Everything is Possible in a Story

Ayumi Nazu/Author's Note: Fifth entry of the 15 One-Shot Contest! For those who have no idea what's going on with the '15 One-Shot Contest', please go to the 'We are Game' literature entry. Ryoma Echizen's POV. I thank you for your comments, critiques and votes in advance.

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi.

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Theme #5

Lipstick

Written by: AyumiNazu

     I felt her soft lips against my neck and though what a pleasant feeling it was. It was a touch that only she was allowed to give me. However, right after a short butterfly kiss, she quickly turned away and ran with her cheeks flushed bright red. I smiled, “That’s cute.”

     Her innocence has its good and down sides. Her sweet smile and blushing face was what I loved most, but sometimes I wished she was just a little more daring.

     I walked around with a slight curve of a smile painted on my lips. The reminiscence of her kiss this afternoon was quite satisfying for today. As I opened the door to the boy’s changing room, I realized that everyone turned my way. For a second, I thought it was my imagination, but they continued to watch me as I was changing into my tennis jersey and until I left the room.

     As soon as Inui saw me, he started jotting down notes in his booklet before I even got onto the court! What’s with everyone today?

     Ayumi said she had something to do after school, so she wasn’t going to come to tennis practice today. That said, Momo was going to be my doubles partner for the rest of today. During our match with Oishi and Eiji, Seigaku’s Golden Pair, they all gave me funny looks. None of them were concentrating, except for me. Since they kept on missing the ball and continuously got the ball out of the court, winning against the best doubles pair in our school became a piece of cake. Nonetheless, they still continued to gaze my way.

     “You know, I would really appreciate it if you stopped staring at me. It’s freaking me out. What? Is there something on my face?”

     They shook their heads, “No, it’s not exactly your face…”

     I was left utterly confused. From time to time, I would see members of our club whispering among each other and when I turned their way, they would immediately stop. If there was a bad rumor about me going around, I should have gotten the news from Horio or something, but since even they were acting strangely, I was pretty sure that wasn’t it. No one would tell me what they were talking about nor why they kept on staring at me.

     “Fuji-senpai, what’s going on?”

     He was the only person who seemed normal today, though I’d never really know since he hides everything behind his twisted fox face.

     “You and Nazu-san have been getting along quite close lately haven’t you?”

     We were, but I wouldn’t like to say those kinds of things out loud.

     “Why are you asking?”

     “No, it’s nothing,” even he looked away and ignored me when I asked him!

     Something was definitely going on and if I don’t find out what it is, I’m going to explode. When I was grabbing a drink of water in the fountain area, I bumped into Suzuyu Kanako, Ayumi’s best friend.

     She froze for a second and then put her hand on my shoulder, “Be sure to take good care of Ayumi, alright?”

     What was she talking about? Suzuyu walked away as soon as I agreed to do so.

     Practice was over and I still couldn’t figure out what everyone was staring at me for. That was until I got home and looked into the mirror…

     A pale trace of Ayumi’s pink lips formed on my neck from the kiss she gave me this afternoon before tennis practice. I never knew she put on lipstick before. Perhaps it was something she recently did. And then I realize what kinds of thoughts my friends had when they were staring at me during tennis practice.

     Shoot. It was all a big, bad misunderstanding.

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