Author's Note: I fixed all the language errors in here. Thanks to ochineko for correcting them.
THE MEANING OF DOWN
"Sugoi, Ootori-kun! Your serve just keeps getting faster and faster!"
Scratching the back of his head nervously, Ootori Choutarou paused for a moment to give Jirou a small smile, replying sheepishly, "Arigatou, Jirou-senpai."
Meanwhile, some of the other regulars observed the match with curiosity. Oshitari and Mukahi watched as Ootori sent another one of his scud serves right past Jirou, only earning even more squeals and cheers from the overly energetic third year. Mukahi merely frowned at the sight.
"This is the fourth service ace against Jirou. Shouldn't he be a little upset?" he asked his trustworthy partner Oshitari. The tensai gave a dignified scoff, almost bordering the line of an arrogant chuckle, and responded coolly, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Jirou does not know the meaning of the word down."
The statement was severe, but true, nevertheless. To Jirou, the word down, or anything of synonymy, didn't even exist in his vocabulary. No one, not even his closet friends and family, could imagine a time when Jirou was upset about anything or anyone.
Still, there were always exceptions.
Jirou exited the tennis club locker room, starting to slip back into his narcolepsy. Tennis practice always made him tired, though it was a wonder why it did, since he slept through most of it anyways. As he made his way through the streets of Tokyo, he spotted a familiar figure, waiting by one of the benches in a nearby park. The vibrant hair color and deafening pop of the bubblegum was all too recognizable. Almost instantly, excitement rushed through Jirou, and he cried out to the volley specialist of Rikkaidai.
"Marui-kun! Marui-kun! It's Akutagawa Jirou. I've been a fan of yours ever since you beat me in the Newcomer's Tournament."
"Jirou, we've met. You don't have to keep telling me this," Marui said with a smile.
"I know, but it's been such a long time. I thought that maybe you might have forgotten me."
Marui simply rolled his eyes and placed a reassuring hand on Jirou's shoulder.
"No one could ever forget you, Jirou."
With that, Jirou emitted a series of squeals and giggles that rivaled that of an elementary school child, but all of this was forgotten when Marui stuck his hand up in the air to wave to someone a distance away.
"Oi, Naru-chan! Over here!"
Jirou blinked in confusion as a girl approached the two, a jovial expression on her face. Walking up to greet her, Marui pecked her on the cheek and proceeded to drape an arm around her, finally turning back to Jirou.
"Jirou, I don't know if I've introduced you before, but this is my girlfriend."
The girl flashed a friendly smile and extended a hand.
"Kurosawa Narumi desu. Nice to meet you."
Jirou returned the gesture, plastering a smile of his own, but for once in his life, smiling became a difficulty.
"Akutagawa Jirou."
He didn't know why, but as he was shaking her hand, he was squeezing more than necessary. The girl paid no attention to this, however, and took to it all the same.
"Well then, we have to go," Marui said after the hand exchange. "See you later, Jirou."
Jirou responded with a limp wave as the two left, leaving Jirou to gaze after them. Now alone, he gripped the straps of his tennis bag tightly. There was a certain pang in his chest that he has never felt before. It didn't feel good. He didn't understand it, but whatever this feeling was that caused him so much pain, he knew he didn't like it. With a pout, Jirou walked away, hands in his pocket as he kicked weakly at one of the small stones on the ground.
No, Jirou didn't know the meaning of the word down, until he met the one person that could make him feel that way.
Sweet Pair is probably the most adorable pairing in the entire anime. Too bad I had to make this a little sad. Oh well, hope you enjoyed. Review, please!