A New Beginning

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"Hey, Tezuka?"

"Yes, Fuji?"

"It's weird, isn't it? It seems as if it was only yesterday that Echizen came and Seigaku became the team we are. But now, six of us -- you, me, EIji, Oishi, Taka-san, and Inui -- are leaving. We're graduating. It's kind of hard to believe." Fuji's eyes were open, staring at the quickly darkening sky.

"It is. There were so many things that went on this year. However, I think it was meant to be this way. The last three -- Kaido, Momo, and Echizen -- will work it out. We may not be together anymore, but we'll always be Seigaku's tennis team. We can meet again sometimes. It won't be the same, with everyone going to different high schools, but somehow we'll all get through." Tezuka closed his eyes. "We'll always be a team, no matter what."

"You're right. We'll always be the best Seigaku Tennis Team ever." Silence overtook the two. They were both thinking of the future, and the passing year.

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"Oishi?"

"What is it, Eiji?"

"We'll be graduating, won't we? We'll both be leaving Seigaku soon. We won't be Seigaku's Golden Pair any longer." Eiji told Oishi, looking down.

"We won't be SEIGAKU's Golden Pair, you're right. But we'll always be THE Golden Pair. Even if we leave, we'll always be together. Even if we go to different high schools, we'll always be friends. After school, as we get older, we'll always be friends." Oishi looked up at the sky. We'll always be friends, no matter what happens, Eiji.

"Oishi, I know we'll be friends forever. But what about Seigaku? We're leaving Momo, Kaido, and Ochibi. We won't be a team anymore. And Fuji, Inui, Taka-san, Tezuka, and us. We're all leaving and separating. We can't do that. What if we never see each other again?" Eiji looked up at the sky. Oishi looked at him and could see tears in Eiji's eyes.

"Eiji, this was meant to happen. We all knew we'd leave when the year was up. This doesn't mean that we're going to forget everyone. We're just going to discover new things, make new friends. We're always going to be connected through the bond that Seigaku gives. We'll always be Seigaku's tennis team." Oishi smiled and Eiji, wiping away his tears, did the same.

"You're right. SEIGAKU NUMBER ONE!" With that, the Golden Pair looked up at the sky and thought in silence.

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Inui approached Taka-san, who was sitting beneath a tree near the courts. "Kawamura?"

"Oh, hi Inui." Taka-san went back to staring at everything, and nothing.

"It's a 89.7% probability that you are thinking of the tennis team and our graduation."

"You're right. I was just thinking that when we leave, what's going to happen? I mean, we all had so much fun together as a team, but the third years are soon going to leave. What's going to happen to the Seigaku tennis team?"

"It is a 34% chance that we will all play on a tennis team again, together. There is still a chance. However, I understand. We're all going to different high schools. We probably will play against each other at tournaments. It will hurt, but it's the truth. We're still the team that beat everyone and got number 1 in Japan. Knowing that will keep us together. That is our one bond together. Don't worry, Kawamura. We'll always be a team." Inui adjusted his glasses and looked up at the sky. "We're always going to be the Seigaku tennis team."

"You know, you're right, Inui. For once, you're data proves that we'll always be together. It's still hard, but we'll overcome it. Thanks, Inui." With that, Taka-san fell silent and stared at the sky. Inui closed his data book and did the same.

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Momo, Echizen, and Kaido were standing outside the clubroom door, looking at all their senpais. They understood everything going on and kept silent, looking at them.

Momo finally broke the silence. "They're leaving soon, aren't they? They have exams and then bam! They're going to high school. They're leaving the tennis team. The tennis team is getting broken up." Kaido and Echizen were silent, as they too thought of their friends' departures that were soon to come. "We only have one more practice left. That's all we have. Next year, five regulars will be chosen, but it won't be them. We'll be a different Seigaku team. It just won't be the same." Momo continued, and then fell silent. It was just too sad to think about.

"Momo-senpai, don't worry. They'll be gone, but Seigaku connects us. We're always be Seigaku's number 1 team. Someday, I'm sure that we'll play as a team again. We will have different teammates, but each year gives us a new team. Sure, our senpais are leaving, but they can always visit and all." Echizen went back to looking at the different groups of third years.

"Echizen's right. We're not going to be a team but they can come whenever. The team will be different, but we'll have a connection with the third years that are leaving." Kaido went silent right after. He would never admit it, but he was really sad inside.

The trio was silent the rest of the time, just watching their senpais staring at the sky. Momo had tears coming out of his eyes and Echizen's were tearing up. You couldn't tell unless you looked really well, but Kaido's eyes were watering too. They were going to miss the third years that made the team they loved.

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Oh my god. That was weird. Kind of OOC, yeah? But don't you think that if people who were some of the best friends you had were leaving, you'd be sad? What if YOU were the one leaving? I kind of thought of this fic when I realized March was coming up (that's when Japan's school ends... second to last week is last week of school, then spring break for one week, first week of school is the beginning of April) and how everyone will act when the third years of Seigaku have to leave. This was also inspired when I thought back to my two good friends that switched schools for this year and how different it was. I mean, I still see them, but now it's not as much. And it kind of changed. ThatÕs all it is.

~~**SanaKL**~~