Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
"Once on Sight"
I watched him from afar. I always did. I always have been and always will be watching him from a distance then a cool breeze just passed by.
There he is, walking with utter grace. His hair was moving slightly because of the wind. His eyes were only looking ahead, barely noticing much of his surroundings. His lips were almost pursed together to a familiar frown. His attention was never wavering as he walked by.
Here I am, sitting on my usual tree branch while admiring him quietly. My hair was slightly moving with the wind too. My eyes were only looking at him, mostly his eyes. My attention was only at him until the bell rang.
'Will you ever see me?' I thought sadly as I made my way to our classroom.
I sat down on my seat then stared at the window, thinking of how it all started. I looked at nothing particular then started my usual daydream.
Ever since I saw him back at our first year of middle school, he had my interest right away. First, it was only his looks, then his tennis and then his knowledge. Until half way of our second year there, I knew it was love.
My first thought when I discovered this feeling was, 'I'm in love with him?' After that though, everything began to get harder. We were often partners for projects and I always sat near him or next to him.
Our third year of middle school was the most memorable of all. The team were practicing everyday and celebrating after every win. I would have congratulated them if I weren't so shy. They probably don't even know who I am! I was always too shy, mostly at school. I always blended in the background easily, like a shadow.
'I'm a shadow in the background? It surely fits me. If our teacher didn't took our attendance everyday, they wouldn't even know I was even there!' I thought, commenting on my reverie.
I went to all their matches since he joined the team. I also hid high on the trees too. Sometimes, I over hear people talking about the team and how strong the regulars were. I tried to hold back a smile every time I heard a comment like that.
High school was also the same. Now, we're in our last year of high school and the team is complete. Just then, the bell rang. I kept my stuff and looked around. Many of my classmates already left either for home or club activities. I silently made my way out.
"Are you still going to practice?" My best friend asked when we met up at the lockers.
I nodded slightly. My best friend since the start of high school nodded.
"See you tomorrow then." I said softly.
"Aa…" He said then left.
I made my way to the courts silently. When I reached the courts, I went towards my usual tree, the one I was on earlier, while the members warmed up and the regulars still inside the club room.
I quietly took out my camera while balancing myself on the tree branch. I took a few pictures of the members either serving, smashing, volleying or simply hitting. I drifted my attention to the club room just to see the regulars leaving.
I took pictures of all of them as they walked towards a court then when they started practicing. Every time I took a picture of him, my hands trembled slightly and a small blush crept up my usually pale cheeks.
Just then, a soft breeze passed by. I tied my hair to keep most of it away from my face then continued my task of taking pictures until their practice ended. I went down the tree while the members left and the regulars changed.
Sadly, someone caught me as I landed down. That someone was the one and only tensai of our school tennis team. I grew beet red once I noticed him looking at me. Then I noticed the other regulars looking at me from behind him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked simply.
"It's nothing. If you may excuse me, I need to go home before night fall." I said, my attitude quickly changing from shy and worried to cool and composed.
After a short yet curt bow, I left after I took my bag from the bushes and my bow behind the tree. Once I was away from them and the school, I fixed my hold on my camera.
'I hope they didn't notice this.' I thought worriedly then continued my way home.
A week has passed since that happening. I once again sat on my usual spot on the tree but I wasn't looking at the courts anymore. I was thinking about the pictures I took a week ago. Archery practice was on Tuesdays and Thursdays while the photography club usually held meetings on Mondays and Fridays.
Today was like any other Wednesday. I sighed as I held my camera against my nearly flat chest. I looked at the courts just to see them cleaning up.
'It's been that long already?' I thought and got ready to jump down.
I first looked around if anyone was near before jumping down. Then I felt my stomach grumble.
'I guess I could take a small snack before heading home.' I decided as I took my stuff.
I walked out of my hiding place carelessly, not minding or caring if anyone saw me or not. Once I reached the gate, I looked behind me. There I saw were the regulars leaving the club room. I directed my attention ahead of me then made my way to the nearest fast food joint here. I took my order then took a seat near the window.
As I was eating my burger, I saw three familiar boys heading towards the joint. Later, they took a seat on the table next to mine. When I took a small glance at them, I noticed looking at me. I decided to face them.
"Yes, how may I help you?" I asked, getting to the point.
"You're that girl from last week, right? The one we saw by the bushes." The red-head one said.
I gave him a small nod.
"What were you doing there?" He asked.
"That's where I hang out most of the time." I said, being shy suddenly.
"Ah. What's your name?" He asked.
I told him my name then he gave me his and his friends' names. I gave them an acknowledging nod. I just pretended I didn't know them.
Just then, he invited me to come with them to the mall to hang out and stuff on Saturday with his friends after their practice.
"Sure. By the way, I'll be bringing a friend since we're going to pick up our stuff at the same day. I also need to get my bow fixed." I said.
"Bow?" The black-haired one asked.
"I'm part of the archery club and before you ask, I'm also in the photography club." I answered, showing them my camera.
They both nodded. Later, we all bid farewell and went our way home. I silently prayed that nothing would go wrong on Saturday.
Saturday came in a flash. I went to school that day too but I didn't wear my uniform. Instead, I wore a dark blue shirt, dark jeans and a pair of hi-cut black converses. My sapphire blue hair was held back by a black headband.
