EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED COUPLE
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS
Prologue: The Day it All Began
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very fortunate to have so many friends and acquaintances gather here tonight, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Tsukimori Media Group. On behalf of the Tsukimori family, please enjoy tonight's party." Tsukimori Akio, founder of the company, boomed to a full room of guests.
The Tsukimori Media Group is an international company comprised of global television channels, magazine and book publications, radio broadcast and so forth. Tsukimori Akio built this empire with his bare hands. At the age of 72, he has recently announced his retirement, ready to hand over the leadership of the company to his only son, Tsukimori Isao. Tonight, Akio has invited numerous friends and their families to welcome his passing of reins to the next generation.
"Congratulations, Akio! You've raised a fine young man." Sanada Genmon said to his old friend, patting Isao on the back.
"You are too kind, sir." Isao bowed and smiled at the elder. He looked over at his lovely wife, Kaede, who was busy hosting all of the arriving guests.
"Ah Genmon, it's good to have you here." Akio replied, "Where are Nao, Hana and Masaru?" Akio asked.
"They should have arrived by now. Oh, speak of the devil! Here they come!" Genmon pointed to the people walking towards them.
"Old friend, it's been a long time." Yukimura Nao and Shiraishi Hana smiled at Akio, with Atobe Masaru behind her.
"A suitable party for this occasion." Masaru nodded his approval.
Akio was glad to have so many of his long term friends present.
Sanda Genmon was a police officer in his youth. With his sharp wits and honest nature, he had an iron hand in reforming the national police force, and eventually made it to the position of Chief of Police. After his retirement, he used the connections he had in the legal system to head a security company with his son. With hard work, dedication and with his reputation, he was extremely successful in establishing an international security and protection empire to numerous tycoon companies in the world.
Yukimura Nao has always been a famous beauty ever since they were in school together. She has always been a supportive and gentle friend, who also had a talent for taking care of young children. As a former elementary school principle, Nao has raised an outstanding and devoted family of her own. Akio and the rest of his friends were all extremely sad when Nao's husband died a few years ago. But she was a strong woman who now puts much of her time to look after her children and grandchildren.
Shiraishi Hana has been best friends with Nao for years. But after she got married, she moved to Osaka and became one of the top sales of her husband's pharmaceutical company. After her husband retired, she took over the management and has been the CEO ever since. Hana was so strong-willed that she was able to balance her business and family life perfectly.
Atobe Masaru was by far the proudest person Akio has ever known, but despite Masaru's background, Akio does not consider him to be an arrogant person. Born to a wealthy family, Masaru is now the head of the Atobe International Group, with multi-industrial investments and structures. The extent of his investments is so vast that it was a real miracle for him to be available for today's party.
"Are the children all here as well?" Akio asked his friends.
"No, my son had business in the Middle East, but I was able to bring my grandson, Keigo. It's not often he returns to Japan." Masaru shook his head. "That boy went off to find his own amusement. I should really have someone bring him over."
"Haha, that's okay! Curiosity at such a young age is hardly a bad thing. There are plenty of things to keep him interested in the mansion." Akio laughed.
"Oh, I also brought my grandchildren. I believe Keigo is the same age as my grandson, Seichi." Nao replied.
"Yes, that would mean he's the same age as my Kuranosuke. We should really introduce them since we don't come to Tokyo too often. Akio, after talking to Kaede at the door, I especially want to meet that adorable granddaughter of yours, Shiori. You really shouldn't have kept her so well hidden. Now, where are those wayward kids?" Hana frowned.
"Not to worry, Hana." Genmon looked to the side of the room, gesturing a boy to over. "Why don't I send my grandson, Genichirou, to search for the children?"
Genichirou, a child of around ten years old stood aside his grandfather, wearing a stern expression.
"Genichirou, pay your respect to your elders." His grandfather commanded.
Genichirou straightened his back and bowed deeply.
"Genmon, so this is the boy you were talking about." Nao smiled warmly at the young boy, making the boy blush.
