A Way to Say Hello

"Welcome on Air France, Atobe-sama. We hope you will have a good flight with us."

"It would be better for you."

The flight attendant nodded with a smile, and led the young Atobe Keigo to his seat. The Atobe family was well-known in the company, and everyone knew what should be done, as well as what should be avoided.

Atobe, like his father and his grandfather, hated spending eleven hours in a plane, more so if he was not at ease there. He expected to look perfect. Moreover, he expected it in his first step to a different and weird country such as France. He didn't want to appear too tired and leave an impression on people that he was just one of those common Japanese guys.

His trip in France had been planned for months. Everything had been set up for him and Atobe need not worry about anything now. He should just sit on his first class seat, watch some movies and drink juices. And of course, get some sleep. Considering the large amount of space he had for himself, it wouldn't be too hard.

"Is your seat good enough for you?" One of the ladies asked him.

"Yes. Ore-sama is satisfied. Make sure nobody would disturb me."

"Of course Atobe-sama."

Atobe had come really early. He was not supposed to be that early on the plane, but his mother had ordered their driver to take him 'right away' to the airport. She wanted to make sure his son wouldn't miss his flight and bother her week of tranquillity in the house.

So he was here now, waiting on his seat and playing with his fingers. The movies were not yet available, and the take off was not until an hour more. Atobe tried to keep his mind busy by watching the people outside the plane, but Atobe being his usual self, got bored quickly.

"Excuse-me, you're on my seat."

People nowadays, the young man thought. Couldn't they read their ticket alone?

"Oi! I'm talking to you!"

With a frown, Atobe tilted his head to see who was speaking so rudely. He saw a girl, probably his age, standing up in front of him. She was tall and thin, probably a dancer, or something of the sort –and she actually looked good. Her face was almost hidden behind a hat, but her green eyes looked at him with a lot of attention; although she didn't seem happy…

Atobe kept a sigh when he realized that the girl probably wanted a picture of him, or his number, or both. Ah, girls… All awed by Atobe-sama prowess.

"Can Ore-same help you?"

The green eyes opened widely with surprise. But then, the girl frowned and shouted at Atobe.

"You. Are. On. My. Seat."

Atobe blinked and frowned too. After what seemed an eternity, the young guy burst out laughing. Really, girls could think of anything to catch his attention. But that particular one won everything. She dared to make herself ridiculous in front of a full plane, for what? A date maybe?

"You think it's funny? Because it's not! So get your ass off of that seat!"

"Sorry miss, but please…"

"Tell that guy to leave the seat!"

"I won't leave my seat."

"Oh yes you will!"

"Miss, can I see your ticket please?"

"Sorry?! Why should I show you my ticket and not this guy?!?"

The flight attendant gave a quick look to Atobe, secretly hoping some help. Surprisingly, the young man smiled and looked for his own ticket. The attendant was cute, and she was young. It was probably her first flight, and Atobe was in a good day. He gave his ticket to the woman, still smiling.

"Thank you, sir."

The girl shook her head, and rummaged in her bag to find her ticket. When she took it out, something fell. Atobe was quicker than her, and grabbed the flyer before it touched the floor. The girl thanked him with a slight bow of her head, and gave her own ticket. The flight attendant read the two tickets many times, looking at the two young persons in front of her, before reading again the tickets. She bowed and apologized, notably embarrassed, and went to talk with another attendant in the back of the plane.

The girl didn't even look at Atobe. She was busy playing with her hat, and kept looking at her watch.

"So you're going to the convention, ah~n?"

"…"

"Ore-sama is going too. Actually, ore-sama will give a conference."

"I know."

"Oh, you know? But I didn't give you my name yet."

The girl finally looked at him, an annoyed look on her face.

"Who doesn't know the great Atobe-sama?" she said ironically.

Before Atobe could answer, the flight attendant came back, more embarrassed than she was.

"We are really sorry. We don't know how it happened, but it seems that you bought your tickets exactly in the same moment."

"That is probably a sign, ah~n?" Atobe said with a smile.

The girl didn't get the joke.

