Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 7)

Chapter 7

*Takeshita street is somewhere in Harajuku, Shibuya. Or so wikipedia told me.




Akaya staggered into the bus and exhaled in relief as he found an empty seat. He plopped down almost immediately and stared at the window, trying with every ounce of energy in his body to not look at his watch. He could see Satsuki pouncing on him when he arrive late and he grimaced at the thought. She wouldn’t do that to me, he reasoned. She’s far too sensible for that even if she used to glared daggers and smacked him when he was a few times late in the past.

That was before, he thought reassuringly. He could make a couple of excuses if she was angry…

He felt his cellphone vibrated in his pocket first. His ringtone followed, playing the theme song of an advertisement he’d liked. Akaya gulped and tried to smiled, wishing it was Satsuki calling him and not his former buchou. He could handle Satsuki’s reaction but the older man…He quickly pressed the talk button, dreading the outbreak his old school friend would triggered.

“Akaya,” he heard Satsuki’s faint voice. The bus noisy atmosphere had drowned her voice and Akaya muttered another hello. Satsuki too, raised her voice, making it sound as if she was practically yelling. “HONESTLY AKAYA,” he held the phone a tad inch away. “WHERE ARE YOU? You are VERY late,” she said severely.

He could picture her, standing against a wall, a hand rested on her hips while her free one held the phone. She was probably tapping her feet, Akaya thought. She’s the one that had the tendency to let her anger visibly known. Her eyes would narrow, like a cat, and scanned things throughout-ly while her hand slowly curled into a fist.

Akaya had handled Sanada-fukubuchou, Yukimura-buchou, his mother, his older sister and not to mention Marco. So what should he be scared of? He can handle this! He cleared his throat, attempting to made himself sound guilty.

“Um, I woke up late,” he said sheepishly. He opted for being innocent, truthful and radiating in his boyish-ness charm (or whatever it is that People magazine dubbed him). The WTA organizer and his sister fell for it once so he might as well have a go.

He was greeted with a screech-like tone. “You WHAT? Do you know HOW late you are?” Seiichi-san and all are already here!”
Shit, buchou’s there. He was probably plotting someway of drilling discipline into him again just like old times…Akaya gulped. “Relax, I’m already in the bus. I’ll be there soon,” he scowled when he heard Satsuki grunted. Boy, that lady was all pleasant and that a couple of days ago. And here he was thinking she had matured… He glanced out the window. “It’s four stops from here.”

“FOUR stops?” He flinched at the intensity of heat in her voice. A few passengers gave him questioning looks and Akaya heard silence at the other line. A long sigh was heard and Satsuki muttering, a drop of volume in her voice, “Yes, Seiichi-san. I’ll try.” Akaya stifled a laugh, imagining Yukimura scolding his cousin in his quiet manner.

“You better be quick,” Satsuki threatened. “It’s the traffic okay?” she inquired and Akaya dreaded to think what she will act if it wasn’t. Luckily it was not bad and Akaya manage a smile. “Yeah, it’s okay.”

Another sigh and Satsuki asked again, a tone of suspicion presented, “Why don’t you drive? It’ll be faster that way.”

Akaya laughed curtly. “No I can’t. If I could, I wouldn’t be taking a bus, right?”

“You do have a car right? If I wasn’t mistaken, some company gave it to you a year ago,” she said accusingly.

“It’s missing a license,” he grinned. Satsuki groaned and he heard a sound of a lap. Did she just smack her forehead?

“You are unbelievable.” A sigh was heard again. “Be here quick, KIRIHARA.”

“Um, okay,” he replied.

*

“Where is he,” Satsuki said, staring accusingly at the clock. 15 minutes had passed since she had called Akaya but still, he was nowhere in sight. Yukimura’s secretary had offered that maybe the traffic had made a turn for the worse and Satsuki snarled quietly, as if cursing.

Yukimura had left for another meeting. He was not to attend the meeting for her CM but had come down to offer her luck and to meet his kouhai. But unfortunately, he was late and Yukimura apologized and asked if he could be excuse. Satsuki felt embarrassed but her cousin smiled. “Take it easy, Satsuki,” he said soothingly. “It is Akaya.”

True, it was Akaya—the stubborn and late bird person she had knew through her school years but still, she thought. He could have changed for the better in the period of time they had not met; she angrily conjured and swept a lock away from her face. That man, she thought. How could he even manage to gain the top ten in these years! He must have a heck of a manager; she thought angrily and sipped her coffee.

Her phone rang and Satsuki sighed, thinking it was Akaya. “Finally,” she muttered, “He’s here!” She picked up the phone and answered quickly, “So are you here?”

“No, unfortunately, I’m not, Yukimura,” a familiar voice told her and she felt blood drained from her face. “A-Atobe-san! I’ve mistaken you for someone, I’m sorry.”

“An, apology accepted. I want to catch up to what you have progressed. Though, who is it you could mistake ore-sama as?” Satsuki toyed her hair uncomfortably; she couldn’t tell her boss their model was late, could she? But then again, it was Atobe. He probably already knew it and was making her think the otherwise. She took a deep breath and replied, as calmly as she can, “Kirihara Akaya.”

“Oh? Isn’t he already there, Yukimura?” he asked, it was indeed, curiosity in his voice. Satsuki cleared her throat, “Not really. He’s on the way?” she tried.

Atobe was quiet and Satsuki felt a sense of coldness. What was he thinking? she thought worriedly. “Why is that now?”

Better out with it, she said to herself. She mustered her courage and spoke, quietly, “He woke up late.” The moment she said it she thought how Atobe would thought of her. He’ll probably think she’s incapable and she added, hurriedly, “But he’s on the way, Atobe-san! Don’t worry; the meeting will go on smoothly.”

“He never changed,” Atobe said, a hint of a smirk in his voice. “So he’s on the way now, is it? Who’d picked him up?”

Silence.

“Yukimura?” Atobe asked again, “He is on the way, right?”

“Yes, yes, he is,” Satsuki answered, hating the way how the billionaire could really press on a subject. “He’s on the bus.”

“An,” Atobe said, as if humored by the situation. “I thought he had a car. I remember seeing him in one after the Davis Cup last year,” he said leisurely. “Or he didn’t bring the car over here?”

“He couldn’t actually,” Satsuki said, cursing Akaya in her head. That man had won thousands of dollars and he didn’t take up a driving license? What was the car for then, decoration? She gripped her chair. “He couldn’t drive, I mean,” Satsuki continued, “His busy schedule prevented him from having any lessons for driving.”

Atobe breathed in slowly, as if a predator waiting to pounce his prey. Oh no, Satsuki thought, he’d found an opening. “I see,” Atobe said tentatively. “And we are relying on a busy public vehicle for his transport. He is already late, to top it off, it seems.”

Oh god. He’d really found an opening, Satsuki cried silently. She waited for his words, not liking the way she was depending on his response. But a testimonial is a testimonial and Yukimura Satsuki would do anything to get only the best.

Braced yourself, Satsuki, she called herself. Whatever it is, you can handle it. She sucked in as Atobe’s voice, languid and cool, spoke through her cellphone, “Well then, why don’t you play driver? I heard you had taken classes.”

WHAT?

“I beg your pardon?” she tried, “What did you say?”

“Yukimura, I thought your hearing senses were fine as it is,” came his reply. She frowned, “No sir, I thought I had heard wrong. You wanted me to play driver?” It was true that she had taken driving lessons with Nakao, but she was planning on saving up for her dream car. “But I don’t have a car, Atobe-san.”

“You could take the company’s car,” he said matter-of-factly. “Kirihara could be your friend, but that did not alter the fact that he’s a celebrity, Yukimura.” Oh, he’d win a couple of trophies and he’s a celebrity now. God, what they were saying was true. Stars are impposible! Satsuki deepened her frown. “You’ll have to see that he gets to every CM shooting on time, Yukimura. I expect you to pick him up starting tomorrow to avoid this kind of situation,” Atobe ordered, and Satsuki closed her eyes. There were no way she could go against that order.

She blamed Akaya. Not only was she the one heading this new project, she had to organize the CM and not to mention she is a driver of a tennis player.

Yes, what a wonderful world, she thought as she heard Atobe’s line clicked.

She is so going to give Akaya a hard time. She called Akaya and waited.

*

The bus driver heard a faint ringing tone and the lad at the back of the bus groggily answered it. He scowled, so, he’s finally awake. Took him long enough. He drove on, his eye glancing back and forth between the lad and the road.

“YOU WHAT?” the man’s cellphone yelled and the man grimaced as the phone let out a loud curse. A few passengers looked at the man interestingly. The man, with messy black hair and glasses offered an apology. “I didn’t mean it, you know,” he said, his voice suddenly turned serious. “I’ll get there…I am at…um…” he looked at the window, trying to locate himself.

“Takeshita street!” a young woman replied, hopefully. She and her female companion were flushing at the sight of the man. The man smiled wanly, “Um, thank you. Hey Satsuki, I’m over in Shibuya. What? Huh? Oh—Atobe-san said that? Really, you will?”

The bus driver slowed down, preparing for a stop. “I’ll see you? Okay,” he said a tinge of confusion in his voice. He took his cap and stood up, wanting to get off. The women at the front looked disappointed as he walked out from the bus.

Funny, the bus driver thought, he had a customer once that had slept on the bus and was scolded heavily. And he looked vaguely like him…

The bus driver watched the man, standing on the bus stand sleepily and continued his work.
*

Satsuki glowered and Akaya tried to brush it off with his grin. “What are you doing in Shibuya?” she asked, eyeing him and the bags he’d carrying. Akaya looked at the packages, “Um, shopping? For you, as an apology?”

The ebony-haired woman narrowed her eyes slightly. “It better look good,” she said and unlocked the car door. Akaya slide into the back seat happily, the grin still plastered on his face.

She stared at him. “Akaya,” she let out heatedly. “I’m not your driver, you know.”

He gave a smirk, “But didn’t Atobe-san said you’ll drive me around? Technically, Satsuki-chan, you are.” He placed his arms behind his head and leant against the seat happily. Satsuki scoffed and began to drive, her head flooded with anger.

“You are impossible,” she replied. She began to regret the thought of Akaya being a change adult. Akaya’s eyes were glazed with amusement and she cursed silently. “I thought you already stated that. Are you running out of remarks, Satsuki?”

If he wasn’t a star and a model of her CM, she would have kill him right now, right here.

“Nice to work with you too,” Akaya smiled and Satsuki glared. “Whatever.”


*

The meeting had ended an hour later than she had scheduled. She didn’t care, as long as it had passed. She let out a sigh as the crew dismissed and headed to their respective posts. Today they had an ice-breaking session. She had also laid out the CM strategy and Nakayama, the CM director had looked over her script and told the crew to start filming tomorrow.

