No fuji for this chapter! BE WARNED. XD And special thanks to those who reviewed, added this to their C2s, and fav'ed by the way! They all make me so happy!
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own Prince of Tennis, as well as Amou Nami from La Corda D' Oro
…
CHAPTER 2: Realizations
SHUDOU HOUSEHOLD
Satoshi was doing his homework as his grandfather sipped his tea. After some time though, he realized he was going to take longer than expected and his grandfather wanted to watch television with him. But since he was nowhere near done he let him go ahead.
A few more hours later he had finally finished, quite confident he'll get full marks, he suddenly felt tired. He looked at the paper proudly. His grandfather loved seeing lovely scores, after all, even when he was just shaking a little more than usual to most people.
He yawned and looked at the clock. It was just 9:00pm but he really was already very sleepy. The show his grandfather wanted to watch with him was probably over, too, so he decided he'll go to bed a little earlier than he usually did. He passed by the kitchen and living room which contained most of the living beings in the women (minus a certain kitchen-destroyer) were washing dishes, while the men were watching soap operas.
He bid silent good nights and he eventually reached the corridor that had the one phone the household owned. It didn't take long for him to see that someone was there beside it... standing firm beside the contraption as she held the frozen headset to her ears.
It was Reina, unsurprisingly, and he knew immediately who she was calling.
"You're calling the Fujis…?" He voiced out, a little nervous.
"Hai. Are they on vacation?" Reina asked, "I'm planning on inviting those two over for tomorrow..."
"No."
Reina narrowed her eyes at the sudden change in expression. "And…?"
He hesitated, but knew there was no use hiding it from her now. "They… moved out…" he finally breathed. "…some time ago."
Silence
"Wha-"
Reina's eyes widened and she was not able to mask her surprise. She could barely think of anything coherent to utter either, and million questions ran to her mind, but she calmed down slightly when her cousin patted her head.
She looked down the floor. She overreacted, didn't she? But in her 16 years, there were barely opportunities where she got excited on things that was not tennis. The news was beyond disappointing... but she composed herself immediately.
She looked at him. "Since when?"
"A few months after you got back to the states."
"But, my letters-"
"They used a forwarding system."
"Why did you hide it, then?" She asked inquisitively. If they didn't, at least one of them should have mentioned his leave. She waited for him to speak.
"He asked us to-" he raised her hand to cut her off. "No. We don't know, either. But it's Syusuke- he must have his reasons."
"B-"
"Just ask him when you meet again. Tokyo isn't that far."
"He's in Tokyo?" she voiced out and put the phone down. She slouched her back to the wall in ponder, making Satoshi tilt his head. He pointed at the phone.
"You're not going to call Saeki?"
"I... can't…" her voice was nervous, trailing off quite uncharacteristically. "I might show my disappointment that the three of us aren't together."
Satoshi shook his head. "I don't think you will." Wasn't she too stoic for that? But then again, she had not seen her friends for years...
"I won't risk it, Aniki." She said decisively, looking away. "We're going to the same school, anyway. I don't see why we won't meet by chance."
"He'd be offended that you didn't say anything for days, you know. I might slip up tomorrow at practice."
"The tennis club is on break tomorrow, baka. You said so yourself."
His eye twitched. "Very well. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
"Then... I'll show you I know him better, then." she said confidently, obviously trying to hide her shaken state. Satoshi decided not to push it and proceed to the original plan:
Sleep
*The next day*
Reina bid her goodbye to her excited family members who all saw her out. They were all creepily waving at her as she left the house. Satoshi had to leave early for morning practice, but he asked her if she wanted to come see them practice. But Reina wasn't that much of an early bird- so she refused his invitation. Well, that and her mother absolutely forbade her to do anything tennis-related in school for at least one week.
She didn't mind though. She had been playing for years, she didn't see why a week break would be a bother. It would be interesting to follow her mother and brother's suggestion once in a while, as well.
