Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is never mine.
Sanada was outraged for the millionth time in the last four days of doing nothing but grueling training with a drunk coach's questionable teaching methods.
But this time, he was angry for a different reason. Sanada was presently in the cave where all the middle schoolers were supposed to be sleeping in. He found his sleeping bag easily, in the same place as usual, right next to Yanagi's already sleeping figure. But Sanada wasn't sleeping. That was because Sanada's sleeping bag was already occupied by someone who was not him.
Sanada could feel a vein pop on his forehead. Not again, he thought, seeing the idiot from Shitenhouji, Koharu, monopolizing his sleeping bag.
It was bad enough that Sanada had woken up twice in the middle of the night before because the stupid Shitenhouji player had decided that snuggling with his rescuer as he slept was the greatest idea ever, but now it also meant Sanada would get even less sleep than the small amount he already got.
Dammit. He should never have saved Koharu from falling off the cliff. Sanada didn't know if it was the lack of sleep or the lack of edible food that caused this, but he was suddenly restless and feeling too aggravated to go to sleep.
Sanada left the cave, rubbing his eyes. He knew that the logical thing to do was kick Koharu out and get some sleep. But he remembered that the drunk coach would wake them all up in about an hour anyways for more training. Sleeping for such a short amount of time felt pointless. Sanada looked around, seeing no one in the area. The high schoolers were all fast asleep in the cozy cabin while the middle schoolers were left in the dank cave. Sanada walked to the cliff's edge, breathing in the cool night air.
The area was quite beautiful. There were no clouds in the sky to hide the stars or mask the moon's glow on the surrounding forest. Everything looked so peaceful and calm at night. By gazing out, it was hard to forget that they were all exhausted, wearing dirty clothes crusted in mud and now living in an area that smelled of piss and sweat.
Sanada sat down on the edge of the cliff, cross-legged. He closed eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself. He hadn't meditated in a while. He didn't have the time anymore, not to mention his schedule was completely out of balance. He missed his home, where he had a routine, a specific time for sleeping and eating and where he had tennis practice with real tennis balls, actual rackets and a noisy team.
This was nothing like the camp Sanada had imagined. The coach was crazy and drank so much that his liver would probably shivel up and die any day now. He was now relieved that Rikkai did not have a coach of their own. While Sanada could see a difference in everyone's strength, it didn't mean that the training methods the coach used weren't utterly ridiculous and quite dangerous.
On the first day of training on the cliff peak, they had all learned the joys of climbing all the way down the cliff to fetch water and then climbing all the way back up only to watch the high schoolers drink every last drop of liquid before their eyes. Sanada's shoes had stayed wet that day from walking in the stream. The cold had sank into his feet, wetting his socks as well. What Sanada had noticed was that it now took them less time to climb the cliff than it did on the first day. At least that was an improvement in their stamina.
On the second day, the coach had hung them all from trees by their ankles. Sanada still felt dizzy thinking about it. The third day had uphill tricycle rides that had greatly hurt Sanada's crotch area because of all the bumps and rocks on the road. Niou had loudly complained about having bruises on his man parts afterwards, shouting that he was now impotent. But at least Sanada had began to notice improvements in everyone's power and speed.
And then earlier today, on the fourth day, the coach had unleashed wild eagles at them; large birds complete with murderous eyes, sharp beaks and even sharper claws. Sanada now had a hole in his cap and a small cut along his chest from the eagle's talons. Sanada nearly snorted at that. The cut on his chest could now match Yukimura's surgery scar, although his was much smaller than Yukimura's.
Yukimura… thought Sanada, seeing the bluenette's face behind his eyelids. He opened his eyes and looked down at the forest beneath the cliff. Just further along was the only disturbance in the perfect nature of the mountains. It was the U-17 camp, brightly illuminated and sticking out quite obviously against the dark trees. If Sanada squinted, he could sort of make out the different buildings and the lit up tennis courts. He wondered where Yukimura was now. Was he playing tennis? Was he sleeping in a comfortable bed or eating delicious food? Sanada was so used to constantly being behind Yukimura, to be his support that it felt weird not to know what his captain was up to. Now that he wasn't there to watch out for the bluenette, Sanada couldn't help but feel uneasy.
As Sanada sunk back into a meditative state, he began hearing noises. He tilted his head to the side, trying to determine what the source of the disturbance was. It sounded like… someone was running. And there was also something else… the sound of a racket hitting a tennis ball. It sounded distant.
As if on instinct, the Emperor of Rikkai stood up and followed the source of the noise. His quest brought him past a large group of trees, following outside the line of the cave. He ended up in an isolated spot around the back of the cave that was devoid of trees. A small figure was picking up tennis balls – five of them - and hitting them at the stone wall of the cave. He served the balls in the air all at once and then the rest was so quick that a single blink of an eye would have made Sanada miss it.
Sanada's eyes widened. Five balls all at once… that brat really was something. Sanada stepped out of the shadows.
