New story. I came up with the idea after I had a Rikkai overload. I'm just going to see how it turns out. It's based in the same year as my other story, Rikkaidai high, with all regulars in the 2nd and 1st year and they are still regulars. After all, they were a winning team.
Just to be clear, Atobe, Oshitari, Gakuto, Jirou, and Shishido would be 2nd year high schoolers, and Hiyoshi, Ootori, and Kabaji would be 1st years. They just took over because the 3rd years were weak. Isn't that what they do?
Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
Chapter 1: Woman Hater
It was in the middle of afternoon practice when Chotarou Ootori searched for his vice-captain.
"Oshitari-san, I need to speak to you," Ootori called him over. Oshitari turned from the first year match he had been observing.
"Is there some sort of problem?" Oshitari asked him.
"I'm worried about Hiyoshi," Chotarou pointed the young player out. He was playing one of the second string players in a match and had just smashed on his opponent.
"What's wrong with him?" Oshitari chuckled, "he seems smiting his opponent."
"He's over-doing it," Ootori tried to explain, "that's his fifth match."
"Today?"
"This afternoon," Chotarou said, concern all over his face. Oshitari's smile disappeared.
"Atobe," Oshitari called the captain over, "I think we need to talk." Atobe got out of his chair and met up with them.
"What do you need Oshitari?" Atobe put his hands on his hips, "Ore-sama has to oversee practice, you know."
"It seems Ootori-kun has a concern about Hiyoshi," Oshitari said.
"Concern?" Atobe was amused, "Hiyoshi-kun has been improving by leaps and bounds."
"That's the concern," Oshitari continued, "he's been improving too much." Atobe frowned. He motioned them to the clubhouse, and the group crossed the compound.
"Watch the practice Kabaji," Atobe called as he opened the door and let the other two in front of him.
"Usu," he called back. Atobe shut the door behind himself. The clubhouse was lined with soft benches on the walls, as well as a mahogany desk for the captian, and an empty desk for whomever it pleased.
"Now, what's this all about?" Atobe rested on the side of his desk.
"Hiyoshi is overworking himself, Atobe-san," Chotarou explained, "he's going to hurt himself." Atobe looked out the window. Hiyoshi was still holding his own with the second string player.
"He doesn't seem to be overworked," Atobe pulled at one of the blinds to get a better look.
"Atobe, he's on his fifth match," Oshitari spoke up, "just in this afternoon."
"He won his other four, correct?" Atobe let up on the blind.
"Yes, but that's not the point," Chotarou tried to express his feelings to Atobe, "he's falling behind in class because he's falling asleep. And he also seems to have shoulder pains. When he's not asleep, Hiyoshi is trying to work out the kinks in his shoulder, but it's not doing anything at all."
Atobe folded his arms and looked at Ootori with a frown.
"He's going to hurt himself, Atobe-san, and as the captain you should do something to stop him," Ootori put his foot down. Atobe walked back to his desk and sat down in his chair. He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"So what do you want ore-sama to do?" Atobe asked, his hands folded together, "ore-sama cannot limit Hiyoshi in his workout, or limit his time on the courts."
"I don't think that's the answer," Oshitari sat down, "he needs to back off on his own, otherwise he'll find another form of workout."
"Are you saying he needs a distraction?" Ootori said uncertainly.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Oshitari nodded, "like a girl."
"A girl?" Atobe chuckled, "that's a pretty big distraction for those who can't handle."
"Are you saying Hiyoshi couldn't handle a girl?" Oshitari crossed his arms.
"No, but he hates fangirls to begin with," Atobe sat back in his chair, "and ore-sama doesn't think JUST ANY girl will be a big enough distraction."
"Um, I don't think Hiyoshi needs a-" Chotarou tried to say.
"So we screen him a girl," Oshitari offered, "get her in the inner sanctum and have her do things for the team."
"A team manager?" Atobe raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?" Oshitari shrugged, "I know you could use the help with the paperwork."
"Senpai, I don't think a girl-" Ootori tried again.
"It would help," Atobe considered, "but Ore-sama's time is precious, do you actually think searching the entire school for a team manager could be done quickly?"
"I can narrow it down to get the qualities wanted," Oshitari pointed out, "especially with Hiyoshi in mind."
Ootori wanted to yell. His senpai-tachi were going the wrong way about solving the problem. If distracting Hiyoshi was enough, then he could do it himself. Chotarou got out of his chair and walked to the door. Oshitari and Atobe watched as Ootori confronted Hiyoshi. Chotarou sat down on the bench next to him, seeming to ask him for a favor. Hiyoshi nodded and followed Ootori to another court.
"So we are in agreement?" Atobe asked.
Oshitari nodded with a sly smile, "we search for a team manager, but we keep an open mind about what she actually does."
[]
The next morning, Hiyoshi walked into class with his books in hand. Even though he had taken a shower, he was already sweating again from morning practice. He rubbed his shoulder.
