Trophy of My Heart - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

Riku watches the trophies that were put on display by his parents. On the farthest right side of the rows of gold trophies, lies his father’s newest addition that his mother just scrubbed and displayed.

“Mama, mama,” the five year old called his mother with such fervor and excitement, pulling at the end of her shirt in an attempt to get her to listen to him. “Did Papa win another tournament? Does this mean that Papa will come home?”

Rie sighed and crouched in front of her son, stroking his head softly. “Papa will not come home yet, Riku. Please wait for a little while more.”

“But last week Mama said the same thing! Riku waited for two months to see Papa again, but Papa had not come home!” he yelled and began to cry. Rie picked up the box that had previously held the trophy when it came on the post from the floor and stroked a sobbing Riku’s gold hair.

“That’s enough, Riku. Your Papa is busy. He will come home soon, Mama promised,” she said and extended a pinky towards Riku. His sobs began to lessen when he wrapped his own pinky around hers. Even though Rie had successfully persuaded her son, she herself felt worried. Will Kunimitsu really come home in the near future?

Like Riku had said, her husband had not come home in two months. Rie understood that as a professional tennis player, Kunimitsu is obligated to travel around the world and participate in tournaments and competitions. But still, she wanted her husband to be at home and watch their only child grow.

Rie threw the box into the trash can, but Riku hurried to catch it before it can completely fall in. “Mama, there is a letter.”

Rie glanced at the white envelope that Riku clutched in his tiny hands. She smiled in his direction and took the envelope, walking into her bedroom that feels empty recently without the presence of her husband.

With trembling hands, Rie opened the envelope and read the inside of the letter. Her eyes began to water and tear drops wet her cheeks.

Rie,

How are you doing? How is Riku doing? Is he fine and healthy? Sorry, I’ve been gone without sending any news back home for two months and for missing Riku’s fifth birthday. I hope he doesn’t hate this useless father of his. But I missed home and I missed Japan. England is a nice place, but one’s own home is still the most comfortable. And that is why I’ve decided to write this letter.

Atobe said that he always writes home letters because his wife is happy when she receives them even though e-mail is far easier and far more efficient.

I am now living with Yukimura and Atobe in Atobe’s house in England. We all took part in the Wimbledon tournament this time. As you have seen, I have won first place. Is the space in our house enough to display all the trophies? Atobe mentioned that he wanted to send a display case from Germany if we still need it.

Well, unfortunately, even though Wimbledon is over, I have to take part in other tournaments that will be held in Germany. Tomorrow, the three of us will be flying to Bonn with Atobe’s private jet. That is why, I will still be in Europe for another three months.

Don’t worry. Ever since coming to England two months ago, I’ve done a lot of thinking and after giving it lots of thoughts, I have decided that after this tournament ends, I will retire from the tennis world. Rie, I do not want you to blame yourself because of my decision as I knew you would. This is my decision and I have thought it over for the longest time. And in between tennis and my family, I still love my family more. I know my decision is not wrong and I won’t regret it.

That’s why; just wait for a little bit more. This time, I will come home and never leave you again.

Tezuka Kunimitsu

“Kunimitsu…” Rie called her husband’s name with full of yearning and hugged the letter to her chest that is feeling both stuffy and relieves at the same time. She felt something hard pressing against her chest and searched inside the envelope. As it turns out, there still another piece of paper and a gold locket in the shape of a tennis racket.

PS. The trophy that I sent home isn’t the only trophy you’ll get. This locket is Riku’s birthday present. Because the two of you are the trophy of my heart.

Rie opened the clasps of the locket and began to smile. The photo inside that locket wasof the three of them.

“Trophy of my heart. Turns out, Kunimitsu can also say those things.”

Kaerimichi no Love Song - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

Dusk settled over the pavements and the shadows lengthened as the sun is quickly setting over the horizon. Ueda Rie clutched tighter to Tezuka Kunimitsu’s hand as they both knew they were nearing her house and soon have to be parted. Having shared a day full of joy on their date, it was sad to see it end.

“Rie,” Tezuka asked.

“Hmm…?” she looked at his taller figure. His eyes met hers and they stopped in their tracks.

“What would you do when the world as you know it disappears tomorrow?” he asked. Rie seemed taken aback by the question, but she smiled and moved her hands up and wound her arm around his. Tezuka did not need words to understand what she means. He leaned down to kiss her. A brief but very sweet kiss that they both felt to the fast beatings of their hearts.

Soon, they arrived at the fork in front of her house. Not one of them wanted to leave, they both knew that and they prolonged the moment they have to finally say goodbye to each other.

Rie finally let’s go of his hand. “I have to leave now.”

