I do not own Prince of Tennis, except for Kumiko!
The Young Observer's Life -10-
Prince of Tennis/TeniPuri story
"I'll be going now!" Kumiko called from the door.
"Be careful!" Her mother said.
"Yes!" Kumiko said as she closed the door and ran towards the train station.
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"Eh? Kirihara-kun, you're here already?" Kumiko said when she spotted the messy haired boy leaning against the wall.
"Kumiko! You're here!" Kirihara's face quickly brightened when he saw the brown haired girl walking towards him.
"Sorry, did you wait long?"
"Hey, I just got here too. Hey, you brought your racket." Kirihara said when he spotted something sticking out from Kumiko's bag.
"I was thinking about going to the street tennis court after going with Kirihara-kun."
"I see. So then, ready to go?"
"Sure!"
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"Target locked, ready to commence plan 'Follow AkaKumi Date'." A silver haired boy said from behind the wall.
"Let's get on with the plan then." The spectacled boy beside him said.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? Kumiko's eyes are pretty sharp she could notice us…" The red haired tensai said.
"If this is what like Yanagi planned, Kumiko wouldn't notice since Akaya is trying to get her attention." The Brazilian iron wall of defence said.
"Yanagi is waiting at the destination, when we got there, we'll split up with him." Niou said.
"Roger!"
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"Kumiko, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I thought I saw something… oh well, we better hurry Kirihara-kun!"
"Yeah, let's go!"
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"Good job, let's follow the plan, I'll meet all of you here." Yanagi said as he closed his phone.
"… What are you planning, Yanagi?" Sanada said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. They were apparently visiting their captain at the hospital when Niou, Yagyuu, Marui and Jackal said they couldn't go since they had to do something.
"I'm gathering data on both of them." Yanagi said as Yukimura chuckles.
"I hope they're not going to sneak up on them or something like that." Yukimura said. The little girl on Yukimura's lap perked up and blinked at her older brother.
"Sneak up on who?" Haruko asked as she tilted her head.
"Akaya and Kumiko-chan of course, Haru-chan."
"Why would they sneak up on them?"
"Because Kumiko-chan is helping Akaya finding a present for his sister and the others are following them."
"Really?"
"Yep and Yanagi nii-chan here is going to tell us everything about it later, right Yanagi?"
"After I had gathered the data I need, then yes."
"Yay! Stories!"
"… Can I have a normal team for once…?" Sanada said to himself as rubbed his temple.
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"Kirihara-kun, you said that your sister like accessories, right?" Kumiko asked Kirihara when they sat in the train.
"Yeah… she has a box full of them, I don't know why she likes them." Kirihara said as he made a face.
"Lots of girls like them, you know." Kumiko said as she swung her legs up and down.
"Really?"
"I like some of them, I usually bought little trinkets for my sketches."
"Really? You did?"
"And I usually bought hairbands, but ever since I got a haircut, I didn't buy them anymore."
"Oh… the haircut… sorry about that, we didn't notice anything."
"Hey, it's not your problem. After all, Kirihara-kun and the others report it to the principal because you were worried about me right? I really appreciate it." Kumiko said as she smiled at Akaya whose face turned a bit red.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, thanks a lot, because of it, I don't have to worry anymore. And Rika-chan wouldn't bug me about it anymore."
"I see."
"Hey, we're here, come on, Kirihara-kun!" Kumiko said she grabbed Kirihara's hands and dragged him out from the rain.
"H-Hey! Slow down! Kumiko!"
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"They're getting out from the train, we're still following them." Yagyuu said to the phone as the other three still keep their eyes on their youngest members.
"… Right, we'll meet you there." Yagyuu nodded and closed the phone.
"What did he say, Yagyuu?" Niou asked not looking at him.
"Yanagi-kun knew the place where Miko-yan used to buy trinkets, we'll meet him at the café near there. Make sure they didn't notice us."
"Come on! Let's move!" Marui said.
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"Here."
"Hey, this is the shop where my sister used to drag me when I was younger!"
"This shop has the best trinkets ever. Come on, let's go in."
"M-Maybe I'll stay out…"
"Aww, come on, this is your sister, not mine! You know her better than I do!" Kumiko said as she pulled Kirihara's hand and dragged him into the shop.
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"The target has entered the shop. Yagyuu, Niou, try not to be too flashy."
"Roger!"
"… Why me…?"
"Because we're the best in disguise."
"But in a dress?"
"Don't whine. Yukimura is expecting our report."
"Yes, sir…"
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"How about this one?" Kumiko said as she picked up a heart-shaped earring.
"… No, no earrings for my sister. She doesn't like shiny earrings."
"… Your sister is pretty manly, isn't she?"
"No she's not manly, but not as girly as other girls. She could be more manly than you."
"… Am I manly?"
"No! That's not what I meant! I meant my sister's got the same guts as you, or more."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she stood up on her own when someone got a problem with her."
"Wow, your sister is amazing, isn't she?"
"No, not really. She likes to tease me a lot."
"Isn't that nice?"
"… You don't know how it feels to be teased constantly like that…"
"Onii-chan kept tickling me when I didn't do what he said."
"… Are you serious?!"
"Yep, that time was when I didn't want to go out with him, he tickled me until I had to surrender and gave up the comfort of my blanket…"
"… I didn't know Tezuka-san could be that kind of person…"
"I was thinking that maybe all older siblings are all like that."
"… Yikes."
"Hey, this one seems nice…" Kumiko said as she pointed to a big bracelet.
"… Yeah, let's buy that one."
"What colour does your sister like the most? They got many colours."
"Do they have blue? My sister likes blue. What about you?"