Echizen turned, looking relieved that the person who emerged wasn't the drunk coach.
"What?" said Echizen, pushing down the brim of his white cap. He was panting, sweating heavily. He must had been playing for a while. Sanada couldn't remember seeing the first-year during supper time either.
"You're supposed to be sleeping." said Sanada, folding his arms as his authoritative voice came out.
Echizen rolled his eyes and served one ball, hitting it against the wall of the cave. "Like you're one to talk. I don't see you sleeping either."
Sanada said nothing about that. He watched the young Seigakuan hit the ball back and forth, keeping up with it perfectly despite the irregular bounce of the wall and dirt floor.
"How long have you been able to hit five?" asked Sanada.
"Since earlier, with the eagles." replied Echizen, racing to the ball and hitting it back. "It's not just me. A bunch of others are now doing things they weren't able to do before."
Sanada nodded. He had heard of it during suppertime. There was that chubby kid from Higa who had been complaining that his shorts were now loose from his weight loss. Kenya from Shitenhouji had gotten faster by 12% according to Yanagi. That jumpy kid from Hyotei, Mukahi, could now do a low moonsault and was bragging about it to everyone who would listen. Those were just a few examples, but everyone was beginning to realize just how much they were improving. Sanada wondered how much he had improved by as well.
It was weird, standing next to the person Sanada had considered his enemy for the longest of times. Sanada used to only talk to his own team, not socializing with any other players. But Yanagi was always with Inui now and Sanada hadn't really talked to anyone else since coming on the cliff top. He didn't really mind being alone, but he was so used to being surrounded by his team, his family and especially Yukimura that even he was beginning to feel lonely.
"Do you think we'll be going back to the U-17 camp soon?" asked Sanada.
"Why else would we be training this hard?" replied Echizen, focusing solely on the ball. "We'll all go back and defeat them."
"Ah…"
Echizen laughed lightly. "Then maybe we'll send some of the winners up here instead. Could you imagine the Monkey King up here, eating grey porridge and wearing dirt-covered clothes?" he said. "Or even your captain. They just wouldn't survive."
Sanada cocked his head to the side. It wasn't that Atobe and Yukimura couldn't take harsh training… but Sanada admitted that it was hard to imagine them up here. Atobe would probably not survive for too long without his fancy clothes and expensive food. And imagining Yukimura, beautiful and flower-scented Yukimura, covered in mud and grime was something Sanada couldn't easily picture either.
"Hn." Sanada grunted.
A silence fell between them. Echizen was probably wondering why Sanada stood there, staring at him practicing, but he said nothing. Even if Echizen looked as tired as all of middle schoolers, the first year never looked peeved about being on the cliff top. It was like Echizen was eager to train and do every task the coach ordered him to do. Maybe the difference in attitude was because Echizen hadn't lost any match in order to get here.
"Why did you come here?" asked Sanada, breaking the stony silence when his curiosity took over. "You could have won your match easily." He had heard that Echizen hadn't even showed up for his match and that his opponent had won by default. Maybe middle schoolers were just too easy for the brat now.
Echizen grimaced. "I didn't win." he mumbled.
Sanada frowned. "You didn't even show up for your match."
"I was having my own match at the time. I nearly won though." said Echizen, turning away as if dreading to admit to a loss.
Sanada couldn't believe what he was hearing. Who on earth was strong enough to defeat the first year prodigy, the only person to ever defeat Yukimura and who achieved the Pinnacle of Perfection?
"To who?" Sanada asked.
"I didn't really lose." said Echizen, giving an expression close to a pout. "I just wanted to play against the high schoolers."
Sanada couldn't think of a high schooler strong enough for that. They were all wimps, especially the guys on the cliff with them. But then Sanada remembered that one guy from the winner's camp... the tall one with the dark hair that Echizen had practically challenged to a match on the first day.
"Was it that guy with the dark hair?" asked Sanada. As usual, his skills at remembering people's names was nonexistant.
"S-Shut up." Echizen swung his racket. The ball made a dent in the cave wall.
"Heh." Sanada smirked. "Losing isn't such a great feeling, is it?"
Echizen rolled his eyes. "I still beat you." he retorted, wiping the smirk off Sanada's face. It was Echizen's turn to smile smugly.
"Just wait. Next time we have a match, I'll make you swallow those words. I'll mercilessly crush you." said Sanada.
"Yeah right. You still have lots more to work on before you can reach my level." Echizen turned and lightly threw his racket at Sanada. The vice-captain caught it, looking at Echizen questionably. "You try. With all five of them at once."
Sanada said nothing. He had never tried hitting several balls at once. Afterall, a normal game of tennis only had a single ball. He didn't need to learn to play with more. But then Sanada thought back to Yukimura's final match, seeing the ball split into two. He stepped forward and picked up the tennis balls from the floor.