Satsuki smiled at Yukimura’s secretary, Ookawa as the older woman passed by. Ookawa was told by her cousin to try to help her and Satsuki, even though touch at Yukimura’s effort, had politely refused it. It was bad enough already that she was working under his friend for her testimonial; she could not afford to have herself in debt with him anymore. She was a grown woman; she was capable of being independent.

“Wah,” she muttered to herself tiredly. “It’s finally over, ne, Ookawa-san!” She smiled happily and took her handbag. Ookawa smiled at her, “Not really, Satsuki-chan. You still have to drive Kirihara-kun back home, remember?”

“Oh,” she said. “I’d forget.” She stretched her body lazily. Just when she thought, her job was over…She looked around the room, searching for the tennis ace. “Eh, wasn’t he here before?”

Ookawa picked up the papers on the meeting table and passed it to one of the helpers. “He’s outside, he said he had to take a call,” she said and gathered all her belongings. She gave Satsuki another smile, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Satsuki-chan?”

“Yes, definitely. Bye bye, Ookawa-san!” Satsuki waved at her and looked at her cellphone. Atobe had texted her, reminding her to make weekly reports and Nakao had asked her for the electronic company she had visited a month ago. Satsuki sighed and headed to the door but paused when she caught Akaya standing there.

“I’ll drive you home,” she told him and took her blazer by the door. Akaya shook his head, “I’ll pass. I have an errand to do.” He grinned and pulled down his cap an inch. “But you’ll come by tomorrow right?”

“Of course,” she glared. “You’re not going to do anything weird are you? I heard that you stardom people love adventure,” she stated accusingly. He laughed, “Nah, I’ll have that everyday. I won’t do anything strange, I swear,” he added, seeing the look Satsuki gave him. He waved at her, “Ja ne Satsuki!”

“You better be awake by the time I pick you up, Akaya!” she yelled after him and closed the door behind her.
*

Akaya stood still, staring at the ground before him. It was new to him, but it bore signs of people having played there. It was currently empty and Akaya jogged towards it and inspected the court. He tested the ground and the net.

It was already dusk when he had looked at the court throughoutly. Akaya was used to playing on professional-made courts; grass, clay, but he still remembered the sensation, the feel of hitting balls on a Sunday mornings with a few street-tennis friends. He remembered he’d met Echizen and played against him at Riverside Club, the sports club that he’d liked for the friendly people there.

He touched the gate and walked away, back to his sister’s house. His stomach had already demanded to be feed and had to read a few e-mails Marco had forwarded to him.

Akaya vaguely told himself to wake up early next morning for the CM and for practice.

TBC



chapter 8 is coming sometime...soon?

Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 6)

Chapter Six: What I Love

Marco had actually thought today will be a good day. He had managed to clear Akaya’s schedules, planned the training menus with the green eyed player’s coach, confirmed his client entry to the last Grand Slam event—and other tennis tournaments— and checked Akaya’s sponsors for his next matches. He smiled as he inhaled the deep aroma of coffee and settled in to his chair to enjoy the view of Paris.

Those weeks after Akaya’s injury was definitely tiring him.

Too bad Akaya isn’t here, he thought and sipped his coffee slowly. The two of them had arrived in France early to practice for the France Open and now, thanks to a few robbers, had made Marco canceled Akaya’s involvement. The media and fans had pressed the issue but Marco ignored them and announced that Kirihara Akaya, the ambitious player who is currently World No.3, was taking a break.

Marco gazed at the sceneries and closed his eyes, putting the memories of his fatigue weeks behind his mind. He thought that maybe, just maybe, he should take a holiday too…

Unfortunately, today was not his good day. His cellphone rang and Marco absently took it. He decided to ignore the call but glancing at the name on the LCD, he sighed.

“Hello?”

*

Akaya grinned at the receiver, hoping that Marco can detect his eagerness. “Oh, c’mon Marco,” Akaya said. “It’s just a commercial.”

“I thought you didn’t want to do any,” came Marco’s stern reply. Akaya always think he was rather uptight.

His fingers idly tapped the table when Marco continued, “You said you wanted to be the number one—I practically had to beg you to agree for those sponsors. And now you’re telling me you wanted to do a commercial?!” The phone went silent for a moment. “It’s not even tennis related!” his manager added heatedly.

“Well, I will be number one,” Akaya answered simply and stopped tapping the table when Ayaka shot him a glare for disturbing her daughter’s nap. “It’s my friend, and I was thinking of helping” he offered and heard Marco scoffed.

“A friend,” he repeated.

“Yeah, Marco, friend,” Akaya replied.

“Akaya,” sighed Marco. “I thought I told you to rest.”

“I’m feeling relax,” Akaya stated and the receiver let out angry grunts. Akaya stared at it and blinked when he heard a loud clunck at the other line. It sound like someone placed a cup on a table rather angrily. “Um, Marco?”

“You’re impossible,” his manager said. Akaya caught hearing sounds of movements. Was that a bag being thrown on the floor? The receiver clicked and Marco lazily added, “I’ll get down there. We’ll talk about this later.”

“Expect me sometime this week,” Marco pointed out.

“Sure, Marco,” Akaya grinned in satisfaction. He nodded at Marco’s remarks as he replied them and placed the phone down on the table. He found Ayaka regarding him closely.

“You’re going to pay for that call,” his sister declared.

Akaya shrugged and headed towards the living room and watched his niece taking baby steps towards him. He squatted down and grinned. “Aoko,” he cooed as he expanded his arms, ready to catch the small girl. “Come to Akaya-niisan!!!”

“Don’t you lie to my daughter, Akaya,” Ayaka said, looking straight at him from her position at the love seat beside the television. “You’re ojisan, remember?”

Akaya showed his tongue. Aoko had reached Akaya and she touched his leg to steady herself. Akaya hugged her and Aoko giggled at her uncle.

He picked her up and snuggled to her cheek. The girl laughed at the contact patted his cheeks. “Ka-ya! Ka-ya!,” she mumbled and Akaya smiled. He touched her nose and said, “Say Akaya-niisan is cool.”

“Ka-ko! Nii-san!” blurted Aoko and Akaya laughed. “No, it’s kakkoi, Aoko-chan! Mou ichido,” he said and Aoko tried, her voice mixed with laughter as Akaya tickled her neck.

Ayaka studied her brother and after a few minutes, Akaya noticed. He raised his eyebrow at her. “You’re not admiring my good looks are you? Because that would be gross.”

Ayaka suppressed her desire to throw him a couch pillow. “No, definitely not. That’s disgusting. You can’t even match up with Kenji, Akaya! I was thinking that maybe,” she trailed off and watched as Akaya lifted her daughter up and down. Akaya would make a good babysitter, an idea in her head said.

He sat down then and took a few toys he had bought that laid scattered around the room. Ayaka had given up cleaning it. Obviously, her work was in vain if her brother and daughter decided to play with it more than three times a day.

She suddenly recalled her daughter’s room situation on Akaya’s first day in Japan and decided that the thought of Akaya babysitting Aoko was probably like wishing for a tornado to hit her home. No way in heavens, she’ll let him baby-sit her girl.

Akaya glanced at her from admist his playtime with Aoko. “What were you saying earlier?” he asked and Ayaka shook her head immediately.

*

Satsuki headed to Atobe’s office first when she came to work the next day. The older man was already seated on his desk, looking through a few files. He didn’t look up when she entered and Satsuki smiled pleasantly at him.

“Good morning, Atobe-san,” she began and watched as he spared her a glance. “I’ve got the model,” she continued. “He’s a sportsman you know,” she smiled proudly.

Atobe cocked his head as he placed his pen down. “It better not be Echizen,” he replied.

Satsuki smiled wider, remembering the cat-eyed man that had gave Atobe slight difficulty in the past. “No, it’s not him.” Satsuki paused and handed a file to her superior. “It’s Kirihara, and these are the rough drafts of how the CM will be,” she explained and Atobe took the file and studied the pages inside it.

He smirked and put the file down. “Well, for the one complaining at first, you sure come up with things quick, Yukimura,” he commented and rested his chin in his palm. “This looks fine,” he said and turned his attention back to his previous work. “Kirihara agreed to it?” he inquired, without looking up from his documents.

She nodded, “Yes, we will hold a meeting with him and his manager. It will be within this week, Atobe-san.”

“Then,” Atobe said, “I shouldn’t keep you here so much longer when you have works to do. I expect reports for every updates, Yukimura.”

Satsuki smiled and gave another nod before exiting Atobe’s office. Her testimonial looks good from here…

*

Yukimura returned from Venice on Thursday. On Friday evening, Akaya met him along with his wife. He gave them a smile as Yukimura waved at him, inclining him to join his table.

The ex-Rikkai students were having an alumni meeting that evening and Akaya spotted his seniors, already seated comfortably at the same table. The chair beside Niou was empty and Akaya sat beside him. They held the reunion at a yakiniku restaurant and Akaya grinned, as he smelt the fragrance of savory flavors in the air.

“You’re late, Akaya,” Marui said and popped a stick of bubblegum into his mouth. He blew a bubble as Jackal turned to Akaya. He was sitting beside Yanagi who sat in front of Niou. “We already ordered the drinks. Is tea okay?”

Akaya glanced at Sanada. The older man was always fond of tea and he would make sure everyone shared the same likings even back in school days. Akaya nodded, wondering if Sanada still give people physical punishment in present days.

Yuna smiled at Akaya, “Well, you’re lucky that the food hasn’t arrived yet, Akaya-kun. Marui-kun said he was starving earlier.” Akaya eyed his redheaded senior smugly. “We better place another order for the meat; Marui-senpai’s stomach is bottomless.”

“Speak for yourself, brat! You can eat food in the speed of light!”
“Actually, he devours food in the approximately, two minutes and fifteen seconds,” corrected Yanagi as he thanked the waiter that handed them their teas. Niou grinned at Yanagi. “Ah, always a Master, will forever be a Master, eh?”

“I accepted that compliment, Masaharu,” Yanagi said, smiling lightly at his friend. Another waiter had arrived and she placed three plates of meat on the table. She later returned and gave them two sauces for each. They began to grill the meat and Yukimura smiled when a few of his school friends congratulated him.

“So Akaya,” Jackal started, “What have you been up to?” Akaya swallowed his meal and grinned, “What people in holidays do, relaxing.”

Sanada scoffed, “You should train. Tarundoru.”

“Maa maa Sanada,” said Jackal, “he’s still injured. He shouldn’t push himself.” He looked at Akaya.

Akaya smiled sheepishly, “Actually, I agreed to do a commercial here soon,”

Niou raised an eyebrow, “A CM eh?” he asked. Akaya nodded, “Satsuki is in charge of a new product of her company, and she asked if I would like to do it,” he explained.

Yukimura nodded his head, “Ah I heard. It’ll be good to be working with you again Akaya,” he smiled. Akaya blinked his eyes in surprised, and wondered confusedly.

“He owns an advertisement company. He’d probably be doing the CM with you and Satsuki,” Yanagi explained.

