Author's Note: And this, folks, is what happens when the author has a philosophy paper due to be turned in; I sat down to write a serious, grade-saving masterpiece and somehow ended up with fluff that is completely unrelated to Kant's take on ethics. So let me present a sweet nothing consisting entirely of dialogue between two unnamed characters. It sounds a bit vague (which it is, I suppose), but it was a pleasure to write and ambiguity can be sort of refreshing sometimes.
Anyway, the story is set at a mixed junior high school somewhere in the Kantou area, roughly one year into the future. The girl is just a girl, but the boy...? The boy is someone you know. See, I had a particular young team regular in mind when I wrote this thing and I left some clues in the text; find them and you might figure out the true identity of our Mystery Tennis Maniac before the end (^.^)/
Also, a tip: better the devil you know than the devil you don't.. .and who knows, that might be useful.
Good luck and happy hunting!
Disclaimer: Sadly, The Prince of Tennis is not mine.
Smile
-#-
Come on... he urged. I used to go all the time. It'll be fun!
Fun? she echoed. Maybe for you.
It is, he confirmed. And today I feel like sharing.
I guess I should be flattered, she remarked sarcastically, because you're generous enough to get me into trouble, too. I'm really sorry, but I still need to find Tanaka-kun for the budget and—
You're welcome, he smiled and she let him grab a hold of her hand without much of a fight. Now let's go before lunch break ends.
-#-
This is wrong, she sighed as he dragged her behind him toward the staircase, and it'll set a bad example to the others.
So what? he replied. It's not like we'll get caught.
But what if we do, she insisted. Then, what do you think will happen?
Detention, probably, he offered off-handily. Nothing serious, though.
Nothing serious...?! she exclaimed. But I'm a part of the Student Council! Or have you forgotten already?
Well..., he countered with a shrug. We'll just have to make sure we won't get caught then, won't we.
But what about you? she tried. Wouldn't you get in trouble with your coach or something?
Nah, we don't have a coach, he replied. We don't need it. For us, Buchou's word is Law.
So you can basically do whatever you want, she questioned. And the school actually allows that...?
Yes, he said, serious for once. It actually does.
I don't believe you, she protested. Each club needs a supervisor or it'll get closed down! Those are the rules!
Then we're an exception, he insisted with pride, because everyone knows that Buchou knows best.
Seriously... she sighed. You just say that because it's you.
But it's true, he smiled and she almost believed him.
-#-
This is a bad idea, she grumbled. We're not even supposed to be up here.
Oh, yeah? He looked around the empty rooftop. And what makes you say that?
The "Do Not Enter" sign on the door, she pointed out as dryly as she could, sort of gave it away.
Maybe, he smirked. But why would they put benches here if no one were going to sit on them?
Well, you know… She racked her brains for something clever. Well…
See? he grinned after pushing her down in a seat. And you're supposed to be the smartest in your class.
And you're supposed to be an insufferable jock, she countered, who only thinks about tennis.
Says who? he snapped. You shouldn't listen to everything you hear.
And neither should you. She had rolled her eyes. Besides, Ayumi-chan scored higher than me on the math test yesterday. They posted the results this morning.
...really? he inquired. What happened? Didn't you study?
I didn't have time, she confessed. The Student Council meeting ran over and then I had to go to cram school, and when I came home—
That's stupid. Why do you go to cram school anyway? he snorted. You don't need it. You're doing fine already.
But 'fine' isn't good enough, she replied with a sigh, at least not according to Mother. I know that it's still far off, but she's got her sights set on Toudai.
That place suits a brainiac like you, he joked. But, uh... You don't actually think that I'm just a jock, right?
And what makes you think that you're not? she teased. You practically live out on the tennis courts.
And you're always holed up in the library, he replied, when you're not in the Student Council room. I hardly see you anymore, and when I do, you're always busy.
It's not like I do it on purpose, she protested, or give myself extra work to avoid you.
Yeah, I know, he said, looking away. Still, it's... nice to hang out like this once in a while.
You're sweet, she smiled as his face flushed pink. But you're still a jock.
That's not very polite, he pouted. You're hurting my feelings.
Sure, she laughed. But at least they're wrong about one thing.
What? he demanded. Who's wrong about what?
They say that you don't think about anything other than tennis, she explained. But I know that's not true.
And what makes you so sure? he smirked. Unless they teach you how to read minds at cram school...?
They do at the really expensive ones, she deadpanned. But you couldn't have tennis on your brain all of the time, because you think about me too, right?
If I get bored, maybe... sometimes, he finally admitted but knowing that his smile told her otherwise.