"It might be a little early to tell, but he shows promise. His father and I have high hopes for him." Genmon said proudly, "Genichirou, I need you to find a few people at the party for me. These people are all young man around your age. You know Yukimura Seichi already, and you can have a look at Keigo and Kuranosuke from Hana and Masaru's photos. Bring them back to us when you find them. There's someone special I want all of you to meet."
"Yes, grandfather." Genichirou bowed. He took a quick look at the photos of the two boys and set off quickly.
"Wow, what a large tennis court!" Yukimura Seichi looked in awe at the empty tennis court. He bounced back and forth around the court, looking to find a racquet and tennis balls. In the end, he found a small compartment outside of the fence with a few new racquets and dozens of tennis balls. Excitedly, he took out the equipment and started practicing.
"If you want to play, you should have an opponent." A voice appeared, making Seichi look behind him. A boy with light purple hair looked challenging at him.
"Who are you?" Seichi asked.
"I'm Atobe Keigo, and you are…?"
"I'm Yukimura Seichi. Are you a guest here too?"
"I am. The party was no fun, so I came to look for a bit of amusement. What do you say we play a match? I shall dazzle you with my skills." Keigo looked at him.
"Hey, no fair. I want to play too, if you guys are playing." A third boy with silver-brown hair jumped out of nowhere, and rushed to pick up a racquet.
"Humph! I don't mind if I play against you two." Keigo shrugged.
"Actually, I was going to say the same thing." Seichi smiled sweetly.
"How about we take turns then?" The third boy, who introduced himself as Shiraishi Kuranosuke suggested.
While the three boys argued, Sanada Genichirou stepped onto the court and walked over. Sensing someone behind him, Keigo looked up.
"Yukimura, your grandmother is looking for you." Genichirou said seriously. "You guys must be Atobe Keigo and Shiraishi Kuranosuke. Your grandparents have also requested your presence as well."
"Oh?" Keigo raised an eyebrow.
"Sanada, you came at the perfect time. Now we can play a doubles game." Seichi pushed a racquet into Genichirou's hand, and positioned himself on the court.
"Yukimura, our grandparents are waiting…" Genichirou frowned.
"I guess one set wouldn't hurt. It'll be over quick anyways." Keigo said smugly.
Upon hearing his words, Genichirou gripped his racquet tightly and walked to Seichi's side of the court without another word.
Kuranosuke smiled and walked to the other side with Keigo.
Despite the young age of the boys, a fierce and relentless battle ensued. Yet unbeknownst to them, a young girl happened to chance upon their match from her window.
Tsukimori Shiori, Akio's granddaughter, saw from her window the exciting tennis match the four boys were playing. At the age of eight, she's never seen anyone played tennis, even though her family's compound included the facility. To her, it was an interesting and curious thing to watch.
Before her mother came to get her, she snuck out of her room and went downstairs towards the tennis court. When she got there, the boys were too busy competing against each other to notice her.
Just when Genichirou was about to strike his serve, a timid voice came from the side of the court, "What are all of you doing? Can I join in the game?"
He dropped the ball and frowned at the disruption. A little girl with the color of midnight hair and a pair of soft gray eyes strolled in. She worn an elegant ivory gown with red ribbons tied to her ponytail, and her eyes danced curiously around the court.
"Sorry, but the game is already going on. You'll have to wait till later to play." Seichi smiled at the newcomer, hoping she would stay back for them to finish the game.
"But…but it looks quite fun. My grandfather has always said I'm good at sports. I can show you." Shiori pouted, trying to win Seichi over.
"Sorry, no can do." Kuranosuke shrugged his disagreement.
"But…but…" The little girl stuttered, confused as to why all the boys did not comply with her wishes like everyone else.
"It's quite obvious we all feel the same. Stand back if you don't want to get hurt." Keigo pointed to the side of the court, ushering the girl to leave. Though he wasn't sure who she was, it was obvious she was here for the party. But Keigo doesn't care; everything else can wait until he beat these worthy opponents.
Shiori's eyes begin to tear up. She looked longingly at Genichirou, who was the only one who hasn't said anything.
Genichirou walked over and shook his head. He gently pushed Shiori out of the way. Before turning back to the court, Shiori grabbed his racquet and smiled deviously at him. "Now I got you. It's my turn!"