“Speaking of which, where is Suppi?” Niou asked. Yukimura smiled, “She’s not coming tonight,” he said. Yuna nodded her head, “We asked her to come, but she wanted to finish the preparation for the meeting with your manager,” she said looking at Akaya.

Akaya looked at his tea, “She’s as hardworking as ever huh,”

“Just like you,” Yagyuu said, smiling softly. Akaya nodded his head, still looking at the content in his teacup.

“Better don’t mess it up again with her,” Marui said, as he blew a bubblegum. Akaya glanced at his senior. “She let you accomplish your dream, now let her,”

Akaya narrowed his eyes. Were the seniors actually thinking that he would couple up again with Satsuki? It had been a long time. 5 years since they broke up.

Their feelings were mutual now.

“I won’t,” Akaya said, nodding his head. “I have to reach no.1 remember?”

*

“Well?” Akaya asked as he got into the car with his manager.

Marco looked at him, gesturing their driver to start moving at the same time, “Well what?”

“You haven’t spoken a word since the meeting ended,” Akaya said. Marco pushed his glasses up his nose and smirked. “I’m just still surprised that you’d do this CM,”

The young tennis player shrugged. “It’d be fun,”

His manager, a man of his late thirties, looked at him. Marco is Japanese as well. His real name was Sato Maruko, but being raised oversea, he was accustomed to be called Marco instead.

“I thought only tennis was fun,” Marco said. Akaya glanced at him. “Of course. I just thought I want to do something while I’m taking a break. It gets boring you know.”

“Besides,” Akaya continued, looking at the view out the window. He could see tall buildings surrounding him with huge billboards and LCD screens displaying many advertisements.

“It’ll be the first one I’d do here,”

Marco looked at him weirdly, “You’re acting suspicious,” he concluded. “Two months ago, you were determined that this would be your year to conquer the top, and now, here you are, feeling proud of your soon, first national CM,”

“Did your sister hit you in the head or pushed you down the stairs again?” Marco asked, his voice stern and his eyebrows furrowed.

Akaya snorted, “I’m fine,” he grinned. “I thought, it’d give me more reasons to hang out with my old friends,” he looked at his manager.

“You know that feeling? That for one moment you left them, the next you returned, you missed a lot of things that happened during your absence. I want to know about those things.”

It was actually true. For one thing, he didn’t know that Yukimura owned his own advertisement company. He didn’t know Sanada had a high position in the police force. He didn’t know Yagyuu’s sister is dating Niou’s brother. He didn’t know that Jackal had only returned from Brazil two years ago. He didn’t know Yanagi had published his own book. He didn’t know Marui was dating the part time waiter at the bakery he and the red head would visit together during their school time.

And he didn’t even know that Satsuki had study in New Zealand and had finished her masters there as well.

Marco looked away. He knew what Akaya meant by the missing gap, but he would always ignore it when felt it. He would focus more on his dreams and maybe Akaya should have too.

Two weeks resting in Japan has made the player forget what he had been working hard for the last four years.

“I don’t have a problem with you doing the CM,” Marco said. Akaya looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “But?” he asked.

“As long as you don’t astray from what your goal is, then its fine with me,”

Akaya smirked, “I won’t forget to become number one.” Marco nodded, “It is lonely if you are the only one on the top,”

The black haired looked at him, “But I got you along with me,” he grinned.

Marco nodded his head. Then he narrowed his brown eyes, “And who would be standing beside you?”

Akaya looked at him curious. “Huh?”

“That woman, Yukimura Satsuki, she is your friend am I right?” he asked. Akaya nodded. “She’s a fine woman. Beautiful, intelligent, cautious, organized, disciplined and perfectionist.” Marco desribed, “Everything that you’re not.”

“Oi,” Akaya narrowed his eyes. “I know about your past with her,” Marco continued and Akaya kept quiet. “If this is one of your ways to try and reconcile with her, then I would suggest you decline the offer,”

“There is nothing wrong with having relationships,” Marco added. “I didn’t said anything when you went for dinners with those ladies, including Lana, but—”

“Think of it only after I’ve become number one,” Akaya continued. Marco nodded his head.

“Always get your head in the game, sport, always.” Marco told him.

Akaya nodded his head and looked at the view outside of the window again. In two days he heard of the people around him telling him not to think of having a relationship, especially with Satsuki.

Its not like he planned for it. He didn’t even think about it until his seniors mentioned it last night. And even when they did, he doesn’t even think of doing it.

They were together when they were high school students. Everyone knows how long that puppy love relationship last.

Beside, Marco was correct. His goal is the top. To become number one. Nothing else should disturb him, not even while he’s resting.

The title is far more important than any relationship right now. It’s tennis that he loves the most after all.

TBC

~to be continued after mid semester exams ends. wish me luck! -ra1~

Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 5)

Chapter 5: Still caught in the past

“The cost constraints are these,” Satsuki mumbled and circled an amount of numbers. She tapped her forehead repeatedly and studied the papers spread on her desk. “So the minimum cost for the advertising is half the marketing expenses…” she picked a sheet of paper to her left and began jotting down notes. “Now with the scope we targeted, the outputs are—”

Nakao watched as she tugged the ends of her locks. He sighed as she groaned and crumpled the paper. “Ah—that didn’t add up! We should get total 30% advantage when we—”

“Satsuki-chan,” called Nakao from in front of her. “Let’s go and have lunch.” He idly stacked the papers on the desk and Satsuki yelped and stopped him. “Don’t! Those are the market research reports, Nakao-kun!”

Satsuki scowled and Nakao blinked at her. He gestured to the documents on his laps and sighed. “No, these are the reports. You already put them in a file, remember?” He showed the black hard-covered file and grinned. “And I volunteered to photo copy it for your presentation, Satsuki-chan. Or did you forgotten that too?”

Leaning against her chair, Satsuki exhaled sharply. “Sorry Nakao-kun, I’ve been too caught up with this project.”

He nodded as if understanding, “It haven’t even been a week you since received it. But who cares, that’s your way of handling things.”

Satsuki gave him a wan smile. “And frustrating your head,” added Nakao curtly and Satsuki’s lips formed into a scowl again. Nakao chuckled and took her hand. “C’mon, lunch hour started fifteen minutes ago. And you,” he eyed her with a smile, “need all the energy you need, right?”

“But, but my work,” Satsuki hesitated and stared at her messy desk. “I haven’t started on the advertising probability. And then, I haven’t write the risks control reports yet, Nakao-kun,” she sighed. “I should have made bento this morning.”

Nakao furrowed her eyebrows. “If it made you feel better, I haven’t done the table figures for my department even though Kanata-shunin asked me for it this morning.” He smiled, and she noticed that there were crinkles near his eyes. She always thought this made his smile look genuine. She smiled. “Fine. I felt relieved to know that Kanata-san will kill you tomorrow. You do know he’s picky with lateness, Nakao-kun.”

“Yeah, of course I do. He may be the head but he’s not going to stop me from having my stomach fill.”

*

It took her a week to finish her analysis report and then she had to face Atobe again. She knows that he’s not a picky boss and a demanding one at that.

She knows that despite the ‘you’re worthless’ look of his, he does actually care and is an understanding person.

She had known about him since her junior high days, and if he were the typical demanding, stuck up, know-it-all, spoilt brat, he wouldn’t have his team standing beside him, until now.

“We don’t like him,” that was what Mukahi Gakuto had said with a frown; Satsuki remembered when Yukimura teased them about it. But then Satsuki did notice the calm and comfortable looks on his and the others’ faces when they talk to Atobe.

So from all her experiences, Satsuki knows that Atobe Keigo is not an evil man.

Which concluded that the man in front of her was an imposter.

“W-what…” Satsuki asked, shocked. Atobe smirked and nodded his head. “You heard what I said Yukimura,”

“B-but…I don’t work there,” Satsuki tried to object. Atobe nodded, “But your cousin owns it,”

Satsuki kept quiet. How did it all come to this? Today, her agenda was to see Atobe and report to him, and discuss on which advertisement agency they should contact.

And then Atobe mentioned Yukimura’s advertisement company and Satsuki was excited about it. If they could get her cousin’s to work with them, it’d be her first time to actually do business with her own relative!

Then Atobe burst her bubbles by telling her to work on the advertisement alongside her cousin.

Now, her job as program manager basically include organizing the work and directing it, she had never seen any program manager actually making the advertisement. That was beyond her field.

“But you do know a little about producing an advertisement correct?” Atobe asked her.

Satsuki nodded her head weakly. “Yes, Tooru-ojisan and Seiichi-san explained a little about it to me,”

Atobe nodded, “Then I leave it to you,”

Satsuki stared at him in disbelief. Atobe looked at her and snapped his fingers, “Are you listening?’

She shook her head and looked at him, quizzically, “W-why?”

Atobe shrugged, “I do not want this project to screw up. Ore-sama has an image to keep you know,”

“And I have my limit,” Satsuki whispered to herself. Atobe heard it and narrowed his eyes, “Well, didn’t you said you’d do anything to get a good testimonial?”

Satsuki stared at her boss. He was only a year older than her, but he was so much powerful than even a director with 30 years experience in a workfield.

Anything for testimonials…

Satsuki sighed and nodded her head, “Fine, I’ll contact Seiichi-san when he returns,”

Atobe nodded his head as he picked up a stainless steel ball pen and twirled it with his long fingers, “Oh you don’t have to. I already talked to him and he agreed,” Atobe smirked. “Your next step is the orientation meeting with his agency,”

Satsuki stared at him in disbelief. When did this person plan everything? He might as well become the program manager himself!

Atobe saw her shocked look and smirked. He pointed his pen at her and narrowed his eyes seriously, “Itte yoshi,”

*

“That man is so—One day I am going to—ugh! And here I was thinking so highly of him—argh! He’s so—” Satsuki rambled on angrily inside the car.

Nakao looked at her from his driver’s seat, he broke into a smile, “You do know I can’t catch anything you’re saying,”

Satsuki paused and then looked at her friend, sighing. “It took me a long time to make that report and then as if my work is not enough, he puts on more,”

“But he did say he’s paying you double, remember?” Nakao reminded her. Satsuki shrugged, “So? It’s the workload that worries me”

Nakao laughed, “The great Satsuki is afraid of pressure, that just doesn’t seem right. Maybe it’s her who was replaced with an imposter, not her boss,” he joked.

Satsuki thought about it and nodded her head, “I’m not afraid of pressure, I need it to live,”

Nakao nodded his head as he signaled to his right and stopped in front of her apartment, “That’s right honey,” he said looking at her, “So take this challenge and show Atobe-san what you’re made of,”

The young Yukimura nodded her head, “Thanks, you’re the best,” she said, giving Nakao a hug. He laughed, “Of course.”

Satsuki smiled as she pushed open the car door and got out, “Thanks for the ride.” Nakao nodded his head, grinning, “Anytime babe,” he said before he started driving again.