A black and blue messenger bag, which contains some of the stuff I brought, was on my right shoulder. Another bag was on my left shoulder, which contains my bow, a couple of arrows and a few tennis balls, thinking I could get some target practice after this trip.
My best friend on the other hand, was wearing a black shirt, dark jeans and a pair of hi-cut black converses. His hair was neatly combed. A black messenger bag containing some stuff he brought was on his right shoulder. He was holding a bag with a soccer ball and some clothes inside it, probably planning on practicing after the trip as well.
When they were done, we went down the tree branches we were sitting on and waited on the bench nearby. Once they were all done and outside, we made our way to the mall. There was an unusual silence among us after I was introduced to them since they already knew my companion.
Just then, I stopped in front of this shop. After asking permission to leave for awhile, I quickly went inside, bought a few tennis balls then went back outside again. I kept most of the tennis balls inside my bag except two. I threw the other one to my friend.
"You two play tennis?" One of the regulars asked, I didn't know since my friend and I were I front and I didn't notice the voice since the street was noisy.
"I don't play since I'm busy with soccer." My best friend said.
"I can't play tennis. I'm bad at sports." I stated shyly.
"What are the balls for?" Another one asked.
"For me, target practice and he's helping me." I said.
My best friend just nodded. We continued our way to the mall in silence. Well, until a couple of guys approached us, that is.
"I thought we told you two to never come back here, so scram!" The leader said to me and my best friend.
"We just want to pass. We're just going to the mall with our friends." My best friend said.
"Okay. We'll leave you two for now. Go through the other side if you want to go home unharmed." The leader said then left with his gang.
"What was that about?" One of the regulars asked.
"It's nothing. Let's just get going." My best friend said then we walked faster to the mall.
"Well, see you guys in 30 minutes. We'll just pick up our stuff. Later!" My best friend said then we entered the mall.
We went towards a near shop and picked up our deck of cards. I also bought an extra one for my bow. Then, we went towards the shop around the corner. We picked up my bow.
"I also want to get my bow fixed." I told the shop-keeper.
"Ah. Come back in an hour." The shop-keeper said.
I nodded then we both left. We looked around and saw the regulars in some burger joint. We went inside and called one of them.
"Hey! You have great timing. We were just about to eat." The red-head said.
"Ah. I'll order for us." My best friend said then left.
I took a seat beside the youngest among us. Later, my best friend came with our food.
"Thanks." I said.
"No problem." He said.
We all ate and chatted a bit. A showed them the pictures I took recently and last week. The regulars were surprised that all the pictures were about them.
"You can keep as many as you want. I have an extra copy at home. We'll be using that for the year book this year. I think one of the reporters that go to the school will be taking a few of those too for their magazine." I said.
The regulars nodded as me and my best friend watched them pick which photos to keep. In the end, the regulars all took 2 of each.
"Okay. Now I know which pictures to print again. Thank you." I said.
"It's okay." They said.
I nodded then kept the photos. After a few more minutes of chatting, they all accompanied me to the shop. I picked up my bow and gave the shop-keeper the deck of cards I recently bought. I told him that it was also a gift for his daughter if it was too much.
"I'm sure she'll love this. Thank you." The shop-keeper said then bowed.
"It's okay." I said then we all left.
We went to the arcade just across the mall and played a few games there. Just then, I got a call. I answered it.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Hey. My parents want you to come over for dinner tonight. Your parents are already here."
"Okay. See you then. Bye." I stated then hung up and kept my phone.
"Who was that?" Akihiko, my best friend, asked.
"It was my cousin. We're having dinner at their house." I shyly stated.
"Oh. Then you should get going then." Akihiko inquired.
"Yeah, I should but what about the others?" I asked.
"I'll handle them. Just go, okay?" Akihiko asked.
I nodded then got my bags. Then I remembered something.
"Echizen-san, please take this bag. It has packages for most of you." I shyly mumbled as I handed him the bag.
Ryoma nodded.
"Thanks. I hope you like those. I made most of that myself." I mumbled shyly.
I bid them all good bye then left the arcade. I went through the short-cut I knew. On my way there, I noticed a couple of guys following me since I left the arcade. I ran to an ally and hid on the shadows, hoping that they won't catch me. I took out my bow, a couple of tennis balls and arrows just in case.
'God, please don't let them catch me.' I silently prayed.
Sadly, my prayers were in vain as I saw the guys entering the ally I was at.
Meanwhile, with the others, Ryoma opened the bag once she left the arcade. Inside it was five packages.
"What do you think are they for Echizen?" Momo asked.
Ryoma shrugged then took out a black and green package. Ryoma's family name was written on the card.
'So this is for me and my family.' Ryoma thought.
He took out the rest of the packages. The blue and brown package had Fuji's family name on the card. The red and blue package had Eiji's family name on it. The brown and dark yellow package had Tezuka's family name on it. The last one, which was plain white, had the words 'Seigaku Regulars' written on the card.
"So the four packages were for me, Fuji, Tezuka and Ochibi while the last one is for us." Eiji said.
They nodded then decided to open the package for them. Inside the package were nine bracelets in different colors. A small note was under the bracelets. Akihiko picked it up.
I hope you liked the first part of Sight!
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