"Across the Courts"
Foreword:
Born out of a desire to madly write some drabbles about the boys a week after watching the final OVA episodes, I decided to just make a series of these drabbles for the times when something comes to mind. Expect erratically-timed updates (subscribe to this fic if you like) that have no relation or order whatsoever except for the fact that all the ideas and characters originate from PoT.
For the readers who have not finished either the manga or the anime… I will say that the "spoilers" will go up to the very end of the series. Additionally, though I'll try to give all schools a bit of glory, I am a HUGE fan of Rikkaidai and Hyoutei :D. You may also give me suggestions on which character(s) or theme(s) to write about in case you have any particular favorites.
First up is the Prince of Tennis himself. Enjoy and please review!
01. Dear Prince
Dear prince, ai ni yuku yo.
Across the courts across the seas in the country of Japan, there was a certain youngster known as the Prince. First impressions were deceptive; his small figure, obscured by the ubiquitous white cap that shaded his face, foretold nothing about his immense talent and his immeasurable skills once he gripped a tennis racket in his hand. Then one would take a second sharper, closer look; his bright amber eyes always aimed towards the sky but never missed anything, he stood proudly on the courts with his back straight and his stance steady, and there was a certain air about him, one of refined arrogance, one of having tasted the sweet fruits of victory numerous times, one of glowing confidence in the prospect of winning once again. One of a prince.
Dear prince, riyuu wa iranai.
He simply played tennis because he loved the sport. The instincts and power that he yielded now might have been forcibly ingrained deep into his body since he could stand on his two stubby legs and hold a tennis racket in his tiny hands. The initial reason for not quitting tennis might have been to defeat his father in a match and finally earning a chance to laugh in the old man's cocky face that constantly taunted and leered at him. But he continued to play. He chose to remain on the courts on the basis of enjoying the sheer satisfaction of catching and hitting the yellow tennis ball across the net, the sheer exhilaration of winning, of having struck the ball more times into the opposite court, of simply the sheer joy of it all: dashing across the court from line to line, feeling the firm vibration against the racket gut, playing and playing again under the bright sun and bright skies.
Dear prince, ganbatteru!
He was the rookie tennis player of Seishun Gakuen that toppled the reigning champions of Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku at the National Tournament. Full of heart, he was the pillar of support that his fellow teammates turned to when the game count was 2-2 and everything—everything they had ever worked for in the past months!—teetered and weighed on the final match between the Prince and the Child of God. The beginning might have been rough, but he gave it his all—he played—and played—and played—and tapped into his overflowing wellspring of potential to unlock perfection and finally reign over the world of Japanese middle school tennis players.
Dear prince, tokoro ga daisuki sa.
There was just something about the wide span of the green space, strictly bounded by solid white lines and neatly divided in half by a net. It looked ordinary, but when two people stood on opposite sides of the court and played with the burning intent to win in mind, it seemed to be a battle of wits and skills, of tenacity and deception, of competition and pride. But deep down inside the core of one's soul, there was something much more pristine and pure and innocent. For who ever knew that a sport involving chasing a little yellow ball around could be so… fun?
Sakura saku kono machi de
Ookiku waraou
And even as the seasons shifted and sakura petals once again fell and danced in the warm spring air of Japan, Echizen Ryoma was across the courts across the seas, making yet another cheeky challenge with the all-too-familiar words, "Can you teach me tennis?"
And so began another saga of the Prince of Tennis.
Thank you!!
Fin
Disclaimer: Konomi Takeshi owns PoT and everything else affiliated with it, including the song "Dear Prince ~To the Princes of Tennis~" and its lyrics. Go listen to it on YouTube! I got the lyrics from youtube (dot) com (slash) watch?v=t1xztEZbsAc. Once again, feel free to subscribe to this or give me suggestions for character(s)/theme(s) if you wish to.
Majorly abridged translated lyrics from previously stated YouTube video: Sakura saku kono machi de
Dear prince
Ai ni yuku yo (Let's meet up)
Dear prince
Riyuu wa iranai (We don't need a reason)
Dear prince
Ganbatteru (Try your best)
Dear prince
Tokoro ga daisuki sa (I love that place)
Ookiku waraou (I can give you a big smile)
Thank you!!
.moose