Standard Disclaimer applies.

RD: Not A Walk in the Park

Marui scratched his chin as he gazed at Niou's latest battle plan. The two were in the park near their school after being tasked by Yukimura to bring Akaya safely back to his house. Instead of going home themselves afterwards, they decided to head off to somewhere public and discuss… things. "Hey, Niou…"

"I know your secret," Niou said mysteriously.

"…I have a secret?" Marui blinked.

The Trickster stared. "Yes. Your deepest, darkest secret that you don't want anyone to know, especially a certain Regular in our tennis team who, out of courtesy, I will hide under the name… Kirihara Akaya."

Marui nodded unconsciously. "Oh, it's that secret, is it?"

"Yes, that secret." Niou smirked.

Five… The two sat in the sandbox silently, as if waiting for something to happen.

Four… Marui studied the paper in front of him closely, checking for defects.

Three… He paused.

Two… and turned to Niou.

One… "That secret! How the hell did you find out, eh?" Marui demanded, clutching the paper with a stunned expression.

Niou raised an eyebrow at the incivility directed towards his written plans. He pulled it out of the other's hands and smoothed it down, making sure that the handwriting was still readable. "Now, now, sugar-freak, there's no need for barbaric actions," he drawled mildly. "'Sides, if you were aiming at being subtle, I have to tell you it's not working."

Wait. That's it? No teasing, wheedling out of information, blackmailing; nothing? "So then," the tensai began, thinking carefully. "Do you think Akaya knows about it?"

"Fuck, no," answered Niou. "That brat is so dense, he'd be deadweight in water."

Marui didn't know if he should be offended in behalf of Akaya. He settled for rolling his eyes. "Well, moving that aside, why do you care, anyway?"

Niou let out a ridiculous gasp, hand on his heart. "But Marui, you're my bestest best friend!" he said unconvincingly. "And because of that, I want the bestest best for you."

"Cut the crap, Niou."

"That is to say," Niou continued, ignoring him completely, "I want you to get a life. God knows you have too much time on your hands."

Marui slapped himself in frustration. Why did he even bother with Niou, anyway?

"'Cos I'm your bestest best friend, too, duh." Then, Niou had the strangest look on his face. "…Maru-chan."

"ARGH!"

"Oho, is that name your weakness, Maru-chan?" asked the Trickster. "I didn't know you were so sensitive."

"I'm not, bastard! Shut up!" Marui yelled madly.

"M—"

"SHUT!"

Niou gave and amused smirk as he folded and pocketed the piece of paper. "I'm telling Akaya tomorrow, if you don't mind," he said.

"…You wouldn't."

"I'll tell the whole school," was the singsong reply.

"OMFG, YOU WOULDN'T!" Marui seethed. "I'll fucking kill you, bastard. I fucking will before you can even breathe a syllable out to anyone."

Niou's smirk widened. "I'd like to see you try, sugar freak."

Aggravated, the tensai pulled out a stick of gum from his bag and promptly chewed on it. "Look," he said in between chews. "Who else knows?"

"Everyone."

"Everyone?" Marui repeated, aghast. "Everyone?"

"Everyone on the team," Niou couldn't help but clarify, no matter how amusing Marui's reaction was.

"Good. Then… Niou, I need you to NOT tell Akaya."

Niou smirked. "If I said no?"

"The only allowable answer here is yes," Marui said matter-of-factly. He'd expected that Niou would be tough to convince.

"Then you'll just have to tell him before I do, eh?"

"Niou."

Niou fished out his phone and dangled it in front of Marui. "Gonna try and stop me, sugar freak?" he asked mockingly. "I sure hope not 'cos I'm just shivering with excitement. I wonder what the brat would say, hm."

Marui's eyes widened as the Trickster did as he said, pressing 6 on speed dial and holding the phone up to his ear. "Shit, gimme that!" He scrambled to get the phone and practically tore the battery off. "I can do it myself," he announced confidently, though he made sure to keep Niou's phone for the night. Just in case.