Chapter: 1/3
Genre: Romance (?)
Beta: pinksnow1986
Pairing: It's actually rather complicated... Please read to find out
Disclaimers: PoT not mine. Still on my wish list...
Summary: If you were given access into Ryoma's e-mail account and be able to go through his e-mails within the past year, what would you learn about this prince of tennis?
Author's Notes: I played around with the format for this fic and it's presented in e-mails mostly. As would not allow me to tupe in the mail addresses, I sorta just spelled it out. TT I think the mail addies lost something to them because they don't appear as I'd intended for them to appear, but well, c'est la vie. In case you're interested, this fic was first put up in an LJ account. Drop me a line if you wanna see it. You'll see the original format for this fic in there.
Some need-to-know stuff:
1. The following are the four grand slam tennis tournaments:
- Australian Open (held every January in Melbourne)
- French Open a.k.a. Roland Garros (held over a two-week period from mid-May to early June in Paris)
- Wimbledon (held over a two-week period between June and July in London)
- U.S. Open (held over a two-week period between August and Spetember in New York City)
2. A calendar year grand slam is said to have been achieved if a player wins all four of the above-mentioned tournaments within one calendar year.
Communication Ch.1: Ryoma's E-mails
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You sat at the airport's waiting lounge, your laptop's familiar weight and heat a comforting presence on your lap. After being prompted for and typing in your username and password, you peeled your eyes away from the computer screen to furtively glance around you, giving your computer a few seconds to process the information you provided and gain access to your mail account.
As you looked around the busy passenger terminal, a part of you whispered insistently, asking you if you knew what you were doing… if this is the right thing to do. How did you end up here, anyway?
A soft chime from your computer indicating a successful log-in stole your attention again. You looked at the monitor to come face-to-face with the answer to the last question your mind asked of you.
How did you end up here, anyway?
02 Jan 2006, the date on the oldest mail in that page indicated. Yes, exactly one year ago. That's how it all started. That was how you ended up in here…
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Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 20:18:19 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail), Fuji Syuusuke (close-i-tensai at jmail), Inui Sadaharu (juiceofdeath at jmail), Kaidoh Kaoru (iflookscouldkill at jmail), Kawamura Takashi (burningsushi at jmail), Kikumaru Eiji (energizer-nya at jmail) Momoshiro Takeshi (momochan-dun at jmail), Ryuuzaki Sumire (die-banjii at jmail), Tezuka Kunimitsu (laps-now at jmail)
From: Oishi Shuuichiro (half-of-a-pair at jmail)
Subject: PARTY!
It's been quite a while, minna. I hope everyone's doing great.
As most of you probably already know, Tezuka will be leaving for the Australian Open in Melbourne next week. He'll be gone for quite a while… two years, in fact. He is determined to achieve two calendar year grand slams—in a row. So far, in the Men's Singles category, only Rod Laver has accomplished the feat of getting two calendar year grand slams, but those two grand slams were 6 years apart. Tezuka is determined to beat that.
So, in line with that, I've organized a little get-together. I'd like to invite everybody to Taka-san's sushi place this coming Saturday evening, 6:30pm. This will be an all-in-one party: a sort of reunion for Seigaku's Tennis Nationals team, a belated congratulatory party for Kaidoh-kun and Momoshiro-kun's high school graduation, but mostly, this will be Tezuka's farewell bash.
Hope to see everyone there!
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Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2006 09:25:16 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
From: Momoshiro Takeshi (momochan-dun at jmail)
Subject: Where the hell were you?
Hey Echizen! What happened to you, man? Why weren't you at Tezuka-buchou's farewell party?
You know, I still think it's kind of funny that we still call him 'buchou' even though it's been more or less 2 years since he and the other senpais graduated from high school and actually, you are the high school tennis club's team captain now.
At any rate, you missed one heck of a party. And Taka-san's sushi-ya still serves the best sushi in town! I bet you're really regretting not going now.
Give me a holler back, man. At least let me know you're still alive.
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Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2006 15:03:45 (TST)
To: Momoshiro Takeshi (momochan-dun at jmail)
From: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
Subject: The Requisite Excuse Letter
I'm sorry I missed the party. I had stuff I needed to do. I only have 3 months before graduation, you know? And for that same reason, all the teachers seem to have gotten a maggot inside their heads that told them the graduating class didn't have enough to do so they're doing their best to drown us with school requirements. I don't know what they're hoping to achieve by this sudden sadistic onslaught. Probably hoping to bring down the number of graduates. If that is so, then they could probably strike out Horio's name from the list of graduates as early as now.