Reina looked at the sky and marveled the clouds. Such peaceful, simple, yet utterly beautiful inventions they were...
Whoosh~
She got hold of her skirt immediately- just in case. She glared at it again. The first was short, but not as short as she had anticipated. And this annoyed her because it meant she wasn't as tall as she thought she was. In any case, it was still a few inches above the knee, and even with her cycling shorts she simply didn't feel comfortable with it.
She had to 'threaten' her mother to buy her a longer skirt. Skirt…
How long was the last time she wore a skirt, anyway? She couldn't remember… Her mother never forced her to wear the monstrosities before she agreed on spending her life for tennis by herself. It was the reason she minimized her complaining- her mother had allowed her to live as she wanted for so long, she couldn't refuse.
It had been so many years since it started, hadn't it? When normal kids were playing video games and hanging out with friends... she was training her body and soul. She didn't see much because she really was content with the life she had lived so far.
Well, for most part. She really did miss those two boys- and they must have been through a lot during her absence.
She wondered how much she really missed.
…
ROKAKKU HIGH
Reina continued her leisure walk to school, she had opened her ipod several minutes prior to listen to her favorite classical music. She kept her eyes closed since it really was relaxing that way. Reina stayed like that, occasionally opening her eyes to look at the pavement, until she could see the school gates. It was kind of new to her- the ancient feel the gate, and the building gave off. Well actually, it was just plain old and barely maintained. It was then that Ave Maria played and she closed her eyes again, to feel every single note as she travelled.
"Sumimasen. Sumimasen. SUMIMASEN!"
She abruptly opened her eyes and reflexively took off one of her earphones, before turning around. It was a very hyperactive boy cycling at the rate of 50 km/hr. Everyone stepped away from the sidewalk's center, and she quickly did the same. She halted her step as she did so, and for a split second- their eyes met.
SCREEEEEEEEEEECH!
BAM!
And he went to a full 180 degree turn before ending up on the ground- right in front of the school gates. Reina's eyes widened and she gestured to go to him when she saw a number of students already did. Two boys helped him up, and another two held up his bike.
For a moment she wondered if he was some sort of popular guy, since everyone was so willing to help. Maybe so, but by watching them she knew there was something else...
The people there were really just like that: Kind. And a small smile crept up her face.
She liked this place already.
…
Reina soon continued walking to the gates again, seeing she had already wasted a minute or two watching the events unfold. The opening ceremony was starting soon and she she wondered why he was still standing there. He stiffened when she neared him.
"Ano…" She blinked. He was staring at her, meaning to say something. She stared back, making him wince slightly. Now that she had the time to look at him, she found out that he was very tall with a half-bald hairstyle. Somehow he gave off the impression of a basketball player.
He was just gaping at her. For a boy who emitted so much energy, he sure was being quiet. She continued her steps, stopping right in front of him.
"Have we met before?" she asked. She was never good at remembering names, but she could usually remember a person's face at the least. And as far as she's concerned- she had never met this boy. But since he was gaping at her like that, she wasn't really sure anymore…
"N-No, we haven't." he answered, slightly blushing, and Reina tilted her head.
"Is there something on my face, then?"
His eyes widened and he immediately looked away. "N-No."
"I see…"
"A-Anyway," he stuttered, willing to change the topic. "You're new here, aren't you? Are you a freshman, too?"
"Yes, and yes." She answered and looked at him. He's a freshman? He's really tall…
Lucky guy…
"Does everyone here know everybody?" she asked back, since he immediately knew she was new. He shook his head.
"That is usually the case, but…" he stole a glance and looked away. "I thought I'd at least hear about someone like yo- Anyway, shall we walk to the freshman orientation together?" he chuckled awkwardly. "I'm Aoi Kentaro, by the way."
"Echizen Reina." She said, initiating their move on.
