When You Smile - Complete

Chapter Eighteen - Together

Chapter Eighteen – Together

“Do you know what will happen to Harris-san?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m not sure if I care what she does now.” Tezuka replied, leading the way onto the tennis court.

“But, Tezuka.”

“Practice is cancelled for this afternoon. We have the courts to ourselves. No one is here and no one can bother us.” Tezuka said. “Let’s just play a game.”

“Why do we have to play a game?” Miyako asked. “I think we all played enough tennis over the week.”

“But not alone.” Tezuka reminded her. “And we don’t have many chances to play against one another like this.”

Miyako sighed. He was so serious that he’d even changed his shoes.

Her Father was late picking her up so Tezuka offered to hang around as he would be walking home anyway. Though the sky was turning shades of gold the school was still open as teachers and other clubs were still around, but in sight of the tennis Regulars returning the tennis practice had been cancelled. She flattened the tank top she was wearing and pulled her skirt down a little as she played with her racquet a little. She’d tied Kiba up to the fence by a grass field where the puppy was now sleeping, cooling down after a hectic and exciting week.

“Are you ready?” Tezuka asked.

Miyako walked onto the court and nodded. “Whenever you are.”

Tezuka served and they played a few matches – but by the end of it they just played randomly. Neither kept track of the score or the rules. They just played around. And to Miyako’s surprise Tezuka began to laugh as he played.

She had to smile wider – he had changed completely. He’d gone from a stoic gaze that downright scared her and turned it into a bright and happy smile that made her heart pound. She wondered if there was anything else in the world that would ever be that glorious.

The ball hit the net and rolled away, but neither cared.

She giggled a little, walking up to the net, swinging her racquet carelessly at her side. “Maybe we should go and wait by the front gate now, Dad might arrive soon.” She suggested half heartedly. “We shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

Tezuka nodded as he walked up to the net as well. “It was a good game.” He said, offering her a hand.

“Game?” Miyako asked, shaking his hand. “It was just a muck around session.” She corrected him playfully.

Tezuka smiled warmly, staring deep into her eyes. And his racquet was suddenly on the ground. It clattered until it was still.

“Tezuka…” Miyako said, looking at the racquet and then back to him. “You dropped your ra – ”

With the hand he held he pulled her right up to him, looping that arm around his neck and pressing his lips tenderly against hers. Though her eyes flashed wide with surprise, the smarter side of her looped her other arm around him, careful of the racquet she still held, and pulled him closer as her eyes slid shut. His hands found her back and tugged her right up against him and the net. Annoyance ripped into her as the net separated them, but she didn’t mind in the slightest as he tilted his head to the side and ever so slightly parted her lips with his.

Her racquet hit the floor and she dug her fingers deep into his hair, inhaling deeply.

All of the hidden feelings. All of the repressed feelings. All the time wasted on waiting and the pain that followed it. The intensity of his passion fused with her need for him. It created a kiss like neither of them had imagined.