Chapter 20: Jiyuu

Standard Disclaimer Applies

-oOo-

It was over. All the sweat, tears, and hard work. The pressure and the pushing, the pounding and the pressing were done. And he was standing there in the middle of the tennis court, his eyes roaming around. There was no one else there, just him. Yesterday, he was the kohai; looking up to his buchou and sempai-tachi, today he was the buchou.

"I promise; I'll do my very best buchou. I won't let you down." He whispers as he closes his eyes and lifts his head up to the sky. Yes, he was buchou now, but his sempai-tachi were still around if he needed help, at least, until tomorrow; because tomorrow Tezuka-buchou leaves for Germany to study there, and his sempai-tachi will start high school, then he won't have anyone to ask help from, except maybe that blockhead rival of his who was now fukubuchou.

He walks towards the school's main building, because today he becomes a senior at Seishun Gakuen.

"Kaoru-kun." A familiar female voice calls him from behind.

"Aiko-chan, ohayou." He replied as he was changing his shoes.

"Ohayou." She hands over a small parcel, "Omedetou for being the new buchou Kaoru-kun. We're really happy for you."

"What's this?" he asks with a weird look on his face.

"Oh, just a little something from both of us." She smiled.

"Both of you?" Kaidoh asked as he grabbed his bag standing in front of the girl who was still tying her shoes laces.

"Hmn. Choutarou didn't become buchou, demo, he's really happy that you did." Aiko explained with a cheerful voice.

Kaidoh felt a sting in his chest, yet politely bowed and replied, "Arigatou gozaimasu."

"Iiyo. I have to run by the newspaper club clubroom first. I'll see you in class ne?" she waved before running away.

"Hmn."

"You know, something you want won't come to you if you just stand around watching from afar." A familiar voice commented.

"Urusai Momoshiro." He replied and shrugged it off as he walked towards his classroom.

Momoshiro smirked, "Ai, ai, looks like I have a lot worked up for me this year. This is one of those times when I wish the sempai-tachi were still here." Momoshiro commented as he himself ran towards his classroom.

-oOo-

"What are you doing?" Wakashi asked as he passed by Choutarou's desk.

"Ohayou Hiyoshi-kun." Choutarou cheerfully greeted, completely ignoring the question.

"Ohayou." Wakashi coldly replied.

"It's nice that we are in the same class this year, ne?" Choutarou tried to change the topic.

"Well, it won't be the first time we share the same class Ootori. Now what are you doing?" Wakashi successfully managed to return the conversation to what he was asking before.

"Ano, I'm trying to make a schedule." Choutarou rubbed his nape.

"A schedule?" Wakashi frowned.

"Hai. You see this senior year; I need to balance a lot of things. After all the sempai-tachi aren't here to guide us anymore." Choutarou continued.

"That is a given, we are the seniors now." Wakashi replied unenthusiastically.

"Hai, therefore, I need to balance my time between being your fukubuchou, being Aiko-chan's boyfriend, my music, academics, family and weekend tennis matches with Shishido-san." Choutarou elaborated.

"Shishido-san is just across, at the high school, you'll still get to see him every day if you wanted to." Wakashi interrupted.

"Well, everyone is just across basically except Oshitari-san." Choutarou argued.

"Well, he did need to transfer schools because he wants to become a doctor." Wakashi explained.

"I know that, demo; it's just a miss that not everyone will be so close." Choutarou sighed.

"We can't always stay together forever you know." Wakashi dropped the statement like a bomb on Choutarou.

"Hai." Choutarou sighed once more, "I wish we were in the same class as Kabaji-kun."

"Not going to happen." Wakashi replied then turned his back on his best friend.

Choutarou sadly stared at his best friend's back, "I know, I just wish." He whispered.

-oOo-

"So tomorrow please prepare an essay written in English on what you plan to do with the rest of life, because I know that you want more than just being whatever it is that you are right now." Their English sensei instructed as the final bell rang to mark the end of their first day in senior year.

"Kaoru-kun, you have tennis practice today right?" Aiko asked as they were packing their bags for the day.

"First official practice of the season, plus its recruitment day." Kaidoh replied.

"Aa, gambatte Kaoru-kun, I just know a lot of ichnen will be signing up. Of course everyone wants to be a part of the team that won the National Championship right?" Aiko enthusiastically encouraged the boy.

