The Flu
Echizen didn't look good at all. The match only just started a few minutes ago but he was already down three points. Not that the rest of team noticed. Their focus was entirely on the boy. He seemed to struggle to stay upright, he was pale and sweating a lot for such a cool day. The kid lack energy and for the first time ever, he didn't taunt his opponent.
"What's wrong with o-chibi?" Eiji voiced the concern of the entire team as he gripped Oishi's jacket sleeve.
"Chance that Echizen is too ill to proceed, 100%."
Hearing Inui's prediction made Coach Ryuzaki grip her chest with anxiety. She stood and took one step forward as Echizen began to sway on his feet. She caught him before he hit the ground. Before she could call for it, Captain Tezuka was already bringing the medical kit. The judge jumped down from his perch and came over. Coach silently opened the case and removed the ear thermometer, she held it to his ear and pressed the button.
"His skin is cold and clammy but his forehead is burning." Coach said.
"Is it that flu that's going around?" Asked Tezuka.
"Probably. It hits its victims very suddenly, and is very vicious, but it only lasts for 24 hours."
The thermometer beeped and she sighed sadly and showed the high temp reading first to Captain Tezuka, then to the judge. The judge nodded his understanding, stood and announced:
"Echizen forfeits due to illness. Bring a stretcher. There will be a twenty minute break before the next match."
The judge goes to speak to the other coach as Coach Ryuzaki deals with the medical team. She is thankful the first years were sitting for exams today. She couldn't look into her granddaughter's eyes as her crush is loaded into an ambulance. Tezuka informed the rest of the team what they suspected.
"O-chibi!" Eiji cried as he clung to Oishi. Kaidoh swallowed a lump and in a gruff voice asked:
"Captain, please may we…" Kaidoh indicated himself, Momo, Oishi and Eiji. (The doubles teams had won already)
"…go to the hospital too?"
"Of course, be sure to report to us what is happening. Fuji and I will win this for him."
"Shall I stay too?" Taka didn't know where he was most needed.
"No Taka. You go too. Judging by the look on Fuji's face this tournament will be over soon." Said Coach as she joined them. Tezuka took her place on the bench. The rest of the team entered the bus they hired for the day. Coach breathed deeply as she willed herself to do the hardest part of her job, calling parents when their child is ill or injured.
"We are an hour away. This is going to be the longest hour of their lives."
The team's thoughts went to the Echizen family. They knew he lived with his famous, former pro father, whose shadow he still lived under. He had an American mother, which accounted for him not looking entirely Japanese. He also had an older girl cousin living with them for some reason. According to Mr. Inoue she was beautiful and gentile young lady, only a few years older than Echizen. There was also a cat Echizen was very attached to.
The team arrived at the hospital and Echizen was already being transferred to a room. The team hovered around the doctor as he spoke to Coach Ryuzaki. Inside the room, a nurse was hooking up an IV and a heart monitor.
"The heart monitor is just a precaution. The boy is young and healthy, he will sail through this, no problem. I really shouldn't say anymore until the family arrives."
The doctor shied away from Kaidoh's glare and the nurse quickly retreated as well. The team circled around the bed. The boy never looked so tiny. On the court he looked ten feet tall. Ryuzaki moved some hair out of his eyes and stroked his cheek. Kaidoh brought her a chair and she sat holding the child's hand. Echizen slept fitfully and murmured:
"Karupin."
"Who's Karupin?" She asked.
"His cat." Said Momo and Kaidoh simultaneously. They smirked at each other in understanding. Momo was his best friend and as much as he tried to hide it, everyone knew the big guy liked cats. Oishi found Eiji a chair as he looked like was about to collapse.
"Someone please say something. I can't bear this quiet." Said Eiji.
"What is everyone's plans for after graduation?" Asked Momo to the third years. Taka started off with his plans for training to be a sushi chef. The distraction kept their spirts up until Tezuka and Fuji arrived.
"We would have been here sooner but we had to stay for the ceremony. They kept it short for obvious reasons." Said Fuji.
"I have everyone's medals. They are gold of course. I'll leave Echizen's here."
Captain Tezuka placed the box on the end table. Fuji gave them a blow by blow retelling of his winning match. The talk halted when the door opened. The scruffy looking monk who always seems to be nearby, whenever the team gathered some place, walked in. For once the cheerful look he usually had was replaced with one of anxiety. Familiar looking eyes turned to the boy in the bed. He paused to let a lady and girl to come in as well. All doubts of who he was vanished when Coach spoke:
"Nanjiro, I wish this was better circumstances to meet. Echizen-san, please take my chair." This last part was directed to the lady. The boys moved back as the family entered. The lady sat in the chair and stroked his hair. Echizen murmured "Mama" in English.
