Once In A Lifetime
Post Seigaku Tennis Team
Summary: The Seigaku Regulars, the Dream Team who won the Nationals, have all left Seigaku but have left a legend in their wake. They have left a story to be told and Ryuuzaki has made sure to tell the truth and how every single Regular came to be. From the mighty Tezuka-bucho to the skilled Ryoma, everyone's past, present, future will be told.
Warning: There are Oc's but they do not mean anything! They are not a part of the story, from small to big parts, they are there so I have a reason to tell the story about the Regulars so go with it(: -Read This! You Won't Be Sorry!-
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own anything. This will be my only disclaimer throughout the chapters!
Note: Chapters will come out on a schedule because I already have some of them written! Expect Chapter Two next Friday on the Third of Sept. Then it'll be every Friday after that unless something goes wrong! Enjoy! Review! Tell me how it is please!
Chapter One: The Team
Coach Ryuuzaki stands looking out her window; gazing at the tenniscourts filled with students. Those students, they were her students, who worked hard day in and day out to proudly stand on those courts. Her students, who were her team, practiced until they were drenched in their own hard work. Her team had come far, very far.
But that didn't change anything.
Her precious team, Regulars and non-regulars, weren't good enough. They could practice as much as they liked. They could run as far as their legs could take them. They could play as many matches as they wanted; but that wouldn't change anything. They were all trying to measure up to something that they couldn't. Something that was out of their grasps; it wasn't even close. No it was higher than the stars, deeper than the ocean, and as sightless as the end of time.
It wasn't because she had so little faith in her current team; no, she had put all her faith in her team. It wasn't because they were awful; in her opinion they were decent, even more so then decent. It wasn't because they didn't try; if one thing they did do, it was try. No, it was because no one could live up to Their reputation, to Their skills, or to Their teamwork.
To think it has been so long since she last saw them on her courts. Since she last saw them play on her courts. Since she last coached them; it was painful to say the least. How long has it been? Four? Five? Maybe six years? No, it had to be more. Let's see; 'I was that age then...and I just recently turned...!' Has it really been eight years? My how time flies.
She could proudly say that there has not been one team of hers that hasn't asked about the famous Dream Team. That name wasn't 'official' but everyone who has ever heard of them, has heard that nickname. She chuckled to herself; she has gotten a lot better at telling stories. It was about time for her new team to ask. It was always at a certain
time frame that they would ask. Either after their first Ranking Match or after their first practice match which her team always manages to play Hyotei. 'That sneaky bastard...' she couldn't help but think about the new coach. How he ever became coach confused her, but it was nice to see a somewhat familar face among unknown players.
"Coach! Coach Ryuuzaki! The Ranking Match is about to start and the old Bucho has posted the new blocks!" One of the random tennis members informed her and left to prepare for their senpai's last words and their last chance for the underclass to gain the respect of the much respected senpai's.
Yelling out whatever reply that came to her mind, Ryuuzaki left her office, stopping to stare at an old worn tennis ball laying proudly on her desk in front a National's Plaque engraved with each member of the Dream Team's names. Giving a warm and proud smile, resembling that of a proud mother, she left the room with images swirling her mind.
Making her way to the courts, she nodded at the soon-to-be-Ex-Bucho, and surveyed her new team. With all the Third Year members standing behind her, she was only left with one Second Year Regular. Even though the rules had changed, unofficially of course, no First Year has made the team in eight years. Of course, some members say, more of
the new members but there are quiet of few older members who still say, that those new unofficial rules were just a legend. Only the Third Years knew, but that was only because Coach Ryuuzaki had made sure to tell them in advance in case one did make the team. She knew her team were kind, but not all of them could be as accepting as her team eight years ago.
"Another great year has passed! One that shall not be easily forgotten!" She couldn't help but tell herself that this year wouldnot be easily remembered as That year, "The Third Year members and Regulars will be sorely missed!" Not as much as They were missed, "But it is time for new Regulars and current Second Year and First Years to step up and take their spots as leaders! Now is the time to show us, your peers and classmates, myself, and the old Regulars what talents you have! Now is the time for you to become Seigaku's Regulars, to become Seigaku's hope, and guide us closer to win at Nationals! You will never disappoint us, as long as you try hard and fight with the goal and your teammates in mind, I can not ask for more. As long as you fight with Seigaku's passion, as long as you fight for our school, and as long as you play the best you can, I can not ask for anything more!
"Your senpai's have left a big shoe to fill," Not as big as Theirs' was, "But I have faith that you can fill them properly! It is not always easy to be as good or even better then your senpai's because they have been leading you for two years, but I promise you, we will make it together! I will let the senpai's say a few words and we will begin Seigaku's Ranking Matches!"
The tennis club gave a round of applause for their coach. It wasn't anything new. Her words had passion, there was no doubt in that, but the second and third years had already heard that speech. Although her words rang deep within everyone's heart, she couldn't put her all into them. There was a time when she could, when she did, and she actually cried herself. She couldn't figure out why that was any different from now. Why she got so emotional, she didn't know. It is obvious that as a coach you would get attached to certain groups but she never thought she would get this attached.
"And as we depart, we leave the team of Seigaku in your hands. Your new Bucho is Yamata Sosuke! Your new Fukubucho is Katsune Yuchin! This does not mean you are automatically garented a spot as a Regular, but you will have to work harder to lead this team; both of you!" The Third Year Bucho said happily.