It felt awkward. Echizen's racket was too small and holding five balls in one hand made it hard to throw them all up. But Sanada did it, hitting them up for an overhead serve. Immediately, it was like the balls were falling back down in slow motion. It almost felt like he was separating his whole body into five, trying to strike all the balls at once. Sanada didn't think. He moved, shooting his racket up while focusing on all five tennis balls. He felt his racket hit them, all of them at the same time and then shooting them back at the cave wall.
Sanada blinked, looking down at his own wrist as if not believing what he had just done.
"Che. So you can do it too." said Echizen.
So he had become stronger, thought Sanada. He handed the racket back to the smaller boy.
"It's not much though. The coach says I need to be able to hit ten. Tokugawa can hit ten."
"The tall high schooler from court 1?" Sanada asked.
"His name is Tokugawa." snapped Echizen in a defensive tone. "He's a million times stronger than all the other useless high schoolers in this place."
Sanada raised an eyebrow. Since when did Echizen, the guy who called Atobe the Monkey King, care about names? "Yeah okay, Tokugawa then." he said. "Why are you getting so pissed off?"
"I'm not pissed off!" said Echizen, much too quickly. "I just want to defeat him."
Sanada snorted. "What, you got a crush on that guy?"
"N-No. Shut up." The blush rising to Echizen cheeks was enough of an answer. As was him serving the ball and miserably missing his target.
"So you like the tall dark types who beat you in tennis?" said Sanada. Oh, this was good. And Echizen looked completely miserable and uncomfortable. Serves him right. "Never thought you'd be that type."
"Like you're the one to talk!" said Echizen. "Dating your sadistic captain must be a real joy for you, you masochist."
Sanada could feel his own flush coming to his face at the thought of Yukimura. "Yukimura is not sadistic and I'm not a masochist!" he shouted back, flustered. This stupid brat was no good after all. "At least I'm in a real relationship, not like you and your pathetic chance with the high schooler."
"Che, whatever. I beat you in tennis." Echizen frowned right back. He would have challenged Sanada to a match right then and there if Sanada had a racket with him.
"Tennis has nothing to do with this." said Sanada.
"Tennis has to do with everything."
Sanada paused. "What about that kid you always hang out with? The redhead who clings to you like a leech?"
"Kintarou?" asked Echizen. He shrugged carelessly. "He's much too young for me."
Sanada did not even ask how that made sense in Echizen's mind. He sighed, sitting down on the side and leaning back against the solid rock of the cave. He could feel his eyelids drooping. Maybe skipping sleep had not been such a good idea after all. He was too tired to continue arguing with the brat. But the new discovery of having improved in tennis made Sanada feel much more at ease. At least there was a purpose to being here.
Sanada missed his team. He thought it now more than ever. Echizen was a cocky brat and it reminded him of Akaya. At this point, Sanada even missed Akaya's whining. He exhaled loudly. Homesickness sucked.
"Man, I really hope the drunkard runs out of sake soon." said Echizen, stretching his arms over his head. He sat down on the floor too, apparently done with practice for the day. "I could really use some Ponta right now."
Sanada was snapped out of his thoughts. "Ponta? When do you get that?" asked Sanada. He didn't like the sugary drink himself, but anything would have tasted good at the moment.
"At the U-17 camp. They have lots of unguarded food over there. You can eat loads as long as you avoid the lasers and security dogs." said Echizen. "Totally worth going on the coach's errand."
"Wait… you mean you get the go to the U-17 camp when the coach asks for sake?"
"Duh. Although the cave bats are no present. And the ina bauers are a little…"
Sanada's heart nearly leaped out of his chest at that new bit of information. If Sanada somehow managed to get chosen to go on that errand, then he could go to the U-17 camp. And he could… he could see Yukimura again!
Sanada sprinted forward and grabbed Echizen by the elbows, shaking him. "How do I get chosen for the mission? Tell me!" said Sanada.
"I dunno! The coach picks randomly. Just stay in his line of vision or something." said Echizen, squirming out of the taller teen's hold. "Are you after the Ponta too? Forget it, it's mine."
Sanada didn't reply. His eyes were wide and looking more eager than they had in the last four days. The Emperor let go of Echizen in one swift movement before turning around and sprinting away, through the trees and out of sight.
Echizen sighed. Those weird Rikkai players… he just didn't understand them. But if Sanada was out to steal his Ponta, then this was going to be war. No one took his Ponta unless he had something to say about it.
"Mada mada dane." he whispered before leaning down and picking up six tennis balls at a time.
Author's Rant:
Writing this chapter has made me realize how utterly ridiculous New Prince of Tennis is. Really, Konomi? Hitting five balls at once? Attacked by eagles? Tricycle rides? Yeah, I don't think so. D;
Soooo as you may have noticed, updates have been less frequent lately. That is because I'm now in my midterm period at college and teachers are assigning research papers left and right. I try my best, but I'm at the point where I can't procrastinate anymore. So updates will be much less frequent from now on. I sincerely apologize for this. ;_;