Seigaku Ranking Journals
Genre: Friendship/Family
Rating: K+ or PG
Spoilers: Episodes 50-61, Genius 114-160
Pairings: none, only best friends
Summary: The Seigaku regulars and others reveal their thoughts, emotions, and reactions towards the results of the June Intra-school Ranking Tournament. This is a companion fic to Seigaku Ranking Results.
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is created by Takeshi Konomi. I do not own it.
Author's note:
I am only writing for enjoyment. NO FLAMING allowed!
The events after the Seigaku June Intra-school Ranking Tournament seemed to involve many thoughts and emotions of the regulars and others, so I thought revealing them would further explain some information in Seigaku Ranking Results.
I suggest reading Seigaku Ranking Results first to help understand the situations in this story.
Beware of SPOILERS for Episodes 50-61 and Genius 114-160! The 1st chapter contains spoilers for Episodes 50-52 and Genius 114-118.
Each day or event in this story has journal entries of several, but not all, characters. Most of the entries will be from the Seigaku regulars, but there will be a few from non-regulars, rival schools, and family. For each day, I will only select characters who play a major role in the events, or have more to say.
Sorry for OOC parts, character bashing, and other problems.
June Intra-school Ranking Tournament: Final Day
Captain Tezuka Kunimitsu – Seishun Gakuen (Seigaku) Tennis Club captain, 3rd year
The Seigaku June Intra-school Ranking Tournament is finally over, and the regulars for the Kantou Tournament have been decided. Inui has replaced Momoshiro as a regular.
As I always say, "Don't let your guard down," but Inui must have done so since he was close to leading 5-3. He was really surprised when I became serious and scored the point that brought the game to a deuce. I had no choice but to pull out the Tezuka Zone, which appeared to fascinate the audience.
XXX
Inui Sadaharu - Seigaku Tennis Club manager, 3rd year, data tennis player
Argh! I was so close! Just one more point, and I would have been leading 5-3, and more possibly on the way to finally beating Tezuka. We've been in the Seigaku Tennis Club for over two years, and the chance of anyone seeing Tezuka lose is still 0 percent. Unfortunately, I never won my fifth game since his play style suddenly changed.
Our buchou brought the game to a deuce, and reminded me, "Now Inui… the game hasn't ended yet." It might have been another way of saying his favorite phrase, "Don't let your guard down." There was a 60 percent chance that I became over-confident and careless after leading for some time.
Even worse, Tezuka had a skill we have never seen him use – the Tezuka Zone. With it, there was a 99 percent chance that the game was over for me since I had lost 99 percent of my control on the game. Though I ran all over the court, all he had to do was stand and pivot at the same spot. By controlling the rotation of those fuzzy yellow spheres, he was like a vacuum, absorbing all my shots.
At least I am a regular again, and also got some new information on Tezuka who always seem to defy all data. However, Momoshiro has been dropped from the regulars, and there is a 90 percent chance that he is taking it hard.
Now I must finish mixing my new juices and analyzing data. I need to figure out a way to defeat the invincible Tezuka.
XXX
Horio Satoshi – Seigaku Tennis Club member, 1st year
Buchou won his match against Inui-senpai with the Tezuka Zone today. That was a cool move! In my two years of tennis experience, I have never seen it. He seemed to be controlling Inui-senpai with it. I also enjoyed seeing the usually calm data man under pressure. Despite losing to Buchou, Inui-senpai still became a regular.
Why did Kachirou and Katsuo have to cut me off when I was saying that Momo-chan-senpai is dropped from the regulars? Momo-chan-senpai left early with his regulars jersey folded on the shelf. With two years of tennis experience, I know that means he left the tennis club.
XXX
Momoshiro Takeshi – Seigaku Tennis Club ex-regular, 2nd year, power player
This has got to be the worst day of my life. Everyone was fascinated by Buchou dominating Inui-senpai with his Tezuka Zone. It was a great skill I've never seen, but watching the two players who caused me to lose my regulars position was just too painful. My dunk smash and jack knife worked against Lucky Sengoku of Yamabuki, but not those two.