"Eh?" he uttered and narrowed his eyes, following her steps. "You have the same last name as that famous pro tennis player I admire and respect."
He squinted his eyes. "Now that I think about it… you look a bit similar, too."
"Domo." She shrugged and continued walking. Aoi sighed.
"It's a bummer he retired. But then, nobody blamed him and very few were surprised. He was on the top already anyway, at least he retired while he was at the top. I wonder how old he was…" Nobody knew her age. She cross-dressed and wore light make-up that would make sure she really did look like a guy- since after puberty her feminine features got way more pronounced. In any case, she disliked this topic.
"And I wonder where he's at now…"
She let out a deep breath and looked around. "Are you sure we're going the right way?"
He flinched. "Oh, right." He laughed awkwardly (again) and pointed at their right. "Here."
Aoi opened the door for her and they entered rather inconspicuously.
They arrived with most of the students already at their seats. The freshman orientation, eh? she mused, very interested. This was the time when the person who topped the entrance exam would make a speech, too. It was her first time in school, so something like that was definitely interesting.
She wished she had taken up the entrance exam as well. She had arrived from America just a few days prior, and the results had been released way before then. She didn't know what her parents did to get her in, but in the end she wished she deserved it. She heard not everyone passed, after all.
"Echizen?" Aoi asked waving his hand on her face. "What class are you in?"
"1-A"
"Eh?" he blinked and pointed at himself. "We're classmates! Yatta!"
"Ah..."
They walked to their row together, and she saw that Aoi was pretty popular. A lot of people were greeting him and giving him pats on the back and high-fives. Some kept quiet when they saw her, and many of them looked slyly at Aoi afterwards, but she just focused on getting to her seat.
Her class was on one of the front rows, so it wasn't hard to enter. She sat by a girl with orange hair, who was shamelessly looking at her. She remained quiet the whole time, and willed herself to ignore all the stares.
Fortunately, the principal started speaking soon after and congratulated them- saying that they have a very promising new batch and they will try their best to hone them to the best type of citizens they could be. A few more words later and he finally called in the freshman representative. He cleared his throat.
"Aoi Kentaro."
She blinked. Seriously?
Now that she thought about it, he suddenly disappeared when she took her seat…
Reina watched him go up the platform confidently. She listened to his energetic speech, which certainly got everyone's attention, with interest and amusement.
"…make this year one hell of a year to start off our High School life!" And everyone clapped vehemently; she felt that some even wanted to yell.
She smirked.
What an interesting day…
…
ROKAKKU TENNIS COURTS
Shudou Satoshi and Saeki Kojiro were rallying for their early morning practice. Saeki, along with his other team members, noticed the good mood Satoshi and Oji was in the first thing that morning. They wondered if something happened with the family during the weekend.
"Oi, Kojiro." He called as he went after his shot.
"What?"
"My cousin's at home." He smirked, lobbing a ball. He 'slipped-up', after all.
Saeki glared as he fervently smashed it. "I'm not falling for that again." Last time he said that- only Ryoga was there.
"Ie. Reina's here, too." He froze and Shudou took that chance.
BAM!
Satoshi chuckled. "30-0"
"N-No fair!"
"Every opportunity is golden, Kojiro." he said.
"…that explains why you're our poison taster." Kojiro commented, masking his surprised state. "But, seriously though- I won't get fooled by that again."
Satoshi dribbled the ball and served. "Ah, but I'm not joking."
"Oi, Oi, Satoshi-" he spat in disapproval before hitting the ball with all his might and it earned him a return ace.
Shudou chuckled. "It's true, you know."
"Why hadn't she contacted me, then?"
"Kojiro… you haven't met in 7 years. I doubt a few days makes much of a difference."
Twitch
"Did I offend you?"
"You didn't." Kojiro gritted his teeth. "Let's just play, okay?"
And that they did- with Saeki maintaining his cool as he hampered his irritation towards his friends. He did not notice the regular members who had arrived. Kurobane watched them in interest before speaking, and he scratched his spiky head as he grinned at the two players.