I think I need to cut back on my practice matches, he thought, five is as good as seven. Someone bumped into him.
"Oh! Sorry," a dark haired girl scrabbled to the floor to pick up her books. Hiyoshi watched as she assessed the situation, tightened her ponytail, and pushed her sliding glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"Butterfingers," she pushed all her materials together and hoisted the heap into her arms.
"Just be careful," Hiyoshi muttered. The girl leaned down to the desk to place all her stuff on the surface. She looked at her things once more and retightened her ponytail. Hiyoshi turned away in irritation.
If there was one thing he disliked more than fangirls was clumsy girls.
"Hey Hiyoshi-kun," Ootori waved brightly as he entered the room.
"Ootori," Hiyoshi acknowledged him.
"Thanks for taking a look at my serve this morning," Ootori smiled.
"I don't know why you asked me," Hiyoshi murmured as he pulled a notebook from his stack of things, "Shishido-senpai is usually the one who helps you with that serve."
"I just wanted an outside opinion," Ootori explained, "and you are a good judge as any."
"Oh! Where did I put that pencil?" the girl in the nearby desk interrupted him. The two tennis boys looked over at her, "I just had it."
"Here," Hiyoshi held out a pencil, slightly disgusted. The girl narrowed her eyes at the young tennis player but took the pencil anyway.
"Thank you," she nodded, pushing her sliding glasses up her nose, "I'll return it when I find my own."
"Don't bother," Hiyoshi turned away. The girl glared at him. For being someone to offer a pencil he was being awfully rude.
"Hiyoshi-kun," Ootori whispered, "you didn't have to be so harsh."
"If she can't keep up with her own things, then she doesn't deserve my kindness," Hiyoshi said stiffly.
"Then why did you give her the pencil?" Ootori sighed, exasperated, but Hiyoshi had not heard him. The teacher had started the lesson, and school had begun.
[]
"Here," Oshitari put a manila folder in front of Atobe. Atobe had been sitting in the clubhouse looking over some recent documents for the upcoming tournament.
"Names, ahn?" Atobe put down his current work and picked up the folder.
"I went through all the first year girls and got rid of fangirls of any sort, ones who are in a relationship, and ones who don't have good grades," he tapped the desk.
"You should probably cut out ones who are in more than one club," Atobe flipped through the list, "it won't do any good if they are busier than their schedule will allow."
"I've been thinking about the screening," Oshitari sat on a bench near Atobe's desk, "don't you think it would be a good idea if the whole team had input?"
"It's ultimately ore sama's decision," Atobe shut the list, "but input does sound like a good idea. After all, ore-sama always does what's best for his followers." Oshitari sighed and looked away. Atobe's ego was, at times, unbelievable.
"I'll go through the club listings and have the list back to you by the end of today," Oshitari took the list back. He got up from his seat and began to walk to the door.
"Oh, and don't put anyone who's in the music club on the list," Atobe said firmly, "it's hard enough to keep Shishido at practice, much less a team manager who plays piano."
[]
A girl with dark brown hair that was pulled up in a ponytail and was wearing square glasses a little too big for her sat down at a lunch table with a bento tucked in one arm and an assignment that was due next period in her other. She unwrapped her lunch and began looking through her paper for any errors that she had made.
"What's for lunch, Miyori?" a short, caramel haired girl looked over her shoulder.
"Nothing for you, Yuuki," Miyori pulled the lunch closer to herself.
"Anything?" Yuuki pouted.
"There's the lunch line," Miyori pointed to a line waiting to go past a large buffet table, "have a whack at it."
"You know that takes too long," Yuuki sat down, nudging her friend. Miyori rolled her eyes.
"Here," she gave her a rice ball, turning back to her paper, "snack on this while you are in line."
"Aww, thanks Yo-Yo," Yuuki brightened up instantly, "I'll be back in a flash." Miyori muttered something uninteligible and scribbled something down on her paper.
The table filled up rather quickly with some of Yuuki's friends and acquaintances, most of them Miyori did not know their names. Miyori didn't really care, considering the only best friend she had was Yuuki, and truthfully, that was all she needed.
"Hey Shizuka," a strawberry blonde called her from the other side of the table, "why do you have Hiyoshi Wakashi's pencil?" Everyone looked at Miyori.
"I don't know a Hiyoshi Wakashi," she shrugged, "it's just a pencil and it was given to me by some guy. It's not like it has his name on it." The girl pointed at the pencil. Miyori pushed her glasses up her nose.
Property of Hiyoshi Wakashi.
"Okay, so the guy's name IS on it, big deal," Miyori waved her arms. Some of the girls looked offended.
"I'd be careful," the blonde shrugged, "some girls can get pretty crazy when it comes to the tennis regulars."
"So that's what he is," Miyori looked at the pencil again.
"What's this?" Yuuki looked at the pencil after she came back. She nearly dropped her plate.