What did I do wrong in my games? I know Buchou is invincible, but not Inui-senpai. Even that stupid mamushi won a match against him in April. That was what dropped Inui-senpai from the regulars. I can't lose to that mamushi, but I just did by falling to someone he beat. Maybe I'm just not fit to play tennis.
XXX
Echizen Ryoma – Seigaku Tennis Club regular, 1st year
Mada mada dane, Momo-senpai! He is not a regular anymore because he lost to Tezuka-buchou and Inui-senpai who reclaimed his regulars position. However, I no longer have anyone to practice or hang out with among the regulars.
Momo-senpai left a few minutes after seeing the Tezuka Zone. I did not know that Buchou had that skill. He didn't even use it against me before the prefecturals. So far, I have only seen my stupid oyaji with it. That is why I still haven't beaten him in tennis yet.
Thank goodness the boring school ranking matches are over! The Block D players were really mada mada dane. Well, Oishi-senpai was probably an exception for he is also a regular and the fukubuchou. Despite his persistence, I managed to win since he is a doubles instead of singles player. Compared to me, all the players except Buchou are mada mada dane.
XXX
Vice-captain Oishi Syuichirou – Seigaku Tennis Club co-captain, 3rd year, Golden Pair game-maker
Though Tezuka likes to say, "Don't let your guard down," he seems to disobey himself by using the zero-shiki drop shot. Akitaka-ojisan had warned him against the dangers of that skill, but he repeatedly used it in an unofficial match against Echizen before the prefecturals and today's match against Inui. I'm relieved that he didn't re-injure his elbow.
In a way, I did let my guard down as I watched his match this afternoon. Inui was almost leading the game 5-3 when I got lost in my thoughts about him and his data.
That was a big mistake, because the referee startled me by announcing, "Deuce!" All around me, everyone stared at the two players in awe. I asked what had happened, but received no answer.
I realized that our buchou had become serious, but Taka-san and Inoue-san told me to look at his feet. He hadn't moved from that one spot. With the Tezuka Zone, he dominated and won the game despite all the data Inui collected on him.
Our data tennis player has been too narrowly focused on collecting information and winning against Tezuka for over two years. Maybe that is why he lost to Echizen and Kaidou in April. Since then, he has gathered data and trained to regain his regulars spot.
The price was Momo being dropped from the regulars, and he seems to be taking it hard. I hope he is all right. It was unfortunate that he was placed in a block with two strong regulars. I was lucky to have only one regular to worry about, so my chances of losing my position were lower. Echizen sure is tough despite being a first year.
1st Day After Ranking Tournament
Kaidou Kaoru – Seigaku Tennis Club regular, 2nd year, snake and endurance player
Che... First, that dumb Momo failed to be a regular, and today he didn't even show up for practice. What an idiot! This just shows I am better, so I can crush him. Fshuuu…
XXX
Tachibana An – Fudomine Chuu Tennis Club member, 2nd year, Captain Tachibana Kippei's younger sister
Why was Momoshiro-kun playing street tennis against Yamabuki players after school? Maybe Seigaku didn't have tennis practice, but that doesn't sound possible since the Kantou Tournament is near. Then again, Yamabuki didn't seem to have practice either if several of the players were at the street tennis courts.
Momoshiro-kun seemed depressed, without his usual bright violet eyes, smile, laugh, or spirit. I have a bad feeling about it. Did something happen?
XXX
Muromachi Touji – Yamabuki Chuu Tennis Club regular, 2nd year
For days, Nishikiori-senpai has been trying to fill the gap left by Akutsu-senpai. Now Banjii-sensei is either trying to convince that monster to return or recruit strong players from other schools. That is why we did not have afternoon practice today.
Nishikiori-senpai wanted to play doubles so Nitobe-senpai and I took him to the street tennis courts after school. Seigaku probably didn't have practice either because we encountered Momoshiro, the guy who beat Sengoku-senpai with a leg cramp. He decided to play against us alone since he was by himself.
