Admiration, Respect, Tennis...And Love?

Chapter 13

I hid a smirk when I notice how today Eiji is avoiding me with all his might.

"hmm?"

I turn around to face Tezuka-san with my face the perfect picture of innocence, at what he raise a brow and shake his head in barely concealed amusement, "is there something you wanted to share?"

I shake my head and ruffle my hair, "not really, well, besides of how pleasant it is today, is a nice change"

He snort softly and raise a brow in amusement, "Eiji?"

I nod with a playful smirk, "yup!"

He shake his head, the corners of his lips pulling upwards, "Eiji is too enthusiastic sometimes, that along with his childishness can be tiresome for people who are not used to him"

I nod and sigh softly, "I figured that out already, but thanks anyway"

"you are welcome"

I glance toward Tezuka-san in curiosity, he is not bad, he is actually nice once you figured him out.

He raise a brow in curiosity at what I smirk playfully, "I just realized that I like you after all"

His cheeks turn a soft pink, and then frown in apparent displeasure, "Higurashi-san, I would prefer if you'd avoid doing that sort of comments"

uh?

I blink in confusion and turn around to face him properly, "I am not confessing or anything, I am only pointing out that I like you, you are actually nice, if anything Eiji's nickname should have been more embarrassing to you, if you think about that, 'Tezuka-Girl' is more likely to describe your girlfriend than someone that is supposedly similar to you"

His cheeks turn a darker shade of pink, pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh, "I am aware of that fact, but it was Eiji who was calling you that, and frankly I can't take seriously most of his nicknames, besides you are interested on someone else, it feels wrong hearing those words from you"

I feel my cheeks heating up at how full of confidence he sounded when he stated that fact, I blink in apparent confusion and tilt my head, "I won't lie saying that I am not interested on someone, but I wonder who do you think I am actually interested on"

He raise a brow and shake his head, "you are good masking your emotions, I'll give you that, who do you like or not is not my business, in fact I usually would disapprove of a female with interest on one of the players spending the amount of time you share with us in practice, but I can tell that you truly care about Inui and he return those feelings, and you are not wasting your or Inui's time with inane talk how most girls our age do, but actually been productive and somehow helping him along the way"

I feel my cheeks burning at Tezuka's words, ruffle my hair and look around in embarrassment, "you are not going to tell him, are you? I already decided that if he didn't acknowledge his own feelings, if he didn't take the first step I wouldn't do anything about this"

"do not worry, I won't say anything, especially to Fuji, not that he'll bother Inui or you after how you accused him of crushing on you"

I raise a brow and turn around in surprise, "he tell you about that?"

Tezuka's lips twitch upwards and nod, "he did, I never had seen him as embarrassed as how he was, the worse part is that he actually was a bit interested on you, nothing romantic through"

he actually....

I cover my mouth, trying to contain my mirth, but a snort leave me, followed by a fit of giggles, once I finally control myself I clean a stray tear, smirk playfully and peck his cheek, "thank you, I definitely like you!"

His cheeks turn a soft pink and look away with a frown, "If you have energy to waste fooling around like that, you should go train instead"

I pout playfully and nod, "okay"

Tezuka-san is definitely someone I wouldn't mind to have as a friend.