As for the title 'buchou', we all know that it really doesn't belong to me. Like it didn't really belong to Kaidoh-senpai back in middle school. In the same manner that it didn't really belong to you last year, either (what Tezuka-buchou ate and made him decide to name you team captain, I have yet to figure out – he probably thought it would be a riot to appoint a captain who would be crazy enough to actually pick two vice-captains, neither of whom were very social at best); we're just temporary custodians of the title.
So yeah, I'm still alive. My teachers are working on changing that pretty soon, though. I'll probably catch you on the next get-together. Maybe.
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Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:18:17 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
From: Fuji Syuusuke (close-i-tensai at jmail)
Subject: Last Chance
Hello, Echizen. So you're still using this e-mail address.
Tezuka's taking the 2:00pm Qantas Airlines flight to Melbourne tomorrow. He will be leaving from the 2nd terminal of Narita International Airport. Some of us will be seeing him off.
Knowing you, you'd probably pretend indifference to this. You might even have that sardonic twist to your lips as you wonder why I'm bothering to tell you this. So in case you've forgotten who this is, Echizen, let me remind you that I know this e-mail address was created a year before your first appointment to captaincy in middle school; and while you do have 'arrogant' included in your list of traits, 'conceited' is not one of them. I know what the 'buchou' in your e-mail address is referring to—and it isn't you. Besides, did you really think nobody would guess what the 'pp' stood for?
Since you didn't attend Tezuka's farewell party, this would be your last chance to see him in a long while. Besides, Eiji has been wanting to see you for a while now. Perhaps we'll see you tomorrow, then.
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Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 23:48:55 (AUS EDT)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
From: Tezuka Kunimitsu (laps-now at jmail)
Subject: Thank you
Hello, Echizen. I trust that you are doing well.
Thank you for your e-mail and your well-wishes. I do appreciate them. I arrived here safely last week, thank you for asking. And no, I don't hold it against you that you were not able to see me off at the airport, although I would have been glad to see you at least once before I left.
But I do know how demanding school can get. And you now have the tennis team to take care of as well. I, more than anybody else, could understand what that's like. Do your best always.
Yuudan sezu ni ikou.
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Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:33:42 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
From: Inoue Mamoru (inoue at monthly-pro-tennis)
Subject: Congratulations!
Congratulations on your graduation, Echizen-kun! This must have been quite a year for you, what with you and your Doubles 1 team getting a National-level ranking. I'm only sorry that the rest of your team did not qualify for the Nationals—but considering that only 3 people in your team actually live up to par with the standards set by your old senpais who have graduated before, I think it's to be expected. I am pleasantly surprised, though, that Kachiro-kun and Katsuo-kun took to heart Momoshiro-kun's advice to not seek after Singles supremacy, but to turn their focus onto dominance in the Doubles category. It was sensible advice as aside from the Golden Pair, the team really needed another sound doubles pair.
Moving on, though, I was wondering what you're planning for the future. Do you intend to go on to college? Or perhaps you would like to play tennis professionally now that you've graduated from high school? Please do let me know. I would like to write something of a farewell article. Your tennis team, led by Tezuka-kun, has become something of a legend, you know. And you are the last one who has been a part of that legend to graduate and move on to other things. I would like to write an article on what all of you are doing now—or in your particular case, going to do.
I thank you as early as now in the hopes that you would humor me and give in to this last request of mine. And congratulations once again!
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Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 10:31:12 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail), Fuji Syuusuke (close-i-tensai at jmail), Inui Sadaharu (juiceofdeath at jmail), Kaidoh Kaoru (iflookscouldkill at jmail), Kawamura Takashi (burningsushi at jmail), Kikumaru Eiji (energizer-nya at jmail), Momoshiro Takeshi (momochan-dun at jmail), Ryuuzaki Sumire (die-banjii at jmail), Inoue Mamoru (inoue at monthly-pro-tennis), Shiba Saori (shiba at monthly-pro-tennis)
From: Oishi Shuuichiro (half-of-a-pair at jmail)
Subject: Updates
Hello, minna. I just wanted to let everyone know that Tezuka is slowly but surely making his dream come true. To everyone's utter surprise, he seemingly came out of nowhere and swept both the Australian and French Open. He is now getting ready to take on Wimbledon.
He sends his regards to everyone. And he and I both hope that everyone is doing well.
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Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:23:24 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
From: Kikumaru Eiji (energizer-nya at jmail)
Subject: Pouting
Mou, Ochibi! Which rock have you been hiding under?! How come we barely see you anymore, nya? And on those rare occasions we do get to be with you, you always seem so distracted! TT Fujiko seems to know something but every time I ask, he just smiles at me and changes the subject. Nya, did you two talk or something? pouts
And why weren't you at Momo's birthday party yesterday??? He's swearing to do you some serious bodily harm the next time he sees you, you know. He said that brief e-mail you sent him greeting him a happy birthday is not enough to get you off the hook. Maa, you two! Honestly!