Satsuki watched the car disappear from her view before walking into her apartment’s building. She was about to enter when she noticed a man with a big cap, and a ridiculously large pair of sunglasses staring at her.

She looked at the man, her eyebrows furrowed quizzically. The man walked towards her, and fearing for her safety, Satsuki quickly pulled out her apartment card to let her into the building.

“Satsuki!” she heard the man shouted her name before she could scan her card. She paused when she remembered the familiar voice. She turned around just as the man neared her and took off his glasses.

A pair of bright green eyes looked at her and his mouth turned into a grin, “Fancy seeing you here,” Kirihara Akaya said.

Satsuki sighed and then broke into a smile, “Akaya,” she called his name, a little surprised to see him too. “W-what are you doing here? In Tokyo?”

Akaya grinned, “I live here, well, I have my own apartment, but since I’m injured, Ayaka-neesan told me to live with her family, and I’m just taking a walk around town,” he told her, still grinning widely. “I haven’t been here for a long time you know,”

Satsuki laughed, “D-do you want to come in?” she asked him. Akaya looked excited and nodded his head, “Sure,” he smiled.

Satsuki nodded and was about to scan her card again when she remembered the state of her apartment. It was messy, with books, papers, dirty dishes and laundry everywhere. She hasn’t thrown her garbage out in a week too.

She can’t let him see the state of her house right now. It’ll be embarrassing!

Satsuki turned slowly and looked at a now curious Akaya. She smiled, “Um, have you had your dinner?” she asked. Akaya shook his head, “Nope, I was planning to eat out while I take my tour,”

Satsuki smiled, “Um, why don’t we have dinner together then? I was planning to eat out too. There’s this café not too far from here, they have a branch back in Kanagawa too”

Akaya looked at her curiously but didn’t ask further. He nodded his head, “Okay,” he said as he put his sunglasses back on. Satsuki walked beside him as she led the way and looked at him. “Do you really have to hide yourself?”

Akaya shrugged, “I think so. I mean the media hasn’t found out I’m in Japan, but even when I was in other countries…” he paused and shivered, “I’m still glad I’m alive,”

Satsuki laughed listening to him. How long has it been since she walked side by side with him, listening to him and laughing at his stories. He was much taller now, way taller than he was in high school and his shoulders were broader too.

She studied him from top to bottom and then a thought occur to her head when she watched the way he walked. “Doesn’t it hurt, to walk?” she asked curiously.

Akaya looked at her and then at his legs and smiled, “Well, if I pamper myself, then it’ll never be heal,”

Satsuki nodded her head, “So what really happened?” she asked. “The media said you were injured but your manager didn’t want to press further,”

Akaya laughed, “Ah…that’s because it was embarrassing,” he smiled. “I was out jogging and it was dark since it’s late…and there were these men that wanted to rob me,” he looked sheepishly at her. “Somehow they had knives and I was down, struggling for one of their knives when someone managed to stab my knee.” He shrugged when Satsuki made a face, “Ouch,” she commented.

“The reporters got it all wrong and my manager was too wrapped up with reorganizing my schedule to explain it. Well, better leave it that way,” Akaya finished and idly rubbed his nose. He scanned the scene before him and his lips curled into a small smile. “It did gave me a holiday, so I guess it was okay,” he added blandly and walked in the same pace as her.

Satsuki spared him a glance. “You sure? I mean you’ll be missing half the Grand Slams,” she pointed out. Akaya shoved his hands into his jacket. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll crush them anyway,” he smiled and Satsuki chuckled, happy that he was okay with his current situation.

They reached the said café not too long after that. Akaya looked at the sign and grinned to himself when he saw the name of the café, Ikebe.

“Hey, all of us always go to this café back at Kanagawa,” he said. Satsuki nodded her head as she stepped into the café, “Exactly why you should eat it here now that you’ve returned.”

They walked into the café and the waiter ushered them to their table and left not too long afterwards, after taking their orders.

“So you just return from work?” Akaya asked, looking at Satsuki’s white and striped shirt and pencil skirt. She nodded her head, “Yeah, and there’s mountainful of work to do when you’re Atobe Keigo’s helper,” she said, pointing to the thick file that she was carrying with her.

Akaya grinned and then paused when the information sunk in his head. “Wait, Atobe?”

Satsuki nodded her head as the waiter arrived with their drinks. “Yeah, and now he gave me a huge advertising product project to handle by myself.”

“What project?” Akaya asked, curious. “Well, the new product is a video camera and I have to organize the marketing and just today he told me to produce the advertisement too,” she sighed. “I have to plan how the CM is going to be like and everything,” she rolled her eyes, annoyed.

Akaya smiled, “You’re still working hard as ever,”

Satsuki shrugged as she took a sip from her cold peach tea drink. “Well I do have goals to accomplish.”

“Becoming a well known lecturer?” Akaya guessed and Satsuki nodded. He smiled, “I wondered about that, why you haven’t become one…”
Satsuki smiled, “Well I still want to be a well known lecturer, but since I need experiences and good testimonials while I’m working, that’d help me a lot,”

“So you’re becoming Atobe’s assistant because of this?”

“I prefer the word dog. He treats his assistant a lot better,” Satsuki said rubbing her temples. Akaya looked surprised, “Why is that?”

“Because his girlfriend is his assistant,” she grinned. Akaya’s eyes widened. “For real?” Satsuki laughed and nodded, “Yup.”

Akaya chuckled and looked at her, “So how about you?” His fingers were toying with his drinking straw and he had pulled out his glasses from his face. It rested on the table beside his drink and Satsuki blinked at his question.

It took her a second to understand his question and then she smiled. “Boyfriend?” she asked and he nodded his head.

When he was talking his walk, he did see her and the man she introduced to her, Nakao was it?, inside a car. He saw them hugged just before she got out of the car and Akaya remembered seeing the same man kissing Satsuki’s cheek at the wedding.

A waiter came over and placed down their orders on the table. Akaya looked at his hamburger and fries and grinned excitedly. Satsuki looked up from her pasta and at Akaya. “You sure that’ll go well with your diet?”

Akaya laughed, “I’m on holidays,” he grinned as he took a bite. Satsuki smiled and shook her head, same old Akaya. “So?” Akaya asked, his mouth full.

Satsuki picked up her fork and looked at him, “Ah right,” she said remembering his question. Akaya nodded his head, waiting for her reply.

“Well, I used to,” Satsuki answered. Akaya looked surprised, “Used to?” She nodded, “When I was studying in New Zealand, I met this Japanese guy there,”

“How long were you there?” he asked. “I studied my degree and masters there,” Satsuki answered. “I just returned last year,”

Akaya looked up, “Where?” he asked. “I went to Auckland a few times for Heineken Open,”

Satsuki nodded her head, “Ah, I heard, but I was way down in Wellington then, and life was pretty hectic back then, with assignments and theses, and then my masters,”

Akaya nodded and grinned, “And boyfriend too?” he asked. Satsuki smiled softly, “Yeah, he was really nice,”

“What happened?” Akaya asked. Satsuki twirled her pasta with her fork and looked up, “He reminded me a lot of my late father,” she said and paused, “Well, it was painful sometimes and it made me miss my father more, so…”

Akaya paused from eating and looked guilty that he had brought the topic up. “I’m sorry,” Satsuki shook her head and smiled, “Nah it’s fine. He was the one who dumped me in the end, he said I was too caught up with the past,”

She looked at him, “Then what about you? I read about you and Lana Lebed,” she grinned. “What’s that about?”

Akaya raised his hands up in defense, “Hey, it was just a dinner and the media misunderstood it,” he grinned, “I’ve dated but I’ve been single since we—” he paused and looked at her awkwardly. “Um…”

Satsuki understood what he wanted to say and she looked down at her plate. “Oh,” she said, feeling a little awkward too. It had been five years but she still remembered their times together.

“It’s not really good to bring up the past huh?” she asked. Akaya nodded, “Kind of,” he said. Satsuki smiled, “It’s the present now, I don’t want us to be awkward because of um, that”

Akaya nodded, “Same here,”

She felt the awkwardness lifted off of her and she smiled widely, “I’ve learnt my lesson not to be caught up with the past,” she said, “So if it’s like a movie, no more flashbacks, the camera’s focusing on now, the past is—” she stpped.

Akaya looked at his companion quizzically. There she was talking for one second, and the next she paused, her fork dropped on to her plate and looked like she was deep in thinking.

Then she suddenly looked up at him, her eyes widened and smiling. “What?” he asked.

“I’ve figured out how I want the CM to be like,” she said, looking excited. Akaya looked at her amusedly, “How?”

Satsuki waved her hand at him, dismissing the question, “Never mind that now,” she said and grinned, “Akaya, what if you starred in the CM?”

Akaya looked at her and blinked his eyes, “Eh?”

TBC

Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 4)

Chapter Four: You're still the same

“Akaya,”

He turned around and his eyes widened when he saw the person who called his name.

It had been a long time since he heard that voice calling his name. He looked at her, at Yukimura Satsuki who was standing in front of him, looking at him in disbelief.

He stared too, at loss for words. He studied her; she was a lot taller now, slimmer and prettier.

Somehow his heart missed a beat when he looked at her in her dress and her loose curl hair.

How long has it been since he stands in front of her?

How much she had grown...how mature she had become…

Somehow he felt nervous seeing her and absent mindedly he rubbed his nose and grinned, "Hey Satsuki"

Satsuki broke into a smile. And she laughed, “So you haven’t forgotten about me,”

Akaya laughed too, “How could I.” We both went a long way before, he wanted to say, but it came out different. “You’re still the same,”

Satsuki rolled her eyes and Akaya kind of notice the disappointment in her eyes. Ahh…he shouldn’t have said that. Growing up and being around women taught him not to say that.

Never said a woman is still the same way she was when you met her the last time. It almost seem like you’re hinting she’s boring.

That was the rule his fellow professional tennis friends cum rivals said. And he understood. Yet he had forgotten about it tonight.

Perhaps it was finally seeing her, after more than five years already, and it made him slightly and strangely nervous. He had never expected himself to see her again, but then here he was.

“So how are you?” he asked, trying to start a conversation. Satsuki smiled as she tucked in a strand of hair behind her ear, “I’m doing good,” she smiled. Akaya nodded his head, his head spinning trying to think of more words to say to her.

It was strange. A few hours earlier, he was eager to talk and meet his old friend. He even had gone to try strike a conversation with her. He admitted he had forgotten his effort in the day to face her but the intention was still there.

Why then, he thought, he could not muster a word to her?

Well he did manage to spoke to her but his tongue tied when he realized that the person in front of him was perhaps, different than he remembered. He had noticed her physical changes earlier but maybe her personality had differ too?

Akaya studied her, hoping an idea could hop into his mind. He never was this blank around people—well, around people that spoke the same language as him because he couldn’t make a word those foreigners were saying—and ones that were close to him too, no doubt.

She wasn’t just close, the voice in his head went again. You guys dated, remember?

