Playing Games

There he is, thought. My next target. She sat up straighter in her seat and scooted forward so she could be directly in his line of sight when he looked up. She positioned herself in the cutest way, pointing her toes inward as she sat at her desk with her head propped up by her arm, the most irresistibly cute and pouty expression on her face as she could muster. To anyone else, she would appear to be frustrated with whatever she was working on. Usually, in ’s case, that meant that whichever boy spotted her first, would rush up to help her just for the chance to get to talk to her. Such was the consequence of being the prettiest girl in school, with boys fawning over her every move.

It had become a game for . As soon as she got over being shy in middle school, she realized the awesome power she held. She had the power to get whatever she wanted out of guys. And ever since then, she had been using that power to her advantage.

Sure, some of the girls in school were jealous—actually, most of the girls were—but didn’t concern herself with them. She had her band of close-knit friends who understood her and understood how it was all a game to her. Teasing boys to get what she wanted, acting cute—she had never actually fallen in love, which was why she was so amused when the boys fell for her. She used it to her advantage, and she had no reason to stop. She wanted to keep going until she had reached her limit—this game that she played kept getting more and more intense as she proceeded to wrap the majority of boys at her high school around her finger one by one.

This was the exact reason why she was working so hard again today. It was her mission before she graduated to get the attention of all the boys in her school—well, the important ones, at least. And so far, she had succeeded. Every single boy had fallen for her at some time or other within the last three years. At Hyoutei Gakuen, this was no mean feat either. had worked hard. Now, all that was left was just one boy. This boy would be the crown jewel of her collection: Oshitari Yuushi, the ultimate player.

  smirked as she thought of this. Everyone had challenged her earlier in the year to try for who they thought to be the real player, Atobe Keigo, the captain of the prestigious tennis team. But he had fallen, easier than expected. and the rest of the school now knew who was the real power behind the throne, the boy that played girls for fun but, like , was never seriously involved with anyone. saw it as just another move in her game; nobody had reached her status and as soon as she found the key to this guy’s heart, it would be easy. The smart ones had put their money on three weeks. Tops.

Oshitari Yuushi glanced up from his desk where he had been working hard on an essay he was writing. Of course he noticed her. But the dismissive glance he gave and the way he went right back to working on his paper was certainly not the reaction was looking for. What’s wrong with him?

Unfazed, waited until after class. Her game was one of patience. It didn’t pay to be hasty. If it took more time to get Oshitari to notice her, then so be it. Her goal would be complete, and it would be worth it. As soon as the bell rang and Oshitari had gathered his things and stood up, was at his side.

In her cutest voice she looked p at him and asked, “Ne, wasn’t that essay we had to write today sooo hard, Yuushi-kun? I thought it was sooo hard.”

Oshitari barely spared her a glance as he started to leave. noticed with dissatisfaction the smirk on his face. What’s he playing at? She didn’t give up that easily. She followed him.

“Hey, aren’t you going to answer? What did you think of that essay? Or that math test this morning? I don’t know; I’m not that good in math, but everyone says you’re a genius! I think I may need to get a tutor, Yuushi-kun. Do you know anyone who’s a genius in math and who could tutor me?”

Oshitari stopped midway down the hall to lunch and turned to face . started to detect signs that she didn’t like—usually it was her manipulating and controlling the situation. She was the one who played with boys, not the other way around. And up until now, it had not been a problem. Everyone seemed to play nicely into her trap. But this one… this one seems different. Smarter. She’d have to watch out for him.

“You know, -san, one of my good friends is really good in maths. His name is Kabaji Munehiro - maybe you’ve heard of him?”

Euk. That guy? remembered the day she had to check him off of her list of guys she had played… it didn’t help matters when the guy wasn’t attractive at all. That had been a particular experience she had hoped not to relive. But it was all for a good cause: getting every boy checked off. And now the only problem was Oshitari. Why is he being so difficult? It’s almost as if he knows what I’m doing….

faltered for one second at that thought, but immediately steadied herself. “Actually, Yuushi-kun, I was wondering if you could tutor me. Please?” played with the hem of her school uniform’s skirt, drawing Oshitari’s attention down to her beautiful legs, which she knew, due to previous research, he had a weakness for.

She noted with satisfaction that he had to close his eyes and make a conscious effort to recover from her subtle blow. But instead of answering her directly, he pondered for a minute.

was not about to give up. He had to answer her sometime. She would just stand there and wait….

Suddenly, Oshitari leaned his head in close to ’s face. She didn’t know what he was going to do - all she could do was stand there, frozen. It looked like he was about to kiss her, but at the last moment he turned his face away and spoke very close, in a whisper, into her ear.

“I know what you’re playing at, -san, and you’re not going to get it that easily. Try a little harder.”

’s eyes shot open as she realized that he knew about her game. She stood rooted to the spot as he drew away, smirking. Now she knew what the smirk meant.

“Of course I will tutor you, -san. Could you meet me at the library after tennis practice today? We can start then. Ja!” He turned on his heels and continued on his way to lunch.

For the next few moments, still couldn’t move. Then, her eyes narrowed in uncharacteristic determination, and she spun the other way to start walking.

Well, he’s going to play that game, is he? I’ll show him who the real player is. No matter how good his record is. He’s like the male version of me - it’s weird. Definitely a big player. But not good enough. He’s not going to be the one person standing in the way of me and my ultimate goal, no matter how good he thinks he is.

