Chapter Nine: Lights

My legs felt numb as I ran as far as I could. I grabbed my cell phone from my pocket, dialling Atobe's number. Please pick up.
"Hello?"
"Atobe, where are you?"
"Meet Ore-sama at the park."

Atobe then hung up on me. If only I could punch people through cell phone screens – that would solve so many problems. Instead, I carried on running; in the direction of the nearest park.
The previously hammering rain stopped, and I saw yet another amazing spectacle – set up by Atobe.

Seriously, Atobe needs to learn to tone down how extravagantly he sets things up.
Lanterns all hung up neatly, all leading in the direction of the park. Beautiful lights, leading the way. Atobe… My heart almost jumped out of my chest. It was almost like a fairy tale.

However, this wasn't a fairy tale. And it had just been raining. So instead, I was rather angry that Atobe had gone to all that trouble. Especially since he'd been injured. Ahobe! I thought to myself. I followed the lights, until I could see Atobe.

Stood arrogantly in a tuxedo, Atobe grinned cockily; his bandages nowhere to be seen.
"Ahobe, what do you think you're doing?" I shouted, my head down.

Out of the blue, I heard laughter. "Why are you laughing?" I asked, still mad.
"Ore-sama thought that Ore-sama would feel better after seeing you." No sign of wavering in his voice, Atobe just smiled contently.

Seriously, Atobe was – and still is an idiot. A reckless one at that.

"Ahobe…" I wanted to be mad, but how could I be.

"Do you like the lanterns? Haru said that you'd like it."
Fairytales are pure fiction, and nothing is perfect. I learned that the hard way, as I saw Atobe fall onto the ground.

Atobe is a walking hazard.

After calling someone to go get him, I listened to walked happened from the maid, and then form Haru.

"Atobe-sama was told to stay in bed, and Fujishima-sama came to visit. The next time we checked on them, Atobe-sama had disappeared. We presumed that they jumped out of the window." Is what happened in the maid's perspective.

"Well… Atobe said he wanted to go and see you, so I told him that you like lanterns. We just asked the maids when everyone left to let Atobe out in 20 minutes and they let us go scot free. They even helped set up the lanterns by putting in in fairy lights. We didn't out of a window. Although that would've much, much cooler, right?" Is what happened in Haru's perspective… apparently.

Obviously, I don't really believe that Haru and Atobe jumped out of a window. However, I do believe that Haru gave Atobe the idea of lanterns. But Haru couldn't have been in Atobe's house at the time, since he was with the regulars.

Seriously, to this day I have no idea what happened. Perhaps I should ask Atobe.

Anyway, Atobe was told to stay bed ridden for the next several days.
Before long, my expulsion ended; so I was forced to go back to school. There I realized that something was missing. Mizuki had moved schools.

Yes – I didn't particularly like her after she went on a 'bitch rage.' At the same time, I still cherished all and any happy memories we had made together. It felt weird, almost incomplete without her.
Also, I realized how depressed the school seemed without its beloved king. Without Atobe, the majority of the female student body was depressed beyond recognition, whilst the tennis club also had less fighting spirit.

Lunch was nowhere near the same. The regulars tried not to show it, but obviously missed Atobe. Their pride just got in the way.
"Let's throw a party once Atobe gets better." Haru suggested, grinning happily. Nodding, we all agreed happily.

Amazingly enough, I officially hate hosting parties. Mother, on the other hand, jumped at the thought. "My daughter finally has a social life!" Is what she said. I still don't know exactly what her personality is.

Fortunately, we held the party somewhere other than my house. Instead, we rented out a hall, and also raised some money for charity as we did so.

Atobe keeps smiling arrogantly in my direction, as I try to ignore him. We danced (badly,) laughed. I'm seriously amazed at how many people know Atobe. With the entire Hyotei tennis club within one building, I think it's a miracle in its own right.

I guess you may consider this a 'happy ending' to a story. However, to me, it's just the beginning. Even now, there are ever so many things to do and explore.

Just for the record, I still hate obnoxious people. Well – most of them.
We all smile, as everyone dances happily. Seriously, Atobe looks way too happy for my liking. "Thank you, Hikari-chan." He whispers into my ear.

The night is drawing to an end, but…

"To Ahobe getting better!" Everyone cheered. "Kampai!"
I'm so happy that the nickname caught on.

"Come here, neko-chan." He whispers from behind.

I know I'm right. Mine and Atobe's story hasn't ended. It's just begun.