Tezuka cupped her face and raised it to face him, planting another kiss on her mouth. The goodbye kiss.

“Tezuka? If I became an old woman, would you still kiss me?” she asked and tilted her head to the side. It was his turn to be taken aback by the question.

“Baka. When that time comes, I will also be old,” he said and smiled at her worries. “I will never let you go.”

Rie smiled back. She trusted his promise and nodded.

“It’s a promise,” she said and after a lingering moment, walked into her house. She waved to him and watched his back retreat and disappeared just in time the sun went completely down and painted the world black.

Piala Hatiku - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

Riku menatap piala-piala yang dipajang oleh kedua orang tuanya. Di paling ujung kanan deretan piala-piala yang berkilauan emas adalah piala ayahnya yang terbaru yang baru saja digosok dan ditaruh di sana oleh ibunya.

"Mama, mama," anak berumur lima tahun itu memanggil ibunya dengan semangat dan menarik-narik ujung baju ibunya. "Papa menang turnamen lagi, ya? Apakah ini artinya Papa sudah akan pulang?"

Rie mendesah dan berjongkok di depan anakknya, mengelus kepalanya dengan halus. "Papa belum akan pulang, Riku. Tunggulah sebentar lagi."

"Tetapi minggu lalu Mama juga mengatakan hal yang sama! Riku sudah menunggu dua bulan untuk ketemu Papa, tapi Papa belum pulang!" Teriaknya dan mulai menangis. Rie memungut kotak bungkusan piala tersebut yang baru sampai melalui pos dari lantai dan mengelus lagi rambut emas Riku yang sedang terisak-isak.

"Sudahlah, Riku. Papamu lagi sibuk. Dia pasti akan pulang kok. Mama janji deh," katanya dan mengulurkan jari kecilnya ke arah Riku. Tangisan Riku pun mulai mereda ketika dia membelit jari manisnya sendiri di sekitar jari ibunya. Walaupun Rie telah berhasil membujuk anaknya, dia sendiri merasa gelisah. Apakah Kunimitsu akan pulang dalam jangka waktu yang dekat?

Seperti yang Riku katakan, suaminya sudah dua bulan tidak pulang ke rumah. Rie mengerti bahwa sebagai pemain tenis yang profesional, Kunimitsu harus mengelilingi dunia untuk mengikuti turnamen dan kompetisi, tetapi tetap saja dia ingin suaminya berada di rumah dan melihat anak mereka satu-satunya bertumbuh.

Rie membuang bungkusan tersebut ke tong sampah, tetapi Riku dengan cepat menangkap kotak itu sebelum sempat jatuh ke dalam. "Mama, ada surat."

Rie menatap amplop putih polos yang dipegang erat sama Riku. Dia tersenyum ke arah anaknya dan mengambil amplop tersebut dan berjalan ke dalam kamar tidurnya yang akhir-akhir ini terasa sepi tanpa keberadaan suaminya.

Dengan tangan yang gemetar, Rie membuka amplop tersebut dan membaca isi surat di hadapannya. Matanya mulai berkaca-kaca dan air mata membasahi pipinya.

Rie,

Bagaimana kabarmu? Bagaimana kabar Riku? Apakah dia sehat-sehat saja? Maaf, saya telah menghilang tanpa mengirim kabar apa pun ke rumah selama dua bulan dan bahkan melewati ulang tahun Riku yang ke-5. Saya harap dia tidak membenci ayahnya yang tidak berguna ini. Tetapi saya kangen sama rumah dan sama Jepang. Ingriss adalah tempat yang menyenangkan, tetapi rumah sendiri masih tempat paling enak. Maka dari itu, saya memutuskan untuk menulis surat ini. 

Kata Atobe dia sering menulis surat pulang ke rumah karena istrinya senang kalau mendapat surat walaupun e-mail jauh lebih gampang dan efisien.

Saya sekarang lagi tinggal bersama Yukimura dan Atobe di rumah Atobe yang di Ingriss. Kami semua mengikuti turnamen Wimbledon kali ini. Seperti yang telah kamu lihat, saya meraih juara satu. Apakah di rumah kami masih ada cukup tempat untuk memajang piala? Atobe pernah mengatakan dia mau mengirim rak pajangan khas Jerman ke rumah jika kami masih perlu.

Yah, sayangnya walaupun Wimbledon selesai, saya masih harus mengikuti turnamen lainnya yang diselenggarakan di Jerman. Besok kami bertiga akan terbang ke Bonn dengan pesawat pribadi Atobe. Oleh karena itu, saya akan masih berada di Eropa sampai tiga bulan mendatang.