We had Nishikiori-senpai team up with Nitobe-senpai in the first match, then with me in the second. Unfortunately, the Seigaku player won both times despite being outnumbered 2 to 1. Though Akutsu-senpai is trash to the tennis world, his departure has weakened Yamabuki. We will need to work harder for the Kantou Tournament.
XXX
Mrs. Momoshiro
I don't know what made my oldest child decide to clean his room today. Takeshi just said that he didn't have much homework, which left him free time. When asked why he didn't do his homework first, he said that he didn't want to disturb us with too much noise at night. Still, I am glad he cleaned his room, and I will make Kokoro and Isamu clean theirs this weekend.
My older son has been behaving strangely the last two days. Besides suddenly cleaning his room, he has not been talking and eating much. While it's healthier to not overeat, something is not right.
XXX
Momoshiro Takeshi
I managed to avoid the Seigaku tennis courts and regulars today to figure out what was wrong with my games. Well, it's no use for me to attend practice if I am resigning from the Seigaku Tennis Club. I was afraid to be spotted at lunch, but fortunately there is an isolated pond with plenty of trees around to hide me.
I won against some Yamabuki regulars in street tennis this afternoon. I remember Nitobe-san since he and his partner crushed Fuji-senpai and Taka-san in the prefecturals, so I kind of got my revenge over him.
Muromachi said that Nishikiori-san has been trying to fill the gap left by that monster who almost beat up Echizen. Both guys were not familiar to me, probably because they didn't get to play against us in the prefecturals. Singles or doubles, I didn't care. I was playing alone, even if outnumbered. Akutsu's departure has definitely weakened Yamabuki. I guess I can still play tennis, but not at Seigaku's level.
Okaasan and Otousan were happy that I cleaned my room after I got home. It does feel more comfortable now.
2nd Day After Ranking Tournament
Vice-captain Oishi Syuichirou
Tezuka asked about Momoshiro, and I told him the truth: I didn't know. Momo has not been showing up for club activities for two days now. I hope he is not ill, injured, or even worse… dead… no, I shouldn't think that. I hope he returns tomorrow.
XXX
Momoshiro Takeshi
During lunch today, I tried different tennis poses and moves without my racket. I'm glad I was behind some trees at the pond where no one could see me for I was making a fool of myself. My skills are pathetic! None of the forms I tried matched those of my teammates.
I was finally able to truly win a game against that annoying dane idiot from St. Rudolph though he had a different partner, and I was playing singles. I didn't really have to use much skill since Yanagisawa's partner was Nomura-san, a weak player. At least, I didn't dunk smash him in the face or have that idiot mamushi as my partner again. However, that duck-faced moron had to mention him! Grrr!
Why did he have to be the referee for the next game? Fortunately, Nomura-san soon decided to take over because we were getting fed up with his "danes" at the end of every sentence. The setting was perfect for avenging my senpais' loss to Akazawa-san and Kaneda in the prefecturals. I cannot forgive that Bakazawa for yelling rude comments at the Golden Pair, especially Eiji-senpai, and hurting his and Echizen's eyes with those blurring balls.
As we played, that St. Rudolph buchou even got mad because I couldn't see those multiple balls. I don't know why Kaneda respects that hostile, uncooperative guy. Despite Bakazawa's bragging, he and his partner could not carry out the Australian formation, and provided me a chance to hit a dunk smash. The ball struck that stupid buchou's head, knocking him out, then slammed into his follower's shoulder. This ended the game and sent them to the hospital.
Why did they have to be so weak? If they couldn't take my revenge, then they shouldn't have bullied my senpais that time.
I was still on fire so I decided to play some DDRMax when I got home. Then Otousan had to interrupt and order me to turn it off, start my homework, and be a good role model for Kokoro and Isamu again! Argh! It's always about being good for them!
Okaasan and Otousan bugged me about my eating and behavior again. It's so annoying! I just want to be left alone!
XXX
Yanagisawa Shinya – St. Rudolph Gakuen Tennis Club regular, 3rd year
That Seigaku powerhouse really likes dunking people out and saying that I'm annoying dane. He even called me "dane idiot" during street tennis this afternoon dane. That was what Bandana-kun called me a few weeks ago, and Momoshiro even got mad when I mentioned him dane. It looks like they hate each other since they kept fighting during the match with me and Kisarazu Atsushi in the prefecturals dane.