Genichirou looked annoyingly at the child in front of him. He did not like her childish behavior, but he remembered he was a guest here and tried to reason with the girl.
"Like we said, we are still playing a game. You can play after we have finished."
"No! You'll all just leave after the party. I really want to play now, please…pretty please?" The girl begged again.
In truth, all of the boys didn't want to forfeit the game. It was hard to find a worthy opponent, not to mention all three at once. The continual disruption by the young girl was really beginning to get on their nerves.
"I'm not letting go until you guys agree!" Shiori said stubbornly.
Genichirou tried to grab the racquet back forcibly, but Shiori held on tight. As Keigo, Seichi and Kuranosuke walk toward them, Genichirou decided to relinquish this racquet for another. At the same time, Shiori pulled with all of her might. Unfortunately, this caused her to fall back hard and smack her head directly on the net post.
The impact instantly knocked Shiori unconscious, with a deep cut to the back of her head. The four boys were shocked by the turn of the event, and rushed over to oversee her injury.
Genichirou and Keigo picked the girl up and lay her down on the bench, while Seichi grabbed his jacket to try to stop the bleeding. Kuranosuke immediately volunteered to go find his grandmother in the house to help.
"Genichirou, what do we do? There's so much blood." Seichi's hand trembled as blood continued to ooze out.
"Keep putting pressure on the wound." Genichirou replied, with Keigo pulling off his own jacket to add to the pressuring.
"What is going on here?" Akio boomed as he rushed into the court. Hana, Nao, Masaru and Genmon quickly followed, with Kuranosuke in front of them.
"Shiori!" Akio walked over quickly, picking up his granddaughter. He's shocked to see the seriousness of the injury, and at the same time, furious at the boys.
"Akio, call for a doctor or have an ambulance brought over immediately. Shiori needs need help now." Hana instructed, taking over the girl's first aid.
While Hana and Nao took care of the girl, Akio, Genmon and Masaru questioned the boys.
"What happened here? Speak up." Akio raged.
"Sir, it was my fault. She wanted to play with us, but we didn't let her. She got hurt because of my childish behavior." Genichirou stepped up and spoke.
"No, we were all to blame." Seichi and Kuranosuke both admitted, not wanting Genichirou to take all of the blame.
"Excuse me, sir. In fact, the whole scenario happened like this…" Keigo quickly covered the entire story.
"The doctor's here!" Kaede rushed in with Isao and the doctor. They quickly moved Shiori into the house for a thorough examination. With Kaede, Nao and Hana helping the doctor, the men returned to the party, keeping the unexpected scene from the rest of the guests. The four boys were instructed to wait in a room until the party was over.
Several hours later, after all of the guests have left, the men returned to where the boys have stayed, only to find Nao and Hana in the same room.
"How is she?" Akio and Isao asked immediately.
"She's had a few stitching to close the wound, and thankfully only a minor concussion. Now she needs lots of rest to recover, but she'll be fine." Hana answered.
Akio sighed with relief. Now that that's over, he's had time to think about what just happened. The more he thought about a certain plan of his, the more probably it seems. As unfortunate as this incident was, it was also the perfect opportunity to realize his goal.
Ever since he announced his retirement, he's had time to think about his family's future. Akio wasn't worried about Isao and Kaede, but he was worried about his only granddaughter. As Shiori is his sole heir, Akio has only ever wanted her to enjoy life to her heart's desire. But at the same time, she was fated to carry on the vast empire of his fortune. Akio has always regretted not having a grandson, and since all of his old friends have always spoken of their grandsons with pride, it has given Akio the perfect solution to his dilemma.
"Boys, I know none of you meant any harm so nothing will be held against you. It's been a long day and none of you has had much to eat. I want all of you to go with Uncle Isao to get something to eat." Akio ordered, making the boys leave the room.
"Akio, I'm really sorry about all this. If there is anything we can do, please do not hesitate to let us know." Nao said sympathetically, while Hana, Genmon and Masaru nodded their agreement.