That should’ve explained the situation he was in. The nervousness and the awkward silence between them.

The fact that they were once lovers—though being high school students at that time didn’t earn that title—and they had not spoken for five years added in the rank of awkwardness.

He noticed that she was looking down and he followed suit only to noted that his tie match her dress.

He had chosen the green tie since his mother once said that the color brought out his eyes. Now, he wondered why he had followed his mother’s words when all the years he’d been growing up on ignoring it.

A woman bumped into Satsuki and Akaya looked up. Satsuki apologized to her and her dancing partner and the reality slowly sunk into Akaya. They were bothering the people dancing. He tried and gave her a grin and offered his hand. “Um, should we dance?”

Satsuki looked at his hand and back to his face. Maybe she was feeling the same way he felt. Akaya sighed and smiled. “Well, we’re on the dancing floor,” he conjured. “Somehow,” he added. “And we would look weird standing here…”

“Aren’t you, um, injured?” Satsuki wanted to address him as Akaya but stopped before the word come out. Maybe being a celebrity he is now demanded more on respect or something.

Akaya caught her doubts and gave a clearer smile. His eyes gleamed the same way she remembered and Satsuki felt another wave of relief and familiarity.

“C’mon Satsuki,” Akaya said, “When have you been so worried of me?”

Satsuki smiled back, eyeing the man before her and tried to re-edit the way he is now. He may be a grown man now but Satsuki sensed that his boyish attitude was still there. She took his hand. “Now, I was wondering if you can actually dance.”

His hand was bigger and more calloused than she had remembered, but it still had made her think of him. She smiled as he led their movements, following the music played by the hired band.

He was still the same, she thought as Akaya laughed when they made a mistake in their dance steps and gave her another grin. He was still the Kirihara Akaya she knew; extract the fact that he’s a famous world-ranked tennis player now.

The song had changed and a new one followed, only it had a quicker tempo. Satsuki swayed along with Akaya when she caught the sight of him flinching. It only happened at the flicker of a second but she saw another flinch and looked down at his leg. She paused and took his arm, bringing him to the nearest seats. She gestured him to sit and he blinked.

“Akaya,” she called, “You’re hurting. Sit down.”

The black haired man glanced down at his legs and shook his head with a grin. “Nah, I’m fine. Why don’t we dance? The song’s not bad.” He was about to move when he saw that Satsuki had put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. Yup, Akaya’s still as stubborn, she thought.

“You haven’t change,” she muttered and pulled him down to sit. Akaya glared at her. “Same goes to you. Demanding as ever,” he replied and eventually sat down when Satsuki pulled a look that resembled Yukimura’s ordering look. Satsuki smiled. “Why don’t I take some punch and we’ll talk? It’s been ages since we last seen each other.”

Akaya frowned. “Fine, I want a full glass. I’m thirsty.” Satsuki showed him her tongue, walked to the table, and took two glasses. She gave one to Akaya, sat down beside him, and took a long sip. It felt strange to be next to him after so many years. Attending a wedding to boot.

But it felt somewhat natural when Akaya began, in his laid back voice, “I caught you looking at me,” he grinned. “Liking what you see?” he said, wiggling his eyebrows jokingly.

Satsuki laughed and slapped his shoulder softly. “You haven’t change,” she smiled. Akaya looked at her and frowned, “Is that a good thing?”

She nodded, “Of course. And here I thought you’ve become stuck up when you’re all famous,”

“Hey,” Akaya looked at her smirking, “That’s stereotype. I’m not like that,”

Satsuki rolled her eyes, “And this is coming from the man who was voted top 100 sexiest men alive,” she smiled, “And top 50 of the young millionaires in the world,”

Akaya laughed and rubbed the tip of his nose, “So you’ve been reading a lot about me eh?”

Satsuki shrugged, “Just those that Seiichi-san and the others are always bragging about. They don’t really hear many words from you, so all of us just depend on the media” she smiled, “But seriously, how are you doing now?”

Akaya laughed. “I’m doing fine until someone made me sit down. He touched the outer brim of his glass. “You’re working now? Or are you still studying?”

“Work, of course, I’ve left the studying part,” she said and watched as Akaya laughed. “But you’re Miss Brainiac.”

Satsuki frowned and elbowed him, “So not.” Akaya smirked. “So where are you working at?”

Satsuki grinned and looked at the dance floor not too far away from where they were sitting. She could see her newly wedded cousin dancing with his wife, his friends and their relatives. “You won’t believe whom my boss—”

Her voice was cut off when someone neared them.

“Satsuki-chan,” Nakao’s voice was heard. Satsuki turned and saw the man stood behind her. She smiled and waved but the man did not notice. He was regarding Akaya, his face flushed from excitement.

“You’re Kirihara Akaya,” he said happily. “You’re the tennis player.” He turned to Satsuki interestedly. “And I thought seeing Echizen before was a surprise. Do you guys know each other?”

Satsuki nodded. “He’s my schoolmate, Nakao-kun. Didn’t I mention that before?” Nakao shook his head, smiling at Akaya, “I thought you were talking about Echizen. Didn’t know you were Kirihara’s friend. Hello, I’m Nakao.”

Akaya shook his hand. “You’re—”

“My friend had seen one of your matches. Last year Davis Cup, he said you were great. And the Masters series before. But—” Nakao glanced at Akaya’s legs. Satsuki wondered how many times Akaya’s legs had been paid attention. Maybe a lot. “Is it true you’re injured now? And you had to miss both French Open and Wimbledon?”

Nodding, Akaya answered, somewhat dazed at Nakao’s enthusiasm. “Um yeah. I’ll be attending ABC and US Open later. After it healed, I guess. You’re a fan of tennis, huh?” he guessed and Nakao smiled sheepishly, “Yes, I support the nation. Especially those who are in top three in the world” he winked.

Akaya smiled. He was used to getting people praising and congratulating him on his achievements. But he never had gotten the fame in his head. Being top three doesn’t mean he’s number one.

“Nakao-kun’s a patriotic person,” Satsuki told Akaya, interrupting his thoughts. “Nakao is always full of spirits.” She continued. “He’s my—”

Again her words were cut off when they heard some shouting inside the hall. Akaya, Satsuki and Nakao turned to look and they saw a group of women surrounding Yuna the bride who was standing on top of a chair, her back facing the other women.

“Satsuki, she’s throwing the flowers!” Nakao said to her excitedly. She nodded her head, “Yeah I can see that,”

“Well go,” Nakao quickly said, pulling her arm and dragging her to the group of women. Akaya watched them from where he sat, smiling and wondering as he watched.

Yuna threw the bouquet of flowers over her head just as Satsuki arrived at the group of women. She heard more screaming and saw people looking at her, and she looked up and saw the bouquet falling towards her.

Out of reaction, Satsuki held out her arms and the flowers dropped into her hands. She blinked her eyes as she stared at it, still in surprised. Behind her, people were cheering and clapping at her.

“Suppi you’re next!!!” She could hear Marui’s loud voice said over the screaming. Her face turned red and she tried to hide her face behind the bouquet.

Yuna and Yukimura clapped their hands for her and Kaori winked. Satsuki turned redder and Nakao hugged her. “It’s your turn next honey!” he laughed and kissed her cheek.

Satsuki laughed and hugged her friend back and Akaya watched them from a few feet away. A small smile appeared on his face. What was I thinking, he thought, of course she had moved on with life.

Of course she had found someone else, they were a thing in the past now.

*

Satsuki walked out of the escalator and dragged her sore feet towards the entrance door to her office. She flashed her identity card to unlock the door before entering.

She walked as fast as she can to her desk, giving her colleagues a small smile as she pass by them. She reached her desk, took off her shoes and sighed in relief as she sat down in her chair.

Two days have passed since the wedding and it had been two days since Yukimura and Yuna went to Venice for their honeymoon.

And it had also been two days since she had last seen Akaya.

They last met when all of them were sending the newlyweds away on their wedding day. Then after that, she and Kaori and their families were busy cleaning up and she didn’t even get the chance to say good bye to him or even ask for his contact number.

But he’d still be around, since he’s on his break, she thought as she pulled her hair up into a bun and puts on her black rimmed glasses as she started her computer.

Well, putting that aside, now’s she’s in her office, so she better focus on her work.

“Yukimura-san,” she heard one of her colleagues calling her name. Satsuki looked up, “Yes?”

Her colleague smiled, almost apologetically. “He wants to see you,”

Satsuki blinked her eyes in surprised as she let the information sink in. And then she sighed as she stood up. “Alright…” she said and looked at the pair of high heels shoes that she had just taken off.

Her feet had ached ever since the wedding and she had wished she had worn a pair of sensible shoes to work.

She put on the shoes and grabbed her organizer as she walked towards the big mahogany door that closed the huge room inside their office.

Satsuki had known her boss even before she had started working for him. Her boss was Yukimura’s acquaintance and that’s how she had gotten the job.

Although she didn’t want her cousin to pull the strings for her, and she had never let any of her colleagues knows about it, but she knew, it was needed if she wanted his friend’s, now her boss, testimonial for her.

The boss’s office wasn’t his real office, in fact he has an office in every company he owns and shares.

And his office here was one of his places to stop by if he wanted to check on one of his many business branches. And the man rarely visits Satsuki and the other workers there, but she’d still see him at least once a week.

If it wasn’t of business, it was socially. And it was all thanks to her cousin.

Satsuki took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She waited for three seconds before going into the room. She had known the man for a while to know that he didn’t want her to waste time by waiting for his “Come in” dialogue.

She walked into the room and headed straight to the desk where the man was seated behind it, in his huge leather chair. He was smiling at her and knowing him, Satsuki knew it meant trouble to her.

“Sore feet?” he asked as she sat across of him. Satsuki nodded her head. “You were dancing too much,” he smirked watching her.

Satsuki looked at her boss and smiled, “As far as I can recall, you enjoyed yourself there too.”

Her boss was still smirking as he passed her a black file. Satsuki looked at it curiously before opening it. “This is?”

“You know about the product business I have started,” her boss said and Satsuki nodded her head, “This is a new product that I am planning to sell,”

Satsuki studied the contents in the file and nodded her head, “Okay…what about it?”

He smirked, “I’m letting you to be the project manager of this,” he told her.

Satsuki’s eyes widened. “What?”

“It’s a great exposure,” her boss said, looking at her, his eyes sharp like a hawk’s.

“But, I haven’t work on anything solo…” Satsuki said, still surprised. She had just started working in the company for a year plus. All she had done is what the boss had told and instructed her. She had never been given a project of her own to handle.

“Good testimonials don’t come easy,” her boss said. Satsuki looked at him and narrowed her eyes. “Is that a threat?”

The man laughed, “Yes or no?” he asked back, looking at her and the folder in her hand. “If yes, you will handle everything of the project,”

Satsuki nodded her head, “From planning an advertisement, manufacturing and selling them,” she said, fully aware of her job’s description.

