Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, sadly. Sometimes, though, well actually all of the time, but hey. Beggars can't be choosers. XD Anyway, I wish I did though because that would mean I had amazing artistic ability, which I don't, and then I could marry all of the characters and not be a whore. lol

Summary: Kirihara is changing, and quite drastically too. Rejection lingers on his mind 24/7 as he thinks of his friends, wondering what their reactions will be. They always told him never to change, but life is harsh and that's what shapes you into who you are. Kirihara doesn't know who he is anymore and he fears everyone won't like the new him. All he needed was just a little encouragement from a redheaded boy to make him see what was really there.
Author's Note: ((NOT BETA-ED)) Yes, yes, I know I said it was a one shot, but due to this being around 3 pages tops, I had to cut it back a little. So, therefore I couldn't really make it all out on what I had wanted it to be. You never know, I might actually make this a multi-chapter thing. Who knows? Oh, that's right. I do. XD Well, here's the extended version of my short story. I hope this makes things a little bit easier to understand and hopefully all is good. OH! And if you're wondering, I didn't add "senpai" to the last one-shot because Hello! This is English class, not English and Japanese. I'll use Japanese names and people, but I cannot use their vocabulary or else... my teacher shall kill me. XD Just thought I'd make that clear. All feedback is appreciated and I hope you enjoy this little fic. *Note: This probably will be made into a full-time story. Just you wait... and don't be surprised if there is shonen-ai. Hey, the other one wasn't so you can't judge me. XD*

Friendship is Acceptance
Chapter 1: Old Antics
((Started: Feb. 8th/Finished: Feb. 24th))

Winter had approached Japan and filled the land with snow. Everything was covered in white, purifying everything over again. It was at this time that Kirihara decided to take a walk to the city park. It wasn't cold outside, so Kirihara didn't mind. He just wanted to breathe in the cool, fresh air and awaken his sleeping mind.

He wore a tan overcoat accompanied by black, plain jeans. He stuffed his hand into the coat's pockets for he did not put gloves on his hands. As he walked down the streets, he saw the snow falling and Kirihara exhaled to watch his breath form puffs of white, smokey air. He laughed at his old antics which never seemed to have faded.

After quite a bit of walking, Kirihara finally made his way into the city park. Since it was winter and the beginning of December, there were lights decorating the park, lighting it up in blues, greens, reds, whites, and so many other colors. It was breathtaking, especially through his view. Kirihara scanned the park and began walking through it yet again, but was quickly reminded of why he took the walk in the first place.

Kirihara stopped underneath the large tree centered in the park and became lost in his thoughts. He had become quite mature this year, to everyone's surprise. He used to be the class clown; the person who always commented inappropriately on matters at the wrong time and acted so childish. He'd always fall asleep in class before, but now he's wide awake and paying attention in class. Who knew things could be so easy if you actually paid attention? He'd even answers questions aloud in class and get them right, volunteer to read and solve problems on the board, all without a single childish comment or smart remark. This greatly surprised the teachers, but made them happy all in the end. He'd get hundreds on his homework, but when it came to projects and tests, Kirihara would make sure he only scored in the mid to low eighties, even when he knew every single answer for the test. This confused all of his teachers, wondering why he could do so well yet not at least get a 95 on his tests.

He did this because of his team. He didn't want anyone to know of his new behavior. He was only told to raise his grades from failing to passing and now he averaged around fifteen points above failing so no one could complain. His teammates were surprised to see his grades were higher and he was as well, even though he was holding back.

What Kirihara supposed the reason why he was doing so was because of fear. What does he have to be afraid of though? Rejection, is was he thinks all the time. They accepted him when he was childish and idiotic, they all said he kept the team alive with his behavior. Even Niou said this to him since his maturity has grown as well.

Would the team die if he became more serious? Would they all reject him? Kirihara began to walk around the park again as everyone's voices began to ring in his head: Buchou's, fukubuchou's, Yanagi's, etc. Everyone. It was overwhelming. (A/N: They go in this order; Yukimura, Sanada, Yanagi, Yagyuu, Niou, Jackal, and Marui.)

"Be strong, Kirihara."

"Even though you're a brat, you sure do know how to keep things lively."

"You're fine the way you are, through my eyes."

Kirihara had always gotten a kick out of Yanagi's comment. It always made him laugh and always stop to wonder. Yanagi always had his eyes closed, so how could he...? Kirihara shook his head before he could go into debate on how he could make Yanagi's comment make actual sense. He had received Sanada's comment after being reprimanded by him. It even scared him after he actually smiled and ruffled his hair. That gave him quite a scare so he had only nodded and trogged slowly onto the courts. (A/N: Yes, trogged is actually a word. XD) As for his buchou, he had no idea whatsoever that had to do with this, but it just came to mind. Perhaps it was the only thing he had closest to this situation?

"You make things fun, Kirihara."

"I nominate you to be prankster junior when I cannot prank, got it?"

"Who knew babysitting such a child could be so fun?"

Yagyuu had told Kirihara this after they were told to play two on one games. He was partnered up with him and they went against Niou, and afterwards Yagyuu had commented on how fun it had been. Niou thought differently since he made it sound like it wasn't fun in the first place. Kirihara had laughed at that moment. Niou had gotten a kick out of the prank Kirihara had pulled on Sanada by dying his cap pink with the word "Sexy" in bold letters across it; hence the statement Niou had given. And as for Jackal, well, he always said stuff like that.

"Ne, don't ever change..."

Kirihara stopped in his tracks as the sentence replayed in his head over and over again like a broken player. There was only one person left on the team; the one who owns this voice: Marui.

Kirihara thought, no, he knew, that he was more worried about Marui's response to all of this than out of the lot. Marui was the very first to accept him when he first came to Rikkai Dai. And to top it all off, he had to go on and say that to him. Kirihara had never imagined he'd change, so at that time, he said that he never would. The price has him caught at the throat though, since he had changed when he promised he wouldn't and now he is lying to everyone. What should he do?

Kirihara sighed and shook his head, trying to erase his thoughts and worries, but to no avail. Perhaps he could try to change again? No, that was impossible. What's done is done. He changed for a reason and he'll just have to stand by that reason. But he couldn't help but just ask himself why as he walked down the streets, finding his way back to his vacant home.

'Everything happens for a reason, Akaya,' he kept on telling himself, but he couldn't help but feel... unsatisfied.

Author's Note: Okay, so I've gotten through this. Aren't you just so proud of me? Now, just for me to get past this chapter and update my other story. XD School has been a complete drag and I've been drabbling in my notebook all the time in study hall. Yes, I don't do my homework in study hall. I do it at midnight and all. XDD Mhm. It's true. So, please tell me what you think of this. It's completely different than that cheesy one-shot. This one will be more developed since it is not limited and what not. You can find the following in this story:

- Reason Akaya changes
- Full storyline (Development of changes)
- Some actual tennis practices
- Class periods and other behaviors
- And some other things, but those shall be secret until they appear. *is still debating on adding shonen-ai*

So, please review and give me some feedback. And yes, I know they are all kinda OOC, but Kirihara literally has to be OOC in this fic, you know? The theme just calls for it, but there will be moments where his old personality pops back in, okay? So, yeah... Bye? XDDD

- Kacey