"Sou ka. And you? Newspaper Club meeting today?" Kaidoh asked in return as they both turned to walk out of their classroom.

"Hmn. Recruitment day as well."

"Well, gambatte ne Aiko-chan?"

"Hmn. We'll both do our best as seniors' right?" Aiko smiled at the boy.

Kaidoh merely nodded. "Ja, I'll be going now."

"Aa." Aiko nodded and was about to turn her way to the newspaper club before, "Ano, Kaoru-kun."

"Hai?" Kaidoh stopped in his step.

"I'm really glad that we are in the same class this year. It's the first time we ever did share the same class right?" Aiko tried recalling their lifelong friendship.

"If I recall it right, yes, this is the first time we were ever in the same class." Kaidoh also recalled.

"Well, I'll mata ne Kaoru-kun."

"Aa."

-oOo-

"Konnichiwa, welcome to the tennis club, arigatou for signing up." Choutarou greeted the ichnen who signed up for the tennis club that afternoon.

"Arigatou sempai." The ichnen greeted back.

"A little bit too friendly, aren't we Ootori?" Wakashi whispered as he and Kabaji dropped off a few boxes on the registration table.

"Aren't we a little too uptight now, aren't we Hiyoshi-kun?" Ootori replied back still handing out sign-up sheets to the ichnen lined up.

"It comes with the territory." Wakashi replied, "Right Kabaji?"

"Usu." The gentle giant replied.

"You do know that Atobe-buchou is just on the other side right?" Choutarou reminded his best friend.

"I know." Wakashi irately replied then walks away after his best friend ruining the moment for him.

Choutarou chuckled as his best friend's reaction. "Sa, I guess we're going to have to remind him every now and then, ne Kabaji?"

"Usu."

Choutarou felt blessed at that moment as he watched his best friend walk over to the court, because except for his Oshitari-sempai, their senpai-tachi was just on the other side of Hyotei, at the high school department. And he could easily see them any time he wanted to.

-oOo-

"How was practice today?" Aiko asked Kaidoh as they were walking home from school that afternoon.

"It went well, a lot of ichnen who signed up. But none of them as talented as Echizen." Kaidoh commented.

"I don't think anyone can ever be as talented as Echizen-kun." Aiko agreed.

Awkward silence ensued between them. Until Aiko almost tripped over and Kaidoh managed to catch her in his arms. Their eyes met for a moment, their noses were about 3 inches away from each other, until Aiko pushed her self away.

"Gommenasai Kaoru-kun, I'm really very clumsy." Aiko brushed herself.

Kaidoh stared at the girl trying to fix herself up. "Why did he not walk you home to school today?"

Aiko turned her head towards the boy, "E?"

"It's the first day of senior year and you're walking home with me, why not with him?" Kaidoh asked further.

Aiko smiled, "Kaoru-kun, I know you're really concern about me and Choutarou, demo, don't think that because I'm walking home with you, it means that we're not in good term, Choutarou and I."

Kaidoh remained silent and just stared.

"Today is Kaoru day." Aiko declared.

"E?" Kaidoh confused by the girl's statement.

"Choutarou and I made a schedule, see?" Aiko handed over a small planner to the confused boy.

Kaidoh read the carefully planned out schedule that the two made. "I see."

"Today is Kaoru-day. And for Choutarou is Hiyoshi-kun day." Aiko furthered.

Kaidoh smirked a little. "You two are really a bunch of nerds." He teased.

Aiko smiled from the comment, "Sa, let's go home Kaoru-kun." She walked on forward.

"Home." Kaidoh smirked as he slowly walked behind the girl.

-oOo-

"So today is your day to spend with me?" Wakashi clarified what his best friend was saying.

"Aa. And for Aiko, its Kaidoh-san's day." Choutarou continued.

"So you two made a schedule of which days you spend with other and which days you spend with your other friends?" Wakashi furthered.

"We wanted to preserve our individuality and other relationships as well." Choutarou proudly explained.

"Admirable. Demo, I wonder how long you two can keep up with that schedule?" Wakashi challenged.

Choutarou stared at his best friend.

"Not that I don't believe you can, because knowing you Ootori, I know for a fact that you would. But there are circumstances that may hinder you from fully committing to that schedule you made. How about when tennis season starts? Or how about when we get invited to practice games?" Wakashi asked further.

