Chapter 01: Once in Every Four Years

February 19

Fuji was absent for tennis practice, something everyone asked why. Everyone except for his acrobatic classmate, Eiji. He was currently bothering his doubles partner to have a meeting with the regulars after club hours. In the end, Oishi had to give in.

"What is it about this time, Kikumaru-sempai?" The lone freshman of the regulars, Echizen Ryoma, demanded irritably. A long time ago, he already concluded that every random idea Eiji thought of was useless for his time. However, he never asked to have a club meeting about it before, which made him stay for the meeting. That, and the threat of Tezuka's laps.

"Ochibi, that's so mean!" Eiji pouted. "Don't you know what day it is 10 days later?!"

"February 29. What about it?"

A soft clatter was suddenly heard, and all of the present regulars turned to Inui, who was picking up his notebook. He aligned his glasses before talking. "I remember now, that is Fuji's birthday. I can't believe I forgot to write it down..." He said, mostly to himself, before scribbling, leaving the rest undecided to sweatdrop at their dataman for exaggerating the lack of data, or be ashamed that they forgot it too. They then realized he only probably said it to Eiji, who was possibly Inui's primary source for that piece of information.

"Is that why sempai didn't celebrate last year?" Momoshiro Takeshi asked.

"Fshuuu... Obviously, stupid Momoshiro." His rival, Kaidou Kaoru, hissed. A loud sigh was heard throughout the room – they all knew what was going to happen next.

"WHAT WAS THAT, MAMUSHI?!"

"NOTHING! JUST YOU, BEING STUPID... AGAIN!"

"I AM NOT STUPID, UNLIKE YOU!"

That was the start of Momoshiro and Kaidou's fight number 96784513. It lasted for approximately 1 minute and 11 seconds, thanks to Kawamura Takashi. And once again, peace reigned in Seigaku.

"So... where were we?" Oishi asked to the silent group.

"With the plan! In 9 days, starting tomorrow, we each plan something for Fuji nya! And finally, in the 9th day, we could celebrate in Taka-san's sushi restaurant! If Taka-san agrees... right, Taka-san?" Eiji announced, with a rather hopeful tone at the end, where he was giving the burning power player puppy eyes.

Taka-san smiled. "I guess we could. My dad would probably agree, since it's Fuji..."

"Then there aren't any problems! What would you say?!" Eiji had the impression of a hyper general, raising up the spirits of his comrades.

"It's just a birthday..." Echizen mumbled.

"YOUAREMEAN!!" Eiji wailed loudly. "It happens only once in every four years!"

"I never thought you were so cold, Echizen!" Momoshiro agreed, though he sounded more happier than Eiji, which was obviously a rare sight. "Think of the extra special celebration!"

"Fshuuu... You'll just be there to eat all the food."

Before fight number 96784814 could even start, Oishi managed to give the two 2nd years more distance. "Well, let's just decide with an election. Who is not in favor of the plan?"

Only Echizen raised up his hand. Horaay!

"And those in favor?"

Eiji's and Momoshiro's shot up through the air, followed by a timid hand from Taka-san.

"So... everyone else is going to abstain?"

After a while of silence (since the other regulars were weighing their options.) Kaidou broke it, and it's fortunately not because of Momo.

"Inui-sempai?"

"Yes?"

"Will there be Inui Juice?"

The horror struck through all of them. They all forgot Fuji loves those disgusting... sewage waste! (No Inui Juices were physically harmed at this statement) If that is served, doom shall befall on the world!!!... Of tennis players.

Sensing that the fate of the world (of tennis players) relies on his decision, Inui had no other choice. "Alright. I won't serve Inui Juice to everyone else besides Fuji on the final day."

Another sigh of relief (among with several cheers) rang as Kaidou and Inui raised their hands. After a moment, Oishi and – surprisingly – Tezuka raised theirs, too. "So that's it." Oishi concluded, smiling. "We'll go with Eiji's plan." Momoshiro and Eiji cried and jumped at delight at the very second Oishi said the final decision.

"Che." Echizen muttered in disgust.

"But how will we choose who gets to give greetings to Fuji on each day?" Kaidou asked.

"We can draw with lots." All looked to Tezuka, who spoke for the first time since the start of their meeting. Oishi showed his approval by nodding, and had Inui make small pieces of paper with numbers on it. "So each of us has to take up a number and the one who gets number 1 shall do it tomorrow, 2 for February 21, and onwards."

All of the regulars (even Echizen) obediently got a piece of paper. When Inui picked the last remaining one, their coach entered, a grin on her wrinkled face. "Planning something for our genius and yet not consulting me? How very rude of you."

Momoshiro was the first to react. "Baa-san!"

"We're sorry, Ryuuzaki-sensei nya! We totally forgot about you!"

A chuckle was heard from Ryuuzaki-sensei. "It's okay, but let me help on the celebration at his birthday, okay?"

A chrous of "Yes!" in different tones became the reply. "Alright then, let's see who's going to be the order."

Oishi then took the spotlight once again. "Let's start from the last day. Who got number 8?"

"Me." Came Tezuka's stoic reply.

"So Tezuka's for February 28. Who got 7?"

"Hoi hoi!"

"So Eiji got it. I got number 6, so who's number 5?"

"It's me." Taka-san said.

"And number 4?"

"Fshuuu..."

"I got number 3." Said Inui, before Eiji sent him a glare for being so anti climatic.

"So it's just Momoshiro and Echizen. Who got number 2?"

"Me, sempai." Momoshiro said, leaving Echizen the first one to plan something for Fuji. The freshman grumbled about being 1st.

"That's karma, Ochibi!" Eiji said gaily, before being silenced by Oishi.

"So Echizen's going to be one to surprise him tomorrow. Best of luck, Echizen!" Oishi ended, before Tezuka barked "Meeting dismissed!" Which was their cue to leave home, each with their own plans for their resident genius.

"You're early, Syuusuke." Welcomed Fuji Yumiko hours before. Fuji Syuusuke just chuckled.

"I have to, since Eiji persuaded me. I don't want to spoil their plans."

Yumiko seemed to read her younger brother's mind. "So it's that time of the year again, huh? 4 years ago, Saeki-kun caused commotion in the entirety of Chiba, right?" The two laughed at the memory of Fuji's friend actually planning to have the whole town give him something spicy as a gift.

"Mom wanted it gone immediately, so all of us had to bear with it in 5 months. Yuuta still fears that it would happen again." Syuusuke said, as he bid his sister to have some time alone to change. "Saa... Let's see what happens this time.

Disclaimer:Tennis no Oujisama is created by Takeshi Konomi.

You got it. In 10 days, this fic shall be updated daily (if I could). Anything for Fuji, ne? Oh, and the last chapter's a bit shounen-ai, so beware. 3 guesses why. XD

Next! Echizen fails to have his plan to surprise Fuji, and in the end gets surprised instead.