Her boss nodded his head, still smirking. “And if no,” he paused.

Satsuki knew what he meant, he had just said it a moment ago to her. “No testimonial,” Satsuki repeated. She sighed. It didn’t seem like she had any other choice.

“Yes, I’ll take it,” she said. Her boss nodded his head. “Very well, I will see you soon about this,” he said, still smirking as if mocking her.

Satsuki nodded her head and stood up. She said her excuse and was about to turn and leave the room when her boss called her back.

“Satsuki,” he said, as he snapped his fingers to gain her attention. The man smiled, “Tell them, it is still going on this weekend,”

Satsuki smiled, knowing what he meant. “You’re continuing, even though Seiichi-san is not around?”

Her boss laughed, “The more reason for the old Hyoutei to kick Rikkai’s asses,”

Satsuki smirked, “and here I thought the great Atobe believed in fair fights,”

Atobe Keigo smiled from the other side of the desk, “There’s that, and there’s still the Hyoutei’s pride,”

Satsuki laughed and nodded her head, “I shall inform Sanada-san and the rest then.”

Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 3)

Third Chapter: ...And They Meet


The day that all of them had been waiting for had already arrived. For the women, they were busily preparing themselves, and the bride, for the special day.

Satsuki, Kaori and all the other bridesmaids were up on their toes, trying to fix whatever little problems arose that day and trying to keep Yuna the bride, in a calm state.

But they didn’t have to do much, because unlike most brides on their wedding days, Yuna was totally calm and composed. Her face was glowing with happiness. She didn’t even start breaking down crying because she’s going to be a bride soon.

Her best friend and maid of honor looked like she was about to cry, and she was nervous as she kept fidgeting and kept glancing at the clock in the dressing room and at Yuna who was sitting down, already dressed in her white strapless gown, looking more beautiful than ever.

Satsuki was nervous as well, she didn’t know why. Maybe it’s because she’s one of the maids or because it’s her cousin’s wedding, but there she was, kept looking at the mirror, touching her loose curls and checking on her gown if there was anything wrong with it.

“Relax Satsuki,” Kaori smiled. “You look like it’s your wedding,”

Satsuki smiled weakly, “I don’t know why. But it’s like there’s so many butterflies in my stomach, it’s driving me crazy.”

“Maybe there’s someone out there that you’re going to meet later?” Yuna asked. Satsuki shook her head, “Who, Nakao-kun?” she laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure I’m nervous to see him.”

Then she looked at Yuna, “You look calm for a bride,”

Yuna shrugged. “I don’t know, but I really feel calm…” she said and laughed, “Maybe it’s because I’ve helped and watched my sisters in law on their wedding days…”

“Yeah…four weddings, I guess it became a norm to you already.” Kaori said. Yuna nodded. “I guess.”

Her best friend, Mika, a tall slim woman with red hair came over and smiled at Yuna. “I think we should place the veil now.” Yuna smiled, “Okay,”

Kaori looked at Satsuki as they watched Mika and the make up artist putting on the veil on Yuna. “It’s really starting soon huh…”

Satsuki smiled, “Yuna-san’s going to be your sister for real now.” Kaori laughed. “Good thing they’re moving to their own house, I can’t stand the lovey dovey acts already…” she looked at Satsuki, “You still nervous?”

“More than ever,” Satsuki said, rubbing her hands together.

*

In a few more minutes, the ceremony will begin. All the guests were already seated inside the hall and Yukimura was already inside waiting with his best man, Sanada, the priest and the ring bearer kid, Yuna’s smallest nephews.

They were right out the closed door, fixing their hairs, gowns, flowers, and the bride’s outfit too. Satsuki helped fixed the flower girls, also Yuna’s nieces, with their flower baskets and then she walked to the back, behind where Yuna was, all ready, and stood beside Kaori.

“This is it,” Kaori whispered. Satsuki nodded her head. “When we’re going out of this hall, it’s no more Masaki Yuna-san,”

Kaori nodded, “Hello, Yukimura Yuna-neesan,” she smiled.

“Everyone’s ready?” Mika asked and they waited for Yuna’s nod of approval. The bride was still calm and collected, smiling all the way from the dressing room to the door.

Then Mika gave a single nod and they could hear the “Here’s Comes the Bride” music from inside the hall and waited for the door to be opened.

Taking a deep breath, Satsuki and the others waited for their turns to enter the hall. From outside, she could see the hall decorated with bouquets of colorful tulips, Yuna’s favorite flower, and she could see the people looking at them.

And she saw her cousin, right at the front, smiling calmly as he saw them.

The flower girls were already spreading flower petals all over the red carpet, but the bride suddenly stopped walking.

Satsuki’s eyes widened and so did Kaori’s and the others when they watched Yuna turning around to face them. Yukimura blinked in surprised and the guests looked on quizzically too.

“W-what’s wrong Yuna?” Mika asked. Yuna looked at all of her bridesmaids, her face suddenly paled and she gulped.

“I-I’m scared,” Yuna whispered out of the sudden.

Satsuki, Kaori and Mika blinked their eyes in surprised. “Now you’re getting cold feet?!!” Mika whispered, shocked. Yuna’s father signaled to the organ player and the music behind them stopped playing.

“What’s wrong?” her father asked.

Yuna nodded weakly, “I don’t know…it feels overwhelming now…like I’m getting married and I’m gonna have a husband and-and a family soon…and I won’t have time to see you anymore and…”

Satsuki looked shocked as she watched Mika and Yuna’s father trying to calm down Yuna. She looked like she was at the verge of crying. All of the guests were looking at them weirdly.

Satsuki walked forward towards the nervous Yuna and smiled. “Daijoubu!” she said, placing her hands on the bride’s shoulders and squeezing them tight. Then she gave Yuna a hug and whispered, “You don’t want Seiichi-san to be worried seeing you like this right…you’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Yuna nodded her head and calmed down. Then she broke the hug with Satsuki and smiled. “Thank you Satsuki,” she said. “I’m okay now…”

Satsuki smiled and then broke into a laugh. The guests who were watching, realized what happened and started laughing too.

Yuna flushed red from embarrassment. Her father smiled at her and looked at the organ player. “Um, we can continue,” he said grinning. The musician nodded his head and continued playing the music.

The ceremony resumed again and this time Yuna walked down the aisle towards her future husband calmly, and upon arriving, kissed her father on the cheek and took Yukimura’s hand as she stood beside him.

Satsuki smiled watching the lovebirds and took her seat beside Kaori at the front bench. She loves watching movies about weddings, and seeing one herself, one that felt close to her, it was something unforgettable.

*

Akaya blinked his eyes and stared in disbelief. He was surprised.

One second there he was sitting inside the hall, waiting for the ceremony to begins and then the music started and he stood up, watching the bride walking down the aisle.

Then she stopped halfway and that caused a small commotion. He, along with the other guests, watched how the father of the bride, and the maid of honor trying to calm her down.

Then Akaya watched one of the maids walking up to Yuna and gave her a comforting hug. It worked and Yuna was once again relax as she walked towards her future husband and the priest.

That was something different than how a normal wedding would go, but that didn’t surprise him as much as the bridesmaid did.

It was no mistake, he thought. That familiar look, that hair, those eyes, that smile. He knew that bridesmaid.

Yukimura Satsuki.

But what was she doing here on his ex buchou’s wedding?

And a few moments later he hit his head for his stupidity. She was there because it’s her cousin’s wedding. Duh.

Akaya watched the said bridesmaid as the ceremony starts. He heard the couple exchanging vows, but his eyes were fixed on the bridesmaid sitting at the front, watching the couple intently.

It’s been a long time, since he last saw her.

*

Niou watched his junior interestedly. He had only met Akaya an hour ago, but the latter had never failed to amused Niou.

He had amused Niou before in junior high, and then in high school, and when he became a professional tennis player, and now here in the hall. Niou studied the younger man who watching the ceremony intently.

Only it wasn’t the couple who were exchanging vows that Niou noticed Akaya was watching. It was the bridesmaid that was sitting near the couple.

Of course Niou was aware of whom Akaya was staring at. He had known the woman, Satsuki to be exact, for a long time, and he knew the history between Akaya and her.

Smirking to himself as he watched how obsessed Akaya was looking at her, Niou nudged Yagyuu.

The latter turned, looking displease, being interrupted from watching the ceremony. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Niou’s grin. Then he saw Niou pointing to his left and Yagyuu turned and saw his junior, Akaya staring intently at something.

Yagyuu followed Akaya’s gaze and saw whom the latter was staring at. Then Yagyuu smiled to himself, getting the hint, and he pushed his glasses high up the bridge of his nose.

*


Akaya watched as his newly wedded senior walked with his bride, basking under the rice grains thrown by the guests. It was a tradition for luck and Akaya was eager to throw the rice but he had already thrown his entire share. He scanned the guests, Yagyuu was the farthest left, Jackal was with his date across him with Niou and Marui. Then he saw Yanagi beside Sanada who was throwing his rice with a face full of concentration. Akaya wanted to laugh but his mirth subdued when he caught a familiar face.

Satsuki was standing beside Kaori and the other bridesmaids, laughter in her face as she tossed the rice. Now that he had seen her, Akaya noticed that her hair was shorter than before and she had grown taller. Akaya almost mentally smack himself. Of course she had grown taller; it’s been five years since he had last seen her.

Akaya smiled and tried to near her. It was quite difficult with the crowd but he managed to close the distance. He wouldn’t miss a chance to talk to her, it had been a long time since they had met and between the years they hadn’t even exchange words be it in any form of media.

However, a pair of hands grabbed his shoulders, interrupting his effort. Akaya looked up, feeling slight annoyance seeping through his skin when he lose sight of his old friend. He blinked when he recognized the owner of the hands.

“Momoshiro,” Akaya mouthed, blinking again at the sight of the spiky haired man. Beside him stood a woman with light brown hair and Akaya instantly realized who she was.

“Tachibana,” he murmured and Tachibana An laughed good-naturedly. “Thank goodness you remember us, Kirihara,” Momoshiro grinned. “Thought all the fame had gone to your head.” “Nah,” Akaya replied and studied them for a second before pulling a snicker of his own.

Though they had once been in different schools that were rivals in tennis arena, somehow out of the courts, Akaya liked them as his friends. They had shared a lit of memories before; either good or bad and Akaya was glad to meet them again.

“Doing good, Momoshiro?” Akaya asked, eyeing them with interest. An smiled as she replied after sparing Momoshiro a glance. Akaya had knew them as an item since school days and he himself couldn’t decided either he was surprised or not seeing the two persons still together. He remembered his past days and wondered out loud how their current lives were.

He learnt Momoshiro was working as a junior chef in a hotel and An was working at the management section in the hotel. Akaya wiggled his eyebrows when they mentioned they worked in the same building and Momoshiro and An laughed. “Ah, Kirihara,” a voice said and Akaya noted Ohtori’s presence not far. He was standing with a few Hyoutei ex-members and Akaya waved excitedly.