"Me? I like blue too, in fact I like bright colours, and I like brown, they remind me of onii-chan."
"You really look up to Tezuka-san, don't you?"
"Onii-chan showed me everything I know, he never really abandons me when something happen. And he's always there when I need him, that's why I love him so much." Kumiko said, smiling at the fond memories.
"Oh… hey, they got matching necklace."
"Let's buy that too, I'm sure your sister will like it."
"Yeah."
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"Good, she doesn't notice us." Niou said from the corner.
"Maybe I'll buy some for my little sister… she's starting to like little trinkets." Yagyuu said as he eyed some little bracelets.
"Yagyuu, keep an eye on them!"
"This is a private matter, Niou-kun. And maybe you should buy some for your older sister."
"… No way, not in 100 years!" Niou said as he made a 'x' sign with his arms.
"Be polite, we're disguising as girls."
"… Shut up."
"Fine."
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"You know, Kirihara-kun?" Kumiko said as she tapped Kirihara's shoulder.
"Yeah?" Kirihara said as he turned his head around after he had received the accessories from the cashier. He had requested to wrap the accessories in a gift box and wrapped it with gift paper.
"Those girls remind me of Yagyuu-senpai and Niou-senpai." Kirihara looked at where Kumiko was looking at saw a silver-haired girl bickering with a spectacled girl.
"Now that you think about it… they do…"
"Do they have siblings?"
"Niou-senpai got a big sister, I heard. And Yagyuu-senpai got a little sister."
"Oh…"
"Come on, let's go."
"Yeah."
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"They're getting out from the shop, let's go, Yagyuu."
"After I paid for these, Niou-kun. Marui-kun, Jackal-kun and Yanagi-kun are outside, they'll keep an eye on them."
"Che…"
"Ara, are those for your sister?" Yagyuu said when he spotted a necklace in Niou's hand.
"Do you think I would give THIS to my little brother?" Niou said as he gritted his teeth.
"… Point taken."
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"So, where should we go now?" Kumiko asked when they had walked out from the shop.
"I thought you were thinking about going to a street tennis court?"
"Going with Kirihara-kun is kinda fun, so maybe I'll stick around longer."
"R-Really?" Kirihara stuttered.
"… Kirihara-kun? Are you sick? Your face is red…" Kumiko said.
"I-I'm fine, it's nothing. Hey, let's go to a café, my treat."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, as thanks for coming with me today. I know a good café, come on."
"W-Wait up Kirihara-kun! Don't leave me behind!"
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"Oh? Isn't that nice? Akaya and Kumiko-chan seemed to have so much fun." Yukimura said to the phone as he brushed Haruko's hair who was sleeping on his lap.
"… How was it?" Sanada said when Yukimura gave him back his phone.
"Akaya and Kumiko-chan are eating cakes in a café now. Yagyuu and Niou had apparently kept an eye on them while disguising as girls in the accessory shop." Yukimura chuckles when he imagined Niou and Yagyuu in a schoolgirl uniform.
"I see."
"They're having fun, it seemed. I'm glad they get along fine."
"… I hope this does not affect Akaya's ability."
"On the contrary, Akaya seemed to work harder because of Kumiko-chan. Don't worry about it."
"If you say so, Yukimura."
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"Today was fun, wasn't it?" Kumiko said when they got out from the train station.
"Yeah, thanks for helping me."
"No problem. I had fun. Kirihara-kun really like games, you played a lot at the arcade."
"Games are good for relaxing."
"I like to sketch to relax."
"You really like sketching, don't you?"
"Well, I like drinking tea with ojii-chan on some occasion."
"Tea?"
"Yeah, tea."
"That's pretty traditional…"
"I know, but ojii-chan likes drinking tea."
"Oh. Hey, Kumiko?"
"Yes?"
"… Let's go again together sometimes."
"Eh?"
"S-Sorry, that was uncalled for…"
"It's okay, I don't mind, Kirihara-kun."
"Really? You sure?"
"Sure, let's go again sometimes, if onii-chan let's me, that is. You don't know when will onii-chan suddenly burst into my room and drag me out somewhere."
"Tezuka-san did that?"
"Sometimes."
"Yikes."
"Oh, and thanks a lot for the ribbon, I didn't notice you bought that too."
"My thanks for going with me and picking out a gift for my big sister. It suits you, you know."
"Thanks. I better get back now, it's getting late, see you tomorrow, Kirihara-kun."
"Yeah, see you." Kirihara said as he waved to Kumiko with a big grin on his face.
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"That's the end of it." Yanagi said as he closed his book.
"See you tomorrow then?" Marui said.
"Yeah, we'll see how Akaya acts tomorrow." Niou said.
"Akaya-kun is skipping."
"Really?! Where?! Let me get a picture!" Marui said as he and Niou got their phone out.
"… What are you going to do with it…?" Jackal said catiously.
"… Future blackmail, of course, what else?" Yagyuu and Jackal sigh at their partner's behaviour.
"It's late, we better get back. I have to tell everything to Seiichi."
"Yeah, see you guys tomorrow."
"I'm going to get a good night sleep tonight." Niou said.
"Me too." Marui said as he slung his arm around Niou's shoulder.
"…"
Read and review will be appreciated, thanks.
Poll taker: 18 people
Aka-chan = 14 (still topping the poll)
Eiji = 4
Atobe = 4
Echizen = 4
Yukimura = 2
Kintaro = 2
Dan = 1
Aoi Kentaro = 0
Next: I'm feeling a little bit lonely without onii-chan... eh? Aoi-kun, Echizen-kun? What are you two doing here?