He was no Him, but he lead his team well. He was far, far from being anything like Him, but maybe that was best. He lead the team well and knew everyone's weakness and strength but he knew when his teammate needed his help and didn't need his help. He was like the Mother Hen, but less worried about his team. The group clapped again, louder this time. Now the Ranking matches will begin.
Thus began the telling of a legend.
"Congratulations Yamate-kun!"
"You deserve the role of Bucho Yamate-san!"
"I'm so happy Yamate-sama!"
Yamate Sosuke thanked each and everyone polietly, enjoying the feeling of the word Bucho. He would admit that he was an above the average tennis player. He wouldn't go around boasting about his skills or something but he didn't appear weak. He was what you could want in a Bucho. He was strong, tall, and kind. Of course, he didn't know whether or not his teammates appreciated that or not...
"Yamate-bucho," A familar voice greeted him.
Yamate turned to greet his teammate and classmate Katsune Yuchin, "Ah, good morning Katsune-fukubucho. How has your morning been?" He asked polietly.
"It's been well. Morning practice went smoothly today. The new Regulars have some raw talent; it could turn into something more if we could train them a little bit longer, eh Bucho?" The fukubucho asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yamate-kun! Eeeek! Look what I found!" Yamate's girlfriend Sanu Fuyumi plopped a giant black leather book in front of the two tennis members.
The other occupiants in the library, studying during their free time, turned to stare at what the famous tennis club was doing. It was no suprise that everyone at Seigaku knew who the tennis club was. They were that popular, but it wasn't because of the members now. It was because of the members way, way back when.
The two stared blankly at the book in between them, "Uh, what is this Fuyumi-chan?" Yamate couldn't help but look sketiptically at his girlfriend of four months.
"It's the history of Seigaku's tennis club!" She said it in a tone that said 'duh! what else could it be you dumb idiots?', "It has when the club first formed all the way to who the Bucho is today! It has all the news articles written about Seigaku tennis and it even has information about all of its Regulars from the last to the present!" Fuyumi actually looked really pleased with herself. "Some of information about the Regulars are really detailed."
"I didn't know you liked the J-Pop group the Chocolates. That's very interesting Bucho." Katsune said with a smirk.
"W-well! They-they are, uh, very, uhm, very, hehe," Yamate tried to stall, looking for a suitable answer.
"Did you know that Seigaku won Nationals one year and got one or two games away two years after that?" Fuyumi exclaimed interested, "But after that..."
"After winning Nationals and coming close two years running, we haven't even gotten close to taking Nationals." Katsune finished her sentence thoughtfully and a bit disappointed.
"That's what everyone on our team aims for. What we've aimed for the past six years. I had an older brother three years my senior and that's all I could remember him talking about." Yamata said thoughtfully. "And some guy named Ryoma." He added as if an afterthought.
"Funny, he has the same name as-" Katsune wasn't able to finish his sentence.
"Look!" Fuyumi said pointing at random words scrawled next to a picture of a young boy with a white Fila hat, "Here he is! It says:
Ryoma Echizen. Age-15. Third Year Regular & Bucho.
Ryoma was known for being the youngest Regular, becoming one as a First Year, and helping his team to Nationals, winning and becoming Bucho two years later. His skills are of a wide range but his firs debut skill was the twist serve. Not many know but Ryoma is actually left handed, like many of Seigaku's greatest Bucho's.
"Wow. He was so young! I can't believe a First Year became a Regular!" Fuyumi practically screamed.
"Hey! You kids! Stop-ah!" Coach Ryuuzaki was about to reprimand the unknown students from being too loud in the library when she noticed who they were, "Yamata, Katsune, Fuyumi-chan. What are you making all this noise for?" She asked quiet interested.
"Coach, we found a book on Seigaku's tennis club history. It even has some detailed information of some of the past and present Regulars." Coach Ryuuzaki looked really intrigued now, "And we came across a past Regular with the name of Ryome Echizen. Sensei, is he really 'the' Ryoma Echizen? The famous Pro Tennis player? Third best in the circuit?" The three looked expectedly at their coach and sensei.
"How about we talk about this in my office? This is your last class and you don't have practice afterwards. You can stay after and listen if you want."
Ryuuzaki turned and walked towards her office, stopping momentarally to gaze at something, the students behind her doing the same. She tore her gaze away and continued to her office; letting herself and the other inside. As the four made themselves comfortable in the spacious office, Coach Ryuuzake got down to it, "You can ask me anything you want to."
"What was the Dream Team like?" Katsune suprised everyone by asking such a question. Especially Coach Ryuuzaki; she didn't expect anyone younger than nineteen to know such a name.
"How do you know such a name?" Ryuuzake asked surprised.
"I have two older brothers; one went here and the other went to Hyotei." Katsune replied sheepishly.
"Well, the Dream Team started out like any other team but eventually they turned out to be something much, much greater than just that. You know all of the people on that team becuas they grew up to become famous. Some grew up and continued playing tennis which made me very happy. Some grew up to become C.E.O's of the world, and some grew up to become legendary in the line of their work and those, the ones who didn't continue to play tennis, are the ones I want to bash their heads in. But what can you do?
"Let's start with...