Too Close,yet too Far
by Sessrin Koshimae (Shunrei Ryuzaki)
Disclaimer: The characters of Prince of Tennis isn't mine.
Chapter 4: The Rivalry Arises
Seiran sighed. He really hates it. Why do he need to attend student council meetings? He really wanted to sleep! Damn those classmates of him. Oh,wait. His mom told him that cursing is bad. Okay, he can bear with this. If only he can resign as their class representative,he thought.
Sakura looked at Seiran. She noticed that he's bored and sleepy. 'Oh well, it's undeniably that we doesn't want to be here.' she thought.
And finally the student council meeting has ended. Seiran stood after the other student representatives starts to leave the room. He walked towards the door and yawns with his left hand is in the side pocket of his black trousers.
"Seiran-kun." he heard Sakura getting his attention.
"Doushite? (Why?)." He said and yawns again.
"Are you free this weekend?" Sakura said with a smile on her face.
"No." he replied staring at her.
Sakura looked disappointed but still tried to gave him a smile. Seiran knew it was a fake smile and frowns.
"Why, Echizen-chan? Do you want me to date with you?" Seiran asked and let out a chuckle.
"Of course not! Who wants to date you, anyway?" she hissed.
"I think every girl in this school does." Seiran said grinning at her.
"Argh... you're impossible, Mr. Ryuuzaki." Sakura pouted.
Seiran looks amused with this conversation. He knew their classmates gave them a weird look whenever they talk to each other like this. Only with Sakura he speaks with English. The look in their classmates' faces are funny whenever Sakura and him debates or discuss something or sometimes hearing her arguing with him in English. It seems they've thought that the two of them are out of this world creatures.
"So...why won't you tell me why does Ms. Echizen is interested to know the appointments of this Ryuzaki this weekend?" he said normally.
"I'm just wondering if you want to watch a tennis tournament this weekend. I'm one of the participants." said Sakura.
Seiran stared at her seriously and she gulped at his sudden change.
"Are you referring to Juniper Tokyo Mix Tennis Tournament?" Seiran asked.
"Yes." she answered quietly.
"Of course, I'm going. I'm also a participant." he said smirking at her again.
Sakura's eyes widened at disbelief.
"Hontou? (Really?)" she asked.
"Hai, Echizen-chan." Seiran said. "I'm expecting for a rematch I guess, Ms. Crybaby." he continued.
Sakura's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Of course! This time the victory is mine!" she said.
"We'll see, we'll see." he said walking away from her.
A week has passed since their encounter at the train station. Really, she was surprised when she saw Seiran at the same school she's about to attend. What's more? They end up being in the same class.
At first, when she told him that they've met before, she is very disappointed because he couldn't remember her. But when she told him about the tennis tournament at France several years ago, he seems convinced and gave her an "ah, i remember that" look.
"So... you're the crybaby back then?" Seiran said chuckling to himself.
Sakura pouted at Seiran's response.
"I am not." she said.
Seiran let out a good laugh before leaving her behind at the school's entrance. Sakura stares at his back and smiled.
"He isn't that bad. I guess." she thought.
Their classmates were amazed when they learned that she and Seiran had grown up abroad and both play tennis. She learned that Seiran was born and raised on London.
"No wonder he has a very nice British accent when he speaks english." Sakura thought.
Their popularity spread at the whole school in just a week. Sakura sweatdrops whenever she think about his crazy fans yelling at the hallway whenever they see him pass by.
"Er... too much popularity can kill you" she said to him last time when the two of them was ambushed by his fanclub members.
"Do I seems to care, Miss Number 2?" he said with a smirk.
Sakura frowned. Much to her dismay, their popularity doesn't end up with their unusual grown up place but to their skills and intelligence. She is oblivious to the look and attention that her guy schoolmates given to her but she's quite aware about the silent competition between her and Seiran.
Yesterday, the result of their diagnostic exam has been revealed. Sakura furrow her eyebrows when her classmates gave her an unreadable look. She shivered under their gaze. Sakura walked towards the result and looked at it. There she saw the rankings. She at being at the second place and Seiran at the top position with only 0.48 greater than her score.