"Nanjiro, he recognizes me!" Said the mother.
"Of course he does." Said the father with a choked voice.
"We'll leave now. Nanjiro, please let me know his progress." Said Ryuzaki.
"Of course."
"We left his medal there." Tezuka indicated the box and Nanjiro opened it and smiled. He showed the gold medal to his wife and niece.
"Thank you for bringing it." Said the girl. Eiji had already given up his seat to her.
The team bowed out of the small room just as the doctor arrived. The nurse's station had alerted him, the family had arrived.
"Must we leave o-chibi?" Asked Eiji.
"We are in the way here." Reasoned Fuji.
"I'm sure he'll be fine by morning. Let's go home." Said Ryuzaki.
"There is a shrine nearby devoted to wellness." Stated Inui.
"Yes, let's pray there." Said Eiji.
They felt better now that they had a plan. Praying for Echizen as a team was all they could do right now.
After praying their hearts felt lighter. As they left the shrine, Ryuzaki said:
"A child always recognizes his mother. I touched him in the same way, a mother's instinct, you know. But he didn't calm down until his own mother touched him."
"A child will always recognize his or her mother by scent. He knew she was there and was calmed by her presence. Echizen will be fine now." Said Inui.
"Echizen's mother is beautiful." Said Taka and the other boys agreed.
"I first met her when he enrolled. She is smart, calm and gentile for an American. I believe Ryoma inherited his maturity and calmness from her." Said Ryuzaki.
"That weird monk is undoubtedly his father. Echizen inherited his father's eyes." Said Momo.
"Not just the color and shape of Nanjiro's eyes but the fierceness too. Nanjiro was a cocky and wild player, Ryoma is calmer and more thoughtful. That was his mother's influence. Nanjiro also loved to play tennis barefoot."
"Barefoot." Said the team together.
"Yes, he was always barefoot, except for official matches."
"How funny." Said Eiji.
"What a strange man." Said Kaidoh.
"I wonder how such a man, won such a lovely lady?" Asked Taka.
"It's a mystery." Mused Inui.
"That girl was Echizen's cousin." Said Momo, who often picked his friend up and bowed to the girl. Though they have yet to be introduced formally.
"Just as pretty and sweet as Inoue-san said." Said Fuji.
"I'm afraid my granddaughter has some stiff competition." Said Ryuzaki.
"Which reminds me. Don't tell the first years what has happened. Leave it to me." Said Coach.
The boys agreed and they re-boarded the bus for the ride back to school.
After a fitful night, the Regulars met in the morning at school. They crowded into their coach's office just as she hung up the phone. The team breathed again, she was smiling.
"That was Nanjiro, Ryoma's fever broke at three this morning. He just woke up, he's sitting up and feeling better. They will discharge him at two this afternoon."
Everyone felt relief and cheered. Eiji jumped into his partner's arms.
"Yeah, we can see o-chibi!"
"We shouldn't attack him the second he comes home. Let's wait a day. He'll need a few days to fully recover." Reasoned Oishi and Eiji pouted.
"But I want to see him now."
"It's alright, Nanjiro said so. Ryoma has already asked to see you guys. Go at four, you are all excused from afternoon practice."
"Yeah! See, Coach said we can see him!" Eiji cheered and the rest of the Regulars felt the same.
"Go join the others for morning practice. I must speak to his classmates."
Ryuzaki found the first years (including Tomoko) and told them the news. Sakuno already was told the night before and sighed in relief that he was already recovered.
"The Regulars are going to visit after school. They are the most anxious to see him as they were witnesses to his collapse and saw him in the hospital. You five have been invited to dinner and can see him then. Be patient."
The children sighed in frustration but were excited to have dinner with him.
The day dragged on and finally the Regulars were free to visit their friend. They admired the traditional house and was welcomed by Nanako. She introduced herself and led them upstairs.
"Ryoma-kun, your friends are here."
Eiji burst through the door first and hugged Echizen. Echizen was prepared for the attack and was braced for it.
"O-chibi! You're all better! I'm so happy!"
"Thank you Kikumaru-senpai, I feel much better."
"Come on Eiji-senpai. I want to hug him too."
Momo attacked him from the other side of the bed and hugged the stuffing out of him. Echizen had to laugh at their enthusiasm and hugged them back. After a minute Eiji flopped back onto floor cushions and Oishi joined him. Momo sat next to Echizen on the bed and Fuji sat on the foot of the bed. Tezuka claimed the desk chair. Inui and Taka also found spots on the floor. Kaidoh was the last to enter and suddenly found himself with an arm full of cat.
"Karupin!" Said Kaidoh.
