A/N: Let's see, it's almost 5 in the morning, so my brain has pretty much gone haywire. I'm surprised I can even come up with something like this. Anyway, it's taken me a LOT of courage to finally publish this. I like to write, just not for anyone to read: strange, I know. It's my first fic. ever published. So be kind and help me through this? (ie. Critiques – not criticism, critique) Tell me what you like and don't like and I'll see what I can do. Enjoy.
Disclaimer:I do not own Prince of Tennis, because if I did, Fuji would be my big brother, and Atobe would be beaten the crap out of (no, I don't despise him, I just want to wound his ego). Oh, and Tezuka would be stranded on a distant island, also not because I hate him, but because I just REALLY want to see what his reactions would be. Since none of the above are true, I must not own it. =_= '
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Prologue
Nothing had changed much now that everyone was back together again. Echizen had come back once more from America after the three years. Why his father kept moving back and forth and forcing him to do the same was a wonder to him, but he was excited, to a certain extent. It had been quite some time now since he had seen everyone. Talking over the phone just wasn't the same, especially since some of his former teammates weren't big talkers from starts.
Nevertheless, this is no longer a story centered upon Echizen Ryoma, the young tennis prodigy that he is. All that mattered to everyone now was recalling those good times they had all experienced together. And, at the same time, to make new memories, before they had to part for college, and eventually, their separate ways. It was a sad thought, after spending so much time together, yet, right now, the hot summer heat seemed to be the only thing that bothered anyone.
"Taka-san~" A red haired boy barged into the small home-ran restaurant. The wooden door slide open, sanding down the rut the panel laid on.
"E-Eiji?" The now proud inheritor of the famous Kawamura sushi bar seemed surprised at the latest costomer.
"I ran here in front of everyone to tell you some great news we got today!" Seeing that the restaurant was kind of down, since it was around 4:30pm, Eiji wasn't holding back any of his excitement.
"You guys going to the nationals again, I hope?"
"Of course! That goes without saying, but I bring even brighter news~"
"D-don't you want something to drink first? I'll go make some tea for everyone."
"Ta-Ka-Shi!" The chief turned guilty back at his senpai—though not by much—sensing he had done something wrong that was bugging the red haired male.
"That can wait!" Kikumaru stood there leaning on the counter, wearing his serious expression.
"Ryuzaki has asked all of y-"
"Good afternoon, Taka-san!" Another energetic voice blasted into the confined space. Who else could it be but Momoshiro?
"It's good to have some place that never changes no matter how much time moves on." With the usual coy smile on his face, Fuji took a smooth stride in.
"Ah! Mina"
"Mou! Will I ever get to tell him the news?!" Kikumaru complained.
"Eiji, you shouldn't be too pushy. Taka-san must have a lot of other things planned for break, you can't just suddenly throw it at him." Ah, yes, leave it to Oishi to be mothering again.
"What are you guys talking about?"
"It seems Ryuzaki wants us to go help coach the girls' tennis team for two weeks."
"O'Chibi! You stole my line. I was suppose to tell him that."
"It doesn't matter who tells him, Eiji-senpai." Though Echizen surely grew up much more than before, he still strived to keep his "indifferent" façade. Some things were still hard to change.
"Girls tennis team? You mean our school's? I didn't know she started coaching at the high school level…"
"Actually-"
"This was her first year. According to my sources, Ryuzaki had hoped to continue helping Sakuno in high school, so she transferred." Seriously, was there anything Inui wasn't informed about? He is like a creepier, less flattering version of Kyouya, the beloved shadow king.
"But since-"
"After promising the girls this summer training camp, she realized something else came up. And now she's asking us to sort of substitute for her. With the help of the assistant coach, of course."
Kikumaru let out a dramatic sigh in over-placed frustration. "Why does everyone just keep stealing my lines?"
"Ah, I'm sorry Eiji." With the tone he used, and that still kittenish smile, it was hard not to sense a hint of sarcasim.
"Or maybe…" The tall junior classman put his arm on the Shorty's shoulder, Ryoma now actually being tall enough to provide armrest for him. Momoshiro continued, "Ryuzaki was just trying to find an excuse for her granddaughter to meet up again with Ryoma here."
It was strange to find a slight ting of a blush on his cheeks when the rising sophomore remembered his last memories of Sakuno: loyal, cheerful, mild, and always so caring. This small difference did not go unnoticed but all his senpais. This reaction being a completely new sight to them all, all they could do was stare, wondering if this really was that immature little boy they knew back then.
"Eh? Echizen, no way! You haven't gone to see Sakuno-san yet? That's impolite."
"Oishi-senpai, give me a break, I just arrived in Japan less than three weeks ago."
"He's changed." A small mumble arose from behind everyone else.
"Oh, Mr. Viper, come to join us after all? Didn't you say you had some weight training to do?"
"Now that you mentioned it, chibi has changed a lot since his last time in Japan. Eeeeh? Chibi, were there some American girlfriends you had that you haven't mentioned to us?"
"W-What are you t-talking about…"
"AH! Ochibi stuttered! Were they pretty? With blonde hair and blue eyes?"
"Eiji-senpai, I think you're stereotyping."
"So it is true! Oh, Chibi has grown up, I'm so happy and jealous at the same time."
While those two were off discussing the ex-girlfriends of Echizen's-- no doubt the same ones he comes up with when his dad bugs him about his friend-girls—the others settled themselves at the counter, already served with steaming tea.
"Is this invitation the reason you're all here for a celebration?"
"Taka-senpai, did you forget? Today was the last day of school. That's why we're all here. Since you couldn't spend it with us at school, we brought the party to you."
"Thanks, mina. And Tezuka? Is he coming?"
"Oh, he just had to take care of end-of-year stuff for the office. We were told to go ahead first."
"Ne, Taka-san, do you think you'll be able to get two weeks off? It'll be like the old times. When was the last time you held a racket?"
He nervously chuckled in response, imagining himself there coaching tennis when he hadn't played in over three years. There was no doubt the girls would be more practiced then him, and what about those that may have skills better than his? Though the offer of creating one last golden memory before the last summer of high school was very appealing, there were things at home to be done. Playing tennis again? Would he be able to stop after holding his racket once more? Most importantly, he felt as if he would be a drag in the coaching process. Out of practice, and not a great instructor in anything didn't seem to be the best combination for accepting the coaching offer. Okay, so say he doesn't coach, he could go there just to hang out with everyone, can't he? But then he would be a burden: eating, sleeping, and no labor to pay for his uselessness. In the end, turning down the offer would be best.
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A/N: Obviously this is the prologue, so not all the characters are introduced. That will be in the 1st real chapter ^ - ^. This is just a chance for everyone to catch up on the background in terms of time and the situation. Can you imagine how much cooler that guys would be now that they're in high school? Anyway, some of them are going to show up less and less as the story goes on, cause, unfortunately, they'll only be supporting roles.