel his blood boiling and Yukimura’s grip on his shoulder tighten. He took a deep breath and counted to ten. The grip relaxed. Yukimura understood what he meant. Akaya always has troubles expressing himself that way and it’s only fair that Claire tries too.

“Go look for her. Clarify everything and tell her you need her,” Yukimura said and looked straight at him. Without another word, Akaya rushed out of the club room. “I wish you luck,” Yukimura said after him.

Akaya banged the door to the Fuji household. He knew no one was usually home at this time of the day except for his girlfriend, so he doesn’t have to worry about her annoying siblings who he was sure, only exists to destroy his life and make things difficult for him in loving Claire.

“Akaya-kun?” Claire asked, confused when she saw her kouhai panting out of breath when she opened the door, still bundled in a blanket. She had expected one of her siblings or her mother who had maybe forgotten their keys and hadn’t bothered changing out of her pajamas. Now she wishes she did. Maybe Akaya didn’t really care for appearances, but all girls want to look nice in front of the guy they liked.

“Akaya-kun, wait, are you okay?” Claire asked, worried about her kouhai and boyfriend. He was acting weird. Usually, he would be shy and reserved about displays of affection, but this time he didn’t waste a word as he attacked her mouth, kissing her with such a passion that Claire feel herself immediately heat up.

“A-Akaya-kun,” she gasped in between the kisses and tries to push him away, but he was too strong. He led her back inside the house, both of them stumbling to the floor and he slammed the front door shut with his feet. Claire softly moaned into the kiss, deciding not to fight back anymore and enjoy the moment while it lasts. She interlaced her fingers in between his soft but curly hair and pushes him closer to her.

“Claire-senpai,” he breathed out and trailed down from her lips down to her jaws and finally landed on her neck, sucking softly and gently, not daring to do anything too rough and hurt her. His hands trailed down and tug on the hem of her shirt before slipping one hand inside her pajamas, rubbing his thumb on her sides and moved up, dragging the shirt upwards to under her breasts.

“Akaya-kun!” Claire suddenly cried out and he stopped, looking up at her. “Stop,” she said, tugging her shirt back down and crawls away from underneath him, hugging the blanket tightly over her flushed body, refusing to look at him. “I think you should leave.”

It felt like a slap to his face. “No, Claire-senpai, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean… I mean… I… I am sorry. Please let me stay,” he said desperation clear in his voice. He really needed her right now, but all his suspicions have been confirmed, she doesn’t need him. Yet, it feels like such a shame to give up now after coming so far.

Claire stayed quiet and Akaya crawled closer to her, gently cupping her face and move it to face him. He leaned down to capture her lips in his. It was a soft but passionate kiss. Despite everything, Claire understood that Akaya was really gentle underneath. A moment later, he pulled away and stared straight into her eyes. Claire can feel the green eyes unraveling everything inside of her, but as much as she wanted to look away, she couldn’t.

“Claire-senpai… I love you,” he whispered. It was soft and full of love and it feels like her insides are having a mini fireworks display.

“I…” she started and Akaya looked at her expectantly. She finds the will to divert her gaze, “I know…”

Claire felt like slapping herself. She can feel Akaya stiffen, but he did not say anything. Instead, he pulled away from her. She knew she needed to say it. She knew the fate of her relationship all comes down to this one point.

“Akaya-kun, I…”

“It’s okay, senpai. Don’t force yourself, I will leave. Sorry for bothering you,” he stood up and turned his back to her. No. Claire did not want to see him leave. She needed him. Without giving herself time to think, her hand shot out and caught his wrist, holding him back and stopping him in his tracks. Akaya looked down at her.

“Stay with me, please,” she whispered.

“I can’t do this anymore,” he said and pulled his wrist free, turning his back to her once again. Claire scrambled to her feet clumsily and went after him, wrapping her arms around his chest tightly.

“Senpai…?” Akaya asked bewildered and turned around to face her. Claire immediately kissed him, flicking her tongue out to lick his lips. He groaned and she used that chance to insert her tongue into his mouth. Her hand wrapped itself around his necktie and she slowly pulled him into her room. Akaya didn’t waste any time in taking her clothes off and neither did she when she unbutton his shirt and unzipped his pants, chucking them away on the floor.

“Senpai, I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered.

“You won’t,” she said, “Now don’t leave me waiting.”

Akaya broke into the boyish grin that Claire loves so much. He grabs hold of her legs and spread them apart, and slowly thrust in. Claire grunted at the pain and he froze in fear of hurting her, but when she dig her fingernails into his back and nodded through tear-stained face, Akaya relaxed and resumed. Her lewd moans reverberated through the whole room, driving him on to go faster and faster. It didn’t take long for them to feel the climax coming.

“A-Akaya-kun, I… I love you,” she screamed and went over the edge, Akaya following behind not long after. Akaya pulled out and lie down next to her as they both waited to get down from their high.

“Senpai, you said it at last,” he said hugging her and covers themselves with the blanket.

“Yeah, I did,” she said and looked into his eyes, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”