"Eh… This game is getting heated, Oji. What happened?" the old man nodded, as always, and Bane just chuckled. It was a capped long-haired boy who answered.
"I just arrived, but I'm guessing Saeki and Shudou were talking about something… personal."
"I see… they go way back, after all. That included you, right, Ryou? You seem happy."
"Not really." He shrugged turned away. Kurobane shrugged at his lie, and continued to watch. He flinched at Saeki's extremely skilful volley as a counter. He clenched his fist and stared at Ryou.
"In any case, they're getting me in the mood for a good game. Ryou- wanna play with me?"
"Sure, Bane." He looked around, for an empty court. He batted an eyelid at a realization.
"I've been wondering… where's Davide and Itsuki?"
"They were assigned to take care of the paper works for the club sign-ups later on."
That statement took Ryou aback, and Bane was not surprised. "Why them?"
"Oji pointed on them randomly, poor guys."
Ryou scoffed. "Poor us. Are they even capable of handling paper works?"
"Who knows…" Bane shrugged but then Shudou suddenly hit a wicked smash arousing his battle senses. He whipped his head to Ryou who winced at his enthusiasm. He raised his hand to make him stop.
"Okay, okay. Let's play."
…
1-A, Later
Reina arrived at her homeroom and went directly at the chair second from the back (since the farthest was already taken) and sat right beside the window.
Rustle. BAM! Squeak.
She flinched and whipped her head beside her when she heard the weird noise.
"Yow." It was Aoi, unsurprisingly, and he was waving his hand as if they weren't a meter apart. She noticed the two other guys who were puffing their cheeks and stomped away.
"Haha." A laugh from behind her echoed, and she looked at her. It was a girl with curly bright brown hair, and she was grinning at her in amusement. Now that she recalled, she was the one sitting beside her at the orientation.
"They were fighting for that seat. In case you're wondering." Reina looked at the flustered Aoi, and then to the seats in front of her. They were all taken, so they must be like her then… wanting to have a better view of the outside every time, and they needed the closest available seat to the window.
She stared at Aoi and her two classmates flinched. "I won't switch with you."
"H-Ha?" Aoi blinked and the girl laughed. She tapped her back to get her attention, and then gestured for a handshake.
"You're interesting!" she grinned. "I'm Amou Nami, by the way. Call me Nami."
Aoi pouted. "Being so familiar with her already-"
"Ara? Aren't you the same? Don't think I didn't see that accident at the gate."
He batted an eyelid, "Aiya~ How embarrassing." he whispered but remained his usual optimistic self. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Nami grinned and took out her SLR.
"I have a photo, you know." The other two stared. Is that even allowed in school?
Aoi frowned at her. "It's not allowed to bring gadgets in school."
"Ah. But I can if I join the photography club."
"Ah- Speaking of clubs..." Aoi intervened and looked at Reina. "Wanna join the tennis team? The girl's tennis team needs some more members, preferably ones who weren't there to ogle at some of our members…"
Reina sweat-dropped and remembered what her mother said. "No thanks."
"Eh, But-"
"Join the photography club, then." But Reina shook her head again. She was gifted with inhuman sight and sense for moving objects. It was beyond disturbing if the 'genius device' couldn't capture what she could.
"Can you be my model, then?" Nami asked bluntly. "With that face- you'd definitely succeed in the business. Let me train you!"
"I'd really rather not…" she said. She's fine with photos if there really was a moment to be captured- but to capture what she looked like at the moment simply didn't seat well with her. And so the two other freshmen looked at each other in puzzlement.
"What club would you join then?"
The question made her enter a daze. She had lived for tennis- so if anything, she'd do something sporty. A moment of silence passed, and the other two joined her daze to find good suggestions.
"Want to try the Kendo club? A senpai of mine in the tennis club tried it out for some time… I thought it's pretty cool."
