A/N: Another fic about Hyotei and graduation drawing near. This is from Jirou's point of view, on a night that he couldn't sleep. Enjoy!
It was just like any other summer night; the air fresh and the sky all clear and whatnot. But something was a bit different for me that was different from any other night or even time of day. I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned and listened to soft music and fluffed my pillow and even counted sheep. Nothing worked. It was mostly strange because I, of all people, would have no trouble going to sleep. I would fall asleep at practice and then Atobe would yell "Kabaji! Wake Jirou up!" or something like that. I'd be slung over the giant second year's shoulder and practically thrown out on the court. It's something you got used to after awhile I suppose, and just a daily habit that you didn't want to break.
But soon this wouldn't happen anymore. Three of us would have to stay, and the rest of us would go. And even among us who are going, we will part our ways with one another at some point. It wasn't an easy concept to grasp for me. I was all about excitement and new things, but this wasn't really the kind of change that got me awake. It just made me want to bury my head further in my pillow and sleep forever and ever, not having to wake up and face life's obstacles alone. But no matter what, the thought always popped into my mind and refused to let me drift off.
So I got up. I put on some clothes, and my regular jacket. I grabbed my bag and quietly crept out of the house. My parents were heavy sleepers; so no way I'd wake them up. I slipped out the door and let my feet take me wherever they felt like they needed to go. In my mind I knew where I was going, but I couldn't process it. Maybe it was from lack of sleep, maybe it was doubt. Either way, I just let my feet go wherever. I passed Shishido's house, then Gakuto, then Choutaro. Hiyoshi's light was still on and Oishitari just cut off the light. Kabaji lived near Atobe, whose mansion had dim outdoor night lights shining upwards on the house giving it a divine glow. The heir was most likely sleeping right at that time, just as I should have been. But I yawned and kept on.
I found myself at the gates, and from the gates I found myself at the courts. I flipped a switch, and watched as the towering lights slowly pour out their light. I didn't care if I got in trouble for being there that late. I'd be gone soon anyway.
I stepped onto the court and walked out to the very middle. It was so bright out. I looked up to find the court lights were being helped by the stars and full moon. I never really got to see the stars and moon often. I was usually asleep before the sun even set, so this was a remarkable site. I pulled out a racket and looked at it. Wilson, Hyper ProStaff 7.6 with Rollers. That was my racket, and that's what got me through my years with Hyotei. Every match lost and match lost was with that racket. It was neat, the thought. So I pulled out a can of balls, and served all three of them.
A smile grew on my face, and lied down on the asphalt courts with the tennis balls on one side of the net, and myself on the other. I grabbed my bag and drug it over to my head and rested my neck on it. With my racket in my hand, I closed my eyes. I fell into a sleep. Under the court lights, under the stars.