Never Let Me Go
This is a Prince of Tennis fanfic though there will be a slight crossover between Sekaiichi Hatsukoi and Junjou Romantica. I will be mentioning a few names from both shows but just to let you know, this fanfic will be strongly based on Prince of Tennis.
I do not own the Prince of Tennis or the Sekaiichi Hatsukoi/JR characters.
We didn't make forever. But you will always be in my heart.
Why does it sound so painful every time it hits on replay? It didn't occur to me that the seasons have passed so quickly followed by the duration itself. But yet, those words were clear as day. As if it was just spoken yesterday with a hint of sweetness.
Yet, it's been a decade. A decade since she died.
Thank you for loving me, Haru.
No.
Thank you, for accepting me.
Megumi.
Chapter 1
"My name is Niou Masaharu. I was born and raised in a rather different environment than the rest of the people. It's funny how I am writing this to her though I am pretty sure that she would not be able to read it. But, somewhere deep down in my heart, there is a slight faint of hope that rings in me and that she will be able to read this story that I've written for her.
Funny isn't it? How things turned out to be? How I've relinquished my dreams of becoming a pro tennis player and settled for writing this story? Don't be mistaken. I am not an author. I am just a person, merely trying to express my life story in meaningless spreads of bounded paper. I guess you could say, I wanted to do this.
I wanted to do this for her.
Back in high school when the tennis pros were at it, when we used to earn our little titles and nicknames from the one sport we all connected well together; I was well The Trickster, The Con Artist of Courts, and all that fancy titles that goes along with it.
In a split second, things changed. During that duration, there were many events that unfolded. I was still a teenager; I didn't know how to face such situations. Imagine being plummeted down to the lowest point of your life and unable to fathom to how to respond to the flash of events passing right by your very own eyes. That was very much how I felt that very moment. It felt like big meteorite casually strolled in and startled my entire life.
Things went downfall from here.
But like I said, I am not here to talk about my current life.—"
"Masaharu."
Things went a little bit dim but Niou's head was back to reality. He was astonished to see his editor looking right at him through those thick rimmed glasses. His purple hair glistened under the beautiful morning rays. It was 10 in the morning and the two were just having breakfast at a nearby coffee shop. Niou was having his usual bread with coffee while Mr. Fancy Pants (as Niou would call him), settled for something a little more, extravagant. English breakfast all set out lavishly in front of him with a dainty touch of aromatic lavender to ease up the atmosphere.
What can you expect really, from The Gentleman himself?
"This is really, boring."
Of course, he rejected with no remorse whatsoever.
"MOUU! HIROSHI! Cut me some slack! It took me the whole fucking night to come up with that stuff yeah! You know I'm not eloquent when it comes to writing literature or anything weird like that! I'm at my wits end here!" I interjected, glaring at his smug, snobbish face. But of course, that will never change whatever he had said. I thought it looked intimidating but whom am I kidding really?
Yagyuu Hiroshi sighed, rubbing his temples in a rotary motion. Niou could only just glare at him in distraught. He hates it when he does that. It makes him feel so irritated.
"Masaharu. This is serious. This is not even Japanese literature. You said you wanted to write this book and that's why I am here to help you. That's why I am your editor and that's why we're sitting down here, having this conversation! I take pride in my work and you should too as well! I can't submit this to my publishing company! It's just a total reject!" Yagyuu explained, raising his tone a little but the message behind that tone was clear. He was clearly, very aggravated. Unfortunately for him, I don't deal with aggravation very well.
Niou didn't know what got to him when he pounds his fists on the table, causing the table to quake. At that point, he was very, very agitated.
"Well the least you could do is to give me some fucking encouragement! You don't have to fuck around telling me that it's bad! I know it's bad and I'm trying here! You have the audacity to tell me that I don't take pride in what I do or what I'm writing? I want to write this book—"
"You could start by changing the whole idea of the story! It's just too plain!" Yagyuu rudely interrupted without much consideration of Niou's feelings. It wounded him even more.
Not to mention, it sent his fumes boiling.
"The hell? Plain? Who's the one writing the book now huh?"
"I'm editing AND publishing your book, at least give me something good to edit! I can't face my editor in chief with this kind of manuscript!"
"It's not for you to bother! This is for her!"
"Well, Masaharu! SHE'S DEAD!"
Upon that comment, Yagyuu gasped and clamped his mouth. But those words came out too quick like a bullet and it shot right through Niou's heart. It didn't take long to realize what he spurted out unconsciously was taboo. Well at least to Masaharu in fact. Yagyuu knew Niou longer than any of his friends would but if there was one thing he didn't know about Niou, it was his reaction after that comment. Niou sat still, stone cold as ever but what differed was the look in his eyes that almost seem impossible to fathom.
Yagyuu could never forget that look in his best friend's eyes.
They say eyes are the windows to your souls, and his soul was completely bed ridden. It felt like, he didn't have a soul at all.
But even for a soulless man like himself, there was so much angst and agony written all over him. Yagyuu realized that this man before him was no longer the Trickster he used to know. It was difficult, accepting that sort of sudden change of attitude. He could expect his from his very stoic and emotionless vice tennis captain back in high school but from Niou?
Clearly, time is enigmatic. To an extent it brought out such a side of Masaharu was truly, an eye opener.
He could feel Masaharu shaking with rage, but he was unable to speak. Not a single word. This made Yagyuu feel this rush pang of guilt for being so careless with his words.
Yagyuu knew this book meant a lot for Niou. Niou has never taken a particular liking in writing or literature. But to such an extent, he was willing to write this book, it startled Yagyuu a little bit.
That was a lie, it was a bombshell for Yagyuu.
After graduating top in his class at Tokyo University, he was torn between many options and finally decided to settle for an editor job at Marukawa Publishing for mystery novels. His whole life has been set out for him (of course planned by himself) but editing novels was part of his master plan before he can pursue his career path. He finds the joy in editing such novels and the salary could suffice. In this case, he was stepping out of his comfort zone to help this man, this loathsome friend of his.
So to suddenly approach Yagyuu after years of not contacting him and dropping some a bomb about writing a book? That definitely, did the trick.
Yagyuu rubbed his temples again and heave a long sigh. He stared at Niou who looked so pale and soulless. He knew he spent the night writing this but it just wasn't good enough for it to be published or edited. And that is for a fact. Marukawa is highly well known for their critically acclaimed novels and literature that this does not measure up to their standards. Hasegawa, his editor in chief would have a fit if he submitted this.
But his friend wanted this. And therefore, he will get all the help he needs to publish the perfect book.
"Masaharu. It's not that I don't love your idea. Your idea, to me…is really an eye opener. I know it's well..about her. But this is a novel we're talking about. You said you wanted everyone to know this novel and to read it. You want to immortalize her forever isn't it? But this can't be done. You need special help."
Niou looked at his best friend who perhaps, gave him this glistening ray of hope that his idea might just come through. Yagyuu always had his way of making things possible. That's why he approached Yagyuu to be his editor.
That's why he wanted him to be the first to know about his side project.
"But first, you need all the help you can therefore, are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
This puzzled Niou for a bit but he replied, "Yeah, I am. What about?"
Yagyuu nodded and smiled.
"You're coming with me to Marukawa Publishing."
Hello guys! This is the first time I am doing crossovers but I hope it'll be alright!
-Serenays.