"Kendo… the one with swords?"
"Yep. That's it." He answered and mused how Kendo could help her improve her swings further. Interesting…
"Okay. I'll give it a shot." She said, getting the two's nod. The teacher came in soon after, and their classes started.
A few hours later- when the classes was finally over for the day, the three of them walked together to the front of the school were all the clubs had set up their respective booths for sign-ups. The clubs Aoi and Reina were joining had very long lines, while Nami's had a normal one.
"Hmph- that's the tennis team for you." Nami muttered begrudgingly. "They're one of the best, after all."
"Eh…"
Aoi grinned at her expression. "So have you changed your mind yet?"
"No." she looked at the line for Kendo again. "The Kendo club must be one of the best, too, right?"
"Hm… they're good but in ranking it doesn't come close to the tennis club's achievement." Nami said. "Many of the guys there are joining because of the captain, Murayama-san. She's very pretty."
"That's her right?" Reina asked when they got close enough to see. Even with the small proximity she could see the aesthetically exceptional features she had. She even had a mole below her lower lip, and pretty green eyes. She had ponytailed her hair, but Reina approximated that it should be around hip long without it.
Reina recalled when she had that long hair. It was such a hassle that she cut it off (without permission) causing her father to sulk all day. It proved to be a useful decision though, when she started doing professional matches and had to cross-dress.
"Earth to Echizen..."
"Ah." She walked, hiding the fact that she was in a daze. "We should go now." she stated, and they nodded. They separated and she stood by the line, getting the guy's gapes.
"It's Echizen." She heard from the front. And soon enough she was ushered to the front of the line. When she had their backs on them, she could hear them whisper about how gentlemanly they were to her.
The captain was prettier up close, and she was laughing at the scene they just made. She had stern eyes though, and it emitted a serious but approachable air. "It must be hard to have such a beautiful face."
She ignored the older girl's comment. "Senpai… I want to sign up." She said, stating the obvious. But then the girl really did looked surprised.
"Really? I'm glad! There's finally four of us females now." She grinned and Reina tilted her head in wonder. Murayama asked her to fill in a form, and said she'll be looking forward to meeting with her again the next morning. She said morning practice start at 7:00, an hour-and-a-half prior to class.
Reina nodded and thanked her before turning around to walk away. She thanked the guys who let her go in front getting them to grin sheepishly at her. She cringed, but since she did not quite know what had gotten into them- she could only smile.
As she walked though she could feel uncomfortable arrows of stares behind her back and she flinched. 'What are they staring at?'
'Weirdos...'
She hastened her pace to the gates. It had been an interesting day, but she would never get used to being stared at like that by grown men. She headed to the gates, and for a moment she thought she'd finally be able to escape.
It was wishful thinking, though...
"OI~ ECHIZEN!" She frowned, especially when everyone was staring at her now. She walked to him in slight irritation.
"That was fast." He commented, and stepped forward as the line moved. Reina begrudgingly followed and told him the boys were being gentlemen. Aoi blinked and then pouted causing the boys in front of him wince.
"Man. I should be getting the special treatment." He said out-loud, but they scoffed at him. They knew him, of course. Most of them went to the same middle school, after all. Aoi let out a deep breath.
"Ungrateful."
"What are you talking about, Aoi? The middle school section had more than enough pictures of you." One of the boys said in amusement and a few laughed in agreement. Aoi pouted again and turned to her, seeing there was nothing to brag with them anymore.
He pompously crossed his arms. "I was the captain back in middle school, you know."
"Eh…" she said, a tad impressed. "I'm still surprised that you're the freshman representative."
"How ru-" he stepped again as the long line moved. "-de."
Reina smirked lightly before turning to the table. They were quite noisy there, too. Seeing them up close, she saw that there was someone who asked every applicant something, and the other one consistently made bad puns.