Jangan khawatir. Semenjak saya datang ke Ingriss dua bulan yang lalu, banyak pikiran yang melintasi benakku dan saya telah memutuskan setelah turnamen kali ini usai, saya akan pensiun dari dunia tenis. Rie, saya tidak mau kamu menyalahkan dirimu atas keputusanku karena saya tahu kamu pasti akan menyalahkan dirimu. Ini adalah keputusan saya dan telah saya pikirkan dengan lama sekali. Dan di antara tenis dan keluargaku, saya masih lebih menyayangi keluargaku. Saya tahu pilihanku tidak salah dan saya tidak akan menyesalinya.

Oleh karena itu, tunggulah sebentar lagi. Kali ini, saya akan pulang dan tidak akan pernah meninggalkan kalian lagi.

Tezuka Kunimitsu

"Kunimitsu..." Rie memanggil nama suaminya dengan penuh rasa rindu dan memeluk surat tersebut ke dadanya yang terasa sesak dan lega pada waktu yang bersamaan. Dia merasa sesuatu yang keras tertekan pada dadanya dan merogoh isi amplop. Ternyata masih ada satu lembar kertas di dalamnya dan liontin emas berbentuk raket tenis.

PS. Piala yang kukirim ke rumah bukanlah satu-satunya piala yang kalian akan dapati. Liontin ini adalah hadiah ulang tahun Riku. Karena kalian adalah piala di hatiku.

Rie membuka tutup liontin tersebut dan mulai tersenyum. Foto yang berada di dalam liontin itu adalah foto keluarga mereka bertiga.

"Piala di hatiku. Ternyata Kunimitsu juga bisa mengatakan sesuata yang kayak begitu."

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.”

Click - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

Shiwasu Satsuki didn’t know what she was doing with this person, locked inside a tiny, dark storage room without barely any space to breathe or move. She thought they were both smarter than this. Apparently, being a genius in class doesn’t guarantee that you’re a genius anywhere else. Which one of them was the idiot who shut the door even though they’re both fully aware that the storage room’s door was broken and can only be opened from the outside?

Well, whatever the case, they are both now locked inside here.

“Isn’t there ventilation at this place?” Satsuki grumbled and tried to fan herself with a piece of paper she found on the floor. It was getting to tiring to stand, but there wasn’t enough space for the two of them to sit down.

“Why don’t you sit down? I don’t mind standing,” Yagyuu Hiroshi said and adjusted his glasses. Being the gentleman he was, he cannot allow a girl to be tired when he could help it. Satsuki shrugged and slid down to the floor as Yagyuu tried once again to turn the door knob around and hopefully free them from this confinement. No such luck. He rattled the door knob to no avail.

“Give it up, Yagyuu. All we can do is to wait for help to arrive,” Satsuki said. Yagyuu decided to agree with her. “A little light would be appreciated though.”

Yagyuu glanced around for a light switch. It took him some time to locate it behind a stack of boxes.

Click. Nothing. Click. Still dark.

Not wanting to give up, he furiously flicked the switch over and over again. At some point, he punched the switch a little bit too hard and knocked the boxes over.

“Ah,” Satsuki exclaimed as she watched the boxes topple over and incoming to crush her underneath them. They don’t look like light boxes at all. Maybe old books were kept in there. She quickly shut her eyes and waits for the impact, but she felt nothing.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. Yagyuu was there to stop the boxes from crushing her, his arms spread out in front of her and the boxes hitting his back with particularly loud thuds that probably hurts a lot.

“Yagyuu!” Satsuki gasped after all the boxes had stopped moving.

“I am okay,” Yagyuu said, but when he tried to stand back up, his legs gave in under him and he fell forward, bringing Satsuki to the floor with him. “I am sorry!” he apologized with a flustered tone and tried to push himself off to no avail.

“No, no, it’s okay,” Satsuki assured him and moved underneath him into a semi-sitting position. The best she could do right now with Yagyuu on top of her. “Your legs got hit by the boxes didn’t it? Don’t force yourself.”

“But this position is…” Yagyuu trailed off. The awkwardness of their situation right now is enough to complete his sentence and for Satsuki to understand what he was trying to say.

“I-it’s okay… Really. Yagyuu, you think too much,” she said, but she can’t stop the blush from spreading on her face. They spend the next few minutes in silence as they waited for Yagyuu’s leg to be decent enough to lift him up. Satsuki can feel her legs sleeping, but if Yagyuu can endure the pain without complains, so could she.

“Shiwasu-san…?”

“W-what?”

“Are you okay? I am sorry.”

“I told you I am fine,” she said.

“But, I still feel like it’s my fault.”

“No it isn’t. Yagyuu, stop over thinking.”