Demo ne, for some reason, I kind of get the feeling that you're trying to avoid us. Ne, Ochibi, are you mad at us or something? We've scarcely ever seen you or been with you since Tezuka left. Is something wrong, nya? Get back to me soon. Or I'll sic Inui on you with his latest juice! XP
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Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:09:19 (TST)
To: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
From: Momoshiro Takeshi (momochan-dun at jmail)
Subject: … So help me…
What the hell is going on with you, man? We don't hear from you for months at a time, you never showed for my birthday (for which I haven't forgiven you yet, by the way), you're never home when we drop by your place, and you never even deem it worthy of your time to reply to our e-mails!
And now we learn (from Inoue-san, no less!) that you've been undergoing intensive tennis training with your dad since your graduation. We had to learn from someone else that you are gearing up to take on the four Grand Slam titles. What the hell?! I would have thought we were better friends than that, Echizen!
And what made you decide to take on this path? You never said anything about turning pro back when we were in school. I know you'd always mutter things about beating the crap out of your dad, but never about making it big in the professional circuit… Does this have anything to do with Tezuka-buchou?
So help me, Echizen, I am going to…
I thought we've been over this. I thought you were over him. I thought you've decided that it was just some juvenile crush-thing. That it was just a really bad case of hero-worship.
Look, if you're going to take your tennis to the professional level because you really want to, I say, 'Good for you!'. Heaven knows you have more than enough talent and drive to do it. But, hell, if you're doing this because you hope to run into Tezuka-buchou while you're there, I'm telling you straight-out – don't do it.
Things have changed, man. There are a whole lot more things to consider now. It's not just about you and him now.
I never took you for the stupid sort, Echizen. Don't prove me wrong now.
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You heaved a deep sigh and wondered just how in the world…
A wry smile found its way to your lips somehow.
You're guessing that you guys weren't friends for so long for nothing, after all.
You closed your eyes tightly for a scant second. When you opened them, that familiar, determined glint was back in their golden depths. Determinedly, you positioned your fingers over the keys…
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Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:40:09 (TST)
To: Momoshiro Takeshi (momochan-dun at jmail)
From: Echizen Ryoma (ryobuchou-pp at jmail)
Sunject: I apologize
I don't really know what to say to you aside from "I'm sorry". You know I've never really been the best of communicators. It seems that now is not an exception. And having to tell you these things I'm about to through an e-mail seems so trite… and yet I don't think I'd be able to tell you any other way.
I'm leaving for Australia in a few minutes, Momo-senpai. I am going after the one thing I knew I've always wanted but have always denied. I realize now that it was pretty stupid of me to try to shrug it off and pretend that it was nothing. That it was just a passing fancy, that it was just some bizarre kind of infatuation. It was never just anything; there was nothing small or insignificant about it! … I guess I was just too much of an idiot to recognize it for what it was—or perhaps I was just too young.
…But when he left… I felt like it was me he left behind. He has always been there. For us. For me. Even after he graduated from high school, if there was anything that went wrong, all I had to do was seek him out, make him hit a few sets with me, and all was right in my world again. I took it for granted that, at least, we could always stay like that. That if nothing else, I would always have him in my life like that. And I thought that it was enough. But then he left…
I don't expect you to understand me, Momo-senpai. Hell, half the time I don't even understand myself. But I do ask that you don't hate me for making this decision. I want him. I have to at least try. You can understand at least that much, can't you?
If it's any consolation, I'll tell you how it goes…
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TBC…
La Fuego 4/2007
Author's Notes:
1) I'm sorry if the format of this fic weirded you out. I just thought I'd try it out. The next chapters will be better, I promise.
2) My wonderful beta already pointed out that the length of Ryoma's e-mails and the amount of words in it doesn't seem in synch with Ryoma's not too verbose character. We are all too familiar with Ryoma's tendency to be reticent when it comes to verbalizing his thoughts. However, I thought that a story needs to be told here--and condsidering that these are typed out, not spoken, it might be possible for Ryoma to be just a bit more expressive than he usually is. I mean, isn't it generally easier to get something said and out in the open when you're writing them down instead of saying them out loud? Besides, his e-mails are addressed to Momo. One of his closest friends. I thought it's plausible that he might feel safe enough to open up to him more than he would with others. Or maybe this is just me being bull-headed. At any rate, please don't think my beta was remiss in her duty if you think that my Ryoma was OOC.
3) Comments/reviews feed me and keep me alive. Thank you!