DISCLAIMER: DONT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS. BUT THE PLOT IS MINE!
Hyotei's P.O.V.
Keigo was on his way to the tennis club locker room when his phone rang.
When he looked to see who it was, Tezuka's name appeared on the phone's screen.
He wondered why Tezuka would be calling him at twelve noon.
"Tezuka, what do I owe you for this call?" He asked, being sneery like he always was.
"Atobe... I just called to inform you that Echizen is dead." Tezuka said with a trembling voice.
"What? Are you serious? Because that isn't a nice thing to say about your Pillar of Support!" Keigo yelled.
"You know I never joke, Atobe. We'll be going to Echizen's house later after school. You and you team can come too." Tezuka told him before the line was cut off.
The Hyotei Captain stood there, like frozen in solid ice.
Kabaji touched his shoulder which snapped Keigo from his frozen state.
"Come Kabaji. I have terrible news to tell the others." He said.
"Osu." Kabaji replied.
Both arrived at the locker and saw everyone there, waiting.
Jirou, Oshitari, Gakuto, Ryo, Choutaro, and Hiyoshi were sitting around, looking tired from waiting.
Keigo and Kabaji entered the locker room and everyone turned to see him with a look of disbelief and sorrow.
"Oy, Atobe! Why did you make us come here?" asked Gakuto.
He was still hungry and wasn't able to finish his lunch.
"I called you here to have a meeting for the Regional Tournament. However, while Kabaji and I were on our way here, Tezuka called and brought me terrible news." He began.
Everyone felt a shiver up their spines.
"Did something happen at Seigaku?" asked Hiyoshi, not able to contain himself.
The silence was very nerve wrecking.
"Tezuka was kind enough to inform me that their Pillar of Support, that brat, Ryoma Echizen, died this morning." Keigo as he looked at his team.
Silence engulfed them and no one dared to break the ice.
The news was really a shocker for them.
It was true that they were never close to the kid but upon hearing about his death, they all felt like a part of their memory was suddenly ripped out.
"That's not a very nice joke, Atobe." Spoke Ryo, who seemed hopeful that the news was a joke.
They're captain remained quiet for a few moments, looking them all straight in the eyes.
"I'll be borrowing Tezuka's line, 'You know I never joke.' Besides, why would I joke about that brat's death when we're in the midst of training for the tournament?" he asked coldly.
Oshitari, Jirou, and Ryo knew that he was serious.
"That means I'll never get to have a rematch with him then." Hiyoshi spoke.
They could tell that he didn't mean much about the rematch.
He was talking about not being able to see Echizen again, let alone have a match with him.
"We should go visit. I know that we all weren't close to him, but we could at least pay our respects to him." Jirou said, shocking everyone.
It wasn't like him to suggest anything at time likes this or even be serious.
Keigo nodded and looked at everyone.
"Practices will go as usual for the non-regulars. Hiyoshi, go and find a way to contact St. Rudolph and Josei Shonan. Tell them what happened. And tell them that we'll all be visiting Echizen after school. Give them directions if necessary."
"Hai." Hiyoshi nodded and left.
"Choutaro, get a hold of Fudomine's Tachibana-san. Tell him about Echizen and that Tezuka said they'd be visiting later after school. He probably knows where the address is."
"Hai, Atobe-san." Choutaro ran out the room.
"Ryo, call up Yamabuki and find Mikaya Banda, their coach. I'm sure he'll tell Sengoku and that Echizen look alike about the news. Tell them the schedule for visit as well."
Ryo simply nodded and walked out the locker room.
"Oshitari, call up Rokkaku and find Aoi Kentaro, their freshman captain. You know what to tell him."
"Shall I call up the American Team as well?" he asked.
"If you can, please do so." Keigo replied.
Oshitari took out his cellphone as he headed outside.
"Jirou, go to the flower shop and order chrysanthemums. A dozen will do."
The boy slowly stood up and nodded.
Jirou was always the most sensitive of them.
"Kabaji, you handle the non-regulars while I call up Rikkaidai, Shitenhoji, and Higa."
"Osu," Kabaji answered and left.
Keigo Atobe, took a moment to breath and reflect on the news that he was about to share to the other three schools.
"If it weren't Echizen, I might not be doing this at all." He told himself as he called up the first one on his list.
For some reason, everything felt so wrong.
'Why did the brat have to die so young?'
'Why did he have to leave so many people to mourn for him?'
So many questions floating about his head but he knew the answer to them all.
It wasn't Echizen's fault.
He didn't choose to die.
Death chose him.
And it made Keigo feel cold and sorrowful.
He pulled out his phone from his pocket and looked for Sanada's number.
"Hello? Atobe? What reason do you have for calling?" said the voice from the other line.
"Tezuka called me earlier and brought bad news. I just wanted to bring the news to you too." He said.
"What news could that be that Tezuka would bother sharing it with you?" asked Sanada.
"Echizen Ryoma is dead. And we'll be visiting his home later." Keigo said.
Silence...
Then the line was cut.
Atobe knew that tonight was going to be full of sorrow.
And he might actually cry.
Yes, he would cry.
Only because it was Echizen.
A/N: Read and Review if you please. Constructive Criticisms are very much welcomed.