"You have a tennis regular's PENCIL!" she nearly dropped her plate.
"Shhhh!" Miyori ducked down, "not so loud."
"I'm sorry," Yuuki slipped in her chair and scrunched up close to her friend, "but it's just... you have a pencil... and it's a GUY'S... and he's on THE TENNIS TEAM."
"This is stupid," Miyori got up, "which table does the tennis team sit at?" A few of the girls pointed to a table in the front of cafeteria and Miyori began walking over there. She surveyed the table. There were three empty chairs at one end, and the rest of the table was full. Miyori saw a dark haired young man in glasses talking to a red headed guy, a guy who looked like his hair was chopped off talking to a gray haired boy who, surprisingly, she recognized from class. Ootori sounded about right. And then there was the guy who loaned her the pencil.
"Excuse me," Miyori used her fake sweet voice, "I wanted to thank you for letting me borrow your pencil by allowing me to return it to you." The guy looked like he could care less. He took the pencil back.
"Are you sure you don't want to keep this for something?" he looked at the pencil.
"I'm sorry," she kept up her sweet voice, "you've mistaken me for a fangirl. Try to remember that some people have better things to do than dote over others." The words would of had a more lasting effect if she hadn't turned and ran straight into another person.
"Watch it!" the guy shot at her.
"Sorry," she muttered gritting her teeth. She heard muffled snickers coming from the tennis table and tried to act as if she hadn't heard a thing. She trekked back to her seat all the while her friend looking at her, worried.
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend," Shishido jabbed at Hiyoshi, "and a klutzy one at that." Hiyoshi ignored him.
"Shishido-san," Ootori said seriously, "Shizuka-san is a very nice girl, and not usually that clumsy."
"I was only foolin', Chotarou," Shishido elbowed his partner, "relax, everyone has their off day."
"Shizuka Miyori?" Oshitari flipped through his folder, "ah, she's up for candidacy so far."
"Candidacy?" Gakuto looked up from his plate, "for what?"
"Our team manager," Oshitari closed the folder. The table went silent.
"Since when do we need a team manager?" Shishido asked, unconvinced.
"Since Atobe became busy," Oshitari took his glasses off to wipe them, "as you'll notice he isn't eating lunch with us." The regulars looked at the two empty spots at the head of the table.
"Neither is Jirou," Gakuto shrugged.
"He's taking a nap, idiot," Shishido flicked a piece of food at hiim, "a cafeteria is no place to sleep."
"Considering the other places Jirou sleeps, the cafeteria isn't so bad," Gakuto stuck out his tounge at the other boy.
"We just need a team manager for the paperwork," Oshitari put his glasses back on, "nothing too serious."
"Paperwork sounds like a captian's job," Gakuto frowned, "and doesn't Atobe do it already?"
"And it would be good for him to have EXTRA HELP," Oshitari reiterated. Ootori slid the folder to himself and took a look through it.
"Why is it a list of first year girls?" Chotarou looked up at his vice captian.
"Well, to begin, we want someone that will be able to help out, even when we are gone," Oshitari explained. "We chose a girl because a guy would feel inferior, and girls are-"
"Only too willing to help," Hiyoshi cut Oshitari off.
"I was going to say more efficient," Oshitari raised an eyebrow, "but I guess that works."
"But will she be annoying?" Shishido asked, in an I-really-don't-want-this kind of voice.
"It's not a question of if," Hiyoshi muttered, "it's how much." The tennis players looked down the table at him.
"Hiyoshi," Gakuto grinned, "I didn't know you were a woman hater."
"I don't hate women," Hiyoshi stabbed at his lunch, "I hate the fact they distract you from your true goal." Oshitari and Ootori exchanged glances.
"How is picking a team manager going to work?" Ootori asked, changing the subject.
"We'll probably spend an hour or so after a practice interviewing candidates," Oshitari took back his folder.
"Wait a minute," Shishido stopped him, "WE?"
"Of course," Oshitari nodded, "Atobe wanted to make sure you all had input."
"Here's my input: I don't want a team manager," Shishido said stubbornly.
"That goes double for me!" Gakuto agreed.
"Then instead of spending one hour after school interviewing candidates," Oshitari started calmly, "you spend two hours every other day helping Atobe fill out all the paperwork for the 200 members on the team." Shishido and Gakuto went silent. If there was anything worse than being stuck in school, it was being stuck in school with a paper job.
"Then we are all in agreement," Oshitari nodded. Nobody argued with him. Not even Hiyoshi had anything to say.
"Good," Oshitari checked his folder one more time and began to get out of his chair, "then if you don't mind, I really must finish this list." The tennis regulars watched at Oshitari exited the cafeteria. The table was quiet for a moment.
"Why do I feel like we surrendered more than we agreed?" Shishido turned to Chotarou.
FINE. For now anyways.
Was it good? Good enough to go on? Give me your feedback and I'll give you another chapter!
Thanks for reading :)