She knew this meant a close fight between her and Seiran but suddenly she realized that Seiran is very sleepy and yawns a lot during exams. She wonder what could be the result if Seiran took the exams seriously.
They both excel in their English subject of course. Given the advantage that they both lived and raised in English speaking countries give them an edge to their classmates. Sakura also excels at science and history and on the other hand Seiran is seems to be a math wizard and music prodigy. Sakura found herself dumbfounded when she found out that Seiran can cook better than herself.
The ranking result justifies her place at their class. Sakura thought she is bound to be his second placer at every aspect they turn in. When the class election was held, she wasn't surprised when Seiran won the class presidency while she was hailed as his vice president.
Seiran found their silent competition as a new amusement. He rarely encounters a person that can level to him. It wasn't an over self confidence of course. It was just he love to see people try to overcome him. He knew that people think of him as a genius but it wasn't really like that. He's quite intelligent but he's too lazy to read his books and lessons at school. He didn't also pay attention to the lectures of his mentors except when he finds it really interesting. Most of the time he take his naps during their class and always ends up being scolded by his teachers or worst his mother being summoned by them. He take his lessons and studies seriously when he's at home. It was his way to keep himself at the top and making his mother proud of him.
"Oh you're so mean, Mr. I'm-so-great, No one can beat me." said Sakura sarcastically.
Seiran laughed silently at her remark. He really enjoys teasing her. A girl with long brown straight hair with a headband and purple eyed approaches Seiran and Sakura.
"Hey, Saku-chan! Ryuuzaki-kun!" she said loudly.
"What is it, Ai-chan?" Sakura asked smiling back at her.
"What do you need, Momoshiro-san?" asked Seiran monotonously.
"You're too formal, Ryuzaki-kun." Ai said grinning back at him.
Seiran fought the feeling to roll up his eyes at front of two girls.
"Anyway, before anything else. Sakura-chan we have an overtime practice today said Buchou (captain) and Ryuzaki-kun, your Fuji-buchou said you must come to your practice early this afternoon. He said there are some things to be discuss about." said Ai.
"Hn." Seiran replied.
"Doumo Arigatou, Ai-chan." said Sakura bowing her head slightly.
"No problem, Sakura-chan. I think I should go now. My Onii-chan's waiting for me." Ai-chan said leaving the two of them alone.
Momoshiro Ai is their classmate. She's also a regular at Girls' Tennis Club like Sakura. They seems to get along to each other treating each other like best friend. Ai is also the daughter of former Seigaku Regular Momoshiro Takeshi and Fudomine's own Tennis Beauty, Tachibana An. She's also the younger sister of Seiran's co-regular, Momoshiro Kei.
True to his word, Seiran attends the try-out session of Men's Tennis court due to insistent of his mother's friends, Inui Sadaharu and Fuji Shusuke. Of course, he easily joined the team and claimed a regular position when he beat two regulars at the same block at his. Seiran wished to have a match with their team captain, Fuji Shisui and vice captain, Tezuka Kazuki. Together with Inui Kaito, they were hailed as the three tennis monsters of Seigaku's Men's Tennis Club. Seiran defeated Inui Kaito during their first ranking selections proving to everyone that he's quite a formidable player earning respect of everyone and bursting his popularity at higher level.
Sakura also joined the Girls' Tennis Club. Due to her undoubtful skills in tennis, she easily swift a regular position spot at their team. Using the pressure of being an Echizen, Sakura worked hard to set her games scores at 6-0 which she actually did.
That afternoon, Seiran was informed by his captain, Shisui and their coach, Inui that he wouldn't play for the 2 sets for the incoming division elimination due to his participation to Juniour Tokyo Mix Tennis Tournament and as a request by his personal coach,his own mother, Ryuuzaki Sakuno.
Finally, the tournament started. Seiran and Sakura did well in their matches during elimination round and quarter finals round earning the both of them a position to compete for the semi-finals. The two of them are quite excited for the finals. They vowed that they would passed the semi-finals to have a match... a rematch to each other. Frankly speaking, Seiran couldn't remember how Sakura plays before. He's really greatful when she told him before that she joined the same tournament. Seiran is really excited and looking forward to play against an Echizen.