"Aiko and I always talks about things, we try and understand each other's situation." Choutarou defended.

"You'll probably get married when we're all grown up." Wakashi commented.

Choutarou turned beat red from the comment, "Isn't it a little too early to be thinking about marriage Hiyoshi-kun?"

"It was just an opinion." Wakashi replied ignoring his best friend's very red face.

-oOo-

"How's senior year treating you?" a familiar gentle voice asked.

Aiko lifted her head; a smiled began to creep into her face, "Fuji-sempai."

"Konnichiwa." Fuji said with a smile.

"How are you doing sempai?" Aiko excitedly asked the tensai.

"Practically the same." Fuji replied. "And you?"

"Snapping at anything interesting that comes my way." Aiko waves her camera.

"Sou ka. And how is Ootori-kun?" Fuji asked further as he tries to peak through the camera that was lying on the table.

"He's the new fukubuchou for Hyotei." Aiko proudly answered.

"So I've heard."

"How about you? Did you join the high school boys' tennis club?" Aiko inquired.

"Hmn. Eiji and Inui too." Fuji replied.

"Sou ka. It feels weird having only three of you around." Aiko sadly commented.

"Well, Tezuka sends his regards to everyone, which includes you of course." Fuji changed the topic.

"How is Tezuka-sempai?"

"Still pretty much upset about not having any communication with Ami-chan." Fuji commented.

"E? Gomen, what did you say?"

"Oh, nothing, don't mind me." Fuji lied.

"How about Oishi-sempai?" Aiko furthered.

"He's doing well in his new school; he now hangs out with Oshitari from Hyotei and Yagyuu from Rikkai so he says." Fuji furthered.

"Well, Oishi-sempai has always been a very friendly person, so it's no surprise." Aiko gladly said.

"And Taka-san has started sushi chef training." Fuji furthered.

"I miss Kawamura-sempai, maybe we should go visit him in their sushi shop when we have time, don't you think so Fuji-sempai?"

"I agree." Fuji said with a smile, "So are you still assigned to the boys' tennis club?"

"Unfortunately, I'm not, I'm the photo editor now Fuji sempai, I don't get many field work anymore." Aiko shyly said.

"Wow, photo editor huh? Kaidoh must be really sad about you not being around practice anymore."

"I'm sad as well." Aiko replied, "You know what, I should probably add you to the schedule sempai." Aiko pulled out her little journal.

"Schedule?" Fuji asked confused.

"It's something that Choutarou and I did, so we won't lose time for each other and our other friends." Aiko timidly replied showing Fuji her journal.

Fuji smiled as he read the journal, "I would be honoured to be included in this schedule Aiko-chan."

"I'll tell Choutarou I have to have a Fuji-sempai day then." Aiko cheerfully said.

"Fuji-sempai day huh? That sounds nice."

"Sounds nice indeed."

-oOo-

"So today is my day?" Shishido asked confused as he and Choutarou were walking home that day.

"Hmn, its Shishido-san's day. See?" Choutarou showed his journal to his sempai.

"Yeah, it's right there written in multi-coloured pens." Shishido pointed at the day with the words 'Shishido-san's Day' was written in the colours of the rainbow.

"Oh, that—." Choutarou chuckled. "It was Aiko-chan who wrote that down; she said she would do the honours of writing down your day since she thinks very highly of you."

Shishido cleared his throat being a bit uncomfortable of what the boy had just said.

"Are, are you blushing sempai?" Choutarou teased the young boy.

"Of course not!" Shishido tried to cover his face to hide the deep blush he had.

Choutarou chuckled a bit before tapping his sempai's shoulder. "Care to play a little tennis sempai?"

"Why not?" Shishido replied with a smirk. And they turn to an alley leading to a nearby tennis court.

-oOo-

"So how was your week?" Aiko asked the silverette seated beside her as they were watching a bunch of kids running around in the park.

"It was fun; senior year has been treating me well so far, and you?" Choutarou replied with a smile.

"Lovely." Aiko replied with a smile.

Choutarou smiled back before they both turned their head up to the sky and enjoyed their togetherness in silence.

"Are they serious just going to sit there?"

"Pipe down Gakuto." Oshitari covered the acrobat's mouth.

"Why do we have to watch them on their date?" Shishido complained as he was trying his best to fit himself into the bushes with the others.

