Synchro World

Summary: Momoshiro-Senpai frowned in concentration, putting a hand on Ryoma's shoulder. Ryoma stared into the boy's eyes for a moment, then looked away as they widened in shock.

'I can't feel anything,' he murmured. 'It's like...'

Chapter 2: Districts

Thock!

Thud!

'Out! 15-0!'

Whoa. Whoa.

'They're amazing, aren't they?' Momo-Senpai said, his mouth stretched into a big grin, eyes sparkling. 'Eiji-Senpai and Oishi-Senpai.'

'... They're pretty good.'

'Pretty good? Be a little more awed, Echizen!'

Thock!

Thud!

'Ah! Kikumaru-Senpai's acrobatic play is so cool!' one of the first years cried.

'I never get tired of seeing it,' said a third year.

'I like Oishi-Senpai's steady way of playing.'

'Their teamwork is out of this world!'

Thud!

'Out! 30-0!'

Ryoma couldn't stop himself being awed by Kikumaru-Senpai and Oishi-Senpai's tennis. While he was sure he could beat both of them individualy, they were still very skilled.

Kikumaru-Senpai's daring and flashy acrobatics allowed him to reach nearly any ball and distract opponents, while Oishi-Senpai controlled the courts with his precise shots and clever, game making mind. They both had great mobilty and technique, but their teamwork was probably the most impressive thing. He didn't know if it was due to really good synchro or a bond built through years of working together.

'40-0!'

XXX xxx XXX

Seigaku's next match was against Mizunohuchi Middle School. Ryuuzaki-Sensei had made Ryoma a reserve and he sat grumply on the bench. Then she ordered him to cheer his teammates on, have his cheek pinched again.

When Momo-Senpai wasn't playing he alternated between yelling loudly and talking Ryoma's ears off.

'Taka-San is really strong, Echizen, and he and his dad make sushi at their own sushi restaurant - Go Taka-San!'

'BURNING!'

THOCK!

THUD!

'We're going there after our last match today. I've never been there before. Actually, I think this is the first time we're going as a team.'

XXX xxx XXX

After lunch they discovered that an unseeded school, Fudoumine, had defeated the second seed Kakinoki. Apparently they'd been disqualified last year for violence, but this year's team were really good.

Horio was just saying how Seigaku would likely win easily when Fudoumine walked up from behind.

They look strong, I guess.

The coach/player Tachibana shook hands with Tezuka-Buchou, and he seemed like a decent guy, Ryoma decided. He wasn't a people-guy, but Ryoma did watch others carefully when he had too. You could a lot from expressions and stuff; it made up for not having the pyschic connection.

Bop - bop - bop - bop!

Ah, a gloomy looking guy at the back of Fudoumine's line was bouncing and rolling a tennis ball off the side of his racket. Eyes closed. Challenge accepted.

Bop - bop - bop - bop!

Ryoma did it while drinking ponta.

Gloomy and Tachibana stared at him. Ryoma stared back. They might have been using synchro - Oya-Jii had said you could use it to "Get a feel of their fighting spirit" or something like that.

XXX xxx XXX

Fuji-Senpai and Kawamura-Senpai (Taka-San) started the match with doubles 2. They weren't as good as the Golden Pair, but they still worked together way better than Ryoma and Momo-Senpai. Kawamura-Senpai's powerful shots and Fuji-Senpai's tricky counter-attacks were practically opposites, but together they were like wind and fire, devastating the game.

Fudoumine proved their strength too; that guy who's hadoukyuu only Kawamura-Senpai could take, turning the match into a hadoukyuu battle. In the end, Fuji-Senpai stopped Kawamura-Senpai from breaking his wrist by forfeiting doubles 2.

Doubles 1 was again played by Kikumaru-senpai and Oishi-Senpai, who won, and finally it was Ryoma's turn to play.

XXX xxx XXX

'Are you guys sure you were playing tennis?'

'Yeah...'

Ryuuzaki-Sensei chuckled.

The doctor shook his head in disbelief.

'I thought sport was supposed to be safer these days... never mind.'