After her tennis practice, Sakura accompanied Ai to Men's Tennis Courts. Ai left her to the tennis court to find his older brother, Kei. She sees Seiran talking to Shisui and then run laps around the court. Seiran runs while Sakura silently watches him behind the fences. He turns his head towards her direction seeing her eyes set on him. He glared at him coldly that makes her gulped and breaks the gaze. Seiran cursed under his breath.
"Why did she keep on looking at me like that?" he thought. "Echizens are really irritating." he continued.
Sakura looks embarrassed. She never thought that Seiran would found her gazing at him. Actually, she's nervous for the incoming matches. She is the only girl that joined the other participants at the Semi-Finals. True enough, she really wants to have a rematch against Seiran.
Sakura seems distracted. She's in thoughts about Seiran and the matches. The Semi-Finals and Finals will be held in a week both on the same day. That would mean that she might be exhausted at the end of that day.
Also, her father, the very well known, Echizen Ryoma is coming back from America timing for the tournament. She also wonders if she could really have a rematch with Seiran. A rematch. After her lost to Seiran years ago, Is she ready to claim the victory against him this time? Yes, she must. Her father would definitely watch her match. She couldn't afford to lose in her match during his presence. She mustn't humiliate the Echizens being known as very talented and great tennis players.
Seiran stopped running and walked towards Sakura.
"Ne, I didn't know that one of your hidden techniques is to spy on your opponents." Seiran said while wiping his sweaty face with a clean towel.
"I am not, Seiran-kun." said Sakura and narrowed her eyes on him. "Perhaps, you're afraid that a girl will beat you." she continued.
"In your dreams, Girl. As if that would happen. A simple kiss can distract you, right?" Seiran said and chuckled.
'She's just like Okaa-san. Easy to tease.' Seiran thought.
Sakura blushed furiously after hearing his remark.
"Y..you.. you wouldn't dare to do that!" she said aware that her face is burning in red.
"Hair's too long, and stutters a lot." Seiran smirked seeing her reaction.
"My hair doesn't have any connections with me playing tennis." she hissed.
"Okay. Show me what you've got Echizen Sakura. See you at the Final round." Seiran said sternly and left.
...
The day has come. The day of the face off. Seiran finished his match in the Semi-final round with a score with 6-2. On the other hand, Sakura also won her match with a score of 6-4. The former Seigaku regulars compose themselves together to watch the match that would take place soon between Seiran and Sakura.
"Echizen-kun called me this morning. He said that he might come late for Sakura's match because his flight was two hours delayed. He wants me to be Sakura-chan's substitute coach." Fuji Shusuke said.
"Nya! Ochibi is coming! Oh! What should we say when he inquired about Sei-kun?" said the cat like acrobatic Kikumaru Eiji."Sakuno-chan already told us about that years ago." said the motherly as ever Oishi Souichiro.
"I never realize that this would happen so soon." said Momoshiro.
"Teme. That's because you're not using your brain." Kaido hissed.
"What have you just said, Viper?" Momoshiro glared.
Fuji slipped the handle of a racquet to the calm Kawamura.
"BURNING! STOP THIS COMMOTION! OR TASTE THE WRATH OF MY HADOKYOU!" Kawamura stated.
As easily as he slipped the racquet at Kawamura's hand, Fuji take it swiftly making Kawamura turn to his calm and soft side.
"I'm going to be Seiran's Substitute Coach." Tezuka Kunimitsu said coldly.
The former Seigaku regulars looked at him with surprise faces.
"Saa... this is going to be an interesting match, isn't Kunimitsu?" Fuji said.
Tezuka nods at him.
"I'm going, Shusuke. See you at the court." Tezuka said leaving the other former Seigaku members.
"Data." said Inui adjusting his eyeglasses.
The group decided to go back to the tennis court. The announcer has just summoned Seiran and Sakura to go on to the court.
Suddenly, a voice rises from the back of the former Seigaku Regulars.
"Am I too late?" It said.
The group turn their heads to see who's the owner of the voice.
"Echizen-kun." Oishi said.
"Oi, Ryoma." said Momoshiro as he hooked the neck of the new comer with his left arm.