"Because Ore-sama said so." Atobe declared as he sat in his chair Kabaji holding an umbrella over him and all. "Right Kabaji?"

"Usu."

"This is just stupid, I mean, their together now, and their happy, why do we have to interfere?" Shishido continued to complain.

"Is that what you call happy Shishido? Look at them they're not even talking to each other?" Oshitari commented.

"Ootori is such a boring boyfriend." Gakuto stated.

"Why do I have to be here?" Wakashi whined.

"Because we're spying on your best friend." Gakuto argued.

"Shut up you guys, any louder and we might as well announce that we are here." Oshitari shushed that group.

"We need to do something about this boring date. Kabaji, phone." Atobe signalled for his cell phone.

"And what do you intend to do?" Oshitari asked the overly self-centric former buchou.

"Just watch and see." Atobe smirked.

"How is the newspaper club going along?" Choutarou asked the girl breaking the very long silence between them.

"It's going along well actually. I don't have any field assignment now, since I do the editing for the photos." Aiko gladly explained, "And the tennis club in Hyotei?"

"Hyoshi-kun is doing a fine job being buchou, and I'm enjoying my post as fukubuchou." Choutarou replied, and then there was silence between them again.

"Why the heck are they going in and out of silence?" Gakuto complained at Yushi who was busy texting someone. "And who the heck are you texting?"

"None of your business." Oshitari replied coldly and closed his phone.

Gakuto eyed the blue-haired tensai.

"Are you jealous that Oshitari-sempai has a girlfriend now Mukahi-san?" Wakashi commented which definitely pissed off the acrobat.

"What the heck are you talking about Hiyoshi?" Gakuto was about to grab at Wakashi's throat before Shishido and Kabaji stopped him.

"Yamero!" Shishido grabbed hard on Gakuto's arms.

"Where is Jirou?" Oshitari suddenly blurted out, which of course picked the curiosity out of everyone.

"Yeah, where is Jirou?" Gakuto wondered now suddenly forgetting his outrage against Wakashi.

"Probably sleeping somewhere." Wakashi commented.

"Ore-sama gave Jirou a mission." Atobe waved his flashy hands.

"A mission?" Shishido repeated.

"Hai, hai." Atobe stood from where he was seated, "Sa, let's go minna."

"Go where?" Shishido asked.

"Home of course." Atobe replied.

"E?" everyone reacted, yes even Kabaji.

"You drag us out here, to spy on Choutarou and Aiko's date, and then you say we're going home?" Shishido complained.

"Aa, what's wrong Shishido, suddenly so interested in their date?" Atobe teased.

"Of course not!" Shishido insisted with a big blush on his face.

"What about the mission you gave Jirou then?" Oshitari asked.

"It is sure to be carried out." Atobe replied with confidence.

"What exactly did you ask Jirou to do?" Gakuto asked curiously.

"Sa."

"Whatever it is I have a feeling I don't like it." Wakashi whispered.

"What was that Hiyoshi?" Atobe irately asked.

"Nandemonai."

"Sa, let's go minna, no use sticking around here." Oshitari followed their great leader.

"A!" Aiko suddenly remembered something important she has to do.

"What's wrong Aiko-chan?" Choutarou asked full of concern.

"I just remembered; I need to get the pictures printed out today." Aiko pulled out a memory card from her bag.

"Not to worry Aiko-chan, let's go get those pictures printed." Choutarou offered.

"Hountou?"

"Hai. It won't be a disturbance to our date now would it, it's just a bunch of pictures." Choutarou happily replied.

"Arigatou Tarou-chan." Aiko happily chanted.

"Hmn." Choutarou nodded, "Let's go?"

"Hai."

"Oh, yeah, I just remembered—." Choutarou then turned to face the girl when he felt someone push him from behind hitting Aiko causing both of them to fall on the ground, and before he knew it, he felt his lips pressed against the girls'.

"Oops! Gomen." A familiar voice apologized then gleefully hopped away from the couple.

Choutarou opened his eyes and stared at the girl whose eyes were widely staring at him, obviously in shock. "G-Gomen—." He whispered.

"Moshi, moshi, Jirou desu. Atobe! Atobe! Mission accomplished." The narcoleptic shut his phone then gleefully went on his way.

-oOo-

Merry Christmas Minna!