"Anyway… Long story short, you have the same seat." The woman added.

It took a moment before Atobe and the girl really understood. The young man looked at the girl, who looked back at him. They looked then at the attendant, hoping that it was just a joke. But it was not.

"Are we supposed to sit together?" The girl asked angrily.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind having you on my lap." Atobe answered.

"You wish."

"I want."

"We can provide you another seat." The attendant interrupted them.

Yes, that would settle everything. But who was going to leave the seat and take the other? Atobe had already made himself at ease where he was, his stuff just in front of him, his bags on the little compartment. The girl, on the other hand, just had to make her way to another seat. But she seemed decided to have her seat, the one on which Atobe was sitting. Finally getting annoyed, Atobe started to gather his stuff, and got up.

"Eh… What are you doing?" The girl asked, surprised.

"I want to arrive in France without any delay." He answered coldly.

The girl looked startled, and blushed. She took her bag, and turned to the attendant.

"I'll take the other seat. Please lead me." She whispered, eyes fixed on the floor.

It was now Atobe who was surprised. The girl just spent half an hour to argue with him to have his seat, and now that he was finally agreeing, she changed her mind. He would never understand girls' minds after all.

**********

Atobe was annoyed. He had tried to take a nap, but his mind was too busy to sleep. Why was the issue with the girl bothering him so much? He knew so many girls, and almost as much as issues with them. It was maybe because that particular girl seemed familiar, or just because she was going to the convention too. But millions of people were going there. It was one of the biggest in the world, and all person involved close or far to tennis had to go. Shishido and Oshitari were supposed to take another plane and join him there, because Atobe, giving a conference himself, had been asked to go earlier.

The young man took his notes, and read them again. There was no chance for him to forget them, but he wanted to think about something else.

"Excuse-me."

That voice… Atobe lifted up his head. The girl was standing in front of him again, but looked in a better mood than earlier. She didn't have her hat, so her hair was floating freely behind her. Long and dark hair. Atobe was sure he knew her. But where did he meet her?

"Anou…" She started. "Do you want to have a drink? With me?"

Atobe looked at her with shocked eyes. Did he just hear right? Was it the same girl? The girl, who almost wanted to kick him off his seat, just asked him to drink something with her. Something was wrong.

"That's okay if you don't want. Just wanted to be polite after the issue earlier. Ja ne." The girl said before leaving.

Atobe frowned. Seriously, what was with that person?

**********

"We will soon start the landing. Please go to your seat, and fasten your seatbelt."

Above all, Atobe hated landings. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried to think about tennis. His tennis was perfect of course, but one or two new techniques wouldn't be useless. He had to improve the shot he used against Shishido the other day. If he balanced his body on the left… Yes, that would be perfect.

"Atobe-sama. You can unfasten your belt now, we are in Paris."

"Ah~n. Ore-sama thanks you. It was a nice flight."

"Thank you, Atobe-sama. Have a nice journey in France."

Atobe nodded, and gathered his stuff. Once outside the plane, he stretched his arms, feeling a little sore. He really needed a good night in a good bed.

"-san! This way please!"

More than twenty people were waiting, with flowers and colourful boxes, and one of them was waving to someone behind Atobe. … The name sounded familiar to the young man… He turned his head to see to who the guy referred to and gasped.

"You!"

The green eyed girl smirked, and walked to Atobe. Once there, she flicked his forehead, and stepped back.

Everything was clear for Atobe now.

" ." He said. "Japan's new violin genius."

"Glad to know you finally remember me."

She winked and left him to join the group waiting for her. Atobe watched her signing autographs, receiving flowers and gifts. He remembered, yes. He had met her two years ago, during another convention about tennis. 's father was one of the more influential men in the world of sports in Japan, and he often sponsored events. Two years ago, Atobe had found the young girl alone outside, playing violin. He had listened to her for hours before she noticed him.

She had grown up a lot in two years. No wonder how Atobe couldn't recognize her at first. The young man smirked, and shouted at her, as she started to leave:

"Ore-sama wants you to have a drink with him."

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December 11, 2007
Written by: Serena
Edited by: LeiLei