“I thought I heard your voice,” Ohtori explained with a smile. He shook hands with Akaya. “How are you? I heard you had an injury,” he asked. Ohtori was taller than Akaya and he still spotted a short hair cut for his silver hair.

“You look fine, Kirihara,” Shishido said and Akaya nodded. “Yeah, it wasn’t much. I’m pretty okay, I guess,” he answered and Momoshiro grinned. “Of course, Kirihara’s made out of hard stuffs. Remember all those injuries he had before?”

An giggled, “He never passed a match without a scratch, ne?”

“Kirihara was always a bit passionate,” commented Ohtori. Shishido nodded and motioned to Oshitari, who was nearing them. “Yeah like him and his romance novels.”

They erupted into laughter and Oshitari regarded them curiously. Soon they had exchanged stories and Akaya listened to his old friends interestedly.

*

“Akaya,” Marui called and inclined him to come near. The redhead was dressed in a blue shirt and golden-brown stripes tie. Akaya placed the empty punch glass on the tray a waiter was holding. He walked and felt tiny sparks of pain but ignored it as usual. The pain ignite every now and then but his condition was getting better.

Akaya noticed that all his senpai-tachi were standing in a small group and their faces were plastered hints of smiles. He tilted his head slightly. “Wassup, Marui-senpai?” he asked.

Sanada was standing beside Niou who was two persons away from Akaya and he looked bothered. Akaya could relate the feeling, everyone will feel uncomfortable standing beside a man once dubbed as the trickster but the Sanada Akaya knew always manage to hide his emotions from appearing in his facial.

“Genichirou is nervous about his speech,” Yanagi informed him and Akaya grinned as he nodded in agreement. “Naruhodo,” he muttered slowly. Sanada fixed his eyes on the younger boy, irritated. Niou was smirking beside Sanada and pulled out two sheets of papers from Sanada’s clutch.

“Yo mitaimishai,” he began, “Sanada wrote down his speech.”

Sanada had furrowed his eyebrow, a sign that usually made Akaya run as if avoiding a plague back in days Sanada was the fukubuchou. His lips were in a tight scowl and he glowered at the silver haired man. “Niou. Give that back or you—”

“Run a hundred laps?” smiled Yanagi. “How nostalgic Genichirou, but it won’t work now.”

Sanada glared daggers at the snickering Niou. He had clenched his fist and his eyes had darkened dangerously. Yagyuu pushed his glasses. “Niou-kun, please don’t pester Sanada-kun anymore. He’s already troubled.” Jackal’s lips twitched and Sanada glanced at him slowly and the half-Brazilian gulped his laughter.

Yanagi took the papers and handed it to Sanada. Marui popped a bubble and grinned at the latter along with Akaya. “To let Niou-senpai take that, you’ve became careless, fukubuchou,” Akaya said. “Tarundaro,” he intoned and Sanada smacked his head.

“OW!” exclaimed Akaya and Sanada smirked. “I could still beat you, Akaya,” he declared and Akaya’s eyes glinted. “Well, we’ll see ‘bout that.”


*

“Nakao-kun!” Satsuki tried without attracting attention. Luckily her friend heard her and smiled as he neared her excitedly. He wore a white shirt with puce tie and Satsuki greeted him.

“Took you long enough, eh, Nakao-kun?” she asked and watched as the man moved his hand to tidy his short brown hair. “They already made the speeches and everything.” He gave her a smile and explained how he was caught in traffic. Satsuki nodded and touched her green ruffled chiffon dress. “How do I look?” she asked.

“Very pretty,” he commented. “It suits you.” Satsuki smiled as she thanked him and introduced him to a few of her relatives. Nakao smiled and bid them politely, his greenish-hazel eyes shinning.

After taking a few bites and downed a glass of punch for each, Satsuki stood beside him near the food table, scanning the guests. “Wow, Yukimura-san had invited a lot,” Nakao voiced, glancing here and there. Satsuki grinned, “Are you trying to find someone to hit, Nakao-kun?”

Nakao turned at her and winked. “Hm, maybe,” he said and looked again at the guests. The air was laced with music and couples had begun dancing. Satsuki was about to pick another glass of punch when Nakao tugged her hand softly. She turned to look at him. He looked anxious and claimed, “Satsuki-chan! There’s famous people here!”

Satsuki blinked. “Famous people?” She didn’t remember Yukimura having any actors as friends…

“There’s that tennis star!” Nakao pondered, “Um, what was his name?”

Tennis star? Satsuki smiled and couldn't help nodding, understanding his sentence. “Ah, Echizen-kun right? Seiichi-san and him—Hey!”

Niou had took Satsuki's arm and pulled her close to him. He grinned at Nakao and explained that he wanted a dance with Satsuki. Nakao nodded and waved at them before he himself disappearing into the crowd. Probably trying to find someone that interest him, Satsuki thought and looked at Niou.

She shrugged as Niou tried batting his eyes and laughed as they danced. “I better take my chance to dance with you while you’re still unattached, Suppi,” Niou said and Satsuki feint a frown. Suppi was Niou’s pet name for her since school days.


He led the dance, and she swayed along with him, moving to the beat of the music. She smiled after a while, enjoying the dance. How often does she get to dance with a handsome man like him?

Niou smiled back, and there was something secretive written in his smile.
Satsuki couldnt decipher it, but then he raised their arms and let go as he twirled her.

Before Satsuki could stop twirling, she blinked her eyes. When she stopped and was about to ask Niou what was wrong, another pair of arms touched her and before she could turned and see who it was…

Yagyuu took her hand and continued the dance for her. "Yagyuu-san?' she asked, surprised by the changing of dancing partners.

Yagyuu just smiled at her, "Well, Niou can't hog you all night…"
Satsuki raised an eyebrow and took a glance at Niou who grinned at her in return and turned to ask another woman to dance with him.She then turned her attention back to Yagyuu and pushed any suspicion away.

Well.how often does she gets to dance with another handsome man like Yagyuu?

"But then again," Yagyuu said in the middle of their dance, and Satsuki looked at him, "hm?"

Yagyuu smiled, "I can't occupy you all night too..." he said and gave her a twirl and pushed her from the back gently. Satsuki was pushed forward and before she could ask, Yanagi took her hands and smiled, "May I have this dance?"

Satsuki felt confused, why were these men passing her around to their friends? She glanced at Yagyuu and saw him with Niou smiling at her. Not far away from them, Jackal and Marui were standing, looking at them eagerly.

"Let me guess," Satsuki said as she swayed to the music, "Everyone gets a turn” she voiced her opinion, regarding the ebony haired man curiously. Yanagi nodded his head, a smile that seem almost similar to Niou’s previous smile. "One way to explain it," he said. Satsuki laughed, "Okay...I can handle that.”

They danced for a few minutes and just as Satsuki began to enjoy her time with Yanagi, their dance came to a stop. Satsuki smiled at Yanagi and they both bowed their heads to each other. Then just as Satsuki turned, she saw Sanada standing in front of her, one hand extended. He didnt speak a word, but Satsuki knew him to be more action than verbal.

However, the thought of Sanada dancing with her flickered a splash of surprise to herself. She gave another smile, took Sanada’s hand, and led him to dance.

All through their dance, Satsuki had to admit, she should have given Sanada more credit. Despite looking aloof and stone like, the man knew how to dance. He didnt move rigidly, but he led her gently following the music.

Sanada moved ever so slowly, taking into consideration, her two steps to his one. Like Yanagi, he ended the dance slowly and just as Satsuki bowed at the man, the next man, Jackal was already waiting for her. Satsuki laughed and took his hand and continued dancing again. "Maybe I should charge all of you.”

Jackal laughed as well, "I think you got paid well enough from your boss.” Satsuki rolled her eyes, "Don't talk about him now, I'm trying to enjoy the dance.”

Jackal smiled, "You do know he is here.”

Satsuki nodded, "But I can pretend," The half Brazilian smiled, "Maybe I should pass you to dance with him next," he joked. Satsuki tilted her head, still smiling, "I would dare you to, but I think Marui-san wants a turn next,"

"Damn right I do," Marui Bunta said, appearing beside the pair. He grinned at Satsuki, "Sorry old mate," he said to Jackal who chuckled in reply. Jackal released her hand and Satsuki faced her redhead senior.

Marui took the next lead and he was grinning at her throughout the dance. "What’s so funny?" she asked, her voice curious. Marui shook his head, his violet eyes gleaming. "Nothing...I just remembered that the best ones gets the last dance."

Satsuki smiled, "You're saying you're the best one?" she joked.

Marui shrugged, as he twirled her, "I could be, but not for you," he winked and pushed her from behind. Satsuki was once again pushed forward and before she could stop herself, to look at Marui, and asked him what he meant, she had bumped into someone.

"Ow," the man in the black suit said. Satsuki quickly composed herself and gulped, as she faced the man's back. "I-I'm so sorry," she said, looking at the man's messy black hair.

Watching the man's back and his messy hair, reminded her vaguely of watching a certain boy in yellow and black jacket, swinging his racquet over his messy black hair.

Her eyes widened in surprised, as the man turned to look at her, and she saw that the man in front of her was the boy she remembered in her past. She eyed him; the feeling of familiarity enveloped her, making her heart almost beating quickly than before.

"A-Akaya,” the word came out of her mouth faster than she could stop herself. It had been a long time since she mouthed that name. Until then, she had never realized how she missed saying it, saying his name.

Akaya, on the other hand, blinked in surprised when he saw Satsuki standing in front of him, looking shock.

written by Ra1

Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 2)

Second Chapter: Bringing back the Past


“Okay, try moving around now,” the tailor ordered. Yukimura Satsuki nodded her head and moved around in her gown.

“It’s better,” she said as she tried sitting next. She twirled around in her peach, long, spaghetti-strap dress.

Masaki Yuna sighed and pushed her brown bangs away from her eyes. “You scared me,” she said to Satsuki. The other turned, tucking her straight black hair behind her ear, “Sorry.”

Yukimura Kaori stood up and smiled. “Well, that’s done, we don’t have to fix mine.” She said and looked at Satsuki. “You’re losing weight.”

Yuna laughed and nodded her head. “I’m the one all stressed out getting married, and you’re the one getting skinny. Unfair,”

Satsuki looked at them and frowned. “I’m not.” She objected. Then she smiled, “I just…got shrunk in the winter.”

Kaori laughed, “Right.” She said as she watched Satsuki going into the dressing room to change. The younger Yukimura looked at her brother’s fiancée. “So we’re all set right?”

Yuna nodded her head. Kaori smiled, “Cool, let’s get back. Niisan’s cooking.”

“Oh, I can’t see him,” Yuna said. Kaori blinked, “Why not? I never heard any rule saying you can’t see your fiancé two days before your marriage. Besides, there’s rehearsal dinner tomorrow night.”

