When You Smile - Complete

Chapter Seven - Tournament

Chapter Seven – Tournament

Of all the embarrassing things, it just had to be that. She could handle it if she belched in front of him, or maybe if she’d tripped. But she was barely wearing anything when she’d walked down those stairs. Yet he’d seemed completely oblivious to it.

She’s rushed back down the stairs in her school uniform, racquet bag over her shoulder, took an apple from the fruit bowl and announced herself ready to go.

Tezuka looked up from the conversation he was having with Kaiya and he was met with a slightly familiar sight. Her hair was up in its usual way, but it was yet again, only a ponytail, but a hair band and dark green ribbon were tied loosely around her wrist.

“Why are you in your uniform, Miya?” Tamie asked.

“This is a tournament for schools. I have to support Seimaku by being in uniform.” Miyako explained. Then she turned to Tezuka. “We should go. We’re going to be late, right?”

Tezuka nodded and then bowed to her parents. “Thank you for the company. I’ll bring Miyako back home sometime after seven.”

“Have fun!” Tamie called.

“Be careful.” Naoko warned as he followed the teens down the hallway.

“We will be, Dad.” Miyako stated.

“Good luck, Tezuka-kun!” Kaiya exclaimed, waving erratically as Tezuka led Miyako onto the sidewalk and towards the nearest bus stop.

“Seven?” Miyako asked.

“We’ll be going back to Taka-san’s family restaurant for a celebratory dinner. Whether we get into the regional’s or not.” Tezuka replied.

Miyako laughed. “That sounds like fun.” She said genuinely. It would be good to see how the Regulars were like when they weren’t at school or on the courts.

There was silence for a long moment as they stood and waited for the bus. Miyako wrung her hands together. She hoped for anything that they hadn’t missed their bus all because of her. True, it had only taken ten minutes for her to get ready – it would have been five if her hair hadn’t been so temperamental.

She sighed lightly to catch his attention before bowing. “I’m sorry, Tezuka.”

“What for?” Tezuka asked, keeping an eye out for the bus from the corner of his eye.

“I should have made sure I was ready when you arrived. I’m sorry.” Miyako repeated, still bowed low before him.

Tezuka placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. It happens to the best of us.” He assured her. “Besides, this bus is always a little late.”

“It is?” Miyako asked, slowly standing upright.

“And I got to see Kaiya – and meet your parents.” Tezuka added.

‘And see me practically naked before you.’ She thought bitterly as she blushed deeply.

“And there are girls who wear less to bed.” Tezuka said, looking at her from the corner of his eye to gauge her response. She blanched as she was too embarrassed to even blush anymore. He laughed. “Don’t worry. I wasn’t really looking.”

“That’s so embarrassing.” She hissed.

Daringly, Tezuka reached out and took her fingers. “Don’t worry about it.” He repeated and then released her hand quickly, the tingling becoming too much for him to take. “I was looking at your hair actually.”