A few weeks later

had not given up. Over the weeks, she had tried every different strategy known to womankind to get him interested in her. It had almost become routine to see him every day after school, to talk to him as he walked her home, to end up in front of her house watching him leave, knowing that same smirk was on his face every time.

Oshitari was as much of a player as was. Even the toughest of guys usually fell in weeks. This was the longest stretch she had ever spent on one guy, and she was nowhere near being close to getting him. She knew it, and she knew he knew it as well. That didn’t make matters any easier.

On this day, she sat on the bleachers watching his tennis practice again, just as she had every day since that first day, waiting for him to be done. Their “math sessions” afterwards in the library had become little more than games, games of wit and subtlety on both of their parts - on ’s part to get him wrapped around her finger, and on Oshitari’s part, to make her realize that that just wouldn’t happen.

She sat on the bleachers wrapped in her own thoughts, then noticed that Oshitari shot her a glance. She quickly reacted, turning her relaxed posture into something more provocative, making sure her crossed legs were at an angle so that he could see them. He winced for a moment, she noticed, before meeting her eyes and smirking, then turning away. That’s all the progress I’ve made so far in these past weeks, thought. I know that legs turn him on, that’s it. It’s not getting me anywhere either.

She continued watching him. thought that that was the only time she could actually stand him. Whenever he was with her and she was trying to play him, she could never really bring herself to stand him. She loathed him for being in the way of her ultimate goal. But on the other hand, when he played tennis… it felt good for to see Oshitari with his mind focused on something other than resisting her. The way he calculated his moves on the court and had all his attention focused elsewhere made realize how intense his gaze could be. It made her realize how attractive he was. It made her realize how much she actually liked him.

What? ’s jaw dropped open at the thought that had come unbidden. She had never thought that before… was she serious? It had come so unrestrained, knew it was the truth. Despite her games, despite her determination to see him as only an object, a hurdle to be overcome on her way to victory….  It hit her like a ton of bricks.

I… I really, honestly like him.

And for the rest of practice, it was all she could do to sit there and not go to pieces thinking of what would happen next.

After practice

Oshitari draped a towel over his shoulder as practice wrapped up and the rest of the team headed to the locker rooms. He would too, but something told him to wait. So instead, he glanced over at , sitting like always on the bleachers, and started towards her.

Right away when he sat down, he noticed something was wrong. For one, she didn’t look at him right away and start playing her games like she always did. For two, even when he started the conversation, she wouldn’t look at him straight in the eye.

“Hey, -san. How did we look out there today, practicing? The tournament is coming up. I want an outsider’s point of view.”

Silence. He observed her as she stared out at the court, refusing to look at him, seeming shocked over something, or like she had seen a ghost.

“Ne, -san.”

Still nothing. Instead of relenting, he got worried. She never acted like this. What was going on…?

“Hey, !”

At that, she snapped back to reality and stared at him. He smiled.

“Why are you so out of it? You’re looking at me like you’re seeing me for the first time.”

As he raised his eyebrows in an invitation for her to speak, she still stayed silent, but now just seemed to be scared to talk.

“Hey, what’re you playing at? This better not be just a new tactic….” he looked at her sternly. “’Cause you know it won’t work on me.”

“I don’t trust myself to speak to you now.” blurted out before she could stop herself. He noticed that her voice came out in a sort of squeak, and really fast.

“What are you talking about? Why aren’t you speaking? This is so odd of you, -san.” he cocked his head to one side.

She stuttered and got up to leave. “I… I’m sorry, Oshitari-san. I can’t do this anymore. I… Well, I… I just can’t…” she started gathering her things in a hurry to leave before anything else could be said and she got two steps away from him in stunned silence before---

“Hey!” he caught her by the arm before she could leave. “What are you doing?” He seemed incredulous now. For once in his entire acquaintance with , he was really thrown off his guard.

She looked down, trying to avoid his eyes, but he stood up and made her look at him by bringing her chin up with his hand. As he looked intensely into her eyes, he saw her scared for the first time since he had known her. Why was she acting like this? Like she was frightened that he would see something she didn’t want him to… like she was afraid that he would realize…

His eyes widened in surprise, but no accompanying smirk or laughter went with it. “Oh.” was all he said, and then he knew: she had fallen for him. It had taken some weeks, but the only thing that needed to happen was his resistance. She had been resisted for the first time in her life, and she had succumbed. He thought, at this revelation, that he should be acting all high and mighty - after all, he had won. He had resisted… she had given in first… right?

She knew. By the knowing look in his eye, she could tell that she hadn’t been quick enough to get away or skillful enough to hide her true emotions behind a façade. Somehow, he had read her emotions. The only thing that confused her was why he wasn’t laughing now… wouldn’t he be teasing her? That would be normal for him… after all, he had won….

And then, she realized it. The reason he wasn’t reveling in victory… was that… he liked her, too…

They stared at each other like that, lost in their own thoughts and realizations, staring into each other’s eyes, for one long moment. Then, with no words being exchanged, Oshitari released his grip on her arm and circled his hands around her waist, pulling her close. leaned into him and dropped her things with loud thuds onto the bleachers, before wrapping her arms around his neck. He leaned in first, softly but surely, to kiss her. And as she closed her eyes and experienced the best feeling in the world—of actually loving someone, instead of just pretending to—and thought that it would be okay if he never let go.

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Arai Kosuke

Edited by elenniel