This time that monster's dunk smash knocked Akazawa-buchou unconscious, then struck Kaneda in the shoulder dane. Buchou is still in the hospital tonight for a head injury and concussion dane. He will probably be released tomorrow dane. His doubles partner was finally able to go home after receiving a sling for his bruised shoulder and fractured collarbone dane. We had waited forever in the hospital dane. It was too boring dane.
Why were those two the only ones to win matches in the prefecturals dane? The rest of us lost dane. Now we can't play in the Kantou Tournament dane.
XXX
Kaneda Ichirou – St. Rudolph Gakuen Tennis Club regular, 2nd year
I have a bruise on my right shoulder, and the doctor also diagnosed a fractured clavicle… ouch! Well, I'm better off than Akazawa-buchou who is suffering from a bruise on his head, depressed skull fracture, and concussion. He has been slipping in and out of consciousness since that Seigaku powerhouse dunk smashed him this afternoon. The doctors want to keep him in the hospital for at least another day to make sure his health is in no danger. Fortunately, there is no bleeding inside his skull. We have both been feeling better so far, which is good news. The waiting and procedures took up hours! It was so boring!
I guess Seigaku didn't have practice today since Momoshiro was at the street tennis courts, and he beat us and the Nomura-Yanagisawa pair despite being outnumbered two to one. He really likes to dunk his opponents out since he did that to Yanagisawa-senpai at the prefecturals a few weeks ago, forcing him and Kisarazu-senpai to forfeit. I'm glad Buchou and I had won our match against the Golden Pair afterwards. We should have known that Momoshiro would seek revenge for that, but I stupidly lobbed the ball and gave him the chance. It's bad enough that we didn't qualify for the Kantou Tournament, but now we will not even be able to play tennis for awhile.
Our manager had recruited the so-called best players in the region, but they all lost in the last two prefectural matches this year. Only Buchou and I, the non-recruits of St. Rudolph, won, so gathering players from outside does not help.
To be continued…
A/N:
I did not write some of the nouns in English, because the characters wouldn't seem as real. Here are the translations based on subtitles:
Okaasan – mother
Otousan – father
Imouto – younger sister
Otouto – younger brother
Ojisan – uncle
Oyaji – another way of saying "father," translates to "old man"
Buchou – captain
Fukubuchou - vice-captain
Senpai – senior
Mamushi – Gloydius blomhoffii (mamushi or Japanese mamushi) is a species of vipers commonly found in Japan.
Sensei – teacher, coach
Kun – honorific for boys
Chan – honorific for girls or children
San – general honorific, can be translated to Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.
Mada mada dane – "no, not yet" or "you still have a ways to go" (Echizen's favorite phrase)
Fshuuu… - Kaidou's favorite hissing sound, earning him the nicknames of "Snake" and "Mamushi"
I tried to arrange the characters' entries in a way where there will be smooth progression of thoughts and events as well as better story organization.
I know that I broke some medical rules in the story. If people lose consciousness in real life, someone should immediately call the ambulance and have them sent to the ER. For example, in Episode 31 and Genius 67, when Momoshiro knocked out Yanagisawa Shinya with his dunk smash, someone should have immediately dialed the emergency number, but his teammates just placed him on a bench, and he soon recovered. In real life, such a hard hit to the face would kill someone. However, the producers and I did not follow medical procedures since this is just anime and manga. I just went along with it, so it wouldn't ruin the mood and flow of the story as well as bring in OOC behavior and unsuitable situations.
Both Momoshiro's first (given) and last (surname) names seem related to traditional warriors, so I thought his parents gave those type of names to all their children. Here are the names and ages I assigned. I also included the name meanings, which were from internet sources. I apologize if I got them wrong.
Momoshiro's siblings:
Kokoro (heart or spirit) – younger sister, 8
Isamu (courage, bravery) – younger brother, 6