“But-,”

Satsuki rolled her eyes and leaned forward to capture Yagyuu into a kiss.

“Sa-Satsuki?” he asked, feeling confused at the sudden assault, but Satsuki didn’t stop, if anything, she kissed him harder until Yagyuu slowly but surely, returned it.

A few minutes later, they broke apart for air, panting and light headed.

“That was…” Yagyuu started, unsure of what it was.

“To shut you up,” Satsuki offered helpfully.

“Right…” Yagyuu breathed out.

Outside, Niou sat against the door and twirled a key on his finger, smirking and whistling a tune in victory, wondering what it would be like if he was to be trapped with Kuririn in a small and enclosed storage room.

Tatami Mats - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

There is something about the tatami mats in the Sanada household that intrigues Shiwasu Satsuki. Maybe it’s the way they sing to her when she glides over them. She remembers Kuririn ever mentioning that each house have their own song. Something she had learned from a novel. To Satsuki, the song the Sanada house sang was a very sweet and memorable one. Every single square of mat in that house reminded her of one thing or another.

Like this one she was standing on, third mat from the left and fifth from the front in the kitchen. She once baked a cake with the younger Sanada son and she had been standing right here, washing the utensils and creaming the cake. Genichirou had wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her. It was a memorable kiss, because it was the first Valentine’s Day kiss she shared with him.

Satsuki moved to the family room. She sat on the floor in front of the couch. This was the second tatami mat directly in front of the television. Whenever she cuddles up with Genichirou to watch a movie (much to his protests) they always end up sitting on the floor instead of the couch. Satsuki patted the mat and stood up. He went up to the second floor and entered a room. Genichirou’s room.

She stood over to the mat under the window. They had made out here once. Genichirou even went through all the trouble of setting up candles. This was unlike him, but surprises like these make her happy once in a while. They had been careless, or just too passionate, and had knocked a candle over. There was a flurry of activity following after, a lot of panicked yelling and water dousing. If someone looks at the tatami mat, they would see the burnt mark where the candle had fallen.

Genichirou learned the hard way to never play with candles anymore.

Satsuki traced each mat in his room. From every important memory to the pointless ones. It was even right here in this room where he had first asked her out after a home tutoring session. More specifically, the third mat from the left and the second from the door. She stepped on the next one. Genichirou read a book on kendo here once. The next one, he slept here by accident once and came down with a cold the next morning, chastising himself for being so tarundoru. The next one, and the next, and the next. They all reminded her of something.

“Satsuki?” Genichirou asked when he entered his room to see her there, doing nothing, just standing.

“Genichirou!” she chirped happily and bounded over to him. “Welcome home, you’re late today.”

“Sorry, practice ran longer than it should. Have you been waiting long?”

“For over an hour,” she pouted. “You promised to spend time with me.”

“Did you do something significant while waiting?” he asked and moved over to sit on the floor, leaning on his bed. Satsuki sat next to him.

“Nothing much, just reminiscing,” she replied.

“Did you?” he asked and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

“Yeap,” she said and kissed back.

That’s one more mat with one more memory for Satsuki to keep. 

Oscar - Prince of Tennis - Oneshot

There are more than thousands of names in this world, yet the name Ueda Rie first thought of when she saw Tezuka Kunimitsu was Oscar. It was a very neat pet name in her opinion. It also suits him since he always reminded her of Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street. And whenever she sees him, the name will always be at the tip of her tongue, waiting to spill out. But no, calling your setokaichou Oscar is not appropriate. Especially if your setokaichou is the no-nonsense Tezuka.

“Ueda-san?” Tezuka called to his secretary and waved papers in front of her face. She had a weird smile plastered on her face and was dazing into space. Whatever she was thinking of, it had better nothing to do with him. That smile was… for lack of a better word, creepy.

“Ueda-san?” he called again, louder this time and she snapped back to reality. Her eyes trailed from the paper up the beautifully tanned arm and met the eyes of one annoyed-looking Tezuka Kunimitsu. No, Tezuka never looked annoyed. In fact, he never looked anything at all. He was just…. Tezuka. The man with no expression. Something like Oscar the Grouch?

Ah, don’t think about it Rie, she told herself several times and tried to keep her smile off her face to no avail. If Tezuka saw something amiss with his usually hard-working secretary today, he was nice enough not to mention it.

“Are you here with me, Ueda-san?” he asked again and Rie mentally slap herself, while asking herself to focus. She took a deep breath and looked back at Tezuka with focused eyes.

“Yes, yes I am. Sorry. You were saying, Oscar-san?”

Oh shoot.

At least the priceless look in his face is worth something.