He began wiping Ryoma's eyelid with a disinfectant. It stung a little bit. During his match against Fudoumine's gloomy guy, Ibu Shinji was it? his left eyelid had been cut because Ibu's repitition of topspin and slice shots had caused his arm muscles to contract, creating a numb spot. Switching his hands had helped somewhat, but eventually the spot lost him points. Ryoma then tried to counter it by swinging his whole body to make up for the weakness in his arm, but his racket flew out of his hand and hit the net post where it broke, and the handle came flying into his face.

The cut on Ryoma's was shallow, but bleed a lot. Ryuuzaki-Sensei patched up his face and Tezuka-Buchou gave him a ten minute time limit to win or forfeit. Ryoma won of course, and Seigaku advance to the Prefectural tournament at the District champions.

'Alright, Echizen-Kun,' said the doctor, tying the strings on a medical eyepatch around Ryoma's head. 'Keep cleaning your eyelid with water and rubbing this cream on,' he placed a tube of cream in Ryoma's hands, 'for the few days. And replace the cotton pad every day.'

'Sure.'

XXX xxx XXX

Kawamura-Senpai's family's sushi restaurant was a traditional Japanese place with low tables and a bar. Ryoma's senpais were already celebrating their victories loudly. Momo-Senpai yanked him just on time to see Kawamura-San offer Tezuka-Buchou alcohol, mistaking him for a teacher.

'Sit here, Echizen.' Mouth full, Momo-Senpai dragged him to his table.

'Argh!' Kikumaru-Senpai screamed. 'Hot! What ish thish?'

'Ah, that's wasabi sushi...'

'I remember, Fuji likes spicy food,' said Kawamura-Senpai.

Tezuka-Buchou and Oishi-Senpai went back to school after a while. Ryoma noticed while he and Momo-Senpai were talking (well, it was mostly Momo-Senpai) about their families.

'...Everyone says we look alike but I don't think so. I'll show you - no, I don't have a picture. I'll show you next time. So,' here he paused to stuff a cucumber roll in his mouth, 'do you have any pets, Echizen? I don't actually have a pet, but every other week my siblings bring home something from the park or someone's else's pet. Frogs, tadpoles, dogs, cats, birds, one time it was a lizard.'

'I have a cat.'

'Really? Cool! Oi - that's the last piece of salmon roll!'

XXX xxx XXX

'Hey, Echizen... Come on Echizen, wake up.'

'Go 'way.'

'Oi, you wanna get cramped sleeping here?' Someone shook Ryoma's shoulders. 'We're going to play video games up in Taka-San's room. You can have your nap on his bed.'

'Are you sure, Momo? It's gonna get loud in there.'

'This guy can sleep anywhere, Eiji-Senpai. He's like a cat!'

'Oo, cute, nya!'

Momo-Senpai hauled Ryoma off the table he was draped over and marched him upstairs.

Kawamura-Senpai's room was roomy enough for Ryoma and Fuji-Senpai to sit on the bed, while the others sat on the floor in front of the t.v. and game consol.

'Let's start with Target: Zombie...'

Despite the noise made by the game and his senpais, Ryoma was soon yawning and curling up behind Fuji-Senpai.

[Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!]

'Yes!'

'Eiji-Senpai! Behind that car!'

['Urgh!']

[BOOM!]

'Nice!'

'Fshhh...'

[Urah!]

[Bam!]

'Whoa, thanks Fuji-Senpai.'

'Momoshiro, your probabilty of killing a zombie is 60% higher if you aim for the chest instead of its head.'

'Hey, look at Ochibi-Chan. Asleep already!'

'Aww, he's actually cute when he's asleep.'

'He really does look like a kitten, nya!'

'A kitten, you say...?'

Notes and translations

Chan - an honorific usually added to a girl's name. It's also sometimes used on animals and kids, in nicknames and in family titles e.g. Onii-Chan, Onee-Chan, Tou-Chan, Kaa-Chan etc. You wouldn't use on it someone older without their permission. Some teachers and bosses use Kun on female students or employees because Chan is more familiar.

Kun - like Chan, but more commonly added to a boy's name. In the workplace you might call a junior person A-Kun.