Kaidoh was going to put the cat down but he clung to his uniform and purred. The boy hugged and petted the cat.
"You can play with him. He's been all over me since I got home." Said Echizen as he handed Kaidoh the cat's favorite toy.
"That's only natural. He was worried about you too." Said Fuji.
Kaidoh sat down on the floor and began to play with the cat. He was a bit embarrassed but resigned himself to being exposed as a lover of small furry animals. The others on the floor formed a ring around Kaidoh and Karupin.
"I only like cats because they are cool and fierce fighters."
"Yeah, right." Thought the others. Karupin lightened the mood as he played and ended up getting tired and falling asleep in Kaidoh's lap.
"Tell us about yesterday. Did you feel ill in the morning?" Tezuka asked Echizen.
"No, I felt normal, if a bit tired. But being tired is normal for me as I'm not a morning person."
The others laughed as Echizen had difficulty arriving on time for practice. His mother took the day off work and entered the bedroom with cups of tea. Followed by her niece who had a second tray full. The tea was distributed as the formal introductions were made by Echizen.
"I want to thank all of you for taking such good care of my boy. He always talks about his amazing senpai." The lady said in perfect Japanese.
"The honor is ours to compete with your talented son." Said Tezuka.
"Thank you very much…Are you boys hungry? We can make some rice balls." Asked Rinko
"Please don't go to any trouble." Replied Tezuka.
"It's no trouble."
The ladies left and Echizen finished his story.
"After the first doubles match, I went to get juice. By the time I got back to my seat, I felt woozy. After that everything was a blur. I vaguely remember the Golden Pair winning and thinking it was up to me to win the tournament. When I went up to shake hands with my opponent, my feet felt so heavy. I don't even remember the match. I just remember feeling so hot, then freezing cold. I had a vague idea I was sick, right before everything went black. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital, with my family surrounding me."
"O-chibi." Whispered Eiji.
"We were all so worried." Said Oishi.
"I sorry I worried everyone." Said Echizen.
"Forget it. You were ill and this flu bug strikes very fast. People reported feeling fine one minute and collapsing the next. It is a sign of how strong you are that you lasted as long as you did." Said Tezuka.
"I believe he was operating on adrenaline at that point." Said Inui.
Everyone filled him in on the things he missed while he slept. After an hour of talking, it felt like time to go home, but no one felt like going. Echizen didn't want them to go yet either. Suddenly, he moved out of bed but his legs failed him.
"Easy there buddy, you're going to be weak for a couple of days." Said Momo.
"I just want to show you guys the court out back. Oh Momo-senpai, first help me to the bathroom. I have to go."
The guys got up and met Echizen and Momo downstairs. Echizen put a sweater over his pajamas.
"Ryoma, you should stay in bed." Said his mother.
"I'm bored upstairs. I'm just going to show them the court before they leave."
"No tennis Ryoma."
"I know. I'm fine. I just want to stay downstairs now. I'll stay and keep you company in the kitchen until dinnertime."
"Ok fine. But straight to bed after dinner."
"What do you want to bet he'll stay up all night?" Asked Momo to Kaidoh.
"Like I would take such a stupid bet." Responded Kaidoh and Momo snickered. The boys followed Echizen outside to the court and were impressed his father built it. Echizen sat down on ground to rest. Momo sat on one side and Eiji on the other.
Inui noted the court was regulation size.
"Of course it is, a man of my experience ought to know the dimensions of a court."
The boys were startled by the arrival of Echizen's father and sure enough, he was barefoot.
"Which one of you want to challenge a former pro?" The man came outside with his racquet on his shoulder and a smirk on his face.
All of the boys looked like they wanted to play but they didn't want to over stay their welcome.
"You're the Captain. I hear you can do something called the Tezuka zone. My Ryoma hasn't mastered it...yet."
Tezuka, Kaidoh and Fuji played one game each and all were beaten easily. The former pro did the Echizen Zone, barefoot and with his eyes closed. They were duly impressed.
"Let's stop here. My kid's asleep."
Everyone turned and saw he was asleep on Momo's shoulder. The father walked over with a look of affection and patted him on the knee.
"Hey, Ryoma wake up. Go take a nap on the couch until dinnertime."
Echizen agreed and said goodbye to his friends. He promised to see them at school, even though he's excused from club activities. As soon as he went inside, Mr. Echizen invited them back on Sunday for some matches and dinner. The boys left looking forward to the weekend.
ceo
This is my fifth Tenipuri story and I've yet to hear from anybody. Which is very unusual. Surely my stories don't stink that much. Solosorca liked the first story, she said it was "Cute". Do you agree or disagree?
Also this story is finished for now. Want more?
Please review