"They were my teammates 3 years ago. They're awesome." Aoi announced proudly, and they were close enough to the table so they heard.
"Aoi-kun~!"
The other blew steam from his nose. "Buchou."
Aoi grinned, and nonchalantly cut the line. "See?"
The curly orange-haired pun-maker shook his head. "No. Fall in line."
THUMP
The sound of Aoi losing his footing.
"EH?" he stared at the orange-haired boy in unmasked shock. "WHY?"
Then a sly smirk crept up the boy's face.
"Staying in line is like working on a mine, take a short cut and you might get pined. Linemine. Pfft-" he looked behind him.
Reina flinched. Was he expecting to get hit?
Aoi begrudgingly went back to his spot, and Reina gestured to leave when one of the boys appeared beside her- blocking her path.
"Why are they all looking at you?"
"Why do you know our former buchou?"
"Nande, Nande?" Then he blew his nose, making her flinch- as if there were boogers.
"Mou, don't scare her away Itsuki-san! I'm still trying to find a way to convert her to tennis!"
"Eh? Convert? Tennis is so much fun. Why don't you join?"
She weakly shook her head. "I'm trying Kendo, now."
"Ehh. Same as Saeki." He shrugged but then stared at her again. "Why? Why do you look surprised?"
"Ah…"
"So the senpai you were talking about was Saeki?" She whispered to Aoi, and he nodded weakly in puzzlement. She took a pondering stance and emerged with a determination he didn't quite understand.
"Maybe I'll take a look at the club, after all. Just a look, though."
Aoi didn't get it, but he rejoiced all the same. Itsuki absorbed the energy and he joined in, too- much to Reina's embarrassment.
"YATTA!" They yelled simultaneously and all she could do was face-palm.
Her mother said live like a normal teenage girl: It would be fun, she said.
Ugh.
What has she gotten herself into?
Oh well. At least she'll see Kojiro again.
And yet something kept poking her. Kojiro would have mentioned he took Kendo in one of his letters, right...? Somehow her intuition was telling her this was not trivial. That he would have mentioned it, unless he was trying to hide it from her.
Now, now... why would he do that? She mentally scanned through the images of the letters in her head. Was it possible for her to miss something they wrote? No. That was one other things she had confidence at: she would never forget what the wrote in the letters.
The letters. First Syusuke, and now Kojro. They were her sole connection with them since she gave her all in tennis. She had honestly thought that they would contain everything she had missed with them. It was naive, but it was the belief that made things feel tolerable. Her fist clenched.
She didn't want to know everything. She simply didn't want them to hide anything from her.
Was that too much to ask?
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 2
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 3: Play
How would Saeki and Fuji say about her arrival? And did the Kendo club's captain have something to do with Saeki...?
REPLIES TO ANGELS:
ChordOverstreetFan- hehe. You sure do love guessing wha'll happen next, huh? XD I won't tell though! haha. Thx for the comment~!
Lysandera- Yeiy~! I'm glad. XD Kinda striving to do that for a while. hehe Thank you for the review~! I hope you liked this update. :D
KiTten18sMiLe- Haha. You're an epic Thrill pair fan, huh? XDD Here it is~ Hope you liked it and thank you for the comment~!
Yoruko Rhapsodos- Yeah it's an interesting to add especially since many fem! Ryo fics do that. But she's already 16 here. I doubt she'll make a fuss over a skirt. Maybe frills, but I don't think school uniforms are that bad. XD Thx for the review, btw!
Rainbow Cloud- Still can't get over the penname change. LOL. And i'm glad you thought so! Thx for the review~
Akela Victoire- Whew! That's a relief. ahaha. And thank you for the review~! XD
xxxninJAxxx- It is here! LOL. I hope I didn't disappoint. (:D Thanks for the review, btw!
ChibiSoulReader- I'm glad to hear that. ;D Thank you for the review~!
...
Thank you for reading!
I would appreciate everyone's comments! :D