Satsuki walked out of the dressing room, dressed in her white, off shoulder knit and jeans, holding her gown in one hand. She smiled. “Oh, I heard what happened yesterday.”

Kaori blinked. “What, what happened?”

Satsuki passed her gown to the tailor to wrap it up. “Well, since Yagyuu-san was supposed to manage the bachelor party, Niou-san dressed as him and took in charge.”

Kaori nodded her head, “I heard that. Niisan told me.”

Yuna looked at her, “Did you know that he invited a dozen of strippers to the party?” she said, rolling her eyes. Kaori’s eyes widened a little and a smile crept on her face. “That’s expected, coming from Niou-san,”

Satsuki nodded and laughed, “And I heard everyone were choking on their margaritas. And Sanada-san was outraged.” She continued laughing. “But since it’s Seiichi-san’s party, he couldn’t say anything.”

Yuna turned, “That’s because he was drunk and enjoying the show,” she explained. Satsuki looked at her and then nodded, “Yeah, and by then all of them were partly drunk anyway.”

Kaori looked half amused and disgusted. “Well, niisan’s came back home early, so I’m sure nothing happened.” Yuna nodded. “I know, he messaged me then that there were strippers, and I kind of knew it would happen already,”

“But you’re still upset?” Kaori asked. Yuna shook her head. “No. I just don’t plan on seeing him until the rehearsal dinner,”

Kaori looked lost so Satsuki leaned and whispered, “You see, when a man sees nude women everywhere, and they can’t have some…sugar,” she smiled, “When they see their partner after that, they’d instantly get turned on,” Satsuki laughed.

Kaori turned red, “Oh gross.” She said. Yuna laughed too. “Satsuki, where’s your modesty?” she laughed.

Satsuki laughed and shrugged, “It’s just us girls, we can drop it off,” she winked.

*


Satsuki looked around her, at the surrounding and the people attending the rehearsal dinner. She has attended a lot of posh dinners in the past, due to her boss’s invitation and businesses, but what really surprised her this time was the people that were there.

The posh decorations, the grand center pieces, the bouquet of flowers that filled the whole room and the extravagant food were already a norm to her. But seeing these people, these people that she hasn’t seen in years, was something different.

It was her cousin’s rehearsal dinner, and the place was filled with family members, family friends, colleagues and old friends.

More specifically, Yukimura Seiichi’s old tennis friends.

If she could describe it easily, she would say the whole Rikkaidai, Hyoutei, Seigaku and other old schools’ tennis regulars were there. Never mind the Rikkaidai members because she had seen them around, since Seiichi and them would sometimes meet.

And never mind her boss too, since she’d sees him at least once a week. But the other people, those that she had never talked too, those she only knew by faces and names, those who she has heard many successful stories of their jobs, those who were already living far away, seeing all of them made her remember back her past.

The junior and high school days where she would, no matter what, attend the Rikkaidai tennis matches, to support her school and her cousin’s team, of those days where she would see her cousin and his friends and their supposedly rivals, sitting down and having dinners together.

It also reminded her of her cousin’s sick days, lying in the hospital bed and looking pale. She remembered saying it was not fair, back then, to her cousin that he couldn’t enjoy his life.

She remembered how he would smile gently, despite the emptiness in his eyes, and tell her that good times will come.

Satsuki guessed it was right, because it was then that Seiichi had met with Yuna. If he was never sick, they wouldn’t have met and fell in love. After that, Satsuki had never seen her cousin’s empty eyes.

They were always full of mirth and love.

Seeing these people that brought the past back to her was bittersweet, it was sweet that it made her remember, but it felt bitter because she knew these teams weren’t completed. Nearly, anyway.

“Yen for your thought,” she heard someone said beside her, breaking her thoughts.

Satsuki turned and saw Niou Masaharu standing beside her, holding two glasses of wine, grinning at her. She smiled and took one of the glasses, “Thanks,” she said and took a sip. “I was just thinking that seeing these people reminded me of junior and high school days.”

Niou nodded his head as he took too a sip. “Yeah, it’s annoying actually,”

Satsuki looked at him amused. That was an answer she didn’t expect. “How so?”

“’Cuz you’re not supposed to see them until you’re old and gray,” Niou said. Satsuki looked at him and grinned. “You’re old, and gray,” she said pointing to his hair. Niou smirked at her, leaned over and took the glass of wine back.

“Hey,” Satsuki said, frowning when Niou handed the glass to a waiter nearby. Niou was still smirking, “You get drunk easily, I’m not taking any chances,”

“That’s good to hear,” Yukimura’s voice was heard behind them. He smiled at Niou, “I guess you already felt full after taking chances on those strippers,”

Niou laughed and sipped his wine, “Well, Marui’s the one who kept their numbers,”

Marui Bunta’s head perked up from the nearby dessert table and he frowned when he heard the conversation. “I did not.”

Satsuki smiled to herself, she liked watching her cousin and his old friends. They were something that she had gotten used to for many years, and already became her comfort, like her own blankee.

“Satsuki,” she heard someone calling her name. She turned her head away from watching Marui trying to deny Niou’s accusations, and saw Kaori looked at her shyly.

“I got lost trying to find the ladies room, accompany me?” she asked. Satsuki smiled and walked away from the group of guys that were now getting more attention and gathering more of their old friends.

“Too bad you weren’t there to take the pictures,” Niou said, winking to Fuji who was also present. The latter, laughed in return. “I don’t do rater R,”

“You should see the look on Sanada’s face,” Marui laughed. “Tarundaro!” he joked.

“You seem like you’re having fun,” a voice said behind him, “Talking about me.” Sanada Genichirou glared at the red head. Marui choked on the blueberry tart he was eating and smiled awkwardly. “Oh, hi.”

“Sanada,” Oshitari smiled, walking over towards the group and extending a hand. “It’s been a long time,” he said as both men shook hands. Sanada nodded his head.

“Congrats again, Yukimura,” Oshitari said and Yukimura smiled. “Guess you’re the first one to break the record huh?”

Yukimura chuckled. “Well, we’re not getting any younger,”

Marui nodded his head. “True that,” he said, popping another tart into his mouth. Yagyuu pushed is glass higher on his nose and smirked. “No wonder you were jotting down their numbers hurriedly.”

Marui glared. “I did not.”

Niou smirked. “So who wants to bet for who’s getting whipped next.”

Oshitari grinned, “I’m betting on Atobe.”

“As the last one,” Atobe Keigo added in, glaring at his old teammate and greeting the others.

“Well, even the new Samurai been whipped.” Fuji chuckled, pointing to Echizen Ryoma not too far away from them, talking to his old captain, a woman standing beside him.

“He beat us again huh,” Momoshiro who stood beside Fuji laughed. Then he blinked his eyes.

“Eh, Yukimura-san,” Momoshiro started, “You didn’t invite Kirihara over? I heard he’s returning,” he said and grinned. “Wanted to see how those two would react when they see each other.”

The ex-Rikkaidai regulars paused and turned to look at their old buchou. Yukimura nodded and smiled. “He’s back, but he just returned to Kanagawa today and spending time with his parents,”

Marui grinned, “Can’t wait to see that seaweed hair again.” Niou nodded, “We have to make him feel at home, ne Yagyuu?”

Yukimura smiled, watching his friends’ excited reactions when they speak of their old junior. Then he turned to Atobe, as if he had suddenly remembered something important.

“Speaking about this,” Yukimura smiled, watching a waiter passing by with a tray of glasses of wine “There is something I have to discuss with you Atobe.”

Atobe raised an eyebrow as Yukimura handed him a glass of wine and smiled in return.

*

It had been more than a year since Akaya returned to his house. The last time he was in Kanagawa, heck in Japan even, was when his niece Aoko was born.

All these times he’s been living in hotels, traveling and training all over the world. It’s not like he doesn’t have a house of his own, he does; an apartment in the heart of Tokyo, that he bought using his winnings money, but he rarely returns.

But at times when he does, especially now, he felt it was worth it and really special. Seeing his parents, hugging his dad and eating his mom food and sleeping in his old room, it made him felt relaxed.

And it had been a long time since he was this relaxed.

His door was knocked, awakening him from his reverie. He looked up from his bed and found his mother standing in front of the door; a smile etched oh her face and a folded towel on her right hand.

“Here’s a clean towel,” she handed him the checkers print towel and Akaya inhaled the familiar scent of detergent and softener and put the towel on the right side of his bed. He grinned up at his mother and mouthed ‘Thank you.’

Mariko chuckled. “You’re speaking in English,” she pointed out and Akaya shrugged. “Not really. Marco made me. Said he was doesn’t want to hire any translator. I’ll say his too stingy.” Akaya hmphed and crossed his arms. “I only take up until basics conversation for payback.”

Mariko scowled, “Mou Akaya. It would do you good if you did.” She was placing her hands on her hips and Akaya absently rubbed the back of his head. “Nah. Marco’s a lot worse than my high school English teacher. He was too demanding.”

“It sounds like you still enjoy tormenting people,” sighed Mariko. “You don’t realize that people are worried for you, do you?”

“I’m not a little boy,” Akaya said and scoot over as his mother sat at the other end. “I can handle myself fine,” he declared. “I get myself up there and I know how to handle it.”

Mariko shook her head, chuckling. Her hand touched his knee and she felt him flinched slightly. Akaya pouted as she apologized. “People keep forgetting I’m injured,” he murmured. Mariko rolled her eyes.

“Tomorrow’s the big day huh?” she asked. Akaya nodded his head. “Can’t wait to see them,” he grinned.

His mom sighed. “You purposely avoided the rehearsal dinner tonight so you can surprise your old friends tomorrow?”

Akaya nodded proudly. “Yup! Give them more suspense to see me,”

His mom shook her head, “It’s Yukimura-san’s wedding you know, not yours,” she paused and then smiled. “Speaking about that, when are you going to have yours?”

Akaya felt himself getting woozy from the question. “What? Marriage?” he laughed. “Not now,”
“When then?”

Akaya thought for a second and then shrugged. “I don’t know…when I’m finally number one, maybe,”

His mother smiled and nodded her head. “I’ll keep that promise then,” she said and left his room.

Akaya stared at the clean towel and lied down on his bed, covering his face with the same towel. The smell brought him back to his younger days and he closed his eyes and began to recall them.

He remembered the yellow and back Regular jackets. He remembered the seven seniors that were always with him back then.

He remembered Yukimura’s warm smile, Sanada and his stern frown. He remembered Yanagi’s calm face no matter in what situation. He remembered Marui popping a bubble gum, Jackal smiling sympathetically at him whenever Sanada scolded him. He remembered Niou’s silver ponytail and Yagyuu’s smirk whenever they both were up to no good.

And he vaguely remembered the presence of a girl, black, straight, shoulder length hair and chocolate eyes looking at him irritated, yet the corner of her thin lips turned, amused.

Akaya smiled to himself. He can’t wait for tomorrow.

TBC

-written by Ra1