Title: The Second Meeting
Pairing: Yagyuu x Oshitari
Disclaimer: not mine, cool? cool.
Notes: Sorry, this is kind of boring-ish - it's setting up the storyline. It gets more interesting, I promise.
He wasn't quite sure when it happened. Maybe it was nationals the year prior, maybe it was the Kantou Regionals. In any case, Oshitari found himself anxiously awaiting this year's newcomers' tournament for the high school division, aware that it might be the only time this year he'd get to play a match against the Rikkai first years.
The transition from junior high to senior high wasn't a very big deal for him, or his teammates. All the former Regulars continued onto Hyoutei's high school division, and as far as he'd heard, so had all of the Rikkai third years entered Rikkai's high school. It was reminiscent of his first year in junior high. Even Atobe resigned himself to not being on the Regulars team, after having lost to the captain in a practice match. Unlike junior high though, their practices as first years consisted of training with and playing against each other most of the time, sometimes playing against the second or third years for a change of pace on both sides.
He pushed his glasses higher up on his nose as they entered the same courts the junior high Kantou Regionals had been. Of course Atobe walked in front - Atobe never followed anyone - but it was kind of strange to not see the looming figure of Kabaji following, a sleeping Jirou draped over his shoulder. Instead, Jirou was now forced to walk on his own, though he seemed to enjoy leaning on Atobe as he walked, eyes closed. Briefly, he saw Atobe give Jirou a small smile, and was that a light kiss on the top of his head? before slowing his pace ever so slightly.
It hurt, a little, to think that Atobe now smiled at Jirou like that, but not as much as it had two years ago, when they had been second years and Atobe had declared a breakup. Atobe needed to be needed, that's just the way he was. Jirou needed someone to take care of him. They fit perfectly. Oshitari was independent - he couldn't rely on Atobe the way Atobe wanted, and that was that.
A familiar flash of blue, white and red caught his eye, and Oshitari turned to see Seigaku, also heading to the registration table. Tezuka Kunimitsu, the individual that won singles one at the nationals' finals, was unmistakably ready to lead his team to another victory.
Atobe walked straight to the front of the table, bypassing some team with a green uniform, and handed a piece of paper to the organizer behind it. The Hyoutei team stood off to the side, a little bit strange without Ohtori, Kabaji, or Hiyoshi. They would be in the crowds watching though; Shishido mentioned yesterday that Ohtori had promised to be there. No doubt that was whom Shishido was looking for, right now, Oshitari thought with a slight smile, watching the shorter boy turning a full three sixty, looking off in the distance somewhere. Oshitari let his gaze wander a bit more discreetly, looking for the beige uniforms that would indicate Rikkai's presence.
"Yukimura-kun, what a pleasure to see you in uniform again. Are you going to be singles one today?" Come to think of it, Oshitari wasn't even sure why he was so anxious to see the Rikkai team. It wasn't like he was close enough to anyone on the team to actually start a conversation with them. Atobe, on the other hand, clearly felt at ease talking to anyone he so chose to. Turning, Oshitari's heart beat faster as beige entered his peripheral vision, then gained focus as he faced the Rikkai team.
"Ah! Marui-kun, you're here too!" Jirou was suddenly full of energy, excitedly chattering to an amused yet slightly bewildered pink haired genius about volley training techniques. Oshitari smiled at the scene and shook his head - Jirou would never change. In doing so, though, he saw, from around the left rim of his glasses, a flash of tan hair only a few shades darker than his uniform.
Yagyuu Hiroshi.
Oshitari Yuushi didn't often succumb to temptation, but this time, he did. Turning his head slightly, he got his first clear view of Yagyuu since nationals, where his Laser had all but single handedly destroyed Gakuto's game. The tall, skinny boy stood perfectly straight, arms crossed over his chest as he smiled as his captain. His silver-headed partner, Niou, was standing a bit behind him, staring directly back at Oshitari with a smirk that made Oshitari worry, just a bit. Oops.
He quickly looked away, trying to focus again on what Atobe and Yukimura were discussing. Apparently by now, Atobe had dragged Tezuka into the conversation, and they were discussing holding some practice matches on weekends when the Regulars would be playing actual matches, to stay in shape or something. Atobe maybe didn't seem like it often, but there were reasons to his being their captain - he did tend to look out for the team's best interest, though mostly in covert ways, for some unknown reason.
"Oshitari Yuushi," a voice behind him said. He turned, responding in form. "Niou Masaharu."
"We will be playing each other today." It was irritating how there were lingering traces of evil in Niou's smile, and a matching glint in his eyes.
"How interesting," he responded.
"Hey Hiroshi!" Niou called, eyes never leaving Oshitari's face, seemingly taking careful note of every muscle that moved in response to Yagyuu's first name. Yagyuu finally turned from observing the hyperactive volley pair and walked over. "Yes? Hello, Oshitari-kun. I hope you're doing well." Oshitari could only nod a response.
"What was this guy's weakness, again? I've forgotten."
"That's not polite, Niou."
"But I'm playing him; I want to know."
"It's still not polite. Look, Yukimura's calling us. Let's go. See you later, Oshitari-kun." Swiftly, Yagyuu had his partner by the shirt sleeve and was leading him back to where the Rikkai team was gathering.
Oshitari was annoyed. He was both annoyed and angry. Niou was clearly trying to provoke him - at which he succeeded, an unwelcome voice in the back of his mind pointed out - but Yagyuu hadn't even cared about him. Yagyuu's statement showed both respect for Oshitari's skills, but the way he said it also clearly indicated his belief that Oshitari would be no challenge to Niou, whether or not Niou knew his weaknesses. Well, he would just have to prove them wrong. Determination was part of the game, too, and they'd just ignited his desire to win, to put himself on their rival radar.
Before the tournament was over, he would make sure they looked at him as more than just another prodigy.