"Actually, there is something I have to ask from all of you."
"You know you can ask anything from us, as long as it is within our power." Masaru promised.
"Oh, it's definitely within your power. All I ask if for all of you to agree to my proposition."
"What proposition?" Genmon said puzzled.
"Even though what the boys did was unintentional, but the damage has already been done. Shiori will, for the rest of her life, carry the scar with her. All I ask is for the boys to look after her when she's older." Akio begins to unfold his plan.
"Of course it's not a problem! Shiori will be like our own granddaughter." Hana added.
"Actually, there's a bit more to that." Akio continued, walking over to his own desk.
"What do you mean?" Masaru questioned.
"I need all of you to agree to a contract of responsibility."
"Contract? Responsibility?" Nao wasn't sure where Akio was going with this.
"Sigh, I guess now is as good as ever to let all of you know. Shiori is my only heir, and all I want for her is to live a carefree life. At the same time, she also has the responsibility to carry on the company, yet I do not want to put her under such stress in her condition."
"What do you mean?" Genmon pressed.
"She has congenital heart disease." Akio said with a heavy heart.
"!" The rest of them gasped at the severity of the truth.
"Akio, I'm so sorry to hear about this. But how does this tie in with a contract?" Masaru asked.
"It's really very simple. Since my granddaughter won't be able to lead my company, then I must find the most suitable person who will be able to carry it for her. After hearing about the boys for years, and after what happened, I think it's only fair that the boys become a marital candidate for my little Shiori."
"What?" The rest gasped again.
"Akio, I think this is going a little far…" Nao began, but only to be stopped by Akio with a wave of his hand.
"All of you would do the exact same thing, if you were placed in my situation. Besides, I am only asking for a chance, that's all. The conditions of the contract will be most explicit, benefiting both sides. The children will still be given choices to their own future. The contract is merely an incentive for them to get to know each other better."
"Hmmm…." Masaru thought about it, "I am not saying yes, but I don't mind if you elaborate your plan a little."
Seeing Masaru's attitude, Akio was almost sure that Masaru will agree with him. Clearly, Masaru was the quickest to catch on the advantages of their children getting married.
"The terms will be simple. The kids can do whatever they choose in the coming eight years. By Shiori's sixteenth birthday, if the boys are still single, we will come up with an occasion to bind them together for a little while. This period of time will allow them to get close to each other and determine each other's suitability."
"Well, it doesn't sound too bad so far…" Hana replied.
"Now, should the man Shiori chooses also agree to an engagement, then the engagement will be binding. It also means, should it ever happen, that they will need both grandparents' approval to dissolve the formal engagement. Hopefully, this will dissuade them from making any rash decisions. Lastly, the conditions of the contracts must be exclusively for our ears only. Do you all agree?"
The rest of them look at each other, not at all sure if they should go along with Akio's plan.
"I'm not getting any younger, and neither are all of you. If our grandchildren choose to be together, then what's the harm? I'm only asking them to spend some time together in the future. Is that so hard to agree to?" Akio sighed.
"Well, as long as the terms are quite clear. I don't see anything wrong with it." Masaru smirked, "What about the rest of you?"
"This…is unheard of…" Genmon was still struggling.
"Come on, Genmon. Didn't you always secretly want a granddaughter?" Akio baited, as Genmon coughed in embarrassment.
"I suppose there is no real harm in this agreement." Hana finally said, watching as Nao also relents.
"Good, I'll have my lawyer draw up the papers." Akio said delightedly.
"Lawyer? Aren't you taking it a little far?" Nao frowned.
"Better to have it down on paper. My mind just isn't what it used to be. I've always prefer to have something solid in my hands than just an abstract idea." Akio chuckled.
"A business man to the end…How like you, my old friend…" Masaru and Hana both laughed, with Genmon and Nao sighing helplessly.
Here's my new story! I hope everyone will enjoy it as much as I am! For the prologue, I've used most of the PoT's first name because of the appearance of their grandparents. In later chapters, I will change it so that they are referred by their last name (just to keep it in line with the manga/anime)!
This story is coming a little harder than I thought, so please be patient!